2017-03-24: Friend Is Just Fiend With an R
- Log: Friend Is Just Fiend With an R
- Cast: Talise Gianfair, Hiro
- Where: Silver Coast
- Date: March 24, 2017
- Summary: The Destroyer's consort and his devilish familiar meet with a sympathizer.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
The fact that Talise has a bounty on her head now bothers here more than a little. It's prompted her to put a bit of distance between herself and Adlehyde for a day or so, leaving Sephilia in the care of Ida and Lynnai while she catches some time alone and out of the reach of bounty hunters who might take her to Aveh. Besides, she needed some time to think, after her run-in with the Pyre Witch.
Off one of the roads along the seashore, there's a stretch of pale golden sand, drawn out towards the horizon in a meandering arc. Slow waves crash along the shore. A heavy leather pack sits on the sand; Talise's breastplate and heavy sea coat lie atop it, with she herself down to a pair of shorts and her tank top, along with her boots. Of course she's never far from her sword; it's slung over her shoulder.
Pushing both hands through her short brown hair - parted from the middle now in a style intended to conceal her ears from casual viewers - the half-Beastwoman looks out over the water with a distant smile, her eyes unfocused but directed out over the horizon. Only her thoughts keep her company.
They're haunted thoughts - confused ones. Ones with no right answer.
"Lucia," she says into open air, voice quiet, but probably just audible enough to carry a short way if you're walking downwind of her. "I wish I knew for sure what you meant."
-
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"Hiro please... I said I'm sorry!"
"We're good! I accepted it the first time!"
"Then let's try another town! A nearby town! Please! Anything but making me wait like this! I can't take it!"
"Hey don't worry. I'm sure it won't take as long as last time..."
"Noooooooo!"
Squint hard enough on his approach and you'll see twin silhouettes in the midday sun- but as they get closer and closer from stepping off the road to the seashore, there's a whining maybe-red dragon, and a youth with a ripped orange scarf. Something rests idly upon his shoulder.
It's a fishing pole.
His gait is broken up a bit with a limp in his left leg, two sticks tied to either side of his leg in a makeshift splint over his knee, "Look- I know you just want to head to a fish market rather than waiting for me to fish up your dinner. But what happens if we're attacked again right now?" "Some things are worth the risk Hiro!" "I'm not that bad at fishing!"
The two had been mostly turned to face each other the whole way, Ruby flying almost backwards while looking at the other, Hiro's eyes on Ruby- but after facing straight forward towards the lapping waves of the ocean shore, he notices someone sitting on the rocks and putting a hand over his eyes, his face lights up, "Hey is that Tal?" It's gotta be!
Hiro waves from a short distance away, "Hey Tal! How's it going?" "Ask her if she knows any secret fishing spots- so you don't have to be a dummy and fish on the edge of the beach." Ruby says in a low voice, before waving a pink pawsie her way as they traipse on up, ""Tal! How's the fishing? Not that you're fishing right now- but you have to be planning to right?"
There are few other reasons to come to the ocean in her eyes.
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
There are a lot of reasons for Talise to go to the ocean, but much of it is familiarity.
The sound of voices comes to her ears. Straightening slightly, she turns, reaching for her sword - but as she realizes who's coming and recognizes that voice as corresponding to a certain being with pretty pink pawsies, she brightens visibly, her eyes taking on a spark of pure delight and a broad smile spreading across her face like the sun coming up.
Just who she wanted to see. As Hiro waves, so does Talise, waving broadly and flashing a grin. "Hiro, Ruby!" she calls, before turning and taking a few steps over to the pair. Unlike some out there, she's not going to forget to greet the Pink One. "Haven't tried the fishing yet - I was going to save that for later. But it seems like that big stand of rocks over there would make a good spot! Fish always get attracted to spots like that."
Hand pushing through her hair again, she angles her shoulders back a little, tucking her opposite thumb into the waistband of her shorts in a casual stance. The ocean breeze teases at her hair and at the hem of her top. "Things're alright, aside from me finding out that the literal Pyre Witch somehow got here from Lunar and is stalking my friends. But that's my problem to deal with," she says with a shrug. "How about you, things been good? How's Lucia doing?"
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Hiro is not in fact that good at fishing. Unless he loses patience and fishes by magic. That usually takes some time. Fortunately Tal's expertise towards the sea lends some useful advice, and he flashes her a thumbs up with his free hand, "Hey thanks!" "Yeah really, it'd be half a day before I got to eat if he was left to his own devices." Hiro gives her an amused look, "It'd be half a day going to the market too..." "But the selection!"
The mention of the Pyre Witch though causes them both to be taken a little off-guard- "Wait Witch-" "-from our world-" "-stalking your friends." The two turn to look towards each other for a moment, Ruby hovering in mid-air, before turning back to Tal. "Can't say I've ever heard of her, but she sounds like bad news but if you ever need a hand... then all you have to do is ask." Now, this is where Ruby would ordinarily pipe up that they shouldn't be making new enemies. Except she likes Tal- "...well I suppose we should. I mean with a name like Pyre... you'll definitely need my help."
Hiro reaches a hand over and affectionatly ruffles Ruby's bow at this, which she looks annoyed about, taking a moment to adjust it. But then Tal asks about Lucia, their reactions are opposite, Hiro gets this wistful look in his eyes whereas Ruby looks annoyed for her to be brought up. "She's-" Ruby interrupts loudly, "She's the same as always! Probably at back at camp right now pouring over ancient smut novels like they're something truly precious- and stonefacedly asking about things she really /ought/ to know better about! I swear that girl has the social skills of a turnip!"
Now this is where Hiro would normally interrupt her, except he's a little too red from Ruby talking about that- looking somewhat paralyzed by the topic. After a moment he all but sputters out the words, "D-Did you have to bring that up!? And look... Ruby she just doesn't know anything about... anything... you don't have to be so down on her all the time."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
Spoiler: Talise is good at fishing. The real challenge to her is whaling. Whales are too cool to kill!
The tall woman's eyes darken a little, and she looks off towards the horizon. "There's an old legend that my mentor told me," she explains. "The story of the Pyre Witch. They say she comes to you and offers you the thing you want most, and offers to help you get it. But if you agree, she demands that you bring her things. And the more you bring her, the more she blackens your soul with her evil magic. I didn't think she was real, but...."
The woman trails off, then smiles lopsidedly. "I think I could use all the help I can get," she admits.
Then the dragonling and the young man react in opposite ways, and Talise can't help but laugh gently, touching a hand to her cheek. Ruby's comments throw her, though. "Sounds like Lucia has wild taste in reading material," she murmurs, smile growing lopsided.
Her eyes turn to Hiro, then, and she frowns, though it's not an unkind one - more of mild confusion, given the way she scratches the back of her neck. "My friend Lyn and I ran into her at your camp a few nights ago," she says. "And the day before that I ran into Alisha. I got the idea there's some kind of bad blood between you guys but I can't quite get the straight of what's going on there."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Ruby cringes a bit as Talise describes the witch more and more, her fur standing on end as she shivers, "Creepy." "Not a legend I've ever heard..." Hiro suddenly looks serious, "...and there's nothing good in it. I'll be sure to warn the others about her in the meanwhile. I think they'd all know better but-" "You think Lucia would know better!?" "Well- it's more that she's just too trusting."
The 'wild taste in reading material' does absolutely nothing to help the flush of his cheeks, if anything deepening it as he hastily tries to change the subject, "A-Anyhow-" And instead gets told they were in their camp a few nights ago, "Oh you were?" "And she of course didn't mention it at all!" "Well she wouldn't think to..."
The rest though causes him to look off to the side, rubbing the nape of his neck- he's looking a little guilty though, and Ruby even moreso, "Okay... look... basically Alisha is friends with the current Shepherd, Sorey. And they both think Lucia is the Lord of Calamity, but she's not. And I know it." "While I gotta admit she's pretty awful- she's definitely not the Lord of Calamity. That girl isn't the Lord of anything but ancient smut."
Hiro seems mildly paralyzed again, perhaps from memories of Lucia bringing it up, which Ruby takes as an opportunity to takeover, "Okay it's like this. Hiro and me are Lunar's premiere romantic adventuring duo- a real power couple. And one day we saw this light coming from this ancient spire his Grandpa Gwyn had been studying for ages! Anyhow- we break the seal and get to the top and there's this girl there who said she came from the Blue Star to save our world- that she needs to speak to Althena to warn her about the Destroyer- as if it were that simple as strolling up into her office without making an appointment! Well this man-stealing hu-"
Hiro hastily inserts himself back in, "H-Hokay I'll take it from here Ruby! Anyhow- so Lucia was- really powerful to begin with. Like if monsters stood against her she'd summon this blue fire from the skies to vaporize them- or just I dunno, zap them out of existence? Really powerful magic of the kind I'd never seen before. But then- I felt something-"
Ruby's fur stands on end again, while Hiro has this kind of thousand yard stare, like it was truly disturbing to remember, "-I don't know how to describe it- other than it was something... beyond terrible. The worst thing I've ever felt. It called itself Zophar, while Lucia called it the Destroyer- and like if you look back at the old stories... the cult the original four heroes was formed in response to something called the Sons of Zophar... so I think he- it's been around on Lunar for a long time."
Swallowing, he looks Tal's way again, "-anyhow, he did something to Lucia. This dark curse that stripped her of most of her power. Nearly killed her. If not for this buddy of ours- she'd definitely be a goner. Whatever the Shepherd thinks they're feeling from her that makes them think she's the Lord of Calamity, it has to be that- and since the Church declared her to be the Lord of Calamity..."
Hiro goes quiet for a while, introspective, as Ruby softly prompts, "Something really awful is going on within the Chosen..." "...and the Guard- the Shepherd, everyone... doesn't even know it."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"I think it's more of a Glenwood legend," Talise admits with a shrug of one strong shoulder. "But it seems to have filtered through to Meribus. Or at least, it did with the people I know."
Talk turns to Lucia. Talise smiles lopsidedly, all the happier to push aside thoughts of Agatha. "Yeah... we found her meditating there or something and chatted a little. She didn't have too many answers for us but I hope I didn't come across as trying to interrogate her."
And then her question seems to hit a chord. Folding her arms loosely under the generous curve of her chest, the half-Beastwoman cocks her hips a little to one side and listens, her eyes darting betwen Ruby and Hiro - and bakc to Ruby as the little pink dragoness starts the story. She can't help but laugh heartily as Hiro cuts off Ruby's inevitable 'hussy.'
"Oh, something sucked her power out?" Talise says with a blink. "Maybe that's why Alisha said Sorey sensed Malevolence around her."
A small frown tugs at her lips. "I know most of the old stories, and a lot of the ones about the Four Heroes. But...." She pauses. "...That's right, isn't it? They were that cult that killed Dragonmaster Anno. I didn't think that a Zophar really existed, though... I thought it was some kind of idol."
Her brows furrow. "Then that must be what Sorey felt, then - if something really sucked out her power, it must be something left over from whatever the real Destroyer is. This... Zophar."
Turning away, the woman exhales through her teeth. "You're right. Somethins is wrong," she says, closing her right hand into a fist as she scowls out over the water. "Althena's never needed a Guard before, either. And the fact that she would ban music and singing. And the fact that she would...." She catches herself for a moment, then clenches her teeth, suppressing a surge of anger. "...the fact that she would bring back a dead man and call him the Dragonmaster, when I bet he didn't even take the Trials," she growls, voice lower now. "Lucia says Althena would never have banned music. Maybe she's right.
"Maybe... maybe the Goddess has gone insane."
Ida Everstead-Rey heads over to Gounon.
Ida Everstead-Rey has left.
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
By now Ruby has landed on Hiro's shoulder, he bears the extra weight on his knee without complaint. "Yeah. And like, think about it- if this Zophar could put a curse on her that's powerful enough to fool the Shepherd into thinking she's the for real Lord of Calamity..." "It's really scary thinking about what Zophar has to be."
"Alisha didn't believe me. She thought I was being... you know condescending saying there's something out there that big. Danger she can't imagine because she's gone through a lot of horrible things... but it's because she thinks Lucia is the scariest thing out there."
Ruby adds- "And she's a lot of things most of them /not good/... but she's not that."
But Hiro rubs the nape of his neck as she mentions the other things, "See this is the problem with me living in the middle of nowhere, I hadn't even heard about her raising a dead man to be Dragonmaster... or these Glenwood legends. I kinda grew up on lots of history books. I didn't even know that Althena /had/ a guard until they rolled up on our doorstep."
His eyes drift up, as he considers, "I don't think the goddess is insane? Lucia mentioned that the evil hides a lot from her sight, even when she had all of her power- and that's why she has to speak to Althena directly. I think Zophar is doing that to her, so she can't see the full picture. Then all these people in her church are doing what they want and she doesn't even know it's happening."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
It can't be that much extra weight; Talise figures Ruby would weigh about as much as a cat. Then again, she might just be a better cat-hefter than Hiro.
Scratching at one of the stripes cutting across her cheeks, Talise frowns, turning her eyes back to Hiro again. "I don't think she believed me, either. I tried to convince her that something else is going on - that whatever Lucia is, I don't think she's what the Guard says she is, and that the Goddess is doing something weird. I think she's just going to do whatever Sorey says." Narrowing her eyes, she admits, "And I don't trust Sorey all that much. I don't know what the Seraphs are telling him where none of us can listen in."
The tall woman sighs and slides her thumb back into the waistband of her shorts, scuffing a heavy boot in the sand beneath her. "That's pretty incredible to think about - the idea that something could hide things from a Goddess," she murmurs. "And Lucia seemed absolutely convinced that this Zophar is real, and that he's the one who's really the danger."
Green eyes lifting again, Tal meets Ruby's gaze a moment, then Hiro's. She's quiet, but there's a certain intent behind her eyes.
"...Even before I met Lucia, the Guard ruined my life. I only ever wanted to sing and play my music. I used to be able to survive just on what I'd make singing by the harbor in Dalton. Then the Guard started hassling me because I sing and drink. And they even came here." Her eyes darken. "I can't believe that the Guard is doing Althena's bidding. They have to be confused in some way."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"Oh /I/ know what they're telling him! Now I think two of them have good heads on their shoulders, but Silverfish- his best friend? He's the worst Seraph ever! Can't even recognize a Red Dragon when he sees one!" Hiro rubs the nape of his neck anew, "I think I'm beginning to be able to see and hear them but- won't don't know for sure. Uh- had a run in with one of them recently."
But Tal mentioned the Guard ruining her life, and Hiro gets pretty serious about that, "I see. Jean mentioned some of the same things about the Caravan she grew up with. How the Guard and the Chosen gave them a hard time just for bringing people joy."
He taps the fishing rod against his shoulder in some sort of anxious rhythm, "I don't think they are either. As soon as I started travelling with Lucia I saw all sorts of things- Chosen who cared more about silver than Althena's people, people convinced into giving up everything they own to them- people scared of singing and dancing-" Ruby sits on her hind quarters, gesticulating with pretty pink pawsies, "In one town the Chosen had even pushed over one of Althena's statues just to get people to come to their Church instead and force donations!" "-the Guard rolling up into town after town like they own everything..."
His expression softens, "Sorry that you're one of the folks who has had their life ruined by this. I feel it's going to keep happening until someone does something though. Once Lucia speaks to Althena the rest of us intend to tell her about all we've seen with her Church... but first we've really gotta get back. Normally I'd love to adventure around here on the Blue Star and explore everything but- her mission is important."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"Silverfish?" Talise blinks a couple of times, scratching the back of her neck. "I... I heard one of the Seraphs once, but I can't see them... that's one of those things I don't understand. The Seraphs, I mean, and the Shepherd. And why there weren't Dragonmasters after Alex."
Talk of Jean ensues. Talise smiles knowingly; evidently she's met the dancing girl before. "That's what the Guard did to me - hassled me all the time." The smile vanishes and her eyes harden. "They do it here, too. One of their priestesses broke my lute for no reason. That can't be the way Althena wants her people to behave."
The adventurer-boy explains his story. Bringing her hands up, Talise rakes long fingers through her hair and pushes out a slow sigh between parted lips. Her eyes tighten around the outer corners as she grimaces. "The Church pushed over one of her statues?" she echoes as Ruby pipes in. "That... that's idiotic. And the way they coerce people and use bullying tactics...." Trailing off, she shakes her head again. "...Thanks.
The tension in her jaw and shoulders begins to relax. "Like I told that priestess, Amelia... when I get back to Lunar - and I do mean WHEN - I intend to go to Pentagulia too and ask Althena what's going on. So long as Lucia wants to see her, then we're going in the same direction. I don't understand everything about Lucia - who she is and why she has such fantastic powers. But I have to get me and Sephy home, and help a friend find someone who's probably on Lunar. So long as that's the case, I'll help you."
Her eyebrows come up, then. "...Did Lucia tell you anything about herself?" she asks carefully. "About what she is, I mean... she suggested she wasn't a human."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"I'm not sure why not either-" Hiro admits, "-it never really made any sense to me. Why stop? I mean all of this just goes to show that the Goddess can't do everything alone. She needs people." "I wish I knew too... I mean obviously there have to be Dragons from the Dragon Tribe to administer the trials but..." There's this longest pause as if she's embarrassed, "...I don't know much about other dragons."
Hiro gives Ruby this little fond pat- knowing that talking about other dragons tends to make her lonely.
Hiro looks mostly serious due to the talk about how the Guard has ruined Talise's life, but does manage this smallest grin as she mentions going in the same direction and getting them home, "Well that's our mission, and we'd be happy to have a good woman like you with us- it only makes sense that Althena hears it directly from the mouths of people her Guard has hurt. Believe it or not, Lucia may have some ideas on how to get us back. We found something in these old ruins which she believes is the key to getting us back to our world."
But then when she asks what Lucia has said about herself... Hiro looks sideways and up- and Ruby takes this as an opportunity, "Not a thing! She always just says we can't comprehend the nature of her existence or some nonsense!" Hiro though looks straight at Tal, "She came from here- the Blue Star, but after meeting lots of people here- and all this interest she has in the history of the Blue Star- I don't think she really knows anyone here, or anything. I don't know how to explain it. Maybe she's not human, but to me... she's all too human? She's just the kind of person that doesn't know anything, or anyone. And if her mission is to save everyone then it's important that she learn these things- that she know about what she's trying to save."
He gives this little shrug, has this sheepish little smile, "So I'm hoping to teach her a little along the way- we all are."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"You mean that glowing thing she was hunkering over," Talise presumes, scratching at the back of her neck. "I dunno... that's technology and I don't know anything about that." The statement comes with a growing blush; it cuts close to some of her insecurities about Filgaia, about how embarrassing it is for her to be the only one in a given dungeon party not to understand how gears and steam and levers and mechanical parts fit together.
She just shrugs. It seems like she's trying to slough off some unfortunate feelings.
Then her eyebrows come up. "What, she's from the Blue Star, /not/ from Lunar?" she echoes with a blink. "That's wild. And yet she acted like she knew Althena personally, when I've never met a Filgaian who's heard of her." Again she shrugs, holding her hands out at her sides. This one's beyond her.
"Anyway... she said something similar to me and Lynnai - and then told us she couldn't tell us any more without endangering us. Neither of us really knew what to make of it. But I didn't get the sense that Sorey claims he did - I didn't think she was a malicious person, or really anything more than a strange person with knowledge beyond my understanding." Scratching at her cheek, she admits, "I can kind of see how she'd see that way... like someone who doesn't know anything. Seemed that way when we went into Sult with her, anyway."
Reaching out, she brings a hand down to pat Hiro's shoulder firmly. The smile she offers to him is genuine. "You're a good man," she says. "Between you, Ruby and Jean, she's got some good companions to make sure she stays on the right path."
Then her eyes settle on Ruby, and she grins a little. "I'm still amazed. I can't believe you're /actually/ a red dragon. That's the best." Her eyes have come to life again. She's actually fangirling a little, though trying not to show it. She is not succeeding at hiding it.
"I always wanted to meet the Dragons. I used to dream all the time about taking the Trials and becoming the Dragonmaster, just like Lady Chloe."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"Yeah me neither. I mean- we got here on a flying carpet which is weird enough- and lost the carpet. So now we're just going to have to trust her in how she gets us home." "... Well I trust her more than Lemina on /that/ at least. Worst, ride, ever!"
Hiro slowly nods when she says she's from the Blue Star, "I dunno- I mean they say our ancestors came from the Blue Star... she could just be the descendant of someone who knew Althena... Zophar called her the Princess of the Blue Star..." Hiro considers it long and hard before he shrugs. "... I really don't know." "Oh she's a Princess alright." Ruby jabs sarcastically,
Hiro listens to Talise's explanation, then grins, looking a little sheepish at the shoulder pat. "Eheh- well we hope to... but-" "Of course my boyfriend is a good guy! He's just doing the decent thing here-" Ruby gives him a hard look, pressing her fur covered face against Hiro's cheek, right at the cheek stripes, "-and nothing else!" "Come on Ruby- it's embarrassing when you say things like I'm your boyfriend or something. Anyhow-"
He starts getting a grave look again, "-it's just sad in a way. Alisha, Sorey- even some members of Althena's Guard. I mean Lucia's mission is important, but they're mostly good people who are being tricked right? I don't like the idea of hurting any of them. We're doing our best to avoid it but-" He trails off for a moment, looking down at his splinted knee, "-if they won't back down and listen then sometimes we don't have any other choice."
Ruby shifts uncomfortably, all too glad to get off the subject because someone is fauning over her a little, "Well I am pretty amazing! Believe it or not I met one of the Blue Star's Dragon Tribe the other day- she was pretty metal!"
Hiro grins affably when she mentions that she had that dream of becoming Dragonmaster, "Hey that's a great dream! You know when I was a kid I always dreamed of the same thing? Being just like Alex and the other Dragonmasters of yore- going on adventures that someone would write about some day."
Using his hand, he pats Tal once on the side of one of her biceps, "Maybe you'll get there one day." "Wow that'd be a tough decision. Tal or you- if you both passed the trials I'd put you through." "Well if you thought Tal was more worthy then I'd just be happy for her Ruby."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
"Maybe... maybe someone got left behind on the Blue Star when our ancestors moved between worlds," Talise murmurs, folding her arms tightly and tapping a fingertip against her cheek as she thinks the matter through. "Maybe she's something like a Seraph... at least, a Seraph we can see. Like some sort of... magical Althena spirit who stayed behind for some reason. I wish I knew, and I feel like she'll never tell."
Ruby says something adorable. She blinks, then cracks a grin. "Boyfriend, huh?" she teases before giving Hiro a sly wink.
But the subject becomes more sober. Exhaling, the half-Beastwoman shakes her head briskly. "Yeah, I don't think Alisha is a bad person. In fact I /know/ she's not. She really does believe Sorey can purify Lucia somehow," she says, and there's a sadder note in her voice now. "But she also really does think Lucia is the Lord of Calamity. And I didn't see anything calamitous about Lucia." Clueless, maybe.
Then talk turns back to Ruby. Her eyes brighten a little. "Really, the Dragon Tribe? Was it Riesenlied's dragon? I saw her too!"
Ruby speaks - and something dawns on Talise. Her eyes widen; she's quiet for a moment. The tall woman bites her lower lip hard.
"...If you're a Red Dragon," she ventures. "And neither of you knew about Ghaleon... then that means /he never took the Red Dragon Trial./ How can he be the Dragonmaster without doing the Trials? And if Althena could always do that - just hand it out to whoever - then /why didn't she?/"
She bites down to the inside of her cheek. "...Could it be that he's... somehow a /fake/ Dragonmaster? Or that there's some other Red Dragon out there...?"
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
Hiro considers it for a while, all the possibilities of what Lucia could be and- "It's hard to say. I mean no matter what she is, I have trouble seeing her as anything else but this really brave girl. I mean she came to our world to save it- knowing nothing about our world at all. I mean no matter how she acts, she has to mean well." "Well yeah but if we gave points to everyone who just /meant/ well Hiro then a lot of the Guard would have top marks!" "That's a- little different. She doesn't know better, and they ought to. You know? That's why we're trying to teach her what she needs to know."
Ruby shifts a paw to the back of her neck, "W-Well Odjn doesn't really know. She doesn't have any of her memories- or know any other Dragons either- other than me! But I mean she's on the Blue Star and a Dragon right? So she has to be in the Dragon Tribe!" Hiro just grins, as he's glad that Ruby finally found a Dragon Friend.
Ruby's eyes light up as Talise mentions it, "Hey that's right! Except wait- if it's really Ghaleon then- wouldn't he have taken the trial already?" "Huh!? Well-" Hiro looks confused, "-the tales do say he passed and noone was happier for Dyne than him... but- you really think that counts? I mean-"
Hiro has no real concept for bringing a dead man back to life. "Huh." "It could be there's another Red Dragon though I mean- I don't... actually know where I came from. I don't remember much from before I met Hiro..." "Heh yeah, and we've always been together- Grandpa says I was playing with you when I could barely even walk."
<Pose Tracker> Talise Gianfair has posed.
It's rapidly becoming clear to Talise that Hiro is not particularly impartial when it comes to his opinion on Lucia, for reasons that probably have a lot to do with her being hot and a little naive. She makes a mental note.
"Yeah, I don't know," she muses, tapping a fingertip against her chin and angling her head to one side in thought. "I guess he did pass all the trials with Dyne. But that doesn't explain why the Goddess would bring him back from the dead. Wouldn't he have to take them again? And if he was the Dragonmaster, wouldn't the Red Dragon know about it? I mean, when he went on his big tour, I heard it was on just the Black Dragon."
Shrugging, she shakes her head, raking both fingers through her hair thereafter. The grimace she flashes Hiro is more one of confusion than anything. "None of this makes sense, to be honest with you. It's why I want to go to Pentagulia. I just want to ask the Goddess why she'd do this."
Thoughtfully, she turns her eyes to Ruby again. "So you've been together that long, huh," she murmurs. "That's kind of awesome."
(Then she can't be a cat,) a tiny, cynical corner of her mind decides. (Hiro's at least eighteen just from looking at him. If Ruby were a cat, she'd have died by now.)
She squares her shoulders and smiles. "Either way, you've helped a lot, Hiro - for me, anyway. After talking to Lucia and to Alisha, I didn't know what to think. But I think I'm getting a picture now. I'm still going to try to convince Alisha that Sorey's got to be mistaken - I think she's a good person, even if she's misguided. But if there is an evil force out there, we need to stop it...." Her jaw sets. "...and Althena needs to know what her actions have done, and how they've hurt a lot of innocent people."
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.
"Yeah, there's a lot we don't know about what happened there. I didn't even think the Goddess could bring people back from the dead. I mean, she never has before... right?" He gives Tali a questioning look, then Ruby, "Right?" "As far as I know... like if she could ressurect dead people, why's he the first? Why not ressurect a past Dragonmaster? Or... why not everyone? Why would people die at all if she can do things like this?" "That's... that's..." Hiro has the longest pause, he'd accepted his whole life that when someone dies- they're just dead. But he'd never read about Althena being some arbiter of life and death despite being goddess, "I have no idea."
Hiro rubs the side of his neck alongside his scarf again, all of this is making him pretty uneasy. "The Black Dragon huh? I mean maybe it's meaningful. I mean all the legends are about how the Black Dragon went mad and how they dealt with it but... it's strange. I don't think we'll figure it out by speculating though-" He nods as Talise says it, "...we just have to speak to the Goddess herself."
Ruby nods proudly, "Yep! He'd be hopeless without me!" Whereas Hiro just sorta grins, "Well she's not wrong. She's gotten me out of more tough spots than I can count."
After a moment though, he sighs and- "I should tell you before you try convincing her of anything- the other day Alisha caught Ruby at a bad moment. She was trying really hard to restrain herself but-" "I kind of lost it- I had a whole town calling me a cat and-" "Alisha interpreted it as her terrorizing the town." He shakes his head, "We tried to run but she really- uh- worked me over- to the point where I couldn't. So I had to fight back and-"
There's the longest pause as he stares out to the ocean, "... well I won, but she's plenty upset with me and I don't blame her for that. I won't stop trying to convince them but..." H epseaks somewhat softer after his eyes return to Tali, "...it's not going to be easy. So I'm glad someone like you is on our side because we could honestly use all the help we can get."