022 - Steiner - Action in Alexandria

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

[While the great eidolon Alexander has appeared to protect the city, Steiner is outside the city gates, staunchly defending it from any and all intruders. The Alexandrian army has been fully mobilised and his small band of Pluto Knights are as yet standing firm.]

This is it. Go, go!

[As he cuts down yet another foe, he is reminded of the time that Alexandria was invaded by swarms of Mistodons... Kuja's doing. He's determined not to let that happen again.]

Comments

[seditiousrose.livejournal.com]

[Beatrix has watched and listened to everything that has occurred since the stream of monsters arrived. Watched and listened, and hardly been able to handle things inwardly as well as she'd like.

Lindblum. Burmecia. The other parts of Gaia. Beatrix cannot split herself in different pieces and send each piece off to do what needs to be done.

She knows very well her place is to remain in Alexandria.]

Steiner.

[She's worked her way to him, broadsword going this way and that to make her path clear. Unfortunately, it seems like each time she cuts one down, another appears right in its place.]

Should not one of us be with Her Majesty if something should happen?

[Except... she really wanted to stay wherever he was. Capable of holding his own or not, the influx of missing memories too easily affected how she felt. And hopefully, not how she would execute her actions.]

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

She has ordered us to protect the city.

[He fends off a snarling wolf, then raises his sword to face some kind of shining elemental, an Entite crackling with the power of lightning. There's hardly time to reply or catch his breath, let alone think about strategy.]

Beatrix... I shall go back if you wish!

[seditiousrose.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head, steel cutting through flesh that isn't hers. She doesn't have the time to check and see how he's faring. He seems to be fine, however. As long as he's vertical and breathing, that's really most of what matters. If he ends up wounded, she'll take care of him.]

Unnecessary. We will do as she requests. You and I can handle things here.

[Together, but she doesn't need to say that either.]

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

[Of course. Steiner simply nods. Onwards and upwards!

Another wolf meets its end at his hands, but it's the Entite that's the really difficult foe. Resistant to physical attacks, it's going to take a lot of hacking and slashing to defeat.]

threadjacking is so welcome if desired! /looks at Beatrix and Steiner

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Celes had heard the call to arms long ago. Since she considered Alexandria her second home here, a place she had sworn to protect long before Figaro ever turned up on the map, she was outside the city gates as soon as she could be, slicing into monsters as she went.

She was still a little beaten up from the Spherimorph, but that was mostly emotional exhaustion - stupid sky pirate. Even exhaustion wouldn't keep her from fulfilling her duty. Her guilt would be astronomical if she failed yet again.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Having the Strahl at his disposal meant Balthier was free to either flee the Lunar Cry, or defend his location of choice. Having no place to call home on Gaia just yet, he had caught Celes' mention of Alexandria and made haste to join the league of soldiers already defending the city. He offered the knight a smile when he spotted her blonde hair amidst a sea of helmets and encroaching fiends.]

Fancy meeting you here. [He fired two shots in the nearest beast.] Need a hand again?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Celes looked up at the sound of that voice and rolled her eyes as she sliced into another one as Balthier had just killed the one she'd been aiming at.]

No. And no kill stealing. That one was mine.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

My apologies. [He smirks before firing a shot into another encroaching monster, though this one is far enough away that it can't possibly be her next mark.] Far be it from me to steal from a lady.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She gives him a quick glare before she leans into the target she's been working on.]

Right. You just like to steal them.

[She may or may not be intentionally trolling him.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He snorts before firing another shot.]

That was a special occasion, you know. That's three for me, by the by.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

[It's with a great deal of surprise that Steiner spots Celes. But a good surprise.]

Celes! I hadn't known you were in Alexandria!

[He cuts down a Trick Sparrow that's in his way as he heads towards her.]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Celes takes a quick second to glance at Steiner and offer a nod before she's ripping into something in front of her.]

I wasn't until I heard about the gigantic monstrosity moving. The sudden increase in the monster population around here made the decision for me. I'd ask how you've been, but the current situation-

[She pauses long enough to fell the monster.]

-speaks for itself.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Your assistance would certainly be appreciated!

[And now there's something that looks like a giant dinosaur charging at him. Steiner holds his ground.]

We mustn't let them invade the city!

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

I got here as quickly as I could. I only wish it could have been sooner.

[Celes glances back at him and takes a few precious minutes to slice into the thing as it passes her.]

They won't! Not if I can help it. Alexandria... I will protect it like Figaro.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

[That throws it off-balance enough for Steiner to meet it and not immediately get squashed flat. He strikes, and gets thrown back for his trouble, but he's not out for the count.]

Then we shall fight!

I'm so belated on this; I'm sorry. :<

[seditiousrose.livejournal.com]

[Beatrix has been more than busy at Steiner's side, but it's high time she let him show her precisely what he's made of. Even with such bulky armour, it's what's beneath it all that counts. There must have been some magnificent reason about the man that would have her recall why she accepted his proposal.

As she moved along to help clear the streets for the panicking citizens, she found herself in a comfortable pause when she took note of Celes. Hard-working. Something that seemed a mite familiar, but she simply couldn't place exactly what or when. Careful maneuvers were made as she struck down the obstacles in her way.]

Miss Celes.

[How good it was to see her. Even if Beatrix couldn't say it just yet.]

it happens ♥ better late than never is my motto

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Celes hadn't really been paying much attention to the people around her - she was more focused on the monsters - but the sudden sight of Beatrix has a wary smile crossing her face. It's good to see her friend, even if things are a bit different now.]

Just Celes is fine.

[She paused only long enough to offer a nod before she sliced into something else.]

I'm just glad I got here in time.

Awh. Thank you!

[seditiousrose.livejournal.com]

[Beatrix wastes no time in bringing down her broadsword before pushing split flesh aside. All of this, it's a bit unclean, but it's necessary. And some of these creatures may think it all too easy to walk away with a wound, lick it until it's better, and come back twenty fold better.

No. It is much better to waste them where they stand now. And there is naught that would convince Beatrix otherwise against the safety of her queen.]

We need you here.

['I need you here,' more or less.]

Alexandria is only as strong as those who protect her. Your strength and compassion is a valuable asset to us all, and something to be admired.

♥

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Alexandria has become a second home in the years I've been here. I couldn't stand aside and allow something to happen to it.

[Celes pauses only long enough to offer Beatrix a small smile before she's back to the grindstone, as it were. The next one tries to cast Firaga at her, but her Runic ability absorbs the spell. Channeling the new energy, Celes counters with Thunder Slash.]

I won't let anything past me. You can count on that.

[seditiousrose.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes scout about, mostly interested in ensuring that anyone in need of some form of healing is near enough that she can offer precisely that. It seems everyone has their own things handled. It's all the better to be able to rely on people who are independent that they don't require her to hold their hands.

She side steps a broad swipe of claws, retaliating with the blade of her sword. Once upon a time, the weight might have thrown her off balance. Nowadays, with or without missing memories, she makes it look far too easy.]

I am without doubt when it comes to you. Little by little, I am beginning to recall things I missed in my absence.

It is not whole, but it will be eventually.

[She can only hope Celes will be there when her memories are complete.]

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Well, it's been some time since we've had this brand of excitement, has it not? [Balthier grinned widely as he fell into place beside his partner, quickly sniping at enemies before they could close the distance between them.]

Sorry to butt in, but it's such a perfect opening

[strays-pride.livejournal.com]

[A loud swish of air and the cry of a cut-down monster that had popped up from the ground near their feet was heard as Noah hacked his way near and settled down into a defensive position]

I apologize that I failed to meet your entertainment requirements, Pirate. Next time I'll make an effort to be even more amusing. How about a pre-battle musical number accompanied by an army of irritating nuisances... Bangaas perhaps?

[With his swords connected together, Noah still has a decent range wielding them in the fashion of a pike. Admittedly, it's not his best option, but if he got out there and stared hacking as he was wont to do, here would surely be some repercussions form Basch later on, and that was one conversation he wanted to avoid. He was still marginally uncomfortable a how worried his brother was for his safety. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Balthier offered the former judge a smirk in reply.] Well, let's be fair, you only have the two arms, Noah. Many of these have you beat on number of appendages alone. Presents a bit more of a challenge, you see.

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]