Time and Tides Archives

Stepping into the sprawl of the city kicked up a strong sense of feeling tiny for Raine. It seemed like every time she got onto an airship (which was enough of an adjustment to make as it was!) with Laguna, they ended up somewhere larger than the place before. For someone who lived her whole life in a tiny country town, it was overwhelming to be surrounded by so much urban sprawl.

"No never," she answered, staring around herself. Raine took a deep breath, determined not to let her shock and surprise leak out too much. "Your friend lives here? Do you know where?" How did you find someone's home or even a particular person in a city so big? "Did you bring a map?"

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Putting away his slightly somber thoughts regarding both the incident in Wutai and the current dismal state of the council, Ondore decided to focus his thoughts elsewhere. He was quite surprised by the brief conversation he had with Loire, surprised by how man seemed so willing to travel all the way to Jidoor just to see an old friend. With both Lady Ashe and her husband now stationed within Figaro, the Marquis found himself with very little to do these days. Opting to purchase a home here in Lindblum, Halim began to wonder if he should lay claim over the Skysea territory. While it would be ideal for him to be closer to Figaro in case the royal couple have need for him, Ondore didn't like the thought of the Muruc Cahuac Skysea falling into Gaian hands.

As much as he is fond of Regent Cid Fabool, the Marquis held very little fondness for other royals native to Gaia. However, such a thought would not be thought of again for the remainder of the day. Instead, he focused on locating Laguna and his newly arrived wife here within the bustling crowd. It may have been divine intuition but Halim doubted that the President of Esthar could find his way through Lindblum's crowded streets. That is why he opted to go search for them himself.

Standing out from the crowd dressed in his usual stately attire, the Marquis awaited near the air docks in hopes of finding the duo. Luckily, it seems that fortune was on his side since he spotted Laguna quite easily. "Svagatam, strangers!" He greeted the two with a bright smile.

"I trust your voyage to Lindblum was a peaceful one."

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Laguna didn't even have to answer when he heard Ondore's voice. He waved slightly and lead the way to the man. "See, I didn't even need a map," Laguna grinned at Raine. "Hi, Halim!"

When they were together finally, he wrapped an arm around Raine's shoulders. "Halim, this is Raine. Raine, this is Halim Ondore, the man I told you about."

Psh, forget titles. This was suppose to be fun and casual. Something to get all their minds of troubling times as Gaia seemed to be full of them lately. Death, sickness, it was all stuff that shouldn't be happening but was. And it seemed to be because of their arrivals.

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Raine rolled her eyes and shook her head at the 'no map needed' declaration. She'd heard enough stories about Laguna from Kiros to realize that the man without a map was a bad idea. Still, he did have a point since his friend found him first.

"It's very nice to meet you, Halim," she said with a warm smile and holding out her hand. "I think we spoke before." No need in bringing up where or the realization that circumstances were far from the norm.

And as part of the norm, Raine started off by shaking a finger at Laguna. "You really should have invited him over instead of making him entertain us."

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Smiling pleasantly at Raine, the Marquis was quite surprised but flattered by how humbly Laguna introduced him. Even when spending time with his niece, these fancy long-winded titles always got in the way. The Royals of Ivalice never had a chance to settle down and just be themselves, even amongst family most still remain painfully proper. Therefore, it was quite refreshing not to worry about such now amongst friends. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Raine." Halim chose to call her by her given name considering that Laguna didn't introduce her as 'Mrs. Loire'.

Taking her hand within his, he gave it a firm shake before the lovely woman turned her sights upon her husband to scold him. "No, no. It is quite alright." Halim said with a chuckle. "I do not mind inviting you both my home. I've been tethered to Lindblum for quite some time now, business of course." Businesses and politics but to hell with the politics today.

"You see, I am a novelist and as of late--I've been studying both Lindblum and its people because of a new book I am writing.”

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"H-Hey! I wasn't gonna make him entertain us!" Laguna shot back, though he was pouting slightly. "I just didn't want to make him take an airhsip to Jidoor! 'Sides, you need to get out more. C'mon, we got a huge city to check out and Halim needs time to just relax."

When Halim came to his defense, Laguna smirked and crossed his arms. How old was he? "See, told you!"

Oh, that's right! "How is that novel coming, anyway? I have to admit, it makes me miss writing articles about the world back home."

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This was the point where Halim was going to get a first hand look at the Loires' interaction with each other. Even without the awkward seventeen year gap, Laguna still acted like the younger of the two of them. While privately, Raine actually found it fairly amusing, especially as the months apart had softened her disposition towards his silliness, she still couldn't not react to it with one of her signature I-don't-find-that-amusing-Laguna looks.

"There's nothing wrong with staying home where it's not so huge and sprawling," she insisted. Although she never dreamed she'd have come to refer to Jidoor as home either, people were so snotty there. Worse than the busybodies of Winhill. "And stop acting like a child. You're gloating."

Lecture delivered, Raine turned her attention back to Halim. "May I ask what the novel is about, or is that secret until it is finished?"

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Eying the darling couple with a slightly bewildered look, Halim began to wonder what in the name of Faram did he signed up for. The two possessed the appearance of Newlyweds for they were both quite youthful in form and demeanor but the pair argued like an 'old married couple' instead. It was quite vexing but definitely, the most entertaining bantering he's seen outside of the council. There was a certain level of playfulness between Raine and Laguna, one that reminded him of the days he would watch his sister duke it out verbally with poor Raminas.

"I take it she's not fond of cities..." Halim muttered more to himself than towards Laguna. Allowing a smile to grace his gently aged features, Halim finally found an intermission between the two so he could mention his book.

"Nay, it is no secret! Unlike my first novel, the one that Laguna mentioned, the second takes place here in the city of Lindblum. Unlike my previous work which was a historical novel set in the exotic lands of Ivalice, this newest endeavor is a fiction featuring two young lovers torn asunder by societal judgment." He would go into more details about this project later but for now, it would be best for them to explore the wonder that is Lindblum.

"Is a tour in order? If so, allow me to act as your guide for the day." Halim said as he ushered the two along.

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Laguna raised a brow and huffed. "Yeah, well, you're acting like a mom. You're nagging!"

So, he was writing two now? Sweet! Laguna nodded with a grin. "Now that sounds entertaining. I wanna read it when you finish!" Of course, this also reminded him that it had been awhile since he had put up one of his secret articles on the network. Well, he hadn't visited Lindblum before. And he was going to get a tour! May as well try and remember everything now.

"If you don't mind being a guide, that would be fantastic," Laguna said, patting the man on the back. The whole time, he never let go of Raine's hand.

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"I am a mom..." she murmured, more for herself than anything. Raine was still very much disturbed by finding Ellone a grown woman, and having only a few precious minutes with their baby before turning up here. Not to mention that she'd barely exchanged more than a few words with that surly young man who was supposed to be her son. Steeling herself against those gloomy thoughts until later, she hissed under her breath, "And I'm not nagging."

Still, even for all the bickering, there was no mistaking the pair for newlyweds. Hand holding aside, each time Raine looked at Laguna, which was quite often, there was unveiled adoration lighting her eyes. She was a practical woman and knew his shortcomings all too well, but her fierce devotion to him won out over irritation at his quirks. The long months of being separated only helped fuel her delight at being with him again.

So after stealing one long look at her husband, Raine finally pried her attention away from him and back to Halim. "As long as it's no imposition," she replied to his offer at playing tour guide. "I'd be very interested in reading your work sometime too. It sounds fascinating." In fact, the writing sounded far more interesting to her than traipsing all over the city, but she had enough manners not to decline the offer, especially when Laguna seemed so keen on the idea.

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Laguna's unbridled eagerness and Raine's more demure sensibility truly did remind him of the days of his sister and King Raminas but the two vaguely reminded him of the royal couple. Ashe and Rasler were both still young but with personalities that would clash lightly against these newlyweds. They both were soft spoken and humble, that is as long as Rasler doesn't agitate his lovely wife by admiring the other lovelies. Then the two would perfectly match Laguna and Raine but only in the idea, that Ashe's nagging tend to have a potential of becoming something fiercer than just words.

"It is honestly no imposition at all. Lindblum is the kind of city that one can never grow bored of, even if they lived here all their lives." A little truth he picked up from some of the locals here. "In any case, we shall make our way to the Business District first before making way to the Theater District. I am sure the local bazaars may strike your fancy."

Leading them down along the cobblestone streets, one thing about Lindblum that is obvious to any tourist is that it's packed here. The kingdom was a thriving metropolis unlike the suburban lands of Alexandria, a kingdom that mirrors more Dalmasca or Archades in population and architecture. It was of course not as advanced as either one but Lindblum held a certain level of charm to make up for such a truth. However, little did Halim realize that his two honored guests hail from an age far more advanced than his realm.

"Laguna, I think you would be humored to know that the citizens here are quite interested in the gadgets created and brought by Sky People. This perhaps would explain why the Linblumnites are so fond of us wayfarers unlike other kingdoms of Gaia. They crave for knowledge and find us to be quite interesting.” He stated once they walked past a vegetable stand. An awful smell emanated from that stand however, the scent of those awful gysahl pickles.

“Hrm… I still cannot fathom why anyone would eat a vegetable likened to a malboro fruit.” Halim muttered in mild annoyance.

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Laguna caught his mistake there and he gave Raine's hand a squeeze before smirking again when she still said she didn't nag. "Yes, you do. But you put up with me, so it's okay." And here, he gave her a kiss at her temple. From here, they were lead to the Business District as promised by Halim.

Lindblum, while not as advanced as even Dollet or, most definitely, Esthar, had a charm all on its own. It was almost like walking down the street where a festival was taking place, minus the dancers and whatnot. But the stands and marketplace just reminded him greatly of it. When he got to the awful smelling stand, he nearly gagged. "Ew, malboro fruit?! That's just disgusting."

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The blast of odor from the pickle cart turned Raine's stomach and a hand flew up to protect her nose. "They eat that?" she asked in disbelief. She made a point of veering away from the obscene smell and nearer another one of the stalls.

"Aside from whatever that that smell was, it reminds me a lot of Winhill here. Only bigger, much bigger." She glanced up, as the shadow of yet another air cab passed overhead. "More air traffic too." The cobblestone streets and houses were very similar to the simple country landscape she knew so well. The presence of stalls out in the business district reminded her of the village festivals. "All we need is Ellone prancing around with flowers in her hair and it'd be a perfect match."

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