[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]

[She's lucky Emet-Selch didn't just teleport directly back into his room. But at the moment? The idea of teleporting directly inside of a house was... unappealing. The memory too fresh, the foliage still with him, despite his best efforts.

And while he was intending to just walk on past the miqo'te, ignoring her and absolutely everything else on his way to bed (because sleeping through the rest of the day was the only way to salvage it, as far as he was concerned), Irhya's words cause him to pause, scowling at her. How had she heard about it so quickly? Did everyone know?]

A miscalculation, nothing more.

[And with that he keeps walking, intending on his original plan: sleep.]

[omnicrafter]

"Miscalculation" is a word for it.

[She seems to have no intention of letting him live it down, at least for now, because she follows behind him, albeit gingerly. For a mercy, the grin drops.]

Mira mentioned it. Never mind the damn wards; why would you try to teleport into their house?

[unsundered]

[So Mira was to blame. He spares the dark knight a moment of ire, before continuing towards his room.

Pausing at his door, he looks back to Irhya once more.]

Why shouldn't I? If I'm going inside regardless, what does a few extra lengths matter?

[omnicrafter]

Next you're going to tell me they didn't have doors in Amaurot.

[A dry remark, one she doesn't hesitate to let fly knowing the can of worms it might open. But perhaps because of that, she follows up.]

In all seriousness, are you going to be okay? You seem to be having a hard time with this "normal people" thing...

[unsundered]

[As always, the mention of Amaurot derails his thoughts slightly, and in a more melancholic direction. Of course they had doors. And he even used them. But then, he had respect for the privacy and wishes of his own people; he didn't feel like extending that to anyone else.

So Emet-Selch ignores that comment entirely, unlatching the door to his room and going inside. It's still... mostly bare in there, a few books, a few blankets. Nothing personal, only base practicalities.]

Is that a trace of concern I'm hearing? How strange. You've no reason to be- I'm well acquainted with the necessities of maintaining a physical host.

[This is how people referred to looking after themselves, right.]

[omnicrafter]

It is, because it's embarrassing to think about.

[Whether it's for him or the people around him, though, it's hard to say. She lingers in the threshold, stopping her foot in the door's path in case he tries to slam it in her face.]

Listen. The only current difference between you and everyone around you is that your soul is maybe a tad bit more dense. On a purely arcane level, we've all been moved to an even playing field. If you keep going around acting like you own the place, you're going to draw naught but ire very, very quickly, and then you'll find yourself with other problems down the line.

You know all this. Even if you still don't agree on principle, you can't deny that you no longer have the power to rip through these obstacles like wet parchment.

[unsundered]

[The Ascian makes no attempt to close the door at all, assuming that Irhya would just try to open it again. Rather, he leaves her in the doorway, collapsing heavily in a chair instead.]

...Yes, I'm well aware of all that. If you're just here to rub it in, then don't bother.

[More than a trace of anger involved, though it's not directed at Irhya, not really. He knew she was right, which didn't make it any easier.]

I can't see it anymore, so who knows what they've done to my soul.

[Which does genuinely bother him, considering how much value he puts in it. What if it was reduced, broken down to the level of all those malformed creatures? What good was he then?]

[omnicrafter]

[Though on the one hand, being brought down to their level is certainly a taste of his own medicine, it also seems unfair somehow. He's here just as willingly as the rest of them, which is not at all, and though some would call her crazy for it, she'd sooner deal with him in his natural state than stuck in a miserable circumstance like this.

Irhya's ears wilt, just a little. If the volume of the soul is connected to the body's arcane potential, there's nothing to say they didn't water his down to match the rest of them, so she can't even take the positive thinking route.]

What would berating you earn me? Personal satisfaction? I don't take pleasure in being cruel, even to my enemies. If anything, being in this situation is punishment enough.

[She leans her weight heavily against the door frame.]

Look... I know this isn't easy. And I more or less know your feelings on being allies, but can we not at least find a midpoint?

[unsundered]

[Her response comes as a small surprise, and the Ascian is silent for a time, considering. His fingers rap idly on a nearby desk as he thinks.]

I know it doesn't look it, but I am trying. [He closes his eyes for a moment; gods, his head hurt. He'd probably overextended himself with all the teleporting.] When you've lived as long as I, there's certain patterns that are... difficult to change.

[Emet-Selch looks up at her again, cautiously, and waves a hand in her general direction.]

What would you suggest instead? I'll at least consider any idea at this point.

[omnicrafter]

...I can imagine.

[And those habits probably die even harder in this case, having had so much time to take root. Her lips flatten.]

The thing to remember is that you can no longer manipulate everything to suit your goals here. If anything, you'd have to power through just as the Warriors of Light do. That in mind... perhaps taking a leaf from our books might serve you better? Spend some time observing, that sort of thing.

Unfortunately, I think the biggest problem you face is the one fundamental thing I know you don't want to address. I think the best you can do is put it in the back of your mind for right now, though. It doesn't have to be perfect, just... a little humility wouldn't hurt your case.

[unsundered]

[Well. He doesn't dismiss it outright, at least, though it's clear that he finds the suggestion somewhat distasteful.]

It's not as though I'm not conscious of the fact that I have little to back up my... [Hm, what was the best way to put it.] natural assumptions of superiority. My powers are minimal, my knowledge, likely irrelevant.

[The Ascian understood this; he was arrogant, not delusional. But it was a way of thinking that permeated all of his interactions; he's not remotely sure if he can break the habit. He's definitely sure he doesn't want to, but if it would be to his benefit? Ugh.]

Observation, if nothing else here, is something I'm familiar with. And I've no inclination towards manipulating the situation of this place. That was ever towards a particular goal back home- one that's impossible here.

[He sighs heavily; when he looks at Irhya, his expression is slightly too tired to be properly sarcastic.]

...well, I shall have no lack of excellent role models.

[omnicrafter]

I've no doubts you can adjust if you put in the effort... it just takes time.

[She closes her eyes, as if the prospect of that amount of time here makes her tired, too. Though whether it is that or a culmination of the day's stresses, it's hard to say.]

All of the Warriors of Light are so dissimilar, though... one would think it's only Hydaelyn that we have in common. We all approach our problems differently, at that; I've already had a mild disagreement with at least one other Warrior of Light thus far. So perhaps for both of us, it's time to figure out a new goal, besides crossing the rift again to where we belong. Killing time will get us nowhere, and I know you're not the type to sit on your hands and watch the world pass you by, either.

[unsundered]

I suppose we'll see how it goes.

[Non-committal, but... at least it's not an outright refusal? He'd think about what it would entail, anyway.]

...And you are a strangely variable group. [And strange that it was only the Warriors and not, say, himself or the Exarch. If one person could be different across timelines, why weren't all of them?] With a common flaw. But apart from finding a way to return with these memories intact- I can't say I've come across any worthy goals.

Not that I intend to be idle, but... I'm not going to waste time on anything that doesn't interest me. I never have.