#kyb mal donos

[driftward]

Title: All I Want For Starlight is You Characters: Nyx Blackmoon, Klynt Gohtawyn Rating: Teen Summary: Nyx would like some company this holiday season. Notes: None

It is the decree of the Imperial Office of Culture that the Garlean celebration of the midwinter's feast, which takes place on the shortest day, is suitable for celebration for citizen and colonial residents alike, despite similar events recognized in uncivilized lands. Local Tribuni are encouraged to determine which customs are suitable for their region, and report back their decrees to the Office of Culture. Long live the Empire.

-*-

Perhaps years in the past, or in the years yet to come...

-*-

Klynt was among those who woke up early in the morn.

Well, 'woke up' was perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but she was one of the first ones to be moving in the morning, owing to a life lived aboard pirate vessels, and more recently, perhaps due to the tendency of one Zoissette Vauban to be awake and quite active at an early hour.

However, Zoissette was not around this morn, nor was much of her usual company. The Starlight season was upon Eorzea, and many of her comrades had made their plans and set out on their way, to visit home and family, leaving her and a scant skeleton crew to hold down the fort.

This suited her fine, as she had little affection for the holiday. A pirate's life did not lend itself to such, and Limsans were hardly a formally devout sort, instead living life freely and developing loose collections of beliefs and superstitions, each fit to each person for them alone. Zoissette was probably off praying to some saint or another, and each of her other coworkers had their own affairs to look after and beliefs to tend to. Such was not for her.

And so, she made her way to the kitchen, barely aware of her surrounds as she began to make her morning coffee.

She felt, more than she heard, a gentle presence approach from behind her. She ignored it, focusing on watching the hot water as she poured it over finely ground beans.

"Gohtawyn. Good morning."

"Blackmoon. Morn," mumbled Klynt.

"Do you have plans for breakfast?"

Klynt scowled, wincing an eye shut as she looked into her coffee cup, now full.

"No. Should I?"

"No. Are there any activities or rituals you observe for the Starlight season?"

"...no. Should I?"

"No. If you do not mind, and you have the patience, I would like to prepare a breakfast for you appropriate for the season, in keeping with traditions I am familiar with."

Klynt grunted. "...do I get to keep my coffee?"

"Yes. Though if I may, I would like to see it for a moment."

Klynt arched an eyebrow, and frowned over at the Miqo'te shaped person. However, after a moment, she begrudgingly handed her mug over to Nyx.

Nyx took it, and set it down on the counter, and began to rapidly reach for a variety of spices, pouring them in various amounts into the coffee. Klynt was not awake enough to watch them very carefully, and she generally trusted Nyx.

She did protest, however, when she saw Nyx put two spoonfuls of milk into it.

"Hey, what're you doing?"

Nyx just looked up at her, and after a moment, handed the coffee back.

Klynt looked at it, dubious, but then took a sip. The coffee was spiced, now, with a mixture of flavors she did not recognize, and a smooth creaminess she did not expect.

It was... good.

She glowered at it, then nodded, and headed off to the breakfast area. Behind her, she heard Nyx get to work in the kitchen.

-*-

Kyb mal Donos set the declaration down, and looked at his assembled team.

"So does that mean...? asked Miki kir Karou tentatively, carefully.

Datum lux Lorimus shrugged. "Cato cares little what we do in his absence. He has chosen to take the solstice with his family. So long as we do not gain the attention of the local Legatus, I suspect we'll be fine. Keep your traditions, but keep them -quietly-, and I won't say a word."

Liana kir Vaux looked thoughtful. "A feast, then, for the beginning of Starlight."

Papanan turned to Liana, and raised a finger in the air. "And how do you propose we prepare such a thing? I doubt a one of you know how to properly prepare dodo tenderloin, and I shall not carry the burden of preparing the rest of the meal alone, thank you very much."

Liana crossed her arms. "Is that what passes for a fitting meal in your home? I would choose a wide array of common vegetables, filling and pleasing. And if you are not up to the culinary challenge of tending to the cohort-"

Miki waved his hands in the air, attempting to soothe them both before the conversation before it got out of hand. "Please, my friends, there is no need to fight. In this, a compromise is easy. Many hands shall make light work. And being as we all hail from different places, perhaps we shall each prepare a singular item of our choosing, and create a harmonious whole that may not otherwise be achieved. And being as we have much work ahead of us, might I suggest that we begin with breaking our fast upon the first day, followed by..."

Miki explained his intentions, and the others saw the wisdom of his plan, and were quick to agree. While some argument occurred around the preparation of a main dish, the rest of the discussion went quickly.

Nyx watched, and listened, silently.

-*-

Klynt was barely awake in the breakfast area, enjoying her coffee, when Nyx came out with several plates, each of them heaping with food. She near boggled as each of them were set down in front of her.

Dodo tenderloin, seared to perfection. Some sort of sautéed sauce made of some kind of orange fruit. Thin slices of, if she had to guess, a truly large radish. Mashed popotoes, with little bits of green in them - onion most like, or perhaps laurel, or, well, she stopped trying to guess. Strips of what she suspected was pork belly, heavily salted and fried. Some kind of squash, cut into thin stripes and cooked in some manner she was not familiar with. Scrambled eggs, because of course scrambled eggs, why wouldn't there be. And other food besides.

All in all, while any individual item seemed like it could be a delight, the entire plate was a mess of foods.

"Nyx," said Klynt, slowly, carefully, "The hells is this?"

"First breakfast," said Nyx, as she set a similar plate down in front of themselves and began to eat in their way, rapidly yet carefully, as though the plate was an enemy to be attacked with precision munitions and worn down through rapid attrition.

Klynt scowled, and picked up a utensil, and tried her own food.

Well. As she might've guessed. The arrangement may have looked more like an accident of whatever was available in the cabinet rather than any sort of planned meal, but Nyx was a uniquely capable culinarian. The food was delicious, and filling, and Klynt felt herself waking up as she ate her meal.

"Gohtawyn. Are you generally available for the day?"

"...sure. Don't got much going on, and most everyone's gone. Can't stray too far though. We're needed in case some emergency or another happens."

"I understand and agree. We will not need to go very far, but there is some work I would like to get done today. I would like your help with it. In addition, I would appreciate your aesthetic input."

Klynt frowned at Nyx. Nyx was usually so quiet in the mornings, content to hang around in the rafters, responding when called upon, or leaving to go do her own things, whatever they happened to be.

"Whatever are you up to, Nyx."

Nyx told her.

-*-

"We'll need a tree," said Liana, thoughtfully.

"A tree?" asked Miki.

"To put the presents under," supplied Liana.

"And to decorate," said Papanan, waving a finger in the air.

Miki looked perplexed, and Datum frowned at the other two, putting his hands on his hips.

"If this is part of some kind of savage ritual..." he said, slowly, carefully.

Papanan grinned, and shook his head. "Sure, but not of the religious sort."

"Not in recent years, anyroad, despite efforts," said Liana with a groan.

"Pah. Overblown and ancient belly-aching. No, it's just nice little things. We go out and buy presents, and put them under the Starlight tree. On the day of, we go, see who got what, and open them up."

"A... gift exchange, then?" asked Datum.

Liana nodded. "If you want to know the history of it, legend holds that a Saint of the Goddess Nymeia holds vigil on Starlight, giving presents to children and ferrying their prayers to her afterwards."

Datum put a hand to his forehead. "...if you get me in trouble-" he began.

"Nothing of the sort!" Said Papanan. "A gift exchange seems appropriate for your traditions as well. We will just say that the gifts are part of the feast. Giving thanks between each of us. And to the host as well, of course."

"Of course," said Datum, sourly. "And the trees?"

"Well," said Liana, smiling beatifically in her own way, "The inside of the Castrum is... rather bleak. I have always felt it could use some sprucing up. Rather than a singular tree, we can gather several, and claim it is just part of... general improvement."

Datum crossed his arms and frowned.

"Fine," he agreed at last. "But no decorations."

-*-

It was late afternoon, and Klynt trailed behind Nyx. It was cold, and there was snow on the ground, and her time in Ishgard had taught her to have somewhat more respect for the elements. So she had heavy leather boots on with thick soles, and a coat of Ishgardian make that Zoissette had gotten for her, and thick woolen mittens courtesy of Zoissette's brother, Ement. She had her thumbs stuck in her waistband as she sauntered after Nyx.

Nyx, of course, was in their armor. Something of Allagan make. Klynt had never asked much after it, and Nyx was never the sort to volunteer information unless prompted. It didn't matter. The weather never seemed to bother Nyx one way or another.

They stopped in the middle of a forest of evergreens, and Nyx looked around, her ears rotating slowly as she swept her gaze back and forth over the forest.

"I do not fully understand the selection criteria for evergreen trees," said Nyx. "I know it is important that they be tall, but less tall than the room they are to occupy. And their appearance must be aesthetically pleasing in a uniform manner. If you would indicate some, I shall inspect them. If we both agree on a tree, we can cut it down and transport it back."

Klynt shrugged.

"So... I just pick some?" she asked.

Nyx nodded, and she sighed. She also didn't know the 'selection criteria' for trees, so she poked through the forest, Nyx following silently behind. The first and second one, Nyx shook her head, and so she moved on. The third one, however, Nyx had circled several times, looking it up and down in her curious manner, eyes always wide open and staring, rarely blinking, with no expression on her face.

Klynt waited patiently.

"This one shall suffice," they declared.

Klynt and Nyx then spent the rest of the afternoon hewing it down and hauling it back home. The work passed mostly in silence, a situation Klynt would have found aggravatingly intolerable with most people.

But then again, Nyx was not most people. Nyx was Nyx, and Klynt found their silence companionable these days.

They deposited the tree into a storeroom, and Nyx began to fashion a stand for it.

"The tree will need to stay out here overnight. This storeroom shall keep it above freezing. In the morning, we can inspect it for animal urine or fecal matter, as well as any vilekin or plantkin that we will wish to avoid bringing indoors."

"Sure," said Klynt easily.

"Thank you for your assistance," said Nyx. "I will need some time to perform my work. I would appreciate speaking to you before you go to sleep for the evening, however."

"...sure," said Klynt, less easily. "...you gonna explain what all this is about?"

"I can explain later," said Nyx.

Odd, thought Klynt, but she let it be as she ambled out of the storage shed and back to the main holdings.

-*-

The trees were put carefully in various places in the Castrum. Nyx had helped the project scientists select them and bring them back, and they had build the stands for them. There were no presents nor decorations yet, but Nyx had been told those would come in the days to come.

After the last tree had been set up, Liana had come up to Nyx, and smiled at her warmly as she did, holding out a hand. Nyx knew what that meant, and reached out to take the woman's hand in her own.

"This is your first Starlight," said Liana.

"It is. I understand that it is a ritual of some sort. But I do not know the details or significance."

Papanan approached now, looking thoughtful. "Few rituals, actually," he said conversationally. "Interesting that most peoples have something-or-another around this time of year, isn't it?"

Liana looked at him, and nodded. "...yes. The Garleans do not recognize Starlight, but they do traditionally have a feast on the winter solstice that is very important to them."

"And us Ul'dahns take the opportunity to exchange gifts. Good for making friends, pleasing family, and for the merchants to make decent coin," said Papanan, grinning.

"As for my people... we hold the twelve in high regard. This is a celebration in the name of Nymeia, and her appointed saint. Miki could say more about the Doman tradition - their people do not care for it the same as ours do, but that stands to reason, given the difference in climate. They refer to it as longest night, and reflect upon the importance of some of their so-called kami, I believe."

Nyx looked at Liana. "Kami are a kind of eikon," she said. "Our mission opposes them."

"And the gods of Eorzea as well," said Papanan. "So we aren't celebrating them, not this year, not around here."

"But the celebration continues," said Liana. "I think... that perhaps, in the coldest part of winter, when the day is at its shortest, almost too short to do anything useful - particularly in the far north of Garlemald, but also elsewhere - that people turn to each other, and keep one another company, and celebrate that the days will only get longer from here. So the details, we're making them up here. Miki was right to try to find a harmonious balance between our many traditions. And the significance, well."

Liana smiled at Nyx, squeezing their hand tightly.

"It is a chance for us to spend time together. And this Starlight, all I want is to spend time with you. I've more to teach you, if you like. And I think you've more to learn, if you are willing."

"I am," said Nyx reflexively, and Liana smiled broadly while Papanan laughed.

"Going to teach it the real meaning of Starlight, are you?" he said.

Liana shrugged at him, with a smile. "And why not? She can learn."

Miki came over, noticing the group gathered together. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Oh, just all of us displaced savages, getting together to try to teach an ancient artifact a dozen different conflicting stories, and hope it'll learn something out of it," said Papanan.

Miki looked at Nyx, and then between Liana and Papanan.

"Is that wise?" he asked.

"Let the Garleans teach her how to be a weapon," said Liana. "Our duty should be to teach her how to be a person."

"And also to make sure it's working right," said Papanan.

Miki just shrugged.

-*-

Klynt stayed out in the main room, her fingers toying lazily with her nhalisman, her eyes half-lidded as she considered sleep.

But, she told Nyx she would speak with her before going to bed, and so she was awake, at least for a little while longer.

At last, Nyx returned.

"Gohtawyn. I appreciate you staying here. I will not keep you long. I am wondering if you plan on staying in the area for the next twelve days."

Klynt frowned. "...through Starlight, I take it."

"Yes," said Nyx, and then after a moment, "I would appreciate your company. There are rituals I wish to observe, and I believe they would be more meaningful if they were shared with someone. I would like that someone to be you, if possible."

"...sure," said Klynt. She wanted to ask more, but she was tired, and she wanted to go to bed.

"Thank you," said Nyx. They turned away, and looked up into the ceiling. Klynt knew, given another moment, they would leap up to the rafters and vanish for the evening.

"Nyx, I wanna ask you a question," said Klynt.

Nyx turned towards her. Staring. Unblinking. Klynt sighed, and rubbed the back of her head.

"It's quiet around here," she said. "Not a lotta people. Pretty lonely at night. If you want me to stick around, no problem, but if it's alright - I'd like company. Snuggle buddy or something."

Nyx regarded her flatly for a moment, then nodded. "I find your proposal agreeable. I shall meet you in your room. I need to perform personal maintenance and change."

Klynt nodded.

It was about a bell later. Klynt had climbed into her bed, topless but with her pants on, arms wrapped around her head, contemplating the ceiling. She heard the door open and then close, but no other noise, which told her all she needed to hear. She did not even need to look to watch as Nyx approached.

Nyx was wearing just her skinsuit, some kind of skintight smooth material. Klynt had assumed it was, in fact, Nyx's skin for much of the early time they had known each other. However, she had seen Nyx out of it a few times, either while performing maintenance, or engaged in intimate activities, the few times the two had indulged in such. Klynt was not interested in that tonight, however, and apparently neither was Nyx, who simply helped herself into Klynt's bed and curled up tightly in a ball next to her.

Klynt remembered the first few times she had shared a bed with Nyx. It was during the disastrous aftermath of events in Ul'dah, while they were still making their way towards Ishgard. Klynt had not dressed for the climate, and had come to regret that decision bitterly. Nyx had spent much of the time riding on Klynt's back. The physical exercise of carrying her had helped keep Klynt warm, but so had the gentle heat that Nyx radiated.

And when they had stopped to make camp, Nyx had curled up next to Klynt, much as she was now, and had radiated that same gentle heat, staving off the cold and helping Klynt go to sleep.

Klynt wrapped her arms around Nyx, and closed her eyes. Next to her, she knew Nyx was already asleep, as she could not feel her breathing. Yet another one of their quirks. Klynt remembered panicking the first time she had discovered such, and smiled faintly.

Nyx was a weird little creature. And she did not often ask for anything for herself. She would often ask other questions, about the mission, about parameters for a task, or for support in the mission, but rarely things for herself, as a person. So if Nyx wanted company for Starlight, well, Klynt was inclined to be obliging.

As she drifted off, luxuriating in the gentle heat radiating from her friend, Klynt resolved to ask more after what it was Nyx wanted with Starlight. But for now, she was tired, and so she drifted off to sleep.

[biot08]

Silver Lining

Cato mal Praetatus walked slowly into his new quarters in the Castrum, casting his gaze around the room. Well, ‘his’. In truth, he felt, they properly belonged to Kyb mal Donos.

His mentor.

His friend.

A brilliant mind, a rising star in the Garlean empire.

Now dead.

Half the staff stationed to the Castrum had been lost. Another tenth had been turned, ‘tempered’ by one of the horrible Eikons summoned up by the savages. The central core areas of the Castrum had come out unscathed, constructed as they were in the remains of some ancient Allagan facility. It had been designed to keep the things made there in, in case of an accident.

They worked just as well at keeping things out. It had been a fortunate thing. The staff that had survived had done so by fleeing to the core, to the labs, to the inner sanctums of the facility.

Kyb mal Donos had not been so fortunate. He had been out with subordinates, and gotten lost in the confusion.

And was now gone.

He brushed his fingers along the desk of his mentor.

“You promised me that I would have a desk like this one day,” he murmured. “… my own lab, my own works. But not like this.”

He swept his gaze around the room, ending to be fixed upon the soldier who was still waiting in the doorway for his lord’s first orders. He pointed at them.

“I am given to understand that there were those who were with mal Donos the day of the attack. I want their reports on my desk immediately.”

The soldier saluted. “Yes, my lord!”

Cato sat heavily down at ‘his’ desk as the soldier ran off to carry out his order.

There was much to be done. The Castrum would need to be abandoned, its contents gutted, its equipment moved elsewhere. He had the authority of a Tribunus - for now. But only to retire the Castrum and its projects. The actual Tribunus was busy putting down the last embers of rebellion.

There was so much to do.

But first, he would mourn his friend, in his own way.

He settled into the chair, feeling himself sink down into it, and stared at the floor.

~~~

He’d started early and had gone late.

What had started as a grieving process had grown.

He’d read the reports. Of course he had. He had been ready for a lot of things. He had been prepared for grief. He had been prepared to be angry. He had been prepared to read about how his mentor had been somehow betrayed by his lackeys. Or perhaps to read a story of incompetence edging on maliciousness that had lead to his mentor’s death.

He had been prepared to have just been -useless- and -sad- and -overwhelmed-.

What he had not been prepared for was to read an unexpected tale.

He had known of mal Donos’ difficulties with the Allagan technology, of course. They had spoken at length. So many experiments, and all of them varying degrees of failure. Oh, sure, the Castrum had produced a promising piece of magitek or a useful turn of aethertech, it was true. True enough that the Castrum was allowed to continue operating.

But what mal Donos was after had eluded his grasp… or so he had thought.

One of his experiments - the only successful one in its line - had apparently blossomed in the fire.

It had been witnessed protecting others from the dread tempering of the Eikon, through means not understood.

It had been shown to be capable of aetheric manipulation, so similar to that which the savages practiced.

Oh, sure, it had gotten damaged, and even now it was apparently ‘recuperating’ - what ridiculousness - but two of mal Donos’ senior researchers had managed to recover it from the field despite the difficulties of the ongoing battle neither of them were trained for.

In fact, it seemed that the experiment had been instrumental, even in that.

Cato mal Praetatus was now surrounded, not just by the reports from mal Donos’ last moments, but now more than that. Reports on the experiments. Readings. Data.

The death of his mentor was a tragedy, unnecessary - but there was a silver lining to its cause, it seemed.

He might not have his mentor anymore.

But his mentor still had him.

And he would show them what they had found.

[driftward]

Silver Lining

Title - FFXIV Write 2021 - 25. Silver Lining Characters - Cato mal Praetatus; Kyb mal Donos, Nyx Blackmoon  Rating - Teen Summary - Backstory parts for Nyx Blackmoon. I should really revisit the names for literally every Garlean I’ve ever made up Notes - Originally posted here on 2021-09-26

Cato mal Praetatus walked slowly into his new quarters in the Castrum, casting his gaze around the room. Well, ‘his’. In truth, he felt, they properly belonged to Kyb mal Donos.

His mentor.

His friend.

A brilliant mind, a rising star in the Garlean empire.

Now dead.

Half the staff stationed to the Castrum had been lost. Another tenth had been turned, ‘tempered’ by one of the horrible Eikons summoned up by the savages. The central core areas of the Castrum had come out unscathed, constructed as they were in the remains of some ancient Allagan facility. It had been designed to keep the things made there in, in case of an accident.

They worked just as well at keeping things out. It had been a fortunate thing. The staff that had survived had done so by fleeing to the core, to the labs, to the inner sanctums of the facility.

Kyb mal Donos had not been so fortunate. He had been out with subordinates, and gotten lost in the confusion.

And was now gone.

Cato brushed his fingers along the desk of his mentor.

“You promised me that I would have a desk like this one day,” he murmured. “… my own lab, my own works. But not like this.”

He swept his gaze around the room, ending to be fixed upon the soldier who was still waiting in the doorway for his lord’s first orders. He pointed at them.

“I am given to understand that there were those who were with mal Donos the day of the attack. I want their reports on my desk immediately.”

The soldier saluted. “Yes, my lord!”

Cato sat heavily down at ‘his’ desk as the soldier ran off to carry out his order.

There was much to be done. The Castrum would need to be abandoned, its contents gutted, its equipment moved elsewhere. He had the authority of a Tribunus - for now. But only to retire the Castrum and its projects. The actual Tribunus was busy putting down the last embers of rebellion.

There was so much to do.

But first, he would mourn his friend, in his own way.

He settled into the chair, feeling himself sink down into it, and stared at the floor.

~~~

He’d started early, and had stayed late.

What had started as a grieving process had grown.

He’d read the reports. Of course he had. He had been ready for a lot of things. He had been prepared for grief. He had been prepared to be angry. He had been prepared to read about how his mentor had been somehow betrayed by his lackeys. Or perhaps to read a story of incompetence edging on maliciousness that had lead to his mentor’s death.

He had been prepared to have just been useless, and sad, and overwhelmed.

What he had not been prepared for was to read an unexpected tale.

He had known of mal Donos’ difficulties with the Allagan technology, of course. They had spoken at length. So many experiments, and all of them varying degrees of failure. Oh, sure, the Castrum had produced a promising piece of magitek or a useful turn of aethertech, it was true. True enough that the Castrum was allowed to continue operating.

But what mal Donos was after had eluded his grasp… or so he had thought.

One of his experiments - the only successful one in its line - had apparently blossomed in the fire.

It had been witnessed protecting others from the dread tempering of the Eikon, through means not understood.

It had been shown to be capable of aetheric manipulation, so similar to that which the savages practiced.

Oh, sure, it had gotten damaged, and even now it was apparently ‘recuperating’ - what ridiculousness - but two of mal Donos’ senior researchers had managed to recover it from the field despite the difficulties of the ongoing battle neither of them were trained for.

In fact, it seemed that the experiment had been instrumental to their survival.

Cato mal Praetatus was now surrounded, not just by the reports from mal Donos’ last moments, but more than that. Reports on the experiments. Readings. Data.

The death of his mentor was a tragedy, unnecessary - but there was a silver lining to its cause, it seemed.

He might not have his mentor anymore.

But his mentor still had him.

And he would show the empire what they had found.

[biot08]

FFXIV fan fiction behind the cut.

FOSTER “Worthless,” the man said, his voice filled with plain contempt.

The Miqo’te woman looked up at the large Garlean man in his armor. Her eyes, so deep a color as to be almost black, were wide, as she stared up at him. He in turn looked down at her, his eyes almost hidden behind the depth of his scowl. She was dressed in little more than some off-white laboratory slops and a matching coat. He was wearing an example of the most recent revision of Tribunus armour. It turned him into a towering hulk of metal and advanced polyfiber, a walking siege tower.

He turned to one of the scientists who was standing nearby, a fellow Garlean in an immaculate lab coat. “It is -worthless-, mal Donos. I was told your laboratory would be delivering us possible soldiers and perfect agents. What you have -delivered- is yet another pathetic wet savage. I can find plenty of those on my own, without wasting the Empire’s precious resources.”

Kyb mal Donos frowned. “She represents a necessary step on our path towards mastery of the Allagain mastering process, Tribunus.”

“A necessary step? A necessary step!” roared the tribunus. “And your other thirteen failures that precede it? How many ‘necessary steps’ are we going to waste our time on!”

The two men fell into arguing, the Miqo’te almost forgotten. No longer being yelled at, she lowered her eyes to the ground, and clasped her hands in front of her. She did not understand what they were yelling about, or why. She just knew, though, that they were yelling about her.

She did not know why. She could not know why. Her oldest memory was only of yesterday, and she had spent the time only trying to do what she was asked, but never being able to fully understand what was being asked of her.

She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, and she turned her head to look up into the face of one of the other scientists in the lab, a woman who she had heard referred to as Liana kir Vaux. She found the woman looking back at her, a soft expression about her eyes.

“You’ve done well, and you don’t need to stay here for this. Follow me. I’ve arranged for a cot for you, for now.”

The Miqo’te looked back at the two men who were still yelling at each other, and then back up at Liana. She nodded, and turned to follow her out of the room. As the doors closed she could still hear the two men yelling. She reached up an uncertain hand into Liana’s, and tried to take it, to hold on to something, anything. Liana’s hand squeezed back in response.