Internally I'm Screaming

bonus closeup because i love void!eclaire wit all my heart >:3

Though honestly, it made her nervous.

Too many people, too many opportunities for something to go wrong. Too much has already been sacrificed for them to have this chance. But she couldn’t begrudge them their hope, either.

Perhaps this time would be different.

She let Elio take the lead as they made their way through the camp, heading for the command tent near the back where they would most likely find Kemp. Her eye was caught on an Ananta training some recruits as they walked, so she didn’t notice that he had come to a stop until she ran into him.

“The hells is wrong?”

He didn’t respond, seemingly frozen in place staring off into the distance. El tried to follow his line of sight, though it was difficult with the disparity in their heights. So she scanned the crowd, curious what might cause such a reaction in her companion.

Then she saw her—a big Roegadyn woman in shining golden armor. She was apparently gathering plants around the edge of the water. As she watched she could feel a pull deep in her chest.

El has always been good at reading people, thats what her uncle used to say. She knew now it was more than that: a heavenly gift that allowed her to take the measure of a person on sight. It only took a moment for her to know exactly who this woman was.

The Warrior of Light.

“Robyn?” Elio’s voice was quiet, the question almost a whisper. And yet the woman turned and looked at them. Perhaps she could feel the weight of their stares, or she just happened to look their way at the right moment, but even still El felt a chill run down her spine at her piercing gaze.

The smile that broke across the woman’s face, though, was as warm as the Ala Mhigan sun. She immediately jumped up and jogged towards them. Elio finally seemed to break from his stupor and met her halfway, pulling her into a tight hug.

She watched them from a distance, happy to see Elio’s joy written so plainly across his features.

This must have been the Robyn he had told her about from his time in Thanalan. It was interesting that she turned out to be the Warrior of Light, though from his stories a part of her wasn’t surprised. She had to admit she was curious what her successor was like. Curious to know what made her tick, and what made her fight.

She certainly had the look of a warrior, could imagine how terrifying it would be to see someone her size charging the battlefield. But there was something that didn’t fit her expectations about the way she was gathering herbs before. Or the way she laughed and looked at Elio with so much happiness in her eyes.

All of a sudden, Elio turned and pointed at her, saying something she couldn’t hear. As Robyn looked her way, a blank stare moved across her face—not unlike how Minfilia’s had done a very long time ago. So she had the echo, too.

She idly wondered if Louisoix’s spell would prevent even the echo from seeing anything from before the calamity.

Whatever she saw, it only took a moment to pass and for her smile to once again settle in place. Though this time she had a different look in her eyes—a look like she had taken El’s measure, and was pleased with what it is she found.

They both quickly made their way back to her, but Robyn didn’t stop as she drew closer, instead immediately lifting El off the ground in a strong bear hug.

She didn’t know what to do. Every instinct in her body screamed to fight the woman off but the sound of Elio’s cackling caused her to pause. Instead, in her indecision, she just flailed in the taller woman’s arms, her shock and confusion plain for all to see.

Eventually Robyn put her down, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.” There was mirth in her voice, “I cannot thank you enough for saving this knucklehead’s life. And for looking after him all this time.” She smiled as she put a large hand on Elio’s shoulder.

“I…well, it has been my pleasure. Turns out he is handy to have around.”

“That he is! That he is,” Robyn laughed, loud and clear. “I’m Robyn, by the way. I’ve only arrived here a few hours ago, though if I had known Elio was here, I would have tried to come sooner.”

“I’m El,” she was taken aback at the ease Robyn seemed to exude, unsure how to handle her instant friendliness. “Are you looking to join up with the resistance, then?”

“Just looking to help out however I can.”