Disclaimer: I do not own FFXIV nor Heavensward, or several of the characters mentioned in this story, or the FC featured.

Sinclair struck her as an inhibited type of person, it was no surprise given that she was the ringleader of an organization meant to be kept in the shadows. So when she gave her a threat, there was little to no reaction. Whether it had any impact on her or not, Disco only had to make her point clear.

During her travels alone, she had encountered many shady bands of people. In that time she had to establish some form of dominance for her own safety and so far, the craft of the tongue aided her in so many ways. There was no need to sing people to death, just using her silver words were enough to put them in shambles.

But sometimes, she would not know if it worked or not, and Sinclair had become one of those times.

Disco emerged from the guest quarters that were a level more underground. When she done so, she had emerged semi-decent as she wore merely a loose blouse and some faded trousers. She yawned when she entered the meeting room and went over to the kitchen nook where there were boxes of fresh produce. She decided to let Wolfie rest for the morning and cook on her own.

As she went to chop the onions, she heard shuffling coming from behind her.

She turned her head for a moment and saw an Elezen of handsome complexion. He was quite tall, perhaps taller than Aisling, and he appeared much older, though it could be because of his unshaven face. Her attention was completely upon him as he seemed purely confused about where he was, that and the fact that he was wearing slacks that seemed ill fitting and he lacked a shirt.

"Um..." She began, amazingly he was not half bad for an Elezen.

Hells, he was drop dead gorgeous.

He brushed away his lengthy, raven hair as he approached her.

But upon seeing his eyes, those miss-matched ones and that unforgettable scar, she realized who he was.

"Ragnar?"

"Aye," he managed to say, he was surprised by his own voice. "D...do you have a mirror?"

She stabbed the knife into the chopping board and guided him to her room where there was a long mirror. He examined himself, shocked, as he waved his hand behind his bum as though he were grasping for his missing tail.

"My gods, that is quite the transformation," she giggled,"really handsome."

"Strange not having my tail nor ears," he told her.

She noticed that his nails were quite long and, to add to that, his canines were longer and sharper. Several of his physical traits have been passed into the this form. It made him a unique Elezen, no doubt this new body would help in what they were about to do.

"You'll get used to it," she said,"do none of your clothes fit?"

"No, they were quite tight."

Even his voice had changed. He had lost the characteristic purr that hung in his words, now he spoke like a true Elezen. His tongue seemed to be able to adjust quite easily.

"We'll see if we can have Ham tailor something for you," she assured him. Hesitantly, she pressed a hand onto his bicep, he was warm to the touch and quite built underneath his skin. "Ah, let me see here..."

She went to the old wardrobe and rifled through the clothes for a few moments before finding a loose shirt for him to wear, along with some long trousers. He took them and placed them on quickly. Once snug and fit well for the day, they both left so that she could continue cooking their meal. He sat down at the table and stared at his nails.

Disco went back to chopping the vegetables and soon enough, everything was tossed into the pot over the fire.

Eventually, the door opened and in came Sinclair with Ham trailing behind her, he commented,"Never knew you could cook."

"I try," she said with a shrug. "Wolfie's still tired. Besides, need to do something round here. Ragnar can't cook for his life."

"So I remember," Ham said with a slight grimace.

"How do you fare?" Sinclair asked of Ragnar as she sat across him. She flicked her wrist and one of the kettles that was nestled by the fire came over to her, along with three teacups. Automatically, the tea was poured as they were settled by them, Ragnar took one though he hesitated for a moment- he was still not used to his new body.

"Disorienting for the most part," he admitted. "Why an Elezen? Did I have a choice in this?"

"Depends on what you have dreamed of," she told him as she sipped on her drink. She wore a half mask, it allowed her to drink freely though the rest of her face was a mystery. The mask itself was plain and held nothing too outstanding. From what they could see, hues of amethyst, they seemed to hold more than what she portrayed herself.

He managed to do so as well. "I dreamed of a close friend..."

"Then perhaps that friend is why you became what you are, though I would take it further. Your hair may give you away," she said conversationally.

"Do you require all to strip their identities?"

"If they are not known."

As Disco stirred the pot, she inquired,"How many people are in your Company?"

"Quite a few, though they are busy on their own ventures. We have many eyes and ears throughout Eorzea, you'd be surprised with who is with us," Sincair replied, she seemed to have not a care in her tone. Her eyes flickered towards Ragnar. "I see that he can no longer wear his clothes. We can give him something more appropriate."

She stood up and walked out of the meeting room, at this, Disco huffed,"Strange friend you got there."

"She's more of an associate," Ham said curtly.

"Her sword, she doesn't seem to be a Paladin," Ragnar commented

"That's called a rapier. I take it even through you all have traveled, you have never seen such a blade."

"Aye," she said. She took a break from stirring and went to sit by Ragnar to drink the tea. "Can't imagine what it can do, she's quite skilled in magic. Doing all these things." Disco waved her hand to imitate Sinclair. "Seems like she's showing it off."

Ham clicked his tongue and pulled out a chair for himself. "You were the one who threatened her last night. Let me tell you, she's someone who you'd not wish to fight in person."

"I'd be the judge of that," she said firmly.

"Don't antagonize her," Ragnar warned,"you haven't been a healer in a while, her Aether is something else."

"Ah, yes, you have the ability to see one's Aether," Ham remembered.

"Little trick I picked up from Rhel a while back."

They went quiet for a moment, every so often, Disco would get up and stir, then return to sit down.

She tapped her finger absently on the table as Ragnar went to his quarters to fetch a pipe. He lit it and began to smoke away- it was still quiet. She decided to break the silence by asking,"Does anyone else live here?"

"Sinclair lives in the room in the meeting room. I, myself, have a nice house in the Mists, and everyone else prefers to not be here. For now, all of you are in the guest rooms. You're more than welcome to stay here, lodgings and all," he answered, and by the time he finished, Sinclair arrived with a bundle of black clothes in her hands, along with a pair of boots and some jewelry.

"Compliments of joining us," she told Ragnar as she presented him with his new attire; he placed down his pipe and stood.

He took them and left, she sat back down in her old seat.

"So about your supposed motto," Disco started,"what does it mean exactly?"

"It explains itself," Sinclair said simply.

"Alright? Well, look at me like I am a fool and break it down for me."

"I think you are a fool if you cannot understand it."

Disco perked up, her lip twitched but she held her tongue. She took a deep breath and went on,"Just explain it."

"Think of the Battle of Carteneau," Sinclair proposed,"where do you suppose the weapons and provisions for the three Allied states came from?"

"From the crafters who made them," Disco said. "Companies who were paid to manufacture weapons."

"Yes, but think. A large scale battle with so many hands would be difficult to amass weapons in such a short period. But little to most who know, we have quite the number of crafters with us, and all of these were created before hand in preparation. Each sword, each shield, each lance, bow, even staves, we created it quite before the Battle."

"We as in...how many?"

"Our numbers are not of any of you concern for now. We provided the weapons for war and we let it happen."

"Pardon?"

"When we see any activity out of the ordinary, such as large shipments of raw materials, metals, stones, or certain wood, being shipped across Eorzea, we take action. We let the people think that they had provided themselves with their defenses when in actuality, we are begged of by the Great Leaders to sell them our wares on last moments notice.

"Aldynn, Bloefhiswyn, we even managed to get Kan-E-Senna's wallet, all knew of us and requested for our help. Naturally, we obliged and supplied them. In times of war, no one cares where they get their arms to fight so long as they have them. They think their Leaders are bountiful, we get our coin and go on and wait. But sometimes, war is needed to generate more income for ourselves."

"So...about having nations stand or fall, that's what you people do," she concluded- so this Company are nothing more than ruthless manipulators that operated on a grandscale.

"If needed, we can play a bit into politics but for now, we control markets. That's where we know what is happening. So far, we cannot spark another war or afford to provide for one so long as our enemies continue what they are doing."

"And that is?"

"From what we gathered, a group of people are quite adamant on tearing us down. We've been exposed and there is a leak somewhere in one of us. It's only after the attack on your former Company that we figured something is amiss. Whoever these people are, they are ruining our markets and they are also attacking our associates and members."

"Same people who killed Valencia."

"Very same," Ham confirmed. "We need to take them out before they do that to us. At the moment, we're stunted. While we do our parts to generate war, there are times when we do not have a need. Right now, we don't and if we let these people do what they want, we'll lose control over Eorzea."

Disco finally got up, she went back to her pot and stirred it one more time. She finally got to serve herself and sat down with her meal. "These people will do the same, won't they? So why bother wrestling for power for an entire country?"

"Our way is the only way," Sinclair said firmly, so the woman was capable of showing emotion. "If we let someone else do what they will in the markets, we cannot trust them to not destroy an entire country. Either they will force a war that will end all of us or they will further corrupt the system to a point where we can no longer hold any influence."

"...so your belief is that you defend this realm while filling your pockets with Gil."

"Essentially."

Sinclair seemed to have calmed down.

Disco sighed,"You people are the kind my mother would tell me to avoid."

"You're the one who's an adventurer, no doubt you have met people like us."

"Well...if I were you, I'd keep this from Ragnar. He won't take kindly to know the ins and outs of your operations, the man's had enough of his fair share of your type."

"And he won't need to," Ham said as he got up and served himself and Sinclair.

He sat down and tasted it, his mouth curled in disgust before he spat it out.

"How in the Seven Hells did you fuck up a simple soup?!"

As he shouted, Ragnar entered dressed in a black long coat, thigh-high boots, and a tie. He looked rather stunning in his outfit and as he sat down, Disco offered her soup to him. He shook his head, telling her,"I'll eat in Gridania."

"Is my cooking that horrible?" She asked, slightly offended.

Disco tried her own soup and cringed.

"Alright, new rule," Ham began,"you are not allowed to ever cook."