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[dragonsung]

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."

[stardiving]

"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."

[dragonsung]

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."

[stardiving]

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."

[dragonsung]

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."

[stardiving]

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."

[dragonsung]

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."

[stardiving]

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.

[dragonsung]

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.

[stardiving]

"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.