#They both suddenly stop responding so I keep going about in FFXIV

[fiendir]

I'm so fucking stupid, I really don't have a single fucking functioning braincell left

and if there is? then it is dedicated to making ne suffer

[autumnslance]

FFXIV Write 2021 #10: Heady

“We maybe should have waited for the old men after all,” Heustienne mused, hands in the air.

Aeryn shrugged, raising her hands as well. She could have kept fighting the heretics perhaps, but she was getting tired and sloppy; trying not to kill them took effort, and they seemed to be an endless swarm.

Also, Heustienne was bleeding, a steady seeping that could easily turn bad if they kept resisting, if Aeryn couldn’t get a moment to heal her.

“Bring them to Avengret,” the heretic leader wheezed past the bruises Aeryn had left him with.

Aeryn grinned. Progress of a sort; meeting the dragon would go a long way to finding a way to resolve all of this.

Bladed weapons pricked their backs, forcing them to move. They stumbled forward, divested of their weapons as they were led into the old outpost, deep in the Dravanian wilds.

Aeryn glanced around, trying to identify the architecture; a broken nautilus motif caught her eye, and she nodded to herself. This place was near enough to have once been a way point of the Sharlayan colony. Not many dragons came this far into the hinterlands away from Sohm Al, the valley through which the Thaliak River flowed having little appeal to them.

She kept an eye out, and followed her captors. As they did, she reached out to the local elements, silently asking for help.

The roof in the center of the old stone keep had been knocked out, just like the old tower in Coerthas’ eastern lowlands—another odd location to find an elder dragon, but Avengret seemed to lurk in unexpected places to do her recruiting and hide. Aeryn was certain some of the heretics around them to be disenfranchised hunters from Tailfeather and treasure hunters from Idyllshire, lured to the dragon’s side.

There was evidence a dragon roosted here, but the creature herself was not present. Aeryn continued to look around, noting the old Sharlayan designs, the sconces currently empty given the day and lack of an aetheric pulse to light them. The heretic leader looked around. “Where’s Johon? We need to call our lady.”

“Here,” a shaky voice said. An older man shuffled forward, too thin for his frame, grey-streaked dark beard and hair scraggly. Aeryn wondered how long he had lived on the fringes among the outcast. He held out a pipe to his leader, then frowned at Aeryn, peering at her. “You seem familiar.”

Aeryn shrugged. “She gets that a lot,” Heustienne said dryly. The two women exchanged grins. The heretics hadn’t seemed to realize yet who they had caught.

The leader snatched the pipe from Johon and blew a few notes into the device, the sound sharp and strong in the cool air. A moment later a distant roar answered.

Both women tensed as another roar soon came, closer and accompanied by the beating of wings. Soon the shadow fell over the space, and Aeryn sucked in a breath.

Avengret wasn’t the largest Aeryn had ever seen of course, but the red dragon was larger than most, impressive in her graceful form, covered in scars that bespoke a hardened warrior. She landed lighter than expected, wings unfurled as the heretics swayed in the wind of her arrival, a near religious fervor shining in their faces.

“My children call, and so I come,” her sonorous voice was bone-rattling deep, and her burning orange eyes turned to the captives. “What treasure have you brought me today?”

“Ishgardian dogs seeking to continue their purge of the righteous,” the leader said. “They lie like the others about peace. We present them for your judgment.”

Avengret laughed, the sound vibrating teeth and stone as she stared steadily. “Nay, this is a homecoming. A wayward daughter has returned to me.”

Heaustienne scowled. “I am no daughter of yours, Graoully—”

“SIlence! I’m not speaking to you,” Avengret snarled. Her head swung closer to Aeryn. “You. You’re one of mine.”

Aeryn blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“My blood sings in your veins, little one.”

“I’ve never drank a dragon’s blood.”

Avengret laughed. “No, no you never have. The potency is diluted, as to be expected. But I know your scent.” She tilted her head. “I had wondered at the name of Nidhogg’s killer. Ssssstriker,” she hissed.

The heretics started, staring now at Aeryn while Heustienne winced.

“That’s it!” Johon exclaimed. “Corran’s foreign wife; you look much like her. Gods, I haven’t thought of them in years.”

Aeryn’s head pivoted from the older man back to Avengret, who was grinning in the way only dragons could, every sharp tooth in her mouth visible. “You...So you knew my parents,” she said to the heretic. “They were….farmers,” she said.

Avengret laughed. “Your father was so much more. Until we were betrayed, and his potential cut down by a lance, like so many others.”

“Aeryn, what’s she talking about?” Heustienne asked.

“I have no idea. My father was killed when dragons attacked our village, coming after—” She stopped, throat suddenly tight like it had become that day. She remembered again the anger radiating off Alberic, tall and terrifying to her child self in his shiny dragoon armor, bloodstains marring the surface.

“Dragons came to aid your father,” Avengret said, mirth still coloring her tone. It quickly shifted to rage. “When that thrice-damned Azure Dragoon sought us out! He wounded me so deeply I slept for over two decades, and missed my lord’s call! If I had been there, had been well enough, I would have aided his crusade--I would have stopped you!”

Everyone else in the room, even her own adherents, stepped back as the dragon thrashed her tail and beat her wings, claws digging into the ground as she snarled at Aeryn.

Aeryn stood her ground and took a deep breath. “Good luck with that,” she said. Silently, she reached for the local elements again, asking nature for help as she had learned in the Stillglade Fane to supplement her red magic. The heretics still had her rapier.

Avengret chuckled again, rumbling and colder than her fiery nature suggested. It was disturbing how swiftly she switched from fury to this calm. Her orange eyes remained focused on Aeryn, as if naught else existed.

And then she began to Sing.

Aeryn gasped as her veins ignited, a primal part of her responding to the dragon’s call. Heustienne’s panicked shouting of her name seemed malms away though she knew her friend was right next to her, perhaps even grasping at her as the weight of Avengret’s Song forced Aeryn to a knee. She felt as if she could soar through the sky yet was falling-down drunk at the same time, the overwhelming power of the Song shrieking through her blood.

The wind asked if she was all right. The water asked if she needed help.

Aeryn screamed, answering them with an emphatic Yes! The water was cold mountain runoff, chilling the fire coursing through her. The canyon winds lifted her to her feet, whipping through the room and knocking the heretics about like leaves. She pulled on the water again, combining it with the wind and the now-controllable fire.

Avengret reared back, her own maw glowing as she prepared to let loose her breath. Aeryn’s lightning was faster, striking the dragon and many others in the room, uncontrollable without her weapon foci. The wind and water howled, loosing an ice storm on the room.

“Aeryn!” Heustienne cried out from across the room. She had struck the man holding their weapons, retrieving her lance and Aeryn’s rapier. “Let’s go!”

Aeryn backpedaled, taking a moment to send one last burst of aether into the sconces around the room. They lit with a green flare, the force field shimmering through the room just as the two women dashed out of it.

“What the hells—?”

“Emergency magic containment,” Aeryn gasped. “Won’t hold her for long, but long enough to leave!”

“Traitorous child!” Avengret roared from behind them, already tearing at the old Sharlayan devices. “You will pay! You are mine! Just ask the man who once wore Azure!”

“I will,” Aeryn muttered as they fled, her head and heart still aching from the memory of Avengret’s Song.

[the-dragons-knight]

FFXIV Write 2020

Prompt #2 - May I have this dance?

Sway - ‘move or cause to move slowly or rhythmically from side to side’

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Katsum nervously shifted, her fingers curling through the fabric of her dress, “I’m not so sure about this...”

Aymeric chuckled warmly, “I thought you were a Dancer. You trained with those of Troupe Falsiam from Thavnair, did you not?”

“That kind of dancing is far different than this!”

He laughed, turning to glance her way as he turned the dials on the orchestrion to find a suitable song, “Come now, my love. There is no reason to worry. I will lead you through it, I promise. Just as I did on our wedding day.”

Katsum’s ears fell back as she laughed, “Oh Heavens, don’t remind me. It was so crowded in the ballroom. And I was so nervous. I was afraid I would mess up in front of all of those people!”

“So...you did not enjoy it then?” She met his gaze quickly, seeing a sadness flicker through his eyes.

“No! W-What I meant was-...” She sighed and shook her head, “I'm sorry. That’s not what I meant.”

He smiled patiently at her, turning the dial a final time and turning it on. A soft and slow melody filled the parlor, and she immediately recognized it as the very song they danced to that day. The raven-haired Elezen turned back to her and stepped towards her slowly, his smile as warm as it always was, “I only remember looking at you and everything else in that room faded away.” He stopped just in front of her and reached out a hand to brush back a stray hair from her face, “Perhaps I was nervous too when we first stepped out in front of all those eyes, yet when I turned to you, and saw how you looked to me, nothing else mattered. Only that I did not fail you as I guided you through our dance.”

A shy smile spread across her face as her gaze dropped to the floor, toying with the fabric a bit more, “Well, you certainly did not.”

“So you did enjoy it then? Good,” He held out his hand to her and she looked up curiously, “Because you promised me another dance.”

Katsum frowned, remembering, “I did, didn’t I? Just before we were pulled into a conversation with the twins and I said we would ‘in a moment’...which never came,” Her ears dropped as she frowned, “I’m sorry, Aymeric.”

“There is no need to be. ‘Twas a busy day and an eventful evening with many lords and ladies begging for our attention. But, as I have been waiting for said dance ever since,” He stepped back into a graceful bow, a wide smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, “My lady, would you please grant me the honor of a dance?”

Katsum could feel the warmth spreading over her face, “Must you always be so poetic?”

“Words are my tool of trade, so indeed, I must,” He gestured to his hand again, an expectant air to his movements as he waited.

Katsum took a deep breath, moving to shakingly curtsy to play along, “Well...I suppose I have kept you waiting long enough,” Her fingers trembled as she took his hand, feeling his fingers slowly close on hers as he gently pulled her close. She followed his lead and moved against him, feeling his other hand rest against her waist and she responded by placing her free hand on his shoulder. Her tail twitched as she nervously looked about them at the furniture, wondering if they had the room to dance here.

“Kat~,” Her blush darkened at the way he spoke her name, “Look at me.” She obeyed and nervously looked up, meeting his endearing gaze and almost melting, “Look only at me, and think of nothing else.”

She shakingly breathed and nodded, “Ok.”

Aymeric smiled, bringing their entwined hands to his lips to kiss the back of hers. Katsum felt the hand on her waist gently push her body forward, and she followed, moving into a gentle sway with her husband across the floor. She could feel her feet shifting nervously, afraid she would step on his shoes each time they moved, or worse entangle their feet and make them both fall. He must have seen the swarm of thoughts in her eyes because his smile widened and he pulled her closer to his body and suddenly sped up the dance. She blinked in surprise when he let her body go, guiding her with her hand to spin out away from him before he pulled her back in, drawing her flush against him where he could ghost his lips on her forehead. Around they went again, the skirt of her dress flowing around them as Aymeric guided her across the parlor. Katsum scarcely had a moment to breathe when he bid her spin in front of him again, her dress skirt fanning out around her before he pulled her back in and she gasped as he lifted her up by her hips and spun them around. He chuckled at her shocked expression and a soft giggle escaped her lips as he brought her back down and back into their sway across the floor.

Onward they danced, and Katsum kept her gaze locked with his, finally feeling the world fade away around them until she only saw him. Only the soft melody of the music played around them as they waltzed across the room, just a man and a woman in love, dancing without a care in the world. She closed her eyes and let him guide her forth, moving close to lean her head against him and feeling him lay his against hers too as he slowed their dance. He released her hand and moved to hold her waist, hugging her close to him as he swayed their bodies together.

Aymeric sighed happily, whispering softly in her feline ear, “Ah, there you are, my love. Now worry no longer plagues thee.”

Katsum held to his coat, leaning into him completely as she sighed, “I remember now, that first dance between us. I remember I was so frightened standing in front of everyone. It had been so long since I danced with anyone like that...and even then I never properly learned everything. I was so unsure what to do...and then I looked at you and...” She shly met his gaze, a light dusting of a blush on her cheeks as her ears twitched nervously, “The way you smiled and took my hand...and led me across the floor. It was like you were the prince, and I was the lucky girl who has just happened to catch your eye.”

His loving smile nearly made her faint as he leaned down to her, “I think it is quite the opposite, for it is you who are the princess - nay, the queen - and I who is the lucky one. Of all the men in Ishgard, in Eorzea, you chose me, a parentless knight with a name that was not his to begin with. ‘Tis truly a miracle.”

Katsum lifted a hand to caress his cheek as she moved more confidently and drew near to his lips, “If you think I care about titles and social standings, you are mistaken.”

He laughed, “I know you don’t, yet here in the Holy See, it was all anyone ever knew...until you came and opened our eyes and our hearts.” He ghosted a light kiss on her lips, moving away slightly and grinning as she chased him, “I must be the luckiest man in all the world, for how did I come to win your love over so many others?”

Her answer held no hesitation, “By simply being you.” She stood up on the tips of her toes and kissed him and he followed her this time he accepted, holding her close to him to keep her from losing her balance. When they pulled away, they smiled brightly at each other and Katsum laughed as Aymeric pulled them back into their dance across the room.

[raelly-writing]

Prompt 18: Panglossian - FFXIV Write 2020

*confused noises* What is this word even. 90% certain I did not use it correctly but yikes, this was all I could think of. :’D

Post-5.3 I guess.

Panglossian: characterized by or given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity.

---

“Do you think we might actually make it this time?”

“I’m sure we will,” Viana replied lightly. Their chocobos kweehd happily, as if agreeing with her optimistic assertion.

Thancred made a low, doubtful noise.

She gave him a quick smile. Three times they’d tried to slip away to Ul’dah to just spend one night away from the Rising Stones, together, just the two of them. It’d been Thancred’s idea to start with - to just get dinner somewhere nice, and a room somewhere where no one would suddenly barge in on them to ask a question about some small matter that could easily have waited until the morning. It sounded nice, to be undisturbed for just a little while, and allowed to fully focus on each other.

And every single time they’d been called back before they’d even laid eyes upon the city.

“I certainly hope so,” Thancred said.

“I checked twice with Tataru whether we’d be needed for something.”

They came to a stop on a outcropping to let their chocobos rest for a moment before they descended down into Thanalan proper.

He nodded and leaned back in his saddle as he surveyed the horizon. “Yes, I did the same. And Riol kept giving me knowing looks the entire time,” he huffed.

Viana laughed under her breath, earning her a sideways look from him. “Well it’s not that surprising that he may have caught on.”

“I suppose not.”

Suddenly, their linkpearls chimed to life. Her stomach dropped as their eyes met, the same look of apprehension on his face. Twelve, please just let it be someone calling just to ask something. They both activated their pearls, eyes still locked as she responded, “Yes?”

“I’m sorry to call you both,” Tataru’s apologetic voice came over the line. “But something has come up.”

Viana’s shoulders sagged as she listened, her gaze going skyward as she tried not to let out a disappointed sound. Well, what had she really expected.

A warm hand took hold of her other one, and she looked back to Thancred just as he pressed a reassuring kiss to her knuckles. “We’ll be back soon, Tataru,” he said over the linkpearl.

“I’ll see you when you return then,” Tataru bid them good-bye, sounding genuinely apologetic.

“One day,” Viana sighed as she slumped in her saddle.

The feeling of Thancred’s leg bumping against hers as he nudged his chocobo closer to her made her look up. “Hey, come here,” he said softly.

Taking the invitation, she leaned over and met him in a brief kiss. “Please, do keep up that panglossian attitude of yours,” he murmured as they parted. Warm affection danced in his eyes as he looked at her with a soft smile. “One day, I’ll get to show you how nice Ul’dah can be to experience.”

The harshness of the disappointed lessened a little. Quickly, she brushed another kiss to his mouth then straightened in her saddle. “Guess it’s always something to look forward to, right?”

“Indeed it is.”

[autochthonousone]

The Small Council

(( Bear with me while I post some of my non-FFXIV writing! ))

“Tobku. S’yer watch.”

The kobold stirred and growled as Tommen shook them awake but consciousness steadily came to the small warrior. Tokbu lazily rose upward into an upright position as their eyes shifted in and out of focus for a moment before settling on the human that had woken them. Tokbu wasn’t unaccustomed to the dark, in fact Tokbu preferred the night, it was simply to irregular sleeping pattern that had become part-and-parcel with travelling alongside their companions. Traipsing around in broad daylight wasn’t exactly a kobold’s greatest strength.

“Okay.” the raspy, harsh sound of Tokbu ‘whispering’ called back to the human, “I’m going, I’m going…”

Tommen gave a silent nod, patting the small dragonkin on the shoulder several times before standing and making his way over to a nearby tree where he had set up a makeshift hammock using … many feet of rope. It was definitely time for some shut eye. Tokbu, however, had made their way just outside of the camp for the night to find an advantageous place to keep watch. After a spell of wandering Tokbu decided upon a small cliff edge that overlooked the Fields of the Dead from a fair distance above. It was an ideal location for keeping eyes peeled for unexpected guests.

The skies were clear on this particular night, leaving the immense sea of stars to be plainly seen. The stars, on nights such as these, appeared to Tokbu to be startling like a snowstorm frozen in place. Their gaze lingered heavenward as they settled down on the ledge with feet dangling over the seeming abyss below. There were times when Tokbu missed it; the great expanse of the frigid north. There was a certain serenity to being that far away from … well, everything. However, it wouldn’t be the same. Not any more. Not since Sheindrylth had changed everything for the young kobold.

The mere thought of the terrible white dragon caused Tokbu’s blood to boil. Not only for the indignity of the dragon’s betrayal, but the ignominy of Tokbu’s own complicity. That it took such an act of brutality and villainy to open the young hunter’s eyes to the nature of dragons. Every life but their own was expendable and their appetite for cruelty could never be satiated. The kobold attempted to calm down but it was far too late. The fury overtook them as their senses burned away for just a moment. 

Then clarity returned.

“Tokbu.” A voice that sounded of jagged teeth scraping against solid stone called out  from behind, “Tokbu!”

Tokbu jerked their head to the side with a snap, eyes narrowing at the source of the new voice. It was Kruttuk. At one time the chieftain of Tokbu’s tribe, but now they were simply another one of the dead. Though that certainly didn’t seem to stop them from continuing to call upon Tokbu as though they were both still in those caverns beneath the Spine of the World. Yet they were nothing more than an apparition of their former selves.

“All-Watcher.” Tokbu finally responded after they composed themselves at least in some measure from both the surprise and the sudden onset of anger.

“Some All-Watcher you turned out to be, Kruttuk.”

Another voice joined in on what had previously been a peaceful evening; this one more measured and less shrill. Tokbu’s gaze shifted to the new arrival, but there was no mystery as to who it was. Rhaze, a kobold which Tokbu had never actually met during life. They had been the All-Watcher of the tribe before the time of Kruttuk. A sorcerer of noteworthy talent, a rarity amongst Tokbu’s tribe; the Shatterers.

“Leading the tribe to ruin and disgrace.” What Rhaze’s voice lacked in auditory harshness it made up for in implied barbs.

“Ruin and disgrace!?” Kruttuk’s jarring voice snapped back, sounding incredulous and offended, “Ruin and disgrace!?”

The ghostly kobold pointed a finger at Rhaze who, even in their ethereal state, held a countenance that edged on domineering. It was clear that this particular kobold held themselves above the others and Kruttuk seemed hesitant to question them even in the face of their indignation.

“Yes, most importantly disgrace!”

Rhaze’s words were sharp and direct, it was clear enough that Rhaze’s opinion of Kruttuk was never particularly high even in life. Death seems to have only made the sorcerer’s opinion drop further. Amid the exhausting quibbling that had begun between the two spectres yet another voice inserted itself into the discourse, though this voice was decidedly meek when compared to the others. Even for a kobold.

“But the new All-Watcher will atone for us.” The timid voice insisted with an unexpected gravity.

It was Eris. Small, even by kobold standards, Eris was a kobold that Tokbu knew nothing about save for the fact that their spirit frequently interjected in times of internal turmoil. Even Rhaze and Kruttuk, having devolved into near unintelligible Yipyak, suddenly quieted and shifted their attention to the newest arrival.

“All-Watcher.” Rhaze commented snidely as they composed themselves and useless dusted their spectral robes, “Where All is Nothing.”

Rhaze gave another sharp glare in Kruttuk’s direction to punctuate his statement. Tokbu bristled. Rhaze was much to take in all at once and, having never met the sorcerer in life, Tokbu was slowly finding that they were glad for it. As powerful as the sorcerer might have been, they were an intolerably abrasive presence. Perhaps Tokbu might have felt different in earlier times and would have been glad for firm and powerful leadership.

But that wasn’t now. Definitely not now.

“Tobku is the All-Watcher now, like it or not, Rhaze” Eris, again, insisted gently, “And Tokbu will prove to Sheindrylth that the Shatterers remain worthy.”

“Tokbu is the greatest warrior our tribe has seen in generations, Rhaze.” It was Kruttuk’s turn to chime in, “Even you, in your height, would have been a fool to challenge them.”

The most recent All-Watcher seemed to take some pleasure in that assertion. Though it has little to do with their own doing, anything that could be used to belittle and undermine Rhaze was a valuable treasure. Kruttuk had spent all their years up to Rhaze’s death being berated by the sorcerer; the contempt ran deep.

There was only a prickly scoff in response. For all the pride that Rhaze might possess they couldn’t deny that Tokbu was certainly exceptional amongst their kin. Perhaps even more so than Rhaze themselves. Loathe as they were to admit it. Nothing that they said to the contrary would come off as anything but petty and weak. So they remained silent.

Eyes were now upon Tokbu, All-Watcher of the Shatterers, expecting an echo of their grand assertions. However, Tokbu simply remained silent. Where normally Tokbu felt fury at all things Draconic only an ember of despair burned now, as eyes dropped to the ground. After all the indignities, all the suffering, all the horrid injustices against them at the hands of Sheindrylth they could only think of was how to make amends and how to impress that tyrant.

“Greatest warrior, perhaps.” Rhaze’s churlish tone rose back up, “But also our smallest mind.”

Both Eris and Kruttuk turned to glare daggers at Rhaze. The sorcerer weathered their collective gaze with prideful confidence. There was no remorse to be found for their sharp words. Tokbu simply remained silent for a time; that ember of despair flaring to a searing white-hot.

“Surely if Tokbu continues to show their prowess by felling Sheindrylth’s rivals our matron will, once again, look upon us with favor.”

The grating voice of Kruttuk offered his thoughts in a misguided attempt to encourage the beleaguered kobold warrior. Yet, though it flew in the face of all that Tokbu had come to believe and value, it had done just that. That searing despair in the pit of his stomach transformed to outrage. A glowing ire that reflected in Tokbu’s eye as a roaring fire.

“Yes.” Tokbu finally replied, their intense gaze settled upon Rhaze now, “I’ll show our matron who is worthy.” 

Were Rhaze afforded the abiTlity to shiver, they would have under that gaze. Fear was an emotion that was well known among kobolds, part and parcel to daily life for the dragonkin, but rarely to Rhaze ever feel it sourced from another kobold. Most particularly when the sorcerer was already dead.

“See, Rhaze?” Eris once again injecting when it became clear that tensions were running high, “Tokbu will be our savior. We have nothing to fear. The Shatterers will ascend back to our rightful place.”

Tokbu ripped their gaze away from Rhaze, who had begrudgingly relented by turning away from Tokbu in the hopes that no one would seem them quaking. Now the warrior’s gaze shifted to Eris, the enigmatic diplomatic of this ‘council’. They were unknown even to Kruttuk and Rhaze, two of the smartest kobolds, though in very different ways, that had become All-Watcher in recent history.

“Yes. I will.” Tokbu asserted with confidence bolstered by anger.

“Good.”

Eris’ reply was simple and short, there was nothing more to be said. They simply passed a meaningful look to Tokbu before fading entirely from view and returning to the Ethereal. Tokbu appeared mystified, uncertain as to what the look meant, but quickly shook the confusion off just in time to turn and watch Kruttuk fade from view.

All that remained was Rhaze.

The sorcerer remained longer than the others, leveling a distrustful stare in Tokbu’s direction. There were no words to be given, only a silent sense of doubt. Whatever it was that Rhaze was thinking, they never shared it before they simply vanished into nothing. They were gone, all of them, at least for now. There was no doubting that they would be back again. The next time Tokbu’s anger became too great, as they always did.

There was a sense of relief that washed over Tokbu now, visibly relaxing and returning to their perch at the cliffedge. Once more their eyes drifted heavenward.

So startling like a snowstorm frozen in place.

[itsudemoyoshiwara]

[RP Log 7/27/2017] FFXIV | Fiore Brunelli

Fiore - Quell - Cedrick

Ala Mhigan Quarter

Quell Tyrbrandr mouth would open to let out a yawn, the two had wandered the small city for a few hours now and would seem to be resting their legs for the moment. Quell looked over to the horned woman, his gold hues inspecting her and then looking upward "...What will you do when you find your emerald dragon slayer?"

Fiore Brunelli looks over to her apparent companion with a start. She'd been staring at the arch at the top of the stairs, filled with dread. As much as she liked being out and about, the atmosphere was... not with good intent. "One would think that an ill placed question for one they'd just met normally, I'd think. Unless you're genuinely curious, miqo'te." Fiore spoke quietly, avoiding eye contact with Quell. He hadn't come off as too friendly on their journey here.

"What if he no longer breathes?  Such is the fate of most whom slay the dragons.  What if your quest was for naught?  Will you pick yourself up and continue on or will you give in on this life?" he asked sounding slightly concerned for the woman whom hired him.

Fiore Brunelli narrows her eyes at Quell. No longer breathes? That man? Nonsense. But even so... "I am not so foolish as to relenquish myself to the earth merely for a man, life-debt or no." She shakes her head, either annoyed or anxious. Possibly both. "The verdant dragoon gave me purpose, aye, but tis not my purpose simply to find him. Hydaelyn is far larger than Eorzea and I recognize that." Fiore Brunelli turns her gaze downward. While he had not been more than a catalyst, she would prefer to think him alive rather than dead. The miqo'te's words stung. She started up the stairs and beckoned to the man behind her. "No man shall be found should we stay here all day. Come."

Quell Tyrbrandr follows quietly! hiding his eyes from the bright sun with his hat

Fiore Brunelli eyes Quell suspiciously. Had she been too harsh? Despite the concern in the man's tone, he had come off as what she was taught to be too forward... "No quips, Quell?"

"Pray, let me remind you that you hired me.  The sooner we find this man the faster I can get back to my bottle of ales." he replied quietly, his eyes looking around at the hustle and bustle of the recaptured city and then to Fiore, his eyes locking into hers "Though I cannot say that I have not enjoyed this trip...these lands remind me of my home near the Sangoli Desert."

Fiore Brunelli flinches, a small squeak escaping her lips at Quell's initial response. Maybe she had been to hasty in enlisting his help. She had been wary to hire him in the first place, feeling that he had wanted more worth-while assignments. Her stomach knotted as his eyes found hers, but found herself taking an audiable, deep breath when he spoke again. "And here I thought you one not to speak much of yourself. Curious, that." She continued forward, eyes darting from face to face anxiously.

Quell Tyrbrandr stares at Fiore as she remarked on his thoughts of his makeshift home, he said nothing more and carried onward, a few men bumping into the man as they hurried along telling him to watch where he was going.  Quell quietly said nothing and kept following his companion.

Fiore Brunelli took a deep breath to calm herself. The combination of Quell's lack of response and the sheer number of faces within such close distance were overwhelming. Any of these could be that dragoon--her dragoon. She forced Quell's earlier words from her mind and bit her lip. Fiore could not allow herself to be discouraged. "Was that all you had to say?" she asked, shakily.  

Quell Tyrbrandr looked at her worry, his face forming a slight frown, he would then annouce loudly "Attention Ala Mhigan people.  I am looking for a man, Ala Mhigan, bores emerald armor and a spear.  A slayer of Dragons.  Would anyone here know of such a man or possible men that have come onto the service of the resistance?" he asked the workers

Fiore Brunelli turns to face her companion, eyes wide with fear. She rushes to his side, grabbing onto his sleeve hurridly. "Are you mad, miqo'te?!" Her eyes dart from face to face, her grip tightening on Quell's attire.

Cedrick Highwind sat here in relative dryness, looking over documents of relative insignificance. Upon hearing the miqo'te speak up loudly, he tried to ignore it before promptly hearing the words 'green armour' and 'dragon slayer'. Huh. He glanced over, looking at them both from over the rims of his reading glasses. A Miqo'te and a... Xaela? That was a rare sight outside the Azim Steppes. He did, however, keep silent. He would just watch them with the stealthiness of a goobbue in a Hingan porcelain shoppe.

"You want your answers you're not going to find them hiding behind a box, in order to garner your goals you must make headway on them." he said as he was tugged by the sleeve, freeing himself and then annoucing loudly again "I ask for a few moments of your time if you feel the need to give information, I am willing to part with some coin as a reward."  Quell said no more and would make his way back a bit

Fiore Brunelli felt her stomach drop twenty leagues as Quell continued to raise his voice. She looked around as people turned to stare, her heart rate spiking. The miqo'te had taken the stability of himself physically away from her and she began to panic. "Q-quell... wait!" Fiore squeaked out. Barely. She scrambled behind him, biting her lip. "There are more sublte ways we can handle this, one would think..." The Xaela woman felt much smaller than normal, suddenly, and hiring Quell was beginning to seem more and more liked an ill concieved idea.

Cedrick Highwind took a deep breath before speaking up. "How much coin're we talkin' 'bout, lad?" came the deep tones of Cedrick's cockney accent, raising his hand so they knew exactly whom it was that spoke, while at the same time motioning for them to come closer.

Quell Tyrbrandr as he walked with Fiore having a small meltdown behind him would stop in his tracks "Son i'm a lot older then I look and enough for a meal and possible bed for the night rather then sleeping outside.  Ala Mhigo and her citizens have seen enough of that." he's replied to the red haired male that has asked

Fiore Brunelli whipped her head around hard enough to give the poor woman whiplash at the sound of their respondant's voice. Her eyes immediately searched the crowd for the sound, resting on a large hand in the mess. The panic she had felt merely two moments before intensified with a mixture of excitement. Her stomach churned. Fiore Brunelli looked up at Quell, then back to the hand in the crowd and did not wait to push through the mass of workers. As she burst forward, the small Xaela woman stopped not a fulm away. "I'll pay you whatever you want!" The words shot out from her mouth before she could stop herself and suddenly, she felt very conscious of her volume.

Cedrick Highwind cocked his brow, "Calm yer breeches, lass and quieten down. Cum wit me." he stood up, storing the papers he was holding just mere moments ago somewhere on his body. If a glance upon them was cast, you might recognise the Ishgardian seal on it. He turned and made his way over to... a table further back, with three seats, "Hav' a seat, y'two."

Quell Tyrbrandr followed the red haired man to the back where it seemed less loud and out in the open, he was generally curious about what he had to say and what information he had to provide

Fiore Brunelli felt her eyes dart from place to place across this man's large, but familiar back as she followed very hastily behind him. If she bit her lip any harder, she might have drawn blood. He sat and she immediately took a seat at the table across from him, shooting Quell a quick, wide-eyed look full panic and anticipation.

Fiore Brunelli 's eyes fell to her lap after that, and she began to play with the hem of her skirt. A moment passed before she thought to apologize for her previous outburst, but recognized that the moment had passed and sat quietly, waiting for the man to continue.

Cedrick Highwind just glanced between them both, taking off his reading glasses and placing them on the table before them. "I take it yer not jes' lookin' fer a run o' th'mill dragon slayer. Not many o' 'em clad in green." he started, leaning forward, "B'fore I part wit me knowledge, I need ask; Whot is i' ye wont wit 'im?"

"She wants the man.  I am just hired to help sniff him out.  I'll let her explain rather than I..." he said adjusting himself int to the chair and allowing his sore legs to rest for the moment.

Cedrick Highwind glanced over to the Xaela since the ivory-haired Miqo'te gave his statement.

Fiore Brunelli felt her face redden as she felt the Highlander's gaze upon her. "W-well..." she started, her voice small, "I was looking for a man to whom I owe my life, as to repay him for doing so." The Xaela woman gripped her skirt tightly. "Twas that man who helped me leave the Azim Steppe and see the world, and by association he has given me so many things. As such, I feel a deep need to repay him... So--"

Fiore Brunelli stopped abruptly, finally looking up from her lap and into the face of the man before her. "I had not seen his face, but I will remember his gesture for the rest of my being. I would appreciate it greatly if you could lead me to him... Please."

Fiore Brunelli swallowed hard, feeling too awkward to keep eye contact. She let her eyes fall back to her lap.

Cedrick Highwind leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes and raising a hand to his cheek in quiet contemplation. "Azim Steppes, aye? 'Tis quite th' distance fer a smol thing such as yerself." he muttered mostly to himself. Opening his eyes and letting his green eyes settle upon them both, he spoke up with certain conviction, "I knoe nought of a... verdant dragoon, y'might say, that ain't me seeing as that's whot me comrades in arms call me." he paused, shrugging.

Cedrick Highwind "Sorry fer me deception, y'need understand 'tis tumultuos times in me homeland, aye?"

Quell Tyrbrandr "Then this quest hath come to an end.  Your prize awaits." he said looking over to Fiore offering a faint smile before standing himself up and giving the two some space

Fiore Brunelli continued to stare silently at her lap, unsure how to process the information provided to her. Had she heard him correctly? She flinched as Quell left his seat and became extremely conscious of the privacy he had provided the two of them. She lifted her eyes to look upon the man--the verdant dragoon that she had left home for--and bit her lip again. Despite thinking of this moment for quite some time, Fiore was at a loss for words.

Fiore Brunelli turned her gaze to Quell's back, hoping he wouldn't leave her here for long.

Cedrick Highwind just stared at Fiore, who seemed quite... unwilling to do anything but sit there. Cedrick stood up with a sigh and walked over to Quell, "Keep yer coin. Make a random beggar's day wit it." He said to him before starting to leave.

"Ye would leave this woman whom has spent many moons under my watch and guide like chaff in the wind?  Nay sir.  You will talk with her.  She holds you to much accord and respect, she hath done not but sing into thine ear about your deeds and praises.  Else i'll put in arrow in your arse lad." he growled as what appeared to look like Cedrick fleeing the scene.

Fiore Brunelli felt the slight pop of her teeth breaking skin as she watched the Dragoon stand from his seat and leave, wordlessly. "Ah--!" She too, stood and pressed her hand to her mouth. He had made his way to Quell, who seemed more agitated than she'd seen him on their journey here. This had gone not at all according to plan. Her stomach lurched again. Fiore was gonna puke. Or pass out. One.

Cedrick Highwind smirked. He cared not for the man's threat. "Sure. I'll listen while I'm doing me paperwork." is all he said as he made his way back to the table, taking out the papers from before as well as putting his glasses back on. He propped some ink and a quill out as well and started writing, "G'on then lass."

Quell Tyrbrandr looked agitated at Cedrick as he sat back down, he shook his head a bit and wandered a bit more away so that they could talk privately, he removed his hat for the moment and sighed.

Fiore Brunelli watched Cedrick as he sat back down, and once again back to Quell as he walked further away. Hopefully he wouldn't go much farther than he had? She turned her attention back to Cedrick after being addressed and sheepishly motioned to the hand she'd used to cover her mouth. "I hope you'll pardon me, uhm... Sir, but I've hurt myself," Fiore managed, her words muffled. "Though I will have to apologize, I'm not sure what to do now that I'm here..."

Cedrick Highwind took a deep breath, placing the paperwork on the table next to the ink and quill, before standing up. He approached the Xaela, and just took her hand and moved it away from her mouth, leaning in closer to inspect it. "Yegads, lass, why'd'ye do this?" he muttered with certain incredulity. He poked it with a finger, a soft wave of curative magicks flowing through to her to mend the skin. "Learned me sum conjury back during me time in Gridania." he explained. "So, whot's this about a debt?" Cedrick Highwind "Who are ye again? S'been like... wot, ten - twenty years since I've been in th' Azim Steppes?" it probably was less.

Fiore Brunelli flinched as Cedrick stood, steeling herself when he drew close. She wasn't sure what made her face burn more, the careless way he moved her hand away or when he touched her lips. Though, nothing about it was much to be worked up over, she had to remind herself. He was simply doing what you ought to have done, had you not been so stupid. By the twelve, his hands were rather large though...

Fiore Brunelli shook her head slightly, and returned her hand to her lips, touching the spot he had healed. "Ah, thank you," she muttered. Her gaze fell downward to nowhere in particular. "I would not expect to you to remember, but you saved my life once. As is per your, uhm... Profession, you slayed a dragon that I had encountered near my home."

Fiore Brunelli took a deep breath and continued, "Although, the sight of you... I had not seen any but my own kind. It inspired me to leave and see everything. For that, I owe you much more than just my physical form."

Cedrick Highwind cocked a brow, "... Are ye tryin'a bed me?" he grunted, going back to his seat to return to his paperwork, "No' that yer no' attractive but, not int'rested." he concluded, pushing his glasses back up, "Glad I could inspire ye though, I guess."

Fiore Brunelli visibly flinched at the mention of... intimacy? Her eyes grew wide and her face much hotter than before. "B-bed you? I beg your pardon? I--" She fanned herself slightly with one hand and cast a quick glance at Quell, who seemed to have dozed off or something. Fiore was more or less alone on this one.

Fiore Brunelli took a deep breath to compose herself and sat herself once more across from Cedrick. "I had not come here with impure intentions, I assure you. I merely wish to provide my servitude to you, should you take it. I could at least do that much, for as much as you have given me in my life since our encounter--though unintentionally."

Cedrick Highwind glanced up from below the rims of his glasses, "Err, look lass. Much as I'd like t'have me a sl--" he caught himself there, "a /servant/ pretty as yerself, I dun' think I did that much. I jes' killed a dragon, aye?"

Fiore Brunelli shook her head with enthusiasm. "Tis not all you did, I promise you! Because of you, I--" her words became more frantic, excited. "I have seen and done so much! I have known many places and people that I never would have, had you not saved me that day. Tis not a matter of simply saving my life, but also giving me one. Tis not an easy debt to repay. It has weighed heavily on me for some many moons, sir."

Cedrick Highwind sighed, "Well, if'n y'insist..." he grumbled, "Jes'... how good are ye at fightin'?" he asked, "Might've sum use for ye in me platoon."

Fiore Brunelli opened her mouth to continue, but stopped herself. Fighting? Mountain-dweller or no, she wasn't of great strength. "I have come a great deal to learn curative magicks myself, sir, but I am not so great in strength. Would your platoon have need of an experienced healer?" She swung her legs uncomfortably against the chair. While prepared to give her life for this man, who's name she still did not know, she would much hate to disappoint.

Cedrick Highwind gave a soft nod, "It'll doe. Chirurgeons are gud but, y'knoe, understaffed. Always good t' have a healer on hand." he paused, glancing at her, "Beg pardon but I dun see a cane or rod on ye?" never heard of scholars, fuck boy?

Fiore Brunelli beamed with delight at Cedrick's ignorance. She herself had felt that feeling a great many times and relished in the chance to educate someone as she had been educated. "You see, sir, I have studied the ways of Nymian scholars. As such, my healing magics are related to, euhm..." She pauses for a moment. "Faeries. I use a tome." Fiore pats the leather bound codex, secured at the small of her back. Fiore Brunelli continues, "I assure you, providing succor to your wounded is no issue."

Cedrick Highwind glanced over, "Ah. One o' them scholars. Rarely see yer kind in Ishgard. We see more o' them Astrowhatsits." he coughed lightly, a certain awkward silence washing over them before he spoke up again, "... Tell me, y'got a place t' live? Otherwise I've got a flat y'can stay in fer the time being." seeing as she's his sla- servant. :V

Fiore Brunelli bit her lip once more, but more to stifle a giggle than anything. "Ah, yes. Astrologians. Theirs are a Sharlyan based study. I had a fond time looking into that during my time in Ishgard as well." Cedrick's... blatant lack of either understanding or caring--Fiore couldn't tell which--was rather endearing. "As for my living arrangements, I am currently here on behalf of the Maelstrom for the... Euhm... 'Effort." Fiore Brunelli cleared her throat, "But if you should wish it, sir, I can change those arrangements. My loyalty to you is second to none."

Cedrick Highwind shook his head, "Nah. I'm here fer th' same thing, after all. S'not only cuz this is me home land, aye? M'still a Dragoon bound t' Ishgard. I was jes' wondering n'general."

Fiore Brunelli nodded in response. "As I would suspect. You /are/ Ala Mhigan, after all." With nothing else to say, she gave Cedrick a once over and waited for him to say anything in particular. She kinda wished she had gotten to see his appearance back at the Azim Steppe. She would have left much earlier than she had, if so. Fiore stifled another giggle and cleared her throat, her inspection of Cedrick, likely blatant.

Cedrick Highwind just kinda cocked his brow at Fiore, "... So..." he scratched the nape of his neck, "Whot's yer name, then?" is all he asked, the processing of what is actually happening just sinking down, "Wait." he blinked, "Y'would ditch yer entire life jes' fer m- Thal's balls lass."