A Wave of Fun
In many ways, Costa del Sol truly was a perfect recreation of the south sea isles. Clean, pale yellow sand, deep blue sea water sparkling in the sunlight, and trees, tall and slender, with beautiful green feather-shaped fronds crowning on top of them. All that and more had turned this once abandoned farmland into a little paradise where one could just kick back and let their soul swing freely, like the trees in the sea breeze.
For the right price of course.
While the use of the beach itself was free, and everyone was welcome to do so, the resort and any of its amenities were not. So for anyone wanting to spend a few days of relaxation in the area and make use of one of the many south sea huts built alongside the wooden walkways as well as partake in the delicious foods, Master Gegeruju made sure that the price for such luxuries was very much felt.
And he was definitely not wanting for patrons.
Especially not during this time of year, where the resort village was once again serving as the site of the annual Moonfire Faire, hosted and paid for by the Adventurers Guild.
Having once been a clever way to recruit adventurers to stop an incursion of Bombards five years ago, the festival itself now served as a way to promote the guild, offering fun games and prizes to all those who participated.
Though from what some of her fellow adventurers had told her, the previous years had always seen some sort of unbidden surprise rear its head to disturb the festivities.
S'eni felt almost a little sad to have missed that.
But as far as she could tell, this year's festivities would be peaceful.
Opening her eyes, she raised a hand to shield them from the sun and looked out towards the water, where people were splashing about and simply enjoying themselves on this bright summer day.
She turned her gaze towards her right where Y'shtola was lying on a beach chair, one leg crossed over the other and dressed in a nice-looking black bikini. Her eyes were closed and her lips were just ever so slightly parted in that way that told S'eni she had dozed off.
A small smile formed on her lips when her eyes fell upon the bracelet on Y'shtola's right wrist, resting lazily on her stomach, before closing them once more and putting her hands behind her head while releasing a little sound of contentment.
Just as she was about to return to basking in the sun, her ears perked up at the sound of approaching footsteps. But it wasn't until they stopped in front of her, that she cracked a single eye open to see a young man standing there. A rather handsome Hyuran, with long blond hair, sun-kissed skin and what she assumed was meant to be a charming little grin on his lips.
"Yes?" she asked. "Can I help you?"
"Actually—"
"Could you maybe move a little to the side?"
"—Ah, of course." He took a step to the right so that he wasn't blocking the sun anymore. His eyes shot towards Y'shtola for a brief second before landing on her again and clearing his throat. "Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you at previous Moonfire Faire's before."
"It's my first actually," S'eni said, lightly crossing her arms.
His grin grew. "Well, that's just perfect. You see me and my friends—" he pointed into the direction of the water, where two other fellows, a very muscular Roegadyn and a Lalafel, were standing and watching them. "—we've been coming here for years now and we know the entire beach like the back of our hands. If you want, we could show you some of the best spots where one can have a little fun without anyone knowing."
Ah, so that's what you want to play at. Perhaps a younger and more naïve S'eni might have fallen for that routine, but those times were long over.
"Sorry, but I'm already here with her," she said and inclined her head towards Y'shtola, hoping that would be enough to get rid of him.
It didn't.
"Is that so?" he asked. "Well, we can take her along then. The more, the merrier, right?"
Brows furrowing, her lips parted to make it clear that she wasn't interested when Y'shtola's husky voice suddenly spoke up.
"Very cute," her lover said, eyes opening to look at him. "But what she is trying to tell you, clearly, is that she isn't interested. And neither am I."
He looked at her with widened eyes, clearly not having expected that retort. His mouth opened and closed a few times to formulate a proper response, making him almost look a bit like a fish, but the glare being sent his way by bright white eyes made him clamp it shut and all but run off.
S'eni watched him hurry back to his friends, who were having a little laugh at his expense as they began to walk away, no doubt looking for a set of more easily impressed girls.
"Honestly..." Y'shtola muttered while sitting up and shaking her head.
S'eni giggled. "Well, thanks for the assistance. I'm sure they'll think twice about who they try to pick up next."
"I very much doubt that. It seems like they are in need of a little more growing up before that happens."
"So boys will be boys?" she asked with a grin, earning herself a small huff from the other woman.
"Indeed."
With their moment of quietness having been disturbed, S'eni, too, sat up and stretched her arms over her head. As she lowered them again, a faint smell of roasted meat and fish entered her nostrils, wafting down to their little corner of the beach from The Flying Shark, Costa del Sol's premier restaurant.
Her stomach released a little growl, reminding her just how much time had passed since their last meal this morning.
"Hungry?" Y'shtola asked, the corners of her lips quirking upwards.
"Yeah." S'eni scratched her cheek with a finger. "Mind if we get some?"
"Not at all. I'm actually quite thirsty, myself."
After putting on their sandals, the two of them rose to their feet and began heading up the beach.
The Flying Shark, easily identifiable by the rather gaudy looking shark in a barrel serving as the sign above the open cabana, was owned and run by Dyrstweitz, a Roegadyn from Ishgard whose family faithfully served House Dzemael. But the calling of a knight had never interested him and so he had set out to hone his skills in the weapons he preferred: pots and pans.
One fateful day after his tenure at the Culinarian's Guild, he came across Gegeruju, who was looking for a cook for Costa del Sol at the time and the merchant had been so impressed by his talents, that he had practically hired him on the spot.
And while there certainly were some misgivings that he would occasionally voice, one could not argue that business was good. Especially around this time of year, when the resort village was buzzing with people.
"Well there's a familiar face," Dyrstweitz greeted her when it was finally their turn. "Last time I saw you, you were runnin' around with that half-crazed inspector. How's life been treatin' you since then?"
"It had its ups and downs," she replied with a friendly smile.
He nodded and looked at Y'shtola. "And you know as well. From the banquet."
"You're very perceptive," the other woman said.
"I pride myself on being able to remember who eats at my table." The Roegadyn's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in her appearance. "Did you do something with your hair?"
A hand going towards her bangs, Y'shtola shared a look with S'eni. "Something along those lines."
"Hmm, I see. Anyways, what can Dyrstweitz get ya?"
"Something light would be appreciated. I want to go for a swim later. And something refreshing to drink for my companion, please."
"Comin' right up!"
A few minutes later found the two of them sitting on one of the nearby benches, Y'shtola sipping on the glass of bubbly lemonade in her hand while S'eni guided a shrimp tempura from the small basket resting on her lap to her lips. She had just taken her first, very delicious bite, when a familiar voice called out to them, making them both turn towards its source.
It was Wheiskaet, former captain of the Company of Heroes turned leader of Costa del Sol's guard.
"Well well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Or I suppose eye in my case," he said, chuckling at his little self-deprecation, and inclined his head towards Y'shtola. "Lady Y'shtola. A pleasure to see you again."
"Captain." The other Miqo'te nodded.
"On duty even today?" S'eni asked after swallowing.
"Especially today. The Moonfire Faire draws in a lot of folks and we've got to make sure that everyone can enjoy themselves. Can't have some rowdy lout go cause trouble with children around as well."
"Good to know we're in your capable hands then," she said with a smile.
"Not like you need to be told to behave, eh Titan's Bane?" Wheiskaet grinned. "Though I've been told it's now Liberator as well?"
She grimaced a little at the title, since it made it sound like she had done it single handedly, and took another bite of the tempura. "Stories travel fast."
"Not any day that not only one but two countries manage to free themselves from the yoke of the Garleans. Though—" His face split into a grin. "Let's just say a bird mentioned it to me."
"Riol," Y'shtola commented.
"Didn't take him for a gossip." S'eni popped the last bit of tempura into her mouth, the tail crunching as she chewed.
The former mercenary laughed. "Years of reconnaissance and information gathered does that to you."
That was true, she supposed. No wonder Thancred and him got along so well.
Raising a finger to her lips, she said, "I trust you won't be parading it around? We're here to relax a little."
"Of course. Like I just said, we're here to ensure that everyone has a good time!" He slapped his fist against his armor. "And on that note, I should continue doing my rounds. Enjoy your stay."
Giving each of them a friendly nod, he walked away.
"He seems to be doing well," Y'shtola said.
Picking up on her lover's tone, S'eni's lips curled upward. "Don't tell me you're still annoyed about the goose chase they sent me on."
"It was a waste of everyone's time." She crossed an arm under her chest. "Especially since there was no need to test neither your abilities nor your resolve."
"Aww." S'eni playfully bumped her shoulder against the other woman's. "That's sweet of you. But really, it's fine. Remember, we're here to enjoy ourselves, not holding grudges."
Y'shtola looked at her for a moment, before exhaling through her nose and giving her a small smile. "I suppose you're right."
"Of course I am. I was the one who had to gather it all, remember?" She picked up another tempura but stopped halfway to her mouth to point towards the glass of lemonade. "Mind if I take a sip?"
"Hmm." Y'shtola swirled the glass a bit. "Only if I get a shrimp as well."
"Deal!"
After finishing the rest of her meal, the two of them had headed down to the beach to take a nice, relaxing swim in the sea, which S'eni promptly used to show off the Kojin's blessing to Y'shtola, who became quite fascinated by it and said that perhaps she should also try to acquire it as well. Of course, the situation soon became rather playful and any sudden scholarly pursuits dissolved in the deep blue that she pulled her into.
Once they had satisfied their, or rather S'eni's, need for a good swim, they returned to shore on the Isle of Endless Summer where most of the Moonfire Faire's hustle and bustle was currently taking place. There they ran in none other than Zhloe, Khloe, and the rest of the kids from Menphina's Arms, which had somehow manage to turn into S'eni ending up as the foundation for a sandcastle that children were building while Y'shtola only watched on in amusement as she laid in the sand.
It was hours later when she had managed to get rid of all the sand from her bikini and the light of the setting sun from the west was draping everything into a deep orange, that they were walking down the beach.
"We should do this more often," S'eni said, one of her arms gently looped around Y'shtola's.
"It was certainly a nice change of pace."
They stopped to look out towards the horizon, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight. "It's unbelievable isn't it?"
"What is?" Y'shtola asked.
"How much has changed since we last were here. Eorzea, the Scions..." her smile grew a little shy. "...Us."
Her lover didn't reply, but S'eni knew that she was nevertheless listening.
"We couldn't even remember each other at the time because of Louisoix's spell and my own trauma. I think if anyone told me that back then I would've sent them to get their head checked." In the end, she had been the one that needed hers checked. She chuckled at the sheer absurdity of it. "And now here we are, just the two of us, having a romantic walk on the beach."
"If you put it that way, it does sound quite unbelievable."
"Hm. But it's not bad, isn't it?"
"No." Y'shtola looked at her, lips curling into a smile and the last vestiges of the sun giving her eyes a warm glow. "Far from it, in fact."
S'eni stared at her for a moment, her heart doing a happy little jump at those words, before stepping closer and leaning in. Just as their lips were about to meet, a series of loud high pitched whines made them drawback and look towards the sky, where three bright sparks exploded into dazzling, rainbow-colored stars.
More sparks followed soon after, blooming into colorful flowers of red, yellow and blue and beautiful, prismatic wings that spread out as if to keep the coming night at bay.
A deep breath escaped her as she stared at the fireworks, unable to look away. She continued to watch, spellbound, until a pair of smooth, warm arms wrapped themselves around her waist and soft hair tickled her cheek. S'eni let out a short gasp when she realized Y'shtola was resting her head on her shoulder.
"Let's resume this later," she whispered, her voice just as warm as her embrace.
"Hm." S'eni nodded and leaned her head against Y'shtola's. "I'd love that."
Very much in fact.
A little nice summer-y chapter to say goodbye to our own waning summer. Also an excuse to have them dressed in bikinis, which is always a plus.