A Matter of Unforeseen Happenstance! Kaal and Petra!

[Instinct]

    The locals weren't kidding- the hot days really were unbearably so.
    
    Having served through some of the most rugged environments during his time with the marines, the Golden Boy originally had believed himself to be conditioned to withstand whatever the world would be willing to throw in his path. Come Hell or high water, Kaal thought he was built to last- but the sweltering nature of the deeper desert portions of Zarzara were already humbling him further than he thought he was already able to be.

    Wiping away the ever constant sweat upon his brow, Kaal heaved a heavy sigh. Out of all the jobs he had remaining on his to-do list, this one had to be the most troublesome. The burning heat threatening to melt him with every step. This was precisely the reason why, however, Kaal needed to get this job done first- better to get the most difficult ones out of the way than leave them for last.

    Besides, it wasn't even the specifics of the job itself that aimed to give him any trouble. It was as simple as any other one he's accepted in the past- find the target, snuff them and their company out, and leave with some uncanny item of proof for the employer. Same schtick, different (and noticeably much hotter) day. 

    The target in question was located deep within the deserts of Zarzara- their hideout apparently hidden within one of the only oases found this far into uncharted bit of territory. Seeing as having such a dangerous group of individuals occupying one of the few safe spots within such a vast array of nothingess was bad for business, and so, Kaal was hired to try and clear them out. 

    Still, getting to the damn place was a task and a half to complete, not to mention the loneliness of the trek itself beginning to gnaw at Kaal's normally more composed mind. His head soon began to shift as he himself began to drift slightly in his path through the sandy dunes, mind swaying toward pleasant thoughts of food, water, the seven sea, and exploring it all at a certain nacre user's side...

    ... That was, until, a slight bit of movement off to his right caught the former marine's eye. Placing a cautionary hand upon the hilt of his weapon, Kaal tiled his head in mild interest, calling out to whoever was apparently also making their way through the dusty dunes for whatever reason, "You there- Identify yourself! I mean no harm, but I can't say the same for your intent until you say otherwise."
    
Kaal K'awiil - b91d08 - Post Count: 1

[Jade]

Trudging around through the desert in a big hulking suit of armor was not Petra's idea of a good time. Hell, the aftermath would be even worse - she'd have to spend the whole damn night getting all of the grit out from between the cracks and limbs, even if she used her ability to try to help with matters. Worse still, she was sure to miss some, which would mean she'd be uncomfortable the whole next day.

And the heat. Sure, it wasn't anything she wasn't used to, but it was still a pain in the a**, made worse by how utterly inescapable it was. At least other hot places had the decency to have a few spots of shade or a cool wind to help make things manageable, but this goddamn desert heat was an oppressive and absolute force from which there was no reprieve.

Streams of black, noxious smoke began pouring out from the vents and cracks in the blackened suit of armor as its inhabitant started burning up in her irritation. Suddenly, the whole thing wheeled around, to at least get an idea of how far she'd come-

The actual city of Waq Waq was basically directly behind her.

Within that suit of armor, teeth were grit, and the black smoke pouring out was replaced for a moment by jets of flame. In a flash, the whole suit of armor had been consumed in a ball of fire that grew and grew before suddenly shooting off further into the desert, coupled with the sound of a voice venting frustration by aimlessly screaming.

---

The fireball had become almost more of a flaming wave by the time it happened across the only other idiot going through the desert. Petra had at least stopped her frustrated screaming (mostly because it had only served to hurt her throat and head) by that point, but the surging wave of napalm had only grown in size and speed as she'd managed to work out how to move it more efficiently.

When the man called out to her, the irritation at her whole situation caused the idea of just running him over and pretending not to notice flashed through her head. Reluctantly, she pushed that idea aside even as the wave of fire changed directions, aiming straight for the man. He was far enough away, right? Yeah, probably.

The wave of burning jelly fuel exploded outward from around the suit of armor in a burst, and the suit landed heavily on the sand. Though the idea of riding directly into the man had been cast aside, Petra still grabbed at the iron bar-turned-spear and swung it around to point at the man. She was one hell of a sight - a blackened hulk of armor shooting black smoke out into the air around it, the helmet only giving a look into what seemed to be a raging inferno instead of a face. "And why the hell should I answer you, huh?" Her voice was partially obscured, made echo-y and deeper by the suit. "You're a pretty suspicious guy, y'know. Maybe you're the dumba** I'm looking to bring in? That'd sure make my life easier."

[Instinct]

    Remaining steadfast, the former soldier stood firmly in the shaking sands as a fiery set of armor soon took its place upon the ground in front of him- moving to also brandish their weapon, and bringing it to be level with Kaal's face. Noting the craftsmanship of the spear, the golden boy remained relatively unfazed, his years of military experience strengthening at the very least his mental dexterity as he stared unblinkingly upwards into the helm of the stranger before him.

    Only to sigh a breath of apparent relief and immediately shift to a more relaxed stance and posture. Letting his hands fall back towards his sides, Kaal once more raked a dry, burning hand through his sweat-caked blond hair, the authoritative edge in his tone suddenly, and completely, dissipated as he spoke, stating simply, "My apologies- the desert makes it hard to identify who exactly is friend or foe. And while you certainly don't meet the criteria of either side of the spectrum just yet, considering you've refrained from attempting anything foolish on the spot, I'm willing to grant you the benefit of the doubt."

    He got it, really- it was a blisteringly hot day out here and both of them had clearly been through the wringer enough to warrant a much more irritated attitude toward unwanted company. But if the newcomer was going to address him in such a manner, Kaal supposed it was only right he verbally stood his ground as well.

    Eyebrows raising slightly at the latter end of their last statement, the suspicious swordsman started to pace around the hulking, walking set of armor, glancing at them up and down as he took note of all the ornate intricacies of the suit as he asked in an inquisitive voice, "If I understood what you said correctly, I believe you mentioned something about bringing certain someone in? While I doubt I'm the man you're looking for, I'm willing to bet we may just be looking for the exact same thing."

    Panting slightly, Kaal looked back toward the beckoning backdrop of sandy dunes behind them, and then toward the newcomer one more time, offering them a means of helping the both of them getting this wretched work of theirs done and dusted, saying with a bit of hopeful glimmer in his tone, "Perhaps, you'd be inclined to join forces for a little while? Just to get this little job of ours over with. I realize this is incredibly out of the blue, but, I think I speak for both of us when I say we'd both rather be somewhere cooler at this very moment.."

    Did Kaal usually threaten the retrieval of his bounties by involving outside influences into the fray? Goodness no.

    But these were special circumstances. Hot, and dreary special circumstances.
    
Post Count: 2

[Jade]

<sup>The sun beating down on the blackened Kiln Suit was irritatingly hot, able to be felt even through Petra's own blazing body encased within the shell. But the blond boy in front of her - maybe a bit taller than her normally, though dwarfed by her armor - was somehow even more irritating. He used a lot of words when a few would've been fine, and the way he kept looking at her equipment, judging her handiwork in their reduced state, was just...

She grit her teeth, or whatever passed for them while her entire body was blazing napalm. It was enough to get her blood really boiling. The raging inferno within the Kiln kicked up another notch, then another as the boy's offer to "team up" was communicated.

"And what for?" she scoffed. "Only good that does me is I get less pay at the end of the job. Besides, you ain't keeping up with me if you're running around in the sand on those scrawny legs of yours." The Kiln Suit took one creaking step forward, toward Kaal, and leaned down so that the grate helmet was nearly pressed up toward his face - only partially so that she could really make him sweat with the heat pouring out. "First you call me out to bake under the sun for a while, next you're givin' me the bright idea of letting you mooch off my hard work? Yeah, great thinking, dingus."

Petra took a step back as she holstered her makeshift spear, then crossed her arms over the suit's breast. "But hey, I'm feeling generous. If you manage to keep up with me? Maybe I'll think about letting you get a cut. How's that sound?"</sup>

[Instinct]

    "No need to worry about the payment- I'm not particularly interested in any of that."

    Of course, Kaal's words may ring with a foreign tune upon the ears of the huffy, puffy individual- but in all reality, there was no hint of uncouth intent within his tone. Money in general was never a concern for the young man at any point in his life, and such a fact was only compounded when abandoning his upper-class status in search of greater redemption for his past actions. Combine this with the fact that he was about to become part of a legitimate pirate crew immediately following this last little solo venture, and one would be able to see why Kaal at the very least wouldn't be in great need of some extra funds.

    The only actual reason why he persisted in taking this job was the fact that he had already promised the employer his good word, and if a man didn't make good on his sense of accountability, Kaal believed he was no man at all- so, to abandon a promise he previously made would practically assasinate all right to character he still barely held. 

    Although, the sandy haired soldier of fortune could see potentially why someone like Petra would fail to understand such a philosophy. Especially when all that was on her mind at the moment was getting the job done. Still, he hoped the stranger would trust him enough to at least see the job to its completion. 

    So, gesturing toward the rest of the desert ahead of the two, Kaal said, "I realize you might not believe a single word I've said so far, but, really, I have no qualms with letting you take the brunt of the bounty for yourself. So long as I'm able to confirm the kill, so to speak."
    
    After his reassuring statement, the marine began to continue on the presumably now shared path of the two ahead of them, but not before slyly grinning slightly as he added in a teasing tone, "And, trust me friend- I doubt you'll need to worry about my competency in combat."

    Once the two were well on their way, Kaal would try and at least get the two a proper introduction going- glancing upwards at his unconventional companion as he said, "If we're going to be working together, I think it's imperative we at least try and get off on the right foot. I am Kaal K'awiil, and it's a pleasure to make your acquiantance. What should I call you?"
    
Post Count: 3

[Jade]

Petra was positively fuming within the Kiln Suit - made readily apparent by the way the suit was practically belching noxious fumes from the cracks and vents. This guy sure liked to hear himself talk, didn't he? And if he wasn't interested in the money, then why the hell was he even bothering with the trek through the desert in the first place? Kaal's talking at least gave him reprieve from her own retorts.

"Oh, I'm not worried about you keeping up in combat," she responded. Burning napalm oozed out from the armor, pooling around her armored legs. "I meant 'keep up' literally - I ain't walking through the desert like a chump. You want to team up, then you better keep up, boy."

The napalm surged, though Petra didn't become a blazing fireball again like she had before - though the idea of leaving this man to twiddle his thumbs in the desert, watching her blazing trail fly off ahead of him, was an entertaining one. But having someone to talk to... Or at least taunt along the way sounded mildly more entertaining than just raging across the desert on her own.

Leave a burning trail she most certainly did, though. Petra's napalm wave left a burning trail in her wake as she constantly pumped out more and more napalm to push her forward, without needing to bother with walking her heavy suit of armor through the sands.

"I am Kaal K'awiil... What should I call you?"

Petra spun around in her wave of napalm, still making a point of keeping ahead of Kaal. She took a moment to consider whether she should actually answer or not before shrugging. "Petra, if you've got to call me anything at all. And you can worry about our 'professional relationship' all you like, but it doesn't mean I have to - you're the one who called out to me." She raised a gauntlet and waved her hand in the air in front of her, a dismissive gesture toward the man who had been nothing but cordial so far to her. "Just make sure you steer clear of me once we get where we're going, unless you want to get burned."