Every so often, he finds it’s more interesting to simply watch the city move around him. It’s easy to forget, sometimes, how not all of Ul’dah is seeped in whispers and intrigue.
But then Tyo’li finds himself sitting on one of the benches lining the main thoroughfare, eyes lazily moving from one passerby to the next. Most aren’t particularly noteworthy, simply citizens going about their business, moving from point a to to point b, as it were. It’s when he spots children playing in the distance that he feels a warmth somewhere in his chest.
Their game isn’t anything extravagant, just hopping through a pattern clumsily drawn on the forever uneven cobblestone. The miqo’te watches, perhaps longer than he realizes, lips curved into a softer smile than he’s used to, these days.
_How long has it been since you taught me that game, Riri?_
Longer than he might think, for as clearly as he can still remember it. He was much smaller then, and hadn’t grown into either his ears or his tail yet. It might have even been the same spot, where an aging lalafell guided his fingers with the chalk to draw nearly the same pattern. All the while, his twin sister clapped happily at their progress.
She was the first to jump across, of course, with Ririfeki holding one of her hands so she wouldn’t wobble too far. As for Tyo’li, well, he was too good to let him do that.
Thinking on the moment brings a gentle laugh to his lips, while he shakes his head. He’ll have to stop there, though--else he might remember coming to regret declining that helping hand. It’s getting late, and there’s work to be done.
Besides, the old man has enough to gloat about without history coming to back him up.
“Go, Tyo’li. See the homeland your mother loved so dearly.”
Ririfeki’s words still echo in his mind, only slightly more clearly than the fond smile he wore while he spoke them.
“Set it free.”
If Tyo’li were to be honest, he feels out of place among the amassed Resistance tents. Most of them have fond memories of the city beyond the massive walls ahead. He can only remember the wistful tone in his mother’s voice when she would speak of it.
“Ala Mhigo...”
His wayward steps come to a pause not far beyond the line of tents closest to the entrapped city. As far as he’s heard, the area outside the walls is clear of soldiers, but it wouldn’t do to go disappearing now, on the eve of possibly the final battle.
His voice is barely above a whisper, simply remembering how it feels when it rolls off his tongue. Ever since Her passing, he’s slowly but surely stopped saying it. Now, though... he heaves a soft sigh while looking up at the battle worn walls ahead.
Maybe if he hopes hard enough, the dead can borrow his eyes. This view, while beautiful, would mean so much more to its lost daughter.
It’s a cacophony of voices nearby that pulls him out of his unspoken requiem. Outside one of the tents, a small group huddles around the campfire, making merry, no doubt because their victory could be close at hand.
Tyo’li smiles to himself. He can’t blame them, not really.
It’s a nice reminder. This fight will never be about him, nor whether or not he belongs in it.
His heel turns in the sand to start back for his own tent. There’s nothing left but to rest--
The voices make him pause after only a few beats. Before he can catch himself, his head turns to actually watch them, to listen. Some of them have begun to drink and with it, sing. Its the melody that makes the Keeper’s ears lift high.
He knew it too well. A lullaby from long ago, before he was old enough to recognize the words for what they were.
For the first time in weeks, he feels more himself just hearing it. Perhaps that’s why it was suddenly easy to turn his tracks to the small group, inviting himself to join by way of joining the song once within earshot.
The rest of the night is a blur, but somehow the haze of good drink and company makes preparing to march just a little bit easier, come morning.
Before he’s even finished sitting at the fountain’s edge, a gaggle of small bodies has begun to bounce expectantly. Un-phased, Tyo’li flashes them a grin while crossing one leg over the other.
“Well now, aren’t you all getting ahead of yourselves?”
He leans back, reaching behind him dramatically.
“Well, I suppose if it’s a show you want...”
A crowd of ginger Miqo’te ears all perk in unison as the children lean closer.
"--you’d all better cool off a little, first!”
All at once, the kids scatter when he scoops water from behind, and splashes it over them. Some are giggling as they flee, others look a little more indignant at the surprise shower.
Tyo’li just laughs to himself as they go, and almost just as quickly begin to swarm again. Ah, that never gets old. Honestly, sometimes having so many sisters has its perks.
Though...Uncle Tyo’li doesn’t exactly have the nicest ring to it. But what’s a guy to do?
Once the crowd’s gathered again, he’s much less animated about producing a small pipe from the folds of his shirt. Honestly, they should have known the difference, but maybe being fooled was half the fun. He never could quite decide.
Oh well. The show must go on. With a gentle smile, he lifts the instrument to his lips.
“Any requests?”
A chorus of small voices answers. He’d be hopeless to try pleasing them all, but there aren’t any complaints when he begins the first peppy tune he hears.
It only takes a few beats for the children to start singing or laughing along, while their small forms move with the ebb and flow of the music, while Tyo’li smiles to himself through the pipe.
Tyo’li tries his best to not let the Lalafell in the next room hear any panic in his voice when he calls out, stalling for more time. Not that it matters, the old man knows his tells better than anyone by now.
Either way, the Miqo’te’s ears visibly relax when there’s no return call to prod him into moving faster. Whew. Good enough.
There’s no time to savor that victory, however. His eyes quickly snap to the clockwork laid out in front of him, again. He’d put the clock back together several times over, and still, the hands refused to budge, along with just about everything else inside of it.
Being the productive Keeper he is, he spends the next minute more than a little focused on adjusting his glasses. If one were to ask him, he still swears up and down that it helps him think.
“What’s he thinking, anyway?”
It’s a bad habit, mumbling to himself when he’s alone. But at least his fingers are finally prodding pieces back together again; maybe this time it’ll work.
“Askin’ me to do his job...”
He never has noticed how his tail starts to bristle when he’s focused, and probably never will.
Ririfeki is awfully generous, because it’s a good deal longer than a minute by the time Tyo’li sets the finished piece down again, put together as well as he can muster.
Shame it still doesn’t work. He clicks his tongue impatiently, debating if it’s worth trying to do it all over again.
The question is quickly answered for him when the curtain covering the doorway is pushed aside, and an aged Lalafell steps through.
“Have you finished?”
Dammit. Tyo’li’s ears droop to answer the question before he even tries to open his mouth. Ririfeki, however, seems amused at his predicament.
“What happened to all that spunk you had when I gave it to you?”
The young feline is quiet for a moment, brow furrowed. All of a sudden, something smells awfully fishy, and it isn’t breakfast coming back.
Arms crossed, he finally lets out a quiet sigh.
“No, Riri, I’m not finished. No matter how many times I’ve tried, it refuses to tick.”
“Have you tried winding it up?”
“Come again?”
The Lalafell seems more than a little smug when he produces a very distinct clockwork key, and moves to start cranking it in a hole Tyo’li had conveniently overlooked.
Speaking of Tyo’li, he’s already turned on his heel to leave. He needs a drink or five, he can feel it already.
“Next time maybe clue me in before I start tearing it apart for the tenth time!”
He knows it won’t matter, but he yells the advice over his shoulder all the same.
Riri chortles once again.
“How else will you learn to stop being so stubborn and ask for help, my boy!?”
Crossposting here for visibility, but I’m in need of cash to pay my insurance so I’m trying to get rid of a lot of excess things I have laying around!
Sale List
A mishmash of miscellaneous TouRabu, Hakuouki, HQ!!, SB69, ect. Unfortunately only shipping to the US, but depending on what you want I’m willing to negotiate. Shipping for small stuff is usually about 3 bucks through bubble mailer. Drop me a message here, or via Twitter @sundaemouri (am more active on Twits tho, my dm are open)
Crossposting here for visibility, but I’m in need of cash to pay my insurance so I’m trying to get rid of a lot of excess things I have laying around!
Sale List
A mishmash of miscellaneous TouRabu, Hakuouki, HQ!!, SB69, ect. Unfortunately only shipping to the US, but depending on what you want I’m willing to negotiate. Shipping for small stuff is usually about 3 bucks through bubble mailer. Drop me a message here, or via Twitter @sundaemouri (am more active on Twits tho, my dm are open)
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