Costa Del Missing

Costa Del Missing
Date of Scene:	29 September 2012
Location:	Costa Del Sol
Synopsis:	A group of adventurers meet by happenstance - and many seem to be missing parts of their party.
Cast of Characters:	Ivo Galvan, Lily, Skoll Ulfang, Riku, Avira, Yuna

---

Ivo Galvan has posed:
"Well, Lily, what do you think?"

There is a gentleness in Ivo's calm eyes that those who knew him in his home world would have rarely seen as he gazes down at the young girl, a slight smile playing about his lips, relaxed amidst the market street. Though trade is brisk, the balmy days of Costa Del Sol lend a languid air to all activities, and even the haggling merchants seem comparatively easygoing. With the sparkling ocean and golden sands as a backdrop, the broad road winds under footbridges and between charming waterfront cottages, lending itself to the knight-errant's love of curious strolling. Yet there is a satisfaction beyond the merely aesthetic at his charge's reactions to all the new sights, sounds, and smells.

Having every confidence that Reize will make it to their destination -- based on some mysterious alchemy of acute perception and unjustified faith known only to Ivo -- he can savor a tranquility he, despite his temperament, has never truly known before. The laughter of other children at play echoes behind him, and the dark-haired swordsman's smile widens a little.

"Mommy," a passing kid is overheard asking, "is that the man who was playing horsey with that woman in the pink strings yesterday?"

"Don't look at him!" the woman scolds, hurrying on.

Ivo's eyebrow twitches.

Yuna has posed:
Yuna stands at the edge of the beach; tiny waves lap the sand, and the soles of her sturdy black boots. Looking out at the horizon, she shades her eyes against the glare of the sun, and simply takes a moment to appreciate the beauty of her surroundings.

Every moment is precious to her, on this journey.

Then, she puts two fingers in her mouth and blows, emitting an earsplitting whistle that the wind carries up and away. Nothing happens; she does it again, and still, nothing happens.

She wasn't really expecting him to come running, but a certain sadness clouds her eyes, regardless. Clenching her chin, she forces herself to smile, and to all but a few, it looks as genuine and serene as one could ask.

Without quite turning her back on the ocean, a common trait of those who grew up by the sea, especially a sea chronically full of giant whale monster, she retreats, planting her feet firmly in the sand. For such a small figure, her stride casually eats up distance with remarkable speed, without ever setting a pace that will make her lose her breath.

This is someone who has walked a thousand miles, in a series of single steps.

In no time at all, she's back on the street, and, overhearing the mother and child, just keeps on smiling. She'll never begrudge anyone's happiness, no matter how ... crude and inappropriate in location it might have been. It's what she's there to protect.

Lily has posed:
"This place... I like it even better than Traverse Town!" Lily answers.

She's not very far from Ivo, though she's far shorter than the swordsman.

"It's... there's something different about it."

The young woman's dressed in a new set of robes now-- white, and with more ornate trim. They keep her quite cool in the sun from being so reflective, and match the innocence in the eyes that currently gaze out over a railing at another part of town. She's up ON the railing, half-leaning forwards over it due to her small size..

But when a few people pass by and Ivo twitches at their odd words, she scratches her cheek while looking at him. "Ivooooooo.. what was she talking about?" Hopping down, Lily looks about...

ANd spots another stranger nearby. Yuna will find herself looking right into LIly's face from afar most likely, because the young girl's staring.

Skoll Ulfang has posed:
Ahhh, Costa Del Sol. Nice and sunny. Beach. No heartless popping up. Skoll could come to like this place.

...

Yep, he likes this place.

The punkish werewolf is laying down on one of the beachchairs that litters the beach, a set of shades in front of his eyes, and his shirt off. He still insists on wearing the leather jacket however - but his boots have been kicked off and his pants are pulled up a little. His hands are behind his head and he generally just looks relaxed and seem to be staring up at the sun. In reality though, he's enjoying the interactions between people on the beach.

For all the mess that the creation of this world had created with it, there's still people who can enjoy the beach - taking a vacation and what-not. His hair twitches a little as his ears swivel, picking up on the sounds all around him. He hears in the distance something about a 'man playing horsey with a woman in pink strings'? What? Skoll decides to glance back into the lady's direction for a moment, before his attention is caught by something else entirely.

Yuna's shrill whistle sounds the area, and his ears stand up at attention, and for god-knows what reason, his tail starts to wag. How annoying! The punkish youth grabs at his tail to get the thing to stop acting up, while still sitting up to see where someone was whistling. Again! She whistles. This time, Skoll can't help but stand up, naturally called to attention by the repeated sound. Luckily, the whistling stops, and the lady starts wandering away over the beach.

Nobody approaches her. He looks around, she'd been whistling at something, or someone, but nobody breaks away from the crowd.

He's not entirely sure why - be it curiousity, or a strange desire to feel sorry for her, but Skoll decides to stick his hands in his pockets and actually moves to approach the woman as she heads out into the streets. He tries to catch up - and within moment he calls out; "Hey Lady. Are you looking for someone?"

Riku has posed:
Riku rolls a small device over and over in his hands. It's a small camera he purchased in Manhattan, and he is looking over the small box-like device with the patience of the long suffering.

A few moments later a black leatherbound journal is dug from the pockets of his jacket, flipping the pages until he reaches a blank. The instructions on the use of the device were printed on the back of the paper box of the throw-away camera, but he jots them down in a haphazard way out of habit anyways.

Riku scans the beachside vista, sitting up against a tree not too far away from the beach. He scans the ocean, looking through the small aperture for a long time before fumbling with the device to click the appropriate button. He sighs at thr wrong time, and must go through the entire process again as underlined in addendum to these instructions is a note to himself. '~Don't. Move. Don't even breathe./~ Eventually, the proper ritual performed, a small flash comes from the box. It's job complete, Riku shoves the device back into his pocket unceremoniously and pushes himself to his feet.

He turns away from the ocean, eyes scanning the city streets in the same way he looked at the ocean. He shades his eyes, narrowing them slightly as once again he seems vaguely disappointed in not seeing whatever he wishes to find.

Avira has posed:
Avira is a hunter. She has to take things extra seriously. Especially when it comes to shattered worlds and deadly heartless popping up all over the place. At least that should be the case but it seems like she's "conveniently" wandered her way over to the beach again. Even in spite of recent victories, the one in Manhattan included, she doesn't exactly have the funds to spend on fivolous things like 'proper beach wear.' Yet somehow, drinks never seem to fall under the category of 'frivolous.'

The scarred woman has no drink yet. More importantly, she has purpose on this beach. Narrowed eyes search the people gathered here, clearly looking for someone. It could be that, like many people of the worlds, she seeks a lost friend or family member.

Hah. Hardly the case. No, today Avira is going to find exactly who she's looking for. There. The dark-haired man. A predatory grin slides across her face as she makes a beeline for Lily and Ivo. Her gait reflects purpose; clearly she has business with one of the two. Mercy upon anyone who would dare get in her way.

Ivo Galvan has posed:
"Well, Lily," the twenty-year-old and therefore self-proclaimed adult chaperon begins to explain, his tone almost too casual as he walks alongside her, hand on hip and long legs moving slowly to match the girl's pace, "when a man and a woman love each other very much--"

A whistle cuts through the air, though lacking canine instincts, Ivo doesn't react other than glancing over briefly, merely allowing it to conveniently cut him off, smiling mirthfully to himself as he leans over a table of well-crafted waterskins, considering what the two of them will need for the desert journey to Fluorgis. What did that blonde say her name was-- Quistis Trepe? From some place called Balamb? Now that he thinks about it, he'd heard of that before in Luca. A school for young mercenaries or some such, now transplanted south of the city. Well, that explains it. No wonder she was too much for him.

Once this is all settled, he'll be ready for a rematch.

Looking up, he notices Lily now staring at the girl who was whistling. Ivo, aesthete that he is, is so impressed by her outfit -- what lovely sleeves -- that he only belated notices she's summoned-- a dog. He can't help himself.

"Aha... aha ha ha!"

Stifling his laughter, the normally composed erstwhile aristocrat covers his mouth with a dark-gloved hand and turns away briefly, shoulders shaking, though when he looks back at the summoner and the werewolf, there's nothing obviously mean-spirited about his expression or gaze. "No, forgive me," he says, recovering, glancing down again at Lily for a moment, who is still staring. "It was a piercing whistle, wasn't it?" Don't insult the dog-man, Ivo. Pffftt! No, no, hang in there. "Where did you learn to whistle like that?" he asks Yuna as politely as he can, hoping to change the subject.

His gaze spans the crowd again briefly, half his old proto-police training and half a desire to avoid eye contact in case the evidently more muscular dog-man is pissed at him laughing, and then sees a familiar face approaching him with a rather unsettling expression. Isn't that-- oh, crap.

"Avira," he says, smiling easily, raising a hand in greeting. "What a pleasant surprise. Didn't hit it too hard the other day, I hope? You should take it easy, you know. Give your body a few days to recover."

Ugh, please don't make him buy a drink now. After these purchases, is he even going to have a cent to his name?

Yuna has posed:
Yuna looks straight back at the staring Lily, meets her eyes, and smiles warmly, with a silent nod of 'hello'. Then she's approached by Skoll, and, since she's actually addressed, bows to him more formally, with the elaborate, lovely hand gesture that the Yevonese use for ... everything. She may have left the religion behind, but some rituals are so ingrained as to be instinct. Her detached kimono sleeves swirl gracefully in the doing.

She doesn't double-take at his more doglike attributes; that's pretty tame compared to the Ronso who raised her. In fact, she doesn't seem to so much as notice them, any more than she might his hair or his eyes.

When she speaks, her voice is soft in timbre but firm in purpose; a pleasant combination on the ears. "Yes. I am." The young woman looks the man over thoughtfully. "May I help you with something?" It doesn't occur to her that someone might be /offering/ her help; it's not in her nature to accept, anyway. In Yuna's eyes, those transactions work in strictly the opposite direction.

She calmly moves out of Avira's way, having no interest to block the woman's path, and glances over at Ivo. He's laughing at her; that's okay. Her eyes laugh back at him. Then he, too, asks a question. Cue another round of the bowing. "A friend taught me," she explains, somewhat diffidently; it doesn't seem to be something she wants to get into in detail.

Skoll Ulfang has posed:
Skoll dares not let himself get distracted by the sudden outburst of laughter. And while one of his ears may swivel that way, he continues to stare Yuna right in the mismatched eyes as she greets him. Almost naturally, he puts one foot slightly back and bows most graciously - moving his torso almost horizontal before coming back up once again. "That is a shame to hear." He comments in regards to the outcome that Yuna seems to be looking for someone. But he didn't expect her to ask him if she might help him. Where it had not occurred to Yuna that he might be offering her help, it didn't occur to /Skoll/ that he might think of his approach as a search for help.

He's quick to move however, along with Yuna, when Avira comes barging on through - similarly not wanting to get in the way. He quickly glances Ivo's way, just realizing that he'd just commented on the piercing whistle - and decides that thus, this man is a bit of a jerk. Better talk to the lady whom Ivo refers to as having 'pretty sleeves'. After all, there's still an outstanding question.

"Ah... eh... no, I just figured perhaps I could help /you/. I figured, a Lady in need of assistance..." He doesn't really finish that sentence. Normally he's a bit better at talking, but her offer to assist had thrown him a bit off-balance. A quick glance then suddenly travels back, upon the sound of someone taking a picture in the distance. Briefly, he exhanges a glance between himself and Riku -- presuming he'd be looking his way -- before returning his attention back to Yuna.

"The same friend who you are looking for?" He then offers, while stepping a little further back from Yuna as to give Ivo space to come closer. But more than that, so he doesn't get too close to Yuna in general. He even moves himself to stand sideways, hands in his pockets, not wanting to be too 'forward' or insistant.

Lily has posed:
It's not the first time this has happened - where Lily's talking to her friends who she knows and then suddenly STRANGE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. But like before, her reaction is to edge away and take shelter a bit shyly.

Not that there's much to do in this case besides stick close to Ivo and glance about at many of the newcomers - particularly the Wolfman - a bit worriedly.

Except Yuna. Yuna gets a happy wave.

"You know her, Ivo?" The girl then asks quietly, peeking around the swordsman towards the huntress...

Riku has posed:
Riku raises an eyebrow as he catches a snippet of conversation, looking over in the direction of Ivo and Skoll.

He blinks once or twice at the wolfman. He's become somewhat inured to strange sights over time but catches himself staring after a few more seconds and wrenches his eyes away, looking at Ivo and noting that whoever they were, they were going the right way for being dog kibble with one or two more exclaimations like that. Riku opens the journal, flipping to the first few pages.

~Why bother?~

Riku feels a moment of intense guilt flash across him as he thinks of simply walking away to some quieter part of the beach. He knows he should do this, especially when they might be wanderers like himself, but that hesitation-- that moment of reluctantance..

"Excuse me." the words are out of his mouth before anything can stop them, and he walks a few steps towards Ivo and Yuna. His facial expression becomes set in determined lines, bullying past his guilt and reluctance and a moment of awkward hesitation.

He also seems to have no concept of forward and or insistent, but that might be because he's oblivious or still bullying himself. His eyes are fixed on Skoll and Yuna and despite himself, the words come out a little harsh and bitter. "May I ask a question of either of you? It won't take very long at all."

Avira has posed:
That mischevious grin on Avira's face slowly disappears as Ivo opens his mouth. Gradually, she starts to look downright /offended/ by Ivo-though not because he's blatantly trying to weasel his way out of that drink she is owed. No, moreso: "Hey, I may be petite but that certainly does not mean I can't handle my drinks. I know my limits! And I'll have you know I went on a very successful hunt the next day!"

She stops just short (literally) of getting right up in his face over this matter.

She lifts her head, eyes narrowed at him. Slowly, her arms fold over her chest. "But judging by your words, seems you can tell that my reasons for seeking you out certainly do /not/ involve having a duel on the beach. No, I recall quite clearly that you made me a different offer." She leans back, just slightly, and smirks, "Oooorrr did that encounter with Miss Quistis make such an impression on you that you forgot the rest of what happened? Hmmm?"

She taps a foot-seems she's barefoot at the moment-against the sand, which doesn't really have much of an effect since it makes no noise.

Ivo Galvan has posed:
Ivo may be a bit of a jerk, but if it's any consolation, he's a little ashamed of himself after Yuna looks at him with her smiling eyes. Even if he doesn't feel himself reacting as he did meeting the gaze of Princess Aurora or that still-mysterious young woman in the Coliseum, he's sensitive enough to intuit this girl's purity of purpose from her bearing and manner of speaking.

Anyway, you have to admit, the werewolf running up was /kind of/ funny.

The swordsman of the Shard Seekers softens his smile as Lily shrinks back a little, and without changing his own relaxed posture reaches out to place his hand lightly upon her shoulder, a slight but reassuring presence. Well, he can't be all bad. "Pardon me," he says again, "I have the bad habit of being easily amused." Rather than say anything reassuring to the girl by his side, he just maintains his casual tone, more subtly suggesting that none of those who have arrived are threats. ...So far as he can tell. When Lily waves cutely at Yuna, Ivo's smile breaks into a grin. "This is Lily," he introduces her, "and I'm Ivo. We're traveling across the desert." Hmm. He tried to change the subject with the whistling question, but nice as she seems, that appears to have been a bad choice. Duly noted. "We've been across the sea," he continues delicately, glancing between Yuna and Skoll, "and have met many travelers in search of their friends. Perhaps we've met some of yours...?"

It's always a long shot, but Ivo considers being sociable his veritable responsibility given the world's current circumstances -- half the population seems lost or confused -- so he has as good a chance as anyone. At least, he's a little less forced about it than Riku, who approaches looking almost grim, and decidedly uncomfortable. "Sure," he says, smiling and shrugging slightly. Perhaps ironically, /this/ kid is the first one to make him nervous. "Are you alright?" He asks this lightly, but it's meant to set Riku at ease.

Maybe you should more worry about yourself, Ivo.

"Well, we've met," he manages in a (for the first time) slightly strained tone to Lily as he glances back at Avira entering the mix, now unable to resist wincing ever so slightly. This one won't be easily persuaded. What did he get himself into the other day? All those women were completely terrifying -- and bloodthirsty! Ivo offers the huntress another smile, but this one is a bit weaker. "I was just considered about your health," he opens, attempting to mollify her, but she immediately shuts him up with a reference to-- his previous disadvantaged state. This is what he was /really/ worried about. Forget being broke.

She's totally going to blackmail him.

"Of /course/ I remember," he says, raising his palms in a gesture of calm -- or perhaps surrender. "A gentleman keeps his promises. But I can't just fulfill them any moment of the day." The whole point of the offer was to stop the fight! What a disaster. "This young lady and I--" Patting Lily on the shoulder again. Maybe Avira has a soft spot for kids? Ehhh, not likely. "--need to purchase supplies to reach Fluorgis, and we're on a tight schedule. Perhaps another time?" His smile widens then, growing a little more confidence. "Of course, if you wanted to /join/ us, I could buy you a drink upon arrival, but the only city between here and Fluorgis is... um... Rabanastre, was it? If it's out of your way, don't force yourself."

I mean, what are the odds she's even heard of that place?

Yuna has posed:
Generally speaking, anyone who approached Yuna in Spira was asking for her help, either in the grand sense or on any one of a fairly infinite set of sidequests. There was /always/ something for the Lady Summoner Yuna to handle.

There are pros and cons to no longer living in a world where everyone knows your name, and expects certain things of you. Either way, she has yet to get used to it. And whether or not she's famous, her commitment to her duty lives on... and so she offered her help.

Skoll's explanation thus takes her aback a bit, though it draws an amused chuckle out of her. "Yes. Though I'm looking for more than him. I thank you..." and it's at that moment she remembers that names have not yet been exchanged. Though the hesitance in her tone is itself a question, she takes the first step, serenely and humbly announcing herself: "I am the summoner Yuna, from the Isle of Besaid." If there are any Spirans about, she'll have to resist arrest... again... but that seems unlikely. Nobody in this little cluster of folks quite seems like one.

She returns Lily's wave with another kind smile, but keeps the greater portion of her focus on those speaking to her. Some part of her mind keeps skimming the crowds of Costa del Sol, though, constantly keeping an eye out for any of the people she's looking for. When Ivo introduces them properly, she bows for about the umpteenth time. "Perhaps," she agrees, but before she can continue...

Riku's sudden, rather angry approach causes her to take half a step back, but no more; getting over her startled nerves, she stands her ground. That smile of hers is shield as well as sword, in the service of bringing hope to the people. She hides her true feelings behind its gentle acceptance; shock, a certain disapproval of his interruption, a subtle envy at his forwardness. "Yes, of course."

Skoll Ulfang has posed:
Skoll's 'you are being stared at'-senses are tingling! And this is defined by his tail kind of poofing out further than it already does, and the creature getting this strange feeling of being watched. He lowly tilts his head, and then ends up showing a most nice-guy looking smile to Lily, catching her gaze for a little in his own golden eyes, before he finds himself being spoken to by the same young man he locked eyes with earlier. He shifts his balance a little, moving his hip one way and his shoulders the other, and nods at Riku. "Could I be of assistance?" The voice of Skoll's is far nicer than you might expect from someone of his appearance.

This is soon followed up by a nod, "Sure. Glad to help." As much as he may be a minion of the Gaudium Lords - he's actually a noble guy, when not following their devious and maleficent plans. He quickly glances towards Avira, then Ivo. Clearly, these two have some serious issues, so he makes one of those subtle 'side-step' motions, in order to get out of their way. He really rather not get dragged into a fight.

At least Ivo then proceeds to introduce Lily, so the girl gets another smile. "Hello Lily." He comments, before turning back to the other travelers. A quick nods goes out to Yuna. "Skoll Ulfang." He introduces himself. Just that - no profession, no nothing. Just Skoll Ulfang. After all, do you really go around saying 'hi, I'm a minion to evil overlords?' If yes, you may not be qualified for your job!

Lily has posed:
"Hello!" With Ivo reassuring her, Lily much more confidently hops out into view, smiling at the wolfman! And with that, she's looking a LOT happier. And completely ignorant of all the frustrations Ivo must be suffering right now. She looks about without much thought - studying Riku and the Wolfman intently one after the other but saying nothing more quite yet. Yuna's elaborate gestures draw her eyes, and the girl takes a few steps her way as if drawn to it, but shrinks back a few moments later.

A bit shy, most might say, but at least there isn't any more evident fear.

"raba... Rabanastra..." She brings up both hands and starts counting off fingers for some reason... but shakes her head. "Yuna! " The apparently teenaged girl's voice turns a bit giggly. She's more like a child half her age in some ways. "I like that name. I wonder why some are so complicated... oh, Ivo... are you sure Reize is going to get here? It's been a while now!"

Riku has posed:
Riku brushes his bangs out of his face, seeming to be too focused on what he was doing to take much of anything in. He looks from face to face as though trying to memorize them, although he tries to relax and reset his bearing as he spies Lily's actions. Maybe it would be best for him to focus on calming down. He was winding himself up again..

Riku takes in a steadying breath, gently flipping the pages of the journal to the ones he is looking for.

A detailed sketch of three youths that has been painstakingly recreated and colored. It has seen some heavy wear by the marks at the edges of the page. The young teenager can be seen there, leaning against a tropical tree with a smugly pleased expression. He actually looks a little younger in the picture when actually smiling and not glowering like an incoming stormfront. The background is not sketched in except in a vague sense of a beach, with water seen in the near distance.

Standing next to Riku is a slightly younger young man with spikes of limp brown hair. They are grinning out from the picture, the enthusiasm radiating from the sketch as they stand with hand behind their head. Sitting up against a rock near the two is a young woman, brown haired and pretty with a heart shaped face and a smiling expression.

The three look completely at ease, and the sketch is realized sharply enough to be more like a memory than a slice of fiction. Every detail of clothing and stance seems to have been drawn and redrawn again to obsession, a five pointed star sketched roughly on the bottom of the page, with several small protrusion looking like leaves. Harsh scribbling marks have recently obscured it.

"Have either or you.. ANY of you, seen these other two? These are my friends. Sora here, and Kairi." he gestures to the picture to each name in turn. "We've been separated and--" again the faintest catch of emotion in his otherwise grimly neutral voice. "and I haven't found them anywhere as of yet." he doesn't seem to care to whom he is addressing, keeping the journal open to any who might be interested in looking.

Avira has posed:
Amusingly, in years past, Avira would have never considered herself "terrifying" or "bloodthirsty." Just a small end-of-the-world experience and suddenly previously unknown assertiveness is unleashed! This could very well be the first time she's confronted a man like this and judging by the smirk remaining on her face, she may as well be enjoying engaging in this extortion. As a future sky pirate, she had to practice these things after all. "Oh that is /so/ sweet of you, Ivo." she says in the most concerned tone possible right now as he tries to backtrack over his previous comments.

While watching that look on his face of sheer terror over just the position she has him in, it's a bit of a struggle to not smile any further than the small smirk she had before. In fact, she attempts to adopt a grave look upon her scarred face but, for the most part, fails miserably. Nevertheless, he got the message. Pointedly, she looks to his young companion Lily.

Yes Ivo, you wouldn't want /her/ hearing about your exploits the other day, right?

"Oh, I wouldn't be so rude to force you to drop what your doing to satisfy your promise." Avira agrees, nodding towards Lily. "However given the locale, I had assumed such a request would be convenient for you...if not, however..."

At the mention of 'Rabanastre' a look crosses her face-a sort of smile that should immediately make Ivo worry. "Rabanastre, you say? What a fantastic coincidence, that is where I live! I think I shall accompany you. It can be a tricky city so I'm sure you'll need my help~" Looking downright pleased with herself, the scary smile disappears into a more normal-looking. This smile is directed towards Lily, "I am Avira of Clan Dagda."

Riku calls attention to himself, holding up a very well-drawn picture of what she assumes are friends of his. Turning away from Ivo and Lily, she studies the picture carefully. For a brief few seconds, there is a look of pity on her face. This was a story she had heard very often as of late, of people separated from loved ones. "...I'm sorry, I haven't seen either of them." she tells Riku.

Ivo Galvan has posed:
If Ivo had wolf ears, they would twitch.

"Yuna?"

The knight-errant has been in turns playful and persuasive, neither with much success in the past couple minutes, but for the first time the fundamentally diligent young swordsman reveals a hint of seriousness. The word Besaid doesn't sound familiar, but-- "Yuna of Spira?" he asks, gazing straight at her now. He pauses for only a moment before his smile returns, this time with a hint of satisfaction. Reize isn't the only one with sidequests. "Do you know a Sir Auron? I met him in-- well," he revises, wondering how best to describe Traverse Town, "a city where the wanderers of shattered worlds often gathered. You can take a ship from here to a port city called Luca, and-- oh, but you must /know/ Luca," he then says, slapping a fist into a palm in realization. "Auron did say it was from your world."

His smile splits into a grin.

"Luca remains a bustling metropolis," he says, perhaps a hint reassuringly. "I'd bet you'll meet people you know there." Way to reedem yourself, Galvan! Maybe you really are a knight.

Still, he lacks the capacity to divine the depths of Lily's thought processes. Why she begins counting off fingers while attempting to pronounce the desert city's name, he will never know, but it sure is adorable. "He's on his way," he says to the girl, seemingly used to how she acts a little too young for her age. "But we don't know whether he's coming by air or sea, so we'll head across the desert first. We'll see him soon in Fluorgis, okay? Maybe he'll come flying in on a ship in the sky." Even Ivo, alleged adult, crosses his arms, eyes beginning to sparkle at the thought. "I still haven't seen one of those. I'm looking forward to it. When we make a little more money, why don't we ride one together?"

If Avira doesn't rob him blind first. The fiend!

The strange boy turns out to be another journal-keeper by the sight of him-- but a far superior artist. Ivo can draft a blueprint, but the detail and love put into what Riku shows them startles him, eyebrows raising. Oddly, something about the younger boy with the spiked hair seems somehow familiar, but the feeling passes, and Ivo's forced to concede he's never seen any of them before. "I'm sorry," he says gently, meaning it. "If I ever see this Sora or Kairi, I'll be sure to tell them you're looking for them. You were...?"

Oh, but here's Avira to ruin this moment of heartfelt sincerity with her insufferable smirking ugh why did he even intervene serves him right for trying to maintain public order not that he c--

Wait, what?

Ivo stares at Avira blankly for a long moment. And then--

"Ha... ha ha ha!"

Perhaps surprisingly, his laughter is born of genuine amusement. His stress and evasiveness seem to dissipate as he places his face in his palm and continues chuckling for a couple seconds before meeting Avira's eyes again, his own now warm with mirth. When you've lost, you've lost. "What a fantastic coincidence indeed," is all he can say, shaking his head slowly even as he smiles. He just walked right into that, didn't he? She doesn't seem to be lying, either. "Well, we'll be fortunate to have a skilled huntress joining us on our trip. Won't we, Lily?" After all, she can even hunt with a hangover.

Wait, a Clan?

"Oh, you're a member of one of Rabanastre's Clans?" Now that there's no avoiding her -- even if he's still thinking about how to avoid buying her a drink at the end of all this -- Ivo just sounds curious, as he so often is. "We were going to harness the power of the Fire Crystal in Fluorgis, so we and our friend were going to found an official Clan ourselves in that city. Lily here is a fellow Shard Seeker," he adds, smiling down at the girl. Assuming Avira remembers his previous introduction, poorly received though it was on that day.

Yuna has posed:
Yuna's first order of business is to aid Riku; she studies the sketch thoroughly, then shakes her head, regretfully. The motion causes a single strand of beads, woven into her hair, to click softly against her neck. "I have not, I'm afraid. But I will keep an eye out." The same bad news as everyone. But then, she offers to formulate the beginnings of a plan: "If I do see them, where should I tell them to go?"

Skoll's straightforward introduction doesn't trouble the young woman. She has gracious smiles enough for all those introduced, and most are even quite genuine. Hers is a mild-mannered sort of diplomacy. "A pleasure to meet you, Skoll Ulfang, Ivo, Avira, Lily," she responds quietly. "Thank you. I like your name, too, Lily," she adds benevolently, for the benefit of the giggly-but-shy youngster.

When Ivo has news of her Guardian, her natural first response is radiant joy. She hasn't been taught to hide her /positive/ emotions, after all. It spills from her eyes, her lips, her stance. Her hands clasp together in a prayer-like motion. "You have met Sir Auron? How wonderful! I will journey to this city you speak of immediately! What is it called?" In his eagerness to give directions, he's failed to name it, after all. Luca's well-being gladdens her heart as well, though she won't be traveling that way. It wouldn't do to incite trouble by visiting Spira, not alone, and not yet.

However, her second response is concern for Riku, and she looks back at him sympathetically. She knows well that it is hard to see another gain your heart's desire, right before your eyes. "...I am sorry," she finishes, a bit muted. "That was unkind of me."

Skoll Ulfang has posed:
As grim as Riku's voice may sound in a ways, the pleading and offering of the drawing plucks a bit at Skoll's heartstrings. Don't be fooled this noble wolf cares very much to help people, and has long lived the pack mentality with his family. To lose one's friends... it must truly hurt this youngster. Is this why he seemed to 'scowl' as much as he did though? The werewolf lets out a sorrowful rumble from his throat. "I am afraid not, sir." Skoll answers. "I think I'd notice someone with such..." He slowly looks down towards Riku's feet. They're not as bad as Sora's, but still...

His eyes go back up to Riku's hair. Yes, hair - that one should insult him less. "Strange hairdo." Let's hope he's not been found out in trying to save Riku the embarasment of having his 'shoes' be called into question - in the fashion nature of things. "And not the little girl eithers. I'm sorry."

Then Ivo comments about Auron. He's glad that this random stranger manages to know someone Yuna might know, and is quick to add onto something he said; "Sounds like Traverse Town." He notes. "The city of constant night." Not to be confused with Treno. "It's easy to reach from Luca. Just take the portal from Luca out into... wherever that place is, and then take the nearest portal out. I think..." He admittedly travels through the Corridors of Darkness far more often than he does the Shadow ones.

Then something catches his ears. Something Ivo said. "Harnes the power of the Fire Crystal in Fluorgis?" He asks, looking confused. He doesn't know what a Shard Seeker is - but that doesn't sound anywhere as interesting as the thing about the Fire Crystal. That's one of the things his Lords were looking for!

Lily has posed:
Lily stretches up to her tiptoes to get a fleeting limpse of Riku's picture, causing her to tap at her lips with the fingers of one hand and shake her head. "I've never seen anyone with hair quite like that. Reize has just one little... point, and nobody else... has anything like it that I know!" She waves her arms a little emphatically at the platinum-haired wanderer. "... I've never seen that color before either. It's neat."

She nods enthusiastically to Ivo, but at least, for now, seems to be getting brave enough to wander amongst these new folks.

And take another good look at Avira. "Avira! Pleased to meet you! ... Can cities be tricky? I thought they were just big..."

Riku has posed:
Riku's expression stiffens by reflex. The safe guard measure turns out to be warranted as he looks from face to face, getting a round of rejections. The burn starts slowly, with embarrassment and the awkwardness that always comes after this. His fingers deftly close the book and he tucks it under his arm.

When he looks at Avira, a burn creeps up the sides of his neck to his face as the recognition of that moment of pity transmutes in a roaring flash to anger. Something that isn't fire responds to that boiling frustration and rage, burning and twisting to be let out.

Instead of letting strain show on his face, the wrath burning away the paper thin control he's got over his expression, Riku turns his eyes down to his shoes until the fire in them burns out. He gradually gets himself under control again, fighting to remain calm. When the teenager allows his face to shift, he suddenly looking tired and drawn.

Riku shivers as if suddenly cold, eyes half-lidded and mouth set in a line of vague annoyance. He almost didn't catch it in time. "Ah." his voice quiet and subdued. "So you know Reize?" he looks to Lily as he says this, he blinks then chuckles tiredly. "Ah. You must be the other Shard Seekers, I suppose." he looks towards Yuna and Skoll, nodding to them each one in gratitude.

He opens the book, flipping again through the pages, scanning the notes of maps he has in the journal. "I think I can help you get to Luca, if you need it." he doesn't assume anything as he talks to Yuna.

"I've written some notes down on the portals and how they connect." he furrows his brow slightly, in a 'stop talking idiot' sort of command to himself, but he seems to need to keep talking to keep the disappointment and the faint tinge of fear off his face. "I've only been there briefly, but it's always worth a second look."

Avira has posed:
Well that's certainly not the reaction that Avira was expecting. Laughter? Maybe he's lost it? Maybe he was completely overwhelmed by her...terrifyingness? She had been laying it on pretty thick. He even sounds sincere now and boy does she like the sound of 'skilled huntress' coming out of Ivo's mouth.

She titters a little. "Like I said, Rabanastre can be tricky. You see..." She turns to Lily, unwinding one of her arms so she can gesture with a hand, "Rabanastre is occupied-the whole country is, really-by the Archadians. They like their rules and laws."

Avira is quickly back to grinning and looking rather coy. There's no small amount of pride in her when it comes to being a part of a clan, even if she essentially owed that clan a life-debt. "Oh yeah, that Shard Seekers thing you mentioned before. Good luck, I can't say I know exactly what you gotta do to form a clan in that city. Mine was already like that when I joined. Now what's this about a fire crystal?"

"Nice to meet you, by the way, Yuna. And hello again Skoll, glad to see your doing well." Very well, Avira reflects. That guy was nearly pasted and now he looked completely fine. Must've been some remarkable healing on him back there, "...really well. I bet if I got hit like you did I'd be walking away with another scar."

Ah, if Avira only knew the overwhelming rage she just stirred in Riku! She might even apologize, but more likely become offended. Riku's mention of maps does remind her of something though. Namely that she was /supposed/ to be mapping things while out like this. Whoops.

Ivo Galvan has posed:
Oh, whoops. Another casual oversight.

"That's the one," he says to Yuna, nodding gratefully to Skoll and smiling again, calm-eyed again now that he's forgotten their entertaining introduction. "If I remember what the denizens of Traverse Town told me correctly, the portal to and from Luca is called the 'Path of Destiny'. I haven't explored the other dark passageways, but there seem numerous portals around Traverse Town, as one might expect. But please be careful if you're traveling alone," he then adds to the vibrantly-garbed young woman, momentarily serious again. "Those aberrations known as the Heartless, though rarely formidable, sometimes arise in that area." Somehow, though, despite her slight build, Ivo has a fighter's sense that Yuna is more than meets the eye. He'll warn her, but he won't try to dissuade her.

Ivo can't help but glance down at Lily and smile again, always enjoying her contributions, though her mention of Reize's hair causes him to blink. Oh, right -- that's who this 'Sora' reminded him of. But was it just the hair? Oh, well.

"You've met Reize?" Ivo glances toward Riku again, and immediately freezes. The knight's expression is carefully just as it was, but his posture is unusually still for a moment, until he forces himself to relax. What was that? For a moment, his instincts were screaming at him; he was sure this kid was going to attack. "That's right: Ivo and Lily," he says, managing another smile, even though his gut is tightening. How could a teenager shake him up this much? There's something about this kid he can't put his finger on, but he doesn't like it -- or, at least, he doesn't like having this undefinable element in play. It's nothing worth objecting toward his offer to Yuna about, though.

Well, Avira seems to be in a much better mood now. Maybe she won't be such bad company after all -- as long as he can ditch her before he has to pay her any of his ill-gott-- er, hard-earned cash. But both she and Scoll seem quite interested in the Fire Crystal, about which Ivo is more than happy to pontificate. "I only know what I've heard," he says, placing a hand on his hip again, relaxed now after Riku's suppressed flare-up, "but supposedly, there are four elemental Crystals in this fused world, and many smiths and inventors from a lost city called Karnak have gathered around the Fire Crystal, which was found in Fluorgis, to harness its power somehow. I don't know any further details on its capabilities or their progress, but if we're to seek the Shards of worlds devoured by darkness, I'll need a variety of tools and a sizable amount of energy to create the device we'll need. I was an engineer by training back home," he explains, going into no further detail. And a rumormonger, apparently.

Yuna has posed:
"Constant night..." Yuna repeats thoughtfully, remembering another place entirely. "You have all my gratitude, Skoll, Ivo." Lowering her hands, still clasped, from her chest to her thighs, she shakes her head at Riku. "No, thank you. I must my own way. But if you see them..." this is addressed at the group at large, "Sir Auron, who dresses in red with a katana; Sir Lulu, tall, pale, with a skirt of black belts and mastery of black magicks; Sir Wakka, who also has red hair that comes to a single point," she grins at Lily, "and fights with a blitzball; Sir Rikku, who is fair-haired, green-eyed, and likes machines; and Sir Tidus," something about 'sir' Tidus seems to faintly amuse her, "Also blond, typically adorned with this symbol," she sketches the Zanarkand Abe's logo in the sand with the point of her shoe, "And armed with a sword of water... Please tell them I am on my way to this Traverse Town. And thank you for the directions."

She respects Riku's ability to control himself, politely averting her eyes until he's ready. Then she repeats, softly, "What should I tell Sora and Kairi, if I should meet them?"

Skoll Ulfang has posed:
"Sounds interesting." Skoll comments, "May need to check that out." The fact that Ivo is part of the Shard Seekers - and the potential to get access to that crystal. Well... let's just say that it would behoove Skoll greatly to force himself into their group. "So you are forming this 'Clan'..." Pause. "The Shard Seekers." He remembers these things well enough. "To get access to the Fire Crystal huh?" Sadly, for a dark minion, he is sometimes a little obvious about the things he says. But then, hey, Kingdom Hearts characters.

He then ends up halting his thought-process as Yuna speaks up, and continues to draw in the sand and comment on the people she is missing. So many people who've lost people. "I hope they've not permanently been lost to the darkness. The heartless can be quite foul..." Skoll whispers, before shaking his head. He's being far too negative. So instead he returns his attention to Ivo.

"So... just as a curiousity, your leader... Reize right?" Ah yes! Better to try and join in by talking to the sucker of the party!

Lily has posed:
"Rules and laws... they're not supposed to be tricky, are they?" Lily questions of Avira bewilderedly, and by the look in her eyes hoping for an answer.

But...

Hearing Ivo speak about worlds being devoured by darkness causes Lily to IMMEDIATELY shiver uncontrollably and recoil, skittering over to the railing away from him and frowning. Grimacing, she can only claw at her arms for a moment as if struggling to hug herself and chase off the memories those words evoked...

Until it registers, that is, that Riku knows the only person she feels one hundred percent comfortable about for some reason! "Hmmm? You know him!" She sprouts a bright, playful grin, coming out of that half-panic fairly quickly and listening intently as Yuna lists out the descriptions for her friends.

The girl in white makes a troubled 'uuuuuungh' noise and taps at her lips while trying to track through the list, but she nods at the end, deciding to keep an eye open - if she can remember!

"

Riku has posed:
Riku feels even more embarrassed at this point. He thought he was better than this by now. He closes his eyes, smiling grimly at Yuna as he decides that he's had enough.

"Tell them to make their way to Balamb Garden if they can. It's actually--not too far away from Luca." the smile becomes full of supressed mirth. "And I can find them there in Luca as well.. when Sora manages to get lost on the way."

Riku looks to each of them, giving Yuna a determined nod. "If I see them, I will tell them where you have gone." this done, he seems to sink back into his own thoughts and retreat from the conversation.

He gives Lily a half-hearted smile, but seems increasingly abstracted. He closes the book, putting it back in his pocket with a finality that edges his words.

"Excuse me. I think.. I think I should set about to finding another portal myself, and continue searching." he nods to Avira. "Thank you." he tells her, looking over them all before turning on a heel and moving away quickly through the streets.

He pauses for a moment to look out again at the ocean, then continues on his way.

Avira has posed:
"Interesting." Avira frowns, "First time I've heard about the elemental crystals. I certainly do not recall any in Ivalice's history." Maybe she missed a book or scroll on that? Hopefully not, Avira tried to be as thorough as possible. "Quite an ambitious task you're setting about there, though, and I wish you all the luck in the world."

Lily seems confused. Avira considers trying to explain just how crazy the laws could be with the Archadians running the show, but decides she'll wait until they get to Rabanastre where this will be demonstrated. Usually with a license check.

Ivo Galvan has posed:
"That's part of the plan," Ivo admits easily to Skoll, grinning again as he shrugs. This wolf-man doesn't seem so bad after all. And hey, if the wolf gets feisty, maybe he can just throw a stick and then run in the opposite direction. "And yes, you got it. Reize is our fearless chief. Have you already had the honor of meeting him?" Even Ivo probably doesn't know whether he's being nice or mean when he talks up 'the champ' like this. "Why don't you join us in our trek across the desert, Skoll? The more the merrier -- or safer, at any rate." It doesn't seem like he makes Lily nervous at all.

Better rein in the jokes, though.

At least Lily recovers herself before she needs any further reassurance. She seems to be getting better. "Why don't you tell her all about it while we shop?" he suggests to Avira as Yuna and Riku depart, betraying only a glimmer of amusement in his gaze. It's a win-win situation: his curious self gets to hear about all kinds of trivial facts about laws and licences (and licence points?), and Avira has to try to explain things about Lily. Maybe she'll get so flustered she'll run away, and Ivo won't have to buy her a drink!

He's an optimistic guy.