Terra Bradford found her way to Nikeah through a light drizzle of rain. It threatened to become much worse; she could have kissed the ground when she'd set foot in the merchants town. The usual crowd of sellers and buyers at the outdoor shops is small right now as the crowd seeks cover from the rain. She hoped that there would be at least one room available for her in the Inn. If not, there was always the Chocobo stable. She's never been a danty lady like most women. Though young minded in many ways when it comes to the in's and out's of life and love; Terra is a pratical girl and will make do with whatever is given to her. Although if this rain keeps up through the day a sleepbag and tent would not be the best option. Removing her hood once inside she walks up to the receptions desk.

"Excuse me; I'd like to get a room for 3 days."

"You're in luck." The man behind the counter says. "There are only two left; moment the rain started business was booming." He let out a hearty laugh contagious enough that the young woman chuckles too. "You've got room 8. Right down that way." He points.

"Thank you."

"Would you like help with your bags?"

"Yes, thank you. I have to see if the stable will watch my chocobo."

"Edgar! Come help the young lady with her things- room 8."

Terra looked to the man with her friends name and smiled. He was no Edgar that was for sure. The man had short brown hair is cropped on the sides and pulled into a low short ponytail- he may be growing it out or leaving it as it is. He's got a very tiny frame as well the only real muscle in his legs; she'd guessed from taking bags and running back and forth. The young man smiled at her with a lingered eye before going down the hall to her room. Stuffing the key into her pocket, she heads outside to get her bird from the branch she'd tied the straps to.

...

Setzer wound up dropping his companion off at Miranda so that he could sail to the other islands to drop off the maps. They both found the job would go much faster is they split up- plus the man was getting airsick- imagine such a thing. Setzer had left Thomasa 2 days before and Albrook the other day and is now working his way back to the island, Locke has marked as, number 5. He'd been on the upper deck watching the world passby when he saw Edgar through his telescope. A smile on his face, he wondered if the King would like a lift anywhere. He could use the company and it would give him a chance to talk to the man- see if he's doing all right.

"Ahoy!" He called down to the man as the ship slows to a still and begins shrinking to land. "Edgar!"

Iron saw the ships shadow as it passed overhead, he honestly hadn't expected Setzer to come by, muchless talk to him. Pulling the rein on the bird to stop its trot he climbs off walking with it at his side. The pilot had disappeared from the deck and must be making his way off the ship. Iron could hear the wooden door creak open before the little row of stairs fell down to the thick grass.

"Setzer." Was all he got out.

"Hello." Taking the birds reins he pulls the animal along toward the ship quicker than Iron is walking forcing him to pick up his pace. "Care for a lift, it can't be much fun riding out in this weather- its going to get worse. I beat out a sheet of black clouds coming this way, a nasty down-pour is coming along with it."

Iron meant to say something but only a huff came out. He had plans, dammit, and this is going to hold him up. Maybe not... Boarding the ship he's relieved at least for cover from the drizzle. He'd been to South Figaro just now and found himself on top of three woodsmen like before. He murdered them all in cold blood and left them someplace unnoticed so they could dry out. He knew where the men lived, he'd asked around and getting clothes for them he decided to slaughter their families as well. Why not? After all, without the man of the house they'd be worse off than they already were. A hole in the roof of the home proved their finacial status as poor; one of the other families possesed only an elderly mother, she was knitting when he'd snuck up on her and plowed his dagger into her chest; the other family seemed to be doing alright, but such is bad luck and off with them as well. The last man lived alone. He was better off dead if that were the case. The reason he'd visited these mens homes is because he had to get them a change of clothing. The men will finish bleeding out and he will go back for them, change their clothes and drag them to Figaro castle to pose as prisoners. They'll be considered unconscious after a scuffle with him and charged with some random crime he'd have to make up on the way back. They'll be shoveled into the cells and Darrien will be placed in the one with the hidden passage so that he can escape. He'd gotten a message, while sailing to this island, from Sesto saying that he'd gotten the map from Darrien and was on his way to Doma. Cyan will be done for.

Walking into the sitting room, Edgar sniffed at the wine selections Setzer has out, setting the decanter down. Taking a grape from a platter he watches the entryway Edgar's friend had disappeared through to drop off the bird in a tiny little stable the gambler built during the past year, when they'd realized it was an inconvenience to take the ship then have to walk the rest of the way to places or if they split up, they'd be at a loss for time if there were danger someplace and they needed secrecy from the loud hum of the fanblades.

"There we are," He said once returned. "So where are you headed? I'll take you and drop off those as well." He points to a pile of rolled up scroll paper.

"Those are the maps that Locke's made?"

Setzer gave a nod placing his hands on his hips. "Locke's doing the world a lot of good with those; soon the ships will sail again with destination rather than guess."

Iron held in a scoff. "I had thought he was doing it because he enjoys the company of land scouting."

Setzer missed the edge in the sentence and chuckles to himself. "True as that may be; there's a method to his madness. I myself am helping by... I'm sorry?"

"I said have you seen Terra through here?"

"Terra? Should I have?"

"She sent letter to me about meeting up in Nikeah. She must have gotten there by now."

"What luck; that's exactly where I had planned on going."

Without another word the man went off to the deck and soon the ship became weightless.

'Thank goddess the man's attention span is all over the place.' Slumping down onto a couch he crosses his legs. 'With any luck Sonya is still there. I haven't heard anything from her yet. I wonder if maybe she wasn't cut out for the job. I should have sent one of the others for this... although. The opportunity is ripe, I could take out the gambler right now.'

Said man walked back into the room with a smile on his lips. "We should be there by nine. I'm actually glad that I caught you, you know."

"Are you? Why?"

"I wanted to have a serious talk with you; you've been acting strange lately and I thought that you might be..." He takes a seat on the couch opposite Edgar lips twisting thoughtfully back and forth as he searches for the right word to use. "going through a rough patch."

Iron arched a fine brow to that. "A rough patch?"

"Yes. You know," He tugs his sleeve down a bit to flash a very deep looking gash across his wrist. "I've been there Edgar, we all must have at some point. Its a hard place to be which is why I'm letting you know that you can talk to me- or any of us really."

Setzer sounded as though he were talking about making dinner arrangements. This to him is a serious talk? Iron was getting the impression that with Setzer he'd find a drowned puppy and tell it to the owner like he'd been better off wearing a purple shirt if he planned on going out for the day.

"Edgar?"

He'd of responded sooner had he been called by his given name, and shaking his head he snaps out of it. "Oh. No, I'm not cutting my wrist or plotting suicide. What on earth gave you that idea?"

Setzer shrugged. "Just a thought. Better than dealing with the issue directly."

Giving Edgar's friend a scrutinizing look Iron shakes his head. "I'm not that extreme."

"Well it's something. You're acting very strangely."

Chuckling politely the dopplegagger replies. "I haven't been doing anything. Where is this coming from?"

Setzer shrugged. "I saw you when you came home that day. You were practically foaming at the mouth."

"I was not." He sounded offended by that. He remembered that day and he was most certainly not foaming.

"You were so." He laughed. Scooting himself to an angle, he lays down on the couch.

Crossing his arms over his chest he snaps under his breath. "I wasn't."

The two sit in a silence for a moment, comfortable for one not so much for the other leading him to ask.

"When did you say we were going to get to Nikeah, again?"

"Nine." Watching the man's blue gaze jump around the room for a clock, he smiles and informs him. "Its five o'clock." Sitting up, he can't help but smirk at the situation. "Why Edgar, am I making you uncomfortable?"

Iron was under the impression Setzer could make a nude statue uncomfortable but he shakes his head. He should just do away with the man right now. It's a prime situation for it. His guard is down; he's weaponless; and Iron is damned sure that the man can't fight without one. ...If he would just close his eyes for one second it would all be over soon.

No such luck. The seat beside him bounced up from the gambler plunking himself down beside him. "Let's play cards. Do you know the game Rabbit?"

Iron shakes his head. He had to wonder if the animated gambler didn't drop something on his way to the stables.

"I'll teach it to you then, listen carefully,"

Iron learned the rules of the game and found it rather easy. Its like poker, as far as the hands go, but you're only given three cards. The players see who has the best hand and that person gets the pot, and you draw new hands. If the joker comes up in your hand you win the game as the joker is the rabbit, and all chips go to you no matter how the hands have turned out. It is fairly simple. They played this four times and Setzer won every game.

"Would you like to play again?"

"No." Iron waved a hand to the offer. "I'm actually very tired. I've been riding for a long time... would you mind if I took a quick rest?"

Shaking his head, the man replies. "No. Go right ahead."

"Thank you." Standing, he walks to the hall entrance but stops. "The rooms are... down here, right?"

Furrowing his brows, Setzer points on a diagonal. "Second floor. You know that... you've used those rooms dozens of times."

"It must be the fatigue. I'll be off then." Walking into the halls he makes for the second floor then ducks into the first bedroom he came to. 'That was a close one. I can't have him figuring out that I'm not Edgar. And how dare that whimpering king figure out how to block his memories from me.' His fist balls up in anger. 'This body... no. This world is now mine to control Edgar. So stay out of my business.'

Getting no reply from the king Iron takes it as a good sign that the man is using all his strength just to keep his memories away from him. So be it. He doesn't need accuracy to take out the lot of them. He'll do it by hand if he has to. On the 31st they'll all suffer by his hand. Every year- even in this crumbling world- Edgar holds a costume ball in the tenth month at the ends date. How can a man feel for a dying world when he still has the nerve to throw a party and show commoners the good life that he's able to uphold while they return to their poor state of being? That's why this new world will be filled with people who will actually desire to do something for themselves. He's tired of seeing the hand-outs and askings, only for those people to be turned down by their peers. But what makes him sick is that those very people will turn you down then open their palm to someone else. This isn't right. And it will stop. This world needs only people willing to improve it, not wallow in its ruin.

'Hn. Do you approve your majesty? I'm taking your dream up another notch to become the true savior and ruler of this doomed world. There will be no unrest or need for self-insurance. The dead will be just that, and the living will be honored with bounty of their own reward from hardwork.' Stretching himself out on the bed, he smiles into a laugh. 'And to think, you only wanted to be freed from the prison of the castle walls so that you could help the people in person. You're pathetic and your help will have been too small. You'd aid them and leave them with nothing but smiling faces that someone else has solved their problems. You're not teaching them, you're coddling and its wrong.'

"Then why are you getting rid of my friends?" Edgar asked.

'Isn't it obvious? They'll stop me... they'll stop my helpers.' He has a smile on his face, glad that he's finally gotten the silent King's attention once again. 'Those outsiders truly know what its like to suffer because of this broken world so they should take part in fixing it.'

"Murderer."

'Yes. But fixing things has to start somewhere. You said it yourself, you've gotten letters of deaths from people taking their own lives. Fear may have guided them to do so but however its looked at it was done. The strong will no longer have the weak to drag them down, this I swear by.'

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"Mmm." Locke closes his eyes as the smooth cold treat lays over his tongue before sliding down his throat. Paloodeh always taste best at the castle.

The cook always folds honey into it and with the rosewater its to die for; not to mention cook always manages to get the texture creamier than the South Figaro's provider. Locke often wondered if the guys going up the mountains to get the snow were having their fill before bringing it down to the people. He would. Sabin was supposed to have joined him for a bite, but he's been occupied with some matter or another. Probably working on plans to rebuild his masters cabin. He'd help out when and if needed, but for right now Locke just wants a break. He honestly needed this cool treat to cool his head because he was a hair away from following Edgar and giving him a good few slashes with his dagger and unfortunately he isn't joking. Thank goodness he didn't drink the entire tonic like he'd planned to, or he'd be much worse off with his injury. Now the pain is a mild throbbing.

"Damn him."

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh. Not you Rulli. I was talking about someone else." He waves off the comment.

The cook returns to cleaning up the cozy little kitchen. Wiping stoves, putting food away, curing meats that were used and have left over portions to be cooked another day, and dusting at corners of the brick walls to remove any webs that might have been spun. Locke watched them from the little table the staff has their meals at, eating his creamed ice but his attention is called to the creaking door behind him. Turning himself in his seat he smiles at the maid who's just walked in.

"Your highness... can I speak with you a moment?"

Curious, Locke nods standing up from the table. Bringing his treat with him he walks out the door into the hallway since it seemed that the girl wanted secrecy of her problem. Leaning forward to hear her incase she wanted to whisper he backs away from surprise when her words come out.

"Its about his Majesty."

"Oh, so he's been a monster to the staff too? Bastard. I wonder what the hells gotten into him?" He's mostly talking to himself.

"In a word... your highness, King Edgar was the one who beat me up that night."

Locke was sure he would have dropped his bowl to the floor if he hadn't quickly recovered from what the maid had just said. "Are you sure? I thought that you didn't see who did it?"

"I was protecting him... I was afraid that I'd done something wrong and he was punishing me for it." Katia swallowed hard. "I was sure of it back then, but recently I've been thinking about his majesty and how he would never do that sort of thing so..."

"You wanted to know if anything was wrong with him to provoke it?" When the girl nodded Locke bared his teeth angrily. How could Edgar behave this way? Has he lost his senses? "Well, don't worry. Detective Locke is on the case."

"Detective?"

"Sure. I'll figure out what the hells going on with Edgar and see that he apologizes to all of you."

"That isn't really why I told you." She says to the fired up male. But it was too late. Locke shoved the bowl of creamed ice into her hands and hurried off down the corridor to do who knows what. With a relieved sigh she turns to the kitchen door but stops; lifting the spoon from the bowl she takes a bite. No sense letting the treat go to waste and she finished the last three bites in the bowl.

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The setting sky was always a favorite of Cyan Garamonde. The clouds would turn the most delightful shade of orange and purple, the hum of the morning bugs would calm leaving a good amount of quiet until night fell completely, and the nocturnal bugs took their places in an earth song. He's been outside all afternoon patroling the areas he's assigned himself to, and the other men in King Elrouises' court- the few that survived the brutal poisoning- have been doing the same. Night watch will be on soon, but until then he's going to enjoy this beautiful moment.

Their beloved king died three years ago but he's still very much alive in the hearts of these men. Edgar Figaro is in charge of them now, but he rules them from affair. Cyan had been offered the honor of king countless times by the man but each time he's refused it. He would rather remain as a retainer to the king than become a king himself. Prince Sabin was offered the job, as he'd heard, but it would seem that the grounded young prince would rather remain as just that.

"All is quiet!" Shouted a guard before heading inside Doma castle.

That was his cue to head in as well.

The town Desear is nearly complete. They'll only need one more month of building and the homes can go out to the people in the castle, or newcomers from far away lands. Desear isn't just a new town, it truly does represent 'hope', as its hidden name means. This village houses the exhausted and hungry, the lost and the hopeless. They'll be protected, and flurish in the good name of King Elrouise Doma and King Edgar Figaro. This land has not been forgotten by its original king and it never will. And even though King Figaro cares for this land as much as his own, he certainly cannot be expected to be in two places at once which is why the court of Doma does the job that they can for him. To support their conjoining with Figaro and protect the name of their own.

Taking in one last sweet lungfull of night air he expelled it in a calming sigh. Clamping his hands down on the wheels of the wheelchair he's been in since the accident last year- he'd fallen hard from the roof while helping with repairs; his back had already taken considerable damage back when this world of there's had been falling apart all around them; back when he'd fallen from the airship and toppled mercilessly down a casym into a cave. His ability to walk had cut in and out from then on and as of last year he'd lost the use completely. But that hasn't stopped the older male in any way. His vigor is legendary within the castle walls; and he's chased down many an intruder from the seat of his moble aid and a long kotsu in his hand.

The chair is wheeled down the corridor to his bedroom. Cyan would never tell his fellow men but wheeling over the castle door always made him nervous. He feared that a wheel would get stuck someday and the door will go up with him still attached to it. Worse, he moves across it too quickly and rolls off into the mout. Although on a hot day that may actually be really refreshing. He smiles to himself at the thought. Reaching for the door of his bedroom he pushes it open. Duties over; he'll now clean his teeth and wash up before dinner then he'll come back to his bedroom and climb into bed with his wife, Elaine, and son, Owen, snuggled close to him. They may have passed years ago, but they, like his liege, will forever be present in his life. He has since then found another woman that has taken his 53 year old heart, Lola. At first he and a few other men had been writing to her, a request from a falling soldier but soon the men moved on with their lives; Cyan did not. He continued writing to her eventually confessing that he is not her beloved; Lola didn't mind and liked speaking with Cyan either way. They're taking the relationship slow and for now remain as penpals seeing each other whenever they can for dates. He'd begun to think that he was getting too old to court a woman, but she'd proved him wrong as she enjoys his sweet talking very much.

Humming the score of an opera he'd been flown to months ago by Setzer, Cyan leans forward in his seat to turn on the water to fill the basen. Moving around the bathroom once that task has been done he gathers a bar of soap and a wash-rag from a basket, set beside a small cabinet where his robe hangs. Returning to the sink he dunks the rag into the water, then, soaps it up and begins to scrub his face clean; he doesn't have time for a full bath, he thinks as he runs the rag down the back and front of his neck; washing the soap from himself he then washes his hands and heads out of his bedroom for the dining hall. He's been smelling the roast chicken all afternoon and can't wait to sink his teeth around a mouth-watering leg or thigh. Doma lost its original cook and in his place is a man from Albrook, Sorela, who woke up far from his home when the world was destroyed. Its tragic but not nearly as much as eating his herbal soups which for the life of him Cyan could not stomach. Sorela cooks much better.

The doors to the dining room open and he rolls inside. The other men and a few workers from town are inside already waiting for him so they can pass around the meal of: roast chickens, a large pot of vegetable soup to keep the nip of the coming season out of their bones, cheap, but tasty red wines and a spread of fruits as a dessert. Sorela doesn't know how to bake sweets but he can bake bread and the hunks are torn and set onto each plate with a spat of creamy butter melting into its white. The men ate the meal as if it weren't even there before them, regardless the feast its in small portions to spread it out amongst the other soldiers and towns-people. Conversation was light and friendly; the men went over their day, and the progress made and by the end of the meal its cleaned up and put away. Cyan rolls down the hall in the company of a soon-to-be townsman chatting with him before the man turns into another wing to go into his own room. Continuing on to his Cyan pushes the door open moving inside. It wasn't until he'd gotten under the covers did he notice something was wrong. The shutter on the window is open. He'd hadn't noticed before since the wind wasn't blowing at the time, and with no moonlight tonight its hard to tell without a candle lit.

Pushing himself up to a sitting position he looks around the room.

"Come out!" He calls to the shadow looming beside the door. "Ye can't hide in the shadows when a shadow is not dark." Reaching beside the bed he grabs his favored sword into his hands. Unsheathing it he holds it poised for attack. "Strike!" He cried out.

It happened in a flash really. The shadow at the door remained where it was being nothing but a dress makers dummy covered in dark sheets, while behind him beside the bed in the space between it and the wall Sesto's full height rose, and with sword drawn he strikes...

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Setzer had been entertaining himself while Edgar slept away. He'd built a cardhouse from two decks and walked about cleaning up a bit, he then moved into the kitchen; music's playing loudly from the phonograph in the living room and he chews in time with the score playing. Covering the leftovers with a lid to keep them warm for his sleeping friend, he heads for the door when feeling the ships weight come to a land; the gambler was feeling anxious having not seen his heart's desire in such a long time. He thought he should go in baring gifts; maybe they'll have her favorite perfume in stock at the market. In the few times he'd seen her over the year he hasn't smelled that wonderful scent mixing with her natural pleasent one leaving him to wonder if she had run out.

"Edgar! We're in Nikeah! I'm heading out!" He shouts this as he's writing it down on some stationary he'd pulled from a table drawer. Leaving the note in the kitchen on the table, sure that Edgar would follow the scent of food, Setzer excused himself from his ship and headed into town.

...

Sonya's luck couldn't have gotten any worse. Terra Bradford was nowhere to be found and she'd had enough. It was time to go and report her failure. Walking out of the dining area she headed through the Inn and out the door after returning her room key. Out on the streets she looked over the area thinking about what was said not long ago, about working the docks of Nikeah. It wouldn't be such a bad job if the bastards at the shipyards would hire them. This world acts as though jobs can only be offered to certain people, that if you're not qualified right off the bat then you'd never be able to learn. Excuse after excuse in these ruins. Nothing will change, nothing. Looking up, she notices a patch of white moving through the crowd. It couldn't be? A larger man walked out of the way and sure enough her eyes weren't deceiving her. It was Setzer she'd spotted. He's here after all. It would seem that he's giving maps to the men who work on the boat and a couple to a man of the items shop. Fist balled to the point of her nails piercing her palm, she bares her teeth. Isn't it enough the he's the second- possibly richest man in the world, but now he's selling maps to people. That asshole.

Straightening herself to a more pleasent look, as he's coming her way, she casually pretends that she'd been planning to head inside and only stepped out for a bit of fresh air. Setzer smiled at her on his way past and holds the door open when seeing that she's turned in the same direction.

"After you."

"Thank you." She made sure to lower her voice and flutter her lashes as she went in.

Following her in he walks over to the receptions desk. Sonya went into the cafe. The man at the desk smiled at him, ready to get some more business.

"How many nights?" He asks cheerfully.

"I actually don't intend to stay, sorry man. But I would like to know if a woman came in. She's about this tall" He holds his hand up to Terra's 5'7" height. "green hair, you can't miss her really. She'd be the most striking woman in the room."

The man laughed at the show of young relationships love. But he unfortunately shook his head because love can also be bad. And this man could easily be a stalker to this fair young woman he speaks of.

"I'm sorry; as protection to my boarders I can't give you that information. But..." He holds up a finger. "if you wait around in the eating joint" He tosses his thumb that way. "you might see her walk through."

Cocking a brow Setzer shakes his head in good humor. With that band of weirdos running around its actually best that the man not tell him where Terra's room is. "Alright, I'll wait around; thank you. But you will at least tell her that you saw me?"

The man winked at him as a yes.

Walking into the cafe, he takes a seat at the bar ordering a beer while considering a few nuts from a basket in front of him. Looking around the room he's a little surprised to see that young woman from outside is heading over to the bar, even more surprised when she takes a seat beside him considering how many are empty.

"Care to give me a drink handsome?" She asks with her hand falling easily to his lap to show her indication of 'giving' her a drink.

'Hm. Not unusual to be hit on at a bar, but this is too obvious.' Thinks the gambler casting his gaze around the room for any sign of Terra then his gaze lands back on this woman. 'She must be part of those hoodlums who have been breaking into the castle; and now you've gotten around to trying to catch me.' Turning on a smile he leans his cheek onto the back of his hand at the fingers. "All right. What would you care for?"

Smiling back at how easy this is, she says. "Whatever you'd like."

"Okay." To the bartender he asks for a Bloody Mary. "So my lovely, what are you doing in a place like this?"

Sonya shrugs. "Just a rest stop. I've been traveling around the area... looking for jobs."

"Oh. Any luck?"

Shaking her head she leans in a little closer to him. "Its hard to get a job in this world- especially when you're a woman."

"It must be devastating; I can't imagine."

'I'll bet you can't.' She bites her tongue.

"I may actually have a job for you, if you're willing..." He let the implication linger in the air.

Her smile turned into a grin and she leaned in closer. "What do you have in mind?"

"Its quite simple," He's whispering to her, his mouth at her ear but his head is tilted down so that his lips are just barely brushing her jaw. "you tell me whom you're working for?" Moving away from her he's pleased at the shocked look on her face.

Turning in her seat so that she's facing front; her posture changed as well going from relaxed and flirty to defensive and uptight. "I don't know what you're talking about." Taking her drink into her grasp she stirs the red liquid around with the celery stick. "I'm not a street walker."

"That isn't what I was implying." He dug inside his coat briefly before wrapping an arm around the woman's waist.

Glaring straight ahead for a moment, she then brings her drink up to her lips taking some down. Setting the glass back onto the bar top she turns to him and snips out. "Then what were you implying?"

"I don't know who you are madame but I do know that you've been hired to harm me in some way, and I would like to know who sent you to do so?"

It was as if the conversation and music in the room had suddenly stopped as she stared into this man's hard gaze. His dark brown eyes seemed to claw at her for an asnwer but she's decided to play it cool. "You're mistaken."

"Right. And you just randomly sought me out?" He says in a snide manner. "I saw you following me around the town with your eyes, after you'd just walked out of this place. You mean to tell me that you were only smitten?"

"I was... but meeting you, I've changed my mind. So if you'll kindly let me go..." She tried to move but his grip tightened keeping her in place.

"Let me guess... Your boss thinks that I'm easy- its no secret that I do fancy a pretty face, and as far as my status goes I've had quite a few partners in bed..." He smirks adding. "some of them at the same time. But your boss was wrong in thinking that my first interest is in sex when I prefer," He paused for effect. "to gamble."

Her green gaze searched his face. She supposed it wasn't going so badly; she can still off him right? And not having to sleep with him or even bring him close to a bedroom is a lucky thing.

"So, would you like to play a game?" Setzer asks her in a kind voice. "I'll bet that you'll win."

"I'll win?" At his nod she asks. "What is it?"

"You'll tell me where your boss is."

"Ha! Good luck, I'd rather lose."

"Really?" He sounded genuinely surprised. "Do you care for this person all that much that you would give up your life for him?"

Sonya was sure that she hadn't said that.

"Let me clear it up for you. See that dart board over there?" He nods his head in its direction, though his eyes remain on the girl. His free arm shot out quickly just as soon as her gaze located it.

A dart stuck into the board in the bullseye and within seconds the cork board turned purple disolving in a cluster of bubbles. Widened eyes falls back onto the gambler's face.

"Tell me who he is or this second dart will get very familiar with your..."

She looked down when something glass touched her thigh. The arm he's had around her waist had dropped lower and in his hand is another dart filled with who knows what aimed at her genitalia. Blushing from anger and embarrassment, she nods. "His name is Iron, Dager, Lord. He comes from some noble family," She shakes her head as if her words sound strange to her. "He said that he's sick of living in a world of ruins and abandon. That we should all have the same rights as the people who threw us away."

"Meaning all of the war heros?" He asks.

Nodding, she goes on. "He said that you're all living these cushy lives while the rest of the world is suffering, and that you should be made to pay for it. You'd only get in the way of his plans."

"How does he know about us?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

Believing her, he stands. "Take me to him."

"But you only asked who. I never said that I would take you to him."

"Do I need to remind you that you're winning right now?" He gives her side a tight squeeze, glad to see that she shakes her head to answer. "Very good. We'll use my ship. Come on."

She's practically pulled from the stool and forced ahead of him. To the diners and other patrons the two look like lovers walking closely together but in reality, one of them is silently wishing to get away while wondering how she'd let herself get into this situation.

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Cyan turned in time to thwart the blade back with his own but the force behind it knocked his 53 year old body from the bed, luckily into his wheel chair. Left hand on the left wheel, right hand holding his sword; Cyan backs himself up as his attacker crosses over his bed. Its dark enough to keep the person a shadow, but light enough to make out that he is indeed human. The swords clash heatedly, sparks flash through the air revealing a very angry hard face.

"What is the meaning of this?" Bellows Cyan over the noise of their clashes; the wheel of his chair still stroked in order to back him up.

The fierce assalt continued and using the handcap of the man to his advantage, Sesto spins out of the way to the man's blind side and with a hard backhand swing toward the back of the man's head but ends up disappointed when his sword slices through air rather than bone. Cyan jabbed the man in his gut with the sheath of his sword knocking him back against the bed. Wheeling towards the door he's grabbed from behind by his ponytail and dragged to the floor on his side. Grunting in pain of the impact, he lifts his sword to block the attack aimed at his shoulder. Sparks spray out again as the cold steel brushes hard against the others' blade. Rolling out of the way so the tip met with the floor, Cyan scoots himself against the wall. He's not down yet.

Calling for help would be pointless as this castle's walls are thick stone and the only way anything would be heard is if you were right up on the door. It's time to unleash his true power. A blue auro glows around the retainer; his muscles swell with adrenaline. Letting out a battle cry he launches himself into the air delivering his deadliest attack.

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"So what's your name?"

The angry woman glances at her captor then straight ahead; she had nothing else to lose so she answered his question. "Sonya."

"Sonya?" He said it as if it were an exotic gem. "I like it. Where're you from, Sonya?"

"Tzen."

"My you have come a long way. What on earth are you doing here?"

"My family was taken by the war... and because of that I was kicked out of my home- or what was left of it. I've tried dozens of times to get a job; apparently a woman is only good for one thing."

"I don't agree with that type of logic- regardless what your boss thinks." He can see his ship in the near distance. "I really would have given you a job."

She had to wonder what he'd meant by 'would have'. "What do you mean?"

"I'm opening a casino in the desert. I'm not sure when construction will take place, could be another 3 years until its built but the dream is there."

"And what would I have been?"

"A waitress. You can walk around handing out food and drink?"

She blushed. There was no way he was serious about this.

"The one I currently have is in Zozo, you know. You would have fit right in too."

"But?"

He stops, the ship is right before them. Sonya was in awe of it. She's seen it flying through the sky but never close up. Its amazing. A luxury this man surely takes advantage of.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He'd asked when seeing her expression. "Ten rooms, a kitchen and living quartre. Its great."

"I'll bet."

Nodding, Setzer releases his hold of the woman. She expected him to open the door so they could enter but instead he looked down at his boots. "Sonya, I don't exactly know how to say this but... You should be very happy that you've been winning so far, but unfortunately there was a catch to your victory."

"A catch?"

"Yes. You see, I'm the one who made the bet that you would tell me the things that I'd wanted to know."

In protest the girl snaps. "But we haven't gone anywhere."

Lifting her hand into his own, raising it palm up and open he sighs. "Your boss is already onboard, and I'll have a word or two with him. But you've made the mistake of gambling when you weren't clear on the consequences."

Before she could realize what that meant the poisoned dart sticks sharply into her palm, the prick causing her eye to wince. "Ow!" Panic set in as her heart rate picked up on its own.

"I bet that you would tell me the things that I wanted to know, which means that I am the one whose beaten you. You were only winning on the half that you would sell yourself out and tell me in order to stay alive- you've done a wonderful job." He smiles in a friendly manner. "I'm sorry because its a shame how this had turned out. I really could have used you." He catches her falling body to place her gently onto the grass. "Sadly you'll feel every bit of pain until your insides finish disolving."

He was sure she'd be screaming if the poison wasn't constricting her throat muscles closed. It's better that way. He'd like the secrecy of catching Edgar off guard. He knew something was wrong with the man but had no idea it had gotten to this extent. He hoped that he was wrong though. He'd known him as Gerad and the man seemed to fall to old habits as he isn't 100% sure but he'd heard Edgar say that his middle name was Roni once upon a time, or perhaps Sabin had told him. He's uncertain of where Lord comes from, there was a noble family by that name it could very well be his mother's maiden name. He'd be a Welks if he ever had to go under cover and use a false last name to his anagramed given name. Tugging the door of the ship open he can tell already that something is wrong. He'd left the music playing from before and its now been turned off, the lamps once lit are now blown out and the stiffness in the air was thick enough to touch.

"Edgar," He calls out after closing the door. Keeping his voice casual, he continued calling into the air. "I didn't see Terra. I don't believe she's there anymore. She may well have gone home by now." Walking softly towards the living room his gaze looks around the dark room. There aren't that many places to hide in here, he'd find the man eventually. "Perhaps we should go to her home in New Mobliz?"

"Perhaps we should indeed." Replied Edgar from where it sounded like the hall leading to the stairs that go to the second floor.

Heading in that direction, Setzer asks. "Edgar, what was your middle name again?"

"Roni. Yourself?"

"I don't have one."

"That's really a shame. But, why the sudden interest?"

"Just curiosity."

"Oh. Well then maybe I should give you one, oldman, how's about... Deceased."

Smiling Setzer shakes his head. 'So he's already figured it out that I know, that or he's tired of waiting around for the assualt.'

Stepping to the entry way he dodges quickly to his right as an arrow whizzes by. A solid thump into the wooden wall told him it had made contact, and the small groan of the wood told him that it was a strong shot and the tip of the arrow was undoubtedly sticking out from the otherside. Edgar means business.

Touching inside his coat Setzer assessed his arsenal. 'One more poisonous dart. Two tranquilizers. Five decks of cards and ten die.'

He wouldn't dare want to throw those on his ship, so digging into that pocket he removes 5 of them setting the dangerous blocks down on the coffee table. Heading through the hall he can hear his opponents foot steps walking around above him; it didn't surprise him that the moment he'd turned the corner for the stairs he had to dodge three more arrows. The snapping of a band told him that Edgar is thankfully not using his autocross and is instead equipped with his recurve.

"I take it by your haste to fire at me I won't be getting upstairs?" He calls over the four stairs before him up into the hall.

"I like to think of it more as a game of 'quick fire'. If you're faster than me you should have no problem in getting up here."

"Alright. Draw." Removing a box from an outer pocket he removes the entire deck and takes five cards from the 52.

These are no ordinary playing cards, though they may look it from the design imprinted on them But each one is made a very fine thin sheet of metal. They're like Shadow's shurikan only much thinner making the speed much faster when thrown.

"Ready?" Edgar calls down to him. "Fire!"

An arrow came his way splitting in half, easily severed by the card the second card whips past Edgar and when the man moved out of its path Setzer was up the stairs and into the hall following after the third. Seeing that his opponent has ducked and taken his eyes from him, he slips into the closest room beside himself. Hiding within it around the corner, he'd left the door open so not to give his position away.

"Hn. I heard your foot steps gambler... I know which room you're in." Heading in that direction he turns around when hearing a breath from behind him in another room. 'Is someone else onboard?'

"Edgar, you don't have to do this," Says Setzer.

Iron looks ahead of him to a different room. How can Setzer's voice be coming from there? He heard the man's foot steps and they went into room 3. He's sure of it, but his voice came from room 6. Turning in that direction he walks slowly toward his prey.

"I really think that I do have to do this... you see, this world isn't going to get any better if the people in it remain under the state of mind that they're in." He cautiously looks into the open door.

If he hadn't heard the man's boots on the floor he'd of been stabbed in the back by a spray of 5 battle cards. The thin sheets stuck into the wall in a diagonal causing Edgar to move into the room he'd been peeking into. Setzer had moved to room 4.

"Not as easy shooting arrows at me this way as it is for me to shoot cards at you, is it Edgar?"

Again it sounded as though the man were in another room. He'd looked over his shoulder to where Setzer had run and he was sure it was room 4. He probably switched rooms when he'd moved into this one. Damn him.

"That's a very cute trick you're doing with your voice... But it won't work."

"Is it a trick?"

His voice is coming from room 5.

"Or is there a way into each room from a secret all," He continued speaking now sounding as if he's in room 1. "it is my ship."

Iron jumped when the man's voice sounded from directly behind him. But the room, minus himself, is empty. That little fuck could be anywhere.

"Give up. Stop whatever it is you're planning and let us help you." He speaks in his normal voice so that his position isn't given away from the man figuring out that room 4 has been silent. At age 7 he'd learned from his father how to throw his voice around. He can project it from a good many yards away. If Edgar would leave the room he's in, he can tranquilize the man and bring him back to Figaro for help. Then no one else will lose their life like that woman Sonya had.

Alerted when Edgar's boots move into the hall he listens carefully for when the man passes by. Edgar's foot steps are heavy, but creeping. Magnified by the silence all around them. When he'd passed room 4 Setzer quietly stepped out of the room behind him, tranquilizer dart drawn, and aimed at his friend's neck he waits for the right moment to make the hit. To his surprise Edgar dashed down the hall causing him to throw the dart, the king spun on his heels easily grabbing the dart from the air tossing it back at the man. Setzer swatted the dart from its path; it clattered to the floor rolling toward his boot. Digging into his pocket he isn't fast enough to avoid the attack and takes a hard punch to the face, popping his head against the wall beside him. Edgar grabbed him by the wrist holding it tight and hauling him up to stand where he then delivers blow after blow into the man's stomach; pleased when hearing that something glass got broken beneath his fist. He knows that Setzer can't fight without his toys, the man has pedestrian sword skills, and no martial arts training. He's a sitting duck once you remove his hands... that may actually be a good idea. He squeezes the wrist tightly in his grasp.

Setzer grunts in mild pain, but he holds fast to the dice he'd removed.

"Oh what? You look stressed." Looking at the balled hand, he cocks a brow. "Did you want to throw those? Too bad oldman..." He tisks. "how 'bout you give them to me." He shakes the man's wrist back and forth. "Come on, give them to me."

"No." His eye winces when Edgar's grip becomes even tighter around his wrist.

"I could break your boney little wrist easily; so which would you prefer? No use of one hand or loss of your weapons?"

Opening his hand the small blocks of die fall into Edgar's palm. Smiling he examines them. "My, you are all tricks, aren't you. They look just like real dice, only they're made of... what is this chalk? Tell me, do you have a line of handkerchiefs you'd like to strangle me with." He laughs mockingly and bounces the dice in his hand, smiling at the single red painted heart in the place where the single dot should be. "A smoke screen? Very clever... I think I'll humor you and throw them- just to see where this would have gone."

Tossing the dice against the wall they explode into a fog of white dust covering the hall within seconds. Setzer honestly didn't think it would have been easy but Edgar did what he had intended to do for him. Kneeing the man in the groin he leaves him howling in pain and dashes down the hall and stairs into the living room. Removing the other sheets of cards out of their boxes he tosses the box to the floor.

"You're gonna pay for that!" Iron bellowed when recovering.

Tossing the recurve from his belt, he unsnaps the autocrossbow that was pinned to his side. It already has a row of arrows placed inside; the rest of his arsenal of bolts and quarrels line the inside of his cape. Its no hindrence to him being the fastest draw in any land. Stalking out of the hall and down the stairs he's met with the assualt. The cards are coming at him like a machine is launching them rather than a man. He runs the length of the room with the blades of metal at his tail. Setzer has only to make the slightest turn in his standing to follow the man. When the 52 run out, he quickly moves another deck into his palm and with his other hand swept across their tops they fan out again slicing into anything in the room but his quick moving target. He'll have to find a way to get an advantage over the man.

Iron dropped his weight to the floor rolling back in the direction he'd just ran from and straightening to stand he launches the arrows from the bow at the gambler. A few arrows were snapped in half the others had to be dodged but Setzer recovered quickly and began tossing the cards again. Around Iron goes again, only this time he runs from left to right waiting for the man's balance and speed to alter before making his move, which is ducking down and darting right under the man's outstretched arm. There!

Before he can switch his angle he's slammed into and knocked to the floor. Edgar shouldered him so hard it was like being beaten with a cannon ball; getting up into a kneel, he holds a hand to his chest to catch his knocked out breath. Looking up when hearing the man's approach he swallowed hard when his gaze meets with the tip of several arrow points.

Looking higher until his eyes meet with Edgar's he says softly. "Only a coward would hit a man who's unarmed." He removes his coat then tossing it aside.

Sneer on his lips and lust for death in his dark blue eyes, he growls out. "Then consider me shaking."

He fires...