A Dirge for Chivalry [Open]

[Zidane]

It started innocently enough. “So, can I buy you a drink?” he’d said. She’d seemed shy, an easy catch—not a lot of work for him, but somebody had to talk to the quiet ones. Besides, she was definitely a looker, and her conservative clothes did nothing to hide that.

He expected her to turn him down, softly and guiltily, and if the third answer was still no he’d back off—but he didn’t expect a lecture. By the time she got done chewing him out for trying to seduce her (which he was), being all macho (which he hoped he was), hoping to get sex (which he might be), and oppressing her as a woman (which he hadn’t really thought about, actually), Zidane’s jaw was hanging open like she’d just slapped him with a fish.

Not his smoothest moment.

She huffed off with her nose in the air and he was left to recover his wits, scratching his head in part sheepishness and part bewilderment. “But. I. What just…? I—’ll take that as a no, then.”

Scary woman. But as Zidane got older, people got weirder. It was something he’d come to expect, since the world was plenty weird when he and the others rallied to save it and the world was always changing. He didn’t mind that, either. It wasn’t Zidane’s style to mope about the past, even if from time to time he missed having people like Steiner and Freya at his back. And Dagger, of course.

And…

Suddenly it was too stuffy at the pub. He wandered back to the street, careful to take his time in case the harpy from earlier spotted him and shrilled about him stalking her on top of the rest. It was getting dark out, not pitch black and full of hurrying feet just yet but the sky was gray and everything below it turned to oranges and browns in the sun's slowly dying fire. He found a perch on a rooftop that wasn’t quite a walkway, feet dangling, and people-watched for a moment before turning his eyes to the horizon. Normally he wasn’t this contemplative, and yet he found himself withdrawing more and more often. The future wasn't supposed to look the same to him when he was always moving like this, so why did it? Why did he make doomed spirals around that same spot on the map like a moth to a flame, but then get out as soon as he could? Was he afraid of getting caught?

He wondered what Vivi would think, if he knew. Vivi who couldn't have this future. To that little mage everything would seem so simple—hell, it should seem simple to Zidane. He didn't like that it wasn't, and he didn't like the thoughts that went through his head sometimes. Sometimes he knew it was time to cut his ties before they got too tight and choked him, and others he knew it was too late to breathe.

What are you doing, Zidane?

He shifted, drawing a leg up to rest an arm on his knee, and looked toward Alexandria.

[Telos]

Telos was on a well earned, self given vacation. Sometimes being your own boss was a wonderful thing. Stretching she left the small, somewhat seedy pub. Taking a deep breath she thought on what had brought her to Lindblum.

She had just told Mekaili her vacation plans. They were in their usual haunt, a small underground pub that catered to the less savory people in Alexandria. As predicted he let loose one of his trademark gwaffas and somehow convinced her to go out of the city and spend her vacation like normal people in another place. Telos hated to leave Alexandria but she did.

She took the train to Lindblum. Yes using an airship would have been lots faster but it would have been lots more expensive as well. Even though she didn't have to be she was cheap. Probably too cheap, but it was her business. The most luxurious she went on the trip was a private little cabin on the train. She slept slumped against the window when she felt like it until they hit Lindblum. All she could remember of the long, dull trip was the rocking of the train cars lulling her to sleep again and again.

Coming back to the present she shook her head to clear the thoughts from it. Telos had been here for a few days now and found that she had exchanged one seedy city for another seedy city. Sure they were both beautiful on the surface - especially the rich surface - but that didn't change the underground. Getting yelled at for standing in the middle of the small lane she quickly started walking. she could handle herself but didn't want to get into fights when she could easily avoid them. Besides a walk sounded nice. Isn't that what people did on vacations?

Telos had been traveling around the back streets for a while when she looked up on one of the roofs. Standing slightly in front of it she raised a hand to shade her eyes as she looked up. Cities were never truly dark and she had such light eyes that even a candle glaring out of the darkness could glare too bright for her. But she was looking at the shape of a man. Why on earth was he on the rooftop? Curious she carefully climbed up the house beside the one he was sitting on and walked with ease across the roof tops to be a few feet from him.

He was blond, dressed in blue and had a monkey tail. That marked him as a genome or some such word. She had only seen them from afar before since they seemed to be 'rare'. She waved a hand in front of his face while bending at the waist so that he could easily see her face.

"Hello there. You look awfully pensive for someone hanging out on a roof."

[Adelbert Steiner [INACTIVE]]

Meanwhile back at the Lumbuin CastleStiner was finishing up his training with the new recruits of the Pluto Knights that had applied durring his visit with the castle along side princess garnet. he needed to keep them in tip top shape was his job as the captain after all. "Left Right Halt!" Stiner ordered making sure they where all at the peek of the level for the Knights of Pluto Nodding in satisfaction Stiner did a Salute Followed by a salute before he spoke. "Alright Same time Tomorrow but at Alexandria DISSMISSED!" He yelled as most of the recruits left except for one who approached Stiner as he rose an eyebrow before the Recruit Spoke to the captain.

"Uh sir Durring training i sword I saw a Monkey tailed man sneak out of the castle" He said as Stiner twitched. AGAIN?! sighing he nodded dismissing the Knight before geting on a boat to head into town. "How many times must i remind that boy until Princess garnet is over his two year absence he MUST stay in the castle knowing that boy hes probably out flirting with some other girl i swear what dose the princess see in him?" He asked himself shaking his head as he got off as the boat reached the dock as he headed into the town.

As Stiner entered he sighed looking around he just couldnt seem to find the man sighing he tried to ask some citizens where he might be but they seemed to busy geting ready for Garnet's 26th birthday sighing he yelled out a groan. "WHERE ARE YOU MONKEY BOY!" he yelled dashing off into the city as he went to find the man that had stolen the princess's heart as well. Keeping this boy in tact was harder than it looked that was for sure it was a job itself to keep him behaveing though it didnt always last long.

[Zidane]

Both instinct and a noise that made his ear twitch had him turn to see the stranger, but it didn't immediately occur to him that she might want his attention. After all, anyone up on a roof was probably there for a reason, and since he wasn't concentrating too hard on his surroundings right now he let it go once it was obvious she wasn't a threat. But zoning out wasn't an option when suddenly there was a hand in front of his face, and Zidane jerked back out of habit before turning to see the owner. His eyes met hers for just a second, then wandered lower--Nice.--and back, probably quick enough to avoid notice. The usual cocky grin split his face, but he didn't get up right away. No reason to ruin the view, and since they were both on a roof he figured this chick didn't mind a lapse in decorum.

"And you're awfully talkative for someone wandering around on a roof. What brings a lovely lady all the way up here at this time of night?"

It wasn't something he even had to think about, really, anymore--and he'd get a sense in a minute for what she was like, how easy or how tough. But for now he'd ignore it. The first rejection of the night had been a weird one, and after losing the battle of wills to those stupid thoughts he didn't feel like getting too bogged down. She was a necessary distraction, and this time he'd just let her be as distracting as she wanted to be.

"I don't guess y..." The thought died both on his lips and in his head when he heard what sounded like a shout and flinched toward it. Was someone in trouble? No--wait...he knew that voice! He scrambled to his feet, thinking maybe he should--

"WHERE ARE YOU MONKEY BOY!"

Oh. What had Rusty's clanking panties in a twist now? It wasn't like Zidane visited as often as he should, so maybe that wasn't fair--oh, wait, maybe he'd discovered the itching powder. Well, it seemed funny at the time! But it probably didn't appeal to Steiner's sense of humor, and on pain of slicing and dicing Zidane should probably clear out to make this fun instead of a chore. So much for the new face, and she was pretty, too.

"Y'know what? I think I hear someone calling me. So I should probably go--oh, I'm Zidane, by the way." A quick bow, springier than a noble's and only slightly sarcastic. "It's a pleasure!" Blue eyes flashed in an impish smile and he darted off in the complete opposite direction of Steiner's shouts, fast enough to discourage a follower but not yet devious enough to completely evade one.

[Telos]

Telos was sure he had briefly checked her out. Not that it mattered to her. She was on a roof after all and her outfit didn’t lean towards modesty. It was also nice to be appreciated by someone swift enough not to leer and drool. She had been about to answer him when a loud shout rang through the streets.

"WHERE ARE YOU MONKEY BOY!"

Since she was quite certain that meant the man she was talking to – how many monkey boys were there? – she expected him to jump up, leave and go to the man calling him. Two things he did do: jump up and leave. What surprised her was that he ran in the wrong direction. On purpose no doubt. Tilting her head she listened to his rushed explanation and his name. Zidane. Where had she heard that name before...? It was highly unique and she knew she had heard it. Wait....Zidane! Holy crap, that Zidane? Hey, where was he going?! This was just getting interesting. Surely she had not run into the Queen’s beau. Telos studied how he was running. Fast – but she could catch up. Also not very evasive...for someone of her background he would be pretty easy to follow.

Deciding she set off at a moderate run her long legs carrying her far. After a few moments she caught up to Zidane and smiled.

“Hello there Zidane. My name is Telos, a pleasure as well. To answer your earlier query I am on vacation so being on a roof is simply for fun. I saw you and got curious. Oh, you’ll never lose anyone running like this unless they are some law abiding citizen. Also, were you aware that the voice was coming from the other direction?”

Perhaps she would help him, perhaps she wouldn’t. For now it was the most interesting thing to happen on her vacation so far. A small frown line appeared on her forehead as she kept pace with Zidane. What did that say about her vacation that this was the most interesting thing? It was somewhat shady and she shouldn’t even be this close to someone who could so easily get her ass thrown in jail. Yet here she was, courting jail time, running away from an unknown on a rooftop and enjoying it.

Telos concluded that she must be crazy and let it go to enjoy the moment.

[Adelbert Steiner [INACTIVE]]

Stiner stopped he was getting furious before he turned the opposite way. He figured Zidane was not facing that way as he looked straight froward before catching a slight glance of what was a man with a tail other than Kuja there was only one other person in all of Gia to have a tail like. That jumping up and down pissed off he began to give chase again passing though the crowd as he apologized with a forgive me each time but didn't stop until he was out of the crowd he continued his pursuit of the monkey tailed man as he shouted to the air.

"ZIDAINE YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!" Steiner yelled chasing the monkey tailed boy well man now though the streets man getting a hold of zidane was a days job he swore things could not get worse as this day went on but for as long as hes been with zidane sense he captured the Princess those years ago he knew that that was anything but the the truth things could get worse around zidane in the blink of an eye none the less Stiner continued his pursuit of the young monkey tailed man to try and catch him and bring him back to the castle.

"The princess has enough to worry about without having to wonder where you dissapeared to. HEY ARE YOU LISTENING!" He yelled sighing of course not when Zidaine was on the streets he barley listened to anyone but his own guts thats what almost got him killed a couple of times though their adventures together though so once they got back Steiner was assigned to keep a close watch on Zidane witch mind you was not an easy job what so ever sighing continuing his pursuit to hopefully catch this trouble making monkey he swore if he ever settled down with garnet Alexandria might go to hell to say the least

[Zidane]

The girl caught up with him, which was on the impressive side of things--he'd been sorry to lose the opportunity, but he hadn't expected her to be agile enough to follow. He didn't meet many girls like that nowadays--or ones who'd do the chasing for him. Those were always a little flattering.

"Telos, huh?" Not running himself ragged just yet meant he still had breath to talk with. "Heh. Well, I guess I'm in trouble then," he said lightly, casting an unconcerned glance over his shoulder. Steiner ran surprisingly fast for a guy in armor, but Zidane didn't see him yet. The clanking and shouting meant he wasn't far behind, though, and it was possible Zidane just couldn't spot him down among the streets--

STOPSTOPSTOP--!

Blue eyes turned back to his destination just in time to realize he'd almost taken his last step off the side of the rooftop and down several stories below. Zidane stopped short, digging one heel in as the other flailed behind him and pinwheeled his arms to shift his weight back. It was his tail that saved him in the end, typically enough. As he caught himself again he automatically thrust an arm out to stop the girl he knew was with him, looking down at the several story fall. Well, he could've survived that. Probably. But his idea of an audience with Dagger didn't mean getting dragged to Alexandria after a faceplant like that.

Still, he had to change course. It was remotely possible that he could make the jump to the next roof on the path, but it'd take a running start and he could lose some teeth in the landing. If he were escaping from a dragon he'd jeopardize his winning smile, but not for fun like this--plus there was no reason to risk busting up a pretty face if Telos decided to follow. The next few buildings got closer to the street, meaning Steiner could very well catch up with them--which wouldn't be a bad thing but Zidane saw no reason to throw him a bone like that just yet. So instead his eye fell upon the rope hanging from an outcrop where some construction was going on. His quick analysis wasn't how much weight it could support or whether he'd be able to make it if it broke, but the fact that it was a rope and one he could use. And, in fact, a leap across to it and a quick swing left him with enough time to pull off a flip just to show off. Oh yeah.

He turned back and held out a hand to Telos. The rope was still swinging within reach for the moment, and while he wasn't gonna insist he didn't wanna just abandon her either.

"Still curious?"

[Telos]

Telos kept pace and wondered what he - they - were running from. By the sounds of it it was someone in armor....

"The princess has enough to worry about without having to wonder where you disappeared to. HEY ARE YOU LISTENING!"

Telos snickered at the shout from behind them. It was a knight? Who had been sent to find the Queen's errant lover? This was too much. Plus information like this might end up valuable to someone. As they ran Telos saw the gap and so ended up stopping just shy of his arm when he held it out to stop her. Hmm. That was unusually nice for a guy. One would have thought he would be so wrapped up in saving himself that he wouldn't have thought about her. Especially since she was a stranger that had followed him. She looked behind him to see what had distracted him and found nothing. So he had simply been checking. Well, that could have ended badly. Turning back to Zidane she simply waiting for him to decide what to do. This was his show after all, she was just along for the ride.

A few moments later he jumped over to a rope and did a little flip. When he turned back to her and held out his hand she was clapping at his display. Then he spoke to her.

"Still curious?"

Gently she put her hand in his and let him help her jump the gap. There she brushed the roof dust off the tips of her boots and smiled at him.

"You bet buddy. This is the most fun I've had all vacation." It was better than watching a play.

[Adelbert Steiner [INACTIVE]]

Stiner was officaly on his last nerve as Zidaine was still fleeing from him. These years and he has still not changed at all he was still the same old misbeaveing Monkey boy that he was when they first met. He must not give up though the Princess would have his head or so he thought if he did not get zidane back in time for the dinner. sigh the work of a knight was so tireing at times but had its own rewards as well that was for sure,not all good but some good to say the least.

"You rapsaclian get back here this instant!" Stiner yelled chaseing down the man once again as he had caught his breath so that was a good thing but man things were really geting the hell out of hand to say the least sighing to himself he wondered why he put up with this boy but none the less he had to respect him as He had stolen The princesses heart and everything so there was not much he could do about it just the way things where around the castle and such now not much to do about it sigh what a day.