final fantasy//endless abyss

[Captain Glomps]

Amane nodded "Well yeah Runide was a really nice little demon so it would be nice to play with her a little just before she left but I'm sure if we ask nicely they will find her or take us to see her before we go" she guessed peeking out the window. Oh and before we go theres one more thing I kinda want to do.... I want to go on that big wheel thing" she requested noticing a sign to say all rides were free that day failing to notice Hebal making a quick dash to the more luxurious bathroom hidden away on the lower level of the airship.

Alpha nodded "Yeah I've seen them do that. Quite interesting how they do it though its still a pretty dangerous job for those boilor suits can only protect them from so much lava should they fall in. But I don't mind dwarves, probably the most tolerant of my kind out there though always seem to have a job request for you"  

[lack-of-originality]

Felina scratched her head seeing Nal zoom away at the wave of Nares hand "Mari wears armour all the time so probably won't be a bother to her I'm sure so he could still be cuddled. But what a strange little creature, must be so odd for him to be in a forest rather than a desert" she noted following Nares into the trees "Anything we should know in terms of potential trouble?"

"Not right now, there was at last one marlboro within the area in the past hour but that one from the looks of it headed in the opposite direction, Just relax. If theres anything to worry about nearby we'll either get word or I'll probably pick up on it." Nares assured her pushing the vines out the way for the group. "On a semi related note theres a full moon tonight which means some of the fiends will be a bit restless"

Corella let out a small squeel failing to take notice the low branch she had been leaning on was about to drop its snow "Ok... that was cold and that tree should know to be nice and not laugh at me for that" she complained shaking her fist at the tree.

Satoshi nodded "Yeah I guess but I would rather my mum kepy her clothes on all the same. But if you would like to do the dishes be my guest not that I've made a mess" she replied planting a kiss on his cheek. "And besides I don't tend to cook foreign Agralian food. Its not exactly a thing that gets taught over here. Anyway I'll have that shower and get your other present. Nowhere near as fancy as the other one but still" she added while she grabbed her dragon costume and headed to the bathroom.  

[Pierre42]

Oassu nodded "My clones have formed a perimeter now so we'll have some other forewarning if anything happens around us but relax, lets just make this a nice stroll but we'll be safe in the castle by the time the full moon is out tonight" he said glancing back at Corella as she emitted a small squeal quickly putting a finger up to his lips "Well the tree probably doesn't get much entertainment, just think about that for now" he said quietly moving on.

Zadina nodded "That does look like fun so hopefully Runide will play with us and go on it today but you can go use the shower first Miss Amane since you made breakfast it's only fair" he said politely moving to get a better look at the big wheel.

Jeckhart nodded "Well Dwarves are confined to underground mostly as their cities require a lot of effort to maintain so it only makes sense they have a lot of available work for little things that require trips to the surface or fighting the more dangerous underground monsters they really eke out a difficult existence" he sighed.  

[Captain Glomps]

Amane hesistated making sure Merric was safe with his string before she got up. "Umm ok though Alpha kinda helped me a lot with that because Im no master cook myself. Hopefully I can get this shower to work as I only have baths at home" she mumbled scurrying away to the bathroom down the hall.

Alpha chuckled but shook his head "Well dwarves really look after their cities most of the time and when they do they look amazing inside and are perhaps the wealthiest cities in the world. Their capital literally has a palace thats gold plated. If it were'nt for the fact it were underground dragons would be everywhere nearby"  

[lack-of-originality]

Nares unlike Oassu let out a small laugh "Well Im sure if you were a tree you would want to get the snow off your branches too but it said sorry at least. And sure why not, another casual stroll through the forest that doesn't involve me sticking an arrow through something sounds good. Just more reason to be back before night with the moon thing and besides. I do want to celebrate some part of the dragon festival after all the effort I went to getting all those fireworks"

Felina snickered "Trees dont need much entertainingor mental stimulation. They are perfectly content in just watching things and talking amongst themselves. But I agree. It would be nice to see some of the fesitval later and then we can get you a little more cultured in our elven ways" she teased him.  

[Pierre42]

Oassu smirked "Sure can show me what it's like I guess but how did you get your hands on Private Nal" he said glancing back at the lights of the outpost where the Cactuar had left them, "I mean there's hardly any deserts near here and even then I hear cactuars are meant to be very elusive creatures what with their speed and stuff" he said not sure the cactuar return.

Zadina nodded "Just let me know if you are having trouble working it, I struggled with showers when I first encountered them" he said leaving Merric to play with the string and wrapping before going over to Alpha and Jeckhart "Hello Cap'n Alpha and Mr Jeckhart, I'm sure you are excited to see Miss Mu today right Cap'n?" he asked adjusting his goggles proudly.  

[Captain Glomps]

Alpha turned his head snapping out of his daydream of the golden wonders the dewarves had hidden away "Ello again Zadina. Yep it's good to see my family. With Psy living somewhere so remote and Mu constantly travelling about the world it is rare that I get to see them. Even rarer still to get them both in the same room but at least Psy lives somewhere that a fire demon can relax in peace. Plus I ought to say congrats to her new fiance and find out a potential wedding date" he remembered.  

[lack-of-originality]

Felina smiled gently pulling Oassu to one side before he accidentally stepped on the beetle in front of him "Don't worry I'm sure you'll like the dragon festival celebrations here and we can even go celebrate with the commoners rather than do the whole formal party thing" she suggested not overly interested in spending the end of the day with her more distant relatives.

Nares nodded "They are fast but...well I've been a ranger since before Felina was born. Those number of years give you pleanty of time to master the skills of hunting and tracking. But we do have desert elves they just have no loyalty to the rest of their people. Occasionally a group will be sent in to try and rebuild relations with the desert elves but never had any success and just became too much of a drain on resources to continue"

"I heard a lot of the desert elves aren't very nice people and most of them are involved in crime and other shady activities. Thats what the people around the palace tend to say anyway. Doesn't sound like a place I would like visiting" Corella explained.  

[Pierre42]

Oassu frowned not entirely sure why Felina pulled him aside "Well I suppose though probably still got some reparations that need done on the city but sure I've vaguely heard of some elven crime syndicate out in the deserts" he said, of course Oassu knew in full about the Desert crime families but he wasn't sure whether Nares would be ok knowing his true nature yet.

Zadina nodded "Yeah you must be really excited about seeing her today since I bet it's a long time since you spent the dragon festival with a family member" he said happily politely asking Jeckhart for a glass of milk. "What present did you get Miss Mu for the festival?" he asked while Jeckhart fetched him a drink.  

[Captain Glomps]

Alpha nodded "Yeah the last time I spent the dragon festival with a family member was 5 years ago with Psy. Wasn't anything fancy but we went out after dark and just hung out. Food wasn't too bad considering the lack of luxuries. Anyway I'll not bore you Mu pretty much sent me a catalogue and circled what she wanted. She knows what she wants for sure but not that I also got her a few basic household things. Useful things she needs but cant buy while on the road. Boring practical things."  

[lack-of-originality]

"Oh I'm sure you do. You seem well travelled and streetwise enough to know about these things" Nares commented back at Oassu holding back on saying anymore for a moment. "Well anyone who did know a lot about the syndicates in the desert would know how difficult it is to deal with them and one would be incredibly brave or stupid to piss them off. Yeah nobody is in a hurry right now to try again but at least I picked up a few friends with such an easy landscape for target practice"

Felina scratched her head curious as to just how much Nares actually knew but wasn't saying "Well I'm sure if we stick with it we might eventually make more progress in building bridges. Shouldn't give up all hope" she stated optmisitically. "But the repairs are looking so much fewer now and the city so looking normal again. If not looking even prettier"

Corella nodded "Yeah the rebuilding project is fantastic. They made the new tower of the palace all nice and fancy without making the outside look out of place. Not really seen the rest of the city but its lit up at night again now at least"  

[Pierre42]

Oassu shrugged "Every merchant knows that desert is bad news, feel sorry for the folks who live in the area" he said moving closer to Felina for warmth "Still how did you meet and tame Private Nal if you don't mind me asking" he said "Didn't think Cactuars were friendly at all, also where is Hayate planning on meeting us?" he asked suddenly remembering they were one short.

Zadina sighed "So no really cool presents for her then" he said poking the firestone idly swiftly withdrawing his finger feeling the temperature "You certainly seem to have gotten an interesting little present from Mr Jeckhart Cap'n" he said while Jeckhart moved over to the present pile and pulled out another "Here you are Lord Zadina, I almost forgot I bought you a present too" he said handing the package over to the boy who gasped in delight "Oh thank you Mr Jeckhart that's kind of you" he said tearing the present open to reveal a book "It's one of the stories I read to you when you were unwell at the clan unfortunately we never finished this book so you can finish it at your own pace now if you like" Jeckhart explained while Zadina nodded happily in thanks flicking through the pages idly.  

[Captain Glomps]

Alpha chuckled ruffling Zadina's hair "Hey boys your age and women her age want completely different things. Can't see you ever wanting a sparkly dress but Amane on the otherhand... well thats a fitire present idea when she's older and you want to impress her" he teased glancing down at the book. "Ahh what kind of book have you got there? You could maybe read some more of it while we fly to Yithra. It can bet pretty boring on the airship sometimes I know" he suggested.  

[lack-of-originality]

"Theres a stream up ahead. Hayate should be waiting there for us provided he and Nal are not at eachother's throats again and in that case he'll probably be taking cover behind the nearest tree" she joked taking a pause "You might be able to hear it already though not sure with human ears. As for Nal, theres not really that exciting a story. Was basically out in the desert showing a few newer recruits how to shoot things in high brightness areas. One of thek hit a green stump because they failed to notice the odd plant was actually moving and next thing you know it was raining needles. Then just has to look after him a little while injured and he sort of stuck with me"

Felina shuddered "So you ended up attacking a cactuar and getting 10,000 needles? Sounds pretty painful and not like something that would lead to you taming a catuar" she replied puzzled.

"Well one of our lot shot in the head and he left a very interesting looking scar on the top of my arm. I had cookies and he knew where there was water so we called a truce and ate cookies and water together. And thats pretty much all there is to say on that. Even fiends like a good sugary snack" Nares snickered.  

[Pierre42]

Oassu chuckled "Does Hayate not like Cactuars or something?" he asked not sure cookies were good bait for all fiends "Surprised that would work so well on Nal, well maybe he's a special little fellow that's overly obedient or maybe you just have the same way with animals that Mari has" he said sidestepping some snow that fell from a branch as they passed.

Zadina nodded "It's a book about an adventurous moogle explorer travelling between worlds, there's quite a few in the series" he said frowning as he fixed his hair and adjusted his goggles "Though I could always ask the elven royal tailors to make her a dress if she wanted one while in Yithra though is that what you've got Miss Mu?" he asked.