Scene #1051: The Dragon and the Rat

Owner	Pose
Ryu	The setting is that of a ruined castle. The throne room is expansive and has numerous 'living armor' ghosts shuffling around. And then there's Ryu, who is currently in the process of fighting them. He chops and chops at one of them, aggressively breaking the ghost's stance and proceeding to wail on him with that incredibly strong and heavy sword of his. He's not actually expecting visitors. Not that he'd want any. The very vicious and rough way he fights isn't something he likes showing people. He's practicing, though, with more refined stances, with parrying and with more accurate strikes relying more on the blade and not the weight of his weapon. He looks, and sounds, a little aggressive. A lot of shouting and growling, some of which doesn't sound entirely human... He may not have noticed.
Faruja	One Inquisitor Faruja Senra has swiftly learned to research before he goes about meeting someone. It's saved his life several times since getting his new position, and with a self-admitted 'grey' ally? Caution is best. And so, he's scraped together what he could of one 'Ryu', dragon and apparent former soldier-slash-criminal. But actually /finding/ the man proves slightly more difficult than initially expected. It's only through sheer luck that Faruja walks into the training grounds of the station. The mage pauses, leans back, and watches for a good thirty seconds. Then, he finally makes himself known. Quietly and calmly, so best to not have that blade turned upon him. "Lord's blessings, Ser. Might ye happen to be Ser Ryu? Inquisitor Faruja Senra of the Most Holy Church of Saint Ajora Glabados, of Ivalice. Diplomat to the Union." There's a small smile on his face as he leans on his cane.
Ryu	The coiled strength, the menace, it all shatters the moment Ryu is spoken to. It's clear that he knows when to use that aggression and it certainly isn't in normal conversation. He turns to look at the rat man, relaxing and letting the sword rest against the floor for a moment, loosening his deathgrip on the handle. The sword lets out a rattle like it was thanking Faruja for the reprieve. "Ryan Bateson," he introduces, giving that slightly sad smile in Faruja's direction. "Ryu is a nickname. You can keep using it if you like." He shrugs once, and then looks off toward one of the suspended living armors, blinking at it slowly. "So you're looking for me? You don't seem like you're from Wyndia, so what do you need, exactly?" He doesn't seem paranoid. He just seems quiet and a little somber, like his wrath was just flipping a switch.
Faruja	Wince. The sound doesn't agree with sensitive rat-ears, nor just letting a blade clatter! He pushes away the urge to chide like the man is a simple squire! Instead, Faruja limp-walks forward, and offers a bow. "Ser Bateson, well met." He answers by way of politeness, tail flicking a bit. He takes a moment to give a one-eyed lance over the man, taking in his features. "Ahh, yes, to the point! Forgive me, mine kind art given to love of our own voices. I make it a point to visit as many new allies to the Union as possible. To inquire as to their abilities, the situation within their world, et cetera. All in the spirit of mutual cooperation and diplomatic ease. Wouldst ye be willing to share such information?" Asks the rat rather openly.
Ryu	Ryu considered the ratling, and recognized his apparent disdain for the treatment of the sword. Mindful of this, he sheathed the weapon carefully before the Burmecian could speak up again. He always was a little careless with the sword, and maybe that wasn't the right way to handle it, after all. 'Ser Bateson' makes him smile somewhat warily. The idea of a dragon being called Ser does amuse him, but also makes him mildly uncomfortable. Actually, most social interaction makes him easy, but he makes an effort to seem okay to the rat. "My world, huh," he says, in that sort of lazy tone that betrays the fact that his world relies heavily on a version of mixed English and Japanese. He steps over to grab one of the old wooden chairs from the training simulation, positioning it before another so that he can sit down and talk to Faruja more comfortably. Once he's seated... "I'm willing to answer questions, if it helps with trusting or understanding. Go ahead."
Faruja	There's a small nod as the sword is properly sheathed! His muzzle opens, but he swiftly shuts it out of politeness' sake. Faruja similarly grabs a seat. "Well then! Let us begin with the obvious question: ye were said to once be a soldier. Tell me of...Wyndia, is it? And why is thine nation seemingly so distrustful of draconic beings?" Comes the rat gently. Soon, he has a quill and parchment ready, eye never leaving Ryu.
Ryu	The dragon man looks off toward his impromptu interviewer with a tired gaze as the questions immediately go to Wyndia and the reason dragons are disliked in his world. Ryu spent a moment rubbing his face with a gloved hand, because he lost sleep over this exact reason last night and he needed a moment to collect himself before explaining. "Wyndia is a small country where the Wind Clan comes from... that is, people with bird-like wings on their back, with the ability to turn into giant birds if they have the right... potential for it. Wyndia went through years of war after their royal family was assassinated, and the country has been reeling from that ever since. Most of it is pretty much under martial law, though that isn't as bad as it could have been, thanks to some of the royal advisors keeping things sane." He sniffs and crosses his arms. "Dragons are... were mythical creatures notorious for their warring with the goddess known as Myria, also known as the goddess responsible for granting life to the world. They're blamed for everything beyond our power to explain, and they're the subject of horror stories, movies, novels... folk tales, children's tales to scare them into obediance. There's not a single story of a good dragon, and nothing to prove they existed. No one really wants to think about good dragons because the entire area around Dragoneir, the place they were said to live, is a desert. Nothing but desert for hundreds of miles. They say they burned everything down when they were about to lose their war." Ryu shakes his head slowly, closing his eyes. He just spooked himself a bit, the idea of having the power to sear a world to dust like that making him profoundly uneasy.
Faruja	Faruja's quill is a blurr upon parchment as he takes notes, listening well like a good Inquisitor. By some act of Faram, or likely the threat of a certain lizardess' displeasure in the back of his mind, the rat only crosses a chest at the mention of a heathen goddess. "I see. A country under military law, nay doubt wracked by internal strife despite this vaneer of safety imposed by the royal advisors, and the common person likely harmed the worst for the war." Quips the rat bitterly. But back to the topic at hand, "Mmm. Curious. Then they art thine world's Lucavi. Most curious indeed. Is all knowledge of this area truly lost? Surely something of the former civilization remains, mayhaps beneath the sands? Scouring an entire civilization from the face of a planet is rather difficult without truly terrifying technology or magic. Or is there nay scholarly interest in the subject to question such beliefs?" He gives Ryu a moment. "What art ye capable of, personally? Ye wield a blade well enough. From your years in the army?"
Ryu	Ryu doesn't seem willing to answer anything more about the dragons, though this is one of many people who have spoken to him with the notion of questioning the belief that dragons are evil, as if the stories were not proof enough of it. The concept bubbles in his mind, a melting pot of similar ideas and phrases... He doesn't know whether to accept it like they want. He probably won't. Not today. "I use a handgun more frequently," he says, pulling Agni from its holster and holding it up for examination. It looks like a dark red version of a modern firearm, with elaborate fire-like engravings that glow ever-so-slightly in the light of the room. "As a soldier, I was taught more how to fall in line and how to be a more presentable person." He holsters his weapon again. "They recruited me as... a chance to atone for being a member of a gang, as an alternative to rotting in a prison." "I learned how to fight on the streets. Swordsmanship, though, was for fighting monsters, not people. Things a chrysm firearm won't work on."
Faruja	There's a raised brow. "A magitech relic? /Interesting/! Art these weapons manufactured in thine world, or scavenged?" Faruja openly smiles. "A bit of discipline and honor instilled in the so-called 'rogueish' produces a fine warrior in mine experience. Doth not be /too/ shamed. For the Lord is ever merciful, and to turn upon a righteous path from darkness is most holy indeed." There's a slight smirk in that smile. He scribbles the name of the firearm down, before turning to a more interesting topic. "How, then, were ye taught thine magic? Were ye an Ivalician, I wouldst recruit ye as a White Mage post haste. Ye hath power. Great power at that. Ye practically thrum with Light." Asks the rat, all but basking in the feeling.
Ryu	Ryu smiles warmly as the rat goes on to inquire about the weapon itself, replying easily, "Firearms are mass-produced, but I had this made, along with my sword. It didn't seem right to just use any old weapon from a gun shop." He blinks once, and then nervously ruffles his own hair, the encouragement the rat gives making him embarrassed. Quite an awkward creature, to be certain. One might describe him as humble, the way he seems to get all bashful when someone suggests he has honor. "Oh!" He demonstrates his magic by manifesting a ball of light for Faruja. "I taught myself when I was little. I used it to go walked out under the stars. I would leave a trail of little lights, like fireflies, to guide myself back home. I found out that I could heal people later when I read about what my school of magic was. I'm not really a natural, though I was told I have a talent for a kind of magery that's rare outside of Wind Clan people." He warps the shape slowly of the ball of light into a butterfly, which disperses shortly after, as he lacks the control to maintain it. "Like most of my skills, I taught myself somewhere along the way."
Faruja	Faruja, by now, has found himself liking this so-called dragon. Ryu has proven seemingly humble, and that /always/ sits well with him. "Self taught, hmm? Rare, at least in Ivalice. Tell me more of magery in thine world. 'Tis divided primarily by nation? Art there formalized schools of magic?" Presses the rat further. He watches the demonstration, nodding. "Interesting. Any other skills?"
Ryu	"It's divided by race, mostly. Woren are good with lightning magic, Wyndians with light or fire magic, Beastmen are good with earth except for the frogmen who're only good with water or ice spells. It's a natural thing, but not set in stone. Anyone can figure out another school if they get the right teacher or they have a talent for it." Ryu shrugs his shoulders, when asked if he has any other skills. "Not... really. I'm a fighter, I've never really been that good at anything else."
Faruja	Faruja tilts an ear as he ponders, writing furiously before pausing. "Mmm. Divided into elemental schools. Anything more...esoteric? Alterations of time, gravity, et cetera?" Then, he tucks away his parchment. "What doth ye intend to do now? Seek acceptance in thine world? The Union? Find a new home? Why doth ye fight for us, Ser?"
Ryu	"Support magic is pretty odd and rare, as its own school. There's also, uh..." Ryu rubs his chin in though, and then gestures at Faruja, "Time and gravity spells, yeah. But they aren't their own school, just a rarer kind of spell." And then attention is brought back to him being a Dragon and he instantly seems uncomfortable again. What does he intend to do? That's the part he focuses on most of all. "I intend to do my job... which I guess is working to help the Union's interests, now. I just wanted an excuse to do something with myself that didn't have to be held down by a single country's interests. I wanted to help people. Protect people." He murmurs this next part, "Acceptance isn't as important." He is very bad at lying, but it's clear he doesn't want to address that issue.
Faruja	The magical answer gets a nod, but the rat focues on the far more personal question. That single eye stares intently at Ryu the entire time. His head tilts, and he ponders a moment. "A fair enough answer." States the rat. Then, he continues. "Well. I shan't press the issue. Prove thyself, and ye shall find allies." Comes the rat simply enough. Faruja nods. He seems to be willin to let the matter slide. "Right then, 'tis only fair that the table is thine own. Hath ye any questions of thine own? I shall answer as I am able."
Ryu	Ryu didn't think twice, not realizing Faruja could be skeptical about his intentions or that the ratling noticed he isn't very honest about his answer. Once the questioning is done, he stands up from his seat and lets out a sigh. Almost like he sees it as an excuse to stop socializing at all. He nods once to the Burmecian. "Nothing." He looks over his shoulder, and then back to Faruja. "Can I get back to training...?" he wonders, somewhat tiredly and warily. It isn't that he doesn't like people. It's that he seems to dislike talking to people in normal social interactions. He may have spent all of his patience for this encounter already.
Faruja	Faruja Senra can take a hint. The rat bows. "Of course. Lord's blessings, Ser. I shouldst like to see ye upon the battlefield." With that, the rat turns to take his leave. He'll have a most interesting report to file!