Meriell Bell

Meriell Bell
Gender	Female
Race	Hyur
Clan	Midlander
Citizenship	Limsa Lominsa
Age	19
Nicknames	Mell, Merry Mell Bell
Occupation	Waitress / Entertainer
Guardian Deity	Nophica, the Matron
Marital Status	Dating

About The Player

• Time Zone: CET - Poland
• Nationality: Canadian-Polish
• Server: Omega
• FC: Astral Crusaders
• Lodestone: Meriell Bell
• Additional Characters: Sehlo'sae Nelhah, Shin Nelhah, Rinako Ura

General

Meriell Bell, usually going simply as Mell or even Merry-Mell-Bell when fooling around, is a Lominsan barmaid, ex-Maelstrom, mostly known for her larger than life personality. After leaving the Maelstrom, she started her career as a barmaid at the Bismarck back in Limsa Lominsa; which later got her to work in Thanalan and later on even in the Mists; her loving and outgoing personality being selling point for such a profession. Very likable and having a gift to interact with customers, she got employed at Club Lustre as the head waitress and chatelaine, in charge or organizing events and social gatherings. Due to some unfortunate events, she left the Club and after some time alone, she joined the Astral Crusaders as a waitress, and as an adventurer; seeing it as an opportunity to brush-up on her fighting skills as well as get back to her beloved customers.

Cheery and kind to everyone, she is the life of any party or gathering, genuinely wanting to make sure that everyone has a good time and that no one gets ignored or bored. Due to her hyperactivity, it’s not uncommon to see her switching topics at random, or even getting herself lost and confused by her own speed. Her mouth is definitely faster than her brain which often got her in trouble, despite the good intentions behind her words.

A simple lass, who takes pleasure in the small things in life. She is very easy to befriend and she would never turn anyone down or a good conversation.

Personality

The first thing anyone can notice immediately, and say to best describe Meriell, is her personality.

Limitless energy, hyper-active and always on the go; accompanied by a winning smile and a very cheerful demeanor, it is not possible to hate the girl. By default she is a very happy person and an optimist, which she easily infects her friends with.

Cheery and out-going, she has an easy time befriending anyone that crosses her path, unless they simply refuse to be friends with her. To her, everyone is a friend and an ally, and she’d never turned anyone down. Very quick to trust however, she often gets into trouble for placing her faith in certain individuals but it never put her off or made her learn her lesson; she still continues talking to strangers despite getting burnt in the past.

She is a very energetic girl who appears to never run out of fuel and will be all over the place at the same time. She enjoys talking and meeting new people, and her open personality allows her that easily. Learning about the different races, or even culture is one of her biggest hobbies so she feels naturally drawn to foreigners or even peculiar looking individuals; and she has no shame to approach them on the street with her questions. A big fan of fun and games, she can be often seen playing in the company’s front yard, or doing other outdoor activities.

Due to her age, she is perhaps seen as naïve, but there is more than meets the eye. She is definitely not thoughtless and can understand if she is being used or manipulated. The benefit of being such a friendly person, means that she is capable of extracting information from people easily without them even noticing. They often don’t see her as a threat or anyone of great matter that can cause harm. Her smile and cheery nature seem to easily fool many.

Favourite Expressions:

• "Meriell reporting for duty!!"

Appearance

Meriell is quite tall for her kind, standing at a full 170cm. She is of a slender build and a lean figure. Despite her feminine looks, she is very sturdy and physically capable; all coming from her upbringing as well as her years in the Maelstrom, as well as her love for all sorts of outdoor activities. She keeps herself fit despite her love for sweeties. Thick, light brown, shoulder-length hair in a convenient small bob wraps at her cheeks, giving her a slightly more juvenile look. Big blue sapphire eyes, always with a glint of excitement. She has a very gently sun-kissed complexion thanks to working outdoors for extended periods of time. On her chin, she sports a small beauty mark. However, she isn’t one for makeup and wears absolutely none of it unless it is require due to work.

For clothing, she enjoys bright and warm colours, going from sunny oranges to deep reds and even vibrant pinks. Not shy to show skin but still rather modest with her attire, she'd often wears skirts or even dresses. But for personal convenience and considering how hyperactive she is, she prefers trousers. She does enjoy jewelry and often wears earrings or some pendants just to adorn her plain clothes and add more flare to them.

When talking, she speaks perfect Eorzean however, when very relaxed, it is not uncommon to hear her thick Lominsan accent shine through She would forget to pronounce correctly and just go back to her roots, but this faux-pas happens most commonly around her close ones.

Posture Habits

• Always smiling
• Giggly & cheery

Occupation

Many years ago, she formed part of the Maelstrom but it was for a very brief moment of her life, despite being groomed for it since birth. Her tasks were mainly assisting with stopping petty crimes and also taking care of refugees. Her soft spot were for the suffering children, and despite helping them, she wasn’t able to handle the pain well. Behind her family's back, Meriell worked part-time at the Bismarck back in Limsa Lominsa for a few years as a waitress and wannabe cook, very often observing the cooks in the kitchen and offering help whenever they were short on staff. She was very helpful and always available to come in whenever help was needed. It was a job that brought her happiness and satisfaction, unlike the Maelstrom. Thus, she decided to leave the Maelstrom and lead a very simple life, continuing her career as a waitress at the Bismarck.

Truly liked by other employees and customers, she was the apple in the eye for many and even became the reason for many returning customers. Despite her popularity, she was moved to Thanalan to the Coffer & Coffin tavern by her employer, saying that it was for her to gain more experience in a more unfriendly environment; the entire goal to harden her a bit. Things did not go too smoothly and with some help from new friends, she traveled to the Shroud where she found work at The Bobbing Cork. She settled there for a long period, her reputation always surpassing her.

Every now and then she started hosting some small events to gather more potential customers. She’d often organize small dances or even more grand spectacles, and very often she’d be the entertainer for the evening. An accomplished dancer and acrobat, she developed a new hobby while dancing on stage and she still managed perfectly the balance between being a waitress and entertainer. With such a good reputation, she was offered a job at Club Lustre, which was an exclusive club for the higher classes in Limsa Lominsa; meant to please the most demanding, with great food and entertainment as well as offer an amazing environment to socialize. She was the first waitress to join and quickly became a star employee, getting promoted instantly to head waitress and chatelaine of the establishment. The tasks were harder and much more demanding, but it seemed the harder they were, the more joy it brought her. She was tasked with overseeing the entire staff as well as organizing grand events on a weekly basis. She would still perform for the guests on rare occasions, but her main focus was to assist the other employees as well as the owner.

Currently, she forms part of the Astral Crusaders, located in the Goblet, where her career as a waitress and entertainer continue. As the company also takes on multiple quests from the locals, she gets the chance to utilize her old skills which she had learned from the Maelstrom.

Combat

The Hyur, at first sight, might not appear to be a fighter, but having a good look at her, she definitely appears to be able to handle her own in a fight. Powerful legs and strong arms, she could definitely pack up a punch and she wouldn’t hesitate to get aggressive if required, especially if it meant helping her loved ones. Being born in a family fully dedicated to the Maelstrom, she was groomed from birth to join their ranks, as her older sister and father already had. Day in and day out she'd be training sword-fighting, bowman skills as well as her condition and physique.

Finally, having serve in the Maelstrom for little over a year, she became a really skilled bow-woman and also very good at hand-to-hand combat. A good eye and stable arms, she is able to take down enemies standing far away with a single arrow if taken the time to prepare. She can wield a sword but she finds it barbaric and an easy way to get hurt. Another reason for it, is she does not want to have any eye contact with the enemies while in combat as it always fills her with guilt. Thus, the bow will always triumph over all other weapons, which is her most treasured possession to this day. If she cannot attack from a long distance and needs to be involved heads on, she will resort to using her own fists and kicks to fend off enemies. She is a very good acrobat, able to climb walls, trees, crawl through tight ducts with ease, climb walls or even cliff-sides. She does not mind getting her hands, or face, dirty and will gladly to the manual labour in any missions if necessary.

Recently, thanks to her partner Thorir Ryder she had taken up sword-fighting, and just like him, choosing a katana as the blade. At his behest, she started training every single day to get better, wanting to impress him as well as to get better herself. Always being one for long-ranged combat, she saw it as a benefit to learn close combat, wanting to be more useful to the company as well as to her loved ones, able to protect them when the day would come.

She is more of a physical person than magic-oriented, and it is still unclear and unknown if she can use magic in big extents. She can however channel some aether to her attacks, although it is very minimal, thus, she skips it.

Tendencies

Likes

• Vibrant colours
• Girly accessories
• Mother nature
• Spicy and fragrant foods that can stink up a room
• Anything of foreign origin

Dislikes

• Filthy places or establishments
• Big, crowded cities
• Stiff and rude people

Hobbies

• All outdoor activities
• Dancing the evening away
• Loves cooking meals for family and friends
• Puzzles. She adores the challenge of arranging the small pieces and it keeps her busy for hours
• Everything and anything Doman

Skills

• A good singer and dancer; an accomplished entertainer all around. She'd often provide entertainment for others
• Easily makes friends with her bubbly nature
• Well developed athletically with amazing endurance and stamina

◢ Common Rumours

■ "She is well adored by many, and it is easy to see why! She is so lovely!"

■ "She is obsessed with Doman culture to the point of even sometimes dressing like one of them"

◢ Uncommon Rumours

■ "I heard she was a waitress at Club Lustre... is that truly the only thing she did there?"

◢ Rare Rumours

■ "Her cheery nature is almost eerie... Is it even real?"

◢ PC Rumours

■ "We only just met... I didn't want to become attached, but I just couldn't help it around her. Her positive attitude is so contagious!" - Ririan Ruruan

■ "A naive girl... but she is good at heart and I almost feel like it is my duty to make sure she does nothing stupid" - Shin Nelhah

Relationships

♥ Family    ♥ Love    ♥ Platonic    ♥ Failed     ● Good    ● Neutral    ● Poor    

Family

♥ Wilfram Bell (45)

Meriell's father, a head-strong man with a powerful authority but loving heart, however driven by career. A very loving father and he was dedicated to his family above all else, but at some point once his children grew up, he deviated and wanted them to bring honour to the family above all else. Meriell always admired her father and he was a good friend to her, and she'd often find comfort in his words and look up to him, wanting to be just like him. But ever since she left the Maelstrom, there has been no contact, as he was let down by her departure.

♥ Hilda Bell (43)

The mother to the children, a very caring woman who was a house-wife. Meriell was very close with her but she always was a daddy's girl above all else. Her mother would try to make Meriell more of a woman by forcing her into dresses and high-heeled shoes but it never worked for the little spunky lass who just lived out her tomboy life-style.

♥ Agnes Bell (27)

The eldest of all three siblings, Agnes always had to hold her head high as the eldest. Meriell and Agnes got along just fine. They fought a lot like all siblings but they were always very close and there to help each other out. Agnes was the more feminine between the two of them, while Meriell was the one to get her constantly into trouble. Despite the years, the two remain close and write to each other often.

♥ Randal Bell (18)

Youngest of all three, Randal was the odd ball that never fit in. Artistic soul, he'd often stay at home painting and making sculptures instead of being out with his older sisters. Meriell, however, adored his art and was the only one to compliment him, which in the end was his fuel to keep going and finally leave the nest in search of his own passions.

Love Interests

♥ Thorir Ryder (25)

A Doman adventurer and fellow employee at the Astral Crusaders, taking care of the security in the establishment. Meeting him but a few days after joining, Meriell took a huge liking to the man and his kind and sweet words won her over completely. She could feel butterflies in her stomach each time she saw him. He invited her on a walk, upon which they ended up bonding very well over fun and mischief, being thrown into a body of water among other things. After an entire day of activities, things quieted down and they ended up kissing. The same day, he asked for her to become his girlfriend and she accepted gladly. Intent on making it work this time, and to have her happily ever after, she is working hard to please; spending as much time as possible with him.

♥ Ririan Ruruan (19 / deceased)

A shy and timid Lalafell that Meriell met the moment she landed in Ul'dah and approached him by asking for directions. Although shy, he did help her out and the two quickly became good friends over the length of the day. After a few days, and some bonding, the Lalafell asked her out. Shocked but not disapproving, she accepted immediately and the two started dating despite the few days that they knew each other. Meriell adores him and almost sees it as her duty to protect him and to put a smile on his face every day, wanting to help him vanquish the shyness. She had never met anyone as kind as him and genuinely cares for the lad. However, he joined the Paladin program, and recent events caused his death, leaving the girl brokenhearted.

Friends

♥ Madam Vonne (51)

The owner of Club Lustre. A Highlander woman with a high air that Meriell ran into by chance in the Quicksand and got offered a job at Club Lustre where she was the owner. The woman inspired Meriell greatly with her noble-like air, and she immediately agreed to the offer and joined the staff to become a trusted employee of hers. Meriell respects Madam Vonne immensely and sees her as an icon, as her idol, and will do anything to please her. The woman almost became a motherly figure to the Midlander and she follows whatever guidance and advice she is given. The two really grew close during Meriell's employment and after some time, Madam Vonne would open up more and more to her, even to the point of confessing that she wanted to keep her around for much longer than only the duration of the Club Lustre, and Meriell agreed.

● Leoden Garande (20)

Ala Mhigan Hyur who also joined the Astral Crusaders but a few days before her. They quickly grew close, already having been on a quest together and helping each other out when in need. She gladly offers him advice when it comes to the ladies and despite him still not understanding it. One could say that they got great chemistry between each other but Meriell would never interfere with an ongoing relationship and she is very happy to be able to help out.

● Koji Ichihara (26)

Midlander just like Meriell, but hailing from Doma. The two met in Ul'dah under quite normal circumstances however, it was him opening up to her about his worries and his past that brought them closely together; her being the one to cheer him up with her merry mood and kind words. He appeared to appreciate her and over time, she quickly got to call him 'nii-san' as he taught her a bit about his culture, and she always wanted to know more about it, genuinely interested. Their relationships is like brother and sister, both supporting each other in times of need. He was the one who got her interested in Doman culture almost to an obsession.

● Shin Nelhah (28)

A chance encounter at the Bobbing Cork in the North Shroud, and despite very different personalities, the two ladies actually got talking as Meriell was the waitress at the establishment. Seeing the Miqo'te there almost on a daily basis, got her wanting to get to know her whether the guest liked it or not. A bit of a forced friendship, Shin got to enjoy the girl's company, but would never admit that fact. The relationship over time became almost like that of a mother and daughter, with the Miqo'te looking after her.

● Sini'to Shadar (32)

Meeting him through Shin Nelhah, she really got to bond closely with the man, at least from her point of view. They got to go on many missions together, usually him looking after her than her after him. From the very beginning she dubbed him 'Mr Grey' due to his monochrome colorization, a sign of how comfortable she felt around him.

History

Please note that all information below is common knowledge that Meriell may share depending on her relationship with the person; however there are still many secrets that she holds which explain the reasoning behind many decisions but those will not be listed here and must be learned IC

Upbringing (0-16)

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Meriell’s childhood was a peaceful one and with little thrills. Born to a simple Lominsan family with an older sister and younger brother, she was the middle child that somehow ended up being the one to wear the pants among the siblings. Her mother was a housewife and her father a well-respected Lieutenant in the Maelstrom. She led a comfortable life with a loving family but despite the peaceful and easy-going lifestyle, it was also demanding due to her father. Being a well-recognized Lieutenant in at the Maelstrom just like his father and grandfather before him, he wanted to continue the tradition.

He would train and teach his children day in and day out. Meriell’s older sister was much ahead as the age gap was considerate and she was promised a good position at the Grand Company. Meanwhile, Meriell and her little brother struggled much more. Over time, Meriell got better. Her father notice that she had good aim but she did not have the strength in her arms to swing her arms, so he switched her to a bow. It was the best decision ever, and it is something that stayed with her until today. Training rigorously, she wanted to make her father proud, quickly excelling and even managing to win duels against her older sister.

The Maelstrom (16-17)

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Once reaching the age of sixteen, Meriell joined the Maelstrom where her sister, Agnes, was already a high ranking officer. Meriell had a lot to live up to, the bar set very high. However, despite the high expectations, training rigorously every day and making sure to serve the Grand Company with every task that was assigned, she climbed her way up the ladder despite her young age, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Most of her work was around petty crime and stopping thefts and small criminals.

At times, her unit was tasked also with assisting those in need, mostly being refugees. Sometimes it was helping them, and in other containing them to be deported elsewhere; which was one of the things she hated the most. She had a soft spot for the children and she’d always try to make it a bit easier for them, by giving toys or candies behind her superiors’ backs. She did enjoy being able to make a difference but mentally it was taking a huge toll on the usually positive girl.

Behind her family’s back, she started working part time at the Bismarck, which wasn’t far from the Maelstrom headquarters. Her co-workers were well aware of her working there, and simply assumed that her family knew and that she needed to make some extra money on the side. While in truth, it was to serve as a distraction. She needed to interact with normal people, as well as be in a more positive environment. She got to brush up on her people skills and it was something which brought her great joy, something she missed back in the barracks.

After a year, her younger brother, Randal, joined the Maelstrom too as a mere private and he remained there as he had no ambitions to remain in the Grand Company. From the beginning, he wanted to leave and make his own life. This did not please their father at all who was ready to disown him but after some talking, it was appeased. The boy was allowed to leave peacefully, using the excuse that he simply wasn’t physically fit for the job. Randal left the Grand Company to travel the world as he had always wanted to, something Meriell was very jealous of. She kept in contact with him by constantly sending letters and she always loved hearing about his travels. His letters opened a completely new and unknown world to her, a world she wanted to discover. In her free time, she would read atlases and even look at maps, picturing how other parts of Eorzea looked like, other lands included. She developed an immense interest in the foreign and would even try to study other languages. She kept up this routine for a few months.

That was when her older sister, Agnes, married a fellow Corporal and decided to settle down, retiring from the Maelstrom to start her own family. This left Meriell alone in the Maelstrom. With her sister gone, her brother travelling the world but not physically there for her, she found little reasons to stay. She would sink into a deeper hole every day, her only escape were his letters which fueled her imagination of being free and going out on an adventure someday to see all the amazing things he had seen. Time went by and she came to the conclusion that she too had to leave the Grand Company. Well-aware that it wasn’t going to be a smooth conversation, she still gathered up the courage to confront her father. He forbid her immediately from leaving as she was the only one left to continue the service to the Maelstrom after he’d retire. Not wanting to anger him further, she remained for a few more months but her mentally took such a toll that she decided to resign. She went to her superior and gave him her resignation papers as well as her uniform, keeping only her trusted bow which she was given on her first day of service.

Meriell returned home as if nothing had happened that day. She did tell her mother the truth, and her siblings were well aware of her unhappiness with the Maelstrom. The only person they omitted was her father. At night, her mother prepared everything for the girl’s departure: clothes, food and gave her some money to last her a few days. They exchanged goodbyes, promising to write to each other constantly. Meriell then headed to the Bismarck where her boss gave her a contact in Thanalan, telling her to go there so she would be far away, enough for her not to run into her father.

Her father quickly learned that she had left the Maelstrom and it was something he never brought himself to forgive. While her relations with the rest of the family are at their best, her father refuses to acknowledge her existence after feeling he was stabbed in the back by her actions. Her mother and siblings were always aware of where she was from her letters, but they never revealed the information to her father. Regardless, he wanted to hear none of it.

While she felt horrible towards her father, she finally felt free, and the feeling was the best thing she had ever felt. Inspired by her brother’s letters, and with a contact in Thanalan, she immediately headed to the Airship Landing, anxious to finally start living.

New Life at Club Lustre (18-19)

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Meriell arrived in Ul’dah at the Airship Landing and all she had was a piece of paper with unclear instructions as to where to go. Her boss from the Bismarck had sent her to Thanalan to perfect her skills and try to serve a different crowd to help her build up character. She was to work at the The Coffer & Coffin but she had no idea how to reach the place, and so, she walked up to a Lalafell to ask for directions. The Lalafell’s name was Ririan Ruruan. He was a shy fellow of very few words but with a sweet disposition and he helped her out and led her to the place just outside of Blackbrush. Once there, she was baffled by the state of the tavern and refused to work there and he agreed that it did not seem like the best place at all. They did enter however to have a look around and they met a Miqo’te man and a Roegadyn woman who exchanged some words with them and offered Meriell more insight into the entiretyof the matter. All of their words were well noted and she decided to find some other place to work at. After exchanging some words with the Lalafell, he proposed her to go to Gridania and she took him up on the offer as he brought her there. Gridania itself was gorgeous to her but she wanted something even lower key, wanting to get a real feel of the area. The two parted ways and over the next few days, Meriell found employment in the Bobbing Cork located in the Alder Springs as a waitress and an occasional help in the kitchen.

In the days to come, she worked there hard and made herself already a good name with the community, immediately liked by all. When coming back with some groceries for the kitchen, she ran into Ririan Ruruan. He was shocked to see her but she was overjoyed and showered him with attention and invited him to eat at the new place where she worked at. The two met some odd people that day but Meriell quickly made many new friends during some meeting they ended up in but they quickly separated afterwards to have some alone time. After some heart to heart talks and a nice bonding moment, the Lalafell suddenly asked her out and said he wanted to date her. Shocked but not against it, she gladly agreed and the two became an official couple.

After a couple weeks of working in Alder Springs, Ririan Ruruan informed Meriell that he was going to take up the Paladin Program in Ul’dah yet again after getting rejected several times in the past. Knowing that it meant a lot to him, she decided to join him to Ul’dah to show her support, which she did at times in rather explosive ways which shocked him but it got the job done. Intimidated, the officials allowed him to take the exam, which he ended up passing. While Ririan Ruruan would be passing his exams and training to become a Paladin, she would visit him over the weekends in Ul’dah, spending her free time wandering the areas and getting to know the culture and people, which made her end up in the Quicksand rather often. There, she met many people that quickly became good friends of hers and she often indulged in their company while her boyfriend was busy.

During one of such visits to the Quicksand, she ran into Madam Vonne. The Highlander woman approached her and struck up a conversation, at the end immediately offering her a job. Turned out that she was the owner of Club Lustre, a club for the higher classes located in the Mists and she wanted Meriell there as a server as the establishment was about to open its doors soon. Rather thrilled to hear that it was in the Mists, which was her home area, she agreed to visit the establishment and after seeing it and meeting the other people that were already employed there, she decided to stay. The bar was set high, but Meriell quickly became a favourite and she loved every single minute spent there. Ririan Ruruan appeared happy for her despite his doubts about the place as it sounded a bit suspicious as a club for the higher ups, but he kept his doubts to himself.

Around the same period as she was leaving Ul’dah to go work in the Mists, she met a Doman man named Koji Ichihara. The two grew very close over time and Meriell saw in him a brotherly figure which substitute the position of her younger brother who was unable to be at her side. Being a foreigner, she wanted to know more about his culture and would bombard him with questions, as well as study on her own to learn as much as she could. Her fascinating was further cemented during that time, obsessed with anything from foreign lands. She quickly started calling him ‘Nii-san’ and he did not appear to mind, taking it as a compliment even. A kind man that always offered advice and a shoulder for support, she learned to depend on him very early on.

Soon after, the opening of Club Lustre was announced. Everyone rushed to prepare everything, Meriell being one of the main waitresses for the evening. She tended to every single guess on a personal level, chatting with them and making sure they were taken care of. She wanted to show how much she cared for each guest and she worked from opening hours until the very first rays of sunlight the next day. She shone like no other that evening and was promoted immediately after by Madam Vonne to chatelaine, making her in charge of organizing events and one of the most important members of Club Lustre, also taking care of the staff. She took up the mantle gladly and continued delivering her best during each event and opening for guests. During that period, she grew incredibly close with the owner Madam Vonne, many suspecting them of having more than just mere friendship. The woman seemed to enjoy the girl’s company and often invited her to her private quarters where they would spend entire evenings talking about Club Lustre or even their future. The Highlander expressed great interest of keeping Meriell by her side should Club Lustre one day disappear, wanting to take her on her journeys across Eorzea. Always being a fan of travels and seeing new foreign lands, Meriell agreed without even thinking about it, their relationship growing even more suspicious to the public and other employees as Meriell appeared to become a favourite of the owner.

Not too long afterward, Meriell presented Ririan Ruruan to the other employees during a meeting they had to discuss internal affairs, and during that meeting she put him forward as a potential candidate for a guard position, to form part of the security. He was shocked but after a few quick words with her and the other people, he did decide to step up to the role and talked to the head of security. After exchanging a bit with the man, he was hired and made Meriell’s personal bodyguard due to her promotion and also being an easy target. Kind as she was and willing to please, it often got her into trouble, thus it was the person opportunity for him to take care of her.

Weeks passed and everything was going well. Ririan Ruruan followed her like a shadow, truly taking his job seriously and worried for her as many guests appeared to have a very particular liking for her. She seemed oblivious to it, her eyes solely focused on him anyway. One day she took him to her room for simple mingling but it was evident the Lalafell had something on his mind, and out of nowhere he proposed to her. She felt it was rather sudden but, getting along as they did, she did feel like he was the one, agreeing to his proposal.

Joining the Astral Crusaders (19-Current)

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Time went by, and a nice routine set in. Meriell was on cloud number nine, awaiting her day to be wed with Ririan Ruruan. She continued working diligently at Club Lustre, still under Madam Vonne’s wings, and despite being engaged, the Highlander didn’t seem to relent and would always try to coerce her, wanting her to join her on her journeys over and over. Meriell thought nothing of it and went along, somehow thinking that it would all work out. She saw a maternal figure in the Highland and thus, was easily manipulated and formed. However, all that came to a stop when one day she was informed of the death of Ririan Ruruan. He had been killed on a mission which he was sent to complete as part of his Paladin program. Meriell’s entire world shattered, reduced to a sorry state of her old self. The usually happy girl was but a shell, unable to even feel anything but pain. She stopped appearing at Club Lustre, unable to function and do her duties, which cost the Club its reputation and it soon fell apart, closing its doors.

Madam Vonne, seeing her state, took her with her on her promised journeys, hoping it would also bring back her lost spirit. But it hadn’t. Meriell followed her without much of a thought, not even interacting of paying attention to her surroundings. Feeling pity for her, the Highlander decided that it was time to part, taking her back to the Bobbing Cork where her old friends were awaiting her. The two said their goodbyes and Meriell kept from her a spell book which she treasures until this day. At the Bobbing Cork, gradually, Meriell regained part of her personality, slowly re-adjusting to life and accepting that she was alone again.

Then, an old friend Shin Nelhah paid her a visit, proposing her a job. She was to accompany a group for adventurer's and assist in inspecting the Haukke Manor, and identifying the threat that lay dormant there. Ecstatic at the chance of a distraction as well as helping others, it was a much needed diversion, she went ahead with it. That was when she met for the first time the Miqo'te's partner Sini'to Shadar and another fellow Hyur, Leoden Garande. She immediately had a huge liking to the Hyur, who was not only close to her age, but she felt they had a lot in common. However, one road block was the fact that she wasn't part of the Astral Crusader's, who were the ones assisting in the quest, and to help them, she had to join their ranks. She visited them in the Goblet and had no issues at all joining their ranks as a fellow adventurer and also a waitress in their tavern section. It was something she had always enjoyed doing, no matter how simple. At the same time, the prospect of helping others while venturing out was another distraction, which helped her heal old wounds faster.

The day for the quest arrived. Together with Leoden Garande, Sini’to Shadar and Ihrih Nhoyo, they set out to the Central Shroud, towards Haukke Manor. Meriell’s teleportation spell went wrong and she ended up in Bentbranch, having to catch up to the party beside the manor’s main gates. There they could all spot two large Flying Eyes and they all prepped for battle, going in pairs against each. The Miqo’tes remained together and the Hyurs on the other enemy. Meriell struggled a bit, rusty after many years of not taking up her bow but it all came back to her as they engaged in combat, quick to defend her dear friends with her life if necessary. After they defeated the Floating Eyes an odd figure appeared before them, that of an elegant Elezen woman, although clearly voidsent or possessed. Meriell entered panic mode as she for some reason was lead to believe that the woman was Leoden Garande’s girlfriend, at least that was the assumption when she heard the Elezen speak, clearly trying to tempt the man. The entire party couldn’t believe her but they pushed on regardless. Being the only ranged person in the party, she had it easier and after some harsh words from Sini’to Shadar, she ended up dealing the killing blow. Inspecting the body which remained, itturned out to have been a possessed Elezen by voidsent. The woman was alive, but just barely, and the group rushed her to the Conjurer's Guild back in Gridania to get assistance where Meriell failed to explain the situation correctly and the entire group almost faced arrest, saved last moment by Leoden Garande who was quick to explain and strike a deal. The next day Meriell had to suffer some intense questioning by the authorities about the entire incident but after a couple long hours, she was let off the hook.

Returning to the Goblet, the Astral Crusader's headquarters, she felt down and definitely did not feel like a hero as she had hoped for. There, at the tavern section, she ran into Thorir Ryder and the two struck up a conversation, Meriell feeling amazing chemistry with the man. He was also new and it offered her comfort to know that she wasn't the only one who had issues fitting in perfectly. As he left, she definitely felt butterflies in her stomach and was looking forward to further interactions with the mysterious gentleman, as well as meeting the other members.

The next day, finally off the hook, she decided to start organizing her room within the Astral Crusaders, for personal reasons as well as to get her mind off matters. While arranging her things, she ran into Leoden Garande in the hallways; immediately asking him if he was alright after the quest. He reassured her and set her worries at ease. Talking for quite a while, she offered to show him her new room which was semi-furnished and the two sat down by the fireplace, talking some more. Among other things, they talked more about his survival skills as well as his Viera partner who apparently is on a journey and cannot even be located. Fishy and suspicious, Meriell did express her concerns but the man appeared set on his beliefs and trusts, thus, she dropped the topic. Amidst the chatter, some more intimate and odd talks spurted and the two actually seemed to notice that they were attracted to each other, but Meriell refused to even initiate anything, fully aware the man was devoted to another. But, she gladly offered to be of help when it came to women, which he gladly accepted and it made a new wave of silly questions arise. The two later on agreed to go on a trip to a fishing spot the man had discovered some time ago. Time and date yet to be set.

Continuing to clear out her old living place and moving to the Goblet, she ended up collecting an entire box of old toys from her childhood, deciding to actually give them away instead of throwing out. She carried the thing downstairs to the restaurant area where she ran into Thorir Ryder again. After some small talk, he invited her on a walk around the Goblet as she wasn’t very well acquainted with the area. Overjoyed, she instantly took him up on the offer.

The walk took them to the center of the Goblet where multiple bodies of water could be found, something which brought her great joy as it was a great spot to cool down in the intense heat. A casual invitation turned into a mischievous play as she splashed him with water, and in revenge she got thrown into the entire pool fully dressed. He teased her mercilessly, leaving her rather speechless and barely able to even react other than blush and try to move away. Among all the fooling around, she accidentally knocked off his eye-patch, revealing his cut eye. Despite the shock of the sight, she wasn’t too fazed and told him she did not mind the look. He appeared to appreciate the words and once they got out of the water, he helped her dry up with his magic. In the midst of all that, they ended up embracing and shared a very brief kiss, which got quickly interrupted by a sneeze from her. With a cold starting, they quickly returned to headquarters where they both quickly changed into dry clothes and met up in Meriell’s semi-furnished room. Thorir Ryder instantly noticed the Doman-themed furniture and she admitted that she had a fascination with said culture, even going as far as wearing Doman clothing and at times even cooking some of their traditional foods. Bluntly, the man asked her if she wanted to add a Doman boyfriend to her collection. Shock and disbelief was written all over her face but, having moved on from her past loss, there was no reason for her to reject the man. He had been always very nice with her, and the bonus of him being Doman could not go ignored. She agreed.

The cold not relenting, Meriell decided to pay a visit to Shin Nelhah who gladly gave her some medicine, informing her that for the next few days the symptoms would worsen but at the same time the illness would end much quicker. It allowed her body to expel whatever which was the cause of her cold. Obediently, she took the doses as instructed and immediately felt the kick, spending the entire night in bed with a bucket at her side. The next day she tried to do something as she was unable to just sit all day, but whatever activities she tried, her cold would get in the way. Annoyed and depressed, she made her way to the restaurant area of the house again, searching for some herbal tea to perhaps cleanse her sinuses. There, glory and behold, she ran into Thorir Ryder once more. He appeared to have been practicing his swordsmanship on stage, attacking a dummy and finally burning it to a crisp with aether. Meriell was amazed and applauded loudly at the display, instantly forgetting her need for the tea, but she kept tissues at her side at all times.

He noted that she was wearing traditional Doman attire, consisting of a red and black kimono. She was most happy to please him with that fact but apparently she had failed at tying the obi, despite the time it took her to do it. He helped her out after some teasing and pulling at the sash, much to her alarm and embarrassment. Noticing that her cold wasn’t getting any better, he proposed a bath. She agreed without putting much thought into the matter. Meriell already encountered a roadblock when she was unable to undo the obi he had adjusted for her, convinced it was done on purpose by him. He assisted her which made her entire clothing drop to the floor in an instant, leaving her absolutely traumatized. She hid immediately, collecting her clothing before her and then using him as a shield, only tensing up the atmosphere. After some drag and dawdling, they finally managed to get into the tub, where more tom-foolery ensued. Among all the talk, he had asked her about her interests and one of them was dance. He expressed interest in seeing her dance and so she promised him she would one day. She returned to her room to suffer in silence with her cold, hoping it was going to be gone the next day.

Summer was on with the intense heat accompanying it, and together with that, came the MoonFire Faire. Overjoyed at the festivities going on all over Eorzea, Meriell invited Thorir Ryder to join her in the fun, wanting to go see the stalls together with him as well as the fireworks show. He agreed and the same evening they returned to the spot where he had thrown her into the water in the Goblet, but this time the place was an explosion of colours. Lanterns adorned the archways, multiple food stalls lined the streets and many people and children alike could be found enjoying themselves. It was the perfect event for Meriell and she was overjoyed at the opportunity to go there with her partner. He took her, or better said, carried her, to a more secluded spot to have a better look at the fireworks which were planned after sunset. While observing, it triggered another talk about his homeland as well as his family, informing Meriell that he would like to introduce her to his family so they may stop presenting him with potential brides, all from noble backgrounds. She learned that he was actually from a noble house much like the potential bride candidates, which did cause the pressure and anxiety to rise but he seemed adamant on his choice of partner and it eased her worries for the time being, enjoying the rest of the evening with him. After the show, seeing as the night was still young, Meriell proposed that she was willing to offer him the dance she had promised him the other day. Intrigued, he agreed; and they returned to the house. Back in her room, she changed into her dance outfit which consisted of a red far eastern garb. Shy, but excited to get back into one of her hobbies, she presented him with an intricate fan dance she had been practicing since the day before, wanting to surprise him and make sure there was no room for mistakes. The dance lasted for a while, every now and then giggling bashfully as he watched her closely, but she was focused on showing him just what she could do, as well as keeping her promise from the other day. As she danced, he asked her what other dances she knew and she presented him with one more upon his request, quite happy to switch it up. Amidst all the dancing and growing yearning from both sides, the two ended up consummating their relationship.

The next day, planning to go out but a rainstorm cancelled all plans, the couple remained indoors at the house. Having not much to do, Meriell thought it would be a good idea to ask Thorir Ryder for sword-fighting lessons as she had been always lacking in that department, and since he was part of the establishments security and she had already the chance to see him in action. Seeing no harm in it, he agreed. He lent her a katana and the two went down to the stage area where he told her to repeat sword slashing at least fifty times over. Annoyed, she refused and did her own thing, which was sword-dancing. It triggered him and he told her off, wanting her to take it seriously. it also got her going and angered, she challenged him to a duel. Unmoved, he took up her challenge which ended rather quickly. While she kept her own, he suddenly dropped his sword in pain, and she decided to cancel the entire duel, immediately tending to him. She learned that his burned and scarred hands didn't have the strength anymore to use his katana as he did in the past. Feeling extremely guilty, she apologized, not wanting anymore to spar with him due to his condition; but she decided to take up sword-fighting on her own. it would only benefit her further when venturing out. As an apology, although it wasn't required, she made him a very big and rich supper, Doman-inspired to please him. In return he gifted her with Doman cooking books, which became her new treasure.

In the coming days the two grew even closer, even going to Costa del Sol. There, Thorir Ryder opened up much more about what his family expected of him as well as what he wanted in life. Over the talk, heartfelt words were exchanged, solidifying their strong feelings for each other. Returning to the company, they encountered Leoden Garande who appeared shocked to see them together, dating. Meriell learned that the two actually were very close, almost forming a brotherly bond. It made her quite happy and she understood immediately why the two of them got together; for the exact same reasons why she got along with both of them. The Ala Mhigan appeared completely taken aback at the knowledge of them forming a couple, but when he saw how happy it made his friend, his worries were settled. Soon after Sini'to Shadar joined in on the conversation, and they all agreed to go see the fireworks again. Thinking that Shin Nelhah would have some for them to fire into the sky, she ran to her lab to fetch her or the fireworks but instead got locked, forgetting that the doors were one sided. Grumbling and stuck, she did notice some snacks left for her together with a plush toy and a note, telling her to eat the snacks and just relax for a few hours until the Miqo'te's return. Having no choice, she settled herself in the lab for the rest of the day, awaiting her friend's return. Eating all the snacks and having nothing else to do apart from waiting for Shin Nelhah she got bored and decided to make her brilliant escape. She climbed out a tight window which was located behind a giant boiler, a fact few people knew. She made her way around the house to re-enter from the main entrance, only to find her friends standing there. Thorir Ryder, Leoden Garange and an unidentified Viera woman. Approaching them she learned that the Viera was in fact the woman whom Leoden Garande had fallen head over heels for, which sparked a multitude of questions to the woman, who was named Lynn Shiri. While the two men walked off to talk, Meriell would bombard the lady with questions about her homeland, quickly identifying her as another foreigner. During the talk, they learned that something had been bothering Leoden Garande greatly, and Thorir Ryder seemed the one most knowledgeable about the reason, clearly trying to talk the man down. At first listening from afar and trying to make out what was going on, a second Viera woman named Rene Skathi joined in on the conversation, clearly evident that she was a close friend, or rival, of Leoden Garande. Among all the talking, she truly learned nothing at all apart from the spunky personality the Viera sported. Tired, and unable to keep up with the conversation, she excused herself, Thorir Ryder joining her for the night.

Time went by and a few days later Meriell ran into Leoden Garande at the headquarters, soaking wet after a storm. Remembering all too well her own sickness after getting wet outside, she stubbornly dragged him off to her room to dry him Once there, she had him sit on the couch while she gave him a couple towels to dry himself off, at the same time she sat herself on the floor, drying his feet for him on her lap. The two talked about many things, among others his interest in sewing and making garments as well as his leatherwork. Impressed, Meriell expressed great interest in the sewing, telling him that he could make her dresses. He appeared put under pressure with the fact that he could make things for his friends, but he didn't reject the idea.

The friendly banter took a big turn when Meriell accidentally mentioned his state from a few days prior but Leoden Garande explained the reasons behind his mood calmly to her. Seeing the full picture, she finally understood his reasons as well as his concerns. It was then that Thorir Ryder walked in on them. While Leoden Garande appeared worried, Meriell was her usual self, ecstatic to see her partner. Thorir Ryder did not seem to misunderstand anything and the three of them engaged in further conversation. She informed her partner that Leoden Garande was making clothings, so Thorir Ryder asked if he could make wedding dresses. It shocked Meriell completely, but luckily Leoden Garande immediately declined, not feeling up to par to fulfill such tall order. Meriell urged Leoden Garande to ask Lynn Shri on a date, but he was far too shy. That was when Thorir Ryder mentioned that he too had tried to go out with the Viera but he got rejected. The news hit Meriell hard for some reason. She never knew she could feel that way, a sensation she had never experienced before: jealousy. Unable to deal with the unknown emotion, she excused herself, leaving both men in her room as she went to get some much needed air outside. She returned after a good few hours, finding Thorir Ryder awaiting for her in her room. They talked a bit, and she apologized for her immature behaviour, feeling like it was out of place and inappropriate at the time. Not bearing any ill will towards her, he saw no reason for her to apologize, and instead, he invited her out to show her a place. She gladly agreed and they changed wards in the Goblet and walked until they reached a small house. Once inside she learned from him that Ihrih Nhoyo had lent them the house during her absence, the only thing she wanted in return was to make sure no one robbed it. While the offer didn't seem very fair, Thorir Ryder reassured her that it was alright. having no choice but to accept she agreed on the condition that she could later thank the Miqo'te personally. They explored the house and came upon a tub at the upper floor where they both decided to take a bath. It was there that somehow the talk of marriage came up, and he teased her about the wedding dress talk from earlier, asking that if he had asked her back then, if she would have accepted a marriage proposal. Dumbfounded and shy, she at first denied it but after further teasing, she gave in, admitting that she would've said yes. During their intimacy, he asked her about contraception and she confirmed that she had received assistance from Shin Nelhah regarding that, not wanting to get pregnant so soon and also wanting him not to worry about it. However, a few minutes after, he asked her what she would think if he had asked her to stop taking contraception from the female Keeper. She had nothing against it but under the condition that he made her an honest woman. This sparked conversations whether to follow Doman traditions or Eorzean. The topic was dropped however for another day.

Gallery

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  Meriell's Far Eastern Clothing

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  Grand Opening of Club Lustre

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  Entertaining at Club Lustre

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  Madam Vonne

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  Meriell & Ririan

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  Thorir's tour of the Goblet

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  Meriell & Thorir

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  MoonFire Faire

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  Meriell with Leoden

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  Dancing