xistentia | closed;

Entry tags:

closed;

Characters: Era & Aymeric
Summary: having a much needed talk about their feels.
Date(s): Nov. 28^th-ish
Warnings/Notes: mature discussion about mature themes

The last few days spent in the library had been enlightening to say the least. Era is now armed with a wide range of knowledge about relationships, though she would not mind forgetting some of what she learned about the sexual side of them. Sex isn't something Era is particularly keen on trying - she finds the concept almost revolting, though less so when paired with the thought of Aymeric. For him she would be willing to toe beyond what she's comfortable with and try.

It's with this in mind that Era seeks her dear friend out, hoping to explain to him how she feels and figure out where they stand currently and how they should proceed.

The walk back to their shared residence is chilly, leaving Era to huddle in the sweater she had thought would be warm enough but isn't. By the time she steps through the door her skin is pink from the cold and her scales like ice, though the heat of the apartment is quick to warm her skin up again. A cup of hot cocoa would be perfect right now, but Era won't let herself be distracted from her self-appointed mission. There will be time for warm drinks after.

"Aymeric?"

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Domesticity isn't something that Aymeric thought he'd ever be suited to but- Here he is, in the middle of doing something as mundane as washing dishes. Haurchefantd hums where he stands to the side of the sink, using a rag about as big as him to wipe away the excess water.

He turns to glance towards the door as he hears Era enter. Before she even calls out, he's wiping his hands on the apron he'd worn (to prevent staining his clothes that she'd crafted, of course) and turning off the faucet. "Era," he answers, smiling as he steps over to greet her properly, "welcome home."

The first time anyone had ever welcomed Era in such a way had been Aymeric, what feels like an eternity ago, when she returned to Ishgard once the Dragonsong War was over. Since then it has been a regular occurrence - both in Eorzea, and now Xistentia - and she is certain she will never tire of hearing her dearest friend say it.

"I'm home," she responds softly, practically beaming. It's a nice feeling, to have a home. Regardless of where it happens to be at the moment.

Of course, warm welcomes are not what Era returned for, nice as they are. She eyes Aymeric's damp apron, soap suds slowly dissolving on the fabric from what Era can only assume were dishes. He's been surprisingly domestic, which is likely a good thing considering Era is not exceptionally good at household chores. Normally she would leave him to it, perhaps begin preparing a meal for them both, but at this moment there is a more pressing issue:

"Are you free to talk?"

Home is where the heart is. Or so they say. While he always believed that would be in Ishgard, he had to admit wherever Era was he'd be happy to call home. If it wasn't Hydaelen then it would Xistentia or wherever the multiverse might carry them. As long as they were together, he could easily make a home away from home with her.

Her request gives him the briefest pause. It's not often that she asks to talk lest she have a specific topic in mind, something important to discuss. He finds himself wondering what it is, naturally, and while he has his suspicions... He will allow her to bring it up herself. Aside from the suggestion that they share living in the first place, Era has been the one to take charge of things as it were.

"Of course," he answers easily. "Should I make tea first?"

Era considers the offer briefly before nodding. Tea would be nice; something to warm her hands as well as keep them occupied so she won't fidget. She doubts she has enough to say to warrant needing it for her throat, but the thought is there.

"Haurchefantd," she turns to the daemon, smiling faintly. "Would you mind going outside with Emmy and playing with Anima for a short while?"

Having any trace of their dear, deceased friend while discussing sensitive matters is definitely not what Era wants. And Emeraldd is known to record things it shouldn't. Anima is already playing with Peki outside, so Era doesn't need to worry about him overhearing and asking unwanted questions.

"Very well," he says, moving immediately to get out the tea set and kettle started. It's almost effortless; it should be, honestly, with how often he does this in just a single day. When she asks for the daemon's to leave, there's a slight tilt of his head.

"As you wish, Era, but do not hesitate to call on me if need be!" says the wind-up daemon, before giving her a kind-hearted smile. "Come, Emmy, let's make sure Anima isn't getting into too much fun without us." The carbuncle responds well to the call, following after the other daemon. Haurchefantd seems to have a way with it that Era and Aymeric don't sometimes; it's a wonder how, if because they're both daemons or... what. He doesn't think too much into it.

Once they're gone, Amyeric notes, "Our life here is a lot quieter compared to home, but I sometimes don't realize how much more it would be without them."

"I am accustomed to the quiet," Era admits. When venturing around Eorzea it had always been fairly quiet, unless she was in combat. "But I understand what you mean."

Knowing it will take a few minutes for the tea to be ready, Era moves to sit on the small sofa nearest to the kitchen with her knees pulled to her chest and chin resting atop her knees. It's improper, but comfortable - especially with the grey knit sweater she's wearing. It's at least a few sizes too big, though with a few alterations to the neckline it now functions as a warm, cozy sweater dress.

She needs to start hunting in earnest for thicker, more insulated clothing in the next few days. Her hunt would have started earlier if not for her preoccupation with her and Aymeric's mutual feelings. Which brings Era to her current situation: waiting for Aymeric to serve the tea and come sit, so that she might discuss things she would rather not speak of.

But she's the Warrior of Light - she can handle a (hopefully) brief discussion about intimacy and their current relationship status.

Aymeric, on the other hand, had never been accustomed to quiet. Even when attending mass, the somber silence that settled in occasionally was just as quickly dispelled by the sermon or shared prayer. He had moments of quiet in his office but - as she had seen, when they had dinner and a rare private moment alone together before Xistentia - it was often that he was interrupted. That something required his attention.

It doesn't take him long though to get things set up. He had already had the kitchen tidied up so it was just a matter of waiting for the water boil. Once the kettle whistles, he's pouring them both a cup each. Now that everything's said and done- Aymeric takes a seat across from her so that they might be able to look at each other while they converse.

"Now then," he says, to break the quiet that had befallen them. "What is it you wish to discuss?" He starts this as he would perhaps business because it's safer. Easier. While he's aware that feelings aren't something to be handled so indelicately, he will adjust his demeanor accordingly.

Once receiving her cup of tea and nodding her thanks, Era promptly takes a sip of the beverage in an attempt to keep her nerves calm. Despite her best efforts to appear otherwise it's clear that she is out of her element; fidgety and having a difficult time making eye contact. Luckily Aymeric is aware of how new this all is to her, something which Era has the Psylink to thank for.

"I've been doing some reading," she begins, steady voice an interesting contrast to how the tip of her tail flicks nervously. "The conclusion I came to is that I don't know what I would like or dislike in terms of a physical relationship beyond what we have now. After giving it some thought, I decided the best way to proceed would be to leave it up to you to do as you like, and I will simply tell you if I don't like it."

There. That wasn't so hard, was it?

She takes another nervous sip of her tea.

He is certainly aware that this is new territory for her; if he's being completely honest, it is for him too. While he had his... experiences, he'd never really entertained of the idea of a serious relationship. His responsibilities to Isghard came first and foremost and it wasn't surprising that the majority of people he had seen did not want to be 'second best' to his duties.

He listens to Era carefully, sipping his tea almost nonchalantly. He's not actually as composed as he seems though. Really, he thanks the tea for being something to calm his nerves as he mulls everything over in his mind. "I think that would be wise," he finally answers, the slightest of smiles upon his lips.

"And I will respect your decision should you be disagreeable to anything I might do." That being said... "Would it be alright then, to tell others that we are courting?" Since, well. That's his intention now that he knows hers.

Era had never thought for a moment that Aymeric wouldn't be agreeable to her terms, so it is no surprise to her that she was correct in her assumption. It's his question that gives her a start - she had been focused on more practical aspects of their relationship, but not what label to actually give it. Courting is an outdated term, from what Era has learned from her time in Xistentia. It is similar to 'dating', but... not.

"That would be acceptable," Era says, voice as calm though her thoughts are anything but. It was a challenge not to stumble over her words, and so instead she made sure to speak slowly enough that she wouldn't. "In modern terminology that would make you my boyfriend, and I your girlfriend."

The modern labels don't feel quite right on her tongue. 'Boyfriend' seems too trivial a word for Aymeric, but it is the simplest one - one that the populace at large will understand. They are dear friends and companions. Partners. Comrades-in-arms. For all that thoughts of her life in the long term beyond 'adventuring' and 'saving lives' tend to make her anxious, the thought of Aymeric not being by her side in one way or another for the rest of her life is enough to give her heart pause.

For someone as orderly and efficient as Aymeric tries to be, the label isn't necessary but would provide him some semblance of comfort. He's been fine so far to let them be what they were, a little more than friends but nothing quite as official as courtship. And while courtship might be an antiquated thing to most people here, he knows the difference between that and dating. To make his intention clear, he'll stick with the term 'courting' as long as she approves though-

"I suppose it would," he answers. "It sounds better than I gave it credit for." Boyfriend. Girlfriend. He sees the appeal that blond woman has with the titles now with the way it makes him feel warm and elated.

"I'm glad," the man continues, "that we're in agreement." Not that he, like Era, had ever really doubted it but it's good to communicate this way and know that their feelings are the same.

"I had been under the impression this would somehow be difficult," Era admits after a moment's thought, a small smile against the rim of her teacup as she tucks her legs beneath herself where she sits. "I don't know why, as you've always made things seem much easier."

Then again, the only friends Era has that she feels comfortable enough to discuss such matters with don't have the best track record with relationships. Not that that has ever been something Era considered when seeking their advice.

But she and Aymeric have almost always been of one mind on the things that matter most, so why would this be any different?

Perhaps it's because Era knows Rose, who makes everything inordinately difficult. Who makes dramatic displays and claims all the ways she doesn't act before turning around and doing just that which she condemned. Regardless, her partners seem rather... accustomed to this and he imagines that whatever frustration they feel is overridden by the love they have for her.

"I'm glad to hear it," he answers, smiling a bit more jovially than he otherwise might. Contentment is a good look on Aymeric. Perhaps it's one he'll be wearing more often now that him and Era are "official."

"I hope that things continue to feel just as effortless as we move forward."

"I hope so as well, though I imagine there will be challenges at times." Era is not foolish enough to believe that their relationship won't have its fair share of difficulties, regardless of their temperaments. But she trusts they will persevere - trusts Aymeric enough to believe they will have success, and perhaps less arguments than some of the other couples Era has encountered so far.

"As long as we are both willing to communicate openly with each other I don't foresee things becoming unbearably difficult."

She's almost done her tea now, and while she's warm and cozy indoors, snuggled up in a soft chair, Era also knows that Anima would love for her to play with him in the snow; to build a snowman together, and perhaps throw snowballs around. The aetherial child is understanding of her distaste for the cold, but she still would like to spend time with him doing something outside of combat or training.

So she'll bundle herself up and trudge back outside soon enough - but not right this second.

"I don't think any relationship is without its trials and tribulations," he says, in agreement. He doubts that it will be completely smooth sailing. Yet, he knows that relationships can be made better for the bridges that they need to cross when they get to them. He thinks of disagreements with Estinien and Haurchefant both that only strengthened their friendship when they were able to overcome them. While he can hope that it will be as effortless as this right now, he hopes that it won't ever be difficult.

"Communication should never be an issue but if it happens that there is ever something you need to bring my attention, I hope you wouldn't hesitate."

"Rest assured that I will do so when necessary." Because for all that Era isn't incredibly fond of discussion under many circumstances she finds she doesn't mind it with Aymeric, just as she doesn't mind a lot of things with Aymeric that she normally would. Still, she will only bring his attention to matters that she is unable to resolve on her own first.

"I need to take Peki out to stretch his legs, and build a snowman with Anima. Would you care to join us?"

Then rest assured he shall. Aymeric has no doubt that Era will voice any concerns but hopes still that doesn't mean there will be enough of them for her the feel the need to often.

"That sounds lovely," he says, genuinely though cordially as ever.

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