Step Two

"I TOLD you it wasss the dumbessst thing you could have resssponded with! But who here ever lissstens to Yuwain?"

"I do, kupo!"

Phoenix sighed. "Look, I just wanna get this over with. Get her to fall for me, have a nice night, and then move on."

Yuwain stared. "You mean you actually weren't kidding?"

"No, I wasn't, and it's a good thing I've got a well-versed poker face, or else she would've figured it out."

"I don't believe this is the Phoenix I know, kupo…"

"What?"

"… trying to get a Viera to fall in love with you JUSSST so you can get it on for a night… and then totally break her heart? Are you insssane?"

"Yeah… maybe I am. Anyway, let's just read the next step, shall we?"

"Step two: If you found out what clan she was in, try to get into the clan. Beg with the leader or bribe him, if you're getting that desperate (although bribing should be a last-ditch tactic). This is key, because once you get into the clan, you'll be seeing your target a lot more often, especially if she's a rather valuable member in engagements."

"Did you find out what clan she was in, kupo?"

"Yeah… after I promised her I wasn't only trying to get her in bed, she warmed up to me quite a bit more. Heck, she even seemed like she felt sorry for me when I told her I wasn't in a clan-"

"What would you call USSS, then?"

"A couple of buddies who go with me into engagements?"

"… Fair enough."

"The clan, kupo."

"Right. The clan. Let's see… oh yeah, it was clan Armageddon, or something like that. I hear they're as legendary as the clan that had that 'boy from the other world' was."

"The name sssounds impressssive."

"Yeah… so now I just gotta talk to their leader. Shouldn't be too hard. Jullianne could probably help me out."

(Insert scene change here)

Phoenix walked into the pub, hoping to see Jullianne there. He did. Much to his amazement, however, she wasn't alone. There were several of her friends (Phoenix assumed they were friends, anyway) sitting around her. When Phoenix took a closer look, they all had a small shoulder patch that said "Armageddon".

'So they must be the clan she mentioned…'

Grabbing the drink he ordered, he walked over to the table where they were all sitting. He noticed Jullianne look up, smiled, and waved. Turning back to her clan mates, Phoenix heard her say.

"Hey guys! This is a new friend of mine!"

They all stopped talking for a second and looked over at the approaching Hunter. Phoenix gave a bright smile and finally came to a halt when he was next to the table.

"Hi! So you're the Clan Armageddon Jullianne was telling me about, then?"

A Fighter nodded and replied with a curt "Aye."

Phoenix noticed the fighter had a small badge under the clan badge that said "C.L."

"Are you the clan leader, sir?"

Again, he nodded and replied with a curt "Aye."

Phoenix nodded. "Nice to meet you all. My name is Phoenix, by the way. Can't believe I forgot to say that at the beginning. Ah well, is it alright if I have a seat and join you?"

"Aye."

Phoenix grinned and asked in a joking manner, "Can you say anything other than aye?"

"Aye."

Everyone laughed, including the Fighter, and Phoenix took his seat. They all looked at him curiously. A White Monk posed a question.

"Where'sss your clan badge? I don't sssee one…"

"Well, that's because I'm not really in a clan… unless you could call three people a clan." He chuckled a bit. "It's pretty much just me, a Templar, and a Gadgeteer as a team."

"Kupo! I can't imagine anyone in your class without a clan! How'd you become a Hunter if it's just the three of you?"

"Well, we're a really good team, I guess." Phoenix shrugged. "But I must say, the idea of a clan DOES sound appealing…"

"What skills d'you have, kid?" It was the Fighter again.

"Well, for a Hunter I've got Sonic Boom –wouldn't be much of a Hunter if I didn't, now would I?-, I've got Sidewinder, and I've got Aim: Vitals. I've also mastered quite a few Archer skills as well: Aim: Arm, Aim: Legs, Cupid, Take Aim, Blackout, Faster, and, of course, Concentrate."

The Fighter nodded. "That's pretty impressive kid. And you haven't had any clan invites?"

"Only from Clan Dip, sadly enough."

"That makes me want to think that you're a really bad Hunter. If no clan wants you except Clan Dip, that's telling me something."

"Well, I didn't know invites were that common. The only way I knew how to get into a clan was ask the clan leader, not wait to get invited."

"Well, maybe you haven't been up to speed on things because you're not in a clan, but Clan Invites are all the rage, now."

"Well, I suppose it makes it easier for you to put together a good team. You get to pick which people you want, and ignore the ones you don't."

"Yeah, it makes it MUCH easier."

"Say, I've got a question now. Just popped in my head, and I'm curious."

"Ask away, then."

"How many clan members do you have?"

There was a small pause, and then the Clan Leader gave a small laugh. "You think that just because we're famous means we've got a huge clan, eh? Well, allow me to let you in on a little secret: Everyone you see here? This is all we've got."

Phoenix looked around the table. They had the Fighter, Jullianne the Sniper, an Elementalist, a White Monk, a Gunner, and a Sage.

"Wow… this is it?"

"Yup. Just the six of us."

"And you're planning on keeping it that way?"

"Well… not if the right person comes along."

"Or persons… doesn't have to be a single person, now does it?"

"What do you think the answer to that would be?"

"Well then." Phoenix gave a small grin. "I'd be honored if my buddies and myself could join your ranks."

"Ah… no."

Grin? Gone.

"Why not?"

"We wouldn't need your Templar. Christopher here's almost ready to become one." He motioned towards the White Monk. "We don't trust Gadgeteers… their abilities are just too risky. As for you… You don't even have Capture!"

"I'll get it if you want, sir. And I'll have my Gadgeteer become something more useful, and the same for my Templar. What would you want sir? A Time Mage and a Dragoon? A Juggler and a Bishop?"

The Fighter laughed. "My poor boy… you just don't understand. We don't NEED more members."

"But you said if the right person-"

"Yeah… and that's not you."

Phoenix looked down, feeling the laughter of defeat.

"Now look what you've done! Phoenix is much nicer in a bouncy mood. You didn't have to be so harsh, you know!"

"Hey, it's my decision, alright? I call the shots on new members."

"But so far, you've always called a no!"

"That's because I've never seen anyone that qualifies for a yes!"

"Then what do you call him?"

Phoenix, confused by this sudden trading of words, looked up. He saw the Clan Leader looking a bit sheepish, and saw Jullianne point at him while giving the Fighter a hard look.

"I mean, did you even HEAR what he's got for abilities? And he's willing to learn MORE as well as change his friends' Classes so they can come in, too! He seems to be highly motivated, and I can't see how you'd let a chance like that pass up!"

Phoenix blinked. Was Jullianne actually standing up for him? Suddenly, he felt horrible about his future plans. He could just see the look on her face, in his mind's eye, when she realized that he had lied to her, after all she'd done for him.

"Alright… you're in, then. And we'll take your friends. If you can, have them become a Time Mage and a Gladiator. I'm assuming that your Bangaa friend has decent MP? 'Cause I was hoping we could have him learn Ultima Sword. We've got the equipment for it… but it's just been sitting in our armory, gathering dust."

Phoenix smiled.

"Certainly, sir. I'll handle the Time Mage, though. We've got plenty of rods from engagements."

The Clan Leader nodded. "Alright then. Like I said… you're in."

Phoenix smiled, but his thoughts were still on the subject of betrayal… and he felt absolutely horrible about it.