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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 6, 2021 17:22:46 GMT -5
Pairing alongside Reena’s Army’s Paeon, Kujo’s attacks were impossibly strong —decimating whatever defenses were left standing. Supported by Lamont’s charge, soon the group of Arbor Buzzards was no more, all laying dead over the marsh waters. All Adventurers laid their weapons down, before saving them in their respective places. M’Lyn felt a bit down, having barely lent a hand with Reena and Lamont taking care of most things, but nonetheless, the job was done, and that was that. The remaining battles ahead would most likely help her vent out a little, if anything.
Once her lyre and bow were on place, Reena looked at Kujo, a proud smile as she did so. The Elezen, having glanced over to his comrade only to see the smile in her expression, shaking his head with a sigh before heading forward.
There was no stopping that Viera, for sure.
“So? How was it?” Reena asked, giggling slightly, “Never saw that one coming, did you?” “I must say —you’ve got quite the skill to annoy those that catch your interest…” Lamont said, glancing towards the Viera over his shoulder, “Still, I’ll admit —the skill you both possess took me by surprise. Perhaps there is more than meets the eye?” “In any case… We ought to get going —before more monsters take notice of us.”
Reena winked playfully, before making her way through the path marked with stone, leading the way. Thankfully, the monsters that did remain were rather far from view, and hardly would bother even if they were aggressive —so long as they stood away from their short sight. No more Arbor Buzzards were in the place, although according to Lamont, it wouldn’t take long before others replaced the ones fallen.
And given that they were rather pressed on time, it was better to avoid unnecessary fights.
The path to Horizon would lead to a rather silent town, with only a few Lalafell Brass Blades and others merchants, once again with the occasional Hyur roaming around —tall armed men with toasted skin and broad shoulders, standing straight and just as tall as Kujo. After spotting them, a Lalafell rushed towards Reena and Lamont, apparently already acquainted with them. While the pair asked what was wrong and caught up to what had been happening in Horizon, and to a part in Western Thanalan, M’Lyn glanced over towards Kujo with a sly smirk, arms crossed and tail swishing calmly.
It was about time to tease him some, regarding the “strange” occurrences that her world had going on.
“You didn’t expect that one, did you?” she asked, eyes closed with her smirk, “A drunkard that fights impeccably, or songs than empower others in battle… Certainly ‘strange’, is it not?” “I’m afraid we’ll be stalled here.”
Lamont walked forward, bringing along some unwanted news. While the Viera continued to talk with the Lalafell, the Elezen had decided to discuss their current problem at hand. M’Lyn laid her hands to her side, listening attentive to the problem. Hearing how they’d be “stalled” was hardly welcome, given that the duo was pressed on time.
“Why, if I may ask?” “By the looks of things, it’s an order of the Sultansworn to not move between Ul’dah and Horizon —not until a herd of Peiste are taken care of.” “…What?” “Remember what we mentioned previously? How the monsters are responding to the influence of multiple primals being summoned?” the Elezen’s gaze strengthened, “’Tis this the matter that we spoke of —monsters have multiplied in mass, and while Adventurers such as ourselves are capable of making front, others are not so fortunate. The Free Companies and city-states are trying to split their resources as well as recruiting Adventurers to aid them, but it seems some areas have not been as fortunate.” “One of them being Horizon?” M’Lyn’s question was answered with a nod, “And why are we not allowed to join their cause? Given that our objective right now is Ul’dah, the least we can do is aid her in this endeavor.” “Reena and I suggested that already —it seems we’d needs require permission of the captain handling Horizon’s Edge. To our surprise, however… It seems they’ve already departed.”
M’Lyn glared, yet Lamont hardly seemed pleased with their predicament and narrating the news. Reena soon joined, deflated, joined along by the Lalafell that had crossed their path. Immediately, the Miqo’te recognized the Lalafell in question, a doubtful look in her face as she examined further.
The Lalafell in question had noticeable white mustache matching its slightly spiky white hair, wearing a make-do circlet resembling a crown, silver armor and a white uniform. A shield and a sword saved neatly at his back and side, the Lalafell looked back at the Miqo’te, just the same look as M’Lyn had at the moment.
“The most trusted of the Sultansworn, here?” “Do my eyes deceive me?” the Lalafell asked back, “The Weaponsmaster of the Scions has blessed us with her presence, it seems.” “Cut to the chase, if you would, Papashan —what’s going on?” “What you’ve heard from Lamont and Reena, I’m afraid —until the Peiste have been taken care of, none is allowed travels outside Ul’dah and Western Thanalan. Of course, ‘twould be foolish to refuse your aid, were you to offer.” “Are you daft? Of course I would —we’re pressed in time as it is. We can’t wait for others to clear our path.”
Papashan chuckled, having noticed Reena’s incredulous look at M’Lyn. Lamont, on the other hand, had apparently seen it coming. Without missing a second, the Lalafell looked at Kujo, tilting his head only slightly before nodding in greeting —acknowledging the fact that he was unknown, yet a welcome ally.
For now, things would get stranger still —with Kujo caught in what seemed to be monster extermination?
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 7, 2021 20:29:05 GMT -5
What few Buzzards remained were quickly decimated, the power coursing through Kujo’s body seeping as the battle ended. ”So? How was it?” Reena’s giggling inquiry caused the tall man to snort out in response, crossing their arms as the aura around them faded, their gaze returning to its usual emerald as the powers of his Akogare were dismissed. "It’s better than other songs I’ve heard, I’ll give you that.” Despite the dismissive comment, it was clear that Kujo was putting in effort to hide his surprise and respect. It seemed everyone was taken by surprise by the others skills however, given Lamont’s comment. I’ll say… He hadn’t expected much from the colorful characters, though clearly they’d been wary as well. With the monsters cleared out, the group was able to continue down the path, thankfully avoiding any other troublesome fights in the meantime. Undisturbed, they’d arrive in the small and quiet town pocketed away, much less lively than the one they’d been in before sailing here.
The Lalafell that rushed to greet Reena and Lamont would cause Kujo’s brow to raise, curious as to what business they had with them during their travel. Tch—better not cut into our time. Sighing with faint impatience, Kujo shoved his hands into his pockets, narrowing and glaring his eyes as he noticed M’Lyn’s tail flick and swish, a smirk playing on her lips. "You didn’t expect that one, did you?” Rolling his eyes a bit, the tall man’s eyes flashed with a devious glint as he tossed his rebuttal out gruffly. ”Considering how you are, I guess I shouldn’t’ve been surprised?” Regardless of the reaction his statement would get, the two’s teasing would be cut short as the Elezen walked up to them with a serious look on their face. ”I’m afraid we’ll be stalled here.” Kujo’s tongue immediately clicked as he glared, having known his suspicion to be true from the start. Typical. Nothing was ever easy for them, was it? Can’t I catch a break?
”By the looks of things, it’s an order of the Sultansworn to not move between Ul’dah and Horizon—“ Lamont’s explanation only deepened Kujo’s glare and scowl as he dug for the pack of cigarettes in his jacket pocket. Annoyed at the politics hindering their voyage, the man lit his vice and inhaled while M’Lyn asked for clarification. Her comment of ‘aiding’ a cause brought a raised brow from him, though he didn’t chime in—being unfamiliar with this world and its governances. ”It seems we require permission from the captain handling Horizon’s Edge.” The worse news was that apparently this ‘captain’ that could grant them access had already left. ”Tch—figures.” Taking a drag from his cigarette, Kujo’s icy glare matched the Miqo’te’s own, though Lamont seemed quite displeased by the news as well. Reena soon rejoined them, their Lalafell acquaintance following in step. ”The most trusted of the Sultansworn, here?” Kujo blinked in mild surprise, not having expected M’Lyn to know the tiny warrior clad in silver armor.
”The Weaponmaster of the Scions has blessed us with her presence, it seems.” Kujo couldn’t help but smirk faintly and give a quiet snort as he stomped out his vice early. At least ‘Weaponmaster’ is fitting. His emerald eyes flashed with mild curiosity as M’Lyn and this ‘Papashan’ exchanged a brief back and forth. It seemed that the small warrior pulled some weight of their own, given the exchange. If Papashan could accept their offer to helping in removing the threat blocking their passage, it would definitely move things along faster. ”We can’t wait for others to clear our path.” M’Lyn seemed to think alike, quickly accepting the agreement with an impatient haste all too familiar to Kujo. Noticing Papashan’s nod of greeting, the tall man grimaced for a moment before sighing and giving a faint nod, crossing his arms. ”Whatever. Anything that’ll get us moving faster.” Regardless of what these ‘Peiste’ creatures were, he hardly felt anything but impatient and annoyed.
They were always dealing with pests. Either those damned 'Heartless' or something else.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 8, 2021 7:32:46 GMT -5
Lamont nodded along the trail of thought from both Kujo and M’Lyn, agreeing in lending Ul’dah a hand to deal with the problem on the way. Reena didn’t see a way out, but she wouldn’t bail on them now —she had a duty as a Scion, after all. To help. Seeing the group silently agree on the following action, Papashan walked towards the Vieran, handing over what seemed to be an insignia of sorts —silver in color, with an emblem Kujo wouldn’t recognize, but the other locals would for sure.
“You should be alright with that sigil, even if you’re along with the Scions” the Lalafell explained, “I humbly apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, but there’s so much I can do at this time.” “It’s alright” Reena shook her head, calmly, “We’ll make sure this issue is solved!” “How close is this ‘problem’ to Horizon?” M’Lyn asked. “Near the bridge, thankfully. Past that should be safe.”
After nodding, the Miqo’te headed off, past the Aetheryte at the center of the settlement and past the closed gates after the guards opened them. Following along was first Lamont, and lastly Reena, who waited for Kujo before following. Papashan stood behind, watching as they departed with the sigil of the Sultansworn in the Viera’s hands, which would allow them free passage in Thanalan until the order was lifted.
Even if they were Scions, words alone wouldn’t be enough to convince some.
“…May you walk in the Light of the Crystal.”
The desert welcomed them full-front, with dry steppes and some bare hills sprinkled here and there. It lacked the sand that were the deserts of Agrabah, instead being solidified dirt and stone. There were some dried bushes and vegetation somehow surviving the incessant heat, with swarms of bugs moving along from place to place. To their left after leaving Horizon —having entered Horizon’s Edge—, a path led further within the hilly ends of Western Thanalan, with spots in each beam supposedly meant for posts, but currently unused.
Most likely, all forces were focused on dealing with the battle ahead.
The duo of locals headed forward, leading the way through Western Thanalan. With obvious haste in their steps, Lamont and Reena spotted the group up ahead, fighting against reptile creatures that continued to hiss and spit. Their head resembled that of a cobra, yet they had 4 legs instead of none, with a few spikes coursing on their back. Their fangs wide open with a sharp tongue slithering as they readied a strike.
Fighting against the Desert Peiste were various soldiers armed with sword and shield, of different races, colors and sizes —all of them Brass Blades.
“Don’t leave room for assault —we strike them down here!”
A shout was followed by others, with the soldiers pushing the fiends back. Reena readied her bow, shooting an arrow towards one of the Peiste attacking a fallen soldier. The arrow hit cleanly on its target, forcing it to recoil back. Lamont had jumped into the fray in similar style as before, his lance surrounded in flames as he soared to the skies, diving downwards with his Dragonfire Dive. M’Lyn had followed the approach with a polearm, conjuring a powerful Astral Fire spell before following with a combo of attacks.
The battle had begun!
[Battle! 12 Desert Peiste] [Allies: 10 Brass Blades]
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 10, 2021 15:48:34 GMT -5
It seemed the chore was settled, as Reena was handed an odd insignia by the short Lalafell. ”You should be alright with that sigil,” The comment caused Kujo’s brow to raise, his emerald eyes scrutinizing the small object before it was tucked away with mild curiosity. ”How close is this ‘problem’ to Horizon?” M’Lyn was quick to the point as always, a trait her stoic and colorfully clad ally appreciated. Following the others lead, the group departed from the port-town, with a clear obstacle to overcome.
Though they’d emerged into a desert, it was far different than the one Kujo had seen in Agrabah. This one had hard dirt and stone as a floor, spots of dry vegetation pocking out from natural crags and crevices in the parched earth. Though the swarms of bugs were an annoying accent to it all, the temperature and condition of the desert hardly seemed to phase the man in lavender, who walked with a faint scowl as their eyes stayed attentive to their surroundings. Following the pathway that wound through the landscape, it wouldn’t be long before Kujo and the others picked up on a struggle.
Hissing snake-like creatures hissed and lashed with sharp fangs, the clanging of steel and combat ringing through the otherwise steady drum of insects. ”Don’t leave room for assault—we strike them down here!” Armed soldiers seemed to be fighting for their lives against the natural monsters of the wasteland, an open battle taking place and blocking the path ahead of them. Tch—of course. There had been pests on their first voyage outside of a town, too. It seemed the world itself had countless obstacles and hidden threats waiting for them along the way to their objective. A fact that only prolonged Kujo’s consistent sense of irritation.
”Useless.” With an annoyed sigh, Kujo summoned his own powers as his allies quickly leapt into the fray. Aren’t they supposed to be dealing with this so we don’t have to? It seemed the militia or law enforcement on almost any world was entirely useless and more of a hindrance than help. Though it was his first time seeing such bizarre creatures, Kujo hardly showed any sign of uncertainty or hesitation as his body began to glow with the powerful aura of his Akogare. Once emerald eyes shone with a new sight—one swirling with an endless galaxy, taking in all the foes around them. Weaving through the countless struggles with how many soldiers and beasts there were, Kujo moved as though a blur, his speed unparalleled as he zigged and zagged through the battlefield.
Striking from the side, back and other odd angles, the man would work on taking out the targets while avoiding catching any soldiers in his powerful attacks. Knowing his own powers and capabilities quite well, there was no doubt in Kujo’s mind what would happen if one of the normal soldiers were hit by his strikes. Mercilessly, the colorful clad brawler swung powerful kicks and barraging punches as they worked their way into the crowd.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 10, 2021 16:47:33 GMT -5
With so much support in hands, the battle took a turning point in favor of the group. With the Dragoon and Kujo taking up the close fighting, pummeling and lancing through the Peistes with ease, M’Lyn and Reena kept the vanguard safe from afar. The Brass Blades, having noticed the aid, focused further on the assault, pushing the creatures against a corner. A few had already been defeated, laying still unto the dry desert sand, while others hissed and snapped at the team.
Only a few Desert Peistes remained —but these were hardly going to give in easily. Even with Kujo’s powers, it seemed the beasts were able to hold their ground, something M’Lyn was wary of. They were mostly small fry, no? Creatures that, although hostile, any beginning Adventurer would be able to defeat in order to clear a path. The other two had also been rather inconvenienced by it, evident in their expression and postures.
Somethings had definitely changed.
Both Reena and M’Lyn flinched, turning around to see another group of Peistes walking to the assault. The creatures closed in on the Viera, who, making use of her Repelling Shot, jumped away from the danger, whereas M’Lyn made them front with her pole and swift combos, aided by a few Brass Blades. Strumming to her lyre, Reena followed her attack with a Wanderer’s Minuet, hoping to keep morale high enough for their victory.
“There’s far too many for this to be normal…” M’Lyn thought, glancing through the enemies, both fallen and still alive, “What has happened, during my absence?” “M’Lyn —your rear!”
Having been caught off-guard, the Miqo’te didn’t notice a pair of Peistes closing in on her. Lamont had used his Jump to take care of one, while M’Lyn fended the other one. Both creatures fell under their attacks, but it still left a few more to handle.
“Thanks for that” the Miqo’te said, sharply. “Hardly. ‘Twould seem you’ve been caught off-guard by this.” “…Almost as if you can read my mind.”
The pair split up, charging to attack further. Eventually, the numbers thinned out, and the few remaining Peistes saw it optimal to retreat. Saving their weapons in place, it seemed the job was done —but it left a few questions unanswered. Questions the Miqo’te sought to ask the Brass Blades handling the Peistes there.
As for the group in question, having already saved their weapons, thanked the four for the aid, yet inquired them for the destination. From there, Reena handled most of it.
“We’re on our way to Ul’dah” she explained, “Here —this sigil ought to suffice for passage?” “…A sigil of the Sultansworn… Understood” the captain nodded, “Thank you for the aid, yet I can’t guarantee safe passage from here.” “Why is that?” “Not only Desert Peistes, but all sorts of monsters are aggressive —including those which we all thought passive unless provoked. Nay, ‘twould seem all is against us.” “Much like in Limsa…” Lamont hummed, nodding before looking at the captain, “Thank you for the insight. May I ask, however… Have you heard anything from Ifrit? Or perhaps the Amalj'aa?” “Nay. Why would you ask?” “…’Tis nothing. Once again, thank you for the aid.”
The Elezen stepped forward, following by the group. With a quizzical look, M’Lyn caught up to him in a somewhat hurried pace, wanting to clear doubts of her own. Reena, once again, waited for Kujo before following, wondering what was going on in the world she called home. There were so many unusual things happening… Nothing like she’d seen before, in the sheltered life in Golmore Jungle. Of course, a similar situation applied to the Miqo’te, but unlike Reena, M’Lyn had been off-world.
Then again, it was similar in more ways than it was different.
“Care explain?” M’Lyn’s question caught Lamont by surprise, “Why ask about Ifrit? Or the Amalj’aa, for that matter.” “…You truly are a Scion?” the Elezen asked back, confused, “If so, wouldn’t you know more than me? The primals have had multiple summoning attempts as of late, and with it, the monsters have gotten aggressive. Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, Garuda, Titan, Leviathan… The Beast Tribes call onto their gods in response to imbalance —in response of fear.” “Then… This is all a primal issue? Makes no sense.” “Yet ‘tis the absolute truth.”
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 14, 2021 13:08:18 GMT -5
Tch—useless. Glaring at the few enemies that remained, Kujo’s aura continued to shine and burst as their galaxy eyes picked up on another group of snake-like monsters coming to join the battle. Seeing how some were going to where M’Lyn was positioned, the tall man moved to begin a flanking attack—figuring the Miqo’te would make quick work of halting them in their tracks. The hell? Rushing across the battlefield, kicking and punching at any foes in his way, Kujo was genuinely surprised to see M’Lyn hardly make a move—instead seemingly spacing out in thought. ”M’Lyn—your rear!” Just as the man in lavender had made their way over, Lamont plunged from the air at the attackers at the distracted Miqo’te’s back. Exchanging a brief and somewhat sharp exchange of gratitude, the two split up—resuming the battle.
Kujo watched M’Lyn with a scrutinizing gaze, the swirling galaxy of his eyes boring into her with suspicion. M’Lyn never spaced out during battles. Ever. If anything, she was one of the most capable fighters Kujo had ever met—not only due to her skills with countless weapons, but also due to her perceptiveness and attentiveness to the battlefield. Damn it, M’Lyn. He’d expected some sort of reaction from her, having returned to her home world—but the fact that she had been so absorbed in her thoughts during a battle was quite uncharacteristic. Deciding it’d be best to wait until after the fight to ask questions, as well as for them to actually be out of earshot from Lamont and Reena (though, who knew how far they’d have to go with that woman’s damned ears), Kujo continued his assault on the few enemies remaining until the last few stragglers retreated.
”Pitiful.” Dismissing the powers of his Akogare, Kujo’s emerald gaze returned to him as the aura faded. Scowling a bit as he crossed his arms and glanced over at M’Lyn, the stoic man waited silently as Reena and Lamont handled the ‘diplomatic’ portion of their voyage. Though the Elezen’s conversation with the captain did little for Kujo, it seemed to catch M’Lyn’s interest. Once they were allowed to continue (not that the weak armed militia that they just had to save posed any real risk in stopping them, in Kujo’s opinion), the Miqo’te was quick to catch up to Lamont, inquiring into their conversation with the captain with clear confusion. ”You truly are a Scion?” Perhaps it was just because he wasn’t a huge fan of the Elezen, or perhaps it was just the tone they used; either way, their retort to M’Lyn caused Kujo to glower and glare indignantly from behind as they walked in a group. Tch—whatever. It did no good to get bothered about it now. Of course M’Lyn would be out of the loop, considering how time passed differently among worlds…not that Lamont or Reena would know anything about that, of course.
It was the whole reason he’d have to wait to question his comrade for now, a fact that only soured the stoic man’s already icy mood. ”It doesn’t matter what kind of issue it is.” Kujo’s gruff remark was tossed towards M’Lyn, who still seemed perplexed at the ‘primal issue’ her and Lamont were discussing. ”What does matter is that we find Master Y’shtola.” Moving ahead of the others, Kujo would shove his hands in his pockets as he began to continue down the passage ahead, wondering what kind of bizarre person this Master would be, considering the weirdness of the world he found himself in.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 15, 2021 1:53:33 GMT -5
”It doesn’t matter what kind of issue it is.”
M’Lyn groaned, glaring at Kujo as he made his statement. It hardly helped her case, or her mood. Lamont raised a brow at the man’s comment, clear skepticism written in his expression. Suddenly the mood had soured. Looking at each member, Reena faltered, a bit uneasy by the sudden animosity between what would otherwise would be a party of 4 —people working together in order to achieve their goals.
So why were they scowling at each other now?
The Viera, unlike Lamont, had heard Kujo’s comment towards M’Lyn, about finding Y’shtola being the current number one priority. Reena agreed with that thought, seeing that it was probably the person that could give the more accurate answers, compared to the two Adventurers. A bit shyly, she approached M’Lyn and Kujo, trying to latch the Elezen with her to show her agreement.
“I-I agree with Kujo in that!” she said, a bit hastily, “Surely, Y’shtola can explain this a lot better! What matters now is getting to Mor Dhona as quickly as possible. Once there, surely you can get the answers you’re looking for!” “…I guess you’re not wrong” the Miqo’te conceded.
Lamont found himself sighing, yet agreeing reluctantly. Reena was right —Y’shtola was the most knowledgeable of the Scions for a reason, and surely, she would be able to explain things thoroughly and in better detail. What mattered now was getting to Ul’dah, and getting on the airship to Mor Dhona, as fast as humanly possible. Given that Aetheryte wasn’t an option and all that…
Yet the voyage to Ul’dah, although smooth in some edges, was rocky in others. With all the fighting and investigation the group had gone through, by the time they arrived by the gates of Ul’dah, it was threatening to be dusk, turning slowly into night. How much time had passed, indeed? M’Lyn grimaced, looking at the sky as they crossed the gates to enter the “desert jewel”. Lid was still looking out for them in Milennia, yet that hardly cleared anything for them in gauging how much time it had been there. For all she knew, it was faster than in Eorzea. The only way to determine that was by talking with her, in a place where no one could listen. That alone had a few outlets, given the Miqo’te’s knowledge of the city.
“I’ll go check with Biggs and Wedge, just in case” Reena mentioned, “To think —this whole thing has costed us almost the entire day…” “Is there a reason why you would need to check with them?” M’Lyn asked, curious. “Well… Somewhat. Now more than ever they’re reluctant to travel by airship at night, with everything that’s been happening.” “As to be expected…” “S-Still! I’ll try to see if we can do something about it!” “…If so, I shall part ways for the time being” Lamont informed, “I have my own things to investigate here in Ul’dah.”
The Elezen was quick to depart, not even bidding the team goodbye. Reena sighed, pouting slightly, before coming to an agreement to regroup at the Adventurer’s Guild in the city, before leaving towards the Airship Docks. With just the two remaining, it seemed they had time to entertain themselves and gauge a few things.
Starting with time, and then with a few of their own concerns. Not only that, but M’Lyn had something in mind to do while the others were focused on their own thing —particularly to do with Kujo.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 18, 2021 12:29:04 GMT -5
For a moment, each member of the party scowled and glared at one another—though Reena was quick to jump in and cut away the tension. ”I-I agree with Kujo in that!” The Viera was hasty, though the fact she agreed with the man in lavender and worked on coaxing M’Lyn and Lamont to their side was more than helpful. Hmph—these ‘bards’ can be pretty useful… A faint smirk was on the man’s face as he noticed the Miqo’te concede—though the Viera wasn’t wholly correct in why Kujo had been so adamant. Though he understood M’Lyn’s desire for knowledge about her world—it didn’t change the fact that they weren’t exactly free when it came to time. Jack was in bad shape—unable to recover through any means they had available to them. With his powers gifted to him by the Genie, Kujo could easily take M’Lyn back here whenever she wanted—so the man couldn’t help but be a bit gruff and exasperated by the woman’s selfish curiosity.
Nonetheless, the group ended up reconciling and agreeing on prioritizing their voyage to Ul’dah. Kujo couldn’t help but be annoyed by the time they arrived at the city, dusk threatening to fall upon it at any moment. Tch—that took forever. Glancing up towards the darkening sky, the stoic man raised a finger to the earpiece absent-mindedly. Nothing from Lid, at least. That meant they hadn’t wasted too much time, thankfully, though it did little to lessen the sour expression on his face. ”I’ll go check with Biggs and Wedge, just in case.” Reena had deflated somewhat, admitting that they hadn’t anticipated their journey to eat up the entire day. Hearing how many pilots were wary of traveling by ‘airship’ at nighttime, Kujo scowled once more and clicked his tongue disapprovingly. ”We’re not losing the night, too.” Flashing a serious look Reena’s way, the man was already having dark thoughts about hijacking one of these ‘airships’. Surely it couldn’t be too different from flying a plane or helicopter, right? ((OOC: Fun fact, Kujo knows how to fly such aircrafts found in his home world. How they learned this will be something y’all will have to find out later))
”I’ll try to see if we can do something about it!” Reena’s mild reassurance did little for Kujo, who merely crossed their arms and sighed in exasperation in response. ”I shall part ways for the time being.” The Elezen’s comment caused the man in lavender to raise a brow, though he didn’t say anything. As Lamont walked off to do their own errand, Kujo couldn’t help but watch them with a scrutinizing glare. Tch—better not be sneaking off to go drink. If he found out anyone was wasting time like that when they could be getting closer to this ‘Master’, he’d give them a real problem to deal with. With Reena and Lamont rushing off, M’Lyn and Kujo were left by themselves for the first time since meeting the adventurers. It was refreshing, not being around others for a moment, seeing as how the stoic man was hardly the sociable type to begin with. ”You were sloppy today.” Despite the gruff tone, Kujo’s words weren’t reprimanding, but more like he was simply stating a fact. ”Didn't expect you to be the type to space out.”
The last comment had a bit of weight behind it, as Kujo’s emerald eyes flashed with a hint of scrutiny. Reaching into his jacket pocket and retrieving his vice, the man lit a cigarette while waiting to hear his comrade’s response. Of course, he didn’t blame M’Lyn for being so spacey and distracted, considering how long she’d been away. But it wasn’t seeming to disappear anytime soon, and that would definitely prove to be a problem, if the last day of travel was any indicator. At the end of the day, if she continued allowing herself to be tripped up by every difference since being here last, it was bound to cost them later on.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 18, 2021 12:56:08 GMT -5
Kujo’s words hardly seemed to reach the Miqo’te, who, with her arms crossed, huffed and looked away. Unwilling to admit her obvious short-comings, it seemed M’Lyn wasn’t going near that topic anytime soon. Glaring back towards the man as he lit his vice, M’Lyn showed her fangs, an obvious growl hidden beneath her growing annoyance.
“If you’ve got time to tease, then you’ve got time to move” she hissed, “You said it yourself —we’re not losing the night, too. If we can’t move from Ul’dah, the least we can do is make the most of our stay.”
With that said, the Miqo’te turned left, hardly paying Kujo any attention —although it was probably in his best interest. Unless the man’s objective was to explore the city on his own, in which case M’Lyn would hardly stop him.
Nevertheless, the path M’Lyn took towards the left would lead her past a slightly crowded area, leading into the Emerald Avenue, close to where her objective resided. She had an idea that Lamont, who she’d seen heading left, was near the area as well —yet her objective wasn’t where the Elezen had gone towards. Instead, she walked past it, heading deeper into the slope leading to a small concealed plaza —past the Hall of Flames and the Flame Barracks. The “plaza” was hardly one people could call as such, although perhaps it was fitting to the desert jewel that was Ul’dah —there were no green plants or trees decorating the ground, instead polished orange stone floor and walls, sheltering a large crystal similar to the one in Limsa Lominsa’s Aetheryte Plaza.
In a similar manner, plenty of Adventures were leaving or coming closer to the crystal, its light shining brightly and tainting the orange walls with a light-blue light. Stepping without a hint of hesitation, the Miqo’te stopped a few steps from the crystal, raising her hand towards it, her palm facing it. Only the faintest trace of blue mist seemed to burst from her, in a bright shine, before fading —yet it hardly seemed to bother M’Lyn.
“Hmm… I guess my time outside hasn’t affected any of the attuning I’ve done with the Aetherytes…” she mumbled to herself, flexing her hand open and close, “Helps quite a bit.”
So long as Kujo had followed, she would glance towards him, her face just as stoic as usual. Crossing her arms once again, she raised a brow with a hint of curiosity, wondering if her idea would work for the man that was the outsider of Eorzea.
Her idea was rather simple —have Kujo attune to the Aetherytes in Eorzea. That act alone would make traveling 100 times faster, and easier to boot, so long as he attuned to both the Aetheryte that was their destination as well as their origin. Still, the voyage to Mor Dhona would be the perfect opportunity to attune to the Aetheryte there (if there was any, thing that M’Lyn didn’t know for certain), making the Airship trip a worthwhile annoyance.
Whether Kujo saw eye to eye with that, though… That was to be seen yet.
“Care to give it a try? What I just did” she said, “Surely you noticed —what with your Akorage and all of it.”
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 18, 2021 13:12:21 GMT -5
”If you’ve got time to tease, then you’ve got time to move.” M’Lyn’s mild huffing and unwillingness to observe the issue caught him by surprise, a sudden mild humor twitching at the edge of his lips as he realized she was pouting about it. So, even she can get like that? He wasn’t able to sit idly amused for long, though, as the Miqo’te set off after mentioning something about making use of their time. ”Whatever.” Wearing a smirk and rolling his eyes as he took another drag, the man in lavender followed his ally, wondering what they were heading for. Leading Kujo into a less crowded area of town (which he was silently thankful for), he followed M’Lyn into the somewhat concealed plaza. A vast polished floor contrasting the bright light of a massive crystal housed in the center. Here there were odd assortments of people, coming and going to the massive jewel and placing their outstretched palms onto it. Raising an eyebrow as he watched the odd ritual, Kujo noticed M’Lyn step forward to do the same. The hell are they doing?
Blinking in mild surprise as he watched a faint blue mist reach out to the Miqo’te upon her reaching her hand out, the man’s emerald eyes glinted with a hint of suspicion mixed with curiosity. M’Lyn seemed to be inspecting her hand, mumbling to herself for a moment before facing him once more. ”Care to give it a try? What I just did.” Grimacing as he stomped out the butt of his cigarette, Kujo walked up to where M’Lyn stood, both hands remaining in his pockets for a moment. ”Just what the hell do these things do?” He’d heard Reena and M’Lyn mention ‘Aetheryte’s’ before, though the object itself had never been explained to the man. Coming from a world far different than Eorzea, Kujo had no idea how these massive crystals helped adventurers, originally thinking them to be energy sources or ornaments. Being a wary type, it seemed the stoic man was hardly bound to comply with the idea until understanding how it benefited them.
I sense something from it, though… Eyeing the massive crystal that shone in the center near them, Kujo was able to sense a power emanating from the jewel thanks to the odd ‘sixth sense’ of his Akogare. It was different from Elena’s ‘partner’, as well as his own ‘guardian’, radiating with a power and aura unfamiliar to the man. Thankfully, it felt nothing like the dark presence of the Heartless and odd events that had happened on other worlds, which was a good start.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 18, 2021 13:32:01 GMT -5
Smirking albeit it faintly, M’Lyn glanced as Kujo walked forward, stopping right besides her. It seemed even his curiosity was piqued, a trait she rarely noticed on the man —enough to stop him from smoking, by the look of things. Of course, he was still stoic and wary of the Aetheryte in front of him, being a traveler from another world, foreign to the one they were in now. Nevertheless, M’Lyn was willing to explain that which she considered important.
“Aetherytes are mostly used as teletransportation devices” the Miqo’te explained, turning back towards the shining crystal, “I would get into the details on how it works, but I doubt you’d be interested in such. Point is —by attuning to the Aetherytes, different routes open for you, making travel much faster and easier. The only catch, however… Is that you need to attune both to the one you’re teleporting from, and the one you’re teleporting towards —yet the attuning is only done once.”
Almost as if they’d heard her explanation, a group of Adventurers walked forward —3 members in total. One of them stepped forward, raising their hand towards the crystal, before a bright light engulfed the whole group. Within the blink of an eye, they disappeared, their location unknown.
With a better look, hKujo would notice how people casually walked in and out, people disappearing in blinding light, and others appearing from the same one. Yet no one was concerned about it, going along their everyday lives. Then again, it wasn’t like M’Lyn to lie.
“In this world, everything is made of the same essence —Aether” the Miqo’te explained, “’Tis the equivalent of a lifeforce. The Aetherytes are made of said Aether, and by connecting them to one another through the Aetherflow, it makes travel quite pleasant —within seconds, you find yourself in the location you want to be in.”
“If the situation is a dire as I believe it to be, odds are we’ll be travelling through Eorzea for quite some while —as such, attuning to the Aetherytes will cut us a lot of valuable time. ‘Twould be best if you attempted to attune to the Aetherytes we find now, so that we use as little time as necessary when travelling” she finished her explanation, following a faint smirk, “Of course, I plan to testing this within U’ldah, for the Aetheryte Shards scattered in the city shall aid us in testing whether you can, in fact, attune to the Aether, or, due to the World Order, you’re unable to —but I believe the latter is unlikely.”
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 18, 2021 14:13:16 GMT -5
”Aetherytes are mostly used as tele-transportation devices.” The initial explanation caused Kujo to raise a brow, though he listened attentively. Though tele-transportation was merely an idea of science fiction in his own home world, the amount of bizarre oddities he’d seen since traveling from SanFransokyo made it easy enough for him to not diminish the explanation as fantasy. ”By attuning to Aetherytes, different routes open for you, making travel much faster and easier.” Nodding as she explained, Kujo realized why earlier she’d mentioned it being a shame he hadn’t been attuned to any on this world yet. It’s almost too convenient… There wasn’t a catch to it, or anything? Almost as though reading his mind, a group of adventurers came forward—a random assortment of side characters who immediately departed after raising a hand to the crystal, shrouded in a blinding light before vanishing in thin air. The spectacle wasn’t the only one in the room, as the man noticed occasional folks appearing in similar bursts of light, or disappearing. No one seemed to think twice about this phenomenon.
”In this world, everything is made of the same essence—Aether. ’Tis the equivalence of a ‘life-force’.” Nodding along as M’Lyn explained, Kujo realized why he was able to sense such ‘power’ from the crystal, enough so that he had mistaken it for an energy source. Surprisingly enough, it seemed he wasn’t struggling to comprehend the information whatsoever. Rather sharp and more open due to his worldly travels, it seemed Kujo was quick to pick up on the essence of the artifact. ”If the situation is as dire as I believe it to be, odds are we’ll be traveling through Eorzea for quite some while—“ The Miqo’te’s brief mention of them remaining here for some time caught the man a bit off-guard, causing him to raise an eyebrow. Just how long did she think they had? Come to think of it, even Kujo wasn’t sure how much time had passed since their arrival back in Milennia. ”The Aetheryte Shards scattered in the city shall aid us in testing whether you can, in fact, attune to the Aether…” There was a small chance that perhaps the odd effects of the crystal wouldn’t work on Kujo, since for all he knew, he didn’t have this ‘Aether’ energy in him like everyone else did on this world.
”Tch—whatever.” Shrugging a bit, the stoic man reached a calloused and muscular hand out towards the crystal, their emerald eyes still glaring in mild suspicion. Regardless of how long they’d be here, it didn’t hurt to try to ‘attune’ to the damned things. Whether the attuning worked or not waited to be determined, though Kujo decided to inquire about his other question while doing so. Reaching up with another hand to the comm device he wore on his ear, the man’s voice would crackle on Lid’s end as he decided to touch base. ”Lid, how much time has passed, since we left?” They didn’t have all the time in the world—but it was worth gauging whether it moved faster or slower on Eorzea than it did Milennia. With how long they’d been in M’Lyn’s world now, it should be enough time to gauge an estimate on the difference—or at least, that’s what the stoic man though as he waited to attune to the Aetheryte.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 18, 2021 14:42:11 GMT -5
The moment Kujo reached out towards the crystal, faint blue mist sparkled near him, in similar fashion to what had happened to M’Lyn. The Miqo’te remained aside, observing carefully to determine whether the man was, inf act, able to attune like any other, or if the World Order would step in their way. Nothing pointed to it being a failure, however, yet there was hardly any proof of its success —it seemed it was something to be tested through trial and error, but M’Lyn had gone through it once before.
It was common for most Adventurers to test it as they went on.
”Lid, how much time has passed, since we left?” Kujo’s voice crackled through M’Lyn’s earpiece, causing her ears to twitch in attention. Static met them only for a moment, before a beep echoed in response —Lid picking up. She was humming nonchalantly, probably focused on something, but was quick to answer to the man’s questioning with almost impeccable timing.
“Hold on —I’m almost done. Give me a few seconds…” she said, calmly. “…Lid?” M’Lyn tilted her head, a bit curious. “Lemme focus —talking’s not gonna get me anywhere…” the mechanic grumbled, “…’Kay, done —anything else?” “…I wonder if we barged with the questions at the wrong time…” “…Okay, they left” Lid’s voice echoed cheerfully through the coms, “Sorry —someone was here. So, ya asked how much it’s been since you guys left? Lemme see…”
Following yet more humming, Lid went silent for a bit. It seemed M’Lyn’s hunches were right, though —they had asked at a somewhat bad time. Yet there was no way of knowing when she was free to talk, or not. Another uncertainty that they would have to cope with, in order to get things done properly.
“…As I thought —it’s just been a couple of hours.” “Thought as much…” M’Lyn growled, looking away with her arms crossed. “Why? How long has it been there?” “Almost the entire day, I’m afraid —‘tis quite strange, really.” “Huh, would you look at that… That all? Or do ya need somethin’ else?”
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 22, 2021 16:11:40 GMT -5
”Hold on—I’m almost done.” The quick reply was somewhat halting, causing Kujo to raise a brow as Lid’s voice crackled back in response. M’Lyn seemed confused as well, though soon all was clear. ”Sorry—someone was here.” It made sense. Just because she’d offer to assist them in this way, it didn’t mean it was the only duty she had while at HeadQuarters. ”As I thought—it’s just been a couple of hours.” Nodding despite the fact Lid couldn’t see him, Kujo was secretly relieved at the answer. Considering how dusk was setting upon them in Eorzea, it was comforting to know that their entire day wasn’t wasted in regards to Milennia’s time, at the least. A small comfort. Wearing a sour expression as Lid inquired if there was anything else Kujo wanted to know, the stoic man clicked his tongue.
Of course, he was curious about how Jack and Alice were holding up—though he doubted Lid would know unless the worst happened. Doubt anything's changed, then. Seeing as how their eyes in HeadQuarters didn’t mention anything pressing happening on that side, Kujo decided to leave it for now. ”No.” With a gruff response, the stoic man raised his free hand up towards the large Aetheryte he still stood before, glaring at the glowing gem. ”Let us know if anything changes on your end.” With that, it seemed the man in lavender was done with inquiring about Milennia. Instead, they focused on attuning to the Aetheryte, though they were still unsure if it would work.
Standing next to M’Lyn at the base of where the massive crystal hovered and glowed in the air, it was time to see if Kujo being from a different world mattered when it came to the tele-transportation device.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 22, 2021 16:33:34 GMT -5
“Got it. I’ll be on the lookout, as promised. Will let you know if anyone's noticed you've left, too.”
A crackle followed Lid’s voice disconnecting, leaving the pair back alone in the Aetheryte Plaza. The blue mist around Kujo waned, until finally dissipating. Stepping forward a little, M’Lyn observed the man with a stoic look, arms crossed without giving any hints of curiosity or doubt. In the end, testing those kinds of things were a thing of trial an error —but a worthwhile one at that.
“It should be alright” she mentioned, “But just in case, we ought to give it a try. Let’s go.”
M’Lyn turned around and left the Plaza, waiting for Kujo to follow, as she led the way through the desert jewel’s mostly empty streets. Unlike the blazing heat of the day, now was a still night chill, with the night sky glittering with stars. On the path were pale orange lamps lighting the way for those still up in the night hours, strolling by or a little tipsy from overdrinking, while others would rather indulge in conversation sitting by benches of stone.
In front of another gate, different from the one they had been to, was a tall building, with the lights still on brightly and a faint echo of cheers —far less loud than in Limsa, however—, M’Lyn stopped her pace, in front of a small crystal similar to the Aetheryte they had just came from. Raising her hand towards it, the crystal shimmered in its iconic pale blue light, seemingly reacting to the Miqo’te’s gestures. She took it away, the glow dimming out, before she glanced towards Kujo yet again.
“Well… Here’s how we can try it” she began, a hint of coyness behind her tone, “I explained it already —how, in order to teleport from one place to the other, one needs to attune to both origin and destination, correct? Then…” her smirk now evident, she raised her chin, “Just attune to this one, and try going back to the Aetheryte Plaza. ‘Tis simple, really —just think about the location, and you’ll be there in a flash.”
“Without further ado… See you there.”
Turning back towards the small Aetheryte Shard in front of the pair, M’Lyn raised her hand towards it, obtaining the same reaction. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared in the flash of light they had seen so many times already, nowhere nearby to be found.
She had mentioned the Aetheryte Plaza —so odds were that she’d teleported there.
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 22, 2021 17:14:47 GMT -5
”It should be alright,” M’Lyn was quick to suggest proving the theory—a trait very true to her characteristics. With the blue light fading, Kujo merely glanced at his extended hand before flexing it a few times, lowering it back into his pocket. Tch—doesn’t feel like anything happened. Regardless, he wouldn’t refuse a trial. Following the Miqo’te out of the plaza that housed the massive Aetheryte, the stoic man watched as the dusky sky settled into a blanket of night stars. Faint orange light guided their way through the somewhat empty streets that they found themselves on. At least, until they reached another gate, the sounds of mirth and night resounding dimly as they stopped before a small crystal that looked like a mini-version of the massive one from before. Raising an eyebrow, Kujo watched as M’Lyn extended her hand, doing a similar ‘ritual’ as before. ”Well…here’s how we can try it.” Talking about teleportation was hardly the most bizarre conversation he’d had with the Miqo’te, so it was easy for him to follow along.
”’Tis simple, really—just think about the location, and you’ll be there in a flash.” Hearing her explanation, Kujo had reached out a hand once more to the mini-atheryte, scowling as the familiar blue light reacted. ”Without further ado…see you there.” Within the blink of an eye, M’Lyn disappeared, vanishing in a flash of blue light similar to those in the plaza. Hmph—so it’s similar to the powers the Genie gave me? Glancing down at the hand that he’d reached out to the small crystal, Kujo sighed with a hint of annoyance. If it didn’t work for some reason, he’d have to walk back to the plaza to meet up with M’Lyn. It wouldn’t take long—but was an annoying hassle nonetheless. ”You better work.” Grumbling as he reached out his hand once more towards the crystal, Kujo pictured the plaza they had come from, housing the massive glowing aetheryte and countless travelers coming and going.
Would he teleport there—or be left to walk?
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 23, 2021 14:51:27 GMT -5
The crystal dimmed once more as Kujo reached out for it, the already familiar pale blue light growing in intensity. It would only be the blink of an eye, that Kujo would find himself back at the Aetheryte Plaza —the sensation hardly bothering him. Just in a fraction of a second, at the speed of light, the man had disappeared from the place in front of the gate, reappearing in front of the giant crystal, surrounded by walls of stone.
Standing in front of him was M’Lyn, her arms crossed, yet a pleasant smirk remaining in her lips. It seemed the hassle had been worth it, the uncertainty resolved —in order to “blend in”, due to the World Order, it seemed Kujo was just as capable of using the Aetherytes to move around as any other Adventurer could.
“Dizzy?” the Miqo’te asked, closing her eyes, yet the smirk not disappearing, “Come on —there’s a few places that we out to go to, in order to make the morrow easier for all of us. I know for a fact that there’s an Aetheryte Shard next to the Airship Docks —if we can’t travel today, we ought to make the travel shorter for tomorrow.”
Wasting nary a second, she turned around, heading the opposite way where they had gone to, instead going back from where they had first arrived —the gate leading to Western Thanalan. Yet instead of turning back towards the gate, M’Lyn turned towards the other side, two identical passageways leading to the Coliseum, next to the Gladiator’s Guild. Passing next to board men clad with light armor made of leather and cloth, or heavy metalworks protecting every inch of their body, holding onto broadswords and shields, M’Lyn made a turn to a set of stairs leading up —the Husting Strip. It would be a short walk, entering a higher floor that was much quieter, with barely a soul walking nearby.
From there, a small walk would make way for a circular platform, one of the ends leading to the Royal Promenade guarded by the silver armor of the Sultansworn, and to the opposite way, a small Aetheryte Shard glowing faintly against the dim orange light of Ul’dah on the inside.
The destination M’Lyn was after, for Kujo to attune to.
A small set of stairs led to another corridor, the faint hint of a red-clad Hyur standing besides a bronze gate —yet something M’Lyn hardly paid attention to. Right now, what she was more focused on was the Aetheryte Shard that was closest to the Airship Dock.
“Here we are” the Miqo’te said, not looking at Kujo, “The Husting Strip. Past that Aetheryte Shard are the Airship Docks we ought to go to tomorrow. …I guess the fact that Reena is nowhere to be seen would mean that ought to be true, still” she sighed, before glancing over towards Kujo, “After attuning, we ought to head back to the Adventurer’s Guild. Unless you have elsewhere in mind?”
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Post by hoodwink on Apr 30, 2021 15:59:55 GMT -5
Kujo blinked once and his surroundings changed completely. Even with the added perception of his Akogare, the speed of the teleportation had been faster than his eyes could catch. Impressive. Satisfied as his emerald gaze fell on M’Lyn, the man took a moment to flex his body and glance down—it had truly felt like nothing at all. Even his own home world, though advanced, didn’t have transportation tech like this. ”Dizzy?” The Miqo’te’s smirk earned an eye-roll from Kujo, who immediately shoved his hands into his pockets with only the barest hint of amusement on his otherwise stoic face. She’s in a better mood. He hadn’t forgotten how the woman had reacted to his questions earlier. Though she’d done a good job at evading them for now, M’Lyn had far escaped Kujo’s scrutiny. Can’t I catch a break? Hearing how she wanted to go to a few more areas in the city, the Miqo’te was quick to turn on her heels and head off. The fact that they couldn’t travel today was still setting a sour taste in his mouth, a mild irritation bubbling in the back of his throat.
”Tch—whatever.” Following along with an annoyed sigh, the man in lavender noted the armored fighters as they passed the gate and headed through the Coliseum past the Gladiator’s Guild. So—they have magic and weapons, but no guns here. It was less a question and more of an observation. Though the law enforcement in SanFransokyo had their own ‘armor’ and equipment, it was all fashioned to fight against projectile weapons like guns, explosives, etc. The armor worn by those he saw looked well-made (for the most part), durable and sturdy against weapons he’d seen M’Lyn wield in prior battles. Heh—not like any of that would stop her, though. Watching the Miqo’te with a silent humor glinting in his gaze, Kujo noticed the sudden shift in ambiance as the level they took the stairs up to quieted down, hardly any civilians roaming through the streets. The walk from there was short as they arrived in a circular platform, one with more armed warriors standing by. Everyone’s got weapons. Though he knew it was most likely for security of the town, Kujo had indeed been using his enhanced senses to keep those with clear weapons in his minds eye, similar to how he always marked entrances and exits when entering a building.
”Here we are.” M’Lyn stopped short at the familiar small glowing crystal, another Aetheryte for him to attune to. Having gone the opposite direction of the armed guards, the Miqo’te had led him to a corridor, one that glowed incessantly from the light of the small teleportation crystal. ”The Husting Strip. Past that Aetheryte Shard are the Airship Docks we ought to go to tomorrow.” That’s right, those ‘airships’ they kept mentioning. Is it a plane or not? Why the old sounding name? ”After attuning, we ought to head back to the Adventurer’s Guild. Unless you have elsewhere in mind?” Raising a brow, a calloused and muscular hand reached out to the tiny shard, causing it to react with a powerful glow once more before dimming, the familiar blue hue shrouding his form for only a brief moment. "These ‘airships’ we’ll be taking...” Though his expression was hard to read, was that a flash of curiosity in the otherwise cold and stern gaze? ”If we’re stuck here until morning anyway, I’ll at least prepare ahead of time.” There was that recovery, the flicker of curiosity gone as he camouflaged a subtle indulgence with work.
Not one to typically indulge mild curiosities, it almost seemed like the large man was somewhat sheepish about bringing it up, though it had only lasted for a brief moment. Quickly, Kujo had turned in the direction past the Aetheryte Shard, shoving his hands in his pockets as he made his way for the Airship Docks. Even if M’Lyn didn’t follow along, he’d be able to find her, at least, thanks to his Akogare. It didn’t really matter that he didn’t know this town, or city, or whatever the hell these places were called on this bizarre world of monsters, rabbit-people and magic.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Apr 30, 2021 17:12:35 GMT -5
“Oh?”
It was subtle, but M’Lyn had picked up on a small tone in Kujo’s words, unable to hide her smirk for much longer, bringing one of her hands to her chin while the other helped her rest it. Even if he tried to hide it with the usual words, it was obvious he was curious. Was it the choice of words? The mere concept? The thoughts kept pilling up, but not for much longer, as the man was quick to head to the focus of his curiosity, leaving the Miqo’te few options other than to follow.
Not that it proved to be a hassle —not for her. Already she was seeing merit in chasing after easy bait.
With it, her pace was calm as she followed after Kujo, both of them heading to the Airship Landing. Past the red-clad Hyur by a metal gate was an elevator, one the Hyur quickly operated without question for the two. Once it stopped and the gate opened once more, Kujo and M’Lyn would find themselves one floor above, with a small gate separating the elevator they had just come from and the resting Airships at the other end.
Shape-wise, they seemed like actual ships —with their iconic wooden hulls and higher bridge where the wheel would be steered. Yet instead of classic ship flags, it was a sturdy fabric canopy most likely to keep the shade on the hull as it traveled through the skies, the ship itself reinforced with ornamented sheets of steel. The fore and aftcastle were also well-guarded, and no matter where he looked, Kujo would have a hard time discovering what was keeping the damn machine up in the air —as, upon closer inspection, the ship was resting with nothing on its bottom, instead floating still over the empty air.
No one else was there —no attendees, and certainly no pilots. It was quiet, silent and empty, with no one checking or using the Airships at disposal. Yet that also meant that taking a closer look would be easy enough, given the low height of the metal gates and fences. Knowing this to be an option, M’Lyn tried to peg further.
It wouldn’t be much of a problem —hardly anyone would blame the man for wanting a closer look, despite the hour of the day.
“I never thought you’d be interested in one of these” the Miqo’te mentioned, seemingly aloof, “I wonder… You weren’t going to explore for Jack’s sake, were you?” she asked, glancing his way with an evident smirk.
“Truly, I never pegged you for the type… You’re hardly intrigued by anything at this point.”
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Post by hoodwink on May 1, 2021 11:57:46 GMT -5
M’Lyn had decided to come along, a fact that Kujo had both foreseen yet still felt a pang of irritation around. The look in her eyes was obvious—she was clearly enjoying the momentary curiosity he held, something that only worked to embarrass and agitate him vaguely. Tch—whatever. Shrugging it off as the two passed through the metal gate and into an elevator. Seeing what appeared to be another fellow human working the mechanism, Kujo raised a brow. Aspects of this world were certainly odd. Though they had things such as tele-transportation and ‘airships’, elevators needed operators? Such small details should have gone without thought, but it was in the stoic man’s nature to remain acute and aware. Clang! Reaching their floor, the metal gate of the elevator clattered open as another gate greeted them—though this one was already open, exposing the resting vehicles docked and waiting midair. Huh? Blinking for a moment, Kujo’s emerald eyes scrutinized the ships, staring in mild disbelief.
Despite appearing similarly to water-based ships, albeit compared to his own home world it was an older design, the massive vehicles were indeed floating in the sky, anchored to the exposed bay that hovered high above the ground. Can’t I catch a break? This definitely hadn’t been what he was expecting. Coming from SanFransokyo, Kujo had been exposed to countless vehicles prior to his exploration of worlds: helicopters, airplanes, cars, trains, boats, etc. He’d been expecting something almost more like a seaplane, yet more sophisticated and sleek, like the Almira. Instead, it looked like old cargo and pirate ships docked everywhere, somehow suspended in the air with no clear device or gadget exposing its defiance against gravity. ”I never thought you’d be interested in one of these.” M’Lyn’s voice rang out across the empty loading docks, as no one else seemed to be around at the moment (a fact Kujo was grateful for). ”I wonder…you weren’t going to explore for Jack’s sake, were you?” The stoic man’s vague grimace formed a mild scowl as he glared at the Miqo’te, clicking his tongue in protest.
”Can it.” Looking away from his comrade and back towards the ships, the man’s expression softened for a brief moment as he thought of the eager teen exploring these bizarre aircrafts. ”Think he’d be disappointed, anyway.” His emerald gaze hardened and was its usual sternness as they narrowed and found M’Lyn once more. ”These just look like regular ships.” Now that he thought of it, it was rather impractical, wasn’t it? Though ships were a tried and true vehicle of the sea, when storms or other acts of nature decided to rear their monstrous heads, they proved dangerous and risky. ”Truly, I never pegged you for the type…you’re hardly intrigued by anything at this point.” M’Lyn’s smirk hadn’t shifted, her tone remaining mischievous and playful. Damned woman. Rolling his eyes a bit with an exasperated sigh, Kujo glanced back towards the ship, grumbling out a retort gruffly as he began to walk towards the short gate. It’d really be nothing for him to step over. ”I’m ‘intrigued’ in finding this Master of yours and defeating that bitch, Liz.” His comment was almost like a bark, harsh and snapping as his gaze hardened.
Stomping over the gate with little effort, the man’s face showed his sour mood and scrutiny as he eyed the armored hull of one of the large airships nearby. ”These hunks of metal better be reliable. We don't have time to waste on a crash-landing.” It was shady at best. A floating ship. Probably flew on ‘magic’ or something illogical and stupid. Hell, even the design was riddled with problems. What about rain, storms, etc? Those things were already troublesome on the sea, let alone in the air. Planes had protective hulls to shelter passengers from the elements, but ships only had below deck. Eyeing the steering platforms on many of the airships, Kujo noted how a majority of their designs had the pilot exposed and on the outside on the raised deck in the back. What a joke.
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