Because I could. XD I spent 4hrs Sunday and 30mins Monday trying to climb that stupid jump puzzle in Kugane to get this sight seeing log. Nix and Aeri beat me up there but I finally got up there as well. Never again!!
Oh an now that Stormblood is no longer slapping me in the face to get the MSQ done… Back to RP things. To some degree because of the login queues still. XD
So I was looking through old screenshots while waiting in queue. Friend and I were talking glamours and clothes on our ladies. An I came across a glamour I had on Dest a long time ago while she was still a hyur midlander (prior to 3.0). I had done my best to give her a sort of Red Mage look even back then going off the FFXI RDM attire.
Red Mage is part of Dest. It has been since my days on FFXI. Because she is in the long run my Red Mage child. (Karigan had originally been my Scholar.) So once I’ve had a chance to learn to play it and see the lore about it, I’m making the transition for Dest from Scholar to Red Mage.
(Sort of a two part in one writing. Starting out with Stefan and Destiney. An then moving to Lancefer and Destiney. @ishgardiansnow An there is a purpose to this. It’s… laying the ground work for Dest moving towards becoming a RDM like her FFXI version once was. I realize there will be a lot of people going to RDM probably but Dest on FFXI was ICly a RDM and I would love to push her back towards that path again. I miss her FFXI counterpart.)
Barely a word between them over the last nine years. Entirely separate lives that barely crossed. Now they stood in the same yard. Her yard.
She had still been shocked the day she had found her brother at their childhood home. Stefan had actually returned home. Actually visited mother for a change. It was the first time she had seen her brother since running into him in Ul’dah about two years ago and telling him about their father. Nine years since he had run away from home.
Mother had sent him with her when they went to a party Soren and Lloire had been throwing. He had been reluctant and tried his best to remain out of sight while there. She had not expected him to answer her message now with his behavior then.
Yet here he stood on her lawn. Looking confident and proud as he stood with one hand on his hip. Watching her with a curious look.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do? To learn spells of this kind?” His tone was not condescending. But edged with a concerned caution. “You’ve never displayed interest in this sort of thing before.”
“I want to learn. There is…” Her voice trails off as she looks down to her hands. The talks of a war on the horizon. The possibility her work with the Immortal Flames could put her over there among it. The kidnappings. She was tired of being a victim. Tired of being vulnerable. “More reason then ever for me to learn this now. Stefan…”
A wave of a hand as he smiles ever so slightly. “So now it is my turn to be the better sibling. About time I will admit.” He motions for her to stand over towards the maple tree. “I’m sure you already know most of the basics. If Uncle didn’t teach you then… Well he was a fool if he didn’t. Shall we get to work then?”
Destiney nodded to her twin. Never had she used aether in this fashion. For healing and protection yes. Not for fighting. It was still something that would not solve her entire problem. However it was a start. Something more to defend herself with.
They worked for hours. Until Stefan made them stop as evening began to approach. Claiming they needed to eat. Destiney was almost relieved when he even offered to cook. It was a simple dish but filling. At least one of them had some decent cooking skills. Destiney needed to remember to bother J’siris for some more lessons sometime. A comfortable silence settled between them as they ate.
Stefan had left with a promise to come back again tomorrow. More practice until he felt her skills acceptable.
It wasn’t long after he left that Lance came by her house. Destiney had also contacted him. Whether it be through magic or weapons… One way or another she would stand a better chance at protecting herself and those she cared about. No more victim.
“Here. Ready to practice?” Lance asked with a warm smile as he held out an old training sword for her to take. “We’ll start with the basics and as you get comfortable I’ll teach you more. I’ve had years at this. Don’t be disappointed if this takes time.”
“Of course. I know it takes time.” Destiney said with a nod as she tested the weight of the weapon. Wielding a bow was vastly different then a sword. The weight was odd in her hand but not uncomfortable.
“Do you ever plan to explain what has given you this sudden drive to use a sword?” Lance asked as he positioned the training dummy to his satisfaction. “Or is this something you would rather keep quiet?”
“Lance… I… I can’t tell you. I wish I could but… It’s not something I should. Please respect that.” Destiney frowned as she remembered the incident with Aeri. Aeri’s words about Lance and Alex. More to the picture. If he wasn’t willing to talk about Alex then she wasn’t willing to talk about Aeri. Mostly because she was afraid of her cousin’s reaction. To the idea that Dest had been kidnapped again. Especially since it involved both Alex and Aeri.
A disgusted sigh and shake of his head. “Fine. I won’‘t push. You know I never would. If you said it’s better not discussed then fine. Let’s begin.”
@aeritria @sorenspath @ishgardiansnow (for mentions of Aeri, Soren, and Alexois)
Destiney sat in the chair before her desk. Had not slept yet since Soren had brought her home. Too much on her mind to sleep. Restless thoughts running through her head at an endless pace.
Her fingers lightly caressed the lime green stone with it’s carved surface. “Leon…”
Blue eyes shimmered slightly as she looked up. Expecting to see the ghost of the man she had loved at one point in time. Before illness had claimed him from her too soon. See that bright smiling face. Hear the soft thrum of the strings on his harp. Yet nothing appeared to her now… No hint of the soul trapped.
Had he finally moved on at some point and she hadn’t noticed? Somehow she doubted it. Though she wasn’t sure what had changed either. Was it because of this name that he didn’t appear?
A heavy sigh as she sat back and looked up towards the ceiling.
Kidnapped again… Frankly she was tired of being a victim. Especially tired of being bait to get to Soren. However it hadn’t be Alexois to take her this time. No this time it had been Aeri. The woman had been gentle and promised not to hurt her. She just wanted a name Soren was holding from Alexois.
Alexois… Somehow he just kept popping back up into her life. She thought it was over and done with when her family drama was done. Apparently not. Now there was the dilemma of this name.
Yet she had agreed to help get the name from Soren. Aeri had insisted Alexois was trying to be better. If she had turned down Aeri’s words without even listening… Hypocrite. That’s what she would have been. She tried hard to prove that Leera wasn’t a monster. So if she insisted now that Alexois was nothing more then a monster just because of his actions taken for this name… Unacceptable. It was a hard truth to bear though. To think that someone like Alexois…
She still remembered that leer on his face when he had Lance at sword point in Coerthas. Aeri insisted here was much more to the story then Destiney knew. Truths hidden in shadows.
Her blue eyes drifted to the name she had written down. The one she had argued with Soren to get. Then to the stone her fingers lightly danced over.
Raitmeaux Chassebel… Chassebel… Leonceault Chassebel. Alexois and Leon had been half brothers according to Soren. Raitmeaux had fathered them both to different mothers.
Soren had thought he was protecting her by keeping this name from Alexois. Because this name was a connection to Leon.. He hadn’t thought it mattered so he hadn’t told her. Kept the truth from her. Hadn’t thought it would affect her. Honestly it shouldn’t have. Yet it did. Because of Leon…
So many things Soren kept from her. As if she needed to be protected from the dark truths. Hadn’t told her of his bargain with Alexois for this name. Didn’t tell her how he had tried to kill Alexois over this name. Aeri had told her. Told her the way Soren was killing Alexois slowly and painfully. Soren had assumed what was best for her instead of being honest. At least until last night when she confronted him and used guilt like a weapon. Just as Aeri had told her to.
Her hands rubbed over her face with a disgruntled sigh.
Her words had been heated and honest. But they were words that Soren needed to hear. She was tired of being protected from the truth just because it would be a hard truth. Because he wasn’t honorable. At the same time he also still seemed to refuse to hear her.
“For once it’s not about you. It’s not that I believe you can’t handle it or that you are fragile or pure. It’s not that I think you need to be sheltered damn it. It’s how I see myself through your eyes… And what I see… I don’t like it, but I can’t change it.”
Soren… She knew her last words after that had been harsh. Almost cruel. But they were honestly how she felt. Raw and honest.
“How I see you? You couldn’t care how I see you when you chose her over me! I never asked you to hide who you are. It shouldn’t matter. Not that my opinion seems to matter much though.”
She rubbed at her wet cheeks. Somewhere along the line she had begun to silently cry again. All she wanted now was her life back to the way things used to be.
Yet now she had the weight of that name. The decision was hers. Aeri had promised. Had kept to her promise though she had been there to get that name for Alexois. Now it was Destiney’s choice. To possibly condemn this man to an ill fate depending on what Alexois wanted his father’s name. Why he went to the lengths he did to get it. Working for the Aurifore just for the sake of this name. Could she do that to Leon’s father though he had never talked about the man before?
“Twelve forgive me…”
Aeri’s words about Alexois having never been given a chance before. Never having the chance to be anything but a monster. Being used and discarded like a mongrel. How was it fair if she didn’t give him a chance… Maybe he just wanted family. All she could do was pray that she wasn’t sentencing the man to death. Leon’s own father. Hands reaching for pen and paper. Writing to Aeri with her answer.
Aeri,
Soren gave me the name. It has been… A hard choice on whether or not to give this name to Alexois. Twelve forgive me if I am making the wrong choice and condemning a man to death. You walked away when you seen what the name Leon meant to me. There is a story behind that name though I’m not sure it matters to anyone but myself. His name was Leonceault Chassebel. Apparently he was Alexois’ half brother. The name Alexois wants… Is Raitmeaux Chassebel… Leon’s father. As well as Alexois’ father. I only hope and pray that I am making the right choice in handing over this information. In giving Alexois a chance to prove he is more then the monster I seen.
-Destiney
Took Dest to the ball to try an see if I couldn’t get her back some since I wasn’t really feeling Lance when I tried. She’s been far too quiet on me. (Both of the kids have really.) She got a chance to catch up with her soul sister, Chee. An danced with a very nice lady she got paired with in the dance roulette. As well as I seen a few more familiar faces. ❤
@cheetah-smith-ffxiv @cyrillien @lavendernest @liodesmond @wowiedima
Destiney took notice of that silent tear, simply choosing to lean against him. A silent offer of support and shared sorrow. The person was different yet the pain was similar. She knew all too well the feelings he was talking about. Only for her it wasn’t a sibling but her own father.
“All we can do is believe that they are watching over us and forgive us for being young and foolish. That they realize how much we loved them despite not getting one last chance to tell them.” She fiddled with the edge of a sleeve on her jacket. “And in time… Learn to forgive ourselves.”
“I was so angry with my parents when they sent me to Ishgard so they could join the fighting against the Garleans. I never told either of them that I loved them when I left. My father died in that fighting. For a long time I never forgave myself for it. I blamed myself for it. Yet I know that is not what he would have wanted. It took me a long time to realize it. He would have been ashamed of the things I did but he still would have loved me because that is what family should do.” She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. “Yet at times I still wish I could have that second chance to say it. I wish I could say it gets easier. But no two people handle things exactly the same way. All I can do is offer to be here for you. As someone who understands.”
“She forgave me,” Basteaux says with a frustrated huff of a sigh. “She knew that… she knew that she was dying, so she wrote to me. How cruel to forever have that final word without allowing the other time to respond.” He swipes the back of his hand across this face to dash away the rogue teardrops.
“It’s not precisely my fault she died, and yet… I already have enough blood on my hands, I can’t help but feel responsible for what befell her, as well.” He looks down at his hands: calloused and strong with long, nimble fingers. “I’m sorry to hear of your father,” he adds awkwardly, unsure what else to say. Is there some additional socially acceptable thing to go along with condolences? Still unsure, Bast reaches over to give Destiney’s hair another little ruffle. It’s something he used to do with his little brother, a silent gesture of affection.
More hair ruffles?! Destiney repressed the urge to squeak in surprise as a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. Not that she had any intention of asking him not to do so. It was… Nice. She was enjoying the feeling of having someone show her the kind of affection she had always doted on her brother as kids. For once not having to be the bigger sibling.
“Sounds like she knew you loved her. Even if you would never get the chance to say it. At least she had a chance to say goodbye even if it wasn’t in the best way possible. I was glad for that chance with Leon. A chance I never got with my father. Death… Well seven hells Death sucks. No way to put that nicely. We just do what we can to grieve and find a way to push forward. We’ll always miss them though eventually the grief gets a little easier. They wouldn’t want us to mope forever. I know my father wouldn’t want that. Archer or Healer. As long as I’m moving forward, I’m sure he’s happy. I’m sure your sister would want you to be happy too once you’ve had time to mourn her loss.”
Destiney watches with an amused smile as Daisy lightly dances through the air, just barely skimming over the water nearby. “There is more to life then sorrow and pain. All we have to do is find what helps to make our hearts a little bit lighter. The pain a little less wicked. Sometimes it is complex and sometimes it is something simple. It just takes a little time to mourn and then find what makes our hearts crave something better again. Such as a warm sunny meadow filled with the gentle sounds of a harp.”
Dest & Stefan’s family. (Well an Lance’s. But this time the Delvanguard side of the family.)
Etoinelle (Aurifore) Delvanguard (Ishgardian Wildwood – Mother),
Eddard Delvanguard (Gridanian? Midlander Hyur – Father – Deceased), Ricard Starkweather (Gridanian? Midlander Hyur – Uncle)
Lance’s side of the family. Including Stefan & Dest’s mother.
Vladislav Aurifore (Ishgardian Wildwood – Grandfather – Deceased), Vairemont Aurifore (Ishgardian Wildwood – Father – Deceased), Elvaine Aurifore (Ishgardian Wildwood – Mother)
Gwenolie Aurifore (Ishgardian Wildwood – Younger Sister), Lothaire Aurifore (Ishgardian Wildwood – Younger Brother)
Etoinelle (Aurifore) Delvanguard (Ishgardian Wildwood – Stefan & Dest’s Mother – Aunt), Katrienne (Aurifore) Ferdillaix (Ishgardian Wildwood – Aunt)
So I played around with the character creator to design Alex’s family.
Rowena Delacroix (Ishgardian Elezen Duskwight – Alex’s Mother – Deceased), Raitmeaux Chassebel (Gridanian Elezen Duskwight/ – Alex’s Father), Leonceault Chassebel (Gridanian Elezen Duskwight/Wildwood – Alex’s Half-Brother – Deceased), Giselle Chassebel (Gridanian Elezen Wildwood – Leon’s mother)
Spirit of the Warlock 