Welcome to Gaia! ::

There had been a few months since the hostilities finally ceased. While Lance's own actions were a bit of a blur (he had been drunk, after all), what mattered in the end was that they won! Lance had never let go of his own agenda; to finance and lead an expedition in the search for the solution to his own degrading mentality. All the research were done, he knew what he had to do! But to do so, he would first need the manpower to accomplish it.

Suffice to say, though, the timing before wasn't quite right. A nation in mourning would not enlist at the first maniac's call unless they were quite unstable themselves, and if there was one thing Lance could do without was more people exactly like him. Granted, what with all the research of the quintessence he was created of, he had come up with ways to isolate his insanity, so he could remain in his own control most of the time, but he still needed stability before anything else. So he had to wait, and bide his time, until the city, the people and the wounds had recovered. They still needed to be in desperation, but only just so they would jump at any opportunity. And now the time had come. The Job Fair.

People had set up booths, screaming their lungs out to find that one person that would pay attention to them. It felt like he was back in the Academy all over again. This was not extracurrical activities they were talking about though, it was actual work!

Having a booth was nice and all, but Lance took a bit more unorthodox approach. A set of crates next to a craftman's booth, probably loaded with tools, would serve as an excellet podium! Having positioned himself close to the more popular Watch booth, Lance started his sale's pitch, standing on the crates, ignoring the protests of the apprentice craftsman.

"Good people of Eyris! Greetings! Some of you might know me! My name is Lance Dartel! I know we all got affected by the war, there's no escaping it! A loss of a loved one, an injury, I could go on and on! We have all suffered, but now, we are rebuilding, healing, and growing ever stronger! However, there are still dangers lurking! We all have to deal with those our own way! The Watch recruits so they can patrol the streets, the Guard patrol our borders...but what about the rest? Who patrols our way of life?

Lance made a short pause for effect to look around him. There had gathered a small crowd, some listening more intensely than others, discussing amongst themselves, but a crowd nevertheless. Lance took a deep breath before continuing. "Who do we go to when we have a problem we need help solving? For instance, if you need an escort through the woods, or when you need someone to watch your dog while you're away, or any other issue you might think of, where the Watch or the Guard is unable to help you? Do we have anyone willing to do that?"

Lance opened up his arms and smiled broadly. "The answer is yes, ladies and gentlemen, there is! With my special freelance agency I'm putting together, we might soon have that work force, that take on pretty much any mission with the right payment, and I am looking for any able bodied individual that feel like they have a drive to help others, no matter what the problem is! Whether your skill is in battle, in crafts or any other area of expertise or whether your interest is in adventure, fortune or kindness to your fellow men, there is a place for you with me! Maybe it's you!" he finally yelled out, pointing at a random man in the crowd. "Or you!" he next turned to a woman, still with his index finger stretched. "Or perhaps...you!" There was a brief silence as Lance came to realize he was pointing at a girl not older than six at the most, before hopping down from his crate to approach the girl. The girl stared at bewilderment at him.

"Well...maybe not you, miss, maybe when you're older..." he smiled sheepishly as he squat down next to her. The girl's eyes seemed to shine up with amazement though, but maybe that's just how strange he was acting. He finally jumped back on to the crate, before continuing. "So this is an announcement to everyone! I will perform any duties no one else will take up for you, and anyone that wants to join me is free to do so! So, who's with me?!" he yelled out as if to get the crowd going, before posing with his finger pointing up. But instead of a roar from the crowd, he got nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Not entirely true. He got a question."That sounds great and all but...who are you?"

"Lance Dartel...come on! I helped defeating that crooked Rogvald! Heck, I even dealt the killing blow!" Lance exclaimed, still in his pose.

"Never heard of you...eh, nevermind, I got some other booths to check."

"Me too."

"I was thinking of joining the Watch..."

As quick as the crowd gathered, just as quick did they disappear. As Lance was left alone, he felt empty after his little show. That is, until he realized he wasn't alone.

The little girl was standing in front of his box, arm stretched out in a similar manner to him, her face filled with determination.

Wait...really? Did his words reach someone? A child, but...maybe he could incorporate her into his speech? Maybe use her to show how capable he were with children, maybe...
"There you are, young lady! I've been looking all over for you!"

A woman came in half-rushed, scooping the child with her in one go.

"Noooo~! I was pwaying with the funny man!"

"Don't be ridiculous, he seemed very strange! You have to be careful of people like that, darling! Now come, we can play with your new bunny when we get home..."

"Really?! Yaaay! I love my bunny, especially how it says boyo all the time..."

As the last person from his crowd disappeared, Lance sighed.

"Would you mind? I need to get back to work."
The apprentice whined, as Lance was still standing on the crate. "Oh, right, sorry. Cheers for being such a good sport." Lance in an apologetic manner, before he slumped down to the ground.He didn't really have any real preferences to what sort of people would come to him, he just needed people really. But he thought it'd be easier than this. His old mentor, when he put together a similar group of freelancers, had no trouble getting people, but maybe it really came down to a question of reputation. And that was a thing Lance didn't have. Or maybe because his group lacked a name. He needed a kickass name.

He sighed again. Maybe someone would've heard him.

*******************

Though you know, I wish, I could...

You know there ain't no rest for the wicked...

Until we close our eyes for good...

xxxxx"Well maybe I'm weak... xxxxxxxand maybe I really am useless..."
"But I will still fight on just the same!" xxxxx "Maybe one day I will no longer be invisible..."

W y v e r n S c o u t M i h i r a*

Jack tried to smile pleasantly at the injured general, "There's no reason to call me, sir, you know? Lemonade sounds delightful." He walked beside her, nodding and smiling to people on the street as they passed. "I'm sorry, I'm terrible with names, he's Leon? And you're missus...?" He trailed off mid conversation.

MEANWHILE IN THE WORLD OF DERRIN

The mage was trying to stop himself from stammering but found he was entirely unable to. "W-what? N-no it wasn't your fault, I-I can pay for it." He was utterly distracted by the way the wind played with her hair and her skirt and turned even redder at the realization of this.

Suddenly she was there, close to him and, she was holding his hand. Suddenly the mage pretty much shut down entirely and let himself be dragged along down the street, somewhere in the back of his mind he heard her saying things, but they didn't register. The only thing that did was the way her smaller hand felt in his and the way she was grinning at him with that look of excitement.

In self-defense from that adorable assault he blushed. It's really his only weapon against her right now.

Oi! If you're still open later, I'll be dropping by with some business for you! Well he smiled at Blossom, who seemed to be dragging some other guy with her. Always nice to see people going about together for whatever reasons they had. Although before he got a reply out, she had darted into the tailor's shop. Oh well, least he had at least one person who would give him some work.

So while he waited for other people to show up, he leaned back against a wall inside his smithy, setting his hammer down right by him. It was a nice day out there, and he felt that it would do him no good to be sitting around here all day. I do need to meet the people around here. It wouldn't hurt if I closed up for a few to do some talking. Besides, who would want to talk to someone in here? Out there is more inviting.

Leaving his hammer in his smithy, he walked out and took a good look at the crowd. Surely he could find someone to talk to. Although he could go and follow Blossom and Derrin, that really didn't seem like a good idea, just by a glance into the tailor's shop, and seeing the two of them together. Surely they would do their own shopping, so he didn't need to interfere.

----------------

Regulus spoke again, but Zeiss didn't really pay that much attention to it. He didn't need to focus on that fool, since he had a job to do. Besides this guy already got on his nerves a bit just by the way he was talking with Mihira, though it shouldn't have bothered him too much. He did end up signing up for the guard, and got his horse to come back to him. Surely they would find some use for him here.

Although he turned his head down the street when Lance started to make a commotion. Something about starting a freelance agency that would do any sort of job. He couldn't help but laugh to himself at his antics. "He must really doubt some of us."

Although with Alex here, he soon came to the realization that he wouldn't be needed that much. Besides, he did come to help out Mihira so since she was going to show some people the barracks, he ended up joining them. The way they say it, the more the merrier. Besides, two people of the guard could certainly show more of the quarters they would work in. Besides, he was also gonna keep an eye on Regulus, since he had a feeling that one was a bit too much of a flirt.

Regulus dropped down form his horse when they got to the barracks and tied the horse to a pole. He then followed as close behind Mihira as he could and as a result almost ran into her when she stopped in the training room. "That is the commander of the guard? Hmm..." He then scratched his chin in thought.