Draco: I have been desperate to write some Bravely Default fanfiction, but I can't get another big project going until I finish at least one of my three currently active fanfics. I've got seven different one-shot ideas, but my writing style for anything other than humour uses elements that won't make a lick of sense without a large-scale fanfic first.
Solution? Humour.
This is intended to take place shortly after Grandship takes flight. I acknowledge any minor artistic liberties taken with the alt outfits as described below.
Bravely Default and all related properties © Square Enix
New Clothes From Norende
"Alright, time for a little R'n'R!"
Edea's cheer as the group stepped into Florem spoke for all of them. The shock of Grandship's sudden flight had worn off, replaced with a desire to do everything. The marshal's daughter wanted a five-course meal from Caldisla, Ancheim, Florem, Eisenberg, and something from the Drunken Pig; Ringabel had confided in Tiz his hope for a night with every woman in Luxendarc, as many at a time as possible; and Agnès - normally one to just sit back and relax, had expressed a desire for a shopping trip - as long as they avoided Yulyana Woods Needleworks. Tiz was not entirely interested, but decided to come along anyways; Airy had chosen to wait at Grandship with Datz, Zatz, and the proprietress.
Since Florem fit everyone's desires best, they had decided to start there.
"Hoo, boy," Tiz mused as the group looked around. This is either going to be very fun... or very, very painful.
"Alright," Edea mused, looking over a small shopping list she had brought. "Stream noodles, eel wafers, queen perch, water jellies..."
Ringabel glanced at her curiously. "I thought you wanted a meal," he mused, "not desserts."
Edea elbowed him in the ribs. "The desserts are for later," she insisted. "I don't want to make another trip afterwards!"
Agnès gave Tiz a pleading look. Unable to deny her, Tiz drew out his wallet and handed it to her - nineteen thousand p.g. and change. Agnès accepted it gratefully before taking off down Florem's streets - the unfamiliarity of the city had been washed away, replaced with the eagerness spurred by the freedom of Grandship's flight.
Tiz, having had the foresight to keep a couple thousand p.g. in his pocket, now he stepped towards the Florem inn, thinking to get rooms for the team for afterwards. He was unsurprised to see his adventurer friend waiting at the bottom of the inn stairs - he had grown used to the traveller constantly appearing wherever the team went. The friendly wanderer had been very beneficial in the reconstruction of Norende - Tiz had sent a bit of cash and supplies with him on occasion, and more than once had the adventurer acted as a go-between for his purchases from Norende's shops.
"How's the town doing?" Tiz asked, taking a seat on a fence by the water.
The traveller chuckled lightly. "Doing good," he mused. "I'd call it good as new, if not for..."
Tiz only nodded. The Great Chasm had yet to close - and until then, he was certain that Norende would never be the same. "And the people?"
"Happy to be helping," the adventurer replied. "That goes for me, too."
He lightly kicked a small box that Tiz hadn't noticed until now. It was one of four small items that had been sitting at his feet, each with a small label on it. One was wrapped in blank white; another was in soft brown. The third was in faded blue, and the fourth was bright red; all of them were wrapped crosswise with a light cord. The white one was the largest of the group, though the brown one wasn't all that much smaller; the blue was smallest, though the red one almost ran into Tiz's feet by the light kick the traveller had propelled it with.
"I was asked to bring these to you," he mused as Tiz knelt down to pick it up. "Gifts from Norende."
"More compounding pieces?" the shepherd mused, leaning down and grabbing it by the cord. This wasn't the first time the shops in Norende had sent them some free wares. Healing items and attack triggers were among the gifts as well, but it was more often that they were sent the kind of objects best used by a salve-maker.
He was surprised when the adventurer shook his head. "They said it was for giving you a new look," he corrected.
"Clothes?" Tiz observed. "When did we make a tailor shop?"
"You didn't," the traveller corrected. "Custom stuff. All of them were put together by specific groups."
Tiz hummed thoughtfully. "Do me a favour?" he prompted. "Track down my friends and ask them to come to the inn."
+x+x+x+
"Norende sent us clothes?"
Everyone had gathered in the inn room that Tiz had reserved for them. Four beds, flowers everywhere, aromatherapy candles in the bathroom - basic Florem stuff. Edea hadn't had time to get any more than a bowl of eel wafers; Ringabel had been very disappointed to be called back in the middle of a flirt; and Agnès had somehow managed to blow through three thousand p.g. already - "magic accessory shopping", she had called it. Each of them was waiting on one of the beds, curious at the news that Tiz had given them.
Tiz had the packages sitting on his bed, and was looking at the postage labels. "Looks that way," he mused in response to Edea's question, checking the brown package. "Agnès, this one's for you."
He set it on the floor and slid it to Agnès, who picked it up and read the label. "To Lady Vestal Agnès Oblige," she read aloud, "from Norende construction/restoration volunteers, come from Ancheim."
"Ringabel," Tiz added, picking up the blue package, "this one's for you."
The amnesiac caught it swiftly, looking at the label. "To the playboy wannabe known as Ringabel," he narrated, with a hurt note on 'wannabe', "from the girls of Florem who have come to help fix Norende. Ouch."
"This one's mine," he mused, looking over the white one. "To Tiz Arrior, head of the Norende restoration effort, from volunteers come from Caldisla on behalf of the King." He set it down next to his bed before checking the red one. "Yep, here's yours, Edea."
He slid the box to Edea's bed. The Eternian picked it up, looking for the label. "Huh," she mused, curious. "Kinda long." She squinted to make out the writing - it had been very small in order to fit on the label. "To... Edea... Lee... What!?"
Everyone turned to her as Edea pulled away in shock. "What is it?" Agnès asked.
Edea swallowed heavily, surprised by what she had read. "It says... To Edea Lee, daughter of the grand marshal of Eternia, traitor to the duchy's forces. From the surviving members of the Eternian Sky Nights and Bloodrose Legion..."
"Don't open it!" Ringabel shouted suddenly.
Tiz looked at the floor. "I can't believe this..."
Warily, Edea looked over the box, careful not to turn it too quickly. "Hold on... there's something more written here," she mused, squinting at the edge. "We make no attempt to harm you, nor to harm Norende. Though we do not approve of your choice to aid the vestal, the decision to provide new garments for the party accompanying restoration leader Tiz Arrior was unanimous by all volunteers. Do not fear the contents of this package."
There was quiet as that message sank in.
"Well," Tiz mused, "I guess there's no harm in trying these on."
Everyone agreed that they would at least give the new garments a try. Ringabel procured a set of drawing straws, and the order was decided.
Tiz went first.
+x+x+x+
Onion Shirt
Several metallic clatters echoed from the bathroom as Tiz changed into his new garments. The other three were quiet as they listened to the noise, but after a while, Agnès began to worry, "Are you quite alright, Tiz?"
"Yeah," Tiz called. "I'm about done. I'm coming out."
The door opened, and Tiz stepped out. He actually looked rather knightly; the garb he wore wasn't quite plate mail, but the heroic-looking tunic - faded white, with red sleeves and a silvery cape - was covered with small metallic plates of the same colour as the fabric to give the impression of armour; the design also explained the clatter. Protective leather cuffs with silver charms had been slipped over his sleeves, and a leather strap was hooked over his shoulder, connected to his belt with a small bronze connection. The leggings were a soft brown fabric, and his feet wore small leather boots. The bulk of the package seemed to have been taken up by the helmet that was now nestled upon his head.
Agnès gazed at the headgear curiously. "Tiz," she mused. "That helm... what is that?"
Tiz glanced up, reaching for the helmet and pulling it off his head. Automatic helmet hair ensued as he held the gear before him. "I'm not a hundred percent sure," he admitted, "but... I think it's an onion."
Edea raised a hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter. Ringabel didn't hesitate, cracking up immediately. Agnès only angled her head, uncertain.
"Yeah," Tiz admitted, "I have no idea how to follow up with that."
Ringabel straightened himself out, still smiling. "It suits you," he mused. "You're a farmer, aren't you?"
"I was a shepherd," Tiz corrected. "Lambs. Not vegetables."
"It's not that bad," Edea mused. "I mean, sure, it looks a little silly, but it kinda makes sense. Didn't the king say you could have been a knight?"
Agnès nodded. "Indeed," she mused. "I agree with Edea. It's quite fitting of a knight come from Norende."
Tiz's face deepened slightly. "Thanks."
+x+x+x+
Knight's Tunic
Agnès' outfiit didn't make much less noise than Tiz's did. It also took quite a bit longer for her to finish changing, but after a while, the wind vestal opened up the door and stepped out.
Tiz's helmet hit the floor.
This one decidedly was plate mail - several interlocking silver plates that much resembled the top half of a dress. It didn't close completely, possibly to provide ease of movement, and there was a dark-coloured tunic beneath it to provide a little contrast. It also very much complimented Agnès' figure, though she showed no signs of discomfort. It was slightly asymmetrical, with the left shoulder bearing a pauldron and the collar extending to circle her right shoulder. Dark metal gauntlets circled her hands, a pair of dark short shorts emerged from beneath the tunic - nearly black, with vertical crimson stripes - and she wore a pair of dark metal thigh-high greaves that linked with her sabatons. Over her head was a silver headband, with a black fabric decoration resembling a butterfly's wing dangling off one side.
"Well?" Agnès prompted, angling from side to side. "Does it seem a bit... pretentious?"
"Of course not," Ringabel insisted. "I say, I never thought I'd see armour be made attractive."
Edea glared at him. "Oh, shut your trap, Ringabel!" she snapped. "It does looked pretty good," she admitted to Agnès. "Can you spin around for us?"
Agnès slowly turned in place. Her hair drifted to the side as she did, and Tiz had to stop himself from yelling when he saw that there was a circular gap in the back of the plate mail, with no undershirt beneath it. He told himself that it was to help the garment breathe, but part of his mind nagged at him that Ringabel wasn't the only one who thought Agnès should wear more flattering clothing. His face flushed with heat as Agnès finished her turn.
Ringabel nodded. "Amazing," he mused. Then he glanced at Tiz. "Seems I'm not the only one who thinks so."
The vestal turned to Tiz, who looked away nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted.
Edea chuckled. "You're red as a tomato!" she teased.
Agnès' expression became one of concern. "Tiz..."
"It... it suits you," was all he would say.
+x+x+x+
Melodist's Shirt
Ringabel's outfit made absolutely no noise at all. For a moment the others were wondering if he was just avoiding putting the outfit on altogether; then the door opened, and the amnesiac stepped out.
Edea reeled. "Ringabel... what is that?" she demanded.
"Um..." Ringabel glanced down at his garments with his hands to his sides, thinking. "Gillionare composer playboy philanthropist."
His outfit consisted of a bright gold longjacket that almost reached his ankles, with a high collar that almost got buried in his hair. The cuffs were deep black, with a strip of deep red across the middles and trimmed with white. It was open at the front, leaving two large protrusions on either side, and revealing a white shirt with a near-turtleneck collar and too many frills, and on the back there was a big white bow tied at his waist. It didn't go around - it just stuck out the back. His leggings were a forest green colour, and he wore fairly large brown boots with them.
Agnès angled her head to the side. "I do not believe that that is quite performer material," she admitted. "It seems more... showy, than practical."
"Agreed," Edea mused. "That came from Florem's people, all right."
Tiz set a hand on his chin. "Definitely styled more for the stage than the studio," he insisted.
Ringabel lowered his gaze to the floor, setting his hands on his hips. "I won't deny that it seems somewhat... out-of-place," he mused, "but... I enjoy the design."
"Well, if we're talking about the design," Tiz admitted, "it'll definitely catch people's attention."
Edea nodded. "The high collar has a kind of 'I'm important, so back off!' attitude," she agreed.
"I suppose it could serve as formal wear," Agnès observed.
"Lovely!" Ringabel observed. "Now I have some proper attire for my next date."
Everyone groaned at that turnaround.
+x+x+x+
Edea's Garb
More clattering ensued as Edea changed into her outfit, though hers did not take as long as Agnès' had. A few moments later, the Eternian stepped out - with some slight difficulty.
"The wings are a bit much," Ringabel observed.
What Edea was wearing looked like someone had tried to make plate mail out of vestal garb... and quite overdone it. It was close-fitting, and carried a very stylistic contrast between deep black and metallic silver. There was a curious, weaving design on the 'wings' - a pair of large plate-locks that splayed out from just above her waist - and a small, metallic decoration was pinned on the left side of her hair. It was also all-consuming - full gauntlets across her arms, and long greaves up her legs with a rather... suggestive plate set at her waist area.
Edea looked over herself. "It does seem a bit... ahead of its time," she agreed. "This thing feels like a valkyrie skirt."
"Likely to hurt someone it's not supposed to?" Tiz guessed.
"Big and in the way," Edea corrected. "I almost got stuck coming out."
Agnès looked over it. "The form looks almost ceremonial," she murmured, "but at the same time, it's designed for combat. It's like... a vestal who has been made to join a war."
Tiz scratched the back of his head. "Maybe it was made as a sort of... tribute to the vestals?" he murmured.
"Maybe..." Edea admitted.
Ringabel hummed. "Well, I must admit it does look rather fancy," he stated. "I can't imagine any man saying no to a woman who dresses like that."
Edea scoffed. "Give me a break..."
Draco: I think my face caught fire during the writing of a couple of these. Let me know what you guys think!
