[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

[madasa]

[well, they probably went through the portal together.

which is for the best, since whatever it was in heartrate that kept Break's damaged body from shaking itself to pieces is officially NO LONGER WORKING. when the portal closes, he sags against Aymeric, worn around the edges immediately.]

[peacetalks]

[aymeric doesn't have long to savor the familiar cold of his home before he feels his stomach drop, and he quickly latches onto break to keep him from collapsing]

Kevin--

[madasa]

Aymeric-

[oh his throat and lungs don't like the cold. he snaps his mouth shut, shaking his head and leaning against him, trying to head off the inevitable coughing.]

[peacetalks]

[mentally aymeric told himself he was prepared for this possibility. in reality he's terrified.

but he has to act, so he quickly sheds his cloak and wraps it around break for warmth]

Forgive me the indignity.

[and he picks him up, gently as he can, and moves. it's a bit of scene, the lord commander running through the streets carrying someone, and hushed and worried whispers follow them. before long they're inside, a wave of warmth running over them from a nearby hearth, and aymeric is barking orders at people]

Summon the chirugeon, have a room prepared. There is no time to waste. Lucia, with me.

[a woman's voice responds--"yes, my lord" and then they're moving again, up stairs]

Hold on, Kevin, pray hold on as much as you can--!

[madasa]

[Break clings to Aymeric as best he can, through that cloak. It shields him a bit, but the cold has already taken the opportunity to settle in his lungs, in his bones, so he starts coughing before long-- horrible, wet, bloody things. But all the same he clings, shaky, and speaks to Aymeric wrecked and unsteady and in places inaudible, once they're inside and his body protests breathing slightly less.]

-t's all right... Love you.

[enjoy that, Lucia.]

[moonlit_knight]

[It takes several weeks before Selena is able to get time to visit, she has a few missions to finish, but once that work is done she gets herself the thickest winter coat she can find and hops on over.

She looks around the plaza for a moment, taking in the sights and adjusting to the sudden extreme chill, before heading straight to the temple knights in search of Aymeric.]

[notsospeedy]

[Somewhere, in that big castle or whatever, I don't know anything about FFXIV just assume it's a place from a memory... the order and solemnity of this day is shattered by the joyful, ecstatic scream of some weirdo in a thick winter parka. How did he end up in here? No one knows. They didn't see him come in. But his voice rings through the hallowed halls of antiquity:]

I AM A FREAKING GENIUS!!!!!

[eggstinction]

[Moon shows up a couple days later— he had to make sure his own country was prepared for him to dip out for a while. he had the forethought to arrive looking more elezen that not, dressed for the cold and bonus bits hidden.

but that’s still a guy popping into the courtyard with a giant struggling grouper under one arm and a crate of tropical fruit under another arm.

it doesn’t take him too long to find where the knights are, because he will just ask literally anyone who makes eye contact: Which way is the Lord Commander?]

[peacetalks]

[if lucia finds the situation odd, she doesn't say anything about it. aymeric is clearly too stricken to be interrupted. soon he's laying break down on a soft bed, trying to sound as steady as possible but break can surely hear the tremble in his voice]

And I you. Tell me, what can I do?

[there's movement in the room, people murmuring--and soon there's a heavy warm blanket covering break's body, though aymeric doesn't let go of him for a second]

[peacetalks]

[aymeric is nowhere to be seen, but to be fair, it's a large building and there are multiple floors. knights move about, most of them taking orders from a very tall armored "human" woman, who seems to be the one in charge.

one of the knights stationed near the front stops selena. "state your business, madam."]

[moonlit_knight]

[I wonder what Aymeric told people about all the visitors he'd be getting]

Good day. I'm Ser Selena Evan, I'm looking for Ser Aymeric.

[peacetalks]

[hilariously the place he most likely ends up in is st. reymanaud cathedral, prompting an entire congregation of church-goers to stare at him, affronted and alarmed, as they all shush him in unison.

THIS IS THE FURY'S HOUSE, SON, SHOW SOME RESPECT]

[peacetalks]

[people are definitely giving him strange looks anyway, mostly because of the grouper, but he'll eventually be pointed in the direction of the temple knight's headquarters. once he's at the door, the soldier stationed there will stop him.

"state your business."]

[peacetalks]

[the knight responds in a firm yet tired voice, as though he's had to field requests like this all the time. "the lord commander is a very busy man, and appointments with him must be made in advance--"

he's interrupted by the woman in armor standing not far behind him, who stops what she's doing to listen. "hold there. what did you say your name was?" she sets down the papers she was examining and approaches. she's easily as tall as aymeric, unusual for a human, with white hair parted to one side and a circlet over her forehead.]

[moonlit_knight]

[Looks to the woman]

Hello. It's Selena Evan, did he mention me? If he's busy, I'm fine to wait, I simply promised him I'd visit when I had the chance.

[madasa]

Just... stay?

[maybe don't trust that one to keep him alive, though. he's mostly just in huddle against Aymeric as much as possible mode. eking out what shreds of love he can before it's over again.]

[peacetalks]

[she nods to the soldier. "she has an appointment." and gestures for selena to follow. "come with me. the lord commander has been expecting you." she leads selena inside, though the soldier and a few others stare in curiosity.

"my name is lucia. I am ser aymeric's second-in-command."]

[moonlit_knight]

[Smiles to the soldier and follows after her]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucia. Thank you for escorting me.

[eggstinction]

[gives the guard a blank look. he’s not used to being the one getting quizzed by guards, usually guards keep people out of HIS palace]

I am Moon. Your Lord Aymeric should be expecting me. Tell him that I am arrived and would see him.

[peacetalks]

I will. I am here.

[at that moment, however, someone gently prompts him--"lord commander, we will need to examine him..." and aymeric lets out a breath]

... of course. Please, do everything you can.

[he reluctantly lets go of break and kneels at the side of the bed, holding his hand to reassure him of his presence. meanwhile, the chirugeons to the side begin casting healing magics, a wave of energy washing over break]

[peacetalks]

["I must admit, I did not entirely know what to expect when ser aymeric told me the tale. had it been anyone else, I might have dismissed it as delusions. he will be glad to see you." lucia leads her through a set of guarded doors, and up some stairs, until they stand in front of a set of formal-looking doors. lucia knocks twice, and aymeric's voice can be heard from inside.]

Enter.

[lucia opens the door to reveal a stately-looking room with a hearth and a large wooden desk and grand windows that look out over the plaza. aymeric is currently doing paperwork, engrossed in his writing, his quill scratching over parchment.]

[madasa]

[Break squeezes his hand, still annoyingly strong even like this. And... his breathing does start coming a little easier with each pulse of healing magic.]

[moonlit_knight]

I wouldn't believe it myself if anyone told it to me, honestly.

[Her whole face lights up when she hears his voice through the door, and she has to restrain herself from just running over and hugging him when she walks in.]

My apologies for the interruption. Hello again, Aymeric.

[peacetalks]

[the guard is clearly unimpressed, eyeing the fish warily. "we've been given no such orders. the lord commander is a very busy man and if you wish to make an appointment, you will need to--"

the guard is abruptly interrupted by a woman approaching in full plate armor. she's as tall as aymeric is, making her not that much shorter than moon, though she clearly isn't elezen. her white hair is parted to one side, and she's wearing a circlet and a stern expression.

"hold there. what did you say your name was?"]

[peacetalks]

[aymeric squeezes back, and one of the chirugeons pulls the blanket back enough to get a better look at break's chest and whatever he's been coughing up. aymeric turns to lucia to murmur another order]

Have the Atheneum send someone. Pull any strings you need to.

[lucia demurs with another quick "my lord." and steps out. the healing pulses continue, as aymeric runs his thumb over break's knuckles]