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“That will be all, Turakina. Thank you for your assistance.” The Antecedent spoke evenly, then returned to the paperwork on her desk. Tura stood there for a moment, wondering what she should be doing next and also a bit surprised that Minfilia hadn't asked her to send Senyah in as she typically did. She made to leave but just as the kid was about to open the door, Minfilia pulled her nose out of her duties and called out to her, “Would you, perchance, be willing to call for Senyah? I would appreciate her guidance on…” she hesitated as her quickly thought up excuse finally caught up to her, “some more complex operations for the Scions.”
Tura smiled at the sudden but expected summons for Senyah and the almost bashful way Minfilia asked. They’d make a cute couple if they actually talked about it. She nodded then opened the door only to find someone with the complete opposite expression on his monocled face, his hand poised to knock angrily.
Papalymo, angered by something, strode into the Solar, forcing Tura to sidestep to let him pass, and walked up to Minfilia’s desk with his brow furrowed. Tura looked over her shoulder to see what the Lalafell was doing, but then remembered the last time she walked without looking where she was going and decided to save her nose from the pain of walking face first into a wall.
“We must speak, Antecedent.” Papalymos’s voice was terse, and made Minfilia raise an eyebrow as he approached.
“It’s not like you to be so curt with me, Papalymo. What appears to be the issue?” It was indeed a rare occurrence for anyone to barge in and demand her time like this, let alone him. But as this seemed to be a pressing issue she pushed aside her mind numbing paperwork and stood to see him clearly over her desk.
The mage stood still, waiting patiently until the door had shut before speaking, “We must speak of Vulcinia.”
His intent and intense frustration were illuminated clearly now, though she would be careful in how she approached this topic. It would not do to presume what he wanted done, nor to reveal too much, either about Senyah or how her heart always stuttered whenever she walked into the room. Though Senyah’s injuries prevented her from doing much walking on her own; a fact that Minfilia was quite happy to take advantage of to be close to her, to feel those well defined muscles, to look deeply into her purple eyes, to see her smiling lips up close and to-
She cleared her mind, “ Now is not the time to indulge in idle fantasies, ” she thought to herself and focused on the Archon before her, “Senyah is a valued member of the Scions, say what you will about her but please, use her name.” She intended it to be on the same level as him, to not make it a command, but her voice had a bit more bite to it then she had wanted. Then again, he had made sure that they all called Lyse by her sister’s name, Yda, so perhaps he would take it well. And then again, if she was right, then this conversation was as much about Yda and Lyse as it was about Senyah.
He took a moment and calmed himself before continuing, his words sharped by his teeth, “Senyah, as we know for certain, is in fact the same woman who nearly killed Raubahn at Cartenaeu, and the same woman who killed a dear friend of mine along with who knows how many others in Ala Mhigo.”
“That is indeed true.” She confirmed. She held her tongue on the matter of the singularity of his statement. A dear friend of his. She knew all too well, from the grace of her Echo, that the others mourn her passing too. Though she would spare him from calling this out… for now.
“With her reputation alone she puts our own into a precarious position. Let alone how trying it is to be cordial with the woman, especially anytime she's around Yda.”
“Thank you for your grace in dealing with her so far. Though it sounds as if you have something you wish to say.”
“She should be forced to leave the Scions. If the truth were to spread and she were to be traced back to here we could have another attack on this poorly hidden base of operations and we both know how that-”
“We do both know, Papalymo,” Minfilia cut him off, “Lest you forget, I bore the full brunt of Livia’s displeasure. A vile sadistic woman who Senyah killed for the good of Eorzea mind you.”
“She killed Livia because of a personal vendetta, not because it was the right thing to do.”
“And it was Senyah who saved us from bondage; a feat most would’ve considered an impossible task considering our former captors and the location of our incarceration. She put her own life on the line to save us when she very well could've walked away. And speaking of having her life on the line, let me remind you that not long before she was-”
“Bleeding out on the carpet as we were led away in chains. Yes, I know.” Papalymo stopped and sighed, letting out a long breath as he considered once more. “But look at all she’s done, Minfilia, and all that we can only suspect she’s done. We don't know how much blood is on her hands, and we don't know the crimes she's committed against the Gyr Abanian people. She's called the Nightmare of Ala Mhigo for a reason. Your homeland, Yda’s homeland, and the homeland of hundreds of refugees who have been displaced to Ul’dah because of her and the Empire, the city-state our humble abode currently resides in close proximity to.”
Minfilia paused as she considered her next words, her hand raising to her taut brow in contemplation (and frustration). His words had merit... at the very least the threat to the other Scions from people who had every right to be cross with Senyah, who might very well attempt to take her life and thus put the others around her at risk. And while this was unfortunately a truth that cannot be denied, there was the fact that it had been moons since the Scions found out who she used to be and that only now was Papalymo, and Papalymo alone, confronting her and demanding her removal from the Scions.
“We have known who she was for quite some time, so please, tell me my friend; why do you come to me with this request now?”
“Because I can't stand looking at her!” Papalymo snapped, “Everyday I see her I'm forced to contend with the fact that it should be Yda standing there, not her. Every day I see Lyse standing beside her sister's murderer and the two of them getting along with neither knowing the truth. Everyday I'm tempted to turn Senyah into ash, consequences be damned, because Yda deserves to be avenged. How dare she live when Yda does not? How dare she smile when Yda cannot? How dare she-” he stopped, his voice faltering from the strain, “How dare she…”
Minfilia moved swiftly and Papalymo felt a soft cloth brush against his damp cheeks. He looked up to see the Antecedent crouched in front of him, looking at him with her pure white and motherly eyes, drying his tears. He hadn't even realized he was crying. He snatched the cloth from her hand and took a step back.
“I don't need to be coddled Minfilia! Thank you very much!”
“Twas not coddling, Papalymo, but a friend caring for a friend. You would do the same for Lyse, would you not?”
He was about to argue but stopped mid word and acquiesced.
“Do you understand why I do not send her away?” Minfilia asked as Papalymo collected himself.
He wiped the last of the tears away and composed himself with a huff, “Because she is a valuable asset to the cause and claims to regret her actions.”
“Tis not just a claim Papalymo, the Echo has graced me with many visions of her past and about how she feels towards all she’s done. I've seen through her eyes the blood she’s spilt and the guilt that pervades her heart that would cripple most men. Yet she continues on, in perhaps a vain attempt to make things better, not even to wipe the red from her ledger, not even in an attempt to find redemption, but purely because it's the right thing to do.” She glossed over the fact that it was due to Turakina that Senyah pivoted from pure survival instincts to a desire to do good. An achievement that the young girl was quite proud of and one that Minfilia was more than pleased to have witnessed, if only second hand through the Echo.
“But what am I supposed to do, Minfilia? I can't work with her knowing what she’s done.”
“Then perhaps consider this, you would not want to separate another pair of sisters would you? Rhel does not deserve to lose one of the closest people in her life, does she?”
“I'm not saying that we should kill Senyah, merely to remove her from our roster.”
“But to do so would not only deprive us of a formidable ally with knowledge of the inner workings of the Empire and put her at greater risk to those who would harm her, but to also lose Turakina. We both know she would not stay if Senyah was forced to leave. Would you have me kick out one of the Warriors of Light? After everything they’ve done for us?”
“No… no, I would not.” he reluctantly agreed, “Very well, Antecedent. Though I would like to request that I never be forced to work beside her unless it is of the most trying of circumstances. Though I abhor violence, I fear I would turn her to ash if given the opportunity.”
“I too would appreciate you not creating hostilities between fellow Scions, no matter their past sins.”
Someone knocked on the door, drawing both of their attention, and Senyah’s voice called through the large doors. “Hey Minfilia, Tura said you needed me for… what was it?… Whatever, Tura said you wanted to see me?”
“Come in.” Minfilia instantly responded.
Senyah pushed open the door with her shoulder and walked into the room with an adjusted gait focusing on her crutch to remove most of the weight from her still healing leg. As the former Nightmare entered, Papalymo averted his gaze from her and saw the almost subtle shift in Minfilia’s demeanor as she turned her head down slightly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Muttering a curse underneath his breath, he quickly turned away from them and left without a word. Not that the two of them even noticed, doe eyed as they were while exchanging idle greetings.
After closing the Solar’s doors behind him, he considered Minfilia’s words once more. “Would not want to separate another pair of sisters, would I?” he sighed, “Nor would I deny either of you the solace of companionship you deserve.
“I’d ask you to forgive me Yda, but I think this is what you would’ve wanted.”