She is not going to squeeble at the adorable Hyur. She is not going to squeeble at the adorable Hyur. Even if the Hyur looks absolutely precious.
“The dangers of training with the sword, hm? Here, stay still. I’ll have you fixed right up.”
She hadn’t even realized she had gotten herself hurt at first. Too focused on what she had been doing. A blink of surprise as she looked down to the crimson streak on her bare side, minor but still a wound. Probably bad idea she had been out training without the armor today.
“Aye. Apparently so today.” Keaira said with a bright smile as she held still. “Thank you very much for being so kind…” She realized she hadn’t asked for a name yet. “I’m Keaira Stark. Pleasure to meet you. What might I call you?”
Destiney couldn’t help but laugh. Not that his words of him being blinding without a shirt were funny. Merely because she was sure she knew someone who could top him in that. “I bet I have seen someone more blinding then you without a shirt. We do a different beach at the end of each week. Imagine getting to see that once a week. I’m surprised I have any sight left.”
Her easy demeanor faded a bit the closer they got to Wineport. Eyes drifting towards the northeast more then once. Yet she managed to hold onto a smile even if it was not nearly as bright anymore. “Hard to believe it’s been a little over three years since I left here an became who I am today. Though for the better I will admit.”
Riski glanced down at her, not answering immediately. They walked in silence for a little ways before he shook his head, saying, “What is it about three years ago? It seems like everything terrible that happened to most people was either the Calamity, or three years ago.” There wasn’t much humor in the chuckle he couldn’t stop. “We’re all stronger for it, sure, but the timing is just… weird.”
There was a sort of melancholy that was trying to creep in, but Riski shrugged it off. He grinned, skipping ahead again and looking back at her. “Hey, look on the bright side. If you ever want a coeurl kitten, you know where to find one now.”
“Maybe it was something the Twelve had planned in a larger scheme then just individuals. Maybe it is merely the fate of each soul at that time. It is really hard to point a finger at any one answer on the whys of something so complex. There may even be a completely logical answer even if one was to dwell deep enough into the events that happened. Yet something so complex might take years to unravel if one could at all.” The words were mostly to herself though they were in response to Riski’s words. Her brain tumbling over the reasons or possibilities like a puzzle needing solved. She probably would have continued pondering over the answer until Riski skipped ahead of her again.
“Oh I doubt I want a kitten running about my house. I already have a wolf pup and on occasion a dragonet when she is visiting. Adding a kitten to that mix would be absolute chaos.” Destiney laughs brightly as she tries to imagine her house with another pet running about. A cat of all things paired with the wolf and dragonet. No that was one scenario she was not ready to endure.
“Hm, it does sound like you’ve got a pretty full house. I’m something of a cat person, myself.” Riski’s grin softened, but the way his eyes lit up with a wicked gleam was in direct contrast. “Nothing like stroking a happy cat that’s sitting on your lap and purring at you.”
He beckoned to Destiney as they reached the gates of Wineport. “So a wolf pup and a dragonet, huh?”
Destiney couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Riski’s face, blushing softly. Her mind was already making guesses based on that look in his eyes. Though she had a feeling he definitely wasn’t directing that at her. But her mind could definitely make assumptions.
She pushed the thoughts aside as they reached the gates of Wineport and he asked about her own pets. “Tucker and Lady. Tucker is my wolf pup I found abandoned. Lady just seems to like to follow me out of curiosity now that things are less tense between Ishgard and Dragons. She hates being called a pet though. Will bite my ear if I do it. I can’t speak her language but she is very vocal in actions.”
Riski shook his hair out of his eyes, tossing a snowball from hand to hand. “You realize this is a terrible idea, right?”
Above them, Daisy giggled silently. Riski and Destiney counted together, each taking a step forward as they did. When both reached ten, Riski pivoted and let the snowball fly. Opposite him, Destiney was doing the same.
Destiney’s aim was good; getting out of the way of the projectile would require either moving faster than he was physically capable of or dropping down into the snow at his feet. Since the second option was not an option at all, Riski took the snowball to the chest and staggered backward with a grunt. “Ah! It went down my shirt!” he yelped, brushing ineffectively at his front.
“Totally,” A grin on her face as she was busy getting her own snowball. A snowball face off. Totally a bad idea. Yet totally so much fun. It would so be worth it to be able to chuck at least one snowball at Riski. All while Daisy fluttered safely above them, watching in total amusement.
Destiney squealed as the snowball Riski had thrown caught her in the side when she tried to dodge it. But it was quickly forgotten as she watched him trying to deal with the snow that had gone down his shirt. Now she was laughing hard, bent over an hold her sides. :R-Riski. You’re killing me. I can’t breath.” She managed to squeak out between gasps for air and laughter.
Destiney just had to smile. He had a point. What did it matter as long as she enjoyed herself. Not like she had ever cared what the other kids had thought back then anyways. She had come to care a bit more what some people thought now but… Nope still didn’t care what people who didn’t know her thought. Daisy decided to take a seat on her shoulder as she was walking with Riski.
Her eyes were more on the toads then the dimming of his smile. Ugh she hated those toads. Definitely did not want to get pulled in by one of their tongues so she made sure to remain close to Riski as they passed by. She looked back to him as he gave an answer that was evasive. She could tell as he avoided answering the question completely. It was still an answer though. Well that or he had misunderstood but she was leaning more towards evasion. Obviously something about it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss. She wasn’t about to pry though. “I’m originally from Gridania. Spent several years in Ishgard and now live in Ul’dah. So we’re both a bit of the traveling type I’d say. I don’t do near the amount of freelance work I used to though. So I see less of the world then I once did.”
Spirit of the Warlock 