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[color=salmon]Word Count: 896 (+2 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]7[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 48/70
[b]Location:[/b] Edge of the Blue[/color][/center]
[color=salmon]"Hey! Not Ya-cool!"[/color] Pretty much as expected, the giant purple monster lashed out towards the Atomos, and similar tentacles to the ones sprouting from it's head rose out of the water around the Cadet's comrades. It was a good thing Tentalus was still more focused on his miniature rival, so much so that the actual airship was unharmed when it reached inside to slap the child monster. Hopefully the others inside were alright - he didn't see anyone else ejected from the ship and it pulled off as soon as Scylla fell.

Already prepared to jump, the Cadet was in the air as soon as he felt the rock shift under his feet. He hit the flabby hide of the monster shield first and bounced off. He was quick to shoot the clutch claw out, the hook finding it's way into the side of Tentalus' head. While it took it's anger out on Scylla the Cadet maneuvered his way up to the top of the creature's scalp. [i]We warned you![/i] Cadet thought, and though he was slicing up the monster's head and face it took hardly any notice of the hunter. It's arms were more concerned with smashing the Scylla, and only when it's other tentacles were cut did the ones on it's head try to swat the Cadet away. These tentacles were fairly easy to sever the Cadet found, even with the shorter blade of the Master Bang combo. With a few strokes the appendages came clean off and fell to the ocean, where they were picked apart by small blood thirsty fish.

[i]That big eyeball is probably the best place to attack, huh?[/i] It didn't seem to mind losing a few tentacles after all. The Cadet could hear Sakura calling to him, but he was totally find up there, he could handle it.

"Ace, JUMP!"

Nadia's voice too? Were they seeing something he couldn't from his position? Ace Cadet blinked, surprised, but a beat later he kicked off of the monster's head and jumped out toward the ocean. He felt a rush of air and water behind him. During his fall he twisted to look, seeing the massive body of the biggest sharq he'd ever seen tear through Tentalus and drag both monsters away to the depths. The hunter hit the water soon after, tumbling into the dark waves and coming up sputtering. By the time he'd pulled himself up to stand on the waves thanks to his spirits' power, Shippy had pulled around to pick him and Geralt up and sail far away from the scene.

On deck, frustrated and water-logged, the Ace Cadet pushed a hand over his forehead to brush wet bangs back from his face. 

[color=salmon]"A bust,"[/color] he sighed, lamenting the lack of any real gain from that brief battle. He did notice that a few of Tentalus' tentacles had been cut off and were lying on the deck, so he kicking them over to a pile beside the rail. He shucked his rigging, pulled his carving knife from his back and deposited himself beside the pile to get started breaking them down. This skin of rubbery skin was much harder to remove than a pelt or scales and might take a while, but with the increased presence on Shippy if anything else happened they had enough people to buy time for him to suit up again.

[color=salmon]"A misnomer I guess? It doesn't make people into [i]friends[/i], or turn the evil onto the path of light. It giggisux for sure."[/color] The slang juxtaposed with the lofty words about good and evil made the Cadet's comment sound strange. He found that he didn't exactly agree with Sakura, but he couldn't fault her for wanting to try and save as many people as possible. The problem was not everything they ran into were 'people.' 

[color=salmon]"There's definitely more,"[/color] the Cadet said in response to Rika's question. He nodded, then looked back to Sakura. [color=salmon]"But a monster's just a monster. It's not gonna matter if we give 'em hearts or not. They can't think like a human, they just follow their instincts."[/color] From it's hiding spot BB, one of the baby Behemoth minions they'd picked up in Limsa, shuffled it's way over to it's master and sat itself down beside him, drawn by the scent of meat now that it was safe onboard. [color=salmon]"Yeah, even you lil' guy. We'll get you back to wherever Behemoths live eventually."[/color] BB snorted in response.

[color=salmon]"You can try the heart with the, uh, the humany-looking ones. If they can talk then the best we can do is hope they're not evil, right? But regular monsters should be left alone, or put down if they're too dangerous."[/color]

That was the core value of the Hunter's Guild after all, preservation of nature. Even if most of the hunters made a sport and spectacle of the missions they were assigned and liked to show off the gear they commissioned, the Cadet included, they all respected that value.

As the discussion continued the Cadet glanced from his spot on the deck to Mirage and Mr. L, who were there and privy to everything they were talking about and were probably extremely confused. The Cadet waved to get Peach's attention and cupped a hand over his mouth, asking her, [color=salmon]"Hey Boss, speaking of hearts and everything, should we... like, do something about those guys?"[/color]


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[color=FFC6C6]Word Count: 775 (+2 exp)
[u]Level[/u]: [b]4[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 24/40
[b]Location[/b]: Sandswept Sky - Al Mamoon[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color]
[color=2E2C2C]D34C25[/color][/center]Though she'd mentioned all the possible dangers of a big city while she and Panther were still with the others, in general Primrose found Al Mamoon to be a warm place - and that wasn't taking the temperature into account. Still, she was ever vigilant, especially when her friend was chatting up every would-be chef and food stall owner. She found nothing suspect as they wandered into the guts of the city's south end, and so far no sign of either a gathering of civil unrest or the Phantom Thieves. 

The girls put a pause on their exploration and stopped to stand in the shade under a cloth awning while Panther lamented her luck in scoring free food. [i]'Marin Karin'...?[/i] She moved right on from the strange phrase and mentioned Primrose herself.

[color=D34C25]"Getting people's attention was my job."[/color] Primrose shrugged, turning her eyes from the strangers of Al Mamoon to Panther herself. Looks and charm weren't the girl's problem, if Primrose had to pinpoint where she was going wrong it was... well, how easily she made her intention known. Her inexperience was endearing. She was younger than Primrose was now, but seemed a couple years older than when she'd started dancing. A few pointers couldn't hurt.

[color=D34C25]"Hm. Here,"[/color] She motioned subtly to a peddler just a little way up the road. [color=D34C25]"A softer approach would help."[/color]

To demonstrate Primrose walked out into the sun. Though the decorative coins of her skirt jingled quietly and caught the daylight, made to draw the ears and eyes, when she approached the stall she'd pointed out she was casual as though she hardly noticed the attention given to her. When the peddler noticed that it was his cart she was approaching, he stood up a little straighter and smiled, doing his best not to leer.

[color=D34C25]"That smells delicious,"[/color] Primrose said, sashaying up to the cart and looking over the food available. 

"[url=https://incendar.com/images/bdo/00009410.png]Desert Dumplings[/url]! None tastier in Al Mamoon," the man said. He was puffed with pride, and Primrose picked up on it. She spoke again, her voice was more upbeat than normal.

[color=D34C25]"Handmade?"[/color]

"Of course! I use only the finest ingredients I can get my hands on too. Surely I can interest you in some?"

[color=D34C25]"Oh if only I could! But we are new in town looking for the rest of our group, I don't have much in the way of money... or directions. I came to ask for some when I smelled your dumplings."[/color] She paused, shy and apologetic, before making a little show of going for her bag. [color=D34C25]"Well, they do look good, let me see what I have..."[/color]

"Oh no, no, please," the seller chuckled and motioned for her to stop. If he was already charmed by Primrose's act then this would be a little easier than she thought. "Where would my hospitality be if I didn't offer help to a beautiful stranger? Here, here."

A wrapped up a couple portions of the dumplings and made to hand them to her. [color=D34C25]"Oh, I couldn't,"[/color] she said, feigning a decline of his offer, but he insisted and she took them. He glanced over to Panther before he reached out to grasp Primrose's hand, and she let him. 

"If you two need a guide I would be happy to give you a tour of the city." 

He certainly would. Primrose knew that if she accepted he would follow her forever, until she dismissed him. It was just something she was skilled at, charming people and getting them to help her - even to fight for her. However, she wasn't looking for a chef to come along with them at the moment. Although she did consider perhaps picking up a new "companion" while in town, if she could find someone useful.

[color=D34C25]"Thank you, you are very kind,"[/color] she said, [color=D34C25]"but we will be alright. If you could just point us towards the closest point of interest, we might find our friends there."[/color]

Though disappointed, the man released Primrose's hand and gestured further down the road. "Well there's a couple things; a fountain, a museum... but all the most interesting things are right here, closer to the bazaar. At any rate, good luck and please feel free to stop by again!" 

His voice was warm as he sent Primrose on her way. The dancer giggled and waved to him, then nodded for Panther to follow as they continued on. The cheerful, lost woman of a moment ago melted away into the cool, quieter Primrose. 

[color=D34C25]"A little practice will do you wonders, but be careful too."[/color] She held out a of couple dumplings for Panther to share. They honestly did smell quite tasty.