Coco Natlho

Past

In her early days with the Maelstrom, Coco used a mix of melee combat and white magic.

• Home

Coco's parents were two captains from competing pirate vessels outside of Vylbrand. The two had a one-night stand, leading to Coco being born. The two tried to set aside their sailing lives and live together for the sake of the baby, but that only lasted a couple years before the two were ready to kill one another.The two decided to split up and left Coco at an orphanage on the Thanalan coast. She grew up here, with no last name, no memory of her parents, and an unending urge to explore. Coco sat at the edge of the sea every day, looking for ships, and pretending that maybe one of them belonged to her mom or dad.As soon as she was old enough to leave the orphanage, Coco made her way to Limsa Lominsa, where she immediately joined the Arcanist's Guild. It was through the guild that Coco traveled the other city states, studying different styles of magic, and eventually joining the Maelstrom as a means to travel even further.Coco, under the sign of the Wanderer, stayed with the Maelstrom for many years, travelling and fighting, and learning many different types of magic and melee. While on a mission, Coco met Athena Natlho. The two fell in love and were married, and Coco took on Athena's family name. Coco retired from the Maelstrom recently, and has since been working as a bartender at the Sweet and Savoury tavern located in the residential district of Ishgard.

Present

Athena is the light of her life. Now and forever.

• Home

Coco has found her work as a bartender to be very fulfilling and much more comfortable than a life of combat and adventure. Coco loves spending time with the rabble of flamboyant folks that spend time in Sweet and Savoury. She does still enjoy studying magic, though, and continues her studies as a Red Mage, learning both white and black magic.Coco and her wife Athena spend as much time together as they can, even with Athena still working with the Maelstrom, and often being away. Their time in each others' company makes it all worth while, though. When they can, Coco and Athena can be found relaxing on the beach at the Mist, or spending time abroad, exploring even on their time off.If you see her out and about, stop and say "ahoy!" Invite her to go out. She likes dancing and swimming, and she has a deep curiosity about others. Tell her about yourself, and she'll quickly become a friend.

• The Headmistress's Chair
• Coco's Dilemma
• Captail Alyph Styrnsyn

• Home

The Headmistress's Chair

Coco looked out over the horizon, watching the setting sun disappear behind the distant island of Vylbrand. She once again stood on the western coast of Thanalan, a few meters from where she grew up. Coco had heard the old lady who ran the place was sick a few years ago, but she was hearty, and there was no doubt she’d pull through. At least, that’s what Coco had convinced herself of in order not to see the old building again.As she turned around, she saw the empty orphanage, surrounded by scaffolding and a myriad of workers. There hadn’t been any kids there for a few weeks. The last two children in the facility had gone to decent homes, but Coco knew no more than that. A deep sigh later, Coco was ready to go into the building and claim the old lady’s final possessions. Why was it that the old bag put Coco’s name down on her last will? She didn’t think she made that much of an impression on her old caretaker.“Mrs. Natlho, are you able to get the final boxes out of the building before nightfall? This structure is set for demolition in the morning.”She silently nodded at the business-minded Lalafellin man.Just inside the door was a large room, emptied out. Coco didn’t see the empty room, though. She saw the old toys, handed down from families that didn’t need them any more. She saw the rusted and busted furniture that scores of children had used over decades. She saw memories that were fresh enough to have happened yesterday. And in the corner, was a big, fluffy armchair. One that existed only in Coco’s mind at this point.The chair was the only piece of furniture that had all its stuffing. Not because the Headmistress was selfish, but because she was respected. There was a tradition of all the children working together to re-stuff the chair every Starlight Celebration. Some karakul wool was all the children could afford. Coco wished she had known what happened to the chair.Beyond that, to the left, was the bunkroom. It was a large hall of beds, neatly made, for fear of acute verbal retribution. Coco didn’t go in there, but she winced and smiled at the memories of receiving many such talkings-to. To the right was the kitchen and bathroom, also avoided by Coco. She had a purpose and wasn’t going to spend any more time reminiscing about meals and baths. She could do that later. Instead, she looked straight forward, to the office and bedroom of Headmistress Aurifort.As she turned the old knob and opened the door, she had to press forward with more effort than expected. No children were allowed in the Headmistress’s office. Coco had no memory of this room. No idea what to expect. Inside, though, was a small room, empty except for a wooden crate, several feet wide and tall, and a small envelope tucked into one of its creases.“To Coco Natlho, renowned Red Mage:” it read on its outside. Inside, was written a short paragraph.“I hope your efforts with the Maelstrom have been fruitful. I have been informed of some of your exploits and commendations. The contents of this crate are for you, there’s a hinged flap on the side so you can see what’s inside. May you find an appropriate place for it. You irritated me more than any other child I have ever cared for, but you were also the subject of my greatest prayers. You have ever been a reflection of the Wanderer. You never felt at home here, and I realized that. Maybe, just maybe, you have one now.Headmistress Faine AruifortP.S. Please don’t forget about us.”With a furrowed brow, Coco found the hinged flap and opened it. She looked inside and began to cry. Inside the box was the Headmistress’ old chair, freshly stuffed with new wool.---------------Coco woke up and got dressed. She kissed her wife, who was still sleeping, on the head. She walked out towards the apartment’s front door. On her way, as she did every morning since that time, she patted the fluffy, red-upholstered, stuffed chair in the hallway.And she remembered.

• Top

Coco's Dilemma

Four Months. Her next tour is set to be a naval mission, leading a cadre of guards for a supply vessel traveling to Radz-at-Han and back. If she performs well, she’ll likely be recommended for promotion and can finally reach Officer. Coco had thought about reaching Second Lieutenant for years. It would secure her a salary big enough to buy a house, and basically a career for life, safe from the front lines. Everything seemed to be working out. Just one more mission…Coco wiped the bar down with a wet rag, clearing off spilled whiskey and sandwich crumbs from earlier. Einar had just gotten up from the bar and was stumbling out the door, signaling some hand signal behind him towards Coco that she didn’t really understand. This was not an uncommon occurrence. He had been trying to tell Coco earlier about some event that was bothering him, but she couldn’t pick any of it up between the grumbles and slurs. Coco would say he was the bar’s best customer, but Einar owned the place, so he was just drinking his own stash.She locked up behind him and loosed a heavy sigh, her shoulders rising and falling dramatically. And then, she smiled. This work was so different from anything she had done before. She was a fighter, and always had been. At least she thought she was…Tending bar was only good pay when the bar was busy. She kept a meager pocket full of gil from tips most nights, primarily from Einar adding to her regular salary for not questioning the various scars he had shown up with. She did, though, have a private room in the back where she could stay if she didn’t want to travel all the way back to the Mist in the dark of the early mornings. Coco spent most of her nights in the Sweet and Savoury private chambers whenever her wife Athena was away. The apartment was too quiet without her there. Coco found herself spending more nights away from Athena than ever with her increased workload, and Athena still being out on tours of her own. The Maelstrom had strict orders not to let family members serve together, for lots of good reasons, but this meant that their time off did not always sync up.Coco took a beat to think, but then went straight into her closing routine. She locked the door behind the exiting Miqo'te, and went immediately downstairs to check for stragglers. Everything was in place, as no one had used the stage tonight. She proceeded to straighten up all the chairs, and clean up leftover glasses and plates. From outside, one could hear the sound of wooden chair legs scooting across the wooden floor, and the clinking of glass, along with the happy hum of a cheerful bartender.About an hour later, Coco was ready to leave. She needed to head to the Mist in order to be close to Maelstrom headquarters for her morning departure. She walked by the door where she had left her sealed orders, right next to the bottle of chilled wine she had been sipping all night. Coco was surprised by the hesitation in her hand when she reached for the orders. This next mission was the gateway to everything she had ever wanted.But she didn’t want it.Not anymore.The realization hit her like a punch in the face. Coco had literally been punched in the face before, many times, but this was heavier. More intense. The dread of the mission weighed upon her as she thought about Athena. She thought about the four month stretch, not to mention the last two while Athena was away. Half a year since their last reunion. She thought about the bar, looking around at the stained wood and the barely-functioning Orchestrion in the corner. All of her favorite memories were here, many with people she came to know recently. She had suddenly become scared. Lost. Alone… And then, determined.There comes a time when the plans of the past clash with the realities of the present, to make the future one that is completely unknowable. During those moments, like facing the blurriness in the eyes after a cheap shot to the nose, the decisions made are from the gut, not the head.Coco looked down once more at her outstretched hand, inches from the sealed orders, and her gut made a decision. A big one.She turned around, empty handed, and left.-----------------------The bed was empty. Coco wasn’t sleeping. The loft above was lit by a dim lantern’s glow, casting flitting shadows upon the wall. Her quill swished back and forth, rhythmically, as she put ink to paper. She was on page four. Coco was sometimes too wordy for her own good.She finished the letter, folded it, and tucked it into an envelope. She flipped it over and wrote on the back side:“Letter of resignation”

• Top

Captain Alyph Styrnsyn

The burly Roegadyn folded up the newsrag he had been handed a few minutes ago. On page four was a spread honoring the Maelstrom’s recent retirees. He had just read about one particular Sea Wolf named Coco Natlho, who had ended her services with the Maelstrom after several years of faithful service. The caption below the image listed some of Coco’s accomplishments, which had included multiple frontline engagements with Garlemald forces. The Captain thought back to his own encounters with Garlean ships, and knew that this girl Coco was something special, but… was it her?Captain Alyph Styrnsyn put his hands on his knees and stood up, stretched, put his hat on, and headed out the door. The sun shone into his eyes harshly, and it took a moment for his sight to adjust. The bright sky was clear, and the wind was favorable. It was their final day before making port in Limsa Lominsa, ready to unload and collect his payment. He wasn’t a pirate anymore, but merchant work was just as profitable, if not more. Also, the odd encounter with Sahagin or Garlean ships kept things just interesting enough for the old man.This time, he was transporting a load of equipment from Sharlayan. Odd aetheric gadgets he didn’t really understand, along with two scientists who did. The trip was particularly boring, and there was no reason to draw his blade, which was simultaneously a relief and a disappointment.“Captain, are you going to take shore leave this time?” His first mate was an Auri woman from Werlyt named Cassandra.He gripped the paper in his hand. “Yes. Two days.”“Aye, aye!” Cassandra adjusted her bicorne and handed Alyph a clipboard. “No changes in cargo. Both passengers and all crew accounted for overnight.”The Captain nodded and walked around the deck of the ship, ensuring the safety of the ship.--------------Two years ago, he had embarrassed himself, asking the life story of a Sea Wolf woman in Ul’dah, who had reminded him of a beautiful enemy of his that he had one spent the night with.Ten years ago, he stood silently in front of the orphanage where they left her, only to lose his nerve and walk away before anyone opened the door.Eighteen years ago, he began to think he had made the biggest mistake of his life and began his search the world over.This time, the name Coco showed up… It was the name he left her with. Surely she hadn’t kept it. It had to be wrong again, just like all the other times. It had to be wrong.It wasn’t her.
--------------
Cassandra escorted the Sharlayan scientists to the Arcanist Guild. After a few hours, the ship was unloaded and most of the crew began their shore leave. Once the Raen women returned to the ship, Captain Styrnsyn left the vessel in her care and stepped onto land for the first time in several months. He opted against using the Aethernet, and instead adjusted to solid ground on his walk across the city and up the stairs to The Drowning Wench. He had carried the paper with him, and re-read the small blurb about the Maelstrom retiree. He must have read it at least thirty times now. It couldn’t be her…And if it was, should he say something?He sighed, and ordered two shots and another mug.--------------He hadn’t drank enough water that night, and woke up under the bright moon, needing something he couldn’t identify. The stomach ache from the alcohol was made worse by the anxiety from his complete inability to decide if he wanted to find this woman and speak to her, or not. He vomited. He cried.The age of Sixty Seven wore heavy upon him. He felt much worse after a morning when he wasn’t sleeping on a mattress. The stone wall on the outside of the Aftcastle was not very supportive of his ailing lumbar, but it was the only place he could rest after the night he had. The solitary inn room was not accommodating to his current mental and psychological state. He decided to order a courtesan just to have some company for his much-needed bath. She didn’t end up being much of a comfort, though. Courtesans often make good psychologists, but unfortunately Alyph needed a more specific professional.After he was clean, he still didn’t feel any better. He ate a fancy meal at the Bismarck. He soaked his feet in the ocean water, and watched the fisherman catch the night’s dinner. He ordered two courtesans at once, just to see if four hands would be enough to help him forget. But it wasn’t. He had to try again, just for his own sanity. He would have none left if he let this one go. He was determined.The next morning, he let Cassandra know to extend all hands’ shore leave by three more days, and he would take three more as well. He started in the Mist, just to see if there was any sort of registry, and to ask around to the locals. He didn’t get anywhere with them, though, because he knew nothing of the woman he was seeking beyond what the article had listed. He showed it to everyone he met, to no avail.He sought out the Maelstrom Command, who would not give any information on their retirees. The girls at the Missing Member wouldn’t even let the captain into the restaurant. A few people in the city seemed to recognize the woman in the paper, but knew her only in passing. The Arcanist Guild reported they did remember her, vaguely, but it was nearly 20 years ago, so there was no reliable record of her presence.He spent the entire three days in search, and was no closer to finding her. He returned to the Drowning Wench, and took a mug outside, to let the sea wind attempt to blow away his failure and regret. He leaned over the railing, mug in hand, and watched the crowd in the Aetheryte Plaza below. He stayed like this until sunset, watching the people move below him. The buskers traded places, one starting up a new song just as another had finished their day. The constant line of shoppers going to and from Hawker’s Alley hid amongst them several folks showing off their bright garments and newly-forged and aether-infused weaponry. A stationary few were only in one place in order to provide a public display of affection enough to make some of the Captain’s own crew blush. This went on until he was ready to leave Vylbrand for good. Being home made him feel sick. Maybe his ship’s new home should be Radz-at-Han.Alyph stood, wiped his mouth, and started to walk back to the bar to return his empty mug. He took a deep breath and looked once more at the giant spinning crystal in the middle of town. Just behind it, emerging from the shadow of Hawker’s Alley was her. He winced and wiped his eyes to make sure. It was definitely the woman from the paper… But was it her?Looking on, he smiled wide, seeing the cheerful woman below. She was spinning and bouncing, seemingly showing off a new dress that had just been purchased. The display seemed to be intended for the eyes of a Miqo’te woman nearby, wearing a complementary-colored suit. The two were walking towards the ramp up to the Bismarck. He headed north to cut them off. This would be his only chance.He could tell the two were friends. The Sea Wolf chatted away as the Miqo’te woman smiled widely at the goofy and gleeful display across from her. The two were comfortable around one another. Very comfortable… They were kissing now. He hadn’t expected that.A wave of some foreign feeling washed over him. At this point he was hiding behind a big menu, watching this young couple enjoy their love, and he knew if he approached he would only make things worse. If this was his daughter from so many years ago, he could be proud that she had made a life for herself. That she had such an illustrious career with the Maelstrom, and was in a loving relationship, and that she had such good taste in dresses. If this wasn’t her, then whoever his daughter truly was had her own full life filled with joy and hope. Either way, he could know that his daughter, whether it was this particular Sea Wolf or not, had made a life for herself.Without him.The foreign feeling found several names, in order: regret, anger, sadness, joy, and then peace. He was done, and he could go back to his own life. He actually quite liked the idea of Radz-at-Han. He would talk to Cassandra about it, to see what she thought.He got up from the table, leaving a handful of gil, and never returned to Limsa Lominsa.--------------Across the Bismarck, Coco Natlho looked up at an old Roegadyn leaving the restaurant and stopped mid-conversation.“You okay?” asked Athena.“Uh… yeah. Sorry, I thought I saw someone I know.”

• Top