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noctiumrp
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TEXT ✧ AUDIO ✧ VIDEO ✧ ACTION
SUMMER ICARIAN ✦ FINAL FANTASY XIV (WoL OC)
RESIDENCE ✦ Residency
GEMBOND ✦ Ruby
"...ltros, what are you doing with that, put that down right now you little —"
RESIDENCE ✦ Residency
GEMBOND ✦ Ruby
"...ltros, what are you doing with that, put that down right now you little —"
no subject
So. She's going to see Haurchefant.
She's just going to see Haurchefant.
And really it's a blessing that she'd promised to bring refreshment with her when she comes, because it's something mundane and habitual and routine: finding a shop, waiting in line, securing sweets and drinks and the cafe's somewhat pitiful excuse for a "side garden salad" before setting out to the park that is their appointed meeting place, hands laden and with an apple shoved unceremoniously into her teeth for good measure. It helps to have something to bite.
It's warm enough out that she's foregone her usual floor-length skirt and robe in favor of something lighter, a one-shoulder shirt cropped high enough to allow an Ishgardian-scandalous strip of her midriff to show. The mid-thigh cut of her shorts is offset by a pair of tall heeled boots that come all the way up her legs, leaving just another bare strip of skin visible between one hemline and another. And behind her, ever-present, trails Wind-Up Ultros, squishing and wiggling as ever, but thankfully not getting into too much mischief.
And then, as easy as breathing, she rounds a corner — and there he is. Haurchefant Greystone, living, breathing, in the flesh, flanked by what must be the world's best-loved chocobo.
And she's got an apple in her teeth so she can't call hello.]
Mmf...
[But fortunately, she's adaptable, and quick to remedy the situation — the bag goes between her knees, the now-freed hand plucks the apple from her teeth, and that's the first impression it appears she's going to present to a man who in another universe once died to save her life, as her voice rings out along the garden path: ]
Splendid!!
no subject
It is not unlike those days when he would count the bells, the moments, the space between heartbeats, as he waited for the Warrior to arrive. But the sight of their bright eyes and gleaming hair, cheeks ruddy from the cold and a radiant smile gracing their lovely face... it made the wait worth every moment.
Some things are always worth waiting for.
And as he lifts his gaze to stare once more across the way, his eyes catch sight of red hair, as red as the sunset, and his heart stutters to a screeching halt within his chest, for the hue is so achingly familiar—
But it is not his Warrior, no. That fiery hair is graced with pointed ears, and he quickly recognizes the graceful, catlike features of a miqo'te.
Still, he cannot help but stare in obvious admiration at her sleek and slender form—the flashes of bare skin at her midriff and thighs that would send any priest into an apoplectic fit—and his mouth curves into an appreciative grin.
Whatever awkwardness Summer may have felt about their first meeting, she needn't have worried. She could have fallen flat on her face and he wouldn't have noticed nor cared. (Though he would graciously lift her to her feet, should that have happened!)
Haurchefant strides forward with confidence, with Violetta keeping pace at his side. The chocobo trills a happy little note in greeting, clearly just as excited to see Summer. ]
Splendid, indeed! And you must be Summer, I presume? [ His smile grows a bit wider, ears pricking up in her presence. ] A lovely name, befitting a most lovely young woman, indeed.
[ Wow, someone is dialing the charm up, just a bit! But that's honestly his default state, isn't it? ]
no subject
He looks so well. So strong, so happy. The wave of relief at that nearly topples her — and the bags and cups occupying her hands save her, because if she weren't laden with them at that precise moment, she doesn't know if she would've been able to resist running to him and throwing her arms around his middle just to confirm for herself he's really there.
But, she reminds herself with a twinge of bittersweet humor, she is for all intents and purposes a stranger to him. And that's all right. They became fast friends once in her life; there's naught to say they can't manage it all over again.]
Aye, that's me!
[Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry — and thanks to her best efforts, it really only comes out a little watery.]
Oh, and this must be Violetta! She's lovely.
[And then, rapidly, before she can think better of it, she turns her upwelling of emotion into mirth and grins cheekily at Haurchefant, barely able to get the whole thought out before ruining the last few syllables with giggling.]
You found the one girl in the whole of the city prettier than me and brought her to our first meeting. I should be offended, Haurchefant!
no subject
Before Haurchefant can reply to Summer's cheeky comment, Violetta dips her head down and gently takes Summer's entire head between her massive beak. A muscular tongue rubs against her cheek with quick strokes as the chocobo trills once more with obvious affection.
Despite the fact that Violetta could easily crack open Summer's skull like a brittle walnut, Haurchefant is not at all worried. It's a gesture of affection she's often applied to him, usually at the most inconvenient times. Like now.
Hopefully, Summer's reflexes are good enough where she hasn't dropped anything after being aggressively "cuddled" by an over-excited chocobo.
Haurchefant is quick to reach over to try and reign her in, gently prying her beak open and pulling her head back. ]
Easy there, babygirl! [ He can't help but laugh as Violetta turns her attentions toward him and attempts to put his head in her mouth. He braces both hands against her beak, playfully shoving her back. ] Is that any way to treat a lady, after she complimented you, even?
[ Violetta whistles and flaps her wings vigorously in reply before finally settling down.
Turning toward Summer, Haurchefant checks her over, making sure that nothing has spilled on her clothes nor any stray feathers cling to her hair. ]
My apologies. She can be rather exuberant in her affections, but normally not toward someone she's only just met! [ His grin broadens. ] Clearly, she's taken a liking to you!
no subject
At least, not anywhere that Violetta can hear it.
What she does instead is go still, eyes a little wide and not-quite-panicked, like she's at a loss for what to do until Haurchefant intervenes. Then, as her head is released, she sags a little and shuffles her feet fussily as she tries to recover some of her composure, still balancing the cups and bags as best she can.]
Whew! Would that she'd warn me the next time before doing something like that. I nearly jumped straight out of my skin!
[But it helps to see Haurchefant dealing with her so easily, and with such open affection, and his confidence bolsters her own. It's fine, clearly, and her ruffled nerves rapidly smooth over, and when he finally returns his attention to her to look her over, she can't help but blush a little.]
I'm — I'm fine, truly. No harm done. A bit damp, mayhap, but I'll dry. Here, I've something for her in one of these bags — or, wait, no, take the cups first and I'll find it —
[Flustered.]
no subject
[ He chuckles softly, his expression one of fondness as he rubs Violetta's beak. She trills softly in the back of her throat, the nictitating membranes fluttering rapidly over her eyes. She clearly finds his touch quite relaxing.
He can only bear to watch Summer struggle for the briefest of moments before he leans forward to offer assistance. ]
Here, allow me to—
[ His fingers brush against her hands, and as he looks down into her face, he catches a glimpse of her eyes, and his breath catches in his throat. A familiar feeling of warmth bubbles within his chest, overwhelming in its intensity—Hydaelyn's love for all Her children wells within Summer's eyes, and he knows that shining radiance for the Blessing of Light, the gift bestowed upon Hydaelyn's Chosen.
Then she...
She is a Warrior of Light. There can be no doubt in his mind. But did he not recall how Summer said she would speak of 'her' Warrior to him?
His mind reels with a thousand questions, the foremost being... why would she conceal her identity from him? ]
I...
[ His large hands close over her own, unwilling to let them part. He cannot tear his gaze away from her face, and he suddenly finds himself at a loss for words.
How beautiful and radiant you are, my new-old friend. ]
no subject
It's — it's not that she doesn't remember him. It's just that she doesn't remember him like this, flesh and blood and bone with hands big enough to swallow hers up. She doesn't remember that his fringe hangs a little heavier on one side than the other or that his eyes are a darker blue than Aymeric's, deep like the ocean he'd always longed to see. She doesn't remember if he smelled like feathers and soap and the barest hint of sweat. She doesn't remember that he was a man.
The Haurchefant of her star is a smear of blood marring the corner of a mouth. He's a broken shield, a promise of a smile. He's a painting hung over his unoccupied chair at Camp Dragonhead. He's the salt of Obsidian's silent tears and the never-satiated wondering of what might have been.
It's a boy holding her hands. It's a boy like she's a girl and he's alive and warm and so tall she'd have to crane her neck just to look at him, the bastard, so strong he could lift her and likely barely even feel it at all. And that's the moment she realizes that this isn't her Haurchefant the way that she isn't his Julien, and — and —
And that's not a bad thing.
Megumi asked her once if it hurt to be brought face to face with her friends and discover that they didn't know her. And of course it does, but — but somehow, it's better, too. Somehow it's a little like really seeing him for the very first time, with no legacy to obscure the man beneath. It's like stripping away all the trappings and titles people have awarded her over the years, and finding just Summer Icarian underneath.]
You're staring.
[There's a warmth in those words, faint and fleeting, like the first breath of spring across a Coerthan snowfield.]
Haurchefant...?
no subject
As they always have.
And yet, she still endeavors to greet him with a smile and pretend that she does not know him. To spare herself further pain? To avoid an awkward and tearful reunion?
Why?
He cannot fathom a suitable reason, in this moment, but he knows that Summer must have some reason for concealing her identity.
And so he decides to play along with her charade and pretend that he does not see the light of Hydaelyn's blessing shining in her eyes. He will greet her as a stranger, and he will endeavor to earn her friendship, without the expectation of a previous relationship lingering in the back of his mind.
Her voice, soft and gentle as a spring breeze, draws him out of his pensive thoughts. He blinks, then slowly shakes his head. Lips spread into a flirtatious grin as he quickly gathers his composure. ]
I... I was merely taken aback by your beauty! Your eyes are a most stunning shade of chartreuse, the likes of which I have never seen before. [ He tips his head lower, his grin growing a fraction wider. ] I feel as though I could lose myself in them were I to gaze for too long...
[ Nailed it! Just turn on the charm, and she'll never suspect that anything is amiss!
He deftly takes the drinks from her hands, straightening as he does so. Violetta hovers to one side, cocking her head at a querulous angle. ]
Now, as you were saying?
no subject
First I've ever heard them called chartreuse.
[Almost instinctively, she pulls her voice into what is clearly an impression of someone else, letting it swoop low and deep with clipped consonants — a not-half-bad imitation of Aymeric and his cultured Ishgardian tones, if one were to figuratively squint a little.]
...Oh. Um. Oh! That's right. In the bag — there's greens for Violetta. Perhaps she'll find those more to her taste than my head.
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You say that, Summer, but he is also married to Megumi, and he finds miqo'te features quite charming.The sight of her blush causes his grin to grow marginally wider. She looks absolutely adorable with her cheeks brushed with pink, causing her facial markings to stand out all the more against her pale skin. ]
Mayhap it is because it is named for a type of liqueur which has found popularity among the Ishgardian elite? 'Tis rare to find it served outside Coerthas and parts of the Shroud.
[ He can't help but chuckle at her passingly fair imitation of Aymeric and his refined way of speaking. And it only serves to remind him that she must have spent a great deal of time in his presence as the Warrior of Light. His expression softens just a bit at the thought of them spending time with one another.
At the mention of greens, Violetta immediately eyezooms on Summer's bag. She dips her head low, nudging her beak against the bag and making a right nuisance of herself. ]
Ha! You said the magic word, and now you must deal with the consequences! [ He chuckles as Violetta continues trying to open the bag with her beak. ] Do not be afraid to push her back if she becomes too bothersome. She's sturdily built, she can take it.
no subject
She said HER face, Haurchefant, so the point still stands!!!]Mm, have you found anything comparable around here? Mayhap you'll have to buy me one sometime, so that I might sample it. And so that we both can see how well it compares to my eyes.
[When in doubt, flirt right back. It's good enough to buy herself a moment — at least until Violette comes in and causes a blessed distraction of her own, aggressively nosing (beaking?) her way in to search for her treat.
Trying not to laugh, Summer makes a grab for the bag in an attempt to dislodge it from Violetta's attentions. It takes her two or three tries before she manages to do it, and does in fact have to resort to giving her head a shove, which soon turns into an affectionate round of petting with her hand nearly wrist-deep in feathers.]
She's so lovely. And she clearly adores you — it's wonderful to see, really.
no subject
Her face is also incredibly cute, but he's kinda stuck on her extremely gorgeous eyes right now, okay?!]There is a similar enough liquor that they brew in Primavera. Given the cultural preference for the color green, and the fact that the climate is amenable to growing a variety of herbs, it is something of a staple there. Mayhap we should go and sample a bottle at one of the local eateries?
[ Well, someone is trying to secure a second date, huh? And he's not even being the least bit subtle about it! Not that subtly was ever part of his playbook.
He tries to stifle a laugh behind his hand, watching as Violetta attempts to forcefully extricate some delicious green crunchies from Summer's bag. But the moment Summer begins to pet her, she relents, the feathers along her chest puffing slightly outward so that Summer's fingers can more easily comb through them. ]
Raised her from a chick, I did. Her egg was smaller than the others, and she would have been cast aside had I not snuck her out of the stables as a lad. I kept her hidden beneath my bed in the manor, and Stephanivien built an incubator to ensure that she would remain warm when I wasn't there to tend to her. It was at least three moons before anyone noticed, and by then she was strong and healthy enough that she could rejoin her flock at the stables!
[ It was mostly due to the fact that the Haillenarte children had suddenly taken an inordinate interest in the bastard son of House Fortemps that even Edmont began to suspect that mischief was afoot. And while he certainly couldn't condone keeping a chocobo chick in the manor, he had seemed strangely proud that Haurchefant had managed to rear a sickly chick for so long in secret. ]
She has been my constant companion ever since. She even reared several strong broods, and I gifted one of the hatchlings to a very dear friend of mine...
[ To the Warrior of Light, of course. ]