#rikavirkow

[enokvirkow]

[enokvirkow]

"I'm perfectly content just the way I am, thanky'h very fuckin' much."

That comment coming from the hammock made Enok still his steps a little, though also grin. He was unsure. Still a bit hesitant. It was a bit awkward - as if they were strangers. When truly they were family... they had just missed out on a decade together.

But some things transferred from back then. When Enok had noticed Rika vanishing away from a festive, he had searched after her. Bringing her a bowl of her fave dish. She had often laughed at that and allowed him around, sharing that stolen food with him.

Just like now... the island she had brought him to was a hub for Galahad's freed slaves. His parents were here... so many tears and embraces had been shared. So many stories. And there had been a big festive for it all. Rika had brought so many more home this time...

But all this being the center of attention seemingly didn't sit so well with her for a long time. Enok had noticed her missing after a bit. And sure enough, he found her here, at the back of the small home his parents had built here. The distant music and voices could still be heard. There was a dim light coming from all the warm fires. But it was rather quiet here. It was nice. Enok felt... tired himself. Even though now he had everything he had missed for so long.

She probably hadn't expected him, so Enok had to gather his voice to speak up. Lifting the small bowl of fried fish and berries.

"I just thought... you'd like a portion of your faves saved for you?"

@rikavirkow

[enokvirkow]

It had been a couple days since they arrived back in Lestallum. Vergil had come in their parents car — a fact that hadn't gone unnoticed. Lazentis grounded the twins for the rest of the year for what they had done. Recklessly putting themselves in danger with these secret day trips.

That was how Ariadne had broken her leg and the Nihilis family had an extra guest. The twins had been tight lipped, but the boy less-so. A former slave of Niflheim on the run, though the story was a mess. The boy blamed their daughter and their daughter blamed the boy.

Regardless, Lazentis couldn't turn the boy out to the streets in good conscience. He was of similar age to his twins... and though he didn't speak in great detail, it was clear that he hadn't lived a kind life. He only knew cruelty. Trust still had to be earned, but basic hospitality came free of charge.

It would be a great disappointment when he learned all three teenagers had snuck out not one week into their grounding.

"There, up ahead." Ariadne nodded, leaning on her crutches as she came to a stop. "That's the stall. And that's the Virkow we spoke about."

"Oi, you lot. Can't ye read? Kitchen's closed for cookin' — ah. Fuck it. I know yer order, silver-haired shits for kids. Yer friend'll be gettin' the same, an' no complainin'." It was all leftovers anyway. Not fit to be served up to customers the following day, Bo might grouch about a missed hot breakfast but he could suck it up.

Enok was... reserved. This was strange. He had wanted to hate that girl - she had fucked up his life. His chances to find his family via the Empire's knowledge. Maybe his only chance... but she also had not intended that. And she had helped him. Taking him to her home. Her family.

That was a lot more trust and good treatment than anyone else had given him these past ten years.

And then she mentioned that girl. Or rather woman.

A Virkow.

There were so many of that name. But that one ran a stall with her family. A food stall. And she had a loose mouth. Beads and braids down the left side of her head. And there was a scarily big dark skinned guy at her side with eerie grey eyes.

He had to check that out.

No grounding could even try to matter in that.

Enok tried to not get his hopes up at all. Because he had gotten them beat down so often in the past. It was better to not feel the pain of another disappointment. Just shrug it off. This wouldn't be her. This wouldn't be them.

He trailed behind the twins. Hood shoved into his face. He didn't want to see that woman really. A glance was all he needed. And then he could hide his face better and they could leave again.

That voice though - no, more her use of words, her tone. It had Enok look up a little more. Sidestep the twins a little.

There stood a woman. Brown hair in beads and with beads showering her side and shoulder. Enok could recognize some. How often had he tugged on them or gently tried helping braid them into her hair? She had explained the meaning of them.

'This I got for my bravery - of course lookin after a lil shit like you!'

'This one for winning races against the other kids in sailin - I'll teach you one day!'

'This one? My Ma gave it to me, it's my fave…' 'I made that one - and I made you one, too. Here, lemme help you put it on.'

And her eyes were the same colour as his. The one their family shared. Eyes like the sea. Not the sky. Because that's where they belonged.

Ariadne truly was lucky that Enok had half a mind to turn to the side to get past her. Otherwise he would have steamrolled her. There were no other thoughts in his head anymore.

This couldn't be. Rika. It was her. Rika!

"Rika...", he couldn't yell her name, even though he wanted to. It felt like his throat was strung shut by a rope trying to choke him. Dizzy and lightheaded. With shaking hands that reached for her, clung to her jacket.

His eyes scanned over her features again. Her face. Her hair. The way her eyebrows creased in anger at being grabbed by a seemingly stranger. The way her nose scrunched. The way there was fire in blue irises. He could see her smile, though. Last time she had looked down onto him. Now he was the taller one.

"Rika...?"

He wanted to say more, explain it to her.

I found you! I finally found you! It's you! I'm Enok! Remember me? Rika! I missed you...

But nothing came over his lips apart from choked sobbing. A howl that sounded like a wounded animal as he clung to that poor confused Galahdan. Enok felt so weak. As if the weight of all his fears and worries the past decade were lifted... and yet that took his strength away, too. Never had he shown many emotions in public regarding this. Because it made you a target. But now? Now he could be vulnerable. He was home again. He had Rika.

And Enok could only bury his fingers deep in her clothes as he sank to his knees, crying into her.

I'm home.

@rebelichor @rikavirkow

[enokvirkow]

@rikavirkow

[enokvirkow]

It all happened so fast. Enok had been calling so loud his voice cracked, seeking out Rika who wouldn't be far behind. She had been asleep but not even she would have slept through that.

One moment Enok was in tears screaming, the next he was wrapped in a hug that almost seemed to be squeezing the life outta him. "I got'cha, little mate. It's alright." Bo made sure to pat him on the back - a hearty Galahdan thump before he was pulling back. Used his own thumbs to mop away some of the tears. "Don't cry. My face ain't that bad lookin, eh." An easy joke to break some of the tension as Rika made herself known. "Enok?!"

Enok did not even understand what was going on. What happened? And why? What was all the loud noise? The orange light in their village? And why had their parents told them to run to the beach? 

He hadn’t wanted to go. He had wanted to stay with Mama and Papa. Or aunt Elna and uncle Rikard. Only Rika running, too, had made Enok run. As fast as his short legs could’ve run. 

But being alone and not understanding anything had made the boy panic again. Never had he been so afraid. And he didn’t even know, why. But not even when a wild beats had entered their village at night had the adults acted like this, so… what was going on?

Bo’s joke had distracted him, stopped his tears. But Rika’s voice immediately made him turn and run to her to hug her tightly. 

“Rika! What is goin’ on?! Why did Mama tell us to go here?! It’s night!”

His terrified questions would be answered with a deep growling noise - the barked orders and screaming of other people. It came from the village, nestled between rocks and trees. The orange glow were flames… but it was far too bright to be their usual nightly firepits. Enok knew that much. 

Bo’s hands laid on both his and Rika’s shoulders as his eyes were glued to where the village laid, too. But he had caught his bearings again much faster. 

“We should go to my boat. We can sail out a few miles, stay there. Just until…”

But the teenager’s plan was quickly disrupted by the little boy’s argument - completely unaware of the true dangers circling in on them. Enok’s hands fisted into Bo’s and Rika’s tunics.

“We have to go back! I forgot tigerseal!”

@rikavirkow

[enokvirkow]

"You’re being very mysterious."

Enok's eyes grow quite a bit bigger at that "accusation".

"I am not!"

As if he could escape this. He was acting weird, sure. But for a good reason! Hooking his arm beneath Rika's, he made sure she couldn't simply escape as he led her to that little balcony. A perfect view of the city and all its lights awaiting there. Oh. And Bo.

"Ah, we arrived - hey, Bo, didn't think you'd already be here!"

Of course Bo was already here, Ari had brought him minutes ago. And Enok was practically shoving his cousin towards his best friend. All still babbling.

"I think I need to find Ari first - where could she have gone. I think I know, but I will have to see, so - you two just get comfy!"

Man, he was so fucking good at this!

@rikavirkow

[chosenbythecrystal-archived]

@rikavirkow​ liked for a starter

Noctis had spent plenty of time traversing the streets of Lestallum, but somehow he’d managed to miss North Shore Seafood. In fact, he’d only found out about it at all when he’d overheard a couple talking about this amazing place that served Galahdian seafood. Noctis hadn’t really tried any Galahdian food, but he knew that Nyx was from there. The Glaive had told him as much when he’d driven him home from the Citadel a few days before Noctis had left Insomnia.

He liked seafood though, so he thought he should give it a try before they moved on from Lestallum. He got the feeling that once they left for Altissia, he wouldn’t have much time for taking a breather. He approached the stand, waiting patiently as the people in front of him were served. When it was his turn, he offered a small smile.

“Um, hi. What would you recommend for someone who loves seafood but has never tried Galahdian food before?”

[enokvirkow]

“Don’t be stupid. You’re not going anywhere. Come on, back into bed.”

Enok could only grin widely and then squeal in utter delight at Rika's little order. The little boy was fleeing from his older cousin, ducking under the wooden dinner table and jumping up on the pillows on the other side of the room.

They were alone in the house, both sets of their parents out to fish at night. Having left Rika in charge. The poor young girl had to herd the younger Virkow as if she was babysitting twelve children all at once.

But there was no malice in Enok's behaviour. Rika had read him a story about mariners and pirates and the excitement had just grabbed his mind and now he stood there with a fishernet thrown over his shoulders like a cape - and a wooden toy sword. Refusing to go back into bed just like that.

"But Rika! If we go to the harbor now, there is no one! Well - not many! We could simply take the biggest ship and take it for a trip! If we return before teh sun goes up again, no one will know!"

In his childish head that made absolute sense. No obstacles could be too high.

Running away again, as Rika followed after him to grab him, Enok then pulled a straw hat from one of the chairs, finally jumping up to his cousin and trying to put the hat on her head.

"You will be captain! And I will be your lookout!", he grinned, missing baby teeth on show. Absolutely proud of his idea and the fantasy of living like pirates. Becoming fishers and merchants like their parents would be so boring! No! Pirates was way better!

"You would be the best pirate captain the world has ever seen! And then we find treasures! And help people - we can give them some of the gold we find! Not all, though... we need enough to buy raspberries... and pastries...", he mused, giving Rika enough time to finally pick him up while shaking her head. She was easily redirecting his excitement - that a good outlook would have to listen to his Captain. Always. Even if it meant bedtime. She was extremely patient - Enok knew that. On some level. She never yelled at him or got angry, even when he wrecked chaos. And it was part of why he adored her so much. His mischievous grin melting into a sweet smile at Rika.

Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, Enok pressed a sticky kiss to Rika's cheek, finally giving in to her demands to calm down for bedtime.

"Aye aye, Captain Rika..."

@rikavirkow