[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

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose turns suspiciously towards Fordola. The other woman is being...nice, almost uncharacteristicly so. She isn’t sure how to feel about it, so she isn’t going to think about it. Instead, she’s focusing on the plants as she talks.]

Rest assured, if I believed I could vanish, I would in a heartbeat. But when you’re the savior of the world, people come looking for you. I doubt I would get very far.

[She also doesn’t want to put her family in danger, but she’s not bringing that part up.]

So I fight to protect the people I care about. I’m sure you remember them, considering that many of them were nearly murdered at Rhalgr’s Reach.

[It’s kind of a low blow after Fordola tried to be nice, but Rose can’t help herself. She’s still mad.]

[fordola]

[ ...he expression sours. Her wings bristle. ] Yeah, and? We're enemies. Then again, only the people you care about matter, in the end.

[ She tried to be nice - Rhalgr as her witness. She's going to continue nesting where she is, though - beginning to scratch at her face a little. ]

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose doesn’t say anything to Fordola’s reply. She doesn’t want to admit that it’s true, especially considering present company. Instead, she focuses on the task in front of her, refusing to acknowledging Fordola until it’s done.]

So tell me, what brings you to our house today? I have a hard time believing you came here for friendship.

[fordola]

[ A little shrug. ] I thought I should at least try and get along with ya. You know, for Thancreds' sake - and come check out what th'other Eorzeans are up to.

[poisontippedcure]

Thancred’s sake? Please elaborate.

[She is now genuinely confused.]

[fordola]

He's my bonded. [ pah ] Not in a romantic way. More like... we were th'only Eorzeans for a while, and we wanted to look out for each other.

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose pauses and purses her lips. She's not sure how to feel about this. It's not what she expected.]

I suppose I should thank you for looking after Thancred, then. He does well when there's someone to babysit him.

[And she'd be genuinely upset if he were hurt. Probably.]

[fordola]

[ She couldn't help but shrug and laugh a little. ]

He's a bit of a moron, isn't he - sneakin' around and doin' good for these people. But I like 'im. And he likes me.