[IC] Exodus

[Redthorn Anvil]

The General interjected for Je'nai. "Genesis has been evacuated. Those that are here in this camp are all that's left. For the moment, we maintain a perhaps shaky truce until such time as a real alliance can be made, or until the truce is broken. His royal Highness, however, is struggling with the princess. She is a naïve girl that lacks responsibility, and already her people are suffering for it. I hear that she's requested... "tutoring". We'll see how long that lasts." He approached a long tent and swept aside the entrance flap. "Ariadel! You're needed here!"
A young woman's voice responded to him with "Stuff your scaly maw, dragon-breath! Just put 'em on an empty cot, would'ya? I'll be right with'ya."
The tall man bristled.

[SashaWindrider]

Azurael snorted. A little trouble with the princess. "I don't think a little trouble quite covers it. She has been banished, and the irony is - it's mostly her magic that is keeping her out." Azurael informed Asmod.

"Should, for whatever reason you find yourself needing to report to the highest ranking Angel, I am she. Mostly though, you will report to whichever demon you will be told to report to."

"Also don't summon the legions of dead. People already find one person able to do that creepy enough. Useful, but creepy. Personally, I think it's cool . . . nevermind." Azurael said, as she realised she was rambling.

"Ohh kay." Asmod said.

Azurael was deep in thought after the verbal equivalent of diarrhea. She hoped T'vor hadn't heard her admission to Grim, but she also kind of did in a way. She snarled, an outward expression of her inner turmoil.

[Redthorn Anvil]

Finally, the young Demon medic came out with her medicine bag and shooed Asmod to a cot.
"Didn't I say to set yerself down! Good grief!" She turned and waved her arms at Azurael and T'vor.
"Go away, I can't think with you tall people breathing down my neck!"
"Hmh!" T'vor grunted. He pulled Azurael outside with him.
"You wanted to speak to me?"

---

Meanwhile, Ariadel was poking and prodding her subject with various implements.
"So tell me everything you remember. From the beginning. Oh I'm Ariadel, by the way, but most people are lazy and just call me Ari. I don't give a rat's patoot either way. I'm the doctor, by the way, the only one. This is the infirmary, also the only one, and no, I'm not hiring. Please continue."

---

It was then that Chrissa once again ran into Ma'ai. She hadn't heard the scream herself, but word had spread about the incident and she'd left the tent in a hurry to see what she could do about it. However, when she arrived, it seemed the matter was already over, and only a few bystanders were still lingering.
She explained as much to her acquaintance.
"So then I guess everything's okay now?" It was somewhat rhetorical. Then, she blushed.
"Oh, I'm... I'm sorry, I suppose I sort of ran away earlier..." It was an obvious observation.
"How have you been?"

[SashaWindrider]

Azurael looked dumbly at T'vor and only reddened in response. "I, uh, maybe." Azurael said, a bit higher than her normal pitch. The discussion with Grim was still playing on her mind. "No, yes, actually I don't know." Azurael continued, quite unable to voice her thoughts.

"I am just going to go and pretend this never happened." Azurael said. She turned to go but stopped shy of leaving. "What's the point?" She growled.

"I don't know how to say it, but, um..." Azurael was again stuck for words. She was experiencing a lot of inner turmoil as shown by her actions. Her wings began to make tiny shivering movements showing hiw nervous she was as well.

"I can face down death but not this" Azurael thought to herself.

...........
Asmod looked at the demon nurse. "My name is Asmod Ravul, I have a pet raven, and I have the True Sight."

"I can not remember anything else. For example, like where my shirt is and why am I not wearing one?" Asmod said.

...........

[puddingpunter]

Je'Nai walked alongside Asmod with her hands behind her back and her gaze forward. The newcomer's introduction as being a seer hadn't quite fazed her (everyone here had some sort of ability or another so unless it was something extraordinary it tended to lose its panache) but that didn't make it any less interesting. His allegations, however, of someone dead wanting to contact her is what stunned the young hybrid into a more pronounced state of silence. With her brows arched and eyes widened she forced herself to looked up at him. But Je'Nai could only gape like a fish, her words caught in her throat as she tried to think of something to say in response to his inquiry. Fortunately for her T'vor chose then to intervene. She cleared her throat and attempted to regain her composure. Je'Nai wanted to ask Asmod what he had meant by that but also didn't want to interrupt her superior, T'vor. Maybe he'd be willing to overlook the minor transgression? Je'Nai wasn't sure she wanted to risk annoying him- first impressions are important. Once their little group had finally arrived at the medical tent, Je'Nai waited outside while the others entered... and then promptly stepped back out. Whether that decision was of their own accord or the doctor's orders Je'Nai didn't care, really. She saw this as a chance to go bug Asmod for a little bit and find out more about what he had told her earlier. "If you two will please excuse me. Thanks." Je'Nai ducked her head and passed through the pair before entering the tent. "Asmod, what were you telling me?"

---

"No need to apologize, that was an awkward position to be placed into and had I been in your shoes perhaps I'd have done the same thing." Ma'ai gave a small smile and crossed his arms, the began to pick at the fabric of his shirt with a forefinger and thumb to keep from fidgeting too much. He was still very tired and the excitement from this little 'surprise' wasn't helping. "Save for the obvious, nothing has happened since I'd last seen you in the cafeteria." He gave a light shrug. "Say, would you like to take a walk with me? I was hoping we could catch up. Unless this is a bad time for you?"

[Redthorn Anvil]

Ariadel promptly cut Je'Nai off. "For the last time, no visitors until I'm done here! By the Powers, you people think you can just waltz right in here whenever you please. Shoo, woman!"
She practically shoved poor Je'Nai right back out of the tent again. "You can see him later, when I'm done. Good grief..."
She returned to her patient.
"So basically, you don't remember a single thing. You just randomly came out of nowhere, and you're suffering a serious case of amnesia. Got it. Well, Just relax for a bit, I'm going to see if I can't come up with something to help you remember what happened. Also I need to do some routine screenings, because that's what doctors do."

---

T'vor hadn't noticed the Hybrid woman enter the tent, so he was distracted when Ariadel started shouting again. He turned to look at the woman.
"... Je'Nai, wasn't it? I've heard your name before."
His eyes narrowed at her, despite his helm concealing that fact.
"Oh. That's right. You're that... what, beautician? That is what you call yourselves, isn't it? Can't imagine how much work there is for people like you at the moment... You being the exception, perhaps. His Majesty has deemed it fit to offer you employment. If you have any hope of maintaining your profession, I recommend you accept his offer. He is not typically so generous, so you had better make your mind up before he changes his own."
With that, he returned his attention to the struggling Azurael.
"Walk with me while you think about whatever it is you want to say," he encouraged her. He made his way away from the tent with a gesture for Azurael to accompany him.

---

"No--no, not at all!" Chrissa smiled brightly.
"To be honest, I'm glad there's a face here that I recognize... I didn't have any family back on Genesis, and now with all these Demons around..." She looked around hurriedly, as if worried that someone might be listening.
"They kind of terrify me, you know? I mean, not Anuriel of course! She's very good to me, but... I'm not used to it at all..." She laughed sheepishly.
"So, how come I haven't seen you until now? Were you on that last ship, too?"

[SashaWindrider]

(omerta - I totally forgot where I was going with the whole message from beyond.)

Asmod was perfectly willing to oblige the hybrid. "A relative of yours has a message, I believe it is one of your parents maybe? Could even be another female relative. Did you want to hear the message?" Asmod asked. His raven sat on his lap and he was quite content stroking the raven, the raven had its eyes half closed in bliss.

To Ari he asked "Oh Ari, She can stay can't she?"

Turning his attention back to Je'nai "Your name is Je'nai, yes? So many new names and face when I barely remember my own."

Back to Ari "Basically yes."

Asmod hated T'vor after what he said to the young lass. She certainly didn't need to be spoken to like that. Besides sometimes people might want to take comfort in small things like the outward appearance of onself when eveything else was going to Chaos, or they were lost and without a home, like now. Asmod thought Je'nai's services would probably be in higher demand than the Dragonic warrior thought.

Clearly while good in some situations, it appeared the Angel leader was otherwise useless. Her equal, if she was indeed a General, it seemed was of far higher caliber than the seemingly feather brained and apparently nervous woman. Azurael had not made a good first impression on Asmod. She had seemed alright in the first few minutes but it seemed painfully obvious to Asmod that Azurael was in too deep for her comfort ans was floundering. Asmid could only hope to discover otherwise, but he decided not to hold his hopes too high.

.................
Azurael looked at T'vor and began walking beside him. She mulled it over for a few minutes before speaking up. "Grim got me to admit it, and I am certain it is not appropiate, but I am falling for you T'vor." Azurael looked up at the demon, a tenderness and gentleness in her eyes she reserved for no one else.
...............
Anuriel could be heard grumbling quietly and good naturedly away to herself in the kitchen. "Exactly how many mouths do they expect me to feed. Another arrival, another mouth. Never mind, I know exactly how many people are in camp."

News of Asmod's arrival had spread quickly, reaching the kitchen almost instantly. Well not quite, but thw news got thwre pretty fast. It had to, every one passed by the kitchen in what seemed like a never ending stream all day.

An almost sibilant, somewhat throaty odd sounding bunch of laughter could be heard in response to her grumbling. She had employed the young dragons as kitchen hands. Work they were happy to do so long as they got a little snack every so often.

Damien was busy washing up dishes as they were returned by the never ending stream of people.

[Redthorn Anvil]

[pffffft, Asmod, "hate" is such a dramatic word xD]
Ariadel made a noise.
"No, she can't, not until I'm done with you. So just relax. the more you fidget, the longer I gotta keep you here, yanno!" She laughed. She took a blood sample from his arm.
"For my records. Everyone has to do it that comes in here," she explained.
"Now, let's see if we can't do something about your memory, huh? Retrieving memories isn't a simple thing though, in fact you'd have more luck talking to a psychiatrist or a witch-doctor or something. My method sometimes works, and sometimes not. Basically I'm going to give you something to sleep for a while, and the idea is some of your memories might come back as dreams. the trick is remembering the dream when you wake up. But it's really all I can do for you, because you seem healthy otherwise. If this doesn't work, well," she shrugged.

---

T'vor glanced at the Angel.
"You are right, that isn't appropriate. I'll admit you have me rather surprised, however. It's been only a couple of months or so since you began working for me. This is hardly a thing I would expect from you. It would, however, explain your recent behavior. Do not let it cloud your judgement, Stormy. There is still much work to be done, and I need you at your best. When this shaky business with the princess is resolved... I'll be willing to talk more about this then."
He also needed time to think about what she'd just admitted to him. Emotions were delicate things, and, despite his rough exterior, he wasn't in the habit of being completely soulless.

[SashaWindrider]

Asmod winced when Ari took the blood sample. Quick and almost entirely painless. Asmod noted her efficiency.

"I would be greatful for any help you can give me." Asmod replied to the demoness. He would be too, he felt somewhat empty or lacking without his memories.

"Whatever you give me to sleep - it won't taste bad will it?" Asmod asked, curious.
.............
Azurael knew T'vor spoke the truth and understood where he was coming from. "I understand, and believe me, nothing will get in the way of my job."

Azurael was much more visibly relaxed after having voiced her thoughts to T'vor. "Thank you." Azurael stated simply. She continued walking beside the demon.
.................
Sasha had actually managed to find herself a place to stay and a job as a supermarket worker in the mundane world. She was content with her job and had next to no interest now in returning to the camp, or even her inherited role.

[puddingpunter]

_{(@SashaWindrider It's fine, the interruption let's us skim over anyway so perhaps we can come up with something before Je'Nai has a chance to confront Asmod again lol)}

"I- hey, wait a second!" But it was too late. Her protests were futile and Je'Nai didn't think it wise to put up a fuss with the doctor. After being pushed out of the medical tent, the hybrid let out a frustrated huff. She was so close... She'd barely heard anything Asmod said before Ariadel kicked her out. Je'Nai likely would have continued sulking if T'vor hadn't interrupted her train of thought. "I am" she confirmed when he asked her name. Je'Nai pressed her lips together as the man began to share his 'unfiltered' opinions about her profession. He wasn't wrong but it was seeming distaste for it that got under her skin.

"Thank you for your input." Although her tone wasn't exactly kind she wasn't being sarcastic. T'vor was right and if she wanted to be able to make a living now then this was her chance. Actually this was better than before. The Prince himself requesting her services? Practically a dream come true. Je'Nai strode off to go find him, or at the very least an underling she could speak with.

---

Ma'ai chuckled with her. The struggle was awfully relateable and considering he'd had even less time than the others to get acquainted with their new accomplices... Well, it was uncomfortable to say the least. Ma'ai stuck his hand in his pockets and shook his head. "No, I came on an earlier flight so I could have a look around first. My job was to observe the humans and scout the area first before any others arrived. Had to make sure it was safe and all, usual precautions. Come." Ma'ai gestured with his head and began walking away.

[Redthorn Anvil]

"Um, to be honest, I have no idea. I've never drunk this stuff before, I just prescribe it," Ariadel laughed.
"All the demons I give it to never end up complaining about the taste, though, so there's a pretty good chance that it's not too awful."
She went into the lab portion of the tent, coming again a few minutes later with a small disposable cup of what looked like cough syrup. It was purple.
"Down the hatch! If it doesn't work, at least I can guarantee you a fantastic nap."

---

It was then that a realization came to T'vor.
"After your men took the princess, what did you do with her?"

---

Seph wasn't difficult to find, of course. One had only to scan the mass of tents to find the pavilion at which he stayed. Granted, he didn't stay in there all day, but the two demonic guards that stood outside the entrance would be sure to know where the man was at any given time.
"If you're looking for his Majesty, he's not here." One of the guards informed Je'Nai.
"More than likely,he is at the training grounds with the dragons. That way," he added, pointing off towards the treeline.

---

Chrissa half-strode, half-jogged to keep up with the tall demon's long legs, but she didn't mind it.
"So then, you were gone for a long time. Must have been pretty lonely," she observed.
"I hope maybe once things start settling down for us, I can open another flower shop."
She sighed wistfully. "It's not practical, I know--that's why I'm cooking now. It's really the only other thing I'm any good at." She giggled.
"Miss Anuriel wants to promote me, I think she wants me to take over for her someday. D'you think I could manage being a full-time cook and florist?" She laughed at the thought.

[puddingpunter]

If the Prince was occupied with training then perhaps now would not be the best time to accost him. But if not now, when? Je'Nai wasn't entirely sure she could count on herself to try again later instead of continuously procrastinating until he came to her (that wouldn't do). So she decided to follow the guard's direction until she found the training grounds. Je'Nai paused and watched, waiting. Now that she was here a few more minutes couldn't hurt. Besides she was curious and wanted to see what training with dragons would be like.

---

"If you become successful enough, sure. Why not? You'd be able to hire extra hands where they're needed. Everyone's happy." Ma'ai hadn't exactly noticed Chrissa's struggle to keep up with him but he did begin to slow once they left the clearing and there were less eavesdroppers around. "When you open another flower shop" he spoke once more, deliberately avoiding using the word 'if', "I'll be sure to stop by every week. Just like before" he promised. Bouquets would be pointless here on Earth, with no family nor lover to take them to. But the small habit itself would be a nice way for Ma'ai hold on to the past, like a tiny his old life back on Genesis. And flowers are pretty so he was sure he'd be able to find somewhere to put them.

[SashaWindrider]

Asmod laughed heartily as he took the syrup from Ari. "Here's to oblivion!" He shouted out before downing the syrup. Asmod sat there on the cot for a moment and then asked "Is it actually going to work?"

It worked just as he finished his question. He toppled sideways so all but his legs where on the bed. One wing was uncomfortably under him and the other was half unfurled.

Naught could be heard but a steady deep breathing. The raven looked at Ari as if to stay 'What now?'
..........
Azurael wrinkled her nose breifly as she thought. "I got them to escort her safely into the mundane world. They made sure she was fed, housed, and employed before leaving her on her own. Even now I get them to catch up with her fortnightly, or less sometimes, she is also being constantly watched from afar. She may have been banished, and she may have been cruel to me, but I could not leave her to the mercy of the humans." Azurael replied.

[Redthorn Anvil]

Training with dragons essentially amounted to sitting around, watching as the dragons attempted to fly. They were growing quickly. Seph was sitting on the edge of a large rock, his feet dangling casually and his wing draped behind him. His feathers ruffled as he sensed that someone was approaching. He tilted his head to look. A woman was standing there.
"What do you need?"

---

Chrissa grinned brightly. "At least I'll have one customer!"
She laughed.
"Where are going?"

---

"Oh hush, you," Ariadel told the bird, wincing at Asmod's current position. With a heave, she managed to push his legs onto the cot.
"That'll have to do for now."

---

T'vor frowned.
"That may not have been the best decision. His Majesty had every intention of fulfilling his promise to help her learn, and you've effectively counteracted his wishes by sending her away. But more than that, if she decides to hold a grudge, she could cause serious damage to us and the safety of this colony. It would have been far safer to keep her here. We should bring her back here."

[puddingpunter]

Je'Nai turned to the Prince. "I think it is I should be asking that." Whoops. That was too rude- Je'Nai pressed her lips together and paused a moment before 'restarting'. "Your Majesty" she tried again, this time adding a modest bow in respect. The hybrid had never been in the presence of a royal before and she wasn't entirely sure what the protocol was. So she left it at that and continued. "Je'Nai Obscurokht, at your service. This is likely poor timing on my part but I've come to accept your offer. It would be my honor to work for you."

---

The angel shrugged his shoulders but continued strolling. "Nowhere. I wanted a walked, so we're walking. Unless you'd rather we stop?"

[Redthorn Anvil]

"The name, I know. It was the face that I didn't. Have a seat, Je'Nai, I won't rip your head off. That's my General's area of expertise. I must apologize for him, too. I imagine he must have given you a rough time of it. He's that way to just about everyone, really. Whatever he told you, don't take it personally. My word of advice."
Seph donned a wry look.
"More likely than not, we'll be spending a considerable amount of time together. Be it known to you that you are sworn to secrecy about anything you overhear in my service. I can't have all my secrets floating around, you know."

---

Chrissa shook her head.
"Oh no, this is fine. I walk around a lot during the day anyway, serving and clearing plates, cooking--why, I'm almost always on my feet, really."
She grew curious.
"So then, what are humans really like?"

[SashaWindrider]

"She was going to try have us banished, if not executed, for standing against her and making her step down. I was also under the impression that even having her reside in camp, be it just imprisoned, her mere presence was have caused an uprising. We could not afford such consequences - our numbers are too low and the humans, if they noticed would have decimated us further." Azurael stated, somewhat ocwed by the abrupt turn in conversation.

"She has no intention of returning back to camp but bears us no animosity. How do you plan to change her mind?" Azurael asked.
....
Anuriel and Damien had been talking together and had a plan to approach Sephiroth. They wanted to put forward the idea of trade with humans, even under a guise of some sort. They had came to the consensus (quite sensibly) that the camp could not and likely would not survive indefinitely on thier own supplies. They were trying to figure out how to approach Seph with this plan.

[Redthorn Anvil]

T'vor shook his head.
"I really doubt that her presence here would have caused an uprising. Perhaps you haven't been keeping tabs on the Angels but they were not overly fond of her themselves. True, the idea of being ruled over by a Demon must not be particularly favorable, but I think *that* would be more likely to cause a riot than the removal of your princess, and it has not. Next time you want to make any decisions, I suggest you speak to me first."
He frowned.
"As for changing her mind, we can't do anything now until his Majesty has been informed of what has taken place here."

[puddingpunter]

Je'Nai accepted and gracefully lowered herself on the rock beside Prince Seph, crossing her ankles and letting her hands rest in her lap. She may have never personally met a royal before but that didn't mean she had forgotten her etiquette lessons. "I'll be sure to keep my mouth shut. Can't have your pretty face skewered on a pike after I've worked so hard on it." However, not all the rules needed to be followed. The Prince's looks were no secret so Je'Nai could only hope her somewhat dark sense of humor wouldn't annoy him too much. It would be a shame if he fired her before she even got to start. Je'Nai tried not to smile and chewed on her lower lip as she turned her face away from him. "Where'd you get the dragons from?"

---

The angel looked up at the sky and took a moment to ponder his answer. "They are very odd" he chuckled. "We have some parallels with mankind but it can be hard to see. None don wings nor seem to wield any special abilities so they're all kind of defenseless beings. They have an established hierarchy, like us, but many of their kingdoms are not actually lead by royal blood. Instead they are selected from the general populace and picked out according to who's the most preferred. They use strange weapons. And their pets... They decided to collect and own some of the wildlife but then removed the animals' more dangerous hunting instincts through generations of selective breeding programs and created cute but weak little versions of them so they are safe to keep within households."

[Redthorn Anvil]

"Mm, that would be rather... unfortunate. For me, anyway," Seph replied.
"As to where I got the dragons from, they were brought here with us, and I didn't 'get them', as you put it. Dragons aren't pets for a person to own, you know. If it's at all possible, they're probably even more sentient than we are. Intelligent far beyond what you'd expect, even for hatchlings. Already they're far wiser than you or I, and they'll only grow more so as time passes. Apparently, these humans have records of dragons so ancient, the humans of today don't even believe in the existence of the creatures. It would seem that dragons have visited this planet before. I find that curious."

---

Chrissa's face lit up.
"I'd like to get a pet someday. Especially a cute fluffy one, like what you described. Aww, it sounds so cute!"
She made a little hop in the middle of her stride.
"Imagine cuddling a small furry animal. So precious!!"