Ashelia Riot scans the forge for signs of recent use, but likely nothing that will connect it to the man who occupies the forge most often: Rosenheim.
Southern Flame relights his cigar on the forge, taking a long hit.
Southern Flame: You know where that sword is from, yeah?
Ashelia Riot still clutches it in her hands.
Ashelia Riot: I told you. I don't.
Ashelia Riot's eyes fall on an ashtray and she suppresses a curse directed at her mother.
Southern Flame: Keane family in Ala Mhigo, fine family of artisans, ringin' any bells?
Southern Flame taps the ash into the tray.
Ashelia Riot's eyes grow wide with awe upon seeing Southern Flame.
Ashelia Riot: ...Yes.
Southern Flame takes another hit of the cigar.
Ashelia Riot: This is... a Keane sword?
Southern Flame: Damn right it is, couldn't mistake that craftsmanship anywhere.
Ashelia Riot: And how did you come by it?
Ashelia Riot is well aware that such a piece must have cost millions by now.
Southern Flame sighs.
Southern Flame: A rumor into a rumor about the Undercity. I knew I had to have it when I found out about it.
Southern Flame takes another long drag of his cigar, exhaling near the forge.
Ashelia Riot gently sheathes the katana in full, setting it upon the desk closest to her.
Ashelia Riot: Bull's told me you're a smith.
Ashelia Riot has sensed previously that Bull and his father are not particularly close; the words are meant to test the ice somewhat.
Southern Flame nods, waving a hand.
Southern Flame: Finest in Ul'dah if you ask me, those grifters ain't know what good craftsmanship is.
Southern Flame: Least I could appraise that sword, and keep it outta money's hands. No respect for a fine weapon if you ask me.
Ashelia Riot lets out a low, sarcastic snort of laughter.
Southern Flame: For the respect of Ala Mhigo.
Ashelia Riot nods; that's the sort of motive she can appreciate.
Southern Flame: You say the blade's familiar. What do you know?
Ashelia Riot: As I said, I have not seen this blade before.
Ashelia Riot now knows recalls where she's seen others of the sword's like: in the loft above where she and Edge now sleep each night.
Ashelia Riot: I know only of the Keanes' reputation.
Ashelia Riot does not say that she now lives in what used to be their family's house.
Southern Flame takes another long drag, killing his cigar and relighting another.
Southern Flame: So! You know of the Keane family, and all the bullshit that happened?
Ashelia Riot squirms - for the first time.
Ashelia Riot: I know Tieger Keane created weapons for the monarchy and the nobility, and that he died of a heart attack many years before the fall. And I know that his daughter, Sigrid, was later kidnapped.
Ashelia Riot: But... no. I'm afraid I'm ignorant of any other "bullshit."
Southern Flame: Mostly what happened to his daughter.
Southern Flame sighs.
Southern Flame: I'm promisin' you with words that will lead me to my grave. If my son trusts you, I should too.
Ashelia Riot: ...I see.
Southern Flame waves a hand.
Southern Flame: If that's the uncertainty I'm met with, it's better left unsaid.
Ashelia Riot takes on a curiously expression quite unlike that of the young leader; now, she looks younger than before.
Southern Flame takes another drag of his cigar.
Ashelia Riot shakes her head at Southern Flame.
Ashelia Riot: For Bull's sake, then - and for the sake of a free Ala Mhigo. Trust me.
Southern Flame takes a small drag and exhales.
Southern Flame: Wouldn't be too wild if I said the Undercity was responsible.
Southern Flame: For what, I have no idea.
Ashelia Riot's eyes narrow, but there's no malevolence in the expression - at least none directed at Southern Flame himself.
Southern Flame: Think about it, the dots connect. I got that sword in the Undercity, Keane's daughter gone missing. Sounds like a ransom to me.
Southern Flame: Told me if I sold it I'd be dead.
Ashelia Riot feels her blood go cold.
Ashelia Riot: ...Who told you- No. Who gave you the sword?
Ashelia Riot thinks she already knows.
Southern Flame: ...I can't say. I love my kids, I'm a dead man, but they'd go for them first...
Southern Flame stands, tossing the cigar into the forge.
Ashelia Riot struggles with the word on her lips for what feels like an eon, even as she longs to say it; she wonders if her father is aware of this conversation even now, trying though she is to keep herself disengaged from her Echo.
Ashelia Riot: ...They're both safe here, you know.
Southern Flame: Bull and Moon, they're all I got... Fog's gone, Bull hates me for that even though there ain't nothin' I could do.
Southern Flame: We had to get out. If not Garlemald, then the Undercity. Kids, they just don't get it. I'm sure your dad gets it, and you. Even at this point.
Ashelia Riot still does not give him any knowledge of her father being alive.
Ashelia Riot: They're safe with me.
Ashelia Riot's voice is as earnest as she can make it.
Southern Flame: Fog, she wanted to stay and fight. Protect her home... even while pregnant. Sounds like my boy to be honest...
Southern Flame looks into the forge, absentmindedly pulling another cigar from his pocket.
Ashelia Riot: Was she from the Undercity?
Southern Flame shakes his head.
Southern Flame: Ala Gannha. Daughter of Byron's Bread. She helped with the farm there. Met her on a merchant trip. I admired her determination. She was strong-headed, much more than me. I was... envious.
Ashelia Riot can't help but smile as she thinks of Crimson Bull falling in love with another girl from the Peaks.
Southern Flame: She still had the figurine I gave her when we met, I gave it to our son. He'll show you it if you ask him. Imagine my daughter has one too.
Ashelia Riot nods, staring back down at the katana on the table.
Southern Flame takes another drag of his cigar.
Southern Flame: What about you, who's pulled my son into a war he knows is right for him? What's your story?
Ashelia Riot: I'm a Riskbreaker. As my father was before me.
Southern Flame: Father was a Riskbreaker huh?! Awful noble, starin' death in the face like that.
Ashelia Riot shrugs, albeit lightly; she's never known any other way, nor has she stopped to consider another since she founded the company.
Southern Flame: Sure you heard of the Mad King Theodoric, and what happened in his rule?
Ashelia Riot: Of course.
Ashelia Riot has received no end of criticism from the elders in Little Ala Mhigo on this topic already, and nothing Southern Flame says on that topic will faze her at this point.
Southern Flame: Did what they had to do, for king and country and all that...sure it ain't right but...
Southern Flame waves a hand.
Southern Flame: Y'know.
Ashelia Riot: It kept the peace. For as long as it could.
Southern Flame: I'll be honest with ya.
Southern Flame takes yet another drag of his cigar.
Southern Flame: My boy helped you with Ala Mhigo, and I couldn't be prouder. He did what I couldn't do... got back our home.
Ashelia Riot nods, her face grave.
Ashelia Riot: And he fought well. We could... we could never have done it without him. I couldn't have done it without him. He saved my life. More than once. And he did it... with his mother's axe.
Southern Flame bows his head, deep in thought of Fog.
Southern Flame: Gave him her axe, did they? We kept it there to keep her safe. So she wouldn't try to die for nothin'...
Ashelia Riot: She sounds like an incredible woman.
Southern Flame nods.
Southern Flame: Woulda died for her land, if we hadn't pulled her away... she saw the voice of reason when she was about... oh, seven months pregnant with our boy. Mighta tried to push Garlemald back with the future in her stomach.
Southern Flame bursts out laughing.
Ashelia Riot smiles.
Ashelia Riot: ...I'm going to do what I can to keep all of Ala Mhigans safe. Within the city, and below it.
Ashelia Riot runs a hand gently along the katana's sheath.
Southern Flame: Keepin' them safe means keepin' the world at balance too, if you can believe that. I've seen the wrongs of Ul'dah. No one's free from injustice. Especially ours at the gates, people like me, and Fog were.
Ashelia Riot: And my husband.
Southern Flame nods to Ashelia Riot.
Ashelia Riot: But Ala Mhigo has a chance to begin again. To define for ourselves who we want to be. Don't you think we're worthy of that chance?
Southern Flame: We should be leaders. If we can be. A good example of the future.
Ashelia Riot: ...I agree.
Ashelia Riot opens her mouth again to say something else - something related to the Undercity, and her plans for its people - but then she thinks better of it.
Southern Flame takes one last long drag of his cigar, then throws it into the forge again.
Southern Flame: Just do what my boy could do, and do the right thing, alright?
Southern Flame steps forward and pats Ashelia Riot on the head.
Ashelia Riot is surprised to be touched - but she takes the gesture in stride, if a little unhappily.
Ashelia Riot: I imagine I'll be hearing from you if I don't.
Southern Flame motions to the sword and sheathe on the table.
Southern Flame: Show your old man it, if he's still goin'.
Ashelia Riot disagrees with Southern Flame.
Ashelia Riot: You keep it. Please.
Southern Flame: Give it to my boy then. He'll know what it means.
Ashelia Riot looks surprised only for a moment, then nods her head.
Southern Flame: And if not, keep it here until he does. Alright?
Ashelia Riot: Of course. I'll see you again.
Southern Flame nods.
Southern Flame: I'm not goin' anywhere until I can see the Keane household without interruption again.
Ashelia Riot: I-I'm sorry?
Southern Flame waves a hand.
Southern Flame: Nothin'. Until I come back... you never gave me your name proper.
Ashelia Riot: Ashelia Riot.
Southern Flame: Ashelia. Right. Make sure to give my boy that blade, alright?
Southern Flame bows his head.
Ashelia Riot nods to Southern Flame.
Ashelia Riot: Be well.
Southern Flame: Rhalgr guide you.
