A short one this time around.
A Night Out
A cry echoed through the air, followed by a grunt and the sound of a body hitting the ground.
Lowering her leg, S'eni watched as Lyse got back to her feet before rushing forward. She stepped back, arms raising to block each and every swipe and punch the other woman threw towards her with perfect precision before slamming the palm of her hand into Lyse's chest and pushing her back again.
With gritted teeth, the Pugilist feinted a kick, then sent a sudden punch towards S'eni's face that was caught by a quick hand, fingers tightly circling around the other woman's wrist. She tried again with her other fist, only to join its twin in capture.
"Too slow," S'eni said, a small smirk forming on her lips, but was soon wiped away when Lyse's forehead cracked against hers. A painful grunt escaped them and they both stumbled backwards from the impact, hands shooting towards their heads.
Almost simultaneously, they managed to regain their wits and dashed forward, both throwing a punch that connected harshly with the other's cheek. They remained like this for a moment, neither moving a muscle while knuckles pressed deep into skin and they stared at each other, before jumping back.
S'eni moved her arms, letting them flow like water as she returned into her initial stance, and eyed the other woman. Just as she was about to go on the offensive, the door swung wide open, making both turn their heads to see Alisaie and Y'shtola walking into the room.
"Ah, it's you two," the young Elezen said. "And here I was wondering what the commotion was about."
"I'm sorry!" Lyse said, dropping her stance. "We weren't too noisy, were we?"
"Don't worry. You could only be heard down the hallway. And the one after," Y'shtola added with amusement in her voice.
The Pugilist brushed a few locks of hair behind her ear, an embarrassed little grin forming on her lips. "Oops."
Standing up straight again as well, S'eni gave the others a shrug.
"So, any particular reason you two are beating each other up, or just the usual?" the other Miqo'te asked.
A sigh escaped Lyse and she dropped her gaze down to the floor, drawing a plated foot across it. "I...needed some distraction. All this waiting around leaves me anxious. Part of me just wants to climb over Baelsar's Wall right now, but I know we have to wait for the Alliance."
S'eni hummed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Gathering the necessary troops for the foray into Gyr Abania took time since the City-States still had their own problems to deal with and thus couldn't just rally all at once, making securing the breach in the wall all the more troublesome.
For a small mercy, the destruction that Omega and Ilberd's primal had caused with their battle had hit the Garleans hard enough to be able to strike back, but for how long that was going to last nobody knew.
"Yes, I don't like all this waiting either..." Alisaie said, a note of frustration in her words. As always, the politics behind it all bothered the younger woman to no end.
Silence draped over their group like a blanket, and S'eni found herself looking from Lyse to Alisaie, a worried expression forming on both of their faces, before coming to rest on Y'shtola. Her lover was calm on the outside, but she could tell that deep down she was bothered by it as well.
Putting a hand on the back of her hip, she tapped her foot a few times and let her gaze turn towards the window, the last few rays of the setting sun casting their light inside and giving the room a slightly orange hue.
It looked like a beautiful evening.
An idea then sprang up in her mind.
"Seems like we all could use something to take our mind off things," S'eni said, earning herself the attention of the others. Her lips curled into a smile. "And I already got an idea."
Limsa Lominsa at night truly was something else. Maybe it was the sound of the waves or the smell of salt in the air, perhaps even that seafarer's blood coursing through her veins, but being here felt a little bit like being home again.
A cool breeze passed by them as they walked along the upper decks, the sun having now made way for the moon, shining down onto the bay below. In the distance, a bell could be heard.
"So, where are you taking us?" Alisaie asked, looking around.
"Well, since we all seem to be in need of relaxation I figured what else could be more relaxing than a nice dinner?" S'eni replied, guiding their group around the corner and revealing to them the wooden bridge leading to Limsa Lominsa's most famous restaurant.
"The Bismarck?" Lyse asked, a look of surprise on her face that then turned into a frown. "Wait, but don't you need to make reservations in advance?"
"Let's just say—" S'eni tapped her nose and sent her friend a wink. "—I got my ways."
And indeed, they did not have to wait long for a table of four, situated at the edge of the canopied platform and giving them a beautiful view of the sea.
"I can't help but feel impressed at the number of connections you have," the Elezen girl said after they had sat down and were each handed a menu. "And maybe just a little scared."
S'eni chuckled, then turned towards the waitress to order them a bottle of wine while they decided on their meals.
"And here I was wondering when you would start to abuse the fact that you're the hero of the realm," Y'shtola commented dryly as her eyes looked over the menu. "It took longer than expected."
"Is that a complaint I hear?" she asked teasingly. "You certainly didn't complain the last time we were here."
Though to be perfectly fair, that had been a stroke of dumb luck on her part for having come on a particularly slow evening.
Giving her a sideway glance, Y'shtola simply smiled in response.
"So, uhm, since you two have been here before." Lyse bit her lip in thought as looked over the menu. "Anything you can recommend?"
"The fish is pretty great, as expected, though I think I'll go with some Antelope tonight," S'eni replied. "Oh, before I forget. No need to hold back. It's my treat."
"That's very generous of you," Alisaie noted.
She shrugged. "I'm not spending my money on a lot of things anyway."
"Aside from your ever-growing collection of earrings," Y'shtola pointed out.
"Guilty as charged."
The waitress returned, bringing with her a bottle of wine and four glasses that she placed on the table. S'eni noticed the young Elezen eye the bottle warily but didn't comment on it until after they had ordered their meals.
"I take it you've never drank before?" she asked her, taking the bottle and uncorking it.
Alisaie shook her head. "I'm not opposed to it, but I also never really saw the point. Now my dear brother on the other hand..."
"Yeah. A good diplomat knows how to hold his liquor." After pouring herself a glass, S'eni held out the bottle towards her. "No pressure."
The younger woman's eyes shifted between S'eni's face and the bottle a couple of times before her lips curled upward and her hand grasped the offered wine. "Ah, why not?"
"Well then," S'eni said once all their glasses were filled, raising her glass in a toast. "Down the hatch!"
Taking a sip, she let out an appreciative sigh at the hint of oak against her tongue, then turned her attention to Alisaie, the younger woman's face twisting a little at the taste. "Not good?"
"An acquired taste, I would say."
Their dinner arrived soon after and they fell into pleasant conversation, the mood from earlier being lifted as the warm food and wine mixed pleasantly inside their bellies.
"She really thought I was him, can you believe that?" Alisaie huffed, waving her fork around a little before piercing it into her gratin. "We don't look that alike."
"If it is any consolation, Master Matoya thought Alphinaud was you at first," Y'shtola replied while dunking a piece of meat into the sauce.
The Elezen girl made an annoyed sound and put the cheese-covered popoto into her mouth.
"You know this is actually pretty nice," S'eni said while swirling her wine glass. "It being just us girls I mean."
Downing the last of its contents, she smiled at the others. "We should do this more often."
"Yeah," Lyse agreed, mirroring the expression. "I'd really like that."
"It's a promise then!" Grabbing the bottle again, she poured herself another glass.
After finishing their meals, and another bottle of wine, the four of them left the Bismarck, a comfortable silence surrounding them as they made their way back to the Mizzenmast.
"Gods, I'm tired," Alisaie said when they arrived at the set of stairs leading to the Lower Decks and the city's Aetheryte. "I think that was a little too much wine for me."
Next to her, Lyse stretched herself and nodded in agreement. "I'll be sleeping real good tonight."
A small, almost shy smile formed on the Pugilist's lips. "Thanks, I...really needed that."
"Anytime," S'eni replied and gave her friend a friendly pat on the back.
"Well, I don't know about you. But I will be returning to the Rising Stones," the youngest of them said, turning to head downstairs.
"Wait, I'll come with you," Lyse said, then gave Y'shtola and S'eni a look. "You coming?"
The other Miqo'te shook her head. "I think I will take a little evening stroll. It has been a while since I have last been in Limsa Lominsa."
"I'm not particularly tired myself. So mind if I tag along?" S'eni asked, well aware of what the answer would be.
"Not at all."
"Alright, you two. See you tomorrow then." Giving them a final wave, Lyse turned around to join Alisaie.
Now on their own, Y'shtola and her made their way to the Hyaline and from there they headed down to the docks, taking their time and simply enjoying the other's company.
As they walked along the pier, S'eni closed her eyes for a moment before speaking. "Things are going to be busy very soon."
"Indeed," Y'shtola agreed. "I suspect it will only be a matter of days now."
"Do you think the Alliance can really do it? Liberate Ala Mhigo?"
"I don't know. But it's too late for doubts. All we can do now is to see this through."
"I suppose you're right," she said, reaching out a ginger hand towards her lover's. A smile danced across her lips when Y'shtola took it and gave it a little squeeze.
They would see this through, for Lyse.
And for Papalymo.
Staying at the docks to look out towards the sea for a little while longer, the two of them resumed their walk until they arrived at the Aetheryte plaza. But instead of approaching the large crystal, Y'shtola made a turn for the Mizzenmast once again.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Getting us a room at the inn," the other Miqo'te replied matter of factly.
S'eni blinked once, twice, as she watched her lover walk inside the tower, before releasing a chuckle and following her.