Ezma Auburnbrie

Leader of the Meldacio Hunters

[exiled-turk]

' i did. ' veld nodded his head, he wouldn't deny that fact. he had seen the black-haired girl walking around the marketplace with a young man he had recognised and he had been curious. he had wanted to know more about the life his former student had carved out for himself in the years that had gone by since they'd last met.

' no ulterior motive, i wanted to know what she was like. he might have been my student, but he was my godson before that. '

technically there was no blood connection between the woman and reno, and if their family was one borne of marital bonds, then technically that made reno and selena's son her great-grandson, didn't it?

' his father didn't die on that night when he and loqi left gralea. he was captured and kept as a prisoner. i had intel that indicated that he was being kept in a garrison on lucian soil. ' leaning against the arm of the couch, hands resting on his thighs, a flicker of amusement passed through veld's mind that this was starting to feel akin to an interrogation, but what choice did he have? he was shielded in this house by her grace, and there were still some hours to go until morning broke and he could get the hell out of dodge.

letting out a deep breath, the exiled-turk stare down at the metal of his prosthetic arm, brows lifting in a silent acknowledgement of the danger his life had become so accustomed to.

' i fucked up before baldur and ida tried to leave with their boys - a miscalculation on my behalf that saw bombs dropped on my hometown. my wife was killed and i thought our daughter had been too ... it factored into my decision making that night and i stopped him from leaving. '

' my daughter didn't die - she was experimented on by a deranged researcher, picked apart and tossed away to be exterminated when the results weren't to his liking ... she leads an organisation that seeks to topple the emperor. i chose her and my second-in-command staged my execution. i'm already dead in gralea. '

[ezma-auburnbrie]

She was lettin' her temper get the better of her, an' that was never something that helped. Takin' a moment to correct her breathin' and her patience, Ezma took a breath and resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose.

Did she believe his version of events? Possibly. But that wasn't any help right now. This spy, or former-spy, was in the heart o' hunter territory and was a variable she had t'deal with. Freya was a Turk too. That somehow didn't surprise her an' was the easiest of issues t'deal with. "That Freya girl hunted before though, don't care how good yer trainin' is to assimilate, she knows how t'hunt."

Maybe that was just to assure herself, but it was a marked point that she knew each an' every hunter who signed up. Lookin' Veld up and down at his divulgin' of information, Ezma took her time to sit on the armchair across from the former spy leader. "Why?"

There were a lotta question behind that one; too many for her put into words. Why target her family, why betray his old friend and then try to fix it years alter, why go under the radar, why, why, why. "Why didn't ya come t'me?"

The silence between them sretched an' Ezma felt like she was back that lifetime ago lookin' at the newbie spy. "- for any of it? Y'know I got more contacts across this world than even you, Veld. I would'a helped y'all out."

"- now we're looking at this from opposite ends an' I'm tryin' to catch up to speed." Baldur. He mattered most right now if the man was still alive. "Who knows?"

[ezma-auburnbrie]

"Loqi is a curious boy. Talented t'no end, but curious .. thing is, curiosity extends t'the environment around the person."

Veld had answered but also not-answered. Ezma didn't hold it against the feller. He had spent his life an' career offerin' folks half-answers rooted in truth an' just smoke and mirrors. It was an ingrained habit.

"Thing is, ya had t'be here for Loqi to take an interest in y'all." Ezma stayed standing, her gaze steadfastly rapt on Veld for any kind'a sign, even though she knew the man was far too schooled to let her figure out his tells. He was a spy after all.

"I been decent enough not t'have my folks detain ya on first sight, Veld. I'd expect ya t'answer straight. What brought ya here for Loqi t'see? Why did approach my granddaughter in Lestallum, an' the mother of my grandson too? Ya been sneakin' around instead of comin' to me."

[exiled-turk]

' i didn't approach your granddaughter in lestallum - i was there, she and loqi were handing out flyers and tried to recruit me. '

that was an honest answer. he hadn't been there to seek out the boy, his attention had been on the black-haired girl with the very evidence bump. but loqi and kimia had seen a new face and a chance to recruit a hunter - kudos were kudos were due, the duo certainly knew how to spot a potential asset.

' i was there to speak with reno, or to at least try. ' his gaze wandered around the living room, picking out the little mementos that showed the place to be the heart of a family; framed photographs hanging on the wall, a markedly younger ezma with a toddler on her hip, another with that toddler a young man, smiling with a blonde lady and a little girl on his shoulders, then another with loqi and dave's daughter standing on the bed of a truck.

' he got roped into a hunt for an eccentric metalsmith and i approached selena ... i was curious about her. '

veld shifted, tugging his gaze away from the framed photographs, nodding his head towards the window that looked out onto the front porch of the woman's house and the outpost outside.

' i was here speaking with freya. she was a turk - one that was trained alongside reno. i burned bridges when i left, ezma ... i incinerated them and she chose to side with me. the least i owe her is to check in on her. '

[ezma-auburnbrie]

"Ya approached the mother of my grandson. an' don't try to say ya didn't know who she was; you an' I both know ya knew everything." It was odd t'be in her home and not turn the kettle on t'boil, Ezma was tryi' her best t'keep an even tone and note let herself be biased, but it was difficult.

"Why? Why were ya curious about her?" Ezma didn't like that comment. Selena had come here as a teenager t'find some sense o' safety. Meldacio had been safe for all o' those years "Reno? Y'all'd know he wouldn't wanna talk to ya." It was the most odd comment forEzma and the one that took the forefront of her attention. Regardless of all of Veld's other words, it all boiled back to that.

"Ya went to Lestallum to talk to him, why? Ya know he wouldn't entertain ya." The old lady stayed standing by the far side of her living room area, eyes never leaving the man she had watched walk into Meldacio an entire lifetime ago. "- you of all folks know the danger that follows you, Veld."

[exiled-turk]

how different their lives had been back then; he had been a young man, married but felicia hadn't been born. little had he known that his next few years would see him become a father, lose his friend and turk-partner, rise to the role of commanding the turks and lose his own family.

and she had been a head hunter, her own kid nipping at her heels ... far from the matriarch grandmother standing across from him now.

' here-here or lucis-here? ' did that really matter, or was he just falling into a game of semantics? that wasn't fair. he was here, i her house, hidden away from a very short list of names who would string him up on sight, and it was on her grace.

a lack of other options, ' veld answered honestly, stepping further into ezma's living room and leaning against the arm of her couch, ' it's a long, long story, ezma. but i assure you that i am not here as a shinra operative or nifen asset. i, and some of charges deserted our posts. '

' — and i am here-here, because a certain grandson of yours saw me, decided he did not like me, and all but held me hostage and interrogated me until the sun set. loqi is astute, if nothing else.

[ezma-auburnbrie]

"Loqi is a curious boy. Talented t'no end, but curious .. thing is, curiosity extends t'the environment around the person."

Veld had answered but also not-answered. Ezma didn't hold it against the feller. He had spent his life an' career offerin' folks half-answers rooted in truth an' just smoke and mirrors. It was an ingrained habit.

"Thing is, ya had t'be here for Loqi to take an interest in y'all." Ezma stayed standing, her gaze steadfastly rapt on Veld for any kind'a sign, even though she knew the man was far too schooled to let her figure out his tells. He was a spy after all.

"I been decent enough not t'have my folks detain ya on first sight, Veld. I'd expect ya t'answer straight. What brought ya here for Loqi t'see? Why did approach my granddaughter in Lestallum, an' the mother of my grandson too? Ya been sneakin' around instead of comin' to me."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

❛ I’m just saying, murder is an option. ❜

Random Sentence Starters:

"Yer right, it's always an option."

Sittin' down on her threadbare armchair that'd seen more o' these kinda conversations than Reno would ever know.

He was a brash young feller, grown from a headstrong teenager who rebelled at every chance, an' into a young man who knew his place an' pulled his weight, though that spark of a spy remained burning within the lad.

Not that she could blame him; he had been merely a boy when the spies took him under their wind and it was ingrained into him to think as a constant spook, an' not first as a hunter.

"Thing is, negotiatin' an' retreat are also options that cost less lives, m'boy."

[exiled-turk]

though her words had been clipped and stern, an order and not an offer, veld knew better than to look a gift horse in its mouth - it would get him out of sight in the small outpost, and it might keep loqi's curiosity at bay until dawn broke and the ex-turk could leave this place without everything going to shit.

stepping across the threshold of the house, veld would not lead his way through her home as if he were paying a mark a late-night visit. he stood still, a few feet behind the woman, holding his hands up at chest level, flesh and metal palms facing her in a truce.

' i am not here in the capacity that i once was, ezma. have i gone back on our agreement to date? none of my rank have ventured here since i left, '

well, save for one. reno was here, but that wasn't his doing. though it did give the seasoned turk pause for thought to consider just what must have gone through ezma's mind when she had been told the truth of the boy's origins. canting his head to the side in a silence concession, veld's gaze flitted to the door that ezma had shut.

' i miscalculated the amount of daylight that was left. my intention is to leave as soon as dawn breaks. '

[ezma-auburnbrie]

"Yer always in that capacity." The words weren't as clippin' as her first ones, but Ezma didn't soften them either. Once a Turk, always a Turk. She'd spent anough time as leader of the hunters, an' a hunter before that time, t'know about the Empire's infamous spies an' their terrible reputation.

Terrible 'cause there was no such thing as retirement. If a hunter decided t'retire, no matter the years of experience or skills invested in 'em, then they got t'retire. No tricks. No small print. It was the least respect they deserved for joinin' in the first place.

"What brought ya here t'begin with? An' I don't want no half-assed answers. There ain't a person nor nationality in this outpost I don't know about, Veld." She didn't often exert her rank or authority like she was now, but Ezma rarely felt the nervousness she did now. She was leader of the hunters yes, but was a mother an' grandmother too. Not jus' to Kimi, but she had three grandsons t'think of now too, an' a great-grandson. An' if Veld was bringin' danger t'the doorstep of her home an' the home of her son an' his family, then it woudn't stand.

[exiled-turk]

@ezma-auburnbrie continued from (x)

never had he thought that his path would cross with the hunter again. he had been a kid back then, veld could see that now. he and vincent hadn't been long out of training, and looking back now he knew it had been a test from the height of zegnautus to check whether or not the turks were all they claimed to be.

smiling at her clipped words and the pointed up and down she gave his arm and face, veld nodded his head - yeah. his ability to disappear into a crowd had been hampered quite a bit since the the last time they'd met.

' a lot has changed since we last spoke, ezma, ' nodding his head across the way to the only other house that sported the same flower pots outside its porch as the ones that dotted the old woman's porch, ' in my life and yours, it seems. '

[ezma-auburnbrie]

"That it has, get inside 'fore anyone should see ya."

The years had allowed her t'relinquish a lotta the day t'day runnin' of the hunters to Dave. He was a good man, somethin' that made her immensely proud. So it wasn't often she gave verbal orders outside o' the admin meetings, but today was one o' those rare occasions as she stood slowly from her chair an' didn't break eye contact with the man.

He done as instructed an' only when the door of her own small home closed behind them did Ezma look the man up an' down again. He had aged a lot ... but it had been a lifetime since she saw him last here. Fresh-faced an' wet behind the ears an' easy to pick out. He was solid, scarred an' toughened by life.

Such was the cost of a life like his.

"I told you an' yer pal all them years ago not t'darken this outpost again." She had not harmed them, nor outed them for what they were and allowed them to stay among them for a week or two, but had told the young men in no uncertain terms that the hunters were off-limits to the empire's spies on their leaving.

[ezma-auburnbrie]

I’m not sad, I’m just tired.

Random Sentence starters:

Slowly sittin' down onto the chair on her porch, Ezma looked out on the outpost an' there was a small smile on her face. The long night was still their reality, but there was safety for folks in the outposts too.

Meldacio had expanded its boundaries beyond the lookout-sides, movin' floodlights an erectin' new fences. More families an' kids ran about. A lotta the families from Tenebrae and Cartanica had decided t'settle here and in Old Lestallunm. It was good t'see new blood an' young'uns running about.

It was a jokin' comment she passed t'Somnus as he pulled up a chair beside her. "Don't be sad, it might never happen." Somethin' he had told her a helluva long time ago, an' a saying Ezma used a lot herself. But Somnus didn't flash his usual smile and laugh it off, instead she got a quiet response.

'I'm not sad, I'm just tired.'

He had such an odd tone, and it was a strange admission from him. Enough to make Ezma reach out of touch Somnus' hand. "You've lived more than most, old friend and seen far more than anyone should."

"It's only fair that you feel tired from time to time."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

"Tell me what to do or what to say." - Ida

Random sentence starters:

She wasn't herself, that much Ezma could tell. She didn't know what was different, not that anyone was tellin' her neither. But this had nothin' to do with the runnin' of Meldacio, and she sensed it was more t'do with private lives.

Somewhere over the past decade she had come to truly like Ida an' her boys. They were part of her own family, and family was more than blood. The blond lady was a brilliant mind for the hunters to have in their repetoire, let alone a strong character she admired too.

Perhaps she saw a bit of her younger self in the lady.

Which was why Ezma bit her lip when Ida sat in her livin' room, hands cuppin' a mug of steamin' tea and eyes beseeching her for an answer she didn't have. Instead Ezma slowly lowered herself into the chair opposite Ida and shook her head slowly, hand reachin' out to pat her.

"I think I'd do ya a disservice if I even tried to tell ya what t'do." She didn't know what had happened for Ida to find refuge here, nor did she ask. But if she was anythin' like her, it was a somethin' big. "Ida, yer a strong-minded lady, and I'd do anythin' for ya ... but I reckon ya know yer own mind. I don't think ya need the opinion of an old woman like me. Ya need space an' time to think, if anything."

@housetummelt

[ezma-auburnbrie]

❛ This place never ceases to amaze me. ❜

Random Sentence Starters:

She had seen him 'round the outpost, notin' the feller from the second he'd set foot here an' his run-ins with other folks.

But Ezma bided her time, waitin' for the man t'lean against her porch an' utter those words weeks later.

"- well, it's done been a long time since ya last seen it." Probably decades ago, back when he'd been a fresh-faced new spy with a dark-haired feller that had strikin' crimson eyes. They'd still been wet behind the ears as spooks an' stood out a mile. It'd been a small run-in back then, with the two men sent t'Lucis t report back to the Empire. "Yer still stickin' out after all this time, thought y'would'a gotten better after all these years."

"- I would hope yain't here for the same reason as back then, Verdot."

[vaememes]

` ° * ✧ ° RANDOM SENTENCE STARTERS.

❛ Have you been playing with matches again? ❜ ❛ Do have anymore of that one stuff? ❜ ❛ So, where do we go from here? ❜ ❛ What the hell is that thing? ❜ ❛ You know, you aren’t supposed to be doing that. ❜ ❛ I almost forgot you only come around when you need me. ❜ ❛ Oh, yeah, you played me good, didn’t you? ❜ ❛ I’m not joking with you this time. ❜ ❛ Do you ever think about having kids? ❜ ❛ I didn’t mean to punch you that hard. ❜ ❛ Nice shiner there, buddy. ❜ ❛ Great way to start the day. ❜ ❛ I just want peace and quiet. ❜ ❛ Please, just go away already, ugh. ❜ ❛ I’m not giving you any money! ❜ ❛ You don’t own me. ❜ ❛ Tell me what to do or what to say. ❜ ❛ I love my freedom. ❜ ❛ Shut up before I break your arm. ❜ ❛ Now, that looks like a grand adventure. ❜ ❛ I’m taking you home, come on. ❜ ❛ Jesus, are you really that drunk? ❜ ❛ What did you take? How many you’d take? ❜ ❛ That’s not an orange. It’s a lemon. ❜ ❛ The wait is almost over. ❜ ❛ So, when are we going to finally meet? ❜ ❛ I would like to see you in person. ❜ ❛ Are you online dating again? ❜ ❛ I’m not sad, I’m just tired. ❜ ❛ I want to take a nap so bad. ❜ ❛ I thought we could just nap together. ❜ ❛ Life can be messy. ❜ ❛ I wish life could be mess free. ❜ ❛ Are you high or just stupid? ❜ ❛ You can be anything you set your mind to. ❜ ❛ We are not going to be like them. ❜ ❛ I just wanted to fit in, I don’t know. ❜ ❛ Are you going to that party tonight? ❜ ❛ I thought we’d be together forever. ❜ ❛ I really liked you. My fault. ❜ ❛ We don’t like surprises. ❜ ❛ Please save the lecture for someone who gives a shit. ❜ ❛ What the hell did you do? ❜ ❛ Well, you poor thing. ❜ ❛ I’m just saying, murder is an option. ❜ ❛ We can always kill them, yeah? ❜ ❛ What’s all this glitter for anyway? ❜ ❛ Damn, you look like shit. Smell like it too. ❜ ❛ It’s not too dark and not too light. ❜ ❛ I wanted to know what you liked so I stalked you. ❜ ❛ I didn’t stalk anyone for the last time already. ❜ ❛ I’m not sorry and I have no regrets. ❜ ❛ You are so fucked, you know that? ❜ ❛ Hey, you stole that from me! Give it back! ❜ ❛ Screw you. ❜ ❛ Just fuck off already. ❜ ❛ You look like a Simpson. ❜ ❛ I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. ❜ ❛ I’m not mean, I’m just honest. ❜ ❛ I will stab you with my fingernail, try me. ❜ ❛ Your wish is my command. ❜ ❛ I would love to see you suffer. ❜ ❛ I’m not in, no way. This is bad. ❜ ❛ I don’t want to break any rules. ❜ ❛ Fine then. Don’t call and don’t text me anymore. ❜ ❛ I’m not mad at you, don’t worry. ❜ ❛ Do not ever question my parenthood again. ❜ ❛ I don’t have time for this. ❜ ❛ Death is all around us. ❜ ❛ You’re just like the girl from gone girl. ❜ ❛ You left, not me. ❜ ❛ I’m not the one that’s always leaving. ❜ ❛ I can’t believe this is truly happening. ❜ ❛ I was wondering, if you wanted to look at the stars with me? ❜ ❛ I always wanted to go on a date. ❜ ❛ I knew you were trouble when you walked in. ❜ ❛ I had a feeling. ❜ ❛ Wait, do you feel that? That vibe right now? ❜ ❛ Where could the gem be? ❜ ❛ Do I look like someone you should mess with? ❜ ❛ It stinks it this place. Can’t believe you call it home. ❜ ❛ Wow, this is your house? ❜ ❛ I can’t believe you didn’t think to ask me first. ❜ ❛ You have a lot to learn. ❜ ❛ What do you take me for? ❜ ❛ What do I have to do to get it from you? ❜ ❛ Will you ever stop asking me that? ❜ ❛ This place never ceases to amaze me. ❜

[ezma-auburnbrie]

@proxnotxaxfool from here

"Yeah an' I reckon it's nice t'see you too." The old woman ambled on past Reno as he sat up on her couch an' she busied herself at the stove, heatin' up some breakfast for the boy.

They had never had anythin' fancy here in Meldacio, so it was plain ol' porridge an' some tea for the kid. Turnin' to look at him as she placed the breakfast in front of him, Ezma noticed jus' how gangly an' leggy Ida's oldest boy was getting. He'd turn into a fine feller.

Reminded her o' David when he was that age.

"Yain't ever gotta knock on my door, y'know that." It was always unlocked for anyone that needed it. Though it was usually the younger duo o' Kimi an' Loqi that barged through the door; Reno'd always been a bit cagier an' guarded. That was why she was surprised t'find the kid on her couch.

"For future reference, my boy, there's a spare room yonder down the hall. Yer too tall for that couch."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

proxnotxaxfool​:

‘ why am i not surprised? ’ the words were muttered out under his breath at ezma’s nonchalant, musing answer. flopping back down onto the couch, reno rolled his eyes to the heavens. he was seriously starting to think maybe selena had been the only person in the outpost who hadn’t known at this stage.

‘ nope, she did not. ’ the youth shook his head, choosing not to make an issue out of ezma knowing the truth about his family … it was a bit of no-brainer. why it hadn’t occurred to him to question whether the matriarch knew, reno wasn’t sure. but she’d never once dropped a hint or comment on the matter and that alone spoke volumes.

‘ but what was i meant t’do? ’ reno asked quietly, meeting ezma’s gaze with a shirking hike of his shoulders, ‘ — just keep lyin’ to her? that ain’t fair either, she deserved to know who and what i am, or was, or whatever … no? ’

“Ain’t nothin’ happens in this outpost I don’t know of, young’un.” Ezma sat there, noddin’ her head and watchin’ Reno over the rim of her glasses. She’s sussed somethin’ wasn’t quite right ‘bout those boys arrivin’ in the middle o’ a stormy night an’ their mama arrivin’ weeks later.

She’d seen a lotta this world over the years, before the war had shut down all the borders an’ Ezma had learned how t’read folks an’ their tells. Ida an’ her boys were faultless in their cover-story, though maybe that’s what’d piqued the old woman’s interest ‘till she finally asked her David about it.

“I can’t tell ya what yer were meant t’do Reno, ain’t never been in her position.” Another mouthful of tea that fogged up her glasses and Ezma rocker her chair back an’ forth for a long few moments. “I rekcon there’s a part o’ what ya done is admirable - takes courage. But I do doubt yer mama’s gonna see it that way ... it done took y’all a long time to settle here an’ now that’s safety’s gonna be gone in her eyes.”

[ezma-auburnbrie]

@proxnotxaxfool from here

"Yeah an' I reckon it's nice t'see you too." The old woman ambled on past Reno as he sat up on her couch an' she busied herself at the stove, heatin' up some breakfast for the boy.

They had never had anythin' fancy here in Meldacio, so it was plain ol' porridge an' some tea for the kid. Turnin' to look at him as she placed the breakfast in front of him, Ezma noticed jus' how gangly an' leggy Ida's oldest boy was getting. He'd turn into a fine feller.

Reminded her o' David when he was that age.

"Yain't ever gotta knock on my door, y'know that." It was always unlocked for anyone that needed it. Though it was usually the younger duo o' Kimi an' Loqi that barged through the door; Reno'd always been a bit cagier an' guarded. That was why she was surprised t'find the kid on her couch.

"For future reference, my boy, there's a spare room yonder down the hall. Yer too tall for that couch."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

proxnotxaxfool​:

he felt like quoting the woman’s words right back at dave; he could do with the full intel right about now. he needed to know who knew the truth and who didn’t. all this time, and reno had thought dave to be the sole keeper of their secret. but now kaleb knew too - and selena, obviously. that was on him though.

standing up from the couch, reno headed for the sink with his empty bowl, running the faucet for a few moments to rinsing it clean before he set it on the sideboard and headed back through the door to the living room, thoughts flitting back and forth about how to test the waters without fully diving in like he had with selena.

‘ i told selena that i came from a place a bit north of altissia. ’ that was putting it lightly, but it was enough of a vague explanation for him to see whether the old woman was on the same page as him or not; if not, he could cover it with a smaller fishing town in accordo.

“Bit north o’ Altissia.” Rockin’ back and forth a few more times, Ezma went through her own mental map of Eos. North o’ Altissia was a spatterin’ of small islands and then jus’ open water till ya hit Galdin Quay.

“I always reckoned Gralea was west,” the old woman gave a shrug and took another sip of her tea, watchin’ Reno over the rim of her spectacles. “Before y’get yer knickers in a twist, there ain’t nothin’ that happens in this outpost or the hunters that I don’t know about.”

“That said, I know when somethin’ can’t go no further. No one else on the committee knows ... some folks wouldn’t take well to it. Jus’ like I imagine young miss Selena didn’t.”

[ezma-auburnbrie]

@proxnotxaxfool from here

"Yeah an' I reckon it's nice t'see you too." The old woman ambled on past Reno as he sat up on her couch an' she busied herself at the stove, heatin' up some breakfast for the boy.

They had never had anythin' fancy here in Meldacio, so it was plain ol' porridge an' some tea for the kid. Turnin' to look at him as she placed the breakfast in front of him, Ezma noticed jus' how gangly an' leggy Ida's oldest boy was getting. He'd turn into a fine feller.

Reminded her o' David when he was that age.

"Yain't ever gotta knock on my door, y'know that." It was always unlocked for anyone that needed it. Though it was usually the younger duo o' Kimi an' Loqi that barged through the door; Reno'd always been a bit cagier an' guarded. That was why she was surprised t'find the kid on her couch.

"For future reference, my boy, there's a spare room yonder down the hall. Yer too tall for that couch."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

proxnotxaxfool​:

kaleb knew the truth of where he and his family were from. and by dave’s account, the galahdan had known for fucking-forever. in hindsight, perhaps reno should have queried who else might know too, but he hadn’t. his head had been too preoccupied with the fallout of what his admission might have and how to carry out damage control.

part of dave’s family … that had him staring at the bowl in front of him for far too long. burying his spoon in the oats, the teenager made a conscious decision not to dwell on what ezma had said … who had been the one to track him down atop meldacio? whose house did he consider home? what little girl did he consider his younger sister now?

fuck.

a spoonful of porridge - it would make sense for ezma to know. she was the matriarch of this whole outpost. head of the committee and also dave’s mother.  another mouthful of breakfast as he nodded at the woman’s advice, taking a moment to swallow down the porridge before he answered.

‘ with respect ezma, taking my head out of the sand has kinda landed me in this mess. ’ brows bobbing as pushed away a few rogue thoughts, one managed to make its way out beneath his breath thought, ‘ chatting to my mother also landed me in this mess. ’

A chuckle escaped the old woman and she rocked back and forth a few more times, smilin’ to herself.

“True,” at least he could understand that his own actions had landed him in this mess. She had no clue why Reno was here in her house, but she was astute enough t’know that neither Ida nor David would’a told the lad he wasn't welcome in their house. Whatever issues Reno perceived as obstacles; they were of his own creating.

“But I’ma tell ya the same thing I tell all tipsters; I can’t advise ya properly if y’don’t gimme the full intel.” And she said that in the kindest voice she could muster. She’d done failed David a bit when he was Reno’s age, bein’ too preoccupied by hunts an’ other goings-on, but the hindsight o’ age an’ years of watchin’ teenagers grow up,  come an’ go from Meldacio had taught her the advice her boy had probably been lookin’ for back then.

“An’ chattin’ to her is gonna be what helps ya get through this too, mark my words young man. Whatever this is, yer gonna need her, whether y’wanna heard that or not.”

[ezma-auburnbrie]

@proxnotxaxfool from here

"Yeah an' I reckon it's nice t'see you too." The old woman ambled on past Reno as he sat up on her couch an' she busied herself at the stove, heatin' up some breakfast for the boy.

They had never had anythin' fancy here in Meldacio, so it was plain ol' porridge an' some tea for the kid. Turnin' to look at him as she placed the breakfast in front of him, Ezma noticed jus' how gangly an' leggy Ida's oldest boy was getting. He'd turn into a fine feller.

Reminded her o' David when he was that age.

"Yain't ever gotta knock on my door, y'know that." It was always unlocked for anyone that needed it. Though it was usually the younger duo o' Kimi an' Loqi that barged through the door; Reno'd always been a bit cagier an' guarded. That was why she was surprised t'find the kid on her couch.

"For future reference, my boy, there's a spare room yonder down the hall. Yer too tall for that couch."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

proxnotxaxfool​:

sitting up and swinging his legs of the couch, the teenager wiped sleep form his eyes. a glance to the clock on the wall telling him that he’d managed to bag four or five hours sleep - not bad considering the thoughts that had plagued him any time sleep had tiptoed any way close.

nodding his head at the old woman’s comment about not needing to knock, reno acknowledged it, but silently told himself that he would. he appreciated the offer it extended, but it was about manners; this was her house. welcome or not, it was respectful to knock and ask first.

but he’d been desperate for a place to lay his head down where he wouldn’t be hounded for a few hours; no loqi or kim to wake him up and assault him with questions. no dave to quietly query him on the shitshow he’d created … no mama’s gaze to meet or avoid. not right now, at least.

‘ thank you, ’ the teenager looked up when a bowl porridge and a mug of tea was set down in front of him on the low coffee table, a forced smirk tugging on the corner of his mouth as he rolled his shoulder and cracked his neck, working away the stiffness in his joints.

‘ i appreciate it, and if it’s okay with you, i’d like to sleep there tonight? ’

Slowly makin’ her way around the coffee table, more so to be able to glance out the front window o’ the house and check there were lookouts on-post, Ezma the lowered herself into a rocking chair and watched the boy for a long moment.

“Yain’t gotta ask. Yer part o’ David’s family, yer part of mine, Reno.” She’d hoped the boy knew that, but he was more guarded than most folks she’d ever come across. Course she knew why; her boy had told her about Ida’s past an’ her boys. He hadn’t truly wanted to - she knew how to read her son - but he’d known it was for the best. She was the only member o’ the committe that knew ... but it helped Ezma monitor the whispers and news comin’ in from the hunters and their contacts across Eos. So she could protect the new family her son had made for himself.

“But I reckon maybe hidin’ from whatever made ya come here might not be the best plan.” She rocked back an’ forth, taking her time to drink some o’ her own tea as it fogged up her spectacles and waitin’ for the glasses to clear. “It’s fine by me ... but it’s yer mama I think ya should chat to. Head in the sand never did really suit ya.”.

[ezma-auburnbrie]

@proxnotxaxfool from here

"Yeah an' I reckon it's nice t'see you too." The old woman ambled on past Reno as he sat up on her couch an' she busied herself at the stove, heatin' up some breakfast for the boy.

They had never had anythin' fancy here in Meldacio, so it was plain ol' porridge an' some tea for the kid. Turnin' to look at him as she placed the breakfast in front of him, Ezma noticed jus' how gangly an' leggy Ida's oldest boy was getting. He'd turn into a fine feller.

Reminded her o' David when he was that age.

"Yain't ever gotta knock on my door, y'know that." It was always unlocked for anyone that needed it. Though it was usually the younger duo o' Kimi an' Loqi that barged through the door; Reno'd always been a bit cagier an' guarded. That was why she was surprised t'find the kid on her couch.

"For future reference, my boy, there's a spare room yonder down the hall. Yer too tall for that couch."

[ezma-auburnbrie]

somnus-lucis-caelum​:

This was beyond what Somnus would have liked to do. And it was not only has inability to change the course of time that played into that… because if it had been Ezma herself trapped down down below the earth… would he have tried to play his hand against fate? Maybe…

But while he had a bond to Ezma, there was none to Davey. Even if Ezma loved him. This was all just a favour for her, not for him.

She just needed to know.

Know whether there was any chance of Davey coming back home. But it was not as easy as that. There would be harsh questions, but Somnus needed an answer to those before he left.

“What do you expect me to do?”, Somnus asked, though it was not mockery.

“What if I find them, but half of them are hurt and can not leave? What if Davey is among those who need to be sacrificed to ensure the other’s survival? What if I find them trapped deep down below in one of the hundred chambers? I could find them. And I could tell you of their fate. But it is something else entirely to challenge the Gods and help them in any way or form.”

“Hush, little one,” Gently swaying her little son in her arms, Ezma mustered a small smile for him an’ a calming tone. He was too little t’know about any o’ this worry. Some day, far from now, he might find himself in her position, but she prayed to whatever gods might be listenin’ that he’d be spared that kinda life.

But they were hunters. What other life was there?

Waitin’ until his blue eyes slowly slid closed again, she placed the sleeping baby back into his cot and looked down at him for so long that the silence grew deafenin’. He looked like his dad, an’ Davey had so many plans for his boy - t’teach him how to fish, wrangle in wild chocobos out near the slough an’ learn the map of stars in the night sky.

What did she expect Somnus t’do? She felt like shoutin’ and crying and demanding he fix everything. To turn back the clock an’ she’d stop them all from goin’ on that hunt. She didn’t know what else t’do so that was why she had prayed ... but he couldn’t do that. “Why not?”

Was it a selfish thought? Definitely, but she had never been a selfish person ‘fore an’ surely she was due some fairness and happiness in this life too? The hunters were jus’ ordinary folks - surely helpin’ or saving them was insignificant t’the astrals. “What in tarnation do a handful o’ hunters matter to the gods?”

[youngrevolutionary]