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[abadlex]

The other two of the group didn't appear to approve of of how he reacted to the incubus... Like it mattered.

Then the fairy asked for his name. "Tirau" he said simply, looking at the shore in the near distance. The sooner that ice was broken, the sooner he can go back to the warmth of the castle. Thankfully his mother had promised to have a hot meal prepared for when he got back. This thought allowed the merman to continue on at the task at hand.

[Alison]

Cassandra put her hands on her hips as the merman responded. So they now knew his name to be Tirau. But he hadn't even looked back as he had spoken. This guy was a real stick in the snow. Cassandra had only been teasing Natrix as he certainly had is own moments and Nico was a whole lot of fun in her own right. Tirau however, Cassandra could only think that, well at least at present, his redeeming feature is that he had his mind on the job. She didn't really know him all that well to think any differently.

"Tirau" she called, realising that is the merman broke the ice on his own then they wouldn't have all that much time around here. It may have been cold, but she still enjoyed the area. "Wait for us!"

She turned and sighed to the others, before starting to head after the Merman.

[Slaye]

 Natrix could not help but laugh at his less than warm reception. The merman clearly did not like him, but Natrix simply gave his usual smirk, his tail flicking about with interest, because clearly he had found someone that would be fun to pick on.

 "While you're breaking the ice on the lake you should try to chisel some off of your heart, as well, that cold shoulder of yours could bring about the next ice age," he taunted, sticking out his somewhat longer than average tongue as he did so.

 He heard a groaning sound somewhat close to them and turned about to spot his loyal pet - whom had again fallen down in the snow.

 "Ghhawrrr," it groaned, bringing itself to it's feet again - with great difficulty as he only had one arm to do this with and the whole of his body was quite stiff.

 "No, no, I haven't forgotten why we're out here, I am merely asking out comrades to keep an eye out for your arm," he ran his fingers through his hair, wondering where the limb might have gotten off to. "I don't suppose one of the others considered it a snack," he suddenly mused, absently beginning to follow after Nico and the others.

 "Arghwwhhhaw," it listlessly gestured with it's remaining hand.

 "You're right, I crossed the line on that one, my apologies." He exhaled a little, flexing his leathery wings.

[McDodgerman]

Drew blew a ring of fine mist into the frigid air. Honestly, he loved the cold. It was his body that hated it. He shivered beneath his thick coat, humming a little ditty he was considering writing lyrics for. Not that he could get good reception if he advertised his store in Castlevania. If anything, Alucard would kick him out for inviting hunters, and that would be dreadfully awkward... He didn't know if he could secure a plot half as fertile as the one he had been allotted in Castlevania, or even make a house to fend off the snow. And going back home would be a complicated procedure...

No, he had to fulfill this mission in the name of Alucard. It was pretty simple, just break some ice for the riverfolk. Nothing too hard with the fire magic Alucard seemed to think Drew knew. He was glad for his father's tutelage for once, for being able to do something remotely useful within his capacity. In fact, a flame would feel pretty good right about now, but he didn't know how much energy he'd need to save for the ice. It must be thick enough for Alucard to intervene, and or pretty wide to occupy enough merpeople. Didn't they hibernate in blocks of ice or something? He wondered vaguely if he could score some river weeds from them meanwhile.

Oh, there was a group ahead of him, an assorted mix by the different shapes of silhouettes. Clearly not a werewolf pack; or hunters, judging by the wings. Alucard had mentioned sending him late. He ran quickly to catch up, waving an arm high and trying not to kick any snow into his coat. They seemed to be talking quite animatedly, and he was not one to miss out.

[Qu33n0f1c3]

Nico smirked when Cassie when on to ask the merman his name. She was pushing her luck, and Nico loved that. It was so fun to see irritable folks get worked up. It was just too easy to press their buttons.

His name was Tirau, apparently. Frankly Nico was surprised he'd replied at all, but it was certainly a good start. Maybe the little guy would ease up a little and open up to them.

But Cassie wanted Tirau to wait for them, and Nico thought that was silly. Wait? Why wait? The guy was a bore. Let him run off for all she cared. Not like his scrawny little merman ass could do much. Wasn't it his species they were breaking the ice to free?

Well, at least Natrix was holding up as per the usual, and Nico's smile returned. It really was pleasant to hear his wise cracking, and even the banter with his half-witted pet of his. She really didn't get the appeal in the zombie, but hey, it kept the incubus distracted, and that was better than risking him jumping anything that moved. Unless it were her. She'd probably have great fun in that.

Nico's ears strained a moment thereafter as she heard new footsteps behind them. Turning her head ever slightly, she rose a brow seeing a figure approaching them at a run. She grinned, not knowing the person particularly well, but always up for another face to occupy her time.

"Looks like we've got company," she said, thumbing back behind her. They'd reached the lake by now, the entire thing being frozen over, and looking thick as well. "And a man at that. Happy day indeed."

[Alison]

Cassie could hear what was happening behind her and couldn't help but smirk. Oh that Natrix was great fun, when he wasn't been annoying trying to hit someone. What he had called to the merman was a little harsh, but indeed Tiaru was giving them the cold shoulder. It even seemed that Natrix liked to tease his own little pet.

Cassie was that distracted with her thoughts on Natrix that she had been unaware another had been making their way towards them. She turned towards Nico, before looking past the woman towards the stranger. "Ohhh a Demon," she mused a little before looking back to Nico. "If I didn't know better then i'd say you've been taking lessons from Natrix~"

[abadlex]

Tirau sighed.

"Great..." he thought in annoyed as he glanced at the lake, hearing the group before mention something about a newcomer. "Another reason to stall... I hate this cold and I would be with family than this happy-go-lucky group. They may have been driven out by hunters but they weren't attacked by them... Had family members killed by them!"

Tirau fingered the scar across as he final thought occurred. "They weren't injured by one of those scum!!!"

Tirau turned around sharply and shouted at the group. "Are we going to break this fucking ice or what?!!"

[McDodgerman]

Drew caught himself as he reached the group of strangers. The snow made it a harder run than he was used to, and he bent over a moment for his breath. He opened his coat, fanned in some chill, and rebuttoned before raising his eyes to the lake. It would have been more breathtaking if he wasn't already trying to catch it.

The expanse of lake was iced over, frosted artfully with smatterings of snow. Dazzling white, in shifting snowfall and misty breath, looking like it could remain untouched forev-

"Are we going to break this fucking ice or what?!!"

Well, the merman was right. There was a job to do, sentiments aside. At least he could wait for Drew to catch up with the rest of the group, the job would be easier to work together than have a solo fishy stab at the ice. Maybe the beast had some internal instinct he could use, but Drew wasn't sure if he himself or the rest of the party had quite the same functions. "All in due time, merman. He should organize ourselves before we start, or we might end up doing a whole lot of nothing."

Well, the problem was knowing where to start. He was hoping for a few measly centimeters, but it was impossible to tell the depth of the freeze from here. He knelt at the water's(ice's?) edge, brushing some flakes away from the surface. Too bad the snowpowder made for a terrible mirror. He rapped the ice once against a knuckle. Quite solid.

He stood, turning and brushing his knees. "We're definitely going to be here a while, might as well get formalities out of the way. I'm Drew and planless, how are the rest of you today?" He would've presented his hand, but it seemed a mite too chilly for that sort of friendliness. At least, the fish must've thought so. He really wanted to get to know these people, though.

[Alison]

Cassie frowned as she heard Tiaru, she believed him to be such a harsh being for a merman. Just what was wrong with him? She gave a small snort to herself before looking back to the new man. She could have laughed when he spoke, whoever this was, he was apparenly a more patient man than the merman.

Cassie watched him curiously as he knelt, watching him made her feel cold again. Kneeling in the snow and hearing the sounds from the knuckle on ice were not appealing at all. Then he spoke again. Well that's just great. Is it that thick? she thought to herself before sighing. So this Demon's name was Drew and apparently without a plan.

"I'm Cassandra or Cassie," she nodded to him stomping her feet to keep herself warm. "Despite wanting to be somewhere warm, i'm ok." Then with a slight cheeky smile, she glanced to Nico. "And I think it maybe a good thing that we have some sort of plan then. It's called this one..." with that she tumbed to Nico. "Smashes the heck out of it with her power."

[Qu33n0f1c3]

"My, my," Nico murmured, looking out over the snow and down where Tirau stood by the lake. The merman was clearly impatient and was in want of some action. She didn't have long to stare, though. They had a name for the newcomer. It was Drew. What a boring name. Even more boring, he was a self proclaimed planless demon. Clearly this creature was no fun.

She looked at Cassie as she began to stomp her feet? What a strange creature, Nico thought, finding the motions to be silly and out of place. Drew may be boring, but at least he didn't dance in place like that. Though dancing in place could be fun too. She'd have to try it some time--in private--and find out for herself.

But now the spotlight was on her. It was time to take action. She cracked her knuckles and gave a short bow. "Yeah yeah, I'll show y'all how it's done. Take a look see."

She approached the edge of the lake, winking to Tirau as she went. She then put her two hands together and began to focus her energy into her palms.

Over the center of the lake, a diamond shaped mass began to form. Tiny ice crystals swirled around each other, in and out, like electrons jumping orbitals, as they began to consolidate and create the icy dagger in the air. It swelled larger and larger until the iceberg resembled an arrowhead pointing toward.

"Watch out for projectiles," she said, releasing her energy and letting the pointed ice shard crash to the lake. When the tip hit the surface it broke apart into pieces, but the weight of the shard itself crashed through the surface, shattering it like a mirror and sending big chunks of ice and water into the air.

The breach wasn't perfect, and it by no means broke the entire surface across its length and width, but it was a start.

[abadlex]

Tirau rolled his eyes at the newcomer's, Drew's, comments. Tapping the ice certainly didn't appeal to him, especially when Drew stated how long it would most likely take to break through the ice. And stating to be planless wasn't exactly helpful... But a plan was already formed a while ago. Smash it with more ice.

Then the demon approached the lake, winking at him for some reason as she did so. Then she started to focus energy, so Tirau backed up a good distance away. As the shard turned into an arrow shaped iceberg, the merman found himself impressed.

Once the icy battering ram was released onto the ice, Tirau covered his face with his arm. One of the chunks landed beside him...

"Alright... I admit it. I'm impressed" the merman said as he lightly podded the chunk with his foot. "I hate to imagine doing this the hard way..."

[Alison]

Apparently Cassie had given Nico an opening and she grinned as the Demon spoke and started to strut her stuff. Seeing magic in action was nothing new for Cassie but it was still a nice spectacle to watch the icy mass start to form above the lake. It was building up into a pinacle that was reached as the ice smashed against the frozen lake. It had been a success! But Nico had not been kidding when she had said about watching for projectiles.

Cassie decided it was time to take flight to dodge a couple of chunks of ice that had been heading in her general direction. She was there to help any of the lakes inhabitants if they required medical aid, not to get hurt herself.

Cassie smirked to herself as she heard Tiaru, that was the first social thing that she had heard from the man.

"Yep~" she partly sang looking down to Nico. "That was something pretty awesome. Just the rest of the lake to go now!"

[McDodgerman]

Cassie stomped her feet rather adorably. Must've been especially cold for a little fae like her. Maybe he could provide some heat, if he had any juice leftover from today. He had to arc an eyebrow at The Plan, though. While he may be an amateur magician himself, the amount of energy required to simply smash it to bits would be enormous. But his mother had taught him long ago to trust labels, and he conceded the lake's edge to the other demon, stepping backwards to watch the spectacle.

He nearly missed the crash, for marvel of the ice spear. He was awestruck by her sorcery, the icicle solidifying out of the very air itself, only snapping out as bits of it flew past his face. He shook his head of the snow powder, sharing in the others' rave reviews. "That was the most impressive magic I've ever seen!" He'd clap if he could feel his fingers, but walked back to her side with his hands in his pockets. "Fantastic start for a first stab! I only wonder how to work around it now..."

His eyes scanned the cracked expanse of white. He didn't want to be the pessimist, but sheer force usually broke more things than it solved. There was a very sizable hole from what bit of the ice had pierced, and several floes drifting in open water. The merman could work inside-out, probably the best for that job. Only a few cracks reached the rim, which would be safest for himself and other non-swimmers. He wasn't sure how the fairy could help, or if there was another lance in store.

Well, he didn't want to assume anything about anybody. "I can't quite get out to open water, but I'll provide what I can from the coast." He snapped, a spark starting at his fingertip and growing around his hand in a soft glow. Quite warm, but maybe not enough to melt the ice through quickly. However, this was as much as he was comfortable, what with the thin ice and all. Didn't want to melt his footholds.

[Qu33n0f1c3]

With her audience duly impressed, Nico was duly satisfied with herself and what she had managed to do. She did feel it was a little exaggerated though. Sure, they meant well, but her, the caster of the most impressive magic the demon had ever seen? He must not have been hanging around the castle long if she was the best magician he'd seen. What she could do was nothing compared to the abilities of the Tepes clan.

But Nico pushed these thoughts away and surveyed what Drew was observing as well. They really had made a sizable dent in the lake, but the work was truly not yet done. She glanced at him when he snapped his finger, then inched a few steps away from the ball of heat he was holding in his hands. It wasn't the largest of spheres, but it definitely gave off a heat, and Nico was one of the few there who actually appreciated the cold.

"Maybe if we can get the merpeople up here to help push the ice chunks toward us here you can help melt them. As long as you can keep the heat consistent so the water doesn't start to boil while it's still frozen it should be relatively safe. Maybe Cassie could muster up a little wind to send the heat waves out so you don't have to get so close."

"I wonder if any of 'em down there are up and about," Nico wondered, stepping toward the edge of the lake and trying to peer through the ice, which was still a bit thick where she stood, and very much not see through. She looked over her shoulder at Tirau, who she hoped had been impressed enough by her display to be willing to go on a little scouting mission. That was why Lord Alucard had sent him with the group, was it not?

"All right, Tirau, old buddy, old pal, think you could must up a little thick skin and take a dip down there to see if your friends are awake and okay? You're a first-rate swimmer, aren't'cha? I bet you'll be down and up in no time!"

[abadlex]

Although he would prefer not to dive into ice cold water, Tirau knew very well things would go faster if he did dive in and search for some of his fellow merfolk. Besides, that Drew fellow had some sort of heat source ready...

"I suppose there is no harm in looking around down there" the merman responded, walking over to the hole in the icy surface. "But don't count on me being back so quickly... It might take a bit of searching to even find anyone that might be down there"

Standing by the hole's edge, he crossed his arms and said. "I personally hope this dive will not be for nothing..."

The merman jumped right into the water, immediately feeling the icy cold embrace of the liquid. So. F-king. Cold... But it will be worth it if there are any merfolk around. Tirau calmly swam around, searching every spot he came across as he tried to ignore the coldness of the water.