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Vermillion, the color of a red mage. Made from cinnabar deposits, the bright red symbolizes the combination of white and black magic meant to restore the world and resist encroaching doom.
“Moonflower, have you ever considered wearing red?” Alisaie asked one day, watching her friend clean her rapier. It was crystal and gold, part of the bluespirit line of weapons that was all the rage in the Crystarium. Moonflower had kept the weapon even long after they left the First.
“Sometimes,” the miqo’te admitted. She inspected her work and nodded, satisfied. “I have that dress that I used to wear in Yangxia. The togi I dyed red.”
Alisaie could remember that dress. It came with golden arm jewelry and small white slippers. “Nagamasa liked that dress.”
Moonflower let out a breath at the reminder and put her rapier away. Now she was working on polishing the crystal portion of her weapon. “He did. I wore it a lot when I first became a red mage.” Because red mages ought to wear red!
“But now? You wear green.”
She shrugged. It was true; her Ishgardian gown was dyed morbol green, a lovely cerulean color, which complimented her lavender hair and green eyes very well. “Green looks better on me.” Then she smiled at Alisaie. “Besides, it’s not as if you have always worn red. When we were in the East, you only wore brown!”
Alisaie opened her mouth to protest, but then realized Moonflower was right. “All right, perhaps you have a point, but still, why not wear red? I always thought that togi looked beautiful on you. And you like wearing pink and red around St. Valentione’s.”
“I’ve never really thought too hard about it.”
“Isn’t it a point of pride for red mages to dress in vermillion? That’s what X’rhun Tia told me.”
“Perhaps, but don’t you think it would be more surprising to my enemies if I weren’t wearing such a bright color?” Moonflower knew why, but she didn’t want to admit it aloud. She’d never fully strung the words together, and actually thinking the words to say would make it real. She didn’t want it to be real.
Red mages ought to wear red—and she had, for several months in fact. Then she saw her favorite gown in Ishgard and decided it looked prettiest in green. Nagamasa had loved her color choice. Wearing a different outfit was practically out of the question, even before he died. It took many more months after his death to wear something else regularly. That gown was still her favorite after all this time.
That togi made her think of times long gone, of happy innocence she would never have again. Yes, she was remarried, and she had children, and the Leveilleur twins were still by her side, but Nagamasa would never see her in that dress again. She wore it in Amh Araeng once and it was so unsettling that she hadn’t worn it again in a long time. The future didn’t look the same, nor did she feel the same about adventuring. His death had taken a lot from her, a lot that was never restored.
Red mages ought to wear red, but not her. “I don’t think I can, Alisaie.” Finished with the crystal, she flexed her fingers a few times. “I think I’ll just have to leave the red clothes to you.”
Alisaie left the chair opposite Moonflower and sat next to her. Her hands took hold of Moonflower’s and she squeezed them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize… I should have—”
“No, darling,” Moonflower interrupted softly. “It’s fine to ask. But thank you for caring.”
“I miss him a lot,” Alisaie admitted. “So strong and brave! Always ready with a dry comment!”
“Ready to go anywhere and indulge me in anything, no matter how silly it was,” Moonflower added with a smile.
“It really felt like a challenge to get him to laugh instead of chuckle.”
“Oh! Like you wouldn’t believe! But he had a perfect smile.” Memories washed over her, and today they didn’t hurt as much as they used to. “Masa was wonderful, larger than life sometimes. But he loved me and made sure I knew it.”
“Yes, and it was really sweet to watch you two finish each other’s sentences. It was like you could read each other’s thoughts.”
Moonflower nodded. “It certainly felt that way. He made me feel safe, always, even in those moments where we were in the face of death.”
Alisaie sighed and squeezed Moonflower’s hands again. “You don’t have to wear red. I like you better in green anyway.”
She chuckled. It was no secret that Alisaie was indirectly apologizing for bringing it up; she was sensitive like that. “Thank you, Alisaie.” For everything.