In The Name of Love

Noctis laughed out loud at that, her mind not even needing to wander far before she thought of the perfect thing for Euryale to 'give back'.

Mortal blushed, "It is fine, Euryale, you don't need to pay for anything. I am doing this because I want you close. That is payment enough if you ask me."

Sab shook her head as Noct doubled her laughter. "Don't you think it is rude to openly laugh as they try to dance around a delicate subject?"

Noct let her laugh trail off into a lingering smirk, "Not particularly, no."

"Well, uh, you should," Sab said, stuck for a good comeback.

"Alright, on that note, I'll be heading home for today..." Iliad said, "Sab?"

Sab looked at Noct, who looked back, "I'll, um..." Sab let out a small sigh, "Yes, I'll be sleeping over again with you, Iliad. If you don't mind."

Iliad nodded, "I don't at all."

Noct looked a bit unhappy.

--

"Then off to the Marsh," Zac suggested.

~Lesalia~

E"But what about your parents? Won't they think me a waste of space?"

*She looks at Noctis.*

E"Are you...going to be okay?"
==================================
~At the Gates of Limberry Castle~

*A small, blond girl with a bow & arrow; a young male archer; a dancer from one of the local taverns; a female thief with long, curly red hair; & an elderly Arithmetician are all meeting on the outskirts of the castle. Moreover, all are wearing the "Evil Eye" uniform. The archer is on one of the stone pillars, but the rest are down below.*

Dancer<Where is the Black Mage? Are we just to attack without him?>

Thief<Well, we can't just give up now!>

Arithmetician<Absurd! We are hardly equipped to storm a castle like this!>

Archer<The guard is already here!>

*They turn to look at Lilith & Zac, who have just arrived from the scene.*

L"They definitely approached from the marsh. And it looks like we got here just in time."

"My father won't mind, my mother is my mother, and you are more important," Mortal said, "It will be fine."

Noct looked up at Euryale, "Hm? Uh, yea, I'm alright."

--

"This can't be all of them," Zac said, "Where are the rest of you?!"

~Lesalia~

E"Well...alright, then. I'll come stay with you, & later on maybe I can find a way to help out."
==========================
~Limberry Castle Gates~

ArcherF<Our so-called fearless leader isn't-->

Roatha<Everyone relax. I am here.>

*Roatha approaches from the marsh, wearing the same clothes as them, & a Defender at each side. He looks up at Lilith & Zac with a bored expression.*

L"That's...you can't be...."

Roatha<We will kill them all & move on for the Stone. As promised, you will be allowed to keep whatever treasure you find.>

Zac was legitimately shocked, "Roatha, you can't be serious!"

--

"You don't need to help out, Euryale," Mortal assured, "You're not a maid, you're my girlfriend."

Noct began walking home. Mortal took Euryale's hand and followed along.

~Lesalia~

E"A maid...hmm...are you saying you wouldn't date a maid?"
===================================
~Limberry Castle Gates~

Roatha<Zac...wasn't it? Such a shame it has to end this way.>

L"But what would you want with a Zodiac Stone? Don't you remember what they do?"

Roatha<Mayhap you do not know their functions as well as you think you do.>

ArcherF<...What are your orders, Commander Arelaz?>

Roatha<I already told you to kill them. I will not repeat myself again.>

*The two archers knock their arrows & move forwards along the rock pillars. The dancer retreats behind Roatha & starts dancing an exotic dance with wild steps, rigid arms, & vicacious hip movements. The thief runs forward with her weapon drawn, as does Roatha. Lilith sniffs.*

L"He's much faster now...is he wearing perfume?"

"What, no, I mean, if you were a maid I would totally date you, I'm just saying you don't have to be one, I mean, if you want to be one because you like being a maid then you can be a maid, but you don't have to be a maid if you don't want to be a maid," Mortal took a deep breath.

--

Zac rushes down the Dancer and shoots an Arm Shot at her.

~Lesalia~

E"You're so cute when you're confused."

*They reach the house.*
====================================
~Limberry Gates~

*I'm not sure how this stops the Dancer's feet, but for some reason, she stops moving. The archers each take a shot at one of them when in range. Lilith uses Kiyomori on the pair, then steps in front of Zac. When Roatha swings, she grabs the first strike, but he lands the second across her stomach, putting a deep gash in her. The thief slips to her other side & stabs her. Roatha begins to disappear from sight a moment later.*

Zac is unhappy as hell, "This fucking asshole! That lying son of a bitch!" Zac shot a Barrage at the Thief that stabbed Lilith, "I think the worst part about it is that I didn't see it coming. I suspect everyone of wanting to screw everyone else over!"

--

Noct walked in and headed to the basement, where they kept the wine cellar.

Mortal smiled, "Thanks, I think." She then began to make her way to her room. "I'm happy that you're here, Euryale."

~Lesalia~

E"I'm happy to be here with you. Speaking of, am I also staying in your room?"
=========================================
~Limberry~

*Lilith uses Muramasa, killing the thief & wounding Roatha, before running away.*

L"Well? Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"

Roatha<You're annoying.>

*Footsteps in the mud indicate that he has taken off after her. The archers each take a shot at Zac. The Arithmetician finally gets his first action, casting Protect & Shell on the two archers before hiding behind the pillar.*

~3~

Zac splits the damage, then shoots a barrage at the dancer.

--

Mortal says, "That is what I was assuming, but if you don't want to I guess you can continue to use the guest room."

Noct comes up from the basement with a bottle of wine, and a single glass.

~Limberry~

*The critically wounded Dancer runs to hide with her fellow Arithmetician. The invisible Roatha stabs Lilith, critically wounding her. She uses Murasame to heal herself & Zac, but the archers both shoot her, largely undoing it.*

~2~
=====================================
~Lesalia~

E"Hold that thought for just a minute. Noct, are you alright?"

Noct looked up at Euryale, "Uh, yea. I guess." Noct shrugged, "I've been feeling a bit weird since we split up with Iliad and Sab, so I was going to drink myself to sleep."

"That seems unhealthy..."

--

Zac gives Lilith a potion.

~Lesalia~

E"Yeah. Why don't you hang out with us tonight? Oh...shouldn't you check in with your father?"
=============================
~Limberry~

*Lilith retreats into the doorway of the castle after healing them with a Murasame. The sword then shatters.*

L"You have to take out those archers, otherwise we won't have a chance!"

*Gaining another turn, the Arithmetician gains another turn & uses Haste on himself & the Dancer.*

~1~

"I don't want to intrude," Noct said, "I'm sure Mortal had hopes for where this night was going."

Mortal flushed red.

--

Zac shoots a barrage at one of the archers.

~Limberry~

*The female archer drops dead. The other one begins pulling on his bowstring. Lilith is invisibly stabbed, & critically wounded again & frantically runs out of the castle doorway, using another Murasame on herself.*

~0~
=================================
~Lesalia~

"I don't want to leave you alone if you're upset. I'm sure Mortal feels the same way. Right?"

"Of course I do..." Mortal said unconvincingly.

Noctis smiled, "It is alright, I'm fine. I'm just going to go drink away whatever this is, then go to bed. I'm sure I'll be fine in the morning."

--

Zac shoots a barrage at the other archer.

~Lesalia~

"Alright...if you say so...actually, I think I could really use a bath. It's been a while since my last opportunity to bathe."
===================================
~Limberry Gates~

*This archer, slightly stronger, survives the attack. He pegs Zac in the chest with a strengthened arrow shot, then dies from the split damage. On his next turn, the Arithmetician uses fire on Lilith & Zac. Lilith screams & falls unconscious. Zac is then stabbed invisibly in the back with two blades, critically wounding him. Blood spills out of two points floating in the air behind him. The dead thief yields a blue spirit crystal. Finally, Don't Act wears off of the Dancer.*

~3, 2~

Noct stopped in her tracks, sat down on the stairs, and poured herself a glass of wine, "I'm sorry, I just have to see how Mortal tries to broach the idea of joining you in that bath."

Mortal flushed, "Come on, Euryale, I'll show you to the wash room."

--

Zac shoots a Barrage at the space between the two points.

~Lesalia~

"Okay."

*She lets the silence linger for a second or two while they walk, then smiles slyly.*

"So...WILL you be joining me?"
==================================
~Limberry~

*That space starts bleeding more, then disappears, along with the crystal. Lilith revives, & automatically uses a Murasame on herself. Still hiding behind the pillar, the dancer resumes begins dancing a quick dance with heavy stomping movements & the Arithmetician uses Dispel on Zac.*

~2, 1~

Zac lets out an annoyed sigh, realizing that the bastard just healed himself. Shaking that thought off, Zac begins to run towards the Dancer and shoots a barrage at her.

--

Mortal smiled awkwardly, then blushed when she realized that Noct was still sitting there, now grinning. "I mean, if you want me to..."

Noct stood up, refilling her now empty glass, "Gosh, you're hopeless Mortal. I thought you'd be more dominating." She began to make her way to her room, "Be gentle with her, Euryale."

~Limberry~

*The shots kill the Dancer. Lilith quickly follows Zac & puts the Kiyomori back over them, before she is stabbed. When she grabs the other invisible blade, Roatha enters from the direction they came from.*

R"Why did you leave me behind in Bervenia? I was walking in circles for hours before some Knight Templar finally told me where you went!"

*He looks around.*

R"...Holy shit, what's going on here?"

~1, 0~
=====================================
~Lesalia~

*Once the door is closed, Euryale pulls a package out from under her "armor" & sets it down. She then proceeds to undress.*

E"Is bathing such an intimate activity among the nobility? I mean, I understand you don't want just anyone to see you naked, but I've never seen it as any big deal among friends. It comes with bathing in open water sources, I guess?"

Zac points his gun at him, "Wait, what the hell is going on?" He turns his gun onto the Arithmetician and fires a Barrage.

--

"I believe she was implying that we would be doing something else," Mortal said, "Noctis is a pervert." Mortal looks at the package, "What is that?"

~Lesalia~

E"That's my change of clothes. I keep it wrapped up so it won't get dirty or damaged while I'm traveling. Oh...that's right, you haven't seen it yet, have you?"
==================================
~Limberry~

*One of the archers yields a blue crystal, & the Arithmetician drops dead.*

R"That is what I just asked you. Did you really just kill them all? Shouldn't we, I don't know, interrogate them?"

~3, 2, 0~

"There is an invisible one," Zac said, "Be on the look out for him." Zac waited there, waiting for a sign of him prepared to shoot the fucker in the leg.

--

"No, I have not."