Hancock Fitzgerald

He feels a cold shiver running all down his spine. That’s probably the same gaze that felled gods and despair itself.

“Y-Yes…?”

A cough. “….I shall set aside sufficient funds.”

“And protect this humble merchant from any imminent danger~” He says with a wink through his glasses.

His grin stretches a little wider. “You won’t mind chaperoning me a little further than our usual Mount Rokkon this time?”

If you stop by our office, certainly! I can prepare some as you make your way over.

Ah! Shall we go now, then?

“Hm…I trust in Tataru’s stock in that case, then.” He smiles, looking excited for the adventure.

“…I believe they call this blackmail, Aayu-san.”

Dango and I want some 😭😭

“Is Ishgard really as cold as they say?”

He laughs. “Oh, it still very much is. But the occasional break /does/ make for better performance in the long run.”

“Waitwaitwaitwaitwait—“

He waves his hands frantically.

“…perhaps I can…….work around some of our budgeting?”

“…yes? Why the surprise?”

Had he a tail, it’d be whipping right now.

“….oh would you look at that! My linkpearl is going off…business calls, it seems….haha….”

He scurries off to a corner to collect himself—or try to, at least.

His eyes WIDEN.

“Aayu-san….you do realize the funds belong to the East Aldenard Trading Company, yes?”

He holds a finger up with a wink.

“Then I shall endeavor to get our current projects wrapped up as quickly as possible so that I may take you on that offer!”

“Tis a….sunburn?”

He grins. “Or perhaps we can make our own little journey and visit all three?”

“Oh?”

“A-Am I?” He laughs nervously.

“It…..must be the sun…I have an awfully fair complexion, you see!”

While not untrue—he’s pulling any excuse out of his ass.

He hums—that’s not something he’s thought about, with business taking a majority of the forefront of his mind.

But, there is one possible place.

“I /would/ like to see Mistress Tataru’s new boutique in Old Sharlayan, for one. And then perhaps somewhere…/much/ different from Kugane.”

“Y-Yes! Perfectly…a-okay!”

“I don’t mind that at all, my friend.”

He looks out to the horizon with a smile. “Let us enjoy the scenery for a little longer.”

His mind goes completely blank the moment her lips meet his cheek.

It renders him utterly speechless for a moment, a rare occurrence for such a silver-tongued man.

“R-Right…..”

“That is also true…”

He hums. “That depends on you, T’asir. You /are/ the one taking the lead on our trip…”

“Perhaps—but things are much too quiet around here as of late …”

“Hm?” He shifts his gaze back to her and tilts his head curiously.

“That I do.” He chuckles.

“Things are much more lively when you’re around.”

He scratches the back of his neck, also glancing away.

“…It was unexpected. But not……..unwelcome.”

Yes, yes—of course!

Next time you come by, I’ll have some ready.

He grins. “You should! But I /might/ be rather biased.”