For unnecessaryflourishes

[bladesdarkandlight]

(Continuation of this.)

[Amh Araeng had been rough, in more ways than one. Storge had been a nightmarish fight, until she'd figured out how to read its attacks, leaving her hurting even before absorbing its Light. Now...now her mind is racing, and she needs anything to focus on other than the pain of the Lightwardens' aether trying to corrupt her own, and yet the others are insistent that she stay put and rest. And so she sighs, tossing her tomephone onto the bed next to her as Selene flits around her. The little fairy is doing her best to help with the lingering bruises and scrapes from the mines, but those aren't what worry her.

...And on top of that, she'd probably acting too comfortable with Emet-Selch again. She probably shouldn't have issued that challenge, but she can't help but find him endearing in ways she can't quite explain. Well, too late now.]

If nothing else...I was looking for a distraction.

Comments

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Not even he has been unaware of the growing light within her. Far from it, in fact, given that it's all but central to his plans. But it's one thing to know and another to see her so thoroughly bruised and beaten after her most recent struggle against the Lightwardens.

(It's a scene that calls to mind other moments, from a world long since gone, though none of those had involved a fairy doing her best to deal with any lingering injuries.)

On the other hand, while it's entirely possible that she might well be acting more comfortable with him than most of the rest of her companions might prefer, he's hardly about to mention any of this if she isn't.]

I had rather gathered as much. Even I could hardly miss the way your compatriots have all but insisted that you remain here.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[She does tense a little as she glances up at him, watching with a clear uncertainty...but not fear. Some might be scared, alone with an Ascian and armed only with a book and a fairy, but she's never been scared of much. Besides which, she's fairly confident by now that his plans don't involve stabbing her while she's unarmored.

After a few seconds, she shrugs and shoos Selene aside.]

Doesn't anyone ever knock anymore? What if I'd been messaging you from the bath? [A bath does sound nice, but given she's already had to throw a bar of soap through Ardbert once for annoying timing...] You're not wrong about them being stubborn as all hells about me staying put, though. Like they think I'm going to break if I don't slow down.

[An insistent squeaking from the fairy...who might just agree that she's pushing herself too hard.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Fortunately enough, they do not. He cannot say they don't involve her risking her life to contain the light at best, but outright stabbing her is - in addition to not often being particularly his style - more than a little counterproductive.]

Unless you had intended to take a bath here, you would still have had your privacy. I do try to take care with my arrivals.

[And is not particularly inclined to impose on that sort of private moment unless explicitly invited to.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

[And he'd hardly be the first to expect her to risk her life on something. Granted, usually it's on something armor and sword are effective against, but never let it be said that she's only good for one thing.

She shrugs with a faintly amused smile, keeping a comment about certain others paying less attention to herself. She's not sure if Emet can see Ardbert, and if not, he's a secret she'd rather not share with the Ascian.]

Glad to know I've got the option of a 'do not disturb' sign if I need some time to myself. Wasn't sure a sorcerer of eld would consider private time more important than his grand proclamations, 'specially one as 'likes to watch'.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[If he's noticed Ardbert, he's certainly not said anything about him, but that's hardly any direct guarantee. Especially when it's not anything particularly relevant to the situation at hand.]

I do try to keep the matter of privacy in mind. Though I stand by what I said.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[Her lips twitch up in a deliberately restrained smile, one that clearly wants to be a grin. She shouldn't be treating him like a friend, and yet...]

I was mostly kidding. I noticed how you made sure nobody'd see aught Y'shtola might not be comfortable with, so I figured you had some manners hidden under that pain in the arse attitude.

Thanks again for the help there, by the by. You might act like a chocobo's arse, but I'm glad you decided to tag along into the forest.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's a faint huff and a shrug at the first comment, as if to say that of course he has some manners, hidden though they might sometimes be by his general attitude (regardless of how one might choose to see it.)]

Were I you, I would advise her to not make a habit of flinging herself into the Lifestream with such reckless abandon. I cannot always be present to retrieve her forth.

[bladesdarkandlight]

Believe me, I've already had some words with her about that. 'Specially since last time she pulled a stunt like that, it was moons afore we figured out what happened and found a way to haul her back out.

That's how she ended up blind, and she's damn lucky it was that and not what happened to Thancred.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I had noticed his... inability. Though he never deigned to offer to the reasoning behind it.

[And given that it's not been anything that would be particularly important, he hasn't cared to ask either. Though he might not have spent his interactions with Thancred being particularly cordial, he's had enough experience with people who cannot manipulate aether to not bother asking at the reasons.

Even if it is quite clear that Thancred is not even remotely of Garlean descent.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

Considering the shite you've called him, I can't exactly blame him for not wanting to tell you aught he might be sensitive about.

[She crosses her arms, fixing him with an irritated stare. As much as Thancred's been more than a little rude to Emet, Emet has been just as bad.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Which is why I have not asked. It matters little to me whether it should be something he came by naturally, a result of Lahabrea's forcible expulsion, or the consequence of any other mishap.

[To say nothing of the fact that he has no shortage of other things to needle Thancred about. Even if it might draw some ire from her.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

Here I thought you were the one as was talking about understanding each other. Or does it not count when you're the one looking to pick fights?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

You will forgive me for being somewhat less inclined to make the attempt when he cannot be said to have made any attempt of his own. Or would you have me continue to offer olive branches that are doomed to do naught but wither as soon as I so much as try?

[bladesdarkandlight]

I'm willing to get on his case, too, but I don't see it getting much of anywhere unless you apologize for that crack about him and Lahabrea. I know he was already being a right arse toward you before that, but stabbing the sore spot wasn't exactly going to help.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I said nothing that was not the truth.

[A cruel truth, perhaps, but the truth all the same.]

That he himself was subject to Lahabrea's tendency to jump vessels on whim alone is hardly my fault.

[bladesdarkandlight]

Didn't think it was, that whole business with the Ultima Weapon doesn't seem at all your style. Bringing it up, on the other hand...no way in hells I'm believing you didn't know that would be a sore subject.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's a pause and a moment of consideration before he speaks again.]

Forgive me for asking, but I had thought you had meant to find something suitably distracting, rather than seeking to question my motives?

[bladesdarkandlight]

Sounds like a deflection to me, but...yeah. Only so much dwelling on high stakes shite a gal can take afore she's ready to snap.

[And it hurts...it hurts so deep down, it can only be the pain of her soul cracking under the pressure of the Light. But like hells she's going to tell him that, not when his entire willingness to parlay hinges on the possibility that she might have the fortitude to pull this off.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Given what he can see, it almost certainly is. It's not a new sight - he's spent enough time on the First to know what it looks like someone succumbs to the Light's influence - but even knowing it's for the Rejoining there's still a twinge of regret, sometimes, in seeing it happen to her soul.]

I would prefer even your insistent questions on ancient history over a continued examination of my motives.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[She raises an eyebrow, and Selene floats next to her with a hand on her tiny hip.]

Thought you wanted us to know about what you're fighting to get back?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I do. Our people, our homes, our world... I scarcely have the words to describe that which was in comparison to this world. To explain the wonder and the joy of those days.

[His eyes unfocus a little, as he speaks, as if he's half-lost in memory - a memory he shakes off quickly enough, before returning to the topic at hand.]

But not even I am immune to the frustrations borne of relentless pestering. No matter what the topic may be.

[Or how unsurprising he should happen to find it.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

I'm a historian, Emet. You can't dangle stories about a time before recorded history in front of me and not expect me to dig for more. I want us to know, whatever words you have.

[She hesitates for a moment, then picks up her tomephone and edges a bit to the side, so there's room to sit next to her on the bed.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Can I not?

[Though it's subtle, there's just enough to his tone of voice to suggest that he might not be entirely serious. Or at least, not entirely inclined to leave her questions unanswered, as he has implied.]

It was... unlike anything that has come since. A world where man sought only to better the world around him, and cared so little for violence that war was unknown to us.

[bladesdarkandlight]

Huh...sounds like somewhere what wouldn't have needed someone like me.

[She rubs at her shoulder, flaking off a bit of dried blood from the wounds Selene had been treating.]

Still, can't say I don't understand the appeal. Not having to deal with selfish arses like the Syndicate.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's a pause, and a sigh, and then - with something like resignation - he takes a seat in the space she's left for him.]

We may not have known war. But that hardly means there was no use for such skills as would now be considered to be solely for the purposes of combat.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[She should probably be nervous with him so close, but somehow...it almost feels comforting. Her fairy flits around, before settling to sit on Emet's shoulder.]

What, are you saying your perfect world still had shite like monsters running around?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[His gaze flicks to the fairy as she settles on his shoulder, but apart from a faint frown he says nothing about it. As long as all it does is sit he has little complaint with it.]

Nothing so crude. But to create as we did was no easy task - nor was every creation ultimately deemed suitable.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[Sit and dangle her little feet. Aelienor's own eyes flick to Selene, but...she'll just try to ignore it.]

So you still needed someone to deal with the ones what turned out too dangerous to keep around. I don't know...still sounds like I wouldn't have been needed very often.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Surely you have other capabilities? One hardly becomes a historian by fighting.

[Even if the later is what she is most commonly called on for.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

My thesis was about the similarities between the rise of the Garlean Empire and the rise of Allag, and the difference what might have been made if'n Garlemald had known what they were fucking with. Not much for a war historian to study in a world without war.

[She shrugs, then turns to give him a pointed look.]

Though, gotta say...been a good feeling to have so many of my thesis points validated.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Even a war historian must, by the nature of their craft, be something of scholar. And there was any of a number of places where such skills were prized.

[They might not have been anything he had been inclined to do, and he isn't entirely certain she would find it fulfilling besides. But it is a possibility.]

Or perhaps you would be better served by being one of the rare few who chose a life of exploration.

[As indeed, had been the very thing she had been charged with, once upon a time, when she had yet been whole.]

That said, I suppose I am glad to have proven your theories in regards to both Allag and Garlemald.