Out of the Jungle

Happy Vierapril!

mentions: @kuri-ejinn @never-trust-theliving @zhel-rathan​

Perhaps not a reasonable choice, or a helpful choice, or even the right choice, Kal’sin had stayed up on the cliff as he watched the others below fight and square off with the pirates. He had not gone down there himself because of Kuri. Despite Kuri being well taken care of, despite knowing that she would be fine in the hands of the others guarding her, he couldn’t bring himself to leave. 

That had been hours ago. 

Now sitting in comfort inside of the infirmary, Kal’sin found himself berating his actions. But the choices had been made, and the choices had felt right. Clearly, the others hadn’t needed his help. If they had, he would have gone down there, but Siegwulf was a force above him in terms of offensive power. All he could have really done would have helped out Zhel, or taken out any of the lingering pirates that had not been worth their time in pursuit of their goal. 

Kal’sin’s eyes slid to the infirmary bed where Kuri was. He also didn’t need to be here either. But he knew his own feelings of discontent would rise if he left. No, his only source of usefulness was his defense. He would watch, he would defend. 

That was all he really knew, the realization struck true. 

His sword arm was mediocre at best. Perhaps above average comparatively to those at his level being he was just slightly above the commoner. He was weak. He was better situated for holding his shield, standing his ground, and using his height and build to intimidate foes that believed he was much stronger then he really was. 

Kal’sin switched his position on the chair. His left arm crossed over his right, his left leg followed suit. His eyes closed tightly. 

None of this would have happened if he had been more alert. Not reading books in his room, distancing himself from the rest of the company; yes they were mercenaries, yes he was using them for an easy source of gil, but, they were still people, and Siegwulf and Kuri were of his own kind. He’d be lying if he didn’t find some companionship out of them; some sense of acceptance or belonging despite not really knowing them. 

His own fingers began tapping on his arm, as his chin tucked a little closer to his neck. 

If this group collapsed he would be living on the road again, sleeping under the stars, exposed to the elements. Yes, he would take this more seriously.

Kal’sin stood up and made his way out of the infirmary. 

Starting today, he would make routine patrols around the company house, making note of who were there, learning routines, and most importantly, if he didn’t see someone for more than twenty-four hours, he would go knocking on their door or have someone linkpearl them to make sure they were alive and well. 

This was what he was good at; it was time to hone and make use of his skills. For the betterment of himself, and in return, betterment for everyone else. 

After they stepped out of Siegwulf’s office, Kuri told Holly goodnight and headed away from the barracks. As much as she was eager to put the ordeal behind her, she needed at least a night to collect her thoughts before confronting Angelique. Checking on the fish would help.

As she stepped out from the cover of the bar to the main floor, she paused. Kuri’s eyes fixed on the front door. As if drawn by some unseen force, the small auri woman moved slowly across the room until she could feel the smooth wooden handle in the palm of her hand. With a jerk, she threw open the heavy slab of wood and stared out at the front yard.

The gravel on the front path was undisturbed, lit from the dim glow of the aetherite crystal. Normal nighttime sounds reached her. For Ishgard, it was the relentless wind creaking the trees before it whipped through the dark chasm that lay just past the sturdy front gate, but for Kuri, it was the creaking of wood against the white noise of the sea. The ground under her began to sway with the waves as a soft orange glow crept in from the corner of her eyes. “-Kuri.” Muldoon’s ever monotone voice came with a gloved hand gently falling on her shoulder. “Miss Kuri.”

It was then that Kuri felt the icy sting of the tears on her cheeks and the edges of the door digging into the palm of her hand. Her head whipped towards Muldoon whose stately training had him appearing relatively unphased by the display.

“I suggest enjoying the fires inside this evening. We are expected to hit record low temperatures,” Muldoon explained. 

Kuri simply stared at him with wide eyes while the butler carefully worked the door from her death grip and eased it closed. As the sounds lessened, she appeared to find herself enough to touch at her face, though the pounding in her chest still had her quickly fixating on any new sound or movement.

“Monet.” Muldoon called and a young maid promptly made herself available. “Bring a chamomile tea and extra blankets to the second floor lounge.” “Yes Sir.” Monet replied before hurrying off.

“We’ll have your things for when you’re done checking on the aquarium, Miss Kuri. Do you need anything else?” Muldoon asked.

Wide, yellow eyes fixated on Muldoon as Kuri caught up in processing. She nodded, then quickly shook her head. “N-no. No.”

Muldoon inclined his head politely and went back to his station.

Kuri stood in the middle of the first floor landing for another minute or two. To their credit, the staff went about their duties as if nothing had changed. She crested one stair, then another until she was taking two at a time the rest of the way up to the second floor and threw herself into the corner of the couch by the aquarium. Deeper into the house, it was harder to hear the wind outside and easier to hear the crackling of the fire and hum of the aquarium lights. Her world stopped rocking and the stale stench of ale was slowly fading until it was chased away completely by the chamomile tea that Monet delivered. 

When she was alone again, Kuri ran a hand over her nose and mouth, then down to the bone necklace at her throat. Her fingers worked over the protection runes carved into the surface of the charms and she began to mutter the prayers under her breath in the old tongue. 

Something was coming for them and if she didn’t do this right, it would catch everyone.

Saisaiba stood pressed into a corner of the holding cell area with her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she waited for the extra guards and Kuri’s summoner contact who was still staying in the barracks. Though Alice had offered to stay in the area, the lalafell woman proved to be miserable company as she refused to even make eye contact with the hyur woman. A glare radiated from under her mask towards the cell where Angelique had been re-deposited.

Sai ran her tongue along the inside of her teeth. A flurry of thoughts made her already sore head throb from where it had been bashed repeatedly against the stone wall. Her gaze flickered to Alice, remembering her healing abilities on Angelique earlier, but she didn’t dare give the airship captain the satisfaction. A burning curiosity ate at Sai for unimportant information. Why had this woman turned on the company to begin with? Siegwulf posed fair points - she’d been treated more than fairly before now. There was also nothing to gain in Sai’s opinion based on the intel she’d gathered. No matter which way she looked at it, Angelique’s own actions damned herself not only with the company, but also with Holly based on his reaction. Either she was an absolute fool, Sai was missing something, or both. 

Sai couldn’t shake the scene in Holly’s office. Angelique had said something to Holly over the linkpearl that made both Zhel and Elissaria snap at the broker. 

Tying to save you from what’s coming.

Risking all this for Holly’s benefit made more sense to her than doing it in a fit of jealousy. Save him from what though?

Trap.

Kuri’s repeated word over the linkpearl kept Sai awake at night. If she couldn’t figure out the puzzle, it was likely they’d all find out together. 

The door opening signaled the guards had arrived. Though Sai felt relieved, she let out a low snarl as she pushed off the wall. Keeping Angelique served no purpose; she was a loose end that needed to be cut. Sai feared the Boss was going soft on potential new comrades ever since their brothers and sisters had been slaughtered in the desert. Sai paused and gave one last, long look at Angelique before she left. 

She had an appointment with a Wraith to keep.

Prompt: A new year is starting, what resolutions does your character have for this year? Or, are there any resolutions you have OOC in regards to your writing this year?

Holly’s Resolutions

Although Holly isn’t especially keen on the idea, he needs to embark on a healing journey or two this year. There were events last year that have left him filled with bitter fury, and that emotion only pushes him further from the things that make him happy. He’s starting to question the merit in getting close to other people, and that has robbed him of opportunities to collect stories. At one time, stories had been his entire drive, but somewhere on the road to wealth and influence, he lost touch with that. Therefore, this year Holly will:

Have his vengeance and be done with it.

Get back to bardic basics and ease up on his ambitions. (Alt: Dance more often.)

Determine which people truly matter to him and take a risk on them.

Violetta’s Resolutions

The past year has been one of the best of Violetta’s long life. She was united with the Graveyard Company and though she still fears they may find a reason to reject her, she has learned enough about herself and others to take solace even in a tragedy. She has found friendship, love, and a reason to brave the terrifying world of public view. Of course, she’s still a recluse most of the time. This year, Violetta will:

Make herself more available to friends and travel more often.

Finally reveal her curse to those she works with,

Find a way to help her brother.

Alice’s Resolutions

Like Violetta, Alice is one of the newest and most grateful members of the company. The compassion and kindness she has been shown has reinforced her resolve to be a better person than she was raised to be. This year is truly a new start for her, and by this merit, she will:

Hone her magics and become a valuable member of the company.

Exercise kindness despite how dark the world has been.

Travel with her friends.

Writing Resolutions [OoC]

Siegwulf chewed on his lip as he thought on those words from Thorne and headed back to the hanger. The bastard would probably commend him for keeping his anger in check. He would be right to. It was better that he did especially with everyone else being angry. Siegwulf didn’t let things like this breakthrough and get to him because he knew if it did it would mean people’s lives and maybe even his own.

He knew Angeligue would be gone but maybe he could find something to help something to point in the direction they would need to go. He looked over his shoulder briefly at Zhel. “We’re gonna 

find everything in writing we can…and anything else we might find and take it back home. Charts, journals, notes…and we will have everyone that thinks they can help look it over.”

He growled as his brain rolled over possibilities. Where it made sense for her to go. Where it made sense for her to take Kuri…did she have Kuri at the hanger while they were there. He felt a heat creep up his neck. Not just anger but shame and stupidity. He forced it back down and bit back onto his lip.

“You can swing a fist or sword harder than anyone I know but if you can’t control where it goes what’s the point? Anger is a gift that can make you strong, but it turns into poison if you let too much of it seep out into your veins. Keep your brain working and you stay alive. Cloud it with anger and ya end up like every other prick merc that thinks they are gonna make their mark. Cloud it with anger and people die…your comrades. Your shield brothers. Hell, the same goes for any emotion. Ya don’t keep that shit in check. People die.”

Siegwulf reached the door to the hanger after several minutes of walking and an aetheryte travel later. He didn’t check to see if it was locked, just put his foot straight in through the door. He broke the door jamb and maybe a hinge or two bent as it slammed open. He could taste blood and his teeth released his lip. He wiped the blood that ran down his chin with the back of his hand as he stepped through the door. He had to find something here or he would start scouring every city in Eorzea.

When the Graveyard Company left his office, Holly snarled with frustration. The layers of fury were a thin veneer over the helplessness he felt. S’keseh could do little other than let the typically composed Bard roar with rage between hissing, escalating threats delivered on deaf ears via linkpearl. This tantrum went on for several minutes before the miqo’te finally coaxed Holly to the sofa. He was on the verge of seeing reason on Holly’s expression, when the door opened yet again. S’keseh looked up and lost all composure when he found Violetta staring down at them.

“He’s innocent, Violetta,” S’keseh snapped quickly. “He wouldn’t hurt her.”

Violetta crossed her arms and seeming to ignore the miqo’te’s words, her gaze boring directly into the distraught man beside him.

“So. You’re here to threaten and manhandle me, too?” Holly rumbled; his anger reignited as the pale Viera glared at him. “It’s going to go different than the fight in the Shroud, Vi. I will fight tooth and claw to prove my innocence because I am innocent. I did nothing!”

“I know that,” she finally replied dryly. “But that doesn’t change how the others feel. It also doesn’t change the fact that you’re the one who vouched for that bitch captain. If Angelique is behind this, you are going to have to prove your only crime is ignorance.”

Holly was on his feet as she cruelly prodded at the icy lump of denial in his gut.

“I didn’t do anything! I had one argument with Angelique and…I had no idea she was going to take it this far!”

“Take it how far?” Violetta asked, still standing still, her arms crossed, and watching him with a practically impassive expression.

“Abduct her!” Holly retorted while S’keseh stood up, prepared to get between the two if their shouting match turned to blows.

“How do you know she was abducted and not murdered?” Violetta replied without hesitation.

She may as well have punched him with the way Holly crumpled. Violetta spoke the words no one else had dared to speak, and it ran straight through Holly. Rather than rage, he suddenly felt only guilt and helplessness.

“No..That…” He managed before collapsing to his knees. “That cannot be.”

“This is not helping,” S’keseh snapped as he went to Holly’s side.

“The way I see it, I am not here to help. I am here to babysit. By your suggestion, if I understand the circumstances. You wanted to prove your innocence and hide under house arrest while others scour the star for any evidence of what has become of Kuri.”

“Well, maybe you should be out hunting. That is what you are made for, isn’t it?” Holly weakly managed. His anger still simmered but the thought of Kuri dying was the burden that truly kept him paralyzed.

Violetta sneered at him.

“We both should be doing something. We’re both made for hunting, are we not? For fighting? That is what you told me your life as a Viera was like. But now…what? You’re going to fold under the accusations of some angry mercenaries? You’re giving them the chance to suspect the worst of you. What good is all that fury in you if you are just going to throw it into a fit?”

“Fuck you and your sanctimonious bullshit,” Holly spat.

“No. Fuck you and your fear paralysis!” Violetta snarled as she finally moved away from the door. In a fluid, effortless motion, she hurled the round coffee table across the room, where it shattered in half and broke the molding on the door it struck. S’keseh was on his feet, pressing both hands against the cursed woman’s chest.

“If she’s out there, abducted and imprisoned, none of us can afford to make this about ourselves. It is about getting her back at any cost!” Violetta growled into the miqo’te’s face, even as she continued to speak to Holly. “Put aside your self-pity and get up. Move! You don’t get to keep doing nothing!”

Holly stared at Violetta, his face shifting through a torrent of emotions. When he stood up, there was a growing expression of resolve on his features. He looked Violetta in the eyes for the first time since she arrived. Her fury was infectious, but so was her resolve.

“Are you going to just stay here and watch, then?” Holly grunted as he shoved by her and S’keseh to get to his list of contacts. He was going to finally do what Siegwulf had demanded and get his feelers out.

“May as well. Sun will be up in a few hours and for as skilled as I am at hunting, I am more useful alive than dead. So, catch me up.”

“I will start,” S’keseh sighed. “I can do it while you clean up the mess you’ve made.”

Everything was slightly distorted and muted as Kuri awoke. Though she opened her eyes, she was in darkness and for a brief moment she panicked until she realized the wood grain pattern of the floor she was laying on started to come into focus. She maneuvered herself into a seated position, albeit somewhat awkwardly as she found her hands tightly bound behind her back, and tried to take further stock of her surroundings.

A thin gap of dim light was visible a few feet from her, the only break in the darkness of the room. A door, she reasoned, and moved to her knees, then her feet to head in that direction, but Kuri immediately froze. The floor under her swayed in a familiar rhythm that in all other circumstances would be comforting, but coupled with her bound hands, it caused the memories she had buried to begin to climb to the surface. She urged one foot in front of the other until she was pressed against the door. 

The cold slab of wood against her cheek made the soreness that had been growing there flair up. When she moved her jaw, she found there was a hard object wedged between her cheek and gums. She freed it to feel it with her tongue and though she had a good guess as to what it might be, she had no way of utilizing it at the moment, so she tucked it away and went back to listening.

Voices sounded from the other side of the door, but she couldn’t make them out and the footsteps seemed far away. “Hello?” she risked and was rewarded with the sound of someone shifting in the hallway.

“Well, well, the Little Sea Monster is alive.”

The nickname hit Kuri like ice water. She stepped back quickly from the door, stumbling over herself and landing on her tail with a thud.

“I’ll tell the Captain yer awake.” Two shadows blocked the slit of light as the footsteps crossed in front of the door and continued down the hall.

“I never did see what the fuss was about.”

The man that stood over her looked like he barely had his sea legs. His companion looked to be his elder, but not by much.

“With what?”

“These xaela girls. There’s always talk about stoppin’ on the way back north.”

Kuri was doing her best to not pay attention. She stole a glance past them; they had left the door open. The hilt of a sword being shoved under her chin to raise up her face made her look back at the two men. She knew from experience to show no emotion, so she held back the snarl she wanted to make.

“It’s just business. People pay more now since Limsa is cracking down.”

“Yeah, but the Captain won’t take the risk anymore. So why this one?”

Run. If she could make it above deck, she could make it to the sea. Even with her hands bound, she could still make it. If not…a death beneath the waves was better than whatever awaited her here. Despite the desire to be free, her legs would not move. She remembered her attempt years ago, felt the deck splintering under her bare feet and the salt air burning her throat as she ran for the railing with all her might. 

She hadn’t been fast enough then, she wouldn’t be fast enough now. Kuri withdrew to her own thoughts as the two continued to bicker over their Captain’s choice of cargo.

The passage of time was unclear to her from being positioned in an interior cabin, but she knew they hadn’t anchored yet and that some hours ago, the sea had been anything but calm. She had also been brought three rations, which was her best estimate of days passing.

Kuri wedged herself into a corner of the empty room to keep from being tossed about when the waves got rough, but also to feel the solid wood bracing her shoulders. She picked a front corner, as close to the slit of light as she could get, but she knew it wouldn’t hold the shadows at bay for long, she could feel them building.

Near, medium, far, she reminded herself. Kuri tried to find the proper items to focus on, but the room was so empty. Boots, light, wall, she recited in her mind. 

As her gaze trailed to take in the far wall, there was movement from the nearby corner. Kuri pressed her eyes shut and shoved herself further back into the corner. A prayer, a song, a story…