4. Baleful - FFXIV Write 2021
It doesn’t take much to change the mood of a moment. Perception and conviction are everything. Fashion is power.
It had been a cloudy and cooler than average day in the Mist. Zarah had taken the opportunity to spend most the day leisurely collecting herbs and specimens for her varied list of potions and elixirs. The thought of Kainen already being at home from Ishgard prompted a warm content smile from the miqo’te as she strolled down the stone walkway leading to the house.
Zarah bounced up the stairs and caught sight of Kainen standing near the moogle delivery box eyeing that day’s mail. She dropped her basket and instantly leaped towards him without warning as she so often did, and Kainen indeed caught her with his lightning quick perception and reflexes as he always did. With legs wrapped around his waist she settled into his arms for a loving and intoxicating welcome home kiss. She remained content in the moment and in the trust that he had never let her fall and it seemed he never would. He gently lowered her petite frame down to the ground and spoke softly against her cheek “I missed you...is that roses and lavender I smell?” A cheeky grin soon followed from Zarah “Mhmm! I dare not run out of your favorites...” She replied while leaning down to retrieve her basket. As her fingers curled around the wicker handle she saw it, the sin of the day, Kainen stood before her, wearing both socks and sandals, causing her to gasp in horror.
“Wh...WHAT?! What is this?!” She hissed “Is it not enough enough that our ankles must be covered in Ishgard?!” She finishes with a baleful glare “I’ll have you know that in Limsa! THAT fashion statement will get you keel hauled all the way to Old Sharlayan! From this point forward, I deem sandals and socks worn in unison a SIN.”
There it was the big “S” word hung over them with a heaviness and Kainen stared back at her, silent, unnaturally still like a stone statue, and with small beads of sweat forming on his brow – the poor fellow was terribly unfamiliar with many customs outside of Ishgard and now there were house fashion rules to learn. Her hands now rested with purpose on her hips as she readied to fight to free ankles from Ishgardian oppression and possibly elbows as well if the opportunity presented itself.
“I see. Can I wear socks at all?” He asked in all seriousness of the fiesty miqo’te, prompting a long awkward pause from her “Uhh...” her jade green eyes drift downward and she winces upon noticing that the sandals were also flip flops. By the Twelve may his big toes be freed from the atrocity before her, she thought. Zarah did her very best to soften her tone, she was terrible at admitting when she’d gone overboard “Limsa is a nation of free ankles unless one must wear boots. Let us not sin against her.” Kainen offers her a nod “Affirmative” he answers while leading her by her hand into the cottage. Zarah gives his rear a playful swat with her tail as the door slowly closes behind them “Oh can we burn those cursed one gil flip flops?”