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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2014 22:23:30 GMT -5
The battle against the first mate had been hellacious to say the least, but even with all the cuts the young prince was dealt, Noctis refused to stop protecting the blonde that jerked and squirmed within his grip as the poison within the one he protected continued to eat away at the thief. With each jolt of the tailed thief’s body, the young prince knew his time was running short; however, pirate woman nor the crew that surrounded them in a jeering and laughing circle gave Noctis the room he needed to escape. So as those spasms begin to lessen and the young man in black’s strength begin to wane as the battle wore on, there did not seem to be any hope of success. Then when all seemed to be over for the prince and the blonde, she arrived. It started with a few of the pirates being turned to gold and then with an inhuman screech the serpent like woman made her presence known as she shot out of the water and sprayed cursed golden water on the ship. As the droplets fell and the one eyed woman flicked her tail here and there as she scanned the deck with her bow tightly in hand, she spotted the young prince escaping into the Captain’s Quarters with the one who had the piece of her eye within him and wore the armor that she sought for her master. With a hiss of agitation, the dripping lady formed an arrow of gold in her hand as she slithered forward through the chaos of the panicked pirates who were now gathering arms against her. She did not care for interferences and so like a good huntress, she would take out any that got in her way. She fired an arrow at this person and swung cursed nails at another, but each pirate was nimble enough to dodge out of the way and scatter to hide behind objects that blocked them from view. Not interested in flesh, the golden woman slithered her way forward her good eye locked on the rat that backed away from her cautiously. As the Captain moved out of the way and ordered his men to abandon the ship, the snake woman increased her speed as she made her way towards the door where her prey and prize resided. ** While chaos ran wild outside, Noctis had gotten Zidane within the Captain’s Cabin and did what he could to help the suffering thief with him; however, as he worked on his sick friend, he took note of how still the other had become once he had gotten that strange red shard out of him and while the signs might’ve caused a weaker person to give up believing for sure that one had failed in saving the other from death, Noctis was stubborn. The sight of the still man only drove his determined not to let the thief die grow stronger. Working against time and death, Noctis managed to get the helmet off of the blonde freezing only momentarily as he took in the blonde’s condition. Zidane was colored almost white by Lady Etro’s touch, his breathing faint as his body began working its way to its end. The Goddess of Death lingered close by the tailed thief’s side, trying to pull the mostly dead thief into her arms and away from the world of the living. Her black eyes were emotionless and cold as she watched, Noctis rebel against such a notion. No. If there was a way to persuade Etro to turn the other way for the time being, then the young prince would take his chances. Fishing out the antidote from among his other medical supplies, Noctis had managed to get the liquid into the young man before he had let the vial drop to the old wooden floor. Feeling only slightly relieved that the guy was able to swallow it, Noctis waited on pins and needles for a few seconds as nothing seemed to happen and then – Lady Etro was closing her eyes and vanishing as Zidane began coughing. The coughs were heavy and thick, but coughing nonetheless. It meant that more oxygen was getting into the blonde and antidote was working. Sighing inwardly, Noctis watched as the guy attempted to sit up and focus on him. With relief overflowing within, Noctis could not help, but give the guy a gentle smile as his eyes seemed to focus on him for a moment. Not sure if Zidane could see the smile or not, Noctis would eventually turn away from the guy giving the other space and time to recover while he moved to scoop up his items and re-hid them in the various pockets and pouches on his clothing and belt. Just as he was done hiding the items again, a loud pounding at the door quickly turned relief into tension as whoever was on the other side kept hitting the door as if they were trying to break it. Not sure if it was the psycho pirate lady or someone else, Noctis’s eyes darted around for a second escape; however, with none in sight, the prince cursed inwardly as he turned his attention to Zidane just in time to get somewhat scolded by the guy. “Yeah. I know, I know,” Noctis told the blonde in tones that suggested he did feel a tad bit guilty for making the guy mad by disobeying, but at the same time the tension caused by whatever was trying to get into the room was outweighing the light lashing he was being given. Moving to Zidane’s side, Noctis began to help his friend take the armor off as the pounding upon the door got worse and worse. Was that door moaning as if it was going to break?! Trying to ignore the sound, Noctis worked with a stubborn strap until finally the armor was loose enough for Zidane to get free of it. As the pounding on the door intensified, the armor clanked to floor noisely as Zidane slide it off. The sound was music to Noctis’s ears. Yes! One problem down…and a completely new one to worry about! The strange chest before the door rattled and groaned as something with incredible force continued to assault the door. With his heart racing, Noctis was on his feet before he had realized his brain had given his body the command to move. Knowing full well that the golden lady was the one the other side of that door since nothing human could possibly whack the door with that much force without the aid of something, Noctis looked over at Zidane with a worried expression. How were they going to get out of the room now? They couldn’t very well jump out of that thick glass behind them! So the only other option was forward, but surely neither of them were mad enough to take on a creature that could turn things to solid gold at a whim, right?....Right? The shrug and words that Zidane gave Noctis as that door continued to break and the chest continued to rattle suggested that they were quite mad indeed. As Zidane said they would have to work together to get out of this before crouching down and beginning his countdown, Noctis had only two seconds to realize what was about to happen and then form a plan before the door was split in half and the chest forced over as the golden woman forced her way into the room in a light explosion of wood and metal. Simultaneously, Zidane unleashed his yell of “three!” before launching himself like a mad man at the blockade that was the huntress. Shocked, but having no time to waste, Noctis hurried out of the Captain’s Cabin and back out onto the deck summoning his weapon as he did so. As he got back out into the fresh air, he paused briefly to take in the scene. For the most part, the ship that was gold in some spots was now abandoned. Taking a cue from the ghostly silence of the ship, Noctis spotted the one lifeboat that still hung off the side of the ship. Whether this was luck or not, Noctis didn’t care. He wanted off this ship and to put as much distance between himself and the golden woman as possible. He wasn’t sure if the serpent woman would follow now that the cursed shard and the armor was in the Captain’s Quarters, but he and Zidane had to get away or else they would go die on the ship by this snake woman’s hands. Securing the quickest route to the life boat in his mind, he turned to face the struggle Zidane was having with the snake woman. Hissing and grumbling as she lashed her tail outward, knocking over barrels and what not as her solid form whacked into them, the snake woman wrestle with Zidane for a bit before getting a grip on the other and attempting to toss him off. Whether or not her toss was successful or not was hard to say in the blur of motion that was occurring before Noctis; however, at the exact point where Zidane was safely out of range of danger, Noctis had aimed his blade at the woman, charged his spell, and unleashed thunder upon the woman just as she reared up to make another attack on the blonde. As the area darkened slightly, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky and struck the golden woman who screeched and reeled away as the spell hit her and gave the pair the briefest of moments to make their break for the life boat. “Come on, Zidane!” Noctis called as he gestured for the other to start heading for the life boat before acting upon his own command. As he began to move, he found himself not making it far as the sound of something heavy being released into the water was heard. A few seconds later, the ship was shuddering to a halt as the anchor hit the bottom of the sea and made its home within the sands below. What on earth?! Noctis thought to himself as his eyes darted to the figure casually making its way from below the decks. It was that rat that acted as captain! Now what had he been doing down below and what was it with the casual way he moved to check a pocket watch before looking over at him with a cold smirk? What was he plotting? Not liking the feeling that was boiling up within, Noctis looked back just in time to see the snake lady coming for them again! But why? We don’t have the armor nor the shard anymore, so what is the deal? Noctis wondered as he took a few steps back and braced himself for the ram that was coming at him. The snake woman was gaining fast, but before she could make a desperate lunge at himself or Zidane, something rammed her from the side forcing the snake away from them. The woman sailed across the deck before slamming with a loud crash into the barrels and crates that rested near one of the thick wooden poles of the ship. As her body hit the pole, a golden scale got embedded into the wood as the snake slithered into a sitting position shaking her head to clear it. As she did this, the thing that had hit her - a golden knight!- turned its face metal face dripping with blood from the lips towards the remaining fleshlings on the ship before releasing a strange sigh and a small cloud of blackness. As if the humans and rats were of no interest to it, the armor refocused on the snake woman who had recovered and was rising to fight again as behind her the pole her scale was embedded in began to turn to gold weighting down the ship even more as the substance spread upward. Hissing and baring golden fangs, the snake woman turned her attention to her new foe and prize, the knight. She was preparing to fight him and in turn make him submit to her, but the question was would she win? And on that note what would happen afterwards? If she or the golden knight won would that be the end of their attacks upon Noctis and the others? Or would it be the start of something worse? The young prince didn’t know the answer to those questions and quite frankly he didn’t want to stick around to find out the answer. Making sure he did not leave Zidane behind, the young prince resumed trying to get to the life boat as he saw the first mate slide her way into view to help the Captain block the way forward. As the woman kept her sword in hand swaying with excitement as she eyed Zidane hungrily, the Captain calmly lifted the cane he had in both hands, his fists close together for a moment as he watched Noctis coldly with his good eye. “We always get what is owed to us, lad. It be a tad unfortunate ye’ got yerself involv’d with the wrong sorts. You’d be a fine pirate or thief if yer heart weren’t as warm,” the captain said in a low growl as he pulled his curled hands apart causing a light snick to escape the cane as a line appeared a little ways down the elegant wooden surface. Once that line appeared, the rat kept pulling on the two ends of the item he held, revealing that the cane was actually a sword hidden within a deceiving sheathe! With his weapon in hand, the Captain lowered himself into a low crouch as his tailed lashed the air in anticipation. “Let’s dance, aye?” the Captain whispered in deadly tones getting a very wild “Aye!” from his first mate before both were moving in on Noctis and his ally. Their goal: to kill the blonde and cripple his companion all before time ran out and everyone was blown sky high by the powder filled kegs below. _____________________________________________________ ► TAGS: You’re it! ► NOTES: A strange golden knight with some sort of issue with a serpent, a vengeful rat and woman blocking the escape for our two adventures, and a slowly burning fuse below that is counting down to everyone’s doom. Tick tock, dearie. Tick tock. ► SKILLS USED: Teleport: 1 post Thunder: 1 post
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2014 3:32:46 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves
The boy had thrown his entire body into the snake woman at his final count. He’d hoped to give Noctis the moment he needed to burst from the Captain’s Quarters, where they had been trapped. The turbulent sea made footing uneasy, but this lad lived in the skies. Running through the airship during its more rocky ventures over the Aerbs Mountains was second nature to him. So as the ship rocked he did not lose momentum as he rushed forward., Even with his body still weak and heavy from the earlier fight with the poison, Noctis’ antidote had completely eliminated the venom from his system. The boy had not expected such a creature. They were much smaller than the Lamia that he was used to battling, and far less hideous. Even so his smaller arms did well to wrap around the creature’s torso. The force of his entire body, having unsuspectedly hurled into the woman, managed to force her back and allow Notics a wide enough birth to escape.
Down below deck the Captain had set long fuses onto the barrels of bomb ash which were used to light the canons and fill the guns. He grinned at his work before clambering back above deck. With his men gone he could proceed with his plans for revenge. He had been a soldier during Alexandria’s attack on Burmecia. He was one of many soldiers trapped under the debris that had come to litter their once beautiful city. He was trapped beneath a stone column. He could hear people running through, still fighting. It had been silent for so long, the hum of the rain having become just a static to his sensitive ears. The side of his face had been badly burned by one of the Black Mage’s spells. His lungs fought for hair under the weight of debris. He could see a young man run by, a number of companions in tow. He could clearly see the boy’s face through the curtain of rain. The boy was hagrid and desperate to get where he was going, but when the injured Burcmecian had reached out and called to the boy, his voice was left unheard. Zidane had gone without checking all of the soldiers. A few glanced upon, dead. But he was alive and left to suffer in his pain.
Those soldiers that took to flee from the castle, had come upon a few warriors who stilled clung, desperately, to life. He was one of them. The nezumi was given a false eye carved from a red stone that had the same color and refraction of a Bloodstone. Klein was his name and he had died that day in ruins of Burmecia. His leg was lame, so he was unable to continue his life as a warrior. His eye was gone so he would never again hold a sword. He lost his name that day and had taken on a new one, one to represent to cold, bloodied stare of his false eye: Bloodstone. He could only watch as the men came from the other countries to help rebuild Burmecia, but he was a soldier without a place to call home now. His home was the battlefield and they would not take him back with his leg no longer of use to him, or them. He practiced his combat with his bad eye and though there was still the imperfection from the lost sense of perception, he could still stand on his own. His first mate was an Alexandrian soldier captured by Lindblum. She had nearly lost her life in that siege, and most of her face and body were burned and scarred by the hellish gates of war. All men upon that vessel held no place in a world that had accepted peace.
But Bloodstone’s heart was set on vengeance toward the man who had left him to die. He had convinced his crew it had been his fault. He was the man that had taken the Princess of Alexandria and threw the world into Chaos, at least this was what many had seen and believed what started the war: a rogue who had kidnapped the princess and saved her from the plots of a queen gone mad. He would not allow such a fabulous tale, a generous rumor, to burn out? It gave people someone to blame. The soldier had seen this boy himself. He had been in Burmecia, and he had been in Cleyra where he had his wounds tended to. When the Black Mages attacked Clyera he fled, for he would not die again a second day. He swore revenge on the child, this boy who seemed to be everywhere the Black Mages went. This boy, was at the heart of his suffering. He would quit until he too was lame.
Zidane struggled against the snake woman. She was powerful and in his weakened state it was hard to hold onto the lashing beast. He was finally thrown off, body bouncing across the deck. He finally slid to a stop, gloved fingers digging against the wooden flood. As he pushed up into a kneeling position his lungs hacked out pained coughs created by his still healing form struggling to breathe. His head snapped up as he glared to his opponent. His focus was on this mystical beast, so he was not aware of anyone else but Noctis. Part woman part serpent: nothing like the Lamia had seen back in the Serpent’s Grotto so he had to be careful. The snake beast was enraged and had begun to violently flail, which had been the cause of the thief’s ejection. He felt Noctis grab at his body to encourage a retreat. Zidane was not one to fight a battle if it could not be won, and this opponent was full of too many unknowns to be worth the problem. He took off running with the young prince.
The thief felt the ship suddenly lurched and wonder if they had hit patchy waters or landed a sandbar, but the nimble Genome did not seem to be much affected by the rocking of the ship, sure footed as much in the air as he was in the sea. When the pair got to the ship’s edge Zidane could then see what all the fuss was about. There was still one lifeboat left. But before Zidane could reach up to set the ropes to lower the lifeboat to a safe height to drop into the water, the rogue looked back only to see the snake woman headed right for them! the thief drew his dagger, but before the woman reached them a massive form slammed clean into the woman, sending her rocketing across the ship. When Zidane saw what her embedded scale did to the mast. It was a good thing he was not the last victim to that treatment!
It seemed, though, that they had more to worry about than just the golden golem that was now engaged in fierce combat with the snake woman. Bloodstone and his first mate had come at the pair of young men with weapons drawn. Zidane had his dagger drawn and drew the second as he lowered his body in preparation for combat. It was, at least, an even match for now. Zidane charged the captain, who seemed intent on taking his life. The first mate was out for revenge and charged at toward the young prince. Battle would ensue. Both were brilliant swordsmen, veterans of war, but Zidane had experience on his side and a stubborn streak. For every strike Bloodstone offered, the boy reacted with a counter. Two blades were not better than one seemed.
“For an old man with a limp, you sure fight well!” The thief teased.
Bloodstone pulled his lip into a sneer and struck the boy across his face with his blade, easily drawing blood. “And ye be rather slow for a lad so small!” He retorted.
Zidane sneered and jumped back. It was hard to expect the nezumi’s motion for each of his teps were drawn from the thief’s attention by the motion of his tail which was bound in a ribbon of red and pierced with a metal stud that glistened against the sun like a piece of metal. His free hand moved about in a hypnotizing manner before he threw out a straight thrust and caught the thief against his chest. All the while the scarred first mate dealt with Noctis. After a time evading the thief’s furious set of attacks the Genome finally found purchase when the captain was caught in his blind spot. The nezumi sneered and scattered back, his head raising to better eye Zidane. The Burmecian smirked and held back his blade. He slowly backed up from the thief.
“Running away already?!” The young rogue demanded, spinning his blades in a cocky manner.
The captain took out his pocket watch before he raised a leg onto the edge of the deck with a smirk on his face. “Tis 'bout time to go. Let’s not tarry darling.”
The first mate backed out of her battle with Noctis, a healthy smile running across her scarred face. She backed up to stand behind her captain who stepped forward to remove his tricorn and bow. Behind him the first mate climbed up to the ships edge where the last lifeboat sat. The Burmecian grinned with his sharp, toothy fangs before stepping back into the vessel himself.
“Been a thrill lads, but I’ll think I’ll let me lil toy finish ye off.” He snapped closed his pocket watch as the first mate slashed her blade into the rope holding the ship, sending them both into the sea, boat and all.
As the oceans washed them toward the shore, toward where Treno overlooked the salty seas, a screeching roar was heard as the Golden Knight sunk his blade into the chest of the huntress in hopes of killing her. The men had to now face a murderous Golden Knight, in its belly the shard of red stone bringing to life an ancient and forgotten curse.
When the gold armor was brought together under the power of greed it would bring itself to life and protect the assets of its master, slaying all who dare come near.
The golden knight, risen by both greed and revenge, it turned to face both Noctis and Zidane. Below deck the fuses met with the barrels of dry bomb ash. The entire ship went up in lights. The sound alone was comparable to the deafening burst of thunder struck too close to an Airship. The blinding light the filled the air was quickly followed by a blanket of darkness as the smoke from the burning ash filled the area. The ship was torn asunder and planks and rafts of wood were all that remained of the ship. A smoldering heap of debris now floated on the ocean’s surface. The thief had been thrown back a considerable distance.
When his eyes fluttered open he found himself face down against a warm body. When he was able to focus his vision he was shocked to find he had landed on the snake woman. He jumped to his feet, only to find that he was unsteady. As the air cleared he found himself stranded on a large, floating bit of deck that had managed to stay together. Looking around, the ocean appeared to be a field of floating hunks of the deck and sinking sections of mast and rail. He was shaken once more when the golden knight jumped onto the surface he rode. By now captain and first mate made it to shore. But this left Zidane to deal with the Knight. Where had Noctis gone?! The thief worried for his newfound ally.
“Noctis!” It had been the first time Zidane called out to him in such a manner. Like a friend that was worried sick. “Alright ugly… you wanna go?” The battered thief held up his blades and prepared to face the golden knight.
Would the two prevail and find a chance to make it to shore?
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►TAGS: Noctis~! ►NOTES: Can we cross this obstacle? ►SKILLS USED: N/A CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 18:02:59 GMT -5
Noctis had escaped the Captain’s Quarters thanks to the quick and rather reckless thinking from Zidane. As the tailed thief launched himself at the golden gorgon after his brief countdown, the woman and blonde had flown out of the area thanks to the attack. As Zidane made an opening, Noctis took his chance and had escaped the Captain’s Quarters exiting out into fresh yet tense sea air. The boat rocked and swayed under the more land bound prince’s feet, but having enough experience with uncertain ground from having to face off large creatures or escape falling buildings back home, Noctis was able to keep himself more or less balanced on the ship. Once out on the ship’s deck, Noctis had made a quick inventory of what was happening on board taking note of how empty the ship seemed to be before he was turning his attention to the battle Zidane was having with the snake woman. Despite being strong, the woman was having some difficulty with the boy that wrestled with her. The sight made Noctis wonder exactly what Zidane was that allowed him to be still so strong after being poisoned. A normal person wouldn’t have been able to handle it all, but then again…Zidane had proven he was anything, but normal. Curiosity aside, Noctis had pulled himself quickly out of his thoughts as he focused instead on helping Zidane as he hopped back and took a battle stance as he leveled his sword with the thrashing snake woman and thief. Calming himself and steadying his hands, Noctis listened to his heart pound in his ears. He used the rapid thuds to count off the perfect timing to unleash his attack upon the golden woman. When the timing was just right, the prince had unleashed his thunder spell, the sounds of electricity crashing from the sky muffling the coughing from Zidane who had been thrown off of the failing woman. With the golden creature stunned, Noctis had moved over to Zidane and tugged at the guy as he gave his command to move towards the lifeboat he had spotted earlier. Thankfully, the thief did not rebel against the idea of fleeing and so had begun to run with Noctis as they fled from the golden lady and the ever increasing dread that was growing within Noctis as time ticked on. As they ran, Noctis had spotted the rat like Captain coming up from the lower decks with a smirk of triumph on his face as he eyed a pocket watch. Shortly after this discovery, the young prince found himself fighting for balance as the ship lurched and came to a halt shortly after something that dully clanked and clanged was released into the water with a heavy splash. With these new elements added to the mix, Noctis’s dread only increased as he raced alongside Zidane as they hurried towards the only lifeboat left. As they reached the boat, a sound from behind caused both of them to pause and turn…and it was then that they saw the snake woman coming right at them! However, thankfully before she could reach them, a strange armored knight made of gold rammed into her and sent the gorgon flying into a wooden pole on the ship. Hissing, the woman had gotten back up leaving behind a single golden scale in the pole that quickly began to turn the wood into gold! With time seeming to press even harder upon him, Noctis had looked away from the battle that had begun between the woman and the armor. He didn’t have time to worry about them. He only knew that he and Zidane had to get off the ship as soon they could; however, plans of escape were quickly crushed as the Captain and his first mate managed to get between them and the life vessel. Drawing weapons, the pair who reeked with revenge made their statements before making their moves against the pair that was trying to escape. As Zidane and the Captain began their battle, Noctis backed away from a wild, yet precise swing from the first mate who had moved forward to finish the battle she had begun earlier with the prince…and also to pay him back from the kick he had given her to get away. As her blade sliced the air before him, Noctis took a step to the side before moving in with a horizontal swipe of his own aiming for the woman’s seemingly exposed side; however, the woman was quick and like a dancer she twirled out of harm’s range bringing her own sword to meet and parry the prince’s strike. Forced back a little, Noctis took a few steps back as he blocked out the chatter between Zidane and the Captain as he eyed the smirking woman for a moment, and then taking a defensive stance, Noctis held his blade in both hands and brought it to eye level. The prince became very still as he watched the pirate woman prance around for a bit, but then seeing that the prince was not bowing to her antics, she smirked as she became still and swung her sword in an arch before bring it vertically in front of her, holding the weapon close to her as she closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. It was a technique that Noctis had seen his instructor and also the palace soldiers do when they were training. It was some technique to calm one self, but coming from this pirate, the rather familiar move was unnerving as Noctis’s mind put the pieces of the puzzle together. While it was true the pirate woman was indeed good with her blade because of her wild nature, Noctis did not expect that the real cause of her skills was because she was first a solider and second a pirate. Alarming as this new data was, Noctis stayed calm as he reformed his plan of attack as the woman opened her eyes and glared over at him with that cold smirk of his. Taking the challenge that was thrown at him by the glare, Noctis pushed off the swaying boards of the deck and made his attack. Still smirking, the first mate shifted her weight and blade to meet the blow. With a loud clang, the two very different swords met and locked with one another as the two respective owners began a light struggle to gain the upper hand. While Noctis had strength, the woman who struggled against him was able to push back with enough force to keep the dead lock between them going. Chuckling, the pirate woman spoke to him as she watched him over her trembling blade. “Oho. It ‘as been a while since a man could actually hold his own against me. Why don’t I award ye a date, pretty boy? Don’t worry, I can show ye how to have real fun,” the woman said in sickly sweet tones that could easily mess up a weaker man’s concentration; however, despite how awkward Noctis could be when it came to women and flirting, this was one tactic that the prince knew how to fight against. Letting the woman believe she had the upper hand, Noctis eased up slightly on his resistance. The move was just enough to allow her to force him back a bit and make the woman believe her little words had worked on the young prince who had furrowed his eyebrows as he concentrated on his next move. Allowing the woman to move in closer as her excitement drove her to arrogance, the young prince kept backing down until the woman’s blade was quite close to cutting into him. His own blade was the only shield between himself and the woman’s sharp sword. It was then when the prince seemed to be losing that Noctis smirked up at the cockily grinning woman, the sudden change in his expression alarming her as he spoke. “Sorry, but you are not my type lady,” Noctis shot back as he unexpectedly slid from under the pressure forcing the woman who had bared down upon him for so long to stumble forward as her balance was suddenly lost by the move. Shocked from the action and words, the woman moved forward doing her best not to fall flat on her face as Noctis stepped to her side and brought his sword down upon her back. Seeing the blow coming from the corner of her eye, the woman tried to drop and roll with stumble, but she barely made it as the sharp end of Noctis’s blade cut off strands of the woman’s long hair and brushed against her upper back with enough force to rip into her thin shirt and draw a bit of blood. Growling from the blow, the woman spun around like a mad woman and prepared to attack once again as she looked over at Noctis with a face that was a twisted mask of anger; however, a strange move from the Captain caught her attention and halted her action. As Noctis watched, the woman’s anger turned into cold joy as Zidane yelled a question at the retreating Captain, who once again checked the pocket watch before calling out to the first mate, saying it was time to go? Noctis’s frowned in confusion at this as his eyes returned to the first mate. Glancing at him, she winked at him before blowing him a kiss. “’Tis a shameful waste. Ye should of taken me offer, pretty boy, Be missin’ ye,” the woman said before making her escape to the life boat as the Captain climbed to the edge of the ship, took off his hat, and bowed to them as he spoke of having fun before saying he would let his toy take care of Zidane and the prince. Not sure what that was supposed to mean, Noctis instinctively took a step forward to stop them; however, before he could so much as reach the retreating pair, the first mate had cut the ropes that supported the boat sending the vessel and its passengers to the sea below. As the Captain and woman made their escape, an inhuman screech from behind caused Noctis to turn to face the battle with the snake woman and the knight. The knight had apparently won as he withdrew his golden sword from the chest of the huntress that was slowly becoming still as golden blood poured from her wound and onto the deck, thankfully not turning it to gold. With his opponent defeated, the armor straightened itself out as it turned to himself and Zidane marking the pair as its next target; however, before anything could actually happen, the slow burning fuse below finally ran out. As flame and heat met the black and explosive powder of the barrels, the whole ship went up in a chaotic flurry of wood, metal, light, and sound. ** The Captain who was sitting quietly facing his lovely first mate turned as he heard the explosion come from the ship, the seas becoming choppier as the shock wave ran through the liquid. As he watched his precious vessel go up in flames, a smirk formed on his lips as contentment settled into his belly. “Well now, me thinks the scores ‘as been settled,” the Captain said turning back to face the first mate who was using the oars to move the boat forward with powerful and steady strokes. “What do ye think our next move should be, love?”“How about a bit o’ fun to celebrate the victory and then seeing what that key of yers really unlocks, hmm?” the woman responded back in soft tones as she smirked suggestively at the Captain. Smirking at the play and teases, the Captain nodded as he settled his clawed hands upon the now sheathed sword. “Aye, I cain’t object to that,” the Captain responded back with a light chuckle as the angry seas continued to carry the pair to safety. ** When the ship was ripped asunder by the fiery chaos caused by the exploding barrels, Noctis could feel pain and heat hit his body from all sides as he was lifted into the air and then flung away from the chaos by the sheer force of the explosion. As he flew through the air, he could not see or hear. His senses were distorted and ringing thanks to the eruption of unexpected light and deafening sound. The young prince couldn’t make heads or tails of where he was going and didn’t quite understand he had hit water when something cold and shocking hit his body before pressure and something else was forcing air out of his lungs. He tried to breath and resist whatever was pulling him down, but the battle was made difficult as something salty forced its way into every pore of his body and blocked out the precious air. Between this and the pain that assaulted him from every angle, the prince could feel himself sinking further and further into darkness as Etro’s pale and beautiful face became clearer and clear with each passing second. He didn’t want to die and yet…this time it seemed like he could not escape his fate as his struggle became less and less as his oxygen level began to deplete. Etro watched him with those cold unfeeling eyes, but she was shaking her head at him gently. “Not yet,” she was whispering to him before leaning forward and extending a pale hand to him. Weakly, Noctis reached out for that hand and touched it. As soon as he did this, Etro vanished as he was returned to swirling darkness as he was continuously pulled down. As he weakly stretched out his hand, something solid brushed against his fingers in that swirling chaos. Feeling that object, Noctis gave one last desperate attempt to save himself as he gripped at that object with fingers that were refusing to function correctly. By some miracle, he was able to get a grip upon the object that was moving somewhere and taking him with it and then – air! As cold wind slapped and stung against Noctis’s heated skin, the young mostly blinded and disoriented prince took in deep gulps of the air as he coughed and spluttered as salty water entered his mouth. He desperately clung to his slippery lifeboat that he could not see as he continued to try to regain his bearings, but failed. He continued to cough and splutter until his body finally calmed and his breathing while still labor had resumed a more normal pattern. Not able to hold onto consciousness, Noctis body became limp as his head slumped against the object he clung to. -- Noctis floated limply in the ocean, his head and upper body being supported by a large chunk of wood he had grasped as it floated past him when he was in the black depths of the sea. The young man could not tell how long he was out. All he knew was that as he floated in darkness and silence, cold and alone, a voice called out his name. It was a far off voice that at first the young man did not respond to; however, the longer he floated, the clearer that voice became until he could hear it as clear as a bell ring from a tower. “Noctis!”The voice was calling out to him in worried tones from a distance. The voice was familiar….it sounded like…. …Zidane…?His mind was in a fog, but something about the name that floated in that stirred something within the unconscious young man and caused him begin his fight against the darkness that surrounded him. He kept focusing on that name, trying to remember why it sounded so familiar as fought on. The young man struggled and struggled until like lightning, the memories rushed back to him in a flood. The meeting with Zidane, the chase for the gold armor, Zuko’s death, the pirates, the explosion… As the images came flooding back, Noctis body jerked with life as his eyes snapped opened and then closed as his breathing came out in rapid gasps. His vision was still messed up, but at least he could see way better than before and while his hearing was muffled, he definitely heard something in the distance. Water was slapping into his face stinging his eyes and his upper half was sore. His bottom half was numb and while that was bothersome, at the moment Noctis was not worried about the sensation as he instead focused on holding onto the wood that kept him afloat and looking for Zidane. It took a lot of squinting and searching, but eventually Noctis saw a large chunk of wood where a golden figure stood facing off with something that was blurred, but definitely had blue and blonde hues. “Zi…Zidane…” Noctis called, but his voice was hoarse and weak and easily swallowed by the raging sea’s waves. Forcing himself to focus, Noctis pulled up his remaining strength forcing his dysfunctional body and mind into action. He had to help Zidane. ** Back on the surviving piece of deck that Zidane was on, the golden knight dripping with water moved towards its target doing its best to get at the other as it tried to balance its weight on the swaying floor under it. The creature would attempt to do this for a long while before a single shot from a gun echoed across the ocean suddenly causing a large hole to bloom from the armor’s chest. As the armor bursted outwardly, the knight would cease its attack as it looked down at the hole taking notice that it was indeed damaged. If one looked through that hole, Noctis could be seen some distance away with a ring of weapons surrounding him. One of the weapons around him rested before the others. Lying horizontally in the air was a high powered rifle, the source that had caused the hole in the armor that was not made to handle such a blow. After the rifle had been fired, it would settle back into the ring of weapons around Noctis before slowly disappearing as the young man’s head slumped slightly causing his concentration on the technique he was using to fade. He seemed to fighting to stay conscious as the waves tossed him as he made slow progress forward. In any case, while Noctis worked towards getting to where Zidane was, the now damaged armor, trembled as it looked back at Zidane and tried to resume its attack; however, the golden gorgon which had been still up until now, unexpected got up and with her last bit of strength, she hurled herself at the armor that even in her final moments and even when the armor was damaged, the snake woman still attempted to claim the cursed thing for her master. With a heavy sway of wood and a loud splash, the armor and the snake woman hit the ocean waves and began to sink rapidly into the moody waters. But the question was, as that armor and snake sunk and somewhere else a particular gold hoarder claimed the statue of Zuko for her collection: Was the armor really destroyed and the snake woman really dead? ** After thinking of some way to help Zidane from afar, Noctis had gathered all the energy he could to focus on his technique weapon summon. While his body ached and begged for rest, the young man held onto consciousness as his eyes took on a red hue and he was able to summon a collection of weapons made up of one gun and various blades. Figuring due to time frames that no armor in this world would be a match for the high power weaponry of his world, Noctis concentrated on the blurred figures ahead of him. Concentrated on focusing the gun on the one that shined liked the sun as it moved about. With his target locked, he had given the gun a mental command to fire and so obeying his wish, the gun leveled itself with the armor and fired its fast moving projectile. Due to distance and having to fight against the wind, the bullet was slowed down enough to not have enough umph too fully exit the armor and in turn hurt Zidane. However, as it made contact with the target’s back, the bullet still had the power to pierce the armor before exploding within it causing a large hole to bloom on the cursed armor. Praying that nothing flew off and hit Zidane, Noctis’s vision briefly became black as his head slump forward and sleep threatened to take him again; however, Noctis refused to go down just yet as he shook his head and used his last bit of energy to focus on moving forward and towards the large chunk of wood that Zidane was on. He used the piece of wood he hung onto to stay afloat. Once his little raft met the edge of the larger piece of wood, with great effort Noctis managed to slide himself off of the smaller piece of wood and onto the edge of the larger one. He pulled his tired body only a little ways up onto the wood, but exhaustion and a sudden shot of pain flooding his left leg and side forced the prince to stop moving. Lowering his head with eyes closed tightly, Noctis winced as his face scrunched up in silent agony. Just what the hell happened to his leg and side to cause that sort of pain? It almost felt as if he had broken something or something had gotten burnt in the explosion. Noctis wasn’t quite sure what it was that caused such pain, but as it slowly settled into a throb once more, the prince settled with the fact that he would not be able to get out of the water in his current condition. Still despite how bad things were looking on his end, the prince kept a grip on the wood as he lifted his scratched and bruised face to look up at Zidane. He narrowed his eyes as he did his best to get his blurring vision to focus on the thief before him, but it was no use. The image refused to be clear, just as his hearing continued to be muffled and ring. Hoping the effects weren’t permanent, Noctis gave Zidane a shaky grin as he looked in his general direction. “Okay…yes…?” he whispered, his voice strained and hoarse from the ordeal and the exhaustion that was taking over him. Still, he fought to hold onto the damp wood beneath his torn gloves and battered fingers and arms. Fought to stay conscious as long as possible with pain and exhaustion threatening to pull him into sweet oblivion and darkness as the cold waves slapped against the half of his body that still submerged within the salty water. _________________________________________________________ ► TAGS: Your go Zidane! ^^ ► NOTES: …We survived… and are going to be okay…right? ► SKILLS USED: Weapon Summon: Dismissed due to exhaustion (Cooldown: 3 posts)
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2014 22:46:43 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves Zidane was ready to face the golden knight, alone if he had to. By the condition of the ship, and ringing in his ears, it seemed that something exploded, what the thief could not quite figure. As he gripped his daggers he mentally looked for a way to get over the monster's size, but was it really a monster at all? Living armor was far out of his league. His body worked to keep balance on the weavering platform, his tail held out and curled up to assist him in keeping balance. What happened to Noctis? He was thankful he had his gloves on as the tension would have easily caused his fingers to become sweaty. His limbs were trembling, the wear and tear from the poison and being tossed about by the serpent woman, not the mention being hurled by the sudden and powerful explosion. It began to take its toll on the boy’s body and psyche. Combat had no strong influence on his heart, but the fear he held began to burden him with fear … terror.
What if Noctis drowned? What if he was blown to bits?! It was his fault! And all for what? Curiosity? No, Zidane was intent on stopping something he knew would be big trouble later. He had a feeling. This guy was trouble and he was way too ambitious. His actions seemed way too random. All this work for a metal knight and a k…. a key! That was right! The rat had pilfered a key. For a while it had Zidane baffled. With such a high concentration of nobles, someone being pickpocketed was quite normal, but for a lady to get mugged in the inn? That was suspicious. He began gathering an idea of what the nezumi may have been after but with every step it seemed he was further from the truth. He figured well enough with the gold armor, but to think it was cursed? No way. There was something more to it than that!
Than suddenly the knight lunged!
Zidane held up his blades, ready to fight, but another explosion cracked through his barely recovering hearing, that still buzzed from the previous explosion. A curdling creek twisted through the golem of gold as a blast punched through its torso. When the blast barreled through the knight Zidane stiffened: his tail bristled up like a cat’s tail, the fur stiff and standing on end. Suddenly the, thought dead, snake woman lunged into the knight, sending both into the sea. Zidane stood in shock as to what just happened. Looking across the way he would spot Noctis, but the guy was barely hanging on.
“Noctis!” Zidane shouted and threw his blades back into his scabbards before running to his side.
The aching thief rushed to his side and pulled the young man’s arm over his shoulder to better support him. The young prince seemed really out of it. Looking around would look as if both their luck was finally being paid back in full. The surface they had found purchase on was slowly sinking. Zidane would curse under his breathe. Though he, himself, was quite injured from their endeavors he wa not about to let his friend go down in the mess he followed. The worry for his comrade easily overcame the pain wracking his body. He pushed to the water’s edge before pulling his fingers to his lips. He blew out a sharp whistle before reaching into his satchel, but he found that all his Gysahl greens were soaked and soggy. Useless. What was he going to do now? They were going down and Zidane could not possibly swim with Noctis in these currents. He was too weak from the fighting and poison.
“What a time to be without a white mage handy, huh big guy?” Zidane mused.
Even when the situation seemed its darkest he still found the time to joke. But maybe it would be his last joke? He never got to see her face. He had put on this farce just to find excuse to have her come to his side. Maybe he should have not put on such a show and gone to hers? The water was only getting higher and the two would seem to close to the time where they would have to make their peace. Zidane dryly chuckled.
“Some hero I am, huh? Can’t even save one friend from drowning… sorry guys…”
Warrrk!
A familiar suddenly broke the heavy air. Zidane snapped his head up, only to find that his luck may have just taken a pit stop. “Choco?!” He cried out as the golden bird paraded through the water and onto the still floating surface of debris.
The golden ratite jumped for joy! He was finally able to climb onto the ship with his friend! Choco warbled out urgently, aware his friend was in need of help.
“Come on Choco, we gotta get going. You know where they went, right buddy? Cause I got an idea…” He laid Noctis over the back of the bird, who seemed annoyed when Zidane also climbed on. “Sorry buddy, he’s hurt, think you can hold on til we get to the harbor?” Though unwilling to carry so much weight, the bird agreed to help best he could.
The harbor was the only place left to go to get out of the raging seas, which only grew more contesting as time went on. The key belonged to an Alexandrian, so it must open Something there! The sinking ship was left behind. It was not long before everything that could not float indefinitely, would find its way to the bottom of the ocean. The bird rushed toward the shore, the ship having not pulled far off from Alexandria’s coast. They were way behind by now, Zidane rushing toward the harbors. When he manage to pull in on chocobo back he would look around, only to find all of the occupying Alexandrian guards knocked out. Standing at the Statue of Neptune was the Captain and his first mate.
The first mate was grinning wildly, her blade coated in the blood of the soldiers, while the Captain stepped onto the floating statue. “Looks like we’ve company cap’n.” She smirked, eyes grinning past her bangs, her scar visibly throbbing from the bloodlust that was consuming her. The Captain reached up to the statue’s red--glowing Trident and snapped it off.
The captain smiled proudly “Reckon why this stone carries its visitors away an’ up? Because that is what they be wishing for. Reckon why the whole lot of nobles was lusting for a pretty rock? Because it what they be wishing for. Reckon… why a pile of metal suddenly got up and about? Because it be wishing for it.” He stepped forward and held out the key. “Why do ye think I found me a willing crew…?” He released the key and dropped it into the water below. It was washed away by the rushing liquid. “Because I wished for it.”
“C-cap’n?” The first mate turned her head, only to feel a sudden pain course through her. he let out a shout as her hand came over her scarred face. She fell to her knees, body arching in pain. “W-what…?” Her voice seems to have soften.
Her memories began to flow back. The one who had given her this scar was…. she looked back to the nezumi, face locked in horror, her memories still bright and clear with the path she did not choose. Klein’s blood red eye glimmered as he began to laugh. He raised up the trident head he tore from the statue before ramming it into his lame leg with a biting shout.
“All these things, because you forsook me boy! You,” He pointed to the woman as his body began to shift, contort and mutate. “Ye really think I’d trust an Alexandrian after the war was started by yer own kind!?” He laughed out as a monstrous claw reached out to grab the woman, his own size doubling, tripling as he began to transform into a foul creature, as if twisted by the mist. His fur thickened his muscles bulged. He began to raise the now screaming, former first mate, off the ground.
“Y-you have a Bloodstone!” She shouted as his front teeth became razor sharp.
“Aye lass,” voice deepened by his size change. “A fitting price to be paying for my revenge, for being left to nearly die in a war I nay sought!”
Bloodstones were mysteriou objects. Treasures that blessed a user with power, but if abused they would exact a price much greater, a blood price. Their name came not from the color they had, but the cost of their power. Whatever has been sacrificed to the stone, it would give out in equal measure. Zidane had no idea how bloodstones worked, he only knew, from Eiko, many of them seemed to house treasures inside… These were the sacrifices of power. But to give one’s own blood? Such a reward could only lead to catastrophe.
“Now I’ll be having what I lured you ‘ere for lad… my revenge!” The key was a trap!
It was only meant to lure them to the battleground! The Alexandrian knight, the other pirates… they were all brainwashed by the stone’s power. Klein had already given a shard of the stone his flesh, now he would provide it a blood sacrifice. Bloodstones were a cursed treasure, not meant to be the hands of Gaians….. Klein rose the woman to his mouth. She struggled, but could not get free. She turned her dark eyes to the boys, tears streaming down her face. She held out her hand and cast upon them a Cure spell, stitching up their minor wounds and exhaustion.
“I’m sorry…” And right there, before their eyes, the monster nezumi ate the former knight.
“Ye be next lads!” He laughed darkly, the belly filled rumbles shaking the harbor as the trident piercing his flesh only grew more embedded as his body grew and reformed to a massive height.
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►TAGS: Noctis~! ►NOTES: Well, that was unexpected. A wererat. ►SKILLS USED: N/A CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2014 19:49:58 GMT -5
Noctis had continued to float on the sea for an indefinite amount of time, leaving Zidane to face off the golden knight alone upon that floating piece of wood he was on. While that battle went on, the young prince fought to regain his consciousness as inwardly he knew, he needed to help his friend. He couldn’t leave Zidane alone to face the dangers. Couldn’t abandon the blonde in his time of need. His logical side understood that the tailed thief was still recovering from poison and other damages. Understood that the guy needed support and while this did motivate him to fight harder against the thick chains of sleep and darkness, the real motivation to reach the world of sound and sensations once more was the feeling that came from Noctis’s Heart. Over the short spans of time that he had spent with Zidane, the prince had followed the thief through some treacherous waters in their long hunt of the gold armor and the chase they had gone through to catch the rat and pirates who had it. While at first the prince had been leery of the blonde and even questioned the guy’s motive, as he traveled with the guy and Zuko, his world and eyes had been opened up to new things causing the usually cautious prince to lay down his logical precautions as he instead relearned how to trust his Heart. For the first time since leaving home, the young prince had allowed himself to settle into his true self and cast aside the part of him that was a prince. Sure, he still knew his duty to his people, still knew he needed to get home, still knew he needed to protect others from the darkness plaguing the worlds. He understood exactly where he stood on the chess board and while the young man never planned on tossing away those goals, to survive in this situation and do what was needed to help others, Noctis had to free himself from the rules of his class and simply act upon the impulses that drove him down the path to do the right thing…even if the means of getting there was not always agreed upon. It was these same impulses that had pushed him away from Zuko’s malice and drew him to Zidane, binding him to the thief that had become more like a brother with each passing moment. Noctis couldn’t explain how this process worked but then again… he didn’t need to try to explain it or understand either. All the young man needed to know was which way was the seemingly right path and follow it….and right now that path pointed towards Zidane. So as the darkness held onto him and the sea tossed him here and there as he drifted upon that wood he rested upon, the prince fought with all his might against sleep until he was finally brought back to the world of pain, light, coldness, and muffled sounds. Blocking out the pain and exhaustion, Noctis had focused on finding Zidane in the stormy seas and while his vision was not clear, he eventually found what he was looking for. Gathering as much energy as he could, he focused on one attack that he hoped would help out his blonde friend. Noctis summoned his weapons and managed to get one gun out of the bunch. A lucky draw considering his condition. In any case, the young man focused his mental energy through his pain. He leveled the gun with his mind and when the time was right, he “pulled” the trigger that released the loud shot that only made his ears and head hurt more placing him back into a world of disorientation. As he tumbled in this confusing world, Noctis didn’t register if the bullet had hit his intended target or not for a second after the shot was fired, the prince had blacked out briefly losing all control over his attack and in turn, the weapons were dismissed as his energy ran close to empty. Still the young man was determined not to give up. He still needed to reach Zidane to see what he could do to help the guy... even if his own condition was bad. Struggling back to consciousness, Noctis had managed to use the last bit of his strength to fight his way through the currents of the sea and move towards the large chunk of wood Zidane was on. As he moved, he saw a streak of gold attack what he assumed was the armor, taking the large thing down with it into the ocean’s moody waves. While the prince did not understand what had happened in his disoriented state, he was glad that the armor was away from his friend. Hoping that no further harmed had come to the thief that had suffered so much already, Noctis managed to make it to the floating platform and pull himself slightly onto it; however, when pain and exhaustion wouldn’t allow him to move any further, the prince had ceased his movement as he instead slumped against the wet wood with the majority of his body still submerged in the shifting sea. Exhausted as he was, he had managed to look in the general direction of Zidane and ask his question, but whether or not he had gotten a response he wasn’t sure as his vision blurred terribly and his mind began to sink into sleep once more. Noctis fought against the coming unconsciousness, but the battle was futile. He was much too weak at this point to fight any longer. He was slipping quickly back into darkness as his head began to slowly rest back on the wet wood. As his body began shutting down, he barely registered when Zidane called his name and he didn’t move as the wobbly platform shifted even more when Zidane came over to aid him. Noctis wasn’t pulled back to reality until shortly after Zidane began to move him. He could feel the pull on his arm and feel his body being dragged onto the platform; however, pain overrode the small sensations as Noctis blue eyes shut tightly as he did everything in his power not to scream out, but the occasional cry could not be helped. The pain made him tremble as he held onto the tailed thief’s shoulder tightly as tears automatically welled into his eyes. The pain he was feeling was excruciating and without any relief for what felt like an hour; however, as his weight settled upon Zidane, the young prince would remain like a rag doll upon the other who supported him, his right leg barely supporting him as the left one, a bit more burnt, remained limp under him. As much as he wanted to take some of his weight off of Zidane, the young man’s body simply could not do it as his grip relaxed slightly on the thief who supported him upon that shifting platform. He could hear Zidane speaking, but the young man had no energy to respond back to him as his head remained drooped and his eyes closed. Hanging somewhere between conscious and sleep, Noctis barely comprehended the whistle Zidane let out to call Choco. He didn’t take note that their piece of wood was sinking and that it was only a matter of time before they sunk to their watery death. He barely heard Zidane’s apology, but even if he could hear him, he would not hold a grudge against the thief. After all, he had chosen to come for Zidane. Chosen to follow. He had known what that meant. Knew the danger and the potential of death. He placed his own life in death’s path just to try and save another and while the prince wasn’t sure how well of a job of that he had done, he appreciated the fact that even with all the odds against them, Zidane still tried. That was all that mattered to him. Unfortunately, Noctis was in state to form this thought logically as the water continued to rise as their little boat sunk. He had no way of encouraging the strong willed thief. No way of telling him that in the end it would be okay. It sucked, but that was unfortunately the pickle they were currently in. In any case, as Noctis’s mind shifted in and out of conscious, he could see Etro hovering just out of range of his range of sight. Doing his best to focus on the woman, the young prince saw the goddess, shaking her head once more. “Not yet…”As soon as the words were whispered from the goddess of death’s lip, reality began to look brighter rather than grim as the slowly sinking wood continued its descent towards the ocean’s floor. Noctis registered sound, but could not open his eyes to see what was making the sound. He felt his body being moved and felt pain that caused him to groan lightly in protest to the action before he felt his body being sunk into cold water briefly before he was being pulled and laid upon something warm and soft. With this new and welcomed comfort, the prince’s body relaxed even more as his face and body settled into the material. He could feel something behind him and feel agitated movement under him, but once more he could not comprehend what it was as he simply rested against the soft and warm thing causing him to fall deeper into the darkness that held him. ** Some undefined time later, Noctis woke to throbbing pain coming from all over his body, the place that hurt the most was his left leg. As he opened his blurry eyes, he could make out shadows before him and could sense that something was holding him up. Something that was familiar and comforting, but his mind would not focus as he weakly lifted his head and narrowed his eyes trying to focus on what that was before himself and the one supporting him. He could smell something coppery and a bit nauseating….something that smelt like blood, but where was the scent coming from and why? Confused still, Noctis rested his head against the warm thing that supported him and shifted slightly under him. He locked his eyes on the ground and blinked a couple of times as his hearing and vision slowly cleared. Slowly, he would see the bodies of women dressed in armor tossed across the ground, apparently knocked out… or maybe the correct term was dead. Apparently, they were the source of the blood scent… Frowning slightly as his mind registered this strangeness, Noctis let his body reboot as he weakly sat up once more and realized he was actually resting on the back of the golden Chocobo that belonged to Zidane! Realizing this, the young prince’s mind snapped into focus as he willed himself to sit up a bit more on the bird he rested against. The bird gave out a small warble, but otherwise let him shift slightly in his seat on its back as he looked around for Zid… Huh?!Noctis sleepy blue eyes locked on the figures that were slightly ahead them. It was the rat captain and the crazy pirate woman that tagged along with him! They were under some strange statute that wielded a triton like weapon that seemed to glow with the same hue that the red gem that drove everyone to madness over treasure. Was this then the main source of that stone or was this something else? Noctis’s tired mind couldn’t tell as his eyes flickered from the woman with her blade coated in blood to the captain that was reaching up to snap the triton right out of the statue’s hands as the woman announced their arrival with that crazed grin that she liked to wear upon her lips. Supporting himself, by leaning against the chocobo, Noctis briefly noticed that someone else was on the bird with him and assumed it was Zidane; however, he didn’t look back to see if this was true or not for the rat like Captain was smiling now as he held the triton in his hands. He was looking over the item with a mad gleam in his eye before he was turning the look to himself, the bird, and the second rider. The chocobo shifted uncomfortably under the gaze, but otherwise held its ground as the Captain began to speak about the blood-red stone that the triton was made up of. The captain was asking questions that he quickly answered with because that is whoever wished for. The more the injured prince listened to the man and his strange speech, the more awake he became as he felt the second rider slide off the bird, but with his body still not fully functional, Noctis remained on the chocobo gripping the feathers upon the bird’s back gently as nervousness sunk its claws into him. The prince didn’t like where this conversation was going and the chocobo knew it. Warbling a bit, the bird took a step back, but thankfully did not bolt away as the Captain’s words became darker and darker as he lifted one hand up to snap the key from the chain around his neck and then held holding the key out and showing it to all, the captain asked how they all thought he got a willing crew to come on this crazy journey. No one answered as they watched in shock as the rat took a step closer to the waters’ edge and then dropped the always useless key into the ocean before looking up at them all and whispering in deadly tones the simple answer to his own question – because he wished for it. As Noctis heard the words and saw the look in the rat man’s eyes, all the pieces of the chaotic mess leading up to this point suddenly snapped into place. It all made sense now…the red stone and the lust it caused... It was a gem that enhanced the lust and desire for material things within a person. Those who did not know how to control themselves were consumed by the urge and was ultimately destroyed by the very thing they wanted. The cursed treasure had always been the gem itself and not the actually items it was associated with. The lady of gold had an eyes made of this stone and so too did the Captain who now wielded a triton of the same color. The reason Captain had dragged them around in a circle for so long was to use everyone until he finally reached what he wanted…his point of vengeance. As the realization sunk in, Noctis watched the exchange between the Captain and the woman, watched how the scarred woman went from confident pirate to writhing in agony as she clutched her head. Unsure of what was happening to her, Noctis wanted to help the woman despite what she had put him through, but he could not move himself off of the chocobo and the bird most certainly wasn’t going to move forward with all the chaos that was happening now. In fact, it was taking all of the bird’s will power not to buck Noctis off and flee the scene in fear. The loyalty the bird had to those whom it called friend was truly admirable, but admirable or not…it seemed that the woman’s pain was only the warning signal for the horror that came next. As the woman seem to come out whatever spell that had her working for the rat, she looked at the other in horror as she seemed to remember something from her past. As her memories flooded back to her, the rat raised the triton high into the air before bringing it down upon his lame leg. Letting out a pained shout, the rat quickly pushed it away as he first yelled at Zidane and then pointing a clawed finger at the woman he had manipulated, he began to yell at her too telling her he’d never trust her kind due to some grudge he had against her and Alexandrians for starting a war Noctis had no clue about. It was certainly a curious piece of information; however, curious or not, Noctis confusion and wonder was unexpectedly turned to pure horror as the rat’s body began to shift, pulse, and mutate into something twisted. The chocobo under Noctis let out a frightened warble as it jumped around in a panic, effectively knocking the young man off its back before the bird turned tail and ran away not wanting to stay around this insane scene any longer. Noctis hit the ground hard landing on his mostly uninjured side, but even so the impact caused fresh pain to assault his body. The young prince let out a hiss of pain as he closed his eyes tightly to let that wave of pain pass. As he kept his eyes closed and remained on the ground, he could hear screaming and opened watery eyes just in time to see the still transforming rat grab the woman that used to be his first mate with a clawed hand that clamped tightly around the woman’s waist. In horror, Noctis watched and listened to the scene unfold. He heard something about a bloodstone, but due to not being from this world, the young prince could only assume that the stone they spoke of was the material the captain had placed within his leg that caused him to grow and change….and if this was true, then Noctis rather not find out any more about the stone through personal experience. No, he’d much rather study whatever a bloodstone was from afar rather than find one to examine it personal. After all, look what it was doing to the rat Captain! With the sickening crunching of shifting bones, the Captain continued to grow and finished his transformation before announcing that he would indeed have his revenge. Then in a stomach twisting turn of events, the monstrous rat moved the woman towards his face as she turned to look back at Noctis and Zidane. She held out her hand towards them and cast some spell upon himself and Zidane that easily stitched up most of the minor wounds on Noctis body and healed the badly damaged leg slightly as a warm and gentle energy washed over him. The prince could feel his exhaustion wash away and his strength returning to him slightly as he remained on the ground. He could hear the woman whisper an apology and then, the rat monster placed her in his mouth and then with a sickening display that assaulted the senses, the creature ate the woman causing a the scent of death to stain the area. Horrified, Noctis couldn’t help, but to stare for a moment in silence as his mouth hung open slightly in shock as he stared at the empty space where the woman had been. That image of her last moment was forever etched into his brain along with her final words, so when that rat, its teeth and lips dripping with the blood of its former meal spoke, Noctis snapped out of his trance as he looked up at the creature with a different form of anger flooding him. This whole adventure…it was just wrong! While Etro warned him of some of the tragedies that would come his way, she didn’t show her hand completely. She didn’t warn him just how many would lose their lives to this journey. This journey that was all about one selfish rat’s revenge! Senseless… Noctis thought as he pushed himself to his feet as he kept his head bowed slightly. The young prince swayed slightly as he balanced his weight between his good leg and his injured one, but in time, the prince became still as he summoned his weapon and looked up at the rat through his still drying bangs. He was no longer afraid of the creature as he took a defensive stance, watching the beast carefully. “You can try to take us,” Noctis said to the rat coldly before his eyes briefly flickered over to Zidane, his expression serious and focused. “Together then?” he asked with a slight smirk and then refocusing on the rat that had the slowly sinking trident going into his skin, Noctis became serious once more as he waited for the creature to make the first strike….. __________________________________________________________________________________ ► TAGS: Tag you’re it! ► NOTES: ….I am really beginning to become quite peeved with this whole revenge thing everyone likes to use as an excuse to destroy stuff and people…: Zidane, let’s make this guy pay the piper! ► SKILLS USED: Weapon Summon: 2 posts
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 15:56:40 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves
The thief could only watch as the nezumi declared war on all those around him. His dark heart had long since been swallowed by the heavy sinkhole created by feelings of betrayal stirred by a war that should have never happened. The scarred Burmecian spoke of wishes and his drive to take vengeance on the thief for a passing time. It was a time, though not forgotten: it was long put behind him so that he could move forward. But the Captain seemed unable to see passed his injuries, of both body and mind. A grudge was a festering poison that crippled a man and kept him from seeing the good that remained in the soul. The Captain’s soul was as black as tar now.
The Alexandrian soldiers taken out by the first mate were Zidane’s first concern. His blue eyes traced along their forms, and perhaps now, above all others: could one be thankful for the uniforms they wore. Though they exposed skin, they were lighter and easier to maneuver in than the heavy, full-bodied armors of Lindblum soldiers. This allowed them to not suffer the death carving moves of a fellow former and it also allowed the thief to ensure they were well. Though shallow: their breathes caused their bodies to shudder, even as their blood painful flowed onto the once pristine, marble floor.
Choco stood strong, but the thief could hear the silent clicks the ratite was making as he clicked his beak uneasily. The thief held out his blades at the ready, slightly crouched where he stood, more worried about Noctis than himself. He had to get this guy out of here before more soldiers came running in when they found out the statue wasn’t working. The soldiers strewn about were also hurt, but he found there was nothing he could do about it. Why was he so useless? he thought he had become a little stronger, seeing all these sights and meeting these people. Was it not enough? What else did he need? He had all this supposed power, yet he couldn’t even stop a thief! No -- he was not thief. A pirate, a madman! A beast drunk on revenge and hatred.
As his speech escalated Zidane could feel nothing but pity stirring in his heart for this nezumi, for this soldier that was cast to the wayside. But it was not his fault. He fought so hard to save everyone he could. It was simply asking too much to save everyone, and forget about those he had to stop so the war would find an end. All he did was after he had few other paths to choose and when he had no path he had to find another way, but no-- there was no way he would allow this man to pass judgement on him for the path he walked, so that those after him could walk without fear. He followed this man not just on suspicion, but of worry. If there were those spreading such dangerous rumors people would follow. Honestly he was not much bothered by another gang taking over their territory. What sort of treasures were left in the world anyway? What became his growing concern was, as the rumors twisted together, he feared that it was another relic from Terra that lay scattered across Gaia for any to find.
The captain admitted to manipulating the lives of countless others. He had taken it upon himself to continue a war, but this time it was one of pure hated. The rogue had understood Kuja and the place he stood. In the end Zidane felt he could forgive a man who was forced to live a Fate not his own, only to wildly fight back in fear. What Zidane could not understand was this utter hatred over that which he could not control.
Choco could no longer bear the malicious air, and who was he to blame his dear friend? That bird has suffered his fair share as well. But what he did not calculate was Noctis being unable to stay on the fleeing ratite. Zidane rushed to the young man's side and dropped to his knees. His hands, which still clutched his blades, just hovered over the Prince's shoulders. Why was he here? Questions flooded the young rogue's mind and apprehension locked his joints in place. How could he stand to meet the pirate's accusations when they were not only true, but the suffering all around him was because he couldn't to help the one person that really needed it? Why was he to blame?
The vile crunching noise bore through the young Genome's soul. When Klein's fangs came upon his last, regretful puppet tears streamed from the unjustly strong boy. He was at his limit: both physically and emotionally. The poison had eaten away at his strength and putting Noctis into such danger had tore his spirit. So all of this suffering, was all to accomplish a selfish goal? Did Zidane understand this correctly? In a last ditch effort to repent: the former Alexandrian soldier cured the pair of their more immediate wounds.
The young thief, feeling his flesh being stitched up, found the pain and exhaustion fading away. Though his thicker bruises remained untouched by the spell and the bones too broken to snap back into place continued to ache. He pushed to his feet, fingers loosely gripping the hilts of his twin blades. Zidane stood there, Noctis' words a powerful reminder of what did they now stood upon. The boy's arms were shaking, his heart beating frantically against his ribcage. His guilt was giving way to anger.
"H-hey, Noctis..." His voice was shaky at best. "Would you mind if I go all out on this guy?" Though he was only asking out of a sense of courtesy or a warning...
By the way the boy's head was lowered and his blonde bangs covered his eyes: his dejection was clear. If Noctis looked carefully, upon the thief's gloved hand and bare arm; the limb and a section of his cheek, was the splattered with the blood of the manipulated first mate. Tears continued to streamed down the boy's face.
Energy began to violently twist around his body as fur began to grow along his forearm. His tail turned a bright pink, fur becoming jagged as the pure energy that began to tear away at his clothing: the light around him looking as if it was swallowing the fabric and blinking it out of existence. The boy had slipped into a Trance, his anger and guilt reaching critical mass. The were-nezumi pulled his arm over his eyes at the bright light. When the light pulled back into the thief the mutated pirate looked down to the boys, standing meters above them. Deep-throated laughter erupted from the monstrous rat.
"It'll take you boys more than words an' a change a fur color to stop me!" Klein laughed, the stone in his eye and trident his leg glowed in unison.
His massive, clawed hand came down onto the boys. He was intent on crushing the thief and interloper. Zidane jumped back, his Trance slowly stitching up his wounds second by second. His daggers were held tight in his palms. The boy kicked off the ground and charged toward the monster's shoulder.
"Let's cut him down to size Noctis!" He shouted before jamming his left blade into the rat's shoulder and using his right to slash diagonally across the upper arm of pure muscle.
While the boys were faced with the monstrous rat: Choco had escaped to the open waters of the sea. The golden bird blinked his dark eyes and looked around. Something was off. He looked down between his talons. Foam had began to bubble up. Usually this meant there was some sort of treasure at the bottom of the sea. Soft, curious warbles fluttered from the bird. Suddenly the gas pocket gushed outward.
Choco cried out in panic and flapped his wings as he made a quick getaway to the Chocobo Forest. Slowly, from the sea, rose a demonic conglomeration of gold and scales. The serpent and armor had become one. Ruby eyes now glowed from the once empty, soulless helmet. It was now under the conscious control of the dying snake woman. She would have her revenge on the captain....
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►TAGS: Next~! ►NOTES: It's just too cruel! ►SKILLS USED: Trance- 5 Cooldown; 3 Post Duratio; Regen- Passive During Trance; Dodge Jump- 2 Cooldown (during trance); Attack'd CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2014 11:59:52 GMT -5
While Noctis was in a half daze on the chocobo listening to the ravings of a man sunk deeply into revenge, the young prince could somewhat sense Zidane nearby and felt the guy’s tension as the creature before them threw out more words and radiated hate upon the blonde. Noctis didn’t understand the situation, but then again he didn’t have to. What he understood was that the creature before them had been wronged in some fashion and while Noctis was sure this error Zidane supposedly committed during the war was unintentional, the beast man was now in the wrong.
Sure, being wronged in any fashion scarred and tore at the soul, but one had to learn to let that stuff go in the light of a situation that could not be controlled by the one who was being blamed for the error. Forgiving was a hard thing to do, but at the same time it was a necessary thing to do. If one could not forgive, then one became consumed by the grudge and hate. Became twisted and cruel…became what this creature was now.
Pity and understanding were the only two emotions that flooded Noctis as he continued to listen to the rant. The whole situation pulled at his Heart. He felt sorry for the injured beast man, but also was tad bit peeved that Zidane was being victimized for something he probably did not wish to happen. The feelings kept the prince calm upon the bird for only a few seconds, but then even those emotions were dashed to bits as the beast decided to use the red triton within its clawed hands to stab the lame leg and began its transformation into a hideous beast.
Tensing, Noctis felt the bird shift under him before it hopped about and tossed him off its back and fled in terror from the scene. While the fall and impact caused a great deal of pain to the prince, he was able to suck it in as Zidane came to his side. Through eyes blurred by pain, Noctis looked up at Zidane from his downed position and tried to give him a reassuring smile despite his body aches. He really wished he wasn’t so injured and could actually do something to aid his worried friend instead of being a burden. Even now, when he was under some type of weight, Zidane was doing what he could to protect him against whatever was going to come next from the mad beast man. Noctis wanted to help ease whatever strife was plaguing the other; however, before he could even find words to comfort or encourage the other, the now giant beast man scooped up the female pirate drawing Noctis’s attention to the horrible event that happened next.
As the monster brought the prey he had to his lips, the woman tried to repent by healing Nocts and Zidane before her life came to a stomach turning end. Unable to look away, Noctis could see Zidane crying from the corner of his eye as his own stomach turned and twisted with disgust and anger.
How could he? Why? And for what?
The question crashed in around Noctis as his body healed slightly from the spell, but thanks to his mind being in a daze at the turn of events, the young prince stayed down for a while longer. He was trying to make sense of the situation and understand why they all had to suffer for someone else’s petty revenge. Why?
The question plagued him for a while longer until a simple answer hit the young prince. This had all happened because the beast wished it to happen.
The repeated phrase sunk into the prince’s mind and pierced through his stunned state, adding fuel to the slowly growing fire within. Getting to his feet and distributing his weight between his good and bad leg, Noctis had his weapon in hand as his eyes locked on the creature before him that lashed the air with its tail as it looked down on them with a blood stained grin and crazed eyes. He spoke his words to Zidane in calm tones as he felt the other's anger and pain match up with his own.
When the other spoke to him a few seconds later in that shaky voice, Noctis glanced at him, spotting the blood upon the other. The blood was fresh and probably splashed upon the blond from the “meal” the rat monster had just had. As the young prince looked at his friend that kept his head bowed as tears poured down his face, Noctis felt a ping of something similar to sorrow hit him. He hated to see people suffer and this sort of thing always hit him hardest when it came to his friends and while he wanted to simply comfort the guy as long as tall and ugly with them, Nocts knew there was no room for that. So keeping his cool as his features softened slightly, the young prince replied in calm tones. “I don’t mind at all."
As soon as the prince had given permission to Zidane to give his all to this battle, a strange form of energy began to surround Zidane as fur began to grow on him and his tail became pink! Not sure what this was, Noctis took a cautious step from his friend before he had to turn away completely to block the bright light that suddenly erupted from the guy. When the light finally subsided and Noctis was able to look at his friend again, he was surprised the guy had transformed into a pink creature of some sort. Powerful emotion filled energy flowed off this new form of Zidane, but unlike the beast, Zidane did not carry the same malice. So the only reaction, the transformation got from the prince was a slight rising of the eyebrows; however, the surprise was quickly erased by the deep throated laugh from the transformed rat man.
As serious blue eyes turned to look up at the towering creature, Noctis’s eyes narrowed as he heard the words and watched the red eye and the triton still poking out of the guy's leg glow in unison as the creature laughed once more before attacking.
Sweeping downward, the rat’s massive clawed hand came at himself and Zidane. As Zidane (who seemed to be healing from the injuries in his new form) gripped his blades tightly before pushing off the ground and running up the arm of the beast and towards the creature’s shoulder, Noctis did the best he could to jump back with a bad leg. As he landed, he heard Zidane’s call before the giant hand was slamming into the ground inches from him kicking up debris and causing a small quake with its impact. As soon as it hit the ground, the clawed hand was flipping to its side and moving to swipe up Noctis. Noctis did not move as he allowed to the hand to grasp him and turn his world into an uncomfortable one of smelly, blood soaked fur, and high pressure.
The rat was trying to squeeze him to death; however, Noctis did not panic as he shifted his body slightly in the grip, so that he could turn his sword the proper direction needed for his next move. With the blade facing towards his prison, Noctis rested the point carefully against one of the walls that pressed in upon him, so when Mr. Rat decided to squeeze harder, he ended up impaling his own hand with the sword. Not caring about the sticky, warm, and wet feel of blood getting on him when the small wound opened from the blade. Noctis kept a tight grip on the hilt of his now embedded sword as that hand opened and tried to shake him and the weapon off; however, the effort was futile for the blade was quite snug in its spot. So even though Noctis was swung about in the air, his hold wiggling slightly in the hand it was in, the young prince never let go as he waited for the swing to subside bearing through the pain that assualted him with each swing. Eventually the swing did subside, but not in a fashion Noctis would’ve expected. The wild swing from the injured hand suddenly became a quick movement upward and towards the rat creature’s shoulder. As the creature moved his hand, Noctis held on for the ride taking notice that Zidane had managed to land a blow on the creature’s shoulder thus why the giant was making this new move. It was an instinct to grab at the injury, but more than that it was the strong desire to crush what had harmed him that truly made that hand move. As the hand moved, Nocits used the force of the forward motion and the wind to his advantage as he quickly turned his body and swung towards the moving palm.
Hitting the palm, Noctis held onto the strange padding of the beast’s paw with one hand and kept a grip on his sword with the other hand. Getting his legs under him, Noctis bit back pain as he scrunched himself into a little ball and then quickly hurled himself off of the moving wall he was on, making sure to pull his sword out when he launched himself. As he flew through the quickly closing gap between hand and shoulder, the young prince quickly reposition himself as he fell at angle and towards the creature’s chest. Grabbing on to a thick rope like piece of fabric that hung from the mutated creatures upper chest, Noctis slid downward a bit feeling the slight burn of the fabric tearing through his already damaged gloves; however, the young prince did not care as he tightened his grip until finally came to a stop amongst the moving shreds of torn fabric. Swing from the movement of the creature, Noctis ignored the pain of his body as he dismissed his sword for the moment.
Twisting around in the mess of fabric, Noctis grabbed another piece of the thick fabric with his other hand before carefully beginning to swing through the vine like structure, using mainly his arms to support himself since his leg was giving him issues. Regardless of the pain and hard work, Noctis eventually made his way to the back side of the creature where the tail whipped the area violently under a thick belt that was barely holding together and what was left of a pouch. Wrapping his hands in the fabric he held onto, Noctis paused for a moment to look down towards the ground that was now a very long ways a way. Still, he didn’t care as his eyes scanned the back of the rat’s constantly shifting legs until he spotted the protruding piece that was a part of the red triton sticking out of that lame leg.
Seeing his target, Noctis looked away from it for a bit as he braced himself for his next not so smart move as he untangled himself from the fabric and took in deep steadying breaths. When he thought he was ready, the young prince swung himself away from the rat and let go of the fabric as he began to free fall towards the leg with the triton in it. As he fell, he resummoned his sword as he saw the tail swishing towards him. Knowing that this was going to be a problem beforehand, Noctis flipped his position in the air so that he was coming down point first upon the tail in a semi-downward thrust. His blade met and sunk into the tail, the rat howled in pain as he flicked his tail wildly; however, the flicking only made the sword cut deeper as Noctis used his weight to slide downward with the momentum. The prince cut a nice size cut into the tail before he painfully halted his slide with his legs, the injured one burning terribly as he pushed himself off the swinging appendages and let the force of the swinging tail push forward and towards his target. Pain ridden or not, Noctis kept focused as he angled his fall towards the protruding piece of the triton. Then when the time was right, he lifted his sword in the air and then swung it forward with all his might. Between his weight and the force of the swing, the piece of the triton he had hit broke off and flew into the air.
Noctis wasn’t sure if knocking the chunk of red stone off had done anything or not as he did his best to disperse his remaining momentum, so it was safe enough to do the sloppy tumble he ended in. With his injured leg screaming for mercy, Noctis gritted his teeth as he tumbled across the ground and then came up on one knee and his hands. His injured leg was stretched to the side of him leaving his other leg and his arms to take up most of his weight. Shaking a bit with pain and sweating from continuing to move in his condition, Noctis got up to his feet once more and hopped a bit on his good leg to regain balance as his breath came out in labored puffs. This was going to be tough, but he had to continue to try. He could not abandon Zidane…no matter the cost. Closing his eyes briefly to let a wave of pain pass, Noctis sucked in as much of the pain as he could as he planned to move forward; however, before he could move, he felt something warm wrap around his injured leg.
Startled by the sensation, he looked down just in time to see glittery golden strings wrapping tightly arounf his leg. Already associating the gold with bad things, at first Noctis panicked until he realized that the golden strings were healing his leg!
Stunned he remained still as he felt the pain in the leg lifting, felt the burn stitch itself up a bit and the bone underneath snap in place a bit more making the injury more bearable to contend with. After the healing was done, the strings loosened and began to slither away from him like golden snakes. Following those strings to the other source, he found his heart sinking as his eyes landed on the monstrosity of armor, gold, and scales that had dragged itself out of the salty water and sloshed what seemed like half the ocean onto the dry land as it dragged itself forward and scooped up the piece of red gem that had been knocked off the triton.
Looking at the piece as the golden strands - its hair - slithered back under the helmet, The creature threw its head back and jabbed the sharp piece right into the darkness between the chest piece and the part of the helmet that lowered down to meet it. The creature groaned as the jewel sank into the darkness, but then it began to tremble as a strange energy flowed through it causing the red eyes that glowed from the darkness of the visor to brighten even more as the creature seemed to increase in size slightly.
Letting out a low growl, the creature held out its left hand and summoned a spear of gold, then marching forward it made its way towards Noctis and the battle behind him. Tensing, Noctis took a few steps back and took a defensive position not quite sure what the strange armor snake thing that would not die would do.
However of all the possiblities of what could happen running through his head, Noctis never expected the creature to charge pass him as its walk turned into a run and then slidding forward on one leg go underneath the lashing tail before coming to a rest directly underneath the stomping gaint. With movements that belied its size and weight, Noctis watched as the creature made a series of quick thrust at the giant rat's ankles, poking each ankle at leat five times before it dashed from under it and moved off to the side becoming still in its spot as it watched to see what would occur next.
A bit releived the creature was on their side for now, Noctis moved to take a position on the opposite side of the creature. If all went well and the armor didn't do anything funny, then they would indeed be able to bring justice upon the twisted giant together. ____________________________________________________________________________________________
►TAGS: You are it, Zidane! ►NOTES: Alright...unexpected ally. I thnk the odds are now in our favor. Let's do this! ►SKILLS USED: Weapon Summon: 1 post cooldown. Noctis: Attacked Golden Snake Armor: Used Cura on Noctis leg - 2 post cooldown. - Used thrust combo on Klein's ankles in an attempt to bring him down to the ground. - 1 post cooldown. ________________________________________________________________________
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2014 19:02:32 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves Zidane had let loose a furious attack on the wererat's arm. His blades were sharp and strength pushed by the swell of emotions that had bubbled up from the intense feelings of urgency. He was not angry at the former soldier for his rage toward him, but why not not leave it at that!? Why involve all of these innocent people and play them as pawn in your game!? The frustration and overwhelming fear for his friends sent him into a furious blaze of bravado. Down below Noctis would not be forgotten by either of the two, combating individuals. Zidane tried to keep the Captain’s focus as to not bring further harm to his injured friend. When the mutated captain's hand came crashing down in an attempt to crush Noctis, Zidane was able to shift his weight to keep balanced on the muscled limb while using the deeply embedded blades to anchor himself, but he could not keep himself from shouting out in surprise. The rogue’s heart leapt in his chest at the consuming fear. The nezumi stood over ten feet in height, but its gangly limbs were perfectly proportioned to his new size and gave him the provided reach to strangle his prey with little effort. Klein’s attempt at crushing Noctis did not quite go his way as the boy's blade dug into the flesh of his hand, tearing into the softer and more sensitive muscles in his palm. When freed from the rat's grip the beast faltered, gripping his wrist to stop the stinging pain. He lurched, arching his back as his lungs forced out a pained noise mixed between an inelegant snarl and a disgruntled hiss. When the trident head shattered the ruby shards would clatter to the floor before bouncing down into the canal that led to the sea. " You bastard!" His voice a deep, rumbling echo that curled like a thunderclap. " What have ye done!?" The captain gripped his bleeding thigh. As the monster tried to stop the bleeding his muscles began to shift and contort as a result of Noctis’ action. The mitant’s body seized.. Zidane saw what Noctis had done and could see what it was doing to him. He also saw opportunity. In this state Zidane had much greater hold of his powers. If the rogue was agile and death defying normally; in Trance the Genome was ill comparable to an average warrior. Zidane pressed the pads of his fur covered types against the rat's forearm. His classes eagerly dug into the roots of his enemy's fur. The boy took off in a sprint. He ran up the opponent's arm, and held his blades tightly gripped between his fingers. The rat monster let out a curdling roar and moved to swat the thief off his arm, but Zidane quickly jumped and dodged out of the way. Zidane was unaware of the now armored snake woman charging the wererat, who was quickly shrinking from the loss of the trident’s power. The captain blinked and looked up, his large, twisted ears catching the stamping sound of the approaching suit of armor. “ You’ll get nothing more than you deserve!” Zidane shouted before rushing forward toward the rat’s head. When his blade made contact with the side of the beast’s head it caused him to recoil and stagger back a step. He would lose sight of the armor and it gave Zidane the opportunity he needed. He thrust his dagger forward, the speed he held in this form doubled by the strength and power provided to him. With the precise accuracy built upon by tireless training and practise the thief would manage to stab the blade into Klien’s eye. The red stone cracked along the blade’s strike zone and split down the middle. The blood chilling scream that broke from the monster soon filled the harbor, alerting Alexnadrian soldiers above of the terrible games played below. Soldiers’ marching footsteps could be heard clambering into the vicinity. The frantic flailing of the monster only did well to unbalance the the who was now perched on the edge of the beast’s shoulder. WIth a well placed flail Zidane was sent hurdling onto the ground. “ I’ll kill you all!” He shouted. SWHINK The spear found itself lodged in his stomach as he was raised off the ground. Looking straight ahead with his one good eye the shrinking Burmecian would spy the ruby glare of the now living armor, just barely remaining active on the remaining lifeforce of its host. Zidane managed to land crouch and looked up. The spear that was embedded into the rat slowly began to infect him with the gold. The twisted coils of gold snaked from the wound, outward into the rest of his body. “ NO!” He was foaming, flailing and roaring out. He reached his grasping claw to Zidane. “ This -- is all your fault… you left me to die. Wei was weak!” The gurgling protests of his fighting form were soon swallowed up in gold. As the soldiers arrived, fully armed, they would witness as the Pirate Captain and Gold Armor petrified in solid gold before both crumpled to the ground, leaving behind the gold helm upon a pile of golden, useless debris….. The women scattered to tend to their allies, only moving to put Noctis and Zidane in custody. The wounded were gathered as they tried to quickly estimate the damages done. The harbor was shut down and the boys were to be moved into the dungeon, where they would await the doctors. They were going to be sorely questioned about everything. The dungeons were not a comfortable place to sleep. Mus scurrying about behind the walls and ghostly winds whispering through the halls. There their wounds would be wrapped and tended to and there they would be expected to wait until questions were answered. Words carried about… Assassins out for the Queen.
Thieves looking to serve their own agenda. But the most sordid one of all: They were out to start another war. |
►TAGS: Next~! ►NOTES: So just go quietly into that dark night...? ►SKILLS USED: Dodge Jump; Rumble Rush; Attack'd CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2014 11:41:42 GMT -5
A rain of red jewels. That is what Noctis had caused shortly after he had decided to take the reckless action of letting himself fall towards the protruding triton in the rat's leg. The mutated rat was too distracted by Zidane to notice someone as small as him moving about to position himself for the strike. Too distracted to notice the young prince falling towards his target with blade raised. Too distracted to register that the pain in his tail should've been the cause of more concern than the creature could've imagined. The rat never bothered Noctis as it focused on its target Zidane. So the prince kept up his fall and until his blade made contact with the red object and shattered it as if it were mere glass. As the prince landed awkwardly due to his injury and red shards of the shattered triton scattered across the ground plopping here and there into the canal around them, the strange were-rat cursed at Noctis as he went to grip his now bleeding thigh.
At first, Noctis did not respond to the cursing, but then seeing that something was indeed happening to the rat due to what he had done, the prince watched as the giant began to move in a strange fashion as his muscle twitched and seemed to seize. Not sure what that meant, Noctis's eyes drifted upward to where he could just see Zidane on the creature's shoulder. He was still holding onto the spot he had struck with his blades, but when this new change came over the rat, the blonde moved taking his blade out from their hold as he began to charge up the rat's arm with amazing speed and agility.
The rat tried to get ZIdane off with all its might; however, the attempts failed as Zidane continued his way up. So focused on this new attack Noctis was that he did not notice the strange mesh of armor and snake until the golden threads that healed his leg had wrapped around him. Startled and a bit worried at first, Noctis had recieved healing from the armor, before watching as the strange being rushed forward to make its attack upon the rat that was quickly shrinking back to size, probably due to breaking the crimson triton.
Relived his assumption had been right, Noctis's blue eyes drifted from the attacking armor at the wererat's feet to Zidane's voice coming from somewhere closer to the shrinking rat's head. The blonde was ducking and dodging out of the way as he continued his way up, giving the creature the harbinger of death's message as he changed his direction and began to head towards the face as the creature growled and began to stumble about thanks to the attack upon its ankles.
As the armor moved from under the creature and Noctis moved to the other side to get into a better attack position, the prince was able to witness the devastating attack Zidane unleashed upon the creature as he swung his blades forward and brought them crashing into the side of the beast's head.
The rat let out a strange sound as he staggered back from the blow and looked as if he was about to fall as his weakened ankles made it hard for him to stand correctly. Wobbly or not, ZIdane kept his balance upon his target and then with amazing speed, strength, and power, the transformed theif brought his other blade forward and smashed the metal right into the creature's gleaming red eye.
As the eye cracked and shattered, Noctis had already ceased holding his attack position as he flinched thanks to the scream that was unleashed by the injury Zidane had dealt upon the creature; however, the unstable and angry creature was far from done. Despite flailing in pain, the rat managed to knock Zidane to knock Zidane into the air before he was swaying to face the airborne theif, yelling out his threats of death as he raised a clawed hand to attack the blonde.
Quick as lightning, Noctis dashed from his spot as his eyes shifted from blue to red. Pushing himself with all his might from the ground, the prince was managed to fling himself between Zidane and the incoming attack as he summoned his shield causing a ring of phantom blades to surround him. As the blades spun rapidly and met the incoming attack, the rat man's attack was deflected as the weapons created a shield around Noctis. The creature recoiled with a growl as Noctis reached his peek in the sky and began to fall to the ground.
As the creature stumble back cursing as the shield faded, Noctis hit the ground at the exact same moment Zidane landed behind him. As soon as the pair was grounded once more, Noctis stood up and looked over at the mutated rat just as the distinct sound of a weapon impaling the rat was heard and shortly after the sound, the tip of a golden spear was protruding from the creature's stomach.
Without showing any emotions, Noctis watched as the creature was lifted from the ground by the spear still held firm in the strange golden armored creature's hands. The armor was barely functioning, but regardless of this, the creature still held on tight to its impaled prey.
And from that tip came the infection...
The gold infection was spreading from the creature's wound and slowly snaking about the doomed rat to consume the rest of him. Despite his fate, he still threw out his curses at Zidane, refusing to let go of his hate as he reached out towards Zidane protesting all the while until finally the gold stoppd his words forever. As the captain solidified into gold so too did the strange armor creature. Creating some form of strange statute, the pair crumbled leaving behind the golden helm upon a pile of golden debris.
Revenge....what a cruel companion, Noctis thought as his body automatically relaxed and his weapon was dismissed as reality cut through his numbness. He became aware of the fully armed and armored guards in the area with them, but he did not move to escape as the group moved in to help their allies while some came to arrest himself and Zidane.
Tired and numb from all the events, the prince remained submissive as he allowed himself to be bound by the guards and become a prisoner for the first time in a long while. After he was bound, Noctis waited quietly by his ally until the guards had finished collecting the injured and assessing the situation. Once those things had been done, Zidane and the young prince were herded along to the dungeons where they were stuffed into two cells next to each other separated mainly by a wall and bars. Regardless of this, Noctis remained quiet and obedient to his captor. He allowed the doctors to examine him and to wrap the wounds that were not healed up. He even allowed himself to stay in those uncomfortable conditions as he was expected to wait for the questioning that would surely follow these events.
Sitting with his back against the wall that connected his cell to Zidane's. Noctis ignored the whispering winds and the strange squirrel like creatures roaming about the area that made sleeping difficult; however, despite this the real reason, Noctis could not sleep was thanks to the whispers he heard when the guards thought no one was listening. While he and Zidane had indeed stopped a huge problem, in the end they were labeled as assassins, thieves, and war starters by those who did not know the whole story. To sit and wait, would surely mean something worse than simply being imprisoned, but if they ran would that do any good?
Noctis closed his eyes as he leaned his head back thinking for a moment as he heard the clatter of a guard coming towards their cells. He listened to the usual paces of the soldier's footfalls before they came to a rest safely away from their cells. The guard would remain where she was for a few seconds before nodding contently that the prisoners were still in place and moving on. Noctis waited for the footfalls to vanish before he reopened his eyes and counted to twenty in is head. When he reached twenty, he opened his mouth to speak.
"Hey Zidane? What do you have planned after all this, supposing we survive?" he asked in quiet tones that easily carried to Zidane, but not loud enough to float up the hall to the guards that were chatting in the guard room now. As Noctis spoke, his blue eyes drifted casually across the room until they landed upon one of the strange rodents that ran about the place. As he watched the blue haired critter sniff around a corner of his cell, he continued to watch it until it dashed towards the bars and squeezed through a small gap between the floor and the bars of the cell.
As his eyes lazily followed the creature as it ran down the hall, a small glimmer caught his eye causing him to look up at it.
Hmmm...Oh...the keys, he thought as he looked at the ring hanging on the hook. Yes. The keys..The keys!
As he saw them, a plan began to form in his head as his eyes went back to the strange rodent in the area. Nodding inwardly, he looked over at the plate of food he had sat on the other side of him earlier. He still had a small chunk of bread on it.
Hmmm....
Picking up the bread casually, he pulled off a piece of it and rolled it slightly in his hand before tossing it through the gaps in the bars. As the rolled up piece of bread landed quietly on the floor, the rodent that had been sniffing around the place earlier paused as it sniff the air and then spotting the bread, it scurried over and snatched up the bread, quickly stuffing it in its mouth and swallowing it.
Amused, Noctis pulled another piece off and tossed it into the air watching careful how the little creature performed a small jump to catch the piece before it hit the ground. As it landed, its little jaws were already chomping down on the soft treat. Noctis smirked as he sat up from the wall and pulled off another piece of bread and rolled it up. Carefully aiming, he tossed the bread towards the keys. As he watched the creature scury after it, Noctis watched as it hurried up the wall and then leaping managed to catch the bread as it began its descent towards the floor; however, in its haste, the creature miscalculated its fall and so in turn ended up twirling and flailing as it came down. As it was doing this, it caught onto the keys, got tangled, and then after fussing and twisting about, the little rodent pulled the weak hook down along with the keys....that promptly ended up stuck to the creature as the ring fell over it.
Hissing and fussing, the creature made put up quite a fight before it finally managed to fling the keys off of itself and send them into the air. With a clatter, the keys landed and skidded towards the cells, but was just out of reach, causing Noctis to stare at the keys in disbelief. It was a miracle that the keys were brought so close in the first place and after all the noise the creature had made, it was a second miracle that the talking guards up ahead hadn't heard the commotion and checked up on the problem. Still regardless of how luck had been with them, it would seem now it would turn its back upon them as the keys sat in the floor.
With time running against them, Noctis wracked his brain for a solution to the problem and then remembering Zidane was next to him and had that tail, he wondered if he could reach those keys. He wasn't sure how much the thief had seen, but surely all that noise had gotten his attention....
Clump! Clump!
The sound of armored feet coming their way caused Noctis to draw back from the cell's bar and place the bread back on the plate. Just as he finished doing this, he looked over to find a rather heavy set gaurd covered from head to toe in armor had come into the area, but unlike everyone else he had seen thus far, this guard seemed to be of higher class.
As this new guard stooped down to pick up the keys, Noctis felt his heart sink thinking that the guy was going to take them away; however, instead the guy surprisingly walked over to Zidane's cell and looked in at the thief.
"You just can't seem to stay out of trouble can you?" the guard said in a quiet and semi-deep voice that suggested he knew Zidane well and while he was most certainly not pleased, the guard seemed to trust the blonde for after looking back down the hall to make sure no one was watching, the guard began to shuffle through the keys to unlock the cell belonging to the thief. Just who was this guy? ___________________________________________________________________________________
►TAGS: Tag you're it Zidane!
►NOTES: I don't know. Is this guy a friend of yours? ►SKILLS USED: Weapon Summon: Ready to use Shield: 2 posts
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2014 3:34:18 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves
Zidane felt his body crack against the ground. He was vaguely aware of Noctis’ action to protect them both from the monstrous creature’s rampage. Zidane’s trance would finally begin to fade. The damage done to his body earlier in the day had left him vulnerable. Even if his Trance had managed to stitch up a great deal of his wounds, his body still required time to recover. His eyes blinked, trying to clear the tears from the edges that peeled out from the pain of his back slamming into the stone ground. He pushed up, his hands still tightly gripping the hilts of his daggers. He looked up, Noctis but a few inches in front of him. Before the rogue was able to call out to him Zidane’s eyes shot toward a more drawing motion.
The Golden Armor had somehow revived? Its target was the nezumi. As his body contorted and his form began to shrank without the power of the Bloodstone, he was losing a great deal of his power and strength. The Golden Spear pierced the nezumi, bringing to light earlier visions Noctis had prior to the fights at hand. This was the fate of those who were swallowed by vengeful grudges. They all met death by the very instruments of doom they had meditated to use against others. The very armor he had used to lure Zidane into this trap, became his death. His curses struck Zidane. All actions a man made throughout his life were to be a double edged sword. Where you opened one path, another closed never to open again. Every act was a ripple in a pond of ripples. Everyone affected everyone around them.
Forever connected.
The thief pushed to his feet as they were surrounded. Zidane was too exhausted to fight back or even sass the soldiers. The boy had a sharp tongue and a sharper wit, but with his Trance draining out the last of his strength the boy could do nothing more than submit. As they were moving around gathering their comrades, Zidane could feel the tension. They examined the dusty remain of gold and picked up the Gold Helm from the pile. Many recognized it as the Captain’s prized helmet. It was relatively useless in true combat, but it had been a gift from a comrade. It was not supposed to be out of Pluto Knight’s armory. The damage to the statue was clear as well. Without the shaped Bloodstone the Neptune statue could not move which put the harbor’s main exit out of commission until another could be made for it. They assumed the two either stole the triton head or sabotaged the statue, which forced them to talk alternative routes here. The two were led down to the dungeons. Sadly, the Alexandrian dungeons were not as unfamiliar for him as he would have liked. It was not that he was ever locked up down here. Alexandria was not one of those places he really hit big enough to end up down here. No it was during a time he wished was far less traumatizing, far less necessary. Though one could change the past, but for what it was worth sometimes things had to happen, bad things, so change could come.
He still remembered holding her close…
Luckily they would have no need to go to that frightening portion of the Alexandrian dungeons. They were instead taken to the west tower and locked up. Zidane had laid himself down on the cold, wooden flat, covered in an old straw mat that was decaying from the water mold. It hung a few feet off the ground, just barely out of the reach of the Mu, but not by much. He was tired and ached everywhere. Dungeons were nice to rest in. There was always time to recoup. He was never one who liked being locked up. An old fear that likely was an unintended result of Baku shutting him up in closets and other small spaces to get him to behave. He was always the wild child and aggressively hardheaded on the most irrelevant matters. But Zidane always knew when to get serious and take a situation into consideration before he acted. But here he had time to wonder, left to his thoughts. Back then, when he decided to help Freya: had he done so without considering first? Sure he was inclined to act before he thought, but did saving one man truly mean another was lost? It was troubling thinking that he was actually the cause of one of his more logical beliefs: You can’t save everyone.
But he always felt that he was sure as hell going to try anyway!
Honestly, he was glad he saved Wei. His wife would have been alone and their kids would have had a harder time without a dad. A boy, who never had a mother, did still have his father figure. For the rogue that was simply not something you could be without. Who would teach the boys right from wrong? Who would teach them to fight or curse just out of a lady’s earshot? Zidane had a strong male influence in his youth and it was something that stuck with him even now. Aside from the more unflattering manners men could have, there were still the stronger, more positive aspects of it. Chivalry, honor and a hardheaded stubbornness in fighting for what you believed in… He was sure if he never had Baku’s influence in his life he would have never been strong enough to follow Dagger into the woods. Because no matter how painful the beatings were after his disciplines, or how long he was hold up in a small room… Baku had never punished his wanting to do right, only redirected his reckless habits into something more constructive.
As the thief lay, his back to the cell doors and arm lean to elevate his head, the boy seemed asleep in all appearances. His tail slung down behind him in a lazy sway and his body barely shifted against his breathing. His left arm was rest over his stomach, playing with the end of his belt. With his inability to sit still and remain in one place for long, especially being locked up, Zidane always had the tools he needed to escape at hand. As he shifted one of the metal clips on his belt, which looked akin to bullet slots, revealed that they were removeable. He had been stripped of his blades, but that did not mean he was not dangerous and incapable. The clip looked to be a metal wedge one used to sharpen blades. If lodged into the locking mechanism of certain drop locks one could grind away the trigger molded for the key and turn the lock open with the wedge.
A curious sound soon bubbled up beside him. It seemed Noctis was a little anxious. Well with the whispers the guards held close it was no wonder. Though he was a dear friend of the Queen, not everyone had seen the boy face to face to recognize him. There were always rumors, but the exaggerations of a “boy like a cat” or “the kid with a rat’s tail” or the “thief with a fifth arm” did not really help his case. The young prince seems to had found himself a pretty clever idea. To be honest Zidane was sort of miffed he didn’t think it up, but he would stash that trick away for later. When the key fell it clattered not far off. His tail paused mid-sway and stiffened as his mind and extra limb had the same thought that Noctis did.
Maybe if he reached out just a bit…
But something rather unsuspected, but something that should have been expected -- happened. The thief could not help the grin forming on his features. It really should be of no surprise. It was his helm. Zidane sat up and turned to face the big guy. The tailed rebel sheepishly rubbed the side of his head. “I thought I was doing pretty good.” He chuckled as he moved to shuffled toward the doors.
When let out Zidane stepped out and stretched his weary body. His tail curled up and bristled a bit before he relaxed and the extra limb smoothed out. Zidane folded his arms behind his head. He was pretty sure he was going to get scolded.
“Would you believe that I didn’t start it this time?” The boy motioned to the other cage. “Mind letting out my friend?” He chuckled. “I guess I should explain everything…”
The two were escorted upstairs and out of the dungeons. They were led to the Pluto’s Barracks and sat down. Both men were given a hot drink and the attention of the older male. Zidane settled himself and watched as he put away the golden helm back into his locker. The thief winced. It may not be that easy. He brushed his hand through his hair and leaned over on the table. He really did not want to bring his pal into this. It was his fault after all.
“Well… This creep was looking to steal the gold helmet and collect that gold armor you’ve been hearing rumor about. You know, I had to stop it. On my honor as a bandit!“ Because the lie had to protect. “You know me, I can’t be one up’d! Right Noctis?” Zidane looked to him, his blue eyes clearly focusing.
There was no way he could trouble them. Not because of something he had done… or was unable to do.
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►TAGS: Next~! ►NOTES: I don't want them worrying about me anymore. ►SKILLS USED CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2014 18:13:49 GMT -5
Noctis's body felt tense and achy after the long journey and battles he had fought along the way. After being tended to by the medics and locked into a cell, Noctis sat on the cold floor with his back against the wall with his more damaged leg stretched out before him. The leg didn’t throb with pain as much now that it was properly attended to, but even so the stiffness within the limb wouldn’t be going away any time soon just like the wounds hidden under thick bandages would take their time to heal too.
The young prince supposed he was grateful for the healing and attention, but being locked up in the uncomfortable dungeons of a strange castle did nothing to put the young man at ease. His body was already suffering from exhaustion thanks to only getting in a little bit of sleep here and there as he traveled alongside Zidane as they chased down the golden armor and tried to understand the logic behind stealing what was considered curse and worthless. Along their travels, they had met many strange people and encountered many dangers, but together Zidane and Noctis had survived. Even when Etro showed Noctis many unfortunate paths that would occur, the Goddess of Death had fulfilled each path she had shown taking Zuko and the Captain bent on revenge with her as she passed, but for the moment she had spared himself and Zidane. The Captain and Zuko...both were victims of their own fears, anger, and greed. Turned to gold by the very thing that they had sought to use for their own purposes: the cursed gold armor. The armor had done its best to take everyone around it down, but when it finally claimed the life of the revenge infested Captain, the armor’s grudge against the world ended and the strange monster it had become crumbled and disappeared leaving behind a helm on the pile of otherwise useless rubble.
That helm had been taken into captivity along with himself and Zidane, so the prince hoped that the foul thing would be placed in a spot where no one could find it ever again. Hidden, buried, destroyed…he didn’t care. As long as that thing was far away from the world maybe no one else would have to suffer as much as everyone involved in the mad hunt had….Maybe if it was gone the world would be safer than it once was. Maybe. Just maybe.
But all that won’t matter in the end now will it? Noctis asked himself as he continued to lean against the wall looking up at the cracks in the ceiling. No. Even if the world was safe, he and Zidane would not be treated as heroes or given a free pass. The guards that had caught them had decided they were suspects in the crime and so sought to question them, but even if that were to occur would they be released?
Sure, Zidane might be able to work his way out of the situation easier than himself. After all, he was from this world and Noctis was sure that despite being a thief, these guards would be a lot more merciful to one of their own than an outsider like himself. To make matters worse for the young prince was the fact that he wasn’t just some guy from a neighboring land. No... he was from a completely different world! So how would he explain that to these people? Would they even accept the truth? Would they care? Or was he already sentenced to death for simply helping another stop another’s madness?
Sighing lightly, Noctis closed his eyes as he felt his nerves running high once again. He could hear the whispers of the guards and only became more nervous about the end results of this imprisonment. The young prince tried to contain it all, but in the end, the nerves became too much for him and so he had whispered his question to Zidane hoping that idle chat would ease the situation; however, only silence answered him back.
Perhaps Zidane was sleep and did not hear the question. After all, the journey had been tough and hard, so sleeping was the most logical thing to do in this situation. Besides, the blonde tailed thief was indeed more calmer and relaxed in these tense situations, so it would be no surprise if the young man was indeed out cold. He had much more to recover from and sleeping even in this place seemed like something that Zidane could do easily.
To be able to relax...Oh how Noctis wished he could do the same. If he could be as chilled as Zidane, then it would’ve been easy to give into his body’s call to rest; however, Noctis could not relax.
His nerves remained high and twisting and his mind was running in a million directions. There was no way to shut the process off, so the young man tried to run off the nerves by looking around to find something to keep his mind off of the what-ifs that floated about his mind. As the young prince scanned the cell and the area around him, he took notice of the strange rodents and even located the keys hanging on the wall not too far down the hall.
Upon seeing the keys, the young man refocused his nervous energy on planning a way out of the cell. Sure, it was unwise to escape in a foreign land. He might even be put to death just for doing such a thing if he was caught, but at this point Noctis didn’t care. His instinct to survive and escape harm easily overrode the logic that told him to stay put. So following his impulses to escape, the young prince grabbed the bread that was quickly becoming stale from the plate and began pulling small pieces off and tossing them through the bars of his cell. At first the balls of bread were used to see if he could use the strange rodents in the area to his advantage and when he found that he could indeed use the hungry little creatures, Noctis attempted to use them to get the keys.
It was a plan that almost worked had the creature who got tangled in the keys tossed said item with more strength. With a clang and clatter, the keys hit the hard ground just outside of his and Zidane’s cells causing the prince to stare in disbelief at how close and yet so far escape was. He had felt despair crawling into him when an idea hit him.
Zidane!
Zidane had a tail right? So surely he could reach the keys right? Right?
Noctis wasn’t sure, but with those keys so close, he leaned his head against the cold barsand peeked over at Zidane only to find himself smirking. There was no need for him to ask Zidane anything. From the way the thief was eying the keys, he had seen what had happened and was running along the same thought pattern as Noctis was.
Nodding inwardly, Noctis was feeling pretty confident about their escape, when the sounds of heavy footsteps coming their way caused the smirk to fade from Noctis’s lips as he pushed himself away from the bars and placed the bread back on the plate.
Just as he had finished this, a heavy set guard dressed from head-to-toe in armor entered the area and made a beeline for the keys on the floor. As the guard stooped down and picked up those keys, Noctis felt his heart plummet into his stomach as hope was crushed. The sinking feeling was only made worse as the guard looked first to Zidane and then to him with serious dark eyes.
As their eyes met, Noctis and this new guard studied each other carefully before the guard was narrowing his eyes suspiciously at Noctis causing the young prince to look down and away from the glare. He didn’t understand why, but that scolding look reminded him of his personal servant back home. It was the sort of glare that let one know he was in a world of trouble without words…and that feeling caused the dread from earlier to fill the prince’s heart once more.
They wouldn’t escape now. The guard would probably take the keys with him and then go make his report…and that would report would probably just make the judgment upon them wor—
Hm?
Noctis pulled himself out of his dark thoughts as he saw the guard do a strange thing. The guard approached Zidane’s cell and made a comment that suggested the guy actually knew Zidane. To further confirm this suspicion, after making sure the coast was clear, the guard turned back to Zidane’s cell, found the key for the door to the cell, and then unlocked it, letting Zidane out. In shock, Noctis watched as the guard seemingly steamed at the thief’s comment.
“If you were doing pretty good. Then why are you locked up here?” the guard demanded in low agitated tones as he closed the cell back up as Zidane stretched. When the thief spoke again, the guard balled his fist in even more agitation as he glared at Zidane with a mixture of respect and disapproval.
“Oh, I am quite sure you did absolutely nothing to end up here. After all, it does not take much for someone like you to get in trouble for nothing,” the guard began as he shook his head, his tones were heated, but not in a hostile way. It was more like the heated tones of a companion that had settled for unfavorable company and simply accepted said company as unchangeable. The situation and play was odd, but it only became stranger as the guard attempted to continue his little rant.
“I swear if the Princess didn’t disapprove of this so much, I’d leave you in there,” the guy said grumpily as he moved passed Zidane and looked like he was about to leave when the blonde asked his question.
When the guy heard the other's request for the young prince's release, the guard stopped right outside of his cell and glanced coldly at Noctis before looking back at Zidane with a suspicious glare as if he was debating something and then sighing as he shook his head and mumbled something about being the things a knight had to do to keep his Princess happy, the guy surprisingly came up to the cell and unlocked it too.
Shocked for a moment, Noctis hesitated as he looked from the open cell door to the guard who held it open. Frowning moodily, the guard jerked his head signaling for him to hurry up out of the cell. Obeying, Noctis came out of his prison and moved to the side away from the guard, but did not attempt to run. He knew better than to do that when another was risking life and position to help another out. The small action alone showed that despite the guard's behavior, this man and Zidane were on good terms with one another, so that was good, but still the prince remained on edge.
While Zidane and the guard and whoever this Princess was may have been on good terms with one another as he watched Zidane and the man’s action as the man gave the blonde a “Indeed you shall” in response to the thief suggesting that he should explain things, Noctis once more was reminded just how much of an outsider he was.
These people that Zidane interacted with shared deep ties with the theif that the prince could not understand. These ties were forged through time spent together and suffering along side each other. Bonds similar to his small groups' bonds back home. While Noctis did not pry for the details, the prince could feel a ping of loneliness and longing to go back home and see what had become of it. He wanted to make sure that like this world, his world was safe too. He wanted to be back amongst his people. With his friends and family. Wanted some hint that they were okay so that uneasiness in his heart could rest once and for all; however, as much as the prince wanted these things, he had a feeling he would still have to wait to gain what he sought. He would have to carry his personal pain alone for a while longer for he could not share it with Zidane or anyone else he met. He could not asks for someone else to get involved with his affairs. Even if he did make an agreement within to help others as he moved towards his own goal, his personal fights he preferred to fight alone.
In any case, Noctis let his mind wonder a bit to future steps to be taken as his body automatically followed Zidane and his ally who led them upstairs and away from the dungeons, down some halls, up more stairs, and then finally out into strange room that Noctis assumed from the way the place was decorated and furnished that this was the place for the other guards and knights to stay in. The barracks.
The room was currently empty, so after closing the door and giving them permission to take a seat, Noctis quietly crossed the area and sat in a chair next to Zidane as the older gentlemen busied himself with something in the back of the room. A few moments later, the guard returned with three cups of something that released steam from the cups. Placing the cups on the table, the older gentleman moved away from the table as he scooped the golden helm off the top of a shelf before stuffing the heavy reminder of events that had passed into a locker of a sort that he secured pretty well.
Zidane winced at this, but as Noctis cradled the warm cup in his hand, he felt nothing but relief flow through him. The helm was, in a fashion, being locked up in a place that was ran by guards. Prehaps this time, it would stay hidden from eyes seeking it for profit or other purposes. Perhaps now it could cause no more harm.
Regardless of the thoughts, Noctis took a sip of the liquid in the cup finding it pretty tasty and just what his body needed to release some of the tension it held. As he relaxed slightly letting the warm liquid sooth his nerves, the young prince looked up at the heavy set guard as he sat down in his chair and took the last cup in one large and armored hand.
The guy was still watching him, but at least now that the trio were alone the stare didn’t seem so hostile as before. Still being in the position of an outsider, Noctis eventually lowered his eyes and looked away from the guy. It was only thing he could think to do that would hopefully convince the guy that he wasn’t about to do anything now that they were here. He still felt a bit bad about the key incident, but tried to hide the ping of guilt nonetheless.
In any case, the intense stare of the guard was finally lifted off of Noctis as Zidane opened his mouth and began to give the older man the short version of their adventures which in turn caused the older man to place down his cup and fold his arms as he leaned back in the chair with a frown upon his face. When Noctis was suddenly put into the spotlight by Zidane, the young prince blinked a bit in shock and confusion as he looked over at Zidane and saw those clear blue eyes watching him.
He understood through the look he was giving him that Zidane was trying to get around giving the guard too much information probably to keep him out of whatever this was chaos was leading to. Even with that understanding in hand, what was Noctis going to say to convince the other that nothing serious had happened? He was quite certain the words of stranger would be almost weightless amongst friends. Still, he had to do something....
As mind continued to whirl for an answer to this problem, Noctis found himself nodding at the blonde before he was turning his blue eyes away from the thief and towards the guard that was watching them from the other end of the table.
“It is as Zidane said. We did what was needed to be done to keep another from taking treasure,” Noctis said trying to be as confident as he could about the situation as he tried to play the part of just a random thief under pressure. Tried, but failed against the perceptive guard.
“Hmph. You must think I, Steiner, Captain of the Knights of Pluto, am fool if you think those weak lies can work upon me, ” the man said sternly causing all of the earlier confidence to run out of Noctis. The man saw him deflat at the failed attempt, but instead of laying into him for the lie, the guy surprisingly smirked.
“I am not sure where you have come from Noctis, but I can tell just by observations alone that you and this riffraff would not be compatible under other circumstances,” Steiner said as he jab a his thumb in the direction of Zidane the smirk still in place for a second before it was disappearing as he became serious . “Still, even if you are different than the thief, it is better that you met him instead of another,” he said to Noctis his words trying to put him at ease despite how odd the situation was. The action helped a bit as Noctis simply nodded silently as the man’s gaze lingered on him for a moment and then shifted to Zidane.
“As for you, I am not sure what sort of mischief you have dragged this young gentleman into, but I am willing to lend you my sword once more if it is needed," the guard paused as he leaned forward and rested his arm upon the table as he locked a serious gaze on Zidane. "So how about you cut the bush beating and tell me what is really going on?” the older man demanded as he continued to watch Zidane showing that there was no way to lie his way out of this one.
Zidane would have to speak or the knight would drag the truth out of him.
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►TAGS: Tag you’re it! ►NOTES: It looks like he not going to let us go so easily. What to do now? Be honest with him or what?
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2014 14:30:19 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves
Zidane felt obligated to hide the truth from his friends. Though his words were harsh, they were not without warrant. They would never see eye to eye as they both came from such different worlds, but they had an understanding of one another that came to fighting for what they believed in. Though he was being scolded, it was one mixed with worry and the exasperation of a friend who was constantly on the verge of: ‘I told you so’. If the thief was not as close as he was to the Queen, it was assured these problematic habits of his would be much more. The thief had no problem escaping from any place on this world. It was against his nature to stay holed up. It was a fiery nature that was nurtured by Baku and his Tantalus brothers. There was no fortress that could keep Zidane in, or out, if he so wished it.
When they were seated, the two young men were offered tea. Though Zidane would normally be inclined to turn it down, his body craved something warm and tasteful. He plucked the cup from the table, gloved hand grasping it around the neck before setting the body in his other hand. The hot liquid was quickly sipped at with puckered lips. It took the thief moments to react to the flavor present in the. His lips puckered a bit at the sweet presence of honey. Though he was quite disinclined to sweets, his body needed something after the battle, so he pressed on, quickly sipping down the sweetened tea. The thief honestly loved bitter things best, strong flavors that made most cringe. Nothing sour like the Lindblum delicacy: Gysahl Pickles, or sweet like the South Gate Bundt Cake satisfied him. They were too strong. Bitter things were dull compared to the other flavors abound in the world. Perhaps that was why he liked eating at the Doom Pub so much. The food there was foul enough to make most of the average folk’s stomachs churn at the very mention of Soup de Silence.
It did not seem the older male was going to accept his cockimainy excuse. Well, he did not blame him. Zidane was never the best lair. Sure he could exaggerate like the best of them or loudly act his way out of a sticky situation, but when it came to flat out lying that was not a skill he was gifted with under the light of his profession. He was raised to cheat and steal, which required a much different sort of deception than lying. Lying one had to put their whole heart into tricking a person and hold no remorse of possibly harming them in the future. Deception one was merely required to play a role on stage temporarily before the big reveal. No one was hurt afterwards, because the characters played were never ones you grew attached to in the end of the story. They were always fools, callous monsters or crooks that no one had the decency to love or pity.
The thief tried not to sulk, but his reaction to the question was obvious displeasure by the way he sat back, body straightening in a defensive manner. He chest was out and that tail, which was curled and low to the ground, was bristled. His lip upturned in irritation as he tried to look down the older man. It was not but a moment later where the boastful lad gave a deep sigh and sunk in his seat. The thief felt the guy never changed, but he supposed that was just more of the pot calling the kettle black in the instance of being stubborn koots. Zidane shrugged and looked to Noctis.
“I didn’t mean to drag him into this mess…” The thief admitted. “Honestly I thought it was all a stupid joke myself, but I had this really weird feeling. Maybe it was my instinct as a Bandit or hearing those weird rumors in my town about…. people actually dying on the roads.” It was pretty normal for a mugging or two along the lesser guarded sections of the gate routes, but for someone to actually die from one?
It was dirty and low. He did not think it was right and a nasty suspicion had been eating away at him since they had come from Treno. It only grew heavier. He had met some of the House Kings in Treno, the greater Nobles and only few that really had the gall to remain in the City of Eternal Night. Why would such individuals have such precedence when other nobles had all but fled from the criminal world that had cropped up along the edges of its slums and rooted criminal organizations? Because they were just as dirty or far more dangerous than your average noble. It was the only way.
Queen Stella had a very strange collection of weapons and mystical objects at hand, but with people like the Flaming Amarant known to frequent her abode, no one was brave enough, nor stupid enough, to try her and that maid of hers. Something about that chick spoked the thief. The Lady Queen fancied mystical items, like the Gold Armor, but if it was not enhanced or had some sort of story behind it she was pretty uninterested most of the time.
Lord Bishop liked to collect knowledge. Any manner of information, no matter how obscure it was, Bishop was always likely to hold tight to it. Running a Synthesis shop provided easy access to information. If the old kook had his way Zidane was sure the noble would try and buy out Daguerreo! You did not want to mess with a guy that probably knew about that nasty secret you had managed to hide for ten years! What would a researcher want with a set of gold armor?
Lord Knight fancied rare and vicious monsters from all over the land, just as much as he loved fighting. That muscle head and crazed beast collector was the last person you really wanted to try and muscle. He never struck the thief as a guy interested in gold. Maybe armor, but what good was a set of armor that could barely guard from a dagger strike?
The last was Lord King… the faceless devil of the Auction House. He had heard, many times, that Kuja had made himself well known on that property, but Zidane had been in that place more than once and alway ended up deeper than he chose to be. That man had the whim, guile and will to get what he wanted without ever facing the repercussions. He had been at the end of every trail followed.
Lord King was rumored to own the full set of the Gold Armor...
Lord King had been rumored sent out the warning about the stolen Gold Armor returning to his ownership…
Lord King’s auction had in its possession a Bloodstone, even if it had unknowingly been provided by Zuko: nothing got into auction without Lord King’s express knowledge and permission.
They had found the full set of all eleven Gold Swords in his collection. Lord King never had an incomplete collection.
Lord King never had an incomplete collection.
Never.
Zidane sunk his face in his gloved hand. It had all been right there… in Lord King’s hand all this time. That bastard had the means and motive and no one would touch an Alexandrian Noble of such wealthy and well known stature. Not even Zidane had ever been to successfully swipe a single treasure from his property, though he damn well tried to! Several times. Zidane stood up suddenly, his hands pressed to the table. The force of his standing knocked back the stool he sat on.
“They were after your Gold Helmet.” He confessed. “It completed their collection. No one knew… no one!” What was Zidane ranting about?
Wei. Wei was the name of Kal’s wife…. if he did not save Kal than Wei would have been alone. If he saved Klein… He would have likely tried to take Wei. Sure Zidane knew guys like that. Real scum, catching a girl on a rebound. But what was imperative was where he got the Gold Helm…. from the guardian of the Cleyrian Settlement: the normally passive Antlion. Only Burmecians that survived knew he was there. The survivors scattered across the world during the crisis, as far as Daguerrero. Some were studying, some were living new lives, but what about the soldiers that knew nothing but how to fight? They headed to stealing, mercenary work. What better place to find that kind of work than in Treno?
The rogue shook his head and looked to the older Knight. “I got this… don’t worry about me. Ima set it right. It won’t take more than a day, right Noctis?” At least he was hoping he could trust the young Prince to continue following him a bit longer. “Sorry, if I worried you, but a thief should take care of thief matters right?” He gave a cheeky grin. “Can’t have anyone else causing you headache besides my brothers and me!” He proudly beamed.
They would have to head back to Treno. The face of the manipulator was there…
“Be my partner for a little while longer?” He knew it was too much to ask, but ending this once and for all, this unnecessary greed and hatred…. that was what was important.
Whatever his pal choose, the thief would accept it with no argument, but he would ask the old knight permission to use Gargan Roo beneath the castle. It was the fastest way to Treno and he had a meeting with the Piper. Down in the tunnel, the Gargant would be summoned, trolley and all. It would take minutes to get to Treno, were their destinies had been written by a man of the ultimate greed.
Lord King sat in his lavish dining hall with the beautiful deity of gold. Food was spread out on golden plates with gilded utensils perfectly fit for a king. The dining hall glittered as the chandeliers fed light, even in the City of Eternal Night.
“In return for the Gold Armor Set, I will have my collection complete. You will give to me the last Crystal Griffon.” The Lord King chuckled and sipped his wine. “It won’t be long until my armor returns of its own accord…”
For that dust that had fallen away, rolled across the Alexandrian Seas, into the springs, across the rivers and up the mountain toward Treno’s vast canals and waterways via the underground springs. The armor had reformed, taking with it the pieces of bloodstone that had floated from the trident, and the pieces that had crumbled from Klein. The armor would return to its master -- for that is what Lord King wished.
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►TAGS: Next~! ►NOTES: The Lord's Wish ►SKILLS USED: n/a CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 5:34:42 GMT -5
Maybe I should've stayed silent, Noctis thought as the air in the room went from relaxed to tense as Stiener and Zidane stared down each other. The older male had seen through their lies and now was demanding Zidane tell him the truth as he held the thief with a piercing glare that would've made one not use to it flinch or back away in fear. Noctis wasn't sure of the connection between the high ranking guard and Zidane, but the fact that the guy not only freed them and could actually sit in a room with a questionable stranger and a thief without batting an eyelash as he held a more or less civil conversation with them spoke volumes about the dynamics of the relationship. Whoever the mysterious princess was that the guard served obviously had an impact on how the other treated Zidane more so then himself. Steiner, from what the young prince could read of him, was a stern man with an short fuse. He could tell the man was easy to set off and maybe under normal circumstance this man would've punished them both for the key stunt earlier. While the man had been calm most of the time, there was no hiding the strictness and control a man of Steiner's position had in this world. If he wanted to, the man could've easily made things quite miserable for himself and Zidane; however, due to fate tying him to the thief, the man's wrath was bumped down to irritation rather than hostility. As Noctis watched the sparks fly between the guard and Zidane, he wondered what had happened to draw two opposites together and allowed the pair to get along despite how they seemed to not like each other's way. This princess that was the wall between them...who was she and how had she managed to keep these two from ripping each other apart? This princess was either really powerful or perhaps even common ground between the two men who were questionable friends. Whatever or whoever this princess was to them, she still had a powerful impact upon the situation even now when she was not present. The revelation was indeed overwhelming, making the young princess want to meet this princess that had such power over these two men; however, as curious as he was, Noctis managed to squash the wondering thoughts as he kept an eye on what was going on before him as he unconsciously held onto his cup in a tight nervous grip. He didn't want an argument or a fight to occur, especially after everything that had transpired, but from the way each man held their ground so stubbornly, Noctis had to wonder if that was exactly what was going to happen. Tensing and preparing for the worse, Noctis nervously let the stand off continue until with a sigh, Zidane sunk into his chair and surrendered to the other's intense glare. With a shrug, he glanced over at Noctis who only gave the other a small smile in turn as he heard his words, letting the other know without words that he did not blame him for what occurred. No, he had gotten into this himself. If he had refused that strange man's offer to deliver the message to the thief, he wasn't sure exactly where he would be now, but the young prince was sure he wouldn't be as content in another position. That guy and the message he had given him had been fate. It drew him to Zidane and the chaos and through all of it, he and the thief had become unlikely friends. Noctis for one did not regret anything that had happened, so as the thief continued to talk, the prince remained quietly as he listened. The older male who had been leaning against the table, sat back slightly as he tilted his head at Zidane with a light nod seeming content for the moment with his victory, but more so than that he was happy Zidane was not trying to hide so much. It seemed to relieve the guard as he listened to the words Zidane said. **
Even when Zidane fell silent, Steiner said nothing as he waited for the other continue. He didn't know what was going on in Zidane's mind, but the older knight did not like to see his friends troubled. No matter how many times they ran his blood pressure through the roof or made him so angry he could strangle them where they stood, Zidane and those connected to him were more or less considered family in Steiner's eyes...and family always watched out for each other. No matter what. In any case as the knight watched Zidane think, Steiner would take the moment to observe the quiet young man that was with him. He wasn't sure where the guy had come from, but somehow through the blasted rumor of gold armor, he had been pulled into whatever mess Zidane got wrapped up in when he decided to poke his nose into the dirt that surrounded the armor. Even from afar, Steiner had heard what had transpired in the land and wished that he could've been closer to home when the trouble started. Maybe if he were closer, he could've aided Zidane and maybe this other kid wouldn't have been dragged into affairs that did not concern him. He hated that a stranger had to be dragged into it all, but his duty to the princess...or rather Queen always came first and at that inconvenient time she had needed him more than the land did, but now that he was back he could make up for the ground he had lost. Sure, things had turned out rather unfavorable while he was away, but at least this stranger had been by Zidane's side and kept him more or less safe. It was good and worrisome to know the thief had made a new friend in his absence, but even if the stranger was another thief, Steiner knew from experience that even if the strangest of people were drawn to the blonde, they were in the end good people trying to do the right thing in their own way. Maybe it was because the knight had such trust in Zidane's choice of friends that had made it more or less easy for him to not only break protocol to aid a friend, but also trust him enough to release a stranger associated with him just because the blonde had called him a friend and seemed to be on good terms with the young man. So, as his eyes shifted from the young man that kept his eyes down cast back to the theif who was now sinking his face into one hand, Steiner began to worry for their well being the more he watched Zidane think.... **
Noctis kept his silence as he calmly took in the air of the room. Without words, worry and tension was building up in the room as the thief thought and the guard watched him. At one point, Noctis could feel the older gentleman observing him, but he did not look over at him as he instead watched the cooling liquid within his cup. He wasn't sure what the guard was thinking and he was even less certain what ran through Zidane's mind, but...he did know he did not wish to linger around this place long. He wasn't certain as to what made him not want to get the guard further involved, but there was something within that warned him against letting another come along on this already crazy adventure. Sure, it was illogical to think such a way. Very illogical. Steiner and Zidane were friends, so it would only be right to let a friend aid a friend...and yet some form of uneasiness pulled at Noctis as he could sense Etro's presence in the room. She didn't show him a vision or anything, but her mere presence alone triggered Noctis natural instinct to protect others. This journey....something was not right. While it was true that the armor had been destroyed and the crazed pirate put to rest, there seemed to be something vital missing from the equation, but what that piece was Noctis did not know, but whatever the piece was it was probably best found by those already tangled in the strangling web that was already wrapped tightly around himself and Zidane. As much as he was sure the guard would do anything to help a friend, Noctis did not wish for another to be tangled in the web too, but what could they do to -- Noctis thoughts were cut short as Zidane's sudden movement knocked over the chair he was sitting upon as he stood up with his hands pressed upon the table. The sudden action had startled both Noctis and Steiner causing the latter to look at the thief with a mixture of agitation and concern; however, before the other could ask a question, Zidane spoke. He told the older man what the one they had defeated had been after after before yelling what seemed like an illogical statement. "What are you talking about, Zidane?" Steiner asked as he looked at the thief with confusion and concern in his eyes. He knew his friend was upset and this in turned ruffled him and put the guard back on the offense of not letting them go without information; however, Noctis who watched the play between the two calmly understood exactly what Zidane meant. While he was not clear on the details, he knew that theif was thinking about the pirate as he shouted his statement. Klein, the strange rat like creature plagued with so much revenge that he went to any length just to see the one who caused him an accidental injustice suffer... The path had cost the creature his life and gave Zidane a heavy burden to contend with. One that probably could not be laid to rest until the truth was out and faced. Understanding clearly what was transpiring, Noctis closed his eyes for a moment as he simply listened to what was being said. Zidane was telling the older guard to not worry anymore that he was going to set everything right and while this caused the other to hop out of his chair and start after him again in protest, when the young prince heard his name, he opened his eyes as he placed the cup of tea on the table and calmly pushed away from the table and got to his feet. Nodding at ZIdane, he glanced over at the older guard who had fallen quiet when he moved. Giving the guy a reassuring smile, he had spoke. "That's right. I have him covered," the young prince said in calm tones as he kept his eyes upon the stunned guard, who looked from him to Zidane and then back again as if they were crazy; however, when he heard the blonde's words, he shook himself out of the stunned state as he gritted his teeth in disapproval. "You two..." the older man growled as his head bowed and he clenched his amored hands upon the table, shaking with some form of rage as he quietly battled out whatever storm of emotions were assualting him. After a few tense seconds, Steiner sighed and shook his head as he glanced up at Zidane and Noctis with a tired expression as defeat caused his shoulders to slump. "Fine. I'll let you have it your way for now, so don't you two go getting yourselves killed. I'll never forgive myself or you if that were to occur," the older man said sternly, his words truly caring despite the serious way they were delivered. Relaxing inwardly, Noctis smiled lightly as he nodded in agreement to the terms. While he wasn't sure what Etro was hinting by lingering in the room with them, Noctis was not about to leave whatever mess he was in unfinished and he wasn't about to let Zidane go to finish said mess alone. They had more or less started this together, so as they walked out of the room with the moody guard trailing behind them, Zidane had asked him to remain his partner for a while longer and without hesitation, Noctis spoke. "Of course. I can't let you have all the fun," Noctis responded back with smirk as he glanced at the blonde as they walked. They were already locked in this mess together, had been from the moment he agreed to deliver the strange man's message and after getting this far, there was no way Noctis would abandon his friend. No...no matter what happened, he would see this out to the end. Once decisions had been settled, Steiner escorted the pair down the castle's halls making adjustments to their path when he heard Zidane's request to use Gargan Roo. Still grumbling the old guard, led to a passage way that led into the castle's lower levels. Escorting them down twisted pathways, the guard came to a stop at the edge of the small platform made of sturdy rock. As Noctis stepped out onto the platform following Zidane and the guard, he took in the earthy smells and noticed that ahead of him was a passageway that ran for many miles to the left and right; however, there was no sound of water, even if strange plants grew in the area. So if water, didn't make the tunnels what did? Noctis wondered as he paused in center of the platform and watched as the old knight began to do something strange with the plants near the edge of the platform. He had plucked two of the plants and after making strange sound, Steiner held the strange plants over the edge of the platform and waved them. Perplexed, Noctis was about to ask what was going on when a few seconds later, he heard something stomping about the tunnels. As he listened to the sounds of many large legs stabbing into earth and felt the ground tremble, a strange creature came around the bend of the tunnel with a strange basket or carriage attached to it. With the sound of grinding rocks and a strange whistle, the strange creature pulled itself to a halt as it tilted its large head back to look at Steiner who had the plants. Without even batting an eyelash, Steiner tossed the plants upwards towards the creature's waiting mouth. With a light snap that was quickly followed by loud munching and a content hum from the creature, Noctis observed the strange beast with a slightly ajar mouth. That thing on the cieling. While its body was indeed stranger there was no mistaking the perfectly section body and curves of an ant. This large ant munched on the plants as its antenna twitched and those strange eyes of it watched the world around it. Assuming the ant made the tunnel, Noctis pulled himself out of his shock and wonder as he saw Zidane moving towards the odd basket -- no a passanger car -- that hung off of it. He watched Zidane hopped into the car and then after being beconed to come, Noctis followed suit. Once Noctis was secure in the car, Steiner relucantly bid them farewell and wished them luck on their travels before he backed away from the platform as the giant ant above them made a light clicking sound before it shifted its weight and began to move along the top of tunnels at a quick pace that caused the car to sway slightly with the movement. Holding on to the edge of the cart for support, Noctis watched as the platform they had started on quickly vanished as they were taken through gloomy caves lit here and there by torches. They were being rushed forward by a giant ant to their next destination. **
Meanwhile in Treno, Lord King sat in his dining hall with a guest that looked as if she was made of gold. The beautiful and greedy noble of gold, Alexia sat in her chair eating off of golden plates provided by her handsome host. As she ate, the plump woman spoke with Lord King. While it was true that the greedy woman had indeed collected the thief called Zuko for her prize after he had failed her, it was also true that the woman still desired the Gold Armor Set the thief had failed to get, so deciding not to play with pawns, the woman had gathered her best writing paper and ink to write a letter that she sent to Treno by a golden bird. And who was the golden bird's intended target? Well, Lord King of course. While it was true there were many collectors all around Gaia, Alexia had done her research well before even making an attempt to add the golden armor to collection. Through her vast networks she had found out about the dangerous collectors that resided in Treno and while each were unique in their own way, no one had the thing she sought, so she kept digging until finally her network had brought her rumor of Lord King, the mysterious devil that supposedly owned the Auction House in Treno. Being one to know ever legal and illegal thing that came in and out of Treno and through his house, Alexia decided to make a formal visit to the man, so she had sent her messenger bird to the man. Lord King recieved the bird and sent a letter back welcoming Alexia to come to his home for dinner and a chat, so keeping her fortress hidden a few miles from Treno, Alexia had gotten into her golden carriage pulled by the enchanted golden horses to make her long journey across the land to Treno. When she arrived at the City of Eternal Night, she was greeted by a man who seemed like an ordinary noble as he greeted her and said that he would take her to Lord King. Taking the gentleman's arm, the woman had let herself be led around the city by the man who talked and pointed this or that out to her. While Alexia was more interested in speaking directly to Lord King, the woman found herself going from peeved with the man that was her guided to being quite charmed by him. The man was good looking, well mannered, and had a way with words that could easily steal any woman's heart. So about time they arrived at the back door to the Auction House and she was led into the interior of the large palace, Alexia was beginning to feel quite disappointed at having to leave the charming man's company. However, as she was escorted into the golden dining hall and sat in a chair, the man did a surprising thing. Instead of running off to find Lord King himself, the man took a seat across from her giving her a charming grin as she looked at him in shock. When she had questioned what he was doing, the man had chuckled and then after an apology, introduced himself as Lord King! Unable to believe it, Alexia was at a lost for words; however, Lord King, who seemed to expect such a reaction, did not seem to mind as he leaned over for a bell and rang it. A few seconds later, a servant came into the room and after hearing his master's request, the servant nodded as he hurried out of the room. A few minutes later, the servant returned with more servants that set the golden dinning hall that they were in with many trays of foods and various drinks. As the wine was poured and food served, Lord King and his guest spoke to one another in the usual manners of nobles until finally about two hours later, the servants were dismissed and the King and the plump goddess of gold were alone in the room. Leaning heavily to one side of her chair, Alexia smoked a cigarette using a elegant holder of gold to keep the item from fully touching her lips. With no one else in th room, the woman had dropped her earlier friendliness as she cut directly to chase. She told Lord King what she truly wanted and that if he only handed over the armor, she would give him whatever he wanted. With a light chuckle, Lord King had sat back in his chair and told her she had a deal as long as she delivered to him the last Crystal Griffon as he sipped his wine. Not sure exactly how she was going to get the griffon, the woman had eagerly agreed to the terms, but as silence fell between them and she watched the man who sipped at his wine with a grin on his face, Alexia had to wonder if this man who claimed his armor would return to him on its own accord would actually hand over the armor in the end. After all...weren't collectors like herself and him selfishly possessive of what they owned? _________________________________________________________________________________ ►TAGS: Tag! You're it!! ►NOTES:...and Alexia's Greed.
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 14:02:11 GMT -5
Jovial Prince of Thieves
Lord King was pleased to have her company, at least that was how he put himself out. The noble had a wonderful collection of paintings, sculptures and armature. His torture chamber was something to be amazed with. Weapon and armors from all corners of the great kingdoms decorated his halls. The Lord King went on and on with his pleasant company, discussing with her the finer delights of Treno. It was far from the reach of the queen and allowed them to proceed with the most decadent of debaucheries and carry on holding onto the finest silks, ripped from the hands of the commoners who spent months on end sewing the sheets together into fine bolts of cloth for their pleasure. He bade her to drink, eat, and fill her belly for the armor would soon return and complete both their lives. Lord King was fantastically charming and deceptively alluring. Perhaps it was men like him that repainted the personalities of the impressionable youths that came to Treno. Those that wished to be in control of everything wanted to be just like Lord King. They looked to dress in the silks that he did and drink the wine he drowned in. Perhaps he could have influenced Kuja’s rise to greatness? Or fall to narcissism? Either way it meant that this man was dangerous on more than one level.
The two young, and very unlikely heroes, entered the tunnels of Gargan Roo. It was a mysterious place that was one covered in Mist. Many believed it was what spawned the Gargants, but with their presence as far as the Mistless, Outer Continent. It was hard to say where Gargants came from, but the docile insects had their uses. The tunnel still had wild vines growing throughout its system. The wild Gysahl Pickles that grew were a Gargants favorite, so tunnels like this were perfect habitats for them. There were, perhaps, different tunnel systems, but this particular, tamed, Gargant fancied this one. Now aboard the carriage which hung from the subterranean insect’s back they were toted along through the dimly lit tunnels. Zidane had walked toward the edge, leaning over the railing. His heel was crossed behind his foot while his tail lazily slung behind him, the tip wagging back and forth. The boy let out a sigh as his gloved hand came up to ruffle his hair. This trip brought back more memories than he wanted.
“I used to be so reckless.” He suddenly spoke up.
His face nestled into his hand as he stared off. The landscape blew by as the two rode in the carriage. The thief had gone quiet when they boarded the mode of transportation. His mind had drifted off to a time that had passed, but unforgotten. The rogue pushed his hands against the railing and stood straight. His muscles tensed and a sigh heaved from his chest. Even looking back on the past two days it did not seem that he learned as much as he hoped. It was nearing the evening of the second day and they were still no closer to this mystery, but growing ever closer to Lord King’s manor. He always seemed to boomerang his way back there. That manor was probably the only place he had never finished a successful heist on. Maybe it was his pride as a rogue, or his stubbornness as Zidane, but he could not stand the idea of that guy always winning. He was never the competitive sort, but this guy ruffled his still metaphorical feathers. He was a guy that probably, literally, gets away with murder under the nose of Queen Garnet…..
“Well, maybe I still am, but this guy really has a good way of unsettling me. Sure I’m a rogue first, but this guy has gotten away from a lot of things. His deeds, or lack of action, have hurt a lot of people, people I care about, and people I never knew.” Zidane threw his arms up before they fell to his sides, the boy slumping dejectedly. “And I can’t just walk away knowing he has something dangerous like this or is even intrigued with something that involved my friends.”
Finally coming to the end of the line the two young men were able to disembark from the now stationary carriage. Hopping off Zidane would motion to the prince. Running ahead l, the young rogue would come to the ladder leading up to the tower owned by Lord Bishop, but was luckily occupied by someone far more lenient when it came to harmless trespassing.
"Doctor Tot!?" Zidane nearly stumbled from the hole, the toe of his boot having snagged on the metal edge.
Deep in thought stood a certain owl-faced scholar who seemed to be appropriately holding the the condition that ailed all night owls. In the stead of being sound asleep the old scholar, and former tutor to the Queen of Alexandria herself, deep in thought. Zidane's shout and stumble did well to draw his attention.
"Oh, my I wasn't expecting visitors at such an hour, and from such a place."
Zidane rubbed at his head. "Long story--" the rogue was about to brush it off but it hit him. "Actually, Doctor Tot do you know if Lord King is in the city today? And I was curious if you know anything about Bloodstones?" Now Zidane lacked the experience the others had with these formidable gems of power…
Bloodstones were magic stones of power that, as their name suggest, often required a blood sacrifice, though not necessarily your own. The stones could be used to store power, for they have the ability to absorb the power of their sacrifices. So with Klein and the Golden serpent now victims to the Bloodstone held by Lord King, his armor would return to him. For as they spoke to Doctor Tot, the Golden armor rose from the seas, not a blemish on its form and without a helmet covered head. Instead the armor stomped through Treno, an easy sight glimmering in the torch lit Treno nights from the Doctor’s great tower. Its target? Lord King’s Manor.
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►TAGS: Next~! ►NOTES: It seems like the armor has will of its own... ►SKILLS USED: n/a CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE; EDITED BY OUREX DRACO
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Apr 24, 2024 8:01:02 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2014 11:08:32 GMT -5
He was charming and welcoming to his guest. Gave her a tour of Treno, his home and territory. He pleasured her, fed her, and then when all the excitement, tensions, and discussions had come to an end, he played on last round of fun with the goddess before the poor thing could take no more and fell asleep in a bed made of the finest materials and covered in the best silks and cloths one such as Lord King could afford. With only the sounds of the goddess’s light snoring filling the room, Lord King remained in the bed next to the woman that was wrapped in the silky covers. Casually, his eyes played over the woman as the moonlight danced through the curtain less window that took up the left side of the room and highlighted her finer features. Alexia, the goddess of gold, was truly a thing of beauty worth keeping in a collection. He wondered if all went to according to plan if he could truly let her leave with his gold armor. It wasn’t that Lord King wasn’t a man of his word, it was just he hated to see such a nice catch get away. She was the perfect personification of gold and the dangerous Lord was sure that her palace wasn’t too far away. “Hmph!” Lord King let the soft sound escape his body as he gently shifted in his spot and moved in such a way that it was easy to move the woman’s head to the pillow without disturbing her. With only lightest of groans, the woman fell back into her deep sleep as Lord King slipped out of bed and began to cross the room in silence. Grabbing his robe from the chair and wrapping it around his body, Lord King drifted out of the rooms and down the hall to one of the larger windows that donned the magnificently designed area. Pausing at the window, he gazed appreciatively around the hall before his eyes turned to the view of Treno draped in the moon’s gentle light, sharp eyes taking in every detail. This city and all that was within was his and everyone knew it. He was Lord King after all, a ruler fit for a city as beautiful and as treacherous as Treno. On the surface, Lord King was as charming and handsome as he needed to be, but in the blink of an eye he could be cruel and ruthless if it meant securing what he wanted. No man or woman could match him in this category and so with little effort he ruled Treno unchallenged. There was nothing he feared…well almost nothing. There was only one person that put Lord King on edge. It was a particular young man that was both beautiful and dangerous. With charms, looks, and skills that could almost match his own, the young man called Kuja would’ve been the one Lord King would’ve chosen to take his place should he ever need an heir to all he had. That young man had all the potential needed to take the title of Lord King, but unfortunately he had vanished to the winds. Lord King frowned slightly as he felt a ping of regret of not keeping a closer eye on the young man that was so dangerous and wild. It was a disappointing lost, but one Lord King could easily get over since it did not seem that Kuja had fallen into another’s hands. So as long as the board remained the way it was, Lord King had no reason to hunt for the young man. Surely like all things he wanted, Kuja too would appear again soon or later and when he did, the dangerous Lord would be sure to not let his prize get away a second time. He would collect Kuja just as he planned to collect the goddess of gold, her home, and of course the crystal griffon. Lord King’s frown turned into a malicious grin as his mind continued to churn and plot. Not only would his armor return to him, but he would have new things to look forward to adding to his collection. Yes, this would indeed be a very profitable venture. He simply had to keep up his act until the very end. Content and quite confident in his coming victory, Lord King continued to watch the world with those shark like eyes of his watching the streets for the golden armor that he was very certain was on its way to him at this very moment. **
After entering the dimly lit tunnels and watching as Steiner summoned the strange giant ant with the even stranger plants that seemed to grow naturally around the tunnels, Noctis followed Zidane aboard the carriage that hung from the creature who munched on its treat contently. Once onboard and being bid farewell by Steiner, the young prince grasped lightly onto the side of the carriage as the ant began to move causing the basket to shift with the force of the action. As the scenery moved passed him Noctis stayed rooted to his spot for a moment longer and then quite cautiously, he began to release his grip on the carriage and found that despite the slight shifting it was easy to stand in the vehicle. Relaxing as his body adapted to the gentle movement, Noctis moved from his spot and head towards the back of the carriage. Once at the end, he grasped the edge of the vehicle once more as his eyes first scanned the way they were leaving behind and then shifted to take in the scenery around and before them as he turned his head a bit as with his observations. These tunnels. They seem to stretch on forever in either direction, but it is kind of hard to believe that only one creature created this system, Noctis thought as he faced forward before slouching slightly to lean against the carriage wall as he tilted his head to look up at the giant ant above them. He watched it moved unbothered by their presence through a tunnel system the young prince was sure the creature knew well as it marched onward at blinding speeds. The creature itself was amazing, but Noctis had to wonder if it was the only one of its kind. Now that he thought on it, there didn’t seem to be any sign of any other ant like this one in these tunnels that held the strange scents of the plants that the creature seemed to enjoy munching on. Did other ants perhaps live elsewhere or was this creature truly alone? It was a curious thought that filled the prince both with a sense of intrigue and sadness as he continued to study the way the giant creature moved so fluidly despite its size. Noctis continued to observe the creature from his slouched position as the wind blew across his skin and through his hair. He kept his weight mostly on his good leg since the damaged one would protest quite uncomfortably if he tried to place his weight upon it too long. Despite this, the ride nor the position he was in currently wasn’t bothering it too much and the wind while strange was comforting and relaxing to the young man’s body and mind. It took away the stress and rush of adventure and gave the prince and his companion a well-deserved calm before having to face the unknown again. Taking advantage of this peace, Noctis eventually shut his thoughts down about the giant ant as he closed his eyes and let himself sink into the comforting arms of the ride. The young prince continued to let himself relax and might’ve even dozed off if Zidane’s voice had not broken the silence. Not peeved at all by the disturbance, Noctis’s blue eyes would reopen and drift calmly over to the tailed blonde’s position. He saw the guy leaning over the railing at the other end of the carriage, seeming lost in thought as he watched the landscape pass by with a far off look in his eyes. Despite hearing him, Noctis remained quiet as his sharp observations as a royal kicked in. Zidane was struggling with something that was far beyond just the situation with the armor. These places they visited on their travels. Each seemed to hold some form of value to the blonde. Held…memories perhaps of times long past. While it was true part of Noctis wanted to know the truth behind these memories, his more sensitive side knew better than to tread into such territory. If Zidane wished to share his experiences and past with him then he would, but until that happened, Noctis would keep his curiosity at bay and instead just continue to support the guy the best way he could when he needed to. Like now for example, Noctis had a feeling Zidane needed a listener rather than a talker, so even after the short statement had come from the blonde, the young prince kept his lips sealed as he watched the other lean his head into his hand and fall into deeper thoughts. With calmness and patience, he would wait for Zidane to continue where he left off. A second ticked by then another and another before after about a minute of silence Zidane opened his mouth and spoke once more. Listening and watching his friend carefully, Noctis remained calm as he picked out the details of what they may be dealing with next as he heard the description of their target. After hearing it, he would bow his head slightly as a light frown came across his face. He didn’t like the sounds of the guy and to be honest and as more the tiner details sunk into him, Noctis wasn’t sure if he would be a burden or not upon Zidane in this next run; however, even if he had his doubts about certain aspects of the situation and his own abilities in a foreign world, Noctis knew two things to be true: 1) He agreed with Zidane’s logic and 2) He would not abandon a friend no matter how weak or useless he felt. He would try even if odds were against him. That’s all he could do. So as Zidane threw his arms up before slumping slightly in what appeared to be hopelessness, Noctis waited until the blonde had finished speaking to part his lips to speak. “Reckless,” he repeated the word softly as he looked at the floor of the carriage pondering the various meaning behind the word. It was a word so easily tossed about to refer to silly and dangerous actions performed by the youth by their elders, but it was also a word that those without the strength or will power to fight used to describe the ones that would risk life and limb to protect or do what was right. It was a word to describe fools of two different natures, but regardless of that it was a word that would should be worn quite proudly if that fool was risking it all on what was right rather than a foolish prank. Noctis remained silent for a second longer before he turned his eyes to look up at Zidane with a calm and steadying glance. “That word has been used to describe many things, but in this case I don’t think you should feel distressed by your actions. You did what you knew was right and are still doing it. Sure the path is not pretty, but I don’t think it ever is when you are moving in the right direction. People will unfortunately get hurt and pulled into things they shouldn’t, but we cannot let evil get away with its crime. I am not sure what sort of storm is waiting for us, but together we can pull through it and perhaps keep our target, whoever he is, from creating a second disaster. We have to try…” Noctis told the other, his voice lowering with the last part as a small wave of emotion forced the prince to look down. He was tired of the deaths caused by the armor and those who chased after it. Tired of the revenge and hate. If there was a source that could be cut to stop such misery from flowing, then it would have to be cut no matter the risks or costs. Noctis understood this hard path quite well and hoped that his words would helped Zidane see the truth of this path too. He knew it was hard to accept, but...he did not know any other way to console his friend that bared so much. Noctis couldn’t imagine the burdens the other carried, but if there was some way he could help his friend bare them then he wanted to do it. He didn’t want Zidane to feel he had done anything wrong by his action or by inviting him along. In Noctis eyes, the guy had done everything he could that was right. Even if their classes were different only a fool would not be able to see just how honorable Zidane was….wouldn’t be able to see how hard he tried…. In any case, once the words were out of Noctis’s mouth he fell quiet again as he let himself sink into his own thoughts as the giant ant continued to carry them to their next destination. It was many minutes later when the giant ant finally pulled itself to a stop at a different platform. As the carriage came to a stop, Noctis pushed himself back to his feet before following Zidane off of the carriage. On the platform, Noctis paused only for a second to look around his surroundings and give his supporting leg a little rest as he readjusted his weight upon his limbs. As he shifted in his spot, he spotted Zidane motioning for him to come with him, so without a word, Noctis moved forward with a barely noticable limp until they approached a ladder leading upward into another space that seemed to be a bit more brighter than the gloomy tunnels they were in. The lighting above cause a bit of concern to run through Noctis, but after seeing Zidane mount the ladder and begin to climb upward without hesitation, the young prince pushed the concerned to the side figuring that if Zidane wasn’t worried about the light up ahead then perhaps wherever they were going was safe. So following Zidane, Noctis began to climb the ladder at a slower pace than the more graceful thief as he carefully found footholds and ways to climb up the ladder without agitating his leg that was still healing. Sure, the curing and the medical attention helped out to a degree, but even with all that the soreness and stiffness that resulted after the climb inevitably came; however, no one would ever notice that Noctis suffered a bit from his injury for as the prince reached the top, he found himself having to lean back a bit to avoid being whacked by Zidane’s tail when the blonde decided to stop being graceful and trip on the edge of the metal edge that surrounded the hole they were coming from. He suppose it wasn’t surprising considering of the two Zidane was recovering from more than just injures…. More concerned about Zidane than peeved at the slip up, Noctis held onto the ladder for a bit as he watched the thief stumbled into a room as he called out a name. When the blonde regained his balance and saved himself from meeting the hard floor, Noctis let out a silent breath of relief before he pulled himself out of the hole and looked around the circular room they were now in. It would appear he and Zidane had come out into the top part of a tower that was filled to the brim with books and other strange things to intrigue the mind with; however, as fascinating as everything was, Noctis resisted his urge to touch anything or go exploring as he moved a bit away from the hole as his eyes landed on the man that he assumed was Doctor Tot. The owl-faced and slightly hunched older scholar was standing near a book shelf deep in thought; however at Zidane’s rather noisy arrival, the man became alive as his serious eyes swiveled towards them with a look of slight shock within them; however, when he saw Zidane, the short man seemed to relax as he let out a breath and spoke. "Oh, my I wasn't expecting visitors at such an hour, and from such a place."He was saying as he looked from the hole to Noctis as he readjusted his glasses and narrowed his eyes slightly at the prince. A bit uncomfortable with the intense stare, Noctis shifted slightly in his spot as he looked away from the shorter male and tried to pretend he was interested more in the things around him rather than concerned about what information that intense study might give the older man on him. As this played out, Zidane began to speak, his words suggesting that he was about to make a quick escape; however, as if on second thought, the words changed as he began to ask the doctor a set of questions. Whether the doctor heard them or not was hard to say as he continued to study Noctis for a while longer before saying in low tones that held much curiosity, “What an strange friend you have made, Zidane.” Then shaking his head, he thankfully turned the stare away from Noctis and focused on Zidane. Noctis unconsciously released the tension he had been holding onto as he shoulders visibly slumped when he released the held breath quietly. He hated to be studied especially by those he felt could see right into your soul if they wanted to…it was the way he felt around this doctor, but now that the stare was gone, he could breathe again. Whether or not either male in the room notice his actions were beyond Noctis’s knowledge and quite frankly Noctis didn’t allow himself to linger on the thoughts for long as his mind snapped back to the task at hand as Zidane threw out two names he had not heard before but thanks to events could place what they belonged to. Lord King…that was the dangerous man that Zidane said had gotten away with many things and was more than likely the cause of all this chaos to begin with. As for the bloodstone…that must be the strange red stone that has been cropping up wherever we went. The stone with the ability to drive people mad…and grant revenge infested people their wishes. So…is Zidane asking these questions because Lord King is where these stones came from? Noctis wondered as he looked over at Zidane with a quizzical expression. It seemed that the two questions had not only puzzled Noctis, but also the man who they were directed at. As Doctor Tot heard the questions and turned away from Noctis, the older man’s eyebrows rose slightly in mild surprise. “Lord King and bloodstones, eh? That is quite a dangerous combo to ask about, especially coming from a fellow such as yourself,” the doctor said with a light chuckle as he drifted across the room to a desk overload with papers. As he begun to ruffle through them looking for something, he spoke. “However, I won’t pry into why you want such information, I’ll just tell what I know,” the man paused for a second and let out a light “hmmm” with a frown as he rubbed his beard in thought. Then glancing around the room, he wandered over to a box and began to dig through it. “Lord King,” the man began as he tip-toed to dig further in the box. “Indeed happens to be in town. If rumors can be trusted, he was seen wandering around with a plump lady dressed in gold that most are saying is his new fancy; however, being rumors it is no telling what the woman is to him, but it remains true that he more than likely won’t be alone if you plan on doing something towards him or confronting the man about something,” the doctor pulled himself out of the box as he looked over at Zidane with a serious expression.
“Tonight would be a tricky night to pull something to be honest. Guests are notorious around here for bringing both good and bad fortune when it comes to our Lords and Ladies,” the doctor finished the sentence with a light wink before turning back to the box and digging around some more. After a bit more digging, the older man gave a light. “Aha!” before coming out of the box with a crimson color stone in hand. The very sight of the stone made Noctis’s blood run cold as the doctor turned to face them both as he held up the stone for them to see. “Lord King and the bloodstones have two common traits: danger and mystery. Both of these traits draw many towards them and also destroys what seeks to stay too close to them. While I cannot give you much information on either, I do know that bloodstones when fused with their magic can be many things. Sometimes these strange stones are miracle workers, sometimes they are death traps, and at others they hold powerful weapons for those bold enough to pay their price to gain. And what is their price one may ask? The price is blood or a sacrifice of some sort. No one is certain why this works so well, but when a bloodstone is in or around blood it unleashes it full potential granting the one who fed it unimaginable things,” the doctor paused as he studied the stone before him for a while longer and then looking at Zidane he tossed it to him. “However these items are powerful and almost nonexistant nowadays. Unless you stole the triton from the statue in Alexanderia, gaining a bloodstone would be a difficult thing. Just to get that one in your hands, I had to ask a friend of mine to travel quiet far to reach the ruins of a lost civilzation where that one rested, but just like everything else there, the stone is quite dead. I wanted a live one to study it, but the only known ones like that are buried somewhere under tons of sands and the only one who had access to that place under those sands has been gone for quite some time now. If anyone could’ve told you about the stones in more detail then I that man would’ve been the one to ask even if he was a challenge to contend with,” Doctor Tot said as he folded his arms behind him and looked at the ground. “I do not mean to pry into your business or dig up past events, Zidane, but I must admit I am quite concern when I hear Lord King and bloodstones within the same set of questions,” the man looked up at him sternly. “Bloodstones were not meant for our hands, just like people such as Lord King should not have the power they do. Think carefully if you do continue on this path. The board is more deceiving then you can imagine if Lord King is involved with whatever you two are wrapped up in.” _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ► TAGS: A fail post is a fail post. The muse was playing too much. >> In any cas, tag! You’re it! ► NOTES: Zidane’s past, golden armor with a mind of its own, stones that should not be in the hands of men…all of it is connected by Lord King who is somewhere in the middle of it all…..
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