Title: Breakfast at Leveilleur's Characters: Zoissette Vauban, Ameliance Leveilleur Rating: Teen Summary: Zoissette continues to demonstrate that she does not know what a 'vacation' is Notes: The moment between old and new, past and future, Starlight and Heavensturn.
Zoissette dreamed. Of shadowed colors and feathers. Of fair skin wrapped in shade. Warmth and kindness and sharpness and heat. The fury of terrible passion, and the comfort of a soft word. Intuition and insight driven by a sharp mind and delivered by a keen wit.
And distance.
She woke up on a couch in the Baldesion Annex, awareness returning to her quickly. She felt her heart rate surge, but calmed it, breathing slowly. She was in no danger here. Despite that, she quickly took stock of her surroundings.
She had fallen asleep propped up against an armrest, legs kicked out in front of her. As she glanced over to the side, perhaps about five fulms away, she saw Y'shtola asleep as well. Being much smaller than Zoissette was, she had been able to curl on into the corner of the couch, feet tucked up under her. She was using her arms to rest her head against the other armrest, her nose tucked deep, near into her chest.
Nothing was amiss, and so she let her thoughts drift back to the night before. Studying in the Noumenon. Finding that book. Being rudely interrupted, and having a bit of cheeky fun at what she had thought to have been a strangers' expense. She had then fallen to embarrassment and the Archon had risen to amusement when she finally turned around and saw who exactly it was. Ever observant, Y'shtola had caught on as soon as she had seen Zoissette's surprise. Indeed, the only reason it had taken her that long was that, in her own words, she had rarely known Zoissette to speak so freely with strangers.
Zoissette had felt awkward after that, and strove to maintain an air of polite Ishgardian silence. Y'shtola would have been well within her rights to turn her famously sharp wit on her and cut her to the quick, but instead she settled for only needling her gently in between updates on her life, her research, and questions that Zoissette was compelled by politeness to answer.
Politeness had eventually began to fall away, and before long, they had settled into the comfortable pattern of conversation they had once enjoyed, as though they had hardly spent any time apart at all. Y'shtola had seen Zoissette's application to join her research, and decided to invite her back to the Baldesion Annex, where their conversation had gone on late into the night.
Things were much the same between them as Zoissette had remembered them, but also different, in many small ways. For one, Y'shtola was older than Zoissette, now. A quirk of the First. And it seemed to Zoissette that Y'shtola had become softer in the intervening time. No less imposing for that, but softer all the same. But she held the same confidence and quiet power she always had, as well as the same fire for life and thirst for knowledge.
Zoissette was quietly glad for it, and relieved.
The night had gone long, and at some point, they must have fallen asleep. Zoissette pulled her glasses out of their pouch, and held them up to her face without actually putting them on, her fingers playing along the rim to check a few enchantments. She noted that several of the alarums she had set, meant to keep her sleeping and research schedule in check, had been silenced. By Lavender, oddly. She could feel through the thin thread of intuition that they shared that Lavender had gone to sleep and was now resting in her soul stone, and thus unable to serve as a backup system.
Zoissette frowned at that, and tucked her glasses away, unsure of why Lavender would undertake such actions. The sprite had always had a will of her own, and thus was not always fully predictable. Still, she was always more than capable.
She decided to leave the matter alone. Instead, she checked herself over, found nothing terribly awry, and got up slowly and quietly. She knew Y'shtola could be a deep sleeper, and she was not going to bother the Archon while she got on with her day.
Zoissette made her way to the front desk. Ojika was there, bright and chipper.
"Why, hello Zoissette!" he said. "I trust you've been told that your application has been accepted and your contract signed. Welcome aboard."
"Thank you," said Zoissette. "Say, are accommodations for my lodgings ready yet?"
Ojika sighed. "Well, your application came as something of a surprise - and you've cost me some Gil in the betting pool. No, I had been hoping to take advantage of the holiday period and began doing some rearranging of the rooms and tidying up while everyone was out. I'm afraid there won't be space for you until next week sometime. However, the research that you will be doing will be taking place mostly in Thavnair - warm this time of year, unlike dreary cold Old Sharlayan. We won't be able to make arrangements for your lodging there either until after Heavensturn, but Y'shtola did volunteer to share her quarters."
Zoissette looked up at the ceiling, staring off a bit. "No, no, I did not sign up to make myself a nuisance. What about Estinien? He will be used to sharing space with a fellow soldier, if I could just ask him."
Ojika looked thoughtful. "Uncertain. He is frequently out of touch, and I have not heard from him recently. You very probably could just use his room while he is out doing whatever he does. If, that is, you could figure out where he was staying and then let yourself in."
Zoissette reached up and pinched her nose. "No, that will not do either. Until after Heavensturn, you said?"
Ojika nodded with an apologetic shrug, and Zoissette thought the matter over.
"Well. Could probably make my own arrangements once I hit Thavnair," she said.
"Are you quite certain? You'll be outside of the room and board clause of your contract if you do, at least until we can make our own arrangements on your behalf."
"Oh, it will be fine," she said, giving him a grin.
Ojika sighed, but nodded. "Alright, if you say so."
"Sure. It is of no real bother. I have other matters to attend to anyroad, this will just be one more. Though - will you need help around here?"
He shook his head. "Nothing I wish to bother anyone else with, and I find I enjoy the work, while it is quiet and peaceful."
Zoissette nodded. "Okay. Let me know if you change your mind," she said. She glanced at the chronometer. "Though I had best be going."
"Ah, you adventurers, always off to do good works of derring do and bravery. May I ask what is keeping you busy so close to Heavensturn?"
Zoissette shrugged at him. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, no reason."
She tapped her chin with a finger and made a thoughtful noise. "Well, I told Dark I would handle her deliveries for this week in exchange for use of the special suites."
"Special suites?" asked Ojika, his eyebrows going up. He gave her a smile and a wink. "Should I leave a note for Archon Y'shtola as to where to find you, then?"
Zoissette was abruptly aware that she had completely forgotten her sense of decorum, and cursed inwardly. Maybe she was not as awake as she thought she was. She closed her eyes for a long moment, and when she opened them again, she made sure to remember her Ishgardian politeness.
"I am certain she will not care," she said. "Thank you for your help this morn, Master Ojika. I should be on your way."
He looked taken aback, but recovered quickly, giving her a polite bow. "Of course, Lady Zoissette. Pleasant day."
She paused. "Uhm. Thank you," she said before heading on her way out. She found herself secretly relieved she had caught herself before she had gone out on deliveries.
Before she saw to her duties, however, she made sure to send a request back to headquarters, asking to extend her use of the suite for a bit. She was fortunate that it was so new that many had already made other arrangements for Heavensturn. Next year, she was unlikely to be so lucky to even get to use it, much less be making unreasonable last minute requests about the matter. It would be a bit before she would hear back on that, and so she did not wait, instead gathering her supplies, and making her way up into Journey's End.
As she arrived, she looked up at her destination, and felt a gentle sinking feeling.
She had been told of the Leveilleur's home, of course. Her fellows had swapped stories of how large it was, how it seemed so grand, even in a place like Old Sharlayan that was so very fond of its grand buildings, all white stone and clean lines and wide open spaces. Not at all like Ishgard, with its gray stone and general feeling of leaning down upon its inhabitants. Still, though, differences aside, Zoissette was quick to spot the similarities.
She knew a High House residence when she saw it, and knew she had no business being there.
Fortunately, today she was the help, and she would be in and out as fast as she pleased. She double checked her cargo. School supplies for the lady's outreach program. Nyx had provided some mammets that would be used for magical instruction, and Teito had made no few conductive foci.
She was let in by one of the house servants, and had quickly made the exchange with another. They were exchanging pleasantries and she was signing the appropriate receipts, just ready to head out, when she heard an entirely too excited voice ring out.
"Ah, you must be from Gage Acquisitions. Rather earlier than I had anticipated - pray stay a moment, would you?"
Zoissette eyed the distance to the door and wondered if she could get away with pretending that that was not directed at her.
Politeness, however, kept her present. She affected a pleasant smile, and turned to face the lady of the house.
"Greetings, Lady Leveilleur," she said. "I am just dropping off your requisitions, courtesy of our resident artisans. Just as soon as the proof of receipt is signed, I shall be on my way and out of yours."
Zoissette glanced her over as she spoke, noting the beautiful bow that kept her hair neatly tied back. It framed her face pleasantly.
She wondered if she could make it work.
"Nonsense. I am always pleased to meet one of the many personages my children write to me about. Now, let me see... Alphinaud has drawn such fetching likenesses of many of you, and I have read such stories from both of them. Hold still a moment, if you would?"
Zoissette froze, all too aware of the nervous grin on her face.
Ameliance looked her over, and then her eyes went a bit wide, and she held a hand to her breast, and gave a slight bow.
"Oh my. I had no idea - my apologies."
Zoissette looked at her, bewildered, and noticed out of the corner of her eyes, the various servants of the house also giving a slight bow.
"If I had known we were to be attended by a Holy Knight of Ishgard, I would have made the appropriate arrangements," she said solemnly.
Oh, that made sense. Sort of. Kind of. Not really. Zoissette gave a little nervous laugh.
"I ... think there has been some sort of misunderstanding," she said.
Lady Leveilleur looked up at her, with a slight frown. "You are the Lady Zoissette, of the Order of Saint Thea, are you not?"
Zoissette was beginning to think that perhaps she should have stayed in her office.
"Yes, but - I do not think that means what you may think it means. Nor whatever it is that Alphinaud told you it may have meant," she said. And she was certain it was Alphinaud. Alisaie, she felt, would have been rather more circumspect.
The other woman, and Zoissette was just not quite sure if she was Ameliance, a friend, or Lady Leveilleur, a noble woman paying her unnecessary respects.
"An exile of her homeland who nevertheless stood for its ideals in its time of need. A woman paying reparations for the perceived crimes of a family member she cared for. Strong of heart and kind of spirit. I may not share your beliefs, my lady, but I respect them, as well as your devotion to them."
Zoissette felt uncertain of herself. However, there was protocol for this, and she could follow it. She bowed her head, bringing her own hand to her breast as she did so.
"You honor me, then, Lady Leveilleur," she said. "I can accept no honor, but I can accept your grace, if you will accept my service."
Lady Leveilleur nodded solemnly. "And I am pleased to accept your service, and wish to offer you my grace. And as it is early yet, I was just about to break the fast. It would honor me if you would join me."
She really did not want to.
"Of course," she said, with another bow.
The Lady Leveilleur smiled warmly at her, and gestured. "Then follow me, and I shall show you a place where you can take your ease whilst I make the arrangements."
It was about a bell later that Zoissette found herself in the Leveilleur's dining area. On the one hand, she was grateful. Her provisions for exploring Noumenon had been adequate, but not generous, and she had not yet had her own breakfast in anticipation of the deliveries being a rather fast errand. On the other hand, she was nervous, and largely felt that it would have been better if she was literally anywhere else.
The Lady Leveilleur, for her part, however, was a consummate hostess. She had asked politely after any dietary restrictions or requirements Zoissette may have had, and made arrangements to have a tea of her preference delivered - which was just now being poured into a cup in front of her. If she was being inconvenienced, she gave no sign of it, and seemed genuinely glad of Zoissette's presence.
It was one of those situations where Zoissette could clearly see and understand the exact lines of causality that had led her to the current situation, and yet she still felt completely and utterly lost.
The two sat across from each other. Zoissette kept a pleasant smile on her face as she sipped gently at her tea.
"So," asked Lady Leveilleur conversationally, "what brings you to Old Sharlayan, if I may ask?"
Zoissette remembered her earlier missteps with her conversation with Ojika, and made a mental note to be more careful with what she said.
"I have accepted a research position with the Students of Baldesion," she said.
"Oh, splendid. I know Krile, of course - and of her friends," said Ameliance with a wink. "I know better than to ask the nature of your work. But might I ask as to who you will be working with?"
That seemed safe enough.
"Archon Y'shtola, Lady Leveilleur," she replied.
"Ah. I have read so much of her from the letters my children have sent me, but have not gotten the chance to spend nearly so much time with her as I might like. But please, there is no need to be nearly so formal. You may call me Ameliance."
Something in the woman's bearing was gently disarming, somehow. Zoissette had known her fair share of nobles, of course, being the child of one herself. Ameliance reminded her not one bit of her own mother, cold and distant, however, nor of too many of the other nobles she had once known. Ameliance seemed rather more personable, and open.
"Only if you would pay me the kindness of calling me Zoissette," she replied.
Ameliance smiled. "But of course... Zoissette. Any friend of my children is a friend of mine."
Zoissette just nodded over her tea, looking up briefly to mouth a thank you to one of the house servants as they set a plate down in front of her, with a rather generous portion of eggs and bacon. She waited patiently, however, for Ameliance's food to arrive.
"Will you be staying in Old Sharlayan long, I wonder?"
"No, not very. Our research will mostly be taking place in Thavnair."
"Ah. Sunny this time of year. When will you be leaving, do you think?"
"A few days just after Heavensturn."
"Oh! Plans for the holiday?"
"Not as such," said Zoissette. Technically not a lie. Her plans were for the day after the holiday. "How about yourself?"
"Well, my husband has promised me a most splendid date night. It is meant to be a surprise, so I shan't spoil it by speaking of it further here," and Ameliance winked at her again.
Zoissette smiled, despite feeling a touch taken aback at her seeming audacity. Ameliance's warmth, at least, did seem quite genuine. Another servant came by, placing a plate in front of her. A more modest meal of fruits and greens.
"Please, after you," said Ameliance, and Zoissette did not need further encouragement, beginning the feel the hollow in her stomach quite keenly.
"Well, are you to meet Y'shtola over there then, I suppose?" she asked after Zoissette had begun eating.
Zoissette shook her head. "No. She is up at the Baldesion Annex just this morning. She wished to do more research over at Noumenon over the holiday."
"Will you be helping her with that, I wonder?"
Zoissette shook her head again. "I don't think so. It was a coincidence that we even met each other here. I had my own research to do."
"A coincidence? I would think you might have expected to see her at the annex."
Zoissette felt herself warm a bit, and took a sip of tea before answering.
"Apologies. I did not mean to say I met her at the annex. We - well. Ah. She found me in Noumenon while I was doing my own work."
Ameliance laughed. "A pair of studious scholars, then. Well, do you know of her plans for Heavensturn?"
"None that I am aware of."
"Too studious, perhaps. You know, we do celebrate the holiday around here. You might go down to the harbor and watch the celebrations, even if she does not."
Zoissette just nodded, and turned her attention fully to her breakfast. Ameliance seemed to understand the hint, and began to eat her own breakfast in earnest.
"Where are Alphinaud and Alisaie just now, anyroad?" asked Zoissette after a while.
"They are in Garlemald, handling the fallout from those towers, I believe. I suppose they have had no need to call for the aid of adventurers if you have not heard from them."
Zoissette shook her head.
"...how are they?' she asked, quietly.
Ameliance looked at her, tilting her head slightly. If there was reproach in her expression, Zoissette did not find it.
"They are well," said Ameliance. "Or at the very least, I think so. At least their letters no longer seem to be causing their father to have to flee the room."
Zoissette stopped and looked up at her, feeling a bit shocked at the revelation, and Ameliance hid her laughter behind her hand.
"Sorry. It's just - well. He cares so deeply for them both, you know. He tries to hide it, but I don't think he does a very good job of it. But they've grown so much in the past few moons. And him as well. I always told them he should trust in them. I guess now, he believes me."
Ameliance smiled softly as looked down, and took another bite of her food, and Zoissette felt a strain she did not know she had been holding melt away.
"...thank you for having me, Lady L- Ameliance."
"And thank you for staying, Zoissette. I rather hope you may come by more often. And kindly extend the self same invitation to the others. I feel... I feel as though I know so much about you, all of you. Warriors of light, each of you, no matter how you may think of yourselves. And I would love to get to know each and every one of you as well as my children do. You may, of course, feel free to stop by any time."
Ameliance smiled at her, and she saw the way her eyes wrinkled at the edges, and the softness in her expression. She was uncertain what Ameliance had saw, but she found herself feeling glad to be in the woman's confidence.
At least, she hoped she was, if she was not reading too far into the matter.
The rest of breakfast passed in easy pointless pleasantries. Feeling more comfortable, Zoissette had ventured a few questions of her own while fielding those from Ameliance, but it was not too long until plates were put away and goodbyes were being said.
Just before she left, though, Ameliance took her hand, and gave her one last of those warm smiles.
"Thank you for indulging a mother today, Zoissette," she said. "If you ever find yourself in need, please feel free to ask, my dear."
Zoissette looked at her for a long moment, thoughtfully.
"Well," she said, cautiously, "Can I ask how you did your hair?"
Ameliance laughed.