Cody's eyes were wide as saucers as Dahlia sternly spoke to Cyril, the man looking as though he might faint. Whether from the meagre amount of alcohol he'd consumed, or fear for Dahlia's life, it wasn't clear. He looked like something half-possessed, blank-faced, when Dahlia took his shoulder and told him to breathe--and something in him shifted into autopilot, into something he'd practiced with Zane over and over. Right. Breathe. In... out... Slowly, a bit of color returned to his face as he did this a few times over. "Y-yeah," he croaked out, softly, standing with Dahlia and telling himself, mentally, over and over not to look back at Cyril.
He did anyway, glancing at the man over his shoulder. Cyril shifted, his gaze hardening, as if to get up and follow--but something... stopped him. Cyril had noticed the pale man sit near them, but hadn't paid him much mind. Now, however, his blue eyes shot to stare straight at Null, his shoulders tense. "May I...
help you?" he muttered, feeling... oddly light. Not quite dizzy, but for some reason, Cody just didn't seem worth his time anymore. Strange. There had been a brief, intrusive thought of slamming the smaller man to the floor with a hand around his throat, but that had fizzled out rather quickly (and Cyril tried not to dwell on the disturbing thought for too long--he wanted to intimidate, not maim--surely not maim). Even so, there was something off about this person, and Cyril cast one more look at Cody and Dahlia's backs before looking back to Null with a halfhearted scowl. "Ignore all of that. It's just personal business. I can't stand people who butt into others' business unannounced." The statement seemed pointed at Null, as well, but was offhanded enough to seem vague.
Cody looked up at Dahlia, then squeaked slightly with surprise when Kosok hopped onto his shoulder. He stared wide-eyed at the little creature, then smiled warmly, his eyes shining. "Hi little guy," he laughed softly, throat still tight, but feeling far less trapped than before. "Um--thank--thank you," Cody began, looking back up at Dahlia, the smile on his face fizzling into something more nervous once more. "He's..." Cody trailed off, not sure where to start with Cyril. "H-he's dating one of my best friends, is all. She's great. Um..." Cody felt himself wilt slightly, not wanting to involve this woman with his personal life any more than she had chosen to herself. "I-I have a phone with me, so just... y-yeah, the address, and I can call my b-- m-my... friend, to come pick me up."
[Claiming Day 8!]