“I look forward to hearing from you.†“Happy hunting.†He wondered if the female Highlander was aware of his reasons for coming to Ishgard. Kage had already deemed him useless in the endeavor. She had looked to him as another resource. Another person who could lead her to finding what she wanted.
Franz would need to be more careful around the two. Perhaps even give them something to work with. The unlikely pair had found him nearly shivering by one of the fountains in Ishgard. He hated the city already. The cold stones that it was built from. The religious fanatics that roamed its every ilm. Franz was taking issue with determining where the hatred came from.
It must be something leftover of his. The only son of House Kirche. As a Garlean, he was used to living in foreign lands. Used to a variety of weather. Used to dealing with people he did not care for. But everything in this city felt off. As if he was a runaway child that had returned home. But that was true, in a sense. By the Garlean’s actions, whatever had been left of the Elezen was forced to return to Ishgard, be it only the memories or something more. The Ishgardian’s way of thinking, his memories, his essence, in a manner, had all begun to fade as the Garlean slowly recovered his own. But here, in this city, he was unsure. The cool air felt colder. The populated rooms, stuffier. The glance of each knight as Franz walked around the city felt as if they would bore into his back. What had made him hate the city so much? The Garlean could not answer.
But as he had followed the Lalafell and Highlander woman done the paths to a warmed room, he could feel the unamused expression being frozen onto his face. Ishgard could provide nothing for him here. As they entered the chocobo stables, he did not frown from the smell, but from disgust. It didn’t matter. He listened to them ramble on about ‘her’. None of it particularly new information. But that was expected. He needed to judge what they did know. What their plans were. Whatever is necessary.
It seemed Kage had no issue with divulging any and every secret. At times, it could be useful. He had very simply pointed out the Grimsong he had been tasked with handling. But he had also been stolen the chance of introducing himself to the Highlander woman. He did not like his secrets being spread without consent. Even more so while in a city known for hating outsiders.
If he was going to be useful in any regard, Franz needed to operate without public eye. A foreign concept to the Dunesfolk, apparently. But he was given enough, it seemed, to have a reason to stay. He could always find some sort of justification. ‘She’ had even seemed to hint at it. If there was a vigilante he needed to keep alive, then surely there would be some sort of troublemaker to lure such a person out. But if Franz were to find more infected with creatures of the Void, he wondered how he would need to handle them.
As a Garlean, he could likely have gotten away with saying they were of no concern. But now that Kage had divulged upon his nature. Who he was. Or had been, rather, it was a different set of circumstances. Just what had been said to Grimsong? for how long did Kage run his little mouth?
Franz stood from the desk he had been sitting in. The inn room he had chosen was nice. Roomy. It had even included a small kitchen area with enough counter space for some basic preparation and a small stove that could handle a pot or pan. He set a teapot atop it to boil some water, letting his feet rest on a tile flooring, warmed by the stove. Perhaps the only good thing about Ishgard. The heated flooring could at least remind him of warmer locations. It was a good pick on his part, but he missed the bed he had grown accustomed to in Ul’dah. The hourglass’s room had provided a small terrace with a small bed he could use to sleep under the stars. The mere thought of trying to do so in Ishgard would likely mean he had frozen to death.
With a large mug of piping hot spiced tea, Franz cleared his mind of all other thoughts, in an effort to relax and unwind from the stress of dealing with the earlier parts of the day. There was no snow in the room. No loud-mouthed Lalafells. No questions on people. Just him, his tea, and a bed he should be sleeping in. It had become late in the evening.
Hearing the twelfth and final evening bell, he exited the main section of the inn room to change into clothes for sleeping. He could only smirk slightly, noticing he had been give a pair of rather husky Elezen’s bottoms with a small Roegadyn’s top, the shirts having still been much to big for a Hyur, even of his size. He would need to check with the reception later. While the pants fit well enough, the shirt was much too loose and he needed to roll up the sleeves. It would be a waste of their resources if it continued.
Franz was on the verge of entering his bed when he heard a small knock on the door. Barefoot, he walked quietly to listen to the person on the other side. Another small knock on the door. it was almost pleading. The Ishgardian door had not been furnished with an eye hole to see through however. And Franz did not recall giving anyone his room number. He had only merely given the Highlander woman enough details to find the inn. He was careful to not make any sudden movements, lest the door creek at his presence. A third and final knock. If this person was here to attack, they should have done so by now. A few more moments of silence and he heard what sounded like a defeated “Hmmph†come from the other side of the door and someone walking off. He let off a sigh of relief and retired for the evening. Franz did not want visitors.
Franz would need to be more careful around the two. Perhaps even give them something to work with. The unlikely pair had found him nearly shivering by one of the fountains in Ishgard. He hated the city already. The cold stones that it was built from. The religious fanatics that roamed its every ilm. Franz was taking issue with determining where the hatred came from.
It must be something leftover of his. The only son of House Kirche. As a Garlean, he was used to living in foreign lands. Used to a variety of weather. Used to dealing with people he did not care for. But everything in this city felt off. As if he was a runaway child that had returned home. But that was true, in a sense. By the Garlean’s actions, whatever had been left of the Elezen was forced to return to Ishgard, be it only the memories or something more. The Ishgardian’s way of thinking, his memories, his essence, in a manner, had all begun to fade as the Garlean slowly recovered his own. But here, in this city, he was unsure. The cool air felt colder. The populated rooms, stuffier. The glance of each knight as Franz walked around the city felt as if they would bore into his back. What had made him hate the city so much? The Garlean could not answer.
But as he had followed the Lalafell and Highlander woman done the paths to a warmed room, he could feel the unamused expression being frozen onto his face. Ishgard could provide nothing for him here. As they entered the chocobo stables, he did not frown from the smell, but from disgust. It didn’t matter. He listened to them ramble on about ‘her’. None of it particularly new information. But that was expected. He needed to judge what they did know. What their plans were. Whatever is necessary.
It seemed Kage had no issue with divulging any and every secret. At times, it could be useful. He had very simply pointed out the Grimsong he had been tasked with handling. But he had also been stolen the chance of introducing himself to the Highlander woman. He did not like his secrets being spread without consent. Even more so while in a city known for hating outsiders.
If he was going to be useful in any regard, Franz needed to operate without public eye. A foreign concept to the Dunesfolk, apparently. But he was given enough, it seemed, to have a reason to stay. He could always find some sort of justification. ‘She’ had even seemed to hint at it. If there was a vigilante he needed to keep alive, then surely there would be some sort of troublemaker to lure such a person out. But if Franz were to find more infected with creatures of the Void, he wondered how he would need to handle them.
As a Garlean, he could likely have gotten away with saying they were of no concern. But now that Kage had divulged upon his nature. Who he was. Or had been, rather, it was a different set of circumstances. Just what had been said to Grimsong? for how long did Kage run his little mouth?
Franz stood from the desk he had been sitting in. The inn room he had chosen was nice. Roomy. It had even included a small kitchen area with enough counter space for some basic preparation and a small stove that could handle a pot or pan. He set a teapot atop it to boil some water, letting his feet rest on a tile flooring, warmed by the stove. Perhaps the only good thing about Ishgard. The heated flooring could at least remind him of warmer locations. It was a good pick on his part, but he missed the bed he had grown accustomed to in Ul’dah. The hourglass’s room had provided a small terrace with a small bed he could use to sleep under the stars. The mere thought of trying to do so in Ishgard would likely mean he had frozen to death.
With a large mug of piping hot spiced tea, Franz cleared his mind of all other thoughts, in an effort to relax and unwind from the stress of dealing with the earlier parts of the day. There was no snow in the room. No loud-mouthed Lalafells. No questions on people. Just him, his tea, and a bed he should be sleeping in. It had become late in the evening.
Hearing the twelfth and final evening bell, he exited the main section of the inn room to change into clothes for sleeping. He could only smirk slightly, noticing he had been give a pair of rather husky Elezen’s bottoms with a small Roegadyn’s top, the shirts having still been much to big for a Hyur, even of his size. He would need to check with the reception later. While the pants fit well enough, the shirt was much too loose and he needed to roll up the sleeves. It would be a waste of their resources if it continued.
Franz was on the verge of entering his bed when he heard a small knock on the door. Barefoot, he walked quietly to listen to the person on the other side. Another small knock on the door. it was almost pleading. The Ishgardian door had not been furnished with an eye hole to see through however. And Franz did not recall giving anyone his room number. He had only merely given the Highlander woman enough details to find the inn. He was careful to not make any sudden movements, lest the door creek at his presence. A third and final knock. If this person was here to attack, they should have done so by now. A few more moments of silence and he heard what sounded like a defeated “Hmmph†come from the other side of the door and someone walking off. He let off a sigh of relief and retired for the evening. Franz did not want visitors.
