#A New Home [KH x FF14 AU | Answered

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@crystalmarred | how many fingers am i holding up? (from Kijin if it's okay!) 𝑴𝑶𝑹𝑩𝑰𝑫 ᶜᵘʳᶤᵒˢᶤᵗʸ .    (  a  collection  of  various unsorted question prompts 

"T-three..." The young adventurer hesitated, tensing up, wary of the Miqo'te stranger and tightens the shaky grip of the Heartsickness keyblade in her left hand. Despite her head and chest pounding, Selena felt certain that her vision isn't blurry but the inquiry left her second guessing herself.

"I didn't hit the door that hard..." Selena quietly says, out of breath. She had slipped out of Dawn's Respite and had done well enough to keep herself out of sight - until she wasn't. When the keybearer suddenly bumped into him, it spooked her bad enough to run face-first into the door leading back to Dawn's Respite where she was supposed to be resting. She dropped her gil pouch in the process and its contents spilled across the floor.

After she turned around, the keyblade is summoned out of reflex, shakily holding it up to purchase distance. Pale eyes wild with apprehension stare up at him, watching, reading every movement. The color drained from her face.

What am I doing...? Why am I acting like this? I'm supposed to be safe...Right...? Feeling ashamed of herself, Selena looks away, slowly lowering the keyblade with every deep breath she took. When the weapon slips from her grip, it disappears as it fell and clatter on the floor. She rests her back against the door and stares down at the floor.

"I-I'm s-sorry...I don't know what came over me..." The young adventurer anxiously scratches the itch on her scarred ear before wiping her bloody nose on her sling. She momentarily feels around her nose as if to check to see if it had gotten broken when she hit the door and grimaces, cursing under her breath.

Ow...Did I break it again? It doesn't feel like it.

Her stomach growls loud for her to notice and flinch. Right. I was going to grab something to eat. Where's my...Ah. Noticing where her gil pouch fell, Selena carefully kneels to collect the pouch and the mess the spill made.

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@vierandancer sent "So it... it's a key? Key sword?" Meiko's brow furrowed at the strange weapon. It looked like shite one would buy at the Gold Saucer as a prize. Unprompted

"A keyblade," Selena answers with an amused smile, "It functions as both a sword and key....And a magical conduit for spellcasting when I think about it."

The young keybearer held the Heartsickness keyblade up for the Viera woman to look at. While Selena is used to the weapon's appearance, she realizes that it may be too unique to not catch any unwanted gazes.

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@agloryofuniicorns sent get behind me. // from g'raha Dramatic and Protective Prompts

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that...?" Selena mumbles, hearing the red-haired Miqote rush in. Watching the shadows pull themselves from the ground, the young adventurer tightens her grip on the hilt of the Heartsickness keyblade, transforming the weapon into a scythe and quickly follows him.

Leaving a Hellsgate behind her, she uses Hell's Ingress to dash ahead and slice through the shadows. Their glowing hearts rise up and disappear into the skies. Trying to locate their next spawning or suspicious movement, she turns her head and fixes her battle stance.

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@diademreigned sent where'd they go? i'll give them a piece of my mind. - from Alisaie Dramatic and Protective Prompts

"I don't know, Alisaie," Artemis answers, holding the wriggling griffin cub so that she doesn't accidentally smush their wings, "The Wood Wailers and the Twin Adder took over the matter. They should be able to find the smugglers. It's just a matter of time." The cub's left wing smacks her in the face.

She bites her tongue knowing that the Red Mage would go after them if she lets slip of which route the Wood Wailer or the Twin Adder took for their patrol.

Not that she has already made plans to investigate on her own...

"Not when we've got better things to do," Artemis forces a smile and scratches the top of the cub's head who immediately relaxes and settles, "Like this guy. I'm pretty sure he's hungry so maybe we should catch something for him?"

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@diademreigned sent "I'm so . . . Tired. . ." — from Alisaie Reverse of Sender trying to keep Receiver Awake Prompt

"...Alisaie?"

Sonnelion's helm retracts from her face as Selena turns around to see the Red Mage on the ground, crimson staining the lavender foliage, and the humanoid Sin Eater ilms away. She feels her heart stop. There is no way for her to know whether or not this one had the blighted touch.

She took the blow meant for me... The keybearer realizes, her eyes dilating from shock and the boiling rage, and her body kept moving while her voice distorts, roaring with her sharpened teeth bared, "GET AWAY FROM HER!"

She moves forward to tackle the Eater away and the helm returns, covering her face. Selena is on top of the creature, having pinned them down with the keyblade digging into their shoulder. The helm splits apart horizontally in the middle, revealing the monstrously long teeth beneath it. She screams in the Eater's face as if to assert her own dominance in this battle and succeeds in stunning it.

Her head pounds. Her shadow is splintering to form into seven keyblade copies, rising from the dark to float in the air and orbit her. There is an urge to let go of every semblance of control. Tightening her grip on the hilt, the keybearer instead removes it from the Eater's shoulder to bring the blade's teeth down on its face.

Once Selena stood up and began to walk away, the copies of the blades shift their position, pointing their teeth downward toward the creature and impale them. If it wasn't already dead, the threat is certainly gone now.

The keybearer feels a weight lifted from her as she lets go of Sonnelion's form and she sprints back to Alisaie, sliding to her. She grabs the Red Mage by the shoulders to turn her over.

"C'mon, please, please open your eyes, Alisaie," Selena pleads, inspecting the wound across her shoulder. She doesn't see anything that looked blighted with light so mayhap it's a good sign. Hearing her speak just now has given her some hope.

"Don't. Just keep talking to me. We're so close to the Exarch Gate..." The keybearer tells her, looking over at the wound, I pray that I have enough time to get her back to the Crystarium before I get sent back to the Source...

"Forgive me, you're going to feel cold for a while," Selena says, grimacing as she places her hands over the injury to freeze the wound shut with the intention to temporarily stop the bleeding, before scooping her up and sprint toward the Exarch Gate.

How much do I have left? Five minutes? Ten? I hope I can get her to Spagyrics to Chessamile or find her brother...

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@diademreigned sent prometheus was punished by the gods for giving the gift of knowledge to man. he was cast to the bowels of the earth and pecked by birds. - from the Crystal Exarch Portal 2 Prompts

The keybearer isn't sure how to respond to the short story that the enigma who summoned her to the First spoke of. Her brow furrow in thought as she tried to make sense of it in her head.

This must be a tale familiar to those of this world. Selena assumes, not recognizing it at all. She had never heard, or read, of it in the Source at the very least.

"That is...That is unfortunate." The keybearer finally answers, solemnly, "I hope mankind has made good use of this...gift."

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@diademreigned | "It's a world worth fighting for. Not just here. Everywhere." — from Lyna Horizon Zero Dawn Starters

As Selena looked up at the blinding bright skies, she felt the breeze on her face and turns her gaze toward the lavender trees and foliage that make up the forest. She had once again slipped away from the safety of the Crystarium, but did not go past the Exarch Gate where the captain found her sitting at a tall height on the edge of one of the wooden look out points.

The trees are pretty...I didn't know that they could be purple... Selena muses to herself, I bet they'd be even prettier at night when the moon's out...If only the skies stopped burning bright.

Her mind strays toward images of a forest with their branches laid bare reaching upward. The heavy fog hid the night skies from sight in a manner resembling how the Light burned the First's skies. The light of the moons and stars had always failed to break through the fog of the forest. She blinks, shaking the memories away.

Despite the ever growing threat of the Sin Eaters, these moments seemed relatively peaceful. In these moments, she found it hard for her eyes not to wander toward the sound of every broken branch or rustling of the grass for a stray Eater or shadow waiting to pounce. Waiting for someone to make a mistake and slip. Hearing footsteps approach, her gaze turn toward Lyna.

I wonder how did I manage to resist calling for the keyblade when I needed to keep my head down at Gridania... Selena wonders, recalling her time there, Mayhap my determination to learn the lance and my need to blend in was greater. I don't know how long I can try to keep my head down here in Norvdrant...

Her hands rest on the hilt of the Heartsickness keyblade and ready to grab should one appear. Her fingers twitch, eager to grasp the weapon and itching to fight. At some point, the captain stepped up to stand beside her as if keeping watch.

"Mhm..." The keybearer could only answer with a nod, still deep in thought, My Star is gone. I'll never be able to see or speak with my sister again. Bury our mother. But I could still fight for this one, my home.

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❝ i don’t like it when you’re quiet for too long, what’s on your mind? ❞ - from Alisaie | @diademreigned Hades Sentence Starters

While Selena normally felt comfort in silence, this time it felt unbearable in the in Rhalgr's Reach where she is sitting by the red mage's bedside. There were so many things the keybearer wanted to say about the events prior to this meeting, but she's still taking it all in.

"....What in the seven hells happened, Alisaie?" She blurts out, unable to hide the rage in her shaking voice and tightens the grip on her cloak, "When I arrived at Ala Ghiri, I hear that the imperials had shot down Specula Imperatoris with everyone still fighting inside. That Commander Kemp died and that Yda-I mean, Lyse, succeeded him."

"Then I hear that the Alliance and the Resistance managed to captured Castrum Abania and you got hurt in the process." Selena's lip quivers, frost creeping from her grip onto the cloth.

"Thank Del-the Twelve, I'm relieved to see that you're alright now...But, is your brother and the Warrior of Light faring well? Were they...Were they caught in the..." The keybearer swallows the lump in her throat, but couldn't to finish her sentence out of fear her inquiry may not yield the answer she wanted.

What kind of monster shoots their own people? The terrifying thought scrapes the back of her mind like nails on a chalkboard. There is an urge rising from deep in her chest, whispering to her to hunt and cut down this monster down, but...

Would I be any better if I killed the bastard?

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@crystalmarred | ❛ you look like you need a hug. ❜ (from local mom friend Tataru!) 200 Random Dialogue Prompts

As she helped Tataru and F'lhaminn around the Rising Stones, Selena focused on the more minor errands and anything else asked of her without complaint. She appeared to be recovering well physically. Her right arm had mended.

The keybearer had felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. She no longer needed to lie about her identity and allow preconceptions to dictate her backstory. She no longer needed an alias or to take another country's tragedy for her cover story. Artemis died at the North Shroud, and now she can live as Selena Wolfsong.

But, the keybearer kept to herself. Being new, she found herself unable to approach anyone yet. After letting go of the denial, the grief still felt fresh akin to removing the scab on a still-healing wound. Carlisle's words occasionally rang in her ears.

Did you actually come back believing that someone would miss you?

The keybearer was putting books away when her hand started to shake without warning. Selena loses her grip on the book she was putting away on the top shelf and scrambles to catch it. In the process, she drops the other books. They made a loud crashing sound as they tumbled on the floor. Her panicked expression did not escape Tataru's notice.

"I-I'm sorry..." She initially says, trying to apologize and out of breath, but Tataru's statement catches her off guard.

"...I...I think I probably do." Selena finally answers, sounding unsure, and crouches down to allow the Lalafell to hug her and for the keybearer to sincerely return it. Several hiccups escaped her as she broke down. By the time she lets go, her eyes are teary and puffy.

"T-thank you. I didn't know how much I needed that."

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@diademreigned | “  you may like to pretend,  but i don’t.  something is wrong and you’re hiding it from me.  ” — from Lyna Confrontations Prompt

Twenty-five minutes, almost half a bell. The amount of time Selena is allowed to be in the First before the summoning spell wears out and she is inevitably sent back to the Source.

She had considered herself fortunate to not disappear in front of an audience. Whether at the First or at the Source, she slipped away to an isolated nook or cranny whenever she felt that 'tug'. She had been good at not allowing anyone to spot her.

But that luck has run out. Selena's disappearing spot at the Cabinet of Curiosity is occupied by Captain Lyna as if waiting for someone. Her face pales when the other confronts her about something being wrong.

Lyna isn't incorrect, but there is no time to fully explain. The keybearer can already feel the tug getting stronger at the back of her mind. She lifted a hand and could see that it was becoming transparent. Selena curses under her breath.

"I'm...I'm unsure of what your Lord, the Exarch, has...has told you of me..." The keybearer starts with an awkward smile as her body becomes more incorporeal, "I'm not from here, from Norvrandt. That much I can say...But, I'm afraid my time's run out until the next time he summons me."

"I'm sorry."

Anticipating the tug to become a pull at any moment, Selena closed her eyes as she fully disappeared in front of the captain and was sent back to the Source.

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@minarcana sent ❝ can’t believe you’re on your feet already. ❞ from rusi'a Last of Us Pt 2 Sentence Starters

"It's not as bad as everyone saying..." The young adventurer starts slowly, nervously, rubbing the back of her bandaged right ear until she catches the warning expression from Mother Miounne behind the counter. Flinching, she suddenly recalls one of the chirurgeons telling her that she isn't supposed to touch the back of that ear for a long while.

Eep. I think it wasn't that bad...It's too bad I can't remember how I even found my way back to the Canopy...

"The chirurgeons here in Gridania are greatly skilled healers, and I'd say they've earned their reputation in that regard. They were able to help me in time." She says more firmly, then adds, "I think some of the talk is exaggerated if not overly embellished."

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@diademreigned | " I didn't realize you were in so much pain." — from Alisaie 200 Random Dialogue Prompts | Set after Fading Just Below

The Hearer at the Quarrymill initially denied Alisaie's request for succor on the grounds of the Elemental's decree. It wasn't until another adventurer chanced to pass by that a copper-haired Elezen lancer recognized Artemis and volunteered to help escort them back to the city-state.

At Gridania, the chirurgeons did what they could to help the broken bones, the arrow in her shoulder, and any internal injuries mend. Healing the superficial cuts on her face, the bruises, and the broken nose was simple enough.

Eventually, she was moved to the Carline Canopy after the danger passed. Her right arm is in a sling. She has been told that she couldn't use the limb, much less participate in a fight, for at least a moon and to take it easy. Rest.

Selena couldn't voice her discomfort being there. After all, in everyone's eyes, "Artemis" died. Mother Miounne appeared shocked, worried, and relieved to see her, but the keybearer couldn't tell if it was genuine. If Carlisle's words rang true, no one should have missed her.

The keybearer couldn't quite look at the red mage in the eyes. Breathing still hurt. She is sore and exhausted from the fight and overexerting her aether.

"I..." Selena starts and sighs, losing her train of thought, and shakes her head before starting over, "That...That was because I never wanted anyone to know. "

"...I...I wanted it gone, so I tried to push it away and ignore it. The isolating secrets, the pain, everything. All...All I had to do was...keep silent, my head down, and let this life pass by. Then, maybe it would have finally stopped." The keybearer shuts her eyes, grimacing as she takes another shaky breath and swallows the lump in her throat. She could feel the tears burn in her eyes.

"I'm a fool. I never...Never realized just how bad it was becoming, no, became, until...Well, you saw the bloody mess I made of things." She hiccups and finally looks at Alisaie, "I'm so, so sorry."

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@diademreigned sent "give me a heads up next time." — from Alisaie "CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?" PROMPTS

"I did. You still ran straight into it..." the keybearer answers quietly, rubbing her eyes as she breathes a sigh of frustration. Bells before, she and Alisaie had gone out to scout and ran into several of the local, aggressive fauna.

Their current situation was a result of poor timing and teamwork. Selena had cast Dark Thundaza just as Alisaie rushed in. By the time she shouted, it was too late to stop the spell. She had accidentally struck Alisaie as well as their targets.

It is a miracle that her friend didn't end up as bad, or as fried, as the keybearer had been when she first learned to cast the spell, but the horrifying experience left her feeling ill and her stomach in tight knots. Their actions resulted in a loud, furious argument, and hurtful words were exchanged that Selena immediately regretted.

After their return, they had barely spoken a word to each other until now. A part of her hoped that this conversation would go better now that they were in a calmer environment. The truth is, the keybearer wasn't confident that this could be resolved.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry for what happened..." She mumbled, not expecting her to accept the apology.

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@minarcana​ sent  "If thou were out causing problems and that explaineth thy belated arrival, I can offer thee no judgement. Unless, perchance, thou were caught causing problems." | Urianger

“Um...” She pauses to think for a moment and shakes her head. It wasn’t as if she had been causing problems on purpose, but she at least got her task done. The young keybearer takes out several tomes out of her bag and on top the table before sitting down. The tasks felt much easier to get done now that she was working with her keyblade again. 

“Nope, I didn’t get caught.” Selena answers with more confidence, “These were the ones, right?” Despite improving on her Eorzean letters, she still mixes several up on occasion. 

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@macrocosmic-star​ asked  “ where did you find that?”

Prompts for Suspicious Circumstances

“...The marketplace,” the young lancer answers with some hesitation. In her hand, is a fresh tomato that she was about to munch on as a snack. They were by the pier near the lancer’s guild in Old Gridania, and it appeared she had just returned from the East Shroud.

She didn’t get the tomato from her secret garden in the Bramble Patch. Nope. Not possible. Never happened.

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@aethericsea​ | Ireneve sent:   "Hey, there."   

The enormously tall Elezen that Artemis had come to know from her visits to the stables was holding something in her long hands. Something red and sweet-smelling, bits of curly ribbon peeking out from under her fingers.   

"You're looking about as lost as I feel. I thought you might like a treat -- to feel included, I mean."  

Nev was doing a valiant job of fighting the temptation to shrivel under her hat. It was still obvious she would rather not be out and about, in the middle of so much fuss, but. This was what friends were for, right? Especially friends that felt as uniquely other as she did, secrets or not.  

"It is now occurring to me that you may not even like sweets. You don't have to eat it. It's-- It wasn't too expensive. I think Mionne might have something more savory available inside. If you'd like." 

 She gave a short, bungled laugh. More of a sigh, really. 

 "Or we can pretend we don't speak Common and hide. That's an option, too." 

As Gridania, or Eorzea itself, had not been her original home, the Hyur girl struggles and often becomes overwhelmed as she tries to learn and understand their cultures, which very much included Valentione's Day. She has gotten several simple errands and fetch quests out of it that were easy enough for her to work through and help out. 

Unfortunately due to the said holiday, the city has gotten a lot of traffic as of late. Hanging her legs against the cliff ledge, Artemis has managed to slip away close enough to the Carline Canopy, but away from the Valentione's crowds to stare out in the distance. A quiet spot.

She isn’t fully sure of the purpose of the day other than her initial assumption that it is for lovers. Or maybe friends too, but Artemis isn’t fully sure if she had any given that Carlisle has made sure to give her a hard time adjusting as an outsider. 

Hearing a voice from behind, Artemis turns around to see the awkward Elezen she recalls from her visits to the stables holding what seemed to be one of the sweet treats she has seen being commonly gifted. Blinking in surprise, she slowly stands up as the other anxiously rambles and approaches her.

“H-hey, it’s okay.” She carefully says as she accepts the gift with a genuine smile and is already unravelling the ribbon, “I like sweets. Thank you, I really appreciate it, Ireneve.” She pops a sweet into her mouth with quiet giggle.