Tomoko toyed with the young crewman for longer than she usually did. Most of the other crew she had dropped after a few days. This one lasted nearly an entire week, which Kyran was convinced was some kind of record for the elf.
It was also more than a little frustrating for him. The woman stumbled in each night worse for wear and towing the human behind her like some kind of pet, and on one occasion had actually forgotten that the Drow was already in the single narrow bed. He had awoken to the unpleasant feeling of being crushed by a few hundred pounds' worth of elf and human as Tomoko had shoved the young man backwards and nearly literally leapt upon him.
It was an experience that Kyran had no wish to repeat, and afterwards was nearly always on deck before Tomoko dragged her prey into the room.
On the whole, Kyran was greatly relieved once land was sighted.
It was dusk when they approached the port town of Mist Gate and Tomoko leaned on the wooden railing at the prow of the boat. Kyran moved away from her a little; the alcohol on the elf's breath and clothing was so strong as to make him feel physically nauseous.
The red haired woman grinned drunkenly up at him as her legs gave out and she sat heavily down on the deck. "Nearry time fer gettin' off dis damn raft," she slurred, then giggled at the sound of her own voice.
"I can't wait." Kyran's voice was toneless as he stared fixedly at the small houses at the port.
"Whachoo gonna do once we's free?" The elf took another swig of the bottle gripped tightly in her right hand, then looked sad as she realised that it was entirely empty. "I's gonna go t'pub..."
"There's no surprise then." The Drow gritted his teeth. Any second now...
The seated woman's grin reappeared as she stared up at the unsmiling Kyran, then abruptly she flung her arms around his legs and clung to them. "You's gonna come wif me, aincha? I nooooo you will! You wunt leave a defen... defenk... unarmed lady alone, wudya?"
Right on cue. He sighed heavily, gripping onto the railing tightly to prevent her dragging him down with her. She was trying already, giving his legs sharp tugs and prodding the back of his knees with one long-nailed finger. He knew that he should say no and just leave her to it. There was no way in the world above that this woman counted as defenceless, he knew. And the more drunk she got, the less defenceless she became. And the more drunk she got, the more inclined she became to start practicing her magic on Kyran himself. Bodyguard turned walking target, that's all you are, the thought passed through his head. How true it was.
He looked down at the drunken beauty. "Whatever happened to your... human friend?" He knew that this technically encompassed nearly the entire boat, including the cook.
Tomoko's smile dimmed a little and her eyebrows furrowed a little. "He's booooring. Clingy. Only wants sex. Noooo fun wassoever."
"Funny," the Drow muttered. "I thought you would have both got along like a house on fire."
Tomoko pouted in Kyran's vague direction. Then her smile brightened again, like the sun emerging from behind a cloud. "An e's married anywaaay. Soooo... you wun leave me, willya?"
Kyran sighed heavily. "No, I won't leave you alone. I don't know what damage you might do to the pub."
Tomoko, missing the point of his words entirely, grinned at him and swayed gently as she released his legs from her vice like grip. "I noooo you wunt leave me!" She used his shirt to pull herself to her feet, almost making Kyran take her place on the floor as the action took him wholly by surprise. She grabbed his hand, ignoring the way he cringed, and towed him towards the small gate in the side of the boat as the crewmen started to lower the gangplank.
All Forgotten Realms trademarks are owned by Wizards of the Coast. Tomoko Aiher is owned by Vincent Stone and is used with permission. Kyran, Braden, Erelvayas etc. are my characters and aren't to be used without permission.