Useless was not a word that often applied to Sky Hoshizora. From a large, extended family, she had done everything she could in her life to stand out among the crowd of siblings and cousins who lived on the compound where she had grown up. She learned quickly, developed the poise and sharp wit that he father expected of her as his heir. When she had shown aptitude for magic and had been sent to the arcanist's guild in Limsa Lominsa, she had preened and happily been her father's pride and joy. When she had gone to war, there had been a bit of culture shock, but she had come back a decorated veteran. She had helped her fellow soldiers, and often gone out of her way to do so even in the most dangerous situations.
Useless was the only way to describe how she currently felt as she left yet another session of healing Opal at the Immortal Flames' base of operations. Healing magic worked with the body's natural healing abilities, but Opal's body just did not seem capable of doing it. There was no spark being ignited by the aether Sky funneled into her system. No matter how much she expended, and she never held back in these sessions. She covered her exhaustion with nagging at Opal over how gaunt she appeared, knowing from reports her friend was still not eating nearly enough. Every time she left though, she felt herself wilting the second she left the room, near enough to crawling out to the stables where Thunderfury waited.
Every time, Phearless waited up, no matter how late she dragged in. He never chided her for her recklessness. Never said a word, other than to welcome her home before helping her up the stairs and to her room. Sometimes he stayed, a warm presence at her side while she shivered as her body punished her for depleting its aether. Some days he could not. Those were the worst, those were the days she railed against her own limitations, pouring over texts and alternating between screaming, crying, and cursing the gods. By the morning, she was always her cool, calm self. Not a hair was out of place, and her clothes were perfectly pressed. Neither Phearless nor Myra dared mention the late night noise.
"You can't keep doing this." It was the first time Phearless had said more than 'welcome home' after her visits with Opal. She was just as exhausted as usual, and in no mood to listen to how much of a failure she was. She just scoffed; bypassing his waiting arms and taking herself up the stairs. "It isn't working. Do you think Opal will be happy if you kill yourself trying to fix her eye?" His voice was harsh, and something inside the little Keeper snapped.
"Do you think I do not know?" She snarled as she whirled around to face him. She was half his height, but that did not stop her from wagging her finger in the direction of his face with a fervor. "Of course I know this is pointless! Of course, I know she will not regain sight in that eye! However, by the Twelve I cannot look my best friend in the face and tell her that I am a failure. That she will not see again because I am not good enough! I do not know how to help her, so I must keep doing the only thing that I know how to do." What started out as a blustering rant ended with her chest heaving and eyes filled with tears. Strong arms gathered her up, holding her close to a warm body as the sobs wracked her small frame.
"You're not a failure, Sky. Somethings can't be fixed with magic. Some scars run deeper than the outside. It's not a reflection of you. It just means we have to think outside the box for how to help her. Think about how she's got to be feeling. How would you feel? What would you want most?"
"To do something. To be needed." Sky whispered softly into his chest. They stayed curled together for a long time, just soaking in the feeling of companionship. Finally, Sky leaned back, pressing against Phearless so he would loosen his hold. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips, watching as his eyes widened with surprise at her forwardness. "I need to think and to send some letters." She wiggled, and he released her, shock apparently still freezing his tongue.
She left him at the bottom of the stairs, both of them lost in thought as they went their separate ways. Sky's mind whirled with ideas of things Opal might enjoy. Things she could do while recovering. Her mind kept alighting on one singular idea. It would require work and money, but she had gil in droves and a lot of friends and contacts who might be able to help her. "A cute little café … It is perfect." She said softly to herself.
Alone at the bottom of the stairs, a golden eyed Roegadyn finally found his voice. "Who'd have guessed she'd make the first move … "
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Renovating their home into a café worthy of her best friend was not an easy task. Several times, Phearless grumbled that he hadn't consented to losing the living room of their shared home to this. His heart wasn't in it though as he watched Sky come alive as she planned and organized the work. He hadn't ever said a word, but the Keeper had begun to look almost as gaunt as the woman she had been trying to help. Her renewed vigor was a welcome sight, and so he let her do as she pleased with the space.
"Can you believe Kugane will not give me a license to sell my hard-made brews?" Sky blustered as she moved around the space one day, pointing to where he and another Roegadyn were to install a countertop. The ovens were sitting near the door, also ready for installation.
"The moonshine?" He said, eyeing her. Sky nodded, annoyance bubbling in her. It was most certainly a setback. Sky had always wanted to run a business herself, and while the café was certainly something she'd help with, it wasn't where her passion lay. She thought of the small little casks she had been working on creating for the opening of the café. She had planned on working to supply drinks for the patrons, but a lack of a liquor license was stymieing her forward progression. She started as Phearless laughed, clapping a hand across her back. "Who cares? Sell it out of the basement. That's where you were planning on making it, right?"
"That would be illegal." She sniffed.
"Do it anyway."
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"No, Myra. You need to connect that piece to that one." Sky directed as she worked to piece together the chair she was working on. The café was nearly finished. The last thing to do was to put together all the tables and chairs for the sitting area. She had gone cutesy in the décor, which Phearless had scoffed at, but Sky knew Opal secretly enjoyed the frills and lace. Plus, it made the perfect cover for the work she'd put in to make the basement a speakeasy style bar. The bookcase in the corner hid a book that when pulled would swing free a door that led to the area.
She had made her bar warm and cozy, with a stage for live entertainment and dancers. Phearless had suggested a metal pole be installed to entice men from the guard. Sky had blushed the entire time she was buying it, letting the Roegadyn put the thing together and place it up on the stage.
A bell chiming had Sky lifting her head, smiling as she started to tell the potential customer that they were not open yet. She stopped short, seeing a familiar face, but where there had once been long, lush locks, not there was a close-cropped bob with slash of bangs hiding one of the eyes. Opal stood still as she stared over the mayhem and her three friends sitting amid the pieces.
"Welcome home … " Phearless trailed off, the sudden change seeming to jar him and stop the words in his throat. Sky elbowed him softly, launching herself up and moving to examine her friend.
"What an … interesting haircut. What triggered this change?" She said, eyes searching her friend's face for a hint of something wrong. She knew that sometimes those who had suffered loss felt a need for drastic changes, but so too had she seen it in those who were contemplating ending their lives. Her search garnered nothing of serious concern, and Sky just took in the shorn locks. It would need some help, but she could see that it was a style that would suit her friend.
"What's going on here?" Opal asked, voice low and rough. Sky winced, a pang of guilt at her inability to help. She moved forward, grasping her hand and leading her towards one of the few chairs they'd managed to put together.
"You might want to sit down. We have some news." She waited until Opal was firmly ensconced in her chair before stepping back to do a small twirl. "We turned to upstairs into a café."
"Why would you do that?" The Seeker asked, confusion written across her face.
"Well, see, while you were gone, I took back up with my family tradition of brewing Shroud Shine. I had intended to make it a business. Kugane officials would NOT give me permission to brew and sell, so Phearless had a most wonderful idea to sell it from the house. I needed a reason for people to be in and out of the place though, so I decided a great idea was to have a business upstairs to mask traffic to my bar. Since I have decided that no one will be accepting jobs on their own any longer, it worked just as well so everyone has something to do if they are not on a job." Sky said her piece all in one breath, not stopping until she reached the end of her explanation. She did demonstrate the secret doorway when discussing her speakeasy. All three of them waited with baited breath to hear what Opal would have to say.
"I can't bake."