echoes of truth | ❝ to all of my children to whom.... ❞

[heranswers]

song of hope

BOOK 5: OUR SONG

Our song of hope, she dances on the wind
Higher, o' higher
E'er our hearts endure and remain forever strong
Standing tall through the dark do we carry onCODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[elpides]

[ Perhaps it is because she is far more tired than she has shown, but as G'raha continues speaking, her ears lower until they are nearly pressed against her head. Truthfully, she knew that they would have to have this conversation one day, but it is not one that she was looking forward to having, for the simple reason (or perhaps not so simple) that she still believes G'raha to be far greater and wiser than her, and the proof of that seems to be staring her in the face. ]

Any time that we get to spend together pleases me. [ Her statement does not address everything that he has said, but she means to address all of it. ]

I- [ She hesitates, her words catching themselves in her throat, although she is quick to press on, even if she has to force them to come. ] I would let you help, and I want to let you in, but...

[ Her reasoning seems so faulty even as she attempts to put it into speech, but nevertheless, she knows he needs to know. ]

When you were the Exarch leading an entire city filled with people, you shouldered your own problems on your own for the most part. Of course, you brought us there to help, but it was not until much later that you began letting us in. [ And by then, his plans and ultimate goal were already in motion, which at the time felt like another way that he kept them at arm's length while he soldiered on by himself. ]

You are very important to me, and I- I care about you very much. But...

[ She folds her hands together and twists her fingers once or twice in a gesture that unconsciously mirrors her sister's. ]

I want to be strong and capable like you were- like you are. [ And admitting to being anything less than the Warrior of Light that people all across Eorzea look up to feels like nothing short of a failure. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ There was a time when he believed the Warriors of Light to be the wisest. Of course, he still finds them to be wise and true heroes above himself. He merely keeps his own wisdom and thoughts to himself. There are times in which he might feel it is appropriate to once more be the Crystal Exarch, and perhaps there are times when he ought to act on ot but never does. Their star needs their Warriors of Light, not an olden wizard who traveled against time and space to do the impossible.

His arms fold as he listens to her speak. Ah, so it is the fact that he remains the Crystal Exarch in a fashion. His gaze softens before he tilts his head down in a gentle sigh. He does not understand why she places him on such a high pedestal. She was the one who ended the Final Days. He was merely a foot stone to get her to that path.

G'raha takes a seat beside her and glances at the hands she twists. He's noticed the shared habit the sisters have, and more than once has he wondered if the two share more than a lineage and an ancient seat of Amaurot. However, that is an idle musing not meant to be shared. ]

It was required that I shoulder so much of it on my own. Had I opened the door to the secret sooner, or with anyone else, it opened far too many risks. I'm not entirely certain it would be called strength as you are defining it, Thisru. Perhaps something more akin to faith and stubbornness.

[ He turns his head to look at her with a small bashful smile. ] After all, you wear never meant to know my identity. I... there were several times I had almost told you who I was. You and your sister went through so many hardships on my bidding and for the First. A part of me thought that the least I could do was share who I was. And yet, I also knew that if I had? You would have never let me follow through on it. After all, you were hardly pleased with the idea of me sealing myself away in the tower.

[ G'raha smiles and looks to the ceiling. He wishes to reach out to her and hold her hand, but she seems to have placed herself far away in a sense. ]

And, if I recall properly, my plans changed because you insisted upon another way of changing the course of time. I may possess fortitude and patience, but you possess the will to alter not only fate, but the fate of those around you. Truly, it is not a surprise that Hydaelyn chose you and your sister. [ He glances down, then finally turns to look at her. ] Strength does not mean you achieve wonders merely on your own, Thisru. I was taught and then reminded of that fact by a pair of sisters.

[ His hand turns so the palm faces upright for her to take, but he does not move further than that. ]

Thisru... I enjoy being at your side and as your traveling companion. In fact, it has brightened my days considerably. [ He had only dreamed of times like this on the First, and in some ways, he finds it all very surreal. ] However, I find myself... while I care for you, it is far deeper than caring. An element, certainly, but I have always felt more than merely a friendly sense of care and duty. If, we were to say, and there by no means must you say "yes", be bound as a couple? I ask once again that you lay your burdens down and allow me to help carry them. As your partner might.

[ He smiles shyly again. ] Otherwise, I suppose I am merely a traveling companion whose company you enjoy. Which, if such is my role and place? I will gladly stand and fulfill to my utmost.

[elpides]

[ When compared to people such as him, Urianger, Moenbryda, and so many others, K'thisru feels so incredibly insignificant. She is hardly wiser than any of them, even though she knows a great deal about summoning. Even then, she does not consider herself a master but someone who still has much to learn.

And when she considers G'raha, the Exarch, she knows she does not rank very highly next to him, the one who lived for so many years and has seen so much. That is one of the many reasons why she looks up to him and yes, places him upon a pedestal in so many ways. ]

But you thought your plan through, considered as many angles as you could. You're- Thoughtful. You stopped to think before you put your plan into motion. The thought you put into your plans says a lot, Raha.

[ And she knows full well that she is hardly the most thoughtful, given her tendency to charge straight ahead into danger or at a threat. ]

Of course, you're right that we- I would have tried to stop you. You're too important, and- And... [ We need you. I need you too.

She finds herself shaking her head at those words; Hydaelyn did choose her and her sister, of course, but in her mind, she could have chosen anyone. There are other heroes besides herself and Lantaa, after all.

Still, she keeps those words inside, choosing instead to take his hand and hold onto it as tightly as she can.

I love you... The thought bursts into her mind and very nearly escapes her lips as well, although she still wonders why she is keeping it inward, and how long it will remain that way. ]

You're not just a traveling companion! That- That is not the role I want you to have. [ Not that what she wants matters... or does it? It seems to her that his wants are what matters, but she can't call back those petulant words either.

Still holding onto her hand, and with her ears pressed against her head, she looks down at the floor, as if she is somewhat afraid of seeing how he might react to what she has to say next. ]

Raha, I- [ If she were standing, she would shuffle her feet nervously on the floor to buy herself a few seconds' time. But in the end, the words tumble out all in a rush. ]

I want to be with you. I want to be yours. [ And if that means letting him share in everything she tries to keep inside, well... that is what she will do. ]

[crystallinedreams]

And yet the plan required vital pieces to move--pieces that I had no true control over. You and your sister could have denied my wishes to be apart of it, or, the light from the Lightwardens could have overtook you. A plan is merely a plan unless there are those such as you to make it take action.

[ He smiles at her, ears giving an affirmative twitch. While he may not think himself as important as the more senior members of the Scions? He is aware of how much his presence had helped in the Final Days. Especially when it came to calming crowds or even moving the sisters to their next objective. Perhaps it does look like something of a footnote... but it is better to be a footnote in the Warrior of Light's life than not remembered at all.

He has his doubts that Hydaelyn would have chosen another. The sisters are of the seat of Azem, the woman's very own proteges. G'raha cannot see Hydaelyn choosing any other to protect and ensure the safety of their star.

G'raha smiles at her outburst and nods once. He is aware she cares for him, and perhaps sees him more than just a traveling companion. His words were merely to make her aware of their situation at hand. The ruby eyes glance down at her fingers twisting together. His own remains open to her, palm facing upwards for her to take if she so wishes.

His head tilts slightly as a thought comes to mind. Perhaps a ...less direct approach should be taken? K'thisru has never been one to speak of herself at first. Thus, perhaps he ought to bring up the events of the day so she might feel more at ease speaking of herself. ]

I had not expected such a warm reception for myself when we arrived. For you, certainly, as you are aunt to Leon and Mélodie, if in nothing else but spirit. Truthfully, I had expected I might need to work more to be considered attached to the family at all! [ A small chuckle escapes him. ] When I had read over the memories of Ishgard, I had never thought to count myself as part of the family of the legendary Ser Aymeric and your sister. Yet... it seems he very much is open to the idea regardless.

[ His other hand touches his chin lightly in thought. ] And, I had thought that your wounds were ... equally in measure. That the battle with Zenos had been traded blow for blow, if you will. Yet, it is clear that Alka--Lantaa--suffers from injuries still. Her chest and arms, I would think, given what she is able to do and struggles to do.

...which then makes my mind turn towards your own wounds. Tell me truthfully, Thisru. Does anything else other than your leg need tending to?

In return, you can ask any question of me and I shall answer them.

[elpides]

No true control? I think that you had more control than anyone realized. Of course, the light could have done both of us in, but I wanted to help you, and so did Lantaa.

[ Helping people is a very large part of who both of them are, and it is very hard for K'thisru to imagine a scenario in which she and her sister did not want to help someone. And speaking for herself, she cannot imagine a situation in which she would not do everything she could to assist G'raha. Perhaps she would draw the line in aiding him in sacrificing himself again, but aside from that, there is very little that she would not do. ]

You, needing to work more? [ The thought makes her laugh, not at his expense, but with some measure of amusement. ] Our clan is very different, of course, but I see no reason why you should not be considered a very important part of the family. And if anyone at all protested about you being welcome, well, I would be very quick to correct their thinking.

[ He is one of them, and he belongs to their family, and she will not tolerate anyone arguing to the contrary.

But the conversation continues to include discussing the wounds she and Lantaa sustained, and her smile fades just slightly. She worries greatly about her sister, as is to be expected. Perhaps she could worry about herself more, but should something terrible happen to Lantaa, she would not know how to carry on.

She opens her mouth to finally give voice to an honest answer concerning herself and her well-being, but it seems as though the shock of everything that has happened has finally caught up with her, in spite of her efforts to keep it at bay.

Rather than answer, she draws her arms in, circling them around herself as she begins to shiver. It is not cold in the room, but a chill has settled upon her regardless, and try as she might, she cannot will it away. ]

[crystallinedreams]

What I had was the advantage of setting the stage and the pieces on the board. A hundred years of planning atop the years spent by those who had awakened me in the Tower. There were several things I did not account for... including Emet-Selch. While it all ended far better than any of us would have thought--for all parties, I believe--there are still many things that I am responsible for. Things that I believe we should speak of... and that I should make up to you.

[ G'raha gently smiles at her laugh, but says nothing more on the matter for now. He will speak with Ser Aymeric on his own it seems, and, that will be the time and place to delve into family and what makes one a member of it. As, for the moment, he feels far more as if his place is to support K'thisru as a friend and a member of the defunct Scions.

His smile fades as he watches her reaction. The hand she did not take turns to lay palm down on his leg and his gaze wanders to the side. It would seem not even speaking of what ails her sister will help begin the conversation. When she shivers, he pushes himself from the bed and pulls the covers back. A gesture is made for her to climb underneath them for now. He will see to getting her a nightshirt and remove the rest of the outfit that relates to travel.

Once she has slid under the covers, he retrieves a nightgown and then takes off the additional garments of his own until he is merely in pants and his shirt. G'raha then takes his seat beside her on the edge of the bed. Several thoughts cross his mind, and it is obvious on his face, but he cannot seem to settle on one in particular. That is, until he reaches forward and begins slowly undo her new customary braid that sits over her shoulder.

He imagines that she will not wish to speak of potential futures either then. Perhaps what he feels they must speak of are things they will truly never be capable of. Perhaps the fact he has lived so many years truly stops the relationship more than he first thought it might. Or, perhaps, she has gone far beyond the reach of a man that simply wishes to be like his heroes. He may not truly be able to imagine what it is that weighs on her mind... or even help. ]

Perhaps it is better to simply rest. If you need anything, I can fetch it for you now. I imagine that once the morning comes, the manor will be quite noisy.

[elpides]

[ Not for the first time, K'thisru simply falls silent and listens while G'raha speaks. His voice is captivating, and it makes her feel as though she could listen to him talk for hours. There is a certain straightforwardness with which he speaks that impresses her while making her feel unworthy of him at the same time. He was a great leader of an entire city, and he did so with what she thought of as ease.

He has her admiration and respect, and of course she knows that she loves him, but in some ways, she feels that he is beyond her reach, or at least out of her league.

It hits her like a ton of bricks that she should have reached for the hand that he held out to her, and that by failing to do so, perhaps she has just taken another step towards the beginning of the end of their relationship. And that thought only makes her feel worse.

But then he gestures to her to climb into bed, and she does so without hesitation. Knowing that her emotions are dangerously close to breaking through, perhaps this is for the best. She might be able to hide her face in her pillow so that he does not have to see her lose control.

But it seems as though he still has other ideas. Once she is settled in the bed, and he has removed his customary attire except for a shirt and pants and sits beside her while unbraiding her hair, she finds that it is difficult to avoid his gaze. Not that she wishes to, but while he is looking at her, she feels she must at least try and keep a hold on the emotions that are threatening to escape her. ]

G- Raha? [ She corrects herself, knowing that she will have to become used to using his name sooner or later. And perhaps the moment has passed and it is now too late, but the last thing she intends to do is shut him out now. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ G'raha would not say their relationship would end, as truly it has not started in the terms of a romantic one. While he has shared his own romantic feelings, and K'thisru has shared her desire to be with him? He cannot help but feel that perhaps he is the one who longs too much.

His gaze remains on her hair as he continues to unbraid it. Although, he does pause and glance at her gaze as she corrects his name. He can remember the moment in which he had first used her name without their racial attachments. He watched her walk from the Ocular and frowned, glancing down briefly that perhaps he had misspoke or used her name when it was unwanted. However, it was then that Alkaid turned and smiled at him and encouraged him to keep using it. The elder sister has always seemed to be the one to gently nudge their relationship... but now he wonders if perhaps she is simply too hopeful for a positive end.

Although, for the first time, he truly wonders why Alkaid is so supportive and insistent on it.

G'raha does not lack faith in the idea, oh no, far from it. He simply wonders if it is truly the relationship that she desires. Would she wish to settle and eventually have her children inherit the duty and burden of the Crystal Tower? ]

Yes? [ He then brushes her unbraided hair from her shoulder and down to her back. Then, his hands settle beside her with an affirmative twitch from his ears. ] Is there something you need?

[elpides]

[ There are so many things that she would say if only she could find the right way to say them. In some ways, she envies the apparent ease with which her sister and Aymeric get along. Of course, she has heard from her sister that they have had their own share of hurdles, but from the outside, it looks as though their relationship has progressed faster and with more ease than the one she has with G'raha, such as it is.

Maybe if she were more like her sister, she and G'raha would actually have a relationship: a romantic one. But at the end of it all, she keeps coming back to the idea that she can only be herself. And while she may have her doubts that G'raha could ever love someone like her, he has told her how he feels, and that is what she chooses to focus on when her doubts arise. ]

Yes. [ She has to will herself to not think too hard about her words, to just let them come out as they will. ] Yes, there is something that I need, and that is...

[ She has to pause for a moment, because up till now, it seems that she has done nearly everything wrong, and she has been quite unfair to him. ]

If- If you'll still have me, if it isn't too late... [ She shivers involuntarily in response to his brushing her hair, but she plows on ahead anyway. ]

I want to grow alongside you... With you. [ The words sound foolish even as she says them, but she hopes that he understands her meaning. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ Perhaps the relationship between her sister and Ser Aymeric has progressed faster and at a sort of ease. However, their relationship has not been bound by secrets and the span of time. What he has with K'thisru is far more complicated in ways, but that is due to circumstance above all else. They would not have met again if not for the threat of the Eight Umbral Calamity.


His head tilts with a twitch of his ears. One lifts towards the door as he hears a gentle padding on the wood. A set of four steps before it is gone--has Ser Aymeric always owned a pet? The idea would make him chuckle if his attention not entirely on K'thisru. The Lord Speaker having a pet cat and a Miqo'te fiancé is quite the charming image.

As always, he remains patient to hear her request. He will admit it takes him by surprise. He had not expected to hear her ask such a thing, but it warms his heart regardless. He supposes that perhaps she is not comfortable opening up to him due to the ever growing space between them. A space he is not certain how to close as his attempts seem to merely push her further and further away.

G'raha nods. ] Who am I to ignore the wishes of the one who gave me a second life? Not only that, but, a second chance. Not many are gifted such things and I find myself ever grateful and in your debt for them.

[ He glances at his hand before gently placing it beside her ear. He rubs the bottom of it, attempting to find a place that she will enjoy and will cause her to ease her mind. ]

Perhaps... we ought to start at the basics and not at where our adventure leaned us to. [ He is certain Ser Aymeric and Alkaid did as well. Perhaps this is what she needs. ] Tell me of your tribal home and your tribe. How did you and your sister ever come to be adventurers? How did one end up graced as a white mage, and the other gifted as a summoner?

[ He has always found the notion she is a summoner to be a form of sign. After all, the summoner soul crystals hail from Alag. Her chosen path walks in the shadow of the Crystal Tower he had been tasked with keeping watch over. Perhaps... they are more destined than she might think. Yet, he will save that thought for once their conversation reaches such a point. ]

[elpides]

[ If she did not already feel undeserving of him and his love, she would sit up so that she might lean against him and rest her head against his shoulder. There is something comforting about his presence, feeling him beside her and knowing that he is there and will not be leaving, in spite of all her insecurities and what she feels is her failure to communicate properly. ]

Everyone- Well, most everyone deserves a second chance. And after everything that you did on the First, no one deserves that more than you.

[ The second that he begins to rub her ear is the second that she very nearly melts on the spot, and suddenly all she wants is to be close to him and be comforted by him. ]

It was always busy there, full of comings and goings. Sometimes Lantaa and I just wanted to be by ourselves, so we had a little hiding spot for the two of us. And, well, the two of us wanted to see more of the world and that's why we left.

[ She smiles a bit thinking back on those times with her sister both with the clan and after they departed from it. ] Lantaa would always take care of me if I got scraped up from running around too much, so it makes sense that she would become a white mage.

[ But then she has to pause to think as if the answer to the question of why she became a summoner is not as straightforward. ]

I don't know why I became a summoner, except that I felt drawn to it somehow. [ Looking back on it, it does seem rather strange. Being a summoner involves studying and reading, two things she was never very good at, and yet she cannot imagine herself specializing in anything else.

And strangely enough, somehow, she feels that her being a summoner compliments G'raha's own set of abilities. Perhaps if they can work on their relationship, they can compliment each other too and one day become two halves of the same coin. ]

[crystallinedreams]

"Most" of everyone? I wonder who would fall under those that would not be considered for a second chance by the standards of a Warrior of Light.

[ Most certainly Zenos... perhaps Vauthry? Although, G'raha would argue the second was manipulated and drawn into a delusion that was beyond his control. Sympathy is perhaps not the word, but, G'raha does understand when one is pulled into a situation outside of their own control. He was in his own way. ]

Ah, a natural healer. It would explain her talents. As for you? I quite imagine your natural talent is shaping and forming of aether. Summoning the carbuncles is a second nature to you as healing is to your sister. Which would mean that with some work, your talent could become even more grand than it already is. It is... a topic I have thought much on since my return to the Source.

[ Although, he has been wary to suggest it. K'thisru has already mentioned many times how she is not one for the idea of studying from books. ]

The art of summoning, as I am certain you are aware, hails from Allag. Your soul stone is one of the very oldest that we are aware of in Etheirys. Your sisters would date back to the Fifth Astral Era, while yours dates back to the Third. I must admit that I often thought it quaint, or perhaps even some form of destiny, that I be inspired by a Warrior of Light whose talents draw upon the age that my own destiny was shaped by. [ G'raha chuckles sheepishly then and the look of the old Exarch crosses past his face. ] Although, you do not need the royal red eye of Allag to perform your miracles.

[elpides]

Not many, if that means anything at all. [ She chooses to believe that everyone deserves that second chance, but not everyone wants to have that. Zenos is certainly one of those. At one point, she had thought that neither Emet-Selch nor Elidibus deserved forgiveness nor redemption, but it isn't in her nature to entirely write someone off. She may not fully trust Emet-Selch, and she would reluctantly call him an ally of sorts, but he isn't someone that she would write off either.

Perhaps Zenos is the only one who has received that designation. ]

That's hard for me to decide, because not all of those that I've encountered that could be considered enemies were completely at fault. [ Yotsuyu, while cold-hearted and seemingly cruel, was made that way because of her environment. At least, that's her opinion on that matter.

So like G'raha, she understands that good and evil is far more complicated than people like it to be. ]

I suppose you could call it natural. Sometimes it seems like I could summon a carbuncle simply by thinking about it. [ Of course, it really isn't that simple, but it comes as naturally to her as breathing in a lot of ways. ]

More grand? [ She tilts her head to one side as if wondering what he means. Truthfully, she has often wondered if there were more secrets or hidden arts that she could unlock through further study, even if the thought of it makes her wrinkle her nose a bit. ]

Perhaps destiny has been working all along, and we just didn't see it. [ She shifts just a little bit so she can give him a teasing nudge. Part of her wants to say that destiny is what brought them together, that they belong together. ]

Maybe one day you could tell me some stories about Allag. [ While summoning had its origins there, and her soul stone has ties to Allag too, K'thisru knows she does not know very much about that ancient civilization. Oh, she knows the common stories, but she imagines that there is so much that she and others do not know. ]

But miracles is how I would describe everything that you've done, Raha.

[crystallinedreams]

I find that surprising. Especially after many that you would call foe that you now call ally.

[ Of course, most of his knowledge comes from what he has learned since his return to the Source. Several people she and her sister once fought had turned ally in some form or another; many defecting from the Empire. There are others, he supposes, that may not warrant such a blessing. That, or, perhaps K'thisru is far more forgiving than her sister. ]

Behind every person is a story that led them to how they were. Still, I would wager not all are deserving of understanding... depending on what they had done. Zenos, I suppose, would be the most recent example.

[ G'raha chuckles lightly at her statement. ] I imagine you summoned one often to keep you company. Perhaps they give you better company than I am capable of.

[ His ears move up and down once as if to illustrate he is joking, but, he truly does wonder if he is the right companion for her. By qualifications he certainly is, yet, should they not fall into a more natural rhythm as Alkaid and Ser Aymeric? Perhaps there is something he is missing... a topic he might bring up to the Lord Speaker himself. Should the opportunity arise. ]

As a summoner, you can craft beings from aether that are forms of primals, yes? If that is the case, then the same might be applied to your carbuncle. Even further still, you might be able to apply your ideal shapes of other beings from the First. Or at the very least perhaps increase the size of your carbuncle.

[ He smiles faintly at the idea that destiny could have been working in their favor. Perhaps it has in hers certainly. For now, the comment on his "miracles" is one he does not entertain. He merely did what was required and asked of him. That is hardly on the same level as what she and her sister have accomplished as the Seat of Azem. ]

Then, perhaps, we should make this a form of study. [ While she has told him she does not enjoy studying, it may be a way to garner her to speak more of herself. ] Say if you were to ask me a question of myself or Allag, then I in return have one of you. Would that suffice?

[ G'raha shifts around her to sit beside her with his back against the headboard. The hand at her ear moves to the top of her head briefly. Then, he rests it at her hip. He would attempt to ease the muscles, but, only if she finds the touch appropriate. ]

[elpides]

[ She also finds that surprising, but perhaps that is a matter of perspective. Quite a few of the Garleans are now what she would consider allies, or at least no longer particularly hostile or opposed to them, which is at least a favorable turn of events.

She mulls this over for a few seconds before shrugging her shoulders lightly. ] Zenos only wanted one thing: a good fight to keep him from being bored. [ Perhaps that is simplifying it too much, but it seems to her that that was his main ambition, based off the things he said to her and her sister. ]

Carbuncle is good at keeping me company, but so are you. [ Understanding that he is joking, she smiles warmly at him, hoping that the smile underlines the point that she enjoys his company just a little bit more than she does the company of her Carbuncle. She will always be fond of her summonable companion, but G'raha is good company too. ]

Well, I have to admit that I wouldn't mind learning how to do all that. [ It excites her more than she thought it would, but the thought of learning new ways of working with her Carbuncle and her summoning ability prods at something inside her... perhaps the part of her that also likes a challenge.

Again she smiles at him and offers him a nod in response. ] I think that will be more than all right. [ In some ways, he is still a mystery to her, and of course, she wouldn't ask him to divulge all his secrets, but she does want to know more about the person who began as a wide-eyed adventurer that became a leader of an entire city and caretaker of the Crystal Tower.

So for now, she contents herself with snuggling a little closer to him and resting against him, nudging her hip just slightly against his hand. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ He hums gently. ] Perhaps there was more to it in the end. After all, he went to extreme lengths just to keep from being bored. Working with Eorzea, to even the smallest degree, in order to ultimately save you and your sister is no small matter. Of course, it was to have one last fight in the end, even then.... perhaps there was some respect to some degree.

[ G'raha shakes his head. There may be no point in mulling it over as he is. However, if he is to ever write or chronical these adventures? He wishes to be as thoughtful to all parties as possible. ]

I imagine your Carbuncle is not nearly as, shall we say, talkative as I am. [ He chuckles and notes how she moves her hip into his hand. He shifts then, clearing his throat as he feels a familiar form of embarrassment take hold of him. ] Very well then. Start us off on our little questionnaire, Thisru. You may ask any question of me or of Allag and I will do my utmost to answer.

[elpides]

I would try and understand him and why he did all of that, but sometimes I think there is no understanding him. Especially since he's beyond conversation now. [ She pauses to consider this and all of Zenos's machinations, and then she adds: ] I would have been able to respect him more if he had not been so destructive.

[ She knows her personal opinions on what makes a good leader, and in her mind, Zenos had none of those qualities. In fact, she believes she sees most of those qualities in G'raha. ]

No, unfortunately, although I sometimes wish there was a way to have them talk.

[ While keeping a careful eye out for his reactions, in case he reacts with displeasure, she nudges her hip against his hand with a hint of a playful smile. ]

I'm curious about Allag, but I'm more curious about you. Tell me about one of your favorite memories from when you were younger. [ She wonders if it is difficult for him to recall things, given what has happened to him, but she poses the question anyway because her curiosity is too great. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ His ears twitch at her statement. He supposes there might yet be away--should they make contact in the aetheric sea thanks to the structure in Sharlayan. Of course, that would also imply that Zenos's soul not only found its way back, but that K'thisru would even wish to speak to him. He instead files it away as something that is an errant thought and returns his attention to the conversation.

Zenos was clearly not interested in leading. The very state of Garlemald showed such things when they arrived. Power and the thrill of the hunt were how he led his life. They each had their own way to lead their lives, of course, but it is clear that how Zenos lead his life. ]

I would imagine that once you understand the emotions of your companion, words are not needed. Then again, one could argue if aetheric creations have souls at all. Those that are conjured that is. Perhaps it is a conversation to have with Y'shtola?

[ G'raha tilts head to the side. ] My favorite memories from my youth? Well, I would say it was fairly uneventful. Although, I was rather fond of trying the food at the Last Stand for the first time. It was not quite what I expected, but it was very different from the food of my homeland. Even more so from the food the rest of Sharlayan seemed to prefer...

[elpides]

[ There are some that she would wish to speak to again, but Zenos is not one of them. In her mind, the encounters she and her sister have had with him are more than enough. At least at the present, there is no reason she can think of that would make her want to seek him out once more. ]

You're right, of course. And of course, some would say that those creations don't, and so they don't have emotions, but- [ She smiles, because she believes otherwise, at least about her particular carbuncle. ] I disagree. Y'shtola might have an answer. [ But it might be more theoretical than anything else, not that there is anything wrong with that. ]

Oh, it can't have been that uneventful. [ She knows better than to pry or ask about things that might be uncomfortable to talk about, but she still wants to know more about him. ] Maybe we should take a trip around Eorzea so you can try new and different kinds of food. [ She taps a finger against the side of her chin as she ponders this notion. ]

[crystallinedreams]

[ A low chuckle comes from him at her comment. The familiar olden look takes to his eyes then. ] Far be it from me to question the knowledge of the wise younger Master Matoya when it comes to the area of aetheric creations. However, I find myself of the opinion that none might know the nature of the creation better than they who created it. If you nurture your aetheric companion to develop in such a manner... who is to say it cannot be as such?

[ He watches her move for a moment, noting how she puts her finger to her chin as she thinks. The way her eyebrows move in thought. There are so many small details he thought he had committed to perfect memory before sealing himself away within the Tower. Details he would recall on long starless nights of the First. Perhaps he had committed them to perfect detail and it was merely the fact that K'thisru had grown far more in her time in the Dragonsong War and the struggles of the far east. She had turned into a remarkable woman, and one he believes that may be forever out of his reach. For all his knowledge and all his ability to spin tales? It seems as if he may never truly reach her to cross that final threshold.

G'raha's gaze turns upwards to the ceiling as the familiar olden look falls over his face. ]

To travel without burden and to simply go where your whims would wish to take you must certainly be something you have longed for. A longing I imagine your sister might have shared if she had not found Ser Aymeric. [ He pauses then. ] I realize I have never simply wandered aimlessly and merely acting on my own whims. Every step led me to the stewardship left to me of the Crystal Tower... and then, to saving the two that brought so much comfort and hope to those they would never meet. Indeed, it seems no matter how far I might travel or go, my path will always remain tied to the Crystal Tower and the hopes it might bring to others.

A burden I would not wish to conform you to without your own want. [ Perhaps now is the best time to speak of it. ] My bloodline is tied to the Tower, and has been since the days of Allag. Whoever would wish to be at my side would need to understand and accept that... although it is not something I would ask another to join me without their own desire to do be apart of such a legacy.

A legacy I had not thought to have. After all, my intentions had been to quietly remove myself and the Tower on the First from this timeline. Such a motion would not only avoid the Eighth Umbral Calamity, but free me for a potentially much happier path forward. It was not until you and your sister had altered my own plans that I had considered the possibility that I might join you in your travels in some way... and now... your travels will once again take you far, no doubt, to places unseen and heard of. Places that your heart and very soul must long to find, given your ancient position.

[ G'raha closes his eyes. ] And I would be loath to keep you from such amazing things by asking you even consider the possibility of remaining in one place. Your sister has elected to stay in Ishgard, it would seem, but I cannot ask you to bind yourself to either Sharlayan or the Tower for my sake.

Only you know what your heart and soul truly desire, Thisru. Just as you know what your carbuncle needs and desires. Only you know what will bring you fulfillment now that the secrets of the ancient past have been unveiled and you have made possible a new chapter for our star yet again.

[elpides]

[ A somewhat mischievous look crosses her face even as she continues to thoughtfully ponder what kind of life the two of them could have together, if they manage to move past this strange song and dance they seem to be doing. ]

You know, what I want isn't very much when you think about it. To travel around the world and see new things and meet new people- I have done that already. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just stay in one place with someone I care about... someone that I could- Well, could love. [ She feels a blush of red creeping up her neck, because she hasn't stated those words quite so plainly before, but it feels like something she needs to do. ]

I can't care for the Crystal Tower in the same way that you can, but places need to be cleaned and things need to be organized, and I might not be very good at either of those things, but I can try.

[ In her mind, she has already begun thinking of how she might settle down and stop being so flighty and headstrong and take up a place as someone's companion, perhaps even their wife, if that's what he wants. ]

Sharlayan seems to be full of people coming and going, so if we stayed there, it wouldn't be dull at all. And the Tower wouldn't be either, because you'd be there.

[ She laughs a little shyly, but there's no hesitation in her words this time. ]