"Stop laughing at me!" I yell, throwing a moogle plushie at Nori's face.
Chuckling heartily, he catches it and sets it to the side of him on the couch.
"I don't know why you want to take all these tomes! It's not like you haven't read over half them already. Why bring them along?" Nori questions shifting on the couch to lay on his stomach hanging his head and arms over the end. He starts grabbing books from the piles and moving them around.
"NORI!" I scream, grabbing at the books he has shifted around. "I have these all sorted and you're messing it up!" He holds his hand up in defense gently placing the book down.
"Why do you want to take all of these?" he asks, folding his arms under his chin looking at me with a mirthful expression.
"Well... " I start, flopping down to the ground to sit, my knees tucked under my chin, "I don't know what it's going to be like when we get there. Yeah I've already read most of these, but what if I can trade them? Who knows what collections of Eorzean tomes they have over there. I might be able to help with the sharing of information between the two cultures." I place my head on my knees, closing my eyes trying to think through the various stacks I have narrowing down the choice.
A loud sigh can be heard from the couch. Looking up, Nori is staring at me with a kind and understanding look.
"Okay then." He says shifting his body into a sitting position. "Then why don't you pick 5 tomes that you consider to be filled with the information you would wish someone would share with you when you get there?"
I contemplate what Nori said then slowly reach towards the stack that has the timeline of Eorzean history. As my hand closes around the spine, Nori exclaims, "Not that one!"
Startled I turn back to him "Why not?"
He reaches forward and plucks the book from my hand. "To start, this one is boring. It's just dry information detailing the history through the Fifth Calamity. Secondly, do you really think they would not already have this book? This is the most basic book about Eorzea. We all read this in school!"
I snatch the book back, glaring at him. "Like you even went to school" I chastise and set the book back down on top of the stack. He scoffs while trying to hold back another chuckle.
"I did go to school..." he starts attempting to sound offended, "at least some of it!"
I roll my eyes and access the books again. The first stack is all about Eorzean history and the calamities.
Maybe Nori is right, this is basic information that everyone would learn first when trying to find out about the country.
I reach forward to the second stack. This one contains some of the floral books I have as well as a monster compendium. Inside of the margins in at least three of these books, there are notes scrawled with my updated information and some alternate drawings.
I wonder if they would be okay with the added notes.
"You're right." I reluctantly state, grabbing the second stack of books and placing them in one of my bags. "Why take something they already know."
A thud can be heard from my side. Nori flops back in mock shock.
"Let the record show that Zoei Motokawa has finally admitted that I am right!" he says excitedly, fist pumping the air.
"For once" I mutter back.
Standing I head into my bedroom area. Now, it was time for the hard part.
"So I for sure need to take my carbuncle, my moogle, my tonberry. . . " I start to softly list off the list of all the plushies I plan on taking. Behind me I hear the heavy footsteps of Nori as he approaches the doorway. He stands there watching me start making a pile of all the ones that I am taking.
"No. No. No." he chuckles.
"What do you mean 'no'." I turn around already glaring at him.
"You do not need all of those. What do you think is going to happen? There is going to be a soft surface shortage and we are going to have to make a bed out of these?"
I place my hand on my hips and stamp my foot. "First you tell me I can't bring all my books. Now you're telling me I can't bring all of these! What are you trying to do? Make me under pack and look like an idiot in a new land?!" I am bordering on hysterics completely taken aback at the lack of understanding from him.
Nori kneels down in front of me placing his hands on my shoulders. "Of course I'm not trying to make you look like an idiot. Next to me, you're the shiny star and I'm the small moon just following it along." his face transforms to a soft expression. "I just want to make sure you have some here when we get back. You wouldn't want something to happen and you lose all of your precious plushies right?"
I look down, nodding like a child in trouble.
"So why not you pick the one that will bring you the most comfort and we will keep the rest here to watch over the apartment while you're gone."
I raise my head meeting his gaze then turn looking back to my pile in front of me. While I look through everything, my eyes land on my blue carbuncle. I reach out, grab it, and hug it to my chest.
"This is the one. I had it made after my first successful summon. It looks exactly like them." I give the plushie a squeeze.
"You're right. I remember that day. You were so excited. I couldn't have been more proud of you." Nori says gently. He stands back up and heads back to the living room sinking back to the couch.
I walk out of the room and gently place the carbuncle on the top of one of my bags.
"Now, what else do you need to pack?" Nori questions, looking up at me.
It took us all night to finish packing. Four total bags later, I think I have everything I need. I hope I am not missing anything, but like Nori said, anything crucial I should be able to find there to either buy or trade for. The loud whistle of the kettle pulls me out of my thoughts. I step up on my stepstool and pull it off the stove and pour two cups of tea. Nori sits down across the counter at the wood top on the back side. He reaches over and grabs the tea and a jar of honey.
"Do you think it will be a smooth journey?" I inquire, blowing onto the tea to cool it slightly to make it more drinkable.
Nori sets down his cup and takes a moment to think. "I think it will go as well as any new journey into uncharted waters. There will be some storms, some calm times and a whole lot of things to see. But, we will make it in one piece and get to see things we never thought existed." He picks back up his tea and seems to get lost in his own thoughts.
I take a second, silently contemplating what Nori said.
"I'm just happy I get to go on this journey with my best-friend." I say quietly.
Looking up, I meet Nori's gaze. He smiles and raises his tea cup in a toasting gesture.
"To all the stories we will get to tell"
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