In The Name of Love

~Limberry~

*"Roatha" becomes visible again, standing just out of the shot. He glares at them all angrily.*

R"...You have good taste, but who are you?"

R<You are in my way, & you need to be removed. But not here. Not now. My secrecy has already been compromised, acting openly would only make matters worse.>
========================================
~Lesalia~

"Well, sorry about that. I would have worn it at your graduation, but I hadn't had the chance to bathe, so I didn't want to soil it."

*As described earlier, the bath water is continually pumped in & recycled, like a fountain, & has color-coded chains dangling from the ceiling to signal servants to make the water hotter or colder. Euryale steps into the water, then quickly gets out.*

"Umm...this is embarrassing...I'm afraid I don't know how to make the water hotter."

Zac moved closer, once again, aiming to shoot the fucker in the leg, "Just who the hell are you, and what is going on here?"

--

Mortal explains how it works, leaving out the part about servants being responsible for the temperature changes. She then pointed out some of the bath oils, "We also have lavender scented, well everything to wash yourself with. I like lavender."

~Limberry~

*The copycat simply teleports away.*

The battle is won:

=================================
~Lesalia~

"Hey, I like lavender too!"

*She tugs on the red chain a couple of times, then waits for the water to heat.*

*Clyde continues to follow after her.*

~Warjilis~

*She stuffs the kid into the grate, then turns to face him. The other two thieves are running up behind him. The Dark Knight slashes one of the Thieves, which causes the wounds behind his visor to close. Zerro swiftly moves behind him & cuts him down with two slashes. As the archer is still charmed, she fires another shot at the Monk. Giving up, he backs off & emits a purple-blue glow from his flexed muscles to heal himself.*

Count Minimas<What am I paying you for?! Get my son back!>

~3~

*Clyde unsheathes his sword and swings at her.*

~Warjilis~

*After he does that, he's stabbed by one of the other thieves from behind. The monk punches the female thief, finishing her off, before he is shot in the back with an arrow.*

Monk<Damn it, that hurts! I wish she'd quit it.>

Femthief2<That can be arranged if you'd just join us, Big Boy.>

*The monk grins sheepishly.*

Count Minimas<What is WRONG with you people!?>

Zerro<You shouldn't blame them. I knew the bodyguards you'd hire ahead of time, so I arranged to have thieves with the appropriate zodiac compatability. The archer, fittingly, is a Sagittarius. Couldn't get anyone to cover Bozo here on such late notice, unfortunately, but I think everything worked out for the best.>

*He indicates Clyde with one of his swords.*

Mortal smiled, admiring Euryale's body, "I'm glad. Oh, you don't have to pull the chain so many times. You kind of have to give it a while before it gets hot."

--

Noct, after her sixth glass of wine, has started to write really shitty poetry.

--

"Dammit," He then looks over at Lilith, "Are you alright?"

~Lesalia~

"I realize that, but I thought if I only pulled it once, they might think I want a cold bath."
==================================
~Limberry~

L"I'll live. But it's fortunate that he didn't want to pursue us. The two of us wouldn't have won, & I'm not even sure about 3-on-1 odds."

"That makes no sense, you pulled hot, so you're going to get hot. If you wanted a cold bath you would have pulled the cold chain," Mortal pointed to the chain, "It is a perfect system of chains and pulling." Mortal felt like she was rambling, but that was mostly because she wasn't paying attention to what she was saying, and was instead admiring Euryale's curves.

--

Noct passed out at her desk after another three glasses.

--

"What makes you say that?" Zac asked, "I think we could have took him." He looked at Roatha when he said 'him'.

~Limberry~

R"First of all, that's bullshit, second of all, the way you look right now, I could probably take you both out by dashing past you really fast. To say nothing of that guy."

*He turns in the direction the imposter disappeared from.*

R"Those were Defenders. They make ordinary swords look like twigs."

L"That guy most definitely was not normal. He had perfume, yet he dual wielded. He was not an Onion Knight. And I'm not sure, but I don't think he teleported around during our fight. That means he changed his movement ability."
===================================
~Lesalia~

"Mortal, not everyone takes baths at the same--nevermind. So I suppose that means the water is ready now?"

*She points a thumb at the steaming bath.*

"Don't get so defensive, I wasn't talking about you," Zac said. He then looked at Lilith, "That is odd, indeed..."

--

Mortal looks up at Euryale's eyes, "Hm, what, yea, I guess. Check the water."

~Lesalia~

"I would, but I was told it was a perfect system of chains & pulling, so it seems redundant. Are you planning to bathe in your day clothes?"
==========================================
~Limberry~

R"Whatever."

L"Where are the others?"

R"I had them travel way behind me so as not to attract any attention."

"I, uh, I guess I should undress," Mortal stood up and began to do just that. She didn't know why she felt a bit embarrassed, it wasn't the first time Euryale had seen her nude before, but all the same, Mortal's cheeks were a tad rosy.

--

Zac let out a small sigh, "This whole thing is really weird..."

~Lesalia~

*Euryale was paying no attention to her face anyway. After a few seconds observing nature, she allows herself to stiffen, falling back into the water & floating there.*
==============================
~Limberry~

L"At the very least, I think we can be sure that we took care of all of the Evil Eye. Unless...whoever that was gets more."

"That is a possibility," Zac said, rubbing his back where he got stabbed, "Roatha's evil twin brother is a prick."

--

Mortal steps in and sinks down as well, "See the water is perfect, as is the system."

~Limberry~

R"I'm an only child, actually."

*Roatha puts a finger to his chin & squints his eyes.*

R"Unless, since Dad died, & Mom's been all alone...ew...EW!"

*His eyes open wide before he forcefully shuts them, shuddering.*

R"Someone, quickly, change the subject!"
====================================
~Lesalia~

"I never doubted you for a second."

Mortal felt her cheeks turn red, and she felt a bit embarrassed. She realized that she doubted Euryale, and it led to a whole mess of issues. "Thanks for the trust. I hope I can earn it one day," Mortal said.

--

Zac just kind of looked at him like he was crazy.

~Lesalia~

E"I don't know...for your first test, can I trust you to hand me the soap?"
================================
~Limberry~

L"The Battle of Fort Besselat!"

*Roatha opens one eye to stare at her.*

R"No, Lilith, this is Limberry Castle."

L"I know that! What I mean is, the Dukes were preparing for a final assault at Fort Besselat! For all I know, they've already begun."

Mortal smirked, "No need to be sarcastic." She handed her the soap, then leaned back to relax her muscles in the warm water.

--

"Oh, right," Zac said, "I had forgotten about that..."

~Lesalia~

*And so Euryale began soaping up her stomach while still floating on her back.*

"With everything crazy that's been happening recently, I'd completely forgot that there's no one ruling the country right now. Goltanna and Larg...I'm not sure I really want either of them to win the crown."
=====================================
~Limberry~

R"So, what do you want to do about it?"

*Lilith stares at the ground for a while, then looks back up.*

L"My job is to guard this city. I should also send a messenger to Delita, informing him of these events."

R"Who?"

Mortal nodded her head, "Agreed. I have not been human long, but the few things I've learned about society is that those with power usually want more. I don't really trust anyone who only seeks power to lead a nation. While both seem less than virtuous, what can anyone do about it? "

--

"Alph," Zac said, "No one is who they say they are it seems."

~Lesalia~

"I suppose it rests in Ovelia's hands. She is the only royal successor old enough to oppose them. But even so, I think ancient Ivalician law holds that there must be a King and a Queen to rule together."

*Euryale had moved up to her chest.*
==================================
~Limberry~

R"I am me."

Mortal's eyes follow the action, "I remember Noctis telling me that with great disdain. I believe I understand why now. Still I'm sure she won't have a hard time finding a King, who wouldn't want to be king?"

--

"One could only hope," Zac said, "A second ago 'you' were literally stabbing me in the back."

~Lesalia~

"I think you just named the problem right there. Maybe I'm being a hopeless romantic, but surely Princess Ovelia wants to marry someone she loves, not simply someone who wants to be King?"

*Euryale finally stands up, putting the soap on a shelf. She then reaches for the shampoo.*
==============================================
~Limberry~

R"That was then, this is now."

*Lilith has set off for the Chocobo Messenger.*