Ashelia Riot leads them to a spot in the Peaks that's little more than an alcove in the cliff face, but it serves their purpose of a hideout for the time being.
Ashelia Riot sets down an injured Enea Mohnesh as gently as she is able.
Ashelia Riot: Nive's gone.
Ashelia Riot's voice is still matter-of-fact; she turns on her linkpearl and hears only static.
Ashelia Riot: Damn!
Etone Greennote kneels beside Enea, huffing and gasping for breath as he attempts to work healing energy into the prone Miqo'te.
Crimson Bull looks to Ashelia Riot, frustration and anger weighing heavy on his mind.
Ashelia Riot: There was never any Vegnagun. We've sent the others into an ambush.
Enea Mohnesh lies on the ground, her breathing a bit stable as she slowly opens her eyes.
Enea Mohnesh: Ugh... where- where are we?
Enea Mohnesh tries to sit up but the sharp pain suggests her to do otherwise.
Enea Mohnesh: Agh!
Ashelia Riot: The Peaks.
Ashelia Riot stares up at the smoke coming from the Reach; some part of her father's memories reaches her, and she feels physically ill for a moment before she is able to push the sensation away.
Crimson Bull stands, throwing a mighty punch into the cliffside.
Crimson Bull: We never had a chance, did we...
Ashelia Riot hesitates for a very long moment, then shakes her head.
Crimson Bull sighs, and without a word, begins to limp away.
Enea Mohnesh strikes her fist to the ground, and remnants of aether and shadows wave away as tears roll down her face.
Etone Greennote: Havin’ troubles?
Etone Greennote stares eagerly at Ashelia Riot.
Ashelia Riot shakes her head.
Ashelia Riot: Not exactly. I've simply found mediation a bit more difficult lately.
Ashelia Riot surveys the man at her left, now sitting in a meditative position of his own.
Ashelia Riot: Do you meditate, then?
Etone Greennote: You looked loike you were 'avin a bit 'f trouble focusing - Aye! Daily.
Ashelia Riot smiles at Etone Greennote.
Ashelia Riot: My husband and I meditate together; he taught me to meditate some time ago. He's a monk of the Fist, in fact. Though lately he's been studying with the shinobi of Doma.
Etone Greennote holds his hand out and counts backwards on his hands.
Etone Greennote: The mood's good in 'ere, bot sometimes when I 'ave trouble gettin where I need to be a focus item helps.
Ashelia Riot: A focus item?
Ashelia Riot has never heard of such a thing.
Etone Greennote hums in thought before digging into his side satchel and producing a small bundle, which he places in front of him.
Etone Greennote: Something physical - or imaginary - that helps you empty your mind. Loike nnnh, tryin to keep yerself focused on the here and now till yer able to git where you wanna be. Be it somewhere in the spiritual or simply reflectin' on the day.
Ashelia Riot: ...Hmmm.
Ashelia Riot tries to think of what she might use and comes up with nothing: she doesn't get attached to possessions after a childhood spent in poverty, and she doesn't think any of her pets would be amenable to participating in meditation.
Etone Greennote takes a moment to open the package.
Ashelia Riot surveys the contents of the satchel with no small amount of interest - and confusion.
Etone Greennote: Want I should tell yea a lil bout them?
Ashelia Riot: Please do.
Etone Greennote's ears wriggle in delight as he sets the items in some sort of practiced order on the unwrapped cloth.
Etone Greennote: Ah! Now this fella, I'd adore to tell yea it were from me first hunt, bot....
Ashelia Riot: But?
Etone Greennote: Well...
Etone Greennote offers a dejected sigh as he peers back up at the ceiling.
Etone Greennote: I lost that moons ago. Along with a particularly lovely - as I recall it anyway - pendant with Azeyma's crest on it.
Ashelia Riot: I'm sorry to hear that.
Etone Greennote: Though, when I were able to move about on me own again, this-!
Etone Greennote holds up the tiny bone.
Etone Greennote: -was my first as 'Etone'. 's arright, Boss'm. I were young and ill educated of folks around outside me tribe. I used nearly everything from that bird too!
Ashelia Riot: I can see how any of these might be beneficial to meditation.
Etone Greennote: Mmn! These are special to me, but, for example-
Ashelia Riot realizes that there is one item she could use - a lilac handkerchief - but she hasn't seen it in moons, much to her disappointment.
Etone Greennote totally ignores personal space and leans over to point out one of her necklaces.
Etone Greennote: Something like this could work too!
Ashelia Riot leans back out of habit, but softens as she realizes that he's only touching her necklaces.
Ashelia Riot: Do you think so? They were a gift from... a woman I've never met, actually. A hunter in Dravania who wished to thank me for my part in seeing Ravana slain.
Etone Greennote offers a loud laugh.
Etone Greennote: Mmhm, could be - d'you have something else you might find as a better focus? That's a lovely story though, it's a pleasant feeling - being thanked for a good deed.
Ashelia Riot: ...An old handkerchief, but I lost it some time ago. Most likely for good.
Ashelia Riot suspects it was lost somehow during her mission to find her father: she hasn't seen it since before her honeymoon with Edge.
Etone Greennote gazes upon Ashelia Riot in deep reflection.
Etone Greennote: Hmm, perhaps if you're in the markets and see one similar, treat yourself an git it? I'm fair good at cloth crafts too.
Ashelia Riot can only recall a pin she obtained of the sigil of the Riskbreakers; she does not mention it, however, as it is remarkably valuable and she's unlikely to carry it on her person to begin with.
Etone Greennote: Hmhmhm, you look like you've something in mind, but remember it doesn't 'aye to be anything of high monetary value - jus mmn, personal value. Loike this rock! 's jus' a rock I picked up an it 'elped me when I were in a darker time.
Ashelia Riot: ...An ordinary rock?
Ashelia Riot was admittedly expecting something a bit more... special.
Etone Greennote: Mmmhm, it sure is. I picked it up off a...
Etone Greennote trails off, stares at Ashelia a few moments then continues.
Etone Greennote: Cell floor.
Ashelia Riot raises her eyebrows, unsure of whether or not to laugh.
Etone Greennote offers a cheeky smirk.
Etone Greennote: Some twenty something years back, mind you.
Ashelia Riot shugs; if she were to deny membership to everyone in the company who had been to prison, she herself would be excluded from her ranks.
Etone Greennote leans closer and stares.
Etone Greennote: Are you curious at all? I did notice that knowing expression at the bar last night.
Ashelia Riot lowers her voice noticeably.
Ashelia Riot: I confess, I am. It... isn't often I meet those who remember what Ala Mhigo was like before.
Etone Greennote hums quietly and taps his lower lip.
Etone Greennote: Well, for one the only misdeed I 'ad done were bein' a Miqo'te bloke outside his tribe.
Ashelia Riot isn't surprised to hear that that alone would cause Etone Greennote to be jailed, especially during the tumult at the end of Theodoric's reign.
Etone Greennote purses his lips and leans much too close and whispers.
Etone Greennote: From there I managed to meet some colourful folk.
Etone Greennote really seems to have no idea what personal space is.
Ashelia Riot does not shy away from the proximity, but neither does she challenge him on it, either: she is well-accustomed to the need to keep secrets in close spaces.
Ashelia Riot: “Colorful”... how?
Etone Greennote: ...'ow well 'ff were yea, back then?
Ashelia Riot: I was five. My father was a Riskbreaker, in the elite of the Kingsguard. My mother's sister served in the city watch. My friends and I, Edge included, we... we played in the Undercity almost every day. That was the only life I knew.
Etone Greennote perks his eyebrow slightly as he runs his tongue across his upper set of teeth.
Etone Greennote: Aye, 's where I were.
Ashelia Riot’s eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing Etone Greennote.
Ashelia Riot: The Undercity?
Etone Greennote: Mmmhm. Though I'd rather that stay between the two of us, 'fer now.
Ashelia Riot: Of course.
Etone Greennote purses his lips and huffs a quiet puff.
Etone Greennote: Forgive me, 's rare who I share all that with - bot... Yeah seemed to know.
Etone Greennote pauses a moment trying to gather his words, and in a rare moment, failing to find them.
Ashelia Riot is awed and deeply touched to hear this; she is all too aware that she knows nothing at all of how Ala Mhigo was, or even of how it is now, but that she has earned Etone Greennote's trust is humbling.
Etone Greennote motions for Ashelia Riot to open her hand, then repeats the motion twice to show insistence.
Ashelia Riot does so, though she blinks in confusion.
Etone Greennote pops the rock in her hand and closes her fingers around it.
Etone Greennote: A piece 'f 'home.
Ashelia Riot is unable to keep a giggle from rising to her lips at the unexpectedness of his gesture; she does, however, hold onto the rock, even going so far as to kiss her own folded knuckles while she continues to regard him.
Ashelia Riot: My utmost thanks.
Etone Greennote's ears wiggle in amusment.
Etone Greennote: Ehe, there yea go, I don't “need” it anymore an well, maybe sometime I can tell yea wot a young man found daily life in the Undercity to be loike.
Ashelia Riot opens her mouth to say that she has at least the faintest idea, that she knows the man who took the Undercity for his name; she goes so far as to breathe in before realizing that such a thing could be dangerous for all involved, especially for her uncle Bernard.
Ashelia Riot: Please do. I would appreciate that story greatly.
Etone Greennote grins, his narrow eyes shrewdly stare at her.
Etone Greennote: Perhaps later we could share tales, though I won't press it further than that roight now.
Etone Greennote leans back and kicks his legs out in front of him and his arms out behind him; with a loud sigh he lulls his head backward to stare at the ceiling.
Etone Greennote: 's been a looong time since I talked to anybody from that side 'f the world.
Ashelia Riot nods.
Ashelia Riot: I know exactly what you mean.
Ashelia Riot thinks to herself, trying for the thousandth time to piece together what little she can remember of her old life, then lets out a laugh.
Ashelia Riot: I remember once I was playing hide and seek. There was someone else in the tunnel, an adult, hiding from someone else in my favorite spot. So I tapped him on the shoulder and told him he needed to move. He very nearly jumped out of his skin.
Ashelia Riot bursts out laughing at Etone Greennote.
Etone Greennote offers a hearty belly laugh at that.
Etone Greennote: Hah! Aye, I bet he nearly died from shock! D'you win though?
Ashelia Riot: Of course not. The moment he screamed, Foris came running and I was out for the rest of the round.
Etone Greennote: Hah! Well, I'm sure you won at least some rounds, I recall a lot of decent hiding places back there.
Ashelia Riot shrugs at Etone Greennote.
Ashelia Riot: If you ask Edge, he won most of them.
Etone Greennote: I don't think I've met 'im!
Ashelia Riot: I'm certain he'd love to meet you. Though he gets along with most everyone in the company, if I do say so.
Etone Greennote: Well! I'd be honored! Can't be chattin yer ear off exclusively now can I? You'd get the wrong impression!
Etone Greennote laughs loudly, clearly thinking his joke was SO FUNNY.
Ashelia Riot laughs at Etone Greennote.
Ashelia Riot: Regardless of “impressions”... please, feel free to chat my ear off at any time. Unless I'm handling paperwork.
Ashelia Riot stands and stretches.
Etone Greennote snorts laughing and outstretches his hand upward.
Etone Greennote: ... Lil 'elp?
Ashelia Riot offers a hand out to him, smirking all the while.
Ashelia Riot: Seems you aren't quite as spry as you look.
Etone Greennote grips her wrist and pulls himself up with a wicked grin.
Etone Greennote: Oh ho, you're sayin I look spry then'?
Etone Greennote stoops to gather his things back into their bundle and beams stupidly.
Etone Greennote: Were good catchin yea again loike this, Boss'm.
Ashelia Riot: Likewise. Be well in the meantime.
Etone Greennote: You 'swell, aye?
Ashelia Riot: Of course.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) After a few minutes work -- something that would normally take her seconds -- a blonde miqo'te manages to summon an emerald carbuncle. She can't risk a linkshell, nevermind the fact that her linkpearl is missing, so this is the next best thing. Next to her lies a coeurl, and a kit who are snoozing softly next to her meager possessions. The carbuncle scampers off to the northeast, looking for anyone or anything that even vaguely resembles a Riskbreaker.
(Etone Greennote) Etone sits crosslegged on his bizzare looking unicorn as he tries to scan the area for aetheric patterns - anything to identify his missing companions. His ear flicks as he notices a carbuncle roaming loose. "-- Oi oi wots this then... Heya lil fella!"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) || The Carbuncle practically leaps for joy, hopping on his shoulders and nuzzling his face and neck. Clearly, it knows him.
(Etone Greennote) Etone dismounts and makes his way to the carbuncle, "Whoa hey there fella!" He stumbles backward as the carbuncle climbs him. Softly running his hand over the glowing critter's head and ears, Etone hums and licks his lips. "Yea 'taste' familiar... Where's yer coven holder? Take me there aye?"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) || The carbuncle makes a soft noise and jumps off of him, dashing away for a bit and looking to see if he's coming. It leads him on for almost a malm, to a tiny camp near a small pond.
(Etone Greennote) Etone follows behind on foot, he's a little... slow... but he's running behind none the less. "Hooo... Wots this then...?" He grabs his knees a moment to catch his breath and takes a moment to survey the area.
Etone Greennote scans the area around Emerald Carbuncle.
Etone Greennote looks at you in shock!
(Nivelth Ajuyn) || The carbuncle takes Etone to the camp, to where Nivelth Ajuyn is sitting half submerged in the water and cursing at a wound on her side. "Carbu, you ...!"
(Etone Greennote) Etone narrows his eyes as he spies the blond miqo'te in the lake. "Oi oiiii --" He calls out, "Lo there! Yea arroight?" He's not exactly sure why she seems familiar, but he plunges into the water -fully garbed- to offer assistance.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive stares at the other person, before breaking out into a smile. "Etone, I didn't think I would find anyone!"
(Crimson Bull) Bull approaches, still being prodded by the green...thing, "Alright, alright!"
Nivelth Ajuyn smiles at Crimson Bull.
(Etone Greennote) || Greenbean screeches and flexes while pointing and pulling Bull along.
(Etone Greennote) "--!?" It takes Etone a good hot minute to put two and two together. "Nive!? That you luv?!"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive waves gingerly at the both of them, still pressing a hand to her side and wincing slightly at the wound. "It's me... Sorry for all the trouble."
(Crimson Bull) "Well you're not worse for wear, considering the beatin' we got." he chuckled, smiling at Nive.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive sighs and looks down, rubbing her neck and wincing. "I lost my hat..." she says sullenly.
(Etone Greennote) Etone wades out close to Nive, a soothing tone in his voice as he speaks - green sparks of light float around him. "Lets see 'bout mendin that up aye? -- An uh, yea lost yer 'air colour luv!"
(Crimson Bull) "Small price to pay to for you bein' alive, I thought we lost you there..."
(Etone Greennote) Etone nods sharply, his eyes slightly blood shot as he offers a rather cool poker face.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive lifts up her hand to show the sword slash on her left side, looking between the two. "I washed up somewhere in between here and the Reach, not sure where... Mila carried me most of the way, after she found me." She pats her coeurl gently. "And my hair grew out, that's all..."
(Crimson Bull) Bull's eyes soften, looking to Nive, "Coulda been a lot worse...a lot worse for all of us I suppose. I got careless, and I'm sorry for that."
Crimson Bull wallows in self-pity.
(Etone Greennote) Etone offers vacant expression for a good few moments, "Oh, yea dye it!? Well I never knew! 's whoy I took a double take! Bull yea arroight to 'elp 'er up outta 'ere? I wanna get a look at this..." He offers a perked eyebrow and a screwed up grin in Bull's direction, "Oi oi... Yea did well enough mate, it were a mess out there."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "I don't blame you," she says, waving a small hand in Bull's direction. "I'm just glad to find you both again -- I thought I was kind of, well, alone..."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive just stares at Etone, momentarily forgetting the pain on her side. "You... thought I just had blue hair?"
(Crimson Bull) Bull picks Nive up carefully, cradling her in his arms, "Just tell me where we're goin'." he nods a confirmative nod to Etone.
(Etone Greennote) Etone nods stupidly, this was obviously the correct response. He hums and looks around, "Somewhere flat where I can drop down a blanket for 'er to sit on while I dress 'er up."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive points to the small camp behind them. "There's a few miners there, they won't mind if we sit by their fire."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive tries not to feel ridiculously tiny in Bull's arms, and is failing.
(Crimson Bull) Bull nods, "Most the lot 'round here are friendly enough."
(Crimson Bull) "I'll explain the situation, go ahead and get to work."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "I don't even know how long it's been--maybe a day or two," she says, sitting up a best she can for Etone, and taking off the outer robe.
(Crimson Bull) "Everythin's fine, we can take the time we need." he smiled big, proud of his diplomacy skills.
(Etone Greennote) After helping Nive remove her robe, Etone's voice picks up loudly in song as he gently palpitates the wound, his fingers seemingly disappearing into her flesh. It's a -hot- sensation. Etone offers in a sheepish tune, grap one 'f those towels from me bag 'ere and put it on yer lap... 's gonna git messy." He cocks his head to the side and beams stupidly at Bull, "Roight on mate!"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive gasps slightly in pain, and pets her coeurl to keep the animal from attacking Etone. "O-Okay. Did anyone else get hurt or lost? It can't just be you two from our group, can it?"
(Crimson Bull) "We took care of Enea after we got out, she was in real bad shape...Boss is alright, albeit a bit shaken up." he sighed, not mentioning his own wounds.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "That's good, I think..." she says, frowning slightly as she considers the total. "Do we know how the Garleans got in?" She's mostly talking to avoid thinking about Etone digging around in her guts.
(Etone Greennote) Etone knits his fingers inside the other's flesh, burning the dead and infected tissue from her wound. The dead tissue oozes out from her wound, it dribbles down and saturates the towel, "Hmmhmmm~!" He hums away as his fingers weave her flesh back together.
(Crimson Bull) Bull will never get over how disgusting that is. Keep them fingers outta me, he thought.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive is thoroughly creeped out, but she tries to ignore it, and fails miserably. "That's... really gross," she swallows. "But thank you, Etone."
(Etone Greennote) "Hmhmhm..." The redhead casually seals Nive's wound and beams stupidly. "It's disgusting bot -- 'ows it feel now?!" Somehow it's not as in painful as it was before.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) She stretches, wincing still and groaning slightly. "Sore, but not so bad?" She smiles at him, touching where he had been working.
(Crimson Bull) Bull's face twists into a frown, "This shouldn't have had to happen...I don't understand Boss sometimes..."
(Etone Greennote) Etone tosses the towel back into his bag somewhere and pulls a new a new one out and offers it up to Nive. He just smiles stupidly in reply before huffing up beside her to listen to Bull.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "What do you mean?"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive goes to pull out a robe from her bags on Mila's back, still using the towel to clean herself.
(Crimson Bull) "She sent that lot to Kugane, left us here...I told her the second they smelled weakness they'd dive right in!" he fumed, "It's not like I didn't warn her or anythin'...they got eyes and ears everywhere." he scratched his chin.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive considers his words, thinking back to right before the attack. "The informant said that it was false -- rather, he implied it, by way of apologizing. So the others in Kugane are walking into a trap..."
(Crimson Bull) "I think what bugged me the most is she trusted that guy..."
(Etone Greennote) Etone offers a quiet huff, his tail flicks as he listens quietly.
(Crimson Bull) "You're gonna trust a soldier of Garlemald, off all people? Come on now!" he kicked the dirt.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "The whole affair did stink of chocobo shite," she murmurs, slowly moving to put on a robe. "But at the same time, we cross checked it as much as we could. We had heard of Venagun before, and Lady Ashelia listened in on Linkpearls...?"
(Crimson Bull) Bull sighed, "I can't fault her, y'know that...but still...this is home for her, and for me. Could we really afford to help people that far away?"
(Etone Greennote) Etone flicks his tail again, "Hah, it's..." He cuts off not exactly sure how he wants to continue.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "Etone?"
(Crimson Bull) "My job as head of the Vanguard is to ensure the safety of all Riskbreakers, and if you divide us this deep, away from home...I can't do it." he bowed his head, clenching his teeth.
(Etone Greennote) "mnf, 's me 'ome 's well. Sort 'f. Bot loike, mmnf. Haaah." He rolls his shoulders, "I dunno, it's a bit much I agree, bot loike... Them folks need help 's well."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive wonders briefly what the hells Etone is trying to say, but she can get the gist of it. "True... And to be fair, Bull, we did send your master /and/ A'zaela... They should be able to keep everyone safe if nothing else. But ... I am a bit disappointed that we're such a small force here. I would recall my sister, but she's off doing something now.."
(Crimson Bull) "As is mine, she'd be willing to give all to help me." he rolled his neck, stretching out, "It's gonna be a long road from here, I'm feelin'..."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "I know that Ala Mhigo isn't my home, but damn if I don't feel responsible for the fiasco with Omega and Shinryu. And I grew up on stories about Ala Mhigo, at least a little bit..." She gently pets the black kitten that wandered over to them. He's getting large. "I'm willing to travel that road though."
(Crimson Bull) Bull unsheathes the axe from his back, examining it, looking for damage, "Makes me wonder where she got this axe, it's fine craftsmanship, still sharp after such use against flesh and bone..." he smiled, reminded of his mother.
(Etone Greennote) "Haah, I 'ear yea... 's gonna be 'ard... 's especially 'ard. Hah--!" After a long while of sputtering the redhead shuts up and smiles as Bull speaks.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "I had wondered about the axe," she smiles. "I thought you primarily used your fists, like Sylvan."
(Crimson Bull) "I still do but...my mother, she was a hellion and a half with this axe, even more than me if the stories I've heard lead me to believe an' all...I wanna see if I can be the same." he smirked, all the confidence in the world.
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe approaches with several slabs of hornbill meat. It's tough and gristly, but it will provide nourishment as well as anything else.
(Ashelia Riot) "Nivelth!"
Nivelth Ajuyn smiles at Ashelia Riot.
Ashelia Riot's eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing Nivelth Ajuyn.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) She nods at Bull's story, not having known that his mother was someone of that caliber. It makes sense though. "Hello Lady Riot," she says, waving weakly.
(Ashelia Riot) She decides not to ask about the hair. After giving her a once-over to ensure for herself that she was no longer in mortal danger, she breathes a sigh. "I'll see about getting some food made."
(Crimson Bull) Bull offers a hand, "Give me the meat, I'll take care of it." he smiled, his knowledge of open-fire cooking flaring.
Ashelia Riot hands over something to Crimson Bull.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive's stomach /roars/ at the mention of food. She flushes, rubbing her neck. "Food ... would be nice."
(Ashelia Riot) "My thanks. No trouble on the way here?"
(Crimson Bull) "None here, Boss." he smiled, holding back a wince.
(Crimson Bull) Bull set to work, preparing the meat to an open flame.
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe glances over at the miners, her face somber; she does not voice her concerns that maybe these men can't be trusted.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive runs a hand over her hair and sighs, eyeing the blue tips forlornly. It's not the time to be vain, but she doesn't even have a /hat/. "I'm glad you're all alright though -- the attack was brutal from what I saw."
(Ashelia Riot) "...Too many good people were cut down."
(Ashelia Riot) She's thinking of Meffrid, whom she's known since the Calamity.
(Crimson Bull) Bull returns, hands full of kebabs, "Eat up, hope you like it!"
(Etone Greennote) Etone offers a quiet sigh, "Yea arroight Boss'm? We got Nive 'ere stiched up noice an' neat..." Is about all he has to offer to the current conversation before Bull offers kebabs. "Ooh thanking you!"
Nivelth Ajuyn beams with delight at Crimson Bull.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "Thank you, Bull," she says, taking two, before thinking and taking a third. She probably hasn't eaten since before the attack. "Do we know anything of the fates of those in Kugane?"
(Ashelia Riot) "Nothing." It's all she has to say on the matter; she has yet to properly compose her thoughts.
(Etone Greennote) Etone purses his lips and regards Ashelia carefully.
(Crimson Bull) Bull frowns at Ashelia Riot, "Nothing, my arse. Tell us."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe hesitates.
(Ashelia Riot) "...Nive. I have something to ask, and I need you to answer truthfully."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "I can do that, to the best of my ability."
(Ashelia Riot) "Did you see anything out of the ordinary in the underground cells? Did you hear anything out of place, aside from the magitek?"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive considers her for a moment, looking down at her lap and thinking back to the night. "No. Not that I can recall. I remember sensing something strange, but it wasn't tangible enough for me to really look into. I take it this has to do with whatever you saw?"
(Ashelia Riot) She blinks, then curses herself for giving enough of a reaction to whatever it was she saw that Nive was able to pick up on something out of the ordinary.
(Ashelia Riot) "I saw a figure that looked exactly like Hirokage. Only it spoke things that he wasn't saying."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "No, I didn't see anything like that." She shakes her head, not overly concerned. "You have the echo, do you not?"
(Crimson Bull) Bull frowns, still a bit upset at Ashelia Riot.
(Ashelia Riot) "It told me... things about his past. And that he was part of a plot to lure the Riskbreakers to Kugane with falsified information on a weapon that never existed."
(Crimson Bull) "Well that seems all too convenient..."
(Etone Greennote) Etone purses his lips and shifts in his seat as he listens. "Truly..."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe looks back and forth between Bull and Etone. "I don't know what it was I saw, and I won't make any conclusive statements until I know for certain."
(Ashelia Riot) "But I suspect that the Crimson Blades are in trouble."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "When all this is over, I can help you research whatever phenomena occurred, but for now ..." She sighs and shakes her head.
(Crimson Bull) "So you're basically sayin' is that you've put them all in danger, Master Sylv, and the lot..."
Crimson Bull gazes upon Ashelia Riot in deep reflection.
(Etone Greennote) "Mmnf... Wot are we able to do 'bout it from 'ere?" He hums and shoots Bull a dirty look, "Come on man."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe does not visibly take offense. She responds in a very quiet voice, "And my husband."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "Bull, it was a trap that we didn't know of. They had laid it well..." she frowns, petting her kitten once more.
(Crimson Bull) Bull's eyes soften, "You sent Edge there...you really believed this was that important, didn't you..."
Ashelia Riot nods to Crimson Bull.
(Etone Greennote) Etone offers a loud nasally huff, "Obviously."
(Ashelia Riot) "It was /never/ a decision to be made lightly." She gives a warning look at Etone for his sarcasm.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "Do you need a tissue?" Nive asks quietly.
(Crimson Bull) "For you to send them out without hesitation, you really believed this would be a 'take care of it and be home' kinda thing, didn' you?"
(Etone Greennote) Etone bristles at Ashelia's looks and shuts his yap. "Nnmf."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe opens her mouth to ask Bull if he truly thinks so little of her, but thinks better of it. Such manipulative statements will do them no good now.
(Crimson Bull) Bull slams the dirt, "We were fightin' so long, so long to free the land here! And you... you sent 'em away, away to let us be slaughtered!" he growled.
(Ashelia Riot) "I took /every/ consideration into account!" She's raising her voice for the first time since the attack; she isn't yelling, but her tone is firm. "And I will live with that choice until I die!"
(Etone Greennote) Etone is rather quiet as his tale flicks back and forth. He mutters quietly to himself.
(Crimson Bull) "Well, you'd made a mistake! You trusted the enemy, and we're suffering because of it! Come on, Boss!"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive watches them for a moment, considering both of them. "It was a mistake, that's all," Nive says quietly. "We had a job to make things better, but we were tricked."
(Etone Greennote) " 'ey now, its not anyone's fault... Shaite happens..." He balls his fists and grits his teeth to keep his cool.
(Ashelia Riot) It's the insinuation that she trusted the Empire in any respect that angers her more than anything else. For a moment, only a moment, she draws on the aether in an effort to quell the rising emotions, then stops. She /wants/ to be angry, she realizes - and balls her hands into fists.
(Crimson Bull) Bull looks deep, /deep/ into Ashe's eyes, "You did this for the greater good, right?" he puts his finger on his cheek, waiting, "If not, go on and hit me, hit me as hard as you can."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe knees him in the groin. Hard.
Nivelth Ajuyn looks at Ashelia Riot in shock!
(Etone Greennote) "Oh /shaite.../"
(Crimson Bull) Bull cringes, leaning in, "Come on now..." he chuckled, holding his lower parts.
(Ashelia Riot) She throws aside her gun and readies herself for hand-to-hand combat - not that she would be remotely ready to handle such a skilled monk in a proper fight.
(Crimson Bull) "You gonna fight me, here, now...of all things." he grinned, turning into a twisted smile.
(Ashelia Riot) "Is that truly what you think this was about?"
(Ashelia Riot) "That I /ever/ stopped thinking of what was best for us, for Ala Mhigo, for /everyone/?!"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive stares at the two of them, ears laying flat against her skull and chirping angrily under her breath.
(Crimson Bull) Bull winced, "You sometimes get that high an' mighty attitude, I jus' wanted to make sure..." he dropped to a knee, sighing, "I ain't gonna do it myself..."
(Etone Greennote) Etone snorts laughing, "Well well well... Nive, wanna make a bet who'll win this one?" He laughs, "Oh guess it's over."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe inhales deeply and lets the breath out in an unsteady sort of chuckle. She places her hands on his shoulders, then on either side of his head.
(Ashelia Riot) "I am sorry. That was... unbecoming."
(Ashelia Riot) "I hope that isn't too high and mighty of me to say."
Ashelia Riot grins tauntingly at Crimson Bull.
(Crimson Bull) Bull looks up at Ashelia Riot, "You fought like a true Ala Mhigan, ready to do what needs to be done to save us all." he rises to his feet, "We're gonna save 'em all, as best we can. Right?"
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "Mhigans," she mutters under her breath.
(Ashelia Riot) She nods. "Right."
(Ashelia Riot) "All of us. It's only us five now."
(Etone Greennote) "Yea need some ice there mate?"
(Crimson Bull) Bull shoots a look at Nive, "Sometimes you need to show firm conviction."
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive crosses her arms, huffing slightly and shaking her head. She's smiling slightly though. "Still. I ... mm..."
(Crimson Bull) Bull nods, affrimed, "The lot at Ala Ghanna should let us have somewhere to go. Some know of my mother, and now know of me. It'd be a good spot to regroup an' figure this out."
(Ashelia Riot) "You had best lead the way, then."
(Ashelia Riot) "I daresay they would respond better to your coming than to mine."
(Crimson Bull) Bull nods to Ashe, "Leave it to me!"
Crimson Bull smiles at Ashelia Riot.
Ashelia Riot nods to Crimson Bull.
(Crimson Bull) "Most of them remember my mother, and if I can help them half as well as they did, they'll have no problem!" he offered a thumbs up."
(Etone Greennote) "Hmhmhmhm~! I'm interested in where this'll go." He mirrors Bull's thumbs up with both hands.
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe picks up her gun from the ground, feeling only a little bit foolish.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "Ala Ghanna would be a good place to recuperate and gather ourself together," she muses. "And I for one, would like to /sleep/ at least, and not on a rock. Maybe some sand."
(Ashelia Riot) "We could all do with some rest."
(Crimson Bull) "I'll make sure you're somewhere soft." he nodded affirmative to Nive."
(Etone Greennote) Etone scratches his ear and grins, "I can sleep on a couch pillow..."
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe nods. Briefly she wishes she could go to Ala Gannha on griffinback, but she hasn't seen Anastasis /or/ Anastasia since before the attack.
(Crimson Bull) "Follow me, we'll be there in no time!"
(Ashelia Riot) "Will you be able to walk?" she asks of Nive.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive whistles for Mila, mounting the coeurl and rubbing her gently. "Come on... Let's get going."
(Ashelia Riot) "Should we really be following the main road?" she whispers at one point.
(Crimson Bull) "I uh...don't know any other way." he sighed.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) "What else would we follow?" She asks, gingerly clinging to her coeurl.
(Ashelia Riot) She nods. It's a good thing they're doing this at night, then, for extra concealment.
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe looks at the field of purple flowers all around them and recognizes them as the ones Edge and A'zaela gathered for her. There, in the darkness of night, she lets her eyes fill with tears.
Etone Greennote consoles Ashelia Riot.
(Etone Greennote) Etone palms Ashelia's shoulder and offers a silent reassuring smile.
(Ashelia Riot) Ashe nods in thanks to Etone Greennote but says nothing.
(Nivelth Ajuyn) Nive slowly gets more and more tired the more she goes on, until she's eventually sleeping against her coeurl's side and snoozing soundly.
