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]

[ 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. ]