Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Packets! Letters! Come get your letters!"

Rhodes Island's operators flocked towards the Logistics Department of the landship in hopes to get their parcels and packages. The wing was quickly flooded with people of all walks lining to get a number in order to be able to claim their items. The pharmaceutical staff worked quickly to accommodate their clients as best as they could to avoid serious traffic issues.

"Ara~ so many people today," Perfumer said, slinging her staff on her back as she approached the growing line. "We better be quick, Poppy."

"Yes, Miss Lena," Podenco chirped from beside her with extra springs in her steps. "I'm so excited to get to see the new seeds~ our garden will finally have bluebells!"

"We still have to clear the garden beds with spinach. Then, we can make space for the bluebells and milk thistles," Perfumer added. They joined the queue and patiently waited for their turn. Some of their colleagues passed by and said hi.

Their wait proved to be short-lived after a while. Holding the piece of paper firmly in her hand, Perfumer led Podenco to sit inside and wait for the robotic voice to announce their turn.

"I wish Mr. Flamebringer sends us postcards," Perfumer could see the pout in the girl's lower lip from the corner of her eyes. "Or letters. Letters are better."

The head gardener broke out a laugh before tutting her.

"Now, now, you know Mr. Flamebringer values his words," she said. "Be it from his lips, or from his hands."

"Yeah, I supposed so... but I'm really curious about Higashi."

Higashi was country located northeast of Yan and the two states were known to have a strong diplomatic relation, to the point where some things in Higashi had a strong Yanese influence due to the cultural exchange between the two states. While Higashi was predominated by the Oni race, there are other races residing there as well, for example the Aegir people. Perfumer had come to know a few Rhodes Island operators that originated from the country and even shared tea time session with Miss Matoimaru, a lively Oni woman who had a penchant for the art of flower arranging.

"Well, for starters... do you know Higashi got its name because it was influenced by the Yanese culture? The country's original name was Ko-ashihara."

"Really?"

The Vulpo lady nodded. "Do you know that, in one of their myths, Higashi's skies would burst into different colours, even if it's during the daylight or during night time? It was caused by a being they referred to as "chaos"."

"That's... that's weird!" she exclaimed, a frown creasing her eyebrows.

"Well, it is a myth, Podenco dear," Perfumer shrugged. "But a myth was always based on a true fact, or a true incident. But it happened a long time ago and nobody was alive to remember that. It could just be another fabled tale."

"Have you ever been to Higashi, Miss Perfumer?"

"No, hmm... I didn't have the chance to visit the country. I wouldn't mind if the Doctor sent me there for a mission. Maybe I could drop by the branch office and say hi to him."

Podenco's ears dropped slightly. Perfumer didn't let that escape unnoticed, though.

"Maybe you could pay a visit to the library above our floor. If I remember correctly, there are books about other countries. For example, Lungmen, Leithania, Victoria... why don't you head over there after we deliver our packages?"

"Really? Can I?"

"Of course, dear."

Podenco cheered in excitement upon being given the permission. Perfumer couldn't help but join in too. They needed a short break from the Garden duties after all. Things have been a little busier since Flamebringer left for Higashi.

"Miss Perfumer, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Are you waiting for Mr. Flamebringer's letter?"

The question threw her into an unexpected loop for a bit, but she was quick to compose herself and shot a frowney smile at her mentee.

"Now where did that come from?"

"It's just... sometimes when Melantha came into the greenhouse with her letters, you always took a quick look at the envelopes. So I was thinking... perhaps you're waiting for any news about him?" Maybe her gaze had an obvious shift in them, because Podenco was quick to apologize shortly after that.

Perfumer mulled the thought over. She sighed, leaning her head into the palm of her hand.

"It would be nice if he writes. But, knowing him... haha. Maybe a postcard or some sort will do. Letters... that's quite a stretch, wouldn't you say?"

"Number Forty-Seven!"

Their ears perked up as they turned towards the television at the same time. The screen displayed the mentioned number '047' in bold. Perfumer flipped open the paper again. Sure enough, it was their turn. They were directed to the counter and the staff began to unload their things. They were mostly packages for the greenhouse. Perfumer nudged the younger operator to check the address and the name. To make things easier, the greenhouse crew had agreed to put Perfumer's name if they were to order things for the greenhouse.

"Is that all?"

"Yes, Miss Perfumer. That's everything," the staff nodded, with assuring finger drums on the table.

Her eyes fleeted to the back of the office where she could see the other workers sorting out the items. The emerald gaze landed on the stacks of letters in the corner.

Perfumer smiled and nodded curtly. "Thank you for your services."

"Pleasure is mine~ all right. Next, please! Number Forty-Eight!"

The two wrapped up their things and exited the department quickly.

Thirty-two. It has been thirty-two days since Flamebringer left the landship for Higashi.

Chapter Text

"Miss Perfumer,"

Perfumer had made herself comfortable on her little sofa to pay attention to her surroundings. She had kicked off her soft slippers to tuck her legs under the blanket, curling up with a pillow on her lap as she flipped the pages of the Garden journal. The steaming cup on the small table next to her was moved over as the Vulpo woman helped herself to some biscuits.

"Miss Perfumer."

It was rare for her to have a me-time nowadays. The end of the year is approaching and things have been more bustling than ever. She was glad it was finally over.

"Lena!"

"Close the door on your way, please and thank you."

She didn't make an effort to even turn around to see who was paying her a visit, choosing to wait for the individual to show up in her line of sight. Is this urgent business? Perfumer made a quick prayer.

There was the sound of the door closing and heavy footsteps making its way towards her. Perfumer leaned her head back to the sofa when she picked out the familiar scent of a person well-known in Convalescence Garden.

"Good evening, Flamebringer."

Flamebringer towered over her with his massive height. Goodness. Given his jejune background and based on her observations on some of their Sarkaz Elite Operators, Perfumer had deduced most of the males from the Sarkaz race are blessed with tall bodies and wide frame.

"Sorry to interrupt, Lena."

"No worries. Have a seat."

"It's just quick news, and I'll be on my way."

Perfumer eyed the pocket of his jacket. Something white was sticking out. A few guesses neatly arranged themselves into the gears in her head.

"I insist. Go on, take that chair."

The Sarkaz exhaled and looked around, before pulling a nearby stool and sat down. Due to his longer legs, he had to sit quite a distance from the garden's keeper. Perfumer pulled out an extra cup from one of her drawers and began pouring some tea. Her pet fox, upon sensing the man's lingering presence, stretched it's lithe body before jumping down from it's resting nook to greet Flamebringer.

"Have some, please," she said, offering the herbal drink to the man. Flamebringer looked at the cup she was holding for a moment and quietly accepted it.

"What is this?"

"Lemon balm tea. It's good if you feel anxious or if you want to relax," she took a sip from her glass. "It's proven to be... quite a good sedative, so far."

Flamebringer casted a blank glance towards Perfumer, who was already eyeing him for some sort of reaction. He took a good gulp.

Perfumer watched as he leaned forward to put the empty cup carefully next to the biscuit tray. Not the reaction she was expecting, but this is Flamebringer. Nothing ever seems to phase him (for now, she thought).

The man pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to her. The Vulpo lady set down her glass and took it from him, her honey-coloured gaze caught Doctor's name on the envelope.

"This is...?"

The Sarkaz swordsmaster waited for her to finish reading the letter's content.

"I will be stationed to a branch office in Higashi one week from now."

One week. Perfumer re-read the letter again from the top. Flamebringer was one of the three Senior Operators recruited for an observer mission in Higashi.

"He said something about giving time for me to wrap up whatever is going on. I thought you should know."

The garden's keeper's eyes stared at the date printed on the paper.

"Eleven months?" she said, half asking.

Flamebringer nodded. "The Kal'tsit woman said the estimated time was actually five months. But there was a situation going on in northern Sami and Iberia... I didn't really look much into it during the meeting."

Perfumer handed the letter back to the man and resumed drinking her tea.

"Lena,"

"Mm?" she hummed. "I think it's a good thing. You should go. It has been a while since you went on a mission like this, haven't you?"

Flamebringer quietly agreed. His right hand was busy petting the little fennec fox, playing with the light fur between his fingers.

"You should accept the mission. Have you ever gone to Higashi before? I heard it's quite an interesting country."

"A country that could barely keep its governing matters civil even though there are eight families responsible for that could hardly be called 'interesting'," he stated. "I suppose a change of scenery is in order, after all a flower whose roots couldn't adapt to its surroundings well could easily give in and die."

"Mm, but with plenty of sunlight, water, and the right soil, the flower could even blossom into a beautiful tree," the Vulpo woman responded.

Flamebringer blinked, and nodded. He carefully picked the fennec fox up and placed it back next to Perfumer.

"Have a good day."

After pocketing the letter, he began to leave the room.

"If there's anything you need me to do, inform me as soon as possible."

"Will do~"

"Thanks for the tea."

"You're welcome anytime."

There was a sound of the door firmly closed. Perfumer sighed lightly and leaned her head back towards the sofa.

She had to find Podenco later to ask her about the Garden.

Chapter Text

A week passed in a blink of an eye. Thankfully, most of the sewerstorm had been dealt with a few days before Flamebringer's supposed departure so the crew of the Convalescence Garden wasn't really busy, aside from the usual garden tending activities and sorting the inventory. Podenco had been doing a great job at it, aiming to continue Perfumer's legacy after being appointed as the new garden-keeper.

Flamebringer cast a careful glance around his dorm. The lone cacti plant he owned, which usually could be found idle near his window, had taken a temporary refuge in Perfumer's room slash office, as Suzuran had suggested and insisted on by Melantha.

After making sure none of his things had been forgotten, he slung his bag over his shoulder and slid the door open. He didn't have much stuff on his person the first time he arrived on Rhodes Island. He only had a few necessities; clothes, knives, folded receipts and random notes stashed on his person from previous years. Some candies. The array of weapons he had collected over the recent years, perfectly lined on a table for him to select and carry for the day.

For the observer mission, he had decided to bring his two weapons: the sleek, black blade he acquired for himself back when he was involved in a summer event and the black longsword wrapped with an orange cloth.

It was quiet in the land ship. The sun had not risen yet, and there wasn't really an operator he could see. You couldn't be so sure though, sometimes he bumped with a few operators who either couldn't sleep, planning late night shenanigans (that yellow-black and white-red duo from the science lab once made a huge scuffle right outside his door, god forbid he could have a proper rest after ploughing bodies in that day's battlefield), or nocturnally-inclined by nature.

Flamebringer made his way to the Garden. He had planned to bring his dorm key card with him, but for some reason after mulling some thoughts over his head last night, he decided to leave his key card at the reception desk.

If he died in this mission, someone could have his dorm.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Flamebringer took a look at the cobalt-coloured card again, and gripped it slightly harder.

He was standing in front of Perfumer's room.

Somewhere during his traverse on the mundane corridors, he decided to make a detour to the Convalescence Garden. Won't hurt to take one last look, the Sarkaz swordsman thought. Then, another idea occurred in his head.

Fuck, he whispered. A few Sarkaz derogative words followed close, thrown at nothing in particular but the metal doorknob. Not wanting to tangle his head with useless thoughts, he carefully opened the door and tip-toed inside.

The Vulpo woman was nowhere in sight. That's good. That meant she was still deep asleep in her room. Flamebringer walked towards her desk and placed the key card next to her journals. He swiftly left the place.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Alright, everyone. Check your luggage one last time. Your transport to Higashi is going to arrive anytime soon."

Flamebringer exhaled fully and dropped his cigarette before stomping it with the bottom of his shoe. The sun had risen from the pink-yellow horizon, bright rays peeking to greet citizens of Terra and the cool air was pleasant to the skin. Today was going to be a nice day.

Hibiscus shouted and pointed at something in the distance. A ferry boat had appeared.

Flamebringer straightened up and hoisted his bag over a shoulder and began to trudge forward, following Hibiscus and Kazemaru.

"Flamebringer!"

A voice from above made him halt. He turned and looked up.

Perfumer was standing on a balcony, with unkempt brown hair and still in her pajamas. Her eyes were droopy and sleep laced heavily on her face. This woman probably had just woken up from her slumber. Yet, she waved to him with her usual cheerful energy.

"Bye-bye!"

She didn't have to yell. He could hear her, despite only being able to do that from his right ear.

"Be careful out there. Write a letter if you could," she teased. "Or else I'll get really sad~"

Flamebringer chuckled. This woman.

"Won't promise though," he said.

He gazed at her before turning around, and gave a short farewell wave.

Chapter Text

Perfumer blinked her eyes a few times, her hands hastily pushing the few strands of hair sticking to her face. She wasn't dreaming, was she? It's still light outside.

There was an envelope on her desk, the one with the standard design you’d see anywhere: white with blue-red borders at the edges. There was no name, only an address to the Convalescence Garden.

Behind the letter, a calendar stood, its surface full of red crosses.

__

Twenty-five hours before.

The sun was blinding outside. The air was filled with smoke and burned debris.
Lappland, the Lupo woman from Siracusa stood stall in front of the building they had temporarily taken residence in, waiting for the signal from Team A. She slung one of her swords on her shoulder, inspecting around. Inside the dingy shop, Perfumer and Ayerscarpe crouched low behind a half-collapsed counter, while Greythroat and Insider had positioned themselves over the windows. The Sankta executor watched from the window behind Lappland, one finger relaxing on the trigger of his gun.

“Heard anything?” Greythroat called to the duo behind the counter. Perfumer’s ears twitched and so did Ayerscarpe’s. So far, only silence.

“What about our comms?” Ayerscape asked, gesturing to the pitch-black equipment.
The sniper operator shook her head. “Nothing from our comms, either.”

“Strange,” Insider commented. “I suggest we stay put and reserve our energy. Operator Lappland isn’t picking anything from outside either.”

Casting one last calculated glance, he lowered down his pistol and pocketed it. He nodded to Greythroat, who immediately stood and pulled out her weapon. They switched places.

Perfumer adjusted her legs and lowered down her staff to her lap. The Lavender’s Fragrance that she had cast a while ago had been gradually fading away. That should do for now, she thought. Things had been going smoothly since their operation started. The enemies were taken care of in a swift and smooth manner and so far they had only suffered minor injuries.

They were currently deployed in a mission somewhere in Leithanian as a back-up team for Team A. Perfumer had been enjoying her time here, taking in the wonderful view Leithanian has to offer and fresh air of a country she had never been to whenever the chances presented itself. It had been a while since she was out of the landship. When the Doctor included her in the operation with the big shot operators (closest example, Miss Lappland Saluzzo who, according to some of the operators she had treated in the past, was a ferocious beast in the battlefield, and Mister Richele Colombo a.k.a Insider, an Executor from Laterano’s famed Notarial Hall), she felt a little anxious. Well, Doctor’s orders are Doctor’s orders. They were kind enough to give her everything she needed to prepare for this operation, even going as far as to promote her to Elite 2. Although the preparation was rushed at the last minute, Perfumer made sure she stayed on top of her game for this operation.

A loud single knock from the front door attracted immediate attention from everyone. Lappland’s grinning face appeared. She jutted her thumb in a direction.

“They’re calling. Let’s go.”

__

“Miss Perfumer!” Ayerscarpe shouted, waving his arm. “Over here, come! Quickly!”

The Vulpo woman wasted no time turning around and ran, right as an explosion happened somewhere behind her back. She ducked out of response, clutching her staff tightly to her body. The building next to them started to crumble in chunks and broke off into rubbles. Perfumer looked up to see the spider-like cracks formed as quickly as her breathing.

“Perfumer!” Ayerscarpe yelled again.

Perfumer jumped, using her staff to propel her body forward. Huge shadows loomed over around her. She curled her knees up as soon as she landed on the rough concrete.
When she had come to her senses, Perfumer felt her lower half were trapped under the weight of hefty stones.

“Ughh…”

“Miss Perfumer, miss!”

Her ears immediately pulled back at the distance of the voice. She groaned a little.
Greythroat straightened her body and pushed back the giant slab of stone she had managed to hold off before it could crush the healer. Gently, the sniper helped her up. Noticing her injured legs, Greythroat signalled for the male Cautus to get her.

“She’s still in shock,” she stated. “Let’s hurry while the dust is still up. It’ll cover our tracks.”
Ayerscarpe nodded as he helped support Perfumer’s weight.

They caught the silhouette of Insider’s glowing wings from the corner of a building. The executor threw a “situation clear” signal, letting them scurry past him, before following close with a pistol drawn.

Perfumer had recovered from her shock, but her left leg had taken quite a rough beating. Casting a healing spell right now wasn’t ideal either, so she could only wait as her two teammates shouldered half her weight to the rendezvous point.

Lappland joined them shortly after, ambushing the enemy patrolling ahead which had forced the four to pause for a while and find another route. With the roads cleared, the team made it to the rendezvous point in no time and regrouped with the rest of Rhodes Island operation team.

“Thank you,” Perfumer quietly whispered as Ayerscarpe lowered her down next to a Lupo medic.

“Go thank Greythroat,” he replied. “She was the one shielding you from the rubbles. I should’ve seen that coming and fetched you earlier, but I failed to do so.”

His slightly drooped ears betrayed his stoic expression. Perfumer wondered about how far his ears could go down if he was more upset, before catching a glimpse of his torn shirt bunched to a side beneath the translucent jacket concealing the wet metallic scent the caster had grown familiar with over the course of a few years.

“You’re injured too,” she noted, reaching over to grab and tug him down next to her. “You should get that treated.”

The Cautus messenger protested, but the medic started their work on them right away, rendering the male operator to succumb and surrender himself for treatment.

“I’m fine, it’s just a light cut.”

“Light cut or not, you won’t know when the next time you could get that wound treated properly. It will save you a lot of time.”

Ayerscarpe went silent, but he crossed his legs and held himself slack while being bandaged.

__

The journey back to Rhodes Island was smooth. Well, as smooth as one could hope for. Perfumer was jerked awake as their jeep hit another pothole on the road. She shook her head, weary and tired. Closing her mouth to cover a huge yawn, the Vulpo woman stretched a bit before looking around. The passengers were all asleep, some laid down on the chair with their jacket covering their body, others opted to stay upright on their seats and hugged themselves to slip into a temporary slumber.

Perfumer couldn’t tell what time it was now. Peeking through the open flaps from the carriage’s roofs, the sky appeared to be less darker than what she had seen before she fell asleep.

Her mind drifted away from the jeep, lingering farther and farther away from Leithania.

Her mind wandered to a swordsman hailing from Kazdel, currently in a land miles away from her.

__

Now.

Perfumer took a step back from her room, reeling from the feeling of suffocation and giddiness that hit her all at once. Maybe she was still too tired. Yes, it's probably the exhaustion, her mind surmised. A quick lie-down should be sufficient.

When the news was delivered to her, it was as if the gears in her body kick-started out of nowhere. Perfumer made her way – no, she ran towards her quarters. To see if it’s true. To see if it wasn’t just a cruel prank someone with too much free time had plotted against her.

There it was. The envelope. A singular envelope deposited neatly on her desk, right in front of the calendar that was full of red crossmarks — the crossmarks had started to appear three months ago. A proof of Perfumer’s attempt to track time. A proof of the effort she had poured in to ground herself to reality. To attach herself to something, anything, really because she had missed Flamebringer. Terribly.

She missed him. What utter nonsense. Yet, the squeeze that held her heart hostage was gone, and she could breathe again.

Her fingers carefully touched the surface of the red-blue paper. Perfumer bent forward, her bangs brushed against the wood of the desk.

The smell of foreign soil greeted her nose, followed closely by a light whiff of pine, cedar and a gentle brush of cypress. Then, there it is. The scent that unmistakably belongs to the Sarkaz swordsman.

Perfumer straightened her back and left the room.

Now, now, the Lupo woman told herself. Calm yourself.

One hundred and twenty-five days. It has been a hundred and twenty-five days since Flamebringer had stepped out of Rhodes Island.