((RP from in-game! Shortly after Anti arrives in Ul'dah.))
***
Beneath an open, star dusted sky, Illira Carceri made her way back to the Quicksand for the night, her gaze shifting around almost constantly.
A short distance forward along her path, Antimony bounced one knee as she sat on the bench outside the Quicksand, body poised as though any slight movement might make her flee. Her ears swiveled about as though searching for something, and every so often she snuck a glance towards the Quicksand's door, hastily. She still wore the same clothing she left Ul'dah in, but it was heavily stained with dirt. The rest of her was mostly clean at least, if a little dusty.
Eventually Illira’s eyes settled on the familiar, if not entirely unwelcome figure. The lanky elezen took in a deep sigh before purposely walking towards the elder Miqo'te. The unsuspecting woman wiped at her skirt in a nervous, habitual gesture and continued generally just kind of vibrating in place, clearly uncomfortable but also very set in remaining.
Illira quietly walked up to the woman, taking in her filthy garments, "Hello Antimony, strange to see you hear now."
Antimony nearly jumped out of the bench, her tail puffing out to a comical width before it curled tightly against one thigh. Her ears did the searching first, but her eyes soon followed, darting left, right, left, and then right once more to settle on Illira. Her lips worked silently for a moment, but only a faint squeak escaped her throat.
Illira gestured at the bench, "Mind if I sit with you for a moment?"
The older woman swallowed, grey ears pressing back against her skull. She shifted an anxious look towards the Quicksand once more, and then just nodded.
Illira forced out a slight smile, "Thank you." She proceeded to sit down on the bench, close to, but not within smothering distance of Antimony.
Antimony winced, ducking her gaze to her knees where her knuckles shook and pressed together. "Mi...iss Carceri," she finally managed warily, voice wrought with tension. "I'd not thought I'd... ah."
Illira spoke quietly, "And yet you're back. From your state of being, I'm guessing that running did not work so well for you?" She folded her hands neatly into her lap, her lips pursed as she looked down on Antimony.
The elder miqo’te wove her own fingers together, then lay them flat against her knees, then worked them into the cloth of her dirt-stained robe. "Ah. Yes. I mean--no--I mean... that..." She trailed off, gaze wandering back towards the Quicksand's door before darting away almost immediately once more. "I am sorry."
Illira shook her head slightly, "Are you really? It is in my experience that most apologies are simply to ease one own conscience and social appearance."
It was at this moment that a young, red-haired woman in a loose-fitting red shirt and dark grey bandana bee-lined towards Antimony just by smell alone. All those years being a tribal huntress served her for something more than finding somnus hideouts and very nice perfumes. "Hi!" she yelled, once she was two steps away from Illira. She smiled, oblivious of any conversation she might have been interrupting.
Antimony had opened her mouth to reply - though it was entirely possible she wouldn't have managed anything. She was saved the effort by K'airos's entrance however, and the relief that flooded her face upon the sight of her daughter overcame all other thought. "Airos!" She leapt to her feet and rushed to crush the young woman to her.
K'airos was successfully crushed!
Illira's eyebrows snapped together in confusion as Antimony's demeanor took a dramatic and sudden turn. Unsure of what situation she was now in the middle of, Illira simply sat still and straight watching the two in front of her.
Antimony's shoulders shook as she held K'airos to her, and there was a suspicious wetness to her eyes when she finally leaned back slightly to look the young woman in the face. “You truly made it to... ah, I mean of course you.. I never once doubted...!â€
K'airos patted the crusher woman's back. She smiled. “Aijeen's visiting her dodo friends, so I thought I'd come see if you had arrived yet!â€
Antimony's features fell slightly at the mention of Aijeen and then she very suddenly recalled the other woman she'd been... if not conversing with then at least... interacting with on some basis. Her ears shifted back and she eyed Illira uncertainly. “Ah, Miss Carceri... this... this is my..â€
“If I'm now in the middle of something I can leave, Antimony,†the elezen stated plainly.
K'airos avoided the issue by hopping in place once, proclaiming "Oh! You must be Ulan-een!" and rushing to take the Elezen's hand and shaking it vigorously. "Your letter was the reason we found each other!"
Antimony blinked rapidly and held out a hand in helpless protest. "Ah, Airos, she... that's not..."
Illira let the girl take her hand and do with it as she willed without protest, "I'm not... Ulanan. Sorry."
Antimony winced and worried her hands together. "This is my... former... employer," she uttered quietly.
K'airos kept shaking the hand while throwing an inquiring glance to her mother and then another one to the Elezen. "Uh? OH!" she hopped back, releasing her.
Illira took her hand back, "Its fine. I'm sure Antimony has unfond memories of me and has passed them on. I'm rather immune to it at this point."
Antimony's eyes widened and she held up both hands, shaking them in denial. "No, no! No, I would never--I haven't spoken badly of... I have nothing ill to say of you at all!"
Illira shook her head, her braids moving with the motion, "I'm not your employer anymore Antimony. Its really fine."
K'airos sounded a bit too happy. "You had a job! What was it? Why did you quit? Wait...where you fired?" She then looked at Illira. "Why did you fire her?" Then back to Antimony. "Did they?"
“I'll let Antimony answer that as she wishes.â€
Antimony shut her mouth sharply and glanced towards K'airos before ducking her head briefly in shame. "It's... nothing to worry yourself over, Airos. I am just... I am just glad I was able to find you."
“But you could use the money! You can't be in Ul'dah if you don't have a steady income!â€
K'airos placed both hands together and lowered her head, facing Illira. "Please! I'm sure whatever it was wasn't her fault!"
Illira lifted up a long fingered hand, letting its palm face the girl in an almost lazy fashion, "That is a matter between her and I. Antimony made her own decisions."
Antimony shook her head, and then when K'airos began to beg Illira, her ears shot up. She reached out to touch K'airos's shoulder. "Do not worry over me! I'm fine. You're... you're alive. That is all that matters. Nothing else!"
“But you can't ingest that!†K'airos was clearly not thinking much about what she was saying.
Antimony gave K'airos an odd look and then became seemingly overcome with some emotion as she pulled the young woman back to her, into a tight hug once more. "You're alive and... and responsible! My baby girl..."
Illira’s brow lifted up at the display of affection, "Well... Isn't this sweet. So everything is fixed now then, Antimony?â€
K'airos was crushed again. She muttered, "This is embarrassing," though she smiled.
Antimony buried her face against K'airos's shoulder for several seconds, but once she finally processed Illira's words, her body language drooped and she pulled back slightly. "Ah, it..." She glanced between the two. "Aijeen..." Conflict twisted her features and then, "I apologize, Miss Carceri. These outbursts are... I simply never thought I would see my girls again.."
Illira nodded her head, "Of course. I'm glad your departure worked out for the better for you. I should mention perhaps, that the rest of your... family left the Quicksand some time ago, I believe. I am no longer footing their bill anyway."
K'airos looked at Illira. "Wait." She looked mighitly confused. "The rest of the family?" she asked, looking at her mother in an even deeper confusion.
D'hein burst out of the QUicksand doors loudly, arms over his head, "Illira! I've found you!" He marched forward, declaring, "You  still owe me an in-depth discussion on Antimony's investigation! I won't settle for mere synopsis!"
Antimony had been struggling with a response to K'airos when D'hein exploded onto the scene and literally jumped at his voice, then flinched at the words. She seemed to shrink, as though to hide.
Illira looked around quickly at the outburst. Spotting the man at the entrance to the quicksand, she closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. She muttered quietly, "You should really slip away now with your daughter Antimony. Before D'hein sees you."
Antimony gave K'airos a wide-eyed, harried look, and then her expression changed very suddenly and very dramatically. She spun about, features pulled into a tight frown. “D'hein Tia!†she exclaimed, “You KNEW!â€
D'hein looked straight up in the air, then behind him, then around, and then back to Antimony, his ears swiveling in various directions. After a moment, he flinched as though startled, "Knew? Knew what? What fresh accusation is this?"
K'airos’s reaction to D'heins entrance was to stare at him awkwardly with a half-smile and her tail lifted and curved. At her mother's words, she looked between them.
Illira stood and walked towards D'hein, she extended her arm as if to hurry him back into the Quicksand. "Never you mind. Let’s go talk business now, D'hein. Sorry I'm late."
Antimony's tail poofed out in some mix of distress and agitation and just confused emotion. In fact, the rest of her body seemed to be attempting to do the same as her tail, bristling as though about to pounce. She leveled a finger at him. "YOU sent me to Ul'dah!"
K'airos joined the accusations, though she sounded quite jolly about it, “And you told me you wanted me to help someone called Antimony!â€
“Yes! You--what? What??†Antimony turned to K'airos and blinks rapidly at her. Her fluffed tail lashed to and fro.
Illira sighed deeply, dropping her hand. She quietly said, "Well... I tried." She turned back to face the others, a slight tiredness now over her features.
D'hein leveled Illira with a glare, "Do not attempt to dissuade me from important matters by making present previous important matters which you had dissuaded me from with... I forget what I'm saying. Listen, this is good, isn't it? I did a good thing."
K'airos lowered her tail and ears. She spoke quickly: "He told me someone was...and that it was a favor...and that I should help...and then this Nanalu person sent some people to look for me, and then Ulaneen wrote that letter for you and..."
Antimony redirected her own glare back to D'hein, mouth working and searching for words. "You... You...!"
D'hein stepped forward and crossed his arms over his chest, "Yes! I conspired to reunite you with your beloved daughters!" His tone dropped, and he looked to Illira, "The investigation into the Blades is no less legitimate, though, lest you suspect it's an excuse for time off."
“I knew it!†K’airos exclaimed.
Illira’s brow furrowed, "I know better than you its legitimacy, D'hein."
Antimony continued glaring at D'hein for several seconds, her whole body practically quaking. Then just as suddenly as she'd turned on him, she just collapsed with a sob, "My girls... you found..."
D'hein returned his gaze to Antimony, ears twitching. "Crying is... happiness? This is one of these extreme female joy expressions, correct?"
Reacting to her mother’s sudden swing of emotion, K'airos grabbed her before she hit the ground and made her sit on the bench. She then sat there, too.
Illira turned back towards Antimony, then to D'hein briefly, "It can mean many things. Though foremost she is exhausted I believe. It’s all muddied together."
Antimony didn’t answer D'hein, instead turning somewhat to wrap her arms about K'airos again. She'd never grow tired of that.
“Ah, yes, exhaustion. That's...†D’hein trailed off.
K'airos tried to comfort Antimony with random patting. “It's just a very stressful situation! That's all!â€
“K'airos,†D’hein began, “Why have you let your mother degenerate so? Aren't you and D'aijeen able to take better care of her?â€
“Ah...it's that...ah...I didn't...she's not...and then...Aijeen doesn't like her!†K’airos stammered. “I came here behind her back.â€
Antimony lifted her head sharply at D'hein's words and then just as quickly pushed it back against K'airos's shoulder. "Aijeen," she sobbed.
Illira frowned deeply at D'hein. "You need to hold your tongue. Lest you make things worse. She needs space, not that you would ever give the woman it."
D'hein crossed his arms, and looked down at the ground, turning inward and muttering, "I'd hoped that removing D'ahl for the better part of several months would improve that situation, but I suppose not. How to proceed, I wonder..."
“D'hal?†K’airos queried. “Aijeen confused Antimony with her!â€
Antimony shuddered. "My baby girl," she mumbled into K'airos's shoulder.
Illira clenched her jaw, "You shouldn't proceed. You're manipulation of lives will backfire, and I won't always be able to pick up the pieces."
D'hein popped up his head, and turned his eyes on Illira, "Manipulation? Why it is the duty of every being with even a fragment of soul to devote themselves to the happiness and well-being of others, especially since D'aijeen is practically my own daughter. I can't have her torturing her mother. And with Airos as a prospective future wife, all the more I should be concerned with their family!"
K'airos laughed nervously and her tail just went haywire. "Ah...what?" she managed to say.
D'hein canted his head at K'airos, "What?"
Antimony shot straight up, "Whaaat!" and spun around towards D'hein, stumbling to her feet. "What did you say about my daughter!"
Illira's mouth twitched at that, "Do you no hear yourself, D'hein? Even now all you speak of is how the situation directly affects you. All you know to do is manipulate. I've known you long enough to have learned that. It’s why I rather despise you."
D'hein waved Illira off, "Now is not an appropriate time for flirtation," and then to Antimony, he said, "I'm sorry if I've riddled you with jealousy, but don't worry. I'm just keeping a list of the most beautiful people I know, and they're all my potential wives. It's a hobby."
Antimony's tail bristled and she stomped right up towards D'hein, making to grab at his collar. "You will not lay a finger on my Airos!"
Illira clenched her jaw, watching Antimony take a stand against D'hein.
D'hein smirked, "A familiar protest. If only I were as loved as K'airos, but alas! You've nothing to worry about, Antimony. My joking aside, my only designs for K'airos were to get the two of you to meet. Now I'm fresh out of designs!"
Illira snorted at that, "Now you’re just lying, D'hein."
Antimony clenched her fist about his collar for a moment longer and then released him, stumbling back as though the action had come from a blow. She blinked past lingering tears and then flinched at Illira's words as though she'd only just remembered the woman's presence. "Ah, Miss Carceri... I apologize for..."
K'airos stood up and walked towards the location of possibly ensuing motherly violence. She placed on hand on Antimony's shoulder.
Antimony's lips pursed at K'airos's touch on her shoulder and then, very suddenly, she lifted one hand and landed a rather solid smack on D'hein's left cheek. "No more subterfuge!"
Illira pressed her lips together, "Nothing. That is not a way to live. I did hope to keep D'hein off of your..." She fell silent as Antimony smacked the man in question.
D'hein made no initial reaction to the smack. After a moment he looked confused, glancing around as though something had flitted past his face. He then settled his gaze on Antimony and said, "I told you your children were alive. You did not believe me and took incredible offense. My choice was to either employ subterfuge, or to surrender."
Antimony's ears flinched back, the slight wrinkles in her face deepening in conflict. “That... that is... not the point! No more of it! I'll have no more of it from you!â€
“Well...†K'airos tightened her grip on Antimony's shoulder. "Maybe we don't like his methods, but I'm grateful for his conspiration!" She then looked at D'hein and, smiling, added a, "Thank you," along with some heavy blushing and a tail that couldn't curl upwards anymore even if it wanted.
D'hein flicked his gaze to Illira, "Despite the opinions of those who seem disproportionately invested in protraying me as a maleficent man," he looked back to K'airos, "Others know me better. I will see what I can do about D'aijeen's behavior. She's my daughter, after all."
Illira shook her head once more, "My investment is simply to ensure truth as I can, and protect those who need it D'hein."
Antimony's tail lashed. "Aijeen is not your daughter! She... She is my--my..." then she just crumbled, her head dropping to her hands, "... fault."
K'airos opened her mouth to say something but her words failed her. She tried again twice before simply stating: "D'hein took care of Aijeen when she first arrived in Ul'dah! Right after she...when she left the tribe."
Antimony flinched, the memories K'airos's explanation stirred drawing shadows on her teary-eyed face. "I..." She swallowed and then managed faintly, wavering, "I am... glad she was not lost to the sands."
D'hein took a few steps away from Antimony, looking at Illira, "They do need space, you know. You don't need to smother them."
Antimony shivered at some thought and turned back to K'airos to pull her close yet again.
Illira nodded her head, "I am not disagreeing with that. I was merely passing through and got caught in the middle of this."
K'airos was successfully pulled! She was failing all her saving rolls today. She gazed at D'hein and spoke up, "We should talk later about...you know." She paused, and then added with a sudden urgency, "Not about marriage! That's not...it's not even...and it wouldn't....it's about D'hall and my sister!" She hurries the final words as if there was a prize for doing so.
D'hein smiled at K'airos, "You don't have to wait for me to propose to you. You could just propose to me."
Illira walked towards D'hein, "You're obviously making the girl uncomfortable. Come, let us leave them to their space." She gestured towards the Quicksand.
Antimony tightened her grip on K'airos. "Don't--don't you give that man... a tia, Airos! From... another tribe! Don't you dare!"
“I'm not! I'm not! I'm just...clarifying that I'm not!â€
D'hein crossed his arms and muttered, "I don't understand why everyone just assumes I'm a Tia. Maybe I'm a humble Nunh."
Antimony turned her head slightly and stated in a firm tone, "A nunh would not wander so."
“Hah!†D’hein chuffed. “You and I know different Nunhs.â€
“Let's...not worry about that now!†K’airos attempted to interrupt.
“Were you saying something, Illira?†D’hein directed his green eyes towards the elezen. “You're not jealous as well, are you? Of course you are. My apologies.â€
Antimony returned her attention to K'airos, though after a moment she mumbled into her daughter's shoulder a soft, "Thank you."
“I was merely suggesting that we leave these two alone. An Idea you seemed so keen on just a minutes ago.â€
D'hein hummed, and smiled, "And what would you like to go off and do with just me, Illira?"
“We should get you a room and some clean clothes!†K’airos suggested then to her mother. “I think I can afford enough for you to stay while I'm in town.â€
“Nothing,†Illira replied to the conspiratorial miqo’te. “Quite honestly. I just was hoping to get you to give them space.â€
Antimony blinked and looked up at K'airos, silent for a moment, and then her ears pressed back in distress. "Oh... oh no. I can't possibly be a burden on my own daughter in such a way." She looked left, then right, then back to K'airos. "Ah, don't worry about me! I have... I will be quite fine! You just... worry for yourself. And... Aijeen."
D'hein wagged his finger at Illira, "Don't think I've forgotten that we have work to do. You won't be avoiding it again. We aren't on vacation you know!"
“But you don't have a job anymore,†K’airos protested. “I'll have to take care of you until you get a new one, I guess. After all, you are my...my...†Antimony watched K'airos in silence, looking almost hopeful. The younger woman failed to find words again however, "...and I would feel awful about not helping you." she finished, her eyes rolling to look up.
Illira lifted her thick brows, "Please, don't talk to me about such matters D'hein. I've been doing your job while you went for that weeks-jaunt."
“It was an all-important jaunt, and I thank you for helping yourself to my milk-bar while I was doing the important work you were all too lazy or afraid to do!â€
Antimony's expression wilted briefly before she carefully recomposed herself - only partially successful. She squeezed her daughter slightly. "You do not need to take care of me," she gave the girl a small smile. "Just seeing you is all I need. Everything else will be fine."
“You're milk bar is disgusting, D'hein. And your jaunt was neither approved, wanted, nor useful in anyway.â€
K'airos grabbed Antimony's hand and pulled her towards the Quicksand. "Nope!" she exclaimed. "Soon your stomach will complain. And then your other body functions will complain. So let's get you someplace to stay!"
Antimony opened her mouth to protest as K'airos began to drag her off, but she couldn’t find it in her. She snuck a very brief but genuinely grateful look D'hein's way before snapping her gaze back to her daughter.
D'hein was focused wholly on Illira now, "If it were approved it would not have been necessary! As for usefulness, well, we'll see! You all haven’t exactly changed the world in my absence."
K'airos kept pulling her mother towards the Quicksand and into it, with the firm purpose of getting to the innkeep. Antimony allowed herself to be pulled off without another word.
***
Having paid a room for her mother, K'airos continued to drag her into it. The room was one of the cheapest, not having many decorations or even much furniture. A bed, a table, a wardrobe and a sink. Perhaps you could consider the lone window above the bed to be furniture, too. K'airos did not ponder about this things, she just walked in like she owned the place. Because she had paid for it, of course.
Antimony had gone quiet as K'airos led her back towards the inn rooms, increasingly aware of her likely proximity to other people she still wasn't certain she could face. She slipped into the room after K'airos and closed the door behind her hastily and with no small amount of relief. Looking to her daughter, Antimony's ears drooped slightly and she pulled her into yet another hug. "This isn't necessary, Airos."Â
She smiled, her eyes closed. "But it is! It might not be the prettiest place, but it has a roof and a bed! I've payed for a week in advance, so you can look for work without worrying about becoming a beggar!â€
Antimony took a step back and looked around the room, expression humble, a touch shamed. "Thank you." She sighed, wrung her hands together. "I would never have wanted you to see me like this..."
"We all have bad days!" K'airos’s attempt at comforting Antimony was not very good. "So...what did you work as?"
Casting a weary look to the bed along one wall and the small sink across the room, Antimony stepped further inside until she stood in the middle of the inn room. She gave a small smile to K’airos, "An accountant. Not nearly as... admirable as... you protect people?" There's pride in her voice, though also some amount of old pain.
K'airos chuckled. "Yeah! From the beastmen and bandits. But it's mostly safe and boring, because what we most do is check cargo and people. Making sure they aren't funny or illegal, you know.â€
Antimony blinked at K'airos for a moment and then, very quietly, lets out a weak chuckle. "My girl... protecting what is good." She sighed then and wavered on her feet somewhat before catching herself. Around this time, she stumbled on a thought and gave K'airos a searching look, "You wouldn't... happen to know who to speak to about, ah, confiscated goods in Ul'dah...?"
"Did the guards confiscate things from you? I'm sure I can get it back! Just tell me what to look for!"
Antimony opened her mouth but remained silent for several seconds, unsure how to approach the subject. Green eyes shifted anxiously around the room again before settling on K'airos. "Not... my things, no. But..." Her ears and tail drooped with guilt and she turned away. "K'ile and K'luha's. I told them I would assist them, but..."
"K'ile's alive, too?" she yelled, hopping in place repeatedly and tapping her hands together. "And K'luha too! Where are they? I should...I should see them! Tell them it's all okay! OH!" She pointed in what could be a victory pose. "And they can help you settle down...!"
Flinching, Antimony clasped her hands together at her waist. "It's not that simple, Airos..." Then she just shook her head, glancing back towards her daughter. "Ah, re--regardless, they had food... for the tribe. If you could..."
K'airos tapped her chin in thought. "How much food? And when did they get it confiscated?"
She shook her head. "I... am not sure. It sounded like a great deal. A..." She hesitated, a sad look crossing her face, "A feast."
"If it was food it's likely it has been eaten by now." K'airos said neutrally. "But maybe I can arrange something. Do you know where they are?" She started hopping again when asking that.
"Where they... ah." Antimony looked past K'airos, towards the door to the outside hall. "I don't... they were here, when I... I'm not certain if they still are."
"Here is a good starting point!" she stated, and then paused. "Here in the city or here in Thanalan?"
Twisting her hands about one another some more, Antimony shook her head. "Here. In the, ah, Quicksand."
K'airos stopped her incessant jumping. "Here here?" she repeated and smiled broadly. "That's fantastic! We should go see them! Exchange tales and remember the past! And get their food, too."
Antimony's ears shifted about. "I'm not certain... Yes, you should speak to them. I'm sure they'll be... K'ile will be happy to see you."
K'airos rushed forward to hug Antimony. "I'll go now and see if they are around! You should...get cleaned and eat some! I'll come back and let you know if I find them. Alright?"
Swallowing, Antimony leaned into the hug, pulling her arms about her daughter and relishing the feeling of the gesture. Then she sighed and nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Airos."
It took K'airos around a full minute before pulling off the hug. "I'll be back soon! If it gets too late I'll make sure to come by tomorrow, and we can talk about Limsa!"
Antimony let her hands linger on K'airos as she pulled away, until she finally stepped out of reach. She brought her hands close to her as K'airos moved to the door and replied simply, quietly, "I will be here."
K'airos left the room, waving in goodbye and closing the door once she was outside.
***
Beneath an open, star dusted sky, Illira Carceri made her way back to the Quicksand for the night, her gaze shifting around almost constantly.
A short distance forward along her path, Antimony bounced one knee as she sat on the bench outside the Quicksand, body poised as though any slight movement might make her flee. Her ears swiveled about as though searching for something, and every so often she snuck a glance towards the Quicksand's door, hastily. She still wore the same clothing she left Ul'dah in, but it was heavily stained with dirt. The rest of her was mostly clean at least, if a little dusty.
Eventually Illira’s eyes settled on the familiar, if not entirely unwelcome figure. The lanky elezen took in a deep sigh before purposely walking towards the elder Miqo'te. The unsuspecting woman wiped at her skirt in a nervous, habitual gesture and continued generally just kind of vibrating in place, clearly uncomfortable but also very set in remaining.
Illira quietly walked up to the woman, taking in her filthy garments, "Hello Antimony, strange to see you hear now."
Antimony nearly jumped out of the bench, her tail puffing out to a comical width before it curled tightly against one thigh. Her ears did the searching first, but her eyes soon followed, darting left, right, left, and then right once more to settle on Illira. Her lips worked silently for a moment, but only a faint squeak escaped her throat.
Illira gestured at the bench, "Mind if I sit with you for a moment?"
The older woman swallowed, grey ears pressing back against her skull. She shifted an anxious look towards the Quicksand once more, and then just nodded.
Illira forced out a slight smile, "Thank you." She proceeded to sit down on the bench, close to, but not within smothering distance of Antimony.
Antimony winced, ducking her gaze to her knees where her knuckles shook and pressed together. "Mi...iss Carceri," she finally managed warily, voice wrought with tension. "I'd not thought I'd... ah."
Illira spoke quietly, "And yet you're back. From your state of being, I'm guessing that running did not work so well for you?" She folded her hands neatly into her lap, her lips pursed as she looked down on Antimony.
The elder miqo’te wove her own fingers together, then lay them flat against her knees, then worked them into the cloth of her dirt-stained robe. "Ah. Yes. I mean--no--I mean... that..." She trailed off, gaze wandering back towards the Quicksand's door before darting away almost immediately once more. "I am sorry."
Illira shook her head slightly, "Are you really? It is in my experience that most apologies are simply to ease one own conscience and social appearance."
It was at this moment that a young, red-haired woman in a loose-fitting red shirt and dark grey bandana bee-lined towards Antimony just by smell alone. All those years being a tribal huntress served her for something more than finding somnus hideouts and very nice perfumes. "Hi!" she yelled, once she was two steps away from Illira. She smiled, oblivious of any conversation she might have been interrupting.
Antimony had opened her mouth to reply - though it was entirely possible she wouldn't have managed anything. She was saved the effort by K'airos's entrance however, and the relief that flooded her face upon the sight of her daughter overcame all other thought. "Airos!" She leapt to her feet and rushed to crush the young woman to her.
K'airos was successfully crushed!
Illira's eyebrows snapped together in confusion as Antimony's demeanor took a dramatic and sudden turn. Unsure of what situation she was now in the middle of, Illira simply sat still and straight watching the two in front of her.
Antimony's shoulders shook as she held K'airos to her, and there was a suspicious wetness to her eyes when she finally leaned back slightly to look the young woman in the face. “You truly made it to... ah, I mean of course you.. I never once doubted...!â€
K'airos patted the crusher woman's back. She smiled. “Aijeen's visiting her dodo friends, so I thought I'd come see if you had arrived yet!â€
Antimony's features fell slightly at the mention of Aijeen and then she very suddenly recalled the other woman she'd been... if not conversing with then at least... interacting with on some basis. Her ears shifted back and she eyed Illira uncertainly. “Ah, Miss Carceri... this... this is my..â€
“If I'm now in the middle of something I can leave, Antimony,†the elezen stated plainly.
K'airos avoided the issue by hopping in place once, proclaiming "Oh! You must be Ulan-een!" and rushing to take the Elezen's hand and shaking it vigorously. "Your letter was the reason we found each other!"
Antimony blinked rapidly and held out a hand in helpless protest. "Ah, Airos, she... that's not..."
Illira let the girl take her hand and do with it as she willed without protest, "I'm not... Ulanan. Sorry."
Antimony winced and worried her hands together. "This is my... former... employer," she uttered quietly.
K'airos kept shaking the hand while throwing an inquiring glance to her mother and then another one to the Elezen. "Uh? OH!" she hopped back, releasing her.
Illira took her hand back, "Its fine. I'm sure Antimony has unfond memories of me and has passed them on. I'm rather immune to it at this point."
Antimony's eyes widened and she held up both hands, shaking them in denial. "No, no! No, I would never--I haven't spoken badly of... I have nothing ill to say of you at all!"
Illira shook her head, her braids moving with the motion, "I'm not your employer anymore Antimony. Its really fine."
K'airos sounded a bit too happy. "You had a job! What was it? Why did you quit? Wait...where you fired?" She then looked at Illira. "Why did you fire her?" Then back to Antimony. "Did they?"
“I'll let Antimony answer that as she wishes.â€
Antimony shut her mouth sharply and glanced towards K'airos before ducking her head briefly in shame. "It's... nothing to worry yourself over, Airos. I am just... I am just glad I was able to find you."
“But you could use the money! You can't be in Ul'dah if you don't have a steady income!â€
K'airos placed both hands together and lowered her head, facing Illira. "Please! I'm sure whatever it was wasn't her fault!"
Illira lifted up a long fingered hand, letting its palm face the girl in an almost lazy fashion, "That is a matter between her and I. Antimony made her own decisions."
Antimony shook her head, and then when K'airos began to beg Illira, her ears shot up. She reached out to touch K'airos's shoulder. "Do not worry over me! I'm fine. You're... you're alive. That is all that matters. Nothing else!"
“But you can't ingest that!†K'airos was clearly not thinking much about what she was saying.
Antimony gave K'airos an odd look and then became seemingly overcome with some emotion as she pulled the young woman back to her, into a tight hug once more. "You're alive and... and responsible! My baby girl..."
Illira’s brow lifted up at the display of affection, "Well... Isn't this sweet. So everything is fixed now then, Antimony?â€
K'airos was crushed again. She muttered, "This is embarrassing," though she smiled.
Antimony buried her face against K'airos's shoulder for several seconds, but once she finally processed Illira's words, her body language drooped and she pulled back slightly. "Ah, it..." She glanced between the two. "Aijeen..." Conflict twisted her features and then, "I apologize, Miss Carceri. These outbursts are... I simply never thought I would see my girls again.."
Illira nodded her head, "Of course. I'm glad your departure worked out for the better for you. I should mention perhaps, that the rest of your... family left the Quicksand some time ago, I believe. I am no longer footing their bill anyway."
K'airos looked at Illira. "Wait." She looked mighitly confused. "The rest of the family?" she asked, looking at her mother in an even deeper confusion.
D'hein burst out of the QUicksand doors loudly, arms over his head, "Illira! I've found you!" He marched forward, declaring, "You  still owe me an in-depth discussion on Antimony's investigation! I won't settle for mere synopsis!"
Antimony had been struggling with a response to K'airos when D'hein exploded onto the scene and literally jumped at his voice, then flinched at the words. She seemed to shrink, as though to hide.
Illira looked around quickly at the outburst. Spotting the man at the entrance to the quicksand, she closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. She muttered quietly, "You should really slip away now with your daughter Antimony. Before D'hein sees you."
Antimony gave K'airos a wide-eyed, harried look, and then her expression changed very suddenly and very dramatically. She spun about, features pulled into a tight frown. “D'hein Tia!†she exclaimed, “You KNEW!â€
D'hein looked straight up in the air, then behind him, then around, and then back to Antimony, his ears swiveling in various directions. After a moment, he flinched as though startled, "Knew? Knew what? What fresh accusation is this?"
K'airos’s reaction to D'heins entrance was to stare at him awkwardly with a half-smile and her tail lifted and curved. At her mother's words, she looked between them.
Illira stood and walked towards D'hein, she extended her arm as if to hurry him back into the Quicksand. "Never you mind. Let’s go talk business now, D'hein. Sorry I'm late."
Antimony's tail poofed out in some mix of distress and agitation and just confused emotion. In fact, the rest of her body seemed to be attempting to do the same as her tail, bristling as though about to pounce. She leveled a finger at him. "YOU sent me to Ul'dah!"
K'airos joined the accusations, though she sounded quite jolly about it, “And you told me you wanted me to help someone called Antimony!â€
“Yes! You--what? What??†Antimony turned to K'airos and blinks rapidly at her. Her fluffed tail lashed to and fro.
Illira sighed deeply, dropping her hand. She quietly said, "Well... I tried." She turned back to face the others, a slight tiredness now over her features.
D'hein leveled Illira with a glare, "Do not attempt to dissuade me from important matters by making present previous important matters which you had dissuaded me from with... I forget what I'm saying. Listen, this is good, isn't it? I did a good thing."
K'airos lowered her tail and ears. She spoke quickly: "He told me someone was...and that it was a favor...and that I should help...and then this Nanalu person sent some people to look for me, and then Ulaneen wrote that letter for you and..."
Antimony redirected her own glare back to D'hein, mouth working and searching for words. "You... You...!"
D'hein stepped forward and crossed his arms over his chest, "Yes! I conspired to reunite you with your beloved daughters!" His tone dropped, and he looked to Illira, "The investigation into the Blades is no less legitimate, though, lest you suspect it's an excuse for time off."
“I knew it!†K’airos exclaimed.
Illira’s brow furrowed, "I know better than you its legitimacy, D'hein."
Antimony continued glaring at D'hein for several seconds, her whole body practically quaking. Then just as suddenly as she'd turned on him, she just collapsed with a sob, "My girls... you found..."
D'hein returned his gaze to Antimony, ears twitching. "Crying is... happiness? This is one of these extreme female joy expressions, correct?"
Reacting to her mother’s sudden swing of emotion, K'airos grabbed her before she hit the ground and made her sit on the bench. She then sat there, too.
Illira turned back towards Antimony, then to D'hein briefly, "It can mean many things. Though foremost she is exhausted I believe. It’s all muddied together."
Antimony didn’t answer D'hein, instead turning somewhat to wrap her arms about K'airos again. She'd never grow tired of that.
“Ah, yes, exhaustion. That's...†D’hein trailed off.
K'airos tried to comfort Antimony with random patting. “It's just a very stressful situation! That's all!â€
“K'airos,†D’hein began, “Why have you let your mother degenerate so? Aren't you and D'aijeen able to take better care of her?â€
“Ah...it's that...ah...I didn't...she's not...and then...Aijeen doesn't like her!†K’airos stammered. “I came here behind her back.â€
Antimony lifted her head sharply at D'hein's words and then just as quickly pushed it back against K'airos's shoulder. "Aijeen," she sobbed.
Illira frowned deeply at D'hein. "You need to hold your tongue. Lest you make things worse. She needs space, not that you would ever give the woman it."
D'hein crossed his arms, and looked down at the ground, turning inward and muttering, "I'd hoped that removing D'ahl for the better part of several months would improve that situation, but I suppose not. How to proceed, I wonder..."
“D'hal?†K’airos queried. “Aijeen confused Antimony with her!â€
Antimony shuddered. "My baby girl," she mumbled into K'airos's shoulder.
Illira clenched her jaw, "You shouldn't proceed. You're manipulation of lives will backfire, and I won't always be able to pick up the pieces."
D'hein popped up his head, and turned his eyes on Illira, "Manipulation? Why it is the duty of every being with even a fragment of soul to devote themselves to the happiness and well-being of others, especially since D'aijeen is practically my own daughter. I can't have her torturing her mother. And with Airos as a prospective future wife, all the more I should be concerned with their family!"
K'airos laughed nervously and her tail just went haywire. "Ah...what?" she managed to say.
D'hein canted his head at K'airos, "What?"
Antimony shot straight up, "Whaaat!" and spun around towards D'hein, stumbling to her feet. "What did you say about my daughter!"
Illira's mouth twitched at that, "Do you no hear yourself, D'hein? Even now all you speak of is how the situation directly affects you. All you know to do is manipulate. I've known you long enough to have learned that. It’s why I rather despise you."
D'hein waved Illira off, "Now is not an appropriate time for flirtation," and then to Antimony, he said, "I'm sorry if I've riddled you with jealousy, but don't worry. I'm just keeping a list of the most beautiful people I know, and they're all my potential wives. It's a hobby."
Antimony's tail bristled and she stomped right up towards D'hein, making to grab at his collar. "You will not lay a finger on my Airos!"
Illira clenched her jaw, watching Antimony take a stand against D'hein.
D'hein smirked, "A familiar protest. If only I were as loved as K'airos, but alas! You've nothing to worry about, Antimony. My joking aside, my only designs for K'airos were to get the two of you to meet. Now I'm fresh out of designs!"
Illira snorted at that, "Now you’re just lying, D'hein."
Antimony clenched her fist about his collar for a moment longer and then released him, stumbling back as though the action had come from a blow. She blinked past lingering tears and then flinched at Illira's words as though she'd only just remembered the woman's presence. "Ah, Miss Carceri... I apologize for..."
K'airos stood up and walked towards the location of possibly ensuing motherly violence. She placed on hand on Antimony's shoulder.
Antimony's lips pursed at K'airos's touch on her shoulder and then, very suddenly, she lifted one hand and landed a rather solid smack on D'hein's left cheek. "No more subterfuge!"
Illira pressed her lips together, "Nothing. That is not a way to live. I did hope to keep D'hein off of your..." She fell silent as Antimony smacked the man in question.
D'hein made no initial reaction to the smack. After a moment he looked confused, glancing around as though something had flitted past his face. He then settled his gaze on Antimony and said, "I told you your children were alive. You did not believe me and took incredible offense. My choice was to either employ subterfuge, or to surrender."
Antimony's ears flinched back, the slight wrinkles in her face deepening in conflict. “That... that is... not the point! No more of it! I'll have no more of it from you!â€
“Well...†K'airos tightened her grip on Antimony's shoulder. "Maybe we don't like his methods, but I'm grateful for his conspiration!" She then looked at D'hein and, smiling, added a, "Thank you," along with some heavy blushing and a tail that couldn't curl upwards anymore even if it wanted.
D'hein flicked his gaze to Illira, "Despite the opinions of those who seem disproportionately invested in protraying me as a maleficent man," he looked back to K'airos, "Others know me better. I will see what I can do about D'aijeen's behavior. She's my daughter, after all."
Illira shook her head once more, "My investment is simply to ensure truth as I can, and protect those who need it D'hein."
Antimony's tail lashed. "Aijeen is not your daughter! She... She is my--my..." then she just crumbled, her head dropping to her hands, "... fault."
K'airos opened her mouth to say something but her words failed her. She tried again twice before simply stating: "D'hein took care of Aijeen when she first arrived in Ul'dah! Right after she...when she left the tribe."
Antimony flinched, the memories K'airos's explanation stirred drawing shadows on her teary-eyed face. "I..." She swallowed and then managed faintly, wavering, "I am... glad she was not lost to the sands."
D'hein took a few steps away from Antimony, looking at Illira, "They do need space, you know. You don't need to smother them."
Antimony shivered at some thought and turned back to K'airos to pull her close yet again.
Illira nodded her head, "I am not disagreeing with that. I was merely passing through and got caught in the middle of this."
K'airos was successfully pulled! She was failing all her saving rolls today. She gazed at D'hein and spoke up, "We should talk later about...you know." She paused, and then added with a sudden urgency, "Not about marriage! That's not...it's not even...and it wouldn't....it's about D'hall and my sister!" She hurries the final words as if there was a prize for doing so.
D'hein smiled at K'airos, "You don't have to wait for me to propose to you. You could just propose to me."
Illira walked towards D'hein, "You're obviously making the girl uncomfortable. Come, let us leave them to their space." She gestured towards the Quicksand.
Antimony tightened her grip on K'airos. "Don't--don't you give that man... a tia, Airos! From... another tribe! Don't you dare!"
“I'm not! I'm not! I'm just...clarifying that I'm not!â€
D'hein crossed his arms and muttered, "I don't understand why everyone just assumes I'm a Tia. Maybe I'm a humble Nunh."
Antimony turned her head slightly and stated in a firm tone, "A nunh would not wander so."
“Hah!†D’hein chuffed. “You and I know different Nunhs.â€
“Let's...not worry about that now!†K’airos attempted to interrupt.
“Were you saying something, Illira?†D’hein directed his green eyes towards the elezen. “You're not jealous as well, are you? Of course you are. My apologies.â€
Antimony returned her attention to K'airos, though after a moment she mumbled into her daughter's shoulder a soft, "Thank you."
“I was merely suggesting that we leave these two alone. An Idea you seemed so keen on just a minutes ago.â€
D'hein hummed, and smiled, "And what would you like to go off and do with just me, Illira?"
“We should get you a room and some clean clothes!†K’airos suggested then to her mother. “I think I can afford enough for you to stay while I'm in town.â€
“Nothing,†Illira replied to the conspiratorial miqo’te. “Quite honestly. I just was hoping to get you to give them space.â€
Antimony blinked and looked up at K'airos, silent for a moment, and then her ears pressed back in distress. "Oh... oh no. I can't possibly be a burden on my own daughter in such a way." She looked left, then right, then back to K'airos. "Ah, don't worry about me! I have... I will be quite fine! You just... worry for yourself. And... Aijeen."
D'hein wagged his finger at Illira, "Don't think I've forgotten that we have work to do. You won't be avoiding it again. We aren't on vacation you know!"
“But you don't have a job anymore,†K’airos protested. “I'll have to take care of you until you get a new one, I guess. After all, you are my...my...†Antimony watched K'airos in silence, looking almost hopeful. The younger woman failed to find words again however, "...and I would feel awful about not helping you." she finished, her eyes rolling to look up.
Illira lifted her thick brows, "Please, don't talk to me about such matters D'hein. I've been doing your job while you went for that weeks-jaunt."
“It was an all-important jaunt, and I thank you for helping yourself to my milk-bar while I was doing the important work you were all too lazy or afraid to do!â€
Antimony's expression wilted briefly before she carefully recomposed herself - only partially successful. She squeezed her daughter slightly. "You do not need to take care of me," she gave the girl a small smile. "Just seeing you is all I need. Everything else will be fine."
“You're milk bar is disgusting, D'hein. And your jaunt was neither approved, wanted, nor useful in anyway.â€
K'airos grabbed Antimony's hand and pulled her towards the Quicksand. "Nope!" she exclaimed. "Soon your stomach will complain. And then your other body functions will complain. So let's get you someplace to stay!"
Antimony opened her mouth to protest as K'airos began to drag her off, but she couldn’t find it in her. She snuck a very brief but genuinely grateful look D'hein's way before snapping her gaze back to her daughter.
D'hein was focused wholly on Illira now, "If it were approved it would not have been necessary! As for usefulness, well, we'll see! You all haven’t exactly changed the world in my absence."
K'airos kept pulling her mother towards the Quicksand and into it, with the firm purpose of getting to the innkeep. Antimony allowed herself to be pulled off without another word.
***
Having paid a room for her mother, K'airos continued to drag her into it. The room was one of the cheapest, not having many decorations or even much furniture. A bed, a table, a wardrobe and a sink. Perhaps you could consider the lone window above the bed to be furniture, too. K'airos did not ponder about this things, she just walked in like she owned the place. Because she had paid for it, of course.
Antimony had gone quiet as K'airos led her back towards the inn rooms, increasingly aware of her likely proximity to other people she still wasn't certain she could face. She slipped into the room after K'airos and closed the door behind her hastily and with no small amount of relief. Looking to her daughter, Antimony's ears drooped slightly and she pulled her into yet another hug. "This isn't necessary, Airos."Â
She smiled, her eyes closed. "But it is! It might not be the prettiest place, but it has a roof and a bed! I've payed for a week in advance, so you can look for work without worrying about becoming a beggar!â€
Antimony took a step back and looked around the room, expression humble, a touch shamed. "Thank you." She sighed, wrung her hands together. "I would never have wanted you to see me like this..."
"We all have bad days!" K'airos’s attempt at comforting Antimony was not very good. "So...what did you work as?"
Casting a weary look to the bed along one wall and the small sink across the room, Antimony stepped further inside until she stood in the middle of the inn room. She gave a small smile to K’airos, "An accountant. Not nearly as... admirable as... you protect people?" There's pride in her voice, though also some amount of old pain.
K'airos chuckled. "Yeah! From the beastmen and bandits. But it's mostly safe and boring, because what we most do is check cargo and people. Making sure they aren't funny or illegal, you know.â€
Antimony blinked at K'airos for a moment and then, very quietly, lets out a weak chuckle. "My girl... protecting what is good." She sighed then and wavered on her feet somewhat before catching herself. Around this time, she stumbled on a thought and gave K'airos a searching look, "You wouldn't... happen to know who to speak to about, ah, confiscated goods in Ul'dah...?"
"Did the guards confiscate things from you? I'm sure I can get it back! Just tell me what to look for!"
Antimony opened her mouth but remained silent for several seconds, unsure how to approach the subject. Green eyes shifted anxiously around the room again before settling on K'airos. "Not... my things, no. But..." Her ears and tail drooped with guilt and she turned away. "K'ile and K'luha's. I told them I would assist them, but..."
"K'ile's alive, too?" she yelled, hopping in place repeatedly and tapping her hands together. "And K'luha too! Where are they? I should...I should see them! Tell them it's all okay! OH!" She pointed in what could be a victory pose. "And they can help you settle down...!"
Flinching, Antimony clasped her hands together at her waist. "It's not that simple, Airos..." Then she just shook her head, glancing back towards her daughter. "Ah, re--regardless, they had food... for the tribe. If you could..."
K'airos tapped her chin in thought. "How much food? And when did they get it confiscated?"
She shook her head. "I... am not sure. It sounded like a great deal. A..." She hesitated, a sad look crossing her face, "A feast."
"If it was food it's likely it has been eaten by now." K'airos said neutrally. "But maybe I can arrange something. Do you know where they are?" She started hopping again when asking that.
"Where they... ah." Antimony looked past K'airos, towards the door to the outside hall. "I don't... they were here, when I... I'm not certain if they still are."
"Here is a good starting point!" she stated, and then paused. "Here in the city or here in Thanalan?"
Twisting her hands about one another some more, Antimony shook her head. "Here. In the, ah, Quicksand."
K'airos stopped her incessant jumping. "Here here?" she repeated and smiled broadly. "That's fantastic! We should go see them! Exchange tales and remember the past! And get their food, too."
Antimony's ears shifted about. "I'm not certain... Yes, you should speak to them. I'm sure they'll be... K'ile will be happy to see you."
K'airos rushed forward to hug Antimony. "I'll go now and see if they are around! You should...get cleaned and eat some! I'll come back and let you know if I find them. Alright?"
Swallowing, Antimony leaned into the hug, pulling her arms about her daughter and relishing the feeling of the gesture. Then she sighed and nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Airos."
It took K'airos around a full minute before pulling off the hug. "I'll be back soon! If it gets too late I'll make sure to come by tomorrow, and we can talk about Limsa!"
Antimony let her hands linger on K'airos as she pulled away, until she finally stepped out of reach. She brought her hands close to her as K'airos moved to the door and replied simply, quietly, "I will be here."
K'airos left the room, waving in goodbye and closing the door once she was outside.
"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