#y'lem tia

[yzeltia]

FFXIVwrite2023 26. Last

Characters: Zel Nbolo, Y'lem Tia, Raiden Obinata, Ysayle Dangolain, U'noloh Tia Expansion: Endwalker(No Spoilers) Rating: T for Tia Notes: Final Words to Y'zel

“Be happy, little Y’zel…”

“I don’t know Zel…”

"Y'zel! Take Ysayle and fly from here! I'll hold the cascade back as long as I can! I'll meet you at Ishgard's gates!"

“Farwell, Warriors of Light. Thank you for showing me the way…Y’zel…take care.”

“I’ll be back over the wall in time for the ceremony. I promise.”

[yzeltia]

Handed Down from Stone

Chapter 9: Etched in Opal Characters: Y'zel Tia, Y'lem Tia, Kana-E Senna, Raya-O Senna, A-Ruhn Senna, E-Sumi Yan, some Elementals Rating: T for Tia Notes: Character Death Warning

-Near the Dravania Forelands, 1562-

"Esuna!"

Y'zel's eyes lit up as the sparkle of his aether surrounded his father. The man coughed a bit and shifted in the bedding atop the sleigh, shaking the building snow off him.

"Very good Y'zel…but you need to keep moving us forward."

The boy frowned at his father, the man looking pale. "Did it not work again?"

"Oh no. It worked fine…but I still need proper medicine to get me back on my feet."

Y'lem offered the boy a smile, the young Miqo'te unable to see the strain behind it. Doing as he was told, Y'zel began to pull again, dragging the bed ridden man along the snowy road. 

"Couldn't we ask Master Matoya to help…"

"No," the man wheezed stubbornly. "The folks in Tailfeather will have a healer with the proper medicine."

Y'lem began to cough again in the wake of his insistence. The boy's ears lowered in turn. Left to trudge on, he pulled at the sleigh, finding it rather easy to move over the slick snow, not accounting for how light and thin his father had gotten. 

"Are there chocobos in Tailfeather? I miss the chocobos from home."

"There are probably chocobos."

"Really? I bet that's why they call it Tailfeather! Do you think that's why they call it Tailfeather?"

"I don't know Zel…"

"I hope it is. I'm going to ask when we get there. Do you think we could take one home with us? I bet it'd pull the sleigh and we'd go really fast! Don't you think?"

"..."

"I'd take really good care of it if I could. I know how to clean the stables and feed them. Uncle Y'rhul even taught me how to put on a saddle and Uncle Saru'a and Uncle Saru'to showed me how to sweep properly."

"..."

Y'zel's ears perked as he listened for a response. Getting none, he scowled then looked back to find his father still and reclined against the handlebars. 

"Daddy?"

Y'lem didn't stir. Quietly, the boy veered off the path and found a tree that had space enough for them to rest under without being burned by snow or low branches. Yawning, he crawled into the blankets with his father, moving his heavy arm around him, before closing his eyes to rest.

-Old Gridania 1-

Y'zel's ears twitched as he stood in the clearing. Whispers came in all directions, disjointed and cluttered, lacking intention until some started to stick out more than others.

"Endless outsiders."

"More squabbling between men over the skies. We should send another mighty wind to remind them who Twelveswood belongs to."

"Not all of them are bad."

"In the days of the Green Wrath, such destruction would never be allowed without penance."

"All should are children of the Shroud. They've protected us when we couldn't protect ourselves."

"Can the pink one year us?"

"Blessed by Hydayln. Though not 'the' most blessed."

"Nonsense. Only out chosen can."

Opening his eyes, Y'zel looked to the Senna siblings and E-Sumi before teetering over and catching himself as he collapsed onto his thighs. Kana-E and A-Ruhn were quick to offer him a hand up while the Guildmaster looked on stoically.

"Sorry. The Echo takes a lot out of me when I force it…," Y'zel apologized before fluttering his ears shyly, "I heard anger towards outsiders���and also a little fondness. There doesn't seem to be a consensus among the voices."

"Well, that sounds about right," Raya-O thought aloud.

"Or a lucky guess," the guildmaster huffed before stepping forward, grey eyes looking up into the Keepers, "But I don't sense any falsehood from you and your cousins' reputations are well known here. Raya-O if you could find time to tutor him."

Y'zel bowed deeply as the guildmaster took his leave, Kana-E leaving with him as she struck up conversation. Letting out an exhale, the Miqo'te looked to the twins before following along. He thought it strange how easily others seemed to continue to adopt him. The imposed exile by his father in Sharlayan and the constant liminality he experienced in Ishgard, and the bitterness exchanged in Coerthas, somehow had not hardened him nor made him unlovable despite feeling like it should. 

Home was starting to take many forms and faces. And yet…

[yzeltia]

Handed Down from Stone

Chapter 14: Etched in Jet Characters: Claudine, Y'zel Tia Rating: T for Teen Notes: The last word is not a typo

-Sharlayan Settlement 1560-

Claudine swallowed as he heard the sounds of sniffling in the empty study. The room was locked when he came in, and he was rather certain his mentor, Y'lem Tia, had the only other key. Carefully setting tomes down, he looked about, jumping as he heard a hiccup in the dark. 

Fairly certain he didn't sense the aether of specter, logic took hold. Someone was there with him, even if not apparent. Carefully he wandered between desks until his eye caught a pink tail slinking under the farthest table. Walking to the spot, he squatted, finding a young Miqo'te curled up, rubbing his eyes, and sniffling.

"Hey there. How'd you get in here," he asked with a small smile.

The freckled boy jumped as he was talked to. "D-Don't eat me," he begged before trying to scamper away, hitting his head on the table and flattening himself.

Claudine stifled a bit of a laugh before moving chairs to sympathetically check on the boy as he rubbed his forehead, "I'm not going to eat you. I just wanted to know how you got to such a place."

"The key…" whined the little Miqo'te.

"And you're scared I'm going to eat you for stealing it?"

The younger boy shot up, freckled cheeks puffing out in a huff. "I didn't steal it! It's my key!"

"They don't give just give study keys out to little boys."

"They gave one to you!"

"I'm not a- You little!"

Claudine fumed for a moment then calmed himself, forcing a smile at the brat.

"Who gave you the key," the blond finally asked after being locked in a bit of a staring contest.

"My father."

"Oh! Professor Y'lem's boy. You're Y'zel!"

Y'zel nodded, sitting up and looking up to the other. "Mhm…"

"You shouldn't be in here, key or not. What if you got hurt," Claudine offered.

"I can't! I'm doing a bravery test."

"What?"

"Shtola said I couldn't stay in here by myself all day….and I told her I could. She told me a bunch of scary stories though about creatures that come out of the darkness to eat little Miqos before she left."

"Well, that's sounding like she cheated a bit to rile you up."

Y'zel nodded then hunkered back down under the desk. 

"Well, if she asks I'll tell her you were plenty brave given the circumstances…but perhaps I should take you to your father."

Y'zel blinked, staring at the Hyur as his hand was offered. Gingerly, he reached out, taking it and letting the other pull him from his spot. His ears perked suddenly.

"Who is Praxi…Praxithius?"

Claudine shook his head, "I'm uncertain. Did you read about them?"

"You just said it."

"I didn't say anything?"

Y'zel folded his ears back as his companion shook his head in earnest. Offering a smile, Claudine reached out, ruffling the younger boy's hair. "Let's go."

Y'zel nodded, reluctantly following along.

"You'll tell Shtola I stayed the entire night?"

"It wouldn't be right to lie…perhaps a half -truth. You stayed until I forced you out."

"That works I guess. She's a shrew."

"That's not very nice."

"It's not? Father says it means she's perceptive…though disapproves of Uncle Rhul letting her practice with Master Matoya."

"Oh! You meant she's shrewd. A shrew is a small burrowing animal."

"I guess shrewd then…"

Claudine laughed as Y'zel looked away embarrassed, "I believe a bit more work on your vocabulary might go a long way in mitigating some of your cousin's teasing."

"Mit..what?"

"Learn more words," Claudine laughed.

"I read better than a lot of my cousins…big books with several volumes!"

"And you didn't know what a shrew was?"

"I don't read about animals…"

"Then what do you read about?"

"Brave knights and adventures…a lot rescuing princesses from dragons…but I like the ones where it's just the prince and knight and they fall in love better…Shtola says that they're unrealistic though and will give me the wrong impression of what courting is like when I'm grown…"

"Perhaps a bit. I'm too young for that sort of thing myself, but imagine when I am I will be too busy with research to bother with that kind of thing."

"You don't want to live happily ever after?"

Claudine paused, turning to look at Y'zel whose blue eyes had widened, somehow threatening tears.

"I…well, there are other things to worry about."

"That's so sad! Even scholars deserve love! My father is a scholar and all he worries about is his work, but even he found my mother and had me!"

The Hyur blinked, finding Y'zel clinging to his student robes. He offered the boy a pat on the head. "I am not much older than you! As I said, far away from such things! There's no need for you to despair on my half!"

Y'zel sniffled then looked up at the other before his ears perked once more before worried expression turned into horror stricken. Quickly turning, Claudine gathered the other onto his arms then knelt down, shielding the Miqo'te before tilting his head as a Bhoot hovered by, arms outstretched to gently caress his face. The Hyur seized up, scooting back before it could slither around his neck. "Shoo! Off with you," he ordered, finding a discarded book to bounce off its dome body.

Hit, the creature floated back, then continued on, leaving the boys to huddle under the desk. Catching his breath, Claudine checked on Y'zel, the Miqo'te's pink hair on end. 

"Perhaps we've wandered too deep into the library for this hour. Let's just wait until someone wanders by," Claudine offered, trying not to appear as frightened as his companion.

Y'zel nodded meekly, recoiling against the other's chest, content to hunker down shielded by the student's robes. It was not before the two had dozed off together, the boys remaining undisturbed until found later by the Miqo'te's worried father.

-Coerthas, Y'zel's Cabin, Present-

Y'zel tilted his head as he read the letter a second time. Though most likely not his friend's intention, it has struck the more empathetic parts of him. To imagine the Voidsent were nothing more than scared aetheric consciousnesses seeking nourishment, made them seem frightened and in need of care, at least to him.

"Is your friend extending her sabbatical? You look as if you've been quite shaken by that letter," Claudien asked, lowering himself beside Y'zel on their futon.

"No, it's…well," he started before handing over the letter.

"Quite taken with your cousin…and this bit about traversing the Void itself! I really must invite her to dinner sometime and pick her brain…but I'm not parsing the reason you've become so upset."

"The Voidsent…they're…they're just trying to get by…"

"...by sucking the aether out of living beings, yes."

"There's so many things flushed with aether though! I imagine if we just found a way to supply it…" he muses quietly.

"You've got a big heart," Claudine sighed, kissing the Miqo'te's forehead before pulling him down onto his chest, "But…perhaps we wait on your friends to learn more about them before you make a buffet of yourself."

Y'zel puffed his cheeks out then crossed his arms as he rolled away from the other. "I have the Echo. I'm blessed with more aether than I need. Besides…I owe a Voidsent…"

"Pardon? How could you manage that?"

"I was cornered one time in some ruins in Gyr Abania…I had packed light for climbing, all I had was the training scythe my dad had gifted me as a boy."

"Raiden, not Y'lem correct?"

"Yes…Anyroad, I was cornered and when things got too hard to handle it appeared from the stone embedded in the hilt and felled the creatures."

"And you're certain it was a Voidsent?"

Y'zel nodded, "It wasn't if my own aether, and I felt this connection with it. An exchange."

"And since?"

"Well, I was scared after and on my return packed it away…but now I'm worried. It probably has a special connection to me and I've all but severed it."

"...Again, before you find yourself crawling into the nearest void gate, perhaps the scientific method should be involved? Testing. Retesting? I believe there are some resources on this phenomenon available in my department as it was of interest to some aristocrats in Ul'dah or something. Yet, another project added to my people in the wake of the reopened borders."

Y'zel relented and turned back around, nuzzling up under Claudine's arm, pinning his ears under it to dull the man's rant about work as he tried to doze off. As he fell into sleep, one ear perked, catching a familiar voice he couldn't place."Hunger…return…Pretzel…."

[yzeltia]

(@driftward) For Sasi:🛍- does my muse enjoy shopping? 🍺- is my muse a drinker? If yes, what is their alcohol of choice? ✈️- how does my muse prefer to travel? ☮️- is my muse a “hippie” or are they more traditional/straight-laced? 🦠- does my muse get sick often? 👽- does my muse believe in intelligent extraterrestrial life? 👻- does my muse believe in ghosts? 👯️- how would my muse react to learning they are a clone? 🤐- can my muse keep a secret?

🛍️ Immensely, especially for kitchen gadgets

🍺 Yes, though with proper pairings to her meals. Usually wine but occasionally a beer or gin cocktail

✈️ She prefers boats despite her middle sister's affinity for air ships

☮️ Not in the slightest

🦠 Not really. No more or less than anyone else

👽 She didn't think much of it before the Final Days but given that her home was

👻 She doesn't give much thought to them but probably

👯 She'd not like the idea of another sister but an extra set of hands in the kitchen that knows exactly how she likes things would be nice

🤐 She didn't tell anyone that Zel eloped Y'lem and was pregnant so that Deleh wouldn't kill the Tia until they were brave enough to announce it

[yzeltia]

Of a World of 3 WOLs

Hello! I'm a Miqo'te resident of Courel. I enjoy writing, roleplaying, and possibly spending too much time in Eorzea. I tend to write on the angsty romance side which goes into lewd territories at times and I'm generally good about tagging accordingly. I use this as my main blog so my queue might spit out some things I find aesthetic or off-theme at times. My Cast

~ Y'zel Tia and Leonnioux Ouraux ~ Y'zel - Y'zel is my main character who I actively do content with. He's not a WOL, though, possesses an Echo that lets him hear what's on others' minds as well as whispers from the past. He grew up raised by his adopted father, Raiden Obinata in Ishgard, after his birth father Y'lem's passing, until certain events forced them to flee to live in Falcon's Nest until the calamity saw him lose another parent. Having grown close to Ysayle Dangoulain in his time in Coerthas, he served under her until events led her to become Shiva, leaving him to be captured by the Warriors of Light and Scions...this united him with his family and from there he worked with them in a limited capacity until the Gubal Library was reopened and he took a position under his adoptive father's brother, Asa Obinata, to retrieve artifacts and tomes around Eorzea that belonged to Gubal before the sealing. He's known a few loves, U'noloh Tia of whom he was engaged to until his untimely death in Gyr Abania before their marriage. After some time alone, he was kidnapped by an A tribe Tia and made to work in a pleasure house in Hingashi until rescued by Ioh'juhn Reighn and brought to Gage Acquisitions. Asa saw to it that he remained under their care and fulfilled his authentication and retrieval duties while loaning his talents out to the group. There he simped after Ioh, while also entertaining a loveless relationship with M'zhet Tia on his adventures east. After a failed relationship later with G'raha Tia, he was united with his father's student Claudine, and now they currently cohabitating with one another while Y'zel is courted by Leonnioux Leonnioux - Leonnioux Ouraux was born to a high house in the pillars. As a boy, he dreamed of becoming a dragoon knight, and also had his sights on his classmate, Y'zel. Indoctrinated by the Holy See, he struggled with his feelings for the Miqo'te and the possibility that he was the son of a heretic. Eventually when Y'zel was chased out of the city with Raiden, it came to light that his father had caused the chocbo blight. This left his family stripped of all honors. Still, he worked his way up through the knights on his own power and was able to reach his dream, until the Calamity struck and brought to light his poor circulation in the cold. The chilled weather robbing him of his dream, he took what pension he made and traveled south to warmer weather and blew through gil until finding himself rock bottom in Costa de Sol. Taken in by the locals, they taught him the art of creating the drinks as opposed to just downing them. Once he mastered the craft, he set out to open his own bar, leaving a bit more patient and wiser than he'd started. From there, he took up residency at Gage Acquisitions and reunited with Y'zel where he quietly bided his time until able to properly apologize about their boyhood and kindle a new relationship with him.

[WIP Will add more later] Projects

[yzeltia]

Handed Down from Stone

Chapter 2: Etched in Ruby

Characters: Y'lem Tia, Zel Nobolo, Y'zel Tia, Urianger Augurelt

Rating: T for Tia

Notes: None

-Dravinia Hinterlands, Sharlayan, 1552-

            “I thought I’d find you out here.”

            Zel Nobolo turned her head as she heard her husbands voice from behind, swinging her legs over the cliffs facing the Bloodbrine Sea. “Did you now? I suppose I am ever the creature of habit with our little monk on the way. He won’t let me have a moments peace to sleep with all his kicking,” she sighed, rubbing her swollen stomach.

            Y’lem smiled, draping a blanket about his wife before taking a seat next to her and passing her a warm cup of soup. “Good. Our little Nuhn-to-be must be getting close if he’s scrapping around in there.”

            Zel rolled her eyes, tail flicking. “Don’t do that.”

            “Do what my love?”

            “Push your jealousy towards your brother on our baby.”

            Y’lem crossed his arms then closed his eyes, white tail flopping against the ground in annoyance. “Why can’t I want the best for my son?”

            “The best being your vision for him? A white-robed lordling surrounded by a harem. From what I recall, despite Y’rhul besting you at every turn, he couldn’t give you the role even if he wanted to. Something about you being a try-hard tail chaser.”

            “I charmed you, didn’t I?”

            “Yes; however, you were quite the chore at first if I recall. Asking to carry my axe as if I was some Stadium schoolgirl then nearly toppling under the weight.”

            “I…Well…,” Y’lem started, face red as he looked away, “I don’t recall it like that.”

            “Asked me if I wanted to start a tribe of our own too. You thought yourself oh so fresh. My brothers howling with laughter when I took you to my room then booted you out stark naked still echoes in my mind. An incorrigible rake. You had to be trained.

“Our son will be yalms more respectable…By the Twelve, he might not even fancy women. What would you do then,” she asked, eyes flickering red.

Y’lem’s ears perked up as his wife postured the question, not wanting to stoke the fires of the beast within her. “No doubt love him all the same if that is your worry. I’m not a monster. Besides, he won’t be our last.”

The man put his hand on his love’s stomach, ear wiggling, hoping that it my satiate her building rage. Zel closed her eyes then opened them again. Inner beast tamed, for now. “Hopefully. While I don’t intend to give you a tribe, I did come from a large family myself. Only three of us would be far too quiet.”

-North Vesper Bay Outpost, a bit after the Warrior of Light’s defeat of Nibriales-

Y’lem shuddered. “Hopefully not as wild as your lot. I don’t think I can manage-“

            He wished he’d stopped before he started, stoking the fires once more in her eyes. Y’lem’s scream could be heard all over the hinterlands that night before silenced when he hit the sea. The topic of leadership of the Y tribe went away for a time after. Long enough for Y’zel to be brought into this world and for the man to see his wife off.

            And so here he was, picking back up combat training, starting with relearning the way of the axe, as his mother before him. A lost art from an old clan. Before him, a man that looked like he could barely pick up a book, let alone an axe.

            Y’zel blinked as he looked up at the hooded Elzen, the latter’s eyes obscured by a strange set of goggles. He was supposed to meet someone to assist in his Warrior training, still not quite ready to journey to Old Sharlayan to reunite with the Keeper side of the family that his soul stone was passed down from. Y’shtola was quick to send him away once brought back from Coerthas, putting distance between himself from Ysayle until more could be learned. While it felt good to get away from Ishgard, he felt that his cousin wouldn’t leave him to his own devices. A Scion seemed to be involved in every task his cousin bade him do while things were uncovered.

            “I think there was a mistake. Are you sure there isn’t another Urianger inhabiting the Waking Sands?”

            “Nay. Thou hath found they teacher. I believe this was a misguided effort by thy cousin to bring comfort to me in the wake of the loss of a dear friend. She too, wielded a great axe like yourself. Growing up alongside her, I was privy to her mastery. She worked her body as hard as her mind, and to be closer to her, I took it upon myself to learn what I could about her craft. While no master, I believe I can instruct well enough.”

            Y’zel nodded slowly. “I see…I’m sorry for your loss.”

            “Time heals all, yet you are nary here to empathize, but to learn. Now, take your stance before the striking dummy.”

            The Miqo’te nodded then pulled out his axe. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply then parted his gate and squat a little.

            “Good. Now, your opener.”

            Y’zel flattened his ears as the man reminisced.  “I-I’m plenty fierce! I am a student of the dark arts…I am…I am…”

            Y’zel flung his axe forward then rushed in to retrieve it. Delivering three strikes in succession, he panted then looked to his teacher as the Elzen shook his head.

            “You hath the basic swings down; however, how doth you think you’re generating enmity? The Warrior is fierce. Thy art…well, thy art rather soft looking to be honest. One must project a sense of foreboding. Why Moenbreyda, even when charming there was a certain air to her that one did not to cross. Sweet as she was, she was the kind to axe first, then question after if thou will allow me a pun.”

            “Thou art what? A small Tia, with soft pink ears, and a long fluffy tail. How would thou ever hope to be a Nuhn if thou cannot even intimidate a defenseless scholar such as myself? Should I send word to your dear cousin that thou are incapable of performing and send you on your way back to her with thy tail between thy legs?”

            The Miqo’te let out a cry of frustration and swung his axe down hard into the striking dummy as the other took shots at him. Dust swirled about him as he swiped again and again at the sparing tool until he felt something come over him. “I do not want to be a Nuhn,” he screamed before rising his axe high then cleaving the wooden figure in half, panting hard as he felt the energy expend from him, “I want to be me!”

            Urianger clapped softly then gave a nod of approval. “I do apologize for putting you on, but I believe thou successfully executed several attacks under the Berserker stance and managed to release thou’s inner beast? Do you sense it now? I believe Moenbryda surmised it to be a cathartic release after a surge of unbridled rage.”

            “I felt…something…unpleasant memories…but also, I felt good in a way too? Defiant against what was expected of me…proud of who I am. Sorry, that probably doesn’t make much sense.”

            “It does not need to. In everyone there doth live anger and self-doubt. What better way to crush it than channeling it into righteous fury. At the end of the day, it is not anger that moves a warrior, it is passion and self-confidence. My dear friend had a lot of both. I’m sure there are many things that move thou, and many things inside telling thou that thou are not worthy of those things. Use thy inner fire to assuage the latter, and your axe will strike true every time.”

Y’zel nodded a bit as he tried to catch his breath. “My father…wanted me to best my uncle someday…reinstate the old ways of the Jaguar tribe, like many other Seekers; however, I didn’t want that. Still, I trained as he asked all my life until he parted…I’ll never be a Nuhn like he wanted, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a big family. I have my cousins, and uncle Y’rhul, my aunties and uncles on my mother’s side, and no matter what has happened to me, I always have found family in someone else and I imagine that will get bigger the more I travel and grow…

“…And right now, some of that family needs me to become strong so I can help her make people see the truth of things. I need to become stronger so I can go back and protect her. Let’s keep going. Tell me more of what your friend taught you.”

Y’zel flicked his tail around before retaking his stance, feeling the same rise in energy building up again. Urianger bowed a bit then stiffened back upright. “Well then, let’s begin again. Restart with thou opener please.”

[yzeltia]

Handed Down from Stone

Chapter 8: Etched in Lapis Characters: Y'zel Tia, Silver the Carbuncle, Y'lem Tia, Matoya, Silver the Faerie, @biot08 's Nyx, @goldencrusader 's Ioh'Juhn Reighen Rating: T for Tia Notes: None

-Sharlyan Settlement, 1651, post-Exodus-

Y'zel whimpered as he sank into the warm waters of his tub, ears left to twitch just above the surface. He was in for it now. Though the door shut and the adults in the next room, the yelling carried through to his little pink ears, even with them lightly dulled by the water.

"You've no right to tell me what to do with my son!"

"Don't you take that tone with me,Tia. You'd have no son if my proggos didn't pluck him out of the mud in the Arboretum!"

"Y'zel knows better than to enter buildings without permission."

"And who remains to give him permission? Hmm? He has the run of the place! You should have packed up and run off with the rest of your lot!"

Y'zel squirmed underwater as the voice rang out, only to have his ears tugged on. Rising with the pulls, he let out a gasp and found himself being chittered at by his father's silver carbuncle, seemingly scolding him.

"Master Matoya, there is simply too much here to simply leave behind. Surely someone of your advanced years doesn't mean to take on the burdens of warding this place all on her own."

The boy flinched as he heard the Archon's cane meet the marble floor.

"Such disrespect. I'm beginning to wonder if your remaining behind was because they couldn't be bothered taking you with them!"

The woman sighed deeply before continuing, "I did not come here to give you counsel nor be insulted. I've done my share of raising Y'rhul's kin. I don't need to take on more, as you put it, in my 'advanced years.' Goodbye Y'lem Tia, do not darken my doorstep in the future and I shall hope to the Twelve your boy stays out of trouble while you meander about here in your brother's shadow."

With that the door slammed and there was silence for a moment until footsteps started towards the door. Y'lem entering looked to Y'zel and the carbuncle then down to the muddied clothes with a deep sigh before starting to undo his robes.

"Son, I told you not to go into places without permission."

"You said other people's houses...not the Arboretum...I wanted to get some honey, but the Bees are a lot bigger than they used to be and chased me until I tripped and fell."

Y'lem tugged over a stool then sat down and began to rinse himself off, ears folding back to keep the water out of them. 

"Houses, buildings, anything that is outside of our estate."

"But that means I can't go anywhere..."

"Exactly."

Y'zel frowned then tried to sink down in the water again, only to have the carbuncle nip at him once more.

"There's no one to play with anymore. Mhitra and Shtola are gone...my ice animals won't move. All I have is Ruby but she doesn't stay manner-rested as long as you can keep Silver around."

"The word is 'manifested', and if you keep practicing the spell books your Uncle Rhul sent you, you'll be able to hone your aether longer as well."

The boy scowled then leaned over the tub as his father washed up. He was relieved to find that he wasn't in trouble. Master Matoya didn't seem more or less cross than usual either. In truth, he knew he might get in trouble stretching his father's words, but they both seemed more relieved to find him muddy than they were angry that he'd gone in search of a treat alone.

Thinking he was in the clear, he reached out and pawed at the silver chain around the man's neck, pulling it towards him to examine the Lapis jewel on the end. Grunting, Y'lem leaned away then stood up, taking the necklace off before placing it into the boy's hands as he slipped into the tub behind him. Curiously, Y'zel traced his finger over the etching.

"Will you tell me the story again," Y'zel asked, leaning back as he held the gem into the light.

"Which one?"

"The one where you and mother found this stone?"

Y'lem hummed. "I don't remember."

Y'zel folded his ears. "Yes you do! You wanted to impress mother and took her to La Nose...La Nose..."

"La Noscea."

"Yeah. You went there and there was a big Castle in a lake and you wanted to impress mother by catching the biggest fish you could in the lake but...a salamander tried to eat you and mom chopped him up with her axe and it spit you out and this jewel."

"Oh. That story. Well, you told it so we'll yourself, I don't think I could do it justice."

Y'zel turned and pinned his ears back in annoyance as his father beamed down at him.

"That's a dirty trick."

"The only thing dirty in here is you. Did you even wash your behind your ears before you got in? There's streaks of mud everywhere," the man laughed before grabbing the shower hose and dowsing the boy.

All seemingly forgiven, for now, the two laughed until it was time to dry off and put the young Miqo'te to bed.

- The Goblet, Post Ala Mhigan Revolution -

Y'zel slumped against the wall of his new room, looking up at the low ceiling that concealed the loft above. Ahead had halls of empty shelves for him to fill with his seemingly endless hoard of books and found artifacts. Someone at Gage Acquisitions seemed to have found him his perfect room. Yet, it hadn't quite felt like home, his mind several doors down to his savior's room. The dangerous Limsan rogue who'd freed him from his captors in Hingashi. The one who helped get him his new job. The first to make him feel something since U'noloh passed.

Standing, he opened his door and slipped into the strange hall, doors labeled carefully by many members, highlighting their excentricities. Some were communal use rooms, others private bedrooms. He imagined his would be a blend given his inheritance of rare tomes. All the while he felt as if eyes were upon him...at least two sets, yet with each creek and turn he couldn't find the source. Arriving at his destination, he swallowed, looking at the clumsily written warning to not mess with the lock. His hand shook as he reached for the door only to have a flash of light flutter from his chest then spiral up to pull at his ear.

"O-Ow! Silver! Please," Y'zel whined, letting the fairy pull him aside. Fluttering in front of him, the tiny silver-haired aetheric being shaking its head while crossing its arms in front of him in an X. The creature floated about, masculine in form, wearing naught but a bandana and loose trousers. 

"Oh! I'm just going in to say hi," Y'zel huffed, trying to reach for the door again.

The fairy fluttered down and bit the Miqo'te's knuckle, then have a sharp pull, yanking the hand away from the door, able to steer Y'zel away and tumble him into the floor. Whimpering, the Tia rolled onto his back, looking up to find Silver standing in his chest, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently.

"I am an era too old for you to be trying to play at a parent. Ioh'Juhn is a purrfectly....perfectly fine gentleman to associate with."

The fairy rubbed at his face before pulling its scarf up to cover his nose then rubbing his finger over his throat.

"He will not! He likes me. He calls me his kitter..."

Silver dropped his bandana then furrowed his brow before turning his back and fluttering up and away, zooming in a deliberate and somehow annoyed, flourish of sparkles towards the door and through the keyhole. Upset, Y'zel hopped to his feet then peeked in the hole. 

"Enough of that! Come out," he ordered, digging a claw into the mechanism. 

After a moment, he heard a clink inside then felt a pinch at the top of his finger...and then nothing. His body tensed, and once more he fell backward, unable to move more than his gaze. Stepping into view, he found a pair of mismatched eyes gazing down upon him, not that of his paramour, but what appeared to be a young Miqo'te woman.

"Reighen's door states, 'Do not mess with the locks'," she quoted.

And then she was gone. Leaving Y'zel to lay there, fairyless and confused until the rogue inside stumbled out later in the morning to revive him.

[yzeltia]

Handed Down from Stone

Chapter 3: Etched in Citrine

Characters: Y'lem Tia, Y'zel Tia, U'rahn Nuhn, Violet Fisher, Jannie Eyradoux

Rating: T for Tia

Notes: None

-Sharlayan 1560-

Y'zel yawned then rubbed his eyes as he slumped back into his father's chest.

"Getting tired already? I thought you were big enough to stay up late for the meteor shower," Y'lem Tia chuckled, swaying his tail in the grass as he checked on the lowered telescope next to them.

"I'm not falling asleep. I can stay up," the boy protested in a near mumble. "Maybe I can have some coffee," the young Tia asked, reaching for his father's thermos.

"Noooo you don't. There's cocoa for you," the Seeker scolded, pushing his son's cup into the grasping hand, "You can have coffee when you're a Nuhn."

"But daddy, you're not a Nuhn."

Y'lem grimaced then shoved a marshmallow into his boy's mouth. "That's beside the point. I'm the dad and I make the rules."

Y'zel tried to let out an "aww," but with his mouth filled it sounded something more akin to a distressed poroggo.

"Now. While we wait, why don't you tell me what that one is," Y'lem asked, pointing up into the sky.

Y'zel munched on his marshmallow then swallowed as he pointed where his father had, zigzagging between five stars. 

"That's the Fury's Spear! She lives in a beautiful ice palace made by Mephina, and smites all her enemies," the boy answered miming a spear throw before making a whooshing noise followed by a little pretend scream.

Y'lem laughed then pat his boy's head. "Not quite, but close. Halone carved her palace out of the moonbeams that Mephina gave to her. They worked together. And just as the Fury administers justice, she also is capable of the same love and mercy as her sister."

"Oh…"

"Find another."

Y'zel looked around, ears fluttering as he tried to make sense of the stars above. "Um…there," he pointed out, finger circling around for stars before flowing downward to four more points with a "whoosh."

"Good. What is it?"

"The Scholar's Ewer. Everything anyone has ever and will ever think of flows out of it…it flows endlessly into aether through Nymeia's loom and back…kinda like the lifestream?"

"A good example, yes," the boy's father praised.

"I was going to be Y'meia if I wasn't a Tia…"

Y'lem's ears perked at the boy's revelation and asked, "How did you come to know that?"

"Uncles Saru'a and Saru'to gave me some of mommy's old journals to read…"

The man sighed and stroked over his son's ears, looking to the sky. "That is correct. Your mother very reverently paid Her respect."

"...but why am I not Y'thaliak Tia? That's what you wanted rrright," the boy inquired, pressing into his father's large hand as he pet him.

Y'lem smiled. "Because I wanted to honor your mother and her family for bringing you into the world. Just like your uncles bare your grandmother's name, I gave you Zel's. You are both Keeper and Seeker after all."

"Oh…thank you…"

"Hmm?"

"For making sure I will always have mommy arrround."

The man paused, then closed his eyes and hugged his boy tight with one arm before hearing him gasp.

"Look! Look daddy! Look they're falling!"

Y'lem followed his son's excited pointing, watching as the meteors began to glitter through the sky, ears perking up in awe. Together they watched, little Y'zel excitedly bouncing as more and more streaked across the sky until he suddenly stopped. Looking down, Y'lem found his boy, not asleep, but with his hands clasped together and muttering.

"Wishing for something?"

"Yeah…"

"What are you wishing for?"

"I'm wishing that the Spinner will make me a big strong Nuhn so you'll be proud of me someday!"

Y'lem lowered his as he frowned. His dream for his son seemed all too well ingrained in the boy. As Y'zel reached for the telescope, the man caught him with both arms and gave him a firm hug. "I will always be proud of you. Nuhn or not…" he whispered, holding him with a little rock until the boy settled in and passed out on his shoulder from the late hour and excitement.

-The Dusk Vigil, the Midst of the Dragonsong War–

"Y'zel! Buddy! Pick a card! Any carrrd," U'rahn begged nervously, a fearful purr escaping him as frozen zombies started to come from every direction.

"I'm trying…just need to draw and….here! The Ewer,," Y’zel called out, holding up the card to bless the Warrior, hoping for the best.

U'rahn let out a breath of relief before feeling an excess of aether hit him. His face turned green, and soon he was on his knees, axe sliding away from him as the aether-deficient Seeker got sick.

"Sorry! Sorry," Y'zel whimpered while Violet pushed past him, stepping in front of U'rahn to scatter bullets into the approaching hoard.

"For fucks sake! Why did you come as a damned Astrologian if you don't know your fucking spells," the gunslinger shouted, kicking the Seeker on the ground in an attempt to get it all out of him so he could rejoin the battle.

"I-I just really liked their aesthetic" Y'zel responded meekly, tossing a healing cantrip U'rahn's way.

"Field practice is an excellent way to improve one's abilities; however, perhaps this wasn't the best timing for a position that requires much more practical knowledge before execution," Jannie offered, taking Y'zel by the waist, "Channel, then release. Focus on the basics of your role and worry about the greater mechanics of the job later."

Y'zel inhaled then floated his star globe in front of him before giving it a dip to summon a well of gravity to bring the mob down. 

U'rahn swayed as he stood, shaking out his head as Violet kicked through bodies in an attempt to find a key for the door ahead.

"I'm really sorry. It really feels like the greater workings of the cards are constantly in flux. I thought at first they were more diversified in their effects but now they seem rather evenly divided and it's a struggle to remember which one is which. Especially with the Arrow doesn't enhance ranged positions but then the spire does? Sorry…I'm…”

"You don't need to that get worked up. Just take a breath and if you're uncertain what a card does redraw or shuffle it away. We're more than capable of moving through without a boon."

"Seriously. It's not like any of us were that injured…just inconvenienced. Just slow the fuck down and stop panicking," Violet assured him.

"Well, I was kinda injured," U'rahn pointed out.

"You're the fucking tank and can't handle a surge of aether and were the one aggroing the damned hoard " Violet snapped in turn before yoinking a key from a dead body and tossing it to the Seeker, "If anything, it's your fault Y'zel was even overwhelmed in the first place. Now pick your axe up and let's move the fuck on."

U'rahn's tail curled as he caught the key and jumped back with his wrists raised. "R-Right! Hero time it is," the Nuhn breathed out, hurrying to the door with the key while Jannie shook her head and Y'zel tilted his.

[yzeltia]

Handed Down from Stone

Chapter 5: Etched in Amethyst Characters: Y'zel Tia, Y'shtola Rhul, Matoya Rating: T for Tia Notes: None

- Sharlayan, 1560 -

"Shtola, pleeeeeease!?"

Y'shtola let out a heavy sigh as her little cousin tugged at her tail. Yanking it away, she turned and folded back her ears. 

"No. Leave me be," she hissed.

Y'zel's eyes filled with tears as he was rejected again. Then came the little gasps for air, the threat of a full breakdown, the young Miqo'te not minding that they were in the library. Hopping off her ladder, Y'shtola took a knee, bringing herself to the boy's level to shush him before he could make a scene.

"Don't you start with the crocodile tears," she huffed, "You are plenty proficient in Arcana. Why are you insisting I show you thaumaturgy?"

"I want to make more friends! Like you!"

Y'shtola looked up to the ceiling for a moment and closed her eyes. "Of which friends are you referring?"

"The Nixies!"

"The Scholar save me...," the girl muttered as she shook her head. "Y'zel, you can already summon a carbuncle...and what you're asking is more in the realms of conjuration, though I'm sure it could be replicated with thaumaturgy...in theory at least. Were one able to create a familiar of fire or ice, they'd be extremely dangerous due to their destructive nature," she explained before standing and putting her hands on her hips and looking down at him, "I'm far too busy with my own studies and the extra work Master Matoya gives me to indulge you. We're in a library are we not? Why do you need me when there is a wealth of unending knowledge at your every turn?"

Y'zel looked around, sniffling still before rubbing his eyes.

"Besides, I don't believe you're cut out for the discipline it takes to master the dark arts yet. Master Matoya frequently states you're all ice and no fire."

Y'zel blinked, unsure of what she meant, and suspected she might not know herself. Wiping his face on his shirt, he gave a little nod then set off to the Catalog room, leaving Y'shtola to her own devices.

No one questioned the boy's presence as he started pulling at drawers and looking through the little note cards, being the son of Y'lem (or more likely the nephew of Y'rhul) granting him a bit of freedom and trust. Perhaps a bit too much of both, as the boy ignoring his cousin’s warnings, made haste to find his choice tomes on thaumaturgy and conjury.  Retrieving his books, he checked them out then waddled home with his arms full, free to read through as much as he’d like with his father away on Forum business.

The boy poured over his books, spending the rest of his afternoon determined to prove Y’shtola wrong. He could make friends just like she could! How hard could it really be? Needing a shape, he pulled out his junior encyclopedia and began to flip pages to find pictures of animals that he might use then ran to his father’s study to grab components for the spell. Standing, he pulled out a little wand then straightened his back before making little circles with his arm.

From mountain high and glacier flow, of glittering winds and hills of snow, of lone tundra bring a friend to say hello,” he called out before raising his wand up high.

The room chilled as he finished casting, aether surrounding the materials before erupting into a brilliant pillar of ice then shattering into the shape of a tiger. “Kitty,” he beamed before grabbing the creature by the cheeks, hands sticking to the ice.

 ��          Whimpering, he pulled his hands away, finding the summoned creature more sculpture than familiar. Not one to give up on the first try, he tried again, choosing a different animal now, a giraffe. Once more, he circled his armor then cast his spell and erected the towering creature in the middle of his living room…lifeless and cold. The windows soon frosted over, the boy going through the encyclopedia, filling the room with his ice menagerie. Growing tired, he curled up under his tiger with a blanket, too cold and sleepy to keep going for now.

-Present Day, Dravanian Hinterlands –

“What! What do you want!? I don’t take visitors!”

Y’zel’s ears perked as Matoya swung open her door then threatened to slam it, stopping momentarily to give his woad skyraiding gear a once over.

“Master Matoya! I came here to learn from you. I’m Y’shtola Rhul’s cousin and the son of-“

“I know who you are. Y’lem’s boy. Stubborn and a blowhard nipping at his brother’s heels. A cold shrewd man that I thought only cared to better himself...I ate my words though. He was the only one of the Forum that had the balls to remain here after the Exodus…until he was forced to flee with you. The Scholar knows I’d have had to raise another Jaguar under my roof if he hadn’t absconded with you before I realized what happened” she sighed.

Y’zel blinked then fluttered his ears, “Then you’ll teach me?”

“…No.”

Y’zel’s eyes widened as she slammed her door on him. Defeated, he hung his head then sighed heavily as he sat down on the woman’s stoop, drooping his ears as he rested his chin in his palms, tail flopping hard in frustration. As he thought about what to do next, a poroggo hopped out a smaller door, a large ornate staff in his hand, similar to his cousin’s, if not a replica.

“Master says that if you’re going to cosplay, you should complete the look, ribbit,” it said before handing over the staff then hopping off.

 Y’zel flicked his ears back in annoyance then stood up, examining the gift then huffing before awaying back to his office at Gubal…thinking to try again later.

[yzeltia]

FFXIV Write 24: Vicissitude

Characters: Y'zel Tia, G'raha Tia, Erick Gage, Zoisette Vauban, Meya, Claudien. Y'shtola Rhul, U'rhan Nuhn Summary: 'That's when the sound came in He could finally see He felt the changing of the seasons All of his senses rushing back to him' Body - Julia Jackman Rating: T, for Tia Notes: None

It seemed even Labriynthos wasn't immune to the shifting of the seasons. While remaining atherically controlled, the seemingly endless perfect summer was drawing to a close, ushering in a cool wind that aesthetically rusted the greenery into a brilliant autumn. Harvest season was upon the Gleaners and taking any opportunity to occupy his thoughts from anything that wasn't G'raha related, he joined his Gage Acquisition and a couple Scion friends that had come to their aid. 

Proximity to the Annex aside, he'd hoped a bit of rigorous labor might mute the aching of his heart. Yet there was something about be present in the changing of the seasons, as artificial as it was, that made him reflect on the failed relationship. 

"We were really doomed from the start. Our hearts wound around other people. Empathy alone cannot control the vicissitudes of the heart. I think we might have been loving the parts of ourselves we see in each other that we struggle to on our own..."

Y'zel flipped G'raha's words over in his mind. How could he argue? They both longed for someone else even when together and in the wake of it, both were at least able to find peace with it. G'raha had already found some hero that was far more excitable than Y'zel could ever be...and the eclipsed Miqo'te had finally managed to stop looking at Ioh'Juhn with ivory-tented glasses. He had to embrace that truth.

Still, enlightenment was never as advertised. His freedom came with a new lonely world. 

Sighing, he nestled into his thick woolen sweater and watched quietly from afar as Erick and Meya walked and together, the Hyur carrying a barrel of cider while the Miqo'te broke off a piece of a lightly sugared doughnut and fed it to him. Beyond, U'rahn watched the couple then carved into an apple from his basket and offered it to Zoisette and his Scion cousin as they breaked for tea. Once we'll received, he joined them then pointed to his face and closed his eyes, only to receive a slice of lemon instead.

Y'zel fluttered his ears a in amusement as U'rahn let out a yelped and nearly flipped the table running off...though still followed it with another sigh, knowing well it was his own fault he wasn't having fun. As continued to watch, a stray pair of steps caught his attention as they drew closer.

"Ah. I'm sorry...but are you perhaps the son of Y'lem Tia?"

Y'zel turned at hearing his father's name. Standing beside him was a tall dark skinned Hyur with eyes like rubies. "I am. Did you know him?"

The man nodded then held out his hand. "I was a student of his in Dravania when I was a lad. The research he was apart for the Antitower and aetherial sea is still referenced here at the Aitiascope. He really helped me love the study and the Nbolo family of Old Sharlayan has donated much in the ways of funds for continued research. And your freckles..." he started before leaning down. "Y’z...Y'zel if I'm not mistaken?"

The Miqo'te was taken aback. Rarely did his reputation proceed him. "I'm sorry, but have met?"

“Briefly. We were boys and you got lost looking for your father at the library…I held your hand and we walked around the entire place until we got tired and crawled under a desk and fell asleep together. Shortly after though my family returned with everyone else to Old Sharlayan and I never saw you or your father after that. I was saddened to hear of his death…I felt relieved though when I heard you’d been found in the wake of the Dragonsong War.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you…though thinking on it I do remember that happening. Still, I was rather young.”

“No apologies are necessary. I am a five years your senior, so the memory sits with me a little better. Not to mention that my happier times were away from home and dedicated to studying,” the man mused before sticking out his hand. “I am Claudien.”

Y’zel nodded, tail swaying before reaching out to take it. As their hands collapsed around one another, the Miqo’te stumbled, the familiar ringing of the Echo hitting his ears. “I love you…I love you…” he heard voices whisper, familiar yet strange.

“Easy there,” Claudien breathed out before helping him to his feet. Hand on Y’zel’s face, he flushed, rubbing his thumb across his freckles before parting and clearing his throat. Their eyes met, mutually searching for answers to what was happening to them before they broke apart.

Y’zel clutched his chest, heart racing and face flushed, ears pinned as the ringing faded. “Sorry…I am gifted with the Echo. It throws me off balance…”

“That is…certainly something…,” Claudien responded, staring at the hand he touched the other with, “…I’d very much like to invite you to dinner at The Last Stand sometime, if that is amendable to you. And, if it’s not a bother, perhaps on a different occasion have an audience with your Warrior of Light friend. I’d love to get their assistance with something.”

Y’zel looked to the other, trying to calm himself. “Right. That would be nice…Though, are you certain you wish to speak to U’rahn?”

He looked back as the other laid on the ground, a second lemon wedge on the ground, seemingly have been tricked for a second time by the ladies. “I know the other two. They might be a bit more fruitful for whatever you have in mind.”

Claudien nodded, looking on concerned to the Nuhn, “Perhaps so…”

[yzeltia]

In the Purrrsuit of Happiness

Chapter 5: The Firrrst Page

Characters: G'raha Tia/Y'zel Tia

Rating: T for Tia

Notes: None

- First - Previous - Last -

"Just a little harder," G'raha grunted, thrusting into the children's library's door one more time with Y'zel.

The barrier finally gave in, the door scraping along the marble floor as the two Miqo'te tumbled inside. A loud squeak sounded out as Y'zel picked himself up, finding a discarded Moogle you under him. A feather falling by the toy, he tilted his head then let out a screen as a grotesque looking falcon swooped down at him. The room chilled instantly as he manifested an icey pillar in defense.

"None of that now," G'raha called out, shifting to his bard plate before sending a barrage of arrows into the beast, felling it.

The ice shattered and dusted away as Y'zel exhaled. "Thanks…Raha."

"Think nothing of it. Hopefully that's the only resident we'll need to worry about. Since you're Thaumaturging, would you care to…?"

The other nodded then closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, concentrating his aether as he transposed his alignment. With a sharp exhale, every candle lit up in the room.

"Spectacular," G'raha praised, wiggling his ears as he gave the other a nod.

"A parlor trick really. Even training with the best, casting Black magics has always been difficult. All ice, no fire."

"Well, I think it was a neat trick rrreagardless. Now, the book."

Y'zel nodded then fished out keys as he stepped down into the middle of the circular room. The surrounding shelves were all waist height, one set on the lower level and then the latter on the wall. All the tiny chairs and desks had been toppled over and scratched up by the fiends left to take over in the absence of caretakers. The center held a pedestal with a glass, the title around it marking the symbols of the twelve in a neat circle. Atop, a book laid open, or at least the binding. 

"So it's as Asa said," G'raha mused, watching Y'zel unlock the case. "Your reluctant Uncle has missed some glaringly obvious details about the situation. As established before, we know the pages were carefully taken out, but as you've demonstrated, a key was used to procure them."

"So, someone from the restoration took them?"

"No. As you recall, this room was found already lacking the pages in question, leading me to believe that they were taken during the time of the exodus."

"I see…then perhaps they've been in Old Sharlayan all this time?"

"They're not. I already made an inquiry shortly after we settled in here."

"Then they're completely unaccounted for…," Y'zel sighed.

"Perhaps, perhaps not. I believe the remaining caretakers might have some insight. Master Matoya and Y'lem Tia."

Y'zel froze up then shook his head."Unfortunately Y'lem Tia died in Dravania…that was my father…"

G'raha's ears perked then drooped. "Apologies. I just assumed he would have been a Nuhn. I knew you said he'd stayed behind as well but did not think…"

"It's no matter. Master Matoya will be enough of a lead," he answered, hand rubbing the inner cover of the tome.

"Ah. That's a meeting you will need to make on your own. I'm not her favourite Miqo'te."

"I imagine you're not given what you did with her favourite pupil."

G'raha looked away sheepishly scratching at his cheek as he whimpered with embarrassment. 

"Anyroad, I can-," Y'zel started, interrupted as he lifted his hand, a page coming with it. His eyes widened, turning it to find the first page of the book. 

"Byregot's Hammer" was written at the top and a little Spriggan scared and huddled on between some rocks looking rather frightened.

Y'zel jumped as G'raha hugged him from behind, trying to offer comfort due to his misstep. Seeing the find, his eyes lit up reading the words aloud.

Upon an era long ago,

A little Spriggan cried.

As he lost his master's hammer,

And had run away to hide.

 He'd borrowed it for a moment,

To make the God a surprise.

He asked another spriggan a favor,

Not knowing it an imp in disguise.

And so the the tool was taken,

To the realm below.

The little spriggan followed after,

But had no idea where to go.

 He searched the realm wide

And was almost eaten twice!

He even trusted a crocodile,

And almost was stuck in its vice.

 Defeated the spriggan gave up,

Hiding alone and afraid,

Of his master's ire,

And for not being brave.

 And that's when Byregot came,

With a laugh coming from his chest,

To scoop the poor spriggan up,

And assure him he did his best.

The god was not angry,

As accidents happen all the time.

Byrgot told him he rather have his friend safe

Than worry that something found it to dine

 

"Well, the art is…well, it's something. But the original text! One of the first stories passed down through Eorzean spoken histories recorded before us and with a message that speaks to us all: It's better to ask for forgiveness than perrrmission."

Y'zel chuckled softly, locking the book back up. "I think someone is reading what they want to. The story says that everyone makes mistakes, and it's better to admit to them rather than hide from the consequences."

"A differrrence of opinion then," G'raha purred, nuzzling the other's cheek with his own before letting go. "This is wonderful news though! We must tell Asa at once of our find! Then see you off to Master Matoya!"

"Alright then…" Y'zel sighed.

In truth he was glad that a page had been found…but one page left behind in the sealed case was not enough to promise the safety of the rest.

G'raha, noting his dejected companion, turned him then roughly slid his palms atop his ears before leaning in to steal a kiss. "If you continue to look like you're on the verge of tears I will be forced to do that again," he warned softly.

Heart racing, Y'zel closed his eyes then leaned in to kiss the other clinging to the other's jacket as he tried to drown out the lingering unpleasantness of loss.

"Zel," G'raha whispered, kissing each of his ears before lacing their fingers together, "Come. Let's go."

[yzeltia]

Memories of Ice

As he watched Ysayle fall to the Warriors of Light, Y'zel shielded himself from the chilled burst of aether. Trembling, he reached back for Raiden's greatsword upon his back, worried the worst had happened, stopping only as his dear friend stood. With a sigh of relief he hid behind a pillar, catching his breath after witnessing the power she'd gained. Though unable to surpass the might of the chosen ones, perhaps she would be enough to face off against Ishgard...

His ears perked as Ysayle tried to persuade the trio, then quickly looked to the opposite end of the amphitheater, picking up a sinister voice. Worried, he made a dash towards it, revealing his location as Ysayle blipped out of the arena. As he felt the darkness also exit, a shot rang out and grazed the pillar he was heading for.

"Hold it! Who the fuck are you," the Hyur woman called below, pistol fixed on him.

"Obviously another heretic. He's alone Violet, do not waste ammunition," the Elzen scolded.

The Miqo'te swallowed then proceeded to descend the icy steps. "I am Y'zel...," he answered, pulling his sword from his back.

"Ysayle? Wasn't that the lady from before," the Seeker with them asked.

"I think it was Y'zel. There was a small inflection to indicate a tribe name. I'm surprised you didn't catch that U'rahn," the Elzen answered, drawing her own greatsword.

"He's not a Seeker though, look at his eyes. Sure doesn't look anything like his cousins," U'rhan pointed out, cracking his knuckles as he took his stance.

"I am Y'zel Tia...son of Y'lem Tia and Zel Nbolo...adopted son of Raiden Nobinata...and Lady Iceheart's protector. If you mean to disturb us further...I shall stop you here," the pink haired Miqo'te warned before closing his eyes.

He shivered as he felt ice run through his veins, feeling himself become sturdier with grit. Holding up his sword defensively, he folded back his ears. "You will not take another step forward! The Holy See must be bright to justice!"

With that he raised his sword high, channeling his hurt over his losses, his anger towards the Holy See, his love for his found family and determine to protect them, releasing it in a dark blast about him . The warriors recoiled but it did little to dissuade them. U'rahn swept in and dealt a flurry of blows from behind while Violet fired rounds at him that ricocheted off his sword. Though able to elbow the other Miqo'te off him, it left him open for the Elzen's swing of her own great blade. 

The sound of metal rang through the amphitheater as Y'zel was knocked back, sliding across the ground as his sword went in the opposite direction. Huffing, he punched the ground then looked up then pulled out a stone from his breast pocket, shifting into his magick gear and swift casting his ruby carbuncle to his side.

"Aww," U'rahn cooed, squatting down to look at it before it flipped up and smacked him with his tails, causing him to slip on the ice.

"Idiot move," Violet ordered, kicking the seeker aside before shifting herself, rolling bullets into her gun blade as she charged forward. "Jannie, you go high," she called out before launching.

Y'zel let out a scream as he held up his book and tried to shield himself from the blow. Knocked back, he staggered before the Elzen descended down from the sky with a spear. He closed his eyes tight, ready for the end as he collided into the ground. There was no pain, no sting from being impaled, just the aches that came from face planting into stone. 

Finding himself very much alive, he started to squirm, finding his coat pinned to the ground. "Let me up! Let me up now," he demanded.

"Why didn't you finish him," Violet asked in a huff.

"He said Y'zel, I'm sure. I think it might be best if we take him to Y'shtola first and let Lord Borel deal with him if she finds him wanting.

Y'zel's ears perked. "You know Shtola? She did not perish in the calamity?"

The three Warriors looked down at the Keeper-eyed Seeker, finding the young man nearly in tears as snow once more started to sweep through the arena.

---

Y'zel touched his cheek as a flake landed and melted upon it, waking up from his daydream. Looking up, he found the sky glittering as snow fluttered down through the sun's rays. He smiled then closed his eyes, enjoying the moment before being pelted by a snowball. Attention snapping towards his assailant, he watched as U'rahn laughed then fluttered his ears before dodging behind a tree. In pursuit, he rounded the corner and then yiped as he was greeted with Violet holding up a gatling gun before it fired a flurry of snowballs upon him until buried.

His two friends laughed as he was made akin to a snowman, rescued by his cousin Y'shtola shortly and pulled towards the annex as Jannie emerged with Krile, plates of hot cocoa mugs in hand. After shaking off the ice and snow, he started laughing, soon joined in by the rest of his family, both blood and found.

[yzeltia]

What Tia Want

Humming. High spirits. These were far off brand from what Y'shtola had come to know of her cousin. Upon their return from Labyrinthos, there had been a change, one that gave her pause for worry.

"Y'zel. You are rather melodic today. Has something happened," the Scion asked, watching her cousin as he shifted on his bookcase ladder to look down at her.

"Sorry?"

"Your humming and general air about you is far more extroverted than you typically care to be. I can only surmise that you've had a recent turn of fortune."

"Oh. It is of no importance. Could you possibly hand me up the next set?"

Y'shtola pursed her lips then lifted a bound set of volumes above her head to the Tia. "I should think you'd know better than to try to dodge me dear cousin. Before our outing you were all but despondent. Please tell me you've not fallen back in with that rogue or the Tia's.

"I've not," Y'zel protested with a crack in his voice and a flick of his tail.

"Y'zel!"

"It is not Ioh'Juhn! I swear it on my mother's axe."

"Someone has you twitterpated. Y'zel, you are finally over Raha. Why are you rushing into something?"

"It's not something. It's just dinner."

"Just a dinner and you're swooning? You must realize that you're putting the cart before the chocobo again."

Y'zel folded his ears then started to aggressively shift books aside. "I am not looking to the ivory halls. He asked me on a single date."

"Who ?"

"Claudine, the researcher from Labyrinthos."

"Oh, you'd stand on the docks of Limsa and not see a single red flag wouldn't you," the woman sighed, shaking her head.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean," Y'zel huffed as he dropped from above. 

"To take a quote from Lady Zoisette. 'If you cannot make your own pattern recognition, store bought is fine'."

"I do not have any such pattern," the Tia shot back before tucking around a corner.

Y'shtola crossed her arms then leaned on one the shelves. "When you finally made your peace over U'Nohlo's you let yourself fall for the first Tia that looked twice at you. A Nuhn aspiring fool who had no intention of doing anything but winding your little ball of yarn. When you finally were made to deal with it, Mhitra and I had  come to collect you for worry you'd drown yourself in your tears. 

"Then you went and got yourself kidnapped shortly after while I was down for the count and apparently fell for your savior. As Mhitra tells it, you were strung along quite well but when it came to it he could never give you what you were after.

And so soon after you fell in with G'raha Tia of all people so you both could both find common ground in loving people that were unable to love you back. 

"Three men, all emotionally unavailable, yet you persisted to cling to them until you fell apart. Now you wish to fall for a researcher of all people, and a Hyur. He could be a tail chaser for all you know."

There was silence for a moment before the sound of moving books resumed. "I do not believe he is anything like that."

"A researcher, little Nuhn. A researcher. You know plenty and no doubt understand the gravity of it. Even if he should be true in his feelings, will you be satisfied with someone married more to work than they will ever be to you?"

Y'zel peaked around the corner, squinting at his cousin. "You chastise me for taking too great a risk of the heart; but perhaps your proclivity to Flow out of the room any time someone fancies you might indicate that your well meaning might be clouded by the fact, you yourself, are incapable of taking those same risks. I believe it is called 'projecting' cousin."

Y'shtola flushed then whipped around the corner. "And what makes you think this man is exempt from any caution?"

"He knew father...your uncle," Y'zel clarified.

Y'shtola blinked then shook her head in disbelief. "The selfsame Y'lem Tia who robbed you of your boyhood with his self-centered stubbornness that removed precious years with you from our family?"

Y'zel blinked, having not heard an unkind word about his father from his cousin before. Taking a breath he nodded. "He was mentored by him. I remember so little. It might be nice to hear something from someone who knew him and  y'know...can say something good about him without mentioning the bad..."

Y'shtola lowered her ears and tail. "I do not wish for you not to have that. I hear it in your voice though and see it in your movements. You are infatuated with this man. There surely is more to it."

Y'zel paused, then nodded shyly. "I heard something. My Echo...When we touched I heard two voices tell them they loved one another. It was like my own voice...but not.

.."

The woman pressed her fingers on the bridge of her nose. "So you heard whispers you believe to be precognition?"

"No...I don't believe so. Perhaps it could be..."

"Do not say it. I don't know what U'rahn and the others have told you about the past, but I do not believe for a second you were blessed with Hydayln's gift just for your own matchmaking purposes. And I for sure do not want to hear of unsundered soulmates. That is nothing more than a pick-up line for anyone in the know, and a poor one at that."

Y'zel frowned, shyly tucking his tail around his waist. "I felt it, in my whole body. I saw it in his eyes."

Y'shtola shook her head. "You read far too many novels. I've said my peace on this. Do as you will, but please remember that your loved ones worry and do not wish for you to be taken away from us again."

Y'zel looked up, cheeks puffed up. "You are one to talk cousin! Mhitra and I worry over you too! Between you slipping into the life stream, felled by a sword, called to another world, and vaporized by some sad songbird! 

"While I might be occasionally detained or have my heartbroken to the point of laying in bed for a moon, I am no H'ophelia Polonius and nowhere near as reckless with my life as you! Yet I keep my peace as does your sister and not think to interject nor judge the life of heroics you've chosen. I love that you love and care for my dearest cousin, but I will follow my heart on this. Just as you follow yours."

Y'zel panted a bit, the words had left him in a hurry. He closed his eyes, bracing for his cousin to cut him with her words. Yet no words came. Instead, he found himself held by his cousin, her head resting atop his followed by a warm drip upon his skull. Taking in a breath, he shook then squeezed her back before letting out a small sob in turn. Together they embraced until it was all out, Y'zel perhaps taking more time than his cousin. Once parted, Y'shtola rubbed her hand over the other's ear, brow raised. "H'ophelia Polonius? You do read a bit too much, little Nuhn."