[action in luca]

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

[It was hard to believe just a few days ago she had been in Tida, when the sun first beamed down at her and she first smelt the smell of the sea. Well, maybe it was. She had the more valuable reminder being the drop of myrrh, in the chalice still attatched to her waist via satchel, bumping against her leg. The other was the least useful - a scar or two. Despite healing herself, being healed and what not, she had the scars to prove she'd been in Tida, several knocks and bruises, a bandage on one arm and a bandaid across her cheek. It was mostly precauation; most of it had healed now. But Ritz wanted to be sure.

Well, it was partly why she was here in Luca. A bit of sun should do her good, was the logic, before she set out again. It wasn't all purely holiday, either - she had several papers in her hand as she left the airships behind, maps and written legends about the area. Leads on myrrh and their respective trees, specifically. Chasing rumours. Her wellbeing and her plans to possibly knock that wellbeing off balance again. Two birds with one stone.

The sun was certainly welcome after the dark and eerie air of Tida, if nothing else. She strode the streets with ease, following maps and directions and just walking where her feet took her.

Even, perhaps, walking past someone she didn't immediately spot, who she had talked to when she first arrived on Gaia.]

Comments

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

[With everyone being unofficially grounded after the ill-fated journey to Oerba, Hope is reduced to sitting in the garden to get fresh air and stretch his legs (in the shade, of course; he's so pale he'd burn in no time at all if he sat out in the sun for any length). He's not resentful, exactly, but he is getting restless. So when he notices a familiar white-haired girl pass by, he jumps out of his chair and calls after her.]

Hey, Ritz!

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

[She's not expecting her name, so that's probably the only reason Ritz stops. Though it takes her a few further seconds to turn around, her brain mulling over whether she did actually hear her name or not. It couldn't be that common, could it? No, probably not, so, she turned.

First surprise, and then she smiles, briefly.] Hope?!

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

Hey. [He walks over to her onto the street -- because hey, as long as he doesn't stray too far from the house, it should be fine, right? He shoots a hesitant glance over his shoulder, then back at Ritz. When he sees her injuries, his smile drops a few notches.] Are you okay? You look pretty rough.

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

Guess Luca has its share of surprises. [She looks bemused, turning fully, lowering her papers and folding them, eyes still on Hope. She catches the glance, but doesn't comment, other than a raised eyebrow, just continuing,]I definitely wasn't expecting...

[But at the second part, she cuts off, before nodding. Somewhat adamantly, her smile slipping. She's had this conversation. But poor Hope doesn't know that, so she doesn't lash out, keeping her tone level.] Most of them have healed. Almost, anyway. What comes with the job; myrrh hunting's not a walk in the park. Cure's are all well and good, but sometimes you have to wait.

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

Yeah, tell me about it. We visited Oerba, and we didn't realise there would be this huge Adamantoise thing waiting for us. Good job Light and Fang showed up in time to get us out of there... [But he's rambling and getting off topic, so he stops.] Here, I'll help.

[He casts a Cura spell at her to take care of the last of the wounds. To him, whoever healed her before obviously wasn't thorough enough if she still looks that beaten up.]

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

[Her eyebrow raises; she's heard about those, so she's interested. But it raises further when he heals her. It's not that she hasn't been healed, but it was mostly her doing the healing. And only after healing everyone else, a couple of times. And Ingus, once. Probably due to the fact she does look a little worse for wear.]

I'm fine, really. Bumps and bruises. You can't just Cure everything.

[Well, you can. But Ritz preserves her strength, and doesn't like to be worried over. There's also the mindset of a schoolgirl in their somewhere. There's no magic cure for getting into fights back home. Just time.]

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

Sure you can. What else is a healer good for if they can't heal everything?

[Plus he can't just ignore that sort of thing, not when his major roles in the party have revolved around healing and protecting for so long. It's practically a reflex by now. He casts another Cura spell for good measure, and leaves it at that. Don't want to make her too annoyed.]

You said you were myrrh hunting? What happened?

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

[She half folds her arms, reluctantly nodding. Touché.

At the latter part, she looks pensive.] Well, it was a success. Got taken a bit by surprise, and a bit overwhelmed... you wouldn't think a house could move so fast. House monster, that is.

[Then she looks up, and around.] Speaking of... take it this is where you live, huh?

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

House monster? You mean like... it had legs and big teeth like a monster, but it was still a house or something? [Then he rubs his neck, realising just how ridiculous that sounded. Okay, so his imagination can be a little overactive.]

Yeah, it is. [He glances over his shoulder, then back at Ritz.] Me and the other l'C-- uh, me and my friends live there. We're all like family, so we all live together.

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

... missing a few details, that's exactly what it was. As unbelievable as it sounds. Even the moogles described it as such to me. It was called an Armstrong, from what I've researched about it.

[She nods.] Must be nice to have a grounded place, huh?

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

I've seen some crazy monsters, but that beats them all. [He grins slightly.] Wish I could've seen it. Maybe then you'd be in better shape, too.

[He nods to her half-question.] Yeah, it is. Nothing can replace real family, but it comes pretty close. Especially on another world like this. We all look out for each other, and take care of each other when stuff gets bad.

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

[She smiles wryly.] Not in a village full of Undead. That place was... eerie. [She looks uncomfortable even thinking about it. She's far from intune with these things, like Viera, but she's closer than most.

Ritz nods, looking a little wistful. To have her friends would be nice, sometimes, she thinks, those from St. Ivalice or even lost ones, like Shara... but she's a big girl. She'll survive. Even if there's a small void there.] Sounds nice. [And then, swiftly,] Think they'd mind if I asked if you wanted to come with me? I'm researching Myrrh Trees. Then I promised a friend I'd take some time out. You probably know Luca better than I do, right?

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure they wouldn't mind. Besides, it's not like they're my parents. I can take care of myself. [He nods.] What parts of the city do you wanna see? I've seen a lot of it by now, but some parts I'm still not all that familiar with.

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

Hmm... anywhere, really. Anywhere mentioned on these, especially. [She waves what she's been looking at: there's mentions of the blitzball arena, as well as some of the resenditial areas and the roadway that once led up to the Mi'ihen Highroad.]

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

You know about Blitzball? The arena's definitely worth a look. I can take you there.

[Hope's been plenty of times himself. Cocoon's technology is advanced, but the sphere pool and the sport itself still fascinate him with how it all works.]

It's this way -- follow me! [And he's off, leading her down the road. Any excuse to escape the semi-house arrest.]

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

I've not heard that much about it. Some of the men on the airship were discussing the next season, though- [Sport isn't really what she's focused on, though that doesn't mean she isn't interested. As well as being the studious type, she's always been very athletic

Whatever else she's about to ramble on about though is lost as she takes instead to following him with a slight shrug. Boys will be boys.] -I take it it's really popular in Luca, huh?

[holyjudgement.livejournal.com]

Everyone in Luca loves blitzball. Look around and you'll notice soon enough. Even when it isn't blitzball season, people here go crazy for it.

[And soon enough Hope will be leading her down a main street, where there's posters, billboards, stalls and shops selling blitzball merchandise.]

[whiteblessing.livejournal.com]

[Ritz does notice. She scans the scene, back and forth.] 'Crazy' definitely seems the right word. [She shakes her head, but she seems bemused.]