BUT HEY! Would you be interested in some 4.2-ish stuff considering a certain something, or would you like to do something a little bit earlier? I am down for either, or if you have a specific idea! I'm easy.]
[once upon a time, the citizens of ishgard were far more concerned that the garleans might have designs upon coerthas. they started to build castrum aquilonis, after all, and surprisingly, the holy see did nothing to deter the construction of a garlean outpost in central coerthas. (they did nothing, too, to dissuade a certain lucia goe junius, garlean spy, from infiltrating ishgard.)
but then the ice and snow came, and with it, all garlean ambitions. castrum aquilonis has lain unfinished for many moons now, and nowadays, all that lord francel of skyfire locks concerns himself with is the occasional report of garlean activity in the southern borders of the boulder downs area, which is closer to mor dhona.
he is in monument tower — a house haillenarte possession — when he receives yet another report of garlean activity. and this time, it is more than just the furtive movements of garlean scouts from castrum centri.
"lord francel!" a house haillenarte knight cries. she is winded from climbing the long flights of stairs halfway up monument tower to reach her young lord; she has to pant for breath for a moment. "a — a garlean delegation of sorts has arrived? i know not what to make of them, my lord. their leader claims to be an — an ambassador of peace?"]
...An ambassador... of peace?
[curious this is, when ishgard and garlemald had no announced conflicts to begin with. but then, francel reasons, perhaps this is a retaliatory measure: ishgard has freshly joined the eorzean alliance. perhaps the garleans mean to draw upon their previously neutral relationship with ishgard for... some reason?]
...Show them in, but allow them no further than the first floor. I will meet them myself.
["o-of course, my lord," the knight replies, and runs off. francel gathers his things and calmly walks the long way down to the first floor of monument tower...]
[Coethas was cold. Asahi had known it would be cold, had prepared for it. But it didn't stop him from hating it.
Still, he stays as poised as possible. It wouldn't due to show weakness here. The mission isn't important. More of a probe than anything and Asahi already knows he has an in here with the young Haillenarte lord.
Not that he expects it to go very far aside from a slightly warmer welcome. Ever since Lord Francel had accidentally contacted over linkshell they had developed a comradery of sorts. They were both unhappy with the states of their government, and they had both lost men that they loved to the Warrior of Light.
He heard footsteps on the stairs and turned his attention to them, seeing a young Elezen walk down them. Lord Francel de Haillenarte looking exactly as Garlean intelligence had described him.
He felt himself smile.]
Lord de Haillenarte I assume? I am Asahi sas Brutus, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Garlean Empire. It is an honor to meet you.
[in stunned wonderment, francel stops at the top of the stairs, then breaks into a smile as he walks rather more quickly towards the garlean delegation. who would have thought that a few mistuned linkpearls would bring him in contact with a garlean ambassador?]
The honor is mine, friend. [(in the background, naturally, some of the house haillenarte knights look rather bewildered to see their young lord addressing any garlean as a friend.)] But I must say, you made no mention that you would be dropping by for a visit...!
[or maybe he did, and they were both just too deep in their cups to remember it in the morning. oh well.]
Oh, there is no need for that — but I'll not refuse a glass of your finest so long as you partake in some of our Coerthan red.
[this answer is given jovially, though it is just as cautious as it is reckless. their countries are neither at war nor at peace, and francel should not, in general, accept drinks from foreign dignitaries, particularly as poisonings are not uncommon in ishgard. but francel does not think himself important enough to be poisoned, nor does he think asahi foolish enough to visit ishgard merely to assassinate the youngest son of a single high house.
so it should be fine.]
We can use the office on the second floor. Though I do hope you won't be too winded by the stairs...
[sure enough, one rather long staircase later, francel ushers asahi into a modest but well-furnished office on the second floor of monument tower, where they might have some privacy.]
Here we are — this is where I normally receive guests. Please, make yourselves comfortable.
But of course. I'm more than happy to share a glass with you.
[Oh, Asahi knows about poisoning in Eorzea. The Ivy had been quite happy to share what she knew before she was uprooted, including Teledji Adeledji's plan to kill the Sultana well before it had happened.
But no, he's not going poison Francel, not when the other man is great to talk to when drunk.]
I've been through worse, my friend.
[He sits and smiles at Francel, putting the bottle on the desk.]
Tell me, Lord Francel, how are you fairing? It has been awhile since we last spoke.
[Squints! Who let him in, indeed- Felih is a wary cat, aha.]
He knows he shouldn't bristle. He knows he shouldn't show any outward sign of aggression, because Asahi was right- one wrong move from him and he jeopardizes any chance of Doma getting their people back.
Still, Felih doesn't really know how to act during one of Asahi's return visits. It's been made excruciatingly clear just how much the diplomat despises Felih and his compatriots- is he still supposed to be cordial in the face of such threats?
So here he is. Pouring tea and trying not to let his tail twitch too much.
"So," Felih chirps, with a hum, voice pleasant but eyes sharp. "How do you wish to play today, my lord?"
"Play?" Asahi asked, voice all light pleasantry. "Who says I am here to play?"
He was leaning against the wall of Lord Hien's compound. Studying the people around him. They were wary of him, having heard of his business prowess and how much he despised the Warrior of Light.
And he despised them too, but less so than the man in front him.He can respect the Domans. Still, now that he has that rant out of his system, he can act more naturally.
"I am here to iron out more details with Lord Hien, nothing more."
Finally, he looked at Felih, dark eyes just as shard and filled with loathing. "If you're here to play, I suggest you run along, beast. I have no time for games today."
Felih hums a little, and then gives the tiniest sigh. "Ah, so that's how you're playing," he chirps in response, as if completely disregarding his first response, before his ears twitch. He does momentarily bare sharp teeth at being called a beast, however- such things get under his skin, a type of derogation he has heard often before, being a Miqo'te.
"You seem to forget you're the one who started all this," he replies, circling around Asahi where he's leaning, ears attentively facing him. "Your sister- well, she has all the reason in the world to be spiteful. But you- weren't you the favored child? What made you so ruthless, hm?" he purrs, voice low.
"As I said, I am not playing," Asahi pulled out a pipe, twirling it between his fingers. He didn't smoke, but he had gotten it as a trinket, but now he needed something to entrain himself before he pulled out his sword and stab the miqo'te.
"I would have thought I made that obvious when last we spoke. I am a student of Lord Zenos," he said. He leaned his head against the wall of the building and looked over at the river. "I believe my sister and I are cut from the same cloth; we're just ruthless in general Our mother was, after all."
He cuts his eyes to Felih. If the beast is going to poke and prod he'll play after all.
"We're making arrangements for peace. Wedding arrangements to be exact. To make the peace treaty official after all. We're still debating who Lord Hien should marry, but it'll most likely be me, as I'm both Doman and highly placed in the Garlean Empire." He looked back over to the river. "He's good-looking, I suppose, his hair needs brushing. Not my ideal, to nice for my tastes. But I believe it wouldn't be a terrible marriage."
[It's np~ Take it easy, friend! I'm not going anywhere c: ]
Felih hears Asahi's declaration, ears twitching before he sighs. "I see, then. If it runs in the family, I shouldn't be so surprised. Still, at least your sister still has that seed of innocence in her, now given the chance to flower. 'Tis too bad yours is being denied the same opportunity."
His gaze slides back over to Asahi when he begins discussing the peace arrangements, and it makes him bristle. He wouldn't trust Hien to Asahi for anything- and yet they're considering a marriage? At the very least, Hien is well aware of Asahi's true nature, so at least he will not be unsuspecting, but...
"You would deign to wed back into Doma? Well. Color me surprised," he huffs, barely suppressing a growl. But, well, part of him wants to agree, loath as he is. "Hien would make a fine husband- though I'm sure he would be wasted on you." Felih is one not quite fond of the idea of arranged marriages- he's seen already how they lead to messes more often than not. "It's too bad, you would be a fine match if that mask you showed me at first was genuine. I nearly thought you cute."
Asahi rolled his eyes. Yotsuyo might be innocent now, but who knew how long that would last. Still, part of him would like his sister to remain innocent. He decided that he wasn't going to dignify that remark with a response.
But he's quite happy that Felih believed him about marrying Lord Hien.
He focused on this because this would be fun. "My wants and desires mean little when it comes to peace," he said. "As much as I loath Doma and all it stands for I will be happy to make the sacrifice for peace."
He continued to play with the pipe. "Oh, I'm not sure he would be wasted on me, or vice versa," he a let smirk play across his lips. Objectively, Hien was a good looking man, and if Asahi was to bed a Doman Hien would be his choice. He looked like he would be fun.
"Excuse you, I'm adorable," he said with a sniff. "And Lord Hien would be lucky to have me. I could keep him quite entertained in the bedroom. Not to mention my military and diplomatic experience. Add to the fact that I am from a noble Doman family, and adopted into the respected Brutus family, I am more than a worthy match for a King."
Felih knows the nonsense of politics, especially when regarding nobility- such arrangements as weddings for peace are not unheard of, nor unfeasible- but Felih is still wary and suspicious, his long and luxuriously-furred tail lashing low over the ground.
"And what, my 'adorable' little diplomat, would have brought you to hate Doma so?" Felih hums, before shaking his head. "Were you not born and raised here? I find it strange that you would so easily throw yourself to your new Garlean masters and then be willing to come right back, wed into the thick of it all. And, now that I think on it- why would you go so far for peace with a land you despise so?"
Still, he bristles more as Asahi taunts him- Hien is a good man, and not one Felih would want to see trapped into a marriage with a Garlean- especially not one so conniving and clearly dangerous as Asahi. Those who are brilliant and viciously loyal are as dangerous as they are awe-inspiring...
And, well, to hear such bold proclamations and taunts about being able to keep Lord Hien entertained has his cheeks darkening, despite himself as he bares his teeth just slightly, tail bristling more. "Well, aren't you bold and self-assured. Here, I thought such a little kit would know little of such things."
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valoirs
Asahi sas Brutus | patch 4.2 spoilers | fanboy
4.2 spoilers
BUT HEY! Would you be interested in some 4.2-ish stuff considering a certain something, or would you like to do something a little bit earlier? I am down for either, or if you have a specific idea! I'm easy.]
no subject
I am down for either as well!!]
finally getting this to you lmao
but then the ice and snow came, and with it, all garlean ambitions. castrum aquilonis has lain unfinished for many moons now, and nowadays, all that lord francel of skyfire locks concerns himself with is the occasional report of garlean activity in the southern borders of the boulder downs area, which is closer to mor dhona.
he is in monument tower — a house haillenarte possession — when he receives yet another report of garlean activity. and this time, it is more than just the furtive movements of garlean scouts from castrum centri.
"lord francel!" a house haillenarte knight cries. she is winded from climbing the long flights of stairs halfway up monument tower to reach her young lord; she has to pant for breath for a moment. "a — a garlean delegation of sorts has arrived? i know not what to make of them, my lord. their leader claims to be an — an ambassador of peace?"]
...An ambassador... of peace?
[curious this is, when ishgard and garlemald had no announced conflicts to begin with. but then, francel reasons, perhaps this is a retaliatory measure: ishgard has freshly joined the eorzean alliance. perhaps the garleans mean to draw upon their previously neutral relationship with ishgard for... some reason?]
...Show them in, but allow them no further than the first floor. I will meet them myself.
["o-of course, my lord," the knight replies, and runs off. francel gathers his things and calmly walks the long way down to the first floor of monument tower...]
no subject
Still, he stays as poised as possible. It wouldn't due to show weakness here. The mission isn't important. More of a probe than anything and Asahi already knows he has an in here with the young Haillenarte lord.
Not that he expects it to go very far aside from a slightly warmer welcome. Ever since Lord Francel had accidentally contacted over linkshell they had developed a comradery of sorts. They were both unhappy with the states of their government, and they had both lost men that they loved to the Warrior of Light.
He heard footsteps on the stairs and turned his attention to them, seeing a young Elezen walk down them. Lord Francel de Haillenarte looking exactly as Garlean intelligence had described him.
He felt himself smile.]
Lord de Haillenarte I assume? I am Asahi sas Brutus, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Garlean Empire. It is an honor to meet you.
no subject
[in stunned wonderment, francel stops at the top of the stairs, then breaks into a smile as he walks rather more quickly towards the garlean delegation. who would have thought that a few mistuned linkpearls would bring him in contact with a garlean ambassador?]
The honor is mine, friend. [(in the background, naturally, some of the house haillenarte knights look rather bewildered to see their young lord addressing any garlean as a friend.)] But I must say, you made no mention that you would be dropping by for a visit...!
[or maybe he did, and they were both just too deep in their cups to remember it in the morning. oh well.]
no subject
I wanted it to be a surprise.
[He looked around the barracks again, meeting the gaze of some of the confused knights.
He holds his hand and clasps Francel.]
It is good to finally meet you in person, friend.
Come, let us retire to a room where we can discuss matters of peace. I'll have Maxima bring us some wine.
no subject
[this answer is given jovially, though it is just as cautious as it is reckless. their countries are neither at war nor at peace, and francel should not, in general, accept drinks from foreign dignitaries, particularly as poisonings are not uncommon in ishgard. but francel does not think himself important enough to be poisoned, nor does he think asahi foolish enough to visit ishgard merely to assassinate the youngest son of a single high house.
so it should be fine.]
We can use the office on the second floor. Though I do hope you won't be too winded by the stairs...
[sure enough, one rather long staircase later, francel ushers asahi into a modest but well-furnished office on the second floor of monument tower, where they might have some privacy.]
Here we are — this is where I normally receive guests. Please, make yourselves comfortable.
no subject
[Oh, Asahi knows about poisoning in Eorzea. The Ivy had been quite happy to share what she knew before she was uprooted, including Teledji Adeledji's plan to kill the Sultana well before it had happened.
But no, he's not going poison Francel, not when the other man is great to talk to when drunk.]
I've been through worse, my friend.
[He sits and smiles at Francel, putting the bottle on the desk.]
Tell me, Lord Francel, how are you fairing? It has been awhile since we last spoke.
no subject
He knows he shouldn't bristle. He knows he shouldn't show any outward sign of aggression, because Asahi was right- one wrong move from him and he jeopardizes any chance of Doma getting their people back.
Still, Felih doesn't really know how to act during one of Asahi's return visits. It's been made excruciatingly clear just how much the diplomat despises Felih and his compatriots- is he still supposed to be cordial in the face of such threats?
So here he is. Pouring tea and trying not to let his tail twitch too much.
"So," Felih chirps, with a hum, voice pleasant but eyes sharp. "How do you wish to play today, my lord?"
no subject
He was leaning against the wall of Lord Hien's compound. Studying the people around him. They were wary of him, having heard of his business prowess and how much he despised the Warrior of Light.
And he despised them too, but less so than the man in front him.He can respect the Domans. Still, now that he has that rant out of his system, he can act more naturally.
"I am here to iron out more details with Lord Hien, nothing more."
Finally, he looked at Felih, dark eyes just as shard and filled with loathing. "If you're here to play, I suggest you run along, beast. I have no time for games today."
no subject
"You seem to forget you're the one who started all this," he replies, circling around Asahi where he's leaning, ears attentively facing him. "Your sister- well, she has all the reason in the world to be spiteful. But you- weren't you the favored child? What made you so ruthless, hm?" he purrs, voice low.
no subject
"As I said, I am not playing," Asahi pulled out a pipe, twirling it between his fingers. He didn't smoke, but he had gotten it as a trinket, but now he needed something to entrain himself before he pulled out his sword and stab the miqo'te.
"I would have thought I made that obvious when last we spoke. I am a student of Lord Zenos," he said. He leaned his head against the wall of the building and looked over at the river. "I believe my sister and I are cut from the same cloth; we're just ruthless in general Our mother was, after all."
He cuts his eyes to Felih. If the beast is going to poke and prod he'll play after all.
"We're making arrangements for peace. Wedding arrangements to be exact. To make the peace treaty official after all. We're still debating who Lord Hien should marry, but it'll most likely be me, as I'm both Doman and highly placed in the Garlean Empire." He looked back over to the river. "He's good-looking, I suppose, his hair needs brushing. Not my ideal, to nice for my tastes. But I believe it wouldn't be a terrible marriage."
no subject
Felih hears Asahi's declaration, ears twitching before he sighs. "I see, then. If it runs in the family, I shouldn't be so surprised. Still, at least your sister still has that seed of innocence in her, now given the chance to flower. 'Tis too bad yours is being denied the same opportunity."
His gaze slides back over to Asahi when he begins discussing the peace arrangements, and it makes him bristle. He wouldn't trust Hien to Asahi for anything- and yet they're considering a marriage? At the very least, Hien is well aware of Asahi's true nature, so at least he will not be unsuspecting, but...
"You would deign to wed back into Doma? Well. Color me surprised," he huffs, barely suppressing a growl. But, well, part of him wants to agree, loath as he is. "Hien would make a fine husband- though I'm sure he would be wasted on you." Felih is one not quite fond of the idea of arranged marriages- he's seen already how they lead to messes more often than not. "It's too bad, you would be a fine match if that mask you showed me at first was genuine. I nearly thought you cute."
no subject
But he's quite happy that Felih believed him about marrying Lord Hien.
He focused on this because this would be fun. "My wants and desires mean little when it comes to peace," he said. "As much as I loath Doma and all it stands for I will be happy to make the sacrifice for peace."
He continued to play with the pipe. "Oh, I'm not sure he would be wasted on me, or vice versa," he a let smirk play across his lips. Objectively, Hien was a good looking man, and if Asahi was to bed a Doman Hien would be his choice. He looked like he would be fun.
"Excuse you, I'm adorable," he said with a sniff. "And Lord Hien would be lucky to have me. I could keep him quite entertained in the bedroom. Not to mention my military and diplomatic experience. Add to the fact that I am from a noble Doman family, and adopted into the respected Brutus family, I am more than a worthy match for a King."
no subject
"And what, my 'adorable' little diplomat, would have brought you to hate Doma so?" Felih hums, before shaking his head. "Were you not born and raised here? I find it strange that you would so easily throw yourself to your new Garlean masters and then be willing to come right back, wed into the thick of it all. And, now that I think on it- why would you go so far for peace with a land you despise so?"
Still, he bristles more as Asahi taunts him- Hien is a good man, and not one Felih would want to see trapped into a marriage with a Garlean- especially not one so conniving and clearly dangerous as Asahi. Those who are brilliant and viciously loyal are as dangerous as they are awe-inspiring...
And, well, to hear such bold proclamations and taunts about being able to keep Lord Hien entertained has his cheeks darkening, despite himself as he bares his teeth just slightly, tail bristling more. "Well, aren't you bold and self-assured. Here, I thought such a little kit would know little of such things."