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[Traverse Town::Third District::Alley]

Window thought it was a nice gesture on Nalo's part...but he wasn't one who he felt needed protecting. The man had noticed his furry friend during the battle, his sudden anger, the pain that showed through while fighting. And now, Nalo was frightened. Window could tell--the way the Viera groped for his hand, the way it trembled in his--and it didn't take a genius to understand that Nalo was upset emotionally. Even though he had seen only a glimpse, Window was a little wary of the Viera's dark side, but...he wasn't scared. Looking at Nalo, he felt a wave of sympathy and sadness wash over him. Most men had their internal demons, Nalo included. Window wanted to protect Nalo from having to face them, from having to suffer that hurt. It was in that moment in which Window decided to stick around with the Viera, if only to repay his kindness and open heart. Someone like that was rare to find in his world (or on any other, he guessed), and Window wanted to protect that bit of innocence at any cost. Alas, it was also the moment in which Window sealed his fate.

Turning away from Nalo's face, he studied the present situation. The boy who helped them left. What did that mean? Was this man in front of them dangerous? Window was glad that the boy was able to help them, although he was a bit put off by the boy's absorption of the Heartless. And then, the young man pulled out a key, of all things! From nowhere! But the next thing was even more boggling--the key ripped a hole in reality. There was no other way to put it. Window, in a rare and brief display of emotion, simply gaped with jaw slack and eyes unblinking. He had never, ever seen such a display before. But before he could gather up his face and ask the boy how he did it (or even his name, not to mention an offering of thanks), the black-haired youth was gone, leaving Window, Nalo, and the injured Artemis behind with the mysterious stranger.

Window thought for a moment. Their disappeared battle comrade had voiced sentiment that this man wasn't dangerous, but he had still sprinted off. And now, Nalo was worried. Window perceived that this man was not to be trifled with. Still, verbal contact seemed the best course at the moment. Since he was the least damaged, Window stood up and gently pushed his way in front of Nalo. He didn't know how much longer the Viera would be able to stand with the number of wounds he had accumulated, and this situation needed to be approached without emotion and with confidence.

Plus, the back of his mind growled, you need to be good for something.

Window cleared his throat. "Yes, I am afraid we ventured in here without knowing of the dangers. I myself am a newcomer to this world." He kept a wary eye on the floating green gem, not knowing what it might do. He kept tensed, ready to jump away with Nalo at a moment's notice. "And no, no one has healing magic. We are on our way to Merlin's home, where we are going to seek service. Our parting friend was kind enough to leave a way for us to get there, and I do not wish to tarry much longer in fear that the gateway will close." Window was not sure he was ready to accept this man's help; anything that he could not draw a certain conclusion about he took caution with when interacting. Artemis had been an exception, since times were desperate. Plus, his face had been easy to read once the redhead was up close. However, this man...remained an enigma.

[Fal'navi :: Second District Rooftops]

Fal'navi was no longer interested in playing around. That roar would signal others, and the noise level in his ears was distracting. He wasn't trying to win; Soryuju was stalling. That crafty little...The Wrathful Dragon would not waste time then. With a quick wave of his hand, he resummoned his weapon, probably surprising Suzuran with his spear vanishing.

"Come, Soryuju! Prepare to be beaten! And after you are downed, I shall KILL all of your little friends! Firaga!" Fal'navi roared, charging and then shooting a large fireball towards Soryuju. As the fireball flew towards Sory, Fal'navi began running after it, keeping a good ten feet behind it.

[[Byoki : Traverse Town : Third District]]

With loud, heavy steps accompanied by mechanical squeals and the hiss of steam escaping exhaust pipes, Byoki, a well build young man with wild untamed hair made his way through the streets atop his ferocious steed. As the machine moved on its own, Byoki stretched out on its back allowing all of his muscles to pull out and pop where they'd become tight from a long day of sitting underneath another machine that required repairs. Resting his head on the machine with a sigh, he spoke aloud to himself,"Why does that old man have to live so far away from the shop. Why couldn't he be right down the street like the scrap metal place and parts store." Byoki listened to the engine inside throb like a heartbeat, feeling the bass vibrate down to his very core. His masterpiece, the love of his life and main means of transportation, Machina Mauler.

Byoki was in his own world, as he passed by a group of individuals on his way to the "old man's" house but paid them no mind, despite the heaviness in the air. But, unfortunately, Byoki had little to no sixth sense so to speak, and didn't even notice their presence. Instead, his mechina continued on by while he listened to its "heartbeat".

[[Benk : Traverse Town : Second District Rooftops]]

In between the dragoon and the wind boy, a man wearing pale, tattered clothing jumped onto the roof placing himself in the line of fire. His arms stretched out as wide as they could and just as he might be run through by the man following the fireball, an invisible wall would block his path entirely making it impossible to continue forward.

[Traverse Town::Third District::Alley]

Window stared again at the floating green orb. He looked back toward Nalo, to see what his response might be and if he trusted the stranger's gift. He muttered to the Viera, "I do not know if this man is of good intentions or not, but if this is indeed a healing object...you should have it. You need it more than I do, as a fighter. It is readily apparent that you are more susceptible to injury due to your battle abilities. As one who contributes nothing, I do not need such an object." Nor do I deserve it, since I do not work for it. It is only fair.

But, as the stranger turned to go, Window called out, "Wait! At least tell us your name? To whom am I to address thanks for this?" Or curse, if this turns out to be a false show of generosity? "Can you give us any advice on safely navigating this or any other world?" The last question was a desperate attempt to find some kind of direction or purpose; torn away from his world, what was Window supposed to do? It was a split second of weakness, the question escaping before Window could catch it. It was just...the stranger seemed like he would know information, and if anyone wanted to learn more about the universe, it was Window. Obstacle after obstacle seemed to get in the way of them getting to Merlin, and Window was not one to pass up an opportunity for advice, even if it was just a hint about how he came to Traverse Town.

Nalo stood there, mouth ajar, staring at Window's unbridled generosity. His head swiveled to gawk at the green orb, an emerald gem; he grasped it firmly and brought it close, still staring at it. "Window, I..." His voice was cut off short as his mind flooded with new knowledge. He started to get a migraine while he held on to the emerald orb. It felt powerful. With the blink of an eye, Nalo learned how to cast cure and quickly tended to their fallen comrade. Bright, green crystals fell over him and most of Artemis's wounds were instantly healed over.

Nalo gave Window a quick embrace. "You take it." He took Window's hand in his own and placed the smooth green gem in it. In the blink of an eye, his knowledge left him. "This way, I don't have to worry so much about you. Besides, these are just scratches. They're no big deal. Now, take this." Nalo took a step back and started to smile again. With Masenko-Ma gone and a way to Merlin's abode in sight, this adventure across Traverse Town might finally be over.

ÅΓ╦ΣMφ§

"Someone with no destiny is like a blank page with no utensil to write with."

Artemis sucked in a large breath, a wave of warms spreading throughout his body. His hears beat sped up for a moment, and then returned to its average intervals of dadum, dadum. Colour also filled his face, as he sat up; flexing his hand, he looked about, noticing that Masenko-Ma had left along with Vain. Although there was a newcomer who appeared to be eager to leave. "Wha-" was all he got out of his mouth, before he realized that the man was concealed in dark wrappings, which looked kind of sketchy to him. Although, there are alot of sketchy people and things they had already met.

All he had heard of the conversation taking place in front of him was the last sentence that the man had spoken; he picked out the 'us' that he referred to. He wondered if there were more like him, or the man who had attacked them. Raising his body off of the cobblestone, he stared at the man suspiciously. A couple meters away, he walked over toward his scythe; which had been hit out of his grasp when he was knocked down. kneeling down, he picked up the shaft, and dragged it casually until he reached his new comrades. He swung his head to the side, flicking the hair out of his eye which inevitably fell back over it.