WARRIOR OF LIGHT

Give Princess Zelda the Kokiri Emerald. That was what he had come here for, and Link hadn't forgotten, honest! Navi said the princess lived in a place called the "castle" and that it was the biggest building here. The only problem was that he couldn't just walk up and ask the man at the castle gate if he could go in because, for some weird reason, that wasn't allowed.

So, while they tried to think of a way to get past that annoying guard, they allowed themselves to take in the sights of the town. Link had already gotten into a bit of trouble when he ate a bunch of food at a stall without paying, but he didn't know how to pay. And he was hungry! In the forest, they just took whatever fruit they wanted from the trees...

"It's getting dark, Link. You should find somewhere safe to sleep." Navi recommended, bobbing above his head as the market began to pack up for the night. He'd been hanging out on the outskirts after running away from those angry men at the food stall, but now he wasn't really sure where to go. Being out in the world was confusing.

"There are doors back here," he said as he peeked down an alley. Navi told him that he could go into shops if they were open, but some of the buildings were people's homes, so he couldn't just walk in without being invited. She said that things worked differently here than in the forest, and he was gradually learning that.

"What does that say?" A sign hung above one of the buildings, and he knew some letters but sometimes struggled putting them together. Navi floated up and read aloud, "It's called the Back Alley Bar... we shouldn't go here. This is a place for adults."

Link tilted his head and wondered why a kid couldn't go in. Before Navi could tell him off for not listening to her (again), he was reaching for the door handle and letting himself into the "place for adults."

"Link, come back here!"

"Welcome in," Meiko intoned, hearing the doors open. It had been a slow night, but that wasn't too bad. Better than it just being her and that damned creepy Mask Salesman from down the road.

Unless this was that weird fuck strolling in--

She glanced up from the glasses she had been cleaning for the last quarter hour, only to stop and stare.

❝Well, I like your accent.❞ She said. ❝It is charming. I think it adds character.❞ 

Borte took a moment to have a proper look at Meiko. She was… Tall, especially compared to the Xaela woman. The ears only made her seem taller. ❝I've never seen a viera before,❞ she said in return. ❝It really is as they say, viera are very beautiful.❞ 

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, lips pursed in thought as she recalled her introduction to the Scions.

❝Well… When I came to Eorzea, I had been adventuring by myself for a while when I met Thancred...❞ She trailed off at the mention of him. His fate was unknown at the moment, and she couldn't help but worry. Her gaze lowered.

"Aye, sounds like him. Thancred's got a knack fer recruitin' folk -- he found my brother, as well." Seeing Borte's concern, she rested a hand lightly on the lass's shoulder. "Dinnae worry. He's a slippery sort. M'sure we'll see him again, as well as th'others."

She tilted her head towards the church.

The sun, the sea, the hot sand. They were all familiar sights and sensations to Rikku, and yet at the same time felt strange. This was not her world, she knew that for certain now, after having spent the last few weeks doing her best to gather information and find her feet.

The last thing she clearly remembered was being with Yuna and Paine. Since Yuna had settled down with Tidus, they didn't all go on adventures much, but there had been old ruins found hidden in the forest on Besaid and they'd thought 'why not?', it could be like old times for a bit.

But when Rikku had reached out to grab the sphere they'd found deep inside, there had been a bright flash of light and next thing she knew she had woken up where here was.

Well, technically she knew where it was. Costa del Sol, a beach resort in Eastern La Noscea. Not that knowing that meant much, she still didn't know much about the larger world, nor how the sphere had brought her here.

Was this how Tidus had felt, when he'd first arrived in Spira? Unlike him though, there didn't seem to be anything like Sin toxic which she could use as an excuse for her lack of knowledge. She had to be careful.

At least this world also used gil, which made surviving easier. The amount she'd had on her when she'd arrived had almost run out though, which was how she'd ended up in her current situation, working at the resorts bar.

Thankfully she had picked up a few things from Barkeep in the past, the Hypello having been more then happy to pass on a few tricks during slow days on the Celsius.

❝Here you go, one Qiqirin Firewater!❞ Rikku said, sliding the concoction across the bar towards the woman that had ordered it, trying not to stare at the rabbit like ears on her head. There seemed to be quite a few races in this would that didn't exist in Spira, though she had at least seen some that reminded her of the Ronso.

"Eh?" Meiko looked up as she finished a gulp, amused. She cleared her throat, the burn settling down before she looked over to the bartender. "Aye. Depends on what ye drink fer. It doesnae taste as much as it burns, but it gets ye fucked up right quick."

Although having just one didn't affect Meiko much anymore, what with her tolerance and all. She didn't often aim to get that pished anymore, though. At least not when she was out by herself.

Borte reached up to wipe at her eyes, nodding her head.

❝You're right. We have to keep going, For them.❞ Her voice wavered as she spoke, but she tried to ignore it. Sniveling like this over fallen comrades would have gotten her laughed at on the Steppe. She really hadn't changed at all, had she…?

Ah. Now was not the time for self-deprecation. Not when there was so much to be done.

❝Meiko…❞ Borte repeated the name softly, and despite her eyes still wet with tears, she smiled. ❝I am Borte. Would that we could have met under lighter circumstances… But it is lovely to meet you nonetheless. You are a… Friend of A'kihiko's?❞

"Aye, quite. He's my wee brother. Cannae ye see th'family resemblance?" she chuckled, and shook her head, eyes glancing in the direction he had gone off in. "We were adopted by th'same pair o'Lalafells in La Noscea. He speaks proper, aye, but that's him hidin' his accent. I've no th'patience for that."

#thefutureishope an independent, semi selective and mutuals only rp blog for Hope Estheim from Final Fantasy XIII. OC, crossover and multimuse friendly. written by Rory (she/her, 31). please read carrd before following

❝Well I've collaborated with some members of the Sons in the past. Just casually, nothing official, but there was enough of a friendship to get myself an invite when I heard about the expedition.❞

He was still kind of surprised that he'd managed to get involved, but the fact that he had was a good sign for the future.

Hope gave Meiko a wry smile, ❝Not quite as exciting as getting dragged in due to being a Scion I suppose, but I'm grateful nonetheless. ❞

"Mm. Did ye intend fer Varis tae become yer successor? Or did ye leave that tae be chosen by th' succession war?"

And after their mother had died it had been Lightning who made sure that Serah was clothed and fed, that she went to school and did her homework, that she had all she needed.

And yet now Serah was grown and walking on her own two feet. It wasn't like Lightning didn't have a place her life anymore, even if she'd once feared that would be the case, but there was still a sense of lose.

❝It's...hard.❞ Lightning agreed, ❝Like I'm closing a chapter of my life, but I don't know how to write the next part. I should be happy, it's not just the two of us anymore. We have other people who love us now, people who are there to help whenever we need it, but..❞

Her hand tightened on the handle of her drink, tight enough that it started to hurt.

"S'no hard, I think. Just scary. Like startin' over when yer already grown." She paused to take a sip of her drink. "But keepin' a tight leash an' treatin' them like they're children'll only push 'em away. An' shelterin' them for tae long'll risk them bein' helpless. So I've tried not tae smother tae much."

She sighed, looking over and offering Lightening a weak smile.