For Love of Life
1st Waltz: Face your Partner
The Treno nights were always a romantic sight, especially when viewed from above. Below, ornate lamps light the busy streets, like soft glowing fairy fires, shedding gentle illumination upon each passerby. All who walk the upper streets dress up in their finest apparels; men in sophisticated silk coats and breeches and ladies in loveliest dresses of satin and lace. So elegant and graceful you would swear each gentle person had been crafted by a great accomplished artist. They walk the cobblestone boulevards with recreational purpose, moving from one inspired architectural feat to the next. Great stone mock castles settle along the streets side by side with elaborate wood and brick structures. Manor houses, shop fronts, theaters and pavilions all find their niches among the twisting and turning streets and canals, with decorative facades of gilded hues and colored lights, creating an overwhelming feast for the eyes. And the other senses are not to be neglected. A litany of polite conversation and orchestrated music drifts up from the ground. Be it a string quartet in one of the many garden parties, an ambitious band playing in one of the many clubs, or clamorous tunes of the bevy of street performers, an auditory amalgamation of performance rose skyward. And with it came the subtle odors of the fine cuisines of the numerous restaurants throughout the city, the expensive perfumes and colognes each gentle person anointed themselves with and the floral fragrances wafting from the city gardens. A conglomerated front of sights and sounds and scents to have the senses tingling in over stimulation, and all of this occurred beneath the clear star lit skies of the City of Eternal Night.
Between this opulence, the awesome heavens above and a city of swarming graces and earthly sensations below, upon the deck of a regal airship of bronzed wood and silvered fixtures a young lady takes in the stunning scene with unmasked appreciation. In a long flowing dress of peach hued satin, trimmed in fancy white lace and laced with carefully placed pink ribbons inlaid. A collar of lovely white lace formed about the maiden's swan-like neck, bearing the soft burden of a patch of lace over the bust, which held the dress in place, while the lean silky expanse of her shoulders and upper back were left bare to the cool night air. From their the peach material enveloped down her body, belted at the waist to accentuate her nubile young figure and slight swell of her hips before draping to her ankles with chaste refinement. Her sleeves hung long, shifting from peach satin to a spread of white lace just below the elbows, hanging like some intricate connection of spider's webs, which would completely conceal her delicate hands when left to hang fully. But at the moment her hands could be seen, one resting her weight against the rail of the ship, while the other nestled over her heart in dramatic pose. Her shimmering navy blue hair was tied up atop her head in a smart bun of complex braids and a gold wire tiara which bound it all together and rose from her forehead in a high crest of a silver plate etched with the image of a winged lion. This left the lovely features of her face open for all to witness. Wide almond eyes bore brilliant sapphire pupils. Supple pink skin graced her full cheeks and complimented the light gloss on her narrow, grinning lips. She was more adorable than alluring. Yet she held a charming grace of an innocent maiden.
She had read the stories, seen the plays, dreamed the dreams; this was the kind of scene where the handsome hero strode in from off stage, saw her beauty and elegance and fell madly in love with her. In her mind's eye she could envision this statuesque hero, of athletic build and streaming golden locks, as he made his way across the deck. Coming to a still behind her, he would gaze love struck, as he admired her angelic profile, while still unseen himself. And then, hypnotized by her beauty, and robbed of rational thought, he would reach out and take hold of her. And now, outside of her fantasies, as she felt a real touch upon her shoulder, the maiden gasped. As soft material wrapped her shoulder, guided by real world hands, she turned hastily to see if her dream man had somehow materialized into true form. Yet, upon noticing the face of her Mother, the girl's lady-like facade quickly fell away, as an eye twitching, frowning cringe warped her fair countenance.
Raising an articulate brow at her daughter's distorted expression, the older woman explained herself, "You looked cold, Dear. Your afghan will keep you warmer."
The girl looked down to see her mother's hands tying the woolen garment about her neck, and the blue haired girl groaned in apparent defeat, as she thought to her self, 'I really have to stop day dreaming.' But aloud all she uttered was a weak, "Thanks, Mom."
Her Mother, a still very attractive woman of mid thirties had her golden hair tied up similar to her daughter, save for two long braids allowed to hang from her temples and loop back to the back of her head, and a tiara of more fine gold lattice work and diamond settings worn in place of her daughter's silver plate crest. Her garments consisted of an exquisite golden bodice stretching from neck to waste, with simple yet elegant frilled ivory silk sleeves and skirt flaring out from it. As well, a brown fur stole wrapped her neck and shoulders protectively, much as she applied the afghan to her daughter now. Noting her daughter's odd mood, she worriedly inquired, "Eiko, dear, you have not already caught a chill have you?" With a worried half frown, she rose her hand to her daughter's forehead to feel for her temperature.
Eiko sighed and rose a waned expression to her Mother, the Lady Hilda, assuring meagerly, "No, I'm fine."
Hilda frowned a bit at her daughter's lacking energy, hand still to her forehead as the Lady asked further, "Are you sure? You feel rather warm."
Quirking a brow, Eiko retorted smartly, "That's because your fingers are freezing. Maybe you should have grabbed gloves instead of an afghan." Hilda just returned the girl a bemused grin. If she was making wise remarks she could not be too bad off.
Though someone nearby had two cents of their own to offer, "Well, we would not have to worry over you so much, if you did not dress like that." Eiko rolled her eyes at the blurted comment, before lazily looking passed her mother, who also turned a piqued glance to her big mouthed husband. Suddenly aware of the doubly annoyed female attention he was getting, Regent Cid Fabool IX, hesitated in further speech. His exaggerated handlebar mustache gave a nervous waggle before he fully recollected his proud demeanor. Ever the haughty ruler, he was currently decked out in a plush suit of royal red crushed velvet with gold embroidery and matching cape. Years ago Eiko had asked him why he always wore a cape. He simply insisted that it made him look more important. As a child she laughed at it as a joke. As a teenager she laughed because he was serious.
Slowly and deliberately, Eiko demanded, "Dress like what, Father?" Cid's confidence took another blow at her address. Usually it was Dad or Daddy. She only called him Father when she was upset with him. However, he steeled his expression, determined not to be intimated by his teenage daughter.
Strongly, he insisted, "You are only seventeen years old. It is inappropriate for a girl your age to be showing so much... so much..."
Further words seemed to be failing him, so Eiko decided to offer in mock aid, "Shoulder...?"
Cid's eye twitched as his daughter made light of the subject, and he returned in a huff, "So much of anything."
Eiko chewed her lip and cocked a hip defiantly, as she bickered back in sarcasm, "Oh yes, Father. I know, whenever I walk down the street none of the boys can take their eyes off of my nice full, supple... shoulders." She bit out the last word harshly, and Cid seemed a bit red faced in a mix of aggravation and embarrassment. Lady Hilda was near to giggling at her daughter's humor, but made sure to keep it unnoticed by her upset husband.
Turning up his mustached face in a superior manner, the noble regent reiterated resolutely, "It does not matter what part you show. Any skin will get a young man's attention. As a young lady you must guard yourself from such advances."
Eiko shot back a perturbed glance as she thought to herself, 'And this is coming from one of the most infamous womanizers in Lindblum's history?' Sure, she'd heard the tales of her father's promiscuity, carefully censored of course, from maids, soldiers townspeople, and even her adoptive mother, Hilda. Supposedly he used to hit on almost anything in a skirt. He had changed a lot after the ordeal with Kuja and his rejoining with Hilda. But Hilda insisted it had a great deal more to do with Eiko. Becoming a Father had taken up much of the free time that he once spent flirting, when Eiko was younger. And once Eiko started to grow up, and Cid noticed boys noticing her, he found a whole new duty, in guarding his precious daughter's innocence. It was really too bad for him, that Eiko was not the type of girl to accept over protection lightly. Rather than argue and bicker back at length though, she found her own unique ways of rebelling. With a smile on her cute rounded face, she suggested sweetly, "Well, if you've got it, flaunt it." And with that cliche spoken, she whipped off the afghan, and called out over her shoulder, "Hey Treno, check out these sexy shoulders!" She made an unabashed show of waggling her shoulders with her back to the railing, "Woohoo! Fine, slim, young naked shoulders! Woo-!" The afghan suddenly being pulled from her hand and slung about her body cut off her wailing. As her face turned forward, she found her father standing flush before her. His expression a stony visage of anger. "-hoo...." Eiko flinched at her father's hard stare, not sure if he was about to snap or not. Fortunately though, the bit of fear in her expression softened his. The tight grip holding the afghan about her body loosened, and he meticulously retied the knot at the front in silence.
As he finished the knot he offered sincerely, "Forgive me... for acting boorish... it is just that..." He sighed and Eiko frowned with a bit of guilt, as her adopted father continued, "... this town. It is full of low lives and ne'er-do-wells." I would not bring you anywhere near such a place, had I the choice." Upon hearing her Father's words, Eiko sighed. She truly loved her adopted parents. Not only for the home and comforts they had given her, but the time and attention they lavished her with. Never having been able to have children of their own, they truly cared for Eiko as their own, and she was more than pleased to see them in the same light. However, at times like this it aggravated her beyond belief just how childish they viewed her to be. Until she was six years old she had lived alone with the moogles and got by just fine. Sure, she had been lonely, but she managed to provide for and protect herself. Then, after Zidane, and the others, found her she had joined in an epic battle for the fate of the world. Yet, in her foster father's shimmering eyes, she was still just the small girl he knelt down to hold in his arms as she cried, when they lost Zidane in the Iifa Tree.
For her own sake though, she was sure to constantly assert her strong will. Peering up to Cid's eyes purposely, Eiko casually commented, "If this place is so dastardly why did you insist we come?"
His brow twitched a bit, but he kept a straight expression as he answered, "It could not be helped. An urgent matter arose, and I must stop here in Treno for a meeting before we return to Lindblum."
Eiko nodded in apparent, yet obviously staged concession, which made Cid's body tighten in habitual anxiety, just before Eiko uttered in riposte, "Ah... so I suppose it is just coincidence that this urgent meeting happens to fall on the same date in your calender as Treno's Tetra Master Championship Tournament." He gave a flinch, while she grinned in victory. Her father was struck frozen to the spot, not by his daughter's nonchalant accusation, but by the pair of piercing eyes he felt on his back. He did not have to turn to know that Hilda was glaring hard into his back, as if she could reach in through his spine and rip out his throat through will alone. It always amused Eiko just how badly her father feared her mother. The girl could barely restrain a laugh as Cid wore that sorry expression, which practically called out, "Please, don't turn me into an oglop again!"
Thankfully, the crafty Regent had learned to get around such punishments by now. Just as Hilda's sullen and somber tone began, "Cid..." he was already on the move.
Turning as if he hadn't heard her, he briskly turned and began back toward the cabin entrance, calling back over his shoulder, "We'll be landing soon. I must go make sure preparations are complete."
Hilda, however, was quick to turn and follow on her husband's fleeing heels. "Cid Fabool, do not turn your back on me. You better not have taken us out of our way just to play some silly card game!"
As his steps hastened, he replied in as strong a voice as he could muster, "I have no idea what you are talking about, my Love."
As they disappeared through the doorway, and their voices faded from earshot, Eiko finally let out the laughter she had been holding back. At least these parents of hers were amusing. They fought and bickered often, and every once in a while Cid was transformed into some small creature or another. It added some humor to their aggressions, and Eiko did enjoy having a pet for a Daddy at times. But, when all was said and done, they still loved each other through it all. They made for a strong little family, which Eiko was truly happy to be part of. In spite of their overprotection, the home they gave her was worth so much more than she could explain in words. Cid had turned out to be a wonderful Dad. Always playing games with her and never too busy to show off his latest creations and let her test drive them. They spent hours nearly everyday when she was a child, just goofing around in his workshop or carousing through the city with the guards. And Hilda was an ideal mother. When Eiko had first come to live in Lindblum, she was still having bad dreams and restless nights. She could not possibly count all the nights Hilda sat up with her, holding her, talking to her, telling her stories, stroking her hair, just staying with the girl until she fell peacefully asleep. For all of her love and support, Eiko was glad to call her Mom. And it was Hilda who got Eiko interested in fashion and make up and hairstyles. All of the things she thought of as silly girlish pomp when she was a small child, seemed more fascinating and attractive when associated with her idolized world class beauty of a mother. So she grew in her new parents' images; studying sciences and politics and gaining the charms and manners of a proper lady. Yet she rarely found an excuse to put them to use nowadays.
Being groomed like a Princess is fun when you are a child, and it is all games of "someday..." and "what if...". But as Eiko's teenage years rolled around, and the reality of her position began to sink in, tedium quickly drained her enthusiasm. What was once silly invention and experimentation in daddy's shop, was now a serious education. Fore, the daughter to the Regent of the industrialized city of Lindblum had to be skilled in engineering and architecture. Classes lengthened, boredom ensued. But that was nothing compared to the irritation of going through one diplomatic meeting after another. Once more, it was something she adored as a child. Big fancy balls, comfy afternoon tea parties, numerous social outings; they all gave her chances to show off her fine dresses and the graceful manners of a Lady she had learned from her mother. As years passed and she began to become invited into the adult conversations though, her ballroom fantasies gradually faded. It was all politics and diplomatic balancing acts which made it plainly obvious that what she perceived as fun and fanciful parties as a little girl were something so much more complex. The more involved she got in the conversations the more her parents would drill her before each party; how to address this diplomat, what not to say to that noble, whose wife to say looked lovely, whose wife to say looked fat behind her back to someone else's wife. All the twisted half truths and charismatic conniving made her want to wretch. And yet she understood that these were simply things people in their position had to do in order to maintain peace and prosperity. It was just that at times, Eiko Carol Fabool felt she was really not cut out to be a Regent's daughter. So, she daydreamed. A lot of the time, she dreamed of running away, back to Madain Sari. Yet she knew she could not bear to be separated from the family she had finally found. She still went back every few months to visit her moogle friends, but the truth was Lindblum was her home now, and she did not wish to leave. However, she would not be adverse to the idea of some dashing prince charming type swooping in and taking her away from her drab little life. After all, Garnet got to have her swarthy Zidane Tribal. Why couldn't Eiko be graced with the same good fortune? In all the romance plays she had read and seen, there he'd be, the charming hero, a handsome rogue set on stealing this beautiful girl away to partake in some whirlwind romantic adventure. But no. Again reality comes bleeding into Eiko's childhood fantasies. All the sons of noblemen she met were usually smug, pompous jerks, or simply plain boring and bookish types. And she could not even get out on her own to meet a regular boy, what with a guard detail following her around whenever she went out in public. Constantly being followed by a group of armed men can really put a damper on one's social life. So no. There were no swashbuckling boy toys swinging in through windows or sneaking in disguise to her parents' balls to have a heart stopping meeting with her and play out a grand story with her as the lovely heroine. Nope. Garnet seemed to have gotten the last one of those.
Groaning at her misfortune, Eiko let her body lean forward on the railing in a most unladylike manner. Head propped on her folded arms she stared down at the city she had been admiring just a moment ago, now turned a shade less appealing by reality's intervention. As the airship drew closer to the ground, it was obvious that not all the people were finely dressed and manicured. Most were just inebriated tourists moving from one tavern or gambling hall to another. And the lost out and unfortunate sat in gutters, begging for change from those with a bit better luck. The buildings, for all of their architectural achievement were a mix-matched gathering of different views; a testament to the fact that their was no fixed civil planners in the city. And as you looked aside of the central city to the surrounding slums, this became all the more apparent. While the city itself may be brimming with wealth and culture, the majority of its population was destitute. It is a shame how reality creeps up on you like that.
"What's wrong with my name?" The young man meekly inquired, as he cocked his conical hat to one side.
Before him, the Treno Card Stadium director, a middle-aged man of considerable girth and waning hair, shook his head hastily, correcting the boy's accusation, "No, no, I wasn't saying there's something wrong with your name. Though it is kind of a silly one." The youth slumped a bit at the double talk, but kept listening, "It's just that most of the tournament players opt for a stage name. Ya know? Like, Beast Master Gilbert, or Straight Shooter Shak." He emphasized the names with hand gestures, as if he were holding out a plaque to read, but the fidgety young man before him only seemed a bit put off by the quick movements and fast talk. Regardless the director spoke on, "Having a recognizable title makes you stand out from the everyday players and grabs the attention of the fans." He leaned in close to the young card player, a bit too close for his comfort, to add conspiratorially, "Do you think Weapon Master Hunt gets so many babes just for his looks?" The whispering was ended with a sudden outburst, "Heck no! It's because he has a game name that people remember! So come on." He slapped the young man on the shoulder, earning a surprised jolt for the contact, before he tried once more, "Lets get you an alias, and get you settled in this tournament, Mage Master."
"Eh?" The young man's conical head flopped to the other side, as he returned with some shyness. "M-mage Master....Uh... I dunno..."
The director shrugged back, pointing out, "Well, with the way you dress...."
"Yeah, but..." The young man groaned as he looked down at himself thoughtfully. Sure enough he was dressed in a black mage's apparel, albeit a ragged patched affair. However, he tried to argue back, "Isn't that kind of infringing on Magic Master Thalisa?" The director quirked a brow in thought, before the boy nervously added, "Besides.. It sounds kind of... uh..."
"Right, right, say no more." The insistent director cut in. "Then how about..." He paused, presumably for dramatic effect. "... Master Mage?!"
The young card player's shoulders drooped in instant disappointment. With a sigh, he muttered in timid voice, "You just switched the words."
The director didn't seem to hear the complaint, as he was busy nodding to himself in thought. It was a brief moment, before he looked back to the shy boy to announce, "Eh, it doesn't really matter yet. The tournament doesn't start until tomorrow, and this is a name you'll probably carry through the rest of your card playing career. It's best not to rush into the wrong name."
"Career?" The youth croaked in meek surprise, "I wasn't really planning on a career. I mean, I'm just waiting for a friend to get back into town. I've just been playing Tetra Master to pass the time."
"Playing and Winning!" The director pointed out boisterously. "A kid with your talent can make a killing around here. Don't go wasting it playing for hobby."
"Hehe.. Uh.. th-thank you." He scratched the back of his head as the amber light of his eyes closed away. One could only assume he was smiling behind the shadows covering his voice, as he replied in a happy tone, "I'm glad you think so highly of me. But, I really don't have the time to hang around Treno and play cards."
"Don't worry about that." The director assured, "There are card parlors all over the world. As long as you keep in touch, I can set you up for games. Maybe I can even set you up with some high rollers, huh? What do ya think?"
"G-gee... I dunno." The nervous youth stammered back, "That would be very nice of you, to put such effort forward for me, but I'd really have trouble following any appointments. Besides, I don't really have any way I could repay you."
"Don't worry about it." The director waved off the matter, with a corresponding wave of his hand. But added in after thought, "I could just take a small percentage of your winnings as a handling fee."
"Uh.. Heheh... r-right. I suppose you could." The young mage wasn't sure how to respond to an obviously crooked suggestion made in such an honest tone. So he just smiled politely, yet unseen and nodded shakily. "Um.. I really should be going now. I wanted to get something to eat before I go back to the hotel."
"Sure, sure, kid. Go rest up. I'll see you back here tomorrow afternoon for the start of the tournament. We'll get you a good name by then."
Weakly the card player tried to remind the man, "But, I never really agreed to..."
"Here." The director cut him off, while pulling a few gil from his pocket. "Take this and go have a nice meal. There's a great restaurant over in the canal district, called the Water Lily Room. Meal's on me. Try the salmon. It's great."
The boy could barely respond as the money was pushed into his hand and he was pushed toward the door. "Th-thanks again... but, I really shouldn't...."
Again he was cut off though, "Nonsense, I have utter faith in you, kid. So for tonight, just rest easy. Tomorrow I'm sure you'll do great." He lightly shoved the young mage out of the stadium's front door. With one last, proud smile, the hefty man assured the boy, "I think this is the start of a great partnership for us."
"I-if you say so." The boy dubiously replied.
"Are you sure we should be doing this, Miss Eiko?" Asked the tall woman, as they made there way down the busy streets of Treno. Though she stood well over six feet tall, and possessed a muscular, statuesque physique, her voice held a timid quality to the contrary of her strong body. The tall girl wore a practical attire, consisting of a rawhide vest and matching baggy short pants. Her long, lean, yet tightly muscled arms were enveloped up past the elbow in black leather gloves with armored knuckles, which zippered up the back of the arm. Similar black leather thigh high boots encased her legs, zippered up the front. Meanwhile, her dirty blond hair was kept in a rather humble, unflattering bowl cut, save for two long tails running down from her sideburns to be looped and tied at the ends to hang a pair of brass rings, which currently raised against her chest. She kept quick on the heels of her mistress as they weaved through the congested walkways.
The younger Eiko glanced back over her shoulder to assure with a bit of a huffy tone, "Yes, Annie, everything is fine. Now stop worrying." Eiko was also dressed down at the moment. For incognito purposes, she wore a wore a silk head scarf of red and blue flowers set on a black background. The material wrapped her head, knotted to the left side, and left the tailing material to hang down to the small of her back. It was easier to cover rather than take the time to remove the elaborate knotting of hair and wiry crown. A plain brown leather halter top, broke up the flash of color which was her head scarf and the pantaloons which flared down from her hips. They were a calico affair, oddly dyed, with indigo from the waist down and dip-dyed red on the left leg and yellow on the right, blending shades of purple and green respectively mid-thigh. Yet the halter top did allow the viewing public a unabashed look at her lower tummy, neckline and back. Her Father would have a heart attack if he caught her dressed like this. So, for safety purposes, she also brought a respectable green calico jacket, which was currently tied round her waist by its sleeves. A pair of brown leather sandals and black fishnet arm warmers completed the ensemble. Like this she could pass for an average commoner with ease. Well, average might be stretching it.
Still looking back, she took a second to look over the girl only two years her senior. Anemone, or Annie as Eiko called her, was always a bit nervous when it came time to take risks. Though she was ready at a moments notice when it mattered. Her face often mirrored this duplicity. Long and full, with a strong chin and high cheek bones, Eiko often teased her that she looked too manly. However, she'd also be the first to assure the strong girl that she could also be very feminine and attractive by just adding a bit of make up and relaxing her brow, which seemed to be constantly furrowed in worry. The only change was when she was in combat. Her brow would actually seem to get more strained and her eyes would squint in concentration. For this too Eiko would tease her that it was bound to cause Annie nasty forehead wrinkles. Though she usually stopped teasing her before Annie was on the verge of tears. After all, Anemone was not just Eiko's personal maid and bodyguard. She was also her best friend. However, anyone who spent any time around the duo could easily spot Eiko as the dominant one, and not just because she was the Regent's daughter. Regardless of Annie's physical power, Eiko's forceful will generally dictated their actions. Now, grinning to her nervous friend and protector, Eiko kindly reminded, "Besides, it's not like you'll let anything happen to me, right?"
"O-of course not, Miss Eiko." Annie hurriedly replied in her demure voice. "It's just.. well..."
Eiko let out an exaggerated sigh as she halted and spun round on her heel, raising a flinch from Annie, who almost stumbled right into the smaller girl. Face to face, Eiko demanded, "Oh, what's the problem?"
The self conscious Annie shrunk a bit under her friend's stern gaze, but managed to stutter out, "It's just... um... w-won't your parents be upset?"
"Hm?" Eiko rose one brow in a second's consideration, before carelessly shrugging. "Probably." Was the one word answer she gave before spinning round once more and continuing on their way.
Annie let out a nervous laugh at her friend's unconcerned manner. After all, what was the worst that would happen to Eiko? Her parents would ground her? Annie was the one who could get fired for this disregard of orders. Heck, she might even be arrested for treason if something were to happen. She barely had time to think over her possibly ill fate though, before she noticed Eiko's image being over shadowed by the crowds between the two girls. Suddenly aware she'd been standing still while the younger girl continued on, Annie rushed to catch up. "Wait up. If I lose you, I'm dead!"
"Are you ready to disembark, Sir?" A ship hand asked of Regent Cid.
He gave a brief look over to his wife, who was busy organizing their luggage with the aid of one of the servants. "Yes, I believe so. But where is Eiko?"
Hilda looked up from a trunk she'd been packing for their stay, to offer to her husband, "She is probably still in her room, dear. I will go and get her in just a second."
"Eh.. You women are so slow." Cid let out carelessly, earning a glare from his wife. She was still angry about the card tournament, so he was quick to raise his hands in concession, and add, "Kidding." Then turning to leave he added, "Do not worry, my love, I shall retrieve our daughter. You finish the packing." The ship hand stepped aside quickly to let the Regent pass, throwing up a hasty salute as well. Cid just offered him a nod and continued down the hall. The ship had only just landed moments ago, and they were preparing to disembark to move to the hospitable housing of Lord Montebon. He was a trade merchant and land owner of considerable wealth, as well as a fellow Tetra Master freak, which is how Cid knew him best. They got along just fine in that sense, though Cid found the man a bit too pompous and elitist in any other setting. Still, it would be rude to turn down a proper invite to the man's Treno mansion, for petty personal reasons. Even if Hilda had cringed the moment the man's name was mentioned. Hopefully, Eiko would be less annoyed by their stay. As the Regent reached his daughter's door, he knocked briskly and called out, "Eiko, dear, it is time to leave the ship. Are you ready?"
He waited a moment for a reply. None came. He knocked harder, calling out again, "Eiko, do you hear me? It is time to go." Still no answer came. With a groan, he warned, I am coming in." With that he opened the door, happy to find it unlocked, but unhappy to find the room empty. "Huh? Where the hell is she?" He strolled in, turning his head side to side, hoping to catch sight of her in her closet or just behind the dresser or such, but found only her unoccupied room. A slight flutter of the curtain by the window caught his attention, though finding it open proved it to just be a trick of the wind. With a sigh, he moved to close the round window, and froze as he noticed something hanging out of it. A note hung pinned along the sill. Cid's jaw tightened anxiously as he moved to snatch the piece of paper, revealing a rope knotted around the brass handle of the window and slung out of it to provide a quick escape. It took the Regent less than a second to figure out what this meant, but still he read the note. His breath heaved heavy through his nostrils, in barely controlled anger, which grew louder as he read his daughter's finely scrawled writing.
"Dear Parents,
I regret that I could not stay to debark with you. Unfortunately, I find these Noble house affairs quite drab and boring. Thus I have opted to abscond, along with my hand maid, Anemone, to partake in the rich and diverse culture of the city. Do not worry, I will take great pains to protect my identity and stay out of trouble. If any dangers should arise though, I am confident that Anemone and I can handle ourselves perfectly well. We will join you at Lord Montebon's manse later this evening, after we have had our fun. Try not to be too upset.
Love, Eiko"
As he finished reading, his anger finally boiled over, as he cried out in a rage which may well have echoed through out the city, "EEEEIIIIIKKKKOOOOO!!!"
"Huh?" Eiko turned back to Annie, inquiring, "Did you just say my name?"
Annie just shook her head with a bit of confusion. "No." Then she watched her shorter friend blink a couple of times in thought, before shrugging, and continuing on her way. "Pl-please, not so fast. You'll get lost in the crowd."
"Welcome to the Water Lily. Can I get you a table, sir?" The hostess, a kindly looking woman of mid twenties in a not too flashy yellow silk dress, smiled politely as he entered. Looking over the establishment, he noted that it lacked the gaudy, expensive flair and decoration of the high class restaurants which dotted Treno. Yet it held its own charm. Right along the waterfront, it offered a lovely view out the expansive picture windows and the freshly maintained potted plants about the dimly lamp lit interior offered an aromatic garden feel. It was quaint, but cozy. The room smelled of lilies and a bit of mildew. Maybe the former was meant to cover the latter. That and the light breeze coming in through the windows. All the same, it would do nicely for the messily dressed youth, who had no reservations or proper clothing to eat at one of the highfalutin places. No, this would do nicely.
The youth in the stitch worked mage suit nodded appreciatively to the attendant and offered his affirmation, "Yes, please."
"Right this way, sir." He followed her through the small lamp lit dining room, passed the few scattered round tables, with a handful of quiet customers among them. Well mostly quiet. A few were having vocal, if not hushed conversations. It was hard not to overhear one shrunken man having a quiet grumbling match with his much larger wife. They were a stark contrast to the young couple at a window side booth nearby, nestled together, whispering quietly to one another. Then there was the hefty hippoman alone at a table, squeaking his chair as he adjusted his seat to read a small leather bound book over his dinner. Well, at least they were mostly quiet. The waitress led the young man to a square corner table by the window and pulled out the seat for him.
"Ah- thank you." A bit shyly he took his seat and she smiled pleasantly as she pushed it in for him.
Coming back around into his line of vision, she asked in a hushed but happy tone, "Now, can I start you off with a drink?"
"Uh, sure. Apple cider, please."
"You got it. I'll be back with it in a moment to take your order." With that she was off on her way, though did not get far before the small man at the nearby table grabbed her attention to make some inquiry about his wife's meal. It was no matter. The young mage was in no hurry. Just enjoying the relief of being off his feet, he eased into the less than luxurious wooden chair and turned his head to look out the window to the water of the canal. Lamp lights, and spotted illumination from windows above dotted the ink black surface of the nighttime canals. It was pretty in its own way. It was a as if a sheet of the starry night sky had fallen down into the street and now lie restless, rustling and rippling and shimmering in the wind. Or at least that was how he recalled a friend once describing the vision. And then there was the music, somewhere nearby, probably on the road over head. This restaurant was below street level after all, right along the water level, and the paint over the water damage barely visible on the wooden legs of tables and chairs was testament to the frequent flooding this level would see at times. Still, it added more character than defamation to the place. Besides, the music, wafting in from the partially open bay windows, it sounded like street performers. The song was slow and melodic, like the wind blowing through the alleys had been given voice. Okay, that was just another saying he'd heard from the same friend, but it still sounded about right. Now, sitting in this quaint cafe, watching out the window and listening to the low lilting tune he could allow himself to rest and be lost in his thoughts.
"Uuurggghk.. hhuuurrrgghkk... huuurrrgghk.. hah.. hah.. hah.. hah...th-this... hah... isn't so... easy..." The little mage struggled to catch his breath as he paused his rowing of the gondola. The boat floated upon the narrow canal, rippling the star-dotted water. Thankfully theirs was the only boat in this alley, so he wasn't getting in anyone's way with his poor handling.
The young girl sitting before him gave a groan at his complaints, peering back to admonish him, "Oh, come one. You're supposed to be a boy. Put your back bone into it!"
"Huh?" He breathed out in some disbelief, grumbling back, "I think my back bone is breaking. These things are made for big guys to drive, not me!" Taking in a deep breath, he sighed it back out to call to the front on the boat, "Sir Steiner, can't you take the oar for a while?"
"Of course he can't! Don't interrupt!" Eiko chasitsed to the small mage for his insinuation, adding importantly, "Sir Rusty needs to focus his feelings and ready himself for the heartfelt mission which awaits him. How can he do that and row?" Vivi blinked back curiously, still breathing raggedly, as he looked over Eiko's horned head to the boiling over kettle pot that was the Captain of the Knights of Pluto. He rumbled and fussed in his seat as he agonized over a flipped open notepad. Grumbling through forced out whispers of hard fought rhymes and rhythms, he gesticulated with way and that, pepping up with pleased instances and shaking his helmeted head in other instances of defeat. Still not really understanding the act the older man had been going through for the last twenty odd minutes, Vivi just looked back to Eiko for some answer. The young Princess wore a mixed expression of longing and pity as she shook her head woefully to the knight, explaining, "For such a thing, a valiant man mustly assuredly prepare his Heart."
"Uh......... okay." The small mage conceded, regardless of his own ignorance on the subject. Though He almost asked Eiko why she couldn't take a turn, but as soon as he saw the expectant look she was giving him, he knew better. His breathing slowing back a bit now, and the burning in his arms abating slightly, he again poked the pole down into the stonework of the canal's bottom and pushed the boat forward into the lamplit alley.
It was thankfully only a few more moments of bothersome rowing, before Steiner popped up from his seat to proclaim, "Here! This is it! This balcony here!" With those words Vivi dragged the pole into the boat and collapsed into his seat in relief. Huffing and puffing rubbing at his sore arms, he smiled all the same for his accomplishment. "Thank you, Master Vivi. Hopefully one day I may equally repay your efforts of tonight." He offered the recuperating mage a manly smirk and nod, beforem which Vivi did his best to return in kind. After that Steiner's attention was fully turned to the balcony just ten feet overhead. Hanging from the side of a palatial estate it was but one of several such white marble outcroppings with fine gilded railings. Yet this one was special. "First though, I must complete my own mission." Taking up the long pole from the boat, Captain Adelbert Steiner poked the wooden shaft up between the railing bars to lightly tap at the glass of the balcony doors. As he beat out a rhythm against the glass, he called up in a voice both loudened and hushed, "Please, come to the window, my Lady. I have come to serenade thee!" As he called attention, Eiko readied herself, raising her flute, wiping off the mouth piece and lining up her fingers, before looking once more expectantly to Vivi, who still sat in exhaustion. All the same, he begrudgingly reached for the small drum under his seat and raised it to the ready, to appease the Regent's daughter. She was really starting to get in to the whole giving orders thing. Vivi just wished he wasn't her most tested subject. "Ah, there you are!" Steiner noted gladly, making the children turn their attention upward to see what he saw. A candle's light now illuminated the room past the balcony, and a feminine form in flowing gown could be seen silhouetted in behind the sheer white curtain hung before the glass doors. Quickly the Captain amended, "Please, my Lady, that is far enough. If-if I see your face, I may grow too flustered to do what I must. Please, just listen." The woman behind the glass did so, and Steiner looked to his underage accompaniment, giving them a ready nod. Eiko began a slow steady melody from her flute, while Vivi joined in with a brush sticks lightly beating in tune upon the small drum. Thankfully it was a simple tune, or it would have taken Vivi more than the twenty minutes he had been given to learn it, with Eiko's harsh teaching of course. As for Steiner, he drew a breath, and waited to find his place in the melody, before he sung out.
"My LOVE, my love, My Beautiful Lady Love..."
Just the first ill sung note made Eiko flinch, missing the beat a tick, before quickly recovering. Alright so the man was no great singer. But in poetic song it is the heart that matters, not the talent.
"My Heart for you SOARS Above!
My Metal Might is little but fright...
When faced by your Beauty's Light!"
Alright... maybe a little talent was necessary. But still, he sung is poorly conceived, though good intentioned poem.
"Please give your hand to my guantleted fist...
Give it right up to your dainty wrist.
For you are a Rose with the Regalest Thorn...
I cannot wait til our First Born is Born."
The lady in the window had surprisingly not moved yet, even to cover her ears. Though the musical trio were gaining some unwanted attention, as lights came on in various windows along the street, and folks came poking their heads out of windows.
"With a Sword you are an Angel of shimmering Form...
And you keep me awake, Wanting and Forlorn.
Fore I just want to hold you in these two strong arms...
and we can protect each other from the World's Harms."
"Shut up, ya Tin Can!" "You know what time it is, loudmouth?" "Take some singing lessons!" "Are you trying to woo her or wound her? I think you already popped my ear drum if that's what you wanted!" Complaints and critiques fell from the windows, as the less than sweet sounding confession seemed to pester more than inspire. All the same, Steiner finished his song.
"All is yours that I have to give...
I need you more than them to live.
So I cry out across this World Wide...
Please will you bbbeeee mmyyy Briiiiiide?"
In sync with his final note the music rose to a soft crescendo and then ceased suddenly, awaiting the answer, which was slow coming. Steiner fidgeted in his place, standing with a foot up on the edge of the boat and one hand out stretched, his armor slightly audibly vibrating in anxiety. He gave a nervous gulp as the seconds ticked by like hours. Even Eiko and Vivi sat in apprehension, awaiting the reply. And finally it came. "Yes!" The female voice brought a mile wide smile to the Knight Captain's face. And then the curtian pulled aside and the door opened to admit their single female audience. "Of course I'll marry you!" Needless to say, the awkward figured woman in her mid to late fifties with with the mole covered face and gap teeth who materialized was not who the musicians were expecting.
"BUGHWHAH!" The excited nonsensical cry burst from Captain Steiner, as he stumbled back in his stance, shaking the boat.
"So that's your kind of woman, huh?" The drall, slightly annoyed tone came from the balcony behind the serenaders, and instantly turned Steiner's head to find two ladies in their nightwear watching down on the boat.
"Beatrix?!" Unfortunately in turning his head so quickly, he also twisted his heavy armored body off balance, sending him tumbling overboard.
As he splashed down in the river, the one eyed brunette who had caught his attention just shook her head before letting it fall into her palm. Wanely, she groaned out, "How does he manage to be so stupid?"
From beside her, the young Queen Garnet, reached up a hand to pat her guardian's shoulder, smiling in consolation, "Well, it was a heartfelt song at least."
"That's not really the problem here." Beatrix lightly bickered back, not about to get into a full blown arguement with her Queen.
Down in the water, Steiner sputtered and splashed about, just fighting to stay afloat in his overbearing metallic attire. The onlookers in the surrounding balconies and windows offered their own commentary of "good riddance" and "serves him right", while some thanked him for stopping the music at least, and returned to bed. The mistaken old hag target of the song though, was busily calling out in distress, "My Fiance, please save my Fiance!" Eiko and Vivi were already on the job, reaching out to Steiner with the gondola's pole. Hastily he grabbed on and pulled himself to the boat's edge, where Vivi reached out a hand to help the now frantic sinking knight back into the boat. Unfortunately as he did so, the unexpected weight and strength of the Knight Captain of Pluto uprooted the small mage right off his feet to over the side of the boat to join in the water.
"Vivi!" Eiko croaked at his fall, and without his help, she quickly lost her hold on the pole, leaving the two unwilling swimmers stranded in the water.
As Vivi popped back to the surface, he called out, "Help! Can't swim!" Hastily he grabbed on to Steiner to stay above the surface, while the knight in question was trying desterpately to impersonate a dog's paddle.
"Adelbert.." Beatrix spoke sternly.
"My Beatrix..!" Steiner called back between gurgles of canal water.
"Adelbert..."
"If I die here.."
"Adelbert..."
"I just want you to know..."
"Adelbert!"
"I lo-"
"Adelbert, stand up you twit! It is not even a meter deep!" The female general admonished with a reddened face. Suddenly Steiner's thrashing halted in response. Looking up to her, he reached his feet down and planted them on the stone of the bottom. Standing up, the water came just above his waist, while Vivi clung up on Steiner's shoulder, looking just as bewildered as the Knight. And then the laughter came, loud and ruckus from the viewing public. Steiner could just turn up a blushing, nervously chuckling expression up to Beatrix, who let her head lower to the gilded iron railing to beat against in frustration for his incompotence. Vivi meanwhile just hid his embarassed face against the Knight's back. But it was Garnet who called the most of Eiko's attention. Looking up to her cousin standing there, smiling and laughing at the scene... it was the first time since Zidane's disappearance that her cousin had looked so genuine and alive.
Eiko Carol Fabool gladly recalled that night more than a decade past, as she now stared out over the canals from a street corner railing. That had been Steiner's third attempt to propose to his beloved Beatrix. Thankfully it only took him eight tries to get it right. Still this was a scene that always came back to Eiko whenever she visited Treno. Sure she had a lot of memories in this city, her parents enjoying this place often. But that night always stuck out. After all, it was one of the last things they did together, before he was gone. So, now, listening to the street band playing nearby for a gathered crowd, watching the gondolas passing in the water below under the moonlight, and eyeing the loving couples nestled together in each boat, she thought back on that night. And she thought back on the one they would lose soon after that night. "Vivi..."
"Say what?" Annie asked, as she returned to her friend's side, carrying pretzel in either hand.
"Oh, uh, nothing." Eiko took one of the hot pretzels with a grin, giving the warm dough an appreciative sniff, before noting aside, "I was just thinking it would be nice to take a gondola ride." And then she took a big bite from her pretzel.
Annie glanced out to the boats on the water, giving a shrug, "Okay, lets go."
"Not with you!" Eiko snapped back, causing her friend's furrowed brow to twitch nervously and her shy head to hang, eliciting an annoyed sigh from Eiko, who explained quickly. "I mean a gondola ride at night is not something for a couple of friends to do as some tourist nonsense. Not at our age! No. It should be a romantic and heart throbbing experience." Starry-eyed, the princess bit off more of her prezel, chewing quickly as she leaned into her friend's side. Swallowing fast, Eiko painted a verbal picture, for the shy girl quietly eating beside her, "A handsome and dashing man, with flowing golden hair and an inviting smile, he'll have the body of an Adonis, will dress in fine silken attire and will bear a red rose in hand. He should usher me into a seat, barely big enough for two, and nestle in beside me. His taut, muscular chest would be my pillow and his hot body would keep me warmed against the chill of the night on the canals. Holding me close, whispering sweet sonnets into my ear, his strong hands gripping me tight, as the water sways us like children in the cradle. And then, under the silvery moon light, as my pink skin turned red in excitement, he would tilt my head back, lean in close and....aaaaahhh..." Letting her body languidly lean fully against Annie's side in mock exertion from her tale, Eiko soon popped her head back up to explain, "And that is why I don't want to go with you."
The older and taller Annie, for her chaste part, was blushing furiously at the scene described and gripping the remainder of her pretzel tightly, while staring back down with wide opened eyes and a scrunched brow at her friend. "I-I-I-I-I d-d-don't th-think yer Fa-father w-wo-would app-pr-prove."
Scoffing back, the blue haired girl insisted, "He'll have to get over it sooner or later. I am a mature adult woman after all!" Which she stated proudly, even if she had not so much as kissed a boy, and the few "dates" she had had were with petulant noble's sons, who were even less experienced in the ways of romance than she. Regardless, the even less experienced Annie was not about to call her friend out on the statement. "No. Our mission is obvious."
"It is?" Annie timidly inquired, while biting into her pretzel.
"Yes!" Eiko declared. "Tonight we must meet handsome men to take us on that Promised Gondola Ride!" As she said it, she reached out her hand for Annie's shoulder, looking the girl square in the eye. In some instant shock, Annie choked on her pretzel. "Wah! Annie! Breathe! Breathe!" As the tall bodied blonde choked and gasped for air, Eiko swatted her back to dislodge the pretzel and Annie hunched over the railing. Finally the smaller girl wrapped her arms at Annie's midsection, giving a few quick compressions up under her guardian's ribcage. After the fourth of fifth jerking thrust the bit of pretzel shot from Annie's mouth, and she sucked in a big lung full of air, coughing back as she did so. Eiko just gave a sigh of relief, resting against Annie's back a moment, before some of her indignation returned, to comment, "Annie, you have to stop overreacting like this all the time!"
After a couple of miserable coughs, Annie turned her shy eyes back up to Eiko to apologize. "Sorry."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now lets go!" The Princess was already on the move, smiling as she pulled her larger friend along, insisting, "And wipe the drool from your chin or you'll never get a guy."
"EH?!"
"Eh?"He was just coming out of the restaurant when something struck him in the head. It was just a light tap, but enough to feel through the thick leather of his hat. Reaching up, fishing around the brim, his gloved fingers contacted something soft and squishy, which be brought down to eye level to inspect. Finding a half chewed bit of pretzel in his fingers, he quickly let it drop with an "Ew..." and glanced up to just as a couple of female forms were leaving the rail. After a second's pause he just shrugged and continue along the narrow pathway toward the steps back to street level. He was used to being spit on anyway, and at least this time it was on accident, hopefully. After all, not many people appreciated his attire. A lot of folks felt it was in poor taste, and others just felt it was outdated. A lot people still held prejudices against Black Mages, even this long after the war. And even people crass enough to still wear the attire were fair game for those disgruntled people to express their bad feelings. One of these days, he really needed to update his wardrobe. For now though, the young mage had other business to attend to. It was just a short hike up the steps to the street and across the square full of folks listening to the live band, before he reached a small stable house. Strolling through the open doors, he was greeted by the happy warking of the building's temporary inhabitants. He was headed for one big yellow bird in particular though. This bird near the end, with odd black runes scribed on it's beak and brass bangles dangling on it's legs, shifted its massive head to see the mage coming, and gave a happy cry at his approach. "Hey, boy! Sorry to leave you cooped up like this. Are you having fun with the other chocobos at least?" The bird gave a happy wark and leaned in to nudge it's beak against his shoudler. Chuckling at the show of affection, the mage reached up to scrath along the chocobo's neck, citing, "Yeah, yeah, I know what you're looking for." Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a handful of fleshy green leaves. "Gyshal green salad... to go."
*Wark!* The big bird hungrily enjoyed the treat from his master's hand, while another man strolled up from behind. A large bodied man in overalls with a big red mustache.
"I jus' fed tha' glutton! Yer spoilin' tha' bird!" The angry tone was just play, as the mage knew, and he turned a shrug the way of the stable keeper.
"I know, Shaun, but it's better than having him get upset and buck me off later." The mage pointed out while petting the feasting bird's beak.
"Gah! Tha'z thuh point. Ya shoulden' allowh 'im ta 'ave thuh pow-ur in thuh rela-shunship." The accented stable master bickered along with some poinient gestures to the raggedy youth.
The young mage, for his part, lowered his head a bit, explaining back wanly, "He doesn't have power over me. I'm just not the overpowering type myself."
"Hmph.. tell me bout it." The mustached man scoffed, "Yer bout as intimidatin' as a pe'rfumed oglop." The way the mage peered back suggested he was raising a brow under his hat, but the bulky fellow insisted, "Ya gotta start workin' out sum, get sum mussle on thah skinny baudy a' yers. After all, a man needs ta be strong and forceful ta get 'is way in life." As he made his point, he flexed labor thickened arms, prompting the mage to look to his own rail thin appendage. "Otherwise, ya won'h even get yer bird ta listen ta ya."
*Wark.* It almost sounds like an agreement from the chocobo, as he finished his meal. But the mage shook his head, patted the bird's beak and rebutted semi-evenly, "Yeah, well, I'm just not the kind to overpower my bird... or much anything else. He's not a slave, after all." Looking to the runic painted beak, he insisted, "He's my partner." *WARK!*
"Eesh.." The red mustached man gave a purposeful flinch back, commenting unnecessarily, "Partner..? Don'h tell me yer one'a them fella's what marries their pets."
"N-NO!" The mage quickly turned back to refuse.
"Good." Shaun gave a firm nod, but once more added extra, "Though, can'h blame ya if'n ya did. With yer personality not likely ya'll get a girl." The mage again had nothing more than an uncomfortable stare back to offer. So, Shaun moved right along, "Anyway, will ya be leavin' then?"
The tattered youth gave a meager nod, explaining, "Yeah. My friend still isn't back in town, so it looks like I'll have to find a room for the night."
"Hah! Good luck." Shaun scoffed, "With thuh ter-nament, pretty much ev'ry 'otel's booked solid."
The mage gave a sigh of acknowledgment, considering for a moment going back to the card stadium director for a place to stay, but quickly decided that would mean he was obligated to join the tournament tomorrow. Shaking his head, he spoke back to Shaun, "Well, if I have to, I know a place nearby where I can stay. But I'd rather not be that far from the city, in case my friend comes and goes while I'm away. I guess I'll take a looked around the city first."
"Soot yerself." The burly fellow shrugged, and reached over to grab the young man's saddle from the wall and set it up on the runed bird's back. "Jus' be careful roun' the seedier parts a' thuh ci'y. Sum'un big and strong might beatcha up and take yer bird."
The smaller one gave a belittled groan, insisting, "Don't worry about me. I may not look like much, but I can take care of myself."
Shaun gave a laugh. "Yah! Right! I'll believe it when I see it!"
"What're we gonna do, Bro?" whined the short stout bodied dogman. He was garbed in a gold embroidered green and red vest and matching breeches, and had cheap beads and pendants tied into his shaggy brown and black fur. Giving a canine whimper, he mewled out miserably as he followed his partner's pace, "If we don't get the money we owe, Lord Lavolt's gonna have our hides!"
"Che... would you relax, Enky?" his partner, a strong-bondied, four-armed red-haired man in brown leather body armor insisted, "Doesn't your Big Brother Gil take care of everything?"
The dogman gave an excited nod to the bravado, wagging his tail a bit, as he hopped in front of his partner, agreeing, "Yeah, yeah! Big Bro, you can get out of anything! So what's the plan? Huh? Huh?"
"Plan? Hah!" The four-armed man gave a guffaw at the thought, as he paused in his walk down the dark back alley to look to his canine companion. "Who needs a plan? With brilliance and might like mine, we have nothing to fear!"
"Right, Bro!" The dogman gave a quick cheer, but quickly sobered, his brows crooking and snout drooping a bit, as he recalled allowed, "But wait. Levolt has those crazy strong enforcers."
"So?"Gil asked incredulously, as he continued his stroll up the alley.
Following after him, the dogman spoke, "So, didn't that big pale guy beat you up last year when you didn't pay your debts then?"
The four-armed man tried to hide a flinch, and countered back, "N-no! It was a strategic maneuver. I let it look like he beat me up so that he'd be satisfied and forget the debt."
"But you were crying.."
"That's acting!" The four-armed man spit back over his shoulder and moved on to the mouth of the alley, his furry friend following along.
"But what about the other one? The crazy chick with the axe?" He gave a pause, scrunching up his snout in bad memory, as he stated, "Last time she said she'd skin us if we tried something stupid again. I think she was serious."
"Would ya stop worrying already?!" Gil called out, turning a sharp stare to his partner, "As long as we pay we'll be fine."
The dogman nodded in agreement, reaching up to scratch his own ears, before reminding, "But, Bro, we're broke."
"I know that!" Gil answered, as he looked about the busy street, eying drunken tourists and jaded locals in their passing. "But it's not about money. We just need something of equal value to what we owe."
"Right!" Stepping up next to his partner, the dogman gave a nod, then added, "But we ain't got nothing, Bro."
"No problem. We just gotta take something then."
"Right!" Enky agreed, and then blinked back. "Take what? I mean it's too much money for us to pickpocket, and if we were gonna steal something that expensive for him we'd have to case it out and it would take longer than we have."
"Nah, I'm not thinking gil or valuables, Enky. I know something else Levolt likes even better." The four-armed man said with a devious grin.
"What's that Bro?"
"Girls." Pointing out across the street, he added, "Those two should do nicely."
Enky's eyes followed the pointed trail to a pair of young girls, one shorter and spunkier in a revealing top and colorful head wrap and pants and the other taller and athletic in hides. The dogman nodded profusely, wagging his furry tail, as he agreed, "Yeah, Bro! Great plan! Levolt will definitely get off our backs if we bring him a couple of cuties like them!"
"See, Enky? Just leave everything to Big Brother Gil, and everything'll turn out fine." The four-armed man declared, as he watched the short girl drag her friend down the busy boulevard.
"It sure will, Bro, it sure will."
"I don't know about this plan of yours." Annie groaned out for about the twentieth odd time, as Eiko polled her along. "I mean sneaking into a garden party may be safer than going to some shady tavern to meet boys. But still..."
"Stop worrying already!" Eiko bit back, "Your forehead already looks like it's going to pop!" The mention made the tall nervous girl reach up apprehensively, adjusting her bangs over her brow. "We just have to cut over to the manor district and find a party. They're always full of swarthy gamblers and young celebrities. Maybe I'll meet a cute young actor to take me on that boat ride."
As her friend looked dreamily skyward, Annie amended, "What if that cute young actor turns out to be a degenerate creep?"
"He won't be." Eiko stated plainly. "He'll be charming and gentlemanly."
"How do you know?"
"Because I said so." Eiko insisted, before turning off of the main road and down an alley way.
Annie arched her tense brow to the idea. "Isn't that a bit delusional?"
"Aren't you a bit paranoid?" Eiko rebutted. "Besides, it's not likely there are any men around here that can force their way on the two of us."
"And now you're being cocky." Annie sighed out, before her shy gaze turned to look about the dark alleyway they were heading down, "And where are we going?"
"Shortcut. It's faster this way." Eiko said, as she turned another corner in the dark passages. Removed from the lit up main streets the tourists stuck to, you only had to go a fe dozen feet from the regular path to find the dingy and dark side of this city. Unkempt alleys of broken cobblestone, strewn with garbage, and way too narrow, places like this just screamed unsafe, and Annie was anciously alert to the circumstance. Eiko on the otherhand did not seem to mind. Perhaps after you face off against indomnible gods of destruction to save the world little things like dark alleyways are not that big of a deal.
"I-I'm not sure..."
"You never are!" Eiko spun back in a huff. Staring at her taller friend, hands on hips, expression strict, the Regent's Daughter dictated sternly, "All you do is whine and moan and worry. But in the end you still follow me, and you always have fun in the end, right?"
"W-well... yeah.. I-I gue-"
"Exactly!" Eiko cut her off, amending frankly, "So, you already know how this is going to go. You're going to complain and drag your feet and slow us down, but in the end we're going to end up where we have to be, and you will enjoy yourself. So, for once can we please just skip the whole whining part and go right to the having fun part? Please?!"
"Well..." The unsure look Annie gave back was not what Eiko was looking for, and she stared up to her friend expectantly, until her face shifted again, bouncing between fretful and happy. "O-okay..."
"Okay?" Eiko asked back, leaning in for a more distinct confirmation.
Annie forced a smile and gave a quick nod, agreeing more firmly, "Okay."
"Okay!" Eiko exclaimed, throwing her hands up, "Then lets go part-ow!" The feeling of a pin prick at the back of her neck halted her joy, and she reached down quickly to feel a small dart stuck in her skin.
"Miss Eik-ow!" Annie got the same, reaching back and pulling the dart from her neck. She quickly turned around to see a humanoid form in the shadows.
"OoOOooohhh... I think.. I'm guhnnna..." Eiko toppled to the ground, while Annie stood her shaky ground.
Whatever they were hit with, she was feeling it's effects, but could still retain conciusness. Her vision starting to blur, she tried to demand an answer," Wh-who are-?"
"Hey, Bro, mine's still moving!" Came a voice from the blurred man Annie glared toward.
"Well, hit her again!" Came another voice from behind. But seeing a tube like object lifting toward the mouth of the one she was watching, she made a snap decision to move. In a surprising burst of speed for her drugged state, she cleared the ten feet between them in just a couple of quick kick steps and she blitzed forth with a spearing punch. Unfortunately, her dazed state was enough leeway for the target to drop down to a crouch and avoid the punch, and she cursed under her breath as another pin prick struck the throat. Below her, the dogman sat frozen. Blowgun still pressed to his mouth, back pressed to the wall as he stared up to the still standing, yet unmoving girl. And more troubling, he looked to where her armored knuckles had contacted the wall, shattering the brickwork. Even as her body finally went limp from the drugs on the dart, he did not move, staring at that broken spot in fearful awe. "See, Enky? The darts worked fine! Now lets get them to Levolt." Gil called from the other end of the alley. There was no reply though. "Enky..?" No answer. "Enky?" Watching his dog friend shivering in his awkward seat, Gil had to ask, "Did you faint or something?"
"I guess we're just not that lucky." The raggedy mage spoke to his feathered companion, as he led the bird by its reins along the canal side. "Four inns and they were all packed. We really might have to head out for the cave for the night. Though I don't really want to make you take such a long run so late." *Wark.* The bird nudged him mildly, and he gave it a pet. Sighing he turned aside to lean on a railing, looking out over the dark water. It was mostly deserted in this back alley canal. Just a few boats could be seen making their lazy ways here and there, and most of the windows over the water were dark. Noting the site, he sagaciously spoke, "Yup. Everyone else is heading home and getting some rest. We should do the same." Sighing deeper than before, and sinking deeper against the railing, he mused on the thought, "Home.. huh?"
"Home free, Bro! I can't believe that was so easy." Enky gloated, having recovered finally from his near death experience. Now he was happily hanging his tongue from his mouth and wagging his tail as he rowed their gondola along the canal.
"Of course it worked, Enky. When Big Bro says things will work out, I always mean it." Gil assured from his seat at the front of the boat. "Now we just gotta drop off these pretties with Levolt and we're debt free." In the middle of the boat the unconcious girls rested under a tarp. "Heck, maybe we can work out a deal for regular deliveries. Considering how easy this went, we might just have a profitable new career here."
"Yeah, Bro, we could be rich!"
"Yup. This is just how life should be Enky. Prosperous and promising." Gil smiled to himself at the thought, and turned his head to look nack at his companion. And that's when the tarp shifted. "Eh?" The dubious duo shared a glance over the tarp, before Gil asked, just to be sure, "Did one of them just move?" Suddenly there was a struggle under the tarp and a muffled curse, which made the abductors flinch back. "Gah! It's the big one!"
"Again?!" Enky whined, shivering as he held the oar. "B-but I even stuck her with a third dart while she was down!"
"I dunno! Maybe she's some kind of crazy monster girl!" Gil spat back, "Hit her again."
"Um..." Enky looked between Gil and violently thrashing tarp, before making an excuse, "I-I can't Bro. I'm uh.. rowing."
Gil just stared back at his furry friend a moment, before groaning out, "Oh, fine. I'll do it myself!"Standing from his seat, Gil drew a poison dart from a flap in his armor and moved over the struggling girl. Trying to shoot the dart with the tarp in the way would be troublesome. But with her hands and feet bound and a tarp in the way, it would be safe enough to just hold her down and jab her with the dart manually. That is, he thought it was safe enough, until her tied feet rushed up below the tarp and crashed into his abdomen, sending the four-armed man splaying out against the prow of the boat. "Hwuff!"
"Bro! Are you alright?"
Gil rolled his eyes back into place, as he felt his guts lurch uncomfortably. "Y-hweuh-yeah, peachy." Looking back to his all too lively captive, he found her uncovered from the tarp, which as his head cleared, Gil realized he had accidently dragged off with him in his short flight. "Hmph.. gonna be troublesome are you?" The strong, thoguh bound young woman glared back from behind her gag. Grinning at her situation, the four-armed man reached for his blowgun, offering frankly, "Well, not much trouble, I guess."
"HEY!" A new voice called from nearby. The trio on the gondola quickly turned their eyes aside to find the speaker. The thin bodied figure in draped in a dirty, patchworked black mage's outfit, glared back with his glowing golden eyes. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THEM!?" Beside him, his chocobo gave a rallying *Wark*.
"Crap, Bro. What do we do?" Enky asked, as he looked back and forth between the mage and Gil.
The latter, took a second to note the mage then note his position, before smirking. The raggedy youth was on a walkway across the canal. There weren't connecting bridges anywhere nearby. Confidance reclaimed, Gil spoke "Che... it's a boy and his bird, and they can't reach us. Just row."
"Right Bro!" Enky did as instructed, heading the boat around another corner.
"And you.." Gil returned his attention to Annie, struggling against her bonds. "Be quiet." With that, he rose the blowgun to his lips to deliver a final dart into her. Slowly it took effect, returning her begrudgingly to slumber, while Gil looked back to the now frustrated mage, offering a parting wabe, before the boat disappeared around the bend. Tossing the tarp back in place, Gil spoke hastily, "No more delays, make for the north lakeside."
"Okay, Bro, but.."
"But what?" Gil asked as he fit the tarp around the girls.
"But what about that guy back there?" Enky asked, referring to the Mage.
"What about him? He can't catch up to us now, and even if he calls the town guards, we'll be long gone by then." Gil assured with a pleased grin. "We don't have to worry about him."
*WWAARRRRKKKKKK!!!!* The keening bird call echoed through the alleyways, giving both men a flinch, before an image of dark blue on bright yellow cut a swath out of the shadows up ahead. The young mage, riding his chocobo, landed after a lead atop a parked boat further up the canal. Now holding a long metallic staff in one hand and the bird's reins in the other, he called out to the criminals, "Stop right there!"
"Wha-wha-waaaa.... you said he couldn't catch up, Bro!" Enky howled out, as they eyed their pursuer.
"Damn! He must've jumped the canal cut through the alleys." Still there was a gap between them that the chocobo could not cross, and there was another canal nearby, prompting Gil to quickly call back, "Enky, turn here!"
"You got it, Bro!" The dogman hurried to row the boat around the corner, and get further from the persuing mage, who quickly now turned his chocobo and spurred it to another leap from the parked boat across the canal to an unlit balcony, just before he was lost to the dogman's field of vision. "Huh? Wonder what he was thinking there."
"What now, Enky?"
"Nothing, Bro. Idiot just stranded himself on a balcony. Can ya believe it?" Enky chortled at the thought, as they made their floating escape.
Gil, however, paused at the notion. "Balcony...?" The curious word had barely passed his lips before the shattering of glass sounded out from above, accompanied by the screams of some surprised home owners. Looking up quick the fleeing crooks found the bird riding mage perched up on a third floor balcony of the same building. He was too high to jump down, but still on their tail. "Crap! Take the next turn. Hang a left so we're across the canal from him. We gotta shake this guy!" Enky once more steered the boat around a tight turn, intent on escape.
The young mage was far from giving up though. He just needed to find a path. Eyes scanning quick, he found his best option, and spurred his mount to turn and gave the bird a quick order, which it followed to leap up from the balcony to the rooftop. The chocobo strutted along the terra cotta to a spot where the rider deemed safest to cross. A six meter gap was a hard hurdle for a rider bearing bird to clear, but factoring in a modest runway and having the landing pad one story lower than the take off helped. "Here we go, boy. Hee-ya!" With a resounding *WARK!!* The bird charged off on partner's orders and leapt from one roof to another.
"Uh.. Bro..?" Enkynervously voiced as he looked back to see the big yellow bird arch through the air across the gap and disappear on the adjacent rooftop. "I don't think he's done yet."
Gil anxiously looked about the roofs for a flash of yellow, demanding, "Yeah, but where is he now?" And then came the flash, in the farthest reaches of his peripheral vision, ahead of them. Once more the bird bound out of an alleyway, stopping on the walkway along the canalside, announcing himself with a *wark*, just waiting for the boat to come into range for a safe hop aboard. The riding mage's eyes met Gil's, while Enky gave an excited yip behind. The former was quick to act though, calling back to his dogman partner, "Just ease up, Big Bro'll handle this." Two of his hands unpinned a couple of flaps at his side, which dropped open to display a few dozen bits of glistening steel tucked away in individual pockets. His four hands moved quick, grabbing four shurikens from the flaps and lined up a shot at the mage before he was close enough to reach them. The fast thrown, glimmering bits cut through the night air for the boy and bird, the former quick to rein his mount aside, but not before one of the thrown stars caught him in the shoulder. The bird was already on its way up onto the railing, as another deadly volley flew their way. With the mage's spurring the chocobo was bounding already out of the path, leaping from the railing to a mooring pole sticking up out of the water. It's taloned foot gripped the rounded brass head with impressive dexterity, before kicking off to land nimbly on another pole across the canal and then step over to the opposite railing.
"Wow... how'd he get the bird to do that?" The dogman inquired with wide eyes.
"Shut up and row, Enky!" Gil hushed back, as he drew out another series of stars, throwing them as the bird cut back across coming down the railing at them. This time neither dodged, but deflected. The mage spinnging out his staff to knock two aside and the bird lowered it's head and kicked out a leg, two stars richochet of bangle and beak respectively. "Wow.." Gil had time to be impressed, before drawing another four stars. However the assailants were already upon them. The chocobo's agile talons ran a tight wire act along the railing until he was right alongside the boat, while the mage reared up to plant a foot on the saddle. With a quick yipping call from the rider they parted. The boy leapt from the saddle down toward Gil, who lined up the next four stars at him. Unbelievably, with but a swing of his staff the shurikens stopped in midair, as if frozen in space, leaving the mage to land shakily upon the prow of the gondola. Meanwhile the chocobo hopped down next, aiming for the dogman steering at the rear. The frightened dogman ducked under the bird's lunge with a scared bark, but spun back to see the bird perched on the boat's rim, glaring down at him.
"Bro...?"
"Che.. toughen up, Enky!" Gil called back while watching the mage turn to ready his staff and stare the kidnappers down.
With more strength than it had held all day, the mage's voice demanded, "I don't care who you are, but you're letting those girls go. Now!"
"Hmm... let me think about it..." Actually he was thinking of distance and timing, deciding quickly that the boy was too close for another shuriken throw. So his hands gravitated around his waist toward his back, as he decided aloud, "Nah, I think you should just get gone instead!" In a sudden rush, he drew four curved short swords from behind his back and lunged at the young mage. Stepping back, he brought his staff to bear, parrying two blades on the left, while two more slashed toward his head. Dodging barely, one blade knicked his high hat, but he had enough footing to try and counter, aiming the base of his staff for a sweep at Gil's knees. The tactic did catch him by surprise, forcing Gil to drop his knee, about to topple, if not for his extra arms. His lower right caught on one of the gondola benches, prompting him to spin rather than fall, lashing back behind him with a surprisingly fast roundhouse kick. His foot impacted the intercepting staff of the mage with enough force to knock the smaller opponent back, and gave Gil the second of pause to regain his footing and lunge forth with his swords again. While the mage met the assault once more with an agile staff technique, at the back end of the boat his chocobo gave an excited *Wark*.
He still stood over the frightened dogman, he crab crawled back away from the imposing bird a bit. That is, until he realized that his oar had fallen to rest half in the water and half onto the boat, between the birds legs. With a sudden girn to his canine snout, the dogman yelled up to the bird. "Quick on your feet, ain't'cha? Well, how's this for quick feet?!" With that, Enky kicked out to the oar, knocking it aside into the chocoo's ankle, and knocking it's talon from the boat rim. Warking out it's annoyance, the bird was tripped forward to land in the boat before Enky, who smiled all the more, bearing sharp yellow teeth. Bracing himself back against a bench, he called out, "Yippy! I love poultry!" With a snarl he then lunged forward, sinking his teeth into the back of the bird's neck. It gave out a pained *WARK!*, prompting an angered call from the mage, who was a bit too busy to help. As he traded less skilled blows with the dangerous swordsman. The bird was not done in yet though. Scurrying quick to refind it's foothold on the boat, it gathered its strength quick, rearing up and taking the dogman with it, as it leapt from the boat. Bird and beastman made a short violent arch threw the air, before crashing down into a stack of barrels on a small canalside dock, Enky taking the brunt of the impact, prompting his jaws to let loose the bird. Again the chocobo was struggling to get it's feet back under it, while the dogman tried to jet his jaws lined back up for another bite. This time though the bird raised his head in time for the jaws to clamp onto its massive beak. Meanwhile, as the beasts battled on the dock, the boat continued drifting along down the canal, with the two men fighting over the unconcious girls within.
"Ya know... your really messing up our futures here, runt." The four-armed man groaned out, as he slashed repeatedly at the boy who dodged or parried in reply, lacking offensively, it seemed. "Plus you're gonna get gutted at this rate." Gil gloated, before stepping forward in a sudden spinning motion, each of his four blades bounding off the mage's staff in the same crescent of space, the forcing knocking the mage back against the high prow once more. Seeing an opening, as the boy flailed out against the frame, Gil just added happily, "Told you so." Then he was striking forward with all four blades aimed at the mage's chest. This time though, the boy had enough space and time to thrust out his hands and spit out a quick incantation. The gout of flames which then burst forth from his gloved hands caught Gil offguard. He barely had time to wrap his arms before his face as the searing shot washed over his body. "Ah! Wah! Hot! Hot!" Landing in a smouldering heap before the boy, Gil quickly rolled about, putting out the flames which ignited on his clothing. He just barely had the mind and reflexes to react as the heavy metal staff arched throught the air intent on bashing him. This time he was the one bring his weapons to deflect. Catching the staff on two crossed swords, he glanced back to the mage boy, warning, "Don't go getting ahead of yourself!" Gil's other two arms then pushed his body up into an inhumanly dexterous twisting bridge, righting himself in a flash, as he moved in on full assault once more. Again the mage was on the defensive, minutely parrying deadly slashes from the skilled swordsman. "You got tricks, well so do!
*WARK!* The bird's cry came as he leapt back into the boat from the canalside railing once more, landing behind Gil and rushing forth monstrous peck.
Spinning back quickly the four armed man brought up two swords to parry the hard beak, as he chastised back, "Two on one, huh, ya cheaters? Well, don't worry I can handle it!" Standing sideways, he could hold his own with two blades slashing back and forth at the boy and bird each. The flash of steel and resounding din of metal on metal and beak echoed through the alleys as the trio fought at a standstill. Growing strain, and some annoyance brought Gil to demanded, as he pressed his attack harder on the mage to keep him from castin spells, "Where the hell did Enky go?"
"Right here, Bro!" The dogman cried, as he leapt from the side railing, much as the chocobo had done before him, and he aimed his fangs on the mage. The youth could only curse under his breath, as he raised his staff just in time to catch the canine jaws. It didn't stop the weight and momentum of the jumpin body from crashing into him though, as both man and beast went over the railing to splash into the water.
"Hah! Good job, Enky!" Gil praised, as he spun back his fully attention on the chocobo. The man's four blades sliced at the bird, driving it back, as it could do little but dodge and deflect with it's beak under such rapid attack. As his blades bounded again and again from the orange appendage, Gil had to ask, "What the hell's that beak made of, Mithril?" *WARK!*
In the water, Enky was quick to recover, resurfacing to see the boat drifting away once more. "Hey, Bro! Wait for me!" Hastily he began to dog paddle after it, forgetting his secondary opponent.
In his wake the water's surface bubbled with lost breath for a moment. A pause, and the more bubbles arose. The dogman chased the boat away, while the mage struggle forgotten at the canal's bottom. It was a few moments more, before the water began to bubble violent, then the surface suddenly erupted up like a geyser, spouting water five meters high and ejecting the mage airborn to soar aside and crash unceremoniously on the walkway. Ignoring the pain, he rolled over to his hands and knees coughing up dirty canal water, fighting to get his breath back. After a few moments of hacking and gasping, he final had enough breath to grumble to himself, "I really.. hah.. gotta.. hah... learn to swim." Lifting his soggy conical hat, he could see the boat quite a way ahead now. But, even out of breath as he was the mage pushed himself up to a shaky stance and rushed to chase after them.
Back on the boat, the runed chocobo battled against the four-armed man best he could, but was still being forced back by the overwhelming blade work. Step by step, Gil gained ground, gloating as he went, "Ah, that all ya got, birdy? Too bad. Looks like you're going to make a fine roast dinner then." Leaning in for an opening at the bird's neck, Gil felt ready to end the fight, but felt one of his legs kicked out from under him. Cathing himself with one arm, as two more blocked an opportunistic peck from the bird, Gil looked down to his third party attacker, finding the tall bound girl glaring up at him. "You again?" *Wark!* The bird thrust his hard beak forth again while the four-armed man was distracted, but he still managed to parry the powerful punch with two blades, while bringing the other two around to counter. Before he could though, a pair of booted feet kicked up from the bound Annie, impacting Gil's chest and knocking him back a bit. It was enough for the bird to gain an advantageous strike, charging in beak first. But again Gil was fast enough to get his blades in the way, this time having to use all four to cushion the strike. His blades pinned as the bird's beak kept pressing forward, he was stuck for that instant. Then a bestial snarl arose from beyond the bird, as Enky climbed back onto the rear of the boat. With a bark and a fierce growl, the dogman bounded across the boat's length, lining his fangs up for the chocobo's neck once more. And then the crash of thunder boomed throught he Treno night, and a streak of blue lightning arched through the air to the back of the beastman, knocking him out of the boat to crash again into the water.
Another observer caught the streak of light, walking through a back alley on his way home. Quickly the burly man rushed to the mouth of the alley overlooking the canal, to see what was happening, just as a familiar young man in a conical hat ran by, offering a quick acknowledging, "Hey, Shaun."
"Wha' thuh..?" The red mustached man watched his customer chase passed on the walkway after his bird battling a four-armed man on a drifting gondola with utter confusion. Ahead of him, the mage boy grabbed the wooden lid from a trash barrel, while still running and panting for breath. Down in the boat, Gil warded the bird back with a couple of quickslashes up under it's throat, before lunging up with a kick to it's belly, knocking the bird to trip back over th forward bench and onto it's back. Annie could only give a muffled cry as the bird's weight landed on top of her, cracking her head against the hard wood bottom of the boat, knocking her unconcious once again.
With the bird on it's back, trying to get back up, Gil gave a grin, noting, "Not enough room for you to flip over, huh? Che.. dumb bird." Then looking to the mage closing in, the swordsman resheathed two of his blade and reached for his throwing stars once more. In a flourish of twisting side to side, he send forth a constant volley of sharp metallic projectiles. The mage used the procured lid as a shield to catch the first few, before leaping up onto the railing, copying his bird's earlier tight rope walk, though less proficiently. But he didn't stay there more than a few steps, before tossing the lid aside into the air and leaping after it.
Shaun had moved to the railing to watch after them, as the mage twisted his body about in midair, as shurikens flashed narrowly by him, and planted his feet against the wooden lid. Then, with a uprising flourish of his staff, he willed the water to erupt again in a geyser beneath him, shooting up to impact the lid and springboard the boy through the air toward the boat. Wide eyed at the sight, Shaun simply spoke to himself, "Alrigh'.. I belive it." The boy led in with the head of his staff, careening straight for Gil, who parried the initial head and leapt backward for room to lash back. But he was caught by surprise as the boy did not land on his own two feet, but rather landed on his bird's feet. In that knocked over position the bird's upturned talons caught his master's landing feet, and kicked out to deliver a combo strike with the boy's outstretched staff. The hard metal head connected with Gil's jaw, sending him over the prow of the boat and into the dark water.
Meanwhile, the mage fell over into the floor of the boat from his awkward position on his chocobo's feet. Righting himself back quickly, still breathing hard, he praised proudly, "Good job, boy! Good job!" He reached out to help the bird get back on its feet and off of the hostages, while the bird gave a happy *Wark!* The mage quickly moved to the girls to make sure they were alright. Thankfully they were alive, if unconcious. "Phew. Good. Good. Lets get them out of here." Looking about quickly, he found the oar gone and the boat still drifting aimlessly with the light current. "Hmm.. okay.. guess we'll have to do this one at a time. Here, boy." Reining the bird down to a crouch, the boy hefted up the larger girl, with some difficulty. "Hhuuurrghkk.. Uuhhrrrgghh... Hah... there we go." Panting for breath, he smiled to his handy work, getting the girl over the chocobo's saddle. "Okay boy, hop up onto the next dock and drop her off, then come back. Ready?" *Wark.* "Alright.. and.. go." As the boat passed another small dock, the mage gave it a shove, and it hopped up onto the short wooden platform, while the boat drifted on by. "Good. Now just drop her off and-" A battled cry called out cutting the young man off, as he looked up to see Gil on his feet again, making a run from a parked boat he climbed aboard and leaping through for the drifting gondola. In a hasty act, the mage thrust his staff in a quick decision, erupting the water again, beneath Gil this time, knocking the four-armed man out. However, the eruption also impacted the rear of the boat, sending it surging forward, and tripping the mage from his feet in the rush. The boat was sent forth to the end of the canal toward a locked brass gate, ramming it with enough force to crash it open, admitting the boat into the dark recess. As the mage rose his head to a call of his chocobo in the distance, he found himself in a blackened tunnel, with the dim light from the gateway getting further away. "Uh-oh." Though the water spell's effect had waned a ways back, the boat did not seem to be slowing. It actually seemed to be gaining speed. As the vessel plunged further into darkness, the warking call of the bird became more and more distant and the din of rushing water ahead became more distinct. The boy's glowing eyes allowed him a unique view of the unlit tunnel way, as the boat was tossed about by the currents, wrestled around a corner to merge into a larger underground canal. Quickly the youth tried to recall all he could about Treno's architecture. Waste water and overflow from the canals was washed away down interconnecting tunnels and merged together to head underground out of the city, where it ran off at the the...
As the boat crested quickly around a corner, rebounding from wall to wall, and the mage could see the opening to the night sky and hear the pouring rush of water ahead, he finished his thoughts aloud, "... waterfalls." Gulping nervously at what was coming and seeing no way around it, he did all he could do. Looking down to the lithe girl bound beside him, he offered quickly, "Sorry, Miss." Then he covered her body with his own for some protection and wedged his staff up under the seats of the gondola as a crossbar to hold onto. Regardless, this was not going to end well.
There she sat, as she had for the last hour, upon what was once the top of a now ruined staircase, where ever it had led to long ago fallen into the sea, leaving just a few steps which fell off into nowhere. With her knees pulled into her chest, the sulking child set on the lowest step, watching the waves batter the rocks below. "It's time to go." Came a weak but willful voice behind her. But the child did not even turn around to acknowledge. Again the younf feminine voice called from behind her, "We've been here for three days, Eiko. We have to go now." It was soft spoken, but firm, as Garnet walked from the cave opening out onto the steps, behind her young cousin. With sympathetic eyes, she watched the girl's hunched form pitiably, sharing her feelings, though insisting, "If he was gonna come here, he'd be here by now. It's time to leave."
"He might still show up." Was the meek reply from the girl watching the waves. "This was his home, right? Before he met us? He might come back here. I know I'd go home to Madain Sari if something was wrong."
Garnet bit her lip and tensed a bit as she tried not to upset the younger girl, but spoke, "Maybe... but he's not here now."
"But it might come back today! Or tomorrow! Or the day after that!" Eiko bickered back, standing quick and spinning on her heel to look up to her cousin with wet, reddened eyes.
Garnet gulped back a sob of her own at the sad seven year old's upset countenance, but steeled herself to reply, "Or the Week after that, or the month after that, or the year-" Her breath caught in her throat, before she shook her head and lowered herself to a crouch on the steps closer to the child's eye level, to speak again, "But we can't wait here that long. There are people waiting for us to come home, just like we're waiting here for Vivi. You don't want everyone to be worrying about us too, do you?"
Eiko's face scrunged up in another sob, and her head hung, letting hair hang before her tear streaked cheeks. The girl's body gave a few more tremulous sobs as Garnet watched in quiet worry. Then the girl whipped her head back to scream out, "VIVI'S A BAKA!" Another sob followed the violent shout, before she looked back to Garnet, crying out, "What was he thinking?! Just leaving a dumb letter about going on a Quest? What does that even mean?! Why did he go alone?!" The young Queen had a pretty good idea, but was not about to speak those words to her young charge. Instead, she just opened her arms out wide, inviting the young girl inside. Eiko only paused a breath, before stepping up into the warm embrace. Hugging the girl tight, Garnet finally let herself give a woeful sob, tears falling down her own porcelain face over Eiko's shoulder. Whining into her cousin's shoulder, the child voiced her worry in a pained fading voice, "He's barely even been able to move lately. How's he gonna quest anywhere?" The girl tensed and cried in Garnet's arms, as the older girl grit her own teeth to fight back another series of sobs. This wasn't easy on any of them.
Still, Garnet tried her best to soothe. "Hey, we have a lot of people out looking for him. And no matter what, Vivi can take care of himself. We just have to wait for him to come home."
Eiko gave another violent shiver in Garnet's arms, before crying out both of their fears, "What if he can't come home? What if he's already...?!"
"Hush!" Garnet cut her off, and grabbed the girl's shoulders to pull her away just enough to rest their foreheads together, Eiko's horn resting to the spot where Garnet's once rose. Locking tearful eyes with the girl. Garnet warned, "Don't say that. Never say that."
Eiko's lips trembled before she once more tried to ask, "But what if he is...?"
"It doesn't matter." Garnet spoke, regaining some force to her words, "Even if he is gone, never say it. Never until you have absolute proof that he is gone,should you ever give up hope. As long as there is even the tiniest sliver of hope, you never let go of it." Garnet watched the girl's blinking eyes, smiling weakly to her and cooing softer, "You know Vivi. If we give up on him, he might just give up on himself. So we have to believe he'll come back."
"You mean.... like Zidane?" Eiko asked, and Garnet bit her lip, and just nodded.
After all these months the genome was still missing and presumed dead. But all the same, Garnet refused to think about that sad seeming fact and clung to hope. So, now she asked the same of her young cousin. "Yeah, the same goes for both of them. As long as there's a chance that they are alive and coming home, we have to believe in them, and make sure they have something to come back to, right?" It was a prolonged moment of unsure staring, before Eiko gave a nod against her cousin's forehead, and Garnet reached out to once more enfold the child in a loving embrace. "For now we have to let Vivi do what he needs to do. When he's ready, I believe we'll see him again."
Her head was swimming in darkness, as she fought her way back to the waking world. Groaning and shifting a bit in place, she tried to blink her eyes open. She was met with a blurry haze of purple and, yellow and dim blue. "Miss?" The strange voice called from somewhere nearby, but she was too weak and groggy to look around for the source. "Miss?" It came again, and she was roughly aware of sounds around here, a roar of pouring water, and something moving toward her across rocky ground. "Are you awake, Miss?" Her eyes lapsed closed again weakly, before she felt leathery hands grip her shoulders and straighten out her body. With a small moan, she let her body settle and willed her eyes to open once more. She could just make out the shapes of a person hovering over her. Something about it was familiar. When her eyes drifted shut again, some recognition forced her to open them again, fighting to focus her dazed vision. Two golden glowing orbs were the first things to catch her attention. Over them the triangular shape of a brown hat came into some measure of clarity, as did blue and gray robed shoulders beneath a shadowed face. Her brows arched in some wonderment as her mind put the pieces together.
"Vi..." She tried to speak, though barely managed a croak.
"Miss? Can you hear me?"
"Vi....." Her breath caught, as she tried to force her words. But slowly she managed to lift her arm, slowly and awkwardly.
"Ah, yo can move?" The mage spoke in a happy voice as the soft, slender hand reached up to rest agains the mesh mask covering his face. "Eh?"
"Vi..." The husky breath drew his attention, and he leaned in to try to listen. Then she burst forth with more strength than he though she could manage in this staff, spear her palm under his chin in a stiff arm lunge, toppling him back onto his butt, as she yelled out, "BAKA!"
"Ow!" Rolling over to look back to her, he called out, "What was that for?" But found her unmoving, now turned over on one side, one arm still stretched out. "Ah.. did you pass out again?"