OPEN

[takenblack]

Who: Yenh and anyone else!
What: An adventurer has arrived, with a lot of questions and a lot of free time.
When: Late May
Where: Everywhere, basically.
Warnings: None yet, will update as/if needed!

[Freshly dumped into the village with nothing else but the clothes on her back and a fancy magical book, Yenh decides that all she can do is gather information. After all, the Mistress' books were... enlightening... but not especially helpful for getting the full sense of the situation.]

[It's also a welcome distraction from the feeling of being stripped of power and purpose, which, well, she doesn't want to get into at all.]

[Stuffing the book and white feather quill down the front of her tunic, she begins exploring the land in earnest. Going into the wilderness before she is properly acclimated seems like a terrible idea, so it's time to talk to the locals—and she does get her questions answered, as well as several invitations into their homes, or at least to behind their woodsheds or whatever. She passes them up, but kindly. Much too busy right now.]

[It is in this spirit of anticipating both answers and sexual advances that this short cat-lady with a book crammed into her shirt might approach a certain someone—namely, maybe, you. Her lionish tail twitches idly as she approaches and stands at a very appropriate distance, though maybe a little closer if she has to tap you on the arm to get your attention.]

Hail, stranger! I'm new to these lands. May I ask your opinion on this realm?

Comments

[heiresy]

[Aymeric is just standing about after a long morning shift of guarding. He's out to buy some clothes from an outdoor market vendor— his Lord Commander's uniform is entirely too showy for day-to-day here. And moreover, it's far much more of a pain to change in and out of his Commander's attire than his skimpy guard uniform.

He turns around when he is spoken to- His face still hidden beneath the guard issued mask. This small miqo'te woman seems awfully familiar...? He hadn't seen her around here yet, though. That was for certain. He gives her a polite toe-tap-bow, as is customary for any polite Elezen man.]

Hail. My sincere condolences in the matter of your arrival here. Forgive me if I speak too plainly, yet I find this realm detestable. Her leaders are cruel, her people are strange, and her lands are unforgiving and unpredictable. I must admit that my feelings differ considerably from the natives. The eccentricities of this land take some getting used to.

[takenblack]

[As he speaks, her mouth drops open. By trick of this land, or perhaps just by sheer chance, this guard sounds like Aymeric. But it couldn't be him. Not only can she not imagine the Lord Commander wearing-... she keeps her eyes trained firmly upward—but he didn't recognize her.]

[Because she is (rather obviously) distracted, she misses the full content of his words. She at least discerns that she wasn't being asked a question in return.]

Er- yes, I'm certain they do.

[heiresy]

Forgive me, 'tis most unlike me to whinge so unabashedly... [He gives a jovial quirk to his lips] I prefer my company to have as much ale in them as myself.

[he gives a little sigh] I have not seen you around the castle, nor have I heard of any new assignments. I suppose you have deigned to make it on your own in the village. What is your name, my lady?

[He notices that she's trying not to stare him in the dick and appreciates it. His days are filled with immodesty and sexual harassment.]

[takenblack]

[Shaking her head, she forces herself to smile instead of gawk. Stranger things have happened than encountering a perfect soundalike (and lip-wise, lookalike?) doppelganger of a dear ally in a strange land.]

[Not too many stranger things than this. But at least one or two.]

You've no need for apologies. I was only slightly taken aback by the force of your judgement, but I welcome your opinion all the same. [If only she was actually listening to it.]

My name is Yenh Quryoja. Ser knight, I'm not keeping you from your duties, am I?

[heiresy]

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Quryoja. [For all his unfamiliarity with Miqo'te names, that slid easily off his tongue. The name sounded familiar. He still couldn't place any of it properly... Perhaps someone he had spoken to momentarily on a trip to Gridania? There were plenty of Keepers in the Shroud. It would click sooner or later.]

Nay, I have been relieved of my duties for the day. I am now looking to shop for some off-duty clothes.

[He looks down at himself and makes a sweeping gesture towards the offending outfit.] This is hardly comfortable clothing for a night at the tavern.

[And though he's off-duty, he prefers to keep his helm. He finds his skimpy clothing more bearable with anonymity. He would ordinarily introduce himself otherwise. Odd, though. That she called him Ser Knight- He can't help himself.]

Say, how did you know that I was a knight? [He glances at his sword. It is perhaps too beautiful for a mere guard, yet how would a Miqo'te know? She didn't look like a chocobo trader.]

[takenblack]

[What? Whoops.] You've a knightly way about you. You remind me of a dear friend from home...

[She had been so intent on looking upward that she'd only registered "sword" in the generic way. Since her gaze was invited downward, she follows his gesture. Wait. She knows that sword.]

[Yenh shakes her head and takes a step back before forcing herself to stand her ground. Cowering away from a terrible truth was no way to live, much less for a Warrior of Light. Doesn't stop her from hearing her heartbeat in her ears, though.]

L-Lord Aymeric?

[heiresy]

[Oh No. Well... He wasn't a cowardly fellow. If she knew his name- knew his sword- she would find out eventually. ]

You... Mustn't tell anyone. Pray do me a kindness and do not refer to me by name while I'm in this damned guard uniform. Ordinarily I don't leave the castle grounds in this wretched thing.

[He looks her over more closely as he overcomes his embarrassment. He watches her shake her head and step back.]

Are you alright? I won't hurt you simply because you know. [he reaches out to touch her shoulder in a friendly, reassuring way.]

[takenblack]

[She tries to swallow the ashy feeling in her mouth, and fails. It's just like after the Calamity, but why? What did she do wrong? Yenh looks at his hand, contemplating removing it, but isn't sure either way.]

I know you won't. [She says it with steadfast and sure conviction.]

That's not- what's wrong. [May as well cut straight to the chase.] You don't recognize me.

[heiresy]

I apologize. I know that you're familiar somehow- in voice, in stature. I can't place it. I mean not to disrespect you.

[This means more to him than some petty sort of dignity. His dignity was worth more than being taken down by a silly guard uniform. He pulls his helmet off his head to look into her eyes without obstruction.]

Truly. [he bows. his hair, flattened by the helmet falls limply with his movement. It's a bit damp from sweat, loosening the waves in his hair. His face is that of genuine concern.]

[takenblack]

[Not that she had any doubt left, but it truly is him. She attempts to soothe herself thinking about how he may be an Aymeric from a reflected world rather than the Source, though Yenh finds that doesn't help much. Not to mention that she was sure that whole multiple Hydaelyns thing didn't quite work 1:1.]

[Yenh places her hands on her chest, over her sternum.]

It's me- [Knowing he may well rightfully accuse her of being an impostor, she pushes her luck as hard as she can.] -the Warrior of Light.

[heiresy]

The Warrior of Light! I would think that I would recognize...

[He's bent down, staring her in the face. His words slow more and more until he stops mid sentence. His brows furrow as he tries to conjure the Warrior of Light's face. His mouth falls agape in bewilderment.]

he whispers: What's going on?

[he drops his helmet as he places both hands on her shoulders now, willing himself to remember.]

What magic could this be? Why can't I remember the Warrior of Light's face?

[takenblack]

[For some reason, confirmation of her fear feels better than if he remembered someone else entirely different from her. Her return stare is both urgent and imploring, as though her window to convince him were only mere seconds long.]

This has happened before. The Calamity. Please—ask me anything that only the Warrior of Light would know. I will prove I am who I say I am!

[heiresy]

[He feels the urgency of the request, as if he must help her vanquish some terrible spell. His mind flips through possible questions, some much stupider than others as he searches for obscurity. Though, as a public figure he finds some difficulty. And as for things the Warrior of Light told him, would it do to repeat them back? What if those were well-known bard tales by now?

Who is my father? No, everyone knows that now. What is the name of my cat? Did they even meet? How do I take my tea? Most women who courted him knew that much. Think, think. He gives a clever smile.]

What does Estinien look like under his helmet?

[ignisvulpes]

[The green-haired man in apprentice garb turns around and looks her up and down.

His sincere answer would be something along the lines of "It's ok but the Mistress is a lying bitch and for all the tits and dicks on display people are astonishingly unwilling to put out," buuut... this is a pretty good-looking lady, and he's pretty sure he'll just be perpetuating the problem if he tells her the whole truth...

Kaph shrugs noncommittally.]

It's pretty weird, I guess, but you get used to it. Gets kinda boring sometimes, to tell you the truth!

[takenblack]

[She tilts her head and frowns thoughtfully, putting her hands on her hips.]

Truly? [Glancing back at this man who can only be described as "pointy," she considers how much or how little to say. Especially when the first thought that comes to mind is How wicked and wild were the tumbles back home?. Then again, she's only seen a little bit of public sex while wandering around today. Maybe that's as strange as it gets. Maybe you get used to it.]

[So instead, she decides to let him do more talking.] Then, what bores you the most about it?

[ignisvulpes]

[It's probably a good thing she doesn't voice that thought. Kaph is the kind of man who would spin the wickedest and wildest of tales to make himself look good.]

Weeell... The Mistress took a few things away from me when she brought me here, see, and I miss them. That's the biggest problem, really.

[takenblack]

[ Before she can stop herself, her eyes drop to his crotch. Lifting them back up as hastily as she can, Yenh laughs awkwardly. There is no way he meant that, Yenh. Get it together. ]

I see! I see. Whether by her design or by coincidence, I find myself unable to tap into my aether for spellcasting.

Do you mean something like that?

[ignisvulpes]

[Oh, he catches that. And what's more...]

Pretty much, actually! All my powers are gone. It's why I took the apprentice gig, you know... I really feel like I need to get some magic back in my system. You feel me?

[The last chick he tried to talk to about magic just looked at him like he was crazy. This is gonna go great.]

[takenblack]

[ She is happy for him that he still has his manhood. ]

[ Given the way he delivered his slang, she assumes he isn't propositioning her. Yet. The conversation is still fresh, and she loathes to admit that she cannot stop thinking in the gutter. But that's likely to be expected in a place like this, right? Maybe? She's a bit embarassed with herself, truth be told. ]

I believe I understand. [ Her fingers twitch, each in turn, as she thinks about the familiar feeling of the land's power coursing through her. Now, though, it is just a dumb movement with some dumb internal flailing as she reaches for magic and finds emptiness. ]

Tempting as it was to follow that familiar path, I've no idea if the Mistress is a worthy woman to swear fealty to. Do you find yourself content to service- to be of service to her?

[ignisvulpes]

[You know what? He feels firmly in his comfort zone by now. In fact, he's pretty sure if he just handles things the way he usually does, everything will be fine and dandy. Finally, the pure, unfiltered Kaphlar Experience.

... Okay, maybe, like... 10% filtered. He can't get anywhere by being completely sincere.]

You wanna know my honest opinion? She's a goddamn slave driver, is what she is. [He sighs, a little theatrically - but his frustration IS real.] I haven't learned a thing yet! The only thing she's had me do all month is write dirty letters for all her fuckbuddies.

[takenblack]

[She leans back in surprise, wobbling slightly as she fixes him with a wide-eyed stare at his sudden outburst. And then, she laughs. Not at him. It's a surprisingly warm laugh given the situation—one of familiarity, as she's struck with nostalgia.]

Is that not simply the way of the apprentice? I remember my guildmasters having me do similar tasks. Once, they sent me out on their behalf to weep and beg the forgiveness of merchants—for drinking the merchants' wares without payment, of course.

[ignisvulpes]

[... Should he dial that back down?-- Wait, is she laughing?

The tension in his hands - curled fingers readying themselves to summon a flame they can't actually reach anymore - vanishes when he realises she isn't laughing at him.]

What, and you just took it? No complaints?

[takenblack]

[She shakes her head, the smile still on her face.]

None! I've found that doing what I'm told often yields some manner of fruit. And in that case, I learned that sometimes 'tis better to swallow my pride, and to avoid aggression.

And, a lesson my masters had not meant to teach me, but I learned all the same: not to be a complete idiot about other people's property.

[ignisvulpes]

[He is... not exactly impressed. He doesn't get it, really; how can you get anywhere just doing what people tell you? Especially when it's frivolous nonsense?

Kaph slaps his best "casually curious" look on his face.]

Say, what would have happened if you just told your masters off?

[takenblack]

[ She blinks, her eyebrows knitting as she considers his question. ]

Why would I have done that? It would have accomplished little but to make hostile those who could and did teach.