The Fishertaru, Part Deux

Poor little Flaru... I still remember that day we first met. Things sure went sour on our first meeting. There were other times that were just as bad or worse, but thankfully, our second meeting the same day has helped us bonding together.

Feeling I was missing out on good business opportunities in San d'Oria, I asked my linkshell about what could be done to make my training sessions more worthwhile. Hey, it's not like gear buys itself off at the Auction House, I still needed to plan out an upgrade before I set off again for the dunes: full Lizard armor set, and a sword. I was already following the advice of leveling Warrior with a sword as well, so I won't end up with a half-baked proficiency with that weapon comes the next time I hit the dunes.

Basically, I was told to hold onto my Fire Crystals and craft Copper and Brass ingots from the ore the worms dropped. Also have a few Winds on the side to turn Sheep Skin into Wool Threads. That sounded perfect to me, seeing how those materials take up lots of room easily in my gobbiebag. I was also told to save up on Flints and Bat Wings for a few townsfolks. And so began my Lvl 5-10 run.

After a long day of fighting outside of the city's walls, and trading inside, I figured I might as well get some rest. But as I walked towards the Residential Area, I've heard a loud whining coming from the nearby bar. I counted my flint stones... Heck, why not go in and trade some as an excuse to see what exactly's going on?

Inside was a sad spectacle. Flaru-Wuru was shouting at the barman to bring up more Grape Juice, all that while complaining about how they should have been holding Yagudo Drinks in the cellar. He went as far as ordering the barman to go buy some off the Auction House if he wanted his patronnage. Obviously, the owner didn't take too likely to that comment, and refused sending anyone out to fulfill that egocentric request. But he was making a killing off Grape Juices, so he didn't go as far as to get the drunk tarutaru kicked out of the place.

Somehow, that pity I half-felt back at the Chival River finally manifested itself to me. Gosh, I hated myself for being such a soft-hearted person. I know that makes me a big sucker for sob stories, and I knew that kind of amount of drinking meant such a story must be behind such a self-destructive behavior.

Coeurl >> Mind if I take a seat?
Flaru >> Shoo! Go away! You scare fishies!
Coeurl >> ...
Coeurl >> We're in a bar, the only fish here comes on a plate.
Flaru >> ...
Flaru >> Why you still here?
Coeurl >> I can't help but notice your heavy drinking.
Flaru >> No way! I only had a few Gwape Jooces.
Flaru >> 2-3 tops, I swear.

I playfully tipped my foot into the stacked up pile of empty bottles on the floor, bringing them to chime upon contact with each other. Flaru looked down at what he had consumed, then looked back at me, a confused look in his eyes, replacing the fury he had moments prior.

Coeurl >> Sounds like more than 2-3 to me.
Flaru >> But I only dwank a few...
Coeurl >> Well, you drank two since I got in
Coeurl >> and I haven't been here for more than 2 minutes.
Coeurl >> Add to that it takes a lot of juice to get in your state
Coeurl >> so I doubt that 'just a few' would make you that woozy.
Flaru >> I'M NOT A DWUNK!!!
Flaru >> ...DRUNK!!!

The other patrons burst in laughter!

Coeurl >> Listen... maybe it's best you drink something else
Flaru >> I know! But they won' get my Yaggie Dwink!!
Coeurl >> ...I was more thinking of water.
Flaru >> ARE YOU MAD?!? Water's for wussies!!!
Coeurl >> Then call me a furry wuss!
Flaru >> ...You make no sense...
Coeurl >> Bartender! Two glasses of water please!
Flaru >> ...I won dwink it...
Coeurl >> What can I say? I'm thirsty!

As the barman brought my two glasses of water, I gave him a wink. He smiled back, likely happy to see someone's trying to calm him down.

Coeurl takes a good gulp of water.

Coeurl >> Aaaaah! That hits the spot!
Flaru >> ...a kitty that' not afwaid of water...
Coeurl >> It's just a drink, not like I'm getting drowned in it.
Flaru >> ...Whadda ya want?
Coeurl >> Why, I'm just lonely tonight
Coeurl >> And I was wondering how your fishing session went.
Flaru >> ...it sucked.
Coeurl >> How so?
Flaru >> ...didn't impwove my skill at all.
Coeurl >> Is that why you were so rowdy with me earlier?
Flaru >> ...nah, I'm used to that...
Coeurl >> Oh? Why did you yell at me then?
Flaru >> ...
Flaru >> ...I'm sowry. I shunna have yelled at you.
Coeurl >> You're not mad at me?
Flaru >> Not rweally... Thought you were a botchecker.
Coeurl >> A botchamakallit?

Flaru-Wuru explained to me that some people in Vana'diel cheat. Instead of relying on natural abilities, they instead seek out the services of third parties to automate their actions through the use of curses. I personally suspect a certain Witch of Windurst to be behind most of that business, but I'm too attached to my life to mention her name. In short, that allows people to continue fishing even while they are sleeping. Just imagine someone standing next to a stream, throwing his line, reeling in fish regularely, while snoozing so loudly people at the other end of the zone can hear them. I suspect a strong sense of humor behind some of those curses, as some people ended up talking in their sleep, admitting to their guilt. Shows how it's important to tip the Witch.

Our conversation then lead to my initial inquiry, as to how was fishing like. He said he didn't knew much, but he was told to go fish in this area to improve his skills, and that he did that only when he had nothing better to do. When I asked why his reaction was so volatile when I interrupted him, I half-expected him to tell me because I was the umpteenth person to ask a seemingly stupid question that day. But rather, he told me that it was a personnal matter, and was very obscure about the amount of information about the source of that irkness. All I was able to deduce from the short answers he gave me was that he likely was fishing for the same reason as he was drinking : to help forget about whatever problem ailed him.

I decided not to pry any further into that topic, and instead started asking about adventuring. He told me about the life (and many deaths) of Beastmasters. I was astounded at the amounts of details he used to depict his adventures. Even more unsettling was the amount of details about how he repetitively died. He justified those grizzly tales by saying that's how he learned to become a better 'Beastmastaru'. He was able to give me pointers on monster behavior, both when idling in the wild and engaged in battle. Those tips stayed with me when I returned to adventuring, as I would be often asked to pull monsters.

That night, we simply exchanged contact information before we parted ways in the Residential Area. Little did I know we'd become the closest of friends. To give a rough idea, we're sharing the same crystal shard, ever since I lost mine in a rather unfortunate incident involving Lockpicking, a Mimic, Flee, and tripping over a sneaked/invisibled Tarutaru. I've filed the paperwork to the Jeuno Adventuring Administrative Centre, but they still haven't finished processing it, so we're stuck to going out one at a time. Flaru doesn't seem to mind though, he says the only regret he has is being unable to help me when I need some quest to be done. I wish I could help him out as well, though I'm quite more limited than he is in terms of means to reach those ends. Best I can do is become more self-sufficient, though I doubt I'll ever be as independant as any Beastmaster out there.