xistentia | text | backdated to the 20th

[ being born to Ishgard, tropical places like Xistentia are still so very new to Estinien, and it's left him with a habit of midday beach strolls, half his armor tugged off and piled by a nearby rock, mostly so as to keep the sea spray from rusting the joints, but he likes the feel of the breeze on his skin and the sand under his feet.

it's during one of these leisurely private strolls that he spots the Warrior of Light, though first sees her as just a body piled onto the sand, and makes no real hurry to get to her. probably just another new arrival. it's her horns protruding from the sides of her head that makes her look more familiar, once he's close enough to spot them, and the dragoon bursts into a sprint. ]

Era! [ she'd said she was leaving on a trip for a while, one she wanted to take by herself, but why would she end up on the beach again? Had she been trying to find and escape? He drops to the wet sand next to her, unconcerned about the salt water getting into the metal of his leg plates. Those are all of the suit he'd kept on, feet, arms and hair bare, and a loose linen shirt over his chest. ] Era, wake up. Where did you try going?

[ A hand cradles the back of her head, the other arm hooking under her knees, about to pick her up and carry her out of the surf if she isn't well enough to do it for herself. As consequence, the wet strands of her now much longer hair tangles in his fingers. Uuuhh? ] ...When did you change you hair?

[ It's the familiar voice that rouses her moreso than the movement - a voice she hasn't heard in months... Except that's not quite true, is it? Memories come back to her, hazy and slow as exhaustion eats away at her. Her limbs ache from her recent battle (victorious against the jester, but another loss to Omega) and her muscles feel leaden. She's bruised and battered and she's on a shoreline with Estinien holding her, but it's not La Noscea or the Ruby Sea.

Xistentia, Era recalls finally. The Carbuncle she can feel nearby is proof enough of that as she is currently wearing her Fortemps shield (scratched and dented, in need of repair) and greatsword, not her grimoire.

She groans softly (the only indication of pain she'll give before swallowing the rest), cracks open her eyes, and yes - it's Estinien she sees. Devoid of helm and chest plate. Her lips form his name but her voice fails her. Era tries to sit up of her own accord though quickly gives up. Not only is she in pain, she's exhausted. Whatever Omega had been doing had drained her near completely of her aether. Had Midgardsormr not aided her...

She sighs, utterly defeated for the moment, and allows herself to relax into her friend's arms. There is no way she will be standing of her own accord for a few bells at the very least.

Tentatively, Era tries to speak again with more success. Her voice is barely a whisper forced from her throat. She cannot handle a lost voice right now and so will rip the words from her vocal cords if need be. ]

An accident took me home.

[ look, Era, he had to be princess carried around before once too, okay, it’s your turn now, especially since she’s visibly having trouble with it, Estinien isn’t taking a no for an answer here. Were it Aymeric or Alphinaud, they’d get the same treatment, no matter how uncomfortable or embarrassing it is. He’d rather someone be mad at him than further their injuries with their own stupidity.

Hoisting her up, he’s being careful not to jar her body too much, but she needs to be moved out of the waves before any gross ocean bacteria gets into her wounds. Would that he were a healer and not the most obnoxious DPS after black mage, he’d probably be more help, but he’s doing what he can. ]

Home? To Eorzea? [ he... was not aware that was possible. And he’s a little jealous. Much as the tropical beach is nice, he misses, and worries for Ishgard. ] How long have you been gone?

[ long enough for her hair to grow out, apparently. Because Estinien has never been to the aesthetician in his life, so if some magic hair growth thing exists, he doesn’t know about it. He sets her down by the rock he left his gear at, propping her up so she can see around herself, but he’ll be stopping any attempt to pick herself up at the moment. It’s that annoying big brother thing he does. ]

[ She leans her head against Estinien's chest, closing her eyes but staying awake. It's easier when she's mobile, even if she isn't moving of her own power at the moment. ]

Mm. [ Era hums a note in the affirmative, then pauses to consider his final question. ] Four moons?

[ She isn't actually certain on that one, actually. Life had been so hectic, catching up on the training she had fallen behind in, aiding the nations as they worked to keep their citizens from resentment and hostility toward the Ala Mhigo, and finally dealing with Omega's second round of battles.

Era lifts places a hand to her abdomen once Estinien sets her down. She tries to ease the wound with some healing aether but the strong, steady glow that normally accompanies this is faint and flickering, lasting only a scant few seconds before fading altogether.

Brows furrowed, she reaches into her inventory and pulls out her codex. It immediately changes her from her heavy armour into the light robes she favours as a healer. Era may not have the aether to spare on healing herself at the moment, but she should have enough aether to rouse Lily from her soul stone.

It isn't a bad idea, really. Era does have the aether to summon Eos, though it makes her black out for a moment. Her faerie dissipates almost immediately (her expression one of distress, if Estinien were to take note) but manages to throw out a single healing spell before doing so, and Era rouses the instant Eos is gone.

She frowns.

Just take her home to Aymeric, Estinien. She is a failure of a warrior right now. It's depressing. She's depressing. She failed to save their home again and now cannot even cast the most basic (to her) of spells. ]

Edited 2018-03-22 20:10 (UTC)

[ watching her cast, he nearly lifts up a hand to push her codex down - if she can't even walk, she has no business trying to work spells - but he lets it go, like a litmus test for how bad off she actually is.

one she fails, clearly, and his hand goes over the book, pushing it down against her lap. we're done with that. ] Stop. You'll only make it worse, fool.

[ that, of course, said in an endeared tone, the same he uses with Aymeric when the man is doing something clearly stupid, but so very much in his character. it's time to get her into the city, where they can locate a healer still healthy enough to mend her wounds. Estinien's loathe to leave his gear behind here, and even more loathe to move her when she's in such bad shape, but there's no stretcher around, and he couldn't move one by himself anyway.

Carefully, he hoists his dear friend up, an arm supporting her back behind her shoulders, and tugging her in slightly. Put your head back down, Era, just calm down and let him walk you back. At least, this way, she won't have to speak too loudly to tell him anything. ] I won't take the blame from Aymeric for letting you die of infection out here.

[ ~~you're not her real dad.~~

Era reluctantly acquiesces, frustrated with herself for being in such a state. At least she isn't dead, though that's hardly any consolation at the moment.

Eos' healing spell has slowly begun mending her injuries which has helped her mood somewhat and left her with naught but fading lightning scars on pale skin and a sore abdomen. Era is in no danger of infection or death, so long as she is careful not to expend any more aether until after a hearty meal and some rest.

She doesn't mind being carried at the moment. It's a blow to her pride but Estinien is one of very few people she would allow to carry her like this without a fuss. Plus he's warm and she is certainly not, so Era is happy enough to lean her head against his chest and soak in what she can.

The mention of Aymeric makes her heart perform some intense acrobatics, tip of her tail waggling absently in delight. Era has missed his company.

The rest of Estinien's comment hits her and her tail stills immediately. ]

Aymeric... [ Is going to be so worried. ] ...He is well?

[ ~~don't make him ground you, young lady.~~

whatever happened back home for her, it seems traumatizing enough, and were she anyone else, the cuddling up to his chest might be a little weird for him, but era could be braiding his hair and putting lipstick on him and estinien would probably be fine with it.

She asks about Aymeric, and, well, Estinien doesn't generally lie to spare anyone's feelings, and hardly considers it a kindness to someone either. So, here we go. ]

Near tearing his hair out in anxiety, but he's fine. [ when is he not tearing his hair out in anxiety? it's what he does, he worries, he cares. aymeric's funny that way, but at least estinien has been around to ensure he doesn't do anything stupid in the mean time. ] He'll be better after seeing you whole.

[ wounded or not, he's sure she'll recover fine, and aymeric will just have to keep that in mind can calm himself, before estinien has to smack the sense into his fretting head. ]

[ Estinien would have to be fine with it because he knows Era could kick his ass ten ways to Hydaelyn herself if she wanted to, really.

Era shouldn't have expected anything different. Aymeric is, well. Aymeric. He's prone to fretting over things he shouldn't, let alone the things he should. If her dear husband was near tearing his hair out in anxiety it means she must have been gone for longer than a few days like before. ]

...How long?

[ She doesn't need to explain more than that for him to know what she's meaning. How long has she been gone from here, if she was home for four moons. When she didn't return after a few days, he'd had to calm Aymeric by saying there's nothing the Warrior of Light couldn't handle that Aymeric could, so best he just stay put and wait.

Then, of course, Estinien went out looking for her instead. Because that doesn't mean back-up wouldn't be out of place. And yet, she'd been nowhere. ]

Nearly a sennight. [ He tells her, eyes casting down to the ash brown hair against his chest, her body seeming far too small to contain such a powerful force. ]

Where had you originally set off to go?

[ A sennight. Not as horrible as Era originally thought it might be, though given the chill in the air she hadn't thought too much time had passed regardless.

Letting out a thoughtful hum, Era takes a moment to remember exactly what she had been doing. She was going to visit the unicorns but decided to take a different route, which had turned out to be an error in judgement. Had she not been preoccupied with other things perhaps it would have been different, but she'd had an accident regardless.

She recalls divulging her finger of her rings, worried that they would be lost during her inadvertent trip home. Flexing the fingers of her left hand Era notes their absence, and for all that she hadn't yet adjusted to the feel of them the sudden lack of them is jarring. When she recovers the first thing she'll do is go back to retrieve them. ]

To see the unicorns.

[ The symbol of the House Fortemps and a reminder of Haurchefant, who had always been exceptionally fond of horses.

While the unicorns took time to win over Era did earn their trust eventually, and whenever she needed it she would visit the herd, culling any of their predators if need be. It was the least she could do for creatures that made her heart ache less for her departed friend. ]

[ Surprised, Estinien's eyes turn down to her, breathless for a moment.

It isn't an answer he was expecting, but it's also pretty telling of where Era's mind had been recently. For her, it may have been many months, or years, since their friend's death, but for Estinien, he was only a few weeks at most. ]

Unicorns? To think they exist here...

[ while they perhaps exist somewhere in Eorzea, they aren't things seen in Ishgard ever. Such rare creatures. ]

Did you see them?

[ he realizes what's going through his mind right now must have been all Era was consumed with while she was there - Haurchefant would have loved this. His memory is a heavy weight on Estinien's heart. He'd been there as well as Era and Aymeric and all the others were, and they'd failed to protect him. Haurchefant, the best of them. He'd had so much to give to the world, and he was taken far too soon. ]

[ It makes Era realize she never showed her unicorn companion to Estinien or Aymeric before. While it allows her to use it at a mount it isn't one she frequently requests the aid of, preferring to leave it to its peaceful existence.

There are other unicorns in Eorzea, though the rare ones she's met have all been as hostile as the pegasi and not worth mentioning. Haurchefant would probably have liked them regardless, but Haurchefant tended to like most things he shouldn't (like herself, for example - look what her friendship cost him). ]

No.

[ Era wonders if any of the unicorn mares are with foal yet or if it's too early into Spring for such a thing. Once she's recovered she'll make sure to visit and cut back any of those Twelve-damned trees with a taste for unicorn flesh. ]

I'll visit again.

[ Thinking of their late friend, sorrow feels heavy in Estinien's chest, and he maybe holds era closer unconscious due to it, a slight squeeze against his chest, eyes cast down as he picks his way through the forest with her in his arms. ]

I'd like to go with you, if they allow it.

[ the unicorns. they seem like they'd be skittish creatures, and he's a tall ass elezen man who doesn't go anywhere without a lance. not the most reassuring of people. ]

Perhaps watch from a distance. I'm not the most soothing of presences, I know.

[ Also, he's not a virgin. Not sure if that myth really applies (he's never been around unicorns to test it), but he'd be cautious just in case. He wonders, for a passing moment, if Haurchefant considered that when he lost his v-card - that he wouldn't be able to approach unicorns if he ever found one. Probably did, the nerd.

[ It hadn't occurred to Era earlier that Haurchefant's death would still be a fresh wound to Estinien, not scarred over with time until it's naught but a dull, throbbing ache every now and then. She can think of no other reason for her friend's sudden melancholy. Lifting a hand, Era rests it on her friend's shoulder to offer what little comfort she can. ]

They are skittish, but they would not run if you stayed at a distance. [ She huffs a small laugh because Estinien you certainly are far from a soothing presence to most. ] You may be intimidating but you have a kind heart. They will respond well to it with time.

[ She doesn't consider anything about virginity in regards to unicorns because it has never been something she needed to worry about. But even if she did Era would be pretty sure that they'd grow to accept Estinien eventually. ]

It took a little over a season for the first adult to allow me to pet it.

[ So! If she can do it obviously you can too, friend! ]

text | backdated to the 20th

action!!!

(this is backdated to like the 18th-19th @ any stalkers)

Re: (this is backdated to like the 18th-19th @ any stalkers)

idk rdm gives drg and blm a run for their money

bc they do not give a verfuck

verscuse you

verfite me

verbring it

consider it verbrought

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