Lonely Man (A Red Wings RP Tale)
{Its been awhile I know. Hopefully life lets me tell more stories here again. Here is a little story coming out of a recent RP. Timeline let’s say its vaguely present. Let me know if you like it.}
It was somewhere, it could have been anywhere. The quiet club bore nothing much of a regional look. While it was within the lands of the Garlean Empire, its distance from the capitol left it more to the style of those who came and went along the crossroads from Imperial lands to the Eorzean lands of the south. Here the war was something that happened elsewhere. Here people lived ordinary lives and cared little for the world and more for their own struggles.
The electric lights held a dim effect over the darkly lit bar, their hold strongest upon the stage. The light seemed drawn to the sultry and soft voice found standing easily upon the stage along the back wall. Her voice called to the few warm bodies sitting about. Their lives of hardship eased by her beauty and her song.
The soft creak of the door went unnoticed by all but the bartender, who silently nodded with his trademark liar’s smile. Something seemed dishonest with him, not in the common way, but dishonest in his happiness. His eyes were so sad, they gave him away. The man who had entered and nodded back. Despite the feeling he gave off Anton had grown to liked the bartender. He approached his usual stool and sat sideways. He liked watching the singer in here while he talked with the only man in this fucking settlement that he actually liked. “Evening Lu.” he said to the bartender as casually as he did every night.
“Anton, usual?” he replied with that self same liar’s smile. Anton wasn’t sure sometimes if Lu liked him or not, but lonely men cannot be picky with friends. “Please. How long has Edyis been on?” The one-eyed barman poured Anton’s drink as he replied. “It’s her second song I think. Not sure really, been payin’ attention to that redhead at the the last table. I like'em a bit bigger than little Edy.” Anton liked Lu, but hated his accent. He had been working out of Ala Mhigo for a few years and the bartender’s Gyr accent could get grating if Lu got chatty. Opposite that was Edyis’ accent. She sounded like every girl he had ever loved all in one. She wasn’t Garlean but she sure as hells sounded like she was. He would do anything to just sit and listen to her forever.
As she finished her song she caught his eyes with a quick wave. He held his drink up as a salute to her. She began her next song, but he could swear, her eyes never left his.
As the song drifted out over the sad room of sad people, Anton found himself drifting with it. Lu washed the glasses left by a few academy kids that had left them with no tip. Anton sighed and then chuckled at his friend’s irritated face. “She is something, isn’t she Lu? I think I’m in love.” Lu continued his work, part of his mind still on those damn kids, “Who, Edy? She’s a nice girl, sure. But you ain’t the only one in love, mate.” he said, pointing out at the other love sick shacks in the bar, inspecting the songstress and her tailor’s handiwork. Anton felt a ping of jealousy. “Well they don’t feel like I do Lu. I really think I love her. And the way she talks to me, I think she loves me too.” Lu’s scarred eyebrow cocked as he grinned wide, “Oh? Love now is it? Well good luck brother on that one.” Anton waved to his friend, “No Lu I’m serious. In fact she left me this.” he said as he handed the bartender a small note. The stationary was like tissue paper almost, a hint of cherry over it. The bartender’s eyes got as wide as his smile as he read it, “Well, isn’t that all lady-like.” he chuckled as he handed it back. “There are published monthly books that put letters like that in between their pictures mate. You gonna run off together or do I have time to plan a bachelor party?” Anton laughed, less at what was said and more because of the kindness of his friend.
Edyis finished her song and with a sweet wave she excused herself and took her break, making her way to the bar and the two men there. “Can I get a spring water, Lu? The smoke in here is so bad tonight.” Lu winked at her, “Sure, Love.” She sat and ran her hands down her dress, smoothing it before she turned and smiled into Anton’s eyes, “I was afraid I had scared you off.” Anton blushed despite himself as Lu answered for him, “Not with that little love note. Running from that would make me question this fella.” Edyis fiend anger as she playfully slapped Anton’s leg, “Gods you let him read it?” Anton was flustered, “I…uh.” All of it faded away when she laughed. “It’s fine hon.” Anton smiled with relief. Her intention was clear. She wanted him to be with her.
She had come to the bar a month or so before from the south he had heard, not long after Lu had bought the place, a long line of owners in this dead end settlement. Anton himself worked for the Empire, though his work was unusual. He lived here, but before the loss of Ala Mhigo by the southern insurgences he had operated as a resource procurer. The Gyr locals had not paid much attention to him. He had not worn a uniform and had only two eyes. He even paid for his supplies. So after the fall, the Empire recognized that he would not be noticed coming and going as he had always done. He did as he always did, head south, gather resources, and come home, only now he had his men tell him things. The would tell him of soldiers and numbers, of details, and he would tell those above him. A generous finders fee now made its way into his monthly salary. He would take her from the eyes of this bar with that money. He would save her.
“Anton… mate.” He snapped out of his thoughts as Lu called him. He looked startled. Edyis laughed, “You work too hard hon, dozing off?” He laughed, “Just lost in thought.” Edy smiled and stood, “I need to take care of something in my dressing room before I go back on Anton. Can you help me with that?” The man nearly fell out of his chair as she spoke over her shoulder, walking to the back rooms. Anton felt a panic like he had not felt since a young man. He looked to his friend as if to ask him the question of existence. Lu smiled, polishing a glass, “Anton buddy, if you need me to tell you what'ta do here, then we may have'ta rethink our friendship.” Anton nodded and jumped to his feet, all but running.
Lu smiled as he looked around and counted the heads still in the bar, “1…2…3…… let me see, 7?” he thought to himself as he walked over the only door in or out and bolted it. Most died so fast they didn’t have time to realize what was happening. All but Anton, his screams made it clear he knew, and gave the other patrons something to focus on as their own brutal ends found them.
They stood there in the light snow watching the tavern burn for a bit. He had given her his coat and held her close, he was better suited to cold then she was. As they watched Erik commented to Clio, “You ok?” She nodded, feeling nothing for the man she had killed, but for something else, “It was just nice, you know? Being here, sort of away from the way our lives are. To see sort of what could have been…Never-mind, its silly.” He held her firmer, “No it is not. I understand it. It is just….” She turned to him, “What?” Erik smiled, “I will miss the singing. Maybe I should open a bar.” Clio playfully smacked him, “Oh shove it, let’s go home before I freeze to death.” The both smiled and walked off into the night.
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