ishguardian: (.064)
sᴇʀ ᴀʏᴍᴇʀɪᴄ ☩ ʟᴏʀᴅ sᴇxʏ ᴠᴏɴ ʙᴀᴅᴀss ([personal profile] ishguardian) wrote2015-07-07 12:44 am

and she broke your throne and she cut your hair



[ his mind feels a blur, his ears numb, stuffed with cotton, his body so unfeeling that the pain no longer exists, or else it is compacted somewhere far away where his senses cannot find it. it will be back, he is sure. he has known shock before, and distantly he knows now that this is shock again, a rattling deep in his core that has naught to do with the wounds and bruises and cracked ribs.

the scent of haurchefant's blood seems to linger in his clothing, the acrid scent of aether burned flesh and mail, coppery and sickly sweet, clinging to his hair and skin, suffocating, muffling. and the image of his father turned away, out of reach as he has always been, the spectre that has haunted his life and harried his steps since boyhood. there is movement - the body being lifted, transported, estinien and lucia shuffling nearby, and perhaps he is giving weak orders while he stands still half-crumpled on his feet, or perhaps that it only the noise of his mind pulling itself back together.

but time waits for no man, and haurchefant is quickly hurried away, and aymeric finds himself staring at the dark stain left behind on the smooth, perfect marble. there should be more, he thinks, carelessly. the spear of aether must have cauterized the wound. these quick, morbid thoughts fill his mind and he is repulsed by himself though he can no more press them away than he can to crowd out the insistent, continuous buzzing in his ears. everything has moved so quickly, and now that it is over it feels as if he has been pulled into a vacuum with no sound, no wind. he clutches his arm with his free hand, where the ache is beginning slowly to bloom again, the words turning over in his mind that he cannot bring himself to give voice to.

it is my fault. ]
estinien: credit: shslivalice (Default)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-07 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
[estinien had watched the entire thing unfold with both horror and helplessness, unable to move fast enough once the realization of what was happening sank in. a fraction too late had the dragoon caught movement in the corner of his eye, turning to see the knight commander with aether spear in hand. there wasn't even enough time to shout out and in the blink of an eye it was all over, the fortemps son dying in the warrior of light's arms without preamble or fanfare. everything was going sour and quickly at that.

the sound of aymeric shouting at his father snaps estinien out of his daze, looking up from the corpse to watch the archbishop boarding the airship and leaving. that rat bastard. of all the things that they unearthed in the current goings on, the things regarding the holy see were the worst. war was blatant, war hid nothing in it's onslaught. the holy see were hiding a lot of things, and in that were doing more damage than war ever could and for once estinien wishes things were simple again, uncomplicated from the desires of knights and bishops.

the dragoon turns his attention to aymeric the moment the airship leaves, taking note of the way the other has said very little as the body is taken away. they're still not even sure what exactly had happened during aymeric's interrogations, though needless to say estinien knows they'd be wrong if they assumed no violence. the knights put on a good show but there was no doubt they were brutes on the best of days. lucia is the first one to make a move, almost as if reaching out to put a hand on aymeric before thinking better of it. whatever holdups the blonde has, estinien doesn't care for nor does he even want to know. instead he'll take charge, putting a hand on aymeric's good shoulder and keeping his voice low.]


We need to leave. Now. Standing around in the open here will do us no good.
estinien: <lj user="estinien"> (pic#9289305)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-07 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
[estinien can't help but feel some relief when aymeric decides they need to move; the idea of being attacked from above is a real threat. dragons were bad enough for that, estinien sure didn't want the holy see to start in on that kind of action. he looks to the others that are hanging back, giving them a small nod on mention of them speaking with Count de Fortemps. the conversation won't be easy but estinien knows that it would be best coming from those who were present at the very least. the latter though... tracking the archbishop down was going to be a problem. they would have more chance of finding a moogle in a snowstorm.

the archbishop wasn't going to be too much of a problem when the warrior of light nods. that particular issue would be looked into. in the meantime there were more immediate things to be looked into; estinien had caught that brief pause from aymeric and heard the other repeat his words. things were not right and in all fairness no-one would be able to blame aymeric for feeling out of sorts. the mere idea that the lord commander considered the archbishop to still be a father, even though the man had been everything but.... well it just makes estinien all the more determined to put a spear through the archibishop and shut the elezen up permanently.

right, immediate things first, vengeance later. estinien casts an eye over aymeric, wondering if the other can walk or if he's just being too stubborn. aymeric's poker face is too good to tell.]


The others will see to it. For now we should get you back so that you can.... [so aymeric could what? estinien isn't even sure where he's going with the comment. the other elezen doesn't look too injured....] ...take stock of things.
estinien: credit: shslivalice (Default)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-08 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
[the dragoon can't help but keep an eye on aymeric as they decide on what to do, grateful that the helm he wears masks the direction he's looking in. aymeric would probably not appreciate being watched already but there was just something in the way the lord commander was acting that was starting to concern estinien. it was legitimate concern, the kind that just screamed someone was due to do something very stupid in the immediate future. ishgard was already in trouble, she could not afford to have one of her more prodigious children to vanish.

was aymeric truly going to argue it? was the lord commander really going to stand there and disagree right in the middle of all things? the situation was both dire and heinous; estinien knows that things are urgent right now. there is so much to do and so little time that even his own confidence is starting to take a hit. how could such a small group of people achieve such large scale things? but then he has to remind himself of what they had done, nidhogg was gone and that had been a handful of people. this they would have to see through to the end.

if aymeric could get behind it. right now the other elezen looks like he's ready to only hit the floor and even though the other simply agrees to taking stock estinien knows that there's a lot going on. the lord commander always had something to say. three words was simply not good enough.]


We shall go back to your office near the Forgotten Knight. Regardless of it's proximity to the Bume, I doubt the Ward would be quick to start a fight there for the second time. It would not end well for them with such a large audience which for now remains on our side. [estinien doesn't need to say it, but someone needs to talk in the silence that is starting to prevail. lucia doesn't seem to feel the need to say anything, and estinien is already finding it grating on already frayed nerves. just what was it she even did again?!] The way will already be cleared, some men have gone ahead to make sure no-one will be on our path.
estinien: credit: shslivalice (pic#)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-08 08:06 am (UTC)(link)
[that sounded more like the lord commander, but even then it's still not enough to set estinien's mind at ease. no, this was still going to go sour and in a small way the dragoon knows there is nothing anyone can do to stop it doing so. he just knows the feeling of a parent figure winding up being a betraying asshole, but it barely compared on this kind of scale. he would maybe speak to aymeric about it later.

the trip back to the lodgings was pretty much uneventful, lucia and estinien's contacts having cleared the way well and truly. a single civilian had crossed their paths and been sent scurrying fast enough by the glare and bared teeth they got from estinien. no-one was going to mess with that and no-one dared ask questions. it was perfect. if only everything else could be solved so neatly. there would be no offer of help from estinien on the way back, or words spoken out loud; it's clear to all and sundry that aymeric won't accept help and they don't need to ask to know it.

it feels like an eternity before they get back to the small base of operations that aymeric had been running. there had been a single moment where estinien had been tempted to just scoop aymeric up and make a mad jump dash for the place. that wouldn't have ended well and estinien knows lucia would have simply gone bald from watching that happen.]


Someone shall fetch you a healer to look you over very soon. [estinien gives no fucks as to if aymeric wants that or not, and as he speaks the words the dragoon stares over at lucia. she should go get the healer. there's only the three of them left in the room and right now there is a silent, unspoken war going on between estinien and lucia as to who should be the one to leave. lucia is the one to crack first, huffing in the dragoon's direction before leaving to find a healer. there's a scowl from the woman promising pain later.

finally. now it was just the two of them and estinien folds his arms and glances over at aymeric. should he say anything at all? it's a rare point in estinien's life where he feels unsure of something and that feeling is the worst, he would turn on it and kill it if he could.]
Are you holding up?
estinien: credit: shslivalice (Default)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-08 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
[estinien silently watches long fingers twining through dark hair as the lord commander finally seems to settle off of his feet. it's a small start at the very least and enough to allay the worry that aymeric would simply drive himself into the ground through working. physically things were going to be fine. mentally? estinien doesn't know. the loss of haurchefant was a devastating blow. the elezen had been cocksure and a rambunctious person. estinien knows that the loss will be felt for a long time to come, though personally he will be quick to put that aside for more important things. haurchefant had been a big help, but he had not been around for the majority of things, was not up to speed with the actual goings on that were happening. as cold as it sounded in his own mind, estinien knows that it could have been much worse. they would be able to avenge haurchefant in due course, but estinien suspects that it would not be the most important thing on their plates for a while yet.

even if he does want to strangle the shit out of the archbishop. just looking at the way aymeric is sat has the dragoon's stomach sinking, feelings of sympathy starting to truly sink in. how must it feel to know that the one looked up to the most was the one destroying everything held dear? estinien had been so angry at alberic for causing the ruin of ferndale, but that was something that had happened so far in the past that the impact was not what it could have been. this? this was fresh for aymeric, this was something that was happening right now and all they could do was ride the wave and work on setting right the wrongs.

nothing would take away the pain of it though, nothing would lessen the gaping wound that caused so much hurt. all aymeric would be able to do, if anything, was learn to live with it. the dragoon can't help but wonder if aymeric would manage that when he hears what the other has to say, cringing inwardly at the tremor in the normally firm voice.]


Aymeric. What happened was not your fault but that of the archbishop and the knights. None of us could have even foreseen what happened today, yet it still happened. We did not know how that man would have reacted to what you had to say, nor did we suspect that Zephirin would have been ready and waiting. [estinien pauses, mulling his next words over.] That man is not a father, does not act as one, and you should stop looking at him as one.
estinien: credit: shslivalice (pic#)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-09 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
Alphinaud is already looking for information on it, along with the lalafell. If there is anything out there on Azys Lla they will find it. I would suspect the lalafell more than Alphinaud to find it first; she can talk a goblin into giving it's treasure over.

[really, tartaru disturbs estinien in the way she so easily extracts information. that's a talk for another time though, right now the dragoon is going to keep his attention on aymeric and make sure the other stays strong. should the lord commander falter, his men would falter and that alone would cause problems. estinien has no doubt that the knights of heavens' ward and the archbishop would be a rocky and drawn out path to be taking for all of them; aymeric was going to need to steel himself for what would come. the best case scenario would be to kill the archbishop and estinien isn't even sure if the other elezen can even come to terms with the idea of patricide. not yet.

estinien tilts his head a little, ear cocked towards the door as if listening for something. there is no creak of floorboards or sounds of any others outside the office and that would do for now. most looked upon estinien as a cold being, someone who was aloof and rarely gave a damn beyond the next dragon. estinien knows what they say and simply ignores it, for anyone with that kind of chocobocrap rattling around their heads were not worth his time. no he wasn't cold, estinien simply knows a moment of weakness was enough to let nidhogg get a hold through the eye. considering the dragon was dead.... well, there's no-one around to see as the dragoon crosses the room to stand next to aymeric, placing a hand lightly on the other's shoulder.]


You don't need that man when you have your own men who look up to you. You have friends and comrades who will follow you to the ends of the world. It is the archbishop who is missing the better things here.
estinien: credit: shslivalice (Default)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-09 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
[estinien isn't sure what to expect from aymeric with the hand on his shoulder, quietly stunned when he feels the other's hand over his and giving it a small, reassuring squeeze. sometimes aymeric surprised even him and right now it's taking everything within the dragoon not to just stand there and stare in mute shock. the look in aymeric's eyes is almost despair, enough so that estinien can feel it like a cold dagger twisting in his stomach. what pain was the other suffering to drag such a look from the lord commander? what thoughts were taking root right now that would do nothing but torment from a distance in the quiet of the night?

whatever it was, estinien never wants to see it again, helpless in the knowledge that it isn't something that he can defeat in battle yet wishing bloody vengeance on it anyway.

estinien quickly realizes that he's allowed his own thoughts to wander, that he's been staring at aymeric in silence for a good, solid few moments. the realization is swift enough to have the dragoon straightening back up, looking away with thinning lips as he bites some terse words out with only half of the usual vehemence.]


You should act more like yourself and not what other people expect you to be. Tsk, as long as you think it will pass.
estinien: <lj user="estinien"> (pic#9289305)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-12 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[there's visible relief in the pull of estinien's lips as he notices some shadows starting to fade away from the lord commander's eyes. there is still the idea that aymeric may be tempted to do something stupid but then estinien has to wonder if he's simply projecting himself into that. he understands the pain of a parent turning out to be a back-stabbing worthless excuse, though the scales of their scenarios are both vastly different the pain is still the same. the question of "why" will be ringing in aymeric's ears for a long time to come and for now all estinien can do is nod at the comment about things being expected. everyone has a role to play and aymeric is not exempt from that no matter how much they wished it.

the dragoon huffs, showing both his agreement with the comment and how he actually feels about it.]


We shall have to make sure no-one interrupts your recuperation. Between Lucia and myself I believe we're sufficient to scare even the most stalwart of people away.

[if he was a mindreader estinien would most likely agree with the hot bath thought. everyone needed that after a shit time, and almost as if thinking about things that would make him feel better.....] What order do you want us to deal with those Knights in? There are twelve and killing them all in one go would not be satisfying enough.

[it's a lame attempt at humor, though with a helmet covering his face most would find it hard to discern the humor from the truth.]
estinien: credit: shslivalice (pic#)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-21 09:02 am (UTC)(link)
If wishes were chocobos? There's enough of those feathered fiends in the forelands for everyone.

[it's obvious estinien isn't a fan of chocobos. for whatever reason it's as if dragoon and bird simply cannot co-exist within a few meters of each other and generally ends in a great big bird-kick to someone's side. normally estinien's. and those breaks are sharper than they look too, and the claws.....

no, people could keep their wishes, they were foolish anyway. estinien would probably rethink that stance one day, wishing he had never set his sights upon the eyes of nidhogg.]


If there's anything you need.... [estinien trails off, not even sure how he means to finish that sentence. there's not much he can offer in his opinion, simply a shoulder. and there are more comfortable shoulders than his own.] I'll be outside making sure no-one disturbs you for now.
estinien: credit: shslivalice (pic#)

[personal profile] estinien 2015-07-22 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmph. You'll be sure to get some.

[aymeric gets another glance over as estinien tries to accept that thanks and smile. a part of him wants to linger, hover around the lord commander and just simply keep watch yet estinien knows it'd be counterproductive. not only would aymeric get nothing done but he'd also start getting annoyed at someone constantly being right there. that and estinien suspects lucia will want to do just that. further down the line there will be a few furious and heated arguments in the room outside as estinien makes sure that even aymeric's right hand doesn't disturb his friend.

for now though estinien simply nods and goes to stand outside aymeric's door. there will more than likely be complaints much later from nobles who have born the brunt of estinien's temperament but at least it means that no-one will be bothering aymeric for a good few hours. that is, of course, until the first round of estinien versus lucia kicks off.]