03-24-2019, 11:00 PM
((Several Years Ago))
The sun was setting over the Thanalan sky, dying the sands a pinkish hue. Sei sat at the edge of a Ala Mhigan refugee camp, watching a distant Morgan deal with a group of rowdy children a bit reluctant to complete her latest lesson plans. She sighed. What a busy place this was.
Things were always loud and moving here. There was so little to be had. Not enough food. Not enough shelter. Dangerous. But still in a way…
Is this what having a place to stay should feel like?
The Seeker of the Sun turned to instead look at the distant Ul’dah, whose lights began to flicker on in the dying daylight. Still watching, she sat in the dirt, burying her face into her knees.
“Oi, Sei! Whatcha doin’ all the way out there?”
The familiar voice broke Sei’s focus. The mi’qote turned her head to see a highlander woman approaching her. She was tan, and her short shaggy hair tied up in a bandana was a slight shade darker than her skin. Like both Sei and Morgan, she was wearing a tattered mess of cheap, well loved and well burned, hempen clothes. As she walked closer, Sei could make out the vermillion flame tattoos that framed both sides of her face.
“Zes.”
The woman frowned as soon as Sei spoke.
“Didn’t I tell ya? It’s Tanja! That’s my real name, after all!” She beamed as she pointed to herself in a confident gesture.
“...Right. Sorry.” Sei turned to resume staring at the distant city.
“I suppose it is a lot to get used to, ain’t it, Sei?”
Tanja sat down next to the other girl and pulled out a bronze thaumaturge's scepter that was strapped to her belt. As she sat quietly, waiting for a response, she began twirling the scepter in her hand. Sei tried to keep her eyes on the city, but quickly found herself mesmerized by the swirling scepter.
“A name. A family. An actual family! Can you believe it, Sei?” Tanja let out a chuckle.
“No,” Sei muttered without a second thought.
Family. The word made her shudder.
Tanja sighed, and with a smirk, flicked the miqo’te between the eyes.
“Ow!” Sei covered her head in a too-late attempt to block the attack. “Zes!”
“Tanja!” Tanja quipped back. “And don’t be a smart ass, Sei.”
Sei huffed and Tanja laughed once again, resuming twirling her scepter. Once again, the two sat silently.
“Ya know, I didn’t think I had a family like this. That man, well, I once asked him where I came from. ...He said he found me in the wreckage of a ship he destroyed. I was the only survivor, a little ball of flame and determination, and he liked that… Thought I was good luck. So he kept me. He always told me that my entire family was dead, so there was no one out there lookin’ for me…Never any use in runnin’… Sure he told you the same...”
Tanja paused. As she spoke, the smirk had disappeared and replaced with a furrowed brow.
“He lied, of course. Big fuckin’ surpise there... Dunno if you’ve heard the story yet, Mum could only bring herself to tell me a bit ago...
Turns out my family had been lookin’ for safe passage to… somewhere, anywhere, away from the Empire. An’ that bastard… he caught their ship, said they could get safe passage if they’d give up me. There travel party forced ‘em to do it, even though they didn’t want to. An’ even then… killed a lot of them anyway...”
Tanja scowled, her voice dripping with contempt.
“...He always did enjoy toyin’ with the desperate.”
“He’s dead. And you’ve found your family.” Sei muttered, eyes still fixed on the horizon. “So what does it matter?”
“It matters to me!” Tanja spoke quickly. “Goin’ about most your life thinkin’ no one out there wants you, an’ then findin’ out it was all a lie. That you had people that wanted you. That you coulda ran if you had just…”
It was quiet for a moment.
“So, if you’d known… you would have left?” Sei’s eyes peered over at Tanja.
“Seiiii, that’s not what I meant.” The highlander exhaled as she ran one of her hands through her hair. “I woulda taken you with me. I wouldn’t have left you there...”
The silence returned. Tanja fumbled around with her scepter awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Could be you and Morgan both have a family out there too… someone lookin’ for you? An’ I know that Sei ain’t your real name either… Though pretty sure Morgan is Morgan… can’t possibly be anythin other than that...”
Sei remained unresponsive.
“Sei?”
“I don’t want to think about it.” Sei’s voice was barely audible.
“An’ why not?”
Silence.
“Don’t wanna get your hopes up?” Tanja sighed deeply.
Sei thought for moment, then nodded.
Once again, the two girls were silent for a good while. The sun had set and the orange glow of the fires were quickly becoming the only source of light in the camp.
“In any case, I think the journey’s over for me. I found home. My home. My family… An’ I want you and Morgan to be part of that… Well… you’ve always been part of that. You’re my little sister, Sei. An’ not in the way that Grymmerl intended us bein’. I’m gonna keep protectin’ you. Both of you.”
Tanja stood, and thrusted her fist in the air as tufts of flame sparked around it.
“I don’t care how many people I need to light up so that you an’ Morgan have a place here. I’ll fight all of ‘em, I swear!”
For a moment, a small smile crept across the young miqo’te’s face just long enough for the highlander to see.
“Atta girl. Now lets get goin’, Sei. Grub should be about ready,” Zes rustled her sister's hair, and started to walk away. “An’ I want you to get to know the family. They’re all excited to meet ya. They love lil’ Morgan, that's for sure.”
Sei’s tail twitched eagerly at the mention of food, though for whatever reason she didn’t want to move. Not just yet. The sunlight had finally died and given way to the night, and the lights of the distant Ul’dah began to fully glow in all their splendor.
Maybe she’s right. And Father is… was… a liar...
There was still an uneasiness. A pit in her stomach.
If there was someone looking out there for me… if I had family left… would they even want me after everything? Would I be the girl they’re looking for… or would I just be Seiben?
Sei looked at the distant fires one last time, as she stood up to follow her sister back to the camp.
Perhaps I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I’ll ask Zes… Tanja… if it ever comes to that.
--------
((Almost 11 Months after Season 2))
Sei laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling of her Mor Dhonan apartment. In her hands she clutched a piece of parchment, one that she had not let go of since it had been delivered to her. She gripped it tighter as she repeated names in her head.
P'wemri Jhoxa.
Mom.
M'rhafa Tia.
Dad.
M'qalli Rhafa.
Me.
Rhama had been excited to hear the news when it arrived. Sei had just wanted to be alone. She had sent her out for the rest of the afternoon. However, occasionally she could hear the soft pitter patter of feet outside of the apartment from time to time followed by the keyhole going dark for a few moments.
Rhama was worried, she concluded. That was obvious. Morgan would be too when she found out. It was only a matter of time before Rhama was worried enough to find Morgan and get her involved too. But Sei was at a loss for what she could say. Moreover, she didn’t think Rhama would be able to understand even if she did have the words. Perhaps it was cruel to sell her sister/daughter short. Yet that would involve telling the girl things that Sei didn’t want her to know.
I should have spoken to Zes about it...
However, there was still one person she knew might be able to understand. And regardless, she’d been wanting to see him anyway.
Placing the letter aside, Sei dragged herself up and out of bed. She hoisted herself onto her wheelchair, and rolled herself to her desk. Then she started writing.
------
Lucie,
I received some big news. Karim might have found out who my parents were, and what my real name is.
I know that’s suppose to be good news, but I don’t know what to do.
I need to talk about it. I want to talk about it with you.
Can you please come visit soon? It only needs to be for a day, and I included an aetheryte ticket that should cover the trip to Mor Dhona from Isgard.
If you’re busy I understand. Just thought I’d ask in any case.
I miss you. I love you.
Sei
----
Once the ink had dried, Sei sealed the parchment and a ticket into an envelope. She rolled herself to the door and opened it.
“Rhama, can you run this letter to the post? I want to get it out as soon as possible,” She said, handing the letter to the started miqo'te that had just been pacing outside the door.
The sun was setting over the Thanalan sky, dying the sands a pinkish hue. Sei sat at the edge of a Ala Mhigan refugee camp, watching a distant Morgan deal with a group of rowdy children a bit reluctant to complete her latest lesson plans. She sighed. What a busy place this was.
Things were always loud and moving here. There was so little to be had. Not enough food. Not enough shelter. Dangerous. But still in a way…
Is this what having a place to stay should feel like?
The Seeker of the Sun turned to instead look at the distant Ul’dah, whose lights began to flicker on in the dying daylight. Still watching, she sat in the dirt, burying her face into her knees.
“Oi, Sei! Whatcha doin’ all the way out there?”
The familiar voice broke Sei’s focus. The mi’qote turned her head to see a highlander woman approaching her. She was tan, and her short shaggy hair tied up in a bandana was a slight shade darker than her skin. Like both Sei and Morgan, she was wearing a tattered mess of cheap, well loved and well burned, hempen clothes. As she walked closer, Sei could make out the vermillion flame tattoos that framed both sides of her face.
“Zes.”
The woman frowned as soon as Sei spoke.
“Didn’t I tell ya? It’s Tanja! That’s my real name, after all!” She beamed as she pointed to herself in a confident gesture.
“...Right. Sorry.” Sei turned to resume staring at the distant city.
“I suppose it is a lot to get used to, ain’t it, Sei?”
Tanja sat down next to the other girl and pulled out a bronze thaumaturge's scepter that was strapped to her belt. As she sat quietly, waiting for a response, she began twirling the scepter in her hand. Sei tried to keep her eyes on the city, but quickly found herself mesmerized by the swirling scepter.
“A name. A family. An actual family! Can you believe it, Sei?” Tanja let out a chuckle.
“No,” Sei muttered without a second thought.
Family. The word made her shudder.
Tanja sighed, and with a smirk, flicked the miqo’te between the eyes.
“Ow!” Sei covered her head in a too-late attempt to block the attack. “Zes!”
“Tanja!” Tanja quipped back. “And don’t be a smart ass, Sei.”
Sei huffed and Tanja laughed once again, resuming twirling her scepter. Once again, the two sat silently.
“Ya know, I didn’t think I had a family like this. That man, well, I once asked him where I came from. ...He said he found me in the wreckage of a ship he destroyed. I was the only survivor, a little ball of flame and determination, and he liked that… Thought I was good luck. So he kept me. He always told me that my entire family was dead, so there was no one out there lookin’ for me…Never any use in runnin’… Sure he told you the same...”
Tanja paused. As she spoke, the smirk had disappeared and replaced with a furrowed brow.
“He lied, of course. Big fuckin’ surpise there... Dunno if you’ve heard the story yet, Mum could only bring herself to tell me a bit ago...
Turns out my family had been lookin’ for safe passage to… somewhere, anywhere, away from the Empire. An’ that bastard… he caught their ship, said they could get safe passage if they’d give up me. There travel party forced ‘em to do it, even though they didn’t want to. An’ even then… killed a lot of them anyway...”
Tanja scowled, her voice dripping with contempt.
“...He always did enjoy toyin’ with the desperate.”
“He’s dead. And you’ve found your family.” Sei muttered, eyes still fixed on the horizon. “So what does it matter?”
“It matters to me!” Tanja spoke quickly. “Goin’ about most your life thinkin’ no one out there wants you, an’ then findin’ out it was all a lie. That you had people that wanted you. That you coulda ran if you had just…”
It was quiet for a moment.
“So, if you’d known… you would have left?” Sei’s eyes peered over at Tanja.
“Seiiii, that’s not what I meant.” The highlander exhaled as she ran one of her hands through her hair. “I woulda taken you with me. I wouldn’t have left you there...”
The silence returned. Tanja fumbled around with her scepter awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.
“Could be you and Morgan both have a family out there too… someone lookin’ for you? An’ I know that Sei ain’t your real name either… Though pretty sure Morgan is Morgan… can’t possibly be anythin other than that...”
Sei remained unresponsive.
“Sei?”
“I don’t want to think about it.” Sei’s voice was barely audible.
“An’ why not?”
Silence.
“Don’t wanna get your hopes up?” Tanja sighed deeply.
Sei thought for moment, then nodded.
Once again, the two girls were silent for a good while. The sun had set and the orange glow of the fires were quickly becoming the only source of light in the camp.
“In any case, I think the journey’s over for me. I found home. My home. My family… An’ I want you and Morgan to be part of that… Well… you’ve always been part of that. You’re my little sister, Sei. An’ not in the way that Grymmerl intended us bein’. I’m gonna keep protectin’ you. Both of you.”
Tanja stood, and thrusted her fist in the air as tufts of flame sparked around it.
“I don’t care how many people I need to light up so that you an’ Morgan have a place here. I’ll fight all of ‘em, I swear!”
For a moment, a small smile crept across the young miqo’te’s face just long enough for the highlander to see.
“Atta girl. Now lets get goin’, Sei. Grub should be about ready,” Zes rustled her sister's hair, and started to walk away. “An’ I want you to get to know the family. They’re all excited to meet ya. They love lil’ Morgan, that's for sure.”
Sei’s tail twitched eagerly at the mention of food, though for whatever reason she didn’t want to move. Not just yet. The sunlight had finally died and given way to the night, and the lights of the distant Ul’dah began to fully glow in all their splendor.
Maybe she’s right. And Father is… was… a liar...
There was still an uneasiness. A pit in her stomach.
If there was someone looking out there for me… if I had family left… would they even want me after everything? Would I be the girl they’re looking for… or would I just be Seiben?
Sei looked at the distant fires one last time, as she stood up to follow her sister back to the camp.
Perhaps I shouldn’t get my hopes up. I’ll ask Zes… Tanja… if it ever comes to that.
--------
((Almost 11 Months after Season 2))
Sei laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling of her Mor Dhonan apartment. In her hands she clutched a piece of parchment, one that she had not let go of since it had been delivered to her. She gripped it tighter as she repeated names in her head.
P'wemri Jhoxa.
Mom.
M'rhafa Tia.
Dad.
M'qalli Rhafa.
Me.
Rhama had been excited to hear the news when it arrived. Sei had just wanted to be alone. She had sent her out for the rest of the afternoon. However, occasionally she could hear the soft pitter patter of feet outside of the apartment from time to time followed by the keyhole going dark for a few moments.
Rhama was worried, she concluded. That was obvious. Morgan would be too when she found out. It was only a matter of time before Rhama was worried enough to find Morgan and get her involved too. But Sei was at a loss for what she could say. Moreover, she didn’t think Rhama would be able to understand even if she did have the words. Perhaps it was cruel to sell her sister/daughter short. Yet that would involve telling the girl things that Sei didn’t want her to know.
I should have spoken to Zes about it...
However, there was still one person she knew might be able to understand. And regardless, she’d been wanting to see him anyway.
Placing the letter aside, Sei dragged herself up and out of bed. She hoisted herself onto her wheelchair, and rolled herself to her desk. Then she started writing.
------
Lucie,
I received some big news. Karim might have found out who my parents were, and what my real name is.
I know that’s suppose to be good news, but I don’t know what to do.
I need to talk about it. I want to talk about it with you.
Can you please come visit soon? It only needs to be for a day, and I included an aetheryte ticket that should cover the trip to Mor Dhona from Isgard.
If you’re busy I understand. Just thought I’d ask in any case.
I miss you. I love you.
Sei
----
Once the ink had dried, Sei sealed the parchment and a ticket into an envelope. She rolled herself to the door and opened it.
“Rhama, can you run this letter to the post? I want to get it out as soon as possible,” She said, handing the letter to the started miqo'te that had just been pacing outside the door.