Onsen Omake (Semi-Open OOC Welcome)

[Elyscia]

(Disclaimer: I have no idea what I'm doing, Warren dragged me here.)

 

Everything below the miqo'tes nose was submerged in the water of the hot springs as she peered at the large highlander male on the other side of their pool.

Though she was looking at him, Elyscia wasn't actually thinking about him; her thoughts were over how she got to this place.

 

Her partner wanted to treat her to some moments of relaxation, and was somehow entered into something called a 'raffle' where he won... this. This all-expenses-paid trip of super-fancy-folk bathing?

 

'Whatever.' Elyscia shook her head and submerged the rest of herself under the water, and began to blow bubbles - she was always such a child.

[Warren Castille]

(I'M NOT BEING THE BIG LONELY DOOF AT THE HOT SPRINGS, DAMMIT)

 

Warren had zoned out. He was just considering that perhaps the whole scheme was a trick to lure him away from Ul'dah for some nefarious dastardly sneak attack when he heard a low noise coming from across him.

 

Bubbling.

 

Red hair and ears were facing in his direction and a hidden mouth was puttering idly. Warren considered his options and did the most appropriate response. With his own face sunk into the pool up to the nose, he started blowing bubbles.

[Elyscia]

Popping her ears up, she could hear more bubbles and she flung her head up to see who would dare challenge her. Of course, it couldn't be anyone else other than the highlander who she recognised - barely.

 

Narrowing her eyes at him, Elyscia took a deep breath with her nose and.. blew more bubbles with some force.

[Warren Castille]

He didn't realize he was starting some sort of war, but Warren wasn't about to lose to some kitten playing in the water. He lifted his mouth just above the rocking surface of the pool and inhaled deeply, puffing his chest up with fresh air before resubmerging and blowing hard out of his mouth AND nose.

 

Let's see some catgirl beat that.

[111]

Natalie taps her jaw, "Not boyfriend, but unrequited love?" She pats his arm, "Don't worry, love always finds a way. But no one likes a stalker. Maybe just tell him how you feel?"

 

She stretches, "Well it's your fault he passed out. Let me tell you a secret about Kage.

When he passes out, he can only be woken a very specific way. Some sort of residual effect from his transformation no doubt. It loses it's effect over time though, so I can't do it again today."

 

"So you're going to have to give him the wake up kiss." She nods in all apparent seriousness.

[Elyscia]

'Oh Gods.'

 

 

The sight of the man vehemently blowing bubbles out at her nearly made her drown - she laughed, and had to quickly surface as she spluttered the water out and coughed, wiping her face with her hand and glancing at him rather shyly.

 

"Bloody Hells, Mister.." her voice was croaked and she tried to clear her throat.

[Warren Castille]

All at once the bubbling stopped.

 

...Dammit.

 

He stayed submerged for a long moment, blinking once and watching as a girl he recognized sputtered and splashed. Once she spoke he slowly rose out of the pool, his eyes looking away and his expression clearly one of embarrassment.

 

"Er... Ms. Rose. I didn't, uh... recognize you...?" He rubbed the back of his neck and grimaced. "I was just engaging in your hijinx. You know how it is. Vacation and all...?"

 

He didn't sound terribly convincing, but he couldn't afford to let his reputation or demeanor be jeopardized!

[Elyscia]

His embarassment and awkwardness of the situation was making it worse for her - she could feel her face redden, and it definitely wasn't due to the heat from the springs.

 

"....Mister - uhm...?" Furrowing her brows, she knew he sounded, smelled, and looked familiar, but couldn't exactly remember his name. 

"-Mister Warden? S'that you? Bloody Hells, what're you doin' 'ere? 'N' ah don' bleedin' ken what yer oan 'bout! Ah wis here firs' 'n' ah blow when ah bloody feel like it. S'Victory here 'n' all?"

 

She sat on the rocky 'steps' by the side of the pool as the bottom of her chin touched the water, and looked around the area as though the large chocobo would appear out of nowhere.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Natalie's "request" sent him into shock. "NO WAY IN THE BLOODY HELLS AM I KISSING HIM! I've got a wife and child back home in Garlemald for bloody sake's!"

 

What could only be described as an awkward silence followed. One, he lost his temper. Two, he lost his cover. Three, the idea that giving Kage a "wake-up kiss" was even an option.

 

He waited for what would follow, himself surprised at some of what he'd blurted about. A thought lingered in his mind "I /have/ a wife and child?"

[Warren Castille]

Warren wasn't sure whether she was misremembering his name or addressing him with a title, so he let it go.

 

"I doubt anyone except maybe you would like it if Victory splashed down on these people during their vacation." He gestures an arm out at the various crowds, all happily frolicking and running here and there. A blonde in a bikini with her hair done up in a ponytail jumped up and down off in the distance, excitedly calling out to whoever would look at her.

 

"Whoooooo! Hot springs! This is the best, right?!"

 

Warren let his hand splash down into the pool.

 

"Looks like everyone's off having fun."

[Kage]

The yell jolted Kage awake, springing off the bed looking for his sword. His hand did not reach one as he both did not have one there and he had clumsily fallen in his forgetfulness that he was a Miqo'te.

 

"GO BACK TO GARLEMALD YE TWELVE-DAMNED GARLEAN MERCENARY! Ye took Frhanz!" Kage hissed before pausing. The man had a wife? And child?

 

Kage just blinked confused before crawling over to Natalie, protectively. "She ain't yer wife! Is this what this trip's all about?"

[111]

Natalie blushes, and reaches over to hold Porkchop's hand, "Didn't I tell you? This is a honeymoon."

[Kage]

Kage spluttered. There was no other word for it but that. Spit flew just a little as his face flushed red with anger and hurt as he stood up, glaring at the Garlean.

 

"You! YOU!!"

 

He grit his teeth before releasing a deep breath. He blinked tears from his eyes as he turned to Natalie.

 

"Is he what you want Natalie? This big hulking menace of a Garlean? This man?"

[Elyscia]

Elyisc'a red, matted ears pressed down against the side of her head when the blond hyur girl squealed out and she grimaced at her general direction. 

 

Her expression relaxed slightly when she looked at the hyur man, though, "Ah dunno, Mister Warden.. Ah think ah'd have mare fun if Victory wis here.. Ah like choc'bo's mare than folk, 'n' mebbe Victory'd like t'have ah bath 'n' all. Dae ya give him baths?" The miqo'te tilts her head and her eyes widen, showing her interest in hearing about his bird friend.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Merc just chuckled, noting out loud, "so I would have to assume this is how Natalie is with everyone?"

Looking at the mess of a miqo'te that would be Kage, he felt it necessary to speak now, for fear that Kage would faint again. "Er...no. Hold your chocobos, or whatever that saying is. She's all yours." He moved his hand away and looked around the room for an escape. "If I was planning on ruining your life some more, I'm sure I could have come up with a better plan than landing a relationship with someone who looks half my age."

 

"And like I just said, I've already got a family....I think?" In a quieter voice, nearly a whisper to himself "I mean, who else could that woman and girl have been? They were staring right at me....and those eyes." No matter how hard he tried to think of that dream, there was nothing more he could remember. 

 

Looking Kage directly in the eyes, "do me a favor, even if I don't deserve it. Don't faint again, just because your worst enemy and your best friend can hold a conversation."

 

And looking at Natalie, he couldn't help but give a defeated sigh at being called "porkchop" yet again. "What is it with you and that nickname? Really....."

[111]

Natalie sighs, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping the spit from her face, "Calm down love, this is supposed to be vacation after all." She leans down and kisses his forehead, "And I think you need one... " she shakes her head, "You've been so angry ever since... whatever happened happened. Just trying to have a little fun."

 

"And what's wrong with Porkchop, porkchop, they're delicious." She nods, "You should be honored. Anyway I want you two to shake hands and be friends."

[Warren Castille]

Warren seemed almost amused at how easily the girl latched onto the topic.

 

"Victory? He loves baths! I don't know if he'd like it here, though. No bubbles. Well, no soap bubbles. I think he likes to pretend he's a coeurl." He gave a small grin, folding his arms over his chest. "Or a crab."

[Kage]

Kage shook his head still confused, "Natalie, if you are on a honeymoon with this... Porkchop fellow why did you want me here?"

 

He sighed noticing that his bag was at the door. He stooped to grab it as he said softly, "I'll go back and take my stuff out of your home. I don't want to intrude on your honeymoon after all."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

"...shake hands and be friends."

 

He doubted it could be /that/ simple. Given what he'd done to Kage. But at the same time, he also knew Kage valued his friends and family above all else.

 

He very calmly tries to explain to Natalie. "You know....I'm the one responsible for well....this." He's not exactly as smooth-talking when showing guilt. He wasn't sure if Natalie got the whole "Merc is responsible for Kage become a miqo'te thi"ng", so he'd have to be more specific. 

 

"Hmm, well. OK, let's try this." He removed the glamour from his head hiding the Garlean third eye. "This is me. I am a Garlean and I signed up for an experiment to get artificial aether reserves. And well, I think Kage can tell you how well they worked. Let's just say lots of things went bloody wrong, and I was dumped into Thanalan without any memories of my life. A series of bad decisions and bad employers, and I found myself at the Ceruleum Processing Plants handling a kidnapping, which is where I met Kage. You try imagining what to do when you're half-crazy. Of course I went after the little bugger. Things progressed pretty normally during my anger management "issues" period and I met a certain hyuran woman who was probably the only link to my past. Fast forward a bit and I kidnapped Kage and I think you've seen the rest yourself, or the important bits. Oh, and Frhanz died. Sorta. It's complicated to explain, but let's just say there's an echo of his memories, skills, and experiences in me and not go into aether-theory."

 

It was wordy, probably a terrible idea, and if he was lucky, maybe Natalie wouldn't be debating whether to fall asleep or to kill him on the spot. If he was going to make any amends for what he'd done, he'd have to give the full story eventually, and hiding who he was wasn't helping.

 

Getting it out was good too, as the stress with trying to manage hiding the truth was gone. He sighed, "so if you really think we can be on friendly terms after that, I'm all for it. I don't expect Kage to forgive and forget the terrible things I've done, nor do I expect things will simply 'get better' without the effort involved. "

 

"But also imagining waking up one day and realizing how much of your life you take for granted. Friend. Family. Not being dumped out of your country. I don't have those, and can't even remember how my life led up to that. Hells, I was probably the most surprised when I blurted out I might have a wife and daughter, even if I can't go 'home' ".

 

At this point Merc was defenseless, vulnerable, and pretty much man-sobbing. It much have looked utterly ridiculous. He didn't know why he felt comfortable letting so much information out, and simply attributed it to another one of Frhanz's habits. The elezen had certainly like to talk endlessly, and couldn't have been defenseless while doing so.

 

"So there you have it. Do with me what you will. I think we all know a jail probably won't get very far."

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Kage shook his head still confused, "Natalie, if you are on a honeymoon with this... Porkchop fellow why did you want me here?"

 

He sighed noticing that his bag was at the door. He stooped to grab it as he said softly, "I'll go back and take my stuff out of your home. I don't want to intrude on your honeymoon after all."

 

 

Natalie sighs, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping the spit from her face, "Calm down love, this is supposed to be vacation after all." She leans down and kisses his forehead, "And I think you need one... " she shakes her head, "You've been so angry ever since... whatever happened happened. Just trying to have a little fun."

 

 

((Kage, I think this was directedd at you))

 

 

"And what's wrong with Porkchop, porkchop, they're delicious." She nods, "You should be honored. Anyway I want you two to shake hands and be friends."

 

 

((And this at Unnamed Mercenary))

[Oscare]

Meandering his way through the poor man's streets next to the Pearl Lane, Oscare took a glance at both directions. It's sickening to see how the busiest street of the city doesn't even bat an eye towards this slump. These thoughts prompted Oscare to spit at the general direction towards Pearl Lane.

 

Until a voice boomed and rung his ears.

 

"EVERYONE IS A WINNER!" The sound almost echoed in the open city walls -- an impressive feat. Shoving hands down his pockets, Oscare slips his way out of the slump streets into rich people neighborhood, checking what's up with all the commotion. 

 

Just a boring old raffle for some trip to Bronze Lake. Not worth it. Oscare thinks to himself, studying the passing citizens.

[Unnamed Mercenary]

Just a boring old raffle for some trip to Bronze Lake. Not worth it. Oscare thinks to himself, studying the passing citizens.

 

The lalafellin merchant continues chanting for attention. "COME ONE, COME ALL! Everyone's a winner!"

 

"We've had so many /fabulous/ winners today! Trips to the Bronze Lake, a resort in the Forgotten Springs, tickets to our eating content held soon, AND SO. MANY. MORE!" He dances around for attention.

 

"Why you Ser! Tall, dark and highlander. Won't you give it a try? It's only 100 gil, and as I've said, EVERYONE'S A WINNER!"

[111]

"It was a joke Kage!" She smiles and shakes her head at him, "As if anyone else besides you would put up with me."

 

Natalie walks over and grabs Kage's hand, then grab's Porkchop's with her other hand. She pulls the two closer and holds their hands together with her own. "That was a lot of words Porkchop. So many words the beginning words spilled out to make room for the later ones, so I'm not really sure exactly what you were saying. But it seems you and Kage have a history."

 

She pups their hands up and down as if it was a shake, then grips it incredibly, tightly, her smile widening into something feral and dark, "But I'm not going to let it ruin this hotspring trip." Her nails dig into their hands, "So are you two going to be friends? Or will I have to initiate friendship making plan B?"

[Elyscia]

Warren seemed almost amused at how easily the girl latched onto the topic.

 

"Victory? He loves baths! I don't know if he'd like it here, though. No bubbles. Well, no soap bubbles. I think he likes to pretend he's a coeurl." He gave a small grin, folding his arms over his chest. "Or a crab."

 

"Ah crab? Why's ah crab? Ah'v no seen a coeurl but are they no'-like all mean 'n' rough 'n' shite? Victory is nae any o' that! He wis nae 'round me 'least! If yer 'round Limsa come t'me work - ah work wae takin' care ah choc'bos 'n' ah'd bloody gie Victory th'best bleedin' bubbly bath he'd ever 'av!"

 

Elyscia brightly smiles in thought of making a bubble-beard on Warren's chocobo, and she waddles through the water, making sure that she doesn't expose any skin below her chin until she's only a few fulms away from the giant highlander man, and speaking as she makes the journey.

 

"Dae ah still get t'ride Victory? Y'said ah could las' time we met ea'chother.. that wis bloody ages ago... S'Miss Nannybee mad at'cha 'n' all?"

[Warren Castille]

Warren shakes the thought of this teensy miqo'te girl sudsing up his chocobo. He'd heard stories of Brass Blades taking their mounts in for a wash just to leer at the cute girls doing the deed and felt a knot of revulsion in his gut.

 

"You've never seen a crab bubble up into a frothy mess? It's a strange sight to see. I swear, that 'bo of mine thinks he's anything EXCEPT a chocobo. Part crab, part auroch, part train."

 

He watches her float towards him, just a face above the water with a shimmery body beneath the surface and laughs at the absurdity of it.

 

"I haven't actually ever met Nanabe. All of my work with her was through Ul'dah. I hope things turned out alright for her. Regarding Victory, though, if you wanted to you can still ride him. He'll probably go a lot easier with you on his back, though. He's a gentleman when it comes to kids and women."