theshipyard | ✨ .//. Ziva Ganajai » Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood

(ooc: I will be working Sunday though, and all day Monday (ugh) so I might not get to tag unless it's early or late.)

The more time that the two spent outside of battle the more certain Ziva became that something was amiss. She had to scrap the teleportation spell gone wrong theory, given that he hadn't appeared anywhere near a crystal, so far as she knew, and you couldn't teleport to a crystal you hadn't attuned with- not accidentally anyway. So then, where had he come FROM, was the more potent question. A closer look at his garb told her that while it COULD pass in Eorzea, it definitely didn't fit in, least of all in Othard.

At least his surprise over the chocobo wasn't out of place. Besides the fact that she was bigger than others, she also bore such an unusual color- the bright red of the rare genetic mutation spawned in the Hinterlands.

She took Vari's reigns still watching the man, teal eyes darting up and down his figure a moment. Introductions hadn't been swapped yet, but those could wait another moment or two. It was clear they were both worried about more pressing matters at the moment.

"The Azim steppe. Continent of Othard." She threw in the last part as almost an afterthought, and to see if that information might trigger some sign of recognition. Ziva had a growing suspicion that it wouldn't. Then she added, surprisingly calm and almost nonchalant. "... So what land do you hail from, stranger? It's clearly not this one."

The unusual color didn't surprise him, really, given that Wiz's ranch eagerly and happily let them pick their own coloring for their chocobos (his was a bright *red* despite the fact Noct constantly told him it was more magenta then red; Noct was just mad he couldn't get a black chocobo) but damn. Biggest chocobo he'd seen, easily, by double.

Then she informed him he was somewhere he had absolutely never heard of, never mine been before.

"...no, definitely not here," Gladio admitted, trying desperately to think of the maps he'd studied in his youth but despite his poor head for it, he was sure he had never heard of an entire continent called Othard. "Come from Insomnia of Lucis." Hoping, somewhat beyond hope now, that he would see any sign of recognition in her face because she had gotten none with her information.

Given that he was talking to a cat woman who had a chocobo as big as an airship, maybe it shouldn't have been such a surprise he was somewhere he'd never heard of. Only he had no idea of just how far he really was from home.

Another quick look around - this place was absolutely breath taking the more he took note of things, somewhere he wouldn't have mind spending time if they weren't in a somewhat horrible race against a deadly clock - before adding, "...am I the only stranger you've seen?"

Where were the others??

In spite of the reigns clutched in one hand Ziva's arms moved to fold, tapping one fist against her cheek, as she frowned in contemplation. No hint of recognition from him, and he'd get none from her in return as much as they both might have wished otherwise.

After pondering over his question and answer for a few seconds she finally seemed to concede defeat, lifting her head with a shake and a slight shrug of her hands, a non-verbal apology.

"I'm sorry, can't say I know the place. You must be a good way from home."

Inwardly she wondered if those were names used in the Empire, but that didn't seem right. Still, she didn't rule out the possibility as she continued to study him.

"The first today, in any case. Even if you weren't, wouldn't be sayin' much since most of the faces in these lands aren't known to me to begin with."

He was welcome to take from that what he would, for the time being. For now Ziva offered out her free hand to finally give her name. Better sooner than waiting until AFTER she'd invited him back to the Mol encampment.

"Ziva Ganajai. Circumstances aside, I'd say well met."

Edited 2017-07-29 19:08 (UTC)

Hells, she even had claws, if his eyes were deceiving him. Now he wondered if he was looking at skin or very fine fur. However, there were more important things like the fact that neither of them knew the location of the other, not even the name at all. Where could he be? As the one day Shield of the King, his knowledge had to be advanced on certain subjects (though nothing like Ignis, he never knew what information they had crammed into that sharp mind). He had to know at least basics about the different nations and cultures of Eos so he knew potential threats, allies, and motivations. Sure, it had been about risk and threat assessment but he had dutifully paid attention.

So to hear about a continent he knew nothing about? It suggested one impossible idea to him, one that made his stomach tighten even as his mind tried to comprehend. Don't jump to conclusions. Maybe it's a local name. Maybe this is somewhere Lucis had no contact with. There's a dozen possibilities before either this being a dream, I'm dead, or this is some kind of other universe.

So she was a stranger to these lands as well? At least her words seemed to indicate that, or if nothing else a relative newcomer. Still, the offer of a hand and a name was more than familiar enough so he matched it, taking her hand in his and giving a firm shake without it being one of those assholes who felt the need to crush the other's hand. For someone who looked like a Hyur, he was built nearly as big as a Roegadyn. Half-breed, maybe? "Gladiolus Amicitia, but Gladio's fine. Pleasure to meet you." He still found himself giving a warm smile - one, it was skin, not fur, two, she was a hell of a fighter and he respected that, three, cat woman or not, she was still damn pretty.

"I'll be frank with you. I've got no idea where I am or how to get back where I belong." Not terribly keen on admitting that to a near-stranger, but it wasn't like he had a mass amount of choices given he had no idea how he'd even ended up here. Also, now that he thought about it, she didn't even quite talk like anyone he'd ever heard before. Sort of more formal? But somewhere between the accent and the odd phrasing, he couldn't quite place it.

A sure grip, firm, though not too rough. Calloused hands from work, solid, definitely a fighter, even if she hadn't just seen him go head to head with some of the local nasties. She respected that more than just a little. One could never be surrounded by TOO many capable companions, especially handsome ones.

She ignored the twinge the thought brought, as she often did, and redoubled her focus. Allowing for a grin, finally, Ziva nodded as though either approving, or committing the name to memory. "Gladio, then."

And the chocobo gave a loud trilling "KWEH!" as if in agreement, earning a short laugh from her keeper. Still, there were more pressing concerns at the moment, and it was only a bit reluctantly that Ziva returned her attention to them.

"Been thinking on that myself, and I can't say I've an answer for you either. You're more than welcome to return with me to the Mol... They're the clan putting up my companions and I at the moment."

Her hand, once again free, jerked back over her shoulder to thumb in the direction she'd come from for emphasis.

"We've a map among our supplies. You're welcome to look it over, over a hot meal if you want?"

The sudden, loud 'kweh!' made him jump (damn thing even had a lower call than the ones he knew!) but it still made him laugh, looking up to the beast and shaking his head. "Chocobos. They always have to say their piece." As if he wasn't quietly affectionate with his own, a decently sized RED male by the name of Velox (Gladio never saw the point in naming pets weird names, so he went with something normal) but he wouldn't admit it.

He had no idea what exactly the Mol were, beyond a clan (a clan of what?), so he gave a quick nod of appreciation. "I'd appreciate all of it, if you can spare the extra meal." From his pocket, he pulled the familiar whistle to call Velox, but frowned down at it. ...Worth a shot, but he didn't have high hopes. Still, he put it to his lips and produced the familiar signature to call the bird, but after several long moments of silence, nothing.

"It was worth a shot," he admitted while pocketing the chocobo whistle away.

[ooc: Two years later, an exhausted, confused red chocobo shows up in a random spot on the Steppe looking for someone... XD]

With the tension of battle gone there seemed a rather easy air between them. Even putting aside Gladio's predicament (and it was in fact a big one) he seemed the easy going type by her reckoning. It gave her the impression they'd get along swimmingly. In fact, if they'd met just under a year sooner her thoughts might not have been so innocent.

"Nothing a bit of extra hunting won't fix, even if not." A good excuse to see what else he might be capable of, in any event, because Ziva was nothing if not curious. Fitting, considering her race's resemblance to domestic felines.

Truthfully she was relieved to hear him speak of the feathered mounts. It reassured her that for whatever else was revealed in the coming hours there was still a good chance his home was within the realm. She winked, offering the reassurance easily. Then, gripping the saddle she went on to easily draw herself up to sit, then still grinning turned to offer a hand up onto the pillion should he need it.

"I'm sure your feathered friend will be waiting for you once we get you back home. In the meantime Vari's strong enough to carry two. Up you get, sweetling."

(ooc: LOL Aww, poor thing! Also, Gladio should get used to "sweetling" she uses the term of endearment fairly often. Pffft.)

"Wouldn't mind helping to put dinner on the table." At least some things didn't change. A hunt was something he was comfortable enough with that it didn't even so much as phase him, though in the back of his mind he stayed worried for his friends. Did they even know he was gone? Were they worried, looking for him in the Disc? (Was he dead-- get rid of that thought, Gladio.)

A chocobo strong enough to carry two. Given its size and her words, he had no reason to doubt it and shrugged after a moment, taking the offered hand but putting most of his strength into the grip he took on the massive double saddle to pull himself up. Damn if the chocobo barely even swayed! How could he get something like this beautiful monster home...?

Sweetling. Gladio actually almost laughed at the term. "Let's see how fast your monster chocobo can run."

The chocobo seemed to be watching his progress with her own level of intelligent curiosity, or as though she wondered if he was going to be climbing up or not.

His reply was encouraging enough for her, and it was likely easily arranged, adding one more to that night's meal.

She took notice of how he managed getting into the saddle, one keen eye on their surroundings. It wouldn't do to be caught off guard by whatever might come looking for an easy meal. Something was bound to do exactly that before long, when the scent from the kill caught on the breeze.

Back to Gladio, however, she definitely took note of the weight he put on her, versus the weight he put on Vari's saddle. Her legs held firm, but given the man's size it was just natural that she would be moved at least some. Watching his skin smoothly shift taunt over hard muscle Ziva couldn't help it if her mind wandered a bit to what else he could lift with a physique and arms that strong.

Focus!

While Gladio himself might not have laughed, Ziva allowed herself one at his response. With the reigns in both hands now she guided her bird in the direction of the familiar hills.

"Best make sure you have a tight hold, back there." She grinned cheekily in an answer of her own. And without further ado they were off.

She set a good pace, not so fast as to make it impossible to speak over the air rushing past, but not a slow pace, either. It served double purpose, affording them a bit of time to converse before they were in mixed company as well as giving Gladio time to take in some of the sights. Ziva was banking on the notion that maybe other familiar things might be spotted along the way, anything to allay her own suspicions, but it didn't seem likely or wise to hope so. After learning of the true origins of the Warriors of Darkness... Could it be? And if it were true, what could that mean? How could such a thing be happening?

One way to be sure: Find out if Gladio possessed a crystal of light... or... of darkness.

"You asked about strangers, should I take that to mean you weren't alone before you turned up here, Gladio?"

He knew how much mass he carried well, what could support him and what couldn't, and he wouldn't put all of that on practically anyone. However, he could feel the strength in her arm as she helped him up and was impressed in all honesty - it was more than her slim appearance suggested. Maybe it was part of being a cat woman. Speaking of, the new vantage point allowed him a far closer inspection of her ears and so he took advantage of just that, fascinated by what he was seeing. It fit the whole of her - oh, and only now did he notice the tail she boasted as well, draped behind her as she sat. It might have been strange, but he would have to be a fool not to see she was attractive as well as exotic.

His mind was a bit taxed on other issues, though not beyond agreeing with his own assessment of her. Strong, beautiful, and a fierce fighter. His type.

It did give him time to watch as the chocobo - which was indeed swifter than he might have guessed, but given the sheer size of it, maybe he shouldn't have been so surprised - sped along. The Steppe was beautiful, spreading out to the mountains in all directions with a magnificent stone structure in the middle with flags fluttering in the wind. His attention only pulled away from it thanks to her question, and he called over the wind, "I was with three of my friends. No idea if they're somewhere around or back where I came from, but I've got to get back to them one way or the other."

It was... far more than that, given that one of them was the uncrowned King of his homeland, but right now, he wasn't certain just how much information to give out to this virtual stranger. Who Noctis was, what they had been doing just before he'd woken up here, or their mission that possibly held the fate of the world on their hands... it all seemed confidential to keep, and he would watch his words.

(He might have slipped in a prayer to the Six in his mind that if Prompto was somewhere to be found, he either was with Ignis or Noct and that both of the younger kept their mouths shut. Prompto in particular.)

It didn't take much effort to imagine how she would feel were she in his position. What would she be doing if she'd woken up in his shoes? Maybe that was the best way to start.

If she suspected her handsome new companion of withholding information she certainly didn't show it. He'd used a few keywords impossible for her to miss, though. "got to", no other choice- at least no other GOOD choice. The lack of a time frame or limit was equally telling in its own way. That friends would be worried should have been a given, so she didn't think that was his main concern, but he might have been shaken up by the ordeal himself. Of that, to some extent at least, she was sure.

Those very same ears that Gladiolus was busy studying began to move as she thought, perking up with the barest quiver first as she listened (his voice was so pleasantly deep, unmistakably masculine, and his own accent struck her as exotic in an intoxicating way that she couldn't deny enjoying), then swiveling back and down just so.

"I give you my word my friends and I will do what we can to see you back home safely... but... I can't say how quickly that will be. Our own situation is... complicated at the moment."

For the first time since they'd dispatched the monsters there was an uncomfortable edge to the miqo'te's voice. She was reluctant to drag a stranger into their problems, especially when those problems involved incurring the brunt of the Empire's wrath- however long term that goal might prove to be. She sat a little bit stiffer in her seat, not out of worry for the upcoming battle, but the risk of making their fight his fight unwillingly.

Ahead of them the first signs of the Mol camp came into view, their watch tower standing tall and dark against the vibrant green of the plains. It was then that Ziva suddenly realized that Gladio's arrival may very well have been the mysterious feeling she'd had that day. The man came with no small number of questions and riddles, but she was sure of one thing: All would become clearer in time, it always did.

There was no other choice in his mind. He had to get back to Noctis at any cost except their lives. It was his duty and damn it they needed him, but deep down inside, it was the knowledge that he couldn't live with himself if he failed. He was the King's Shield, meant to be at his side, but even more so... Noct was his friend and his brother. He had to get back to his friends. There was no other option in his mind and he would find a way as soon as possible.

Didn't mean his mind wasn't currently a bit occupied watching the little motions of her ears and how truly cat like they seemed. He wondered if she purred. (And that quiet part of his mind that murmured how he could make her purr, which he pointedly ignored for now.)

Complicated. Oh boy... what had he landed in the middle of? Little did either of them know that 'the Empire' was a problem for them both and it was far, far too similar to be anything but disturbing.

"What do you mean by 'complicated?" he asked, but when he caught sight of someone else, he actually grew even more confused because something was off about the shape of their head. Given the distance, he couldn't tell it was because he was looking at horns.

Well, at least he wasn't alone in his thoughts. Urges she'd long since thought shelved stirred in her because of their proximity, among other things. His scent, voice, and not least of all his looks certainly didn't "help" either. Ziva forced those thoughts and feelings aside, chiding herself in a rare moment of full restraint. He was a stranger in need, possibly not even from her world, never mind her realm, and she was in no position to go getting all worked up like that no matter HOW easy he made it.

Even having thought so, however, Ziva remained almost painfully aware of his position in relation to her and suspected that the awareness would linger at the back of her mind until either something was done about it or she'd found a way to sufficiently distract herself. The old her would never have even considered the latter, but Gladio's circumstances were unique enough to warrant a bit of extra consideration. priorities.

(But if the opportunity ever presented itself and he expressed interest, she'd probably be in some serious trouble.)

Unbeknownst to him that willful determination, that driving need to see a task to its sucessful conclusion was a trait that they shared. The taste of failure was the most bitter, one that Ziva couldn't bear having to stomach again, not after everything that had been lost- everyone she had lost. Once she heard his story she was bound to be determined to move heaven and earth if that was what it took to see him returned.

But for the time being "complicated" was where they stood, described his plight and hers to an uncomfortable degree.

Vari's gait slowed, less urgent as her rider let up on the reigns and began to ease into a more upright sitting position again. With a weary exhale she offered back a helpless shrug, simplifying the explanation for the sake of time.

"How's 'in the middle of preparing to win over an army to help take down an empire' sound for you?"

The humor in her tone was dry at best, but not bitter, nor angry. Twelve help her, the prospect THRILLED her. For as much as she hated knowing that people suffered under the Empire's heel it was still those moments that she lived for, being out on the field fighting the toughest battles for those who couldn't, leading the charge as it were. For so many reasons... but most of all, as a dear friend once said: for those who they'd lost, and for those who they could yet save.

Her eyes landed on the figure just before his had, then scanned the area around the tent for the familiar ones of her own friends. Finding what she was looking for a glance back over her shoulder was spared.

"My companions'll no doubt have more to say about your... situation, if you're willin' to share your tale with a small audience?"

(ooc: I was thinking maybe Zi would think to bring him to the leader of the Mol since she's so, well, wise and all that. How do you wanna play this part though? And would it be better to leave him hope that he can make it back in time, give a time frame, or shut down any inkling of hope he can return? POOR GUY no matter what. O: )

It most certainly didn't help that Gladio himself was a bit of a furnace - he poured off body heat and as close as they were thanks to the double saddle, it would be impossible to miss it. Thankfully for them both right now, until there were questions answered, Gladio was a bit on the distracted (and worried) side to think too far down certain roads that in another situation he would have very happily walked down.

"An empire?" That took him by surprise, but the whole thing really did. He'd somehow come into the middle of another group that needed to take down an empire? Preparing to win over an army? What exactly did she mean by that?

"Maybe a mutual discussion of our tales might be in order, here." One, he needed to know what he'd gotten into the middle of for his safety and two, he might be more willing to share his if the same trust was given in return, but that depended entirely on what their situation was. He had to protect Noct, even at a distance, even with his words.

Then he finally saw one of the natives as a Mol woman turned, a smile on her face as she spoke to one of her fellow tribesmen. Gladio's jaw nearly hit the ground before, after only a moment or two, he managed to gather himself. They all had horns!

[ooc: To tell him he can never go home would pretty much break Gladio and turn him determined, angry, and possibly dangerous... but to give him hope without a time frame means he'll fight for it and be ready, you know? He GOT here somehow, has to be a way to return home, but 'the gods will make it known when they are ready to send you home, just as they brought you to us in our hour of need' sort of deal?]

Even as she took notice of things on a more visciral level she still made note of other things, like his verbal cues. An empire, not the empire. That wording stood out to her and it seemed all the more important given the other details about the man's arrival. If he WAS from her world (which seemed more and more unlikely), he must have been from very, very, VERY far off indeed. That potential revelation chased away any chance of Ziva focusing on any other aspect of his company until they solved the mystery said company presented so prettily before them.

Gladio wouldn't be able to see the look on her face, but her tone might paint enough of a picture. "I'm of the same mind. But before that, introductions."

Laid out before them as they crested the rise of one more gentle slope, keeping a distance from the mammoths dotting the landscape to the west and the morbols roaming the grassland to the east, at the end of the winding path sat a cluster of tent like structures. It was there that Ziva guided her mount, slowing the pace as they drew closer. The others would be curious, they'd have questions, she didn't want to throw her new companion to the proverbial wolves without some warning, especially having felt him tensing in the saddle.

"They're friendly. The Mol are the most peaceful tribe you're like to find here on the Steppe, aside from the Questir."

(ooc: Sounds good and reasonable to me! I'll be free tomorrow night in case we need to hash anything out, big or small, vague or specific. But if you need to reach me throughout the day you can shoot me a PM or a message on Discord if you wanna. You mentioned TS (Teamspeak?), so I'm not sure if you use it. I can send you my username/number if you do, though, and want it for faster contact.)

[ooc: moved out of title since it got long. I usually let people know how I cried through the last two hours of game play and shouted at my TV screen through the last six as my heart broke. XD It's just a brilliant story and characters. It has some plot holes but hell if the fandom sure doesn't fill those in along with the DLC. XD

I can't do TS during the day, but I can PM or Discord though I honestly don't use the latter outside of gaming very much. ^^; I do a lot of PMs and Plurk.]

An empire. To him, it would always be THE Empire, but something about this wasn't fully making sense. How far away had he come that the Empire was spread out even to here? Right now, however, the more pressing matter was the kind of people he was looking at. The young woman waved with obvious familiarity towards Ziva, and while she certainly didn't look like any manner of beast, it reminded him too much of horned daemons to be immediately comfortable.

"Ziva!" The Miqo'te would recognize Cirina where Gladio did not, the red-head coming over and beaming up at the Warrior of Light but looking somewhat uncertainly towards Gladio before also giving him that same warmth. "You've brought a friend! Will he be staying for dinner?"

Friendly indeed, Gladio thought, trying to hide the confusion and somewhat horror from his face. The woman had scales and horns and a tail like a dragon, but the smile and warm radiated from her despite the strange appearance leaving Gladio very uncertain about what to do on this. Cat women, dragon women... yet they didn't seem to think his not-an-animal-person was strange.

"Hey there," he finally said, pushing down all of those confused feelings and giving a small smile. While typically he wanted to seem as imposing as possible as the King's Shield, this... wasn't that sort of time. In a strange place, with almost nothing to his hand, he needed to keep from driving off the potential help.

Cat people, dragon people, dwarfs, elves, and then the beastmen besides. Oh, Gladio would be in for quite the surprises in his coming days, but for the present...

Ziva's light hearted air returned at the sight of her newest Xaela companion, bringing her red feathered mount to a stop close by, working on dismounting even as she responded.

"If the Mol will have him!" She agreed, grinning. She could make out, in the near distance, Hien and Lyse, both clearly curious as well.

Soon enough they'd have a small crowd to contend with and that may turn out to be for the better. Rather than explaining again and again, meeting in one place and telling the story once would be good, because as much as she enjoyed spinning a good tale, her own curiosity was eating away at her profusely. The sooner they had recent events sorted, the sooner they could move to those burning questions she was positive they both had.

The tip of her ears gave a slight flick as she motioned excitedly. Strange as it may have been, the happenings thus far of the day had her brimming with a more positive sort of restless energy than the one she'd set out with, and she was glad for it. For just the time being it was a somewhat welcome distraction. She turned her attention towards Gladio again and gestured towards the redhead with one hand. "This is Cirina, she's one of the friends I spoke of, and quite the welcoming hostess, besides, as you can see."

A friendly gleam in her eye, she went on introducing the two.

"I think it best to gather everyone together for this, easier than answering and asking questions more than once."

Though, to her surprise, she realized a part of her wouldn't have minded having just the two of them talk things over. A passing impulse, but still a surprise. Time was too pressing to linger needlessly.

Gladio, in later days, might laugh at himself at how grateful he ended up being to meet Hien purely purely because of the fact that the man was a damn human. It just felt like a massive relief that he wasn't some odd man out in this world full of animal-humans, but that didn't mean he didn't stay near Ziva. There was something that felt like an instant bit of a connection with her, something easy, even if he was still getting used to the whole cat-woman thing.

Despite his uncertainty, he flashed a smile and nodded to Cirina, considering no one had offered a hand shake he wasn't going to until they did. "Nice to meet you. Any friend of Ziva's is a friend of mine." Trying to play it off light and easy as if he hadn't woken up in a completely unknown land.

"It's wonderful to meet another of the Warrior of Light's companions!" Cirina said warmly, making Gladio mouth 'warrior of light?' to himself with a glance to Ziva, but decided that would be a question for later. "I'm certain that he will be welcomed just as the rest. I will speak to our Khatun and see what bides us with the addition of your friend." She gave a smile in return before quickly ducking off towards a nearby tent. Gladio watched her go, not sure what a Khatun was, but for now there were so many others around.

(Lizard-people women were tiny, but it was strange to meet someone his height when it came to nearly all of the men who were built lanky but strong.)

"I... don't mind talking about this," Gladio said cautiously, looking to Ziva, "but you mentioned a map? I think there's a few things I'd like to make sure of before we go into this discussion." Like if absolutely any of his theories were actually correct at all.

She honestly thought nothing of the title in such casual use. It had become so ingrained with who she was that hearing it was as easy as hearing her name. When Cirina mentioned it there was no outward change in Ziva's demeanor, only a smile of gratitude. With a brief wave after Cirina her hands then found her hips and she looked over to Gladio as the au'ra took her leave.

"You want to try to get your bearings first, am I right?"

The blonde guessed, though the reason wasn't that important. Somehow she found she trusted Gladio at his word.

Gesturing for him to give her a moment she moved towards a bag of her supplies and retrieved a pair of scrolls. Holding them up in triumph for Gladio to see she led them then to a small space off to the side where the two of them could have some peace. It was still in the open, but shielded from the winds by an outcropping of rock, and out of immediate view of the majority of the Mol besides. It was there she settled down in a cross legged position and motioned for him to join her.

"Let's start with the world map. If you're likely to recognize anything it'll be something on here..."

Rolling out said map on the ground for him to see that "if" wasn't something she cared for, for his sake, but there was no point in hiding her suspicions from him. He may have already had them himself.

Unfortunately, Gladio had a sinking feeling his one theory, and unknowingly Ziva's top one as well, would prove to be the true one. So he folded himself onto the grass beside Ziva as she rolled out the map and blinked when one thing became very pointedly obvious immediately - he couldn't read the map. He stared down at the unfamiliar writing and his eyes narrowed, swearing for a moment or two that it almost formed familiar words but- nothing.

Add another notch in the 'oh shit' theory.

Gladio turned his attention instead to the outlines of the world, searching them for the familiar shape of Lucis' near-peninsula. Given the amount of times he had stared at maps in talks of protection and the Wall and war in the year leading up to everything that had gone wrong, he was certain he'd be able to pick out the point that stuck out into the ocean away from the rest of the continent, the familiar dots of blue for the massive lakes and the Vesperpool, the depth of the Disc or the height of the Cauldron...

Nothing.

Not a damn thing, anywhere. Slowly Gladio sat back, a certain sort of primal horror wanting to fill his chest, but he couldn't let it. Instead, he took a slow breath before looking to Ziva. "I can't read it," he admitted flat out, which surprised him even more given that he could understand her. "But even with that," his finger traced the outline of the nearest continent, then gave a broader circle over the whole map, "I don't recognize any of this. My homeland's pretty distinct and hard to miss on a map, and it's just... not there."

But what, exactly, did that mean? Eorzea might not have been entirely unfamiliar with visitors from other worlds (oh, there was a whole infamous story behind the day Shantotto, the most terrifying Black Mage of Vana'diel, accidentally managed to come to Eorzea...) but Eos certainly wasn't, and even more so Gladio damn well wasn't.

"Shit."

[ooc: I am totes flat out making some shit up here about how Lucian magic might work in XIV (aka: him being able to understand people like the Echo), because who knows. XD Besides it occurred to me I probably fucked that up early on because I had Gladio summon his weapon which probably shouldn't have been able to happen at all, so now I'm just rolling with it.]

(ooc: One of the things I've done in the past when I played Serah Farron in games was to say that whatever that world's magic equivalent was would sustain her powers (to varying degrees depending on the game). So for instance, if she were to come to Eorzea where magic isn't based on the amount of chaos in one's heart, her magic might be twice as potent as usual and require her to adapt so she doesn't burn someone to a crisp with a fire spell. You could do something like that with Gladio, just say that storing and summoning it pulls on his own aether, save for when he's in an area with a surplus of it (like Mor Dohna)?)

A long, slow exhale broke Ziva's silence, though she kept her gaze on the map for a long moment after. A part of her had hoped for his sake that she would be proven wrong, but...

She sat back next, folding her arms over her chest with a frown, her tail ticking behind her as a sign of her agitation, her eyes following the path of his finger as Gladio traced the land masses on the map and went on.

"I hate to say it, but I thought as such... For one, the way you summoned your weapon, and the way you turned up out of thin air. Magicks like that can only be performed by a mage adept in their arts. I should know." Having had two companions who had done just that, one of whom had barely lived to tell the tale and the other who'd turned up bare as his name day in lands then yet unknown.

Her gaze shifted from the map to the sky for a moment as she pondered, then Gladio.

"The good news, at least for you, is I happen to be companions with one such individual. It'll be some time before I meet with her again, though, and she's not in any shape to attempt such a thing at present. I mean... assumin' you want to get back, that is."

For all she knew he'd be glad to be in a new world. She didn't know his circumstances, after all, and once again she had to refrain from bombarding him with questions, something evident by the look in her eyes as she studied him.

[ooc: I kinda was thinking something along those lines. Gladio's ability to summon his weapon is tied into the Crystal that is the spirit of the planet, but it's tied *through* Noct. (I have no idea how much of XV you know so I'm trying to be spoiler-free here. XD) So I'm thinking because Gladio's close to Ziva, who's the WoL and has those crystals that are tied to Hydaelyn... it works around her. Because what the hey-ho it works for now. Plus it'll be fun to figure out for them later? XD]

It wasn't unusual for someone else not to be able to summon a weapon like he and the others did, given that it was exclusive to people somehow tied to the Crystal, so that didn't even strike him as odd. However, he had to agree on the 'turned up out of thin air' part and scratched his jaw, thinking on it. "The weapon summoning bit or the appearing out of no where bit? The magicks that can be performed by some kind of adept mage, I mean."

It was weird because the only reason 'adept mage' came off his tongue that easily was because he liked his terrible fantasy and romance novels. Oh yeah, he loved history, read philosophy of battle and warfare, but he liked his trash, too, and those two words sounded right out of it. In fact, pretty much all of this felt right out of a novel.

Maybe I really am dead. At least the afterlife has cute girls in it.

'Not in any shape to attempt such a thing at present' sounded like a whole lot of words for someone who was somehow recovering from a bad injury or a near death, neither which settled well with him. However, the fact that there was someone with that kind of knowledge gave him hope. "I gotta get back. There's people who need me and I'm not about to leave them any longer than I have to." From the tone his voice took, it was obvious how much cared about them. "So if there's someone out there who might know how to get me home? I need to talk to this woman."

(ooc: That'll work nicely, I think! Apples to apples, so to say.)

"The appearing out of no where bit." She confirmed, rolling the world map back up for the time being. Debating briefly on whether or not to bother with the other she simply settled on setting them both aside, watching him again. "She's done something similar before... I can't promise anything, but she may be able to shed some light on the situation."

Failing that, perhaps the crystals of light could be of some use, but she didn't want to get his hopes up, or give him the idea she could attempt such a thing right that moment. His determination to return and his reasons for doing so echoed similar sentiments she'd felt before, quirking her lips in a little smirk at the irony as she gave him an either approving or empathetic nod.

"Having seen you fight something tells me your friends are lucky to have you. I'll do what I can, but at the moment I've pledged my blades to the cause here. There's a battle coming. My companions and I plan to see the Mol to victory before we can move on to the next."

"Whatever information she can give us," because Zira, for the moment, was the only connection he had going. He had no idea what her fancy title meant, but inside, he was wondering if it was more than coincidence that they met. 'The Warrior of Light', Cirina had called her. Given that he was the Shield for the Chosen King, the King of Light... well. He wondered, but he said nothing. That didn't mean he wouldn't ask about her title, though, when he had a chance, even if he wasn't ready to give up the rest of that information in return.

"Dare I ask what kind of battle? What do the Mol need to be victorious of?" Because there was something in those words that hinted at something far greater. Cirina had also mentioned companions, and while he had met a few of them briefly, they stood out vividly as not being exactly part of this tribe that otherwise consisted of lizard-dragon-people. So, what was going on here that he didn't know about?

Ignis, he mused, probably would have it figured out by now.

It would be fascinating to learn about the similarities between their worlds, even just the coincidental ones, but until such a time as they had the opportunity to discuss them...

"They call it the Naadam. It's a battle royal held once each year to determine the rightful leader of the Steppe, until the next. All of the tribes will be taking part." She explained. "One of my companions, Lord Hien, means to win the Naadam to unite the people of the steppe to fight for him. We mean to liberate his homeland from the empire, you see. This is just one step."

Ziva had never been one to guard her tongue too closely unless she felt the strictest need, or was advised otherwise- and even then she was more inclined to follow her gut and if her gut said "share" then that was what she was going to do. Putting that aside Gladio had every right to know what he was potentially being dragged into.

"But a welcomed additional result, of course, will be that the Mol tribe take leadership of the Steppe."

SORRY, again! Strange work schedule this week. This one will be back to normal. Mostly.

Don't worry. XD Promise, it's fine! Tag when you can. No rush. Love this thread though ^^

Thank you for being so patient! ;A; Also yes! This is going to be a GREAT team up. Bonus: Road Trip!

Just be prepared for a flirt. XD Also just wait until Gladio sees one of the Auri he will freak.

LOL It's just as well, Ziva (used to) can be a huge flirt herself. The worst. And sounds hilarious!

This should be fun :3 Also I couldn't help it. Velox is 'swift' in latin. XD

Love it!

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I feel like I should apologize for her brain...

No it's perfect. XD

... I might really have to pick up this game and give it a play. The more I learn the more I like.

*URGES* Is it a perfect game? No. But the characters and the story it builds up makes it worth it.

I can definitely handle imperfect if the character/story are good and the gameplay's fun!

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XV actually uses English and Japanese so well crap. XD I actually double checked.

LOL The more you know. No worries, though! We can wing it.

^^

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URGES Is it a perfect game? No. But the characters and the story it builds up makes it worth it.