The Long Road Ahead

[Melodia]

Rurutani stepped into the inn room at the Quicksand and closed the door behind him softly and leaned back against it with a long, deep sigh. He was tired, and battered, and weary. His armor that once had a fine shine to it looked faded, dusty, and worn. He closed his eyes and breathed silently for a moment before pushing himself off of the door and walking toward the bed, which seemed to be calling his name. He could use the sleep but paused in the middle of the room, closing his eyes again.

 

In a split second he had ripped the sword and sheath from his waist and threw it hard onto the bed, grunting as he did. His eyes were narrow and he was breathing hard, staring at the weapon. He took three steps backward and collapsed to the floor, falling into a weary sitting position, with one knee bent as the other leg was outstretched in front of him. He lowered his head into his gloved hands as tears began to sting his eyes and he suddenly started weeping heavily.

 

He hated things in his life and they felt too heavy to bear anymore. He had no family and felt quite alone in the large world around him and his training now with this foreign weapon and new skills made him feel even more alone than ever. He missed his home, and that made him sad as he knew that had been stolen from him forever.

 

And thus, Rurutani sat in his room alone, and quietly wept for some time before collapsing on the floor in his armor and falling asleep.

[Melodia]

The words swirl around as if on another plane, while the blackness consumes all around.

 

"GET OFF OF HIM!" Rurutani shouts.....

 

"Even the walls here have teeth" the mysterious woman named Suri says...

 

The voices overlap and the image of the tall female Roegadyn floods his mind and she says "Wake up...there's work to be done yet."

 

With a startled cry, Ruru awoke, drenched in sweat from fevered dreams that seemed constant lately. He gasped and caught his breath as he realized it was still dark; the sun had yet to come up but sleep was not going to be happening. His hand slowly wandered to his face and felt on the left side, near the eye that used to be there. The area was still sore and bruised, but was improving every day. The lack of sight from that side still disoriented him, but he hoped time would fix that.

 

He sat up and heaved a deep sigh and thought for a moment, considering the events that had led to his current state. And he knew that he needed to change. He jumped off of the bed in the Quicksand Inn room and walked to the side table. He looked on to the two eyepatches laying there, the simple one that Remi had given him after cleaning his injury and the more elaborate one Denn had given to him. He closed his good eye and considered for a moment before opening it and reaching for the simple one. It would have to do for now. He placed it over his lost eye and then grabbed the larger, fancier eyepatch and grasped it tightly in his small hand. He would have to get some work done it before he could wear it, so he wanted to ensure that happened as soon as possible.

 

He placed the eyepatch down and looked over at the sword and shield leaning against the wall and smiled. He knew what needed to be done. He had, for too long, been averse to fully embracing the training he was going through with Kage and that nearly cost him and Kage their lives.

 

"Not one more shall fall because of my carelessness" Ruru said to himself in a low voice.

 

He walked to the sword and picked it up, feeling it's weight. He would certainly need to relearn his peripheral field of view, but was confident that he could with time. He needed to take the lessons more seriously and needed to work harder. He thought back to the events at Pearl Lane and gritted his teeth as he saw the image of the figure clad in black hurting his mentor, Kage. The figure was lost to him....he had no clue who had attacked Kage or why and had been struck so violently before he could even ascertain any details. He needed to speak to Kage, to find out who it was and what was going on. He also needed to speak with Ser Natalie, but she had been away for some time. He needed to be sure she was okay with him continuing the training with his lost eye.

 

Finally, he needed to speak to Denn, if he could. Something was offputting in the last conversation between her and Kage as she had left him and Kage with Remi. Something....and if Kage wasn't able to get answers, then maybe he could. He set the sword down gently against the wall and went to clean himself up.

 

It was high time to grow up and find out what was going on and he intended to so immediately.

[Melodia]

Ruru's breath was visible as he waited, crouching behind a tall thicket in the cold lands of Coerthas. The clouds overhead at least hid the sun, preventing him from imagining false warmth. The area was quiet north of Dragonhead save for the light growling from the Snow Wolf he had in his sights. They tended to be aggressive and dangerous when hungry and this one appeared to be starving. A Lalafell would be an adequate meal for this one, Ruru thought and smiled.

 

His hair had grown out a bit and he had decided to let it grow. And the eyepatch he wore now felt natural, as did the sword he brandished. He had accepted his fate in life and decided to embrace who he was becoming. A soldier. He would complete his training and he would ask Kage to allow him to request Ser Natalie to attempt the trials to become a Sultansworn. While he had initially doubted his abilities with the loss of his eye, he had grown more confident as he had stepped out and worked through various beasts. While he still had much to learn, he was becoming as tempered steel with the skills he was acquiring.

 

He hoped Kage was healing well; his shield arm had been nastily broken and Ruru hoped it would heal properly. In the meantime, Ruru considered, it would do either of them no good to stand idly by an await the next attack by mysterious figure who had hurt them so badly before. He wanted nothing more than to find who did it and put the shackles on the person himself, presenting them to Kage for adjudication. But he needed more information, more training, and a better sense of himself for he could ill afford to lose again. Last time it cost him an eye....the next could be a far greater cost.

 

But first was the Snow Wolf, seemingly oblivious to the Lalafell who spied him for some time. His hans gripped the sword tightly, knuckles cracking as he did so, and hefting the shield on his other arm, he charged out of the thicket toward the wolf. The cold winds pushed against his face as he ran and the feeling was exhilirating as his heart pounded in anticipation. As he got closer, his feet making crunching sounds in the snow as he moved forward, he let out a deep yell that began in his chest and rose to greet the Snow Wolf with a thunderous "YARGHHHH!!!"

 

The shield slammed into the wolf quickly, catching it off guard and allowing Ruru the opportunity to open a series of quick slashes to the wolf, taking its legs out in rapid fashion to limit its movement. It let out a loud yelp of surprise and gnashed at its attacker, its teeth flashing droplets of blood. But it was already too late. Ruru swung the sword more deftly than he had in weeks and it came down in a killing strike to the wolf's torso, putting it down to its final moments. Ruru ensured it died quickly with a quick thrust to the head and then took a knee to collect his thoughts.

 

Through his breathing he closed his eyes and tried hard to remember what the mysterious figure looked like. Was it a man, or a woman? The form had seemed smaller but that implied nor meant anything. He needed to speak to Kage again. As an apprentice Ruru felt limited in what he could do to help, as surely the Sultansworn were handling this internally. He sighed and knew he had to figure something out. With his eye closed he envisoned the attack which had happened so fast. And then just as suddenly, the image of the alluring Roegadyn woman....and he quickly banished the the thought.

 

He stood and sheathed his sword after cwiping the blood away, beginning the long trek back to Ul'dah.

 

He had work to do yet.

[Melodia]

It had been days since he'd arrived and the ocean air along with the smells of the jungle made Rurutani smile. It was a long overdue smile. His feet crushed leaves and ground debris as he walked toward the docks, as the humid air made him sweat, though he welcomed it. He had spent the morning hunting....training. It had been days since he had even opened his mouth to say a word and the solitude had been a blessing in disguise. Away from the energy and organized chaos that Ul'dah was, away from the dangers, Ruru had found inner peace as he focused on his training.

 

The lessons played through his mind with each beast that attacked. Slash....Slash...parry...counter attack. And with each kill, he became better and more adept, the blade and shield extensions of him rather than simply being tools he held. Kage would be proud.

 

He allowed his mind to drift for a moment...allowed for the luxury of the thought, and wondered how Kage was, wherever he was. He hoped his friend and mentor was doing well, healing as he should and staying out of danger.

 

As he walked, beads of sweat starting to roll down his forehead, he admired the jungle around him, for its calm and serenity, coupled with its hidden dangers. He hoped that with time, he would be like this jungle, with those same elements. as he approached the docks, hoping for a bit of a rest, he saw an older man loading supplies onto his small boat and for half a moment considered walking away, to avoid potential conversation, but reconsidered; the man looked friendly enough. Rurutani had avoided Wineport because there were too many people there and as he needed the time to himself, had taken to a quiet shelter deeper in the nearby jungle.  

 

The elder man's eyes caught Ruru's and he smiled. "Well hello there, lad."

 

Ruru returned the smile, "Afternoon, sir. He took his spot, sitting down and letting a tired sigh escape him as he did. The elederly man looked up from his work nodded slightly at Ruru.

 

"Lookin' worn there boy."

 

Ruru looked back and laughed softly, "Been out hunting a bit. Just tired."

 

"Nah, lad....I mean worn." He tapped his head when he said this, looking genuinely concerned. "Spirit....not the body."

 

Ruru was caught off guard but looked back down at the waters knowing the man was right. "That obvious, huh?"

 

"Well hells boy yer practically wearin' it like a coat. Mind if I sit a spell and talk?" He looked at Ruru, waiting for some sign of approval, which was granted once Ruru nodded to a spot near him. The elderly man took a seat and took in a deep breath of air, "Ahhh....'tis beautiful, no? The jungle I mean. Has an elegance to it, at least that's my feelin'." Ruru nodded and said that it did.

 

"So, what's the matter boy? Why you look so glum for? Yer in a beautiful place, seem to be in fairly good shape...save fer the eye...and you seem to be able to handle yerself. So not sure what th' issue is."

 

"The issue is...." he paused wondering if he should open up and decided he would as the old man didn't seem to be a threat. "...the issue is I have so many questions of people I have met...or know....and they are all gone. So I'm stuck...left wondering how to help or what to do next because everyone is just gone." He hadn't noticed his voice rising in volume as he said this, unaware he outwardly seemed upset. The old man chuckled and shook his head. Ruru snapped his head and stared at the old man in disbelief "What's so funny?" he asked.

 

"Ah boy...it's amusin' is all. You sit here wondering' what to do next...wondering how you'll find the Cat...well, which one d'ya want to find is what I wonder....or the woman Roe. You keep thinkin' how you'll do that and yet yer out here swingin' away at beasts. Seems...hmmm...what's th' word? Counter-productive. Yes, that's it." He laughed again, a deep belly laugh and Ruru jumped up, wondering how this man knew so much. He backed away from the dock and the old man kept laughing, no longer even considering Ruru.

 

Ruru mumbled a bit and turned to leave and stop frozen in his tracks. Not 50 yalms from him was a small circular table, elegantly decorated with a full meal for two upon it, with a bottle of wine and two half full glasses. Seated at the table were the female Roe, Dennthota and across from her the mysterious Miqo'te Suri, who took a sip of her wine as they both turned and looked at the shocked Lalafell and smiled. a mysterious figure in black walked to the table and poured more wine into Denn's glass before looking directly at Ruru.

 

"Impossible...." was all Ruru could manage before he turned back to see if the old man was there. The old man was gone and before him stood Kage, clad in his Sultansworn uniform and smiling. "What are you doing, Ruru? Why are you here. Don't you have something you need to be doing?" Ruru stammered a bit and said "How-....I mean, I'm training. H-how...?" Kage shook his head and shushed him. "No Ruru, I mean about the attack."

 

"B-but I don't know where....how did you find me?" He couldn't keep his words together and truly was frightened by the scene. He turned to see the table and saw it was gone and in the second he turned back to Kage, he saw that his friend was gone as well. "I can't find anyone," Ruru said quietly to himself, and felt a gentle hand on his shoulder from behind that startled him. As he turned and looked, afraid of what he might see, his eyes fell upon Ser Natalie, adorned in the same uniform as the day the two had met near the Chamber of Rule in Ul'dah. She smiled and said, "Calm your nerves. Collect your thoughts, Rurutani. Perhaps the reason you can't find anyone is because you haven't truly looked."

 

"S-Ser Natalie. I'm sorry. I don't know where anyone is. I don't-"

 

She smiled and said, "Then it's time to start looking and stop hiding."

 

Suddenly Ruru's eyes snapped open, sweat drenching his head as he sat up from his makeshift bed. He worked to catch his breath and realized it was just a dream. But even if they were just dreams, maybe the message was clear. Maybe he needed to start looking in a more proactive way. He decided he would need to head into Wineport to send Kage and Natalie a letter, hoping they had access to their mail.

[Melodia]

The shelter was dark, the candle having long since extinguished due to the leaking rain coming through the makeshift roof. The rain had been pouring for hours and the leaves outside made odd noises as the drops splashed against them. The occasional crack of thunder deafened the noise and the accompanying lightning brightened the night sky.

 

Ruru sat cross-legged on the floor, turning a small knife in circles, staring at the open dark space across from him, his lone eye, staring blankly. In that space sat both his sword and his bow. The rain had leaked through and his hair was wet, matted against his head. He turned the knife again and continued to stare. It had been days since he had last spoke to anyone, and the last contact he had with the outside world had been a couple of vague letters, containing no answers and direction to wait for further instruction. So he had sat, waiting, unsure of what to do next. He wondered if he had made the wrong choice...

 

"You did..." he muttered quietly to himself, unaware he had spoken aloud. He grabbed the knife, quickly and forcefully slamming it, blade first, into the ground before him. Thunder crackled again and he stood slowly, walking to the weapons and glaring down at them both before angrily kicking them to the side of the shelter. His breathing was shaky and he walked outside into the rain as he felt his his remaining eye stinging with tears. Inside of his head he envisoned all of the people he had lost and who were now gone in one form or another and he couldn't take it anymore.

 

Ruru looked up into the falling rain and heard the thunder crack again and screamed as loudly as he could, partly out of pain, partly out of loneliness. He fell to his knees and began to weep, thankful the rain would hide them and thankful he was alone in his shame. He felt useless and alone, more alone than he had been in quite a long time. He couldn't trust anyone and those few he could were simply gone, hiding somewhere, away from him.

 

He fell on his back lay in the rain, letting it wash the tears away, praying that he could find some peace and some answers and hoping he wouldn't be alone forever.

 

Whether it was the thunder or his own sobs that drowned out the sound, one thing Ruru failed to notice was the sound coming from nearby:

 

Gleeful and malicious laughter.

[Melodia]

The dusty room of the Inn greeted him with sunlight and a peaceful quiet The bed looked inviting after his time in the jungle. He laid down his bag and gently placed his sword and shield against the wall, looking down at them for a moment, disappointed in himself for having kicked them angrily days before.

 

He walked to the bed and sat, placing his head into his hands and taking a deep breath. It had been hard, seeing Kage in the jungles outside of Wineport and hard words had been said, but they were things that needed saying. Ruru hoped the bridges had been rebuilt and smoothed over with him and the Sultansworn. Hoped that Natalie wouldn't deny him the opportunity to attempt the trials based on his decision to basically disappear.

 

He lifted his head and sniffed for a moment and realized he smelled awful. And needed cleaning immediately. Taking a bath and trimming his hair a bit to make it neat, he dressed in his nicest set of armor and made the long walk to the Chamber of Rule as he was being summoned by Ser Natalie and his mentor Kage for something.

 

He smiled as he walked, happy he was finally home again.

[Melodia]

The dreams had been too much for him over the past days. The nightmares kept coming and he was still feeling a bit lost.

 

Ruru picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He looked back at the bed in his room, the paladin armor and sword neatly laid there, with the note to Ser Natalie which simply read "I'm sorry", and hung his head low.

 

With a turn, he left the inn, the night air and quiet streets greeting him. He stepped out of the city of Ul'dah, unsure of where he was headed next. He needed some peace and and some answers, neither of which he had gotten in his home city.

[Melodia]

His breathing was heavy as he ran, the armor practically digging into him as it weighed him down. The carpeted flooring a brief respite for his feet as he ran what was now his 25th lap around the Chamber of Rule landing. He continued to get odd looks from others as he passed, the sweat pouring down his face and yet the grin he bore seemed permanantly etched into his face.

 

He had made a terrible mistake leaving in the night as he had done. It was something he considered a black mark on his record and he would need to work to rectify the matter. Meeting Ser Natalie was terrifying as he was sure she would have kicked him out of her sight for the pitiful exit he had done.

 

But no!

 

She had thrown the sword at his feet and told him to run 50 laps in his armor. That was a win as far as he was concerned. He would not disappoint her again. And he promised himself he would not make rash decisions based on dreams again either.

 

He wiped the sweat away from his brow as started lap 26, still smiling. For he knew the trials would be coming soon.

 

And he was ready.

[Aya]

It was still Aya's first week in Ul'dah, and never had this Ala Mhigan refugee raised among the dregs of Ishgard, felt quite so out-of-place.  From the burning sun, to the strange local customs, and even the stranger local smells, she had to continually remind herself that she was still in Eorzea.

 

Wandering around town to sight-see and learning her way around town seemed to be a great use of a free morning.  On her list of objectives was to see the Hustings Strip, off-limits to a poor foreigner such as herself, but worth seeing despite the risks! 

The expectation in her expression was almost palpable as she stepped slowly along the richly carpeted stairs, trying but failing to hide her face while watching the sight of the chamber unfold before her eyes.  The full affect of the massive domed room was astounding: it seemed that the rumors of Ul'dah's vast wealth were, if anything, understated.  She stood as if struck, marveling at the decorations of the room, hanging tapestries, gold fittings, perfect carved stones, the uniforms, armor, and weapons of the guards who seemed like characters pulled right from the pages of a story book, and a Lalafel running...wait what?

 

She sucked in a sudden breath, her eyes opened to a full wideness as her lips hung slightly open in awe; she was lost in the moment and entirely unaware of the wary eyes of sentries that turned her way.  Her mind wandered over the difference between this hall, and the forest city of Gridania that had been her home for most of the past year: with its bare wooden structures, recently re-constructed homes, and shabby-looking guards who mostly provided their own mis-matched equipment.  For a moment she was reminded of Ishgard, only with less oppressive overtones.

 

A sudden cough startled her to attention, and with a shake of the head she looked at the sentry with the expression of a deer suddenly caught in the open.  She froze in place before dawning a bashful smile and turning to return down the stairs she had come.  Still, as she started to step away she turned to look back over her shoulder watching the little Lalafel run passed again.  He was breathing like a man ready to expire, the tunic beneath his armor drenched with sweat, what could possibly have possessed him to run like that?

 

She tilted her head a bit, and looked back once more as she walked away.

 

As she explored the city a while longer, the strange sight in the Hustings continued to beguile her.  After wandering her way through the winding local markets she decided to peek into the landing one more time, and once again, a little less entranced by the majesty of the space, she spied the little Lalafel running desperate laps bearing a tortured grin.  Resigned, she shrugged her shoulders and let out a soft sigh, "certainly he couldn't be doing that by choice?" she thought, and turned to make her way back to Momodi's.

 

Aya dressed for her barmaid shift, still thinking about the Lalafel she decided that she had to do something for him.  Still rather unaccustomed to the fashion of Ul'dah, she wore the corset, thigh-boots, and other accessories expected of a barmaid in Northen Eorzea.  Once readied for work she made her way to the back room of the kitchen, and filled one of her own water skins full of fresh water, surreptitiously plucking an ice shard to chill the liquid, and after pausing in thought, another.  Chilled water was not cheap in the land of the desert flame and scorching sun, but she thought it a risk worth taking...

 

A few moments later, while she should have been starting her shift at Momodi's, she arrived once more at the Hustings: standing near the circle that loops around the Chamber of Rule.  This time the sentries were even more suspicious, as they watched the strangely dressed woman standing there holding the filled skin close to her body.  She ignored their gazes and watched the Lalafel running his next lap, ready to offer him the cold water.

[Melodia]

As he turned the corner, breathing hard with the armor feeling as though it weighed as much as one....no, two large male Roegadyn strapped to his back, Rurutani was beginning to be convinced he now knew what true pain was, and that included the loss of his eye. The other sentries seemed quite amused by the spectacle, the Lalafell running as hard as he could, and Rurutani prayed the Sultana would not decide to take a stroll through the area, for the shame in that would be unbearable.

 

He told himself to hush as he had brought the issue on himself for leaving. The armor creaked and he wiped his brow with futility as he gradually turned the corner and saw what clearly was a mirage.

 

There stood a young woman in a corset and thigh boots standing there, seemingly watching him, and holding something close to her. He slightly cocked his head to the side a bit, wondering why this spectator was suddenly there. The sentries posted did not seem too thrilled with her presence, but she seemed intent on keeping her eye on him as he ran toward her.

 

As he approached he slowed his pace a bit, unsure what she wanted, not even sure she was real, as he'd had one too many strange dreams and visions lately. For a man with one eye, he seemed to see too many things lately. He continued to slow, unaware that he had nearly come to a fast walking pace as he came within speaking distance of the woman.

[Aya]

http://www.ffxiv-roleplayers.com/wiki/images/6/60/Aya_waiting.png[/img]

 

Aya watched with a soft, concerned look as the Lalafel continued his route around the circle.  Her hands shifted a little around the waterskin, the glaring looks of the guards causing a momentary worry that she'd be expelled from the room before the little runner made his way around again.  But, as he finally began to approach and made eye contact with her, the concern quickly turned to a warm smile.  As he neared her, slowing, she took a step forward, close to his path, and lowered herself, squatting so that she was about down to his height.  Without saying anything, she thrust her hands forward offering the skin of chilled water toward him as he approached.

[Melodia]

Was she real? Rurutani went through the scenario in his mind...he had been ordered to run laps as corrective action for leaving...then a young blonde woman was holding out something to him, smiling, in the hallway. He stopped, gasping a bit, his head still cocked to side, his eyes discerning the woman before him. He reached out slowly and touched the skin of water and it felt gloriously cool to the touch. He stammered a bit, lowering his voice into a whisper so the sentries wouldn't hear. He took a quick glance around, praying that Ser Natalie was gone for he was sure she'd have his hide for stopping for a break. He then wondered what Kage would think if he saw this. Well if she wasn't real he would look like a crazy person, he supposed.

 

"A-are you real? I mean....this isn't a heat sickness is it?" he said as he grasped for the cold water skin, looking to loosen the top.

[Aya]

Despite the young blonde woman's unlikely appearance, she was quite real, and that little smile of hers only grew wider while the Lalafel looked around the room nervously.  As he seemed to stammer his question of disbelief, she  canted her head and let out a happy little, "heh", before answering him, "I sure hope not~" her French-like, foreign accent obvious as she grinned.  "It just seemed like you could really use some water, please have some!  Then you can see if I am real or not!"

[Melodia]

The accent from the woman's lips fascinated him as it sounded foreign to his native Ul'dah ears, a sign she was in fact real (where, he thought to himself, would he come up with an accent like that?). As he took the water skin and loosened the cap, he slowly titled it back and felt the cold liquid hit his parched throat, and began to take in big gulps, relieved to have the water.

 

he stopped after a minute, suddenly cognizant of how he looked and most likely smelled. He blushed profusely, though it wasn't visible through his already red and puffed cheeks. "I-I'm sorry. I just....it's been a long day." He breathed and took another drink, nodding at the young woman. "My thanks."

 

He glanced at her, smiling and then asked what suddenly came to his mind, "May I ask why? I mean...." He looked around again, sure he was being tested. "...I'm in trouble. Sort of. I just never thought...." he held up the water with a slightly confused expression on his face.

[Aya]

"You're welcome!" she says with a quiet excitement, and a bit of a giggle.

 

"I just saw you running all morning, and its so hot in here... and it must be even worse under all that armor!  It just really looked like you could use some water-I don't think I could have forgiven myself if I'd heard later today that a poor Lalafel had collapsed at the Hustings!"

 

She cants her head again looking suddenly worried while she holds a finger to her lips, "Mmmm.. I was worried that you might be in trouble, it didn't really seem like something you'd do by choice.  I hope I don't get you in any more."

[Melodia]

He chuckled even through the heat under the armor and the shortness of breath. She was sweet and had felt for him. It was a kindness he would remember.

 

"Not to worry....I'm in trouble but for something foolish I did. While what I did probably didn't hurt anyone, this..."character building exercise" will help me remember to not do it again."

 

He took a small drink, and looked down. "I'm sorry for how I must look...I am usually in better shape than this. My name is Rurutani...though most call me Ruru."

[Aya]

She smiles back while listening, "Well, Ruru, my name is Aya, and l I hope you find all of this effort worthwhile when you look back on it.  And you just look like someone who's been running all morning, that's nothing to be ashamed of, hmmm?  How much longer are you going to be running?"

[Melodia]

He glanced around again, seeing no sign of Kage or Natalie.

 

"It's a pleasure to meet you Aya, truly. I have 50 laps to run....and that was lap 40. So, ten more to go."

 

He looked down, as he knew he needed to get back to it. It would do him no good to get himself into further trouble, and the sentries were looking unhappy with the meeting on the Strip. He also didn't want to get Aya into trouble as she looked dressed for work.

 

He stammered a bit, trying to find the words. "Ah...I, uhm...I should get back to it. Don't want to get more laps added, right?" He laughed nervously and ran his hand behind his head in an embarrassed and nervous manner. "Thank you again for the water. It means a lot to me."

[Aya]

She nods seriously, her eyes wide with concern once more, the barest smile on her lips, "It should give you enough energy to finish now right!?" she returns the the cap to the water skin as he finishes slaking his thirst for the moment, "You're almost there!  Do you know the Quicksand?  When you're done come by and you can have the rest of this water, and I'll get you something to eat--you're going to be starving!"

[Melodia]

He nods at Aya. "I would love to. Thank you so much again. It was a pleasure meeting you and many thanks."

 

He moves and begins a fast walk away, waving as he does so. As he looks back he waves at her and smiles brightly.

 

As he began to run again, he smiled and nodded. It was a good day after all.

[Aya]

Aya stands back up as the Lalafel turns to continue his run.  Holding the water skin with both hands, just as she was when he first saw her.  She smiles brightly and watches him start around the circle again, before turning around herself and heading back to the Quicksand; hoping to avoid any trouble with Momodi.

[Melodia]

He woke in the middle of night, screaming.

 

He gasped for air as he sat up, clutching the sides of the bed with a white-knuckle grip, and sweat dripped from his forehead. As his breathing got under control he tried to recall the dream, only recalling small details such as the presence of his dead mother and sister and his brother wielding the bloody knife. He didn't even realize he'd been crying, as the tears melded with the sweat the rolled down his face.

 

It wasn't the first time and the dreams had become almost unbearable. His sleep habits had been a mess for some time and he was starting to feel its effects. He sat on the side of the bed and reached across to the nightstand and for the bottle there. Lately wine had been his only calming recourse, and he'd downed more bottles of late than he could recall. He knocked the glass off the table, and cursing, he knelt to pick it up, filling it to the rim and downing it immediately, thankful for the calming drink. He filled a second, emptying the bottle and throwing it to the side of the room. He supposed he was thankful for the cleaning service in the inn, lest he have a pile of emptied bottles to look at.

 

Aye, the stresses were beginning to take a toll on him, and he chuckled, downing the second glass. Between the trials that were forthcoming, his own past issues, and recent conflicts, he was tired.

 

But he daren't let others see this. So, he turned, attempting to sleep again, hoping he would at least look rested in the moring, even if he truly wasn't. He gripped the blankets and covered himself again, covering himself tightly and staring blankly at the wall next to him praying the dremas would go away.

 

Afraid to sleep, he yet drifted off soon afterward.

[Melodia]

Where had the days gone? He wandered the streets of Ul'dah, past the people he didn't even see as his gaze was glossed over and a stupid grin plastered to face. The wine helped, as it always did, but he had tried to cut back some the past couple of days.

 

As the sun shone down and warmed his armor, he couldn't keep his mind from Liana. And the stupid grin grew wider, looking as though he were in love; though he knew better. He was smart enough to know the dynamics of his relationship with the beautiful Miqo'te, and it they weren't based in love. The two had shared time and would likely do so again, and he was happy to do so. He surely wouldn't be able to be with the one he really desired and while it broke his heart, he knew there was no way to alter the course he was on. So he grinned, happy to be desired, even if by someone of Liana's nature. He'd been alone for so long he didn't want the feeling of being with someone to end.  

 

He knew the trials were soon and hoped his new relationship wouldn't harm his chances. But he would worry about that later....he was currently thirsty and needed drink. Perhaps the Quicksand would be a good place to stop...but he reconsidered and headed to the less populated Pearl Lane instead.

 

And he did so smiling all the way.

[Melodia]

He sat outside of the Quicksand in Pearl Lane, not far from where he lost his eye, sitting against the wall and drinking back the last of his bottle of wine and ensuring the last drops hit fell out into his mouth before hurling the bottle against the wall across from him. The bottle shattered, spreading glass splinters everywhere and Ruru chuckled, clearly drunk. He slumped his head back against the brick wall, closed his eyes and sighed. His sleep had been nothing short of horrific the past few weeks and he was running on fumes on a daily basis. The alcohol was the only thing providing him any sleep anymore.

 

He sniffled and wiped his eye and though for a moment, wondering how things had seemingly gone so wrong. He'd not seen anyone in some time and the thought, in his drunken state, made him laugh loudly, sounding a bit like a madman, if one were to judge. The only person he'd seen on occasion of late was the lovely Aya, which was why he opted to drink in the alley, for he didn't want her seeing him in this state. Everyone else....who knew where everyone else was? He certainly didn't and at this point it didn't matter. In the span of two days' time he'd been used and if one more person called him adorable in that mocking tone one more time he decided he might lose his mind. The only one who took him seriously was....

 

Liana. He let out an angry and frustrated growl as he thought of her name. He hadn't seen nor heard from her in some time, nor Suri. And the urge to drink more hit him in waves as he considered this. "Damn it!" He said it loudly, and with bitterness as he cursed himself for getting attached to anyone. He should have known better and scolded himself internally for not having adhered to his lessons learned in life about the lack of permanancy of anything. Not in friendship, not in family, and certainly not in matters of the heart.

 

He began to stand, stumbling a bit as he did so, payning no mind to the folks that passed him by, looking at him with genuine concern in their eyes. Ruru staggered a bit before getting his footing and felt the heavy armor against him, which reminded him of what he was wearing: the Paladin garb he had earned from Captain Jenlys. He looked down at himself and burst out laughing at the absurdity of it all. The idea that this broken, lonely man could be a Sultansworn was ridiculous and he slapped his chest two times, with tears beginning to stream out of his lone eye. "What's wrong with me?!" He yelled to no one in particular. He slumped a bit, a wave of dizziness washing over him. He mumbled, "what's wrong with me?" 

 

He suddenly wished he had his bow again. His bow, arrows, the woods, and solitude. Though he felt as if the latter was clearly well in hand. He began to walk haphazardly back to his inn room, determined to sleep, even if for just an hour. And promised himself that when he woke, he would grab his fishing pole and head to Limsa Lominsa....or anywhere....for if he was to be alone, he would do it on his own terms.

[Melodia]

The sunlight beamed through the windows and onto Ruru's cheek, as he lay face down in bed. The sound of the ocean and birds were a welcome -

 

He sat up quickly, and his head rang inside as he did. The ocean? he was confused and looked around the room, not recognizing it and then remembered. He was in Limsa, at the Drowning Wench. And he knew he was heavily hungover. He stood slowly, getting his bearings and stretching some. He glanced at the empty bed and shook his head. The woman had left sometime in the night. 3000 for the full evening? With that kind of charge he half expected her to be there come morning. He had half a mind to let....what was her name again? He pulled the business card from the table and remembered. Grace. He would have to let Grace know. But then....he looked at the sunlight and thought maybe morning had long since come and gone so maybe he wouldn't bring it up.

 

He went to the bed and sat, putting his face into one of his hands and sighing. He had finally gotten some sleep last night for the first time in days. Perhaps it had been the combination of sex and alcohol that had finally put his body at ease, but his mind was still tired and he still felt as though he'd been beaten by a squad of Garlean thugs.

 

What had he done? He looked about the room for anything amiss and realized something was missing.

 

"The linkpearl..." He hissed. What had he done with it? A vague memory came to him of standing on the docks and.....he'd thrown it in. He sighed and shook his head, embarrassed by his own actions. He had begun to hate these moments of sobriety. They made him think and when he thought, he got depressed. How in the hell was he going to explain the Linkpearl to Kage....or Natalie? She'd surely have him doing more than laps this time.

 

He tried to think back to the woman he'd hired. She called herself Liana but she was clearly out of her depth in comparison to the real one. Though, he thought, to be fair, the woman likely had no idea she was being compared and critiqued. It was no matter. He'd gotten what he wanted and Grace was now wealthier because of it.

 

He began to gather his belongings. He needed to get back to Ul'dah. Drunk or not he needed to explain the Linkpearl and he needed to.....

 

He stopped and sighed.

 

He needed to get himself in order. He wasn't sure when things had turned so backward but he wasn't happy with recent events and he wasn't happy with himself. He needed to stop the drinking before something serious happened to himself...or others. He winced at that, thinking of potential problems that could come of that. Yes....he would need to get the drinking under control but he might need some help with that.

 

He glanced at the bed, whispered "Liana.." and turned to leave, ready or not for whatever might come from heading back to Ul'dah.