middaeg | (no subject)

Who: Thancred and you
When: Ageril (backdated), Septeril
Where: Around Aefenglom
What: Canon update, quests
Warnings: Possibly getting into some nightmares in threads?

1. Update/mirror hall

[He’s been to the hall of mirrors a few times, trying to work out something more about them. No good so far, but today he finds his feet carrying him there all the same. It worries him, but once he’s in front of his own mirror, the compulsion vanishes- the surface of the mirror seeming to ripple instead. He blinks, leaning in, one hand reaching out to touch the glass. While his expression darkens a few times, he keeps his eyes on the mirror, taking in as much of the images as he can. When it’s done, he stays there for a moment, waiting- offering a little trill, though that doesn’t seem to affect it at all.]

Ah. So that’s what’s been happening, then. That’s… [He closes his eyes for a moment. There are still pieces missing, he’s sure- he doesn’t remember anything about the First- but Minfilia… Urianger’s plan, and then the campaign for Ala Mhigo…. There’s a bittersweet smile on his face as he pulls away, looking a little more ruffled than before.]. Well. That’s an interesting way of getting news.

2. Music

[Really, it’s time he picked up an instrument proper, for himself. A traveller’s harp suits him well enough, at least for the moment- perhaps he’ll pick out something else later. It’s not for the bars, yet, not until he’s worked through some of the tunes he’s thinking of. He picks out a few chords, before settling into a more comfortable position. It’s only the start of something, and he seems a little uncertain of the style. He’ll look up if someone decides to stop nearby.]

Come to listen?

3. Augeril Quest - Forget-Me-Nots

[Flowers to honour the dead, hm? There are certainly a few he can think of to pick, back in Eorzea.- not the same, but the meaning is the same. It makes sense, but then he wonders-]

Is

4. An Apple a Day

[This task sounds straightforward enough- at least until Thancred spots the first of the moths, and grimaces.]

I assume we’ll need to look for preventative measures next year- this can’t be good for the harvest. Nor the trees…

[It’s probably better than leaving them there on the tree, though. He reaches out for one of the apples that are currently free of moths- but close enough that one of them flutters, disturbed. Thancred pulls back, wings fluttering anxiously, but that doesn’t keep the powder away.]

Hells-

[He freezes for a moment- shakes his head.] No- there are apples, that’s- right. Isn’t it?

5. Sneaky Squirrels

[He has… some experience? With… one, that decided it wanted to be friendly enough.

Having a whole pile of would-be thieves, though, is turning out to be something of another matter. Thancred’s ears flick in irritation, as he crossed his arms.]

At this point, I’m tempted to say we should relocate the lot of them and have done with it. Or perhaps bait them to a different area, at least. We do need to find something they’ll care for that much, though… Any thoughts?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Fordola had been nesting around the Hall of Mirrors, when she'd noticed her Bond moving. And she had kept her eyes on him...

...landing by him with a soft sound. She didn't speak at first - simply offered him somebody to lean on. But, eventually, she whispered. ]

...you doin' okay? Wanna go for a flight?

[He pauses for a moment, surprised- and hesitantly leans against her, one wing stretching out to wrap around her. …he remembers, now. That's… something he'll have to process.

He nods, sighing a little.]

I will be. It's given me quite a lot to think about- but I think that would help. Which way shall we go?

Just... away? Maybe across the beaches.

[ The oceans. She often did it to fish up food, but-- a flight without burden would be nice. ]

It's-- well, ya don't need t'tell me. It'll come up eventually.

[ But she couldn't help but asked. ] Did y'... see how I used to be?

That sounds like a good idea. They're still fairly pleasant right now.

[A little like home, or at least part of them. He pauses mid-stretch, looking at her- but as she says, it'll come up eventually. And… he imagines it would become obvious.]

I did.

[ She spread her own wings, before giving a heavy sigh. ]

...what do you think of me, then?

[ She's internally preparing to stop their Bond. ]

[…ah. That's what he was expecting- one of the things he'd hoped to mull over.

…perhaps it's better to talk about it now, though.]

…well. I suppose I understand what went on a little better, now. I can't say that I agree with what you've done, but I can understand it. [That desire- to be recognised, to have a place in the world.] And then- you have aided us, haven't you? And you've been working hard here.

[ She readied her wings, so they could take off. And still, she looked to him. ]

I've wanted to change. Not for the sake of others, though. I still don't give much of a damn over them.

[He's worried- trying not to be, or at least not to look it, as he looks back at her.]

For yourself, then? Well- there's no one you'll see in your life more often, after all.

[Can't do anything to help if you don't look out for yourself- as terrible as that might sound. (And as much as he doesn't necessarily follow that, himself…)]

[ Their Bond was strong. Her heart ached. ]

Wish I didn't.

But... anything good come out of seein' that stuff?

[He can't help but reach out to ruffle her hair gently at that. He wants to say things will improve, but then- how can he be sure of that?]

Hm. A few more moon's practice at survival, I suppose. A few more pieces to the puzzle of what has been going on- a path forward, perhaps. Though I fear there is more I am missing.

[Being struck by a sudden vision in the middle of a meeting- he'd not been prone to them before, and imagines something is certainly the matter there.]

[ She gently bumps into him, chirping a little. With a little smile now. ]

I-- well, I could fill ya in on what I know again, but our paths are different. I'm in prison, after all. Though now ya know why they'd treat me so badly.

But survival is good.

[That's better. He smiles back, one wing stretching out to tuck around her for a moment.]

I think- your perspective on events would still be interesting. I do- though it seems, too, you tried your best with the cards you had.

Mm. It's the starting point for moving forward, after all.

I'm th'sort of person who'll give it to ya with no bullshit. Though, er.

I regret a few things. Only a few.

[ She pauses, gliding silently for a bit. ]

...you... won't break our Bond, will you?

I wouldn't expect you to do anything else. [He nods, giving a small chirp.] Well- you take those, and learn from them, won't you?

[He does a little flip, looking at her.]

No. I thought- well, we'll still look out for each other, won't we?