How soon these halls had fallen into disarray. A few short years ago, when the Inquisition was yet in its prime, there wouldn’t be a spider web nor speck of dust to be found. Dried leaves blew in from across the Sea of Clouds to rattle over the stonework; they crunched and hissed under Alvere Renaud’s boots now as he passed.
Skrhh, skrhh, skrhh. The sound simultaneously prickled his skin and resonated with him. He scratched his hands absently, then his neck, only then noticing the tension in his jaw. Relax, relax.
Many of the others here looked as he did: bowed shoulders, wild-eyed. A hollowness that hadn’t been there before. Technically they all still had their stations. Technically they were all still inquisitors. But DeBorel had come and prized out their teeth, and now they had nothing, nothing.
Winged shadows now passed free over the cobbles below. Malformed miscreants were returning to their homes. And that was supposed to be normal now, as if overnight the Fury had changed Her mind.
Doomed. Damned. All of them. Degeneracy ran free in Ishgard, and there was nothing he could do about it.
He wheeled into his chambers, bolted the heavy door, hurried to the special locked drawer in his desk. It took too many tries for his trembling hands to fit key to lock. But it was still in there. Of course it was. It always was. No one knew about the box, so no one could disturb it.
Carefully, Alvere brought it to his chest and pulled the lid open. Within were two separate locks of spun copper. The first, and longer, he’d taken from Olivie Dufresne that fateful day he’d pushed her too far; the second, he’d snuck from Eliane in church when she was deep in prayer beside him. His treasures. They’d meant to give them to him as a promise, only, well – they hadn’t realized that yet. It wasn’t their fault. Alvere simply took it upon himself to make that promise for them.
Only now. Now! Now Olivie had left. She’d departed Ishgard forever. It was for the best, perhaps, as Halone was surely due to smite this fallen city any sun; but deep down he also knew that it was because of him. He’d wronged her, oh how he’d wronged her so! His heart shrivelled as he remembered her cries.
No, my beloved. That was not how it was meant to be.
Alvere paused a moment, clutching his head as it swam. So much dust. Black dust, everywhere. He swore sometimes that it followed him.
He sighed softly, and returned Olivie’s hair to the box – but then found himself staring at Eliane’s. She was still here, after all. A witch her mother may have been, but Eliane’s blood ran Ishgardian blue. She would never leave this city. And she understood. She did. How often she spent time with him, long after the tragedy had passed!
Only now she was trapped. Chained by wedding ring to that heathen. That brute. Alvere couldn’t comprehend what in the world could have happened to allow Eliane Dufresne to wind up in the arms of a highlander, but surely it wasn’t by choice. It was a matter he doubted Lord Emmereaux was especially pleased about; once upon a time he surely would have found an ally in the man, except Emmereaux had sworn to strangle him the next time they saw one another. Only Eliane still spoke to him anymore. Only Eliane, yes. Only Eliane.
He could still make amends, couldn’t he?
But first he had to free her.
Alvere put the box down, began to pace, coughed as he accidentally inhaled a bit more dust. There had to be a weak link here somewhere – there always was. Perhaps there was an old law leftover from the Autumn War, forbidding Ala Mhigans from holding Ishgardian lands or titles. Perhaps the man himself had secrets he’d rather not have come to light. Those were always fun strings to pull. Yes, there were options, there were always options.
It’d require a careful confluence of misfortune, but Barengar could be removed. Alvere highly doubted that beast could survive for long in the Game. His folly, for thinking he had any place up here to begin with.
And so, Alvere began to pull books. Law, scripture, census records – no, he needed more. He needed the Ala Mhigan’s entire paper trail. Past employment. Criminal records. Any and all gory details.
And he began to read. And he began to think.
And he was hounded, always hounded, by that damnable black dust.
A full day's work at the small, ruined village of Dirtpatch had left Aislinn sore and well. ..covered in dirt. While the rest of the team from Heartwood had sailed for Gridania, Aislinn begged off and had made her way here to her home in the Mists to clean up and rest. But as it always had, the ocean called and beckoned her to come down to the shore to breathe with it. And she obliged, as she always did. Nymeia knew she could use it now more than ever. She stood on the beach, studying the wet sand, toeing a pit here or there to watch the seawater flow in and flood her little divots away, her mind not exactly in the here and now but someplace else altogether.
Barengar hadn't truly been expecting to receive a request from Bertram, at least not one that didn't include a call-to-arms, but it went without saying that he responded to it without even a moment of hesitation. As the situation was explained to him he knew better why Bertram had thought that he, in particular, might serve as a relatable ear. He followed Bertram's directions regarding where Aislinn was likely to be after her most recent job. It was a place that he'd been before, of course, so he made his way toward the apartment but found no one to be home. He decided to follow his instincts. He knew that Aislinn had a similar draw to the sea that he did. Perhaps for different reason, but he suspected a woman with much on her mind would find her way there.
Barengar made his way to the beach in the hopes of spotting her. He hadn't dressed appropriately for the occasion -- due to his haste to make as good time as possible -- but it wasn't about to stop him as he spotted Aislinn and made his way over to her side.
"Figured I'd find y-ou h-ere." He grunted with gentle amusement.
Aislinn was pulled from the maze of her thoughts by an all-too familiar voice. Blinking, she stopped her toying in the sand and snapped her head up. An unexpected smile lit up the depths of her eyes as she spied the highlander. "Ren. Where did you come from?" she laughed, or at least what passed as a laugh for her. Then she took a step back and looked him over. "The battlefield by the looks of it." Her gaze wandered up to his face and caught sight of his hair, grown out almost as long as Bertram's. "Twelve above, has it been -that- long?" she blurted.
Barengar cannot help but let out his own laugh at that. It was a hearty and resonant sound that felt equal parts delighted and amused. He offered the woman a slanted smile before taking in a a deep breath and glancing out over the ocean. "It's been more than a couple moons, that's for certain," he glances back over to Aislinn, "The time just seems to fly these suns."
He pauses for a moment to go back and address her first question. He gives a slight bob of his head to the side. "No battlefields for me. Just the barracks training grounds," he offers lowly, "I'm behaving." Another pauses before he clears his throat, ". ..I'll admit that I probably should have changed before leaving."
Aislinn made a noise in the back of her throat that spoke to her doubt of what he considered 'behaving'. But she nodded all the same. "I'm sure that keeps you toasty in Ishgard but I can't see it doing you any favors here." she looked around and motioned to the bit of shade to be found from the evening sun under the large umbrella at the end of the pier. "What had you rushing off from the snowy climes of bloody Coerthas in such a hurry?" she asked as they made their way to the pier.
Barengar followed along with Aislinn as she led them to pier, a gentle snort caught in his throat as he stifled his urge to laugh in response to her gentle jab at his hasty decision making. It wasn't exactly the first time he'd been known for that kind of behavior in their time knowing each other.
He was grateful to be out of the sand and water though. The last thing he needed was to have to explain to Stalwart why he'd been standing in saltwater for a prolonged period when he went to have the armor repaired. He took up a position at the railing and glanced out over the soothing ocean before answering her question.
Barengar grunted and shook his head, "Bertram asked me to," He rumbled, bobbing his head to side, "An-d after he explained th-e situation I wanted to." It was always better to be straight and honest in Barengar's book. It didn't help that he was an awful liar, so someone that knew him like Aislinn would know it immediately.
Bertram. Aislinn turned her head away, trying to hide her sudden self-consciousness. Looking out past the pier, her chin rose minutely but it was more out of defense than anything else. "Just what did he say the situation was?" she asked, her tone growing more subdued.
Barengar lifted his hands up as his shoulders gently shrugged. His right hand came down to rest upon the railing as he took a moment to study Aislinn. His attention then drifted out toward the water. "Not too many details, but e-nough f-or me t-o know tha-t it's been no picnic f-or y-ou. It's eerily familiar." He sighs quietly and shakes his head. "Bu-t I'm not a-bout t-o make y-ou talk a-bout it, Aislinn. Y-ou know that's not me."
After a moment spent peering into the distance as though she could divine the answers there, she gave a long sigh. Bertram had obviously been worried enough to call in his elder brother, knowing Aislinn saw him the same. "And if I don't want to talk about it you came all this way to stand on a pier and swelter in that armor." she said giving the heavy plate a sidelong glance. "I would hope I'm not so far gone as that." shaking her head she turned back to Barengar.
"Eerily familiar in what way? Because I know -I- can think of several but what of you?"
Barengar grunts in an amused, but casually dismissive way to her observation about his having coming out there for nothing if she didn't talk. Though, as she continued, he waited and let her finish before he offered his reply. "... T-o Bertram's condition be-fore we healed it." He clarified before shaking his head, "Not exactly the same, o-f course, but ..." He settles his gaze upon Aislinn, "Close e-nough for it t-o sting a little extra, I figure."
Aislinn nodded as her shoulders slowly slumped and for once she stopped trying to pretend she was fine. Because if anyone understood this, it was Ren. And if anyone understood her as she was now, and not who she had been, it was Ren. "Aye." she breathed. "More than close enough, really. Except the person that woke up isn't anyone I know. And Wyda is just. ..gone. Dead. And I. ..have not been handling it well." She shifted uncomfortably as she recalled some of her behavior over the past moons. "At all. Bertram was probably at his wits end to call you."
Barengar offered Aislinn a look a understanding. It wasn't pity, or anything akin to it, Barengar wasn't about to insult Aislinn by suggesting that she needed as much. He would, however, have her know that he 'got it', so to speak. The mixture of having thought Bertram dead and then finding him to be a stranger that wanted to kill him was ... a shock that was hard to take to say the least. "Worried is more like it," He rumbled quietly, "I figure he thought our shared experience would help."
"An-d I don't really think anyone ever 'handles it well'. Not really. Not sure tha-t I'd want to." He muses quietly.
Aislinn bowed her head, her fingers plucking at the end of one of her sleeves. "Sometimes I don't understand it. I've held myself together through...a lot. Is this just the straw that breaks the dhalmel's back?" she shook her head. "Or is it because there's nothing I can do about it. Nothing I can -fix-. There's no solution I will magically come across that will put things to right." she lifted her head and stared at him, letting go a sharp breath.
"I yelled at her. Cravendy. Emptied my gun into a target to feel the noise and just...full-on yelled. Stepped right into her space. That's...not me. I don't lose control."
Barengar listened to Aislinn quietly and attentively. It was a skill he'd not truly developed until well into his adulthood. It's possible he never would have if he'd never 'lost' Bertram. There was a gentle look of surprise when Aislinn explained that she'd yelled at this 'Cravendy' and fired her weapon in a flurry. She was right; that wasn't her usual self.
Barengar took in a deep breath. "When we finally met back up again, Aislinn, would y-ou describe me as th-e same person y-ou knew back in Gyr Abania?"
Aislinn exchanged a long look with him. "Ren. We both know the answer to that. Neither one of us were who we had been in Gyr Abania." It was a statement that held many layers. The dour, taciturn man with the cold visage who grunted instead of forming words had nothing in common with the bull-headed, brash, fiery youth looking for any excuse for a fight that she had once known him to be.
Barengar bobbed his head to the side slightly in acknowledgement. That was, indeed, the short of it. There was no denying that. It was more a rhetorical question in any event. He let out a quiet grunt before continuing on with his thought. "Righ-t," he rumbled, glancing back out over the sea, "Losin-g Bertram pushed me down tha-t road. There's no tellin-g how far I'd have gone down it wi-thout folks around me constantly forcin-g me to pull back."
He quieted for a moment before looking back to Aislinn. "Shite like this changes us. I don't think tha-t there's any way o-f really stoppin-g that an-d it's best to accept tha-t ..." he shook his head slowly before drawing in a deep breath, "Bu-t we can try an-d steer that change in a direction tha-t's not self-destructive. We can own it. I know I wish I h-ad back then."
"So don't go berating yeurself f-or bein-g different. Y-ou are, bu-t tha-t doesn't h-ave to be a bad thing."
She knew he spoke from experience. And she heard the truth in his words. Most of it she already knew, intellectually. But knowing something with your head wasn't the same as knowing it in the core of you. "Suppose not. But more than anything I suppose I'm...hurt and scared." she said, looking out over the water because not looking at him made it easier to talk to him about this. "Wyda made me a better person." Aislinn quietly stated. Speaking it aloud she knew it was the truth. "She helped me see the good in the world. In myself. Reminded me not to be so serious all the time. Without her I'm scared of falling backward. That I’ll go back to being that closed off, cold person too afraid to stand too close to someone."
Barengar grunted and bobbed his head to the side slightly, following Aislinn's gaze out to sea with his own. "I know tha-t feelin-g. At least in part." He pauses and shakes his head, "Not tha-t I'm about to assume tha-t I know exactly wha-t yeur goin-g through." A gentle and slight smile touches his lips at a crooked angle, "Y-ou an-d I are as different as we are similar. It's really somethin-g sometimes."
He takes in a slow breath before continuing, "But y-ou've surrounded yeurself with good people, Aislinn. I haven't met half as many as I should h-ave, but ... if Wyda was an example of them ..." The man side glances toward Aislinn before reaching over to very gently set his hand upon her should and give a firm squeeze. His tried and true gesture of solidarity. ". .. they'll be there. As will we. I'm not about to let you shut me out now. After everything."
Barengar's reassurance, both in what he said, and the solid weight of his hand went a long way in reminding her she wasn't alone. She wasn't out there floundering on her own any more. She had family. She had friends. People who wouldn't let her fall back down to the depths of her past self. It didn't erase the fear and the pain of losing Wyda. Not completely. But it helped. "We do seem to share a thing or two in common." she nodded, hazarding a sidelong glance in his direction. "As hard as that might be for most people to believe." With a sigh, she shifted back against the deck railing. "Thank you. For saying all that. I needed the reminder. Because you're right. I do have good people around me. And there's certainly no dodging you from here on out." her attempt at levity subversive and unassuming.
Barengar gave a firm nod in acknowledgement to her gratitude, "Y-ou've rapped me o-ver the skull with reminders more time than I can count. I figure it was a-bout time I was able t-o return th-e favor."
He left his hand upon Aislinn's shoulder for a moment longer before giving it one more squeeze and then letting it fall back to his side. "It doesn't make th-e pain go away," he rumbled quietly, ". .. but it h-elps make weathering it a hell o-f a lot easier." He quiets for a longer moment, along the shifting of the tides to fill the space before taking his own crack at levity. He produces a gently slanted smile, "Besides, yeur a god-ma now, can't h-ave y-ou shirkin-g on those responsibilities."
Aislinn nodded slowly at the truth of his words. "Nymeia's blood, when did you get so wise?" she murmured, only half teasing. In truth, it was the talk she needed. The words she had been needing to hear. She just hadn't expected Ren to be the one to come and deliver them and set her back on her feet again. Though perhaps she should have. He was like a brother to her and who better to bring some much needed sense and support?
At his mention of the triplets, her expression softened into a slow smile. "You could have sent word, you know. What're their names?"
Barengar shrugged his shoulder in a half-shrug as he continued to wear that slightly slanted smile in reply to her gentle jest. "Guess She figured it was only fair f-or me to get to h-ave a little wisdom f-or all the trouble if y-ou were goin-g to go an-d be the whiz-kid." He teased right back before his own expression softened in turn. "Trevain, Celeste, an-d Varden." He answers before letting out a low laugh, "And y-ou and Bertram were out Ilsabard at th-e time ... an-d then it just sucked me in."
"I'd really like f-or y-ou to come see them. Ellie would too."
Aislinn softly murmured the names to herself, smiling all the while, feeling a gentle hum in her chest. She looked up at him, a flicker of much needed happiness in her eyes. "Suppose that's one time the trip out to Bloody Coerthas would be more than worth it. I'd love to come see them. They can't very well have a godmother they don't know."
Barengar bares a gentle smile at Aislinn, both at the idea of her getting to meet her god children and in reaction to the mote of happiness in her eyes. "I'm of th-e same mind," He dips his head forward for a moment before noticing the ... less than stellar state of his greaves. Certainly not the sort of condition that he'd want to leave them for very long. Not if he didn't want to get a lecture from Stalwart. "I ... don't suppose tha-t y-ou h-ave a cleanin' rag an-d some oil at yeur place, do y-ou?"
Aislinn follows his gaze down to his greaves, a mess of saltwater and sand. She tsked lightly but nodded. "Of course I do, you know me." she pushed off from the railing. "If you're lucky Bertram may have left some clothes from the last time he passed through." she motioned for him to follow. "Let's go see what we can find before you or your armor suffer any longer."
Barengar emits another deep laugh before bowing his head gratefully and turning to follow behind Aislinn as she leads the way to the apartment. It was true, he had a pretty good feeling that she'd have something on hand. She was just reliable like that. "That'll be twice tha-t you saved me to-day," He commented with a gentle amusement as they walked.
Aislinn turned around, walking backwards a few steps. "Well, one good turn deserves another, right? You save me, I save you." she nodded and turned back around as they made their way up the hill.
Barengar Requingris had been somewhat surprised. It was everyday that he received a missive from Aislinn asking that he come visit so that she could introduce a friend of hers to him. Needless to say we wasn't about to let a request from her go unanswered. So he found himself leave so that he could make the trip to Heartwood headquarters for an evening. It was fortunate that it wasn't too far of a jaunt from Ishgard. It left more time for actual time spent with dear friends. So -- as he entered the building -- he heard the subtle murmur of chatter from below and made his way downstairs. He peered around the corner as he made it to the bottom. "Aislinn. Y-ou down h-ere?"
Aislinn North "...so here's the thing. Zorah and I were ready to sneak quietly by but that wasn't good enough. He had to jump out and yell at half a dozen pirates, all with loaded weapons." she shook her head. "/That's/ why he ended up all shot up. Something's not right with him. The Raen has a death wish." she paused as she heard Ren's voice. Looking up, a smile flashed briefly across her face as she hopped to her feet. He had made it. "Over here." she motioned to Barengar with a certain degree of excitement.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn was eager to meet Barengar, having been told about the man by Aislinn for several months now. This made her a bit more scatterbrained than usual. Whatever Aislinn was talking about, Wyda wasn’t quite listening, although she did a good job of /appearing/ to be. Lots of nods and ‘you don’t say’ and ‘oh wow, interesting.’
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn - The moment he made it past the corner, Wyda got up from her seat, a wide smile already set on her face. The sudden motion sent the stool clattering. “It’s the man of the hour! Welcome to Heartwood!”
Aislinn North saw the stool begin it's downward journey and neatly sidestepped out of its way as though it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Aislinn North once it hit the floor and stopped, she merely bent down and set it back to rights again.
Barengar Requingris offered a subtle smile of his own upon sighting the two women. One decidedly familiar and the other vaguely so. He dipped his head forward in a firm nod and his customary grunt in way of greeting. "It's good t-o see y-ou." He offered to Aislinn before blinking and turning his gaze to Wyda's exuberance. "I ... ah ... " He cleared his throat before letting out a low chuckle. "Thank y-ou. Aiswyda, aye?"
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn nods once, and pats herself on the chest. “Yup, that’s me! It’s great to have an opportunity to meet you proper. Only so much could be said on your wedding day.”
Aislinn North Glanced between the two. "Aye, Barengar this is my good friend, Aiswyda. Aiswyda, this is Barengar, practically, nearly, might as well be family." she said by way of introduction.
Barengar Requingris glances back over to Aislinn and gives another subtle smile, dipping his head forward slightly. "Aye. Family in ev-ery way tha-t it matters." He glances back to Aiswyda. "An-d it's good t-o meet anyone tha-t Aislinn calls friend. They're a friend in kind as far as I'm concerned."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn gave Ren a good, long look. “Ah, yes. I can see the resemblance.”
Barengar Requingris blinks at Aiswyda.
Aislinn North a small smile of amusement danced around her lips.
Aislinn North shook her head. "You know, most people don't." she quipped.
Barengar Requingris blinks again, looking over to Aislinn now. He just stares for a moment .. and then lets out a low and easy laugh.
Aislinn North motioned Barengar further into the lounge. "Come in. Can I get you a drink?" she did her best to look him over surreptitiously. He appeared to be in good health, which was a relief to her. "How's Ishgard?"
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “You both have that same, kind look in your eyes!” Wyda noted. She nodded to Lin’s statement, the idea of drinks always welcome in her book. “Right. Why don’t we all settle down somewhere? Would be rude to have our guest stand by the stairs...Unless you feel the need to run at all times.”
Aislinn North tilted her head. "Not Ren."
Barengar Requingris has certainly kept to the advice given to him. He was keeping his activity low. At least as low as he could. There still was the occasional pulse of aether from him but it wasn't anything beyond what had already been observed and he'd been keeping to the breathing exercises. It helped. He looked to Aislinn and nodded. "A porter if y-ou h-ave one around." He answered lowly to the first question. There's a slight look of amusement at Aiswyda’s observation regarding the eyes, his head shaking slightly before he answers the second of Aislinn's questions. "Cold an-d full o-f folk tha-t think they're more importan-t than they are." He grumbled slightly before offering up a single chuckle. "Bu-t it's well."
Aislinn North nodded. "Porter. Got it. Wyda?" she asked as she moved behind the bar. She shot Barengar a look of humor. The way he put it didn't make it sound 'well' to her. "Imagine that's mostly on account of Ellie. How's she doing?"
Barengar Requingris: "Hale an-d healthy. Good spirits too. Though it's gettin-g a bit hard f-or h-er t-o work as h-ard as she's used to." He laughs quietly, shaking his head. "Which was, admittedly, too much."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “If there’s any rum left, that’s what I’ll have.” She takes the corner seat by the bar...just in case Ren wants to stretch his legs and sit on the far right. Tall people problems. “Ooh, Ishgardian high society? Now that’s something I know next to nothing about.”
Aislinn North rummaged behind the bar for a pint glass. Finding one, she set it on the bar and then lifted herself up on her toes in order to read the draught taps. "Hmm. You and me both." she murmured a bit distractedly. Finding the porter, she 'ahha'd' and poured the highlander a glass and passed it his way. "But, Ren here's a knight of the realm." she said with a smile the belied the pride she had for him in rising so high.
Aislinn North dipped under the bar and popped back up with a bottle of dark rum and a glass. She poured the Seawolf two fingers worth, neat. And left the bottle on the bar. For herself, she found a decent whiskey and did the same.
Barengar Requingris reaches his head out to slide the glass the rest of the way toward him. His head shaking with a gentle amusement as Aislinn brings up his knighthood. A notion that he'd only recently become used to. "Suppose tha-t's true, aye."
Barengar Requingris: "Though I tend t-o leave all th-e ... "high society-ing" t-o Ellie." He wrinkles his nose slightly before laughing and taking a drink.
Aislinn North slid a good-natured glance to Aiswyda. "He's still won't let me call him Ser Ren, though."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn gratefully takes her glass with a nod. “If he’s a knight, then that’s what he is though, right? Ser Ren.”
Barengar Requingris rewards AIslinn with a flat look. Look what you've done now, Lin. He lets out a low laugh all the same before taking a drink and shaking his head. "Maybe when I'm in Ishgard." He conceded. "Bu-t h-ere?" He glances between the two women with a subtle smile. "Jus-t Ren."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn senses Ren isn’t used to what she imagines Ishgardian society to be (stuffy, fancy, very... cold?). That said, she can recognize what Aislinn is playing at. The sort of good-natured jabs that only old friends can make.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: "Ser Just Ren."
Barengar Requingris blinks.
Aislinn North let go a huff of laughter in reply to his look. She slid her glass to an empty seat and came around the bar. She pressed her lips together at Wyda's response in an effort to keep back another laugh.
Barengar Requingris is frozen half-way from a sip as he slowly turns his attention to Wyda. Did she just ... he can't help but laugh at the sheer audacity. He finally takes his sip, murmuring into the cup. "I'm out numbered."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn doesn’t bother holding herself back. Seeing Ren’s reaction, she lets out a bark of a laugh and heartily pats him on the shoulder. “Hah! Just pulling your chain. But yeah.” In a lower voice now. “You're on our turf now, hehe.”
Aislinn North shook her head, taking pity on him. He did, after all, come all this way because she asked. "Alright. Supposing 'Ren' has worked so far." she said, taking a sip of her drink.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn hasn’t tasted her drink yet. Blasphemy! She quickly corrects that.
Barengar Requingris takes well enough to the clap on the shoulder, an amused expression upon his features as he dips his head toward Aiswyda in silent concession before looking back over to Aislinn with a simultaneously mirthful and grateful smile. "We can reassess 'Ser Ren' once 'Ren' stops workin-g." He offered, grunting. Coarse as it might sound, it was good natured and friendly.
Aislinn North tilted her head in concession, a twitch at the corner of her mouth compromising her expression. "Fair enough."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn is happy that Ren is rolling with the punches. And while she’s got ten thousand questions buzzing in her brain (what your favorite food? Color? How do you like your eggs?), she figures that Aislinn probably has her own need of Ren’s time. She holds back the floodgates for now.
(Aislinn North) ((ahahaha! I kinda want to see that!))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) LOL just rapid fire 0-context questions! Quick!! Does Ren put his left boot on first, or his right? xD ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( Oh no!! He'll never be able to keep up! ))
(Aislinn North) ((ooo...cake or pie? That's always a good one))
(Barengar Requingris) (( Pie!!! ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) is this Ren's pref or yours? :D ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) because this is a hard choice for me.......cake is so good.....so is pie ))
(Aislinn North) ((It definitely depends on the day))
(Barengar Requingris) (( Pie is ... definitely mine! But I also contend that cheesecake is a pie, so ... your mileage may vary! ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) fdklsf cheesecake is a pie?!? ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( I mean ... it has a crust!! LIke a pie!! ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( And it's more like a filling!! ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( But I'm a dangerous radical in this regard. ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) fkldsjf but it has cake in its name!! but I feel like I get your reasoning ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) it's not like other cakes...... ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) cheesepie ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( A pie is a pie ... by any other name ... ))
(Aislinn North) ((Isn't cheesepie a totally different thing?))
(Barengar Requingris) (( I ... oh no ... is it?! ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( I think some folk put cheese on apple pie?? ))
(Aislinn North) ((That's awesome and I recommend it))
(Barengar Requingris) (( Well now I have to!! ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) I can attest cheese + apple is an A+ combo ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( I've been living a life of deprivation, apparently! ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) I have never heard of cheesepie though. My god, it looks incredible ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) It also kinda looks like just a bunch of humus in the shape of a pie slice. I'm flip flopping between hunger and confusion ))
(Aislinn North) ((It also confuses me. I mean, it's /almost/ cheesecake. I'd try it.))
Barengar Requingris leans forward to take another drink from his porter as he glances over each shoulder to his company. "I don't think tha-t I asked. How are y-ou both doin-g? Well, I h-ope."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn instead finishes her drink with the very clear intention of getting a wee bit tipsy. As soon as it's emptied, she finds the rum bottle left on the bar and irresponsibly fills her glass. "Hm, you want the long answer or the short answer to that?"
Aislinn North settled in, shifting in her seat and getting comfortable. At his question, she studiously does not look Wyda's way, keeping her face a study in mildness.
Barengar Requingris tilts his head to the side slightly as his attention is draw Wyda's way. "Ah ... I suppose whichever y-eur more inclined t-o answer wi-th. I'm no-t th-e sort t-o pry."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn shrugs her shoulders. “Well enough. We went on a picnic recently, actually!” The Seawolf leaves out the part where she slept in jail for god knows how long. Weird topic to bring up to a new friend. Maybe if she’s feeling bold after a few more glasses..
Barengar Requingris bobs his head to the side slightly. He didn't precisely understand what the *long* version of that story was but he -- as he said -- wasn't about to pry. It sounded nice enough. "A picnic?" He glances between the two. "T-o somewhere in particular?"
Aislinn North now safely glanced their way, a measure of a smile at the memory. "Well, we ended up near the Drydocks. We were in search of a box Wyda had buried awhile back. Only, she couldn't quite remember where. So we were all there to help jog her memory. Found it too, in the end." she said by way of explanation.
Barengar Requingris tilts his head curiously again. A missing box? This definitely sounds like a smaller part of a bigger story. So he nodded. "Tha-t ... sounds like a nice place f-or a picnic." He offers with a quiet laugh, taking a drink. "I h-ope tha-t all was well wi-th the box?"
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “I buried the box awhile ago, mind you,” Wyda added. “Lin found it stuck underneath a bunch of blackberry roots. But! We had a picnic before that, and one of our mates brought pie.” She smiled at the memory. Potlucks...are objectively the best. This is FACT.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Do you go picnicking in Coerthas? Or would that go by another word...”
Aislinn North took a swallow of her drink. "A bloody miserable time?" she offered. Aislinn would never grow to like the cold or snow.
Barengar Requingris nodded his head slowly as the box was explained a bit further. Though his nose wrinkled at the question regarding Coerthas and picnics. "Ah ... " He couldn't keep himself from letting out a single laugh. "Aye. Lots o-f picnics inside." Is that even a picnic?
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn is interested by the idea of indoor picnics. "Wow, I've never done one of those. We should have our next picnic inside too." Wyda is completely genuine, braincells already working hard on the logistics of such an event.
Barengar Requingris can only laugh at the sincerity of the expression. Who was he to say that you couldn't have a picnic indoors? Picnic was a state of mind, after all. "Jus-t pull up next t-o a fire an-d eat w-ith y-eur h-ands."
Aislinn North not at all dissuaded or surprised by Wyda's train of thought, she had known the Seawolf long enough by now, she glanced up towards the ceiling and the floors above. "There is the indoor garden upstairs. Suppose that would work just as well too."
Aislinn North: "Really not a bad idea when it gets cold outside."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Ooh, yes...A bit of fire, a bit of finger food, and have it in the garden upstairs...Everything’s shaping up! Ren, you and your wife would be welcome to come by too!”
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) during potluck q/a: ok who's bringing the fire for our indoor picnic ))
(Barengar Requingris) (( I nominate Aislinn! ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) that's a safe bet :D ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) ren brings the 'cheesepie' ))
(Aislinn North) ((You can definitely put her down for fire XD))
(Aislinn North) ((Wyda can cover the rum))
(Barengar Requingris) (( Barengar, arriving to the potluck with a wheel of cheese: "Cheesepie."))
(Aislinn North) ((Change of plan. Ellie can bring the cheesepie))
(Barengar Requingris) (( *laughs!* ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) LOL ))
(Aiswyda Nuthalwyn) A picnic of just fire, a wheel of cheese, and rum. All indoors. this is the sort of irresponsible fun I live for, both OOC and ICly xD ))
Barengar Requingris: "An-d it's definitely always cold in Coerthas..." He grumbled quietly before glancing over in Wyda's direction. He lets out a quiet laugh. "Indoor picnics are -- probably -- h-er favorite sort o-f picnics. So th-e invitation is appreciated."
Aislinn North corner of her mouth curled up in a warm smile as she took another drink, glad that Aiswyda and Barengar seemed to be hitting it off.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn dutifully saves the idea for later. “Hah, keep an eye out for a letter then! I can hardly wait.” And this is truth. The time for partying is always now.
Aislinn North nodded to Ren, letting him know Wyda was indeed, serious.
Barengar Requingris lets out a quiet laugh as he glances to Aislinn just as she gives the confirming nod, bobbing his head to the side. "I'll keep lookin-g forward t-o it." He offered with a low chuckle. He pauses for a moment to take a drink from his glass. "H-ave y-ou been at the mercenary life long?" He asks Aiswyda with low rumble.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “I think so?” A terrible answer, all around. She gives a pleading look towards Aislinn, like a student seeking hints from a teacher during a pop quiz. Except there's really no reason to /not/ know the answer to such a question. “A year maybe?”
Aislinn North nodded, jumping in to help Wyda without another thought. "I think that sounds right. You signed up only a short time before me, aye? Only been one Starlight here." an odd way to track time, but an efficient way for her to tell how long she's been in a place.
Barengar Requingris followed Wyda's gaze to Aislinn, his brow rising slightly in question. That was ... weird. Though he lets it be and simply gives a slow nod of his head. "A-bout th-e same as y-ou then." He observes, speaking to Aislinn. He looks back to Wyda. "It was an amusing thing. Jus-t as I was leavin-g th-e business." He chuckles quietly before looking back to Aislinn again. "It's good tha-t y-ou h-ave such solid comrades."
Aislinn North leaned forward on the bar so she could look at Wyda. "He made it look so easy, mercenary life." she explained to her friend. Flicking her gaze back to Ren, she gave a lopsided smile, a dimple appearing in one cheek. "It is. They've kept me in one piece, that's for certain."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn is always grateful to have Lin as backup, whether it was to answer questions she rightfully should know the answer to, or catching chairs, or literally saving her life in combat. “It can get tough, but we’re a good crew of people. And if anything bad happens, there’s nothing G’lewra can’t patch up.”
Aislinn North raised her glass before taking a drink. "Nymeia's Blood, that's true. We're lucky we have a medic like her on board. Some of us more than others."
Barengar Requingris bobbed his head forward in concurrence, a slight smile upon his lips. "Hells know tha-t I benefitted f-rom th-e same when I f-irst started. I owe a lot t-o Bastion." He wrinkled his nose slightly. "Jus-t don't tell h-im I said that." He grunted and took a sip from his glass, glancing over to Aiswyda. "Tha-t's wha-t it's all abou-t afterall. Bein-g in a comp-any."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn smiled, and raised her glass. “Aye, aye! No truer words have been spoken.”
Barengar Requingris lifts his glass in turn, grunting a solid chuckle.
Aislinn North tipped her head up to eye Barengar questioningly. "Do you ever miss it?" she asked. It was a question she had pondered but never found the time to ask.
Barengar Requingris glances back to Aislinn. "Mercin-g?" He asks.
Aislinn North simply nodded
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn attentively leans forward.
Barengar Requingris draws in a slow breath, leaning forward onto the counter as he considers the question. "I'd be lyin-g if I said I never missed parts o-f it." He offered without hesitation. "Both bein-g in a comp-any an-d bein-g freelance. Each ha-d their draws." He glances down at the meager remnants within his glass, swirling them slightly as he held the rim with his fingers. "Freedom. Excitement. A chance t-o put m-y ability t-o the test." He stops the swirling, briefly setting the glass down and letting the liquid come to a gradual stop. "Bu-t ... I don't regret leavin-g. Even if I miss it sometimes. It was ... simpler. In a lot of ways." A small smile touches his lips. "Bu-t complex isn't always bad."
Aislinn North eyes fell to his near empty glass and she rose to pour him another as she considered his words, letting them roll around inside her head. "It does have its ups and downs. I like that every day you never know what might end up on the job board. But aye, complex isn't bad. Not if that's where life takes you."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn listens thoughtfully, idle hands winding a lock of hair around a finger. Freedom, excitement. And on the flip side, loss and danger. Adventuring was by no means the perfect pastime, but then again...what was? She nods, agreeing with Ren’s words. “We just make do with what we got. Strive for more. And the way I see it, nothing truly ends. It all sticks with you for as long as you can remember.”
Aislinn North nodded along in agreement with Wyda as she passed Ren another porter.
Barengar Requingris dips his head toward Aislinn and then glances over to Wyda and does the same. A slight smile pulls upon his lips. "Aye." He murmured lowly, thoughtfully. "Jus-t changed it all out f-or a whole different kind o-f excitement in a way." He dips his head gratefully toward Aislinn as she refills the glass. "An-d, aye. Y-eur righ-t. It doesn't really go away. Not when y-ou remember."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “...that said, if you’re ever in need of an escape, you know where to find us. To get a fix of some adventuring proper.” Wyda whistles innocently.
Aislinn North looked swiftly at Wyda, unable to keep the look of alarm from her face. "Ah...just. Not at the moment." she felt the need to say, as if Ren didn't already know he couldn't be putting himself in harm's way and fighting.
Barengar Requingris lifts his brow slightly as he slowly turns his attention over to Aiswyda as she makes her nonchalant offer. He just stared in her direction for a moment before letting out a steady and pleasant chuckle. "I can't deny tha-t bein-g a temptin-g offer." He pauses looking back to Aislinn as a single corner of his mouth tugs back into an amused smile. "Righ-t. Doctor's orders." A slight sigh came after it as he took a drink. It was hard being patient.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn looks between the two, a lightbulb lighting up above her head. “Ah, right! Not saying you should go out and make things worse...? And I wouldn’t want to explain to your wife why you came back from your ‘night out’ bloodied and battered.”
Barengar Requingris emits a single laugh at that. "Ah ... I'd definitely get an earful t-o be sure. Though it'd likely be somethin-g along th-e lines o-f 'Why didn't y-ou bring me?'."
Aislinn North nodded solemnly, reaching for her glass. "As it should be."
Aislinn North shook her head. "But also, again. 'Not at the moment' applies to her as well."
Barengar Requingris looks back to Aislinn and gives a much wider smile at that. At least for him. "Y-ou won't get any arguments f-rom me on tha-t front."
Aislinn North glanced at Wyda with a smile of her own. "Ren here is going to be a father in a few short moons."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Ooh, she sounds fun! Let’s bring her along!” Wyda corrects herself on Aislinn’s answers. “Ahem. Right, the responsible thing to do is to not bring her along.” She doesn’t know the reason why, but she’s not going to risk it.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn and now...she knows the reason! “WHAT. Wow! That’s crazy! How exciting!”
Barengar Requingris glances over at Wyda as she does the quick verbal about-face. An amused expression crossing his features. Though it softens slightly as Aislinn reveals the impending fatherhood. He prepares his reprisal. "An-d Aislinn a godmother." He added, giving a firm nod.
Aislinn North: "I've been recalling as many sordid stories about our youth so I'll be prepared to tell them all about all the trouble their father got into."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn sheds a single tear. She’s so proud of Lin. Perfect godmother material.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “Be prepared...when the baby comes, it’ll be nothing but sleepless nights for you. A formidable challenge to be sure.”
Barengar Requingris barks a single laugh at that, shaking his head. "Already lookin-g to undermine m-y authority." He smiling, of course. The man positively beside himself with happiness over the fact. He pauses a moment, dipping his head toward Wyda. "An-d it's goin-g t-o be all the more o-f a challenge wi-th three." He glances down at his cup for a moment. "A blessin-g tha-t Ellie's family is as excited as we are."
Aislinn North shook her head. "They're going to outnumber you."
Aislinn North ever the strategist, she knew those odds did not fall in his favor.
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn: “By the Twelve...I suppose I should be saying, by the three!” Wyda shakes her head in disbelief. “All the more joy! But Lins right, you have to be careful.”
Barengar Requingris laughs and bobs his head slightly to the side, conceding to both of their warnings. "If our childhood taught me anythin-g, Aislinn." He glances back over to Aislinn with a slight smile. "It's tha-t three's trouble."
Aislinn North He was treated to a flash of a wide smile and a bubble of laughter. "At the very least, you're forewarned, which is forearmed. Should help you to stay at least one step ahead of them for awhile."
Barengar Requingris felt his own smile widen slightly at that. "Aye. Though ... y-ou can expect me t-o call f-or back-up." He pauses and looks over to Aiswyda. "An-d y-ou should bring Aiswyda as well."
Aiswyda Nuthalwyn beams at Ren. “AH yes! I’d love to see the rascals! Show ‘em how to climb trees and...hm, when do kids learn to walk...” Wyda is counting someone else's eggs before they hatch.
Aislinn North took a moment to weigh the joy of seeing three children run circles around Ren against stepping in and mercifully helping him out. She slowly nodded. "I think that's part of my duties as godmother."
"Certainly it cannot be denied that Baron Requingris is possessed of formidable -- if not ferocious -- strength. However, so are many that walk the streets of Ishgard.
No. It is the man's unflinching strength of character that makes him both friend and foe alike in a society so steeped in intrigue as our own."
"Lord Ser Requingris! Is it true they call you The Armsbreaker?!"
"Lord Ser Requingris! Is this when you go off to be a hero?!"
"Lord Ser Requingris! How do I rescue someone?!"
"Lord Ser Requingirs! When do..."
"Stop. Just ... just call me Barengar, okay?"
"Yes Ser! Lord Ser Barengar, Ser!"
Barengar simply ... sighs.
