K'airos had been standing behind Antimony most of the time. She stared sadly at a random point near the door. "They are right, though." she said.
"Airos!" Antimony fell away from the door, and her hands fell upon her daughter's shoulders. Her voice wavered, "Do not listen to them! There is nothing more we can do - nothing more we should do. You have suffered enough."
K'airos had been standing behind Antimony most of the time. She stared sadly at a random point near the door. "They are right, though." she said. The young woman kept looking at the same point on the door, her ears dropping to the sides of her head. "That monster took D'aijeen from us." she said. "I'm not helping them because I don't know how to do so. Slashing at it with a sword isn't the kind of help they need, and it's the only thing I know how to do."
Something in the way K'airos spoke made Antimony's heart ache. Her ears fell, and she pulled her daughter into a hug. "You know much more than that, sweetheart," she murmured weakly. "It's just... there's nothing any of us can do to help. No more. Can we just... try and forget?"
K'airos stood silently for a moment, burying her head on her mother's shoulder. Her ears shifted angles, though they were always low, and her lips curved down to a side. "Limsa." she muttered, changing the subject and then pushing slightly away from the hug. "I wonder if sailing is hard."
"I don't know; I've never tried." She did her best to keep K'airos close, though she did let the young woman have some space. Whenever she breathed, her daughter's scent made her heart feel impossibly frail but somehow stronger. "Perhaps you could learn? I would support you."
"I imagine I'd have to learn, being a city on the sea and all..." Her ears did not lift up as she spoke. However, the girl's expression changed to a neutral one. "Do they have giant insects in La Noscea?"
"Not that I've seen, no." She paused, petting K'airos's hair distractedly. "... Though I never traveled beyond the roads."
"They have roads?" K'airos was somehow surprised. Geography was probably not her favorite subject. She spoke with some degree of disappointment. "I thought they'd have canals and boats for everything. But!" She paused to smile. "If they have roads I won't have to worry about buying a boat! Though I should learn to use one anyway, so...and I wonder if I'll need to buy my own yellow jacket or if the uniform is given to you when you join..." She'd likely continue to ramble if allowed.
"It's not all water. Most live on the islands." Antimony almost smiled, but it was a sad expression. Her fingers moved from K'airos's hair to rest on her shoulders, and then slid down to the sides of her arms. "Don't worry about clothing. Though... perhaps you should make good on the Tia's gift now."
[10/24/2014 8:27:30 PM] Kyle: In the next room, Megiddo killed two people.
[10/24/2014 8:28:03 PM] Adrienne D: ((That doesn't count))
[10/24/2014 8:28:10 PM] Kyle: ((Dern))
[10/24/2014 8:28:12 PM] Amelia P.: Unfortunately, they were the only witnesses to the action, so no one will ever know.
It was around this time that a sharp knock lit upon the door. It was fast, sudden, and brief, as though someone had only hit it in passing. Several seconds later, it came again. Twice this time, high on the door.
K'airos huffed and lamented the interruption, slumping forward by a small degree and saying. "Maybe one day I'll get to it. I wonder who is it, this time?"
Tail shivering, Antimony pursed her lips and turned reluctantly from her daughter. "I will deal with them, Airos." Stepping purposefully to the door, Antimony set her jaw and yanked it open, "I thought I made myself clear that we would not suffer your interrogations any longer?"
"I do remember a curt dismissal formerly, but I do not recall those exact words." Megiddo pulled out his dirty beard and stared at the ceiling, pondering. His pale clothes were brown with dust. Thhey were exactly what he had been wearing last time, just dirtier.
K'airos clasped her hands together, letting them hang in front of her. She blinked at the old man, but said nothing.
Breathing in through her nose, Antimony took a half step back. "Ah, Megiddo--" Her ears twitched, tail curling in uncertainty as to how to react to the old man's presence. She sighed, wilting a little. "... I apologize. It has been a difficult time. I do not think we are... up to visitors."
"It's okay." K'airos said, tilting her whole torso to a side, trying to see the man better. "I don't think I know this person."
"I apologize for intruding. At least let me introduce myself to your daughter." The old Duskwight put a hand to his chest and inclined his head. "My name is Megiddo Desfosse. Your mother has sought my advice on some occasions, and I have sought hers. I believe I saw my granddaughter leaving the Quicksand some time ago?"
Ears lowering further, Antimony glanced back towards her daughter. "He... helped me find you again," she added quietly, and then looked to the Duskwight. Weariness deepened the fine lines in her face. "I do not approve of how you're interacting with Miss Loughree."
"Oh!" K'airos let out in surprise. She followed it by hiding her mouth behind both hands. "I was confused for a moment! I thought..." She stopped, and blinked at her mother's back. "You do not approve?"
"I've been trying," said Megiddo, sounding defensive, or like he was mocking a defensive tone. "No harassment. I'm still serving her jail sentence so she does not need to worry about that. And she's begun to behave industriously! I saw her building things."
Her brow pulled down with her ears. "And would you have anything to do with someone she cares about going missing?"
K'airos kept quiet. She straightened her posture and let her hands fall in front once more. She wondered how the man was serving anyone's jail sentence while not being in jail.
"I don't know about missing." Megiddo again began to ponder. "Unless you mean the little girl?"
Closing her eyes briefly, her tail quivering, Antimony struggled for a moment to keep herself together and then let out a heavy breath. "Of course that is who I mean, Megiddo."
The young woman watched her mother's tail. Then, she raised her eyes to the man. "What do you know?" she asked plainly.
Megiddo shook his head. "It's not so melodramatic. My granddaughter HAD been caring for a child, but when she began to have her breakdown, she gave the child to a charity that cares for and seeks homes for refugee orphans. Which is what the girl was, so it was wise. The child isn't missing. She was placed in a home."
"She did not," Antimony said plainly.
K'airos wasn't sure what was going on anymore.
"Did not...?" Megiddo blinked, tilting his weary head. "Did not what?"
"Give the child to an orphanage." Again her eyes shut, and she brought one hand to her temple. "I... do not have the energy for this, Megiddo. Whatever you've done with her, I ask you to undo it. For Miss Loughree."
"She was very upset." K'airos offered, trying to be helpful.
The old man seemed confused and disturbed. "I suppose I may have been incorrect in my knowledge? After all, I'm a hermit, not an investigator. If I don't know that, however, I don't know anything. I merely came by to inquire as to the well-being of yourself and your daughter."
"We..." Her hand fell from her temple, fingers weaving together down by her waist. She was silent a moment and then murmured, "I am sorry. This is perhaps not a good time. Airos shouldn't be disturbed."
K'airos ears dropped and then suddenly lifted. "We are both fine, as you can see." she said, keeping her tone down. She offered a smile. "Thank you for asking."
"I'm glad," Megiddo smiled. "And what of your other daughter?"
Antimony paled at that, nearly swayed on her feet. Her hand tightened on the edge of the door, perhaps to keep her balance. "Now is not the time to revisit it, Megiddo."
K'airos ears dropped, again, and this time they did not lift up. "She died to a voidsent." she said, tone shaken.
"Oh. I apologize. I did not mean to trudge such a thing up. If only I..." His features twisted, and then he shrugged. "Well. The past is past. I can tell from my experience, however, that there will still be brighter days."
"We are still... working towards that. Please, Megiddo, now is not the time," Antimony breathed wearily.
The young Miqo'te shifted her weight from one foot to the other and crossed her arms. "Yes. Uh...was there anything else?"
"That is all." Megiddo lifting his hands, chuckling. "Although, I have a question that might be unrelated. What was the tribe you come from again?"
"... The Hipparion," Antimony murmured, somewhat reluctantly. Even speaking her family's name made her chest ache almost unbearably. She missed... "But it does not matter anymore."
"Why did you ask that?" K'airos questioned.
"In my wandering I heard mention of a migrating tribe coming out of the Sagolii. One of their members was treated for injuries in Drybone -- nothing serious. The tribe has moved into Eastern Thanalan. It may be your very same tribe."
Tail quivering again, Antimony leaned her weight just slightly on the door. "Airos already... I appreciate your concern and efforts. But I cannot... if you could please just leave us to rest."
"I already spoke with some of them, and they told of that. Though...thank you for mentioning it." K'airos said, tapping her fingers together. "We don't think we'd be welcome there."
"Ah, that's a pity. Another thing I must apologize for bringing up." Megiddo smiled an unhappy smile and shook his head. "I'll go, then. My apologies."
"I apologize," Antimony repeated quietly.
"Maybe you can visit us again when we are in Limsa." K'airos offered. "We'll...have a more cheerful mood then. Hopefully." She dropped her head, staring at her feet.
"Perhaps if I go you can have a more cheerful mood sooner than you think. I won't linger. Good night, both of you."
Antimony looked exceedingly guilty at that, but just made to gently shut the door.
"Ah...alright. Good night!" K'airos waved one hand to a side, lazily and mostly as a social reflex.
Megiddo waves as well, casting them a smile and a small bow before turning to leave.
"I am sorry for that, Airos," Antimony murmured once Megiddo was gone and the door shut once again. She rested her hand against it for a moment, not wanting to turn back to her daughter just yet until she'd regained some composure. "... You were going to try some clothes."
"I was." she nodded. Her tail was hidden behind one of her legs, as if it had been glued to it. She moved to the pile of clothes they had been ignoring for so long, and placed both hands on it. "Colors." she muttered, and then turned to her mother. "What color do you think looks best on me?"
Breathing deeply, Antimony turned from the door and donned a small smile for her daughter. "Most anything would look beautiful on you." She paused, and her tail swung slowly once. "... You used to love wearing my ceremonial robe, as a toddler. The elders had used some special pigments from outside traders to dye it a beautiful blue."
"I think I saw something blue..." The young woman mumbled. She raised some clothes, extended them no matter their color and then threw them to a side. Quickly, a second pile was forming. She eventually found something blue. "Blue!" she exclaimed, smiling and placing it over her chest. Her tail swung behind her.
"It's lovely." Her features softened and she gestured towards the small bathroom. "Go, try it on."
"It has some black on it, too." It was not very clear if she was complaining or cheering over that detail. Without looking, she went into the bathroom and closed the door so she could try it on.
"Airos!" Antimony fell away from the door, and her hands fell upon her daughter's shoulders. Her voice wavered, "Do not listen to them! There is nothing more we can do - nothing more we should do. You have suffered enough."
K'airos had been standing behind Antimony most of the time. She stared sadly at a random point near the door. "They are right, though." she said. The young woman kept looking at the same point on the door, her ears dropping to the sides of her head. "That monster took D'aijeen from us." she said. "I'm not helping them because I don't know how to do so. Slashing at it with a sword isn't the kind of help they need, and it's the only thing I know how to do."
Something in the way K'airos spoke made Antimony's heart ache. Her ears fell, and she pulled her daughter into a hug. "You know much more than that, sweetheart," she murmured weakly. "It's just... there's nothing any of us can do to help. No more. Can we just... try and forget?"
K'airos stood silently for a moment, burying her head on her mother's shoulder. Her ears shifted angles, though they were always low, and her lips curved down to a side. "Limsa." she muttered, changing the subject and then pushing slightly away from the hug. "I wonder if sailing is hard."
"I don't know; I've never tried." She did her best to keep K'airos close, though she did let the young woman have some space. Whenever she breathed, her daughter's scent made her heart feel impossibly frail but somehow stronger. "Perhaps you could learn? I would support you."
"I imagine I'd have to learn, being a city on the sea and all..." Her ears did not lift up as she spoke. However, the girl's expression changed to a neutral one. "Do they have giant insects in La Noscea?"
"Not that I've seen, no." She paused, petting K'airos's hair distractedly. "... Though I never traveled beyond the roads."
"They have roads?" K'airos was somehow surprised. Geography was probably not her favorite subject. She spoke with some degree of disappointment. "I thought they'd have canals and boats for everything. But!" She paused to smile. "If they have roads I won't have to worry about buying a boat! Though I should learn to use one anyway, so...and I wonder if I'll need to buy my own yellow jacket or if the uniform is given to you when you join..." She'd likely continue to ramble if allowed.
"It's not all water. Most live on the islands." Antimony almost smiled, but it was a sad expression. Her fingers moved from K'airos's hair to rest on her shoulders, and then slid down to the sides of her arms. "Don't worry about clothing. Though... perhaps you should make good on the Tia's gift now."
[10/24/2014 8:27:30 PM] Kyle: In the next room, Megiddo killed two people.
[10/24/2014 8:28:03 PM] Adrienne D: ((That doesn't count))
[10/24/2014 8:28:10 PM] Kyle: ((Dern))
[10/24/2014 8:28:12 PM] Amelia P.: Unfortunately, they were the only witnesses to the action, so no one will ever know.
It was around this time that a sharp knock lit upon the door. It was fast, sudden, and brief, as though someone had only hit it in passing. Several seconds later, it came again. Twice this time, high on the door.
K'airos huffed and lamented the interruption, slumping forward by a small degree and saying. "Maybe one day I'll get to it. I wonder who is it, this time?"
Tail shivering, Antimony pursed her lips and turned reluctantly from her daughter. "I will deal with them, Airos." Stepping purposefully to the door, Antimony set her jaw and yanked it open, "I thought I made myself clear that we would not suffer your interrogations any longer?"
"I do remember a curt dismissal formerly, but I do not recall those exact words." Megiddo pulled out his dirty beard and stared at the ceiling, pondering. His pale clothes were brown with dust. Thhey were exactly what he had been wearing last time, just dirtier.
K'airos clasped her hands together, letting them hang in front of her. She blinked at the old man, but said nothing.
Breathing in through her nose, Antimony took a half step back. "Ah, Megiddo--" Her ears twitched, tail curling in uncertainty as to how to react to the old man's presence. She sighed, wilting a little. "... I apologize. It has been a difficult time. I do not think we are... up to visitors."
"It's okay." K'airos said, tilting her whole torso to a side, trying to see the man better. "I don't think I know this person."
"I apologize for intruding. At least let me introduce myself to your daughter." The old Duskwight put a hand to his chest and inclined his head. "My name is Megiddo Desfosse. Your mother has sought my advice on some occasions, and I have sought hers. I believe I saw my granddaughter leaving the Quicksand some time ago?"
Ears lowering further, Antimony glanced back towards her daughter. "He... helped me find you again," she added quietly, and then looked to the Duskwight. Weariness deepened the fine lines in her face. "I do not approve of how you're interacting with Miss Loughree."
"Oh!" K'airos let out in surprise. She followed it by hiding her mouth behind both hands. "I was confused for a moment! I thought..." She stopped, and blinked at her mother's back. "You do not approve?"
"I've been trying," said Megiddo, sounding defensive, or like he was mocking a defensive tone. "No harassment. I'm still serving her jail sentence so she does not need to worry about that. And she's begun to behave industriously! I saw her building things."
Her brow pulled down with her ears. "And would you have anything to do with someone she cares about going missing?"
K'airos kept quiet. She straightened her posture and let her hands fall in front once more. She wondered how the man was serving anyone's jail sentence while not being in jail.
"I don't know about missing." Megiddo again began to ponder. "Unless you mean the little girl?"
Closing her eyes briefly, her tail quivering, Antimony struggled for a moment to keep herself together and then let out a heavy breath. "Of course that is who I mean, Megiddo."
The young woman watched her mother's tail. Then, she raised her eyes to the man. "What do you know?" she asked plainly.
Megiddo shook his head. "It's not so melodramatic. My granddaughter HAD been caring for a child, but when she began to have her breakdown, she gave the child to a charity that cares for and seeks homes for refugee orphans. Which is what the girl was, so it was wise. The child isn't missing. She was placed in a home."
"She did not," Antimony said plainly.
K'airos wasn't sure what was going on anymore.
"Did not...?" Megiddo blinked, tilting his weary head. "Did not what?"
"Give the child to an orphanage." Again her eyes shut, and she brought one hand to her temple. "I... do not have the energy for this, Megiddo. Whatever you've done with her, I ask you to undo it. For Miss Loughree."
"She was very upset." K'airos offered, trying to be helpful.
The old man seemed confused and disturbed. "I suppose I may have been incorrect in my knowledge? After all, I'm a hermit, not an investigator. If I don't know that, however, I don't know anything. I merely came by to inquire as to the well-being of yourself and your daughter."
"We..." Her hand fell from her temple, fingers weaving together down by her waist. She was silent a moment and then murmured, "I am sorry. This is perhaps not a good time. Airos shouldn't be disturbed."
K'airos ears dropped and then suddenly lifted. "We are both fine, as you can see." she said, keeping her tone down. She offered a smile. "Thank you for asking."
"I'm glad," Megiddo smiled. "And what of your other daughter?"
Antimony paled at that, nearly swayed on her feet. Her hand tightened on the edge of the door, perhaps to keep her balance. "Now is not the time to revisit it, Megiddo."
K'airos ears dropped, again, and this time they did not lift up. "She died to a voidsent." she said, tone shaken.
"Oh. I apologize. I did not mean to trudge such a thing up. If only I..." His features twisted, and then he shrugged. "Well. The past is past. I can tell from my experience, however, that there will still be brighter days."
"We are still... working towards that. Please, Megiddo, now is not the time," Antimony breathed wearily.
The young Miqo'te shifted her weight from one foot to the other and crossed her arms. "Yes. Uh...was there anything else?"
"That is all." Megiddo lifting his hands, chuckling. "Although, I have a question that might be unrelated. What was the tribe you come from again?"
"... The Hipparion," Antimony murmured, somewhat reluctantly. Even speaking her family's name made her chest ache almost unbearably. She missed... "But it does not matter anymore."
"Why did you ask that?" K'airos questioned.
"In my wandering I heard mention of a migrating tribe coming out of the Sagolii. One of their members was treated for injuries in Drybone -- nothing serious. The tribe has moved into Eastern Thanalan. It may be your very same tribe."
Tail quivering again, Antimony leaned her weight just slightly on the door. "Airos already... I appreciate your concern and efforts. But I cannot... if you could please just leave us to rest."
"I already spoke with some of them, and they told of that. Though...thank you for mentioning it." K'airos said, tapping her fingers together. "We don't think we'd be welcome there."
"Ah, that's a pity. Another thing I must apologize for bringing up." Megiddo smiled an unhappy smile and shook his head. "I'll go, then. My apologies."
"I apologize," Antimony repeated quietly.
"Maybe you can visit us again when we are in Limsa." K'airos offered. "We'll...have a more cheerful mood then. Hopefully." She dropped her head, staring at her feet.
"Perhaps if I go you can have a more cheerful mood sooner than you think. I won't linger. Good night, both of you."
Antimony looked exceedingly guilty at that, but just made to gently shut the door.
"Ah...alright. Good night!" K'airos waved one hand to a side, lazily and mostly as a social reflex.
Megiddo waves as well, casting them a smile and a small bow before turning to leave.
"I am sorry for that, Airos," Antimony murmured once Megiddo was gone and the door shut once again. She rested her hand against it for a moment, not wanting to turn back to her daughter just yet until she'd regained some composure. "... You were going to try some clothes."
"I was." she nodded. Her tail was hidden behind one of her legs, as if it had been glued to it. She moved to the pile of clothes they had been ignoring for so long, and placed both hands on it. "Colors." she muttered, and then turned to her mother. "What color do you think looks best on me?"
Breathing deeply, Antimony turned from the door and donned a small smile for her daughter. "Most anything would look beautiful on you." She paused, and her tail swung slowly once. "... You used to love wearing my ceremonial robe, as a toddler. The elders had used some special pigments from outside traders to dye it a beautiful blue."
"I think I saw something blue..." The young woman mumbled. She raised some clothes, extended them no matter their color and then threw them to a side. Quickly, a second pile was forming. She eventually found something blue. "Blue!" she exclaimed, smiling and placing it over her chest. Her tail swung behind her.
"It's lovely." Her features softened and she gestured towards the small bathroom. "Go, try it on."
"It has some black on it, too." It was not very clear if she was complaining or cheering over that detail. Without looking, she went into the bathroom and closed the door so she could try it on.
"Song dogs barking at the break of dawn, lightning pushes the edges of a thunderstorm; and these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven."
Hipparion Tribe (Sagolii)Â - Â Antimony Jhanhi's Wiki