WARRIOR OF LIGHT

⚔       ━━━━━━━   winter   continues   to   be   polar   and   inhospitable,   an   environment   whose   abrasiveness   not   everyone   has   sufficient   resilience   to   withstand.   he,   however,   becomes   accustomed   to   such   conditions;   circumstances   offer   no   alternative.   gradually,   terence   begins   to   appreciate   the   cold,   ivory   landscapes,   and   every   aspect   contained   within   their   arctic   expanse.   a   modest   smile   is   bestowed   upon   meiko   as   he   observes   how   she   enfolds   herself   within   his   coat.   

❝   once   you   live   within   these   lands,   you   inevitably   become   accustomed   to   it.   ❞   responds   while   aiming   his   gaze   toward   the   distant   horizon,   where   the   impending   night   already   promulgate   its   presence.   ❝   soon,   you   will   be   admitted   to   enter   the   stronghold.   ❞   much   like   haurchefant,   terence   is   optimistic   and   prepared   to   accept   outsiders   beyond   the   borders.   sufficient   time   has   been   spent   isolated   from   the   external   world.   change   becomes   imperative,   and   he   has   confidence   that   appropriate   arrangements   will   be   made   so   meiko   can   enter   alongside   the   remaining   scions.

Still, it wouldn't benefit anyone for her to have a stick up her arse. Her brother had bounced back relatively quick, finding purpose in helping out around the camp. Tataru was making plans despite her uncertainty, and even young Alphinaud had had his mood bolstered... although he, too, clearly had periods of regret as well. It was all to be expected.

"We were told o' Ishgard's notorious dislike fer outsiders, but everyone here's proven that wrong so far. Well, mostly."

Camp Dragonhead seemed to be a good bunch, at least. Those stationed at the other outposts often addressed them with suspicion -- until they did something for them. Proof that we're all th'same no matter where we're born.

"Is it worse in Ishgard? Should we be anticipatin'... prejudice?"

With a dejected sigh, she looked at her and nodded. "Yes. As a matter of fact I have. Instead, I was turned away, or they tried to scam me first." She said bluntly, very clearly on the defensive.

“ knowing he passed on with sword and shield clutched tightly at his side should ease the burden. ” in time, perhaps. if he hadn’t changed too much since her chosen exile, by all means he’d fallen doing what he loved. yet, when meiko speaks again, of friends and loved ones and fellow knights having to get used to a new reason to keep going, the sorceress nearly allows herself to be overcome by the pit in her stomach again.

contemplative and skeptical, she turns to face ishgard’s windswept citadel.

"Aye. I couldnae do it either," Although many who did end up in such a situation only did so because they had no other option. Not all, but many. Prostitution wasn't a very glamorous life. "But -- ye could only steal? Have ye no tried learnin' a trade?"

His eyes widened. There was a way in! He could see Navi dance around just by his head and knew that she was happy to finally have a way forward as well. A grin stretched his cheeks that were now a little rosy from how warm it was in here compared to outside, and he went to hop off the stool.

"The moat that connects to the pond in the castle courtyard, got it!"

It was too late to go right now because the princess would be sleeping, but he'd go in the morning and hope the guards were too sleepy to really pay much attention to the route he had to take. Ah, but speaking of sleep, he'll have to get some himself or he'll be the one too sleepy to pay attention!

"I've a cot in my back room. C'mon, ye can get settled and rest. I won't use it, I'm open all night."

Through a door behind the bar was a cramped but cozy little room, which served as storage. There were two big shelves that lined the back wall containing extra bottles of booze, a few spare barstools, extra glasses, and more. But Meiko's cot was nestled in the lone uncluttered corner, with a few pillows and a quilt.