Costa Del Drunk

[Gildarts]

It had taken Gildarts many, many, many journeys, quests, and voyages but finally after who knew how many months he’d arrived at the Omniverse, he’d finally accumulated some “bros.” Sure, Guu was kind of his bro, but she was also a girl, and rather he was her bro, in this case.

The man’s eyes dodged from Dust, to Takezo. He hoped the samurai wouldn’t strip down to his banana boat after a few drinks. It did feel weird, everyone was being quiet on the way over, almost like they could sense Gildarts’ morose tone of thought. He had come to Vasty for one reason and one alone. To drink away the pain of losing his daughter but it had only come to happen that he wouldn’t have to do it alone. It had also been circumstantial that he’d run into Molly on the beach, serendipitous, even. He had gotten to spend time with her, try the insidious food that rhymed with snore and he’d bonded with Dust. Plus, he had found out what sports were all about. Volleyball had indeed kept his mind off of the pain, there was merit to commoner’s way of coping. To an extent.

When he’d finished the match, most of it had come flooding back. A temporary release from pleasure, oh, how he’d done that before. He was glad he’d waited to get sloshed, it was safer to drink at night and drinking prior to five pm would’ve made Gildarts feel like a scrub. They drove out here, or rather, the boat drove them, so that the King of Destruction wouldn’t have to fear killing the commoners. Dust’s speechless secondary could be resummoned if Gildarts accidentally blasted it away, as for D&T, they were Primes. They resurrected. Usually.

It was cold but the battered winds of the ocean in the evening were mostly buffed out by the small structure over the steering wheel which the party of four had sat behind. If they had been equipped with night vision, or bothered to look at the radar, they would’ve seen an army of swarming Darklings making rounds and invading the neighboring islands. But it was black, the dark corrosive creatures were covered by this shade, and protected from the ever-oblivious Strongest Prime.

“So Gildarts, is this island one of your own making, or have you been here before?” Dust asked curiously, breaking the silence. So far, the contractor was surprised that the crash mage and the samurai hadn’t bonded more, as he had with the both of them. While three was an odd number, Gildarts and Takezo both seemed to have similarities, old-fashioned views on women and how they should be treated. Limited ideas of technology, Dust was pretty sure Gildarts had only found out that phones and tablets weren’t waterproof recently.

“Uh, well…” Gildarts pondered, “I didn’t make it, but stumbled ‘on it when I broke out of an underwater prison with a mind-reading maniac. Probably should’ve not let him out of Impel Down, but well, I was honor bound and wanted to escape. They put me in there mainly because of their own government's corruption.”

“That’s uh… Interesting,” Dust quizzically deduced.

“And uh, Takezo… Don’t you think that Gildarts breaking out of an underwater prison is… Interesting?” Peacekeeper, matchmaker, call Dust what you wanted, but he was trying to get his two allies to like each other, so they’d have some common ground for the end of the night.

“I,” he responded with a huff, “Am merely surprised and impressed he did not drown.” Takezo spoke concisely and folded his arms across his chest.

Dust blinked, that could’ve been interpreted with some sass considering Shinmen didn’t use conjunctions. But Gildarts, whose head was in the clouds or rather, across the freakin’ ocean (probably with Molly) did not seem to notice in the slightest, nor was he worried about a vague acquaintance’s judgement.

Gildarts pulled out his phone for a moment and the light burned in his retinas. On the screen, before he closed it due to SCALDING PAIN the Prime had noticed several texts, voicemails left from Molly, and some notifications on OmniTwitter. “Hey Dust, what does it mean when the twitter people send you a message telling you that you’ve been hacked?”

“Uh, that you’ve been hacked. Lemme see,” Dust said and gestured that Gildarts pass his phone over.

The contractor clicked a few things on the touch screen and smiled, “Ha, it looks like it was just Molly. She exploited the weakness in your password and the Omnitwitter people say you need to change it. Molly also… Kind of posted from your account, but it doesn’t look like she said anything too uh, embarrassing.”

On the male’s lips a smile glistened, the bright screen had also dimmed his vision, but when he handed it back over to Gildarts the square shape sun remained imprinted behind his eyelids.

“Oh look! We’re here!” Gildarts proclaimed as he stood tall, proud, and firmly confident. “There’s a dock just over there that the boat should bring us to, then we port and drink!”

“Huzzah!” Takezo seconded the notion and could’ve applauded, but that was saved for performances in his land, it did not suit the modern day customs, or did it?

“Sweet!” Dust smiled too, as the ocean breeze had given him goosebumps on top of his sinewy flesh.

As Gildarts had directed, they puttered around the south side of the island and made port, Gildarts did not forget to tie the boat down to the wooden dock, and the boat had set its own anchor. Autopilot certainly seemed to be the shit. Dust grabbed a box of the booze he’d purchased with his well-earned kissing money and Takezo aided him. The Tamsin-twin doll followed them but there were no extra boxes of liquor to take, so he just merrily copied what they did, adorably scooping up empty air and holding it across his torso just as he’d seen Dust demonstrate.

Gildarts was leading the two Primes and the secondary off the dock. Keep in mind, it was mostly pitch black. This didn’t faze G but he realized the others might need help and powerful magic was sparked as though responding to the mage and welcoming him home. Only thing was, this wasn’t Gildarts island, and to his knowledge it had always been uninhabited. Tiki lamps sparked, having originally been buried in the ground, the long wooden poles rose out of the sand and their ends torched with a magic-laden blue flame.

“Hey look! It recognizes you!” Dust said with a smile and paused to look back at Takezo and see his expression, “That’s really cool. Don’tcha think?”

The lines of torches felt like the three primes were walking in on a red carpet of royalty, guided by the light, the parallel torches had created a pathway for them to follow. They were already on a somewhat rocky beach but this is not where they would make their nest. They all followed the mysterious torches, Dust thought Gildarts had some fine taste with this island, he almost expected beautiful women to hang down from the dark canopy of trees.

As the four men passed through the darkened forest, creatures hooted and howled ominously, their calls echoing eerily through the night and diamond sets of narrowed eyes glowed as they passed by. Staring at their defenseless backs, wondering if it was worth the trouble to take a bite. It never happened though, the carnivorous, predatory beasts could sense the power levels of all the humans and opted to let them slide, protected by the holy azure light.

“I thought you said it was uninhabited?” Dust asked.

“Well, these creatures weren’t here during the day.” Gildarts noted.

Dust’s eyes bulged out of shock. How charming. He mused, “Oh,” and tried to not let this newfound fact distract him from having a good time. Though, maybe there was a reason the island was uninhabited, he didn’t want to find out. Dust just hoped none of the birds screams’ resembled that of humans, that might bring back some darker memories he didn’t want to focus on while getting his buzz on.

Takezo was pondering why his stomach was still empty and passed off his box to the blonde doll, who was fully ready to take the weight (luckily it was the lighter box) and in its arms. “Here, hold this and follow them. I will return.” The doll paused its pace for a moment, pensively wondering where the sudden weight had come from and then continued his stride past the wooden tiki poles.

Where was Takezo going? Stay tuned, folks.

The atmosphere was charming, the leaves caught the blue flickering flame’s glow and framed a beautifully lit tunnel through the darkness of the night. They’d lost one of the stragglers, but no one was looking back to notice. Suddenly, they had arrived on more of the northern side of the island and the moon was rising higher in the sky. It was beautiful and sitting at a waning half-smile in the sky. It helped illuminate the beach their short evening midnight through the forest had delivered them to.

The beach was small and cozy, nestled into a little half-cove where trees and rocks curled around, huddling against the storms that only came during monsoon season. The tiki lamps had stopped when they’d arrived on the beach and no other magical surprises sprung out at them.

“I’ll set up, why don’t you guys set those down?” Gildarts said to Dust and Hoseki, not noticing Shinmen had vanished as the mage began to create their bar set up, it started as a pulsing orb of Omillium before it grew ever-brighter and larger. Beachside view. When the tiki-bar was done it was going to be preeeetty sweet.

Dust looked out on the moonlit water, the waves were dull and at ease, despite the wind that had rocked their boat on their voyage. Surrounding them: Palm trees, a gorgeous sparkling beach with waves that when they crashed upon shore, sprouted different colors against the shimmering crystals of sand. It was paradise.

“You know Gildarts, I gotta say,” he said turning back to the mage as the wind tousled his sable hair, “You have great taste. This place is amazing.”

Until then at least Dust had noticed Shinmen had vanished, “Uh oh, we’re down one.” Dust noticed Hoseki was carrying Takezo’s box and asked, “Did you see where he went?”

Worry began to bury itself on Dust’s face as Hoseki was directed and told to set down the box and answer. The doll pointed out into the forest behind them and stated, “There.”

[spoiler]

Takezo’s hunt for boar. Any beast would have done really, out here on a deserted island it was eat or be eaten. Takezo was a fan of eating and not of vile demon-spawned marshmallows. The swordsman would show them what real food was, not the adulterated, processed fast-food that tasted like flavored sawdust.

Takezo was serious as he prowled through the forest, stalking his prey and picking one out of the many available suitors. Four grown men would eat an owl for an appetizer. He had to think bigger, badder, and meatier.

A swordsman had more nobility than a huntsmen, more finesse, but he always caught his prey. A huntsman was more barbaric, raw. Relied on traps and instinct alone. Takezo’s instinct was built into his skill and the swiftness of his mind. Crouching in the forest, hidden behind giant, deep viridian leaves he waited as a lion-like predator, waiting, stalking, his eyes never moving from his trophy. He did not grant himself a breath.

Hunggle…Oink… Snorttle. The hairy beast groaned as it sniffed around for truffles. Takezo could only see a portion of it as it crept closer, sliver slices of moon on the brown fur of its back. The tusks were illuminated in the night. Pearl ivory, the size of his own katana. This was good. This was perfect. It would help him aim better and may even serve to be a little bit of a practice duel, a little hard work before his feast.

The rustling of leaves and the vast canals of trenches the beast’s tusks were unearthing loomed closer now. Ten yards turned into ten feet in a matter of a few moments. The rich scent of soil cascaded into Takezo’s nose as he soundlessly unsheathed his blade and kept it’s silverish gleam hidden behind the leaves.

Snort, snort. The beast’s tusks were nearly on top of Takezo. It was time to strike.

The master of swords quickly sprung from his perch and he was met with a pair of dual tusks, each lunging at him through the forest. “Even a mighty beast like you must fall.” Takezo pronounced as he blocked both of the sharpened bones growing out from the boar’s skull. “Just take pride in that you will be slain by my hand.”

Sparks flung off of Takezo’s blade as they clashed again with the ivory scythes to avoid being on the boar’s dinner menu. The creature’s speed was unrivaled, but its tact was lacking. Raw, monstrous power was not enough to match the swordsman’s finesse. With a few quick movements of his blade blood was drawn and dribbling from the creature’s neck, then came the mercy blow.

Crimson blood spurted out of the living animal as he did this and then when its limbs went limp, Takezo began to drag it by the hooks of its tusks back into the azure light and resume his walk behind Gildarts and Dust.

[/spoiler]

“THERE!” the swordsman announced with a huff as something thunked heavily on the table Gildarts had just summoned.

There is nothing better than a good hunt to help ready us for a feast made for kings!” he declared. Hand caught meal was likely more noble than summoning food and it would’ve taken about the same amount of time, plus ten minutes to cook.

“Oh there you are Takezo! We thought we’d lost you,” Dust said, he was about ready to scour the entire forest. “Perfect timing.”

“Let us eat! Who shall cook?” Takezo stated chivalrously.

“I’m… Told burning food is bad, so perhaps you guys should do it.” Gildarts stated as his summoning was nearly complete. Sprouting overhead and all around them was a tiki hut, dried grass for a roof, however it was potent to keep out water if it happened to rain.

The tiki hut glowed golden as it was adorned with lamps, lanterns and christmas lights. And they were inside it. Barstools sprung into sight, originally raw and moldable Omnillium, now, they looked like comfortable, soft, plush leather seats. Hanging directly above him were glasses glinting like chandeliers, like one might have seen at a classier restaurant’s lounge.

Underneath the bar hung more christmas lights, glowing across in twinkling little trails. Gildarts had summoned a table too, as though they were expecting guests, or maybe to just make eating all the more easier. Bar, drinks. Table, for eating. It was all very simple, that was the mind of a man eager to get drunk.

To make the tiki hut bar even better, on the roof was the Fairy Tail symbol, though, not one could actually see it woven into the grass unless they could fly, or thought to look up while they were within the grass enclosed shelter. “Now this is a view.” Gildarts stated as he looked past the bar, past the hut and directly into the ocean’s waves that were changing colors as random as a rainbow.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Within the tiki hut, Gildarts walked over to the corner where there was a dashing red little machine waiting, idle. He walked over and clicked a button, randomly selecting a track. It was an electronic jukebox. Gildarts had seen one only once, but it had been love at first sight, for the real magic he knew, was that of music.