Skies of Arcadia, a new age

[GamerKale]

Ifreeti was not part of the group, in their panic they had rushed off without her. But as she didn't fit the descriptions, and made no effort to get in their way, the Valuans left her alone. She ran into someone from the village she had woken up on near the docks, a fisherman named Simon, "Ifreeti! When did you get here?" "Not sure, I arrived, took a nap, and was interrupted by a bunch of guys with guns." "You're cursed that's what it is. How'd you get here?" "I borrowed Franky's boat." "Really? I didn't see it." "It was blown up. Think he'll be mad?" "You're a dead woman. Unless you had some Valuan tobacco or the like, he's going to kill you." "I actually do." "Really? You just might survive the aftermath then. Want to hop a ride back to Crescent with me?" "Sounds good."

Simon knew the skies well and with Ifreeti aboard he could risk a faster but more dangerous route. There was some laughing at her failed attempt to leave, but everyone, nearly eveeyone, was happy to see her back and even Franky came around after she gave him the cigars. The kid, Juda, who had named her jumped into her arms and took her hat. So she resigned herself to carrying him as she made the rounds, handing off a few other odds and ends she had picked up on her trip, including the poncho.

[Zorolo]

(Ignore this message . @_@)

[nekoryuuha]

Throughout the escape, Meriele remained in her strange armor, though she put away her weapon at the very least as most of the group managed to get aboard and escape. They were safe for the moment, but as far as she was concerned, they'd been caught way too fast. And so, their travels found the Felineko still armored and ready to fight, just in case, although she wore a lighter and more comfortable armor was she sat quietly on the deck of the Airship, leaned against a wall as she read through a thick tome.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo looked at Florin and then looked around the ship for a brief moment. "We lost that nice, red haired woman. Well, she should be safe. After all, they don't have anything to easily connect her to you ladies," the green-haired man stated with a smile as he shifted past the woman. "I hope we'll have time to chat some more later, my beautiful friend. For now, I need to regroup with my cute assistant," the green-haired man said as he smiled a smile that warmed hearts. A relaxed, kind smile.

The con artist walked off quietly and proudly after speaking to Florin to go and see how things were going for Meriele. He was sure she was pissed about not being left to fight, but that would work out. After all, he was sure she would let it go after he said something to her. Something of interest, at least. "I can't believe we're sky pirates now... or something close, at least," the man said with a smile at his cute assistant. "What do you think, cute assistant?"

[Kaori]

The ship was sailing to Nasr airspace then Kamille turned To Zorlo and Meriele, "So you two needed to cash in right? We have a money launderer in Crescent isle who should be able to help you with that" she said to the two, "and furthermore, Flo said you've got a way with "convincing" people to part with their money, that and I notice your friend seems to be able to hold herself in a fight" she said looking at the armoured Meriele, "Ever ran into trouble before?" asked Kamille.

The Monoceros was docked in the port of Esperanza, while in Ramirez's private quarters,Ramirez was meeting with the admiral in charge of the area, "I'm quite sorry that they got away" replied the old man in armour to the young Ramirez, "tis no problem Gregorio, after all, there are still other days" replied Ramirez, "For you maybe but not for me" replied Gregorio back, "Dont worry, the Empress shall not know of this" said Ramirez, "you are too kind young lad, might I ask as to where you are headed next?" asked Gregorio, "Valua, I've been summoned by the empress herself for a special meeting" he replied, "I see, well if that will be all then I must be off, Good luck, Admiral of the seventh fleet" said Gregorio as he left the room, Ramirez stood silent for a while and chuckled, "The title's a joke" he said to himself,he then remembered how they captured that sky pirate girl, "she put up a hell of a fight, cost us a ship" he remembered, "I wont rest until I see her served to justice" he thought to himself, he then went to the bridge to prepare for departure.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo laughed at the woman as he crossed his arms. "We don't need a money launderer. We just need a bank that can cash checks worth one and a half million gold. After all, the checks are legally binding and were given to Meriele," Zorlo told Kamille with a laugh. "But if you want, we'll do this however gets us all of our gold. Well, she gets all of her money. I've already made two hundred thousand gold myself from gambling," the green-haired man said with a broad smile. He knew it wasn't that much, but still, he had made a great deal of money without much difficulty. Still, he knew this girl was asking him about the more... difficult things he's pulled off in life.

"As for trouble, I'm not sure what my cute assistant did before we met, but when I met her she was a servant in a noble house. That house, along with the countless I'd robbed before, wound up being very dangerous. Being chased by guards, learning to hide effectively, and stealing the whole way through," Zorlo said proudly as he rubbed his nose nervously. "That and the gold I stole from her master allowed Meriele to buy her freedom and we've both been breaking in, robbing and making good amount of good quietly. Actually, Meriele's ability to make gold puts me to shame... then again, I'm not skilled enough to try and interact with their wives to convince them to give me huge amounts of money," he said with a playful smile as he rested his hand on Meriele's shoulder.

"But yes, generally when we get in trouble, Meriele does something over the top to distract the idiots and we run away. It works really well," the man said with a smile. "As for any questions specifically for her... I'll let her answer," he told them with a smile. "And Miss Flo, we're not just good at parting nobles with their gold, we're MASTERS of it. Sadly, it's all I'm good at. Meriele has a number of other talents I lack, but she's also about a hundred times more useful than I am," he said with a sigh before he nodded.

"Excuse me," the con artist said as he turned around and started to walk away. "I'm gonna go relax..."

[nekoryuuha]

Meriele merely sat quietly as Zorlo spoke, the tome in her lap vanishing back into her storage as she get up and brushed herself off. It was interesting to notice that even in armor, she stood behind him with the posture and 'air' of an attending Maid. Like if this had been a manor, she'd probably be wearing a maid's uniform. "Yes, Zorlo's quite right in that as a team, we haven't really gotten into anything serious in nature. Just things that something simple like an Anti-materiel rifle or a number of grenades could cause enough distraction to easily get away. As for before that..." She allowed Zorlo to walk away before continuing. "Before, I was forced to be many things. But mostly, I was my old Master's Bodyguard and sometimes his Assassin as well. A lot of people hated him, so I fought and killed quite often sometimes as much as three or four times a day. So it's become second nature to me now though I try to hide it."

[Kaori]

"Whoa, your previous master sounds like someone I'd have no problem robbing" replied Kamille to Meriele, "So, out of curiosity what ever happened to him?" she asked, "We're approaching Crescent Isle!" announced Marco as they went to take a look, it was pretty much shaped like a half egg with a small town on it with a large rock arch towering over it, the ship then went behind it and entered a large docking bay.

At the Valuan castle Ramirez was on his way to a meeting, upon attending he was surprised that all the admirals were there including the lord admiral, as the meeting went on the focus then came to Ramirez needing to apprehend "Fugitive S", "Ramirez, your failure to capture Fugitive S has become a problem, however, we have located her to here" pointed the officer towards Nasr airspace, "you and your ship will finish this mess up, obviously they are prepared for an attack so you'll be assisted by the HMS Moribundo" said the lord admiral as he dismissed them, Ramirez then went to the docks and saw the Moribundo, it was a poorly maintained ship that used to be a destroyer but was now assigned to him, he took an elevator down and then shouted, "BLASTED FOOLS!" he screamed angrily as he began to hit the elevator, "MY FAULT? THEY'RE THE ONES GIVING ME CAPTAINS WHO KILL THEIR OWN MEN! THEY'RE THE ONES GIVING ME OLD WARSHIPS NOW THEY'RE TELLING ME TO ASSAULT A PIRATE STRONGHOLD?! HAH! THEY MIGHT AS WELL HAVE TOLD ME TO HANG MYSELF! RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!" he ranted for the final time as he then proceeded to his ship.

[GamerKale]

Some of the chatter quieted down some and Ifreeti took note of a vessel closing in. She borrowed someone's binoculars and peered at the ship, someone got in her way rather quickly, but not before she spotted who she thought was Flo. "Ifreeti, you really don't want to bother yourself with worrying about that ship." "Oh don't worry, it's got a...friend of mine onboard." "Is that so. Who is it?" "Hm? Oh uh, Flo I believe was her name." "Is that so?" Juda piped in, "So, has your memory come back?" "No, I haven't remembered anything else. I just met her and the other three today was it? Or maybe yesterday. I'm not certain how long I slept for. Come on Juda, let's go greet them." "Yay!" "You're going to get yourself killed if you try to find the dock they'll be using by yourself. Come on."

Led by her friend Ifreeti, still carrying Juda who was still wearing her hat, made her way to the hidden dock. She and the boy waved as the vessel came in. "Flo! Kamille! MARCO! And the gamblers! What took you so long?" Juda laughed providing an answer for them, "They don't have a djinn with them." "I guess that's true." She said and tipped the hat over his eyes.

[Kaori]

"Friend of yours Kamille?" asked Marco chuckling, Kamille lowered her head and replied, "its the one we forgot back in Esperanza" she replied, Marco then signaled them to come on, "you may dock next to us but you may not enter with us" he said over to them, the ship then docked on their portside.

two ships made their way to Nasr airspace slipped past border patrol without incident, with the exception of some very happy soldiers who recieved a "BIG" bonus, they were approaching the coordinates when an officer informed him of two ships near it, "Standby, do not engage them, we need Fugitive S alive" ordered Ramirez, the ships watched them from a safe distance behind some rocks.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo pointed at the red-haired woman and nodded. "Yep, she's definitely with us. And my name is Zorlo by this way. The cute girl with the ears is my assistant, Meriele. Now that I think about it, I don't know your name... so what's your name, miss?" Zorlo asked the red-haired woman as he continued to watch her and the ship she was on. I'd almost say it was TOO good of luck that she met up with us here... or was she following us? I'm not sure... but she doesn't SEEM like a bounty hunter or soldier, the green=haired man thought with a nod as he returned to being quiet.

[GamerKale]

Ifreeti blinked, confused by Marco's statement. Simon and I docked a long time ago and what does he mean by enter? I've been visiting for the past several minutes. Maybe it's just how he talks. "Hold on tight Juda." The boy complied as Ifreeti jumped from the dock onto the ship's deck. She pulled the hat off the boy and set it back on her own head asking, "You going to be alright if I set you down?" The child nodded and she knelt letting his feet touch the wooden planks before she let him go. "Don't go out of my sight. Your father will kill me if anything happens to you." He nodded saying, "Yes Ifreeti."

She stood and faced Zorlo she smiled pleasantly as she answered with a shrug. "I don't know what my name is nor anything else about myself." She moved to the railing and drummed her fingers on it rhythmically as she continued her monologue, "I woke up here on Crescent weeks ago, recovering from severe injuries. Juda's father says he saw me fall like a meteor from the stars. The boy is convinced I'm an efreeti though. That's a type of genie, you know those mythological wish granting creatures. Hence why he calls me Ifreeti. Any thoughts on the matter?"

[Zorolo]

"None in the least, but it's good to see you again, and I'm happy you're safe," Zorlo stated as he looked at her before turning towards Florin. "Miss Flo, if you would be so kind as to direct my cute assistant to where the person we're getting our money from is?" he asked her with a sweet smile. "I have some business here to attend to myself. I have a contact here who's... kind of a nice guy. Well, at least he's got some stuff he was thinking about trying to convince me to buy. So I'll be back in a bit," he said, smiling as he walked by her and stopped just long enough to meet eyes with her, blush and walk away. He had a nice dealer friend who had been trying to sell him two things of interest. He just hoped that guy hadn't been caught yet.

[Kaori]

as they got off their ship, the other group then left Ifreeti to them and they went away, Flo shrugged, "I've no idea dear, ask Kamille" she replied, Kamille was talking to a burky blue rouge, "look, all I'm saying is that I need a fence to sell this to, are you sure you dont know any?" she asked, "look, that item is to hot, I'd just return it to the Valuans, you've lost how many of us just for this? Now leave me be" replied the man as he took off, Kamille then wrapped something then returned to the group, "anything you need?" she asked.

[GamerKale]

Ifreeti hopped on over to Kamille. "Yes, a name. Specifically mine. Flo said to ask you." She grabbed Kamille's hands, "Pleeeeaaase say you know who I am. Ifreeti's a cool name and all, but I would like to at least know what it really is."

[Zorolo]

"Okay, then Kamille show her when you have a moment. Sorry, but I need to move quickly. My friend may or may not have already been arrested," the man said with a smile at the woman as he started off towards the place. It wasn't much, just a rundown old shack. Still, it was a nice front for what this man dealt with. "Oh, what the hell is the secret knock again?" Zorlo asked himself as he held his arm up and knocked. Once. Twice. Three times. He couldn't recall it though. The secret knock the man had told him.

"It has been a while since I've been here. Still, I didn't think I'd lose my edge on this that quickly," the green-haired man said with a sigh.

"Oh, it's you," the man said as his head popped out of a piece of fake flooring and smiled. "I've been waiting for you. Things got pretty intense around the time you last left, but I've been safe since, thanks for asking," the man said with a smile as he stared at Zorlo. "Anyway, I got the things you were asking about, Mr. Green hair," the business man said as he drifted back under the false floor.

Zorlo simply sighed and nodded. "Okay, okay, I'm coming, I'm coming," he muttered as he slipped into where the man sold his wares. Z wanted to make this quick. He had to get back to other things, after all.

[Kaori]

"I dont know who you are, But I do know this: You're annoying me!" replied Kamille as she stepped back from Ifreeti, "you mentioned someone mister Zorlo?" she asked Zorlo as she placed the package under her armour, "Kamille, if you have time, come meet me at the Pecuniam branch office when you're done with what your dealing with" with that Florin left the group, Florin has left the party....

Meanwhile the Monoceros and the Moribundo were making their way to crescent when the Moribundo slowed down to a halt, "whats wrong with the Moribundo?" Ramirez asked his subordinate, when all of a sudden they heard a loud cracking noise, "what the?!" exclaimed Ramirez as the Bridge's windows had cracks, "someone is sniping us!" yelled a soldier, "at this distance?!" asked Ramirez as he ducked, a couple more shots broke the glass and he ordered the helmsman to get them out of there, "alright, new plan..." said Ramirez as he got up.

[GamerKale]

"Oh, shot down like a bullet to the heart!" Exclaimed Ifreeti, falling down dramatically. Juda grabbed her hand comforting the woman, "There there someone will recognize you eventually." "You're right, how'd you get to be so smart?" She picked the kid up, "Let's take you home. You coming Merry Meriele?" Ifreeti didn't bother waiting for a reply, she just grabbed the other woman's hand and led on merrily skipping. "You ever climb to the top of the arch? It's fun and the view's great and nobody comes to bother you when you want to take a nap. Plus it's a great place to soak up some rays." She asked Meriele after Juda took advantage of Ifreeti's hands being full and stole the hat.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo returned and smiled at Kamille. "I've got a friend who deals in unusual objects. THings like this," he told her as he held out a stave and a green book with an odd symbol on it. "The book will help me learn healing magic, or will enhance my ability to learn it at very least, and the Stave will help me to focus my powers to heal more effectively," the man said with a smile. He took a deep breath and sighed as he looked around. "Both Florin and Meriele are gone, huh? Well, where to, Miss Blue Rogue?" he asked her, smiling again. In truth, part of him felt a bit down, but at least he was trying to learn to do something useful, at least for now anyway.

[Kaori]

"we should go meet up with Flo at the Pecuniam branch office, then we can discuss more about your friend" replied Kamille, the group went past the hustle and bustle of the isle, "feels good to be home again" thought Kamille, they arrived at a building with guards wearing black and red uniforms which somewhat differentiated them from all the blue uniformed blue rogues, "I'm here to see miss Florin" said Kamille as the guards complied, the bulding's lobby was quite grand, there was a chandelier on the ceiling and couches, "might as well wait for Flo" said Kamille as she hopped on the couch, "Bonjour, do our guests need anything?" asked a Caninu maid, "no thank you miss" replied Kamille, "how about you guys?" she asked the other three.

Meanwhile in the Monoceros, Ramirez was organizing his remaining forces and had to bring back the Moribundo as well, most of the ship's able crew were killed on the bridge, now ramirez only had his men, he then thought of a way to make it unto crescent isle....