Melodia

The coat was worthless. It wasn't doing a damn thing to stop the cold not the snows from eating into his nerves. The cold wind made his knee ache and his limp was even more pronounced as he stolled through Camp Dragonhead. Nonotano had spent days canvassing the local gossip whores throught the populated areas of the Central Coerthas Highlands and even some less than hospitable areas, and had heard of, nor see any sign of his dear brother. And now the cold was beginning to annoy him. He hadn't heard of any trouble brewing in the Shroud either, so his little fun outside of Fallgourd Float had been lost on deaf ears, or that fool he'd left alive had either died off or failed to deliver the right message. He waved a hand in dismissal to no one in particular as he considered this, bringing curious glances at the Lalafell, all of which dismissed in his mind. No, this search was dead in Coerthas and he was sick of the cold air. It was time to move on to a warmer locale. It was time head to La Noscea.

((The following occurs after in game rp scene)) His eye blinked open, half-lidded and swollen. He tried to move a hand to touch at the sore area on his face...well...his whole face hurt so it didn't matter where he touched. His arm had been pinned under his chest and he realized he was on the floor in the room and not the bed. Alulu was gone and he was glad she didn't see him in this state. His head was killing him and he groaned, rolling to his back. He knew the feeling well. Ruru was hungover. He remembered he'd been drinking ale with Miza after their fight outside the city. He had been drinking fast, flirting.... Wait. Had they....? He stood up quickly, the pain worth it and checked the bed. It was empty and he sighed in relief. He didn't need Kink walking in on that scenario. He remembered very little aside from the beach and a swimsuit. He shook his head, sure his memory was playing tricks on him. Ruru just prayed to the Twelve he hadn't said anything stupid to Miza. -Knock knock- It was Kink and Miza. They had entered and the words suddenly bled into his head. Kink was saying familair names and some unfamiliar. Coatleque Crofte informing....risk to Ruru....man named Krell. All of it was a blur but he remembered his own meeting with Crofte in the Drowning Wench and it had dawned on him. Krell. Nonotano. They were the same man. When his mind had deduced this, the weight was crushing and he had collapsed to his knees. And he was scared. Terrified for the first time in a long while. Nono was supposed to be dead. And now here was Kink delivering news that this dead man was alive and well and looking for him. She was scolding him for bringing his baggage to Limsa but he barely heard the words. An apology leaked from his lips but he kept envisioning his brother's face and then he remembered Alulu. He'd already lost so much to brother and he didn't want to lose her too. He tried to gather his thoughts as Kink was issuing commands to Miza. She would be watching over him, ensuring his safety. That caused him concern as well. Miza didn't know Nonotano....didn't know of his cruelty...hadn't seen the stabbed bodies of his mother and sister, nor the gleam of vicious pleasur eon his eye when he confronted Ruru. So he was also concerned for her as well. While yesterday had been a hell of a day, this day was shaping up to just be hell. ************************************************************** ((Continued to the Dockside Caper: Second Time Around thread))

"Look, I'm just tryin' to do my job around here! Rattling my cage? I got half a mind to run you through on general principle!" He turned to the guard and motioned with both arsm, half pleading. "Sir, I'd liek to get back to work. But I'm askin' these two 'cage-rattlers'.." The words said with thick sarcasm and half venom. "....I'm askin' they be taken to the boss. I want to make sure they know not to screw with me while I'm on duty, and if they wanna lodge a complaint?" He bowed low, mockingly at the two. "Then let 'em."

Nooooooo!!! Ruru uhmmm....he tastes like old fish. Yeah.....that's it. *runs*

*Has never done a dice combat in game yet and does not understand how it works* *Hides* :blush:

Too bad Ruru's taken. And Alulu is far too cute for anyone to get between that! Hehe that's right! Our cute factor is exponential when together! :lol: Oh and did you see the name of my room in the house. She thought that was adorable.

Too bad Ruru's taken.

LOL Nice! Ruru....he just stays in a broke down room in Limsa anyway so the room actually fits (damn it!) :lol: But lucky I have a friend who said they would craft what I needed for the room. But books beats the silly table with no chairs that I have. LOL!!!!

When Ruru heard her mention Zhi (Kink...she'd always be Kink to him for some reason) he paused, considering....and then chuckled. "I'm not sure she wants to the see the Shroud, let alone the sands of Thanalan." His voice was jovial but he knew in the back of his mind that there was something haunted that relationship between Miza and Zhi. He'd seen Zhi's reactions on the docks when they'd run into her. Saw it now in Miza's expression. When she grinned and said it was time for the drink he nodded and said, "Aye... definitely time for it....and another likely." It had been a hell of a day.

She made him giggle as she recounted the beating he took. They were square now. They walked in silence for some time as they approched the Zephyr Gate and he stopped her and looked up at her smiling, even through the bruises. "Someday I'll show you the woods of the Shroud....the deserts of Thanalan, and if you're up to it, the snows of Coerthas. No one should be denied the beauty those landscapes offer. I promise you that." This time he did blush befor clearing his throat. "Ahem....haha. Maybe we should head in to get that drink."

He grinned back at her and nodded in agreement. "Aye...was glad to have met you. I...." He paused, trying to form the words as he didn't do this very well. He sighed and shook his head a bit. "Want to apologize, Miza. I acted like a chocobo's ass the day we met...was hard on you and doubted your...well, most everything, really. Had no reason to." Though his face was red from the fight, he was blushing. "So, I'm sorry. You're...solid as far as I'm concerned. And I'm glad to call you my partner." He looked away and continued onward, hoping she didn't see his face grow a shade of deeper red.

As they walked, he stretched and tried to stay loose. He still had guard duty the next day and didn't want to be stiff for the job. "So you ever travel outside of this area? I mean to places like Gridania or Ul'dah? I ask out of curiousity." The sun was starting to sink lower in the horizon, casting black silhouettes in the sky beyond. He felt his eye swelling and smiled to himself. Kink would certainly tease him about it. Particularly since it was at Miza's hands. He'd been hard on her when they first met and was feeling regretful for his behavior.

He thought of his face and laughed, holding his hand up to his head as he did so. Ruru didn't miss her own evasive answer and didn't judge. He didn't know her circumstances and as he had secrets so would she. "You know....my face hurts....my arms are sore, and it's too nice to try and fight any more." He smiled looking back to her. "What say we go for the drink now? I could use it."

Ruru remembered Kink's words about keeping his background a secret and when Miza posed the question, it had been a friendly one, and while he felt bad for having to lie to her, he did so anyway. "Around....picked pieces of training here and there. A bit of a wanderer, I'd say." He tried to deflect, hating the lie but hating having to do so to this woman. "But you....where'd you learn those skills.?"

He groaned as he took her hand and allowed himself to be pulled up. His head was still ringing slightly and he rubbed at the stinging painful area at his eye and shook his head lightly. He offered a small laugh and looked at her, smiling. "Well with moves like that and my sword we may be just fine indeed." He considered a moment and then stepped closer. "Though I admit....I'm the one that needs the training. The hand to hand's never been my strong suit though I need it to be better....especially in this environment, Limsa I mean." Walking a few paces away, he grinned playfully and nodded. "A drink later then. And we can maybe get to know each other without having my face become a punching bag." His laugh was friendly and playful and he reached out to shake her hand.

As he approached, adorned his guard attire, preparing for his shift, he saw Kink and stepped quietly. He didn't see Miza nor did he see anyone else. He knew there would be another one but didn't yet know who. It had been a crazy few days and emotional as well. Between being soundly beaten in the fight with Miza (bruises still fresh on his face) and the news that his brother was alive and well and under a new name, hunting for him, he was emotionally and physically tired. The news of his brother had shaken him and made him afraid for the first time in a long while. Ruru needed to protect Alulu from him and he in turn was being protected by Miza. He envisioned the arrow striking Nono in the chest and then he fell off the cliffs. Gods why hadn't he gone to make sure he was dead? Why'd he run off in fear afterward? That was a failure of his making. And now that failure was looming over him and his friends and loved ones like a dark cloud that one knew was going to rain eventually, without fail. Sooner or later, that rain would fall and he prayed it ended with only death. Even it was for a second time. But for now he needed to focus and as he approached Kink, he raised a hand slightly in a minimal wave, not wanting to attract unwanted attention.

Ruru looked at the guard with a priceless expression of innocence and shook his head. "No sir! I was doin' my job as I was informed this morning! Right! But then look at these two....accusin' me of skirtin' my duties!" He was laying on a heavy performance for the guard and had an accusatory look toward Kink the man with her. With his hand balled up into a fist and his thumb extended he gestured back to the two as he still faced the guard. "And now they're all 'Who's in charge around here? I wanna speak to that person blah blah blah'. It's crap I tell you. I just wanna get back to my job, but they're insistent! Go on and ask 'em. And I dare 'em! Make your damned report but I wasn't skirtin' my job at all. Hells your keeping me from them right now!"

Right? That room is fantastic!! No screenshots of my poor man's room will be appearing here due to it's general state of hoboness.

I understand but it makes sense or people like me who just avoid the Wolves Den at all costs won't get soul-crushed in the first 5 seconds in Frontlines, rage quit and never come back. I recall Yoshi saying they wanted it accessible to all players.

He started to come to, blurred vision ensuing and he struggled to sit up. His head rang violently and he looked up at Miza who seemed panicked. He waved his hand at her and let his head fall to the grass. "Aye....I....yield. Damn strong woman...." A soft chuckle escaped his lips and he moaned aloud as it hurt his head to laugh. "Next time....I'll buy you dinner first. All you had....to do was ask..."

Oh no!! *Hides his girlfriend* She's just a Lala! And you....are so very big.

Dammit Warren! Don't you let Ruru get married before you!! She's standing right there! You know! *Pushes him in front of her* Now do it. I DON'T MEAN IN THAT WAY!!! :lol:

I so want to go!! Costs may be tricky. The overall I mean. Travel, tickets, hotel and food.

The blow came to his eye, the remaining one, and he panicked briefly as he flashed back to the encoutner in Ul'dah when he'd been struck by another fist to the eye, which had caused him to lose it forever. But Miza hadn't been moving in for a kill strike. She was simply going for a win. He saw stars inside of his head and he staggered backward as he couldn't really see. He was trying hard to say the words 'Miza you didn't let me finish the kiss' but all he could muster through the cloud in his head was "Mi..y...dn.." He saw the world go black and passed out cold.

He saw she was as winded as he was and hoped she would back down before he ended up getting his head split open by her fists. He backed into his stance and looked at her, as she cracked her knuckles. And her tease "Dinner? Well, I like to skip foreplay at times as I like to keep things fresh." His giggle didn't mask her comment about being gentle and he knew was in for it. His cheeks expanded and expelled a big gust of air as he raised his slightly tired arms into a fighting pose. "As gentle as I get." He then grinned playfully and blew her a kiss, leaning forward at the waist. Inwardly praying she wouldn't kill him for that he began to move back into the fighting pose.