[Open] Headache And A Half

[skyward_eyes]

Who; Nida, Open
What; A New Voice In His Head and Chocobo Wrangling
Where; Scientia Household, Markets, Near Chocobo Ranch
When; September
Warnings; Discussion and depictions of talking to voices in your head.

I. The Statue | Scientia Home

It arrives at the door of the house, and just looking at the small statue, Nida knows it's for him. No doubt another one of those little finds that Raimon is good at, something on a list of them that Nida had prepared but never gotten around to coming back for. But he knows it's for him, because he recognizes it from home. Not this little piece, smaller than either of their pets specifically, was exactly like the ones he'd seen at home in pictures, but it was still something of home.

"Now if only I could figure out why you're here," Nida says as he picks the thing up and heads to the kitchen for his morning coffee. He puts the statue on the table to consider where it was almost immediately met by Julia leaping up and nuzzling against it.

"No accounting for your taste, Jules," he tells the feline before sipping at his coffee. What could this be? What could it mean? Why did every bit of his magical senses gifted by Siren scream that it was important?

"Why do you seem so familiar?" he asks after a sip of coffee. Then he reaches out for the thing once more and...

The mug breaks on the floor when he falls. Not that Nida, currently passed out on the floor, really notices.

II. The Arguments | Markets

Nida was learning a lot recently. Like how even a simple walk through the markets on his patrol shift was going to be a headache if he didn't know how to make peace in his own mind.

Oh! Grapes! We should have grapes. You like Grapes!

YOU like Grapes. He doesn't like grapes. There should be no grapes. Raisins instead I think.

Raisins are just boring grapes with wrinkles. Oh, that's why you like them. They're wrinkly. Like you.

And you clearly prefer grapes because they are bloated and much better crushed and fermented like-

"Will you shut up? I'm getting apples and that's final," Nida hissed under his breath, hoping no one else heard him. Which, given his luck, seemed pretty unlikely.

III. The Chase | Near Chocobo Ranch

"Kweh."

"I don't think I can argue with that," Nida said in response to the vocalization of the red chocobo underneath him. The chocobo shied one way and then the other, as if distressed, and Nida of course reached forward to pat her neck gently.

"I know," he says, his voice soft. "I know it's scary. You can smell them too. But I promise, we're here to help the other chocobos. And I won't let any wolves get you. I just need you to do me a favor and help get the other chocobos safe, okay?"

If it gets dangerous, I can shield you!

"That's not a helpful observation, Carbuncle, because she doesn't even know you're here," Nida noted as he nudged the chocobo into motion toward a blur of yellow in the distance. "Maybe save your protectiveness for someone who can understand the words when I relay a message."

And from the looks of it, there might be someone up ahead, astride that other chocobo. Nida raises a hand in greeting to the distant form.

"Well met! You helping out here too?"

Comments

[heartofalion]

[Leon looked over at Nida.]

Why does it sound as if that's a bad thing?

[skyward_eyes]

It's not a bad thing. It's just... Squall Leonhart's history is complicated and sometimes painful. Ellone was part of that history, and she is a kind woman.

[Nida met her once, in passing. But it didn't matter.]

You seem well enough adjusted on your own

[heartofalion]

[He listened and at the end he nodded.]

If she shows up here let me know. I'd be interested in meeting her.

[Or anyone else that Nida knew too, but he didn't add that although he threw a quizzical look at the other with the well adjusted comment.]

[skyward_eyes]

If she shows up here, I don't doubt she would find her way to you whether I gave the two of you a heads up or not.

[The connection between the two was a true one. She would find him.]

Oh don't look at me like that. Back home I and the Commander are orphans raised at a mercenary academy. Well adjusted is not something anyone can describe us as.

[heartofalion]

[That almost sounded like Nida was giving him something of a prophecy here which was weird. But hearing more of the man's past had him gain a small yet better understanding.]

I don't know anyone that's well adjusted as you put it. But I take people as I find them.

[It was his way of saying that he welcomed Nida into his life.]

[skyward_eyes]

[Yes, it does explain some of why Nida is so broken, doesn't it?]

That perhaps makes you a better person than most, to be so accommodating. That isn't the sort of world I grew up in I suppose.

[heartofalion]

[Leon thought a moment and had questions. But maybe those were best saved for another time.]

That seems to be the world we're in too, or so that I've noticed. And you seem to be that way too.

[skyward_eyes]

[Was he? Nida has to pause, to really think about it. Was he truly that accommodating these days?]

I suppose all things might change with time. Even myself.

[heartofalion]

[That got a look.]

So you're gonna tell me you're not?

[Because Nida had been that way with him since they met in Leon's eyes.]

[skyward_eyes]

I don't think I'm going to argue with you either way. From experience, I do not often win arguments.

[heartofalion]

[There was a smile.]

Saves us the trouble.

[skyward_eyes]

[Nida laughs. Yeah, that sounds about right.]

And you're not big on trouble I'm guessing.

[heartofalion]

Not at all. And fortunately, my main troublemaker isn't here.

[Although there are others.]

[skyward_eyes]

Oh?

[He has a main trouble maker? Consider Nida intrigued.]

[heartofalion]

[Leon smirked.]

Kid's name is Sora. And believe me if he were here, you'd know it.

[skyward_eyes]

Oh god, that sounds worrying. That's almost like saying 'if Selphie or Zell were here, you'd know.'

[And Leon in particular would. They would absolutely seek out Leon and annoy him.]

[heartofalion]

[He shook his head.]

I have no idea who they are, but if they're as rambunctious as Sora then you've got the type. Always in the middle of everyone's business.

[skyward_eyes]

Yeah, that sounds like Zell. But he wasn't always in the middle of other people's business because he wanted to be. Just because he has that sort of nature for it.

[heartofalion]

[Leon snickered.]

That would be Sora's excuse.

[skyward_eyes]

[Nida laughs.]

Maybe you are still blessed with some of the same elements in your experience of life then.

[heartofalion]

[He shook his head.]

Not sure blessed is quite the right word there.

[skyward_eyes]

I don't know, sometimes it might be a blessing, to experience the things that shape you. Even the painful ones can make you strong.

[heartofalion]

[Leon hmph'd]

That sounds like experience talking.

[skyward_eyes]

[Yes, it was. Nida sighs and shakes his head.]

I'm full of experience in that field, quite unfortunately. But I know those moments led me to where I am. Do I wish they were different? Yes. But I was stronger because of them. No. In spite of them.

[heartofalion]

Sorry you had it so rough.

[And really, he was.]