“Don’t you know how much good you have done for others?”

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“I have done good yes. But… I can still do more. As long as I live and breathe I can still do more.”

Lance looked around at those he called his companions. Other knights of Haillenarte. People he fought and bled beside. All in the name of a cause that was right. Haillenarte deserved every ounce of their loyalty.

Yes he had done good. Had been since the moment he could become an actual knight an not just some kid wet behind the ears. Every moment he stepped into Coerthas for duty he did some amount of good no matter how small. Protecting Ishgard and other people passing through the area was good. Not enough but it was a start. He would find ways to do more. Strive to improve.

He tucked away the note with those words. A silent reminder that someone out there had noticed his efforts. Not that he did what he did for praise. But… Once in a while… Being noticed was a nice feeling.

“Don’t you know how much good you’ve done for others?”

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“Have I?”

Destiney looked down at the note in her hands. Daisy fluttered near her shoulder. Some days it felt like she could never do enough. That there was still too much left unfinished. Or too many people who could use help that she just was not good enough to provide. She kept pushing herself to her limits. Trying as hard as she could to be worthy of such words like those that graced this shred of paper.

Daisy’s gentle hand on her cheek made her finally quit staring down at the paper. The fairy’s face was full of concern for her. A small smile for her dear companion.

“Alright. Maybe a little?” She laughed as the fairy nodded to her words this time. Maybe she wasn’t always as hopeless as she seen herself at times. She had people who trusted her. People who relied on her. Warmth and acceptance no matter how she could screw up at times. “Thanks for the reminder, Daisy. An whoever sent this note. I guess I have done at least some good.”

“You can’t cheat death.” for Lancefer

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He knew better then anyone those words. How many men an woman had he watched die over the years… So many that he felt he could have saved if he had been faster or stronger. How many injuries had he endured…

“You can’t cheat death.”

A scoff from him as he finally raised his hung head. True. He might not be able to cheat death but he could make the bastard work for it. Sky blue eyes stared ahead at the wyvern that drew closer to the unit he was working with. Death would come in time for them all, even him. But for now he was going to give every fight his all an make death earn the right to take his life.

“For Ishgard! For Haillenarte!” Lance gave a battle cry as he charged forth with his companions through the snow to the challenge before them.

Destiney – “You’re hiding a painful burden.”

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Fingers reached up to touch the edges of the white mask upon her face as she heard those words. She had gazed around to find who had spoken but the place was crowded as usual. Curse wanting to lose herself among a crowded place of all days. To be just another number among many. There was no telling who had said the words.

It was not one of her better days. Still dark moments came upon her from time to time though they grew less frequent the longer she was calling the Order home. Today was one of those darker days. Someone had just had to say those words.

“Everyone has burdens…” She mumbled more to herself since she had no idea who had spoken. She also didn’t want to look like she was crazy for talking to herself. So her voice stayed soft an almost unheard among the clamor of people around. “Some are just more painful then others. Especially for those of us who feel we deserve those burdens.”

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

riskibusiness:

(from here)

“A teacher could help,” Riski agreed. “And practice. But if they’re helping and you’re having good luck, and especially if you actually enjoy doing it, that sounds like something to look into for sure.” He watched her hands skim over the cards, drawn to the shine of the gold edging. While he admittedly didn’t set much stock in the practice, it was still fascinating as an art form and the cards themselves could be quite beautiful.

His gaze switched to the fairy in his hand as Destiney talked about her. She was sparkly, practically glowing even in the daylight, but beneath the glow she didn’t look anything like as old as she should be if she came from the fallen city. Clearly a creature of magic. He felt a little better about his carbuncle comparison. “She definitely seems very special. You can tell just by looking at her. “

“She is special to me. Though sometimes it’s like having a nagging mother always over my shoulder. She doesn’t approve of me worrying about others first over my own well being.” She smiles at Riski as she smooths down the creases in her doublet. Daisy’s smile bright an happy at Riski’s words. “She’s really friendly. Well to most people. There may have once been an incident where she was nearly a meal. Not quite sure she’s forgiven Oni yet for that.” At the mention of Oni, Daisy frowns an waves her arms frantically which just makes Destiney chuckle. “Nope. Apparently not.”

“A lot of what I know or attempt is fumbling in the dark. I learn by doing usually rather then a teacher. But… I think when it comes to those cards I am going to find a teacher. Or at least someone I can ask questions who has real answers. I’ve a fond love for research more then I do actually working up the nerve to bother strangers usually. This here…” She motions between them with a hand to indicate what she was talking about. The sitting down with a stranger in the wild and speaking with them. Caring about someone’s well being rather then moving on when they had insisted. “For me is a step in a good direction really. Though it helps you have a charming smile.” A slightly teasing smile as she looks away towards the river.

“So besides getting yourself zapped by couerls, what sort of things do you do? If you don’t mind me asking. Or if you feel up to answering. I feel like I must be talking you to death.”

“I’ve learned a little bit of everything through either trial and error or bugging people I’ve been stuck with on jobs. The best for that was the merc band I used to be in – different people with different specialties. It was invaluable on a couple of occasions to be able to pick up a battleaxe or a glaive and keep going even after running out of arrows.” Riski grins, giving Daisy a small nod of warning before lowering his hand to rest on his knees. She’s welcome to stay, of course, but he can’t keep his arm up like that any longer.

“As you’ve observed, I’m very charming.” Riski winks at her, tilting his head to the side briefly in order to toss his hair back out of his face. “But mostly I just do odd jobs. Fighting the local nuisance of the day, deliveries, running messages – whatever’s needed that they’ll pay me for. Within reason, of course. So again, knowing a little bit of everything comes in handy there, too.”

Daisy fluttered off his hand as his arm began to lower. Her new perch being the top of Destiney’s head once more. Destiney merely shot a glance upwards at her fairy companion as she listened to Riski speak.

“Ah so in other words you’re very versatile. Must be handy indeed. I am still a decent shot with a bow. It’s what I used to do before I chose to be a healer. I’ve never really tried my hand with other weapons. Not sure if I’m ready to even consider such.” She looks towards the northeast, knowing what lay in the distance over that way. She shakes her head briefly to cast away the thoughts. Daisy flutters down off her head to light smack her hands against Destiney’s cheeks. “Daisy!” She sighs before chuckling. Daisy merely crosses her arms an frowns. “Like I said. She is like a nagging mother.”

“I’m a terrible shot anymore,” Riski admitted cheerfully. “But it’s no big deal, because of those other skills I picked up. But not everyone is suited to all weapons, just like not everyone is suited to healing. There’s nothing at all wrong in finding what you’re good with and sticking with it.”

He followed Destiney’s gaze, raising his eyebrows at Daisy’s reaction to her. “I take it she disapproves of something? Or is she just annoyed?” He didn’t know what was off in the distance, but it obviously meant something to Destiney and her fairy companion.

Destiney takes a long moment, gazing towards Daisy. Deciding how best to answer. A deep breath in an out. “Yes. A bit of both really. She remembers what happened that day. She was still my uncle’s companion at the time. It’s her way of trying to smack some sense into me.”

Her right hand goes to rest over a spot on her chest, just to the right of her heart. “She thinks I need the occasional reminder. Which sometimes I do. But right now…” A pause as she looks up at the sky an closes her eyes for a moment. “Right now I’m in a much better place then I was back then.” A genuine smile, though not nearly as warm as she tried to make it. “We all do stupid things when we’re younger an not as smart as we are further down the road. I made some extremely stupid choices. Daisy just likes to remind me when she thinks I’m in danger of dwelling too hard on those choices.”

“I have good company today despite being this close to that place.” There was the warmth now. The smile meeting her eyes an much warmer this time. “Even if said company is only because he got himself zapped.” A slight tease of course. Something she found she couldn’t resist.

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

riskibusiness:

(from here)

“A teacher could help,” Riski agreed. “And practice. But if they’re helping and you’re having good luck, and especially if you actually enjoy doing it, that sounds like something to look into for sure.” He watched her hands skim over the cards, drawn to the shine of the gold edging. While he admittedly didn’t set much stock in the practice, it was still fascinating as an art form and the cards themselves could be quite beautiful.

His gaze switched to the fairy in his hand as Destiney talked about her. She was sparkly, practically glowing even in the daylight, but beneath the glow she didn’t look anything like as old as she should be if she came from the fallen city. Clearly a creature of magic. He felt a little better about his carbuncle comparison. “She definitely seems very special. You can tell just by looking at her. “

“She is special to me. Though sometimes it’s like having a nagging mother always over my shoulder. She doesn’t approve of me worrying about others first over my own well being.” She smiles at Riski as she smooths down the creases in her doublet. Daisy’s smile bright an happy at Riski’s words. “She’s really friendly. Well to most people. There may have once been an incident where she was nearly a meal. Not quite sure she’s forgiven Oni yet for that.” At the mention of Oni, Daisy frowns an waves her arms frantically which just makes Destiney chuckle. “Nope. Apparently not.”

“A lot of what I know or attempt is fumbling in the dark. I learn by doing usually rather then a teacher. But… I think when it comes to those cards I am going to find a teacher. Or at least someone I can ask questions who has real answers. I’ve a fond love for research more then I do actually working up the nerve to bother strangers usually. This here…” She motions between them with a hand to indicate what she was talking about. The sitting down with a stranger in the wild and speaking with them. Caring about someone’s well being rather then moving on when they had insisted. “For me is a step in a good direction really. Though it helps you have a charming smile.” A slightly teasing smile as she looks away towards the river.

“So besides getting yourself zapped by couerls, what sort of things do you do? If you don’t mind me asking. Or if you feel up to answering. I feel like I must be talking you to death.”

“I’ve learned a little bit of everything through either trial and error or bugging people I’ve been stuck with on jobs. The best for that was the merc band I used to be in – different people with different specialties. It was invaluable on a couple of occasions to be able to pick up a battleaxe or a glaive and keep going even after running out of arrows.” Riski grins, giving Daisy a small nod of warning before lowering his hand to rest on his knees. She’s welcome to stay, of course, but he can’t keep his arm up like that any longer.

“As you’ve observed, I’m very charming.” Riski winks at her, tilting his head to the side briefly in order to toss his hair back out of his face. “But mostly I just do odd jobs. Fighting the local nuisance of the day, deliveries, running messages – whatever’s needed that they’ll pay me for. Within reason, of course. So again, knowing a little bit of everything comes in handy there, too.”

Daisy fluttered off his hand as his arm began to lower. Her new perch being the top of Destiney’s head once more. Destiney merely shot a glance upwards at her fairy companion as she listened to Riski speak.

“Ah so in other words you’re very versatile. Must be handy indeed. I am still a decent shot with a bow. It’s what I used to do before I chose to be a healer. I’ve never really tried my hand with other weapons. Not sure if I’m ready to even consider such.” She looks towards the northeast, knowing what lay in the distance over that way. She shakes her head briefly to cast away the thoughts. Daisy flutters down off her head to light smack her hands against Destiney’s cheeks. “Daisy!” She sighs before chuckling. Daisy merely crosses her arms an frowns. “Like I said. She is like a nagging mother.”

riskibusiness:

(from here)

“A teacher could help,” Riski agreed. “And practice. But if they’re helping and you’re having good luck, and especially if you actually enjoy doing it, that sounds like something to look into for sure.” He watched her hands skim over the cards, drawn to the shine of the gold edging. While he admittedly didn’t set much stock in the practice, it was still fascinating as an art form and the cards themselves could be quite beautiful.

His gaze switched to the fairy in his hand as Destiney talked about her. She was sparkly, practically glowing even in the daylight, but beneath the glow she didn’t look anything like as old as she should be if she came from the fallen city. Clearly a creature of magic. He felt a little better about his carbuncle comparison. “She definitely seems very special. You can tell just by looking at her. “

“She is special to me. Though sometimes it’s like having a nagging mother always over my shoulder. She doesn’t approve of me worrying about others first over my own well being.” She smiles at Riski as she smooths down the creases in her doublet. Daisy’s smile bright an happy at Riski’s words. “She’s really friendly. Well to most people. There may have once been an incident where she was nearly a meal. Not quite sure she’s forgiven Oni yet for that.” At the mention of Oni, Daisy frowns an waves her arms frantically which just makes Destiney chuckle. “Nope. Apparently not.”

“A lot of what I know or attempt is fumbling in the dark. I learn by doing usually rather then a teacher. But… I think when it comes to those cards I am going to find a teacher. Or at least someone I can ask questions who has real answers. I’ve a fond love for research more then I do actually working up the nerve to bother strangers usually. This here…” She motions between them with a hand to indicate what she was talking about. The sitting down with a stranger in the wild and speaking with them. Caring about someone’s well being rather then moving on when they had insisted. “For me is a step in a good direction really. Though it helps you have a charming smile.” A slightly teasing smile as she looks away towards the river.

“So besides getting yourself zapped by couerls, what sort of things do you do? If you don’t mind me asking. Or if you feel up to answering. I feel like I must be talking you to death.”

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

(@riskibusiness – 

http://riskibusiness.tumblr.com/post/153270983178/this-looked-too-cute-a-chance-to-pass-up-since  cause I got tired of scrolling. XD)

Work. She knew the dangers an pains of such work. She had done her fair share of odd jobs before finding her home among the Order. Her jobs were a bit more carefully selected now. At least any that she did on her own free time.

A frown crossed her features as he admitted why he was refusing her aid. It was a fine reason. She might have thought similarly had she not spent so much time around her current ’family’. Helping those who she had a feeling could not afford most people who would agree to help for a price. An what was wrong with just helping someone while asking for nothing in return on occasion. Nothing of course.

Before she could object though he had changed the subject. Clever. Obviously one used to dealing with faked smiles. Whether he was the one wearing them or just seeing through them, she didn’t know. A part of her wanted to deny it as she sometimes did. But she could make polite conversation to keep an eye on him. Last thing she wanted to was walk away an leave him to fend off anything in his state should something else pass by. The memories were not as sharp an jagged as they once were.

“A bit of both really. I met someone out here years ago. Well further northeast of here a bit. The circumstances that lead to our meeting… That’s the bad memory.” A sad smile as she thought about the incident. Her hand drifting up to her left shoulder. Fingertips resting over one spot in particular. The memory of an old wound though it never bothered her physically. Her uncle had done a good job repairing all the physical damage.

He had experience on both sides of a false smile. There was plenty of need, especially during jobs where he was set in a place of service as a way to gather information. At times all it took was a smile to put someone at ease, even if the smile didn’t quite reach your eyes. Learning to see through them was just as important, as well, for the simple sake of staying safe.

“Sorry to dredge up the past. Some things are better left buried.” Riski wrinkled his nose in sympathy for a moment. “You can keep going on your way if you want. Don’t want to make you stay.” The attacks were growing less frequent, as well as less intense and a little shorter each time. “Thanks, though. Appreciate the company.”

She shook her head as she held up her hand as if to stop the apology. She didn’t need apologies. It wasn’t his fault. Even if somethings were better left buried, this would always be something she refused to bury. It didn’t deserve to be buried. No matter how much it hurt. With time it had begun to hurt less slowly. But his thanks did bring about a genuine smile this time.

“I think I am content to wait. If nothing else my time among my free company has taught me it’s sometimes best to be stubborn with a patient. Sometimes they would rather do things that are not in their best interests.” She covers her mouth with a hand as she chuckles softly. She looks up to the sky with a warm smile. “An you are welcome. The leader of my company has a favorite saying. The words are in his native tongue but he says they mean ‘not alone’. So I am content to wait until you can walk away on your own safely. I have no where else I have to be today. No work to attend with the Order. I already finished the accounting before I came out here.”

Daisy who had been mostly content with fluttering about finally decided to take a seat on top of Riski’s head. Or at least attempt it. Which made Destiney chuckle at her sparkling companion. “Sorry. Daisy can be a handful at times.”

“Are you saying that you think I’m going to go do something stupid if you turn your back?” Riski asked, lifting his eyebrows in feigned surprise. “I’ll have you know that I,” he paused briefly, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, “would absolutely do that. Have we met before?” He shifted his position, pulling his knees up and resting his arms on them.

“So what’s your Order?” he asked, an obvious attempt to get Destiney to talk so he didn’t have to while in the electricity’s grip once more. He didn’t shoo the fairy off his head, letting her perch there undisturbed while he was held immobile – and even after the wave passed. He would continue to keep relatively still for her, rather than tilting his head as much as he usually tended to do while speaking to someone.

She hadn’t been expecting him to admit he would be the kind to go an get himself into more trouble. It was amusing none the less because he was at least good humored about it. Her eyes watched as he moved, curious if he was getting up. Not yet though apparently. Good. She was actually enjoying talking to him. Though she knew she was doing more talking then he was. She didn’t really mind though since he was probably doing it for a reason. She wasn’t the one who had been hit by a couerl after all.

“The Order of the Sword and Rose. It’s the free company I work for. I’m one of the healers. Though I also do the accounting and sometimes research. An a bit of…” her voice dropped for the final three words she was about to add, blush coloring her cheeks faintly. “novice fortune telling.” She coughed in attempt to cover the words quickly and shot a glare to her fairy companion who was laughing at her from her perch. She leans over towards him, attempting to swat at Daisy. The fairy merely dodges away an leaves her swiping at air. She sits back with a frown at the sparkling fairy as Daisy moves into the air in front of them. It might have looked childish but she stuck her tongue out at Daisy before continuing. “I tend to just do whatever they need me to do if I can do it. I enjoy being helpful.”

“Fortune telling, huh?” Riski grinned at Destiney. He didn’t seem mocking, just amused and a touch curious. “Are you any good at it? Accurate predictions and things like that?”

He reached up with his right hand as if to offer the fairy a perch, but quickly dropped it and offered the other instead. The first two fingers on his right hand were still twitching uncontrollably, but he hadn’t realized it until he’d been able to see them. “Hello, Daisy. You’re quite lovely, aren’t you?” He had little to no experience with fairies; he was under the impression they were similar to carbuncles, if only because it was something he could at least somewhat understand.

Daisy giggled as she fluttered down to perch upon Riski’s offered hand. Her feet kicking in the air happily. Wings fluttering at his compliments.

“I’ve been trying. I think I might need to find someone who knows better then I do about it. I’ve mostly been fumbling in the dark really.” She sorts through the pouch on her hip before pulling out a deck of cards, black backings with gold trim. “I’ve been using them before our missions mostly. Rhisi’s suggestion. Some of my readings seem helpful and others still confusing and unclear. As I said I am much a novice” Her fingers trace the gold edging around the cards before tucking them back away into her pouch. She looks at Daisy who was enjoying sitting on Riski’s hand.

“She doesn’t actually speak. I mostly judge based on her actions and expressions on what she wants to convey. She served my uncle before she joined me when he retired from adventuring. Almost hard to find one anymore unless you are lucky. Most of them were lost with the fall of the of Nym.”

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

(@riskibusiness – 

http://riskibusiness.tumblr.com/post/153270983178/this-looked-too-cute-a-chance-to-pass-up-since  cause I got tired of scrolling. XD)

Work. She knew the dangers an pains of such work. She had done her fair share of odd jobs before finding her home among the Order. Her jobs were a bit more carefully selected now. At least any that she did on her own free time.

A frown crossed her features as he admitted why he was refusing her aid. It was a fine reason. She might have thought similarly had she not spent so much time around her current ’family’. Helping those who she had a feeling could not afford most people who would agree to help for a price. An what was wrong with just helping someone while asking for nothing in return on occasion. Nothing of course.

Before she could object though he had changed the subject. Clever. Obviously one used to dealing with faked smiles. Whether he was the one wearing them or just seeing through them, she didn’t know. A part of her wanted to deny it as she sometimes did. But she could make polite conversation to keep an eye on him. Last thing she wanted to was walk away an leave him to fend off anything in his state should something else pass by. The memories were not as sharp an jagged as they once were.

“A bit of both really. I met someone out here years ago. Well further northeast of here a bit. The circumstances that lead to our meeting… That’s the bad memory.” A sad smile as she thought about the incident. Her hand drifting up to her left shoulder. Fingertips resting over one spot in particular. The memory of an old wound though it never bothered her physically. Her uncle had done a good job repairing all the physical damage.

He had experience on both sides of a false smile. There was plenty of need, especially during jobs where he was set in a place of service as a way to gather information. At times all it took was a smile to put someone at ease, even if the smile didn’t quite reach your eyes. Learning to see through them was just as important, as well, for the simple sake of staying safe.

“Sorry to dredge up the past. Some things are better left buried.” Riski wrinkled his nose in sympathy for a moment. “You can keep going on your way if you want. Don’t want to make you stay.” The attacks were growing less frequent, as well as less intense and a little shorter each time. “Thanks, though. Appreciate the company.”

She shook her head as she held up her hand as if to stop the apology. She didn’t need apologies. It wasn’t his fault. Even if somethings were better left buried, this would always be something she refused to bury. It didn’t deserve to be buried. No matter how much it hurt. With time it had begun to hurt less slowly. But his thanks did bring about a genuine smile this time.

“I think I am content to wait. If nothing else my time among my free company has taught me it’s sometimes best to be stubborn with a patient. Sometimes they would rather do things that are not in their best interests.” She covers her mouth with a hand as she chuckles softly. She looks up to the sky with a warm smile. “An you are welcome. The leader of my company has a favorite saying. The words are in his native tongue but he says they mean ‘not alone’. So I am content to wait until you can walk away on your own safely. I have no where else I have to be today. No work to attend with the Order. I already finished the accounting before I came out here.”

Daisy who had been mostly content with fluttering about finally decided to take a seat on top of Riski’s head. Or at least attempt it. Which made Destiney chuckle at her sparkling companion. “Sorry. Daisy can be a handful at times.”

“Are you saying that you think I’m going to go do something stupid if you turn your back?” Riski asked, lifting his eyebrows in feigned surprise. “I’ll have you know that I,” he paused briefly, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, “would absolutely do that. Have we met before?” He shifted his position, pulling his knees up and resting his arms on them.

“So what’s your Order?” he asked, an obvious attempt to get Destiney to talk so he didn’t have to while in the electricity’s grip once more. He didn’t shoo the fairy off his head, letting her perch there undisturbed while he was held immobile – and even after the wave passed. He would continue to keep relatively still for her, rather than tilting his head as much as he usually tended to do while speaking to someone.

She hadn’t been expecting him to admit he would be the kind to go an get himself into more trouble. It was amusing none the less because he was at least good humored about it. Her eyes watched as he moved, curious if he was getting up. Not yet though apparently. Good. She was actually enjoying talking to him. Though she knew she was doing more talking then he was. She didn’t really mind though since he was probably doing it for a reason. She wasn’t the one who had been hit by a couerl after all.

“The Order of the Sword and Rose. It’s the free company I work for. I’m one of the healers. Though I also do the accounting and sometimes research. An a bit of…” her voice dropped for the final three words she was about to add, blush coloring her cheeks faintly. “novice fortune telling.” She coughed in attempt to cover the words quickly and shot a glare to her fairy companion who was laughing at her from her perch. She leans over towards him, attempting to swat at Daisy. The fairy merely dodges away an leaves her swiping at air. She sits back with a frown at the sparkling fairy as Daisy moves into the air in front of them. It might have looked childish but she stuck her tongue out at Daisy before continuing. “I tend to just do whatever they need me to do if I can do it. I enjoy being helpful.”

riskibusiness:

nebula1984:

(@riskibusiness – 

http://riskibusiness.tumblr.com/post/153270983178/this-looked-too-cute-a-chance-to-pass-up-since  cause I got tired of scrolling. XD)

Work. She knew the dangers an pains of such work. She had done her fair share of odd jobs before finding her home among the Order. Her jobs were a bit more carefully selected now. At least any that she did on her own free time.

A frown crossed her features as he admitted why he was refusing her aid. It was a fine reason. She might have thought similarly had she not spent so much time around her current ’family’. Helping those who she had a feeling could not afford most people who would agree to help for a price. An what was wrong with just helping someone while asking for nothing in return on occasion. Nothing of course.

Before she could object though he had changed the subject. Clever. Obviously one used to dealing with faked smiles. Whether he was the one wearing them or just seeing through them, she didn’t know. A part of her wanted to deny it as she sometimes did. But she could make polite conversation to keep an eye on him. Last thing she wanted to was walk away an leave him to fend off anything in his state should something else pass by. The memories were not as sharp an jagged as they once were.

“A bit of both really. I met someone out here years ago. Well further northeast of here a bit. The circumstances that lead to our meeting… That’s the bad memory.” A sad smile as she thought about the incident. Her hand drifting up to her left shoulder. Fingertips resting over one spot in particular. The memory of an old wound though it never bothered her physically. Her uncle had done a good job repairing all the physical damage.

He had experience on both sides of a false smile. There was plenty of need, especially during jobs where he was set in a place of service as a way to gather information. At times all it took was a smile to put someone at ease, even if the smile didn’t quite reach your eyes. Learning to see through them was just as important, as well, for the simple sake of staying safe.

“Sorry to dredge up the past. Some things are better left buried.” Riski wrinkled his nose in sympathy for a moment. “You can keep going on your way if you want. Don’t want to make you stay.” The attacks were growing less frequent, as well as less intense and a little shorter each time. “Thanks, though. Appreciate the company.”

She shook her head as she held up her hand as if to stop the apology. She didn’t need apologies. It wasn’t his fault. Even if somethings were better left buried, this would always be something she refused to bury. It didn’t deserve to be buried. No matter how much it hurt. With time it had begun to hurt less slowly. But his thanks did bring about a genuine smile this time.

“I think I am content to wait. If nothing else my time among my free company has taught me it’s sometimes best to be stubborn with a patient. Sometimes they would rather do things that are not in their best interests.” She covers her mouth with a hand as she chuckles softly. She looks up to the sky with a warm smile. “An you are welcome. The leader of my company has a favorite saying. The words are in his native tongue but he says they mean ‘not alone’. So I am content to wait until you can walk away on your own safely. I have no where else I have to be today. No work to attend with the Order. I already finished the accounting before I came out here.”

Daisy who had been mostly content with fluttering about finally decided to take a seat on top of Riski’s head. Or at least attempt it. Which made Destiney chuckle at her sparkling companion. “Sorry. Daisy can be a handful at times.”