encircle me, i need to be taken down [ open ]

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] She counts the days on a wall covered in grime, striking tally marks through the dirt with a stone. The rain doesn't touch here so the marks remain. The rain doesn't touch here so she's constantly reminded how long it's been. She has never been away from her family for so long. Her sorrow for her deceased parents has become a dull numb over her mind and the ache for her brother sits at the base of her skull like a constant headache. I'M ALIVE. FIND ME, KODA. I'M ALIVE. FIND ME, KODA. Sometimes it makes her sick. Mostly though, it just makes her much more likely to act on her anger. There's no way off this world and as far as she can tell -- as far as she can feel -- her brother is not here. Koda tries to ignore that pang of rage and fear that sends to her gut. Maybe she just has to wait for everything to die. Koda lets the thought sink in for a long moment before she blinks the glaze over her eyes away. She lifts her head, inhales, exhales, and climbs to her feet. And then her eyes harden. In the glow of the colored lights around her, the gray of her iris's seems to suck in the greens and blues and swirl into a color that, generations ago, might have been called mako. I'M ALIVE. But then she jerks forward, and the color is gone, leaving gray, just gray. She runs from her shitty excuse for shelter in some nasty back alley and she's grabbing the railing and vaulting over it. She lands without her natural grace and the Heartless, the ones she could feel while buried in her alleyway, turn toward her hungrily. She's not afraid. She's too angry to be afraid. If anyone in this town knows she exists, it's in this form: burning with rage and looking for a fight. When the Heartless appear, she's there and what they perceive as heroics is only Koda venting the loss of her family, her home, her brother, her everything. (FIND ME, KODA.) And now, Koda is not quiet. She looses her control and her rage sounds to the sky, echoing through the district in a incoherent shout. She swings, the serrated edge of her blade tearing through the closest Heartless. They are too stupid to recognize what a threat she is. One by one, they step forward to the slaughter house that she has become. WHERE ARE YOU?

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

Taverse town, a place so familiar for poor reasons he hated it. All this place meant to him was broken dreams and shattered memories. The first time his world was consumed by darkness,he had ended up in Radiant Garden. But when he had been forced to seal his world away to keep the heartless at bay, this was where he ended up with all the others that left his world. This was where some remained, others, scattered amongst the countless stars and worlds they might blend in on. So as if to turn his already miserable existence of seeming powerless into a bigger joke, they had gotten off his world a few years ago and were once again becoming prevalent. How many times did he have to fail at protecting his world, protecting friends and family, anything really? He was supposed to be a great leader, and yet as always, it feel apart as soon as it started.

To top it all off, he was stuck here, stuck here in a place he hated for no apparent reason. Dozens of ways to leave, he could not use a single one for countless reasons. All that filled his mind at the moment was rage. Anger at all his failures, at all that had happened, himself, the heartless, everything. This was why he had turned his back on "the light" so many years ago as a child. Sure, he was no villain when you broke him down, he helped others, especially those who where in dire need or less fortunate, but he didn't follow most peoples rules. Rules kept the rich and powerful in control, rules at times did nothing but create the injustices they sought to eliminate. He didn't propose total anarchy but the system was broken, so he went outside it. He used the darkness, not the other way around. If you fought darkness with purely light, all you did was make a bigger shadow.

His mind then turned to one simple thought that had nagged at him since he was young, since his parent's had died, when his sister was taken away by their uncle, so many times, he asked "Why me?" Not questioning why it happened to him, but rather, why he always came out unscathed when he felt so many others deserved to get the better in, to live as opposed to die, to be free instead of enslaved. None of what ever happened seemed to be right, the wrong people suffered and the wrong people were rewarded. Despite full knowledge that gods existed on his world, that their could be penalties for doing so, he worshiped none of them, paid them no heed, they were as backwards as anyone else and deserved no such praise as great.

As he made his way into the second district, he got a few steps before sensing something. He felt an all to familiar sensation in not one but both hands before both of his key blades appeared. Or rather, his own and the one given to him. His own was not a surprise, but the other he had gotten all those years ago from a fallen comrade, that was. "I see you want to work today" he said both to himself and the key blade. He could sense the presence of her in the blade still, perhaps her spirit.. and she still liked to mess with him and make life difficult if that was the case. Though he understood why as he saw several of the more pathetic heartless appear. They hesitated, they always did because he wasn't aligned with the light, but decided to come after him. A small smirk crossed his face as they did. He needed a little "anger management."

Silver and blue colors flashed as Rune started slicing through waves of the brainless creatures, his black cloak flowing with every spin and turn, though at times blocked by the smoke of vanishing heartless. There was no real flutter in it, and there was only a little movement of the hood he had up as he went, having trained his movements to be as fluid as possible. The weapons were different, but it felt like the old days. He had his dark grey leather armor that covered his torso, fore arms, and shins, he had no companions, no kingdom to rule, no wars to actually fight, no politics no cares nothing. Just doing what ever he pleased and being free. It was an illusion yes but he let it last for a bit.

As he finally ran out of heartless, he noticed another figure present. He made his way somewhat closer, noticing the serrated blade they were using, and so kept his blades in his hands. His uncle had used one, so he knew how painful they were. Despite the hood of his cloak concealing his eyes from others, he could see quite clearly and watched as the other person cut down the heartless that were attacking them.

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] She looses herself. Koda sees nothing but red as she cuts down the monsters. She breathes heavily, not from exhaustion or exertion, but from rage. She can't keep her head on straight. She can't feel anything but the tug of whatever kind of skin Heartless have as she cuts through it. That and the whispers in the back of her skill. (I CAN'T FIND HIM HERE. I CAN'T LEAVE HERE.) Edge is gone. Mother is gone. Father is gone. Brother is. Gone. She feels the tremor in her hand and notices the way the Heartless more quicker toward her now. They can smell her fear or the darkness from her rage. Whatever it is, it makes them hungrier. It makes them violent. But Koda is strong and it does not affect her. She continues to cut them down, even as her mind is somewhere in limbo, conscious of the blade touching Heartless and remembering a life she had before. Edge had been a shit hole. She'd known that. But that had been her home regardless. At least she'd had her bearings, her family, a place to stay, friends, routine. Here ... Here, she was no better than a stray dog. She was too proud to ask for munny, and she'd die, cold and starving in her alley, before she asked for help. Her father had been as stubborn (her grandfather too, though she'd never know that) and she had gained the trait in full. She was going to die here. Without what was left of her family and maybe. Maybe, that meant -- It's only after the last one rips apart between both of her blades that she realizes that she killed far less than there had been. And then, behind her, she senses another, something sort of similar to the ignorant, shivering darkness and that's all she needs. Maybe that meant her brother would die alone too. Her heart thumps so hard at the thought it shudders her chest. Koda turns, teeth bared, arm raised. She is swinging down with all her power when she realizes it's a person she's unleashing on. Her hand freezes, weapon still high and in position to be brought down directly between his eyes. A jolt shoots through her and for a moment, her vision blurs (I'M ALIVE.). Could it -- Is it really -- ? Her heart thumps again. No. She blinks, lips parting as she let go of a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. No. Not her brother. In the blur of the fight, in the midst of her anger, she'd let her hopes get the best of her. This wasn't her brother. Koda feels her anger drain away so fast her knees almost buckle. Her arm fall limp to her side, blades still clutched in either hand. Her eyelids drop too, the fire in her eyes gone. Dull now and half-mast, she locks eyes with the male who was barely taller than her. She is glad she does not have to look up. Instead, she arches a slender eyebrow. "What." It is rhetorical. There is no hospitality in her voice. She is barely there, her mind slowly recovering from the mental exhaustion she had just put herself through. If she was a weaker woman, she might have burst into tears. But Koda would never. She does her best to stop the slight tremor that continues up her hands. She is not weak. She will not let him think she is.

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

Rune watched her finish the fight and turn towards him, Rune crossing the two key blades in front and above to block the strike but it never fully reaches. He waited till her arms fell limply to her sides before letting his arms fall to his, not sure just what kind of state this girl was in. She had a look all too familiar to him. Someone that had been on their own and without what most would call a real home, someone that was always on the moves or on the streets. So when he heard her say "What" he didn't take offense or anything. He had never been one to receive warm welcomes. Not back when he was young anyway, not just some kid on the street trying survive. Anything in a tone that was hospitable always seemed foreign to him, this was far more natural for him and always would be.

"Nothing." He replied plainly, "I'm just a simple wanderer, and this is where I happened to be." he replied, letting his arms and hands relax further, the tips of the blades nearly touching the ground. "Though by the looks of things, you've been wandering or lost yourself for a while." he added, in the same almost flat tone. He had used up his ability to really think and have a personality when cutting through heartless while ticked off. He always ended up sorta mellowed out like the people in those dens. Why they liked being this way was beyond him.

[Koda Strife]

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, width:15px; padding: 10px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; ][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [atrb=style,background: #A31E39, width: 110px; padding: 5px; border: 0px;]

[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] In the beat that follows her rude greeting, Koda drops her gaze to her weapons, checking idly for any damage. There is none. There never is against those things. She doesn't question it anymore, but a warrior's heart made her check every time. The male didn't seem to be a threat. He feels different, a dark similar to those monsters, but he had only defended against her attack, not struck back. She sheaths her dual blades behind her back as he begins to speak. Koda lifts her head to look at him, not without some disinterest. 'Nothing.' She is pleased with the answer. A few times before, civilians of this town had come to thank her, as if her actions were in heroics. They quickly learned how cold her attitude was. Koda acted on her own behalf and on her brothers. But she's caught off guard by where he goes next. Her shoulders stiffen. It's the only betrayal her body gives away. Koda has played uncaring for a long time. Her eyes do not even flicker with shock at his insight. She takes a moment to swallow down whatever emotion was crawling up her throat before speaking. "Lost?" A look crosses her face that is nothing short of frustrated. "I don't think you can call it that." She straightens her back and meets his gaze again. "This is Traverse Town." Some part of her is surprised at how much she is saying. It has been quite some time since she has had a decent conversation. Her voice fades. "And there is no way off it." For a moment, it is quiet, both around them and in her head. Then the thought comes to her again, cold and unforgiving and so very, very desperate. "Maybe it would help to stop killing them." Her eyes darken as they move to the place she had slain dozens of Heartless moments before. Then they could destroy this world too.

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

As she put her blades away he allowed the two key blades to vanish, seeing no need for them. He then watched what little reaction she gave and started to speak. He stayed quiet throughout, though when she spoke and said about stopping killing them and looked to where she had slain several, he looked up to the stars. More accurately, he looked to a blank space, a space that should have a star, but there was none anymore, and he always assumed that ever faint light was just his imagination.

"Perhaps your right, lost isn't the right word, or at least I'm not quite using it right for the situation..." He replied, his hood which had been slipping since he looked up finally falling down, not that he noticed. "Maybe it would help, or be easier to just stop fighting." He added, a hint of sadness in his voice. He knew all too well where this girl seemed to be. Lost, alone, on your own fighting with nothing in sight but more of the same. Where all before you seemed like misery and despair, where there was no help, where fighting just seemed pointless and you just wanted everything to end. That at least was part of his experience, whether this girls was the same or not he couldn't truly know, but sounded very much like she was on the edge.

He looked away from the void his home should have been in, back to the girl that stood before him. His shorter spiky white hair and paleish green eyes now visible. Both the product of one such attempt to simply be done with everything, to be done feeling like he brought not but misery and destruction, that he was the cause of all the problems around him. "Your right about one thing though, this place is called traverse town", he said the bit of sadness that had been in his voice gone, "But there are several ways off it, granted I myself am stuck here at the moment. for various reasons." Rune was unsure what to really say on the other topics, he thought back to the two women in radiant garden that had found him lying unconscious and was just waking up, of others he ended up meeting. He hadn't simply found a reason to keep going, more others had given him ones, that and the feeling his sister had been out there. He managed to crack a small smile as he said "I'm Rune" holding out his hand, figuring he'd at least introduce himself. He knew sometimes people needed to feel like they weren't alone and had someone that might help. As a child he'd lost his parents to his uncles greed, then his sister and was forced to live on the run on his home world, to avoid the men sent after him, to be on the streets and have no one speak to you other than yell, to not bother with some kid that looked terrible and alone, that refused to help for various reasons. Now that situations seemed to be reverse, that he was not the one alone on a street, he didn't want to be them, he wanted to be better then them, the way he always thought he would be.

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] When he misses her point, she isn't surprised. It isn't that she wants to stop fighting. She just wants off. Fighting is in her blood: it went back further than she knew. She wants the fight, that's why she doesn't stop. But killing the quivering black fiends stops them from winning. And that stops her from getting out, getting away. I'M ALIVE. Getting to her brother. It is the sadness in the male's voice that stops her, makes her eyes narrow in skepticism. Something about it was ... so very familiar. Part of her, the part she did her best to bury, latches onto it. It's been so long. She thinks of the tally marks on the wall. It's been so long. She hates herself for wanting it, but she is already listening, already formulating responses longer than a simple 'yes' or 'no' or 'is that right?' And she felt like he knew. His eyes had the same sort of glazed look hers did. Maybe he had been through it too. After all, he was one of the first people to acknowledge there were other worlds besides this one. Nobody else seemed to know. Lost in her reverie, she misses the most important part of his words. 'Rune.' She hesitates for a moment, visibly unsure as to whether or not she should take his outstretched hand. She gives in after a long beat. Human touch seems foreign now. "Koda," she responses, blunt. She pulls her hand away, curling fingers into a lose fist. Outside of cold comments and sarcastic jabs, she has no knack for conversation. She is too tired to find something to poke fun of him for and that part of her that tells her they are similar resists. She tries to find something to say in the awkwardness that seems to rise between them. His words replay, the part she hadn't really heard. And then she realizes. ' ... several ways off it ... ' What? Koda's head snaps back to him. "How?" She waits a moment, before realizing they've moved past that, that he won't understand. Some of her fire returns and she feels herself leaning toward him. "How do I get off?" She cannot hide her desperation.

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

Rune wasn't surprised by the hesitance to shake hands or introduce herself. Rune did not exactly look like mister trustworthy. Then again, he liked looking like that, it worked to his advantage occasionally. So her name was Koda, though she seemed to be a bit more reclusive then he ever was. Oh well, not the first time he had to deal with people like that. And to his knowledge this one didn't have a desire to put his head on a pike for using magic or being..well, a rule breaker, damned paladins.

However, it seemed a little late his comment about way's off this world suddenly clicked and the fire she had while fighting seemed to be back. That and desperation to do so. "Well, there are two main way's I know of for sure, others are just rumors." he said, seeing as sorces were reliable, but none of them had been used in years. "The main way most people use is what's called a gummi ship, it travels between worlds using certain corridors, but they cost money to but and you need to know how to fly them, MY personally way is through a portal of darkness, since while I may not be a villain I have no particular love of the light and some of their thinking, I can actually use." But he let out a sigh as he added "But for some insane reason I managed to get here, but I can't seem to re-open it, so until I get the funds up for a ship or I can reform it, I'm stuck here as well." It was ridiculous that there was ONE person that made these ships still on this world and he charged insane rates. "For some insane reason everyone seemed to forget their were more worlds than just their own." he added, shaking his head, those who forgot history and all that.

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] It was a rare occurrence that Koda gave the amount of attention she was giving Rune now. Her eyes were almost completely open, lips parted as she listened to the possible ways out of Traverse Town. There were ways. She could leave. She could get off this fucking world and -- "Gummi ... " Koda trailed off, eyes going out of focus with inner contemplation.' Gummi Ship?' Really? That sounded like surefire way to end up crashing and burning to death. And with Koda's complete lack of piloting skills, that's exactly what it would be, stupid name or not. Even if she could somehow, in some magic way, learn how to not kill herself on the first flight, she had less then 100 munny to her name (not all honestly acquired) and she wasn't naive enough to think that was enough to buy a ship. It was the next option that caught her attention. Portals of Darkness. His words rang true to her own predicament as well. She had no ties to the dark but she certainly wasn't a hero. If that's what he meant anyway. Light and dark: what else could it be? Rune continued on, echoing thoughts she'd had aloud. He saw it too: they were of the few that knew there were other places out there. She shrugged. "I didn't know. Until my home ... " Koda shook her head, pushing the thought away. "Life does not seem hard here." No. This didn't seem like a place where many went hungry. How fortunate for them. "Do you know when will you be able to open the portal?" She asked. She was wasting time. She had to leave. This town had nothing left to offer her. "It is my only option."

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

"Yeah, I know it's a weird name." Rune said as she trailed off after gummi as if trying to make sense of it. He then heard her start about how she had been unaware of other worlds, and Rune already knew how her story there ended before she cut away to life here, and asked when he might be able to use the portals again. Rune looked down at his hand and could feel some of the power coming back, but nowhere near enough. "I'm sorry but it's hard to say, minutes at the earliest, but I think at most it should be a few hours more"

He paused a second before adding, "Most people don't know till their world is lost, I was on one of the few worlds privy to that knowledge before anything happened... Hasn't made the two times it's been lost any easier." Though he did look her over, and could see she was a fairly attractive girl, albeit she'd been on the streets for some time. "Seeing as we have time before we can go anywhere else really, why don't we head into the less chaotic part of town, We can get you a change of clothes and I know a place you can clean up and get something to eat. I'll pay for it all." He said, trying to make sure it sounded like what it was meant to be, a friendly offer and not some cheesy attempt at a pick up line.

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] Koda followed his gaze to his hand. Is that how he accessed him? They were part of him? She lifted her eyes back to him, nodding unconsciously. Then he really was the only option she had. She didn't know how to use that power herself, or if she even had it. She'd have to tag along. He seemed to know that too. Her eyes returned to half-lidded, hiding the emotions that hit her at his proposal. She was suddenly aware of how dirty she felt. Koda had attempted to stay clean, but there was only so much she could do, living in a back alley. She wasn't foolish enough to attempt a bath in the fountain a district away but she had run water over herself once or twice before. Food, new clothes, hot water: Koda almost shivered at the thought. But the stubborn part of her wouldn't allow her to accept the invitation so easily. She wasn't one for pity, no. She could take care of herself and -- and you're doing so well now. Koda thinks of the alleyway, of the marks on the wall. She thinks of the handful of munny she has in her pockets and how without him and his portal of darkness, she was stuck here. The lack of social interaction for so long made it easier to swallow her pride. She nodded slowly. "Alright." She glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment before looking back at him. Back there was the alley, it's only sign that she'd been there the strikes in the grime. "I don't. Have anything else." She nearly flinches at how pathetic the words make her feel. The clothes on her back, her weapons, and what was in her pockets was all she had. Her eyes darken behind her eyelids. "I don't need pity." She had accepted his offer because he was the way off, she told herself. But pity was something else entirely. She didn't think she could handle that.

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

Rune listened as she agreed, but went on to say she didn't need pity. "Not doing it out of pity" Rune replied. Rune was one to feel many things, but he never really pitied anyone. At least he didn't think he did. "Do Unto others" He then added, "I'm doing it because it's the right thing to do. And because whether they want to admit it or not, everyone needs a little help sometimes, even me." Rune thought back to a time where the woman was different, but the roles were reversed. He had been on the run for so long and surviving on his own, when someone had wanted to take him in and help him, he had snapped that he hadn't needed her pity. But he eventually allowed himself to be helped. Rune was very weird about his pride, but he'd learned that sometimes he just had to choke it down and let others help.

He than turned towards the exit to the 1st district as he said "This way" and started off. Honestly their were points where this girl seemed to mirror him. It was odd really, to see himself in someone else. Though the words "I don't have anything else" would not stop ringing in his head. How often did that line hold true to himself. When he lost his family, was forced on the run, both times he lost his world, it seemed like any time he had something, it was taken away just as fast. He went through the doors to the first district and stopped at the clothing store, holding the door open for her. He figured this was best to do first since then she could get cleaned up and have something to change into.

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] She stared at him as he spoke, trying to swallow but finding her mouth was dry. He turned away to lead her to what he had promised but she couldn't follow. A weakness overcame her, so powerful her legs nearly came out from under her. Kindness was lost on Koda. She had had her mother, yes, but she had always pulled away from her to sit in her father's scrutinizing glare. Not because she hated her mother, but because she did not know how to handle compassion. And to have it now, suddenly, in some foreign world by some strange man, Koda almost couldn't bring herself to follow. But she repeated the goods he was going to give her. Food, clothes, water. Koda swallowed again. Give. She shook her head violently and the movement put her body back in check. This was not the time. If she didn't go now ... She might never leave. The silver-haired girl took a step, than another and then her legs fell into line, following the man as he led. 'You don't always have to do everything by yourself, Koda.' Mother ... Rune veered off, and with a quick glance, Koda realized he was getting the clothing first. She hesitated before the door he held open for her but pushed herself forward, avoiding his gaze as she moved past him. Her eyes moved slowly around the room. It shouldn't have surprised her the clothes might be somewhat different on another world. Fashion was not at all Koda's forte, but she had learned how to dress herself to not embarrass herself or hinder herself when she fought. She spotted something similar to clothes she had back home and went to it. It was fairly cheap, a relief to the girl. She wasn't ungrateful for Rune's actions and she wouldn't force him to pay more than he had to. She pulled the shirt off the rack, thin and dark, one that tied up around her back and her waist to let her skin breathe. She moved to the next rack, grabbing pants. "This is --" She blinked, realizing she was going to need more. Intimate articles of clothing too. She could feel her ears getting hot, but she just barely stopped it from spreading to her cheeks. Without another word, she moved to fetch them, placing them between the shirt and the pants as if it would hide them from Rune. "Okay." She found it difficult to look at him. This was strange (not to mention somewhat embarrassing) for her, indeed. "I'm done."

[Rune Veliospirus Ravencroft]

Rune could only guess why she had been delayed following him. Then again, not like he could blame her if it was over trust, after all she didn't know him beyond a few minutes ago and he never really did scream trust me appearance wise. Once she stepped in he followed behind her, at least into the store, but did give her some room. He did just keep an eye on her, and noted her attempt at hiding the underwear. Not for looking but he saw the movement out of his eye and looked. He had been a thief mainly to survive on his homeworld for a long time, he knew such tricks well and saw through them.

Though when she came back with only the one outfit, he was a bit surprised. But after seeing her try and hide the undergarments, he thought maybe she wasn't comfortable with him being there and all. He couldn't blame her really, though seeing women's underwear and all didn't really phase him. Well, not in that sense at least, when his sister or some of the other women he knew drug him along shopping and into those isles it was a little embarrassing... more so when they asked opinions. He got it, he was a guy, but it was just a little awkward, especially from family.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a fair amount of money. Was Rune poor, no not this time around. His homeworld fell ten years ago, add on that some of these worlds had... banks were they called? He just remembered they stored things like money and actually gave you more for doing it. And what he had stored for 40 years before his world fell was already considerable, and had only gained. He handed the money to her, more than enough for a few outfits. "You'll probably need more than just that one." Rune said, "By all means pick out whatever you want, if you need more just ask, I'll be outside." Then heading for the door and waiting just outside it. This was the one thing his advisers had hated about him... Well, they hadn't been thrilled with his fathers before his uncle took over but Rune by far was worse when it came to money. Not that he just spent it all whimsically with no care for what was there, but he always only held on to just enough and gave what he could to help others. He was lucky, even if it had been taken away when he was still young he'd been born with a silver spoon. Why should he hoard more then he was ever going to use?

[Koda Strife]

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[atrb=width,225px,true][atrb=style, width:327px; padding: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-left: 10px solid #485C5A;][atrb=valign,top] The shock on Rune's face mirrored on her own. Did she do something wrong? Koda wasn't used to the need to gain approval. For as long as she could remember, she said what she wanted to, regardless of how the other party reacted. Outside of her own family, how people felt about her was null and void. They weren't important. They didn't matter. And so she didn't bother. But the sudden surprised on his face when she presented the clothing to Rune made her uneasy. She tried to tell herself that it was because upsetting him meant her only way off Traverse Town was gone. But she had felt the desperation worse then ever when he'd spoken to her after the fight. She was alone. Terribly, terribly alone. On Edge, they had not had much. There was not much to go around. But she had had her family there. For the first time in her life, Koda had absolutely nothing. She could hear him but he sounded so far away. He was handing her munny and had she been there with him, she might have backed away from it. But it was pushed into her hand and Koda watched him walk away without registering it. Her fingers tightened around the munny until her knuckles turned white. Absolutely nothing. She stood there, somewhere above her own body as the realization sank in so deep she could feel it in her marrow. She stayed that way until a burn began to grow in her eyes and she jerked back into herself, lowering her head and closing her eyes. If anyone was watching, it was obvious she was trying not to cry, but Koda did her best not to portray it. She wouldn't cry. No. No, no, no. Her head jerked back up and she lifted her hand, observing the munny Rune had given her. She felt drained and her pride was so wounded it didn't even matter at this point. She exhaled shakily and turned her attentions back to the clothes around her. He had left her alone. He hadn't seen her moments before. He wouldn't see her get clothes. 'You don't have to do everything alone.' FIND ME. "Yes." Koda did as Rune had told her. She grabbed a few more outfits, careful not to go over the amount he had given her. Taking them to the counter, she paused for only a moment. This was okay. She nodded and set the items down for the cashier to ring them up. They were paid for, bagged, and handed back to her. Koda fingered the left over munny and stepped outside the shop. She stopped in front of Rune, holding out what was left over, her fingers tight around the bag of clothing he had provided her. "Here." She glanced at him before staring at her outstretched hand, waiting for him to take what was left over. Not enough for a full outfit, but enough for bits and pieces. She inhales slowly so her words will not catch."It was more than enough."