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[It's not quite noon yet, but the lieutenant is standing out in the courtyard, smoking a cigarette.
He sees Alisaie nearby, and turns to face her.]
Ah... Miss Alisaie. I understand you were badly wounded last night. How are your injuries?
He sees Alisaie nearby, and turns to face her.]
Ah... Miss Alisaie. I understand you were badly wounded last night. How are your injuries?
[She's moving stiffly, but she at least looks much better than she did last night! It takes her a moment to respond--she has to place the voice and figure out based on Taf's knowledge who it is that's speaking to her, as she doesn't recognize his voice immediately. But after that moment--]
Better today. I would say I've suffered worse, but the truth is that those were isolated incidents; never so much at the same time.
[She's going to continue to find a place to sit, though; she's familiar with convalescence and isn't quite reckless enough to push it for no reason.]
Thankfully, my brother is a skilled healer.
Better today. I would say I've suffered worse, but the truth is that those were isolated incidents; never so much at the same time.
[She's going to continue to find a place to sit, though; she's familiar with convalescence and isn't quite reckless enough to push it for no reason.]
Thankfully, my brother is a skilled healer.
Good.
The notion of actual working maegic is still very new to me... but I'm glad we can rely on it.
The notion of actual working maegic is still very new to me... but I'm glad we can rely on it.
Whereas I can hardly imagine a world without. [How do any of you handle anything when you have to recuperate everything every time???] I'm only grateful that we may regain it from the Watchers should we ask.
[...]
Do you trade with the Watchers as well?
[...]
Do you trade with the Watchers as well?
Sometimes. I admit I haven't been as proactive as some of the others about it. Why do you ask?
In that case... I traded for additional first aid supplies, and for tools that can be used for autopsies.
What do you mean by "aether"?
What do you mean by "aether"?
Aether is the basis of much and more in Eorzea. It's what Alphinaud uses to heal, but I use it for fighting. [She reaches down to touch the crystal at her hip, set opposite from her rapier.] Yesterday, it allowed me to close the distance between myself and our foe to strike at him before he could attack others.
[Well, this sounds way better than the 'ether' Kim's used to encountering, often in drug labs.]
Was this the 'Lord Regent' you and Mr. Van Zieks faced?
Was this the 'Lord Regent' you and Mr. Van Zieks faced?
[He nods. Then a moment passes, and he seems to recall that she might not see the gesture.]
Right. We have to be prepared for the worst.
Right. We have to be prepared for the worst.
[Thankfully, seeing-eye daemon Taf is on the job! So she does recognize that he nodded, even if there's a tiny delay to it.]
There's more you ought to know, if you've not heard it yet. Something that all our number should know in case any chance to meet him again.
He knows what our daemons are and what will happen if they are killed.
There's more you ought to know, if you've not heard it yet. Something that all our number should know in case any chance to meet him again.
He knows what our daemons are and what will happen if they are killed.
Okay... that's bad.
[Said with the cadence of someone who completely understands the gravity of that, but is also quickly filing it away in a mental folder that's already chock-full of Bad Things.]
Is there anything else you learned while fighting him? It sounded like he had a sword. How about armour?
[Said with the cadence of someone who completely understands the gravity of that, but is also quickly filing it away in a mental folder that's already chock-full of Bad Things.]
Is there anything else you learned while fighting him? It sounded like he had a sword. How about armour?
[Ooh, good question. Alisaie's eyes go distant for a moment (more than they already were, if that's possible) as she thinks back to their encounter.]
Visibility may prove a challenge, depending on when and where one encounters him. This Lord Regent seemed to almost glow against the night. He wore no armor that I can recall; my rapier was able to pierce him and spill Dust. He seems to take damage as a normal man would, but I suspect we'll find he has a heightened endurance and the ability to heal himself were we to fight with more than an intent to flee.
His strength and speed are beyond mortal capabilities, however. When I attacked, my momentum ought to have carried me safely past him. Yet he was able to turn in an instant to strike back. [She reaches up to her shoulder with her off-hand, touching the spot where the sword pierced her shoulder.] I would not have expected a stab wound to the shoulder to fully penetrate through to the back, but he ran his blade through me as though it were nothing at all.
He is a dangerous foe, but not invincible by any means.
Visibility may prove a challenge, depending on when and where one encounters him. This Lord Regent seemed to almost glow against the night. He wore no armor that I can recall; my rapier was able to pierce him and spill Dust. He seems to take damage as a normal man would, but I suspect we'll find he has a heightened endurance and the ability to heal himself were we to fight with more than an intent to flee.
His strength and speed are beyond mortal capabilities, however. When I attacked, my momentum ought to have carried me safely past him. Yet he was able to turn in an instant to strike back. [She reaches up to her shoulder with her off-hand, touching the spot where the sword pierced her shoulder.] I would not have expected a stab wound to the shoulder to fully penetrate through to the back, but he ran his blade through me as though it were nothing at all.
He is a dangerous foe, but not invincible by any means.
So a bullet would work just as well, too...
Good. This is a manageable threat. Thank you for the detailed breakdown, Miss Alisaie.
Good. This is a manageable threat. Thank you for the detailed breakdown, Miss Alisaie.
[You talked to the fighty twin!]
I would caution you: A friend at home wields a weapon which shoots aether-infused ammunition. Even with such a power, there are many that cannot be felled by bullets alone. I would be surprised if this Lord Regent were so easily dispatched.
I would caution you: A friend at home wields a weapon which shoots aether-infused ammunition. Even with such a power, there are many that cannot be felled by bullets alone. I would be surprised if this Lord Regent were so easily dispatched.
The warning is appreciated. [There's a little warmth in his tone.]
To tell the truth, my gun is not particularly powerful. I'm used to things not being "easy," even with it in hand.
To tell the truth, my gun is not particularly powerful. I'm used to things not being "easy," even with it in hand.
I wouldn't dream of it. "Lone wolf" cops tend not to last long.
[The lieutenant seems to be patrolling the area, on alert for their soon-to-be-returning allies.
But seeing Alisaie in the square, he changes direction and approaches her.]
I'd hoped to talk with you. A moment?
[He nods towards a less-traveled back road connecting to the square. Somewhere a little less public.]
But seeing Alisaie in the square, he changes direction and approaches her.]
I'd hoped to talk with you. A moment?
[He nods towards a less-traveled back road connecting to the square. Somewhere a little less public.]
[She glances his way--still unseeing, mostly, but able to focus a little bit better than before--and Alisaie nods without hesitation.]
Of course.
[She won't ask until they've gotten away from everything else and there's a little more privacy. But then--]
What is it?
Of course.
[She won't ask until they've gotten away from everything else and there's a little more privacy. But then--]
What is it?
[He'll get right to it, his voice low and calm.]
You and the prosecutor received something last week. Do you think it's still among his possessions?
You and the prosecutor received something last week. Do you think it's still among his possessions?
[--he told?! Her head whips toward him, and Kim can probably read the surprise on her face. But it's quickly gone, replaced by a frown as Alisaie thinks fast.]
...that particular detail has been seen to.
Judging by your knowledge, I would venture to guess van Zieks trusted you. But you and I are not close companions, so you will have to forgive me for not divulging more about its status. With that said, I trust his judgment enough to make a leap of faith.
Let us share what knowledge we have. Without him here to vouch for either one of us, we must needs decide whether to trust each other quickly.
...that particular detail has been seen to.
Judging by your knowledge, I would venture to guess van Zieks trusted you. But you and I are not close companions, so you will have to forgive me for not divulging more about its status. With that said, I trust his judgment enough to make a leap of faith.
Let us share what knowledge we have. Without him here to vouch for either one of us, we must needs decide whether to trust each other quickly.
[If he's surprised at her response, he doesn't show it.]
So it's safe?
[He considers her suggestion. It doesn't take very long.]
I can agree to that.
So it's safe?
[He considers her suggestion. It doesn't take very long.]
I can agree to that.
Yes. As soon as we learned what had happened, we took steps to ensure its safety. The last thing we need is to lose it so soon after we received it.
[And then a nod.]
Good. This mystery will unravel far faster if we join our forces rather than working separately. I'll let you begin.
[And then a nod.]
Good. This mystery will unravel far faster if we join our forces rather than working separately. I'll let you begin.
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