#Sef Arcticfur

[empires-of-athos]

October Nishi Drabble 03

Look I know this is October stuff but a handful of these prompts are going to be based off a bit of a side thing that me and my friend that plays the character Sef Articfur have developed about one particularly emotional Starlight (Christmas) celebration. Important things to know for this one *In my canon its the Warror(s) of light, plural and (most) of the Free Company of Haven for the Lost are said WoL’s *Sef Arcticfur, while a Miqo’te in this world, originally came from a different world entirely and was wolffolk, who due to circumstances ended up wandering into this world and has been here since (will have more about him and the other members of the FC in due time) *Yes I actually did figure out how long it took to walk on the shortest path actually following the roads from Ceaderwood to our company house in the Lavender Beds with a few rests in between which entails going both through Limsa AND Ul’dah it is almost exactly 24 hours and a near extra day tacked on because accounting for ferry time to get from La Noscea to Thanalan, hence the two days. 

Word of the Day: Roasted Word Count: 977 It’s easy to forget to make time for important things when you’re the warriors of light.

He wouldn't do this for just anyone. There were few friends or even allies he could say he would do this for even. Sef was one of the few he would and...well that’s how he wound up transporting 40 freshly slain dodos. The young boy no doubt had some cooking project ahead of him, he could piece together that much but he couldn't fathom what he could be working on that required 40 Limsian Dodos. It was probably for Lyngsath . Being close to Starlight, the only reason -he- wasn't spending all of his time helping Redolent fill orders for the season was a personal project that he had made clear needed to take priority.

It took both of his chocobos Zoran and Zacharie to  pull the sled laden with a sizable, heavy icebox full of crystal and more plucked birds then seemed reasonable. Which left him footing it alongside of them. The Free Company home was located in the shroud - which meant it took two days worth of travel seeing as aether travel wouldn't work for transporting this large of an order.

He guided the birds to the stables where they could properly rest and eat after the long journey hearing feet rushing along the cobblestone, eyes darting back just in time to see the blur of Yuuma rushing off whooping proudly to himself. Oh boy. Taking in a deep breath ready for whatever might be awaiting him he stepped inside the company house.

"Sef?" Calling out  looking around curiously. No answer. Well the obvious place to check was the kitchen. Heading straight in and...well that explains Yuuma's amused state.

In the middle of the floor a pile of Acorns up to the table top, with a blue tail sticking out of it. He shouldn't be shocked, Yuuma was always overzealous in collecting resources but...this was a bit much. Reaching his arm down deep in the pile he found purchase fishing the blue haired miqo'te boy up out, gasping, spitting a few of the acorns out as he did so.

"Hi Nishi!"

"Hello Sef." He sighed slowly putting  Sef down on his feet with a tired smile. "I take it...Yuuma got you these for cooking."

"Uh-huh I told him to get me alot but..." he tapered off a bit starting with an overwhelmed look at the size of the pile before a sheepish grin came over him. "Well it's always better to have extra!"

"I should hope there's some extra Dodo's involved in that request you had."

"Well yeah I have to make sure I know exactly how to glaze each of them perfectly for everyone in the company!"

He blinked slowly. Staring at Sef as the realization sat in. The company? There were a total of 15 people in the company. That would account for three MAYBE four Dodos. Still there Sef went pulling out one of the large Dodos already setting to prepping and basting it with one of the dozens of sauces he had made, presumably testing recipes with. He knew Sef could be vehement in his cooking but this…

"Everyone gets their own Dodo! I want everyone to be just right."

"Sef..." Nishikurag'a started a bit wary of his words. Ever since Sef had asked if this world had a celebration anything like Solsmas and had learned of Starlight - he'd been very adamant about the holiday.  "As wonderful an idea as this is don’t you think this is a bit excessive?”

“NO!”

He jumped back at the sudden outburst as a spoon hit the stove hard, staring startled at Sef. Opening his mouth to try to say something, he was cut off before he could even get a breath of a word out.

“All of us are always so busy all the time! Kaixen is always training, Vertaux is always busy with his research, you’re rarely around anymore and everyone else is always so stressed out and I know alot of you are going to be doing things on Starlight but we’re all going to sit down and have a nice meal for Starlight Eve like a proper family!!”

“...”

He wasn’t wrong. Lately they all had been busy. Well busy might not have been the word but...absorbed perhaps in his case. Even when he was around the rest of the company he was...less ‘there’ then he even use to be. Sef, spoke frequent of the world he had been in. How much his family meant and what they were like and the company had become a family to him and…

He knelt down putting a hand on Sef’s shoulder- tense and shaking. He’d gotten himself so worked up and honestly he couldn’t blame him.

“You’re right.” He started softly, biting his lip in what little guilt he had left in him.  “It is important that we come together at least once in a while. Now c’mon, I might not be as adpt as you in the kitchen but point me where you need me and I’ll do what i can to help.”

Sef asked often what it was about him that made people seem to like him so much. The big grin that had such genuine passion and care for this world and those in it that he had...hope incarnate as one might call it, that was certainly a huge reason.

The room filled with all the warmth and taste and smells of boiled baked roasted and otherwise cooked foods. Other members of the company coming and going bringing in different things requested or simply of their own suggestion. some stayed to help some electing to keep out of the way, by the end there was hardly a spare acorn to be found. Honestly the company was like a family and not just because of Sef, though little brought it out like a well cooked meal.