Author's note: … Ok, so I said I'd be gone for a while, but after getting blessed with inspiration, I just had to get this chapter done first! The infamous "When the night sky wears the moon as its pendant, I shall await you at the dock" scene…
…only this time, the scene shall remain uninterrupted! :D
Also note that some dialogue is changed from the game for entertainment purposes ^-^
Enjoy!
The endearing form of her unrequited emotions dashed off noisily after sending Baku away with a firm scolding. The delicately scarred flower made her way towards the dispersed scene, wishing only that her love had returned towards her instead of continuing about his errands. With a longing gaze upon his fast-fading figure, the Rose of May accepted that she'd never be seen as anything more than competition in the eyes of the only person that she cared for… whom she, silently and solitarily, had fallen in love with.
"So, it was Steiner…" A small smile broke across the maiden's features. "… hm, I thought I heard him yelling."
Beatrix released an acquiescent sigh. Her once peaceful heart, thought steeled from such emotions, broke further each and every day that she returned to her quarters in solitude, rousing nothing but respect dictated solely by fear from her subordinates. Raising her sullen, glassy eyes towards the river blue, a tumultuous wave of sorrow swept across her body as a soft breeze danced through her chocolate tresses. Falling endearingly over her shoulders, her signature curls bobbed to and fro, seeming to follow the heavy tide bearing on her heart as a fleeting peace ran throughout Alexandria.
A peace, she feared, that was doomed to falter.
"Alexandria finds herself at peace once more…" she sang, allowing her thoughts a rare moment of freedom as they fell from her tongue, filling her mind with questioning doubts that defiled all reason. "… But for how long? If times are indeed so wonderful, then…"
A bittersweet melody danced through her ears – the only recollection the warrior could discern of the mother whose loving embrace and compassionate eyes she'd never known. The voice danced across her mind, cloaking her in a cold tremble that held no sign of retreat.
"… why is my heart filled with sorrow?"
The terrifyingly enchanting refrain lavished the maiden, stealing away any remaining images of peace as she found herself lost in the promise she could never keep to the mother whose voice was all she could remember. Thousands of pictures flashed before her of the blood she had spilled under the banner of Alexandria, the lives she had taken as punishment for having sworn fealty… and she all but failed to force forgiveness upon herself.
'Mother, I… I am a Rose of May… no longer…'
A single, silent tear fell from the eye of the General as she swiped it away, desperate to maintain her façade of indomitable strength. A quick scanning of her surroundings, however, revealed nought but the strong brickwork of the stoned dock and the beautiful greens of the Alexandrian Castle's Gardens – rich green hedges and tall flowering trees overlooked the tainted river flowing through the town as a symphony of whistling fowl impregnated the air with only peaceful tidings. Beatrix quickly collected her thoughts, banishing them away to the darkest corners of her mind once again as she turned from the docks…
Until a small rustling caught her attention.
"Hm?"
Turning to the stone steps that she had swayed from, a small envelope caught the attention of the single-eyed General, inching threateningly close to the water's edge. Gracefully making her way down the stairs to retrieve the small parcel, Beatrix placed inquisitive fingers upon the envelope, raising it to her features.
"Steiner must have dropped this... Hmmm. Let's see…"
Turning the casing over, Beatrix found herself musing over the striking print of the cover: 'To My Love…'
'"To My Love?" Wh-what… could this mean…?'
In a rare moment of intense anxiety, the General allowed her impermeable walls to tumble downwards as she feverishly made for the flap of the envelope. Gliding a polished, pink fingernail across the seal, she hastily pulled the parchment from its cocoon of white, unfolding the paper and widening her eyes at the majestic beauty of the calligraphy presented before her.
'When the night sky wears the moon as its pendant, I shall await you at the dock.'
"Wh-what… What is this!? Did… Steiner…?"
Beatrix's heart fluttered, breaking free from the steely confines forged so many years ago. The maiden, once thought to be forever bereft of such, found a moment of impossible euphoria that she prayed, with all her might, would not be as fleeting as the peace within her kingdom.
"… Did Steiner write me a… a love letter?"
Completely uncaring of the tears suddenly welling within her eyes, the General allowed her heart its tetherless voyage into the skies as she turned to the last known direction the knight had headed. Fondly clutching the note to her chest as though it held the meaning to her existence, a breathless thought trickled over her lips as she agreed to meet the hero depicted within the minute verse.
"… Steiner…"
Zidane watched forlornly as Garnet glided out of her room, lavished in a beautiful shimmering white dress. After spending the previous day and night drinking heavily with Blank, Baku, Ruby and, of all people, Amarant, Zidane had allowed himself to fall into a false sense of security and believe that Garnet would never leave him. Reprimanding himself for believing in such fool's gold, a heavy sigh left Zidane's form as he blinked slowly, fighting with every fibre of his being to reopen his eyes as he coveted the form of everything he wanted - everything he'd ever want - knowing that he was losing her. Garnet would never be his… not now. Even before, he was a fool to believe that the princess would ever see more in him than the lowly thief that he was. Now, she was soon to be named the Matriarch of Alexandria. This was the end of their journey. She'd never have need of Zidane again. His Canary would fly to the protective caging of his arms no longer.
"Thank you for coming, everyone," Garnet began, her voice sending static throughout Zidane's being. It had been months since he'd heard the ethereal symphony of the voice he so loved… of the young woman that, for some reason, meant nothing less than the world to him. "It's absolutely wonderful to see you all again."
Eiko desperately grasped at words as her vocabulary was all but stolen from her. Although she had placed Dagger as her sworn rival, she couldn't help but admit defeat to her beauty… just this once.
"… She looks… beautiful…" Eiko trilled, placing her hands to her lips as a wide smile erupted across the young summoners face. Vivi reiterated her statement, raising his moon-shaped eyes to Garnet.
"Wow… y-you look magnificent, D-Dagger!" the young mage called as Eiko smiled and nodded towards him. Even Freya couldn't take her eyes off the young soon-to-be-queen, smiling widely as she couldn't help but swell with pride.
"Splendid! Absolutely marvellous. Most becoming of your new title, your majesty," she exclaimed, turning to the only soul in the room who had yet to voice an opinion. "Wouldn't you agree, Zidane?"
Zidane remained silent as he continued to gaze towards Garnet, unable to find words to express his feelings or the strength to hold back his suddenly glazed eyes. Garnet met the eyes of the distraught thief, absolutely sure that he felt the same as she did. She only wished to hear him say something - anything – that could reiterate her unspoken emotions. She smiled warmly towards the thief who only flickered his eyes sadly and clenched his fists. Garnet blinked slowly, holding onto her tears as Steiner and Beatrix both bore concerned looks to the visually apprehensive youth.
"Zidane?"
Freya stepped forward, quickly followed by the inquisitive glances of Vivi and Eiko as she placed a hand to Zidane's shoulder.
"… Have you… nothing to say?"
Zidane turned to Freya, granting her a view of the most heartbroken eyes she'd ever witnessed in her life before Zidane quickly attempted a mask of apathy. Returning to his beloved Dagger, however, immediately deteriorated his façade. Finding that he no longer held the will to meet her hazel eyes, Zidane bowed his head and…
'Dagger, I… I don't want you to leave me… I… I love you and… and that's what I want to say…'
… he admitted crippling defeat.
"… No."
A heavy silence rang throughout the room, echoing louder than even the most stern scolding from Steiner as Garnet found herself staggering her breath. What had happened to her Zidane? The charming thief that hit on her throughout the entirety of their journey together? No more bubbly, happy-go-lucky flirting, the absent cheekiness, not even a mischievous smile to be found… Garnet felt she may break down in tears at the very thought. All she wished was to see him smile.
'… Zidane… please, just… ask me not to leave! Just TELL me that you… that you l-love me… just t-tell me…'
Garnet found her hands trembling as she prepared to wrench the crown from her head and dash to her beloved, embracing him as though she'd never let him go again… until Steiner cautiously cleared his throat.
"Princess, we must go now."
Garnet turned to her guardian, wishing that he'd uttered anything other than his desire for the coronation to proceed unchanged. A harsh sigh left her lips, part in reprimand and part in realisation as she returned to…
"Zidane…"
Allowing herself one last glance to her happiness, Garnet slowly closed her eyes and turned to the long corridor.
"… Alright."
"Dagger! Wait!"
The tiny voice broke the silence as Eiko sped past Zidane, shooting him a dubious look before dashing up the stairs towards Garnet. As she engaged the princess in conversation, Zidane could do nothing but shake, silently rebuking himself for refraining from voicing his thoughts. Freya turned to him, unknowing as of yet why the thief had remained silent.
"Zidane… wh-why? This could be the last… time…"
And with that, the sudden realisation dawned upon the Burmecian as Zidane solemnly turned to her. This was the last time that Zidane would see the princess. After her coronation, she wouldn't be allowed to see him whenever she willed it. Their adventure was at an end - Zidane was losing his beloved Dagger.
"Yeah, that's about right," Zidane said softly, lifting his gaze to Dagger and Eiko as the pair exchanged four jewels with each other.
"Two of my jewels…"
"And two of mine…"
Eiko cradled Garnet's gems just as Garnet gingerly held Eiko's. After exchanging one last heart-warming smile, Garnet stood, urged forward by a gentle hand from Beatrix.
"Goodbye, Eiko."
Not daring to return to Zidane in fear that she may cast caution to the wind and do something extremely unbecoming of a young queen, she allowed herself to follow Steiner's leave, closely followed by Beatrix. Zidane watched despairingly as Garnet's beautiful long brown hair disappeared into the grandiose halls of the palace… for the last time. Vivi inched towards the thief, questioning eyes darting towards his troubled visage.
"Zidane, why… why didn't you say anything to D-Dagger?"
Zidane couldn't force his gaze from the opening of the large corridor as he whispered a response.
"I… I don't know. I tried…"
Freya leaned forward as Eiko came dashing down the stairs, meeting Vivi's side as she looked on sadly towards the thief.
"… And?" the Burmecian quizzed, attempting to distil a longer response from the suddenly trembling youth. "What happened to-?"
"I SAID I TRIED, ALRIGHT!?"
Princess Garnet Til Alexandros glanced back towards the echoing voice.
"Z-Zidane!?"
Attempting a recoiling advance towards the distressed voice, Garnet's motions were brought to an abrupt halt as Beatrix placed a gentle but firm hand to Garnet's shoulder. Meeting the stern, yet somehow understanding, gaze of her General, Garnet was silently halted from her actions with a sad, slow shaking of Beatrix's head.
"Your majesty, we need to press on… I'm sorry."
Granting herself one last fleeting glimpse down the esteemed corridor, Garnet swallowed her emotions for the last time, finally realising that she… she could never be with Zidane. She'd told Eiko only moments before…
"… I won't be able to wander around the world with all of you any longer, but I promise – I'll never forget our journey together…"
Garnet returned to Beatrix as she bowed her head.
"… Very well."
"I SAID I TRIED, ALRIGHT!?" Zidane exclaimed, partially hoping that his voice would travel to Garnet's ears and bring her racing back towards him and subsequently chastising himself for maintain foolish beliefs. Vivi, Eiko and Freya all cast completely shattered looks upon the frazzled youth as a mixture of pain, anger and devastation danced across his face.
"I couldn't say anything…" he divulged with a sigh, meeting the eyes of Freya who looked on with motherly concern. "A-a-and I had a whole speech ready for her, but it would have been a lie! How could I lie to her!? 'Good luck, Dagger! I know you'll be a great queen. I'll be watching from afar, wishing you only the best. Come find me if you need anyone to talk to!' It's nothing but a big, fat LIE! That's not how I feel at all! That's…"
Zidane lowered his eyes, releasing his suddenly clenched fists as memories of the first Chocobo hunt that Garnet had accompanied him on flashed before his eyes. For an ephemeral moment, he felt Garnet's arms clasp around his mid-section once more…
"… that's not how I feel… at all…"
"So, there's only room for Dagger in Zidane's heart…"
Eiko tapped at the brickwork upon the dock, musing over every detail of the day - her love-letter to Zidane, the group's reactions to seeing Garnet before her coronation… and the absolute devastation that she was so evidently portrayed within the thief's face. Picking a small piece of crumbling brick from the top of the short wall, Eiko rolled it back and forth between her fingers as she released a loud sigh.
"I wish I'd never written that stupid letter," she began, amusing herself with the small brick piece as her thoughts were filled with the depressed thief. "Zidane, he… he looked so sad… isn't there anything I can do for him?"
Just as quickly as the sentence had fallen from her lips, Eiko suddenly narrowed her eyes, furrowing her brows as she exploded into an internal tantrum.
'Anything I can DO for him!? Why would I want to help him win Dagger over!? He's the REASON I'm so… SO…!'
"AAAAAAHHHH! Zidane!" cried Eiko, hurling the small brick piece over the stone ledge and jumping up and down furiously. "I hate you, you insensitive jerk! You don't even know how I feel…"
Eiko sullenly kicked the ledge, strutting back and forth whilst keeping a sulking pout prominent upon her lips.
"… I'll feel bad about ditching him, but I really don't feel like seeing him tonight… I… I gotta hide before he shows up!"
Quickly darting to her left as the sudden sound of footsteps and low chatter claimed her ears, Eiko released a squeak of panic as she flailed her arms about.
"Shoot! Someone's coming! C-could it be… Zidane!?"
Quickly dashing down to the lower level of the Alexandrian dock, Eiko miraculously found a hiding spot just to the left of the short flight of stairs. The voices suddenly became louder as two figures hazed into view.
"Oh, by the way, how'd drinks with Zidane go? Any better?"
"Pfft, he got blind drunk, spouted something about Baku being his mother and then passed out. Nothin' really outta the ordinary, but he's taken it pretty rough."
Marcus shrugged as Blank quickly advanced forward to the centre of the top ledge where Eiko had been only moments ago. Looking around nervously, he fussed with his headband as he stomped a foot agitatedly. Marcus folded his arms, musing over Blank and his actions as he sighed.
"There's no one here, bro."
Blank grunted, folding his arms and continuing his agitated tapping.
"Tch… hmmm…"
Suddenly halting his compulsive stomping, a smile formed over his face as a revelation became him.
"Hah, guess I'm early..."
Marcus raised a brow, shaking his head.
"… Maybe, yeah… I wonder who wrote you that love letter?"
Blank reached into his pocket as Eiko squinted towards him, trying to see what the spiky-haired youth was collecting from his pocket. Pulling the small piece of parchment into plain view, Eiko gasped as she saw the letter that she'd written to Zidane clasped firmly in his hands.
'Wh-what? That's… that's the letter! MY letter! That big fat bozo gave my letter to some spiky-haired dweeb instead of Zidane! Ooo, the nerve of him! When I find him, I'll… I'LL…!'
"Well… just read the letter," Blank suggested, extending it towards Marcus who lifted an objecting hand. "I'll bet she's beautiful!
Whilst still incredibly upset that her letter had not gone to the person that she intended, Eiko still managed to get a small kick out of the compliment.
'Well, he's got THAT right, tehe!' she thought, beaming at Blank's comment as Marcus began to laugh.
"Really? Bro, are you sure you didn't write it yourself? Oh wait, that's right - you caught the letter falling from the floor above you, right?" he jibed, rolling his eyes and performing finger quotations upon the word 'caught'. Clearly not appreciating his sarcastic remark or what Marcus was insinuating, Blank waved a fist angrily towards the man as he fired up.
"Of course I didn't write the stinkin' letter! I'm tellin' ya, she was just too shy to hand it to me herself! A-and if you think I'm not a ladies man, then you can think again!" he shouted, grunting distastefully as Marcus shook his head amusedly. "Chicks are intimidated by good-looking guys. That's why-"
"Blank, someone's coming!" Marcus quickly cut off, pointing towards the entrance of the castle as a figure loomed from the shadows. Blank, however, had other matters to attend to.
"Marcus! Don't interrupt me while I'm talking!" he shouted, shaking his fist towards Marcus who quickly took off down to the lower level of the dock.
"Would you get your dumb ass down here!?" he called through gritted teeth as Blank suddenly darted to his left, catching sight of the growing figure and swiftly bolting after his friend. As the figure steadily drew closer, the noisy clanking of partially rusted armour echoed throughout the docks, immediately cluing in the three hiding figures as to who the silhouette belonged to.
"Oh, great, it's that knight again…" Blank mumbled, poking his head just high enough over the edge of the stairs to see. Marcus released a breathy chuckle as a thought occurred to him.
"Hah! There you go, bro! Your beautiful lady awaits you at the dock!"
Blank narrowed his eyes, turning to his brother and bopping him atop the head with a clenched fist.
"Come off it, you moron!" Blank hissed, reaching into his pocket. "There's no way that the knight could have-"
Blank's heart suddenly stopped as he fumbled around in his pocket. Reaching into his other pocket, panic suddenly consumed him as he began to pat his body up and down maniacally. Eiko tried her hardest to supress a bought of laughter where she sat, watching amusedly as Blank continued to slap himself.
"No, no, no, no, NO!" he whispered, darting around him as he slapped a hand to his forehead. Marcus leaned over to him.
"What's the matter? 'Fraid I might be right?" he teased as Blank released a muffled groan and pointed to the upper level of the dock.
"I dropped the stupid letter up there, didn't I!?"
Marcus toppled over in a gut-bursting fit of wheezing breathes as Blank shook his head, chastising his own stupidity with repeated poundings of his head to the stone blocks of the dock. The symphony of clanks performed a sudden crescendo as Captain Adelbert Steiner noisily hazed into view, quickly darting around the dock.
"I must tighten up security around the castle from now on!" he exclaimed, performing a salute to his phrase as Eiko looked up bemusedly. "Dusk to dawn, rain to shine… No matter the squall, I must patrol the castle!"
Steiner craned to the right.
"Right, clear!"
Steiner craned to the left.
"Left, clear!"
Steiner craned to the-
*Crinkle!*
"Huh?"
Steiner lifted his boot, noting a small letter unknowingly trampled across the ground. He quickly retrieved the letter as Blank slapped a palm to his face, rousing further wheezing snickers from Marcus and Eiko.
"A piece of paper…? No, this looks like a letter. Let's see…"
Steiner opened the letter, perusing the beautiful verse that Eiko had written completely unbeknownst to Steiner as his mind ran impromptu.
'When the night sky wears the moon as its pendant, I shall await you at the dock.'
"M-m-my goodness! This… this is a love letter! Who wrote it to whom!?"
Steiner traced over the entirety of the parchment, wondering who the letter was from… and to whom it was intended.
"No address, no addressee… Did someone drop it here, knowing that I would pass by? C-could it be… Could it possibly have been…?"
"Steiner…"
Steiner, along with Eiko, Blank and Marcus, all turned to the gentle voice that emerged from the shadows. Beatrix's beautiful form shone brightly under the moonlight as words all but failed Steiner, forming an absolution under the current circumstances.
"B-Beatrix… did… you-?"
An ethereal smile broke across the General's face as she slowly advanced towards Steiner. As Steiner slowly edged towards Beatrix, Eiko leaned forward eagerly, awaiting the beautiful scene that was soon to take place.
"O-oh my goodness! Are they… Are they in love!?"
Blank and Marcus also leaned forward, eagerly watching the scene awaiting to unfold!
"B-Bro…" whispered Marcus, suddenly dabbing his nose as Blank condoned him.
"Shh! Keep quiet!"
Beatrix and Steiner finally met, barely inches from each other as Beatrix placed a gentle hand upon Steiner's broad jawline.
"Steiner…" she whispered, drawing her painted nails underneath his chin as the captain gasped softly, seeming bereft of breath.
"Beatrix…"
Eiko practically leapt onto the brick railings of the stairs to peek behind the feature on the top ledge, just making out the form of Steiner and Beatrix inching closer and closer. Blank and Marcus also emerged, finding themselves practically pulling themselves over the railings just as Eiko was before Marcus ducked downwards.
"B-Blank! M-my nose is bleeding…!"
"Well shove your stupid fingers up there! I ain't missin' this!"
Marcus jammed two fingers up his nose, assuring to stem the bleeding as he took to Blank's side, eagerly awaiting the unfolding theatrics. As the three looked on, Steiner raised a hand to Beatrix's face, brushing her auburn curls from her cheek and revealing the nape of her delicate neck. A fervent shiver trailed up her spine as Beatrix rushed her hands to his brow, removing the knight's helmet and working wanting fingers into his short dark hair. A breath of a moment; a careless flickering to each other's eyes and Beatrix pulled Steiner's lips to hers, tearing down the walls of loneliness and erupting a burning desire within the two battle-hardened warriors. Steiner's helmet clattered loudly, falling from the General's hand as Eiko internally shrieked with excitement. Even Blank and Marcus found a moment of childish delight within the enchanting moment as Steiner and Beatrix delved deeper into their moonlight romance. Weaving an arm around her lower back, Steiner pulled the General towards him, stirring a gentle moan from the beautiful woman as she threw her arms around his neck, unwilling to allow her happiness to escape her… ever again.
"This… This is beautiful! Awww, I just wanna hug them!" whispered Eiko, clambering up the steps and peaking around the ledge, watching excitedly as Steiner and Beatrix swayed within each other's arms. Steiner and Beatrix soon broke from each other, taking a momentary pause as Beatrix trailed fingers down the back of Steiner's now-exposed crown. A dashing smile befell the knight as Beatrix reclaimed her breath, pressing a hand to her chest in an attempt to still her racing heartbeat.
"Steiner… h-how long have you-?"
"Clearly, too long," the knight replied, brushing gentle fingers past the General's cheek as she flickered her dark eyes towards the man - and the happiness - that she had coveted for so long. The joyous dream that she had barred her heart from hoping for had finally blossomed into a beautiful reality as Steiner cleared his throat, completely unbelieving of finally having his own fantasies realised. A definitive moment of panic bolted through his system as Steiner met the eyes of his beloved, unwilling to allow this beautiful moment to end with but a kiss.
"B-Beatrix, when does your -ahem!" Steiner found a definite crackle in his voice, realising his utter light-headedness but holding firm to his intentions. "… When does your watch end?"
A gentle smile washed across her face as she pushed her lips to his once more before rising to her toes, touching whispers of sound across his ear.
"… Two hours ago."
Those three words unfastened any remaining apprehensions from Steiner as all plausible thought emptied from his mind. Finding himself completely forgetting his newly sworn patrol, Steiner pressed his lips to Beatrix's once more, rousing a fleeting moment of courageousness from within himself. Breaking from the General for just a moment, Steiner swiftly bent down, collected his helmet and returned to Beatrix with extremely red cheeks. Replacing the helmet upon himself and darting from his surroundings to the General, Steiner took Beatrix's hand in his own, turning to the castle as a smile befell his features.
"The cloak of night will protect us 'til dawn," he stated, turning to the woman as her eye shimmered in the moonlight. "We haven't much time. Beatrix… d-do you… i-if you… w-would you-!"
Silencing the stammering Captain with another firm lip-lock, Beatrix fastened her hands unto the neck of his chest-plate and wrenched him towards herself, throwing the knight off balance and answering his unfinished question without the need of words. Unyielding strength held him fast to her as Steiner adequately grasped the concept – Beatrix had been waiting many, many years for this.
"I will see the dawn, Steiner…" she spoke, breaking from Steiner as Eiko practically burst with anticipation, "and I will see it gladly… if you only permit my stay by your side."
With words no longer needed, Steiner clasped Beatrix's hand tightly, unwilling to release his newfound happiness as he lead her quickly from the dock. Soon after breaking into an enthusiastic sprint, Beatrix's heart soared as she turned to the man that had freed her steeled emotions from her prison… and she realised that he no longer looked upon her with competitive distaste. No longer was she simply a threat to his career, a senior-ranking officer or an object that desired to be surpassed…
A tear left her eye as she smiled, realising that Adelbert Steiner's eyes held only admiration, sanctuary and… and love for her.
Love… for her.
"Awww man! Th-that was just b-beautiful… I don't think I -*sniff!*- got that emotional the first time I saw 'I want to be your Canary'!"
As the Captain and General dashed out of sight, Blank pulled himself onto the upper level of the right side of the dock, wiping his nose as Marcus blew his nose loudly.
"Geez… y'know, at first I really didn't wanna come with you tonight, Bro," Marcus began, lifting himself up as Eiko, unbeknownst to the two young men, danced about in a circle to the left of the stone railing, "but now… I mean, c'mon! I think I just saw the greatest love story the world will ever know!"
"You're dang right you did!"
Marcus and Blank whipped around, meeting the tiny frame of Eiko Carol as she danced about happily, dashing over to the letter that Steiner had dropped in his excitement. Blank quickly turned to the youth and pointed.
"Hey! Gimme that back! It's mine!" he demanded, holding a hand out towards the young girl who poked her tongue at the youth.
"This letter isn't yours, it's mine!" Eiko cried, clutching the parchment to her chest. "I'm the one who wrote it, and it just so happens that this letter has helped me orchestrate the romance of the century!"
Eiko pointed happily to the note as Blank released an irritated sigh.
"Look, kid, I dunno wha-!"
A thought occurred to Blank as Eiko folded the paper and placed it into her overalls.
"… Wait… you mean…"
A horrible realisation befell Blank, Marcus found himself clapping a hand to his mouth as he wheezed another heavy bought of laughter.
"You mean to tell me that YOU wrote that letter!?"
Eiko scrunched up her nose, jumping angrily at the bewildered Blank as Marcus turned from the scene to hide his laughter.
"Of course I did! Who else do ya think could write a love letter like this?" Eiko called, producing the folded paper and pointing to it. "This is nothing less than pure romantic genius!"
Blank slapped a hand to his face as he realised that he'd been led astray… by a child. Marcus howled with laughter as Blank turned from Eiko who promptly returned the letter to her overalls.
"… I need a friggin' drink."
"H-HAH! W-wait 'til the rest of the group hears about th-this!"
Marcus and Blank quickly ambled off, heading straight to Ruby's theatre to find a drink heavy enough to allow the latter to forget this night ever happened.
"Hmph! Who were those creeps anyway?" Eiko thought, tilting her head sideways as she followed their movements until they left her sights… and other thoughts quickly filled her mind.
"Oh well!"
Eiko Carol beamed as she happily hugged her arms to herself once more, suddenly remembering the events of the night. Breaking into a girlish smile as she turned towards the doors of the Alexandrian castle, Eiko smiled as thoughts of the blossoming romance swept about her mind like a hurricane, pausing on the exact moment when Beatrix's lips met Steiner's.
"Awww! Wasn't that just the cutest?"
Now, perhaps not the most romantic ending, but I just came to the realisation that having Steiner sweep Beatrix off her feet and carry her into the night just seemed so… well, unlikely. I mean, the guy is hopeless at love! Having said that, I honestly and dearly wished that Beatrix could have been described more as a character. Because she has little to no back story, my own assumptions and such have shone through, describing and detailing her actions and a slight part of her history as I would have seen it. I honestly think she is incredible and the romance between the two (Beatrix and Steiner) just isn't touched on enough for my liking. And Baku is a douche-bag for ruining the last scene. Anyways, that was my rendition of "how it should have happened" with this tender little scene from FFIX, so I hope you all enjoyed it!
Oh, btw, yes. I know Beatrix has the eye patch, but she still has two eyes - well, in my mind at least – so I write her as such… with things like "tears left her eyes" or "he turned to her eyes". I like to think that the other eye had just been blinded from a previous injury, so it still moves about in tandem with her other, weeps, blinks etc etc etc… Eh. I love Beatrix. What can I say?
However, now I'm really going away for a while XD
Good writing to all, and I'll see you in three weeks!
LS.