[voice/video, semi-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

...The Veldt really is an interesting place.

[After Memoria, Rishfee took as much opportunity as he could to be alone. No-one and nothing could have prepared him for what the castle of memories presented to him, and for his own good he needed to get out; away from others and spend time in his own thoughts to be able to continue. Memoria had presented problems to him, immediate ones. Questioning his own existence was one of those problems. An immediate hatred for what he was; the human side of him startled, shocked, and sickened by memories which had long been repressed.

Now though, he was better. Much better. Perhaps he was less human; but he wasn't afraid be what he was any longer. Now, he embraced it.]

I will return shortly. I apologize for any worry I have caused. Captain Steiner, if you are still willing; let us make rearrangements for your trip to Nashmau at your earliest possible convenience.

[Filtered;Vincent / Rughadjeen.]

It's funny. Memories which I had long forgotten to protect myself are now clear. However painful... Memoria was a needed experience. But... I think it's changed me. One of my aptitude questions back then, to become a blue mage, and what captain Raubahn asked me was as follows.

You stand on the precipice between life and death. Would you choose to live life as a beast if it would save you from falling into the shadowy abyss of the underworld?

...I think my answer has changed from what I said back then. Maybe I've changed. ...How are things? Has the world changed?

[Oblivious to death and doom? Yes.]

Comments

[voice-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

Rishfee.

[It's hard to hear exhaustion through one-word answers, even if they in themselves are a clue. That's mostly why Vincent doesn't say more to respond. Besides, there's a rough quality to his voice at the moment, left over from the constant fighting and the constant transformations.]

[voice-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[It's extremely hard to decipher anything from Vincent's body language alone. Yet he isn't a fool, however much he did enjoy playing the part at a certain time. His face turns serious quickly.]

...
I would have thought you'd have been happier to see me.
What has happened?

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

Something called Lunar Cry. It summoned an invasion of monsters.

[He would be happier, if he had the energy to spare for it. As it is, he's certainly relieved to hear from Rishfee again.]

You've probably avoided it.

[video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[Never a dull moment, it seemed.]

...Yes. You're probably fighting against them, I assume.

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

[No breaks for the monster-men.]

Yes. They overran Lindblum, and managed to get to Luca.

[video-filtered 1/2]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[Horror.]

[video-filtered 2/2]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

...is Eiko all right?

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

Probably.

[Staying alive was more of a priority than checking up on her.]

[video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

....

[Stay calm, stay calm.]

Your location?

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

Near Lindblum.

It had not fallen to them, last I saw. Most were evacuated.

Re: [video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

All right. I'll be there as soon as possible to assist you. You look exhausted.

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

Take care of what you need to. I'll manage.

[video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

Nashmau can wait, you're more important. Besides, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything knowing you're emptying away whatever bullets you have left against what's still coming.

[Assumption? Yes. But it's an educated one. 'Cause that's what you do, Vincent.]

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

I have more to fight with than just my gun.

[The demons have been out to play a good deal during this monster invasion. But yes, he's been using up a good deal of his ammo.]

[video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

Funny you've mentioned that. I had got you a few gifts from Nashmau this invasion will provide a fitting opportunity to test.

[You can't refuse qijirn-manufactured landmines, Vincent.]

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

Gifts?

[Not when Gaia gives him so few weapons to work with, especially.]

[video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

You'll just have to survive until I get there to see.

[Smile!]

[video-filtered]

[chaos-vessel.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I can.

[He manages to inject a bit of dry sarcasm into that, at least.]

[video-filtered]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[He missed it.]

Good. See you in a few days.

[Action]

[guyspeakbeaver.livejournal.com]

[Guy is still looking for Lindblum. Despite the fact that it is RIGHT THERE. It hasn't occured to him that that huge thing might be a city.

And he's getting distracted. The monsters of the Veldt, the ones from before the Lunar Cry, are only too happy to accept his help with keeping the new monsters away from their nests and young. But there's one monster they keep mentioning. A nasty, merciless one, that tears the very souls out of those it targets.

And so Guy is accompanying a small pack of Briareus (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Briareus) to the safety of a less open part of the Veldt.]

[Action]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[And thus, the monster appears. Rishfee is walking along what passes for a path along the wildlands of the Veldt, tracking the footprints of the briareus. He's hunting, obviously. It's all too clear by the fact he's actually crouching upon the ground in places, turning over stones in others. The fact there appear to be Galka-like footprints with those of the monsters is surprising. But he can't make out one small thing; there's no indentation behind them where a Galkan tail would normally touch the ground. Very odd. Soon enough, thanks to the speed afforded by travelling alone; he comes to the pack and to the ....oddly coloured Galka beside them.

...Was this Galka a beastmaster? Even if he were, so many creatures under his thrall was dangerous. Extremely so.]

You!

[His tone is commanding, assertive. Very much an Immortal's tone. (Something he's found actually suits him recently...) He strides toward the group; narrowing his eyes at the monsters and looking up to the Galka that actually was looking more and more like a cross between one and a Hume the closer he got.]

...Are you lost? What are you doing out in the wilds?

[Action]

[guyspeakbeaver.livejournal.com]

[Guy's not really sure what to do when spoken to in that tone. He shrinks back in fear. It doesn't occur to him that this might be the monster - it's a human. Firion always said that humans weren't monsters.]

Guy- guy help monster. They- scare. And- and- Guy look Lin-blumm.

[Action]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[He's a little perplexed by the fact the man can't seem to speak properly, but doesn't make any circumstance of it. He's more interested in what the other said, hold loosening upon the jewelled handle of his scimitar and taking note of the man shrinking away, despite his overwhelming size. He pauses.]

Lin-blumm? Do you mean Lindblum? It's a few days walk from here, east-- wait.

...You would help these creatures? If anything, friend, you'd end up as their young's next meal should you stay around them any longer. How they haven't already attempted to kill you is astounding, to say the least.

[Action]

[guyspeakbeaver.livejournal.com]

'East' is- [He knows this one. He knows this one. Maria told him and everything, in case he ever got lost and needed to find his way home to Fynn.] -sun up?

[He just blinks at that, confused.] They not kill Guy. They- Guy friend. New monster scare they. Eat they- small one. Guy find shelter they, safe from new monster.

[Action]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

Yes, the sun rises in the east- and sets in the west. Up, East. Down, West.

[Have some of the same confusion. He glances to the monsters; and no, they seem to show no malice toward the hume before him. He though... as soon as he meets their eyes, they snarl.]

... You would give them shelter so they would live to attack other travellers?

[Action]

[guyspeakbeaver.livejournal.com]

[He gives this some thought but it's a little too complex for him to understand fully.]

Traveller is- they food. They small one food. Need eat not mean they bad. Not mean should die. Mean they hungry.

Re: [Action]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[Thankfully, he's accustomed to speaking with Qijirn. His patience for things like this is tried and tested.]

...Little monster, like these are food for bigger ones. Is a bigger monster bad for eating them? Without these monsters, the bigger ones will stay hungry, and they will die.

[Action]

[guyspeakbeaver.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs, seemingly not bothered.]

Bigger monster not bad. Little monster not bad. Traveller not bad. None of bad. These monster ask Guy help they, Guy help. Big monster ask Guy help, Guy help. Traveller ask Guy help, Guy help. All they good.

[Action]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

How odd.

[He says it wistfully, not meaning to either insult or obtain any more information from the strange man. He's got enough to worry about anyway; most of his beginning with Vincent and ending with Eiko. So, he merely takes a few steps backward -- hunting trip well and truly forgotten about. Yes; he's going to Lindblum himself. Part of him wants nothing more to do with this person (Not out of malice. More like a desire to keep himself to himself) but he turns to the other.]

If you can keep pace, you may follow me.

[Voice]

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Certainly, Rishfee. But we must be careful. The place will be crawling with more monsters than ever! Are you near Alexandria?

[Voice]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

Regrettably, I am not near Alexandria or Caedarva Mire. Memoria chose to place me elsewhere once it was through with me, some place known as the Veldt. How fares your lands during this disaster? I would not have you venture away from those still in need of you and your order of knights.

[Voice]

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Our defences have held. But there are other places in Alexandria which need our help. The scale of this... A great task lies before us.

But the Caedarva Mire is part of the kingdom, and I would not go back on a promise. It is my duty to protect the people there too.

[Voice]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

[Part of your what? Unfortunately, Cobalt is not the only thing that runs thickly in Rishfee's blood. He's an imperial through and through, so any other kingdom, state or empire claiming soverignity over the empire's territories, even should the part of the empire's territories find itself within said borders of any of the aforementioned whatevers causes the utmost offence.

...However. Despite this, he's got some tact. Enough to dismiss the notion anyway, where most Immortals would certainly give the knight an earful at the very least -- until he was to be located..]

...
The qijirn are a people that commune with both humans and monsters. I cannot see that which has come giving them any cause to behave differently. Perhaps it would be prudent to reschedule our appointment until this disaster is behind us; for by your words there are other places throughout the lands of Alexandria which require your aid in far more urgent a fashion.

[Voice]

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

That I can do, if you believe the matter is less urgent. Though I cannot imagine what kind of people could commune with monsters! Fiends born of the Mist cannot be reasoned with by anyone.

voice

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Hi Rishfee!

[For someone who's been summoning and magicking her horn off, Eiko's surprisingly chipper. Probably because she found a new summoner.]

[voice]

[immortal-lion.livejournal.com]

You're all right?
That is a relief. How is the regent?

[voice]

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

I'm okay. I've been busy keeping Alexandria safe. I think Father's okay and Mother too.