for adamia

[tinyseven]

Thanalan was a dangerous place to be; there were bandits that roamed the deserts, and the sand storms were always a hassle to navigate through if you couldn't find a place to hanker down in.

For Nanatsu, being in Thanalan just meant that it was much easier for people to recognize her as both herself and as the Warrior of Light. She hated going out to run errands to any of the desert towns and usually she sent one of the others in her stead... sadly this wasn't the case for this particular run. The merchant that had a particular item she was looking for refused to meet with anyone else. It had to be her, or no deal.

So, here she was, standing in front of a dilapitated building that almost looked ready to fall apart.... and yet the inside of the building seemed so lively with drunkards and bandits and wayward soldiers. Taking a deep breath, Nanatsu pulled the hood of her cloak farther forward to obscure her face and moved to enter the bulding. The moment she slid the door open, there was a momentary hush to regard her as the newcomer. The silence didn't last long and she was relieved when the patrons deemed her unimportant to focus on, all but one that was sitting closer to the middle of the room with a package near his feet.

That's the direction she moves towards, and once the merchant confirms who the lalafell really is, motions for her to sit down to conduct their business.

Comments

[tinyseven]

Nanatsu could only shake her head, that understanding smile still spread on her lips at the apology. True, it had hurt when her companion had up and left, but it only made sense to do some person re-evaluations in such a special situation like theirs. But, she mused to herself, would things have been different if her companion had stayed instead of seemingly like they disappeared into the aether? Perhaps not, but at least she would have had company in the life that had been thrust upon her once she was Hydaelyn's champion realized.

Still, there would be no point in being bitter about what could have beens; not when it involved her companion sitting in front of her, "I... I missed you too."

Oh, that came out a bit more emotional than she would have preferred. That had been a swell of emotions rapidly raising from her already aching heart, but she had to control herself. Just for now, "I'm just glad that you're alive." Which is more true than she meant it to be. Too many had died around her, because of her, for her. People she didn't know, people she knew too well. It would have been heart breaking to have found out if anything like that had happened to....

"So, what am I supposed to call you then?" Pause. "Since, I guess you go by something else....?" That had been clearly a male hyur name she spoke and this was definitely not a hyur, nor a male she was reminiscing with.

[adamia]

There was a brief chuckle coming from the horned woman. In truth, she had not been born as an Au Ra, much less a female. Certain events had caused her to end up that way, events that couldn't be reversed, and the effects on her body, as she knew, couldn't be undone. What could she really say to people? That sort of potion wasn't exactly available via the local merchants, and it wasn't like anyone would believe her story without a shred of evidence. A new form came with a new identity. A new name, and a new life.

"... Adamia. That's my name, now." It didn't particularly adhere to common naming conventions, but it had been done so purposely. Mostly due to her line of work. "The old name... doesn't really mean much to me, anymore." She had cast it aside, along with everything else in her old life, and everyone. It was... one of the hardest things she'd ever done. Just, erasing your old self like that. Difficult, though necessary.

"But you're looking well, Nana." She said, revisiting that old nickname for her. "By the twelve, how long has it been?"

[tinyseven]

Nanatsu repeats the new name, letting it roll off her tongue, face scrunched up as if she were concentrating very hard. Which really was the case. If he really had moved on to a whole new identity, she respected and cared enough for him to at least try and use that new name... It was a really pretty name, she did have to admit.

"Two years, I believe." Nanatsu hums softly to herself, thinking back to how long it had truly been and trying not to be bittersweet about how much time has passed since they were together, "Yeah... yeah about two years, give or take." Lots of giving and lots of taking... both bad and good.

There's a sudden shake of her head, trying to dispell those depressing thoughts away because of where they would end up leading her. So instead she just smiles gently at Adamia, re-adjusting her hood so that at least her friend could see her face better. She wasn't better, but she wasn't at the bottom of worse.... not yet anyway, "You've let your hair grow out. I like it, it's nice."

[adamia]

Her eyes widened slightly at the mention of her hair. It was longer than before, true, but she still kept short out of convenience and not wanting to have it get in the way "... Thanks." It was a nice enough compliment, though unexpected. She'd never really taken the time to think of her hair that way. Merely that it was... there, and that was it.

Adamia would've liked to have returned the compliment, but it was a little difficult with the hood obstructing so much of her head.

"You want to head somewhere else? We can probably find a more private spot to catch up." And they most certainly had a lot to talk about.

[tinyseven]

Her mouth opens to give a positive response, but when her mind filters through all the locations that Central Thanalan had to offer the excited expression fades away to one of pensive thought as she lowers her head. Any place near here had a higher risk of being noticed, but she couldn't offer somewhere else too far. ...

"Yeah, let's do that." Reaching for the box on the table, Nanatsu tucked it underneath her tiny arm while sliding right off the chair she had occupied, "Let's hope we find a place around here that isn't full of fiends and monsters." Her head tilts upwards motioning with her head towards the entrance as her feet start moving to the chocobo railings where her black chocobo was tied up.

[adamia]

As the two left, so did a number of the other bar patrons. It wasn't just coincidental timing, though. Adamia had seen this happen too many times already, and had picked up on all the subtleties. She knew that they were being followed. Though she couldn't imagine why, it mattered little. They obviously weren't interested in friendly conversation, especially if they were the type to frequent that tavern to begin with.

"We have company." She quietly told her friend. "Outnumbered, too." Adamia was remaining calm about it, though. Just another day...

[tinyseven]

As they shuffled out the exit, Nanatsu's ears had picked up the not so subtle sounds of the chairs scraping across the floor along with heavy footsteps. Her eyes narrow, eyes glancing to the side over her shoulder before facing herself forward. Her shoulders shift as she takes in a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable confrontation that's about to happen, "Do you have a chocobo? I think I could fit you on mine and we could make a run for it."

The black chocobo tied to the railing lifts its head, rumbling a small wark at seeing its owner being followed by unsavory people. "It's okay, boy. Calm down." Casually, but not really casually, Nanatsu reaches up to the reigns and starts undoing them, her movements deliberately slow so that the assailants aren't privy to the fact that they're not that sneaky.

"What do you want to do?" This was not how she wanted to spend her afternoon at all.

[adamia]

"I'm going to take care of this." Both hands were on each knife, gripping them tightly. In a past life, she might've considered a tactical retreat. To live and fight another day and worry about the rest later. But that life was over, and as far as she was concerned... 'Adamia' hadn't built a name for herself by running away from a couple of thugs.

She turned to face the would-be pursuers, listening as they made their intentions clear. They were there for her, though the rest of the specifics weren't as important. The Au Ra darted forward, knives held out and slicing through their clothes and flesh. She was fast, skilled, and efficient.

They had no chance.

[tinyseven]

Nanatsu's whole body turns around, hand slowly reaching back for the staff that had been so carefully secured around her back. There's a small moment of relief that washes over her, kind of glad she hadn't been recognized, but it's immediately squashed because of who they were after. She doesn't even get a chance to say anything when Adamia jolts forward to take care of business.

Her eyes widen, watching as clothes and skin are sliced open, but more the person who is doing the slicing and dicing. There's no time to lament over the innocence gone from her friend as she notices a thug rushing out from out of the woodwork to try and get the upper hand. Without even blinking, Nanatsu unhooks her staff from her back and with almost blinding speed, is immediately at Adamia's back, pushing the assailant away with a Fluid Aura.

There's a small mumbling under her breath as she concentrates, body glowing in a bright light for a few second before she starts knocking magically thrown earth at every single person still standing, forcing them to rethink their plan of attack to avoid the large boulders she's casting out with ease.

[adamia]

The thugs are dispatched without too much trouble, with both Adamia and Nanatsu showing off just how much they'd grown in the time they'd been apart. Skills picked up for battle, and... lessons that had been learned, with most of them being harsh and sobering. Some of the attacks ended up running away, though others weren't quite so lucky. Fresh blood dripped from both of Adamia's daggers, and had even managed to splash on her face.

A face that showed to be largely undisturbed by the mangled bodies she'd just left behind, or that their blood was quite literally on her.

Once the danger was done and over, the Au Ra turned around to face her Lalafell companion. "Still happy to see me?"

[tinyseven]

Once it looked like the attack had finally ceased, Nanatsu let out a deep breath that she had been holding and relaxed enough to lower her staff to her side. Her eyes take in the carnage that the two of them had wrought, and for a moment, she lets her eyes shut tight once she beholds one of the assailants with a bit of blood dripping from the corner of his lips in such a familiar line....

Nanatsu's breath is shaky, and she almost misses Adamia's question but it's enough to force the heart breaking memory away -- long enough for her to turn those quivering eyes to her companion who has remnants of blood all over her.

Slowly, she lifts her hands up, puckering up her lips and placing her thumb and middle finger to her mouth as she blows, a small whistle chirping through the silence. Her black chocobo seems hesitant at first, but he trots over to the lalafell who had already reached into her robe to pull out a handkerchief. When she's within climbing range, she hoists herself up secure on his back before she nudges him to stand close to Adamia. That's when she does it -- reaches up with the cloth to help wipe away some of the blood that's still wet on her friends' face.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Her smile is small but it's there and it's honest and there was no way she could ever hate someone that knew her before everything.

[adamia]

There's a bit of surprise, as Adamia's eyes widen after having the blood wiped off her face like that. She didn't... really expect to have repulsed her friend, but to see her taking it so well. That much hadn't been expected by her. She couldn't help but wonder if Nanatsu had seen so much during their time apart, of if her was just desensitized to it all...

There was a brief chuckle from her.

"You know, I've been... Looking for you for a long, Nana." The days and weeks had been to blur together.

"I was beginning to think I'd never see you again."

[tinyseven]

There's a slight pause as Nanatsu finishes cleaning off the rest of the blood from Adamia's face. A small wave of guilt washes over her features, that honest smile becoming somber, much sadder than she had meant it to be. The lalafell was never good at hiding her feelings, but she would at least try to keep it together for this occassion.

"I've been around." Around was an understatement. She had been all over Eorzea and all through different parts of Coerthas. Hard travelled would be an understatement to say the least, "It's hard to stay in one place when people need healers." Or the Warrior of Light, she thinks to herself before finally being content with her clean up.

"Fate would have brought us back together, dear friend. If it hadn't happen today, it would have found another day, I'm sure."

[adamia]

"So have I, but even another day would've been a day too long." Each day she would've hoped to have finally run across her, but each one had ended in disappointed, with only a new start to tomorrow to really be hopeful over. "And I can see that you've made some new friends in our time apart."

Many new friends, indeed.

"Though I don't think I much approve of them, Nana. Their company doesn't suit you, I'm afraid." There a smile, a force one. A bit of humor to help both of their moods.

[tinyseven]

"Huh?" There's a stunned and confused look that covers the lalafells face at hearing about her new friends. But, then she looks down at the group of people they had practically plowed through without so much as batting an eyelid. They hadn't been after her. They had been after her companion. She was astute enough to tell where there true sights had been.

But, she plays along, smiling just enough for this situation, and shifts forward on her chocobo to leave quite a bit of room, "Well, if you don't like them, who am I to argue?" She has every right to argue, but for now, "Shall we go then?"

[adamia]

Adamia nods and climbs on board with her friend from so years past. "Yes, lets be on our way. I'm beginning that we might've overstayed our welcome." And she certainly didn't want to be having any of that, not when so much blood had already been shed.

"If I can ask... Where exactly do you plan to go?"

[tinyseven]

Nanatsu is lucky that her companion is behind her, because a look of comedical uncertainty falls over her features as she tries to shift her brain from taking down a large group of thugs to taking a nice stroll through the desert. With a soft cluck and a nudging of her legs against the bird, they begin moving at a brisk pace away from the tavern and down the closest road to take them away.

"You didn't forget, did you?" She glances over her shoulder, tossing a teasing grin Adamia's way, "Thanalan is my home. I know where all the good places are."

And with that, she starts leading them quickly through the dusty trails, past the border from central into western and far enough from the main roads that it'd take a bit of searching, but with a beautiful view of Nophica's Wells as their backdrop. No one could sneak up on them this way, and that was what Nanatsu preferred.

[adamia]

"I'd imagine you do. I don't come here more often than I need to." It wasn't particularly her place to be. The environment, the people, the memories... None of those would do Adamia any favors. The only reason she was there today was so that she could keep on her search for Nanatsu. A search that had finally turned successful.

"I hope that the other 'places' aren't as rowdy as the one we just left behind?" That wouldn't do at all.

"I... I really missed you, by the way."

[tinyseven]

"Oh, certainly not." She answers, watching the familiar scenery pass them by, sending wave after wave of memories of her childhood flooding into her mind. She makes no note of all the nostalgia she's experiencing and instead finally brings them up over to a tree and tugs on her black chcocobo to stop him from moving.

Nanatsu places a gentle hand on the neck of the chocobo, soothing sounds leaving her lips before she shifts to slide off the saddle with rather practiced ease. She secures the chocobo to the trunk of the tree and before she leaves him to his own devices, feeds him a snack.

He kweh's happily and that's all Nanatsu needs as she shuffles over towards the edge of the cliff and sits herself down, allowing her legs to dangle off the sides to and fro, "So!" She begins, reaching up to slowly pull back her hood, completely freeing her now black and red hair shuffled up in a neat ponytail. A far cry from the purple her short hair used to be, "Catching up right?"