Toki shook with fear as he clung to Skwisgaar's hand as the band headed further into the temple of the Black Klok. He tried to stay as close to Skwisgaar as he could without the Swede getting annoyed and pushing him away.
Two figures pushed open the double burgundy doors for the band, their faces shadowed by hoods. They lowered their heads as Nathan walked past first.
The doors closed after Murderface crossed the threshold last. He turned around to grimace at the door.
Pickles looked around, staying close to Nathan's side. "This place is fockin' weird, doods." He mumbled with a frown as he glanced around the barely lit room.
Nathan elbowed his side to keep the shorter man quiet as the five of them came to a stop just before a massive podium. It was dark grey with a skull very similar to Facebones etched into the front.
Toki immediately moved to cling to Nathan's back as a door opened from the side. Red light spilled into the dark room as another hooded figure came into the room.
This person was shorter than the two outside the doors. They were only a few inches taller than Pickles, dressed in blood red robes with black fur lining the hood. They walked up to the podium and climbed up the two steps to tower over the band. "Ah... hello again, boys."
All five men froze, eyes going wide. They knew that voice! They knew that particular pause, that fucking speech pattern!
"Offdensens!" Toki squealed, sprinting past Nathan to tackle Charles off the podium.
Charles squawked as he fell backwards with Toki on top of him, squeezing his middle as tight as he could. "Y-Yes, hello Toki." He wheezed between his bruised ribs.
Toki rubbed his face against the robe, tears gathering in his eyes. "Yous lefts withouts saying goodsbyes to me!" He cried into the blood red cloth.
Charles pushed his hood back while he awkwardly patted Toki's back. His hair had grown since his time as the band's manager, the back now touching his shoulders. Silver had weaved through the chocolate brown strands. He had traded his square frames for half moon glasses with metal armature.
"You look old, dood." Pickles commented with a smirk.
Charles rolled his eyes as he tried to push Toki off once the hug started to get uncomfortable. "Very hilarious. May we comment on my appearance after you all save the world once again?"
Toki squeezed harder when he felt Charles' hand sneak between his arms. "Nos!"
"Toki, please."
"Nos! Yous gonna leaves again!"
Charles winced. The comment stung a little more than he cared to admit. He sighed heavily. "Very well. At least let me stand."
Toki nodded and Charles stood to his feet. Toki wrapped his arms around Charles again, gripping him by the shoulders now.
Charles awkwardly waddled back towards the podium and grabbed the black leather bound book. "Now. Let's get to work."
