#Popola Pola

[manasong]

It's Little Ladie's Day...... So I took pictures of my own princess!

[steak-n-popotoes]

FFxivWrite '24 - 17

"Well, my dear knights, shall we sally forth?"

Nanamo looked to each of her adventurer escorts for approval. She felt she couldn't have picked a finer pair of defenders from Thanalan's adventurers. Beef had been primed for some Sil'dihn spelunking for a few bells now, but Popola avoided the sultana's eye sheepishly. She still wasn't sure if she was suitable company for royalty...

Beef took a single look at his sister in her hesitation and knew immediately what the problem must have been. Certainly not the scalekin and vilekin infestations, unstable infrastructure, or general sewer-related unpleasantness.

He pointed a thumb at his chest. "Knight," and then clapped a hand on Popola's shoulder, "princess."

Nanamo's laughter and Popola's protestations bounced around in the barren drainage pipe. "Well, one of us should be the princess for a day, no?" Nanamo teased. "After all, today I am merely Lady Lilira - a minor noble of little note."

After a few twists, turns, and sewer gators getting boxed around the snout by a pair of experienced monks, the three came upon curious ruins draped in silver linings and shades of regal purple. "Could this truly be...?" Nanamo's steps faltered for a moment as she stared up at the architecture, then turned to a rapid pace as she hurried down the newly-uncovered corridor. Her protectors followed suit, lest they be left behind.

The following chamber was no less luxurious - bedchambers judging by the furnishings - and seemed to confirm Nanamo's suspicions.

"The layout of these bedchambers mirrors my own. Even the secret passage into the aqueducts..."

Popola clutched her hand to her heart. She had already felt where it was that she stood, even before Nanamo continued.

"...that so much of the Sil'dihn palace had lain undisturbed beneath our feet, for all this time..."

While his charge marveled in wonder, a nearby glimmer had caught Beef's eye. Hanging from a display stand upon an ornate vanity was a familiar-looking earring. He glanced back to Popola as Gale studied the details of the bit of silver.

"I wonder just how much is still intact? We should keep exploring." in that moment, Nanamo realized she was short one knight. "...Beef?"

His curiosity piqued, Beef had wandered over towards the table and was in the process of fastening on the earring. At the sound of his name he trotted back, the jewelry jingling faintly all the way. Once he was closer, he daintily turned his head to model it for them.

"What a lovely find, Beef. There are more than enough artifacts here for a series of exhibits around the Royal Promenade, so you have my blessing if you wish to keep a souvenir or two."

Beef nodded in response to Nanamo, then smiled to Popola, who was avoiding him. "Matching."

Nanamo followed Beef's gaze until she settled on the same sight. "My word, he's right! Popola, your own earrings share a striking resemblance!"

Popola tried to feign ignorance. "Do they, truly? I'm sure there are as many styles at Esthaime's as stars in the sky..."

"Esthaime's? Is that where you commissioned yours? I don't recall ever seeing their like in the displays..."

But Popola shook her head, sending the silver swaying along with it. She couldn't bring herself to deceive the Sultana, and Beef would no doubt remember where they had truly come from regardless. "N-no, they were a gift from... from my late grandmother. They're a matching set with the bindi I wear. An heirloom." All she had left of them.

The word 'heirloom' floated in the unstirred air like a speck of ancient dust.

Shock slowly dawned on Nanamo's face as she considered its implications. For a few long moments, she and Popola locked eyes in the low light, deepest emerald to brightest sapphire. A shaft of light, seeping in from the ornately cracked ceiling, laid between them. It separated the two like the placid mirror of a lake's surface.

Nanamo was the first to cast ripples across it. "Might we be...?"

"My mother by birth was an astrologian of Sharlayan. As were my grandparents." Popola said. At least, her grandfather was Sharlayan... but her grandmother...? It was a matter of which the Echo had revealed to her precious little.

"Then, perhaps your father was-"

"I'm afraid I have none, your majesty."

Nanamo smiled with gentle sympathy. She well understood the burden of a bloodline, and how one may wish to be free from its yoke. "Then I suppose either your grandparents or even their grandparents must have been dear friends to the Sil'dihn sultanate once upon a time. Much as you are to ours."

At that, Popola's face, normally as round and pale as the moon, turned flushed.

"Shall we keep moving forward?" Nanamo asked. Much as Ul'dah had done to the Amalj'aa in more recent memory, her ancestors had turned against those who they should have taken greater pains to enfold once more. In her heart, she swore she would weave Popola's loose thread back into the bond of kinship that had been torn to tatters in the War of the Sisters centuries before.

As the group continued their expedition, they came upon none other than the very throne of Sil'dih itself. It too was one of a pair, with a cousin residing in Ul'dah. As Popola passed it by, she felt the urge to sit upon it; to see if it would accept her as readily as it might her grandmother or even her mothers... or if she would simply be spat out onto the chamber floor.

Standing amidst the silent stone and silver, she felt a shiver through her, a sense that all she had for family were wrecks and remnants like these. A history of ruins.

She missed Venat's presence sorely.

"Popo?" Beef called from the doorway, past the throne. Nanamo waited for her beside him.

"On my way, Bifu." she replied.

Maybe not all she had.

[beefbroganoff]

Popo content on my dash Popo content on my dash

[eorzeanflowers]

11) What was your inspiration for your OC?

(( A fun one! Ty Rayn <3))

There is always a catalyst for when I make a new character. Some drive, or some impetus. I'll try to remember the main catalyst for each character of mine, let's start from the top!

The Lily - Lily was inspired by Kugane at large and Historical Japanese Fiction. I had already long shifted to Au Ra at the beginning of HW, but when I dipped my toes in the water of RP during the Stormblood lulls, i settled on the exiled Shinobi background, wanting to not make a WoL.

The Azalea - Archie's main inspiration is and will always be, the Tenth Doctor. Its my favorite few seasons of New Who and I wanted an old character that was reborn multiple times. Hence my looks at Dr. Who. XD

The Rose - Benoit is not actually my creation! He is my wife's first and foremost, but she let me play him as her first mate. He's mine now though. :3 General pirate things are his inspiration.

The Sunflower - A'tyla was my thoughts on if a Hyur was raised by Miqo'te. That's it. XD She's long grown past that.

The Gardenia - Yasha is inspired by none other than her namesake, Yasha Nydoorin of the Might Nein. The sapphic nature, falling for a punchy punch girl, her quieter nature with some silly jokes. Yasha was actually a run off of when I made Tatiava. I wanted a Garlean character and couldn't decide between Highlander or Midlander, so I said, Por que no los dos?

The Snapdragon - Tatiava was a direct response to people making villainous Garlean characters. I wanted a double agent who could dip in both crowds. Did I ever actually get a chance? NOPE. XD It is what it is.

The Dahlia - Lhei was made from what little we knew of Old Sharlayan at the time of her creation, late shadowbringers. I was just getting back into RP again after losing the drive in late Stormblood.

The Strelitzia - Beatrice is from my dnd game! A character I've got the chance to properly play. I think when I made her I just needed the sapphic goodness of her and her partner. T.T Speaking of...

The Tulip - Mai is also from my dnd game! Mai was an npc my players got real attached to and well, she evolved from there. She's always been mute tho.

The Triteleia - Myste just formed fully into my consciousness one day and well, there he is! He is inspired by Dynamis and its crazy applications tho.

The Gladiolus - Jana is near and dear to my heart. I wanted to revisit an old echo idea I had for Lily that had got cut late in her development. And I ran with it. Now Jana is my weird future child that doesn't care about where she is from.

The Linnaeas - Pola and Deta are the easiest to spot the inspiration. They are based off of Popola and Devola from the Nier Francise. Specifically the Automata ones. Later they've been heavily influenced by Ianthe and Coronabeth of the Locked Tomb series.

The Hyacinth - Eulanne is inspired by the Dark Urge of Baldur's Gate 3. I just wanted to remake my sorta good guy Durge (i raided the grove my darling Minthara in that run, but she's been trying to do better since!) and I thought it would be cool to tie it to Reaper/Voidsent lore.

The Amaryllis - Marisol was spawned from the Viper reveals at the first DT fanfest. Nothing more influenced her original development.

The Lewisia - Glifet is anther Dr. Who inspired character, this time based off of a Cyberman. A what if you could say, a rehabilitated Cyberman.

The Iris - Lucca is just Lucca from Chrono Trigger with a bisexual streak. Chronic inventor, not much works right the first few times. Super smart. Those glasses.

The Aconite - Tista-Moa came to me in a work haze. I just had the idea, i wrote down what i thought about her and her very strange journey, came home and made her! I don't have enough villains to scratch that itch so she was a delight to make.

The Dicentra - Cissnei came about cause I am/was interested in playing as a Zenos-like character. Cissnei has evolved past that by now, but that is her start! I got so attached to her I finished the EW story in a single weekend with her. XD

That's all my debuted flowers... now for the few undebuted ones.

The Celosia - Sarel is my main dnd PC right now, and I saw the Celosia flower at the local green house and I wanted to make a character based on it. So I ported her over (somewhat, she is more different than the other dnd based ones) and she has been patiently waiting for months to be debuted. One day I'll that up. XD

The Nerine - Hinoka is Lily's rival from waaaaay back. I just felt like putting a name and face to the standin I had been using for Lily's story. Oh, and a nerine is a Spider Lily. :3

The Jasmine - Kokolai came about because I wanted an RP character to manage my submarines for me. He's just a merchant that loves his surrogate daughter. ^_^

The Protea - Tanzanite is a direct response to Solution 9 and its inhabitants. How fun it would be to have a scientist from there. She also just spawned from me messing with hair on Lily's fromer lady. >.>;

The Snowdrop - Agate just willed themself into existance. Also inspired by the DT story, they were the product of me sitting down to make a Sol 9 character and failing, making a Yyasulani native the wished to return to the sunlit world.

The Belladonna - Jane is, with no shame, directly inspired by Jane Doe of Zenless Zone Zero. That character has me by the throat. XD Add in a mix of Agent 47 and you get my Jane!

And that's everyone! A bit long, but I was on a roll if I'm being honest.

[mxihi]

nugget......

[puddimilk]

Lala+Monk buddies! 

with @sagewindfeather​ & @steak-n-popotoes​

[popola-sil-pola]

Character Profile🌠 Popola (sil) Pola🌠

For many of us, music is a source of inspiration for our characters, so I want to know what songs inspire and/or relate to your muse! Choose between 10-15 songs, compile them into an album and tag some friends to share the beat!

Side A - The Enlightened

🌠The Moon will Sing - The Crane wives

“Tell me once again, I could have been anyone, anyone else before you made the choice for me. My feet knew the path, We walked in the dark, in the dark. I never gave a single thought to where it might lead “

“ Bore the shadows that you made with no light of my own. I shine only with the light you gave me”

🌠 Rabbit Heart - Florence and the Machine

“I wish that I could just be brave. I must become a lion hearted girl, ready for a fight. Before I make the final sacrifice “

🌠 Always with me - Joe Hiyashi - Spirited Away

“Somewhere, a voice calls, in the depths of my heart. May I always be dreaming, the dreams that move my heart. So many tears of sadness, uncountable through and through. I know on the other side of them I'll find you“

🌠 Elastic Heart - Sia -Colin & Caroline

“You did not break me. I'm still fighting for peace. Well I've got thick skin and an elastic heart, but your blade it might be too sharp.”

🌠 Buy the Stars - Marina & the Diamonds

>“All my life I’ve been so lonely, all in the name of being holy. And still, you like to think you own me.”

Side B - The Student

🌠 Of Cautious Trepidation - Blair Clark

🌠 All is oft Inside - Aurora

“All Around is stone, and all inside is soft”

🌠 The Pugilist - Keaton Henson

>“You pulled me together with blood and soft stitches. You’re proof that I’m breathing, and that that i still need to be loved and hear you whisper to me”

🌠 A Million Years Ago - Adele

“Deep down I must have always known that this would be inevitable. To earn my stripes I’d have to pay and bear my soul. I know I’m not the only one who regrets the things they’ve done. Sometimes I just feel it’s only me who can’t stand the reflection that they see.”

🌠 The Lion the Beast and the Beat - Grace Potter And The Nocturnals

“I found the heart of a lion int he belly of the beast. And I held it in my hand, and i could feel. I could feel, feel the beat.”

Tagged by @steak-n-popotoes

Tagging: @sagewindfeather @papatoshi @seventhumbralstar @lifeofaernthota @skyholding @master-crafter​

[seventhumbralstar]

It took me a few months, but I finally got around to writing a theme for @popola-sil-pola! More of a hip-hop vibe than I intended for it to be, but I think it fits her character pretty well. If you’d like a theme written for you, please feel free to message me! Personal Blog Instagram Soundcloud My Band

[sagewindfeatherffxiv]

Just a quickie of one of my favorite Lalas, @popola-sil-pola ! @puddin-princess has such a cute art style, plus she’s so sweeeeet >w<! Check her out!

[foewreckem]

Prompt # 18: Wilt

( Adventurer-verse, an unspecific night at Spookeasy, 739 words, borrowing @aethernoise​‘s Rhodry with permission for fun but not for profit )

The house took from its surroundings slowly, but like a fairegoer at Moonfire, it didn’t much like cleaning up after itself.

When it had accrued too much dead plant matter for its comfort, it made the problem known. Paintings shifted on the wall, ink wells moved a few ilms to the left; if the debris was left for too long, crows were somehow enticed down the chimney to leave sooty tracks all over the Triple Triad board until the current mistress relented and stomped outside with a rake. She knew better than to let it get past the crows.

Out in the dusk of the East Shroud Aoife began raking dead leaves and pruning wilted flowers, moving the dead matter into a firepit. Cursing up a storm under her breath, she stomped toward a particularly large pile of leaves and brought the rake down on it absentmindedly. She pulled and frowned; the rake was caught on something. Bending down, she began to shift debris to the side with her hands, clearing it until--

--until she threw herself backward and let out a scream that sounded through the woods.

Under the leaves was not a thicker pile of leaves, but a man, eyes closed, strange light streaks in his shoulder-length brown hair. He didn’t budge when she screamed, which could only mean…

She flung open the door to the house and ran back inside, where she began stomping her feet on the ground of the tavern floor and pounding her fists on the wall.

“YE AREN’T SUPPOSED TO TAKE BLOODY PEOPLE!”

A painting swung left. Aoife reached out to straighten it in retaliation.

“DON’T YOU EVEN. I DON’T HAVE TO CLEAN SOMETHIN’ YE WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO TAKE!”

The painting flew out of her hand; it flew inches in front of Popola Pola’s nose as she brought a tea tray from the downstairs apartment; Popola watched it crash into the opposite wall before calmly setting the tray down and turning to her boss.

“Think it wants you to go back outside?”

Aoife was still panting a bit from her screaming, face red both from effort and now the embarrassment that always came from overreacting in front of Popola.

But you aren’t following me, I see, Aoife thought as she went out the door and Popola stayed inside. She picked up the discarded rake and slowly returned to the large leaf pile again. The corpse was still there, except… surely he’d been facing the other way before? Aoife prodded his shoulder with the rake handle. Nothing happened, and so she did it again, harder, and the corpse let out a large snore.

She stood there, frozen in place for a moment, a flood of relief and embarrassment washing through her before giving way to the pure annoyance of being inconvenienced.

“OI!” She yanked the man into a sitting position by the collar of his tunic and yelled in his face. He snored again. She lifted her hand and patted his cheek roughly a few times until his eyes opened, just a few inches from her own, and he launched himself backward, letting out a scream that sounded through the woods.

Aoife didn’t even wait for the echo to die out before lunging and grabbing his collar to drag him inside; that two screams in ten minutes from the same copse might be ignored was too much to hope for, even for the Shroud. As the door shut behind them, she kicked the baseboard near the bookcase that told the house to hide for a bit, and then tossed the leaf-man onto the couch.

Popola gave her a hard stare while turning her palms up in a what-the-hells-are-you-doing sort of way that Aoife was very good at ignoring. Aoife shoved some water at the man and took a good look at his face for the first time; something about him seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place it. He wasn’t her type to have been a date, he definitely wasn’t a recent customer…

“Hells are you?” she asked quietly.

“Don’t eat me,” he breathed at the same time. He didn’t really seem panicked; more like he was covering his bases.

She sighed and sat back on the coffee table. “I mean what’s your name?”

He blinked. “Rhodry,” he replied, “Rhodry Vance.”

Whatever reaction Aoife would have had was lost to Popola’s groan as she remembered the cost of pumpkin replacements from the last time a Vance had come around.

[manasong]

[steak-n-popotoes]

FFxivWrite '23 - 23

Stress and anxiety charged a constant electric surge through Caranar's body.

Never had he foreseen anything like this.

Still he felt that familiar instinct to look over his shoulder while he still could - to spot the thief in the night, the knife in the back, the blood in the wine, the pitfall, the curveball, the trick, the hitch, the catch.

When you've spent so long being toyed with by fate, the one outcome you can never have faith in is a happy ending.

Really.

Liberating two nations, no strings attached? Burying that bastard Zenos, completely unscathed?

And now this? Things were going too well. He was too happy. Overindulgent in his joy; there had to be a reckoning.

"You have got to relax," L'kozu scolded, "you've already sweat through the undershirt and if it reaches the jacket it will show through."

Caranar shuffled under the formal attire. He knew it was important to Eryna, and he had to admit he was feeling swept up in the ceremony of it all, but that didn't mean he liked wearing the suit any more than he would have were it for some stuffy political banquet.

L'kozu held their stern silence while they inspected the vest for any loose threads or other imperfections. They found none, of course. "If Beef can deal with it, you can."

"Are you kidding? Beef loves playing dress-up." The flower boy had been twirling in his skirts from the moment Kozu had shown him how to get them on. "The suit's nothing. Well, it's great, I mean. It looks great-"

"Then what's actually bothering you?" Kozu asked. They stopped fussing over Caranar and fixed their eyes on his.

Sweat continued to bead along Caranar's brow under the shadow of his tamed hair. Of course they could tell.

Caranar struggled to coax words from his lips.

"It's just... I feel like I can't-"

A rush from within raced through his mind, forcing him from it. Oh gods. This was it.

"Caranar? You can't what? What's wrong?" The sensation of L'kozu taking his hand and bracing his shoulder reached Caranar from across the divide.

His stress turned to panic as that damned pain spiked into his skull again. He knew it couldn't last. He cursed all the gods he knew as he was stricken by their blessing.

A vision of the future danced before his senses.

Sweat rolled down his brow as he reentered the room. L'kozu had given him the boot, knowing he wouldn't be able to contain his anxiety.

They slipped past, returning to the bedside, and spoke to its occupant in a low, soothing tone.

Though he was only mere steps away, Caranar couldn't hear what they said. He had miles to cross before he was there himself.

"Caranar?" came Eryna's voice, exhausted and weak.

Suddenly he was standing alongside the curtain.

"I let him know." L'kozu said. "He's right here, Eryna."

Eryna reached a hand out for Caranar's, which he took gently in his own. His eyes were locked on the bundle in L'kozu's arms.

Before he could protest or shy away, L'kozu responded by holding the little thing out for Caranar to take. He cradled it - cradled her - in his other arm, close to his heart. Dark hair was curled around long ears atop her head, and a few soft, dark scales mottled her arms, legs and face.

"So much of the world to see, yet they're both already asleep." L'kozu said. "Asleep, but in perfect health." they added. "I suspect their first bath was more excitement than they were prepared for."

L'kozu's words reached Caranar from within his daze. "Both?"

He tore himself away from the newborn he held to look up at L'kozu, who then nodded to Eryna.

Cradled against her was another sleeping baby, a mirror image of the first.

Caranar felt a swell within his breast; warmth spreading to every edge of his being.

"Twins. A boy and a girl." said Eryna, breathless. "Like Alphinaud and Alisaie."

"Delivered without a hitch. You've earned some rest yourself, Eryna."

Caranar had no words. He still couldn't believe it had come true.

There was wet upon Caranar's cheeks as he returned to the present.

He had been moved to a chair with his collar and neckerchief undone as L'kozu held a cold compress to his head. His best man looked him over with unguarded concern.

"Are you alright? Was it the Echo?"

Caranar struggled to compose himself, and ultimately failed. Tears fell unhindered onto white silk. "It-it was."

"What did you see that was so sad?"

Sad? Caranar thought, was he sad? Caranar searched the vision for some angle, some hidden tragedy. Healthy, Kozu had said. Without a hitch. No matter how he tried, he could find none. Yet each drop fell after the other.

"No... it was nothing." He sniffed loudly. That vision, the sensation of holding his own child he still felt in his arms and within his breast, he clung to as it burned white-hot amidst all of the other dark and miserable glimpses of the future he had endured over the course of his life. It was for him, and him alone. It burned bright enough to chase the shadows away.

"It's alright." Caranar said. "I'm alright."

~~~~~

Though many would have given anything for the right to claim they were present when the Warriors of Light were wed (a right which was oft exercised by the youngest son of House Fortemps), L'kozu and Tataru had flexed quite a lot of power in ensuring the ceremony was attended by close friends and family only.

On one side were seated Eryna's relatives, while the other was filled out by the Scions and their associates. Beef was sitting with Popola and Renaud whenever he wasn't gleefully scattering flower petals; Popola bouncing in her seat with excitement while Renaud slumped in his chair looking annoyed that her attention was somewhere else. Thancred was inconspicuously holding his head, still reeling from the previous night's festivities. Alphinaud was busy assisting L'kozu with directing while Alisaie, Y'mhitra, and maid of honor Y'shtola were off with Eryna and the rest of her bridesmaids. Representing the Steppe was Cirina of the Mol, who looked a mite overwhelmed as she placed an ornate stringed instrument at a table loaded down with gifts for the bride and groom. Those with sharp eyes even insist that the Azure Dragoon himself was spotted lingering against a wall at the back of the venue.

Caranar's tears threatened to spill over once more throughout the ceremony, pausing only briefly to laugh when he saw Sidurgu stuffed into a suit himself, sitting with his arms crossed while a halo of moogles harassed him overhead. Rielle carried herself with smug poise as the ring bearer, no doubt aware of Sid's plight.

The brief reprieve came to an end when Eryna approached the altar escorted by her father, and Caranar's emotions struck again with strength tenfold.

Eryna, on the other hand, had spent the day certain she would not cry and ruin the effort her bridesmaids had poured into her appearance, but found that resolve sorely tested when she beheld her groom wearing the tear-stained tuxedo L'kozu had drafted and tailored for him. His usual charming, stoic self she had been prepared for, but this... smiling through his outpouring of love, of feeling. It was so unlike him. Vulnerable and free.

They shared the same wishes for their life together as they shared a kiss.

[crystalarcanist]

Fatal Flaws - Musetta

Fatal flaw: Your compassion.

“Well....When you put it like that..”

Bottom line: you’re TOO NICE, and this will inevitably spell out your doom. You might meet your end by sacrificing yourself to save another, or—even more likely—you’ll happen across some individuals of questionable character who will take advantage of your niceness and lead you to ruin. Either way, it’s not looking good. You need to be meaner. Maybe scream at a small child or leave a bad tip at a restaurant or something, I don’t know. I’m trying to save you, okay?

Tagged by: @monstrous-machina

Tagging: @thedancingpetalxiv, @manasong, @steak-n-popotoes , @popola-sil-pola and anyone else that wants to do it! Tag me in it so that I can see!

Take the quiz here!

[lifeofaernthota]

An Interview with Aernthota Hymllihtwyn

tagged by: @manasong ( and @popola-sil-pola too so she gets a notification that i actually did the thing ) tagging: UHHHH ANYBODY??? WHO WANTS TO???? orz it’s been a million years since i got tagged in this so gomen 

A light breeze ruffles the curtains as Aernthota opens the window wide. Warm Shroud sunlight spills over a coffee table crammed with a plethora of foods; everything from sandwiches to cookies to cake. She motions towards the sofas there before hurrying over to retrieve a whistling kettle and a few mismatched cups from the cabinet. A tap to her pearl, a soft spoken word to someone on the other end, and her attention focuses as she also settles down, helping herself to food. “Ah! Ready when you are! An’ please please pleeease help yourself!”

What is your full name?

Aern giggles a little bit and carefully watches the pen, as if waiting for a mistake to appear on the parchment. “Aernthota Hymllihtwyn. Misspelled, of course. Be damned if I could find anyone but another Sea Wolf t’get it right. Ma still shakes her head any time a letter shows up back home for me... Swears one day, I should just tell’em t’sod off until they can spell it right! Oh hyll, lemme spell it for ya.”

What do your friends call you?

“Aern! Mostly. S’much easier that way. Sylb likes t’call me Sunflower, Dew Drop, Sunshine... yanno that stuff. But he’s the only one who gets away with it!”

What is your favorite animal?

“Adamantoise! Never really saw many of ‘em until I started travelin’ around! Big scalekin... Cactuar are almost as cute though... Though... do those really count as animals? Plants really.... lil... stubby things.”

Where were you born?

Her shoulders straighten some as she takes a hefty sip of tea before continuing. “Right smack in th’middle of Limsa Lominsa! Ma always joked that she was just mendin’ nets like always when I just kinda fell out! But Limsa is home, even after bein’ away for so long. I still go back t’visit when I can.” 

Do you have children?

”Ah! One day I’m sure! Though... none right now.” She mutters something into her cup that sounds an awful lot like “Not for lack of tryin’.”

Is there a person/people you love?

Aern immediately brightens up as she looks towards the door, as if waiting for someone to return. “Sylb! Er... Silver. My husband. My rock, my comfort, th’most handsome Roegadyn in all th’land... yanno all that good mushy shite!” She covers her cheeks to hide a tinge of girlish blush. It takes a few seconds to really contain herself. “Really though... Without him, I wouldn’t know such a good life here. We take care of each other. He’s th’best damned chef I’ll ever meet - he’s the one who made all the food! I can barely boil water without settin’ somethin’ on fire. He’s always helpin’ bring back soil an’ seeds an’ just... I can’t wait t’spend th’rest of my life with him.” 

She stuffs a bit of sandwich in her mouth, stops for a moment, and then immediately has another thought. Frantically chewing, she manages to clear out enough room to speak.  “An’ of course th’whole Company! They’re all th’best cohorts a lady could hope for!!”

What is your favorite colour?

“Yellow! Bright yellows! Yanno like... th’kind of sunshine yellow! Happy colors. Not so much for all th’doom an’ gloom kinds.”

What is your full occupation?

"Er... Dunno if y’really call it much of an occupation but botanist! Er... gardener! Part time adventurer if you can believe that! Some poor sap at the Adventurer’s Guild thought they could train me up an’ make somethin’ of me! After butchering my name of course... But nah! Mostly work with plants. A lil bit with potions. Anythin’ to be outside really.” 

Are you good at physical fighting?

There is a pause as she sips again, uncertainty playing across her features. “Er... Well I mean... I know how t’fight well enough. Dunno if I’d really say good though. Much better at patchin’ people up than really doin’ any damage.”

Which form are you best at?

"Shite that’s a bit tricky too yanno! I studied a bit with th’spear... An’ gods be good I grew up with half th’damned Mauraders in the guild! They were a riot... didn’t give me any slack though! Trained me just as hard. An’ well... t’be honest... Kinda got a lil bit’a practice with one of those katanas. Completely different than any of th’other swords. Feels a lil more fluid.” She trails off for a second, grabbing another hunk of sandwich absentmindedly. “But still. Not really good at anythin’ in that realm. Colson’s th’one to ask about all that!”

What about magic?

With an enthusiastic nod, Aernthota pours herself a bit more tea. “That’s more my style! Definitely.”

Which type are you best at?

“Healin’ magics mostly! Dunno how I got t’really be so in tune with th’Shroud but... it was kinda scary at first. Not too many trees in th’city. But it was... somethin’ else.” There’s a lull here, marked only by the sound of birds outside and the gentle breeze ruffling the curtains. “Sylb’s a little more accustomed t’other magic. Stars an’ such. It’s pretty amazin’ t’think that we’re able to make that sorta thing happen, don’t you think?” 

Craftsmanship?

This question seems to pull her back out of her musing. “Ah! A lil bit here and there! Mostly workin’ with wood and such! I picked up a lil bit from Kurt... but I still need t’ask him everythin’. If you ever need somethin’ made, he’s the one t’ask! For th’right amount of gil...”

Any other skills?

"Maybe? I dunno really! I’ve never been much of... er... much of anythin’ really!”

Are you an only child?

Aern gives an oddly casual shrug at that. “I was th’only one Ma ever raised! Dad wasn’t... er... present? So I dunno! Could have a whole load’a siblings I don’t even know about! But it was just me an’ Ma.”

Where do you see yourself in five years?

“Oh dunno. Maybe still adventurin’! Maybe slowin’ down some with Silver... Hopefully able t’keep a damn plot of those Thavnarian Onions alive without somebody runnin’ through’em...”

Have you ever almost died?

Aern simply bites into her sandwich again. “Haven’t we all? Though... er... Nevermind all that. Not exactly the kinda thing you wanna bring up with most people.”

Do you have a secret, not just a secret, but like a really big secret, hardly anyone knows?

There’s another shrug at that. “If I had any, I promise I’m not sharin’em with you.”

Salty or sweet?

"Sweet! Usually. Unless Silver’s cookin’ and then he’s got this amazin’ stew...”

Do you like yourself?

Aern cocks her head and chuckles some. “I think I’m doin’ aright! Could improve but... yeah!”

Do you believe in the Twelve?

She nods feverishly at that. “Better t’hedge my bets yeah?”

Are you religious?

"Now... I wouldn’t go that far yanno? I think believin’ is enough.”

Do you carry prejudice with you?

There is a moment of Aern only squinting and thinking for a moment... and then shaking her head a little. “I... dunno? I don’t think so. Not more than anybody else would... But then again, still a lotta things I haven’t seen yet! I’d like t’think I’m pretty open t’people though. Limsa’s full of all kinds yanno.”

What do you consider entertainment?

“Oh I love a good story! Sometimes just gettin’ the whole crew together an’ sittin’ around tellin’ stories is the best. I’ve heard people talk about plays an’ such too! But... hmm... Dunno. Maybe if th’right kinda performance was goin’ on?”

Favorite drink?

Aern sips from her cup with a coy smile. “Tea’s pretty swell yanno... but a lil bit of ale’s not bad from time to time... An’ I’ve been known t’sneak a lil rum here and there. But really! I’m mostly good! Found some of those Hingan teas are pretty nice too!”

Do you have any family traditions?

“Hmm? No more than anybody ‘round here I think! Though... hmm... Dunno if you’d call it tradition but I’m always accustomed to a good scrub down of th’whole house once spring really kicks in yanno? Somethin’ Ma always insisted on. Everything dusted, wiped down, cleaned up. Helps get in the mood for nicer weather!”

Are you a good person?

Aern nods slowly. “I try my best t’be.”

Thank you for answering my questions.

"Of course! You’re always welcome t’drop by when y’want!” Aern smiles brightly before lifting a hand and whispering conspiratorially. “Y’might even be able to catch one of Sylb’s Aldgoat Pies if you’re lucky!” 

[mxihi]

turn the light off turn the light on again and again and again and ag

[puddimilk]

Some Popo doodles from various sketchbooks!