synthneon

[ A part of her even wishes that he would refer to her by her ancient name. However, she feels as if that knowledge has been lost to time. Or, rather, that time has made it so very much that she is not that person any longer. In her mind? She is far from the woman he fell in love with all those lives ago.

Perhaps he should not call her by her ancient name.

A smile tugs at her lips with his approval of her using his name. Not doubt it sounds different with her new voice.he approves of the sound and calling. That is what truly matters to her.

Then, he says her previous name.

Her eyes snap up. Hear pounds. Ears stand on end. How she wishes she were still "Lantaa." A stronger woman. Broken, but not resigned. Someone who was not cursed with illness despite being a healer. Someone who could walk with her head held high and confident in her abilities. Learn from the stars...

Perhaps by being called the name again she can pretend to be her former life. A life she should have had with him.

She slides from the bed in order to sit beside it. Then, she rests her head next to his arm. A hand rests raises to lay across his own. Her larger tail sways. ]

I missed hearing you call me.

... Nothing? Not even- [ Jill's expression shifts to one of pure confusion. ] I have never seen you before, and you do not know me; why would you even offer to help? Why would any of you offer to help us?

[ She looks over at Ardbert and Mya before looking back at Phya. She didn't question their assistance before, but now that Phya is actually here and the subject of payment has come up, she can't help but ask.

But then Phya asks a question of her own, and at first, Jill hesitates. Rather than answer right away, she says instead: ] I'm hardly a lady, at least not any sort of lady that you would be accustomed to.

[ But Clive is far more important than any of her own insecurities or worries, so she continues: ]

I had- I was attempting an escape, and yes, I am aware that means I am a fugitive. [ She looks as though she expects them to apprehend her right then and there. ] By chance, Clive found me, and he was resolved to help me escape. We were on our way when dragons attacked us, and what I can only assume was a stray lance was heading my direction.

[ She shakes her head. ] He should have let the blow land instead of taking it for himself.

[ Her hands curl into fists as the gravity of it all weighs down on her again. ]

[ Truthfully, he would call her by whatever name she gave him, as long as it meant having her still with him. There is a part of him that expects she will take her leave as soon as he is able to stand and walk on his own. She has no obligation to stay, and he is not about to force her to if she wishes to leave.

It makes him smile in return to see the smile tugging at her lips; and then he sees the way her eyes and ears both seem to snap to attention, and his eyes meet hers immediately. As far as he is concerned, she is Lantaa, and Phya, and her ancient self, and he loves each one of them as parts of what makes her who she is.

She may be different now, but he can still see her as the woman he fell in love with and continues to love even now. That is one thing that he does not see changing.

His eyes follow her as she slides from the bed, moving to sit beside it, and he smiles once more when she rests her head next to his arm. He would move to place his hand on top of her head, but moving would also mean disturbing her, and so he decides against it. ]

Then I shall have to do it more, won't I? [ The smile he gives her is his widest one yet, and it is filled with all the love that he can manage to summon. ]

[ Phya's gaze raises back to the woman named Jill. The hallmarks of a Lady are quite obvious to her, but she seems to be in utter denial of such facts. The idea is not too surprising. After all, so much of Corethas and Ishgard remain hopeless after the long grueling war with the Horde. It was only made worse by the Calamity a hundred years ago that flash froze their entire way of life.

The small Miqo'te reaches over and gently places her hand above Jill's. It is quite the stretch over the man apparently named Clive between them. A smile is offered to the woman who is older than her, yet, Phya's smile seems older. ]

I am a healer. [ She repeats the fact as a stance of neutrality. ] You truly owe me nothing. This is what I was born to do.

[ She stands then as Jill relays the events. A glance is sent to her sister and Ardbert. The dragoon clad man nods. The lance had been stray and went sailing towards the two--no three additional members in the room. Phya looks to Torgal then, the great direwolf who sits beside Jill. He stares intently at her and a low gruff huff escapes him.

She has been given the approval for the moment to continue. ]

My sister is skilled in the basics of healing. I will see what I can continue to do from there. [ Phya smiles at her twin sister before her ears twitch. ] Hopefully this will remain painless as he is already unconscious, but depending on how dire the wound is, he may react. I may need you to hold him down in such a case.

[ Her hands raise to hover over the sealed wound. Eyes close. Phya feels the aether shift. It is a normal flow, unlike the last man she healed, yet there seems to be an odd under current of aether as well. Warmth. Her eyebrows knit slightly. It reminds her of how the Lord Commander's aether is so dramatically shifted in one direction.

Her fingertips gently graze over the wound to begin healing. Not injecting her own aether, but guiding his to bind so she might seal it in a way to heal the worst of the damage. The wound is not as dire as the Lord Commanders in some ways. The lance did not pierce down into his heart, but it had broken bones and pieced muscle. Tendons. Her ears twitch once more. ]

This may take some time. It is not just muscular or damage to his bones but both. [ Her head tilts towards her sister and Ardbert. ] We will need to remove the armor once the wound has been sealed and perhaps even cover it depending on how his body will heal. His aether is receptive--

[ Then, Phya is cut off.

Her hands pull back the moment aether gathers around the man's back. Red and green aether shines once more and in an instant, a brilliant red wing made of aether forms. The guise it takes is of feathers and flames. Clive groans, the wing stretching out and then dispersing. The feathers gently fall down to Clive's back and disappear once more, and yet it seems as if more of his injury is healed then.

Phya looks from Clive to Jill, and then to her sister and their traveling companion. A grim look settles on Ardbert's face. He unfolds his arms and stares at the man ahead of them. Hands clench. Phya glances at Torgal who barks as if in approval, then her attention moves back to Jill. ]

That came from him...

[ She would much rather lay beside him. However, he needs the space for his wounds to heal in her mind. Curling around her could simply aggravate it all more. That is the last thing she wishes to have happen. He needs to heal properly.

Her fingers gently brush along the back of his hand. The touch is light enough that she could pull away in a moments notice if it was undesirable. ]

I-if you would chose to do so... and if you would truly wish for me to stay once your wounds are healed.

[ In Jill's mind, she ought to be considered as less than proper ladies such as Phya and her sister, simply because of her own actions... actions that most would consider reprehensible. At the very least, Jill considers what she has done to be completely unforgivable.

Truth be told, she would settle for exile and live out the rest of her days far away from anyone.

This is what I was born to do.

Somehow, that cuts at her more than she would care to admit. From what she has experienced and what she has been told, she has concluded that she was born to cause destruction and harm. Perhaps that is not the case and she is being unrealistic in her own thoughts, but she finds she can't stop herself from thinking along those lines.

Jill's gaze travels over to Torgal's as well, and she reaches out to give him a quick pat on the head. She remains silent as she listens to Phya, the worry she has for Clive clear on her face. She has no reason to doubt Phya's skills, and yet she still worries.

She continues to sit there beside Torgal, staying still as she watches and waits for some sign that Clive will be all right. A sign comes, but it is not the sign the anticipated. Aether appears to gather around Clive, and suddenly, Jill sits immediately to attention. A red wing materializes and stretches out before disappearing as suddenly as it appeared.

Jill barely understands what is happening, only that Clive reacted to something, whether Phya's healing efforts or something else. She scoots herself a little closer to him so that she can see his face better, briefly glancing over at Phya and nodding in acknowledgement. ]

Yes, that did come from Clive. I am hardly the one to ask about such things, but there is more to him than you would venture to guess.

[ And she imagines that it will not be long before Ardbert and the two sisters will begin to guess what secrets both she and Clive hold. ]

[ In Aymeric's mind, any discomfort or aggravation would be worth it to have her close to him once more. He would not push her away if she moved to lie beside him. A part of him wants to reach for her, to take her by the hand or arm and invite her to lie down with him.

Still, he smiles when she touches the back of his hand with her fingers lightly brushing against it. He has missed being touched, and specifically, being touched by her. ]

Why would I not? Who else would I rather have nearby but you? As long as you wish to remain, I am happy you are here.

[ Phya does not have much experience with dealing in high society in this life. However, she can tell the poise, grace, and posture of those of that part of their world are all present in Jill. She is--or was--someone of stature at one point. Such tendencies simply don't leave someone easily. However, Phya can also tell how the woman seemingly dislikes such things and thus will not continue to point it out.

She pauses at the red feathers that fall from the outburst of wing. She can't recall ever seeing such a thing. Even in the scattered memories that her soul seemingly holds onto. A glance is sent to her sister and Ardbert. Their fellow traveler frowns and his hands are clenched. Something of the ordeal does not sit right with him. A tilt of her head before she gently raises her hands once more. ]

I'm not entirely sure there is much that I ought to do. If only because whatever it is that causes the red wing is healing him on it's own. I could attempt to guide the flow of aether to where it is needed that way the healing process is sped up and done properly. As opposed to simply patching the wound. [ She pauses, and raises her eyes to Jill. ] If you would give me the permission to do such acts. It would seem you are the one that knows him best out of all of us here.

Perhaps you may not be so elated to be with me the more you know of me in this life.

[ Weak. Unable to have the feats she surely once had. Small. Broken on the inside--deep to her soul.

How can he look at her and not see how she is not the same woman he had fallen in love with those many lives ago. At least, she feels as if she is someone entirely different. Someone who had been determined and headstrong, yet now is afraid the very soul she tied herself to may throw her to the street and from his life seemingly eternal. ]

However, for now, you need to rest. Once you awaken again I will tend to the bandages and reassess the wound. I will feed you and... we can go from there.

[ If Jill was any of those things, now she is resolved that the girl who once had a relatively happy life as the daughter of a chieftain might as well be dead. Poise, grace, posture... none of those things seem to matter now, although they may still cling to Jill like shadows of her old life. Not that she remembers very much of it, but it was happy, and she had a family.

Now... She isn't certain what she has. Clive is here, and that means the world to her, and that is why she is determined to have Phya do whatever she needs to, to save him. ]

Please. Clive ought to be the one giving you the permission, but as he cannot right now... Please, do whatever you need to. Save him, and I'll find a way to pay you, even if you insist that payment is not needed. If guiding his aether is what will save him, please...

[ Jill wonders when she became so emotional; can it be because of Clive and her concern for him? Or could it be a result of everything she has done up until now? She thought herself hard because she had to be, but there are times when she feels anything but hard. Perhaps she's the weak one here, and hasn't been able to see it.

But none of this matters; what matters is that Clive lives. ]

Please, do whatever you can, and I- I will owe you a great debt.

Why would I not be? I- [ He pauses to give himself a moment to collect his thoughts and to put his feelings into words. ] I wish to know all about you, everything you wish to share... and perhaps the things you need time before you can share them. One day.

[ He has no intention of pushing her or rushing her into anything. He loves her, and he wishes to stay with her, for as long as she wishes to stay with him. If one day she decides she does not wish that any longer, he has already resolved that he must let her go. He does not want to let her go for any reason, but if it is better for her... wouldn't it be selfish of him to insist? He believes that to be the case.

And perhaps they might find they are similar at heart, more similar than either of them could have guessed. After all, he is hardly whole anymore, not as she once knew him. ]

You should rest too... Lantaa. [ The name still seems to fit her, even though her appearance has changed. Perhaps it is his own memories that insist on matching the name to the individual who has somehow returned to him, even though he had thought such a thing impossible. ] If this bed is unsatisfactory, the staff can prepare one for you.

[ He is certain the rooms are in need of cleaning, but he still retains confidence in what remains of the household staff to prepare a room for her. ]

[ Her eyebrows draw together as her brilliant blue eyes raise to his steel coated ones. Her heart pounds. She loves him so very, very much. The statement feels redundant to make somehow. Obviously she does, as it had been suggested they bind their souls together for every incarnation they might ever have.

Yet, something about this life feels unique. Almost as if he is the closest to the man he once was when she fell in love with him. If only she were close to the woman she surely had been.

A shake of her head. No, she would not wish any other bed. ]

Is it... truly alright I share your bed?

[ Phya could curl into his uninjured side. However, allowing him the bed so he might move is the best idea. ]

[ He can't help but feel some force that's drawing him in, making him feel as though he's being pulled towards her. It's love, or fate, or both, and he has no intention of resisting that pull. He has waited for her, longed to find her again, longed to apologize. And more than that, he's longed to have a life with her again, as they have over the many times they have been reborn in other forms and other lives. ]

Of course it is. I would have it cleaned and the linens changed, of course, but for now-

[ His gaze travels to the covers on the bed. They are at least a little cleaner than the rest of it, but he wonders if she minds that. It would hardly be comfortable. Perhaps he could even move with assistance to another location while the bed linens are replaced. ]

If I asked to have the staff replace the linens, I could move to the couch, at least temporarily. It should not take long.

[ Better than her having to contend with an uncared for bed. ]

It will always be all right for you to share the bed. Our bed.

[ Blue eyes drift to the sheets. The linens can be changed when he bathes, but the wounds need to seal before he can bathe properly. A sponge bath could be in order depending on the state of his wounds once he wakes. Then, in her mind, she can approach the idea of sharing his bed.

"Our bed."

Her hand curls around his immediately. How she has longed to simply be held by him again. So many nights spent dreaming and clinging to her stuffed companion. She had never been able to properly explain it to her sister. How could she? Her twin had the person she cared for with them...until he left to travel.

Phya closes her eyes. ]

Rest first, Aymeric. Then, we will see to the sheets and ... the rest.

[ He moves his hand just enough that he can curl his fingers around hers in return. Even though he feels the need for sleep asserting itself again, he doesn't wish to close his eyes and drift off. What if he awakens only to find her gone? What if this was only a dream? ]

What if you are not here when I awaken again?

[ He knows that if it turns out that she was never here at all, the realization will take his remaining hopes away, and his interest in living as well. ]

I- [ He looks down briefly; this is not something he should place on her, and so he chooses to change the subject. ] Never mind. If you wish, you can make yourself familiar with the rest of the manor. No one will stop you from looking around.

If I am not in the room? Then I am speaking with the staff of the manor. I won't leave unless you dismiss me. [ She pauses. ] I doubt Ser Estinien would allow me to even if I wanted to leave.

[ She does not believe Estinien is outside the door watching guard. However, she is quite convinced the dragoon would find her and return her to the manor to finish healing the Lord Commander at the absolute minimum. She is convinced Estinien had wanted the two to reunite. Even if the motive was selfish to get the Lord Commander back involved in the war. ]

What would you wish me to do?

[ Phya simply nods once.

Her gaze shifts from Jill to Clive. It reminds her of how she had reunited with the Lord Commander of Ishgard... and how she had met him in a life before. Something of the two before her strikes a resemblance. Not in appearances, but, something far deeper. She feels as if there is a connection that mimics her own to the Lord Commander. Then again, perhaps she is simply projecting.

Her hands raise and rest gently above Clive's back. Eyes slip shut. Her fingers move up and down his back as if to guide the red feather like aether that clings to him. She can feel warmth, but not of his person. Warmth of fire. His aether is charged with fire almost as the Lord Commander's is charged with darkness and thus making it chaotic. However, that does not mean temperment. No, this is more simply as if the aether is naturally aligned more in one direction than it is neutral.

Her head tilts slightly. Eyebrows knit together.

She returns to work.

Ardbert looks to Jill. ] That wing that came from him does not resemble any normal avian wing.

[ Of course he knows that what she says is correct, but he finds that he cannot stop himself from fearing that when he awakes, she will be gone as if she was never there.

Instead of giving voice to his fears, he merely nods. ]

And I will never dismiss you unless you ask me to release you. If you wished to leave, I would have words with Estinien to settle the matter.

You are not forced to be here, nor are you trapped. You may leave at any time.

[ She asks a question in response to his rather scattered words, and he focuses back on her. ]

I wish for you to make yourself comfortable, for as long as you wish to stay, even if that is no more than a few hours more.

( continued from here)

[ She simply squeezes his hand once more. Her fingers trail along his, the back of his hand, and his wrist. Small motions with feather light touch to ease him into sleep. It's far from the suggestion abilities she had in her previous life, but she hopes the gentle motions will simply lure him to sleep. When he finally rests? She closes her eyes to find a few hours herself.

Then, she is awake and back to her tasks.

Phya first speaks with the household staff and informs them of the progress of Aymeric's wounds. She assures that he has eaten in his unique way, to which both the maid and the steward seem relieved to hear. She requests another cup and explains that she will have potions to place on his wounds if further needed. Once he has awaken, eaten, and moved to the bath? He will need the linens changed on the bed. Then, hopefully, with a day or the one after.

She brings the empty cup back to bedroom and begins to gently tidy up. She checks the stock on her bandages. A mental note is made to restock as well. The potions are in good condition. His body has responded well to the blood and rest so the potions have not been as necessary.

A knife is pulled out and once again and she presses it into her skin. Blood rolls down into the cup below. Once enough has been collected? She heals her wound and wipes her arm off. Then, she places the cup on the bedside table. A hand reaches out and she gently squeezes Aymeric's arm once more to wake him. ]

Aymeric.

( cont here )

[ Jill finds herself pausing for a moment as Phya continues her work and Ardbert seemingly continues to examine her. Perhaps it is only in her imagination, but she feels his eyes on her and she can all but hear his musings and wonderings as if spoken aloud. She is certain that they are all curious about her and Clive, and she can hardly blame them for it.

To them, they must resemble quite the puzzle... and a mystery. ]

You would be correct in your statement, ser. [ Jill pauses and takes a breath, eyes traveling back over to look at Clive before returning to focus on Ardbert. ]

Are you familiar with the term "dominant"?

[ When she begins to touch his hand and his wrist, he lets out a low sigh and he settles slightly into the bed. His eyes remain open and looking at her, as if a part of him is still attempting to resist her efforts to ease him into sleep. He does not wish to sleep, as he fears that he will awaken to find that none of this was real. He does not wish to awaken only to learn that she was never here, that he dreamed all of this from a place of longing and loneliness.

To have to confront that realization is more than he thinks he can handle. So, to that end, he tries to fight off the exhaustion that is trying to pull him down. But in the end, the exhaustion is greater than his ability to resist it, and slowly and reluctantly, his eyelids finally close and he relaxes fully against the bed.

Still, his sleep is light, lighter than one might suppose. He is resting, but some part of his mind is aware of things going on around him. Footsteps register in his mind even as he sleeps, but even he can't quite always follow who they belong to.

It isn't until she squeezes his arm and says his name that he begins to stir again. A handful of moments pass before he finally shifts on the bed and his eyes open once more. ]

Lantaa. You're still here. [ You didn't leave.

He hopes that she can tell that his tone is a grateful one, grateful that she did not leave him as he feared she would. Perhaps he can begin to accept that she is real and not a figure conjured up in dreams. ]

[ A smile and she gently squeezes his arm. ]

Of course.

[ Phya understands why the concern exists. She had left him behind. Even if he sees it that he had failed her? The fact does not change that he was left alone for decades because she passed. She will need to prove that she is there every morning until that wound heals in his heart.

In her mind? He is the stronger of them. The wound on his heart does not go deep into the soul as hers do. He is able to keep himself hopeful and believing they will have lives together. ]

You need to eat, Aymeric. Then, we can see to a bath and changing the linens.

[ If he could hear her thoughts, he would say that he is hardly the stronger one here. Perhaps he merely buried his true feelings and pushed them aside, doing his best to pretend that they did not exist. That is hardly dealing with his upset or addressing it properly; simply pretending something is not an issue does not make it less of one. It certainly does nothing to address his own emotions concerning the matter. In fact, it could be considered simply dodging something uncomfortable and refusing to deal with it.

Perhaps in that way, Phya is more in tune with herself and her feelings than Aymeric is. ]

Have you eaten yet? Your needs should be seen to as well, if not seen to first.

[ He is confident that he can go awhile without eating; Phya, on the other hand, deserves to have her needs met first and completely, as it appears she has gone without for too long. ]

[ While more intune, she is dominated by the compounding emotions of lifetimes. There is certainly joy and love underneath the pain and soul crushing sorrow. While it seems as if one beats out the other? It is far more that they go hand in hand. As much as she loves him? She is haunted by the continually loss--sometimes never achieved lives.

What will it take for this wound in my heart to heal? ]

I thought to eat once you had bathed and the linens changed. You will have a comfortable place to rest and I could eat beside you. It wouls give us time to talk. [ A strained smile touches her face. ] It would be rude to eat in front of a vampire when he has yet to feast himself.

[ A hand raises to gesture to the cup on the table beside him. ] I have already prepared it. Do you need help to sit?

tba

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