Illira

THIS LALA DID NOTHING Thats what they all say!

You will like Berrod's commission then. >;3 *sees Berrod's commission* *promptly passes out from a heatstroke brought on by the hawtness*

*raises hand* Yes, please!

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After much thought, I think I've got as close to a 'TV' counterpart for Illira as I can find in... Stannis Baratheon - "Would that all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms had but a single neck..." (I've had no success doing this with any of my other ARR characters yet!)

*fans self* Yes, please. *is a not-so-seekrit fan of Highlanders*

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Yeah, pretty much what the others have said. If the character is actually someone who is going to be RPed and not just occasionally referenced, then you should actually make that character ingame as an alt. Don't worry much about leveling them up if you have no interest in doing. If its a sole-RP alt you can do as much or as little as you'd like. Leveling them a little to get airship access/nice clothing, etc. is nice but not a have to. If you wanted you could even just leave them as a level 1 (*has been guilty of this*). To avoid confusion, its really better to have the basic model/name, etc of the alt than nothing since in-game RP is your poison of choice.

((Follows after Smallshells for the Heart)) Ildur sat in the sparsely furnished office of the Commerce Regulation Agency. It was a large room with little more than a desk and a few padded seats. The window behind it was decorated with red curtains, which the old merchant had swung open moments before to let the light of the dawn enter. Something had changed, though. The potted flowers that were on the desk in earlier times was now on a corner next to the windows, sitting on top of its own thin side table. There was also a bookcase and a cabinet to either side. They matched the desk in style, looking well made and expensive but not excessively. The main change, however, was that the pile of disorganized paperwork that had been on top of the desk since forever was now gone. Instead, there was a ledger, an inkwell, a quill, an open envelope and a lamp with a green shade. Ildur was behind the desk with one hand over it and leaning against his chair. His other hand held a paper. The whole setup cast an ominous shadow towards the door. Illira let herself into the C.R.A.'s office with little ceremony. She didn't even knock on its doors, for while it had been a long while since she had last passed through them, it was her prerogative to do as she willed. She had wasted little time in returning to the office once she'd gotten off of the airship, stopping only long enough to allow the airsickness to subside. The heavy wooden door hit the wall with a dull thud as she walked into the room. She quickly took stock of the reorganization that had been done since D'hein's departure from Limsa. "It seems you've cleaned the place." Ildur glanced briefly to the elf and offered a smile before continuing to pay attention to the letter in his hand. "It was much needed, if you ask me. Do you approve? I'm not an expert in furnishing, but I believe I did a decent job." "Yes, I do approve. Its quite a refreshing change." Illira took a seat a few feet from the desk, watching Ildur muse over the papers, proper work. She had not seen that in far too long. "I hope you had a good journey." "Oh. It was delightful. Did you know that our very own D'hein and Antimony's child was possessed by a voidsent? You missed all the drama over here in Limsa." "It must have been very dramatic, indeed..." Ildur turned his head to look at the elezen. His brow raised over his glasses. "I'm sorry. Did you say 'possessed by a voidsent'?" "Yes. I was rather dragged along for the ride. He claims that he is headed back to business now that his machinations have made him a Nunh of his tribe. But I have no faith in him." Illira spoke coldly, matter of factly. "What do you imagine he will do, then?" Illira shrugged, "I would not be surprised to hear that he aims to place himself on under Ul'dah's crown as sultan. His... work merely benefits his own power and wealth. Not the Empire's." Ildur let out a brief chuckle. He placed the paper down into its envelope. "Though if he does have a better position within his own tribe, then he will be able to provide us with all or most of their assets." he said. "I think you are giving him too much credit." "Am I? Everything out of that man's lips is a lie or a deceit." "I know he was using our agents to make a move against his Nunh. Beyond that, though, what was his lie?" asked the old man while opening a drawer and slipping the now closed letter inside. "What isn't one? What thing does he do for what is right and not simply to further his own agenda. There are too many too many misdeeds to count," said Illlira, pointedly not giving specifics. "As I said." Ildur started, resting his arms on the desk and joining his hands. "His tribe is not an insignificant player in Ul'dah. The help they can provide us is directly dependant on how much D'hein controls them. We will soon find out how much assistance he is willing to give us with his new rank." "Hrmmm," the low, discontented sound rumbled in Illira's throat. "He is going to send me reports. I have my own sources to use for comparison." "I'm sure you are not looking forward to go back to that city. Let's hope he doesn't do anything strange. Though, if he does plan on doing anything like what you said, he won't do it from one day to the other." Ildur said, nodding and leaning back. "What was that about his daughter and voidsents?" "I'm surprised that you haven't received word yet from events at Vesper Bay. I'm sure you will soon. The girl lost control and needed to be put down. There was... there was a woman there who doesn't believe that its done yet. But the daughter is dead." "That sounds unfortunate. How did D'hein take it?" She shrugged, "Well enough, he did not seem that surprised that it came to that. He even insisted on thanking me, though he should not have." Ildur tilted his head. "Why? What was your role in that?" The elezen's jaw tightened at the question, "I was the one that took her life." The man nodded, his hand passing once over his beard. "I see." he said, moving his sight to the top of the desk for a moment. "Do you think that will impact in his next actions with the Agency?" "In what way do you mean?" she asked. "I'm basically wondering if you think he was being sincere in his thanks, or if he might hold his daughter's death against you." "Who knows. Though of all things that I have heard fall from his lips, his relief seemed genuine. Antimony has not taken it so well. Oh. I assume you heard he had hired her back on against my strict recommendation?" "I did." he nodded, smiling. "I'm not sure how you can recommend something strictly, but if that's all it was there's not much to be done if he intends to keep her around in Ul'dah. We'll have to ask him about that at a later time, though. I don't think it would be convenient or polite to bother him right now." Illira frowned at that, "Convenience and politeness are merely excuses. But I won't press the matter now." "It was only a strict recommendation, Illira." he smiled. "Is there anything else I should know?" Her eyes narrowed at Ildur's turning her words against her, "No. That is all for now." Ildur seemed mostly amused by it. "You should take some time to rest from Ul'dah, then. Take a day or two, if you feel you need them." he said, standing up. "We'll talk about those matters with more detail soon. Meanwhile, I'll find you some simpler, D'hein-free administrative work." Illira stood as well at that, "There is always work to be done. I will see you again soon enough, now that I am back in Limsa for a little while." "I hope your stay here will be more peaceful. It was good to see you." "Hrmm, Your bearded face is a welcome change from D'hein's at least." Illira walked herself to the door. Ildur remained standing for a while before shrugging and sitting again, having nothing more to add.

Thanks again, it turned out completely awesome!

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Its not just rambunctious and hot-headed types that get can get themselves into trouble though. There are any number of reasons that a character can get into that sort of situation. Neither character that I described in my post are rambunctious and hot-headed types. One of them was simply in over his head trying to protect and shelter others when he really didn't have the capability to defend them from what was coming. And the other simply has underestimated the immediate danger of the situation as a result of hubris. I've never understood the argument of why something can't be realistic just because its in ____ universe. Just because the aesthetic

Yes, I would perma-death a main RP character if the time/situation was right for it. I'm actually kind of surprised that I haven't yet, to be quite honest. The possibility of that happening came up for one of my most oft-RPed characters a couple of months ago. Although it ended up not happening, that was simply a result of the RP not taking it to that point. I'd done a lot of consideration on the subject and decided that under those circumstances and had decided I would be alright with it even if it would be a sad affair to lose that character. While his personal story was far from being "played-out" as some people put it, the thematics and echos let behind by his death under those circumstance would have been right and perhaps have served a greater purpouse in the overall story-arc. Part of my willingness to do that, is because I find that often times, in these sorts of matters, taking the OOCly easy way out feels disrespectful to the character. Thats not to say that I have any issue when someone decides to opt-out of say, killing or maiming their character when it comes up. Just that when I get a feeling in my gut that something -should- happen but don't want it to for OOC reason I'm much more likely to set aside the OOC for the IC. Its a matter of their life choices (good or bad) having brought them to that point and shying away from the repercussions of that doesn't sit well with me. Recently, I had to make a relatively spur of moment decision (if you count staring at the screen debating with yourself for 20 mins spur of the moment!) about whether or not to let my Roe, Cypress get stabbed in the eyes and blinded. While it certainly wasn't death, I think for this character, I actually would found that sort of decision easier to make than this particular maiming. While I could have written it off as her merely turning her head and getting her face scratched up, it would have brushed off the hubris that had led her to that exact moment. Her being blinded means that she's going to be challenged to learn and adapt when such a thing goes against her very nature. Its essentially worse than death to her to need to depend on the very person that she blames for her newfound circumstance. But it was poetic justice, and I'm interested to see what will happen. Just as I'm interested in the fallout that happens from characters' deaths. So... moral of this post is, due what feels right in your gut. Whatever that may be, if its the right time for a character to have ______ happen to them, you'll know. On a side note response to: I'm not sure if I agree that the decision to kill of an alt is necessarily a less impactful one though. Admittedly, that could be because in a given RP universe I usually have multiple characters that I would consider "mains", so that distinction between a main and an alt is super fuzzy for me in a lot of cases.

It wasn't long before the sounds of a dock reached them. Vesper Bay was just in front of them. "Oh, it seems I got lost and went backwards. How silly of me." the lalafell explained with a joking tone. "But now that we are here, we could see a proper healer. Althyk does not allow for coincidences!" Cypress ground her teeth at that, "When you lead us back back here against my wishes, of course it cannot be one. Do not mock my faith, little one." She could still smell the sulfur in the air now that they were close to the town. If the wind had not been on their back she could have realized Ulanan's intentions sooner. "I do not mock your faith. I mock your interpretations." She pulled from the Roegadyn's clothes. "We are closer now to the town and a healer than from anybody that could be there on the beach. You might as well take the opportunity." Something that sounded a lot like a 'hrmph' sounded from Cypress. She didn't resist much though when she was pulled towards town. The lalafell smiled as she led the other woman. The Brass Blade keeping guard at the gates gave them both an odd look. "She needs a healer." Ulanan said, pointing up with the free hand at Cypress' face. "Go to the quarters next to the south gate. Should be a healer there." was the sharp, uncaring reply she got. As they passed through the gate, Cypress spoke, "So. You know this land better than I. And you know the v-" she cut herself off, rephrasing, "D'aijeen. Do you have... suggestions?" "I never met her until she was like you saw she was." Ulanan answered. "She was very attached to her sister, from what I gathered, and hated her mother. If she's still...alive, she might try to get to them." Rather than go through the plaza, she chose to hug the outer wall and move across the cramped alley that was formed between the houses and the wall, imagining the Roegadyn wouldn't wish to go through the central plaza under the eyes of anyone and everyone. "Then you think that we should catch up with them then, and hope that D'aijeen will show her face once more?" Honestly, Cypress probably would not have cared if they went through the plaza, its not like she could see the gawkers anyway. "Do you think the voidsent can take many body at the same time?" Ulanan asked, suddenly and out of nowhere. "Not that I have seen, or have heard in our tales of them," Cypress answered simply. "If that...kid in the shipwreck had the voidsent..." the little woman started, turning around a corner. "...well, maybe it was another one? Or was it the same? Could you tell?" "I... do not think that it was the same. But it was at the least the work of... D'aijeen," she settled for the sake of ease, calling it that, "the body that it chose is gifted in the arts of necromancy and the manipulation of the void." They were close to the Blade quarters now. "Whatever we do, it's going to be terrible. If she's still alive, she'll go for her family. Or maybe not. Maybe she needs to recover. Which means we should keep trying to find her in the shore. But then...watch the steps up." The entrance to the quarters had a number of stairs that Ulanan would describe as "too many". But for now, she simply guided Cypress' feet with careful pulling. The steps weren't actually so bad, "She isn't alive," Cypress corrected, "But the actual girl inside hasn't been in control for at least quite sometime, you realize." "You know what I meant. Hey! Hello!" Ulanan knocked on the door loudly. "We need a healer and we were sent here. Hello?" A short hyur dressed in the Brass Blade uniform opened the door and the first thing he saw was the Roegadyn. "Holy Thal! How did you reach here, and why is your voice so lalafell-like..." he started, and then went quiet when he noticed the small blonde lalafell with the huge hat. "Come in and...wait there." he pointed to a bench nearby while he turned around and left towards the interior of the quarters. "I'll call our healer." Ulanan pulled Cypress inside. The blood had stopped flowing down sometime ago, but it had dried on her face. The pupils of the eyes had been stuck clean through, it was a miracle in and of itself that they hadn't simply been plucked out by the demon. As much use as that was. Cypress settled onto the bench that Ulanan led her towards, "You know. Perhaps it would be best now to catch up with that family." "If you think the voidsent won't need any time to recover, then I would agree." she nodded. "With the time that we have wasted returning here and the time it would take to even resume searching where we left off from, the voidsent will be long gone." Ulanan pouted. Not that Cypress could see it. "I choose to believe you just thanked me for not letting you bleed to death in the way and leaving me to deal with the voidsent on my own." Two hyurs emerged from one of the doors. One was the guard that had greeted them, and who quickly went back to his post. His post was, apparently, sitting on a chair near a tiny desk and do nothing. The other one was carrying a long, curled dry branch. He stopped in front of Cypress with his hands on the hips. "Hello, I'm your healer for today. What happened?" he asked with a gravelly, slightly asleep tone. Cypress merely lifted her face upwards towards the man, "My eyes have been ruined. I was brought here to ensure that they do not fester or cause more issues than they already do." "I can see that. I meant in a more...you know...how it happened? But you can answer that after we look at it, now that I think better about it. Horse!" the hyur yelled, looking at the other. "Why do you keep calling me that?" the other complained, standing from his chair. "Because you used a stupid hat in the holydays. Be a good Blade and ask that lalafell what happened while I see this one." The conjurer extended one hand to take Cypress' shoulder and guide her farther into the quarters. Cypress rose back to her feet, when she felt the hand on her shoulder and followed the healer into the back room, trusting Ulanan to know what to say to the Horse-man. "We cannot tarry in this town," she explained to the healer, "So simply do what you can now, and worry not beyond that." "Yes, ma'am. I mean...no, I do my job right. No matter how much I was enjoying that nap and wishing to go back to it. You get to tell me what to do if you become a Brass Blade -and- a captain." he replied. They went through a few cramped hallways until they reached the infirmary. It was just a room with two beds and a table filled with alchemical reagents, potions and linen wraps. He guided her to one of the beds. "Sit there." he ordered, taking the focus from his back. "This is the second time in less than two days that I tend to someone who got one of his senses destroyed. If she could have, Cypress would have narrowed her eyes, "And what happened to that person?" "He left. He was just deaf." A large mass of aether washed over Cypress's body as the man casted the first healing spell. "-Just- deaf, I say? As if that was not a big deal. But yes, he left. He was in a hurry and was worried about some young woman. He wouldn't hear...well, he -couldn't- hear me or anyone telling him to wait or give us more detail. Just ran off. Or...walked off. Ran-walked, maybe." The pain in her eyes left as the healer blocked the nerves within them, "A... young woman you say? Did he say anything more about her?" Another spell fell upon the woman, much more focused and aimed at the wounds directly. "He described her shortly. Green hair, dark skin. Dressing in some kind of red dress, I think. Why? Does that sound familiar to you?" The man left his branch over the table and rummaged through the stuff laying on top of it. "Yes. Very." The roegadyn did her best to keep her lids open as the healer worked, "Where did he go? What direction at least?" The Blade, being attentive enough to notice her struggle, took off his gauntlets and used one hand to keep one of her eyes open. "Can't say. He channeled a teleportation spell as soon as he was outside. Are you feeling anything up here?" "What little I can feel is strange," she answered before changing the subject immediately back to the deaf man, "He said nothing then of his intended destination? That is of far more importance than my eyes." "Is it? Are you looking for that girl, too?" "You could... say that," Cypress said. The healer moved away, taking one of the linen piles from the table. They turned out to be really cheap bandages. He wrapped Cypress' eyes with them. "I don't know who the girl was, or where that man went to. But he announced himself as Qion'a. He's a moonkeeper. Really dark skin, black hair and golden eyes. I don't know if that will help you in any way, and I sure hope that I'm not helping you in getting him killed or something. It could weigh on my conscience. If I had one." he chuckled. The bandages pressed over Cypress's eye sockets and through her hair, the harsh material already causing her skin to itch. Really, it seemed they were more for the benefit of others looking at her than to actually help the healing process, "I currently have no intention of getting him killed, should you remember anything else... I am certain that my unfortunate companion will be able to compensate you." "You shouldn't say those things. I might just make things up." the man chuckled again. "You haven't told me how you got those wounds yet." "The story would be wasted on you, I am afraid. But suffice to say that it is my companion's fault. She has told me that she has now learned her lesson though. So at least some good came from this. It seems that she is finally playing a useful role." There was no amusement in Cypress's rough, deep voice. "That's harsh. But I think I would also be angry if one of my fellow Blades blinded me." He placed one hand on her shoulder, urging her to stand up. "A quick heal, like you wanted. Change the bandages often, and get some rest. That's an order. From a healer. Because I know what's good for your health. Alright?" "Fine. Give extra supplies to the lalafell if you must." Cypress stood to her full height, towering over the midlander. She was about to start walking when she realized that she had no idea where to go. Her jaw clenched as she simply stood there, ashamed of her inability to do such a simple thing as leave an unfamiliar room on her own without blundering about. "I also suggest you get a stick. Good thing you have your own blame-filled lalafell to guide you around. But she might not stick around forever." the man said, mercilessly. "Come." he added, grabbing her from the arm. "I'll guide you back." "I'll adjust," she said taking ahold of his arm and allowing herself to be led out. Back at the hall, Ulanan was sitting on the chair of the tiny desk, while the other Blade, the lazy one nick-named "Horse", stood next to the door from where Cypress and the healer were approaching. He looked nervous for a moment and then went out of their sight. "They are coming back!" he murmured to the lalafell. "Are you done?" She nodded, making one last flourish with the quill. "Your report is done. I was a great witness and I didn't mention you have a bag of Somnus on you. Just like you wanted!" When Cypress and the medic arrived at the hall, Horse was back on his desk, smiling suspiciously. Ulanan was sitting on the bench. "I wrote a report about this incident!" said Horse. The healer raised his brows and gently pushed Cypress towards the lalafell woman. "That's great, Horse. Do a hundred more and we might need to use your real name out of respect." "I do hope that you did not burden the man with unnecessary details..." Cypress said said to Ulanan. The little woman huffed. "Of course not. How are your eyes?" she asked. "She needs to rest, resist the urge to deal with the itch, change the bandages...probably every day if you have the funds. Maybe see a healer if the ache continues for more than a week." the non-lazy hyur said, not moving from the door. "I hope you both have a better day from now on." "That is doubtful, but perhaps Althyk will bless us." Cypress lets go of the midlander's arm and walks towards where she remembered hearing Ulanan's voice coming from. The lalafell stood up and grabbed Cypress' clothes once more. "Thank you." she said to the Blades, offering a smile and a little bow. Then she pulled her 'friend' towards the exit. "This way, watch the steps again." As soon as they were out of the building and the door behind them closed, Cypress spoke, "Apparently there was a moonkeeper that went to that healer for treatment of his hearing. And he'd spoken that he was worried about D'aijeen. But gated away before speaking of much more." "Mm. That...is not helpful. Did they know who he was?" The red woman shook her head as they traversed the steps, "No. But he described the man. Dark skin and hair with gold eyes." The lalafell took a long breath, thinking. "That's something. Thankfully, miqo'te men are not very common. But then they are usually reclusive. He could have gone anywhere." "The healer claimed no knowledge of where the man was headed." "Where do you want to go, then? We can't follow him." "To the family, perhaps they can shed light on where it might go if it does not simply show itself." "I imagine you didn't attune to the aetheryte in Ul'dah, did you? We'll have to rent chocobos." "... Attune to aetheryte?" Cypress asked blankly not having any clue what Ulanan spoke of. "Just what I imagined." the lalafell commented under her breath. "We'll talk about that and how handy it will be on our way to Horizon. This way, now!"

D'hein paused outside of the Hourglass-or-whatever, smiling at the fountain near the gate and its inscription: "Power is depth of pocket". He didn't smile because his pockets were deep, nor because he liked the idea of power, but because the philosophy was so simple and straightforward and terribly untrue. No depth of pocket could have stopped D'aijeen. No, power is not depth of pocket. The illusion of power is. And that made this phrase like a weapon for D'hein. The inscription on the fountain, constantly reminding the residents of Ul'dah of the lie, kept the weapon sharp. And D'hein kept himself sharp by looking in the reflective waters of the fountain and tugging on the tips of his ears. His hair was dirty, his face was dirty, and his clothes were dirty, but as long as his ears were sharp and his mane satisfyingly fluffed -- which it was -- then he would be just fine. He splashed water over his face for good measure anyway. Then he decided his teeth were probably dirty and washed his mouth out with fountain water as well. That was a particularly terrible idea. The water was filthy and tasted like everything. He was still spitting and coughing when he walked up the stairs to head into the tavern and look for Antimony and K'airos. D'hein brushed his face repeatedly with his ratty, burnt sleeves, pushing inside to look around. --------------- By the time Antimony had made it back out into the Quicksand, she'd found no sign of neither D'hein nor Illira. This distressed her perhaps more than it should have, and her mind conjured up an image of having to return to K'airos and tell her that all of her possessions were lost. It would break her... She wavered for a moment, swaying in one spot almost drunkenly before finally turning to rest against one of the Quicksand's railings. She was still there when D'hein returned, fretting over how she was to find K'airos a change of clothing when she had hardly a single gil to her name anymore. She'd worked herself up to near tears by the time she lifted her head enough to catch sight of him wandering back through the door. Ears pressing down to her head she exclaimed, "Where have you been??" D'hein heard someone shouting. That wasn't all that uncommon in this place, but it was still rude and, besides, he thought he recognized the voice. It was while he was looking out for the rude person that he noticed Antimony looking at him, and greeted her with a smile and a wave. "Ah, hello! Where have you been hiding, hm?" "Hiding..." Antimony shut her eyes a moment, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose and then rubbing across her brow. She sighed wearily. "We have not been hiding. You disappeared and... ah." She shook her head. "Please tell me you found Airos's things.." "I found Airos things," D'hein said immediately, then paused to think about it. He walked over to Antimony, gazing at the ceiling, and nodded. "Yes, that's a true statement." Antimony sagged with relief at that, and for a moment she feared she might actually just collapse. She managed to stay upright, however, eyes closed and limbs limp. "Alright... thank you. She... requested a change of clothes. Was there anything...?" D'hein pondered this. "Clothes. I think so. At least, I recall Brass Blade armor. Not comfortable, but she'd likely feel very safe wearing it." Brow creasing, Antimony shook her head slightly. "She deserves something... nice, and comfortable." "Well it's not like went through her things." D'hein gave Antimony a slightly affronted look, and then shrugged. "Do you still have that dress I got you the once? It would likely fit her just fine." "Ah, perhaps..." Antimony sighed, then hesitated, and asked quieter, "Was there... anything of Aijeen's...?" "Just the one outfit. White tights and a corresponding blouse, with that green traveling robe of hers. Girl found one outfit and just wore it all the time. I can't fathom how she got away with it." Her brow furrowed at that, though her protest was tempered by her own emotional exhaustion, "Not all have the means to own multiple outfits." "Aijeen certainly did." D'hein nodded at that. "I made sure of it. I didn't want your daughters to want for anything. Of course, I made them work hard, as well! Which is important." He seemed to be swinging into a lecture directed at no one in particular. “If you have her things, I would return to my daughter," Antimony interrupted his lecture quietly, pushing herself from the railing to turn towards the hall that would take them back to the room. D'hein looked at his hands and pondered. He looked confused for a long time and then quietly mused, "... Have... have. /Have/ her things." Antimony paused and tried to ignore the pit in her stomach widening. She turned back towards D'hein. "... Yes. You... have Airos's things, yes...?" "Have." D'hein watched the ceiling, then looked down at Antimony and smirked nervously. "You know, 'have' is a deceptively pesky word! It can mean so many things! Or nothing it all. I mean, I was jsut thinking about money and the economy, and, you know legal tender. And. Do we, any of us, really ever HAVE anything? Truly, now!" "Tia." Antimony's features tensed. He frowned, stricken. "That's such a rude thing to call someone." It wasn't, but Antimony didn't feel like arguing that point. "It is rude of you to not answer my question." "I did answer. If anything you should complain about my over-answering!" He gestured broadly at this, his tail whipping behind him. "At any rate, you want me to bring K'airos' things to your room, correct? I'll do that, then!" "... Yes, please." Her hand went to her brow, fingers shaking against her skin. "Then don't worry! I'll be right back!" D'hein back-pedalled, spun, and fairly fled from the tavern before Antimony could respond. Antimony watched D'hein go in half-disbelief. She felt faint for several seconds, and then she just felt like she wanted a drink. Instead, she just lowered her ears and made her way back to her inn room.

((Meanwhile with D’hein and Illira...)) "I did as I promised you. I brought Antimony and her child here. I was simply heading my own way now," Illira gestured at the door, "Now... if you would move out of the way so that I may continue on..." D'hein looked confused by Illira's gestures, squinting at her hand as it moved and then looking up back to her face. For an instant, he might've been suspicious, and then he shrugged and smiled, "Where to? Back to Limsa?" "Probably. If its the first ship out of this city. I cannot stay here D'hein, you should realize that more than anyone. I can make no promises if I stay. Maybe not even if I leave." The normally perfectly controlled elezen looked practically itchy as she sneered at the man. D'hein got well out of Illira's way. "I should encourage you to have enough patience to wait for a ship that takes you somewhere that you can actually go to deliberately." "Perhaps I will, now that you do not seem to eager to track me down and chain me to you, D'hein," Illira reaches for the exit door again, this time hopefully not to be crashed into. "I would've never chained you to me!" D'hein protested. "That would have been very rude and unproductive." Illira held the door open, leaning into it, "Oh, you seem to have been doing a good job trying to do that lately." D'hein took the opened door as an invitation to follow and walked out in front of Illira. "And you've done a good job letting me! But it was never my intention. I was just, worried, after all. Rightfully, you yourself must admit." Illira simply stared as D'hein walked through the doorway and walked back in the direction that he'd just come from, "Where are you going?" D'hein said simply, "I'm not sure. At any rate, yes." "You should listen to yourself before you speak. And think before you act, unless you're intending to accompany me all the way to the airship and perhaps on it? Since that appears to be what you are doing," Illira still held the door open, in hopes that he would return through it. "Well I certainly don't intend to board an airship and leave. I just got back and remember being in a hurry to get to some occasion." He lifted his hands like it was no big deal whether he actual made it to this thing of his or not. "But it would be rude of me not to keep you company to the airship, wouldn't it? After all, you're leaving Ul'dah again! It's the end of an age." Illira pointed towards the stairwell, "I thought you were worried about your chosen mate and her child." D'hein waved Illira's comment off. "And I trust you to have taken adequate care of them. D'aijeen is dead, D'themia is in jail, Ulanan is searching for any errant voidsent. All threats are taken care of! I've no reason to worry." Illira grudgingly steps through the door to the streets, knowing that arguing further with him on this matter would only end in further frustration, "You seem terribly cheerful about it all." D'hein shrugged at Illira. "I'm not cheerful. But I began my mourning days ago. I didn't doubt for a moment that D'aijeen murdered D'ahl, and I knew how it would end. It's terribly, but it's over now. We did a good job with what of the situation we could control." The elezen walked past him, towards Ruby Road, "Then what do you intend to do now? Your focus appears to still be very imprinted upon Antimony." "Not at all," D'hein said, following. "I actually seem to remember I might have some kind of business thing lined up or something. A lot of illegal activity should collapse now that D'themia's no longer supporting it, and I intend to be there to scoop up every misfiled paper and miscalculated figure, crisp for prosecution!" If Illira could have growled, she likely would have at D'hein's statement, "If you say so. But we will see what actually happens." D'hein walked with high steps, swinging his arms as he followed Illira. This caused an annoyingly loud shuffling of cloth from his burned and tattered robes. "We will see! Would you like me to send progress reports! I'll let you know all about the downfall of the Syndicate." "You mean the syndicate that you are a part of and make use of on a regular basis?" Illira snorts at that, "Yeah. We'll see that when it happens." "So you want me to send you reports! Excellent! Ah, oh!" D'hein caught up to Illira and walked beside her. "Are there any Ul'dahn-exclusive products that you'll miss? Spices? Confectionaries? I can send them along from time to time as well." "D'hein." Illira said seriously, as if she had ever been anything but, "Do you remember my feelings on the subject of your gift giving?" She stepped up onto the staircase leading into the center of Ul'dah. She paused on it, looking back at the miqo'te. The man did not pause for several seconds. Then he had to take a step back and turn around. "You said that I'm bad at it. But it's not a gift if it's something you tell me to get!" "I said that your gifts are too often inappropiate. But to answer your question, no. I do not wish for an Ul'dahn themed carepackage. That would entirely defeat the purpouse of my departure." Illira resumed her walk up the steps. D'hein just looked confused at this. "What? I thought you were leaving because of homicidal impulses. Is there something wrong with Ul'dahn confections?" The slight bit of humor that Illira displayed vanished as she quickly covered the distance between her D'hein and took ahold of his collar, pulling him towards her, "I hate this city and nearly everything in it. Do not send me reminders of it." D'hein did not miss the tone and gesture. He hung there with his hands at his sides and replied, "I wouldn't dream of it." "Good." Illira said, letting go of D'hein's lapels. D'hein brushed himself off and moved to follow Illira, happy once more. "But you still want those reports right?" "If you insist, though know that I will follow up on the detail with my own connections," At the top of the stairs, Illira took a right to the elevator that would take her up to the airship docking. "You have connections in Ul'dah that I don't know about?" "Why do you seem surprised at that?" Illira turned to the elevator attendant requesting to be sent up to the top, before turning back to D'hein. "Because I thought all your connections in Ul'dah would be made available to the Agency and through the Agency to me and now I feel like you're deliberately holding back tools I could be using to cure Ul'dah of the infestation that plagues it!" "Except that you're not. I say that I will follow up, because I wish to be certain that what you say aren't more twisted tales. This is an opportunity to prove your worth and actions, D'hein if you really wish for such a thing." The elevator door opens and Illira steps right into it. "I don't feel the need to prove anything to you," D'hein said, his voice shifting down and his body-language solidifying into languid confidence as Illira boarded the elevator. He didn't follow her into it. "Nor do I need your connections to do what needs to be done. I just wish I knew who your friends were so they didn't end up on any of my lists." "Oh, look, your story just changed. I'm so very surprised," Illira smirked at the man as the elevator began to close. D'hein chuckled at that, and shook his head. "It's all the same story. Happy travels, Illira." The doors come to a creaking close and the dial above its doors begin to move, showing its upward progress towards its destination.

Arriving back at Ul'dah felt no different to Antimony than leaving it. The air stank. The walls loomed. Refugees languished in disease and poverty. The streets clamored with noise. She handed off her chocobo to the city's chocobo-keep wearily and turned to watch K'airos and Illira. The latter she had mixed feelings towards her presence; the former she wanted to swaddle up and spirit her away some place safe, some place distant and completely removed from the lands that seemed determined to take her family. Her grey tail twitched low by her legs as she tried not to breathe too deeply. "I am sorry for bringing you so far out of your way, Miss Carceri." Yes, she was sorry. Sorry the elezen had been present. Sorry she had killed her daughter. "It is not out of my way. I needed to stop through to get on an airship anyway," She glanced up at the Quicksand that was just across the street, "I should stay with you until your other... escort arrives. Or perhaps you all feel safe enough waiting on your own so long as your back at your lodgings?" K'airos handed her own chocobo back before standing to the side of her mother. Her arms were crossed. "I don't know if we have...lodgings here." she said. Antimony set a reassuring hand on K'airos's arm. "I have a room at the Quicksand that we can stay in for now." Green eyes glanced towards Illira, the crowsfeet extending from their corners and the crease between her brow having deepened over the past few days. "I would not burden you further, Miss Carceri. I understand you... likely have other matters worth your attention." "It was a mistake to return to this city once more, but its one I'm doomed to make again, I am sure." Illira gestured towards the Inn, "Let me at least see you both inside before I buy myself another ticket aboard one of those twelves-forsaken airships." K'airos untangled her arms. "That'd be nice of you. Thanks." she nodded and then moved towards the inn. Antimony opened her mouth to respond to Illira, but the way K'airos turned to leave so quickly dragged her around as well. She gave a nod to the elezen and then followed close to her daughter, hovering. "It is not a permanent solution, but... we can perhaps spend some time to think," she said, referring to their lodgings. The lanky elezen walked behind them, her shadow cast over the miqo'te thanks to the sun's waning position, "I cannot imagine that D'hein will be far behind you. He cannot seem to pull himself away from your presence for long. So if you need to muse on your own, you should be quick about it." "That seems rude." K'airos murmured, going up the stairs to the Quicksand. "He lost family, too. You shouldn't speak bad of him." "My relationship with D'hein is not up for discussion," answered Illira. "He is... persistent." Antimony sighed. "I can't fault him for it, for the moment, considering..." She swallowed. "Considering what your child was? What she was allowed to become?" Illira pressed her lips together, aware even as she said the words that they were perhaps not acceptable things to say to a grieving mother. They spilled out nonetheless though. It was not in her nature to not dig into meat of things. She would have made a terrible politician. K'airos turned around to face the woman. She stood very close to her and, being much shorter, looked up to her with defiance written all over her expression. "If you don't have anything nice to say go away." she growled. "Please," Antimony breathed, closing her eyes, and her voice shook as she continued, "Do not speak of... do not bring... her into this, Miss Carceri. It was not what I was referring to, anyway." "Then what were you referring to?" Illira asked as they began to climb the stairs up to the Quicksand. "Considering what just happened? Or everything that happened, maybe? D'hal died, too. And now D'aijeen." K'airos continued to growl, getting visibly angry. Her tail formed a straight line behind her, the hair on it seemingly pointing outwards. "Airos," Antimony spoke quietly, turned to rest her hand on her daughter's arm. "Let us please just find an hour's peace. Miss Carceri is... trying." She wanted to hate that woman, though. Ilira stepped ahead of the other women, pulling the Inn's door open for them, her thin lips pressed together. K'airos walked into the inn wordlessly, her arms crossed again and her sight placed firmly on the ground a few steps ahead of her. Antimony moved as well, keeping at K'airos's side through the door and into the tavern. The rank stink of warm beer, sweaty bodies, and overcooked food that assaulted her nose was more of a shock than it had been in previous days, and she blinked slowly against it before turning to the elezen with them. "I will not thank you, as D'hein did," she began, ears shivering close to her skull. "... But I will express my relief that more lives were not lost." Illira nodded her head in understanding, "And he should not have thanked me either, it simply makes him feel better, I think." Steely eyes glanced over the busy tavern, "I should leave you now, before he returns. I have done what I promised." The youngest woman said nothing, avoiding going across the center of the inn. Instead, she followed the wall to the left, avoiding most tables and patrons to reach the stairs to the rooms. Antimony took a step after K'airos, an anxious look flashing across her eyes as her daughter moved away, and then wavered in place before turning to offer a slight bow towards Illira. "You have... done. May the sun smile on you." Then she spun to hurry after K'airos. You have done. What did that even mean? Illira didn't care enough to ask for clarification. It was far more important to leave the city before D'hein had a chance to try to chain her back down to it with his calculated, manipulative words. She walked around the upper lip of the tavern towards the northern exit. Catching up with K'airos, Antimony stepped close and gestured towards the far wall, off to one side of the bar. "It is a bit... damaged, but there is water for cleaning and space to rest," she spoke softly to her daughter. At the same instant that Illira was leaving the tavern, D'hein was entering. He had searched the beaches south of Vesper Bay for all of half an hour before calling it good enough (he hadn't been keeping track of time and felt like he'd gone a very long way) and rushing to Horizon to get a chocobo. He had ridden the poor thing half to death, feeling like he was going very slowly (because, again, he has a poor sense of time) and this sense of urgency inexplicably remained after his arrival in Ul'dah. He almost couldn't remember why he was in a hurry, but he knew that he had to confirm Antimony's arrival before he could do anything else. And so it was that he ran smack into the much taller Elezen in his haste, his chest to her belly and his face finding her left breast precisely, though he had the misfortune of not being cognizant enough of what was happening to appreciate it. K'airos nodded to her mother quietly, throwing an angry glance back to the elezen just in time to see D'hein crashing into her. Her ears pulled back and down, and she stopped being angry for that moment. Antimony didn't immediately notice K'airos's reaction, or at least did not connect it to anything noteworthy. Instead she just continued to urge her daughter towards the hall that would take them to the inn rooms, her steps heavy. Illira had just been reaching for the doors handle when it swung open and weight pushed into her. A deep breath heaved through the very breast that the shorter man pressed up against as her eyes closed, not even wanting to see who it was. She was sure that it wasn't anyone that she cared to no. "Remove yourself from my person if you would, I am not known for my patience." D'hein bounced off and looked confused for a moment, his sense of urgency still holding his mind and having him cast his gaze back and forth, ears turning a variety of different directions and never agreeing on one, before he finally lifted his eyes to Illira's face. He blinked, and then smiled, and one ear popped up and his eyes glowed. "Ah, Illira! You made it back!" K'airos let her mother push her further towards the rooms. "I think Illira ran into D'hein" she commented lowly as they moved. Antimony paused at that, lifted her head without turning it to look, and drew in a slow breath. "Do you want to wait for him, Airos?" She would concede to her daughter's wishes, whatever they were. The girl hesitated for an instant before answering. "No, he can come to the room if he wants. I don't want to see that woman, if I can help it." And so she continued walking. At the familiar voice, Illira's attention immediately snapped downward as her eyes widened, "Get off of me," she snapped as she made a frantic shove at the man with her long, thin hands. "Ah, hey! I didn't mean anything!" He took an extra step back, still smiling, speaking with humor. "It's good to see you've returned and are well!" ((...........)) Not questioning it further, Antimony simply followed along close with K'airos once more. She would guide her a short ways down the hall and then around a corner to the left. She cast a glance to K'airos's profile once they arrived at the door and ran a few fingers through her daughter's hair, brow furrowed. "You smell like..." A number of things that were all unpleasant, for a variety of reasons. She pushed open the door. "A bath will ease your mind, Airos. You don't need to think of anything you don't wish to now." The mention of a bath didn't seem to do much good on K'airos. She agreed with the head and moved into the room. "I bet Limsa and the sea are nicer than Ul'dah and the desert." she said to the air. Antimony watched her daughter a moment before following her into the room, shutting the door with a quiet click. "Than Ul'dah, yes," she murmured, closing her eyes briefly. She wasn't sure anything could compare with the open skies of the Sagolii, but then... that was something she'd had to leave behind a long time ago. "I hear tell there are other... places, as well, that are just as different." Something had changed inside of Antimony's room. Several somethings had, actually, and there was a strange smell of worked wood in the air. As K'airos pushed into the room, Loughree jumped to her feet and spun on them in surprise, dropping her tools to the grind with a metal clatter. The large, broad miqo'te had cleaned up since the last time Antimony had seen her, but was now dirty with sweat from working. Every piece of broken furniture in the inn room had been replaced with furniture that looked fresh-made. Loughree was half-way through attaching a new footboard to the bed. K'airos stared at the woman inside her mother's -or their, maybe- room. "I'm sorry! We didn't want to startle you." she said, confusing her with a maid. "Let me help you pick those up." Antimony froze, her mouth hanging on the last word of her speaking. Her tail twitched, nose taking in the scent, and then she just let out a faint, sighing breath. She wasn't sure she could handle this. Not now... "Miss Loughree," she murmured. "I... didn't know you were here." "I'm sorry." Loughree dove to grab up her tools before K'airos could get to them. "I didn't realize you'd be back! I was just fixing the things I broke. So, now, they're fixed and you don't have to pay for them, see?" K'airos clasped her hands together, letting them hang lazily in front of her. "Uhm...you know each other?" she asked. "Yes." Antimony's expression softened, and then just grew sad. "Thank you," she said to Loughree. "It is good to see you... safe." Loughree turned back to thr footboard of the bed and crouched over it. "I'm almost done, then I can go. I didn't mean to still be here." She began to work on it again. K'airos watched the woman awkwardly, pondering on how slightly awkward the situation was. "I'm K'airos." she said. "Nice to meet you." "It's quite alright," Antimony sighed and stepped further into the room. Her eyes shifted to K'airos. "This is... my daughter." Loughree looked up at K'airos and offered a passive, "Hello," before she stopped work and inhaled suddenly. "Oh!" She looked back at Antimony. "So, you found her! Did everything...?" K'airos crossed her arms, and looked around the room, wondering if it had its own bathroom. "We are fine. We are just...tired." she said lowly. Antimony just watched K'airos a moment - the young woman would find there was indeed an attached bathroom separate from the sleeping area - with her sad expression. "It has been a long day." She hesitated before turning her gaze back to Loughree. "You didn't need to do all of this." "I'm almost done." Loughree repeated, going back to her work. The red-headed woman went towards the bathroom. "Is this the-yes, it is." she said, interrupting herself halfway through the phrase when she opened the door and glanced inside. "I'm going to prepare a bath." she added, and then went in. "Ah, Ai..." Antimony trailed off into silence as her daughter disappeared into the washroom. She hung in visible suspension for several moments, and then just sagged, her head dropping down to hang from her neck, from her shoulders, from her spine. "Thank you, then," she said to Loughree, folding her fingers together. "You are a good woman, despite.." "Don't, please." Loughree interrupted Antimony, securing the bed with bolts and glue. After a moment of silence, she glanced over her shoulder at Antimony. "Are you okay?" Antimony straightened somewhat, lifting her head towards the Keeper and offering a faint attempt at a smile. "We will be." She wasn't sure how much she believed that, but she had to be. For K'airos. "I... still worry for you, though." The sound water came from the bathroom, as K'airos was filling the tub. It was also good for muffling the sobbing. "I don't want you worrying about me. That's why I did this." Loughree stood and turned towards Antimony, looking more together than she had in the past, though she was still disheveled and exhausted in appearance. At least she looked emotionally stable. "I shouldn't have put any weight on you at all, so now it's off. You need to worry about your own kid and forget about me." "I will not." Antimony was far too tired, too achingly numb to argue much further, however. Instead she stood there and tried not to simply run to K'airos's side in the washroom. Loughree stood still for a moment, watching Antimony carefully, and then she pocketed her tools, freeing her hands, so that she could step forward and give the woman a hug. K'airos stayed where she was. Antimony pulled in a breath as Loughree wrapped her arms around her. Then she sagged and pulled the younger but physically larger woman close, squeezing her back. Her eyes burned, but she held back the tears that wanted to fall. She was silent for a time, words choking against a tight throat, but she finally managed, "...You are welcome with us, Loughree. But... right now, I need to be with Airos." "I know." Loughree grabbed Antimony's shoulders and pulled the two of them apart, slipping sideways and going towards the door. "You'll be fine." Antimony dropped her arms to her sides as Loughree stepped around her. She made no effort to stop the other woman. Her gaze dropped to the re-made bed. Loughree slipped out of the room silently, not giving any more by way of goodbye. She shut the door behind her. Antimony hung in limbo for a long moment. Then her body seemed to sway and drift towards the washroom. She hesitated outside it and, knocking softly, murmured, "Airos, may I come in?" K'airos took a while to answer. The water stopped flowing. "Yes." she said finally, voice shaking. She opened the door and moved to let her mother enter. She rubbed her eyes with one palm, walking towards the filled tub. "Who was that?" Stepping past the door, Antimony looked down briefly, then to K'airos. "She is a... friend who has had a troubled life." Her expression softened, grew a little distant. "I think she is around your age." The young woman pondered about a moment about that and looked slightly troubled. She gestured to towards the toilet and the sink. "Did you want to use...?" Green eyes refocused on K'airos, and grey ears shifted to one side. "I only wanted to check on you. Be here, for when you need me. If you need anything, Airos..." "I'm fine. I don't have clothes, though, and I don't know if D'hein brought anything." she said. "I'll take a bath. You should ask him if he brought my things...or get me something to put on." Antimony's ears lowered just slightly. "... Alright, Airos." She paused, just watching her daughter again, as though she were almost afraid K'airos would disappear if she looked away. "... I will always be here for you." She stepped back out of the bathroom then, to turn towards the door. K'airos tapped her fingers together. "Maybe you should tell...Lou-ghree to come have lunch with us. Or dinner. Or...something. She seemed nice." Antimony blinked. "... I will see what I can do." Her tail twisted up once. "Are you hungry, or thirsty? I will ask for fresh linens.." "I don't know what bell it is." K'airos replied. "If you think we should eat, that'd be okay." Antimony just bowed her head and murmured an, "Of course. I will be back soon." Then she reluctantly backed out of the room and into the hall. K'airos closed the door slowly. She turned around and, very explicably, found the room empty. She found this strange nonetheless. Antimony hovered just outside the room for a time. She leaned her head against the wood, took several shaking breaths, and then pushed away to make her way back towards the open tavern.

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