xistentia | open

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Characters: Era Ra & OPEN
Summary: stuff and things
Date(s): December
Warnings/Notes: n/a

☘ CRAFTING

Actually preparing gifts herself to give to her friends and acquaintances is something rather new to Era. While she's certainly delivered her fair share of gifts to children over the last few Starlight Celebrations it was always because an extra hand was needed to help, not because she provided any of the gifts herself.

She hates being cooped up indoors for extended periods of time despite how unbearably cold it is, which leaves Era to suffer through the chill in various quiet places around the city as she pieces together delicate works of art. With her limited supplies she takes her time with each piece, deciding against using any more of her elemental crystals for non-vital crafts. What usually could take her under an hour now takes multiple, but it's a welcome distraction.

For all that Era is skilled in crafting and how much she loathes the cold on her tail and scales, it still hasn't hit her yet that perhaps she should craft herself a tail warmer. While her Carbuncle curling itself around it helps, a proper warmer would likely be more efficient.

☘ HUNTING & GATHERING

Partly due to the aftermath of the war and partly due to the upcoming months, Era has taken to hunting a few times a week to gather various necessities.

Hunting game at least once a week for meat to be cured, skins for leather, and bones for alchemy. It's a good way to keep her archery skills sharp, for she is a good shot with a keen eye and doesn't want to risk getting rusty from disuse. She makes sure to never kill more than she needs, and ensures that whatever she's hunting dies as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Gathering various plants keeps her busy between game hunts. There are so many that Era is unfamiliar with, and many others that she recognizes. The season means what's available is fairly limited, but she never leaves the wilderness without adding a few more things of use to her inventory.

When neither hunting or gathering, the Auri woman takes to fishing. No matter the climate or time of year, if the water is deep enough then there will be fish to be caught. This proves as true in Xistentia as it does in Eorzea, yet it is still incredibly boring no matter where she is. Luckily she catches enough fish a week to keep herself and Aymeric well fed.

☘ TRAINING

There sure is a ridiculously tiny woman doing some ridiculously powerful skill rotations against a striking dummy she has set up a safe distance away from anything that might become collateral damage.

Maybe she's flinging fireballs, explosions (Fire IV), or glaciers (Blizzard IV or Hyoton) at the surprisingly sturdy dummy, or maybe she's zapping it with lighting (Verthunder or Raiton). Or powerful swirls of air (Aero III), miniature earthquakes (Stone IV), spouts of water (Suiton), giant beams of white light (Death Flare), white balls of energy (Ruin), red balls of energy (Broil II), etc.

Or maybe she's just bashing at it with her sword and shield. Or a sword or axe both larger than herself. Or from a distance with a very large bow. Or with her rapier, or twin daggers, or a spear.

Or maybe she's just punching the shit out of it.

☘ FREEZING

Au Ra are not made for cold climates.

Era has met Au Ra who live on beaches, great plains, desert regions, and even under the sea, but she has never found any number of Au Ra who made their home someplace cold. While hearty and powerful, their scales leave them a little bit more sensitive to temperature than the other races. At least in her own experience.

When faced with the prospect of enduring an entire winter without the ability to Teleport to Costa del Sol or the Forgotten Springs or literally anywhere else not freezing cold to stay for a few days Era can only feel a sinking sort of dread that not even a Primal can cause.

Even during the Dragonsong War Era made time to Teleport away to someplace warm - it was the only way she could tolerate trudging through the Western Highlands or lingering in Ishgard for an extended period, despite how much she came to love the city. If her scales just wouldn't warm up again she would just pop over to Southern Thanalan or The Mist and soak in the sun for an hour or two, then return to the Holy See.

But she's trapped in Xistentia, forced to cloak herself in layer upon layer before leaving the apartment. And if she's not keeping busy outdoors she keeps herself sequestered inside, wrapped up in thick, warm blankets and dozing with the cats. The cold has made her chronically drowsy and Era swears she has slept more in the past week than she has in the entirety of her life.

Enjoy the Starlight Celebration without her, friends. She is just going to wrap herself in a cocoon of blankets and sleep until the weather no longer sucks.

☘ WILDCARD

Hit me with whatever you want - no need to stick to these lame starters! Also feel free to [action] if you'd like, since I have no real preference. :)

froakie / Era Ra#4916

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The wait for her midday spar was an agonizing one in Era's opinion. It had been far too long since she had a proper spar with anyone new, and Thor will (hopefully) be a worthy opponent she won't need to hold back with. So far all she really knows is that he specializes in blunt weapons - war hammers specifically - and lightning, which is likely more than he knows about her skills but still isn't enough for Era to know which job set to use in their first spar.

Paladin would certainly provide her with suitable defense and longevity, yet lacks the raw power of her other job classes. Casting classes could leave her at a disadvantage, with her casts being interrupted to regularly if a hit by Thor takes away too much of her vitality... Physical ranged could be a fun challenge for future spars but not a first, and she isn't confident enough in her skills as a warrior, monk, or dragoon to face someone considered a god by many.

Red Mage would be a nice balance between ranged magic and close combat, but so would Ninja. Either of the two would make for a fun fight, Era's certain. Her most recent conversation with Loki implied he heavily favoured daggers when not using sorcery, meaning Thor would be find fighting against the bladed weapons familiar.

So... Ninja.

With that key decision out of the way Era is left to wait at their agreed upon meeting place; a spot outside of the city, where collateral damage will be minimal if they decide not to hold back. It's her favourite spot to train, though with the recent drops in temperature Era finds herself less enamored with it, shivering as she waits. Not even the thick cloak she made herself, lined with the soft fur of animals she hunted over her months in Xistentia, is able to keep the chill from settling in her scales and she is loathe to warm up in earnest lest she expend too much energy before her spar.

Luckily Era has a wonderful, thoughtful friend (boyfriend, she mentally corrects with a blush) who packed her a thermos of hot cocoa before she left. It might have been meant for later on, but the young Auri woman is cold now and so shamelessly pulls it out of her bag, letting the container warm her hands through the leather of her gloves for a few moments before unscrewing the lid to take a sip. It's perfectly made; rich and creamy, warming her up from the inside quicker than if she were casting a Fire spell.

Suddenly her wait is that much more bearable (though she still can't wait for her newest friend to get here).

Thor has fought Loki far too many times to really be at a disadvantage with casting classes any longer, so Ninja is a good route for Era to go. Still very much like his brother's combat, but more the aspects Thor's never quite caught up on. Stealth, the finer, minute dexterity, speed. A familiar style, yes, but always an intriguing one, difficult to keep up with. It'll make for a fun spar, certainly.

Thor arrives in his battle garb, worn through their trials on Sakaar, and through their brawl with Hella, so it's a bit worse for wear, but Thor still manages to look like the demi-god he is in it, tattered cape flowing behind as he paces over, a hand raised in greeting with Mjolnir rested on his shoulder.

"Lady Era! I hope you weren't waiting long."

He's bad at punctuality some times, but thankfully, Loki's good at getting him where he needs to be roughly around the time he said he was going to be there.

Loki follows closely at Thor's heels though he hangs back. Not that he doubts his place at Thor's equal now. Their circumstances had finally changed their dynamic into a place that Loki no longer chafes against. All the same, some habits are hard to break. Besides, this was about sparring. Loki may enjoy a good fight now and then, to keep the blood pumping, but he has never truly cared for it.

"Yes," he drawls, schooling his face into a vain visage, "You can blame Thor for that.

Era smiles at Thor, giving a slight shake of her head to indicate that no, she hadn't been waiting overly long. When she spots Loki close behind his brother her smile brightens.

"Hello Ser Thor, Loki." If Thor is so insistent on calling her 'Lady' then she will insist on 'Ser' in return, of course. "I have waited for less pleasant company for far longer, so it's of no concern."

The thermos in her hands has cooled considerably and Era quietly seals it shut again, tucking it away to seemingly nowhere a moment later. When they've finished with their spar she'll take it out again and heat it up with a bit of thaumaturgy, or perhaps a Katon. For now Era will focus on her present company rather than how chilled she is. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person."

'Lady' and 'Ser' are just things Thor's used to hearing, so her insistence on it doesn't much bother him. Thor beams at the girl as he approaches, though his head tilts as her thermos disappears into seemingly nowhere, the aesir letting out a chuckle.

"Either you have many cleverly hidden pockets, or you must carry some kind of dimensional subspace with you, my friend."

Mjolnird is flipped in his hand a couple times, as he paces over a companionable distance, an idle hand lifting to pat Loki at a shoulder blade, happy to have his brother out and about making friends with him. "The pleasure is mine. And more so still to have such a formidable sparring partner. What combat style do you wish to try for first?"

Loki swats Thor's hand away lightly, much lighter than he would have before in or in the past. He would not consider himself mellow, but certain fights, certain grievances were not so important anymore. Loki is learning to let go, piece by piece and holding onto what matters.

"Yes, please hash out the details in where you pummel each other," Loki drawls, "I have no doubt it'll be exciting."

"Perhaps a combination of both," Era admits, drawing her twin daggers out from what most definitely could not have been a pocket. In the blink of an eye her warm winter outer clothes are gone and replaced instead with an outfit of thick, skin tight black leather strengthened with coatings that she risked life and limb to acquire.

It might remind the Asgardian brothers of one Black Widow's combat suit, albeit in more separate pieces. Era hopes that her appearance will clue Thor in to her combat style of choice, she asks him a question in return: "I know you are intimately familiar with daggers, but are you familiar with ninjutsu?"

She turns to Loki with a smile. "I brought one of my journals if you would prefer reading to watching."

Definitely a dimensional subspace, Thor thinks, as his head tilts, brows knitting deeper, looking over the clothes that just appeared on her out of nowhere. So many questions. Did she just change really fast in front of them? Are these clothes on top of her old ones, or were these just underneath the others? Can Loki do that? Are they even real clothes? Are both Era and his brother, actually, naked right now and just projecting magic clothes?

That last one makes this feel very awkward. Moving on.

"No, no, he's being serious - seeing me almost lose fights is one of his favorite pastimes." A l m o s t . And it's debatable if Thor is being serious here as well or if it's just a very straightly delivered joke. Possibly a mix of the two. But back to the thing he's really interested about here - this fancy new combat thing she's bringing.

"Ninjutsu? I've heard something close to the term before from a dear friend." Things from Hogun's world probably seem close in the All Tongue, anyway, we're just guessing here, la de da. "But familiar, no."

"No, thank you," he responds politely. Loki then kicks Thor's shin discreetly as if fully aware of the dubious train of his brother's thoughts while rolling his eyes and looking away, the very picture of innocence. He does, however, make note of the daggers, the weight and the stance. Daggers were Loki's preferred weapon of attack. He has always lacked the muscle mass and strength that the Asgardians boasted of. It used to be a personal failing, one Loki could never quite fix.

He can't remember when he stopped.

"I believe a demonstration is in order," Loki murmurs as he finds himself a suitable location to watch.

The way the brothers interact reminds Era so much of Alphinaud and Alisaie; teasing and taunting but with obvious fondness behind it. She supposes the same could be said about most siblings, though Era hasn't met enough to be able to say for certain. Regardless, seeing Loki indulge in more childish behaviour makes her smile.

"As you wish," Era says, spinning her daggers twice before sheathing them against her side for a moment. With her hands free she forms the proper mudra - Jin, Chi, Ten - and activates Huton. A spiral of wind twirls around her from the ground up, and while the mudra's effects aren't visible the speed enhancement it gives her is indispensable.

Blades back in hand, Era turns her attention back to Thor. "I will make no wounds deeper than half an ilm, and you will make no blows that break bones."

She'll try and limit herself to a quarter of an ilm, but knows she can get rather competitive... "Afterwards I will heal all injuries. Do you have any further stipulations?"

Era had meant to follow up with Peter much sooner but had been sufficiently distracted by 'Christmas' preparations. Eventually she made sure to set aside some time to meet with the craftsman despite her reservations about the entire process - she had never had anything custom made for her like this outside of the outfit Tataru made for her so long ago, and Era is also admittedly a bit shy when it comes to exposing large amounts of her skin to strangers.

But Peter is a craftsman and therefore a professional, facts that settle her nerves somewhat. He also didn't seem too taken aback by her mention of scales and a tail, which is more than what could be said for many Eorzean crafters just a few scant years ago when 'tail' automatically meant 'Miqo'te'.

By the time she arrives at Peter's workplace Era has managed to shove her anxieties away, focusing instead on how nice it will be to have new underthings (maybe even a nice set of lingerie to wear for Aymeric someday and not just herself) and how nice it is to be out of that damnable cold once she steps inside.

"Hello," she announces.

( there is a certain and specific air to the store that feels as if walking into something of another world -- the regular cottage look of xisentian houses is entirely lost on this building of refinery and taste, bathed in luxury from head to toe. the threshold of the door turns dirt roads into hard marbled floors, white and shiny enough to see your reflection in, matching the overly look of the place -- pristine, tidy, clean. that's to say nothing of the lingerie racks lining the floor, a different rack for a different color, bringing some life and color to the place.

and then there is peter nureyev, more commonly known as colton skye, behind the main counter of the store, folding clothing in perfect halves. a man to match the setting, as evidenced by his perfectly tailored clothes, and a quaft in his hair that seems even a knock to the head couldn't push out of its place. his fingernails are painted, rings on most of his fingers, with two ears full of silver piercings -- when he smiles at her, most of his teeth look pointed and sharp, cutting his pleasant demeanor with a sliver of danger.

everyone loves danger! )

You must be Era! ( he crosses the room to her, holding a hand out to shake. ) It is so wonderful to finally meet you.

[ The store isn't something she hasn't seen before - the spectacular opulence mixed with a sufficient amount of personality despite the cleanliness isn't exactly commonplace in Eorzea, but it isn't unheard of. She's dined with the Sultana and made allies of nobility.

But this is a different sort of refined taste than what she's accustomed to. Where Eorzea (regardless of region) was always warm; tapestries, banners, and plush rugs. Era supposes the reason is that this is a store, not a personal abode, and doesn't that make all the difference?

When the proprietor comes to greet her she shakes his hand (firm and confident) and smiles in return, unphased by the sharpness of his teeth. She regularly socializes with Dravanians, Sahagin, Amalj'aa, and Miqo'te, so pointed teeth aren't anything she even takes note of. What she pays attention to are the rings on his fingers and the piercings in his ears, ever the craftswoman. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you, ser. My apologies for not coming sooner.

While Era is bundled up and looking closer to a marshmallow than an Au Ra, Rose is perhaps even more scantily clad than usual. A black spaghetti strap tank-top and jean shorts that are so short they really have no right to be considered clothing at all is her outfit of choice today. The blond gives no indication that she feels any sort of chill whatsoever and that's because she doesn't. Being born of the eternal winter in the northern mountains, Rose was impervious to cold. Whereas Era thrived in warmer climates, Rose seemed to bloom in winter's heart.

"You sure you aren't cold-blooded?" she asks, quirking an eyebrow at the multiple layers Era has adorned in contrast. "The only people who dislike cold this much back home for me are the fire apparitions..."

"Had I been cold-blooded I would have perished long ago," Era quips, though she is not offended by Rose's query. What has her irritated is how unaffected her friend is by the cold while she is miserable in it. It was different in Coerthas, where people's lives depended on her, but here there's nothing quite so pressing - she's just accompanying Rose on an outing to window shop for the holiday season.

"My first home was in a desert."

When summer rolls around again and Rose is practically melting in the heat, Era will have her day. For now, she's content to stroll the streets comfortably. It's actually kind of a miraculous thing. Just a couple years ago she would have risked overheating herself and bundled up to stay blended in with the 'normal' populace.

"A desert?" she repeats, tilting her head. "Like... Arizona, then." She enjoyed the state, the cool nights and what looked like the whole universe of stars for them to see. "What was yours called?"

"I stayed mostly in the surrounding areas, which were more savanna than stereotypical desert," she clarifies, not bothering to voice that she's unfamiliar with Arizona as it's easy enough to infer that it's likely a desert of Rose's world. "But the desert proper is the Sagolii."

Era misses it - the arid, dry heat of the Sagolii. Exploring the dunes around the Forgotten Spring, visiting her friends of the Amalj'aa, hunting elite marks, or investigating old ruins buried in sand. Then again she misses the rest of Eorzea just as much, though for differing reasons. The same can be said of Hingashi and Othard.

"It is populated mostly by Miqo'te and Amalj'aa, though there were many Hyur refugees who lived in the northern part of the Sagolii as well."

That it is! Arizona's kind of a dry place in more ways than just the climate. Still, Rose had enjoyed the infusion of Hispanic culture and their dancing styles in particular down in that part of the states. They also had some kiss and fast-paced jams.

"Miqo'te are... the cat people, yeah?" She does't remember what the Amalj'aa are. She should probably look over the informative post that Era put together.

"Sounds like a nice little melting pot of people though."

"Miqo'te have feline traits, yes." As someone who takes great offense to being referred to as a lizard or reptile (and less offense to being called dragon spawn, since she is rather fond of the more sensible dragons) Era understands the Miqo'te's distaste for being considered something they aren't - like being related to pet cats. "It is the U tribe in particular that live in the south of Thanalan."

Era considers Rose's comment. A 'melting pot' is a good description for Eorzea in general, even if there is still underlying tension between each of the many races. "Excluding Ishgard, the entirety of Eorzea is very diverse. What of your home, Rose?"

Most yokai are prideful of their animalistic heritage. The wolves and crows were especially proud creatures. Rose was clearly the exception, not seeming to act anything close to regal as a wolf is described to be. Rose is the antithesis of her kind in so many ways though that it might be hard to tell what's supposed to be the norm for her kind.

"Huh, there's different types... The wolf yokai have different ones too. Well. They have different purposes." The guardian wolves were protectors of people; her people, the okuri inu, were meanwhile their demise.

"Yeah, people are pretty diverse. I guess yokai too. There's all different animals and spirits that serve a lot of different purposes."

"There are different clans for every race in Eorzea, though they do not necessarily have different purposes," Era muses. She has something else to ask - ever the inquisitive scholar - but her attention is suddenly attracted by a very cute dress in a shop window.

Come stare at cute dresses with her, Rose. Because even if she very rarely wears them, Era is incredibly fond of dresses and all sorts of impractical, fashionable clothes.

"Guess our kind are just complicated," which is a joke at her own expense as much as the difficult nature of yokai in and of themselves. Even Rose thought it was a little much at times. She's about to ask what the distinction between the clans are, maybe, if she's willing to tell but-

Era's attention is neatly taken away by a dress. "You'd look good in that," she says, giving an approving nod as she imagines the Auri woman in it. Rose can't actually picture herself in something so nice.

"Perhaps... Though I doubt it would fit me," she admits. It's something she could see herself wearing, for it wouldn't hinder her mobility much at all; skirts to the knees, short sleeves, and form fitting but not confining. The fact that it has floral pattern just makes it that much better, as Era has always been rather fond of them.

"I think the cut of the neckline would be quite flattering on you, Rose."

And she truly does think so, for Era never lies - not unless she's being sarcastic, or unless it's necessary to complete a mission.

In a different universe where she's a nurse, rose-printed everything is her brand. In this reality, the woman just finds it a bit tacky. While she likes roses, she's not about to wear them too. She'd much rather have them in a bouquet

held together at the stems by a cock ring. That'd be something. Maybe she'll try to subtly hint at it to Vanyel since their anniversary is coming up in a couple months.

"Yeah? A little too modest for me, I think, but I could rock it. Are the clothes in your world a lot more... practical, I guess?"

Era doesn't think it's modest, but compared to what Rose wears perhaps it is. To her, the dress is flattering all around - shows just enough leg, and accentuates the waistline. Or it would, were she a handful of ilms taller.

"Most of the people I know wear clothes suited for combat, since they tend to be fellow adventurers," she admits. "Though there are many impractical clothes in the cities."

Funny to think that Rose was the woman who showed up to an orgy in long sleeves and jeans. How far she's come. "Impractical, huh? What do you mean?" Tell her about Eorzea's more hilarious fashion, please.

"Subligar are what come to mind first," Era admits. And it can be rather distracting when you're trying to investigate ancient ruins filled with deadly creatures and one of your male Roegadyn companions subligar-covered groin is level with your face.

"People wear... subligar... Like, on the outside?" Rose is familiar with the concept of subligar but always assumed it was meant to go beneath armor. Or, at least, that was her understanding. The thought of it being above is a little. Huh. Comical, maybe, but she can also imagine it'd be rather headturning in a large crowd.

"And here I thought your world was a bunch of prudes. I'd probably like to party with those people," she laughs, half-joking. Rose would actually probably revel in debauchery with some of Eorzea's finest if given the chance.

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closed to the lord of thunder :U hope this works for you!

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freezing;

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