The Dancing Moogle

[Chibi Chichiri]

The bar is small, probably only seating maybe a dozen people at any one time. The small, square room that houses the bar is mostly for the customers, but the bar that separates the room from the bartender leaves a foot or two of moving space behind the counter, and spans the width of the room. The bar has a small brass-looking handle along the front edge, and a couple of stools with torn or cracked upholstery on them. The rest of the room, a long bar rests around the edge of the room, housing an additional 4 stools, in similar condition. The two tables are small enough to only really allow for 3 people to seat comfortably at each. At the edge, near the entrance, is a few quietly flickering arcade machines, and a single, brightly lit pinball machine.

Behind the bar, a couple of clearly displayed cabinets show a few rows of cheap drink mixing materials in simple, usually darkly glazed bottles. The taps are few in number, and protrude from the bartop, labeled with a couple of local brands.

[XenoGryph]

Strolling up to the bar Tomo regains his thoughts and pushes through the door. The reviews he had read had said this place was small, they were not kidding. Only a few patrons occupied the empty spaces in the corners quietly sipping their drinks and chattering on about nothing and everything.

He spots Darian slumping in his chair drinking whiskey at the bar. So you managed to make it I see. Tomo said taking a position beside him at the bar.

[Kaya]

" I guess I did...figured I needed a drink after a long day...Also night time is the best time to scope out shady folk."

He downed his whiskey and ordered another.

"So what is it you think you can help me with again?"

[XenoGryph]

Relax we just got here. Tomo exclaimed calling out to the bartender for a drink. I'll have what he's having. The shifty bartender pulls a cup from under the bar and places it on the counter. The bartender then retrieved a bottle from the selection on the wall behind him and began to pour. Tomo finds the label which read "Black Death", Uh sir I think you grabbed the wrong bottle.

Funny, the bartender smirked, you said wanted what he's having, there you go. Cupping the glass in hand Tomo takes a smell of the freshly poured beverage. Almost immediatly he curles his nose in ghast of the retched odor fuming from the rim. Oh well, bottoms up!

[Kaya]

Darian chuckled slightly at Tomo's face as he downed the hard liquor. Darian always out drank most men. He also like the hard stuff. It was fast acting and did the trick of relaxing him. Not much could do that. He was already feeling at ease. He gave Tomo a hearty pat on the back.

"Alright there pal?"

[XenoGryph]

Quickly swallowing the entire contet of the cup Tomo tries to bypass it's bitter sweet taste. Tomo's face turned a lite shade of green in Darian's attempted to comfort him.

I'm fine, he said grasping the back of his chair. I'm not really much of a drinker, though I do enjoy a nice bottle of spirits now and then. So yeah about the meeting here and all that, you had mentioned you were looking for someone? I have some experience of the area that you may need, Tomo explained revieling that he had once lived here.

If your not from here you wouldn't know that Chocobo fighting has become sort of a passtime for some of the citiczens here. Yes it's illegal and I cannot bare seeing them caged and forced to attack one another. Authorities try to contain the fighting but for each one they take down another rises to replace it.

Perhaps the one your looking for may be hiding out there. Most travelers who get stuck here with little Gil to continue often find themselves playing the games trying to make what they can to leave or move on.

[Kaya]

Darian finished his drink and flash Tomo a smile.

"Don't worry about me getting stuck here I never get stuck somewhere I do not want. But I am thankful the help and knowledge. Is there something you want in return?"

Darian was used to people having their own motives...He needed to know Tomo's real motives to help him. One probably was took keep Darian out of trouble...But would he get in the way? But he needed the help soon he got the job done the sooner he got more money. That was a mercenaries life living job by job...some paid better then others. This would set him up for a while at least.

[XenoGryph]

Tomo turned his head to Darian to speak after taking another sip of his beverage. You are indeed an experienced veteran, we would have gotten to this point eventually so here is my proposition. I will go with you to find your bounty, but, as soon as were finished I have another job for you.

He gradually explained the sensitivity of his mission. Speaking about the Ceil Chocobo, it was rough at first trying to explain a mythical chocobo with invisible magic amour with the power to command army's to someone who may or may not have heard anything about such a creature.

I have been tracking this thing since it's last appearance over a year ago and I need someone with a little experience of hunting tactics to aid me. Once captured, you will be granted any reward you request, I promise ya.

[Kaya]

Darian was surprised another job offer. His luck was changing for sure.

"You have a deal. I will ask for more details on the thing we are hunting when we get to that point. For now we have to sort the details of what is true and false about this man I am hunting."


Darian looked to see if anyone was over hearing then quietly he explained all the stories that had been going around about a 7 foot tall man with blazing red eyes who stalked people in the night killing them and only leaving pieces. He explained the many descriptions of the man. All seemed like exaggerations.

"So you see I am chasing a fairytale of sorts. I am thinking if I can look at the key parts of his normal actions and behaviors. I might find him."

[XenoGryph]

He listens to Darian's stories carefully to possible see if he could recognize any patterns. Red eyes, leaving only pieces of bodies, taller than normal, all these play a factor in serious sleuthing.

Hmmm, Tomo thought to himself intriguedly. It may seem your missing person has a twisted nack for collecting things. Leaving pieces behind, show's he's lazy or sloppy. This is a fresh, new experience for him, but the fact he's repeating makes him even more dangerous. Growing ever more cautious and leaving less behind each time I bet.

Your killer may be compelled to collect things, anything that may have little or no signifcance. He my even be a pick-pocketer. Lot's of distracted citiczens with money waving in the air as they cheer on the victor may seem irresistable.

[Kaya]

"Well I have not had a chance to check out one of the crime scenes he's kinda disappeared for a bit. He might be developing a type of victim he likes. The last three where blond, blue eyed girls of a certain age. Not much was left to know if he played with them before killing them. It would be helpful to be in one of his crime scenes."

[XenoGryph]

It would help alot if we could but I have been away for a long time and was only this morning that I made my way back into town with Mist. If I was allowed access to some of the evidence it could aid us in detaining this monster.

Are there any locations that have not been "Cleaned" yet close by? Tomo inquired.

[Kaya]

In a more hushed voice Darian answered.

"None on the books...or I would have gone there. That was another thing I was looking for but it's not a thing I advertise. Could you imagine the panic if people thought a murder was among them? I am sure he has struck again...surely his inner monster is screaming for blood."

[XenoGryph]

Tomo's expression went from an inquizitive look to what appeared to be a deeply disturbed look. There can be only one reason why something like this would be cleaned and covered up so quickly. Only someone in the government could have accessed the scene logs and hide them from anyone who did not have "Clearence". Something like that had happined once before here, a long time ago. Tomo takes a moment to re-gather his memories of the incident.

It was a long time ago, my father had been away for a long time, some company project. A few years later a man in a black suit and sunglasses showed up to report that there had been an accident. We were instructed to never speak of it to anyone. Me and a friend of mine snuck to the place where my father had sopposidly worked. Turned out to be a vacant lot but near by was this plant that was going always busy.

Me and my friend went to check out the area, thats when we had noticed something strange. A glowing beam of light was emitting from a broken seal on what we thought was a water tower but it was on the ground. Suddenly the light took shape and a demon sprang forth. We tried to run but my friend's foot got stuck on something. The creature began to stalk my friend then there was a bright light. I woke up back at home in bed as well as my friend.

We never went back, turns out they had built a wall around the facility after that.

[Kaya]

"Odd...you story almost matches one of the sightings. Now I see why they hired me...God damn. No wonder there is little to follow..I was not looking for the right signs."


Darian's eyes glowed red for a second, then went back to the normal brown color.

"We best not talk about this more...I think I know where the next attack will be."