Into the pits of Rabanastre [Dieter]

Ivonne lazily glanced around, the wariness never left her eyes yet for now she stilled the tenseness out of her muscles. Forcing her body to appear calm in a sense. On the outside she may have succeeded but her mind hadn’t lowered the red flags dangling over her eyesight. This zone was known to be a current mark red for a reason.
One second she lets her guard down and she may as well join her relatives in the grave. She shuddered at the thought. The very idea of the ground enclosing her in left her unnerved. But not enough for any of her current line of thoughts to affect the perfectly stoic expression she had plastered all over her doll-like mien. Alabaster skin peered from her cloak, the rest of her small form hidden behind the guise as she moved alongside the crumbling structures.

The breeze shifted, as another gust game hurling by followed by a trail of sands as the child tried to keep by shadows. The sounds of battle drifted the farther she got from it. Now normally she’s not one to stray AWAY from it but for now…

She honestly just wanted to get what she came for and leave before anyone else notices. Hell there was a reason this place was ‘exploration’ marked. The hidden code for ‘raids’ or what not for the veterans warriors looking for another thrill to soothe their lust for battle. Certainly she must… have dropped it around somewhere. She thought exasperatedly.

Walking by another crumbling abode the girl posed, just as her sensitive ears caught the sounds of footsteps, boots dragging down the rough pathways as she duck behind one of the crumbling walls. Patiently listening until she spotted… the rotund figure of one of those seeqs.
Hear that? That’s the sound of fire cracking under her blood pressure. Causing her own blood to nearly boil. She has… issues with the blasted walking pork rinds. Issues that included sicking numerous chocobos at her and the group she was with. Needless to say,

It was the first time she learned to be wary of red exploding chocobos.
But enough of history, she pressed her cloaked body closer to the rough edges of her hiding spot, straining her ears closer to hear the beasts shush conversation.

“More treasure yes? Chief said there’s more treasure?” One of them hurriedly whispered. “Yes yes but first we have to shoo those pesky adventurers.” The other hissed back. Pesky adventurers? The girl’s brow rose. Needless to say probably the second group she had passed by.

“Oh but them pesky adventurers always come, they always stop us from raiding relics.” The first grumbled, agreeing with his companion grudgingly before pulling out a random silver necklace from its trousers. “Though not even pesky adventurers can ruin my good haul. Pretty thing was just lying on the ground might fet---”

A sword was already buried deep right onto the creature’s chest. Blood prematurely spurted from the gaping wound. The creature hadn’t noticed he was dead before he breathed his last. So much for keeping her cover, honestly the second creature was far too stun to react when the girl grabbed the necklace and swiped the necklace from its lifeless grip. The body already slowly growing cold before she kicked it off her blade. Ignoring the sickening squelched of blood and matter as her blade slid free. That broke the second seeq out of its shock. “You… YOU KILLED BOJO!” Screaked the rotund creature. Nearly causing the child to wince at the shear volume. She killed the first one, and now it reacts?! Well Seeqs weren’t known for intelligence.. but this was a whole new definition of slow by her standards but she got what she came for, she really had no other reason to stay around and she certainly didn’t wait for the creature to pull out its large war hammer when she quickly booked it.

Unfortunately the damn pig didn’t take it a sign to listen to its self-preservation when it decided to give chase. Swinging that large battle hammer it toted around like a child’s play toy with reckless abandon in a bit to hit the child well. Not that it managed… the girl was way ahead of it.

Veering to the right, she barely managed to slip right into the torn alleyways, running through a few twists and turns but the damn pig still held close to her tail. Damn. She swore under her breath, debating whether to turn around and end the pest or attempt one more time to try and lose it.

Right up ahead was a half torn wall, a simple jump might give her the leverage to try to lose the bugger. Thankfully…the alleys reminded her of the way obstacles she went through as a child, quickly grabbing hold of the ragged top half, she used the momentum to vault over the half wall, leaving the screeching creature behind to try and smash his way through.

Luck though…clearly had issues with her today, as the second she managed to reach the other side was when she slipped up on her landing, a mistimed footing soon caused her to slip and lose it. Sending her tumbling back, unfortunately… well fortunately for her, she landed on something soft. Errr…slightly hard body? Unfortunately well unfortunately was for the whoever the schmuck she landed on.

[attr="class","mizocredits"]

“Hydaelyn’s be damned I hate seeqs….” Yup it was official she absolutely loathed the walking bacons. Or should the appropriate term be ‘porkchops’ if she had access to any fire spells. She would have used it. Verfire came to mind even if the added risk of reeking like she roasted pork chops somewhere. But the child really, really started to deeply loathe them. Sure before her annoyance for them only tipped the scales as a minor irritation but now…

Well now, it was keeping her from booking the place in one place. Not to mention the reason as to why she landed in such an undignified heap. Though the latter was without a doubt her fault, she hadn’t taken into factor the high elevation and uneven footing she would have to deal with when she made her escape from that hammer wielding menace. Ivy was beginning to think she should have just turned and ended the porkchop. Might have saved her from this embarrassment. Speaking of which… The child winced upon in pact.

Her landing only softened by the fact she landed on someone else—how did she know she landed on a sentient person? When they loudly proclaimed she was… well flattening them with her weight. Though the questionable mark began popping into mind. As to how a small person could actually squish someone. The tiny fact about her being in her armor momentarily fled her mind. But ehhh details, details. Tiny details she easily forgets from time to time. Add to the fact… the large sword she wields doesn’t make her any lighter.

Still though… if she had any humour left she might have found her current predicament ironically funny. Sadly the abyss knew how to eat a person’s sense of humour. Oh the parody of it all, had Ryan been there to see this she might never hear the end of his teasing. Thank hydaelyn he wasn’t, still… there was this guy who’s the technical witness to her minor technical fail. Another soul to feed to the abyss? Tempting idea to salvage her slightly scratched pride.
Red orbs blinked open when she heard her unwilling pillow’s voice spoke up. And said red eyes were quick to glance over to the female? For a second she would have mistaken him for one. A delicate being that was turned into an unwilling pillow but since he lacked a few parts she has. Safe to say the guy is male. Delicate looking too, but then again… now that her hood was unceremoniously tossed back by the force of her recent fall, nothing hid her doll-like mien from being seen.

The very same delicate doll now looked at the man. Her man expression devoid of anything but the stoic mask she had on her face. Her brow arched slightly, now noticing her predicament before she quickly scampered off him. “Pardon…” She softly muttered. Her soft voice barely whispered out her words as she quickly picked herself up off him. Parts of her blood red armor peered from her cloak as she moved, picking up her large cleaver which unceremoniously fell near him after she lost her grip during that minor fall.

From behind her the same porkchop still cussed loudly as its hammer loudly pounded upon the abused wall. But the wall proved to be just as sturdy as it was first created, refusing to yield and allow it access to chase after the young blond. Still she would not count on it lasting long as she debated whether it might be prudent to go over and put sword to flesh so she could actually get this over with. And then there’s…. her crimson gaze averted from the wall towards the prone body still laying on the ground. She could tell he wasn’t in the best condition to move, judging from the hints of pain lingering within his tone. Though to carelessly lay around here, choice or not… was a death wish waiting to happen. On one hand, it wasn’t her problem. On another… her thought finished as a loud crash echoed towards the north. Another group is on the prowl chances of the injured man getting stuck within the crossfire are about as high as fifty given the chances and how lady fate has it out for her. Debating for a few minutes she sighed softly before speaking out. “I’d ask….why in seven hells your laying down in the middle of a red zone… but I don’t think we have the time.” She might have sounded a bit blunt than she meant but the kid doesn’t exactly have stellar social skills. Another sigh, time was running. She really was no hero, but ehh… she did accidentally turn an injured man into an unwilling cushion for her blasphemy. There’s also the fact… she was not the best person to toss around healing spells. “Can you move with help or are you in too much pain?” She finally asked. Wow… the girl is actually being considerate. For once.

Dieter Wolfram

[attr="class","mizocredits"]

He….didnt know? He really didn’t bloody know. The girl was silent for a moment, processing his question as her crimson orbs fell silent in studying him. She was confused, nearly staring at him as though the man itself was either drunk or… well high on something she would rather not know. Not when their position could easily shift into a battlefield. While she was damn sure the other group can contain their own marked. The seeq after her blood well, that was another story.

That was an uncertainty she didn’t like the chances of. The young blonde tuned down her musings. He was telling the truth, the way his browed furrowed with his tone. The real mark of confusion lingering on his face wasn’t easy to duplicate unless the guy was a bloody good actor. Still it didn’t answer her lingering question on what the hell he was doing here.

For now she merely pushed it back, curiosity can be satisfied once she was sure they were somewhere safe enough for a chat. Now she’s the one frowning. Talking… was not one of her strong points. Neither was holding a conversation unless it had something to do with a mission or a task. Just her luck, this wasn’t one of those she can label as a task. “Yes…red zone. Rabanastre ruins isn’t exactly the place you go if you’re planning to take a nap unless... its the permanent sort you're after." Practically the only thing she had left in the humour department. One of the unfortunate downsides to be raised by a dark knight. She caught on to their infamous ‘dark’ humour as well. She held back another exasperated sigh. The guy really had a way with toying with timing. Now wasn’t one of times appropriate times for them to play twenty, twenty questions when there’s a murderous porkchop on one side of the battlefield still crying blood and on the other side.

A probable chimaera, though that’s the other group’s problem. Hopefully it stayed that way. Crimson orbs shifted back to him, just as she heard his request for his sword. A sword? Her brow rose once more, following his arm where she saw the blade laying in a pile of rubble a few feet from where he was. He wasn’t in any condition to fight, yet he wanted his weapon instead of a damn healing potion. Normally the child would have shrugged and did as he asks before walking off. But… dear god Rielle will never let her hear the end of it.

Not that she needed to know… a voice casually spoke within her, what she didn’t know wont harm her. But at the same time as that tiny voice, another one spoke, casually pointing out the feeling she’s been getting from him that she pushed at the back of her mind. There was an unseen darkness circling around him, around his core that she couldn’t pinpoint why. Another dark knight… no… not in a sense that she knows the way darkness curled around him was far different to the darkness embracing her chosen profession. Then again… not every contract was the same. She mentally pointed it out before walking towards the sword. A gauntlet hand reached over towards the hilt of the amaranthine blade. Curling her grip around the handle and in one quick yank managed to pull the sword out from its prison. She could sense Dark thorn’s displeasure at her having to touch another blade but… she’ll just have to make it up to him later.

He does love blood after all.

She was about to walk back before another crash echoed. The damn porkchop managed to break the wall. There goes her escape,

“YOU MINE NOW ADVENTURERRRRR!” Shrieked the walking pig faced creature. Hefting it large Warhammer right out of the rubble it caused with a strained grunt. Ivy took that queue to rush back and deposit the man’s sword right in his grip.

Dieter Wolfram

[attr="class","mizocredits"]

Whatever magic he had done, it certainly was effective in both rendering the young blond confused from the actions of the older blond infront of her. But the young child could only stare in both wonder and curiosity. The latter she tried to hide behind a mask of indifference as she watched the intricate spells he had performed with the help of his sword. Now she had her answer as to why he wanted his sword. She might as well try to soothe her own blade’s tender knack for jealousy. The last part she honestly felt a headache was going to bubble up.

Once Bloodthorn gets into one of his jealous fits, he’s more or less like an infant tossing a tantrum. She thought in both affection and exasperation until her train of thought was forced back into reality. The sudden change in his appearance wasn’t lost to her, neither was the heavy presence of his darkness. Especially when his was now pulsed in a way that reminded her of a beckon. Oh this was not good… not when it was even calling to her own darkness, any dark knight worth their salt would have sense the power display. Now it was a matter of hoping there wasn’t a single dark knight--- never mind. She closed her eyes, momentarily letting bits of her own dark energy out to act as a scanner. She caught a faint pulse from same group she had heard awhile ago. Meaning one of them was a fellow brother or sister… brilliant…

She just hoped the person stayed with their group instead if investigating the disturbance his abrupt show his darkness caused. Glancing back at the pattern on the ground then back to the man as she heard him chant. Spell chants… the only ones she heard using such chants were mages and summoners. But he certainly wasn’t one… and the spells, she glanced back at the few scratches her impromptu jump and crash caused, most were beginning to knit close, finishing the job the few droplets that drop on her from his mystery shower.

“Thanks…” She muttered. Uncertain on how to act before she could answer his recent question he sped off, closing the distance towards the pest trying to rush at them with its sharp weaponry of death. She had been about to fetch her own sword out of its sheathe when he had done the job she had neglected to do prior. He ended the creature in ways only dark magics is capable off. No blood…. As though its essence was suck dry by the blade. In which case she seemed very incline to agree considering how its corpse merely crumbled to the ground the same way a puppet would with its strings cleanly sliced off.

“Impressive.” She merely commented, doing a small clap before re-sheathing her precious sword back in its place on her back. “As for your earlier question…” She paused, to be honest this was by far the most she had spoken to someone who she still labelled as a stranger, still acting as a mute was not going to get her anywhere on this… not to mention… wariness momentarily flashed on her orbs as she watched the darkness around her slither wildly. His animalistic appearance only furthered the fact unless she wanted to explain WHY this place was even more of a pile of rubble. She might as well be blunt with the truth.

“Hydaelyn…? I have my doubts it goes by another name… but languages are a thing…” She muttered the last part softly more to herself than to him.

Dieter Wolfram

[attr="class","mizocredits"]

And just like a doll her appearance mimicked the girl carried the same empty expression. Hers was just as empty. It was blank. She hadn’t reacted much to seeing the once plump porkchop turn into a decrepit dried up husk that looked like a prune left to dry a bit longer in the hot thanalan sun. The sight barely fazed her. She had seen a few horrors in her young life, this was mere child plays to someone who had to deal with seeing blood and viscera flying about on a bi daily basis. Oh did she forget to add the unforgettable image of seeing burned up corpses roasting from a well-aimed fifth flame spell?

Well now she did. The stench wasn’t one someone could easily forget either. She shook off the memory, tossing along with it the images brought upon by the recollecting the past. Past is past, nothing she can do change it. The same went with how ‘red’ her hands should be with all the blood that ran through it.

Blood of beast or man. It didn’t matter, the girl had long blocked out any notions guilt tried to use to sway her into letting it in. She knew better, Fray would be rolling on his grave had she actually gone ‘soft’ as the man would have gruffly pointed out. Ivy’s happy to say she doubted such a day would come. But fate often enjoyed trolling her these days. She thought scornfully, casting another glanced at the flaxen haired young man. Her ruby orbs quietly taking in his appearance. Appraising it the same way a magpie would when it encounters a shiny object. More out of curiosity than anything else, like her earlier assumption he looked young. Maybe a summer older than her not that she’s in any position to say anything. Another sigh hefted out of her lips before she forcefully turn her gaze away from the guy and especially away from the ears..

Gods she could already feel herself getting twitchy.

The way his ears twitched… by the twelve. It might as well be a bright beckon for the fan girls. Fan girls attracted to just about anything cute. Ivonne…was still sadly a female, despite her numerous attempts at repressing her quirk for anything… in the cute range she rarely succeeded for long. Normally it’s why she couldn’t sit near miqotes for long. That damnable… cuteness!

She internally seethed at herself before taking a deep breath and in a bid to regain some form of composure before she embarrasses any further, harshly shoved a proverbial boot towards the unneeded thoughts lingering inside her. Pushing them back to the side before slapping up numerous locks and chains before safely allowing herself a moments peace while she pondered her next reply to him.

She found it strange how… he seemed to know this place but at the same time…she still remembered his reaction, the way his face lit up in surprise when she mentioned their location. He both knew…and at both didn’t. It was a conundrum! A mystery she was loathed to admit she didn’t know the answer.

“A relief we didn’t die from a porkchop?” She tilted her head, her tongue does have flare with words doesn’t it? Sarcasm mostly though she can never deny the way she tried to hide the curiosity peeking from her red tinted orbs.

“I could ask you the same question kid…” She huffed slightly. Running a hand through her blond hair then tucking a few stray strands trying to get to her face. “Just had—” The rest of the sentence died cleanly in her throat when another loud explosion rocketed followed by an ear shattering roar of a chimaera. She didn’t look at all worried, albeit the wariness that once dimmed from her eyes returned full force. Brilliant…. Of all bloody things. She grumbled, she took a few brisk steps towards the noise but stop before muttering a few words under her breath in a tongue strongly resembling a latin incantation. Darkness swirled around her, as her path towards the abyss widened, allowing the visible tendrils of darkness to manifest around her body. But something was different with her, it was as if the abyss was part of the child in more ways than one… far more intimate was a way to describe it as she used the darkness she summoned as a conduit of sorts to scan her surrounds. The girl’s eyes were closed as she concentrated on the feel of the area before zoning it on where she felt the aether was the strongest. Her frown only grew deeper before it turned into swift brief curse as she opened her eyes. “Chimaera. But it’s contained for now.” She sighed softly before shutting off the flow of darkness around then turning back to the man.

She may have deliberately avoid answering why she was here, what was she supposed to say? ‘Oh I disobeyed the one cardinal rule all adventurers/sellswords follow. Never go into a ruins known to be a red zone alone.’ Yeah… like that’s going to be receive well.

“I can handle myself… I’ve been here enough times to know a few safe passage ways.”

Dieter Wolfram

[attr="class","mizocredits"]

’Oh this was going to be a joy’ She thought snidely. Each word laced with the heavy layer of sarcasm. Dark sarcasm? Sarcasm was the same to her, no matter which form it took. She debated whether to answer the boy, half truths or the blunt painful one she’s been so inclining to give with reckless abandon. Ivy held back the soft whispering temptation to roll her eyes. Being thought of as impudent because of her of her oh so wonderful ‘enchanting’ personality. And yes each line dripping with the honeyed glazed of sarcasm, wasn’t about to help benefit her in her current situation.

This is why she left politics to those who had patience. This wasn’t even political talk! This was a mere conversation and somewhat…if she dared took note of it a slight interrogation. Not that she blamed the man, she reacted the same when she directly called him a child. Not that she had every right to say given her age and… well appearance. Only a blind man wouldn’t question what a small ‘fragile’ little girl was doing roaming around this god-forsaken place.

She bit back a few snide comments, figuring being obscure with her remarks and replies was only going to incite more questions from the man she might as well offer some form of the truth. One chance came when he asked just why the pork chop was chasing her to hell and back. Ivonne, was right there and then tempted to smirk. But she kept a close grip on her stoic demeaner, refusing to allow a single break to destroy her perfectly carved mask she spend half her life perfecting. She wasn’t about to let her hard work be destroyed. Despite the rather strong urge to scoff at his remark.

Hey, she did mention she was not a social butterfly.

“Oh that?” She tilted her head, allowing a few strands of her flaxen hair to fall to the sides of her face. Red orbs glanced at him in a way a small child would when being asked a question. She still did look innocent. Her appearance mostly did the work for her. The only contrast was the girl’s own clothing. It looked far too foreign on an innocent doll didn’t it?

She shrugged her shoulders casually before uttering a reply in the same casual air. “I disembowelled his fellow right in front of him.” She deadpanned. “He had something that belonged to… an acquaintance.” She hesitated. Yes acquaintance. The closest she would say to a fellow friend of sorts. Did she… see Xiao that way? The girl internally wondered. Keeping her thoughts away from showing through her outer demeanour before shaking it off as in a bid to refocus her attention towards the man.

The darkness still raged within her, subdued as it was there was no true form of submission for it. Now she had control, but control is a fickle thing when it came to abyss. Suppose she had an easier time thanks… to her unique circumstances. Her control as good as it was came with a price of something seen so precious by mother Hydaelyn, so precious that she figured it through the heat of the moment to offer it without pondering on the consequences. Life. There was no true price for it, no amount can truly measure its worth. Perhaps why the abyss so willingly took it, though to this day…it still confused her as to WHY she wasn’t six feet under yet.

She shook off the thought, forcing it back to the back of her mind as she glanced back at the man. After her minor display she had thought the guy would be running for the hills. But he didn’t, he stayed. Even took a few steps when he thought she wasn’t listening. Though it was that same determination that led her to seeing how…stubborn he was as well. For now, their area was silent. Except for the faint whistle of the passing gust of wind. And the crumbling foundation of a few aging walls. There was nothing, no sound aside from the ongoing battle at the other side of a few buildings up north. He still wasn’t letting go of the question. She mused, shaking her head in a soft sigh before finally somewhat relenting in answering but she wouldn’t allow him to get away with not paying him the same courtesy. “A fellow I know forgot something the last time she came around here. I merely came to retrieve it before the clutz gets herself killed. Though allow me toss back the question…what exactly are you doing here? Aside from maybe trying to take a nap.”

Dieter Wolfram

[attr="class","mizocredits"]