Dinner

[Sky]

Turning the napkin around so that he could read what she had written, Sky's brows furrowed as he slowly spoke the name out loud to himself. After a moment, he shook his head as he said, "I don't think I've ever heard of him before . . . but if he's powerful enough to believe that he can conquer all the realms, then there must be something written about him. We ought to check the library when we get back to Red Fountain, or perhaps we can just speak with Saladin. Perhaps he's heard of this 'Baltor' fellow and will know how to defeat him."

Even as he spoke, though, Sky could hear the doubt in his voice. Saladin was incredibly wise and had a knowledge of magic and magical beings that few could match, but somehow . . . somehow Sky could sense that if Christine was that badly shook up over just the vaguest of visions about this Baltor, that even Saladin wouldn't have the answers they were looking for.

[Chris Strongheart]

Christine's voice shook as she spoke. "He was sentenced to the Omega realm," she whispered, her eyes still holding a trace of fear. "Supposedly, he was sentenced there for all eternity... Somehow.. somehow he got out."

[Sky]

His frown deepening, Sky struggled to find words that would even begin to express the dread he was starting to feel in abundance. Finally, his blue eyes darkening in concern, he settled on a slowly stated, "That doesn't sound good . . . that doesn't sound good at all."

[Chris Strongheart]

"Maybe we should skip dinner and go see Saladin and Cordatorta now," Christine said, trembling. "They should know. Maybe they have some plan already ready for something like this," she continued, her voice growing frantic.

[Sky]

Though a part of him wanted very much to get up from that table and to rush back to Red Fountain, the logical part of his mind told him that doing so would probably do more harm than good. More than likely, sitting through a meal would not significantly affect the greater scheme of things and what was more, not sitting through the meal would probably only ingrain a sense of permanent fear into Christine's mind - as though time was of such essence that all normal routines of life had to draw to a screeching halt. No, that wouldn't do at all. If they were going to be able to defeat this Baltor, they had to be in the right mindset - had to keep a firm grasp on their bearings. They had to be able to think rationally and clearly and living in a suspended state of fear and anticipation would help them achieve none of those things.

Giving a firm shake of his head, Sky finally answered, "No. Let's not give this Baltor any power over us. If we lose our heads over this when he hasn't even showed up on the scene yet, he's already won the fight."

[Chris Strongheart]

"By showing up on the scene - you mean, by attacking a realm or attacking here?" she asked, looking a tad confused. She trembled before catching herself and struggling to calm down.

[Sky]

"Whichever comes first," Sky answered, barely unable to keep a grim note out of his voice. "Somehow, though, I doubt that he'll attack here first. I imagine he'd want to aim for something at least slightly more powerful than Magix-"

His face losing a bit of color at the thought of Baltor attacking Eraklyon - arguably one of the most powerful realms in all the universe - Sky made a mental note to write to his father immediately to warn him of this impending danger.

Not wanting Christine to pick up on this dark thought of his, however, Sky smoothly continued, "In any event, once we get back to Red Fountain, we'll speak with Saladin and Codatorta and see what they suggest we do to prepare. Until then, like I said before, let's keep our cool. We're specialists, after all, and we're supposedly known for being able to stay calm in dangerous situations. So let's live up to our name, all right?"

[Chris Strongheart]

"All right," she said quietly. She offered him a faint smile and attempted to change the subject. "So... Alfea's supposed to be hosting a Halloween party... I was thinking about going as Clara from the Nutcracker and some of the others were pairing up so..." she let her voice trail off as she gave him a hopeful smile.

[Sky]

"The Nutcracker?" Sky echoed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Is that another one of your Earth references that I have absolutely no point of reference for?" Leaning back in his seat, almost able to block out thoughts of Baltor for the moment, Sky added teasingly, "Somehow, I imagine from your pleading tone that I'm not going to like this costume one bit - which means you're probably going to have to knock me out before you get me to agree to put it on. I may be a people pleaser, but I do have my pride, Christine."

[Chris Strongheart]

"Oh, it's a simple costume," Christine said, grinning. "You can wear a simple uniform and all you have to do is just put a mask on. That's it," she said, giving him a small smile. "Please? Besides," she said with a soft giggle. "I picked out a nightgown that would leave very little to your imagination. I might be persauded to let you lock me in my room and let you have your wicked way with me."

[Sky]

In a warning tone, Sky promptly responded, "Then I suggest you pick out a different nightgown - or better yet, a dress - that leaves it all to the imagination." Scowling, Sky turned his attention toward his menu as he muttered, not liking the idea of Christine prancing around in practically nothing as though something called modesty didn't exist, "What would my mother say if she saw you in whatever it is that you're planning on wearing?"

Putting his menu down, knowing that he was acting like a petulant child, Sky then said in a more reasonable tone, "And besides, since when did you start liking to do all those female things, like wearing revealing clothing? What happened to wearing sensible things? I liked you bet-" Abruptly cutting off that train of thought - a train of thought that had lead him to begin to say 'I liked you better that way' - Sky knew that saying something like that would only land him in hot water. It was better to just keep his mouth shut.

Sighing, Sky propped his elbow up on the table and rested his temple against his fist. Sometimes he really could be stupid.

[Chris Strongheart]

She giggled. "I was hoping for that reaction," she said, leaning over to kiss him. "I love that little growl you get when you're pissed at me." She giggled again. "And you can relax, I have my everyday nightgown that I'll be using - just a simple white one with a golden trim around the waist."

OOC: the dress she'll be wearing: img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/Christa_Winters/winx%20club%20sims/halloween/Clara.png

[Sky]

Sighing again, this time in the knowledge of his impending defeat, Sky gave one last weak protest against being forced to attend some costume party - something that seemed especially trite in light of this new dark force looming in the distance. "If we attend this party, don't you think we ought to go as something people will actually recognize and understand, myself included? You may know this 'Nutcracker' story, but I assure you that no one else will." Unless you count Bloom. "Are you honestly telling me that you won't get sick of explaining to everyone all night long who we're supposed to be?"

Before she could respond, Sky added with a teasing smile, "And besides, if you're so heart-set on wearing practically nothing, why don't we go as a specialist and a fairy? Of course, I'd be the specialist since I certainly have no desire to show off my body nor to wear some strange costume," Sky added, knowing that Christine had probably been on the verge of asking him sweetly if he desired to have an excuse to cross-dress for an evening.

[Chris Strongheart]

"Well, I was at a meeting with a few of my friends and one of them was Tash and she's going as an Arabian dancer from the Nutcracker. And Sky, I'm sure a few people at least know one version of the nutcracker. Karina told me the version from her realm, and Tash from one of the realms she was in."

She playfully leaned over and smacked him. "I have an aversion to glitter and sparkles."

[Sky]

Crossing his arms over his chest, enjoying the playful challenge, Sky replied with a grin, "Let's see, three people out of what . . . four or five hundred Red Fountain and Alfea students know the story. Nope, I'm afraid you're not making a very strong case, Christine."

Pretending to reject the idea of going to the party, Sky firmly shook his head before he grinned again. "But since I'm a good person, I'll go. But don't blame me when you have a sore throat by the end of the evening from having to constantly tell everyone about the Nutcracker because no one besides you, Tash, and Karina understand that you're supposed to be something more than a girl in a nightgown." Sky held his hands up in mock surrender as he finished, "Just sayin'."