#kalahira

[sympateawithsugar]

Mass Effect Trilogy Appreciation Week Day 6: Species

You ever think about the drell in Rakhana? How are they doing? Mad Maxing each other to death? What about Kahje? HUH???

The planet is from a screenshot, desert from Pexels.

[mavistuff]

What do we do when we see a bad father? we sleep 👏with👏his 👏EX. WIFE.👏(that did not happen completely intentionally but oh well 😊 not complaining!) its Kalahira time! gonna post her proper reference at some point later probably but for now its just her being cute with other people<3

Feel free to ask anything about her at any point!

all characters other than my beloved drow woman were created by @s7ven-art

[amazing-ameba]

Guide this one, Kalahira, and he will be a companion to you as he was to me.

Mordin | Legion

[rock-paperback-scissors]

Kalahira, mistress of inscrutable depths, I ask forgiveness. 

Kalahira, whose waves wear down stone and sand.

Kalahira, wash the sins from this one and set him on the distant shore of the infinite spirit. 

[beambeam]

[kaizure-blog]

I am clearly in a strange mood today.

[mavistuff]

hate that you can clearly see which one was drawn first and which is last but screw it booba time

[kalahiraffxiv]

Messenger - 01.26.23

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

The elezen woman slowed her steps to a stop but didn’t turn as she addressed the figure trailing no more than ten fulms behind her. While she was by no means a tracker or hunter of any sort, Kala was observant enough to know when she was being followed. Take it from someone who spent nearly all of their life trying to be invisible; it wasn’t as easy as it seemed, even in a bustling city like Ishgard.

“It is not a pleasurable visit, I am afraid,” The younger elezen man began, his tone grave to mark his point, “Strictly formal.”

Kala sighed, trying to mask the slight crease between her brows that had formed as she craned her head around to address her pursuer. He still adorned the same worn leathers she’d seen him in months ago, though his hair and skin were better kept. Perhaps he wasn’t spending all of his days out in the frigid wastes with the rest of his clan as she’d expected.

”Say what you’ve come to say then, Janvier,” Kala offered and turned to face him fully. There was no edge in her voice, but as she squared her shoulders and set her jaw, it was clear her guard was firmly set in place, “Though, I must admit that I would have preferred a missive in advance.”

All playful pretense was siphoned from her voice as her eyes met his, both piercing in their distinct blue-green hues. Janvier had a history of arriving unannounced, though his preferred methods of conversation were not quite so alarming as his sister’s. Aurelian delivered information much like a starved cat would to a mouse after it had been caught. 

“You’re right,” Janvier began, briefly casting his eyes down. Kala wasn’t sure what she was more startled by, his agreement or the fact that he suddenly looked remiss. Where was the arrogant, hardened warrior she’d met with in the far reaches of Western Coerthas? “I apologize if my lack of propriety has given offense. I’m still…learning what is acceptable.”

Janvier’s thick accent became clumsy as he spilled over the word. In part, Kala could sympathize. The man—more of a boy just having to figure the world out on his own, really—was not born of city life like she was. He was not raised in a nomadic clan like Marcellus was, or peaceable by way of trade and relations with other Duskwights like Vespertine. The Leilumo, Janvier’s clan—Kala’s father’s clan, as she’d learned so late in her life—often felt worlds apart from all else, almost especially their own kin. 

That other part of her, however, was aware of how much time he’d spent within the walls of Ishgard and of his personal promise to further the betterment of his people. Were he looking to broker alliances like he’d claimed from the start, he wouldn’t get very far approaching from the shadows as he did. She knew then that was not what he’d come to speak with her about and her expression fell.

“He has passed, Kala,” Janvier said, his expression bleak as he turned his eyes away with visible discomfort, “Your father is gone.”

A long moment of silence befell them as she let those words sink in. Your father is gone… The feelings that arrived with the words were cloudy, muddled, and confusing. Perhaps it was to be expected, her relationship with Désir Desjardins was anything but conventional. There was an absence of sadness, of remorse, of regret, but there was still grief lingering somewhere deep inside her at the knowledge that he had left this world. Grief, in this case, was logical. The man had been ill and she could be at peace knowing he was no longer suffering and leave it at that.

“I see,” She said finally, having drawn her own stare away before meeting Janvier’s once more, “How long ago?”

“Two days,” Janvier cleared his throat, “I set out as soon as I could to inform you.”

She paused at that, eyeing him with a quizzical raise of her brow. “Why?”

“Why?” He repeated, looking as equally surprised as she was confused, “Because you are owed the news of his passing.”

“But I am owed nothing by you to be the one to have had to deliver it, Janvier,” Kala said gently and meant it. For however rocky of a beginning she and her cousin had had, she could imagine the implications of what his delivering this news to her brought on. In all likelihood, it would compile more needless tension onto Janvier’s already precarious position within his clan for having sought her out in the first place.

“Thank you,” Kala continued quietly, “‘Owed’ or not, it gives me closure.” And one less black spot in my life to linger over, she thought. Janvier only nodded and shuffled awkwardly on his feet. Now that he’d done what he’d set out to do, he looked as if he might bolt right out of his skin but wasn’t sure how to make his feet move.

“Will you return to your clan now?” Kala asked though she could guess the answer by the way his brow creased.

“No,” He shook his head, “I was only to remain while your father was under care. Now that he is gone, there is no more need for me.”

There was more to the story than he was letting on, Kala was sure, but she wasn’t certain now was the time or place to get to the bottom of it. Truthfully, uncovering the details of her cousin’s personal affairs felt a lot like trying to help him, and she wasn’t quite ready to invite him into her life in such a way. Perhaps she never would be after how he and his sister had treated her. 

“Well, you’re welcome to stay at the house for a night or two, if you like,” She offered. It was a risk, Janvier was all but a stranger, and inviting him into the Free Company house would expose him to more of her world than she was strictly comfortable with. Something told her, however, that not only would Janvier refuse the offer, but that he would not cause trouble in a place so foreign to him. He was out of his element and it showed. 

It was his turn to look surprised as he eyed her, “The…house?” He repeated the word with another clumsy annunciation, “To where you and your husband reside? I really don’t think—“

“No, not like that,” Kala interjected with a rueful laugh, “Marcellus and I have our own home elsewhere. This is the Company house.”

She laughed again as his alarm subsided, giving way to more confusion, “It started as a place for wayward souls to go to ground when they’d nowhere else to. I suppose it still is that at its heart, though those souls are far less wayward these days.” Kala smiled softly, “You’re welcome to stay, Janvier. Plenty of spare rooms, hot food. If you let yourself, I think you’d rather enjoy it.”

Janvier pondered the offer for a moment, then shook his head again, “Your hospitality is gracious, but I will be fine on my own.”

“Let us hope so,” Kala said and thought she might actually wish for that to be true. Janvier had crossed her in several ways during their first few encounters, but he was also just a lost boy looking for ways to expand his exceedingly narrow view of the world. She herself was not so beholden to grudges that she couldn’t give him a second chance, least of all when she had the good grace to recognize that he was trying to do better.

“If you do change your mind, just mind your manners,” She turned and began down the path he’d interrupted. After a few steps, she paused and craned her head back to him with a mischievous smirk, “Wouldn’t want to give Marcellus any further cause to pay you a visit during your stay, now would we?”

“No, that we would not,” Janvier remarked sheepishly and sighed as she turned and strode away. Under his breath, he added, “But I think he is not the only one I should be mindful of…cousin.”