Fandom Final Fantasy: The Age of Ophiuchus [Closed]

[Arcanist]

Sofia and Matias Caldeira. They were very Rozari names – even if Cleon hadn’t been entirely sure what constituted a Rozari name. He listened to Reva explain her relations with them, though, had been aware of her time in Rozari previously. She had lived quite the life before coming to Ucantis. He often forgot how much of a life she had lived before he or even his mother had been around.

Hearing about this couple, he hoped that the Moogles would help them find them. He was suddenly eager to meet them with the way Reva spoke so highly of them. Kikiti seemed to believe the same with how she cooed the whole way through their history.

Upon spotting the rather despondent looking moogle, the others followed Didymus as he asked for directions. Kikiti tried not to frown at the moogle’s rather hesitant look. It seemed Didymus’s fears were being realised with every passing moment.

“Sofia and Matia Caldeira…” The moogle murmured, obviously pretending to try and recall those names. They hauled the bag – much too bulbous for a moogle like them to be carrying – over their shoulder once again.

“Sorry, I suppose we’re interrupting an important mail run,” Cleon apologised, looking at the bag. “You seem to be carrying a lot…”

“Tell me about it…” The moogle huffed. “The guys decided it would be a great idea for me to take on some of their deliveries. There’s no way I’m gonna get this all delivered by the afternoon!”

Cleon frowned, a picture of genuine sympathy. “That sounds tough. I’m sorry you had all that work thrown on you.”

Kikiti was thoughtful for a moment. The moogle found themselves in quite the predicament. And they had somewhere to be. Perhaps they could meet in the middle with a compromise. “You look as if you need some help. Why don’t we help carry some of the load for you? I’m sure you can get around quicker if you have a few extra hands to help you.”

Again, there was slight hesitance on the Moogle’s face...though, there was a glimmer of temptation that glittered in their eyes. “Really? Well, I wouldn’t ask it of you. Plus, I wouldn’t want to waste your time.”

Kikiti shook her head and smiled. “I don’t see why we can’t spare you some help.”

 

[Lucyfer]

How did they keep finding themselves in these messes? Didymus already knew what Kikiti was going to say, to offer, before it left her mouth. Of course, that could help get them to the Caldeiras, so long as the moogle was feeling nice. Yet, they weren’t familiar with Rozari. Finding any location in Rozari was going to be a pain.

So, as Kikiti decided to be good-natured, Didymus threw in, “You just have to help us find the Caldeiras afterwards,” he said, “and then you’ll be the envy of all the other moogles,” he wouldn’t mention that the moogle would also, probably, be picking up a lot more work from that time on.

He could learn that lesson the hard way.

There was still some obvious hesitance, but the moogle seemed to relent, “Kupo! Well then, I suppose I can share a bit, and if you find your way back here I can see about helping you if I don’t have to work my lunch.”

Didymus grinned, “All right, we’ll work in pairs then,” best for none of them to go alone, he assumed, and heard no protest from Reva as the moogle dropped his bag, and began to take out parcels and letters by the fistful to offer to the four of them. Didymus was quick to accept some and start passing them out as well, since he was close enough to the moogle and their bag. “Kikiti and I can work together, unless anyone has an issue with that.”

He and Kikiti did seem to work well together.

And separating Reva and Cleon was still probably something not worthy of discussion, though he’d let the pair of them decide that. At least Reva knew her way around Rozari…or did. She shouldn’t get Cleon too terribly turned around, the way Kikiti might.

Didymus figured he’d manage okay.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti was surprisingly most agreeable to the idea of pairs. Like Didymus' line of thought, seperating Cleon and Reva probably wasn't a good idea. Mostly because she believed Cleon could get himself lost, or caught up inadvertently in some shady business he really had no business being in. He reeked of naivety. Among other things. Though, it wasn't so bad after a few sea-water baths.

But she missed all the fancy perfumery he had when she first met him.

Cleon, thankfully, seemed to agree to the pairings set up by Didymus, and nodded. "That sounds good. Reva and I will cover the rest of the ground around here then." He'd be relying on Reva to guide him mostly, but she'd at least have his help if this place had changed a little from what she remembered.

"Great!" Kikiti clasped her hands together before turning to the moogle. "Lay it on us then!"

Of course, what was laid on them were precariously tipping towers of letters, among a few parcels. Coincidentally, and probably thankfully for the newcomers to this town, the letters were only limited to residences and companies around here. Mind you, it was still large enough for the likes of them to get horribly lost in, so the task would still take quite a bit of time.

"If we need to meet up again for...uh, any reason," Cleon ventured, wary of the moogle that was still floating around, "we can meet up back here and regroup."

Kikiti nodded and smiled. "Sounds good!" She was about to say they would get this done in no time, but looking at the stuff that had been distributed to them...she wasn't so sure of that.

 

[Lucyfer]

“Yeah,” Didymus agreed, “at least this post is something we can all recognize,” and moogle posts looked the same the world over. He didn’t imagine the town had more than one, but in case it did, he was quick to take a look at everything surrounding it, so he wouldn’t confuse it for another one further into the town. Kikiti sounded prepared to leave, and so he would begin to look through the letters, wandering off murmuring a street name for them to find.

Finding streets was the real hard part of this. Once they found the street, it became a bit easier. Didymus would go through all the letters that were on that street and sort them out, so they could then try to find the actual address or business. Some people, they ended up handing letters directly to, were a bit suspicious of it not being a moogle that was handing their letters over to them.

Didymus just ran with the idea of it being an experiment – to see if the moogles could hire humans for local runs, while they did more to expand their distance network and move things quicker to local centers. It was bullshit, but people were willing enough to buy it, so he kept it up as they ended up all around the city.

It was a beautiful city, at least.

Getting lost in it wouldn’t be the greatest tragedy of their evening.

“Wait, when did it get so late?” Didymus realized, looking up at the sun and recognizing how much lower it was in the sky, “Aaaugh. At least we just have one more package on, uh…,” he sighed at the name, before pronouncing it in a mock-pretentious voice, “Peony street.” He hated the street names, he really did. “We haven’t seen that one yet, have we?”

~***~

Reva understood a bit about human cities, and she understood a bit about Rozari, but that did not mean she had any idea about how this particular city was built. It had been a while since she was here. Nonetheless, she divided up the packages between herself and Cleon, giving him all packages with numerical streets, while she took those with plant names.

The basic was to look at street names, and match things up.

The harder part was the few questions that they got asked about why a viera and a human were delivering packages, mostly from the businesses they stepped into.

“We are merely helping,” Reva’s answer was not always met with a satisfactory response, but she stuck doggedly to it anyways. It was true!

Their own trek took them to some of the outskirts of the area, not out of the city, but into areas where residences were spaced further apart, and people actually had yards to speak of, before they got to their own last batch of things, which drew them back in as the sun was starting to set. “I did not realize it would take so long,” Reva murmured, more to herself than Cleon, “The moogle was right.”

Or perhaps they were just really bad at finding places.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti actually found the experience of delivering letters rather fun. She always asked to help the moogle in Ucantis when they were younger, but they were awfully strict about who handled letters and parcels. To be fair, handing fragile objects to a seven year old Lalafell perhaps wasn't a bright idea. At least now she could experience being a post moogle, all while Didymus made excuses for why they were acting as post moogles.

The Lalafell squinted up at the sky also. "Huh, it is late. Well, they say time flies when you're having fun, right?" She said with a grin before looking to Didymus as she pronounced the name of yet another street. "They sure like their flowers here..."

She turned, scratching her head as if Peony street would appear in bold, flashing letters in the distance. She hummed before shaking her head. "No, not yet. But I'm sure it isn't too hard to find," she resolved, walking forward again. They just had to walk in a direction they hadn't walked yet...or at least, that was the logic she was going to use for this last delivery.

"Do you ever wonder what's in those letters or packages? I like to make fun little stories of what people could be delivering to others."

~***~

Cleon didn't imagine it would actually be difficult being a post moogle. The concept sounded simple in his head. Deliver the letters to the right people, the right places, rinse, and repeat. But with some buildings perched high on platforms with crumbling stairs leading up to them, it made the job so much more difficult. Even for Cleon, who at least was a good deal fitter than what he was as a child, felt his legs quiver at the sight of them.

He let Reva deal with the more...well, difficult questions. She had been much better with dealing with that kind of thing, and if he was honest, trusted her lips more than his own.

At least now, with some of their last deliveries of the evening, the scenery brightened up. The yards that these residences had, which Cleon realised was very apt of Rozari with what he had seen, were blooming with flowers, and other such exotic plants. It was nice to stroll past them, on some flat ground, like the past hour had him doing.

He found himself silently nodding along to Reva's statement. He'd never consider this easy work again. "Let's see," he murmured, looking at his next letter. "I have a letter for a Mar...cella." He cringed, hoping his pronunciation hadn't been skewed.

"That'd be for me!"

Cleon turned to the source of the voice, feeling a flush come over his cheeks at the apparent eavesdropper. He found a woman, probably a few years Cleon's senior, with short black hair, and rather...well, endowed features, with a basket full of lavender waving him over. Of course, the young man had walked over, handing over the letter, which she took.

"Thanks, sweetie. That'll be from my aunt over in Rozari, no doubt," she smiled, before quipping, "I didn't know the moogles were hiring though."

Cleon's flush didn't seem to die down. "Oh, uh, they're not. We're just, uh...heh, helping out."

You'd think he hadn't spoken to a pretty lady before.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus sighed, disappointed but not surprised that Kikiti didn’t know where Peony street was. He followed after her as she kept on going forward, glancing at signs whenever they popped up. ‘Definitely seems organized.’ Moreso than Ucantis or Escander, though Escander liked keeping that bit of mystery around it. It was probably almost as organized as Amarum, though competing with Amarum for organization would be hard.

Rozari seemed to have its shit together, at least. ‘Wonder if they actually stand a chance….’ Probably not. He was still curious what that would mean for him. For Jagger. He almost didn’t hear Kikiti’s words, lost in those thoughts, but once he did, he just wrinkled his nose.

Then rolled his eyes.

“I’ve never delivered letters before this moment, so no, I’ve never really wondered. I assume it could be anything,” he shrugged, “I’ve sent a lot of things.” And received plenty, “It’s not like there’s anything the moogles won’t deliver. Pretty sure they deliver illegal things for a larger fee.”

He knew they did, though you had to be pretty discrete about it, all the same.

No one really stopped moogles.

“Ah, there’s Peony,” he saw it, and quickly took the turn down it, “What do you think’s in this package, Kikiti?” May as well humor her. It wasn’t bad to do so. She really did grow on him…in spite of it all.

~***~

Cleon’s blush was obvious as Marcella came to gather her letter. Reva even noticed it – even if it sometimes went over her head when others were attracted to her, she recognized it with others. Cleon, perhaps, especially – she’d watched him grow up, after all. She bit the inside of her cheek as he stumbled over his words.

“The moogles had more work than usual. That is all,” Reva added, meeting Marcella’s gaze coolly, the touch of a smile on her lips the smallest bit of tease at Cleon’s expense.

If Marcella noted or not, she at least behaved. Mostly, “Aww, well thank you two for helping them,” she said, and took a strand of lavender out from her basket and stuck it down Cleon’s shirt, adding, “Try not to work too hard, sweetie!” Before she turned off with her letter and basket against her hip.

Reva, again, resisted any urge to comment on it, noting simply, “It seems we are caught up,” so they ought to find their way back to the post, and hope the moogle was willing to honor their arrangement about the address for her friends, or else this was all going to have been a waste of time.

 

[Arcanist]

Huh, strange. Kikiti thought she hadn’t been the only one to wonder, though, perhaps she had too much time on her hands. She shouldn’t have with her prior apprenticeship, and her dear papa roping her into any kind of extra work at home, but she did enjoy letting her mind wander. It clearly didn’t wander far enough.

Though, moogles delivering illegal goods hadn’t crossed her mind, she could imagine that happened quite a good deal, whether they asked about it or not.

Turning onto Peony Street, she hummed at Didymus’s question. “You know, I’m not sure,” she murmured, putting her ear close to the package and gently shaking it. No breaking glass or china, that was for sure. She’d have liked to think the Moogle would have warned them anyway if it was a fragile package.

Mind you, a muffled clanking echoed from within, causing Kikiti to take a guess. “Maybe…a toolset of some sort?” She ventured, squinting at the box as if she would suddenly gain the ability to see right through it. “But it’s not even that heavy. I’d have thought tools were heavy things.”

Some were rather heavy for her dainty figure, which sullied her view of tools as it was, but perhaps that wasn’t so for the regular strength of humans.

~***~

Cleon’s cheeks flamed further at Reva’s additional comment to why they were delivering letters. She made it sound so simple compared to how he was floundering. It wasn’t as if he had never spoken to women or seen them before, yet, somehow, it was different when you were standing in a completely different country.

That vague, knowing smile of Reva’s didn’t seem to help either.

Nor the praise and the smile that came from Marcella.

Cleon could only watch as she stuck some lavender in his shirt – again, not helping his flushed cheeks situation – and telling him not to work too hard as she walked away. “Uh, we won’t!” Cleon eventually managed to sputter out, though, by the time he had, she was practically already inside her home.

Oy.

Cleon quickly nodded to Reva’s observation before turning on his heel, starting to make a hasty retreat in the direction of the moogle’s post. “Yep. I hope the others aren’t waiting for us…” He murmured, assuming Reva would match his quick strides. He caught a whiff of lavender, remembering that it still sat in his shirt…though, felt it was wrong to take it out.

“I hope the others haven’t had too much trouble with their deliveries either.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus tensed up as he saw Kikiti start to shake the package. It was gentle, but he still felt his fingers curl in his palm, before he released the pressure and tried to relax. There were so many things it could be, what if she ruined it by shaking it? Then again, it didn’t have fragile plastered all over it…and it had traveled. Surely, no one would put something that fragile into a package, right?

“You know they can make strong tools out of light metals like mithril, right?” Not that mithril tools were common. On the contrary, they were exceedingly rare, but it meant a toolset wasn’t ruled out. Didymus had heard that armor of mithril didn’t weigh much more than clothing, which was hard to imagine, and he’d at least touched mithril.

“Oh, here’s our stop though,” he recognized the address then, and noted it was a business. Of course, the name had seemed business-y, rather than an actual name, and now it made sense. Hygeia’s Hyacyinths was an interesting choice for a shop – he’d missed the apostrophe earlier and just assumed it was someone’s terrible name.

Nope, it was just the terrible name of a shop.

“Looks like it’s still open,” Didymus stepped in, and was at least relieved the shop didn’t have a strong smell as he moved around the various plants, ingredients, and vialed concoctions towards the front of the store. He was quickly greeted by an old woman with graying hair, “Welcome!” She chimed, “Is there anything I can help you intrepid younglings with?”

“Er – we just have a package.”

“Oh!” She took note of Kikiti, “Oh that must be our new mortar and pestle – we were needing a smaller one for finer work. Though, I didn’t know the moogles were using…well, non-moogles, now.”

Didymus was about to go into his explanation again, but was cut off, “I’ll have to see if Matias wants to give it a try; he complains so much about not getting out enough anymore.”

~***~

It was still difficult for Reva not to laugh, but she did so, making it seem easy as she resumed their walk. Her smile was the obvious sign, and that wasn’t fading anytime soon as they ventured back the way they’d came with hopes to find both the moogle, as well as their companions, “I trust them,” Reva said as Cleon mused.

She actually imagined they had an easier time than either of them, and would be there waiting. Cleon was not still not well versed in moving around, and Reva…well, Reva knew the wilds, not towns. Given, she had taken quite a few lessons in traveling around towns, so she knew how to pick herself up and figure things out.

She expected to see the duo waiting for them, and was surprised when they weren’t. “I’m sure they will not be long.” Though, it would probably be odd for them to loiter outside a moogle post.

Would the moogles get annoyed?

She looked around to see if she could spot a decent place to wait. She recalled Rozari often had plenty of outdoor dining and lounging areas. ‘You usually have to buy something to use them.’ They still had gil from selling the chocobos, but not much.

Not enough to waste on a frivolous tea just to sit down.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti had ceased the shaking, just for a moment, to cock her head at Didymus' claim. She'd never heard of mythril tools. Any of the smithies she had come across in Ucantis alone worked with iron and steel and whatever other material was strongest for that kind of thing. She was about to ask a plethora of questions that popped into her head, only, to realise they had arrived at their destination.

Met by what she assumed must have been the owner - or one of the owners - of the shop, she finally found out what was inside the package. She tried not to let that realisation sink onto her face. Professionalism was something to aim for in this line of business...or well, any kind of business for that matter.

"Well, I'm sure it'll be handy for the both of you to use," Kikiti smiled, reaching up to hand the package to the older woman, though, was surprised to see she hadn't reached out for it.

"Tsk, dear Matias. You know he was involved in a dock accident long ago?" The older woman asked as if either of them would know, leaning her cheek on her palm. "He was never the same afterwards. After he injured his leg, it was just too difficult for him to get back out, you know?"

"Oh, uh," Kikiti stumbled, glancing to Didymus with a knowing expression of where this would lead - a long-winded recount of 'the good old days' compared to the troublesome present they were faced with. Older people seemed to never get to the point of things either, making it longer-winded. "I'm sorry to hear that," she said, once again, raising the package up higher for the woman to take notice of it.

And she waited.

And waited.

But Kikiti was simply too polite to interrupt the woman.

"...don't even get me started on the insurance. That was a pain to try and sort out for him. That man..." The greying woman tutted before noticing the package with an, "Oh! Thank you, by the way!" She smiled at Kikiti, who strained one, and set it on the cuppa. "How rude of me. Can I get you kids anything? A nice cup of tea, perhaps?"

"No, thank you," Kikiti said a little too quickly. "We've lots of deliveries still to make! Don't we?" She looked to Didymus, encouraging him to agree.

~***~

Cleon was just as surprised as Reva to see the two of them hadn't arrived back at the Moogle Post either. His mind had jumped to the worst possible conclusion; that they had been captured and Imperials were searching the town for him and Reva right now. Didymus and Kikiti, as far as he was aware of, wasn't known to the Empire. If anything, Cleon and Reva stuck out more like Bombs in a chocobo ranch.

If Reva remained calm, then Cleon had little to worry about. They must have simply been running behind.

Cleon, while Reva seemed to look around them, walked to a wall not so far from the moogle post, and opted to lean against it and wait. He lifted out the piece of lavender that had been sitting in his shirt and twirled it in his hands, catching a whiff of it. Eventually, he looked to his companion.

Hey," he started, remembering not to use her real name out in the open. "I never got to really ask you, but do you know much about this E--" He paused, clearling his throat, "uh, client, we're meant to meet with?" Cleon corrected himself. Just like he had told Didymus awhile back, never was little he actually knew about El Cid, other than his mother knew him, that his father had been friendly with him, and he lived here in Rosari.

Cleon hardly heard Reva mentioned him, so he figured it would have been a longshot to ask Reva about him. It never hurt though, right?

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus didn’t really want to listen to a long story, but the woman didn’t reach for the package and waxed on about the situation with a Matias. It nagged at the back of his mind that the name should mean something, but they’d been handing out packages to all sorts of names and people, that the realization never really struck as Kikiti was patiently waiting for the story to finish. ‘Just set it on the counter.’ Didymus wished he could say, or somehow signal that, with a nudge.

Alas.

Didymus bit his tongue on interrupting with anything rude. It was the last package, after all. Even if he was denying that a moment later, “Yeah – but thank you for the offer. I hope you and Matias have a good rest of your, uh, evening!” It had been getting later and they really should catch back up with Reva and Cleon.

“All right, you two enjoy your evening, too! And thank you for listening to me ramble a bit,” she seemed at least aware enough of what she’d done, though she was hardly apologetic, as she smiled and waved them out. Didymus just grinned, but wouldn’t say anything to encourage more talking, as he headed to the exit and then hurried away before any last minute stories could be offered.

He let out a relieved sigh once they were clear of the shop. “Well, that’s it,” he said, “I bet we beat Re—er—our friend Gus,” it was still in poor taste to refer to him as Cleon here. Probably. Any excuse to use Gus. Not that this was a competition, but also, yes it was. “Definitely don’t want to be a moogle after all of this.”

~***~

Reva considered Cleon’s query, knowing who he meant. She did not know El Cid well, it was true, though he was a rather unforgettable sort. Rascally, with a bit of a foul mouth and a fouler temper, but loyalty just as staunch. He had been…difficult to get along with. Reva did not dislike him, but sometimes his bluntness seemed ignorant, and he could rub her the wrong way. Not literally, thankfully.

He might be missing a hand in that case.

“He is…a personality,” Reva said, chuckling a bit to herself, “A rascal. Loud-mouthed, brash, difficult – when he has something in mind, he doesn’t let it go. Like a crab with something between its pinchers,” she mimicked the gesture with her fingers, calling it up both because of Cancer, but also because they’d seen first hand in the kitchens of Ucantis the difficulty of crabs, at times.

In Cleon’s sneaking around.

At least he had been spared their wrath. His cooks and kitchen staff, not always.

“But he is devoted to those he loves, and he cared for your family,” Reva added, “so I know he will be a good…client.” Although tempering his ideas might be difficult. Reva would likely continue to have to act as the voice of reason, for all of their sakes.

As she said it, she saw Kikiti and Didymus approach.

Only for Didymus to stop, palm his face, and curse aloud, "By the TWELVE!" his frustration was obvious, and he added, mostly to Kikiti, "That was them." Seeing Reva reminded him of why those names were important.

 

[Arcanist]

He let out a relieved sigh once they were clear of the shop. “Well, that’s it,” he said, “I bet we beat Re—er—our friend Gus,” it was still in poor taste to refer to him as Cleon here. Probably. Any excuse to use Gus. Not that this was a competition, but also, yes it was. “Definitely don’t want to be a moogle after all of this.”

Kikiti tried not to let her smile get any wider at Didymus seconding her decision to not take tea. She nodded as she followed Didymus, “Thank you! You two take care now!” Perhaps she was a little too quick in making her farewell, but like she thought with Didymus, it was getting late, and she didn’t want to worry Reva or Cleon.
Once they stepped outside, Kikiti took a deep breath and smiled. She couldn’t help as if she was missing something, but she wasn’t sure what. Oh, well. It mustn’t have been that important if she forgot clean about it.

“I bet we did,” Kikiti nodded in agreement, jumping off the doorstep as they started to depart. “You and me both,” she sighed, rubbing her head. “I don’t know how those moogles do it…”

~***~

Cleon had initially been worried with Reva’s description of El Cid being ‘a personality’. Usually what followed was a myriad of traits that didn’t make someone worth knowing. Of course, what followed were less than desirable traits, but Cleon was willing to give the benefit of the doubt here. He did find himself chuckling at Reva’s comparison. He had seen kitchen staff struggle with crabs before. He had also on one occasion smuggled some crabs out of the kitchen.
He wasn’t allowed in the kitchen unsupervised after that incident.

Cleon, though, wondered how his father knew such a man. He wondered why he’s never known anything about him, nor why his mother ever spoke of him, bar her instruction of who to go to when Ucantis fell.

He was beginning to quietly realise his mother kept her lips sewed together on several matters.

“That’s good,” Cleon managed to say, smiling a little. He would have said more, though, Kikiti and Didymus returned, and he instead turned to greet them.

Only for Didymus to curse the Twelve and Kikiti to follow up with a groan, head in her hands as she shook it.

“Oh, I knew the names were familiar! I just knew it!” She stamped her feet. She didn’t know it, but only when that information was flung in her face did she realise who they were.

“Them?” Cleon asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Them,” Kikiti groaned, lifting her head from her hands. “Sofia and Matias Caldeira. We just made a delivery to them…” She admitted with a sheepish look at her feet.

 

[Lucyfer]

Reva arched a brow at the duo as they explained they had already met those that Reva was looking for – only to have not realized it at all. She found it strange, but perhaps in the mess of names they were delivering, things got jumbled up, “Do you remember where they were?” Reva asked, hoping so, this way they wouldn’t have to wait for the moogle.

Although, perhaps it would have still been polite to let the moogle know their job was done.

Didymus nodded, “Yeah, it was our last package, I can get us back to it,” he promised, gesturing for the two to follow. Reva moved to do so, looking to Cleon – and smirking a little at the lavender he still had in his hands – before looking back to the other two to follow. “It was at their business, I guess. And I guess Matias had an accident at some point?”

“I am familiar,” Reva had still been in touch, after all. Matias had let the injury change him, no longer quite the outgoing young man he’d been, touring around. Not that he had much to tour, he’d been in the same town for quite a while now. “What did you bring to them?” She was a touch curious on that.

Didymus sighed, “A mortar and pestle, I guess,” nothing as cool as mithril tools. Nothing cool at all, really, although he understand how useful it was. He could use a nice set for powdering up things for his bombs, as well as making the food better with ground up spices. Alas, he had to suffer.

Shame he couldn’t have stolen that…or any of the packages, really.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon still found it curious how the two of them could forget the names of the very people they were looking for. Then again, they were many Rosari names and addresses to go through that even Cleon had difficulty remembering and searching for. He began following the others, twirling the lavender between his fingers. He was sure he caught Reva smirking at him, and so advised himself to ignore it.

“Assuming it’s part of their business?” He more or less answered his own question directed at both Didymus and Kikiti on the delivery.

“Hygeia’s Hyacinths makes the most sense for a business to have a mortar and pestle,” Kikiti pointed out to him. She was relieved that she didn’t break the contents of their delivery by shaking it. Curiosity truly did get the better of her at the best of times.

It didn’t take them long to bump into the Moogle who had offloaded their work onto them. They were a shade cheerier than they had been some time earlier as they flew over to them and asked, “Well, kupo? I take it you didn’t have much trouble with the deliveries then?”

Kikiti smiled. “We did pretty well actually. But, uh, I don’t think we’ll be taking on the job full-time…”

“I thought you might say something like that,” the moogle laughed. “I suppose I should hold up my end of the bargain then, huh?”

Cleon shook his head. “No need. One of the deliveries was addressed to the very place we need to be.”

The moogle hummed, rubbing its furry little chin. “Huh, go figure. Well, I can’t let you all just leave without some kind of reward for what you did…” The moogle started to rummage through its bag, continuing, “I was thinking of giving these to you guys anyway, but now I got even more reason to do so.” Out of the moogle’s bag came a pouch of gil, and curiously, what seemed to be a necklace with a star shaped pendant. “I’d keep the pendant but it really isn’t my style, kupo.”

Cleon was the one to take the ‘rewards’, though, seemed trouble, “Oh, really you don’t ha-aagh!” He was cut off with a sudden yelp, only managing to keep a hold of the pouch and the pendent he was given.

“Your generosity is much appreciated!” Kikiti beamed, swaying on her feet and looking perfectly innocent. She ignored the pointed glare from Cleon beside her.

“O-oh, kupo, don’t worry about it,” The moogle insisted, sparing a confused glance between the two. “You had to be compensated in some way for doing my work. I won’t hold you all back, I’m sure your friends are waiting for you,” they said, nodding to the four of them in turn with a smile.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus wasn’t sure he was happy to see the moogle, until the moogle still offered a reward for what they had done. It was handed over to Cleon, but as Cleon seemed hesitant in accepting it, Didymus snatched the bag of gil out of his palm, leaned into Cleon to say, “Take the hush money and shut up,” while weighing the gil in his hand and thinking of how much it likely was based on that. He ignored Reva’s judgmental glare, and let Cleon keep hold of the pendant.

It wasn’t his style, either.

He had leaned away from Cleon by the time Kikiti finished hugging the moogle, and he smiled down at the generous creature. “They are, we hope you have a good evening!” He chimed, before stepping ahead, still holding the gil. As they were a few steps ahead, he added, “I’ll get this split up when we get a place to sit – I know we all did our part, though I think Kikiti and I deserve a little extra for finding the place.”

“The moogle was going to show us to it.” Reva said.

“Right, but because he didn’t have to, we got paid,” Didymus said, lifting a finger to show that was his point, before he lowered it once again, “Wonder how much that necklace is worth, though. You’ll have to let me assess it later, Cle—Gus.”

Reva sighed.

She wasn’t surprised by Didymus’s behavior, at least, and they did lead the way to Hygeia’s Hyacinths – although the door was now locked when Didymus got to it and pulled. However, there were still lights on, and movement, so Didymus knocked.

Sofia was the one who appeared, “Just a moment,” she called out, as she approached, and opened the door, “Sorry, dears, we’re closed, although if you have…” She stopped, as she looked over, first recognizing the two who delivered her mortar and pestle, before seeing the other man, and then, a too-familiar face.

She broke into a laugh and stepped outside, “You haven’t aged a day, Reva!” She lifted her arms to try and throw around Reva’s shoulders. Reva stooped down a little so she could, and wrapped her own arms around her friend.

“I have aged many.”

Sofia still laughed, “You know what I mean.”

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon, upon the shin kick, and Didymus’s insistence that he kept quiet, was willing to do so. Mainly because all he would do was complain about Kikiti’s kick. He just bit the inside of his cheek and managed a smile, all while the exchanges concluded, and the Moogle was soon on their way, no doubt a lot happier their work was done for them.
Cleon didn’t mind about the gil all that much. The only thing that got a reaction out of Cleon was the name Gus.

“Alright,” he murmured, trying not to let that displeasure colour his expression too much. He wondered if it really was worth anything. As Kikiti walked along, a little too happy about Didymus’s suggestion, he asked, “Did you really have to kick me that hard?”

“Hm?” Kikiti looked up at the prince, cocking her head. “I didn’t think I kicked you that hard…sorry.”

Cleon blinked. What was worse was that she seemed…genuine about that comment.

He supposed they could let it slide. It was Kikiti after all.

They soon arrived at the store that Sofia and Matias owned, and it suddenly became so much more striking how old Reva was. It always did take Cleon aback when he thought properly about it. The appearance of Sofia had reminded him of that.

Kikiti did shuffle a little on Sofia taking notice of both her and Didymus, and so she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Surprise! This was our last delivery to you!” Her arms shot up with a bravado of surprise, hoping that might get the point across.

Sofia pulled away from Reva to looked at the Lalafell, and she did give a bit of a chuckle at her display. Whether or not she actually believed that was debatable, but she nonetheless gave a bright smile to Kikiti and Didymus. "Well, it was unexpected, but a very welcomed one nonetheless!" She looked back to Reva again. "I didn't realise you were going to be here of all places. Had I known, I would have spruced the place up a little for guests," she chuckled. "You will come in, won't you?"

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus just rolled his eyes at Kikiti’s introduction to Reva as a surprise delivery. He would not add on to it, although he hoped it was clear enough that they were with the group, not just leaving them and going off elsewhere. Tempting as that might be on some days.

When Sofia pulled away and asked her question, Reva nodded, “Yes,” and would save introductions until they were all inside, glancing a moment to Cleon, but saying nothing. Sofia must have forgotten where she’d been, for the moment. Or perhaps, they had not yet heard what happened in Ucantis? Was it possible information had trickled here so slowly? She did not know.

Although she would, soon, “Matias! Reva’s here!” Sofia hollered, then turned back to them with a smile, “We’ve made this shop our home, too,” she added, “it’s a lot cheaper that way, and it keeps things from being stolen,” she winked, as she heard Matias clambering around upstairs.

What came ahead of him was their topaz carbuncle, who came right up to Sofia and set his paws on her knees, earning a little laugh, before she gestured, “Yarrow, this is Reva, and her friends,” she introduced, and of course, it went right up to the smallest one to try and sniff her face, since the face was so much closer. “Yarrow’s harmless. We tried to get him to be a guard for the shop, but….” A loving sigh.

“I remember you told me. He is…3 now?”

“So we think,” Sofia nodded, as Matias stepped into the room.

“Well, I’ll be…,” he murmured, “You look exactly the same!” He crowed, coming forward, using a cane, “Reva!” She stepped forward to embrace him, as well, a bit tighter to help him stay up, “I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”

Reva hadn’t been sure, either, but wouldn’t say as much. She pulled away, but stayed near Matias, a hand on his shoulder as she gestured, “These are my friends,” she said, “Kikiti, Didymus, and Cleon.”

And they would know the name Cleon from her letters. She could already see the shock appearing on Matias’s, face, though it took a moment longer for it to hit Sofia.

“Oh!” And then she tried to bow, although she was hold, and it was clumsy and done hastily in an effort not to offend. Reva was able to keep Matias from doing so.

 

[Arcanist]

Cleon supposed, in a roundabout way, that Reva and himself were a surprise delivery. He tried not to cringe at the attempt at a save, instead, masking it with a smile at Sofia. As for introductions…he refrained from introducing himself in the open air with so many ears around. That would be for inside.

Of course, as they stepped inside, the interior was as she said; a shop, and the staircase at the very back indicated other lodgings, if Sofia’s voice directed up the stairs hadn’t been the case.

He watched as a creature came bounding down the staircase, soon understanding his name was Yarrow as he greeted Sofia. Kikiti, despite not naturally being jumpy, had subconsciously taken a step back from the invasive carbuncle. She did let it sniff her face, trusting Sofia. “Hey, boy,” she smiled, before scratching his head with her knuckles, a gesture that Yarrow appreciated as he leaned into her touch.
Reva’s true age became apparent once more as Matias had arrived, commenting on how she hadn’t changed a bit. Strange, truly something that you couldn’t quite wrap your head around, but had to accept nonetheless. As Kikiti was introduced, she gave a small wave with her other free hand, and Cleon had nodded to them in turn.

Though, as he watched the realisation dawn on both of their faces, his cheeks reddened at the hasty bowing. “Oh, no, please,” he was just as hasty in approaching Sofia, taking both her arms gently, and insisting, “there’s no need for formalities with me here. Not when you’ve been gracious enough to invite us into your home.”

Sofia could feel a tinge of embarrassment colour her own cheeks, but she just tutted and smiled. “So polite, just like Reva said you were.” Cleon chuckled at that, though, wondered what else Reva had divulged about him over the years.

“Oh, where are my manners,” Sofia shook her head, stepping back as Cleon let go of her arms. “You should be all making yourself comfortable. Had I known you were coming, I would have tidied the place up a little…”

Kikiti scratched her chin a little before saying, “The trip was, uh…sudden.” She wasn’t keen on sullying the mood with their news of Ucantis. Then again, they came here for a reason, to gather themselves.

“Sudden, eh?” Matias asked before looking to Reva curiously. “What brings you and your friends – and, uh, His Highness,” he rushed to add, “all the way here from Ucantis?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Matias’s question was inevitable, perhaps. Reva wasn’t sure if she should hope they knew what had happened in Ucantis or not. They were all trying to keep ahead of the news, to better Cleon’s odds of harmed. Nonetheless, it was not a pleasant conversation topic, and Reva was not looking forward to telling her friends what had befallen.

“I think we will need to sit to explain,” Reva began slowly, and she saw some small understanding creep first onto Matias’s face, before Sofia’s. That war had been inevitable was known; that was she was here suddenly with a prince, unannounced, suggested truth to some rumors in the wind, talk from traders in the ports that hadn’t truly reached the elderly pair.

Sofia nodded, “I’ll put some tea on.”

“We don’t have much in the way of spare rooms,” Matias said, “but there’s plenty of floor space and we can make it cozy with blankets and pillows. Got too many of those as it is,” he gave a chuckle, “and there’s a couch. One guest room, I guess some chairs if you want to try,” he began to toddle towards the stairs then.

“Have you all eaten?” Sofia asked, following along a bit, Matias setting a slow enough pace.

“We could use food,” Didymus wouldn’t risk Cleon denying food for all of them when they were starving, “baths, too. Boat travel doesn’t have the greatest opportunities, and I mean – look at His Royal locks,” Didymus would draw attention to whatever would help him.

Sofia did, and she could guess it was meant to look much finer than it did. The folk here might not grow their hair out so long on the men’s side, but they were still quite hygienic, and she knew what good hair looked like. That, wasn’t it. Nor was Reva’s, and she knew the viera’s hair could withstand quite the beating.

“Salty air never did agree with you, did it, Reva?” A mild tease.

Reva only gave a slightly wry smile, “No.”

They would be ushered upstairs, Yarrow going up first as soon as Matias reached the stairs – for the best. The rambunctious creature was likely to trip people by rushing up the stairs by them, otherwise.

 

[Arcanist]

Kikiti would have stepped in to stop Cleon from denying food, though, was rather pleased that Didymus beat her to it. Too many times had Cleon denied good acts of charity, seemingly forgetting that they were cases of tragedy. She couldn’t help but rub her hands together in celebration of a successful acquirement of free food.

Cleon would have given Didymus an irked stare at the comment, but there was truth in his words. They had hardly been eating like kings in the past while, and his hair indeed had seen better days. Still, his pride dictated that he would still keep it the same length, even if all he did was tie it up. And if it was less than…clean.

When everyone had made it upstairs, they were all told to make themselves at home, grab a seat around the table they had. It was a squeeze with four of them, plus Mattias and Yarrow making some space in his lap. The rest of their home was much the same – any home above a business would be, as Kikiti attested to with her own home. Sofia, in the meanwhile, insisted prepping some tea and food for them, a sudden invigoration seizing her ageing bones. It must have been some time since she hosted guests.

Once there was nothing more to do than to let the food do the rest of its cooking on its own, it was only then that Sofia sat down to listen to the group recount all of the events and the journey so far. From the Empire’s descent on Ucantis, the close calls in several towns and ports, right up to their journey here in Rozari. Recounting it made it seem as if it had been years since that tragic day.

“How horrible,” Sofia frowned with genuine sympathy. “It seems you’ve all really been through it.”

“That’s one way of putting it,” Kikiti sighed.

“What do you all plan to do now that you’re here?” Mattias asked, of course, naturally curious.

“We’re hoping to make contact with an old friend of my father’s,” Cleon explained. “My mother said he would be able to help us if the situation worsened.” Though, how was still the worrying thought in his mind.

 

[Lucyfer]

It was not an easy story to tell; the emotions around Inara had little time to settle, for Cleon or for Reva, though Reva told it without flinching or crying. Her friends knew what the royal family had meant to Reva – what Inara had meant, to keep Reva in Ucantis for so long when she had a wandering spirit. She would be wandering plenty, now, of that there was no question.

Even after seeing El Cid, she knew that.

“Who is this friend?” Sofia was genuinely curious, no doubt wondering if she knew, if she could help in some ways, but Reva would speak before anyone could answer.

“It is best you not know,” her look was apologetic. “I do not think anyone would come here to you, nor bother you, but the less said, the better.”

“Not everyone has ears like you, Reva,” Matias teased, but still gave an accepting sigh, “Well, if there is any way we can help besides putting you up for a few days, we’d be glad to.”

“We could use some chocobos,” Didymus, ever the pragmatic one with no shame, was willing to input that, “We still have a journey overland, and the Empire’s probably scouring all of Hyune looking for us. And they have really good chocobos.” He didn’t falter even under Reva’s sidelong glare, though he wasn’t sure how to feel about Sofia laughing.

“Well! This one has his head on right, doesn’t he?” She crowed, not at all offended to have been asked point-blank for help, “Well, Matias and I don’t own chocobos ourselves, but I’m sure we can spare a little gil to get you a rental for your journeys,” they weren’t destitute by any means, after all, running a shop of plenty of goods. “And we’ll set you up with some food so you don’t have to check in to every town and be seen.”

“We could—”

“Food would be great!” Didymus blithely interrupted Reva, “I’ve eaten enough weird roots on this journey to last a lifetime already.” Reva scowled, an act that seemed to amuse Sofia more.

“What would you do for us, Reva, if we were labeled enemies of Rozari?”

Reva looked down a bit, but muttered, “All within my power.”

“Well, there you have it then! We’re not doing nearly all of that, and we’re quite cozy, you know. We have more than we know what to do with – not that we’re rich, but we’re comfortable.” Sofia reminded, “we’ll get them for you in the morning,” she said, “I suppose you plan to leave tomorrow?”

As much as Reva wanted to deny it, and linger longer, she nodded. “Yes.”

They had things to do, and haste was still required of them.

 

[Arcanist]

Perhaps it was best not to name El Cid. Cleon wasn’t eager to involve Sofia and Matias more than they already had, what with letting them lodge in their home, even if it was for a night. He had also spared an apologetic look for not disclosing that information to Reva’s friends, and eventually, gave a hesitant look to Didymus as he began spilling out demands for aid once again.

Even despite the two’s invitation for it.

Though Didymus was forward as ever with what he wanted, Kikiti wouldn’t lie when she knew they needed supplies, and desperately. She nodded in agreement with Didymus over the roots they feasted on, as much as she did appreciate what was gathered from Reva. She noticed Cleon’s hesitance again and turned to Sofia and Matias.

“And don’t worry,” she started, though, gave her own reassuring glance to Cleon. “Your kindness won’t be forgotten by us.”

Cleon, finding some improvement in picking up on Kikiti’s wandering eyes to him and perked eyebrows, responded, “Of course,” he followed, looking to their generous hosts. “I’ll make sure to repay that kindness when our situation changes.” If their situation changed. Regardless, he didn’t want to see such acts of charity go unacknowledged.

Matias just chuckled and shook his head. “Nonsense. Didn’t we just tell you all that we’re more than happy to help?” He didn’t press more when he saw Cleon flush and nod in acknowledgement.

“We’re grateful, either way,” Kikiti added once again, hoping to soften Didymus’ previous demands and Cleon’s own hesitance with a shower of thanks. Though, before she could continue with conversation, any potential topics were silenced as her stomach growled. She cleared her throat, hoping to excuse herself, only for Sophia to interrupt her with a laugh.

“All this talk of what happened and what’s to happen sure has made you hungry, hasn’t it? Don’t worry, the food is almost ready,” she smiled, back to the kitchen once again to finish up the food, Yarrow excitedly following after.

 

[Lucyfer]

It wouldn’t take too long for the food to be finished up, and everyone to be given plenty. A far better amount than any they’d had, even on the boat, in quite a while – Sofia and Matias were generous, knowing what was ahead. They didn’t force topics to linger on Ucantis, either, or what was to come. Many of the questions were reflective, catching up with Reva, but they cautioned a bit on speaking of the former Queen.

And there were these delightful new people to know, and Yarrow seemed to have a particular liking for Kikiti – perhaps it was her size being so much closer to their own? Who was to say, but it allowed for some easier conversation to talk about her, and about Didymus, for a bit.

When evening would finally fall, Sofia offered her last promises, “We’ll see you with fresh supplies in the morning, and those chocobos. I know you don’t want to impose too much,” that was with a look towards Reva, a touch of wryness, “but if there is more that’s needed, don’t hesitate to let us know.”

Here, Didymus finally shook his head. While he could think of several things, like new clothes, he knew it was better to make use of what they had, and they had opportunity to clean up here, and on the boat. They didn’t have much, but carrying too much would be bad – and what they had, they could clean. And Kikiti could repair it. ‘Maybe soap. We can always use soap.’ Reva made soap, but he could have better soap.

Still, he refrained, and they were each shown to spaces where they could rest – and Cleon where he could clean himself up, something they’d all eventually enjoy, but Cleon obviously had to go first. He was the more precious one about his hair and appearance.

“I really don’t get why he and Reva keep their hair so long,” it was a conspiratorial whisper to Kikiti before Didymus would go to his space to rest, finally looking forward to the morning…even as he anxiously awaited any word from Jagger to tell him if he ought to disrupt this El Cid thing.

 

[Arcanist]

Morning, swift as ever, came rushing in. It almost didn’t seem like enough time to take in what was now considered the luxury of a hot bath and a comfortable bed. Nights in the woods dragged on in comparison with the hard woodland floor and constant rotating guard shifts. They could breathe for once, though, that fantasy wouldn’t last them long before they had to be on their way once again.

Clean and mostly rested, the group were ready to tackle the day once again. As much as he would have liked to keep it free, Cleon had gone back to tying it up again. He did wonder to himself, as he had many times over this trip, if keeping it was a hinderance. It wouldn’t be long until its conditioned worsened again without the luxuries of baths and soaps.

The thought, as always, horrified him, so he didn’t dwell on it much longer.

Of course, Sofia and Matias, true to their word, were willing to help them further. Sofia had prepared some breakfast for them, for they couldn’t travel on empty stomachs, and Matias had been busy in the way of preparing the rest of the supplies that they would need going forward. And of course, enough gil to cover the cost of chocobos for the group. They wouldn’t be as sturdy as the Empire’s but were still fine breeds that could carry them and their supplies.

As regretful as it was, the group needed to get moving soon. Goodbyes, even if three of them had only known the couple for a day, were never so easy.

“Do be careful,” Sofia said quietly to Reva, embracing her in a long and tight hug – or as tight as she could manage. “And let us know you’re all safe, okay?” She said as an extension to the others, who had been receiving their own good wills from Matias.

“We will,” Cleon reassured them, smiling at them both. “And thank you for all your help. We’ll make sure it isn’t in vain.”

"It's our pleasure," Matias smiled at Cleon and the others. "You should have everything you need. I would know - I helped pack them." He chuckled.

As the group started moving down into the store, Yarrow followed behind. Not Sofia and Matias specifically, but Kikiti. He had been attached to her since they had met yesterday, even going so far as managing to sneak in close to her for a cuddle the night before. He had been in a sour mood this morning, no doubt because his new friend was leaving right as she arrived.

Kikiti noticed the Carbuncle following along and tutted, hunkering down to pat his head. “Oh, don’t worry, Yarrow. I can come back and visit!” She wasn’t sure when, but someday. She would miss his company, even despite how short it had been. And she was sure this was just a phase. Some animals simply loved new company, but he would forget about them soon enough, right?

“Seems Yarrow has taken quite the liking to you, kiddo,” Matias chuckled, pausing to look at the Carbuncle.

“Yeah, I guess he has,” Kikiti gave her own chuckle in return.

There was a pause before Matias spoke once again, a smile flashing across his features. “How’s about you take him along for the journey?” He caught a confused stare from Sofia and he shrugged. “I know what you’re thinking. But he’s a hyper thing. Maybe him getting out into the world will do him some good. I mean…” He gestured to himself and his walking support. “It’s not as if I’ll be going many places, is it?”

Sofia sighed, and for a moment, seemed as if she would dispute the idea. “I…suppose you have a point,” she relented, and did manage a small smile.

"Wait, really? You're sure?" Kikiti asked, stunned by the kindness of the two. When they both nodded and smiled, Kikiti's face lit up. "Oh, I promise I'll take good care of him! Pinky promise! I'll even bring him back later!" She turned back to Yarrow, who sensed Kikiti's happiness, swished his tail. "You hear that, Yarrow? How would you like to come with us?”

Yarrow, as intuitive as ever, swished his tail faster, bounding around the smaller girl’s feet.

 

[Lucyfer]

Didymus was prepared to get moving, although the thought of Jagger kept nagging at the back of his head. He wanted to hear from her before they got to Elcid, though that was probably asking too much. He had his pack strapped on and was standing outside with the others when Yarrow followed after Kikiti, the last to join, and seemed upset.

And then was given to them.

Didymus groaned. ‘Responsibility.’ They were going to have to keep a domesticated carbuncle safe. “What does it even eat?” he wondered aloud, figuring this also meant feeding it, and he was in charge of feeding everyone.

“I’ll go get some of his food,” Sofia said, moving back inside.

Matias went on to add, “Carbuncles are vegetarians, so any fruits or vegetables you find along the way should be fine. I don’t know of anything poisonous to it that we eat,” he added, before Sofia would come back with a pack of kibbles, which she handed to Didymus, rather than Kikiti. He sighed, but put the food in his own pack.

“We will bring him back,” Reva said, not intending to keep it, or let Kikiti keep it.

“I know,” Sofia said, “I think Yarrow needs a bit of a vacation. We don’t get out as much, and he does like going on walks.” This was just going to be one very long walk for Yarrow, but she didn’t think Yarrow would mind. Nor did she imagine Yarrow would forget them on his journey, no more than Reva had forgotten them. “And we’ll enjoy hosting all of you again in better circumstances.”

The farewells were made, and the chocobos bought shortly afterwards, along with some directions from the stable owners to get them towards Valenda, the resort town where Elcid was to be found. It was a couple day’s journey overland, all along the coast, which made it a bit more endurable. Yarrow also didn’t seem to mind riding on a chocobo, which he naturally insisted on sharing with Kikiti.

Valenda was just as bustling as Zaradrid, though differently – where Zaradrid seemed to boast commerce and trade within Rozari, Valenda clearly boasted tourism, a different sort of commerce that was meant to draw in both natives of Rozari and outsiders alike. There was even a Lalafell town, which they were told about shortly after checking their chocobos at the stables – thanks to Kikiti’s presence.

Didymus was trying to hide his amusement, certain Kikiti was annoyed to be pegged immediately and given details about where to find her ‘own kind’.

Reva wasn’t spared, either: “We have a flourishing viera town here, as well! Just follow the river, I’m sure you’ll find many!”

Reva’s gaze was chilly, “Thank you,” there was no thanks in her tone, and the clipped tone seemed to quiet the eager greeter just a bit.

“What are you all in town for?” they shifted the subject rather than continue offering unsolicited information.

Reva chose not to answer, noting a troublesome thing already: there were Arkidian chocobos in the stables.

“Oh, just sightseeing,” Didymus was great with lies, as always. He had noticed, too, and decided it would be a very bad idea to mention any exacts.

 

[Arcanist]

Yarrow, in good spirits, was happy for Kikiti to lift him. Though, he moved up her arm and on top of her head, making himself quite at home on the Lalafell’s head. She smiled, a thankful gaze on Sofia and Matias once again, and said, “Don’t worry. Yarrow will come back with lots of great stories for you. We’ll take good care of him!” Kikiti intended on doing so, after all, even if Didymus shunned the idea of responsibility.

Naturally, for the rest of the journey, the Carbuncle stuck alongside the Lalafell, and eventually, the group arrived in Valenda.

Cleon, forever the tourist in foreign lands such as this, was surprised to find the variety of people that had found themselves in this town. Even the mention of a Lalafell Town piqued his interest, though, he noticed Kikiti grumble something about not even being a full Lalafell. Guess she was never happy being pegged as one or the other in any case.

And a viera town. Cleon did raise his eyebrow at that, more as it was unexpected to him. From the stories Reva had told him before, he figured the viera would have kept them much more isolated from towns such as this. Then again, humans had a funny way of encroaching on others’ lands and claiming it as their own.

Though the atmosphere was chilling with Reva’s curt answer, it shifted awkwardly between that and a strange tension. Cleon had noticed the Arkidian chocobos also – who wouldn’t with their size anyhow? – and tried to relax. It was wrong to think they were safe with the Empire poking their nose into every cubby hole fugitives like them might be hidden.

Following Didymus’s fine talent of deception, Kikiti turned the topic around once again. “Anywhere we can go to grab a bite and a drink? I don’t think I could start sightseeing until I get my energy back up again.”

The stableowner scratched their jaw. “I’d say to try Cid’s…” Of course, Cleon couldn’t resist perking up at the very name Cid, though, paused at the troubled look that passed over their face. “But I heard there was some trouble over his way.”

“Trouble?” Cleon prompted, to which he got a nod.

“Yeah. There’s been Imperials slinking about around there,” the stable owner sighed, still scratching his jaw. “Either the man’s said something to piss them off, or something else has gone down. I heard he was dragged off in the middle of the night after closing time.” He shrugged, only seeming mildly concerned. “I don’t know if he’s back yet, but maybe he’s just hiding from us folk. Licking his wounds until he can face us again maybe.”

Imperials and Elcid were not a combination of things that Cleon wanted to hear in the same sentence. He passed his own mildly concerned look to Reva, with a wordless exchange of, ‘Now what?’

“That’s okay,” Kikiti managed a smile, gathering up her things again. “We’ll find somewhere to whet our appetite.” She resolved.

After the necessary payment was put down and the stable owner saw them off with well wishes, they moved out a little into the town – out of earshot of the stables.

“Imperials?” Cleon looked to all of them, already deflated and concerned. “What would they want with Elcid?”

“Maybe they knew you wanted to reach out to him?” Kikiti ventured as Yarrow sat beside her, licking his paw before raising it to its cheek.

‘But how?’ Was the question Cleon wanted to ask. The Empire seemed two steps ahead of the game, even before they knew what they were going to do next.

“Well, maybe if we actually went to Elcid’s place, we could get some answers.” Kikiti threw out another solution once again. But weren't there still Imperials lurking around?