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When the ghosts are found
They were on.
An expedition to Pulse had been a long shot, a secondary concern ranking somewhere behind observing Khamja's movements, courting allies, and monitoring enemies. Ignis was a diplomat, and he'd been sent to do a diplomat's job, albeit unconventionally. Lucis occupied a delicate position and could, not to put too fine a point on it, use every bit of help it could get.
Pulse was something Ignis believed could help. As did most of the council, but the problem with Pulse was that it would take a lot of resources and a lot of bodies, and something Lucis couldn't spare was bodies. The rewards could be worth it, of course. Pulse was the Lucian homeland, the country's origins lay on the long abandoned continent and what little they did know suggested a huge backslide in technology. The royal archives spoke of the Old Wall, of statues with minds, and machinery they had only recently reinvented.
Lumi's airship had sealed it. Pulsian in origin, dating back to the brief period when trade between the continents had taken place, and technology had been shared between them. It was a marvel. It was at once ancient, and more advanced than anything currently being designed.
Ignis and Gladio had made friends, allies, and acquaintances among the various ranks of Khamja. They'd been surprised to learn that so many of them were such powerful warriors. It was perfect. If they consented to come, if their respective masters allowed them to come, they had all the strength they needed to explore Pulse.
Aizen had been released from D District while Ignis had been recovering from his encounter with Phoenix. The Aeon was ever-present in his mind, the sensation akin to that of being watched from some distant corner. It was strangely comforting.
Aizen's release had seemed the opportune time to contact the Lucian council. The reply had come a few days later. Ignis and Gladio's shadowy sponsor served as their point of contact, and the permission had come through to start formally recruiting people. The party they assembled would have to be of sufficient strength and size to convince the council that it was worth dedicating the necessary resources to them, and the venture, but Ignis had no concerns that after meeting the Arrancar there would be any question remaining.
Of course some of the Arrancar had been very much in favour. And some of them had suggested others from outside Khamja.
"You should ask Ila," Tayuya had said. "Their white mage is as good as Nel, and if you're asking this gang of idiots along the healers are gonna need all the help they can get."
Ila, it turned out, were a clan that Kadaj and Grimmjow and the rest had dealt with multiple times before. The Selkie berserker had fought Grimmjow numerous times but they'd since called a truce. Kadaj had vouched for one named Lea as being a bit of a dork but a decent guy.
They could usually be found in Rabanastre, unless they were off on a hunt. The white mage, Aerith, sold flowers in the square. She'd been easy enough to find as their first contact, although she'd insisted on selling Ignis and Gladio a flower first. From there they'd been directed to the Sandsea, which was how Ignis found himself on the mezzanine level, looking down at the rest of a bar that looked every inch as if it was trying not to be a dive and not doing a very good job of it. It was rustic, perhaps even quaint, but it was very much the sort of place that felt like somewhere shady dealings happened.
Ila consisted of four people; a blue haired, yellow eyed man with pointed ears and his hair scraped back in a ponytail; a very red haired man with a very spiky hairstyle; Aerith, the canny businesswoman; and a dark haired, very pretty woman that carried herself as if she could gut anyone that dared say she was pretty.
The one with blue hair was the last to sit down, placing a round of drinks on the table as he did so.
"Thank you," Ignis said. His purchased flower lay on the table, looking thoroughly out of place. "Has Aerith elaborated on why we wanted to meet with you?"
An expedition to Pulse had been a long shot, a secondary concern ranking somewhere behind observing Khamja's movements, courting allies, and monitoring enemies. Ignis was a diplomat, and he'd been sent to do a diplomat's job, albeit unconventionally. Lucis occupied a delicate position and could, not to put too fine a point on it, use every bit of help it could get.
Pulse was something Ignis believed could help. As did most of the council, but the problem with Pulse was that it would take a lot of resources and a lot of bodies, and something Lucis couldn't spare was bodies. The rewards could be worth it, of course. Pulse was the Lucian homeland, the country's origins lay on the long abandoned continent and what little they did know suggested a huge backslide in technology. The royal archives spoke of the Old Wall, of statues with minds, and machinery they had only recently reinvented.
Lumi's airship had sealed it. Pulsian in origin, dating back to the brief period when trade between the continents had taken place, and technology had been shared between them. It was a marvel. It was at once ancient, and more advanced than anything currently being designed.
Ignis and Gladio had made friends, allies, and acquaintances among the various ranks of Khamja. They'd been surprised to learn that so many of them were such powerful warriors. It was perfect. If they consented to come, if their respective masters allowed them to come, they had all the strength they needed to explore Pulse.
Aizen had been released from D District while Ignis had been recovering from his encounter with Phoenix. The Aeon was ever-present in his mind, the sensation akin to that of being watched from some distant corner. It was strangely comforting.
Aizen's release had seemed the opportune time to contact the Lucian council. The reply had come a few days later. Ignis and Gladio's shadowy sponsor served as their point of contact, and the permission had come through to start formally recruiting people. The party they assembled would have to be of sufficient strength and size to convince the council that it was worth dedicating the necessary resources to them, and the venture, but Ignis had no concerns that after meeting the Arrancar there would be any question remaining.
Of course some of the Arrancar had been very much in favour. And some of them had suggested others from outside Khamja.
"You should ask Ila," Tayuya had said. "Their white mage is as good as Nel, and if you're asking this gang of idiots along the healers are gonna need all the help they can get."
Ila, it turned out, were a clan that Kadaj and Grimmjow and the rest had dealt with multiple times before. The Selkie berserker had fought Grimmjow numerous times but they'd since called a truce. Kadaj had vouched for one named Lea as being a bit of a dork but a decent guy.
They could usually be found in Rabanastre, unless they were off on a hunt. The white mage, Aerith, sold flowers in the square. She'd been easy enough to find as their first contact, although she'd insisted on selling Ignis and Gladio a flower first. From there they'd been directed to the Sandsea, which was how Ignis found himself on the mezzanine level, looking down at the rest of a bar that looked every inch as if it was trying not to be a dive and not doing a very good job of it. It was rustic, perhaps even quaint, but it was very much the sort of place that felt like somewhere shady dealings happened.
Ila consisted of four people; a blue haired, yellow eyed man with pointed ears and his hair scraped back in a ponytail; a very red haired man with a very spiky hairstyle; Aerith, the canny businesswoman; and a dark haired, very pretty woman that carried herself as if she could gut anyone that dared say she was pretty.
The one with blue hair was the last to sit down, placing a round of drinks on the table as he did so.
"Thank you," Ignis said. His purchased flower lay on the table, looking thoroughly out of place. "Has Aerith elaborated on why we wanted to meet with you?"
no subject
"And it depends what you're offering," she added. She was going to go regardless, but it didn't hurt to sound businesslike.
no subject
He hoped, at least. Fang had seemed enthusiastic enough, and Aerith seemed suspiciously well informed.
"Payment is negotiable," he added, with a smile. Not everyone was interested in strictly financial compensation, after all. Some wanted a piece of whatever technology they might find, and others might be more interested in sample collection over currency. Some things were more valuable, to individuals of a certain mindset, than money could ever be. "The expedition will start with a trip to Lucis so that appropriate resources and supplies can be provided, so you won't need to concern yourselves with purchasing equipment beforehand."
no subject
Still, a few weeks or months being paid to scour some unmapped continent, living off what they could hunt and sleeping under the stars wasn't the worst offer Saix had ever had.
"We'll take that into consideration," he said. He had no intention of taking less money than they thought was fair just because they were being supplied out of somebody else's pocket. Although it would be a nice bonus not to have to restock themselves.
no subject
Discussion was necessary first and foremost and then came negotiation with these two. They seemed desperate enough for takers that they'd acquiesce to whatever they wanted, so long as it wasn't ridiculous, so money would probably be fine. They could certainly ask enough that they wouldn't be forced to rent any more, once the trip was over. That was always a nice thought... but he didn't know if Saix would agree.
"Fair enough," he said.
The idea of free gear wasn't bad, though he knew they'd all be taking their own weapons at the very least.
no subject
"So we'll discuss it and get back to you," she said. "Where'll we find you?"
no subject
He tore the page from his notebook, folded it in half, and offered it across the table to Aerith. His attention, however, was on Fang. "I'd certainly enjoy hearing more of the stories you grew up with," he said. "I hadn't expected them to have existed outside of Lucis. It would be interesting to see where they intersect, and where they differ."
Brothers, and dragons. How had time twisted the tales?
no subject
And if they were going with Skite then they were going to be short on healers. She wondered if that had been one of the reasons they'd been pointed towards Ila. Skite knew she was a healer, and they certainly didn't seem to have one of their own.
"Will you be staying in Rabanastre?" she asked. She'd certainly be keeping an eye out for them, if so. They could buy more flowers from her if she saw them in the market.
no subject
He didn't much like traveling across desert. It would be easier to stay in the city a night, take in the sights and all the things Ignis would no doubt want to spend some time on, than go back to base and return the next day. It would certainly be less tiring.
no subject
They were here on business. Time for sightseeing was sadly limited, but...
"That would be delightful."
The sights, some good food, and with a little luck a comfortable bed in a decent enough inn. Ignis wasn't too picky so long as it was clean.
no subject
"Then we'll call you," Saix replied.