Hotel Lobby (open)

That went...well? The young girl rubbed her hands together idly as they made their way to the ice cream stand. Although the chill had be stripped from the air it still rested on her skin. Nix's magic could really be terrifying. 'Perhaps I should invest in a jacket for the match against her' Aila thought with a quiet chuckle at the very idea. It'd probably just give Nix more to freeze.

"Hmm I wonder if Nix ever thought about making snow cones or something" Aila accidentally thought out loud. After all, that purple ice would be a big hit, especially in warmer areas or tourists downs like Era. She glanced over at Nix, with her looks the shop barely needed the purple ice gimmick. Aila imagined the woman passing out snow cones to children with a warm smile on her face. 'It might be slightly out of character, but then again Nix seems nice to me...'

"I'll take a vanilla cone please" Aila said while placing her money on the counter.

"Ahh out with the big brother today eh?" The man behind the counter chuckled "Here's an extra scoop for the little miss"

A hollow victory. That was the best phrase to describe it. While she had been given an extra scoop of ice cream, she felt that her pride had taken a blow as well. Normally in this situation one would say "Ah out with the boyfriend eh? Shouldn't he be paying" while laughing or something! Aila glanced over at Lance and paused. He had gotten vanilla too!? Just how similar were they?

As she pondered possibly having another brother she had never met, someone approached them from behind. Aila jumped in surprise and sent her precious vanilla cone straight to the concrete below. She turned and looked at the perpetrator of this heinous crime. He called himself Malacanth and he was even taller than the other two she was with! It's like the universe was trying to give her a height complex or something!

"Hi, I'm Aila" she said in an almost robotic monotone while looking at her fallen ice cream.

Given this guy's reaction to Nix and Lance he had seen the small altercation that had taken place she only hoped he didn't add fuel to the fire. Very tall and and an ice cream killer, this guy had 2 strikes already.

Nix chuckled at Aila's comment, genuinely finding it amusing. Using her magic to make frozen treats for little children? No, that wasn't something within Nix' character to do. When the stall owner offered her a cone as well, Nix simply shook her head before looking at Aila.

"No no, my dear, my magic isn't meant for a purpose such as that, however amusing the notion may be." She replied before her attention was turned to the new arrival, who had promptly introduced himself as Malacanth. Nix folded her arms and studied him intently. He seemed to be younger than her, though she couldn't be sure. She could sense a magical presence from him, though she was certain that he wasn't participating in the tournament. That led her to the conclusion that he was here simply as a spectator. Upon hearing Aila's bland introduction of herself, Nix looked at her curiously. She then saw the reason for Aila's disinterest, apparently this young man's sudden appearance had startled her and caused her to drop her ice cream. Nix narrowed her eyes slightly then turned her gaze back to Malacanth. "It would seem that you are responsible for little Aila losing her ice cream. You will be replacing it, correct? That would be in your best interest, boy." She said in a calm voice, though her gaze seemed to pierce through him and he could tell she was serious. To accentuate just how serious she was, Nix' eyes began to give off the same violet glow as they did during her standoff with Lance and the temperature in the area began to drop again. Whether he bought the cone or was turned into a pile of frozen remains by Nix...she intended on having the cone replaced one way or the other.

Lace and Moki were sitting over on the bench waiting for the other two to come over, Moki already ate all his and was close to finishing off Lance rest. He hand been eating bad lately he decided that only half of what he ordered would be needed. As Alia headed over to join him some boy bumped into her making her drop her cone. Poor thing she didn't look to happy and Nix looked like she was close to killing this boy, and judging by the temperature in the air she just might. Lance couldn't let her just kill some passbyer. Jumping in would probably set Nix off and she might turn on him. He needed to go over there and make sure everything was ok.

As he got closer he heard Nix tell the boy he needed to buy a new one. That seemed to be all the boy needed to do to make amends with her. Lucky him who knows how long Nix will have a slight intrest in seeing him hurt. Maybe by the end of the day he could get back on her good side. Well he needed to introduce himself to the new comer. He could smell the magic on him a mile away. He was pretty tall but he still had the looks of a kid. "Hey there new guy I'm Lance. Are you also in the tournament? I'm not but these two lovely ladies happen to be." he have a slight wave to the young man while putting his arm around Nix and Alia. Moki still sat on the bench eating the crumbs from his lap. No manners as usual. Lance had given up hope with him years ago.

Malacanth looked at the dropped ice cream thinking hm, didn't mean to do that. He would have made amends to but it seemed the two girls already had a distaste for him. He covered his hand, hoping that the tattoo isn't the reason. He was even about to say he would pay for another one but the ice girl had to act like that. " Don't threaten me and we can get along fine sweetheart." In the straightest face he could pull off. He was still cracking a smile though. The gaze that she gave him just made him more annoyed with her. " Friendly aren't you." Maybe this wasn't the best choice but this girl just rubbed him the wrong way to fast. The guy walked over here to stop the hostilities after talking to a......cat? " Can you tell me where you got a talking cat?" This new development made him forget completely about the ice girl. The cat fascinated him so much, it would be so cool to have a talking cat. After a few moments of staring at the cat he remembered that he owed Aila some ice cream. " I'll pay for a new ice cream, don't worry." He dropped enough jewels to get the most expensive thing on the menu on the counter. He turned back to the ice girl and said " so do we have any more problems sweety?" Malacanth never did know when to stop. He didn't care enough to stop anyway.

Aila accepted her new cone with glee, though her face barely showed it. In fact on her face she wore a look of slight shock. Nix had stood up for her! "Thanks" she muttered to Nix with a slight bow. She hadn't truly been angry about the ice cream, stuff happened after all, but to see someone that was supposed to be her enemy stick up for her like that was nice. The requip mage even overlooked being called 'little' by the woman yet again, due to the events that followed. Another show of the woman's ferocity and control over her own magic. It seemed as though it were more amazing every time she saw it. To have such a mastery... such a confidence that you back your words up with so subtle a show of force.

The familiar fear of Nix being kicked from the tournament and the guards being called arose once more. "It's nothing to get in trouble over though" If she got in trouble because of Aila the girl would never forgive herself. After all, it seemed as though Nix was really happy in the tournament.

However the boy decided to add fuel to the fire.

Despite the show of skill, the boy known as Malacanth wasn't even phased. In fact he appeared to be mocking her. This could mean one of two things. He was either powerful or insane. As he walked away from the counter Aila noticed that he was attempting to block his hand from view. She had noticed the tattoo on his hand earlier and it seemed to be the tattoo guild mages wore, but Aila had never seen it before. 'Hmm...' He also didn't appear to recognize Nix or herself from the tournament feed. He even went so far as to be uncertain of their magic. Lance appeared suddenly and attempted to calm everyone down. He also revealed their involvement in the tournament.

Aila took another bite of her ice cream while watching the boy, he really was tall. "What brings you to the city?" she said, her inquisitive nature making a comeback "You don't seem to be here for the tournament, at least I haven't seen you around the hotel".

"Sweety?!" Nix hissed. In an instant she had lunged at Malacanth and gripped his neck tightly with her hand. Her touch started off carrying a light chill but soon grew to the point where it began to burn. "Listen well, you disrespectful little whelp! I have very little patience for your kind of mage, you are so beneath me it is distasteful! Learn to hold your tongue...." She paused as she reached into his mouth, gripping his tongue between her thumb and index finger. Her touch was still unbearably cold, but now frost began to slowly spread from her fingers that gripped his tongue. She pulled her hand back slightly, pulling his tongue out of his mouth in the process. "Otherwise I will rip it from your ill-mannered mouth!" She warned then released her grip on his tongue then pushed him away. At the area where she had gripped his neck, a hand print could still be seen and likely wouldn't go away for a good while. Nix turned her nose up at him and sneered evilly before turning away.

Lance couldn't do anything but stare as Nix seemed to lung at the new kid. Lance didn't know him but from what he seen already this kid was just not getting off on the right food. As Nix's hand left the boys next a purple and blue outline of her hand print remained. It looked like the onset of frostbite to Lance and if not treated could become a pain in the but. Lance walked over to the kid and rested his hand on the boy's next. His hand let off a soft light and the hand print seemed to disappear all together. "Best not talk to Nix like that buddy, might turn into a Popsicle." After his magic had down the job Lance headed over to Alia and Nix. Alia had seemed to have gotten her ice cream. Moki was wondering around the area looking at people in the the crowd. He didn't care who it was.

"So ladies what shall we do now?" Lance hoped that Nix wouldn't be too upset that he got rid of her marks on the boy. He also hoped that the new guy wouldn't be a fool and try to cross Nix's again. He didn't feel like having a fight in the middle of the street.

Malacanth was sort of surprised by her reaction, didn't think she would so readily try to kill him. Maybe it wasn't the smartes idea but as she grabbed his throat his hand went to try to pry her off. The frost hurt way to much though. He quickly let go and just took to smiling as she yelled at him. The tongue grab was a new thing and it did hurt a lot more than he would thought. Any idea of hiding his guild tattoo went out the window as he tried not to give her any satisfaction. She finally let go after a painful amount of time and he just kept smiling as if nothing happened. He never did know how to stop. " thanks for your time." This was said in a sweet voice that was obviously fake. He rubbed his neck for a second until the guy came here. He thought maybe he was here to continue so he bent down a bit, ready to roll away. He just gave some advice that while probably smart he probably wouldn't follow. " Might follow the advice, might not." It seemed only ice girl didn't like him now for obvious reasons. He turned to Aila deciding she was the best to speak to at the moment, she was talking to him after all. " I came here for the tournament but i am not in it. I wanted to see the strengths of the mages here, I just got my first taste now and let me tell you don't let the icy one give you a handshake, its a cold touch to put it nicely." Not the best joke but its all Malacanth could come up with.

Aila watched Nix's new display of magic with a small bit of fear visible in her eyes. Nix's control was still impressive, being able to spread it over the boy's neck or focus it into her finger tips to freeze his tongue. As part of the double feature, Aila was given a sneak peek at this "dragon slayer" magic she had been hearing about. Although it seemed to be a simple healing spell, it was still pretty impressive. Far more impressive than she ever saw back in Hargeon.

Excitement coursed through her body. The longer she strayed from home the more she saw, and it was invigorating.

She wanted to see more.

Perhaps this boy would reveal his magic as well. He continued with his wise cracks directed at Nix, despite the icy treatment he had been given. Maybe he was trying to pick a fight? Maybe it was a ruse to get Nix in trouble, or even all 3 of them. Lance wasn't in the tournament but perhaps he was simply collateral damage. There was still the mystery of his tattoo. She gave it a second glance during the altercation and it was definitely a guild mark. But from where? Under normal circumstances she would ask outright, but the boy seemed to be trying to hide it...

Aila nibbled on her lip. Suddenly, a small smile graced her face and she quickly caught up with Nix and Lance. "So... where is everyone from?" she said innocently "I'm from Hargeon, though I'd been staying in Magnolia before the tournament." It was the perfect plan! She'd fish for minor information like that. People in guilds commonly lived around their guild halls after all, and by asking the entire group she wouldn't arouse the boy's suspicion.

Nix' eyes narrowed and she let out a low growl. This boy was really trying her patience and pushing his luck. She would have no problem striking him down here and now, she was already known as the merciless Ice Queen of Sabertooth. Killing him would further validate that claim. She looked at Malacanth thoughtfully then smirked....another time, perhaps. Maybe she would kill him after the tournament. Aila had then questioned everyone about where they were from, most likely in an attempt to get information out of Malacanth. Nevertheless, she would indulge her and answer the question.

"My reputation is perhaps well known, but I will state where I'm from anyway. I am from Hosenka Town, so by proximity that would mean I am a Sabertooth mage." She informed.

Lance had known that Nixx was Sabertooth's prize member but he wouldn't have guessed the girl Aila is from the bay town of Haregon. Maybe Clover from her looks he guessed. He had no idea from this new guy. He seemed like he could be from anywhere. Nix and Aila had told the group about where they are from though Nix's could be taken as a threat, guessed he needed to say all his information. "Well my new home is Magnolia but I'm from down south area from a place you've never heard of." He walked over to Nix and tapped his hand on her shoulder. He lowered his voice to a whisper so that Aila and the new guy wouldn't hear. "Try not to do anything too big here. If you do could get you in trouble with the games. It looks like Aila seems to like him so she might jump in the fray as well." He saw that the original three had put a slight distance between the new comer and themselves. Maybe this kid would know not to keep poking Nix. If she finally did snap Lance wasn't even sure if he would stop the fight the kid was trying to get in a fight it seemed. He had warned the kid but he didn't take the advice anything he did now was his own problem.

Meanwhile while the group of four was chit chatting Moki had wondered into an area that was having a mini parade go through it. All the floats were so large and pretty. There were a few people dressed like Nix and Aila and Ardere walking along side the floats. It was something that Moki had never seen before and something that wanted too see more of. He sprouted his wings from his back and flew up into the sky to see the whole thing. From this view he saw it all. There tons of people flocked to the streets. the parade was only a few street blocks long so it was over rather quickly. As he got board of just flying around he went to find Lance and the others.

Malacanth now needed to keep on his toes. It was an innocent question but these questions could unravel to them figuring out his affiliation. He decided to just wait and see how they answered. The information could help in the long run. Aila seemed to be a member of Lamia Scale, and probably a prize member if she is participating in the games. The ice girl who still hasn't said her name said she belonged to Sabertooth. Made sense, she had that aura of i thing i'm better than you and you should grovel. Still she seemed to be a prize member to if she is participating in the tournament. Then Lance told him he was Fairy Tail, made sense because he had a personality that fit Fairy Tail from what he could see. So three members of some of the most powerful guilds in Fiore with one dark mage. Even Malacanth didn't like those odds. If it came down to it he would be able to get the advantage at this range....hopefully. " I'm originally from a town a little outside of Era." Safe so far, nothing should be ringing bells unless they saw his face on some dark guild listing. Malacanth now had a question for them. " So what powerful magic do you people use." It was a question burning his mind and knowing their magic would give him a bit of knowledge on how to fight them.

Ah, so Lance was from Magnolia... Seriously was this guy an alternate reality brother or something? I mean their appearance, and choice of ice cream were already so close. Now she discovers that they live in the same town?

Though Nix's answer was slightly more surprising. Aila had heard a bit about Hosenka Town and it had always struck her as a tough place to live. Even larger than that was her choice of guild.

The young mages guild knowledge was a little lacking but at the very least she knew of Sabretooth and Fairy Tail. They were two of the most powerful guilds in Fiore! Just a few days in Era and already she had managed to meet to mages in guilds of that caliber.

"Ahh, must be nice" she muttered with a dreamy look in her eyes, visions of large guild adventures and fascinating sights drifting through her head, "I'm not in a guild myself"


The boy chose to dodge the question. Well, to be fair he had answered it in a vague sort of way. However, his next question only proved further that he wasn't from around here. The town was abuzz with information about Nix and herself. Their magic being the most obvious topic in arguments over who the victor would be. 'Well' she thought as she looked around 'It couldn't hurt to tell him I guess'. Even if she lied, one look at a visual lacrima would show her clearly using her requip magic.

With a small smile she stopped in the center of the road and invoked her magic. In no time at all, the familiar magic circle appeared beneath her feet. The image of her scythe appeared in her mind. The familiar feeling of peering into one's personal void washed over her. Her hand drifted into the air and in a flash of light a large scythe appeared. She chose one of her weaker weapons just to be safe. If the boy decided to attack she'd feel better with an ace up her sleeve. She twirled the weapon rather simply before bringing it to a rest against her shoulder.

She smiled as she began to speak "My magic isn't quite as exotic as these two" she said with a glance at her companions "according to the books in the library it's called 'Requip Magic' "Her hand tugged at the edge of her cloak "It allows me to summon weapons and clothing, though to be honest that's all I really know about it" Her voice trailed off.

Her magic wasn't exactly practiced or planned after all. Nobody was even sure of how she had managed to obtain it. The best scholars and Hargeon simply attributed it to fear combined with her proximity to weapons. However, Aila always felt it was a little deeper than that.

"Ah, by the way" she said suddenly, breaking free of those troubling thoughts "Isn't it usually the person asking the question who answers first?"

Spoiler:

115/120

Lance had fun with the group but he was getting rather bored. After hearing and seeing some of the other mages that Fiore had to offer. He needed to train and he needed to get stronger, now. There was such a large one between himself and Ard and Nix. Moki flew to his side inturipting the conversation. "Hey Lance I'm bored let's go do something.". He grab lance back and hovered him off the ground. "Well it was lovely meeting you all. Nix, Aila if you ever need somebody to help you with a request you know where to find me. Next time I see you I plan on being a C rank as well.". Moki flew off heading to where they stayed the night before. He gathered his things and headed out.


-exit

Malacanth couldn't help but smile, it was an interesting turn of events after all. What were the chance of meeting another requip mage just like this. He quickly held out his hand, getting ready for a hopefully shocked expression. Sadly his big reveal was ruined by a....flying cat! How did he get a flying cat. Malacanth instinctively brought out a weapon, this one was kingdom key. It was the one he was going to show her anyway. As the cool flying cat flew off he took a more relaxed stance. He watched lance fly off then went back to Aila. " I am a requip mage too, my specific magic is called requip: key blade. It is a requip i created, i smith the weapons and customized the usual requip to create it." As he went on about his magic he couldn't help but smile. Not everyday you meet a person with the same magic. " Did you create your requip? How did you find it? since you like the person asking the question to answer first i will tell you how i did. I was tutored by a weak requip mage who was closer to sword mage then a full fledged requip mage. The keyblade is my personal creation, i made the concept myself and smithed them to my likings." The thing he liked about his magic was he created it himself and he was always happy to tell someone that. Most mages learn theirs from a teacher directly so he considered himself better in that aspect.

Spoiler:

Nix had slowly began to lose interest in the group, this being apparent by her overall demeanor. It seemed that it was a shared sentiment, as Lance had said his goodbyes and left shortly after. Nix folded her arms and watched him fly away with mild interest before scoffing and turning her attention back to Aila and Malacanth. The two seemed to be speaking about their magic, which it seemed was Requip, respectively.

"Well, this little outing was...interesting, to say the least. But, I've began to develop a taste for more....adult activities. As such, I'll be taking my leave. I do look forward to our next meeting, little Aila, perhaps it will be as opponents in the tournament. Until then, my dear." She turned and departed, heading towards a different area of town.

-Exit-