This post has the following content warnings:
Next Post »
« Previous Post
+ Show First Post
Total: 218
Posts Per Page:
Permalink

He takes a short nap, then decides to check whether his currency is acceptable. It does turn out to be such, so he gets himself a permanent warming spell (and a permanent cooling spell which also protects against sunburn), a leather harness he can attach his sword to (they couldn't find a scabbard that would fit the sword's peculiar shape), a pair of sandals, and something that looks sort of like a combination of a skirt and a loincloth in a local style, blue on the sides and black on the front with bronze medals sewn onto the skirt itself and hanging from its edge. It goes down to his knees, loose and light enough that it doesn't really interfere with movement, which is fairly relevant—if he doesn't miss his guess there's going to be a lot of physical fighting here. It's different from his usual style, but you know, what are the odds he'd find exactly the same kind of thing he used to wear back in Zanarkand? And he can get used to this.

The shopkeep gave him an odd look when he asked for other possible stuff to wear, and that was how he found out that they have cheap and easy laundry magic so most people have One Outfit that they always wear, which strikes him as pretty damn odd but he supposes if laundry is cheaper and faster than actually making clothes by enough this makes any amount of sense. Another world, and all that. He supposes his style will henceforth be This Here Skirt And Sandals.

This Here Skirt And Sandals (NSFW)

And now he... doesn't really know what to do next. The trek back to the beach is not so short that he can go and do anything there and then return, because it'll be sundown soonish and he has a mighty suspicion that these people who have no electricity are going to want to leave for their boat trip at dawn. Also he doesn't actually know the way back; he could follow the river and it would probably eventually lead him to the ocean but he didn't pay enough attention to remember whether there were any rivers close to the beach, and he might end up stranded who knows where. So he has a couple of hours to kill until he has to sleep again.

Maybe he could go look for the protagonist, get to know him before the actual boat trip. That sounds like a reasonable idea.

After asking around, no one knows for sure where Zei is but a reasonable guess is the nearby lake; he's known to enjoy going there to relax, and Yevon knows he needs some relaxation after getting his first aeon. Tōkan gets directions and sets off.

Permalink

The lake is right next to a hill, with waterfalls at one end and a small outlet at the other serving as the water's renewal valves. Tōkan was told that this was one of a handful of small streams that feed into the larger river he swam in earlier.

And as luck would have it, Zei is indeed there. His clothes and staff are on a rock a few feet away from the waterfall so that the water doesn't hit them, and the summoner himself is sitting cross-legged under the waterfall, his body half submerged and his eyes closed. It's not clear whether he's sleeping or just resting, but he sure does look much more relaxed than he did around the crowd from earlier.

Permalink

Tōkan finds a nice tree to lean against and watches Zei. He's not sure if this is rude but waking the boy up in case he's sleeping definitely would be, and he doesn't really have any excuses that aren't bothersome for why he's here.

Permalink

After a couple of minutes of this Zei's lips quiver into a smile. "You gonna just stand there all evening? A boy will start to question your intentions that way," he calls without opening his eyes.

Permalink

Tōkan is taken by surprise—Zei had been so still and quiet that he'd convinced himself the summoner was actually asleep—and grins sheepishly even though Zei's eyes are still closed. "I was enjoying the view."

Permalink

Now he opens his eyes to look at Tōkan. "There are stranger and less strange ways to enjoy the view, and creeping up on me silently is one of the stranger ones." He doesn't sound or look upset, though; if anything, it sounds like the kind of tone of voice one might use to tease a friend.

Permalink

"Guilty," Tōkan admits. "I just didn't want to wake you up."

Permalink

"I don't think I could actually fall asleep here."

Permalink

"No? I thought you could breathe underwater." 'Cause otherwise how was he meant to sub in for Wakka in the tournament?

Permalink

"Oh, I can, but the feeling of the water hitting my back is too distracting. Which is kind of the point, here, I get to forget everything else and not have any thoughts while just focusing on the water."

Permalink

"You had some thoughts, if you noticed my arrival."

Permalink

"Maybe you should try not being so loud."

Permalink

"I was not!"

Permalink

"So how did I hear you?"

Permalink

"Magic. Superhearing. Magical superhearing."

Permalink

"Or maybe you were very loud."

Permalink

"If I were in the water I would splash you about now."

Permalink

"No one's stopping you."

Permalink

"A boy will start to question your intentions."

Permalink

"So you're saying you're not flirting with me right now."

Permalink

"I guess a boy is not questioning your intentions anymore," he says as he strips and steps over to get into the lake.

Permalink

The water's nice. Not warm, but with the afternoon heat the chill is pleasant.

"Should I try to play coy?"

Permalink

"Absolutely not." And because he said he would: he splashes Zei. This is not at all effective, due to the fact that he's already being heavily splashed by the waterfall, but it's the thought that counts.

Permalink

"Didn't think so." Zei motions in the direction of a rock next to him, also under the waterfall. It's wide and flat enough Tōkan can easily sit.

Permalink

So he sits.

"It's not much flirting when we both know that's what we're doing, you know."

Total: 218
Posts Per Page: