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Aesop should've known better than to have placed his coffin so far away from the opened exit gate.
Had he been quicker at embalming Eli earlier in the match, instead of waiting until the last cipher had been popped, then maybe he could have gotten the seer out a little quicker. But alas, hindsight was 50/50. All he could do now was hope that his coffin placement had created a large enough distance between Eli and the Violinist for him to escape.
Thankfully, or rather unthankfully, the seer had been knocked down near one of the farther corners of the map from where Aesop's coffin currently stood; within the abandoned shack of Leo's Memory. It wasn't the most ideal place to be rebirthed seeing as the basement was right in the immediate vicinity but at least it was close enough to the open exit gate.
As Aesop waited along the inner walls of the gate, the sound of fastly approaching footsteps filled the air. He smiled in relief as the seer's silhouette slowly came into view and just as he was about to take a step out from behind the gate, the Violinist seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Dread quickly replaced any sense of relief Aesop had left and he froze. Under any other circumstances, he would have immediately turned to leave his fellow survivors to fend themselves but this was Eli. He couldn't just leave the seer, not when he'd taken over Aesop's kite, leading the Violinist away from the remaining two ciphers long enough for Aesop to decode. And especially not when that Eli was out of owls-
He could take a hit. Eli couldn't.
Sure the Violinist had detention but if he were smart about it, he could draw the Violinist away from the gate just long enough for Eli to escape unnoticed. If push came to shove, which it likely would, the dungeon was just short ways ahead. He could easily escape from there if need be.
It was a good thing the painter had thrown the nearest pallet down earlier in the match for it helped in giving Aesop a chance vault over it, redirecting the Violinists eyes away from the direction where Eli was currently running, and leading him away from the exit gate.
As he ran for safety behind some nearby ruins, he glanced a look behind just in time to see Eli make it past the exit gate. The smallest of smiles found its way to his lips just before the sound of several music notes whizzed out in front of him.
That wasn't a good sign...
Even if he were to hide between the lines of "the infinite movement" the Violinist was still far close. He was going to take a hit no matter what he did. Then again, he knew this outcome was bound to happen one way or another. As long as Eli made it out he was content with being chaired.
As he braced for the inevitable impact of the Violinist's bow or music notes, Aesop shut his eyes tight. It had been a long while since he willingly put himself in harms way for another.
But as he continued to run in the direction of the dungeon, the hit never came.
Instead the shrieking of an being hit an owl filled his ears, tanking the hit for him, and allowing him a chance to escape as the Violinist turned their attention back to Eli, who had stationed himself right outside the exit gate.
It didn't take long for the seer to leave then- Allowing Aesop to jump through the dungeon's open hatch and thus giving their team a draw.
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Eli was quick to find Aesop as soon as they were back in the warm safety of the mansion.
His hands were on the embalmer almost instantly, taking Aesop's hands into his own as he guided them to an living room with a fireplace already burning for them. With hands that were almost too gentle, he helped recline Aesop into the available sofa with a soft smile before removing himself altogether with the promise of returning with something to drink.
Aesop watched the seer leave with a small smile of his own before settling his attention on the fireplace in front of him.
The sound of the room's door creaking open caught his attention not even a minute later.
"Fancy seeing you here." The prisoner greeted with a lazy wave, crossing the threshold of the now closing door, making his way over to sit on the couch just inches away from Aesop. He looked a little worse for wear, probably returning from a match of his own, but made no move to fuss over his own apperance.
"Likewise." Aesop returned, looking back to the fireplace as if he hadn't a care in the world in keeping the conversation going.
Luca, on the other hand, either didn't seem to mind or was just too preoccupied with his own spiraling thoughts that he continued to talk anyway.
For several long minutes he recounted what was going on through his mind in his previous match. Apparently his team had gone against "Mad Eyes" in China Town and had really given them a run for their money. His team managed to escape with a three-man, poor Luca having been scarified, but it was deserved in the prisoners opinion seeing as he kept shocking "Mad Eyes" whenever the hunter was close by.
While Aesop only half listened, he did find himself smiling a bit behind his mask. If Eli had abilities in relation to Luca's then he was sure the seer would abuse that power just as much.
He must have voiced the thought out loud however as the prisoner's smile stretched wider the moment Aesop stopped 'thinking.'
"So, I hear a certain someone protected you once again."
Aesop sighed, nodding. "Yes and...?"
"Don't you think it's funny how he only ever seems to use his owls on you whenever the two of you are in a match together?" Luca smirked, folding his arms over his chest as he laid back against the plush pillows on the sofa they'd been sitting on.
"Eli gives everyone owls." Aesop's voice came out in an almost deadpanned tone, rolling his eyes as he looked in the opposite direction of both Luca and fireplace. "You'd have to be an idiot to think he saves them solely for me. He used a several owls to aid Edgar and Tracy in our match today, at least three on himself, and finally one on me."
Luca had half a mind to be offended by the statement but choose to wave the comment off.
"Okay then how do you explain his actions now? I don't know about you but I've never seen him fretting over his other teammates in the same way he does with you. Do you really think he checks up on everyone he's protected once a match is over?"
Aesop's cheeks seemed to warm at the prisoners words, he remained silent for several moments, pondering on Luca's words before shaking himself out of his own thoughts.
"Of course... That's just the kind of person Eli is. He looks out for everyone..."
"Dude..." Luca seemed to sigh, drawing Aesop's attention back to him. "I don't think you're getting it-"
Before either of them could continue on with their conversation, a light knocking at the aforementioned door caught them both by surprise. Neither of them moved to get up though, already knowing who would be entering as the door creaked open once more.
Eli entered with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and a fuzzy looking blanket draped on the forearm of said hand. His smile was just as soft as the one he'd been wearing earlier and all it did was stir up a warm feeling deep within Aesop's chest.
"Sorry for the wait! You know how hard it is to get this to the right temperature without fear of it burning your tongue on the first sip." The seer handed Aesop the cup as soon as he was close enough to hand it to him. His smile turned a little sheepish as he carefully placed the blanket over Aesop's shoulders, head turned towards Luca. "I'd have brought you something to drink as well if I'd known you'd be here too, sorry."
"It's fine. I wasn't planning on sticking here for long anyway." The prisoner answered honestly, already getting up to take his leave. "You can take my seat if you want."
The seer, however, politely shook his head, getting on his knees in front of Aesop with an ease that was almost too practiced to have been considered a one time thing before he ever so gently reached forward to take a hold of the embalmers ankle, settling it atop of his own leg to inspect the limb for any signs of injury.
"You aren't hurt are you? I noticed how you turned a little oddly right before your final kite started in our match earlier."
And though neither of them could see Eli's eyes from behind his mask, both Aesop and Luca could tell just how genuinely worried he was.
Aesop felt his entire being begin to warm as Luca gave him a Chesiree-like grin as he left the room.