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

[shepherdtostars]

No. The blade you wield fits you perfectly. [ She smiles sweetly at him and means every word she says. It almost seems as if the blade was made for him, or, perhaps he grew into wielding it. Either way it suits him entirely and she'd have it no other way.

Their kiss finally ends, but she does not pull away. She remains as she is with her forehead pressed to his. Her linkpearl rings a few more times before silencing. Of course, she knows she should go. They would only call if there was something important. Even still, for the first time, she wishes they would handle things on their own.

Her eyebrows turn upwards and she frowns with her gaze meeting his. Without saying it, she wishes for him to tell her she cannot go. That mayhap he needs her more than whatever the Scions might need. ]

[thewayforpeace]

Unless I have missed my guess, your fellow Scions have need of you. [ He lets out a regretful sigh before he can suppress it. ] I hope that nothing is amiss.

[ But then again, if something was amiss, then he would not feel so badly about parting from her. If all that the Scions need is a mere meeting to regroup, then surely they can spare Alkaid for a little while. ]

If I might speak selfishly, I wish that you would remain here for a little longer.

[ If only he could say that his needs are greater than that of the Scions. His conscience would smite him if he said such a falsehood, of course. ]

[shepherdtostars]

They always have need of me.

[ Her eyes drop from his as her eyebrows furrow further. For one moment, he can see the woman beneath the handful of titles. One who is, while tired, far more frustrated that it seems the Scions can do naught without her and her sister present. Sometimes she wonders why they had to be chosen by Hydaelyn and not another set of adventurers.

Alkaid tilts her head down and hides her face between her arm and his neck. Perhaps she should not be surprised. There are wars on, with dragons and with Garlemald. Why would they not need her so?

Her hands curl into what fabric she can find of his armor. ]

I wonder if there will be a time when they do not need me.

[thewayforpeace]

[ He can't help but frown when he sees the all too visible signs of someone who is growing weary. Perhaps she is not tired of everything, at least not to the point of no longer wishing to be who she is, but it seems clear to him that she needs a reprieve, and a long one at that.

He wraps one arm around her and pulls her in closer, hoping to provide her with some comfort and support. ]

Well, how about this for a solution? If it agrees with you, you can remain with me tonight, and if they should ask, you merely tell them that I required your counsel on a matter concerning the war. Our discussion took longer than both of us anticipated, and by the time our business was concluded, it was far too late for you to meet with them.

[ He does not condone lying, but there are times that call for obscuring the truth just slightly. This seems to be one of those times. ]

You do not even have to remain in my company. Regardless, I shall gladly be the reason for your being occupied.

[ Is this breaking protocol and propriety? Perhaps. He still is resolved to do it, if she wishes him to. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ She practically melts in his hold once he has wrapped his arm around her. The tension leaves her body, allowing her to rest even if it is but for a moment. Her dark hair can be seen from the bottom of her hood as she turns her face to hide it in his neck. ]

I would much rather spend the night with you. [ Her voice is barely above a whisper, as if she is admitting a secret that should never be heard. ] Only if you would wish my company for the rest of the night.

[thewayforpeace]

[ He would be lying to himself if he said that he hasn't dreamt of being able to hold her like this. Whenever he allowed his imagination to roam and come up with more hopeful thoughts, he found himself wishing such a thing could be possible but quickly dismissing it as an impossibility. Why would she want to pass the time in the company of someone like him?

He is hardly a great romantic, only an occasionally foolish dreamer, and the rest of the time, he has to be the Temple Knights' pragmatic Lord Commander.

But her actions are seemingly speaking very loudly right now, and while a part of him is cautioning himself not to get too far ahead, another part of him wishes to believe that he could be the one she has chosen to love.

For a moment, he remains silent, merely holding her in his arms before he finally finds his voice. ]

Then consider your wish granted, because you have granted mine as well. [ He hesitates to state such words so plainly, but if he was not so concerned about her true feelings, he would say that he would gladly open his home to her whenever she wishes. And if he had the courage to take action, he would open up his home to her permanently, if she was agreeable.

The last thing he wishes to do is speak too soon and too forwardly and cause her to pull away. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ While still restrained by the hood draped over her, one can tell her ears attempt to stand on end at his words. She remains silent for a moment, then two. A beat passes before she leans all but hee entire weight against him. Whatever tension may have remained in her body fades and her eyes shut to keep the sudden water that threatens them at bay.

Had the scene been different as well ot circumstances, she may have allowed the relief to swallow her. It is a quiet declarations of feelings and intent, yet part of her cannot help but worry it would be fleeting. Her hands curl further into the fabric if his armor as her face presses to his neck more.

A response slowly tries to make it's way from her lips-- ]

Alkaid! There you are!

[ Then, in a sweeping moment, it comes crashing down. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ Throwing almost all care about propriety and who sees them to the winds, he leans in, intending to give her another kiss, perhaps a briefer one this time, but it turns out that they never get the chance.

He hears someone's footsteps approaching, followed by a voice calling out to Alkaid. To him, this signifies the end of their intimate encounter and perhaps a more lengthy end to any time that they would spend together. Of course, he fervently hopes that this summoning from the Scions, for that is the most likely explanation for it, is only a summons to a meeting, not a call meant to send her off to some far corner of the star.

Even if it is, however, he knows that he will wait however long it takes for her to return. For now, though, he tightens his hold on her for just one more brief moment before he very reluctantly releases her.

Straightening up, he glances at the approaching messenger. ]

It would seem as though your presence is required elsewhere. [ He is of half a mind to insist on accompanying her, but he assumes he would be barred from entering, even if he is the Lord Commander. He has no sway over the Scions and thus no right to be present during their meetings. It was only a fool's thought. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ She sighs loudly in protest, ears bending back against her head underneath the hood as he has to pull away from their attempted kiss. Her eyebrows turn up in something of a pout before turning her head to look at it is who interrupts her time with Aymeric.

Tataru stands a level below them with her hand raised in greetings. Alkaid cannot help the scowl that takes her face. ]

It would seem so.

[ Her gaze goes back to him, as if to ask if he wishes to interject one last time. ]

[thewayforpeace]

[ He wishes he could reach for her hand, to at least maintain some form of contact, but he decides to refrain, resolving to make up for this separation at a later time.

He glances at Tataru, offering her a friendly smile before he asks: ]

Is something the matter? [ Of course, he is not privy to all that the Scions do, so he does not expect nor demand an answer, but he merely wishes to inquire if something is amiss, and if so, if there is anything he might be able to do. ]

[shepherdtostars]

[ Alkaid remains standing on the rail with perfect balance. Her hands fall to her sides as she suddenly feels colder and a deep ache starts to beat inside her. Her gaze briefly moves to the side as Tataru approaches them from the level below. ]

Ah, nothing that should directly harm Ishgard, Lord Commander. There are reports of primals from the Beast tribes all over Eorzea that may need addressing...

[ Her eyes narrow. Of course. Where would the Scions be without their pair of Primal Slayers? She closes her eyes and nods, slipping off the railing to join Tataru with unsurprising grace. ]

We tried to call you, but, are we interrupting something...?

[ Alkaid stares at the ground and raises a hand to dismiss her question. She glances up at Aymeric with a look of bittersweet Longing before wordlessly moving forward to the streets that would lead to the aethershard. ]