text | backdated to the 20th

[astralera]

It seems I have been away for a time. My apologies to anyone who may have worried for my welfare.

[ she back! and has Been Through Some Shit but whatever she's cool. just pretend everything is fine like you haven't experienced failing to save your world again and eventually you'll be fine for real, right? right?? ]

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verbring it

[astralera]

[ 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?

consider it verbrought

[earlywyrm]

[ 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?

[astralera]

[ 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. ]

[earlywyrm]

[ 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. ]

[astralera]

[ 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.

[earlywyrm]

[ 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.

[astralera]

[ 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! ]