paradisa

[Martel is wandering around the city again, because she really needs to get more familiar with it, after what happened a week ago, when she met Elrond. Are there more elves and half-elves in the city? Or is it just a fluke? ...She should really ask. So she sits down on a bench in a quiet part of town and opens her journal. But then she pauses for a moment, as there's another reason she's been coming to town: To look for a good weapons shop for a dagger or even a manageable sword. She's tired of carrying around just her staff, especially after the expedition and being attacked while she had no defenses. It never hurts to be prepared. But the search hasn't exactly been going well, and she's not exactly rich. She admits that she may need some help.

She could ask Yuan...but then she would have to admit exactly what happened that day and her feelings on the matter. Zelos she could ask, but then again, he's the one who brought it to her attention. She didn't want to burden him more that he probably already felt with looking after her. So that really left only one person to ask.]

...Has anyone ever heard of there being elves or half-elves among the townspeople?

Do you...ever use anything other than the Buster to fight? Like a regular sword?

{And with that, she sets her journal aside and just sits, enjoying the day.]

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A beautiful one. [He smiles and looks away. He hand't exactly been hiding his scrutiny, but it's only polite to discontinue once you've been caught.] Nothing.

I think you might be bias. [She continues to give him a look.] You can't stare at me like that and then just say it's nothing. Do I have a leaf in my hair or something?

It's not a bad thing to be. [He looks back her with a shrug, a little more serious.] You filtered to me, you're asking me for a weapon, and you don't want to talk about why. I was looking for bruises, cuts, bandages, any signs of stress or strain. Call me overprotective, but.. [Shrugs.]

You are a bit overprotective. I am perfectly fine. What could have possibly attacked me that you haven't heard about? News gets around the Castle fast, you know.

Though, even if I had been, there wouldn't be any evidence left. [She's a healer.]

If I came to you asking for a weapon and not wanting to say why, would you worry about me?

[A sigh.] I know that. But still.

...Probably. But I do have a reason. And it's nothing bad!

I can fix pretty much anything. Well, except a few...extreme situations. [One way to harm her that she couldn't fix, that probably no one here could. She moves her cup almost unconsciously in front of her throat.]

Hey, that's all I needed to know.

[There will be some shifting around and adjusting, wriggle wriggle, and Zack lays a well-used sword in a plain scabbard across the table between them.]

Well, the last time I gave a sword to someone, it was after being all shot up. [She'd know what he meant; she's the one who healed him. Her positioning hasn't exactly clicked with him as being overly unusual.] But I don't see any gunmen creeping around, so I think I'm safe giving this to you.

I'll still tell you. A deal is a deal.

[She gently pulls the sword across and lays it on her lap.] Well, we're pretty fortunate, then, aren't we? I wouldn't want to have to save you from death again.

Later, maybe.

[He smiles as she takes it. He's not worried about her being able to handle its weight, she's shown herself more than capable.] I think so, yeah. Not that I didn't enjoy your saving me, but I don't think we need an encore of it.

[She blinks.] You came all this way here, and you don't even want to know why?

Of course I want to know. But it was also pretty unfair of me to try to coerce you into telling me, wasn't it?

[And then he'll flag down a waiter or something and order coffee for himself, and a refill on Martel's tea if she's so inclined.]

[She rolls her eyes and just says it.] I need something to defend myself with if my magic and my- [She pauses and skips over 'Cruxis Crystal' entirely, ending that sentence rather abruptly.] If something happens, and I can't use my magic, I don't have any other way to defend myself. I'm just a burden to everyone else.

[Don't think he didn't notice the way you cut yourself off, Martel. It gets a look from him, but Zack figures he's pushed enough for one day.]

The Dead Zone got to you pretty bad too, didn't it? [His fingers toy over each other in front of him, then play with the coffee cup when it arrives.] I don't miss being there. It felt too weird to be so locked out from everything you're used to, everything you know you are.

[She returns the look, as if almost daring him to ask. She doesn't really make a secret of it. But she's sure he won't like what he hears.]

Those that can't defend themselves on Aselia die. Or worse, if you're a half-elf. Because there are truly worse things than death.

[He shakes his head, conceding the battle for now.] Not today.

Like not being allowed to die, for one. I know. [A pause.] Are you gonna need practice with that, to get back into it?

All right then. [She shrugs.]

And being pressed into slavery.

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All right then. <i>[She shrugs.]</i>

And being pressed into slavery. <I.[She mimics his pause.]</i> Maybe. It's been a while.

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