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The Thought That Counts - Chapter 1
Another day, another quest completed. Sharak entered Lower Jeuno so exhausted that he nearly collapsed, drawing much attention from the nearby adventurers.
"Ah man, why the hell did I agree to go on such a dangerous quest? But still…" Sharak said while digging into his pocket, "the gil was well worth it. Jeunoans have been the target of many thieves seeking precious heirlooms to be sold on the Beastmen black market, they're just willing to pay any price."
Regaining his composure, Sharak crossed the Market Bridge to his favorite retreat, The Merry Minstrel. He wasn't surprised to see the place was packed, as well it should be. He was partly responsible for its success after it nearly went out of business, having helped the owner during a delivery strike which stopped all shipments of exotic goods. He waded through the crowd and took his seat in the usual spot, a dimly lit corner near the stage where he was greeted by Yoskolo, the barkeep.
"Sharak! Good to see you again! What can I get for you today?" asked Yoskolo.
"Hey Yosk, I'll have the usual," replied Sharak, smiling.
"Coming right up," said Yoskolo, returning to the bar.
Sharak turned to the stage and saw the Mithran bard, Tuh Almobankha, a renowned harpist. Being a former bard, he taught her the secret arts of the job, Troubadour and Nightingale, allowing her to become even more accomplished. Travelers and fledgling bards flocked from all of Vana'diel to watch her. Even the mysterious dancer Lilisette took to the stage during one of Tuh's performances. He and Tuh became great friends after he helped save the Merry Minstrel.
Sharak smiled at Tuh while she played, and with a wave, she grinned at him while continuing her mazurka. She ended her song a few minutes later, the crowd in the tavern roaring with applause while Tuh and her accompaniment bowed gracefully and left the stage.
"Come back again soon, we always enjoy perrrforrrming for our customerrrs!" said Tuh, winking coyly at the crowd as they returned to their tables, engaged in raucous conversation with one another.
"Sharak! It's grrreat to see you around!" exclaimed Tuh, placing an arm on his shoulder after taking her seat.
"Same here! I see you're still drawing in quite the crowd! I'm glad this old place has come around," said Sharak, glancing around the tavern.
"Hehe, thanks! So what brrrings you arrround?" she asked as she giggled, placing her hands behind her head and leaning back.
"Oh, you know, the same ol'... completing quests for fame and fortune, going on missions to save the world from ragnarök and apocalypse! After all that, I've got to stop by the best spot in Jeuno to relax," he said, taking a sip of his amrita.
"You adventurers really live the drrream, huh? Exploring far off shorrres, meeting new people, it's the life I've always drrreamed of..." she said, sighing to herself.
"I admire your passion, but it's really not all it's cracked up to be," he replied.
"What do you mean?" she asked, taking a gulp from a frothy mug filled with persikos au lait.
"Well... it's a dangerous life, the one of an adventurer. Your life is always up to chance on the battlefield. Traveling with a party isn't any easier, either, you always worry whether or not everyone will make it back safely. But sometimes, some things are more important than all of that," he said with another sip.
"Oh? Like what?" she asked, curious of his answer.
"Like following your heart! Making your dreams come true," he exclaimed, grinning at her.
Tuh giggled at his answer, shifting in her seat while strumming the strings of her harp.
"But on the bright side, exploring is always fun. Sometimes you get to see something so breathtaking that it can change your life," he said, taking in a big gulp of the amrita.
"Oh? You mean like Chymerrrial?" she asked, grinning roguishly at Sharak.
Sharak choked on his drink, stumbling from his seat as he coughed violently. Surrounding patrons stared for a moment before returning to their conversations.
"What do you mean?" he asked, embarrassed by her accusation.
"Just a lucky guess. And Yoskolo," she answered, "he told me that you opened up about Chymerrrial after some drinks a few nights back. About how her smile makes your knees buckle, and how her kindness makes your stomach queasy. How pretty she is..." she continued, smiling to herself.
Sharak's face reddened as she went on, almost as brightly as his Duelist's armor.
"Did I really say that?" he asked quietly.
"Oh, yeah... you were quite fuddled when you told Yosk how you feel about her. It's sweet, though, you know... in that Sharrrak sort of way," she said, continually strumming the strings of the harp.
"Heh... Chymerial knows how I feel about her, so it's no secret I guess," he replied, blushing to himself while causing Tuh to gasp loudly.
"Oh, rrreally? What did you say?" she asked as she dropped her harp to the table, intrigued.
"Yeah... I didn't exactly express how I truly feel, but I told her that I really care about her," he answered.
"Will you ever tell herrr?" she asked, desperate to hear his answer.
"If I ever get the chance to, I will," he replied.
"I rrreally hope you get that chance, she needs to know! I'm sure it'll happen soon! She'll see what a grrreat guy you are, Sharak," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder as she finished her drink.
As they finished their drinks, Sharak turned and noticed the door opening. Kedamonah, Kuula, Unctgtg, and Chymerial were walking into the Merry Minstrel. He couldn't help staring at Chymerial as she walked toward a table. Tuh, noticing his attention wandering, stared into the direction he was.
"So, that is Chymerrrial! She's quite beautiful!" said Tuh, nudging Sharak with her elbow.
"Huh? Oh, yeah! She really is..." said Sharak, sighing to himself.
.
Chymerial and her friends sat down at a table on the other side of the tavern, talking and laughing quietly amongst the crowd of noisy adventurers. They decided on their order, and Chymerial climbed up from the table, walking toward the bar where Yoskolo was busy entertaining foreign guests. Sharak hurriedly grabbed Tuh by her shoulder and shifted her in her seat, hiding behind her.
"Sharrrak... what are you doing?" asked Tuh, bewildered.
He continued to move Tuh further in her seat as to block Chymerial's line of sight, staying hidden until she brought her group's order to their table.
"Sorry, Tuh, I just didn't want her to spot me," he explained, settling back into his seat.
"Huh? Why not?" she asked, fixing the cushion on her chair and sitting again.
"Well, we haven't seen each other in days, and I've been trying to find the perfect present for her. I decided I wouldn't see her until I had a present for her upcoming birthday," he explained.
"Her birrrthday? Is it soon?" she asked, staring over at Chymerial's table.
"Yeah…" he answered, "it's tomorrow. Believe me, I've been trying to find the perfect gift for her."
"What did you have in mind? Maybe I can help!" she happily exclaimed.
"Well, I tried growing an Elshimo Pachira for her using tree cuttings. It was growing well until I realized the fruit was poisonous, and I didn't want anything to happen to her if she ate some of it," he said.
"Ouch, gardening is a harrrd job, and that wouldn't be a very good way to show herrr you like herrr," she replied.
"Then I met a strange Tarutaru in Port Jeuno. He told me he had valuable jewelry for sale and tricked me into buying an imitation Roundel Earring. He even said it belonged to the advisor of Tzee Xicu, Soo Luma the Ascended," he said.
"How could you tell it wasn't rrreal?" she asked, scowling.
"I showed the earring to my Moogle when I got home. He used his kupowers to wrap it when it broke into tiny pieces, and he told me it wasn't authentic. I was pretty upset about it," he replied.
"Wow, did you find that naughty Tarrrutarrru and get your gil back?" she asked.
"Let's just say he won't be selling any imitation goods for a long, long time..." he answered, smiling mischievously.
"Sharrrak, what did you do?" she asked.
"What? He's in Bostaunieux Oubliette! I know better than that," he responded, with a chuckle.
"You'd betterrr know betterrr!" she said, giggling along with him.
They sat there silently as the tavern cleared out, sharing a pitcher of melon juice. Sharak could hear Chymerial and her friends from across the room now.
"Your birthday is tomorrow, Chyme," said Kedamonah, grinning at her.
"Yup yup, I can't wait!" said Chymerial, taking a bite of her icecap rolanberry.
"So, what am I getting for you this year?" asked Kedamonah, taking a sip of his drink.
"Oh, you guys... you don't have to get me anything!" she said, stammering.
"Every year, you tell us not to get you anything but we always do, so just make it easy on us!" said Kuula, leaning back against the wall.
"Okay, okay... if you guys really want to get me something, then I guess something cheap and easy to get would be fine. So I don't want something that's small, shiny or expensive!" she said, staring at them and pointing her finger toward them.
Those three words resounded in Sharak's mind.
Small!
Shiny!
Expensive!
He had an idea.
"If she says she doesn't want her friends to get her something small, shiny or expensive, then I'll have to be the one to get her something like that!" he thought to himself.
"Tuh, I've got to run! I think I've got the perfect idea!" said Sharak, beaming as he took his chapeau in hand and slowly made his way around the room. Not wanting to be noticed by Chymerial, he ducked under the bar, startling Yoskolo.
"Sharak, what are you doing?" asked Yoskolo.
"Sorry, but I've got to go! Here!" he replied, handing Yoskolo some gil. As he tried to move past Yoskolo, he knocked over a few glasses, causing them to shatter and drawing the attention of the few left in the tavern. He didn't stop to look and darted out of the door to Lower Jeuno.
"Huh? Was that... Sharak?" asked Chymerial, taken aback.
"Why would that be him?" asked Kuula.
"I just haven't seen him in a long time, so I've been worried," she said.
"I'm sure he's just been busy with his linkshell," said Kedamonah, shrugging.
"Yeah... I hope you're right," she said, taking another quick glance at the entrance of the Merry Minstrel.
Yoskolo looked at the broken glass and then noticed that Sharak handed him a 50,000 gil piece.
"That kid has lost his mind," he said, shaking his head.