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It had been a long day.

Riyel Vicaria had been working around Fisherman's Horizon all day with his brother and father, as well as meeting to talk about starting up the rebellion with Nona and Lloyd later as well. But it had been the work that had truly wore the blonde man out, his body adjusting and continuing to grow more in muscle mass and tone as time endured, about two months after the destruction of Winhill had occurred. His shirt had gotten torn from carrying lumber everywhere and it was disgusting anyways, especially after having trained with his father earlier that morning as well. The entire day had been one non stop epic of work that he had found suitable to keep his mind occupied.

Later this week, he and Lloyd would get in a boat and ship off to find a place to move the site of the rebellion. Refugees were coming to this place daily, while Lloyd and he knew that they were running out of space. He had noticed them coming today while he had hammered, his shirt off as to not get sawdust and water all over it and he hadn't bothered to put it on. But one of the refugees had caught his eye today. It was a rare thing but she was different than others. To be honest, he got the same vibe from her that he got from Sou-ho, Nona, or himself and he had eyed her while she walked through, Lloyd guiding that group to a place of shelter.

It was a normal sight to see though.

It was around the time when the sun could begin its descent to the other side of the world that the blonde twin had quit work and went towards the pier for some peace and quiet. He hadn't grabbed food that his stepmother had made and told them that he wasn't going to be having dinner with them that night, rather grabbing a small bottle of rum with his fishing pole and sat at the edge of the pier, enjoying the reclining sun and the coolness of the beverage running down his throat. He had caught one or two fish about thirty minutes in, his jacket laying on the pier's platform slightly tussling in the wind.

It was a quiet time.

He had caught another. It was nice to merely sit around and just relax as he pulled the fish off of the line and threw it back into the water. He had no need to eat or anything of the sort, there was plenty of food here at the Horizon and he felt no need to kill some fish at the moment. This was more for pleasure than anything, and he let out another sigh while attaching more bait to his hook and casting out, drinking a little more from the container as he continued to peer out into the orange and red covered sky.

It was easy to figure out why he came here to begin with. Not many people started fishing later in the day and many people knew that Riyel liked to be alone while he was fishing with the occasional exception of Lloyd. Things can only go up from here, right? He let loose a small yawn as he watched the tip of the pole flick up and down with the waves as well as the occasional nibble. Nona's bandages were going to come off soon, which was nice. It was another thing he could take off his mind, no matter how much of a labor it was. Especially as the trio were trying to get this resistance underway. It would seem that times like this right now would become less and less available. Of course, Riyel kept his hopes up but what did he know. The future would tell.

It was odd how much older he had looked after the destruction of WInhill. It was apparent that he and Lloyd were twins but his eyes...just seemed older than what they should be. Somewhat sad, somewhat stubborn, their incandescent blue was unwavering in its piercing ways that spoke more than what Riyel normally let on. And those eyes shifted as he heard a calm female voice behind him.

It took a moment to register fully him.

It was the girl he had noticed prior, her silver hair blowing in the breeze as her red eyes looked down into his blue ones. Hm. He'd never had someone come up to him while he sat in thought like this, other than Nona, Lloyd, or his father, but he guessed he could let her off the hook. She didn't know him and was probably curious or something.

Moving to his left, he made room for her on his right as he moved his eyes back out to the wide open waters. "Just one more." An answer to her question, and almost like he was giving permission. Honestly, Riyel didn't know what to make of the girl but could also guess that he would learn one way or another.

"..." He didn't respond for a moment but it certainly looked like he was going to. His mouth was agape and his eyes narrowed in thought as he felt a tug at the end of his pole, immediately setting the hook as he delved back deep into the depths of his thoughts, trying to orchestrate a proper answer towards the new lady's inquiry. His hands grasped the fish in his hand, his eyes looking down upon it as he stirred the thinking pot in the back of his mind a little more. IT was however, only as he cast the fish back into the water as well as his line once more that he answered.

"I don't feel so young."

It was an honest answer, and while it may not seem to cover every possible reason to what he was doing...it certainly covered more than he could in this small setting, hell, it covered more than he would probably even say. "I'm certain you've met my brother...and...our friend as well." Nona was still bandaged, more or less but he still didn't know how to describe her still. He knew deep down but words were not the best way nor even a good way to express them. "I have to deal with them. I never imagined I'd be much of a leader of anything, let alone a resistance. I guess you could say I still don't really love having it like those two do." Another good summary, and more than he'd ever shared with anyone. Why was he even telling this girl though? He had his reasons, he guessed but they just weren't formulated properly.

HIs hand reached for the flask and gave it to her. Obviously it meant, help yourself.

"Why do you drink?"

"Not that many got away from Winhill either..." Not that many. There was more than he knew but it still wasn't as grand a number as others had, either. But that was probably because Winhill were the ones that instigated this entire conflict. And by Winhill, he meant the very people that had instigated a rebellion. The Unbroken. Perhaps that could be another reason as to why he drank...he just felt so damn guilty about being a factor that caused this entire mess of a situation. A situation that caused so much death....and he was useless in it.

"It helped I didn't have even a handful of friends." What few he had were right here in Fisherman's Horizon with him, "But...we were still maimed. And I lost my hear.....I lost my home." Everything he had known was in Winhill. Every painful memory. Every memory of love that he fel twith his Grandmother. Every little victory he had as he managed to become the SeeD he told his grandmother he would be. It was almost as if none of that had ever mattered.

As she continued to speak, Riyel let out a small chuckle from the black humor he thought, "Count them lucky...lucky that they were spared a painless death and almost instant death to be given a chance to be scrutinized and hunted down by Galbadians and to come be led in a rebellion led by three clueless teenagers." Yes. They were clueless. They were solidiers but they were clueless and Riyel would not deny that no matter how much they asked. "Luck wouldn't be the best term for it, I think." IT was odd that the girl was getting him to talk this much, well maybe it was the alcohol talking but he sitll played some minor factor in it, he guessed.

Setting his pole on his lap, he looked at her. Silverish White hair, red eyes that could easily cut through a person. A somewhat odd dressing style, something that a Riyel a year ago might have been interested in adopting (Thank God he grew out of it). Older than he. But certainly someone who could kind of understand him and perhaps he of her. She had given one reason but just like he had his numerous ones, he could easily guess that she held more that she wished to not divulge to anyone, especially a stranger like himself. But perhaps, he could make himself more friendly than what he had as he stretched out his right hand gently.

"Riyel. Riyel Nipa....Riyel Vicaria." He would bear his mother's name proudly. It was something that he wouldn't change.

"I..." To say he was at loss for words would probably be a suitable understatement of this situation. His eyes stared, inquiring about this strange new woman that had barged into his life while his mouth was understandingly agape, confused as to the reaction that drove her away. Well, perhaps it was his fault as he thought more about it. I'm certainly a fool when it comes to sensitivity. Ironically, he almost echoed his brother's exact description of him after a fight between the two of them broke out, Damn... There wasn't much he could do about the situation now and it was no use going after a woman who was more than understandably irate. I'm sorry wasn't really a viable thing to say, and Riyel certainly did not know how to fix the situation as of this moment in time.

So quietly, the man went back to fishing, new thoughts stewing as he drank more and fished very little...he didn't even get her name.

One Week Later...

In the middle of the practice field that Fisherman's Horizon held, he was drenched with sweat, covered with bruises, and bloody from a harsh punch he had dealt to another's cheek. The training of recruits was a harsh business, especially those without any sort of training in the realm of combat. Riyel himself was still learning, as all people did as life continued on, but he knew enough and was learning enough from his father that he was considered capable enough to teach by Lloyd and Nona. His own shirt was off, the black material having been ripped in the midst of training as another trainee came up to him, fists bared and giving the Unbroken Leader a harsh stare.

This one was the upstart of the bunch. Twenty two years old and rather condescending, Janes was his name. The man loved to talk back to Riyel and the man generally took it, not one to try and get instigated by the next s**t head that came with the new group of trainees. There was always the time when it came for them to grow up. Ironically, Riyel called this day Initiation Day.

Janes came forward, fists eager to seek closure with an impact on Riyel's skull as his own eyes lit up. Riyel kept his stance, his own eyes narrowing as he shot forward at the last moment, his own body rippling as his arm tensed, the veins bulging. It happened quickly. Riyel slipped the jab quickly and his knee shot quickly, entering the trainee's stomach with a sickening crunch while Ri grunted, the force of the blow seeming to lift Janes into the air while the others looked onward with their eyes wide. It wasn't over though. Janes had to be a model. An example. Riyel wasn't the best warrior. But he knew he hit hard. And these soldiers had to know that nothing was nice in combat. Unlike he, their enemies would kill them. This was the lot they were dealt.

Riyel's elbow came sharply, striking the man's jaw and the sickening crunch made all cringe as blood flew from his jaw and a resounding curse from Janes told Riyel that the man knew he was in a deep world of pain. However, it would take two more blows to get his message across. His left hand came up, a fist striking his already tender stomach once more while his right hand wrapped around the man and the throw that Riyel made send the man sailing, crashing into the ground and rolling.

Needless to say, the medics attended him quickly while Riyel looked at the rest of the recruits, his eyes narrowed. "They won't be merciful." They...everyone knew who 'they' were. He didn't have to say it. It was common knowledge. He had thought about what the girl had said a week prior, and after giving it a great deal of thought, he knew how to apply it today...at least he thought he did. It took a minute to conjure itself up but perhaps it was something Riyel already knew himself, but couldn't give it proper phrasing. It wouldn't be the first time, certainly.

"You weren't lucky. Or maybe you were. You didn't die. You came here to fight the fight that others couldn't. It's a b***h. It's hell. I'm here to make sure that you don't CRACK under the weight of it all. You survived to fight a battle for those that died before they could have the chance. I'm not going to let you fail because you want to act like you're a big shot. No one here is. I'm not. The Unbroken Leaders are not. Any of us could die at any moment if we aren't prepared, so not more ******** around. By anyone. Prepare yourselves because in the end, everyone's memory is relying on you to fight the good fight and live to fight through the pain to see the other side. You need to carry your own weight as well as other's that can't. Don't forget that."

It was then that he looked away, spitting a bloody mouthful of saliva on the ground as he kicked at his own torn shirt. The troops were soon dismissed to weapons training, something that Riyel helped with but had others do generally because Riyel did not even have his own weapon at the moment. All because he failed to save it while in Deling...so right now all he had were his fists.

It was easy to see that the boy was strong just by looking at him. Lien's training had certainly made the young man more toned than what he was at Winhill but there was also more scarring on his body as well. Time had certainly developed him more, and the strength showed as he had butchered Janes. Of course he had to though. While he wouldn't retaliate with word play towards the man, he knew that his own time to show his might would be on the battlefield. Maybe one day wordplay will be my forte...but not now. His blonde hair was drenched as he looked upward at the blue sky of Fisherman's Horizon. Perhaps he would spar some more...he had yet to decide what he would do, really.

"Dummy's aren't the same as a live opponent."

His voice seemed to carry as he watched the woman before him. His eyes were wary of her as his hands were slightly sore. She...was continuing to pique his interest. What was it about her that kept his attention so? Perhaps it was the alcohol. Or maybe deeper than that, it was something just about how she composed herself. Graceful. Majestic. Yet somehow brutal to a point that the two could relate. He could easily see the agony in her face as she struck, the pain in her legs probably doing nothing to the pain of thought and memory.

"Remembering must hurt."

"I..." His voice seemed to quell in the back of his throat, his eyes watching her as she turned and walked away from him. She was...he could almost say prideful. His eyes watched as her own glanced him over, in surprising (not really that surprising) disgust. He knew his words back at the pier had been less than inviting towards any sort of friendship. "We all endure it. But it's not the only way to live." His eyes looked her over, and he almost felt the desire to leave her alone. But...something nudged him onward. Something that probably would have made Lloyd proud.

He quickly trotted up in front of her, halting her progression. "You're an idiot..." Ifrit's voice rang out through his head as he ignored the Djinn. "Look...I know I can't apologize for what I said...at least not just with words." He seemed conflicted as he looked at her, "At least let me fix your leg." His face looked sincere and he did regret saying those things. It wasn't often that he did that but especially after talking to Lloyd about it and being berated, he felt like a terrible person. "Let me do that much." All he could do was try to help, if she'd let him.