#ringk

[damagepersaku]

Did a while ago-- my Ala Mhigan trio.

[damagepersaku]

[ We are Ala Mhigans. ]

[damagepersaku]

journal: skylight

"...a yarzon's going to get you if you stay here any longer."

The woman looked up, turning to face the approaching man with a wry smile. "Since when've ye known me to let a vilekin get a bite?"

Ringk laughed, carefully making his way across the dark cavern to where his friend was seated by a stream. The full moon shone through a small hole in the rock, sending light dancing across the rippling water. He sat down. "There's a first time for everything," he said lightly, rubbing a stone between his fingers. "And then I'll have to explain to Zar and that Elezen friend of yours why I couldn't heroically pull you from ravenous jaws." He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. "Pray do not leave me that responsibility."

Odilette laughed too, easily skipping a stone across the stream. "Now why would I risk my pride like that? Memory serves, was always me helpin' yer arse outta those jaws."

Ringk gasped, putting a hand to his chest in mock hurt before his expression smoothed out and he looked upon his old friend fondly. "...I'm glad you didn't shoo us away, Lettie."

There was a silence, broken only by the intermittent plop! plop! plop! of stone across water. Finally, Odilette sighed, sitting back. "...wasn't like I didn't wanna see ye too." She didn't face him, sitting almost defensively with one leg against her chest. "Just, didn't know how to face ye after up an' runnin' off the way I did." She laughed drily. "'Hey, sorry I disappeared an' cut off all contact, 'm back now' didn't quite ring." She fell silent again, looking down at her feet. It was true, she wanted to go back and see them so many times, but...

Ringk watched her quietly, the rare display of vulnerability he knew was allowed only him. The thought stung a little but he brushed it aside, putting on his usual smile. "You must've gotten really soft, if you've become that easy to read."

Odilette looked up, raising a brow in question. The man chuckled.

"Cicereaux, right? That's that boy's name?" he continued, gesturing with his hands. "He told Zar and me-- now what were his exact words..." He put a hand to his chin in exaggerated thought. "He said he was sure you missed us too, and...'she tries to act tough, but we can all see through that act, though I'll deny ever saying so'...was it?" He grinned. "He's gotten to know you pretty well."

The Highlander blinked, surprised, before turning away with a scoff. However, she didn't try to protest or deny anything, and so Ringk continued.

"You see yourself in him, don't you?" It was posed as a question, but they both knew that it was not.

"...he's a good kid, Ringy," Odilette replied after a moment. "Got more than his fair share o' blood on his hands, but, he's a good kid," she repeated, though for whom it wasn't clear. "Don't want him makin' the mistakes I did."

Ringk let out a hum of acknowledgement; it was about as he figured. "He's listening to you. That's a start," he said cheerfully. "Do you remember the trouble we had with that raising Zar?"

"On the scale of the Calamity itself," Odilette agreed. Her smile soon faded however and she let herself lean against Ringk with a weary sigh. "There’s not much I can do, I know that, but..."

Ringk didn't reply, simply giving her hand a comforting pat. The warm weight against him was a familiar one, Odilette having often done so through their years together, and just as familiar was that dull pain reminding him that even though she trusted him more than anyone else in the world...

The Highlander's slowed breathing told him that she was asleep. Making sure his cane was within reach the conjurer made himself comfortable, and, leaning against his oldest friend, slept.

[damagepersaku]

perspective: shroud

"Ye alive?"

The boy looks up with a start, blinking against the glare of the sun. The stranger has their back to the sun, their face shrouded in darkness. He draws back, hold around his sister tightening. Friend? Foe? Who?

"Are ye alive?"

The voice speaks again, and this time he recognises it as young, female. A cloud passes in front of the sun and finally he sees her face: a girl no older than him, gold eyes and ashy white hair in stark contrast to dirt-streaked brown skin. She watches them curiously and he feels a mix of anxiety and self-consciousness; the streets are rough in these parts, and he knows from experience that even other children can't be trusted.

The child in his arms stirs and before he can react she's crying, her hunger taking audible form and ringing through the street. It sends him into a panic; people are going to target him, target them, they know he won't be able to do anything with a small child in tow--

"C'mon."

Once again he can't react, his arm grabbed with strength he didn't expect and they're running, him trying to keep up without stumbling over his feet. He wonders why he's following her, this girl he doesn't know anything about but his feet keep going as though out of reflex from his sister's cries. He loses track of the alleyways and secret doors before they finally stop, out of breath and in the refreshing shade of a dusty basement. He struggles to catch his breath, holding his sister tight as he looks around: many faces look back at him, all of them young, all of them showing signs of the street and sun.

"Lienne!"

He nearly jumps out of his skin as the girl shouts, running towards a Duskwight some years older. They exchange words and the Highlander girl returns with some fruit in hand.

"Can she eat this?"

He nods, stunned, and it's a moment before he snaps out of it enough to actually take the proffered food. He sets his sister down, crushing some large berries in his hands before offering them to the child. She stops crying almost immediately, eagerly scooping the sticky mush into her mouth. The boy manages a weary smile, and, remembering where he is, turns towards the Highlander girl.

"U-um," his eyes flit around the room, "thanks." An awkward pause. "I-I'm Ringk. This is Zarptica." He nods at the toddler. "My sister."

The girl blinks, and then her face breaks out into a brilliant smile. This takes Ringk by surprise and he looks away, cheeks pink as she plops down next to them, giving Zarptica another crushed fruit. "I'm Oda!" She's missing a top tooth. "But Lienne calls me Odilette, so ye can too!"

Ringk nods, and, watching Zarptica laugh as she grabs the older girl's hand. "R-right, then." He looks back at her shyly, grinning in return. "Thanks, Odilette...!"

- - -

Where is she?

Beside him, Zarptica voices the question in his mind as she clings to him, eyes glued to the brightening sky. He shakes his head mutely, unable to form words. A job had taken Odilette outside the city walls and he watches with frozen horror as the same walls crumble, Garlean bombs raining without cease.

There's an explosion and the screams increase. Grabbing Zarptica's hand he starts running as the crowd behind him stampedes in a panic. Damn it all, Lettie, where are you!?

"Ringy! Zar!!"

And there she is, shoving through the crowd to reach them. Ringk sighs in relief, because she's alive, and immediately starts shoving towards her as well, Zarptica tightly at his side. He reaches out, hand outstretched. "Over here!!" They're so close now, he can see the jagged scar on her palm from that fight when they were twelve, reaching, reaching--

Boom.

It feels like things are going in slow motion. He watches the street split in two, stone and flesh flying. Odilette's eyes go wide and he sees her mouth open to yell, to shout for him, for Zarptica, but another bomb explodes and he's on the ground and she is gone.

- - -

He feels faint.

The Midlander stands there, face pale and eyes wide as he stares at the woman before him. She's grown, and the few scars webbing across her skin have grown to many but he knows, knows even before Zarptica rushes past him with a loud "Lettie!!" to throw herself into the Highlander's arms.

And soon he finds himself doing the same, throwing his arms around both of them, crying and laughing and just so relieved because Odilette is alive. It's been ten years and her body speaks of a life far harsher than the siblings' in the Twelveswood but that doesn't matter, none of that matters because they're together again and by the Twelve he'll make sure she never has to worry, never has to take on another dirty job--

The confused voices of their companions interrupt them and they break apart, Ringk laughing at their tear-streaked faces, laughing at all the people staring at their odd outburst on the Lominsan docks. Their words are jumbled and they keep interrupting each other, but eventually Cedar and Lorna get it and the woman claps her hands together in joy. This must be fate, she says with bright eyes, that the person who saved her is the same as their childhood friend! And Ringk can't help but nod, because it does feel like fate that of all people to come to their benefactor's aid...

Beside him Zarptica is already excitedly telling Odilette that she has to travel with them now, she simply has to, and Odilette protests, she has duties with her guild, but Ringk knows that their group will be growing by one. His lips twitch up into a fond smile as he watches his old friend, prompting Cedar to elbow him with a knowing grin. Ringk rolls his eyes and pushes him away but doesn't try too hard, because whatever Cedar's implying, it's true. But that can wait, because the three of them are together again and right now, that's all that matters. There will be time for everything else.

- - -

She looks so happy.

He stands with Zarptica, clapping with the rest of the crowd as sparklers burst around them, showering the newlywed couple with flowers and confetti. Odilette is radiant, her hand tightly grasping Lorna's, their matching rings glittering in the light. He feels Zarptica glance at him but he shakes his head, his happiness genuine. It didn't take long for him to realise that it wasn't him who made Odilette smile like that. It hurt then, and hurts now, but as long as the woman he loves can keep smiling...

Putting on his biggest grin he goes up to them. "Congratulations!" he says out loud, holding both their hands. Thank you, his heart says to Lorna. Thank you for giving her this life.

- - -

"I saw Odilette the other day."

His fork misses the plate, hitting wood. Ringk stares at the older man, question clear in his eyes.

Cedar holds his mug between two hands, looking down into the dark tea. "I could scarce believe it myself. All those times I never managed to catch her, even though she was here every year to lay flowers..." He sighs. "She refused to let me contact you or Zar." He looks at Ringk apologetically. "I'm sorry, I should've let you know--"

Ringk shakes his head no, it's fine. "She left for a reason," he says with a melancholy smile. "She'll come find us when she's ready." A pause. "How was she?"

Cedar takes a minute to think. "She seemed...well," he says carefully. "Living peacefully." He chuckles. "She had a young Duskwight with her, a boy around twenty winters. It was almost like watching a mother and son, if sons were regularly so rude."

Ringk lets out a laugh. "I'm glad." She found a new family, after the one he couldn't protect.

The other man seems to read his mind, for he says, softly but sternly, "Ringk, it wasn't your fault." His gaze directs downwards. "I miss my sister every day and I constantly wonder if there wasn't more I could have done, but the truth is there wasn't. We did our best and if there is a failure to be carried then it falls on both our shoulders, not just yours." He looks at him. "You weren't the only one with something to protect."

Ringk is quiet for a long time, and it's clear that the words are little more than shallow comfort. Eventually he stands up and clears his plate. "I'll tell Zar Lettie’s alright, she’ll want to hear." He gives Cedar a smile, ignoring the look of sympathy and concern he gets in return. "Thanks for letting me know."

- - -

The vilekin surround them, angry and ready to strike.

Ringk knows they'll be fine; even if the Duskwight's lance is only for show the Highlander's knives are not. He knows, and Zarptica knows, but even so he feels her spring forward beside him as he raises his cane, raining stone and fist down upon the fiends. The feeling will soon pass, but right now, if he can help her in even the smallest way...

"So when were you going to come see us?" He finds himself shouting, grinning. "Odilette!"