synthneon | echoes of truth | ❝ tales of loss and fire and flame. ❞

[ It takes a few moments for Aymeric's labored breathing to return to a calmer pace, and certainly, the fact that he is no longer being attacked by a primal's rage helps ease some of his struggle.

At the very least, he can follow basic directions, and when Alkaid tells him to sit up straight, he does his best to oblige, pushing himself up against the wall with both hands. And once he has managed that, he follows her next command: to take deep breaths.

It isn't a perfect attempt by any means, as his breath catches, and the strain of the action shows itself in his shoulders, but he does what he can.

Even as Alkaid and Estinien continue to exchange words, he just remains sitting there as ordered, taking a breath and letting it out, and repeating the process again.

It isn't until he hears Alkaid's outburst of determination that she will not be leaving that he abandons his attempts to breathe as she told him to do. His eyes widen slightly, as if reacting to the agitation in the room.

But when Estinien takes hold of Alkaid, lifting her from the ground, his eyes widen even further, and he raises a hand as if reaching for her. All he can do is watch as she fights Estinien every step of the way. His gaze meets hers, and stays that way until he can no longer see her.

As soon as she is out of eyeshot, his head dips and his gaze lowers to stare at the ground, his hands dropping to rest against the cell floor, the signs of life that he was beginning to display with Alkaid helping him having seemingly fled the cell with her.

In their place is a blank stare and a motionlessness that has settled in once more as what little awareness he had managed to fight to regain fades away. Estinien's return to the cell does not even garner a reaction from him, and he just remains sitting where he was placed, eyes still glowing but showing no recognition. ]

[ There is no part of Estinien who took joy in parting the two. Especially as the Miqo'te continually pounds on the door until, he presumes, the twins escort her away. Silence fills the area as he moves to kneel down in front of the man he calls his brother. The steel-ice blue eyes move between Ayermic and untouched food. A sigh comes from him and a shake of his head. ]

It was not my desire to separate the pair of you. Especially for the good she does you. [ He, however, knows it is better that he do it as opposed to one of the other Scions coming to remove her themselves. ] I've no doubt that she will make a swift return and curse the Scions along the way.

[ A gloved hand raises and gestures to the food beside his brother. ] In the mean time, Aymeric. It would do you well to eat.

[ He is not aware of it, but his aether that began to stir and move has ceased its progress, falling stagnant once more, mirroring the way that his own movements have also ceased.

Clearly, the man in the cell is someone important to him, and even though a good deal of Aymeric's comprehension has left him, he still retains enough of it to remember that the face of the man sitting in front of him is someone important.

It takes a moment, but finally, he raises his head to look first at Estinien then at the food that is still within his reach. Instead of doing as he was told, he reaches for it and moves it over in Estinien's direction, pushing it closer to him. ]

[ Estinien is no master of aether nor student of it on this level. He had learned how to manipulate his own in order to do what was required of him as a dragoon. This is far beyond his measure. It would not be as simple as killing King Thordan either. Those enthralled could simply summon him time and time again. He hopes this cure the Scions speak of will save his brother and those who truly must be suffering in Ishgard.

His eyes fall down to the tray that is pushed to him. If he had not known Aymeric as well or as long as he had? He might misunderstand the gesture. It would seem the man's natural inclination to care for all those of Ishgard would come first no matter if he is tempered or not. Perhaps that is why Alkaid seems so determined and full of conviction that he may yet be cured. Aymeric still exists somewhere in it all. ]

Nay, Aymeric. [ However, lest his brother think that he is attempting to be cruel, Estinien gently pushes the tray back to him. He waits until the Lord Speaker looks at him before allowing his usual harsh features to mold to something gentler. He is a far cry from Alphinaud and K'thisru, and an even father cry from Alkaid, but he intends the meaning to be the same. ] I think it best if you eat. Not simply because you are in greater need. I am certain it would lift Alkaid's spirits to know you have eaten and cared for yourself in her absence.

[ Aymeric watches Estinien, looking back at him with the closest expression he can manage to confusion. In his mind, he still believes that there are other things he should be doing, and taking sustenance is not among them. Even if it was, he still believes that he must care for Ishgard and her people, and Estinien is still one of them, regardless of what he would say.

If he needs to eat, then so must his friend. But even so, the tray of food is pushed back to him again, and his gaze connects with his old friend's once again.

He is still having difficulty stringing words together, but he has enough in him to ask one thing. ]

What about you? [ Because he has just enough powers of observation left to notice that there is only enough here for one person. ]

I will eat once Alkaid has returned. I have no doubt that Alphinaud will wish to talk an ear off after their meeting.

[ The raised hand gestures once again to the food for him to eat. ]

Most likely she will obtain something to eat on the way back. The Scions will not be able to keep her long. Thus, you ought do something that will bring a smile to her face when she returns.

[ Estinien moves to sit down and places Nidhogg across his lap. There is no intention of using the lance now. It simply rests there in order to be more comfortable. ]

[ Having expended what little energy he had on those three words, Aymeric remains silent, but he casts another look at Estinien and then at the food before he does as he has been told and reaches for it.

Alkaid's healing on his wrists has helped, but even as reaches for the food and begins slowly eating it, his hands begin to shake just a little, revealing the weakness that is still present there. But he manages as well as possible, and it isn't until his eyes land on the lance resting across Estinien's lap that he pauses, hands stilling as he warily eyes the weapon.

Again, unbidden, an image springs into his mind of Nidhogg being used to knock him against the cell wall, and then pinning him in place. He is not afraid of the lance, exactly, but his eyes widen just slightly, pointing to a lingering apprehension about having the lance used on him once more. ]

[ Estinien does not stare ad Aymeric eats. Instead his gaze takes note of thr strain in the man's hands before looking away. There is a tinge of guilt for treating his brother as he had. Yet, it had to be done their safety. He is not a man of many regrets, but there are some. This event is now one of them.

It catches his attention that Aymeric has paused in his eating. He glances over to find the other man staring down at Nidhogg. He rolls his eyes slightly before picking up the lance and moving it to rest beside him on the floor.

Then his arms cross and he begins a silent vigil over the man he calls brother. ]

[ Continued! ]

echoes of truth | ❝ tales of loss and fire and flame. ❞

BOOK 3.5: EVER HEAVENSWARD

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