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Brutality Aftemath

Scene details

Setting: The group, especially Reize Seatlan, were left to rest and recover after a brutal being demolished by the rampaging Black Beast. The atmosphere is left crestfallen.

Log


  It's a bright new day at the streets of Zerhem Kingdom. While the festival had passed after an exciting time, there was a gaggle of activity going on.

  There is more of a commotion inside of the bricked and mortar tavern. The ground is paved with stones, yet the tables and interior is filled with wood. There are various chairs and tables about, filled with people either celebrating a day's adventure to those trying to wash away their sorrows.

  Reize had been in a pretty bad shape since the week, but he had managed to recover well enough. He grimaces, bandaged up and even has a few bandages along his face.

  Initially, there was a group of girls that were about to approach Reize, but... for some reason, there is a strange, eerie feeling of dread. This is quite a shock to the girls, who quickly scatter away from the boy.

 Grimace, Reize slowly chews on the piece of the bread, muttering. "Guh.. I have been unable to go out the entire week." Granted, he just woke up only about a day ago, tended to by his partner.
 


 "All's well that ends well, right, chief?"
 In contrast to his younger friend, Ivo seems practically buoyant as he returns to the table bearing food and drinks.
 "The specialty of this spot is dipping sauces and purees for the fresh-baked bread. I recommend the spicy Hagos lentil blend."
 Setting down the tray at the table, the Cosmopolitan sweeps his friends with his lively gaze. If Reize's fatigue is shared by them, Ivo won't seem to notice.
 "Zerhem is safe and our adventures may continue. Where shall we go next? My newest iteration of our fragment detector hasn't found anything yet, but it's only a matter of time. In the meantime, why don't we tie up some loose ends?"
 He smiles at Ruidosa and Anna in turn.
 "We've got my rescuer Rui and the mighty Anna. We can handle anything!"
 He's laying it on a little thick, but he thinks that he might have to in order to rouse his younger friends. It helps that, for his own reasons, he's in an ebullient mood.

Rui, no doubt, the overpowering eerie feeling of BEING CURSED by a VAMPIRE. is there next to Reize, making sure he's okay and being horribly upset as she frowns. "You've been in bed for a week. of course you haven't been out all week." she frowns a little as she glumly leans against the table. She isn't eating at the moment, but she eyes Ivo.

"Like getting your cloak fixed?" she says as she raises a brow. "Oh! There was that....gem we got from the Sirens at the lake..." she says softly. at Ivo.

Before she eyes the gaggle of girls quickly taking off and blinking. Thinking 'What's their problem?' and she's like 'oh I know their problem'.


  Reize grimaces at Ivo quip. "... My bones beg to differ on that," He furrows his eyebrows, having bore the brunt of the Black Beast's rage, which had resulted in the most resounding beating that he had ever endured in his life. It was one of the few times that he actually thought that he was going to die. Granted, he cannot help but remember that the Black Beast was strangling him back at Cosmpolis as a result of the helmet being knocked off.

  "... But I guess you're right. He wasn't at peak rage." He grimaces, recalling well what happened; Ivo, though captured by Vivian, was at least spared from the brunt of the Black Beast's Exceed Art, which he and the others once endured.

  He quirks an eyebrow for a moment, "Well, there is that as well..." He notes towards Ruidosa, "I got to update on that gem. We'll have to meet with Cutini Nak at some point." He then recalls something, "However, there was something that we haven't addressed."

  He taps his forehead, "... You had something back at the manor that was still missing from our expedition, right?"
 


 It's understandable that Ivo won't be able to cheer Reize up so easily. He'll let Ruidosa's tender ministrations accomplish the rest, and just stay positive.
 So he smiles and nods.
 "Aurita Meloda is at least safe for now with Cutini Nak and MegaCapo protecting it," he remarks, "but we should go when we can to negotiate the sirens' return with the high priestess. I fear that the continued presence of Meloda's Blessing may be an obstacle to resolving the problem..."
 Trailing off reflectively, he then brightens again immediately.
 "Oh! Are we returning to the manor?"
 Don't look *too* excited, Ivo.

Ruidosa gives Ivo glaring eyes as he asks if they're returning to the manor. "Ugh, go on an adventure and you still end up hommme all the time." she whines. Still, her eyes glance towards Reize and back to Ivo.

"You mean the first piece we found in the catacombs of the manor, right?" she asks, thinking back. "Should ask my mother about the specifics of where the next piece should be." she trails off as she frowns.

"Who was that man that attacked you anyways? My grandfather fought a man with a name like that before. Broke a lot of expensive things." she frowns a little.

The young vampire gets an empathetic smile, "Don't worry, we just plan to go back to try to fulfill that request."

  The sore subject fills Reize with a weighted down look, evident by him becoming downcast, "... To be honest, I don't know much about him." He lifts his gaze, "The things I do know.... he is scary." He leans his head forward, leaning close to Ivo and Ruidosa in a more conspiratorially.

 "We know him from our adventures in Cosmopolis, Lily and I first encountered the Black Beast when we returned from... or small adventure while to find Ivo captured. After Lily flash blinded the Castians, we all managed to escape with Ivo." He thinks back, "... Then Lily and I fought him when he was pursuing us for an artifact that we had." He looks quite sheepish, "... We managed to escape him again, thanks to a stranger that became one of our good friends." For a moment, Reize does wonder how Raiya is doing. They definitely had not seen her since they all parted ways.

 "But.. he's strong. He took out Priel, Raiya, and Faruja at once. I even heard that Priel gave everything that she had." He frowns, "He had my pendant, so I had no choice but to fight him... I ended up inspired and learned a Art out of the fight... but, well.."

 He frowns, "...I saw that he and I look very similar."
 


 "Ha ha!" Ivo, laughing lightly, raises his hands palms out as though in surrender or to try to ward off a vampire curse. "Home is where the heart is."
 And Rui's home is where Ivo's heart is.
 "Besides," he adds, tone gentler, "it's a lucky adventurer who can return home and leave again as she wishes."
 He keeps his gaze on Rui, carefully not looking at Reize, assuming she'll pick up on his meaning.
 "Yes, why don't we finish what we started in the catacombs? If the Lady La Crima has any leads, I'm eager to follow them."
 He glances sidelong at Reize as the topic or Thael's past comes up. He listens carefully, but has nothing to add. Better, he thinks, to try to change the subject from the sordid past to their promising future.
 But his gaze does flicker back to Ruidosa at Reize's final comment, Ivo's expression carefully still. Thael looks like Reize and Reize's mother, whom Reize yearns to find, is missing. But putting two and two together might not be the best move so soon after a brutal beatdown.

Ruidosa blinks. "I dunno the specifics, but the last time my mother took me to the noble vampire ball, we we're told not to engage with someone with that name. Luckily. I don't care what my grandfather wants." she sticks her tongue out at her un-present grandfather.

She ughs. "I've been couped up for yeaaaars. At home. I know the exact number of wood floor panels in the vestibule it's '1453 and a half.'".

She sighs a little and frowns a little, "Sorry. I don't wanna go home all the time when I'm supposed to be away from it."


  The expression becomes quite thoughtful, even rueful, at the mention of 'able to return home as she wishes'. It is comforting that La Crima encouraged Ruidosa to venture out, even entrusted to him. He brings his hands together and thinks more carefully.

 Hm. The Black Beast.

 They look very similar.

  He closes his eyes for a moment, then he puts those thoughts away. For now, he offers a smile, "Let's plan our trip back to the manor for a bit so we can get the information." He offers Ruidosa a smile, "... Just think of it this way, once we accomplish what we came here for, we will be on our next journey."
 


 "That's understandable."
 Ivo still isn't quite sure what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to vampires. But he does believe that the La Crima family lifespan exceeds his own. He has a habit of thinking of Ruidosa as a sheltered young girl, but while she may be sheltered, it's likely true that she's lived longer than it seems. It may be difficult for a human to empathize with her frustration. Best to be sensitive to her differences, too.
 "Reize is right," the Cosmopolitan cheerfully concludes. "Once we learn what we can, we'll be on our way on our next adventure."
 Ivo thoughtfully cups his chin.
 "I wonder if I'll have time to return to the Lonely Woods and gather more of those wild roses..."