The Zodiac Brave Story

OOC: And I decide to be nice & not kill him because at least it's an effort.

~Bervenia~

*All of the Cardinals applaud, most uproariously, Aroma merely politely. They can see that she is wearing white opera gloves. Shortly thereafter, the man dismisses the Construct in a flash of light, while being crowned & robed with the High Confessor's vestments. He introduces himself as Gregory. Aroma returns to them when they are dismissed. Gregory enters a white carriage with gilded designs driven by Chcobos & sets off with an escort of Templar Knights.*

<Now, what were you so worried about again?>
=============================
~Lesalia~

"No, that's exactly the decision I'd expected you to make. It's good that you're the woman I thought you were."

*She flexes her arm.*

"When I acquired this strength, I didn't plan on using it to kill people. I wish I could pin all of the lives I've taken on the evils of the Dukes' ambition, but...well, all we can do is live as virtuously as we can, and attempting to make right where we've failed."
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*A Chemist looks him over, opening an eye & peering into it.*

Chemist<He is comatose.>

*The White Mage suddenly looks a lot less smug. The Chemist pricks him in the arm with a knife.*
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*Someone they pass is singing about the 'holy might' of the Zodiac Braves slaying a fire-breathing demon, a 'great blight.' Lilith frowns.*

"Not exactly the backdrop to a great romance play."

Azuma: "He up and conjured up an army of those things at the temple where we found the lance. We slew two that were left behind to guard the place, and one was conjured up there and a mess of them could be anywhere. Not that you'd believe the inane ramblings of this fool."

Noct raises an eyebrow at the knife prick.

--

"Yea," Mortal said, "I mean, I try to reason some of it away, but at the end of the day, it is still my fault. I just hope that I can be a better person, you know?" Mortal looks at Euryale, "What about you, Euryale. Do you see us living in the mountains with four little kids and a dog?"

--

"Well, I guess they can't all be romantic," Zac said, "Need a good epic every now and again."

~Bervenia~

<Believe them? I don't even understand them.>
================================
~Lesalia~

Chemist<I have to test for drugs that might be causing this affliction.>

*She heads over to a table & puts the blood drops in a beaker.*
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*Euryale frowns.*

"Kids? Four?"
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"I find I get quite enough epics in my day job."

"Hm, I wonder if that is what the cause is," Noct said. "Should we stay here, or can you contact us when his condition changes?"

--

"It was a joke," Mortal said, "We obviously can't have any of our own. At least not with each other."

--

"Tell me about it," Zac said, "At least the characters are interesting."

Azuma: "Well, it has nothing to do with the job. Anywho, mind working your magic on Taiyo's lance before we head out? Nothing personal, but the last time we were hired for a job the employer died."

Mimiru: "That was how long ago?"

Azuma: "Recent enough that I'm sticking with that policy."

Taiyo: "It can wait, really."

~Bervenia~

<That's good, because it will. I don't know you enough to trust you not to run out on me halfway there.>
=================================
~Lesalia~

Chemist<It will take a very long time to reach any conclusions.>
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"So...you don't want kids?"
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"That is one way of putting it. I shudder to think of what Seraph must be doing right now."

Azuma: "Well, if we do that we're back to picking things off the notice board on top of the church most likely coming down on our heads."

Mimiru: "Will you shut up and go?"

Azuma: "Fine."

"Well, my name is Noctis Talea, and I can be reached at my family's estate," She said, "Please contact me when, or if anything develops." With that she turned and left.

"Do you think he'll get better?" Sab asked.

"I hope so," Noct answered, "He seemed like an alright guy."

--

"Maybe later," Mortal said, "But definitely not now. Plus, it'll come with a host of headaches. Will an orphanage even let us have a child to raise? If not will one of us lay with a man to have a child? If so, who? And who will be the father?" Mortal shuddered, "Besides that last thought disturbs me more than I'd care to admit. I don't want to be with anyone else but you."

--

"I try not to think of him too often," Zac said. "There are many characters that I could live without thinking of again."

~Bervenia~

<Very well. Will you be needing any supplies before we depart?>
===========================
~Lesalia~

"If we wanted to get pregnant, all we would need is the fluid. Technically. But I can't say that I'm too keen on the idea, at the moment. I would definitely prefer to raise a child who's already grown somewhat...when you say you 'don't want to be with anyone else,' do you mean that you wouldn't approve of, for instance, Lilith lying with the both of us?"
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*Noctab notes that the city streets are much livelier today, & not as heavily guarded.*
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"Unfortunately, I feel like he will be our problem again one day."

*She laughs.*

"Unless he ALSO gets pecked to death by a flock of wild Chocobos."

Azuma: "Nope."

Mimiru: "No."

Taiyo shakes her head.

"Zac would probably take issue long before I do," Mortal said with a chuckled, "Though, on a more serious note, yes." She looked at Euryale, then away, "I think it is petty, and selfish, honestly, but... I'd be so, I don't know, hurt, angry, betrayed. I know it is unfair, but, the thought of someone else putting their hands on you... It'd be like an invader." She looked back at Euryale, "Not that you're just some plot of land. Its, you know... I don't know..."

--

Zac laughed as well, "One could only hope."

--

"Want to go for a walk?" Noct asked.

"Do you?"

"If you want to let me know before I change my mind."

"Sure, lets enjoy the day," Sab took Noct's hand into her own, and began to walk towards the markets.

Safian:<I'm good at setting fire to stuff.>

Cassandra:<Alright. I'm sure we can take whoever comes out.>

*Safian and Cassandra start heading off in the direction they are supposed to go*

~Eagrose~

<I wonder if they're aware that you can't set objects on fire with magick.>

*They set off to do their jobs as well. The fighters they left behind are more alert this time, but clustered in a loose semicircle around the pile of weapons. The monk chuckles.*

Monk<So, back for more, are we?>
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~Finath River~

*Soon after they set off, a loud warking comes out of the sparse trees around the river. A Chocobo runs up to their left. On the opposite bank, a Red Chocobo runs up. Way down at the lower end of the river appears a Black Chocobo and a Wild Boar.*
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~Lesalia~

"I understand. Do you have any worries you'd like to ask me about?"
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*And so they are walking through the markets.*
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*Lilith sighs.*

"I always end up talking about work. I desperately need to find a hobby."

Azuma: "Of course the way back wouldn't be as uneventful as the first passing."

Mimiru teleports to the Red Chocobo's left and Azuma goes after the Black Chocobo.

Taiyo begins the Mincing Minuet.

*Safian starts charging Bolt3 on the Monk, and Cassandra draws her sword, stepping forward in front of Safian*

"Not really," Mortal said, "I fear losing you, or us drifting apart, but I trust you enough to know that that will not happen." Mortal let out a soft chuckle, "Though, maybe from now on, you can be there when I wake up, so I don't have to look around for you, and run into mother." Mortal frowned at the thought, "If we really are planning our lives, Euryale, we should start taking steps towards that. We need to save money, and get out of this house. It is becoming too small for us."

--

"Take up dancing," Zac suggested, "You've got grace, and balance enough for it, and I hear it helps to alleviate stress."

--

Noct stops by a stall to check out what's on sale.

~Lesalia~

"I would need to find a teacher first."
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*I have interpreted this to be a shoe store. There are lots of boots on sale.*
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"I can offer all of the Gil I've obtained in our travels. I've little more than that. Though I suppose we should find homes that suit our needs."
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~Eagrose~

*The Monk races towards her, swinging to attack her with an invisible, long-range fist. Meanwhile, the Archer moves forward just enough to fire at Safian, one of the Knights guarding him from the front.*

"A single bedroom, and a bed?" Mortal asked with a smile.

--

"I'm sure it couldn't be hard to find one," Zac said, "Hell, even my sister is a dancer."

--

Noct looks entirely disinterested, but Sab comes over to inspect a pair of long, slender, black leather boots. "Interested in some boots?" Noct asked.

"No, I'm looking for Euryale." They lol'd. "Anyway, yes. I think they look nice, and I've begun to wear down my traveling boots." Sab looked up at the stall owner, "How much for these?"

~Finath River~

*Mimiru doesn't move at all, because the teleport fails. Azuma has a long way to climb yet. The Red Chocobo hops on a rock & drops a meteor on Taiyo, while the regular Chocobo comes to peck her from the other side. They ignore the tiny mystic gashes forming in their sides. Aroma frowns at the critically wounded Taiyo & begins charging a spell, wedging herself between Taiyo & Mimiru.*
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~Lesalia~

*Euryale gets the distinct impression that people are talking about her clothing choices, but brushes it off.*

"I think you'll be wanting a bit more than that, Sandflower."
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"I am under the impression that she doesn't like me very much."
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<You have excellent tastes. They are 40 thousand Gil.>

"Sandflower?" Mortal asked.

--

"Noct can come off cold, but she hardly ever means any of it," Zac said, "It takes effort to be mad at someone. If you talk to her I'm sure she'll talk back."

--

Sab nodded, "Sure." She said, fishing around in her purse, "Please have them delivered to House Talea?"

Mimiru goes behind the Chocobo, punching it with Secret Fist.

Azuma continues his pursuit of the Black Chocobo.

~Lesalia~

<While I would love to do that, for business reasons, I don't actually have anyone to make deliveries.>
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"It's her talking back I'm kind of afraid of."
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"I was trying to come up with a cute nickname, something more original than 'Sweetie' or 'Honey.' I thought I'd work with the fact that you were a dragon, but all I could think of was 'Scaly,' and that didn't sound quite right. So I thought I'd try to think outside of the box, something to do with you being a rare and beautiful thing that came out of the desert. You don't like it?"
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~Finath River~

*A beam of light descends upon Taiyo, completely restoring her to health. The Red Chocobo apparently decides that Aroma is more of an issue, because it drops the next Choco Meteor on her. The other Chocobo flinches, its feathers starting to wilt. It ignores her, walking behind Aroma & pecking at her. When Azuma gets close to the Black Chocobo, it flares its wings, pelting him with concealed balls of...something.*

Doom: 3

Azuma opts to close the gap between him and the Chocobo, attacking with Rend Speed.

Mimiru attacks the Red Chocobo with Wave Fist.

Sab frowns, "Do you at least have a box that I can carry it in?"

--

"She isn't openly agressive, usually," Zac said, "I mean, not that it is much better, but she is pretty apathetic, but she'll get warmer to people she knows. If you give her a chance to get to know you, I'm sure you'll find she is pretty much a push over."

--

"D'aww, of course I do!" Mortal gives Euryale a hug. She then frowns slightly, "I'm just upset I don't have anything for you. I could spend hours trying to think up something and only come up with something dumb sounding."