life's a game

Nouveau's your Azem crystal

"We'll see as more comes to light. Azem, and you are connected. While we knew that Meteion traveled the stars as well. We didn't get to learn much from her, except the despair she experienced. I am excited to see what you will unlock, and what you will learn. And of course, you will share it with us so we can document it."

"And you'll be among the first to know about what I learn, don't you worry," says Cataleya. "After all, you helped set me down this path."

Their first meeting in Seasong Grotto, and the events that led to her joining the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, is a moment she remembers fondly. Y'shtola's recitation of the Sailors' Requiem has stuck with her.

It's wild blueberry season in Sweden and I've been picking and eating my fill everyday from the forest behind my house! The entire forest floor is covered in wild blueberry bushes and the tangy taste is so cosmic, I had to paint them✨ Photos of the berries I picked!

Painting process~

Why did she care what he thought or felt. Why did he care that she became uneasy. Exhaling slowly, arms now crossed.

"Sorry.. A lot of things tend to bother me, don't think too much on it."

Gaze focused on a sign behind her, unsure what to say. Conversation ran its course, now it just felt tense. She did nothing wrong, what reason did he have to be upset with her at a simple question. Why was he so easily irritated with people.

Once he's gone, she sniffles softly, eyes welling up with tears.

“Why?” Expression slowly became that of almost disgust.

“Are you okay?” Back track, don’t get angry. There was no reason for it.

Something is wrong. But why? She can't help but wonder.

"Okay..." As she talks, her body language closes off. Hands held against her chest. Eye contact that was once quite easy becomes difficult. "You seemed like you were bothered by something, so I checked on you is all."

Was probably weird, should he say something, respond. About to make a dumb comment regarding the weather when she continued, shrugging in response.

"I wouldn't say interesting, sometimes they're pretty easy to read, sometimes not so much. I'm probably complicating this." He didn't trust people, not really, not at as a whole. Cataleya seemed kind but she was as far as he could tell still young too. Maybe it was just those who were older he didn't trust, granted he was an adult himself.

Say something about the weather, anything, this was getting awkward.

"Do you go to school?"

That was a dumb question.

"...Are you okay, Francis?" she asks, frowning.

"I know what you mean. When you don't understand the lyrics you usually focus on other stuff in the song. Like trying to figure out the sick riff or that drum solo."

He made a guitar playing motion with his fingers. Moving them with complete muscle memory. Her next words made him snort out a chuckle into the beer he was lifting to his lips.

Cataleya giggles. "Makes sense to me. It's kind of like how I love getting to meet local artists at anime conventions and expos. I can buy from them directly and chat for a bit, and we geek out together about things."

There's also a celebrity aspect to anime conventions, of course, but even the voice actors who come are usually big nerds about what they do too.

And just thinking about getting that bowl of the beef stew was making her mouth water. Oh. Thats right, sometimes when she has visited the main hubs like Limsa or U'ldah or even Gridania. She has seen others sometimes with food in their hands, either wrapped or in bowls. But not only here, across the ocean of salt as well.

Cataleya is right, and soon she and Ember are seated at one of the tables nearest the edge of the platforms. The view of the city's many walkways and towers rising over the blue waters is quite beautiful.

Looking over the menu, she hums thoughtfully. "I think I know what I'm ordering... The Miq'abob Plate sounds really good. What about you?"