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amaurotine-daydreaming · 7 months

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XIX. Weal

“A young lady who burst in here not a quarter bell ago? Aye, I’ve seen her.” Momodi Modi crossed her arms. “Tried to hide her tears when gettin’ her key, she did. You wouldn’t have had something to do with that, would you?”

“C-certainly not!” Alka Zolka stammered. “We had agreed to meet on the steps for Little Ladies’ Day, and I am to be her seneschal. I had only just caught sight of her on the Avenue when she ran off!”

Momodi eyed Alka up and down, then squarely met his wide, earnest eyes. “You seem an all right sort,” she said. “Honest enough. I’ve been in this business long enough to have a pretty keen sense for these things, if you’ll excuse me sayin’.

“But just so I ain’t callin’ on some other distressed young lady today, I’m goin’ to need her name.”

“Setoto,” Alka said, relieved. “Her name is Setoto, and oh, thank you, miss. Tell her it’s Alka Zolka asking after her.”

“Don’t go thankin’ me yet,” Momodi cautioned. “If she decides she ain’t of a mind to see you, I won’t be pushin’ the subject–and neither should you.”

Alka nodded so vigorously he had to push his slipping glasses back up the bridge of his nose. “Yes, yes of course. Thank you, ma’am.”

“I said don’t thank me yet,” Momodi said wryly. She waved a hand toward the center of the Quicksand. “Take a seat, then. I’ll have one of mine call on her.”

As the Adventurer’s Guild’s branch in Ul’dah, Alka Zolka did not expect the place was ever what could be considered quiet, but with the Little Ladies’ celebrations in full swing, most of the seating was already taken by adventurers. He gratefully took a small table off to one side when a server pointed it out to him, assuring him that no one had come to claim the seat yet.

The sandy and earthy tones of the Quicksand’s decor were awash in the bright pink of potted cherry blossoms and paper blooms, and the reds of decorative parasols and runners laid across each table. Alka twisted his hands in his lap anxiously. The noise–and trading his armor and axe for the loose, breezy fashions of Ul’dah–did not help calm his nerves any. Just to take his mind off things, he started counting the petals on the floor that had drifted in from the main avenue, and tried not to glance in the direction of the bar too much.

It was during one of these glances that he at last caught sight of Momodi gesturing him over. He hurriedly stood.

“She ain’t ready to come downstairs,” Momodi told him when he reached the bar.

Alka’s expression fell. Momodi wagged a finger at him. “Now, don’t go mopin’ about just yet. She said you can go up and speak with her. Room twenty-two, on your left.

“And while I don’t know what happened, you set things right, you hear? I don’t want to see any young ladies’ cryin’ their eyes out on a day meant to be all about their happiness.”

Alka, one foot already on the stairwell, looked over his shoulder. “Bringing her happiness is precisely my intention,” he said, resolute.

Momodi nodded approvingly.

Setoto’s room was near the end of the hall, and Alka wondered if she had intentionally asked for such a secluded lodging–at least as much seclusion could be found in such a well-frequented establishment. He knocked softly under the “22” that had been engraved into the wood of the door.

“Setoto?”

There was a pause, and then Alka heard a shuffling and a quiet sniffling from behind the door. His heart sank.

“Setoto, what’s wrong?”

“I…I….”

Another fitful lapse into silence, punctuated by another sniffle.

Alka swallowed. “If…if it isn’t your wish to have me accompany you as your seneschal, my lady, just say the word. Your comfort and happiness is paramount to me, on this day and any other.”

To his dismay, that only prompted a loud sob. “Oh Alk- k- ka, it’s just like you to assume you’re the one at fault. I-it’s not you. It’s me!”

“How can it be you?” he asked, bewildered. He wished he could open the door and sweep her into a hug. “I don’t understand.”

“I-I don’t want you to see.”

Alka leaned his face against the wood and closed his eyes, ignoring the way it dug his spectacles into the bridge of his nose. “Setoto…you know that I have ever found you beautiful beyond compare. Even if you were to suddenly turn into a tonberry again on the morrow, it would change naught of how I see you.”

He waited. Suddenly the door was yanked open and he stumbled forward, nearly falling on his face.

“I’m sorry, Alka,” Setoto hiccuped, letting go of the door handle to steady him. “I didn’t know you were that c-close to the door.”

Her cheeks were flush and damp with tears. Before Alka could reassure her that the apology was unneeded, Setoto abruptly pulled up the sleeve of her riviera dress and thrust out her arm toward him, her face screwed up in distress. The exposed skin was riddled with painful looking weals, each swollen and red.

“I d-don’t know what’s happening,” she cried. “They just started appearing, a-and I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong with my codex or my incantations or if it just isn’t responding to healing magick.”

She yanked her sleeve back down before he could take a closer look. “What if it’s the plague coming back?” Her gold-colored eyes were brimming with panic and more unshed tears. “I think it started this way, too. The welts, and then the ghastly greenish color, and then the painful shriveling of the limbs, and–and didn’t Surito say there was a chance it could come back? What if–”

“Setoto.” Alka grasped her hand, careful not to jostle her afflicted arm. “We don’t know that yet.”

A door opening further down the hall alerted them both. With Setoto’s hasty nod, Alka fully stepped in the room and quietly shut the door.

“You are but recently come to Ul’dah,” he told her gently. “There may be all manner of common sores and illnesses that you’ve never been exposed to, making you more susceptible to them.” He reached into the pocket of his sarouel and handed her a handkerchief.

“I apologize,” he hung his head, “I should have thought of that before inviting you to a city packed to the bloody brim for a festival…”

Setoto gratefully took the handkerchief and dabbed her eyes before noisily blowing her nose into it. “Don’t blame yourself, Alka,” she said thickly, “I would’ve come anyway.

“I…I really do want you to be my seneschal for the day. Just not…” Setoto gestured hopelessly to her arm with her hand that clutched the kerchief, still holding his hand tight with her other. “And what if, in public….”

Alka mustered his most reassuring smile. “Let us call upon a chirurgeon. I am sure we can arrange to have someone sent up to the rooms–Ul’dah plays host to the Alchemists’ Guild, after all.”

“But…”

“If they cannot diagnose it,” said Alka, squeezing her hand, “we will call upon Surito. He will set things right.”

Setoto’s shoulders relaxed, but her eyes were still fearful. “What if it’s just a temporary fix?”

“Then we seek a longer term stratagem, my lady.” Alka gingerly lifted his hand to her cheek, and when she leaned against the touch he thumbed away the fresh tears there.

“Let us take it day by day,” he said. “And today, I have a princess that will want for escorting after she is given the very best care the realm has to offer…if she is still amenable.”

Setoto let out a small, glad sob. “I would like that. Thank you, Alka.”

#ffxivwrite2023 #ffxivwrite #ffxiv #alka zolka #setoto #momodi modi #little ladies day #alka/setoto #SCH quest spoilers if you haven't been past lvl 70

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gridanian-red-mage · 8 months

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At the Bottom of a Mug

Summary

While the newly named Warrior of Light Arielle Solinar is running errands, her chocobo Mina catches wind of something that she thinks is worth investigating. Which leads them to a certain bard who doesn't quite have all of his wits about him.

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[Aaaand here's the first Arielle fic of several more that are to come in the future! (This one's a little long.😅) I actually have quite a few things written containing Arielle in my Word docs, so I'll be posting more of those here as time goes on and as I get further into the expansions. But anyway, this generally takes place before the move to Revenant's Toll, so roughly about 2.1-ish. I hope you enjoy!😊]

(AO3 version)

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“All right, so we’ve delivered that odd letter, took down some pests in the area, wrapped up that small squabble from earlier, and helped with another delivery for that nice elder,” Arielle listed. “Have I missed anything?”

Mina shook her head.

“Good. I would hate to have missed something.” Arielle sighed. “Having dealt with three primals in near succession and helped Alisaie with Bahamut for the time being, on top of the tasks we’ve just completed I think we’ve had quite the busy handful of days.”

A tired kweh.

“But we’ll probably have something needing our attention at the Waking Sands, so we can’t rest just yet today.”

Mina sighed.

“I know. I’m tired, too. But the faster we get there the faster you’ll be able to have some of those fruits I bought earlier.”

“Kweh!” The bird reared up excitedly to take off only to stop abruptly, cocking her head as she listened. She then made the chocobo’s equivalent of a confused expression.

“Something wrong?”

Mina chirped to confirm before gesturing not too far ahead of them.

“The Coffer and Coffin?”

“Kweh!”

“Lead the way, then.” As Mina headed off, Arielle began to ponder. She combed through her recollections of everyone they had helped just recently, carefully going over what she had been asked to do and where she had needed to go. She even retraced her steps from a few days ago. But as far as she knew they had done everything that was asked of them. “Are you sure we haven’t forgotten anything?”

“Kweh!”

Arielle hummed. “All right. If you say so.”

A few minutes later they had arrived, and she dismounted before leading Mina to a spot off to the side. Glancing around, she didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, nor did anyone seem distressed. But Mina usually had a good sense of her surroundings, so she didn’t really have much of a reason to wave Mina off.

Upon heading inside, Arielle could see that business was just about as typical as could be. Patrons were behaving as . . . they usually did in a place like this, and—

Wait. Almost immediately she recognized one of the men at the bar. “Thancred?”

Surrounded by at least four women and enough mugs for her to know it was far too many (even if they probably weren’t all his), was the man himself—getting very tipsy giggles out of the women with a slurred quip.

“Arielle!” Thancred practically beamed. “Wond’ful t’see you, as always!”

“How long have you been here?”

“No’ long at all. In’t that righ’, ladies?” At least three of the women burst into giggles.

“An’ jus’ who’re you s’posed t’be?” the fourth woman, an Elezen, questioned.

“Someone who is taking him home,” Arielle replied. Thancred reached for another mug only for her to take it out of his reach. “I think that’s enough for now, Thancred.”

“Ever th’stern one,” he joked, right before hiccupping. That pulled a sigh out of her.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“We were here first!” one of the women whined. “Especially me!”

“He’s, um . . . a very busy man and has many things left to do,” Arielle explained.

“He’ll be too busy to leave once I get him alone!” another woman replied, giggling afterwards.

“Well . . . he’s. . . .” Think, Arielle. Think of something to ward them off. She straightened up. “He’s been especially busy with me recently.”

All four women made an assortment of disappointed noises loud enough to turn some heads, making Arielle wince.

“I knew he was too good to be true!” a Miqo’te woman sobbed.

“Ladies, please,” Thancred tried to assure. “Thr’s plenny o’ me t’go’round.” Another hiccup.

Arielle tried not to cringe. “Of course there is.” Three of the women in the group pouted in various ways while the Miqo’te continued to sob. “I suggest the four of you find other suitors elsewhere.” But before the women could protest, the bartender stepped in.

“Go on, ye heard the lass. I won’t be havin’ any fights ‘round here, especially a cat-fight.”

“Ahh ’Shtola—as pow’ful asshe isss rad’nt,” Thancred declared as the women shuffled off.

“Yes I completely agree,” Arielle said. She turned to the bartender. “You have my thanks, Roger.”

“Don’t mention it,” Roger said before sighing. “Sod’s been ‘ere for bells. At first he was mutterin’ into his mug all serious-like—”

“I w’s not muttering,” Thancred argued. Another hiccup.

“But seein’ as how it was his business I let ‘im be. An’ before long, one mug led to countless others, an’ now he’s in a right mess. I suggest ye take ‘em to the closest inn ‘round here.” He leaned in. “Between you an’ me, I think he needs someone to talk to.”

“Thank you,” Arielle said.

“Y’really should res’ ev’ry now ‘n then,” Thancred said.

“So says the man who overworks himself.” She began to help him up. “Come on. You’ve been alone long enough.”

“I c’n walk jussf’ne, Arielle Solinar.” Another hiccup, making Arielle frown.

“How much did he spend?”

“Don’t ye worry ‘bout that,” Roger replied.

“Roger—”

“Yer friend’s more important than the coin.”

“At least let me pay for half.”

The man sighed. “Fine. Half, an’ that’s it.”

Arielle handed over the amount before taking her leave, and she could feel a few pairs of eyes on her. Once they were outside, Thancred squinted at the change in lighting, and Mina kweh’d cheerfully only to cut herself off. Upon noticing his current state, she gave a curt but concerned look.

“Ih seems Mina’s unhappy t’see me thi’ time,” he said. “I s’posed I must’ve u’set ‘er.”

“She’s just worried about you. We both are.”

“I’ma grown man, Ar’elle. I c’n handle m’self.” Mina made a noise of concern before lowering herself down. “Riding u’ fron’ fer once, I see.”

“Mmhmm.” Arielle positioned Thancred before mounting herself, making sure she had her arms around him just securely enough.

“Care t’tell me where we’re goin’?” He tipped to the side a bit, and Arielle readjusted him.

“The Quicksand. Or at least the Hourglass. I’ll not be letting you go back to the Waking Sands like this.”

“ ‘T’will be good t’see M’modi again.”

“And I’m sure she will be happy to see you as well.” Arielle could already picture the woman chiding him should she manage to spot them. “Easy now, Mina.” She shook the reins, and Mina went off at a steady pace.

“I’ve had many a w’mn witheir arms ‘round me, m’ny ‘o them not quite as fair as you.”

Arielle held back a grimace. “Yes I’m . . . very much aware of the women you’ve charmed.”

“I do r’m’ber a Miqo’te th’was very frisky, whish remns me of an’ther exceptionally fair lady ov’at. . . .”

She half listened to him while occasionally keeping him upright, making sure to give short replies every now and then to appease him. She knew she had made sure to check on him during his recovery from his possession alongside the others, and every time he would assure them that he was fine and merely needed some rest. Then he was finally returning to his duties, and she had gently reminded him to take it slow.

He takes so much responsibility for so many things. . . .

“. . . an’ oh th’r’ther tall woman fr’m Limsa—v’ry fr’ward in’er adv’nces.” Another hiccup.

I really hope he doesn’t do this again. . . .

~ ~ ~ ~

Finally, after several subject changes and mood swings that thankfully did not include anything too extreme, they had crossed the Gate of Nald and arrived at Ul’dah. Thancred had eventually fallen silent only minutes beforehand, and Arielle wondered if he had either exhausted himself or was stewing. In fact she wasn’t exactly sure which was worse.

The sun had already started its descent, so it was likely that the Quicksand and the Hourglass would be busy. Assuming he didn’t decide to talk to every person inside, they could just slip right in and find a room.

I really hope there are some rooms available.

“I’r’mber f’nding you here,” Thancred mentioned. “St’ndin’ up fer tha’ woman. . . .”

“It was the right thing to do,” Arielle replied. “I couldn’t let her be treated like that.”

“. . . You’ve a good hear’ Ar’elle.”

“And so do you.” The trio arrived at the Chocobo Station, and Mina lowered herself to let Arielle help Thancred off.

“Good evening. Rough day, eh?” the Chocobokeep inquired.

“Somewhat.” Mina gave a greeting to the Keep.

“And a good evening to you, too.”

She sighed at Thancred hiccupping again.

“Thancred!” two women cooed as they waved.

“Ladies!” Thancred practically beamed into Arielle’s ear as the women came up to them. “How l’ng’s it been?” But before the women could say anything else, Mina loudly and testily kweh’d at them, making them jump. “Mina, be nice to—”

She repeated the noise, successfully scaring the intruding duo—or at least to her they were intruding. And when they looked over their shoulders, she ruffled her feathers with a curt noise as if in warning.

Thancred sighed. “Som’t’mes I wonder if Mina wans me all t’herself.”

The Chocobokeep blinked a few times while Arielle laughed awkwardly, and he cleared his throat. “J-just for the night, miss?”

“Two nights, actually—in case we need the extra rest,” Arielle replied, and Mina gently nuzzled her and Thancred as if she had not just scared off two passersby. “Good night, girl. Be good for me, all right?”

With a quiet kweh Mina nudged the pack on her saddle with the fruit inside.

“All right, hold on.” Arielle glanced between Thancred and Mina in thought before having him lean on the bird.

“I’c’n stan’ b’m’self, you know,” Thancred argued.

“Frankly not,” the Chocobokeep muttered, but was quickly silenced by Mina’s hard look. She adjusted herself accordingly to properly support Thancred as Arielle fed her a couple fruits. Afterwards she nudged the pack again with a chirp.

“I’ll give you some extra ones in the morning, but right now Thancred needs to be looked after,” Arielle promised. Mina seemed to contemplate for a few moments before giving an agreeable kweh, and Arielle scratched the bird’s chin. Once things were settled, she continued their journey on foot. “We’re almost there, Thancred.”

“You h’ve m’c’mplete trus’,” he replied, hiccupping mid-sentence.“An’ you b’sure to let Mina know th’same.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

It wasn’t long before they entered the Quicksand, and Arielle readjusted Thancred to make him seem as normal as possible. As she expected, Momodi was already occupied with quite a few patrons and then some. A few adventurers Arielle had helped out once or twice waved to her, and she waved back, although she winced once Thancred decided to again yell into her ear unintentionally.

“Momodi! Rad’nt an’ fair as always!” he announced, every pair of eyes in the room now on them, including Momodi’s.

Nophica help me, here it comes. A nervous grin worked its way through as Arielle appeased his apparent desire to speak to Momodi. And hoped she didn’t regret her decision.

The Lalafell placed her hands on her hips. “And hello to you too, Thancred.” She let out a sigh. “All right, where’d you find him?”

“Central Thanalan,” Arielle said.

“Coffer an’ Coffin, I wager?”

“Yes. If it weren’t for Mina I would’ve likely passed right by him.”

“Good bird, she is. But anyroad, I’ll leave you to keep an eye on this one, then. Should be a couple o’ rooms available over at the Hourglass.”

“Thank you. And, um, if . . . anyone asks for Thancred or me, please don’t say anything. I know he’ll send a few people into worry with how he is now.”

“Mum’s the word. Now go on an’ get him some rest.” Arielle nodded.

“C’m now shurely we could spare a mom’nt to—”

“I’m doin’ you a favor, Thancred. Can’t have you embarrassin’ yourself any further.” The duo then made their way over to the innkeeper (or rather Arielle tugged Thancred along before he could say anything else).

“Good evening,” she greeted. “I was told you had some rooms available.”

“Indeed we do,” the innkeeper replied. He glanced between the two of them. “How long will you be staying?” The arrangements were made for at least a couple of nights, and the two were finally able to step away from any more curious eyes.

Arielle closed the doors to their room with a brief sigh. “Are you all right? Do you feel ill?”

“‘M fine, Ar’elle,” Thancred said, leading her to frown. Upon being led to the bed, he unceremoniously plopped onto it.

“Try not to move, all right?”

“O’course, Miss S’l’nar.”

Moving aside the book and quill on the table, she began to place her smaller weapons onto it, keenly aware of Thancred’s gaze. She let out a breath as she removed her very well-used gloves, flexing her fingers for a bit. She supposed she was due for a new pair, but that was a problem for another time. Her current ones could last her a bit longer until then. After all, they have lasted her a pretty long time.

“Y’should be th’one to claim th’bed. I’ss only proper.”

“I’ll be just fine.” Her mind drifted to what she had asked of Momodi. Tataru’s probably worried. It is getting late. . . . “I’m stepping out for a bit, so don’t move.”

“Aye!”

Arielle left the room, leaving the doors open a crack as she made use of her linkpearl. And it barely took a minute before her call was received.

“Arielle?” Tataru asked.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“Oh, thank the Twelve! I was beginning to think something had happened to you! Is Thancred with you? He said he had ‘another matter’ to see to before he continued with his work, but I haven’t heard from him since.”

“Yes, but he’s . . . in an odd state, to say. He’s not hurt, but we won’t be returning to the Waking Sands until tomorrow, the day after at the most.”

“. . . He overdid it, didn’t he?”

“. . . Somewhat. Mina and I found him in Central Thanalan. With company.”

Tataru sighed. “And here I was thinking he was in trouble. . . .”

Arielle peeked through the crack, and Thancred was now more or less laying properly on the bed save for one leg hanging off the edge entirely. I think I prefer this kind of trouble over the other kind. “I’d rather the others not begin to worry, especially Minfilia, so. . . .”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Thank you.” Once the two disconnected, Arielle entered the room.

“I’ma right messs, ar’nt I?” Thancred said after a couple moments.

“As of right now, somewhat.”

He sighed a bit loudly. “T’think I could cont’nue to b’in such a state. . . .”

“You have not continued to be a mess. You’ve been strong and supportive.”

“It’s ne’er enough,” he retorted instantly. “I’m never enough to acc’mplsh what needs to be acc’mplishh.”

“Yes, you are, and I’ll not have you thinking this way.”

Thancred snorted. “I’m supposed to be f’ster than the enemy. T’keep Minfilia an’ th’others safe. An’ I’ve left you to burn before Ifrit more than once.”

Arielle furrowed her eyebrows. “More than—” She stopped herself as she remembered talking to him at the Waking Sands. She knew she had seen a trace of remorse in his eyes after he had told her about Ifrit’s return. “We’re all safe, and you did not leave me to burn. You—”

“Arielle can’t you understand that had you not held the Echo you would have been put to death with the others?! A kind woman whom I’ve dragged into nothing but countless trials and near death!”

Her fingers curled, and she found herself avoiding his unfocused but tormented eyes. He was right, and she knew it. Without the Echo, she would’ve been tempered like the rest of the people with her and put to death. “. . . Neither of us could have predicted what would’ve happened. But I would not have put someone I felt was a good person at fault, regardless of only having known you for a short time then. So . . . I do understand.”

“Frankly I don’t think you do.”

“And frankly, I think I do, Thancred Waters.”

“Really? And what of all the suffering I caused—”

“While you were not yourself. No one faults you for anything you did. It was Lahabrea who did all of those things. And I most certainly do not blame you for supposedly ‘leaving me to burn’ and any other troubles you think you yourself have caused.”

He let his head hang, and she leaned forward a bit to keep within his line of sight.

“You are a good man, Thancred, and you strive so hard to protect those around you. Sometimes too hard. But I would not have any other person for a friend.”

He chuckled to himself, albeit bordering on a slurred snort. “‘F’I didn’t know any better I’d say you were a bard, putting m’el’quent words t’shame.”

“I meant every word.”

“You always do.” He tilted toward her, and she caught him before sitting him upright. “’M a mess. . . .”

Arielle resisted a frown. “Try to get some rest.”

Thancred sluggishly situated himself as she rose. Undoing her hair, she ran her fingers through it before settling onto the floor. And when she glanced to him, he was already asleep.

I wonder if I’ll be able to find some tea for him in the morning. I think the brew I have in mind should help with any lingering grogginess he should have.

She fingered the pendant of her necklace, wondering if he would remember anything that had happened within the past small handful of bells. At best he would likely have foggy bits here and there—or so she assumed. I suppose only time will tell.

~ ~ ~ ~

Thancred had still been asleep even after she had gotten ready for the day and requested the tea for him. She had expected the knocking to rouse him, but it would seem his sleep was deep this time—which probably should’ve been expected. And he hadn’t shifted positions at all, so she deemed it safe to assume he wasn’t going to remember much of the previous night.

As she prepared the tea, she briefly glanced to him. Assuming he didn’t feel sick to his stomach, he would likely need something in it, obviously. Of course, she knew he was probably going to want to throw himself back into his work, but not if she had any say in that. Besides, she had given him another day to rest, so he’ll probably at least accept that.

Fruit should be fine for him for now. And for Mina. I did promise her extra. . . .

Once she was finished, a groan brought her attention back to him, and it was followed by a louder groan and him massaging his temples.

“Where. . . ?” Thancred rolled onto his back and draped his arm over his eyes, attempting to clear his mind and block the sunlight flooding in from the window for a few moments before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Registering the bed he was on, he sat up as quickly as he could, ignoring the wave of dizziness that hit him. He looked around the room for a bit in confusion before his eyes finally landed on Arielle, and immediately dread flashed across his face. “Oh gods—!”

“No no no no, you’re fine!” Arielle quickly assured.

“Agh, not so loud, please!”

She winced. “I’m sorry.” She watched him miserably swing his legs over the edge with a groan.

“Please tell me I did not do what I think I did.”

“You didn’t. I brought you here after Mina and I found you.”

He sighed in relief. “Thank the Twelve. . . .”

She studied him for a bit. “How are you feeling?”

“Well, my head is pounding, but I seem to be well enough.” He sighed again. “You’ll have to excuse my . . . less-than-gentlemanly behavior. I’m sure I was an absolute fool.”

“Well . . . um . . . I’m sure it could have been worse.”

“That does not give me any sort of comfort.”

Arielle frowned. “Well you were certainly very talkative. And moody. And . . . surrounded by women. But I managed to shoo them off.”

“Ah. I think I remember some displeased voices, although the memory is a bit muddled.”

Arielle briefly glanced down. “Why did you go off on your own like this?”

He hunched over, resting his elbows on his knees and trying not to squint. “To be honest, it was never my intention. But, when one’s mind wanders to less than cheery thoughts, it’s almost all too easy to drown it all away.”

She frowned again. “. . . You still feel at fault. . . .”

He didn’t answer her for a few moments, barely recalling himself lashing out and kicking himself. “. . . If you were in my place, wouldn’t you?”

Arielle briefly closed her eyes. “. . . I think I would. And I know you would tell me the same things that I’ve said to you. The others would likely agree with me. But I know that I cannot imagine the torment you must have endured while Lahabrea had your sense of self in his grasp.” She frowned. “I wish we had found out sooner. . . .”

“Then, I suppose you would expect hearing your own words coming from me, Arielle Solinar.”

“I think I would, Thancred Waters.”

He gave her his usual smile, and his eyes caught the tray of tea behind her. “I suppose that’s rather cold by now.”

“Oh!”

“Agh!”

“Sorry.” Arielle went to give him his cup. “I thought it would help clear your head of any remaining drowsiness. It should still be warm, I think.”

Thancred took a small sip. “And you are correct. You have my thanks.”

“It’s not too strong, is it?”

“Actually, no. It’s perfect.”

“Good.” The two sat in silence for a few minutes, Thancred trying not to wince at the clinking of the cup and saucer as well as the sunlight coming in from the window (and why it did not have any godsforsaken curtains was beyond him).

“This has an odd taste to it.”

“It’s good for you.”

“Is it supposed to be musty?”

“Yes, now drink while it’s still warm.”

Thancred refrained from grumbling as he did as told. She’s like a mother hen.

A few more minutes of silence went by, and he was beginning to taste another odd flavor in the tea. But he decided to keep his mouth shut.

“Thancred.”

He looked to her.

“If there is anything you need from me, or if there is something bothering you, call upon me. It doesn’t matter what I may be doing or what time it may be or if you think you would be a bother. I want you to lean on me, or if not me, then one of the others. We’re friends.”

“The same goes for you. But, I will try to remember that.”

Arielle smiled at him. “But we won’t be setting a single foot outside this room until you are absolutely well.”

“Arielle—”

“Thancred.”

“There are things that—”

“And I’m aware of them and have also let Tataru know that we won’t be back until today or tomorrow. Everything’s taken care of.”

Thancred frowned. He hated to admit it, but powering through his blasting headache and his temporary oversensitivity to light and sound wasn’t the best idea. He wouldn’t want to worry everyone any further, especially Arielle given what she had already done for him yesterday. “There is no arguing with you, is there?”

“No, there is not.”

He sighed in defeat. “All right. I’ll be staying put, but that includes you as well. It’s only fair since you are in such high demand nowadays.”

“. . . Fair enough.”

“And, some curtains would be lovely.”

Arielle glanced to him partially squinting and then the window. Ah, right. He’s a bit sensitive to light now. “Well I’m no weaver, but I’ll see what I can do.”

#Final Fantasy XIV #FFXIV #ARR #A Realm Reborn #FFXIV Wol #Thancred Waters #Momodi Modi #Tataru Taru #Alisaie Leveilleur #Minfilia Warde #FFXIV fics #Arielle Solinar #Mina the chocobo #Red Mage Fics #Minfilia and Alisaie are only mentioned but I'll tag them anyway.#I've never written a drunk person before. T-T #So there may be some errors in this that I'll probably fix later.#On another note I'll eventually be making a writing master list in the future that I'll be linking to in my pinned post.

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driftward · 4 months

Note

💙 Drunken Kiss @ Karaswa

🤍 Kissing at a wedding/milestone @ Zoissette and Y'shtola

🤎 Multiple Kisses/ Kisses all over/ kiss after kiss U'rahn and Nyx

🖤 Bonus: Unarmed courier, goodbye kiss

💙

Karasawa was a restrained sort, never one prone to imbibing in excess, often just enjoying a simple drink or two to enjoy the taste and the slight warmth it could bring to him.

Atraxae, on the other hand, had long built a broad tolerance around drink, learning how to chase a buzz for as many bells as she liked until she inevitably wound up in some compromising position that some other sort might consider embarrassing.

Karasawa Atraxae, however, had forgot that her body was practically new, and fragmented as it was, her tolerances were somewhat thinner. And she was without the benefit of creation magics to flush her system quickly in the wake of such poor decision making.

Which was probably why when she asked if Momodi wanted a kiss, the wiser course of action for Momodi would have been to turn her down. Instead, the proprietor of the Adventurer's Guild had laughed uproariously, and gamely offered her cheek with a wink.

And Karasawa had delivered the biggest, sloppiest kiss that had ever been seen in the Quicksand to the woman, before standing on the counter, cheering, and falling to the floor.

Fortunately, the inn had empty rooms that night to deposit adventurers in, and Momodi decided to take the incident in good humor. After she had wiped Karasawa's drool off her face.

🤍

Oh, I feel like I covered this one in YotP. Send it again though and I'll pick a different milestone. Because I am a glutton for punishment.

🤎

U'rahn was riding on top of the Enterprise Excelsior, chasing down the powerful and mighty Eikonzilla before it could destroy Miqo'teokyo or any other settlements.

"Rahn," said a voice, flat in its calmness.

"I am the greatest herro!" he yelled into the air, getting ready to leap onto its back. "And after I save everryone, nobody will ever call me 'Tia' again!"

M'zhet turned around from where he was riding Eikonzilla, and threw up his hands, laughing at U'rahn.

"Maybe you want to come down here and try to show me how a true Nuhn behaves! You'll always be a Tia to me!" he yelled.

"Rahn," said the voice again.

"I'll show you! Violet, fly us closer, I want to him him with my sworrd!" yelled U'rahn.

"Aye aye, captain!" said the pirate queen, as she steered the airship towards Eikonzilla's back, recklessly flying through the torrents of elemental energy pluming off of it.

"Rahn," said the calm voice again, louder, but U'rahn looked around and could not find its source. He shook his head, and got ready to leap from the airship to meet M'zhet in mortal combat on Eikonzilla's back.

But suddenly, he found himself surrounded, by huntresses from the Drake tribe, each of them darting in one by one to kiss him someplace else. He could feel their lips all over him, the gentle pucker sensation as their lips touched his skin and left him again.

"Whoa! What's going on!?" he said, bewildered, as kiss after kiss landed on spot after spot. Even in places where he should not have felt the kisses, like under his pants.

He looked down, and noticed he was naked, and then he thought he could hear M'zhet laughing at him, and pirate queen Violet was cheering, and the airship was corkscrewing through the air and Eikonzilla was getting away and U'rahn woke up with a start to find Nyx bent over him in bed, her head bobbing up and down rapidly as she delivered a rapid series of quick little pecks all over.

"Whoa hey uhm," said U'rahn, confused. He looked around, trying to get his bearings.

He was in his bedroom.

Nyx looked up at him. "You were not waking up to your name. I decided to try an alternative more stimulating approach. It took 37 kisses to wake you up."

U'rahn did not know how to respond to that. He had to admit, though, now that he was out of the dream, it definitely seemed nice enough.

🖤

The courier project has been abandoned. Sorry, kitter.

#answer hours #final fantasy xiv #karasawa atraxae #nyx blackmoon #u'rahn nuhn #momodi modi #biot writes

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fiopico-ffxiv · 1 year

Photo

Older comic page I drew when I was starting to work on Pan’s story.

I haven’t done much else like this because it’s really time consuming, but I really liked how it turned out.

#my art #pan yvino #momodi modi #ffxiv #ffxiv art #ffxiv wol

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nevermindtheweights · 1 year

Text

Momodi Modi is, as we all know, a cutie.

Girl is also quite caked up and knows how to roast a good dzo steak.

#Muse: Krile Baldesion (FF14)

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bloodsworn-marshal · 2 years

Note

For the Character Bingo

Momodi Modi

[[ Don't necessarily have any passionate feelings on Momodi. She's a good bean and does no wrong. She's got a hoppin' little adventurer guild and has a sad/sappy little backstory. Wish we could see her more outside of her job! ]]

#asks #ooc #momodi

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southseascion · 5 months

Text

Starlight luncheon with (short) friends!

#lalafell #ffxiv lalafell #gposer #ffxiv #pontanmax #mitanpontan #ffxiv glamour #tataru taru #momodi modi #ffxiv krile #krile mayer baldesion #papalymo totolymo #pipin tarupin #nanamo ul namo #ffxiv tataru

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alongcameaspooder · 8 months

Text

Momodi Modi invited Spooder to a party~ 💜

#Spooderpost #snaps #Final Fantasy XIV #FFXIV #Lalafell #Chigoe #New hair for the time being~

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jarael · 1 year

Text

Now, the dreams were finally beginning to recede a bit. Sigrun could sleep through the night mostly. Usually they didn’t wake up in a cold sweat, hearing Darnus’ cackling or their heart racing like they were falling. Usually, they could sleep well.

But as she had for years, she could hear voices in her dreams. She remembered telling her...sibling? She had a sibling, right? Back at home?

Where was home?

Sigrun barely remembered her native village near Dalmasca. She remembered taking care of a sickly kit, a couple years younger than herself, as a child. But their name escaped her.

She somewhat remembered Thavnair: the bustling markets, the heat that melted all but the Arkasodara, the vibrancy of the people. She remembered Nashmeira, and Ranaa.

Now Sigrun owed Momodi Modi big time, a debt she couldn’t sufficiently pay back, for keeping her sheltered, fed and clothed while she recovered from...whatever brought her here.

Sigrun needed to remember.

Hear...

Feel...

Think...and find your answer.

#ffxiv #fanfic #sigrun bosco

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sifafinalfantasy · 1 year

Text

Satira Soulsinger: Sword and Shield? Chapter 2 (FFXIV, A Realm Reborn playthrough)

Brendt promises to keep her informed of his inquiries into her past. In the meantime, Satira meets one of his friends, Momodi Modi of the Adventurers Guild. Momodi’s motherly concern feels strange, but comforting. “If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to come back here. That’s why I’m here, so that you adventurers have a place when things go crazy.” Satira still feels like it’s an imposition, but she’ll keep Momodi’s words in mind. Meanwhile, she enrolls with the Thamaturges. She has an affinity for Black Magic, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel right. It’s a talent, but it’s not what she wants to do. She finds a sword and shield fit better in her hand. Even Aldis sees that fire in her eyes. “A kindred spirit,” as Aldis describes it. Before she can ask what he means by that, they’re attacked by the Alacran, and the moment is past. She easily fights alongside the Swordsworn and finds another mentor in Master Papashan. Had she been a soldier, a Paladin of some sort? Is that why Brendt had found her on the sands of Thanalan? That could be a possible answer. But if so, why does no one recognize her here?

#Final Fantasy XIV #Final Fantasy 14 #satira soulsinger #a realm reborn #viera #ARR playthrough #minific #sifa's OC #sifa's final fantasy OCs

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autumnslance · 2 years

Text

Febhyurary 1 - Intro

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Striker!”

Thancred turned his head at Momodi’s words to the Gridanian adventurer checking in. Striker, Striker...that name seemed familiar, even important, though for the life of him he couldn’t think why.

He was certain it wasn’t because he had met the woman before; he would have remembered her. Only an ilm or two shorter than himself, perhaps, her slender frame moving with grace. Her fine black hair was cut into a short bob to keep it off her neck in the Ul’dahn heat. What he could see of her light brown skin showed very few marks one expected of a professional adventurer. He might chalk that up to inexperience, but some instinct told him that was not the case. He wished he could get a good look at her eyes; they were likely marvelous.

He continued to lean inconspicuously against a pillar, watching as she turned away from the desk, gaze flicking to the map Momodi had marked as the woman strode out of the Quicksand. She wore a shortbow and quiver on her back, he noted.

“Thancred! Stop ogling for a moment, you’ve got a message!”

“Coming, dear Momodi,” he replied, pushing off the pillar.

Momodi looked at him and shook her head, holding an envelope in hand. “That adventurer brought in a letter from Gridania. Looks like Papalymo’s handwritin’.”

“That so?” Thancred replied, trying to snatch the waved parchment. It took three attempts, and Momodi grinned.

“Well it’s certainly not Yda’s,” she giggled. “I should charge you a song for it.”

“Is that a hint?”

“A girl starts to think she’s losin’ her charms when the local bard doesn’t wax poetic for her anymore,” Momodi teased.

“My dear lady, you could never,” Thancred said. “But I shall certainly compose something for your ever-gracious hospitality.” He gave her a bow before turning away to the sound of her laughter.

He took the letter to his room in the upper levels of the Quicksand. He frowned as he read; sounded like the Shroud was having similar problems he had been noticing in Thanalan, with mysterious cloaked figures and strange occurances.

Papalymo mentioned the adventurer, Aeryn Striker, too.

“A hyur woman, bit taller than Yda, dark of hair, silvery eyed, with a Thavnairian complexion and lilt to her speech. She fights with both bow and lance and is more than capable with either. She has quickly gained a reputation as a kind, helpful, if quiet adventurer and earned the trust of many Gridanians; no small feat! She often seems to be in the right place at the right time, confronting these troubling issues and handling them with aplomb. Yda’s spoken with her quite a bit whilst in the city, and they’ve already formed quite the rapport, Twelve help me; they are of an age.”

Thancred paused at that. The woman he had seen downstairs was at most in her mid twenties, which meant Papalymo was referring to “Yda’s” actual self there. Thancred ignored the slight pang at the thought and continued reading.

“The girl has also fainted after some of these confrontations, and on waking, mentioned visions and the Crystal Herself. She has gained a reputation of understanding the most difficult of situations, and past events she should have no knowledge of. It is more than likely she is possessed of the Echo, and should be watched. Miounne already believes her a good recruit to our cause, and I find myself agreeing.”

That made Thancred’s eyebrows raise; Miounne was an excellent judge of character, dealing with so many adventurers as well as her prickly countrymen daily. But that Papalymo was also half-convinced already was a trick in itself.

“I shall have to keep an eye on this Miss Striker,” Thancred mused, putting Papalymo’s letter away. Given what little he had seen so far, that would not be an unpleasant chore.

A Few Days Later...

“Well hello,” the familiar voice cut through the hot, sleepy afternoon in the Quicksand. Aeryn looked up from rearranging her pack as the scholar Thancred helped himself to a seat at her table. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Sure you’re not following me?” She asked, continuing to check her gear as he lounged.

“You do seem to end up in the most interesting situations,” he replied, waving the waitress down. She nodded an acknowledgement as she handled her current customers. Thancred turned back to Aeryn. “If we are going to keep running into one another, it seems to me that we should be better acquainted.”

“You Sharlayans do seem to find yourselves in the thick of things, too,” Aeryn noted.

“About that,” Thancred said, leaning casually on the table. “I don’t recall telling you I’m Sharlayan--indeed, I realized after our first parting at the Sultantree that I had neglected to give you my name, nor get yours--a situation happily rectified on our next meeting, but still, I do apologize.”

“Papashan told me your name,” Aeryn replied. “And I…” she hesitated; ‘I heard you say it in a vision’ didn’t seem the right thing to say. “...I’ve met others with those tattoos and contraptions.” She gestured at the goggles on his arm. “Papalymo and Yda helped me in Gridania, and Y’shtola in La Noscea.”

Brown eyes studied her for a moment, and she wasn’t sure if he’d caught her brief hesitation. Then he grinned. “Ah, my dear colleagues. They didn’t happen to mention me, did they, on hearing you’d be coming to Thanalan?”

Aeryn gave him a flat look and shook her head. She shoved her bulging pack together enough to tie it shut finally. “Sorry, I’m heading out; Papashan asked me to see to an issue in the Copperbell Mines.”

His easygoing smile faltered briefly. “Of course, though I’m certain we shall meet again. Hopefully, without any dangerous circumstances getting in the way of a proper chat.”

Aeryn hesitated a moment. “...Maybe.” She smiled, not wanting to be entirely unfriendly; even if he was a bit...much, she should still be polite. “Good luck...with your next endeavor,” she finished, inwardly wincing.

He beamed, offering a small salute. “Good luck to you, dear lady; hopefully Papashan’s task is not too much trouble, for an adventurer such as you.”

She stepped out into the sweltering heat, the sun bright and glaring off the stones of the city. As she headed for the chocobo porters, she thought perhaps she should have been more polite. While Thancred was an obvious charmer, he also struck her as a decently helpful man under the banter and deflection—especially if those visions were true, and not just fever dreams from aether sickness and heat stroke. He could at least fight, quite well, and had seemed to harbor a genuine affection for young Lilira.

Aeryn had little doubt she would see him again; those Sharlayan scholars tended to turn up like a lucky gil whenever there was trouble. Perhaps the next time she saw Thancred, she would allow a little more than cursory introduction, once they handled whatever threat threw them into the same adventure once more.

#Final Fantasy XIV #Febhyurary #Lyn Writing #Lyn Edits #Thancred Waters #Momodi Modi #Papalymo Totolymo #A Realm Reborn #Thancred x WoL #Shippy Nonsense #Aeryn Striker #a day late but here we are #this idea came to me way too late last night

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