[open] hydaelyn's house for wayward souls

[exarchal]

Who: Anyone!
When: All of November.
Where: The Haven, at the "classy" grade house maintained by some people from the FFXIV cast.
What: It's mingle time. Drop by for a visit, make your own toplevel, maybe ask who that weird old guy sleeping in the yard is. (It's probably crystal grandpa.)
Warnings: Mind FFXIV spoiler warnings in threads!

[ Located past the fanciest manor houses is something a little more modest. The most prominent thing one would notice about it is the front yard, which someone obviously spends some time in, though the cutting of certain bushes is a little close to amateur. More importantly, it looks a little messy but very inviting, and there's almost always the smell of something warm and delicious coming from inside the house. The lush and flowering garden in the back has a recently-scrubbed fountain and running water, as well as a near-permanent host of small birds. Is it magic? Probably. Most of the flowers are roses, though, which are a bit hardier than your usual flowers.

The interior is just as cozy, with a fire in the hearth that's almost always going, and plenty of books loaned or purchased from shops. Furnishings are occasionally sparse but the kitchen is fully-stocked, as is the family room where most people spend their time. The dining table exists and it's nothing fancy, but there's almost always a smorgasbord of fruit and other snacks left out for visitors.

New this month are tiny sigils drawn in faintly glowing paint along the windows and doors. Teleportation wards are in place, as well as soundproofing for each bedroom (ahem), so anyone teleporting directly inside the house will find themselves repelled.

There is a spare housekey under the mat, though, if someone gets locked out. ]

Comments

[unsundered]

[All of a sudden, the stinging, the dull ache- all of it was reduced. The awareness has his attention snap back to her, eyes narrowed, trying to ignore that it was still difficult to focus on her.

He wanted to protest, but since the Ascian was in no position to stop her- he bites it back, though the glare he gives her is rather resentful.

Even if the healing did make it a bit easier to concentrate, and when he speaks again it's not quite as uncomfortable.]

I believe your Exarch added a few... defenses, and I happened to run into them.

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose sees the resentment in his glare, and she enjoys it. After everything that Emet put them through, making him suffer feels justified. He still seems rather out of it, but he can handle this on his own, as far as Rose is concerned.]

So, you were trying to trespass, and we stopped you. And in the process you ruined the flowerbed. Is that it?

[She didn’t know of any enchantments on the house, but she wouldn’t put it past the Exarch to put something up to ward off the Ascian. It’s probably a good thing he did, considering that Emet has already tried to break in.]

[unsundered]

[Suffer through healing, somehow. And though irritation remained, his head was gradually clearing, enough that he could at least look around a bit.

And for the first time, Emet-Selch notices the damage he's sitting in the middle of. It gets a thoughtful hum, but no sign of dismay. If anything, he's pleased that he damaged the Exarch's grounds. Served him right for blocking him.]

It's never been a problem before. If my presence were so unwanted, he could have simply told me.

[And he would've ignored it, but.]

shadowbringers spoilers in comment!

[poisontippedcure]

[It’s hard to tell what makes Rose angrier: Emet’s flippant attitude towards the garden, or his flippant attitude towards the Exarch. Rose doesn’t love the Exarch’s penchant for secrecy, but he is still a good man. Emet, on the other hand...

...Can rot in hell, for all she cares.]

Yes, I wonder why didn’t forbid you from coming here explicitly. Perhaps he didn’t feel like he had to after you shot him?

[She’s not letting that one go.]

And if you were just coming for a visit, why not use the front door? Or is it that far beneath you?

[unsundered]

[It was both strange and somewhat curious how different all of the Warriors were. K'rihnn and Mira were relatively friendly towards him; Irhya was troublesome, but not necessarily unsympathetic.

But this one. Emet-Selch was getting the distinct impression that she just didn't like him very much. Which made things simpler, in a way. He affects an idle tone, expression bored and unconcerned. As though he'd meant to come crashing through a hedge, and everything had gone according to plan.]

...Oh, is that how I did it? Sensible of me.

[And that's genuine unconcern. Even if he had no current intention of shooting or otherwise hurting the Exarch, he felt no guilt for having done so. For- doing so in the future? Timelines were weird.]

And if I'm going to go through the front door anyway, what's wrong with starting on the other side of it?

[poisontippedcure]

[Emet’s impression of Rose isn’t incorrect. He’s hurt too many people she cared about for her to forgive him so easily, tragic backstory or no. And that’s not even touching on the fact he was willing to let her transform into a monster.]

[His swarmy attitude is somehow the worst part of it. He has a surprising amount of dignity for someone that’s covered in leaves.]

I’m sure this is all new to you, but it’s proper to ask before you come barging into someone’s home. Hence the door.

[She also wants the opportunity to slam the door in his face, but you know.]

[unsundered]

[He was willing to let her try not to transform into a monster- and if she failed. Well. It would be a waste of his time and effort, but with a usable result. The transformation was the price to pay for disappointing him.

Slowly Emet-Selch starts brushing some of those leaves off, picking stray thorns and twigs out of his hair. He was sure he'd be finding foliage in his coat for days. And when he replies, he doesn't even look at Rose, as though inspecting himself for plantage was more important (which it was).]

Is there a reason that should concern me?

[poisontippedcure]

[How dare she commit the sin of being mortal. There’s only so much one girl can handle, and as it turns out, an entire world’s worth of light is too much.]

[She’s not too concerned that Emet is looking away from her. If anything, she’s grateful. The less of the Ascian’s attention she has, the better, as far as she’s concerned.]

Only if you plan on being decent, which it’s clear you don’t. This is exactly why the Exarch put up the protective wards, you know..

[unsundered]

[It is a pretty terrible sin. Fortunately, it's easily fixed with the application of a few more Rejoinings.

Maybe being healed wasn't so bad after all. It still rankled, more than a bit, but if it meant he could walk off from this insult relatively unharmed, while the Exarch's garden was shredded? Then it was almost (but not quite) worth the indignity of the situation.]

He put them up to annoy me, nothing more or less. Despite my future... indiscretions, I've been entirely decent here. Though it's no business of yours, the Exarch and I have reached an- understanding, of sorts.

[Not a truce, exactly, and he knew well enough the grudge the Exarch had for him, but. It wasn't outright antagonistic either. Like everything else, it was Complicated.]

[poisontippedcure]

[‘A few more rejoinings,’ Rose will have to pass on that, thank you. She rather likes who she is, and isn’t in a hurry to die. Or have anyone else die around her. Or absorb any more ghosts. It’s been a weird year.]

[She sees that Emet is rather unharmed, which means she isn’t letting him off the hook so easily.]

I believe he put up for privacy, rather than to annoy you. Although, if we’re being quite frank, I’m not sure that I trust any agreement made by you. Know that should you betray him, or any of us, that I will not go easy on you.

[And without hesitating, she hands him a shovel.]

Now get to work.

[unsundered]

Does he know anyone else with an inclination towards teleportation? [Of course it was a targeted move against him! The Ascian was self-important that way.] But whether you trust it or not, know that I have little reason to harm any of you. I'd offer my hand in friendship once more, but... I daresay you're not interested. A pity.

[Emet-Selch makes no move to take the shovel, glancing between it and Rose's face for a long few moments, before making a halfway-surprised sound.]

...Oh, you're being serious.

[Yeah there was no chance. Especially since as soon as he'd recovered enough, he intended to just. Teleport away again. Far away from this mess.]

[poisontippedcure]

I don’t believe he does, no. Nor do I believe that he knows anyone else with such a disregard for personal boundaries.

[‘Don’t teleport into people’s homes,’ without permission should be obvious, but here they are. As it turns out, Emet doesn’t need to remember her to piss her off. His personality is enough.]

Oh? I wasn’t aware that you were willing to be friends with us ‘inferior beings.’ Forgive me, but this is one offer I must refuse.

[She doesn’t want to be on good terms with him. She’s seen some of the stuff he’s done, and she isn’t on board. It’s hard to believe that he’s changed here.]

Yes, I am being serious. It’s your fault the garden is damaged, so it’s your responsibility to repair it.

[unsundered]

[Emet-Selch only half-shrugs at the first statement; he wasn't about to deny it. He also didn't remotely care.]

Yes, I know you're nigh-undeserving of my companionship. Another sign of my matchless generosity.

[Something he manages to say with the usual smug superiority, despite remaining half-seated in a bush. Part of him wondered how the version of himself that knew Rose had managed, but, well- he'd never given the Scions much of a choice in regards to his presence, had he? The Ascian supposed it was natural enough that not every hero possessed the same level of patience.]

It's the fault of the man who put the wards up without warning, if you're insistent on assigning blame. Not that it matters regardless, as I have no interest in gardening.

[poisontippedcure]

Ah, yes, generosity. That's what you're trying to call it. I would use a much different word.

[A much, much ruder word. Of course, Emet doesn't care, and never has. She shouldn't expect any different here.]

[She looks down at him, and drops the shovel. He has a surprising amount of dignity for someone that's covered in leaves and stuck on the ground. It's really infuriating.]

No, it's the fault of the man who tried to enter the house without asking. I don't care if you have any interest in gardening, I care that this gets done.

[unsundered]

Oh... I'm sure you have quite a few words for me, hmm?

[A most tragic sigh, and he shakes his head slowly. The difficulties of dealing with mortals. And if this one didn't want to cooperate with him... well, there were limits to his patience.]

And alas, I see you're not easily dissuaded.

[Glancing down towards the shovel, the Ascian almost seems to be contemplating it....

But no. When he nods to himself, it's purely because he's pretty sure he can make his escape. Perhaps not the entire way back to his house, but at least a few streets away. Plenty of distance. He'd probably suffer for the exertion, but he could do it.

When Emet-Selch looks up to Rose again, he says nothing else, only offering her an apologetic shrug that doesn't even try to look sincere- before the hum and dark flicker of magic takes him, and he disappears.

Ascians are such cowards, sometimes.]