FFXIV Write 2024 || 4. Reticent

Sitting in a quiet corner of the Carline Canopy, the blue-and-white haired elezen was stooped over a small chapbook, pen idly tapping at the end of a line of lyrics that sat beneath the bar frames of unwritten music. It wasn’t often that the words came to her before the music, but even now the words came with some small difficulty. Her brow furrowed slightly in consternation.

A shadow fell across the table as a dark-skinned, dark-haired miqo’te settled into the chair across from her, piercing frost-blue eyes looking at her with no small concern. “Your face says you are unwell.” He pointed out succinctly.

Trust him to be so straightforward in his observations, she had to laugh. “My face, my love, says that I am … at a loss for words.”

“ ‘Tis unlike you to be so reticent. My territory.” There was amusement that limned his gravel baritone, his eyes lightly teasing above the metal plate of the mask that hid the rest of his face, his smile especially but she knew it was there.

“It’s become hard to think, some days. Their voices sometimes drown out all else…” She murmured, setting aside the quill to lift her hand and touch it to her brow.

A gauntleted hand reached across the table, resting atop her own that remained behind. More care and concern entered the glacial gaze. “I have worked you too hard.”

The songstress shook her head, the blue and white hair dancing like the tides of the sea. “Nay, nay I tell you, I am fine in that regard. Tis the Voices and naught more.” Lowering her hand from her brow, she encapsulated the gunbreaker’s gloved hand in both of her own. “Worry not.”

His fingers curled into her palm while his thumb traced over her knuckles. “I will always worry. For you most of all.”

She smiled. “I know.”

The miqo’te rose, carrying her hands with him as he did so. “Come, we will get you home. I will see to dinner, then see you into a lavender-scented bath. T’will help with the headache.”

Knowing better than to argue, the elezen closed the chapbook and tucked it back into a pocket. Only then did she follow after her enigmatic guardian. “You always take such good care of me.”

“Tis never enough, but I do my utmost regardless.” He replied as he led the way out of the Canopy.