Lance had decided to take an off-duty patrol through the Brume today. No armor. No sign of anything that he was a knight. Not today. Some of the residents would recognize him without those symbols anyways.
This wasn’t something new for him. It was something he had taken upon himself though. Something he decided my help even a little just to make things safer. He no longer had the easy funds from his family to donate now that he was disowned for his choices. A little here or there, whatever he could manage after his own needs were met.
His feet paused as he heard shouting. Looking towards his left to find some knight shouting at a woman. The first thing Lance looked for were either Temple Knight or House colors. Dzemael. Of course. Likely down here to stir trouble with someone. They rarely seemed to pass through here.
The one day he had decided to leave his sword at home of course. He quickly looked around for something he could use. Nothing that could be used as a solid weapon though. Though there was one thing he could try as he eyed the pile of snow. It wasn’t a weapon but it could be a very good distraction. Scooping up a handful of snow as he quickly packed it into a ball.
“Hey! Leave her be!” Lance called out to draw the man’s attention before pelting the man right in the face with a snowball. It got the man’s attention alright. The Dzemael knight stomped over towards him. Lance did his best to not smile though he wanted to. Anger often lead to mistakes. Like the ones he wanted this knight to make.
And mistakes the knight did make. The man had drawn his sword and tried to attack Lance for snowball ‘assault’. Only for Lance to easily use his own training to disarm the man. The knight down on one knee with his own sword tip at his throat.
“Ser, I suggest when you stand up, you walk away. Leave this woman alone. Dzemael does not care about the Brume. If you are here to cause problems, I will make sure I make your life a living hell. As a knight myself, I will promise I can do such a thing. I have enough pull for it.” Lance gave the man a smile that was equal parts smug as it was sharp. “I’ll send your sword back later. You do not deserve to hold a blade if you are disarmed so easily.”
Lance withdrew the sword from the man’s throat to allow him to get up and stalk off. Checking on the woman before he continued on his way. Especially after he got the reasons from her that the man was bothering her. It figured he wasn’t one of the decent type of fellows. A man looking for trouble that happened to pick the wrong time. Lance sent a silent pray of thanks to Halone for making sure he was in the right place today.
Destiney had been in the kitchen for a while now helping her mother out. Cooking wasn’t exactly one of her better skills but it was passable. At least she was learning a little bit by helping out.
Stefan was in the dinning room with Esper, setting the table. Esper had a plate balanced on his fluffy head. On the plate was all the silverware settings for the table. Stefan would reach for a setting at each seat. The plate of silverware offered to him each time. Working together like the team they were even for mundane tasks.
Lance was just arriving from his shift at Skyfire, removing bits of armor near the door. After all it was easier to eat when you were comfortable. As comfortable as the armor Iria had given him for Starlight last year, he would rather have this meal without it.
All that was missing so far was Syluss and the Sangria. Destiney knew he’d be along shortly to join them. Eager for him to spend a little time with the family she loved so dear. The boys were now helping to move plates from the kitchen to the table.
Destiney went to answer the door as a knock sounded. Lighting up brightly as she found Syluss on the other side. Taking his hand as she gave him a loving smile. She lead him towards the table where the rest of the family was already settling in. Mother was at the head of the table. Stefan to her right with Esper curled up near his chair. Lance beside the mage. Leaving the left side of the table for Destiney and Syluss.
Lance hadn’t originally been exactly sure what he was getting into with seeing Kyna. Not before the first visit. Though he admitted he needed help after the injuries he had sustained in Coerthas. As well as the mental and emotional wounds of the past. War is hard and painful in many ways.
Two visits later… And now they had even talked about a first date. Still the caution remained though. Partly because of his family. Partly because of old emotional wounds.
Yet there was just something about Kyna that he felt drawn towards.
Kind and understanding. Patient. Beautiful in both body and soul.
She was his healer though. So when she had suggested the Springs in La Noscea he voted for the Hot Springs in Bronze Lake. They were supposed to be healing. As well as it would be a relaxing time with Kyna. It was both healing and a date.
Perhaps this was Halone’s doing. Sending him some much needed healing in many ways. Time would tell. He was willing to take a chance. So was she. The only way to find out was to try.
Rei smiled absently at the ijin Elezen. He couldn’t mark where the bow came from, but it certainly wasn’t Hingan. Or Doman. And it wasn’t a salute he was familiar with in Eorzea either. His ears twitched lightly at the man’s full name which he already had forgotten.
“I…shall call you Lance,” he said decided on his own. He really had forgotten the man’s name. Ishgardian titles and names were so long and wordy. Though that wasn’t the reason he never went there. For most of his adult life, it was a snowy wasteland and Rei could not handle the cold. “I guess you can just call me ‘Rei’, then, since we are being so informal and familiar,” he laughed, “Plus it’s easier for me if we’re not screaming the Sekiro-kai’s name out loud every few seconds.”
He watched as Lance knelt by the dead man and canted his head slightly, “While kneel before them?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, “He tried to kill you and kami knows the GInro-kai are all horrible and deserve nothing short of death,” he frowned, his arms crossed even tighter, “In this case, I think they were no one’s enemies in particular. They were causing trouble in our territory and you are easy pickings,” he shrugged.
Rei moved a few steps forward, painfully aware his geta were now gone and his feet were frozen against the cobble stones, “Samurai are…” Rei’s voice trailed off, “Interesting?” he forced a smile. The Sekiseigumi hated him and he hated them, “Wha is a Skyfire Locks?” he asked, “Is that where you’re headed? I did say I’d escort you there…”
Lance knew all too well the political struggles and rivalries. After all Haillenarte was the least liked of the four Houses. Even if the rivalries between the Houses was more subtle in Ishgard.
“I was merely taking the blood from my blade. I will properly clean it later but they were the ones that sullied the steel. So it is only right to borrow their fabric to clean it. I am still alive. Halone’s justice guides me like it always does.” Lance said with a calm air. Clearly facing people trying to kill him wasn’t uncommon. A shake of his head at Rei’s question of his destination. “No. Skyfire Locks is my post when I am on duty as a knight. I am not here on business for Ishgard. I was here more for personal reasons. After all, the best defense is to learn about other forms of fighting and the best ways to combat against them.”
“ To
stab an apple?! Ser Knight, it’s not a foe! Let me show you how it’s
done!” Auriaune teased back. Of course she’d take THIS opportunity
to have the Rose Knight hanging over a bucket while bobbing his head
and trying to get an apple out of it with his teeth. The thought
alone made her giggle snort, “ Now, while I’ll show you how it’s
done, you’ll repeat after me, will you not?!~” Said as she clapped
in her hands for her manservant to come and tell him what
she was in need of. Like always, her manservant questioning his
Lady’s lady-like-behaviour.
It
didn’t take long for the boy to come back with a bucket filled with
water and red apples in it. Auriaune pointed to the table and for him
to place it on. Slowly she lumped over to the table while leaning
onto her cane and eyed at Lancefer with a grin tugged on her red
painted lips, “ Take notes, little Lance!!” As if she made it her
life’s goal in bobbing apples out of a bucket of water, she was quick
to take an apple out of the it and proudly showed it off to the Rose
Knight. She took a bite out of the apple and joyfully beckoned for
Lancefer to try it too. Hopefully he was up for some fun.
Lance crossed his arms lightly as he leaned against a pillar while he watched. If this amused Auriaune, he’d gladly at least give it a shot. Raising a brow when she called him Little. Especially since he was far from small. He was clearly taller then her even if not by a lot. There were still others taller then him. Just not Auriaune.
“Such a show off, my lady.” His tone teasing and light as she took a bite of the red apple she’d plucked out. He walked over and looked down at the bucket. Trying to decide how best to approach this task. Giving it a shot, he went to try and snag a apple in similar fashion to Auriaune. And failed. Blinking water out of his eyes as he came back up empty with a frown. This was harder then it looked to catch an apple with your teeth in water. “Are you sure I can not just stab one?”
Bonds. Connected by a thread of fate. No matter the distance. We will always find each other again.
Sometimes the connection between two people is the most unlikely thing you would think could happen. That they don’t fit together. But somehow it works. They fit. Like the missing pieces of a bigger whole. That the one half fits into that broken and jagged half so perfectly to make a whole.
Alex couldn’t help but fall for the small raen healer. She didn’t see him as beyond help. She believed he could change. Be better then he was. For her he was willing to fight to make that true. For Sanagi.
“You’re mine. I love you, Sana.”
Sometimes it takes that one bright and shining soul. The shining light that can break through the darkness and take that person by the hand. Guide them from the darkness and the pain. Let them heal and smile once more.
She had been hurt and used. The memories clearly still haunted her. Yet she was still the sweet little bird who had flown to his side when he made a mistake and gotten injured. Whose smile made him want to offer her the world if he could. Just to see her continue to smile. To keep his sweet rose from withdrawing back into the pain. To see her true worth. Especially in Valen’s eyes.
“Such a pretty flower, You shouldn’t hide away.”
To find that something the soul longs for. To truly live again. As that thread of fate is pulled and tugged. Sometimes gently. Sometimes shoved and pulled. As if the hands of fate are truly at work.
Lance wasn’t looking for someone. Had pretty much given up hope on such an ideal at his age. Duty. He lived for duty to the High House he served. Then in walked an angel. He could have sworn Halone herself had sent this woman to him. A tug towards the lady who offered her kindness and help to quiet the pain. Still he remained guarded yet. So afraid to let anyone close to him after all that had happened. Maybe he really did need a shove by Halone.
“Kyna, I shall do my best. I hope you will continue to help me through this.”
Sometimes that is all one truly needs. A hope. A guiding hand. To find a bond so very needed. A bond that gives them strength and steel. Makes them stronger rather then weaker. A bond that they would fight tooth and nail to protect.
Silent wings. Silent songs. A calling neither answered. Yet a small hope began to bloom as the dragon began to find herself craving the next meeting with the small miqo’te woman. So many people she couldn’t trust with the truth. Yet Bodge… Bodge she could trust. Bodge was the first person she had trusted since Roselle.
“Bodge friend, would you like some berries?”
Yet no two bonds are exactly alike. Each one is unique. Each one is special. As that red thread of fate brings them together. No matter the distance, they will find each other.
Destiney had been cautious at first. Not sure she wanted to love again. More then once she had been shot down, left feeling unworthy. Then along came the wolf to steal the maiden’s heart. She handed it over to him so willingly. Found herself wanting nothing more then to stay by his side. To have a family with him.
Lance paused when he reached for his sword that he had left sitting beside the dresser. Eyes drawn to items he had left sit out on the top. One being a medal he’d never wear.
It felt wrong to wear it. Unearned. Or so he felt. Not that it meant much to those outside of House Haillenarte. Most of Ishgard still seen that day as a failure. House Haillenarte simply moved forward after a period of mourning. Praised him for his service and gave him time to recover from wounds suffered in the attack.
To him, it was not worthy of praise. They had failed to hold the Vigil. Even lost the lives of many, including their commander. Those that survived either carried on or retired due to injuries. He himself had debated ending his career as a knight after that incident.
Still his thigh bore the scar of a aevis that nearly killed him. Nightmares still occasionally plagued him. Teeth, claws, and dragon’s fire. It mattered little that the war was over. Old wounds cared little for whether the fighting ended or not.
Yet he soldiered on. Someone had given him a reason to. Reminded him of the life Lord Chlodebaimt sacrificed to save what few others he could in a lost cause of a fight. In turn, Lance swore to do his best to repay that sacrifice. Everyday. So on he would keep marching. He didn’t need any accolades or fancy titles. It was simply the duty he had accepted and felt was his calling by Halone’s will.
He would fight on. Picking up his sword and placing it in the sheath at his waist. Even if the war was over, there was always work to be done.
“Either sitting in the water somewhere or some shaved ice. Calm waters preferred of course since it’s not so much motion that it makes it hard to relax and not feel like I might be swept away. As far as the shaved ice, something just a little sweet but fruity in flavor. Surprising to find I like a cold treat like that when I’m around snow and ice all day in Coerthas.”
Spirit of the Warlock 