2017-06-28: Jean v. Captain Aifread

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=========================<* Lacour - Arms Coliseum *>=========================

Situated immediately adjacent to Lacour Castle, the Arms Coliseum is a temple to the pursuit of perfection in physical prowess. Built more than three centuries ago by King Etienne I, the Coliseum is laid over with ancient Symbols that blunt weapons and protect combatants on the brink of death, allowing competitors to fight to the best of their ability without fear of killing their opponents.

The Coliseum is the site of the annual Lacour Tournament of Arms, a competition that fuels the spirit of martial artists and weapons merchants both. The Tournament is a spectacle that draws visitors and competitors from across Filgaia, and is the major event on the continent while it is running. A series of smaller tournaments are organized throughout the year; entering as a combatant is free of charge, but spectators pay a nominal fee that nonetheless provides a significant boost to Lacour's coffers.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

In the stands, far above the arena, Layna's crew shuffled into their seats. They'd chosen to separate themselves somewhat, so as to avoid suspicion.

A tall thin man glances toward a short, stern-faced woman who currently had a look distaste on her face. These were the First Mate and the Quartermaster, respectively.

"So, what do you think, Dahlia? Think the Captain's got a chance of taking this?" He asks.

"She's been far too reckless lately. Whatever her chances are... honestly, I think I'd prefer her to lose." Dahlia replies. The first mate smirks.

"Ouch, that's harsh."

In the arena itself...

The first rounds of the Lacour Tournament of Arms were finally beginning. Now, it was Layna's - or rather, the Infamous Pirate Captain of Legend, Aifread's - turn to fight. At the moment, she sat in a small room on her side of the Coliseum's stage. Each fighter started there, taking the opportunity to do whatever they need to do to prepare themselves for their fight, until it was their opportunity to fight.

"Well, we've had some interesting fights so far! I can hardly believe what we've seen here this year! Hopefully this round proves equally exciting!" The announcer calls out.

With a smirk, 'Aifread' stands from her chair and strolls out as the doors are opened for her. Her hair, the large plume on her hat, and the fancy black cape wrapped around her shoulders flutters out behind her as she makes her way to the arena, a confident grin on her face. She waves to the crowd, clearly enjoying the excitement and attention. And then, once she's in position...

She folds her arms in front of her and waits for her opponent to make her appearance.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean, for her part, is alone in her small room, on the opposite side of the Coliseum from Layna. She has a sense for where her companions are, but she only thinks of that in terms of a checklist, of various things she needs to make sure that she has covered. After that... It's just a matter of mentally preparing herself.

Is she really doing this?

"This round is likely to be exciting though, given who we have competing here today. Heh heh heh." The announcer keeps talking.

Jean rises, silent, from her chair. She starts out towards the arena, having made whatever understanding she's likely to make. She's dressed in dark clothing and armor both, black cloth underneath chest armor that partly covers her shoulders, extends down to her upper thighs. Light, soft shoes, little protection on the legs... but bracers on her arms. Her green hair is up, in a side-tail as is usual for her.

And she has two black and purple fans clipped to her light armor, expression calm. There isn't any grinning, though she does one spin and curtsies to the crowd, delicate enough.

She studies Layna, after a nod to look at her. "It's a show, right?"

<Pose Tracker> Lemina Ausa has posed.

Lemina has until tomorrow to prepare for her fight; her opponent has requested time for 'image training.' Lemina, of course, is perfectly content with this, because it gives her time to scout him, since he's apparently a returning combatant. Besides -- this way she gets to...

... cheer Jean! She's at ringside for this one, and gives Jean an enthusiastic set of whoops. After a momentshe also rains some sparkles on Jean's side of the arena, which she can do, because she's super cool and good at magic.

The sparkles don't do anything, but they are super neat.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna smiles as she watches Jean walk into the arena. Her opponent seems quite a bit more level-headed than she is...which is fine. There were all types of fighters. ...Though the sparkles were an interesting touch. Did Jean provide them, or did they come from somewhere else?

Once the combatants are in position, a familiar red light fills the arena. And once it clears...what was once a plain stone arena is now the deck of a pirate ship.

A generic one, unfortunately - Dahlia's common sense had won through in the end, and she hadn't requested the Ruby Empress specifically. It had all the structures one would expect of a sea-worthy vessel, though. It even seemed to rock somewhat in the illusionary waves surrounding it, though not enough to actually throw off either of the combatants. The air that flowed through the arena even carried the familiar scent of a sea breeze.

At Jean's question, Layna smirks.

"Aye, lass, a show." She agrees with a nod, then gestures to the audience.

"For their entertainment..." She says, making a sweeping gesture toward the audience, then placing a hand over her heart. "And ours, as well."

"Are ye ready? I can give ye a moment, if you need it." She offers.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean smiles faintly as the sparkles rain down after Lemina's cheers. It doesn't last for long in this situation, but it is visible; it might suggest a few things about whether the sparkles came from someone else.

The red light fills the arena and Jean looks around to see a deck, with mast, rigging, a number of places to move... Is the ship moving? Yes, it seems to be. The sea breeze...

"A good choice for a battle," Jean says. "I miss the sea. I used to travel closer to it." It's fine. She's not planning to try to kill the other woman.

Instead she dips her head. "It's not my usual kind of entertainment. But I'll try to make it fun for you." A smirk. Then, she nods. "I'm ready. I don't need more than I've already had."

"Aaaand lined up against our Infamous Pirate Captain of Legend, Aifread, a spirited combatant indeed with all the style we could count on for such a fight..." The announcer winds it up, "Is an infamous scoundrel of another type, a Vile Fiend hunted for awful deeds and worse to come, sponsored by Straight Jab! Known as the Shadow Dancer, the mysterious combatant... Jean! What treachery will she bring to bear against the Captain's skills?"

Jean shrugs helplessly. "I had a feeling it would be something like that. They've always got to play something up for the crowd..."

DC: Jean switches forms to Shadow Dancer Jean!
<Pose Tracker> Clarissa Eventide has posed.

Clarissa has since purloined her cider cup back from Elena, and even got a refill. Now, she stands beside Lemina, excited to continue watching the Lacour Tournament of Arms!...for magic. Because what recluse magical researcher would pass up the chance to study more bizarre Symbology magic in action? This is what fills her mind as she idly sips at said cider mug, intrigued by the introductions of the two competitors. Suddenly, she spit-takes cider, and her eyes go wide as saucers.

Coughing away on the sidelines (as close as possible to the main event), Claire eventually regains control. By the time she does, her mouth opens and closes, but she's apparently lost the capacity to speak!

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna, or rather, 'Aifread', chuckles.

"Aye, so do I. There's no greater feeling in the world than the ocean breeze on your face as your ship cuts through the waters..." She murmurs nostalgically.

There's a nod when Jean says she'll try to make it fun, then she retreats back a few steps as the announcer introduces each of the combatants. She glances back toward Jean with a smile.

"Don't let it get to you, lass. Just tune it out. The only thing that matters now is you and me." She says.

With the fight properly underway, Layna hunkers down into a fighting stance. This is the only warning Jean will get before Layna rushes forward with a straight jab to the torso.

Perhaps a bit ironic, considering who was sponsoring the dancer. Or, perhaps it was only fitting?

GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Plundering!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei Fong Wong has spent the last while having a flashback. What was the flashback about? Well, it's pretty spoilery but since you asked.

MONTHS AGO

"Rock...Paper...Scissors...!!" Fei swings his hands forward, forming scissors.

"Arghh!!" His opponent cried out, stumbling backwards. "You...you defeated me." He bows his head and says, "You've earned this. Consider it as proof of your RPS might."

NOW

Fei hears a bunch of cheering and raises his head to look towards a...

...pirate ship.

"......is Bart behind this tournament?" Fei asks. "I'm already punching things, he doesn't need to do this..." He turns his head to look towards Jean's stance.

He....

....doesn't recognize her at all. How 'bout that. "Vile Fiend?" He says.

He leans forward to look towards the villainous and monstrous Jean, fiendish and diabolical.

"No. No way." He says.

GS: Jean takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Plundering for 94 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"So you're the real thing," Jean says to Layna. "I never wandered the sea so much. I was busy with hills and forests. But I always liked travelling by the coast."

Jean smiles back. "You're very kind, Captain. I haven't been treated like a new fighter in a very long time."

But the fight gets underway, and Jean adopts a rolling stance, light on her feet with her arms down, fans in hand. Those familiar with certain Lunar martial arts styles might see something in the way she stands.

But she moves, too; Layna rushes, and Jean looks to her arm and takes the jab full-on, relying on her armor to lessen the shock and her training to ignore the pain as she starts into a spin. Her fans have razors embedded within, and she slices with one of those first before jumping off one foot and feathering four kicks before she hits the ground.

She leaps back, somersaulting to a higher position. "You hit hard."

GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Feather Step!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Layna Manydays takes a glancing hit from Jean's Feather Step for 55 hit points!
GS: Disrupt! Statuses applied to Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"Aye, that I am." Layna replies with a grin. "Sailed the seas all me life, I have."

Jean definitely wasn't a new fighter, though, that was for sure. She'd seen her fight before, true, but she had been rather focused at the time. And that stance of hers...Layna couldn't recognize it specifically, but she was clearly well-trained.

Layna's free arm comes up for defense as she retracts her fist and attempts to move out of the way, but the razors on Jean's fan manage to find a way through her defenses, cutting into her and leaving slashes through her cape and sleeve. Several of Jean's kicks hit home, forcing Layna backwards.

This development doesn't seem to bother her. In fact, she's grinning.

"Aye, and you're no slouch, yourself. This'll be interesting, aye?" She says. She reaches up, removing her cape and tossing it aside.

It'd only get in the way right now.

She breaks into a run and then leaps, reciting an incantation in mid-air to get a gust of wind underneath her to push her up towards where Jean had retreated to and delivering an uppercut toward the dancer on the way up.

Her other hand is kept free to grab onto the ship, should her stunt take her a little too far.

GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Wind Jump!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
GS: Jean takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Wind Jump for 92 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei leans in. He studies her stance. As a martial artist, albeit one whom doesn't know where his form is actually from (Shevat), he does have some interest in the artistry.

"Wow," Fei admits. "Haven't seen one like that before. It's really out of this world."

<Pose Tracker> June Lim Ze has posed.

"I've seen fan styles but this one does seem different," says June, who still hasn't gotten any freaking tofu in this guardians-forsaken burg

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean nods with some respect to that. ...And a little thoughtfulness. She can think about it, but she doesn't have the space to become lost in it. She's busy, after all. As soon as she lands, she's in another stance, this time with her fans both up before her, held out like claws.

She doesn't grin back. "...I've been fighting for a while," Jean allows, not striking during the movement of the cape. Interesting... Maybe.

This time though it's Jean who's knocked backward, the uppercut hitting her square on the chin and sending her sailing backward, though to her credit she kips up as soon as she hits the deck. She spreads her stance quickly.

"Magic," she repeats, and starts to twirl, leg extending just so, a rhythm in her hips and her steps. "I can do that too!"

A fan extends, and a cloud of spectral bees buzzes straight towards Layna with paralyzing venom.

GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Bee Dance!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Layna Manydays takes a glancing hit from Jean's Bee Dance for 31 hit points!
GS: Weaken! Statuses applied to Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei claps his hands. "I know who that is!" He realizes. "Jean, the dark consort to the consort of the destroyer!" He pauses. "There was a sketch and everything. I never forget a piece of art, even when it's on a poster like that." He nods firmly while totally missing Lemina Ausa's presence.

"I mean," He adds, looking to June. "There's a bounty on me too so even if I wanted to I couldn't exactly go and collect, but if you think about it, it's a good way to get to know people. Like, 'this person has a bounty on their head, they're probably not really all that bad since they didn't burn down a city probably."

He nods firmly. "Actually I didn't even see crimes listed. Maybe they're from an area that really frowns on polyamory. that's why the priest is on there too, probably performed a ceremony some church didn't care for."

He shakes his head. "It's sad."

<Pose Tracker> June Lim Ze has posed.

June squints as she does math.

"So does that mean she's the destroyer or that the destroyer's spouse is cheating on the destroyer with her?" June says finally.

Then she sips her beer. "That makes sense. I have a question, though."

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna can tell, but there's a bit of hesitance to that admittance that makes her think twice before responding to Jean's comment. Instead, she focuses on her dance. She wasn't sure what to expect from it having never been on the receiving end of it before.

She certainly didn't expect bees. She went on the move quickly, making to avoid some of them as they come flying towards her. However, enough of them get through her defenses that once the bees dissipate, Layna's moving a bit more slowly than she was before.

Layna flexes her fingers with a smirk, testing them out. Her confidence hadn't faded in the least outwardly, but she was recognizing the potency of Jean's techniques. She'd either need to finish this quickly, or go on the defensive.

"You've got some good moves, lass. Elegant and dangerous, very nice." She compliments with a chuckle. She closes the distance again and locks her shields together before thrusting them forward, attempting to slam them both into Jean. This movement would also allow her to attack while maintaining her defense.

GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Bash and Buckle!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
GS: Jean takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Bash and Buckle for 84 hit points!
GS: Layna Manydays takes Cover! She gains 50 temporary hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"Ah, I figure it's basically a three person relationship," Fei says to clarify. "What's the question?"

He has gotten his own beer at some point which may explain Fei's focus on theorizing here. Yes Fei can drink beer if you want him to in Xenogears!! LOOK IT UP!

<Pose Tracker> June Lim Ze has posed.

"Oh. You answered my question," June says, sounding obscurely frustrated.

"Is it polyamory when your dad cheats on your mom or is that just marriage?" June continues, philosophically. Fei gets to see her adjusting some tension dial on her hand, which may give him a key weakness to exploit in later matches, if he's mean or really wants that Wedding Dress.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


"It's not like that!" That might call Fei and June's attention to the pair of Vile Fiends just behind them who said the same thing simultaneously. One a young man in a blue tunic, a pair of green stripes tattooed on his face just below his right cheek. The other a pink furred cat, with wings, fluttering just off his shoulder excitedly like some butterfly with her pink pawsies propped indignantly on her hips.

"Leo just... has this vivid imagination... none of us are together." He sort of self-consciously rubs the back of his neck. Neither him nor his companion are disguised in any way. Kind of strange for a group of wanted folks- but then again...

Ruby is mostly focused on the fight after that one outburst, cupping her pawsies to her mouth, "Go Jean! You can do it!"

He takes a deep breath though and tries to start over, as he tries to shake off the idea of him being a Consort, or a Consort of a Consort, "But if you think her style is out of this world, that's because it is." He's got this little grin which makes it seem like he's not going to explain that unless asked as he similarily shouts out. "Knock her on her fatback Jean!"

That seems to be some private joke the two share. He's not going to explain that either.

He then looks to size both of them up before asking, "Either of you competing?"


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata's had a bit of a... misadventure since the opening ceremonies and being swallowed by the crowd and being separated from Fei and June. Before she knew it, she was off and out of the coliseum and to the town proper, where she had a heck of a time even trying to find her way back towards where she started due to her not ever being in... Lacour before, thanks to her trance-induced trek through town the first time. Fortunately, a kindly old grandma with an apple cart pointed her the right way.

She's out of breath by the time she makes it back to the arena, fortunately spotting Fei, June, a mysterious young man and his pet dragon, and... spectral bees. "W-whoa... um, Mister Fei! Miss June!" The littlest waitress is hurrying up towards the stands to join them. "I'm sorry, I got really lost..."

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

Jean doesn't volunteer more information about her fighting experience. She doesn't volunteer a whole lot at all in the next few moments, using the pursuit by her bees as a moment to catch her breath and set aside the bruises forming rapidly on her torso. From there, she starts moving.

"...Thanks," Jean answers, half-deflecting the compliment with her words and a shake of her head, "But most of these moves aren't 'good' at all."

The distance closed, Jean immediately starts shifting her stance, but she can't do it in time; she's knocked backward again with a loud noise against her armor.

"...You hit pretty ard," she comments, and suddenly leaps upward, somersaulting into the rigging and upward until she reaches a platform to balance on partway up. "This one's not so bad."

Gracefully, on a precarious perch that most would have to spend all their time balancing on, Jean starts a slow, irregular dance. She hears Ruby's cheer as she's in the middle of it and waves a fan her way as she finishes.

The odd music doesn't play, but a cloud of noxious fuscia mist wafts towards the Pirate.

GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Moth Dance!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: CRITICAL! Layna Manydays takes a solid hit from Jean's Moth Dance for 122 hit points!
GS: Poison and Cripple! Statuses applied to Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei notices June's gesture. But does he think about how to exploit it? Probably not. Fei isn't that invested in winning the wedding dress because he isn't aware there will be a wedding dress. Besides, what are the odds that Dan DAN of all people would suddenly appear in the semifinals. Sure, his kamehameha wave is strong but his primary method of attack is hitting people with his own skull.

"Just marriage," Fei quips back at June. "Though folks don't tend to talk about it. I dunno if it happened back home all that much. I tried not to pry too much into their lives, I just got to know 'em but..."

He frowns. "Maybe I should have.."

He is stopped from getting back into a depressive state of mind when another dragon and Hiro the ect. shouts out in their direction. He blinks twice before saying, "Oh! Hey. You're Hiro, yeah?" He takes a long sip of beer, his player's secret plan to get to know the Lunar cast succeeding brilliantly. "Gotta wonder what kind of guy has an imagination like that, but well--I'm not one to judge either way." He takes another drink before adding, "You know, I know I'm not really disguised either but on the other hand my bounty isn't seventeen million so--"

He looks towards Ruby, and a thought occurs to him. "huh." He says. "...You wouldn't happen to know someone by the name of Odjn would you?"

He looks back to Hiro and adds, "You might be my second match." He tells him. "I haven't had my first yet, but if I win and you win, then I'm your second match." He smiles. "But ah--I don't really enjoy fighting or anything. I signed up because--"

His head jerks. "Oh! Lunata! Just in time." He bobs his head. "Don't worry about it. I'd like you to meet Hiro. He's in the tournament too."

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"Don't be so modest, aye? I'm certainly not." Layna chuckles. Indeed, she was perhaps a bit too proud about what she could do. So much so that when Jean begins another dance, Layna doesn't attempt to avoid the fuschia mist. Instead, she charges into it.

She finds herself regretting it shortly after doing so. The mist gets into her lungs, and she can feel it sapping her strength from the inside. There's a moment of surprise on her face, but she shakes it quickly and moves to scale the rigging after Jean.

While she does not possess the dancer's honed agility and grace, she does have a lifetime of living and fighting aboard a ship much like this to support her on her way up. Her climb is slower than it would otherwise be, but soon she's on the same level as Jean and rushing toward her...

But the attack does not come from her hands, at least not right away. A leg sweeps out, attempting to knock Jean's legs out from underneath her. If successful, she'll then bring her hands together and attempt to slam them both into her in a double axe-handle strike, with the goal of sending her to the deck below.

GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Swab the Decks!
GS: Layna Manydays takes 8 damage from Poison!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
<Pose Tracker> June Lim Ze has posed.

June looks at Hiro and has to blink a few times because of the PRECIOUS PAWSIES put in front of her vision. She squints, takes her sunglasses off, wipes them on the sun cloak, puts them on again - "Huh," she says. "So you mean literal in a figurative way, right?"

She waves at Lunata as he comes drifting back. Lunata can probably see that June took off her leg although it is slightly veiled from casual observation by that sun cloak. "Ida left us some drinks. Did you find any bean curd anywhere?"

"Odjin?" June tries to say, nose wrinkling.

GS: Jean takes a glancing hit from Layna Manydays's Swab the Decks for 70 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Hiro nods, "Yeah that's me. Fei right?" He holds out a affably to let Fei shake it if he wants. He knows his face pretty well since- well when your own face is on a bounty poster, you tend to look at a lot of bounty posters. And take down just as many. "Nice to meet you."

He knows what he's accused of but- he's met plenty of people who were falsely accused. So he gives him the benefit of the doubt and doesn't straight up ask 'Did you do it?'

"Billion." Hiro corrects a little absently. "And she's innocent by the way." That may sound strange given- who would put a seventeen billion bounty on someone unless they were really certain they were guilty of something.

Ruby on the other hand immediately turns towards Fei, "Hey yeah! You know her? She's my best dragon friend!" She's technically also her only dragon friend. Details though. The rest of the Ebony Wings dragons don't count yet. They need to be more majestic! And talkative.

"Is that so? I didn't really look at the matchups in depth. All I did was check and make sure I wasn't fighting Leo in the first round-" That would have been awkward. He would have enjoyed it- but awkward. And also that lowers Lucia's chances. But Fei doesn't finish because Lunata just strides up and Fei introduces him. And he sort of double takes, "Hey you were that girl in Port Timney weren't you?" He also sticks out his hand for her to shake too if she wants, "Nice to finally meet you properly Miss."

When June asks that though he sort of gets this sheepish little look, "Well... you see... yeah we're kind of from your Moon. I know that sounds totally crazy but it's the truth."

But instead of following up he turns to Fei and asks, "So. If you don't enjoy fighting. Why are you competing in the tournament Fei?" For a while he's just looking at Fei for answers, rather than watching the match. He has total faith in Jean's ability, even if she looks a little behind. Though Ruby turns back to it in short order.


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

It's a very powerful skull, okay. You shouldn't underestimate Dan's skull. There'll probably be a Star Trek episode dedicated to the anthropologist discovery of Dan's skull and it'll spark a giant forehead revolution that'll threaten to undermine all of Starfleet...

"O-oh, hello," Lunata bows, still exhausted and out of breath. She's not used to running long distances, but still bows respectfully towards Hiro and Ruby. "Yes, I was at Timney..." she holds onto his hand daintily, nodding. "I'm Lunata Croze, from the Starfall Saloon!"

There's a black cube kind of just... following her, bobbling up and down once in a while. It seems... keen on the match.

She perks up at June's question and says, "A-a-actually, yes, I ran into a lady who was cooking some really familiar foods to the kind Aunt Hilda cooks! I asked her for some bean curd, since she seemed to be making some tofu..." She holds a package out for June, with a smile.

She catches Hiro's last question, though, lowering her head. "A-actually, Mister Fei is here because of me... it's my fault. I kind of-- um, fell into a trance...? And before I knew it, I was signed up for this fighting tournament... even though-- um, I can't fight." Wow, that sounds a bit weird, to put it lightly.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"...Believe me, there's no modesty about it. I don't claim they're not effective..." Just not 'good'. Jean takes that charge as a small victory though, ass h sees that moment of surprise and has to make herself keep going. She looks down as she sees the sailor climbing up otherwise, and waits, rather than attacking from above.

The leg sweep hits her, sending her down immediately as she goes with her momentum and evades the double strike immediately. Her hands grip the beam and her fans both, propelling her upward as she twirls around it. This gives her time to set her fans about her and start spinning straight down at Layna, blow after blow after blow with sharp blades from any direction, all in rhythm as she touches back on wood.

"I won't be modest," she murmurs.

GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Razor Dance!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
DC: MISS! Layna Manydays completely evades Razor Dance from Jean!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei shakes Hiro's hand. He's a friendly sort even if he tends to be preoccupied with his own problems. To be fair, they're pretty big problems but even Fei has to admit that his problems are probably not seventeen billion zenny bounty problems. That's an entirely new class. Then again, some folks seem to expect him to kill God and that's pretty insane too. Maybe they should put a seventeen billion dollar bounty on God if they want them dead so much.

"Yeah, she was in the company of a metal demon last I saw her." He tells Ruby. "Though she didn't seem like she was in trouble or anything, and I didn't know she was a metal demon at the time, so..." He shrugs. "She's probably not all that bad either." Fei's learned that a lot of folks really aren't that bad but it's not like he's going to start a religion over it. It wouldn't work anyway. He feels pain in his body thinking about it so he stops and it subsides.

"I figured she was innocent," Fei admits. "Seventeen billion is a completely unrealistic bounty. Who has that kind of money, really? And if you have that kind of money, you're certainly not the type to honor bounties." Granted Leo might be the sort of person to honor bounties but it doesn't feel realistic to Fei at all. "How would you even collect? Nah, it feels like it's more to make sure you're harassed by folks that don't know better, make you feel unsafe, push you into places that they can getcha at more easily."

He considers it thoughtfully before Hiro asks a very good question.

Fei gives Hiro a sad smile. "Might as well. Fighting's gonna come to me whether I like it or not. Might as well make sure I'm good at it. I don't have a real choice in the matter, just like you don't, but one day maybe we'll get to pick our own battles and when that time comes--"

Is he still thinking of going back to Lahan to help them rebuild? He bites into his lip as he considers it. Maybe saying that's his plan is just his way of not making a plan.

"But yeah. Lunata signed up on her own. Not sure why, but sometimes we find ourselves connected in ways that aren't quite easily understood yet. I think that's why I keep running into that gear and why trouble follows me around." He sets down his beer and looks to Hiro. "You're really confident in your friend. I'm glad you have something worth fighting for there. I don't know why they're after you, but I'm not the type to look away if folks are in trouble. If you need help, I'll do what I can to help you even though--" He looks towards the fight. "It seems like you've got plenty of power as is."

<Pose Tracker> June Lim Ze has posed.

June considers a few things that Hiro says. One of them is, how much is a billion, anyway? It sounds like some kind of nutty, made-up number. She can imagine a million, kind of...

"They might as well say umpty-butt-jillion and five," June agrees to Fei's statement on bounties. "You'd need a ship to move that much money. Like, four ships. Big treasure ships." She finishes the beer then and looks to Hiro as he summarizes where they're from.

The Moon.

"That's bullshit," she tells Hiro, "but I believe it."

Then she looks to Lunata, who has beautiful angelic wings and a halo behind her head in June's vision. "Oh wow oh, damn, how much do I owe you -" She takes the box, opens it, and makes a screeching noise before she picks up a triangle and bites into it with a delightful crispy-slippery texture. "Ummhhh... They put that spice crap on it but that is TOO GOOD." *hompf*

"Oh wait no this is chillis and... some other -" *chomp*

Yeah, June's not participating in conversation further right now.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Ah. There it is.

"I think I'm starting to understand you a bit better, lass." Layna comments. It's a bit at odds with her own way of thinking, obviously. They couldn't be more different on that front. Layna reveled in battle, found it entertaining...but it seemed like Jean felt differently.

"I have to wonder then, lass, why you're here..."

Her evaded attack elicits a grin from her. This kind of situation, a battle high atop the deck of a ship...it was perfect. She felt at home again, like she was sailing the seas once more...

Though she was still attempting to shake off Jeans venom, she weaves her way through the storm of needles. Cuts are made and blood is drawn, but Layna seems more...invigorated afterward, than anything.

Layna laughs, clearly enjoying the fight, and charges forward once again.

Even in this precarious situation, she was charging. Having seen her fight so much, it was easy to tell that Layna's fighting style was more along the lines of street brawling than anything with real structure...though it would be foolish to assume she had no proper training.

Rather than punching...her head slams forward, towards Jean's own.

GS: Layna Manydays has activated a Force Action!
GS: You have activated the Force Action Full Clip!
GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Swab the Decks!
GS: Layna Manydays takes 6 damage from Poison!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
DC: MISS! Jean completely evades Swab the Decks from Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"Are you?" Jean asks, swaying now on the beam as the ship's movements are all the more pronounced up here. She speaks quietly, for Layna rather than for all of the crowds. The dancer clearly doesn't much revel in battle. But teh question...

"I'm here because a good friend needs me to be here. That's all. I wouldn't get near something like this otherwise."

Truth be told there is some excitement in this... There's just a lot of other feeling, too. She tries to keep that excitement tamped down. After all, with her style...

Layna charges, and Jean is getting used to this style, gaining a cadence for it. Jean waits, and waits, and when Layna's head thrusts forward Jean ducks down, spinning quickly into a point-blank kick that knocks her backward, and is followed up by four more that take her up and up...

And leaves her landing on one hand on the beam before twisting and pushing herself up to her feet.

GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Feather Step!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: CRITICAL! Layna Manydays takes a solid hit from Jean's Feather Step for 143 hit points!
GS: Disrupt and Cripple! Statuses applied to Layna Manydays!
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Expecting him to kill God does seem like a seventeen billion zenni problem.

"Probably Riese." She says neutrally. "I'm glad to hear she's safe though. Especially with all the battles being fought against the Metal Demons."

Hiro doesn't comment on Riese. It's sort of a sore subject with Ruby after their latest trouble. At least Ruby knows Riese cares for Odjn well. That's enough. "Right." He says as Fei and June reasons it out. "Wish everyone had the sense you two do." He chuckles, "Gonna be fair to Leo though. If she really was THE Lord of Calamity then seventeen billion would actually seem on the mark. I just don't know if he actually has that money- he probably intends to pay, but he'd need to leave an I.O.U. or something." A beat, "Doesn't matter though. I'll never be on board with executing an innocent girl just because someone says she needs to be."

Hiro lowers his hand when Lunata bows instead, just smiling at her. Hiro then leans over to the side, glancing at the black cube. Giving it this long look- he sort of reaches out and tries to tap it with a finger. Though it might not let him, "Uh Miss Croze? You've got a little something-" It sounds like he's trying to say there's something on her face, rather than something following her around.

June says it's bullshit, but they believe it. And he looks kind of awkward for a moment, "Heh. Well appreciate the vote of confidence Miss?" Sounds like a question, maybe he's asking for her name. "Most people hear we came over to this world on a flying carpet and laugh us out of town."

Fei gives him that sad smile and... he nods, "Makes sense. Feel kind of bad for you though. Like- you make it sound like it'll never end." He exhales at that thought. It's a weighty one, and he's projecting that idea of it being neverending from Fei onto himself, "If that's the case, wish you could settle down and retire somewhere where you won't be disturbed."

But, Fei is entering the tournament due to her? Fell into a trance? Can't fight!? Well he knew that last part already but the dissonance of entering a fighting tournament while she can't at all takes him aback. He in fact actually does take a step back and remarks, "You get into a lot of trouble don't you?" After a brief pause, "...I can relate."

Hiro's face splits into a grin when Fei mentions he's confident in his friend, "If I wasn't after all the times she knocked me on my rear, then I'd be a pretty poor friend wouldn't I? I enjoy fighting myself. I think it's hard to become good at something if you don't enjoy it. But I fight-" His eyes list outwards onto Jean, on her in the middle of her match watching as Layna's head slams forward and Jean spins out of the way... "-to protect the people and things that matter to me." Then more quietly, "And so does she."

He looks back at Fei that moment looking cheerful at the prospect, "Appreciate it Fei. More than you can know. And hey, given what we're up against we could use all the help we can get. I'd be glad to have you at my back any day." And then his mood dims as he says more somberly, "But part of me hopes you'll never have to be."

Ruby meanwhile is whooping and hollering and shadow boxing with her little pink pawsies to try to rally the start of Jean's comeback.


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata has to admit one really fundamental thing to the others: "How... how many millions is a billion, again?" The bounty is so incomprehensible she doesn't even know how much it is.

She smiles warmly at Ruby -- her eyes positively glittering for a moment as she gasps, "Wow, Ruby, you're so cute!" She immediately looms over to try to pet her if allowed... or if she doesn't bite. Fortunately for Lunata, she doesn't invite death on herself by accidentally blurting out that she's a cat, even though cats are by and far her favorite cute animal.

Fei's comment on how the bounty is there to make people chase them does make her a bit uneasy, though. Would Gebler assign a bounty to her or her mother, now that they've unearthed this Gear...? She looks at the cube for a moment. She also can't really comment on who this 'Riese' might be, for fear of being devoured by the unspoken world-eel that rises from the nether realm and snatches one that dare to interact with alts.

"... I really am sorry ..." Lunata can't help but repeat again to Fei and Hiro, feeling bad still. "... I do have a strange relationship with a Gear myself, and--" she gestures, "--this cube is... part of it in some way." She pauses. "M-Mister Cube, I want to quit the tournament."

As if on queue, the cube starts agitatedly bobbling up and down again in a more spastic fashion.

Lunata sighs, and says, "I--I can help as well, of course... not with the fighting, but-- if you need a place to stay, the Saloon will take you in, I'm sure of it! Aunt Hilda and Uncle Tom would never agree with such a thing, I'm sure of it."

Jean's latest move of needles and Layna's deft reprisal elicits another gasp from her. "I--I really don't know... even if it's not to the death, it really looks like getting stung like that would really hurt..."

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Rather than Jean, Layna's head slams into the mast behind her. As the ship wasn't really made of wood, the symbological illusion flickers and sputters slightly as it updates to a more damaged texture. Particles like splintered wood fly off and disappear into light.

Layna's position, however, leaves her wide open for attack. The kicks hammer home, doing solid damage to Layna in the process and knocking her off the rigging.

She catches on with one hand though, and grins up at Jean.

"Aye, thought it must be something like that. I sympathise with you, lass, I really do. I'd do anything for me crew." Layna replies, then swings herself back up.

Of course, it wasn't like she'd forfeit for Jean's sake. The crowd was expecting a good fight...and so was she. She had her pride. However, she didn't expect Jean to ask, either.

It's clear that Layna's getting a bit tired out, but she still moves forward again. Learning from what happens last time one fist is hurled out...but it's a feint, and the real attack is coming from the other.

GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Plundering!
GS: Layna Manydays takes 6 damage from Poison!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
GS: Jean takes a glancing hit from Layna Manydays's Plundering for 45 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

It's a strange thing to fight on, fake textures and strange illusions. Jean focuses on what's hard beneath her hands and feet, what's solid, regardless of what it looks like. ...And in this case, solid at her feet is Layna for a moment.

Jean, before she moves from a one-hand-stand to a two feet, looks back at Layna and nods. "That's the pirate way, isn't it?" She moves, and Jean indeed doesn't even pretend to ask for a forfeit. For her part, Jean is bruised up pretty well, but she doesn't slow much; it's still within the range of pain she can take while moving.

The punch is thrown, and Jean goes left; she sees the real attack coming, and shifts so that she catches it straight in the chest on her armor, rather than an arm that she needs to use to keep fighting. From there...

"Thanks. But we'll see how we do." She hacks across horizontally with one fan suddenly in a lunge, using the other on the diagonal before she drops to the beam and rolls back, springing upward and throwing both fans at once to let them come back to her on the mast.

Then a lift of her eyebrow as she starts running down the rigging.

GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Razor Dance!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
DC: MISS! Layna Manydays completely evades Razor Dance from Jean!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Right??? But no, instead of asking nicely, he brings an army to his village and sets it on fire! The worst.

"I guess," Fei admits to Hiro. "But that sounds more like a job for an army--" His mind dials back a few steps.

Wait a second. Did Hiro just say he's from the moon? Like the moon up there? Fei looks up. It doesn't feel...impossible. But it's definitely strange and unexpected. He doesn't think Hiro's lying. He looks into Hiro's eyes. Okay, no, he's not lying. He scratches at his cheek. If Ruby's from the moon how'd Odjn get here, Fei wonders. They're the same species right? He looks at Ruby again but then back to Hiro. He senses Riese is a sort subject so he doesn't push it but he does feel some empathy with Hiro. This guy's embroiled in something much larger than himself. He's frankly impressed with how well Hiro handles it. In a way, it's frightening.

"You've a good head on your shoulders," Fei says. He hopes he's never called upon either but besides that, he can't help but think of the tournament. He doesn't think--he'd mind fighting Hiro. It's a sparring match, which he can understand, rather than the kind of fighting that's far more common and bloody.

He looks towards Lunata. "Another way of thinking of it is if you have a million but then have another 999 millions." He pauses and then adds, "And a million is a thousand thousands." He figures that'll help break it up for Lunata. He's pretty confident Lunata will have a price on her head soon enough. She's working with pirates now, after all. "I actually checked on Bart." He says. "he has a bounty of around a million himself." Wait why did he say that that's not gonna put Lunata at ease yeesh. At least Lunata is speaking to the choir about having a weird relationship with a gear.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

"Aye, that it is!" Layna agrees with a nod. "A Captain's no tyrant. She works with the crew. They help her, she helps them, and together they've got the seas at their disposal. That's how it oughta be."

She seems to be speaking from experience here.

Layna backpedals away from Jean's fan as her fist hits armor rather than flesh, and once again weaves her way through a cloud of razors. She was slowing down, though. The cuts this time are deeper than they were before. If she faces this again, she wasn't sure she'd be able to dodge them all properly...

It might be time to bring out all the stops.

She does a quick incantation, invoking blades of wind that fly toward Jean before chasing her down the rigging. These are meant as a distraction more than anything. From the subtle movements of her lips, she appears to be incanting something else.

GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Air Blades!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
GS: Jean takes a glancing hit from Layna Manydays's Air Blades for 46 hit points!
<Pose Tracker> June Lim Ze has posed.

"Hell, I'm not from around here either," June tells Hiro after pausing halfway through her package of tofu triangles. "I'm June Lim Ze. I'm going to win this tournament, one way or another."

Looking back to Lunata, June chews in silence for a moment.

"Tell me how much I owe you for the tofuuuuu," she nudges her verbally.

Then she says, "I think you should give the fight a try."

Dun dunh. She explains as she settles back, raising up her thigh and crossing it over the opposing leg while gesturing with a tofu triangle. "It's the early rounds, and they probably aren't going to match you up against a real desperado or some bone-breaker. Even if all you manage to do is dodge a little and tap out - you'll have proven your courage to yourself."

With that she bites into the tofu, which keeps her from oracular pronouncements for a minute. She does smile at Lunata as she does it, and when she swallows, she looks back at Fei.

"That's... OK, are you really talking about that guy? But a million, that's like... that's a number that's actually real. Like my family shop back home probably had a million gella run through the shop in a couple of years. That's actual. But seventeen billion? I heard a billion's actually a million millions."

"And that's just ridiculous," June concludes. "That's like, how many grains of sand are on this beach, or something."

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

"It doesn't sound so bad. Maybe one day I'll go aboard a ship for a while." Jean is moving before she's even finished talking; she can tell Layna speaks from long experience.

Good experience. She doesn't really intend to go on a pirate ship. But it's a nice thing to say, a nice thought for a moment.

Little by little, Jean hopes she can wear Layna down without having to resort to the worst of what she has in her arsenal. But it's a show, and she doesn't forget to step gracefully, set her arms out with her fans like wings, on her way down. The wind blades come, and she shifts to dodge the first, and shifts to nearly dodge the second, getting a deep cut on her side for her trouble.

As Jean rolls onto the deck, she turns, and the large bandaging on her thigh become clearer. She's already injured.

But she finally does smirk. "Come on down." This dance is quick, but starts slow, her head back and her movements wide, done in threes like a waltz.

Blue haze moves around her before a little sheep drifts around Layna's head. "Slow down a little more!"

GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Sleep Step!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Jean has canceled their attack on Layna Manydays.
GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean has attacked Layna Manydays with Sleep Step!
GS: Jean has completed her action.
GS: Layna Manydays takes a solid hit from Jean's Sleep Step for 53 hit points!
GS: Slow! Statuses applied to Layna Manydays!
GS: Layna Manydays enters CONDITION GREEN!!
<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Ruby allows herself to be pet, but she does squirm a little "Hey! How would you like it if someone just pet you out of nowhere?" Flying up to Lunata, she pets her on the nose, repeatedly. Her pawsies are soft. It's really kind of adorable. "Well, how do you like it?"

"Or one Shepherd." Hiro says kind of grimly at Fei's comment of an army.

He doesn't know what's going through Fei's head though when it comes to how impressed he is. But when he looks at the guy he's similarily impressed that Fei is bearing what he's accused for so well. Poor guy. If he didn't do it... and even if he did. Maybe especially if he did. How would someone cope with that?

"Just- checked on his bounty?" When it comes to Bart, "Or do you know the guy?" Hiro hopes it's the latter. "He's a really swell guy for a pirate. Wasn't what I expected at all. Reminds me of Hell Mel a little, makes me think he's going to settle down one day and be all respectable."

He gets this grin at the thought of Bart ruling over some small desert town. Oh Hiro if only you knew who he really was.

But Lunata seems apologetic and like she doesn't want to be here.- "So when you said like- trance? This cube is part of what made you?" He squints at it as it gets agitated and he talks to it directly, "Hey you- yeah you. You four sided menace." "Hiro a cube has six faces." "Don't hold her hostage like that if she doesn't want to do it."

Lunata offers her help too, "Appreciate it, but Adlehyde is kinda dangerous right now with Althena's Guard in control. They ever get out, we'll take you up on-" Lunata mentions the needles and- he flinches, "You have no idea." That's the look of a guy who has taken a lot of hits in training.

June on the other hand says that, and he suddenly gives her a more serious look, "Well. Good luck to you, and I mean that. I really do- but I'm going to do my best to do the same. The fate of someone really important to me is riding on me or one of my friends winning it all."

He's not saying that to make her feel guilty though with some sob story, he's saying that to let her know he's serious about winning, "So if we come up against each other, I'm going to give you a fight to remember. Count on it."

Despite any bravado there though, he's looking back out at Jean, still looking somber. Like Fei, he knows Jean doesn't like fighting at all. And yet, for Lucia... she was out there doing all she could. No matter what. Win or Lose, he believed in Jean. "You've got this Jean! Just a little more!" He finally calls out.


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata jolts just a little bit as June pokes her, before stammering-- "O-ohh, sorry, um-- no, please, it's on me. It was like -- two gella for the bag." Even for a waitress like her, that's pretty much chump change. "... so-- that would get you... umm, seventeen ... uhh-- wait--" she's trying to imagine how much tofu seventeen billion gella'd get you.

Lunata might die and go to tofu heaven. June might follow suit.

"Yeah... that doesn't sound like a real amount of money. Is Adlehyde worth seventeen billion, I wonder...?" she has to agree with June, though she nods in encouragement. "I--I hope so. I'll just try to do my best... and... hopefully I won't be too sore for too long."

Ruby's sudden petting just-- makes Lunata giggle a little bit brighter still, saying, "O-oh, you're really cute, I don't mind being pet, hehe...! I like it just fine, Ruby!"

She goes to cuddle her gently as she listens to Fei and Hiro talk, because compared to her, they're kinda like the responsible adults. Fei is a responsible adult to someone. Let that sink in for a moment. "... I suppose...?" Lunata doesn't sound like she's sure, given she's not sure if the cube's related to her trance... smart money says yes, but.

The cube pauses, before bobbling over to Lunata's side like it's faintly jealous of her cuddling Ruby, in response to Hiro.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna jumps the rest of the way, landing in front of Jean. The incantation continues. She watches Jean carefully, and, for a moment, she does seem to have slowed down. Her movements are sluggish...

But the incantantion completes, and invigorating winds sweep through her. The winds pick up, and begin swirl dangerously around Layna.

She doesn't attack just yet, however. Instead, she grins at Jean.

"If I ever get my ship on the sea again, you and your friends will always be welcome aboard, lass, you have my word. We're well-equipped to treat guests with due hospitality. Got drinks from all around the worlds, aye?" She offers.

Worlds, plural.

And then...she charges, a wide grin on her face and a green glint in her eye.

"But before that..." She says. Right as she's about to reach Jean, she vanishes.

"We have our show here to conclude, aye!?" With those words she reappears behind Jean, moving towards her at high speeds with one arm outstretched. The momentum itself was dangerous, but if Layna caught her with it, she would thrust the arm forward in an attempt to send her flying.

It was an all-or-nothing kind of attack. If this didn't work...she'd be drained, and an easy target.

GS: Layna Manydays has activated a Force Action!
GS: You have activated the Force Action Full Clip!
GS: Layna Manydays has activated a Force Action!
GS: You have activated the Force Action Lock On!
GS: Layna Manydays has attacked Jean with Boom About!
GS: Layna Manydays has completed her action.
GS: Jean has activated a Force Action!
GS: Jean takes a solid hit from Layna Manydays's Boom About for 169 hit points!
GS: Jean has Fallen! She is no longer able to fight!
<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

"You know Sorey too?" Fei says. "Well I don't know him... but apparently he's a 'Shephard' and he cleaned up Lahan. If you can thank him for me, I'd be gracious." He seems perplexed by June's question. "Yeah--Bart. He's a friend of mine. To be honest, he seems to have, uh, a lot of friends." including a princess but well Fei is more careful when it comes to the secrets of people who aren't Fei Fong Wong, usually. That's not saying much granted but. He doesn't correct June's math because she has a shotgun leg which, Fei has decided, gives you a pass on a lot of things.

Hiro wonders how Fei is coping. Fei has another beer to answer his question.

"He won me over and broke me out of prison and, well, I get to eat more than one meal a day." Granted Fei was able to eat multiple meals before but that usually meant stalking wolves, punchign them out, and then having a really awful time. Fei has issues with wolves after his trip through that dang forest.

He scratches his head faintly as Hiro starts yelling at the timecube. He doesn't disagree with the sentiment but what's the cube gonna do? Bounce aggressively? DESTROY HIM? There really isn't a middle ground Fei can think of.

"Why's that?" Fei asks because he is pretty much in the tournament because he's worried about Lunata which, really, he doesn't need to be in the tournament for?

"They're both really tough." Fei admits. "I wasn't expecting the competition to be this wild." Somehow, Fei seems to know how to talk to 'children'. Probably from hanging around Dan so much. He also knows how much a million is so he might as well be an adult today. Eighteen? Normally he'd be settling down by now like Alice and Timothy were.

<Pose Tracker> Jean has posed.

More cheers. They help a bit; Hiro's voice is familiar to her by now, a reminder of lower-stakes matches. But she can't spare the time to look over at him, not with that magic sweeping through Layna.

Jean's stance becomes light, ready to move on a moment's notice. And shespots that grin, tilting her head. After a moment she laughs. "Thanks! That I really might take you up on. I could really go for a good stiff drink right about now."

She seems warm, easygoing for a moment, despite the intimidating way she's dressed. Before that...

Layna is gone, all of a sudden, and Jean starts to move on instinctas she feels movement behind her. Layna doesn't touch Jean, exactly, in her immediate movement... But Layna's magic does, which makes all the necessary difference. It hits her like a ton of bricks and sends her flying across the ship, hitting a raised part of the deck and tumbling past, the gale winds rushing her around the whole time.

Jean ends up crumpled in a pile, moving to get up again but not quite able to support herself. Instead, her bandages have started seeping red. "Ah..." A laugh, through obvious pain. "I think I'm..." She trails off, having difficulty hanging onto consciousness.

Her head falls to the deck and her arms slump.

<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.

Layna pauses, the magic that had been flowing through her fading away. Without it supporting her she nearly collapses, but manages to remain standing. She watches Jean from afar, and, when she seems to collapse, Layna let's out a sigh.

The announcers make their count, and at its conclusion, the illusion slowly vanishes.

"And it looks like we have our winner...sailing into round 2, it's the Infamous Pirate Captain of Legend, Aifread! Give a big round of applause for both of our contestants, folks! The way they used the environment provided to them was simply sublime! I hope you're looking forward to seeing more of that in the coming fights, because I sure am!" At the announcer's behest, the crowd erupts into a roaring cheer.

And in the stands...

First Mate Roche stares, bewildered.

"I can't believe it, she actually managed that win." He comments, surprised. Quartermaster Dahlia sends him a frown.

"...She did. That dancer, however...I feel as if there was more to her than she let on. Was she holding back? Or...was it something else?" She murmurs, curious. Roche simply shrugged.

Back in the arena, Layna looks up. She sends a wave toward the cheering crowd, but that isn't her immediate goal. She retrieves her cape and throws it around her shoulders before walking over to Jean.

"...Good fight there, lass, good fight. It's been ages since I've felt this exhilerated. You're something, aye." She says, with a refreshed smile. She didn't know if Jean could hear her, but it deserved to be said.

With that said, she reaches into her cape and pulls out a bottle of alcohol.

"This is for you, lass. Oughta take the edge off a little." She says. And then, as the medics hurry out to check on Jean, Layna turns and begins to walk away.

<Pose Tracker> Hiro has posed.


Ruby's mouth just opens when Lunata says that, then she harumphs, and commits to her role of being a cute creature to pet. "I guess it's fine then." And then the cube moves in close. Ruby tilts her head, then she chuckles darkly as she lands on Lunata's shoulder, and starts really hamming it up by cuddling up to the side of her neck. Maybe she just enjoys making it jealous.

Jean did her best. Maybe not her best best but Hiro isn't going to ask her to do what happened in the fight with Lady Harken in a martial arts tournament, "Thanks Jean."

She's down, but not out at least. She could always come back in the other bracket. He watches for a while to make certain she's alright, moving to the edge when she slips unconscious. Breathing more easily when the medics declare she's alright. He appreciates the respect her opponent showed her at least. He'd have to drop by to congratulate her later.

"If I see him again. I'll thank him for you." He says neutrally, Sorey and him would be good friends in any other world. But not this one. He thought he was a good guy but when it came to Lucia...

For a while he's just mulling over what he remembers of that place, though he brightens when he talks about Bart. "Out of prison huh? Sounds like him." But why's that? He's really supposed to keep it a secret but- "Lucia's in a coma." He says to him, "Has been after she risked everything to try and save the King of Adlehyde. If we win... we can ask the King for a Boon." He chuckles weakly, "We're hoping that he has enough people that can put their heads together to help her."

After a while, he finally decides to just say it, delicately. "I was there when he cleaned up Lahan. It was probably even worse than you think." Hiro says softly.

Fei seems to be dealing with a lot, but he thinks he deserves to know, "It wasn't just... what was going on there in Lahan. Whoever was responsible for Port Timney brought some of the people of Lahan close to there, to this grove. They were experimenting on them." He licks his suddenly dry throat, "We found this mass grave. Mostly animals, but not- all of them."

A lengthy pause before he adds quietly, "We did what we could."


<Pose Tracker> Lunata Croze has posed.

Lunata covers her mouth softly, though, when Hiro relates Lucia's status, to say, "A coma...? That's awful... I could see why you'd-- you're a really good friend to go to such lengths... I can't imagine, being wanted by the world for that much money..." She sighs very faintly. "I've never seen Lahan, but I heard about how bad it got..." She swallows, thinking the subject is quite touchy around Fei.

The fight swirls to a finish and-- she blinks with a gasp, not able to catch up to how fast the action took. "J-just like that... wow."

She clings just a bit tighter to Ruby. "I'll do my best, but surely I can't really make it past the first round or anything, so... m-maybe I'll just try to have some enjoyment out of it. Maybe the cube'll be happy with that effort?"

The cube pauses, then tilts to one side. ... it's-- on tilt, maybe???

<Pose Tracker> Fei Fong Wong has posed.

Fei says, "Thanks." He is enough into his beer that he misses that Hiro's relationship with Sorey might not as chipper as he assumed. Fei has no idea what Sorey is like he just knows that Sorey did something that helped his hometown. Even if he's a total asshole otherwise, he owes Sorey for that.

"A coma..." Fei murmurs to himself.

He closes his eyes for a moment, thinking it over. Then he looks back over to Hiro. "W...what..." He heard about the malevolence there , that shit was WRONG there, but he thought the people were okay. He thought it had been settled. He thought the spirits were at peace. Maybe they are now, but to think that their suffering didn't end with what he had done.

He feels sick. FEI PSYCHO 80 PERCENT

"I...." He takes in a deep breath, forcing himself to stay cool. He has to stay steady. Lunata's here. He has to be stable.

He looks fine once he recovers. "Thank you for telling me. I...I can't really go back to try and help them. I wish I could but they wouldn't want me there."

He starts rummaging through his pack. "Look I don't know if this will help your friend, but June and I were doing a trip out to the Berry Caves and we found a Holy Berry. It's way more potent than a Heal Berry. You--uh--might not have known that since you're from the moon at all. It might not bring her out of the coma, maybe it will, it should help though." He pauses. "Do you want it?"