[Short Story] Oyun's unexpected surprise

[ViatorRex]

Oyun looked in the mirror, pulled a face, and burst out laughing. Seconds later she was clutching her head in pain. “Ow, ow, ow” she said and hissed through her teeth. She gently reached up and started rubbing a finger along one of her horns, it produced a gentle humming noise that calmed her down. “Ok, note to self, find out what I was drinking last night, and try to avoid it in the future.” She looked into the mirror again, gave herself a light slap on the cheeks and smiled. “Well if the hangover is this bad, I must have had a good time.” She puttered around her apartment for a bit getting ready for the day, she wasn’t expected anywhere until noon so she had time.

 

It was odd travelling around Othard and Kugane, she still felt a little weird about how everyone assumed she was a local, it was so different from Eorzea where everyone assumed she was foreign. The feeling of not belonging anywhere used to bother her when she was younger, but after her mother told her that she shouldn’t think of it as belonging to nowhere, but rather she belonged everywhere she began to see things in a new light. She wasn’t an Eorzean, despite growing up there, she wasn’t of the steppe despite her people’s long history there. She was of Hydaelyn, and no matter where she travelled, she belonged. Sure some areas might be harder to travel to, Hingashi,and Garlemeld might not be the most friendly to visitors, but Oyun was sure she would get the chance to visit them at some point.

 

***

 

As Oyun entered the hostelry she pushed the cap a bit further up her forehead, now that she was out of the sun, it didn’t need to be kept so low. Spotting Asta behind the counter she waved hello and walked over while pulling out a few envelopes from her pouch. She looked up from her pouch to notice Asta with a mischievous grin on her face. “Hey Asta, I’ve got some letters for you here, … it looks like you’re in a good mood. Did something amazing happen?” Asta was always full of interesting stories, one of the benefits of working in the hostelry.

“Maybe” the miqo’te replied “Maybe not~! Really, I think I should be asking you that question instead, yeah?"

Oyun’s grin grew to match Asta’s. “Ah so I take it last night was fun? Did I sing again? I told you never to let me sing. Also what was that we were drinking?”

"Nope. No singing. Not this time, at least. Last night we met with some peddlers from the -- ah -- The Steppes? They were real mad that you didn't know 'bout the kumis. There was an Au Ra fellow too -- thought that since you had the same last name, you must be a long-lost sister of his. Next thing I know, he's trying to start an initiation ritual!"

“And what did that involve?”

"He wouldn't let me join! So I've got no clue. I assume it meant two things though: alcohol and kumis. But none of that is the reason why I'd be asking you if something happened~”

 Asta glanced over Oyun’s shoulder stifled a laugh and said “Oh! I should get back to work. You know how she gets if I chat too long."

 

Puzzled Oyun watched her scurry away, she then felt a tug on her pant leg, she turned around and looked down to see a Namazu staring up at her.

“My betrothed” it said “It’s lovely to see you yes, yes! The innkeep said you would be in today. We need to start making plans for our triumphant return to the Steppe yes, yes.”

 Oyun’s hand went to her horn, and she unconsciously began stroking it.  She needed to get out of this somehow without hurting the Namazus feelings. How? She had no idea.