Well peeps, school has finally enveloped my miserable life, cutting down on
my free time considerably. It also didn't help that the hard-drive on my
brand new HP fried, but thank fuzzles for warranties! But, that really
delayed this chapter because I had almost finished it before I had to go
get it replaced. Sorry folks!
Lady Aliena - *faints* I didn't know you hung out around the FF9 section! Wow. Love your work, and I am quite honored for your generous review. That's good you like the idea of Eiko and her Eidolons' relationship, because you sure will get a lot of it in the future! Just keep in mind about her "grandfather" and you'll be on the right track ^^
Yuna Leonheart - . . .
*abruptly bursts out laughing* Thanks for the comments Ms Jet Plane (people besides Yunie-chan, DON'T ASK.)
RainbowWings - Thank you very much ^^ Sorry I can't answer your question now, pretty soon I will though!
Agar - *bows down* OMG, I'M SO SORRY! I type like crap, and the caffeine gives me a shorted attention span on the computer. I hope it'll make sense to you soon, because from what I've written in my journal, it should. PLEASE DON'T ABANDON ME! *is drug off by her pink octopus brother*
Rhea Chryseis - Hello again. Now, I can't really tell you if you're right or not, but there are clues earlier in the story coinciding with his identity. Nice sequel. *holds up a "kuja rocks!" sign* YESH!
*pants as she comes back on the screen* Oh yeah! I almost forgot. If any of you have played FF7, I started a story with Yunie-chan there a while ago. It's under the author name "giggleplex and Yuna Leonh" and if you're interested, feedback would be very much appreciated!
**************************************************************************** ****************
Chapter 3:
/So this is it./
Maiaza had heard that the famous luxury cruise air-ship was ~supposed~ to be large, but she had to admit of being unprepared for the sheer magnificence of it.
It was by no means a war, or a ship specifically designed for speed, but it impressed her all the same. Huge, iron beams made up the fat-looking outside, rather than wood. Though, she could see ornately carved planks, twisting and turning in artistically rendered objects. She could barely make out the words "Her Lady Hilda Garde 4" in a sea of lovely ivy and romanticized nymphs.
That was always the thing that struck her as rather odd about most nobles. The really wealthy ones seemed to have the worst style; cloaks, hats and even stockings were so covered in gaudy embroidery, it hurt just to look at them. Maiaza almost guessed it had to do with trying to show-off as much as possible, but she dismissed that idea off hand. If you were really trying to impress someone, she was almost certain that THAT was not the way to do it. And besides, who did nobles have to impress anyway? Their lives were Iperfect/I.
She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun with the back of her hand, and trying to glimpse a view of the large clock-tower above her. Supposedly it was some kind of point of historical significance, but she had never really came to the air docks too much. And all she could really remember from the droning history priest, was something about an insane hippotal, and some seemingly random fact about shoes.
The clock read two fifteen. Good. That meant it was fifteen minutes until take-off, and that she was right on time.
Maiaza took a deep, relaxing breath of the crisp autumn air. She straightened her new skirt, cocked her head up in what she hoped was a superior manner, made sure her pouch of money was securely fastened inside of her skirt (to fool pick-pockets) and strode across the docks to the large yellow banner that proclaimed "Board".
Only one family was in front of her in line. They were obviously ready to play the exciting roll of "tourist", complete with oversized sun hats, binoculars, and tastelessly loud shirts. The entire family seemed a tad bit unorganized to her, but, she wasn't complaining. It wasn't as if she were terribly late or anything. And, to really tell the truth, their happy dispositions were starting to wear off on her slowly.
The ticket man however, was not amused. He kept glancing at his watch with a scowl and clearing his throat impatiently. The family seemed blissfully ignorant of the whole situation though, and after only a few seconds, they disappeared into the small. . .~boarded~ crowd.
Maiaza advanced unsure up to the man, not really knowing if he would act so sour with her as well.
He held out his hand with slightly pursed lips, that she could tell were fought brutally to stay almost invisible. Swiftly, in one fluid motion, she whipped out the ticket for him to look at. His eyes closely scanned it, scrutinizing every nuance so quickly, even his eyes were hard to follow. So Mai plainly left him to it, waiting patiently and temporarily amusing herself with the new shoes she now wore.
When the man finished, she heard him clear his throat with a suprisingly deep sound. Startled, her head shot up to properly face him. But again, she was surprised.
His normal scowl had vanished, and in its worryful place was. . .a smile? It wasn't a ~true~ smile; at least for that she was sure. It just didn't exactly reach his eyes, and with that seemingly minor mix-up, the feeble attempt of a friendly expression appeared as something closer to a sneer than anything even remotely comforting.
"Thank you for coming miss." He stated dryly, with an almost creepy, oily tone present. "I truly hope you enjoy your stay."
Maiaza was visibly astonished by the contrast between this reaction and the one prior. Without even thinking, she shifted her weight on one foot to the other nervously, wishing to leave as soon as possible as the curious onlookers of the boarding line tilted their heads in curiosity.
"Madam, allow me the honor to fetch an escort to your rooms."
This comment triggered an abrupt switch from puzzlement to alarm. Her stomach tightened uncomfortably, and blood started rushing to her cheeks. /Is he mocking me or something. . .?/
"N-no, really I'm fine." She replied hurriedly, raising her arms up in an attempt to express her feelings toward the matter. Her cheeks were supported with a full-blown blush now, adding the additional ignorance and embarrassment. But, naturally, he paid no heed to her reply. She assumed at first that he had only not heard her, but that hypothesis was proven wrong when she repeated herself. He hadn't even tried to listen to her.
Instead, he reached over behind himself to grab a decorative golden bell. He rang out three deliberately clear notes before purposefully stifling it with a gloved hand. It was almost like real magic, the way a strict looking man with gray, grizzled hair appeared instantly from the shadows.
The ticket man grinned back over hi shoulder cheesily, at his own supposed brilliance. Maiaza resisted the compelling urge to snarl at his fakeness. Cursing him silently at the unneeded attention he had brought, she quickly took in the appearance of the man summoned; he was a bit shorter than her, but the strength hidden expertly in his eyes, she assumed, made up for any disadvantage in his height. His clothing was somewhat similar to the ticket man's, a gray and red ensemble, with a white lacy trim, though not nearly as disgustingly flashy. He was also missing the fake politeness, and for that she was relieved. She wouldn't know how to handle another stupid- ticket-man.
"Right this way madam." He said in a quiet, but authoritative voice. She quickly gathered all the wits she had about her knowing they would be needed soon, adjusted the strap of her pack, and swiftly followed his lead.
**************************************************************************** **************
Sorry it's so short, but this seemed like the most convenient place to leave it off. This will be a sort of "part" chapter (one of course), because I wrote over ten pages of practically the same scene. Don't worry though! We're over halfway done with THIS scene, and I think I'm going to throw in a little bit of that red-headed bounty hunter to explain things for you confused people. Poor, poor confused people.
^^
So remember, you might want to check out the FF7 (AU) story I started with a friend of mine, because I was quite proud of it, despite the rather rushed ending to chappie one. *sigh* oh well. . .
Don't forget to review!
Lady Aliena - *faints* I didn't know you hung out around the FF9 section! Wow. Love your work, and I am quite honored for your generous review. That's good you like the idea of Eiko and her Eidolons' relationship, because you sure will get a lot of it in the future! Just keep in mind about her "grandfather" and you'll be on the right track ^^
Yuna Leonheart - . . .
*abruptly bursts out laughing* Thanks for the comments Ms Jet Plane (people besides Yunie-chan, DON'T ASK.)
RainbowWings - Thank you very much ^^ Sorry I can't answer your question now, pretty soon I will though!
Agar - *bows down* OMG, I'M SO SORRY! I type like crap, and the caffeine gives me a shorted attention span on the computer. I hope it'll make sense to you soon, because from what I've written in my journal, it should. PLEASE DON'T ABANDON ME! *is drug off by her pink octopus brother*
Rhea Chryseis - Hello again. Now, I can't really tell you if you're right or not, but there are clues earlier in the story coinciding with his identity. Nice sequel. *holds up a "kuja rocks!" sign* YESH!
*pants as she comes back on the screen* Oh yeah! I almost forgot. If any of you have played FF7, I started a story with Yunie-chan there a while ago. It's under the author name "giggleplex and Yuna Leonh" and if you're interested, feedback would be very much appreciated!
**************************************************************************** ****************
Chapter 3:
/So this is it./
Maiaza had heard that the famous luxury cruise air-ship was ~supposed~ to be large, but she had to admit of being unprepared for the sheer magnificence of it.
It was by no means a war, or a ship specifically designed for speed, but it impressed her all the same. Huge, iron beams made up the fat-looking outside, rather than wood. Though, she could see ornately carved planks, twisting and turning in artistically rendered objects. She could barely make out the words "Her Lady Hilda Garde 4" in a sea of lovely ivy and romanticized nymphs.
That was always the thing that struck her as rather odd about most nobles. The really wealthy ones seemed to have the worst style; cloaks, hats and even stockings were so covered in gaudy embroidery, it hurt just to look at them. Maiaza almost guessed it had to do with trying to show-off as much as possible, but she dismissed that idea off hand. If you were really trying to impress someone, she was almost certain that THAT was not the way to do it. And besides, who did nobles have to impress anyway? Their lives were Iperfect/I.
She looked up, shielding her eyes from the sun with the back of her hand, and trying to glimpse a view of the large clock-tower above her. Supposedly it was some kind of point of historical significance, but she had never really came to the air docks too much. And all she could really remember from the droning history priest, was something about an insane hippotal, and some seemingly random fact about shoes.
The clock read two fifteen. Good. That meant it was fifteen minutes until take-off, and that she was right on time.
Maiaza took a deep, relaxing breath of the crisp autumn air. She straightened her new skirt, cocked her head up in what she hoped was a superior manner, made sure her pouch of money was securely fastened inside of her skirt (to fool pick-pockets) and strode across the docks to the large yellow banner that proclaimed "Board".
Only one family was in front of her in line. They were obviously ready to play the exciting roll of "tourist", complete with oversized sun hats, binoculars, and tastelessly loud shirts. The entire family seemed a tad bit unorganized to her, but, she wasn't complaining. It wasn't as if she were terribly late or anything. And, to really tell the truth, their happy dispositions were starting to wear off on her slowly.
The ticket man however, was not amused. He kept glancing at his watch with a scowl and clearing his throat impatiently. The family seemed blissfully ignorant of the whole situation though, and after only a few seconds, they disappeared into the small. . .~boarded~ crowd.
Maiaza advanced unsure up to the man, not really knowing if he would act so sour with her as well.
He held out his hand with slightly pursed lips, that she could tell were fought brutally to stay almost invisible. Swiftly, in one fluid motion, she whipped out the ticket for him to look at. His eyes closely scanned it, scrutinizing every nuance so quickly, even his eyes were hard to follow. So Mai plainly left him to it, waiting patiently and temporarily amusing herself with the new shoes she now wore.
When the man finished, she heard him clear his throat with a suprisingly deep sound. Startled, her head shot up to properly face him. But again, she was surprised.
His normal scowl had vanished, and in its worryful place was. . .a smile? It wasn't a ~true~ smile; at least for that she was sure. It just didn't exactly reach his eyes, and with that seemingly minor mix-up, the feeble attempt of a friendly expression appeared as something closer to a sneer than anything even remotely comforting.
"Thank you for coming miss." He stated dryly, with an almost creepy, oily tone present. "I truly hope you enjoy your stay."
Maiaza was visibly astonished by the contrast between this reaction and the one prior. Without even thinking, she shifted her weight on one foot to the other nervously, wishing to leave as soon as possible as the curious onlookers of the boarding line tilted their heads in curiosity.
"Madam, allow me the honor to fetch an escort to your rooms."
This comment triggered an abrupt switch from puzzlement to alarm. Her stomach tightened uncomfortably, and blood started rushing to her cheeks. /Is he mocking me or something. . .?/
"N-no, really I'm fine." She replied hurriedly, raising her arms up in an attempt to express her feelings toward the matter. Her cheeks were supported with a full-blown blush now, adding the additional ignorance and embarrassment. But, naturally, he paid no heed to her reply. She assumed at first that he had only not heard her, but that hypothesis was proven wrong when she repeated herself. He hadn't even tried to listen to her.
Instead, he reached over behind himself to grab a decorative golden bell. He rang out three deliberately clear notes before purposefully stifling it with a gloved hand. It was almost like real magic, the way a strict looking man with gray, grizzled hair appeared instantly from the shadows.
The ticket man grinned back over hi shoulder cheesily, at his own supposed brilliance. Maiaza resisted the compelling urge to snarl at his fakeness. Cursing him silently at the unneeded attention he had brought, she quickly took in the appearance of the man summoned; he was a bit shorter than her, but the strength hidden expertly in his eyes, she assumed, made up for any disadvantage in his height. His clothing was somewhat similar to the ticket man's, a gray and red ensemble, with a white lacy trim, though not nearly as disgustingly flashy. He was also missing the fake politeness, and for that she was relieved. She wouldn't know how to handle another stupid- ticket-man.
"Right this way madam." He said in a quiet, but authoritative voice. She quickly gathered all the wits she had about her knowing they would be needed soon, adjusted the strap of her pack, and swiftly followed his lead.
**************************************************************************** **************
Sorry it's so short, but this seemed like the most convenient place to leave it off. This will be a sort of "part" chapter (one of course), because I wrote over ten pages of practically the same scene. Don't worry though! We're over halfway done with THIS scene, and I think I'm going to throw in a little bit of that red-headed bounty hunter to explain things for you confused people. Poor, poor confused people.
^^
So remember, you might want to check out the FF7 (AU) story I started with a friend of mine, because I was quite proud of it, despite the rather rushed ending to chappie one. *sigh* oh well. . .
Don't forget to review!