❛ ⸻

Long in tooth and soul
Longing for another win
Lurch into the fray
Weapon out and belly in

⸻ ❜

A'venaugh

Beating chest and drums
Beating tired bones again

  nobody.    
“The nerve of that old bastard. He said I’d end up like every other nobody that left the tribe before me. How would he know? How could he have known? All that ever existed in Father’s tiny little world was our tribe, our survival, our traditions. So is that what made them worth less than dirt to him? That they dared to dream of a life bigger than his narrow fucking viewpoint? Whatever. I’ll be bigger than all of it. And I won’t stop even after I’ve found my limit. If I do end up a nobody-at least I tried, damn it."

  blood.    
“It’s the fighting that’s fun to me. Not killing, or the act of spilling someone’s blood. I don’t care if it’s my own that gets shed in the fray. All of that’s just… consequences. It’s about the conversation between warriors-when spirits collide and dance among those sparks of life. It’s more than hurting others and getting hurt yourself. It’s about being alive. That’s how it's always been for me. Strange as it may seem, this is what I live for. And I’m never gonna deny that. ”

  gil.    
“I just don’t want to have to steal from people again. Sure, it was all petty theft-but it’s damn shameful. So I’m not doing it. Even if it means having to skip meals some days. It’s not as if I haven’t done it before. Coin comes and goes, but I’m not going to be trading my dignity for it anytime soon. Besides, I don’t know any good routes to evade the guards-not like in U’ldah. Fast hands can’t do shit about that.”

  sand.    
“It’s only natural to miss old times. I’d like to believe I’m self-aware enough to admit that I mostly just miss being an ignorant kid, wrestling my dumbass brothers because that was just. What we did to kill time. Even if I always lost during my early years. I remember hunting in a pack and sitting in a circle to get the prep done. Burying our feet in the warm sand and digging them up again and again as we waited for everything to cook. Too young to know this simpler life would eventually have to end. It’s only in retrospect that I realize those may have been the best days of my life. Though it’s probably too early to say for sure.”

  shadow.    
“The irony isn’t lost on me. A child of the sun now embraces the dark. It’s like something you’d read to your kids at bedtime. If they’d even tell stories about me to begin with… Regardless, the door’s never being closed again, which you’ve made quite clear, and that’s… fine. Truthfully, I haven’t felt this good in what feels like a long time. I know it’s not always going to be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is. I know I can put this to good use. Even with the danger involved-I think this is the start of something wonderful.”

  luck.    
“It’s called heterochromia, if I recall correctly. You know that-which means you remember how it’s said that having it as a miqo'te is seen as good fortune. ‘Auspicious.’ Fat load of good that did me. Though I guess whether my luck’s been great or terrible is subjective. So, subjectively speaking, from my perspective, I’d say my luck is shit. Maybe it’s a little cynical of me to say, but you can’t deny that I’m justified. I’ve good reason to see some miracles like curses.”

  PERSONALITY   An earnest extrovert at heart, A'venaugh's at his best when around others. He's a man who loves to share tales, drinks, and meals, and would much rather make a friend or rival than an enemy out of someone. Cool in temperament unless thoroughly antagonized, he can be quite serious when need be-able to draw on a searing well of intensity. Though if he's out to enjoy himself, expect him to keep it light. (Usually. Some of his interests are at odds with this.)

  APPEARANCE   While A'venaugh isn't built like the brawniest warriors out there, he's still rather toned. Far from a wall of pure muscle, he's built more for speed. That being said, he's still quite decent at throwing his weight around and applying brute force. Subtle battle-scars can be seen in some places across his upper body, having long since faded. The majority of the larger, nastier ones are across his back. Shrapnel and old bullet wounds paint this canvas for the most part.

  Biography  In the heart of the Sagolii Desert, A'venaugh was born to a tribe of hunter-gather Sunseekers. Staying in one place for too long proved dangerous, so they found themselves to be a nomadic people for many years. Eventually, closer to the outskirts of the dunes, they settled near a small town. Desiring a different life than what was expected of him, A'venaugh accepted self-exile and fled all he knew in search of something to truly dedicate himself towards. With a fire burning bright in his belly, he mounted his beloved chocobo Khamsin and never once looked back.Through some twists of fate, A’venaugh found himself in U’ldah with a desire to pursue two avenues-that being adventuring and pit-fighting, respectively. For years, the young pugilist found himself a frequent visitor to both adventuring guilds and The Bloodsands. It was by no means easy living, but it wasn’t just ‘surviving’ either. As his skill grew, so too did his ambitions. Hard work netted him a position in The Immortal Flames; The grand company lead A’venaugh to form unbreakable bonds, fight for just causes, and to carry terrible grief. He never did regret joining-he only wished he had left under better circumstances. That he was stronger when it had mattered most.Wanting to still do right by the city he loved after his departure from military life, A’venaugh doubled down on his adventuring career-even sometimes acting as a vigilante for those who truly needed it. Inevitably, his dabbling with street-justice got him into something of a bind. At the time, the only way out was to run-and so he did, finding himself in Coerthas. It was there that he awoke to a power that remained dormant within him for many long years, dragged into the light in the dark alleys of Foundation. A’venaugh’s journey has been difficult; the path forward seems winding and shrouded in darkness, even as he's gifted with further growth and change. Though the uncertainty within him is undeniable, he’s determined to continue onward with his heart as a guide.  

Same as it ever was.

❛ ⸻

I'll say it as many times as I need to-I never back down from a challenge. And that's not about to change any time soon. So keep 'em coming. I'll be waiting.

⸻ ❜

  "DON'T CALL ME THAT."    It's generally not a good idea to address a'venaugh with his proper "Tia" title. He introduces himself without it for a reason. He won't greet genuine ignorance on the matter with malice, at least.