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

[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?

[takenblack]

[The question he chooses surprises her, but she can't help but grin brightly. That was something easy to answer, and rather charming to boot. It eases her greatly, or at least enough to not be in a sloppy panicky mess as she conjures him in her mind's eye.]

Ah, his most striking feature is his long, soft white hair. [She gestures as to fluff imaginary hair. Her hand is slightly trembling, but no matter.] Given that he sleeps in that helmet of his, it defies expectation that it has so much volume.

[heiresy]

[his posture relaxes and he smiles a catlike grin.]

... I had brushed it out while he rested. It is not ordinarily so well kept.

In spite of whatever bizarre spell I've fallen under to forget your face, full glad am I to see you, Yenh. I had prayed every night for you to come to our rescue.

[He nabs his helmet from the dirt, dusts it off, and puts it back on his head as the self consciousness seeps back into his being.]

[takenblack]

[She can't quite contain her relieved laughter. It's not entirely the same thing as being remembered, but he trusts her enough that it counts for quite a lot. And if he still holds doubts, she knows she can keep proving who she is, however he sees fit until all doubt is gone.]

[... except...]

I've bad news concerning a rescue: I can't so much as summon a spark.

[heiresy]

[He closes his eyes for a moment, touching his lips in contemplation.]

We mustn't give up hope. You may not be able to now, but the Mistress has ways of restoring aught that was taken. I have my suspicions that she is the thief, but I have no proof yet.

[He takes one of her hands into his and nods] We will find our way out of here. [He catches glimpse of his own ridiculous shorts, reminding himself of his task.]

Right, then. Let us find some proper trousers. Estinien's duties should be finished ere long and we can all have a drink.

[takenblack]

I've full confidence that we shall find a way in time. I do have ways of working these situations out, do I not? [Her expression begins as a kind smile, and then melts into pleased surprise.]

Estinien is here, also? I have not seen him since the infirmary! I'll be pleased to... [short shorts. short shorts. She furrows her brow.] See him...

[heiresy]

Aye! ...He is a guard also, if you can believe it. [He allows the implications to hang in the air for just a moment.]

I hadn't seen him since then either. While I hate for my friends to be caught in the same trouble as myself, I couldn't ask for a better pair to see me through this.

[There's something else troubling about Estinien for him in this moment, but he can't bring himself to mention it yet. He knew that Yenh at least had the same reference point as himself.]

[dravanicide]

[Speaking of the devil, it seems Estinien is fresh from his duties. Instead of being like a normal person, and finding Aymeric by foot, he's decided to drop in on the two chatting on the only way that befits a man of his station: dragoon jumping.

He seemingly comes from no where, and perfectly lands besides them both, arms out at the side for balance, before he quickly stands at his full height. It's a touch dramatic, but it certain beats the slowness of walking through town and trying to find that blue sword.]

Aymeric.

[He's certainly wearing the same outfit as Aymeric, the short shorts, but his helmet is different, if familiar: it's the drachen helm. His gaze falls to Yenh a moment later, before returning to the Lord Commander.]

Am I interrupting something?

[It's curious that there's a miqo'te here now, but mayhap this world has their own version of feline-like people. It has about anything else, even their own off brand Elezen. Nothing surprises him anymore.]

[takenblack]

[Having taken an instinctive step back when the elezen dropped from the heavens, she holds her ground where she stands now. Her hands clamp to her mouth, not knowing if she can trust it to not hold her laughter away on its own.]

[She looks at Aymeric, desperate for him to explain. Or at least draw attention away from her for long enough to give her a fighting chance to compose herself.]

[heiresy]

[Aymeric turns his head away, biting his lip to break his laugh- acting as if perhaps a bit of dirt was kicked up. He turns back to Estinien, looking him in the face, making a gesture he hope Estinien mirrors. He pulls the hems of his own leather shorts down in a few swift tugs. It was bad enough that without moving around too much that the shorts left very little mystery.]

Estinien! So good of you to join us. You aren't interrupting, I was hoping that you would join us soon. [he collects himself further. He had a few doubts in him mind. He had to ask.]

I have... what may seem like a strange question for you, but bear with me. The Warrior of Light- Can you tell me her name?

[dravanicide]

[Estinien outright ignores the gesture, and leaves his shorts as they are. He's too used to the exposure they give, and he's lost any and all modesty this place has been intent to rob him of. Not that he's ever been a modest man to begin with, but that's besides the point.

The question is far more interesting, it's much better than the contained laughter, or Aymeric's poor attempt to pretend he wasn't about the join the miqo'te in a chuckle, though he's hard pressed to see what could be so funny.

There's a notable pause, before his frown turns into more of a scowl.]

Nay. Despite mine efforts, I cannot recall their name—let alone aught else about them.

[He lets out an annoyed snort.]

Why do you ask? Have you the answer to this select amnesia?

[takenblack]

[Yenh was close enough to putting herself back together regardless, but his answer is a splash of cold water once again. She counts Estinien as a stalwart ally, and knows that for all that they've been through together, he may not be so quick to accept who she is.]

[Not that Aymeric has wholly, she knows—but his temperament has always been more mild. The anxiety builds up again as she finds herself rehashing and reliving the same conversation again, but it feels less frightening now. So she ignores it.]

As I told Aymeric, it happened after the Calamity, as well. Hydaelyn's work... though why it should affect the both of you here, I've no answers to that.

[And to round it all out, she introduces herself. It feels so awkward, and she doesn't manage to be smooth about it, either.] I'm the Warrior of Light.

[heiresy]

She has answered a question that she would not know otherwise. [He, however, declines to voluntarily mention what his question was. In retrospect it was a little weird. At least with the man in question here.]

I'm sure that she will be eager to prove herself to you as well. The two of you had many and more adventures together. Plenty that even I have no knowledge of.

[He gestures to Yenh in a sort of "Go on, try! You wont be disappointed!" sort of way.]

[dravanicide]

[There's a telling silence from Estinien as he looks Yenh over, thinking of what he could ask that would tell him the legitimacy of her claim, while also not outing too much to Aymeric about their mutual quest for peace. It isn't like Aymeric knows the details of their adventure, after all!!]

Name to me the leader of the infuriating interlopers whom we were made to suffer their nonsensical demands in exchange for a horn.

[It's specific and vague enough that no one but those involved would have any idea what he's referencing. Folding his arms across his chest, he waits for the answer, but he's scarcely holding his breath.]

[takenblack]

[Not as easy of a test, but still one she is up for answering. After all, she has spent even more time than Estinien has with the moogles of the Churning Mists.]

Ah, only the leader? Chieftain Moglin, then. Though we cannot forget those who administered the trials—Moghan, Mogmug, and Mogwin.

[She waggles a finger.] Ask another if it pleases you!

[heiresy]

[Aymeric looks at Estinien with a playful grin. He wasn't the sort for riddles, but it suited this matter. He can't help but chuckle as he remembers the recounting of the story. He doesn't exactly remember it in Yenh's voice- which is a very strange thing to parse, but his mind is reading the tale to him in her voice now. Hopefully he would fill in all of the gaps before long. He keeps quiet, though. One bit of mind-blowing information at a time, he thinks.]

[And more hopefully he would find it within himself to bring up the matter of their disjointed time frames. It would be easier with Yenh's help, he thinks.]

Well, Estinien?