CHECKMATE. ⁽ ᵃᵘᵗᵒᵖᶫᵃʸ ⁾

“Aren’t these common laws? Even across time and space, people seem to be on the same page! And it’s a common understanding that wandering around by yourself is dangerous, no matter how powerful you are.” A huff. She wasn’t a child exactly, but she was young enough that he certainly felt bad just leaving her around. At least, he thought, she was able to seek out her own answers.

“At the very least you understand enough about this place to get by. And-“ She continues speaking, and at her words he couldn’t help but attempt to scan her - Mystic Eyes? No. None of his detectives had seen anything, but she didn’t have anything in particular going on. Certainly nothing related to magic.

“I won’t pry into the how of it…” His voice was lower now as he observed her for her reaction, “But is it something that I should handle myself, or send one of these trainees,” the word had a bit of bite as the sheepish detectives scratched the back of their head. “Any particular details, or anything else you can discern? We have an individual of interest we’re looking for, or the stolen items.”

MAYBE WHERE YOU ARE FROM, she wants to shoot back immediately, the thought of doing so flickering across her expression ever so briefly. what laws did kazimierz ever allow themselves to abide to? and were there any, surely they would merely be overlooked with enough money to buy an island villa far off the shores. so, she simply bites her tongue, wanting it all to be over with so she can continue on her way. until he takes more interest in what she says of something in a further alley. ❝ You believe me? I could’ve just been saying it to get you to buzz off, ❞ she replies back, even if her words are enough proof that it wasn’t the plan, nor would she have given up the game were it so.

this detective was a weird one, stickler enough to uphold whatever conviction he has in his work. must be nice...

“Um…”

Better be honest.

“No, not really. I mean, I have had people point things at me before, but I don’t know if I can get used to weapons. They’re just not my cup of tea.”

Upon learning the phrase, he makes a mental note, in case he encounters another Kuranta. He wonders of her people’s ancestry and her culture. Each race had their specific customs depending on the region they originated. His happened to be more aligned with the Allagan royalty than the Miqo’tes. However, he knew very well of the Miqo’te culture existing across Eorzea.

“Felines, I quite like that. Unfortunately, Eorzea does not have Kurantas. In fact, only the Miqo’tes and Au Ras have anamorphic traits. While we are common in Eorzea, our history has been turbulent in their own rights. I apologize for my bad manners, I hope we can become good friends.”

When she questions the culture of the disproportionate Miqo’te males to females, G’raha’s cheeks turn red. “Ah, an astute observation. Allow me to explain. When Miqo’te males are born, they are given the title Tia. In short, Tia means they have no power within a clan. If a Tia wants to become the head of the clan, they must battle the Nunh to claim the title. Once a Tia becomes a Nunh, they are–” G’raha’s ears flutter, “well, given the clan’s harem. Ahem. Nunhs are the only ones with a harem, and they well–do what you’d expected to do with a harem. If a Tia cannot compete against the clan’s Nunh, they leave to create their own harem. Others, like myself, do not abide by that cultural tradition. However, their namesake does not change until they have a harem.”

TWO RACES WITH ANIMAL TRAITS, something she could only claim to be a fantastical dream. ❝ For real? Then what are the others without them? Never heard of something like that. ❞ questioning lights her eyes a little, only pausing at his apology and another word that had followed that same sentence: friends. briefly she’s at a loss, maybe a little awkwardly, at the thought of it, though not in a negative way. ❝ Friends, huh... ? ❞ spoken softly, she can’t help but think of how foreign it feels to be extended something like friendship so readily.

❝ Would be nice to make a friend or two here, I guess. ❞ maybe it would be okay for her to have some, if it happened. ❝ And it’s fine. You weren’t rude. Like, I get it. ❞

“Ah… Okay…” They got the impression she might not have been joking, but they aren’t so sure.

“Have you been practicing with that bow and arrow for a while?”

Zero rolls back to make more distance, widens his stance, and puts a hand ready on his katana’s hilt. 

“Go ahead.” 

ONCE HIS WORDS ARE GIVEN, fingers hardly hesitate to let the arrow loose, aimed directly toward one target: his head.

“Um…!” They’re pretty nervous about the arrow pointed at them – who wouldn’t be? – but the bard does their best to decline the offer politely. They say, “No thank you!”

@pegasiansight // starter call!

★ : as she vaulted over the fencing surrounding one of the buildings near the library xalphina, marisa finds herself looking about quickly to see if anyone has bothered to tail her; that dragon lady had definitely chased her within the library’s walls, but she was far enough away now, she figures, that it was like as not she would be pursued no further. which was good, given the book she had borrowed with less-than-honorable declarations of intent - that had been an unfortunate slip of the tongue. subtlety had never been her style.

there’s a lady nearby who has witnessed her. the ears are what catches her eyes first, her curiosity a close second. she stops in her tracks, the large tome she’s got shoved under one arm now clutched in both hands in front of her chest as if to keep it safe.

‘so like… what kind of youkai are you?’ she pauses. ‘maybe that’s a bit too forward, whoops. i’m marisa, ordinary magician. how’s it goin’? …does that work better?’ probably should also let her speak.

SEEING PEOPLE LEAVE THE LIBRARY, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for them to use the door, whether or not they themselves seem so or not. and yet, to suddenly stop in place and observe someone make the elaborate choice of vaulting over the fence of a nearby place was, frankly speaking, eye-catching as ever. golden eyes don’t really conceal that they remain on her person, nor the book that she now conveniently holds with both arms against her chest.

or, well, the fact that she has taken note of her, too, and has now suddenly asked a question as if she hadn’t just witnessed this all.

Oh good, a stranger who isn’t shy. For all the people on this island, conversation partners always seemed to be lacking. For a social butterfly like L’uca, it was a minor act of torture. “I mean, I wouldn’t consider anything in Spirale ‘natural’… Edible fish in perfectly clean water are the least of my worries.” He knots his arms over his head in a big stretch and gets on his feet, gesturing to where the water cascades over the lip of the land. “If you think this is weird, you should see the fish that comes out of those clouds.”

He shoots Platinum a sly smile, as if just begging her to call him on a lie. “Y’know, the clouds below the islands?”

SO HE’S GOT SOME SENSE, enough to question the naturality of this entire place. only when he mentions edible fish makes her blink, wondering if he was right, that this place wasn’t some elaborate scheme to have you ingest poison of your own volition. ❝ Even if it’s put here by the ones bringing us? Aren’t you worried they’ll make your tummy rumble in like, the bad way? ❞ honestly, she feels she doesn’t have to spell it out for him much in this regard. and yet, with that sly smile and those words, she can’t help but furrow her brows a little. consider that bait of his effectively taken一

@pegasiansight

G’raha’s ears twitch, his tail sways, his eyes gleam– all with curiosity. He observes the woman with ears and tail that of a horse while having a humanoid body. His curiosity grows as he recognizes the similarities between his appearance and hers. Despite his desire to investigate, he knows that the other is a person with feelings, and she deserves the utmost respect.

With a gentle clear of his throat, he hopes to garner the other’s attention. “Pardon me, I am G’raha Tia. I’m with the Students of Baldesion, an organization of scholars.” He quickly adjusts his gaze from her ears to her eyes. “Forgive my impertinence. My characteristics, whilst not entirely identical, are kindred to yours. Where I come from, my people are known as the Miqo’te. We are quite numerous; however, oft more females than males– I never quite understood why. Mayhaps, the solitary nature of the males. But I digress.”

WHITE EARS, IN TURN, TWITCH, hearing the gentle clear of his throat that tugs her away from her idle staring at a window. golden eyes are already swift to take note of his own tail and ears, listening to him speaks she adjusts to his own gaze and where it lands. when he says the word scholar, she can’t help but feel he fits the image, nor shies away from it in conversation. ah, not that it was a bad thing, that is. ❝ The Students of Baldesion? I’ve never heard of them. ❞ curt as always, something that likely comes off brusque, but not entirely disregarding. ❝ Call me Platinum. Nice to meet you, ❞ she finally greets, a small tilt of her head.