Chapter 3 - Arguing or Planning

[junkuroki]

Ani~

"Here. You'll freeze to death." Stardust looked up to see Reese Amaerick offering his jacket to her. The freezing breeze that was coming from the lake sent a slight shiver over her. Stardust eyed his jacket for a while, trying her best not to give in to the coldness but another swift from the wind made her lift her hand and take his jacket.

"How about you?" she asked. She never knew that it snowed in this part of the world. She clutched the jacket closer to her. She guessed that it would be an error in her part. She felt ridiculous. "Sorry. I didn't expect that it's like this in Esthar," her voice shivered. Stardust glanced back at the airship as some of her teammates went down.

"Uhm...Thanks." she whispered.

[junkuroki]

GC~

"Back off!" she said, shoving him away. Gone grimaced as he put his weight on his mashed foot, all in all though he thought she was warming up to him. It could have been worse.

"You should be glad that's all you got..." Zacke muttered, grinning. "I did the exact same thing and got this." he pointed to his eye, which was now only a faint bruise. "But I guess there's a difference, I was being sarcastic--and you weren't." Zacke finished and then clapped him on the back. Gone almost choked on his spit.

"Alright, since the ship's down, we can get off now, everyone. You guys can either come with me, or go with him" Zacke said jerking his head toward Reese. "I guess it's all a matter of whether or not you value your life."

“Well, I value my life. But I value Stardust more. So I’m going to the elevator.” Gone said, happy-go-lucky.

Gone walked over to the exit and started down, but then tripped on his shoelace for the second time that hour. He landed on the ground outside. Without missing a beat he got up and brushed himself off, then turned towards Stardust.

“Do you have a band-aid? 'Cause I just scraped my knee falling for you.” He said. Then he noticed she was wearing Reese’s jacket. He glared.

/She isn’t yours to be jealous of./ Arianrhod pointed out.

I’m not jealous, Gone whined in his head, merely miffed.

[junkuroki]

Lily~

Reese walked out of the airship, followed by Stardust.

"Alright, since the ship's down, we can get off now, everyone. You guys can either come with me, or go with him" Zacke said jerking his head toward Reese. "I guess it's all a matter of whether or not you value your life."

Gone followed them soon afterward, passing some smart aleck-y comment at Zacke on his way out.

Jun took that as her cue to exit the airship too.
"Well, some of us have different ideas on what would be valuing our lives." She glanced at Zacke for a second, and walked out of the door.

The gust of cold air hit her bare arms, but she hardly noticed it.

The sight of Gone tripping on his shoelace had her shaking her head again. She could barely count the times she shook her head since she knew him.

He picked himself up as if nothing happened, and turned to speak to Stardust.

She strode over to stand with Reese, and noticed his jacket was missing. She also noticed that it had made its way to Stardust.

"Ah, interesting." She said aloud, and sneaked a look at him from the corner of her eyes.

"So which direction is that elevator you were talking about, Reese?"

[junkuroki]

GC~

"So which direction is that elevator you were talking about, Reese?" Jun asked.

Gone looked at Jun. She was wearing a sleeveless v-neck top. He’d bet she was cold. It was cold out, but he was nice and snug in grandfather’s pilot jacket. It was vintage leather and quite comfortable. But giving her the jacket was the gentlemanly thing to do. So he reluctantly took off his jacket and held it out to her.

“So you aren’t so frozen you can’t fight.” He said. He’d have to be extra-careful that she didn’t get attacked or covered in blood. That would ruin his precious aviators jacket!

Gone then turned around looked at the ‘leader’ of their group. His arms were pretty pale. Gone grinned, he never could resist an opportunity to rib someone.

“Whoa! Dude, I need my tinted goggles, the sun is reflecting off the snow to harshly.” Gone said, then put his goggles on. “Oh wait. It was just Reese's arms!”

[junkuroki]

Auria~

Reese glanced at Gone when he cracked the joke about his arms. He glanced down at them, then back at Gone.

"So, I see you resort to childish jokes when you get nervous." he said calmly. "Bad jokes, at that." he turned his gaze over to Stardust. "I'll be fine, I'm used to surviving in extreme conditions. And you're welcome." he said it almost tone-lessly.

He shook his head softly and made his way up the steps to stand in the doorway of Lady Luck. He poked his head into the ship, gripping the doorframe with his hands. "Anyone else coming with us?" he called.

[junkuroki]

Lily~

Gone looked at her, took off his jacket and held it out to her. She could sense the reluctance in his actions.

“So you aren’t so frozen you can’t fight.” He said, and turned to make a jibe at Reese's expense.

She was about to reply, when Reese's voice rang out.

"Anyone else coming with us?" he called, poking his head inside the airship's entrance.

Jun strolled up to Gone.
"Take it back. I don't need it." She said, throwing the jacket at him. "It's probably drenching in your sweat!" She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

He can't even walk in a straight line without tripping all over himself. How can I take his jacket?

Sapphy's reply was scathing.
{Hmmph... you won't be worrying about that while you're freezing to death. Silly girl.}

[junkuroki]

Seiferfetish~

Kyou watched Rika sit and begin to refine. He didn't need to say a word, he'd already said he wasn't going with Reese. And if Rika wasn't going with him...well, Kyou wasn't going to leave her. Running a hand through his bright hair, he walked over to Zacke and nodded.

"Anyone else coming with us?"

Gaiea forced herself not to cringe. His voice alone annoyed the hell out of her, and made her skin crawl. Paired with Stardust...Two of a kind, she thought.

Unable to resist, she called back,"None of us who actually want to complete the mission." She hopped down from the airship and leaned against the hull, arms crossed, her weapons in place. Her gray eyes moved over the departing teammates and the cold wind blew against her skin. She saluted Reese and Stardust mockingly. "Have fun." Then she glanced at the others. "Here's hoping I see the rest of you alive when this is over."

Turning her back on them, she called up to Zacke and the others,"You all coming?"

Then, unable to resist one more scathing remark, Gaiea looked over her shoulder at the other group. "Watch your back on the elevator. If it's open and you can jump off at any time...just make sure you don't get pushed off. Then you won't have to worry about an ambush."

Her gray eyes met Reese's steadily, before she raised an eyebrow.

/Not making too many friends are you/

I don't like him, Ki. He's...slimy.

/That could just be his personality. Just because you don't like the look of him doesn't mean he's a bad person/

Well I'm not going to be the sucker who finds out too late Better safe than sorry. And I feel a lot more safe with the people I'm going with. I know they're competent...and if one of them is the traitor, they'll have to deal with the rest of us.

/And the others?/

They made their choice, Gaiea thought coldly. It's out of my hands

[junkuroki]

QuistisTrepe002~

Dan frowned, before exiting the airship to go stand with Reese. If there's one thing we both hate, it's Blaze Sanaku, he thought, as he watched amusedly as Reese handed Stardust his jacket.

"Come on, you two," he said, as another man exited the ship. "Hey, mate," he said to Xarin.

Xarin looked up, someone had called him "mate"?

He decided to ignore it. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked ahead.

[[Meanwhile]]

Colum looked at Zacke. "I'm sure this is gonna work, Zacke," he said, "I mean, the chance of the other numbskulls actually finding anything is pretty slim," he laughed.

Shrugging, he turned to Sym. "You coming or not?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.

[junkuroki]

Ash~

Blaze's breath came out in short puffs as she stepped out of the warm airship into the snow. She cringed as she felt the cold air seep into her skin and her hair whipped uncomfortably into her eyes.

I hate the cold.

“Whoa! Dude, I need my tinted goggles, the sun is reflecting off the snow too harshly.” Gone said, then put his goggles on. “Oh wait. It was just Reese's arms!” The corners of Blaze's mouth twitched slightly. At this point she felt that any insult to Reese was worthwhile to hear.

Reese didn't seem amused."Anyone else coming with us?" He asked.

"None of us who actually want to complete the mission." Gaeia replied forcefully.

"You're all so gullible." Blaze said to those traveling with Reese. "I will laugh so hard when you all fall into a trap... and just to let you guys know, our team won't be doing a rescue mission for your team when they do fall into that trap because we'll be too busy taking the emerald back to Xu."

Blaze found herself wanting the other team to fail. And they probably will, seeing as they trust a dotNA. She thought. Too bad I won't be there to see their faces when they find out that Reese is a mole. Especially Stardust. Blaze grinned as if Christmas had come early.

[junkuroki]

Auria~

"I will laugh so hard when you all fall into a trap... and just to let you guys know, our team won't be doing a rescue mission for your team when they do fall into that trap because we'll be too busy taking the Emerald back to Xu." Blaze sneered.

Reese's eyes narrowed. Just get the fvck away already. You're like an annoying little knat...

/She only wants you to retort so it'll turn into a big hairy arguement./ Perish squaeked in her girlish voice.

Hmph. "Alright then everyone, this way. Please keep up, it's quite a way to walk." he said stiffly, completely ignoring Blaze and veering off to the left, having to pick his legs up higher than usual because of the thick snow.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Zacke glanced at Colum, who's attention had turned to Sym. He looked around. Why does it seem like this has all erupted into some sick, twisted competition over who can get to the Emerald faster? he thought, disgusted. He heard Blaze outside, sneering about laughing when this team came out victorious.

/Well, at least now it doesn't seem like a competition. Now you know it is./ Iris commented dryly.

That's Blaze for you. he thought grimly. He glanced around at the SeeDs still in the ship, when he noticed Tomoe. She still hadn't said a word. Not since Reese's little speech about his Maverick group.

"Tomoe," he started, stepping over to her. "you still haven't given your opinion." he looked away. "If you're going with Reese, you'd better run. I think they're leaving now." he looked back into her eyes. "I'd really feel better if you came with us though. I don't like him."

[junkuroki]

Spiff~

Sym stood by the door as the rest of her team wandered their seperate ways, her eyes lingering on the horizon and the snow that was on the landscape. Shivering, she felt the skin on her legs prickle as the rest of her was almost boiling from being covered up so much. Damnable scars, if only she didn't have them. . . then she'd be able to be more normal, not stand out so awfuly much.

~But that would be far too much to ask, wouldn't it?~ Sym asked, and wondered at her sudden bout of cynicism. Why was she in such a bad mood? It must have been the mood of the others overflowing into her own mind, that was what was making her so grumpy. ~Gotta get out of this mood. . . get back to my normal self.~

"You coming or not?" Col's voice came to her through the haze of her thoughts, and she turned to see him waiting outside the ship for her, one eyebrow raised. Snickering, she nodded her head and made her way down the walkway to the outside world. She cocked her head to one side, and was about to speak, when a shiver tore through her body, leaving her shaking slightly, "Of course I'm coming, don't get your panties in a bunch!"

Racing to his side, Sym gently tapped Col on the shoulder while appearing on the other side of him, a smile on her face. At least someone had waited for her to come, someone cared enough to notice her in the back of the group, "See, toldja I was coming, no need to worry. Wouldn't want to miss such a super-fun mission for the world."

The sarcasm in Sym's voice was thick enough to cut with a knife, but the woman smiled the entire time, not wanting to disrupt the others. Besides, it would be fun to see what kind of scheme Zacke came up with, "Oy, Col, why aren't you with Gaiea? I thought you two were. . .you know. . . "

[junkuroki]

QuistisTrepe002~

Colum saw Sym shiver. "Here, put this on," he said, taking his own jumper off, and offering it to her. "And as for why I'm not with Gaiea, it was just a dance, wasn't it?"

Now he was just wearing a long sleeved tee-shirt and a pair of jeans.

"Take it, Sym...you look bloody cold."

[junkuroki]

GC~

Gone caught his jacket on reflex and then looked at Jun aghast. “Love, I would never desecrate my grandfather’s jacket by sweating in it!” He said indignantly. Then he draped the jacket around Jun’s shoulders. “Wear it, love, no one wants to eat a Junsicle. At least I hope not.” Gone said seriously. “Besides if you don’t take it, I’m sure someone will make me feel guilty about it. But understand, I’m only doing this because you’re a nagging older sister, and I’m sure that if you caught a cold you would babble on and on about it.” Gone babbled on.

"Alright then everyone, this way. Please keep up, it's quite a way to walk." Reese said, setting off.

Gone resisted his urge to start flinging snowballs. He was on a mission, after all. And that meant at least pretending to be professional, on some level anyway. Gone walked towards Stardust and threw his plan to be professional right out the window.

“How about you and me go walking in a winter wonderland, love.” He said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

[junkuroki]

Lily~

Gone caught the jacket reflexively and looked at Jun, aghast.

“Love, I would never desecrate my grandfather’s jacket by sweating in it!” He said indignantly.

He draped the jacket around Jun’s shoulders. “Wear it, love, no one wants to eat a Junsicle. At least I hope not.” Gone blabbered, which made Jun switch on her automatic zone-out mode.

Oh my Hyne. What have I done to deserve this kind of annoying little bro type as a teammate? It must be retribution for all those bitebugs I killed in my short existence! She creased her brow in irritation, trying to endure the droning beside her ear.

{I believe you chose the path yourself. HAHAHAHA.}

Miraculously, the droning stopped, courtesy of Reese’s urge to keep up.

Thank goodness for small favors. I owe you one, Reese.

She kept up a little jog, trying to chase the circulation back into her numbing legs.

Man, I’m like this freakin frozen turkey with thawed breasts.

She gritted her chattering teeth.

[junkuroki]

MercuryMari~

Rika jumped out of the airship, and received a frigid blast of air in her face. She gritted her teeth to prevent herself from saying anything, and instead whispered, "Fire." She wore only a shortsleeved shirt, yet the Fire spell warmed her instantly. Rika caught sight of her teammates' antics, and backed away from the nonsense. Plus, she didn't want to get too near anyone with the fire she held.

Rika stood on the brink of the group, and waited for everyone to stop the foolishness before calling out, "We'd better split up now, before we get attacked by anything... or anyone," she added under her breath.

She watched Reese's and Stardust's retreating forms, and sighed to herself. This could be the last time we see each other... the mole is in one of the groups, and I hope to Hyne it isn't this one. I hope no one gets killed because of the traitor, wherever he is... or she.