I'm not alone anymore.

Eiko Carol | Summoner of Madain Sari | Pisces-Aries Part of Phoenix Down Masterlist Tracking xsummonerofsass tag

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A smile found it’s way onto Freya’s lips as her ice-blue hues followed Eiko. It made the dragoon happy to know that she was the one bringing joy to the young girl, making her feel a little more confident in her skills with children. She always found most of them difficult to handle, but Eiko was independent enough to take care of herself. 

Joining Eiko, Freya peered over the counters at the assortment of baked goods - pies, donuts, cookies, cupcakes, et cetera - and waited for something to catch her eye. After a little bit of examination, Freya’s eyes halted once they met a fresh, blueberry muffin. Glancing up at the baker, she kindly requested it, paid the amount due and wandered back over to where Eiko was still struggling to decide her choice. 

“Are you having trouble deciding, Eiko?”

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

"A little bit, yeah. Everything looks so good.."

Voice trailed off as she continued looking back and forth between this and that, utterly torn between what to choose. She didn't want to come off as spoiled and get something terribly overpriced, but she wanted something that would be filling for the time being. It took a moment longer before she finally pointed at a chocolate chip muffin.

It looked big enough to fit into both her small hands and it was bound to last longer than a small cupcake. The right sized treat for their walk about town. Plus, muffins weren't usually that expensive, so there was no need to feel guilt over the cost of it.

"Can I have this one?"

[sassypotionthrowing-blog-blog]

She chuckled as Eiko high-fived her, then shook her hand in the air as if it had been particularly painful, though it was only in jest.  Despite her reputation among her friends as a mother figure, actual children were a completely different story, and she had no idea what she was doing.  Still, so far, she seemed to be doing well enough.

“Hmm, you’re right, I’m not,” she answered proudly.  “I do plenty of things!  I spend some of my time here bartending at the Fluffy Pom-Pom, but the rest of the time, I’m back at home with my friends.  We’re sort of…like a security regiment around our town, and if I’m not hunting monsters, I’m taking care of my own restaurant, which is sort of like our base.  What about you?  I gotta say, it’s not often I see kids alone here.”

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

Listening to her description of her tasks, Eiko had to admit she was impressed. To look at Lebreau one wouldn't think she was part of security. Yet she was, in addition to being a bartender and the former, owner of her own restaurant. That already sounded like a lot on her plate.

"I kind of just do my own thing, you know? Little bit of this and that, here and there."

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“Yes, of course.” Freya agreed, feeling rather peckish herself. A bite to eat was a great way to catch up with each other and luckily Freya knew exactly where to go. “There’s a wonderful bakery not too far from here. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.” The lancer’s mouth tugged into a small smile, before leading them both down the street. As they did, Freya pointed out certain landmarks and important places, knowing Eiko was still somewhat new to Moogletown. Eventually, the duo made it to the bakery and as soon as Freya pulled open the door, a warm sweet scent played with her senses. “Here we are. Get whatever catches your eye Eiko, I’ll make sure to cover the expenses.”

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

Now Eiko liked the sound of that! Fancy meals day in, day out became a tiring routine and sometimes cooking her own food could become a chore too. Going out for simplicity on occasion was a treat anyone could enjoy. She gladly followed beside Freya, making sure to listen closely and memorize the places that were pointed out by her. Getting lost could be an adventure, but for now she wanted to take it easy.

Their arrival to their destination came sooner than expected and she felt an uplifting feeling wash over as the scents were taken in, smiling widely to herself while feeling relaxed in this atmosphere.

"That's real nice of ya! I'll try not to get too much." That said she skipped over to the different shelves, carefully pondering on what to select. Even though Freya had offered to pay, Eiko still didn't want to push it and make her spend too much.

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

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[9thbureau]

Gabranth walked over to a nearby park bench and sat down, motioning for Eiko to do the same. All the while, he pondered over the many versions of the many tales he had ever heard or read, wondering which to tell her. But he had promised her a scary story, and a scary story was what she would hear.

Nothing too scary, of course. He didn’t think she’d be able to handle hearing the bitter fate of The Corrupt.

“Long ago,” he began, “there was a man. In his early years of adulthood, he was a warrior of Valendia.” He was surprised at how smoothly the name of his former homeland had left his tongue. “Valendia was the birthplace of many valiant warriors, men and women of legendary strength and courage. The strongest of them were known as Riskbreakers. The man in this tale was a Riskbreaker for many years, though after many years, he grew embittered with the blood and conflict he had seen. He made the decision to abandon his blade and live a life of peaceful retirement.

“After his service, however, the Riskbreaker became a mere shadow of his former self. As the years passed, the gallant warrior began to lie and cheat. He became prideful, foolish, gluttonous. The people of Valendia remembered him for his noble deeds and continued to rely on him for guidance and advice, but he merely led his countrymen astray in his apathy. He had long forgotten the needs and desires of other men, you see. Soon, the people began to despise their hero for becoming the very evil he had once sought to vanquish.

“One night, a common peasant snuck into the former Riskbreaker’s bedchambers. Drunk and asleep, he heard nothing. The peasant slit open the Riskbreaker’s bloated stomach with his own rusted sword, straight down the middle.” Gabranth traced a line down the center of his own chest, as if to demonstrate. “As he awoke, awash in his own blood, the Riskbreaker saw the error of his ways and begged to the gods for forgiveness. The gods heeded his wish and kept him alive. Alive, but not human. The gods used the Riskbreaker’s corpulent body as a vessel. In a single instant, they gathered all the evil in the land and stuffed it inside the man’s flesh before sewing him up as one would sew a broken doll.”

He hoped he wasn’t scaring Eiko too badly. This wasn’t the version he had grown up hearing, but something along these lines would have given a young Basch nightmares for a week.

“The man became hideous and disformed, a creature of filth and darkness known as The Impure. Even to this day, he suffers for his sins, and for his greedy wish to cling to life.” Now that the story was done, he said, “I… perhaps I ought to have warned you, it’s not particularly happy.”

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

Captivation was everything but hidden, rendered silent as she listened to him continue the tale. Eiko was reeled in thinking it would be of lighthearted ways, until he reached the unfortunate points informing her of what soon became of that single warrior. Yet she continued to listen intently, not bent on interrupting when she was the one who requested to hear it all. The images that began to drift to mind were pushed away, not wanting to imagine the graphicness that the story was bound to fill her mind with.

How sad for the man to stray off course of the righteous ways. There was pity for him in her heart, wondering if it could have been prevented, however there were also feelings of frustration, a voice saying he deserved the curse laid upon him for the horrid nature he gave life to. Then again, if his ill actions had never happened, life would be ultimately altered, would it not? It’s because of wrongs like these that people have the way of life they do now, and it was a norm. Not everyone suffered.

Peach tanned lids folded over emerald hues, exhaling steadily as she let everything sink in by the end of it. A careful breath was taken to soothe her nerves, not wanting to attack him with uncontrolled bursts of energy after a grave story. Eyes were revealed again to him as she looked up, shaking her head.

“It’s okay. I didn’t know it would be so dark, but… I don’t want to be sheltered.” Lips pursed together briefly in thought, averting her gaze. “…What do you think? About what he did and everything. Do you think he deserved it?”

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Lebreau couldn’t help but laugh along with the girl, surprised by her own reaction.  Maybe she was in a better mood than she thought, to be so oddly comfortable around someone so young—but there was something endearing about her, and not as bratty as the children in New Bodhum.  That was a relief.

She nodded, holding up her hand with a smile.  “You’re already doing great.  Come on, gimme five!”

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

Grin was plastered on her heart-shaped face as hand brought itself up and did exactly as expected, palm meeting hers with complete energy. If everyone around these parts were as friendly as Lebreau then making new friends was bound to be a piece of cake, a really enjoyable one if anything.

"Hey, Lebreau? What kinds of things do you do? You don't look like the kind of person who just sits at home doing nothing."

[sanding-the-sea-blog]

“I come from Ivalice,” Tomaj began, lifting a hand to examine his, quite dirty, nails. “It’s not the best place to live. I reside in Rabanstre, sand everywhere, quite hot. But it’s nice for business.” He felt remotely inclined to ask the other where she was from, but not because he cared— it was more just to dig up information, that was his job. “And yourself?”

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

The names of these places were unusual to her ears, but she had been the one who asked, so she didn't particularly have a right to question if those were the real names. It would be offensive. Hands propped themselves behind her head as she looked back up at him.

"Mm... I was born in Madain Sari on the Outer Continent and lived there for a while, then started living in Lindblum on the Mist Continent. Lindblum is good for business you know, and it's a nice place to live too."

[9thbureau]

Six years old, and so trusting in her friends. Then again, it was said that the loving faith of children was one of life’s greatest blessings. Gabranth could only hope that Eiko had placed her faith in worthy hands. But if they were “great guardians” for her, then she had nothing at all to fear. He had to admit, he was somewhat relieved. Eiko was no more than a stranger to him, but she was a mere child. He would not wish the cruelty of Ivalice’s Espers on anyone.

He was lost in thought for a moment, wondering if he should consider divulging one of the Landisian folk tales he had so often heard during his youth. And then he decided he’d best ask Eiko. “So mature for your age,” he mused. “Tell me, Eiko. Do you enjoy scary stories?”

Before he knew it, a smile was beginning to appear on his face.

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

His silence poked at curiosity, eyeing him questioningly as she awaited his next shared words. He must have been thinking about something carefully, or else there would be no reason for him to be musing so seriously. Ears perked up at his question and it was her turn to ponder.

Scary stories was he inquired about. Eiko wasn't certain if she had actually heard tales considered so frightening. Instead, she enjoyed hearing any tales she was offered, learning something new each time. Smile made its way back to her face as she nodded excitedly.

"Sure! It takes a lot to scare me! Heheh!"

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“That sounds pretty good to me,” The lancer smiled warmly down at the tiny summoner. “There’s lots to do around here, so just let me know what you want to do.” Freya had always been pretty flexible so she was fine with almost anything Eiko could suggest. Besides, Eiko was independent enough to take care of herself, leaving Freya to less responsibility over her.

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

"Umm... let's go eat together!" Fists pumped themselves into the air nonchalantly, hoping for a positive response from the other. She wasn't particularly starving, but a small meal didn't sound so bad. Chatting over good food always kept a positive atmosphere up and running.

[sanding-the-sea-blog]

“I suppose you could say that,” Tomaj shrugged, eyes rolling along with his shoulders. “Can’t exactly answer that directly if I don’t know exactly where this MoogleTown is, can I?”

He had always found those younger, or who looked that way, obnoxious. That is, until he gets to know them. He learned that Filo and Kytes weren’t all that bad, nor was Vaan or Penelo. But perhaps that was because they were faithful customers of his. Or that they had grown up in the same situation. He shook it off with a shake of his head; he often got lost in his own thoughts. 

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

His attitude was really not appreciated, but she held her tongue despite how much she wanted to flail about in aggravation. So it was a bad start, big deal. Maybe over time they could get along on better terms. She wasn't very fond of some people she had encountered in the past initially, but in the end they got along well after everything they went through. Time was all that was needed. Alright, time to try this again!

"Then... tell me about where you're from! I bet it's neat!"

[9thbureau]

“The summoned beings of my land,” he said, “are the creatures of legend. It is said that they attempted to rebel against the gods in an attempt at revolution, and that the gods cast them down for their disobedience. There are several names for them, but the Kiltian priests refer to them as the Espers.” Growing up in the country, his father had told him all sorts of folk tales about the Espers and their unsuccessful rebellion against the gods. At first he wondered if the stories would be too scary or violent for Eiko… but he had to have been about her age when he had started hearing them for himself. “How old are you, Eiko?” he asked her.

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

She listened carefully, making mental note of every detail he shared with her about the summonings of his homeland, these 'Espers' as he put it. The inquiry caught her off guard but she grinned reassuringly, under the impression he believed her to be too young to understand.

"I'm six years old! Going on seven!" Her expression shifted calmly to one of sincere curiosity. "For us, our eidolons are the world's greatest guardians. There wasn't anything about rebelling, so I guess our stories are different there, huh? So, why'd you ask how old I am?"

[vieran-wanderlust-deactivated20]

“A pleasure to meet you, Eiko,” Mjrn said, extending her hand to shake the other’s.

Certainly,” she said in response to the summoner’s request. “Viera are wood dwellers, most never leaving their wooded sanctuaries. Because of this, they have minimum contact with the outside world,” Mjrn began, trying her best to not let the memories get to her. “But, in exchange for never leaving, they become truly in tune with nature. They can hear its thoughts, its feelings, and from it receive all they could ever need in life.” Or, she added in her mind, all they believe they need.

[xsummonerofsass-blog]

The bit about never leaving the woods somehow reminded Eiko of Madain Sari in a sense, especially her own circumstance. However, she had left before her sixteenth birthday without suffering any real consequence in regards to summoning, instead learning more about the world outside of it. What of the viera? Were they like that too?

"...But what happens if you leave?"

[theskywannacry]

“Don’t leave me !!!!”

“Don’t worry… i will protect you”

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