((Oh this sounds like a fun challenge. Alright, I'll give it a try. Askier if he had never left the Empire 5 years ago.))
Askier gazed at himself in the mirror, his brown hair slicked back behind his ears and his Garlean dress uniform was pressed. His face was free of scars and his bushy tail swished to-and-fro in excitement, though his face was covered in a calm smile.
He had made it at last. Captain Mergrey of the Garlean Army, one of the few miqo'te to ever have reached such a rank, and an honor he never would have received if had not been for the political maneuverings of his father-in-law, Adin Adonis.
Askier flashed himself a toothy smile then and stood straight. He recalled that moment, five years ago, when the Calmity had rocked his faith in the Empire's power. He had almost fled, almost given up his life here, run with his sister like a coward. But Adin's adopted daughter, Ashwynn, had talked him out of it. He had listened to her. And here he was, five years later, a captain, a husband, a father, an uncle to his sister's children, and well respected for his engineering feats in the realm of explosives.Â
The miqo'te turned and looked behind him as the door to his office opened. Askier's office was richly decorated, with deep, mahogany desks and walls, thick, red carpets beneath his feet, and large windows overlooking the city. Askier smiled as he saw the white-haired miqo'te that stepped through the door.
"Master Mergrey, my Master Adonis and Lady Ashywnn are here for you."
"Jin'li." Askier replied, his voice polite but stern. "Please, let them in and then have a seat, you aren't looking well." It was true, the white-haired slave of his father-in-law was looking sicker and sicker each time Askier saw him. Askier felt sorry for the frail male. Adin had told Askier Jin'li wasn't long for this world and Askier would miss the white-haired servant. Jin'li was the most loyal person Askier had ever met, and certainly the most polite.
"This slave is happy to serve, Master Mergrey." Jin'li said flatly as he then held the door open. Ashwynn was the first to enter. Askier looked at his wife and smiled as he saw the small bundle she carried.Â
The miqo'te couple meet in the middle of the room and kissed for a moment before Askier looked back and gazed into her ice-blue eyes.
"And how are the two of you doing?" Askier inquired with a grin, his teeth flashing. Ashwynn shrugged playfully.Â
"Would be better if you were home more, instead of making me drag our daughter up her to see you." Ashwynn replied, feigning annoyance. Askier knew she didn't mind that much. Well, maybe a little.
"Well, I'm sure she enjoys the traveling." Askier replied with a wink as he looked down at his little girl and felt his heart melt as the little face looked back up at him, her mismatched eyes fixed on his own. One of the little girl's eyes was gold, the other, ice blue. Askier held the gaze with his daughter for a moment and then looked back up at his wife and gave her another kiss.
"Captain Mergrey!" thundered a voice and the couple separated as Askier lept back and stood at attention. A tall, elderly Garlean entered the room, a grey beard on his chin and wrinkles around his three eyes. The tall man wore the uniform of a Garlean major and marched straight up to Askier.
Askier went to give the man a salute, but Adin wrapped the smaller male in a hug and laughed.
"You should have seen your face!" Adin chuckled as he released his son-in-law. Askier gave a sheepish grin as Adin tussled his hair.
"When you use that title, I'm not sure if you are addressing me as your relative or subordinate."Â Askier admitted.
"Well, right now, this is to see my granddaughter spend some time with her father. I'm taking you out to dinner. Immediately."
"But I need to keep working on the prototype weapon. If the operation against Ul'dah is-"
"Ul'dah?" Ashwynn inquired. Adin gave Askier a disapproving look and then looked at his daughter.
"We'll discuss it over dinner. I'll send Jin'li to fetch Saravena so she can join us. Shall we?" Adin looked at Askier. Askier knew he couldn't say no, even if he had wanted to. A free dinner was something he would never pass up.Â
"Why not? No place I'd rather be than dinner with my family." Askier mused as he walked over and took his long, black coat off a peg and slipped it on as Jin'li held the door open for them to leave. "No place I'd rather be."
Askier gazed at himself in the mirror, his brown hair slicked back behind his ears and his Garlean dress uniform was pressed. His face was free of scars and his bushy tail swished to-and-fro in excitement, though his face was covered in a calm smile.
He had made it at last. Captain Mergrey of the Garlean Army, one of the few miqo'te to ever have reached such a rank, and an honor he never would have received if had not been for the political maneuverings of his father-in-law, Adin Adonis.
Askier flashed himself a toothy smile then and stood straight. He recalled that moment, five years ago, when the Calmity had rocked his faith in the Empire's power. He had almost fled, almost given up his life here, run with his sister like a coward. But Adin's adopted daughter, Ashwynn, had talked him out of it. He had listened to her. And here he was, five years later, a captain, a husband, a father, an uncle to his sister's children, and well respected for his engineering feats in the realm of explosives.Â
The miqo'te turned and looked behind him as the door to his office opened. Askier's office was richly decorated, with deep, mahogany desks and walls, thick, red carpets beneath his feet, and large windows overlooking the city. Askier smiled as he saw the white-haired miqo'te that stepped through the door.
"Master Mergrey, my Master Adonis and Lady Ashywnn are here for you."
"Jin'li." Askier replied, his voice polite but stern. "Please, let them in and then have a seat, you aren't looking well." It was true, the white-haired slave of his father-in-law was looking sicker and sicker each time Askier saw him. Askier felt sorry for the frail male. Adin had told Askier Jin'li wasn't long for this world and Askier would miss the white-haired servant. Jin'li was the most loyal person Askier had ever met, and certainly the most polite.
"This slave is happy to serve, Master Mergrey." Jin'li said flatly as he then held the door open. Ashwynn was the first to enter. Askier looked at his wife and smiled as he saw the small bundle she carried.Â
The miqo'te couple meet in the middle of the room and kissed for a moment before Askier looked back and gazed into her ice-blue eyes.
"And how are the two of you doing?" Askier inquired with a grin, his teeth flashing. Ashwynn shrugged playfully.Â
"Would be better if you were home more, instead of making me drag our daughter up her to see you." Ashwynn replied, feigning annoyance. Askier knew she didn't mind that much. Well, maybe a little.
"Well, I'm sure she enjoys the traveling." Askier replied with a wink as he looked down at his little girl and felt his heart melt as the little face looked back up at him, her mismatched eyes fixed on his own. One of the little girl's eyes was gold, the other, ice blue. Askier held the gaze with his daughter for a moment and then looked back up at his wife and gave her another kiss.
"Captain Mergrey!" thundered a voice and the couple separated as Askier lept back and stood at attention. A tall, elderly Garlean entered the room, a grey beard on his chin and wrinkles around his three eyes. The tall man wore the uniform of a Garlean major and marched straight up to Askier.
Askier went to give the man a salute, but Adin wrapped the smaller male in a hug and laughed.
"You should have seen your face!" Adin chuckled as he released his son-in-law. Askier gave a sheepish grin as Adin tussled his hair.
"When you use that title, I'm not sure if you are addressing me as your relative or subordinate."Â Askier admitted.
"Well, right now, this is to see my granddaughter spend some time with her father. I'm taking you out to dinner. Immediately."
"But I need to keep working on the prototype weapon. If the operation against Ul'dah is-"
"Ul'dah?" Ashwynn inquired. Adin gave Askier a disapproving look and then looked at his daughter.
"We'll discuss it over dinner. I'll send Jin'li to fetch Saravena so she can join us. Shall we?" Adin looked at Askier. Askier knew he couldn't say no, even if he had wanted to. A free dinner was something he would never pass up.Â
"Why not? No place I'd rather be than dinner with my family." Askier mused as he walked over and took his long, black coat off a peg and slipped it on as Jin'li held the door open for them to leave. "No place I'd rather be."
