Warrior of Light (DRG) from Final Fantasy XIV
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Affiliated with Isola Radiale
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surrender not to sadness, and see beyond despair. Walk free, and bear the light for others to follow
dragoon /drəˈɡo͞on/ n. 1. lance wielding knights that have perfected the art of aerial combat through nimble jumps and dives.
A fierce fighter with near-unshakeable courage, and an endless love for the world and its people.
Lilli's no stranger to travel, even between worlds, so being in Spirale isn't that strange to her.
You know those days where you're like 'this might as well happen'?
A bit dumb, but like, affectionately. Would believe that a kilogram of steel weighs more than a kilogram of feathers.
Likes sports and surfing, and hates sitting still for too long.
Her usual solution to problems is hitting it really hard, and if that doesn't work, hit it again, harder.
The large jagged scar down the side of her face is from her near-transformation into a lightwarden (a monster of pure light that only lives to feed on others), leaving her half-blind. Still working on adjusting to not having depth perception.
The scar on her back was from battling the dragon Nidhogg.
Though she's been through a lot on her journeys, she refuses to become cynical. She believes that life is worth living simply by loving the people around you.
Loyal to the bitter end. You've befriended Lilli-- Lilli will now die for you.
At her question, Watanuki felt himself suddenly freeze in place.
The hand cusping Lilli's shoulder had let go, perhaps in his shock; just barely hovering above as he stood there, silent for a moment. Although he was relieved to finally receive a response from her, after calling out to her again, and again, and again-- that was the last thing the shopkeeper had expected to hear.
The boy with the golden eyes. And she was looking directly at Watanuki as she asked-- a single tear rolling from her opaque eye.
There was no way she could have meant.. how could she have known? When that person had never once stepped foot in this world before?
With lips parted still, eyes wide, he eventually found a way to ground himself again; reaching out to gently wipe away the still running tear from his friend's cheek. He sat, then; reaching for her hands, as an almost solemn look rested upon his features.
After a moment to catch her breath, Lilli is finally able to ground herself in the here and now. Watanuki's hands in hers are a lifeline as she tries to recount what was shown to her.
"I saw your past," she says, as if it's the most normal thing in the world to have happened. "Bits and pieces, that is. A spiderweb, a hand reaching out... you lost an eye, lost your sight, right? And then had it given back. There was the most beautiful woman, and..." she closes her eyes, breathing out. How to describe that feeling?
"That woman, and the person with the golden eyes. They both mean a lot to you, don't they? I could feel it. Like your heart was resonating with mine for a moment. Almost overwhelming in its intensity." Silence falls, and Lilli opens her eyes. Her gaze scans his features, trying to make out how he's feeling about all this. It's always... a lot, and she never knows how anyone will react to something so personal.
"I'm sorry," is what she settles on. "Back home we call these visions the Echo; fragments of someone's past shown to me in flashes of memory. I don't choose when it happens, nor what I see."
"I apologize if I've brought up memories that may best be left in the past— and I understand if they're something you'd rather not discuss further."
"What could you possibly do with this that I can't do myself?"
Aurelius asks the shorter, smaller woman beside him. In one hand he holds Ithuriel—or what was supposed to be Ithuriel, but now was a long wooden spear that looked like it could shatter at the first stab against their robot hunters.
"At least I'd have longer reach than you."
Outside the doors of their hiding spot, the steady patrol of robots continue up and down the hall.
Lilli listens as the heavy, metallic footsteps continue down the hall. She doesn't know how good the robots' hearing is, so she keeps her voice low.
"I don't think arguing about which of us has the better lance arm will do us much good in getting out of here, will it?" In better circumstances, she might have taken his words as a challenge, but now is neither the time or place. Probably better to work together rather than come to blows over lance technique and die in a closet.
"In any case, my lance arm is my strongest asset. I'm no mage, or anything of the sort. I'm fairly capable, but I doubt I could take more than a few at once." ...perhaps fewer, in her current weakened state, but she's not about to admit that. She turns to look at her companion, as if sizing him up.
"What about you? How much damage do you think your longer reach can do?"
Yet again, the woman's kindness shone through her words; creating a grateful looking smile that eventually settled across Watanuki's features. There was a response there, one appreciative that she felt that way; solidifying that he did have peace now, despite everything.
But the words were more than likely never heard.
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It starts with a boy's hand caught in a spiderweb. Rescued by another, begrudgingly so. Everything remains the same, nothing amiss-- until that very same web then covers the other boy's eye, forcing it shut.
He won't let me help him. This is my fault. It should have been me who was punished. He didn't do anything wrong.
If the spider should hold a grudge against anyone.. it should be me.
What can I do to make it hate me more..?
The other boy from before-- his eyes are open now. Golden, full of anger, of desperation, as he grasps at the collar of Watanuki's shirt. He waits for no explanation of why Watanuki arrives to his home with a patch over his eye that day, ripping it off despite the other's protests.
The blue in his right eye is gone. Replaced with white, with nothing, as he stares at Doumeki with nothing to say.
It's better this way. Someone like him..
He doesn't need to be in pain.. for me.
The air shifts. Watanuki stumbles, falls, walks into walls-- he claims it doesn't matter, that he can't see anymore out of that eye. But as the people around him worry.. as they desperately find a way to try to help him.. he wonders if he's made a mistake.
And then..
In the dark he stands, before a woman who holds a floating orb of blue. His sight. He can see himself through it, as she holds it open in the palm of her hand; revealing the horror stretched across his face. I don't deserve it back, not now-- but I don't want to hurt them anymore. Yet the realization does nothing to stop her, from grasping it between her fingers--
Before swallowing it hole.
Now it was truly dark. Whatever flecks he could see before were gone.. but this was his choice, his wish. He had to be okay with this.. no matter what.
And yet, in her shop, Yuuko opened her hand to him. A ball of gold floating in the palm of her hand.
Why..? For me? Why does he always..
Why doesn't he feel about me.. the way I do about myself?
'What will you do?'
He cradles the warmth in his fingers; hesitating quietly.. before he, too, swallows it whole.
And when his eyes open again..
--
"-- san.."
Suddenly, a voice breaks through; quietly at first, until..
"Lilli-san!"
On his feet now, Watanuki stood at Lilli's side; a palm cupping her shoulder as he tried to desperately reach her. With worry strewn across his features, he squeezed her shoulder gently; waiting for her to lift her head once more.
Lilli is, as always, a silent observer in her visions.
Colors are dulled at first, all but the gold of the other boy's eyes. Muffled voiced turn clearer as emotions surge. This... is Watanuki's past.
It's as if she can see through his eyes at points, feel his anguish. The eyes are bright spots of color in worlds turned dark, and the people...
Lilli doesn't recognize them, but it's as if her heart reacts to how strongly Watanuki feels about them. The boy with the golden eyes, the woman... she feels his pain as if it were her own, if only for a moment. She watches as the Watanuki of the past goes from one decision to the next, feels his doubt, his uncertainty. His eyes... his sight was entangled with his feelings for this person, wasn't it? Ripped away from him, given back...
His eyes.
His eyes.
Her heart is in her throat as a familiar darkness closes in, just like before, just like that moment on the mountain where her face shattered in searing light, and everything went white, just like—
...
—'Lilli-san!'
Bolting upright, it takes a moment for Lilli to register where she is. This is... Watanuki's shop. Eyes of blue and clouded white meet blue and gold, and a single tear runs from her blind eye before she can stop it. Her breathing slows, and she puts up a hand to show that she's fine, but...
"Watanuki?" as she gets her bearings, a disoriented question slips out before she can stop it.
Lilli's optimism shone brightly through her words; it was something Watanuki truly admired about her, the fact that she could see the good in nearly everything before her. The thought of helping others, doing all he could for them.. it was always what he wanted to do, but his smile became somewhat wry at her comment.
".. when I am able to, yes. But there are some wishes that are beyond my capabilities-- some that would be impossible to grant." His own came to mind. For Yuuko to once more return to his side. He could hope for such a thing for the rest of his days, to see her again-- but there was no price powerful enough that could grant that wish.. none that he would allow, at least. "However, when the opportunity presents itself, then I must act. It is part of the role I must fill, after all."
"I see.. yet if it exists in your bloodline, it may not be impossible for you to pursue, if you were ever interested in learning more. Though you are quite incredible with your physical skills from what I've seen-- if you are content with that, then that's all that matters." His smile did come back some, however; resting an elbow on the table as his cheek fell to the palm of his hand. "Should you ever change your mind, however, perhaps that could be something I could help you with."
With her next question, the same memory seemed to filter across his mind; yet Watanuki kept it quiet for the time being. "For as long as I can remember, spirits have always been present in my life. Though I did not know until much later.. it is because magic also flows through my veins; through my blood, and my sight." Absentmindedly, a few fingers came up to caress the side of his face; just barely touching the skin around his amber eye. "It is because of Yuuko-san that I can wield it as I do today, but in my younger years.. well, I had made a wish to her to no longer have that ability. Spirits often sought after me because of my blood, and I was subject to become a meal for them; but as I learned more about their world, I created bonds with many of them. It came to a point where I rescinded my wish.. and I am grateful that it was something she did not end up granting."
Part of her is amused at the thought of being able to wield magic like her older sisters, but she also recalls Urianger's attempts to help her learn divination; (that was a lot of cards all over the floor). Perhaps someday she'll take Watanuki up on his offer, though; it can be fun to learn, even if she doesn't come away with any new talents.
"So... there's some magic you're born with," she muses. Scalde's had been an outside influence, right? But it makes sense that some people are born with it.
(...And she understands being pursued just for the blood that runs in one's veins.) Her heart aches for him as she realizes the hardships he must have faced to come this far.
"You've lived an interesting life, Watanuki. I'm glad to hear you've found some peace, at the very least. I can imagine it wasn't easy to come by."
As she continues to listen, her eye is drawn to the movement of his hand, his glasses, his mis-matched eyes... 'like mine' she starts to think, before she feels a sudden pull at the edges of her vision. Not now, not now..!
'His eye...'
Hands clutch at her head as her heartbeat echoes in her ears, eyes flutter closed with a hiss of breath as the scene in front of her shifts.
you place others above yourself. you love. you sympathize. you forgive. always, you forgive. you offer second chances. the benefit of the doubt. affection without question. chips and chips and chips off the block of your heart. of course, you do it without expectation of anything in return; but with a dwindling supply, the question is when you’ll run out of parts of yourself to give.
you are an angel: suffused with good qualities, those things that make you pure. honesty. beauty. obedience. you are a perfect ideal of the messenger, the guardian, the warrior. you embody the perfection of heaven; you open your mouth and the beautiful word of the lord spills out. the lord hands you a blade and you become the sword of god. you are a creation of the heavens, light given form; you are not human. you are not a person. you are an angel. you are a tool.
Before the cup could meet his lips, Watanuki paused as Lilli had suddenly asked him a question; glancing at her from over the warm liquid, before a surprised sort of look came to his face. Though it had settled somewhat quickly, choosing to take a small sip before placing the tea back down; and by that point, the man had allowed a quiet chuckle to pass his lips.
".. you're quite right. We've never had the time to discuss it, have we?" it wasn't entirely a surprise, considering what they'd been through already; yet Watanuki clearly felt somewhat bad for not divulging into the subject sooner, as his own sheepish smile came across his expression. "Forgive me, Lilli-san. I should have told you sooner-- though I'm glad I have the opportunity to see you more now, so that we can continue to learn about one another."
"It's as the name states-- it is a shop that grants wishes. In my own world, I inherited a shop of the same nature from my mentor, Yuuko-san. I had been tasked to take over her duties in her absence; and though it is not the same here.. it was important for me to continue my work, even if I was in another world. So, I decided to open my own."
His fingers traced the porcelain of the cup handle, almost in quiet contemplation.
"If one is in need of my services, then fate will bring them here; and with my magical ability, I do whatever I am able to grant their desire. However, there is always a price to pay-- something of equal value to the weight of their wish. It could be anything-- an important item, an instrument, clothing.. so long as it is the same, then I will accept it. Maintaining the balance of things is also part of my job description, so I am always as thorough as I need to be." His smile had settled more now, a gleam of interest in his eyes. "You say you have no talent in magic-- however, you must know that from trying, correct? So you've practiced the art before?"
Fate, huh...? Lilli listens intently, occasionally sipping her tea and nodding along with interest. And though it's all impressive, it's the part about fate and balance that really sticks out to her.
"It must be wonderful to be able to help people when they need it. It sounds like fulfilling work," is what she finally says. She can think of a few times a wish like that would have been nice in her life... but it's as he said. Maybe she wasn't given something like that because at the time, she didn't need it. Somehow, she always pulled through, regardless.
'is that fate, or just luck of the draw?'
"When it comes to magic, trying is the key word," she runs a hand through her hair, laughing softly. "I'm lucky enough to have relatives and friends who are skilled in the practice, but it doesn't come easily to me. My strength has always been in physical training and steel." Despite it, though, it doesn't mean she's not curious. Just because she doesn't understand the intricacies doesn't mean she can't appreciate what the people around her can do.
"What about your abilities with spirits?" Her own time as a ghost comes to mind, and she quickly pushes it aside. "If you don't mind my asking... is that something that comes naturally, or something you've had to learn?"
"My apologies! I wasn't in your way, was I?" Lilli steps aside at the booth she was browsing, giving him a better view of the items on display. A routine job had turned into an impromptu shopping trip; she loved browsing the markets when she had a spare moment.
"...he's not in your way either, I hope."
She grabs the misbehaving dragonet from his spot on the counter, where he was probably searching for a snack to snatch...
"Hey, have you seen a dragon around here?" Lilli skids to a halt in front of the guy, careful not to bump his sketchbook as she does.
"Not one of the big ones!" gesturing with her hands, she tries to approximate the size of the dragonet she travels with; how to describe him... cat-sized?
"He's a young dragon, I think he was chasing some sort of animal. Did he happen to come by here?"
"Hey, Watanuki? Can I ask you a strange question?" Following up on his invitation for tea, Lilli had brought a few snacks along, as well. She sat cross-legged, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
"I've known you for a while, but I realized I don't know a lot about this shop. What exactly is a wish granting shop, anyway?" It's said with a sheepish laugh. "You'll have to forgive my ignorance; if you deal in magic, I'm not well-versed in the subject. Never had a talent for it, myself."
// Gonna try to get some writing done today (including my starters + replies!) and then I have to drop my laptop off at the shop for a few days, so I'll catch up on anything I owe once I get it back!
