A night filled with swinging to your friends and loved ones to the sounds of jazz! Come and see your favorite performers as they hit the stage in a Jazz-themed night of wonderous melodies!
This Saturday, March 30th — 8:00pm ET (Performances begin at 8:30pm)
Flourish FC House; Goblet 18-49 (Balmung)
It's the most—♪ wonderful time of the year… to join us for Flourish's 5th Annual Garden Starlight!
Saturday, December 16th @ 9pm ET Goblet 18-49, Balmung
Flourish proudly presents our 5th Annual - Día de los Muertos: An RP festival based around the historic Mexican holiday. Experience several performances, food, and entertainment booths.
When: November 4th, 2023 4PM PT / 7PM ET Crystal Data Center - Balmung! 🌸
One hazy summer morning, Nuria sat cross-legged on the hardwood floor of his FC room folding his laundry. Holes in his boxers and unknown stains on his white shirt, he was thankful he'd remembered to wash his clothes this week or today's activities would've been...awkward, at the very least. His sleepy eyes wandered the room around him as he settled into the muscle memory of folding shirts and pants.
His blurry gaze ended up fixating on a certain spot. Among the many hunt posters and old request flyers was a collection of drawings pinned to his wall of himself, Hani and Dane. Often when he had no jobs for the day and was feeling bored, he would find himself splayed on the floor filling his notebook with doodles. Sometimes he'd draw strange monsters or costumed heroes, but he usually found himself coming back to what really mattered most: the memories he shared with his friends.
Life had never been easy for Nuria. Whether by fault of others or sometimes himself, he'd been dealt a difficult hand. But in recent years, he'd finally found comfort in the form of a couple of goofballs who decided he was worth keeping around. Even if he was a walking disaster of a man who ate snacks from his pockets and sometimes smelled a little weird. He smiled warmly as he looked over the assorted artworks, reminiscing on the even warmer memories that inspired them.
He still struggled to feel he was worth their time, and sometimes he felt like the odd one out because of his aloof personality. But he cherished the times he spent with them all the same. Someday for sure, he'd find a way to repay them for the immense kindness they'd shown him.
They were truly irreplaceable.
“Hi.”
The simple greeting pulled Dane from her daze. The miqo’te woman she had been staring at this entire time approached her and she was too caught up in her thoughts to notice. Was she too obvious?
“Umm… hello.” The woman didn’t even wait for Dane to respond before she plopped down next to her. Maybe she didn’t mind the grass stains either.
“What are you reading?” She leaned in close to catch a few words written in her tome. Her tail swayed behind her and rested over Dane’s. For some reason, the invasion of personal space and overwhelming scent of flowers didn’t bother her.
“Just.. a tome on herbs.” It felt embarrassing to say out loud, especially since the woman and her basket were covered in flowers. “...I was reading it for fun.”
“Fun? You didn’t seem too interested in it when I passed by.” Dane turned away as the anxiety crept up. Being teased was a sore spot for her– she never experienced the friendly kind.
“H-Hey, I was just messing with you. I’m sorry.” She placed her hand over Dane’s. “My name’s Hani. What’s yours?”
“...It’s… Dane.” She mumbled, still facing away from her. It took a few long moments to compose herself and finally turn back around. She was met with a smile as Hani stood up.
“It’s nice to meet you!" Her long curly hair bounced with every movement, stray petals falling to the ground in the process. “Wanna hang out with me for a while?”
Dane stared at her yet again, mesmerized by the sight. She slowly nodded and rose to her feet, realizing they were both nearly the same height. “Oh! Hold on.” Hani lifted the basket and began to comb through her collection of flowers. A blue dahlia caught her eye and she placed it above Dane’s horn before she had a chance to protest.
“Perfect.”
Yet another meeting.
Azem drifted in and out of the conversation, allowing each and every thought to occupy her mind. The beautiful flower she saw along the path, the basket of apples left on her desk, the stray cuticle that had bothered her all morning. Which finger was it? Ah, that one. She looked down at her hand and began to pick at it.
Only four members were in attendance, herself and Hades included. And, once again, she was the only item on the agenda. She could tell by the way he was dominating the discussion. Something about breaking a rule. Hades always had rules.
"Those nymphs–"
"My companions," she corrected him, "do not concern you, Hades. Why press this matter further?" She stood from her seat and sighed. They both knew this was a waste of time. No amount of reprimanding would prevent it from happening again. Azem did as she pleased. Why did it matter if she traveled with her two friends?
“Hmm, are you acting out of jealousy?” She teased, poking a finger into the crease between his eyebrows. “If you wished to join me instead, you only needed to ask...”
Hades simply stared at her, patient and stubborn as ever. He didn’t take the bait. “Azem, need I remind you–”
“I understand perfectly, Hades. However, I refuse to acknowledge your pointless rules so long as you refuse to acknowledge my companions. As a friend, I expected compassion.” She turned to leave, lazily waving her hand as he would. “...Goodbye. I will be sure to send them your regards.”
"No one's goin' to find you cute with that sour look, lass." Kehv peered over at Dane from across the bar. She had her arms folded over her chest, sporting that Signature Pout.
"You made me wear the bowtie. Again." Dane impatiently tapped a finger against her arm, hoping it would make the night go by faster. "It makes me look like a loser."
"Dane. I'm wearin' a bowtie, too."
"Yeah, exactly." She scoffed and pushed away from the counter, hoping to dodge whatever comment he'd toss back. No such luck.
"You're lucky the regulars are fond of your sass." He stomped after her as she took a round of drink orders.
"It's probably a breath of fresh air after dealing with the whiny old man."
"I'm twenty-four!"
"Ancient."
This is always how it panned out– the manager and the waitress of sixteen summers, arguing on the floor in front of customers. Dinner and a show.
A leisurely walk to the free company house turned into a full-on marathon as the rain swept through The Goblet. Dane and Hani had a little too much to drink that night, which voided Nuria's plan to stay dry.
Hani wasn't very coordinated, and Dane was too coordinated– she saw the ward's obstacles as opportunities. Climbing, doing backflips, every obscure parkour trick under the sun. The combination of the two proved to be too chaotic, so Nuria secured them on each of his shoulders and sprinted to the house.
That should work, right?
No. Not even close.
After setting them both down on the doorstep, Dane bolted inside without a word like a deranged toddler. Hani grumbled as she sat and fought with the straps of her sandals. Her worst enemy.
Nuria reached forward to help her, not noticing the puddle of mud by the front door. He took a step and immediately found himself lying flat on his back. The sheer speed of the fall stripped him of a boot, soaring high before landing directly onto his face.
He remained in his starfish position for a few long minutes, allowing the rain to accept its deserved victory. And speaking of wins, Hani had finally removed a sandal. Just one.
"Nuria, stop messing around." Hani slurred as she knelt down and removed the boot from his head, oblivious to everything that happened while she fought with her own shoe. It had landed perfectly on his face, like heaven personally stomped on him.
She began to laugh at the reveal. His blank expression, the comical imprint of the boot's sole on his face tattoo– the large, purple X. He sighed.
Well, at least someone found it funny.
The final box was packed and ready to move. Instead of rushing through everything in the span of a few days, Dane gradually deconstructed the interior of the aquarium over several weeks. She still had a day job, after all.
Seaside Aquarium, her cozy little venue on the beach, came a long way in the past three turns. She was proud of everything she accomplished. And even though it was relocating to a bigger, more opportunistic area, she felt sad. Almost guilty.
As she flipped through the guest book, each entry brought back a surge of memories. Special moments were celebrated here. She made new friends, simply by chance. People took an interest in her passions, her dreams.
Dane tucked the book under her arm and stepped outside. It was another perfect autumn day, the final one she'd experience as a Mist resident. She'd miss the beach so much. The Goblet was beautiful, but it was... the opposite of an ocean. It wouldn't be the same.
She shook her head and smiled as she headed for the docks.
No, it would be better.
An early start to the day also meant an early end. Something about winning a race against the sun every morning felt refreshing, at least to Dane. Without a set schedule, she was flexible in her work hours. And as much as she enjoyed quality time with her friends, being productive around them proved to be impossible.
After breakfast and a shower, she was out the door at sunrise. She flipped through contracts in peace, able to focus without any distractions. But today was different– she had to tackle the task she put off for a week. The one she always put off. Expense reports.
They had to be submitted and paid out every moon. And most of Dane's fellow free company members were rarely organized. Missing bills and receipts, or carelessly crumpled and folded. It was her least favorite part of the job.
A smudged parchment with the description, "Office Supplies". No, Theo.
A new leather jacket, Aria? Really? Oh, right. His old one got torn up by wolves on that dodo rescue mission. Nevermind. Approved.
A little card with crude drawings of pizza and flowers that read, "hi dane". Hi, Nuria.
As entertaining as it was, she really needed to focus. After many hours of sorting through each expense and questioning their credibility, she totaled up the cost. The make-believe number and the actuals. It was more fun that way. They never matched.
She filed the paperwork away and looked over at the chronometer on her desk. It was barely lunch time.
Yeah, no.
It was time to go home.
Dane plopped down in the field behind her aunt’s home. Even on her own, Akari’s efforts in maintaining her land seemed effortless. Windflowers of orange, red, and yellow sat below the brightest blue sky she’d seen in weeks, accompanied by a harmonious breeze. Maybe it was a sign. She leaned back, watching the clouds soar above her head.
“...Lovely weather for a change, right? It rained nonstop until you arrived.” Her aunt stood next to Dane with a smile, plucking one of the flowers from its stem.
“It is.” She answered, watching her expectantly. She didn’t come out to comment on the weather. Might as well take the bait. “The sky reminds me of his eyes. My father’s.”
“Hmm.” Akari looked down at her with a smile, not expecting her to open up so quickly. “It does. And the sun reminds me of your mother’s. Her stares burned like it, too.” She chuckled, finally sitting down in the grass.
Dane smiled back– the only response she could manage– and looked at the ground before her. Two red bricks were partially buried in the earth together. A grave for each of her parents. It had been close to twenty summers.
“I miss them. My memories, they’re…” She trailed off, the smile beginning to fade. “...not really… vivid anymore. They’re becoming a blur. If not for your photos, I think... I would have forgotten them by now.” She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them. Akari wrapped an arm around her shoulder and sighed. She didn’t really know what to say.
A few long minutes passed, the occasional breeze reminding them of nature’s presence. That they weren’t alone.
“...That girl from Thavnair. The one you exchanged letters with.” Dane turned to look at her, curious at the change of subject. “You… saved that child, and her mother, from despair.”
“If there are days, like today, when the pain of missing them hurts a little more, think of her. She has a future and a family’s loving embrace… because of you. Fate was unkind to you, but you channeled that energy differently. You proved, time and time again, that people are worth saving. That they deserve to always have someone by their side.” Akari placed the flower above Dane’s horn and stood up to leave.
“...Over time, you might forget their faces. But you’ll always remember how they made you feel. And all the lives you’ve touched– they’ll remember, too.”
"Alright, what's the look this time?"
It was Canto night again, and Nuria was thinking over his outfit for the evening. Not that there was much of a decision to be made, he only ever wore one fit to every event. What he was really mulling over was the color. He'd chosen to take the rainbow approach these days, wearing the same attire to every event, but always a different shade. It meant stockpiling a ludicrous amount of dye, and it would definitely be cheaper to just buy more outfits, but some things about Nuria would simply never make sense.
It became a bit of a game with Hani and Dane. They sometimes took bets before he arrived to any given venue on what color he'd be wearing, plus a bonus if he accidentally matched one of them. Sure enough, as Nuria rounded the corner into the performance area he spotted Hani and Dane at the furthest end of the room waiting to catch a glimpse. Through the bustling crowd of attendees and all the noise, he saw Hani triumphantly pump her fist as Dane leaned her head back for a distant, but still audible "FUCK!" Nuria chuckled to himself as he made his way toward them.
"Guess I know who's stuck buying the drinks tonight."
The last thing anyone would give a child covered in mud is a white shirt.
And that statement was Dane’s philosophy.
A childhood measured in specks of dirt, grass stains, and tears from branches was valuable in her eyes. She was free from judgment because there were no friends to ridicule her for making certain choices. Making the best of any situation was her goal, after all.
As an adult, this only continued to benefit her. It didn’t matter if she waded through murky waters or camped out in swamps. That carefree attitude only made her focus on the job at hand. Not caring about the big patch of dirt on her arse.
That is, until she actually started making friends. Fashionable ones, at that.
A nice pair of leather boots, a frilly blouse, and a delicately woven sweater all collected dust in her closet. She treasured these gifts– how was anyone supposed to wear these nice things? The answer was simple. She wouldn’t.
Until being poked and prodded by her best friend, this change progressed at a glacial pace.
Okay, she could wear this sweater to a nameday party. These boots were durable enough for hiking, but be sure to stay away from any puddles. The blouse felt comfortable enough to dance in.
And as she made more of these decisions, it felt natural to buy nicer outfits at the store. Shoes that would last, skirts for different seasons, and weatherproof jackets that didn’t resemble rubbish bags.
Then a certain someone came along, drawing her attention to something more precious– jewelry. When gifted a splendid gold pendant one Starlight, she almost cried. It was way too important. Too expensive. Something this beautiful didn’t belong on someone like her.
But it meant more than just its worth in material, or how dazzling it was– it was given to her with love. After it was secured around her neck, she looked at herself in the mirror and saw someone different.
A woman who was worthy of nice things. Worthy of love.
(Note: A sequel to Nuria's prompt.)
-
The sight on Dane's doorstep was one she hadn't seen in quite some time. Her angling days were mostly over outside of casual fishing trips, but she accumulated quite the haul of gear. The package before her was reminiscent of those times. Even if they were wrapped, the shape instantly gave away its contents.
She dragged it inside, plopping down on the floor to get to work. A set of one, two, three… seven identical fishing rods were bundled together. Dane was dying to know the context here, so she reached for the note stuck to one.
Happy Nameday to a real catch of a friend. That should be good, I think.
Dane stared at the torn parchment, noticing tobacco had been smeared on the edge at some point. And no name was mentioned. What the hells was this? The absurdity alone made her burst out in laughter.
Only one person could be behind this.
A few weeks later, Dane invited Nuria to her favorite fishing spot outside Gridania. She showed up fashionably late for the cause, dropping a familiar rod in his lap before greeting one another.
Nuria blinked and stared down into his lap. It was one of the seven fishing rods he bought for Dane's nameday. But… it was different. It was covered in stickers of fish, that obscure S-shape he scribbled all the time, a cat with white and orange fur, seashells, and of course– pizza.
He looked over at Dane's rod as she began tying a lure to the line. It was covered in a set of identical stickers. She noticed the way he gawked at the rod and smiled.
"Unfortunatelyyyy…" She began, bumping her shoulder with his. "...I don't have six other fishing buddies. Just one."
Dane's nameday was just around the corner and with only a few days to spare, Nuria was in a rush to find a gift. He'd gone up and down the markets of nearly every city for the past week and so far found nothing that felt right for her. However, here in Mor Dhona, it seemed he finally found the perfect thing.
An elaborate stall sat before Nuria, decorated with all manner of seafaring knicknacks and trinkets. Fishing nets, seashells, the works. Behind the counter was an old fisherman, hunched over on a stool with a toothy grin. He gestured to the curious Dragoon, "Come have a look lad, may have somethin' here that suits yer fancy!" The man looked about as old as the sea itself, so Nuria figured he must know what he's on about.
The fisherman took his time painstakingly showing Nuria every item he had on offer and explaining what each one was for. Truthfully, most of it went in one ear and out the other, but nonetheless Nuria knew exactly what he wanted now. He pointed at a beautiful ruby-colored fishing rod with glistening gold trim, "How much for that one, gramps?" The ancient angler looked Nuria up and down and scratched his chin, likely gauging what sort of money a man like him would even have. "Ye can take it off me hands fer 10,000 gil. 'Fraid it's the lowest I can go, sonny."
Nuria thought it over. He really had no eye for things like this, so for all he knew 10,000 was a steal. But what if it got damaged over the course of delivery? Anything's possible, after all. Maybe it was best to get an extra just in case. As the fisher took the rod off its rack, Nuria chimed in, "'Scuse me pops, you got another I could get as well?" The fisherman smiled, of course he wasn't gonna turn down more gil. "How many are ye lookin' to buy, lad? Got plenty of 'em in stock."
"Hmm...I'll take seven." Nuria replied. The old man's jaw dropped, practically drooling over the profit he was about to rake in. He eagerly wrapped up Nuria's goods and took his payment. "Ye takin' all this with ye? Or would ye like it delivered?" he asked. Nuria handed him a slip of paper with Dane's address, "Send it here, thanks. Oh, and could you have a note left with it too? Happy Nameday to a real catch of a friend. That should be good, I think. See it's like a pun 'cause of the fishing rods and the.."
Nuria kept trailing off for a while before the angler chimed in, "Alright lad, alright. I get it. It'll be at yer pal's door in two day's time. Happy doin' business with ye!" Nuria nodded and went on his way.
They had the gift.
Watching those around them succumb to the depths, one by one, out in the middle of the ocean. And as the ship dipped below the surface, they were alone.
What was it like?
Drowning would have been a mercy. But fate wasn't so kind. Days passed before dehydration and fatigue took their lives.
Dane had this nightmare often, the manufactured events replaying perfectly every time– witnessing the same tragedy overhead. Truthfully, she didn't know if the ocean served as her parents' grave. Nobody did.
And that was something she had to live with.
It was too soon to go back to work.
The thoughts replayed in my mind repeatedly as I watched half a dozen anglers struggle to hold onto one rod. But at the end of that rod was what we were searching for– something so menacing and impossible to ignore. Yet, the elusive titan hadn’t surfaced. Multiple reports of marlin, mahi-mahi, and shark carcasses grabbed our attention. Shark carcasses. That information alone was enough to deter most members of the guild. It was a dangerous mission.
I placed my hand over my chest. It had only been a few weeks since that damned goat kicked the life out of me. Fortunate enough to walk away with only a bruised rib and a handful of scrapes. I was better now– mostly. If I could make it through this job by being a simple bystander, I promised to rest in bed for another week. Maybe two.
But that was just wishful thinking, of course, because the captain seemed to read my mind and toss me into the ring. I guess it was my time to shine since the strongest were at it for bells and had nothing to show for it.
I removed my gear and traded it for a harness, not that it mattered much. Drowning wasn’t a possibility but they’d be able to drag me back if I strayed too far. He followed me to the edge of the ship and tossed a rope after me as I dove into the water. If they couldn’t see what they were up against since the damned thing wouldn’t show itself, it was up to me. I tied the rope around the harness and, though it wasn’t needed, inhaled a deep breath before breaking the surface.
Being the gimmick member of a guild had its ups and downs. A gift like mine was valuable for this line of work but it was the only thing most people saw in me. Without it, I wasn’t worthy. I worked twice as hard to prove otherwise. That stubborn attitude came back with a vengeance today. To hells with this injury– I would be the one to ensure this venture’s success.
The currents were easy to navigate, but visibility was low. Something I could work with. I swam in the direction of the line, following the faint glimmer as it reflected off the surface light, and dove deeper. I felt for any sort of hint– an abnormal swell, the sound of thrashing, fish frenzying.
It was quiet for several moments before I saw a flash of red and purple. The movement sent a swift current in my direction, pushing me away. Against my better judgment, I followed it until I saw something in my peripheral– two large, winged fins fluttered underneath me, the front of its body coming into view. Shaped like a serpent with a large antenna-like fin on its head, I recognized it immediately.
I reached for my rope and tugged on it, signaling the captain. I wanted out before it noticed me, but it was too late. Fighting with the anglers on the line wasn’t enough– the sight of me gave it another sense of purpose.
I tugged on the rope again. There was no chance in hells I’d outswim it, but they’d be able to pull my body in quick enough. At least, that’s what I hoped. I felt myself being jerked backwards and the serpent faced me directly. It rushed toward me, recognizing its prey. As much as I didn’t like being bait in this situation, following me meant the crew would shorten the line and give the fish less opportunity to escape.
Once they pulled me against the side of the ship, I surfaced and called out to everyone above. It was a Nepto Dragon. They weren’t uncommon in the slightest– aether released from the Calamity seeped into the ocean and took hold of regular fish, causing them to grow abnormally large. In this case, a Thalaos. Other than size, they were gifted with larger fins adorned with talons and a new set of sharp teeth. I had caught one working for the guild before, but it wasn’t close to this size.
As the dragon approached, it proved to be advantageous to the crew. But not to me. No longer interested in the lizard on a rope, it focused on staying alive by thrashing around and causing a ruckus. Anything to avoid being reeled in. Its long body provided plenty of momentum to fight back.
As I was being pulled from the water, the dragon swung hard against the ship and slammed into my already injured chest. The air escaped my lungs and I barely felt the pain as I fell unconscious.
It was definitely too soon to go back to work.
