third mission - audio

[throw_stone]

[The sting of the snow in Ziekden Fortress... Ramza had not let his wounds rest, since he needed to get there as soon as he could - Alma was taken. Alma was there, kidnapped for... in this dream, he couldn't tell for what ends. Always an overachiever... his Litwick nested in his cape, wrapped so carefully - the flames not burning it.

He looked to Delita - only for a moment, as they arrived. A nod - they had to do this. Though it wasn't what his brothers wanted - Ramza loved Alma more then them. They were both bastards - he were so close to her.

Gragoroth stood there, holding Alma close. Ramza looked from there, to Argath and Zalbaag. Within a moment, though - wordless, even as their mouths moved - Alma collapsed, her body crumpled - though, no blood.

Ramza... I...

Her voice cut though the silence in the air. Ramza tried to move. But he couldn't. Within a moment, Gragoroth collapsed as well - and Ramza turned to her murderer.

Though words filled his head - ones he'd heard before, in realty - Ramza didn't care to listen. He'd heard it all before. He was a Beoulve - he was destined for greatness. Even if his blood is tainted like hers. Even if his face is but one of weakness - he'd worked so hard to prove himself, and now he flees?

What does he think of himself...?

But... as soon as he can, as soon as he can break from his partners - the ones who are battling - he rushes to Alma. She's... she's still warm, ever-so-slightly. But that warmth is fading - potions won't work. Nothing will work. As Ramza tries to heal her, the battle has faded.

A flicker of flame. Another. Ramza looks up from her body, if only for a moment - to see his Litwick. Tietra. He could tell it was her... she had the same mark on her body. As she hovered there, though - flames started to surround the two of them. Even as he heard an explosion - he didn't care. All he cared for... all he wanted... was to be with her. She'd gone cold, even as the flames flickered - even as the Litwick stared.

Was that Delita, trying to get him to flee? Why should he... he might still be able to save her. And if he cannot, he'll rest with her.

As the flames build around him, though, the candle-like creature suddenly leaped towards them.

It wanted her.

As Ramza tried to swipe at it, you're not going to steal the soul of Alma, she'll get her rest -- ]

[He awoke, the same Litwick suddenly on the ground, his new Mienfoo suddenly gripping his wrist. He was just... oh. 'Twas the nightmare of the night, it seemed.

Quietly, he slipped out of bed - down outside, into the chill of Lavender Town. He couldn't just stay sleeping. Not after - he could still feel her body, rested on his body.

Screw this quietness. While in the night, around 1 in the morning - Ramza let out a scream. Why. Why why why why why. Why

At around 4 AM - Ramza suddenly sent out a message. A short audio clip - the music of Lavender Town playing behind him.]

What does nobility mean to you? I do not just mean royalty - anybody born higher then most.

[That's all. No more words. Ramza slips down, though - he's trying not to cry. It wasn't real. Alma... Alma is fine. Isn't she? He's spent so long not in Ivalice - she wouldn't be in trouble, would she? It wasn't real. 'twas like every other nightmare. Why, then...

Why did he feel a lot more hurt by this one? Sure. Seeing everybody as animals, seeing his clanmates kill each other...

But that was Alma.

Darn it.

He needs to talk to somebody about this. But how? He's been lying since he came here. He doesn't want to lose what he's gotten here. Would anybody listen...?]

Comments

[video]

[paladinlost]

Nobility means having the resources, the power and the duty to help your people and your country, and even the world if necessary. It is wasted on those who care for nothing but their own wealth.

[Not that all of Baron's nobility agrees with him on that, but he's working to change it.]

[perma-audio]

[throw_stone]

[Because he can't show his face - his weakness - right now. His voice is harsh.]
And what if - what if wealth and power are all you desire, above all else? 'Twould it be wrong to reject that life?
[...would he become a target, like... like that? He still lives in their shadow, even here.]

[paladinlost]

Wanting nothing more than power and wealth sounds sad to me, though I should not judge. But even then the duty to not earn them at the expense of others remains. Nobles have those because they have something to offer to the people in return.

[throw_stone]

[...Or they had things to offer, before. During the war.

His voice is quiet, when he says the next thing.]
I... you're still noble in your own, correct? Even if you're no longer a captain.
[Does it matter? Cecil has been here for a long time.]
You're much kinder then most.

[paladinlost]

Thank you, though I do wish I was a common example of nobility instead. But I have to admit that my world is particularly lucky; all of its current monarchs are benevolent, and try to transmit their ethics to their courts.

[all aboard the action train choo choo]

[beholdmydemons]

[Thank god for soundproofing.]

[Walter wakes up around 4:30, feeling tense and angry. He pets Kuda for a while, making faces at the ceiling, then decides the best cure for a foul mood is fresh air and hits the streets of Lavender himself, Orthrus at his heels. He's assuming Ramza did the same, if this is another of those mysterious nightmares.

Maybe there's a convenience store or something open this early...]

[yatta!!!]

[throw_stone]

[It wasn't a coincidence that Ramza was sort-of thinking about Walter when he sees him - he wonders if Walter would still be his ally when he tells him everything.
If he tells him everything. He doesn't see him like an animal - not at all.
Ramza can't help but try and... well, he steps towards him, quietly. His stance defensive - and he gives a slightest bite of his lip. However, he still gives a strong voice.]
...Walter.

[beholdmydemons]

[Give a guy a heart attack, why don't you. Walter stiffens for a moment, as he has the last few times he's seen a stray person moving around in the darkness, but his shoulders sag once Ramza pipes up.]

-Oh. There you are. [He steps closer, too, so he doesn't have to squint to make out a face in the low light.] You don't have to explain. I had one, too - I'm searching for someplace that'll have something to eat this early. Coming along?

[He half-turns and shrugs a shoulder forward, looking back at Rama expectantly.]

[throw_stone]

[He's about to say something, when Walter says he doesn't need to.

Good. Ramza gives a nod, though.]
There should be... somewhere.
[He still looks slightly jumpy, himself. Ramza can't help it... he's still consumed by what he saw. While his mouth is closed, he is biting his lip... Alma. Alma Alma...]

[beholdmydemons]

[Yikes. That's a "needs a distraction" face if he's ever seen one.

Walter reaches over and ruffles Ramza's hair, then claps his shoulder, giving him a little coaxing push along the path as he lets go and starts walking. C'mon, let's go and walk it off and get something warm to eat.]

[throw_stone]

[Something warm - yeah. That would be nice.

Ramza, for his part, does suddenly speak up, though he's looking to the ground. He wants to let some of this off his chest - sorry, Walter.]
...Your land was rather violent, like Ivalice?
[He's gathered this much.]

[beholdmydemons]

The Eastern Kingdom of Mikado wasn't. [Walter shoves his hands in the pockets of his coat, still looking straight ahead.] But not a day went by in Tokyo without some blood spilled.

[throw_stone]

[Ramza - if only he'd worn a coat out. He's in his same outfit - a noblemans tunic, showing his rank. Reminding himself of his own fate.

He looks to Walter, though - making himself to walk fast, so he didn't need to slow Walter down.
Would Walter care, if he wanted to even go a little slower? This wasn't the time. Ramza was the one who did everything to make himself seem strong.]
I... before I came here. Ivalice was a land of battle - 'twas not kind to anybody. War had ended, but many were not happy.
[...]
My elder brother, Lord Zalbaag [whoops another slip], ordered a death. I dreamed of a death like it.

[beholdmydemons]

[What do you even say to that?]

Ordered, huh? [He's half-mumbling, voice idle like he's just talking to show that he's listening.] Couldn't do it himself?

[throw_stone]

'Twould have been bad for him to raise his own weapon, I suppose. [Ramza wasn't quite sure - couldn't he have stopped the Brigade himself? Or was his promise to save her but a lie?] No, he hired a man I'd thought to trust - a man named Argath. He thought of her the same.
[That she was common blood. Just a common maid - but that wasn't what she was.

Was it right to take a life to stop somebody else? No. Not at all.]

[beholdmydemons]

[Oh, bullshit. Luxurors.]

"The same"?

[throw_stone]

A commoner. Her blood was not worth the bother to not spill.
[Do you hear that hatred? Ramza doesn't often get passionate.]

[beholdmydemons]

Tch! [He makes his noise of disdain looking slightly up at the sky, rolling his shoulders back.] What a snake.

[There's not so much passion in it as weary aggravation. When it's the background radiation of your life, it's hard to keep getting outraged every single time.]

[throw_stone]

[And, to that, Ramza does slump slightly. He's sick of thinking of it - even on nights he didn't have nightmares like this, he thought of the last weeks of his time at home.

After a few moments of silence, though, Ramza gave a slight nod. Look, an open convenience store - they can go and get something to eat, at least. Even if Ramza is giving that same freaked out face once more. He does say a little bit more, though.]
'Twas Alma, in that dream. [Because they have common blood as well. Would they care?]

[beholdmydemons]

[Weird expressions be damned, they're going on in. If anyone says anything, Walter can just give them the stink-eye.]

Your sister?....tch. [Whatever's causing these nightmares can go fuck itself.] 'Twas only a dream, Ramza. Hold to that.

[throw_stone]

[Ramza slightly nods. He wouldn't forget it was a dream.

But he could feel it... he can still feel it, slightly, in his fingers. Her cold body, the slight snow, the explosions and flames. You might notice Ramzas' hands tightening into fists.]
...I suppose there shall be a lot of people, asking more about their nightmares as the sun rises.
[...Ramza, though, is slightly looking at what to get - his mind is buzzing, though, and he's not paying too much attention.]
What of you?

[beholdmydemons]

[Meanwhile, Walter's paying double the attention to what he's getting.]

...Something heavy. Shame there's no porridge. [Was that an evasive answer I think that was an evasive answer we'll talk about this outside okay]

[throw_stone]

[...He must be really hungry. For Ramzas' part, he's just... looking at what Walter is.]
That looks fine.
[He's just gesturing to some sort of soup - though he probably won't be eating much. His hands are still shaking, though!]

[beholdmydemons]

[Walter retrieves them two cups of whatever it is (some kind of stew), and takes them up to the counter to pay. The cashier doesn't dare comment on anything about the situation - the time, the conversation, or the bags under their eyes.]

There was a bench just outside.

[throw_stone]

[There was, wasn't there.

Ramza gives a nod to the cashier - before shuffling out, looking to the ground. Keep up, Walter. He wants to hear your nightmares.]

[beholdmydemons]

[Walter sits heavily with a long sigh, taking the top off his soup and downing a mouthful (using utensils still feels awkward; it's one of the few scattered things he's almost resistant to adapt to, here.)]

...That gets the blood moving. You should eat, too.

[throw_stone]

[Unlike Walter, though - Ramza was used to using utensils - and so, he started to spoon up a little, blowing on it slightly.

After a bit, though, Ramza sighed.]
Do you feel better, Walter?

[beholdmydemons]

[Hmm.

He doesn't answer for a moment, brows furrowing a little as he takes another gulp.]

A mite. 'Twas only a dream! [The more you repeat it, the more true it becomes, right? Walter grins suddenly.] The haunt will have to show for a fair bout if it's to defeat me. Don't you agree?

[ (he's trying to cheer you up) ]

Voice

[redenzione]

Nobility is a heavy burden; you carry the weight of many on your shoulders. I do not wish for it.

[There's a slight pause; Dante is struggling to find the correct words to describe his past.]

...I was never a noble but my father was the village headsmen. He did not wield his power well. Far from it, he used it to oppress the weak and the poor who could not fight back. What he wanted he took, whether given willingly or by force mattered little to him. For his sins, he was cast into Hell to suffer for all eternity.

Voice

[throw_stone]

[Ah. The child of a noble... wait. Is he speaking of a true hell? He's quite curious. His voice is quiet, though, as he speaks.]
I've known nobles who abused their power - not caring for the lowblood, as long as they can do what they desire.
[He's trying to be vague... he's not going to admit to this stranger that much.

But time to ask!]
By Hell... do you mean a metaphorical one, or the literal one?

[redenzione]

As real as I am, speaking with you now.

My father was damned to the fourth cycle of Hell for his misdeeds. There, I saw the avaricious and the miserly writhe in eternal agony, boiled alive in molten gold as punishment for the Greed they sought to sate while still breathing.

audio

[godaime]

Nobility, or being in a higher class means a lot to me. I'm from a famous bloodline that founded one of the most powerful villages of all time, and now, through my own qualifications, I'm leading the town. It's a responsibility to protect and look out for the people below me, as I was entrusted with their lives and the livelihood of my village.

audio

[throw_stone]

[...Ramza is interested! She's a leader, both from blood and work. If Ramza didn't hate his family, he would have been though that.

Well, perhaps.]
Everybody? Even if they were but common blood?

audio

[godaime]

Even if they were just a carpenter. My grandfather loved the people in the village, and that means I have to give my life to protect it if needed. After all, the real king is the village. Not the Hokage. [ In terms of chess. ] I'm the queen.

[audio]

[enjoymyatelier]

[ah yes something he has extremely strong feelings about

something that will be nice to talk about! not, you know, having issues rubbed in your face]

Well, I would say that blood is important above all else, but my perspective is probably skewed because in my case, there are actual reasons why it matters. We magi have means of passing magical knowledge down to our descendants, and that is something that we have spent our entire lives expanding and perfecting... so, blood is something that I can take pride in, given that my ancestors put countless hours of work into allowing me to have the sort of status and power I have today. Of course, I can't just simply rest on my laurels and be content with being born into that position; I have to work as hard as my ancestors did - if not harder - to ensure that my descendants will be in an even better position than myself.