[ Moenbryda's memory of how, exactly, she came to be on this train -- and how long it's been --- are somewhat fuzzy, but she can't say it's been boring. It isn't a normal place, that's for certain, with each car practically a different world unto itself as one passes through them: stepping into a forest one moment, then a blisteringly cold winter landscape the next. The control car is the only place she's never been to, impervious to attempts to access it. How the train links together seems to be dictated less by logic than by will, the layout changing from moment to moment.
Now and again, a droning voice over the speakers will call for the residents of the train to assemble and get rid of pests attempting to attack it. Standing on the train roof, trying to cut down many-limbed shadows clinging to the metal, all Moenbryda can see out there is an endless, howling black.
It's after one of those altercations that she finds her way to the dining car -- one of them, anyway. The servers are mute, vaguely humanoid shadows that flit from table to table, taking people's orders. Brushing some lingering snowmelt off her clothes, she plunks herself down solidly at the bar and unhooks her axe from her back so it buries itself with a solid thunk on the polished wooden floor. ]
Well, that was certainly exciting, wasn't it? [ She announces, to no one in particular. There are faces both new and familiar around, but first things first: she needs to get warmed up. ]
[ The interior of the train and its shifting cars is a marvel, to be sure, the likes of which Ardbert has certainly never seen before -- and that's after spending time on not just one world, but two. It had all been a nice distraction at first, with each day feeling different enough from the one that came before it that this trip to who-knows-where didn't feel quite so grim.
But it's been long enough now that he's been getting antsy, and with each turn they take around an unknown corner, his connection to the Warrior of Light and their home shards feels weaker and weaker. For someone who'd been alone with his own thoughts and left to drift for so long, though, this could all be much worse.
At least he can interact with people here.
The chance to do something, to swing his axe around and have it actually cleave through something (even if that something is... shadow creatures?) helps to lighten Ardbert's mood. It works up his appetite too, and so the dining car is the first place he heads once all is said and done.
A woman with an axe that rivals his seems to address him, and Ardbert shoots her a grin before moving to take the stool at her left. ]
Won't ever say no to a good fight. [ He nods to her axe, his eyes shining with admiration. ] It's nice to get the blood flowing, wouldn't you say?
[ Not that there's actually any blood left in his veins any more -- but it all feels close enough to the real thing that he can let himself forget, sometimes. ]
[ The stranger that addresses her isn't a familiar face, but that's no deterrent as far as Moenbryda's -- conversation's been something of a sparse thing, since she came here, and a friendly stranger is better company than none.
Besides, they've clearly got the same good taste in weapons. She chuckles, patting the shaft of her axe fondly. ]
That it is. Not to say I'm spending my days praying for the next bunch of demons or whatever else they are to come along, mind you, but it's nice to be doing something useful.
[ Ardbert murmurs the word under his breath, wondering what those creatures might be. It seems like there are any number of possibilities, and yet his awareness of what state they're in and where they might be headed has him unsure. If they're in some realm that follows death, then it doesn't have to play by any of the rules he knows.
He nods all the same, then waves over one of the strange waiters to take his order. With that taken care of, he settles his attention back on his new axe-wielding friend. ]
Not used to sitting idle, are you? [ He sighs and leans forward, resting both of his arms on the bar-top. ] I understand. I certainly appreciate it not getting too dull around here.
Oh, never. My mother always said she would have nailed me down, if she could. [ Moenbryda answers, idly reaching up to work a crick out of her neck, the markings tattooed high and just under her ear stark against pale skin. She flahes him a quick smile ]
'Voidsent,' though -- I haven't heard someone else call them that in a while. Doesn't seem like it's a term most people here have heard of.
[ This woman recognizing the term of 'voidsent' would have been alarming enough, but when her hand lifts up and draws attention to the prominent tattoo on her neck, Ardbert wonders how he could have missed it. Too distracted by her axe and the promise of a hard drink, it seems.
There's no mistaking it. While Ardbert and the others had never felt the need to tattoo themselves in order to mark them as experts in any field, he's spent enough time in the presence of the Warrior and the Scions to have some idea of what the symbol means. It's all a bit over-the-top, in his opinion, but...
Is she one of the lesser-known Scions? One who wasn't summoned to the First? What was the word Urianger had used... ]
You're an Archon. I can't imagine many people around here have made note of that, either.
[ He turns in his seat, his interest shifting from mild to something stronger. ]
[ To be completely fair, axes are distracting. In any case, whatever surprise Moenbryda might have had at the recognition quickly fades in the face of excitement as she leans forward (maybe a bit too much into Ardbert's space). ]
You recognize it? Then, you know of Sharlayan? Or-- [ She sits back, scrutinizing him more assessingly. No Sharlayan she knows would dress like that, not even Thancred. ] --are you from Eorzea?
[ The very concept of someone invading his personal space at all is rather new these days, after so long spent as a specter who could not interact with the world around him. It's for that reason alone that Ardbert flinches back in his seat for a moment, though he doesn't appear offended in any way.
They've found common ground. It's more than enough reason to be excited. Given that the Warrior of Light had not always been the best of conversationalists, this is like a breath of fresh air.
It's her final question that Ardbert chooses to address, with a brief shake of his head. ]
No, though I was able to make a brief trip there. [ Said as if it was a quick vacation rather than the desperate action of someone with no other options. ] I hail from a different star, though one with a connection to Hydaelyn. It's a long story, but... I have some familiarity with the Scions.
[ He raises an eyebrow at the Galdjent woman. Your turn. ]
[ The flinch isn't lost on Moenbryda, but she doesn't remark on it. Perhaps it's because she, too, is caught up in the excitement of the moment or because it seems to be tied to some private pain that this isn't the time or place to ask.
For now, she'll meet that raised eyebrow with one of her own, giving him a quick grin as well. ]
Is that so? I happen to know some of the Scions quite well, myself. Urianger is a childhood friend. [ She looks reflective, leaning back slightly in her seat. ] I don't suppose you've seen them recently, have you?
[ Urianger? It's hard to imagine the stern elezen man with his lofty speech and head full of scholarly pursuits had ever been a child. Would he have mentioned this woman, a childhood friend, during their temporary "alliance"? Ardbert doesn't remember, but those memories are also as good as ancient history for him now. ]
Not here. [ Said with a quick glance around the train car. ] Though I imagine that's a good thing.
[ He folds his hands on the tabletop in front of him, perking up when one of the strange servers drifts by to drop off their drinks. ]
Before I came to be here, though, yes. Quite recently, in fact.
[ That's enough to earn a quick, wry smile from the Roegadyn, who brushes her hair back out of her face. ]
I imagine so.
[ While her memory is fuzzy on the details of how she came to be here, they're certain on one point: she shouldn't be alive. Her last conscious thought was that there wasn't enough aether to fuel the blade that would bring the Ascian down, and there was only one ready supply. Her thoughts are easily distracted from those moments, though, by what the man says next. There's an unmistakable softening in her expression, a warmth in her voice when she answers. ]
[ It's a fair question, though one which Ardbert finds difficult to answer. He pauses, taking a moment to enjoy a sip of his drink first. It had been so long since he was able to eat and drink that he's been sampling the offerings from the dining car as often as he can, and he can't hold back on the content sigh he lets out after indulging. ]
As well as they can be.
[ Which is a statement that requires some explanation, he realizes. He shifts in his seat enough to look the woman over again. Casual as she may seem, he can only imagine she's eager to hear news of someone she called friend. Especially as Ardbert suspects it's been quite some time since last she saw him. ]
We were facing a dangerous enemy. [ "We," he says, but he had been part of the fight in the end, hadn't he? And how good it had felt to finally be able to do something. ] But we succeeded, and last I can recall, they were making their way back to a safe harbor of sorts, to celebrate.
[ It's as they'd been approaching the Crystarium that everything becomes fuzzy in his recollection. He thought he'd seen his old friends, Branden and Lamitt and the others, but then...
Well, once this journey is over, he hopes he can see them once more. ]
[ That gets a sidelong glance and a strangely piercing look; a reminder that for all her friendly manner, those marks on her neck aren't for show. Moenbryda is a scholar of Sharlayan, first and foremost, and if there's anything they're known for, it's being too curious for their own good, and the phrasing he's used doesn't escape her. ]
That's a terribly vague answer, you know. [ She leans back, flicking a bit of hair out of her face again, then gives him a wry smile. ] But I daresay the Scions' exploits tend to sound mad when you try to explain them in detail, so I can't fault you for that.
[ She finally reaches to pick up her drink, offering it at him to toast. ]
Still, before we go on exchanging stories, perhaps we ought to introduce ourselves to each other. My name is Moenbryda. Archon of Sharlayan and aetherology expert.
[ It's not as if Ardbert is purposefully being obtuse, but to give her a more specific answer would require a good deal of time. They have an abundance of it here, of course, with little else to do but while away the time with good company and conversation.
All the same, he would rather be sure she's interested in hearing the long version before he launches into it. She does seem to understand why he's kept it so truncated, at the least.
With a nod, he lifts up his own drink and knocks it against hers, taking a longer pull from it as he considers how to introduce himself. ]
Ardbert. [ And what should follow? Warrior of Darkness? Surely not. Hero of the First? Not a chance. He stares down at the table for a number of seconds, aware that he's left Moenbryda hanging, before he shrugs and lets out a thin laugh. ] Just Ardbert.
[ Now there's a laugh with a story behind it, if she's ever heard one. Another person might have chosen to do the tactful thing and let it go unremarked, but tact is a resource Moenbryda has never had terribly much use for, which means that once she's quaffed a good portion of her mug and set it back down on the bar. ]
No one's 'just' anything. [ Silver eyes sweep Ardbert up and down, assessingly. ]
If you'd rather not go into the details, or the memory's unpleasant, that's your business. But I took you for another adventurer. You certainly dress the part.
[ Having just met this woman, Ardbert hadn't known whether she would pick up on the meaning between his words, and if she did, whether she'd comment on it. Turns that out she's the direct type, which isn't all so surprising given her general demeanor.
As much as it won't do any good or change much of anything to rehash all this, Ardbert is still taken enough with the simple fact that he can converse with someone that he'll indulge her. Especially since she has a link to the Scions he knows.
Following her gesture, he glances down at his axe and nods. ] Aye, suppose you're right. Oftentimes I've thought it would have been best if I'd remained just that — an adventurer and nothing more.
[ It had started out so simple, so innocent, yet before he knew it, he'd become something larger than himself. Ardbert meets Moenbryda's gaze again and lets out a full-body sigh. ]
I'll say this. Being a 'hero of the realm' is a tad overrated.
[ That earns him a bright peal of laughter and a wry smile, Moenbryda tipping her head to one side so her hair spills against one shoulder. ]
Oh, I'm well aware. I've never been much of one for heroics, myself.
[ She toys with the mug in her hands, studying his expression. ]
But from what I gather, it's not always in your hands, is it? Perhaps you could have walked away someone who needed your aid, or turned a blind eye to some injustice, but what sort of person would that have made you? Not one that would have liked his own company much, I imagine. [ She raises a hand, beckoning to the bartender for a refill of her drink. ]
You may choose what you do, but not what others call you.
[ Not one for heroics? The look that Ardbert fixes Moenbryda with when she says as much is nothing less than skeptical. One doesn't get close with the Scions without having at least a few heroic tendencies, he would guess.
As she continues on, however, his expression smooths into something more thoughtful. He takes a slow sip of his drink. She makes a good point, and this is a conversation which Ardbert's had with himself more times than he would care to count. For all that he might be full of regret, is there anything he could go back and do differently?
Not bury his axe into Mitron's chest, mayhap. ]
You're not wrong. Before we knew it, the whole star was calling us heroes. Warriors of Light. Aye, just like the one I'm sure you had the pleasure of meeting.
[ Unless she'd lost her life before the Scions and the Warrior of Light had come together. ]
[ The corner of Moenbryda's mouth lifts again, her head cocking slightly. ]
Just the one that I've met. [ She affirms. ] From what I'm given to understand, it's not the most common of titles, so unless where you come from is that different, you must have done something to earn it.
[ While she hadn't zeroed in on that little detail about being from another star the first time, she does now, giving him an appraising look as drums her fingers on the tabletop. ]
Though unless things have very much changed from what I remember, we're a very long way from managing trips between stars, brief or otherwise. How is it that you came to meet the Scions, exactly?
[ Though with heroes, really, anything might be possible. ]
[ There's little chance of Moenbryda getting Ardbert to brag about any of his accomplishments from back when he'd carried that title, and he offers her little more than a shrug in response. She'll have to draw her own conclusions. Ardbert wouldn't even say that he could be lumped in with the Warrior she knows, who's on a whole other level compared to him. He's aware that he'd earn protest from the hero themselves, were he ever to voice that sentiment.
Not that it matters much now. He's already gone, on this train to make his way to a place from whence he'll likely never return. For good, this time.
Which brings him to Moenbryda's question. He smiles wryly, ducking his head for a moment before taking another long draw from his drink. Then, he stares at the glass rather than her, his fingers tracing over the condensation. ]
It's more common than you would expect, these days. Inter-dimensional travel, that is. I did it the hard way, by making a bad deal with an Ascian.
[ It's not a time or set of circumstances he's ever eager to recall, but he also isn't going to lie to her. All he can do these days is own up to his mistakes. ]
[ It isn't like traveling to the First -- at least then there had been a warning of sorts. Instead, she remembers simply waking up elsewhere. The rest is a of a blur; bright lights, pain, cuts, electrical shocks. Darkness. The nature of it eludes her, and though it is quite possible she might be able to discern the truth of it if she tried, she doesn't care to. Memory picks up bit more properly after that. Discarded in some back alley, left without the Blessing of Light or even the simple ability to manipulate aether. Powerless and helpless. She'd since been set up with temporary lodgings in some kind of warehouse by a mysterious benefactor, with a warning that she'll need to become self-sufficient soon.
Quite a tall order when she knows not what to do with herself, or what she could possibly offer in such a sorry state.
For the time being, she's taken to wandering the city as a distraction. The throbbing in her temples still hasn't entirely subsided, and so she traces a wall with her glove as she walks, counting on it to support her should she stumble. Her ears are flat against her head as she walks, flickering slightly at every foreign sound.
Gods, how she misses the other Scions. They might know what to do, or at least have some kind of direction for her. She's grown too used to being the solution, not the one thinking of one. ]
[ No, this place (wherever it may be) is truly nothing like the First. Or the Source, for that matter. The closest comparison that Ardbert has been able to latch onto is Garlemald, though he'd never seen the seat of the Empire with his own eyes, only heard it described in passing in the vaguest of terms.
More perplexing than even where he is, however, is his own state. It's been a few days now and yet he's hardly adjusted to the fact that he's in a body again. How or why it happened, where he is, what force brought him here — he has no answers.
Nor can he say he has any idea of what to feel about any of it. Surely his time should be over, he should have moved on (or at the least settled comfortably into M'ahina's soul), and yet...
Could this be his curse? That he will never truly rest?
Much like his counterpart, Ardbert's set to wandering for lack of any better plan. It's as he rounds a corner that he almost crashes right into her. Instincts drive him to tense up for a brief moment, before he registers who it is, and then he only stares. ]
M'ahina? How—?
[ Though, need he truly ask? Of course she's here. ]
[ The voice is familiar--too familiar, as is the face that accompanies it. In a better frame of mind, she may have been to notice that the presence matches too, but as is?
As far as she knows, Ardbert is where he should be. Elidibus is gone. This person, she does not know where they came from, but she cannot abide it. She draws into a defensive stance, poised to draw a weapon at a moment's notice. Nevermind that she does not have a weapon; she can improvise. ]
I know not who you are--[ she lifts a accusatory finger ]--but you'd do well to put that body back.
[ A feat that should not be possible in any form, but she isn't concerned about the logistics of whatever's happening so much that it's happening. The rest can be dealt with in due time. ]
[ Despite M'ahina's smaller stature, when she is worked up and steeling herself she is no less intimidating than the tallest of Galdjents. She's stood up to literal gods without faltering, and so to be on the receiving end of that piercing gaze and accusatory tone would be enough to make most anyone quaver.
Ardbert's faced off against her before, though that may as well be ancient history. Water under the bridge and then some, especially now that they each understand their connection to each other, one that can't truly be put into words.
All the same, he does take a step or two away from her before lifting his arms in a placating gesture. He can understand why she's jumped to such a conclusion. His current state shouldn't be possible. ]
It's me. Ardbert. In the flesh. Don't ask me how, but...
[ He lowers his hands enough to look them over, as he has nearly a hundred times by now. ]
[ The mannerisms are enough to make M'ahina lower her fists, just a bit. It's not like Elidibus--it doesn't have feeling of wrongness that made her blood boil--but it's... difficult to accept. Even when the little gestures match, when the presence itself is one she knows almost as well as her own.
That body is improbable, to put it rather mildly, and the soul should be with her, finally resting. That's the worst part of it. Impossibility has become her bread and butter, but to deny the man the peace he so deserves...
Still, they need to clear this up somehow. Her brows draw into a frown, and she tilts her head in confusion. Mm, what to do, what to do... Could she talk about Seto? Or...
Carefully, she lowers an arm, and tentatively offers out her right fist. If this is truly Ardbert, he's certain to understand what it means. ]
Just for... reassurance?
[ She's still on guard, but her tone is apologetic. It's a bit silly, as tests go, and she truly wants to believe this is not some elaborate ploy, and yet... And yet, it's much too important not to confirm, is it not? ]
[ There's no offense taken when M'ahina offers him a test of sorts. The sight of her outstretched fist brings back two different memories, one of them more faded than the other. His knowledge of the events that took place whilst he was within M'ahina's soul are far from clear, but he remembers this well enough to know what she's echoing.
Along with how utterly Elidibus had failed said test.
He offers a nod, then stretches out his own fist to bump it against hers. It's a source of comfort for both of them, he imagines. When first he'd done this, it was to let her know that he wouldn't abandon her, even as the light threatened to tear her apart from the inside and it felt as if all was lost.
Come to think of it, there is some concern that he isn't where he "should" be now. Could that terrible light sickness return without him there to bear some of the brunt? Surely not...
Ardbert pulls his fist back, then hops right into discussing their current situation. ]
Know you anything of this place, or how we came to be here? My memories are not as clear as I would like.
[ It's all takes to pull a smile from her. It's as much a gesture of hope now as it was then; that this trial, too, need not be faced alone. Here stands one who has long understood the burdens, the sacrifices--the truest of friends in the most unlikely of circumstances. And in the flesh this time, no less! No need to stay her hand, or swallow the lump in her throat as his fingertips pass through a cup. There's a joy in it that far surpasses her own questions, and makes it much simpler for M'ahina to pull herself together. It's ever easier to put on a brave face for someone else than to be left to her own devices. ]
I'm afraid I'm much the same. I barely remember waking up at all, or what transpired since, only that I was found some time later, abandoned and ... out of sorts.
[ An understatement, to say the least. And she would be content enough to leave things there, but Ardbert deserves the truth. ]
It's all gone. The Blessing, the Echo... I've been cut off from Hydaelyn before, but this is different, it's... more. I can't manipulate the aether to cast the most basic of spells, and even the soul crystals are silent.
[ She gives a small huff. Losing the Blessing of Light before had been a trial, to be certain, but now? Now she cannot help but feel less than useless. She dares not tell even him that she's only just now having a proper look around because of how difficult it's been to fight off the headache. ]
Ah, but nevermind that! [ She waves a hand hastily. ] I can still loose a few arrows to the perpetrator's face well enough, no need to worry. [ Once she finds a bow. .. And whoever did this. Mayhap not the best consolation? Still. ] You're alright, aren't you? Nothing amiss aside from the unusual circumstances...?
[ As M'ahina explains her side of their current predicament, Ardbert settles back on his heels and crosses his arms, hanging on every word. Conversations with her have always felt easy in their own way, even when the subject matter itself was anything but. Speaking to her is effortless, and they both know why that's the case now.
Which isn't to say that he accepts all of her words with a smile. The revelation that she's been stripped of Hydaelyn's blessing to the point that she can't even cast a single spell is worrisome, to say the least, and his brow knits. What force would be powerful enough to sever a bond as strong as that? The same force that has inexplicably given him a body, mayhap.
It's also possible that M'ahina's current state has everything to do with where they are, along with their distance from the Source. The First was, all things considered, one of the closer shards. But who could say for this place?
As she returns the same question back to him, Ardbert straightens for a moment and then shrugs. ] I'm still at a loss as to how this is even possible, to be honest. [ He uncrosses his arms and lifts both hands to look them over once more, squeezing them into fists before letting them fall back to his side. ] We may speculate all day long, however, and not find ourselves any closer to the answers. We'll have to find someone here who can clue us in, I suspect.
[ If there's one thing both of them are good at doing, it's finding friends in foreign places and ingratiating themselves. They don't need any sort of blessing to manage that, do they? ]
[ Right. The confusion is quite understandable, to put things mildly, but ultimately, Arbert is correct--idle conjecture avails them naught. It's never been much her strong suit anyway, so the suggestion to be a bit more proactive is quite welcome. ]
Nothing to stop the force of two Warriors of Light, eh?
[ She taps her chest confidently. It feels natural, in even the face of such uncertainty, and she suspects she knows why. It's easy the recall all the support Arbert gave her in the source, either by helping talk her through things, or at times speaking of completely unrelated matters so she did not have to suffer being consumed by her own thoughts. And now, here they are, and they can but handle things the way they always have. ]
Ah, right! There's a place I'm staying--it's temporary, and far from luxurious, but... [ She shrugs. It will do for now, and she knows they've both had to make due before, so no need to apologize on that front. ] I can you lead you there as we talk. There's someone who.... Well. It would seem anyone knows as much we do, but there is someone helping find jobs and so forth, so we can fit in a bit better.
[ She motions with her hand, and keeps her steps small as she walks. She no longer looks quite as worn down at she did, but for all that Ardbert's untimely and confusing appearance has brightened her day, it does not alleviate how physically awful she still feels. ]
[ Ardbert opens his mouth for a moment to protest that designation (he would not call himself a Warrior of Light or a Warrior of Darkness at this point), but M'ahina carries on before he can get a word in, and he has to wonder if that's by design. She likely has grown tired of his self-deprecation, and in many ways, so has he.
Word of a place to stay and someone who might have work for them is all a sight better than what he had to work with before, and that's enough to put some spring in Ardbert's step, though he takes care to not outpace M'ahina. ]
Well, I'm not picky. So long as it's a roof over our heads — and even then...
[ He frowns, catching for a moment the way a wave of exhaustion passes over M'ahina's expression. She won't want to be coddled, nor does she need to be, which leads him back to distracting her. ]
What manner of work? Granted, I'm sure you could pick up just about anything that was offered.
Mm, some manner of day labor I've yet to decide on. [ She taps her chin in thought. ] It seems this shard hasn't so much as of heard of adventurers. There are no guilds, no leves, no marks... passersby look at you as if you're unwell when you try to see if there's aught you can help them with. It has been... confusing.
[ To say the least of things. She has little question of her own skills and their worth, but she's never encountered such a challenge in figuring out how to actually use them, on top of being ... weak, at the moment. She hates thinking that, yet--... She immediately shakes her head. That can be pushed back down where it belongs. ]
I think I'd do poorly as a receptionist or what have you... [ She'd get bored, and with boredom comes laziness or even mildly destructive habits. Best to avoid that for everyone involved. ] I wonder if I could get away with being a tavern bard? I might be able to glean some information that way...
[ She's considering it. Her old mentor would not be terribly proud of her, but desperate times, and so forth. ]
[ No adventurers? Not even any marks? It's almost impossible for Ardbert to fathom, and he has to assume that this world is a far cry from either of their homes to not have those elements that are so commonplace for them. Mayhap it's nowhere near as dangerous for someone living their daily life here, and so adventurers are not a necessity.
That's going to be an adjustment for both of them. In truth, Ardbert has never considered what he might have done with himself if he hadn't fallen in with his band of friends to travel the realm and help wherever they could. Might he have stayed home, to focus on farming with his father? That had always seemed such an uninteresting life to him, hence why he'd left in the first place.
Nowadays, he does wonder if he might have been better off staying put, but that ship sailed long ago.
Lost in thought, he finally glances over when M'ahina mentions serving as a more traditional sort of bard. ] A minstrel? You're friendly enough that I suspect you could get the patrons to tell you just about anything. I could find another job there, or would we better off dividing and conquering?
[ Not knowing much more than the basics of their situation here thus far, it's difficult to know where to start. Earning coin is truly only a means to an end. ]
Oh! [ The thought is enough of a distraction enough that M'ahina claps her hands together, seemingly forgetting the headache that's plagued her since her her arrival. ] That sounds like fun! Mayhap tending the bar? I should think having you there would serve to loosen some lips as well.
[ Though maybe that's her personal bias speaking. The air has has always been easy with Ardbert, be it speaking or listening. It's easy to sense a friend in someone so honest, so straightforward, so... willing to help people. His friends thought as highly of him, as she recalls, so surely it will be the same here. And there is definitely no ulterior motive that she may or may not enjoy the occasional drink and of course would in no way use that to her advantage. Certainly not.
She clears her throat. ]
If you wanted, that is. If there's aught you feel better suited for, you needn't worry about me.
[ It's a bit of a daunting choice, she admits, to simply choose one thing, let alone commit to it for an indeterminate amount of time. It would hardly be fair to force the matter. ]
[ M'ahina might have been right if Ardbert was from a different point in his life, a time when he was used to wandering into random taverns and starting up conversations. It's been so long since he's spoken to anyone other than her, though, and of course with her it had been easy. Trying to have an actual conversation with anyone else frankly seems daunting, but he'll need to ease himself into it somehow.
This might be less easing in and more forcing himself to sort it out sooner rather than later, but that's fine too.
M'ahina seems to reconsider after a moment, mayhap because he didn't immediately reply in the affirmative. He glances over and shakes his head. ]
For now, I just wonder if it's best that we stay near each other. None of this is meant to be permanent, but I realize we're in no position to rely on the good will of others either.
[ No one knows them. They know no one. M'ahina has no clout here. This isn't about giving into their circumstances, but they'll need to make ends meet somehow until they can sort out how to get her home. ]
Of course. [ Her smile softens, becoming somewhat wry at the edges. ] Such was my intent, though I confess I'm relieved to hear you say that. Your support is ever welcome.
[ It should go without mention that her own is there in equal measure, but she still gives his arm a playful shove with her fist for affirmation.
The gesture feels foreign, in truth. Mayhap even bittersweet. It is something she would have done with any friend, but they were never like that; she always had to be careful. Reel it back in. How freeing it is to not consider anymore.
As for reliance on others... ]
If it were a tavern, then might we negotiate board as part of our wages?
[ That would at least allow them to be self-sufficient, and provide familiar environs as well. Something like setting on the road again, rather than being... trapped. ]
[ That shove sends Ardbert stumbling just slightly, and while he might have given some overreactive response to it if he was in a different state of mind, at the moment he's still reeling from the realization that he can be shoved at all. Being able to make physical contact with someone else, let alone M'ahina, is something he's still not used to after going so many years without.
So, while the list of things that are wrong about being in this place is long, Ardbert can't hate it completely. Not when it allows for him to get nudged in the side by M'ahina and actually feel it.
It's more than that, as well. All of his senses are back, rather than being completely dulled by his ghostly state.
In time, he returns to M'ahina's side on stone path. Not the sort of stone he's used to, though. It's oddly smooth in a way he's never seen until now. ]
We might, yes. Assuming that the taverns here are like the ones we're used to, that is. [ It seems nearly impossible to take much of anything for granted here. ] That would solve two problems at once. I assume you'll be doing the negotiating, then?
[ Who could resist her, between her cute face and the ears? ]
[ Mahina's steps shift as she spins on her heel, walking backwards to beam back at Ardbert until he manages to catch up with her again. ]
Certainly! Leave it to me.
[ Her voice brims confidence. Though now that she thinks of it, she can't remember the last time negotiations were in her court; she tends to leave such matters to those more predisposed to it, like Alphinaud. In fact, she'd venture to assume such matters would have already been taken care of, were he here, because he would take care of them right away rather than when it suited him, unlike her. Still! While it's easy enough to put off important matters for herself, she would not do that to a friend. They'll have to get to it the second they arrive.
Her foot catches on the ledge between the walkway and the road. It is wide, illuminated by street lamps, not unlike the routes designed for Garlean warmachina on the Source. She lifts a hand to signal Arbert to stop walking, letting it hang midair almost protectively. Moments later, some manner of magitech vehicle barrels past at alarming speed, and she continues to listen. She lets her arm lower slowly, giving a bright nod once she's satisfied, before finally stepping down and crossing the way. She suspects she need not explain--take care not to get waylaid by carriages or errant machines seems intuitive enough.
Across the way, there's a heavy metal door leading into a run-down brick structure. She pulls it open and motions inside. ]
Well... Here we are.
[ The interior is bleak. The air is drafty from most of the windows being broken, the floor is a cold and dusty stone, the lights are dim and flicker, there are rust stains all along the floors and walls. There are no rooms nor beds, and most people have their blankets out in rows along the floor. There is at least a fire going from a metal drum, but it seems mostly occupied. ]
[ It's true that M'ahina must be used to having an entourage of sorts that would often smooth over situations or arrange accommodations for her, to say nothing of the fact that her clout had long ago made it possible for her to get what she wanted anywhere she set foot. That doesn't mean that she'll be incapable of falling back on her general gregarious nature to be convincing now that she's far from her usual stomping grounds.
She'd managed well enough on the First, after all. Granted, she'd had G'raha secretly looking out for her in that case, but it's at least prepared her for this to some degree. Ardbert isn't worried.
This world is very little like the First thus far, though. The wide roads and the strange vehicles that speed by whilst barely checking to see if there was anyone in their way was just one example. Though as Ardbert's led into the building where M'ahina has chosen to take shelter, he finds something more familiar, though not in a good way. This is where the destitute gather, and he can't help but think of Gatetown. No doubt M'ahina had felt the same when she first found this place.
He stands near the entrance for a few moments, scanning the room before he turns back to M'ahina. Cozy is a generous way of putting it, but he's in no position to complain. ]
It's the sort of place where you can come and go without too many questions being asked, I would wager. That's something, at least.
[ How he still has it in him to find silver linings, he couldn't say. But having M'ahina at his side makes it a tad easier. ]
Lead the way.
[ He can't imagine they'll have much in the way of privacy, but mayhap she's been able to cobble something together. ]
[ She nods; it has been a blessing none of the native residents are questioning this particular group. None seem to be from Eorzea or Norvrandt, but like she and Ardbert, most of them of are fighting a bit of an adjustment period.
She makes her way down the rows of blankets to the spot where she's been sleeping. It's against a wall in an out of the way corner, in a spot most of the others seem to have avoided because it's next to one of the broken windows and a bit more exposed to the elements. It certainly isn't private, but it's about as isolated as one can get in an open space. ]
It's a bit like camping, in a way. [ The sleeping in the dirt portion of it, at least. And she does have a view out to the unfamiliar stars. ]
I'll find you a blanket. ... And maybe some food? [ Surely he would need to eat in his present state? ] Oh! And I'll go talk to the man helping people get sorted to temporary jobs. You could come, if you'd like. Or you can stay and get your bearings, whichever is easier.
[ It's a lot all at once, and just a tad overeager. She's just trying to keep herself moving forward. ]
[ As M'ahina leads them through, Ardbert can't help but send glances toward all of the people gathered here. Many of them look as displaced and unsure as he feels, and if nothing else, they seem to have a whole host of other people in a similar position to them. Which is not a good thing, he realizes, but it does mean that there's at least one place where they can let their guard down slightly.
They reach their destination, which isn't even a room — simply an isolated corner. Ardbert's camped enough on the road that he's no stranger to such "accommodations," and there's possibly even something the slightest bit nostalgic about it. ]
A blanket and food is a good start, aye. [ Oh, yes, he'll need to eat, won't he? Ardbert hasn't given it much thought thus far, but the very suggestion has his stomach churning and twisting, suddenly too aware of how empty it is, and he heaves out a breath. It's intense enough that he even feels a mite nauseous. ]
You go ahead. I'll wait here, if that's all right.
[ He sinks down to the floor and leans his back up against the wall, shooting M'ahina a brief smile so as to not worry her too much. He's fine, truly; he simply needs a moment. ]
[ M'ahina nods with a smile of her own, content to give Ardbert his space. His presence is enough; she would not want to force herself to his side at every second. Part of her might enjoy the thought, but so too is she aware that people at times need to be able to breathe.
Her errands take much longer than she's suggested. As is often the the case, she finds herself distracted and side-tracked. Asking people how they're doing, helping hand out what small supplies there are, the little things she's gotten into the habit of doing to earn people's trust. Ah, the job negotiations, as well... The man helping them establish identities in this place is about somewhere. He seems somewhat dubious of her plan for herself and warns her she is not like to see many earnings for a while, but she shrugs the advice off; she's used to it.
That accomplished, she finally remembers the task she was actually on, and appears with a pillow tucked into arm, blanket around her shoulders, and a tray with food and drink in her other hand. She sets the items down, and tosses the blanket over her friend with a beam. She still isn't feeling well, but it seems she's recharged much energy by meddling her way through the warehouse. ]
Oh! You'll be wanting this... [ she fishes through her pockets and hands him a small device. ] Evidently, the people use these tomestones for communication. Our identities and wages should be stored on it as well. I confess I'm not certain how the latter is supposed to work, but I'm sure it will make more sense once we've seen it in action.
[ So she would assume. She takes the moment to settle into her own blanket and grab her food--an unknown dish and a cup of hot tea. The dish, while passable enough, has a decidedly strange aftertaste she does not think she's prepared to question, but the tea is perfectly average. ]
[ While Ardbert is not quite comfortable or trusting enough to doze off while M'ahina is gone, he does stay put. If he had more energy, he would have been wandering around himself and getting the lay of the land, mayhap even meeting a few people. It's always a good idea to know the names and faces of the people who you'll be spending time with, for better or worse.
But this entire situation has exhausted him. The shock of being in a physical body was one thing, but he also isn't used to the way one functions anymore. Feeling tired, feeling hungry, it's all bound to take some getting used to.
So he remains where he is, observing the few interactions he can from his spot — those walking past or engaging in brief conversations with each other. Everyday talk, if more desperate than mundane because of the situation they're all in. Ardbert has become very good at observing people, and he almost forgets for a moment that he's visible.
M'ahina's return serves as a reminder, and Ardbert perks up as soon as she appears, some brightness returning to his gaze. He laughs as the blanket falls on him, but then reaches out for the pillow to set it behind his lower back before taking the tray of food. The dish isn't something he recognizes, but he has no reason to be picky.
Though before he can take a testing bite, M'ahina hands over the device, the tomestone-yet-not. He blinks down at it, poking at the screen for a few seconds before he sets it aside. Later. ] I imagine we'll get used to it... much like with everything else in this place. Thank you.
[ And now, the big moment. He places the tray in his lap and steels himself, drawing in a breath and letting it out again as he gathers some of the food onto his spoon. This shouldn't be such an occasion, and yet he expects M'ahina will understand. He catches her gaze. ]
How is it? [ It might help to know what to expect. ]
[ She tilts her head slightly. She had not anticipated Arbert being hesitant to eat, in truth, but then, there is a certain sense to it. It's one of those little things so easily taken for granted. ]
Hmm... It's... different? Not to put you off your appetite, but I would suggest following your bites with a drink.
[ Normal, at first taste, with a strange texture and stranger aftertaste. Not so much to make it inedible, of course, but it's far from a grand feast. ]
Or mayhap it would taste better with a helping hand?
[ She holds out a spoonful of her own food to him with a playful smile. The glint in her eyes suggests she does not expect him to partake, though it's not as if she could protest if he did. ]
[ It's hard to imagine that anything could actually put Ardbert off his appetite at this point, though there is a sense of melancholy that he isn't eating some familiar and well-loved meal, but something from another world that may not be to his taste.
He's hardly in a position to be picky, though when he realizes M'ahina's trying to feed him herself, he laughs and waves her off. Surely she hadn't been serious...
Lifting his own spoon, he takes a sniff of the porridge-like substance, then pushes past his misgivings and eats it all in one bite. At first there isn't much to say about it, but then the aftertaste hits the back of his throat and he grabs for the tea to wash it down.
The tea is a bit more familiar, and all in all, he can't complain. ]
Well. That wasn't so bad. I've had worse, that's for certain. [ And the fact that he'll be eating with someone else helps as well. ] How did it go? Did you find whoever you were looking for?
[ As they talk he continues to eat, and soon enough he's getting down bites with nary a second thought. ]
[ She chuckles quietly too herself as she eats a bit more. It would seem Ardbert knows her a bit too well to truly catch him off-guard, but even just a laugh is well worth it. ]
I did! [ Somehow, amid all her other running around. ] We've temporary identities and work. I believe an apartment is being worked out as well? It's... [ He reaches for her tomestone and fiddles with it a bit, and ... frowns. She's never actually been very good with this sort of thing, growing up in a place that tended to frown upon it. Most of her dalliances with technology have been either sheer luck or with the assistance of more competent help. ] ... Well, he pulled up a map on this, somehow, but... I'll figure it out later.
[ Or ask the man in question to show her again later. Whichever. ]
He did seem to have some reservations that I can sustain myself preforming, but... Surely it can't be that bad? Or no worse than beginning to adventure with nary a gil upon your person because you were bored.
[ Temporary identities, work, and lodgings in the future? That's quite a lot to get settled in not much time at all, and Ardbert would be impressed if he didn't already know that M'ahina is the sort of person who gets things done. Even then, he's still a bit impressed.
Pulling up a map on the tomestone certainly sounds useful, and Ardbert decides to do some preliminary poking at his own device after he's finished eating. He also isn't that good with technology, but now seems to be the time to learn.
Somehow, he does believe things will work themselves out. They're here together, and so they'll also be able to support each other, even if funds get tight. ]
Scraping our earnings together, I imagine we'll get by. And if we have to get creative, then so be it.
[ Because yes, both of them started out with next to nothing and found their way. Ardbert quirks a smile before focusing in on his food again.
And, through a bite: ] Once we've got that settled, we'll have to do some investigation into how to get you home, of course.
[ Whether he comes back to Eorzea with her, or to Norvrandt, or they figure out some way to piece their souls back together. The latter feels a bit morbid now that he's flesh and blood again, but they do not yet know by what design. And perhaps more importantly, that is not her desicion to make, and one far too important to force or take from him. ... Though she certainly means to insist she won't leave him here.
Of course, it needn't be right this moment, or even soon, so there is no point in lingering on the thought. ]
And we'll be in a decent enough spot to do so. There's a reason the adventurer's guilds set up shop in the local taverns!
[ Well, that and the sellswords and former hedge knights they were trying to coax into meaningful work were a bit fond of their cups, but that's neither here nor there. ]
[ That is the question, isn't it? Ardbert pauses in eating for a moment as he considers what would happen if they were to find passage back to Hydaelyn. He has no body to return to, even if he seems to (somehow) have one here, so would he simply convert back into aether and return to M'ahina? Or has some higher being granted him a kindness by giving him a physical form, one he'll be allow to keep regardless of where he travels?
There is, of course, no way of knowing. Not when they're not sure who or what is responsible for their appearance here in the first place.
Even with all of this uncertainty, however, M'ahina manages to insert some brightness. How one could ever consider her a Warrior of Darkness, Ardbert couldn't say. When he looks at her, all he sees is light. ]
Aye, you're not wrong about that. [ He smiles briefly. ] I'll be curious to see how the taverns of this star compare to the ones we know.
[ Nudged out of his more anxious thoughts, Ardbert polishes off the rest of his meal and his tea. ]
Not terribly different, I would assume. [ Even in trying to reconcile her image of such a place with the oddities she's seen here, surely a place to drink is a place to drink? ] Or hope, rather. And with you there, mayhap I won't need to worry my mug has been poisoned!
[ Which can be counted among those jokes she wishes weren't quite so true. ]
Still, I suppose we'll see tomorrow.
[ Which she is looking forward to, in more ways than one. The company goes without saying, but it will also be good to quit this place. There is an air of... being lost, perhaps. She's somewhat glad Ardbert won't be lingering here as long as she has. ]
[ That's an alarming thing to announce, and Ardbert looks to M'ahina with widened eyes. ]
Is that something which happens to you often?
[ Despite how close the two of them are, there's still plenty they don't know about each other's lives, about all of their experiences and adventures. Even after joining his soul with hers, it's not as if Ardbert suddenly became privy to all of M'ahina's memories.
And yes, tomorrow. Ardbert's eager to get started on something, even if it's menial work. It's still the first step in their journey here, wherever it may take them, and it will make him feel a bit less like he's drifting. Which, suffice to say, is a feeling he's grown quite tired of by this point. ]
Well... I wouldn't say often, but I've cause to be paranoid, I think. It was during a peace conference, and one of the dissenters... strongly disapproved of my presence. [ To put it one way. ] Oh, and the time sultana was given sleeping draught and I was subsequently framed for murder. That was fun.
[ She gives a wry smile and shrugs. It was rather not fun at all, actually, but it feels ages ago now, and things eventually worked themselves out. Either way, she is unbothered. ... Though she does prefer to see her drinks being poured now. ]
You must have gotten into equal amounts of trouble, yes? It was quite the merry band you had going!
[ "Fun" is one way of putting it, though Ardbert realizes that M'ahina is being facetious. She would rather make light of something than dwell on it, and he understands it's her way of coping with things that are, by all accounts, quite horrible. He appreciates that she's so open with him, even when it comes to memories she might not want to relive.
When she turns the subject back on him, Ardbert hums in contemplation as he lifts a hand to rub at his beard. ]
Yes, plenty of trouble, though nothing quite like what you've described. [ After a pause, he meets her eyes. ] Though I shouldn't expect our journeys to mirror each other exactly, should I?
[ Plenty of the broad strokes were similar, but he suspected the details would differ quite a bit. ]
Well, I suppose not, and yet... [ Hmm. It's difficult to explain her thoughts on the matter, but she will have to try her best. ] I almost wouldn't be surprised if they did? Parallel worlds and so forth, so some strange coincidences may not be all that strange after all.
[ Something to that effect, although she already knows that he is correct. Their journeys weren't exactly the same. But there was something strangely nostalgic in the way Ardbert spoke of Norvrandt, and of the bits and pieces she'd collected of his friends; perhaps not a mirror as such, but in the same spirit all the same. ]
It's enough to be curious about, in any case. Then again, I'm told I can be a bit of a busybody.
[ She's not certain she agrees with that assessment, of course. But so it goes. ]
[ Ardbert nods, accepting her explanation of it with little in the way of protest. He suspects that they will stumble upon these similarities when they're least expecting it, and yet there's a joy in that, isn't it? He doesn't find their mirroring of each other to be anything upsetting or eerie, not now that their link is so well-understood.
The same, yet different. It describes many things about the two of them.
His lip curls up on one side as he draws the edges of the blanket up and then spreads it to wrap it around his shoulders more firmly. ] That may be true, but I can't say I necessarily see that as a bad thing. Your desire to know more about others comes from a good place, from what I've seen.
[ He'd had plenty of time to observe M'ahina and how she handled situations by now. Usually when she pries into someone's affairs, it's because she senses something is amiss and wishes to help. ]
Sometimes! [ She gives a small laugh. ] Sometimes, it's naught but curiosity. Or a habit, you could say?
[ Such information has a way of making itself useful later, but she can't say it's her intent to fish for later jobs--it's just fun meeting people. Figuring out their workings. In this case, there seems fair little to discover in a way, but who can say? They may yet surprise each other.
She sets the remnants of food aside and smooths her blanket out over the ground, electing to lay on top of it instead of smoothing it out, curling into a little ball. ]
A shame it's so late.
[ Though she admits she probably needs the rest. ]
[ Ardbert shrugs, because even then he doesn't see what the problem would be with M'ahina showing what he knows would be genuine curiosity in another person. That desire to learn more, to connect, is natural.
If they wanted, he suspects that they could stay up all night chatting about this and that, or nothing at all. But the rest is something he knows he likely needs, after not truly resting for so, so long. And he also suspects the other people holed up in this temporary housing with them wouldn't be too thrilled if they continued to make noise long after everyone had gone to sleep. ]
Worry not. [ He smiles at her briefly as he scoots himself back up until he's leaning against the wall. After resting his forearms up on his knees, he decides he's more than comfortable enough to fall asleep. After long days spent traveling on the road, Ardbert learned how to sleep just about anywhere. ] Tomorrow's another day.
[ Unless this was all some strange dream, but... no, he does believe he can tell the difference by now. ]
[ Rest comes all too easily for M'ahina. The facility gets quite cold at night owing to little protection from the elements, and she awakens more curled into her blanket than she started -- wrapped around it rather than draped over her, as most people would. But as the sun rises, the spot transforms from cool stone to a patch of warm light, and she awakens well rested and refreshed. More so than she has been in some time, as it seems the headache that's been plaguing her since arrival has finally broken.
A glance at her companion shows him to still be asleep, and rather than waking him, she hops to her feet and starts the fold up the blanket. From sheer force of habit, she finds herself asking if any of their fellow refugees need any assistance and finds herself quite busy in a series of menial tasks, though unlike home, it is not customary to reward such services here. She finds she doesn't care much; it will keep her occupied until either Ardbert wakes up or she grows bored and wants to move on to things of greater import. Though hopefully it's the former. ]
[ Both drifting off to sleep and waking up the next morning are things that Ardbert hasn't done in nigh on a century. The falling asleep part had happened naturally enough, the sheer exhaustion draping over him before he could think too hard on it as his newly corporeal body did all the work.
Waking up, on the other hand, is more of a trial. It's been so, so long since he truly slept that he finds the act of waking to be far more difficult that it should be. He does become aware of the warmth of the sun on his skin (a sensation he missed more than he could have ever realized) and the hustle and bustle of other people moving around and exchanging some hushed words now that it's morning.
However, it's only as he senses M'ahina approaching again, no doubt to check in on him, that he finally finds it in him to crack open his eyes. That groggy feeling, not to mention the sensation of sleep at the edges of his eyes, is both new and nostalgic all at once. He lets out a large, open-mouthed yawn as he sits up and rubs at his eyes. ]
... G'morning. [ Even his words come out thick with sleep. Ah, it's been too long. ] If I'm honest, I feel like I could sleep another sun or two.
[ Of course, that won't be happening. There's work to be done. Through another yawn, Ardbert stretches his arms above his head and lets out a groan as he back cracks in a few places. ]
[ Ah, yes. That feeling of being run down by a chocobo carriage--she knows it quite well. ]
It doesn't let up, I'm afraid. [ She gives a small, sympathetic chuckle and smile a hand to help him to his feet, should he accept it. ] Or, it didn't for me, at least.
[ Though now that it's passed, she is both ready and willing to be productive enough to make up for the time she's lost, and entirely unwilling to slow her momentum. ]
Mayhap we can find you some tea, and leave the heavy lifting to me until it works its magic? ... As it were.
[ She doesn't mind. Their main tasks of the day are becoming acquainted with their lodgings and their new jobs, which she hardly needs Ardbert coherent for if he's truly feeling out of sorts. And if he still feels weary by the time said tasks are done, it would seem preferable for him to get more rest in an actual bed while she scours the town for information. ]
[ While this sense of exhaustion is bone-deep and far more physical than what he's had to put up with in decades, it's not as if he hadn't also been tired as a shade. A different sort of tired, to be sure, but there had been so many days when he'd just wished for it to be over, while also knowing he was cursed to exist (in the broadest sense of the word) forever.
He had been able to rest within M'ahina, for better or worse, though he wouldn't say he's eager to return to that now. He knows it's where he'll end up eventually, but the chance to live alongside her is admittedly intriguing.
After taking her hand and finding his feet, he rubs more sleep out of his eyes. ]
Tea would be good. I'm confident my energy will return to me eventually. [ After a pause and moment of consideration, he gives M'ahina a brief nudge in the side. ] Can't have you taking on all the work yet again.
True. I might get bored, and then where will we be?
[ She grins and leads the way to the refreshment table set out for fellow refugees--might as well make one last use of it before they find their real accommodations. That, and they don't yet have coin to find a real cup.
She then leads the way outside, where the city has considerably more bustle than the night. The roads are filled with magitek vehicles, so noisy and in such a quantity that it's difficult for her to pick them out individually, even with her sensitive hearing. For those on foot there are different paths, equally crowded, and learning to navigate those is a simple matter of following the townsfolk. ]
A bit much, isn't it? That's why I tend to go out at night.
[ The citystates of Eorzea were nothing, compared to this, and truth be told it can start to hurt after a while; she's not used to having to filter everything out. This, combined with many odd looks in their direction. Their attire doesn't match their surroundings, though the looks are much more pointed at her than Ardbert. She suspects it's her features, since he city is filled with Hyur and a single Miqo'te to be found. Her smile remains in place, though a slight droop in her ears and a bit of a flick in her tail belies some minor agitation. She has never been shy of crowds, but this is not the kind of attention she likes. ]
[ Generally speaking, M'ahina being bored is not bound to end well. She isn't the sort of person who can put up with being idle, and that's something Ardbert can relate to, even if his adventuring days feel so far off now. He'd had to be idle for decades, granted no other option, and so having to live in the moment now is going to take some getting used to. He does grab a cup of tea (literally, in a cup made of paper or something like it) and takes it along with him as they wade back into the city.
While Ardbert's senses are nowhere near as sharp as M'ahina's, that doesn't necessarily make the hustle and bustle any less overwhelming. This is a far cry from the other two worlds that he knows, and while he's certain that when it comes down to it, people don't truly change, the set dressings are enough to throw him off.
At first he's so distracted by everything around them that all he can do is focus on following M'ahina, one foot in front of the other as he takes it all in. Eventually, however, he does notice the scrutiny she's under, or the way people will not-so-subtly whisper to each other after passing them by. ]
It seems they don't have Mystels here, then? Or Miqo'te. [ Same difference, truly, and their worlds were connected enough that there were such similarities. Not here, though. Is it even one of the Fourteen? ]
So it would seem. Strange, isn't it? [ Though, as she recalls, it was a bit like that in Ishgard as well--looks of disgust towards the outsider. This is comparatively less hostile, but still.... ] You know, someone actually pulled my tail the other day. Didn't seem to think it real. I ... think I may have overreacted.
[ She's been so out of sorts the memory is bit hazy, but she does recall being in so much pain that most of her patience had evaporated. It was certainly not her best form, but so long as she can make up for it.... Mayhap if they build reputations here, the whispers will become more positive, just as they did in the rest of her adventures.
For a while, she gets a little lost in the flow of the crowd, but after a while she remembers they have a destination, and fiddles with her little tomestone until it pulls up a map. It's a little hard to read compared the maps she used to scribble into her journals, but it will do. ]
Um, where was it he said to meet again...? [ She mumbles the address the herself, and the device begins to direct them to their destination, down to every turn. ] Oh! Well, that's useful. I suppose we'll make better time than I thought.
[ On account of not having to explore the entire city until they learn the landmarks. ]
[ At M'ahina's account, Ardbert's eyes go wide and he's quick to shake his head when she claims she must have overreacted. Granted, he doesn't know what exactly happened after her tail was yanked, but nonetheless... ]
I would hardly say so. That isn't the sort of thing you do without asking. If anyone had done such a thing to Renda-Rae, I think she would have been likely to tear them to shreds.
[ Granted, his erstwhile friend had been a bit of a feisty one, prone to losing her temper to say the least, and M'ahina is somewhat more even when it comes to her moods. She's also usually willing to forgive and forget, though if anyone else makes to invade her personal space without her permission, Ardbert will certainly have something to say about it.
While he has no doubt that M'ahina can handle herself, he's also relieved that he arrived when he did, so that she need not endure all of this alone.
When she gets the map up on her device, Ardbert can't help but nudge in against her side to take a look himself. Their height difference means that it's easy enough for him to see. He must admit, the way the map traces a path out for them is quite impressive. ]
It certainly holds your hand. Useful in this situation, but sometimes there's a joy in wandering and losing oneself in a new place, wouldn't you say?
[ Still, they have to make it to their place of work on time, and so Ardbert isn't about to protest the handiness of the device at the moment. ]
[ It pulls a laugh from her. Yes, she can well imagine--she may not have have had opportunity to call Renda-Rae a friend when she yet lived, from what she has witnessed of her past, she certainly feels like one. Mayhap one day M'ahina and Ardbert can compare notes on their comrades--it would be fun, she thinks. As for the talk of travel... ]
Oh, yes! I always like to scour the area from above and scribble maps into my journal when I can--much more useful to have your own notes, so that you can stray from the beaten path without getting helplessly lost, getting to see the sights which most dare not set foot in.
[ It's like breath in one's lungs, really. This is not terrible either, by virtue of being new, but who is to say how she'll feel about it once the allure finally wears off.
For the time being, however, they've reached their destination. They're taken to their would-be lodgings first and given a brief tour--where to dispose of waste, where to collect mail, and so forth. The abode itself isn't terribly unlike the apartments she's used to, and of similar size, if perhaps a touch smaller. There's a sofa that converts into a double bed, a cooking station, and a lavatory, and she supposes they can't ask for much else. Though privacy could become a concern; she's never seen such a space used for more than one person. As well as the lack of space for another bed. ]
Well, depending on how our schedules overlap, I suppose we could take turns sleeping on the floor...
[ Possibly? They're in no position to protest, so they will have to make due somehow. ]
[ It doesn't surprise him at all to hear that M'ahina is fond of high places. Between her archery and her feline qualities, it all makes good sense to him. That's certainly a trait that she and Renda-Rae share in common, for obvious reasons. Not that he's about to paint all Mystel archers with the same brush, but... ]
I suspect between the two of us we'll find those less traveled paths soon enough.
[ They're both seasoned adventurers with wanderlust in their blood, it's bound to happen even if they're only here for a short time. And who's to say how long it will be, at this point? M'ahina's time on the First had been rather extended when all was said and done. Then again, she'd also had the ability to return to the Source at any time. Not so in this situation.
They reach the place they'll be working and lodging, and Ardbert is content to let M'ahina take the lead. Interaction with others is something he's still adjusting to after so long, though he realizes he'll need to do so quickly if he has a shift coming up. The space they're granted to bunk in isn't much, especially for two people, but it's still a sight better than where they came from this morning. He's not about to complain.
At M'ahina's suggestion, he's quick to nod. ] I imagine we've both done our fair share of that over the years. I don't mind. [ He doesn't think to suggest that they do anything other than an equitable arrangement, well aware that she would accept no chivalry from him. He takes another look around the small space, allowing his feet to carry him to each corner — not that it takes long. ] It's cozy enough. I've certainly had worse.
[ It's true, though it does make her miss the perks of the Adventurer's Guild. Earning free lodging was a decidedly cozy benefit, to say the least. Though it's not as though they'll be outdoors, so there's certain to be a way to make things more cozy. Mayhap with enough pillows....
Like slumber parties when she was a girl. She could certainly work with that. She'll have to make note of the stove, as well--it actually does look more useful than the small, portable one she tends to carry. It would be nice to treat her friend to something decent to make up for his first meal here, once they've earned a little coin.
Which is where they're headed next. The tour is short--metal containers of ale, a wine fridge, the shelf of spirits. A manual detailing the production of various mixed drinks. No kitchen to worry about. And then their guide leaves. She finds it quite odd there's nobody around to help show the ropes during the shift, but she supposes she can jump in if Ardbert gets overwhelmed. Though it is clear enough that they he won't be needing it--the place is deathly silent. Not a single patron to be found. She tilts her head and frowns. ]
I can see now why he was hesitant to grant my choice of employment. Bit difficult to earn to my keep playing to the air.
[ For all of the random requests that Ardbert has fulfilled over the years and the odd jobs he's done to make some gil when there was no obvious monster to hunt or other heroic deed to perform, tending bar is not part of his repertoire. To say nothing of the fact that all of those memories are old and dusty by this point, it does feel like he's being thrown into a trial-by-fire.
That might be for the best. He's always learned and performed best when put on the spot, forced to think on his feet. Besides, it can't be that difficult... can it?
Though M'ahina points out the lack of customers and Ardbert heaves out a sigh as he looks around the tavern. ]
Nor can I serve spirits to... spirits. [ Oh, how many times he'd wished for a drink while he was a shade, but it was not to be. ] Hopefully it will pick up as the day carries on. For now, I may as well try to learn where everything is and how to make some of these drinks.
[ Some of them seem... rather complicated. He settles behind the bar and begins to study the cheat sheet they have. ]
[ She gives a small shrug and pulls out her harp, quietly humming along as pulls out a melody inspired by the First--the song upon the wind, as it were. One of many titles bestowed her upon her return. It's nice to do; she hasn't since she arrived here, and it feels good to let her anxieties escape from her fingertips. But she falls silent again sooner rather than later, heaving an almost petulant sigh. It seems she has reached her limits of not having an audience, and she does not like playing to become a chore. She tucks the instrument back into her bag, and plops down at the bar. ]
I've an idea! [ Never a good sign. ] In lieu of customers, why don't I buy something? Then you'll get to figure out the lay of things, and I can be less bored. An ideal trade, yes?
[ While M'ahina might have become bored of her own playing before long, Ardbert could have listened to her for a good deal longer. He recalls back when he'd been the shadow following her around the First, how she'd at times find quiet moments to pull out her harp and provide something to break the oppressive silence. He'd always enjoyed hearing her songs, and this one is no different.
All the same, he greets her with a smile as she joins him, understanding that it might feel odd to play to a mainly vacant room. ]
Drinking on the job, are we? [ Still, it's not the worst idea. To have a trial run of sorts. He slides a menu across the bar toward her. ] Pick one, then. Something to your liking. I'll do my very best.
[ He grabs for a glass to ready himself, not entirely certain what he's in for. Especially since certain drinks even seem to require different receptacles. What was so wrong with simply serving mead and ale...? ]
[ Easier said than done, considering she hasn't heard of a good deal many of these drinks. Compared to the types of establishments she usually frequents, this seems almost as lavish as an Ishgardian lord's personal stocks. ]
Hmm. [ She is quite tempted to see how the wines compare to Wineport's, but that would erode the pretense of having Ardbert practice. ] This sounds like it could be refreshing? [ She points to a random spot on the page, to a drink denoting citrus and floral. In the meantime, she glances about their surroundings. ]
This seems a bit nostalgic, in a way.
[ Whether that's due to Arbert's old habit of visiting her in the Crystarium, or because she was a little too fond of a good party in her youth, is difficult to say. Mayhap it's a bit of both. ]
[ Ardbert lifts up the page after noting the drink that M'ahina chose, squinting at it for a few moments. He is still unclear on why alcohol concoctions need to be so complicated, why things like floral notes are needed, but if this is to be his job then he'll need to learn the ins and outs of it quite quickly.
If nothing else, it's taught him yet another thing about M'ahina, that this is the sort of drink she would pick when presented with an entire list. Granted, she may not have put too much thought into it and instead chosen the first one that sounded vaguely appealing. ]
Right then. [ Time to find out where all of these different liquors and other ingredients are kept. He begins searching under the bar and on the shelves behind it to gather up all that he needs, glancing over his shoulder at M'ahina when she speaks of nostalgia. ]
How's that? Are you thinking of the Wandering Stairs?
[ There's no doubt plenty of other such taverns that M'ahina has frequented, but that one is naturally the first to come to Ardbert's thoughts. ]
[ M'ahina begins to scan the page over once more, taking mental notes here and there of what sounds interesting. Truthfully, the mixed drinks appeal the most simply because they are an oddity compared to what she's used to, and some of the flavors sound intriguing. She wonders how many she get get away with sampling tonight. ]
Hmm? [ She looks up again, already distracted as she considers the possibilities. ] Not quite. There is the company, of course, but... I actually tended to frequent such establishments in my youth, before I became and adventurer. A bit of song and so forth, though it was purely for mine own enjoyment, not for coin.
[ She's never been a minstrel as such. But still... ]
[ There has never been much of a chance for Ardbert to speak with M'ahina about the time of her life before she'd set out as an adventurer, and so he's a bit surprised to hear it mentioned now. There is something nice about reminiscing, even if melancholy is bound to come along with it. That sense of knowing it's a time you can never return to, quite literally in his case...
But he isn't about to bring down the mood. He's found a mortar and pestle which he believes he's supposed to use to crush some petals, the floral notes being quite literal in this case. He turns back to face M'ahina and gets to it, finding a strange satisfaction in the task. ]
[ She tilts her head, watching in curiosity as Arbert mashes the petals. She supposes that would bring out some of the flavor, and now she's even more curious what his finished result will be. ]
Hmm... I'm not certain I actually put that much thought into it, in truth. [ She gives a small laugh. ]
The thing is, Gridanians can be quite ... stuffy. Obsessed with protecting our forests and so forth. And so with archery, I was expected to make myself useful. When my former mentor appeared, I was simply the only one of my guild who appreciated something of a more artistic nature, rather than simply learning to fight better, so I thought, "why not?", and that was that. That it ended up suiting me so well was simply an added bonus.
[ In other words, never really a plan of hers at all, in spite of the fame bards held within her country. ]
[ Thancred has only heard bits and pieces about Gridania, primarily through M'ahina, as it's not a part of Eorzea he'd seen fit to visit when he was there. He'd been fueled with so much anger and grief at the time that the idea of sightseeing had never even occurred to him. Not when he'd wanted to burn it all to the ground to save what he'd lost. It's difficult to think back on that time now, especially given how he'd viewed and treated M'ahina back then. ]
Adding art into your combat... [ He tilts his head to one side, then the other, cracking his neck. ] I never would have thought of such a thing either. Yet your songs, they truly do serve to inspire your fellows in the midst of a battle.
[ It's quite impressive, all told.
Ardbert begins to measure out all of the liquid ingredients now, before dumping them all into a single mug. Whether this concoction will end up tasting any good, he has no idea. It's good of M'ahina to offer to test it for him, considering his utter lack of experience. ]
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some kinda train to the afterlife + snowpiercer + spirited away jamjar setting
Now and again, a droning voice over the speakers will call for the residents of the train to assemble and get rid of pests attempting to attack it. Standing on the train roof, trying to cut down many-limbed shadows clinging to the metal, all Moenbryda can see out there is an endless, howling black.
It's after one of those altercations that she finds her way to the dining car -- one of them, anyway. The servers are mute, vaguely humanoid shadows that flit from table to table, taking people's orders. Brushing some lingering snowmelt off her clothes, she plunks herself down solidly at the bar and unhooks her axe from her back so it buries itself with a solid thunk on the polished wooden floor. ]
Well, that was certainly exciting, wasn't it? [ She announces, to no one in particular. There are faces both new and familiar around, but first things first: she needs to get warmed up. ]
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But it's been long enough now that he's been getting antsy, and with each turn they take around an unknown corner, his connection to the Warrior of Light and their home shards feels weaker and weaker. For someone who'd been alone with his own thoughts and left to drift for so long, though, this could all be much worse.
At least he can interact with people here.
The chance to do something, to swing his axe around and have it actually cleave through something (even if that something is... shadow creatures?) helps to lighten Ardbert's mood. It works up his appetite too, and so the dining car is the first place he heads once all is said and done.
A woman with an axe that rivals his seems to address him, and Ardbert shoots her a grin before moving to take the stool at her left. ]
Won't ever say no to a good fight. [ He nods to her axe, his eyes shining with admiration. ] It's nice to get the blood flowing, wouldn't you say?
[ Not that there's actually any blood left in his veins any more -- but it all feels close enough to the real thing that he can let himself forget, sometimes. ]
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Besides, they've clearly got the same good taste in weapons. She chuckles, patting the shaft of her axe fondly. ]
That it is. Not to say I'm spending my days praying for the next bunch of demons or whatever else they are to come along, mind you, but it's nice to be doing something useful.
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[ Ardbert murmurs the word under his breath, wondering what those creatures might be. It seems like there are any number of possibilities, and yet his awareness of what state they're in and where they might be headed has him unsure. If they're in some realm that follows death, then it doesn't have to play by any of the rules he knows.
He nods all the same, then waves over one of the strange waiters to take his order. With that taken care of, he settles his attention back on his new axe-wielding friend. ]
Not used to sitting idle, are you? [ He sighs and leans forward, resting both of his arms on the bar-top. ] I understand. I certainly appreciate it not getting too dull around here.
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'Voidsent,' though -- I haven't heard someone else call them that in a while. Doesn't seem like it's a term most people here have heard of.
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There's no mistaking it. While Ardbert and the others had never felt the need to tattoo themselves in order to mark them as experts in any field, he's spent enough time in the presence of the Warrior and the Scions to have some idea of what the symbol means. It's all a bit over-the-top, in his opinion, but...
Is she one of the lesser-known Scions? One who wasn't summoned to the First? What was the word Urianger had used... ]
You're an Archon. I can't imagine many people around here have made note of that, either.
[ He turns in his seat, his interest shifting from mild to something stronger. ]
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You recognize it? Then, you know of Sharlayan? Or-- [ She sits back, scrutinizing him more assessingly. No Sharlayan she knows would dress like that, not even Thancred. ] --are you from Eorzea?
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They've found common ground. It's more than enough reason to be excited. Given that the Warrior of Light had not always been the best of conversationalists, this is like a breath of fresh air.
It's her final question that Ardbert chooses to address, with a brief shake of his head. ]
No, though I was able to make a brief trip there. [ Said as if it was a quick vacation rather than the desperate action of someone with no other options. ] I hail from a different star, though one with a connection to Hydaelyn. It's a long story, but... I have some familiarity with the Scions.
[ He raises an eyebrow at the Galdjent woman. Your turn. ]
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For now, she'll meet that raised eyebrow with one of her own, giving him a quick grin as well. ]
Is that so? I happen to know some of the Scions quite well, myself. Urianger is a childhood friend. [ She looks reflective, leaning back slightly in her seat. ] I don't suppose you've seen them recently, have you?
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Not here. [ Said with a quick glance around the train car. ] Though I imagine that's a good thing.
[ He folds his hands on the tabletop in front of him, perking up when one of the strange servers drifts by to drop off their drinks. ]
Before I came to be here, though, yes. Quite recently, in fact.
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I imagine so.
[ While her memory is fuzzy on the details of how she came to be here, they're certain on one point: she shouldn't be alive. Her last conscious thought was that there wasn't enough aether to fuel the blade that would bring the Ascian down, and there was only one ready supply. Her thoughts are easily distracted from those moments, though, by what the man says next. There's an unmistakable softening in her expression, a warmth in her voice when she answers. ]
And are they well?
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As well as they can be.
[ Which is a statement that requires some explanation, he realizes. He shifts in his seat enough to look the woman over again. Casual as she may seem, he can only imagine she's eager to hear news of someone she called friend. Especially as Ardbert suspects it's been quite some time since last she saw him. ]
We were facing a dangerous enemy. [ "We," he says, but he had been part of the fight in the end, hadn't he? And how good it had felt to finally be able to do something. ] But we succeeded, and last I can recall, they were making their way back to a safe harbor of sorts, to celebrate.
[ It's as they'd been approaching the Crystarium that everything becomes fuzzy in his recollection. He thought he'd seen his old friends, Branden and Lamitt and the others, but then...
Well, once this journey is over, he hopes he can see them once more. ]
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That's a terribly vague answer, you know. [ She leans back, flicking a bit of hair out of her face again, then gives him a wry smile. ] But I daresay the Scions' exploits tend to sound mad when you try to explain them in detail, so I can't fault you for that.
[ She finally reaches to pick up her drink, offering it at him to toast. ]
Still, before we go on exchanging stories, perhaps we ought to introduce ourselves to each other. My name is Moenbryda. Archon of Sharlayan and aetherology expert.
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All the same, he would rather be sure she's interested in hearing the long version before he launches into it. She does seem to understand why he's kept it so truncated, at the least.
With a nod, he lifts up his own drink and knocks it against hers, taking a longer pull from it as he considers how to introduce himself. ]
Ardbert. [ And what should follow? Warrior of Darkness? Surely not. Hero of the First? Not a chance. He stares down at the table for a number of seconds, aware that he's left Moenbryda hanging, before he shrugs and lets out a thin laugh. ] Just Ardbert.
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No one's 'just' anything. [ Silver eyes sweep Ardbert up and down, assessingly. ]
If you'd rather not go into the details, or the memory's unpleasant, that's your business. But I took you for another adventurer. You certainly dress the part.
[ She waves a hand at his axe. ]
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As much as it won't do any good or change much of anything to rehash all this, Ardbert is still taken enough with the simple fact that he can converse with someone that he'll indulge her. Especially since she has a link to the Scions he knows.
Following her gesture, he glances down at his axe and nods. ] Aye, suppose you're right. Oftentimes I've thought it would have been best if I'd remained just that — an adventurer and nothing more.
[ It had started out so simple, so innocent, yet before he knew it, he'd become something larger than himself. Ardbert meets Moenbryda's gaze again and lets out a full-body sigh. ]
I'll say this. Being a 'hero of the realm' is a tad overrated.
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Oh, I'm well aware. I've never been much of one for heroics, myself.
[ She toys with the mug in her hands, studying his expression. ]
But from what I gather, it's not always in your hands, is it? Perhaps you could have walked away someone who needed your aid, or turned a blind eye to some injustice, but what sort of person would that have made you? Not one that would have liked his own company much, I imagine. [ She raises a hand, beckoning to the bartender for a refill of her drink. ]
You may choose what you do, but not what others call you.
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As she continues on, however, his expression smooths into something more thoughtful. He takes a slow sip of his drink. She makes a good point, and this is a conversation which Ardbert's had with himself more times than he would care to count. For all that he might be full of regret, is there anything he could go back and do differently?
Not bury his axe into Mitron's chest, mayhap. ]
You're not wrong. Before we knew it, the whole star was calling us heroes. Warriors of Light. Aye, just like the one I'm sure you had the pleasure of meeting.
[ Unless she'd lost her life before the Scions and the Warrior of Light had come together. ]
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Just the one that I've met. [ She affirms. ] From what I'm given to understand, it's not the most common of titles, so unless where you come from is that different, you must have done something to earn it.
[ While she hadn't zeroed in on that little detail about being from another star the first time, she does now, giving him an appraising look as drums her fingers on the tabletop. ]
Though unless things have very much changed from what I remember, we're a very long way from managing trips between stars, brief or otherwise. How is it that you came to meet the Scions, exactly?
[ Though with heroes, really, anything might be possible. ]
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Not that it matters much now. He's already gone, on this train to make his way to a place from whence he'll likely never return. For good, this time.
Which brings him to Moenbryda's question. He smiles wryly, ducking his head for a moment before taking another long draw from his drink. Then, he stares at the glass rather than her, his fingers tracing over the condensation. ]
It's more common than you would expect, these days. Inter-dimensional travel, that is. I did it the hard way, by making a bad deal with an Ascian.
[ It's not a time or set of circumstances he's ever eager to recall, but he also isn't going to lie to her. All he can do these days is own up to his mistakes. ]
cha-cha slides in here real smooth
Quite a tall order when she knows not what to do with herself, or what she could possibly offer in such a sorry state.
For the time being, she's taken to wandering the city as a distraction. The throbbing in her temples still hasn't entirely subsided, and so she traces a wall with her glove as she walks, counting on it to support her should she stumble. Her ears are flat against her head as she walks, flickering slightly at every foreign sound.
Gods, how she misses the other Scions. They might know what to do, or at least have some kind of direction for her. She's grown too used to being the solution, not the one thinking of one. ]
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More perplexing than even where he is, however, is his own state. It's been a few days now and yet he's hardly adjusted to the fact that he's in a body again. How or why it happened, where he is, what force brought him here — he has no answers.
Nor can he say he has any idea of what to feel about any of it. Surely his time should be over, he should have moved on (or at the least settled comfortably into M'ahina's soul), and yet...
Could this be his curse? That he will never truly rest?
Much like his counterpart, Ardbert's set to wandering for lack of any better plan. It's as he rounds a corner that he almost crashes right into her. Instincts drive him to tense up for a brief moment, before he registers who it is, and then he only stares. ]
M'ahina? How—?
[ Though, need he truly ask? Of course she's here. ]
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As far as she knows, Ardbert is where he should be. Elidibus is gone. This person, she does not know where they came from, but she cannot abide it. She draws into a defensive stance, poised to draw a weapon at a moment's notice. Nevermind that she does not have a weapon; she can improvise. ]
I know not who you are--[ she lifts a accusatory finger ]--but you'd do well to put that body back.
[ A feat that should not be possible in any form, but she isn't concerned about the logistics of whatever's happening so much that it's happening. The rest can be dealt with in due time. ]
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Ardbert's faced off against her before, though that may as well be ancient history. Water under the bridge and then some, especially now that they each understand their connection to each other, one that can't truly be put into words.
All the same, he does take a step or two away from her before lifting his arms in a placating gesture. He can understand why she's jumped to such a conclusion. His current state shouldn't be possible. ]
It's me. Ardbert. In the flesh. Don't ask me how, but...
[ He lowers his hands enough to look them over, as he has nearly a hundred times by now. ]
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[ The mannerisms are enough to make M'ahina lower her fists, just a bit. It's not like Elidibus--it doesn't have feeling of wrongness that made her blood boil--but it's... difficult to accept. Even when the little gestures match, when the presence itself is one she knows almost as well as her own.
That body is improbable, to put it rather mildly, and the soul should be with her, finally resting. That's the worst part of it. Impossibility has become her bread and butter, but to deny the man the peace he so deserves...
Still, they need to clear this up somehow. Her brows draw into a frown, and she tilts her head in confusion. Mm, what to do, what to do... Could she talk about Seto? Or...
Carefully, she lowers an arm, and tentatively offers out her right fist. If this is truly Ardbert, he's certain to understand what it means. ]
Just for... reassurance?
[ She's still on guard, but her tone is apologetic. It's a bit silly, as tests go, and she truly wants to believe this is not some elaborate ploy, and yet... And yet, it's much too important not to confirm, is it not? ]
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Along with how utterly Elidibus had failed said test.
He offers a nod, then stretches out his own fist to bump it against hers. It's a source of comfort for both of them, he imagines. When first he'd done this, it was to let her know that he wouldn't abandon her, even as the light threatened to tear her apart from the inside and it felt as if all was lost.
Come to think of it, there is some concern that he isn't where he "should" be now. Could that terrible light sickness return without him there to bear some of the brunt? Surely not...
Ardbert pulls his fist back, then hops right into discussing their current situation. ]
Know you anything of this place, or how we came to be here? My memories are not as clear as I would like.
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[ It's all takes to pull a smile from her. It's as much a gesture of hope now as it was then; that this trial, too, need not be faced alone. Here stands one who has long understood the burdens, the sacrifices--the truest of friends in the most unlikely of circumstances. And in the flesh this time, no less! No need to stay her hand, or swallow the lump in her throat as his fingertips pass through a cup. There's a joy in it that far surpasses her own questions, and makes it much simpler for M'ahina to pull herself together. It's ever easier to put on a brave face for someone else than to be left to her own devices. ]
I'm afraid I'm much the same. I barely remember waking up at all, or what transpired since, only that I was found some time later, abandoned and ... out of sorts.
[ An understatement, to say the least. And she would be content enough to leave things there, but Ardbert deserves the truth. ]
It's all gone. The Blessing, the Echo... I've been cut off from Hydaelyn before, but this is different, it's... more. I can't manipulate the aether to cast the most basic of spells, and even the soul crystals are silent.
[ She gives a small huff. Losing the Blessing of Light before had been a trial, to be certain, but now? Now she cannot help but feel less than useless. She dares not tell even him that she's only just now having a proper look around because of how difficult it's been to fight off the headache. ]
Ah, but nevermind that! [ She waves a hand hastily. ] I can still loose a few arrows to the perpetrator's face well enough, no need to worry. [ Once she finds a bow. .. And whoever did this. Mayhap not the best consolation? Still. ] You're alright, aren't you? Nothing amiss aside from the unusual circumstances...?
[ Much easier to focus on, to be certain. ]
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Which isn't to say that he accepts all of her words with a smile. The revelation that she's been stripped of Hydaelyn's blessing to the point that she can't even cast a single spell is worrisome, to say the least, and his brow knits. What force would be powerful enough to sever a bond as strong as that? The same force that has inexplicably given him a body, mayhap.
It's also possible that M'ahina's current state has everything to do with where they are, along with their distance from the Source. The First was, all things considered, one of the closer shards. But who could say for this place?
As she returns the same question back to him, Ardbert straightens for a moment and then shrugs. ] I'm still at a loss as to how this is even possible, to be honest. [ He uncrosses his arms and lifts both hands to look them over once more, squeezing them into fists before letting them fall back to his side. ] We may speculate all day long, however, and not find ourselves any closer to the answers. We'll have to find someone here who can clue us in, I suspect.
[ If there's one thing both of them are good at doing, it's finding friends in foreign places and ingratiating themselves. They don't need any sort of blessing to manage that, do they? ]
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Nothing to stop the force of two Warriors of Light, eh?
[ She taps her chest confidently. It feels natural, in even the face of such uncertainty, and she suspects she knows why. It's easy the recall all the support Arbert gave her in the source, either by helping talk her through things, or at times speaking of completely unrelated matters so she did not have to suffer being consumed by her own thoughts. And now, here they are, and they can but handle things the way they always have. ]
Ah, right! There's a place I'm staying--it's temporary, and far from luxurious, but... [ She shrugs. It will do for now, and she knows they've both had to make due before, so no need to apologize on that front. ] I can you lead you there as we talk. There's someone who.... Well. It would seem anyone knows as much we do, but there is someone helping find jobs and so forth, so we can fit in a bit better.
[ She motions with her hand, and keeps her steps small as she walks. She no longer looks quite as worn down at she did, but for all that Ardbert's untimely and confusing appearance has brightened her day, it does not alleviate how physically awful she still feels. ]
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Word of a place to stay and someone who might have work for them is all a sight better than what he had to work with before, and that's enough to put some spring in Ardbert's step, though he takes care to not outpace M'ahina. ]
Well, I'm not picky. So long as it's a roof over our heads — and even then...
[ He frowns, catching for a moment the way a wave of exhaustion passes over M'ahina's expression. She won't want to be coddled, nor does she need to be, which leads him back to distracting her. ]
What manner of work? Granted, I'm sure you could pick up just about anything that was offered.
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[ To say the least of things. She has little question of her own skills and their worth, but she's never encountered such a challenge in figuring out how to actually use them, on top of being ... weak, at the moment. She hates thinking that, yet--... She immediately shakes her head. That can be pushed back down where it belongs. ]
I think I'd do poorly as a receptionist or what have you... [ She'd get bored, and with boredom comes laziness or even mildly destructive habits. Best to avoid that for everyone involved. ] I wonder if I could get away with being a tavern bard? I might be able to glean some information that way...
[ She's considering it. Her old mentor would not be terribly proud of her, but desperate times, and so forth. ]
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That's going to be an adjustment for both of them. In truth, Ardbert has never considered what he might have done with himself if he hadn't fallen in with his band of friends to travel the realm and help wherever they could. Might he have stayed home, to focus on farming with his father? That had always seemed such an uninteresting life to him, hence why he'd left in the first place.
Nowadays, he does wonder if he might have been better off staying put, but that ship sailed long ago.
Lost in thought, he finally glances over when M'ahina mentions serving as a more traditional sort of bard. ] A minstrel? You're friendly enough that I suspect you could get the patrons to tell you just about anything. I could find another job there, or would we better off dividing and conquering?
[ Not knowing much more than the basics of their situation here thus far, it's difficult to know where to start. Earning coin is truly only a means to an end. ]
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[ Though maybe that's her personal bias speaking. The air has has always been easy with Ardbert, be it speaking or listening. It's easy to sense a friend in someone so honest, so straightforward, so... willing to help people. His friends thought as highly of him, as she recalls, so surely it will be the same here. And there is definitely no ulterior motive that she may or may not enjoy the occasional drink and of course would in no way use that to her advantage. Certainly not.
She clears her throat. ]
If you wanted, that is. If there's aught you feel better suited for, you needn't worry about me.
[ It's a bit of a daunting choice, she admits, to simply choose one thing, let alone commit to it for an indeterminate amount of time. It would hardly be fair to force the matter. ]
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This might be less easing in and more forcing himself to sort it out sooner rather than later, but that's fine too.
M'ahina seems to reconsider after a moment, mayhap because he didn't immediately reply in the affirmative. He glances over and shakes his head. ]
For now, I just wonder if it's best that we stay near each other. None of this is meant to be permanent, but I realize we're in no position to rely on the good will of others either.
[ No one knows them. They know no one. M'ahina has no clout here. This isn't about giving into their circumstances, but they'll need to make ends meet somehow until they can sort out how to get her home. ]
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[ It should go without mention that her own is there in equal measure, but she still gives his arm a playful shove with her fist for affirmation.
The gesture feels foreign, in truth. Mayhap even bittersweet. It is something she would have done with any friend, but they were never like that; she always had to be careful. Reel it back in. How freeing it is to not consider anymore.
As for reliance on others... ]
If it were a tavern, then might we negotiate board as part of our wages?
[ That would at least allow them to be self-sufficient, and provide familiar environs as well. Something like setting on the road again, rather than being... trapped. ]
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So, while the list of things that are wrong about being in this place is long, Ardbert can't hate it completely. Not when it allows for him to get nudged in the side by M'ahina and actually feel it.
It's more than that, as well. All of his senses are back, rather than being completely dulled by his ghostly state.
In time, he returns to M'ahina's side on stone path. Not the sort of stone he's used to, though. It's oddly smooth in a way he's never seen until now. ]
We might, yes. Assuming that the taverns here are like the ones we're used to, that is. [ It seems nearly impossible to take much of anything for granted here. ] That would solve two problems at once. I assume you'll be doing the negotiating, then?
[ Who could resist her, between her cute face and the ears? ]
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Certainly! Leave it to me.
[ Her voice brims confidence. Though now that she thinks of it, she can't remember the last time negotiations were in her court; she tends to leave such matters to those more predisposed to it, like Alphinaud. In fact, she'd venture to assume such matters would have already been taken care of, were he here, because he would take care of them right away rather than when it suited him, unlike her. Still! While it's easy enough to put off important matters for herself, she would not do that to a friend. They'll have to get to it the second they arrive.
Her foot catches on the ledge between the walkway and the road. It is wide, illuminated by street lamps, not unlike the routes designed for Garlean warmachina on the Source. She lifts a hand to signal Arbert to stop walking, letting it hang midair almost protectively. Moments later, some manner of magitech vehicle barrels past at alarming speed, and she continues to listen. She lets her arm lower slowly, giving a bright nod once she's satisfied, before finally stepping down and crossing the way. She suspects she need not explain--take care not to get waylaid by carriages or errant machines seems intuitive enough.
Across the way, there's a heavy metal door leading into a run-down brick structure. She pulls it open and motions inside. ]
Well... Here we are.
[ The interior is bleak. The air is drafty from most of the windows being broken, the floor is a cold and dusty stone, the lights are dim and flicker, there are rust stains all along the floors and walls. There are no rooms nor beds, and most people have their blankets out in rows along the floor. There is at least a fire going from a metal drum, but it seems mostly occupied. ]
It's ... cozy?
[ It is not. But she's tried to make due. ]
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She'd managed well enough on the First, after all. Granted, she'd had G'raha secretly looking out for her in that case, but it's at least prepared her for this to some degree. Ardbert isn't worried.
This world is very little like the First thus far, though. The wide roads and the strange vehicles that speed by whilst barely checking to see if there was anyone in their way was just one example. Though as Ardbert's led into the building where M'ahina has chosen to take shelter, he finds something more familiar, though not in a good way. This is where the destitute gather, and he can't help but think of Gatetown. No doubt M'ahina had felt the same when she first found this place.
He stands near the entrance for a few moments, scanning the room before he turns back to M'ahina. Cozy is a generous way of putting it, but he's in no position to complain. ]
It's the sort of place where you can come and go without too many questions being asked, I would wager. That's something, at least.
[ How he still has it in him to find silver linings, he couldn't say. But having M'ahina at his side makes it a tad easier. ]
Lead the way.
[ He can't imagine they'll have much in the way of privacy, but mayhap she's been able to cobble something together. ]
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She makes her way down the rows of blankets to the spot where she's been sleeping. It's against a wall in an out of the way corner, in a spot most of the others seem to have avoided because it's next to one of the broken windows and a bit more exposed to the elements. It certainly isn't private, but it's about as isolated as one can get in an open space. ]
It's a bit like camping, in a way. [ The sleeping in the dirt portion of it, at least. And she does have a view out to the unfamiliar stars. ]
I'll find you a blanket. ... And maybe some food? [ Surely he would need to eat in his present state? ] Oh! And I'll go talk to the man helping people get sorted to temporary jobs. You could come, if you'd like. Or you can stay and get your bearings, whichever is easier.
[ It's a lot all at once, and just a tad overeager. She's just trying to keep herself moving forward. ]
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They reach their destination, which isn't even a room — simply an isolated corner. Ardbert's camped enough on the road that he's no stranger to such "accommodations," and there's possibly even something the slightest bit nostalgic about it. ]
A blanket and food is a good start, aye. [ Oh, yes, he'll need to eat, won't he? Ardbert hasn't given it much thought thus far, but the very suggestion has his stomach churning and twisting, suddenly too aware of how empty it is, and he heaves out a breath. It's intense enough that he even feels a mite nauseous. ]
You go ahead. I'll wait here, if that's all right.
[ He sinks down to the floor and leans his back up against the wall, shooting M'ahina a brief smile so as to not worry her too much. He's fine, truly; he simply needs a moment. ]
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Her errands take much longer than she's suggested. As is often the the case, she finds herself distracted and side-tracked. Asking people how they're doing, helping hand out what small supplies there are, the little things she's gotten into the habit of doing to earn people's trust. Ah, the job negotiations, as well... The man helping them establish identities in this place is about somewhere. He seems somewhat dubious of her plan for herself and warns her she is not like to see many earnings for a while, but she shrugs the advice off; she's used to it.
That accomplished, she finally remembers the task she was actually on, and appears with a pillow tucked into arm, blanket around her shoulders, and a tray with food and drink in her other hand. She sets the items down, and tosses the blanket over her friend with a beam. She still isn't feeling well, but it seems she's recharged much energy by meddling her way through the warehouse. ]
Oh! You'll be wanting this... [ she fishes through her pockets and hands him a small device. ] Evidently, the people use these tomestones for communication. Our identities and wages should be stored on it as well. I confess I'm not certain how the latter is supposed to work, but I'm sure it will make more sense once we've seen it in action.
[ So she would assume. She takes the moment to settle into her own blanket and grab her food--an unknown dish and a cup of hot tea. The dish, while passable enough, has a decidedly strange aftertaste she does not think she's prepared to question, but the tea is perfectly average. ]
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But this entire situation has exhausted him. The shock of being in a physical body was one thing, but he also isn't used to the way one functions anymore. Feeling tired, feeling hungry, it's all bound to take some getting used to.
So he remains where he is, observing the few interactions he can from his spot — those walking past or engaging in brief conversations with each other. Everyday talk, if more desperate than mundane because of the situation they're all in. Ardbert has become very good at observing people, and he almost forgets for a moment that he's visible.
M'ahina's return serves as a reminder, and Ardbert perks up as soon as she appears, some brightness returning to his gaze. He laughs as the blanket falls on him, but then reaches out for the pillow to set it behind his lower back before taking the tray of food. The dish isn't something he recognizes, but he has no reason to be picky.
Though before he can take a testing bite, M'ahina hands over the device, the tomestone-yet-not. He blinks down at it, poking at the screen for a few seconds before he sets it aside. Later. ] I imagine we'll get used to it... much like with everything else in this place. Thank you.
[ And now, the big moment. He places the tray in his lap and steels himself, drawing in a breath and letting it out again as he gathers some of the food onto his spoon. This shouldn't be such an occasion, and yet he expects M'ahina will understand. He catches her gaze. ]
How is it? [ It might help to know what to expect. ]
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Hmm... It's... different? Not to put you off your appetite, but I would suggest following your bites with a drink.
[ Normal, at first taste, with a strange texture and stranger aftertaste. Not so much to make it inedible, of course, but it's far from a grand feast. ]
Or mayhap it would taste better with a helping hand?
[ She holds out a spoonful of her own food to him with a playful smile. The glint in her eyes suggests she does not expect him to partake, though it's not as if she could protest if he did. ]
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He's hardly in a position to be picky, though when he realizes M'ahina's trying to feed him herself, he laughs and waves her off. Surely she hadn't been serious...
Lifting his own spoon, he takes a sniff of the porridge-like substance, then pushes past his misgivings and eats it all in one bite. At first there isn't much to say about it, but then the aftertaste hits the back of his throat and he grabs for the tea to wash it down.
The tea is a bit more familiar, and all in all, he can't complain. ]
Well. That wasn't so bad. I've had worse, that's for certain. [ And the fact that he'll be eating with someone else helps as well. ] How did it go? Did you find whoever you were looking for?
[ As they talk he continues to eat, and soon enough he's getting down bites with nary a second thought. ]
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I did! [ Somehow, amid all her other running around. ] We've temporary identities and work. I believe an apartment is being worked out as well? It's... [ He reaches for her tomestone and fiddles with it a bit, and ... frowns. She's never actually been very good with this sort of thing, growing up in a place that tended to frown upon it. Most of her dalliances with technology have been either sheer luck or with the assistance of more competent help. ] ... Well, he pulled up a map on this, somehow, but... I'll figure it out later.
[ Or ask the man in question to show her again later. Whichever. ]
He did seem to have some reservations that I can sustain myself preforming, but... Surely it can't be that bad? Or no worse than beginning to adventure with nary a gil upon your person because you were bored.
[ Which she's certainly never done... ]
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Pulling up a map on the tomestone certainly sounds useful, and Ardbert decides to do some preliminary poking at his own device after he's finished eating. He also isn't that good with technology, but now seems to be the time to learn.
Somehow, he does believe things will work themselves out. They're here together, and so they'll also be able to support each other, even if funds get tight. ]
Scraping our earnings together, I imagine we'll get by. And if we have to get creative, then so be it.
[ Because yes, both of them started out with next to nothing and found their way. Ardbert quirks a smile before focusing in on his food again.
And, through a bite: ] Once we've got that settled, we'll have to do some investigation into how to get you home, of course.
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[ Whether he comes back to Eorzea with her, or to Norvrandt, or they figure out some way to piece their souls back together. The latter feels a bit morbid now that he's flesh and blood again, but they do not yet know by what design. And perhaps more importantly, that is not her desicion to make, and one far too important to force or take from him. ... Though she certainly means to insist she won't leave him here.
Of course, it needn't be right this moment, or even soon, so there is no point in lingering on the thought. ]
And we'll be in a decent enough spot to do so. There's a reason the adventurer's guilds set up shop in the local taverns!
[ Well, that and the sellswords and former hedge knights they were trying to coax into meaningful work were a bit fond of their cups, but that's neither here nor there. ]
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There is, of course, no way of knowing. Not when they're not sure who or what is responsible for their appearance here in the first place.
Even with all of this uncertainty, however, M'ahina manages to insert some brightness. How one could ever consider her a Warrior of Darkness, Ardbert couldn't say. When he looks at her, all he sees is light. ]
Aye, you're not wrong about that. [ He smiles briefly. ] I'll be curious to see how the taverns of this star compare to the ones we know.
[ Nudged out of his more anxious thoughts, Ardbert polishes off the rest of his meal and his tea. ]
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[ Which can be counted among those jokes she wishes weren't quite so true. ]
Still, I suppose we'll see tomorrow.
[ Which she is looking forward to, in more ways than one. The company goes without saying, but it will also be good to quit this place. There is an air of... being lost, perhaps. She's somewhat glad Ardbert won't be lingering here as long as she has. ]
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Is that something which happens to you often?
[ Despite how close the two of them are, there's still plenty they don't know about each other's lives, about all of their experiences and adventures. Even after joining his soul with hers, it's not as if Ardbert suddenly became privy to all of M'ahina's memories.
And yes, tomorrow. Ardbert's eager to get started on something, even if it's menial work. It's still the first step in their journey here, wherever it may take them, and it will make him feel a bit less like he's drifting. Which, suffice to say, is a feeling he's grown quite tired of by this point. ]
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[ She gives a wry smile and shrugs. It was rather not fun at all, actually, but it feels ages ago now, and things eventually worked themselves out. Either way, she is unbothered. ... Though she does prefer to see her drinks being poured now. ]
You must have gotten into equal amounts of trouble, yes? It was quite the merry band you had going!
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When she turns the subject back on him, Ardbert hums in contemplation as he lifts a hand to rub at his beard. ]
Yes, plenty of trouble, though nothing quite like what you've described. [ After a pause, he meets her eyes. ] Though I shouldn't expect our journeys to mirror each other exactly, should I?
[ Plenty of the broad strokes were similar, but he suspected the details would differ quite a bit. ]
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[ Something to that effect, although she already knows that he is correct. Their journeys weren't exactly the same. But there was something strangely nostalgic in the way Ardbert spoke of Norvrandt, and of the bits and pieces she'd collected of his friends; perhaps not a mirror as such, but in the same spirit all the same. ]
It's enough to be curious about, in any case. Then again, I'm told I can be a bit of a busybody.
[ She's not certain she agrees with that assessment, of course. But so it goes. ]
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The same, yet different. It describes many things about the two of them.
His lip curls up on one side as he draws the edges of the blanket up and then spreads it to wrap it around his shoulders more firmly. ] That may be true, but I can't say I necessarily see that as a bad thing. Your desire to know more about others comes from a good place, from what I've seen.
[ He'd had plenty of time to observe M'ahina and how she handled situations by now. Usually when she pries into someone's affairs, it's because she senses something is amiss and wishes to help. ]
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[ Such information has a way of making itself useful later, but she can't say it's her intent to fish for later jobs--it's just fun meeting people. Figuring out their workings. In this case, there seems fair little to discover in a way, but who can say? They may yet surprise each other.
She sets the remnants of food aside and smooths her blanket out over the ground, electing to lay on top of it instead of smoothing it out, curling into a little ball. ]
A shame it's so late.
[ Though she admits she probably needs the rest. ]
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If they wanted, he suspects that they could stay up all night chatting about this and that, or nothing at all. But the rest is something he knows he likely needs, after not truly resting for so, so long. And he also suspects the other people holed up in this temporary housing with them wouldn't be too thrilled if they continued to make noise long after everyone had gone to sleep. ]
Worry not. [ He smiles at her briefly as he scoots himself back up until he's leaning against the wall. After resting his forearms up on his knees, he decides he's more than comfortable enough to fall asleep. After long days spent traveling on the road, Ardbert learned how to sleep just about anywhere. ] Tomorrow's another day.
[ Unless this was all some strange dream, but... no, he does believe he can tell the difference by now. ]
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A glance at her companion shows him to still be asleep, and rather than waking him, she hops to her feet and starts the fold up the blanket. From sheer force of habit, she finds herself asking if any of their fellow refugees need any assistance and finds herself quite busy in a series of menial tasks, though unlike home, it is not customary to reward such services here. She finds she doesn't care much; it will keep her occupied until either Ardbert wakes up or she grows bored and wants to move on to things of greater import. Though hopefully it's the former. ]
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Waking up, on the other hand, is more of a trial. It's been so, so long since he truly slept that he finds the act of waking to be far more difficult that it should be. He does become aware of the warmth of the sun on his skin (a sensation he missed more than he could have ever realized) and the hustle and bustle of other people moving around and exchanging some hushed words now that it's morning.
However, it's only as he senses M'ahina approaching again, no doubt to check in on him, that he finally finds it in him to crack open his eyes. That groggy feeling, not to mention the sensation of sleep at the edges of his eyes, is both new and nostalgic all at once. He lets out a large, open-mouthed yawn as he sits up and rubs at his eyes. ]
... G'morning. [ Even his words come out thick with sleep. Ah, it's been too long. ] If I'm honest, I feel like I could sleep another sun or two.
[ Of course, that won't be happening. There's work to be done. Through another yawn, Ardbert stretches his arms above his head and lets out a groan as he back cracks in a few places. ]
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It doesn't let up, I'm afraid. [ She gives a small, sympathetic chuckle and smile a hand to help him to his feet, should he accept it. ] Or, it didn't for me, at least.
[ Though now that it's passed, she is both ready and willing to be productive enough to make up for the time she's lost, and entirely unwilling to slow her momentum. ]
Mayhap we can find you some tea, and leave the heavy lifting to me until it works its magic? ... As it were.
[ She doesn't mind. Their main tasks of the day are becoming acquainted with their lodgings and their new jobs, which she hardly needs Ardbert coherent for if he's truly feeling out of sorts. And if he still feels weary by the time said tasks are done, it would seem preferable for him to get more rest in an actual bed while she scours the town for information. ]
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[ While this sense of exhaustion is bone-deep and far more physical than what he's had to put up with in decades, it's not as if he hadn't also been tired as a shade. A different sort of tired, to be sure, but there had been so many days when he'd just wished for it to be over, while also knowing he was cursed to exist (in the broadest sense of the word) forever.
He had been able to rest within M'ahina, for better or worse, though he wouldn't say he's eager to return to that now. He knows it's where he'll end up eventually, but the chance to live alongside her is admittedly intriguing.
After taking her hand and finding his feet, he rubs more sleep out of his eyes. ]
Tea would be good. I'm confident my energy will return to me eventually. [ After a pause and moment of consideration, he gives M'ahina a brief nudge in the side. ] Can't have you taking on all the work yet again.
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[ She grins and leads the way to the refreshment table set out for fellow refugees--might as well make one last use of it before they find their real accommodations. That, and they don't yet have coin to find a real cup.
She then leads the way outside, where the city has considerably more bustle than the night. The roads are filled with magitek vehicles, so noisy and in such a quantity that it's difficult for her to pick them out individually, even with her sensitive hearing. For those on foot there are different paths, equally crowded, and learning to navigate those is a simple matter of following the townsfolk. ]
A bit much, isn't it? That's why I tend to go out at night.
[ The citystates of Eorzea were nothing, compared to this, and truth be told it can start to hurt after a while; she's not used to having to filter everything out. This, combined with many odd looks in their direction. Their attire doesn't match their surroundings, though the looks are much more pointed at her than Ardbert. She suspects it's her features, since he city is filled with Hyur and a single Miqo'te to be found. Her smile remains in place, though a slight droop in her ears and a bit of a flick in her tail belies some minor agitation. She has never been shy of crowds, but this is not the kind of attention she likes. ]
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[ Generally speaking, M'ahina being bored is not bound to end well. She isn't the sort of person who can put up with being idle, and that's something Ardbert can relate to, even if his adventuring days feel so far off now. He'd had to be idle for decades, granted no other option, and so having to live in the moment now is going to take some getting used to. He does grab a cup of tea (literally, in a cup made of paper or something like it) and takes it along with him as they wade back into the city.
While Ardbert's senses are nowhere near as sharp as M'ahina's, that doesn't necessarily make the hustle and bustle any less overwhelming. This is a far cry from the other two worlds that he knows, and while he's certain that when it comes down to it, people don't truly change, the set dressings are enough to throw him off.
At first he's so distracted by everything around them that all he can do is focus on following M'ahina, one foot in front of the other as he takes it all in. Eventually, however, he does notice the scrutiny she's under, or the way people will not-so-subtly whisper to each other after passing them by. ]
It seems they don't have Mystels here, then? Or Miqo'te. [ Same difference, truly, and their worlds were connected enough that there were such similarities. Not here, though. Is it even one of the Fourteen? ]
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[ She's been so out of sorts the memory is bit hazy, but she does recall being in so much pain that most of her patience had evaporated. It was certainly not her best form, but so long as she can make up for it.... Mayhap if they build reputations here, the whispers will become more positive, just as they did in the rest of her adventures.
For a while, she gets a little lost in the flow of the crowd, but after a while she remembers they have a destination, and fiddles with her little tomestone until it pulls up a map. It's a little hard to read compared the maps she used to scribble into her journals, but it will do. ]
Um, where was it he said to meet again...? [ She mumbles the address the herself, and the device begins to direct them to their destination, down to every turn. ] Oh! Well, that's useful. I suppose we'll make better time than I thought.
[ On account of not having to explore the entire city until they learn the landmarks. ]
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I would hardly say so. That isn't the sort of thing you do without asking. If anyone had done such a thing to Renda-Rae, I think she would have been likely to tear them to shreds.
[ Granted, his erstwhile friend had been a bit of a feisty one, prone to losing her temper to say the least, and M'ahina is somewhat more even when it comes to her moods. She's also usually willing to forgive and forget, though if anyone else makes to invade her personal space without her permission, Ardbert will certainly have something to say about it.
While he has no doubt that M'ahina can handle herself, he's also relieved that he arrived when he did, so that she need not endure all of this alone.
When she gets the map up on her device, Ardbert can't help but nudge in against her side to take a look himself. Their height difference means that it's easy enough for him to see. He must admit, the way the map traces a path out for them is quite impressive. ]
It certainly holds your hand. Useful in this situation, but sometimes there's a joy in wandering and losing oneself in a new place, wouldn't you say?
[ Still, they have to make it to their place of work on time, and so Ardbert isn't about to protest the handiness of the device at the moment. ]
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Oh, yes! I always like to scour the area from above and scribble maps into my journal when I can--much more useful to have your own notes, so that you can stray from the beaten path without getting helplessly lost, getting to see the sights which most dare not set foot in.
[ It's like breath in one's lungs, really. This is not terrible either, by virtue of being new, but who is to say how she'll feel about it once the allure finally wears off.
For the time being, however, they've reached their destination. They're taken to their would-be lodgings first and given a brief tour--where to dispose of waste, where to collect mail, and so forth. The abode itself isn't terribly unlike the apartments she's used to, and of similar size, if perhaps a touch smaller. There's a sofa that converts into a double bed, a cooking station, and a lavatory, and she supposes they can't ask for much else. Though privacy could become a concern; she's never seen such a space used for more than one person. As well as the lack of space for another bed. ]
Well, depending on how our schedules overlap, I suppose we could take turns sleeping on the floor...
[ Possibly? They're in no position to protest, so they will have to make due somehow. ]
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I suspect between the two of us we'll find those less traveled paths soon enough.
[ They're both seasoned adventurers with wanderlust in their blood, it's bound to happen even if they're only here for a short time. And who's to say how long it will be, at this point? M'ahina's time on the First had been rather extended when all was said and done. Then again, she'd also had the ability to return to the Source at any time. Not so in this situation.
They reach the place they'll be working and lodging, and Ardbert is content to let M'ahina take the lead. Interaction with others is something he's still adjusting to after so long, though he realizes he'll need to do so quickly if he has a shift coming up. The space they're granted to bunk in isn't much, especially for two people, but it's still a sight better than where they came from this morning. He's not about to complain.
At M'ahina's suggestion, he's quick to nod. ] I imagine we've both done our fair share of that over the years. I don't mind. [ He doesn't think to suggest that they do anything other than an equitable arrangement, well aware that she would accept no chivalry from him. He takes another look around the small space, allowing his feet to carry him to each corner — not that it takes long. ] It's cozy enough. I've certainly had worse.
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Like slumber parties when she was a girl. She could certainly work with that. She'll have to make note of the stove, as well--it actually does look more useful than the small, portable one she tends to carry. It would be nice to treat her friend to something decent to make up for his first meal here, once they've earned a little coin.
Which is where they're headed next. The tour is short--metal containers of ale, a wine fridge, the shelf of spirits. A manual detailing the production of various mixed drinks. No kitchen to worry about. And then their guide leaves. She finds it quite odd there's nobody around to help show the ropes during the shift, but she supposes she can jump in if Ardbert gets overwhelmed. Though it is clear enough that they he won't be needing it--the place is deathly silent. Not a single patron to be found. She tilts her head and frowns. ]
I can see now why he was hesitant to grant my choice of employment. Bit difficult to earn to my keep playing to the air.
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That might be for the best. He's always learned and performed best when put on the spot, forced to think on his feet. Besides, it can't be that difficult... can it?
Though M'ahina points out the lack of customers and Ardbert heaves out a sigh as he looks around the tavern. ]
Nor can I serve spirits to... spirits. [ Oh, how many times he'd wished for a drink while he was a shade, but it was not to be. ] Hopefully it will pick up as the day carries on. For now, I may as well try to learn where everything is and how to make some of these drinks.
[ Some of them seem... rather complicated. He settles behind the bar and begins to study the cheat sheet they have. ]
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[ She gives a small shrug and pulls out her harp, quietly humming along as pulls out a melody inspired by the First--the song upon the wind, as it were. One of many titles bestowed her upon her return. It's nice to do; she hasn't since she arrived here, and it feels good to let her anxieties escape from her fingertips. But she falls silent again sooner rather than later, heaving an almost petulant sigh. It seems she has reached her limits of not having an audience, and she does not like playing to become a chore. She tucks the instrument back into her bag, and plops down at the bar. ]
I've an idea! [ Never a good sign. ] In lieu of customers, why don't I buy something? Then you'll get to figure out the lay of things, and I can be less bored. An ideal trade, yes?
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All the same, he greets her with a smile as she joins him, understanding that it might feel odd to play to a mainly vacant room. ]
Drinking on the job, are we? [ Still, it's not the worst idea. To have a trial run of sorts. He slides a menu across the bar toward her. ] Pick one, then. Something to your liking. I'll do my very best.
[ He grabs for a glass to ready himself, not entirely certain what he's in for. Especially since certain drinks even seem to require different receptacles. What was so wrong with simply serving mead and ale...? ]
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Hmm. [ She is quite tempted to see how the wines compare to Wineport's, but that would erode the pretense of having Ardbert practice. ] This sounds like it could be refreshing? [ She points to a random spot on the page, to a drink denoting citrus and floral. In the meantime, she glances about their surroundings. ]
This seems a bit nostalgic, in a way.
[ Whether that's due to Arbert's old habit of visiting her in the Crystarium, or because she was a little too fond of a good party in her youth, is difficult to say. Mayhap it's a bit of both. ]
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If nothing else, it's taught him yet another thing about M'ahina, that this is the sort of drink she would pick when presented with an entire list. Granted, she may not have put too much thought into it and instead chosen the first one that sounded vaguely appealing. ]
Right then. [ Time to find out where all of these different liquors and other ingredients are kept. He begins searching under the bar and on the shelves behind it to gather up all that he needs, glancing over his shoulder at M'ahina when she speaks of nostalgia. ]
How's that? Are you thinking of the Wandering Stairs?
[ There's no doubt plenty of other such taverns that M'ahina has frequented, but that one is naturally the first to come to Ardbert's thoughts. ]
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Hmm? [ She looks up again, already distracted as she considers the possibilities. ] Not quite. There is the company, of course, but... I actually tended to frequent such establishments in my youth, before I became and adventurer. A bit of song and so forth, though it was purely for mine own enjoyment, not for coin.
[ She's never been a minstrel as such. But still... ]
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But he isn't about to bring down the mood. He's found a mortar and pestle which he believes he's supposed to use to crush some petals, the floral notes being quite literal in this case. He turns back to face M'ahina and gets to it, finding a strange satisfaction in the task. ]
Is that why you chose the path of the bard?
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Hmm... I'm not certain I actually put that much thought into it, in truth. [ She gives a small laugh. ]
The thing is, Gridanians can be quite ... stuffy. Obsessed with protecting our forests and so forth. And so with archery, I was expected to make myself useful. When my former mentor appeared, I was simply the only one of my guild who appreciated something of a more artistic nature, rather than simply learning to fight better, so I thought, "why not?", and that was that. That it ended up suiting me so well was simply an added bonus.
[ In other words, never really a plan of hers at all, in spite of the fame bards held within her country. ]
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Adding art into your combat... [ He tilts his head to one side, then the other, cracking his neck. ] I never would have thought of such a thing either. Yet your songs, they truly do serve to inspire your fellows in the midst of a battle.
[ It's quite impressive, all told.
Ardbert begins to measure out all of the liquid ingredients now, before dumping them all into a single mug. Whether this concoction will end up tasting any good, he has no idea. It's good of M'ahina to offer to test it for him, considering his utter lack of experience. ]