(no subject)

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

Who: Rachel
What: On a quest for Zacks Memories? >D
When: After the AIM log
Interactions: Zack, Open
Warnings: Zack's got no memories, (and he's wearing some of Lockes old clothes from Rachels house >D)



Jidoor was a farily large city, not as big as South Figaro or Figaro Castle of course, but it had the auction house, and wasn't too far from the Opera House either, so it saw a lot of tourism as people came from all over to see those two attractions. If Zack came from this area, someone in this city might know him. Dropping the chocobos off at stables that were located near the towns entrance, Rachel let her little moogle friend perch on her shoulder as they entered the town, looking at the bustling people and paying close attention, in case someone glanced over with some sign of recognition. So far though, no one seemed to be jumping with familiarity at the sight of her traveling companion.

Though some people did give her shoulder riding moogle a look or two.

"So what do you think?" She asked as they neared the auction house. "Any of this bringing back memories?" Rachel wasn't sure he was from around here, but it was as good a starting point as any.

Comments

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Ahh... no, not really, no. Looks interestin' though, what kinda place is this Jidoor like?" the two had had a couple of days of riding to enjoy the scenery and fill one another in on themselves, though Zack had little to say that she didn't already know, and he had only learned what Rachel wanted him to know.

He shrugged his shoulders, stretching and looking around, "Like.. what's that place?" he pointed to the auction house, which had plenty of people milling around the windows to look at the rarities that would go up for sale.

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"It's an okay place. It's got the Opera nearby, and that building you asked about is the auction house. People sell all kinds of weird thing there. Some of them are pretty rare, but I've never actually bid on anything myself." She explained as they walked along.

"Sorry it's not bringing anything back. Maybe you lived on a farm or something, without a lot of people around..." Rachel scratched her temple a bit and then continued. "But aside from that, you wanna check it out?"

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Chocobos seem pretty close to home for me.. I mean, they're familiar." he patted his mount and smiled softly, looking around, and nodding to Rachel. "Sure, we can check it out, we don't have anything else t'do, right? Heck, maybe there'll be a decent sword on the block, something cheap but sturdy, until I can get something better. Better than going barehanded, or bending that rapier've yours."

The way he fought -was- pretty heavyhanded, and if he used her rapier much more, he would indeed break the thing.

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

Rachel nodded. "That's a good idea. They might have some weapons up today." She agreed and made for the stairs. The craftsmanship in this town was really lovely, but it made her remember that their next logical stop was Zozo, which, if anything, was the exact opposite of a place like this.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack smiled, leaving their Chocobos tethered to a post as was the norm for people who wanted to keep them from running off. Domesticated birds usually didn't, but sometimes it happened, especially if they were spooked.

Grinning, Zack rubbed his hands together, pushing open the door to the auction house once they got there, and holding it for Rachel, "Ladies first." he winked a glowing eye playfully, half-bowing afterwards.

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"I've been called a lot of things, but..I gotta say, it's been a while since the term 'lady' was used." Rachel chuckled, smiling at Zack as she entered the place. It was a true enough statement. When you're turning people into the authorities for money, you got called a lot of things. "Lady" usually wasn't one of them, unless it was being used in a derisive context.

The inside of the auction house was pretty opulent looking. sculpted or carved support beams designed to look like columns, vivid scarlet colored carpet with some kind of gold pattern on it, and the benches were beautifully polished red mahogony wood, with inlaid cushions that matched the color of the carpet.

People were just beginning to take their seats when they entered. It looked as though they had made it just in time.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Well, you've always been nice to me. Ladylike, as well, even if you can handle yourself. I don't quite think it's all that right to assume that just because you're a woman with manners, you shouldn't be skilled as well, and if you're skilled that you can't be a lady." he smirked, and nudged Rachel with an elbow, "Nice place though."

Zack sat slowly onto a cushion on a bench, patting the one beside him for Rachel, "Err.. I don't actually have any cash y'know? Naked in a crystal with no memories doesn't pay well.. but I'll pay you back, I promise."

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"I'll hold you to that." She told him as she took a seat next to him. "Though you realize, we could just...go to a weapons shoppe?" She raised an eyebrow at him and chuckled as the curtain drew up to reveal the announcer, preparing to set the stage for the first item on the block.

"Just...try and remember that even as a renowned bounty hunter, my funds aren't infinite." She said, nudging his arm jokingly with her elbow.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but this is an auction house! They're gonna have something cool in here, I know it! And wouldn't you rather have a brash, bold hero with a good weapon at yer side than a chump with some kind of tin stick?" he grinned, and put his arm around her shoulders, giving her a familiar half-hug, though they hadn't been friends that long. Zack was just that kinda guy.

In short order, the auctioneer started up, selling all kinds of things. Beast pelts, ancient guns that fired magical bullets, trinkets and heirlooms from ages past. Probably mostly junk, but then Zack's lighted eyes lit up more, and he grinned, pointing surreptitiously. It seemed he knew about swords, or at least had an eye for quality. The auctioneer gestured to a large, wide bladed sword (http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/soulcalibur/images/c/c1/Requiem.jpg) that could likely double as a shield if used right, or cleave through flesh and bone like nothing. It was touted as being battle-ready, though it would take a combatant of immense strength to use the weapon effectively, thus it was being sold as a showpiece.

Zack grinned, thanking his good luck, as it was being sold more for ornamental value than the value of it's steel and craftsmanship. Even from there, he could see the edge, and while he wouldn't know for sure until he used it, he figured that the sword, 'Requiem' as it was being called, was for him. He raised a hand, opening the bid at six thousand gil.

"Do I hear seven? Seven thousand gil anyone? Seven to the lady in the pink dress!"

The amnesiac-SOLDIER sighed, and raised his hand again, "Ten!" he would owe Rachel big time, but he figured being able to really cut loose, pardon the pun, would be worth it.

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

Rachel turned a bit red at the familiarity, but seemed to be enjoying it, as she didn't remove his arm right away. When the items started arriving, she looked at them curiously. And checked her gun against the one they had up there, but decided she liked hers better.

When the sword came up though, the actual bidding war started, and Rachel quickly checked her pouch, making sure that she had enough gold to cover what might end up being a very expensive sword indeed.

Deciding that yes, she could indeed cover it, she closed the bag, and combed through her raven black hair a bit with her fingers before leaning back in the chair to watch the bid battle.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack eventually grew impatient with outbidding the woman in pink, stood, and with one foot on the back of the bench in front of them, he grinned, "Twenty!" the woman sputtered, staring incredulously. She glanced to her man, who gave a curt shake of his head, and she glared daggers at Zack, who had given the winning bid.

"That's twenty thousand gil to the man with the glowing eyes! He looks strong, folks, maybe he isn't buying to look?"

Zack crossed the room easily enough at a brisk walk, pulling Rachel along with him and nodding, bending to heft the huge sword, clucking his tongue as he examined it. "So, Requiem, was it?" he turned, and smiled warmly to Rachel, who had really gone above and beyond what he had expected of her, when it came to him, "Requiem for what, hmm?"

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

Rachel made a little noise of surprise as she was dragged along, but caught up rather quickly. The other patrons were staring she knew, but the woman tried to play it off as best she could. The woman he'd outbid was still pouting, and that at least made Rachel want to laugh. Why would such a dainty thing want something like that anyway? It seemed rather silly to her. If she wanted a weapon for her mantel, then she should do like Rachel did, and use one for a few years.

When asked about requiem though, she could only shrug her shoulders. "I'm not sure, but it sounds ominous." She said as she opened her pouch once more, taking out 20 small coins with "1000 gil" imprinted on them. They were a little larger than a half dollar, but not too heavy.

"No practicing indoors" She teased Zack as she turned back towards him, her transaction complete. "If you bring my house down I'll have to shoot you."

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

The rain grew more heavy the closer they got to the town. If it could even be called that. Most if not all of the buildings looked like they were falling apart. The people...well they didn't look much better, and monsters could be seen roaming the streets.

"Anything familiar here?" She asked him, though she was doubtful that someone like him could come from a place like this.

As she spoke, she moved over to a side alley, getting out of the way of a huge purple behemoth as it thundered through the main street of the town.

Zozo sure was some town...

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

Zack ducked into the same alley that Rachel did, thinking hard. "It.. doesn't seem familiar in the way that I know the place.. but it's familiar like.. like I spent a lot of time someplace -like- this?" Indeed, he was quite at ease in the rainy streets of Zozo. Killers around every corner, knives in the night, he didn't see how he could be comfortable in such a place, but he was..

The idea chilled him, and he wondered.. was he the kind of person who belonged in Zozo?

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"hm, So...maybe you came from a place like this in another land?" She asked half-rhetorically. "I wonder then, how the heck did you get all the way across the ocean to be buried in the ground like that."

It was a mystery that just kept getting more confusing. "Well if that's the case, then we're going to need to look on other continents." She thought a moment and then groaned. "And the airship port is all the way back in South Figaro...." Putting a hand on her forehead the raven haired woman slumped back against the wall of the nearest decrepit building, as she thought of going all the way back north, over (or under if she was lucky) the mountains, and then through the cave to South Figaro. And then there would be the waiting for a ship that would take on animal cargo so she didn't have to leave her chocobo behind.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Well, we don't have to go there right now." he smiled pleasantly, "I'm enjoying hanging out with you, and I owe you for the Requiem anyway. When we get to a place with airships, we can worry about it then." he patted her shoulder and grinned, "Unless you wanna go right now, but why rush? We ain't on a deadline, heh."

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"It's not that I'm in a hurry really. It's more that, I just came from the way we have to go, so I feel like I'm making a big U-turn." She told him and laughed a little. Emerging from the alleyway now that the beast had passed, she threw her hands casually behind her head as they walked, drops of rain rolling easily off their ponchos.

As she was walking, Rachel nearly ran into a scrawny man who seemed to be part of a larger group that had gathered around. She blinked, wondering what they'd stumbled upon.

"What's going on here?" She asked, mostly to no one inparticular. The man answered though, and he was true to the nature of the town "What do you mean? Nothing's going on here." Rachel sighed and turned to Zack.

"You think you can get us to the front of this thing?" She asked him, with an expression that was begging him to be theatrical about it.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Ah, I get it." he followed Rachel as she left, smirking slightly when the man lied so obviously. Well, time to make due with a lie of his very own devising.

Drawing his sword, he held it aloft in one hand, grabbing the man and shoving him aside to knock over a knot of people, "Get outta my way! I am Zack, the King of Zozo, and I won't have you peons impeding my progress!" he seized Rachel's elbow, leading her along with him until they got to where she had asked to be.

Theatrics, done!

OOC: Rachel's Red Velocycle >D

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

Hurriedly, people scrambled out of the way, with they type of motivation that only a large, dangerous weapon gives. When they got to the front of the crowd, a man was there, with a large, alien looking vehicle on a tarp along with various other strange and mysterious machines. The man appeared to be having some sort of auction of the items he'd brought. He indicated the vehicle with a hand gesture.

"This is a....super high tech plow!" He adlibed, obviously not knowing what he had. "Just hitch this...front end here...to your chocobo, or chocobos...and the the automatic back wheels dig your trenches for you! I'll start the bidding at 10,000 gil!"

Rachel rolled her eyes, the man obviously didn't have a clue what he was talking about. Where had he even gotten something as interesting as that anyway? Rachel crossed her arms over her chest, looking as intimidating as a woman in a rain poncho could.

"I think we'll take that for 5,000gil. A nice discount. Don't you think...King Zack?" She asked him with a smirk. The other observers had backed away from the place, and didn't seem keen on interfering.

OOC: Like Rundler's Red Rocket?

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Hail to the King, baby." he winked at Rachel, and put his arm around her. The man had noticed a few leers sent her way, and the slight show of possessiveness, combined with his sword, sent them scurrying off as well. Grinning, "Five thousand sounds about right to me. Heck, it's just a trench digger, buddy, yer lucky to get the five grand."

He couldn't help but play up the part, seeming to have a natural flair for acting. Zack just loved to be flamboyant, it felt great to have such fun!

OOC: Whhaatt? o__o

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

Rachel blushed suddenly, feeling her cheeks grow hot despite the rain. But she smiled anyway, and acted at though this were perfectly normal. The man that was selling things looked as though he wanted to argue, but saw Zacks sword and thought better of it. Really, Rachel thought, he was lucky to be getting any gil at all. But she was a woman of her word and happily transferred over 5000 gil,

The machine was sturdy, but the wheels reluctantly moved when she placed her hands on the sides and began to push. It was weird though, even though they spun, they didn't seem to be built for traveling over land. "Let's get this thing out of here before it rusts" She told Zack, her voice straining with the rest of her body. "Sorry to cut our visit short by the way" She added apologetically.

OOC: Disney's Recess thing.

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"No problem Rach." he grinned, and walked along with her, noticing her straining to push the thing, "So what is it, anyway? I mean, it looks like a motorcycle, but those wheels ain't rubber, that's fer sure." The man's eyes flitted this way and that as they moved along the road out of Zozo. It wasn't as if he had anything to remember that was worthwhile, here.. if he was some kind of criminal before, he didn't want to be one, now.

OOC: Oh....I don't think I ever saw it then ^.^||

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"Heh, no idea. but it looks damn cool." She admitted when they finally got it out of range of the rain. In the sunlight it was much better looking. Glossy metalic red and white, which characters scrawled on the sides that Rachel hadn't seen before, but that she thought were pretty just the same.

She opened the door (once she found it) and checked around inside. There seemed to be a few wires pulled out, but the damage looked minimal. Maybe they could get it running again by themselves? Lying on the seat was something that looked like a crystal encased in a machine, but it didn't look like it belonged there. It didn't seem to be part of the engine or anything like that. Fascinated, Rachel put the object into her pouch, to be examined further later. Then she sniffed a little.

"Hey...I think these seats are made of leather..." She said, surprised that things like that could be done. "Anyway, do you happen to remember anything about machines? I really don't know if I can fix this on my own. And I don't want to blow it up."

[zephyrs-aria.livejournal.com]

"We're going to push this thing all the way north to Figaro Castle?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow. It didn't seem like the best solution to her, and she wondered if there wasn't a way to take it up there without causing as much wear and tear to the already damaged vehicle. An airship would be much more convenient, but she wasn't sure if there was a port this far south of there. Of course, there was always the chance of booking a private owner, but they tended to charge through the nose for things like cargo transport. Rip off artists...all of 'em She thought ruefully as she finally was able to stop pushing and lean against the cycle to rest a bit.

She raised an eyebrow again though as he mentioned Edgar and his infamous love of women. "You're going to use me...as bait....for....HIM!?" She asked him, sending half a glare in his direction. Edgars taste for anything in a skirt was famous, so she didn't doubt it would work. But that didn't mean she liked it. Maybe she could distract him though if she showed him Hecatonchier. And while she was thinking about it, she wondered When did I learn this things name?

[southswordsman.livejournal.com]

"Hey, I ain't gonna let him getcha." he smirked, and put a thumb to his chest, "Long as yer hanging out with me, if some jerk puts the moves on you and you don't like it, let 'im know yer taken." he winked playfully, "Datin' ya or not, I ain't gonna let someone who thinks he's some sly Casanova handle ya like a loaf've bread. SOLDIER's honor." he smiled sweetly afterwards, a good ol' country boy sometimes.

"As for pushin' it.. unless you wanna rent a wagon and a coupla Chocobos in Jidoor, I don't think we have any other choice. Neither one've us has airship access."