So I'd heard! It… must have been difficult, for those unfamiliar with the woods.
[She glances up as well, tail flicking.]
Me…? Not exactly- I wouldn't say I had that sort of knack. And we were a lot further away- not in Vylbrand proper- though it was hard to miss that something was wrong, from observing the world… Of course, it's possible he was picking up on something! Because- Dalamud did after the land strangely, from all I've heard.
You don't hear much anymore about what happened before it fell. It's understandable, really. Everyone's memories surrounding it are so varied. I wouldn't question it if someone said they doubted their own thoughts.
[That's kind of somber for her. Her tail's tip flicks.]
But, even if they may not match someone else's memories, they're still mine!
[That's better. She rolls one of her collected shards between her fingers.]
[Tales only five years old, not so much, she thinks. But she doesn't mention it because it is important, to have your own tale, and your own memory. There are gaps in hers, in the five years between the Calamity and returning to Ul'dah. She was aether-sick for a while after, with the dramatic shift in the ambient aether. Who knows how many "memories" were only fever dreams? (and how many "fever dreams" were the faint first calls of Hydaelyn that she ignored as her own imaginings?)]
I'm surprised you couldn't see it from everywhere at its size. We were in Ul'dah when it struck. My- [she falters for a second.] -friend, who introduced me to adventuring, he said we should leave for our own safety. That, because it was a dragon, or the shade of one, that caused all this destruction, Eorzeans might turn against Au Ra.
[She pauses, and smiles a bit.]
You have exactly one guess as to where he was from.
We took his advice and left for a while, stayed away from large cities while we were in Eorzean borders. We could have just barely missed crossing paths, if you were living off the mainland, too.
[Some tales do get changed- but most aren't like this one.]
It was very distinct! As though it wanted to be seen, perhaps. [she straightens a little as Sayano goes on, tail twitching.] Ul'dah- that would've been a lot closer. And- there were a lot of troubles, weren't there? I've only heard rumours, but- your friend was probably right to say that.
[she gives Sayano a wry grin.] Ishgard?
We could have! It sounds a little nice, getting to meet you earlier- er, if you wouldn't have minded the rest of our part of the family, anyhow.
[she gives a little wry smile.] We could probably make some guesses. Though- without him, it seems wrong…
Oh, they're nice, really! Curious, and- well, nosy when we get travellers. We traded a bit, with whoever came by, and we'd listen to their stories. And it made me curious about the rest of the world- some of the others, too, but it was a fairly good life, and we looked after each other! We'd have looked after you, too, they can just be… fussy.
[She can't help a giggle. That sounded familiar, aside from having the means to provide for anyone they stumbled across at any given time. Sometimes life was comfortable, and sometimes they struggled. That was the problem with living on the move.]
They remind me of my parents. Always wanting to know more about the history of a place or its people, its legends and folklore...
Meanwhile, I was more interested in seeing how far up I could climb the nearest tree.
It would have been nice if they could have met, then! I'm sure my father would have loved that- I could see him swapping old tales well into the night.
[K'pandolu grins, tail flicking.]
Well- you wouldn't have been alone in that! I, ah. I may have broken a limb falling out of one, once or twice.
I'm surprised how alike our families were! We could have gotten along, I'm sure, if we'd met.
[She wonders what it might have been like if they'd found somewhere they might have stayed, honestly. Because that's what it sounds like it could have been. If they had never had to hire the adventurers journeying south from Ishgard. Would Sayano have still chosen pugilism? Would she still have found the Rogues' Guild? Would she have been inspired to choose adventure at all? It's a strange thing to think about.]
I'm sure we would have. It's… odd, isn't it? To think- if just one or two decisions had been made differently- thing world could be changed.
[she sounds a little wistful, considering it. She's fairly sure she would have made many of the same choices- to go adventuring, apart from her family, with a pugilist's arms and investigating the arts that piqued her curiosity- but it's nice to think about.
…it doesn't lead much of anywhere, though, and she shakes herself after a moment, offering Sayano a smile.]
[Sayano beams at her friend, then gathers up her crystal yield.]
Now, let's return to Limsa and deliver these to the cooks before the sun cooks us! Or, if you prefer sand and heat for some bizarre reason, I'd say it should be at Costa del Sol!
[How did she ever survive her early days as a pugilist...]
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valoirs
no subject
[She glances up as well, tail flicking.]
Me…? Not exactly- I wouldn't say I had that sort of knack. And we were a lot further away- not in Vylbrand proper- though it was hard to miss that something was wrong, from observing the world… Of course, it's possible he was picking up on something! Because- Dalamud did after the land strangely, from all I've heard.
no subject
[That's kind of somber for her. Her tail's tip flicks.]
But, even if they may not match someone else's memories, they're still mine!
[That's better. She rolls one of her collected shards between her fingers.]
Where were you, then?
no subject
[K'pandolu stills, her tail flicking, turning watchful.]
Yours, and no one else's- and none have the right to take that from you.
[She shakes that off after a moment- humming thoughtfully.]
Oh- one of the islands to the south of the mainland. We could just about see Dalamud descending there.
no subject
I'm surprised you couldn't see it from everywhere at its size. We were in Ul'dah when it struck. My- [she falters for a second.] -friend, who introduced me to adventuring, he said we should leave for our own safety. That, because it was a dragon, or the shade of one, that caused all this destruction, Eorzeans might turn against Au Ra.
[She pauses, and smiles a bit.]
You have exactly one guess as to where he was from.
We took his advice and left for a while, stayed away from large cities while we were in Eorzean borders. We could have just barely missed crossing paths, if you were living off the mainland, too.
no subject
It was very distinct! As though it wanted to be seen, perhaps. [she straightens a little as Sayano goes on, tail twitching.] Ul'dah- that would've been a lot closer. And- there were a lot of troubles, weren't there? I've only heard rumours, but- your friend was probably right to say that.
[she gives Sayano a wry grin.] Ishgard?
We could have! It sounds a little nice, getting to meet you earlier- er, if you wouldn't have minded the rest of our part of the family, anyhow.
no subject
[Other than his sympathizing with Au Ra, of course...]
What was your family like, K'pandolu?
no subject
Oh, they're nice, really! Curious, and- well, nosy when we get travellers. We traded a bit, with whoever came by, and we'd listen to their stories. And it made me curious about the rest of the world- some of the others, too, but it was a fairly good life, and we looked after each other! We'd have looked after you, too, they can just be… fussy.
no subject
They remind me of my parents. Always wanting to know more about the history of a place or its people, its legends and folklore...
Meanwhile, I was more interested in seeing how far up I could climb the nearest tree.
no subject
[K'pandolu grins, tail flicking.]
Well- you wouldn't have been alone in that! I, ah. I may have broken a limb falling out of one, once or twice.
no subject
[She wonders what it might have been like if they'd found somewhere they might have stayed, honestly. Because that's what it sounds like it could have been. If they had never had to hire the adventurers journeying south from Ishgard. Would Sayano have still chosen pugilism? Would she still have found the Rogues' Guild? Would she have been inspired to choose adventure at all? It's a strange thing to think about.]
no subject
[she sounds a little wistful, considering it. She's fairly sure she would have made many of the same choices- to go adventuring, apart from her family, with a pugilist's arms and investigating the arts that piqued her curiosity- but it's nice to think about.
…it doesn't lead much of anywhere, though, and she shakes herself after a moment, offering Sayano a smile.]
Still! I'm glad to know you now.
no subject
[Sayano beams at her friend, then gathers up her crystal yield.]
Now, let's return to Limsa and deliver these to the cooks before the sun cooks us! Or, if you prefer sand and heat for some bizarre reason, I'd say it should be at Costa del Sol!
[How did she ever survive her early days as a pugilist...]
no subject
And she rather likes Costa del Sol- or, well, the surf and the sand, at least. Gegeruju, on the other hand…. Pass.
She tilts her head, with the ghost of a smile, and nods.]
Sounds good. I'll take the costs, then, if you've no objections!
no subject
[What is adventuring travel without abusing the residents' discount?]