#uncharted writing territory Wheeeeee~~~~~~

[toadeyes-miqote]

Prompt #23: Suit

Note – Stormblood Tribal quest spoiler

A feast…a meal.... words that normally left her wary. Gatherings that tend to attract dark tidings to come. But what to wear? The eternal question.

Very obvious armour to deter any potential threats and overtly lay down the ground rules that meant business? That would have been rather mean of her but then some people needed reminders. Light armour under fancy glamour? Glamour has always been the endgame in a lot of fancy parties. The actual exquisite outfit with the extra bells and whistles of a glamour.

But in the end. It was another one of her travelling outfits, a design popular enough that a fallen friend and a fellow Scion had often worn as well. For the feast that she attends was one amongst comrades who fight to improve the lives of those around them.

[toadeyes-miqote]

Prompt #22: Fulsome

Note - DRK + up to ShB spoilers. Somewhat dark mindset during ShB

Smile, nod, inspire, destroy. Save us, Warrior of Light, You're our only hope! Another day, another menace vanquished, another friend lost Greater good be dammed.

What happen to finding him oh great Warrior of Light? Is the Saviour of Ishgard satisfied with reuniting other people families that her own no longer matter? Or are charming smiles, fine collarbones, bedroom eyes and Doman songs replacement enough?

Empty praise, lies, empty, empty, empty. Empty flowery words that are but wind. All for the quickest way forward. Take on the light, become the Weapon of Light,

Burn hot, burn bright. Bring the fury of Halone Incarnate to bear. Bask them in the Light The Light leads, the Light feeds The torch burns bright Let the Light in, burn the dark Dark rose blossoms

Everlasting Light.

[toadeyes-miqote]

Prompt #21: Grave

Note - 20 and 21 can actually swap/share prompts.

Time passes in the Central Circuit, artificial light slowly giving way to night. Estinien answered the door to the smile of Ameliance who was accompanied by Tataru and the three musicians. With a single hand gesture, a basket of fresh clothes was shoved into Estinien’s hands while Tataru alone entered the commandeered infirmary.

One by one, the trio handed baskets of food to him. The trio too were close to Hylnyan. Her brother and sister-in-arms and adoptive brother(-in-law). They had been most helpful fending off unwelcomed curious would-be visitors while having their representatives at the official debriefing party above to be their eyes and ears.

Stews and grilled food mostly recipes from the Northwestern Shrouds, Ishgard, Doma and the Steppes. The scent of flavourful food to lure the huntress back into their fold. The trio looked to Ameliance, who smiled at them with assurance, a polite nod of understanding and they retreated.

Ameliance had gotten an in dept report of what the group had went through from Alphinaud, she had put her weary son to bed and now she came for her daughter.

"Thancred? May I come in?" Mere formality to acknowledge the group dynamics that the physical fighters of the team had. She knew well who he was and the role he had taken on. Her father-in-law would have been proud of the chain of mentorship that the former urchin had established. That Alisaie had came to benefit.

"Please. My lady is ever welcome." He placed a comforting hand on Alisaie's shoulder to reassure her before attending to Ameliance.

When she near the sickbed, she noted that Thancred's coat had been neatly folded and placed beside the Miqo'te’s pillow, along with Alisaie's jacket, a set of gloves, scarf and one of Tataru's missing hat. A smile grew on Ameliance's face, she had trusted a hunch about the flavourful food that she brought and the Miqo'te hunter sense of smell.

"Thancred, please. For her sake get some rest and freshen up. It would hearten her to see you at your most dashing when she wakes."

He gave her a dazzling non-committal smile that might have worked on disarming the unsuspecting. But she deflected him with a hand on his arm, a firm grip. The warmth in her eyes that she knows what they had been through. He swallowed a non-existent lump in his throat and closed his eyes. Daring to hold her hand momentarily in thanks

"G'raha? Is the spell you are using mainly to ease Hylnyan's pain? Or is it something complex from your wealth of knowledge?”

The miqo'te ears perked up, at first he looked to Thancred for a cue. "Umm.. it is a basic spell."

"Would you mind that I hold Hylnyan's hand while you and Thancred refresh yourself?" "Uh no. I guess not."

"I'm not going home." Alisaie stated as Ameliance sat down on the floor beside her. Estinien had not follow the other two men but remain far enough from mother and child for privacy. He had Tataru for company instead.

"Not unless you wish to. " Her daughter slumped against her shoulder allowing her to sling her free arm around her shoulders. “I don’t want the cold comfort about Hylnyan's tales of heroics, mama. I don’t want glorifying of the what she has done when the why of it is more important.” Alisaie started while her mother gently rubbed her arm. “I want her hitting me with her tail to get my attention, to focus. I want her singing her silly Ishgardian songs about Estinien and goading him into taking it out the enemy.” “Hylnyan meant a lot to you?” “She’s different from the students here. She made it feel like life is not a chase for better academic results. That one must always compete to be the best. She doesn’t shoot down my ideas just because I’m younger. And she’s willing to find alternate solutions instead blindly following destiny. She makes me feel that I can get the best results when I shoulder part of the burdens of her responsibilities.... She recognise that I am not an extension of Alphi... ”

Her daughter had become much more people aware from her trip. She had no answers that could make her daughter feel better, the most she could do was sit with her for a while and see if brighter minds can come up with a solution. Someone would need to keep an eye on this lot to make sure they don’t hurt themselves in the process.

[toadeyes-miqote]

Prompt #20: Hamper

Note – Post EW technically spoilers. Now that it has continuation, I take what I can get. Puts on mythril foil cap to write this. I’m not sure how much I can bend this.

Hamper : Hinder, Hinderance, basket

Flittering here and fluttering there, empty was the cool green grove. They had hoped their sapling would be either be hiding here in the comfort of the harem of replicas who pampered her or camping with the other residents in her head. But it was a dreamless sleep.

Instead they had found them huddled together by the campfire. The snarky shadow and the guilty child could offer no answers and their sapling's male branch was fretting over their poor sapling’s sudden malaise.

The one change the marauder pointed out was the now glistening pool made when the the resident dived into it and never came back up.

A tentative step they put in their right foot in and they shook it all about. Tiny motes of aether lazily detached from their foot.

" This branch might not survive the trip. But our kingly branch will still know. Anything for our poor battered sapling." With a twirl they dived into the pool before the marauder could protest

And everything they see was blue. Flittering down as quick as they could, even though they know they should not be here.

Fluttering about until a beckoning hand caught their attention. Landing upon the inviting palm a cloaked figure studied them appreciatively. Spirits or souls linger near this one. Something familiar about them.

" Such bravery is commendable oh fairest of kingly branch." The speaker spoke. Feo Ul puffed up their chest. A little speech of appreciation that goes unheard.

"I cannot hear your lovely voice oh kingly one. But she is not here. We made sure of it to let her rest."  The speaker sounded somewhat apologetic.

"Please, we hope you would understand if we request that you do not tell the Miqo'te mage and the others what had transpired here."

A finger was offered to Feo Ul, who touch it cautiously with one hand, the offer of aether was accepted.

"We need your aid oh loveliest of kingly branches. You might be the only one of us here who know what he looks like."