#sooner or later…

[avirael]

FFxivWrite 2024

Day 19 - Taken

When he had left the house that morning, Nhagi’ra wouldn’t in his craziest dreams have been able to predict that he would end this day drenched in the blood of a man who had tried to kill him.

The morning had started perfectly peaceful. The early summer sunlight had found its way through a gap in the curtains and woken him. Nhagi’ra stirred and opened his eyes with a groan, only to find Elsie already awake sitting on the edge of his bed, a coffee mug in her hands, which she then generously offered to him.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. You slept so deeply, I already thought you died in your sleep…”

Slowly he sat up and accepted the mug with a yawn. He took a sip and grimaced.

“Is that why your coffee would be able to wake the dead?”

“You just have no clue what good coffee is…”

Elsie laughed and stole her mug back from his fingers.

“Maybe not.”, Nhagi’ra shrugged and pointed to the mug. “But I assure you, charred squirrel tastes better than that! Maybe you should try that, it would go well together…”

“Another delicacy from the Black Shroud? I think I’ll decline…”, she chuckled and stood up, walking over to the small kitchen. “But I’m afraid all we have left for breakfast is dry bread and salted fish…”

“Delicious…”, Nhagi’ra muttered and considered going back to sleep. But there were more important things to do. So instead he asked, “How are you feeling today?”

“A little better,” Elsie replied and smiled at him. “I should be well enough to go out on the boat today.”

“I can do that!”, Nhagi’ra protested, while getting up and putting on his shirt. “You should rest another day.”

Elsie sighed.

“You know there’s a reason we have nothing for breakfast, right? I know you mean well, Nhagi… But we need a good haul or there won’t be enough money when Osric’s lackeys return.”

Nhagi’ra knew this was serious. The first time he had heard of Osric had been on one of his trips to the nearby town. He had spoken to one of the merchants who usually bought their fish when a few stalls further the shopkeepers had been thrown to the ground with a loud crash, taking half of his stall with him. Quickly the merchant had pulled Nhagi’ra into an alley putting some distance between them and the trouble and warning him about the troublemakers.

Apparently a few moons ago a man who had insisted on being called Captain Osric, but in reality was probably nothing but a deserter who turned criminal, had appeared in town claiming they all were under his protection now. For his generosity he only demanded a small monthly fee from each family and his pack of brutal thugs had made sure no one objected. Since then multiple messages had already been send towards Limsa Lominsa but they were quite far south from the main city and until now no one had showed up to investigate. Not even a response had reached them. And so the band of criminals, who had made themselves at home on one of the nearby islands, kept on terrorising the townsfolk.

So far Nhagi’ra and Elsie had seemingly escaped the thug’s notice since they lived outside of town but then one afternoon a band of them had appeared on their doorstep claiming they owned them gil. It had just been the two of them against half a dozen of armed men, so they hadn’t really had any other option than to obey.

Of course Elsie’s sparse savings had not met their expectations. With a smirk on his face one of the man’s had warned them to better have the full sum next time or they would take them to their captain. Perhaps he would be generous enough to let them work off their debt one way or another. Nhagi’ra had wanted to punch his ugly grin out of his face but Elsie had grabbed his hand very tightly and stopped him.

Now, almost a moon later, they still were far away from having the demanded sum although both of them had worked tirelessly. Then, to make matters even worse, Elsie had fallen sick for almost a week.

“I can’t just sit around and do nothing…”, she insisted but Nhagi’ra wasn’t going to have her run around and exhaust herself again when she still wasn’t feeling well again. “You can fix the prawn traps. I take the boat. You said I’m good enough by now to go fishing on my own.”

Reluctantly Elsie agreed to his plan and Nhagi’ra hurriedly got dressed and stuffed some old bread and salt cod into a bag. He was almost out of the door already when Elsie grabbed his hand and made him stop.

“Thank you, Nhagi.”, she said silently as she leaned closer and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. For a few seconds the Miqo’te just stood there entirely baffled, before he snapped back to attention and left in a hurry.

“See you later, Elsie!”, he yelled back, trying (and failing) not to grin, as he passed the burnt down fireplace, where they had grilled fish the evening before and while they had waited for their food Nhagi’ra had tried to show Elsie how to use a bow by shooting at fresh coconuts he had impaled on sticks.

They had talked until late at night. Nhagi’ra had spoken about everything that had happened between the Shroud and here and at the funnier parts of his tale Elsie had laughed entirely carefree despite her sorrows.

Then they almost had kissed. The situation had surprised Nhagi’ra but the longer he thought about it, the more he wished he hadn’t been so hesitant.

In good spirits Nhagi’ra climbed into the boat moored at the small dock and dreamt about returning home with a rich haul. There still was about a week left before Oscric’s thugs would return and Nhagi’ra planned to collect the needed gil until then, even if he had to work day and night to do so.

For hours he sailed between various spots where he placed different fishing nets and even spent some time a little further out at sea, fishing with a fishing rod and special baits, trying to catch some bigger fish. In the end, as he returned to collect the nets, his haul indeed was quite presentable. He couldn’t wait to see Elsie’s face when she saw how well he had put her advice into action.

Excitedly he hummed a song as he navigated around the last headland before reaching the small bay where Elsie’s home was located. Then he spotted the column of smoke and fell silent in shock. As fast as he could he sailed to the shore, jumped out of the boat, barely throwing a rope over one of the moorings, and ran over the beach.

But there was nothing he could do anymore. Where this morning had still stood a small but comfortable house made of timber, all that remained now was a heap of charred, smouldering beams. The fire had already mostly burnt down. Whatever had happened here must have happened at least a few hours ago.

“Elsie!!”, the Miqo’te yelled and ran into the remains of the house, burning his hands while clearing a way. “Where are you, Elsie?!”

It was madness to expect an answer in this scenery and still he kept yelling and searching and digging. There was no response of course. But there also weren’t any remains, that would suggest Elsie had been in the house as it had burned down.

Then his eyes landed on the soot-black remains of a dagger and immediately he recognised the shape of the blade and the symbol engraved in it.

As realisation struck him, he fell to his knees.

He should never have left her alone.

Osric’s men had returned, earlier than expected, and turned their threats into action.

They had taken Elsie with them.

[starzovermarz]

stupid

[stefisdoingthings]

having to reconstruct your robot ex-husband after killing him with your own bare hands

[gatoiberico]

New batch of thumbnails which basically wrap up my playthrough of Twilight Princess! and yeah hi hello I'm deeply in love with this game

[sableeira]

I’m not immune to studying the Arcane style by applying it to the characters haunting my brain rn so here is everyone’s favorite Reverend Daughter 🫶

[i-eat-bugs-and-dirt]

JONATHAN SIMS PRIEST AU! FORCED CONFESSIONS! PEOPLE BEING FORCED TO RELIVE THEIR CONFESSED SINS IN THEIR DREAMS OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!! RELIGIOUS GUILT MARTIN!! THE FEAR ENTITIES SOMEHOW LINKED TO THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS! IM GOING INSANE!

[akanemnon]

Out of options

FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

MASTERPOST (for the full series / FAQ / reference sheets)

[timethehobo]

Help he’s just too cute I can’t stop drawing him. 😭💀

[caratbow]

father philip is aware 😵‍💫

x

[nanihirunkits]

LOVE SEA | EP2

[dinchenix]

✨manifesting one specific good news✨

[hemlock-dreams]

You've kinda teased it with the first bartender-Petey art, but I wanna know more about White and Yellow. Is their relationship with Deadpool the same? How do they interrupt/talk/think about Petey? And spider-man!

Why bother healing when you can just develop a deeply unhealthy and extremely codependent relationship with your hot bartender bff and assign to them the burden of your wellbeing instead?

Peter makes the boxes go quiet. A double-edged sword.

And the boxes have a love/hate relationship with Peter. On one hand, they can use Peter to taunt Wade. On the other hand, Peter takes up Wade's attention so he's not hearing the boxes.

[blodwyrm]

blossomfall 🌸

[goat-paradox]

@dj2slugs @silverlizard012

I'm inspired by balding Max today, folks... [1 PART]

[800-dick-pics]

Help a Black Lesbian with a few necessities!

I have been trying not to ask for help but i really need menstrual products, N95 masks and help replacing my only pair of pants my puppy ripped. I need between $50 and $80 depending where i can find plus size jeans that fit. If youre able consider sharing and supporting, I appreciate it.

CA: $sleepyhen

VN: wildwotko

Dm 4 Pyapal

[silvoldoy]

I lay eyes on ONE chess piece character so, naturally, I was inspired.

These are more of 'concepts' than they are OC's. Like I was wondering what each chess piece might've looked like as characters in TADC, how they would play out, etc.

Here's the Bishop

The Knight

And the Rook

That adorable little Pawn piece in the last panel is Pawno! An OC by @s0ckh3adstudios (I love him I love him I love him)