A Reopening Welcoming Party (OPEN)

Ari was still not certain of herself or her surroundings, but in the open atmosphere which they had moved to she was able to relax slightly. She had room to maneuver if she needed to. And though she was unfamiliar with the dish which was set in front of her, she was grateful for it and set to eating as best as she was able with the utensils provided.

"It is simply The Facility. I... I do not know how to describe to you where it is because I... I do not remember my journey from it. I was there... and then I woke in a cave and I was free. I have not stopped moving since then. I am not going back." She sighed. "I was a valuable weapon to them and... and I do not want to be a weapon."

Dian walked with the group without saying a word. All of sudden, he became silent, putting most of his concentration in analizing Ari's words. She had escaped from a place named "The Facility", and has been going from one place to another since then. This Facility had researchers that were in her pursuit. She was also scared of them, and scared of coming back. He was so absorbed into his thoughts that didn't even replied to Ari's question.

She also said she was a weapon... A Facility... Could she mean a lab? Lab... Facility... A bio-weapons lab or something like that? If that deduction is correct, then they had used her for human experimentation... Which could possibly be the cause of that strange element in her soul... I still don't have enough information though to uncover the whole story...

But he had reached the basics (probably). And he suddenly remembered her question...

Family is those that care about you deeply from the very beginning... Though he mumbled that, almost as if it was to himself, he hoped that the girl would hear him.

But don't you dare to ask what "care" is because I'll get mad... He thought to himself.

Ok then... Now he was speaking louder. It seems you are in a dangerous situation, but as hard as it may be, please trust us. I, at least, consider myself your friend, and even if you don't understand what that means, I'll still help you in whatever I can, and protect you if needed. Again, I know this is a bit sudden, but can I count on you people too? He asked to the others.

He said that in part to calm the girl down, but in part to actually make her know his real intentions.

Tora listened to everyone as they spoke he too was interested in the girl's story, but it did not concern him. Dian looked at him for reassurance about counting on the rest of them.

"Dian you may not know me very well, but I know you know I dont do anything that doesn't have some sort of profit in it for me. However I am in a similiar situation as Miss Truesdale here, so anyway I can help I will do so."

Tora got up and placed his hand on Dian's shoulder, and then walked away. He had his own thoughts to worry about like what was going to happen once the Elvaan spoke of him being there to soemone back in Vana'Diel.

"This party has become a bit stuffy for my tastes, how bout I have some fun now."

Tora walked down to the Chocobo floor and knocked a passerby on one off and began to ride the chocobo around. Well rode it until he found the kennel all of them were being placed in. He grinned as thought of something extremely fun.

He pulled out his short sword and began to cut the locks and he rode his chocobo passed the each kennel. All of the Chocobo ran out and rampant. And the first place they went was down into the ballroom, smelling the food.

"Yep, definitely fun."

He ran in front of all the Chocobos yelling CHARGE as they went down the stairs. watching people jump over the railing.

(OOC: sry needed my daily does of mischief)

Ari wasn't certain what to make of Dian's willingness to aid her, and she still didn't understand his explanation of this "family" concept. The Researchers used took care not to unduly damage her during training... but they certainly didn't do it out of anything less than professional interest and duty.

Still, she didn't know if he had the ability to explain the concept further since it seemed to go without explanation out here in this strange environment.

She was distracted, though, from further questions, by the cat-boy's sudden, and incomprehensible, actions. Just what was he doing? "Charge"? What did he mean by that? Why was he making everyone run like that?

Still, the chocobos looked happier not being cooped up in the cages.

She smiled and took a couple steps forward to greet one of the chocobos, a brown one that broke away from the flock. The chocobo walked up to her and peered at her with one large eye, tilting its head sideways to look at her more clearly.

"Hello."

"Kweh!" The chocobo obviously decided that it liked what it saw and jumped, flapping its wings happily.

As Crucent saw Tora letting all the Chocobos loose she couldn't help but laugh, the place was filled with birds rampaging and munching on the flowers and plants in the party, making the waiters go nouts trying to fend them off and bring them back into their pen.

Managing to settle down again, she turned to Dian and said "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to return to the party. If Arianrhod should ever need my help, you can count on me."

Still giggling at the unleashed chocobos, she then nodded to them all and headed down the stairs, returning to the party.

Raven followed the group upstairs to the open table near the casino. He glanced over to the gaming tables anxiously. He wanted to go back and play them, but knew he probably shouldn't. If he stayed up here for too long, he would end up gambling away his money.

His attention was brought back to the group when Dian asked about everyone helping her. Raven gave a slight frown but quickly covered it up with his usual smirk. He didn't like the sound of this. He didn't even know this girl. Obviously, she seemed to be in a bind, but how much of this was real? It all seemed a little too well planned out. But that was Raven, always skeptical of people. It was probably why most didn't like his company.But he didn't care.

Raven glanced at Dian and then back to Ari before saying, "Sure, I'll help out where I can. If you need someplace to hide, I can find you a place in Cocoon. I need to hide as many people as I can there anyway. One more isn't going to hurt."

Just then, the crazy cat let all of the Chocabos loose and led them in a charge. Raven smirked and then ended up laughing as he watched the people scatter. But it wasn't the people running for their lives that made him laugh, it was watching an over-grown cat ride an over-grown bird.

Crucent got up to leave and Raven decided it was a good way to get away. He needed to get away from those slot machines. They were beckoning him again and he reeeeeeeaaaaaaally wanted to listen. But he knew he had to get away, so he stood up and said, "I should probably make sure no thugs try and grab you, miss. You never know when alcohol is present. An attractive woman like you shouldn't be alone in a place as wild as this." Raven gave her a smirk and turned to Dian and said, "Have fun and keep an eye on her. She looks like she could use a friend.

Arianrhod was, quite simply, transfixed by the chocobo in front of her, to the point that she was barely aware of what Raven was saying. She nodded, though, in response to his words as was polite, but her attention was captured by the chocobo. She wasn't even certain whether it was a male or a female, but the chocolate-brown avian was obviously as curious about her as she was about it.

She slowly reached one hand up and started to touch the feathered forelock between the creature's eyes only to have the bird move its head to put her hand directly on its head, rubbing against her hand. Ari smiled softly and scratched the feathered head, marveling at how smooth and soft the feathers felt against her fingers.

"You're not afraid of me..." She marveled at that simple fact. The bird was not afraid of her, and she knew that she was... she should be a predator, at least to the avian creature's sensibilities.

The chocobo merely trilled again. "Kweh!" And rubbed it's head against her hand eagerly.

But then the handlers started trying to round up the loose creatures and one approached them. Ari looked up at him with a pleading expression. "Not yet... do not put it back in the cage yet... it just wants to be free..."

These animals are pretty docile...

When Tora released the chocobos, making a little chaos here and there, one suddenly approached Dian when he was not looking. It was a normal yellow chocobo, whose face seemed to have a smile, though Dian could not say if it was really one or simply a random expression it decided to take. Anyways, the fact is that the chocobo was looking directly at him, probably wondering why his eyes were lacking so much emotion.

Dian took profit from the situation to gently pat the chocobo's back. It stayed still, as if he was enjoying the gesture. And then Dian, slowly, mounted up the animal. He looked at the tiny soul of the chocobo: He was happy. Even inside a closed space, even when he was about to be taken out from his freedom again, he seemed to be happy as long as he could get along with other people. Animals usually dislike following human's orders, but chocobos seemed to be quite the exception.

When the handlers arrived, Dian looked at them with his emotionless eyes, trying to imitate anger, which seemed to have effect, as they decided to go away and take care of chocobos from another area.

It didn't take him too much effort to make the chocobo move and approach Ari.

As you have one in front of you, you should try it. They seem to strangely like it.

Ari looked at the unusual sight of Dian sitting top the back of a yellow chocobo and she tilted her head slightly in confusion. Quite accidentally imitating the tilted-head look that she was receiving from the brown chocobo in front of her.

"They let you sit atop their backs?"

She looked back at the chocobo who had, apparently, decided that she was a friend. "You would allow me to sit atop your back?"

The chocobo trilled happily and crouched down, mantling its wings so that Ari could climb onto its back, one leg setting in front of each wing as she looked in confusion for some place to set her hands. "Forgive me, but I do not know what to do now, Chocobo."

The chocobo stood and trilled again. "Kweh!!"

Ari wavered slightly, regaining her balance as she suddenly looked down at the establishment from a greater height than she was accustomed. "Oh my... this is... this is highly unusual." She set her hands at the base of the chocobo's neck, flat on either side as she leaned forward. "Do you wish to go somewhere?"

After a few experimental steps, the Chocobo trilled and took off running, and Ari found herself making the most astonishing noise.

She was laughing.

Remember we are in a casino, try not to run too much.

After emotionlessly shouting those words at Ari, Dian walked around with his chocobo for a few more seconds. Now that he thinked about it, it was the first time he saw one of those creatures, but somehow he was not surprised. In that new universe, it just seemed natural to meet animals like that. It was more docile than a house dog, but almost as big and strong as a wild horse... He liked the chocobo. Unfortunately, the handlers finally decided to tell him to get off.

When he did, the chocobo did a "Kweh!" in disappointment, but after Dian said goodbye, it happily walked alongside the handlers. While looking at Ari again, Dian's cellphone started to ring...

Wait, does this place even has signal? He picked it up. Yes?

He received a short, but apparently loud message. Dian was almost surprised.

...Nice to hear you too. I couldn't find you, so I started to get worried.

Another short message.

Where am I? Well... In some party, at a place called the Universal Multiplex-

Now a long and loud message interrupted him. The other person cut the call.

...It seems that she is coming...

Though I don't know if those are good or bad news...

Heading the chocobo rampage was definitely fun. Tora was still riding the chocobo even after many of them were taken back to the kennels. A few actually managed to get away to the outside of the building and were chasing people around trying to get their food.

"Might as well use this to my advantage."

Without notice began to pick off necklaces and other valuables from people he did not know. Not a single one of them even realised he had taken them and put them in his pocket. After taking enough to last him a few weeks of food and such he went back up to the casino.

"I'm still having fun."

He rode passed everyone, some of whom seemed to be leaving or thinking about leaving the table. Even Dian and Ari seemed to be enjoying themselves as they rode around on chocobos as well. He went off to play some casino games, while still riding his chocobo.

One of the chocobo wranglers approached Ari slowly, not wanting to startle her or the chocobo she still rode. The chocobo was currently very interested in the contents of a planter box of greens and Ari simply sat atop her back, watching her graze with a smile on her face.

"Miss, I'm afraid it's time to put Cocoa up."

Ari looked at him, pleading in her eyes. "Is that her designation? 'Cocoa'? Please do not put her back in the cage." She ran her fingers over the chocobo's soft feathers. "She's happier outside the cage."

The handler chuckled softly, which caused Cocoa to look at him and trill in greeting. "Miss," he said with a smile, "I dare say she'd be happy just about anywhere, though it does seem like she's taken quite a shine to you. You know that you can visit her at the Stables attached to the Chocobo Racing Track, right? She's not going anywhere."

Ari tilted her head in confusion. "Chocobo... Racing... Track?" She said the words slowly, trying to understand their meaning.

The handler nodded. "Yeah, people like to race chocobos. The chocobos seem to like being raced. Cocoa is due for a race here shortly. Seeing as you're one of the guests of the party, I could arrange for you to ride her during it. Chocobo Jockeys can make quite a lot of gil, and that's aside from the other prizes."

After a moment of consideration, Ari nodded. "Tell me how the race works. I think that I would like to experience this with Cocoa."

She allowed the handler to lead the two of them over to the stables as he explained the concepts of "racing" to her on the way.

Now, what to do?

Ari had gone with her chocobo to some racing, as far as Dian could hear. Tora went to the casino games, but Dian didn't feel like putting his luck to test, so he didn't follow him. And Raven... Well, he just went off somewhere. Dian had nothing else to do, and there was still a lot of time before the party finished.

He started to walk around, without a clear destination. He could always wait for his companion, that had called him a while ago, but that would equal a death sentence or a life-worth torture, so he could as well hide and pray for her anger to pass away.

I don't feel like dancing or listening to music either... Damn it, why is it that I don't feel like doing anything? Why did I came here in the first place? Well, I wouldn't have anything to do even if I was outside, so...

And after thinking for a while, he reached a conclusion.

Off to watch some races...

His luck was going to be put into test yet again.

Ari sat atop Cocoa, looking calm and composed, even though her stomach was roiling with nervousness. There were loud voices shouting out overhead, blaring from cone-shaped contraptions that the Race was preparing to start and that all spectators needed to take their seats quickly.

Cocoa took the noise and the bustle in stride, her true calmness and eager trembling serving to calm Ari somewhat.

"You know what is expected of you, do you not?" She murmured the words to Cocoa, who turned her head sideways to look back at Ari with one eyes and a happy trill. Ari smiled softly. "Very well, I will follow your lead and you will teach me about racing."

One of the other riders, a man dressed in black and riding a black chocobo, looked askance at her. "Hello. I'm Joe. You're new, aren't you?"

Ari looked at him and tilted her head in curiosity, unconsciously mimicing her chocobo. "Yes. I have never raced before. But Cocoa has and she will teach me."

The rider with the strange flat-brimmed hat chuckled. "Never seen a rider like you before. I think you'll do well, but you won't beat me."

Their conversation was interrupted by the blaring of the contraptions again, informing all riders to take their positions as the race was about to start.

Ari leaned close to Cocoa's ear to murmur some words of encouragement. "Run your best, Cocoa, and show him that you are second to no one."

Dian sat was in the group of spectators, front line, waiting for the race to start. It kind of surprised him to see Ari as one of the racers, but it kind of made him happy that she had found something to do. At her side was a strange looking man on top of a black chocobo. It seemed that he was one of the best racers around, and the one people had most of their stakes on to. He was going to be a hard competitor. He started to drink a can of cola he had bought recently when he checked the next racer.

The liquid almost came out from his nose. He started to cough and almost fell out into the racing circuit. He managed to stand up again to carefully watch said racer.

A young girl, around his age, with long brown hair, riding a brown chocobo. The "Brown Girl" (as we are going to call her for now) looked in his direction, "hmph!"-ed and then looked at Joe.

I believe you are making a mistake, old man. The one that is going to win this race is me.

Joe, fortunately, limited himself to say:

"Well, we'll see about that."

The race was about to start. Dian could only look at the floor, without knowing who he should cheer for.

I have a really bad feeling about this...

When the starter's bell went off, Arianrhod leaned forward on the saddle and smiled as she felt Cocoa's muscles work as she took off along with the rest of the crowd of riders. She knew, somehow, that Cocoa wanted to run as fast as she could until they were all so far behind her that they couldn't catch up.

Ari, though, wanted to keep her friend from going so fast that she collapsed. She'd done that, herself, more than once in training as a child. Put so much energy into something that she couldn't maintain for longer than a minute.

So she held Cocoa back, held her so that she was merely pacing that arrogant man on the black chocobo with the funny hat. There would be time enough for sprinting ahead when they came to the final turn.

The rest of the racers ultimately fell far behind them, the race was just between Joe and Ari, and maybe that haughty "Brown Girl".

But Ari was determined to win.

Sitting back, Dian reached a conclusion: There was nothing he could do. Even if he spontaneously threw a rock at the Brown Girl, he would only manage to interrupt the race and put himself in the way of people's fun. He would settle things when the race was finished. And, deep inside, he was curious about who was going to win: Ari, that seemed to have mutual care for the chocobo, Joe, who seemed to be the best racer around, or his companion, the Brown Girl (Name to change), who was actually good at mounting any kind of animals.

As soon as the race started, the Brown Girl accelerated enough to put herself in front of most of the racers. At first, it was ok, and she gained confidence on her victory. But seconds later, out of nowhere, Ari and Joe placed themselves in front of her.

Oh no, you won't...

The Brown Girl was tempted to put the chocobo into the highest level of pressure in order for the speed to increase, but she knew too well that, in the end, it would only exhaust the creature, which would make her loose, and also feel guilty about mistreating the animal. With that in mind, he managed to make the chocobo go faster and finally reach Ari and Joe.

This is getting pretty fun!

They were reaching the finish line.

Smiling at Raven, Crucent wrapped her arm around his.

"Such a Gentleman, I appreciate it. Where would you like to go? Gambling isn't my thing I'm afraid, and neither is dancing. At least, not to this kind of music."

As they reached the bottom of the stairs, she grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter and sipped to it, looking at the crowd that was dancing and having fun. Apparently noone down here had even noticed the rampaging Chocobos, thank god, otherwise the entire place would be full of screaming people running about in a panic.