Ian stared over at Marlette, eyes half-lidded slightly in annoyance. He knew she was kidding, but still... "I don't care HOW good you think it looks on me, I'm NOT wearing Illusionist robes."

"But it's even your color!" she wheedled playfully.

"But I don't even HAVE a color!"

"I say it is. A doe knows these things. It's color magic!" She spun the heavily-stitched satin garb about for flair, trying her hardest to make her pleas seem serious indeed.

The humor was lost on Crozet, who was nearly green as the Illusionist gear she modelled. "Kupoooo....I can't believe you wasted a trade on that! I needed more bullets, kupopo!"

"I can't believe you jussst made that lame pun." Pallanza muttered, nevertheless amused by the pinkskin getting pinker by the second. The humans would do well to follow the Bangaa, and divide the sexes mostly between scales and scent. They put far too much on those strange, jiggly breasts and the color of the silks that concealed them.

"Kupoko....think the bounty hunters or beasts would die laughing if we run across any?"

"I thought we agreed on a Saboteur." Ian said, raising an eyebrow, "...Lord knows what would happen if I happened to be an Illusionist."

"We would lossse our cover laughing at you."

Marlette did just that at last, folding the long garment away with a reassuring look to the distrssed Moogle. "It was a sale, anyway. We can make up the trade and more back in Salika." She looked up to Ian apologetically then, pulling out an armload of subtle gray, light cotton. "It would've been worth it for you could greet the new day on a happier note."

Ian chuckled softly, taking the clothing, "Heh... somehow, I don't think it looked "me", but thanks anyway." He looked at the clothing. Very spiffy. It was rather plain, but he wanted to be inconspicuous. 'twould be perfectly perfect.

She reached into the bag again with a giggle, carefully untying a parchment-wrapped bundle to reveal a plain, polished mask of alabaster. "Don't forget this. You're no Saboteur without it."

He took the mask gingerly, "Hm, thanks. VERY nice..." He observed it. A plain enough mask, with sharply featured nose and narrow eyeholes, and the neutral curve of an expressionless, sealed mouth. That was enough for him, frankly. He held it up to his face, squinting. "How are they supposed to be Saboteurs if they can barely see out of this?"

"You'll have to ask the bucks. That's their business." She cocked her hat with a smirk. "Fashion sense is for does."

"Kupo....you slept like you had a spell on you. Feel even better today?"

"Yes, thank you..." Ian nodded to the Moogle. He WAS feeling better, even better than he had been the day before, physically and emotionally. Besides, if this mask didn't work, he could always smack Pallanza with it.

Darios beamed with quiet pride, holding a thin flask of clear crimson liquid. "You'll feel even better with this....and breakfast from Cadoan."

Crozet nodded entusiastically. "We're going to try contacting Ezel Berbier while we're at it, kupo!"

He nodded his thanks and gripped the flask, "Thanks a lot. ...Do you really think Ezel'll help us?"

The Nu Mou patted his hand lightly as it tightened on the potion. "Heh....among our tribe, he is often derided as "The Strange One". I am fairly certain he would look kindly on another misunderstood soul."

Marlette came behind Ian and took the mask from his other hand. "Hurry and drink up. I want to see how it looks tied."

"Heh... that right?" he asked as he took a swig of the flask's contents. Interesting taste. The flavor was somewhat similar to Dr. Pepper, though he was positive that it was some sort of medicine. "...And what is that bastard Swain considered to be?" he asked. Another swig.

Darios paused, muzzle wrinkling. "The Nu Mou's Pride."

"Eh-heh-heh-hehhhhhh... send a message throughout your race. The message: Look harder for a new pride." another swig. Longer.

The white mage attempted a weak smile. "I'm afraid that is only a Potion, not Bangaa Fang."

"Good enough, it's making me feel better. The hell is Bangaa Fang anyway?"

Crozet plopped down onto the piled Illusionist's silks with a mischievous chirp. "Pallanza will show you, kupo. Whether you want it or not."

Ian raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, slowly slipping into the Saboteur's outfit. Not a bad fit, almost perfect. Just a bit long in the sleeve. Good enough. "I'll take your word for it."

Suddenly, his words were muffled by the cold smoothness of the mask. Marlette snugged its gold and purple cords at the back of his head, knotting it fast.

"That'sss one way to ssshut him up." Pallanza observed with much self-satisfaction. "Ssshould buy one for each of you."

"UGV VRR!" he exclaimed back at the Bangaa. Good thing that mask was on. Wow, such vulgarity.

"Kupoho. Choke on my bonbon, kupoku." Crozet countered, stretching comfortably across his impromptu nest. "That much more breakfast for me."

Marlette stuck her tongue out for Ian and herself, moving down to cuff the overlong sleeves, producing similarly rich-colored bands to fasten them. "One good thing, no one expects you to speak, as a Saboteur. The bucks are sworn to silence in the world outside while on a mission. You can leave the talking to me."

'No kidding.' he thought, '...one small issue with that... how am I breathing now? AM I breathing!? OH MY GOD!!!'

Marlette startled as Ian jerked. "Hey, what is it?"

Ian's hands gripped at the knots that Marlette tied at the back of the mask, wrestling with them.

"Hey, come on! What? Is the nose hole plugged?"

His struggles were stopped by two long fingers shoving up said hole.

"Eh.....no. Not now, it isn't." Marlette's face puckered regretfully as Pallanza's split in a roar of laughter.

'Oh.'

Nonplussed, she pulled back, smearing her fingers across her scarlet skirt. "Would be a scarcer job if they suffocated themselves, don'tcha think?"

Ian nodded slowly. Not able to do much else. 'Well, now that I've made an ass of myself...'

She giggled, reaching back to work the mask free. "You look great. Almost as delicious as lopears. They'll believe you for sure."

Ian shrugged. He could only HOPE they would. Anything he said wouldn't come out intelligently anyway.

At last she tugged it away. Darios nodded agreement, though once more red as the trim of his robes. "It is very convincing, yes."

"Enough for sssoftssskin to come into town with usss the night before we're on our way?"

"Kupoho....have to show him Bangaa Fang?" Nevertheless, the gunner perked at the idea. Holing in the cave was beginning to stifle like minding his Mogmam's shop in Deti.

The Nu Mou turned disapprovingly to both Mog and Bangaa. "Absolutely not."

Ian wiped sweat from his forehead. Wow, it was hot in that thing. Ah well. Beggars can't be choosers. At least he got easier breathing air.

"Kupo...." Crozet wilted back to the robes.

"Alwaysss sssuch a coward, Dariosss." Pallanza's hiss speared the Nu Mou reproachfully.

Marlette's cheeks colored then, fiercely, balling her fists as she fairly flung herself before the monk. "Shut your damned lying mouth, lizard!"

The young man rose and eyebrow slowly, then just stood back to lean against the wall. Whatever that was about, it was between them. HE didn't want a part in it unless he was dragged in.

Pallanza caught the Viera's wrists without even a blink, scales rippling along his thick neck in challenge along with his cold stare. "Let him sssay that."

Crozet once more became a round, frantic buffer to violence, squirming between them in a flurry of wings. "Kupoko! Stop it! There's bars in Salika, kupo!"

Darios moved a hand along Marlette's tensed arm. "And the sooner we leave, the sooner we arrive."

Pallanza released her, sliding indifferently to the cave mouth. "I'LL possst the notice, then. YOU can babysssit. It'sss more your ssstyle."

Ian watched him swagger from sight, shaking his head. "Why do you have the handbag around again?"

Marlette was beyond words, merely kneeling down to wrap arms around the white mage.

"Kupopo....don't take Pallanza so hard. He said nothing Darios hasn't said himself."

Marlette frowned deeply at the Mog, pulling the mage's ears straight up as her own. "Damn it, lopears....why do you make it almost impossible for me to fight?"

Crozet chortled. "That's why, kupo! Ears are a Nu Mou's bonbon!"

Ian still shared the Viera's anger. "So the ends justify the means?"

"If he meant it cruelly, it would be another matter." Darios explained gently. "But, if anyone has the right to say such things, it is him. He's already saved my life once."

Marlette's ears drooped as her chin sunk into the soft white mane. "You're still no coward."

Ian rolled his eyes, "Don't try and defend him, Darios. I don't give a damn if he's saved your life, he's got no right to talk as such."

"Heh....I trust you do not know many Bangaa in your Hudson."

"We have no Bangaa, Nu Mou, or Viera. But I know an asshole when I see one. As far as I've seen, he's been nothing BUT. Heh. I didn't see Darios trying to be a goddamn wise-ass about my bounty." the human muttered, "...you'll forgive me if I still want to manually pull that smirk from his mouth."

Finally, Marlette found her voice at that, ears rising back. "None? Only the human tribe?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Boring." he shook his head.

She sighed, nuzzling her lips in a gentle kiss atop the Nu Mou's forehead. "We're going to have to go into town now anyway, you know. To drag him out of the alley once the pub boots him to the gutters."

"Meh, don't bother." he glanced toward the outside.

"Kupoko. We're going to be a clan someday....got to act like one. He would do the same for us. He would be a smartass about it, kupoho, and we'd never be allowed to forget it, but he would."

Darios smiled wryly against Marlette's cheek. "I never would have guessed all my studies were to become a Bangaa's hangover cure."

Ian sighed. He figured they were right. Still... there had to be one in every crowd.

"I still do not think you should go to town with us, though, Master Ian.....I mean, Master Rook." The Nu Mou continued, voice growing serious. "There are some things even Marlette cannot talk her way out of."

"Ha! Name one."

"What would have me do, stay here?" Ian shrugged, "...if I recall, Siena Gorge is supposed to be the path to Ambervale... in other words, this is Royal territory."

"Kupopo. A very vast, rocky territory. Plenty of places to hide. Cadoan has eyes in every room and road."

"...aright, aright..." Ian replied. In truth, he wasn't exactly thrilled with being left behind. But, whatever. He'd have some time to work on his fighting skills.

Marlette noted his expression. "....still....not safe to leave him here, either."

"Nah, I'll be fine." he shook his head, "I'll try and get used to fighting, should the need arise."

She smirked playfully. "Like you did with Babus? Better just practice on the lizard, when he tries to say he was right."

"Funny." Ian said humorlessly. While his wounds from the battle had healed, that was still a prime source of embarrasment for him. 'Damn it, Babus... wait 'til you face me when I have a weapon.' he thought.

"Heh, I'm not gonna give him reason to do so." he said aloud, "And I'm afraid that if he pushes me, I'll go kupo nuts on him."

The little gunner chuckled. "You haven't seen Pallanza drunk. I've been licked twice, kupoho."

Ian raised an eyebrow, "...THAT'S what the Fang is? Alcohol? Jesus, like I need THAT crap in my system..."

"He's probably already sauced, kupo. Remember, THIS time you get the tail-end, Marlette."

The Viera got to her feet, grimacing. "Suits me. He leaks from both ends, anyway."

Ian shuddered. THAT was a reason he was glad he wasn't going. Why DID they need to lug that handbag around anyway...?

The three clanners headed for the outside. "We'll come back with a meal, but the lizard may cost you your appetite, Rook, my 'brother'." Marlette chuckled.

"Thanks, I'll eat it outside, then..." He shooks his head, "Have fun."

"Kupopo.....you ARE a smartass." Crozet groaned before disappearing around the corner.

Ian blinked, "...the hell did I say?"

Marlette grinned back quickly before she, too, stepped from sight. "'Have fun.'"

He knew he could trust them. He just wasn't sure if he could stand some of them. Darios seemed to be a good heart, but he was obviously angsting over something. The moogle was a bit sharper. Marlette was....too happy for her own good. And he just wanted to slaughter Pallanza and chop his heart, what passes for a brain, liver (and he wondered how much of THAT was left), lungs, and any other vital organ into little bitty pieces.

At least it gave him plenty of phantoms to practice his fighting on....