Dualistic Duelist

Side-Blog for FFXIV spam and Abi RP shenanigans. (Main: @witchofdoma)-·-Server: Ragnarok (Chaos)-·-About · Rules

[duelistlizard]

usagichronicles​:

Lune nodded along. While she couldn’t profess much in the way of time fighting the Garlean Empire in more official, soldierly, capacities, the war was lucrative for adventurers joining the grand companies in the Foreign Levies. A great many of them were skilled in their own right. 

“Power of a primal’s a big thing to throw into the mix, y’know?” Lune replied. The idea had flown over Abigail’s head, but not quite Lune’s. “Not that I’ve got any say in anything, but that’s a bit of a trump card. I think, at least. But even without being ‘useful to the war effort,’” that last phrase being said while making fake quotes, “you’re a friend to us.”

“And I think I speak for both of us when I say we plan to bother you quite a bit, Yotsuyu.” The short Xaela immediately let out a laugh at her own joke, looking to Abigail with a toothy grin.

Ah, that’s right, the power of a Primal. Yotsuyu, like Ysayle, was the vessel to a Primal, and could summon the deity upon themselves if necessary. The only problem was that people usually had a bad image of that.

“I met a woman once that was able to become a Primal...things didn’t end well because she sacrificed herself so I could get somewhere else...it would be a last resort thing, mainly because, I don’t want to also see Yotsuyu gone, you know?...” Having a Primal in a war could be a surprise, however. Not expected to use against someone the only thing that we have been putting down for some time now.

“I mean, Primals can be a problem, but I guess it depends on the situation. In part that won’t make us too different from the Beast Tribes, but unlike the Primals summoned by those, I doubt Tsukuyomi would try to enthrall anyone, aren’t I right, Yotsuyu?” With both my gaze and Lune’s on Yotsuyu, the Hyur couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh that would be followed by a small shrug of her shoulders.

“A friend, and a Primal...well, ‘tis true that you seem to care a little about me. Either way, the first time I summoned Tsukuyomi I didn’t have any interest in enthralling people, so if I ever become her again, take for sure I won’t try to do any dirty tricks on you...not like I can enthrall Abigail, but those without the Echo or Hydaelyn’s blessing will be fine.”

“I already gave people enough reasons to want to kill me, so enslaving the minds of the innocents is not going to be an extra reason to feed the hatred.”

[duelistlizard]

soulwitch​:

“Abigail just..” That hug was needed, it was so needed, from someone that had never really done Kaya wrong, like Mikuzume, just two people they could trust in. One already knew about what sort of happened, but not in the way Abigail did. Kaya avoiding sharing it all with them, less they provoke the fox’s anger.

Some emotions were hard to control after all, especially when you were a vessel for such a powerful creature.

“I..” she didn’t want to talk about it, but Abigail knew, Abigail knew a lot and she had to be allowed to speak on it now.

“Back at the enclave.. back away from the rest please.. I’m sorry, I didn’t want.. to keep it all alone but.”

“To share something like that… I cannot even show my face in the village of Namai anymore.. not after what they saw..”

I kept the hug for a while, even letting my own chin rest on her shoulder before I felt that I could lean back to look at Kaya again. The shame she had to feel because of it all was something that I couldn’t understand fully because I didn’t go through the situation myself but, I had too much empathy to feel for her.

“At the Enclave, yes...I will make sure we have our intimacy so no one can hear nor get in the way...” Making a small pause, I let go off Kaya completely, and then swallowed before relaxing my shoulders slightly.

“But listen, if I can say something now...it wasn’t your fault, Kaya. Yotsuyu had the leash and I’m sure you tried your best to get out of the situation, but you just, couldn’t...” Black mailing, threats, the possibility of dying. It was a complicated situation in which one finds themselves so helpless...

“The people of Namai should understand, the same way they had no other choice than to go with Yotsuyu when the Imperials recruited people to work for them...the shame should go to Yotsuyu for doing those horrible things to them...to you. you shouldn’t have to hide for something that she did.”

[duelistlizard]

usagichronicles​:

“You’re needed for higher things,” Lune summarised. “It’s fine. It means I can make a good living off what you don’t do, heh!” She grinned, reaching up to put a friendly hand on Abigail’s shoulder. Only later in the day would she realise she’d become that friendly to the Warrior of Light…. Abigail.

“Yeah, if the day comes, I won’t hesitate to be fighting by your side. On my honour as a samurai, I promise I won’t let you down then.” Lune smiled, and picked up her teacup again. “Thanks for the tea, Yotsuyu. It’s really kind of you to host us like this.” After all, Abigail hadn’t originally been part of the conversation. “Abigail, I’m guessing you’re gonna be visiting Yotsuyu often, too?”

“If I could, I would do everything by myself so all of you don’t have to put yourselves on the front lines. But that’s how war works, eh?” I had hopes, at least. Hope on the people that surrounded me. After all, we would at least be working to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves at all.

Yotsuyu, on the other hand, relaxed her posture and even let her arms rest on the table while we drank our tea- with a half smile before a small huff escaped her lips.

“Maybe ‘tis time you accept the help of something greater as well when the time comes. I may have been a simple spy for the Empire before, but I have something now that could be useful.” While Yotsuyu was referring to the fact she was the vessel for a Primal, the idea flew over my head for a moment.

“Well, I’m definitely going to be visiting her more often, yes. Hien won’t let her leave the Enclave at the moment, and for good reason, but I would hope that with time...even the people of Doma will give her a second chance.”

[duelistlizard]

soulwitch​:

“Please.. don’t tell me you saw..” Kaya wanted desperately for her to just, forget it, to have her totally blank on what just occurred. Even briefly, just for a moment, a small moment, Kaya even considered putting them to sleep. Casting it subtly just to escape this situation.

Her staring was, hard to deal with as well. It was pressuring, it was the eyes of someone that indeed saw the whole thing unfold. Cursed echo, how could it do this, she knew it informed Abigail of things but this was cruel. Why?

“P-please don’t.. tell anyone can you? Not tell anyone? Not Mikuzume even the foxes don’t know just.. how much she did, please?” Kaya’s hands remained, only because she was scared, she was shaking, her lip bitten as she didn’t know what to say or do.

This was a real nightmare.

I felt rage that would make my tail swing even faster, but as much as I hated the situation I saw, Kaya was clinging onto me desperately, trying for no one to notice or know about what I just saw. For her own sake, I frowned deeply and let out a huff to try and calm myself down.

For a second I kept staring at Kaya, but soon enough my eyes were looking away from her and my shoulders relaxed. It’s as if I felt guilty for having the vision, even if I knew it wasn’t my fault nor something I could control.

“I won’t...I won’t tell them.” I whispered to myself, trying to remind myself that we were still visiting Mikuzume, so it’s not like I could just let my emotions get the best out of me in this very moment.

“What a bad timing...and Yotsuyu of all people.” I made a pause and my gaze would go back to look at Kaya, as good as I was with keeping myself calm, my eyes would probably talk by themselves. “Lets...lets talk about this once we go back to the Enclave, alright? I will keep it a secret from the others, but I can’t just...not say anything about it when it involves you.” The other Xaela was shaking so much, that I moved my own arms to try and wrap her arms around me for a moment. Some kind of hug, to try and make her calm down as well. “If the Echo wanted me to see it...it must be for a reason. You weren’t fool enough to think you could carry all that burden alone, right?”

[duelistlizard]

aikidoheroine​:

Tenko considered if she ever wanted her chocobo to look a different color from the standard yellow. It didn’t take long for Tenko to decide that her Chocobo was fine the way it looked. On that train of thought, she snapped the reins.  The Chocobo started off at a light jog, as Tenko gestured for Abigail to follow on her own red Chocobo. It would definitely be worth seeing if they could keep up a conversation on their way to the Mol. 

“I would say the reason I started traveling is because I decided I wanted to gain as much experience as possible! There’s a lot I want to fix in my home town, but I don’t think I have the power to be able to solve all the problems right now! Which is why I’m traveling everywhere my two legs can carry me. Once I’ve seen enough of the world around me, I might find what I need to go back home!”  That home being the shining city of the desert, Ul’dah. But it was a city that Tenko had a lot of mixed feelings about. To the point that had moved away from there, explaining why she was part of the Twin Serpents Grand Company. 

Snapping the reins not long after Tenko did, I started to follow the other as if to let her lead the way this time. Following a conversation while riding wasn’t something I was new to, so it wasn’t difficult to keep up the same pace while I listened to the other.

“And so...you were from Ul’dah, right? I have to admit the city has a lot of internal problems that will take a while to change...but the Sultana seemed rather eager and determined to make things a little better.” Oh, thinking of Ul’dah only reminded me of the time that a certain lalafell tried to charge me with the ‘murder’ of the Sultana. To this day, it still made me mad, but all I could do was bite my lip and shake my head to forget about it.

“Wait, so you are from Ul’dah but are part of the Twin Adders...not that I can blame you, mind you. The people of Gridania surely have their problems as well, but they’ve always appeared to be slightly more reasonable than the people from Ul’dah.” Well, maybe it wasn’t so weird. I grew up in Ishgard for the major part and I was part of the Maelstrom, so I probably shouldn’t be all that surprised.

[duelistlizard]

soulwitch​:

Hoping the topic would pass, Kaya settled back only to see that trademark headache of the warrior’s hit. In a panic, though still keeping her voice down, Kaya quickly moved over to Abigail’s side.

“No..no no no please don’t!” She whispered, hoping not to bother Mikuzume, hoping to maybe plea with the echo somehow, some way. But to no avail, she moved right up to Abigail and started to shake her, hoping to break her from the spell, hoping to stop her from seeing what happened.

To hide not only the pain, but the pain Abigail would face knowing it was someone they knew, and to hide the shame Kaya experienced. She had to stop it, shaking her, knowing full well it wouldn’t alert her or break her from it.

Instead leaving Kaya to be gripping onto Abigail’s arms, pleading silently, repeating ‘no’ over and over, head sunken in front of the taller girl as their vision continued, remaining like so till they woke up.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Kaya’s panic that forced me back to reality, but simply the fact that the vision ended. I was still in the other’s hands when the Echo took me back, however, even if the first thing I did was to retrieve my hand from my hurting head with a small hiss.

When realizing that Kaya was holding onto me rather desperately, I shook my head gently and rested my own hands on her shoulders instead. what did I just see? There were initial doubts of the vision being real, but there was no real reason to try and deny a vision from the Echo- they were always right.

“By the Fury...you...Yotsuyu...Yotsuyu and you...” I could feel my heart sink at the same time a cold sweat plagued my body. For a moment I even forgot that we were at Mikuzume’s and my eyes could only stare at Kaya in horror.

But it was once I noticed that I stared for too long, that I averted my sight and let the other’s shoulders go.

“Seven Hells, I can’t believe this...I knew Yotsuyu did many horrible things, but for you to be one of the victims...what was the chance?” From feeling horror to anger, and to feel conflicted about the hopeful vision I had for Yotsuyu- my tail started to nervously swing against the floor before I clenched my jaw.

Oh, I could be shaking, but in a lucid moment of self control, I took a small breath and passed a hand by my hair instead.

“To fall so low...I didn’t know Yotsuyu could go that far. If only we would have arrived to Namai earlier...”

[duelistlizard]

usagichronicles​:

Meeting the real deal was certainly different from the legends. There were a lot of truths out there about the Warrior of Light. Some of them more truthful than others.

“I’ve been at this a fair while,” Lune commented. “But I still do the little things, the chores. I kinda see it as people needing help, even if it isn’t very important, right? Someone’s gotta do it. A lot of the time, that’s what makes me happy – the little thanks for picking up and doing the job, simply just being to help.”

Lune took a long sip from her tea before she spoke any further. Listening well before she could decide on what to say. “For all our sakes, I hope you live a long life, Abigail. I don’t know much about Hydaelyn—Nhaama’s the one I put my faith in—but I feel what you face are conflicted and trials far more daunting than what I could handle. Well… Not to say I wouldn’t try, and I’d be happy to fight alongside you if it happens. But I don’t see myself able to take the important role, you know?”

Picking the cup of tea, I took a longer sip myself before I stopped to listen to her, the things she had to say...for all this time Yotsuyu was simply listening to us- smiling slightly from time to time and shaking her head whenever we talked about our ‘heroic’ actions in life.

“Well, you said it yourself- someone has to do the small things. ‘Tis not that I wouldn’t do some chores here and there if needed, but ‘tis as if fate had a different kind of plan for me...it would be difficult to try and get away from doing what I’m doing right now if I don’t want the world to perish...” It was a heavy burden. One that would feel even heavier if I didn’t have all these people by my side, but it wasn’t something I liked to talk about much.

“My faith wasn’t on Hydaelyn either, really. That’s why I think she would just pick up anyone that’s strong enough to do her biding...on the other hand, there are reasons of why I may have been chosen or why I seem to be so durable. But if you decided to fight by my side at some point, I would gladly accept you. ‘Tis by the help of my friends that I’m here today, you know? It haven’t been the only one working.”

How bittersweet would this be for Yotsuyu to hear, probably. But I looked at her in hope that she would feel better now that she lived among people that were willing to give her a second chance.

[duelistlizard]

aikidoheroine​:

“Oh wow, that is the a really pretty chocobo! I’ve definitely never seen one with feathers of that color before!” 

Tenko took a moment to admire Abigail’s bird, until her own Chocobo poked her gently, wanting attention. Tenko sheepishly pulled back.

“Wow, you’re part of a Grand Company too? You must have a lot of stories to tell!” Tenko considered Abigail saying that she had been a nobody before being known as the Warrior of Light. 

“That means that you distinguished yourself with your actions! It doesn’t matter where a person is from. If they want to make the world a better place, they can do it with enough effort! At least, that’s what I’ve always believed.” Tenko mounted on her Chocobo, making sure she was on the saddle correctly.  “But we can talk more, once we can get to the Mol. Let’s be on our way, Abigail!”  

Patting the neck of the chocobo gently, I moved to hop on the bird before I also made sure to be sitting firmly on it, before I took the reins so we could be on our way. We could always continue the talk while we were on our way, after all.

“I know, right? ‘Tis actually not really common to find chocobos with a color like this in the wild, but the secret lies in feeding them with certain fruits and the like. It would be then that their feathers could change color depending on the diet.” Nothing related to those dangerous chocobos of red featehrs that could throw meteors, for now, at least.

“I have stories, but I doubt any of them are interesting enough to share. I have to admit, though, that if it wasn’t because of Hydaelyn or the help of my friends, I would probably not be here. So even when I became quite known around Eorzea, I haven’t fought alone.” And I thought that was really important. I may have had the power of always giving the last hit in certain situations, but things as big as liberating a country off the Empire wasn’t a job I would do alone.

“That’s why the help of anyone that would fight for what’s right slowly helps to make the world a better place. I’ve been in company of adventurers like you before, so you can always say that you are also helping to make things possible.”

[duelistlizard]

soulwitch​:

“…” While the tea was good, Kaya wasn’t much of a talker in general, even among friends her rare moments of lucidity were just that, rare. Thinking on a topic, their many adventures and some things even Kaya wasn’t fully understanding of. She did have something in mind.

“Actually.. I do have something but its..” The topic before, Yotsuyu was still fresh on the table, it wasn’t the most comfortable topic but Kaya figured maybe, right now with friends. It might be okay?

“Actually its about.. Yotsuyu..” Mustering some courage, she got the name out off her lips, just clear enough to be heard. Only for Kaya to recoil back in, freezing up with dread at the thought.

“N-no never mind, its better I don’t I.. I don’t think its the right time.” If only Kaya knew, the Echo had other plans.

Taking a sip, I kept the eye contact with the other and continued smiling while doing so. I knew how silent Kaya could be, and I was respectful of that. It wasn’t until she caught my attention that I perked up slightly from the drink and listened.

Yet, Kaya seemed to hold her tongue at the last minute, and the mention of Yotsuyu made me feel rather bittersweet because of the situation of before.

“Yotsuyu...no, what is it about her? I feel you had problems with her before but...when did that happen?” It was something I missed, and I felt bad about it, if just because judging by the other’s tone, she was involved with Yotsuyu in a not-so-pleasant way.

When the mage started to regret even mentioning her, the Echo had another plan indeed. It wasn’t long before a headache plagued my head, forcing me to rest a hand over it before my mind would drift to watch a scene from the past.

With Kaya and Yotsuyu in scene and...no, it couldn’t be.

My body would unconsciously curl up a little as I witnessed the scene- Yotsuyu having my Xaela friend as some kind of plaything to torture in order to get information out. With Kaya trying to stay strong, but all Yotsuyu did was to break that confidence and determination with humiliation and torture that would make my stomach sick.

To me it felt like the vision lasted HOURS, when in reality it was but a few minutes before I could go back to live in the present, with the mage, attempting to shake me out of my inevitable glimpse to the past.

I wish I didn’t have to find out that way.

[duelistlizard]

aikidoheroine​:

“As it happens, I do have a Chocobo!” Tenko took out a whistle and blew it, summoning said Chocobo to her said. “This is Hime, a gift from the order of Twin Adder when I joined them!” Hime had Twin Adder pauldrons, to confirm this. 

Tenko mounted Hime, waiting for Abigail to do the same. Since it would be a while before they reached the Mol, Tenko decided to explain a few things about herself that Abigail was likely curious about. 

“I’m a pretty recent member of the Twin Adder. But I joined them because I believed in the cause that they engage in. ‘To keep the peace across the realm’. I want to help make Eorzea a better place, even if I can’t do as much as you, Abigail!”  Perhaps Tenko wouldn’t compare to the Warrior of Light. But she wanted to make her little corner of Eorzea a better place, to give Abigail a little less to worry about. 

Oh, to find myself with a member of the Twin Adders, now that was something I wasn’t expecting, but seeing that Tenko had no problem of summoning her own mount, made me call for my own Chocobo- a red feathered Chocobo wearing the barding of Red Mages.

“Here’s my own companion...Umbra! Not too black for that kind of name but...she has changed with time, just like I did.”

Maybe despite the fact the bird wasn’t wearing the symbol of The Maelstrom, it was obvious to assume I was part of another Grand Company instead.

“So, you are a member of the Twin Adders, huh? That’s actually great! I am part of The Maelstrom myself, but I hold a lot of respect for the members of other companies.”

“It would surprise you to know that I actually started my...’career’ as an adventurer just like you. I still don’t know why Hydaelyn chose me, but I guess any warrior with talent could be the one. Seven Hells...even before the Calamity, I was no one, but I heard stories of Warriors of Light before me, so I guess I don’t have to be the only one now either.”

[duelistlizard]

usagichronicles​:

“Someone else from the Hotgo? Really?” What else Abigail said was a jumble and made little sense, but that much Lune understood. It piqued the interest—but Lune got the hint when Yotsuyu returned with tea. Perhaps Lune could ask later. Instead, the samurai chose to answer the question directed at her.

“Oh, um… well…” Lune nervously grinned before she found her answer. “I guess I am one of those adventurers, though Hydaelyn didn’t call for me or anything. I started a couple weeks after Cartenau Flats, on the suggestion of an elder in my town, back in Eorzea. You see, when, um, when all the big and strong people were off fighting the Garleans — little ol’ me and my sword were all that could defend the village… and one of the few who could try to repair the damage from the Calamity.”

“Again, I chose my name before Dalamud fell…” Lune sounded embarrassed about that, but she pushed on. “The elder had a suggestion once it was all done. I was just a sharecropper farmer before, and he thought I could do a whole lot more good if I went around helping people. So I became an adventurer. Before, um, before being like you became a big craze, I guess. I’ve been compared to you by others, but — I’m just a girl with a sword, y’know?”

“I think that a lot of people like you are as strong as I am.” Every adventurer tended to have a humble beginning, I was speaking out of experience, even if my case was somewhat special. “You say you are simply a girl with a sword, but don’t think I was out there in the Cartenau Flats fighting for Eorzea. Around that time I was simply a Dark Knight in Ishgard that was dealing with different problems. Not even the voice of Hydaelyn was awakened in my yet, not until I started to travel around Eorzea to help the people from there as well.”

Making a pause, I let my hand rest on the table and started to tap the surface before I gazed at Yotsuyu instead.

“I still remember how the locals would send me to do quests that could be considered chores. It made me angry at first because I was more used to fight the Inquisition than anything- protecting the innocents was a better motivation but, ah well, I didn’t think Hydaelyn would end up choosing me as a Warrior of Light after some time.” I blinked once, looking back at Lune before smiling a little.

“Who knows, mayhap I will die one day and people like you will be chosen instead...Hydaelyn can be...something else. Although I don’t know if I would be happy knowing that other people are picked for such responsibilities.” There was part of a dark truth behind Hydaelyn, but it was not really something I would want to talk about with a stranger, not now.

[duelistlizard]

aikidoheroine​:

“It’s okay, I don’t mind if you get close! Just give me a little more warning next time, I wasn’t ready!” Now that the brief moment of nervousness had passed, Tenko’s tail moved in a more cheerful manner. 

“Now that we are finished with the food, do you want to go visit the Mol? I’d definitely like to see Cirina again, if nothing else! If you don’t want to think about the Naadam, we can save any discussion about that for another day!”

Tenko personally wouldn’t mind not thinking about needing to fight for a while. She may have been someone who fought often, but even she got tired of it, and needed a break to unwind and let herself breathe. She also wanted to spend more quality time with Abigail. 

“A little warning, right! Will do next time.” With a small swing of my own tail, I smiled at the Miqo’te before I continued to munch on the food that I couldn’t finish. Oh, Tenko was really fast when it came to consume food, wasn’t she?

But now that she suggested going to visit the Mol to get away from the stress for a little longer, I gave a small nod and swallowed the last bit of the meat, before finishing with the fresh juice that made me sigh softly.

“Right. I’m fine doing that! Spending time with the Mol is something I wouldn’t mind, specially when I’ll be helping them for the Naadam.” Cleaning my hands against my coat a bit, I looked in direction to the fields, and then let a hand rest over my hip before I laughed softly.

“Do you have a Chocobo or any other kind of mount? It will be less of a pain to traverse the fields that way. Although, if you don’t have a companion, you can ride the Chocobo alongside me, I don’t mind it.”

[duelistlizard]

soulwitch​:

“That’s right, food!” Mikzume exclaimed, standing up in a hurry. “In fact, you two sit right here, I’ll search through what you brought, and set out something small to eat. At least until we can decide what is planned for dinner.” The fox was quick to her feet, and even more determined ensure neither lizard followed her.

“You have tea to sip! Don’t let that go to waste, it’ll tide you over until I’m back understood?” Mikuzume added, treated the two like Kinko and Ginko, like young ones who weren’t allowed in the kitchen today.

“I can’t really argue with that sort of enthusiasm…” Kaya smiled, already giving up the food fight against Mikuzume, knowing full well any resistance would only incur a flood of small foxes to one either of them down under sheer numbers of softness.

Not a bad way to go, but not needed at least right now. “It’ll give me time to.. talk with Abi a little more, if that’s alright.”

Right, the tea. It would be a pity if it went cold or something, because it tasted better when it was hot. But it was once Mikuzume left to check the snacks we brought that, I picked up one of the cups with both of my hands and gave a small smile to Kaya born from hearing the enthusiasm that the other had.

When the other Xaela mentioned it would give her time to talk, though, I had to wonder if something was plaguing the mind of the mage at the moment.

Perhaps something related to our adventures in The First? Or something else related to the trip to the Doman Enclave?

“So...is there something you wanted to talk about in particular?...” With my tail swinging slightly while against the floor, I looked at the woman in the eye before picking up the cup for a sip of tea, even if it was brief. “You know if it’s important I don’t mind listening...it’s always better than finding out through visions of the Echo, anyways.”

[duelistlizard]

digitalfcte​:

“Yes, of course…” she made the effort to commit that to memory and to her notes. It was simple tactics of managing the ether and time economy. She had sort of entertained these conclusions, but covering her bases wasn’t going to hurt, and she liked listening to Abi anyways.

As I explained, I took my weapon out, letting it swing slightly before I attached the rapier with the magic crystal.

“Lets say we start with Verthunder. We will cast Veraero next, and once we awaken Verstone, we will cast it before going for another Veraero- then Fleche, release Aether to empower your own attacks, a Verfire, Verthunder and...get close to the enemy! Surprise them with a Contra Sixte before Verstone, Verthunder and engaging with them just before bursting your mana to finally get to your melee combo.” With the weapon in one hand, I continued to swing it before letting the free hand rest on my chest, to give it a few pats.

“You know how naturally the melee combo can come to us, so once you are done with it, simply continue to balance the black and white magic. The advantage of starting with the magic in that order will be that your own Aether will be more in balance to empower all your attacks as you go.” Making a pause, I dettached the magic crystal off the rapier and let it float over the previously free hand.

“X’rhun Tia doesn’t really teaches us about all of this, so I thought it would’ve been better if I shared it with you myself.” Was there a catch about it all?

[duelistlizard]

usagichronicles​:

“That’s reassuring,” Lune deadpanned during Abigail’s pause, at the thought of the Dotharl trying to kill Abigail for entirely different reasons. It certainly didn’t help the longstanding belief that the Dotharl were particularly savage.

What Abigail had to say next was actually reassuring, however. It was visible on Lune’s face, the actual relief at the promise.

“I don’t want to impose,” she tried to say demurely, but the hope in her eyes was a whole different story. “All I really want to do is see if there’s any trace at all of the Hotgo. See if the place I helped my elder bury them is undisturbed. It’ll bring a little closure, I guess.”

Scratching the back of my neck for a mere second, I looked down and crossed my arms just before Yotsuyu came back to the table with some snacks and more tea to serve. In reality it’s not like I asked about the Hotgo at all at the Steppe- in fact, the major part of information I had about the Hotgo came from someone else entirely.

“Ah...oh! Actually...actually I met someone from the Hotgo...it’s hard to explain but!...it was back in Ishgard...those time shenanigans, I still fail to understand them completely...” I wasn’t the most intelligent person out there. Sure, I wasn’t stupid, but even after all the things I went through, I still had difficulty to understand what happened with Alexander back then.

“We literally just met and I’m already talking way too much.” I didn’t need to beat myself over it. Even Yotsuyu would try to catch my attention by pushing a cup filled with some tea to think about it later.

“But tell me, Lune. What do you do for a living nowadays? Since Hydaelyn started to awaken some of us to become their Warrior of Light, adventurers trying to do the same as I’ve done have been everywhere. I’m glad in part it’s inspiring people to be a better person...on the other hand, there have been many that got hurt or even died when trying to follow my steps.” That’s how it was, in this world. It wasn’t really anything new, but at the same time mortality rates increased.

[duelistlizard]

aikidoheroine​:

Tenko didn’t particularly care of Abigail was acting in a way that could be considered “not lady-like”. But then, Tenko beat monsters to death with her hands, so she wasn’t very feminine herself. 

Tenko took a bite of the meat, and found it was such as tasty as Abigail had said it was. “There’s nothing like meat that’s cooked just right! Not too much that it’s burnt, and it still keeps the chewiness and juices! Compliments to the chef for a job well-”  Any further words died in Tenko’s throat, as Abigail suddenly took a few steps towards her for no explained reason. The Miqo’te’s tail waved nervously, waiting for Abigail to explain why she was much closer. On Tenko’s head, her ears perked up, as if to listen for any further movements or words. 

The moment I got closer and Tenko stopped talking so suddenly, I realized that perhaps I was way too close...maybe uncomfortably so for the other, so I quickly took a step back and let out a soft but awkward laugh.

“Sorry, did I get too close? I have to learn how to respect the spaces of other people better.” Maybe Tenko didn’t take it in a negative way, but still, better safe than sorry! I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable or anything.

“I think that at least I will know where to get my food now. I will have to stay in the Steppe for a little longer, so learning about the best food places in here is going to be wise.” I was sure I would be kidnapped by the Mol more often than not, but it was interesting to learn about any plates the own tribes cooked themselves.

[duelistlizard]

soulwitch​:

Even with Kaya shrunk at the mention of Yotsuyu, Mikuzume’s eyes would tell a different story. A brief one, one that glimmered a hostile intent and sharp fox pupils before returning to normal. As if remembering that incident was enough to make her made, but her more accepting and forgiving, loving nature pushed it aside. Though her concern went to Kaya first.

“Perhaps it is wise if, in our visit, we merely keep our formalities to Hien and those you’re close with. It seems some things have, us all on edge at least.” She spoke, Kaya’s silence was started to stammer out, continuing as Mikzume spoke before trying to muster some sort of, courage to speak a little more at least.

“I think I’d.. just prefer to see our old friends again that’s all.. if that’s okay.” Because of course, Kaya didn’t want to talk to her at all. Not unless they had to, like some sort of forced meeting or request through their friends. But there wouldn’t be anything like that she assumed.

“C-can’t have it, dampen Mikuzume’s visit right?” Kaya jested a bit, or at least tried to.

I didn’t like the tension that surrounded the mention of Yotsuyu at all, so of course I wouldn’t mind at all if they decided to avoid the former viceroy in the visit to the Enclave. If anything, I didn’t want my friends feeling at edge or not having the chance of enjoying the visit at all.

“Leave that to me...I will make sure that the visit will be enjoyable for both of you. In fact, I think the best would be to enjoy the food and sweet stands while we spend time with Hien and company. The place can be quite lively and, nothing better than to enjoy the things the locals prepared, right?”

An attempt to change the topic to something of a lighter nature. The fact I was starting to think of food made my stomach to growl slightly, because that’s right- we got some food before coming here earlier.

“And speaking of food...perhaps ‘tis time we start preparing and trying some of the stuff we got- I don’t know about you two, but if I don’t snack onto something soon enough, I think I’m going to faint.” Right, some tea was being prepared earlier, but nothing better to accompany the tea than some food to go with it. “Before we can try Doma’s delicious meals, we have some of Namai’s finest ingredients and local snacks to try out.~”