Moving Forward
Man above all is a creature of habit, seeking stability wherever we can. A daily routine is already enough to give us a feeling of security, that everything is alright.
Relationships are much the same, they give us stability in a turbulent world, and solace in moments of weakness. But they are also the most prone to change. And change can be a scary thing.
It pulls us out of that secure environment that we built and tosses us into the unknown. But as scary as change can be, it can also be beautiful.
All it takes is just a single, brave step.
A sigh passed S'eni's lips as she looked up into the sky of Mor Dhona, its color shifting from bright blue to a pale violet as the sun began its slow descent to usher in the evening.
In the distance, the Crystal Tower stood tall, its aetheric glow-giving light even in the darkest of nights, and on some days she would joke to herself how it was the sleeping Midgardsomr's bedside lamp.
But today the sight just reminded her of the people she had parted with. G'raha, Haurchefant, Ysayle, Mide...
...and now Minfilia too.
Closing her eyes, she saw the image of her friend, smiling brightly at her before vanishing into blinding light to a distant world in need of salvation.
"It's a strange feeling. I've watched you depart so many times, my heart filled with worry, and always have you returned triumphant," she had said. "Now I'm the one to head on an adventure into the unknown. Someday, when I have managed to free this star from Her sorrow, I will repay you in kind."
"Are you doing alright, Minfilia?" she found herself asking, knowing that no one would be answering.
Twelve, she missed her.
They had been through so much and even if her own mind had robbed her of those memories for a while, she would always hold them dear to her heart.
In the end, it was just like Thancred had said: it was her own choice and all they could do was to accept it.
Opening them again, S'eni let her eyes roam the sky for a little while longer, wondering if Minfilia was seeing something similar right now, before rising back to her feet.
Well time to get back, she thought to herself and made her way over to the steps leading down from the wall that faced, glancing over her shoulder to give the Crystal Tower and Midgardsomr each a final look. "I sure would like to sleep day in and out too."
But, there truly was no rest for the righteous.
As she walked towards the Seventh Heaven, S'eni spotted the form of a familiar Lalafel in the distance, dressed in dark robes that made his blond hair stand out all the more. Papalymo, heading towards the local market where merchants were selling their last few wares before packing up for the day.
Curiosity getting the better of her, she followed him, always staying away enough so that he wouldn't notice her until he stopped at one of the stands. He exchanged words with the owner, but over the sound of everyone gathered here, it was almost impossible to hear.
She felt her foot connect with something and she looked down to find one of the sticks she occasionally saw the Doman kids play around with lying discarded on the ground.
Kids. With an amused shake of her head, S'eni picked it up, then returned her gaze to Papalymo.
She felt her eyebrows slowly rise in surprise when she saw the person behind the stand hand him a tasty-looking Pastry Fish.
Who would have thought that he had a sweet tooth?
Her eyes shifted down to the object in her hand and a small grin formed on her lips when an idea sprung up in her mind. Slowly, she made her way towards the stand, careful as to not alert the Lalafel who was taking his first bite out of his tasty morsel.
Like a Coeurl stalking its prey, she closed in further and further, never once letting her little friend out of sight, until she was finally close enough, raised her arm—
"Got you!"
-poked the tip of the stick into his back.
The reaction was instantaneous as Papalymo released a surprised yelp and jumped, throwing the pastry in his hand into the air. It would have nearly dropped to the ground if not for S'eni's fast reflexes.
"I think you lost something," she said, the grin on her lips widening as he turned around to glare at her, and held out his snack back towards him.
"Hmpf. Very funny." Papalymo took the Pastry Fish from her hand and inspected it, shaking his head as he did so.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist." Giving him a shrug, she turned to the stall owner, who was having a little chuckle and handed him a few Gil. "Can I have one too?"
"Sure thing."
After having been handed her own Pastry Fish, S'eni immediately took a bite out of it. She could barely stifle the moan that wanted to escape her as the rich flavour of almond mixed with apple set her taste buds alight and she could practically hear her body cry out at the sheer sweetness of it.
If sin had a taste, she was sure this would be it.
Opening the eyes she didn't even realize she had closed, she turned them towards Papalymo, who was looking at her with a raised brow.
"Is there any specific reason you deigned to surprise me?" he asked.
"Not really."
"I figured as much." Heaving a sigh, he rolled his eyes and gestured towards a nearby bench. "Since you're already here, why don't you pay me some company?"
After sitting down, they quietly nibbled on their snacks and watched the people as they came and went.
"This town has seen so much growth in these past years, and even in the time we were away, it's hard to believe this used to be a camp."
S'eni hummed before swallowing. "A lot of it is thanks to the Domans. They were more than eager to repay our kindness."
"Indeed." He nodded.
Her eyes fell on a group of kids playing in the distance, causing her to smile. "So have Yda and you settled back in alright?" she asked.
"Oh yes. Not to talk bad about our friends in the Resistance, but there is nothing like sitting in a comfortable chair with a good book," the Lalafel replied.
"And delicious Pastry Fish."
"Hmpf. That too," he conceded.
His eyes came to rest upon her and S'eni could see herself reflected in the smooth glass of his monocle. After a moment of silence, he said, "I want to thank you again. For entrusting Tupsimati to me."
Minfilia had given her what remained of Louisoix's broken staff before leaving for the First. She would be lying if she claimed that it hadn't weighed heavily upon her, so when Papalymo had asked for it she had readily agreed to it.
Who else to keep watch over it than Louisoix's finest student?
"You're welcome," she said, a smile dancing across her lips after wiping some crumbs away with her thumb.
Once they were each done with their pastries, Papalymo and her started their way back to the Seventh Heaven.
"So what about Yda?" S'eni asked. She actually hadn't seen much of her around in the past few days since they all had gotten back together. Not even for a quick training session.
A sigh escaped him. "I'm afraid her time with the Resistance has only further opened her eyes to the plight of the Ala Mhigans."
"I can't blame her. They have it rough..." She couldn't even imagine how it must feel, to have one's homeland taken away. She was an island kid. All she had ever known for most of her life was the warm breeze in her hair, the glistening sea in front of her eyes, and the sand underneath her bare feet.
Meanwhile, people like Yda, Minfilia, and other young Ala Mhigans had grown up far away from their place of birth, a free Ala Mhigo only something they might remember from distant memories if at all.
"I wish there was something we could do."
"For Yda or Ala Mhigo?" he asked, causing her to stop in her tracks.
"Both, I suppose," she replied after a moment of consideration.
Papalymo shook his head. "The situation in Ala Mhigo is a delicate one. One misstep will only further the suffering for the people yet still remaining."
"I see." And if what she had heard was right, then the governor that replaced Gaius was far worse than the Black Wolf.
"As for Yda..." They started to walk again. "Be there for her. In trying times it's our friends that give us the most support, as I'm sure you know yourself."
That brought the smile back to her lips and she nodded. "Yeah."
"So why don't you and her just beat yourself silly one of these days?" he offered as they stepped up to the double doors leading into Revenant's Toll's famous tavern. "That ought to do the trick."
"Sure. But only if you serve as judge over who's better."
S'eni simply chuckled in response to his groan while stepping inside. The Seventh Heaven was already well patronized, in no small part because the famous Wandering Minstrel had returned to town, bringing with him songs new and old alike.
Her gaze wandered over to the man, sitting at the seat he always frequented when playing music, and raised in greeting when his bespectacled eyes met her. He smiled and did a little flourish in return, before letting his fingers come to rest upon his harp.
With dexterous fingers, the first few gentle notes started to echo through the entire room, soon followed by his melodious voice as Papalymo and her were walking into the back.
"Sing a song of dawn.
Dawn, the day reborn.
Breathe deep of the dawn before the storm."
The Rising Stones was filled with people, their conversations echoing through the halls as the doors closed behind S'eni and she couldn't help but smile. Even with the change of structure in their organisation, it was good to see there were still many that fought for a peaceful Eorzea.
The only one missing was Urianger, to no one's surprise. Even if they didn't hold any hard feelings towards him for his bold plan involving Minfilia, she knew that a part of him still felt guilty about it.
Besides, all this still didn't change his love for tomes, so in a way nothing had really changed from before.
"I don't know about you," she said to Papalymo. "But I'm quite thirsty. Care to join me for a drink?"
"I will have to pass. I wanted to discuss the finer points of the discoveries Coultenet made while in Radz-at-Han."
"Alright, don't let me stop you." Waving her hand a little, she left him to his endless pursuit of the arcane and started to make her way towards the bar. F'lhaminn was standing behind the counter today and the older woman greeted her with a kind smile as she sat down.
Despite the obvious sadness about her daughter's departure, F'lhaminn still endeavored to do her part for the Scions, keeping watch over the Rising Stones and making sure that everyone had what they needed, giving their headquarters that necessary touch to feel like home. Something that everyone, including herself, was truly glad for.
These days she also had taken to teaching little Koharu how to dance, a task that apparently consumed quite a lot of time as the girl was not the most gifted in that regard despite her natural dexterity.
"S'eni. What can I do for you?" F'lhaminn asked, straightening the pair of glasses atop of her nose.
"A drink," she replied. "Hmm, surprise me."
"In that case..." The older Miqo'te placed a glass on the counter before turning around to grab a bottle out of one of the cabinets. Uncorking it with a loud thump, she poured its contents into the glass before pushing it towards S'eni.
"Well then." She took the glass. "Bottoms up!"
It hit her almost as soon as the sweet and acidic taste touched her tongue, a vision of shrubs planted along the edges of a beautiful beach, their heart-shaped leaves bearing clusters of tiny fruit ranging from lime green to a rich burgundy. But it was the hint of pineapple that filled her mind with the carefree laughter of days past; the taste of home...
Her eyes landed on F'lhaminn. "That's—"
"Our ship made a stop at the Cieldaleas to pick up some wares and I chanced upon a lovely young woman selling her goods at a local market," the other woman explained, her smile growing. "The resemblance was so striking I actually thought it was you for a moment until I spotted the subtle differences."
"One of my sisters," S'eni said, a fond look entering her eyes, and part of her wanted to ask which one, but she doubted F'lhaminn inquired her name.
"Have you thought about going back for a visit?" the older Miqo'te asked.
"There's still so much going on," she said with a shake of her head. "Perhaps when things have calmed down a bit I will."
"Well, until then you can have a little bit of home right here." F'lhaminn patted the bottle before placing it on the counter.
"Yeah. Thanks, F'lhaminn. It means a lot." S'eni smiled at her and raised the glass back to her lips. As she enjoyed the wine, she let her eyes wander around a little.
Like Papalymo had said, she found him standing at a corner with Coultenet, the Elezen Thaumaturge looking quite excited as they talked.
Not far from them she found Thancred and Riol sitting together over a couple of drinks; from their expressions alone she wagered they were discussing their still missing traitors. A little project they had started not too long ago.
Laughter made her turn around and she saw Hoary Boulder and his brother as they demonstrated some of the finer points of fighting to a pair of Doman boys.
She let herself watch this little scene for a moment, before shifting her gaze to the right where she found Yda and Y'shtola sitting together at a table, quietly conversing with one another. As if they had a will of their own, her eyes came to rest upon the other Miqo'te, watching Y'shtola's lips as they curled into a small smile behind the cup of tea she was holding, and S'eni felt her heart skip a beat.
Gods, she had it bad, didn't she?
Managing to tear her eyes away from her friend, she silently started to berate herself while staring deep into her glass.
She was no stranger to relationships, even if they had been flings more often than not, and she was certainly not shy about making her interest known.
But this was Y'shtola.
"What is troubling you, dear?" F'lhaminn's voice startled her out of her thoughts. Raising her eyes, she spotted a little, knowing smile on the older woman's lips that told S'eni she already knew.
"I once loved someone deeply, back when Minfilia was still a child," F'lhaminn said as she turned around to grab a dishrag and started to clean a glass. "There is someone you feel strongly for too, isn't there?"
"It's...complicated," was S'eni's murmured response.
"Of course it is. Feelings are always complicated. They are beautiful and scary. To pursue them takes courage. Sometimes they end in incredible heartache too." F'lhaminn turned around to look her in the eye. "But there is nothing worse than regret. There are a lot of things I regret never being able to tell Nielle, but the time I spent with him I will cherish forever."
The freshly cleaned glass was placed in front of her. "Don't regret not giving it a try."
S'eni returned F'lhaminn's look for a moment longer before averting her eyes. "What if she says no?" she asked in a low voice.
"Then you will at least have closure, but you won't find out by sitting here," the older woman replied, smile returning, and nodded in the direction of the table. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Yda rising to her feet to join Hoary Boulder, leaving Y'shtola alone.
S'eni bit her lip, watching her friend as she enjoyed her tea, knowing that once the cup was empty Y'shtola would get up and walk away. Slowly, her eyes moved towards the glass, back to Y'shtola, then to the glass once more.
Exhaling through her nose, she reached for the glass.
After taking it, she picked up her own, as well as the bottle, and walked over. A part of her mind screamed out to turn back again, but she managed to ignore it. "Mind if I sit down?" S'eni asked her.
"Of course not," Y'shtola replied. A white eyebrow rose in question when her friend noticed what she was carrying and a note of amusement entered her voice. "Are we celebrating something?"
"Well, as it turns out F'lhaminn got me wine from back home, and an entire bottle is a bit much for me. So I was hoping you could help and keep me a little company."
Y'shtola eyed the wine for a brief moment, before smiling. "I'd like that. Just let me finish my tea."
Finishing the last contents of the cup, her friend took the offered glass and let S'eni pour a generous amount of wine into it before raising it to her nose to take a little whiff of it. "I admit I have been a little curious after you told me all about your village's wine."
"Well, I hope it's to your liking then," S'eni said. "If not then it's all because I didn't help make this one."
Sharing a little laugh, they clinked their glasses together and took a sip. A comfortable silence set over them as they drank, and if the look on Y'shtola's face didn't tell her that she quite liked the wine, then it was the fact that she soon asked for a refill.
"Hey, Shtola?" she asked after lowering the bottle.
"Yes?"
Now or never. Cherry pink eyes coming to rest on silvery-white ones, S'eni's lips parted—
The doors slammed open with a loud bang, soon followed by Tataru crying out, "By the Twelve, what happened to you!?"
And as everyone rushed towards the entrance, the words she had wanted to say were soon forgotten at the sight of a Miqo'te woman as she lay bleeding on the ground.
Well, shit. Wonder what gonna happen next?