FF PSL | ❝ for those we can yet save. ❞

[hobbitholmes]

AFTERGLOW

— hear, feel think. —

❄️ HEAVENSWARD

★ Ever Heavensward (3.0)
    — Ishgard Meetings, Part 2

★ As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness (3.1)
    — Unfleeting Emotions

★ The Gears of Change (3.2)
    — Heavy Hearts, Part 2

★ Revenge of the Horde (3.3)
    — Starlight Festival (Alkaid)
    — Starlight Festival (KP)

🔥 STORMBLOOD

★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission
★ IC Permission

BEYOND

CODE BY TESSISAMESS

Comments

Aymeric de Borel | Final Fantasy XIV

[thewayforpeace]

❄️ she was requested ~ let's say 3.1 era (ignore the wrong hair style/color icons) ❄️

[shepherdtostars]

[ Night settles calmly into Ishgard as the snows begin once more to fall. A light cuts in from the aetheryte shard. One of the familiar shapes of the Warriors of Light takes form. Dressed in white robes, a fur lined hood, and long boots, she takes a moment to regard her surroundings. Sometimes her thoughts wander and she arrives in the wrong place in town. An embarrassing fact to admit to, but, one that is nonetheless true. For the moment, her sister remains unawares in order to tease her this time for it.

Alkaid Mercedes (a monkier, she finds it easier to call herself by such to others) takes the few steps on the snow patched ground to look at the towering buildings. There is a brief moment where she turns towards the building where the Lord Commander and the First Commander take office. Of course, there is no official business to be had. Absolutely no reason to see if the Lord Commander would seek an audience with her... so, instead, she pulls her footing back and turns to look upwards at the sky.

The nighttime snow has yet to start falling, but, she can feel the chill in the air even through her several layer of clothes. No doubt her sister will be waiting at the Forgotten Knight soon. The two have much to catch up on with their recent adventures since the fall of Thordan, and Estinen's fate -- a fate she's quite sure to make temporary... ]

ahh yes this gonna be good

[thewayforpeace]

[ Even at night, the responsibilities of the Lord Commander and his ever loyal and ever present First Commander do not cease. They shall eventually, but that time has not yet come. There is much still to be done, not only this night, but for many nights to come. Ishgard is- Well, not entirely in upheaval, but much has changed and been turned on its head, and as far as Aymeric can tell, its people are looking for answers and explanations and trying to find a way to reconcile recent events.

He intends to be present every step of the way, to encourage the people and to see Ishgard returned to as close to a state of harmony as he can manage, by any means necessary. No personal sacrifice on his part is too small if it means achieving that goal.

Finally, after what feels like an entire day filled with meetings and papers and other documents to sign, he lays down his pen and looks to Lucia. ]

I believe you and I have done enough for one long day. [ He still has some affairs to see to, but she has earned a night's rest. ] You may retire for the evening, if you wish. I should think I won't be very far behind you.

[ In a manner of speaking. It is somewhat of a thought said in jest that he sleeps in these very offices, but of course that isn't entirely true. He has a place other than here where he goes to rest, but it can't be said that he doesn't spend nearly every waking hour right here. ]

Good night. [ He inclines his head to his departing First Commander, and once silence settles in the room once more, he surveys the remaining papers before him. They must be addressed this evening, but surely he can afford the briefest of respites outside the confines of this room.

With that in mind, he moves towards the doorway that Lucia just passed through, pulls open the door, and steps outside into the brisk air, letting the chill settle in around him. It does feel somewhat refreshing, after having been indoors for the majority of the day, and while he is accustomed to it, even he can still say that this weather is far colder than he would prefer.

It's while he's taking his momentary rest from his work that his eyes stray to one side, noting the various people going about their business before they return to their homes. He looks from one to the other, making note of each one, before his gaze finally lands on someone standing in the crowd but slightly apart from it as well.

Ah. He knows this one. She is not a resident of Ishgard, although at this point, she could be considered an honorary one. Why is she here? He can't help but wonder even as he hesitates, considering whether or not he should approach.

Perhaps he can inquire as to her well-being, and then let her go wherever her path was taking her. He steps a few paces closer and clears his throat. ]

Mistress Mercedes?

oh word barf already!?

[shepherdtostars]

[ A spark runs up the back of her spine as she realizes someone is watching her -- even more so when that familiar voice calls out her name. Her tail stands on end for a moment, and if the hood had not been concealing her ears, he would have seen them perk up. She can feel the nerves flutter in her stomach. It takes a moment to ease herself into a more... respectable. Something he might expect one of the Warriors of Light to be like.

Alkaid turns slowly to look over her shoulder at Ser Aymeric. A gentle smile crosses her features before a slight raise of her hand in greeting. For as formal as one might think her to be? Alkaid is the opposite in many regards. If anything? Her sister is the more formal. ]

Ser Aymeric!

[ Then, she turns to properly face him. Her tail sways side to side gently. One cannot always stop their natural movements when they are feeling one emotion or another. Ser Aymeric has garnered not only her respect, but also something more. A deep sense of admiration that she has done her utmost to keep as such... despite what others might encourage her to do. ]

Don't tell me you've been working late again.

꧁༺ the dragonsong war (3.1-3.3) ༻꧂

[shepherdtostars]

( let's do it this way—breaking this down by msq/patch content!
all dragonsong war stuff here!
chronological order cause we nuts like that. see the history comment up top. )

⚜ post 3.2 — the gears of change.

[shepherdtostars]

apologies again, this might become tl;dr

[thewayforpeace]

[ They say that even the best-laid plans sometimes come to nothing, but Aymeric cannot even say that his plans and his decisions were the best for his people or for anyone. They were seemingly made in haste, and the truly horrifying outcome only points to the foolishness he displayed when he set his plans into motion.

He can do better than this; he must, but he would be lying to himself if he said that everything that has unfolded in the last handful of hours has left him feeling shaken to the core. There is still much to be done, the least of which is damage control, but at this present time, he finds he cannot remain in his offices even one minute longer. Of course, the hour is late now, and all have left him for the day.

Papers still litter his desk, but a storm is rising inside him and he lacks the focus to pay attention to those papers. He stands up abruptly, and before he can talk himself out of this, he strides towards the door.

His path is one that he has walked many times before, and he hardly needs to pay attention to where his steps lead him. Finally, he arrives at what he considers his favored place to be inside the city, and although the sky is clouded over and the mountains are hidden from view, he approaches the railing and stares up at the gray expanse above him.

How did things go so wrong so quickly? It seems to him that his actions and his decisions have made a tenuous situation even worse, and in doing so, he has only caused hurt to the people he has sworn to protect, and also damaged what he had hoped would have been the beginning of a new start with the Dravanians. How could they ever be open to coming to an understanding after this? He has been told that Vidofnir has a very good chance at recovery, but his biggest fear now is that even if she returns to full strength, he has irrevocably damaged their chances of reconciliation and peace.

Perhaps in this way, he is no better than the youngest son of Count Edmont. It is while he muses over all of this that his thoughts eventually turn towards the Warriors of Light, the two sisters of whom he has become rather fond. The older of the pair, the one who his thoughts turn towards most often, went off to give aid to Vidofnir in the aftermath of Nidhogg's attack. The younger- he is not entirely certain where she went, but he imagines her steps were no less purposeful.

Nidhogg... Even thinking the name brings a certain disquiet to his face. He must save Estinien somehow. Leaving his friend to an as yet unknown fate is unacceptable and unthinkable. It is one of the many things weighing upon him, and at this moment, he finds himself uncertain how to even begin to address them.

All of his decisions have gone wrong, or so it seems, so perhaps he is not the one who should be making them. Eventually, he will have to return to his home, and to his office when the light returns, but at least for a little while longer, he intends to remain here looking upwards towards the mountains that he cannot quite see.

He might not find peace here, but at least it is quiet. Perhaps too quiet, but there is enough of a cacophony in his mind to balance that out. ]

do we know anything other than tl;dr

[shepherdtostars]

( mood tune.

[ Alkaid would not be proud enough to say she was the most excited for the peace conference. Oh, she was delighted and very much beaming from ear-to-ear at the mere idea of it. However, none should have been more excited than Isghardians and Dravanians themselves. It was their people at war for centuries. She, her sister, and the Scions were merely people who stumbled into the issue and decided that they should help. Part of her excitement also belonged to the fact that she knew the Lord Commander looked so forward to peace. Regardless of what wounds he received, of who spurned him, he kept moving forward for all of them. She and her sister may have been the saviors of Ishgard, but she saw Ser Aymeric as nothing short of the heart of the city-state. All of them would be lost without him at the helm to direct them to the future after the Dragonsong War.

She had insisted on buying a dress for the occasion. It was not a place or time to wear armor and weapons. A simple long white Isghardian gown and off-white gloves to match. A coat had come with it, but she held it in her arms as she stood below and watched the proceedings move forward with her sister and Alphinaud. Her heart felt as if it was ready to burst at the sight of dragons and man once again together under the imagery of Shiva and Hraesvelgr. She had felt tears well in her eyes and all she could feel was overwhelming pride in the moment.

Then, it had all fallen apart.

Nidhogg left after his declaration of the continuing Dragonsong War. The people understandably cried out for his death. She had rushed her way to the top with her sister, brushing past all to head straight to Vidofnir. Her hand had purposely brushed along side Aymeric's as she ran, a glance spared back at him in hopes he could understand she knew he too would need aid. As much as she had wished to stand at his side then, the life of the great dragon took center stage. Lucia sat by the great wyrm's head as she quickly went to work in at least mending something until they could return her to Dravania...

Now, she had returned to Isghard. A word was sent over the linkpearl to her sister that she would be seeking out the Lord Commander before retiring to the Forgotten Knight. The air in the city was heavy with fear as the Ishgardians huddled inside. It reminded her of when they first arrived in the city. Now, it seemed like everything they had worked for would be swept away again. She pressed on regardless. The knights on guard refused her entry to the Congregation. The Lord Commander had retired for the night, they said.

She very much doubted he retired for the night.

At least in the empty streets none turned an eye towards her. She tugs on the coat that matches her dress, securing it around her as the cold bitter air of Coerthas sets in. It at least will hide the dried blood stains belonging to the wrym. She walks past the sleeping Houses and turns at the Last Vigil. There is no other place he would be after something like this, that much she is absolutely certain of.

Alkaid comes to a stop at the turn of the building, hands folded together in front of her, mint eyes falling on the Lord Commander as his own gaze never leaves the sky. She glances up to note that the clouds are heavy. Snow most certainly will start to fall soon and none should be caught in the storm. Alkaid remains quiet, not wishing to call out his name and startle him. Instead, she decides to wait for him to notice her presence. It does not take long for her to see that he has yet to take note.

Wordlessly, Alkaid joins him at his side and her hand raises to gently enclose around his. Her eyes turn upwards to the sky once he inevitably looks at her. ]

Vidofnir lives, but will take time to recover. [ No doubt he already knows the report. How can he not? She scolds herself for even saying such a thing. ] None blame Isghard for what happened. They all heard Nidhogg's cry for the last stroke of war. Who will answer it...

[ Alkaid shakes her head and finally turns her gaze to look up at him. ] You shouldn't be out when the snow starts to fall. Especially not by yourself.

cont. post-conference

[shepherdtostars]

( cont. )

[ Even if a part of her feels disappointed at not sharing her passions? Alkaid remains at Aymeric's side. She curls up beside him and eventually finds sleep after calming herself. Sleep itself is far from deep with the events that had transpired during the day. However, it is far better as it is him she shares the night with.

Some part of her senses he stirs within hours. Her ears twitch slightly, turning towards him. Eyes barely open as she lifts her head and turns entirely to look towards Aymeric. Something about the way his aether flows is what catches her attention and snaps her eyes open further. While she may not see as Y'shtola does, she can sense things by her training.

Alkaid sits up properly beside him, a hand reaching up to move the borrowed shirt back to her shoulder. She would not try to stir a sense of passion in him again given his last reaction. Instead, she gently rests a hand on his arm to call his attention. ]

Aymeric?

[thewayforpeace]

[ Part of him regrets that he could not give her the night she hoped for. It is not even a matter of lacking desire or passion, because he has both, but try as he might, he could not kindle them into being, at least not in a way that matched hers.

On a more ordinary occasion, perhaps he would have been able to respond with all the fire and passion that he expects from himself, but it has been a trying day and a longing to just sleep beside her and finally take what rest they can was overwhelming everything else.

Eventually, sleep finds him, but even in slumber, he remains closely pressed against her side, perhaps unconsciously reaching out for comfort as he sleeps.

But several hours later, something disturbs his rest, an uncomfortable ache where a knife once was driven into him. On occasion, a dull pain resurfaces, and while he can mostly ignore the discomfort, at times, it is not so easily pushed aside and all he can do is ride out the waves and hope that they subside with time.

Now, he does not wish to disturb her rest, so even though he shifts just slightly, hoping that a change in position will lessen some of the ache, he tries his best to remain still.

With his eyes still closed, hoping to give the appearance of still being asleep, ​he tenses when he feels her move, despite his efforts to remain silent and still. He hopes that she will lie back down and resume the sleep he is sure she needs, but then he feels her hand rest on his arm and hears her quietly say his name.

Finally, his eyes slide open and he takes a moment to adjust to the darkness in the room. He says the first thing to come to mind: ]

If I woke you, I am sorry. There are still several hours until morning, so please, return to your rest.

[ He cannot have her worrying about him or cause her to lose sleep because of him. ]

⚜ post 3.3 — revenge of the horde.

[shepherdtostars]

❄️ starlight celebration.

[shepherdtostars]

❄️ starlight celebration.

[crystallinedreams]

꧁༺ storm of blood (4.0) ༻꧂

[shepherdtostars]

Fire in your eyes and fire in your hearts steeled as you sound the horns of war
Yet know the cost for who shall mourn when light is quenched that another might burn brighter?
Let not the rays of justice blind e'er trust in grace and she shall guide

🦅 gyr abania — chapter one.

[shepherdtostars]

a time of quietness before the revolution.

[shepherdtostars]

[ Rhalgr's Reach is oddly quiet for a place named after the god of destruction.

Alkaid sits atop the Bloodstorm arch, eyes turned towards the sky. Gone are the heavy but lightly colored furs of the snows of Corethas. Instead, they have been replaced by light clothing that is far more breathable. Her dark colored hair has started to grow out, even if the pink in it remains. Her feet dangle off the edge and her hands between her legs as she simply stares up at the stars.

Gyr Abania. A region torn apart by war instilled by the Empire. Fear, hatred, people lacking the strength to continue on. It reminds her of the Isghardians even if their pain and will manifest so very differently. She will not say that one has suffered more, for the people have experienced it differently even if the cause might be the same. Loss of homes, loved ones, lives changed by a foe that seems unbeatable. Yet, she and her sister put the Black Wolf of the Empire to bed. Surely, whoever torments this region should be no different.

Even so... she finds herself staring up to the sky. Her gaze moves from one row of stars to the next. There is no seeking of answers or even thoughts that swirl in her mind. Simply a longing for what lies heavensward. ]

[abrightertomorrow]

[ Much has happened since the path they all have been on lead them to Rhalgr's Reach. As is customary when it comes to matters of fate, the wheels of time and battle and urgency have been turning for quite some time now and have yet to stop, if they ever will. Privately, Alphinaud doubts that they ever will, that all of them will have to continue marching on to the beat of fate's drum until such time as wars and hostilities have ceased.

The young man that he once was might have believed that with time, all fighting would end, but he has seen much and more in recent (and not-so-recent) months that has all but convinced him that so long as fear, mistrust, hatred, and a myriad of other things still exist in the hearts of men and beast alike, wars will never end.

All they can do is continue to press on, fighting on wherever and whenever they are needed and hope that one day, they finally gain that elusive brighter future.

Tonight, that future seems farther away than ever, and as Alphinaud looks around the battered people of Rhalgr's Reach, he finds himself wondering if these people will ever have their hope rekindled again. His thoughts stray to the sisters, the Warriors of Light, and of how the two of them bring hope with them wherever they go, but this time, will it be enough?

He has much to do, having been tasked with assisting with the cleanup effort and bringing any survivors that he finds in for healing. There are survivors, and he thanks the gods for that, but for every one that he finds, there is another who may not survive.

He cannot stop yet, as there is still considerable ground to cover, but progress is slowly but surely being made, and for just a moment, he pauses, wiping a hand against his forehead and trying to catch his breath. It seems unfair that so many have had their lives stolen from them before their time, but all they can do is continue to fight on and persevere in their memory. ]

💮 kugane and the ruby sea — chapter two.

[shepherdtostars]

meanwhile, in ishgard.

[dragonssung]

[ While not long by the way and standard of calendar? A certain dragoon feels as if it has been some time since he has seen the man he might consider his closest friend. Or, perhaps it has been too long. Time underneath the consumption of the revenge driven wrym was skewed. Eternity had only been months and within those months lay a great deal of change for dragons, Ishgard, and it would seem those he once thought he knew.

Change, it would seem, is in the wind.

Estinien Wrymwood - nay, Varlineau - leans against the stone cold wall of a familiar location. It has long been a secret place where his friend would seek refuge from the world. The span between those times increased as they grew older from their days in the Temple Knights together, yet he knows that it is the one place where one might find the Lord Speaker. It is not his way to intrude bluntly or be so forthcoming of intentions as the Warriors of Light. Instead, he simply waits until Aymeric has passed him by a few steps with little notice. ]

I had thought they would require you shed the armor in your new position, Lord Speaker. Unless war has once again come to Ishgard and I was made unawares of it.

💮 doma— chapter three.

[shepherdtostars]

[eveningmist]

[ The hour has grown late, and all others have surely taken to their provided beds by now. Yugiri has also retired, and yet sleep is not coming easily to her. For an hour, and then another, she tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, and when that failed, trying to will herself to sleep. Much and more hinges upon the events to come in the morning, and while she has full confidence in Lord Hien and the Warriors of Light, fate has a funny way of twisting and turning when one least expects it, and there is very little that anyone can do to prevent that.

After another handful of minutes of restlessness, she decides to abandon her fruitless attempts at sleep, and she leaves the designated sleeping area, heading out to where she knows a fire was once kindled. She can see the embers still glowing dully beneath the kindling, and while she is no expert fire-starter, she manages to stoke them back up into smaller flames.

Once that task is accomplished, she sits beside the small fire, tucking her legs beneath her as she stares at the flames. Perhaps if she sits here for a moment and puzzles through her churning thoughts, some peace will finally come to her and then she might be able to take some rest. If not, then she will merely keep vigil out here until the morning. ]

🦅 gyr abania — chapter four.

[shepherdtostars]

(fuk timelines, the last part of sb is UGHHH)

[shepherdtostars]

[ They had arrived in the Lochs well after morning. What remained of the Resistance had gathered for one final push against the Empire--against Zenos. The remaining Scions had also assembled and met with Raubahn to talk of their next moves. The Scions would have their own role and part to play as the companies of the Eorzean Alliance pushed the front.

Her heart skips a beat as she sees the colors of the Alliance hanging beside Ala Mhigo. Not only because of the symbolism or the unison the flags together meant. It was reminiscent of the battle five years ago, and that alone make her heart swell. Regardless if she hadn't been there when the Scions originally formed and fought to save the star from the Calamity that Bahamut called for. No, what truly makes her heart skip is the realization of who will surely be there if the whole Alliance came together.

Of course, she is not the only one who missed someone. Alkaid had done her utmost to keep her heart to herself. Especially on the nights she could see when her sister would anxiously look out into the beyond. The mysterious stranger was apparently never far from K'thisru's mind and it troubled her. How can she openly lament missing the one she loves when her sister is so tormented?

The conversation had continued on with what the Scions might do, but her thoughts had long since taken her from the conversation. The thoughts swirl in her mind until they are interrupted by a soldier reporting the arrival of the Alliance Leaders. Her ears twitch. She stands there for a moment, then two, then three, as she argues with herself on what she wishes to do and what she ought to. However, the familiar sounds of Ishgardian horns announce the arrival of the representatives on Ishgard's behalf. Her heart wins and her mind can only try follow along with only but a glancing squeeze to her sister's arm. Then, she dashes off from the meeting table.

There is no explanation given for her actions, nor asking to be excused from the meeting. Alphinaud's and Lyse's voices calling out her name can be heard, but she does not stop to even entertain their questions. Her Doman styled armor and headpiece glimmer in the setting sun as she rushes off.

The sprint is longer than she expects, and already she is pushing through the small ocean if mixed soldiers. She finally comes to a stop as she slips through a soldier from the Flames and the Adder's. Finding the blue and black armor trimmed in gold and silver is hardly difficult. The armor stands out against the others, and, not to mention, its wearer is taller than almost all of the Alliance leaders.

Alkaid freezes for a moment as the reality of the moment begins to settle--he is there in Gry Abania. Only a handful of months has passed, but, the same feelings wash over her as they did when she first met him. Except, this time, awe is hardly going to hold her in place.

She pushes past the two soldiers she has snuck between and makes straight towards her husband-to-be. The armor on the robes is far from quiet, but she is far from caring. There is no warning as her arms raise and instantly wrap around his frame. Her face buries in what she can of his armor as the familiar textures and smells bombard her all at once.

He's here, with her, and it is no dream.

Four months of being away from the manor she called home; being so far away from her knight. Her face presses into the metal plates and hands curl into the fabric on his back. Oh, the handful of letters she wrote, detailing Kugane and the Steppe. They fail in comparison to hearing his breathing and the feel of his armor again.

Alkaid's shoulders begin to shake and she bites her lip to keep the sounds of relief, tears, and longing inside. She wants to shout his name and weep in joy in front of all of them. She has missed him so much more than she anticipated and very rarely shared it with words or tears. Now, she feels overwhelmed to the point all she can do is stand there and try not to cry. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ By the time Aymeric returns to the quarters that have been provided to him, as an Alliance leader, it is late in the evening and he wishes for nothing more but to retire and rest while he still can.

He pauses at the doorway to his designated room, as if wondering where the Warriors of Light presently are. He shakes his head at that thought, because they surely need their rest as well, and he would not dare bother them, not this night.

And so, armed with that thought, he opens the door and steps inside, but before he closes the door behind him, he turns back long enough to look outside at the clouds forming in the sky above him.

It seems as though rain is coming, and perhaps it might even turn into a storm. It seems fitting, on the eve of what will surely be a great and monumental battle. He lingers there for a few moments more before he finally closes the door, turning from it and stepping back inside the room. ]

꧁༺ the legend returns (4.1-4.4) ༻꧂

[shepherdtostars]