#still working on Eirini's voice

[kannedia]

Guard Practice

In which the side quest "Make a Man Out of You" goes a little bit differently.

Eirini looked down at the grenade in her hand. The weight was familiar. Chemical smoke filled her nose and made her dizzy, even as the object itself sat in her hand fully intact. The only smoke coming from fires long dead.

"Are you certain that you've emptied this of its powder?" She questioned, brow raising as she weighed it in her hand again.

The lad, M'zhet Tia, only answered her question with a confident nod. An act she would find to be more inspiring had he not been just as confident the last time they had sparred.

"I said I can take it," M'zhet assured her.

Eirini believed that he believed that. Unfortunately, the weight in her hand told a different story. Her gaze fell back to the grenade. Words had failed her. Actions would have to do instead.

With a swift movement of her wrists, She activated and threw the grenade.

An Antlion far to the north and west of M'zhet collapsed into a barely cohesive heap amongst the violently disturbed sand and rocks. Small flames flickered on the creature's still twitching antennae.

It took a noticeable amount of strength for Eirini to hide her shaking from M'zhet. It had been louder than she recalled. And the lad seemed to have enough work on his plate getting his jaw off the floor.

"So, you wished for me to help with your training?" She started, once she was certain she could speak with a steady voice. "Let us start with stances. I noticed that yours could use some work."

[kannedia]

A Moment in Kugane

Takes place in Stormblood. Tataru bought Eirini a gift. She's having trouble finding it.

Thank you to @uldahstreetrat for letting me write for Ophianne. I hope I managed to get her right. And also that you enjoy it.

'Tataru will be displeased.' Eirini thought as she glanced over the contents of her bag again. She had briefly entertained the thought of dumping the whole of it onto her bed in the inn room. The only thing that had stopped her was knowing how likely that was to work.

The ribbon had been a gift from Tataru. She had been helping Eirini develop her fashion style, or so Tataru had phrased it. Eirini could only guess that it was to make her usual ponytail prettier. It wasn't bad, it was probably expensive and at present it couldn't be found. How odd.

"Looking for something, Sweet?" It was Ophianne, her temporary roommate. Returning from what and for what, Eirini didn't know. Nonetheless, it would be rude to ignore her. Eirini put her bag down gently and turned to face Ophianne.

Who was approaching Eirini with a smile on her face and a familiar peek of red on her arm.

Eirini's eyes wandered for a moment. Alternating her gaze from Ophianne's face to her forearm and back again. She could only wonder if Ophianne knew what such a gesture could mean. Admittedly, 'A Lady's Favor' was both a knightly concept and something given rather than borrowed. Or at least Eirini hoped she was only borrowing it.

"Ah. Welcome back L-" Eirini paused, remembering how Ophianne had responded the last time she had called her Lady. "My friend. And yes. The ribbon Tataru gifted me. Have you seen it?"

"Hm? Oh, you mean this." It seemed Ophianne had noticed her looking, as her smile briefly tilted into a grin only to quickly fall. "Sorry Sweet. I ran into an old 'acquaintance' that needed to be dissuaded."

"Understood," Eirini noted. Ophianne had explained a few parts of her past to her before. It and he sounded unpleasant. "That's fine. I'm just happy to see both you and it hale and whole. May have it back please?"

"Certainly," Ophianne responded with a grin before carefully removing the ribbon, kneeling to reach Eirini's height, and placing it in her hand.

"Thank you." Eirini matched the grin with a small soft smile of her own. "Ophianne, if you were to ever want me to make one for you, you need just ask."

"I see, I see. I'll keep that in mind."