Sorry about this chapter being so short, i was going to put something else in it until I realised it would be better in chapter 5 and...yeah. Okay I'm done. I'll go listen to some Rod Stewart music as punishment now.
Blank managed to slow Mr 163 to pick up supplies. He marched off in the direction of Seaways Harbor market, happy to be back on familiar territory.
"Me and Mr 45 often have to barter with the dwarves of Conde Petie. Mr Zidane told us about Bartering. The dwarves used to be nice because of...well I'm not sure, it sounded like "Pinty Hits Give Gued Treed, Aye", but now they try to make us pay more."
"Yes! Yumyum cost price yes? Qon Qon have same problem. I ask for frog, man says "not enough price"!" Blank had been dismayed that Qon Qon decided to tag along. Now he and Mr 163 had found a friendship, it looked like they were stuck with him.
Blank spotted a wide stall bearing a sign that read 'Smith's Equipment Store-We stock it all!'. "How about there?" He looked around to see that Mr 163 and Qon Qon were now deep in grammatically incorrect conversation, so it was left to Marcus, Motoko and himself to continue shopping. He came up to the counter to find himself face to face with a "well-endowed" brunette, who leaned over the counter and gave him a wide smile.
"Can I help you sweety?" Blank, surprised at the flirtatious smile directed his way (owing to the fact the last woman he asked on a date not only threw a glass at him, but stole a hundred gil while he was recovering on the floor), leaned charmingly on one elbow.
"I presume you stock camping equipment..."
The conversation stretched out, and Motoko watched as Blank said something, from the looks of it, hilariously funny. The brunette tossed her head back and laughed loudly, abruptly coming back to lean on the counter and fix her gaze on Blank, strands of dark hair floating down in front of her face.
"We need food supplies too right?" Motoko pointed out in a brusque tone, knocking into Blank as she brushed past, "I'll meet you later with Mr 163."
Blank contemplated chasing after her to ask what was wrong, but a sting of pain in his still slightly swollen eye put him off the idea. He thought he knew what the problem was anyway, even if he wasn't sure why. Still, he couldn't shake the idea, and shopping for equipment proceeded without any flirting whatsoever, Blank walking off guiltily with his purchase afterward.
It only then occurred to him that Marcus had vanished. "Just like him too," he thought bitterly, lugging heavy packages behind him and over his shoulder, "Clearing off as soon as there's work to do."
The group met up close to the edge of town, in front of a towering concrete monument. As Qon Qon marched off in the lead, Blank tried approaching Motoko, but she turned coldly away and walked off without a word.
And it had all been going so well, too.
Motoko stared open mouthed in horror at the creature which Qon Qon was now caressing adoringly. Blank, who had spent some time in the Qu marshes, could tell it was large for it's size. Vomit-pink glistening scales ran the length of it's body, and what resembled oversized veins branched from it's head, fringed with coarse, waxy hair. Several leather seats were firmly buckled around it's middle. Despite is ferocious-looking beaked mouth and sharpened claws, the creature had wide, rounded eyes, that gave an indication to it's docility.
"THAT'S your transport!" Qon Qon's face fell at Motoko's open eyed look, "It's a Mist monster!"
"Qon Qon is skilled trainer! Qon Qon train Axolotl, Axy good." He patted the beast on it's wide head, and it made an appreciative croaking noise, half closing it's scaly eyelids. Mr 163 scrambled onto it's back eagerly, oblivious to Motoko taking a step backwards.
Blank took her arm gently. "Here, come on, let me help you up..."
"NO! I will not ride that abominable Gaia-spawn!"
Marcus picked up his pack, seemingly on board with the idea of riding the axolotl. "Woah, cool off blondy! You spend a day looking at Baku, this thing doesn't look half bad, heh..."
"Why should I? I was doing fine in the Mage Village, but Zidane had to insist I came on a vacation with you idiots! Some vacation, I should have known you would lead me into a death trap!"
"You didn't seem so bothered before!" Blank felt his temper rising, "Didn't you say you wanted adventure? Maybe Zidane was right if you're too scared to ride somethin' with less bite than an oglop!"
The rest of the group stood silent, all eyes fixed on the quarreling pair. Mikoto stared red-faced at Blank, before picking up her bag and climbing onto the Axolotl in the angriest manner she could muster. Blank had the feeling that if she knew the significance of Gaian swear words, she would use them.
