Edonil: Hi! How was your Christmas? (Or Hanaka, or Kwanza!) Mine was awesome. I got a dot come name for my website! Isn't it purdy…
Disclaimer/Claimer: FFIX isn't mine, Crims, Sarah, Saniiro, and Avylonn are.
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To Change
Chapter Thirty-Six
Stupid ankle. Avylonn couldn't walk properly. So here she was, sitting in Alexandria Tavern, wasting away from boredom. At least she'd been aloud out of the Castle.
"Lady Avylonn?" Avylonn turned to see Saniiro.
"Hello, Saniiro."
"I'm glad to see your Ladyship out and about. I was worried about you."
"I'm… fine."
"Nothing broken, I trust?"
"No. My ankle is sprained, but not too badly."
"I really would like to apologize, Lady Avylonn. I didn't mean to crash into you."
"Of course you didn't." Avylonn's neck was starting to hurt from looking up at him. He wasn't precisely tall, but she was sitting down. "Why don't you sit down?"
"Thank you, Lady Avylonn," he said, bobbing his head and sitting down. Avylonn eyed him curiously.
"You don't have to call me 'Lady' Avylonn. Just Avylonn is fine."
"Very well… Avylonn."
"Um… I hope you weren't hurt by our collision."
"No, not at all." They looked at each other awkwardly.
How does one speak to males? They have completely different psychology… This doesn't make sense. He doesn't make sense.
---
Avylonn was very confusing. She was a Lady, but didn't want to be called one. She wore amazingly revealing clothes, but completely ignored the looks the male patrons in the tavern were giving her. She acted so naive, but something about her suggested she wasn't completely inexperienced in the ways of the world.
She didn't make sense.
He ought to say something. The silence was growing more and more awkward by the minute. Um… What did girls talk about? What could he say?
"So… How long have you been in Alexandria, La- I mean, Avylonn."
"I don't know. A month? Maybe a little more."
"And where did you live before that?"
"The Desert Palace. And before that, I lived on a small island…"
"Your life sounds very… exciting. You seem to move quite a bit."
"Not really. Only recently. We're moving again in about a month." Saniiro felt strangely… sad that she was moving.
"You don't… find Alexandria an enjoyable place?"
"I like it, but Father… I think he doesn't like it here. Which makes sense, I suppose. He did sort of destroy Alexandria. We're moving to Treno."
"I see…"
---
Saniiro looked so depressed. Maybe she shouldn't have told him… But that wouldn't be fair. He'd saved her life. He deserved to know…
Avylonn was feeling just as depressed as Saniiro looked. She liked Alexandria. There were all the friendly people, and the bright colours, and the noise, and… Saniiro. He was really nice. She didn't know him too well, but he was a good friend already.
Friend? Hah! Avylonn, you've read books, and you should know by now that this attraction isn't friendship-
Shut up! We're just friends!
Ok, believe what you want…
Stupid voice in her head. Her thoughts had a mind of their own.
It was very quiet. The silence was getting awkward again. Not good. What was there to say…
"Lovely weather, don't you think?" she asked.
"Yes, lovely…" The both glanced out the window. It was lovely. It was getting late, and the sunset was spectacular. Glancing around the tavern, Avylonn could see it was emptying. Very quickly.
---
It was getting dark. Saniiro would have to leave soon… He'd escort Avylonn to the Castle first. Then he'd patrol the streets…
Somehow, he didn't want to patrol the streets today. Odd. Maybe he was coming down with a cold. He usually looked forward to patrolling.
Night was coming fast. It was getting rather cold. And the fire beside them was dying down… Avylonn was beginning to shiver.
"Here," he said, handing her his cloak.
"Thank you…"
Her eyes were stunning. Ruby red… Very pretty. And her hair. Crimson feathers, curling ever so slightly… They looked so soft… Her lips parted slightly…
Without quite knowing what he was doing, Saniiro leaned over and kissed her.
---
Oh my gosh! He kissed me! Me! He likes me! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!
I… like it. Am I feeling alright? I thought I hated males. I suppose Saniiro is rather nice… Am I crazy?
Oh my gosh!
---
Steiner glared at the two soldiers. Stupid soldiers. His knights were doing a fine job on their own! But Prince-Consort Zidane had somehow gotten one of Saniiro's letters, and had insisted that there be more soldiers patrolling the streets. His knights were doing just fine!
Besides, there was practically nobody out here. Most of the stores had closed down. People were in their homes. By now the tavern was probably nearly empty…
"Sir! We've spotted trouble!" It was one of the wretched soldiers. But trouble was trouble!
"Show me!" he ordered.
The trouble turned out to be a man mugging another man just outside the tavern. The ruffian was quickly and smoothly apprehended, and the victim ran off. A job well done, in Steiner's opinion.
A woman came out of the tavern, looking disgusted.
"Kids today!" she muttered to herself. Curious, Steiner went inside.
Oh my gosh. Is that…? And is that…? Oh my gosh! Those two…
---
Avylonn… She's so beautiful… Her hair is soft… She's so-
Oh shoot! Is that…?
Saniiro hurriedly stopped kissing Avylonn. She looked at him confusedly. Saniiro pointed to the man standing behind Avylonn. She turned around…
"You two vermin!" Steiner shrieked. Both Saniiro and Avylonn flinched. "What were you doing?"
"Uh…"
"That was a rhetorical question, you ruffian! Now go! I don't want to see you ever again! And you, Avylonn! What will your parents think?"
"And why do I care?" Steiner gave her an incredulous look.
"Because they're your parents, and you should obey their every command!"
"Like I was supposed to obey Garland's?" Saniiro wasn't quite sure what she meant by that, but apparently Steiner did, because he scowled.
"Avylonn, we are going to the Castle. Saniiro, get out of Alexandria! Come on, Avylonn." Steiner turned to go.
"Steiner!" Steiner turned to look at Avylonn.
SLAP!
Saniiro grinned slightly. Avylonn could take care of herself. Splendid! Steiner looked angry, though, and that couldn't be a good thing…
Steiner grabbed Avylonn's arm and dragged her away.
Edonil: What think you? I think it was rather cheesy at times, but I liked it. Please R&R! If you do, I'll write the next chapter sooner!