"Tito! Tito, no! Get back here!" comes the call of one very distressed adventurer as he barrels through the city streets, chasing after his vicious, man-eating wildcat.
He skids to a stop when he finally sees that his new pet has finally stopped rushing through the busy marketplace, because his pet is now busy... attacking some poor man's boots.
Tito is pouncing and gnawing on Alfeoux's left boot laces, and Felih sighs deeply as he approaches him.
"Sorry about him," Felih apologizes as he trots over. "He's not trained yet."
Felih is lucky that Alfeoux has a bit of a soft spot for round animals, or else the adventurer might kick Tito halfway across Hawker's Alley. As it is, the silver-haired Elezen man merely glares, disgruntled, at the tiger cub pawing at his shoes — Fen-Yll leather, yes, thank you, he is on their valued client list — and after a moment, Alfeoux opts to gently but firmly shake the animal off his shoes. The laces will survive; Geva of the Leatherworker's Guild has guaranteed that much. Tito tumbles to the ground, then rolls back onto his paws, ready for a round two.
In actuality, Alfeoux isn't very angry at all — a rarity, for him — but he's accustomed to reacting to most things with violence, and so he opts for a rude response. Then again, he happens to have a pleasant, velvety voice — and so his threat doesn't quite sound like a threat in his sugary tones.
"Best keep an eye on your litter, Miqo'te," he sneers. "Runts tend to be drowned here in Limsa Lominsa."
Felih is very, very quick to scoop up the little tiger cub, holding it close to his chest and pinning the adventurer with a look, tail bristling and puffing in blatant offense. Ugh- another one of these types, wanting to judge him by his race. Why was it always him?
Tito squirms a bit in Felih's arms but then yawns and seems to settle, snuggling obliviously as he tries to sleep in Felih's hold.
"Such a lovely voice wasted on such foul and prejudiced words," Felih protests, still holding the cub protectively. "And here I dared to hope you'd be kind-hearted. But don't you worry, I know full well how things work in Limsa Lominsa." He doesn't like pulling rank, but oh is he sorely tempted, ears twitching.
Always him? Not at all. Alfeoux is not prejudiced, at least not in that sense — no, he hates everybody quite equally. He smiles like a wolf scenting blood, taking a single step forward; an arcanist's tome is held, mercifully closed, in his hand.
"Kind-hearted?" he laughs. "Oh, no. No — if you'd a mind about you at all, Felih Tia, you would know that I am not kind-hearted. Not in the least. But then I suppose you would not remember..."
Felih eyes the tome curiously, before he tilts his head. He meets far too many people in his life, fleeting, folk coming in and out of his life too erratically and unpredictably for him to remember every face, every voice.
Still, he raises a brow, looking up at the Elezen with intrigue, still cradling the sleepy cub. His own tome rests at his hip, though he doesn't need to use it half the time, these days.
"Well, it seems you know my name, 'tis only fair you grant me yours," he chirps, tail slowly swaying low over the ground, cautious, wary. Not a kind-hearted man, he says? It will put Felih on guard, especially since it seems this man may have something against him already...
"I have told you before," the man replies coldly, ice in his voice and in his gaze, "but I will tell you again. My name, Warrior of Light, is Alfeoux Blackwater. You would do well to remember it next we meet."
Alfeoux makes eye contact with the squirming tiger cub in Felih's arms. Evidently, he is content to let the matter go at this; sneering, he turns away, holding up one hand in careless farewell. "If ever you allow your mewling kitten to approach me again, I will have it roasted upon a spit and fed to a pirate's hounds."
Felih narrows his eyes at him. Unfortunately for Alfeoux, Felih isn't really the type to let something lie, and he stubbornly trots alongside to follow after, huffing at him.
"Even dare attempt it and you will be in for a fight. But that aside- good gods, what is your problem? If I have done something to offend- then let me make amends. Clearly I have caused you some manner of great upset, and I doubt it was merely from forgetting your name."
[Hello, fellow- well, Sayano wasn't skilled enough to take part in Operation Archon. It wasn't until the Warrior of Light introduced the Doman ninjas to the Rogues' Guild that she even rose to anywhere near "elite". But Snowcloak? Steps of Faith? Oh yes, she was there, too. And she had been so very starstruck, so happy to be fighting alongside her hero.
And here, on the cusp of another great outing the famed Warrior of Light couldn't possibly handle for themselves, she's just as happy, just as hopeful, even though neither of them will escape their shadow when history looks back on this foray. She darts into the Forgotten Knight with the deftness of a ninja's feet and immediately makes a beeline for the familiar face.]
Alfeeeoux! [She vaults over the backrest and flips into the chair opposite him, just shy of bouncing in her seat with glee as she lands with her tail preemptively curled over her lap to avoid landing on it. She folds both hands and leans forward excitedly.] It's been too long!
[startled from his book — the cover is wrapped in a mysterious black cloth sheath, that no one might read or recognize the title on its spine — alfeoux flinches as sayano suddenly materializes in the seat in front of him. he looks more than mildly disgruntled, all the more so because (as he's just realized) he's played his hand: now she knows that he knows who she is.
fuck.
it would be better if he could just pretend he didn't know who she was.
that still doesn't deter him from trying to play it off cold, however, and so he clears his throat, fixing her with an unimpressed glare. hi, sayano. this is your local caster speaking — at least, he's a caster today...]
[She flashes a good-natured grin at the little stutter on her name that proved she'd startled him.]
Because being together might encourage the Warrior of Light to approach us! They'll need a team again, I've heard!
[She leans back to a more normal sitting posture, which still involves leaning forward - not at all disengaged from conversation. At least she no longer looks like she might jump onto the table in her excitement.]
Of course, they're more likely to seek the company of adventurers they recognize!
But they've always gone to you. They present opportunities for experiences like none other! Surely you know that?
[She looks down as her tail's movements become agitated in her lap, and lets the appendage slip off her thigh to rest behind her, balled fists taking its place out of sight beneath the table. Her emotions never make half-efforts, and the immediate sense of irritation is magnified. She's at least aware enough of this to hide their presentation.]
What do you think is really happening, then? If we're just to be pawns in some game and the cause is insincere?
What is really happening is that we will embark on campaign, we will bleed and sweat and suffer for our victory, and when all is said and done, no one will speak of our skills or our strategies. When we win, it will be entirely because of Eorzea's finest, the infallible Warrior of Light.
[alfeoux, for his part, is quite still. in fact, he is so unnaturally still that it might actually be rather unsettling.]
Tell me, Sayano: when a woman steps out in a fine garment, is she entirely the cause of its beauty? No — a designer and a host of weavers crafted her raiment. But did they not toil just as much as she who paid its price?
Do those craftspeople expect credit unless the woman is asked who made her clothes? Does a soldier expect to have equal credit alongside his or her leader when a battle is won?
[Her expression betrays the fact that she's holding back most of her emotions, an intensely focused look directed up at the other adventurer, and then it's all sublimated into passion for her job.]
I want glory too, Alfeoux! It's why I became an adventurer in the first place. But the realm is at stake! Shouldn't it be enough to look back on it and be able to honestly say you contributed? To have a tale to inspire newcomers to our trade with, even if we aren't the central figure? To know you took part in preserving all we hold dear?
[as soon as sayano says "the realm is at stake," alfeoux closes his eyes. he leans back, slowly, into his chair as she speaks. his head has met the back of it by the time she finishes her series of rhetorical questions; he winds up staring dead into the ceiling beams, as if he is praying for divine providence to spare him this fate.
divine providence comes in the form of the hyuran barkeep from downstairs, coming upstairs to secure an order for one of the brume patrons, perhaps. alfeoux flags him down with a lazy flick of his gloved hand. he does not even turn his gaze toward the man as he speaks.]
...Emond, will you tell Gibrillont I'd like a bottle of my usual?
[shrugging, emond wanders off toward the forgotten knight's proprietor, sparing alfeoux the effort of doing so himself. sighing, alfeoux snaps his neck back into place, fixing sayano with his usual steely glare.]
Pray forgive me. Your speech was just so inspiring that I decided I needed some liquor with which to swallow it.
[Her inspiration for becoming an adventurer was legends and accounts of historical heroes and sometimes actual fairytales. She can definitely wax dramatic and/or pretentious herself, and being talkative in general doesn't help matters. She heaves a sigh that ends on a growl of a pout, folding her arms.]
I'll admit I got carried away for a moment, but that isn't an answer. Don't you have any concept of personal glory?
My concept of personal glory involves the ignorant masses expressing gratitude for what I do.
[given that gibrillont's counter was, in fact, not at all far from alfeoux's table, emond returns with the elezen adventurer's drink in due time; once more without even looking, alfeoux slides payment, plus a generous tip, towards the man as he takes his chilled bottle in hand.]
What does it matter to you whether or not I appreciate the Warrior of Light, Sa-ya-no? You must realize that if I do not go, some other fool will do it in my stead.
Do you think you were foolish in agreeing to defeat the Garleans, and those who would take advantage of their zeal?
[She slouches in her seat to go with the folded arms and the pout, though that is transitioning into a proper frown as she speaks.]
You could be called a Warrior of Light, yourself. The title only seems to have lingered with one, but you were there, and you - all eight of you - did a great thing.
[something like vulnerability flickers in alfeoux's icy eyes, but it is gone in an instant as he closes them while he takes a sip of his drink. yes. operation archon. van baelsar and the rest. that was fun. the battle itself was fun. the opportunity for destruction, the opportunity to trash garlean toys, crush them into scrap metal and cermet and leaking ceruleum — yes, that was fun.
why did he agree to do it? because he hated the garleans? because he did not want to see eorzea under garlean rule? because he knew that if the city-states surrendered, ishgard would be next?
but none of these things should matter to him. he left his birthplace long ago.
so why did he agree to do it?]
...That was — [he swallows and clears his throat] — a matter of slim pickings. I needed money and it was the only job available for an adventurer of my stature.
[The look of vulnerability might go mostly unnoticed, brief as it was, but the hesitation catches her attention. She looks up, studies his face for all of half a second, and tilts her head in open curiosity. There's a feeling of introspection to the activity in her eyes, which is rare for her. It doesn't happen often or for very long, but in this case, it's something remembered.]
I won't pry for your real reasons. Maybe I should share mine.
When I heard the tale, it reignited my passion. I'd stagnated. Your feat reminded me what I adventured for, and here I am! That's the sort of honor it was to share the battles I've had with the two of you.
[Maybe she'd fixated on the one that remained in the popular eye due to them being a Scion. Maybe it was simply following the crowd or ease of access. Maybe it was because they had continued to spearhead legendary feats. But the truth is, the title had been given to everyone to come out of that steel fortress.]
[alfeoux sighs, though he seems marginally less irritated than before — the bitter look in his eyes has ebbed. now, the emotion lurking in the corners of alfeoux's expression more closely resembles exhaustion. he sips again at his drink.]
...You should grow out of the habit of looking up to others. Heroes only disappoint you in the end.
[There's no bite to it. Sayano reluctantly straightens out of her comfortable slouch.]
People need goals, don't they? I'd given up on my dreams of glory without one. I suppose, keeping to lofty shadows to rise out of, that's how I set mine.
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valoirs
alfeoux blackwater; elezen adventurer
HAVE A FAT TIGER BABY
He skids to a stop when he finally sees that his new pet has finally stopped rushing through the busy marketplace, because his pet is now busy... attacking some poor man's boots.
Tito is pouncing and gnawing on Alfeoux's left boot laces, and Felih sighs deeply as he approaches him.
"Sorry about him," Felih apologizes as he trots over. "He's not trained yet."
no subject
In actuality, Alfeoux isn't very angry at all — a rarity, for him — but he's accustomed to reacting to most things with violence, and so he opts for a rude response. Then again, he happens to have a pleasant, velvety voice — and so his threat doesn't quite sound like a threat in his sugary tones.
"Best keep an eye on your litter, Miqo'te," he sneers. "Runts tend to be drowned here in Limsa Lominsa."
no subject
Tito squirms a bit in Felih's arms but then yawns and seems to settle, snuggling obliviously as he tries to sleep in Felih's hold.
"Such a lovely voice wasted on such foul and prejudiced words," Felih protests, still holding the cub protectively. "And here I dared to hope you'd be kind-hearted. But don't you worry, I know full well how things work in Limsa Lominsa." He doesn't like pulling rank, but oh is he sorely tempted, ears twitching.
no subject
"Kind-hearted?" he laughs. "Oh, no. No — if you'd a mind about you at all, Felih Tia, you would know that I am not kind-hearted. Not in the least. But then I suppose you would not remember..."
no subject
Still, he raises a brow, looking up at the Elezen with intrigue, still cradling the sleepy cub. His own tome rests at his hip, though he doesn't need to use it half the time, these days.
"Well, it seems you know my name, 'tis only fair you grant me yours," he chirps, tail slowly swaying low over the ground, cautious, wary. Not a kind-hearted man, he says? It will put Felih on guard, especially since it seems this man may have something against him already...
no subject
Alfeoux makes eye contact with the squirming tiger cub in Felih's arms. Evidently, he is content to let the matter go at this; sneering, he turns away, holding up one hand in careless farewell. "If ever you allow your mewling kitten to approach me again, I will have it roasted upon a spit and fed to a pirate's hounds."
no subject
"Even dare attempt it and you will be in for a fight. But that aside- good gods, what is your problem? If I have done something to offend- then let me make amends. Clearly I have caused you some manner of great upset, and I doubt it was merely from forgetting your name."
no subject
And here, on the cusp of another great outing the famed Warrior of Light couldn't possibly handle for themselves, she's just as happy, just as hopeful, even though neither of them will escape their shadow when history looks back on this foray. She darts into the Forgotten Knight with the deftness of a ninja's feet and immediately makes a beeline for the familiar face.]
Alfeeeoux! [She vaults over the backrest and flips into the chair opposite him, just shy of bouncing in her seat with glee as she lands with her tail preemptively curled over her lap to avoid landing on it. She folds both hands and leans forward excitedly.] It's been too long!
no subject
[startled from his book — the cover is wrapped in a mysterious black cloth sheath, that no one might read or recognize the title on its spine — alfeoux flinches as sayano suddenly materializes in the seat in front of him. he looks more than mildly disgruntled, all the more so because (as he's just realized) he's played his hand: now she knows that he knows who she is.
fuck.
it would be better if he could just pretend he didn't know who she was.
that still doesn't deter him from trying to play it off cold, however, and so he clears his throat, fixing her with an unimpressed glare. hi, sayano. this is your local caster speaking — at least, he's a caster today...]
...Sayano. Why are you sitting at my table?
no subject
Because being together might encourage the Warrior of Light to approach us! They'll need a team again, I've heard!
[She leans back to a more normal sitting posture, which still involves leaning forward - not at all disengaged from conversation. At least she no longer looks like she might jump onto the table in her excitement.]
Of course, they're more likely to seek the company of adventurers they recognize!
no subject
[in complete and utter disgust, alfeoux closes his book and regards sayano with an icy stare.]
Find someone else with whom to seduce your precious warrior. I'll not lift my hand for their overglorified cause again.
no subject
[She looks down as her tail's movements become agitated in her lap, and lets the appendage slip off her thigh to rest behind her, balled fists taking its place out of sight beneath the table. Her emotions never make half-efforts, and the immediate sense of irritation is magnified. She's at least aware enough of this to hide their presentation.]
What do you think is really happening, then? If we're just to be pawns in some game and the cause is insincere?
no subject
[alfeoux, for his part, is quite still. in fact, he is so unnaturally still that it might actually be rather unsettling.]
Tell me, Sayano: when a woman steps out in a fine garment, is she entirely the cause of its beauty? No — a designer and a host of weavers crafted her raiment. But did they not toil just as much as she who paid its price?
no subject
[Her expression betrays the fact that she's holding back most of her emotions, an intensely focused look directed up at the other adventurer, and then it's all sublimated into passion for her job.]
I want glory too, Alfeoux! It's why I became an adventurer in the first place. But the realm is at stake! Shouldn't it be enough to look back on it and be able to honestly say you contributed? To have a tale to inspire newcomers to our trade with, even if we aren't the central figure? To know you took part in preserving all we hold dear?
no subject
divine providence comes in the form of the hyuran barkeep from downstairs, coming upstairs to secure an order for one of the brume patrons, perhaps. alfeoux flags him down with a lazy flick of his gloved hand. he does not even turn his gaze toward the man as he speaks.]
...Emond, will you tell Gibrillont I'd like a bottle of my usual?
[shrugging, emond wanders off toward the forgotten knight's proprietor, sparing alfeoux the effort of doing so himself. sighing, alfeoux snaps his neck back into place, fixing sayano with his usual steely glare.]
Pray forgive me. Your speech was just so inspiring that I decided I needed some liquor with which to swallow it.
no subject
I'll admit I got carried away for a moment, but that isn't an answer. Don't you have any concept of personal glory?
no subject
[given that gibrillont's counter was, in fact, not at all far from alfeoux's table, emond returns with the elezen adventurer's drink in due time; once more without even looking, alfeoux slides payment, plus a generous tip, towards the man as he takes his chilled bottle in hand.]
What does it matter to you whether or not I appreciate the Warrior of Light, Sa-ya-no? You must realize that if I do not go, some other fool will do it in my stead.
no subject
[She slouches in her seat to go with the folded arms and the pout, though that is transitioning into a proper frown as she speaks.]
You could be called a Warrior of Light, yourself. The title only seems to have lingered with one, but you were there, and you - all eight of you - did a great thing.
no subject
[something like vulnerability flickers in alfeoux's icy eyes, but it is gone in an instant as he closes them while he takes a sip of his drink. yes. operation archon. van baelsar and the rest. that was fun. the battle itself was fun. the opportunity for destruction, the opportunity to trash garlean toys, crush them into scrap metal and cermet and leaking ceruleum — yes, that was fun.
why did he agree to do it? because he hated the garleans? because he did not want to see eorzea under garlean rule? because he knew that if the city-states surrendered, ishgard would be next?
but none of these things should matter to him. he left his birthplace long ago.
so why did he agree to do it?]
...That was — [he swallows and clears his throat] — a matter of slim pickings. I needed money and it was the only job available for an adventurer of my stature.
no subject
I won't pry for your real reasons. Maybe I should share mine.
When I heard the tale, it reignited my passion. I'd stagnated. Your feat reminded me what I adventured for, and here I am! That's the sort of honor it was to share the battles I've had with the two of you.
[Maybe she'd fixated on the one that remained in the popular eye due to them being a Scion. Maybe it was simply following the crowd or ease of access. Maybe it was because they had continued to spearhead legendary feats. But the truth is, the title had been given to everyone to come out of that steel fortress.]
no subject
...You should grow out of the habit of looking up to others. Heroes only disappoint you in the end.
no subject
[There's no bite to it. Sayano reluctantly straightens out of her comfortable slouch.]
People need goals, don't they? I'd given up on my dreams of glory without one. I suppose, keeping to lofty shadows to rise out of, that's how I set mine.