Elfen High 2: Skin to Bone, Steel to Rust

[Nationstatelandsville]

Ivy looked at James walking away, in disgust, and then looked back at Crowley.

"We need a new best man." she said bluntly.

"Minh!" Lewis hollered, "Get your stupid drunk ass over here and be our best man!"

[Nude East Ireland]

Suddenly, James was teleported into a room. In fact, it looked like a house, at least from the inside. But it was a dorm, of course. Barbara was sitting in the family room, sipping coffee and watching her daughter, Mary, play with legos. She looked at James, and waved. "Hello, sweetie," she said. "I'd get up, but I'm deep into the third trimester." She went back to watching Real Housewives of Bombay, a popular slasher/horror show.

Anton walked into the room, Tim behind him. "James, glad you could make it. Sorry about the abruptness, but I didn't want you to get lost in the halls," he said. He smiled, and led James into his bedroom. "Blue, black, plaid, brown, grey, green, or purple?" he asked, casually. "Or maybe a nice sweater, huh? I've got nice ties as well."

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

Suddenly, James was teleported into a room. In fact, it looked like a house, at least from the inside. But it was a dorm, of course. Barbara was sitting in the family room, sipping coffee and watching her daughter, Mary, play with legos. She looked at James, and waved. "Hello, sweetie," she said. "I'd get up, but I'm deep into the third trimester." She went back to watching Real Housewives of Bombay, a popular slasher/horror show.

Anton walked into the room, Tim behind him. "James, glad you could make it. Sorry about the abruptness, but I didn't want you to get lost in the halls," he said. He smiled, and led James into his bedroom. "Blue, black, plaid, brown, grey, green, or purple?" he asked, casually. "Or maybe a nice sweater, huh? I've got nice ties as well."

James almost swore about being teleported again, but stopped because there were children about. When Anton brought him to his suits, he examined each one. "Can you make one of 'em red?" He asked innocently. "I kind of prefer that colour."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"I don't remember seeing this door here before." Ciel said for the twelfth time that day as she opened it and walked in, followed by Celes. Not quite to their surprise, it led to the auditorium. Not the first time they had gone in there by mistake. What did surprise them, however, was... Well, everything in the auditorium. The beautiful ornamentation, the ice sculptures in the tables... And, well, all of that. I don't know. I've never married. Anyway, the Ciels walked in, looking around, awed by the decorations and unsure of what they had just walked into.

After looking around for a while, Celes spotted Lewis and walked over to him, with Ciel trailing behind.

"Ah, Mr. Jameson! Your banjo was quite useful. Thank you for letting me use it." She said, holding the guitar case in front of him so that he would take it. She knew that he once meant to give it to her (Or maybe to Ciel?) but the bears didn't allow him to do so and she was unsure if he would still rather have her have it.

Ciel, meanwhile, looked around a little more. "Who is getting married here?" She inquired, curious. She then noticed the woman who was dressed with only a towel. Taking off her cloak, she offered it to the woman. It wasn't much better, probably, but hey, it was something.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"I don't remember seeing this door here before." Ciel said for the twelfth time that day as she opened it and walked in, followed by Celes. Not quite to their surprise, it led to the auditorium. Not the first time they had gone in there by mistake. What did surprise them, however, was... Well, everything in the auditorium. The beautiful ornamentation, the ice sculptures in the tables... And, well, all of that. I don't know. I've never married. Anyway, the Ciels walked in, looking around, awed by the decorations and unsure of what they had just walked into.

After looking around for a while, Celes spotted Lewis and walked over to him, with Ciel trailing behind.

"Ah, Mr. Jameson! Your banjo was quite useful. Thank you for letting me use it." She said, holding the guitar case in front of him so that he would take it. She knew that he once meant to give it to her (Or maybe to Ciel?) but the bears didn't allow him to do so and she was unsure if he would still rather have her have it.

Ciel, meanwhile, looked around a little more. "Who is getting married here?" She inquired, curious. She then noticed the woman who was dressed with only a towel. Taking off her cloak, she offered it to the woman. It wasn't much better, probably, but hey, it was something.

Megan thanked Ciel, but handed it back to her.

"It's a little small," she said with a smile, "Who are you, young lady?"

"Uh, yeah, cool," Lewis replied, "Kinda' gettin' married here, though, so... could we do this some other time?"

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Ciel took the cloak back when Megan stated that it was too small. "Oh, alright then. My name is Ciel Strider. I am a student in this place. Pleased to meet you." She said, putting the cloak back on, since Megan wasn't going to use it.

Celes, meanwhile, slung the guitar case over her back once again. "Oh, so this is your wedding, Mr. Jameson? Well, in that case, congratulations, I'm happy for you!" She said cheerily, with a wide smile.

"So am I!" Ciel added. But she then thought about it some more and tilted her head. "But, who are you getting married to?" She asked, obviously unaware that Megan was his fiance or whatever. He'd never told them, and if he did they didn't quite remember it.

[Nationstatelandsville]

Ciel took the cloak back when Megan stated that it was too small. "Oh, alright then. My name is Ciel Strider. I am a student in this place. Pleased to meet you." She said, putting the cloak back on, since Megan wasn't going to use it.

Celes, meanwhile, slung the guitar case over her back once again. "Oh, so this is your wedding, Mr. Jameson? Well, in that case, congratulations, I'm happy for you!" She said cheerily, with a wide smile.

"So am I!" Ciel added. But she then thought about it some more and tilted her head. "But, who are you getting married to?" She asked, obviously unaware that Megan was his fiance or whatever. He'd never told them, and if he did they didn't quite remember it.

"James," Lewis snarked, before nodding and bursting off to grab D, who was currently trying to clone the dolphin using a wooden chair and a bottle of wine.

It wasn't working.

"And I'm the wedding planner," Megan continued, "Do either one of you have boyfriends? You can have a double wedding, too. I do wish I had had a sister when I was a kid."

[Ende]

Ivy grinned slightly.

"He's not really getting married to James. Jade's perfect for James, and I wouldn't say Lewis is. Besides, I think Lewis has better taste than that. No, this is actually the result of Lewis and Crowley's whirlwind affair." she joked, grinning slightly. "They're perfect for each other, aren't they? The headmaster and the Bear King."

Ivy laughed, and then extended her hand to Ciel.

"I don't think we've met yet. I'm Ivy. Nice to meet you."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"You... James... What." The Ciels muttered in unison as they watched Lewis run off. As far as they knew, those two didn't have a very healthy relationship. But hey, who were they to judge? No one. Still, it was hard to grasp. They were, quite obviously, not aware that it was a lie. But considering they believed everything Lewis said in his geography classes, that wasn't exactly surprising.

Then Ivy came along and complicated matters even more. "I... Am not sure what version is less weird and disturbing." Ciel admitted. Celes simply nodded in agreement, before shaking her head to clear off those thoughts. She didn't really want to think about that.

When Ivy offered Ciel her hand, though, she took it, nodding and smiling at her. "No, I don't think so. Ciel Strider. Pleased to meet you as well." She said.

Celes, meanwhile, had turned around to face Megan again. She shook her head at the woman's offer. "No, thank you. I don't think we can have a double wedding. We might have a wedding, though." She said, and then turned around, this time facing Ciel, and took her hand between hers. "What do you say?" She said, blushing slightly.

Ciel simply stared at her and blinked once, her cheeks turning red. She was silent for several moments. "I... S-seriously?" She finally asked. "I... I've only known you for a few-" She began, but was cut off.

"Technically, you've known me for all our life." Celes pointed out.

"T-that's true..."

[Nationstatelandsville]

"You... James... What." The Ciels muttered in unison as they watched Lewis run off. As far as they knew, those two didn't have a very healthy relationship. But hey, who were they to judge? No one. Still, it was hard to grasp. They were, quite obviously, not aware that it was a lie. But considering they believed everything Lewis said in his geography classes, that wasn't exactly surprising.

Then Ivy came along and complicated matters even more. "I... Am not sure what version is less weird and disturbing." Ciel admitted. Celes simply nodded in agreement, before shaking her head to clear off those thoughts. She didn't really want to think about that.

When Ivy offered Ciel her hand, though, she took it, nodding and smiling at her. "No, I don't think so. Ciel Strider. Pleased to meet you as well." She said.

Celes, meanwhile, had turned around to face Megan again. She shook her head at the woman's offer. "No, thank you. I don't think we can have a double wedding. We might have a wedding, though." She said, and then turned around, this time facing Ciel, and took her hand between hers. "What do you say?" She said, blushing slightly.

Ciel simply stared at her and blinked once, her cheeks turning red. She was silent for several moments. "I... S-seriously?" She finally asked. "I... I've only known you for a few-" She began, but was cut off.

"Technically, you've known me for all our life." Celes pointed out.

"T-that's true..."

Megan blinked.

Incest? was her internal monologue, I lived on a farm for most of my life and I've never encountered incestuous lesbians before. Normal lesbians, sure. Incestuous gays, all the time. But this is new. And I don't really want twins fucking on the same honeymoon as me - oh God, I'm turning into one of this school.

"Uh, that's uh..." she stammered, "yeah."

[Ende]

Ivy squinted at them, tilting her head to the side, looking extremely uncomfortable. This was...this was just supposed to be a small thing between her and Calliel and now...well, she didn't mind Lewis and Megan's getting married on the same day - they were almost parents to her, or, at least, for that last month. But two...sisters? Heavens no.

"Aren't you two related, and, I might add, a bit young for that? Getting married? You should probably know each other for longer, and, even though incestuous relationships are common among the gods, I can't say that I recommend that. It's a bit...well, I really wouldn't do that in Heavensgate if I were you. Well, I mean, I wouldn't recommend that at all, actually." she said, looking very uncomfortable.

[Zarkenis Ultima]

The two Ciels noticed Megan's discomfort, and wondered what was wrong. Apparently, up until that moment, they hadn't considered that perhaps their relationship wasn't really a normal one. They didn't think that was very important, though. Or at least, not in a place such as Elfen High, where baffling things happened every day.

Then they noticed Ivy's discomfort as well, and listened to her words. When she finished, the two looked at each other, blinked, and then looked back at Ivy.

"...Longer...?" Ciel muttered. They had technically known each other for seventeen years. That was probably longer than the time most couples took to get to know each other before marriage, so she didn't know why waiting longer was necessary.

Celes, however, was concerned with something else. "...Related...?" She muttered. Technically, they had the same DNA, yes, but they weren't born the same way or anything.

"Well, in a way, we are..." Ciel said.

"...But in another, not quite." Celes finished.

"But you are right. I am not sure the angels would appreciate that happening in their holy grounds... Even though technically, Elfen High is its own state." Ciel said. She then looked down, rather pointedly (Though this was unintentional, however convenient), at Ivy's belly, and blinked again. "But, aren't you a bit young as well?" She asked, but then shook her head. "Um, nevermind. Not my business."

Celes nodded. "I guess we won't do it then, after all." She said, though she didn't really sound disappointed. She looked at Ciel and smiling again. "But don't worry about that. Even if the end is nigh, you don't have anything to prove to me." She said, which made Ciel smile again. After that, Celes turned to Megan. "So, I guess that is a no. But thanks anyways, miss...?" She said, trailing off at the end and tilting her head, turning the sentence into a question. Megan hadn't really introduced herself after all.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Monolith floated slowly along, wondering what was going on. Everyone was gathered, and seemed... who knows. They were all together, and not fighting. That was good. Good was good and bad was bad and people were peace. So he opened up a small portal to get where he needed to, and then dropped in on the wedding.

About two meters behind Celes and Ciel.

He mentally shrugged, closed the portal, and began rotating lightly in midair, looking around for someone unengaged to talk to. Unengaged as in not in a conversation, of course, not unengaged as in not going to get married, because goddamnit, three-quarters of this party is or will be by the end of the arc. Speaking of, what's the arc? What am I even talking about?

Monolith shook himself with a small shiver, and continued searching.

[Nationstatelandsville]

The two Ciels noticed Megan's discomfort, and wondered what was wrong. Apparently, up until that moment, they hadn't considered that perhaps their relationship wasn't really a normal one. They didn't think that was very important, though. Or at least, not in a place such as Elfen High, where baffling things happened every day.

Then they noticed Ivy's discomfort as well, and listened to her words. When she finished, the two looked at each other, blinked, and then looked back at Ivy.

"...Longer...?" Ciel muttered. They had technically known each other for seventeen years. That was probably longer than the time most couples took to get to know each other before marriage, so she didn't know why waiting longer was necessary.

Celes, however, was concerned with something else. "...Related...?" She muttered. Technically, they had the same DNA, yes, but they weren't born the same way or anything.

"Well, in a way, we are..." Ciel said.

"...But in another, not quite." Celes finished.

"But you are right. I am not sure the angels would appreciate that happening in their holy grounds... Even though technically, Elfen High is its own state." Ciel said. She then looked down, rather pointedly (Though this was unintentional, however convenient), at Ivy's belly, and blinked again. "But, aren't you a bit young as well?" She asked, but then shook her head. "Um, nevermind. Not my business."

Celes nodded. "I guess we won't do it then, after all." She said, though she didn't really sound disappointed. She looked at Ciel and smiling again. "But don't worry about that. Even if the end is nigh, you don't have anything to prove to me." She said, which made Ciel smile again. After that, Celes turned to Megan. "So, I guess that is a no. But thanks anyways, miss...?" She said, trailing off at the end and tilting her head, turning the sentence into a question. Megan hadn't really introduced herself after all.

"Megan Jameson," she replied with a smile, "and no, I did not realize how much that makes me sound like a really bad pub until this instant. I think I'm going to go vomit now."

With an unfaltering ecstatic expression, Megan waltzed off and did exactly that.

[Nude East Ireland]

Suddenly, James was teleported into a room. In fact, it looked like a house, at least from the inside. But it was a dorm, of course. Barbara was sitting in the family room, sipping coffee and watching her daughter, Mary, play with legos. She looked at James, and waved. "Hello, sweetie," she said. "I'd get up, but I'm deep into the third trimester." She went back to watching Real Housewives of Bombay, a popular slasher/horror show.

Anton walked into the room, Tim behind him. "James, glad you could make it. Sorry about the abruptness, but I didn't want you to get lost in the halls," he said. He smiled, and led James into his bedroom. "Blue, black, plaid, brown, grey, green, or purple?" he asked, casually. "Or maybe a nice sweater, huh? I've got nice ties as well."

James almost swore about being teleported again, but stopped because there were children about. When Anton brought him to his suits, he examined each one. "Can you make one of 'em red?" He asked innocently. "I kind of prefer that colour."

"A red suit?" he asked, a bit surprised. Anton examined his vast collection of clothes. "Well, you could have a red shirt under a nice grey suit. Or a black one, if you'd prefer. Personally, I'd go with a black suit and a red shirt. It'd look very nice. I'm not sure I have a red suit. It's not that common." Anton sighed. "Or fashionable..."

[Ranbo]

Eldliam smiled at Kane, laughing a bit at her jokes. "My name's Eldliam. It sounds a bit funny, I know, but it's sort of a family name," He replied. "And don't worry about me, I'm just fine. Say, if you're going to the Headmaster's office I could walk you down there if you wanted..." he said, blushing ever so slightly himself. "I mean, the hallways here can be pretty confusing a lot of the time.." Eldliam added.

"Thanks," Kane smiled. "I'd appreciate it, Eldliam. I have to say, that's a unique name, and I kind of like it. It's unique." Looking around, she frowned. "Yeah," She sighed, "I'm definitely going to need a guide getting around here. It's almost like every time I go around here, the walls change and the routes turn out totally different."

Looking back at Eldliam, she smiled again. "So I guess it's decided. Lead the way, Mr. Guide."

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

James almost swore about being teleported again, but stopped because there were children about. When Anton brought him to his suits, he examined each one. "Can you make one of 'em red?" He asked innocently. "I kind of prefer that colour."

"A red suit?" he asked, a bit surprised. Anton examined his vast collection of clothes. "Well, you could have a red shirt under a nice grey suit. Or a black one, if you'd prefer. Personally, I'd go with a black suit and a red shirt. It'd look very nice. I'm not sure I have a red suit. It's not that common." Anton sighed. "Or fashionable..."

"Scarlet suit with white undershirt." James insisted. "I don't want to wear black, I don't want to wear gray. I've worn dark, drab, melancholy colours for long enough." He indicated his vest and pants. "I want to be something bright and happy for once. I know it isn't fashionable, Anton, but it's what I want. For Ivy."

[Ende]

The two Ciels noticed Megan's discomfort, and wondered what was wrong. Apparently, up until that moment, they hadn't considered that perhaps their relationship wasn't really a normal one. They didn't think that was very important, though. Or at least, not in a place such as Elfen High, where baffling things happened every day.

Then they noticed Ivy's discomfort as well, and listened to her words. When she finished, the two looked at each other, blinked, and then looked back at Ivy.

"...Longer...?" Ciel muttered. They had technically known each other for seventeen years. That was probably longer than the time most couples took to get to know each other before marriage, so she didn't know why waiting longer was necessary.

Celes, however, was concerned with something else. "...Related...?" She muttered. Technically, they had the same DNA, yes, but they weren't born the same way or anything.

"Well, in a way, we are..." Ciel said.

"...But in another, not quite." Celes finished.

"But you are right. I am not sure the angels would appreciate that happening in their holy grounds... Even though technically, Elfen High is its own state." Ciel said. She then looked down, rather pointedly (Though this was unintentional, however convenient), at Ivy's belly, and blinked again. "But, aren't you a bit young as well?" She asked, but then shook her head. "Um, nevermind. Not my business."

Celes nodded. "I guess we won't do it then, after all." She said, though she didn't really sound disappointed. She looked at Ciel and smiling again. "But don't worry about that. Even if the end is nigh, you don't have anything to prove to me." She said, which made Ciel smile again. After that, Celes turned to Megan. "So, I guess that is a no. But thanks anyways, miss...?" She said, trailing off at the end and tilting her head, turning the sentence into a question. Megan hadn't really introduced herself after all.

Ivy was confused for a moment, and then she followed Ciel's eyes.

"Oh." she said, as she realized what Ciel was talking about. She looked at herself in a nearby mirror on the wall (because this is Elfen High, and there is a mirror when there should be a mirror), and then realized...Ciel was right, or, at least, from appearance. She still looked 16. She hadn't aged a second in two years. Of course not - that was how a second life worked. It was still a bit startling, though, to see that fact for the first time. She was obviously pregnant, and it looked...well, it made her rather uncomfortable, to say the least. It was incredibly strange. She looked back at Ciel and Celes - they were obviously older. And she'd look like that...well, forever, pretty much. Whether she died tomorrow or in a thousand years - she'd always look exactly the same.

Like the angels.

"Actually, you might be right, I suppose." she said, feeling rather uncomfortable. "I'm not really that young, though. As young as I look, I mean."

She looked around. Calliel had vanished, somewhere - probably trying to figure out how to put on a suit. It'd take him a while, probably.

"So..." she continued awkwardly, changing the subject, "...I'm getting married tonight."

[Zarkenis Ultima]

Celes nodded at Megan and watched her walk away. "So... That is his bride, then?" She said, more to herself than to anyone else. She did say she was Megan Jameson, and they for some reason doubted Lewis had a sister.

When Ivy finished looking around for Calliel and looked back at the Ciels, she would find Ciel hiding behind Celes and staring at the mirror with an expression of sheer terror on her face. Celes sighed and looked at Ivy. "Hold on just a moment." She said, and then attempted to comfort Ciel and make her look away from the mirror. As soon as she managed to do so, she rushed over to the mirror and took it away to someplace far away from there. In a few moments she was already back, because they're fast like that.

"Sorry about that." Ciel said, apologizing for the scene. "I... Had a bad experience with glass..." She explained, her voice trailing off at the end. She shook for a moment before managing to calm herself down.

Celes looked at Ivy. "It was a few months ago, in Egypt." She added. Ciel nodded. Celes then shook her head. "But, that is not important right now. You are getting married tonight as well? That is wonderful. Congratulations. Who is the lucky person?" She asked.

[Nude East Ireland]

"A red suit?" he asked, a bit surprised. Anton examined his vast collection of clothes. "Well, you could have a red shirt under a nice grey suit. Or a black one, if you'd prefer. Personally, I'd go with a black suit and a red shirt. It'd look very nice. I'm not sure I have a red suit. It's not that common." Anton sighed. "Or fashionable..."

"Scarlet suit with white undershirt." James insisted. "I don't want to wear black, I don't want to wear gray. I've worn dark, drab, melancholy colours for long enough." He indicated his vest and pants. "I want to be something bright and happy for once. I know it isn't fashionable, Anton, but it's what I want. For Ivy."

Anton sighed. "I suppose, fine," he replied. He snapped, and a finely prepared scarlet suit was lying on the bed. "There you go, James," he said. "And if you ever need anything else, just come talk to me."

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

"Scarlet suit with white undershirt." James insisted. "I don't want to wear black, I don't want to wear gray. I've worn dark, drab, melancholy colours for long enough." He indicated his vest and pants. "I want to be something bright and happy for once. I know it isn't fashionable, Anton, but it's what I want. For Ivy."

Anton sighed. "I suppose, fine," he replied. He snapped, and a finely prepared scarlet suit was lying on the bed. "There you go, James," he said. "And if you ever need anything else, just come talk to me."

James picked it up and examined it. "It's perfect!" He exclaimed happily, giving Anton the biggest smile ever. "Y'know, if Al was anything like you, Elfen High would be the best school in forever." He walked over to Anton and gave him a long, affectionate hug. "Thanks, Anton." He said finally, before departing.

Once back at his room, James quickly took a much-needed and thorough shower, giving Al's cameras a rather decent showing, before changing into his suit. He combed his hair and brushed his teeth, then made his way back to the auditorium.

[Constaniana]

"Thanks," Kane smiled. "I'd appreciate it, Eldliam. I have to say, that's a unique name, and I kind of like it. It's unique." Looking around, she frowned. "Yeah," She sighed, "I'm definitely going to need a guide getting around here. It's almost like every time I go around here, the walls change and the routes turn out totally different."

Looking back at Eldliam, she smiled again. "So I guess it's decided. Lead the way, Mr. Guide."

Eldliam smiled back at Kane and nodded. "Alright then," He said as they walked down the hall together. After a few minutes filled with pleasant conversation the two teenagers somehow found Crowley's office. "Well, here we are Kane," Eldliam said as he approached the Headmaster's door, only to discover it was locked. The boy peered inside the window, but the lights were all switched off.

"Huh, Crowley must be somewhere else in the school. Come on Kane, let's go look for him," Eldliam said. They began walking again, when they came around a corner and suddenly came into the auditorium that had been decorated for the upcoming weddings. "Wow...this is cool." Eldliam said, looking around the auditorium and then at Kane.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"Enough chit-chat!" Lewis bellowed, "I am gettin' married in a goddamn war zone and would like to get this over with before a demon shits mortar through my skull!"

Crowley nodded and, suddenly, James and Anton were at the wedding, the Crowleys in the audience, so to speak. James and Anton were placed next to Lewis and Calliel, who stood side-by-side on the left of the altar, behind which the original Crowley stood.

Music played (but not wedding music - some kind of crazy death metal shit, because this is Crowley) and Megan stepped elegantly in, lead by Minh, who had just been passed out in a puddle of regurgitated vodka and cafeteria food in Crowley's office. Needless to say, he was miserably hungover, but Crowley had taken care to magically make him look presentable.

Ivy found herself behind Megan, outside the auditorium, with Raphael by her side.

"Are you ready?" he asked, stretching out his hand to her.

Meanwhile, the rest found themselves sitting at tables around the procession, full bottles of wine and bowls of what looked like sugar but certainly wasn't prepared for them.

"4600 years, brain the size of a pyramid," grumbled the mummy who has yet to receive a name, "and I'm just an attraction for a bunch of teenagers at a wedding."

"4600 years, brain the size of a pyramid," replied Sobek, "and you haven't shut up once."

[Hardened Pyrokinetics]

James scanned the audience, standing with his back straight as an arrow, hands clasped behind his back. Outwardly he smiled, and he really was happy for both Lewis and Megan and Ivy and Calliel, but an absence still troubled him.

Where is she?

[The Inritus Extraho]

James scanned the audience, standing with his back straight as an arrow, hands clasped behind his back. Outwardly he smiled, and he really was happy for both Lewis and Megan and Ivy and Calliel, but an absence still troubled him.

Where is she?

Monolith caught a man in red - red! red like him! red like good! - staring around, the man's gaze passing over him as if looking for something. He floated up, a sharp-faceted gemstone whose edges matched the suit that man wore, and 'spoke' into the man's mind. 'Yes? Why did you stare at me so?' he asked quietly in James' mind. He didn't even consider the possibility that he was wrong. The man wore red, like him. The man was looking for something. It connected; the man was looking for something like himself. Right? Right.