[thread; CLOSED] Some grown-up girl bonding time.

[crowned_jewel]

Characters: Dagger and Eiko (with a Cameo by Auron)
Progress: ongoing
Summary: after many months of delays and re-scheduling, Eiko finally comes for her Monthly Visit
Location: Alexandria
Date: Mid-November
Warnings: None?

Comments

[lastsummoner]

Bouncing indeed was what the little summoner was doing, as she was like to burst out of her skin with excitement. It'd been months since she'd seen Dagger, then there was that stupid thing that Father wouldn't let her go to the birthday party and... she wasn't going to gripe about it. For now. Over the years, Garnet had become something of a big sister to Eiko, even if the child still insisted that she was the one looking out for the queen. She was the senior summoner, after all.

The second the ferry paused, Eiko leaped the distance from it's edge to the dock, only a distance of a couple of inches, but certainly not safe since the ferry hadn't been tied down yet. "Dagger! Dagger!" she called out, waving an arm over her head.

The only thing stopping her from a full-on assault hug was Mother's injunction to 'be a lady on this trip.' She at least looked the part, as she'd been dressed in a respectable gown with a sash tied in a big bow and even dainty little gloves and silk slippers. Being a lady is really uncomfortable, she'd thought

[stoicguardian]

Auron was beginning to wonder how he was going to keep his sanity following this child everywhere she went. She was a ball of energy (even more so than Rikku) and he was starting to have a hard time keeping up with her. It was when he watched her bounce and almost (but not quite) full-on tackle the queen.

"Be careful." He called and continued at leisurely pace after his charge. He wasn't very worried about Eiko's safety. He was sure Garnet had plenty of guards and the like to look after her. But still. He just wanted to be sure.

He had never really been in the presence of royalty. Not this kind anyway. The Maesters back home commanded respect, but there was something different about Garnet and so he inclined his head respectfully to her.

He wouldn't intrude on their bonding time. So the moment Garnet dismissed him, he would go find something else to do.

[crowned_jewel]

Garnet wanted to giggle. Over the years, she had scene Eiko dressed up like a doll curtosy of Aunt Hilda, but the image never stopped being amusing; she just looked so out of place in lace and satin, as if the fine fabric could ever truly hope to contain Eiko's larger-than-life personality and spirit. Seeing her curtsy like that was almost awkward (on Garnet's end-- she'd told Hilda before that Eiko didn't need to worry about that around her) and she was more than happy to throw protocol aside. She gleefully embraced the younger summoner, letting out the smallest of giggles, though unable to hide her brilliant smile.

"It's so good to see you again! I've missed you!" said Dagger (and she would always be Dagger to her friends, she wanted it no other way).

And then she looked up to greet Eiko's companion with a much softer smile.

"You must be Auron, right?" she asked, arms still loosely draped on Eiko's shoulders. "Welcome to Alexandria."

[lastsummoner]

Eiko's little head bobbed in confirmation. "Yep, that's him. He may act grouchy, but he's nice." This conclusion had been reached by consensus one day last week between Eiko and all the moogles flocking the castle in Lindblum. The girl was genuinely becoming fond of the older man, and had long since gotten over her frustration at having a "babysitter." Once she found out that summoners in Spira had guardians, she'd been all for having one of her own.

Another hug for Garnet, and a bright smile too. "I've missed you too. I'm still mad I missed your birthday party. Was it fun?" Wiser heads had prevailed in Lindblum and kept the sordid truth from reaching the girl's ears, on pain of Hilda's magic.