Disclaimer: I don't own starocean
so what now... is this the end?
Karin: don't think so... want another round?
... sure.
Karin: you deal.
The streets were not too busy, children running about, people buying grocceries, shopkeepers fighting over customers. There seemed nothing out of the ordinary. Especially couples who have their arms around each other tightly and walking down the street like they were stuck together with glue. Still, nothing was wrong. It could work out, after all.
Maria pulled Fayt over to another shop which sold small accessories. Maria eyed the items for sale with big eyes and a happy smile, almost as if she wanted to buy all of them. But, Maria was happy, she was acting like a normal girl, not a brave leader of Quark, but as a girl who likes small things. That, Fayt felt like he had gotten a prize worth the pain.
"Fayt, what do you think of this?"
Maria showed him a necklace with a small blue jewel dangling from it. Fayt looked at it for awhile and took it from her.
"Hey!"
Maria tried to take it back, but stopped when Fayt tied it around her neck. He stepped back and took another look.
"Not bad. You look nice with it."
He smiled. Maria blushed, as though she had just heard that for the first time, which isn't.
"Really? Hmm, how about something for you?"
"I don't need anything."
"Yes you do! Come on and pick one."
Maria pulled him to the items on the shelf. She pulled out a small pendent with a green stone on it.
"How about this one?"
"No, i don't think so. Let's see.. how about this one?"
Fayt picked out a small cross that looked more like a dagger.
"It's really... aggressive."
Maria raised an eyebrow at it.
"You think so? Hmm... i still like it. I think i'm buying it."
Fayt walked up to the counter and the lady behind smiled.
"So, the stone of water and the cross of earth, that would be fifty fol."
She said. Fayt dug around his pockets and took out his wallet. He paid the fifty and before they could leave, the lady stopped them.
"Wait, since you two look so cute together, i was think that you must be a couple, also considering you are holding hands."
"Well, we are, i guess."
Fayt scratched his head.
"Ah, then i have a special gift. It may not be as great as the pendents of apris and airyglyph, but it is a special charm for couples i made up."
The shopkeeper bent down behind her counter and took out a small box.
"You know who we are?"
Maria asked.
"Of course, dear, everyone does. I just thought you two would like to have some privacy and not attract too much attention. Here we are, special rings for couples love."
The shopkeeper opened the box and inside, were two silver rings. Fayt took one and Maria took another. On the outside, Fayt's had a lion and symbols around it. Maria had an eagle and symbols. On the inside, the following words were identical on both rings.
'For time to time, thou paths may cross. But do not fear, what pain thou hardship brings, for love is solution, to thou isolation.'
"This is... incredible!"
Maria smiled.
"How much is it?"
"Oh, don't worry about the cost, dear, it's on me. Take it as a gift to honour your heroic deeds and to wish you luck, in you two's bright future."
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Thanks, we'll treasure it forever."
Fayt said.
"Drop by anytime."
The shopkeeper smiled, watching Maria and Fayt leave the shop.
"That was awefully nice, don't you think, Fayt?"
"Yes, it certainly was. Here, let me do something."
Fayt reached behind Maria's neck and took off her necklance. He also took her ring and made the necklace go through the ring. Dropping the ring, it dropped and was stopped by the blue stone. He gave it back to Maria and did the same to his.
"Isn't it a nice effect?"
Fayt asked.
"It is."
Maria smiled, admiring her necklace.
"Alright, let's go."
Fayt pulled Maria along. They passed more shops and bought more stuff, though most did not seem really important. Most of them were clothes, since Maria didn't have much change of clothes. Twice, Fayt got a stare from Maria for picking out skimpy outfits for her to try out. The two walked along the streets, hands full of bags, Fayt carrying more than Maria. It was then, did they meet someone and someone that they did not really expect to meet.
"Fayt! Maria! How nice to see you again!"
A voice called from behind. The two turned around and saw Nel standing there, smiling and waving to them. Next to Nel was Albel, still looking like he had a rough day.
"Hi Nel, what's up? You look great!"
Fayt dropped the bags and shook Nel's hand. It was then did he notice something on her finger.
"Nel, isn't this..."
Fayt stared closely at her hand. A small ring was around her forth finger. It was not plain, but a gold streak was across the center, circling the ring.
"So you noticed? Took him quite long to give it to me."
Nel laughed. Maria took a look at the ring and felt sort of envious.
"Oh, Maria! You have a ring as well! Let me guess, Fayt?"
Nel asked rhetorically. Maria shyly nodded, which resulted in Nel nudging Fayt in the stomach, rather hard for her strength.
"Good on you Fayt, always knew you could do it!"
"Heh, he didn't even have enough courage to ask her the first time. Pathetic."
Albel sighed, earning him a slap on the back of his head by Nel.
"Albel! You didn't ask me the first time either."
"I didn't need to."
"What!"
"Face the truth, wench, i didn't need to ask you in the first place. You would have just found the ring yourself and dragged me along. Why should i come along here in the first place?"
Albel retorted.
"Did you forget? We came here because we heard Fayt and Maria were back! How could you forget that?"
"I didn't."
"But you ask why we came here in first place!"
"I didn't."
"I heard you."
"I didn't."
"Whatever. This will get us nowhere."
Nel sighed. Fayt and Maria looked at each other with puzzled looks.
"Er... Nel, is Albel by any chance your..."
Fayt asked.
"Why, yes actually. He's my husband. We just got married last week."
Nel sighed, but her cheeks were slightly red.
"How! I can't really imagine Albel doing-"
"Doing what, Maggot? You think i'm incapable of starting a family? Well you're wrong. I am perfectly capable of doing so."
Albel cut Fayt off.
"Well, i don't question whether you are capable of starting a family, but with Nel?"
Fayt raised an eyebrow.
"Well... it's a long story. I'll let those who want to tell the story to tell it."
Albel said, standing one side, arms crossed.
"Nel?"
Maria asked.
"Well, it's not quite complicated. I was just out on a mission to investigate some strange sightings within the ancient ruins of mosel. Turns out airyglyph sent Albel for the same task. We met within the ruins and he was quite reluctant to cooperate, but seeing how the creatures were quite tough, he eventually gave out and stuck close to me."
"I didn't chicken out."
Albel countered.
"I don't remember saying you chickened out."
Nel replied. Albel looked like he was going to explode.
"Me neither."
He said, still crossing his arms, but in an even more, defiant way, if possible.
"Anyway, after awhile, it seemed he found a small ring on the floor somewhere in the ruins before we met. He said it would look good on me. I didn't know what he meant back then, but i accepted it anyway. Didn't put it on, since i thought he booby-trapped it."
Nel laughed. Albel, didn't.
"That insulted me, wench."
Albel said.
"Well, sorry for that, but it was true. Anyway, when we came out of the ruins, finding nothing, i asked him whether he wanted to ring back or not. After that, he just went on one knee and proposed!"
"Just like that?"
Maria asked, completely taken in by the story, her eyes wide and mesmorized like some young girl listening to a fairy tale about a prince and a princess.
"Just like that!"
Nel smiled. Fayt, however, did not really buy that story. He stood next to Albel, not to let the girls listen and let them have their own private talk.
"Albel, is that true?"
"Of course not, worm. I never go down on one knee for anyone, especially a woman. I simply fumbled on my words that's all."
"Oh really?"
Nel asked.
"Yes, fumbled on my words."
Albel shot back.
"Then what did you mean?"
"I wanted to ask if you... if you had any more water."
"Did you? It didn't sound like that to me. It sounded more like 'Will you marry me?' Isn't that sweet, Maria?"
Nel asked. Maria nodded her head like it would drop off.
"Well i... er..."
For Fayt, this would be the first time he would ever see Albel fumble for words. Well, it was understandable, if he was trying to get back at his wife.
"Aha! So let me ask you this, Albel, would you still have asked me to marry you either way?"
Albel did not want to answer that.
"A-L-B-E-L N-O-X."
Nel was suddenly right in front of Albel, right in in face. They were only a strand of hair apart from each other's faces. Albel tried to look the other way.
"Answer me, Albel, or you will face hell back home."
Nel threatened. Wives can sure be scary. At this point, Albel was frightened beyond his wits.
"Okay! Okay!"
"So what is your answer?"
"...yes..."
"I can't hear you!"
"Fine! I would, alright? Stop getting onto my back, wench!"
Albel finally broke down. Fayt noticed that he didn't use the term 'worm' or 'maggot' on Nel anymore, but 'wench'. There was definately a significant difference since they last met. Nel turned to Fayt and Maria.
"So, what brings you two back?"
"Well, we needed some supplies and repairs. My mom also called us back so we thought, why not?"
Fayt explained.
"Really? Is there something big going on?"
Nel asked.
"Well, there's still the war going on. After this, we're going to join the battle front."
Maria replied.
"Hmm... this might a good opportunity. Why not we join you?"
"Huh?"
Fayt and Maria looked confused.
"Why not? Besides, we have nothing to do."
Nel smiled.
"Stop hiding the truth, wench. Just tell them."
Albel spat.
"Fine, fine. Both Albel and i were discharged from service."
Nel sighed.
"What? Why?"
"Well, because we got married and the King and Queen thought they wanted to give a break, so they discharged us from service."
Nel hung her head low.
"It's alright, Nel, i'm sure you'll be allowed back."
Maria tried to comfort Nel.
"Thanks Maria, but i'll be fine. I needed a break anyway."
Nel smiled.
"Anyway, so can we?"
"Sure, i see no reason why not."
Fayt replied.
"Thank you! Why not we help you with those bags. We'll bring those back to the castle for you, come on Albel."
Nel pulled Albel by the... claw, as she grabbed a couple of bags and shoved them into Albel's hands.
"Why do i have to carry them?"
"Because men are suppose to do men's job."
"Which is carrying shopping bags?"
"Why not? Women spend, men carry. What a universal cycle! Come on then, let's go."
Nel said, as she dragged Albel through the streets. No doubt Albel would catch some attention with the amount of bags he's carrying.
AN: Ahh, don't you just love a Nel and Albel moment? simply priceless. oh yeah, i am EXTREMELY against the idea of turning anyone into a gay or a lesbian. It simply just boils my blood.