Hero

RWBY - Haze

Aurelia lagged behind most people, wishing to save herself from having to communicate any further. Though she highly doubted that would be the last conversation she would have with anyone, hopefully she could still fade into the background. Maybe this was why her father was so against all this. But if that was the case, then she really, really needed to get over it. Except, if it was that easy, she would've gotten over it a long time ago. She reprimanded herself mentally, shuffling along with the crowd, somewhat ignorant to the many conversations going on. Hopefully everyone would just forget about her panic attack and move on, though as soon as she had thought of it, apparently something else drew in the crowd, so to speak.

She ignored it for the time being, instead focusing on the gloriousness that was Beacon. For a moment, it was all worth it. Just look at it! To go to Beacon had been her dream from some time, as she wished to learn from only the best. She wondered if it was as magnificent on the inside. She actually couldn't wait for classes, both academical and for battle, and started pondering what they'd be learning. Any and all information would be useful, indeed. She let her mind wander and roam about, though she made sure not to bump into anyone as she walked.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

An assailant after all--or rather, a kidnapper who had come to steal her away. Either way, Emiri was on full attack mode, so to speak. Still, he wasn't as much of a fool as she had initially garnered. He hadn't attacked yet, seemingly he either didn't feel the need or thought her below him. Still, as he advanced towards her, she rather quickly advanced back, already hitting a nearby table in her haste. Her heart nearly stopped as he mentioned he would kill her, though his attitude afterward served only to anger her. Still, she couldn't lose her temper quite yet; her sword was still a ways. As was whoever was supposed to deliver that food.

Surely, once someone came in, they'd get help. She'd yell or try to flee or something, all she had to do was wait for whoever it was to come. "Truly, you don't think I will simply go along, do you?" Emiri asked, "Think of your position at the moment. One scream for help and you'll be seen. Even if you somehow managed to overpower me, do you think no one would notice my disappearance?" She asked, trying to buy time. "For a Sky Pirate, you aren't too bright, are you?"

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Truth be told, she did remember a pair of seawenches speaking about such a Sky Pirate, named both for his magicks and his rather unique airship, so to speak. However, she hadn't heard a name attached to the title. She guessed he was quite impatient, because he introduced himself without her input. At the very least, should she be slain, she had a name and a face to curse for all eternity. By the way he spoke, there was little he was serious about, and Emiri simply stared as he spoke. Surely he enjoyed the sound of his own voice. More importantly, she needed to now know why he was here.

She had edged ever closer to her equipment. If she made a dash for it, she could at the very least grab her sword, but she prayed it would not be needed. Still, she nodded, acknowledging his introduction. "A pleasure." She responded, while the situation certainly wasn't a pleasure (nor was his rather...pushy offer) she merely said as much for the sake of formalities. She then cleared her throat, ignoring the innuendo, and continued, "Alright, Jaakuna. As you've mentioned, you've found me. The question is, what exactly is it that you want?" She spoke slowly, still on edge. "I highly doubt your visit is one of leisure, really." As she said this, her eyes flickered to his weapons.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

'Babe'? Emiri blinked in confusion, though listened to him carefully. Apparently, from what she surmised, he had been looking for her. He was well-informed about her going from place to place, and once again cursed herself for deciding to stay the night--she should've simply gone by airship and rested in the cabins. And as much as he assured her that she could 'rest easy', she was anything but. As he paced, she slowly--very slowly--inched her way towards her belongings. While she knew she needed to leave immediately, what she really wanted to know was what he really wanted. She didn't like his tone at all, but at the moment, she was unarmed and at his mercy, so to speak.

"And to whom do I owe the pleasure of being able to 'rest easy'?" Emiri lifted an eyebrow, her voice practically dripping with sarcasm. She'd entertain him for the moment, though remained somewhat tense. She knew she should've just left, but noooo, the Dalmascan sun was simply unbearable and she needed to escape from it. Well, look at where it's gotten you now!

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The water had lost its frosty touch, but at this point Emiri was just savoring the feeling. Just the thought of having to go out into the heat was unbearable. Perhaps she would sleep in the tub instead? Then again, that particular activity often ended in drowning, and she was slightly more concerned about getting her hair wet then she was actually dying. She let out a low hum, glad to have the feeling of smooth skin rather then one of dirt and sand. She really needed that bath.

Alas, salvation came in the form of a knock on the door.

She was caught off guard, lightly splashing as she listened carefully. As she heard a voice on the other side, she let out a breath of relief. She had forgotten about her food, and was eager to eat now. "I'll be right out." She called, exiting the tub. She made quick work of drying herself off, humming all the while. Never again would she underestimate the power of a bath. She made a mental note to ask Kiera on the liquids used as she slipped into her undergarments. She picked up what she thought was a long blouse, but as she held it up, she saw it was a dress. It was quite nice, actually, girly and laced up, it reminded her of the ones she had seen while passing the stores. She slipped it over her head, and as she yanked a brush through her hair, tied it up into her usual ponytail with her clover hairpiece.

She noticed she had left her boots outside--ah, well, the floor was clean, she could put them on later anyway. Humming once more, she unlocked the door and pulled it open. She was somewhat surprised to be confronted with the image of a young man. Not that she wasn't expecting it, but she didn't think he'd still be standing right there. He was taller then she was, a handsome face with green eyes and blonde hair. Still, the way he was dressed was odd, she didn't think the waiters had a uniform like that. Upon closer inspection, her eyes spotted his blades.They definitely didn't have those. Was he an assailant? She cursed herself for not bringing her dagger with her...But wait, why did Kiera just let him walk in? She was entirely confused.

Emiri suddenly felt very nervous, her hands gripping the hem of her dress. "Um." Was the only thing she could think to say. Who was he?

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Aloa would never understand Humes, but now it was Vlyn who was laughing once Jaakuna walked away. "Strange fellow, isn't he?" He asked, wiping a tear from his eye. "You've got yourself an admirer!"

She sighed, clearly annoyed, but defeated. She would not forget this. And neither would Vlyn, apparently. "So long as he gets the job done, it matters not. Harris is trusting us to make sure we present the girl to the Empress." She firmly reminded her partner, walking away from him. "Lest you forget your own duties, Vlyn."

The male Viera grinned, though followed his partner. "True, very true. This will be interesting. I guarantee it."

-------

"What do you mean, it's only worth 100 gil?" Emiri asked, clearly shocked.

The merchant before her crossed his arms, giving her a disapproving look. "You heard me, miss, it's not a real flower. You can't fool me--but it's pretty, I'll give you that. 100 gil."

At the moment, Emiri was back in Rabanastre, having gone to the bazaar to sell her prize. The bazaar was always busy, always bustling, and she enjoyed it. After being pointed in the right direction, she had gone to an apothecary, one whom paid generously for any rare ingredients to make medicine. With that she thought she would have a simple time, and even hoped that she could get more then what she bargained. The thing is, this guy was seriously giving her a hard time about it. Emiri's stomach kept growling, making her much more impatient then normal and slightly more irritable.

"That...That is completely absurd!" She protested, waving it around. "It came from a Cactuar, exactly what about it makes it so difficult to believe?!"

The man sighed, though he rummaged through his wares and produced a flower of his own. Emiri recognized it, being a twin of hers, but there was one difference between the two, and she finally understood his hesitance. His cactuar blossom was colored white and pink, unlike hers, which was colored white and a light shade of violet. The two stood in silence as Emiri processed this information, but eventually, she let out an exasperated sigh. Of course he wouldn't accept it, the difference was as clear as night and day.

Regaining her composure, she tried reasoning with him. "I promise you, this is the real thing. Honestly, look at me, what do I have to gain from lying?"

"Because real cactuar blossoms are worth a pretty penny."

Now what? An idea hit her, and she continued, "Cactuar blossoms are also well known for producing excellent medicine. If you made said medicine, that would prove it was the real deal, correct?"

It seemed to have worked, as at this point, he was examining the flower carefully. She waited patiently, praying to the gods that he would take it--her stomach was already protesting, but she managed to ignore it for the time being. She watched him, and the two made eye contact--at that instant, she brought out a sincere, pleading look, batting her eyelashes and trying her best to look as friendly (and desperate) as possible. He let out his own irritated sigh, matching hers, and rummaged through his wares once more. He procured a small bag, no bigger then her hand, and placed it before her.

"Honestly, I won't be able to tell until the medicine is made." He grumbled, clearly displeased at taking such a risk. "I'll believe you, but you have to understand, I can't give you the whole amount upfront. Once my wife makes and tests it, I can give you the rest, alright? The medicine sells for a high price, so I'm believing in you."

It really seemed reasonable, and Emiri was too hungry to argue any further. Just feeling the gil in her hands was satisfactory enough, and she kindly thanked the merchant and told him to find her at The Sandsea. Said place was more a tavern then anything, and while she would've preferred going to a restaurant to eat, the food here was cheaper. She needed to save up money anyway, as she was planning to leave Rabanastre first thing in the morning. The trek to Nalbina wasn't terribly far, but she would need a night's rest and some supplies.

And so it was to The Sandsea she went. Pushing her way through the drunkards, she managed to place herself at the bar and awaited the bartender to approach her. The crowd was mainly soldiers finally being able to take a break at this time, hollering and taking off their heavy armor. She didn't envy them, really, who could wear so much in this heat? She felt hot just looking at them. It was then a familiar face spotted her, and once she finished taking care of the customer in front of her, made a beeline for Emiri. "Well? How did it go?" The woman asked, eager to hear her answer. Her golden locks were wrapped in a messy bun on top of her head, brown eyes wide with anticipation. The bartender, Kiara, was quite the looker, though her hair was what most women looked at. Any girl would kill to have such gorgeous hair, really, and Emiri felt rather dull compared to her.

"Taken care of, of course." Emiri replied, feeling a slight pang of jealousy as she played with a stray lock of her own brown hair.

Luckily, Kiara was either oblivious or chose to ignore the jealous look, as she clasped her hands together in excitement. "Wonderful! As promised, you're more then welcome to the VIP section in the back, I'll close it for tonight to make sure you aren't disturbed. I could always pay for a room at the inn, though, are you sure you'd like to stay here?"

"A favor for a favor. Really, I appreciate it." Emiri responded, a small smile on her face. "Though, for right now, I would love some food."

Kiara grinned, nodding. "Of course! How about you go on ahead to the room, I'll send the food there for your enjoyment."

Finally, she would get to rest. The trek through the desert had her beat, and even so much as looking at the sun made her feel hotter then she already was. She followed Kiara through a door and was lead into paradise. Well, not paradise to most people, but just one look at that couch and Emiri had to resist the urge to jump on it and go straight to sleep. The room was well ventilated, a very pleasant breeze flowing through. It was decorated simply, hosting a mini bar on its own and a few couches where most of the guests would lounge around. A small tub, presumably a jacuzzi, was tucked into the corner, a few products lined up on the edge.

"I'll make sure no one disturbs you--a change of clothes, as you requested is by the bath." Kiara motioned towards a pile of clothes on top of one of the tables. "Make yourself feel at home, I'll send someone to bring you your food."

"Thank you--oh, actually, one more thing." Emiri spoke, quickly taking Kiara's arm before she sped off. "I'm expecting someone will be looking for me, could you send them this way? I'd really appreciate it."

"Of course. Enjoy."

Emiri made a beeline for the tub, dumping most of the bath products in the water. She peeled off the blouse that stuck to her skin, doing the same with her pants and undergarments. She had sand everywhere, her skin was already breaking out is rashes, and she saw that her skin had darkened already. After procuring her hair on top of her head, she got into the water, though nearly jumped out. It was absolutely freezing! Still, the mixture of hot and cold felt good on her skin, and she sighed in relief as she scrubbed herself down. Now she could tell the difference between being dirty and having a genuine tan, and to be free from the sand was nothing more then bliss.

Kingdom Hearts: Destiny

Alright, let's see if I can stay in order here:

@ Deanmachin - The CS itself is fine, I suppose, but as we've discussed, when it comes to actual posting, try to follow everyone's lead. The dialog is all put together, it needs to be separated everytime someone speaks. You may refer to others' posts and take it easy, if you need help you need only ask.

@ Kal-El - Looks good.

@ Teleport - I suggest you hurry, then.

@ RyuHill - I sincerely hope you missed my post, I'd hate to assume you just don't read them. As I said, certain people have contacted me beforehand for their incoming characters, and only they would be accepted. Kal-El is one of them.

@ Altered - I'm gonna punch you in the face D:<

@ skarsgard - The Sample Post was for me to see your writing ability, it does not need to be used for your first post, though it would hasten the introduction, so to speak. As for how it should end, you will hopefully see after I put up the first post in the IC.

Also I apologize once more, I thought I put the IC up last night, but in my sleepiness, I refreshed the page instead of submitting the post and thought that would put it up. Silly me. I'll retype it and put it up again, that's what I get for not saving the post.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The two Viera looked at one another, though Vlyn gave a half hearted shrug as Aloa raised an eyebrow. True, male Viera were extremely rare, and of course the norm was the female Viera that did the hunting and often left the village, so it wasn't often that one would leave the Wood. Alas, while Vlyn failed to see the humor, Aloa was growing rather impatient. He shook his head at her, then turned back to Jaakuna. "Actually, yes, I am very happy about it." He said, jerking his head toward Aloa. "Someone needs to keep all the vagrant female Viera company."

At the expense of another scathing glare from Aloa, Vlyn cleared his throat, producing a photo. "Your Mark, so to speak, is a wanted girl." He spoke, handing the photo over. "I'll spare you the boring details, but she's someone who has fled the country, and needs to be brought to judgment. And she needs to be CAPTURED, not killed." His tone was a little more serious, and for this Aloa was grateful. "We need her alive."

"Last she was spotted was in the capital of Dalmasca, the city of Rabanastre." Aloa continued for him. "To maintain herself, she too, is a hunter, though often drifts from place to place. If you would take this job, we urge you to hurry before she moves again."

"When you do catch her--I've no doubt you will--you can bring her back here." Vlyn finished, once again flashing a grin. "Now, what say you?"

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Another day, another opportunity. At least, that was how the Empress of Rozarria saw things; even now, she was one step closer to achieving her goal thanks to a very good source of hers. And so, when the Councilmen decided that today was the day that an inheritance matter arose, it was just another way to eliminate the opposition. At the moment, she sat at her desk, listening carefully to the secretary's words as he went on and on about certain dukes and barons and whatnot. He was nearly finished, and after she wrapped up this matter, she would finally get to confirm with her general the whereabouts of the weapon she wanted.

"To summarize it all, Your Eminence, with the execution of Prince Roland Hershel for regicide against His Royal Majesty Emperor Augustus Klein--may he rest in peace--your position is secured over that of Prince Lorenzo Jeremiah and Prince Grant Mashall, until your death, though if his bill comes to pass, then you shall be succeeded by the next female heir, and that would be Lorenzo's child." The secretary spoke carefully, fussing over a rather large, detailed plan in front of him. "However, with Lorenzo's child currently missing, it does provide somewhat of an alarm, Your Grace, but I suppose that would leave Lorenzo as the next to inherit the throne, until you, Your Grace, bear children of your own."

The Councilman named Arcturus nodded in agreement. "Yes, Your Grace, we of the Council grow concerned with your apparent lack of heirs to the throne. You understand that this currently weakens your position?"

Reia nodded, folding her hands on top of her lap. "Of course." She spoke, her voice airy and whimsical, as if they were discussing the weather. "Do recall, however, that my younger brother's marriage to a common woman has greatly reduced him in your eyes. I may have yet to bear a child, but surely no one would stand for a common woman to be the wife of an Emperor?"

Arcturus nodded once more and stroked his gray beard. "Many are uncomfortable with the idea, especially since with your bill, their child would ascend the throne. Pray tell, my dear Empress, what possessed Lorenzo to make that proposal? I understand that he wishes for you to secure your position, but to think of Rozarria having solely Empresses for years to come..."

"It will not pass, of course." She stated matter-of-factly. "And my brother refuses the throne. He simply will not ascend. I do not understand him, but if that is his wish, I will honor it, just as I honored his wish to marry that woman."

"Indeed. I believe we are finished, if anything else arises I will send word. Enjoy your day, Your Grace." Arcturus bowed, and was followed by his secretary as he exited the room.

Reia rubbed her temples and turned in her chair to look at her bookcase. Yes, it was somewhat absurd, but she was sure Lorenzo wanted his daughter to ascend before him. Still, with the timing, it made it look like Reia was the one pushing for it. She could really care less as once she had her own daughter, she would become her heir. She let out a small, irritated sigh, though sat up once the door opened. When she saw it was General Harris, however, she elected to relax a bit, and resumed rubbing her temples. "If anything you are about to say has no good news, I wish not to hear it at this time." She grumbled, very unladylike, but her words were like venom.

Harris bowed to her. "Then you'll be pleased to know that we have found what you've been searching for." He responded.

At this point, she jerked straight, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Should this be a lie, I'll have your head." She whispered.

"Your Majesty will be pleased to know that I have a truth." He responded, retrieving a letter. "Believe it or not, you have Councilman Arcturus to thank. Had I not gone to see about that missing report from your brother, I would never have stumbled onto this information."

She could've kissed him at that point, though she remained calm and beckoned him to come forward. He placed two parchments before her--one a list with many names on it, the other what looked to be a sketch of a person. For the moment she ignored the list and studied the picture before her. It was made some time ago, the edges already used and slightly torn, but she could see a young girl there. She was made to sit straight on a stool, legs crossed, hands neatly folded on her lap, a blank look on her face. She was an adorable young girl, the sketch detailing her brown locks. As she looked closer, she could have sworn she recognized her. Why did this little girl look so familiar?

Then it hit her.

A laugh. That was how she responded. A great, jovial laugh, and she actually stood up as she held up the picture to the light. "The gods do smile upon us, Harris. Truly...it must be fate! This simply cannot be more then a mere coincidence." She smiled, though her eyes flickered with a desperate wanting. "Oh, this girl...do you know of her identity, Harris?"

Harris was a bit confused by his Empress' reaction, but remained steady. He then nodded, motioning towards the second parchment on her desk. "A Huntress residing in Rabanastre fits the description, m'lady."

Reia bit her lip, her brow furrowed. "Dalmasca...with Archades at our doorstep, we cannot send any forces to get it without a revolt happening." She cursed, running an impatient hand through her hair. There was always a goddamned catch.

But as Lady Luck would have it, today was Reia's day afterall. "I have already dispatched a...way to obtain the girl, so to speak." Harris coughed a bit. "It would displease my lady to know so, but I have Vlyn and Aloa already--"

"Say no more." Reia waved her hand at him, taking her seat once more. "So long as you have it taken care of, I could care less of how you do it." She sighed happily, twilring a blonde lock between her fingers. "Although, I will have you send a message to Vlyn and Aloa. Inform them that the girl has one particular trait that stands out. You see, the girl should be in her early twenties now, and while I highly doubt they will have changed, she has one thing that often draws attention. I remember it well."

She rummaged through her desk and brought out a quill and an elaborate inkwell. She dipped the quill and encircled the sketch, and once she was done she set down her quill. She pushed it towards her general, motioning for him to look.

"You see, Harris, this girl has the most lovely violet-hued eyes."

---

Dalmasca was well known for its deserts, and it was no exaggeration when someone described the dry heats of its deserts as anything less then scorching. Still, the Westersand connected the capital of Rabanastre to Nalbina Fortress, and it was a well known trade route. Any hindrances were usually swiftly taken care of by the soldiers, but every once in a while a beast would emerge that they couldn't defeat, and so desperate merchants in need of products would put up posts on the Hunting Board for Hunters to find.

Still, she never thought she'd be hunting what was essentially a giant tomato with legs.

In the Westersand, perched on top of a cliff, a young woman sat underneath the remains of a dried up tree. A blanket was laid out, so as not to get dirty, a bow resting against the trunk of a tree as its owner sharpened the end of her arrows. Despite just getting into the desert, she could feel the heat making her hair and clothes stick to her body, and was eager to get her Mark and be done with it. With a final strike, Emiri Iniko held up the arrow, inspecting it. It wasn't that she couldn't take on the Rogue Tomato, but she wasn't interested in getting all dirty and sweaty for something that could be taken care of in one fell swoop. Sweeping her hair from her face, she wiped her forehead and took her bow in hand, putting on her gloves to protect her hands. Laying on her stomach, she carefully peered over the cliff's edge. There it was, taking shelter in the shade, though it was alert--surely looking for merchants to terrorize.

Shaking her head, she grasped the bow firmly, pulling the arrow back quietly. The string was slightly looser then she would've liked; she made a mental note to tighten it once she got back to Rabanastre. She shifted her body slightly and aimed. Holding her breath, she made herself as steady as possible. Once the arrow was aligned with the monster, she released it. It sang through the air, and in a few seconds it pierced through the Rogue Tomato's head, instantly killing it. Emiri grinned, slightly proud, and began gathering her things. As she stuffed the blanket into her pack, she heard something digging into the sand. She looked over and saw a Cactuar burying itself, likely to rest. She chuckled, but her face fell once she saw the flower on its head. That flower could get her a pretty penny if she sold it to the right place.

She finished packing up, this time drawing out her dagger. Walking very slowly, she approached the Cactuar. It noticed her, and looked at her curiously. So long as they weren't bothered, the creatures were relatively peaceful. She felt a pang of guilt, but the growl of her stomach outweighed it. The hunt would pay for a night at the inn, and this flower would buy her something to eat for the next few days. Emiri made sure she was swift, slicing the very tip of its head. To her surprise, she didn't harm the creature at all, though it did panic and fled. She felt bad bothering the poor thing, but was happy she did not harm it. She picked up the white and violet colored flower, tucking it behind her ear as she sheathed her dagger. She was looking forward to dinner today.

------

"Now, now, we wouldn't be in your way if we didn't have a reason--especially since we have a common denominator, so to speak." The male Viera spoke, one of his ears flickered as he remained rather cheerful. "Be a dear, Aloa, show him. This man is a busy one and has no time to be interrupted."

The female Viera, Aloa, shot a look at her companion. Still, she did as he said, and held out her hand. In the palm sat a tooth much larger then any they or Jaakuna could produce. Clearly it belonged to a Bangaa. "We have cleared up your day. A favor from one person to another, as your kind usually does." She spoke, showing him equal hostility, though she somehow managed to stay pleasant. "As Vlyn says, we have one thing in common, Sky Pirate. You are a bounty hunter, and we wish for you to seek one that we ourselves could not catch."

Vlyn shook his head at Aloa. "Think of it as a favor for a favor. We caught your guy, now you can catch our guy, you understand?"

Aloa glared at him once more. "No, you fool, it is not a favor at all." She corrected him sternly, then turned to Jaakuna. "[b]It is not a favor. It is a hunt, and we wish for you to accept it. We will pay, of course..." At this point, she brought forth a bag of gil, placing it in Jaakuna's arms. It was quite heavy despite its size, bulging somewhat and the gil inside threatened to tear the bag apart. "That is not only the bounty we collected from the bangaa, but it is also a downpayment, so to speak, should you wish to take on this task."

"We can give you ten times that. should you accept." Vlyn winked, nudging him. "What say you, Pirate?"

Final Fantasy VIII: Tempus Veneficarum [7/10 Slots]

Kal-El will start working on a CS, he sends me to tell you.