Kosmikros Sisters

Aethercon 2024

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Aikirees and I on a sidewalk overlooking the beach below with a bunch of people enjoying a band playing.

As I mentioned in the Monday Recap, Saturday evening we headed over to Crystal – Zalera to partake in the Aethercon Event. Specifically the Roleplay Market, which was all set up rather nicely within a section of the residential District in Mist. I really did not know what to fully expect upon our arrival, but thankfully their site had a little map with places of interest marked onto it. There was the feeling of precaution lingering in my mind about even going still, but that melted away fairly quick upon our arrival.

Large crowd cheering on a bard band on the beach.
Large crowd cheering on a bard band on the beach.
Panorama of the beach where a crowd and a bard band are performing with the raised sidewalk path above and shops around it.
Left area of Aikirees and I of the beach where a crowd and a bard band are performing with the raised sidewalk path above and shops around it.
Right area of Aikirees and I of the beach where a crowd and a bard band are performing with the raised sidewalk path above and shops around it.

It was bustling with activity! Everything from some of the small little shops selling wares to passing customers, and a lot of discussions about! We really just enjoyed listening to it all as it was so lively. We didn’t really engage, but just listen to everyone along with the bard bands playing on the beach below us; however, Aikirees and I did wander off from time to time to see what else folks were up to. It kind of sprawled from this area and up the sidewalk leading to a few other places sprinkled in the vicinity.

Me while walking down a sidewalk seeing everyone interacting at Aethercon.

I tended to wander a bit more, curious if I might run into anyone that I would have known in the past, but no one looked familiar. Some of the side paths branched off into little groups talking as well, and it all lead up to a house that was holding outdoor performances. One person that we did know was performing here, and it had been a very long while since I had the chance to see her perform. I don’t believe Aikirees ever hand the chance to even as far back as the Aether Event Center days.

Leading into that portion of the evening: April Cleo, a macro dancing performer who started out many years back. I first met her back in the incredibly early days of the Burgundy Room and the Aether Event Center. Regardless, she’s excellent at her craft and has been honing on it all these years. Part of heading to Aethercon was to see her performance since it has been probably about 3 or so years since the last time when she performed with the now long gone ESprit group.

April performing in front of a crowd dancing with hand fans and a green aura.
April performing in front of a crowd in white glowing robes.
April performing in front of a crowd holding up hand fans.
April performing in front of a crowd emitting auras and angel-like wings.

While a bit on the shorter side to accommodate the convention’s schedule, she was absolutely stellar! It was a very enjoyable show that we were glad to have made. Afterwards she went around to say hi to everyone and thank everyone for coming to the show. After a little bit of mingling, since she was the last performance, everyone started to head back out to the rest of the convention area as did we to finish out the evening.

So we listened to a few more bard bands play, hear the talks of the area, and about an hour or so later, it started to clear out with folks either heading to rest or to the venues having live DJ’s. That’s really not our thing, so we decided to just pause, and decompress before heading back to Aether and HQ.

Aikirees and I in lounge chairs under a tent out on the beach.

It really was a fun evening seeing everyone interact and enjoy a part of the community that I had stepped away from in an official sense (we’re always in character if you ever see us). Supposedly next year they’re going to host this again with it possibly being a bigger event, and if they do, we’ll be back and more than likely put the ‘RP’ tag up as well to let folks know that we can be approached to interact with as well.

Spoopy Scary Seestahs 2024

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Me sitting on a throne wickedly smiling with Aikirees standing next to me expressing a 'shush.'

~Spoopy, Scary, Seetahs have returned for more FRIGHTS!~

Happy Spoopy Month y’all! October is once again upon us, and we’re so ready! Aikirees and I got our outfits all set up for another All Saints’ Wake, and any/all spoopy festivities that happen to come up for the season!

Aikirees and I in black masks with orange and black attire expressing the 'Malevolence' emote.
Aikirees and I in black masks with orange and black attire attempting to be malevolent & scary, poorly.

We always get very excited for this time of year with everything that comes with it. Miss Lizz and Laureine are going to be sticking with their demon and other dem-… angel outfits this year (and probably for a while thereafter).

Y’all have a very fun and very safe Spoopy Season ahead!

Morning Mages

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Aikirees and I close up during a morning sunrise.

Feels almost like yesterday when we were here in this same attire practicing healing magics. It was shortly thereafter saving all of existence from being destroyed, so with said reality having been saved, we turned from our usual dark arts to its complete opposite for a time. Lest not to replace our fiery ways, but to keep our elements mostly in balance and not to forget doing so entirely.

Aikirees arrived there, on the Airship Landing at Radz-at-Han, just before daybreak. It was mostly clear and we were getting ready to visit with the Hippo Riders and see what we could do for them this day.

Aikirees and I on top of Radz at Han during a morning sunrise.

Rather than like the last time she was waiting on me, where she was a Miqo’te leaning against a few boxes with a wicked smirk across her face, she was looking off into the distance towards the East. It was calm, with just the slightest hint of a breeze passing over the landing, and I suspect she was focused on all of her surroundings. She looked so calm.

About the time I approached her to let her know we could head out, the sun broke the horizon giving us a gorgeous warm glowing view of a new day over Thavnair. We looked at each other for a moment, and then back to the horizon for another to bask in the morning light, and then headed on out like we have done so many times before and will here on after as well.

The Falcon

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Aikirees and I looking up at the Falcon in the Workshop's interface.

A little bit ago, a lot of us we’re able to finish up constructing our second airship! Sirena suggested the name of the Falcon from Final Fantasy IV, and it’s since then had several successful journeys into the Sea of Clouds. However, it never had a proper color scheme to represent it; that is until now. Once it returned to HQ the other night, we managed to get it all painted up in a similar fashion to that of the one seen in Final Fantasy IV – propellers aside being substituted for the zeppelin instead.

Aikirees looking upon the Falcon in awe with me next to her.
She’s so adorkable.

Aikirees being in pure awe I think made the highlight for the evening once it got all spruced up with the new colors. It was once again sent out on another voyage. Meanwhile, the U.S.S. Voyager has been steadily exploring far far into the Sea of Clouds having found some interesting sites along the way. That one is nearing almost max rank and we normally don’t see it for a couple of days now!

The Falcon taking off onto another voyage in the sky.

Safe travels, little Falcon! May the winds and your adventures out into the wild blue yonder be just as safe as they are full of new wonders!

Fae Light

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Aikirees and I sitting across from a possible Faerie Gate.

Aikirees and I have seen this interesting little spot in in Il Mheg for quite some time now, but usually when the weather has been less than favorable or it was daytime. We managed to catch it on a clear crisp night, and decided to explore it more.

At the center is this well-lit flowery ring with rocks circling around it with bushmen nearby. Could this be a gateway to another Fae Realm? Will we get pulled into it if we stare at it long enough? W-will we end up switching bodies just by peering at each other through it long enou–… you know, l-let’s not tempt fate with this and just pretend it doesn’t exist…

Our Journey…

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Aikirees, Sirena, Juli, and I sitting atop the entrance archway to EOCA HQ.

We all got together last night for some more Heavensward bird hunting that went incredibly well, and then ended the night taking a relaxing moment to end the weekend. Ultimately atop the entrance archway to EOCA HQ.

It’s been an incredibly long journey to this point. Aikirees and I both started on completely different worlds at different times. Met some incredibly wonderful folks that became friends and helped kick start making maps for events and places. Grew even further from that into what would become Eorzea Cartographers, and the eventual Free Company once we both made it to the same world with the Cousins.

Even after all of the drama, darkness, leaving one social media for another, and meeting so many wonderful folks in the process, here we (almost) all are as EOCA. This being where we ended up, I honestly would not want it any other way.

~Uniting Eorzea, One Map at a Time~

That Old Swing

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Aikirees and I sitting on a wooden swing set near a beach.

It feels like forever since I’ve seen this wooden swing, just on the outskirts of a small fishing town in Thavnair. Aikirees and I sat on it one evening summers ago shortly thereafter saving the Star and, well, existence itself from being unraveled. The calming sound of the waves lapping against the sands with the breeze gently flowing makes the swing a real ideal spot to collect one’s thoughts.

We shared the spot here back then, and just watched the sun plummet into the sea. It was nice. It was what we needed after everything. Can’t recall exactly what we were up to back then, but I’m certain it had something to do with training – most likely honing our skills as Paladins at the time.

That was then, and this is now. Recently returned from Tural once again honing our skills as we continue to grow for the new adventures on the horizon. Arriving first, I took a spot on that old swing. Unsure where Aikirees was, as I hadn’t heard her shadow wolf anywhere close, I just lost myself being reminded of why this old swing was such a wonderful little spot.

Moments later, I hear the thud and familiar sound of heavy paws approaching. It was Aikirees and her shadow wolf getting close, and as she did, she dismissed her wolf that I am convinced still wants to devour me and plops down with the lack of delicateness that Aikirees has become known for since her journey. Not that she was ever the most delicate with things, but it’s certainly more noticeable now. Not that I’m complaining, as it’s part of her charm and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

She sat there for a moment, letting out a growl of a purr having all of the similar senses and reminders come back to her of this old swing. I rested my head against her shoulder, not something I’m still used to being able to do now, to greet her before letting up.

Aikirees and I sitting in a wooden swing.

“Training going well?” I asked her, not really exactly sure what to conjure up since we’re together so much.

She smiled and humored me. “Zee yup yup! Helping’sies zee Hippos’sies Riderrrrs is alway’sies zee fun too!”
“They really are, yeppers.” Letting out a chuckle with my reply and a soft smile.

“It’s certainly been a while since we’ve been here, missed this old swing. Glad it made it through everything too.” Aikirees smiled with a small nod, as I just continued.
“Glad to be here again with you, Little One. We’ll have to make sure to come by here from time to time no matter where the road decides to take us next.”
She excitedly replied with her usual ‘Yesh’sies!’ and we just went back to gazing out to the wide open clear blue sea.

“Wonder where the winds will take us next…?” I ponder out loud while enjoying the gentle sea breeze dance across the tufts of my ears. Aikirees furrows her fuzzy brows a moment to the inquiry.
“Well, no matter, when or where it happens, we’ll take it on like we always to.”

She smiles and gently nods again. “Still’sies on your zee mind’sies to, isn’t it sissy’sies.”
Her inquiry comes again from how she looks now.
“Well, it is yes, but I’m not going to bug you about it; you’re still you and always my Little One.”

I returned to resting my head against her shoulder again, and could hear her begin to purr soon after I did.
“We’sies got this, zee Sissy’sies. Whereverrrr we go’sies, we’ll kick’sies zee tail’sies as long as we got’sies all of zee us!”
I nodded while continuing to rest on her shoulder, trying to keep my ears from brushing against her face.

“Yeppers, we do. No matter what. When that journey is all said and done, we’ll come back here once again to this old swing.”

When the Youngest Visits

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Aryiah and Aikirees catching up in EOCA HQ.

Aryiah, the ‘Cabbit’ and youngest Kosmikros, came to pay a visit from her journeys across the First for the Rising event this year. It’s been an incredibly long spell since her last visit back in February. She caught Aikirees at HQ which very much caused for some catching up to do between the two of them before the evening ended.

Near the main floor’s warm fire, the two of them talked about how she was doing upon another reflection, and the very obvious of how Aikirees now looks since her last time being around her. She didn’t go into great detail as to how her journey went, but very much enjoyed the tales Aryiah had to offer from her adventures.

It will probably be some time before her next visit as rare as they are, but it’s good to know she’s safe being out there on her own so much.

Night Walk

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Aikirees & I walking down a set of rails leading outside of a town at night.

Most evenings when were on, we always try to get a treasure map to try and get some crafting goodies for future use. This time it lead us both to Twine. It was a gorgeous starry night so before heading out in separate directions, we took a stroll across the old trolley railway just like old times once again.

Last time we both were here on these tracks specifically feels like a lifetime ago; well in Aikirees’ case it might as well be.

The Rising 2024

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The finale to the Rising fireworks display.

Happy Rising 2024 y’all! May the memories of past journeys fill everyone with wonderful thoughts, and here’s to many more adventures to look forward to ahead!

Aikirees and I watching the Rising fireworks.

The event this year was lovely as always and the fireworks were just so as well. We ended up hanging around to watch the entirety of the show, and a bard behind us started to play ‘Answers’ on their harp. It’s always nice/emotional to hear that song, and it felt very fitting to hear it during such a time. They did a fantastic performance, but before we could turn to listen more closely, they had already headed out. Thank you for such a wonderful performance.

Along with the event itself, the little bonus visitors at the end of it were a nice touch too. To a journey filled with many adventurous moments with wonderful memories ahead. Until next Rising~!

Dawn of a New Day

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Me watching the sunrise over Costa del Sol.

Was taking care of a hunt the other week, and happened upon seeing a very lovely sunrise just outside of Costa del Sol. Always nice to take a quick breather between all the tasks to enjoy the scenery every once and a while.

Speaking of mornings, good morning y’all! Kick some tail today – y’all got this!!

Reaching for the Skies Again

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Laureine and I in HQ's workshop building part of an airship.

I decided to work on another airship to help the now rank 41 U.S.S. Voyager with surveying the skies. Miss Laureine was around to work on some woodworking quests, so she as well as Juli assisted with acquiring materials to get the first section underway!

This new one will be airborne in no time and soaring the skies in no time!

Over the Moon

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Laureine and I on the moon looking out at Hydaelyn.

Was a quieter evening the other day; Miss Laureine and I needed to meet up briefly for EOCA-related tasks, but also just to see how things have been. We ended up heading out to the Moon for some survey research in regards to upcoming content that may or may not revolve around one of Aikirees’ past lives.

The result was unfortunately inconclusive, but even with that setback, the scenery along was worth the trip. It’s been a very long time since either of us had stepped foot up there, and with the whole view of home visible, it made it all the more wonderful.

Laureine, Sirena, and I on the moon overlooking Hydaelyn.

The view and moment were sweetened even greater when Hun came up to spend the remaining part of the evening alongside us in just basking out into the cosmos discussing how the day went. It was a nice way to end the day for certain, and one we hadn’t done in quite some time.

Neon Night Out

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Aikirees and I sitting in an area of Solution Nine with large screens on the walls displaying advertisements.

After the trip to Shaaloani the other night, another thought came to mind that we’ve been forgetting to do as well and that was explore more of Solution Nine. We don’t tend to head there very often due to how far out of the way it is from where we usually are. So, we finally get that chance and even bought the appropriate attire for the occasion.

Aikirees and I having a chat in Solution Nine.
Aikirees & I chatting on a large curves couch.

It was fun, we mostly lounged and chatted, at one of the local spots with massive screens on the wall, but later on found a neat hideaway spot that had a nice large semi-circular couch. This could be a really nice place to come with the rest of EOCA one evening for certain!

Level 100 Paladin

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Aikirees and I walking through an old western stylized town at night.

While we did celebrate every 10 levels after level 50 for Dragoon, that tradition dates back to when we started our Gladiator’s journey during Shadowbringers. Even with actually liking the class, tanking has never really been our strong suit, so it did have us stepping out of our comfort zone by quite a bit. Hitting each of those tenth level milestones felt like another long leg of this journey really felt like we accomplished something, and with it came a mixture of feelings.

As such, over the weekend we accomplished said new milestone and attained level 100 Paladin! Wherever the road takes us, the journey will continue~

Trip to the Saloon

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Aikirees and I sitting in an old western style saloon.

Something we’ve been really wanting to do is just head back to Shaaloani, but more specifically the saloon located there. The town in general has such a great ‘old western’ vibe to it, but at night, it’s really something to behold. We’ve been meaning to carve out a moment or two to head back there, and with luck after a fairly turbulent weekend, we were able to check it out once again at our leisure.

A Relaxing Reflection Night

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Aikirees and I in comfty clothes in front of EOCA HQ's firepit.

Aikirees and I spent some time around HQ in the early hours of the night. Not necessarily saying much, but just basking in the cool Empyreum night hearing the Moonfire Faire fireworks going off in the distance. I think the last time we had a moment to even remotely try to do this was well before heading to Tural and even working on our islands.

It was brief as it usually is, but felt longer. I think Aikirees just being there was support enough without having to say anything. The poor cats are having a rough go at things right now, and my old map desk’s papers seem unending even now. Of course, Miss Laureine assists when she can and I know Miss Lizicus tries to keep everyone in high spirits with her carefree approach to everything, but my rock has always been Aikirees. I’ve always been the one to look over and protect her, but now I really don’t think she needs all that much protection – perhaps she’s trying to do the same for me and the rest of us now.

I ended up dozing off into her shoulder at the sound of distant fireworks, with her fuzzy warm shoulder being a comfort for such tired ears. Once the moon had reached directly above us, I felt a gentle nuzzle on one of them and awoke as our sign that it was time to head to sleep.

We head into HQ and warm up next to the entry fireplace, but before proceeding down to the bunk behind the office, I head into The Archives for a moment. Meandering back to the far end of it, with an eerily glowing fireplace and rows upon rows of shelves littered with any sort of notes or loose maps that one could think of, are two mannequins I placed in there moons ago.

One was of my wedding dress to my dear Sirena almost a full year ago now, while the other is of my old Burgundy Room dress. I haven’t worn it in over a year, and I don’t know if I ever will again. Just gazing at it in the near-silence of the Archives brought back so many fond memories of that time.

Aikirees hugging me in the Archives while I look at a mannequin with my Burgundy Room dress on it.

I really don’t know how much time had passed, but in the crackling of the fireplace, I could hear the footsteps of Aikirees. She’s by no means sneaky, but her approach caught the attention of my ears as they angled towards her. I didn’t look away from the dress, but the next thing I knew was two fuzzy arms had wrapped themselves around me. As derpy as she can be, she always means well, and to all of the souls she has touched or met, they can also attest to this of her being as well.

She embraced me like that for a moment, not overly-tight but just enough to let me know she was there. Her newfound Hrothgar growl/purrs were a more obvious giveaway, but that was beside the point. I grasped and rested my chin into one of her paws for a moment, before we headed out of the Archives and to the bunks below.

“Thank you, Little One. We got this, as we always have.”

As for anyone out there reading this that might be having a tough spot; you got this. You kick so much tail, and you’ll continue to. Sometimes all it takes is that little reminder, but even if it looks like a lot of dark and no light, it’ll pass and that light will be back in full force. Just keep your light going, and keep kicking tail. I’ve had my malms of darkness as well, so it might not be the same sort of turbulent, but it will be light again.

Continue to be ‘zee awesome’sies,’ and y’all got this!

Successful Hunt

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Lizicus & Aikirees celebrating a successful hunt.

These two, who rarely are together, we able to manage a successful hunt that they both were trying to find together while traveling the First one evening. It’s really surprising to see just how much Aikirees now dwarfs even the cousins.

Happy Moonfire Faire 2024!

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Aikirees and I enjoying Moonfire Faire 2024 with fireworks over Costa del Sol.

Wishing everyone the absolute best and wonderful Moonfire Faire this year! Y’all enjoy the fireworks, the obstacle course challenge, and all of the wonderful festivities that come with it!

Weary Shoulder to Rest Upon

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Me falling asleep on Aikirees' shoulder.

While having some final moments of an evening with Aikirees at the HQ’s Gazebo that is very much not a notorious monster, the tiredness of everything finally caught up to me. I nodded off and rested my weary head onto Aikirees’ shoulder, which is something I thought I’d never do.

Her fuzzy, warm shoulder was such a comfort, and from the subtle sounds she was emitting upon sleeping, could tell she didn’t mind me resting there. It was a feeling I hadn’t felt in such a long time.

Aikirees falling asleep on my shoulder.

Summers prior, in the early days of HQ when we were crafting like no tomorrow, Aikirees would fall asleep on my shoulder just so. It must’ve reminded her of those days and the comfort it gave her. I’m not sure I’ll ever personally get used to her being so tall now, but she’ll always be that little Miqo’te that I’ve care for before her journey and always now thereafter as well.