Disclaimer: I don't own a bag of flaming poo let alone copy rights to Final Fantasy. But I'm pretty happy I don't own a bag of flaming poo.
Hey there! Welcome to a new chapter in Far From home. I'll be your host tonight as we get started! My name is Watered Down. Strong Bad is the shit. So cool. But that has nothing to do with what's goin' on here. There's not much to say as far as I can remember and thanks for any reviews I got on chapter three! Even though I can't remember...but that's okay! It took me forever to write this chapter! Grr! But now it's open to the public and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing for the sole reason of your happiness. But not really. Ska. -
Tiergan returned late in the afternoon. The door slammed shut and I ran to the hall. My new skirt pooled around me and I beamed to Tiergan. He blinked quickly and smiled back. "Lenn! You're gorgeous!" he said loudly, slurring the s.
I continued to smile and gingerly stepped toward him. "Tiergan? Are you alright?" He slowly walked over to me, placing an arm around my hips. He leaned on me and my bad leg gave. Tiergan caught me and grinned stupidly. "You don't seem yourself."
"I'm perfectly fine," he slurred out. "I'm just...very happy."
"You? Show emotion? What about your barriers?"
"Ferget barriers. Lenn, you look beautiful. Like a proper Elvaan. Any man would be proud to haff you. I would be proud to haff you." I raised my eyebrows as he told me this. I could smell alcohol on his breath and the smoke of fire in his tunic. Tiergan blinked at me for a moment and smiled. He pressed me to his body and whispered without a slur, "You're very, very beautiful, Lenn."
"Well thank you. Tiergan, where have you been? You've been gone all day," I said, worry lacing my voice. He laughed as I tried in vain to escape his grasp, the smell of his ale too strong to stand.
A knock came from the door and Tiergan yelled, "Pia!" He released me and threw open the door. "Pia!" he yelled again, welcoming the hume girl. She's tall for a hume, short dusty blonde hair, parted on the side. Deep blue eyes examined me and a frown came to her full lips. "Tiergan," she spoke sweetly, "tell me she's the help and not some wench you got from downstairs."
He laughed. "No! She's Lenn. I saved her from fiends! Lenn, this ish Pia. Pia, Lenn," he said simply. She gave me a smug smile and I smiled unsurely in return.
"Saved her from fiends? What are you even doing out here girl? You probably haven't even hit level ten."
I looked at Pia in astonishment. Who is she to judge me? She's never even met me. "Actually," I replied politely, "I'm level twenty. Just because I'm not sporting my gear doesn't mean you should assume me for being weak." I smiled and cocked my head to the side.
She huffed in annoyance and draped herself across Tiergan. "Tiergan love, why don't we head back out? I'm a little bit uncomfortable with this wench here with us."
"Don't call Lenn a wench. She's a good girl. But if you're uncomtable then we should go! See you later, Lennia," he said, stumbling to the door. I raised a hand to stop him. Pia glared hatefully and I lowered it. How could Tiergan love some one so hateful? I shook my head as the door shut. It wasn't my place to decide who he should love. Sighing, I went to my room and strapped on my boots. I don't tell him where to go so why should he tell me? I flattened my skirts and walked out of the apartment. -
The Sailor's Stay Inn is a very dim, loud place. I'm told during the wars it wasn't this way but many things changed after they ended. As I walked down the stairs and opened the door I listened to the muffled crowd. It'll be nice to walk around and be part of the crowd again. Well, as long as my leg will take it. As I shut the door to Tiergan's home, I was greeted by the bar keep. "Whoa ho! Now 'ow did I miss a pretty thing like you walk in 'ere?"
I smiled. "I-I came from upstairs," I answered meekly.
He laughed, holding his large belly. "So! You're Tiergan's girl, eh? 'e really knows 'ow ta pick 'em. Upper crusty Humes and short pretty Elvaans."
"I'm not that short," I replied quietly.
He laughed again. "I like you, lass. What's yer name?"
"It's Lenn," I answered, sticking out a hand.
He took my hand in his own large rough one, giving it a hardy shake. "The name's Jakkob. I run this 'ere inn. Can I git ye anythin'?" he asked loudly, trying to be heard over the noise of the crowd.
"I have no gil. I'm sorry!"
"The first ale's always free but we'll 'ave to start a tab or make ya work for the next," he replied. We laughed and I eventually agreed. I sat down at the bar and Jakkob handed me a frothy mug. I took a sip of the bitter liquid and swallowed quickly, making a face. Jakkob laughed and left to serve a few other customers.
I sat there for sometime just listening to the crowd, sipping at my ale. A Galka named Strong Oak sat beside me and told me of Bastok. As he took in a large portion of whatever lay in his mug some one bumped his arm causing him to spill the amber drink on his harness. "Oy! Watch where you're going you little runt!" he shouted.
"Well if ya didn't take up so much damn space maybe I wouldn't hit you!" the hooded stranger retorted. He ordered an ale and turned his head to me. "Lenn?" the man asked. I nodded cautiously. The man pulled his hood down and Meekale gave me a broad grin and sat on the other side of me.
"So a Hume bumped me!" Strong Oak said angrily. He stood and grabbed Meekale's shoulder, making him face the huge Galka. Meekale's eyes went wide as Strong Oak loomed above him. "Aren't you goin' to apolergize?"
"To a big stupid brute like you? Hell no."
"Meekale!" I gasped.
Strong Oak launched his gargantuan fist into Meekale's cheek. He leaned down, sticking face in Meekale's. "What did you call me?"
Meekale leaned in closer, trying to intimidate the Galka and spat blood onto Strong Oak's cheek. The Galka growled, quivering with rage. "What? Couldn't hear me up there? I said I don't apologize to big-stupid-ugly brutes like you. Got a problem with that?" Strong Oak let out a shout and slammed Meekale against the bar. Meekale grunted under the pressure but held a smirk.
"Strong Oak let him go. You don't have to prove yourself. This isn't even a fair fight! It would ruin your honour," I said, trying to calm him. I put a hand on his muscular arm as he growled loudly. "Release him Strong Oak." He shoved Meekale into the bar once more and backed away. "Thank you."
"This isn't over, Hume. I'll get you when the time is right."
"Oh I'm sure you will. Come on Lenn, let's get out of here. This place isn't safe for a girl like you. Full of drunken slobs and brutes," Meekale said though a swelling cheek. He glanced over to Strong Oak, whose muscles bulged with restraint. I sighed as he led me out the door. "So Lenn," he said," what were you doing downstairs this late? What happened to the overly protective Tiergan?"
"He went out with some Hume Pia. Came in drunk off his bum," I laughed. In a whisper I added, "He called me beautiful."
I wasn't sure if Meekale heard me say the last thing or if he just chose to ignore it. "Pia was with him? No wonder he was drunk off his ass. That's how that wench gets what she wants from the poor man. He'll regret everything in the morning," he chuckled. He pulled out a potion and sipped at it until his cheek returned to normality.
It was quiet as we strolled to the bay. Its murky green waters never cease to fascinate me. We heard a giggle come from the cargo boxes. I smiled mysteriously to Meekale. "Sounds like some one found love at the Inn," I whispered.
"Let's find out who!" Meekale said, grabbing my hand and walking over to the stacked crates.
"What? No! I don't want to know if they're just fishing and having a good time or if they're making love or what. We shouldn't be here," I replied, lightly tugging my hand in his loose grip.
"If you didn't really want to know you would be resisting my grip on you more than that and have gone home by now," Meekale whispered, smirking. I made a face at his observation as we peeked around the cargo.
The fog hid the couple partway and the girl giggled again, calling out a name. I sucked in air, trying not to let the cry escape my lips. Meekale let out a small surprised gasp and Pia and Tiergan looked up, Tiergan's hand still under Pia's tunic. I let the cry out and ran to the town's gate, Meekale and Tiergan shouting my name. -
Dun dun duuuun! Okay, there it is. It took me this freakin long for this little chapter here. Sorry! I got overly absorbed in FF11 and then I went down to Miami and I'm moving and blah blah blah. Yeah, many excuses. Okay, I'm gonna go. Leave me some love! And by love I mean good reviews! Ska the Ninja.