Say My Name
Written by vox shade
v/s: Okay, just to clear some stuffs up: in the last chapter, there really were four assassins, but Kaize only knew of three cuz the other one went along as reinsurance or something, ookay? And two: Albel has two normal and healthy arms in this fic, because it makes my job easier and I like him that way :P Alright, that's it. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Star Ocean 3 belongs to Tri-Ace/Ubisoft/Square-Enix.
Chapter Nine
Maria Sends Her Love
Clair smiled sweetly as Albel vented his anger in a series of vulgar rants, storming around the room and randomly slashing at a curtain or table with his claws. Contrary to his behaviour, Nel was sitting quietly in her chair, eyeing the uniform. Her left eye looked like it was twitching. But otherwise, there was no sign indicating that she was in an uproar.
Albel returned back to the table, breathing hard and glaring murderously. "I'm not going."
Nel shook her head resignedly. "If what Clair said is true, Nox, then we have no other choice. Infiltration is a basic tactic for spy work, and it's highly effective if completed properly. It's how we used to get information from your country, and you from ours. No one knew the other knew anything about them until they started to act as if they did know and set up counter attacks. It's our best shot."
"Not like this. I refuse." Albel bared his teeth as he stared at the contents of each open box. The uniforms were identical. It looked like something that the worm Esme Fontaine would wear. He felt a shiver of repulsion shudder down his spine. "If you like it so much, then you wear it and keep me out of this."
Nel shot Albel a haughty look. "Fine. But you won't see me crying about it, Nox." The fiery red head rose and grabbed a box and entered the closet and shut the door soundly.
Clair turned to Albel, the same smile still on her face. "Will you be preparing too?"
"Like hell," Albel scoffed. "This is an idiotic plan. I refuse to take part of such low thinking."
Clair shook her head. "We sent in both of your resumes, and they've accepted. Your interviews are at eight tonight, and they expect you to wear your uniforms. It looks like you've got the job, even if they are treating it like a serious job application."
Albel set his jaw in a stubborn frown. "I'm not doing this."
Clair's smile widened, and suddenly there was a sinister twinkle in her eyes. "You might want to look at this before you decide fully." She retrieved an envelope from on top of the dresser located in the corner (which had somehow escaped Albel's claws) and laid it on the table where the box Nel had taken used to be. Albel sized it up, noticing its thickness and unusually large size. A thread of unease tightened around his chest. There was something not right about this...
A muffled call came though the closet door. "I'll leave this to you to decide, Albel," Clair said with a smile as she turned and made her way into the closet.
Albel ignored the small sounds which filtered through the wooden door and concentrated on the envelope. Wait, why was he afraid in the first place? It was just an envelope! It would be one cold day in the Ursaa Lava Caves if Albel the Wicked shied away from opening a single cursed envelope.
Quickly and efficiently, Albel ripped open the paper with his claws and unearthed the contents from under scraps of the envelope. Hm. One folded up piece of thick paper. What could...?
Albel's jaw dropped as his eyes met the blown up photograph. It was a picture of when he had kissed Cliff. All glossed up, with a fade out white framing, hearts that faded into the background, labels and arrows clearly indicating who was who. But how..?
Maria. That scum. She'd given out this –
Without a second thought, Albel tore the photo into the tiniest shreds he could manage until the photo became confetti.
The closet door opened again and Clair stepped out, smiling even as she saw the confetti floating down the carpet. "I have more than a hundred copies, Albel. As you can guess, Maria sent them to me, as insurance for your cooperation should the need ever arise. I have them situated all over the continent, from Acquios to Airyglyph. On my command, my subordinates will not hesitate to post them up where the public will see them. I suggest you agree, Albel."
With every word the woman had spoken, Albel's horror rose until it became flat out disbelief. There was just no way, not even if it was Vox speaking to him. These maggots will die.
Nel stepped around Clair and put a fist on her hip and frowned at the swordsman. "You've lost, Albel. You either wear this, or there will be nasty rumours floating around."
Albel snarled, "I will not wear that-"
Whoa. Back up.
Albel was riveted to the spot. His tongue was literally struck dumb, and that never happened to Albel Nox. Then again, he'd never seen Nel wear such a sexy outfit, including her excuse for pajamas. There were bound to be a few surprises, combining the two.
The low cut black corset hugged Nel's torso like a second skin, defining her slender waist, accentuating her breasts, held together by crisscrossing ribbons at the front. A low cut short sleeved white shirt went underneath the corset, the material translucent and thin, the ends decorated with lace. The gloves on her hands were black, and embroidered with black threads in spider-like designs. The bottom of the gloves flared out in white cuffs, also with lace. The skirt Nel wore was a volumous black skirt over layers of thin and almost transparent white petticoats, all no longer than mid thigh. Black garters were next, beckoning the eye down slender legs to where the skin disappeared under white stockings starting at the knee. Black stiletto boots encased small feet, black ribbons winding around her legs to reach up to her garters, where they were bound.
Needless to say, Albel Nox was impressed. And that belt collar which hung around her slender neck only made it worse. Nel Zelpher had never looked more appealing. And why am I noticing this now...?
Clair turned to Nel with a slight laugh. "He likes it."
Nel smirked, tucking her hair behind the French maid hat band. "Good. Cuz he's gonna have to wear it."
Following in Kaize's Footsteps?
Nel and Albel entered Kirlsa at two at an agonizingly slow pace. Both wore hooded cloaks, hoods drawn over their heads to help shield their identities. Nel led the way down a street as Albel followed half a step behind, most probably checking the area out in case of anyone recognizing who they were.
Nel almost snorted in amusement. It was no wonder Albel was being paranoid. After a vigorous argument, Albel had been forced to give up when Clair had pointed out the window to the house opposite the mansion. At the house's window stood one of the runologists Clair commanded, stuffing her fist into her mouth as she held up a copy of the poster Albel had shredded, choking her laughter back all the while.
And so Albel had donned the French maid uniform, with no shortage of curses, threats, and complaints. Clair had ran off with Albel's claw and sword while Nel was distracting him by tying his corset a tad tighter than comfortable. They'd thought it best, for public safety.
So now Albel was clawless, swordless, and available. Nel had to choke back a laugh at that thought. But even though Albel was in the uniform, he was still masculine. His angular face, attitude, and voice screamed I AM A MAN IN WOMAN ATTIRE. Not to mention that he didn't have female characteristics, and he'd refused to let them wax his legs. Not that he'd really needed it, his hair was surprisingly thin and invisible. His feet had barely fit into the stiletto boots, even though they were his size but since Clair could not say that he went by men's sizes, she had listed the number down in women's.
Clawless, swordless, available, and tottering around on seven inch heels.
How the mighty have fallen.
If she weren't so afraid of breaking both her ankles in her own shoes, she would have collapsed in a helpless heap of laughter.
A clattering of hooves against cobblestone drew Nel's attention to the tall man riding a coal black stallion down the street towards them. Nel started to get out of the way when she noticed that the man was slowing his horse from a trot to a walk until he drew up in front of the two.
The man dismounted with the fluid ease of an assassin. When he straightened, Nel realized that he was a lot taller than he looked. He could have easily been mistaken to be seven feet tall, but in actuality he was no taller than Cliff Fittir. His hair was glossy black, and fell into his eyes much like Albel's hair did. But his bangs at the sides were longer, and the back of his hair was tied back in a loose ponytail to end just above mid-back. His skin was slightly tanned, face angular with arched black brows hooded over surreal silver eyes. His build was lean, yet slightly more built than Albel's own figure, and fashionably clad in black with chain mail strands hanging from his belt, an unusual shoulder armour latched on his left shoulder.
He was definitely unordinary. Something was out of place, and it was itching at her mind at what it was.
The man smiled, revealing rather pointy, sharp white teeth. "New threads too tight for you, Albel?"
Nel could see Albel's scowl from the opening in his hood as he snarled back. "You fucking filth, you're the one who induced this wretched idea weren't you."
The man only smirked back as he sidestepped a punch from the folds of Albel's cloak. He swore as he had to grab onto the horse's saddle to steady himself on the toothpick-thin heels.
Nel lifted an eyebrow. The two seemed to know each other well. And both seemed so similar to the other. It made her wonder if Albel really did have more family than he let on. "And who are you?"
The darker man turned his silver gaze on Nel and gave a mock bow. "Since this insolent pup refuses to introduce us, it seems we are left on our own. My name is Lord Sin, of the Sinclair estates. And you, are Nel Zelpher, Crimson Blade and unfortunate partner of this klutz."
Nel cracked a grin. At least this man had a sense of humour. "And you're the one who proposed this undercover idea?"
Sin shook his head with a smile as both ignored Albel glaring. "That was the work of my siblings. Speaking of which, they are waiting at home. Would you like to ride my horse? The journey is short, but the terrain is a bit rough."
"You-"
"Thank you, but I'm fine," Nel said, cutting off Albel's sudden outburst.
And so the two followed the mysterious horseman out of the southeast exit. They walked in silence, the horseman riding his horse a little ways ahead of them, out of earshot. Nel glanced at Albel. "Albel."
"What?" Came the grunted reply.
"Who is Sin? I've never heard of him before."
"You wouldn't have," Albel snorted. "His family only became nobility a few months ago. They contributed a lot of wealth to rebuild parts of Airyglyph which was severely damaged in the war. I only got to know the bastard because the king held conferences with him, and my presence was mandatory. I know as much about him as you do."
Nel frowned, puzzled. "You're telling me that anyone with enough money can become a noble in Airyglyph?"
Albel shook his head, carefully stepping over a piece of timber as they climbed a hill of Granah Hills. "No. I think they proved that they had blue blood in some sort of family tree or another. I wasn't paying too much attention."
Nel rolled her eyes skyward. "Typical."
"What'd you – shit!"
The next few minutes were spent healing the clumsy warrior who'd tripped over a passing iguana.
Mirror, Mirror…
The group had turned south from Granah Hills before the trail leading to the Kirlsa training facility. To Nel, this was unknown territory. When she'd been traveling with Fayt, they'd never gone anywhere in this area but to the training facility, and that had been out of necessity. They'd been walking for nearly half an hour, the trip delayed because of the slow pace Nel and Albel were forced to take. If they hadn't been wearing the suicidal boots, she knew that they would have reached their destination a lot faster.
But now, all three of them were standing in the entrance hall of Sin's mansion home. And Albel hadn't been joking (that would have been a shock in itself) when he'd said that they were wealthy – their mansion was huge. It put Clair's place to shame. In fact, Nel knew that the hall they were standing in could fit two of Clair's mansions side by side. Lengthwise, it would probably fit seven.
Whuh.
"Get off of me, worm. Keep your hands where they're wanted."
Nel glanced over as Albel shrugged off a maid rudely. The maid bowed obediently, then looked up at Nel, seemingly unperturbed by the less-than-gracious attitude. Nel shook her head. "Thank you, but I prefer to keep this on."
Sin nodded. "Then follow me." The older man led the way up the hall, passing a few smiling maids as they cleaned the furniture. They reached a huge, ornately carved door which he opened and walked into. With no other choice, Nel and Albel followed, into another gorgeously furnished and spacious room. Sophia would have loved to see this place. Even if it wasn't entirely pink, it still spoke volumes about sophisticated style.
"Excuse me miss-"
Startled, Nel's instincts kicked in as she whirled around to face the offender. But due to her fast movements on awkward seven inch heels, she lost her balance, pitching backwards with a startled gasp. Before she could remember how to recover from a fall and get her body in action, her fall was halted by a strong grip around her torso.
Albel?
Nel opened her eyes and looked up into an unfamiliar face. His face reminded Nel of Fayt's face, the way it was open and honestly kind. She could tell that they didn't look alike, yet that feeling was there. His nose was a bit thinner, his lips a bit fuller, yet he was still cutely attractive. Short chestnut locks were tousled around his face, his skin a lighter shade than Sin's, yet darker than Nel's own. But his eyes were what captured her attention the most. They weren't any ordinary colour – they were the gold of dragon eyes.
"Worm! Why're you so close to her!"
"Are you okay, miss?" he asked, steadying Nel on her feet as she recovered from her near fall.
Nel stepped back to create some distance as he smiled gently. "Yes. Thank you." She noted his clothes to be of Airygplyphian finery as well.
The gold eyed teen turned his eyes on the glaring ex-swordsman. "I apologize – I wasn't aware that you two were that way."
"That's r-"
"You're back so soon."
Attention was diverted to another stranger who stepped into the room from another entrance. Immediately, Nel knew that this woman was definitely like the other two – ethereal and definitely otherworldly. Her hair was the white of newly fallen snow, long and straight and tied up in a high ponytail, her skin pale and fine. Her most startling feature were her large clear amethyst eyes, framed with thick black lashes. She was shorter than the other two, slightly taller than Nel herself as she drew closer, dressed in Acqious style finery.
"Of course," Sin replied with a grin. He turned to Nel and Albel. "These are my siblings. The nineteen year old girl is Seraph, my sister. The seventeen year old boy is Soul, my brother. I myself am twenty three."
"We're younger than you expected, I see." Soul commented with a smile as he observed Nel and Albel's faces.
"Yes," Nel agreed. She glanced at each of them, sensing that otherworldly feeling emanating from all of them. Just who were these people...?
"We don't have too much time," Seraph commented. Nel looked at the grandfather clock. The gold hands indicated that it was forty three minutes past two. "Both of you may join us for lunch, then we have to get to work."
"What kind of work?" Albel asked suspiciously.
Soul only smiled serenely. "Please, you must be hungry after your journey. The salon is this way."
After a fabulous lunch, Seraph requested Albel to help her carry a large and heavy vase out of the sitting room while Sin had disappeared and Soul led Nel to the south of the building.
"You're going to be going undercover, right Lady Nel?"
"Yes. It was your idea."
"Of course. Which means that you have to be inconspicuous, and your hair is anything but that. You'll be recognized immediately, so I'm going to dye it black for you. Temporarily, of course."
Nel glanced at him in surprise as she sat down in a chair by a huge sink. "You have done this before?"
"You could say that," he answered, rummaging around in a cupboard.
An angry shout reached her ears from the door leading into the corridor. Soul smiled as he returned to Nel, popping open a black bottle. "Don't worry, Lady Nel. That would be Seraph pulling the cloak from Lord Albel while he was holding the vase. It means that she's begun."
"Begun what?" Nel asked uneasily as she wet her hair in the sink.
But Soul only smiled and murmured something about 'using the mallet'. Nel decided not to ask; she didn't need to know anymore than she needed to know about this strange trio of siblings.
Two hours and two bottles of black hair dye later, Nel emerged from the bathroom with silky ebony hair. Soul disappeared as Seraph led her to another room and started to apply make up to her face, which took up an additional hour as Searph experimented with colours and hair designs. Then Seraph disappeared to be replaced by Sin holding a few files. By the time Nel had finished reading them, it was around seven in the evening.
"How much longer will this take?" Nel asked Sin from the love seat. Over the time she'd been here, she had grown to place a bit of her trust in the trio, because it was obvious that they knew what they were doing when they'd explained the plan to her, and from the way they had prepared everything beforehand. Including Albel's fate.
Sin looked up at the grandfather clock from by the large window. "I'd say, twenty seven seconds."
Nel arched an eyebrow as she looked at the second hand. Twenty seconds down... four seconds down... 3, 2, 1...
"Finished," Seraph announced happily as she entered the room, rolling down her sleeves. Nel raised both her eyebrows in surprise, as Sin smiled smugly.
Soul entered shortly after, wiping his brow. "He's a difficult case, but I think we made a decent work out of him."
"DECENT WORK?"
The door burst open and hit the wall with a bang as a tall woman leapt in, teeth bared and fists at the ready as Sin, Seraph and Soul casually looked at her.
Nel, however, couldn't take it as calmly as they could. Her jaw unhinged as her eyes widened in shock. While she had only received a change of hair colour, it looked like Albel had gotten a whole makeover. Including plastic surgery. What else could she call his sudden cleavage?
And not only that, but his face... Seraph truly showed Nel the power of makeup. She had not only did the standard mascara, eyeliner, foundation, slight blush, and pink lipstick, but she'd somehow gotten his face to become softer, more womanly.
As Albel swung back his fist, she glimpsed long, hot pink fingernails. She was willing to bet that his toenails were the same colour. And dangling on his ears were silver hoops.
And his hair... Nel knew it was probably Soul's handiwork, because it was now a soft pink in sharp contrast to his black hair. His black hair had been pulled back except for his bangs into a bun, and tied with a few braids of his pink hair (all of the pink hair was braided in thin braids). A glistening white hair ornament shaped like a chopstick was inserted in his bun, and at one end dangled a pink crystal ball from a chain. On top of the handiwork was his French maid hat.
She would never think the same of him again. She doubted that he would ever be scary to her like he was when she'd first met him.
The amusement was too great; Nel burst out laughing, even as she tried to keep it in by clamping a hand over her mouth, but that only served to make breathing more difficult. She could actually feel tears of laughter welling up in her eyes, even as Seraph shouted not to cry because it would ruin her makeup.
By the time her laughter had stopped convulsing her sides, Albel had planted himself firmly in front of her, crossing his arms and scowling down with the best murderous look he could muster in that getup.
Seraph popped up around Albel, remarkably unscathed. "What do you think, Lady Nel?"
Nel smiled at the girl who was the same age as she. "It fits his new character. You did an exceptional job."
"You're not going to ask how they did it?" Sin asked.
Nel shook her head. "Please, I'd rather not know. Oftentimes, you destroy the magic by telling how it is created."
"What new character?" Albel hissed.
Nel held up one of the papers she had left at her side on the love seat. Albel snatched it from her and read it, manicured claws holding the paper carefully. She watched his eyes move as he read line after line.
"X-Candy! My new name is X-Candy?"
v/s: better than you expected? Let me know! XD