Darius's eyes peeled open as Dakota spoke, and he opened his mouth to answer her when Casey pointed out his messy face. A small blush rose to his cheeks as he quickly rubbed off the thin line with his forearm, coughing softly into it to hide his embarrassment. He didn't care so much about his outward appearance, but even he had standards. He wasn't about to look like a COMPLETE slob in front of the other Zodiac.

"I was watching over Africa," he replied to Dakota, giving one last rub at his cheek before carefully grasping the handle of the coffee mug that had been provided to him. "Because, y'know, lions. They're cool." His voice was soft, almost sad-sounding, although the expression on his face made it rather obvious that he was not sad, only slightly bored and tired.

"I saw a white lion, it was pretty," he added, shrugging his shoulders before taking a sip of his coffee, not seeming to mind taking his coffee black. "I took a picture of her. Thankfully it was still on me when we were sent here. I would've been pissed." The Leo reached into his pocket for a moment before remembering that he had left the photo on his dresser. He seemed to realize this and merely shrugged his shoulders, not excited enough to jump up and race to get it. "I'll show you later. It's too early."

He then proceeded to pile food onto his plate, although he was certainly careful to leave plenty for others. He was hungry, he couldn't help it.

Darius listened politely as Casey spoke, though at the mention of beaches, he seemed to perk up a little. He loved beaches and coastline, just watching the sand roll out for miles and miles, like tendrils of the land reaching out for the sea. It was beautiful. That, and Darius had a soft spot for certain little sand-dwelling creatures. Such things embarrassed him greatly, given they weren't at all associated with his element, but he couldn't help himself.

"Did you see any hermit crabs?" he muttered, scarred left brow raising slightly in question. "I like those. Pretty neat how they scurry into those little shells."

He paused as something... Changed in Casey's tone. The way he stared down at his hands worried the Leo, his brow beginning to knit together. Hesitantly, he lifted his hand to gently pat the other on the shoulder, but seemed to decide against it as he simply turned the hand to grasp his fork. He began to eat breakfast, although a slightly concerned glance would move over to the Cancer occasionally.

As Dakota brought up mention of a fight, Darius looked at her in confusion, and a little bit of irritation. Being the middle child, he didn't know too much about the '13th Zodiac' that was talked about in whispered tones, nor did he quite understand it. He especially didn't like talking about fighting people he didn't even know - After all, who else could she possibly be talking about. The Leo opened his mouth to say something sharp to show his disapproval, but instead he just grumpily shoveled food into his mouth. No use arguing with his elders, after all.

"Thanks, Dakota," he said instead, his voice a mumble as he swallowed down a mouthful of hearty food. It was surprising how much the almost scrawny boy could shovel down. "I don't mind the nature, actually. I'd prefer it didn't go up in a blaze." His joke was delivered so deadpan that he wasn't sure if anyone would recognize it as a joke, so he decided to add onto it. "Uhh... Insert a lion pun or something here, I don't know."

Jaxton Snake | Male | 20 | ⛎| Location: Outside of Zodiac's home | Mentions: Remy & Nico (indirectly)

He blinked, suprised at what was happening. He had inched closer as he saw one of the zodiacs nearly drowned in the nearby lake. He had to admit, he would have helped, but since he was the outcast everyone was against him. So he had no other choice but to be against them too. Maybe I can make an appearence? I don't recognize those zodiacs..so that means they shouldn't recognize me...maybe they are newer zodiacs? the thoughts swirled in his mind as he kept a close eye on both zodiacs that were in the lake.

He felt the snake move around his neck slightly as it turned it's head towards Jax and flickered it's tongue. Maybe it was concerned about Jaxton's thoughts, Jaxton faced the snake whispering softly to the snake so he wouldn't be heard. " Everything is fine. Don't worry about me Ruby. " Turning his head and his attention back to the girls he finally decided he would just make his way over there but not be seen by them. He jumped from the branch that held him. He made his way slowly towards the Lake, still hidden by the thick shrubs that invade the forest.

When he was at a fair distance his raised his head from the bush, noticing that the first girl was assisting the one that nearly drowned. He turned his head back to Ruby, " If they see me I want you to distract them so I can get away ok?" he spoke in a soft voice to the snake. The she-snake responded with a tongue flicker on Jax's cheek. Jaxton nodded in appreciation. He continued to observe the girls from a far, not really looking for anything special but had been curious and suspicious at the same time.

Darius couldn't help but crack a small smile at how Casey laughed at his, admittedly shitty, joke. The smile was ever-so-tiny, but they way his scar wrinkled in it betrayed everything. He let out a quick breath through his nose, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh, before Casey replied to his comment about the hermit crabs. Darius lazily cut into his pancakes with a butter knife as he looked at the Cancer through the corner of his eye, the small smile remaining as Casey spoke of hermit crabs. "Maybe Dakota will get you another one. She's pretty much the team mom," he snorted, though he didn't mean it maliciously. Considering she had set everything up here, well... She kinda was.

Darius shoved a bite of pancakes into his mouth, but nearly choked on it when he saw Rean walk in without a shirt. That was... Unexpected, to say the least. He said nothing, but gave a grunt of greeting to the Sagittarius before returning to his food. Anyway. "After breakfast, I think I'm gonna go work out," he sighed, leaning his elbow onto the table once more. Looking at Rean's scrawny frame reminded him that he needed to stay in something that resembled shape. "That punching bag in my room is calling to me."