#ser-handeloup

[dawnslight-aegis]

23. on cloud nine

(oops, I didn't actually get to the bit that would go with the traditional meaning of the prompt. anyway. no content warnings yet but this will eventually be edited and the rating will increase accordingly.)

‘Twas late, long past when Aymeric should have left his office and headed to bed, but his duties as Lord Speaker had caused him to let some of his responsibilities at the Congregation fall to the wayside, and he needed to set them right before things along the Shroud-Gyr Abania border erupted into all-out war.

A quiet knock against his office door drew his attention, and his Second Commander stepped in without waiting for an answer. He wore a heavy cloak over his armor to ward off the autumn chill, clearly about to head home, and Aymeric felt a twinge of guilt for keeping the man there so late, away from his wife and daughters. “Here are the troop movement reports you asked for, ser,” he said as he set them on the edge of the desk, out of Aymeric’s easy reach, “but I really think you should leave them for the morning.”

Aymeric waved a hand in acknowledgement, smiling faintly. “Yes, yes. I’ll be on my way soon, I assure you.”

“Good.” The man paused, then leaned forward slightly. “There is one other thing.”

He felt his eyebrows crawl towards his hairline as he took in the shift in Handeloup’s bearing, from official to almost conspiratorial. “Oh? What is it?”

“The door guards have just informed me that the Warrior of Light has returned to Ishgard, and was seen going into the Forgotten Knight less than a quarter bell ago.”

Aymeric froze. Typically speaking, when in Ishgard, Kaede preferred to stay in her rooms at the Fortemps Manor – or his own house, in his bed, a quiet little voice whispered in the back of his mind, to be firmly squashed – while it was Marzanna who usually took up residence within their reserved suite at Cloud Nine. There was no reason to assume this time was any different.

“Which one?” he asked, with what he thought was a quiet neutrality. ‘Twas curiosity, nothing more.

The look that Handeloup leveled at him told him quite clearly that he had not succeeded. “Ser, with all due respect – I would not bother to mention it, were it simply Mistress Kimbatuul come to start a bar brawl or some such. I would simply set an extra sentry near the Knight and be done with it.”

Heat warmed his ears as Aymeric rubbed his forehead and dropped all pretense. “Gods, does everyone know?”

The man sounded as if he was moments away from bursting into laughter, despite his sympathetic expression. “If your… regard for Mistress Kazarishi was meant to be a secret, ser, it’s a poorly kept one.”

He truly had no response for that, and his Second Commander grinned as he saluted and slipped out the door with a cheeky “have a pleasant night, Lord Commander.”

Pleasant, indeed. The object of his affections, she who had occupied most of his waking thoughts since the night she had confirmed that her feelings for him ran deeper than friendship, was just across the plaza, after being gone for nearly a fortnight. If he dared, it would take him only minutes to be at her door.

Taking a deep, steadying breath through his nose, Aymeric shook his head. She had not come to him, nor to his home. She had not even gone to her normal lodgings – which, to him, indicated either a wish for privacy or simply for rest, given the lateness of the hour. ‘Twould be presumptuous indeed for him to assume that a visit in the middle of the night would be welcome, regardless of the relationship that had been growing between them over the past two moons.

Firmly chastising himself for even entertaining the notion, Aymeric stood and walked to the edge of his desk, collecting the reports that Handeloup had delivered. He rifled through them, reading the same one three times before he realized that he hadn’t absorbed a word that they contained.

Clearly, he would be getting no further work done this night, as was likely Handeloup’s true goal. Collecting his own cloak, he fastened it over his armor and left the reports on his desk for the next day. Stepping out into the night, a sharp, cold wind hit his face and took his breath away – a late autumn blizzard was moving in, apparently, and snow was already beginning to pile up against the walls of the buildings. Aymeric pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and frowned. His normal route home through the Pillars would expose him to the wind and take more time than he’d like in these conditions – quicker to cut through the Brume, despite the danger.

The scar in his abdomen twinged in pain from the cold, reminding him of what had happened the last time he had thought to take that route, and he sighed. As he stood, seized by indecision and getting colder by the moment, his eyes fell on the Forgotten Knight, barely visible through the snow. The light in its windows called to him, the siren song of warmth and companionship far more tempting now when set against a long walk home in the dark and the cold, to an empty bed.

May the Fury have mercy on this lovesick fool, he thought with a sigh, and turned towards the tavern. The back of his mind cursed him soundly, but he could not alter his course. And so he stepped through the door, cloaked and hooded, attempting to attract as little attention as possible as he made his way to the counter. Fortunately, the tavern was all but empty, the patrons either driven home or to their beds in the inn by the weather.

Gibrillont raised his eyebrows as Aymeric approached, immediately recognizing him. “Well. ‘Twould seem I have the honor of hosting two important personages tonight,” he muttered under his breath as he wiped out a tankard with a rag that looked barely clean enough to do any good at all.

Aymeric leveled a look at the former knight of House Haillenarte. “I do my best to keep myself and those under my command well clear of your business, ser, and you have prospered for it,” he said, and the man grunted in response. “On the morrow, I will continue that practice. I only ask for two things: that you keep my presence here quiet, and –”

“Give you her room number?”

Aymeric groaned internally. A poorly kept secret, indeed. Unsure of what to say that might leave his dignity mostly intact, he simply stared at Gibrillont until the man sighed and nodded.

“Under one condition. That you not be using my establishment for your ‘clandestine meetings.’ I’ve a reputation to uphold, I’ll have you know, and sheltering slumming members of the peerage ain’t part of it.”

He could not quite squash the urge to argue the man’s claims, though doubtless it would fall on deaf ears. “I assure you, ‘twas merely the weather that drove me here.”

“Sure, keep telling yourself that. Second floor, third door on the left. Don’t come cryin’ t’ me for a room if she throws you out on yer arse the way she did the last man I saw her take up there. We’re full up.”

Aymeric ignored the obvious jab – Kaede’s business was her own, and he was well aware of her extensive romantic past – and nodded in thanks before heading towards the stairs at a pace that could not quite be called unseemly.

Before he could think better of this entire mad plan, he was in front of her door, lightly rapping his knuckles against it. For a long moment, there was silence, and he was left with the internal debate of if he should knock again or just head home in defeat.

Fortunately, he was saved from his nervous indecision by the door cracking open and beautiful blue eyes staring blearily up at him.

Oh gods, he’d woken her up.

“What is it – wait. Aymeric? Is everything okay?” Her gaze sharpened, Warrior of Light rapidly replacing the tired woman before him, and he cursed himself for a fool. Of course she would think something was wrong, with him showing up in the middle of the damned night.

“No – I mean, yes, everything is fine. I merely –” he stumbled a bit, before shaking his head, the excuse about the weather dying unspoken on his tongue. “I heard you were here, and I wanted to see you.”

The reason sounded so juvenile to his ears, but… it was the truth.

A blink, and she was simply Kaede again, her surprise slowly giving way to a small, private smile. “Oh. Well. I didn’t think you’d still be up, or I would have come by.”

“For once, my propensity for working late does me a service. I must confess, I missed you fiercely.” The admission rolled easily off his tongue, and her smiled widened a bit in response.

Tucking a rogue lock of hair behind one of her horns in a gesture he was thrilled to recognize as one of flirtation, Kaede stepped back and waved a hand towards the room. “Would you like to come in? It’s not anything fancy, but it seems a shame to come all this way and then stand around in the hallway.”

Suddenly aware that they had, indeed, been doing just that, he ducked into the room and shrugged out of his snow-damp cloak as she shut the door behind her.

Turning to her, Aymeric opened his mouth to ask what brought her to Ishgard, when he found himself seized by the front of the coat and yanked down into a kiss, desperate and hungry. Off balance in more ways than one, he braced one hand against the door frame, the other sliding beneath heavy gold hair to curl, possessively, around the back of her neck. He had not intended, but gods, he had wanted…

Still, when Kaede finally relaxed her grip on him and slowly lowered herself back down from her tiptoes, he shook his head. “I swear to you, I did not come here for –”

Irritation flashed across Kaede’s face, and she sighed. “Aymeric. Do you really want to stand around making small talk a bell past midnight in a vain attempt to spare whatever tiny shreds of virtue I have left?”

Whatever protests he had meant to make caught in his throat as she stared up at him expectantly. The truly foolish thing had been to forget, even for a moment, that her directness was one of the many things he loved about her. “I… no. I do not.”

“Good, because neither do I. There will be plenty of time for talking in the morning. Right now, I would like to go back to bed, and I would very much like you to join me.”

“As my lady commands,” her murmured, before dipping down and pressing another kiss to her mouth, slower than hers had been, but no less heated. When they broke away again, there was a flush to her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes despite the fatigue, and there was a part of him that was proud indeed to have put it there. “Let me get out of this damned armor, and I am utterly at your disposal.”

–

Later, as they dressed in the dim pre-dawn light, Aymeric finally felt compelled to speak that which she had forestalled him from saying the night before. “Kaede.”

“Hmmm?” came the distracted, tired reply, and he felt a twinge of guilt for having woken her up from and shortened her much needed rest, but he forged on anyway.

Setting aside his surcoat for the moment, he walked over to her and looped his arms around her midsection, tugging her back so she stood flush against him. “I just want you to know,” he murmured, “that I do not take anything that happens between us lightly. That everything I do is rooted in respect for you, and in affection. That me coming to see you tonight was not a craving of the flesh, but a yearning of the heart.”

She went still in his arms, then let out a slow, controlled breath. “Careful, ser, or else I might think you were attempting to confess something.”

Her tone was trying for light and playful, but there was a tightness in it, and he did not know if it was born from hope, or fear.

Here was the moment, the crossroads. He could laugh and let the moment pass, and they could continue as they had been – more than friends, yes, but with no promises yet made. He could let her leave him again, for the Fury only knew how long, without saying the words that burned within him, that underscored his every thought and action towards her.

The mere thought was agony, and he could not bear it.

“And if I am?”

There was a long pause, and Aymeric’s heart sank as Kaede slowly extricated herself from his arms, gathering her boots and refusing to look at him. When she spoke, it was to the floor, her hair fallen in a curtain to shield her face from view. “I cannot be what you want me to be.”

The last time he had seen her, she had let slip her insecurities that what lay between them was not meant to last; that sooner or later he would tire of her wanderings, and seek out a wife and an heir as befit his station. He had attempted to reassure her, but held himself back from making any grand statements – it had felt too soon, their relationship too fragile, and to place too much pressure on it would be to have it dissolve like a soap bubble. But though she had seemed satisfied with his answers then, doubt had clearly set in in his absence.

Aymeric let out a frustrated sigh. “I do not want you to be anything or anyone else, only to be as you are.”

When she did not answer him, he knelt on the splintered wooden floorboards in front of her, sweeping her hair back and drawing her chin up, so that she might meet his eyes. There was apprehension in them, and blatant misery, but also longing.

He wished he knew who had made her so damned sure that she would eventually be tossed aside like refuse, that she would respond to love with fear.

Withholding the depth of his feelings had done nothing to secure her trust in him, so this time, he would give her the truth in its entirety.

“I love you, Kaede. Deeply, fiercely, as I have not felt before in all my life. There is naught either of us can say or do that will change that fact. And though duty demands much of us both, I will take whatever you can give me, and give all of myself I can spare in return.”

Aymeric watched as she turned his words over, her face a mixture of emotions that he could not begin to identify. Finally, she landed on a small, sad smile as she reached out and pressed a palm to his cheek. “You deserve better than that. You deserve someone who can give you all of their time, not just scraps of it.”

“As do you. But what either of us ‘deserves’ matters very little to me in this moment. I care only for what I want, and what I believe you do, as well.”

And may all the Twelve have mercy on him if he was wrong.

“I –”

Whatever she had been about to say was lost as the insistent ringing of her linkpearl, the same that had awoken them in the early hours of the morning, shattered the moment. She let her hand drop from his face and turned back to finish lacing her boots. “I have to go. I don’t want to, but…”

“I understand.”

And he did. Gods, if he understood anything about her, it was this. Even though it hurt, he stood when she did, and did not attempt to bridge the gap between them again.

He thought she might leave it like that, words unspoken and hanging in the air, but he watched her jaw clench and release as she pulled her hair back into a hasty ponytail, rather than her customary elaborate braid, and then she turned back to him, determination in her eyes. “I do want to finish this conversation, I just need to… think on it, a bit.”

“You will come back?”

“I will. I promise.”

The resolve in her voice went a lot way towards quieting the unease in his heart, as did the way she pulled him down into a kiss that was a softer, sweeter echo of the night before.

And then she was gone.

Aymeric raked a hand through his hair, and sighed. Much more of this uncertainty and he would nearly welcome the war that lay on the horizon. At least then, he would have a distraction.

[mimble-sparklepudding]

1, 26, and 50 for both mimble & humble for the amorous asks pls~

How does your OC feel about pet names? Might they rather enjoy them with a partner, but find them excrutiatingly embarassing if used in public?

Mimble will happily use pet names to tease people, although these are usually silly rather than cruel (Ser Handeloup was slightly perturbed to be addressed as "Mr Candyloops" for example). As romance is something to which Mimble appears cheerfully oblivious, the issue hasn't really arisen with a partner, although whether he has used them in the past is uncertain...

Humble would definitely blush if someone used a pet name for him in public (and possibly in private as well), although it would a warm sort of muddled feeling, as it would hopefully mean that they cared about him. He has occasionally pondered what he might call someone with whom he was in a relationship - most of the terms of endearment he has heard or read about might, he fears, sound clumsy or inauthentic coming from his lips.

26. Does your OC enjoy holding hands? Or are they too awkward to do this in public? Or possible too clammy?

Mimble doesn't mind holding hands if the situation demands it, although his height relative to most other non-Lalafells does rather mitigate against doing so. He is more likely to hold someone's hand whilst healing them than anything else, although whether this is merely a gesture of support, or an actual conduit for his healing magicks is not completely clear to others.

Humble has rarely held anyone's hand, although he has a very firm handshake. He does sometimes daydream about holding someone's hand, not necessarily in public (which might feel a bit exposing), but maybe in private, perhaps whilst sitting and looking up at the stars together.

50. Does your OC believe they are easy to love?

Mimble knows that he can be quite likeable, at least once people are exposed to his many charms and cheerful wit. Love might be a different matter however. He is aware that his future is uncertain and those who love him risk emotional harm should he be lost...

Humble does not believe he is easy to love. Certainly not romantically. He sees himself as too clumsy, too uneducated and too lacking in social graces to be worthy of such a thing. In his mind he is useful, like a battleaxe is useful, but not a thing of beauty, like a finely crafted duelling sword, made to be admired and treasured.

[kootiepatra]

#FFxivWrite2024 - Day 14: Telling

The eighth bell was already ringing from the Vault’s spires when the Lord Commander breezed through the doors of the Congregation of Our Knights Most Heavenly. 

Handeloup de Daimbaux raised a surprised eyebrow at him. Ser Aymeric was usually prompt—and he still was, technically speaking. The next watch was only now commencing. It was just rare for Handeloup to arrive before him, and even rarer for Aymeric not to be already halfway through a missive by the time anyone else was reporting for duty.

“Good morning, Second Commander,” Aymeric said to him with a nod.

“Good morning to you as well, Lord Commander,” Handeloup replied politely.

“Fine weather this morn, is it not?”

Handeloup blinked. He had not really noticed it on his walk here. It was cold��of course it was cold, it was never not cold—but he guessed he could remember that there had been some breaks in the clouds. “...I suppose it is, Ser. Will you be wanting your customary morning tea?”

“Ah, thank you. That would be much appreciated. Pray bring it to my office whenever it is convenient.”

“Er. But of course.” 

The request was not a taxing one; simply an odd one. Odd, because ever since First Commander Lucia had departed for Ilsabard, the usual order of business was for Handeloup and Aymeric to start the day by briefing in his office, with Handeloup bringing along the tea tray. The only exceptions were for the occasional conflicting appointments, or the very few days when Aymeric preferred to put off tea for later. So the lord commander’s current instructions were strangely redundant—albeit given in a downright chipper manner.

Aymeric departed down the hallway towards his office, and Handeloup detoured to the fireplace for the kettle, which was already boiling and waiting for him. After fetching the usual supplies, he went to meet with his superior. The office door was propped open so he could easily let himself in.

As he pulled the door shut behind him, his attention was once more drawn to Aymeric’s behavior. The man was moving around the office, skimming titles of reference tomes on the wall in search of a specific volume, setting aside some papers he was currently finished working on, and gathering up some more that he would need to get to soon. All of this was business as usual, but something seemed—strange.

Aymeric was focused and methodical when it came to his work. Although far from humorless, he never had the luxury of much spare time to burn, so he prioritized efficiency as much as it depended on him. And this morning Handeloup watched him gather some papers, turn to put them away, visibly realize he forgot something with a chuckle and a shake of his head, and rifle back through the contents of his desk for it. He stowed them, picked up the book he had been referencing last night, tossed it into his other hand with a little bit of flourish, and brought it back to the shelf where it belonged. And that faint sound—was he humming?

“Your tea, Ser…” Handeloup said bemusedly, setting the tray down on the desk.

“Aha, thank you very much,” Aymeric answered. He strode over to the table and poured himself a cup. He picked up the bottle of birch syrup and put in his usual drizzle—then looked as if he were contemplating something, smiled to himself, and put in a couple drops more.

A suspicion was forming in Handeloup’s mind about what was going on. But it wasn’t until his eyes caught one more detail that he became convinced.

“And how is the Warrior of Light, Lord Commander?” he asked with a barely-hidden smirk.

Aymeric glanced up at him in surprise. “...I beg your pardon?”

“She is back in town, I take it?”

“She is indeed. She arrived but late yesterday eve.” Aymeric shrugged ruefully. “It shall never cease to amaze me just how fast Ishgard’s rumor mill turns.”

Handeloup simply grinned. Without a word, he leaned forward across Aymeric’s desk, reached out his hand… and gingerly plucked a long lavender strand of hair from where it had caught on the Lord Commander’s regalia.

For a moment, Aymeric the Blue attained a remarkable shade of crimson.

[pumpkinmagekupo]

Harrowing Haze p2

Mizuki focused on all the rituals they did before the exorcists left the castle. Preparing the spiritual protections from the yokai they would encounter.

"You will not be joining us?" Aymeric asked, looking at Camélia who was watching from the side with two other elezen who he knew to be her apprentices.

"I am needed here. She is more than capable of this." she answered, "my apprentices and I are in charge of the protection wards here."

"I see." Aymeric hummed, he detected some lies woven in her words.

"We can show you the castle, Ser Aymeric," one of the girls said excitedly.

"I must decline, I am here to assist with the yokai hunts." Aymeric explained. Surely they knew why he was here. "The yokai are beyond the protection of the castle walls and I will follow your exorcists into battle. Our battles will hopefully give them the protection they require."

The two girls looked put out by his words. He heard one of them mumble: that demon needs no protection. Before he could question it, Camélia ushered them away. "May the kami protect you."

Aymeric frowned but thinking nothing more of it, he called for his two most prominent knights to accompany him this time and they rendezvoused with the exorcists.

He announced their arrival and the orange haired mage turned slowly, her eyes almost glowing in the warm sunlight.

"You aid is welcome but tread carefully, yokai will strike when you least expect it. This way. These portals serve as the gateways to the problem areas."

"Lead the way, mistress-"

"Mizuki is fine." she interrupted and promptly vanished through the inky black portal.

One other exorcist stood beside him "I would tread more cautious with her...she is dangerous.."

They followed her through the portal and already they were met with corpses of yokai disintegrating into aether. Mizuki already some distance in front of them.

"Mistress Mizuki!" Aymeric called "you mustn't go so far ahead."

"Just stragglers. The real threat is deeper." she replied eerily calmly.

Ignoring his pleas Mizuki kept her pace. Aymeric and his knights tried to keep up but the exorcists did not share his concern.

Is she not their comrade? Why does she seem so distance...

They caught up to her eventually. She awaited them on large stone steps.

"This fog is not natural. The culprit is close. Stay close or stay back. I shall not force you to follow." She didn't wait for their response and strode deeper into the thick haze.

Her fellow exorcists did not follow. "the evil here is not to be trifled with. It's not wise to go further-"

Aymeric stepped past them, sword in hand "Then I will go."

"Not alone my lord." Lucia and Handeloup followed his lead.

And they also ran deeper into the fog.

Silly random mini set.

p1: When the rain falls

[jefarawol]

After you sent me packing with my tail between my legs I made it to the Knights Most Heavenly. Lucia and Ser Handeloup were relieved to hear that Ser Aymeric was recovering. Lucia then filled me in on all that had transpired, with the fires spreading my comrades had gone out aided by Hilda to investigate where they could.

It was best to wait for them, until we knew of any findings it was no use going out and duplicating their work. It wasn't long until they all came back to report. They had heard of Aymeric's condition and were all relieved, Alphinaud especially, to hear that he was well.

They had been partially successful in their investigation, having managed to apprehend one of the arsonists involved. a good start but no further forward in learning the true responsible party.

Until we identify the ones who ordered the fires set, our work is far from finished.

Between the various conservative and religious factions in Ishgard, I daresay there is no shortage of parties who would like to see the status quo preserved. Do any likely suspects spring to mind?

Far too many to count.

Lord Commander, your wounds!

Are healing well, thanks to Mistress Jefara. Time is of the essence. Lest we forget, these men would sooner put their own city to the torch than see it change. When our enemies learn that we have apprehended their arsonist, there is no telling how they will react.

 Lord Commander! An armed mob has seized control of the Vault!

And now we know. Tell us what happened, ser. Spare no detail.

We were directing refugees into the basilica, as you ordered, when all of a sudden, men brandishing weapons were all around us. It happened so fast, my lord. We had no time to respond. They've taken the refugees hostage and barricaded themselves inside the Vault.

And they sent you to deliver their demands.

They...the True Brothers of the Faith demand that a conclave to select the next archbishop be held forthwith. Furthermore, th-they declare that you, Lord Commander, are guilty of patricide and high treason, and that you must surrender yourself at once to receive of the Fury's judgment.

[potassium-pilot]

FFXIVWrite 2023, Prompt 17: Helping Hand (Free Day)

Against the snow of Whitebrim, Dia stood tall to practice her magic. Almost a year of recovery passed by her slowly, but after the dynamis finally cleared and her nerves and reaction time had returned near to normal, magic flowed through her without problems. Fire roared, fae magic whispered in the wind, and ice fell from above. Yes, all was as it should be for her...mostly...

Now was the time for lightning to strike at her command. Clouds gathered to aid her, thundering loudly, and the electricity surging in the skies filled her with power. It was time to cast Thunder once again. Adrenaline rushed through her as she was to call down lightning. Just as she began to raise her codex to the air, however, it flashed by her eyes in a second.

The haunted red and black aether of Zenos viator Galvus, scythe in hand, leaping to slice into her, her only saving grace being that of the dynamis surrounding her, and an undying wish of hers to live and for him to never hurt again. She grappled with fear and anger and a strange, strange feeling...

Then she returned to the moment, and in the same second she saw her former enemy, her hand tingled with the electricity of her spell, incredible pain shooting down her right arm.

"FUCK!"

Dia fell to her knees, clutching her arm, shivering in pain, using any spell she could think of to help her injured hand. Eos raced to her side to try and help her. "Oh, thank the gods I fucked up that cast, Eos. That could have cost me an arm." As she attempted to fix the problem herself, she found her efforts futile. "Damn it, I can't fix this. All right, Eos, to Captain Whitecape."

Her arm was too injured to attempt a cast of Teleport, so she instead called upon her chocobo, who carried her back to the Gates of Judgment.

------

"All right, and this should help the nerve pain", Captain Whitecape offered a bottle of some sort of alchemical solution. The two of them were in a hospital room in the Congregation, a place Dia came to know well after all of the physical therapy she undertook here. Dia took the bottle and drank the concoction. Dia let escape a puff of air as the solution was certainly strong. "Gods, they ought to put this stuff in with the fare at the Forgotten Knight", Dia joked, "It'd be stronger than their usual."

"Maybe then, my patients would take their medication."

Dia scoffed.

"Don't feel too bad, Mistress Sito. You're certainly not the first mage to botch a cast that I've ever seen, and likely, you shan't be the last."

"I broke the first rule of casting: don't hesitate. You know what I did? I hesitated", Dia chastised herself.

"The good news is that you couldn't have timed your hesitation better. What you felt was simply aspected aether running down your arm, and not lightning itself. That much would have been harder to repair."

Dia groaned in frustration. "I guess. It's weird, Captain. Even when I had the aether in my control, I felt...heavier with it than I used to."

"You're most likely just out of practice. Keep working on your casting, my friend, and I think you'll soon find yourself back to where you were before, if not incredibly close."

Dia frowned. Both of them focused their attentions to the door as they heard a knock.

"Who is it?" Captain Whitecape asked. "I'm with a patient."

"A loved one of said patient."

Both of them could recognize Aymeric's voice from anywhere. "This would be your call, Mistress Sito. I can tell him to bugger off if you would like this to remain private."

Dia shook her head. "He was gonna find out about this one way or another. Let him in."

Whitecape went to the door and opened it for his boss. Aymeric walked in, making a straight path to Dia's bed where he sat next to her. "Ser Handeloup told me you came here gripping your hand. Are you all right?"

That bloody snitch!

He gasped as he saw her mangled hand, purple and black aether pulsating underneath her skin, the veins throbbing. "Fury!"

"It's all right, really. I was practicing casting again and I messed up a cast of Thunder. This is just aether. He already gave me some medicine, so I'm just waiting for it to kick in."

"Once it does, Mistress Sito's hand should return to functioning, after which time", he turned to Dia, "I advise you to revisit your hand exercises."

"Fair point."

Once Captain Whitecape gave the all clear, and saw that her hand looked closer to normal, Aymeric and Dia walked to Borel Manor together.

"You said you hesitated in your cast?" Aymeric clarified.

"Yup."

"What caused your hesitation?"

The memory of my fallen enemy coming back to kill me.

"I...don't know. All I know is that the minute I tried, I just..couldn't."

Aymeric hummed.

"Gods, I just...am I sure there's nothing missing? Even when I was surging with power, something was off. I felt imbalanced."

"Did Captain Whitecape have anything to say on the matter?"

Dia shook her head. "He just thinks I need to keep practicing, but it's not like that, Ayms. I've gone a ways without using combat magic before and picking it up again never felt like that."

"Perhaps a second opinion is warranted."

"No, there's not a better chirurgeon in Ishgard."

"Then what of the Conjurers Guild?"

Dia's eyebrows raised. "You think they would help?"

"I think it foolhardy to not give them a chance to aid you. Kan-e-Senna was a fine healer, and I'm certain she's not the only capable conjurer available."

"She's technically a White Mage, but still...I guess...better than keeping around that heavy feeling and risking my arm every time."

"I couldn't agree more."

--------

The midday shined into the hollow of the Conjurers Guild. Dia stepped down the path and approached the lobby, looking around the place.

"Can I help you?" A voice asked.

Dia brought her focus to the voice's source: a padjal with short blond hair and emerald green eyes.

"Oh. Hello there. I was wondering if...I might get some help."

"I can certainly try. Please, join me in the other room." Dia followed the padjal through a door and down a hall. "My name is I-Seko-Pesi. I'll do my best to aid you today." He opened a door and allowed Dia entry. Once he closed it, he asked, "May I presume this is about your right hand?"

Dia looked down. Though much of the black and purple aether had retreated, and her control over her hand felt normal again, some of the discoloration yet remained. "Pray forgive me if I'm wrong, but it looks like a cast of some spell may not have been performed correctly. Something lightning-aspected?"

"I mean, you're not wrong, but that's being treated, believe it or not. It's not why I'm here."

"Very well. What brings you to me, then?"

Dia tried to find the words. "Well...you are right in that I did cast a spell incorrectly. You see, it started a year ago--"

"You returned to Hydaelyn from the end of the universe with life-threatening injuries, which has kept you abed for quite some time."

Dia gawked at him. I-Seko-Pesi laughed. "Worry not. The Elder Seedseer warned us that you might visit us for treatment because of this. That said, enough time had passed that I thought it unlikely to happen...until today, that is. I know who you are, Dia Sito."

"Oh, that's...reassuring..."

"I know perfectly well that you have saved our universe. But one look at you tells me that you're not happy with what occurred to bring you to this point."

Dia's discomfort grew as he seemed to peer into her soul.

"So, what is it exactly that brings you here?"

"My spellcasting and my reflexes are a bit...sluggish, as it were. The chirurgeon I was seeing before insists I'm just out of practice, but something feels...wrong. I don't know how else to describe it."

"Hm, I see." I-Seko-Pesi gestured to a chair. "Take a seat. I would be happy to inspect you." Dia obeyed and sat down. There wasn't an ilm of her that I-Seko-Pesi didn't cover. Something close to twenty minutes passed before I-Seko-Pesi rose.

"Physically, I cannot find a single thing wrong with you aside from your arm, though you were telling the truth when you said it's being treated."

Dia sighed defeatedly.

"Pray do not give up hope too easily, Dia. There's one area I've yet to check." The padjal went behind her and cast some sort of spell over her head. "Tell me exactly what happened to your arm."

She told him everything- that she was in the best shape she had been in a while, felt confident enough to try casting again, and failed when she hesitated.

"What caused your hesitation?"

For some reason, she felt quite calm. There was nothing that kept her from telling the truth to him- not that he was forcing it out, but rather, she felt comfortable enough to admit it to him.

"I...had a vision of sorts."

"Oh?"

"There was an enemy of mine, Zenos viator Galvus. When I was trying to cast, I saw him again; he was trying to slice into me."

I-Seko-Pesi's magic made auras appear before him- he deduced the emotional state of his patients using color and shape. Before, Dia's was a pale blue wave, but the blue was being intruded upon by a red and black spark.

"Tell me more of this man."

That made her chest tighten. The aura in the back of her head grew overwhelmingly bright, the red and black spark overtaking any calm, and the spark itself backfired against him, tossing I-Seko-Pesi across the room.

"Thal's balls!" Dia stood up and ran to the padjal. "Are you all right?"

The conjurer groaned a bit in pain. "There's a reason we keep cushions on these walls."

She never thought about it, but there was, in fact, cushioning along these walls.

"You are not the first, nor will you be the last, to send a conjurer flying." Once I-Seko-Pesi stood up and healed a bit of pain in the back of his neck, he declared, "I believe I've found the source of the sluggishness."

"Zenos?"

"In a sense. Come, take a seat again."

"I don't want to hurt you again."

"You won't. This time, I know better."

Dia gulped before taking the seat as he requested. I-Seko-Pesi returned to the back of her head and started casting. "As I'm certain you know, magic takes quite a bit of focus. This is why casters rely on Lucid Dreaming to help us restore our mana pools. Your mind must be free of distraction. Unfortunately, your travails against this Zenos person have brought you to a point where your mind is burdened and recalling the pain and suffering he has inflicted upon you."

As he examined her, he noticed that there was a red spike- he was not in danger, but rather, she felt ashamed of something.

"Is there something more to this?"

She figured that if I-Seko-Pesi was using magic to read her emotions, it was useless to lie anyway. That said, she still didn't know how to phrase it.

"You are safe in here, Dia. I am legally obligated not to say a word to anyone. Such are protections in Gridania as we also provide mental healthcare."

The shame switched to an orange vibrating ball. She feared something. "You're not throwing me into a sanitarium, are you?"

"Nonsense. The sanitarium is for tortured souls that might hurt themselves or others. I deem you not a danger, Dia. You're safe."

I-Seko-Pesi's magic allowed for soothing effects to overtake the brain, enough that Dia could recall her feelings surrounding Zenos without too much trouble. Her aura shifted to a gray sludge as she recalled it.

"He used me."

"How?"

"He got an Ascian to rip my soul from my body, place mine in a corpse he dug up from gods only know where, and parade himself about in my own body. I fought my way to tempered Garleans and magitek, crawled through the snow as my strength failed me, and just barely made it in time to stop him from murdering all of my loved ones using my own body."

I-Seko-Pesi grimaced. "Matron preserve..."

"Never mind how he left me for dead on multiple occasions when I attempted to stop him from murdering everyone. And failed. Miserably. Then he has the gall to try and help me at the last minute, gorging on the last of the Mothercrystal's aether to fly to me, just so he could battle me once more. He stalked me, like I was prey to him. I agreed to it."

"How did that make you feel?"

"...I did it to make sure he could never touch anyone I love again. It made me feel...obligated. I felt angry. Yet, I felt pity for him too. That really was the only thing he had left to live for. If I suffered him for much longer, imagine what he could have done next, especially with the aid of Mothercrystal aether."

He saw the cacophony of emotions swirl about, but she left out one specifically.

"There was something else", I-Seko-Pesi reminded her. "Something that I wonder if you even remember."

There was. The sensation she felt in her interruption in Whitebrim called back to mind.

"What was it, Dia?"

Her breathing quickened as the answer bit away at her soul. I-Seko-Pesi could see the shame reappear.

"Please, do not let shame stop you. I promise, I want to help you, even if you are not proud of it."

"...I hate that I felt it", she admitted voicelessly.

"What do you hate?"

"...bliss."

This confirmed what I-Seko-Pesi saw. "And why did you feel bliss?"

"To return every last bit of pain he ever inflicted on me tenfold. To feel the control I had in that moment. It was my moment. It was mine, and not his. Oh, I never had that in battle before."

"And that terrifies you to feel this."

"Yes. It proves his point."

"What point?"

"That I'm just as bloodthirsty as him."

I-Seko-Pesi took in a deep breath. "There's a bit of animal in all of us. This animal is good, mind you. It serves to help every last one of us survive. It keeps us connected with Hydaelyn as a star. Animals, like anything else, react to their surroundings. You said it was only in that battle that you felt that bliss?"

"Yes. I've never liked fighting before that. I did it because I had to."

"A fair point. You've known Zenos only as a threat. When the time came that you felt able to quell it, you took it. You've faced your defeats against him, you destroyed despair itself just before that, you had dynamis surging through you. Even if these weren't aiding factors, is it so bad that you felt that while destroying him?"

"It's terrible that I felt that."

"Is it? The feeling was simply that, Dia- a feeling. You've not chosen to seek that bliss again from anyone else in the same manner. While your feelings are important, holding onto shame as you reconcile these things within you will only hamper you in the long run."

"I..."

"I would like to help you resolve this conflict within you in another session. Might you be willing to return to me next Earthsday? One o' clock?"

"Are you sure?"

"If you wish to regain your former clarity and balance when you cast, I urge you to consider meeting with me regularly. I can help, and I wish to help. It would be my honor."

Dia smiled. "All right. Earthsday, one o' clock. I'll be here."

"Wonderful."

Dia stood up before the padjal asked, "May I ask one more thing?"

"Sure."

"What compelled you to take on such a monumental task?"

"...Hydaelyn. Before I killed her anyway."

He quickly realized he was absolutely onto something by asking her to return regularly. That's way too many issues to try and cover in a day.

"I see. I look forward to meeting you again."

She grinned. "Yeah, me too. Take care." She waved and walked out of his office. As she approached the entrance, she took a deep breath of the Gridanian air and exhaled slowly.

I'm returning here a lot, aren't I?

[hylfystt]

i was looking up ser handeloup for a fic/drabble thing and i find it hilarious that his in game description is like "yeah unlike the heavens' ward, the temple knights are allowed to fuck. so anyways he has a spouse and daughter"

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

I am sorry for flooding your asks with Celestine requests. I just cannot resist angry cubs >///<. This is for the just the four of us AU.What would happen if Haurchefant and Estinien lost Celestine in Ishgard,but little did they know Celestine waddled her grumpy butt to the congregation of knights just to make sure her other Bapa takes a break. Just want to give an excuse for the temple knights to experience Celestine's grrrrr

(Don't be sorry!!! I love getting any and all asks <3 And sorry this one is a bit late!)

"And this is the Skysteel Manufactory, children. Uncle Stephanivien and the engineers...oh wait a moment." Haurchefant said, looking at the group of children at the Manufactory. Esme. Hami. Marc. Laure. Pip. Celestine? CELESTINE?! "Erm, Estinien darling, we seem to be missing one."

Estinien, wrangling a wriggling Laure in his arms, sighed. "For fuck's sake. Did she run off again?"

Esme giggled. "Bapa, I think Celestine was pointing towards Congregation. She wants Daddy."

Ah yes, of course! Our little grump loves Aymeric so very much. Haurchefant nodded and glanced at Stephanivien. "Forgive me milord, but the tour must be--"

"Say no more. Go find her, and we can do the tour another time."

***

Celestine, the youngest of the six children of the Warrior of Light and her husbands, toddled her way through Foundation with a steely determination in her chocolate brown eyes. It did not matter whether onlookers stared at her. It did not matter if anyone tried to gently ask her where her parents were. She was going to find her Daddy no matter what.

"Daddy grrrrrr." She grumbled as she made her way into Congregation.

A few Temple Knights saw her and laughed, while Ser Handeloup knelt in front of the toddler. "Hello Miss Celestine. I thought you'd be with Lord Haurchefant, Ser Estinien, and your siblings. What brings you here?"

"Daddy. Grrr." She stared at Handeloup, crossing her arms over her chest. "Daddy."

Handeloup chuckled, stood, and lifted the toddler in his arms. "I'll bring you to him, little one." He walked to the Lord Commander's door and knocked.

"Enter."

As soon as Handeloup opened the door to Aymeric's office, the toddler squirmed and screamed as he set her down.

"DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!"

Aymeric's face lit up, and he threw down his quill. "My dearest little girl! Come here! Come to Daddy!" He moved from behind his desk and picked up the toddler, who immediately nuzzled his cheek. "Are your siblings, Bapa, and Papa here? Are you all done with your tour of Foundation?"

"What do you think, Aymeric?" Estinien groused, holding Esme's hand as the boys ran inside the office. "She ran off. Again."

"Oh Estinien, she only ran to see her darling Daddy." Haurchefant chuckled and slapped him on the back. "How adorable! She is so very much like you." It's so funny to think that Esme and Celestine are Estinien's daughters when they are so very different. Esme is far more like our beloved wife, while Celestine is more like our beloved grump.

Aymeric kissed her forehead and whispered, "I know you wanted to see me, Celestine, but don't run from Bapa and Papa. Tis far safer to stay together than be apart. Isn't that what Mummy tells you?"

"Grrrr." She kissed his cheek and grinned. "Mummy best."

"Mummy is the best!" Pip said happily. "I hope she comes home soon."

"In a few days, my son." Aymeric boomed and tussled the boy's hair. "You know she must return to the First every so often for mail delivery and such. But when she does come home--"

"WITH PRESENTS!" Hami shouted and clapped.

"With presents, we'll give her many hugs and kisses, won't we?" Aymeric continued, his sapphire eyes sparkling. "Because we love her very much."

The children, including Celestine, nodded. The boys began running around Aymeric's office, while Esme stood with Estinien and Haurchefant. "And we'll tell the baby we missed them too right?" She asked, looking up at Estinien.

Estinien smiled at her. "Aye, we'll tell the baby that. Are you excited to have another sibling, Es?"

Esme nodded happily. "Yes! I want another sister, Bapa." She is such a sweet child. Though so far, Estinien and Agi have only had the two girls. Hami and Marcelin are my sons, while Laure and Pip are Aymeric's.

Haurchefant knelt in front of Esme and hugged her. "We'll just have to see, won't we?"

Halone, hear my prayer. Let this pregnancy go as smoothly as all the others. May Agnes and our child be healthy. And may you bless Celestine, who loves us with her all her little grumpy heart!

[toadeyes-miqote]

Things Hylnyan not allowed to do as of 6.35

(Hylnyan not back at full strength at moment aka within the levelling strength of DRK and RDM lvl 66~. I don’t do extremes, savages and Ultimate from SB and up to begin with. Mildly influence by the Artoria list)

Tataru indicates that failure to follow the terms would result in removing Hylnyan from her island and Othard traveling privileges revoked and be confined in Ishgard until full recovery. Aymeric has requested her company and he would like a set of this leather armour that he heard Ser Handeloup talking about. The Firmament will always welcome her helping out. There will be enough work in Ishgard to keep her out of trouble.

Run off to The First without Tataru’s permission. Feo Ul will know and will complain to terrorize  G’raha in his dreams. Feo Ul would also bring angry letters from Ryne, Lyna and Dulia-Chai if she failed to listen. Further failure and Feo Ul would go haunt the dreams of Thancred and Alphinaud. (With very Angry beavers!!!! Now please make sure our lovely branch gets proper rest! If our lovely branch does not get proper rest! No one will!!!!)

Run off to Garlemald, the Moon, Ultima Thule and this Elpis for extermination / consultation jobs without letting Tataru know. (No jobs for dead aliens or moon rabbits until fully healed!)

Any visit to the twins in Garlemald has to follow a fixed Aetheryte route and within curfew.

Travel to places in Thavnair that are not connected via Aetheryte.

Any visit to Estinien has to be done within curfew and follow a set route.

Varshan must accompany her for Void business!!!! (No she may not travel alone with Y'shtola!! I don't want a cat fight and neither do I want one cat's curiosity to kill the other or both!!! I will confine you in Ishgard if you so much as dare to guilt trip Urianger to aid you in traveling. Greater good be dammed if we lose you in the process.)

No totally no Hippo cart drifting!! Its too fast and too furious!

Take on extermination / consultation jobs(Fates, hunts and side quests) by herself while in Thavnir. (What do you mean Hildy, Godbert and Nashu makes a strong enough Light Party?!?!?!)

While in Othard, she has to stay in the Doman Enclave or with the Mol Tribe as long as her house in Shirogane is not ready (procrastinate cellar much? Oh no don't you use materials are from The First, Ultima Thule and Elpis as excuse.... Why are your materials from such far flung places to begin with?!)

She has to check in with either Higiri or Cirina daily (Don’t let her hide with the Auspices or Dothari!!! Byakko and Sadu will spoil her if they do get into fights with her!!!)

No running off to Bozjan or returning to Ivalice without Tataru’s permission ( Thancred!!!! How is this my fault? Who let her run off there? Wait what she just check in with Higiri? Oh ok.)

Not allow to take on any consultation jobs for Cid without Tataru’s permission

Not allow to go on dates alone with Cid as it always turns into a consultation and extermination job. (Stop spoiling her with new tech, Cid!)

Prior to any Pandemonium related jobs, Tataru must always be informed (What do you mean Lahabrea sensei and Elidibus-kun are keeping an eye on things?!?!)

Where is G'raha? Whatdoyou mean you left him with the Twelve?!!

"My ears be burning..."

Totally behaving myself out on the Steppes.

All I grind is the Blackjack, am behaving.

--------

Tough to solo this Steppes Fate chain.

And Dark Knight and Red Mage job quest goes under the radar along with Kojin skirmish. Sidugru and X'rhun Tia be glad that Tataru isn't aware of them.

All this because I'm letting my other classes get the remaining quest exp

[aethernoise]

( relieved )

a deleted scene, of sorts. just a little something that made me smile to write. alyx/aymeric, right after the end of 4.56.

-

When Aymeric returned to his office, there was an ambush waiting. Lucia was at his desk and Handeloup stood beside her, both engaged in low-voiced chatter that ceased immediately at his approach.

“Sers.” He greeted them simply but cautiously. “Is aught amiss?”

Lucia rose to her feet with purpose. Her face was stern and her eyes were steely.

“Lord Commander,” she declared, squaring her shoulders, “We are here to inform you that you have been relieved of command effective immediately.”

Even from Lucia, this was a terrible joke. 

“What?”

The First Commander’s face was unflinching porcelain, but beside her, Ser Handeloup coughed to conceal a breaking smile.

“You have been deemed emotionally unfit for duty,” she explained coolly, “and are henceforth relieved of command until further notice–”

“Emotionally unfit?” He blurted’ “Deemed by whom?!” 

Aymeric tried his best not to raise his voice. This had been, he could admit, a particularly trying few days–though not all bad. In truth, it had been the good things that left him so exhausted and volatile, but the last thing he wanted to do was prove this ridiculous accusation correct. Lucia and Handeloup exchanged a silent glance. 

“Begging your pardon, my lord, but ‘twas Ser Lucia and I who made the decision,” Handeloup said, “Though I have faith the entire Eorzean Alliance would be in agreement.” 

Aymeric stared at his two subordinates in the rapidly increasing certainty that he was being tricked.

“Pray help me in understanding, if you would,” he began evenly, “What might inspire such a conclusion?”

Handeloup smiled, Lucia’s eyes softened.

“If I may be candid, my lord,” the latter began, to which Aymeric could only nod patiently, “You have not exactly been subtle in your…”

“Fluttering happily about,” the Second Commander supplied, to which Lucia gave him a nearly imperceptible smirk.

“Fluttering,” Aymeric repeated with a thoughtful smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. “I see. Is my frank optimism regarding the present situation so unbecoming of my station, then? Am I forbidden from expressing a hopeful attitude toward the recent developments at the front? Or my relief over the miraculous recovery of the Warrior of Light–”

“Of your newly betrothed,” Lucia corrected.

The term Aymeric was looking for to describe his reaction in that moment was gobsmacked. Somehow, he suppressed an explosion of giddy panic, incredulous rage, and utter embarrassment into a scoff. 

“How did–I have not even–” 

“Extenuating circumstances, my lord,” said Handeloup soberly.

“Indeed,” agreed Lucia without missing a beat. “These are tumultuous times, my lord, and we are none of us afforded the luxury of taking chances. Therefore, we have seen fit to assume temporary command so that you may instead take the safety and recovery of our most beloved comrade as your personal responsibility.”

Oh, by the Fury–

“You are to accompany her to the Scions’ base of operations in Revenant’s Toll, where you will serve as her advisor and protector. You are not to leave her side.”

Aymeric was speechless.

“Travel arrangements have already been made,” Handeloup explained, “Master Garlond has remained in Ishgard to see you both back to Silvertear at your immediate opportunity.”

The absolute scoundrels–

“This is a mutiny, then,“ Aymeric finally said weakly, long since able to conceal the smile that tugged at his lips, "and banishment too?"  

–I owe them both.

"I’m afraid so, my lord,” Handeloup said without a shred of apology in his voice, “A temporary measure, of course. Only until your return to command is absolutely necessary.”

Half a moment of stunned silence hung in the room.

“Pray accept my most heartfelt congratulations, my lord,” Lucia said finally, beaming at him. “I have never been more glad to give an order.”

“And I have never been more glad to accept,” Aymeric replied in a sigh of defeat. The three of them shared a quiet laugh, and his eyes burned. “If I was not emotionally compromised before, I certainly am now.”

- 

[aymeric-the-blue-blog]

glitter: describe someone special to you.

“Someone important to me? Hmm.” Aymeric grins slowly. “Let’s see. This person is a man of incredible patience- more than I can claim to possess. He is tolerant, loyal, and kind- but he is also sharp of wit, and sharp of tongue should you give him cause to be. He is generous, always willing to help, and prone to taking on more than any one man really should- and yet he handles it with grace.” His grin softens to a smile. “I cannot think of a better man to have on my side than Handeloup.”

( Mentioned: @ser-handeloup )

[tuhis]

It’s Little Ladies’ Day, which means I draw my favorite Ishgardian little lady (and her father) again.

Except this time they’re namazu.

[adelphel-ffxiv]

(ノﾟДﾟ)八(ﾟДﾟ )ノ despite them apparently never having grown up.

(( Send (ノﾟДﾟ)八(ﾟДﾟ )ノfor a starter where our muses are children! @ser-handeloup ))

The sun was shining brightly, the markets bustling with the sounds of trades and the unmistakable clink of coin. This was Ishgard’s prime- where her towers yet stood tall, her people lively. Children darted through the streets, between market stalls, playing some manner of game, their minds placing them in a whole other realm filled with fantasy and wonder.

A young Adelphel de Chevraudan, with his hair tied back in a neat ponytail and dirt on his knees, stood atop a wall with his hands on his hips. He couldn’t have been older than five or six summers, with his small pink nose and big ambitions; and hobby for picking on nigh every soul that walked past, including a much older Handeloup.

“Ishgard’s bridges falling down, falling down!” The youth chided, giggling between notes in his song. “Come on, Handeloup- it’s your turn to play the Commander! I want to be the Heaven’s Ward knight-!"

[pumpkinmagekupo]

Au Ra April 10: Legend

Behind every legend is a small amount of truth: something real that occured.

This particular legend would never be explained and a legend it would remain. That is until a certain dragoon would witness something and would piece that puzzle together.

The legend of the Unexplained Mandragora

It was seen one day in Ishgard. Handeloup saw it first as he was heading into Aymeric's office. The little plant creature scuttled past him, making a break for the door.

It was later documented the creature was a Mandragora, as was explained by Mizuki. She explained it couldn't have been though, since the creature could surely not survive in cold Coerthas climate.

But since several knights had seen the mandragora run through the Congregation and it vanished down a set of steps just outside of the Forgotten Knight. The legend spread and soon it reached the Fortemps manor.

Mizuki lamented as Alphinaud and Emmanellain chatted excitedly about it and wondered how it had come to Ishgard, perhaps someone had it as a pet? A spy? The theories they came up were wild and fantasically.

Mizuki sipped her tea

Gods, just stop talking about it.

She thought. After all. Mizuki was the mandragora. She half blamed Alphinaud for the whole fiasco but he had been trying to help.

He delivered a letter that shouldn't have been sent to Ser Aymeric and Mizuki in a panic to retrieve the letter, broke into Aymeric's office when he was out. Stole back the letter and had to avoid being caught had turned into a mandragora to scuttle out of the Congregation.

There is a story version of this in the works.

[chysgoda]

Lucia totally babysits Handeloup’s daughter.

First time was a desperate our sitter canceled and we’ve been planning this night for months. After that Lucia gets offended if she doesn’t get right of first refusal.

This headcannon has been brought to you by the letter H and the number 3

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

This had to be asked as a follow up >//< Imagine what would happen if Aymeric had to look after Baby Celestine and when he is working and some poor knight had to hand him a document Celestine growls cutely at the knight and Aymeric because she misses mama and Bapa

"Lord Commander, I have the reports here." Ser Handeloup announced as he entered Aymeric's office. "My lord." When he handed the reports to Aymeric, a small growl startled him.

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."

Aymeric chuckled and shifted the small toddler in his lap. "Forgive me, Ser Handeloup. I have Miss Celestine while her older siblings are off in the Firmament with Lord Edmont." Celestine refused to go with them and has been clinging to me all day. Not that I mind! Tis always a joy to be with my godchildren, even when I must get work done.

Handeloup shook his head with a smile. "Of course, my lord. She certainly favors Ser Estinien with her...demeanor."

"Ha! There's no doubt that all the Varlineau children take after Estinien in some way or another." And Celestine's obviously gotten the growliness from her father. With a nod, Aymeric thanked Handeloup, who bowed and left the toddler and Lord Commander alone.

"MummyBapaGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR." Celestine growled, burying her face in Aymeric's chest.

He placed a kiss on her head and whispered, "They'll be back soon. Mayhap a few days at most. You're safe and loved. Shall I read you a story when I'm done with these reports?"

The toddler nodded and continued to cling to Aymeric.

Precious and beautiful each one. How blessed am I that I'm their godfather?