The following day…
Antimony walked with her head down, carrying yet another one of those ubiquitous envelopes. She was either watching it or her feet, but either way she wasn’t paying particular attention to where she was going, and a small frown pulled at her features.
A heavily armored man stepped forward towards the inn. At least he hoped. He had meant to catch a certain woman there to apologize for his sudden vanishing act yesterday. But he had something he had to do now. As he stepped up, he almost completely missed the very kitten he was going to miss. He almost bumped into her and sharply stepped out of the walk, looking to the woman. "Antimony?" he questioned, surprised to have run into her.
Antimony paused mid-step, which looked rather comical, and angled her head to glance curiously to her left. "Mm? Ah... hello? Can I help you?"
Mitari chuckled faintly and pulled his helmet off. With a small shake of his head he tucked the helmet under his arm, mindful of the horns and spikey bits and gave a little wave. "I was looking for you just now."
Antimony's eyes widened as she did a rather obvious double-take, looking Mitari over from head to toe. "What! How are you... what are you wearing?"
Mitari took a moment to show himself off. “It's uh... well it's a dragoon's armor. This is the typical armor set. You didn't think I went around doing mercenary work in those linens did you?†He laughed.
Antimony flicked one ear back and kind of chuckled along with Mitari for a second before amending, "Well, I... you did say you were having trouble finding work."
Mitari grinned sheepishly in return and gave a little shrug. "Ah, well. Yes. Doesn't mean I get no work either."
Antimony hugged the envelope to her chest and cleared her throat. "I, ah, apologize for the assumption. Or... well." She hesitated. "... How are you feeling?"
Mitari frowned at the question and looked to the ground. "Well enough... but I think... I am going to go back to Coerthas."
Antimony's ears pricked up. "Already?" She blinked. "I mean, that's wonderful! I... think? You found work then?"
Mitari looked away, sulking. “Not... quite.â€
Antimony winced. “Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... well, I'm sure you have very good reasons!â€
“N-no I mean... just... your um... friend... I want to go back and become more than just an honorary knight.â€
Antimony watched Mitari for a moment and then smiled sadly. "I see. I'm... sorry, he shouldn't have said that. It wasn't... well, it was a judgment that was unfair of him to make."
Mitari’s ears flattened a bit, his tail swishing irritably behind him. "No I.. I'm not... I'm just as good. Even better than a real dragoon but... I don't... I don't officially have the title. They're just... so stubborn. No matter how I prove myself they won't admit I could be one. " Mitari explained, frustration clear in his voice.
Antimony frowned and stepped forward, lifting one arm to rest her hand a bit awkwardly on Mitari's shoulder - or, a spot on it that wasn't too pointy. The miqo’te blinked and looked to her hand, and then to her face. “Do not place your own value below the approval of others,†she began, expression soft. “Especially those who have so far been unkind.â€
Mitari smiled weakly at Anti and gave a sort of half-hearted laugh. "Ah but... even your friend was so quick to..." He paused, ears falling and face turning away sadly.
Antimony half smiled and then chuckled a bit embarrassed, "Besides, with the way you leapt about the other morning, I'm sure you have nothing to prove to them that they don't already know. Their own stubbornness doesn't deserve your worry."
Mitari blushed faintly, a bit embarrassed but happy for the praise. "Ah... thanks. I've been learning ever since I was a kit."
“It showed! I've never seen anything like it.â€
“You'd be amazed at what some of the others can do. And there's nothing in Eorzea quite like fighting a dragon.â€
Antimony paused, and her features softened again. "You should go to Coerthas only if it's for yourself. Those Ish... whoever they are--" she waved her other hand holding the envelope, "they don't matter."
“I... it... it is for me. I have to... I have a promise I have to fufill there. I had thought I had done it but... maybe not.â€
Antimony smiled at that. “There. That's a fine reason! Just... take care of yourself, yes?â€
Mitari nodded, “I'll try. And, can you do me just one more favor?â€
Antimony's ears quirked curiously. "Of course."
“I had... have... maybe, a sister. When I lost my family, I don't know what happened to her. I never found a body. She might have been captured or sold off. I don't know but. Her name was Cherishen. She looks similar to me with white hair and gold eyes. If you hear anything about someone with that description...â€
Antimony's brow furrowed with a pensive look and then, rather without warning, she tightened her grip on Mitari's shoulder and pulled him in for a - somewhat awkward with the armor - hug, patting him with one hand. "I certainly will. I'm so sorry something like that happened to you." Mitari Xerxes awkwardly blinked as he was pulled into a somehow... maternal hug? He smiled weakly after a second and tried not to stab her with his armor. "It's okay. It happened a long time ago now. But... if she didn't die before or in the Calamity, she might have been freed so... I stopped looking a few years back but... I think I will start my search again. So just send me a letter to Coerthas if you hear anything." Antimony Jhanhi pulls back somewhat and nods, then, with a look of confusion, "How would I get a letter to you all the way up in Coerthas?" Antimony Jhanhi: Do you have a... well, is there somewhere you stay? Mitari looked thoughtful for a moment. “You could send it to the Observatorium. There's an inn there I've made use of before. So, that's probably where I'll be again.â€
Antimony smiled and squeezed his shoulder, realized he probably couldn't feel that through the armor, and so let her hand drop to his elbow. "The Observatorium," she committed it to memory, lingered with a sad look for a moment, and then, "Very well. I wish you the best of luck in fulfilling your promise, whatever it is."
Mitari nodded. “Thank you for all your help. I um... hope we could keep in touch. Is there somewhere I could send you letters?â€
Antimony returned her arms to her own personal space, folding them across the envelope. “Ah, well, I've got some time before I finish this work in Ul'dah, I think. After that, I'll be returning home, to Limsa.â€
“Do you have a home in Limsa?â€
Antimony nodded and smiled. "It's not much, but yes! You're... well, I suppose if you ever are around, you're welcome to visit."
Mitari blushed. “Ah, a-alright. Maybe I'll stop by if I'm ever in Limsa.â€
“I'll put some real food in you, for once. If your eating habits I've seen so far are anything to go by...â€
Mitari laughed. “They're pretty bad.â€
Antimony pursed her lips disapprovingly. "So I've observed. I've heard it's quite cold up north. You must promise to take better care of yourself in those elements."
Mitari motioned to himself. “This armor is surprisingly warm. But I'll try. Sometime you'll have to come up and make sure a dragon didn't eat me.†He let out a laugh.
Antimony's eyes widened. "A... dragon?"
Mitari nodded. “Of course. That's what I'll be fighting up north.â€
Antimony's fingers twitched around the envelope she held, her ears swooping back worriedly. For a long moment, she looked conflicted over something and then, finally, sighed. "If you must."
“Of course. A dragoon fights dragons. If I want to ever fufill my promise, I need to fight them.â€
Antimony's tail swished behind her in agitation, and she added, "Then you must make doubly--no, triply sure to take care of yourself. And... perhaps don't rush the journey, while your head recovers."
Mitari chuckled a bit and knocked on the top of his head lightly. "It's fine. I'll be wearing a helmet. I'll be fine."
Antimony just sighed again and nodded. "Very well."
Mitari carefully put his helmet back and and knocked up the visor. "You take care too. I have a feeling you worry so much about others you forget to take care of yourself. So don't forgot to take some time for you too."
“Oh, I'll be alright. I've got Ulanan and... well. As long as I don't die of olive poisoning, I will be fine!†She chuckled faintly.
“Why are all your friends so obsessed with olives by the way?â€
Antimony waved one hand. "It's only Ulanan, and I'm... not exactly sure. But there it is."
Mitari shrugged. “Well, take care to eat some other things besides olives and bread okay?â€
Antimony smiled warmly. "I will." A pause, and then, "I... should be on my way. Unfortunately my work... well, schedules are unforgiving."
Mitari nodded. “Thank you. For everything. Take care Antimony...â€
“And you.†Antimony turned as Mitari bid a quiet farewell, and continued on the direction she'd been heading, tail hanging low.
Antimony walked with her head down, carrying yet another one of those ubiquitous envelopes. She was either watching it or her feet, but either way she wasn’t paying particular attention to where she was going, and a small frown pulled at her features.
A heavily armored man stepped forward towards the inn. At least he hoped. He had meant to catch a certain woman there to apologize for his sudden vanishing act yesterday. But he had something he had to do now. As he stepped up, he almost completely missed the very kitten he was going to miss. He almost bumped into her and sharply stepped out of the walk, looking to the woman. "Antimony?" he questioned, surprised to have run into her.
Antimony paused mid-step, which looked rather comical, and angled her head to glance curiously to her left. "Mm? Ah... hello? Can I help you?"
Mitari chuckled faintly and pulled his helmet off. With a small shake of his head he tucked the helmet under his arm, mindful of the horns and spikey bits and gave a little wave. "I was looking for you just now."
Antimony's eyes widened as she did a rather obvious double-take, looking Mitari over from head to toe. "What! How are you... what are you wearing?"
Mitari took a moment to show himself off. “It's uh... well it's a dragoon's armor. This is the typical armor set. You didn't think I went around doing mercenary work in those linens did you?†He laughed.
Antimony flicked one ear back and kind of chuckled along with Mitari for a second before amending, "Well, I... you did say you were having trouble finding work."
Mitari grinned sheepishly in return and gave a little shrug. "Ah, well. Yes. Doesn't mean I get no work either."
Antimony hugged the envelope to her chest and cleared her throat. "I, ah, apologize for the assumption. Or... well." She hesitated. "... How are you feeling?"
Mitari frowned at the question and looked to the ground. "Well enough... but I think... I am going to go back to Coerthas."
Antimony's ears pricked up. "Already?" She blinked. "I mean, that's wonderful! I... think? You found work then?"
Mitari looked away, sulking. “Not... quite.â€
Antimony winced. “Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... well, I'm sure you have very good reasons!â€
“N-no I mean... just... your um... friend... I want to go back and become more than just an honorary knight.â€
Antimony watched Mitari for a moment and then smiled sadly. "I see. I'm... sorry, he shouldn't have said that. It wasn't... well, it was a judgment that was unfair of him to make."
Mitari’s ears flattened a bit, his tail swishing irritably behind him. "No I.. I'm not... I'm just as good. Even better than a real dragoon but... I don't... I don't officially have the title. They're just... so stubborn. No matter how I prove myself they won't admit I could be one. " Mitari explained, frustration clear in his voice.
Antimony frowned and stepped forward, lifting one arm to rest her hand a bit awkwardly on Mitari's shoulder - or, a spot on it that wasn't too pointy. The miqo’te blinked and looked to her hand, and then to her face. “Do not place your own value below the approval of others,†she began, expression soft. “Especially those who have so far been unkind.â€
Mitari smiled weakly at Anti and gave a sort of half-hearted laugh. "Ah but... even your friend was so quick to..." He paused, ears falling and face turning away sadly.
Antimony half smiled and then chuckled a bit embarrassed, "Besides, with the way you leapt about the other morning, I'm sure you have nothing to prove to them that they don't already know. Their own stubbornness doesn't deserve your worry."
Mitari blushed faintly, a bit embarrassed but happy for the praise. "Ah... thanks. I've been learning ever since I was a kit."
“It showed! I've never seen anything like it.â€
“You'd be amazed at what some of the others can do. And there's nothing in Eorzea quite like fighting a dragon.â€
Antimony paused, and her features softened again. "You should go to Coerthas only if it's for yourself. Those Ish... whoever they are--" she waved her other hand holding the envelope, "they don't matter."
“I... it... it is for me. I have to... I have a promise I have to fufill there. I had thought I had done it but... maybe not.â€
Antimony smiled at that. “There. That's a fine reason! Just... take care of yourself, yes?â€
Mitari nodded, “I'll try. And, can you do me just one more favor?â€
Antimony's ears quirked curiously. "Of course."
“I had... have... maybe, a sister. When I lost my family, I don't know what happened to her. I never found a body. She might have been captured or sold off. I don't know but. Her name was Cherishen. She looks similar to me with white hair and gold eyes. If you hear anything about someone with that description...â€
Antimony's brow furrowed with a pensive look and then, rather without warning, she tightened her grip on Mitari's shoulder and pulled him in for a - somewhat awkward with the armor - hug, patting him with one hand. "I certainly will. I'm so sorry something like that happened to you." Mitari Xerxes awkwardly blinked as he was pulled into a somehow... maternal hug? He smiled weakly after a second and tried not to stab her with his armor. "It's okay. It happened a long time ago now. But... if she didn't die before or in the Calamity, she might have been freed so... I stopped looking a few years back but... I think I will start my search again. So just send me a letter to Coerthas if you hear anything." Antimony Jhanhi pulls back somewhat and nods, then, with a look of confusion, "How would I get a letter to you all the way up in Coerthas?" Antimony Jhanhi: Do you have a... well, is there somewhere you stay? Mitari looked thoughtful for a moment. “You could send it to the Observatorium. There's an inn there I've made use of before. So, that's probably where I'll be again.â€
Antimony smiled and squeezed his shoulder, realized he probably couldn't feel that through the armor, and so let her hand drop to his elbow. "The Observatorium," she committed it to memory, lingered with a sad look for a moment, and then, "Very well. I wish you the best of luck in fulfilling your promise, whatever it is."
Mitari nodded. “Thank you for all your help. I um... hope we could keep in touch. Is there somewhere I could send you letters?â€
Antimony returned her arms to her own personal space, folding them across the envelope. “Ah, well, I've got some time before I finish this work in Ul'dah, I think. After that, I'll be returning home, to Limsa.â€
“Do you have a home in Limsa?â€
Antimony nodded and smiled. "It's not much, but yes! You're... well, I suppose if you ever are around, you're welcome to visit."
Mitari blushed. “Ah, a-alright. Maybe I'll stop by if I'm ever in Limsa.â€
“I'll put some real food in you, for once. If your eating habits I've seen so far are anything to go by...â€
Mitari laughed. “They're pretty bad.â€
Antimony pursed her lips disapprovingly. "So I've observed. I've heard it's quite cold up north. You must promise to take better care of yourself in those elements."
Mitari motioned to himself. “This armor is surprisingly warm. But I'll try. Sometime you'll have to come up and make sure a dragon didn't eat me.†He let out a laugh.
Antimony's eyes widened. "A... dragon?"
Mitari nodded. “Of course. That's what I'll be fighting up north.â€
Antimony's fingers twitched around the envelope she held, her ears swooping back worriedly. For a long moment, she looked conflicted over something and then, finally, sighed. "If you must."
“Of course. A dragoon fights dragons. If I want to ever fufill my promise, I need to fight them.â€
Antimony's tail swished behind her in agitation, and she added, "Then you must make doubly--no, triply sure to take care of yourself. And... perhaps don't rush the journey, while your head recovers."
Mitari chuckled a bit and knocked on the top of his head lightly. "It's fine. I'll be wearing a helmet. I'll be fine."
Antimony just sighed again and nodded. "Very well."
Mitari carefully put his helmet back and and knocked up the visor. "You take care too. I have a feeling you worry so much about others you forget to take care of yourself. So don't forgot to take some time for you too."
“Oh, I'll be alright. I've got Ulanan and... well. As long as I don't die of olive poisoning, I will be fine!†She chuckled faintly.
“Why are all your friends so obsessed with olives by the way?â€
Antimony waved one hand. "It's only Ulanan, and I'm... not exactly sure. But there it is."
Mitari shrugged. “Well, take care to eat some other things besides olives and bread okay?â€
Antimony smiled warmly. "I will." A pause, and then, "I... should be on my way. Unfortunately my work... well, schedules are unforgiving."
Mitari nodded. “Thank you. For everything. Take care Antimony...â€
“And you.†Antimony turned as Mitari bid a quiet farewell, and continued on the direction she'd been heading, tail hanging low.
![[Image: AntiThalSig.png]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/179079766/AntiThalSig.png)
"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
