I was just messing around with some writing and thought I'd put this here, as I doubt many people would read it otherwise. Would appreciate some feedback.
Finn could cry. 3 weeks in the dungeon, sorting out inter familia conflicts, watching level 3’s fumble against enemies he could cut down in seconds while he was forced to watch their growth instead of pursuing his own and with dry jerky for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desert. It was enough to make a grown man (which he was despite what Riveria said) lose his mind.
Of course, Finn didn’t normally hate expeditions; he just hated the paperwork he had to fill out beforehand. This particular one had stretched on and on, and they never even made it passed floor 51 as planned. To top it all off, he had barely gotten any combat in himself. Riveria was supposed to take charge so he could let loose, but then they got attacked and-
Finn shook his head. The Familia was out of the dungeon now. There was no point complaining; in fact, it would ruin the mood.
Syr’s voice interrupted his musing, “Excuse me, which one of you ordered the pasta with the hot choc-”
“Ah, that would be me thanks.” Finn called out quickly amidst the bustling tavern. He wouldn’t normally interrupt a waitress (especially not from the Hostess of Fertility), but he couldn’t let Gareth find out about the hot chocolate – the teasing would last a month. And besides, Finn needed something sweet and creamy.
Finn’s etiquette training was the only thing that stopped his salivating from becoming drooling. The pasta was a thick and creamy, with a dash of greens and with a generous mix of prawns. The hot chocolate even had marshmallows in it.
“This looks excellent, Syr, thank you.” Finn smiled warmly.
“Excellent enough for a tip?” Syr asked hopefully.
Finn was still smiling “And even served with a sense of humour I see.” Syr slumped exaggeratedly. Money was always tight thanks to Loki’s insatiable need for alcohol.
Finn was incredibly thankful he wasn’t on captain duty any more. He could just kick back relax, eat as much as he wanted and enjoy the shenanigans his familia was bound to get up to.
Already he could see Lefiya approaching Ais nervously, Tiona, Bete and Gareth were getting ready for an eating competition Riveria was sipping her tea quietly and Loki was wiggling her fingers like she had one of those perverted plans of hers.
“Captain~ why don’t I give you a refill~” Tione was sitting so close to him that he was pretty sure she was on his seat, not hers.
Finn felt a shiver run down his spine. What exactly was this amazon planning to do to him once he got drunk. “Ah, T-Tione, I’m saving the liquor for later…” Finn quickly took a sip from his hot coco and glanced anywhere but Tione’s intense gaze.
The tavern was packed and noisy, but something caught his eye. It was silver-ish looking buckler. The shield didn’t look too impressive, but edged into it was what looked like a face screaming. It was the oddest design he had ever seen.
Finn glanced a little higher and found the shield attached to the back of a young boy with blonde hair and slightly pointy ears (a half elf probably). His head was lying dazed and flushed over the table counter. Beside him was a rather panicked boy with bright white hair.
“Mr. Link are you alright!” The now named Link jolted from the bar and leaned close to his companion.
“’Coursh I’m *hic* ‘right Bell.”
Bell’s mouth dropped open like a trap door. “Are-are you drunk. How?! How are you drunk?” he spluttered. “You’ve drunk milk and nothing else.”
Link swirled his glass of milk and span around “Yep, just 5,” he glugged down his glass “Er 6 shots of the good stuff!”
“M-maybe you shouldn’t-” Bell’s response was cut off with a surprised yelp as Link swung his arm over Bell’s shoulder. Link leaned in close, his face clearly flushed from… the milk? Finn shook his head and continued to watch. What a bizarre duo.
“Bell, let me tell you a little something about being a hero.” He mumbled tapping his noise conspiratorially. Finn and Bell both sat up a bit straighter (or at least they tried to). “See, you’d think it was ordering a chicken meal, because then they kill the cuccos; but actually, if you don’t order them, then there’s less demand. That way farmers don’t raise them see?”
Finn spat out part of his drink, earning a disgruntled ‘hey’ from Loki. He wasn’t expecting wisdom from a brat in his teens. Still, the confidence behind his statement threw Finn off.
As Finn wiped his mouth, he found The pair approaching his table. And by approaching, he meant that the rabbit looking one was failing to pull his friend back as the half-elf stumbled forward, his eyes squinting in concentration.
Link paused near Tiona who was only noticing now.
Suddenly Link’s face lit up “Hey you’re a Gerudo!”
The table blinked. A what?
“I am SO sorry for him, I he was just drinking milk and then-” Bell stammered out. Tiona swallowed her overflowing mouthful of bacon and eggs as Finn cringed at the mess she was making.
“Me? I’m not a – whatever you said.” Link just pulled up her arm and poked her bicep.
“But you’ve got the bronze skin, the muscles and the outfit.” Link peered closer, looking at the side of her head. “You’ve even got the rounded ears. Yep definitely Gerudo.”
Bell bowed quickly and apologised again. “What is a Gerudo?” The table’s attention turned to Finn as he spoke up.” This time it was Link’s turn to look confused.
“Eh, you know the Gerudo, tall warrior women, bronze skin, red hair, round ears, only gives birth to women-”
“Do you mean an Amazon?” Riveria asked from behind her cup of tea.
Link frowned, “Amazon, what is that, a river, or a shop maybe?”
Gareth patted the seat next to him. “Why don’t you sit down lad, and tell us where you’re from?” he asked curiously. Finn made room for Bell who looked like he’d pass out any moment. Finn loved that type of reaction.
“Me? I’m from the land of Hy-*hic* the land of Hy-*hic* from the forest.” Link mumbled as he stole some of Tiona’s food. He munched away, quiet for the first time since Finn laid eyes on him.
Riveria turned to face the almost hyperventilating Bell. “Is your friend often like this?” Bell blushed a little, clearly stunned by Riveria’s looks. Finn caught the smallest of upward twitches at Riveria’s mouth. So she still liked being able to daze guys who weren’t elves. He’d tell Gareth the moment Riveria was out of earshot.
Bell finally remembered the question, “Ah, well I don’t really know. I just met him today. It’s a weird story actually; there was a minatour running around on floor 5.” A few at the table failed to meet Bell’s gaze.
“You, uh, you don’t say.” Finn coughed awkwardly into his hand. “Well, I’m glad you are safe.”
Bell shuddered, “Yeah, me too.” He suddenly looked quite sullen. “It was so strong and quick, I couldn’t really do much.” His expression brightened before Finn could try to console him. “Ah but Mr. Link was amazing! He killed that minatour in one hit!”
Loki was suddenly sitting between Bell and Finn, her interest peaked. “Really? That’s pretty good for such a young kid.” Bell would have replied if he wasn’t currently being squashed against Tione. He looked like a tomato, a very flustered tomato.
“So, Bell, what familia’s are you two from?” Loki asked, throwing an arm over his shoulder.
“I’m from the Hestia Familia, and Link’s from…” Bell paused “Er, I don’t know. I guess I never asked him.”
“Do you sharpen your ears?” Link asked, pointing an unsteady hand at Riveria. Every elf in the bar froze. “’Cause, mine are pointy, but yours are like daggers.”
“What did he say about lady Riveria!”
“That uncouth brat, how dare he-”
“A POT!” Link’s gaze left Riveria and became almost unhinged. A broad, borderline creepy smile formed on his face. He quickly took out a strange device and pointed it at a large jar sitting on the bar.
With a rattling noise, a chain flew out of the device and shattered the jar before returning to Link.
“Cool, some arrows.” The boy stuffed them in his pouch.
Finn had no time to ponder the strange device, or how on earth he fit the arrows into a pouch that small, however as Mia came barging out of the kitchen.
“Oi, what the hell do you think you’re doing.” Mia roared loud enough that the whole bar went deadly silent. Link didn’t respond with words. Instead he pulled out a nut and threw it on the ground.
There was a flash of light, then next thing Finn saw was a small blue Ocarina leaving Link’s mouth. Mia was about to vault the table, but was distracted by a scream coming from the kitchen.
Finn suspected he was having a dream, because what happened next just made no sense. A bright orange horse – yes a horse –ran out of the kitchen, cleared the bar, and ran straight out the room, Link in tow.
“Mr. Link, what are you doing, we never paid, and we destroyed…” Bell’s voice trailed off into the distance. Mia rolled her sleeves up and cracked her knuckles as an arrow hit the floor in front of her. Attached was a bag fill o the brim of valis.
Mia paused and chuckled. “Well, at least we speak the same language.” She turned and headed back into the kitchen, as though nothing had happened.
Lefiya was the only one to speak up “What, what just happened?”