FATEWALKER.

             CIRINA KAHKOL  :

25, has killed gods & will kill yours, enjoys hustling at card games & long walks on the beach

a xaela au ra from the azim steppe !  incidentally, has recently returned from said steppe. we’ve now unpacked roughly 30% of our childhood trauma ! 

the rest is in a box somewhere among all the other warrior of light stuff that’s happened dw about it

is still experiencing storms of blood, has yet to encounter shadow or walk to the end

is seasoned in the once-lost art of hitting your enemy with a fraction of the essence of your past enemy or enemies, or what some of us might call summoning ! 

don’t let the mana for days and thick book fool you, she can handle herself up close and personal. also, the book is as thick as it looks, and she will swing it. 

flirtatious, affectionate, caring to a fault— but generally harmless !

if flirting is reciprocated, most frequent response is ‘i didn’t plan this far ahead’

she doesn’t care how cold she is, she will Not forsake fashion and she will Not wear more than she has to 

need a mundane errand done that you can’t be arsed to do ?  she’s your girl !  need a drinking buddy for that tavern, and that bar, and that lounge, and tha— yep, still your girl !  need someone to sail you across those beautiful glittering waters ?  raincheck. 

✦ Tsukiko rubbed at her upper right arm with her left hand, body language withdrawn enough to make it obvious she was a little uncomfortable. Not because of the Xaela herself, but because she was out of her element. The Raen had come very far with her self-confidence, but she still had moments of weakness when she felt lost.

“I appreciate the understanding… Although it isn’t the first time I’ve suddenly found myself on another star, I cannot say anything here even resembles what I have seen in the past.” There were lowkey things that reminded her of sights she had witnessed, but never as coherently pieced together as all this.

“But it would be rude of me to put you on the spot like this without first introducing myself. My name is Tsukiko Kuroishi. While I hail from Sui-no-Sato, I have studied in Eorzea for much of my life. As for my occupation… ‘Tis a little bit complicated, I suppose?”

        ❝   — Sui-no-Sato ?   ❞   NOW   she was the one having difficulty containing her excitement, recognition brightening her features. The Raen seems unsettled, and really, who could blame her ?  Cirina’s features soften as she maintains a respectable distance, but her mannerisms are as welcoming as always — as if she were having an exchange with a dear old friend. 

           HANDS   rest on her hips as she studies him through the flames; a brow raises as his marshmallow goes well past the browned threshold and right into charred. Honestly, Cirina had no clue who this man was prior to them both finding themselves in a completely different environment. But that was her life in summary, wasn’t it ?  Meeting countless strangers that quickly became anything but. 

      ❝   I’m still unsure as to what all this is about,   ❞   she admits with a sigh as she lowers herself onto the same hollowed-out log, swiping a marshmallow from the open bag at his feet without so much as a ‘how do you do’,  ❝   but as far as impossible situations go, this seems... Remarkably tame.   ❞   

           From what she can gather, this is some sort of ‘summer camp’ — something these ( Hyur ? ) children attend when their parents grow tired of them. It took little time to understand that she was assigned a ‘counselor’ role, and as such was meant to look after these bored children and come up with activities; incidentally, something she was quite familiar with. As for Achilles... Well, she simply looked for the only other person bumbling around at the beginning and made an educated guess. Still, he seemed to have a knack for this line of work himself — he embraced the role about as quickly as she did. They must have both adopted a ‘well, if we’re here we’re here’ sort of mindset...

      ❝   I don’t know about these other ‘counselor’ types, though. I mean, do you ever see them once curfew hits ?  Gods forfend a child needs something after hours.   ❞   She leans forward with a somewhat conspiratorial grin, as if divulging a secret ( and on a lesser note, to bask in more of the fire ).  ❝   I'm convinced they’ve spirits stashed here somewhere. The heavy kind. I’ve half a mind to look for them myself, for curiosity’s sake.   ❞

@painflares​

✦ To say that the Raen had mixed emotions about her circumstances would have been an understatement. It reminded her of arriving on the First in how she had been displaced into another world, and yet the towering buildings elicited recollections of the landscape she had seen while combatting Her Inflorescence. She most certainly felt out of her element, yet she had little choice but to push through the anxiety that swirled in her heart. 

At least her journey had improved her sociability. “Another Au Ra!” But it wasn’t always perfect, as the fact she had just yelled out such an accusation at a stranger without thinking. She had seen no peoples that resembled her kin thus far, so this was a first even if she was of the Xaela tribe.

“I… apologize for my outburst. I was just so surprised to see another Au Ra, considering, well… Most of the people here seem to resemble Hyurs, or peoples I’ve never encountered before.” Tsukiko took a moment to regain her composure, rubbing at one arm with the opposing hand. “Assuming we’re at least from similar stars, that is.”

       ❝   You’ve nothing to apologize for.   ❞   GRANTED   , Cirina’s tail was still standing on end, but her smile seems genuine enough. Why the Stars saw fit to summon her back here was a conundrum she couldn’t even begin to solve, but at least she isn’t as much of a fish out of water ( so to speak ) as she was her first go-around. The first time she’d seen an Au Ra among all these Hyur-like crowds... Well, internally, she likely thought much the same. 

             SHE’S   still not entirely certain about the rules, but watching him go up against someone else gave her at least enough context to be competent. She hopes. All Cirina knows is that she adores tavern games, and this one seems far too intense to pass up. 

        ❝   Would you mind playing again — against a beginner ?   ❞   She asks, but she’s already grabbing a stick ( weapon ? ) for herself and priming the tip just as she’d seen both men do prior.  ❝   Don’t go easy on me.   ❞

              ONE   would assume she was referring to the view down below of the ballroom, all illuminated by an absolutely brilliant diamond chandelier — and indeed, the scenery is utterly stunning !  But she was most definitely referring to the jackpot of free food she’s set down on the table across from this utter stranger, an armful-and-then-some for each arm. She’s never seen this woman before, but she seems in fairly high spirits all things considered. Cirina keeps her loot to her own unspoken ‘half’ of the table, of course, craning her neck as casually as possible to see what the woman has on her own ‘half’. It’s a bit difficult over the miniature mountain. 

         ❝   Sorry to intrude, but this is the only seat not taken. Take as much as you want from the loot and we’ll call it even, aye ?   ❞

DESPITE THE STRANGE FAMILIARITY, THERE’S a sense he gets that cirina is someone he would be able to get along with even before she offers her name in turn. not that such feats were difficult with him, albeit a few attitude problems he might carry, yet it was like a kindred soul. hilarious, almost, were they to know the origins of their particular spirits, shards belonging to one and the very same. each step carries them closer to their destination, though, before finally arriving before the doors of a tucked away tavern, a homely sign which is welcoming despite the more worn down structure it rests in.

❝ That so? Then here’s hopin’ it’s to your taste. Or I guess we could go somewhere else if it really ain’t, ❞ he shrugs, a playful grin with a brief wink her way as he does. reaching out, he pushes the door open, another hand on his hip as he tilts his head and waits for her to enter the dimly light atmosphere. ❝ It’s a bit more close knit than the Chalice not that far off. Lively, but ain’t too out of it… wouldn’t start a bar fight here but, eh, if I’m feelin’ a punch or two, I’d go to a seedier place, y’know? ❞ somehow he feels she might, even if the circumstances weren’t the exact same.

          ❝   Oh, I’ve a mind that we’ll wind up elsewhere even if it’s exactly to my taste. In my experience, hopping is half the fun.   ❞   THEIR   grins are practically mirror images, made all the more vivid as she winks in return. She believes she’s been here before... But at a certain point, most taverns are blurry in her mind unless they really stand out. Familiar or not, she hops up into a stool as if she were a regular — at the end with a clear shot of the front door, just as she prefers. 

           ❝   You’ve seen the postings. Everything in this store is potentially edible. … Frankly, even I’m a mite edible. Granted, it’s frowned upon in most societies.   ❞   She shakes her head, derailing her own wayward train of thought as she picks up a rather weighty... Well, paperweight. The Summoner palms it a few times, letting it bounce up and down— then promptly bites down, not even with the slightest hint of hesitation. To any concerned onlooker’s relief, she’s rewarded with teeth still intact. In fact, she seems downright delighted; her tail runs the risk of knocking over a nearby display, and the hum in her throat sounds contented. 

          ❝   Hmn — hint of raspberry. See ?  Fortune favors the bold, my friend.  ❞   They are friends now, right ?

“It appears oversleeping is quote a common phenomena. Whether it be from physical exhuastion or mental anguish, a long sleep finds its way through. Though I am curious what do you mean by snow. The dread of winter or something else?“

             Cirina has no idea how or why the museum was brought about in her absence, nor does she really know why she’s returned to this place at all, but it can’t be all bad if she’s allowed to wield a chainsaw. How this was supposed to result in a magnificent work of art was beyond her — and really, her original intention had been to sculpt a ball out of clay that she might squeeze with all her might when stress overcame her — but it seemed this weapon ( er, tool ) had a mind all its own. A gleeful grin refused to wear down the longer she sent wood flying, as eager to see what the final product would be as anyone else. It seems to be architecture of some kind, but beyond that... Her guess was no better than any other passersby. 

        ❝   This is their best idea yet... !   ❞  She idly hopes the roar of the tool was enough to warn bystanders of possible wayward wood chips... 

             But because she’s done her share of work with fabric, metal, glass — and many more — she can appreciate the time and dedication each work of art must have taken its creator. She folds her arms behind her back as she takes in each piece; most of the paintings were bigger than her, and it felt as if her neck would be permanently fixed in its craned position. This was probably to her benefit, though, as she may have crashed right into her fellow Xaela otherwise; had she not already been looking up, his shadow may have been a warning given far too late. Their gaze is fixed on the artwork straight ahead, so she follows his line of sight. 

        ❝   It’s a marvel to me... The way these works of art have taken hold of people’s emotions.   ❞  Indeed, she’s seen joy and sorrow and anger all throughout this seemingly never-ending hallway.  ❝   Some say these bear scenes from other worlds. It makes one wonder about the artist  — or artists. Goes beyond just simple talent, aye ?   ❞

            She finally pauses to rifle around at her side, pulling the weathered, rather thick compendium of Teen Titans into view. She’s read the blasted thing cover to cover, but she still isn’t quite sure what the legacy of these adolescent superheroes has to do with her summoning.  ❝   If I keep this on my person, but leave this one in proper view,   ❞   she explains, holding up her decorative imitation of the grimoire so rudely snatched upon her arrival,  ❝   then I can almost believe all’s well.   ❞