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| No title. |
| (2012-11-20 - 2012-11-27) |
| No description. |
| Valencia | Valencia is walking through the second district over towards the third district, looking a bit nervous as she thinks to herself, "...What have I gotten myself into? I thought working for them might have been worthwhile, but... I don't know now. Capturing heartless is exactly what Mickey said they shouldn't be doing, and they're even using dark power! I don't know if that's cleverly using it for a good cause, or inviting corruption..." all the while still looking fairly distracted. |
| Avira | 0SOMETIME EARLIER "Huh. A "jelly infestation." That sounds like it should be easy." 0RIGHT NOW Valencia is distracted. Perhaps too distracted to hear the slimy, shlooping, squishing sound approaching her. Every few seconds, there is a gooey noise that has questionable appropriateness. Sometimes she might hear a gasp of disgust or the sound of a person recoiling in horror. And groaning. Much groaning. The unfortunate green coating clinging to Avira isn't thick enough that she would be mistaken for one of the monsters she vanquished earlier. It's enough that bystanders do have to take a second look before turning away, embarassed for staring. With each person that turns who is noticed by Avira, the huntress stops and fixes a steely glare their way as if she were capable of shooting lasers from her eyes. Avira notices Valencia, even while wallowing in her own gooey misery, "Hey! Hey Val! Do the labs have plumbing yet?" |
| Maira | Maira is around, headed toward the Inn where she currently sleeps, smelling of ingredients to many a potions and smoke. She's dressed in old jeans and a t-shirt with a much used apron over her clothes smeared with essential oils. Her hands are discolored from mixing. She's in a good mood though, singing to herself as she strolls. She stops when she hears a woman talking though. Maira wonders if that woman is talking to herself. Or! Maybe she has a ghost friend too? Better ask. Of course, then Avira shows up covered in slime and Maira is immediately distracted by this. She runs on over, waving. "Avira! ....What happened?!" she asks, then looks to Valencia, smiling, "Hello!" |
| Valencia | Looking up at Avira, Valencia says, "O-Oh, hi!" with a smile, "No, not yet I..." before her grin fades a bit as she says, "I'm not sure what I'm doing right now. Someone asked me a few questions about technology and seemed impressed, then offered me a job. I thought that I could work with VALKYRI and them at the same time but now that I see what they're doing, I'm not sure if I want to work with them at all, even though I've already signed up with them. They're called ShinRa, and... I don't know if they're inventive and unconcerned with how others view them, or amoral and greedy." |
| Avira | "Hi Maira." Avira reaches out a hand at her and wiggles it, small droplets of slime dripping off her fingertips. "An awful mark happened. I didn't know green jellies could get that...big..." A shudder escapes her and she shakes her hands again, flinging bits of slime everywhere. "Oh by the way, Maira, this is Valencia. One of the new people I mentioned in my letter." Avira frowns. "No plumbing yet, damn, we're gonna have to fix that. I don't think an inn is going to let me walk in looking like this...hmmm." She taps a finger to her chin, "I wonder if I'll get arrested if I jump in the fountain to rinse off." Glancing back to Val, she frowns, "ShinRa? Can't say I know all that much about them. Uhhh, what exactly do they want you to do?" |
| Valencia | "...Well, apparently they're using a heartless to power this transportation system they have. They also asked me about human experimentation, and they seem to have a lot of guards around for some reason. Like they're paranoid someone will find out about what they're doing." Valencia says, "This doesn't look good, and I'm starting to think that I should get out while I still can." |
| Maira | Maira straightens at the name ShinRa, as if someone had her by a sting attached to her spine and suddenly jerked her up. "ShinRa. No...no no no," she says, shaking her head and hands emphatically at Valencia. "It is probably a little of both, as I doubt everyone knows what ShinRa did and is probably still doing...but no no you don't want to work for them." Maira shies away from the slime, then turns and smiles to Raiya. "Oh, hello!" Back to Avira. "Okay, so I can do something about that slime I think. Brace yourself!" she says, her only warning before conjuring a water spell to splash Avira with. |
| Avira | A smirk graces Avira's face as she notices she's grossing out Maira with the slime coating her fingers. She teases the mage a little more, pushing her hand forward, but not touching. The smirk disappears when she takes notice of a certain samurai supplying a greeting. It's fate. It has to be! That two wanderers such as themselves would cross paths this often. "Raiya. I'm...alright, just baring the aftermath of a recent hunt." There's an awkward pause, "Are you alright?" Valeria announces that ShinRa uses Heartless for things and might do human experimentation, "Whoah, whoah now, anytime human experimentation comes up should be a giant red flag. Also using Heartless as a power source sounds like trouble too." What's curious to Avira is how much Maira seems to protest and seems to agree. "Doubt everyone knows? What do you mean, Maira? Uh-wait, what are you-" She doesn't brace herself. Avira is knocked off her ass onto the ground. But it does wash a good deal of slime off, leaving a puddle of watered-down slime surrounding the huntress on the ground around her. |
| Valencia | "Well, that's not exactly elegant but..." Valencia says as she walks over towards Avira as she says, "I should be able to fix this up." as she gathers a ball of starlight in her hand before throwing it at Avira's feet as a helix of starlight swirls around her, water leaping off of her clothes and out of her hair as she says, "Simple trick, mostly for convenience. Even weak sorcerers are good at things like that." she then sighs before saying, "Well, I guess you're right. I'm not too uneasy about human experimentation because sometimes it doesn't hurt the person badly, but... Using heartless? I see your point." |
| Angantyr Vespar | There is a shifting in the darkness around one of the back allies, and out from it steps the Dark Knight. Most Dark knights are in very heavy armor set ups, Angantyr is waring something a bit lighter, a breastplate, with chainmail under it and connecting to other harder bits of metal. Gauntlets, other bits of strapped on metal here and there...apparently this is a dark knight with a budget. Except for that weapon on his mace, that mace on his back is finely crafted, and radiating a dark energy. It's very spikey, almost looking like it is made to tear flesh and armor apart, rather than beat things in. He turns a corner, seeing Avira coated with slime, and then water, which makes wet slime. He takes a few steps forward, crossing his hands, before speaking.. "Should have used pudding. Then we'd be cooking with gas." he says, in an amused tone. |
| Maira | Maira is blank-faced as Valencia also switches into helpful mode. Maira is trying to decide if she has been insulted. She is getting the impression that yes, she has. Maira steps back some, not one prone to fight for herself, pursing her lips as she clasps her hands behind her back. "Sorry Avira..." she says, turning then at the sound of a new voice. Boy, sure was becoming crowded over here! She tilts her head and flashes the man a hesitant smile in way of greeting. |
| Avira | She was slimeless, but wet. Now with Valencia's magic, she's no longer soaked. "Well that's useful." Avira remarks, idly taking note that Valencia definitely has the shades of a mad scientist in her. "Human testing needs /regulations/. Rules." As Avira picks herself up, she peeks over at Maira. Odd, she seemed a little distant now, "Eh, don't worry about it. -I'm fine." The last bit is added for the benefit of Raiya. A rather ominous-looking individual with an ominous-looking weapon arrives. He crosses his arms and makes an ominous-sounding...smartass remark. Avira slowly turns towards him and... ...smiles. "Angantyr!" She says brightly, "I...am not surprised to see you out here, come to think of it." |
| Zargabaath | Also in Traverse town was a small Archadian contingent. Once again, they were seeking information, or, at least Judge Magister Zargabaath was. In the middle of this small squad, Zargabaath was walking along with a pair of guards and a few scouts. He was even stopping at a few shops and asking about different things that have happened lately, even paying for what information they could give to him, as well as buying a few things. However, it's quite inevitable that this small group would come across Avira and Maira yet again. Maira can't exactly be missed, and Avira might.....if she was hiding this time. |
| Angantyr Vespar | Angantyr gives Avira a nod...he doesn't smile easily, and more often had a grim humor to him. It's not a lack of humor, but he's oddly reserved for a dark knight in most cases. He loooks passed her towards the Samurai, and cocks his head to the side, "No need for that, I'm not lookin' for trouble," he says, running his hands through the collor of the armor. A red coat can be seen under the armor, padding it a bit on top of everything else, but a bit of the collar came up. "And yeah, a mercinary has got to work, or else he don't get paid. Movin' about is something I d-..." he pauses, the Judge Magister is something that he can't help but see. He speaks lightly, "Damn, it's a judge." he says, calmly. "If you want to keep your hand on your blade, Samurai, I would suggest you hide it better. Unless you wana provoke a fight from it." speaking softer, "Not that I'd mind." Then he speaks full volume again, "So what the hell was with the slime? Get eaten by a monster and have to get saved?" |
| Maira | Maira backs up a little further again, if only to more closely examine the dark knight. He is only the second she's met, and he seems far more serious than that guy from Baron. As he seems to not really notice her, Maira makes no attempt to hide her study of him. Ou, what's that bit of red beneath the armor? Then, her attention is called toward the Judge. Oh boy. Him again! He wasn't so bad, really, even after she's sort of punked him off about Avira's letter. Eheh...woops. She waves lightly to Zarg, smiling sheepishly. With all these people around, she really wished she had been able to clean up. She's stained with potion ingredients and probably smelling a little funky. Of course, she could probably give herself the same treatment she did Avira...shrug, why not! "I will be riiiiight back," she says to any who listens, then scrambles off down an ally. Maira waves her hands a little and conjures a bubble of water above her head, letting it drop then to shower her, clothes and all, before next weaving both air and fire together to wrap around her in a warm whirlwind to rapidly dry her off. |
| Angantyr Vespar | Angantyr does plot exposition. "They are elite members of Arcadia's military...specifically the dogs of the most powerful house of the Empire, House Solidor. Generally, they are douche bags, with large sticks up their asses. I generally fuckin' hate them." |
| Avira | "This is Angantyr." Avira explains to the others, "He's also in Clan Dagda. Angantyr, these are some of my friends. Also some fellow members of VALKYRI." She half turns and looks towardss Raiya, seemingly quite contemplative. Avira had to wonder... Her wondering is interrupted as Agnantyr points out the incoming judge. This time, Avira doesn't try to run and she definitely does not try to hide. She's not sure what happened after she delivered that letter she almost lost the last time and hopes that it doesn't get brought up again. "...him." she grumbles, "He's been here before and with the Alexander no less." Maira runs off and a worried look settles on her face. Last time she ran from this guy, his aides chased her. If the same happened to Maira...well, she'd certainly have to step in. Part of her does find herself wishing for a fight. If only because she knows that Raiya and Angantyr being here would make it a very good one. "-hey! I did /not/!" Avira says, suddenly very defensive at Angantyr's words. "I beat a monster. I beat several monsters! It was brutal! And messy!" |
| Zargabaath | "Several monsters, hm?" Zargabaath says as he approaches Avira, watching Maira rushout of sight. He does send one of his scouts after her, but said scout, one with a little bit of common sense, actually rushes over and, instead of dragging maira back into view, stands guard where Maira is, until she's ready to join them again. However, Zaargabaath continues to listen to Avira. "Avira of Clan Dagda. It is agreeable to see you again, considering the circumstances lately." Speaking, of course, of their last meeting. "Why don't you introduce me around, Miss Avira.....and perhaps, give me some information about Heartless? If you have any, that is." |
| Angantyr Vespar | Angantyr holds up a hand towards the others... "Angantyr Vespar." he says, and the name might be familar to the Judge Magister. Specifically, the last name Vespar. Vespar was also the surname of a judge, one who came from a country that was taken over by Arcadia...he was a noble of the land, and a paladin of a highest order to boot. Odd seeing that a dark knight wares the name...perhaps it was coincidence. "And if you want information, judge, you're not in a position to be orderin' it from us...first of all your out of your territory and a long way from Solidor's powerbase, Second, you failed to offer the standard fair for whatever we have." he says, calmly. Angantyr is a buisness man first. "So lets talk money, and perhaps we'll tell you what we know. Or you can try and threaten us." he says, grinning... Please threaten me, the smile says. Please. |
| Maira | It escapes Maira's attention that she is being peeped on until she turns around, ready to make a reappearance within the group. Sure, she's still a little bit damp, but at least she's a great deal cleaner! When she sees Zarg's scout standing guard, she gawks, then glares. "Hey! You shouldn't be watching a girl shower!" she tells him. Sure, she'd done so with her clothes on in an ally way, BUT STILL! She wags a finger at the scout then scurries on over to rejoin the group, looking to Zarg. "Your um....guy there was peeping on me!" she tells him, ridiculous but self-righteous. She just catches the intro from the dark knight. "Angantyr...huh. That's a cool name!" she decides, then gives him a skeptical look. "Are you from Baron?" |
| Garland | Traverse Town. It is a place distinct in the worlds, a crossroads upon which travellers from all dimensions walk. It is not uncommon here to see people from all walks of life, from worlds that would ordinarily have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Disparate worlds, disparate people, all together in Traverse Town, the crossroads of the universe. It makes him sick. The man who walks down the street now is no stranger to disguise. He simply prefers not to use it - what purpose is a disguise, when the worlds themselves know what you are, when the worlds themselves reject your existence on the sheer principle that you were once a force of unparalleled destruction, and, if you have your way, will be again? The armor is massive, bulky, tremendous; it is an ancient style even by the standards of the various Ruin Worlds, but it shines like new, well-polished and well-kept by its master. The helmet is like unto the face of a demon; its horns protrude outwards, sharp steel that looks as useful as a weapon as the huge gauntlets or the massive, spike-like boots. He draws stares as he walks, but he walks with a purpose, ignoring the ignorant rabble their perceptions. He is not here to cause trouble, for the moment; rather, he is here in Traverse Town on very specific business, business that actually has nothing at all to do with the people who are gathering. If not for the presence of a certain person, the Champion of Chaos would not have even noticed the crowd; as it were, however, it is impossible for him to miss. So, as it draws his attention, Garland forces himself away from his task, and makes his way over to the crowd. He comes up behind Angantyr, surprisingly quiet despite the bulky plate. He simply crosses his arms and stares, taking in the crowd (such that it is) - the Judge Magister is first to draw his eye, the others passed over in the assumption that they are somehow related to Angantyr and thus not likely people he cares about. Garland says nothing. There is no need for him to speak; he simply stands there, breaching seven feet tall, a giant in iron to look upon the gathering for his own curiousity. His business could wait. This looked to be...entertaining. And it was good for an old man to get entertainment now and again, wasn't it? |
| Avira | Avira seems immediately unsettled when she notices one of Zargabaath's aids move to the alley where Maira had dipped down for a few seconds. "-hey, she's not running away, leave her alone." She's quick to say, taking note when the guard just...stands there. And guards. Avira is still displeased with this turn of events. "I respectfully request that you remove your man-" she points over at the aid, "-before I introduce or answer anything." Avira, in actuality, is a lot less worried about herself or Maira. She knows a thing or two about Angantyr. She knows that getting him anywhere near the vicinity of an Archadian judge would only end badly. Part of her kind of wants to see that. Case in point, she's about to mention that she really doesn't have anything useful to offer about Heartless. Sure, she's fought them, but she wasn't any closer to understanding them. Angantyr swiftly steps in instead, demanding payment for information. "He has a point. People should be compensated for their time." Then some gigantic armored man rolls up behind Angantyr and Avira's eyes widen. Slowly, she edges over to the dark knight and leans up to him on her tiptoes. 'Behind you.' she murmurs in his ear, 'Might be another judge, I can't really tell.' |
| Zargabaath | "My aide is merely keeping her safe while in the alley. Who knows what could be in those places of darkness, and I would not wish to see her harmed. Besides, he is not the same aide as before. That one was rotated out of my fleet and will remain so until he learns a few......manners." He says before looking to Maira. "Greetings Lady Maira. I don't think my aide was peeping on you, for you are not his 'type', since you are female." He says with a wave of his hand. "His orders were to keep you safe." Speaking of safety, the dark knight was starting to push his, however, he's come to expect this from people outside of Archades. "Are all Dark Knights so.....rude?" He says before looking up a bit to the towering Garland, but he wasn't his problem. However, when Raiya bows to him, he returns the bow to her. "Greetings, young lady. I don't think any of the people here will introduce me, so I shall. I am Judge Magister Zargabaath, commander of the 12th Archadian Airship fleet and Captain of the Alexander, it's flagship. What might your name be?" |
| Angantyr Vespar | Angantyr looks towards Avira...but he already knows what is there...that darkness is something Angantyr can't ignore...he's a natural source of it...but he's still growing. Garland is like a sun, it's hard to ignore it when it is that close...but he's focused on Zargabaath right now...and if Garland wanted his attention, he would let him know. "It's okay." he says, and then uncrosses his arms...he looks a lot more lose now...and Avira knows what that means. "Rude? I daresay that it was rather rude to send one of your aids to go spy on someone...what if she DID want to leave?" he says, evenly. "Reguardless, I'm talkin' buisness judge...and don't think that suddenly being polite will change this. Lets talk payment, or be off with ye." he says, grinning. He whispers back to Avira, 'I know the one behind me. He's a pretty good guy once you get to know him. Relitively.' |
| Sarafina Carenze | SPEAKING OF BARON Sarafina is making her way down in the area, having noted the crowd. She is hanging back for now, not getting into the group so much as observing from the outside--there's a lot of people, and she doesn't want to cause a ruckus. She does note Maira's presence, naturally, as well as Avira's and Zargargagragrgbth's. There are others of course too but those draw her immediate attention. "Mm." She mms. Maybe she has been staying in Traverse too often. |
| Garland | Garland was simply keeping himself amused. He really had zero interest in solving Angantyr's problems for him; if he did that, the boy would never, ever learn, and then he wouldn't be of any use to Garland, and useless people were something Garland simply did not abide. They cluttered plans, they became wrenches that planted themselves firmly in wheels and gears; they got underfoot, so to speak. Garland had no trouble walking on the backs of the broken. He had no moral qualms about breaking people over his knee for standing in his way. But every expediture of resources and effort was an expenditure that forced his hand, and Garland loathed, loathed, loathed above all else forcing his own hand before he was prepared. It made him angry, angry enough to continue...expending resources. Garland uncrosses his arms a moment later, settling one of those massive gauntlets on Angantyr's shoulder. It's a simple motion, but one that immediately tells everyone in the area at least two things. First, that the massive man in armor knew the Dark Knight; second, that the massive man in armor was not a Judge, nor any ally therein. A quietly calculated motion. "Is something troubling you, boy?" Garland rumbles; his voice is deeper than a chasm, darker than the depths of a trench. There's no menace directed towards the Judge, nor anyone else; simply a sort of omnidirectional menace, a malaise that infiltrates his voice even when he's attempting to sound kind. Which is never, because Kindness is for other people. |
| LEXUS | The alleyways are dark. While Traverse Town is usually safe, sometimes, terrible things lurk within them. The darkness is lit with a faint pair of lights, small designs hanging in the darkness as it seems to.... pulse. Twin violet lights wink into existence, consisting of faint lines that create small circles inlaid within one another. The outer circle, studded with a triangular pattern of dots, rotates irrgularly on both of them. They do nothing for the moment... But there is a strange... clicking sound that begins to grow within the depths, out of sight for the moment. |
| Zargabaath | The dark knight is ignored by Zargabaath because his only actions so far have been to try and start a fight, which Zargabaath was not here for. However, Raiya does capture most of his attention. "The titles aren't really much, but there they are. I do wonder if you have fought with Heartless before, and if you have any useful information about them?" he doesn't talk payment yet, but it's clear he's not offering any money to Avira or Vespa, due to their insolence. |
| Aerith | Aerith was looking for someone. Her amazing find in the slums of Goug, a building she hadn't seen in the first six months she'd been there, told her it was there for a reason. It wasn't just coincidence, and she had to have someone come and fix the place up. Maybe this was just another crazy thing the Voice told her, but she went with it because it sounded good. When she'd arrived though, something felt... off. Strange, somehow. The air was thicker than usual. She could poke it with her staff and meet resistance. A chill ran along her spine as she entered the second district, taking a look around in the hopes that she hadn't run into anything... unsavory. Turns out she had though... because there were a lot of people in the direction she stared, and not all of them were nice. Aerith decided to get behind a building that was far enough for her to stay out of sight, but close enough to where she could still hear. Hopefully it wasn't about to get ugly. Hopefully. |
| Avira | Though only proficient in ice magic, Garland is strong enough that Avira does get a faint sensation of dread while being around him. Perhaps it was that which set her off into wondering if the seven foot tall armored man was an actual judge. That he's also looming behind her dark knight buddy was also a bad sign. Avira had yet to actually see a Judge be 'out to get' Angantyr. 'It's okay.' he says and loosens himself. She recognizes that alright. Slowly, she slips away from him, giving him room. Not before the dark knight lets her know that he actually knows that seven foot tall armored guy. It's confirmed when he places his hands on his shoulders. 'Is something troubling you, boy?' Just something about that voice makes Avira's skin crawl. Normally she'd be very curious and ask Angnantyr who this armored guy was. Instead she falls silent and edges closer to Raiya. |
| Maira | Strange things are most certainly happening. Maira isn't quite sure what is about to happen, but she is getting ready for it by inching a little closer to someone she knows she can trust, such as Avira...who is edging closer to Raiya...Hah! Maira eyes Garland, eyes wide. "You are huuuuuge!" she whispers, in awe. |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart came in alongside Aerith, since she does have a few contacts as well. She had been looking up people for her bar, renovations and furniture, so she had a few leads to help her friend out. She doesn't have voices to guide her, but she manages on her own pretty well. She blinks when Aerith hides away, and moves next to her "What's going on?" She knows Aerith's senses are pretty sharp, to another elvel than her own, she's mostly about immediate danger most of the time. |
| Angantyr Vespar | Maira brings a honest to god smile to Angantyr's face...it's about how it is said, that just makes him smile...despite the fact that Zargabaath just ignored him. "No, nothing is the matter Master Garland." he says, calmly, "The Judge Magester here was just askin' about information on the Heartless...I was offering to tell him if he was willing to pay...instead, he took my inability to be cowed by him as insolance." he shrugs. He turns towards Garland, giving him a grin, "So nothing abnormal here...cept that I guess he hasn't tried to arrest me. I'd be amusing to see him try." |
| Aerith | The flower girl motions for Tifa to quiet down, then signals for her to get behind her, as if that would help somewhat. Maybe it would, Tifa would be a bit more concealed. Once her senses picked up that Tifa was right there next to her, Aerith whispered, "Something's going on. I don't know what, but I have a bad feeling about some of the people over there." She couldn't exactly pinpoint who they were, it was just a general feeling. Like sticking your hand through oily water. |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart nods to Aerith, moving behind. She has a bag with a few things she picked up while in town. She has more bars to furnish out after all. She peeks around the corner as Aerith mentions them "Well a few of them look bad... I know of a few of them there though, like that's Rayia." |
| Aerith | Aerith peeked out from the corner of the building, her eyes scanning the area for a brief moment before she vanished again. "I can see Maira and Avira... is that blonde with the purple dress Raiya? And Zargabaath is there too..." She shook her head. "I don't know anyone else." Which of course, worried her even more. |
| Garland | Garland slowly lowers his head in a nod. That was, of course, a test; if the boy had said that something was wrong, something he couldn't handle, Garland would've immediately antagonized Zargabaath for the sake of getting him trained on the boy. And had Zargabaath not responded, well, Garland had alternative means of teaching lessons. But the boy was willing to handle his own problems, which was enough for Garland. "Remember, boy," that horrible voice echoes, "Seeking a fight is the surest way to lose it. Even if you are confident in your own skill, the battle not fought is a victory without peer." His armored gauntlet clasps upon Angantyr's shoulder again, a little bit harder than before, but not nearly enough to injure him. If Garland wanted to injure him, that wouldn't be difficult. He tilts his head down to Maira, amusement creeping into his voice. "Yes, I suppose that I am, child." His eyes stray to Avira behind his helmet; he'd ask Angantyr later who she was, if she was useful, and what else he might be able to learn from the boy. For now, though, it was LEXUS who distracted Garland the most; Garland knew that symbol quite well. He inclines his head thoughtfully, then removes his hand from his apprentice, moving into a slow, predatorial pace. His armor was quiet, unnervingly quiet despite the bulk; it makes him out like a great beast of prey, circling the group as he does so. He says nothing; that massive armor simply moves, slowly and steadily. |
| Sarafina Carenze | Rudeness isn't uncommon in this world, Sarafina reflects, or any other. She approaches Maira, however, rolling her shoulders back--the wings flap twice despite Sarafina's will to keep them still.She gives a small nod to Avira but doesn't seem troubled by Garland's dialogue. 'Something troubling you boy?' doesn't sound weird to Sarafina at all, really she'd say that herself if she felt up to it. She doesn't usually, but. "Maira." She says. "How are you holding up from ... the recent events?" Freaking Ochus. SHe glances to Garland. THe way he's moving is practically unnatural. She flexes out her fingers and frowns faintly. Armor of that bulk, and scarce a sound. Is it magic? |
| Aerith | Aerith looked out again, and noticed one of the two armored men moving... but despite her best attempts, she couldn't hear his footsteps. A big suit of armor like that should at least make some noise... She hid herself again, the shiver along her spine making it clear this was one of the ones the Voice warned her about. Yes, she had a name for it now. The Voice, the whispers that warned her of danger, spoke of secrets and emotions within others, told her of pain. The Voice confirmed it. This one was bad... very, very bad, and dangerous. |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart nods "I think that's all those I know as well. I'm not sure what's going on, but it doesn't seem entirely friendly either." She blinks a bit at Sarafina "I think I've seen her before too, but I can't remember what we talked about..." she tries to remember. She's met a few gargoyles before after all. |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath smiles at Garland, even as he walks away. "If only more people know of that wisdom, sir." He says before turning back to Raiya. "Mmm...Obvious information, but...." He said as he takes off a small bag and tosses it to Raiya. "If you find out any more information about the heartless, like different forms and ways of defeating those forms, You would make me a very happy Judge Magister." The Dark Knight is still ignored, even as he talks to Garland, whom walks off in an unknown direction. However, after a second, his head snaps up, and he turns his helmed head over in Aerith's direction. |
| LEXUS | "You are very confident." The voice speaks from the darkness, the violet designs moving from the darkness. Violet circuitry pulses, growing in light to reveal the being that those insignia belong to. A middle-aged man in a dark suit, posessed of no apparent weapon as he steps forward. To some, he would be familiar. His bearing and demeanor seem to be almost intentionally chosen to be as nondescript as possible. If it were not for the circuit-pattern upon the tie and running up his flesh along the jawline to his temple... And the eyes, he would be eminently forgettable. "I can appreciate that. Confidence often belies strength. A will to survive. It is a survival trait when properly moderated." He smiles faintly, looking over the group present. "So, you wish information about the Heartless?" He asks, apparently addressing Zargabaath. |
| Maira | Maira has a voice too, but he has a name and sometimes, even a form. Uist is most certainly on edge, which was one of the main reasons she drew closer to Avira and Raiya. Still Maira's curiosity is an extremely powerful force; almost as powerful as her naivety. She's watching Garland with obvious confusion, but no hint of the alarm she really should be feeling. Blinking, Sarafina looks up to find Sarafina! The young woman grins broadyly. "Hey Sarafina! Oh I'm alright. Much better," she tells her. And clothed! She adds mentally. Maira's eyes go back to Garland as he paces around them, turning in a circle as she does so. Indeed, she picks up and starts walking behind him, trying to figure out why his armor doesn't make any noise. "Huh, what kind of magic do you use to be so quiet? Or is your armor made of some special material?" she asks. When yet another ominous voice appears, Maira jumps, startled. "Eee! I wish people would stop doing that..." |
| Aerith | Aerith does not show herself for several moments. Probably because she can feel the eyes on the back of her head, staring at her through the building. But that couldn't be right. She made sure she wasn't seen, right? Right. She turned toward Tifa and whispered, "I think we should stay out of this. We don't know what's going on, besides Zarg asking about Heartless again. He threw a bag of something to Raiya, then..." Wait, another voice. She pressed her back against the wall again, trying to be as discreet as possible. Maybe this time, she wouldn't look. It was better to listen to this instead. She closed her eyes and made her best attempt to tune out everything but voices, sounds, and words... |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart nods to Aerith, pulling back into the alley, hopefully out of sight really. She's no ninja though, even if she moves pretty fast. "Zarg seems to have obsessed with the heartless alright, let's just hope for the right reasons." |
| Avira | What's extremely weird about this exchange, Avira finally realizes, is that the big guy is calling Angantyr 'boy.' As someone who was very much an adult-or even an older brother-to her, Avira's mind was simply blown a little. With the way the dark knight addresses him, though, her thoughts only become more troubled. Angantyr didn't respect just anyone. This was easily the first time he'd referred to anybody as 'master' in her presence. There Garland goes too, dispensing some fatherly advice and talking down any potential confrontation between the dark knight and the judge. Given what she knows, this causes no small amount of awe. Avira is careful to not let it show. "Perhaps there won't be a fight today." she asides quietly to Raiya. Her tone's unsure. She's not disappointed there wasn't a tussle betweeen the judge and her friend, as that would be a horrible fight to get caught up between. Instead, she takes the opportunity to listen in on the conversation between Zargabaath and Raiya. She'd been informed by Aerith that the Judges did have interest in fighting against the Heartless. This information probing seemed to support that, but it could easily go the other way. Then there is that voice. LEXUS is not eminently forgettable at all. "You!" Avira reaches behind her and becomes the first person present here to actually draw a weapon in the form of the unusually-shaped sword she always carries at the small of her back. Angantyr would recognize it easily. |
| Aerith | Aerith nodded, her eyes still closed. "It's for the right reasons..." She knew it. She believed it. And she couldn't rightly explain why, she just did. After meeting him twice, the flower girl was sure of it. But everyone else, the unknown factors... she had no clue. She could just sense a looming... dread when she looked at them. The tension in the air spiked, making Aerith visibly cringe. Moments later, Avira's voice echoed through the square. "Oh no..." |
| Zargabaath | Turning his head towards the voice, Zargabaath tilts his head a bit at Lexus. "I am looking for information about Heartle..." and then Avira blurts out that single word and draws her sword. "Now that's interesting. Usually, People are drawing their weapons upon seeing me." He looks towards Avira. "You know this.....person?" Glowing parts tend to make those viewing them wary. |
| Angantyr Vespar | Angantyr nods once...just once. The disappointment is apparent...oh boy did he want to tussel with the guy, but today is going to be a peaceful day! Oh joy...but he turns to Avira, and shrugs again. "Yeah, I guess so." he says to her...and then turns his back on the Judge. Whatever, he thinks...and turns towards people he actually likes, or doesn't dislike. Though Maira was starting to get onto the liked list....what can he say, there was somethinga bout her that he just couldn't help but LIKE. Maybe it's because she's crazy as hell. Then Avira moves into attack mode towards...LEXUS...huh, this was going to be complicated...very complicated. He thinks about this for a moment, and instead sits back, watching. This might turn into a fight...interesting. |
| Garland | Garland does not immediately answer Maira. The means by which he makes his armor silent is neither magic nor material, but skill; it was like unto a second skin to him, that heavy, bulky plate. He was simply so used to it, so attached to it, had spent so much time inside it, that it was no longer a deterrant to even the most outrageous of actions. Indeed, it is highly probable that no one has seen his face for over ten thousand years; certainly not Angantyr, nor any of his fellow Shadow Lords. But to say such things to a child was highly unbecoming; moreover, it would elict too much interest, too much curiousity. So Garland simply doesn't say anything, focusing instead on the arrival of LEXUS. The old man moves forward, standing between the renegade program and the rest of the group for a very long moment, his helmet tilted downwards at his erstwhile ally. "LEXUS," Garland rumbles after a long moment, then turns away from him, back to the group as a whole. He's curious about their reactions; Avira clearly was aware of the shadow program and his abilities, and Angantyr had of course met the program face to face, but... To intervene, or not to intervene? Garland slowly, slowly taps his hand on his armor. It's a quiet, ringing metal tap (and clearly letting Maira know, probably, that that material is definitely not silenced by magic or anything else); it rings out across the area as Garland considers the situation. "I think that there is no need for violence," Garland observes, his helmet tilting gently towards Aerith and Tifa, "When there are innocents about, who might get swept up in such a conflict...yes?" It's clearly directed at Avira. Angantyr would probably find the very idea of Garland talking about innocents getting caught in the crossfire hilarious. Angantyr has probably not yet realized that Garland understands innocence to be a synonym for 'human shield.' |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart eeps a bit "Looks like trouble is starting. I know that... thing, for lack of better word. It attacked us without much reason." She's talkign about LEXUS. She remembers the fight was pretty tough too. |
| Aerith | Again, Aerith sensed the eyes on the back of her head... and sighed. "We've been made," she whispered with no small trace of despair in her voice. "We don't need to get into this. They can handle themselves." Maybe she was only telling herself this to feel a tad better about the chances of leaving alive with her friend. Her hands trembled, the grip on her staff so hard it made her knuckles whiten. Obviously she didn't feel that good about the odds... hence, staying right where she was. "We stay here, Tifa." |
| LEXUS | "Don't be a fool, User." LEXUS replies. "If I wished your destruction, I would not be approaching you in clear view and outnumbered. I am not an idiot." "Garland." LEXUS replies to Garland, a nod of respect given. He surveys the others present. "IT has been stated that information was desired about the Heartless. I have made extensive research into them. I am willing to provide some of what I have found if you wish it. There is a great deal to learn... And even I am finding the processes difficult for some projects, I admit." |
| Sarafina Carenze | "Hello." She says agreeably, glancing over to-- LEXUS?! Her eyes narrow faintly. "Ice cream stealing demon. What is your purpose here this time?" Is he here to steal gingerbread cookies next?!?!?!?! |
| Maira | With no immediate answers to her question, Maira simply observes. When he taps on his armor and it does indeed make an armor-appropriate sound, her lips purse thoughtfully. He must just be very, very graceful. Her next thought is 'I bet he's a great dancer' and not 'omg this guy is so frigging creepy run away and live!'. Lexus though, would get a different response, simply because of Avira's action. Maira's eyes widen, the air of magical energy about her beginning to crackle with readiness, giving the air around her a charged heat. She doesn't launch into action or anything, but she's moving toward Avira again now, ready to stand with her friend if she has to. The girl looks to Lexus, uneasy. Then, to Sarafina, amused. "He stole ice cream?" she asks. That could be a serious offense! Ice cream is important! But she's not going to throw fire at him like she did when Baigan defiled a donut. That was just...uuuugh that guy. |
| Avira | "You want your Heartless, Judge, just look to this guy-no, program." Avira says with a raised voice, clearly expecting LEXUS to complicate the matters in some way. Was DeSpell around again? "He'll show you plenty about Heartless while he's trying to kill you with them." Avira is in go mode. She is so ready to sword that program and this time she isn't nearly as scared about it as she was a month ago. Except a huge, seven-foot armored wrench is thrown into this plan as Garland steps between LEXUS and everyone else, quite effectively shielding him with his massiveness. Inspite of this, Avira doesn't back down. Not even when Garland sends a bit of chiding in her direction about innocents in the area being caught up in a fight. Of course they would, especially if LEXUS did that whole reality-warping thing he did last time. "Tell that to him." she says, her voice steely. She doesn't put her weapon away, even when LEXUS claims he's not here to destroy everyone. "I'm not a fool, LEXUS. That's why I'm not trusting you." |
| Zargabaath | User? That statement confuses Zargabaath for a second, but he walks around behind Vespar, mostly to keep him in view since he pretty much only expressed interest in violence. He walks away from the general group to watch LEXUS for a bit. In the end, he does ask. "How did you get this information?" Garland's name is heard as well.....can't be missed really. Under his helm, he's still glancing Aerith's and Tifa's way..... |
| Angantyr Vespar | Angantyr places a hand on Avira's shoulder. It is surprisingly gentle... "There is a time and a place to fight...and despite wanting to wet my appitite on the judge, Garland is right...there are too many people that WOULD get caught up in the crossfire, and whatever dislike you have of LEXUS, doing so here would only hurt people unrelated." Angantyr is aware of the irony of his statement. Then Zargabaath speaks... "Idiot. Don't you hear anyone but yourself? He KNOWS about them because he can SUMMON and USE them." he says grunting, "Freekin' peacock." |
| Kaydin | It was then that Aerith's shadow finally begins to grow and before long the sound of metal is heard before Kaydin walks out of the ancient's shadow as if leaving a staircase, the power of darkness easily sensed for those with the ability to sense such things will feel the knight's presence. "Aerith." He says as he approaches the woman. |
| LEXUS | "I engage in extensive research." LEXUS replies simply. "The details of my research are irrelevant to the current situation except insofar as they provided me with a method to supply this information." Avira continues to taunt him. "My purpose is to gather information and supply that information under various conditions. I possess useful information about the Heartless and their nature. While sampling seasonal baked goods would be pleasurable, I am more intent on business than pleasure at the moment." He pauses, and then gestures to the group. "I am capable of controlling the Heartless. Much like a feral animal, they can be useful and powerful pets when properly guided. With discipline, much like a human, they can be used for productive ends." |
| Aerith | Aerith's eyes snapped open as her senses registered something... strange, unnatural, tug at her from within. Her focus on the situation at hand is broken somewhat by the arrival of a very slinky Dark Knight. She turned toward him as he spoke, a finger over her lips. He had no idea what was going on over there, and whether he was afraid or not, she damn sure was! But... she had to hear. She caught the tail end of it... and shuddered. The other one was bad business as well. She'd just discovered another who could directly control the Heartless... and then say they could be used for productive ends. Productive? They ate hearts! Stole lives! Drank the energy of almost an entire planet! The only productive ends they could be used for was an army... Anger flared up within her, overriding the fear. Her green eyes flashed at the very notion of someone trying to paint this in a positive light. And yet, she stayed. No use in doing much about it now. She had to remember... Jafar, and this LEXUS, as well as Garland. They were very, very bad business. It only solidified the one thing she'd realized in her mind, right before her world was nearly eaten in one bite... ShinRa was not the major threat here. |
| Maira | Maira has missed something. What about seasonal baked goods? "Huh? Baked goods?" she says, trying to hide her interest in the prospect and failing. She could go for pumpkin pie. That would just be tops. Uist pokes her, reminding Maira to stay on task here. There is danger. Flushing, Maira looks up toward Avira and Angantyr. Huh, guess they know each other? Maira sort of missed that part of introductions. What Avira has against Lexus soon becomes clear as it is revealed he controls Heartless. Well, that'd explain it somewhat. "Not the first person I've met who can...there was this rabbit," she comments. No, she is not kidding. Still, the way Lexus talks about humans gives her the creeps. Nearby so many capable warriors though, Maira isn't very worried. She doesn't really know better. Besides, that Garland guy is standing between them! He wouldn't let anything bad happen to them, right? Gross miscalculation of character judgement, GO! |
| Zargabaath | "Ah, I see." Zargabaath says before he turns to one of his Aides and taps a notebook he's holding. The aide writes something down and Zargabaath just shakes his head. "Interesting. Someone who can control the heartless. Someone to keep in mind for later." To what end, he isn't saying, especially in front of dark knights who decide to try and pick fights by calling Judge Magsiters 'idiot'....and members of their fellow clan. However, the Judge magister turns and walks directly towards Aerith and Tifa.....just as Kaydin appears out of the shadows. "One of these days, young man, you're going to appear out of those shadows and get blasted by a meteor, or have an airship rammed into you." |
| Aerith | Aerith turned toward Zargabaath, her eyes no longer filled with the spark of righteous fury, more like contrition. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide, but..." She glanced over in the direction of the three very obvious threats. Swords drawn or not, they were a big deal to her right now. "Maybe we should talk about this where there aren't so many ears." Voice still in a whisper. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin chuckles at the judge and moves infront of Aerith and Tifa now. He kept himself between the two women and the other people. "I wouldnt be surprised if that happens. Ever tried to navigate those corridors? I could walk the corridors with my eyes shut." Kaydin says as he looks to Aerith. "No one will lay a hand on you Aerith, as long as I draw breath. Not even the king of Baron." |
| Angantyr Vespar | "I CAN SEE YOU!" Angantyr shouts towards the shadows. "Also I can totally see you too! Shadows don't hide you from me very well!" he says, shaking his head...geeze, seriously? Who hides in dark allyways but cutpurses." "So yeah, wana get into the conversation, or have your little...dark kids ally ...no that's dumb..." he pauses... "YOUR BACKALLY ALLIANCE, or do you wana come over here and introduce yourself instead of talkin' with Mr. Armor for brains?" |
| Avira | Angantyr will easily feel the tenseness in Avira's muscles when he puts that hand on her shoulder. She seems to flinch a little at the touch, though such a reaction should not come as a surprise to him. She was unused to contact. The woman turns her intense glare away from LEXUS (and Garland, by virtue of being in the way) to the dark knight, to which it softens. Slowly, it turns into a concerned frown. If this guy was cautioning her against fighting LEXUS here. She seems about to protest, to go on about how it was more than simple dislike, like the imperative to eliminate this dangerous program...but such does not come to past. She respects Angantyr that much and recognizes how highly unusual his behavior was, especially around this imposing Garland fellow. The huntress lowers her weapon. "You both have good points. I do not want to get bystanders harmed. I am not interested in starting a fight." she says clearly, then glances over at Angantyr, "...but I will end one if I have to." The dark knight would know just how serious Avira is when she says something like this. The Spine is flipped upside-down, tip pointing downward and held in an inverted grip from the hilt. While she's demonstrated being quite capable of striking with her weapon holding it this way, she certainly does not attack with it and slips it back into its sheath. The latter action is mostly for Raiya's benefit. Avira has fought with the woman before and has actually managed to pick up on some of the subtle queues that indicate her readiness. Looking back to the samurai, she exchanges a meaningful glance of appreciation. No words otherwise. The message is clear: you were ready, thank you. |
| Garland | Indeed, Garland would not let anything happen to them. Maira's instincts, in that respect, are wholly correct - Garland has absolutely no desire to see a fight break out in the middle of Traverse Town between forces of light and darkness. That is a fact. It would make his business more difficult. It is also a fact that Aerith's voice is correct. Garland is the Champion of Chaos, the chosen knight who fell from grace and became bathed in the darkness. He is a nightmare given physical form, a monster older than old, and it is wise of Aerith's voice to know his power and his depths. Looking directly at him, for one so pure, might very well be like looking down into the abyss, except the Abyss stares back quite thoroughly. "There is no reason to draw blood here," Garland observes calmly. "The only ones who seeks violence is you, children." "Certainly, the Judge Magister seems far more intent on crawling away with only the most very basic of information; the creature behind me seems only interested in cooperation. Do you think it prudent to provoke either of them?" He holds out his massive, gauntleted hand, waving it gently and dismissively, as if to throw the entire concept of a fight away. "That said...if Archadea is so interested in the Heartless, then I would be happy to tell you about them...all about them." His gauntlet closes in an iron fist, tightening hard enough that people can actually hear the screaming of the metal straining against the man's massive might. "They are existences of darkness, creatures that consume lives and hearts for their own multiplication. They feed, and feed, and feed, and like locusts, will never stop feeding - they can merely be guided to their new feeding grounds by one of strong enough will. There is power, there; dark power, power that good men should never touch, power to raise armies and raze cities. Certainly, a Judge would have no use for them." Garland folds his hands behind his back once more and resumes his quiet pacing. Oh yes. There was power in the Heartless. Let the Judge know that much. Let them all know that. Plant the seeds, and watch them take root...for curiousity was the greatest of all poisons. Take note, Apprentice. |
| Sarafina Carenze | Sarafina relaxes. He's not here to steal cookies or ice cream. Some sort of Heartless Researcher? Well, he doesn't seem intent on harming anybody at present and, really, what could she do to him besides banish him back to his realm? He's a demon, he'll be back soon enouhg, the only purpose in his destruction would be to stave off some danger. Right now he just seems to chat. No reason to fight. "I would be cautious in using the Heartless. They do not seem to care overmuch for those that 'control' them." She says. She rests a hand on Maira's shoulder. Perhaps this is a sign that she will throw her into space in the near future to avoid any incoming trouble. Or probably just so it'll be easier to step forward and block something treacherous with her body. And of course she knows full well Maira would fight basically anything to her last breath if need be, so she isn't going to try to convince her otherwise anymore. |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart hmms as Zarg comes to meet with them... and Kaydin just moves out of shadows again. Yes, she agrees with Zarg there, she already pounded him down because of that after all. She shakes her head though "We were just trying to keep out of potential trouble, lots of potential for it right now... |
| Zargabaath | Turning around, Zargabaath looks towards Garland. "Is that right?" His helm turns towards his Aide.....who is all ready copying that down. "Thank you for the information, Garland, I believe your name is." He then looks towards his other Aide, whom trots on over and places three larger bags of gold at Garland's feet. Once his aide returns, Zargabaath looks back towards Aerith. "Are you all right, lady Aerith?" |
| Garland | "I have no interest in your money, Archadean. Take back your coin, and instead reward me by reflecting on the rudeness of your thanks. And the next time you see fit to treat a human being as lowly as you have treated the boy, perhaps reflect on your status, and how it reflects upon your nation." With that, Garland turns away, back to Angantyr. "And you, boy...the next time you see fit to antagonize a Judge Magister, think twice. An enemy made openly reflects poorly upon you amongst your adorable little friends." Something about the sentence 'adorable little friends' out of his mouth... |
| Angantyr Vespar | "As you say..." Angantyr shrugs. "Though technically I was trying to talk buisness. But I see your point.." said in a way that says 'I only see it but I really just wana punch him in the mouth.' |
| Maira | Blinking, Maira looks to Angantyr again. "You must reeeaaally be itching for a fight, huh?" she inquires mildly. She settles down as Avira does, the mad heat that had been radiating from her form calming to a more reasonably degree. She's still warm. Always. Garland's words are listened to carefully. For her, they are naught but a caution. It would never occur to her to think she could control heartless or that anything good could possibly come of that. So she just nods. Heartless took her world. She's not touching that. Blinking, Maira looks between Garland, Zarg, and Angantyr. Then back to Zarg. Who IS he talking to? Maira motions for Uist to go look, but the spirit doesn't need to. He simply informs her it is Aerith and Tifa. Maira throws her hands up. "You could have said that before now!" she says to her unseen ally. Then Garland possibly calls her adorable and for some reason she blushes. Did he mean her? Is she adorable!? |
| Aerith | Aerith frowned at the... very loud reminder... that they'd been utterly sniffed out. But she stayed. She could sense that one's darkness, and could hear the derision in his voice. He was deliberately trying to start a fight. She wouldn't rise to the bait, and thus wouldn't move. Instead, she bowed to Zargabaath. "I'm all right...." Garland's words struck a chord with her though. He was every sort of illness and blight in her mind, and yet he spoke in this manner. Then her attitude toward him switched abruptly as she picked up the undertone in those last three words. No. Bad man is bad. She spoke to Zargabaath. "He has a point. About a lot of things." She'd come late, but now she understood much more than she'd started out with. "Remember what I said about the Heartless and keep it in mind." She turned toward Tifa. "Come on, let's get Maira out of here." The flower girl finally rounded the corner, her features impassive, eyes mirror-like. Fear was gone, anger was hidden. Calm heart, calm mind. She grinned as she approached Maira. "Fancy seeing you here, huh?" |
| Kaydin | Kaydin just stands there infront of Aerith and Tifa, acting as a sorta human shield as he watches them. Course when he was insulted his eyebrow twitces and a hand rests on his hilt. He controlled his anger but the area about the knight seems to darken. |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart waves to Zarg as well, following Aerith out of the alley. She gives Maira a playful poke as she moves toward her as well "Blushing now? What did that tall armored guy said to you to make that happen?" At least she doesn't burst into flames instead. Its Maira, its possible. |
| Zargabaath | "Keep it anyways, Sir Garland." Zargabaath says to him, and then tilts his head. "Rudeness to him? I didn't want to give him any more fuel to try and antagonize me into a fight. If he wants a fight, however, I'm sure someone around Traverse Town will oblige him. Let him slake his bloodlust on someone else." He then places a hand upon Kaydin's shoulder. "Stay thy hand, young man. This is not the time, nor the place for it." |
| Avira | Sadly, this is the first time in a long time Avira has been referred to as adorable. However, judging by his tone when Garland says those words, she assesses that there's a bit of disdain leveled towards her within it. At that moment she decides...she doesn't like this guy very much at all. "Hey." she murmurs quietly to Angantyr, "We should catch up later. Maybe spar a little." Bah, she always wanted that out of him. Avira catches that three-fingered gesture and her face becomes grim. Turning away from the dark knight that she apparently knows and respects enough to heed his advice when it comes to backing down from a fight, she walks over to Raiya. Her voice is kept low as she speaks. "I think we ought to talk soon. Privately." |
| LEXUS | "Perhaps that is the most direct form of control, but at least it is control nonetheless." LEXUS retorts to Garland. "Destroy those who threaten you and keep them at bay. They will never attack one of strong enough will who possesses the secret. And in this world, that is a powerful secret indeed." He snaps his fingers, the gesture ringing out through the street, and the clattering noise increases. Yellow eyes open in the dark behind LEXUS, and another form approaches: A thin, spindly creature, almost insectoid, with six legs. Each is clad in a sleek chrome sleeve and ending with a needlepoint. The Heartless form beneath the plates pulses with purple circuitry, that runs all along the limbs and up towards the head, which stares with a baleful hunger. The Heartless insignia rests upon its forehead upon the chrome plate between the eyes. It makes a modulated hiss of static as it moves to LEXUS' side, standing at attention... Though it does look directly at Aeris. It sees you. It knows you're there, flower-girl. "Their condition is morphic, dependant upon the design and requirements of the creator. Each strain possesses unusual abilities, one that I am cataloguing consistently." He places a hand upon the Heartless, stroking it slowly down the 'neck'. It shudders, apparently possessed of a pent-up desire to act. "Uncontrolled, this beast would be attacking the people of this town. But at the command of one of strong enough will, it could be used for any means the controller desires. Not all of them would have to be used for destruction. Some could create, were one willing to direct them so." |
| Maira | Maira turns to greet Aerith and Tifa, smiling warmly. "Hello! Sorry, Uist didn't tell me you were there until recently," she says, shooting her ghostly friend an affectionate glare. "Did you come to see me?" she asks, her smile growing. To Tifa, Maira blinks, edging away from the poke. "He just....am I adorable?" she asks, apparently missing the insult in the word as said by Garland. Then, Maira pokes Avira lightly. "We also need to talk later! Who's your friend? What's with that other guy? BLUH I have so many questions!" Assuming Sarafina is still lurking nearby, Maira leans back against her a little. "Oooh, Sarafina you should come to see our headquarters. Bah, you should join us!" Then that Lexus guy is talking again....and summoning Heartless. Great. Maira is officially back on edge. |
| Garland | "And what then, LEXUS? Destroy all who would ever threaten you? Consume everything in your path? An unstoppable juggernaut of destruction you may become, but what is left when the dust settles?" Garland shakes his head at the program. "You are simply a creature of reaction and action, LEXUS; you do not stop to think about the terrible power these creatures possess, only how they might be used. Yes, they might improve a military tenfold; they might streamline industry, ensure that citizens never need work again. But at what cost? What price do you place upon the souls of your enemies?" It was kind of like dancing, except instead of music and actual dance, it was a pair of creatures so evil they made the Heartless look like innocent, mindless insects. But blast it if Garland's wasn't incredibly good at his job. "The insult, sir Judge, is treating the boy like an irrelevant. If he spoiling for a fight, you talk him down; you do not ignore a man to avoid a fight, for it simply places you at a disadvantage should he decide to take advantage of your inattentiveness." |
| Sarafina Carenze | "I simply repeat my earlier warning." Sarafina says simply to Lexus. The presence of a heartless is almost enough to make her change her mind with regards violence, but it's not visible aside from a faint tension in her muscles. She says, "They have devoured many worlds, even those that they were 'controlled' in." She looks to Maira, blinking faintly at her offer. "Ah?" she asks. "Your headquarters? Er, certainly. You have a headquarters?" Pause. "Join you?" Pause. She is so confused. |
| Kaydin | Kaydin just watches Garland as he was called Adorable. When Zargabaath put his hand on his shoulder, the darkness vanishes and he nods. "You are right. Forgive me." He says as the heartless comes. When it looks to Aerith, he moves between it's gaze and her, glaring back. If looks could kill the heartless probably would be nothing more then whisps of smoke. He then looks LEXUS. "Heartless will consume those that control them if given the chance. In the end you are wielding a tool that is just wanting to kill you if you only give it the chance." He says the last bit softly as he watches the creature and he draws his sword, the blade black and radiating darkness. "Now kindly send your servant away before I decide to put it down." |
| Angantyr Vespar | Maira acuses him of trying to start a fight...or rather, itching for one. He thinks about that for a moment, and just grins at her...but then the group finally walks towards Maira..he shrugs. They were obviously friends, though the look from the other dark knight causes him to raise a brow. Whatever man, though he makes a smirk at him...bring it on, it says. Bring it on... Angantyr turns towards Avira and he nods once... "Sure, though I am liable to add another scar at this rate." he says, chidingly towards her, "But we'll at least talk." he says, at least friendly towards her. Then LEXUS and Garland have words... "Shush, Dark Knight, Garland will handle the Heartless and LEXUS." |
| Aerith | Aerith nodded. "You are very adorable, Maira. But right now, we have to go." She didn't spare Garland or the eerie countenance known as LEXUS a second glance. "Yes, he just did that, and yes, that means he's very scary." And the fact that Garland did not like the... thing... at all, made her even more wary of the both of them. "We're gonna go somewhere else, okay?" She didn't like talking to her like this, but she had to get her away from them. She looked up at Avira, Raiya, and Sarafina. "I'm sure we could do all the talking somewhere else..." Of course, her eyes are saying, 'help me get her the hell out of here before he sics that thing on her, or this Garland actually decides to take a swing, please'. Hopefully at least one of them will get the point. |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath says, "How do you speak to someone who is unwilling to listen?" He says gesturing to Kaydin. "Even he had a time where he would not listen to anyone. He is now, now that he....." And the heartless is summoned, and Zargabaath keeps his hand on Kaydin's shoulder, even tugging him backwards a little. "Now is not the time for threats, Kaydin. Now is the time for observation. Rushing into combat is never wise.""" |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart nods to Aerith "I second the motion for moving away from the line of fire." There's too many unknowns going on right now after all. She looks at Maira "Of course you're adorable, what makes you think otherwise?" She smiles kindly to the mage girl, Aerith's protegee. She waves to Raiya as well, if she notices her presence. |
| Sarafina Carenze | "Oh." Sarafina says. Now she's thinking it's some manner of club. "Who is part of your--" She pauses, she shouldn't call it a club in front of Maira. IT would harm her independence and whatnot. "--organization." She says after a moment's hesitation in finding the right word. |
| Aerith | Aerith managed not to roll her eyes. Could these people not sense the tension still in the air? She shook that thought off. They couldn't. She, and maybe Raiya and Tifa, were the only ones who could really pick up on it. "Excuse me... but could we make with conversation at a more... discreet and secure location?" Heartless right over there. One meant ten, meant a hundred. Garland was not kidding about that. |
| Maira | Well, color Maira confused. Why is Aerith so eager to get her out of here? Because of the one heartless? She wonders if Aerith knows how many heartless she's fought. Sure, she's kind of on the ah....squishy....side, but she's still a mage and can handle herself! You know, kinda. Maira blinks a little, but she's alright with going somewhere else. Maybe, if Avira didn't mind, they could go to HQ! Or the Inn. Whichever, she's just apparently leaving, which is a bit frustrating because she still has /so many questions/ ! Maira looks back to Sarafina to tell her more about VALKYRI though. "Oh, we're sort of mercenary but not the kind of mercenary you are thinking...I guess we are sort of...heroes for hire? Avira is the leader, she started it. I thiiiink I was the second member though!" she said, proud. Right. The relocating. Maira flushes again and looks to Tifa and Aerith. "Alright...where should we go?" she says, casting another look over to Lexus. |
| Angantyr Vespar | There is a little snap in his brain... "You know what, Judge." Angantyr says, snarling... "I tried to swallow my utter hatred for you, and your empire." he says, holding a hand to anyone that tries and stop him, "Do you even KNOW why I hate your empire? Hate YOU cronies of Solidor specifically? Do you have absolutely any idea? It sickens me that these people even think that your a frigure to be respected." he says, spitting at the judges feet. "Tell them, tell them what the Arcadia Empire has done? Oh? Need a specific example? How about this." he says, calmly speaking, "Once upon a time I wasn't a mercinary. I was a noble, granted might as well been a bastard for all that it ment, but I was still a man of respect. I served my country faithfully, dispite their reservations..." "Then you came in, tore the whole thing down, killed men without caring, all so you could add it to your collection of Empire. Not one of us did anything to Arcadia. You just swooped in, invaded, and then killed our people and our idenity because YOU guys felt yours was superior in everyway." "That's the problem. You think your superior in every way to everyone else...in reality, your no better than anyone else." |
| Aerith | Aerith grimaced. "Anywhere but here, Maira." Why did he have to do that? Aerith stood and began to walk away. "Head for this place you're talking about, Maira. Lead the way." She'd just have to ask Zargabaath about this later, though she'd heard part of it from him already. Curiosity could wait. They had. To go. Now. |
| Garland | "Clearly he was not so unwilling to listen, or he would not have listened to me. One who is unwilling to speak cannot judge whether or not one is unwilling to listen." Garland taps the side of his helmet, that high-pitched, ringing musical sound echoing across the area once again. The length of his gauntlet's finger is almost freakishly claw-like... And then Angantyr lets out a burst, and Garland looks back at him. He looks at the boy for a very long time, simply staring at him, as if radiating raw disapproval in his direction. He probably is. Garland prizes one thing above all others, one thing that Angantyr would've learned over his time with Garland - control. Control, control, control. Lose control, you lose a battle before it begins. Petty anger is to be used as a tool, never wielded as a blunt weapon; a tool can be applied to many solutions, but a weapon can only be predicted and countered. "As I told you, Judge Magister - ignorance fosters only such situations. You do no favors by acting like a schoolboy being bullied to those who seek your attention, even if that desire is battle." |
| LEXUS | "You think you could defeat them with your power, Dark Knight?" LEXUS's eyes rotate slightly, as if refocusing upon Kaydin. "What do you think you're going to accomplish? You can certainly kill one... But what about... " LEXUS pauses, distracted for a moment. "78?" Another pause. "82." He smiles faintly at that. "Regardless, I am not here to attack those here or the people of Twilight Town. I have no reason to do so. The people here are not a threat to me and possess nothing I need." LEXUS gestures, and the Daemon Heartless vanishes, dropping into a pool of Darkness. "What care do our enemies have for our souls, Garland? Many of them will simply use these as well if they could. Even if you hobble yourself by not using all of the tools at your disposal, others will... And that will put you at a disadvantage. Any weapon is worth keeping on hand for potential use, even if you do not use it... often. The matter is one of survival, not one of false nobility." Kaydin's words garner a second chuckle. "My will is more than sufficient. Perhaps yours is lacking, Dark Knight? The Darkness has no use for the weak. You should recant while you have the chance." |
| Avira | Though she had just put her weapon away, Avira finds herself instinctively reaching for it again when LEXUS summons one of his heartless into being. It takes her a moment to recognize and stop this reaching, her fingers about to close around the hilt of the spine. But how strange. How strange to see Garland so condescending to LEXUS. "...not if I have anything to say about it." Avira growls back playfully at Angantyr. Maira is quick to confront her about this whole mysterious dark knight thing. Smiling, Avira pokes Maira back, "I'll explain it all later. Not here. We will talk." Then Maira goes into a pitch leveled at Sarafina to join. Speaking of talking, Raiya seems to agree to a future meeting, which relieves Avira quite a bit. "Thank you. You will hear from me..." she trails off immediately once she sees Raiya on edge again, further along in her state of readiness from before. Eventually, she nods. "I think we definitely should take ourselves...elsewhere." No good can come of remaining. Especially with Angantyr slowly losing control of his temper. His story she's heard before. But with Garland around...he should be kept in line, right? The best thing she could do for now was walk away, which is exactly what Avira does as she walks away to elsewhere, "Follow me." |
| Maira | Well, she can't help but here Angantyr's story about why he hates Arcadia and what happened. She feels for those who have lost so much because their world was lost or forever changed. Garland may disapprove of what is seen by him as a lack of control, but to Maira it is a brave thing to open oneself up to vulnerability and say what you really think! While she is being dragged away and knows she must go, she walks on over to Angantyr and puts and arm around him, giving him a squeeze. "I'm sorry," she tells him. Assumably, for the things he's lost. At that, she'll then let herself be dragged away, as everyone is being so darn insistent about it! |
| Kaydin | "If you wish to test my will, then lets pick a proper time and place." Kaydin says calmly as the sword stops radiating darkness and he sheathes it, chain on the pommel rattling. "And regardless of your will, there is always something stronger." Kaydin says as he would then look to Zargabaath. "I have taken the time to write down what I know about the heartless into a journal. I will bring it with me next I see you so you may have something to show to those who work with you." He says as he begins to follow Aerith. |
| Aerith | Aerith shivers as a voice whispers at her. This was not good at all... they knew, they all knew, and they all wanted to eat her. It was time to get moving. Not too fast, didn't want to seem desperate. But right now, she was rightly afraid and highly concerned about anyone who could control the Heartless. |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath sighs and holds his hand up to Garland, then stares directly at Vespar. "Did you ever think that a couple of us tried to prevent that war? Not only that one, but the occupation of Rabanastre? I MIGHT'VE explained that to you in private, Vespar, but, like I just said, you do not wish to listen. Did you happen to think about which fleets invaded? I doubt it." he then stands there and thinks about it. "That sounds like the tactic of Judge Magister Bergan, I fear." He then just stares directly at Vespar. "But.....again. I doubt you're willing to listen. If I was the cold hearted killer you have portrayed me to be. Why would I be on the ground, seeking information about beings that can kill others, when I could have members of my fleet seeking the information, especially if I planned to use them? Clearly, your hatred, while justified, is utimately irrational, especially if you condemn all people as evil, for the acts of a few." He then turns. "COntinue your hatred of Archadia, as I know you will." |
| Tifa Lockhart | Tifa Lockhart can feel that Aerith is nervous. She doesn't need 'voices' to tell her, she knows the girl enough by now. She decides to move behind her... as a shield. If any heartless wanted to go after her, she'd be a wall between the two at least. Heartless don't like the barmaid much, but certainly not as bad as they seem to hate Aerith at least. She pats Aerith's shoulder, a sign to say "I've got your back" |
| Angantyr Vespar | "You tool." Angantyr, "Did you ever stop to think...just MAYBE...that my country WASN'T that craphole? There IS more than one country that you have swallowed, I mean, I know it was just Thursday to you." he says, and he stops...Garland's eyes on him cause him to take a breath. "And to answer your question, you obviously want the power for your masters, whoever THEY might be, to inflict on other nations." with that, he flips his collar up again... "Another thing you sa-" then suddenly Maira was there, giving him a hug...blink. That was not unwelcome but completely put him off his game. He shakes his head, turning away an-...then they are dragging her away? "Probably a good idea..." he says. "Anyway, windbag. We're done here. I'm sick of your posturing." |
| LEXUS | "Are you strong enough?" LEXUS asks. "Don't worry, Dark Knight. I will find you soon enough." He turns away. The others appear to be all leaving. "How curious. They ask for information and yet they shun it." He mentions to no one in particular. |
| Garland | "Ignorance is not a crime you can punish," Garland observes at Angantyr, settling his hand on the boy's shoulder as he walks away. "Do not attempt to persuade such people; simply acknowledge their ignorance, and deal with them as you might deal with a child. Let your words be gentle, and remember always that they know no better." Yeah, he's talking about Zargabaath, but he's also talking to LEXUS. |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath is already done listening. Vespar has made an enemy that wasn't his enemy in the first place, and zargabaath had new information about Heartless that he could use later. To what end? Only he knew actually. His actual plans might surprise Vespar, but Zargabaath wasn't looking for his approval...... |
| Angantyr Vespar | GOOD! HE WON'T GIVE YOU APPROVAL! HE'LL FLIP A TABLE AND KICK YOUR PUPPIES! >:E He looks back at Garland and shrugs, "Yeah, I guess so. Like talkin' to a poncy brick wall, I swear." |