Final Fantasy: Darkness Descends

[Weasel Overlord]

*DOES THE PAGE 5 JIG*

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn
[Captain and General Ruler of the Wolfstar]
sworn through swords

The madly waving arms of Temzi stood out to Sirius like a sore thumb, or in this case, a bloody thrice-and-more broken nose. No-one could manage in water that deep, and especially not Temzi the Guado, so attached to his armour that nothing and no-one could make him remove it. Sirius had supposed, back when they hardly knew the Dragoon, that underneath that overlarge helmet was a spotty, ugly youth who daren't show his face to the ladies. He'd also supposed that this was the reason for the man's reticence around the aforementioned ladies. Upon actually getting to know Temzi, he had been almost shamed by these assumptions. The man was kindred spirit with Sirius, really. Grown up on history and tales, secret novels about damsels in distress and epic adventures. They just dealt with the outside world differently; Sirius, he put on a face (although these days, it was much less of a face and more a personality he'd grown into), whereas Temzi simply hid his away. In, as it happened, the armour that was the least likely to float.

His arms thrashed and water went everywhere as Sirius splashed in to help him out. He had a flash of pride as he realised that he hadn't even had to ask Selene to help him – she was just a step behind, a concerned expression on her face. “Do you think we can manage to get him out?” she said, biting her lip, and obviously unconcerned at getting soaking wet.

Sirius placed a hand firmly under Temzi's right armpit, and the other on his shoulder, nodding towards the left for Selene. She took her position willingly, and Sirius bent his legs, bracing for the effort. “On one,” he said, and stood upright sharply, pulling the still thrashing Temzi with him.

Temzi gasped in some air, before falling backwards again, this time pulling Selene with him, her arm caught in a gap in his armour. “Shi-” she yelled, the word cut off with a splutter as her mouth filled with water. Sirius gaped, was thankful for a second that quick-thinking was something that came naturally to him and immediately dived under the water. It was cloudy, but he managed to take in the situation: Selene's arm was stuck fast, Temzi's leg was clogged around with mud and both their air was running out, fast. He directed himself downwards, and scraped away a good quantity of the mud with his hands, but it wasn't enough. Selene was struggling, her free hand desperately tugging at the armour, and Temzi seemed to have gone still, his limbs limp and unresponsive. Sirius, now frantic, dug away more clumps of the mud, mentally cursing it very loudly as yet more flowed into the gap he'd made.

After what seemed like an age, he seemed to make some purchase, and tugging at Temzi's leg he managed to get it free of the cloying mud. Selene's actions were becoming sluggish, and desperation fuelled Sirius' last bid as he pushed off the floor, a chunk of concrete providing a hard push-off surface, and broke the surface of the water. He took quick hold of Temzi's shoulders and, using the concrete (thank god for that fallen bridge), he levered the three of them onto the nearby water's edge.

Selene, her arm still trapped, slid out of the water after Temzi and lay on the ground like a still doll, her lips slightly blue-tinged and, in that second, Sirius realised he had to make a choice. Luckily, it sort of made itself as the Behemoth chose that moment to send a chunk of rock flying through the air. That lucky rock landed right on Temzi's breastplate, acting as the perfect jolt to bring him coughing and spluttering back into the world of the conscious.

Sirius sent a prayer of thanks to whoever was listening, and immediately clamped his lips around Selene's. He pinched her nostrils together and blew, hard – satisfied when her chest inflated from his air. He did this once more, made a fist with both hands and then brought them down, hard, where he approximated that Selene's heart was.

Where he approximated that Selene's heart was, however, was perilously close to her breasts, and fortune chose that moment for her to sputter awake, nearly bent in two from the coughs racking her diaphragm. Her first conscious thoughts sprang to Sirius, looking like a swamp monster all covered in mud and wet, with his hands caught, well, red-handed on her chest.

She shot him a tired glare and coughed up some more of the foul water. “Those had better be there because you were saving my ass,” she said, hoarsely.

Sirius snatched his hands away like a child caught stealing a fresh-baked cake. “Of course, my dearest Lady!” He didn't even have the heart to sound affronted, nor the time, since the Behemoth, always on fortune's side, chose that moment to interrupt with a thrashing tail coming to land a hair's breadth from Sirius' bent head.

“Argh,” he spluttered, springing to his feet. He held out a hand for Selene, and tugged Temzi upright with the other one. He narrowed his eyes at the big purple, and placed a hand on his sword pommel. “It may be time to kick some furry purple arse, my darling.”

“Couldn't agree more,” Selene said, her face the picture of someone who'd just near-drowned and was not happy about it.

Sirius felt the years of training with Durrendal spring to the forefront of his mind and he drew the longsword, bringing it up in a soldier's salute to kiss the crosshilt. His vision tunnelled, until just the Behemoth remained, rampaging around their makeshift battle arena. He was vaguely aware of the presences of the crew, but they moved at his peripheral, flickering like ghosts. Tangible enough that he could avoid them, but nothing else.

Trailing his free hand out behind him, he set off at a spiralling, seemingly-random run. He avoided the target at first, but never took his eyes off it as his speed increased and he seemed to gain a shadow that followed him as if stuck to his back, growing ever taller. The ghost of his longsword sprang outwards from the shadow's hand, and Sirius let out a blood-curdling yell. He brought his hands together as his spiral converged on the Behemoth – the ghostly shadow became an extension of himself, working with his movements in perfect unison as he brought Durrendal down on the target's weak-spot, the great, thrashing tail.

The combined power of shadow and Sirius sliced through the thick tail near at the base, severing it clean off. Pyreflies streamed out, flashing brightest white, purple and pink, and Sirius fell to his knees, exhausted.

Selene put her hand firmly on his back, just as he was about to sway and collapse backwards, and he blinked as his vision returned to normal.

“That'll teach it to interrupt our precious moments of fairytale gratitude,” he grinned. Water dripped from his hair and rolled down his nose, and he blew upwards indignantly, dislodging the droplets.

“You look a mess,” Selene smirked.

“And I suppose that's all the gratitude I get for hacking off that beastie's tail.”

#16 // 1237~

will explain his overdrive in the Lounge topic at a later date.

[classy_cat18]

Sori – Moogle Time Mage
If I could talk to the animals…

Somehow my maneuvers to stay alive took me next to the Chocobo. Fatigue was starting to settle in so I could only fly short distances before having to land somewhere and rest. And now I was resting on the top of the Chocobo’s head, wondering how it had survived this ordeal and why it was carrying Shayna’s stuff. “Kweh!” it squawked when I got too close to it.

“I just need to rest. Can’t I rest on your back?” I moaned. It responded by snapping at me, homing in on my pompom. “Alright alright! How about your head?” It didn’t protest when I carefully sat on its head.

I groaned and scratched my head. I had dealt with Chocobos before; my hometown had wild ones around and my dad was a Chocobo Knight. Of course he also had his own Chocobo.

I shuddered. Oh man, I remembered Chobie. That stuck-up Chocobo stud. He had feathers that would make the females swoon, but he could be infuriating.

And he could stomp like nobody’s business.

And let’s not forget his lightning-fast pecks.

My pompom was at stake every day those days.

“Chobie, you bastard,” I growled.

“Kweh!”

“I’m not talking about you,” I said to the Chocobo even though I couldn’t understand him.

“Kweh!”

“What are you doing with Shay’s stuff anyway?”

“RAWRRRRRR!”

I jumped at the sound of the Behemoth’s roar. “What the hell is wrong with that thing? Sounds like it’s in pain.” The water around it churned violently. Moments later, Shay’s head popped up, gasping for air.

“KWEH!” the Chocobo squawked. It threw me off with a flick of his head and started to run for her.

I panicked and pulled back on its reins. “Whoa! You can’t! It’s not safe!”

“KWEH!”

“I don’t know what you just said but I do not like that tone!” I gasped as Shay started to get carried along by a wave. This only made the Chocobo panic even more. I pulled a trick that Dad would do but usually didn’t work for me.

“I’ll give you grain if you behave!” I said brightly.

“KWEH!” it squawked angrily before snapping at me again.

It didn’t work that time either. I kept dodging his strikes until I caught something else. “Look, Nii’s getting Shay! She’s saved! Do you see her being saved?”

“Kweh?” He cocked his head as he viewed the Al Bhed swimming to carry the ninja ashore. “KWEH!” he squawked happily.

“Yeah, I’m glad too.” We watched as Nii and Shayna talked with Selene and Sirius before Kumas carried Shay towards us. The Chocobo squawked happily again and ran towards its new friend, dragging me along.

“You can swim?” I asked Nii with slight disbelief.

“Of course Nii can swim. Nii lives on an island. It’s the middle of the island, but still an island.” Kumas nodded and set down Shay next to the Chocobo.

“RUSTY!” Shay squealed with glee as she sprang up and hugged the Chocobo’s neck.

“Rusty? What is he, your pet?”

“Yeah.”

“…Oh.”

516 words. 21 Sori posts.

Niosa Tiera – Al Bhed Gunner
Vamping up

“They’ve been under there too long,” I muttered. I moved to get back in the water but was harshly pulled back by Kumas. “What are you doing? Nii wants to help!”

“Hey, they’re coming back up!” Sori said while pointing at the rising figures.

The three of them resurfaced. “Thank goodness. They’re alive.”

“Unfortunately, so is our captain,” Sori grumbled while pointing at Sirius.

“Do you really want that bad karma to come back to you?” I questioned with an edge in his voice.

“Karma my ass. Whatever happens, happens.”

The beast was thrashing around in the water with one of its legs missing, making it a good distraction that we took advantage of by taking a breather. “Nii is surprised that it hasn’t noticed our moment of vulnerability,” I commented.

“Shut up!” Sori snapped. “You’ll jynx us!”

Unluckily, that’s when the Behemoth got over its pain and noticed that we were in one nice little group. Easy pickings. “Nice going,” the Moogle grumbled.

RAAAAWR!

“Not good!” I shouted.

“Everyone scatter!” Lyra commanded. Everyone did what she said.

Kumas, however, stayed put. The Behemoth swung his remaining limbs around at the others, but I was stuck trying to get the machina to move. “Are you malfunctioning? Does Nii have to fix you?” I grunted.

“Must… fight…”

I gasped and froze for a second. “We are fighting.”

“Must… protect… Niosa.”

“Kumas. It’s like last time.”

“Kumas, where are you going? You must stay on the ship.”

“Negative.” He stared at the open hatch after Sori was let out, waiting for it to start closing before running for it. I grabbed at his arm but was surprisingly shoved back. I could only hang onto the ship and yell at him.

“KUMAS! GET BACK UP HERE! THAT IS AN ORDER!”

I clenched my fists. “You wanted to fight, and you wanted to protect Nii, but you didn’t want to get Nii involved. This must go against your programming.”

“Pro…gramming? This does not… go against… programming.”

I looked at him with widened eyes. “You’ve been going against Nii’s orders—“

“That… does not… go against… programming.” His markings started to glow furiously.

Then what were you programmed to do, if not to follow orders?

The Behemoth noticed that we hadn’t run like the little vermin that it saw us as, and opened its mouth for an energy attack.

Kumas and I still stayed where we were. I was shocked that he was talking so much. “I was… programmed… to protect. Programming… will adapt… to situation.”

The Behemoth released its attack.

My feet were swept out from me as Kumas picked me up and jumped out the way. I looked down at my arms, at my glowing tattoos. “Glowing?”

“Need more power,” Kumas told me after setting me back down.

I nodded. “Ehedeyda Overdrive. lrynka.”

Kumas’s entire body glowed like his markings. For some reason it felt like we were synced so I knew exactly what to do. I handed Kumas my rifle. “Yes vun Behemoth.”

He raised the rifle with both hands and aimed right for the Behemoth’s snout. “Hu, yes vun dra aoa.”

The Behemoth swiveled his head to look at us again, seeing the energy that was emanating from Kumas and his gun. Kumas moved the gun and kept it steady. “Target locked.”

“Vena! Fatal Beam!”

A large blast was released from the rifle, seemingly curving to keep on course with its target. It fried the creature’s other eye, sending it into another wave of pain and rage.

“Target hit.” He tossed the rifle back to me.

I caught it and smirked. “Kuut fung.”

608 words. 19 Nii posts.

[VirtualPlay]

Kaida Liena - Al Bhed Gunner
Slowly regaining consciousness…
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The first thing I noticed as my consciousness returned was that I was in pain, specifically my head. The second thing was that my feet were soaking wet. I put a hand to my head, but there was fortunately no blood, only a bruise. I'm sure the Moogle casting Slow had saved my life, but a non-Slowed rock had decided to connect with my head not long after and claimed my consciousness for…well, hopefully only a few minutes.

"Owww…" I moaned, finally finding my voice. A loud bellowing told me the Behemoth had found his as well. I looked over and saw that the monster's tail had just been severed. "Well, we're getting it down," I said, getting shakily to my feet. I had somehow ended up on the other side of the river from where I had started. I started walking along the edge of the river, pulling out my guns and preparing to actually fight again.

I looked straight at the Behemoth with its single eye and decided to take that little vision away from him. I flicked the switch on my guns and cast my Blindshot into it, but before I could fire, my target was taken away from me. By which I mean, a giant blast destroyed the Behemoth's other eye. "Well phoo…" I muttered, clearing the shot and switching my guns back to being loaded.

Despite its lack of eyes, I knew that was still the best target. I held my guns out, then carefully Aimed at both eye holes. I waited, feeling my arms grow more and more steady, then released a huge barrage of bullets in rapid succession. I relaxed as the bullets flew true, lodging into the spaces that used to contain the Behemoth's eyes. I even noticed that a few actually flew out the other side.

Another roar shook the ground as I made my way over to where everyone else was starting to congregate. Most of them were looking quite exhausted, and just about everyone was soaking wet. "Okay, now that he's blind, tailless, and in a lot of pain, can we finally just kill this thing?" I asked.

"I would have to whole-heartedly agree on that…" Sirius said, and he looked particularly exhausted. Heck, he looked like he had single-handedly taken on the Behemoth by himself. "Oh, and you can thank me for the tailless bit…" he added, slumping down again. So my guess had been half-off, he had only taken on the Behemoth's tail.

Another stomp shook the ground as the Behemoth bellowed in pain. "Well, at least it's somewhat incapacitated…" the Moogle said.

"Figures, nobody thanks me…" Sirius interjected.

"…but it being incapacitated isn't the same as it being dead." He turned to Judge Luna, "Selene, what are we going to do?"

"Why does everyone turn to me for what to do?!" she cried out suddenly, and about half the people actually responded, mostly along the lines of her being the one in charge. She threw up her hands in exasperation, "What if I don't know how to kill this freaking thing?! Then what?!"

Silence. I couldn't tell whether it was because people were shocked at her outburst, or whether they were thinking of what to do.

"Well, he's obviously not invincible," I commented. "We've already cut off his tail," (Sirius interjected with an indignant, "I did…") "Maybe if we detach his head next…"

"Great plan," Lyra said snidely, "and just HOW are we going to get up there?"

"Well if you have a better plan, I'd LOVE to hear it!" I shouted back at her, and I relished a little in the fact that she had nothing to say in response.

Unfortunately the Behemoth had something to say, a loud roar to be exact, and our loud argument seemed to have attracted his attention. He was now slowly stomping his way over towards us, cutting our planning time really short.

-=-=-=-=- 655 / 06 -=-=-=-=-

[ChobiChibi]

Rusty and Shay

Rusty was surprised that the girl with the red hair had even managed to stand up, let alone cuddle his neck. He supposed that perhaps she was just that happy to see him. She looked exhausted though and her grip around his neck was loosening.

“Kweh...” He squawked quietly, nudging the girl with his wing.

“No Rusty... I'm not going to... play fetch with you...” She said slowly. Rusty frowned. Why would she say such a thing?

He felt her grip falter, so he lowered her gently to the ground. She laid there, her eyes closed as she shivered. He was only a Chocobo, there was only so much he could do for the girl, but the roaring of the Behemoth made him feel even more uneasy. He did not doubt that her friends would come and help, particularly the kind blonde lady that had freed him before, but could he risk it?

Laying down next to her, he nudged her with his beak. “Kweh!” He said in an attempt to wake her.

“Lyra, leave me alooooone...” She mumbled, opening her eyes. “Oh, Rusty! Hello! Where have you been?”

Who was this Lyra person? He had no idea. He sighed, grabbing her top and pulling her towards him.

“Oh, I get it! I'll sit on you.” She nodded in confirmation, somehow getting on her hands and knees and hauling herself onto his back.

“KWEH!” He yelped. He wasn't expecting her to literally just flop there. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck again and her head rested against it.

“You make a comfy bed.” She told him, snuggling into his feathers. She seemed to stop shivering, which was a plus, but she didn't seem to want to snap out of this little hazy exhaustion any time soon...

Rusty got back onto his feet, being accidentally prodded by one of the weird pointy stars attached to the girl's back. He heard her mutter something about a machina and how it was clever to have picked them up for her. She began to try and say something else, but soft snores cut her off. He was getting ready to run when he spotted his other owner, the pretty blonde one, arguing with some other humes, the moogle that had irritated him before, a bunny and a fuzzy armoured man. He needed to save her too...

He studied the Behemoth carefully. He had an understanding of this creature. For one, he had quite enjoyed kicking it in the face earlier... But otherwise, he noticed that it could no longer see. Therefore, the only reason it was going towards the group of people was because he could hear them...

The Chocobo started running along the riverside, away from the battle. He had a very cunning plan.

“KWEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!” Rusty screamed, flapping his wings as much as possible without disturbing or dropping the sleeping girl. “KWEEEEEEH! KWEEEEH KWEEEEH KWEEEEH!”

“Sssssh... It's okay Rusty, the moogles won't hurt you... Peck them with your pecking nose...”

“KWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!”

Stomp... Stomp... Yes! It was working! Rusty's beautifully loud squawking completely drowned out the shouts coming from the river and the Behemoth was attempting to follow him.

From what he could see, it looked like his blonde owner was attempting to organise some kind of final attack. So he needed to keep the beast at a distance far enough away that they wouldn't get hurt, but close enough that they could attack. He smiled to himself; he would surely be rewarded for this later.

He gently jogged towards the rest of the group again, stopping at a reasonable distance away.

“KWEH! KWEH KWEH KWEEEH!”

Sure enough, the monster turned to track the noise. Rusty waited patiently, the clever little Chocobo that he was, for the next time he would have to move. He hoped, for all of their sakes, that it would be over soon and that they could go to wherever they were going.

670 words, 18 posts (Of course this counts, she had a very large part in this *cough*)

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

She was much too tired to think of some brilliant strategy. This monster seemed to have limitless energy, and the only reason they weren’t dead yet was due to horseshoes up the ass and a squawking chocobo. People were still turning to her for help, looking towards her for some plan that would save their hides and allow them to come home. Judge Luna wasn’t known for shining examples of Ivalician tactics, but surprise. Plans that made both soldiers on either side stare in awe as the plan worked.

Now she needed a good plan. They were counting on her.

Selene bit her lip and looked up, eyes focusing on an overhanging piece of concrete that had refused to fall while most of around it had. She glared at it, and suddenly it clicked. Everything made sense and she smirked, reloading her pistol.

“Lyra, Kaida and Nii,” She looked back at them. “You’re with me.”

“Yes ma’am.” Came the sound reply from Kaida.

“As you wish,” Lyra saluted, while Nii just nodded and held her rifle closer.

“What about the rest of us?” Sori crossed his arms, obviously displeased with the idea he was being left behind.

“Be thankful you get to rest.” Selene shot back, as Nii, Lyra and Kaida hurried ahead, getting into position. “And Temzi…”

The Dragoon stood up straight and looked at her, unwavering. “Yes Lady Luna?”

“Get ready to jump.”

He bowed his head, “I shall be ready.”


The Behemoth was quickly learning how to play this game of bloody marko polo. It was getting closer to Rusty and Shay each time, its ears twitching and following the sounds of the bird bouncing back and forth before it even begun to call. The group of gunners stood off to the side, the crumpled, destroyed tank they had so fondly captured and used lay behind them, smoking.

“Aim at the overhanging concrete.” Selene ordered, actually for once, sounding as if she was in complete control. Quickly they raised their guns and took aim. “Use any abilities or tricks you have, it’s not going to come down
easy.”
“Nii wonders why we are shooting at the concrete and not the creature..”

“She’s going to bring the concrete down on its head…” Lyra smirked and looked over at Selene. “Isn’t that right?”

“Indeed…” Selene smirked, waiting a second longer. “Fire!”

A barrage of bullets flew forth from the group, slamming into the slab overhead. Slowly the crack began to grow, and chunks of rock began to tumble down onto the Behemoth. It looked up curiously, sniffing the air as it couldn’t actually see the weakening bridge above it. Snorting it turned back to the squawking bird, roaring defiantly as it stomped its feet and rushed forward, ramming the pile of rubble Rusty and Shayna were hoping around on.

There was a massive dust cloud as everything gave way and tumbled down into the water. Selene’s eyes widened, as the dust settled the creature remained but there was no sign of Rusty. Her arm lowered, eyes scanning desperately for any sign of Shay. She then heard the shrieking cry of the chocobo, madly bouncing around on a pile while calling out.

‘Shay…’ Selene thought, looking helplessly at the pile across from her. “Shay!” She broke the formation, hopping rather nimbly across the pile towards the angry monster and the bird.

But the plan paid off, the bullets and spells broke through the stone and metal, it didn’t really make a noise as it fell. At least, Selene didn’t really hear it; she could see debris and massive pieces of the slab splashing into the water, hell they were falling around her. She ducked, narrowly dodging a portion before leaping onto the jagged edge of the new rubble wall.

The slab slammed into the creature’s back, causing the Behemoth to crash down into the river. The resulting wave forced Selene up against a rough piece of rock, grazing her arms and cheek. Pushing off of it she faltered, looking over as the trusty Dragoon came down on the Behemoth’s head, spear piercing through its skull and slinking easily into what it called a brain.

The creature involuntarily twitched and moaned. Eye’s going a bright, angry white before pyreflies began to pour out of them.

It was dead, the Behemoth had fallen.

Selene didn’t care; she was over by Rusty, throwing rocks into the water as she dug for Shay.

She stopped only when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she swung around, ready to tell whoever it was to back off or help. She managed to stop her tongue from flicking out an insult when she saw Sirius.

“Need help milady?”

Selene blinked, and moved over almost instinctively. Together more chunks and rocks went flying into the depths as people recovered. She could hear others coming, just barely though, she was far too focused on her goal.

“Shay?” She cried, hastily tossing another twisted metal piece behind her. “Shay!?”

“Little ship thief, are you in there?” Sirius questioned.

There was a low groan and Selene felt herself smiling. “Shay?”

“Urgh… S-Selene?”

She smiled. “Thank Venat you’re alright!”

“Uh… Y-yeah I am…”

“You don’t sound too sure miss,” Sirius frowned. “Are you positive?”

“Oh, uh… H-hi Sirius… Um… Selene?”

“Yeah?”

“Who turned out the lights?”

The people who Selene hadn’t even noticed had gathered smiled, all of them laughing. Selene stood up, her body shaking from exhaustion as Lyra took her place digging.

“We’ll have you out in a minute Shay, don’t worry…”

“Is Rusty okay?”

Selene slumped to the ground, looking lazily up at the bird that was standing beside her, cooing softly. “Yeah Shay, he’s fine.”

Coming over the horizon was a very familiar airship; it rocked in the air as it slowed to a hover, moving lower, it made the water tremble and dance in its wake.

“Oi! I finally get the luxurious lady ready to lavishly lacerate and you’ve KILLED the bloody burgundy bastard?!” Adair’s voice boomed out of the speaker system and made Selene twitched as her headache came screaming back. “Ah well, saved me the trouble of trying to save your lives. All aboard would-be winsome warriors, sleep be your next companion…” Selene could hear his grin, “Depending on a certain lady’s will.”

Selene groaned and just collapsed back as the Captain came to join her, sitting down next to her. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “My darling, you look exhausted.”

“I would say horrid.”

“Oh but, you could never look horrid Selene, especially now. As tired as you appear, you are soaking wet. A most delightful detail, don’t you agree?”

She was much too tired to argue with the man. “Hm..”

“Sad fact you scratched your cheek though,” He touched her cheek gently, but she did manage to find the strength to swat him away. “I see; you’ll mend that on your own hm?”

Selene nodded, sitting up slowly and looking behind her to see Kaida lifting Shay out of the concrete cave she had been trapped in. The judge sighed as the Wolfstar’s ramp lowered, she found herself unable to get up.

“… Temzi!” She called helplessly, causing the Dragoon to rush to her side.

“Yes milady?”

“Carry me to my room, I can’t move.”

“Of course!”

“Your room…” Sirius smirked before he blinked and remembered. “Hey! Wait just a moment my armoured friend! That room is MINE!”

Selene snickered, she wanted a shower, and sleep. Definitely sleep…

Before she even reached her (once Sirius’s) room, she passed out.

* * 1260 / 38 * *

ITS DEAD! IT ONLY TOOK FOREVER!!! CHAPTER TWO is officially over! Congrats to everyone! I’ll update the lounge topic probably Sunday or Monday, I have a busy weekend! Take your time and rest, any personal plots or char development… NOW IS THE TIME!

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~~

I joined Kaida as she helped pull Shay out of the rubble and threw one of her limp arms over my shoulders.

"I didn't expect to see you helping."

I snorted at Kaida's comment. "I'm not doing it to help you."

"The theif? Isn't that against your almighty belief code?"

"Maybe. But she's close to the Judge. It would reflect badly if anything was to happen to her." I caught her smirking. "What?"

"Are you sure that's the only reason?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I saw your face when that rubble fell - you were scared for her."

"KWEH!!!!"

The chocobo ran over to us and began nudging Shay's face with it's beak, "kweh"-ing in a mix of panic and worry.

"Rusty..." she smiled and moved to pet him. I ducked to help her move. "I'm ok..."

'Rusty' gave another worried "kweh" and nudged her some more.

"Maybe we should put her on the chocobo," I suggested. "We don't want to anger our feathered friend."

Kaida nodded.

We carefully lifted Shay onto the chocobo's back. The bird behaved, walking slowly and carefully as we led the two of them into the waiting airship.

Lisette slotted in beside me as we walked. "Do you think it would be a good idea to get the little ninja seen to?"

"I heard that 'little' comment," Shay groaned and Rusty had to move to keep her on his back.

"Nursing couldn't hurt. Who would you recommend?"

"Well...last I knew, you were trained in basic field medicine. I don't think her injuries will need more than that."

I shot her a sideways glare. "Are you meddling, Lisette?"

A sly grin crossed her face. "I have no idea what you're implying, Captain."

"Of course you don't." I let go of Rusty's reign. "Kaida, can you get her to a bed please?"

"I'll be sure to meet the expectations Lady Selene desires."

Her tone made me uncomfortable. Did she know? Shay had blabbed to Nii but as far as I was aware no one but Selene knew. Lisette I would have expected to find out - she had that ability in her - but how would Kaida have found out? Just what kind of spy was she?

"You're not going to see her inside?"

I breathed deep to cast aside my worries of Shayna and waited for the others to enter the airship before turning to the Viera. "Are you ok?"

She seemed surprised. "Me?"

"The fall - I couldn't see what happened and I -"

"Apology accepted." She smiled and nodded. "I'll see you inside."

I bit my lip as she headed inside. It didn't feel right, doing it like this. "Lisette-"

"Hm?"

"Can my Lady's oh so lovely guardswomen please come inside so that we might vacate this unpleasant battlefield?"

I silently cursed the voice and the idiot behind it. "We should get going," I said, casting off my earlier attempt to speak to her. "Need to make sure the 'illustrious' captain doesn't try to slip anything by Temzi whilst we're gone."


~~~~~~~
#8
510 words

[Pichu Luver]

Adair Stroud

Adair was tired. Fucking tired of RUNNING. It was all he ever managed to do. Now don't get me wrong, he did it well; exceptionally well in fact. He did it so well he may have even made the... wait no he wouldn't. Major sporting events require their athletes to be non-inebriated and not full of suspicious substances of... well any kind really. Irritating little condition... not that Blitzball rules really cared... you could get stoned all you want, it's not like it will help you kick straight (Adair only did it once, he wanted to kick the ball not think it was a school of rabid, rainbow, ruminating, remora's). Oh wait. I'm getting off topic, back to the injustices of aerobic activity.

Adair, after trying his mighty best to be a good pilot and save lives, had manged to put the good, reliable, sturdy, grand, excellent Spiran bird into swiping range of the Behemoth. It of course promptly took advantage of this deviation in Adair flight path and decided 'you are landing NOW.' Then... well... Adair decided, or was STRONGLY advised that to pull a Selene was a wise course of action. He tried to fight it, but most unfortunately he was unsuccessful in his endeavor.

He was knocked unconscious.

When he came too he was chin deep in man-screech inducing water and he cursed the ill-designed seatbelt of this bird. If Adair wanted ONE thing to work on his aircraft it was the restraining devices (and not because of the amount of fun that could be had in them). He would be dead many hundreds over if he had not insisted on this one thing.

So he grumbled, then hissed as the water came up to his mouth, unbuckled himself, took a breath of air and swam out of the aircraft. The windshield was broken and he was thankful the belt had stopped him enough he hadn't flown out of the flying vehicles' crashing maneuvers.

When he reached the shore he saw the battle and decided he was going to get a proper aircraft, and headed off to the Wolfstar. It wasn't overly far away in fact. Which was well seeing as how he was incapable of running with his slightly inebriated, concussed, non-sunglassed head. He er... bobbled would be a good term for his method of travel. He quick-strode with moments of partial earth-kissing and a general side to side to side movement.

In fact the only reason he was allowed into the Wolfstar and start it up was because there was no one around to stop him.

Thankfully, as long as he wasn't the one moving his head he could see with minimal double vision.

So he got to the battle, actually quite thankful he didn't have to do anything except lower the ramp. The second everyone was on board he raised the ramp and auto-piloted the Wolfstar to the unknown continent (not that it was on any maps, he just remembered the Gods-forsaken, piece of sketi, island's location on the mapgrid). Sirius appeared on deck just as the Wolfstar turned to fly away from the now seriously ruffled and rampaged city.

“Captain! I am most unsure if my head in on in a straight-wise fashion so I request you take the controls before I crash the bird in some remarkably spectacular—though corpse-creating—pretzel.”

Sirius looked for once looked exhausted and a little frazzled around the edges. Adair felt the same but was unwilling to show it... much. His eyes pointing in slightly opposite directions might have given it away however as Sirius glared, then peered at Adair.

“Adair... are you quite sure you can see at all? You have a mighty fine gash on your forehead. Most unflattering to your form, though of course gratifying to me.”

Adair smiled, “No dear captain, which is why I request to call for the aid of whatever musketeer of Selene's is the healer.”

“Quite alright.”

“Thank you!” Adair then promptly turned to the exit. I may note here that Adair is... well a fair bit more out of it then normal. He is actually in quite a bit of pain but in unaware due to the fact his head is preventing his 'ouch nerves' in his forehead to confer this to his brain. His quite concussed head is giddy-ly ignoring the fact and allowing Adair to be most chipper about his injury, for he cannot feel it. Or if he can, he doesn't care.

Anyway he made it through the door and headed to Selene's room as that was likely where 'hateful of pirate cronies' would be. He was gloriously glad to find them there. They were slightly miffed as they were currently in the process of being strongly rebuffed by Temzi.

“Hello Rockettes! Temzi will not let you through, ask Sirius if you find my word disbelieving. Not that you would believe his either, for he is a captain-pirate. Perhaps Shay's? Oh no perhaps not she is a thief so not trustworthy either. Nii? Oh no she is a Al-Bhed thus of course questionable. Her robot of evil dementions cannot speak so it is out... Sori might find you worthy of a barbecue for even suggesting that he would not know the answer. Or he would find you stupid and irritable and cause pain for sheer fun. I learn of a Chocobo but he cannot speak but in chirps. Fredric might tell you if he not afraid of you crushing him. Though of course none of you are fat, but quite pleasant to look upon. At least you were if not frowning at me in a most grievous fashion. Anyway I request the aid of the healer among you as I find myself feeling odd.”


980/24

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

After a few hours sleep, being drugged up on potions, a nice warm bath and a Chocobo companion, Shay was beginning to feel better. Fredric had been told to take Rusty from her room, but he refused to leave, causing many unfortunate injuries to Fredric. He could hear him cursing and swearing away he tended to their needs, but didn't have the strength to laugh.

She was wide awake now though, the pain from before now numbed into a dull ache, even where she'd got hit in the head. I can't just lay here any more... She thought, watching Fredric potter around as Rusty slept in the corner of the room.

It didn't help matters that she couldn't exactly remember that much from the battle... Yes, she remembered running from the Behemoth with Selene, jumping in the water to get her shuriken back... Attacking the Behemoth from under the water... After that, blank. Oh! And something about a broken snout...

Anyway, she had the desire to go and find Selene. Mostly to make sure that she was alright, but otherwise to find out what had happened. So she waited until Fredric was conveniently distracted before quietly slipping out of bed, tip-toeing across her room and out the door. She was bare foot, so that made it easier, but she was only in her PJs: a plain white strap top with lilac short-shorts. She couldn't remember getting in them, and for some strange reason she hoped it was Fredric that did it... Something about him just screamed asexuality...

So she wandered down the corridor, only really passing Kumas, who flashed his lights at her in acknowledgement of her presence. Of course, as she turned the corner to Selene's room, she spotted Temzi outside, so she retraced her steps and decided to take a different route.

Sneaking through Adair's room was easy. There he was, zonked out on the bed, this massive cut across his forehead. It looked like it was healing though, so maybe someone had helped him out.

It was time for Ninja Skills. Shay climbed out his already open window, shimmied along a conveniently placed window ledge, opened Selene's window and let herself in, careful to shut the window afterwards. Leaving a trace of her sneakiness was not an option; she could blame Temzi for letting her in later.

Finding the Judge to be absent, she sat herself down on the bed. My Yevon, it was comfy! She could see now why Selene wanted to take this room from Sirius now...

She's not a bad thief after all... She smiled to herself, crossing her legs and waiting.

Shayna wasn't really expecting what happened next. Selene appeared from the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around her, her hair still soaking wet. Shay tilted her head to one side, a little smirk replacing her smile. Sirius is gonna be so jealous when he finds out about this...

It took a while for Selene to realise Shay was in the room, just sat there, silently watching. She practically jumped out of her skin, readjusting the towel and pulling it tigher. “Shay! How long have you been here?”

There was a naughty little twinkle in the girl's eyes. “Not long enough.”

There was a moment of silence whilst Selene contemplated this comment. It was hard to tell what exactly she meant and how to take it... She didn't get much time to think it over, because Shay started talking again.

“I came to see if you were okay...” She explained, fiddling with the corner of the bed sheets. “I don't really remember much... Something smacked me in the back of the head at some point, I know, cos it bloody hurt...”

Selene just frowned. “Turn around.”

Shay blinked. “Huh? Why?”

“Just do it!”

“Oooh! I see!” She rolled her eyes, facing the other direction. “Come on Selene, I'm a girl too.”

“Your comment worried me.”

“I was joking! Yeesh!” Shay chuckled. “Anyway, you still haven't answered my question. Are you alright?”

“I'm fine... Just tired. I've never wanted a shower so badly in my life...” Selene replied. She was getting changed into her PJs too, a silky nightie. It was pretty, Shay would find out. “You can turn around now.”

She couldn't be bothered, and this bed was just so damn comfy that she just decided to flop backwards, laying across it, only just being able to see Selene if she looked up. “So did the Behemoth die in a spectacular fashion? I assume it died, I can't imagine that we'd outrun it.”

She could just about see her moving towards the bed, but she didn't reply, so Shay decided to keep talking.

“I saw Adair earlier, he didn't look too good... Temzi looked alright though, but his armour looked like it was rusting around the edges... Did he go under too? I can't imagine him doing well with such heavy armour...”

Again, silence. It made Shay feel uneasy, so she talked some more.

“Rusty's been beating up Fredric, it's so funny...” She stopped, a shadow overcasting her. Water dripped from her friend's hair, splashing onto her, making her Pjs go a little see-through. “Selene?”

Her hand reached down, picking up the little pendant that was hanging around her neck. Shay blinked, confused for a moment, before Selene finally spoke.

“... Where did you get this?”

Shayna's eyes widened. “Oh shit...”

Never before had anyone witnessed the thief move so fast. She scrambled to the headboard of the bed, quickly unclasping the necklace and holding it out in front of her, like some sort of peace offering. It gleamed when it caught the light, the silver polished to perfection. One side has some sort of crest on it, the other the initials A.B.D engraved in fancy letters...

“I swear to Yevon and on my sister's life that if I knew this was yours, I would have never touched it, not even with the longest barge pole ever in existence.” The red handed thief babbled, unable to stop her motor mouth. “And I intended to give it back! I swear! That's why I have it right now! So I don't loose it! Loosing it would be worse than not giving it back, right?” She took a moment to catch her breath, scared to look her friend in the eye. “Oh my god, you're gonna kill me...”

Uh oh! 19, 1088.

[Weasel Overlord]

FLASH TEMZI-POST! Awaiting Selene-input. Beepity beep boop.

Temzi :: Dragoon of Justice
:: I feel a voice within fading ::

Temzi was relieved – oh so relieved – to be back aboard the Wolfstar once more. He almost felt at home on the airship, though it did not have the steady grandeur of the Academy or the slow quietness of Guadosalam. In fact, it was the polar opposite; barely any silence at any time. The crew spent their time arguing (he was never completely certain whether they were serious), bickering, drinking (in the case of Adair and, more recently, Nii) and desperately attempting to woo Lady Judge Selene. Although this last was saved only for Sirius. There had been mention of dibs, or divvying spoils, or whatever the phrase was, as if she were a sack of potatoes or a rare spice to be divided between the two. Temzi wasn't sure, again, whether he agreed with such thought processes, but there was no dissuading Captain Sirius – Lady Lyra and Lady Lisette had proven such time and time again. Even sound kicks to his nether regions did not dissuade the poor Captain, though those could surely do some damage to his most vital parts, leaving him ultimately unable to carry out his Manly Duties, if ever the time came, and Lady Judge Selene agreed with it.

Temzi, along with most of the crew, seemed to automatically assume that Selene would have no brook with Sirius, Terrible Cad that he was. But there was something in her eyes, of late, and she was surely planning something. Or at least, hoping for something, but Temzi could not begin to guess what it was. His poor mind refused to accommodate anything remotely filth-related, which made conversations with Sirius and Adair somewhat taxing, on occasion.

But Standing Guard outside Selene's door, this he could do. Guarding required no more energy than sitting down, for Temzi. His armour pretty much held him up with little or no effort on his part, rendering him basically an ornamental Guard Statue, required only to raise an arm in the negatory, disallowing certain rambunctious Captains passage into the room within.

A lesser person than Temzi may have railed at being asked to Guard, considering how much he'd been through that day, but he knew that once his Duties were finished, he could finally take off his armour in the comfort of his cabin. He was grateful for the cabin, small though it was. He'd never got the hang of sharing a room, and was most uncomfortable with people seeing his unarmoured form at the best of times, let alone when he felt as though he'd been forced through a mangle, backwards, and then out into a boiling pan full of thorn bushes.

Times like this, he was glad he could almost function on auto-pilot. His mind free to wander within the comfortable confines of his helm. He pondered what they would do next. He contemplated Seta, the original statuesque rock, and what he meant to Temzi (a lot, though he could not quite put his finger on the why). He dreamed up a hot bath, daydreamed about (finally) cleaning his armour, mused upon that elusive information his mother had told him way-back-when and then back to Seta again, taking no pause to wonder precisely why his mind kept skipping on those two themes like a record with a broken groove.

#8 // 574~

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~~

Lisette and I found Temzi stationed outside of Selene's room. The Dragoon looked like the many statues that stood in Lord Vayne's palace; stoic men of armour with intense, unblinking stares. It seemed to take more than his usual reflex time to release that we were stood before her.

"Lady Lyra, Lady Lisette." He addressed us in his usual manner.

"Hello Temzi."

I hadn't had much experience of the Dragoon but I knew I liked him. I'd gotten a feel of him when he'd captured Shay and I could tell he was a man of honour. I didn't think much of Sirius or Adair - and I doubted they thought much of me (not that I cared) - but in Temzi, at least, I felt like I had someone on my side - so to speak.

"Is Judge Luna comfortable?" asked Lisette.

The Dragoon nodded.

"No problems with troublesome Captains?"

"The Captain promptly refrained from his intention."

"That's good to hear."

“Hello Rockettes! Temzi will not let you through, ask Sirius if you find my word disbelieving. Not that you would believe his either, for he is a captain-pirate. Perhaps Shay's? Oh no perhaps not she is a thief so not trustworthy either. Nii? Oh no she is a Al-Bhed thus of course questionable. Her robot of evil dementions cannot speak so it is out... Sori might find you worthy of a barbecue for even suggesting that he would not know the answer. Or he would find you stupid and irritable and cause pain for sheer fun. I learn of a Chocobo but he cannot speak but in chirps. Fredric might tell you if he not afraid of you crushing him. Though of course none of you are fat, but quite pleasant to look upon. At least you were if not frowning at me in a most grievous fashion. Anyway I request the aid of the healer among you as I find myself feeling odd.”

Lisette and I shot each other sideways glances. 'quite pleasant to look upon?' The pilot was definitely more of his bizzare self than usual. I grabbed his head and watched his eyes wander in an attempt to focus. "Concussion," I stated. I looked back at Lisette. "This takes more than my basic medical training. You'll have to deal with him."

I let go of Adair and Lisette grabbed one of his shoulders. "How far gone do you think he is? Can we save him?"

"I hope so. He's apparently a good pilot, we might need him."

She began to lead Adair away. "You know, that almost sounds like a compliment."

I snorted but said nothing and watched her take the pilot to his room.

"There are worse men in the world than the Captain and his pilot," said Temzi. surprising me.

"Perhaps." I settled back against the wall on the opposite side of the door to Temzi. "But Selene is very close to me; I can't help but be overly protective of her."

"Understandable. Though I have witnessed the Captain save Lady Selene on more than one occassion."

I shrugged. "Maybe he just rubs me the wrong way. I don't know."

There was silence.

"You don't need to stand guard with me."

I thought of Shayna for a moment but quickly discarded the thought from my mind. "I don't mind. There's something...relaxing about it," I closed my eyes for a moment, "like for once I don't need to be switched on."

"Sounds like you have a busy time of it."

I grinned at him. "I am a soldier and my country is at war. I know fighting, death and destruction and little else. Do you mind my company?"

"Not at all Lady Lyra."

I couldn't help but smile a little at that. I definitely approved of Temzi. He was a rare breed of man indeed. If only there were more men like him in the world, maybe things would be a lot better. Maybe.


~~~~~~~~~~
#9
660 words

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

To say Selene was shocked would be an understatement. She stood dumbfounded, staring at the pendant hanging from her friend’s hand. The moment seemed to blur together for her. She vaguely remembered feeling rage, so uncontrollable that she was sure her hand was alight with flames. She could feel the trinket in her hand; she was clenching it so hard that she wouldn’t be surprised if her hand were bleeding. In some back part of her brain, she registered throwing a punch as hard as she could, and recalled how it connected with something.

Or someone, as it turned out to be Shay, who went crashing to the floor. It had seemed at some point Selene and she had moved. The world returned to her as quickly as it left, and the Judge was left staring at the thief. She was slowly recovering from the hit, her cheek visibly burnt and bleeding. Shayna was speaking to her, but the words couldn’t reach her ears. That part of Selene’s mind hadn’t returned, she didn’t want to listen, she didn’t want the reason, she just wanted someone to die.

‘She’s a Spiran, she’s the enemy, how could you let your guard down?! She’s a little bitch of a thief, having the nerve to flaunt that necklace around while you’re none the wiser-‘

“Selene I was gonna give it back honest! I-“

“Why were you wearing it?” Selene stood between the thief and the door, though she probably had another way of getting in. But Selene cared not for it; she would kill Shayna before she ever got within five feet of any escape.

Shayna winced, though whether it was at the tone of the Judge or the wound was beyond the raging woman. Carefully she stood, visibly shaken. “I.. I didn’t want to lose it! I swear I-“

“You swear on your sister’s soul? You hate your sister,” Selene countered, completely emotionless. “And swearing to a dead god doesn’t by you anything either.”

‘Come on then, you wretch, what’s your counter? What could you possible say that would clear your name?’

“I’m sorry..”

“You… What?” Selene faltered, blinking.

“I’m sorry.” Shayna seemed to gain a tiny bit of confidence, straightening up.

“You’re sorry?” Selene gritted her teeth. “That’s all you have for me?! I should throw you off this god damn ship right now!”

The thief looked down, ashamed. “I didn’t know it was yours, I didn’t know it was so important… Really… I- I… I’m so sorry Selene, I was going to give it back… But well…”

‘Good going, you just scared the ninja chick shitless.’ Selene almost frowned at her own thought, her emotions were running unchecked, she was as likely to break down as to kill the woman. ‘Do not break down in front of her; you’re a Judge for Venat’s sake…’

“I don’t know how much value your apology has to be frank,” Selene spat, crossing her arms. “You’re a thief, you steal from other people.”

“My choice in life doesn’t lessen the value of my word…” She shot a glare to the wall. “Not like I really had a choice, no, not after Lyra turned in my brother to join the guard…”

Selene kept her expression neutral, mulling it over. Shayna was her friend; she was by far the least annoying person on this ship. Maybe Shayna had intended to give it back, and the older of the two had overreacted because well… to be honest Selene Solidor was a mess, she was exhausted, in pain, had almost drowned and her mother was..

Gone.

“You’re sister turned in your brother to join the Spiran Guard?”

“Yes.” Shayna snarled that one word with such hatred.

‘That shows extreme loyalty…’ Selene frowned, tilted her head to the side, lessening her grip on the pendant as she walked over to the side table, placing it on the top. She hunched over, rapidly thinking about facts, facts that just didn’t seem to add up. ‘To turn in your brother, that takes nerve and a deep-rooted loyalty to your country…’ Was there anything that could shake the foundation of that devotion? Not that Selene could think of, as far as she knew from inside reports and simple facts, the Spiran Guard had never done anything really atrocious to warrant such hatred. ‘Then why waver? Why of all things join the Ivalician Army?’

Something didn’t connect. That worried Selene, which only added to her problems.

‘Seta…’ She thought, almost praying to her old friend. ‘If you were here, you could tell me… What to do…’ Selene fought back the urge to cry as she stood there, thinking deeply as she stared at the silver necklace. Slowly she reached into the drawer of the table, something that made Shay back up before Selene turned to her and tossed her a potion.

“Leave.” Selene growled, narrowing her eyes. “Now.”

“B-but…” The girl looked at the potion with confusion. “Have you forgiven me?”

She thought about her, her mind coming to no conclusion. “I don’t know.”

“O-okay.” The girl rushed to the door, turning the handle.

“Shay…” She looked back at Selene, who was staring at the ground, with her arms crossed. Still visibly irritated, but not looking particularly psychotic anymore. “.. Thank you..”

As soon as the ninja left and closed the door, Selene turned to face the wall.

‘Seta’s dead, your mother’s dead, hundreds of Ivalician’s are wounded or dead… Everyone around you eventually dies. You’re not a Judge; you’re just some child, a little girl lost without her father to hold her hand. And Lyra, well she was there, she could’ve harmed your mother The Queen of Ivalice. She betrayed her family for Spira, what makes you think your trust in her is as valuable as her religious devotion to her country?’

Selene wandered, pacing slightly as a thousand words poured into her mind. None of them were comforting, all of them hurt. They hurt beyond compare.

‘And here you are, racing across the expanse with a ragtag team of people… What exactly do you think you can accomplish? Your father allowed you to go because you’re not royalty, you’re not a judge, you’re useless.’

Her anger exploded once again, and without thinking she sent her clenched fist into the wall. The wood let out a crack from her hit and even smoked a bit from fire spell threatening to return. Sirius apparently had no punching bag or training equipment in this place, so the wall, as hard as it was, would have to do. Again and again, the entire time her eyes were welling up, she wanted everything to go back to the way it was, she wanted this stupid war to go away.

“I know what you’re thinking, and as much as you wish, destroying the wall and breaking your hand won’t bring them back..”

‘Sirius…’

His words weren’t condescending or their usual ‘charmistic’ (Selene had decided that was a word) self, they were different. Sincere almost, as if he might understand where she was coming from… But he didn’t, he couldn’t, it was part of human nature to believe one was special. To believe their problems were unique, and at the moment, she would be damned if that sly sky pirate would take that comfort away from her. Her next punch went flying towards him.

Sirius took it, probably thankful she had hit his cheek and not his nose. The hit itself was weak, more out of desperation and sadness then pure anger. Another punch came, but this time he caught it, holding it firm in his grasp as she looked up at him through bitter tears.

“You..” She snarled, her body becoming shaky from exhaustion. “It was probably you who did it…”

“How could I?”

“I don’t know!” Selene roared, knees finally giving out. She fell back, slumping against the wall and side table. “I.. I just… N-need someone to blame…” Her voice was cracking as she lost it. “I need a clear enemy… But…” She thought back to Lyra. “I-I don’t know who…”

It was a surprise when Sirius sat down next to her, and held her without trying to cop a feel. Selene hesitated, her body turning rigid. For those couple of seconds, they were both silent. Selene eventually slumped, burying her head into his chest as he rested his on top of hers.

“Do believe me when I tell you that your enemies will be as clear as the horizon when the time arrives. Take comfort in the fact you have friends willing to protect you if some nasty beast or trigger-happy monk happens to spot you..”

“What if I don’t believe you?” She whimpered.

“Well I am very tired Lady Luna, I was hoping you would believe me so I don’t have to strain my poor, overworked brain…”

She looked at him, perhaps to insult his intelligence but stopped. “You’re nose…”

“Oh yes, that Lisette woman fixed it. I suppose it makes up for the bleeding shin, my opinion hasn’t change though. She’s a mad woman; I think you’re much better off with guards in the right state of mind.”

Selene chuckled half-heartedly.

“Oh you’re laughing, I suppose that’s a start.. We’ll have to do better though. How about I tell you a joke?”

“Sure..”

“Alright, once there was a rather short-tempered Moogle who was gifted with magic…”

“Uh oh…” She weakly smiled.

“And a completely innocent, though rather intoxicated pilot. As chances would have it, they’re in the same ship!”

“No way…”

“Of course, and not only that, but they’re in the very same cockpit!”

“This can’t end well..”

“Well there was this absurd racket, and then all over the ship the rest of the crew heard this strange chanting!”

Selene smiled, sniffling a bit.

“Oh come now, you remember that surely?”Sirius waved his arms around as he demonstrated. “MY ASS IS ON FIRE! MY ASS IS ON FIRE!”

The woman chuckled a bit more. “I suppose you left out the part where the dear captain has knocked himself unconscious?”

“Oh well then… I’ll just have to make do with that smile..” He let the word hang in the air as he wiped away tears from her flushed cheeks.

It was only know that she realized how close they were, it was awkward; mere inches between their faces, something that normally she would find herself cringing at. She gulped, though it was one of those tiny, nervous things that rarely happened for the Judge. The seconds seemed to drag on, that subtle distance between them closing far beyond what would’ve normally been allowed.

“Sirius.. I…”

He smiled, his lips looking far more tempting then they should. Selene wondered briefly if he thought the same, sure he always flaunted his attraction but was it that in-depth in his not-so-tiny crush that he would notice quiet details about herself?

“I believe…” centimeters, no millimeters of miniscule distance now. A part of Selene wanted to run, another thought about just how revealing her black and silver nightgown was, but a third part (and notably deeply hidden, buried, and hated part) was tempted. “That is the first time you have ever said my name and not been threatening my life..”

It was so quick; Sirius shattered what was left of the distance. Pressing his lips against hers with confident yet gentle courtesy, Selene found herself lost in that moment.

They parted for a breath, but Selene was done. She leaned against him, her body so exhausted and her mind reeling from all the issues it’s been caught up with that even if she wanted anything more (which she didn’t, but from his dizzied gaze she assumed he did), she wouldn’t be able too.

“If…” She groaned, realizing just how happy she has made the damn captain (from his giddy expression, and were his pants always that tight?). As he helped her off the floor and into the bed (which she just collapsed into), Selene continued. “You dare tell anyone about that… About this… I-“
“Will promptly end me, I am sure. So there is a this now?”
“Sirius…”

“Ah that deadly tone, right, that is much more like you. My dear Selene, I won’t tell a soul.”
Selene just let out a tired sigh as she pulled the blanket around her. “Wipe that smile off your face fly-boy, it was just a kiss.”

“Ah no, my lady, that is where you’re wrong. You see it wasn’t a kiss brought on by near-death like the boulder, or a rewarding peck on the cheek for letting Rusty come aboard, it was in fact a kiss.”

The woman let out a longer sigh and just rolled over, refusing to face him.

If she had been in her right mind, it would’ve infuriated her that Sirius was right.

* * 2141 / 39 * *

I felt like writing. So sue me. XD I’ll have the abilities and shit up today or tomorrow, I’ve had some issues recently.

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

With what had just happened, Shay was surprised that she was leaving the room with only a rather bruised and slightly bleeding cheek. In spare moments of her time, she would always try and plan out how she was going to give the necklace back, most scenarios ended up in her death, or leaving it anonymously, or getting someone else to do it for her, or just simply keeping it forever. She could tell that it would take a while for her to be forgiven, but at least it was starting now, early(ish) on in their adventure, rather than a few more months down the line when the betrayal would have been far much worse and she would have been thrown off the ship.

As she went through the door, she nearly walked straight into Sirius. Temzi was stood by, as was Lyra, obviously not expecting the door to open any time soon. Sirius was taking his chance to get to see Selene, and to be honest, Shay thought that she needed him right now.

You owe me an airship... How's the snout? I saw Selene partially naked, dripping wet and just in a towel... No, for Yevon's sake, be nice...

“Look after her.” Shay told Sirius quietly, letting him in and shutting the door after him, preparing herself for the backlash she was about to receive from her two most loyal guards...

“Lady Shayna, I was advised not to-”

“How the hell did you get in there?!”

Ah yes. The polite and tactfulness of Temzi in comparison to the rudeness and brashness of her sister. Oh no, Lyra didn't treat everyone in such a manner, mostly just her, since it would appear that Temzi had let the thief into the room in the first place.

“Mister Temzi, I would like to sincerely apologize for my actions. For you see, I knew you would not let me into Judge Luna's chamber, so I took the liberty of sneaking through the sleeping Adair's room, climbing out the window, shuffling along between the two windows and letting myself in.” Shay nodded at Temzi, taking a quick sip of the potion she had been given. Odd, something that was supposed to be so sweet seemed so bitter in her mouth.

“Then why did you let Sirius in there?!” Lyra questioned. She was fuming underneath, she could tell. “Like his company is going to be appreciated any more than yours!”

“I must agree with Captain Xanthrope, I do not think it was wise to-”

“Because I upset her, okay?” Shay interrupted, matching the glare that Lyra was giving her. “I upset her and I thought she needed someone to comfort her. To be honest, I'm lucky I only have a bruise on my cheek, because I wouldn't blame her if she decided to throw me off the ship. Or just shoot me.”

“What... What did you do to her?”Lyra asked, her gaze fixed on her sister as she began to walk away. “Shayna! I said, what did you do?”

“It doesn't matter.” Shay waved her hand dismissively, not even bothering to turn around.

“It does matter!” Lyra was following her, she could hear the clunky armoured booties quickening in pace to catch up.

“You just want to know because you want to pick a fight with me.” Shay shot back at her, still refusing to stop. She took a swig of the potion this time, her cheek throbbing where she'd been hit. “But I'm not gonna let you have the satisfaction. If she wants you to know, she'll tell you.”

“What makes you think you have some kind of special bond with her?” Lyra snapped, only just a few paces behind her now.

“I don't.”

“My ass you don't think that!”

“No! I don't!” Shayna finally stopped outside her room, turning to face her sister, who pretty much towered over her, even though she was only a few inches taller. “She's a Princess and I'm nothing but a common thief. Although, here's the funny thing, I've spent more time with her in the last few weeks than you have...”

“That means nothing...”

“Oh, so when I sneaked into her room, she didn't chuck me out straight away, only because I provoked her. But she didn't invite you, her most loyal guard, in for a little chat.” Shay smirked. She could tell she was touching a nerve of some kind. “Oh wait! But you're not as loyal as you seem, are you Lyra?”

“Our family has nothing to do with this...” She growled.

“It has everything to do with this.”

“KWEEEEEEEEH!”

“Rusty, sweetheart, it's okay, I'm coming back soon.” Shay opened the door just a tiny bit, the chocobo's beak peaking through. “... Where's Fredric? … Rusty! Get off!”

Once she had moved Rusty away and helped Fredric off the floor, she turned back to Lyra, who actually looked a tad amused. Shay was about to shatter that.

“You know why it has everything to do with this? You betrayed our family, then Spira... Who's to say you won't do it again?”

Post 20 (YAY!), 878.

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~~

"Don't talk about things you know nothing about," I growled.

"Know nothing about? I know everything about it. You didn't have to carry the shame of it. Everyone knew what you'd done. But you diodn't have to face it because you're just a coward. You ran away and left us-"

I had her against the wall, my hand grasping her throat. "Don't you dare talk to me about running away. Who was the coward first? Who ran away when she needed us?"

"This has nothing to do with her."

"This has everything to do with her!" The look on her face held me. I released my hand from her neck, hoping to hide the fact that it was shaking. "You have no idea," I said, shaking my head. "No idea about anything."

"Obviously, or I wouldn't have been so surprised when you turned your back on us."

I sighed. "I'm tired of playing the bad guy, Shay...All I did - all I've ever done, is what I thought was right."

"How could turning traitor ever seem like the right thing?"

I couldn't look at her. "I didn't want to die..."

"What?"

I held the necklace out to her; the one I had stolen at our mother's funeral. "I found him Shay. I found the guy who did it and I...I killed him."

I could feel the expression on her face change but I couldn't tell what to. The silence held us, so tightly that I thought my lungs would burst. "Why would you do that?" She took the necklace and held it close. "Why would you do something so stupid?"

"It was too much to expect you to understand," I said, rebuilding the walls she shattered, returning to the person I was better off being, the soldier without emotions. I had let too much get to me of late. "I promised I'd give that back to her but seeing as how I can't it's better off with you. Try not to die before then." I walked until I heard her door move. "Oh, and be wary of Selene. Just because you think you have some kind of special relationship with her doesn't make it so. I've seen her do a lot worse to people a lot closer than you are."

I stalked back to my room, taking the long route so that I could avoid Selene's and hopefully an unwanted encounter with Sirius. I'd had all I could deal with for one day. I needed sleep, to escape as far away from myself and this ship as possible. I didn't expect my dealings with Shay to get any easier and on top of that there were the Al Bheds (although Kaida was a problem all of her own) and the Captain and his pilot. Not to mention the possibility that Selene's faith in me could be wavering. Urgh! Gods why do you continue to curse me? Either strike me down or put an end to these tireless hardships. I am tired of carrying these lies...even if I won't admit it.

I opened the door to find someone standing in my room. I had to pull myself from my thoughts before I could figure out who it was. "What do you want?"



~~~~~~~~~~~~
wooooo! 10th post at last!
541 words!
AND TAG TO WHOEVER FEELS LIKE INTERACTING!

[classy_cat18]

Niosa Tiera – Al Bhed Gunner

It had been a while since we boarded the Wolfstar. For once I ignored everyone and went straight to my quarters. There was nothing for me to do at the moment anyway. Kumas, however, decided to roam the ship for a while.

I stared at the ceiling while lying on my bed. Everything was so quiet, even with the addition of crew members. But the quiet only made my thoughts louder. Kumas has gained an independent personality, if I can call it a personality. Why would he roam anyway? Is he checking to make sure everything’s safe? Could I ask him that when he gets back?

I lifted a hand to take off my goggles, surprised when I found them already around my neck. “What?” I slipped off Adair’s sunglasses. “That’s right. He gave them to Nii. Nii needs to return them. But Nii doesn’t want to disturb him right now.”

It didn’t take long to start drifting off to sleep, but the sound of clanging footsteps put me back on alert. Kumas came back in the room and stood in his usual spot. “Nii was wondering where you went,” I said to the machina.

Kumas turned his head to me. “Patrol.”

I blinked twice. That was a straight answer, but it had a strange edge to it. “Oh. That’s what Nii thought. Is everything okay?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” I fingered the sunglasses and got up. Machina weren’t really good for conversation, and I needed to relax. Fortunately I had memorized all of Adair’s hiding places for his secret stash.

“Where are you going?"

My whole body froze a few inches short of the doorway. Why did I feel tense? It was like I was being questioned by my older brother when I got in trouble. And I couldn’t turn around to face him because I was afraid that Ariosa would be there instead. “Nii wants rum. Adair got her back on the stuff.”

“You become adversely affected when drinking it.”

“Nii won’t drink much.”

He didn’t reply, so I took it as permission. But I could almost feel his glowing eyes on the back of my head as I left. There was a good bottle just down the hall…

Lyra’s room.

“Tysh,” I hissed. It had to have been in the room of that…that…

Stiff bitch.

The door was slightly open, and there didn’t seem to be anyone in the room. I could be in and out within seconds, and no one would know. So I slipped in, found the bottle in a box under the bed, and turned around to leave.

“What do you want?”

I stepped back from Lyra’s intimidating glare, the bottle of rum behind my back. Just keep your mouth shut, just walk past her…

“Hudrehk,” I finally answered, cursing myself for my habit of slipping into Al Bhed when threatened.

Her eyes narrowed. “What is that behind your back?”

Crap. She thought I was stealing! “Rum,” I told her as I brought out the bottle.

“This is my room,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Nii is aware of that, but she needed to retrieve this.” We slowly circled each other, not turning our back to the other. “Nii will leave now.”

“I find it hard to believe that you left that in my room.”

“You think Nii used this as an excuse to snoop.” I sighed heavily. “Nii has no interest in your things.”

“And what about your machina?”

“What about him?”

“It was roaming the halls earlier.”

“Patrol.”

“…I see.”

I groaned and took a swig of the rum. “Kumas is not a hostile machina. If he said he was patrolling, then he was patrolling.”

“It said—“

“Don’t hurt your brain trying to think about it.” With that I left without waiting for her response.

637 words. 20 Nii posts.

[Pichu Luver]

Adair Stroud

Adair was... well he didn't rightly know where he was, but it was a nice sort of place. He was standing in a giant field, with grass nearly as long as the width of his hand. Everything was a brilliant emerald green and covered with tiny sweet smelling flowers of very hue imaginable. Trees dotted the landscape and a thin creek bubbled somewhere nearby. Admittedly he did not have any alcoholic beverage on hand but it didn't seem to matter wherever he was. It was quite peaceful and he decided that over there by that copse of trees he would flop.

Collapsing to the ground without any grace, dignity or any other forms of movement women worried themselves silly over, Adair closed his eyes and was at peace. All his worries had been washed away and here, with these lovely smells and absence of anyone to bother him, was a decidedly grand place to be. His mind for once was not fuzzy with rum and he simply relished being. He had a goodly while of silence before...

“It'z a beautiful day in dis neighbourhood, a beautiful day for a neighbour... Would you bein miiiine? Could you bein miiiine?”

“Mog. Why your voice is quite lovely—as I have stated on innumerable occasions—I am not currently of the sort of mental state to hear it. If I had happened to be drunk and jubilantly jovial I would be up to all grand singing contests. Alas, my mood is of ho-hum and ladi-da.”

That Mog had randomly appeared out of nowhere did not concern Adair. Here, wherever he was, all thing were indeed possible.

“But'n you must sing. For I'ma thinkin she'd bein mighty irritated if ya didn't.”

Adair sighed a sigh of solemn sadness that his satisfactory siesta had been stopped. He sat up and slowly open his yes, not particularly keen on this conversation.

“Who my dea—“

If it wasn't for the fact Adair was so sleepy he might of screamed or reacted with fair bit more energy then to simply blink. For right in front of him was a silver Chocobo. However, this Chocobo seemed to be made of steel. His feathers squeaking slightly as they brushed each other. It's head, chest and along its sides were covered in a overlapping armour that moved fluidly with the bird. It's beak was wicked sharp and it's eyes glowed a baleful red at him.

All in all quite out of place in a giant peaceful field.

“Mog? Did you say something about singing?” Turning Adair could no longer find Mog, he had disappeared. Now perturbed, Adair got to his feet, looking all about him. Fortunately the deadly Chocobo did not seem inclined to do anything as he searched. Seeing as how the land was so flat he could see Mog fly away for a week, there was not much of anywhere he could go.

“Mog?! MOG!”

The bird started to chuckle. A very strangle chuckle it was too; combining a male and female voice. One was Selene's. The other caused him to choke. Adair whirled to face it, rigid with anger and no little fear.

“Where. IS. He?”

The bird said nothing, merely cocked it's head and smiled slightly. Adair felt rooted to the ground like the tree next to him. One side screamed at him to run, the other wanted to throttle a bird made of knives.

“He's... safe. They always are.”

A gentle breeze tickled his nose, smelling like his childhood home. Vague images of arms holding him tight, promising to always keep him safe, flitted across his vision.

“... I'm... a problem.”

It nodded, satisfied he understood. “Yes. You are.”

“I can't give you what you want.”

Lifting one of its feet, it peered at it's claws, as if admiring their sharpness. “Can't you? For him?”

Terror flitted through his soul. Quietly he answered, sinking to his knees, “I can't... I can't. It's... please. You'll find me. You always find me. It's so easy for you.”

“Hmm.” It pondered, considering his plea and placed its foot back on the ground. It began tearing up chunks of the meadow. “I'm afraid that is an unsatisfactory answer. You always do manage to get away.”

It was then Mog reappeared. Torn, ragged and in general very much abused. Tears leaked out from the corner of his eyes, mouth gagged as he stared at Adair. He was just lying on the grass, hands tied, but not his feet. He could run, should run, but he wouldn't. Not without it's permission.

It raised its head in a haughty expression, placing a claw under Mog's chin. “You're sure?”

“Don't... Don't. DON'T!” Adair launched himself to his feet and sprinted at the Chocobo. “YOU YEVON DAMNED BASTARD! LET HER GO!!!”

Just before he reached the pair a giant chasm opened at his feet and he tumbled into the abyss. As he fell he rolled over to face upwards, and watched as they dissolved into a battered older woman at the foot of someone dressed all in metal.

After falling for a indeterminable length of time he slammed into a metal floor. Groaning he got to his feet, slightly wobbly. Looking around he decided he didn't like this place too much. Looked sort of seedy. It was very hard to see through all the gray-brown haze floating about. Not to mention it was a rather dark place with little sunlight. There was pryeflies floating into and out of his field of vision as well. That never boded well for a happy place. What he could see was lots of metal pieces and glowing... things through the fog.

“Good day to you, deary digs of dreamland. Do friendly fascinating fiends await? Or hideously horrifying heathens?”

Nothing answered him.

“Alas you seem a soft-spoken sort.”

Still nothing.

Shrugging, Adair decided to meander. As in the way of dreams he didn't much remember or care about what had happened before. He was here and here was odd, deserving a bit of investigation. Not that he cared for such things, but it was better then standing there being creeped and waiting for doom to descend.

As he fumbled about in his not quite straight, not quite sideways fashion he accidentally kicked a musical stone. Puzzled, he kneeled and tried to pick up the long thin rock, finding it attached to a string. When he flicked it, it made a sound.

“Hmm...” He brushed the dirt around the rock and found others who made musical sounds as well. Only they were all different notes. Grinning, he sat down and decided to play a jaunty tune. Though, with a limited umber of musical stones at his disposal, the song was not quite filled out.

As he was tapping away, two yellow orbs of light flickered into life. A low tone rumbled through the space, shaking the dust into the air. Adair scrambled to his feet and was immediately in tranced by those eyes. A deep resounding chuckle filled the area and Adair rapidly backpedaled, opening his mouth to scream...

~~~

“IT'S GUNNA EAT ME!!!”

Adair jolted awake, finding himself in an upright position, drenched in sweat, eyes gritty, and overall feeling like shit. He wiped his face with his hand, feeling dried blood on his forehead. He groaned and fell back against the pillows. He felt exhausted, even though he'd slept since being zonked out by the healer fairly early on in the evening yesterday. His head was also irritatingly clear.

“Drink, shower and breakfast,” he grumbled and lurched out of bed. He glanced at his clock across his fairly messy room (clothes were everywhere but other wise it was alright as it oddly didn't smell like a drunks room). It glowed 6:00am at him.

“As much as I dislike your habits, for dis I will make an exemption.”

Adair turned and had never been so grateful to see Mog, sitting pretty on his bean-bag chair. He was also holding a bottle of rum, frowning at him.

“You waz moaning a lot last night. Some'in shoutin too.”

He grabbed the bottle and downed a quarter of it before passing it back. “Nightmares. Of a most unlikable sort that did not spell out restful in any language. No matter a healers orders.”

“Hmm.”

Adair merely rolled his eyes and headed for his bathroom. It was decidedly smaller then Sirius's, did not even feature a bathtub. It was quite good enough for him though(there was an exactly copy in layout across the hall or Sirius probably would have snitched it from him) and he washed up, emerging refreshed and on an even keel. Which was of course very much lopsided to everyone else's vision of normalcy.

He pulled on some clean clothes (a white muscle shirt with a blue plaid over shirt and tan trousers), and grabbing a book on the way out (Mog had disappeared), he tottered to the bridge. No one was there yet, so he just gave everything a cursory glance to check it was fine. The sun was just peeking over the water, colouring both the clouds and waves pink and he paused to admire it a moment. Smiling slightly to himself he wandered to the common lounge.

It was a small area centrally placed on the ship. It held the kitchen and a large table (nailed to floor along with the benches). A couple couches, coffee table, and a large comfy chair were also beside the table (also all nailed to the floor). A skylight let all the light in he needed to gather some food. Mog was there, sitting on a couch reading some sort of news. Adair cooked himself up some scrambled eggs, bacon and homefries. Then feeling an impromptu urge to be nice, made a lot of extras and left them next to the stove. Grabbing milk carton he plunked himself sideways on the bench, propped his bare feet up on it and munched away as he read his book. Mog flew over, grabbed a fistful of homefries and a cup of water before going back to his paper.

1710/25

Tags... everybody. Come on in and munch down (its the next day if my post wasn't clear). If anybody's curious he's reading The Veira(Woman) in White. He also in a funny mood, but won't say why other then the Lisette made his head feel funny.

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor
Recovery day.

Selene turned over, slowly emerging from her slumber as his nostrils flared. A scent of sweet food, breakfast, but not one she would ever have in the castle. It reminded her of her jaunts into the lower sections of Archades, where the greasy spoons were hard at work, giving people delicious yet somewhat gross looking plates of food she shouldn’t eat. The princess groaned, cracking an eyeball, she had slept since Sirius helped her into bed last evening. To be honest her spirits were still dampened but damn…

That food smelt good.

With a yawn she sat up and stretched her back, cracking numerous times up her spine. She winced at the last one as she rolled her neck and got up to get dressed.

Her outfit was one of laziness, a loose, oversized dress shirt of Sirius’s, a black bikini top that just showed through the fabric and her shorts. It was far too early to even put effort into looking nice. Selene lazily fixed her hair, thankful for whatever genes she inherited that stopped it from looking horrible in the mornings. She wondered faintly how many of the others could smell that tempting aroma wafting in.

She didn’t wait to find out, she opened the door and found Temzi still at his post.

“Lady Selene,” he bowed his head politely. “Are you feeling better today?”

Her body ached, wrist clicked anytime she used it and her lungs still felt heavy. “Much.” She replied, realizing that it could be much worse.

“Good to hear milady.”

“Temzi, you can stop guarding my door.”

“Yes, if you excuse me, I must change.”

Selene raised an eyebrow as the Guado turned and left, striding off down the hall. Exactly what did it matter if he had to change or not? He always wore that damn armour, no one could see his new clothes or smell his odor even if they tried. With another long yawn Selene stretched and heading into the common area, lazily jumping over the slight edge in the entrance.

The smell of food was so strong, instantly Selene’s stomach quietly grumbled and knotted, threatening to eat itself. Adair glanced up from his book briefly, before going back to it as the princess walked over the coffee pot. She frowned, for the last while she had managed to function without coffee, but since being home and being able to have such a sweet treat in the mornings, she found she was once again addicted to it. Meaning the once grumpy morning Selene was now a demon if you dared to talk to her before she had at least one sip of her almighty addiction.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee filtered in a few minutes later, her mood seemed to lighten even more. She made herself a cup, before glancing at the table. Adair was too busy reading, and the pan with all the food was across the counter. Selene decided the pan was too far, she quickly placed a fork, and two cups of coffee on her plate before walking over to sit next to the pilot.

His feet were in the way.

She coughed, as she put the plate down. Adair looked up at her, and then his feet.

“Oh…” He murmured, sighing as he slipped his feet off and allowed her to sit.

It was then, in a swift movement, Selene stole half of his homefries, and a quarter of his scrambled eggs. He looked up, about to say something perhaps before the woman placed next to his plate a cup of hot, wonderful coffee.

Selene wasn’t much for cooking, but she could make EXCELLENT coffee.

The pilot pondered over the trade.

“Fair.”

Selene shook her head as she plucked a potato off the plate and into her mouth. She happily savored the wonderful taste before looking at him.

“I don’t like bacon.”

“Oh? What would you like then?”

“Sausages.”

Adair gave her a curious look before standing up and moving to the stove part of the area. Selene smiled gratefully and picked up his book, interested slightly in what an always drunk pirate would read. She was mildly surprised it was The Veira in White. A couple of minutes later three sausages were placed on her plate in return for the coffee. He also added some more eggs and homefries back to his plate.

“Thank you.”

His eyes turned wide as he sat down and took a sip of his coffee. “Where did you learn to make coffee like the Aeons?”

She shrugged as she fiddled with a small glowing blue sphere as she munched. With an annoyed slap the contraption began to play a recorded blitz ball game.

“I love coffee; I might as well know how to make it.”

“Yes but Selene, you don’t understand. You posses the divine gift of coffee making.”

“And you for cooking greasy breakfasts.”

“You’re too kind, is that the most recent game?”

She nodded, watching someone almost get knocked out of the ring. “Luca Goers versus Besaid Aurochs, semi-finals.”

“I didn’t picture you one to follow a Spiran sport, I used to play you know, for the Zanarkand Abes.”

Selene smirked, and continued to munch. “One of the few Spiran things that actually interest me... You played?”

“Fun but we never got past the semi-finals, so I gave it up for a life of crime…” Adair grinned.

She gave him a rather odd look, one of disbelief and amazement. She wasn’t sure which related to what fact, if that this drunkard had ever been a blitzball player for the Abes, or that he had once had a legitimate lifestyle.

“You played for the Abes?”

“I went by the name Casanova Franco.”

Selene burst out laughing. “You were the suave, charming young man from Zanarkand?”

“Are you implying I’m OLD?”

“Why no, of course not…” She smirked. “But I see some wrinkles showing.”


He opened his mouth, before shutting it. “I had a comment, but I then realized it would lead to my death.”

“Wise man.”

“Thank you, but… You remember me?”

“Yes.”

“Which is your fondest memory of dear, sweet, captivating, Casanova?”

“The part where you got thrown out of the ring by a Ronso.” She snickered at his expression, one of such mortification.

“It was a Ronso.”

By now she was in hysterics.

“I still recall the fire in that lioness’s eyes as she grabbed me and chucked my poor soul out of the ring…”

“It was hilarious.”

“To you my dear, maybe. I assure you it was not so thrilling on my side of the viewsphere.” Adair was quick to change the subject away from his humiliation in the blitz ring. “Who’s winning?”

“Goers by two…”

“Wonderful, always did like those lads. When they weren’t, you know, trying to kill me.”

“Kill you?”

Before Adair could answer, they both looked over at the door as someone groaned and entered the common room.

* * 1163 / 40 * *

Yes the Zanarkand Abes are back, along with Zanarkand. XDD Before anyone thinks Adair is any more insane then he was before!

TAG SOMEBODY OMG FOOD YUMS *happy*

[Samchu]

Lyra

What happens in darkness and light…

Night

The Al Bhed scurried from my room, her body easily concealing the rum she had taken. I knew she had no interest in my possessions – few that they were – so the interrogation had been a test, a trick to see what I could expect from her. For the moment she was scared with me and with that much I was satisfied. It would be safer in the long run if she was – for me that is.

One by one, I untied the straps of my armour and hung it on the room’s only chair. It felt nice to be out of it; freeing almost. I removed the band that held my hair in a braid and untangled the strands, carefully removing the spiked wire I had tangled into it. Then I fell back onto my bed. It had felt like so long since I had last been able to enjoy a real mattress. So many months spent out over the seas with nothing but a suspended strip of netting to sleep in. You forget comforts like that; even if you don’t realise that you do.

I settled in, eager to escape the madness of the day but I could not. By the workings of the Gods or some unresolved internal weakness, my brain would not allow itself the peace I needed.

“Oh, so when I sneaked into her room, she didn't chuck me out straight away, only because I provoked her. But she didn't invite you, her most loyal guard, in for a little chat.”

There’s too many variables, too many reasons for Selene’s decision for that comment to matter.

“Although, here's the funny thing, I've spent more time with her in the last few weeks than you have...”


Of course she has. They were here together for weeks, they’ve faced almost as many trials side-by-side as Selene and I have faced wars. But…Selene never opens up to anyone. I only just found out she was Vayne’s daughter despite all the years we’ve served together. I don’t know anything about her. Why would Shay know anything? What does she have to say to Selene that could possibly make any difference?

“But you're not as loyal as you seem, are you Lyra?”

I’d have expected Shay to tell her – to tell everyone on this vessel what I did to get here. But why should that matter? Selene knows I’m a Spiran traitor; I was assigned to her command, her Father was the one responsible for my acceptance into the Ivalician army.

“Our family has nothing to do with this...”

“It has everything to do with this.”

Family…

I shot up. “By the backside of Venat…” Selene’s Vayne’s daughter! That makes her Mother Ivalice’s Queen, the woman you were supposed to be guarding the night she was killed. The woman whose killer you failed to capture or even catch a glimpse of. He just waltzed into her room and slaughtered her and where were you? Where the hell were you? I ran, praying to the Gods that I could leave my own thoughts behind me in that room. I found one of the doors to an outside balcony and charged through. I don’t think anyone saw me. It seemed the ship was still fast asleep.

I wandered over to the balcony and gripped the bars. Leaning as far forward as I dared, I stretched towards the heavens. “Are you done yet? Have you had your fill of me? How many more mistakes – how many more hardships do you want to place before me? Why do you insist on pulling me out of death’s hands?”

The wind slapped across me, cold and fierce like a slap of cold water. It spoke whispers into my mind: “Afraid of dying. Begged us, begged us.”

“I’m not that child anymore, I no longer fear death! I would welcome him…if only you would let him come to me…”

“Not for you this life was spared. Not for you do we chain death.”

“Then why! Why keep it from me when I cannot keep it from others?”

“Weakness is not our doing. We preserve pieces. We see the whole that might be; only then do we interfere.”

“What good am I to anyone? I let them all down, all the people I promised to protect I have failed.” There was nothing. “Answer me!”

The wind was fierce. I had to grip the bar before me with all my strength to keep from being forced to the ground. “So much demanded from one so little. Always these mortals seek answers from us, always too scared to walk their own paths. We can’t see it, we can’t see it. Never looking. Always too closed-minded to see.” I felt something touch my face. “Listen then and don’t forget. Your life is tied to the Arcadian princess but your paths can only go so far. Be ready for her decision, be prepared to leave her life.”

“But what about…”

“What the heart chooses we cannot decide. But should Selene decide that you no can longer follow her footsteps, your heart must give up it desires.”

I felt my knees collapse beneath me. I clung to the nearest pole as the harsh, cold wind, swirled around me then disappeared into the night sky.

“When will it end? When will I stop losing the things I’m trying so desperately to hold onto?”

***

Day

I awoke on the balcony, unaware of ever falling asleep. The following evening felt like a glazed dream but still the words I thought I’d heard echoed in my mind. My body felt battered; beaten to the point of limpness and slashed. I stumbled back into the airship.

As I shuffled back towards my room - not knowing why I was going there but unable to follow anything but my instincts – I caught a delicious scent. My stomach twisted beneath my clothes. How long had passed since I’d last eaten? My feet turned me towards the door and with a groan of effort, I stumbled inside.

“My, my, what a stunning and unexpected visitor! And when did you happen aboard this fine vessel?”

I had to blink the cloud from my eyes. “Adair…”

“Ah, the Judge’s Ice Queen. I did not recognise you. Please tell me that you were tempted her by the smell of breakfast and not to persecute me for acquiring Selene’s fine company.”

“Selene?” I hadn’t even known she was in there.

“You look like shit.” She took a sip of what smelt like coffee. “Any deaths I should know of?”

“No deaths, just bad dreams.” I turned back to Adair. “Breakfast?”

“Eggs? Bacon-”

“Everything.”

“A wise choice.”

He was kind enough to make it for me as I grabbed a seat near Selene, who passed me a mug of coffee. “Dreams that bad, huh?”

I nodded. “Blitzball?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Interested?” Adair was holding out a plate to me, which I happily took.

“The pilot here reckons he used to play. Casanova Franco,” she added the name with a smirk.

I frowned at him. “Ah yes. I see it now.”

“Another avid fan? What a fine day this is.” He had a grin on his face that – I hate to admit – I found amusing. “Tell me if you will, your fondest memory of my tenure. And please, don’t tell me it was a humiliating tackle.”

“Tackle? Oh no, it wasn’t a tackle.” I took a cut of egg and washed it down with some of Selene’s delicious coffee. “It was listening to you screaming as my brother stole your favourite money purse.”

“I was not screaming.”

I grinned as I sipped some more coffee. “Perhaps my memory is a little…hazy.”

“Was this the same brother you turned over to the Spiran authorities?”

I was unnerved by Selene’s stare but I had trained enough to hide it. “Different brother.”

“Oh come on!” It was then that we realised that Adair was not following our conversation but the match. It was a blessing, for it seemed to soothe whatever it was that was stirring in Selene.

“Why are you being nice to him?”

“I don’t see the point in making anymore enemies. I have my hands full with Shay and Kaida as it is.”

“What of Sirius?”

“I don’t like him, but that’s my business. He has your interests at heart – or so it seems – and he did save you from the Behemoth. In part that makes me indebted to him; so I’ll play nice. Unless he should give me cause to act otherwise.”

“I expect he will.”

“So do I.”

I took a bite of bacon as Adair celebrated another goal to the Goers. Maybe things won’t be that bad. Maybe I won’t have to lose everything. I shot a quick glimpse at Selene and my stomach lurched at the thought of the conversation I knew would eventually take place. But not yet. It was much too soon for those confessions. Gods I will heed your words but know that I cannot give up on what this heart desires. It has known too much pain to bare anymore loss.


~~~~~~~~~~
Word count: 1,527
Post no. 11
oh! and as Lyra is no longer wearing her uniform I should point out that she's now walking around in a sleeveless tan shirt and a pair of loose, pale grey trousers.

[Weasel Overlord]

Temzi-post coming up. Will probs edit in.

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn
[Captain and General Ruler of the Wolfstar]
taboo

Sneaking into Selene's room had been, Sirius reflected, a cinch. There was hardly any bloodshed, hardly any kicking him in the shins and certainly hardly any yelling. Although there had been the small matter of his lovely punching him square in the face a few times, but hey, you've gotta make allowances for your beloved. Plus Sirius liked a girl who could take him down like he was a nancy. They made him feel all tingly inside – something that struck him as slightly odd, since he'd spent the majority of his childhood mooning after the maidenly types holed away in towers and lorded over by evil stepsisters or grand viziers and the like.

Selene was a Princess, oh yes there was no doubt about that, but she could also make quite a sizeable hole in a wall, if she chose to. Or his face. So it was lucky really, Sirius thought, that she wasn't exactly in the best state of mind or physical fitness, otherwise he'd be staring down at yet another break in his lovely nosie. Or staring sideways at it, since by then it would no doubt be round by his ear instead of right in front of his face where it should be. Sigh.

But as it happened, he had something rather more important to reflect upon now. And, even better, the most perfect memory that shone in his mind like a jewel. He laid back on his hammock, strung between two large, funny-shaped barrels of rum and stared at the ceiling, hands behind his head. There was a 'this' now. He let out a sigh, certain that he'd never be able to sleep after that kiss. That marvellous, wonderful, long-awaited kiss that hadn't been a reward for saving Selene from something (like you'd give a good doggie) or a bribe or anything like that. It was a proper kiss. A real one. And something that no-one else could know about, or at least, for the time being anyway. He felt almost certain that someone would notice a difference about them – a happy glow or whatever it was meant to be, sappy romantic stuff like that – but he also doubted that Selene would allow that to happen. No, it was best to be on the safe side and pretend that it actually hadn't happened at all. At least in public. In his bunk, well, that was all fine and dandy and what he did with his private time was no-one's business but his own.

He decided, with a moment of clarity, that no sleep would be had by himself that night, and so he swung up and out of the hammock and planted his feet firmly on the floor. There was only one thing for it. Books. Books solved everything – sleepiness, over-active minds – and there had been many an occasion when Sirius hadn't been able to sleep back at home, and he'd made his way to the library and promptly fallen asleep, face first in whatever he'd been reading.

Nights like this made him ever-so-happy that he'd managed to smuggle a load of his books with him onto the Wolfstar right back in the beginning. His own personal library, and completely secret, every inch of it. No ragamuffin crew to ruin his precious books, and no drunkards to spill drinks upon them, and okay, so maybe none of his crew were actually like that, but hey, you can never be too careful. He had a sneaking suspicion that Adair knew exactly where his secret library was located, and occasionally helped himself to a volume from it, but what Sirius didn't know about didn't hurt him, and as long as the books were put back exactly as they were removed, he was perfectly okay with the situation.

He pressed the secret panel on the secret wall and the secret door swung open, secretly, and he stepped inside, closing it behind him with a quiet snick. He inhaled the scent of dry, bookish air and sighed with happiness. A romance story tonight, he thought, and selected one from the multiple oaken shelves. He flopped down on a beanbag, opened the book and began to read.

And then it was morning, and glimmers of bright sunlight were filtering through the gaps in the hull of the ship and Sirius came awake, blinking and groggy, with his face in his book, his arse parked numbly on the floor and his entire body shoulder-deep in beanbag. Rubbing his eyes, he closed the book and put it back on the shelf, and then stretched his muscles out into wakefulness. A smell of breakfast drifted past his nose, and he sniffed appreciatively. His stomach growled a good morning, and he set off at a gentle jog to the ship's kitchen, where, if his nose was any good (and it was) Adair was making breakfast.

He loved Adair's breakfasts. They had a tendency to be greasy, full of meat and to make you thirsty enough to down an entire pot of coffee afterwards.

As he stepped through the door, Sirius noted that quite a few people were at the table already. Selene was sat next to Adair, adroitly stealing bits and bats off his plate as and when she fancied it. Adair was an obvious fixture, and Lyra the shin-kicker was also there – they were all huddling around a Sphere, and Sirius rolled his eyes when he recognised the overly-familiar noises of a Blitzball game.

“Oh no, don't tell me you lot are as mad over that game as my esteemed pilot is?” He sat himself down opposite everyone else, purposefully avoiding the transmission range of the Sphere. Hooking the pan over to his side of the table, he picked up a fork and stabbed some bacon vengefully.

“Don't you like Blitzball?” Selene asked, distractedly. He assumed someone had just scored a goal or something equally dull.

“No. I find it intolerably boring, and a completely unnecessary assault on both my time, my hearing and my intelligence.”

Lyra snorted at the latter, and Sirius glared at her as he poured himself an over-large mug of coffee. “You don't need brains so much as brawn to play Blitzball, as our Adair here could vouch for.”

Adair looked put upon. “Do I look brawny to you, oh Captainy one?” he demanded.

“Not so much brawn in your case, Casanova,” Sirius made a flourishing gesture with his fork. “More... oh, I don't know. Speed, I'd say. If anyone wondered where you got those amazing accelerating feet of yours, no doubt they'd not be surprised to learn that you acquired them in the Sphere.”

“There's no running in Blitzball,” Lyra pointed out.

“No my dear, there is not. But swimming is near as good as running for developing muscles, or so they say. And I hear that it exercises more than just the legs, which could explain away the punishing punch Adair has on him, when he has a mind to it.”

Adair smirked. “There is that,” he said.

“Sirius, shush. I'm trying to watch the game,” Selene said, looking at him pointedly over her coffee cup.

“Your wish is my command, beloved.” Sirius stuffed half a slice of toast in his mouth, and followed it up with two slices of bacon and a large forkful of eggs. “Yumf,” he said, through the mouthful, then winced as Selene glared at him once more. “All right, all right,” he said, swallowing his food. “I'll shut up. What a conversational breakfast table this is,” he muttered to himself. “Camaraderie. It's so nice to see it in action.”

#17 // 1304~

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

There was not much that could tear this girl from here sleep. It was something she valued more than most things, even gil, and since she had had a long and exhausting day, she was unlikely to wake up until the early afternoon at the very earliest.

Except she smelt food.

Greasy, fried, breakfasty food.

This was the exception to the rule.

Her eyes shot open, making an attempt to pull back the covers, only to find a bright orange beak a few centimetres from her face. Rusty was sat on the bed, his tail feathers waving from side to side, like an over excited puppy's tail in slow motion. She was stuck, his weight was holding down the quilt on both sides of her.

“Good morning!” She wriggled an arm free to pet his beak. He cooed softly, nuzzling her hand. “Can you smell that? That's breakfast and I want it.”

Rusty just looked at her, curiosity filling his eyes.

“I'll give you some too if you get off me?” Shay offered. The bird was delighted, hopping off carelessly and ramming into Fredric before sitting back down in the corner that he seemed to have claimed as his nest.

“Zat bird!” Fredric pointed at the chocobo with a shaky hand as she got out of bed, trying desperately not to laugh. Seeing him fuming was hilarious. “Hish feathersh get everywhere! He keepsh kicking me! Walking into me! Nibbling my earsh!”

“It probably means he likes you.” Shay shrugged, glancing around to try and find her clothes. “Wait, do Hypellos even HAVE ears?”

“Zatsh not ze point.” The hypello folded his arms and tapped his foot in irritation. “Ze point ish-”

“Wait, where are my clothes?”

“I tried to wash zem.” He shrugged, pointing towards the bathroom. “Zey are quite ripped, shtained, and torn...”

Fredric was not exaggerating. He'd made a makeshift washing line where her clothes hung in an attempt to dry. Her top had a massive rip in the middle, the typical shuriken created kind, blood still splashed and stained around the edges. Her shorts seemed to have shrunk a little, also stained, but with what looked like muddy water. Her gloves were unravelling by the seams...

But none of this mattered. She took her scarf off the line, wrapping it back around her neck, snuggling into it. It was softer than normal and smelt nice, like Fredric had taken a lot of effort to wash it.

“Itsh a nice scharf.” He commented, standing in the doorway. “Shpeshal to you?”

Shay nodded silently, going into the main room and finding her bag. She peered inside, rummaging around, throwing garments over her shoulder and into two distinct piles: the acceptable pile and the reject pile. It was hard to believe just how much stuff seemed to be coming out of such a small bag. Finally she was done, picking up the pile she selected and locking herself in the bathroom.

“You've made a messh!” Fredric scolded, picking the rest up and starting to fold it neatly. Oh no, he wasn't a servant to Shay, there was no need for him to do this, but the obsessive neat freak inside of him made him do it.

“Ta da!” Shay appeared moments later, doing a little twirl for her boys to show them her new attire. The bottom layer was a white strap top that reached a couple of inches below her waist, on top of that was a black zip-up jacket that was cropped off not even half way down her torso, the inside of the hood a bright sky blue. Her jeans were skinny and cropped half way down her shins and a pair of sky blue, laced up ankle boots (converse XD) sat on her feet. Around her hips was a belt that didn't really serve any purpose for holding anything up or in place, but had a silver buckle and a row of three small pouch pockets to one side, the colour scheme matching that of her jacket.

Rusty made a Kweh of approval before she picked up her bag and headed to breakfast.

Okay, that's a lie, she practically sprinted to breakfast.

So much so that she forgot about the little step in the doorway so tripped, nearly falling flat on her face if it weren't for the spectacular arm-flailing and coherent stumbling manoeuvre she managed to pull off.

Then she spotted Sirius. He seemed to be the only one that noticed her little interpretive dance, since one eyebrow was raised and he was obviously trying not to laugh. “Good morning, Shay.”

“Morning!” She chimed, carefully making her way towards the stove area, taking what she decided was a reasonable sized portion. Plenty of bacon, plenty of sausage, some potato, no egg. Perfect. She went to sit back down, until she saw what they were watching on the sphere. Blitzball.

“Oh my Yevon, no way!” Shay plonked herself down next to Sirius, her food nearly sliding off her plate. She saw Lyra roll her eyes, but took no notice. “The Goers are playing?!”

“My dear Ninja!” Adair began, his face beaming with pride. “Did you know I used to play-”

“For the Zanarkand Abes.” Selene finished, stealing his moment.

“Really?! I've never heard of you...” Shay tilted her head to one side, curious.

“Well, you see, I played under-”

“The name Casanova Franco.” This time Lyra finished. Adair frowned.

“Oh, I remember you! Fin stole a purse from you!” Shay sighed, smiling a little to herself. “He was only four...”

“Does anybody have any fond memories of my Blitzball career?” Adair whined, sticking his bottom lip out in a little pout. “Other than reminiscing on how proud you are of your brother's first major steal...”

“Actually...” Shay began, shoving a piece of bacon in her mouth as she rummaged through her bag.

“Oh god no... Not the trading cards...” Lyra sighed, shaking her head.

“Just because I have a nearly complete set and you don't because you didn't have the guts to steal cards you needed off of the other kids gives you no reason to be jealous of my superior collection.” Shay argued, pulling out a large pile of cards held together by an elastic band. “Oh, and just for your info, I took the ones I needed that you had after you left.”

She shuffled through the pile, pulling out a total of three cards and placing them on the table, which Sirius promptly picked up and studied as she put the remaining cards away.

“My, my, what fetching attire you're wearing...” Sirius chuckled, letting Shay peer at the pictures. She frowned a little in confusion.

“Adair, is that spandex you're wearing?”

“No! It was not spandex!” Adair cried in protest, trying to snatch the cards from Sirius, but Shay was too fast for him, grabbing the cards and turning one to face him.

“Look! This one's a special promo card where it shows a moving picture of you scoring a goal!” She wiggled the card so it animated him.

He gently took it from her, sitting back in his seat, turning it and watching it with a somewhat smug expression. “See? I was good at Blitzball.”

21/1244

[Weasel Overlord]

BAM!!

Temzi :: Dragoon of Justice
:: rain down on me ::

Temzi, as much as he enjoyed the peace of guard duty, was happy in his own way when he was relieved of it in the morning. He wasn't particularly surprised at the number of people who tried to sneak in (and succeeded, in Lady Shay's case) to Selene's room.

A short snooze later, and he was being relieved of duty, clapped on the back and almost ordered to take a bit of a rest. He agreed with the rest part, and mumbled a thank you as he staggered off down the corridor, the weight of his armour suddenly seeming far too much for one Guado to carry.

He opened the door to his little cabin, closed it quietly behind him and sat down heavily on his bed. It creaked under the weight of his armour, and Temzi smiled to hear it. “Sorry,” he said, out loud, patting the sheets. He never paused to think of the madness in talking to a bed. He'd been doing such things for years now – talking to plants, animals, his armour, you name it, Temzi had probably had a one-sided conversation with it. He had no delusions about the things talking back, and that was the distinction he made quite firmly in his mind. He was not mad, because the plants didn't talk back to him. As soon as that happened, he'd always told himself, he would volunteer into a camp somewhere and disappear into obscurity.

He stood up abruptly, and placed Dragon Whisper leaning at an angle next to his cupboard. Next, he took off his helm, fastidiously avoiding looking at his reflection in the mirror above the small sink. Opening the door of the big oak wardrobe, he stored the helm carefully at the bottom, followed by his greaves, heavy boots and vambraces which made a neat pile on one of the inner shelves. Lastly, there was his breastplate to deal with – the largest and bulkiest part of his Dragoon armour. Temzi unfastened the buckles at either side, and slipped it over his head and placed it next to his helm in the bottom of the wardrobe.

It felt good to be unhampered by armour, even though at the same time he knew that he'd have to give it some serious attention in the coming days. Dents, scratches, dirt and dust adorned each part, and there was some Behemoth blood splattered over his helm that made him wince with the smell of it. He was glad that he'd thought to bring his armour-care kit from the Academy, for he was certain that nowhere in Ivalice would sell the special wax polish they used.

A rumble of his stomach reminded Temzi that he'd not eaten in oh, he could not remember when. That must be remedied, he thought, but not before he cleaned himself up a bit. His clothes were stained with battle, and the smell of sweat filled his nostrils with its acrid overtones. He wrinkled his nose, and tugged off the offending tunic, taking the padded grey vest with it. He contemplated a moment, and then freed his legs of his undertrous too. The cream cloth clung to his body uncomfortably as he pulled it off, and then he was in nothing but his underclothes and a keen sense of thankfulness that his cabin door had a sturdy lock upon it.

He filled the sink with hot water, felt a slight longing for the deep baths of Valendia, mortifyingly public though they were, and then plunged his face under the surface. He blew bubbles with pleasure, enjoying the feeling of his ears filling with water, and then burst up for a breath of air.

He splashed the rest of himself clean, dried vigorously with a rough towel and huffed out a breath as he leaned on the sink. The condensation from his breath steamed the mirror into pleasing opacity, but the mess of his hair still showed above, and Temzi scowled, wiping away the steam with an angry motion of his palm. His reflection, blurred and streaked, scowled back at him, and Temzi shuddered with the knowledge packed into his brain of all the stories of people having their souls stolen by their mirror-selves, or their eyes bleeding out in vengeance from an angered spirit.

No, stories like that were not to be taken seriously, he told himself in a form tone of voice. He smiled to see the mirror fog up again, hiding his face from sight once more, and finally felt safe to turn from it. There were no angry spirits aboard the Wolfstar. They daren't cross the path of Lady Judge Selene, thought Temzi, and he laughed roughly.

He took out clean clothes from the inner-shelves of the wardrobe – underwear, thick socks, and his best outerclothes, imported from Guadosalam. Though he'd completely embraced his Dragoon learning and all the history that came with it, Temzi occasionally hungered from home, and a letter or two to his mother had furnished him with a few things; his clothes, some charms for his spear and a few other bits and bobs and treasured nothings.

The clothes were typical, highly-patterned Guado fare; baggy trousers, fitted to the leg below the knee, a long tunic altered with its sleeves cut off, and a broad belt to pull it in at the waist. The fabrics were highly coloured, with no less than five different shades of green, three shades of blue and the brightest purples Temzi had ever seen. He sort of felt like a stained glass window, and he much preferred the simple cream-and-brown of his under-armour clothes, but there was nothing for it, since they were filthy these would have to do.

He sighed once he was fully clothed again. There was more skin showing than he was ever comfortable with, and as usual, his hair refused to do anything of worth. He glared at himself in the mirror, and then ducked his head under the now-lukewarm water, scrubbing at his hair vigorously. He shook the excess water off, noted that it had made not a jot of difference, and then rubbed at it with the towel until it went fluffy. He wished, vainly, that he could rub off the reddened veins that marred his cheeks, and dock his stupidly pointed, hideous ears to a normal size, and straighten out his nose that went upwards at the end, and somehow erase all evidence of his heritage and the ugliness branded onto his face, but it was not to be, it was never to be.

He could not wear his armour to breakfast, he could not hide his face and his true self forever, but the thought of the crew's stares filled him with dread, and memories of jeering faces and cutting words filled his mind until he cried out with the pain of them.

His fingers were white from gripping the porcelain of the sink, and he carefully peeled himself away from the mirror that was the source of all pain. He sat back, heavily, on his bed, and pinched himself on the arm sharply, near drawing blood with the pressure. He gasped as the physical sensation brought his senses crashing back into control, and then he took a firm hold of himself. “They are your friends,” he said out loud, like a mantra. “Friends. There will be no mocking. No jeering, no nasty words.”

He steeled himself, wishing once more that Seta were here to offer his silent support, and then strode out into the corridor as though nothing had happened. He hesitated at the door to the kitchen – there were voices coming from within, the friendly sounds of a Blitzball match filtered through to his ears – but it was the smell of food that finally broke his reserve, and he pushed open the door timidly.

If he could have hidden behind anything, that would have made the situation perfect, but as it was, the kitchen was large, the only obstacle being a rectangular wooden table, where everyone was seated, and the cooking surfaces. He mentally cursed the ship for not having any convenient pillars, and then made his way over to the table, where half of the crew were absorbed in the Blitzball game he heard previously, and the rest were simply concentrating on their food.

And then Sirius turned round and espied him. In his mind, Temzi shrunk down to the size of a pea as the Captain hailed him in his typically jovial manner. He managed to hide his surprise quite well, Temzi thought, with only a note of it in his voice. Barely noticeable.

“Temzi, my man! Come, join this table of excellence. Put up your feet, pull up a chair, stuff your face with bacon, and especially quaff a cup of this fine coffee, made by her Ladyship the Judge herself!” He poured out a substantial helping of said coffee into a large mug, and thumped it down on the table.

“No Temzi, don't sit next to Sirius, come sit here,” Lady Shay patted the bench next to her. “Sirius'll move over, won't you, Sirius?” She looked pointedly at the Captain, and Temzi's face suffused with blush as the Captain did indeed move over, leaving a comfortably-sized spot between the two of them. Sirius slid over the mug of coffee, somehow managing to not spill a drop, as Temzi slid in to the spot, slotting his long legs under the table.

“Good morning,” he said, quietly.

#9 // 1605~

[classy_cat18]

Niosa Tiera – Al Bhed Gunner
Sleep? What’s “sleep”?

“Finally finished!” I held up my finished work up to the light and studied it. “Nii thought she would never get done, but now she can reproduce it much quicker! What do you think, Kumas?”

“The new bullets will make fighting armed units much easier,” Kumas replied.

I grinned widely and looked out the porthole. Funny. The last time I looked back, it was still dark. How did the sun come out so fast? I shook my head and stretched, Adair’s glasses still on my forehead. A good bath and I would be ready for another boring day aboard the Wolfstar.

Kumas followed me out my room to the adjacent bathroom, which was already occupied. A minute barely passed by before the door opened and Sori walked out, in his normal clothes and a towel on his head. “Morning, kupo.”

I waved and left Kumas in the hall, carrying a clean towel and a change of clothes with me. After a long soak and a quick scrub (amazed at how dirty the water got), I climbed out and studied my hair. “Gettting long again,” I grumbled as I took my scissors and cut it back to its usual length. It wasn’t a lot at all, but if I didn’t take care of it now it would’ve been shoulder length before I knew it.

I was paranoid about getting my brother’s hair, still getting nightmares about getting it stuck in the machinery and other things.

When I came out, Sori and Kumas were gone, and I could smell something delicious. “Food!” I said happily and followed the smell. As I got closer, I could hear the sounds of talking as well as a broadcast. I stopped right outside the doorway when I noticed Lyra sitting with the others. She needed to be paid back after the little interrogation she gave me yesterday, plus she was probably under the assumption that I was scared of her. But what?

“MORNING!” I cried out as I jumped out and hugged her from behind, smirking when I successfully made her yelp. “Lyra’s getting lazy! Was Nii too quick for you?”

“Ah! Our resident mechanic has arrived!” Sirius announced loudly. “How strange that your little machina friend actually preceded you.”

I looked over at Kumas. Sori landed on my shoulder. “He followed me down here, so it’s not that strange,” the Moogle told me.

I took Adair’s glasses off my forehead and gave them to the owner. “Thanks,” I told him.

“You’re pretty peppy this morning,” Selene told me as I poured myself some coffee. “You must’ve slept like a log.”

“Nii didn’t sleep!” I exclaimed happily. “Nii was up all night perfecting her new ammo!”

“I should’ve guessed. What kind of ammo is it?”

“Armor piercing. It’s a good change from Nii’s elemental ammo.” The sounds of the broadcast broke through to my ears. “Is that blitzball? Nii used to listen to the Psyches’ games. Nii misses going to them.”

“Can you play?” Shay asked me.

“A little.” I took a bite of my eggs, still standing. “Ariosa used to play when he was younger.”

528 words. 21 Nii posts

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~

"MORNING!" The sudden assault made my body stiffen. I yelped despite myself and my arm moved to lash out at the Al Bhed who had jumped me but something held me back. This wasn't an attack. There was no menace in this - not physically anyway. This was...a hug? "Lyra's getting lazy! Was Nii too quick for you?"

There was something odd about all of this. I gazed around the table as Nii moved away from me, studying the faces of everyone. They all looked so...happy. Well, aside from Temzi, who looked a little on the uncomfortable side but even so there was this sense of belonging, this sense of welcoming. Adair, with whom I had never before shared a kind word, had offered me the food he had cooked. And here we were, sat around, talking, joking, as if we were not from opposite sides of a war, as if we held no grudges with one another, as if we had known each other our whole lives. It was almost as if...as if we're a family. How long had it been since I'd known what that felt like?

“So is this our version of casual Friday?” asked Sirius, clearly relishing the fact that we were all conversing in his company. “First my Lady’s guard arrives without her armour and then the honourable Temzi joins us without his faithful suit. I cannot help thinking that this is more than mere coincidence.”

“It must be a warrior thing,” replied Selene, her eyes darting between the blitzball game and the conversation focused around Nii. “Maybe Lisette will show up wearing nothing at all."

I choked on my coffee.

“Indeed, that would be most casual,” agreed Adair.

Selene shot me a sideways glance and smirked. “Careful with that coffee, it’s hot.”

“So it is.”

“And where is your long-eared companion? I notice she’s absent from our little dining session; Kaida too.”

“I believe the last one to see her was Adair.”

The pilot’s attention perked at the sound of his name and we found him leaning towards us; blitzball card still in his hand. He reminded me of an excitable puppy but with a greater ego; cute in his own little way. “Are you entertaining the ladies with thrilling tales of me, Captain?”

“More implying that you may have been fondling one of Selene’s guardswomen,” I replied with a grin. I wanted in on this game, it seemed amusing.

“The sweet Viera who so kindly repaired this poor pilot’s wounds? I am afraid there was no fondling there.”

“Sounds like the pilot’s interested,” said Selene, though I’m not sure who the comment was supposed to rile up more.

“A man’s heart is not a discussion for the dinner table,” said Sirius with a grin. “A lady’s heart however…”

I leaned away from him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I am studying.”

“Studying what exactly?”

“How differently the ice maiden acts without her armour. She actually appears human.”

“If you would like Captain, then I can resume that role and leave you with a nose so broken that not a healer in the world would be able to return you to that state of masculine perfection.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

“Do.”

Selene bent towards me. “Since when did you get so bold?” she asked, her voice a little above a whisper.

“Since I realised how amused I am by them.”

“I thought you hated criminals.”

“I still think they’re one of the lowest forms of life, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.”

“Next you’ll be telling you me that you and Kaida are best friends and you and Nii will be sat around exchanging tear-filled stories of home.”

I laughed, not fully but enough to make it noticeable to her. “Don’t count on it.” Some wounds run deeper than others…

~~~~~~~~~~~
Words: 647
Post No: 12

[Weasel Overlord]

Temzi :: Dragoon of Justice
:: that boy needs therapy ::

The arrival of Nii brought more noise to the kitchen than Temzi was comfortable with, but he did his usual method of clamming up and staying quiet and it seemed to work almost perfectly.

However. He had reckoned without the awesome power of Lady Shayna, who was in full breakfast hyperness nosy mode, which even Temzi had to admit, though he hated insulting any one, especially those of the womanly persuasion.

His eyes dropped to his plate, as he attempted to focus all of his attentions upon his breakfast, which gave him pleasant memories of many breakfasts at the Academy, another place where he was surrounded by people who didn't seem to like the idea of leaving him alone to contemplate things in peace. He chewed on a large lump of egg, hoping that his obviously full mouth would be enough to put people off talking to him.

It wasn't as though he didn't want to talk to people. He rather enjoyed talking to his fellow crew-members. It was just that, without his armour, he felt naked. It probably didn't help that his Guado clothes were so bright that he felt like a preening peacock wearing them. They drew attention to him – attention that he did not want at this moment in time. He wished Seta were here, for the umpteenth time, so that he would have someone else to sit in companionable silence with without being judged for wanting to be so.

Lady Shayna, however, seemed perfectly oblivious to his overfull cheeks and to his reticence for conversation, and she chattered away merrily, sometimes not even waiting for his rather stilted answers before soldiering on anyway.

“Why don't you ever take your helmet off?”

Temzi spluttered, and he blushed to see a small piece of egg fly from his mouth into the centre of the table. Hoping no-one noticed the mishap, he swallowed hastily and ducked his head down. That was not a question he liked to answer. Too complicated, too... entangled.

“Is it because of your hair? It's nothing like I've seen on any other Guado, that's for sure. The colour, I mean.”

“My colouring is unusual, for one of my kind,” he replied, glad to be on a topic that didn't concern his garb. “Though I am not certain whether that is a curse or a blessing. The people at the academy seemed to dislike it, although once again, I am not certain why.”

“I like it,” Lady Shay said, brightly. “It's a lovely colour.”

“It's a little over-bright for my liking,” Temzi admitted. “And it never does what I want it to do, no matter how hard I try. At least the helm eliminates any embarrassment at being in public situations. My mama always said that a man should be well-groomed, lest he be an embarrassment to his peers.”

“Well, I don't know about peers, but you're not an embarrassment to us, you know. Anyway, I like your hair. It's a good colour,” she took a drink of her coffee and grinned. “I could help you take care of it, if you like.”

Temzi blushed again. “Th-that would be very kind of you,” he stammered. “But I think I'll just stick with the helm.”

Shayna pouted, and Temzi instantly felt bad. “Well perhaps one time wouldn't hurt,” he conceded, wondering just what he would be getting himself into.

The Lady Judge Selene, sat across the table from him, perked up her ears at hearing this. Temzi had thought she was fully engrossed in the Blitzball match, but evidence showed that the Lady could quite easily manage to keep her ears on multiple conversations at once. The size of the grin on her face at hearing Temzi's permission for hair-messing was so large he swore she could have fit her entire mug of coffee in there, along with the jug and the mug itself.

“I've gotta be a part of this,” she said, eagerly. Temzi covered his eyes with a hand and groaned.

“Don't groan my valiant Dragoon, in the capable hands of these two fair ladies, I'm sure you'll be perfectly safe,” Sirius offered, a touch of jealousy in his voice. “Although I don't suppose the Lady Selene's offer would extend to rubbing her delightful hands all across my head would it?” He ducked as Selene threw a piece of toast at his face. “I thought not. Worth a try,” he sighed, plucking the toast out of the air just before it hit him and taking a mournful bite. “You enjoy yourself Temzi my man. Take some pictures, won't you.”

“I doubt it's his hair our Captain wants you to be feeling,” Adair chipped in, elbowing Selene in the ribs with an exaggerated wink. He was mere syllables short of oozing filthiness, and Temzi felt his face suffuse with blood again. He'd never stop blushing at this rate, and he hoped that it wouldn't have an adverse affect on his body. The last thing he needed was a face as red as his hair – although, he admitted, a red face may go far to obscure those Guado veins of his. Hm.

“I'd chastise you for that, Adair, but something tells me you're right.” Selene looked thoughtful for a second, and then pulled a face. “But no. Not happening, sorry Sirius.”

“And anyway,” Shay chipped in. “Temzi's hair is nicer than yours.” She stuck her tongue out, leaning around Temzi to do so. “Yours is all coarse-looking.”

“Sort of like a bottle-brush,” Nii agreed.

“Left in a bottle of bleach,” said Lyra.

Sirius scowled. “What is this, Pick On Sirius Day?”

“Uh, yes. It's Saturday,” Adair said, smugly. “Saturday is always Pick On Sirius Day, you should remember that Sirius, oh ahaha oh my god, remember that time when-”

“Okay Adair, that's quite enough of that my man. No one here wants to hear any of those stories.”

Suddenly, everyone around the table was staring at Adair, willing him to continue. Temzi sighed with relief – no attention on him, finally. He hoped that there wouldn't be a sleepover involved in this hair caring for that Lady Shay and Lady Selene were planning. He might die of embarrassment if there were. He'd heard, at the Academy, that women at sleepovers wore scant clothing and fought each other with pillows. He wasn't sure why they fought each other with pillows, but he imagined it had something to do with feminine wiles. He wondered if there would be negligee involved, and then immediately scrubbed the unclean thought from his mind.

As Adair launched into a filthy story involving Sirius and himself and an island full of lusty women armed with vegetables, Temzi began to think that he would sink through the floor in embarrassment. The story got worse as it progressed, and Adair made plenty of gestures to illustrate the precise nature of their situation, and Temzi found himself enthralled, despite his reservations.

#10 // 1200~

For any interested parties, the story Adair tells is described in slightly more detail in my old Darkness Descends fanfic, One Bad Week. Plug plug plug.

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope- Sleepover! Yay!

Shay couldn't help but chuckle at Adair's story. She wondered for a moment just what else this duo had been up to, but figured there would be far too many stories and not enough time. She noticed that all throughout this, Temzi's cheeks remained a very bright red. Shay found it quite funny, actually, that someone could be embarrassed by a story that wasn't even about them, no matter how rude the story was. She hoped, for his sake, that the story wouldn't have put him off carrots, since they were quite tasty and rumoured to help you see in the dark. At least, that's what she told her brothers to make them eat them every single night.

She stood up, stretching her back, raising her arms above her head as she yawned a little. “Well, I must say that was the best breakfast I've- AAAAAH!”

Shay squirmed as Nii tickled her sides. What was up with that girl today?! Anyway, she was so surprised and so ticklish that she stumbled backwards, tripping over the bench she was previously sat on, kicking her plate in the process, which fell to the floor and shattered. Thankfully, the girl was hungry, there was nothing left on her plate, otherwise it could of ended up in Temzi's lap.

She stared up at the ceiling for a brief moment, the faces of Nii, then Temzi, then Sirius blocking her view. The Al Bhed grinned, the Guado looked concerned and the Captain was trying his very hardest not to laugh at her clumsy misfortunes for the second time today.

“Oh, Shay...”

“Not a word, Sirius.” She glared as she stood up, brushing herself off. “Or should I call you Snouty?”

The look of mild offence she caused was well worth the little smile she managed to get from Selene.

“Nii thinks that the name Snouty is highly appropriate.”

“I don't feel that my nose deserves such abuse!” Sirius whined, stroking it absent-mindedly.

“I do!” Shay beamed, ruffling his hair. “Oh, perhaps your hair does need more attention than Temzi's...”

Sirius pouted, folding his arms. “I don't like Saturdays...”

“Temzi! See you later for hair treatment!” Shay grinned at him, walking around the table towards the door. She stopped by Selene. “You'll come too, right?” She says a little quieter, a little confidence lost in her tone of voice. She simply nodded in response, her eyes still fixed to the Blitzball game, but it was enough to make Shay feel a little bit better.

Ergh, the guilt followed her around for the entire of the rest of the day, like some lost puppy. Honestly, Shayna wasn't the type to hold onto emotions that made her feel bad. Guilt, worry, anger, sadness... Not worth remembering, in her opinion. Oh, she didn't block emotions out, on the contrary, she wore them on her sleeve, but she wasn't one to dwell on things. But this... This feeling she was unable to shake, even as she walked Rusty around on the deck for some fresh air. She didn't really care what people thought of her, except now... Selene was getting to her. She hated that she probably thought she was scum and should never talk to her again. She hated that she'd stolen from her unknowingly, and that even though she'd intended to give it back, she didn't. Selene found it instead. It was no wonder that she probably hated her guts...

But as they both stood outside of Temzi's door, waiting for him to answer, things seemed not so bad. For one, Selene was actually talking to her relatively normally, although there were a few more sarcastic comments than usual, she could cope with that. She deserved it anyway.

“Temzi, come ooooon.” Shay whined, knocking on his door again. “We're not gonna hurt you... We're not scary...”

“Perhaps it hasn't crossed your mind, but he might not actually be here?” She frowned, leaning against the wall.

“There is only one way to find out...” She quietly turned the door handle, peering through the tiny gap. There were no lights on, she guessed he could be sleeping, but he was not allowed to. No sleeping until he had attended the sleepover. “AMBUSH!” She cried, swinging the door open to find the room just as empty as Selene had predicted.

“... What an anticlimax.”

“Oh shush... At least we know he's not actually here now.”

“Sssh!” Selene held up her hand, tip-toeing to peek around the corner. She came face to face with the Guado, who blushed.

Then sprinted down the corridor.

Shay took off behind him, following him through the many little detours he took. She glanced over her shoulder briefly to find Selene wasn't following, but she suspected it was because she had a plan. Low and behold, just as they were about to round yet another corner, there Selene was waiting, blocking his path.

“Time for sleepover, Temzi!” Selene smirked as Shay linked an arm with his and she did the same. “Where shall it take place?”

“Your room, obviously. Your bed is so comfy and I bet the pillows are oh so fluffy...” Shay smirked back, watching Temzi's cheeks get a little redder. “We should be careful not to burst the pillows when we fight with them...”

“Or reveal too much of ourselves in our skimpy nightwear...”

“Yes, Lady Shayna, Lady Selene...” Temzi gulped as they entered Selene's room and shut the door behind them. “I-I would humbly request that you would be careful...”

The girls sat him on the edge of the bed, sitting either side of him. “Don't you trust us, Temzi?” Selene asked, the most innocent of expressions on her face.

“Lets see what we can do for your helmet hair.” Shay smiled at him sweetly, twirling a lock of it in her fingers. She felt him cringe a little, so she chuckled. “Oh Temzi, you're nervous!” She grinned across at Selene. “And we haven't even started yet!”

22/1028

Hurr hurr... Temzi <3

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~~

With breakfast over I retreated to my room. The morning’s antics had drawn out my hidden exhaustion and I needed to sleep. Fortunately, Selene decided she had no use for me – although the way in which I was dismissed left me uncomfortable. That morning’s banter has lulled me into a false sense of comfort and now that I was alone, I realised that nothing really had changed. Selene’s trust in me was waning…and I had no idea how I was going to change that. I tried to sleep but something kept me from that sanctuary. So I lay awake, my mind tortured by everything that it knew but focusing on none of it.

When I finally decided to abandon my attempts, the day had drifted once more towards darkness. The light was fading from the windows and dark shadows striped the floor of my room. The ship was quiet. Some of the crew could be heard in the corridor, their voices distorted by the corridors of the ship. Kumas was on patrol, I could hear his heavy footsteps even though the echoes made them almost impossible to pinpoint. I ran a casual hand through my hair to try and remove the signs of restless laying and ventured out into the ship.

I had never been on the Wolfstar and aside from my brief wandering the previous evening, I knew very little about what it looked like. I scolded myself for not taking an earlier stock of my surroundings and then let my curiosity run loose. Most military men will tell you that they look down on curiosity – a weakness they call it, but I disagree. Curiosity makes you more interested, more observant to surroundings. Someone who wants to know about an area will absorb that information much better than someone who needs to know. I traced my steps back to Adair’s empty room and beyond. I found the balcony where I had spent the previous evening and passed it. I used the windows to guide me, the darkening sky my beacon. I was intent on making my way to the cockpit – a map is better made from a clear landmark of course.

The cockpit was more impressive than I had expected. Granted, my knowledge of airships was limited but I had imagined to find a crumbling wreck held together with string, not anything near as well-kept as what I found. “It’s almost cosy,” I mused, lowering myself into Adair’s chair.

“Well I try.”

I launched to my feet. “I was just-” I spotted Adair’s head poking out from beneath the control board in front of me. “What were you doing down there?”

He waved a screwdriver at me. “Maintenance.”

“Couldn’t Nii do that?”

“She could…” I stepped away so that he could slide out. “But I like to keep a hand on things in here. It’s like…my space.” He wiped his hands on a rag of cloth. “So what brings one of Selene’s faithful here? I thought you would be assisting in the torture – grooming of Temzi.”

“I don’t think I’m invited to that party.”

“Selene’s orders?”

“Shay’s.”

“Ah, the spiteful sister.”

“Yeah – wait.” I frowned at him. “How do you know?”

“Know your enemies. Or friends. Or distant acquaintances.” He grinned as if it was some great joke but I didn’t get it. “Shayna told me. Seems she…uh…greatly dislikes you.”

“She hates me. No point dancing around that fact.”

Adair took some water and offered a cup to me. I took it. “You don’t seem as bothered as she does,” he said.

“The betrayer always suffers less than the betrayed.”

Adair settled into his seat. “So how do you do it? How do you end up on the wrong side of the war?”

“I’m not sure about the wrong side…” I took a sip of water. “How did you end up quitting Blitzball?”

“Teammates tried to kill me.”

I waved the cup at him. “That’s how you end up on the ‘wrong side of the war’, as you put it.”

He scratched the stubble on his neck. “Spiran army tried to kill you?”

“Yup.”

“Before you worked with Ivalice?”

“Yup.”

“Why?”

I tilted my head further towards him than I intended. For some reason, it felt lighter than usual. “Murdering civilians doesn’t fit a soldier’s code of conduct.”

I watched him move into position to escape. “Should I be worried?”

“You’re safe Adair.” I wandered deeper into the cockpit then shot a glance over my shoulder at him. “Unless you do something worthy of my killing you.”

“For my own protection, what sort of things would this include?”

“Doing anything to hurt Selene, or Shayna. Got any more water?”

He nodded towards the container. I wandered over and began pouring myself another cup.

“So this guy…he one you killed…” Uncertainty had been replaced by mild curiosity. He was leaning one elbow on his knee, resting his head on his hand and holding his water cup in the other. “Did he do something to Shayna?”

“No.” I hadn’t talked about it, not since then, not since before all of this. Only one person knew the truth and for all I knew, that man had died. I had never been able to tell Shayna what I had done. But Adair…for some reason I couldn’t stop myself from pouring the truth on him. What the heck did he put in this water? “He murdered our mother. I found him by accident and I had to know – I had to know that he had been justly punished for it but…he told me they’d let him out. Just a few months and he was back on the street. They didn’t care, didn’t care about us. He bought his way out. So I took to him and…I made sure he was sorry. It was so terrible. It wasn’t me…it wasn’t even…something else. Something else inside me did it. And they were so angry. So angry. I was supposed to die – I should have, but I was scared. I was scared of what she would think so I ran and I kept running. I thought I could escape it, thought I could repent with what they asked me but it doesn’t stop, the killing. They put them there, lined them up before me. I knew them – some of them. ‘You have to kill them. Have to prove you’re loyal’. And so it came again, that monster, that anger and hatred and they were dead and there was blood everywhere, and always there are more bodies, more blood to fill. It never ends…and I can’t…I can’t forget her face…”

I hadn’t seen her face when he attacked me but I saw it in my dreams. That empty glass stare penetrated the bangs of fire. And all the while her blood crept towards me, ready to swallow me, destined to forever hold me in its grasp.

My legs crumbled beneath me. I hit the ground with a thud that began in my stomach and spread along my spine. My limbs wouldn’t move. “Just give it to them…that’s all they told me…just give it over…no questions…no questions…but they needed proof, they always needed proof…but they knew that before, they expected it, but they…they didn’t tell me…they never said…I couldn’t go back home…”

I saw something move in the blur. Adair of a shadow of a memory – I couldn’t be sure. But then the weight left my muscles and I fell into darkness.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A bout of madness and then collapse - exhaustion or foul play? TAG RIO!


Word Count: 1,245
Post No. 13

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

For the briefest of moments, Selene felt horribly sorry for the helpless Guado. He was subjected to two women discussing how to do his hair, whether they should just straighten it, or put it in some fancy up-do that only noble men seem to wear. He sat there nervously as it spiraled down into a bit of a stalemate. Temzi’s hair didn’t want to do anything that would be counted as “Controlled”.

“Hrm…” Shay crossed her arms, staring at the wild, red hair as it refused to be tamed by conventional methods. “This calls for drastic action.”

“I agree.” Selene nodded, tilting her head a bit, thinking it over.

“It also calls for comfier clothing!”

Selene looked over at the thief curiously; the evil grin on her face was enough to cause Temzi to stand and make a run for the exit.

“Ladies, I must take my leave-“

“Ohhhh no!” Shay grabbed his arm as Selene stepped in front of the door, blocking his exit. “You don’t get off that easily!”

“Yeah Temzi, it’s a sleepover…” The princess smirked, eyes glinting with deviousness. “You wouldn’t mind if we changed into our pjs would you?”

“Pjs…?” The Guado’s blushed lessened a tad. “I-I suppose not… Wait… Sleepover?”

Both women grinned.


Alright so, ‘PJs’ was sort of a lie. Selene had been the first to change, slipping into the washroom as Shay made sure Temzi didn’t attempt to leave. She exited the washroom wearing a skimpy sort of nightgown. Though ‘gown’ was sort of pushing it, it barely covered was necessary to cover, and the deep v-neck it had threatened to reveal all that somehow still remained hidden.

The Guado’s expression was that of pure shock, his eyes went wide and lingered longer then he intended no doubt, causing his face to rival his hair. Shay clapped, laughing as Selene took up guard and she dashed into the washroom, giggling all the way.

She supposed he was frozen; Selene raised an eyebrow as she took a step towards him and he almost instinctively took a step back. Selene used this ‘power’ to her advantage, making him back up all the way to the bed before he just found himself sitting on it. The woman moved closer, sliding in behind him to begin playing with his hair. Temzi was as stiff a board, not daring to move as Selene reached over to the side table and grabbed the straightener.

“Let’s see if this works…” She switched the device onto its most powerful setting before trying it on a clump of hair.

“Lady Selene, perhaps you should dress more accordingly?”

“You don’t think I’m dressed accordingly do you?” She smirked darkly as she used her royal tone on him.

“Well no-“

“Oh? You think I should wear something else?”

“Um… May-“

“Or less?”

“W-what? I would n-never suggest such a thing!”

“Oh, I see… Is there something wrong with me?”

“Pardon?”

“Well if you’re so opposed to me wearing less, then obviously there’s something wrong with me.”

“T-there’s nothing wrong with you!”

His outburst made Selene blink, and he almost seemed to bow his head in shame. Had she hit a nerve? Before she could apologize, Temzi spoke.

“I did not mean to imply you are imperfect in any way, Lady Selene. Your form is very nice…”

“Really…”

“… That… Did not come out the way I intended…”

“You’re so funny Temzi.” Selene chuckled, watching as he seemed to perk up a bit at the comment. “Do you blush this often under that armour of yours?”

“I don’t believe so milady.” He sounded as if he was relaxing a tad. “When inside the suit it seems I encounter less awkward situations, well… Socially awkward, I do see how life threatening encounters with mythical beasts could qualify as awkward...”

“What type of awkward would you classify the monsters as?”

“I’m not sure, perhaps one of frightening proportions?”

“TADA!!!”

Temzi immediately shot his gaze to the ground as Shay burst out of the bathroom.

Selene smirked, giggling. “Kinda like now?”

“Gods help me…”


* * 683 / 41 * *

TAG BECKI AND KIRST!

[Pichu Luver]

Adair Stroud

“Girly!”

Aaaaand she hit the floor. Didn't even have the decency to wake up when she smacked her head. Adair may be an utterly speedy roadster when his own life was involved, but people never seemed to give him a proper warning when they about to go into a crazy talk, mad jabber faint. He had got up when she hit her knees but for the reasons stated previously, was not successful in catching her mid-timber.

“Swooning maidens sure, bring on the dandy. Collapsing soldiers with a blood-need reflex of conflicting killer instincts?

Why me...”

As the sun had set and assumedly everyone else was off somewhere else doing assuredly needful things (as Adair had been, that automatic parking brake needed to be 'ahem' fixed), Adair was left with a women collapsed in his presence. He knelled over her body, seeing if she was still breathing. She was, though he wasn't sure having a psychotic babbler still alive was a good thing.

Shaking his finger he said, “You lass better not have some secret Selene summoning mind weapon set to go when you collapse. I find being shot at on my own ship somewhat disturbing to the body.”

No answer, of the beeping or giggling sort.

He sighed, looked around at the empty cockpit once more and seeing no one else to be the hero, picked her up. He even manged not to stumble as he got to his feet. Due to a lack of drinks drunk over the course of the day he was decidedly more on an even keel. The morning had been fun, but wire work need a sound head.

Okay there may have been a swing of rum around noon.

Grumbling to himself he made his way to the cabin hallway, he paused at his room before resolutely thinking that an ill-thought contemplation. Better to carry her farther and not risk being shot once she awakened. Besides, he wasn't giving up his bed. Spared no expense for it he did. And given the method of wakefulness he was going to use... he might want to be sure her weapons were not in reach.

He met no one, not even Kumas, the ever keen thinking can.

Did I mention he doesn't like robots?

Anyway he hefted her over one shoulder in a decidedly barbarian manner in order to free a hand to open the door. Not like anyone saw anyway... or not like he'd care if they did. Though Lyra might. She also moaned a bit, which gave him confidence the next part of his plan would work.

He shut the door behind him and more or less placed her on her messy bed with care. Or at least he didn't just drop her. Then making sure her gunblades were not within sight or reach he passed into the hall again, grabbing two cups from her room. He passed into the bathroom in the hall (her room was too small to have her own) and filled them with nice ice cold water.

“Hopefully this doesn't get me killed or worse.” He mumbled.

Sneaking back to her room he closed the door, and for good measure stuffed some old t-shirts by the bottom of it.

“Right... Bottom's up...”

The water splattered all over her face, cutting off her air supply for a few brief moments. She coughed and sputtered before coming up swinging. Adair leaped backwards, narrowly missing the chance to sing soprano.

“OY! You might have a right concussion on your head and there ain't no better way to wake up the faint!”

“What the hell do you think you're doing?!?” she shouted, bedraggled and furious.

“Use those keen military ears of yours and listen. You collapsed after jabbering some seriously twisted undertaker verses. Hit your head so it may be pounding punches.”

She blinked, still angry, “What?”

Sighing he shook his head. “Yeah fainted.”

“Oh.” Her anger dissipated then and she raised a hand to hold her head, which was gaining a bump. She hissed as she gently felt it and Adair started to back away, not willing to turn his back on her just yet. She glanced up at him as he was retreating and frowned. “What... did I say before I fainted?”

He paused, hand on the doorknob. “Doesn't matter. Know well enough how to keep my trap closed when cause for me to loose the key.”

She blanched before her temper rose again and she swiftly rose to her feet. “NO. What did I—woah...”

He managed to grab her arms this time before she fell and he plopped her back on the bed before backing away again (trust was not something he had with Lyra right now). Seeing how she was holding her head (it was likely spinning) he grabbed a chair and sat, close to the door.

“SIT woman, there's a potion under your bed. Always keep a few with the rum.”

Slowly she reached under and grabbed it, downing about half of it. She sighed and looked irritated, “What did I say?”

“Lot about blood and shooting people. Earning trust and somethin' about a girl.” he shrugged. “I had some curiosity and you seemed to be in the sharin' mood, but it was not particularly what I was of a mind to hear. Considering your Ivalician law and apparently have an urge to kill.”

She was silent and quickly looked down.

Adair sighed and rubbed his head. “Look, believe me when I say this, cause this is about as clear as I'm ever gunna get with you.” She looked up, wary. “I. Don't. Care. Problems are to each's own. In my opinion Ivalicians are bastards of the highest order and no matter what you did there was no need to run. Least of all to people who would make you kill your own. They're... fond of that.”

She shook her head, “I couldn't. Not—”

“Yevon seemed to think killing people was just dandy, yet some people still think a few of his teachings are all right. Spiran history got it's fair share of mass murderers. Your hands are a fair bit cleaner then those Maesters of old.” She winced a fraction. “Lass either be a Ivalician bastard or a Spiran fool. Pick one and move on.”

“I never said I had doubts on which side I was on, pirate.” she said, raising angrily and glaring at him.

Adair raised an eyebrow. “Stated no... but doubt is a friend of sincere affection with you by your earlier conflicted converse.”

She snorted, looking away.

“Whether you believe it or not, it is simple. It was for Temzi, or in case you didn't notice he's a Guado and they aren't native to Ivalice.” He lowered his voice, getting up, “And it was for me.”

She look a bit surprised, though ice maiden wasn't one to show much besides anger. “Now,” said Adair, “Can I retreat in one chunk and not several?”


1172/26

[Weasel Overlord]

Poooooost~ sorry it took so long, oh mighty one. Also: I was listening to my music as usual, and I came across a cool song I wanted to share! It is relevant to the RPG. XD The Tea Party - Luxuria check out the lyrics.

Temzi :: Dragoon of Justice
:: he's pretty fly ::

Temzi mentally slapped himself for the clumsiness of his replies. He was only glad that Lady Selene and Lady Shayna didn't seem to be taking offence from them. He supposed that they knew his habits by now, and he felt grateful that they didn't pressure him to be otherwise.

Conversations about his armour though, those he could do. And after the ministrations to his hair, he felt like he needed a short break from the beauty treatment. After Lady Shay sprang from the bathroom in her... well, he could only describe it as a thing, Temzi felt more secure in the hope that there would be no more clothing removed, and no more embarrassments to come. Although sometimes he suspected that embarrassment sought him out like a drunkard seeks out free beer at a party, and he just wished that it would get the memo and leave him alone. He could do without that almost-permanent blush. And now that people had seen him outside of his armour, they'd probably be wanting to do so on a more regular basis, and he cringed at the thought.

“Why are you cringing, Temzi?” Shay was always to the point, and she settled down on the floor next to his feet, on top of a plump cushion, as Selene brought over a tray of multi-coloured drinks.

“I stole these from Sirius,” she said, an evil grin on her face. “I found them hidden away in a cupboard right at the back of the bedroom. Almost as if he was ashamed of them.” She sat down cross-legged on the bed next to Temzi, and held out the tray.

Shay snorted, and took a bright pink drink off the tray. It was in a tall, thin glass, and there was some sort of fruit hanging off the side that looked most impractical.

“Which one do you want, Temzi?”

He looked at the last two drinks worriedly. One was in a pear-shaped glass, and was a mixture of blue and green, and the last was in a squat, round glass, and was opaque, with glints of something rainbow-coloured inside. “I think I will brave this one,” he said, picking up the round glass. There was an umbrella sticking out of the top, for some reason, and it hit him in the nose as he went to take a smell of the liquid inside.

“So, why were you cringing?”

“Ah, just considering the future.” He tried to be vague, but had a suspicion that it wouldn't work in the face of two persistent Ladies. He took a sip of his drink as a distraction, and immediately spluttered it out again. It tasted like aniseed and fruit, an odd combination, and it burned his throat as if he'd swallowed fire.

Selene thumped him on the back and took a generous drink of her own confection, a dreamy smile slipping over her face as the liquor went down her throat. “Divine,” she said, licking her lips. “Don't you like yours, Temzi?”

“It is... stronger than anything I've ever experienced,” he said, painfully aware of how inexperienced he sounded. “W-what is it?”

“Oh, this and that,” Selene waved her hand airily.

“Mine tastes like bubblegum,” Shay chirped. Her eyes already looked slightly out of focus, and Temzi noticed that a quarter of her glass had already gone. Her lips were a pinker tinge than usual, and she hiccuped, once. “What flavour's yours, S'lene?”

“It's a recipe I picked up in Rozzaria once,” she said, tapping her nose. “Tastes like heaven in a glass.”

Temzi leapt upon a subject not laced with embarrassment eagerly. “I have never been to Rozzaria. What is it like, there?” He took a tentative second sip of his drink, and found it more palatable, though it did something to his head that was altogether unnatural.

“Oh, you know,” Selene plucked a cherry off the side of her glass, and ate it in a manner that almost made the embarrassment rear its ugly head again. Temzi quashed the feeling with another drink, and found it a good method.

#11 // 708~

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

Shay wasn't quite sure what it was about her current clothing that had made Temzi cringe in such a way. She knew he probably didn't mean to, but that wasn't the point. She was wearing a creamy white coloured night dress, cut with a slight v-neck with thin straps. Red lace ran along the top and bottom and the dress itself was patterned with cute little strawberries. This attire wouldn't be so much of a problem if it weren't a little too small for her. It was a couple of years old, hardly worn, but she had grown (hard to believe, but true), so it showed off her cleavage and where it used to come down to her mid thigh, it now barely covered her bottom. This wasn't an issue, she had cute matching panties on, but alas, this was far too much for Temzi to take in.

She liked it though, and that's what mattered.

Taking another swig of her bright pink drink, she found herself gazing up at Temzi. Her head was not in the right place right now. Normally the girl was pretty good at being responsible with her drinking, surprisingly, but tonight she saw no reason why she shouldn't get hammered. Now this would be very problematic for her. Along with Selene, she had done a VERY good job with the Guado's hair and as he was drinking too, it was unlikely that it would stay in such a condition for very long. That, and when reaaaaaally drunk, Shay was unlikely to remember anything at all in the morning.

“Piiiicture time!” Shay announced, carefully placing her drink on the floor and pulling her bag towards her. She rummaged through it for a few moments before pulling out one of those instant printing cameras, grinning.

“That's not yours, is it?” Selene asked, her brow creasing into the tiniest of frowns.

“I saved up aaaaaaaaall my pocket money for this.” Shay nodded. For a moment, it looked like that pair had believed her. “Pfft, of course not. I stole it off a Ronso.”

Temzi seemed impressed, but Selene wasn't buying it. “Yeah? Right from underneath his nose?”

“Y-yeah!” Shay beamed. “Whilst he was having a fight with another Ronso. CHEESE!”

Without warning, Shay pointed the device at Temzi's face, clicking the button, flashing as it took the picture. The flash must have blinded him for a few moments, because he stared blankly at her, his eyes wide in shock. Selene waved her hand in front of his face until he finally blinked, snapping out of his little daze. Shay giggled, waiting for the picture to develop, taking another rather large swig from her glass.

“S'lene?” Shay swayed a little.

“Hm?”

“S'lene? Why doessit taste so... Pink?”

Selene chuckled, smirking a little. “I'm not telling you! It's a secret recipe of Ivalice!”

“I tried lots and lots and lots and lots of drinks in Ivalice and-” She stopped mid-sentence, staring at the photograph in her hand. “OhmyYevon...”

“Lady Shay? What is it?” Temzi asked, curious. He leaned forward to look, but the little girl turned it away, showing it to Selene, who nearly spat out her drink.

The camera had managed to capture the precise moment where Temzi was staring in complete shock. His pupils were tiny, his mouth wide open... In fact, the only part of him that didn't look surprised was his hair, which sat perfectly in place. The two girls creased up in laughter before letting Temzi see. For a moment he looked a little offended, before relaxing a bit and laughing too.

“Leeeenie!” Shayna whined, passing the camera to Temzi, stumbling to her feet. “We need a picture of us too!”

“Leenie? What kinda name is that?!”

“One comprising of the last couple of syllables of your name, then adding I and E to the end to make it sound cute, Lady Selene.” Temzi informed her.

“What he said.” Shay pretty much fell onto the bed, tripping over it or something. She hadn't even finished that glass! Why on earth was she so drunk?!

Oh, that's right. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. She had eaten a lot for breakfast, but her metabolism could run just as fast as a Chocobo. Possibly just as fast as a Chocobo running away from Behemoth. Anyway, this meant that her not so good friend, alcohol, was playing games with her mind and making things seem much closer than they were.

Maybe things would seem a lot more clearer if she finished the glass...

Oh yeah! Photo time!

She knelt up behind Selene, putting her arms around her, her head resting on her shoulder. The camera flashed, the picture developed and the three of them crowded around to see.

“That's not a bad picture...” Selene mused, taking a sip from her drink.

“You both look very nice.” Temzi added, blushing a little. He seemed to have a little more courage than usual.

“Nono, Leenie, we look hot.” Shay carefully pried the picture from Temzi's hand and hid it away.

“Heeeeey! What if I wanted the picture?” Selene pouted.

“I will give you one! But I have to shows it to someone first!” She smirked, leaning down to pick up her drink, loosing balance and tumbling to the floor.

23/905

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

The night had been fun.

But now, morning was here.

I didn’t really mind mornings, they were the simplistic part of the day. Afternoons you tried to figure out what to do, and evenings were the winding down phase where people attempted to relax in the strangest of ways. Mornings had simplicity to them, something that my current mission seemed to lack completely.

I groaned, cracking an eyeball to see receive the sun’s rays beaming into the room. For the briefest of seconds I thought I was home. The room was fancy enough, and the golden light blocked my view of outside for a split second. As it faded though, through my blond bangs I could see the vast ocean expanding outwards. It seemed endless, and the light gleaming off the water’s surface gave it a certain beauty.

There was a knock on the door, and I shifted, sitting up slowly.

“Come in.”

It was Temzi, once again in his armour, though it was brilliantly polished and prime for a new day.

I could help but chuckled at the memory of what we did to him.

“Lady Selene, Sirius requests your presence on the bridge.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Does he?”

“Indeed, he said it was urgent.”

I bet it is. I mused, watching the Guado close the door quietly. Soon after I was dressed, glancing at the clock to discover it was later then I had thought. 10:16? I frowned, fixing my hair quickly before holstering the Calypso and heading out. I overslept.

Reaching the cockpit or ‘bridge’ was simple enough. I glanced at Sirius who looked up from a scan, and Adair swiveled around in his pilot’s seat. Both men, even the pilot who was most of the time unreadable, looked concerned.

“What is it?” I questioned, crossing my arms.

“We’ve picked up a distress beacon,” The Captain stated, pressing a switch on the dashboard. A small holographic representation of the beacons location appeared. “Just along the coast.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Whose ship is it?”

“Ivalician.” Adair answered, “Past that the signal does a funky chicken.”

“It could be a trap set by our Spiran foes…” Sirius noted, flicking a switch, the pictured zoomed in on a strange formation inland. “These trees are twisted, we didn’t know why until Adair completed a scan.”

“And…?” I leaned against the wall and shrugged. “What’s happened to them?”

“The deep-fryer of avionics is here. Otherwise known as ‘canyon of doom’.” The drunk pointed to the twisted trees. “I christen thee Grove of Luminescent Crashes’.”

“Well we could fly after we destroyed that crystal.” I replied coolly, “We can assume there’s another crystal in that forest.”

“It’s actually a cavern, though we can’t get a proper reading of it.” Sirius sighed. “You do remember what happened in the last cavern we went gallivanting into.”

“Boulders and bombs,” I snapped bitterly, that place had claimed three people, and one had been my friend since childhood. “We also met the natives.”

“Ahh natives…” Adair leaned back in his chair. “I do love their hats.”

“That crazed leader of theirs also summoned a Claret Dragon from the crystal, there’s no way to know if she’ll appear at this crystal and try her method again.”

“No, there’s not.” I stood up straight, and placed my hand on my gun. “But we were unprepared last time, now the playing field is even.”

“Darlin’…” Adair slumped, “Heroes are those who find satisfaction and utmost gumption in saving people. I am not particularly gumpt.”

“My dear pilot, don’t look so disappointed. Heroes are rewarded with renown, gil and most importantly, women!” The Captain beamed, but quickly fell quiet as I shot a glare at him.

“We still have the problem of landing anywhere near that beacon…” I sighed. “Unless…?”

“Nii was talking up a storm about rigging the engine with some converter-contraption to protect against the energy, if she’s as handy as she implies, we’ll have no problems.” Sirius tried to be comforting, but Adair would have none of it.

“Aye, but every other system will go out to tea. The only time I like to be blind and de-armed is...” Selene cocked her gun. Adair grinned, “Tale for another time.”

I rolled my eyes. “Then we’ll have an initial drop team, they’ll cover the LZ and take care of any hostilities.”

“Yes, that’ll do.” Sirius smiled confidently. “Then you can land without any further injuries to yourself or my ship.”

Adair raised an eyebrow. “Your ship?”

“Yes, MY ship. I am the Captain am I-“

“Excuse me,” I shifted my weight as I rested my hands on my hips. “But who’ll be in the initial drop?”

“Myself, I am more than capable of protecting you my lady.” He bowed his head with a sly smile. I rolled my eyes, good to know it was assumed I was leading this incursion. “I suppose you should bring along a bit more support though, just in case..”

“Of what?” Adair smirked. “Natives swooning yon lass off her feet and off to the feast? Or extra barriers between ye and well… anyone armed really…”

Sirius beamed. “Feasting? Surely you mean with the lovely lady! Though, if you mean on-”

I felt myself twitch. “Sirius, if you dare finish that sentence I will make sure your foul line never continues.”

Adair grinned wildly. “Notice how she spares your tongue Captain!”

I couldn’t take it, faster than they could see the Calypso had escaped her holster and fired a round. The bullet smashed into the bottle of expensive rum sitting on the dashboard and sent pieces of glass everywhere. The liquid splashed onto the dashboard and floor.

He looked at the remains. “… You missed.”

“Adair...” I glowered, stomping out of the cockpit, with my pistol still in hand. “Shut up.”


The advanced ground team consisted of myself, Shay, Lyra, Sori and Sirius. Lisette had remained onboard as a measure to protect the manically working mechanic who was trying to save the engine, and the pilot who was having one hell of a time keeping the ship from crashing. The Wolfstar swayed unsteadily in the air as it lowered to the ground, ramp unhinging and swing down. We poured off quickly, watching as the airship pulled away quickly.

The beach was quiet, to our left was a massive cliff-face that ran into the dense jungle, and our right was just a huge spread of white sand. In front were the remains and pieces of the vessel who had activated the beacon. From the looks of the crash it was a little larger than the Wolfstar, and had at one point; been beautiful.

I gave the signal and Shay nodded, quickly and silently scurrying up ahead and up into the treetops. My communicator crackled to life.

“They hit the ground harder than we did..” She commented as we moved up. “Lots of bodies…”

“Any evidence that something other than the crash killed them?” Lyra questioned, taking point.

“Not that I see…”

“Oi, this is your pilot!” I winced as the com squealed. “We’ll be late, something took out the mechanic...”

“And when do you plan on showing up?” Sori snarled.

“We have to fix her third person mental state, Yevon forbid she speaks in first person,” Came the retort. “Normal isn’t in her vocabulary.”
“As if it’s in your’s…” I held back a sigh. If we were ambushed, back up wouldn’t be here for at least five minutes. That was more than enough time for something to destroy us. As long as there’s not another behemoth…

“Don’t you like; know that I talk well like, totally normally.”

Selene winced at the high, feminine pitch his voice took. “Shut up.”

We entered the forest line and came upon the crash, Shay hadn’t been lying. Bodies were thrown all over the place. Most were burnt beyond recognition.

“Princess Solidor!”

I froze; swiveling to the right I watched as someone came bounding out of the forest. Immediately all eyes and weapons were pointed at them. But she didn’t seem to mind.

“Princess Solidor!” She cried again, waddling over to me. “What are you doing here?”

I blinked and took a step back. It wasn’t every day you were approached by a Nu Mou, particularly here of all places. “Uh…” I stammered. “Do I know you?”

“Me? Oh no, not me no. I am surely not considered on your high level of the social light..” She sort of went off on a tangent. “But! Surely you know Cid!”

“Um…” I knew three Cids. One insisted on making multiple passes at me any time he saw me, the second was a friend of my father’s and the third was some wandering, if well respected lunatic. “Which one?”

Sirius raised an eyebrow at me. “Which one indeed…”

I glared. “What?”

“Well if it’s Al-Cid…”

“Don’t.” I clenched my fists. “Even mention him.”

“Al-Cid? No no, just Cid! Master of magic!”

My expression lightened a tad. “Oh! Him, yes, I know him.”

“Him?” The Captain almost seemed to twitch.

“Sirius…”

Shay, who I had admitted forgotten about, suddenly appeared. Leaping down from a tree and nearly tumbling into the Nu Mou, she looked terrified.

“Natives!”

* * 1579 / 42 **

Yes Natives… They’re not particularly difficult to beat. Not that many either, just a little something to kick off Chapter Three! 8D

Ohh, and the Nu Mou is actually our newest RPer! Faiz!! :3

[darktyranitar]

Name: Ma’nenek

Age: 25

Race: Nu Mou

Gender: Female

Origin: Ivalice

Appearance: Ma’nenek stands at about 5 feet, but appears to be slightly shorter due to her body posture. Her face bears similarities to that of a canine, although her sets of teeth are different (and she doesn’t loll out her tongue as much as her distant relatives). Her long white hair is tied in a braid, partially covered by a green shawl, loosely wrapped around her head. Along her long thick tail, the tuff of hair is more ashen grey in colour. Her skin is rather dark (think milk coffee), and her eyes are of light amber colour. Her hands and feet are rather small compared to that of humes, but one would be surprised at how swift she can move.
A pair of silver bells dangled over the opening in her drooping ears: one of them would produce a fine chime, while the other gives out a more deep sound (not unlike that of a cowbell). The exact purpose of the bells is not known, however. She wears a faded coarse thick cloth that cover her from the neck downward, with a pale green, sort-of coat as her outer garment; like her undergarment, it reaches down until it cover her feet. The material of her outer garment appears to be made of much smoother material, and the sleeve is long and wide, with some dark blue patterns near the tip. She has a pair of clog sandal for her footwear, although these are usually covered by her garment.

Personality: Ma’nenek is, on the whole, rather good natured, with a bit of (sometime strange) sense of humour. She is somehow quite ahead of her age: she can be a bit fidgety, slightly over protective, and sometime talk (i.e. babble) for on and on because of the smallest things. It’s easy to see how some has come to refer to her as ‘grandma’ (watch out for the stick lest you call her this). She show sign of possessing some wisdom and intelligence, but this is sometime (well, usually) lost among her jabbering.
While her other senses are in perfect order – despite what her behaviour suggest – she have this particularly bad habit of getting a bit of hearing problem at the most convenient time, and this is quite surprising, since her ears are quite big and all. Understandably, this is known to cause some slight annoyance to others, although you wouldn’t hit an old lady Nu Mou, would you?

Weapon Style: Ivalice

Weapon Type: Staff

Weapon: A staff made of ebony, with some intricate pattern along them that appears to be of magic patterns. The design of the staff is quite a curiosity, for about a quarter of the top of the staff is carved into a perfectly formed elongated rectangle – probably the most inert rectangle that you’ll find (this might be of interest to mathematician). It is also quite dense, and one would wonder how those little hands of her could wield – or even lift – the staff. Ma’nenek mostly uses white magic, although she manage to pick up a little bit of blue magic (this being almost non-existent among the Nu Mous).

History: Ma’nenek is a part of a generation of Nu Mou that lived away from Mount Bur-Omisace. During her early years, she started off by doing a few odd jobs in the vicinity of the humes for quite a while – mostly involving hunting beasts, owing to her ability to communicate with them – although she would later discover that like most Nu Mou, she is more interested in the study of magic. She began her travel, which went on for almost a year or two.
Unfortunately, without the proper guide, her search eventually becomes rather dreary, seemingly leading her to nowhere. It was just at that moment that she met Cid: even during that time, she notices how there is something different in the mage that separate him from his contemporaries. After some inquiry (and much begging later) she was tentatively accepted as his student. She had since been with him, travelling to various part of the regions, although there’s a lot of deal about him that she still doesn’t know. Throughout those years, she had became a sort of guard to the mage-scientist (it would not be incorrect to say that this was where she gotten the old lady-like demeanour).

Other: Although she is capable of communicating with beasts, she’ll testify that she couldn’t really hold a good conversation with them – especially when they’re on empty stomach.

*****

“Discovery? It sseemss we have a problem.”
-(the then alive) Ba’guin

*****


Ma’nenek

Crash, Strangers and Natives – what is this manner of peculiarity?

‘By Faram, it’s a miracle that we are still alive…”

But by ‘we’, Ma’nenek was referring to herself and Cid; as for the rest…


Her memory was rather sketchy: she recalled how there was some sort of malfunction in the ship, a general sense of panic… and then there was a feeling as if being dropped 20 000 feet towards the ground (more or less), and then… well, she passed out.

Upon regaining conscious, Ma’nenek was greeted with the sight of the remains of the ship, burning brightly in the darkness of the night. On instinct, she frantically looked around for Cid: thankfully, he was in a good form, sans a few scratches that could be cured with a few drop of potion. Relieved, she checked herself: there was nothing more than a slight bump on her head, although there was a little of bloodstain on her shawl (“had Cid healed me while I was unconscious?” she wondered, slightly embarrassed at the thought).

It was a different story for the rest of the crew, though. All of them were already lifeless by the time they were found among the debris, and yet, they were bleeding badly – so bad, that Ma’nenek could not even begin to describe the pool of blood that had formed around the wrecked Discovery.

There was a survivor, though, which comes in the form of the badly burnt, but still alive – and twitching – Ba’guin, the Bangaa mechanic. Ma’nenek immediately went on the task of healing him, whereas Cid, with a rather calm and composed manner, was salvaging various items among the remains.

Despite his facade, Ma’nenek suspected that he was actually as horrified as she was (though nowhere as pained as Ba’guin). The difference was that she could not keep it inside her, and thus, with much self control as a deranged Rogue Tomato, went:

“Have I ever told you how nervous I am around machineries? You know, ‘to err is living, but to really make a mess is-’”

“Bahh, be quiet, gramma.” Ba’guin rasped. “Ass if complaining iss gonna get uss anywhere…”

At that time, Ma’nenek didn’t have the heart to knock her staff on his head – she was afraid that it will make those words his last.

Sadly, that was indeed the case, despite her best effort (for the record, she did not hit him).


The sun had just rose, and Ma’nenek was just finished with her burial ritual, which involves the body of Ba’guin (she did not dare to touch the other badly disfigured bodies of the rest of the crew), a hole (that was conveniently on the ground), and a lot of soil: her kinds were quite particular about leaving corpses lying around for too long. And besides, there wasn’t much to do right now anyway.

Cid had told her earlier that he had send off an SOS signal when he was inspecting the craft; for now, as much as they did not like it, there was nothing to do but wait.

Or, in the opinion of Ma’nenek, a walk in the forest doesn’t seem like a bad idea.

After some persuasion, Cid agreed that she could do so. “All right, but don’t go too far into the forest. Ah, and be careful.”

“Ohh, don’t you worry, Cid; my sense of smell is exceptional.”


It was her sense of smell that was going to lead her to an encounter that would significantly change their fate.

She was busy listening to the chatter of the forest inhabitant, when she picked up a very distinct scent. She sniffed the air: there were… about 3 – no, 4 Humes, and one furry being (a Moogle? Or a Viera perhaps?), that were just around the corner; they did not seem to be the inhabitant of the forest, so she guessed they were travellers (or in the worst case, survivors from another ship crash).

She went towards their direction, and stopped just as she was a few feet away from them. True to her deduction, there were three Humes – two female, and a male – and one furry being (it was a Moogle, and a male one). But she was more than mildly relieved; one of the Humes, she immediately realized, was none other than the princess of Ivalice, Selene Solidor. (“Why in the world would she be here?”)

She glanced at the party, and noted that they were well armed. She thought about it for about a few seconds, and then rushed forward.

“Princess Solidor!”

The party stopped, as all eyes (and of course, weapons) were looking at her.

Surely they wouldn’t just attack a Nu Mou that came out from nowhere… would they?

“Princess Solidor!” She decided to approach her; the rest cautiously held on to their weapons. “What are you doing here?”

She seemed to be slightly taken aback. “Uh… do I know you?”

“Me? Oh no, not me no. I am surely not considered on your high level of the social light... well, the same could be said for most of us Nu Mou. Or the Kiltia sect, to be exact. And speaking of which, *jumbled babble*” Noticing that the party reaction had changed from that of alert to slightly jaded, she went, “but! Surely you know Cid!”

“Um…” The woman seems to be contemplating. “Which one?”

“Which one indeed…” remarked the male Hume.

“What?”

“Well if it’s Al-Cid…”

“Don’t even mention him.”

Ma’nenek leaned her face at her staff. “Al-Cid? No no, just Cid! Master of magic!”

“Oh! Him, yes, I know him.”

“Him?” the male Hume asked.

“Sirius…”

Before she could inform them of the situation that they were in, another Hume – a female one, with a set of clothing that was rather out of place (but rather interesting, Ma’nenek decided) leapt down from a nearby tree, nearly tumbling at her in the process.

“Natives!” she exclaimed, clearly terrified.

Ma’nenek held a hand to her ear. “I beg your pardon, dear?”

She looked at Ma’nenek incredulously, and after a few exchange of glances from the rest of the group, once again shouted ‘Natives! (and then added after a pause) Angry natives, coming this way, with their-”

“…silly hats and pointed weapons? I can see that they’re coming towards us from… that way. Yes?”

“…how did you know that?”

“Oh. Well, when you are one with nature, it is easy to, um, notice whenever there is a slight deviation in the whole system of living and non-living beings.” She noticed their blank expressions, and said, “actually, I overheard some little critters over there talking about it just now.”

There was a chorus of low ‘oh’ among them.

What she would say next would probably be in their mind for quite a while:

“Well then… off with their hats, then?”

*****

1124 words/1

If Yi Wen is still here, she might notice something about the name of Ma'nenek... ololol

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

The little Ninja didn't have a lot of experience of fighting. Well, she did, but mostly humes, but the occasional fiend here and there, now a small list of big bad monsters... If she were to keep a record of her encounters, it wouldn't be a very thick book at all, so she was grateful when the opposition at hand were ones she had dealt with before.

In fact, by the looks of things, this was almost the exact group of Natives that she'd encountered before, with the addition of a few members, and the distinct lack of the Chief's hat. Now the angry looking man wore what looked like a makeshift replacement, with feathers not quite perfectly in place, and occasionally, it would slip down over his eyes.

Her fingers twitched. She wanted that hat. So badly. The previous hat had looked so good on her, but Adair had successfully hidden it away, and even though she'd searched everywhere she could think of, it was no where to be found. She hoped that he hadn't lost it. It wasn't often that she was willing to just give something away, so loosing it would possibly be the greatest insult that he could ever give her. Even more so than pointing out that she is vertically challenged and probably shouldn't be a Ninja due to reoccurring balance issues.

At least she often received positive comments on her thieving ability.

She'd kinda drifted off, staring a the Chief's new hat, whilst the others had started fighting. That was, until she felt the beating of some little wings on her ear and a swift bonk on the head.

“Ow! Sori!” She flailed her arms at him as he flew just out of reach, casting some kind of Thunder spell at one of the Natives.

“Pay attention!” Sori barked at her, frowning and folding his arms.

“But I want-” Bonk! “OW!” She reached up, gingerly rubbing the back of her head. “Mother fu-” She stopped, noting Sori's expression turning to one of shock. “Ducker?”

The odd, shorter-than-she-was creature chuckled. She honestly had no idea what it was. Just that the big wooden staff she somehow managed to carry bloody hurt when you were hit with it. Shayna did not approve.

“I want that hat.” Shay explained to the thing with floppy ears, motioning towards the Chief, who was out of the way grunting orders at people. She turned to Sori. “But there are too many of them.”

“Then surely we should just dispose of them?” Sori questioned. She couldn't help but think that the Moogle wanted to add “Idiot” onto the end of that sentence.

“Adair and I met these Natives in the temple. Remember the temple?”

“How could I forget...”

“We did this awesome dance, some kind of tribal thing. It was really fun! But it stopped the Natives attacking so I could steal the hat.” Shay explained, quickly throwing a Shuriken at a Native that was about to attack her sister from behind. I'm not gonna get thanked for that later...

“So you want to do the dance?”

“Yes.”

“Then why don't you?”

“Because I've forgotten it. And I need a dance partner.”

“Why don't you use the Nu Mou? Oh...” Sori sighed. “She's gone...”

So that's what it is...

“Adair!” She tapped the communication device in her ear, creating some kind of squeaky noise at the end. “Adair, there are Natives down here! Tell me how to do the dance.”

“Little Ninja, are you sure this is the right time to be negotiating?” Adair replied. She could hear some kind of odd beeping noises, maybe a few warning sirens in the background. “I'm sort of busy...”

“Adair, I have to know, I want the hat.”

Just the mention of the word seemed to set a little enthusiasm into the pilot. He knew exactly what she meant. “Alright, are you in place?”

The answer was no. There was no way the Chief could see them from here. Shayna grabbed Sori's paw and dragged him closer. “Yes!”

“Jump up and down, and move it all around.”

With very little hesitation, Shay jumped, jerking the poor Sori around with her as she did a little hip wiggle.

“Shake your head to the sound, put your hands on the ground.”

Sori tried to make a vain attempt of freeing his paw from her grip as she dragged him down to the ground.

“Sori! He said put your hands on the ground! Not flail around!” Shayna scolded.

It was enough to start attracting the attention of some of the other Natives.

“Take one step left, and one step right. One to the front, and one to the side.”

Shay came face to chest with the Chief as she took her step forward. This really wasn't working. None of them were dancing, the Chief was beginning to realise just who she was and raised his hand to his hat, so she was pretty relieved when she took the step to the side.

“Clap your hands once!”

Clap!

“And clap your hands twice!”

Clap-clap!

“And if it looks like this, then you're doing it right!”

The pair stopped dancing (well, Sori stopped being thrown around, at least), staring up at the Chief, who had some kind of club in his hand, with a couple of the bigger, scarier looking Natives standing either side.

“Adair! Are you sure that was the right dance? Sori! It was because you didn't touch the ground with your hands!” Shay accused, panic clearly setting in as she grabbed both her Shuriken from her back.

Then something unexpected happened.

Adair burst into song:

“A little bit of Monica in my life! A little bit of Erica by my side! A little bit of Rita's all I need! A little bit of Tina's all I see! A little bit of Sandra in the sun! A little bit of Mary all night long! A little bit of Jessica, here I am! A little bit of you makes me your man!”

“ADAIR!” They both yelled, Shay quickly moving Sori out of the way of an angry Native's club.

24/1059
MAMBO NUMBER 5! *trumpet*

[Weasel Overlord]

Mediocre post. My heart's not in it today. But it's something!

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn
[Captain and General Ruler of the Wolfstar]
put on your red shoes and dance the blues

Sirius was, at this precise moment in time, clamping his hands over his ears in a desperate attempt to block out the sound of Adair's screeching. Unfortunately, the merits of hands as earmuffs hadn't really been scientifically improved, so he was left with a mere muffling of sound, through which he could hear, perfectly, Adair “singing.” He squeezed his eyes shut. This was far too reminiscent of that dancing men in suits incident, and he was sure that he didn't want to repeat the experience.

And then he no longer had to think about blocking out Adair, for his ears were filled with a somewhat worse sound (although he didn't really know that any sound could be worse, as such – more on the same level, really), vis a vis, a bloodcurdling yell, almost perfectly screamed right in his face.

“Ow,” he said, ineffectually, patting himself on the ears in an effort to get the ringing to stop. He reached for Durrandal as the native lurched towards him, followed its movements as it leapt a frankly bizarre height, and neatly sheathed his sword in his stomach as he hurtled towards Sirius. “Well, this fight isn't going to be so bad if they all insist on throwing themselves on our swords, eh old chap?” He elbowed the Nu Mou next to him jovially, only the height difference meant that he actually elbowed her in the head.

She turned an annoyed face on him, clouted him about the bottom with her staff and then sprang off into the action. Sirius rubbed his arse ruefully. “That was just rude,” he muttered. He waved Durrandal in the air with rather more enthusiasm than he felt. At least they weren't a Behemoth, he thought, with a vicious smile. He just didn't get enough credit for the slaying of mighty beasts.

Temzi passed him, his condition somewhat more improved from the last time Sirius saw him. Although if his eyes were telling the truth, he did seem to be a tad wobbly on the feet. He dreaded to think what those two women had put the poor man through last night, and he made a note to go and investigate (vis a vis: poke his nose in) after they'd despatched the pesky natives.

“You'd have thought natives'd be sick of fighting us by now,” he yelled to Shayna. “It doesn't seem like two minutes since we were beating them up last time. Maybe us killing them is addictive or something. Or maybe,” he pondered, while stabbing an over-eager native, “they're just really pissed off that you stole their hat. It might have been a sacred hat, or a magic hat, or I don't know, their god or something.” He waved his hands dramatically, slicing into another handily-placed native as he did. “I wouldn't put it past you to go stealing innocent people's deities.” he sniggered at Shay's look of outrage.


#18 // 514~

[classy_cat18]

Sori – Moogle Time Mage

“Why the hell do you want that hat?” I asked Shayna angrily after I had pried my paw from her grip.

“I told you! It’s a cool looking hat! I would’ve had one too, if you had done the dance the right way.” She slashed another Native but it bounced away before she could finish it.

“I wasn’t doing that stupid dance! And I wasn’t dancing, as much as I was being flung around by you!” I stopped shouting when she pouted childishly at me. My ears slightly drooped. Stupid guilt for the stupid ninja. She would be pouting about the hat even after the battle was over. “If I get you one, will you stop giving me that look?”

Her face instantly brightened. “Will you do the dance with me?”

“I’m not doing that dance! I don’t need dancing to nab one of those stupid things.”

“Don’t do it, chap!” Sirius interjected. “You’ll just be cursed along with her!”

“Shut up and watch. I finally got this new spell right.” Another native dropped from above and leapt for us with incredible agility. I backed up in surprise and pointed my rod at it. “STOP!”

Shayna and I gawked in awe as the foe stopped in mid-leap. Good. Didn’t think I would be able to pull it off with so little preparation time. I fluttered up to it and plucked the hat off its head. “No way would this fit me,” I muttered to myself.

Shay laughed and clapped. “Yay, you did it!” she said happily.

“Now you don’t have to whine.” I dropped the hat on her head. “You got your souvenir, and you better take good care of it.”

While my back was turned, the native started to twitch its fingers. Oh, that’s right. Stop was temporary, and I had forgotten.

Crap.

“Sori!”

I turned back around just in time for the native to continue its leap without losing any speed. Too quick to dodge! It tackled me to the ground, but got off when I desperately bit its fingers. It cursed me in some sort of language. “Yeah? Well, serves you right,” I replied without knowing what it was saying.

It bobbed up and down and cocked its head to the side. Then it reached up and felt the spot where his hat used to be. Shay had hidden the hat behind her back when the thing started to move again. “I think it wants its hat back,” I whispered to her.

“But you just gave it to me!” she hissed back at me.

“Do you want to die?” I looked around, seeing the surviving natives notice their comrade’s lack of hat. “He’s going to call his friends over!”

“Then do the dance!”

“It doesn’t work!” I froze as the native shook its fist at me. “Don’t make me fry you!” I shot a Thunder at its feet, making it jump back. I grinned and went back to what I was best at: elemental mayhem. “That’s it, dance for me this time! Pop it, lock it, polka dot it!”

516 words. 22 Sori posts.

[darktyranitar]

Ma’nenek’s sketch (+Shayna)

Cogito, ergo hatto (Or, what a pain in the arse)

Ma’nenek hasn’t met these types of people throughout her life. These natives, they were rather scantly dressed, and were having these fearsome looking masks. Oh, and then there was one with a rather silly looking feather headdress (something that looked like what would remain if a bird had accidentally slipped into a blending machine).

Ma’nenek couldn’t help but to compare these natives with the Humes that she had encountered; they’re not quite the level of beasts, although their series of grunts and rather incoherent voices doesn’t strike to her as a proper language (she had a general idea of what they were saying though). The words ‘primitive’ and ‘backwards’ seems to be applicable to these people.

Anyway, it was not that she was a racist or anything, but it was just that there is this well known theory, proposed by a certain pleasant, yet controversial gentleman. What he suggested was that present day living beings evolve from primitive ancestors, where Humes are the most advanced being (the said gentleman is a Hume, by the way). Some of the lower class beings include the Bangaa, Seeq, and Urutan Yensa, which are said to be derived from lizards, pigs, and shrimps, respectively (her kind, the Nu Mous, are believed to come from the same lines of those of the canines). This theory was quickly utilized by certain races to assert their superiority, and not because of its scientific value.

Well, it was not as if this situation was unlike that in a different world…


In any case, Ma’nenek thoughts had yet again trailed off. When she had returned once again to the present state, a battle had commenced.

Ahh, battles… that was another thing that Ma’nenek was not familiar with. She did witness a couple of fights, yes, but they were nowhere as intense as this.

And neither were they as weird as this: even though this was her first time witnessing it, she couldn’t imagine any other battles that would involve a short break, which involves the colourful Hume and the Moogle performing some sort of dance, and later broken off by a series of (terrible, she would add) singing from some unseen person (aha, product of technology…).

Not surprisingly, the battle was in favour of the group. Selene and the other female Hume (not the one with the large throwing stars) were having a fairly good time shooting up the natives. The Moogle was casting off elemental spells, and for a moment, Ma’nenek wished she was as proficient in those. The rest were more into physical, and they were fairing quite well.

For Ma’nenek… well, she didn’t do much attacking, except for one time when a native got just a little too close to her, in which she fended him off with a firm jab of her staff. And then, there was one time where she accidentally hit the female Hume that posses the giant throwing stars (resulting in her shouting a rather amusingly modified swearing)… and after that, she had smacked that rather charming male Hume, who had shoved his elbow on her face (she understood the intent of his action, but just couldn’t help but to give him a smacking; it was in her blood to smack).

It was only then that she decided that she could lend a hand in subduing the natives. After (unknowingly) dodging a few angry natives’ clubs and spears, she found herself beside Selene, who was having a rather hard time with one particularly agile native.

“May I be of help, Lady Selene?”

Selene wordlessly nodded, as she fired another shot at the aforementioned native, where it hit him in the forehead.

“If you don’t mind me asking, do you happen to run into them before? Just that I noticed how you are handling them with, um, some kind of familiarity about them.”

“Yes, but it’s a long story…”

“Ah. I like stories…” She caught Selene’s look, and smiled weakly. “Well, maybe not right now, though.”

She looked onward, and regarded the situation. Things were not looking that bad right now…

“Well, um. Actually…”

“Yes?”

“I’m more into white magic, really, so…”

“Ah,” was Selene’s reply. After a moment of silence, she asked, “any good with the staff?”

“This? Oh, yes, can knock the light out you. Or produce some nasty bump. Yes. But then again, there’s-”

A native was just about to attack her with his club, but Ma’nenek managed to block the attack just in time with her staff. Then, after a brief chanting, she held out her right hand, where hail of needles greeted the surprised native.

“…a bit of blue magic. That was 1000 Needles, by the way. Mm. I remember being pricked by those Cactuars in learning the spell,” she said over the screaming of the native.

Selene seems to be more amused than being impressed. Then, she noticed something.

“You mean something like that?” she pointed out.

It was that other gun-wielding Hume, and she had a good deal of needle poking from her back.

“…OW!”

Ma’nenek laughed nervously. “Yes, something like that.” After some consideration, she added, “I’m sorry about that, dear!”

*****

856 words / 2 posts

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

“Hey, Sori?” Shay began, pausing for a moment to elbow a native in the stomach, making him stagger back, giving a couple of complimentary deep slashes across his chest. “Sori, will you teach me how to do thunder sometime?”

Not exactly the question Sori was expecting, nor one that he felt like having the time to answer. “Right now?!” He flapped out of the way of a swinging club, sending another thunder that hit the guy square in the face. “Now's not the best time...”

“I know, Sori, it was just a thought...” She quickly ducked and rolled out of the way of two of the natives, who were trying to grab her from either side. “Maybe, in return...” She winced as she blocked a club with her shuriken, it had hit her fingers. “... I'll teach you some thievery tricks...” She tripped the guy up, planting the spikes in his back. “Or some ninja skills.”

“I'm fine, thank you Shay...” He set the other one alight, Shay resisted the urge to chuckle as the fur caught fire.

“Are you sure? I'm wanting to give something in return, that doesn't happen often...” She began brushing herself off in a small gap in their fighting.

“Moogles don't train themselves in the arts of...” Sori went quiet.

“Are you saying that my arts, as you call them, aren't good enough for the Moogle race?”

He ignored her, much to her annoyance, and started casting more spells over her shoulder. “Hey! That one nearly hit me!”

Something big and heavy hit her in the side, sending her tumbling to the ground, her precious feathery headdress toppling off her head. She half expected it to be that Nu Mou creature, but once she looked up, she found that the lovely Chief was coming towards her, holding a rather large heavy staff with some kind of sharp looking blade on the end of it, raising it above his head.

“No!” Shay called, rolling out of the way as it came crashing down where she was previously, grabbing her hat and placing it defiantly on her head. “You're not having it!”

The man made a threatening growling noise as he came towards her again. Scrambling to her feet, she desperately looked around for her Moogle saviour.

There he was! At the top of the staff, clinging on to it, desperately trying to pull it out of his grip so he did not smash Shay. However considerate this was, it wasn't working, and the Chief flicked him off, Shay jumping to catch the dazed Moogle.

“Sori, I know you're dizzy, but could you please zap my shuriken with some thunder?” She asked him quietly, holding him in one hand and only one of her shuriken, having discarded the other. Zap! “Ow! That was my foot!”

“There's a pointy star down there...” Sori shook his head, trying to clear his vision.

“The one in my hand...” Shay gulped as she continued to back away. “After three.” Why wasn't this guy battering her already? He liked to see her run away? Oh no... Now he was gonna get her... “Onetwothree!”

As she released her weapon from her hand, thunder danced around it and electrocuted the brute as it lodged itself in his shoulder. Shortly after, Shay heard gunshots, two to the chest and one to the head. She turned to see both Selene and Lyra's guns smoking as the Chief fell forward, her shuriken slicing his arm off as he hit the ground.

“Owch...” Shay and Sori said in perfect unison, wincing a little.

“And finally, all the natives were dead and the adventurers were never bothered by them again!” Sirius stated, meandering over from wherever he had been to join the rest of them. “Or so we hope, but since the dear little thief insists on keeping the hat, there is no guarantee that we won't wander into another group of them, therefore dooming us to yet another random encounter with scantily clad men.”

Deities... I'll give him deities...

With swift movement of her hand within the blink of an eye, Sirius found himself with no belt and his beautiful leather pants sliding his way down his legs towards his ankles. Not so tight around the arse today, were they Sirius?! What lovely underwear he had...

“Deities? I'm also rather good at stealing so called innocent peoples' dignities.” Shay giggled as he snatched his belt back in a huff.

OhgodKirstdon'tkillme XD 25/768
Tag!

[Pichu Luver]

OY! Who said Adair couldn't sing? He is an enchanting singer in the first post! XP

Eh well to make up for my lateness, non-postingness, general not buggering about here, this shall be long. And full of insanity.

Adair Stroud

“Hmm hmhm hm hmmhm hm hmmmmmmmm Hmm hmhm hm hmmhm hm hmmmmmmmm. They're taking the hobbits to Isengard! They're taking the hobbits to Isengard! Their taking, their taking, their taking the- ”

“Should we not do something to help them?” Lisette, seemingly, had the amazing ability to ignore any amount of insanity around her.

Adair grimaced most grievously. His fairy boy rap had been disturbed and he did love his idiotic, rhythmic, one line poetry.

“Why? That lot are fiendish warriors. Surely they know how to wave about a pointy baton and hit the boisterous screaming banshee?” He turned to Lisette as she looked out over the bridge at the island. Adair was currently hovering the ship just out of range of the island's effects.

She frowned, “Yes but—“

“Adair!”

“Ah, the master calls,” He swivelled (he did love these new chairs) and pressed the radio, “Fine captain what can I do for you?”

“I need you to shoo—” Suddenly there was a great deal of grunting, 'oofing' and much girlish giggling.

“No he doesn't! I got a mask Adair!”

“Did you now deary!” Adair grinned over the sneak-thief's fine triumph, and at once left off any concern for his captain. “A fine piece of work that. Was there much toil and trouble?”

“Not really, Sori got it!”

Adair frowned. Sori? Do something nice? “Has the Moogle been buggered about the head in any inordinate way?”

“Your concern is touching Adair.” Sori was truly skilled at dripping sarcasm from every syllable.

“My concern is reserved for those who have done me the favour of not damaging my truly grand self in any possible way. No matter that withholding their temper does certain unconscionable things to their constitution, and to any machinery within grasping distance of their twitchy fingers.”

There was a pause until the lovely Selene,“So I'm guessing that's no one.”

“Precisely my fine princess.”

“I am NOT your—”

“Your contract specifically—”

“Clarification. I am NO ONE'S—”

“Your highness I thought that Cid at court—”

Adair's eyebrows rose. “A new voice into the cacophony! Who—”

“WHO IS THIS CID?!?”

There was a laugh, “Sirius are you worried?”

“No. I was merely curious on who it was I should m—”

“Sirius I am sure Selene would feel horrid if you—“

“No. I'd probably watch, he was irritating.”

“Truly! Then who—?”

“Perhaps we should get back to—”

“Lyra I am trying to do a favour for the lovely Selene. To be completed with all haste when I get back. I am merely—”

“Committing murder to win—“

“Oh Temzi he's not serious!”

“Not yet.”

“Sori!”

“Can someone get these needles out of my back please?!?”

“Of course dear, I will. I put them there so it should me. I'm terribly sorry—”

“See Sori? There's a perfect example of how to play nice with the other children.”

“Adair as soon as you step off that boat I'm going to FREEZE your—”

“Tempting, but I see no reason to leave my chair for such—”

“Did you call the beautiful and lovely Wolfstar a BOAT?!?”

“Air-SHIP thus, a boat.”

“She is NOT a BOAT.”

“Technically—”

“Shay I am not—”

It was then that Nii walked in, apparently conscious once more from whatever had addled her noggin.

“What's going on?”

Adair grinned and waved her over. “Nii my—or should I say my? Never mind, listen to the chaos I have created! I said 'let there be conversation' and this is the result!”

“You did not say let there be conversation. You fuelled an argument.” Lisette, in an exasperating bit of honesty, felt the need to clarify.

He waved a hand. “Semantics. I spoke. Thus, I create. Grand is it not?”

The amount of yelling coming out of the radio would be rightly concerning to any normal ship crew, but here it was merely a way to transfer information about the character of all individuals, and the opinion of said crew, on their actions until this present moment.

“EVERYONE SHUT UP!” The com actually screeched from the volume of Selene's shout.

“And the sheppard herds her sheep.” Adair had been sure not to have the com on for that bit of discourse.

“Are you calling yourself a sheep?”

He eyeballed Nii, “She has a gun and I have too many scars on my backside. So yes. I am fluffy and dripped in strange substances twice a year.”

Lisette actually manged a small smirk at his statement, while Nii looked somewhat baffled and disgusted.

“Adair I want you to land that ship before you get us all killed.”

“I cannot kill without my killing self to be present, in which to kill of you. But to kill all of you would kill myself because I don't kill for killing sake, because killing in of itself kills morels. Though my morels have been killed, and I am sufficient at killing, so if I could make a killing to kill all of you, the kill in of itself might be killer. However, to me killing in of itself is not killer, so any killing I would make for killing all of you, is not worth said killing. Thus I would not kill you. Present. Or not... Savvy?”

There was radio silence, even his two crew mates looked confused. Then, “Adair my man, before you make any more possibly mutinous statements that no one can comprehend you should probably land. Before Selene orders Lisette to kill you.”

“Ah. Yes. Didn't think of that with all that killing being mentioned. I'll bring potions.”

With that Adair made all the necessary adjustments to the ship, with Nii's help of course, and brought the bucking, twitching generally complaining ship in to land. He tried to find a clean spot on the body ridden shore but it was quite difficult. He had to go down a ways before finding any place sufficiently un-corpsed.

He landed, with a thud and the ship screeched at him from a dozen different malfunctioning warning sirens and lights. He ignored them all, shut it down and lowered the ramp. Oddly, Lisette and Nii seemed to be keeping a safe distance from him. It was almost dis—

“I-E-YAH-HAHAAAAAAAAAA!”

Sori had electrocuted him.

Again.

Twitching, Adair got to his feet, hands jerking as he brushed of his clothing. “I deserved that.”

“You did.”

Sori and Adair eyeballed each other before Sori flew off, satisfied.

For now.

He shut up the ship and joined the others gathering on the beach. “So, off to the Twisted Forest of Terror I presume? It does scream, 'come and preform dastardly deeds' does it not?”

1111/27

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

For the love of the Gods why must I be travelling with a bunch of morons?

Selene had stomped off, she was sick of the conversation already. She had her fill of somewhat amusing and then downright irritating statements from everybody, so instead she chose the strange forest versus all of them. Gritting her teeth she made her way deeper and deeper towards what was probably the source of all this trouble before she stopped.

Someone was following her.

One person actually, the group was a bit ways behind her. Probably all greeting or murdering Adair, she didn’t care much for it. Narrowing her eyes she unholstered the Calypso and spun around. To her surprise it was none other than Shay standing there, eyes wide and her body as stiff as a board as Selene realized who it was.

“Shay?” She questioned, though the answer was obvious.

“Can’t go adventuring into some jungle by yourself…” Shay gulped, gently pushing the barrel of the gun to the side. “It’s not safe.”

Selene put the gun away. “Hm..”

There was a silence between them as they lead the way. Shay kept hopping from tree to tree like a child, before she rejoined the princess on the ground, curiosity all over her face.

“What?” Selene shot.

“Who’s Cid?”
Selene took a long blink and kept walking. “No one.”

“He can’t be no one!” The girl chimed, catching up.

“Why not?”

“Because if he was no one, it wouldn’t bother you to talk about him.”

Fair point. Selene inwardly admitted, but showed by interest in revealing the details. She just crossed her arms and kept marching forward.

“Come on,” She persisted, tugging on the woman’s arm a tad for emphasis. “I won’t tell anybody.”

“Uh huh…”

“I swear!”

“On what?” She frowned, narrowing her eyes at the girl. “You’re thieving honour?”

“On what honour you think I have left.”

Selene snorted, rolling her eyes at the girl. “He’s an expert in magic.”

“And…?”

“He’s a noble; he was one of the few friends I had.” She inwardly cringed at admitting the last part.

“Aww…” Shay poked her, a small smile on her face. “Did it blossom into more?”

It did in fact, but it wasn’t something Selene was much into discussing. It was something that only people in the real higher ups of Ivalice knew about. Not many of the judges approved of it either; they claimed Cid fuelled her passion for being unorthodox and unpredictable. Her father hadn’t cared; he thought Cid would be a fine match. Her mother…

Instinctively Selene grabbed at the necklace she was wearing.

Her mother always wanted her to go out and adventure, not get caught up in Ivalician politics.

If you could see me now, I’m gallivanting all over the world because of the politics you despised.

“Yes.” Selene finally broke the silence. “It did.”

“And now you’re gonna see him again?”

“Looks that way.” The reply was a tad harsher then she intended, but Shay seemed to pick up it wasn’t aimed at her.

“Awkward~”

“I’m aware of that, thank you.”

“Is he cute?”

Selene huffed, giving the girl a look. “What does it matter?”

“Maybe it could be revived?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because… No.” Selene chewed on her tongue. “Just no.”

“It would infuriate Sirius!”

“As tempting as that prospect is, no.”

Shay did something akin to a pout, but then followed in silence. Selene struggled to keep her mind on the task at hand, the idea of seeing Cid again was something that truly terrified her. She hadn’t seen the mage in years, and now she was going to stroll right up to him and tell him he’s been rescued? Knowing him he’d be fine with that, and might just approve of her less than ordinary crew. Such situations had even made her forget about her anger towards the thief who was trailing her.

At least I have some company.
The trees finally broke and Selene found herself staring at a cave. It had a wide opened with twisted, strange trees growing around its entrance. Their roots almost seemed to throb with mist as the duo stepped forward. Selene’s skin began to crawl; this was definitely the source of strange readings the Wolfstar had picked up.

The natives were here, that witch from before is probably close by.

“Lady Selene?”

She froze, turning slightly to see who had called her name.

He stood about two meters away, large book in hand and pants wavering slightly in the barely noticeable wind. He still had that perfect posture she remembered from a couple of years ago, though his clothing was less regal by far. She watched him brush a few of his uneven bangs from his eyes as he approached.

“Hello Cid,” she managed a smile. “How is it any time there’s an overabundance of mist I’ll find one of you nearby?”

“Ah, so Dr. Cid is still at it I assume… How are his inventions faring?”

Selene snorted. “They’re not exploding.”

He smiled, and Selene felt her heart throb slightly. Oh bugger, you still have to have that charming smile don’t you?

His eyes fell upon Shay, who waved gingerly. “Who is your friend?”

The princess blinked, and then her mind clicked. “Oh! Forgive me, this is Shayna Xanthrope.”

Cid bowed his head respectfully. “I am Cid.”

“Hello!” Shay chimed, grinning.

“Dear Selene must you always rush on ahead? The rest of us don’t take kindly to…” Sirius’s voice trailed off as he broke into the scene and spotted the other man. “Oh… Cid I presume?”

Cid nodded, ignoring the slightly sinister glare from the Captain. “And you are?”

“Captain Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfraen.” The man announced proudly as the rest of the gang began to filter in. Selene and Cid were the only two to notice the Captain had moved a tad closer to the Judge when he introduced himself.

Oh this is grand; I am NOT some piece of meat for these two idiots to scrap over…

The rest of the introductions were finishes shortly after, Ma’nenek waddled over to Cid. It amazed Selene that he seemed to pay attention to her entire moment of babbling. Nodding and commenting along to further spur the woman into a more detailed retailing of when her 1000 needles had struck one of the allies. When her long tale was done, the group had filtered out, mingling amongst themselves.

Selene had chosen to sit down on a long, cleaning the Calypso in an attempt to clear her head.

“You always did attract the most interesting of people.”

She looked up to see Cid standing before her. She rolled her eyes, only half amused about how true that statement was.

“Normal people are boring,” she countered. Cid chuckled in response.

“So I recall you telling me when we first met.” He crossed his arms. “As I recall, I proved to you I wasn’t normal by lighting the entire back garden on fire.”

A small smile broke onto her face. “And the guard who tried to arrest you.”

“Ah yes, him too. Poor man, he was alright in the end though.”

“He quit after he heard I invited you back to the castle. Apparently the thought of you knowing any other spells terrified him.”

“I hate to interrupt,” Sirius approached them, a look of obvious suspicion on his face. He put himself slightly between the two, his entire manner challenging. “But a few of us are wondering exactly what you were doing here, Cid.”

Cid ignored the edge on the Captain voice. “I assure you Captain; I was here due to my own curiosity.”

“Sirius,” Selene growled, glaring at him as she stood. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Of course milady,” he followed her to a relatively private spot around the resting spot. “What’s this? Are you-“

“What are you doing?” Selene snarled, keeping her voice low.

“Pardon?”

“Oh don’t play dumb.” The woman gritted her teeth. “Why are you acting like Cid is a damned native?”

“Perhaps he is? They have interesting magic you know.”

“Why Sirius?”

~ * 1384 / 43 * ~

Alright, this is the last break we get before lots of action and stuff. So go ahead and chat with other people.

I tag Kirst! :3 <3

[darktyranitar]

Posting in between papers? Gee, sure is me procrastinating around here '3'

Ma’nenek

Don’t call her grannyyyyy

The assortment of the different characters of the group slightly amused Ma’nenek, with personalities ranging from constantly irritated, to seriously serious, and downright insane.

What a lively bunch she thought, and smiled. Quite the opposite of Cid.

Adair was mentioning about Ma’nenek: “Right. So, is she the one of the damsel in distress? But last time I checked, there’s no dragon – at least not now – and no knights in shining armour either. Instead you get those spear waving natives – nice adornment, but no sense of humour – but you do have good ol Temzi here. Yea?”

Adair sighed, as Ma’nenek held one hand to her ear. Slowly, he asked, “survivor of that wrecked airship, I presume?”

Ma’nenek nodded. “And you are the one that speaks from a distance, through means of impressive technology?”

Adair gave her a blank look. “Why yes, haven’t you seen a-”

“And what mouthful of words too, I must say. Are you feeling fine, dear? Normally, the people that I saw who talked as much as you did just now were usually very much close to-”

“I am perfectly of my fine self, thank you very much. Sans being zapped just now, that is, but at least my bum’s not on fire. Now then, granny-”

He probably did not see the staff coming, because he had a certain blank look moments after the stick had struck his head. He was going to say something, and Ma’nenek smiled innocently. Then, he held a hand where he had just been hit, and said, nonchalantly, “ouch.” And, turning towards an unseen corner, said under his breath, “granny is deadly with the stick.”

In which he received a gentle nudge on his waist. Ma’nenek was gripping her staff in one hand.

“I heard that, because I have these big ears, dear,” she said, far from being angry. “And I’ll let you know that I’m not really that old… not yet. Although… I don’t think I could keep up with the rest of you in terms of vitality, being a lumbering Nu Mou and all.”

“But, lady.” Adair slowly removed the staff, so that it was touching the ground. “You don’t really sound as, um, youthful as you are implying… depends whether we’re talking about human years or dog years really.”

“Human years. Oh, I suppose it is because of…” She struggled to find a word, and after a moment of silence, said “upbringing.”

Adair grinned. “Ah, no commenting on that. No understanding it either…now look here, the whole gang have scurried off into the forest without you and I. Shall we?”

Ma’nenek noticed that it was so. “Up to dastardly deeds, you think?”

“A definite maybe, young lady.”


When they had caught up with the rest of the group, they had already found Cid, and were introducing themselves – Ma’nenek took the time to refine her memory on names that that were already spoken then, and registered a few new names. When all was done, she shuffled towards Cid, politely passing through the crowd by, lightly jabbing her staff in the process.

“Cid, dear…! Surely you know that this is Princess Solidor and her guards that we are in the presence of… you wouldn’t happen to know each other, would you? I mean, who wouldn’t know her, but it’d be a different story if it was you.”

“That would be correct.”

“Ah, I thought so. But, surely they’re not here just for the sightseeing, would they? I mean, they’re quite well armed, as you can see…”

“Yes…”

“And I didn’t think they were hunting for marks, either. Not at this part of… middle of somewhere. But yes; then they were pointing out those weapons at poor old me when I was out greeting them. I wasn’t surprised that they’d do so, not at all.”

“You weren’t?”

“Appearing without any prior notice from out of nowhere warrant being pointed with weapons, yes. But see, I knew they wouldn’t hurt a harmless and lost Nu Mou when they see one.”

“I see. And what about these natives?”

“Oh! Yes, then there were the natives….” And so she went on – which was certainly a cause of boredom among the group – and then, at one point, indicated that she was almost done with her story.

“Such is the story of the natives [there was just the sign of a murmured sighs of relief]… oh, and by the way,” she paused, racking her brain, and went, “So we have here an animated Adair, one who talk more than I possible could in one go. And then there’s Lisette and Lyra, whom the latter I – as I said – accidentally pricked not too long ago. There’s Nii, of the 3rd person… personality. And then we have the…” [she said something that Cid heard as…]

“Asses?”

“No, not asses. S’s… names beginning with the letter S, which includes the, um, stern Lady Selene; the petite, colourful, but ultimately dangerous Shay; the similarly small but dangerous (no, really) Moogle Sori; and that charming young man (don’t you think so?) Sirius. Right. And lastly, Temzi, the knight of shining armour kind. And there’s you, Cid, and myself, Ma’nenek.” She smiled, apparently pleased at herself. “Well? Am I good at remembering names, or what!”

Apparently, she wasn’t aware how the additional descriptions weren’t really appreciated.


The rest of the group were now at ease, and so was Ma’nenek. It was a pleasant change of mood. She liked being quiet; all those rush of adrenaline were not her idea of fun, and she was glad to be left to continue her-

“What are you reading?” It was Shay, the slightly-taller-than-her girl. She still had that feather-hat on her head, although it now seems a tad beat up than when it was on the native’s head’s head.

Ma’nenek showed her an old and battered thin book, with a blue cover. The letter was barely legible. “Blueprint of Blue Magick. And aptly title book, explaining the theory of blue magic, and the steps to master it,” she explained. Then, after a pause, thoughtfully added, “with illustrations.”

“Is it easy to learn?”

Ma’nenek felt that she was on a familiar ground, and without as much as a pause, went: “They say that you can’t learn it in a way similar to other magic, and that only Humes and certain races are able to perform it. And they never mentioned anything about Nu Mou learning it, either. So for me to be able to perform them is... quite a feat, if I could say so myself. Um. Did you know that not all the Blue Magic spells are that easy to learn, much less to be used? Some are even known to make you go *hergh*-”

“‘Hergh’?”

“Oh, you know… Hergh. Ackk. Dead. Gone. Six feet under. Whatever you call the lack of life. I’m not surprised that Blue Magic hasn’t picked up like other type of Magic Dangerous stuff, they say, this Blue Magic. Still, I like it.”

“Do all the other Nu Mou talk as much as you, Nene?”

“Oh, not that I know of, dear, no-” Ma’nenek raised an eyebrow. “Nene?”

Shay grinned. “I think it sounds a lot nicer then your whole name, Nene!”

“My name, you say…” Ma’nenek scratched her chin in what appear to be a thoughtful look, and chuckled. “My, you really are a thief, aren’t you? All right, fine by me, dear. Now. If you were to look for other Nu Mous… you’d find that most of them are quite reserved, choosing to live a happy, quiet, and understandably, unexciting live in the nice, lukewarm Mount Bur-Omisace. Living simply, you see.”

“I’ve never seen a Nu Mou before –yours ears are really big. And loopy too. Can I...?” Shay reached for one of Ma’nenek drooping ear – Ma’nenek showed no sign of protest – and seemed to be amazed at how hefty the bell that hung on her ear. The bell made a nice chiming sound as it shook.

“No wonder your ears are all droopy,” she remarked.

“True. Couldn’t remember who started the whole thing… but it just remained that way. Supposed to be able to amplify our magical power, to compensate for our small body… or something like that. Hmm, what about you, dear? How did you end up with such... impressive group such as this one? No no, go on, I like stories…”

*****

1394 words / 3 posts

Thus spoke (jabbered) Ma'nenek =P

Tag Becki :3

[ChobiChibi]

WARNING: Dialogue

Shayna

She couldn't quite believe her ears. Did Ma'nenek really just ask why she was here? Shay found this very amusing, since to be quite honest, she didn't think anyone had ever asked her before... Selene was the only one she could think of that would have any idea, but that was due to unfortunate circumstances involving a certain necklace.

“Well, it was sort of an accident...” Shay looked up at the clouds as she pondered what exactly to tell her. “I was visiting Ivalice for the first time and-”

“What an exciting venture! Such a long way for such a young girl to travel!” Nene interrupted.

Shay frowned, folding her arms. “I'm not that young. Just short.”

“I'm terribly sorry my dear! My perception of age is not as it used to be... May I ask your age, for future reference?”

“Nearly nineteen...” She replied, not quite sure if she'd asked politely. “Shall I continue?”

“Yes, please do.”

“So I was visiting Ivalice for the first time-”

“For what purpose?”

Oh. So it was going to be like this. Shay refrained from sighing, although she wanted to. She didn't like it when other people had motor mouths just as bad as she did.

“To be honest, I intended to steal as much as I possibly could in order to make as much money as I could.” Shay shrugged, seeing Nene shrug in retaliation. “It was something I needed to do.”

“Really? Why was it such a necessity? Surely there are better ways of making money than that?” Nene's words weren't helping, really. Shay guessed that she was trying to get a better understanding of who she was.

She didn't like it though. Thinking about it brought back guilt.

“My family has very little money... Problem is, no one will employ us.” Shay sighed, although she still smiled. “Once a thief, always a thief.”

“How big is your family?”

“I have three brothers, all younger than me. My dad looks after them, mum is dead.” For a brief moment, she felt the eyes of Lyra burning her skin. She folded her arms, frowning, but projecting her voice so that she could hear. “And a traitorous younger sister that caused all of our problems... Lyra, ladies and gentlemen.” She mockingly applauded, sarcasm dripping from each of her drawn out claps.

She could practically feel her sister's rage erupting, and she braced herself for some kind of backlash, but it didn't come. She glanced over; the first thing she noticed was that she was glaring daggers at her, the second thing was Lisette's hand placed on her arm, tugging it so that she wouldn't go. Odd... Was Lisette sticking up for her? Very unlikely, but quite nice.

“The soldier is your sister? But you are Spiran...”

“Traitorous.” Shay turned back to Ma'nenek, whose head was tilted to one side, her ear drooping on the floor. She chuckled. “I came with a few friends. On our way back, they didn't trust the ship I got on... I don't blame them, but at the time, I had no idea it was a warship... Or that it would crash... Or that Selene would be aboard...”

“You got aboard the Princess' ship? And haven't seen your friends or family since?” Nene questioned, looking a little concerned. “Do you miss them?”

“No.”

“Surely you must!” Ma'nenek seemed almost offended by such a short and negative answer.

“No...” Shay looked confused, staring at nothing in particular. “I can't think of a reason to...”

Unfortunately, it was then that Shayna did start to think. What on earth was wrong with her? Didn't she even miss Hayden? He was so sweet, so innocent... Poor little kid deserved a better life than he had. He was her little brother, for Yevon's sake, could she not muster up even the tiniest amount of guilt for having left him and the others to fend for themselves?

Ergh, she hated this thinking thing. So she stopped.

“Seleeeeeeeene!” She twirled on the spot, waving at their leader to attract her attention. Sirius looked over too, they both wore serious faces. Maybe they'd been thinking too. Perhaps a doctor should recommend that no one think in the future. It would be for the best. “Are we going to the cave of doom and horrors now?”

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