[Action in Caedarva Mire]

[futurefab]

It should be around here somewhere… [Lilisette sorely misses the company she recently left, but she has a task to accomplish as well. She vaguely remembers the map that Vincent showed her on her sky phone, but it looked like a straight shot so she hasn’t checked it all day. Besides, she has full faith in her navigational skillset.]

[But as she

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[immortal_lion]

[In situations like this, the worst thing that you could possibly do is run. Needless to say, as the dancer flees for her life, she's running into the vision of more imps, waking up more jnun, stamping on more chigoes and running past more lamie. Rishfee isn't far away in fact. He's been tracking the footprints of a certain qutrub. Yet something is wrong. The voices within the mire stir; some amused at the dancer. Some infuriated. Some eager to see more bloodshed upon the grounds which they themselves had died in.

...Steiner. Was it him?

Without any more thought, he unsheathes both of his scimitars and runs in the direction of the voices, skidding to a halt just shy of the dancer -- eyes widening at the inevitable mass of monsters out for her. He doesn't recognize the figure. Not at first -- he's too busy simply gaping at what is persuing.]

... Stop! Stop running!

[Without waiting for a response, he moves his arms into the casting position; the strangest sound soon emerging from him. If Lilisette was familiar with the Apkallu,

[chaos_vessel]

[Explosives, and the possibility of cheaper bullets, is attractive to Vincent, of course- he mainly makes his gil through monster hunting, so having to waste that same gil on constantly getting bullets in Lindblum is irritating. It's one of the reasons he switched over to using a bow more. A different, less expensive source of them would be welcomed.

If Lilisette's anything like the girl he thinks she is, then she probably won't like Rishfee saying that. But with just those daggers of hers, she does seem rather unprepared for the monster playground that is the Mist Continent right now. Still, she made it this far, which probably counts for something.

He doesn't miss that Rishfee intends to deal with them on his own, either.]

It's easier to avoid deadly mistakes with a group.

[futurefab]

[Even with at least one of them on her side, she won't take the Immortal's prods sitting down. She can't. She's been been belittled all of her life. It's not something she takes well in the slightest.

She's on her feet in one, fluid movement, and the heels of her shoes dig lightly into the ground as she sets her feet. Her hands are in fists, every muscle in her body straining to hold herself back, to keep her wrath in check. Punching the man who had just saved her would be wrong, but she's sorely tempted.]

I can't tell which you're looking down on more--myself or the middle lands--but you don't know anything about either. Do you believe your lands are the only plagued with such unsavory beasts? Or do you presume I'm incapable of doing anything but prancing around a battlefield?

[She shakes her fists, beating them against the air rather than against the blue mage, and stomps her foot in frustration.]If you think you can keep going on your own then you're the foolish one, you Imperial dolt. I'm offering you a hand; you could at least

[immortal_lion]

[He half suspected that Lilisette would not have liked that, but he wasn't exactly prepared for the words which followed. He blinks slowly, half tempted to ask Vincent what the living hell she was going on about, but catching himself. Instead he merely watches her little fit - words calm.]

As you haven't noticed, I hadn't mentioned the middle lands or you. Neither of you understand the lamia. Fighting them in numbers is a mistake- for they can turn any allies against anyone. If you wish to charge in there and get killed, it's more of a burden for me to destroy you afterwards.

{He turns then to Vincent. His words to Lilisette were calm and frank, dismissive even, but Vincent at least should notice that her fit actually annoyed him. Quite a lot more than what he's trying to show.]

...Besides. I don't even want to entertain the thought of fighting you.

[chaos_vessel]

[Vincent couldn't have told him much, since he didn't know anything more about Lilisette than Rishfee. He certainly notices Rishfee's irritation, just as easily as he can read Lilisette's. He doesn't exactly want to step into the middle of it, but if he doesn't it probably won't get sorted out at all.]

Then there's nothing stopping her from taking control of you, either.

[He only crosses his arms, and ducks his head behind his cloak's collar at the last part of what Rishfee said. There are too many layers to that statement for him to even bother to respond to them all, so he simply doesn't do anything beyond acknowledge that it was said.]

Then what methods do you use to fight them?

[futurefab]

[She was only getting more upset at the Immortal when he spoke to her so calmly, as if he was dismissing everything she said. A part of her wished she had the dagger she used in her shows just so she had something to throw at him. A real dagger didn't look half bad anymore, though.

But when he mentions having to destroy her if she's caught in the Lamia's trap, her expression smooths out and her hands drop to her hips. A grin tugs at her lips, a brow quirks.]

I'd love to see you try. [It's a challenge, and she means it.

When she finally crouches next to the fire again, she's much closer to Vincent.] Exactly. [She chimes in even if they're talking amongst themselves.]

There are many types of dances with many uses. They didn't place them on the front lines during the war for nothing.

[immortal_lion]

[The war, again? He decides to not comment on it and merely looks away, half tempted to tell her to trot along quite merrily to become an undead servant of the lamia. Yet as mentioned, it becomes more of a problem for him. It's sort of funny, really. While middle-landers are not liked in the near-east, she's actually the first one to hit every single nail laid by the talk upon the streets of mercenaries which are more trouble than what they're worth on the head.]

... Here.
If you want to go on this fool's errand, take this. It will protect you; but I only have the one. If you see me or her become charmed, I advise that you run back to this staging point as quickly as you are capable.

[He rises, and walks to the tents. Then he pulls a certain something out of one, and throws it to Vincent. You know what he really, really wants to say? "Or shoot her." But there's a little thing called humanity that he just can't seem to get over - and is actually envying the other Immortals for being capable of, at the moment.]

[chaos_vessel]

[If it was truly a private conversation, they would have managed silence, or at least a good deal more discretion. As it is, Vincent is glad for the corroborating opinion, even if Rishfee obviously doesn't think it means much.

He examines the locket, then raises an eyebrow at Rishfee.] You think it will be able to reach me so easily?

[He doesn't bother to put it on at the moment. Doing so would probably requite removing the cape first, anyway.]

[futurefab]

[She sighs; he could only disregard her so long.] Since we're going to do this, why don't we at least pretend to get along so we can get out of one another's hair with haste. These things likely have a weakness, and they likely have a tell before they try to take one of us--likely one of you is more to their taste. In any case, why don't you share what you know? We can only work well together if we're open with one another. You've fought them, you have the intel.

And you. [She turned slightly toward Vincent.] My sambas probably won't do much for you, but I'll do what I can.

[immortal_lion]

[He sighs. Then he straightens, and moves his arms behind his back as he speaks. Lilisette would likely see it as politeness, but Vincent's been around him long enough to know that Rishfee actually tends to do that when he goes on auto-pilot.

...He disregards most of what she has said, much like he's disregarded all of her questions to this point and decided simply to not answer. But one thing she says does sink in; the sooner they do this, the sooner they can dump her on the outskirts of the mire, wave goodbye, and go to Nashmau as originally intended. They are as I have said. If you weren't listening, I will reiterate my point. They are aggressive hunters, which hold the ability to turn allies against one another. We refer to the status as charm. They're similar to your lands beastmasters; only we are the monsters. ...And generally, they are much more successful in their attempts to charm than any beastmaster. "One of us being more to their taste" is a foolish sentiment, and has caused the deaths of many imperial soldiers and

[chaos_vessel]

Then we'll just have to take it out quickly. Whether you want it or not, you have our help.

Right. Then I'll stay as close as I reasonably can. [Arrows and Guns both work at a farther range, after all. His best weapon when he's closer is the demons, and with Lilisette there, he doesn't want to use them if it's at all possible, even if he doesn't have much control of the demons in battle. He glances over at Lilisette and nods.] Focus on doing what you can. Don't waste energy.