Author's Note

Thank you so much for taking time to read Spot of Mummery! Below is a series of short "intermissions" that provide details on what the characters decided to do after the "Coming Together" storyline. However, if you enjoyed this story, Spot of Mummery Part 2 - Koh's Question & Answer should be showing up soon on my profile. I hope that you continue to read and enjoy - there's plenty more where this came from, and I hope to be more consistent with future updates!

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Intermission: Amon

Amon chose to remain with the rag-tag group he'd discovered during his return to the living world. Due to Zuri's encouragement, they created a Free Company, which is based out of Gridania. He appears to be genuinely fond of his FC mates and continues to make emotional connections with them.

Aside from Koh/Noah and Ajir, he has not shared his identity with anyone else. He relies on the hope that the name "Amon" by itself won't have much meaning to people who have mostly forgotten Allagan history.

Amon tends to feel a sense of peace in Gridania. Perhaps it's a place that echoes his very early years, before he came to Syrcus Tower. It could even be that the area that is now the Shroud was his birthplace, but time and ever-changing world events makes it hard to determine. He spends much time there.

With the addition of Koh as a healer, their Free Company has been successful in obtaining many more local jobs and bringing in a surplus of Gil. Amon has invested in a set of Replica Allagan Gear for Archers/Bards, and chooses to wear it to blend in. He does have a bardic tunic and separate outfit he uses for performances, though he hasn't needed to fall back on performing for Gil for a while.

Amon tends to wander the cities and observe quietly. Though he's friendly when approached, he's in a mostly hands-off observation mode. He's recently gotten passage toIshgard and is absorbing the strange new culture he finds there.

Curiosity about what passes as modern science has prodded Amon to join the Alchemy Guild. He humors Guildmaster Severian, and laments to see the massive loss of knowledge through the ages. It's not unusual for him to secretly "improve upon" equations left written on the guild drawing boards.

Koh is trying to glean as much Allagan knowledge from Amon as she's able. He works with her… up to a point. Then it becomes a joke to him and a frustration to her. Simple, harmless knowledge, Amon is pretty open to sharing, but anything beyond that, he refuses to release. He's seen what happens when people walk those paths already.

Intermission: Zuri

After begging her friends to make a new Free Company, she happily arranges for the official formation in Gridania. However, she allowsAjir and Amon to argue over who actually leads it.

With a healer on board, the group is able to find better local jobs, and actually earns a fairly good surplus of Gil. Due to that, Amon advised her on finding better bardic wear, and helped her pick out a new performing tunic. Mistake on Amon's part – now Zuri adores him all the more for taking her shopping.

Amon often spends his downtime tutoring Zuri. When the group is not on the clock, he provides voice lessons and helps her improve her finger work on the harp. As soon as the Gil is available, he also has promised to help her pick out a new instrument.

In turn, they have exchanged songs and stories across both of their cultures. Amon seems equally as fascinated by her upbringing in Yanxia as she is in trying to prod him for information about himself. Zuri still can't quite place where Amon is from, and it puzzles her to no end.

Zuri also has made fast friends with Koh. Having another girl on the team is so much fun, and she helps the much more timid Scholar find some confidence in her healing abilities. Zuri is not yet aware of Noah's presence, and Noah doesn't interfere with Koh's new, growing friendship.

Intermission: Koh/Noah

Koh didn't expect things to lead where they did. Certainly not to be recruited as a healer and to join a Free Company of strangers, including Amon of Allag. But how could she say no to such an opportunity? It hardly seemed real!

Thankfully, most of the people in the FC are very friendly and patient with her. They also seem to be grateful to have a healer, no matter how rusty she actually is! Though the team has offered to improve her wardrobe (as everyone seems to be doing), she's denied their generosity until she feels more connected with the group.

Zuri has shown Koh so much kindness, and they've started to become close friends. Still not close enough for Koh to talk about her situation, but enough for her to feel comfortable with the Au Ra for just… normal things. She also doesn't want to talk about anything that might expose Amon for who he is. She senses Amon desires privacy, and respects that.

Every chance Koh gets, she pulls Amon aside for research sessions. Sometimes, she gets good information from him, but most of the time, he turns it into a joke, or refuses to share what he knows. This is frustrating considering Koh is very aware of the kind of knowledge he has… and sees that he's purposely covering it up with a devil-may-care act with everyone. Including her.

Noah also spends time talking with Amon alone… However, she doesn't usually open up those thoughts and conversations to Koh. Though she was suspicious of Amon at first, the more she talks with him, the more she's convinced that he really has been stripped of his power and that he doesn't seem to have any desire to relive the darkness of his past life.

Noah still… secretly… maybe… kinda… hopes that there might be something Amon can do to help her and Koh in their situation. She never directly brings this up as she knows very well what asking for his help has led to for others. Noah trusts Amon only enough to believe that he's not there to set the world on fire… but that doesn't mean she's ready to put what little is left of her existence in his hands just yet.

Intermission: Mocho

Mocho was the first to agree to join the Free Company that Zuri proposed. There was a part of him that was just happy the kids still wanted him around, despite his mistakes and him being slow to the draw.

It's a huge relief to have Koh on board as a healer. Neither of them are too sure of their roles, so they help each other out and learn the tank-healer synergy. It's been a valuable experience for him.

Mocho has spent much time at the Gladiator's Guild training and practicing. He's begun to progress, and has even earned himself a new sword and set of gear. While he's not fully confident in his ability just yet, he's getting better. Most of their jobs have been successful, so things are improving.

He continues to keep a fatherly eye on the rest of the crew, and stands as the voice of reason in times of confusion. Though he and Amon get along, Mocho seems to keep his distance, as if he knows something more about the situation than he lets on.

Intermission: Ajir

I left Ajir for last because this is a difficult thing to write. I thought about this long and hard, and I've decided to have Ajir part ways with the rest of the characters. Just like in RPGs and real life, folks come and go as they are called. I have several reasons for this from a writer's POV, however.

When I sat down to think about these Intermission pieces, Ajir was the only one that I really didn't have anything to write about. He's a fairly well-formed character, and already quite skillful. While I guess I could drum up some form of development for him, I really feel like I'd rather focus on the characters who naturally need time for development… which is… everyone else.

When I started planning and writing this fiction, Ajir made sense. I wanted to explore the Xaela Au Ra of the Steppes (Zuri's from Yanxia), and the party needed a protector. Now, I feel like with the addition of Amon and Koh/Noah to the group, I almost have too many personalities demanding attention. I also feel like I'm fine just exploring the Raen side of culture when that time comes.

The opportunity to meet back up with Ajir sometime in the future is always a possibility! For right now, my writer-senses are telling me this is the right move to make for party composition… even if it's not an easy choice! So please don't be upset if you enjoyed having Ajir in the story! Thanks for understanding!