genessia | Guess who's back? [Open] [Probable Shadowbringers spoilers]

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Guess who's back? [Open] [Probable Shadowbringers spoilers]

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[Certain persons in the cities will recognize, if not the individual, then at least the race of the person who's just popped onto the network. To the one or two likely to remember her, she looks... rather a lot more world-weary and worn down. Kind of sickly, to be honest. Still, she offers a wry smile to the camera.]

Have to say, I didn't expect to be summoned back here again. Thought I might be done with that for a while, after the Exarch did his thing. [No, she's not going to say his name here. He asked that she call him the Exarch, and so she shall.] That aside, if memory serves, I'm going to need a job. And directions - this key doesn't look like the one I got last time, which suggests that the Commons aren't the default rooming arrangement anymore.

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[It's easy to get lost in a city that's built for people at least double your height. Especially when you're having a little trouble with your vision, and your hearing, and... really all your senses. And what feels like the world's biggest migraine.

Is it any wonder, then, that she's ducked into a cafe to wait out the brighter part of the day? Odd that the sky outside is unaffected, but then, Genessia has always been resilient against the afflictions of its residents.

Sipping a cold drink - looks like iced tea, from here - and applying a bag of that same ice to the side of her head, she might be easily mistaken for a lost and confused child...]

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[He ponders for a moment. Eden's Castle... ah, yes, now he remembers.]

My, new arrivals are getting spoiled. T'is in Nova City. Where are you?

[Since she's made it obvious that this isn't her first time here, he can at least spare her the "Don't go into Nova City alone" shpiel he gave Estinien and Aymeric. Then he pauses a moment.]

Gale Reinhardt, by the way.

At the first cafe headed towards the Fayren gate from the cove. I didn't pay attention to the name, I'm afraid. Hold on -

[She checks the menu on her table, and there it is on the front cover.] The 'Black Cat Cafe', looks like. Should've guessed, considering the decorations... [A fond headshake. At least kitschy cafes are a constant everywhere.]

Aeslyn Blackrose. And if that doesn't sound like a Lalafell name, there's a reason for that.

And mine hardly sounds like an Ishgardian name. I'm not wont to question another's name.

[Also he doesn't care. The less he hears names that remind him of Lolorito or Teledji, the better.]

I was just at the Hangar Queen, so I shaln't be long. Sit tight.

[And with his new friend who also is able to double as a mount, it certainly wouldn't take him long. He arrive at the cafe soon enough, having Arcanine wait outside while he goes in to fetch the lalafell. He can easily sense something amiss, but brushed up on magic theory, Gale is not.]

Aeslyn.

[~~But Ifrit drops a pony, not a puppy!~~ That is certainly an interesting mount, Gale, but she's seen... well, they've both probably seen much stranger.]

Gale. Mind if I finish my tea first? The cold is... somewhat comforting. [Now what could make someone who's been through Ishgard and the Dragonsong War fond of the cold? Sorry Gale. You've got a couple years of pure hell coming.]

[~~He didn't get a ponyta, so he has to make it work.~~ Few things are much stranger than riding an Ahriman, really.]

Of course. I can take you when you're ready.

[In the meantime, Arcanine can roll around out front and get pets from the passers by. Gale, meanwhile, takes a seat across from Aeslyn. He's got the time to spare (the wonders of being a business owner, truly), so he's content to wait as long as Aeslyn needs. Especially if she's got answers to how this place is with people from Eorzea.]

I confess, I've my questions, but I imagine you are not very well in a place to want to answer them.

I can try to answer them, but I can't guarantee my answers will make sense. I gather that things have changed, since I was last here. Maybe it'll help me make some sense of things as well.

[Foremost, it looks like the branch of the Scions she tried to start folded up. Then there's the new cities, and the new keys, and... just a lot of stuff. But the thing with Eorzeans? She can take a stab at explaining that one, at least - and even has some examples from home she could use.]

[Gale's gaze drifted off to the side. She was clearly unwell, so he didn't really want to bother her, but if it meant helping her in some manner as well... maybe it wouldn't hurt.]

I can attempt to answer what I can in return, of course. For the time I feel I am woefully unqualified for it, however.

[His brow furrowed, then he shook his head.]

So, the other Warriors of Light... When this world brought Estinien, he recalled another- a different male hyur. I scarcely wanted to believe it.

[He fell silent again.]

... Ser Aymeric is here, as well. But he is from mine own timeline, having recognized me immediately, all but confirming the idea. I... suppose it is not unusual that this realm would bring others here with the same title we carry?

I had a feeling that's what you were going to ask. To answer... it's not uncommon. This world draws people from splintered timelines, from different points on those timelines, with what seems to be little regard for continuity. I can tell you, as well, that our own world is no stranger to this phenomenon. The goal the Ascians are working toward - what they call the Rejoining - is meant to bring our world, what they call the Source, back to its 'complete' form... by merging it with thirteen shards of itself. They've succeeded seven times already - think on that and I'm sure you'll understand the significance of that number.

[Seven Rejoinings. Seven Calamities. Coincidence? Nope.]

[Gale stared as her, puzzled briefly at what she was saying. Not that "Ascian" is what he wanted to hear out of anyone's mouth, but the fact there are similarities between Genessia and their home...]

... seven hells, you mean the bloody Calamities?!

[Of course! Of course those would be the Ascians' doing! He plants his elbows on the table, lowering his head and gripping his hair. Gods, when were these revelations going to come to light for him?

He lets out a heavy sigh, lifting his gaze back to her.]

... I apologize, there is much I still have been unable to wrap my head around, and hearing aught of those bastards... [Another sigh.] Seems the only comfort is knowing that there aren't any of those bastards here.

[And if there were, he would go out of his way to find the means to kill them. Again and again. Laws of the realm be damned.]

... at the very least, I can be assured that this is merely the alternate timelines at work here in Genessia.

[Rather than the idea of him dying somewhere along the way and Hydaelyn just decided to replace him.]

I think that's a safe bet, yes. But I wouldn't bet on them never showing up here. Even Lahabrea might turn up - it's just the way this place works.

[Has Gale actually killed him yet? ...At least once. She takes a long pull on her tea, wincing at the cold bite.]

Probably shouldn't have gotten the mint...

[Gale slouches in his chair and leans his head back, letting out yet another sigh.]

That is what I fear, to be honest. So far I have been blessed in that only allies have shown up, but I'd be a fool if I convinced myself that an enemy of some manner would not show up one day.

[Lahabrea, Gaius, hells, he wouldn't put it past Genessia to somehow bring a primal or a wyrm to its realm.]

Ah. Would you rather another? T'is not as if we are pressed for time here.

[She shakes her head - no.] No. The longer I linger in one place, the more danger those around me are in. I'm hoping I can ward my apartment somehow to block the worst of it.

[She leaves payment on the table - a tip worth at least as much as the tea - and hops down from her chair. Only now does she notice how Gale is dressed.]

...Do I even dare ask?

[His brow furrowed again. What the hells did that mean? Sure, he couldn't help but be concerned what might be in his future, but her weird cryptic wordings concerned him.

... until she asked him that random question. Then he raised an eyebrow and shrugged as he stood up.]

Ask what?

[Good. Distraction successful. She breathes an internal sigh of relief, having said more than she really intended.]

The coat and all, I understand. But... why fishnets? I mean, subligar is just as unsubtle and easier to move in, plus more comfortable...

[Yes, Gale. Another WoL is throwing shade at your clothes. But at least she's not suggesting he put on some pants.]

[Gale only seems to roll his eyes in response, putting his hands on his hips and shaking his head.]

Have you worn subligar? T'is uncomfortable and far too drafty.

[Yep. Drafty is a legitimate complaint. Even though with the gambler attire, he has his midriff showing. Midriff drafts are far different than inner thigh drafts.]

Besides, I am comfortable in them. This realm is short on things to do if judging a man's attire is the most important thing they can do.

[Those people should be glad he's not as shameless as to wear subligar. Fishnets are tame compared to the alternative.]

Twelve, please tell me you didn't wear it without padding... [And that's a mental image she definitely did not need. One more to add to the pile.]

Drafty I'll grant you, of course. But have you seen the sorts of things they expect a female healer to wear? It's almost as if they have some sort of fetish.

[He's at least gotten a smile from her. That's something, right?]

Of course I had the padding. It does little for other leather inflicted burns.

[He'll spare the detail, but he did his subligar time, thank you. The tights are far more comfortable, and they look better too. No one is going to convince Gale that he doesn't look good in them.]

Perhaps it is just that. There are many that are not so very subtle about it. [Yeah Gale, you talk about subtlety.] Men simply appear to be expected to wear unflattering robes.

[Which is exactly why he went for the most ridiculous and/or fancy shit he could find.]

Didn't pal around with Wawalago much, did you? He gave me one made of cloth and spangled with rhinestones, once.

[The guildmaster of the Fishermen's Guild was decidedly odd, and that wasn't even the strangest of his actions she'd seen.]

I promptly buried it in a closet somewhere. Not even sure where, at this point.

Fishing is not a particular favorite of mine. [As he relearned quickly when he went looking for Dratini.] ... but rhinestones? Eugh. How gaudy.

[He looks a little disgusted at the idea. What the hells, Wawalago? Why you gotta reinforce the "don't trust a lalafell" thing?]

For the best, I reckon. The world should be spared such things.

[He shrugs again.]

But I'm sure t'is not talk of garments that you care for right now. I am sure you are eager to see your new home away from home. Again.

Speaking of clothing is a better option than what truly troubles me, at this point. But yes - I do need to rest, as I've been reminded no few times over the past couple weeks.

[Seriously, you'd think everyone had suddenly become her mother with how many times she's been sent to her room.]

Lead on, and I shall follow.

But I am certain in typical fare for us, a rest is nigh impossible before there is someone calling again, aye?

[It was... weird, speaking with another Warrior of Light. Someone else being aware of the struggles he himself had to go through was both comforting and disconcerting.

He nodded, taking the lead to go outside where Arcanine was waiting. Gale looked between Aeslyn and Arcanine before nodding, the Pokemon crouching down to let both of his riders on.]

Hop on. With his help, we'll be at Eden's Castle in no time.

Aye. If not someone else, then we ourselves. [She knows what's coming for you, Gale, and she does not relish the idea of someone else living through it. Disconcerting doesn't even begin to cover it.

She'll climb up easily enough - Arcanine is hardly the strangest or even largest mount she's ever ridden. The thought gives her a momentary pang - her chocobo hadn't made the journey with her, this time. She had another mount she could summon, sure, but she wasn't at all sure she wanted to be using any level of magic right now.]

He's lovely. Wherever did you get him? He's certainly not Eorzean...

[He just gives a quiet scoff at that. If it's not one thing, it's another. He supposes it's the same regardless of the timeline.

Gale takes the moment to bring up the map on his device and showed it to Arcanine, who gave an acknowledging woof. He pats the Pokemon's head before getting on behind Aeslyn and then Arcanine took off towards Nova City.]

T'was here, as a matter of fact. This past moon, the cities had these creatures called "Pokemon" that we could befriend. [Capture, actually, but semantics.] This boy here was one of them that I took in.

[By that he means his overpowered Druddigon beat the poor thing, but again, semantics.]

[She gives the 'mon a good scruffling behind the ears. Clearly years of experience dealing with carbuncles has taught her well.] He reminds me a little of Byakko. Um... you won't meet him for a while yet. Great big tiger, kind of a spirit of the land. Not a primal.

[She sighs. This whole 'don't cross the streams' thing is going to get old, fast. But knowing what's at stake, she'll still try to keep things on the right course... so long as nothing forces her hand, anyway.]

Alright, I'm about as settled as I'm going to get. [She's riding astride, as best she can at least. Sidesaddle is for perfumed ladies, not bloodstained warriors.]

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Guess who's back? [Open] [Probable Shadowbringers spoilers]

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