#Meam Rhua

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Vierapril Day 5

Colors

[riylli]

I wanted to try out a lighting trick I learned but didn't have a pose, so I decided to steal from Jojo. This then began my descent into Jojo posing madness. Witness my shame.

[lettersnorth]

The coffee was doing its job, both warming and waking Aislinn up. She couldn’t be sure how long she’d been at it in the storeroom, but then again, that was always the way of it. Rarely aware of her own physical needs until something pulled her from her work and she came up for air.

"How bad was his state?" Rhua asked out of the blue, glancing in Aislinn's direction. "You mentioned you could fix his damage, but. You're here right now." something she'd caught onto. And a reason to blame herself if she'd been a distraction from the urgency it carried.

Aislinn shifted a bit, like the weight on her shoulders had resettled and she was trying to make it somewhat bearable. “He’s a bit banged up.” It’s non-committal while still committing to the idea that things weren’t great. “Locomotion’s off, pieces of the tissue shell missing but it had already deployed a sealant to stop fluid leak. The repair unit should jump-start the tech in the tissue to start filling back in. Don’t ask me what’s in it. There’s a lot about the how and why of the design I don’t know. As far as internal workings, I won’t know until I let the diagnostics run. I like to do that before I go cracking him open.” She pushed off the table edge and held back from scrubbing a hand over her face. Instead, she gave Rhua her best calm and measured look. “But aye, I should get back and see how DOT’s getting on. I’ll keep you updated.”

After a beat, Aislinn spoke again, her voice gentling, "Most everything can be fixed, Rhua. Sergius made it in here on his own two feet. Just takes some patience and time." Probably. Maybe. She didn’t add that part. It looked like Rhua didn’t need Aislinn to share her self-doubt. She needed her to be the capable tech-wizard that could fix anything.

Rhua was silent for a time. She knew Aislinn was right. She was still mortified at the fact he'd made it back and she hadn't noticed until the drone gave her one of the handful of frights of her life. One part of her thought it had just been that bad, and worrying her wouldn't do anything. The other also thought it was that bad, that he hadn't had even the chance to send any pings. Neither really left room for hopeful thinking, like giving him a light scolding, joking about suplexing him halfway into the snow if he did something like that again, or being able to laugh it off if at all. "Bionics or any tech reminiscent of an organic being is not my specialty." she started, opting to still leave the offer open. "But. If there's anything I can do to help. .. Please, let me know.." a small plea really.

There was already too much on her plate, Jackal's presence had amped everything by keeping her on eternal edge. But even then, she couldn't just focus on work completely and wait for Sergius to be fixed just like that. "I. .. have many things I still need to do. Town's barely learning how to function without machines. But I'll still do what I can to go see him. 'Tis the least I could do even if he complains later about efficiency."

Aislinn hummed in the back of her throat. “Knowing Sergius, he probably would, too.” She agreed. “Town’s got to be putting a lot on you but aye, if I need a hand, I’ll check with you first.” She nodded. “But, remember. Eat. Sleep…” She trails off and ends up just shaking her head. “I can’t even say that with a straight face. Feel too much like a hypocrite. Right. Back to it.” She offered Rhua one last reassuring nod of her head before she headed out.

Rhua could only nod slowly as she offered a polite nod. She doubted she'd sleep until she collapsed, Aislinn was right. But at least there were two hypocrites in on this. As much as not going right away settled horribly with Rhua, she could trust Aislinn enough to try and help her friend. Heh. That label feels off. She wasn't exactly used to calling anyone that after all. But... It was back to work. She knew she'd at least make sure Aislinn had something to eat before showing up some time later.

[art-by-hels]

[haila-wetyios]

#2 Bolt

The trip upstairs wasn’t too different from the usual. Just a silent tap of boots against metal as a white haired Viera made his way upwards. This particular section of the Pendants was mostly abandoned or repurposed as storage rooms after all. Better quarters with improved living conditions had been built years later, making the old ones rather obsolete. 

That didn’t stop his family- 

No. That didn’t stop his mother AND sister to still prefer this damn section where no one would bother anyone. But it was also a hassle when it came to having to deal with either of them. 

Thankfully his mother seldom ever returned to the Crystarium. Ever since both he and Rhua had cut her proverbial leash off, she’d truly taken to traveling around Norvrandt with barely a single visit a year to return to abandoned grand projects. 

But Rhua on the other hand… 

He felt that if he didn’t check often enough, the damn woman would pass out from exhaustion and not be found until weeks later. Which was the reason for his visit today. 

He spent almost all his time training at the barracks yes, which made it all the more alarming when rumors from the Crystalline Means actually reached his work zone. 

Rhua, the scatterbrained engineer who somehow single handedly filled in almost all the request for repairs and magitek development. Who had not missed a single day or work, somehow taking vacations for upwards of a moon or more?

Thankfully no one had assumed the worst. This had happened right after their father’s anniversary of passing, so anyone would be glad to hear that she took the trip to his grave and then decided to take time off. It was the perfect excuse for no one to bother her and breathe a sigh of relief that she had finally taken her damn well deserved break. 

And that’s what bothered him. 

He knew she would never do that. 

Just as Rhea finally stepped before the door leading to his sister’s apartment, he’d hear muffled cursing as several metallic bits fell to the ground. He took a deep breath, bracing himself to whatever stupid idea she must be pursuing, or if she was so sick that she was working off deliriums. 

But what had truly happened was worse and somehow made the worst drop in the pit of his stomach as he went through the nearly disjointed door. 

Rhua was standing in the middle of her barely adapted ‘apartment’ before a box of fallen parts. Nuts and bolts and tools and debris were spread all over the floor to the point they almost looked like a carpet. What caught his eyes right away though, was the heavy bandaging over her left upper arm. 

Or at least… what was left of it. 

She’d somehow lost a limb, and judging from the bandages starting to turn red, it had yet to fully heal while she worked on her own out here. 

This was exactly why he hated this warehouse section of the Crystarium. 

This damn idiot would surely expire if he hadn’t heard the rumors that she’d taken some time off. 

And yet, even while sweating buckets, Rhua’s first reaction the moment someone came through her door was to throw the screwdriver she’d been holding on her right hand with eerie precision. Thankfully her brother was used to quick reactions, and deflected it right away as it hit the side of the doorframe instead. 

“Oi, what did we agree on drawing the line on trying to kill each other?!” he immediately called out, causing Rhua to freeze on the spot. 

Ah, she really was getting delirious, probably a fever. 

“Shouldn't you be resting with… that?” he then added as he watched her slowly run a hand over her forehead and remain silent. 

Rhua looked apologetic to say the least. The moment she’d realized it was her brother that she’d attacked out of inane pain and frustration, she raised her right hand to hide what was left of her arm. But a wince of pain immediately followed. 

Her brother needed to take a deep breath. 

For fuck’s sake. 

How is he supposed to protect what he loves if nuts and bolts right here is off doing something stupid?

No. 

That was extremely unfair to Rhua. 

She had been the one to ask for his company to visit their father. And he’s declined in favor of patrols. He should have been more careful. 

Rhea stepped over slowly, careful to not bend any of the fallen bits and bobs on the ground as his eyes caught sight of the project on the nearby table. Classic sister, already working on a prosthetic limb to keep working. Or… probably to keep up the facade that she was still fine. 

“How long?..” he asked once he was before her, reaching out with his hands to have a good look at the damage. Even now, she was trembling, both from overwork and pain most likely. 

“Two days..” she answered, still glancing away as she allowed Rhea to see the bloodied end of the hasty bandages on her. 

Exactly on their father’s anniversary. The sight was more grim than what he’d assumed. 

The injuries stretched upwards from where the cut had happened. As if the upper arm had been constantly stabbed at in desperate attempts to amputate it. 

“.......” he was at a loss for words. He knew his way around first aid. But this was beyond what the average soldier would do to avoid turning. 

“You ain’t working anytime soon. We’re getting you to a chirurgeon right away.” he stated. The kind of serious tone that allowed no backtalking. 

Before Rhua could even protest, he’d already raised his index finger to shut her up. 

“You’re lucky mom isn’t coming back for at least another year. But we’re treating this right away. Any fake arm you’re making, you’re not allowed to finish it any time soon. You’re fucking taking a true break and resting. And I gotta take a fucking break as well.”

“But-” 

“No. I’m taking the partial blame for this. I’ll ask you for the details later. And you can fight me later for doing this.”

Rhua fell silent in defeat. She was sure going to start hallucinating soon at this rate. There was no denying it. She’d really been a scatterbrained idiot, going out on her own to their father’s grave. 

Spend too much time in relative safety, and you’re bound to get careless…

[the-other-blue]

#9 Fair

Do you know sis? The origin behind our names?

It was meant to be an act of mercy, an attempt at forgiveness from mom towards one of the people that ruined her life. 

But I’ve always felt it wasn’t exactly a successful attempt. 

I can’t help but feel that any time she utters our name, there’s a low cursing at the word play she did, and that dad is the only one holding her back from hating it. 

The deadbeat was called Rhae Bhowsu, ironic how fate made it so that you tried to protect her and her idiot bunch. Can’t help but feel slightly bad about her though, understanding someone’s background gives you a better feel of what shaped them, and she just had a bad hand dealt on early on. 

Wasn’t really her fault that her big brother would adapt better to the city, find a job and stay out of trouble, even fall in love outside of his clan. What she could be blamed for though, was getting herself down a shitty path. I can’t really speak for how a sibling should be versus the other one, but then again… Your name might be a wordplay out of love, and mine was the only shitty one out of hate. 

Rhae Bhowsu. Rhea Amatus. 

Meam Rhua. Ruah’a Bhowsu. 

I envy you. Being the center of love. I pity you a bit to be honest, because even with all that love, you were never the closest confidante of mom. Was she protecting you? I know the answer. Not really. 

It’s a frustrated side of me doing the talking. The one that thinks this isn’t fair. That I’m the ‘blessed’ one. You’re the loved one. I’m the trusted one. You’re the sheltered one. 

It’s such a shitty dichotomy. That we were both given something that was supposed to be meaningful for our caretakers, and we turned out so abysmally different in our upbringing. 

Why was I the one with the shitty reminder of a sibling killer? Why am I the only one that can see shit that separates me from the rest? 

I don’t hate you sis. And my standing for mom is still a can of worms despite how much our relationship has improved. I’m pissed off, just like you. But also not sure where to go. 

Believe it or not, I used to be even more pissed off than I am now. If anything, I might as well be an ice cube now, while you’re intent on burning yourself out. That’s all there is to it. 

[sergiusreports]

Encoded Messages

A strange encoded message makes it's way to Sergius’ terminal. From simple analysis, it seems to be a mix of binary with characters resembling those in Haila's tomestones albeit to a lesser degree all mixed together. Decoding it yields the following message:

[I cannot skip the pleasantries this time around, and thus I will apologize beforehand. It is nice to meet you, Atreus, the only one that's had a level of security barriers on par with mine. I am Rhua, the daugher of Haila that has spent some time within Heartwood Headquarters. We briefly met during the time you discovered me watching from afar when your group found my mother's body.]

[While not the best conditions to establish communication, the only lasting impression I had of Heartwood as a whole back then was the reports of the extensive damage my mother had suffered and the lack of action of the one entrusted with her surveillance system. A person who, despite all this time I've yet to ever see again, which brings me to the conclusion that I cannot trust them with such precious resources. However, with all my drones completely obliterated from the altercation with my mother's projection, I am unable to attempt to even seize control of them and have also been cut off my own surveillance. The scraps of whatever survived of my own surveillance drones have been used to keep watch over the girl encased in crystal inside the space in my mother's laboratory.]

[Which is why I come to you offering what I hope is a fair trade. One of my mother's specialized aetherial tracking bots plus root access to her terminal and my provisional surveillance over the encased girl for one of your drones. Loath I am to admit, but my mother's allagan resources are not within my field of expertise in magitek. Which makes working with them rather difficult.]

[By now my absence has probably given rise to some questions, which I truly wish to not answer just yet. I'd like to send a message if possible to Aislinn about this. 'The situation has changed on the outside, it's best that I keep my contact with Heartwood to a minimum. I should not be seen entering or leaving the building. But know I am keeping a close eye on certain matters. 'They' have an eye on us, so I've rendezvoused with my brother to continue tracking a few leads after my mother's message you'll find in her terminal.']

[I shall be awaiting an answer...]

The notification hit Sergius’ feed as he was on his way back from Glephort’s manor, having installed a host of eyes in the trees around the man’s property. An unknown sender. He’d never had good luck with messages out of the blue. He’d had worse luck if he ignored them. Scrubbing the message clean before even considering opening it, he was met by a pattern his systems recognized. Almost binary with the gaps filled in with strange strings of encrypted code he had first seen in Haila’s tomestones.

He allocated a sufficient amount of resources to decoding it before being suddenly stopped in the hall by Aislinn. As the message decoded in the background, he had a terse conversation with the woman. Misplaced anger. Before hacking his governor module it was a colloquialism he chalked up to the limitation of Spoken speech. Now he was gaining a better understanding of what an exhausting exercise in jaw-grinding frustration it was. Emotions were a virus. Aislinn was angry at his assessment of her state of being. (Which, by the way, was a simple statement of fact and biological factors he had measured). He, in turn, infected by that anger took a portion of his own which rightly belonged to Florus and aimed it at her. Why? Fuck if he knew. As stated earlier, emotions were a virus.

By the time the two parted ways, the odd message had finished decoding. Rhua. The viera that until recently had been hanging around Heartwood. He saw her often from the eyes of the drones tucked away in corners of the Company headquarters. The drone pilot that had once locked him out of her systems with a rude gesture. At least she knew her way around one. Not like Crific. He didn’t put good odds on seeing the drone the man had taken with him out on his search ever again. It pinged back every now and then with updates regarding his search but knowing Crific, it was only a matter of time before something catastrophic happened to it.

The trade she offered didn’t balance by Sergius’ estimation. One of his drones. For root access to Haila’s terminal, eyes on the crystal girl the officers had discovered, and aetherial tracking bot. The trade was heavily weighed in his favor. Rhua must be desperate for some manner of surveillance. There was a lot about what was going on here that he didn't understand. But he was participating anyway.

[Rhua. Your trade is accepted. I’m going to need coordinates to patch into the drone I’m sending. Bringing it back in one piece is preferable. I’ll relay your message to Aislinn.]

Attached to the message is a sound file that might be familiar to Rhua. It mimics a fart.

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Kugane life 1/3

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Guess who drew yet another version of Rhua that no one gets to see ICly so far

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

In spirit of Valentione's

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Vierapril Day 6

Victory

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Vierapril Day 3

Wish

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Fancy hoop over ear for glasses turned into black hair highlights love instead

Some other shots:

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Fairyland

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Kugane life 3/3

[daughter-of-fire-and-dreams]

Kugane life 2/3