@viiioca asked: Send 🏔to see them in their favourite zone.
Okay, so --
Perhaps not her favorite zone but one she found herself at frequently. She gets lost in thought, hard to draw back out, as she sits frozen like the wave of light before her. Expression awestruck grief as she marvels at her beloved's last act.
One last shot:
Tempest (noun):
1. A violent windstorm, frequently accompanied by rain, snow, or hail.
2. Furious agitation, commotion, or tumult; an uproar.
A warrior of light and a scion
The Pendants, the Crystarium
The storm squatting over the Crystarium does its best to make itself known. Rain lashes the window, wind whistles through the cracks of the frame, lightening presses its luminous face to the glass. Jealous and demanding. Desperate to be acknowledged.
But you’re not watching the storm outside. You’re not even listening to it.
No, your eyes track the storm currently rampaging through your inn room. It wears the skin of a girl -- a girl you know very well. Prudence Dubois always paces when she’s truly agitated and now she’s walking corner to corner, back and forth, kicking things out of her way. She’s screamed and cussed and sworn violent, ugly oaths. She’s thrown the same chair from one side to the other, splintering it and now carries one of the legs to further emphasize her many points.
She’s beautiful.
Her freckled face is usually frozen in a frown of perpetual disappointment. Now it is twisted and red and spittle flies from her mouth as another string of curses leave it. Prudence rakes her shaking hands through her short hair. Sweat slicks it back. An improvement over all, you decide, out of her eyes at the very least.
Prudence wheels on you, suddenly, the dark of her eyes burning like coals. You become a target. All her anger and hurt and fear all shaped like you. You’ve never minded.
She’s beautiful.
Throughout this outburst you have sat quietly, hands folded neatly in your lap -- moving only to nod your agreement or voice some vague sound of sympathy. The catalyst remains a mystery to you. She was already storming when you arrived home and her words come in a flood; you’ve picked out the Exarch’s title and Emet’s name and decided you need not pry further.
Out of the corner of your eye, you see the door crack, opening silently, and a white-haired head pokes itself in. Then a second. Two too-curious twins. You expected them earlier. You shake your head and as the door swings shut your shoulders release some of their tension.
It all goes unnoticed by the stormcloud.
Prudence will tire herself eventually. She will come to you, crawling on hands and knees, lay her head in your lap. She will not apologize. She will not acknowledge the outburst at all. And you will forgive her, threading your fingers through her hair, taking all of her unvoiced guilt and shame in your hands and swallowing it.
And she will be beautiful.
While the rest of the Scions scattered to their work, Prudence waited at the Crystarium for Odette's arrival. The journey to the First was rough on the nun. Prudence is at her side her whole recovery.
Prudence is also the one who shows Odette the picture book depicting the Oracle of Light. Grief is easier shared.
This takes place shortly following the first dungeon of Shadowbringers, Holminster Switch. A conversation between the scion Prudence Dubois and the Warrior of Light Odette Hollows.
“I don’t trust him,” Prudence’s voice is a dry rasp, like the pages of a book being turned, emphasized by her pacing. Step, step, step, turn. Step, step step, turn. “He doesn’t show us the work, he just says you’ll be fine. How the fuck would he know? He blindly groped all about our star for you and knocked all of us out of our bodies. That,” Her boot heel struck the ground, “Is not a careful man. We shouldn’t trust a careless man with you. Urianger is the one with the vision, surely we can figure it out.”
You do not answer immediately, listening to the sound of her pacing. You lay on the bed of your shared room, legs draped over the side of the mattress, an arm thrown over your eyes that doesn’t help. Hours ago you scattered the aether of a Lightwarden and returned the night sky to Lakeland. To see your Lady’s radiant face returned to the heavens of this world had brought you first to tears and then your knees. But when you closed your eyes to pray the perfect darkness that lay behind your lids was instead foul, burning light.
You cannot stop closing your eyes, like poking a bruise or picking a scab.
Prudence kicks your leg once then twice and then once more. She’s certainly kicked you harder before, and the idea that she may be holding back makes you warm.
“Are you even listening?” A cutting tone there, like the edge of paper.
“I am, I am,” you assured, hearing your fondness shape the words into something softer, coaxing the same from her.
It works. You hear only a sigh in response. Then Prudence’s weight settles onto the bed beside you; never near enough to touch but your body tips toward her’s. She draws in a deep breath trying to find her patience again.
“I want the witch to look at you. Before you eat another one. She’s right not to trust this Exarch, you know.” She spits the title like a curse.
“I didn’t eat it, Prudence,” You scrub your palms against your eyelids. The bright light trapped behind them is spotted through with blessed black where you press.
Prudence is quiet but you can feel her stare. The weight of its regard; annoyance and concern in equal measure. Relief that it isn’t her. Judgement because she thinks she could do this better.
Everyone thinks they can do it better, none of them want to try.
You continue: “We may not have the time for that. I’m not even sure where Y’shtola is,” Prudence clucked at the name. You finally opened your eyes, banishing the light again, and turned to behold the Ishgardian beside you. Prudence stared down at you, unblinking, brows drawn low in her customary disappointed expression. You cannot meet her gaze -- you can never meet anyone’s gaze -- but you are close enough.
It is easy to forget that she and the others have been here for a year or longer; waiting for your arrival. Prudence has never been one to sit still and she struggles now, a bird caged.
From outside the window, you hear a crowd cheer and uproarious laughter. The Crystarium is still up, still enjoying the darkness of night. Prudence’s liquid dark eyes cut toward the sound and you feel a smile rise unbidden. You know whose laugh she seeks.
“Why don’t you go out? I’m sure the Captain is out there.” You sit up as you speak, bracing yourself on your elbows, “Neither of us are aether-ologists, we’ll have to wait for Urianger and Y’shtola to weigh in. You might as well enjoy the passage of time.”
Prudence snorted at the title and rolled her eyes at everything else. She rose to resume pacing. You flopped back onto the bed, prepared for a second round of discussion of topics far beyond your combined understanding. But no such discussion starts. Only your companion’s steps filled the air. Then:
“So, if Y’shtola says it’s dangerous, you’ll stop?”
“Stop?”
“Stop eating them. The light wardens.”
“I’m not eat--”
“You know what I mean.”
You stare at each other for a moment. You do know what she means, is the problem, and you know you cannot promise her. And yet --
“… If Y’shtola says it's dangerous, I’ll… stop.” Your hand is pinned against your leg, half tucked under the curve of your thigh, your fingers crossed.
The silence is long.
“Fine. I’m going out. Don’t wait up.” She’s at the door before you can sit up all the way. Your dead heart skips into life as it clicks shut behind her. However, before you can delight in the quiet, dread teases the nape of your neck, raising goosebumps. Your fingertips tremble as you strive to contain the sudden knowledge that this is a memory you will reflect on often.
You close your eyes as the tears fall, blinded by the light trapped behind your eyelids.
Odette & Prudence Shadowbringers adventures: Il Mheg ramblings below! Mostly how the girls feel re the quests that bring us to Il Mheg and the residences of the kingdom!
No one is having a good time. At first.
Odette is still shaking off meeting 'Minfilia' who is but isn't the Minfilia. Her Minfilia. She already does not care for the vibes Thancred has brought - their relationship is very friendly with sibling vibes and they do have words about this. Odette isn't angry with Thancred, obvi, but something needs to change and he's the adult in this situation. I keep thinking I'll write that conversation but the 'he wouldn't fucking say that' of it all.
Prudence was pleased to do something. It felt like they've been waiting and waiting and waiting! And to clash with stinky Eulmore?? delightful. When they enter Il Mheg proper her eyes are still shiny from the fight, her fingers still twitching with adrenaline. Sure, they all almost died or, worse, were captured but they weren't so it's fine.
The only downside for Prudence is everyone is all in their feelings. Odette and Thancred haven't looked at each other and neither of them are looking at Minfilia, so Prudence spends those early days with her. They don't talk much but Prudence is really only good at being a quiet and steady presence for people. The one time Thancred says something about this duo is when Prudence tries to give Minfilia a cigarette. (It's a big "Do not." which is, frankly, boring and rude.)
At first I think Odette finds the pixies and their leafmen a little horrifying. What do you mean they're people just stuck like that!? That can't be good for their souls. But then she takes a breath. She's from the Shroud, she understands non-mortal beings just Being Like That. It's not her job to make them bend to her morals, it wouldn't stick anyway and would only result in heartbreak. Besides that goes against her core purpose.
She indulges the Pixies when she can.
Prudence is freaked by the pixies, she is uncomfortable and that makes her angry and snappish. Boy. The pixies love to fuck with her. They do not care for her very-loud weapon and so please picture her sprinting through the flower fields of Il Mheg, harried by pixies, waving her gun around because Odette forbade her from firing at the pixies.
The Fuath... man. Neither girl enjoys the near-drowning they go through, but thankfully both are blessed and live through it. Prudence is not a very strong swimmer and knowing how the Fuath come to exist makes her a little more fearful of water, especially while on the 1st. Odette is a stronger swimmer.
The cutscene following Dohn Mheg, when the scions are searching for Odette and Prudence, Odette stumbles out of the water supporting a panicked Prudence as best she can. They don't talk about this act! Odette isn't gonna bring it up for fear that Prudence is embarrassed and Prudence isn't going to bring it up because she's Prudence. But she finds a way to express gratitude.
When it comes to the No Mou, Odette finds them delightful. They have a similar understanding of the world and what is important. They get along so well, she might as well be one herself! She delights in making sure the work they provide is compensated exactly fairly !! She loves their proxies! She understands the peace and happiness that can come from a life of servitude.
Prudence thinks they're annoying and needy and she does NOT enjoy interacting with them but can and they're much better than those pixies, at least, even if they have too many rules for her liking.
Of course, they both get along so well with the Amaro. Prudence will always have a soft spot for feathered companions, especially after talking to a few and seeing how well loved their fallen companions were and remain. Odette cannot resist creatures wrapped in grief, and man do I think Amaro cling to grief as an expression of love.
Oh man, and then Odette and Minfilia finally find themselves together. Minfilia tagging along on a mission, Odette realizing how close in age they are and how vast the space between them despite. She doesn't want to make Minfilia feel bad, she knows this girl will never replace her Minfilia. No one ever could. Odette is so familiar with this grief and I think has been better equipped to handle it than her friend Thancred.
It's all timid and awkward conversation until it isn't and then it's just... two girls, taken from their girlhood, turned into weapons.
It's good timing for them to bond, because shortly they'll be thrown into the thick of things again. While Odette is battling the King of the Faeries, Prudence is with the other Scions keeping the Eulmore army busy. The one time she and the pixies get along, if only briefly.
thinking about prudence and odette and fleabag and Endwalker.
Season 2 of fleabag with the Priest. You know the one. Esp the confessional scene.
Odette is the hot priest, btw. Prudence would be fleabag. It's not a 1:1 obviously but I am thinking very much more in their push and pull with one another.
I think, much like in the show, Prudence (Fleabag) would have eagerly slept with Odette (Priest) from the jump. Prudence eagerly sleeps with a lot of people, sometimes not-so-eagerly but it beats sleeping alone and processing feelings. Prudence doesn't *do* emotional vulnerability.
Odette doesn't do casual.
I think the scene in Endwalker, Returning Home, where a Scion comes to the WoL's room will be their confessional scene. It is Prudence who comes to Odette's room, and it is Prudence who expresses concern and love to Odette, who tries to impress upon the important of Odette's role in not only her life but the whole star's, who shares her fears but her ultimate hope!!
And ofc, ofc Odette pulls Prudence into her room.
This does also mean they get to have a moment... the moment.
"I love you."
"It'll pass."
...
"I love you, too."
