Jyah Lewis cast his gaze out into the city. It's not everyday you
come along a city like this. Houses and buildings stood tall with pride in
wutai, as the January snow lightly frosted the city. An almost silent
brook bubbled it's way through the center of the city. Empty flower baskets
and leafless Japanese Mapels lines the sidewalks.
"Maybe I can spend a little while here." Jyan thought to himslef as he swished strands of auburn hair out of his tanned bronze face. "So isolated." he murmered as he bent down and picked up a light blue stone.
His black leather boots crunched in the snow as he slowley made his way to the bubbling brook. He let his long tanned fingers lightly grace the waters surface, it's chill sending a chilly tingle through his entire body.
Still holding the stone in his left hand, he stroked he stroked his thumb over its smooth surface. It was oddly warm and comforting, like a sweet embrace. It was glowing softly, as if a flame was burning inside. "Hmf, maybe that's why its so warm." He thought, expressionless, as he tossed the stone into his bag, getting up.
Jyah let out a soft groan as he swung his bag over his right shoulder. Carrying it for so long, you would think he wouldn't notice it's heavy weigt anymore, but every step he took the weight of the bag shot pain through his arm.
Snow was falling much heavyer now. "Better find a place to stay." Jyah proclaimed as he dusted the soft white powder off his face. A course wind was picking up and he could feel the frost bite at his bare skin. It's a shame he had sold his only jacket back in Gongaga for a measly 500gil. But he was fatigued and needed the money for food and water.
Just thinking about the warmth of his old wool and leather jacket gave him a feeling of comfort. Chills shot down his spine and took him back to his frigid reality. Jyan picked up pace, breathing fast and heavily.
Wutai was oddly empty and this time of the year. Afterall, it was a summer city. He knew that because his friend Bryan would always tell him how when he was little he weent there with his parents to look at the magnificent summer gardens, and come to the annual Wutai Pagoda Festival.
"Bryan." Jyah sighed. It had only been a few months since Bryan had gone missing while him and Jyah were camping out in Cosmo Canyon. Jyah had spent days searching all over for Bryan, yet had no luck. So he continued on his journey. All he had left of Bryan was a letter he was going to send to his fiancé Ulara. But he had to move on.
Jyah shook his head violently, trying to stop thining about other past memories, and solve his current problem, a place to stay until the weather settled. Ahead he saw a very welcoming building. It was made out of a tan coloured wood and a tall chimney shot out the side, a charcoal smoke rising from it. The outside walls were lined with windows, which were closed now.
A bar, that's what it was. The glowing neon sign read "Turtles Paridise." "Hmm a Paridise for Turtles ne?' Snickered Jyah, " I think a few drinks will do me good after such a long travel. After all, drinking hasn't hurt anyone... recently."
As he neared the building he could hear noisees and felt an amazing warmth coming from inside. The sign on the bamboo doors still read "open".
Chee Jyah had really lost track of the date and time lately. It could be eleven at night or two in the morning for all he cared. "It all looks the same to me." He thought as he walked through the doors into the bar. He immediately felt a welcoming vibe as he walked inside.
Turtles Paridise was packed full with tables, chairs, and stools. The air smelt of cheap whiskey, but that didn't matter to Jyah. He liked it here indefinately.
"What'll it be?" a scantly clad woman in a waitress uniform asked. Jyah sat down on a stool close to the main bar and tossed his old bag on the fllor with a loud thud. It suddenly got silent, as everyone turned and looked. Jyan could feel his face and neck start to boil as people stared. But within a few seconds, the people of the bar got back to their drinking.
"So?" The woman asked with a harsh tone in her voice, "wadda you want boy?" " A bottle of conac..." Jyah mumbled under his breath to busy evaluating weather or not this woman was good enough for a one night stand.
She was just about as tall as him, which was almost six feet. Dear Lord she could be a model, he thought gazing at her beauty. Her ice blue eyes fluttered out underneither her heavly mascaraed eyelashes, her eyelids shining with a navy blue dust. Her skin was much paler than his and the apples of her cheeks had a radient rosy glow to them. Her chest length hair was beautifly thick and curly, and the colour was glowing the colour of a burning fire.
Jyah's curious eyes slowly lingered down the rest of her slender body examining hey more "captivating" objects, which to his surprise put a devilish smirk on his face. It had been a while since he had seen such a beautiful lady, and it was about time he saw this one.
"Hey," Jyah jolted with surprise and he was unfortunately lashed back to reality. " Hey boy.. I get that all the time." The girl said and she adjusted her shirt. "And mostly from guys like you, and fourty-something, balding slobs. But I prefer your kind. But I have a Job to do."
She turned around and slowly strutted away, as men looked on to her with eager eyes, probably thinking the same thing Jyah had thought just moments ago.
"And to think I didn't even get her name." Jyah scoled himself. He was getting rather bored sitting waiting for his drink, so he decided he might as well scan the bars surroundings better and look for some more ladies to evaluate.
Cigarette smoke clouded the enormous room, and some old ska band was playing over the crackly speakers. The noise of voices was so loud you could barely hear it anyways.
The bar was full of middle aged men some in scruffy clothes, and a few in suits, probably retiring from a hard days work. There was a few hot, busty, near naked women, But any money that they were just there for strictly buisness."Hookers," he chuckled under his breath, "no point even bothering"
This was a rather civilized bar compared to others he had seen. Most bars had strippers and prostitutes everywhere, and barfights were one of the main means of entertainment. Don't get me wrong though, from most guys points of view that wasn't a bad thing, yet Jyah was still happy in this calm envitoment.
He propped his elbows on the counter as he shook his hair out of his eyes. "That fine young lady should be back with my drink soon." He thought, "I guess i should at least make myself look half decent." He grabbed a nearby spoon and fixed his hair in the spoons reflection. "damnn hard workin upside down." he laughed out loud.
He licked his thumb and rubbed random bits of caked dirt off his face. "For shits sake!" He thought "I look like a trailer park reject!" He hadnt shaved in almost a week and he could see, and feel stubble poking out from his chin. And he needed a haircut too. With it spiked up like it usually was, he guessed it would almost reach his chin.
"You have your eyes on her too don't ya?" Jyan quickly turned away from scrutinizing his looks to see and blond man in a buisness suit a few stools to his left. "I said It looks like you have your eyes on that missy. You and every other man here."
Jyah turned beat red. " I guess" "Youre crazy kid." he laughed as he got up and sat on the stool beside Jyah. "Yeah, she ignores most of em men though. Rarely talks to guys like us. I guys she assumes the only reason we talk to her is the get her to sleep with us." he chuckled as he downed a shot of whiskey.
"Must see somethin' in ya kid. Shes talked to me a few times. I think her name is Remmie, or Ramona or somethin' like that. I foget though. But shes really nice. But don't let her looks fool ya'. The other day some old drunk guy tried to grab her breast and she kicked the shit outta him."
"Say what's your name kid?" "Jyah Lewis" Jyah answered, "and yours?" "Riley Copar's my name. Care for a drink? It's on me." Jyah declined the offer. He was looking forward to his own drink.
"So where you from Jyah?" Riley asked. "I travel alot. All over the place, but i was born is Costa Del Sol. Whabout you?" Jyah asked. "Haha I can tell you're from outta town. I see allotta boys like you comein and outta here. Yes but i am from Wutai. You dont think i just traveled here in my buisness suit to gett drunk? haha. No I run a insurance buisness here. Oh Jyah here comes that woman again with your drinks! Here's your chance!"
"Bottle of Conac for you sir." she giggled as she handed him the bottle and a shot glass. Jyah started to stutter as she walked away. "He- he- hey ma'am." She turned around. "What's your name?" questioned Jyah, "well that's... that's if you.. you.. you'll tell me..."
She looked at Jyah and walked back to him giggling flirtatiously. "*giggle* Gee kid you're sure one with the ladies. My names Remmie. But should I just call you stuttering stud hmm?" Jyah felt his face get hot and he knew she noticed too because she had such a smile on her face.
"Nah the name's Jyah." "Jyah hey? Sounds exotic. Where ya from?" Jyah blushed even more. "It's not that important." Remmie looked at Jyah curiously. "No tell me!." "Fine... I was born in Costa Del Sol, I lived in Midgar for a while, And since then I have been traveling, If you Insist on knowing..." Jyah answered, over reacting a little bit.
"Calm down Kid!" Remmie snickered. "I ain't a kid!" Jyah grunted as he poured some booze into his glass, "I'm nineteen ya know!" Remmie smiled as she propped her elbows on the counter next to Jyah. Guess she was planning on staying a while.
"You certainly don't look nineteen." she said through a smile, "tought you were like seventeen or sixteen. If ya were I'd boot your ass outta here!" "Haha," Jyah said sarcasticly as he downed a shot ,"*cough* and I suppose you're not much older?!" "Twenty-three. That's it. Not too old not too young!" Remmie joked as she struck her best super model pose.
Jyah couldn't hold it back any longer. He burst out laughing. Remmie let out a annoyed 'harumf' "Oh so I don't have what it takes to be a 'Sooooopah' Model do I?" The way she faked the italian accent made both her and Jyah crack up again.
"Hey Remmie, um when's your shift over?" Jyah asked, barrely able to get out the words. "One o'clock hot shit *giggle*" Remmie laughed. "Wanna maybe like hang out when you're off work?" Jyah coughed trying to cover up the tone of embarassment in his voice.
"That'd be great!" Remmie said through yet another gorgeous smile, "But it'sbeen a long night. I was planning on just goin' home to my appartment and hittin' the sack...... alone."
Jyah laughed, and took to defence, "Don't worry Remmie. I'm not like that! I am not totally sex crazed all the time. So chill and like I said, don't worry about it." Remmie let out a sheepish smile, feeling embarrassed herself. "th-th-thanks Jyah."
"Hey..." Jyah paused, " Do you know of any nice hotels I can stay in for say... 25 gil a night?" "25 gil can get you into almost any hotel in Wutai," Remmie said with a hint of jealousy in her voice, " that's like a full night's pay for me! But yeah I recomend the place by the mountain. I think it's called 'Cherry Blossoms Nirvana'. Plus it's only about 15 gil a night at this time of the year."
She turned around and walked through the gate to the bartenders side of the counter. She knelt down and grabbed something from under the counter. She slid a mickey of vodka towards Jyah. "That's for the road. But don't tell anyone I gave that too ya. I'm not supposed to do that cuz I could lose my job."
"Oh!" Remmie lightly exclaimed writing something down on a piece of paper, "here's my number. If you decide to spend some time in Wutai, give me a call. I don't start work until six thirty, so maybe we could catch lunch sometime."
Jyah smiled sheepishly as he slipped the bottle into his bag along with the paper. "Thanks." He murmered. "Well My shift is almost over now." Remmie said as she stood strait up, "You're a nice guy Jyah. Catch ya later?" she half said half asked. "Yeah." Jyah smiled, "Why not. Catch ya later... Remmie..." And Remmie smiled and walked off to the back room.
Jyah let out a satisfied groan and relaxed his elbows on the counter as he rested his chin in his hands. "Remmie..." He thought. "What a beautiful name." And with that he got up, slung his bag over his shoulder and slowley walked out of Turtles Paridise.
"Maybe I can spend a little while here." Jyan thought to himslef as he swished strands of auburn hair out of his tanned bronze face. "So isolated." he murmered as he bent down and picked up a light blue stone.
His black leather boots crunched in the snow as he slowley made his way to the bubbling brook. He let his long tanned fingers lightly grace the waters surface, it's chill sending a chilly tingle through his entire body.
Still holding the stone in his left hand, he stroked he stroked his thumb over its smooth surface. It was oddly warm and comforting, like a sweet embrace. It was glowing softly, as if a flame was burning inside. "Hmf, maybe that's why its so warm." He thought, expressionless, as he tossed the stone into his bag, getting up.
Jyah let out a soft groan as he swung his bag over his right shoulder. Carrying it for so long, you would think he wouldn't notice it's heavy weigt anymore, but every step he took the weight of the bag shot pain through his arm.
Snow was falling much heavyer now. "Better find a place to stay." Jyah proclaimed as he dusted the soft white powder off his face. A course wind was picking up and he could feel the frost bite at his bare skin. It's a shame he had sold his only jacket back in Gongaga for a measly 500gil. But he was fatigued and needed the money for food and water.
Just thinking about the warmth of his old wool and leather jacket gave him a feeling of comfort. Chills shot down his spine and took him back to his frigid reality. Jyan picked up pace, breathing fast and heavily.
Wutai was oddly empty and this time of the year. Afterall, it was a summer city. He knew that because his friend Bryan would always tell him how when he was little he weent there with his parents to look at the magnificent summer gardens, and come to the annual Wutai Pagoda Festival.
"Bryan." Jyah sighed. It had only been a few months since Bryan had gone missing while him and Jyah were camping out in Cosmo Canyon. Jyah had spent days searching all over for Bryan, yet had no luck. So he continued on his journey. All he had left of Bryan was a letter he was going to send to his fiancé Ulara. But he had to move on.
Jyah shook his head violently, trying to stop thining about other past memories, and solve his current problem, a place to stay until the weather settled. Ahead he saw a very welcoming building. It was made out of a tan coloured wood and a tall chimney shot out the side, a charcoal smoke rising from it. The outside walls were lined with windows, which were closed now.
A bar, that's what it was. The glowing neon sign read "Turtles Paridise." "Hmm a Paridise for Turtles ne?' Snickered Jyah, " I think a few drinks will do me good after such a long travel. After all, drinking hasn't hurt anyone... recently."
As he neared the building he could hear noisees and felt an amazing warmth coming from inside. The sign on the bamboo doors still read "open".
Chee Jyah had really lost track of the date and time lately. It could be eleven at night or two in the morning for all he cared. "It all looks the same to me." He thought as he walked through the doors into the bar. He immediately felt a welcoming vibe as he walked inside.
Turtles Paridise was packed full with tables, chairs, and stools. The air smelt of cheap whiskey, but that didn't matter to Jyah. He liked it here indefinately.
"What'll it be?" a scantly clad woman in a waitress uniform asked. Jyah sat down on a stool close to the main bar and tossed his old bag on the fllor with a loud thud. It suddenly got silent, as everyone turned and looked. Jyan could feel his face and neck start to boil as people stared. But within a few seconds, the people of the bar got back to their drinking.
"So?" The woman asked with a harsh tone in her voice, "wadda you want boy?" " A bottle of conac..." Jyah mumbled under his breath to busy evaluating weather or not this woman was good enough for a one night stand.
She was just about as tall as him, which was almost six feet. Dear Lord she could be a model, he thought gazing at her beauty. Her ice blue eyes fluttered out underneither her heavly mascaraed eyelashes, her eyelids shining with a navy blue dust. Her skin was much paler than his and the apples of her cheeks had a radient rosy glow to them. Her chest length hair was beautifly thick and curly, and the colour was glowing the colour of a burning fire.
Jyah's curious eyes slowly lingered down the rest of her slender body examining hey more "captivating" objects, which to his surprise put a devilish smirk on his face. It had been a while since he had seen such a beautiful lady, and it was about time he saw this one.
"Hey," Jyah jolted with surprise and he was unfortunately lashed back to reality. " Hey boy.. I get that all the time." The girl said and she adjusted her shirt. "And mostly from guys like you, and fourty-something, balding slobs. But I prefer your kind. But I have a Job to do."
She turned around and slowly strutted away, as men looked on to her with eager eyes, probably thinking the same thing Jyah had thought just moments ago.
"And to think I didn't even get her name." Jyah scoled himself. He was getting rather bored sitting waiting for his drink, so he decided he might as well scan the bars surroundings better and look for some more ladies to evaluate.
Cigarette smoke clouded the enormous room, and some old ska band was playing over the crackly speakers. The noise of voices was so loud you could barely hear it anyways.
The bar was full of middle aged men some in scruffy clothes, and a few in suits, probably retiring from a hard days work. There was a few hot, busty, near naked women, But any money that they were just there for strictly buisness."Hookers," he chuckled under his breath, "no point even bothering"
This was a rather civilized bar compared to others he had seen. Most bars had strippers and prostitutes everywhere, and barfights were one of the main means of entertainment. Don't get me wrong though, from most guys points of view that wasn't a bad thing, yet Jyah was still happy in this calm envitoment.
He propped his elbows on the counter as he shook his hair out of his eyes. "That fine young lady should be back with my drink soon." He thought, "I guess i should at least make myself look half decent." He grabbed a nearby spoon and fixed his hair in the spoons reflection. "damnn hard workin upside down." he laughed out loud.
He licked his thumb and rubbed random bits of caked dirt off his face. "For shits sake!" He thought "I look like a trailer park reject!" He hadnt shaved in almost a week and he could see, and feel stubble poking out from his chin. And he needed a haircut too. With it spiked up like it usually was, he guessed it would almost reach his chin.
"You have your eyes on her too don't ya?" Jyan quickly turned away from scrutinizing his looks to see and blond man in a buisness suit a few stools to his left. "I said It looks like you have your eyes on that missy. You and every other man here."
Jyah turned beat red. " I guess" "Youre crazy kid." he laughed as he got up and sat on the stool beside Jyah. "Yeah, she ignores most of em men though. Rarely talks to guys like us. I guys she assumes the only reason we talk to her is the get her to sleep with us." he chuckled as he downed a shot of whiskey.
"Must see somethin' in ya kid. Shes talked to me a few times. I think her name is Remmie, or Ramona or somethin' like that. I foget though. But shes really nice. But don't let her looks fool ya'. The other day some old drunk guy tried to grab her breast and she kicked the shit outta him."
"Say what's your name kid?" "Jyah Lewis" Jyah answered, "and yours?" "Riley Copar's my name. Care for a drink? It's on me." Jyah declined the offer. He was looking forward to his own drink.
"So where you from Jyah?" Riley asked. "I travel alot. All over the place, but i was born is Costa Del Sol. Whabout you?" Jyah asked. "Haha I can tell you're from outta town. I see allotta boys like you comein and outta here. Yes but i am from Wutai. You dont think i just traveled here in my buisness suit to gett drunk? haha. No I run a insurance buisness here. Oh Jyah here comes that woman again with your drinks! Here's your chance!"
"Bottle of Conac for you sir." she giggled as she handed him the bottle and a shot glass. Jyah started to stutter as she walked away. "He- he- hey ma'am." She turned around. "What's your name?" questioned Jyah, "well that's... that's if you.. you.. you'll tell me..."
She looked at Jyah and walked back to him giggling flirtatiously. "*giggle* Gee kid you're sure one with the ladies. My names Remmie. But should I just call you stuttering stud hmm?" Jyah felt his face get hot and he knew she noticed too because she had such a smile on her face.
"Nah the name's Jyah." "Jyah hey? Sounds exotic. Where ya from?" Jyah blushed even more. "It's not that important." Remmie looked at Jyah curiously. "No tell me!." "Fine... I was born in Costa Del Sol, I lived in Midgar for a while, And since then I have been traveling, If you Insist on knowing..." Jyah answered, over reacting a little bit.
"Calm down Kid!" Remmie snickered. "I ain't a kid!" Jyah grunted as he poured some booze into his glass, "I'm nineteen ya know!" Remmie smiled as she propped her elbows on the counter next to Jyah. Guess she was planning on staying a while.
"You certainly don't look nineteen." she said through a smile, "tought you were like seventeen or sixteen. If ya were I'd boot your ass outta here!" "Haha," Jyah said sarcasticly as he downed a shot ,"*cough* and I suppose you're not much older?!" "Twenty-three. That's it. Not too old not too young!" Remmie joked as she struck her best super model pose.
Jyah couldn't hold it back any longer. He burst out laughing. Remmie let out a annoyed 'harumf' "Oh so I don't have what it takes to be a 'Sooooopah' Model do I?" The way she faked the italian accent made both her and Jyah crack up again.
"Hey Remmie, um when's your shift over?" Jyah asked, barrely able to get out the words. "One o'clock hot shit *giggle*" Remmie laughed. "Wanna maybe like hang out when you're off work?" Jyah coughed trying to cover up the tone of embarassment in his voice.
"That'd be great!" Remmie said through yet another gorgeous smile, "But it'sbeen a long night. I was planning on just goin' home to my appartment and hittin' the sack...... alone."
Jyah laughed, and took to defence, "Don't worry Remmie. I'm not like that! I am not totally sex crazed all the time. So chill and like I said, don't worry about it." Remmie let out a sheepish smile, feeling embarrassed herself. "th-th-thanks Jyah."
"Hey..." Jyah paused, " Do you know of any nice hotels I can stay in for say... 25 gil a night?" "25 gil can get you into almost any hotel in Wutai," Remmie said with a hint of jealousy in her voice, " that's like a full night's pay for me! But yeah I recomend the place by the mountain. I think it's called 'Cherry Blossoms Nirvana'. Plus it's only about 15 gil a night at this time of the year."
She turned around and walked through the gate to the bartenders side of the counter. She knelt down and grabbed something from under the counter. She slid a mickey of vodka towards Jyah. "That's for the road. But don't tell anyone I gave that too ya. I'm not supposed to do that cuz I could lose my job."
"Oh!" Remmie lightly exclaimed writing something down on a piece of paper, "here's my number. If you decide to spend some time in Wutai, give me a call. I don't start work until six thirty, so maybe we could catch lunch sometime."
Jyah smiled sheepishly as he slipped the bottle into his bag along with the paper. "Thanks." He murmered. "Well My shift is almost over now." Remmie said as she stood strait up, "You're a nice guy Jyah. Catch ya later?" she half said half asked. "Yeah." Jyah smiled, "Why not. Catch ya later... Remmie..." And Remmie smiled and walked off to the back room.
Jyah let out a satisfied groan and relaxed his elbows on the counter as he rested his chin in his hands. "Remmie..." He thought. "What a beautiful name." And with that he got up, slung his bag over his shoulder and slowley walked out of Turtles Paridise.