[post-heart rate - visitors in ishgard]

[peacetalks]

[welcome to the holy see of ishgard.

the sky is overcast, as it always is, and there's a light flurry of snow covering everything. people walk about in heavy furs, breath fogging in the air. the streets are grey cobblestone, and tall and imposing stone buildings loom amidst wooden structures--some still in the midst of repair, although for the most part the structural damage from the end of the dragonsong war has been mitigated. the spires of a massive cathedral can be seen in the distance, towards the center of the city.

statues, too, are found in every square; the most prominent amongst them of a commanding-looking woman bearing a spear and a shield. people murmur quick prayers to her as they pass her by. "thank the fury," they say, as they mill about. there are some soldiers around wearing thick chainmail, though no one looks especially on edge. in fact, despite the chill in the air and the greyness of the sky, people look... normal. it's fair to say that the majority of them are elezen, tall individuals with pointed ears, though there are a few who look more "human". and once in a while, you might even see a young dragon flitting about.

the aetheryte plaza, where there stands a large glowing blue crystal, is most likely near where you ended up. with a bit of asking around, you can learn of a few choice locations--the forgotten knight, a prominent tavern known for their hot mulled cider; the brume, a collection of dwellings where the lower class tend to congregate; the skysteel manufactory, a workshop which develops constructs and other magitek; the chocobo stables; and the congregation of our knights most heavenly, aka the headquarters of the temple knights. you can go further into the city too, though it's probably pretty obvious where you'd find info about aymeric around here...]

Comments

[peacetalks]

Pray take your ease. I am in no hurry.

[he kneels next to the tub beside her with the ointment--a blue-colored gel that is icy cold at first touch, then quickly warms up and gently numbs the pain. aymeric gets some on his fingers and works on massaging the gel into her skin]

[moonlit_knight]

Ah - you're not cleaning off too?

[She'd been expecting him to join her in the tub so raises an eyebrow when he kneels next to it instead. Selena gasps at the sudden cold touch, closing her eyes and letting Aymeric work her over]

[peacetalks]

I shall, after I've tended to you.

[he makes sure he gets some in the rope burns as well]

[moonlit_knight]

Alright. Thank you, Aymeric.

[It's a little embarrassing but ultimately it does feel nice, so Selena pliantly offers up her arms and allows him access to massage where he likes, trying to relax into it.]

[peacetalks]

[he kisses the nape of her neck, and continues to massage as he waits for her to speak]

[moonlit_knight]

[Gives a soft sigh, taking another few moments to gather her thoughts and figure out how she wants to talk about this, it's a big distressing uncomfortable thing in her mind so it's a little difficult to fully enjoy Aymeric's touch and just lean into it, but slowly the tension is easing out of her muscles as he goes.]

I was... I was on something of a rescue mission. Some of the nobles in the empire had been involved in trafficking slaves, Prince Ignis and I had found one of their operations in the mines and had freed the captives. But, the mercenaries we were working with at the time, told me they had some friends held in the Duke's estate. So I had to go break into his dungeons.

[peacetalks]

[his hands slow a little as he listens, but they're still gentle and warm]

... and what happened then?

[moonlit_knight]

Oh, it was a trap, of course. Not that Ber knew when he asked me to save his friends. I got them out of their cells, but I didn't realise one of them was a plant until I'd turned around and he'd shoved a needle in my neck. Honestly, I'm embarrassed I fell for it so easily.

[Reaches up and rubs the back of her neck unconsciously as she says it]

At the very least, he was the last one I freed, so the rest of them who weren't getting paid off managed to escape just fine.

[peacetalks]

You did a very brave thing. Though, I take it the Duke was none too pleased?

[moonlit_knight]

On the contrary, at first he was delighted to have a hold of me. One of his ultimate goals was to get rid of Ignis for good. He's the son of a concubine, you see, so the Empress and her faction have been scheming to assassinate him since he was young. Duke Andres is her brother. So, having the prince's bodyguard in his cell presented an opportunity for them.

. . .

[this next part of the story feels very awkward to get into and she hesitates again, glancing at Aymeric's face]

[peacetalks]

Ah. You were their bargaining chip.

[moonlit_knight]

[Shakes her head]

He was working with a witch. The plan was actually to put me entirely under her control, and send me back to kill Ignis myself.

Unfortunately for them, that sort of magic doesn't work right on me. I can't say I know all the details, but I've got something going on with my soul that rejects it entirely. Then the Duke was none too pleased, and, well.

[Gestures at her injuries]

[peacetalks]

[oh]

... that shall teach me not to jump to conclusions. You did mention you'd little talent for magic, but I did not imagine that came with such resistance.

[moonlit_knight]

[shrugs]

It was a surprise for me too. Quite a way to learn about it, but for as many questions as I have, I'd rather find a less painful avenue for answers.

[peacetalks]

Then, these marks on you...

[his fingers run over the rope burns as he trails off]

[moonlit_knight]

. . .

I was trying to come here, you know. They'd left the transporter on me, and I thought, if I could just activate it... But I couldn't quite reach the settings with my arms bound.

[peacetalks]

[his arms wind around her shoulders, holding her]

... I am so sorry, my friend. I can only imagine the pain you endured.

[moonlit_knight]

[Leans against him, placing a hand on his arm.]

No, it's... I got off light, all told. The Duke and Corneille, didn't have hold of me for very long. Because Ignis showed up to get me...

[And this is the part that feels the worst. Selena gulps, grip tightening on Aymeric's hand for a moment.]

...But Ignis has no such resistances to her magic.

[peacetalks]

... what happened to him?

[moonlit_knight]

He's alright now. He's been recovering well. But...

[Closes her eyes, tensing again as she remembers what happened in that dungeon. Ignis, going completely wild, covered in blood...]

...I wasn't in much of a state to fight him when Corneille directed him to kill me. I could just fend his attacks off, and try to get through to him. And when I finally did, Ignis... in order to stop himself, he...

[Takes a deep breath, leaning her face into Aymeric's shoulder]

He stabbed himself in the chest instead.

[peacetalks]

[shit. for someone like selena, having the person they're responsible for protecting nearly kill themselves...

his arms tighten around her, and he says nothing]

[moonlit_knight]

[IT WAS EXTREMELY DISTRESSING. Selena takes a shuddering breath, recalling it is upsetting but she refuses to allow herself break down over it. She won't cry over it even if she's still beating herself up for allowing it all to happen.]

A terrible showing for a knight, isn't it? The man I'm sworn to protect, almost killing himself for my sake...

The Duke had fled at this point. And Corneille... I don't know, thought watching me struggle to save him was more fun? She kept trying to make deals with me when Ignis was attacking. When he... he fell, she let us go. Said I'd be better served trying to save him than kill her. I took Ignis and ran straight to a healer. So he's okay now. He's okay.

[peacetalks]

You did everything you could. And he is alive, as you say. You still protected him, as a knight should.

[moonlit_knight]

[It doesn't make it better or fix the danger Ignis was in, but it's incredibly reassuring just to hear Aymeric say that. To hear that affirmation from him.]

Yeah. He's safe right now. And I won't let anything like that happen to him again.

[peacetalks]

[presses a soft, chaste kiss to the side of her neck]

To have endured all of that and still upheld your promise... is an incredible feat of strength. And yet, it must still weigh heavily on your heart. Am I not right?