ohmyarceus | JULY - AUGUST TEST DRIVE MEME

Her confusion is entirely understandable, if their positions were reversed he would be reacting much the same--but he's been here for months, and had time to get used to each new surprise as it comes.

"She shall know you, she did I." Which was awkward.

He doesn't hesitate as the doors open on their own, and leads her to the counter, waiting patiently to the side as Nurse Joy happily explains the concept of Pokemon Centers and the healing of Pokemon. He even hands over one of the balls from the pouch he wears at his hip to a second nurse, Chorale is in need of treatment.

"It...took some time to adjust," he admits, despite his evident ease with the situation.

"Then it is good you have warned me now, e're I find her soon. Or she finds me." Ysayle doesn't know how she feels about someone who knows her, who has seen her like the Warrior of Light has, yet be a complete unknown. Her emotions register on her face for a brief moment before settling once more into a wall of unreadable ice.

It is strange to see him here, like this, stripped of armor and lance. But if Estinien can find a way to belong, Ysayle sees no reason why she cannot do likewise. Although it takes her far longer to see to it that her pokemon is returned to his ball, only to hand it over willingly. "If thou has not found a way to return to Eorzia, then doubtless I will have the same time in which to do likewise." It isn't a challenge. It sort of is a challenge, but it is one of her own making in the absence of his sharp edges to test herself against.

"There were those on the road here who took my presence as an invitation to spar. Is that common, here?"

It was...confusing. Because she didn't remember all, including his folly that had made him fall to Nidhogg the first time.

"There seems to be no way but to wait for the whim of the force that brought us here. Our abilities are beyond our reach--I am sure that took you not long to notice."

Once they have their pokeballs returned to them, Estinien inclines his head towards a corner where some squat chairs and a couch sit, hidden amongst some potted plants, and glares off a pair of trainers that seem like they want to take it for themselves.

"Tis the custom, aye."

He takes the end of the couch for himself, and Iceheart (he should...probably let the woman know about her namesake, but can't think of a good way to broach the subject) jumps up beside him, laying her head down on his thigh.

"That is how these creatures become stronger. They have different elemental aspects, and use them much as we would use aether."

Ysayle nods, still unaware of what has tempered Estinien so. If he wishes her to know he will tell her. She is satisfied with that.

"Aye, it soon became apparent that I no longer posses the Echo. Nor Shiva, whatever she may be." Not the saint that Ysayle had hoped for, prayed for. But something else -- and here she is unlikely to find that answer. Perhaps that is her own burden to carry, forever unknowing of the creature that dwells inside.

One of the chairs proves to be awkward for her, long limbs not used to furniture that wasn't ruins or made for Elezen, but she sits with as much grace as she can. A lingering glance is spared for the Ninetails, one that is as near-adoring as Estinien has yet seen on her face. It's cute, is what it is. Although perhaps she might question its level of devotion.

Ysayle bows her head slightly. "There was a tomestone like device given to me amongst other supplies. I believe he," a gesture to the pokeball she has stored back in her bag, "is classified as 'dragon'."

Little surprise there.

If you leave it to him to speak of on his own, it will never come up. More level-headed he might be now, but he’s still just as reticent to talk about his emotions. Though if she asks of the end of the war, that would be enough to prompt it.

“Nor your magic, nor I my jump. We are all expected to rely on these creatures.”

He looks at the Drampa with some interest, and now that he’s concentrating on it he can indeed pick up on some feelings – protectiveness mostly, hardly surprising. Their first creatures, especially, seem to be connected deeper somehow. He scratches Iceheart’s ears, and the Ninetales looks at her namesake with narrowed eyes, almost as if she can read the muted hostility. She is an intensely perceptive creature.

He nods in understanding, but there’s none of the disgust or anger that Ysayle might expect for him being told he’s in the same room with a dragon. “She is ice and fairy. Both are types that are in opposition to dragon in whatever passes for the wheel here.” Which might explain why Estinien the dragon slayer has something so cute and fluffy. Though…he reaches into his bag again and takes out a couple of balls, popping them open for his Dratini and Noibat to appear in flashes of light. “These two are dragon as well. I have others, though they are too large to release indoors.”

The Dratini makes a small sound and slithers forward to look up at Ysayle curiously, while the Noibat settles on Estinien’s shoulder with no hesitation.

“That device also facilitates communication with others here. Tis akin to a linkshell.”

Edited 2020-07-23 19:48 (UTC)

The Drampa huffs, leaning forward over Ysayle's shoulder to sniff at the Dratini before making what can only be described as a satisfied sound. He looks... quite odd, Ysayle knows, but she cannot find it within herself to dislike him for it. She reaches out, places a hand on his neck.

He'll need a name, eventually. She think she knows the right one, if he will accept it.

Far more concerning is the matter of Estinien's pokemon.

"Never did I think to see the day where the Azure Dragoon," yes, yes she knows it's not his title according to him, but that's not the point she's going to make, "would stand such companions, let alone label them so." Ysayle, for her part, offers her hand up to the Dratini, charmed by its looks. "That they would see fit to give thee one that excels at dragon slaying is more in line of what I had expected." She knows enough from her walk here that these pokemon do not kill each other. But again: not the point she is trying to make.

At his explanation, however, she nods in understanding. "Thou did mention the others from Eorzia. But I take thee words to mean that there are more still beyond them."

His Dratini squeaks and nudges Ysayle's hand, asking to be pet. It's not as if he ignores the creatures, far from it, but they're just. Largely very friendly. Cute when it's a creature the size of Astrologia, less so when it's one the size of Tree.

"Much has changed. Tis only fitting that I change with it. The perspective was...hard won." He shrugs, looking to the side. That was what she had hoped, wasn't it? For man and dragon to be at peace again?

"Just so. There are people here from dozens of different worlds, each one more different than the last."

She is helpless but to pet the Dratini, motivated by the same urge that overcame her when faced with moogles. It's easier to see the dragon in this creature than her own, in truth, but she pays it little further thought in light of Estinien's statement.

"In truth, 'tis perhaps the strangest thing you have said e're my arrival." And he's said several strange things -- she's making a list of them all just in case. "Yet I find that I am glad of it."

Progress. That Estinien of all could turn away from his anger -- there was hope for Ishgard yet.

"How impossible. Yet no more surprising than all else that I have learned. It brings some home to some, I should think, that they are not alone in this."

"Yes, I know," he says gruffly--perhaps the closest to familiar that he's come during this whole conversation. "Tis hardly as if I expected it." To be honest, once they were solidly on the course of ending the war, he hadn't thought about it at all, what he would do with himself after. He preferred to deal with one problem at a time. So he honestly can't say what he would have done if everything had gone just a bit differently.

He huffs and shakes his head, then reaches up to push his bangs back out of his face a little.

"Tis vexing, often as not. This reality entire is."

A hint of a smile steals across her face, gone before it might even register with him. "Aye, which makes it all the more true." She continues to pet the Dratini, and while she doesn't coo at it, exactly, there's the idea that she'd very much like to. "If Estinien Wyrmblood, Azure Dragoon can take a liking to dragons, then there is hope for the future I wanted."

For Ishgard, for all of them. It means more to her to have tangible proof of that then she thinks Estinien will ever know.

"Oh? Pray tell, then, of what one might expect."

Well, to be fair, it's hardly as if the dragons in front of her look much at all like the ones at home. Though if she were to meet Orn Khai...

Estinien watches her fuss over Astrologia quietly while he gathers his thoughts.

"We are largely left to our own devices. Those of us who are classified as 'trainers' are meant to challenge others and strengthen our own beasts, though there seems to be no penalty for not doing so. None of us know precisely why we were brought here, nor when we shall be returned. Even those of us from the same reality can be brought here at disparate points in time."

As she's probably well realized.

"Most everything revolves around these Pokemon. Tis passing strange."

If she knew of Orn Khai, she would absolutely desire to meet him. And possibly chide Estinien for abandoning him in a brothel.

Paying half attention to him as he explains, she nods. "I believe I am one of these 'trainers'," but she doesn't consider sitting around and doing nothing as something she could stand to do for long. So strengthening her dragon it is. "'Tis good then, that I have naught that needs my attention in Eorzia."

Perhaps the only positive here; that and running into Estinien first.

"I cannot say that I can see the appeal, but I trust there is some reason to their importance."

As the dragonet in question likes to remind everyone, he is the elder between the two of them. He will be fine.

"...what is it that you last remember?" He knows that people can be brought here from disparate points in time, sometimes greatly so. He also knows that people can be brought here after their deaths. (Though he doesn't yet know that Hythlodaeus is a special case.)

"They are many and varied. Think of them as you might an adventurer's chocobo. A steed, travel companion, and sometimes a partner in battle."

Ah.

Ysayle doesn't answer for a long moment, before staring past Estinien's shoulder. "I fell, and I begun to slip away into the Lifestream."

It isn't painful to recall -- there wasn't anything to fear in her final act, but it is strange to do so. His mention of a chocobo is interesting in and of itself. "They sound to be quite effective at all tasks. I cannot say I understand it all, yet, but nor will I say that it does not interest me."

He has the good grace to look apologetic--mournful, even. He hadn't been sure, after all, but...

Well, it certainly doesn't surprise him. What else would it be? Though he didn't know if it would be kinder for her not to remember.

He sighs, looking to the side as he does so. "...twas thy sacrifice that allowed the defeat of Thordan. Though...I regret it took such. It should not have been so."

The quiet admission will probably surprise her. That Estinien cared so much--he certainly hadn't shown it before.

It does surprise her, and for a moment it shows on her face -- her confusion gives way to a small sliver of gratefulness before that, too, fades.

"Estinien Wyrmblood mourns the loss of a woman who has fought him at every turn?" It's not said cruelly, though one could interpret it as hostile -- though that is not her intent. "I must needs make amends for my sins; it was my choice. I am gladdened to know that doing so aided you."

If she could give her life over again, she would, until her blood had been spent in equal amounts to that she was responsible for spilling.

"I had much and more time since then to reflect. And in the end, were we not fighting for the same thing?" His fingers curl in Iceheart's fur, slowly going numb from the cold.

"Twas the Warrior of Light that struck the final blow, of course. Thordan had taken the second Eye of Nidhogg for himself and used its aether to summon unto himself a primal."

Speaking of the events of the end of the war is uncomfortable for him, for a multitude of reasons. He certainly looks it, he's not meeting Ysayle's eyes, instead he has a thousand-yalm stare directed somewhere over her shoulder, at nothing in particular. She should know what her sacrifice enabled, though. And, perhaps, also why he had changed so much. When he finally does speak of it, his words are measured and his voice is flat and quiet, dispassionately reporting what happened.

"When I took up the second Eye, twas in that moment that Nidhogg's spirit overtook me. He used my body to continue his pursuit of vengeance, though Ishgard and Dravania even then were trying to sue for peace."

He pauses only long enough to catch his breath.

"I remember little of that time. Twas all I could do to keep my sense of self amidst his rage and his grief. The final battle was enjoined at the Steps of Faith, and with Hraesvelgr's aid Nidhogg was weakened enough for me to wrest control away--only enough to beg for a killing blow. One final sacrifice, I thought, ere I could finally rest."

He laughs then, but it's a mirthless thing, it's all he can do with the enormity of what happened, the sheer absurdity of it.

"Lucky for I, I suppose, that Alphinaud had had enough of death that day. Stubborn idiot boy convinced stubborn idiot man that they could pry Nidhogg's eyes off me, and with the Fury's own luck actually managed it."

He reaches up to pull his collar aside a bit, leaving the twisted and burned edges of the scarring at his shoulder where one of the eyes had sat exposed for her to see.

JULY - AUGUST TEST DRIVE MEME

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject