shadowbringers spoilers galore.

[exarchal]

Strange purple trees. A towering blue crystal spire. And a thriving community of people who have built additions to this tower, lived and loved and died to protect the beacon of hope for their world.

The ancients' wish has come true.

Welcome to the Crystarium.





[Here's an open post for all your spoilery ffxiv needs. Thread and cry as much as you need 👀]

Comments

[exarchal]

[He holds her that much tighter, and prays that she doesn't notice the racing of his still-human heart.]

Then rest. 'Tis the quiet moments we regret not seizing the most.

[thaumewturge]

I know. Trust me, I know.

[She sniffs a little.]

Time missed with Haurchefant...time missed with you...

[exarchal]

[He'll just keep stroking her hair, then, and let her cry into his robes if she needs to.]

If you awaken my other self, I think you shall have too much of me.

[thaumewturge]

No such thing.

[Bless him.]

Do you know how often I've kicked myself for letting you lock yourself away? Here you were, growing on me, and then you had to go and be noble.

[exarchal]

[He smiles soft and fond.]

To be fair, my inheritance came from Allagan royalty.

[thaumewturge]

You know what I meant, you terrible bard you.

[But she laughs.]

D'you know, you remain the only Seeker man I don't want to throw out the window?

[exarchal]

[Her laugh only encourages him, and he visibly brightens.]

Is that so? Well, if you should change your mind, there are many places to hurl me off the tower.

[He finds himself twirling a bit of her hair about his finger, notices what he's doing, and lets go of it with a bit of a blush.]

... I was being serious about my offer. You can stay here as long as you like, whenever you like. And if you wish to be left alone, then I will be sure that no one asks for you.

You have more than earned your respite, old friend.

[thaumewturge]

It is. Most of you "Tia" types drive me batty, though maybe I just attract the annoying ones and rarely the kind ones.

[Okay but that was cute. Why'd he stop?]

I would appreciate that so much. Not even in the Rising Stones do I have a place that is truly away from everyone, where no one will bother me.

[exarchal]

I have certainly grown older, though I doubt I have grown any wiser. [His eyes crinkle.] I never had any interest in becoming a Nunh and yet I found myself here with my own people to guide at the end of all things.

[Because boundaries. He's still holding her, though, if she's happy to stay here, because far be it from him to kick a crying woman out of his lap.]

Your room here is, of course, your room; I have instructed them not to allow anyone else to use it. But you are free to occupy my part of the Tower if you feel you must disappear for a time.

[thaumewturge]

Truly?

[A beat, and then, softly:]

May I stay there tonight? I...I don't want to be alone.

[exarchal]

[His eyes soften, red and warm like coals in a fireplace.]

Truly.

[He takes her hand very gently, so gently that she could pull away if she likes, and he gives it a light squeeze.]

Do you need some time, or shall we go at once?

[thaumewturge]

Let me get a change of clothes--this isn't the most comfortable thing to sleep in, despite my earlier nap.

[Rhel doesn't pull away until she absolutely has to.]

Too many pockets filled with too man things, you know how it is.

[exarchal]

Take your time. [He would help her to his feet were he not acting as her chair. When she's up, he follows, and straightens his robes enough that he, too, jingles a bit.]

Of course. Meet me outside the Pendants when you are able.

[It wouldn't do to make her walk alone. He smiles at her, and ducks out the door to wait beneath the cover of a well-earned night-- a night that he is intent to study after so many years without one. It never gets old.]

[thaumewturge]

I will.

[And then, perhaps recklessly, Rhel leans in and presses a quick kiss to G'raha's flesh cheek before heading over to her dresser.]

[exarchal]

[Twelve be blessed. He's not expecting it, so it takes him a moment to remember to, like, actually leave the room, but he's red as his hair and he looks a bit dumbfounded as he stumbles outside. That... is the look of a twitterpated cat.

He's still rubbing at the place where she kissed his cheek when she's finished.]

[thaumewturge]

[He's adorably twitterpatted and when Rhel comes out of her room she can't help but giggle and kiss the other cheek.

She's not sure what she feels for him--it's not platonic, but romantic love is so alien to her that it took her until almost too late before she realized she loved Haurchefant. But she feels something, and so she fully intends on taking what moments she can.]

[exarchal]

Ah, Rhel—

[Aaaand without so much as even a hello, she's kissing his other cheek. His ears flatten and he's immediately embarrassed all over again, casting a glance around in something of a panic to see if anyone saw. Not that it would... matter? But he's a little shy when it comes to this sort of thing now that he's a leader of his people. He doesn't want to answer questions.

He settles his hand on her arm, then changes his mind and shifts to her hand instead.]

We should speak in a more private place. Come, let us walk. 'Tis a lovely night and one still so rare as to be breathtaking, and I would be remiss not to enjoy it with such good company.

[thaumewturge]

[He's precious. Rhel takes his hand, squeezing it a little as they head off.]

I swear, the stars are brighter here than on the Source, and your moon is lovelier. I'm almost jealous.

[exarchal]

Is it?

[He's not looking at the moon at all. He only has eyes for the woman on his arm right now.]

To be perfectly honest, I think it more to do with the amount of light... Though the Crystal Tower gives a certain glow of its own, the city-states of Eorzea are much brighter and plentiful with lights and lamps, and therefore more prone to drowning out the details of the heavens.

Though, the scarcity of night on this star in recent years has given it something of a rare beauty as well. 'Tis not common that one sees such beauty made manifest.

[Lord. He's still looking at her, and not the sky at all.]

[thaumewturge]

[Rhel has a distinct feeling he's not looking at the sky, but she's not going to ruin this by looking over.

Besides, the night sky is so lovely right now.]

It's always depressing, you know, going back to Ul'dah or Limsa or even Gridania after time away in the wider world. I've never been one for our traditions, but I miss the moon when I'm in the city.

[And then she glances over.]

And then, oddly, sometimes I find I miss the sun.

[exarchal]

[A smile jaunts across his face, tugging the corners of his mouth upward.]

The moon will always be there, as the sun, though you may not see them.

[thaumewturge]

Still...oh well, I suppose that's what mammets are for.

[Smirking. Yes, she still has her little G'raha minion and yes, it still follows her around.]

[exarchal]

[Oh. Right. Yes.]

I could do without the vacant staring up at me, but I suppose if it brings you some measure of amusement, it cannot be so bad.

[He leads her up the steps to his part of the Tower, still holding her hand as one would lead a princess. The guard salutes him as they pass.]

[thaumewturge]

Oh, I adore the little things. I collect them, you know, and the gaze isn't so bad. Then again, compared to dealing with voidsent not much is.

[She laughs, utterly delighted at this treatment. It's precious.]

Do you know how terrifying it is to deal with black magic and all sorts of voidsent that the would-bes end up pulling through and think there's nothing worse than a succubus, only to come here and find out that yes, in fact, there are many creatures worse than succubi?

[exarchal]

I suppose everyone needs a hobby.

[Her laugh is so adorable and so very worth it. He opens the door with a flourish, then follows in behind her and takes her hand again. They're going to the Ocular, but there's a door inside of the starry room that leads to his chambers proper.]

There are many creatures worse than succubi even in the Source. Pray consider yourself fortunate you have not unearthed more horrors than you already have.