It takes some time for the package to reach its recipient; even the moogle post isn’t infallible, afterall, and the man called Riski has spent his fair share of time traveling recently. An exhausted moogle finally catches up to its quarry in Onokoro, drops the parcel, and flees before it’s asked to deliver anything else for the next fortnight.
Riski picks up the box and grins at its bright wrappings. There’s only one person who’d bother to send him anything, and when he opens it his guess proves true. “Aww,” he murmurs and gives the plush chocobo a squeeze. “Couldn’t find a coeurl?” he asks the still night air with a laugh. It’s perfect as it is. He tucks the little bird and the note back in with the sweets and leaves the decks to drop it off in his room, as well as pen a quick note in return.
“Destiney,
My thanks for such a thoughtful gift! It made my day to receive it, especially because it tells me that you’re doing well despite me not being around to cause trouble. The Ruby Sea is beautiful at this time of year but it’s nice to have a little bit of home during the holiday.
I hope you’ve had a lovely Starlight!
With love,
Riski”
He seals the letter and sticks it into the pocket of his hakama until he’s able to find a moogle willing to take it for him. By the next day it’s on its way to Eorzea.
At least the thing had gone down. Riski felt his head spin when he moved to look back to check on Destiney, the sunny La Noscean day darkening around the edges. “You okay, Dest?” he asked. His voice sounded distant and fuzzy to his own long ears.
It was only the span of a blink, or so Riski thought, and suddenly Destiney stood in front of him. He brows were furrowed and the flitting light of her fairy companion compounded on his dizzy feeling. “Riski,” Destiney was saying, trying to get his attention. “It’s going to be okay. Just breathe.”
Riski tried to dredge up a smile for her. It was fine; he’d taken far worse hits before. Which was his last coherent thought before his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed onto the grass.
Destiney resisted the urge to squeak in panic when Riski fainted on her. Daisy’s arms flailed in a moment of worry as Dest moved to assess Riski’s condition. She knew the last night he insisted she didn’t heal him that things would be alright left alone. Good thing this time he was passed out because she wasn’t asking this time. Not that she could anyways.
She moved him so his head was resting in her lap, brushing the hair from his face gently. Daisy landed on Riski’s shoulder before looking up at her master as if asking for permission. Destiney nods before she closes her eyes, moving her softly glowing hands to Riski’s chest. Seeking the damage and making sure his life wasn’t in danger. Letting her aether soothe any pain. “Please Riski… Please wake up…” Daisy was lending her help as well to aid her friend in his recovery.
“Riski?” She laughs brightly before giving a warm smile. “What isn’t there to like? But if I had to pick merely one thing?” She puts a finger to her chin in thought. Walking slowly around the other elezen, a mischievous smile on her lips now. Pausing behind him before she wraps her arms around one his left arm in a hug and laughs. “Your smile of course! It brightens my day to see it.”
Destiney taps her fingers against the tree as she stands there watching. Silently musing upon the answer she wants to give. Watching the man with his skilled fingers that could make such wonderful music. Moving a different kind of bow across a string. “Those hands of yours, Basteaux. Fingers that can coax beautiful music or bring death to bandits. Not that I don’t enjoy other parts of your appearance. Yet it takes skill to do those things. That is my favorite part though.”
Destiney felt like she had been running about to an from all day. Truth was she had been. There had been a influx of work from the Flames for her that day. Thankfully nothing to serious but the sheer amount of running around for them was wearing on her.
She had finally paused to take a break. The work had finally dwindled down to things that had no urgent need of being taken care of that moment. She wiped her lower arm across her forehead as she looked up at the sky above near High Bridge. The sky was already heading towards evening. Teleporting would have been easiest. Yet a part of her wanted to walk. Even if walking through South Shroud too late in the evening would prove dangerous, more so because of bandits then anything else.
She had just been about to begin walking when she heard the footsteps approaching first. A smile formed on her lips then as she heard that familiar voice call out to her. Blue eyes shined with a cheerful light as she turned to find Riski there. Sunshiney smile included.
“Riski! It’s so good to see you again.” Destiney pulled him into a warm hug, glad to see her friend. “Of course you may walk me home. I was going to go to Gridania though. Are you sure you still want to walk that far with me?”
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.”
“I’m nowhere near responsible enough to take care of another living creature,” Riski admitted easily with a shake of his head. “A few hours, maybe, if it’s tied up and left in my care, but…” He shrugs. “I can see where some people really enjoy keeping pets for their company and antics.”
He glances over his shoulder at her and lifts his eyebrows. “How did you manage to come across a dragonet? Especially one that doesn’t want to maul your face. I mean, I sure wouldn’t admit to having one that followed me around in Ishgard of all places, relaxed attitudes or not.”
“I don’t mind having a pet. I wouldn’t say I am terribly good at it though. But I couldn’t just let him starve on his own or become prey for some other creature. I have taken a liking to him though. I usually just leave him in the care of my mother a lot of the time. I think it makes her feel like she has kids again.” She smiles fondly at the memory. Introducing Tucker to her mother for the first time. “He likes my mother a lot. I think she spoils him too much though.”
“As far as Lady goes… I actually avoid Ishgard when she is with me. I don’t trust most of them not to try an kill her. She’s been back with her mother for the last couple of months though. I found her in the forelands while doing some freelance work.” Destiney laughs lightly an rubs her right ear. “I thought she was going to take a chunk of my ear off. Lady is very curious an young. I don’t think she had time to build a hate for people yet.”
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.”
Spirit of the Warlock 