Hydaelyn Role-Players

Ryder had been reading the reports when he received the coded message he had never expected to. The linkpearl it came through had been in his desk for years. Juliette's pearl had not made a sound since the Calamity. He completed his conversation with haste as the man on the other side signed out. Placing the pearl in his desk, taking back its place, he sat silent for a few minutes. Going over in his mind the reports crossing his desk. The reports that on their mission to transfer the tech they killed the contact and fled. Also came the orders Erik had shown him in the days before the mission, he agreed, they agreed that there were forces at work. Ryder had told his Captain to carry out his orders, but that should the obvious happen he would be reached just as Erik had reached him. They were in Coerthas, at least the Captain was. He would be able to take care of himself, but not his man Kahn'a. As per the official directives, the Black Chains were in the right of it. It was still imperative that things go as planned, that the rat was smoked out. He stood and left, heading toward the Black Chain's HQ. He had at least the right to speak with Kahn'a.

Relief flooded the Keeper's features as soon as Kiht revealed her face, not a detail was off and she let the aether along her arms drop completely. The tone the other greeted her in made her stiffen briefly, she must have set her on edge, not her intention but it was actually a positive side effect. The more alert the other was, the better. Her expression was apologetic for a brief moment, and then she settled it back into something stoic and grave, how did one even explain what was going on when they didn't believe it themselves?

"The Red Wings are in trouble Kiht" she started off slowly and her expression crumbled in confusion and slight distress before righteous anger surfaced and snaked up her throat, heating her face and neck. "We don't know why but the Flames have suddenly decided that we are no longer needed...ah...redacted is I believe what Erik called it. The mean to destroy us by one means or another, in this case it seems someone sent us down phony orders and intends to frame us for something. What we're not sure, but it involved quite a bit of Imperial Tech" she rushed quietly, just loud enough for the Keeper to hear her. She'd rather not have the dock workers by chance hear a scrap of anything should they decide to stray this way. With that in mind she moved closer, cautiously, and tried to judge the woman's face while she continued speaking.

"We were forced to split and flee while we try to figure things out. I believe Erik sent me to you with good faith that you could hide myself and two others in the Shroud...but we have other plans. Those who set us up used professionals to steal the tech that I spoke of, they know something, and we intend to find out what but there are only three of us. We need more than that if we intend to take him down and extract what we need to know, namely who ordered his raid on us" she wrinkled her nose in disgust as the thought of the merry little Captain and his friends. They had killed a man and she wouldn't forget that.

Her violet eyes again moved to judge Kiht's expression and her own expression hopefully looked completely sincere when she next spoke, "We did nothing wrong Kiht. We would never do anything to hurt Ul'dah or anyone in it. You know that. Will you help us? Even the extra eyes and ears in the city would do us good. They...they have captured one of our own and gods know what they're doing to him" she couldn't bring herself to speculate again on if it were Mikh'a or Kahn'a they they held in their hands. Both prospects were grim and she needed to stay strong if she were to be of use to anyone.

A'trus nodded at Titor's comment, honestly impressed by the man's response.  Whether Titor meant them or truly or not would be found out later by Kresha. 

"An excellent bit of phrasing." A'trus replied as he saluted Titor respectfully.  "You will be meeting with one of our intelligence officers.  She will be gathering the sincerity of your words, though, thus far, you have been remarkably more cooperative than the other Red Wing we have already seized.  I hope you will talk some sense into him and shed new light onto this matter so that this unnecessary hunt can be brought to an end as soon as possible.  Continue in such a manner and you might find your enlistment with the Flames able to continue.  However, at this time you are considered a potential enemy of the state and shall be deprived of all rights normally associated with a hyur in your position."

A'trus motioned with his hand to the soldier holding Titor on his feet.  The soldier nodded and shifted one one side as another soldier stepped forward and brough a club down with a great deal of force onto the back of Titor's skull in an attempt to send Titor into the blackness of unconsciousness.

A'trus waved a hand and the conjurer in white stepped forward and began to send the aether into the bullet wound in Titor's wound, sowing up sinew and regrowing flesh.  A'trus ran his hand through his hair with his left hand as he waved his right hand over his head at the Zulu hovering above.  A net attached to a winch began to lower down.

A'trus turned to Rungee and nodded at his sergeant.

"Stay with this one until he is loaded aboard the Zulu and then have the Zulu take him to the 'Tank' for processing with Kresha, though inform her to try and be civil with this one.  Once he's in Kresha's possession, return to Ul'dah and report."

"Aye Aye, sir." Rungee saluted."  And what will you be doing?"

A'trus turned his eyes to Chalahko and watched him intently, his mouth moving slowly as he formed words.

"I will be escorting the Second Lieutenant back to Ul'dah by foot to discuss the operation today.  Since he is our consultant."

Rungee visibly bristled at the word but said nothing as he nodded to A'trus and turned to supervise the three soldiers that were loading Titor into the net.  The Sergeant waited until Titor was loaded and then clutched on as waved.  The Zulu crew threw a lever and the net rose with Titor and Rungee to the deck of the ship.  Titor was lain on the ground as the Sergeant began barking orders to the crew.  The Zulu was swift and by the time Titor awoke, he would be locked away deep in one of Kresha's cells.

Back on the ground, A'trus waited, placing his weight on his left leg as the wind tugged at his Flame uniform.  He was watching Chalahko with a visible degree of suspicion in his eyes.  He wasn't sure what it was about this other male miqo'te, but something about him and his sudden inclusion with his unit, especially right as the hunt for the Red Wings was heating up, didn't sit well with him.  Of course, the fact that he was hunting down the Red Wings in the first place, a unit specializing in relief efforts, didn't sit right with him.  A'trus was sessioned enough t to know this whole situation was foul but he was a soldier and soldiers didn't question the orders given.

"Ready to depart whenever you are." A'trus remarked to Chalahko casually as the Zulu hummed overhead as it gained altitude and then began flying over the earth.


The Cell

Kresha listened to Kahn'a's words without letting a single emotion slip onto her face.  He blank mask seemed almost bored.  She made no effort to recover attire for Kahn'a, nor to relax her coiled muscles.  It wasn't until after the miqo'te had finished that she finally spoke, and when she finally did, it had been several minutes of awkward silence.

"I see." Kresha stated, her foot falls clicking as she sauntered over to the cheese grater and snatched it up.  She rolled the metal device over in her hands, noting the blood stains from the last victim she had used it on.  It wasn't pretty, but it was grossly effective.

"So if you knew you were in danger, why the trouble to have us shoot you?  Why not turn yourself in?  Some parts of your story don't add up.  Did you forget to mention something? Or are you lying to me, Mr Od'hilkas?"

Kiht's eyes were wide and focused as Siha spoke. That was not what Kiht expected at all. She was almost certain the issue was something about Roen, but it was not even close.

"You are part of the Red Wings?!" Kiht asked in a surprised tone. She never really knew that, and she just did not quite picture Siha as an Immortal Flames spy. Maybe it had been mentioned before, but never quite sank into Kiht.

However, the question was silly. Siha just told Kiht enough for her to know that Siha was indeed part of the Red Wings. So, before Siha could answer, Kiht spoke again.

"Holy shite Siha... This is not what I expected."

Kiht began to pace a bit as she took a few moments to think. Her brows were furrowed in concern. She placed her thumb and finger to her chin.

"Boar shite..." She said then paused. "The situation is boar shite. You and the Red Wings do the Flames dirty work, and now they try to eliminate you all? How shameful of a Grand Company. How dishonorable. Boar shite." She stated as anger built up in her tone.

Erik, Osric, Kahn'a and then Siha. All involved in a mess that they did not deserve. Kiht had just recently managed to get her and her group away from the rebel life, but Kiht's old title would not leave that easily it seemed. Nymeia wanted to Kiht to be a rebel awhile longer in order to help her friends. Kiht grit her teeth then looked to Siha. Her expression grew furiously determined.

"I will help you and the Wings in every way I can. Be it eyes and ears in Ul'dah, or more than that. However, I had no idea any of this was happening. You will have to guide me into this mess. It sounds like the Flames think the Red Wings are dirt on their precious record now. So, I am willing to help you all fight dirty."

Titor would have quickly been taken out by the blow to the head. 

Once he awoke, he looked around, trying to take in his surroundings. He subconsciously put his hand over his leg, only to be a bit surprised to see it healed. His head was pounding a good one though from the blow. He definitely did not have the thickest skull of the Red Wings. 

It took a bit for him to regain his full mental state, the shot, the head blow, and the suddenness of the situation had caused quite a bit of disorientation. He knew he was captured though, that much was clear. 

And then it all started to come back to him.

Just how time-sensitive was this operation? Either way, he needed to find out who was in the right and fast, before any serious damage could be done to Ul'dah. 

A part of him told him to call out to see if anyone was there. His body told him not to, because anyone who would come in sight probably was not going to have the best ideas of what to do with him next. 

He suppressed a groan, rubbing the back of his head with as little movement and noise he could make.

"N-n-no! I'm not!"

The words were out before the wheels of his mind could spin. This was how Kahn'a realized that fear still had a hold of steel on him.

"I have lived in your world for less than a cycle, I knew not how supposed treacherous brethren would be treated, y-yet I had to approach the Flames regardless. S-so I snuck to that place, that hideout that I knew of from previous operations. I had hoped that the threat of explosives would force a peaceful chat, but your lads proved me wrong. They were bloodthirsty. Not a chance to yield without violence. And I didn't know you would shoot!"

Kahn'a grew uncomfortable, this was probably not the smoothest angle to approach her with. "I'm born hunter, alright? It is not natural for me to head into the beast's maw when you know it could eat you. I-I did what I could to protect myself."

During all that time he had not stopped quaking. Here was another other show of her cruelty. Kahn'a was sure it could not be good for the lungs to remain so cold and so exposed. He tried to find something in the room that could warm his mind, that could help him trick himself. But there was nothing. Just his torturer spinning that damned blade in her hands.

Put it back, you could harm someone with it. There is no need.

Nako nodded at A'trus, "right you are, however, a moment if you will." He walks over to where Titus had fallen, and scooped up some blood off of a rock in the sand where it had pooled. It wasn't much but he hoped it would be enough.

Holding the vial up to A'trus to show him, he offered an explanation. "An old habbit of mine, to take a souvenir after a hunt, however, there wasn't much choice with this one." He slips it into one of many pockets, each filled with vials and crystals. His fingers brushing over his engagement ring, a twin to the one he had given Dweia. He smilled at the thought of her.

"So then, shall we?" He asked, gesturing towards tge general direction of Ul'dah.

(Im going to be away from a pc and phone for most of today, so apologies if replies are late)

[[ I'm so sorry for my lateinvolvement in this. It was a combination of forgetting and irl stuff. ]]
 
Itwas a long fall in the rain from the top of the bridge to the cold water below. Numerous thoughts raced through Jin's mind but the one that stood out was, "Who set this up?" These thoughts were interrupted however once he hit the cold, dark water. He was breathless for an instant as the sudden temperature change shocked his body but being raised in the Gyr Abania Mountains, he recovered quickly. 
 
Jintook a deep breath before submerging into the salty water to search for the Elezen man, or what was left of him. He never trusted anyone a hundred percent when it came to business deals. "If this was indeed a set up and not a normal ambush," he thought, "then that corpse should have some sort of useful information on it." Jin's efforts were in vain however. All he managed to find was the coat the elezen was wearing. The pockets had massives in them but anything that would have been legible was lost thanks to the ocean. With a big gasp Jin resurfaced with the coat in hand.
 
"Hello?"Jin said over his link pearl, "Hey all I found of the elezen was his coat. His body is probably fish food now." He waited for a reply but was greeted with only silence. "Must be some aether interference," he thought to himself as he swam the up the channel, heading to the Moraby Dry-docks. Apart from the ambush and the rain it was a pleasant enough swim. Seagulls could be heard overhead and the breaking of the waves was relaxing. 
 
Therain come to a small drizzle as Jin made it to the docks, his eyes adjusted to the sun breaking the clouds. "Hello? Mikh'a are you there? I could really use that satchel back." but still Jin was met with silence. "Looks like it's small clothes for the day," he said with a sigh as he made his way the ferry-skipper.
 
"Excuseme my good man, would this boat be heading towards Limsa?" Jin asked to the back side of an old midlander loading a boat.
 
"Sureis and ifin ya looking fora ride, ya can help me wit these here boxes." the man said is a pleasant enough tone.
 
"Perfect,"Jin said happily as he began to load the rest of the cargo into the small boat.
 
"I'maglad ya needed a ride son, these bo-" the man was cut off as he saw the almost naked miqo'te that was loading cargo. "Son.....were're ya clothes?" his tone flat and confused.
 
"Lostthem in a bet I'm afraid, save for my coat here that is." Jin said with a laugh. 
 
Theold man let out a hardy laugh, "Gwahahaha! I see yer mates pulled one on ya eh? Well hop in and I'll see ya git to town."
 
Jinlied back and rested in the sun, trying to dry off while mulling over the events that happened. He wondered if any of the other Wings ran into trouble and maybe that's why he wasn't having any luck reaching them. Maybe a syndicate member got information on what was being transported and wanted it for his own. Could it have been a setup from someone inside the Wings? Why didn't he just leave his bag on the bridge and come back for it instead of giving it to Mikh'a to hold on to.
 
"Quityer day dreamin', were here." The old man said as he pulled the boat up to the pier next to the fisherman's guild.
 
"Thanksfor the ride pops," Jin said with a smile as he hoped off the boat and headed up the dock. "This is Jin calling out to any Red Wings in Limsa," Jin said quietly into his link pearl. "I'm heading towards the Drowning Wench; if there's anyone here I ask that you meet me there." It was a nice day to not have a decent set of clothes, there was a slight breeze and the sun was shining brightly now. 
 
Jinmade his way towards the upper decks of Limsa, all the while maintaining a confident stride. It wasn't the first time he found himself walking through the streets of a major city in his small clothes. He attracted several glances and stares as he went through Hawker's Ally. "Ladies," he said with a smirk and a bow to a group of roegadyn ladies passing him by, his ears twitched as they giggled.
 
Jinmade his way to a table in the Drowned Wench and sat down as he looked over a menu. "Be with you in a second!" said miqo'te gal that was working at a table behind him. 
 
"Hellosir wha-" she cut herself off as she saw her new customer.
 
"Yesyes, a man in his small clothes," Jin said nonchalantly, "Please my dear, would you be ever so kind as to get me a warm cup of tea and a pair of pants?"
 
"I-I'llsee what I can do," she said flusteredly.
 
"Thankyou my dear," Jin said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair. He stared at the ceiling and waited for his tea, a nice dry pair of pants, and hopefully some answers as to what happened at the bridge.

'Hah....." Youkio murmured, his brow arching as he idly chewed on a thumbnail. Well then...that made more sense. He hadn't been able to hear everything the two lovely ladies were chattering about but he had caught enough to piece the rest together. So Tempest was still hip deep in her old line of work and now it'd finally come back and bit her. She of course had never told him, but the way she had moved that day their ship had gotten attacked, the way she was able to get him from sniveling boy to man and act quick enough to survive and cling to some driftwood before getting scooped up by a sister ship. Those weren't skills typical of the Maelstrom's bottom rung. He sure as hell never learned them anyway.

Languidly, Youkio sprung from his hiding perch and carefully but quickly made his way towards the waterfall; hands in the air at chest height to show he was unarmed. " 'scuse me ladies, I need ta speak with Miss Siha there...oh my....lovely, you are lovely darlin' that hair...and those eyes....bet you make quite a many man week in the knees." He smirked with a wink in Siha's direction. "Not to say some men don't enjoy a bit of power to their women as well...." Youkio added, cautiously sidestepping the lancer as he gave her a quick once over before getting out of spearing range...pity there was a cloak covering most of what he assumed was a taut figure. "But though my mind is already entertaining all the possible ways we could have a spot of fun, the three of us, alone out here next to this waterfall for ambiance...I'm here on official business ladies."

Quirking a lopsided grin, Youkio gave a short and shallow bow, tail swishing behind him. "Tempest who's a mutual friend of Miss Siha here sent me out to find 'er. Now that I've found ya; I need to escort ya back to my hou-er...hiding place I've procured for the ya'll to stay safe 'till things cool off." Frowning, Youkio looked to the ground; hand scratching at the scruff on his chin with his right ear twitching. "What was it i was 'appose to tell you so you'd trust me? Hells....this damn memory of mine.." He muttered, pacing and tapping his the top of his head with his other fist as he thought. "...had somethin' to do with lights.....candle...no....lantern...no, that ain't it either.....Oh right!" Youkio exclaimed, snapping his fingers and pointing at Siha with a elated expression. "Lumiere! That's it! Somethin' 'bout Lumiere! Said it would be enough right there for ya to trust me!" Youkio smiled again, he wasn't aware of what the important was for the name being uttered but Tempest stressed very clearly he needed to remember it and Youkio was glad he hadn't let her down.

Sieg stopped dead when the bird landed on him.  He raised a hand slowly, and spoke when it hopped on him.

Getting screened by a parrot, now.

He chuckled lightly, until his hand finally made it up top, close to the bird.  He swatted at it lightly a few times.

Good to know we check out ok.

Sieg had by this point noticed Clios changing demeanor.  He may not have been imperial frumentarii, but he had enough experience in the area by now to tell when something was bothering someone.  He took a few steps closer.

Everything alright there?  You've gone and tensed up pretty quick.

A'trus raised his left eyebrow at Chalahko. He made no effort to stop the Flame and his action, but A'trus found it rather peculiar. The make miqo'te was not accustomed to trophies being taken from successful hunts but a vial of blood was a unique choice.

Once Chalahko was done, A'trus turned and began to slow march back to Ul'dah with Chalahko and the five men ehi had helped him track Titor down. A'trus said nothing as they followed the winding road that drew them closer to Ul'dah. His had retreated into the privacy of his own thoughts and was considering his next move. 

There were several. At some point, Brick would return withAlexei Volkov. Although not a target, A'trus was eager to pick the former Red Wings mind and see if he sympathized with his former unit.

Of course then there was still no word from his scouts in Limsa or Gridania yet but he hoped he would hear something soon. Rumors stated Limsa was a common retreat for several of the Red Wings due to their background. But due to international laws, A'trus needed concrete evidence before he could operate there.

Gridiania and the frozen north lands were more of a crap shoot and A'trus had not focused as heavily on those regions.

It was going to be a long hunt. But two already was an excellent sign.  At thus rate he might have them before the end if the next year.

A'trus smiled at that. A chance to rest. A few months leave. He had been planning on taking it before this mission had been given to him. The leuitenant needed a break, to visit his actual house and to okay his respects to his wife's grave. It had been four years since her passing. And he had kept his promise to her as best he could. He had not voluntarily killed a single soul by his hand in those four years. 

A'trus swallowed and gave a sad smile as he recalled his wife's last words and her tender expression. That promise had changed the way the Black chains operated and had sent every bullet into his targets' knees. Rungee liked to joke that if A'trus' nickname wasn't already Loft, Kneecapper would have stuck.

The small band entered the city and A'trus excused himself from his men and Chalahko, informing them that if they needed him, his would be in his private quarters inside Flame Hall.  The leuitenant then departed and made his way without ceremony to his small room. After a few minutes of bringing hot water to his tub, the miqo'te placed his rifle one his bed, disrobed and then slipped into the warm water. His eyes looked around the small, sparsely populated room and then closed his eyes to relax and clear his mind.

The Cell

Kresha gave kahn'a a sinister looked and clutched the cheese grater tightly as she stepped forward.

"You keep changing your excuses and stories. I think I need to make you relize just how serious I am. You claim.you didn't know how this city worked? Yet you are a leuitenant? My leuitenant was also a hunter Mr. Od'hilkas but he knows how the city works. Either you are lying or your captain is a fool for promoting you."

Kresha's hand snaked out and the harshly scratched Kahn'a left check with the metal tool. One of the other men stepped forward and seized kahn's hair and jerked the head back, a towel dangling in the air.

"Last chance Mr. Od'hilkas. Get your story right and convince me or I will.drown you three times after I carve off some more skin."

Titor's Cell

Titor would have sat in silence for a long time before the door opened and three hyurs entered.

One held a towel, the second two buckets and the third a book and and a quill. The man with the writing material opened it and smiled politely.

"Mr. Titor. I am Alec. Secritary of this location. I have been sent because I am informed you are far more civil and willing to discuss matters than the other. Our commanding officer requested we begin by conversation and avoid having our artist use her more 'painful' methods for drawing out information."

Alec pulled out a water skin.

"Before we begin, would you are for some.red wine to soothe your tongue? We have much to discuss."

I told you there was no need, skank.

Kahn'a took the hit, a rough cry torn from his throat. He clenched his teeth to try and lessen the pain, but they would not leave him alone. Hair grabbed again, head pulled back... again. It was fortunate, for he really wanted to spit right in her horrible little nose, a reward for her great receptivity. He had the suspicion that such a treat would have not been welcome... Yet it was too hard to resist. But instead of spilling his saliva, he weaved it into words.

"...and you keep dumbing down my words, leading yourself to unnecessary confusion. Are you deaf, perchance?"

The Miqo'te attempted to smirk, but withdrew quickly from that madness. The stinging pain in his bloody cheek - his now incomplete cheek, he could see a thin piece of flesh on the floor. It was his - prevented him from acting too confidently. It was little more than a bloody scratch. Yet at the hack he received, a grim resolve burgeoned in his heart.

"See yourself humbled, Hyur. This is only happening because the prospect of fooling you around appears so... enticing."

"You hide behind men and chains to ask questions, worse, you conceal your glaring incompetence with lousy interrogation techniques, you fail to recognize that I have done everything in my power not to know of my own unit's plans, and that I am of no use to you and your mislead comrades."

"Yes, yes my Captain is a fool for sitting me on a position I have neither bought nor deserved. From times to times I like to remind him of his mistake with very precise and yet inconspicuous clumsiness. Rather effective."

Kahn'a afforded the luxury of a dramatic pause. His eyes were seemingly empty but fixed on her. He was not in the room but wandering somewhere in his memory. At a very particular moment that swung his life around.

"I know not if my file makes mention of it, for I have not read it, but I was appointed by our Grace to help in delicate matters. If you put that blade down, I shall be willing to share, it is most juicy stuff, I assure you. But at any rate, the city was short of hands and despite my crude nature, I was told that I had what it took to bring aid. I was little more than what you'd call a savage back then and I was very willing to insert myself in your great City. To adapt. I accepted. I bent my knee before Her and She gave me a commission. And there you have it. Savage made Lieutenant. But It was not a full cycle ago. And your world is so... complex. How could anyone expect a simple mind like I to grasp all its subtlety in such short time, I ask you?"

You are losing your grasp Kahn'a...

Don't give in.

Titor had been listening intently for any information that he might have been given about his surroundings or captors, but they had made it quite the point to keep it quiet. He had gotten nothing.

When the men arrived, Titor kept his calm demeanor. While he may have been afraid, yes, he had been trained for such things. His connection to the Flames went much deeper than the Red Wings even knew about. 

"Greetings, Sir Alec." Titor said, sitting up the best that he could. He forced a bit of a smile back before shaking his head slightly. "I wish to make the right choice of deciding whom is in the right for Ul'dah." he said, refusing the wine. "I am not the best at holding alcohol, unfortunately, and not in any of the ways that would be helpful for either you or I. In fact, it is quite the opposite." He tried to chuckle slightly, before trying to turn the situation around to the point that he were asking the man questions.

"Of course, first off I would like to know the full list of charges of which I and the Red Wings are accused of." He said calmly. While he pretty much knew the answer, he wanted to know exactly, down to the last detail, what the accusations were. Perhaps some information would be revealed through such means.

Kiht's disbelief was typical, did she deserve her place in the Red Wings? In her mind no, not in the least, but she was theirs and they were hers, and that meant everything to her. It was why she continued speaking with fervor even after the outburst, watching the nuances in Kiht's expression as she took it all in with disbelief and anger it seemed. Siha winced when the woman had another outburst, but she was right, the whole situation stunk and she couldn't quite believe it herself. Ul'dah wasn't what she had thought it could be, the Flames were not the allies she would hoped they would be, and her father in them was forever ruined...especially knowing this was not the first time this had happened.

"They only do what they think is right...I suppose. Someone on the inside has either paid very good money for this, or something with clout is very angry with us. Either way the Flames are not our allies and who knows if they will be even after we prove we are not the traitors they seem to think we are. I don't know if I would want them to be, this is apparently not the first time they've done this to Erik...for them not to have learned...well they obviously have no love for him or our unit."

She smiled tightly, it was hard to take pleasure in any of it, but in that moment she was proud to know the Keeper woman that stood before her. It was no wonder Roen prized her as a sister. "Thank you, it means the world to have you at our side, to have friends that we can trust" she opened her mouth to say more after a pause but never got the chance. Over the smell of salt and the thudding water she'd not smelled nor heard the male Miqo'te until he came into view on his own. It set her on edge and the woman threw her hands up, aether already shimmered along their length, green and turbulent winds in nature.

Hands were held up in peace on his end, his comments flustered her and heat rose to her face but she resolutely set her jaw and kept her arms held in such a way she could fling the wind at him if need be. "Who are-" he kept talking and she flipped her ears back, watching him warily as he moved ever closer to her, she would be surprised if Kiht didn't react badly just as she was currently. Trusting everyone wasn't an option right now. However the name Tempest rang with her...hadn't Clio warned her. Her hands eased down to her sides slowly and she gave Kiht a look that asked that she stay her hand for the moment, when the name Lumiere joined the other her eyes widened and her mouth dropped just a little. "Erik..." she breathed softly and then held up a hand at Kiht.

"I know who sent him" she said with a bit more volume and nodded to the male, he was an ally, for now. "Just a few more moments sir," she turned her eyes to Kiht again and smiled in a strained fashion again, "one of my allies that was split up with me sent him, we can trust her. I believe for now we would require your help to capture this...Bandit...that accosted us and set this whole thing in motion. I believe my ally has more information on a plan for such a thing...and I trust you enough to think it would be fine to bring you to wherever it is we currently hide, that is if it's not been forbidden" her eyes turned to Youkio curiously and she blinked once. They had been forbidden the use of their pearl so perhaps this male was the best way to communicate with Clio for the moment.

The parrot easily dodged Sieg's attempt to shoo him off with a few more hops before settling once more on the man's head. "Swat at me again like a damn fly 'n I'll leave something in yer hair." Skittles cawed good-naturedly.

Glancing back, Cliodhna looked up at Sieghart. Her lips curved into a small smirk, her eyes gaining an edge to them that was absent moments before. "I'm alright, you know how running and hiding can stress a person..." Idly she continued to run the brush through Pepper's dark violet feathers as the bird did her own preening on the other wing.

"If you wouldn't mind indulging me though, Sieghart...I have a few things i'd like to ask." Her expression remained placid and her tone even tempered but inside her mind was already calculating. Looking over the size of his frame, judging how strong he was based on current stature and the fighting she was able to see from the bridge before passing out.

His weapon was still out of reach, that was good. She hoped it wouldn't come to blows, but he was in their unit under false pretenses and that needed to be addressed before he got in too deep with them. Best to handle the situation now than with Siha there, she could easily be another weakness that could be exploited.

"I was there when you first were being brought into our unit and something bothered me that day but we really hadn't had much time for chitchat so I did a little investigating on my own...That salute you did, it was prefect. Right click of the heel, proper position of the arm...not the salute of a man who's done it as a greeting or parting for years...more like that of one who has practiced many times before the flawless execution of his performance." Cliohna giggled, offering Seighart another smile. "Being so inquisitive can leave a girl thirsty....I had to stop off in Little Ala Mhigo and order a drink, I really do love their more traditional drinks brought over from home, but I must say, trying the Mirage Oasis was pretty refreshing on it's own....Some would even call it Eorea's greatest jewel of the desert." Tilting he head, she turned to face the man that was easily a head taller than her.

Judging from what else she had found out; Sigehart was merely using the Red Wings as a nearby cover to make his frequent trips to Little Ala Mhigo less noticeable but clearly hadn't planned on being part of this redaction conspiracy everyone was finding themselves in. Regardless, Cliodhna had to find out if his intentions were to truly help them or if he was just going along till an opportunity to leave presented itself for him to cut ties and hide with the surviving members of the Grey lions.

Though it was admirable Seigheart were still keeping the fight alive for the refugees and knowing Erik's feelings towards his lost homeland, he would surly provide help once all this blew over...Seig still could prove to be a damning factor if those morals were placed in front of their current situation. If that were the case, than Cliodhna considered him a loose end and one that needed to be taken care of quickly.

If not; then it was just a secret she'd keep for him until he was ready to inform their Captain after the dust finally settled. After all, her mother was taken down in the earlier stages of that long standing war. Though Cliodhna's memories of home were different than that of the refugees that had been forced out and more heavily influenced by the changes that were made once it had been taken over; she couldn't in clear conscience just eradicate resistance members as she had been instructed to so many times before, not now that she wasn't fighting for Garlean cause. But she was prepared to handle both options if he was proved to be a threat to her current course of action. She flashed him another smile as she looked up to meet his gaze, waiting patiently for a reply.

~~~

"Take your time lovely." Youkio replied easily with another grin in her direction, her blushing cheeks only encouraging him to keep the flirting on a mild level. Sure it was a piss poor time to be doing so, but distractions could be good for the nerves and if he could give her a proper reason to tremble later on; she might forget she was originally shaking from fear. Pacing a little, Youkio stretched as he moved, swinging his arms high above his head and arching his back slightly, a soft growl happily emitting from his throat in the process. Again he tossed his head; burgundy hair sweeping over his shoulders as his neck cracked, listening intently the whole time as Siha talked.

He gave her a quick nod with a wave of his hand. "Sure sure, she's fine....though a few of us might have to share sleeping space." Casually tossing another wink at the girls before letting out a throaty laugh. "So Tempest 's out to take down whoever screwed ya'll over, huh? Not surprisin...Just hope ya never get on her bad side, missy. She earned that name while on our first leave after startin a bar wide brawl in the Wolf's Den, sucker punched a guy and it just exploded from there, was quite a sight seein how many she took out." Youkio chuckled again at the memory. "Poor slob wans't lyin tho, she does have a nice ass...."

He hopped around, doing a bit of footwork in the process. "Far as gettin that bandit, sounds like fun, count me in." Life had gotten a bit boring now that Youkio was more stationary and who knows? He might luck out nick a bit of gil off whoever they're targeting. Could be a fair amount since this sounds like military setup and every bit helps to get Geruda back as fast as possible.