[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]

[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.]