Alex looked towards the bottle on the table. He could remember when the table was cluttered with bottles. Most of them half or completely empty. Now there was only one. His consumption had decreased over the months since Sana had moved in.
He headed towards the bed after ditching his clothes in a pile on the floor. Some things didn’t change to easily. Clothes could be dealt with in the morning. For now he was tired after his latest job. He slid into bed beside Sana and pulled her close. Wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead.
The alcohol had once been to help him deal with the nightmares. The memories of the things he had survived growing up. Reasons why he slept with a blade carefully tucked within reach.
Now? Now he had Sanagi. There was something comforting having her close. Something about the way she made him feel did more for him then the booze ever had. It wasn’t a perfect fix but it helped a lot. Some day he’d have to deal with those nightmares. For now he’d take having Sana right there in his arms.
Valen paused outside of the small house he had considered home for much of his life. It felt so tiny now that he was grown. Yet it was still filled with many fond memories even around all his training and practice.
After all she lived here. His mother. The woman who always doted upon him growing up. Always made sure he was loved and safe. Even if she considered him to be his father’s legacy. The woman who protected him even when something silly had scared him as a small child.
Valen walked inside the house to find his mother at the sink washing the dishes. “Always so busy even still.” Valen laughed softly as he walked over to kiss his mother on the cheek. She turned to give him a warm smile before embracing him in a hug.
“Let me look at you.” Leandra spoke as she began looking Valen over for any lasting injuries from his journeys. Satisfied he was well she led him towards the dinning table and urged him to sit. “Come now. I’m sure you have not had a decent meal in days if you are anything like your father was.”
Lance had decided to take an off-duty patrol through the Brume today. No armor. No sign of anything that he was a knight. Not today. Some of the residents would recognize him without those symbols anyways.
This wasn’t something new for him. It was something he had taken upon himself though. Something he decided my help even a little just to make things safer. He no longer had the easy funds from his family to donate now that he was disowned for his choices. A little here or there, whatever he could manage after his own needs were met.
His feet paused as he heard shouting. Looking towards his left to find some knight shouting at a woman. The first thing Lance looked for were either Temple Knight or House colors. Dzemael. Of course. Likely down here to stir trouble with someone. They rarely seemed to pass through here.
The one day he had decided to leave his sword at home of course. He quickly looked around for something he could use. Nothing that could be used as a solid weapon though. Though there was one thing he could try as he eyed the pile of snow. It wasn’t a weapon but it could be a very good distraction. Scooping up a handful of snow as he quickly packed it into a ball.
“Hey! Leave her be!” Lance called out to draw the man’s attention before pelting the man right in the face with a snowball. It got the man’s attention alright. The Dzemael knight stomped over towards him. Lance did his best to not smile though he wanted to. Anger often lead to mistakes. Like the ones he wanted this knight to make.
And mistakes the knight did make. The man had drawn his sword and tried to attack Lance for snowball ‘assault’. Only for Lance to easily use his own training to disarm the man. The knight down on one knee with his own sword tip at his throat.
“Ser, I suggest when you stand up, you walk away. Leave this woman alone. Dzemael does not care about the Brume. If you are here to cause problems, I will make sure I make your life a living hell. As a knight myself, I will promise I can do such a thing. I have enough pull for it.” Lance gave the man a smile that was equal parts smug as it was sharp. “I’ll send your sword back later. You do not deserve to hold a blade if you are disarmed so easily.”
Lance withdrew the sword from the man’s throat to allow him to get up and stalk off. Checking on the woman before he continued on his way. Especially after he got the reasons from her that the man was bothering her. It figured he wasn’t one of the decent type of fellows. A man looking for trouble that happened to pick the wrong time. Lance sent a silent pray of thanks to Halone for making sure he was in the right place today.
The rain outside did little to damper her spirits today. After all there were still good ways to enjoy a rainy day. Like snuggling up to the man you love and reading a good book.
Sana had gotten her the next few books in a good series she had fallen in love with. That was totally how she planned to spend a rainy day. Getting hot chocolate for two and her book. Fluffing the pillows and grabbing the large blanket.
She looked like a kid in a candy store over this new book. She was almost sure Syl was likely inwardly chuckling over her behavior. All this for a book. Well and snuggling. Can’t forget the snuggling. Dragging him into bed for the evening so she could have his touch and warmth against her as well.
The book was filled with adventure and some nice dark undertones in all the right places. Even a few steamy moments.
Valen hated this outfit as he looked over his reflection. It was so drab. So… Dirty looking. Yet that was the point. He worked to smudge some dirt over his face to add to the look. A particular dark smudge right over the heart tattoo on his cheek. There just right.
Slipping from his room at the Forgotten Knight, Valen made his way down into the Brume. This was where rumors last made mention of the man he was hunting today. While he preferred targets that were monsters not men, today he made the hard choice. He needed the extra gil for Starlight.
He picked a spot not far from another beggar looking for alms. Hoping to spy the man he looked for while pretending to be one of the local poor. Gods it sucked playing this role. Even more so because of the bitter cold of Ishgard. At least the cold made it a little easier to look pathetic as he shivered. He’d take the Shroud over this place any day.
Begging passerbys as he waited. At once point actually managing to get a slightly less ripe apple even as he pretended. Well at least he was doing a good job faking it apparently.
There! He carefully masked his behavior as he munched on the apple. Or at least made it look like he was munching on the apple and watching warily for someone that might try to steal it. His eyes however were on his hunt mark. Waiting till the man was heading towards the deeper part of the Brume before he got up to follow. Picking up his longbow from where he had stashed it earlier.
Marielle closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. The weather of Dravania was perfect today. Fluffy white clouds and weather warm enough for a nap. She extended her arms as she tipped her head back. Enjoying the feel of the open air all around her as she stood at the edge of the plateau.
Sky, her chocobo, stood nearby. It wasn’t the same as having wings of your own. Yet her feathered friend worked pretty well for moments like this. Flying her up here to a nice open space. A space perfect for a nap. Just like when she was a child.
Marielle laid down and stared up at the sky above. Just watching the clouds float by in their lazy slow motion. Sky taking a hint to curl up and nap. Blue squawked at the two of them before giving up. The baby raptor hopped up onto Sky to curl up as well.
Oh how Marielle missed soaring the skies. Laying on the plateau with the breeze flowing by just wasn’t the same. Yet it still helped to ease the ache of the thing she missed the most.
Adelena pulled hard on the sail rope. Orders were being shouted about as Sirens scrambled across the deck. There was a tension to the crew. An urgency to get the boat hidden behind the crag and quickly. If they wasted any time then this advantage would be lost to them.
Closer the Garlean vessel sailed. The orders were no longer shouted. A silence had fallen over the crew now that the ship was concealed behind a rocky crag. Adelena and several others stood at the ready to pull or release ropes the moment the signal was given. Ready for what they knew came next.
They would do what Sirens did best. Be pirates. No matter the leash the Admiral had on pirates now. The Lady Infernal was still one of the better ships out there.
Adelena let go of some of the rope on cue. Holding just tight enough not to let it fly completely loose. It wouldn’t do to damage the ship in the breezy weather.
Closer they sped towards that Garlean boat. Axes were drawn as the Sirens prepared to board the enemy. Today they would celebrate when they returned to the Missing Member. First they just had to sink these Garlean scum.
Alex was tired of finding new healers. It wasn’t even his fault either. He swore every time he turned around, one of his healer friends was suddenly too occupied to deal with his various injuries. Not that he couldn’t deal with his own wounds. He’d been doing it on an off for years already.
Then he managed to find a flyer for a clinic that was opening soon. What luck! Now he just had to hope the healer was the woman’s name on the flyer. He wasn’t ready to let some guy touch him. Even if he was injured. Too many bad memories.
Of course he soon found out that was the case when he had to go to have some bullet wounds cared for. A woman just like he had hoped. Small in stature but gentle in touch. He was glad to have someone to get the bullet out of his shoulder. That one was a little tricky to deal with on his own.
If only he knew where this lucky find would end up leading him. Sanagi was a lucky find indeed.
Destiney had been in the kitchen for a while now helping her mother out. Cooking wasn’t exactly one of her better skills but it was passable. At least she was learning a little bit by helping out.
Stefan was in the dinning room with Esper, setting the table. Esper had a plate balanced on his fluffy head. On the plate was all the silverware settings for the table. Stefan would reach for a setting at each seat. The plate of silverware offered to him each time. Working together like the team they were even for mundane tasks.
Lance was just arriving from his shift at Skyfire, removing bits of armor near the door. After all it was easier to eat when you were comfortable. As comfortable as the armor Iria had given him for Starlight last year, he would rather have this meal without it.
All that was missing so far was Syluss and the Sangria. Destiney knew he’d be along shortly to join them. Eager for him to spend a little time with the family she loved so dear. The boys were now helping to move plates from the kitchen to the table.
Destiney went to answer the door as a knock sounded. Lighting up brightly as she found Syluss on the other side. Taking his hand as she gave him a loving smile. She lead him towards the table where the rest of the family was already settling in. Mother was at the head of the table. Stefan to her right with Esper curled up near his chair. Lance beside the mage. Leaving the left side of the table for Destiney and Syluss.
Lance hadn’t originally been exactly sure what he was getting into with seeing Kyna. Not before the first visit. Though he admitted he needed help after the injuries he had sustained in Coerthas. As well as the mental and emotional wounds of the past. War is hard and painful in many ways.
Two visits later… And now they had even talked about a first date. Still the caution remained though. Partly because of his family. Partly because of old emotional wounds.
Yet there was just something about Kyna that he felt drawn towards.
Kind and understanding. Patient. Beautiful in both body and soul.
She was his healer though. So when she had suggested the Springs in La Noscea he voted for the Hot Springs in Bronze Lake. They were supposed to be healing. As well as it would be a relaxing time with Kyna. It was both healing and a date.
Perhaps this was Halone’s doing. Sending him some much needed healing in many ways. Time would tell. He was willing to take a chance. So was she. The only way to find out was to try.
Spirit of the Warlock 