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"You're leaving?!" Kruz said this with a sudden start after James approached him with his entire clan behind him, ready at a moment's notice as the high afternoon sun glintedrays down upon the captain's desk. James nodded firmly to his response saying: "Yep, we have our next mission in the Jagd over the northwest of Valendia, pretty far away and we have to get ready in about two months from now." "So...damn that's a long time without me James, you sure you can handle it?" "I have my peeps, don't you worry." "We are not peeps," murmured Navarro, "but in any case, captain Kruz, I am very grateful for you and your services in being an employ and a mode of transportation kupo. You services have been well-appreciated and we will not forget this." "No problem ma'am," said Kruz formally, "but if you have to be ready in about two months, why leave the ship so soon?" "Because we have our assignments still waiting for us back in Nalbina, and I would very much appreciate that we accomplish such tasks without any further interruption. If you would be so kind as to drop us off in Nalbina, then we shall be on our way kupo." "Well...I suppose that's fair. Are you going to be alright James?" "I'll be fine," said FG. "But, I need you still for a bit of help if that's okay?" "Of course, long as I don't need to use my whole crew for it again!" "Well, firstly we want you to go and look up about this Rebecca Hopkins, see if you can't find out on whether she had a sister or not. We found out she has this sister she called Maggie and the two seemed pretty close." "Close enough to argue," added Roy, "sounded real familiar with each other enough that Maggie wuz threatenin' her with sumthin' bad enough to clam Rebecca real good up." "Alright then." Kruz put a note down on a spare piece of paper with feathered quill to remind himself before James gingerly asked: "Does your...crew know about where you really came fro-" "SHH-SHH!" The kremling put up his quill fiercely pointing the feather towards him. "No they do not, and I would rather we keep it that way. Now I will do what I can for you, but under no circumstances should you ever reveal where I came from. Now you might be perfectly fine giving your friends an existential crisis but I would rather not inflict that upon my crew since I have over eighty of them to deal with. ...would have appreciated you asking my permission before you told your group though." "S-sorry, we all sorta got caught up in our revelations and I sorta blabbed my mouth about it." "Fine, just don't let it happen again, remember I am still a captain and I have to put my foot down when I need to." "We will not tell another soul," said the moogle firmly, "even if it is ludicrous, kupo." "It is ludicrous, that's why I want it kept firmly under wraps." "I sszhtill can't believe it," murmured Baldwin, "I-i-i mean it'sszh jusszht...you sszheem normal compared to Jamesszh and Roy, you don't got any of their weird psszheudo-magic sszhtuff you're more of a bangaa than either of them!" "I'm going to take that as a compliment, especially considering I'm trapped here forever." James looked down at his feet with shame before Kruz knocked on the wood of his desk to bring his head back up. "Don't look like that James, you're the leader of this group not a damn kid!" "Heh, s-sorry." "Besides I could have ended up in worse places, far as things go Ivalice is really nice, I mean look at me now I'm the captain of my own ship with a crew that loves me!" Dahlia softly giggled at such enthusiasm adding courteously: "Well, I think...that you are very welcome to be in um...o-our world and, I'm very glad that you enjoy it here." "Khheheh....thank you miss. Well if you're really leaving then you, um...listen, I don't want to sound clingy, this is just a formality because James is my closest friend but...if you ever need my help, I'll fly over past Lea Monde at least every two weeks and check in on at the cathedral, that way I can make sure that you're alright as well as tell you what I learnt on this lady Hopkins in about a...month or such." "How very kind of you," said Fayne sweetly, "thank you, we are very glad to have made a friend in you captain." "Khheheheh...alright then I'll uh, is that everything? Because if so I'll weigh anchor and we'll be off to Nalbina then! Hope you enjoyed the party at least." "Aw yeah!" cried Baldwin. "That party wasszh great, we really appresszhiate it captain!" "I admit," said the nu-mou Dahlia, "I felt much more relieved and cathartic after the wild past week that we have been through." "I'm glad you did," said Kruz nodding, "it helped me just as much as it helped you, believe me." With little else to say, Kruz made a small glancing look towards Fayne who did not respond other than by a simple meek blush on his cheeks, as Clan Koridai plus the newly-accompanying Roy were soon dropped off by the end of that very same day in Nalbina's fortress town under the eve of sunset. Heading back towards their HQ they began to set about on making plans for the next new mission, whilst also churning out their accomplishments on any smaller quests they would be given at the door. For the most part it was nothing exciting, a few exterminations here, a small rescue attempt there, nothing of particular grandeur that was in anyway noteworthy.

Roy however took it upon himself to accompany them for all their missions having his gil shared with FG for any supplies, the knight of Daventry almost always outkitted in his resplendent armour of steel with Cyrus always at his side. Fayne was given control of Baldwin's chocobo Luke as the monk decided to walk for any passage that they made seeing it to be unfair to have his brother do such. Luke did not protest, still morose but slowly regaining his mental strength as they trotted up to Lea Monde around a week after returning to their Nalbina HQ. Whilst on duty still with various missions in the surrounding area, they marched into the great cathedral as Fayne took on centre point, the clan having to wait until mass was finished until they could see Mother Mariel. Roy simply watched in awe and splendour at the interior of the church, hearing the solemn song of the choir voice echo throughout the rafters. Having a greater sense of reverence he kept his voice more succinct and polite than ever as they soon reached the mother matron, grinning happily at the clan's return as she awaited in the library. "Ahhhh my dear saviours, so good to see you." Fayne and Baldwin did not allow themselves to think before they hugged her happily, kissing her on the cheek with instinctive timing to not question that it was still the same as always. "Are you well mother?" asked the cleric first. "Very well, thank you. And you two my dears?" "We've found out a lot of thingsszh!" said Baldwin proudly. "Jamesszh and hisszh new friend found out who thosszhe people were from Archadia." "Wonderful. I do not believe we have met." She walked softly towards the utahraptor who clearly stood almost above the rest of them at a hefty 6'5'' only a few inches more than Baldwin. "My name is Mariel, I am the matron, or one of several within Lea Monde." "Roy MacGregor," said he shaking her hand softly, "pleasure's all mine madame." "I take it you are also part of an otherworldly origin like James is?" "That's correct, ahm just here to accompany them for a mission really, but ah helped them get this info that you needed if you'd lahk me to show you." "Let us go to my room so we can be discreet." A few minutes later they sat upon the seats and bed she had offered them in her two-room study as Roy brought out his omni-tool with the recording well and intact. Again partially staticked by being a copy of a copy but clear enough that they all heard the tones of the two women's voices as Mariel nodded curtly. "That is unmistakeably the lady I had met during that night, no doubt in my mind about it." "Any idea on who it is?" asked FG. "Unfortunately no, I assume you have been making leads on who this other woman is?" "I asked Kruz to find out what he could, he has more contacts than me for this sorta thing." "That's good. Well then, I suppose we have nothing else but to twiddle our thumbs and wait." "Well actually we've got missions to do, sorta keep up our income." "Of course. You will inform me on when you learn more of this, won't you?" "Course!" "How are the artifacts kupo?" asked Navarro. "In fact, I wish to ask you specifically as to the one we brought previously." "Yes my dear?" "...what is so significant about this artifact that Hopkins would want it so dearly? And why did they know of us before we even brought it back?" "I wish I knew...other than somebody feeding them information amongst your group I would not know who." "Hmmm..."

She cast her eye across her friends briefly ruling each and every one of them out for various reasons that she could estimate on. Nothing came up to flag in her mind as she stroked her furred chin smoothly before Fayne asked: "Have you learnt more on what the artifact can achieve, mother?" "Somewhat," said Mariel, "I know for a fact that this artifact is not of this world, I have studied its composition and it is most certainly not of Ivalice." "But why were you aware of it, to make our retrieval of it an objective?" "One of the...benefits of the Dark is that I become increasingly sensitive to the disposition of this world's anomalies. I knew well enough that James himself had come from another space due to his aura, and that he had been here at least ten months to the former. Your new friend, I have felt him from much farther away but I know from aura reading that he has come from at least sixteen months back." "Daaaamn," said Roy, "that...da-hahamn you are GOOD at this madame." "Regardless I was aware of some anomaly occurring in that direction of Valendia and, while I may not be able to leave Lea Monde I can certainly feel the echoes upon the earth, of any paranormal occurrences. This artifact, which I have named The Artifact of Farthing Wood, shares a surprising similarity to one other artifact that I obtained recently." "Thuh Sercian Stone?" "Correct...but I cannot be sure until I have formed a comprehensive examination." "Who brought this other artifact?" "I will not say, let's not make a mountain out of a Mu." "...tha-...okay." Roy simply blinked at this odd paraphrase as Dahlia stepped forwards to ask plaintively: "Are you...alright as well, madame Mariel?" "Oh quite so dear," said the matron, "thank you for caring but I have taken worse in my day." "Is there anything else we can do to...further your research that is, I actually did think that the artifact was deifacted nethicite but-" "No. It clearly isn't." "Right, I thought as much, it...seemed rather odd in its refractive index as opposed to nethicite." "Quite. Now, if we have nothing more I have my own matters to attend to as well as you." "Indeed," added Navarro, "we shall see you within at least a few months from now, kupo. Kruz will also fly over the city as he made a promise to keep check on James, so if you request anything you can pass it on to him." "I shall do so if need be. Thank you." With a nod and a farewell as nothing more could be attended to, they left for their own missions yet again as they worked through the months planning ahead like always. Roy also demonstrated his strength and tactical expertise in terms of his own abilities during fights against beasts and ravaged hordes that they faced interspersed between the months ahead. Swinging his giant blade with prodigious use of ice as opposed to FG's faster burning strikes, the two ended up becoming mutually compatible in terms of combat alongside each other, making it all the much easier to accomplish their small objectives. Around two weeks before the charity ball assignment, they began preparing for the big trek towards the northwest as they set off from Lea Monde. Nothing new concerning Mariel's findings so they decided to not wait any longer, but not before Kruz had come down to check on them before their leave. Setting the Broken Petal on the outskirts of the old city, he met them upon the gangplank looking rather outfitted for a journey himself with full satchel and a small set of pouches attached to the base of his tail. James approached with his clan spread behind them mounted on chocobos with supplies hoisted onto their stronger backs, except Baldwin who went on foot.

"Ahoy there!" said Kruz grinning. "Ahoy!" replied FG. "You going someplace?" "You could say that. I want to make a request to your clan." "First off, did you get any info on Hopkins yet?" "No, not yet, the lady keeps a very tight hold on her whole family history, I can't even find her maiden name and neither can Tennyson. But I'm sure something will come up." "Alright...so what's this request then?" "May I join you in your mission?" "Um...Kruz you know the Jagd doesn't-" "I mean alone, without my people. May I join you?" The clan stared at each other curiously at this odd request, Navarro somewhat perturbed as she conferred with James briefly upon this new request. The raptor then asked him: "Is this temporary?" "Yes, just so I know you're safe until you leave the Jagd...call it paranoia but I don't feel myself at ease until I know you're alright, after everything all that's happened." "But, what about your crew?" "Tennyson has everything in order, he's my first mate and my people love him." "Esszhpesszhially the navigator," murmured Baldwin cheekily. "I explained the situation to my crew, they'll be alright without me for a little bit." "Hold up." Roy then stepped forwards firmly with a hand up towards him. "You do realise we on a mission for mah sake, righ'? Ah didn' bank on another person among us." "I wasn't even planning to be part of this mission, you said before there was a town up in the Jagd right? I could just stay there, be of assistance and help you out when needed...I just want to know if James is okay, that's all, you followed my orders when you were on my ship but now..." Kruz spread his arms wide open with humility. "I'll follow your people James. Whatever you want." A small conferring between James and Navarro as the raptor nodded, seeing what was clearly going on and not disagreeing that an extra pair of hands would be useful. "Alright then you'll join us, at least until we're done with Roy's mission. But you do whatever we say when you're in our clan, got it?" "Aye-aye, sir!" said Kruz with formal salute. "The moment I step off this ship I'm no longer captain until I get back on it. So just call me mister Tenderleaf." "I'll stick with Kruz, it sounds less stupid." "Pffft...alright, fine I deserve that, so shall we go?!" With little else they finally departed the region of Lea Monde heading upwards. Kruz and Baldwin travelled on foot diligent in their physique and not being slowed down by any of the treacherous paths as they soon reached the vicinity of the Jagd around the next day. From a geographical point of view it appeared to be nothing more than a long violently-twisting crevasse of bare rock that stretched for a good length within the canyon strait. There also were promontory points reaching upwards that allowed one to scale above the canyon rift. However this was not recommended due to the vicious wyverns circling the upper parts. The narrow passages forced the group into single file, and due to this Navarro was not so bothered about their slow pace especially concerning two steedless travellers amongst them. Navarro was at the front due to Lightning's dominance over the herd with James behind on his rebellious Cadbury who kept squawking to himself muttering under his breath with bad mouthing towards the head leader. Rinoa carrying Dahlia slowly went to the back to avoid hearing this, blushing as best a chocobo could with Luke and Fayne now in the central point of the caravan group. The Jagd was far longer than any of them thought it would be, forced to camp within larger sections over the course of just two days alone whilst navigating it. Thankfully there were no monsters who actually lived within the Jagd itself, mostly restricted to just flying above which made the chocobos turn nervous for the vicious wyvern beasts savouring the fresh taste of their feathered haunches. Cyrus, who remained at the very back with his steel-tipped wings was unperturbed by this, as was Lightning who just simply kept the group on forwards. On the third day of their travels through the canyon rift, there came a much more treacherous obstacle in the form of a dark ravine somewhere within the length of ten feet straight across, splitting the middle of the canyon passageway that forced the chocobos to jump over it by a running sprint. Not that this was a problem for most of them, except for that of Luke, Baldwin and Kruz. Due to Navarro's weight being the lightest, she allowed Kruz to hop on behind her briefly in order to make the first jump gracefully, the streak of pale feathers with pinkish-tipped hues flashing for but a moment before fading across the other side.

She also leapt back across in order to let Baldwin hop on next, as well as demonstrating what to do to the rest of the group as a means of demonstration by the leader. Next came Cadbury, who leapt straight across strutting mightily with such pride of athletic skill shaking his tailfeathers all about until James bonked in on the head lightly to make him settle down. Luke was up next, and already they could tell his mood was not one up for such a task. "Come on Luke!" cried Baldwin from the other side. "You can do it!" "It will be alright," replied Fayne on top of him. "You sszhaw the other two do it, you can do it perfectly. Come on. Luke? ...Luke?" Rinoa nudged him from the rear as form of encouragement, the two conferring by a small series of low-sounding calls that Roy managed to translate only to himself, the short red-maned chocobo mumbling to himself as Rinoa asked: "Why are you stalling?" "...I don't know." "What?" "I...I feel empty...like this ravine itself. All I can see is him." "I know you miss him...but we have to keep going, our pack needs you, we have to keep going is that not what he would want?" "I don't know anything without him." "...please try. Our pack is relying on us, we need to stick together." "We couldn't even do that before." "Yes we can, we-...we all mourn for him but we must fulfil our duty to this pack, it's what he would want too!" "...I know what he would do." "What?" "If he were here...instead of me." "F-FAYNE LOOK OUT!" " NOOOOOO!" Baldwin's scream just before Navarro's shriek of fear alerted them to the sight of Luke falling forwards towards the ravine, bowing head first plaintive in acceptance as everything went suddenly in slow motion. The bishop barely found himself aware of what happened the moment his brother's steed dipped forth, ready to drop himself into the pit of darkness for a crushing inescapable fate, as he cried out with fear upon seeing it loom suddenly before him. In a panic he jumped, vaulting from the chocobo's back as he hurled himself forwards desperately hoping to grab onto the other side. Screams cried out from both side of the canyon of both riders and steeds as Luke fell towards the abyss, plunging like the phoenix as a blur of red and yellow faded from their view. But in that instant, Roy had leapt straight over Dahlia and her mount with a furious gust of wind before grabbing violently onto both of Luke's feet, the huge claws nearing his face as he half-dangled over the breach. The utahraptor pulled with all his strength, groaning ruthlessly as he dug his own clawed feet into the earth. Fayne was hanging in the air briefly as he made his sudden leap, fear guiding him by an extra boost until his elbows dropped harshly upon the other side with a slamming painfully through his nerves. With staff in one hand he dropped it on the ground to try and keep on his grip, but found himself slipping backwards without anything to grab onto. "H-HELP, BALDWIN, BALDWIN HELP ME! _" Even before he started crying out, his brother ran forwards grappling him by the hand to pull him back up but only managing to grasp one just before his head could slip into the fallen crevice beneath. Kruz was right alongside him in an instant grabbing the other hand as both bangaa and kremling hoisted up Fayne safely up onto dry soil, their hands shaking from the tension as the cleric suddenly pulled both of them into a panicked embrace. Roy however was struggling to pull up the dangling Luke, screams of fury echoing from the abyss as he cried to Rinoa behind him: "_YOU, CUMMERE, AH NEED YOUR HELP!" The white-winged chocobo stepped forwards hastily in a fit of panic, whimpering and fluttering alongside her rider who was screaming with hands across her face. The moment Rinoa came close the utahraptor grabbed her front reins before she pulled him back, using both his strength and hers to try and pull Luke up, his one hand grasping tightly around the red-maned steed's ankle as he screeched and clawed towards his face, wings flying out over the abyss like a pheasant caught in a snare. "LET ME GO!" "AH WON'T LET YOU DO THIS!" " LET ME GOOOO!" "WHY WOULD YOU THROW YOUR LIFE AWAY, YOUR BROTHER WOULDN'T WANT THIS!" "HE WOULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT ME! WHY SHOULD I LIVE WITHOUT HIM!?" "WOULD YOUR BROTHER WANT YOU TO DIE!? WOULD HE?!" "I HAVE NOTHING LEFT WITHOUT HIM! JUST LET ME DIE! PLEAAAAASE!"

Eventually the strength of both Rinoa and Roy managed to pull Luke back from the brink of the abyss, the raptor launching forwards to grapple him by the head and wrestle him furiously still to the ground to prevent him from falling back in. "STOP IT! STOP IT, I DON'T WANT TO SUFFER ANYMORE! I WANT TO BE AT PEACE!" "NOBODY WANTS YOU TO SUFFER, ESPECIALLY NOT YOUR BROTHER LUKE!" "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WANTED, YOU WORTHLESS LIZARD!" "YOU'RE RIGHT, AH DON'T! BUT LOOK! LOOK, JUS-LOOK OVER THERE, YOU SEE THAT!?" Forcing the chocobo's neck towards the other side of the ravine, they saw Fayne hugging Baldwin and Kruz tightly as he sobbed gently rocking from side to side. Across the distance it was easily heard as Roy murmured to the steed in a brief moment of clarity. "Whut you just did...you almost cost him his brother too an' forced him to suffer lahk you. He almost lost his family because of you thinkin' only about yourself an' your own pain." "I...I-i-i...n-no." "That whut you wanted? Whut your brother wanted, lettin' yourself get killed an' cause sumbody else that same pain you suffer inside you?" "N-NO! No he...he wouldn't...wouldn't want that on anyone." "Then why...did you do it?" "...I...I just...I just want to s-see him again, h-he was my only...it all h-happened so fast...I never saw his face before he just disappeared underneath the wagon...h-hhhh..." "Ah know...ah know but...people care about you too. Anyone that gets taken away, someone lahk you...makes sumbody else hurt thuh same way as you do." He gently stroked across Luke's neck calming him slowly as bitter tears dropped down upon his cheek, feathered mourning in red as Fayne grasped Baldwin desperately tight next to Kruz on his other arm. His words muffled against their chest as the bishop gasped: "H-hoh...th-thank you...thank you thank you h-hoh godsszh he jusszht...he jusszht fell, he jusszht suddenly, I-i-i couldn't...I couldn't do anything to sszhtop him, he just fell-" "It'sszh okay," said Baldwin patting, "you're alright...you're okay and sszho'sszh him too thanksszh to...Roy. I won't let you fall...ever." Kruz said nothing to let the brothers have their moment, Fayne weeping into their chests before falling onto his knees still grappling upon their waists. He brought his hands towards his face curling up his fingers from the fear of death. Baldwin sat down next to him and hugged him closely, hearing his soft murmurs of regret. "H-h-he jusszht...f-fell Baldwin I'm...I'm s-sszho sszhorry-" "It...it wasszhn't your fault-" "I sszhould have d-done sszhomething, we were helping him cope, we were trying sszho hard to help him together I thought we had helped him back in Bhujerba I-...I-i-i..." "I'm sszhorry Fayne...I...I-i don't...know what to think." Both were shaken visibly as James looked across seeing Dahlia in shock, calmed down but quite visibly shaken alongside her steed Rinoa trying to nuzzle Luke gently to reassure him, plaintively calling out until Cyrus called to her with tender sounds from behind. James noted he was oddly composed for a beast, firm and calculating with a sorrowful look in his cool clear eyes. Roy simply looked at him without a word to say but neither of them noticed Navarro until she said shakily: "C-come...let's...keep going kupo." She turned away from them by the time James had looked at her, twitching her fingers in the reins of Lightning as he walked forwards on his steed as he softly said: "...are you alri-" "_ SHUT UP! " Her screech was piercing as she faced him bitterly with tears down her cheeks, quivering lips as she choked in the back of her throat. " Don't...s-s-say another word, we are FINISHED here and we are moving NOW! _" He simply nodded with firm understanding as they had no choice but to do so, the last of the travellers behind taking courage to jump over the ravine and make it through the canyon itself. By the time they had reached the exit, it was already night time as they made their camp once again noticeably shaken up by recent events as Baldwin and Fayne made certain to stay by Luke until he was asleep. A mournful apology came between them with Roy adding translation in order to help the other understand as a forgiven conclusion was soon reached.

Sitting around a roaring campfire, most everyone was now seated or waiting cross-legged around the flames as James cautiously stirred the small black pot roasting over the fire. Propped upon two rods whilst hanging by a third, the bubbling stew from within smelt wonderfully fresh and heated well-mixed of both meat and vegetables as he saw Fayne approach with Roy and Baldwin back to the campfire, asking: "How is he?" "Better," said Fayne, "we managed to communicate more properly on behalf of Roy asszh our mediary." "Jus' tryin' to help," replied Roy, "hhhhoooooo...yanno whut, ah think we could all do with sum proper food, that stew ready yet?" "What do you think?" The raptor handed the spoon over towards Roy who cautiously sipped some of the stew, blowing lightly upon it as he smacked his lips before shaking his head and resuming the slow stirring. "Mmmmmgiiiive it another two, still not balanced out enough yet." "I feel bad," said Kruz, "not knowing how to cook." "Same here," replied FG, "feel kinda useless don't we?" "Yeah I mean, we can't all be useful everywhere, I've got the theatre and Roy's got the kitchen." "Hey we helped too!" cried Baldwin. "We didn't get kitchen duty back home for nothing!" "Khhahah, really you two know how to cook?" "Oh yeah, we alwaysszh cook for Clan Koridai whilsszht out travelling, didn't Jamesszh tell you?" "No...must have slipped his mind." The raptor shrugged softly saying: "Just one of those things, we almost never really tend to cook because monsters get attracted to it but when we do maaaan...what's that recipe you guys make again?" "Vagrant'sszh Sszhtew," replied Fayne. "Mother Mariel taught usszh it, it isszh a resszhipe made in particular for thosszhe on long journeysszh of a more nutrisszhional value." "You'll have to show me," said Kruz gladly, "I wouldn't mind tasting that myself." "But you are not a vagrant, you are a sszhky-captain!" "So?!" "You do not walk enough, why in all the time I have known you I barely ever sszhee your legsszh to the point I half-believe they were actually mahogany like your desszhk!" "Hey now, I didn't ask to be stuck behind a desk, that's captain's orders! Besides I'm a professional dancer, a thespian!" "Hahaha...well...I sszhupposszhe that we could make an exszhepsszhion for you, can we Baldwin?" "Iiiii sszhupposszhe," replied the monk, "he doesszh have a point on the dansszhing...I sszhtill can't believe you were Sszhtanley, I mean sszhmall world eh?!" "Khhahahaha!" The captain simply chuckled as they prepared their stew, the black raptor finally happy with his concoction as he doled out equal amounts in bowls to fill up with. The heartening recipe of his own design was what appeared to be a minced beef equivalent combined with chopped onion and carrots slowly cooked for an hour mixed with occasional cubes of something akin to gravy slowly melting out and filling the water into a thick meaty liquid. The result was absolutely exquisite, sumptuous and chunky whilst at the same time light and easy enough to digest without any sense of fattening weighing down the stomach. Everyone ended up having two whole servings as a result, gloriously relishing Roy's stew with hefty compliments before he walked over to where Navarro was sitting. Sat next to the chocobos' hitching post which was collapsible for long journeys, he offered her the first bowl she would have that night. "Here."

She took the bowl without turning her head as her hands gently cupped underneath, carefully sipping it to let the warm nourishment flow into her body as she softly said to him: "Thank you, kupo." "No problem, glad you lahk." "No...I mean...thank you for saving Luke." "...ah just did whut ah could." "I should have known...how worse he had become from his mourning state, I should have known...what state he would be in I let myself get...f-forgive me." "Whut matters is that he's safe, ah think after whut he almost accomplished today concerning Fayne, he got scared enough to not start doin' it ever again...hopefully." "Hopefully, kupo." "Just don't forget about feedin' yourself in thuh process, alrigh' baby bi-...um, ma'am." "...baby bird is fine." "Huh?" Navarro smirked softly up towards Roy with mutual gratitude. "Far as...nicknames go, I have had plenty worse kupo." "Hhheheheh...you really care about them don't you, lahk brothers an' sisters hmmm?" "Indeed...you seem to feel the same way." "Ah just more understand 'em." He sat down beside her crossing his legs firmly. "Lahk how to feel their pain an' such, ah don' really want to...but ah do, an' that's sumthin' ah can't just walk away from. Not lahk this, when ah can hear whut they think, whut they lahk, whut scares them...just how they say it." "I see. I am glad that someone here understands my...never mind, kupo." "Whut, your friends don't? Come on they know you, they understand totally!" "Dahlia perhaps...but I am not so certain on the others." "If you opened up a li'l maybe an' just give them a li'l trust they might surprise you." "Well...I am opening up now." She placed a hand on his thigh as a gentle pat of gratitude, smiling even more gladly as Roy sat with her to talk away the night. The brown raptor smirked seeing this and could only shake his head giggling. "Well, I never saw coming." "Heh, sszhame," replied Baldwin, "I guesszh the way to finally melt her heart wasszh the noble sszhteed." "Not that it wasszh unclear," enlightened Fayne, "...Dahlia, are you alright?" "Hmm?!" The nu-mou looked up holding the most neutral smile possible as Fayne pointed out: "You...your handsszh are-" "Yesfinethankyou." Unbeknownst to her she was holding her bowl with such stiffening rigor that she threatened to snap it in half with her thumbs dipped into the very hot stew scalding her silently. Not a single emotion crossed her face turning blank straight in front of her. James decided not to say anything, neither Kruz nor Fayne but Baldwin however piped up with: "Uhhhhh...isszh that too hot for you or-" "noitsfine! Fine, I'm...just going off to bed, I feel very tired, thank you for the meal." "Uh...o-okay, night Dahlia!" Without another word she walked off briskly to her tent as James shook his head before the monk asked him: "Did I sszhay sszhomething wrong again?" "No," mumbled Fayne, "for onsszhe you were not the problem." "Wha-what do you mean 'for onsszhe'!?" "I have been with you for fifty yearsszh Baldwin, I know when you are the problem." "Sszhaysszh the one who got caught sszhtealing picklesszh from the kitchen." "THAT WASSZH THIRTY-FIVE YEARSSZH AGO!" "And well you know it brother." He said nodding slowly the way a police officer would when cautioning a young lad, promptly letting Fayne be chastised briefly for his amusement as the bishop rolled his eyes with a slight huff before Baldwin nuzzled him, ruffling his head slightly. The night passed without incident, and so came the next morning after everyone had gone to bed. Fayne and Baldwin slept in the same tent naturally, whilst Dahlia slept on her own as Roy and Navarro ended up in the same tent, with Kruz using his own to sleep in alongside James for comfort. The first thing Dahlia heard upon morning wake was a deep rich voice singing in harmony upon the gentle breeze. A low rich melody accompanied by the strange sound of tapping rhythmic hollow beats as if someone were playing a timpani. It was an odd melody, slow and waltzing with a tenderness flowing like the blue lagoon as she realised that it was two people singing together in rather baritone voice.

"Theeeere you see her...sitting there across the way...she don't got a lot to say, but there's something about her...and you don't know why, but you're dying to try you wanna, kiss the girl." Sliding her way out of the tent she rubbed her eyes open as she saw Roy tenderly cooking a small breakfast soup upon the burning campfire, alongside Kruz who continued to sing in unison. "Yeeees, you want her...look at her you know you do...possible she wants you too, there is one way to ask her...it don't take a word, not a single word go on and, kiss the girl." "Sing with me now..." "Sha la la la la la my oh myyyy, look like the boy too shy ain't gonna, kiss the girl...sha la la la la la ain't that sad it's such a shame too bad, you're gonna misssss the girl..." The two gently taptapped a melody together on the cooking pot, waiting for it to be ready as what would have been recognisable as a simple calypso beat resonated on the full boiling pot before they continued: "Noooow's your moment...floating in a blue lagoon...boy you better do it soon, no time will be better...she don't say a word and she won't say a word until ya, kiss the girl..." Kruz suddenly got into the rhythm with a bold crescendo of a-tapping on his spoon against the pot as they sung higher. "Sha la la la la la don't be scared you got the mood prepared go on and, kiss the girl WOAH-WOAH, sha la la la la la don't stop now don't try to hide it how you wanna, kiss the girl WOAH WOAH, sha la la la la la float along and listen, to the song the song say, kiss the girl WOAH-WOAH, sha la la la la la the music play, do what the music say, you gotta, kiss the girl...you gotta kiss the girl...go on and kiss the girl..." Feeling the song taper off in their heads Roy simply chuckled, patting the kremling's shoulder happily as they hummed off the last note. "Nice man, you got a great singin' voice!" "Khheh, thank you, you're not too bad yourself." "Only sang that song twice an' already you learnt thuh lyrics." "Well I mean I studied voicework for years it's part of my theatre training, but my main feature's to dance so I learnt to memorise lyrics pretty quickly. How's that soup coming along?" The black raptor brought up a spoon to taste the soup, testing its flavour briefly with a firm nod to his brief singing partner. "Yeah that's about it, good work man!" "Wow really? Thank you! Not bad for a first time soup huh?" "Oh naw naw that wuz pretty good." "Well it's a bit difficult trying to make soup with one hand...but then again one hand just turns into a knife to chop once you unscrew the fitting." "Soup ain't that hard really, ah mean once you figure out thuh viscosity you got it straight on down." "So why were you singing that song anyway, I mean the one we were singing? You got a special someone?" "Mmmmmaaaaaybe." Roy said this playfully with a proud smirk as Kruz nudged him. "Got a uh...special lady around then?" "Ah might." "What's she like?" "Strong...tough...hard-workin'...hates posers an' macho studs thuh same way ah do, worked on a farm her previous life, she's mah everything. Ah never thought it would happen between us, not even thuh same species fer starters and uh...well, ah admit there's a bit of a size difference but uh, yanno whut thuh heart wants!" "Khheh, love at first sight huh?" "Naw naw, we had to get through a few rough patches together 'fore ah even felt anythin' for her...but then came one night...heart went aflutter...didn' even realise until mornin' it wuz love...god ah can still see her everytahm ah smell hay, lahk warm hay freshly down, ahm just reminded of her that deeply." "Awwww...you think anyone else is up to greet this morning yet?" "Ah dunno." They looked briefly round towards the tents seeing no one was awake yet, a slight fluttering in the breeze leaving Dahlia's tentflap open slightly before Roy turned back towards Kruz as the kremling asked him: "So what is this girl's name?" "Lizbeth...she lives off in Daventry, sum other world, she's keepin' thuh home fires goin' really." "You plan to go back to her after all this?" "Oh yeah, totally, ah got no reason to go back home, nuthin' left for me, ah made mah own life startin' good. Maybe ah won't get to be thuh brave police officer ah always wanted to be but, a knight in a faraway kingdom, that ain't too bad either. Whut about you, you got someone to love too?" "Uuum...I had James, or wanted to until he...well, he's not available." "Awww...sorry man." "Ehhh it's fine, I should have seen it coming really, my fault for hoping." "Naw man don' be lahk that, you'll find someone. Guy with a voice as sweet as yours ain't gonna be single that long, plus you know uhhhh...captain of his own ship that's a fuckin' dude magnet righ' there plus ah just wanna say, as a former athlete, damn you got sum nice-ass muscles." "R-r-really?!" "Yeaaaah, whut ah can't appreciate that, FG told me you were a ballet dancer, that shit is HARD man! Ah wuz back in high school an' ah saw thuh people they had in drama, that shit is not easy, ah can totally see how rough that's gotta be to both look graceful AND keep all that muscle on you soooo a guy lahk you managed to really keep it on good."

Kruz could only blush with a grin beaming at him, feeling like a schoolgirl getting complimented on by the head cheerleader as his voice turned aflutter. "W-w-wow...thank you Roy! Jeez I know you and James have some awkward history between you but you really know how to make a guy feel good!" "Heh, jus' tellin' you whut's true! Ah understand how it is to keep up your trainin' whether it be dancin' or runnin' hard!" "I-i guess that's true...what did you do exactly in a former life?" "Ah wuz a football player, least back in high school fer five years, graduated to fullback." "Is that...like a sport?" "Yeah it's a sport, just a lotta bigass dudes with muscles slammin' into each other tryin' to grab this li'l stupid-ass ball shaped lahk a taco...heh, ah bet you wouldn't mind seein' a play lahk that?" "D-don't give me ideas jeez, you had me at 'dudes with muscles'!" "Hahahahaha...ohhhh..." The two smiled sitting slowly simmering down the heat of the fire to keep the temperature steady of the black pot, making sure the lid was on to preserve it as Kruz asked curiously: "So this song you had us singing, is that popular back where you came from?" "Naaaaah not too popular, just an ol' song ah lahk, ol' soft little romance piece, typical Disney stuff." "Disney?" "Yeah lahk...you know movies don't you?" "Yeah?" "So lahk, couple of thousand years ago there wuz a biiiig civilisation before mah people came, they made lotsa shit, movies, music, videogames, all this stuff that managed to get preserved bah old data banks, vaults underground, bits an' pieces from all this remaining technology that got scattered all over. Years pass, people refind them when mah people came an' we rediscovered this, an' Disney wuz this whooooole range of awesome classic movies with lotsa songs, lotsa fun for all thuh family, all animated too most of 'em!" "Hmmm...you know James sang me a song once, I don't know if you know it but um...how'd it go again? Come aloooooong...will there be sunshine shining, will we find a silver lining, come aloooooooong..." "Ahhhhh," said Roy knowingly, "yeah ah know that song, he said to me before that he remembers it when he wuz little, that's a Disney song too." "Really?! Huh...was this Disney like some theatre troupe or-" "Naw man it wuz a bigass company, nowadays it's more lahk recitin' thuh name of sum ancient composer lahk Mozart or Michael Jackson, it's a thing of thuh past that people lahk to get into. Ah mean sure in mah world nowadays we got lotsa artists an' movies an' shit, ah think thuh last one ah ever saw before ah left wuz 'Revenge of the Avenger'...kinda dumb really, not a great example." "So there's really old stuff people still keep and rather enjoy...and new stuff that companies are just all making?" "Basically, ah mean new stuff ain't too bad ah mean we got some awesome stuff lahk thuh Cannibal Hoarders they were mah favourite band, Nuclear which was a DAMN ballsy movie that just kills me everytahm ah see it an' yanno...but the thing is that, with old movies lahk Disney an' shit, ah guess it's for me lahk seein' a whole other world before mah people came an' all this...cultural history that pours out through thuh very earth...it's...kinda humbling." "Humbling? Hmhmhm...no...humbling is when you get hurled across space itself into THIS kind of place." The kremling threw his hands out emphasising the great mountain range of Valendia. "The furthest I ever seen in my world wuz another island, had snowcaps and forests, jungles and a long gorgeous beach just...unspoilt and perfect. But here...this place is huge, it's immense I...I can never get over how big this whole land is, I know there's continents like Valendia an' such but i-i-it's just...I guess it's like bein' a kid from a small town movin' to the big city seein' it fer the first time, that kinda really overwhelms you." "Ah know whut you mean...heh, yanno uhhh your accent kinda slipped there when you started talkin' 'bout your own world." "Uhhh...actually I just stopped speaking Ivalician because I realised that you an' James understood me already." "Ahhh...yeah, the translators ah forget." "What's that feel like anyway, does it actively change the language you speak or...?" "Naw you don' feel it, it's all subliminal." Roy rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously feeling the tiniest of bumps knowing it was actually more in his actual brain. "Your brain just tricks you into thinkin' you really are just talkin' your own language constantly, when in actual fact ahm speakin' whutever language you talk in. Ah checked out mah omni-tool of other worlds ah been to, an' ah noticed that thuh people ah talk to in other worlds, ahm speakin' THEIR language. So it's definitely subconscious, shouldn't really think about it too much anyways or else it...gets kinda weird for me." "I guess...must be useful anyway, no need to worry about offendin' anyone with the wrong words." "Heh, nah that still happens, look at James." "Khhahaha, okay fair enough then. We better wake everybody." "No need, kupo."

Navarro had already stirred just moments earlier as she walked out of her tent, feeling her ears tense out into a stretch along with the rest of her body as she staggered forwards. Fayne and Baldwin followed up eagerly watering at the mouth for a taste of morning soup, and lastly came James once he heard all the commotion of everybody else starting with: "Mmmmmm what's cooking?" "Mornin' soup!" cried Kruz in Ivalician. "My own special brand, Roy helped me on the cooking so everybody eat up!" "Awww nisszhe!" Baldwin greedily took his bowl and gladly wolfed it down after testing how hot it was, slurping rather brusquely as Fayne rolled his eyes taking gentle sips of gratitude. Navarro however noticed someone missing. "Where is Dahlia?" "Still asleep I think," said FG, "I didn't see her anyway." "Ssszhe sszheemed pretty upsszhet," murmured the monk, "I think yesszhterday took a lot out of her, maybe let her sszhleep a little longer huh?" "Yeaaaah I think so...how much farther do we have until we hit the town guys?" "Uhhhh probably another day or two, it'sszh really not far now." "Did you always take this path, kupo?" asked Navarro. "On your pilgrimage that is." "Well yesszh, how elsszhe we gonna get through the Jagd?" "And the giant fissure we had to...cross?" "That I never sszhaw before," added Fayne, "I can tell you right now that only appeared within the sszhpan of three yearsszh. I do not know what would causszhe it." "It probably eroded," said FG, "like water and ice, those things cause erosion in the soil which causes rocks to break, separating them all apart. I noticed that because we're way up north it's kinda gotten a bit cold, so that might have been caused by glaciation when water gets trapped between rocks, frozen into ice which then pushes against the rock and then just forces everything away. Kinda seemed a bit large for uh, that to happen but it's the only thing I can think of other than tectonic plate activity and I uh, don't really know how that works in Ivalice...this soup's awesome Kruz man you did a great-what? Why is everyone staring?" The clan were rather shocked as James nervously gulped his soup without slurping not to break the silence, before Kruz cackled happily with his right hand clapping on his upper arm. "Khhhahahahahaha, look at you, you actually learned something!" "Huh? OH, well I learnt that from Koopin, he knows all the things about geography and he explained it to me once." "Your...lover isszh a learned sszcholar?" asked Fayne. "Yeaaaah learnt everything about geography, it's part of his job!" "Ah didn't," added Roy, "that wuz mah worst class in high school, man ah can't ever remember whut country's whut, ah can barely even remember all forty-six states." "Hmhmhmreally?" "Yeah...so whut wuz your worst subject FG? Actually good question, let's all go round an' ask ourselves, whut wuz your worst subject?" "Math," said FG, "for all the few years I went to school." "Unsurprisingly," replied Navarro. "Shut up. What about you then Little Miss Perfect, what was your worst class back when you were in the academy?" "Music. But thankfully that was not necessary unless I was training in being a bard, kupo." "I didn't go to school," said Kruz, "but the worst thing I did in my training was when I clogged up the cannons on our ship. I was terrible with the armoury, I could not weaponry at all until Cid taught me a few things out here." "Penmansszhip for me," added Baldwin, "my fisszhtsszh are good fer one thing and one thing only, and it'sszh not writing believe me." "That's not a skill you can boast Baldwin." "What, fighting isszh a sszhkill!" "Ohhh you call it 'fighting', riiiiight...that's what you call wrestling with your dick on your alone time, no wonder you have such strong fists." "PFFFTHAHAHAHAHA, HAHAHOHMY GODSSZH!" Fayne rolled back with a shriek of laughter as Baldwin looked mock insulted before he smirked back with usual swagger undeterred. "Well YOU can't even sszhoot sszhtraight by your own admisszhion sszho that sszhoundsszh pretty telling to me!" "I don't have to shoot," said Kruz smugly, "I do sword fights and I've made plenty of fighters tire out after a good fencing thrust from me...repeatedly." "Well that's MORE subtle than usual," murmured FG, "can't complain on that...so Fayne what about you, what's your worst subject?" "Ch-chemisszhtry," replied Fayne recomposing himself. "I am...not very thematical on the periodic table." "Fitness."

The voice of Dahlia came from behind him as both brothers turned to see the nu-mou awake finally. Her eyes were a burnt red ring as she sighed coldly before speaking once again. "My worst subject was fitness." She sat down gingerly beside James who handed her a hot bowl of soup giving a smile to her. "Morning sleepy-head." "Mmmm..." "Not a good runner then?" "N-no...sorry I'm...rather exhausted for some reason." "It's okay, we all got different paces." "...this soup is very nice, who...who made this?" "I did!" Kruz said this proudly as Dahlia looked up with a grin slowly forming on her face. "Well, I made it along with Roy, he helped me a lot on it because Iiiiii am not a good cook but he is!" "O-oh...that's good." She put her head down slightly with a look that only James could see as she added: "It's very lovely, helps for the...morning sleepiness." "That's why it's called morning soup! I was hoping to also find some apple juice or limes but-" "NOOOOO nonononono," cried FG, "no limes please!" "What, why?! You allergic?!" "Um...y-yeah, let's...yes, I'm allergic to them." "Huh...never knew, you never told me that but then I did wonder why you never ate any back on the ship, the Gangplank Galleon I mean." "I had plenty of other fruit to eat." "Oh...you did alright, khhheheheheheh..." The little chuckle went amiss amongst the clan as James rolled his eyes smirking as they ate their meal up. With fresher minds well-rested they went diligently up towards the northwest region past the Jagd itself as they kept a close eye on Luke. Fayne decided that Baldwin should ride on him instead whilst the cleric walked firmly with his staff for support, taking in the brisk walk with ease as well as rather frightened admittedly for his brother's chocobo after yesterday. The mournful look from him was less sorrow and more apology towards Fayne who gave him a hug of forgiveness around the neck in return. For the most part, none of the chocobos acted up for the rest of the journey much to Navarro's gratitude as she strode ahead onwards with James alongside her in joint leadership across the far-off plains. The grass was much colder, as well as of darker tones giving indication that they were now heading towards the tundra slightly. Whilst snow was certainly not anywhere present other than on the mountain ridge, the air was chilling to the point the chocobos were now starting to fluff their feathers up to compensate. After a solid day of trotting forth they found themselves upon the main region's settlement, Breekheim. A town of a healthy size reaching somewhere around 2/3 the size of Pordana, a main thoroughfare of two miles long with many houses of a more sturdy well-kept material that whilst was plenty older was nowhere near as pleasant-looking as that of more southern climates. Thick gristly walls of spackled white and grey, it almost resembled a Scottish fishing village if any of them had ever been aware of such with its inordinate cobbled streets, the kind of streets that carriages risked breaking suspension on every five-hundred yards or so.

But despite the cold and somewhat unsightly look of its architecture, the people looked healthy and rather cheerful giving a mixed integration of most wayfaring species of Ivalice. Managing to find themselves at an inn, they paid up for their rooms individually and set down their bags for what was going to be an entire week of staying at the very least. If anything it felt like a vacation from the hustle and bustle of ways heading south as they relished having a nice bed after four days of travelling rough. Taking a set of three rooms, Dahlia and Navarro went into one by themselves whilst James, Roy and Kruz took another and finally the two brothers Baldwin and Fayne had theirs separate. Most of the rooms of the homely modest inn were rather spartan with just wooden floors, spackled walls of firm stone and at least three beds for each. The odd painting hung on the wall that nobody ever noticed but brought the room together, a nice view outside the two windows each room had towards the north seeing the far mountain hills of white peaks capped with snow. It was a bracing cold air but not too cold that they were all feeling frozen as they settled down upon their beds unloading their various usual supplies. For the week they had until the charity ball in the orphanage, they began acquainting themselves with the town as well as to check on their chocobos who went to the nearest stable. Fayne and Baldwin received the most welcome being the most familiar with Breekheim allowing themselves to become tour guides for the rest of their clan's stay. Fayne also relegated himself to contacting the orphanage to enlist their donations at the ball. For the most part however, they did not particularly engage in much activity other than being around near the inn, chatting away whilst partaking in local delicacies mainly involving that of roasted meat and cold herbal garnish. A sturdy meal that was not particularly succulent but filled plenty enough of the stomach as they had their dinner at a local establishment. Roy and James found themselves walking through the streets around evening, enjoying the slight cold nipping at their bodies as houses closed up, the sounds of the courthouse clock ringing proudly to be around 7pm. "Almost feels lahk Christmas," murmured Roy, "you know, aroun' that tahm in November lahk thuh last two weeks just before thuh snow comes?" "Yeah," said James, "it's kinda nice isn't it?" "Good thing we're mesotherms, better to be intermediate-blood than a cold-blood." "There's a THIRD type?!" "Whut you never knew?! Anyways...yanno that's whut ah miss thuh most out of all these travels, not havin' Christmas." "Same here...god the last christmas I had was amazing, Sarah got everything out right, she had the bar all set up, all the kids were happy, families came down, no alcohol. But plenty of good drinks and the chief commissioner even came down dressed as Santa!" "Hah, no way! That's awesome man." "What was your last christmas like?" "Damn...uhhhh..." Roy rubbed the back of his head trying his best to remember. "Musta been pretty good, mom made her gumbo stew, dad wuz singin' hymns, we invited thuh neighbours around an' had a good party, not too big only abou' five of us." "Awwww." "We always invite three friends of ours from next door, we keep it tight, yanno just in case of anything." "Right...do they do anything special in school on Christmas?" "Other than maybe a party, nah...last Christmas party at school wuz uh...not great cuz it wuz after mah parents, ah wuzn't really focused about it." "Understandable." "They even let me off mah usual duties as a prefect just so ah could get mah head together. Dunno whut they coulda done with me really." "Wait, you were a prefect?" "Hehe, yeah." "Oh god." "Whut?!" James smirked looking at him as he shook his head saying mockingly: "You had to be the big policeman of the halls telling everybody not to have fun, didn't you?" "Hey-ey-ey, ah wuz just obeyin' thuh rules, people could have fun if they wanted but ah wuz keepin' an eye out for trouble!" "Like what?" "Well there wuz this one guy who set firecrackers off an' soaked the entire damn hallway of lockers soaking out a good twenty students." "Pfffft...hhhahahahhaa, that's a classic." "Ehhh...wuz funny afterwards but hoho that kid could run, ah saw him peekin' out from the other end, tore after him across thuh pitch an' tackled his ass hard." "You had to deal with a lot of troublemakers then?" "Mmmmm some...we had a few real bad people, most of thuh tahm though it wuz just little spats, fightin' over who's girl an' the odd schoolboy prank. Nuthin' bad but..." "Buuuuut?" asked FG curiously leaning his head towards him. "There were a few worse people, lahk real bad people, people that got expelled basically." "Wow did you actually expel someone, like from school?!" "Naw naw," said Roy with hands waving in front of him, "ah ain't got that power, ah just reported them an' detained them, ah wuz sumthin' of a hall monitor really, ah could chase down people an' take 'em up to the office but ah couldn't do nuthin' else." "What did someone plant a bomb or something?" "No...thankfully."

The two walked forth into the main square of the town where the courthouse was, a resplendent-looking building of ornate carved olden stone pillars within a long flight of steps, mainly in length and not in height. The clock hung above the entrance and for some reason it appeared to be one of the most grand buildings of the entire populace due to its founder whose statue of marble stood diligent at the very centre of the town square. A lawman of Archadian lineage robed in garments of ecclesiastical age with a tome proudly glinting a bold firelight of pure potent magicite. The light of justice upon their heads as FG asked Roy: "So, what were the worst people then? I mean honestly you always seem to be the sort of good guy ever since we first met." "Even though ah walked up to you in a hoodie in thuh middle of thuh night?" "Inside a department store may I add." "Well...there's three that come to mind, one wuz a human dude, Jimmy sumthin', really pale white who...planted a camera in thuh girl's bathroom." James cringed with a small retracting of his neck until the chin rubbed against his sternum. "Ewwwwww...that's...that's ewwww noooo." "Naw naw it gets better, he actually took out a tile UNDERNEATH thuh toilet seat an' then put a camera into it, so it would go upskirt." "AWWWWW that's fucked uuuuuup! Holy shit nooooo!" "Yeah he got legit expelled ah mean, 'specially considering that maybe if not most of thuh students he caught were probably not of legal age, so that's fucked up." "Totally, WOW what a creepy fuck." "That wuz thuh worst. Thuh second worst, in mah opinion wuz this coyote dude, brown fur all over, kinda darkish brown who wuz a HUUUGE prankster. Carlos Ortega, ah remember his name clearly, he wuz always just prankin' people lahk constantly, a real wild jokester that lotsa people loved cuz he...well, wuz pretty funny! Now most of thuh tahm his shit wuz actually kinda funny an' pretty inventive, dude wuz maybe a little TOO intelligent for all thuh shit he did an' for thuh most part, ah always gave him a warnin' an' let him go on his way if no real harm wuz ever done cuz uh lotsa people loved him. But then he did this one prank that nobody laughed at." "Woah, what he do?" "Well, most of thuh tahm it wuz just uh fake phone calls, spring traps, loose tiles that go BAM an' puff flour righ' in your face, but then he booby-trapped a girl's locker with peanut butter. She opens thuh locker, SPLAT, righ' all over her face! Turns out she wuz allergic to peanuts an' almost died of anaphylactic shock." "Holy shit." "Now, he claimed he had no idea that she wuz allergic but, ah knew better. Ah found out that he broke into thuh school records lookin' up sumthin' for a bigger prank, then actively pranked on her NEARLY killing her, an' then laughed his fuckin' ass off whilst she wuz chokin'! Nobody laughed, ah walked mah way over an' punched his fuckin' face down HARD then dragged his ass off to thuh principal. He didn't last two days before he got expelled righ' there." "I bet he didn't like that, was the girl okay?" "She wuz fine, she had to recover about two weeks in hospital, wuz a li'l touch-and-go about a week in but she survived alrigh'. Carlos however fuckin' flipped, stompin' around on his huge-ass boots, lahk real big work boots ah guess he wanted to be lahk a clown but didn't know where to buy any of those shoes but you could always hear him bah thuh way he stomped his feet, always' tryin' to get back on school grounds an' because he wuz no longer a student...well..." Roy cracked his knuckles confidently with a dark chuckle. "Let's just say ah showed him why ah got made prefect." "Hhheheheheheheh, niiiiiice. Well you know what, you beat the shit out of bullies, you're alright by me." "Yeah man." "So what's the third worst?" "AUGH, okay no, so this guy, little lizard dude bah thuh name of...Andrew Pratt, somehow managed to destroy the entire plumbing of thuh west side of thuh school." "Wait WHAT!?" "Yeah! So uh, technically it wuz a bomb, but it wuz more lahk he managed to flush an explosive device, time it just right so it hit thuh main pumpin' station of thuh west side an' BOOM! Water fuckin' FLOODED thuh damn place, turned into a goddamn aquarium." James could not help but suddenly start laughing at this with hands clapping joyfully in exhilaration imagining this. "PFFFFFHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAA OHHHHH THAT'S AMAZING!" "Whut it wuz terrible! We had to get a whole team in to fix it back up, that cost thuh school SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!" "PFFFFFT...okay I'm I'm...I'm sorry but Andrew, is my fucking hero now that is pretty fantastic." "It wuzn't good man, fuckin' destroyed thuh damn plumbing, we had no water fer six weeks!" "Wait wait...so your worst to least worst are...Jimmy the pervert, Carlos the serial prankster, and Andrew the sewer terrorist?" "Well only because nobody actually got hurt because of Andrew. Ahll say one thing about him, he did it for lulz but he did not hurt anybody for it, he actually timed it so that nobody wuz at thuh bathrooms. He wuz an anarchist, he wuz all about 'down with authority and thuh proletariat' kinda shit but he wuzn't a killer. Ah mean we still had to expel him because he cost thuh school sixteen-thousand dollars but hey, ah woulda chose him over Carlos goddamn Ortega, motherfucker he wuz." "Heheheheh...I would have been such a shit at your school." "Really?" "Yeaaaah...I wasn't the best kid honestly." "Ah bet you weren't, you always looked lahk a little shit." "Hah, and you always looked like a copsucking ballfondler." "PFFFFT...well, you ain't wrong." "Hhhahahaha!"

Whilst Roy and James were connecting over their various existences, Kruz found himself alone in the room that they shared in readily unpacking his stuff. His various arm attachments as well as an immaculate suit were being laid out in preparation for the big ball, as Roy had made certain that all of his accompanying guests had something to look good with and Kruz was no exception. He gently folded the suit meticulously with one hand before a knock came on the door. "Who is it?" "Kruz, it'sszh...Fayne, are you alone?" "...yeeees, why?" "Can I...may I come in?" Curious as to what he wanted, the kremling unlocked the door seeing Fayne nervously shuffle his feet, his hands kept close together as he for once had no staff without him voluntarily. "Something wrong, Fayne? You look worried." "Kruz...might I inquire to you about a...certain matter? Alone." "...alright, come in." Fayne walked forwards trudging his claws into the wooden floor awkwardly as he let his hands rub over each other promptly, with Kruz locking the door behind them as he walked back to his bed. "I...I wanted to come to you on a matter of...purely intellectual reasszhon." "Alright." "I...would like however that we keep it a private matter between the two of usszh I...I would asszhk Jamesszh on thisszh but I-i wanted a more unbiasszhed opinion away from my clan." "About what?" "About...your-condition?" "My...my what?" "Your...ahem...interest, along the line of gender." "Ohhhhh that...well I...guess I could, but it's hard to explain-" "I would like to know, on a purely intellectual mean, I want to clear my head and obsszherve thisszh from a phrenic point of view, if I may." "...is this something to do with that night?" "SHH-SHH-SHH!" Fayne lurched forwards suddenly with a hand on the bed stressfully putting his other hand up. "I-i-i would NOT want to intrude, you made a promisszhe to me you would not sszhpeak of that, that wasszh PURELY unintensszhional!" "Alright alright I understand...so why do you want to talk about it?" "Well...we have time without any interrupsszhion, I merely want to learn on your persszhpective of the world, on a purely ratiosszhinative manner of thought." "Ratio...cinative?" said Kruz unnerved slightly. "Well I mean I'll do my best but, I'm not sure how I can explain it, I mean I come from a very different world to you." "But you do have that sszhame desszhire for...men, don't you?" "I do." "Then...pleasszhe, let me learn about it, from you, I would like to know from the view of sszhomeone who hasszh that to...elaborate for me." "Alright then, khhheh...ask away." The cleric sat onto the bed bringing out a small notebook he kept in his cloak, which had his questions written down ahead of time, pencil in the ringed top where the paper could flip over as he began asking. "How long have you...felt that way?" "Since I was born. I've always known, it's never been a different choice for me." "R-really?! ...ohhhh...you are sszhure of that?" "Absolutely, I never got it off anyone if that's one of your questions, khheh." "A-ahhh...well...alright then." Furious scribbles began as he noted this before his next question, after skipping one that Kruz called on with a smirk from the kremling. "How did you...discover your condisszhion?" "Heh, condition, you make it sound like a disorder." "A-a-a-a-i'm, I'm s-sszhorry I do not...I do not know what word I could usszhe without calling it an afflicsszhion." "What about orientation? That's one way of saying it." "...orien...tasszhion, huh...alright, that would...that would be acszheptable very well I will usszhe it then, how and when did you disszhcover that?" "Well..." Kruz leant back against the bed's headrest reminiscing softly. "I was about nine years old." "Wha-...n-n-nine?!" "It was a warm summer day on the shores of the island, we were doing our dance classes outside to get a feel for the bare feet plus it was a really nice day, warmer than usual. There was this one kid, little older than me who was a close friend of mine, we always hung out together eating honey and such...I sort of fell in love with him, at least for a bit. He gave me my first kiss. Made me feel all warm inside like nothing I ever felt before...first time I ever felt that...tinge of warmth inside your heart, you know the one I mean?" "I-i-i...I do, like...any other male would with a female." "Khheh, well, I always felt closer to males than I ever did with females...then again, having an island without any females does tend to skew that a little, sooooo I might not be the best example for all of this, are you sure you'd rather not talk to James about this?" "I would much rather talk with you than Jamesszh, you are not sszho...tumultuousszh like he." "Khhheheh, he does tend to get a little hot-headed doesn't he?" "I-i do not mean anything by that, I mean-" "No no it's okay, I understand. You're at least trying to understand me, that's better than most people would here so I appreciate it. You got any other questions?" "Ah, yesszh um..." Flipping the notebook over after another small scribble, he came to his next query. "When you obssherve...a very attractive female, what do you feel?" "Well...why don't I ask YOU that question?" "Wh-what?!"

Kruz inched in a little closer, grinning widely from cheek to cheek across the bed as Fayne leaned nervously back, before remembering the last time that this came about and groped behind him for the edge of the bed in order to not fall off. The kremling asked in turn: "You're asking me quite a few so I'm entitled to ask you some things, that's fair don't you think?" "I...w-well...when you put it that way-" "What do you feel, when you see a very attractive female? Better question, what do you imagine on a very attractive NAKED female? Imagine one right now, right in front of you ready to be taken hard and begging for you to just plow her...what do you see?" "A-a-ah I...thisszh isszh not the time to-" "Now now Fayne, you came to me to know what I feel, I wanna know what YOU feel. Now...picture the scene...a gorgeous naked female, what is your perfect lady?" "Well...alright, I...presszhume that can help compare our fantasszhy, aheh-hem." Slowly he closed his eyes as Kruz moved away from him to allow a bit of space, the cleric calmly replying with: "I sszhee a very attractive female I...naturally have all the variousszh ardour, like any other male of that interesszht, there...sszhe isszh a viera, preferably, rare I know to encounter them but they feel sszho sszhmooth all over, wondrousszhly curved body, not too lean, rather plump around the waisszht to...hold on to whensszh thrown with passzhion." "She has a nice body I bet," murmured Kruz, "smells gorgeous too with a biiiiig curvy ass just right for grabbing." "H-hoh...indeed sszhe...sszhe would I admit I am...s-sszhomething of an admirer of the...derriere promptly before anything." "Really? Mmmmmm what about the front, what does she have for you?" "Warm sszhumptuousszh breasszhtsszh turning sszhweeter than fruit, plump and hanging jusszht begging for a tasszhte...hhhhhh...a good older age too, perhapsszh forty-to-fifty...a little more mature jusszht to be a little more looszhe." "You don't like them when they're tighter?" "They...t-tend to complain more about my...prodigiousszh length." "Ohhhhhh...I see...and then you slide down your lips from her breast to where that golden prize is...right?" "Godsszh yesszh...that wondrousszh vulva like bitter sszhtrawberry...mmmmhhhhh...and I will gladly plunge in and fill her with mosszht warmth of my cream...hhhohhhhh..." Taken too far into his fantasy, Fayne only stopped when Kruz did not respond letting him open his eyes once again. The kremling grinned sweetly upon seeing him blush rather hotly before replying: "Now, that feeling you had right there, that's the exact same way I feel with an attractive male, I have many types though. Not macho men, I hate those types, always going overboard about their physique and how gorgeous they are and what perfect icons of manliness they be, I just-ugh...I like someone that does not NEED to tell you constantly how gorgeous they are, I want a little substance beyond 'look at me' you know what I'm saying?" "Y-yesszh yesszh I know what you mean but, my quesszhtion wasszh what you felt in a very attractive female, being one you are not attracted to according to your...orientation." "Oh...right, of course well, with a female I feel the same way you feel upon seeing a very attractive male. I mean, other than the fact I know they look attractive for other people, you look at a male, someone who you know the ladies are going to fall all over and just BEG for him to hold them with his sculpted arms and such. I know that a lady is attractive to other people, but to me it just doesn't do anything for me, no naughty thoughts, no romantic ideas, just 'hey, there's a really nice-looking lady'." "I...see. Alright...how often do you...fantasszhisszhe-um...of men?" Kruz raised an eyebrow surreptitiously smirking at such a question. "Is that part of the research still?" "I-i merely have to learn every asszhpect in order to be clear." "Alright then. I guess...most days I do, I mean at least once a day unless it's a very busy day I tend to masturbate myself and get it all out so my head is clear for the rest of the day, I don't want to get pent up." "D-doesszh that happen often?" asked Fayne embarrassed. "Not...really, I just find that I am able to focus a lot more on my duties after I've cleared my head and my uh...penis." "Ahhhh." "You must do that too don't you? Morning maybe or perhaps the evening, you stroke yourself off in your bed before getting down to some work or reading?" "I-...I...I do actually. I find it very...therapeutic." "There you see, perfectly natural, helps to clear the head." "Baldwin doesszh it more often than me." "...how many?" "...three, at leasszht." "Woooow...hah so I wasn't really far-off about his 'fists' being strong then." "SNRRRKheeheeheheheheh, ohhhh godsszh you have no idea, that wasszh incredible." "But anyways, back to your question."

The kremling reasserted himself with his seating as he sat up properly letting Fayne bounce a little near him, the cleric wiping tears of mirth from his eyes slightly. "I have a crew around me, a lot of them are pretty good-looking but I don't have ideas about them, they're like my colleagues I don't feel for them that way. I mean there are one or two ideas that cross my mind, I tend to think what they might be like in bed, but nothing I would ever DO to them, the same way you might have ideas about your friend Dahlia." "Wh-wh-what?! I...what?! No I would-I would never-" "What's wrong, everybody does that! Everybody who works alongside someone of a gender they swing for has at least one or two ideas even if they never would." "I-i-i would...I would not imposszhe anything on Dahlia ever, ssszhe isszh my friend!" "Exactly, but if you have an idea about her now and again, that's just curiosity. But you wouldn't act on them now, would you?" "N-no. No I wouldn't, I...admit there have been one or two ponderingsszh of a more unsszhavoury nature but...that would not do for me to tell you about them." "I wouldn't be interested but, there you see, same thing with people I know. Course the one I really fantasise the most on is James but, you already knew that." "I do. You appear very closszhe to him." "Khheh...closer than you might think, but we don't do anything nowadays if that's what you were wondering, hence what I told you back before on that morning-" "R-r-right anyway!" The notebook flipped again after more hasty scribbling with feverish distraction. "Doesszh the sszhmell of another male...arousszhe you in sszhome manner?" "Ohhhhhhohohoooo, now you're getting to the good stuff." The kremling laid forwards grinning as he propped his chin on his hand, near the bishop's leg closer than ever. "I have a real thing for musk, yes, but that's more unusual I noticed. There were a lot of people on my old ship and we had a lot of different intrigues like some people I knew who were...sodomites as you call them, they were absolutely clean freaks like 'no sex until you take a bath please' and then there were others who wanted everything raunchy. Now being on a ship of around three-hundred men that's going to be quite easy to happen, but I enjoy the regular scent of it sure, and if they are rather sweaty or pretty musky theeeen yes I would, gods yes. But I appreciate them being hygienic at least because, come on." "Alright...u-um...if a male of your...orientasszhion began to molesszht you, what would you do?" "Am I willing in this scenario?" "...I do not know, I had not written it." "If it's someone I like and I wanted it, then I would go all the way with them. But if it's someone I didn't like or I didn't want to, then I would make them stop." "You would tell them no?" "Exactly, like anyone else unwilling." "Sszho you are able to, in that sszhtate of mind, reject the offer of another male who desszhiresszh you?" "Of course I could! What, you think we just screw each other all the time the moment we get close to each other, just going crazy with each other's musk?" Fayne did not respond to this as he looked down upon his feet with deep shame, the captain rolling his eyes as he nodded with exasperation. "Well...not the worst thing I heard about those like me in Ivalice, at least you're trying." "F-forgive me I...did not mean to offend you." "It's alright, I know this is all really new to you but you're learning. Even if your questions are really...blatant and rather stupid quite frankly." "Alright...um...l-lasszht one then, a little derivative but bear with me it'sszh relevant. Do you think, or rather, have you...ever dealt with a topic that even though you hear may be harmful to you or immoral...you find no evidensszhe whatsszhoever to claim that it be?"

The kremling looked at him strangely at this wording, noting the odd apprehension in Fayne's voice as he asked the bishop softly: "...are you having second thoughts?" "Wh-what?" "You're asking me all these questions trying to understand my orientation, now you're asking me if I ever dealt with something other people tell me is not right but never had anything solid to prove with...just like what you're trying to find out here." "I-...i-i-i think we're done, I have enough data for my resszhearch thankyougoodbye!" "WAIT!" Kruz was faster than the bishop who had to hobble his way to the door as he threw his hands out struggling to get up, quickly before the captain kept it shut with his one hand on the door giving Fayne a small start jumping slightly. "Look, I know you're a friend of James, and I know you're worried about your brother but I need to tell you...if you have any thoughts they are perfectly natural and nothing is wrong with them. Alright?" "I...I have no idea what you are talking about, now prithee let me leave-" "Fayne please, it's not healthy to keep things bottled up inside you." "I have nothing bottled up insszhide me whatever you think! What are you implying?!" "You're afraid to disappoint your brother but if he loves you then he won't care what you are!" "What do you mean what I am?! I'm not afflicted, I came to YOU inquiring about your orientasszhion now you accusszhe me of sszhuch mendasszhity!? How DARE you, I came to you in good faith!" "STOP it." He slammed his fist into the door to emphasise his warning. "Fayne, whatever's going on inside your head, I can see all that's happening. You're not that subtle about it really, you want to believe your brother's beliefs about being afflicted and it's something to avoid because he's your brother, you two are always together...but you're afraid of disappointing him beyond anything else you've ever done to him, aren't you?" "...please. Let me go now." "Not until you tell me what's going on here. I know I can guess but I need you to say it for me, why would you ask me this stuff, why even bother? You're not a scientist, you're a bishop." "I am a sszcholar!" "You can happily go all your life assuming another group of people like me are nothing more than just people to be pitied, and be happy not upsetting your brother." "I-i-i wasszh TRYING to be fair to you and Jamesszh becausszhe you are my friendsszh, isszh that a problem to you?!" "No, what is a problem to me is someone tearing themselves apart in denial for what they truly want-" "I am not in denial! I have had PLENTY of femalesszh and I actually enjoy the female form unlike YOU! I enjoy them asszh plenty asszh any other well-blooded male could!" "Is that right?" "Absszholutely!" "...alright then." He finally stood to the side and allowed Fayne to leave, the cleric thanking him by a stern nod and gentle bow. "Thank you...for educating me." "My pleasure. Sorry for the...end part." "N-no I...forgive me Kruzzh, I will sszhpeak with you later, alright?" "Alright." "...thank you." Briskly strolling off Fayne slinked his way back towards his room down the hall with the gentle thump of his foot receding as the kremling leaned back against the door closing it. He sighed heavily shaking his head with exasperation briefly, before he noticed that Fayne had left his notebook on the bed and curiously opened it seeing the questions he had already asked. As well as one or two less polite implications that he had gratefully chosen not to ask, there was one question in particular that Kruz he wished he hadn't read. His heart broke slightly as he shook his head seeing all too clearly what was going on concerning Fayne. An idea then came to him, slowly taking the pencil up as he wrote his response to him.