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

[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.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Oh so he wants to count?]

You're behind. I'm on eight.

[Thaaat's stretching it a bit, Celes.]

And I don't see what kind of special occasion warrants... well, no, kidnapping is a special occasion, even for normal thieves.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

Eight? [He smirks.] Are you entirely certain?

[He aims Arcturus and pulls the trigger, causing another monster to halt in its tracks and crumple to the ground.] Either way, I'm catching up. You know, I do recall telling you that kidnapping was by request.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Positive.

[Balthier is missing her point and it brings a smirk to her face. Apparently, he hasn't talked to Setzer about how he met Celes. Is this how Edgar feels when he's teasing her?]

You still have a long way to go. [She uses Thunder Slash on another enemy, crumpling it instantly.] You recall correctly. I never said requested kidnapping didn't count as kidnapping. Because it still does.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Two more shots fired.] Perhaps. You won't stay ahead for long. Swordplay is far more exhausting. And--

[He pauses, frowning as he focuses on another incoming enemy and lands a shot in its chest as it races towards them, though it doesn't fall quite yet. He turns to bash it beneath the chin with his elbow, knocking it back just far enough to give him clearance to take another shot. This time, the creature hits the ground.] -- I'm no common thief, love. Sky pirate.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

You say that like you've ever tried it. I notice you aren't getting yourself dirty.

[Definitely like Locke. Neither of them like being called thieves. The smile on her face is genuine, but very short-lived. As she fells another creature, her eyes fall on a great ball of yellow light looming over the distance. It looks like it's headed right towards them.]

What in the name of the Warring Triad is that? [She points her sword at it.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

As a matter of fact, I have. You'd be surprised to learn just how many weapons I've taken a turn with. Still, no need to soil my cuffs if it can be avoided. Why do things the hard way?

[He looks in the direction of the approaching anomaly and frowns, setting his jaw.]

An Entite. Do avoid using magic if you can. It finds such targets especially appealing. Oh, and brace yourself.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[She rolls her eyes at the first part, still focusing on the entite... thing... whatever it is.]

Right, so I'm supposed to just leave it to kill off the people of Alexandria? I don't think so.

[She adjusts her grip on her sword and heads on into battle, activating Runic as she goes.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

That is not at all what I said. [He huffs slightly, reloading his gun before rolling his shoulder back and aiming. Running low on ammunition... he would have to talk to Refia about that before too long.]

I said avoid magic. [He fires a shot, getting the Entite's attention, setting his jaw as he braced himself. This was always exceptionally painful business, but the sooner they took it down, the less they would have to worry about it causing any complications on the battlefield. An Entite on its own was bad enough; get the attention of one while you were busy fending off something else, and you were quickly in over your head.] Your hearing is quite selective, isn't it.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

That is all you said. What's more important is what you didn't say.

[Oh she knows what he said and didn't say and she's more than willing to inform him of that. The entite in question got a face full of her Stock Break. Its response was to try casting Sleep, which her sword absorbed.]

Then I hope you have enough potions to manage.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He shields his eyes with his hand for a moment to avoid her being able to see just how hard he's rolling them, though it's well-timed enough to look like he's just protecting his eyes from the bright flash caused by Stock Break.] I'm prepared enough. Give a shout if you need one.

[His tone remains congenial enough; he has never been one to show how badly his feathers have been ruffled, except perhaps in the presence of one Al-Cid Margrace. At any rate, her Runic skill is incredibly useful in this situation -- it has the potential to be his least-painful encounter with an Entite ever. With magic no longer at his disposal here in Gaia, and his item supply running low, he continues to work through his diminishing supply of ammunition as he appraises the Entite from his current standpoint. They often had items well-worth stealing, though he's still unsure of just where they keep them.]

Keep that up and we'll be in excellent shape. That's an ability I'd have liked to have handy in Ivalice.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Celes didn't answer at first. It was rare that she ever needed a hand or a potion she didn't already possess. Now that she had healing magic that worked again, she didn't generally need anyone else's hand on that, either. She was in the middle of banging her sword into the stupid blob of light and whatever the entite was made of when his next words caught her attention. She faltered and was forced to backspring away to avoid getting hit full in the face. Turning her head to her companion, a look of pure steel came across her face, unlike anything she'd ever shown him yet and her tone is just as hard.]

No. You don't want this.

[Taking a better grip on her sword, she heads back into battle, trying to distract the stupid thing from hitting Balthier.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[Her look of pure ire does not go at all unnoticed, but he remains calm, his expression carefully blank as he keeps his attention focused on their foe, again taking careful aim and firing. The shot is enough to slow the Entite somewhat, its movements becoming sluggish. It was a shame to be pushing through his specialty ammunition so quickly, but he supposed it was there to be used. He could make or steal the gil and reagents to have it replaced.]

No offense meant, love. Not in the slightest.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[At least with the two of them, the entite went down pretty quickly after that. Celes avoided saying anything else as she backed up towards him, looking around for anything else stupid enough to get near them.]

I know. [It's a small admission, but huge in that it's close to an apology.]

But this wasn't worth the cost to get it. Not by a long shot.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He turned his back to hers long enough to properly survey the area surrounding. They were in the clear, at least for the moment. There would certainly be more monsters that needed slaying, but he welcomed the reprieve, however brief.]

It must have been steep. [He glanced at her over his shoulder before turning slightly.]

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[Celes merely glances at him before she turns to walk a little closer to the city itself to survey a little more.]

The lives of Espers... and potentially my own sanity. Power like this isn't worth the cost. It corrupts those it touches.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He follows along without complaint, inclining his head slightly as he listens. From her tone of voice alone, it's clear that Espers wherever she comes from are quite unlike those in Ivalice.]

It's not natural, then. Genetically infused?

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[The next enemy to turn up got sliced in half before Celes responded.]

Something like that. Ask around on the Sky Phones about a man named Kefka. See what they say.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He shoots another approaching fiend before responding in turn.]

I think I'll refrain from doing so publicly. I get the distinct feeling such questions won't be much appreciated.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

You'd be surprised. I think the most likely reaction you'll get is a general feeling of outrage and a barrage of questions on if you've seen him and where he is.

[She takes a couple of hits, expending a dose of Cura on both of them before continuing.]

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

My thanks. [The healing is much appreciated, since he'd just sustained a few nasty scratches from an overzealous Cockatrice before firing and causing it to stop dead in its tracks.]

Hm. I know the sort. The way I hear it, the reaction would be similar if I chose to ask after one Dr. Cid.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

[That name makes her pause and glance to him.]

So he's from your world?

[Another pause as she takes down another foe.]

They seemed to share similar qualities. Fifteen, by the way.

[theleadingman.livejournal.com]

[He glances her way, as well, before sniping at another fiend.]

You could say we're well-acquainted. Fourteen. I'm on your tail.

[magitekrune.livejournal.com]

Dr. Cid for you. Kefka for me. I've had enough madmen. If either of them return here, they will be meeting the dead end of my blade.

Not for long, you're not. Sixteen.