#npc: liri loonsi

[starres-stuff]

Day 30: Two Heads are Better than One FFXIV Write 2024

Two Heads are Better than One: used to say that it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone.

“Liri? What brought you, all the way, over here?” There were further questions than that buzzing in the Sharlayan’s mind, like how the young woman had made it through the cottage's wards without him being alerted. 

“Sorry to bother your, um, gardening?”Liri's cheeks flushed at the sight of the man who had his shirt off to soak in the morning sun while he worked on replanting the Mint patch he destroyed a few sennights back. “I , um, it is about my Mother.” 

Normally Dimitri would have chuckled at the poor girl's embarrassment. Still, as soon as she told him she was there about her Mother, he rose to his feet, brushed off his large hands to get rid of the dirt on them, and then grabbed his shirt from the side of the wheelbarrow pulling it on so that Liri would stop stammering. 

“Is she alright? Did something happen?” Dimitri asked noticing by this time Laurent was outside as well the Wailer dipping his head in greeting Liri and then taking up a spot by an old tree he always seemed to favor. He was already dressed for work and his blonde hair shone brightly in the sun, obviously still wet from his morning shower. While he was a man of few words he was the listener you wanted when something was wrong. 

“Someone broke into the house. We don't know when they took off with Dad's wedding ring that she kept for us girls and a bunch of other things, mostly things that would make gil quick and easy.” Liri explained as she gave Laurent a little smile and wave. She was confident that the two of them would know what to do. They were amazing together. 

“Did she call for anyone?” the Wailer asked, his voice filled with that gravel that came from early mornings and gruff speaking. “Have they been round yet?”

Liri shook her head vehemently at these questions and they were enough to pull the truth right out of her. “No because my Mother is stubborn, I offered to get her a Wailer, I offered to come and get you, but oh no my Mother decided at that moment to have a pity party for herself and claim no one would care if she did ask for help. She seems to think no one in this world will help or care for her.” 

Laurent lifted a brow at this, his head shaking for a moment before he commented again “Gotta go to work, Duty starts soon. I'll see what I can do from there. If they don't have me on a busy route, I can swing by. Take the report and see to her.” with that he checked that his bow was secure, and readjusted his bags so they sat balanced on either side, then offered each a nod before he headed off into the trees without another word to offer the conversation. 

A soft sigh departed Dimitri’s lips as he watched the branches snap back into place, his ears twitching as they followed the rustling of the leaves nearby until there was no more, it was at that moment that the overwhelming sadness was the strongest within him, he wanted his partner back, he missed him but for Liri’s sake and his own this day he pushed back the emotions, knowing soon they would be on a ship that would take them to adventure and new lands. 

“I told her to come talk to you and Laurent,” Liri said softly after a few moments passed, and while she noticed the strangeness between them, her Mother had taught her well that it was never her place to ask what was going on in a couple’s life unless an explanation was offered to her first. “She told me that you two were too busy to help her. Which just made me mad. She has been waiting all of these moons for Iris to come and sweep her off her feet but she can’t even tell the two of you she has feelings for you.” the young woman padded over towards the mint patch Dimitri had been working on when she arrived, and down she knelt to examine the soil, pausing to look at the location of the sun followed by the how much shade was in the area. 

“Wha-What?” Dimitri turned around swiftly, his eyes resting on the back of Liri’s head “Too busy to help? Feelings for us? Who in the seven hells is Iris? Why have I never heard about her before?” 

“Iris is a Noble Woman from Corethas, it’s not her real name, she comes by once in a while.” A bitterness became present in her normally sweet voice “Never asked how they met. I don’t think she realizes how aware of Iris I am. It’s been on again and off again since I was fifteen summers old, never changes. Iris gets what she wants then goes back to Corethas, at least that’s what I see. As for you two, Mother has had a crush on Laurent since they were younger, and you since recently. Lady Vi and I keep calling her on it and she tells us to shush. So now you know and what you do with it is out of my hands.” Reaching for one of the new plants in the box that Dimitri had gotten from one of the local botanists Liri gave it a light sniff. 

“Peppermint.” she commented “Not the same as what Lady Vi grew, Gridania Mint is grown from seeds, did you get those too, or just the plants.” soberly she turned around to look at Dimitri who was still staring at her in this sense of shock, his mouth was even hanging open which made Liri giggle, then add on. “You should close that before you catch flies. That’s what Mom tells us when we look at her like that.” 

“Oh!” The Sharlyan cleared his throat, the tips of his ears flushing from being caught like that “Yes I got both seeds and plants. I feel so bad about what I did to her crop, and the botanist said they would grow nicely together and they would smell wonderful. Liri, are you sure that she?” Dimitri waved his hand about as he tried to finish the question but hesitated. 

“Oh yes, I am very sure. The way she smiles when she is around one or both of you? Yes, I am very sure, so is Lady Vi.”