In The Name of Love

"Seraph?" Sab asked, "As in the apprentice of Elidibus?"

"Do you know him?" Noct asked.

"Not personally, but I've read up on him," Sab said, "Back when I lived in Mullonde."

--

"Nice to meet you, Cloud," Zac said, extending his hand towards him, "My name is Zac."

~Sal Ghidos~

*Cloud just kind of stares at it.*

<Do you have a job you need done, or are we done here?>
================================
~Lesalia~

R"I...honestly didn't know that's who he was. He never said anything before he went rogue. Well, I guess he was always rogue...he went rogue-r."

Zac kept his hand out, "I might have some work, but I usually only work with people I can get along with."

--

"Eloquently put," Noct said.

~Lesalia~

R"So,we might want to stop hanging out in the basement of a ransacked castle."
================================
~Sal Ghidos~

Cloud<I work for people who pay me, & I get the job done. If they don't like it, that's their problem.>

Zac put his hand down, and let out a dry chuckle, "Whatever. Take care of yourself, Cloud. Make sure the Flower Girl is alright, if you don't mind. Two of those guys ran off, and I'm not sure they won't try to bully her again." With that Zac walked passed Cloud.

--

"True, enough," Noct said, "Lets get out of here."

~Sal Ghidos~

<Don't tell me what to do.>

*Cloud walks off in the opposite direction.*

The battle is won:

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

*Back at the house, Roatha sits on the chair Senthose used & winks at a passing maid.*

"So...why were you guys involved with Senthose, again?"

Mortal took a seat opposite him, and said, "He had a hit out on me."

"It didn't end well for him," Noct said, floating over to a seat as well.

--

Zac goes off towards a tavern to ask if anyone has seen an elderly mage.

~Lesalia~

R"What? Why would he be after you? And what happened?

E"I punched him off of the roof."

R"So...you murdered him?"

E"First of all, it was self defense, second of all, he teleported away."

R"So...you made him mad?"

E"I, uh, so, Mortal, why was he after you again?"
==================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*He is told that a mage came by to purchase a keg of ethanol & headed off to the slums.*

"Because a church official wanted me dead," Mortal said.

--

Zac rushes to the slums.

~Lesalia~

R"You aren't making any sense. Look, I told you what I knew."
================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*Seraph is standing by an old, abandoned shack & the keg of ethanol. He has his stick pressed up against the flower girl's neck, & is using her as a shield. The 2 remaining thugs from earlier block Zac's path.*

S"You know, I didn't think you'd come back for her. But I'm glad you did, it'll give burning down this hole that personal touch."

"And we told you what we did," Mortal said, "I pissed off someone with power in the church, and they wanted me dead, so they hired Senthose."

--

Zac shot one of the thugs with a barrage, "Leave her out of this, Seraph!"

~Lesalia~

R"Look, if you're not going to tell me what happened, I don't know how much to tell you. I at least need to know the guy's name."
===================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*The thief dies, but the monk uses revive right afterwards.*

S"But where's the--

Monk<AHHHHHHHHH!>

S"...But where's the fun in that? Besides, can't start a fire without fuel."

"Bremondt Freitberg," Mortal said casually.

--

Zac shoots the monk with a barrage this time, "Find another fire source you sick bastard."

~Sal Ghidos~

*The monk heals both himself & the thief.*

S"I know! Why don't you drop the gun & take her place?"

<No, you can't!>

S"Honey, you don't really have a say in the negotiations."
================================
~Lesalia~

R"Ah. Yes. I could...I could see where that might be...a bit of a pickle. Are you the girl he was after? I kind of figured she'd be...fancier."

Zac shot the monk in the arm, "Wait, what?" He looked at his gun, then Aerith. He had a responsibility to Lilith, and, due to his position, Limberry. He couldn't play fast and loose with his life. That said, he couldn't just let Aerith die. "Fine."

--

"Yes, I am the girl he was after," Mortal said, "And I'm plenty fancy... Am I not fancy?" She looked to Euryale with puppy dog eyes, looking for confirmation.

~Lesalia~

E"You are definitely fancy to me, but not too fancy, why, you are the appropriate level of fanciness."

R"As much as I'm sure we all enjoy watching you get your ego stroked, what ever happened to Beowulf?"
================================
~Sal Ghidos~

S"Good show! Just drop it at your feet, & I'll tell the thugs to step aside so you can come up here, whip out that spear you stole from Grimms, & run me through. Fat chance. Kill him while I get things ready up here."

*The thief lunges forward, stabbing at Zac's neck. But just before Seraph can start charging a spell, Cloud appears behind him & does his favorite attack, the Donkey Punch. The flower girl takes the time to shake loose & run away.*

Zac shoots Seraph with a leg shot to make sure he can't give chase, "You lying dog!"

--

"Who now?" Mortal asked.

~Sal Ghidos~

*Seraph looks at the leg & laughs.*

S"You know, I have ways of getting around things."

*Seraph kicks over the ethanol keg, dumping its contents in a trail to the shack.*

S"Like a pretty gemstone. And back-up kindling."

*He steps over the keg, with Cloud bull rushing him.*

S"Hopefully, this hurts you more than it hurts me."

*Cloud & Seraph are both hit by blasts of fire. Along with them, the ethanol catches fire, which quickly spreads to the shack.*
====================================
~Lesalia~

R"The story goes that Bremondt was infatuated with some noble woman, who was engaged to the Captain of the Gryphon Knights. But they both disappeared under mysterious circumstances. It's rumored that they eloped, or that Bremondt killed them both with magick. But those are just wild rumors."

"Dammit," Zac muttered, before shooting the Monk with another barrage.

--

"Oh, well, I don't know any Beowulf," Mortal said.

~Lesalia~

R"Whatever. Well, guess I'm heading out to Lionel tomorrow."

E"What? Why?"

R"I'm after the Masked Man. The Masked Man is working with Senthose. Senthose was hired by Bremondt. Bremondt is the only lead I can be sure will stay in one damn place."
===================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*The monk dies. The thief just fucks off. Seraph teleports away somewhere. Meanwhile, as the fire begins spreading to other buildings, Cloud backs up.*

Cloud<This...is a problem.>

"If you're going I want to go to," Mortal said, standing up.

"What, why?" Noct asked.

Mortal folded her arms, "The man has been a demon in my life, and I want to be rid of him, once and for all."

--

"Yes, it is," Zac said, "I don't suppose you know how to stop a fire from spreading."

~Lesalia~

E"I'll go if Mortal goes."

R"I didn't say I was going to kill him. I'm not sure if it's even a good idea."
===================================
~Sal Ghidos~

Cloud<I get this strange feeling that I could use a giant tornado to put it out, if I had a sword.>

"Then you should ask your questions fast," Mortal said, "I don't know why I didn't decide on this sooner. I mean, wanton destruction doesn't solve all problems, but he deserves it."

"I guess I'll go along with you," Noct said, "If there is no stopping you..."

--

"...Is your head still hurting?" Zac asked, "I think you should lie down somewhere, you need rest..."

~Lesalia~

E"You didn't think about this sooner because we persuaded you out of it, because it's dangerous. But now it looks as though we have no choice but to confront Bremondt."

*Roatha shrugs.*

R"Do whatever you want. But it's almost night, so I'm not heading out until morning."
===================================
~Sal Ghidos~

Cloud<Don't patronize me! If you have another idea, I'd be glad to hear it. Otherwise, this fire will spread at least until it consumes the slums, even with the approaching storm.>

*He points to indicate darkening clouds on the horizon. Meanwhile, the fire has spread down most of the right side houses, & now a house on the left side of the street has caught.*

Cloud<We should probably get off of this street.>

"Dammit, I hope you're right about this," Zac rushed over to a shop, "I need a sword." He purchases a Rune Blade, and gives it to Cloud.

--

"I'm sure you can get to an inn," Noct said. Sab kind of elbowed her, "Fine, we have a spare room..." She gets up and begins walking over to it, "Come on, follow me."