Open July Log

[savagepoise]

Who: Saix & anyone
Status: Open
Where: Various locations
What: MANTA board quests & general starters
Warnings: None


a) a phantom thief

[Naturally, the idea of hearts being stolen piqued Saix's attention. The reports sound a bit different than what he would have expected, though - and so he heads directly to the most recent location where the thief struck.

He can be found kneeling down next to the body, inspecting it. Breathing, living, but unresponsive. Not what he would expect to see from someone who had their heart stolen - and he should know. He sees no sign of anything that would lead him to believe this has any similarity to what he's familiar with.

So, what is going on, then?]

No Heartless, either. Curious.

b) miss praying mantis

[If he's going to remain here, Saix may as well make himself useful. He does have skills, after all, and the easiest one to put to use is also the most obvious one. He's got a claymore and he's ready to use it. While he wasn't generally out doing fieldwork back home, he did his share of fighting.

And a good workout involving some unrestrained violence might serve to clear his thoughts a little. Not that he's having feelings about any of this - obviously that's impossible. But he is having a lot of thoughts, some contradictory, many involving what he would be feeling if he were capable of it. He's rather tired of it.

So, time to hunt down a giant insect. But Saix isn't stupid, and he is new here, so when he sees someone in the same general area he approaches them before attempting to find the creature alone.]

I assume you are here for the same reason as I.

c) the wy's have it

[Saix doesn't know much about wyverns, but his working theory is that they're being pushed out of their usual area by either a larger predator, or a lack of their usual sources of sustenance. While he may not be able to fix either problem, he may at least be able to figure out which it is - and if not that, take down a few wyverns to keep them from causing chaos.

He is trying to keep himself busy, really. It helps if he can do so in a useful way.

But he's quite aware that he doesn't know the area, doesn't know the creatures, and doesn't really know the world. So he can be found moving cautiously through the foothills of the mountains, claymore in hand, alert to any sounds or movements.]

d) wildcard

[If there's anything else you're interested in doing with Saix, I'm happy to roll with it! We can plot ahead, or feel free to drop a starter and we can see where it goes.]

Comments

a)

[obliviscere]

[ There's enough in the reports she's heard for Naminé to be at least a little bit concerned. So far one thing she's found a great deal of comfort in is the lack of heartless and unversed. Look, after everything can one really blame her for being excited about it? Plus she even got confirmation that they haven't been here for anyone to worry about.

So, naturally, it's concerning to hear anything slightly similar. There's also possibly a very irrational and silly part of her might wonder if her arrival has something to do with it. All of that to say she's eager to do some investigating into it. Who she finds isn't exactly who she expects to and she's not entirely sure what to say at first. Luckily she catches what he says and that's a place to start. ]

Strange isn't it? I haven't seen any signs of them either but this seems...strangely familiar.

[savagepoise]

[He's not displeased to see Namine - she's one of the handful here who will understand the particular strangeness of his crime. So like something that could happen where they're from, but not the same at all. It's not impossible that she'll have some sort of insight that he doesn't.]

It does. I've seen no Heartless, and no Nobodies save myself and -

[He pauses.]

Those you would expect.

[Axel and Roxas. Who things are rather complicated with right now. And Namine herself, of course.]

None of us did this. Have you heard anything about it happening before?

[obliviscere]

I wouldn't think any of us would!

[ Maybe it's said a tiny bit too firmly. There's always the possibility. Or the possibility their arrival caused something similar. But those are silly thoughts. ]

No. Ventus even said he hasn't seen ant heartless, unversed, or nobodies here.

[ Aside from the usual suspects. ]

This seems like something new, something just coming up now.

[ Bad timing for them. ]

But... maybe that means it's different enough that these people can still be fixed?

[savagepoise]

Perhaps so.

[That's a good thought, a hopeful one. Whether they can fix it is a different question, but at least Saix intends to do what he can to find out what's going on.]

I was intending to look for the culprit, and see if any way can be found to restore the victims' hearts. Would you like to help me?

[Namine's abilities might be useful - but more than that, Saix thinks she's probably much better with people than he is. If they end up having to talk to anyone, she's a lot more likely to get a good response than he is.]

[obliviscere]

Really? [ Hmm, more and more she feels like her assumptions that she's been making about him are correct. ] It would be better to go together than on my own.

[ Should they actually find any clues, or worse any enemies, he's certainly going to be better in combat than she will. ] And I'm sure some of the others would say someone should keep an eye on you.

[ Though that is actually said with a tiny quirk of her lips, maybe it's a joke? She's heard about some of the...issues going on. ]

[savagepoise]

You can report to them that I have been very well-behaved. [Totally straight-faced, as usual. Though maybe he shouldn't say that yet, who knows how this investigation will turn out.]

We should investigate the area, first of all. See if anything was left behind, or if anyone saw something.

[The truth is, Saix doesn't do much on-the-ground work himself. His first instinct is to order someone who is good at that sort of thing - Axel maybe, or Xigbar, or even Luxord - to take care of it. He's better at managing. But that isn't an option here, and even if it was, he probably wouldn't take it.

He really is trying to be better.]

But stay close. We don't know if the culprit is still nearby.

B

[velocityraptor]

[ He's considered a few things and decided that a regular hunt might help him stretch his wings out a little bit and so he blinks at the question. ]

I'm seeking out a bounty, if that's what you mean. [ How straightforward, Saix. ]

[savagepoise]

[He's the straightforward type, when he doesn't see a reason to lie.]

That is what I mean. Do you usually handle them alone?

[Working with people isn't Saix's greatest strength (or really one of his strengths at all), but he knows he doesn't know much about this place. Wiser not to go it alone, and learn what he can.]

[velocityraptor]

Depends on the bounty. [ Big creature hunts, he's worked together with others. Hunting down traffickers, he tried to do alone. ]

Want some company?

[savagepoise]

I won't refuse the assistance.

[While he's more used to telling people what to do, Saix is reasonably skilled himself - but he doesn't know what to expect. This man might, and if not, at least he'll be a distraction for the beast.]

I am Saix.

[velocityraptor]

Call me Hawks. [ He offers in a light enough tone and tilts his head to start them in the direction listed. He knows his way around at least. ]

Have you done this before?

B~

[onpaintofdeath]

Yeah, guess so.

[ She shrugs. Despite her standoffishness, she doesn't seem particularly armed. ]

The bounty, right?

[ What goes unsaid is the question: are you ally or competition? Her assumption leans hopefully toward ally. ]

[savagepoise]

Yes.

[She looks young and unarmed, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Saix is currently holding his claymore, but it disappears when he doesn't need it - so unarmed doesn't mean much for him, either. If she's here hunting, he'll assume it's because she thinks she's capable of it.]

I'm unfamiliar with the area, and with the beast. Perhaps we can work together.

[onpaintofdeath]

I don't mind. But.. [ She holds out her hands. ] I don't really know much about it either. No more than what the bounty said, anyway.

[savagepoise]

Hm. In that case, it's undoubtedly wiser for us to work together.

[You know... so if they get totally overwhelmed, one of them can run while the other gets eaten. Or help, maybe. But probably run.]

Can you fight?

[onpaintofdeath]

[ She smiles, setting her hand on her hip. ]

Yeah, I can. You don't have to worry about me.

[ She gestures for him to take lead. ]

Let's get going then, shall we?

the wys have it

[menaceunleashed]

[Not knowing the area never stopped nobody before!

...

Pun not intended. We swear.

While Saix tends towards stealth, he'll quickly catch sight - and sound - of a man who appears to not care so much about it. In fact, he seems to be partially deliberate in making noises, his great frame fearless as he searches for sign of the creatures. Though-

His head snaps around, partly towards Saix, as he hears a sudden sound.]

...hn.

[savagepoise]

[He's not entirely sure what to make of the man. Perhaps he knows what he's doing, or simply has utter confidence in his skills - Saix wouldn't take that approach, trying to draw attention, but he is still new to this place.

He goes still when the man moves. It's more instinct than anything - but Saix doesn't see anything yet, and so he begins to move again. Toward the man, this time.

He doesn't know who this is or what to expect from them, but attempting to sneak around is more likely to put Saix in danger. Whether from a stray blow, or from someone who thinks he might be a danger himself. He can always get away if he needs to.]

Hunting?

[His voice is low, in case there is a creature nearby who might be alerted, but loud enough to be heard.]

[menaceunleashed]

[And his head snaps again, this time towards the voice, eyes narrowing- before there's a very, very subtle easing of tension. Only in that the Possible Threat has been identified-

But if Saix gets the feeling he's been subtly dismissed?...well. At least Ganondorf is still addressing him as he nods.]

Mmm.

[That's a yes. And when he speaks again, his voice matches Saix's low tone;]

Have you seen them?

[savagepoise]

[He's quite used to, and familiar with, that feeling of being dismissed. Just one of the many things you grow accustomed to when you're the second-in-command of someone with big ambitions, perhaps.

Saix doesn't take it personally.]

Not yet.

[Though he hasn't been searching for long.]

I found some broken branches nearby, some tracks. Nothing still living.

a

[dawnshore]

[ Riku spots Saix from behind, but had learned he was here through Axel. They had a whole meeting about it, and he's curious to speak to the man himself.

So he doesn't hide his approach or summon his Keyblade to hand as he walks up to Saix' side to look down at the body. ]

I haven't seen a Heartless since I arrived three months ago. Not sure if this world just doesn't have them, or if it's far more closed off than most.

[savagepoise]

[He sees Riku coming. It adds a bit of tension to the whole thing - Saix is not sure where he stands with anyone, right now. He would have expected to be viewed as an enemy, but so many of them seem to have come from a moment after everything was over. When Saix was successful, and Isa had a heart again.

He's really not sure what to do with that knowledge. But he sees no Keyblade, so they're probably not about to fight.]

It's not one the Organization was aware of, and perhaps that means the Heartless can't easily reach it either. But if so, then what caused this?

[dawnshore]

[ If it's any consolation, some of them aren't sure where to stand with Saix either. As far as Riku is concerned, so long as he isn't trying to fight them or pull one over on them, he's willing to give Saix a chance. His state of Saix versus Isa isn't that big of a deal if the Nobody is willing to work with them.

Riku crouches down to examine the body more closely, knowing he's putting himself in a vulnerable state. ]

Maybe it's beyond the worlds we know and that's why the Heartless haven't reach it yet. Perhaps there's someone here with the ability to remove hearts in a different way. I've heard this world's alchemy has done all sorts of things to living beings.

[savagepoise]

Is that so?

[He stays a few steps away. No need to loom over Riku as he studies the body, though he does intend to do so himself as well eventually. Not that it'll necessarily teach him much, but Saix should at least be able to tell whether it was truly caused by something he's familiar with.]

I know little of alchemy, especially here. Could this be the effect of someone experimenting on people?

[Mad scientists, THAT he's familiar with.]

[dawnshore]

Yeah. I'd just learned about worlds beyond our own before coming here. It was described to me as a place on the other side of our existence.

[ He'll hold back on any other bits of information for now on that subject matter, wanting to gauge how Saix will take it first. Even if Isa has joined their group, there's still a lot he doesn't know about him. ]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was. When I first got here, there was a girl who had been experimented on with alchemy that merged her body with that of a dog.

[ It's not as though they're unfamiliar with experiments done on the heart either. ]