[He knows not what quarrel Ardbert has with their newest arrival, or that the man wants anything but space. But, after he didn't return to the house, Estinien decided perhaps it was for the best he determined the man wasn't face-down in a ditch somewhere. With the way he'd been drinking the day before, it wasn't outside the realm of possibility. Sometimes a man just needed to drown whatever demons were bothering him, but that didn't mean they needed to do it alone--generally, it was a terrible idea.
Iceheart and Heustienne both are out of their pokeballs and running to and fro around him, sometimes chasing each other, sometimes actually helping him look for the warrior, but in the end it's Estinien that catches sight of the smoke from a campfire and heads that way.
He's not empty-handed when he walks into Ardbert's campsite. He has a case of middle-of-the-road beer and a few...breakfast burritos. Not that he knows what a burrito is, but he does understand the concept of eggs, potato, and sausage, and it was easy to transport.]
Ardbert.
[Are you still sleeping? Come on, there's hair of the dog here.]
[Yes he's still sleeping! Or trying to at least. He had tried to set off excessively early that morning to avoid Emet-Selch's 'send off', but to no avail. The other man sent him off like a grouchy parent would send their kid off to college. Not that Ardbert knows what any of that is.
The camp is hastily set up, just the basics to get out while he slept off his hangover and later decided just exactly where he wanted to go. His Pokemon are all out and about, though only his Fennekin and Corvisquire can be seen at the moment resting near him by the fire. If Estinien had ever seen Ardbert's Jangmo-o, the sounds of clanging metal meant it was at least still close to camp somewhere.]
Mm...
[He groaned, eyes still squeezed shut as he brought a hand up to his head. He really did hit the booze hard yesterday, didn't he? After a moment, he squinted up to his visitor. He knew not why Estinien had chose to seek him out so soon after he left, but it wasn't unwelcome.]
Estinien.
[He shifts, pulling himself to a sitting position as he holds his head in one of his hands.]
And what brings you here? Worried for me?
[As he speaks he also pushes aside his chest plate, clearly making room for Estinien to join him should he wish. Though he only briefly looked up to the other man, he did notice he wasn't empty handed.]
[Estinien shrugs, tossing out the other 4 pokeballs on his belt as he starts settling in--the light resolves into his Flygon, Corviknight, Exeggutor, and Dragonair. The clearing has enough space for all of them to be out, in a way that being at the house doesn’t, not really.
Estinien sits in the space Ardbert cleared, walking stick laid out on the ground beside him. Iceheart settles on his other side, and Heustienne over his feet. He goes ahead and tears open the flimsy paperboard keeping the beer away from him, pulling out two cans.
He holds them out to Iceheart, who blows her cold, misty breath on them obligingly, before he cracks one open for himself and offers the other to Ardbert.]
You left fair suddenly. Twas not precisely hard for me to guess at why.
[Especially when he could hear Ardbert tearing Emet-Selch a new one. It gave him something to think about. He knows what the Ascians’ aims were--even understands them, if he can’t condone them. He knows that one of their number gave Thordan his lofty ideas to become a primal. He doesn’t know precisely which one, and doesn’t think he cares to--it wouldn’t change what had happened, after all. Hells, it could have been their newest arrival for all he knows. Estinien has run into at least two distinct Ascians in his time, the only thing he knows is that Emet-Selch wasn’t one of them.]
Hair of the dog if you want it, and food as well. At least, I presume that is what a ‘burrito’ is.
[As Estinien settles Ardbert takes the moment to try to compose himself, trying to get past his pounding headache and the nausea that came with sitting up. With rest he would be better, and for now he could suffer through his bad choices for the sake of good company. After running a hand through his hair and finally letting go of nursing his head, he turns to watch Iceheart cool some beer. Fairly impressive, though Nyel clearly thought otherwise as the small Fennekin pointedly got up and moved to the other side of the fire.]
Well isn't that convenient.
[He nods at the offer though, taking the beer and giving it a sip. He eyed Estinien though, confused at first. He hadn't thought his leaving would be obvious, except perhaps to Emet-Selch since he told him, but he hadn't expected Estinien to know. Unless? His confused expression melts suddenly, his gaze lowering to his drink with something closer to pained embarrassment.]
Ah... I see. You were there yesterday?
[It was more like yelling about his problems loudly and drunkenly over the phone, but... yeah. Luckily it was a short outburst, but vaguely recalls getting upset. Both at Elidibus and the Oracle of Light. It was a bit too much to see Elidibus suddenly on the network yesterday, though he was drinking well before he ever came across the post. Maybe Estinien just sought him out because he was curious. Either way, the offer of food and hair of the dog was welcomed. He'd just need a minute for the burrito. With a sigh, he forces himself to look to his company once again. The smile at least was genuine.]
[Estinien doesn’t seem to be too inclined to chat his ear off, at least. He presumes that if Ardbert wishes to speak of it, he will. It’s the sort of reaction he’d have himself, anyway.
Instead, he just quietly drinks, though he spares a moment to raise one eyebrow and smirk at the reaction of Ardbert’s Fennekin. Iceheart seems equally unbothered, just huffing a little and settling with her head on her paws.]
Perhaps a touch beneath her dignity, however she has not complained.
[Honestly, she’s level 100, one of his strongest team members, and he’s using her as a beer cooler.
He just waits for Ardbert to regain his composure--it’s morning, he’d been drinking, even if Estinien hadn’t seen the signs in the discarded bottles at the house he’s seen many a hangover from within and without, he knows the look. But he doesn’t look judgemental, or even like he’d like to try to talk Ardbert out of being angry with his newest arrival. Sure, he’d talk the man out of going after Elidibus, it wouldn’t be prudent at all, but being angry? Well within his rights.
(Mayhap an invitation to Steven’s latest venture. He could blow off some steam that way.)]
I was.
[And that’s all he’s going to say to that. He’s not going to ask about it, he’s not going to try to say that Ardbert shouldn’t be angry. Hells, by rights he should be angry, it’s only through time, separation from the issue, and coming to know Emet-Selch by himself, outside of the context of their world and conflicting quests, that he isn’t. That, and there’s nothing he can do about it, so holding on to that anger seems pointless. He’s done that before, and doesn’t care much to repeat the experience.]
[The little fox was one of Emet-Selch's. As such, it can't help but be a little judgemental. Or at least that's how Ardbert reads it's behavior. As of right now though he pays it no mind. He simply gives Estinien an apologetic nod as he takes another sip.]
My apologies then. I hadn't meant to air my problems, let alone have them be overheard.
[Look he just had to have a little drunken inner release. It's an apt description, especially of the frustrated outburst after the call. He's thankful Estinien isn't being judgemental though, and it does help that he isn't poking at him like Emet-Selch tended to do.
He's still frustrated at it all as he thinks on it again, eyebrows furrowing in thought. He's been given plenty of time to separate himself from this honestly. At least 100 years of time, but instead of gaining any indifference he's grown bitter and jaded to both sides of this conflict.]
...In any case, I don't plan on returning. Not while Elidibus is there. You would do well not to trust him, though I imagine you don't need telling.
Some wounds do better with air. That aside, my hearing tis not what it normally is. Hardly bothersome at all.
[He shrugs. It’s not like he himself hasn’t railed at the injustices of the world, Alberic had seen much of his anger over the years, and as tantrums go yelling at someone and stomping off is probably the least harmful. He hadn’t even called Emet-Selch any particularly rude names, and he’s sure the man prodded enough that some cursing would be entirely justified.
(There might have been some. But Estinien’s a soldier, calling someone a swiving arsehole is practically an endearment. His standards are skewed.)
As for a matter of trust...well. Thinking on that, he knows that despite whatever connection they might have, strangely, made--Emet-Selch, at least, would probably happily drop him into the nearest volcano should it be the only way to bring his people back. Then would proceed to angst about it for at least a little while. He hasn’t yet taken the measure of their newest arrival, though he seems cordial enough. (And isn’t that the danger.)]
Trust is perhaps the wrong word, at least if you mean I expect him to never do me harm. Tis like as not I’ve encountered him before, and not as an ally either.
[The more he thinks of it, the more he’s sure that the man he faced, however briefly, on the battlefield could have only been this Elidibus. It was certainly not Emet-Selch, and their compatriot had been destroyed by Thordan using the power of the Eye long before. Gaius himself had been busy dispatching the others, and had been quite thorough about it.]
Of course, I am not certain. If indeed it was him, twas blows we exchanged, not pleasantries. I had more pressing concerns at the time.
[That gets a soft chuckle from Ardbert. He wasn't expecting that sort of advice from Estinien and he's still fairly sure he's heard more than he let on. Hearing differences aside.]
I suppose that's true enough.
[He's quiet though as Estinien shares, taking the moment to close his eyes as he listens and sip his drink. He's not surprised to hear Estinien's possibly had dealings with him, nor his uncertainty given the Ascian's general inclination for body stealing. Though he personally never saw Elidibus wearing anything but his white robed getup.]
You may have. I know he was on the Source for a while at least.
[He lets that thought trail off, sitting his beer down a moment beside him as he looked to the campfire. The questionable food Estinien had brought was starting to sound good.]
My comrades and I had the misfortune of working with him. It was he who brought us to the Source, though we were merely pawns for his schemes.
[Look, just because he's a gruff asshole doesn't mean he's completely unaware of how emotions work. He's seen a lot of shit, and more importantly, the rest of the dragoons have seen a lot of shit. Knowing how to harness that anger was part of their training.]
Aye, and they've meddled at least twice in affairs that involved me and mine, in recent days. It may ease your mind to know that you were not the only one that was unwittingly made part of their plans.
[He shrugs and takes a deep drink. He doesn't feel any particular animosity towards the Ascians for it, since it certainly wasn't all their doing. They seemed to just give whoever they dealt with enough rope to hang themselves, and those they approached happily fashioned their own nooses.
Or, well, had no other choice. He well knows what desperate men will do.]
And they had many. I know not which ones you were involved in.
[It doesn't help. Not really, even if he wishes otherwise. He understands Estinien's intent though.]
We were not the first, nor will we be the last in their schemes. This I know.
[He exhales sharply, thinking on it. The 'first' for him would be with their comrade Cylva. Leading them along, guiding them to becoming Warriors of Light while being the source of most the problems on the First as the Shadowkeeper. He knows she had little choice, just as they did when Elidibus came to them. Ardbert and his party were definitely in the 'desperate men' category.]
It has been a long, long time since our involvement in Eorzea. Mayhap not for you.
[He's not sure just how much time has passed on the Source, though from the Warrior of Light's appearance he doesn't think it too long. He at least knows it can't have been one hundred years on the Source as well.
But that seems to be all he is keen to say for the moment, instead holding a hand out to Estinien and forcing a tired smile.]
But you mentioned food, yes? I can test how edible this 'burrito' is while you tell me more of the Source.
[Well, he tried. He hands over one of the foil-wrapped packages, keeping another for himself - there's more, should Ardbert decide he wants seconds. Or thirds. He's set them near the coals of the fire so they keep warm.]
Hm. You are correct, it has not been so long--a matter of months, I would say. Rather eventful ones, but still.
[The end of a thousand year old war, the expulsion of Garlean forces from two nations--inviting further upheaval--the death of the Emperor...yeah, 'eventful' covers it.]
Til but recently, my homeland was isolated from most--we've only just begun to rebuild our relations with the rest of Eorzea, after the end of the war. My homeland is Coerthas, where the weather is cold enough to freeze your bollocks off.
[Oh, so that's what those foiled wrapped things were! He unwraps one as he lets Estinien talk, thankful there wasn't any fuss in him turning the conversation back to the other. He eyed the burrito only briefly, indeed it wasn't a familiar food to him, but it didn't stop him from taking a huge bite out of it.]
Mmm!
[It was good! He recognized these flavors! What a convenient way to eat this honestly. After a particularly big bite, he swallows and nods to Estinien.]
Passably edible.
[A jest, he clearly was enjoying the food.]
Ah, I know of the place which you speak of. That was... Ishgard, was it not? Funny how time passes so differently. But I digress, [Another bite, he'll talk with his mouth full w/e!!] we were there to see the end of that war.
[Estinien is slightly more reserved in his enthusiasm, but he certainly isn't regretting the whole burrito idea.
He nods.]
Ishgard is the capital, and it has been my home for the last twenty years.
The final days of the war are...not clear in my mind. And I left not long after. I've not been back since.
[First, he had to find Nidhogg's damned eyeballs, then he'd hared off to Kugane to chase rumors of dragons...then, well.]
...tis beautiful, but hard and cold, like a steel spear. Not a very cheery place. Though now that there is peace, mayhap if some disaster or other sees fit to leave us be, that may change.
[Look he's hardly had much besides booze these past 24 hours. He needed something in his stomach. He's just happy he didn't puke his guts out. Besides when he got up, before he set out.
Ah, seems he hit a bit of a sore spot commenting on Ishgard though. Just as Estinien seemed kind enough to not try to pry at his history, Ardbert would try the same.]
Mm... had we only the time to appreciate the sights. Reminds me a bit of a place back home, a kingdom called Voeburt. A stubborn lot they were, but once you got to know them you couldn't find a more welcoming people.
Mind you, I never saw Ishgard proper.
[The location of Coerthas is mainly what reminded him of it, though Voeburt only froze up like that in the winter. From what he knew it made sense that Ishgard wouldn't be cheery though. A thousand year war? Hell, look at the First after just 100 years. Dreary place really. He pauses to take a drink though before continuing and finally slowing his roll on eating the burrito.]
...We were kept fairly busy. Killing primals while the Warrior of Light was tied up in Ishgard, tormenting beastmen, and a few fetch quests aside. To put it briefly, we were to hasten the birth of a new god.
[This is why if you're leaving, as he suspects, he's rather hesitant to let you go alone. If you self-destruct he's stuck here with a bunch of Ascians by himself.
Despite his harsh words, he looks a little nostalgic. Homesick. If called on it he'll not admit to it, but...]
You'd have had a time getting through the gates. I can count on one hand the number of people allowed through afore the end of the war, that weren't refugees at least.
[He wonders at that. A new god--a new primal, obviously. And there has been only one of those in recent days. The timing fits. He points with the hand holding his beer can, eyes narrowed.]
So you're the reason I had to go to swiving Ala Mhigo.
[There's a little heat there, but he's not moving--aside from taking another drink at least--so Ardbert doesn't have to worry about getting whacked with his big ol' stick.]
[Oh he is absolutely self-destructive, at least in this instance of his pity party. It all boils down to what all does it matter? He's already died. He knows that's not an option here though and he isn't actively seeking that sort of path. He's just stuck in a bog of his own guilt.]
We figured as much, aye. We had little reason to visit regardless.
[He muses, before getting caught off guard at the sudden anger and pointing from Estinien. Surprisedpikachu.jpg]
A-ah...
[He has no idea what you're talking about.... Well sort of. He knew the general plans, milled about with Elidibus in the East Shroud even as they worked on it's success. But he has no idea why Estinien would of had to go there???]
I... take it the plan succeeded? We left to return home ere its completion, thanks in part to your Warrior of Light.
[See, though, that's the problem. Just because you can't die shouldn't mean you give it your best shot.
(Says the guy who regularly fought dragons as a coping mechanism. He wouldn't know a healthy one if it slapped him on the ass.)]
Oh, it succeeded. For a time, anyway--shockingly, not even a god-dragon is enough to stop the Warrior and their adventurer friends for long.
[He snorts, and puts the can down to his side, leaning back on his hands.]
The Eyes were my responsibility to deal with. I could not leave that unfinished, considering I was the reason they were thrown to the abyss to start with.
[That... actually gets a laugh out of Ardbert. How ridiculous that the Warrior of Light could best even that. Well, that was only a part of the plan. Ultimately their aim to bring about another calamity that the First could be spared the flood of light. Considering the First was very much still around (though barely hanging on) he imagine that the final part of the plan had yet to happen.]
Gods, is there anything he can't do?! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised with what I know of them now.
[He looks down to the little he had left of his burrito. He could still eat, but for now he wraps the leftovers back up and sets it down. He tilts his head to the last bit Estinien said though, eyeing him with a touch of confusion.]
Your responsibility...? Oh. Ohhh. You were that dragoon, weren't you?
[To think it would be the Warrior of Light that would turn Ardbert's mood around at a time like this. Nothing had changed and yet through him, he would understand his current companion better. He chuckles more, this time to himself as he reaches for another beer.]
Hah, to think we'd cross paths in such a place as this.
[Only one of Isghard's dragoons can claim to have possessed the eyes let alone be the reason they were tossed to the abyss.]
[WOW. About that... Ardbert stares a moment at Estinien, unsure of how to answer before just letting his gaze fall back to the drink in his hand. Overall his mood may have improved, but some things were just too serious.]
My world was being erased from existence... We only sought to save it. As for our decisions...
[His jaw tightens, voice catching in his throat at the thought.]
We had done everything right, everything that was asked of us. Warriors of Light of our own world. Yet it was by our hands that the Flood of Light even came. Take that as you will.
[It hurts to hear, even though he knows it to be true. Ardbert had always had nothing but good intentions and yet. He's tired. He grumbles, taking another drink with an agreeing nod.
For a minute he lets it fall to silence. He's done quite a bit of talking. It sort of helped. At least it went way better than talking to Elidibus or Emet-Selch. Besides the cracking of the fire, the sounds of clanking metal can still be heard. It seems closer than when Estinien first came across Ardbert's camp. Some yowls can be heard as well. Neither Ardbert nor his Corvisquire or Fennekin seem bothered still. He sighs, reaching for the half eaten burrito again.]
Because you do not wish to, or because you cannot?
[Travel between their worlds can't be as easy as all that, if the Scions laying unconscious is any indication. He wouldn't be surprised if it's 'cannot'. Though it's not like he understands all that in the first place.
Estinien's Dragonair slides behind him, and he leans back against her side as she curls up.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[action, 9/9 fairly early]
Iceheart and Heustienne both are out of their pokeballs and running to and fro around him, sometimes chasing each other, sometimes actually helping him look for the warrior, but in the end it's Estinien that catches sight of the smoke from a campfire and heads that way.
He's not empty-handed when he walks into Ardbert's campsite. He has a case of middle-of-the-road beer and a few...breakfast burritos. Not that he knows what a burrito is, but he does understand the concept of eggs, potato, and sausage, and it was easy to transport.]
Ardbert.
[Are you still sleeping? Come on, there's hair of the dog here.]
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The camp is hastily set up, just the basics to get out while he slept off his hangover and later decided just exactly where he wanted to go. His Pokemon are all out and about, though only his Fennekin and Corvisquire can be seen at the moment resting near him by the fire. If Estinien had ever seen Ardbert's Jangmo-o, the sounds of clanging metal meant it was at least still close to camp somewhere.]
Mm...
[He groaned, eyes still squeezed shut as he brought a hand up to his head. He really did hit the booze hard yesterday, didn't he? After a moment, he squinted up to his visitor. He knew not why Estinien had chose to seek him out so soon after he left, but it wasn't unwelcome.]
Estinien.
[He shifts, pulling himself to a sitting position as he holds his head in one of his hands.]
And what brings you here? Worried for me?
[As he speaks he also pushes aside his chest plate, clearly making room for Estinien to join him should he wish. Though he only briefly looked up to the other man, he did notice he wasn't empty handed.]
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Estinien sits in the space Ardbert cleared, walking stick laid out on the ground beside him. Iceheart settles on his other side, and Heustienne over his feet. He goes ahead and tears open the flimsy paperboard keeping the beer away from him, pulling out two cans.
He holds them out to Iceheart, who blows her cold, misty breath on them obligingly, before he cracks one open for himself and offers the other to Ardbert.]
You left fair suddenly. Twas not precisely hard for me to guess at why.
[Especially when he could hear Ardbert tearing Emet-Selch a new one. It gave him something to think about. He knows what the Ascians’ aims were--even understands them, if he can’t condone them. He knows that one of their number gave Thordan his lofty ideas to become a primal. He doesn’t know precisely which one, and doesn’t think he cares to--it wouldn’t change what had happened, after all. Hells, it could have been their newest arrival for all he knows. Estinien has run into at least two distinct Ascians in his time, the only thing he knows is that Emet-Selch wasn’t one of them.]
Hair of the dog if you want it, and food as well. At least, I presume that is what a ‘burrito’ is.
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Well isn't that convenient.
[He nods at the offer though, taking the beer and giving it a sip. He eyed Estinien though, confused at first. He hadn't thought his leaving would be obvious, except perhaps to Emet-Selch since he told him, but he hadn't expected Estinien to know. Unless? His confused expression melts suddenly, his gaze lowering to his drink with something closer to pained embarrassment.]
Ah... I see. You were there yesterday?
[It was more like yelling about his problems loudly and drunkenly over the phone, but... yeah. Luckily it was a short outburst, but vaguely recalls getting upset. Both at Elidibus and the Oracle of Light. It was a bit too much to see Elidibus suddenly on the network yesterday, though he was drinking well before he ever came across the post. Maybe Estinien just sought him out because he was curious. Either way, the offer of food and hair of the dog was welcomed. He'd just need a minute for the burrito. With a sigh, he forces himself to look to his company once again. The smile at least was genuine.]
Thanks.
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Instead, he just quietly drinks, though he spares a moment to raise one eyebrow and smirk at the reaction of Ardbert’s Fennekin. Iceheart seems equally unbothered, just huffing a little and settling with her head on her paws.]
Perhaps a touch beneath her dignity, however she has not complained.
[Honestly, she’s level 100, one of his strongest team members, and he’s using her as a beer cooler.
He just waits for Ardbert to regain his composure--it’s morning, he’d been drinking, even if Estinien hadn’t seen the signs in the discarded bottles at the house he’s seen many a hangover from within and without, he knows the look. But he doesn’t look judgemental, or even like he’d like to try to talk Ardbert out of being angry with his newest arrival. Sure, he’d talk the man out of going after Elidibus, it wouldn’t be prudent at all, but being angry? Well within his rights.
(Mayhap an invitation to Steven’s latest venture. He could blow off some steam that way.)]
I was.
[And that’s all he’s going to say to that. He’s not going to ask about it, he’s not going to try to say that Ardbert shouldn’t be angry. Hells, by rights he should be angry, it’s only through time, separation from the issue, and coming to know Emet-Selch by himself, outside of the context of their world and conflicting quests, that he isn’t. That, and there’s nothing he can do about it, so holding on to that anger seems pointless. He’s done that before, and doesn’t care much to repeat the experience.]
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My apologies then. I hadn't meant to air my problems, let alone have them be overheard.
[Look he just had to have a little drunken inner release. It's an apt description, especially of the frustrated outburst after the call. He's thankful Estinien isn't being judgemental though, and it does help that he isn't poking at him like Emet-Selch tended to do.
He's still frustrated at it all as he thinks on it again, eyebrows furrowing in thought. He's been given plenty of time to separate himself from this honestly. At least 100 years of time, but instead of gaining any indifference he's grown bitter and jaded to both sides of this conflict.]
...In any case, I don't plan on returning. Not while Elidibus is there. You would do well not to trust him, though I imagine you don't need telling.
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[He shrugs. It’s not like he himself hasn’t railed at the injustices of the world, Alberic had seen much of his anger over the years, and as tantrums go yelling at someone and stomping off is probably the least harmful. He hadn’t even called Emet-Selch any particularly rude names, and he’s sure the man prodded enough that some cursing would be entirely justified.
(There might have been some. But Estinien’s a soldier, calling someone a swiving arsehole is practically an endearment. His standards are skewed.)
As for a matter of trust...well. Thinking on that, he knows that despite whatever connection they might have, strangely, made--Emet-Selch, at least, would probably happily drop him into the nearest volcano should it be the only way to bring his people back. Then would proceed to angst about it for at least a little while. He hasn’t yet taken the measure of their newest arrival, though he seems cordial enough. (And isn’t that the danger.)]
Trust is perhaps the wrong word, at least if you mean I expect him to never do me harm. Tis like as not I’ve encountered him before, and not as an ally either.
[The more he thinks of it, the more he’s sure that the man he faced, however briefly, on the battlefield could have only been this Elidibus. It was certainly not Emet-Selch, and their compatriot had been destroyed by Thordan using the power of the Eye long before. Gaius himself had been busy dispatching the others, and had been quite thorough about it.]
Of course, I am not certain. If indeed it was him, twas blows we exchanged, not pleasantries. I had more pressing concerns at the time.
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I suppose that's true enough.
[He's quiet though as Estinien shares, taking the moment to close his eyes as he listens and sip his drink. He's not surprised to hear Estinien's possibly had dealings with him, nor his uncertainty given the Ascian's general inclination for body stealing. Though he personally never saw Elidibus wearing anything but his white robed getup.]
You may have. I know he was on the Source for a while at least.
[He lets that thought trail off, sitting his beer down a moment beside him as he looked to the campfire. The questionable food Estinien had brought was starting to sound good.]
My comrades and I had the misfortune of working with him. It was he who brought us to the Source, though we were merely pawns for his schemes.
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Aye, and they've meddled at least twice in affairs that involved me and mine, in recent days. It may ease your mind to know that you were not the only one that was unwittingly made part of their plans.
[He shrugs and takes a deep drink. He doesn't feel any particular animosity towards the Ascians for it, since it certainly wasn't all their doing. They seemed to just give whoever they dealt with enough rope to hang themselves, and those they approached happily fashioned their own nooses.
Or, well, had no other choice. He well knows what desperate men will do.]
And they had many. I know not which ones you were involved in.
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We were not the first, nor will we be the last in their schemes. This I know.
[He exhales sharply, thinking on it. The 'first' for him would be with their comrade Cylva. Leading them along, guiding them to becoming Warriors of Light while being the source of most the problems on the First as the Shadowkeeper. He knows she had little choice, just as they did when Elidibus came to them. Ardbert and his party were definitely in the 'desperate men' category.]
It has been a long, long time since our involvement in Eorzea. Mayhap not for you.
[He's not sure just how much time has passed on the Source, though from the Warrior of Light's appearance he doesn't think it too long. He at least knows it can't have been one hundred years on the Source as well.
But that seems to be all he is keen to say for the moment, instead holding a hand out to Estinien and forcing a tired smile.]
But you mentioned food, yes? I can test how edible this 'burrito' is while you tell me more of the Source.
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Hm. You are correct, it has not been so long--a matter of months, I would say. Rather eventful ones, but still.
[The end of a thousand year old war, the expulsion of Garlean forces from two nations--inviting further upheaval--the death of the Emperor...yeah, 'eventful' covers it.]
Til but recently, my homeland was isolated from most--we've only just begun to rebuild our relations with the rest of Eorzea, after the end of the war. My homeland is Coerthas, where the weather is cold enough to freeze your bollocks off.
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Mmm!
[It was good! He recognized these flavors! What a convenient way to eat this honestly. After a particularly big bite, he swallows and nods to Estinien.]
Passably edible.
[A jest, he clearly was enjoying the food.]
Ah, I know of the place which you speak of. That was... Ishgard, was it not? Funny how time passes so differently. But I digress, [Another bite, he'll talk with his mouth full w/e!!] we were there to see the end of that war.
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He nods.]
Ishgard is the capital, and it has been my home for the last twenty years.
The final days of the war are...not clear in my mind. And I left not long after. I've not been back since.
[First, he had to find Nidhogg's damned eyeballs, then he'd hared off to Kugane to chase rumors of dragons...then, well.]
...tis beautiful, but hard and cold, like a steel spear. Not a very cheery place. Though now that there is peace, mayhap if some disaster or other sees fit to leave us be, that may change.
[You're not the only one that can be a sad sack.]
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Besides when he got up, before he set out.Ah, seems he hit a bit of a sore spot commenting on Ishgard though. Just as Estinien seemed kind enough to not try to pry at his history, Ardbert would try the same.]
Mm... had we only the time to appreciate the sights. Reminds me a bit of a place back home, a kingdom called Voeburt. A stubborn lot they were, but once you got to know them you couldn't find a more welcoming people.
Mind you, I never saw Ishgard proper.
[The location of Coerthas is mainly what reminded him of it, though Voeburt only froze up like that in the winter. From what he knew it made sense that Ishgard wouldn't be cheery though. A thousand year war? Hell, look at the First after just 100 years. Dreary place really. He pauses to take a drink though before continuing and finally slowing his roll on eating the burrito.]
...We were kept fairly busy. Killing primals while the Warrior of Light was tied up in Ishgard, tormenting beastmen, and a few fetch quests aside. To put it briefly, we were to hasten the birth of a new god.
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Despite his harsh words, he looks a little nostalgic. Homesick. If called on it he'll not admit to it, but...]
You'd have had a time getting through the gates. I can count on one hand the number of people allowed through afore the end of the war, that weren't refugees at least.
[He wonders at that. A new god--a new primal, obviously. And there has been only one of those in recent days. The timing fits. He points with the hand holding his beer can, eyes narrowed.]
So you're the reason I had to go to swiving Ala Mhigo.
[There's a little heat there, but he's not moving--aside from taking another drink at least--so Ardbert doesn't have to worry about getting whacked with his big ol' stick.]
That was a fine mess to clean up.
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We figured as much, aye. We had little reason to visit regardless.
[He muses, before getting caught off guard at the sudden anger and pointing from Estinien. Surprisedpikachu.jpg]
A-ah...
[He has no idea what you're talking about.... Well sort of. He knew the general plans, milled about with Elidibus in the East Shroud even as they worked on it's success. But he has no idea why Estinien would of had to go there???]
I... take it the plan succeeded? We left to return home ere its completion, thanks in part to your Warrior of Light.
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(Says the guy who regularly fought dragons as a coping mechanism. He wouldn't know a healthy one if it slapped him on the ass.)]
Oh, it succeeded. For a time, anyway--shockingly, not even a god-dragon is enough to stop the Warrior and their adventurer friends for long.
[He snorts, and puts the can down to his side, leaning back on his hands.]
The Eyes were my responsibility to deal with. I could not leave that unfinished, considering I was the reason they were thrown to the abyss to start with.
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Gods, is there anything he can't do?! I suppose I shouldn't be surprised with what I know of them now.
[He looks down to the little he had left of his burrito. He could still eat, but for now he wraps the leftovers back up and sets it down. He tilts his head to the last bit Estinien said though, eyeing him with a touch of confusion.]
Your responsibility...? Oh. Ohhh. You were that dragoon, weren't you?
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[Seriously, the man is nigh a force of nature. Zenos had given him pause, but in the end...
Though, that isn't really the end, now is it? Fury, dealing with that when he returns home is going to be a nightmare.]
Aye.
[Not that Ishgard doesn't have many dragoons, but Estinien is fairly singular among them.]
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Hah, to think we'd cross paths in such a place as this.
[Only one of Isghard's dragoons can claim to have possessed the eyes let alone be the reason they were tossed to the abyss.]
Well. Sorry about all that.
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[Though meeting anyone he has here is a surprise. He picks up his can again and drains it dry, also reaching for a new one.
Then he shrugs. Apology accepted, it seems.]
Tis not as if you meant harm, truly. It was not your decisions that brought you there, correct?
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[WOW. About that... Ardbert stares a moment at Estinien, unsure of how to answer before just letting his gaze fall back to the drink in his hand. Overall his mood may have improved, but some things were just too serious.]
My world was being erased from existence... We only sought to save it. As for our decisions...
[His jaw tightens, voice catching in his throat at the thought.]
We had done everything right, everything that was asked of us. Warriors of Light of our own world. Yet it was by our hands that the Flood of Light even came. Take that as you will.
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[Some things are too serious, indeed. Estinien sighs, burying his free hand in the cold fluff on top of Iceheart's head.]
Seems that protecting our world is all any of us are trying to do.
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For a minute he lets it fall to silence. He's done quite a bit of talking. It sort of helped. At least it went way better than talking to Elidibus or Emet-Selch. Besides the cracking of the fire, the sounds of clanking metal can still be heard. It seems closer than when Estinien first came across Ardbert's camp. Some yowls can be heard as well. Neither Ardbert nor his Corvisquire or Fennekin seem bothered still. He sighs, reaching for the half eaten burrito again.]
Least you wonder, I have no plans on returning.
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[Travel between their worlds can't be as easy as all that, if the Scions laying unconscious is any indication. He wouldn't be surprised if it's 'cannot'. Though it's not like he understands all that in the first place.
Estinien's Dragonair slides behind him, and he leans back against her side as she curls up.]
*Lest (shh I can spell)
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