Author's note: It was refreshing to play a game with a small cast of characters. It's nice every so often not to have a RPG filled with a million main characters a.k.a Final Fantasy. The great thing about Resonance of Fate is a mission can neatly be stuck in anywhere without interrupting the Big Events.
Another Everyday
Zephyr loved waking up to the sun every morning. What was a better way to get to do that than to have a rooftop view of the rays when his eyes opened? The dawning heat was a comfortable way of easing into breakfast. Nothing harsh like getting whapped on the head by that goof Vashyron or the spunky Leanne. He hated waking up to smacks.
Smacks and piercing sounds into the daylight. One of those splitting sounds resonated in the form of a shocked and indubitably girly shriek which flashed his eyelids open.
Leanne. Zephyr recognized her cry of alarm from below, through the emergency exit. His body tumbled out of his bed when his bare feet hit the hard metal platform known as the floor. He hurried to the rooftop hole and slipped through it, nearly breaking his big toe as he stubbed it upon landing.
The gritted curse came, followed by a worried call of her name. Did a monster get inside Sweet Home? Did she get into an accident and hurt herself? Zephyr hobbled over on his good foot as the throbbing sensation radiated up his bumped foot. He quickly scanned around for intruders.
Near the quick dress closet by the doorway stood Leanne, who spun around when she heard the loud clunk of Zephyr's drop. On the beat-up couch in front of the TV sat an upright Vashyron, rumpled shirt and hair indicative of dozing mere moments before. He appeared sleepy and in a confused muddle. He was squinting at the girl as Zephyr rushed over to her.
"You all right?" Zephyr demanded in a sharp tone, ignoring Vashyron's grumble about relaxation as he passed the older man.
Clutched in Leanne's hands was a crumpled sheet of paper and on her face bore an ecstatic expression most definitely not related to a hairy monster attack. In fact, the gamine look in her eyes was the furthest thing from fear.
A deep chuckle sounded from behind Zephyr. Vashyron quipped lightly, "Y'know, Zeph, I am right here. I would've protected your lady love had an atrocious beastie stepped pad or hide in here."
Zephyr fumed at hearing Vashyron's tease. "Shut up. I heard noise. Really loud noise." He began glaring at Leanne, whose eyes still retained its slightly glazed sheen. Maybe she was sick.
Leanne grinned sheepishly. "S-Sorry, Zephyr. I didn't mean to upset you. I, um, read something and got too excited."
Zephyr deflated and the stress holding up his body slackened.
Vashyron cleared his throat in pointed declaration. "Do let us partake in your joy and tell us."
As Zephyr perched on the arm of the overstuffed couch Vashyron slumbered on, he raised a brow in expectation, too.
Pressing her lips together while deciding whether or not to tell the guys her good news, she gave in quickly and bounded over to them. With an excited shake of the paper, she blurted, "Cardinal Dewry wants us to go on a mission for him!"
"Cardinal who?" Zephyr asked over his shoulder to the delegate of the group. He never remembered which Cardinals were who unless they were regulars. This one didn't gong any recognition bells.
Mr. Negotiator paused to turn the name over in his mind, then a funny smile broke out on his face. "Cardinal Dewry wouldn't happen to be tall, not dark, but extraordinarily handsome, would he? He has a love for pens, if I'm correct."
Leanne's smile burned as bright as the town's neon lights. "That's him! I've heard rumors for so long about how gracious he is."
Oh, he was one of those Cardinals. The kind who put stock in wooing women and raking in deliveries from hapless hunters like themselves. Zephyr sighed. "What's the big deal with him?"
Vashyron wagged a pointer finger at the reticent boy. "Don't knock Cardinal Dewry. He's been on countless wish lists from small fry like us because of his graciousness. Being like that has gotten him far and not just with the femmes. Getting far means our pockets are much heavier with his coin."
Irritation caused a restless shrug from Zephyr. "Acting nice and all doesn't make a ton of money. Work does."
Leanne stomped a foot at his stubborn attitude. "It does get far. You two could learn a lesson from him."
Being the ladies' man, Vashyron naturally was the first to protest. "Hey, I am beguiling when I care to be. And so can Zephyr, here."
He could be charming, whatever that meant. Zephyr didn't have a formal definition of the word, but it had to do with being skilled with words or something close to it. What was the big hoot about being someone like that? He could charm the pants off Cardinal what's-his-name if he put his mind to it.
Yes, Zephyr could kick his ass if he tried to pull off anything suspicious. Doing it for her sake had to be a little debonair in Leanne's mind.
Pants. Zephyr consciously glanced down at his rumpled pajama bottoms. He had to change.
Vashyron smiled to himself in the bathroom mirror as he tamed his long hair into its usual ponytail. Ah, the remarkable wonder of a fresh shower in the morn. He felt like a whole other self after sudsing and standing under the spray of steaming water. A new change of clothes and a new day. Awesome.
He thought back to his startled awakening. While not the most harmonious way to start one's day, he got his share of enjoyment. While the distance between him and Leanne's room was measurably shorter than Zephyr's rooftop dwelling and her room, Zephyr always clamored down the rooftop exit if something seemed amiss with her. It was kind of cute to see him flustered when most things didn't phase him.
"Are you done yet?" came the muffled -but noticeably chipper- tone of Leanne through the closed door.
His smirk grew wider at hearing her want to see a client for once. He was the one always dragging her and Zephyr to these prestigious people. Dragging sometimes in the literal sense when it came to the recalcitrant Zephyr. "Just about, sweet cakes."
Vashyron glanced at the doorknob and twisted it to surprise Leanne. She jumped when the door swung open without warning. She was certainly on her toes today. He tilted his head playfully as he stepped out. Leanne had taken extra care to wear a long dress free of wrinkles. A dress, Vashyron noted, which showed off her proportions quite nicely. The hip-hugging fabric drew eyes to her waist, and the chest... well, he wasn't about to openly gawk because it would only earn him a slap in the face, but let's say small racks had their appeal when curved in the right outfit. His eyes flew back to her face.
Leanne noticed his once-over. "Is it appropriate? Not too sloppy, is it? Don't want to be sloppy in front of a Cardinal."
No worries about slovenly attire coming from her this visit in Chandelier. "You're as cute as a button."
"Cute?"
Somehow this word annoyed Leanne and a tiny crease set in her forehead. Vashyron amended in his next breath, "...I meant the kind of button that attracts the eyes of all no matter what."
Now Leanne blushed and Vashyron knew just how much she anticipated this trip. She wanted to get more than landing the job. He laughed outright at his muse, earning him a bewildered frown from Leanne.
Zephyr had better watch out.
Author's note: Stay tuned for the next chapter!