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World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

Evening in Esaka II

Primrose & Ms. Fortune
^{@Yankee@Lugubrious}
Word Count: 4225 (+5 exp)

The cantina's combination of modern convenience and sensibility with its rustic, more familiar aesthetic was something Primrose could appreciate. The earlier conversation with Nadia still lingered in her mind, but for now, she was more than content to play a pair of wealthy ladies looking for fun together with her friend. As a way to show she wasn't among those who would spurn Nadia's money making ways (which, to be fair, had never really been in question) Primrose accepted the feral's offer to treat her. The dancer's choices were a modest plate of spiced potatoes, peppers, and sausage in a thin red sauce, along with a glass of wine - and a small plate of garlic shrimp to share, before the entrees arrived. Not the only thing they'd split, since the drink Ms. Fortune ended up ordering was large enough for a whole table, let alone just two diners and a smug pup.

"If you insist," Primrose laughed when Nadia asked for help with it. Since it seemed as though she may not get a chance to perform tonight, she didn't mind. She had definitely planned to give dancing there a go, perhaps make a few coins and get a cover for staying in Esaka, but she also didn't mind being entertained rather than being the entertainment... though bloodsport was not her first choice.

Still, she sat back and turned her attention to the center of the room, a little caught up in Nadia and the other patrons' excitement. Given everything she'd already seen in the world she wouldn't have been surprised if the King of Dinosaurs was in fact a dinosaur, but as the fighters squared up she noticed that was not actually the case. She glanced over at Nadia then, amused.

"Which pair are you rooting for? I'm partial to the one with the man dressed in that lizard costume myself."

Nadia nodded. “Yeah, I’m with ya! I don’t know what it is about those kinds of wrestlers, but I love the spirit of it.” That said, the luchadore’s partner was a little bland for her taste, and their opponents weren’t without their charms. Something told Nadia to keep her eyes on the frizzy-haired, surly-looking one. She tried not to worry too much about the ethics of the exhibition and just focus on the thrilling spectacle, though she knew that things could get ugly between gleaming competitors. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

Of course, Esaka fighters were no strangers to how combat tended to go, so there seemed to be some precautions in place. While the organizers briefly went over the rules, Nadia’s attention drifted to the newly-arrived food. She eagerly sampled the clams and other appetizers, making sure to dote upon her new canine companion, but she kept the bulk of her attention on perhaps her most daunting opponent yet: the Forbidden Fruit watermelon sangria. Her regenerative abilities made her a real heavyweight when it came to drinking, able to withstand a lot more booze than the average woman, but she was not without her limits. Tonight, the massive cocktail she’d ordered would be putting the Life Gem to the test. Her first few gulps, sweet and fresh without any discernible alcoholic burn, were deceptive; it would only be a matter of time before she began to feel the effects.

A moment later, the tag-team clash began. As one might expect, the showy King of Dinosaurs took center stage first, and against him the other duo fielded Gerelt. They met in a storm of muscle and metal, and the applause and cheers quickly gave way to an elegant, yet upbeat Spanish pasodoble, the duelists’ face-off elevated by the mix of acoustic guitar, vigorous drums, and dramatic violin in ways Nadia wouldn’t have thought possible. Once the action really kicked off, she could scarcely look away, so it was fortunate her drink came with a long straw.

Both men possessed a great deal of skill, while also showcasing very different skillsets. As with any grappler, the King of Dinosaurs wanted to get as close as possible to ensnare the opposition with brutal, theatrical grabs. Nobody knew this better than Franco Gerelt, of course, and his strategy spoke volumes to his experience. He kept his distance, poking and punishing his foe with the speed and reach of his rapier. Lithe and unerringly precise, the man in red darted around the King of Dinosaurs like a matador with a bull. Neither specialized in long combos, so their battle became a delicate dance of spacing.

At first, things looked bad for luchador fans like Nadia, since the King of Dinosaurs seemed to have a huge disadvantage. The big man had seen his fair share of zoners, though, and he fought back with more calculated cunning than his larger-than-life persona might suggest. He approached carefully and tirelessly as he alternated between blocks and walks, never losing his cool even as Gerelt cleverly changed up his timing to score hits. When the King of Dinosaurs did get in, he made it count with bombastic grabs like Dyna Bomb and Zetsumetsu Hurricane, a flying, spinning pile driver. The first time he actually managed to make it through Gerelt’s offense and land that grab, Nadia joined in on the cheering. Against all odds, the King of Dinosaurs definitely had this in the bag!

Or so the crowd thought. Gerelt had proven himself to be a nimble fighter despite the heavy-looking armor he wore, and not only did he swiftly recover from being made to eat the tavern floor but he did so by lifting himself into handstand (on just one hand!) and spinning, using his glowing weapon to sweep the dino-cosplayer off of his feet. Gerelt was back on his a moment later, taking his fighting stance with one hand on his hip and his sword leveled at his challenger once more. The move earned a swell of gleeful shouts from the cantina's patrons, and when Dinosaur stood up and roared to show he wasn't beaten, another round of cheers rippled through the building.

Primrose had yet to cheer aloud herself, instead just enjoying the dinner and a show. Throughout the match she glanced at the two combatants' partners, who both stood on opposite sides of the caged in area where they could, she assumed, be tagged in at any time. The girl who'd introduced them even said as much. Of course, Primrose doubted that once the fighting was underway that any participant would be willing or able to tag out. If one were to fall, would their partner step in right then or would a new match with the fresh pair begin? They'd be finding out soon enough, as the first bout was nearing a victor.

Gerelt's elegant fighting style meant more sweeping strokes of his rapier, quick stabs and flowing dodges, and more bravado as the King of Dinosaurs began to slow down. He side stepped one of the luchador's charges and paused to clap his hands together, baiting the other man to try it again. When the muscular tyrannosaur-headed fighter turned and barreled towards him just as planned, Gerelt hit him with a few rapid strikes head on that sent Dinosaur to the ground. He landed heavy on his front, seemingly dazed. The audience and even the MC looked ready to declare a winner, until the King of Dinosaurs bit down on Gerelt's calf from his prone state and surged upward, tossing the armored man into the air with a loud battle cry. Primrose blinked in surprise. Was that head not just an elaborate mask after all...?!

While Gerelt twisted to regain some control in the air during his fall, below him Dinosaur ran to meet him where he was about to land. The luchador shifted into a shoulder charge and crashed into Gerelt, slamming the red-clad man into the wall of the cage near the two Seekers. The impact rattled Gerelt, and once the King of Dinosaurs stepped back the mustachioed matador couldn't support his own weight, falling hard to his knees. After a moment-long dramatic hush fell over the diners, they came back to life with both shouts of praise and boos that seemed to appeal more to the costumed combatant.

"Wahahaha! It's common sense that you can't beat a dinosaur!" He roared, raising his arms to flex his muscles.

"Epa! What an upset!" The MC said over her microphone, her voice cheerful and just as excited as the audience's.

Though things had gone back to looking dicey for a few moments, Nadia was delighted by the outcome. It had been a welcome surprise when the King of Dinosaurs actually put his supposed mask’s fanged maw to use after all; maybe he really was more monster than man. Gerelt certainly had a share of appreciators, but it seemed like the patrons here were eating up the luchador’s come-from-behind victory, with a lot more folks in the grappler’s camp than the zoner’s. While people generally did like rooting for an underdog, Nadia knew there was more to it than that. To an extent she felt the same way; compared to the reliable but repetitious skillset of the zoner, who spectators often perceived as being much less skilled than they were, who didn’t want to see a wrestler weather the storm and land a sensational grab? Nadia couldn’t help but wonder, though, if these onlookers had the same hands-on experience with grapplers that she did. Those so-called heroic, hard-working underdogs could be unabashed war criminals too!

During the brief lull Nadia looked down to discover that her food had arrived at some point while she’d been engrossed in the fight. “Wow, that was fast!” Of course, even if that first round lasted fifteen minutes she might not have noticed. With the second round poised to begin, however, she quickly stuffed her mouth with her meal and then washed it down with sangria, not even really taking the time to savor what she’d ordered. Not a moment too soon, the bells went off to signify the explosive start of round two, with both previous fighters substituted out for their tag-team partners. With the match-up between Jose and Miguel less obvious at a glance than their more archetypal predecessors’, it was time to see what these two could do.

Miguel came out swinging, quickly approaching with an odd, stuttering dash-dance before closing the last bit of distance with a wild string of lunge punches. He made no bones about his fighting style, that being the all-out offense of a back-alley brawler, undisciplined but brutal. Though his exaggerated wind-ups and follow-throughs left a handful of openings, his sheer speed and strength made exploiting them difficult, and that wasn’t all. Even in the arena Miguel practically oozed braggadocio, interspersing his attacks with taunts meant to keep his opponent guessing and chip away at his mental.

His opponent was not a man to be taken lightly, though. Pepe Rodriguez favored kicks to Miguel’s punches, preferring to fight from a little farther away. He also possessed a bright, upbeat demeanor that contrasted his foe’s churlish aggression. A sunny outlook wasn’t the ace up the shirtless young man’s metaphorical sleeve, though. After Pepe managed to take his turn back from Miguel and push him back with a handful of quick wind kicks, he followed up with a low dash into an upward gut punch cloaked in crackling electricity. Miguel did not look anywhere near as surprised as Nadia did, though, and after toughing out the blockstun he leaped up and forward to deliver a flying punch to Pepe’s face. His disadvantage gave Pepe the time, however, to jump up, snatch him with his legs, and flip him to the ground in an impressive Frankensteiner airgrab.

“Whoa,” Nadia remarked, her voice a touch loopier than usual as her sangria began to kick in. “Guess this guy’s saucier than he looks…”

Primrose nodded in agreement, though her friend wouldn't see it as fixated on the battle as she was.

One bad exchange wasn’t enough to discourage Miguel, though. When Pepe tried to continue his offense, the brawler cut his blockstring short with a brain-rattling quick double punch that knocked his foe on his back, and Miguel added insult to injury with an upward snap kick that rolled Pepe over backward. He followed up with a furious assault of high and low punches, quickly pushing Pepe toward the edge of their arena. Between the electric Mexican and pissed-off Spaniard, Nadia had no idea who to root for–she just hooted and hollered indiscriminately, her allegiance changing at a moment’s notice.

The men kept up the momentum, trading punches, kicks, knees and elbows as they fought for every inch their opponent might give them. As the battle kept on, Primrose eventually followed the lead of the other patrons and joined in with a few words of encouragement thrown the fighters' way - mostly Pepe's. It was unlikely her voice could even be heard over the cheering, the band, or the sounds of the match itself, but it was fun. In the back of her mind she noted how the fighters, and their partners from the previous match, moved; it may have been obvious to anyone steeped in this kind of martial arts culture but for her, an outsider, it hadn't been as clear before then just how different a hand-to-hand master was in a one on one fight versus the sort of warriors she was used to. Even the duels in Victors Hollow from her home world couldn't compare. And these were the kinds of people that the Seekers were going to go face to face with over the next few days... would they really be alright?

Well, even if they all got knocked out then the group could try something else. Still, she kept the mental image of the martial artists' movements as best she could for tomorrow, even though she wouldn't be one of the Seekers competing. She wasn't sure if any of it would actually help, but it couldn't hurt either.

The second round ended with a decisive string of vicious strikes from the home team's rep. Though Pepe landed a roundhouse kick and sent static electricity coursing through the connection point, Miguel withstood it with grit teeth and lunged forward to trap his opponent in a shoulder lock. He delivered two strikes to Jose's back and abdomen at the same time with a knee and his free fist before shoving the other man away and lurching forward in an unsteady looking stance. When Jose recovered and moved in to interrupt whatever it was Miguel had planned, the Spaniard crouched into a heavy uppercut that caught the dragon-blessed fighter by surprise - followed by a straight punch to the chest and twisting backhand. As the fist struck his face Pepe staggered backward. He fought to remain standing for a few moments before he dropped flat onto his back.

Once more the patrons shouted their pleasure while Miguel cracked the joints in his neck. "Te vas de gratis."

"Awww, Pepe!" The woman announcer Pupa said as she slapped a hand to her forehead dramatically. Clearly she had a favorite between the two competitors. She clicked her tongue and shook her head, then took the mic in hand once more. "It's one for Team México, one for Team Espanha! There's a lot more to go after a quick break, you won't want to miss it!"

The noise level in the dining room hardly lessened once the break started; if anything once the cheering stopped and the conversation started, excited discussions mixed with friendly debates, it seemed as though the tavern was livelier than before as the four fighters got patched up and ready for the next round.

Primrose had clapped politely at the end of the match, only mildly let down that her favored fighter lost, then turned back to their table. She's been taking her time while eating, though her own meal was near finished. She'd also been pacing herself with the drinks, as it was a little awkward to scoop the sangria into her glass whenever she emptied it, unlike Nadia across from her. Primrose placed her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her folded hands as she smiled at her friend's flushed face. "Having fun, I take it?"

“Oh yeah~” Nadia was already full, both of food and of liquor, and sadly the watermelon wasn’t anywhere close to empty. Her lapdog had polished off more than his fair share as well, and now lay at the feet of the catgirl’s chair, sprawled out and sleepy. Though Nadia herself fared a little better, it wouldn’t take much more drinking to leave her wiped out as well. After a few moments another round in the tag team’s best-of-ten got underway, but with the novelty slightly diminished, Nadia wasn’t quite so enraptured. She watched idly, allowing the spectacle to fade into the background as she relaxed in her chair. It had been a long day of running both to and all around Esaka, with a couple heists and no shortage of fights sprinkled in, so the feral was pretty gassed. As her alcohol-induced haze thickened, she sunk into the brain fog like steam in a sauna, warmly and gently enveloping her as existential thoughts drifted away. It reminded her of the peace she’d sought after returning to Limsa Lominscuttle Town from Carcass Isle, though that night had been far, far more grueling. Hopefully the World of Light had no more surprises in store like the dreadful Maw or that nightmarish Beach.

After a few moments Nadia’s eyes slid open. For a brief moment she considered another go at the watermelon, but she stopped herself when her eyes settled on Primrose. She didn’t want to get so drunk that her wellbeing became her friend’s problem. Her instincts, honed by a childhood spent scrounging streets and never knowing when her next meal might come, urged her to drink and devour every last morsel, but she’d come a long way since then and knew that it would be smarter to practice a little temperance for a change. She smiled. “Man…those puh…poor Lost Numbers. They don’t know what they’re missin’ out on, hidin’ up in the Avenger all day long…I know it’s risky for ‘em, but there’s more to life than survival, y’know…”

Primrose hummed in general agreement. She really should be the last person to talk about there being more to life than 'x,' but every now and then she did at least stop for a little fun, like now. Ultimately though there seemed to be little choice for the Lost Numbers though; it would be too dangerous to live in a city still under the Consuls' control, but equally as dangerous to live in one outside of it in case Moebius came looking to reclaim it. The dancer also didn't want to bring up the "after" even if it was to suggest the Lost Numbers would probably have more fulfilling lives once everything was over, on the off chance it triggered more despair about the potential future.

She still had her filter, but after a moment Primrose realized she was taking longer than normal to reply to Nadia, so she mentioned one of the first things that popped into her head after that. "We'll have to bring some of the spectacle to them. Hm... maybe not the cage matches, but perhaps a keg or two, or..."

Nadia brightened up immediately. “OH! That’s a great idea! I could steal ‘em some booze to liven things up a li’l, heheh…” She blinked a couple times, then shook her head and did an offhanded facepalm. “I mean, or just buy them, I guess! Not used to havin’ money. Probably too…uh, sloshed, heh, to steal anythin’ anyhow…”

Primrose chuckled. "Honestly either way works, but it doesn't have to be tonight."

Though if they wanted to stay on the cantina staff's good side, a purchase would definitely be preferable. Primrose then recalled that they'd been given free reign to decorate their borrowed quarters on the ship, but maybe they could deck out one of the shared living spaces every now and then for some parties to liven things up. Primrose knew it wouldn't be the same as experiencing it for themselves, but until the world at large was safer it couldn't be helped.

Primrose glanced back at the stage on one side of the room, where the band continued playing the mood-setting theme for the night's main event. "I'm sure we could even convince a musician to come along and put on a show~"

A thoughtful look crossed the catgirl’s face for perhaps the first time ever. “Hey, maybe. Now thatcha mention it…kinda weird there’s no musicians on the team. Right? What’s life without a li’l music? Boring, so boring.” She narrowed her eyes as she scratched her chin. “Y’know, I’m startin’ to think…” A few seconds passed by in relative silence. She pursed and unpursed her lips, then sighed. “Nah, false alarm.” With a giggle she laid her head down on her arms, her eyes closed once more.

"We have Detective Band I suppose," Primrose said with a tilt of her head. She wasn't entirely sure if the man counted, though. The dancer waited for Nadia to continue her thought, even after the cat burglar seem poised to slip into a nap. She didn't mind the companionable silence really, not that it was anywhere near silent in the tavern, but after a few more seconds she ended up asking, "what is it?"

And then it was few seconds more before Primrose caught on that the phrasing might have been one of Nadia's many jokes. The delayed realization and the joke itself threatened to draw a rather undignified snort of laughter from the once-noblewoman, though she tired stifling it with a hand raised to her mouth and an "Oh."

The catgirl snickered. “Nyeheheh. Sounds like ya got it. I uh…did forget about Band, actually. Never heard him play, though…” A loud crash drew her attention toward the arena, where the King of Dinosaurs had just landed a Zetsumetsu Hurricane against Miguel to win a slobberknocker of a match, amidst the uproar of the crowd. That put the tag teams’ score at 5-4, favoring the Spaniards, which meant the exhibition was down to a climactic final match. Nadia pushed herself up and rubbed her eyes awake, surprised that Miguel and Gerelt had scored so many rounds in what felt like a short time. Then again, time always flew when having fun.

She watched as Pepe and Gerelt fought the final bout, a contest of spacing and skill rather than raw strength and tenacity. With his rapier, Gerelt expertly warded off the worst of Pepe’s thunderbolts and struck back with well-placed thrusts, but Pepe gave as good as he got with energetic kicking combos that seemed to dilate time as a red aura filled the area. In the end, it came down to a final scramble as Gerelt, disarmed and on his last legs, had to fight unscathed for almost thirty seconds as he wore the healthier Pepe down to his level, then finally seized victory with a throw. The crowd practically erupted in favor of the home team, and money traded hands as celebratory cervezas appeared.

Nadia clapped along with everyone else, but she was very tired at this point. While the night air outside and the crisp, pleasant smell of rain-soaked earth could clear her head a little, it was clear she needed to get moving now if she meant to pass out in a bed tonight. She paid for her and Primrose’s meals out of her ill-gotten gains and got ready to go. After finishing the last of what was in her cup and nudging the dog Yappy gently awake, who true to his name let out a few high pitched barks that blended in with the celebratory mood in the cantina, Primrose moved to join Ms. Fortune.

As they left the dancer made sure to catch the attention of some members of the staff, smiling, winking, and waving at them so that hers would be a familiar face to them in the near future. The possibility of dancing for tips on a slow night combined with the less-than-legal betting on Esaka's tournament series meant that Mesón De Las Flores would be a good option to keep in mind for money making while the other Seekers were embroiled in their battles up the brackets. Though Primrose would be sure to catch a few matches in person to support Nadia and the others, of course.

Once they were back out on the streets of Esaka, Primrose breathed in the night air and then curled her arm, holding it out towards Nadia in an offer to link arms. Tressa would often do the same on the way back to whatever inn the Travelers were staying at for the night, and Primrose had grown to appreciate the gesture.

"I'll treat you next time," she said by way of thanks. "For now though, shall we head back, Ms. actual fortune?"

Laughing, Nadia playfully accepted the arm to lean on. She didn’t think she was drunk enough to stumble and fall flat on her face, but it never hurt to be sure. “You’re the boss, Rosey!”

Primrose let out a puff of a sigh at the nickname, but she let it slide with a small smile. Together the two women sauntered down the road back towards Banishing Flats, ready to turn in for the night.

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

Ramattra, Ace Cadet, & Tenna

Word Count: 2353 (+3 exp)

Following the small caravan behind the stagecoach that now made up White Team, Ramattra gazed at the beautiful plateaus that made up the frozen pool before him, and the assortment of territories and ominous threats that awaited him. Between leaving Gründachdorf and arriving at the jagged terrain before him that denied any ordinary physics of nature, Ramattra had sat down with the now inconsolable Television set, who introduced himself to the Omnic as “Mr. (ant)Tenna” and explained the unordinary nature of the World of Light after having been pacified and freed from Galeem’s Gleaming by Sectonia’s Friend Heart.

The CRT, while dazed and confused from the sudden rip of reality that brought his consciousness to this new world, was easily brought back into spirits at the promise of fitting in with the rest of the team for… “entertainment”. Ramattra was not entirely pleased with the idea of carrying a jester aboard the team of such a larger-than-self cause, but Tenna at least seemed to have enough motivation to carry on, and as far as the Omnic was concerned, getting him to his goal of “fame” somewhere in Galeem’s world meant getting rid of this now increasingly annoying ally faster.

Once the group had taken the risk to pass through the ominous barrier that made up the middle of the frosted waterways, Ramattra and Tenna alike were hit with a sudden, unpleasant hazing of their mental well-being. The oddball duo was able to shake this horrible feeling away, but with the dangerous task ahead, their minds being in the right place was of utmost importance. Ramattra particularly advised against crossing one of these barriers in the path they were forging ahead in the future; however, there was a mutual understanding that crossing through the Loathing again might be a necessary risk for the crew to take.

The group stopped in the midst of the plateaus, adjacent to an ore settlement nearby that other members of the group may wish to harvest. When the world is a bunch of worlds smashed together, you never know what might come in handy. Though now that the Seekers stood between the Loathing, a nearby nest of large serpentine monsters, and a faction dispute, there was little option but to make a pathway forward. Ramattra, while capable of leading an effort to take the creatures down, knew the group was pressed for time and that the longer they wandered, the more dangerous the rest of their travels would prove to be.

For the time being, it was best to let the Stagecoach continue forward without obstruction, and Ramattra, after reconnoitering what he had scoped out to Sandaphlon about the two large sleeping serpents, had been advised to create a distraction to allow the Stagecoach to continue on. The only issue with that plan, however, was the intelligence these creatures seemed to possess, and would absolutely not allow the Seekers to pass without a fight. Through word of mouth, this line of communication led Ramattra to seek the aid of the member in the group, hailed as “The Ace Cadet”, who was a professional monster hunter and one of the humans Ramattra fought alongside during their battle with the Puppetmaster Markiona.

Ace would feel a stern and steeling - yet reassuring grasp clutch his shoulder as the Omnic spoke to him in a level, robotic voice. “Human… The path ahead homes two large serpentine creatures. I have been informed you are… quite the expert in this domain? We certainly have the numbers and firepower to take them down, but we are quite strapped for time.”

Completely unfazed at being called by his race, the hunter turned his head from where he'd been studying the now sleeping leviathans to give Ramattra a wide, almost cocky grin. "They don't call me 'Ace' for nothing!" he said, before nodding at the Omnic's later sentence.

After returning to the group with Ganondorf and Tenna (who Ace had given a sympathetic pat on the back to when he'd realized both that the strange man was recently destoried and that he was having a hard time of it) just as the coach was blazing a new path towards a small village, the Cadet had been content to simply travel and help out in little ways wherever he could - and it was around then that he'd informed Geralt that the icy orb he was inquiring about looked sort of like an element-producing organ. The Cadet had also taken the time to, finally, sample some of the stagecoach's stew, though not to his fill. For one, even if it replenished itself the rate at which is seemed to fill was slow, and he didn't want to drain the whole thing like he could. For two... well, the pot itself was rather off-putting. Not to mention there was the question of how it refilled itself.

The stew did taste good, at least.

And after leaving the town of Gründachdorf where Ace had struck out in looking for a replacement wheel for the Seekers' mobile base (what they needed simply too large for any ready-made ones to be available, and making a new one would take too long) and the group had picked up two more travelers, it was much the same for the Cadet, just listening to Adam and Eve's explanations and trying to enjoy the ride. Up until the carriage began to maneuver through the ice and salt swamp that is, and then (following it passing a small wall of ghostly fire, which Ace had protested, though his preferred "straight through" route by feuding monsters and into a dark cave was not an attractive one. He really, really hoped that awful feeling of dread actually was an illusion like Edward stated.) he'd hopped off to walk alongside the coach instead. Just in case, they should be ready to act at a moment's notice, and his armor skills prevented the shallow water's frigid cold from seeping into the hunter.

Which brought them all to here, awkwardly parked half in a narrow space between two huge sheets of ice and half in a larger tundra bordering the lake, with two mermaid-like wyverns whose soporific ambush had been handily foiled. For the moment. They would definitely wake the monsters by moving the entire caravan through the space, and dealing with a chase - or worse, risking damage to the coach by fighting with it parked next to them - was not ideal. With that in mind, two options presented themselves: slay the creatures as quickly as possible, or draw their attention away so that the carriage could move on... and then slay them as quickly as possible.

Either way, Ramattra seemed more than ready to take on the challenge. Ace was glad the Omnic had approached him, though he was going to volunteer regardless. The Cadet liked new experiences just fine, but when something like this was within his wheelhouse, there was no way he was going to avoid it.

Ace shifted his pack so that he could fetch something out of it - a small barrel, not more than a foot in diameter. As he did, he spoke to Ramattra. "This is really just a guess, but judging by their size and shape... I doubt they're gonna be trying to eat us, unlike that big leviathan earlier. So we're at an advantage if we want to distract 'em! If we're not prey, then we're invaders - and we just have to make ourselves the most dangerous intruders in their territory while the rest of the team moves on."

Ramattra nodded at the plucky human’s words. It would be simple, really, for the large Omnic and the beast hunter to come up with a worthy distraction to allow the stagecoach to safely cross the den. Whatever Ace was producing from his bag seemed to be the solution to said problem, and rather than lead the assault, Ramattra thought it best to let Ace guide it, since this was in his direct line of expertise… The thought of Monster Hunting being an official profession to Ramattra sounded ridiculous, given the context of his world, but since his recent awakening, he’s had to part with this ignorance quickly. “I am assuming you have something in mind?” The omnic asked plainly, examining the miniature barrel in the Hunter’s hand. His first thought was that the Cadet was carrying an explosive, which was definitely a reasonable distraction.

Before Ace even had proper time to respond, a booming voice called for the two from the Stagecoach (thankfully the two sirens didn't wake, though they did stir). It was Tenna, trying to get their attention as he approached from the still vehicle. How Edward managed to get the Reindrix piloting the metal contraption to cooperate with their idling was beyond Ramattra. “Yoohoo! Mr. Ramattra!” A low sigh escaped the omnic’s mouth-shaped vent, seemingly already at his wits' end with the newest addition to the Seeker’s ranks.

The television set was waving goofily as he approached, joyful to interact with the two members whom he had… “befriended”. Ramattra thought the TV-man was worryingly aloof, while Ace figured he was just one of those types that were hard to keep down, if a little eccentric. Or, a lot eccentric. Nonetheless, he turned a smile the entertainer's way.

“For the last time, ‘Mr. Ant-Tenna’.” (There was an air of sarcasm in his voice) “The formality is not necessary. Ramattra will do.” The TV set did a mildly mocking “stop” gesture with its hand, insisting that the name stuck with the Omnic. Whatever the Omnic told Tenna back before they reached the large plateaus seemed to resonate with him! He turned to Ace cautiously after staring irritably at their acquaintance. “He was… like this before we freed him, right? All I told him was that we’d drop him off at the next village…” It seemed the CRT had a bad tendency to blow things out of proportion… Ramattra just hoped he wouldn’t get in the way of the task ahead of them.

“So, Mr. Ace Cadet,” Ramattra said, now speaking at a volume loud enough for their begrudging alliance with Tenna in the upcoming area. The TV had space to prove itself soon, and trusted that this encounter wouldn’t be wasted by his foolishness. “The plan, my apologies for getting distracted.”

Amused at the two polar opposites, and especially Ramattra's formality right after telling Tenna it wasn't needed, Ace gave the both of them a grin.

"It's nothing complicated; we'll circle around behind them, closer to the water they probably live in, and then give them a gnarlycuga wake-up call. Combo of that, proximity to their lair, and some threatening movements should be enough to keep their attention on us... if it's not, the others can fend them off while we try something else."

Ace’s lingo and mannerisms were incredibly fascinating to Ramattra. After learning of the nature of Edward’s world, and the curiosity it piqued in the Omnic, it would definitely be something for the two to discuss later. And surely it’d be something for Tenna to get show ideas for!

Hopefully they wouldn't need to come up with a plan b, though. He glanced at Edward, who still had command over the carriage. "Hear that, Ed? Once we got them far enough away and focused on us, get moving!"

Ramattra gave a polite wave to Ed from the edge of the frosted canyon between which the three stood. It is clear to both Ace and Tenna that they had a mutual trust in one another.

Ace then pressed a button on the side of the barrel that resembled a pale yellow gem, and in an instant the container grew to its full size a good three times bigger. The hunter's expression was nearly gleeful as he set it on the ground in front of them. It had been a while since he'd gotten to use the Alchemy Barrel for more than basic ammo creation.

"Help me dump some raw materials in here and we're groovios to go."

It seemed that the pseudo-canyon of ice muted sounds from other open pockets, so hopefully that held true and the noise they were about to make didn't end up drawing anything else towards them. After the three of them put handfuls of scrap ore from Sectonia's previous acquisitions and some materials from Scrapbeak’s Sack, a few pieces of flint and tinder from the camping supplies Ace had purchased in Snowdin, and a few other stuff thrown in 'for fun,' they proceeded to quickly but carefully make their way around the sleeping somnacanths. While they moved, Ace held the barrel in his hands and was shaking it to jostle around the items inside. Once in position he glanced down at the Alchemy Barrel's gemstone to note its brightness, then at Ramattra and Tenna.

"Ready?"

The Omnic would nod, with an affirmative gaze. ”Ready.” He said with stoicism in his voice, almost as if… he were trying to sound cool intentionally. Whether it was or wasn’t was to Ace’s discretion. Tenna struck a fantastic pose, pointing in the air as he exclaimed alongside Ramattra, ”RRRRREADY!!” This, obviously, received a well-deserved glare-down from Ramattra.

Wasting no more time, Ace gave the barrel a few more vigorous shakes and then shoved one of its sides out to face the duo of leviathans. A moment later the barrel shuddered and expelled a large fireball that arced towards the monsters, exploding on impact. As they registered the heat and pain the somnacanths woke up rather viciously, swinging their tails and claws out around them. Their heads swiveled in the direction the attack had come from, and with reddened eyes twinkling they bared their teeth as they hissed and lunged.

It would be less than a moment before the three of them would become targets of the Siren’s attacks, their glaring anger surely to hone on the source of the explosion. With a firm wave, Ramattra would look directly at Ed, signalling to go full throttle while they lead the fight away from the general pathway. ”Go! Now!”

Hello Everyone

Hello and welcome!

Hi there!

Welcome to RPG~!
I've only played a little of RF5 and never heard of Guardians of Azuma until now, but it looks pretty interesting, might have to give it a try!

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

Evening in Esaka

Primrose & Ms. Fortune
^{@Yankee@Lugubrious}
Word Count: 3060 (+4 exp)

Prior to Nadia’s departure, Terry had offered his apologies. He was so sincere about it that the feral wound up feeling bad about how vehement her response had been. It wasn’t often that Nadia acted like that; it didn’t exactly gel with her carefully cultivated self-image as a cheerfully nonchalant jokester who smiled through pain and panic alike. As he averted his eyes and shrugged, Nadia ran a hand through and flipped her hair, flicking a mental switch. By the time Terry shrugged and went for eye contact, the catgirl’s body language had reset to her natural relaxed, jovial state, and she wore a mischievous, easygoing smile. “Haha, no worries, blondie. I was just givin’ ya a hard time. Gotta put the newbies through their paces, y’know?”

She slipped out afterwards. Then it wasn't long after she left before Primrose joined her outside of Banishing Flats. The dancer declined to book a room just yet, instead trading a few quiet words with her fellow Orsterran before leaving. The men seemed disinclined to join them, and as for Sakura, Amaterasu, and Yayama… the former might be a little young for a tavern, the latter (though the shortest, her bearing made it very clear to Primrose that she was not a child) had her head down on a table clearly not in the mood, and Amaterasu was, of course, a wolf. It seemed it would just be the two friends, which suited Primrose just fine.

There was a soft thump behind the women as the (formerly) high class pup nosed his way out of the building as well and the door closed after him. Perhaps not just the two, then.

Primrose took just a moment to smooth out her dress before she glanced at Nadia with a small smile. "Let's see what trouble we can get up to. There were a few places around this tier Therion and I passed earlier that we can stop by…"

When Nadia knelt down the stray pattered over and allowed himself to be stroked, still tempted by the telltale smell of her newfound affluence. The catgirl made a mental note to buy him some treats later, which might have been a little optimistic given her scatterbrained tendencies. She missed Chucho, although she knew that the polterpup she’d adopted in the Under would be at home aboard the Avenger. After giving the little dog a final pat on the head, Nadia turned her smile up toward her friend. “Sounds good. Though, I think I mighta gotten into enough trouble today already,” she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. “Maybe I should find somewhere else to stay. Just in case that Kazuya guy or his goons come knockin’. Not like I can’t afford it~”

She stood up, straightening her arms and calico tail in a luxurious, carefree stretch, then glanced back over at the golden streaks amidst the murky stormclouds. A beautiful evening sky like that was worth preserving in a photograph–if only the feral had a camera. “Guess we’re lucky the rain stopped when it did. No tellin’ ‘weather’ or not it’ll pick up again, though.” She faced Primrose and held her arm toward the street as if to say after you. “Lead the way!”

The dancer offered a short, playful curtsy as she did just that, taking the two of them and their furry tag-a-long away from the motel down a straight stretch of road. The city almost seemed to glow in the twilight, even here nestled in the center of the 'cake,' as sunbeams swept across the bronze trimming and finials of Esaka's buildings, making them twinkle in the lingering cloud cover's shade.

Primrose had seen Nadia bounce back from a number of things now, and she doubted the poor reaction to her heist would be any different, but even so the least Primrose could do was reassure her friend.

"Don't worry about this Kazuya. Like you said yourself, we can handle one man, demon or no. The others will come around," she told Nadia, glancing over at her. Then, to give the cat burglar an out, while her eyes traced the edges of the homes, businesses, and dojos she added, "although, I've never seen a city like this before. The way the architecture looks, and how it's stacked... It's quite pretty. If you did want to see and stay in other parts of it, I certainly wouldn't blame you."

Glad for any chance to quit reflecting and focus on superficial stuff, Nadia nodded in agreement. In fact, the feral was barely watching where she was going as she took in the extravagant scenery. Toward the west, the stage was set for a glorious sundown, with the city’s many spires and peaked rooftops silhouetted against the warm hues of a half-hidden sky. In the east, meanwhile, that light reflected off of colorful shingles shiny and dripping from rainwater. No matter which of Esaka’s tiers one might happen to be in, one could find a rich interplay between celebrated past and innovative present, with formidable jade-roofed pagodas standing hand in hand with in-progress skyscrapers. Down at street level, meanwhile, things only got more interesting. Now that the deluge had subsided, the cityfolk had emerged to portend a thriving nightlife. Everywhere Nadia looked, she found weird and wonderful people of all shapes and sizes, shops and homes that spanned every conceivable era and architectural style, united in common passion and purpose.

“It’s incredible,” Nadia replied after a moment. Even after almost a full day here, her genuine amazement hadn’t diminished one bit. “It’s so…dense. Jam-packed with interestin’ stuff. For someone with a short attention span, it’s basically paradise. I could just wander for hours…I never would’ve thought I’d find a place I wanted to get lost!” Under normal circumstances most folks would be understandably wary of such a sprawling, chaotic metropolis, but since everyone in Esaka could fend for themselves, its society encouraged a strange sort of mutual respect. It was an exceptional place in more ways than one.

Nadia paused to marvel at a food stand built into a dragon carcass, and lick her lips at the a savory aroma of its grilled chicken skewers, before moving on with a shake of her head. “It’s special even compared to most places we’ve been, y’know? ‘Cause all of this stuff comes from different worlds. Like, Limsa Lominscuttle Town felt like a specific city from one world, with a bunch of other stuff thrown in. The Home of Tears and Mafia Town felt the same way. But this is totally different. It’s one big melting pot from top to bottom, too mixed up to come from any one place. Kinda like the Lost Numbers, eh? A World of Light original.”

She looked down at the cobblestones beneath her boots as she walked, her voice lowering somewhat. “Even if it’s all screwed up ‘cause of Moebius, it’s kinda sad that…if we win, everythin’ like this is just gonna be…gone.”

Nadia glanced at Primrose, watching closely for her reaction.

Primrose's expression hadn't changed much from the subtle admiration of the city she'd been showing, though there was now a hint of thoughtfulness in her eyes. She had considered this before, but never in depth, as though she was separate and the end of this world wouldn't affect her. So it was that when she replied, it was with a cool, detached countenance.

"I wonder... Everything we see is a copy, but not an illusion - more like a replica. The stone is real..." She brushed her fingers against the wall of a building they passed close by. "... the people are flesh and blood. For the most part. Even if the 'power source' is removed, it may not simply collapse."

The corners of her lips quirked upward. "Well, I wouldn't know. But a few Seekers are already making plans for after the fact, so they must not think it will disappear."

Primrose's expression softened ever so slightly after a few moments.

"I know what you mean though. Places one would never be able to conceive of, let alone see, if not for being created here... it's incredible in a lot of ways. And eventually we'll leave it all to memory."

In good company, Nadia permitted her smile to fade away. She tended to get through her days in relative happiness by neither dwelling on the past nor thinking much about the future, but right now felt like a good chance to get it out of her system. While she didn’t plan to consider the sobering subject that was the eventual fate of all things, the catgirl couldn’t help but wonder about the campaign’s end. “What if,” she began, “We fight Galeem and actually beat it, somehow. And at that point, we’re given a choice. End the World of Light, and set things back to how they used to be. Or…keep the World of Light goin’, under new management. Try and fix things so they’re less…eheh, awful, I guess.”

She shrugged. “Not that I wanna have that responsibility, hell no. I just wanna spend my days havin’ fun, goin’ on adventures, and spendin’ time with my friends. Maybe even a special someone, y’know? But…” When she glanced around furtively, her body language suggested much more apprehension than the feral typically let on. “If the World of Light ends, it’s not just places like Esaka that go bye-bye. You, me…accordin’ to Asgore and the Lost Numbers, we’re all just the latest and greatest copies. Copies of what, though? If there’s, like, an original Primrose and Ms Fortune out there, maybe endin’ this world will let ‘em go back to normal…”

Nadia stopped, her brows furrowed and her one fist balled as she leaned against a building for support. “But why do they have any more right to live than us, huh? Even if I got less than ten years left, I’m not just gonna lie down and die ‘cause…’cause I’m not the real one! No way! I don’t want…” She grit her teeth, then turned to Primrose with a despondent look on her face. “Look, you, me, all the others. We can laugh and cry, grow, uh…change…and dream. Even have kids! We’re real too, dammit.” She took a shaky breath. “Aren’t we?”

Primrose had slowed a few feet away from Ms. Fortune, turning to give the other woman her full attention. She hadn't expected this, but clearly it had been weighing on Nadia. Probably from the moment they'd had the truth laid out to them all - and the closer they got to defeating Galeem, the heavier that weight would be. The dancer let Nadia get all of her thoughts out, responding only once she'd asked that fragile, forlorn question.

"Of course we are," Primrose said, her voice steady and hard. Even after everything they'd learned, she felt that to be true. Briefly her own thoughts flickered back to a hole in the wall in Dirtmouth, where another Primrose had looked upon her with disdain until she was reduced to spirit once more. The present Primrose hesitated to speak again for a few moments. Then, she inclined her head slightly. That other self may have felt the same way as Nadia now. She had probably been real, too - but it didn't make who she was any less.

She wished she could have borrowed some of her friends' strengths in that moment; Cyrus' ability to rationalize the abstract, Alfyn's uncanny power to comfort others, or Ophelia's quiet way of inspiring hope. She only had herself though, and her own perspective.

"I am Primrose Azelhart," she said with a hint of pride at the statement. "Even if I'm copied from a Primrose template, and even after everything we've learned... I don't consider myself separate from that original. Her goals are mine. Mine are hers. When everything ends, mayhaps she'll wake up and the memories I've made will live in her. Or mayhaps this world lives on and she becomes me."

From the slight change of her tone, an observant listener could tell that Primrose preferred the former option. There were things she'd left unfinished in her -in Primrose's- original world that may not ever be completed in this one. She did not pause for long, though.

"And you are Nadia Fortune. If the world comes to an end you aren't trading your life for hers; you are her. If we stay here, or go back 'home'... No matter what happens you won't disappear. At least... that's what I choose to believe."

Was some of her confidence in the outcome getting through to Nadia? Primrose wasn't sure, but she hoped it was as she watched her friend.

After a brief moment, Nadia slowly let out the breath she’d been holding. Her eyes were closed as she inhaled deep through her nose, then exhaled again, shorter this time. Although she knew that Primrose didn’t necessarily know any better about the reality of their existence than she did, the mere act of trying to bring the feral solace -of showing she cared- helped ground her. Even if the comfort she offered boiled down to being just what Nadia wanted to hear, it was what she needed, and she would savor that lie–not to mention every precious second of time she got to spend with her friends. When she looked back at Primrose, she did not crack a grin, but there was gratitude in her eyes, and her uncharacteristic lack of smile reflected just how comfortable the catgirl felt being genuine around her. It was unfair to expect such succor from someone, especially someone who shared her turmoil, but the dancer had done it anyway. A lot was going through Nadia’s mind, but in the end she could come up with only one word to say. “Thanks.”

"No thanks needed," Primrose replied, her voice softening up. Honestly more than just trying to reassure Nadia, giving voice to her thoughts had reinforced them in her own mind. No matter what happened, or how she changed, she was real - even if she was just one of two, or more. She was a real Primrose. And she would keep fighting until at least one Primrose could complete their life's mission. The existentialism that all the Seekers had to grapple with was not to be taken lightly, but hopefully, her companions would eventually feel the same. "Come on."

Then the two got moving again, and as the stormclouds continued to clear above them, the sun continued its plunge toward the horizon. Conversation turned once again toward lighter topics as the two women progressed toward their destination. They passed a few businesses that might have fit what the girls were looking for, including a building near one of the elevators down to the Low Tier with upbeat dance music filtering out of it, in stark contrast to the gritty aesthetic that could be just barely be seen through the slatted window shades covering the front windows now that the sun was setting, but it was evidently not the venue Primrose had in mind as she passed it by. Instead she led the two of them into the thick of the Mid Tier, closer to the wall that supported the tier above it, where nestled snugly between two alleyways was a more unassuming cantina. At least, on the outside.

The exterior was a curious mix of Asian and European design, with its roof made of sloping tiles to match its neighbors though in a terracotta shade rather than the more common dark hue. Its body was brick and stucco, with a simple sign reading "Tavern" above the only official entrance. Right beside the door was a man in a black suit seated on a stool - a bouncer more than likely, and when he noted the two women approaching he stood tall and imposing... except for the smile on his face.

"Ah, hermosa, back again," he said to Primrose with a congenial lilt. Then he looked at her company, his surprisingly friendly expression not faltering whatsoever. "With a different friend this time. Good thinking, this one is much prettier!"

By the time the two Seekers had arrived, Primrose had slipped back into a passively cordial look, though now she made her smile brighten and her eyelashes flutter as she offered the man a small giggle. "I thought so too. And I'm hoping to get a look inside, this time."

"Technically we're members only..." he said, stroking his chin as he pretended to consider the offer. Almost immediately he dropped the act. "But we always make an exception for the beautiful. Right this way, ladies."

The bouncer opened the door for them and swept his arm in a welcoming gesture towards the tavern's interior. Right away Nadia and Primrose could feel warmth radiating out, along with the glow of soft lighting. As they stepped inside (followed by the chihuahua who'd managed to sneak in after them), they found an elegantly rustic establishment, with a full bar stocked with whole barrels of aged wine and tasteful polished wooden tables dotting the area. Women in colorful skirts served diners, moving between this front area and two adjacent rooms. One was behind a closed door down a short, dark hall, though as the servers entered or exited a glimpse of a betting parlor with a few mounted flat-screens could be seen, upon which were currently showing the "TBD" rosters of all four of Esaka's biggest tournaments.

The other room, the largest of the areas in the front of the house by far, featured a huge central ballroom floor with dining seats arranged around the perimeter and a giant ornate crystal chandelier that flooded the whole space with warm yellow light. On one side there was a stage more than large enough for people to perform on, and it was there that the tavern's live music filtered throughout the building from, as a couple of musicians played a tune with a Spanish flair. It would have been a perfectly normal cantina, if not for the middle of the room being completely fenced in by iron gates, with scratches and scuffs gouged into the polished floor that suggested while the establishment had a stage, the real entertainment took place within the cage.

Above it all a neon sign stated in elegant script the name of this exclusive establishment: Mesón De Las Flores.

hello! new-ish here!

@ouroboric welcome (back)! Hopefully you find what you're looking for and can get back into RP!
What sort of crafts do you do?

Hello everyone! <3

@Moldavyte Welcome to the forum!