Darios nodded slightly at the young human's feeble greeting. "Awake, and speaking....you have had quite an evening, my friend."
Abruptly, Crozet wheeled above Ian with a satisfied chirp and lopsided smile. "We almost pissed on your grave, kupoho."
Ian laughed softly. "Is that right... ...well, yes... my evening was something I'd not want to repeat for a very long time."
"And what'sss that?" The Bangaa that had been carrying him the brief moment he gained consciousness that night leaned languidly in the far corner of his vision. They were in a cave, though not a dank, dreary one. It was sandy, and the air beat down by the Moogle's tiny wings blanketed him warmly. The noontime sun angled sharply inside, casting all in a soothing golden glow. Ian glanced over to him, and nodded slightly. Ah, yes. The Bangaa God. The interesting one. Nonetheless, he sighed and shook his head.
"Well... long story short, I opened my big mouth and got the shit beaten from me by Babus Swain. VERY painful stuff."
"Easssy to guesss that. The rainsss usssually only bring out wormsss other than the Judgesss."
The Viera flicked her long ear in amused agreement. "They're hunting you. Every clan in town was being questioned when I went for supplies. They even asked me."
The Mog drifted back to earth at Ian's side, dark eyes round. "Kupopo. You really threatened the Prince, kupo?"
Ian closed his eyes slightly, remembering. Threatening the prince? No... of course he didn't. ...oh, wait...
"DAMNIT..." he cursed, "...I didn't directly. I told him that I would do whatever was necessary to get home. I guess Swain saw it enough as a threat. No kidding I was whipped so."
"Ssso why did you do it? Where are you from, you couldn't walk?"
"Back to the Guild with you for training, whatever you are." The Viera teased gently.
"Funny." Ian replied dryly. "I was on my back porch. Sleep had been escaping me so I went out for some night air. Eventually, I did fall asleep, apparently, but I could see a friggin' overpowering bright light just SMASH into my eyelids. I woke up to find I was in Berevenia Courtyard." He shrugged slightly, "I offered Prince Mewt to help him stop this guy called Marche that's been giving him trouble, in exchange for his book, the Grimoire."
"Kupoko? Grimoire...?"
Ian raised an eyebrow. "...you've not heard of it? It's an ancient magical text. Wishes can be granted with the flick of your wrist."
Crozet shrugged. "Must be a native legend where you're from, kupo."
"Wissshesss, eh? And all you wissshed isss to go home?" The Bangaa's tail swept at the hard stone casually, but his serpentine eyes studied Ian keenly, weighing every word against every gil in the bounty already posted on the human.
"Stop Nutsy? What clan are you with?"
Crozet, the wrong questions; Darios, no questions; Marlette, the one-track mind. Pallanza hissed disdainfully at the female.
"None that would likely claim him, after thisss. Except maybe for the reward."
Ian's panicked eyes shot to him. "Reward!?"
The Bangaa grinned back another unnervingly jagged grin. "500,000."
The pit that had opened up in Ian's stomach when he was confronting Babus suddenly surged back into his body as he suddenly leapt to his feet and edged around each of the four carefully, keeping himself a healthy distance from them, just in case he needed to bolt. He just lived through the night - he was not going to be returned to the Palace, spruced up like a Christmas gift. And the way the Bangaa grinned at him... he knew there was little hesitation in his mind.
"Pallanza!"
Darios stood as Marlette glared to the monk, ears flattened with the same fury in her voice. The dimunitive White Mage extended his pawhands. "Please, stranger, rest. We have no love for the Palace. Even Pallanza has no price for them."
"Ssso long asss there isssn't good reassson."
"I do not sense there is." The Nu Mou's placid dark eyes held the reptilian amber firmly.
Ian stared across at Pallanza, a frown set upon his face and he slowly slid down against the wall of the cave. He knew he was going to have to keep his distance from him from now on. Responding to an earlier question, he said softly, "...I'm with no clan."
Darios stepped quietly over, patting his shoulder gently. "More questions after you've healed completely. That was high magic used against you, stranger. Don't add running from Pallanza to it."
Marlette shook her head. "Now you can't go home, anyway."
"Yeah... perfect." he uttered quietly, "...ripped from my home by that brat prince, get the shit beaten out of me by Babus, his mace, and his Demi, bleed near to death, and now I've got a lizard that's got gold in his eyes every time he looks at me." He shook his head. 'What did I do wrong in the past life?'
"LIZZZARD???" Pallanza reared to his feet immediately, snout fractured in a terrifying snarl.
Crozet was in the air between Ian and the Bangaa with a breath. "Kupo! Take it easy! He's still confused, kupo!"
"Or just observant, lizard." Marlette laughed, gray eyes fiercely defiant.
Ian glanced over, unimpressed at the Bangaa, then focussed back down toward the floor, inwardly smirking. Whether Pallanza was serious or was saying that just to freak him out, he didn't know, but he held a quiet victory that he was able to give some back. Jerkish son-of-a...
Darios still hovered protectively near. "....where IS your home....?"
"...it's not in Ivalice..." he replied, "...a city named Hudson."
Crozet twisted about with renewed curiosity. "Not in Ivalice? You're from across the sea?"
"Something like that..." he replied. He didn't want to get too far-fetched. If they thought he was TOO crazy, he feared that they might think he wouldn't be worth the effort to keep around.
Marlette leaned in, intrigued herself. "The Prince playing with his Mama's magic tomes, and zapped you here by accident, huh?"
He shrugged, "You've got me. I wanted to know myself. I asked. He wouldn't tell me. ...so, I persisted, then finally exploded."
"Kupopo....and Swain Exploded you." The small Mog flinched sympathetically.
"Demi hurts." he uttered.
"Not anymore, I hope." Darios murmured. Marlette grabbed Ian's hands regardless of the answer, shaking them with a grin.
"So, can we keep you?"
Ian blinked at the happy bunny. "...Keep me?"
"Sure! You're clanless, and you're not going home anytime soon. They'd be combing the port cities closest of all."
Finally, the Bangaa collapsed back to the floor, shaking his head sulkily. "And we have no reassson to turn you in. Damn it."
Ian was silent again for a while. His tongue traced over his lips, nervously. He wanted to return a jab to Pallanza, but forgot about it. "...Why would you want ME in a clan? I couldn't even fight back against Babus."
"But you TRIED." The Viera's face and tone shone with admiration. "Don't know WHY, exactly, but not even Nutsy's done that!"
"Kupono....she wants you for a mascot." The Moogle's eyes rolled.
Ian's eyelids sunk down, "I kicked him in the back of the head. That's IT. Besides that, I don't know how to use any weapons. It'd be pointless to have me in a clan."
"We can't just leave you alone!"
Darios chuckled lightly. Marlette was always very persuasive when she wanted something. "That is true. I would think we were more your patron than clansmates. Your guardians."
"Kupopo. Plus, we're not even a clan, yet."
Ian drummed his fingers against the wall, thinking. Could it really hurt to have them as his clanmates? Could he tolerate Pallanza enough? ...alone, he would be more vulnerable to bounty hunters and the like. He sighed softly. "Why not...?"
Marlette joined Crozet in the air with a delighted leap. "You won't be sorry! Well, except that Pallanza and Crozet almost pissed on you to find you."
Crozet's plump cheeks reddened in the extreme under his glossy white fur. "ALMOST, kupoku."
"Then I owe you both for that 'almost'." he replied with a light sigh.
Marlette's toes met the floor again, her teeth brilliant against her rich brown fur. "Well, want to rest back up, now that you know we aren't going to sell you out?"
"We're in the Sssiena Gorge. Ssshould be sssafe a while."
"I might as well..." Ian yawned slightly, feeling slightly more tired again. "I lost a lot of blood back there."
"Only the rain saved you from the Palace guard, I would imagine." Darios observed grimly. "It was to the limits of my abilities to heal you."
"You are very talented to do even that..." he nodded his appreciation for the White Monk.
"There....see, lopears? We're all gonna gang up on you." Marlette ruffled the Nu Mou's cloud-light mane affectionately as he closed his eyes with another chuckle.
"Not quite. You still need natural mending, my friend. Heh....one more question I will allow. Your name...?"
Ian nodded slowly, "...my name is Ian. Ian Jenkins. ...but, uh... it might be best not to say it out loud... we don't need to give the Royals a name to go with the face."
"Got family to protect, huh?"
"Let'sss call him sssmartasss, then." Pallanza interrupted Marlette's nosiness with annoyance.
"Kupoho. Something fitting, kupo!"
"Fitsss to me."
"We already call you that, lizard." Marlette frowned again. "It'd have to be 'the one the smartass calls smartass'."
"Hm... how about Rook, since I am something of a rookie clansman..." Ian offered.
Crozet nodded vigorously as his wingbeat. "That's a kupo name!"
Marlette smirked. "Yeah. Then we don't have to hear the lizard hiss 'Jenkinsss' all the time."
"Okay, then... so I'm Rook, of Clan Yet-To-Be-Made..." Ian repeated in satisfaction. Somehow... he just knew he could trust this group... maybe even Pallanza. A little.
"Clan Mianjenku." Marlette corrected giddily. "And with you along, we WILL be a clan, in no time!"
'Mianjenku?' he thought, '...weird name...'
"I can't exactly promise I'll be able to do much in a fight... but I'll try my best." he said quietly.
"Kupo! No worries about engagements! We aren't even allowed, yet."
"And sssome of usss wouldn't, anyway." The Bangaa looked hard at Darios, who looked to Ian instead.
"You need not do anything you do not wish."
The young man glanced between Darios and Pallanza with a raised eyebrow. 'What's that about...?' he thought.
"Kupo. Maybe we should head back to the woods. Too risky to look for clansmates now."
"Which woods would you be talking about?" he asked.
"All the way back to Salika." Marlette explained. "We thought we'd have better luck recruiting in a big city."
"Know where Sssalika isss, Rook?"
Ian shook his head, "No, I'm afraid not."
Crozet looked up sheepishly. "Two weeks away, kupo."
The human blinked at him, "...by foot." he said. Not a question.
The bonbon bobbed in confirmation as feared.
"Risssky in itssself, asss many Judgesss roaming the fieldsss looking for you."
"Flippin' great..." Ian sighed, leaning his head back, "...plus rival clans who want that bounty. They're gonna know me from my blood-soaked clothes."
"Nope!" Marlette giggled. "We'll get you real clothes, silly! Not pajamas."
"Well, I WAS practically dragged out of bed." Ian rubbed the back of his neck.
"Kupopo....I'd say ninja gear, since they hide their faces....but they'd wonder why we wanted human clothes, wouldn't they?"
Pallanza hissed in amusement. "Get an Illusssssionissst'sss robesss, Marlette. Sssay you wanted a dancccing gown."
"Verrrrry funny." Ian said, flatly. "...I gotta find something to cover my face."
"Well, maybe a Saboteur....could always claim you have your ears covered....." Marlette mused, fingers curled beneath her chin. "They conceal their whole face. It's a buck's job, but you COULD be hiding your ears...."
Ian blinked in surprise, "...Buck? ...there are MALE Viera?"
Marlette could only get laughter out in answer.
"Kupoho! Where did you get THAT?"
"Hudson must be a backwater." Marlette's small palm ground back more laughter breathlessly. "I've only heard THAT one secondhand. How do you think we make more, if there's only us girls?"
"Interspecies relationships?" He eyed between her and Darios, with a slight glance to Pallanza.
Crozet snickered. "Well, if you want to go tell the bucks they should be does, feel free, kupoho."
"Uh, no thank you... ...but won't that attract a BIT of attention, ya know?" he asked, "I mean... as soon as they find I HAVE no ears to hide..."
"Heh....yeah, and you DON'T see many Viera bucks." Marlette agreed.
"Leassst of all with you."
Ian winced, with a chuckle. Ouch. "Still..." he said, before any arguement could break out, "...I think they'd be looking for Ninjas and such, moreso, since it's a human occupation."
"Well, ssson....no way you'd fit in a Bangaa'sss gear."
"I wouldn't imagine so... especially due to the fact that I note that you are currently wearing barely any pants."
Pallanza only replied with another grinning hiss.
"Saboteur it is, then?" Marlette joined in grinning, nearly as toothily. "I can pass you off as my brother!"
Ian raised an eyebrow. Wow, this bunny was REALLY happy. "Sure, let's go for it."
"Hehe....no, I'LL go for it. You stay put."
"Been ssstassshing gil behind our backsss?"
"Okay..." he shifted, "...how long do you expect to be?"
The Viera shook her head. "Shouldn't be long. I'm sure they'll have what we need....they cater to everyone in Cadoan, not just the Nu Mou."
"Good..." Ian nodded, "...wait, did you say Cadoan?"
Her ears flipped forward. "Yep! Heard of it, too?"
"Only due to Ezel Berbier." he replied, "His infamy for defying the Judges of Ivalice with his Antilaws has spread through the underworld of this county and mine like wildfire."
Crozet chortled. "He'll be glad to know he's famous over the sea too, kupoho!"
"That one isss too ssstingy."
"Hehe....Antilaws in YOUR claws would be dangerous, lizard. He's just keeping things fair." Marlette poked ungently.
Darios smiled. "He would probably be interested in meeting you, friend. He approves of all chaos brought on the Palace."
"Huh. A regular revolutionary." Ian shook his head, "I've seen my share of them. ...'cept he's actually making progress."
"Heh....it was a grave day in Berevenia when the maker of the Judges' Law cards turned traitor."
Ian's eyebrows raised. In all his gaming in Tactics Advance, he had never known that Ezel Berbier was once a member of the Berevenia Court. "REALLY..." he said, shocked, "I didn't know he was a member of the court..."
"His arguments with them made great gossip in the pubs, kupo. Then he just broke from them altogether."
"And they considered that treason?"
"Leave the Judgesss ssso sshorthanded, and make Antilawsss?" Pallanza laughed outright, a harsh, sibilant sound. "Until you, ssson, and the Nutsssso of Nutsssy, he had the biggessst bounty in Ivalice. Differenccce isss, mossst clansss will fight to keep him sssafe."
"Except stupid, greedy ones.....and they get what they deserve." Marlette mocked a kick in invisible pants.
"Well, I kinda understand the Laws." he replied, "Back home, we've got laws. Thing is that most of the law enforcement officers are so corrupt, they just turn the other way, and the violence just doesn't stop. At least, here, they ENFORCE them..."
The Bangaa locked hot eyes on him. "I wasss in Sssphrom sssix timesss for attacking a monssster."
"They take them too far, kupo! And they don't ask ANYONE what they think!"
"We have Judges who are corrupt here, too. And with that kind of power.....it isn't pretty." Marlette scowled. "Especially in little settlements like Salika."
"...hmph." Ian shook his head, "Guess stupidity and corruption goes EVERYwhere... hell..."
Darios's face became solemn, lips thin. "Except in the Jagds. There would likely have been outright civil war were it not for fear of the whole of Ivalice becoming a lawless waste, full of death."
Ian rubbed his forehead, "Good Gods... the situation is THAT bad?"
"Kupoho....you'll be here a while. You'll see."
"There are some clans who'd love that, though." Marlette added. "They'd love the chance to climb to the top on the ashes of the Palace."
"Like who? 'cuz I know a few other rulers I'd like to see toppled..." he chuckled inwardly, thinking of his former home country.
The Viera looked back without humor. "Clan Marble, for one. But I wouldn't want THEM on top,
either."
"Sssandwich Dariosss, eh?"
The diminuitive White Mage blushed brightly beneath his fur right to his ear-tips. "Clan Marble are ruthless, Master Rook. Many times they lie in wait in the Jagds, where their enemies can be dispatched permanently."
"Ah...ha..." he said slowly. The Jagds. Ugh. Well, best he still sound like a tourist. "...you've already mentioned them. What ARE the Jagds?"
"Lawless lands, kupo. The Judges' power doesn't work, there."
"They're full of evil magic is why." Marlette shuddered. "The Viera believe that is where the souls of wicked people go, to prey on the living."
"Clossse enough to what the Bangaa sssay, too. It'sss landsss forsssaken by the Godsss, where the traitorsss of the heavenss were casst down."
"Soooo, it's creepy, it's lawless, AND it's unholy?" Ian blinked. Great. Sounds like fiends in Final Fantasy X. "...and people go there ANYway?"
"Kupoho! The worst scoundrels who can survive there."
"Clan Marble." Pallanza's long snout twisted distastefully. "The rent'sss sssslasssshed throatssss."
"Well... hell." Ian sighed. "And they're afraid Ivalice is gonna turn into a place like that?"
Marlette's ears waved again in assent. "If the Judges weren't here, it would be predator and prey. Some clans have no ideals to stay their hands."
"I see..." he rubbed his goatee. "...wow, what a load to take in..."
"Lesser of two evils. Even where YOU'RE concerned. But, hey! We'll fix what we can.....and keep you safe!"
"And I appreciate it..." he replied, "...I'm glad that you guys found me rather than the judges, or I'd be sharing a cell with a large thing called Bubba the Love Sponge."
Crozet's laughter rang out like a pistol shot. "That would probably be Pallanza, kupoho!"
"Oh, GOOD LORD..." he chuckled himself.
The monk winked cheekily as Marlette ducked to the mouth of the cave.
"I'll be back before nightfall, 'brother'". she snickered.
"Kupo....now we're even more a harem."
Ian chuckled again and hunkered down slowly. He was tired, still. He was just glad that he managed to get some basic information about the situation.
Darios shuffled over, nodding back to the pile of beddings Ian had awakened on. "Sleep again,if you wish. We'll be leaving soon as you are disguised."
"All right..." he replied, slowly getting to his feet and moving back over to the bedding. He slid down slowly and lay upon them, "...best get my strength back up anyway."
Abruptly, Crozet wheeled above Ian with a satisfied chirp and lopsided smile. "We almost pissed on your grave, kupoho."
Ian laughed softly. "Is that right... ...well, yes... my evening was something I'd not want to repeat for a very long time."
"And what'sss that?" The Bangaa that had been carrying him the brief moment he gained consciousness that night leaned languidly in the far corner of his vision. They were in a cave, though not a dank, dreary one. It was sandy, and the air beat down by the Moogle's tiny wings blanketed him warmly. The noontime sun angled sharply inside, casting all in a soothing golden glow. Ian glanced over to him, and nodded slightly. Ah, yes. The Bangaa God. The interesting one. Nonetheless, he sighed and shook his head.
"Well... long story short, I opened my big mouth and got the shit beaten from me by Babus Swain. VERY painful stuff."
"Easssy to guesss that. The rainsss usssually only bring out wormsss other than the Judgesss."
The Viera flicked her long ear in amused agreement. "They're hunting you. Every clan in town was being questioned when I went for supplies. They even asked me."
The Mog drifted back to earth at Ian's side, dark eyes round. "Kupopo. You really threatened the Prince, kupo?"
Ian closed his eyes slightly, remembering. Threatening the prince? No... of course he didn't. ...oh, wait...
"DAMNIT..." he cursed, "...I didn't directly. I told him that I would do whatever was necessary to get home. I guess Swain saw it enough as a threat. No kidding I was whipped so."
"Ssso why did you do it? Where are you from, you couldn't walk?"
"Back to the Guild with you for training, whatever you are." The Viera teased gently.
"Funny." Ian replied dryly. "I was on my back porch. Sleep had been escaping me so I went out for some night air. Eventually, I did fall asleep, apparently, but I could see a friggin' overpowering bright light just SMASH into my eyelids. I woke up to find I was in Berevenia Courtyard." He shrugged slightly, "I offered Prince Mewt to help him stop this guy called Marche that's been giving him trouble, in exchange for his book, the Grimoire."
"Kupoko? Grimoire...?"
Ian raised an eyebrow. "...you've not heard of it? It's an ancient magical text. Wishes can be granted with the flick of your wrist."
Crozet shrugged. "Must be a native legend where you're from, kupo."
"Wissshesss, eh? And all you wissshed isss to go home?" The Bangaa's tail swept at the hard stone casually, but his serpentine eyes studied Ian keenly, weighing every word against every gil in the bounty already posted on the human.
"Stop Nutsy? What clan are you with?"
Crozet, the wrong questions; Darios, no questions; Marlette, the one-track mind. Pallanza hissed disdainfully at the female.
"None that would likely claim him, after thisss. Except maybe for the reward."
Ian's panicked eyes shot to him. "Reward!?"
The Bangaa grinned back another unnervingly jagged grin. "500,000."
The pit that had opened up in Ian's stomach when he was confronting Babus suddenly surged back into his body as he suddenly leapt to his feet and edged around each of the four carefully, keeping himself a healthy distance from them, just in case he needed to bolt. He just lived through the night - he was not going to be returned to the Palace, spruced up like a Christmas gift. And the way the Bangaa grinned at him... he knew there was little hesitation in his mind.
"Pallanza!"
Darios stood as Marlette glared to the monk, ears flattened with the same fury in her voice. The dimunitive White Mage extended his pawhands. "Please, stranger, rest. We have no love for the Palace. Even Pallanza has no price for them."
"Ssso long asss there isssn't good reassson."
"I do not sense there is." The Nu Mou's placid dark eyes held the reptilian amber firmly.
Ian stared across at Pallanza, a frown set upon his face and he slowly slid down against the wall of the cave. He knew he was going to have to keep his distance from him from now on. Responding to an earlier question, he said softly, "...I'm with no clan."
Darios stepped quietly over, patting his shoulder gently. "More questions after you've healed completely. That was high magic used against you, stranger. Don't add running from Pallanza to it."
Marlette shook her head. "Now you can't go home, anyway."
"Yeah... perfect." he uttered quietly, "...ripped from my home by that brat prince, get the shit beaten out of me by Babus, his mace, and his Demi, bleed near to death, and now I've got a lizard that's got gold in his eyes every time he looks at me." He shook his head. 'What did I do wrong in the past life?'
"LIZZZARD???" Pallanza reared to his feet immediately, snout fractured in a terrifying snarl.
Crozet was in the air between Ian and the Bangaa with a breath. "Kupo! Take it easy! He's still confused, kupo!"
"Or just observant, lizard." Marlette laughed, gray eyes fiercely defiant.
Ian glanced over, unimpressed at the Bangaa, then focussed back down toward the floor, inwardly smirking. Whether Pallanza was serious or was saying that just to freak him out, he didn't know, but he held a quiet victory that he was able to give some back. Jerkish son-of-a...
Darios still hovered protectively near. "....where IS your home....?"
"...it's not in Ivalice..." he replied, "...a city named Hudson."
Crozet twisted about with renewed curiosity. "Not in Ivalice? You're from across the sea?"
"Something like that..." he replied. He didn't want to get too far-fetched. If they thought he was TOO crazy, he feared that they might think he wouldn't be worth the effort to keep around.
Marlette leaned in, intrigued herself. "The Prince playing with his Mama's magic tomes, and zapped you here by accident, huh?"
He shrugged, "You've got me. I wanted to know myself. I asked. He wouldn't tell me. ...so, I persisted, then finally exploded."
"Kupopo....and Swain Exploded you." The small Mog flinched sympathetically.
"Demi hurts." he uttered.
"Not anymore, I hope." Darios murmured. Marlette grabbed Ian's hands regardless of the answer, shaking them with a grin.
"So, can we keep you?"
Ian blinked at the happy bunny. "...Keep me?"
"Sure! You're clanless, and you're not going home anytime soon. They'd be combing the port cities closest of all."
Finally, the Bangaa collapsed back to the floor, shaking his head sulkily. "And we have no reassson to turn you in. Damn it."
Ian was silent again for a while. His tongue traced over his lips, nervously. He wanted to return a jab to Pallanza, but forgot about it. "...Why would you want ME in a clan? I couldn't even fight back against Babus."
"But you TRIED." The Viera's face and tone shone with admiration. "Don't know WHY, exactly, but not even Nutsy's done that!"
"Kupono....she wants you for a mascot." The Moogle's eyes rolled.
Ian's eyelids sunk down, "I kicked him in the back of the head. That's IT. Besides that, I don't know how to use any weapons. It'd be pointless to have me in a clan."
"We can't just leave you alone!"
Darios chuckled lightly. Marlette was always very persuasive when she wanted something. "That is true. I would think we were more your patron than clansmates. Your guardians."
"Kupopo. Plus, we're not even a clan, yet."
Ian drummed his fingers against the wall, thinking. Could it really hurt to have them as his clanmates? Could he tolerate Pallanza enough? ...alone, he would be more vulnerable to bounty hunters and the like. He sighed softly. "Why not...?"
Marlette joined Crozet in the air with a delighted leap. "You won't be sorry! Well, except that Pallanza and Crozet almost pissed on you to find you."
Crozet's plump cheeks reddened in the extreme under his glossy white fur. "ALMOST, kupoku."
"Then I owe you both for that 'almost'." he replied with a light sigh.
Marlette's toes met the floor again, her teeth brilliant against her rich brown fur. "Well, want to rest back up, now that you know we aren't going to sell you out?"
"We're in the Sssiena Gorge. Ssshould be sssafe a while."
"I might as well..." Ian yawned slightly, feeling slightly more tired again. "I lost a lot of blood back there."
"Only the rain saved you from the Palace guard, I would imagine." Darios observed grimly. "It was to the limits of my abilities to heal you."
"You are very talented to do even that..." he nodded his appreciation for the White Monk.
"There....see, lopears? We're all gonna gang up on you." Marlette ruffled the Nu Mou's cloud-light mane affectionately as he closed his eyes with another chuckle.
"Not quite. You still need natural mending, my friend. Heh....one more question I will allow. Your name...?"
Ian nodded slowly, "...my name is Ian. Ian Jenkins. ...but, uh... it might be best not to say it out loud... we don't need to give the Royals a name to go with the face."
"Got family to protect, huh?"
"Let'sss call him sssmartasss, then." Pallanza interrupted Marlette's nosiness with annoyance.
"Kupoho. Something fitting, kupo!"
"Fitsss to me."
"We already call you that, lizard." Marlette frowned again. "It'd have to be 'the one the smartass calls smartass'."
"Hm... how about Rook, since I am something of a rookie clansman..." Ian offered.
Crozet nodded vigorously as his wingbeat. "That's a kupo name!"
Marlette smirked. "Yeah. Then we don't have to hear the lizard hiss 'Jenkinsss' all the time."
"Okay, then... so I'm Rook, of Clan Yet-To-Be-Made..." Ian repeated in satisfaction. Somehow... he just knew he could trust this group... maybe even Pallanza. A little.
"Clan Mianjenku." Marlette corrected giddily. "And with you along, we WILL be a clan, in no time!"
'Mianjenku?' he thought, '...weird name...'
"I can't exactly promise I'll be able to do much in a fight... but I'll try my best." he said quietly.
"Kupo! No worries about engagements! We aren't even allowed, yet."
"And sssome of usss wouldn't, anyway." The Bangaa looked hard at Darios, who looked to Ian instead.
"You need not do anything you do not wish."
The young man glanced between Darios and Pallanza with a raised eyebrow. 'What's that about...?' he thought.
"Kupo. Maybe we should head back to the woods. Too risky to look for clansmates now."
"Which woods would you be talking about?" he asked.
"All the way back to Salika." Marlette explained. "We thought we'd have better luck recruiting in a big city."
"Know where Sssalika isss, Rook?"
Ian shook his head, "No, I'm afraid not."
Crozet looked up sheepishly. "Two weeks away, kupo."
The human blinked at him, "...by foot." he said. Not a question.
The bonbon bobbed in confirmation as feared.
"Risssky in itssself, asss many Judgesss roaming the fieldsss looking for you."
"Flippin' great..." Ian sighed, leaning his head back, "...plus rival clans who want that bounty. They're gonna know me from my blood-soaked clothes."
"Nope!" Marlette giggled. "We'll get you real clothes, silly! Not pajamas."
"Well, I WAS practically dragged out of bed." Ian rubbed the back of his neck.
"Kupopo....I'd say ninja gear, since they hide their faces....but they'd wonder why we wanted human clothes, wouldn't they?"
Pallanza hissed in amusement. "Get an Illusssssionissst'sss robesss, Marlette. Sssay you wanted a dancccing gown."
"Verrrrry funny." Ian said, flatly. "...I gotta find something to cover my face."
"Well, maybe a Saboteur....could always claim you have your ears covered....." Marlette mused, fingers curled beneath her chin. "They conceal their whole face. It's a buck's job, but you COULD be hiding your ears...."
Ian blinked in surprise, "...Buck? ...there are MALE Viera?"
Marlette could only get laughter out in answer.
"Kupoho! Where did you get THAT?"
"Hudson must be a backwater." Marlette's small palm ground back more laughter breathlessly. "I've only heard THAT one secondhand. How do you think we make more, if there's only us girls?"
"Interspecies relationships?" He eyed between her and Darios, with a slight glance to Pallanza.
Crozet snickered. "Well, if you want to go tell the bucks they should be does, feel free, kupoho."
"Uh, no thank you... ...but won't that attract a BIT of attention, ya know?" he asked, "I mean... as soon as they find I HAVE no ears to hide..."
"Heh....yeah, and you DON'T see many Viera bucks." Marlette agreed.
"Leassst of all with you."
Ian winced, with a chuckle. Ouch. "Still..." he said, before any arguement could break out, "...I think they'd be looking for Ninjas and such, moreso, since it's a human occupation."
"Well, ssson....no way you'd fit in a Bangaa'sss gear."
"I wouldn't imagine so... especially due to the fact that I note that you are currently wearing barely any pants."
Pallanza only replied with another grinning hiss.
"Saboteur it is, then?" Marlette joined in grinning, nearly as toothily. "I can pass you off as my brother!"
Ian raised an eyebrow. Wow, this bunny was REALLY happy. "Sure, let's go for it."
"Hehe....no, I'LL go for it. You stay put."
"Been ssstassshing gil behind our backsss?"
"Okay..." he shifted, "...how long do you expect to be?"
The Viera shook her head. "Shouldn't be long. I'm sure they'll have what we need....they cater to everyone in Cadoan, not just the Nu Mou."
"Good..." Ian nodded, "...wait, did you say Cadoan?"
Her ears flipped forward. "Yep! Heard of it, too?"
"Only due to Ezel Berbier." he replied, "His infamy for defying the Judges of Ivalice with his Antilaws has spread through the underworld of this county and mine like wildfire."
Crozet chortled. "He'll be glad to know he's famous over the sea too, kupoho!"
"That one isss too ssstingy."
"Hehe....Antilaws in YOUR claws would be dangerous, lizard. He's just keeping things fair." Marlette poked ungently.
Darios smiled. "He would probably be interested in meeting you, friend. He approves of all chaos brought on the Palace."
"Huh. A regular revolutionary." Ian shook his head, "I've seen my share of them. ...'cept he's actually making progress."
"Heh....it was a grave day in Berevenia when the maker of the Judges' Law cards turned traitor."
Ian's eyebrows raised. In all his gaming in Tactics Advance, he had never known that Ezel Berbier was once a member of the Berevenia Court. "REALLY..." he said, shocked, "I didn't know he was a member of the court..."
"His arguments with them made great gossip in the pubs, kupo. Then he just broke from them altogether."
"And they considered that treason?"
"Leave the Judgesss ssso sshorthanded, and make Antilawsss?" Pallanza laughed outright, a harsh, sibilant sound. "Until you, ssson, and the Nutsssso of Nutsssy, he had the biggessst bounty in Ivalice. Differenccce isss, mossst clansss will fight to keep him sssafe."
"Except stupid, greedy ones.....and they get what they deserve." Marlette mocked a kick in invisible pants.
"Well, I kinda understand the Laws." he replied, "Back home, we've got laws. Thing is that most of the law enforcement officers are so corrupt, they just turn the other way, and the violence just doesn't stop. At least, here, they ENFORCE them..."
The Bangaa locked hot eyes on him. "I wasss in Sssphrom sssix timesss for attacking a monssster."
"They take them too far, kupo! And they don't ask ANYONE what they think!"
"We have Judges who are corrupt here, too. And with that kind of power.....it isn't pretty." Marlette scowled. "Especially in little settlements like Salika."
"...hmph." Ian shook his head, "Guess stupidity and corruption goes EVERYwhere... hell..."
Darios's face became solemn, lips thin. "Except in the Jagds. There would likely have been outright civil war were it not for fear of the whole of Ivalice becoming a lawless waste, full of death."
Ian rubbed his forehead, "Good Gods... the situation is THAT bad?"
"Kupoho....you'll be here a while. You'll see."
"There are some clans who'd love that, though." Marlette added. "They'd love the chance to climb to the top on the ashes of the Palace."
"Like who? 'cuz I know a few other rulers I'd like to see toppled..." he chuckled inwardly, thinking of his former home country.
The Viera looked back without humor. "Clan Marble, for one. But I wouldn't want THEM on top,
either."
"Sssandwich Dariosss, eh?"
The diminuitive White Mage blushed brightly beneath his fur right to his ear-tips. "Clan Marble are ruthless, Master Rook. Many times they lie in wait in the Jagds, where their enemies can be dispatched permanently."
"Ah...ha..." he said slowly. The Jagds. Ugh. Well, best he still sound like a tourist. "...you've already mentioned them. What ARE the Jagds?"
"Lawless lands, kupo. The Judges' power doesn't work, there."
"They're full of evil magic is why." Marlette shuddered. "The Viera believe that is where the souls of wicked people go, to prey on the living."
"Clossse enough to what the Bangaa sssay, too. It'sss landsss forsssaken by the Godsss, where the traitorsss of the heavenss were casst down."
"Soooo, it's creepy, it's lawless, AND it's unholy?" Ian blinked. Great. Sounds like fiends in Final Fantasy X. "...and people go there ANYway?"
"Kupoho! The worst scoundrels who can survive there."
"Clan Marble." Pallanza's long snout twisted distastefully. "The rent'sss sssslasssshed throatssss."
"Well... hell." Ian sighed. "And they're afraid Ivalice is gonna turn into a place like that?"
Marlette's ears waved again in assent. "If the Judges weren't here, it would be predator and prey. Some clans have no ideals to stay their hands."
"I see..." he rubbed his goatee. "...wow, what a load to take in..."
"Lesser of two evils. Even where YOU'RE concerned. But, hey! We'll fix what we can.....and keep you safe!"
"And I appreciate it..." he replied, "...I'm glad that you guys found me rather than the judges, or I'd be sharing a cell with a large thing called Bubba the Love Sponge."
Crozet's laughter rang out like a pistol shot. "That would probably be Pallanza, kupoho!"
"Oh, GOOD LORD..." he chuckled himself.
The monk winked cheekily as Marlette ducked to the mouth of the cave.
"I'll be back before nightfall, 'brother'". she snickered.
"Kupo....now we're even more a harem."
Ian chuckled again and hunkered down slowly. He was tired, still. He was just glad that he managed to get some basic information about the situation.
Darios shuffled over, nodding back to the pile of beddings Ian had awakened on. "Sleep again,if you wish. We'll be leaving soon as you are disguised."
"All right..." he replied, slowly getting to his feet and moving back over to the bedding. He slid down slowly and lay upon them, "...best get my strength back up anyway."