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umbralsound-xiv · 10 months ago

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Shattered Peace.

Another sun, another picnic; or at least, that was the idea. Bexy had spoken to me of some lovely place in the Shroud, and the first thing i could think was to go together with Sayuri. ...I am quite fond of our little picnic outings, for many reasons.

"You know, the South Shroud never really sprung to mind as a nice place for a picnic. All i can think of is to hope for no rain, and that my boots do not become swamped by mud…" Eir trails. Sayuri's hand in his own, he wanders through the trees. Flowers in bud and bloom littered a less known path, winding away from Snakemolt proper. "…Bexy has never failed us in her suggestions before. She told me when i caught her inside the company house. I managed to return that book to her, too. She has asked to borrow books from my library, you know?"

Sayuri glances up at Eir, beaming a smile as her head tilts. "Don't underestimate my sister and her knowledge of romantic areas." She chuckled softly, squeezing his hand. "Mmh? Well.. You have a lot of romance books, and as far as I know.. She's very much into that."

"…So it would seem. Did you know she wrote poetry?" Eir asks, head tilted before he lightly shakes it. "…Of course you do. She is your sister, after all. I wish i had the talent for it. I… Think i have the opposite talent, when it comes to wordsmithing…" Giving a bemused huff, Eir shakes his head, striding over a long, overgrown root, and raising his hand to aid Sayuri in doing the same.

"I do." She confirms, letting her head tilt a little further. "Your vows speak differently, Eir Fellfrost." She mused, stepping up onto the root before hopping back down next to him.

"…That was an isolated incident. I stumble on them much more than i can create… Lovely flowing sentences, much less pretty prose and poetry…" Plucking his shoulders into a roll, he doesn't seem so upset for it, at least. "I do not mind. I cannot be good at everything. I can dance, and i can make you smile. That is good enough for me."

"Maybe she could teach you?" Her smile widens a little further at his words, ears offering a tiny wiggle. "That you do."

"…Though we get along well enough these suns, i hardly need her judging me for my lack of well wordedness… It is fine. Besides." A grin widens across his lips, eyes narrowing in amusement. "I would write poetry about you."

I would, if i could. It would be fun to see her all shy and red cheeked and flustered. It... Gets a little more difficult to do, with each sun.

There's a brief pause, Sayuri's mismatched gaze lingering upon her husband. ".. And I can draw you in all manners of ways." She half-whispered beneath her breath.

"Oh?" Eir grins a little wider, head tilting as he took a step around a tree; birds fleeing from the boughs overhead. "Was that a request for me to pose for you, Sayuri Fellfrost?"

Sayuri's gaze drifts towards the scattering birds, paying it little mind other than simply acknowledging it before her eyes return to Eir. "Oh, if you want.. Otherwise I'm pretty decent at figuring out ways to draw you." She beams.

"I do not think you would be able to keep your hands away from me…" Eir murmurs, but it's smug, almost prideful. "I would be curious to see what your imagination would conjure…"

Sayuri's eyes lid, lips curled into a small smirk. "Oh, it'd be a struggle.."

"For your hands, perhaps. Not for your imagination." Eir laughs, taking a few steps into a small clearing, brush and flowers a little thicker as light poured in from the canopy. "…Here, you think?" Eir asks. Though he carried no basket, a small bundle remained tucked under his free arm, containing the food within.

Some short distance behind them, however…

"She's just one Miqo'te, Ren! How bad can she be?" The younger of two highlander women spoke quietly to the older, plucking a roll of her shoulders deep enough that it rattled the polearm at her back.

"Myrun…" The older's face was a pained grimace, but heaved a sigh. "…Don't… Ask questions you don't want the answers to. She's dangerous, even without her ice. But you'll be fine, so long as i'm here… And you're careful."

"One Miqo'te and one Viera." The Sea Wolf corrects. "…He won't be any trouble. Do you think Vairg would like me more if i killed him, or brought him back alive…?"

"Mmhm.. True enough." Sayuri chuckles. Her gaze wandered the clearing, quietly admiring it before sinking her head into a nod - blissfully unaware of the approaching company. "Here is good."

"Here, then…" Eir leans, to slowly press his lips to her forehead…

…As a Keeper, high in the trees, draws back his bow. "Ready…" He whispers, into a linkpearl.

The three below immediately pick up the pace, drawing weapons and slipping into the treeline. "…Get ready, Myrun." The conjurer murmurs, focused on the soil below; telltale footprints in the dirt.

Sayuri leans herself closer to Eir, ears wiggling happily as she receives the forehead kiss, lips curled into a soft smile.

His lips curl upon meeting her skin, silver eyes opening as a somewhat familiar sound, wooden and unpleasant graces his ears… Which slowly pin back. Eyes wide, Eir grabs Sayuri by the wrist as he suddenly bolts, as a shape is barely visible in the boughs, and the whistle of an arrow cuts through the air.

I cannot say what drove me to act so quickly in that moment. It had been so long since i had heard the cock of a gun, the strain of an arrow, that i should not have reacted perhaps half as fast as i did. It could have been anything. A breaking branch. A creature in the brush. ...But it was not.

Her own eyes bat open a touch widely as she's torn from the spot, ears pinning back and the slight chill in the air dropping as she stumbles with him - not quite certain what's going on. "--E-Eir..?"

The sound of the arrow hitting the dirt where they stood only a moment ago is her answer; Eir hasn't caught his breath enough from the gasp to give any proper reply, but does manage a word or two. "Archer!" He calls out. "Run!!"

Sayuri's head whips around, eyes finding the arrow now piercing the ground where they had stood - where she had stood. Eir's call makes her head turn back forwards, her stumble catching up into a proper run in an attempt to keep his pace.

Even through the maddened footfalls; the bundle of fruit under his arm dropped and abandoned in favour of speed, Eir hears the creak of a bow, breath hitched as he jerks to the side, arrow narrowly missing them once again. He doesn't turn to look behind him for a moment, breath ragged with panic as two shapes split from the trees in front of them. A Roegadyn on one side, and a lancer on the other; each of them find their own opponents, even as the conjurer remains hidden in the trees. Eir doesn't know whether to bolt right or left; though opts to launch himself in front of Sayuri without a moment of thought.

Though it all happens much too fast from there. The lancer reels her weapon back to strike Sayuri upside the head; aiming to make it quick, while the Roegadyn makes an overhead swing for Eir.

Sayuri's free hand balls up tightly as the thud of the arrow meets the ground, teeth gritting as she fought every instinct to turn and fight their assailant in favour of fleeing with Eir; at least, until the figures split before them. Sayuri's eyes dart to the significantly larger one, ears flattening and a slight look of horror settling on her features upon seeing the Roegadyn. The movement of the lancer rips her attention towards her, arm rising to meet the strike and narrowly protecting her skull, the blow certainly leaving a mark behind it. Gaze honing in on the red mark upon the lancer's cheek, Sayuri's fear mixes with a hefty amount of anger, slitted pupils thinning and a nigh feral snarl leaving her, the temperature dropping and ice springing forth along her struck arm, extending from her forearm and to her fingertips in the matter of seconds as she swipes her claws after the lancer.

The axe closes in on Eir; between he and Sayuri - No time to evade, he'd made a move to pull her away, to make any attempt to escape… At least, until the ground burst open between them to forcibly separate the couple.

"SAYURI!" Her name is a scream as he loses grasp on her hand, narrowly avoiding the axe headed his direction, panic threaded through his tone. He skirted the larger man; he could easily run. But he doesn't. Some thread of anger and desperation races through his form, hands slowly reaching for his chakrams…

"Maren!" The lancer's weapon is decidedly a lot more defensive, now, as Myrun pointed it in Sayuri's direction. "I thought you said she didn't have her fucking ice?!" Her surprise was clear, backed off a little.

No, no, no NO NO NO! I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE HER FROM ME!

"--EIR!" The cry leaves her as they're forced apart, hand wafting after him as she's forces to stagger away from the splitting ground. "Eir! Run!" Her voice is panicked, tone pleading as she calls out to him, ice forming in her hands to rapidly arm herself as it shapes into an axe, turning to face the lancer.

"You will not take her!" Eir cries out at the Roegadyn, teeth grit and eyes welled. Fear sang audibly through his words, a knot of remorse in the pit of his throat at Sayuri's request. His feet remain firmly planted in the soil, as his hands tighten on his weapons. No running, no. Eir had but one option, now… And darts for his opponent, blades bared!

…And blocked, half launched away to find his footing after the Roegadyn retaliated. "Because you'll stop us? Hah! Don't make me laugh! You aught to be dead anyway. Let me fix that…!" Another slow, heavy swing sees his axe raised…

No, no. I will not run. I promised. I promised i would never run from you.

"MAREN!" Myrun half-yells for her sister at the formation of the axe, aiming a lunge towards Sayuri soon after. "SHE HAS HER ICE!"

Maren, the conjurer who had remained in the trees, grits her teeth. Focus firmly on the dirt, she's reluctant to shift it; the soil slowly beginning to close back over as it was no longer held under her influence. "Impossible! She should--- Eanwin said--- Gods damn it, just do as you're told!" A shift in focus, as the earth at Sayuri's feet makes an attempt at holding her still, instead.

Overhead, another arrow is slowly drawn and knocked with the creak of a bow…

"Eir please!" Sayuri begs, tone brimming with fear and worry when she addresses the Viera, making a rather prompt switch into rage as she returns her focus to Myrun. "I will rip you apart!" She snarls, swinging her axe to clash it with the spear. She shifts to take a step, only for her to get absolutely nowhere as the earth catches her, for the time being... the archer appears half forgotten.

"I will not leave you!" The plea is offered back to her in kind, darting beside the Roegadyn as the axe misses him once again. He could have made a strike. Counterattacked, but all he can do is clutch his weapons and fight the panic in his chest to breathe proper as he prepares to evade another swing.

"You can try!" Myrun barks back, raising her lance to block the icy axe, pulling away to duck down and swipe at Sayuri's immobilised leg.

The arrow sails through the air, towards Sayuri. At the very least, it's not aiming anywhere important - Certainly with intent to wound rather than kill.

Rather than trying to rip herself free, Sayuri tightens the grasp of her axe, ice beginning to spread along the ground underneath her as her emotions stirr, and her aether along with it. As Myrun attacks, Sayuri opts to return a blow rather than defend, swinging her axe downwards after the lancer as she makes her own assault - which Sayuri is unable to escape. The lance's blade tears along her leg and a vicious snarl of anger and pain passes her lips- only to be interrupted and replaced by a cry as a piercing agony slams into the back of her shoulder, sending her into a sway that almost sees her fall forwards, but not quite.

Her scream is enough to suck the breath out of his lungs, and make hid blood run cold. "SAYURI! NO! NO!" Eir shrieks, terrified. His immediate response is to turn, to bolt towards her, but he's caught by a too-large hand, and dragged across the dirt. Before Eir can even think to scream, anger takes hold and a sharp boot snaps against the Roegadyn's face; which sees him slam Eir back first into the dirt. "---Little bastard!" The sea wolf complains, face a shade of scarlet as he clutched his nose. "He broke it---!"

Sayuri's axe sinks into the shoulder of Myrun with a shriek, sending a half flailing strike of her lance vaguely in Sayuri's direction. "MAREN!"

A short, sharp huff leaves Maren's nose, her staff firmly in her clutches. Naturally, she prioritizes her sister, first. "You're fine! I have you!" The grasp on the ground is released in favour of healing. "I have you!"

"I'm fine!" She's quick to call back in Eir's direction, in quiet hope to alleviate some of his stress, even if pain clearly clings to her voice, gaze snapping over her shoulder to catch glimpse of the Roegadyn slamming Eir into the ground. "DON'T YOU DARE HURT HIM!" The temperature of the air in her immediate vicinity drops into the negatives, the ice that clings to her and the one still spreading on the ground becoming jagged and sharp. She barges her axe into the lance to slam it off-course, letting it shatter upon impact to leave her hand free as she feels the earth release it's grasp of her. An icy, clawed hand reaches for Myrun, aiming to snatch onto her collar and violently yank her closer to herself.

Eir meets the dirt back first, hard enough to knock the wind out of him, and more than enough to stagger his breathing. Fighting for a proper inhale, he makes some attempt to drag himself to his feet and… Can't. The soil grips him tightly, manipulated by the nearby conjurer, though he manages to wrest his arms free before they are taken too. Her attempt at reassurance had done little to settle him, desperately trying to pry himself upwards.

Though, any hope of glimpsing her was stolen, as the bloody-faced Roegadyn heaved the axe up, lumbering towards the downed Viera, lunging an overhead swing which would have surely been a killing blow had it connected. "Little… Shite…" The man snarls, but there's a small smirk in the curl of his lips.

Maren pulls her attention away from her sibling; wound now salved enough not to bleed so heavily, and to Eir, and keeping him down. It would only take a moment for Aermuwil to finish him; then they could concentrate.

It takes the full force of Myrun's strength to weather Sayuri's blow of the axe, knocking her polearm aside as she managed to keep it in at least one of her hands, though her swift and incredibly sudden proximity to a certain icy Seeker was anything but expected. All she can do is yelp in surprise, making some futile attempt to wrench herself away with only one hand.

Her free hand flexes its fingers as Myrun pulls back, refusing to let go of her collar in this very moment. Ice crawled along her hands and further expanded like razor sharp icicles clinging to her free hand's fingertips before it swept in the lancer's direction, aiming to rip those icy claws directly across the Highlander's face with a hostile snarl making itself heard in the process.

The axe slams down, and it's met with a yelp and the sound of ringing metal, as Eir's chakrams at least caught the worst of it; a thin sliver of a wound glancing his cheek and collar. Heart racing in his throat, Eir swiftly turns his hand, catching the Roegadyn's wrist in the curve of his weapon, and gives a single, sharp pull… And his assailant, a scream.

It all just happened... So fast... I would not run. I could not run. But what option does that leave me, then? I would not let them take her, no. And i would protect her until my last breath. I had to fight back.

Hand wrested from the end of his limb, the axe is swiftly abandoned, clutching at the gushing stump. "BASTARD! BASTARD, I SWEAR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Aermuwil screams in a rage, crumpling to kneel and pin the Viera into the dirt, swiftly meeting his remaining fist to his jaw to pull out a cry of pain from Eir in kind.

Sayuri's claws do indeed find their mark; and at least an eye with them. The scream that leaves Myrun is so earsplitting that Maren flinches, wide eyed. She's forced to choose, immediately releasing her grasp of the earth, and focusing on her sister.

"MY EYE! MY EYE!" Is all Myrun can shriek, as her face burned hot with blood and frost, disoriented from the sudden pain; whatever salve her sister could offer wasn't enough to soothe it.

"Get away from her!" Maren screams, wielding the staff full of aether as though she'd attempt to bludgeon Sayuri to death with it were she in striking distance.

Eir's yelp and the Roegadyn's followed bellowing makes Sayuri's ears flatten, eyes not quite drifting his way until the cry emits. Her gaze snaps in Eir's direction. "--EIR!" She violently shoves Myrun aside, with every intention to create distance between the two so she could run to Eir's aid. "If you want me to leave her alone then STOP FUCKING HUNTING ME!" Sayuri screamed back at Maren, despite already making her attempt to get away from the said lancer.

Sayuri's yell doesn't garner a response from the Highlander, nose wrinkling and lips pulling into a frown. She acts quickly as she watches Sayuri make a move, focusing on the aether around her face, divesting her of air, with an aim to stop her moving and incapacitate her all at once. Between Myrun's screaming, and the incandescent rage of the Sea Wolf, it's a cacophony of chaos.

A sharp pain sings through Eir's jaw, eyes clenched shut only opening for a moment to have his vision filled by his assailant, he makes a decision. Grit toothed, he holds the chakram firmly enough to whiten his knuckles, waiting until the man atop him reeled his arm back for another punch before sticking him in the neck with the pointed edge of his weapon with a cry of terror.

Sayuri does her utmost to press on, even as she feels the air halt around her. The soon enough choking feeling does bring her to a halt, and even to her knees as she gasps for air and raises a hand to claw at her own throat. Her other hand's claws sink into the soil below her, ice springing forth along it. Her attention manages to be drawn to Maren, eyes wide and pupils thinned, slightly swaying from the increasing lightheadedness. Her aether stirs, the hand at her throat lowering to form an icicle in her hand before she promptly launches it in Maren's direction.

The icicle is so sudden and unexpected it almost hits her, but it's more than enough to break Maren's focus. "MAREN!" Myrun shrieks, begging for her attention. "HELP ME!" Bloodied and mangled, she cannot refuse her sister; but with Sayuri more than a few footfalls away and hopefully still out of breath, her aether turns to healing her kin once more.

There's little sound traded between Eir and the man on top of him. A gasp and ragged breathing from one, and a dying gurgle of pain from the other, neither heard over the din of the others close to them. Eir locks eyes with the Roegadyn as blood spurted from the open wound on his neck, jugular skillfully severed by some long-abandoned motion. Eir can only stare in horror at what he'd done, as he's spattered in warm, coppery scarlet, which begins to pool at the side of his head, the corpse above him quickly falling limp.

I... ... I... Killed someone.

Lungs filling with air once more, Sayuri audibly gasps as she tries to catch her breath, coughing and sputtering for a moment before her gaze drifts back to Maren. She digs her claws into the soil and allows her aether to stir, ice darting forth along the ground in an immediate beeline for Maren. Once close enough, a spike erupts from the icy trail, stabbing wildly into the air in the conjurer's direction.

Distracted by her healing, Maren catches the ice much, much too late. A lance of ice sticks through her gut, and it's enough to make even her half-scream in panic. Immediately she turns her attention to herself, though it's hard to heal an impalement when the object still remains.

Despite the warmth, Eir can only feel cold. Head spinning as though he might pass out, his heart begins to pound, barely able to fight for breaths as he hyperventilated between uncomfortable spurts of blood, drenching his head and upper torso. He tries to push the heaving body from him, but a dead weight is not easily shifted when his bones begin to feel like jelly.

Growling, Sayuri channels more of her aether into icy path, and rather than creating more spikes to join the first in the same manner.. She opts to make spikes, upon the spike already impaled in the Highlander.

A single, sharp twitch is all the remaining movement Maren is able to make, half suspended by the force of it; now dangling as the her staff drops with a wooden thud against dirt. "MAREN!" Myrun screams, bearing witness with her remaining eye, on her knees as she clutched her face still. Already she's reaching for her polearm, nearby.

Eir, however, makes not a single sound, unable to utter even a word as the face of the man he'd just slaughtered stares at him, wide-mouthed and empty eyed.

I... I can barely breathe from the stench of blood, and his dead weight atop me. I can barely hear anything between my heartbeats...

Sayuri slowly pushes herself up on one knee, only to sink back down as she tries to stand further. Her back and leg are covered in blood, the continued bleeding seemingly beginning to get to her. Despite her struggle to get up, that mismatched stare of hers locking onto Myrun.

"My sister!" Myrun staggers to her feet, face a crimson mask from her wound. "You killed her! You killed her, you bitch!" The insult is hurled in anger, as she lunged forth with the polearm. "To the Hells with Grym! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Sayuri forces herself to her feet as Myrun charges towards her, a touch too unsteady on her feet to fully escape the oncoming blow - blade tearing across her side while Sayuri launches her hands towards Myrun's neck, aiming to both clasp onto it and ram her own body into the Highlander in some unsteady tackle. "Don't.. worry.." She hisses between gritted teeth. ".. You will.. join her.."

Myrun's crazed expression of anger curls into one of half-smug victory as her weapon found it's mark, though that look is soon to flee her as she feels Sayuri's icy hands at her neck. A single gasp is sucked through her lips. She almost knew what was coming.

If Myrun assumed claws, she was correct! Sayuri sought to drive her claws directly into Myrun's neck and then tear her hands outwards along the sides to create a relatively large wound, if not outright kill her.

It's a horrible sound, the shriek that initially leaves through Myrun's lips suddenly comes bursting from her neck in a hollow, raspy gurgle, battling to draw breath through places she shouldn't, as she choked on the crimson liquid that now filled her airways. Regardless, standing wasn't her priority; breathing was, but even then, only a few short, shallow sounds are managed before life mercifully leaves her.

Save for Sayuri, the clearing fell silent; not even the birds above deigned to call.

Sayuri simply let her drop, a shaky exhale leaving her as she staggers back a step, turning towards Eir and the Roegadyn. "..E-Eir..?" Her voice is quiet, halfly choked up and brimming with worry, limping steps beginning to approach.

That sound. That sound of a death cry, that horrific half scream so shortly followed by a thud and a set of slow, unsteady footsteps. It's enough to bring a ragged breath a little more steady to his throat, trying to push the large, slumped corpse from atop him. Only the sensation of something shifting in the pool of blood would have been visible to her; no confirmation if either, both, or neither of them still yet lived.

Reaching the two, Sayuri bites back a worried sob, fearful of what she was about to see. Rather than reaching for the massive frame of the creatures she feared so, a little line of ice is drawn by the movement of her own foot along the side, her aether channelling further to create numerous little pillars that crammed in under the side of the Roegadyn and sought to forcefully flip him to the side.

No sooner does the body lift does Eir's hand seek out the cold, to slowly crawl through the mud. Wide, silver eyes full of terror seek her own in search of some desperate comfort, warm skin and ashen hair soaked through with red. Eir says not a word, unable to so much as even utter a sound, as his eyes welled, reaching for her.

She... She is okay. Alive... I... I killed someone. I killed someone, and it does not come with this... Heavy feeling it always used to. What choice did i have? I could not let them take her.

A notable look of horror falls over Sayuri's features at the sight, body promptly dropping down to let her sit on her knees as she reaches for Eir, temporarily managing to ignore her own injuries as she sought to pull him in close, a sob managing to tear itself from her throat in the process.

Eir's arms find her, wrapping around her; though there's little strength behind them, both lacking it from shock and not wishing to hurt her. The sob brings his hand to slowly smooth over her head, eyes welled with tears, though he he still doesn't make so much as a noise. At least, not until his hand finds the shaft of the arrow, and then the panic seems to flood right back again, releasing her, frantic in some fight to try and stand; though he's much too weak and wobbly from shock.

We... We need to go, we need to--- What if there are more? No, no...

The slightest whimper passes her lips as his hand draws near the arrow's shaft, ears flattening. At his attempt to stand, she instead seeks to pull him back down to her, however far he got, a soft hushing sound managing to leave her. "..E-easy, love.. Easy.." She whispers.

His lips tremble, downturned into a frown, as the only words he can manage as tears spill down his cheeks leave him. "Y-y-you a-are h-hurt…" Voice breaking, he trembles uncontrollably, not contesting her pull back to the ground, though he's at least on his knees now.

".. I am.." She confirms quietly, eyes brimming with tears. "..B-but I can't see.. h-how hurt.. you are.." Despite actively bleeding, and decorated with an arrow in her back, her main focus is clearly still Eir's wellbeing.

"I… W-will be… O-okay…" Eir whispers, though it's not convincing, as true as it is. He can't stop himself pulling her closer, heart beginning to race again, sucking in a breath that seems to stick in his chest, swallowing back panic. It only takes a glance to the body beside him to flinch and bury his head into hiding against hers, shaking in terror. "I w-want t-to go h-home..."

Sayuri's own embrace tightens to the point her body trembles, she offers a small nod against him as a surge of aether swells around them, Sayuri aiming to do as asked as swiftly as possible and pull both of them through the aether to escape the area.

The cold is some quiet comfort to him, gathered through the aether, to be whisked through the Shroud and settled not all so far away. Though, when Eir arrives through the aether, it's back to the dizzy feeling and the panic. He fights back his tears, grit-toothed as he suppresses any sound, swallowing it back; no words leaving him from the effort of it.

Cold. I feel... Her cold. And... Dizzy, from travel. But we are here. Here, away from... From that... ... ...We were supposed to have a picnic... ...It was supposed to be nice...

She remains at his side even as they arrive in the ever familiar garden, arms wrapped around him and head buried against him, body slumping against him a touch.

"Y-you n-need help." The word betrays his suppression, frame tense and almost uncomfortable as he cradled her, eyes staring at the arrow that stuck from her. Again, he tries to stand, though his legs betray him; as soft as butter, to send him to his knees again.

"..I-.. I know.." She exhales, eyes closing. "..Just-.. just.. a moment.." She bites back her pain, quietly adding on; "..My l-leg.." She brings attention to the injury to her leg, and thus to the fact that both of them are struggling to stand up.

Eir regards the wound on her leg through teary eyes, and it spurs him to try again. Though Eir simply can not stand in his state, and from the frustration of, he breaks a little, sobbing. "I n-need to h-help you!" He pleas, desperate, attempting to bury the sound beneath words.

Sayuri's ears lay flatly against her skull, a shaky breath passing her lips. ".. A-.. a moment of r-rest.. then.. i-infirmary.." She hushes softly, leaning herself forwards to gently settle her head against his.

"R-rest… A… M-moment of rest…" The cool touch of her head to his brings a small, choked sob to his throat, arms seeking to embrace her; more around the waist, to better not hurt her. The stench of blood did nothing to ease his racing heart, eyes closed as he tried to find some kind of focus. Yet, the presence of her in his arms at least gives him a foothold to center himself. "Y-you are… H-here…" He manages, though the next word breaks in his throat, spoken with such uncertainty. "S-safe?"

She holds onto him tightly, as if fearing he'd disappear if she let go. Sayuri's natural chill remains increased for the time being, body sinking against his a little further. "S-safe.." She echoes quietly, stroking a hand along his back.

That slow, gentle chill traces over his back, aching and bruised from the confrontation. A stifled sob, as he lovingly nudges his head to hers, despite the blood that clung to it. He takes much, much longer to speak once more, and it's even more unsteady than before, words almost lost in his breath. "W-with me?"

Does... Does she still feel safe, with me...? After... After everything that happened...?

Sayuri bites back a sob, desperately trying to keep herself composed as she continues to gently trace her hand along his back, and would likely have done so to his head had it not been for the blood that clings to her hands after the last blow against the lancer. "W-with you.." She confirms, burying her face against him.

All he can do is hold her as tears sting his eyes, carving neat little paths through his blood soaked cheeks, sending a small tinge of pain as they sank into the wound at his cheek. Her affirmation sees him hold her closer, words whimpered out after a long moment of silence. "I w-would not let them… T-take you…" Eir whispers, as though he needed any justification for his actions. "I p-promised… I p-promised…"

Her embrace of him tightens, the sobs she had worked so hard to contain breaking free in a concoction of fear, pain and relief. She pushes her head further against him in an attempt to silence herself, body trembling and ice clinging to various areas of her body while coating her arms from her fingertips up to the elbows.

"S-Shh… Shh…" Even his attempt at comfort came with a stammer in his words, battling back sobs and distress to offer the same comfort she'd given in. "S-safe… Safe now…" He can't help but trace his hand over her back, so gentle now he was afraid of bringing her harm. Silver eyes peer out of that crimson visage, reddened and tear stricken. "H-how… How badly a-are you hurt? I… I could not see, after… A-after…" He trails, swallowing a lump, awaiting an answer.

She sank into his offered comfort, head remaining buried against him for the time being, embrace weakening slightly. While certainly stained with more blood than just her own, most of it has begun to dry, aside from where fresh blood continued to run. Her head turns slightly to let the side of it rest against him, mismatched eyes pinched shut. "..E-enough.. t-to start feeling.. l-lightheaded.." She whispered.

That admission brings a sharp sound from his throat, hands trembling as he held her, beginning to move in an effort to begin standing, once again. "N-no--- No nonono…" He's careful, but he tries to lift her. "Y-you will be o-okay?" Voice wavering at the edge, the thread of terror that had laced itself in his words had begun to unravel the rest. "Y-you have to be o-okay! P-please! Please!"

No, no... I... I cannot bear to lose her! Not now, not yet, please! I... I have to help her! I have to get her help!

The slightest whimper passes her lips as he bring her up with him, legs unsteady the brief time she's allowed to stand before he lifts her off the ground. She wraps an arm around his shoulders, leaning her head to gently bump against his. ".. I-.. I will be o-okay.." She hushes quietly. "..J-just.. a little d-dizzy.."

"Y-you… H-have to be…" Eir weeps, walking slowly as he wavered on his feet, unsteady yet careful. He's no longer holding back his sorrow, head settled close to her own. "W-what would i do without y-you? I cannot lose y-you…" He sobs, holding her as close as he dared. "N-not now… N-not y-yet…"

Sayuri weakly nudges her head against his, eyes shut and her wrap of his shoulders loosening ever so slightly, yet she's still awake. "I h-have recovered.. from w-worse.." She murmurs, exhaling a deep breath only to wince from the pain and curling up slightly in his arms.

"N-NO! SAYURI!" His eyes were wide, and not all together here; suddenly finding some strength in his legs as he held her close. "P-please, s-stay with me, please!" He almost barrels over, though manages to catch himself, before racing through the Lavender Beds.

His voice prompts her to bat her eyes open, arm's wrap tightening just a touch to prove her consciousness. "--I-.. I'm h-here, love.."

"S-stay, s-stay…" It's repeated like a plea, like a mantra, sprinting down the road and through the otherwise peaceful streets of the residential district. "I h-have you… I h-have y-you…"

This feels... Familiar, and i cannot place, it, and i... I... I... Have to help her...

Her head nudges against him gently, offering the repeated motion as a sign of life when no words left her, eyes closing only to flicker open, repeatedly.

"I h-have you…" His voice dances in a whisper beneath ragged breath, the houses a blur. He'd never mentioned his destination, but it would have been easy enough to guess. The company house was not all so far away… And even less so, with the pace Eir had carried them with.

#Muse: [Eir]#Duet: [Winter Moon]#Chapter: [Vows Upheld]#TW: Violence #FFXIV #IC #Textlog

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