Felih is still... settling into Ishgard. It hasn't been so long since they were brought in to seek safe haven, but it's been long enough that he notices certain dynamics within the city. The nobility against the lowborn, the competitions within the ranks of nobility themselves, then there were the clergy and the Heavens' Ward and Archibishop Thordan. All so many powers and entities to keep track of...
Still, the Heavens' Ward did intrigue Felih, especially since a few of them did seem to have quite the amusing types of personalities.
Properly bundled up for the cold he's entirely unused to, he's resting atop one of the walls, and spies the familiar uniform- and then when Adelphel is close enough for Felih to see properly, he laughs.
"Oh! It's you- the baby-faced troublemaker of the lot, aren't you?" he teases, tail curling behind him playfully. This is entirely hypocritical- Felih himself is barely a summer or two older, and also one of the youngest in his group of warriors.
Neither baby-faced nor troublemaker is how Adelphel would describe himself, though both might be half-true. Yes, he is and looks the youngest among the knights of the Heavens' Ward — but he is widely considered Ishgard's fairest man alive, and many a highborn belle of Ishgardian society would kill to win his favor. And though he conducts himself with impeccable aplomb, it cannot be denied that many a well-meaning brother or father has challenged him to a duel over some lady love that Adelphel had no real interest in seducing... but that isn't making trouble by Adelphel's standards. At the very least, it isn't trouble for the Heavens' Ward.
So he greets Felih's statement (accusation, really) with a carefully raised brow. Nothing more than that. He knows quite well how to remain dignified even in the face of potential insult.
"Mayhap you have mistaken me for another?" he asks, coolly. Then he bows, all perfect angles, politely and with peerless elegance. "I am Ser Adelphel, Fifth Seat of the Heavens' Ward. If you've a mind to look for troublemakers, I would direct you towards Ser Grinnaux."
Felih's expression is playful, his demeanor relaxed. He doesn't seem to be accusing the young man so much as he is teasing him- chirping, "Oh? Ser Adelphel- aren't you the one always being challenged to duels over noblewomen's honor?"
His tail sways playfully before he comes down from his perch, small beside the tall Elezen but undaunted. He's already learned he sticks out like a sore thumb here- Miqo'te don't frequent Coerthas after the way the cold settled in from the Calamity. "Though I know full well how Grinnaux prefers to cause trouble," he huffs, "He has caused much distress to me and mine."
"You, however! Such a lovely, innocent face- I can certainly see how folk would be charmed by it. Though, I find it hard to imagine the rumors of you being such a womanizer true."
He grins. "Anyway, I'm Felih Tia. House Fortemps has been kind enough to take me as a ward."
“Yes,” the fifth seat replies, thoughtfully sweeping a lock of strawberry blond hair over his cheek. “The ward of House Fortemps. I am aware.”
From his cheek, his hand moves to his ear, where he adjusts his scarlet ear clasps. The Elezen knight seems to glance over Felih briefly, but nothing like appraisal reflects in his eyes, and after a moment, he looks out toward Ishgard.
“I would have you know that I have never been bested,” Adelphel replies calmly, a glint of mischief gleaming in his uncommonly lovely aquamarine eyes. “And that I take my vows of celibacy and loyalty to the Holy See quite seriously. The only bed I have had the pleasure of sharing is that of my brother-in-arms, Ser Janlenoux — naturally, he is neither fair nor a maid.”
Felih can't help but laugh a little, mirth starting to sparkle in his own eyes at the sight of the mischief in Adelphel's.
"Oh! Well, of course," he purrs, "I would never mean to insinuate otherwise. Still, 'tis amusing to hear the rumors. It seems nobility thrive off the stuff- I've heard my fair share about myself, my companions, about the high houses, about the Heavens' Ward... gods above, what I haven't heard some rumor about."
He grins. "Still, it appears that not all the Heavens' Ward are as stiff and stern as I've been led to believe."
"On the contrary," Adelphel replies, turning his attentions once more toward the Miqo'te man. "The current iteration of the Heavens' Ward is both younger and less ceremonial than it has been in years past. Several of my brethren are rather colorful characters. Some others would prefer to stay in the background."
For a moment, Adelphel wonders whether he has overstepped his bounds by volunteering this information — but, no, none of this will affect the plans of either the Heavens' Ward or His Eminence. This amounts to harmless gossip, naught more.
Felih seems curious still, living up to his feline features. "Is that so? It seems there is much I have left to learn of Ishgard and its history. It has been isolated so long now, there is not much I learned from beyond your gates- and yet when I entered, I saw such magnificent, ancient architecture." Or at least, what was remaining after endless dragon attacks, but the point still stands.
"So much history and culture to filter through- how do you all keep it in order? Or at least, I would assume the Heavens' Ward are made to study such topics, considering their proximity to the clergy. I know they too, are fond of recording history."
Once more, Adelphel smiles, but this time his smile is that of a man with a secret to keep. “I fear I must disappoint you,” he says smoothly, with his lips curved only at the corners. “I am but a simple man of war; I know only my blade and the tales with which I was raised. The scholars within the Ward would be able to answer your question about study, but Sers Noudenet and Haumeric are presently conducting business in the Vault.”
“But your curiosity is rare, for an outsider,” he adds, in a cordial voice. “I give you leave to ask one other question.”
Felih recognizes that smile- he's seen it on plenty of people, including himself. But it just makes his ears perk forwards, wiggling curiously as his tail curls behind him. he tilts his head, giving a playful little pout. "Disappointing indeed," he jokes, before dropping the pout and laughing.
"Do I truly only get one more answer from you? Hm... I ought to make it count, then. Let's see..." He muses over everything curiously, before grinning and laughing. "Well, then, nothing ventured, nothing gained. My question: would Ser Knight perhaps have a free evening one day to show a curious outsider around the city?"
Adelphel's smile broadens ever so subtly; it thins a little as he tries to suppress a laugh. Unfortunately, he shakes his head.
"Alas, Ser Knight has no free evenings, in truth," he says, sounding quite mournful about it indeed. "My time belongs to the archbishop. However, if clergy history is your interest, I may be able to persuade a few fetching acolytes from the Vault to give you an historian's tour through Ishgard. Shall I send them to House Fortemps around, oh — noon tomorrow?"
Naturally, Ser Adelphel's acolyte acquaintances are fetching. It is only right and proper for a beautiful man to surround himself with beautiful girls — utterly unattainable as that man may be.
Felih's smile widens just slightly to match, mirth sparkling in his eyes. Aha! There it is, a laugh trying to escape- the mere hint of it lifts Felih's spirits and has his tail coiling even more playfully behind him as he purrs.
"Such a shame- I can only imagine how fine a companion you would make for a stroll around the city," he chirps, ears wiggling at him. "But I would be a fool to turn down those you would recommend. I would be delighted to have an excuse to see the city in fair company."
He's actually rather disappointed now, not to get the chance to know him better- Adelphel certainly seems like the playful type, under the calm, proper demeanor someone in such an esteemed position most likely must be careful to maintain.
Ser Adelphel is certainly something beneath his calm and proper demeanor, but precisely what that may be is a secret that, at present, only Ser Janlenoux is privy to. He smiles serenely, as he might before some fair and noble lady.
"Excellent," he says. "Fear not, Warrior of Light. I have cause to believe that we may yet meet again. Some time in the future, no doubt..."
Felih only laughs, far too optimistic for his own good. "I'm sure we will- as long as we're here, we may as well all work together." At least at the moment, they seem to all have the same goal- protect and assist Ishgard in the fight against the Dravanians frequently besieging the city.
"Still, I would not complain against a chance to get to know you and Ser Janlenoux both. You both seem the more fun types," he chirps in amusement. He's nothing to lose by being friendly, at the least, and his fluffy tail sways in content motions behind him.
"Mayhaps sometime I can treat you to something sweet- nothing so fine as you likely enjoy on a regular basis, but I do enjoy baking."
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valoirs
sometimes I remember how young Adelphel was and I feel sad about canon
Still, the Heavens' Ward did intrigue Felih, especially since a few of them did seem to have quite the amusing types of personalities.
Properly bundled up for the cold he's entirely unused to, he's resting atop one of the walls, and spies the familiar uniform- and then when Adelphel is close enough for Felih to see properly, he laughs.
"Oh! It's you- the baby-faced troublemaker of the lot, aren't you?" he teases, tail curling behind him playfully. This is entirely hypocritical- Felih himself is barely a summer or two older, and also one of the youngest in his group of warriors.
they were all so young...
So he greets Felih's statement (accusation, really) with a carefully raised brow. Nothing more than that. He knows quite well how to remain dignified even in the face of potential insult.
"Mayhap you have mistaken me for another?" he asks, coolly. Then he bows, all perfect angles, politely and with peerless elegance. "I am Ser Adelphel, Fifth Seat of the Heavens' Ward. If you've a mind to look for troublemakers, I would direct you towards Ser Grinnaux."
;w;
His tail sways playfully before he comes down from his perch, small beside the tall Elezen but undaunted. He's already learned he sticks out like a sore thumb here- Miqo'te don't frequent Coerthas after the way the cold settled in from the Calamity. "Though I know full well how Grinnaux prefers to cause trouble," he huffs, "He has caused much distress to me and mine."
"You, however! Such a lovely, innocent face- I can certainly see how folk would be charmed by it. Though, I find it hard to imagine the rumors of you being such a womanizer true."
He grins. "Anyway, I'm Felih Tia. House Fortemps has been kind enough to take me as a ward."
no subject
From his cheek, his hand moves to his ear, where he adjusts his scarlet ear clasps. The Elezen knight seems to glance over Felih briefly, but nothing like appraisal reflects in his eyes, and after a moment, he looks out toward Ishgard.
“I would have you know that I have never been bested,” Adelphel replies calmly, a glint of mischief gleaming in his uncommonly lovely aquamarine eyes. “And that I take my vows of celibacy and loyalty to the Holy See quite seriously. The only bed I have had the pleasure of sharing is that of my brother-in-arms, Ser Janlenoux — naturally, he is neither fair nor a maid.”
no subject
"Oh! Well, of course," he purrs, "I would never mean to insinuate otherwise. Still, 'tis amusing to hear the rumors. It seems nobility thrive off the stuff- I've heard my fair share about myself, my companions, about the high houses, about the Heavens' Ward... gods above, what I haven't heard some rumor about."
He grins. "Still, it appears that not all the Heavens' Ward are as stiff and stern as I've been led to believe."
no subject
For a moment, Adelphel wonders whether he has overstepped his bounds by volunteering this information — but, no, none of this will affect the plans of either the Heavens' Ward or His Eminence. This amounts to harmless gossip, naught more.
no subject
"So much history and culture to filter through- how do you all keep it in order? Or at least, I would assume the Heavens' Ward are made to study such topics, considering their proximity to the clergy. I know they too, are fond of recording history."
no subject
“But your curiosity is rare, for an outsider,” he adds, in a cordial voice. “I give you leave to ask one other question.”
no subject
"Do I truly only get one more answer from you? Hm... I ought to make it count, then. Let's see..." He muses over everything curiously, before grinning and laughing. "Well, then, nothing ventured, nothing gained. My question: would Ser Knight perhaps have a free evening one day to show a curious outsider around the city?"
Felih is nothing if not cheeky.
no subject
"Alas, Ser Knight has no free evenings, in truth," he says, sounding quite mournful about it indeed. "My time belongs to the archbishop. However, if clergy history is your interest, I may be able to persuade a few fetching acolytes from the Vault to give you an historian's tour through Ishgard. Shall I send them to House Fortemps around, oh — noon tomorrow?"
Naturally, Ser Adelphel's acolyte acquaintances are fetching. It is only right and proper for a beautiful man to surround himself with beautiful girls — utterly unattainable as that man may be.
no subject
"Such a shame- I can only imagine how fine a companion you would make for a stroll around the city," he chirps, ears wiggling at him. "But I would be a fool to turn down those you would recommend. I would be delighted to have an excuse to see the city in fair company."
He's actually rather disappointed now, not to get the chance to know him better- Adelphel certainly seems like the playful type, under the calm, proper demeanor someone in such an esteemed position most likely must be careful to maintain.
no subject
"Excellent," he says. "Fear not, Warrior of Light. I have cause to believe that we may yet meet again. Some time in the future, no doubt..."
no subject
"Still, I would not complain against a chance to get to know you and Ser Janlenoux both. You both seem the more fun types," he chirps in amusement. He's nothing to lose by being friendly, at the least, and his fluffy tail sways in content motions behind him.
"Mayhaps sometime I can treat you to something sweet- nothing so fine as you likely enjoy on a regular basis, but I do enjoy baking."