(no subject)
Sep. 8th, 2017 01:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wouldratherbecraftingPepebehi found her just outside the Toll at the old camp, sitting silently on the crystal structure that shot like a spear up from the ground. She was watching the sky, and he looked up himself only to sigh when it was the familiar pink gloom that often clouded the heavens here. Maybe she saw something he didn't. Or maybe she just wanted to.
Or maybe she just needed some peace and quiet. He chuckled a little to himself at the thought. If that were the case, Pepebehi couldn't blame her. He wasn't exactly sure when she'd slipped away, but he'd bet several gazelleskin maps it was around the time Eon and Six started a drunken argument over who was sexier and began stripping to their skivvies.
For his part, Pepebehi had quite liked the show, but he could understand why Xie might prefer a different atmosphere.
"It's a lovely night," she said, glancing down at the Red Mage where he stood about halfway up the rocky outcrop. "A pity the stars can't share it with us."
"You shine more than enough to satisfy the heavens," he replied glibly, closing the distance between them with a light step. Xie only looked back toward the sky, ignoring the compliment, but it was a reaction Pepebehi expected. Only Altan was as unreceptive to his advances, and the Red Mage reckoned he'd still have better chances with the Au Ra. But it was his nature, and Xie had made it clear the words didn't bother her.
They just won't get me anywhere.
The White Mage patted the ground beside her and Pepebehi settled in on the cold grass, the wind rustling the tattered fragments of tent behind him as a comfortable silence settled between the two Lalafell. The old camp had been decimated in the Calamity, its Aetheryte exploding with the force of a bomb. Even now, he could feel the heightened levels of aether flowing through the rock. It tingled along his limbs, rejuvenating and terrifying all at once.
"You needn't have come looking for me," Xie said, interrupting his thoughts. "I know how much you love your reverie. Lotus may have even joined in by now."
Ah, so she did see them, he thought. "I doubt they'll be done anytime soon," he offered jovially, "and the night air does wonders after a round of ale. Besides, what sort of gentleman would I be to leave a maiden alone? Why, I should turn in my rapier first."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but Xie just shook her head and went back to examining the sky. "It used to be a lot less common, the gloom," she offered after another long silence. "You could see all the way across the lake."
"It must have been captivating."
She laughed a little. "Insomuch as Mor Dhona could ever be," she said, glancing at him. There was some mirth in her eyes, but sadness as well. "But still, it's nice to remember sometimes."
Pepebehi didn't answer immediately, understanding the full weight of that statement. For a long time, Xie couldn't remember. None of them could. He could only guess the bittersweetness that came with their return.
"Would you care to join me?" Xie stood, brushing herself off with a practiced ease as she looked back toward the Toll.
The Red Mage stood as well, doffing his cap with a flourish. "To the ends of the world," he said, then hurried ahead as she made her way back down the crystal without him. Their chocobo waited beneath, and he stepped handily in front of the other mage to offer her a hand in mounting hers. Gale swivelled his head toward Pepebehi, clicking his beat. The Lalafell paid him no mind. "Allow me, my lady."
Xie rolled her eyes good naturedly, nuzzling her cheek to Gale's before letting Pepebehi help her into the saddle. Gale danced a bit, feathers ruffled toward the Red Mage, and she leaned into his neck to soothe him. Returning to Mor Dhona always seemed to put the bird on edge, he'd noticed. He supposed that was to be expected, considering this was where he'd been separated from his owner five years ago, so sayeth the woman herself. Pepebehi gave the bird a gentle pat on the neck as well, then pulled himself up onto his own chocobo with ease, and together they set off for the Toll.
Only Xie didn't stop. Gale made his way past the Seventh Heaven at a healthy clip, the White Mage not even offering the bar a sidelong glance. Intrigued, Pepebehi followed, the only sound as they passed out of the Toll the rhythmic pounding of their mounts' talons against the soft earth. Xie led them along the well-worn paths, turning south before they could reach Saint Coinach's Find, and it dawned on him that they were approaching the lake just as the water shimmered into view beyond the rocky landscape.
Midgardsormr's corpse towered above them, entwined for eternity with the Agrias. Xie offered the Father of Dragons a brief glance, then turned her attention back toward the water, sliding off Gale's back as he came to a stop. Pepebehi followed suit to meet her at the waterline.
"Everything is connected to Silvertear Lake," she said, looking out over the still waters. "Do you believe that?"
"If all things contain aether, and this is its wellspring, as Midgardsormr claims, I've no reason to doubt it."
Xie nodded, clearly lost in thought. Her gaze didn't waver, and though Pepebehi could see only the vaguest outline of the distant shore and -- if his memory served -- the rough location of the Grand Companies' sparring grounds, he didn't doubt she saw something vastly different.
Cartenau Flats, he reasoned. How many had died there? How many of her dearest companions and friends? She had only ever offered the most minimal of details, and none of them had been so cruel as to ask for more, but it was hard not to wonder.
Xie moved closer to the water and he followed, momentarily concerned. But she simply removed the corsage from her hair and knelt at the water's edge, the petals slipping from her fingers. They danced upon the surface a moment, twirling in the unseen current, before sinking into the darkness below. Xie bowed her head, hands clasped before her, and after a moment Pepebehi joined her.
As was wont to happen between them, a comfortable silence settled over the two Lalafell before the Red Mage felt a small hand on his shoulder. "The others must have want of our company by now," Xie murmured, a soft smile on her lips and a lingering sadness in her eyes. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."
Pepebehi nodded, pushing himself to his feet. With a flourish, he clasped one of her hands between his, lifting it to his lips to gently kiss her knuckles. "I shall do as my lady requests," he proclaimed, a wide smile on his face. Perhaps he could not chase away her sadness, but he could offer comfort in companionship. "But we must at least leave them guessing as to what we've been up to!"
A moment for them alone.
Xie shook her head and giggled. "As if they would believe you capable," she teased, squeezing his hand. "Come. There's plenty of night left, and the company of friends sounds the perfect way to spend it."
"A wise and beautiful woman you are, Xie," he said, and once again helped her up into Gale's saddle. Her smile was genuine, and he grinned in return, then they were off to rejoin their friends for a night of merriment, leaving the dark lake alone and still behind them.
Or maybe she just needed some peace and quiet. He chuckled a little to himself at the thought. If that were the case, Pepebehi couldn't blame her. He wasn't exactly sure when she'd slipped away, but he'd bet several gazelleskin maps it was around the time Eon and Six started a drunken argument over who was sexier and began stripping to their skivvies.
For his part, Pepebehi had quite liked the show, but he could understand why Xie might prefer a different atmosphere.
"It's a lovely night," she said, glancing down at the Red Mage where he stood about halfway up the rocky outcrop. "A pity the stars can't share it with us."
"You shine more than enough to satisfy the heavens," he replied glibly, closing the distance between them with a light step. Xie only looked back toward the sky, ignoring the compliment, but it was a reaction Pepebehi expected. Only Altan was as unreceptive to his advances, and the Red Mage reckoned he'd still have better chances with the Au Ra. But it was his nature, and Xie had made it clear the words didn't bother her.
They just won't get me anywhere.
The White Mage patted the ground beside her and Pepebehi settled in on the cold grass, the wind rustling the tattered fragments of tent behind him as a comfortable silence settled between the two Lalafell. The old camp had been decimated in the Calamity, its Aetheryte exploding with the force of a bomb. Even now, he could feel the heightened levels of aether flowing through the rock. It tingled along his limbs, rejuvenating and terrifying all at once.
"You needn't have come looking for me," Xie said, interrupting his thoughts. "I know how much you love your reverie. Lotus may have even joined in by now."
Ah, so she did see them, he thought. "I doubt they'll be done anytime soon," he offered jovially, "and the night air does wonders after a round of ale. Besides, what sort of gentleman would I be to leave a maiden alone? Why, I should turn in my rapier first."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but Xie just shook her head and went back to examining the sky. "It used to be a lot less common, the gloom," she offered after another long silence. "You could see all the way across the lake."
"It must have been captivating."
She laughed a little. "Insomuch as Mor Dhona could ever be," she said, glancing at him. There was some mirth in her eyes, but sadness as well. "But still, it's nice to remember sometimes."
Pepebehi didn't answer immediately, understanding the full weight of that statement. For a long time, Xie couldn't remember. None of them could. He could only guess the bittersweetness that came with their return.
"Would you care to join me?" Xie stood, brushing herself off with a practiced ease as she looked back toward the Toll.
The Red Mage stood as well, doffing his cap with a flourish. "To the ends of the world," he said, then hurried ahead as she made her way back down the crystal without him. Their chocobo waited beneath, and he stepped handily in front of the other mage to offer her a hand in mounting hers. Gale swivelled his head toward Pepebehi, clicking his beat. The Lalafell paid him no mind. "Allow me, my lady."
Xie rolled her eyes good naturedly, nuzzling her cheek to Gale's before letting Pepebehi help her into the saddle. Gale danced a bit, feathers ruffled toward the Red Mage, and she leaned into his neck to soothe him. Returning to Mor Dhona always seemed to put the bird on edge, he'd noticed. He supposed that was to be expected, considering this was where he'd been separated from his owner five years ago, so sayeth the woman herself. Pepebehi gave the bird a gentle pat on the neck as well, then pulled himself up onto his own chocobo with ease, and together they set off for the Toll.
Only Xie didn't stop. Gale made his way past the Seventh Heaven at a healthy clip, the White Mage not even offering the bar a sidelong glance. Intrigued, Pepebehi followed, the only sound as they passed out of the Toll the rhythmic pounding of their mounts' talons against the soft earth. Xie led them along the well-worn paths, turning south before they could reach Saint Coinach's Find, and it dawned on him that they were approaching the lake just as the water shimmered into view beyond the rocky landscape.
Midgardsormr's corpse towered above them, entwined for eternity with the Agrias. Xie offered the Father of Dragons a brief glance, then turned her attention back toward the water, sliding off Gale's back as he came to a stop. Pepebehi followed suit to meet her at the waterline.
"Everything is connected to Silvertear Lake," she said, looking out over the still waters. "Do you believe that?"
"If all things contain aether, and this is its wellspring, as Midgardsormr claims, I've no reason to doubt it."
Xie nodded, clearly lost in thought. Her gaze didn't waver, and though Pepebehi could see only the vaguest outline of the distant shore and -- if his memory served -- the rough location of the Grand Companies' sparring grounds, he didn't doubt she saw something vastly different.
Cartenau Flats, he reasoned. How many had died there? How many of her dearest companions and friends? She had only ever offered the most minimal of details, and none of them had been so cruel as to ask for more, but it was hard not to wonder.
Xie moved closer to the water and he followed, momentarily concerned. But she simply removed the corsage from her hair and knelt at the water's edge, the petals slipping from her fingers. They danced upon the surface a moment, twirling in the unseen current, before sinking into the darkness below. Xie bowed her head, hands clasped before her, and after a moment Pepebehi joined her.
As was wont to happen between them, a comfortable silence settled over the two Lalafell before the Red Mage felt a small hand on his shoulder. "The others must have want of our company by now," Xie murmured, a soft smile on her lips and a lingering sadness in her eyes. "We shouldn't keep them waiting."
Pepebehi nodded, pushing himself to his feet. With a flourish, he clasped one of her hands between his, lifting it to his lips to gently kiss her knuckles. "I shall do as my lady requests," he proclaimed, a wide smile on his face. Perhaps he could not chase away her sadness, but he could offer comfort in companionship. "But we must at least leave them guessing as to what we've been up to!"
A moment for them alone.
Xie shook her head and giggled. "As if they would believe you capable," she teased, squeezing his hand. "Come. There's plenty of night left, and the company of friends sounds the perfect way to spend it."
"A wise and beautiful woman you are, Xie," he said, and once again helped her up into Gale's saddle. Her smile was genuine, and he grinned in return, then they were off to rejoin their friends for a night of merriment, leaving the dark lake alone and still behind them.
