faepuns | --Crystal--

--Crystal--

[Wise and Belle are not quite of the First Brood but they are two of the older dragons on Eorzea (they've long since abandoned their original draconic names, because they like these better). They're just a few eons younger than Vrtra, and thus are closest to their cousin. Helped, of course, by the fact that like Vrtra the two of them spend a lot of time in a humanoid avatar. They'd heard about Vrtra doing it, thought it sounded fun, and after a few mortal centuries of trying on avatars and figuring out things like "gender", they eventually settled on their avatars of choice. Belle spends most of her time in the guise of a cute Au Ra lady and Wise as a slightly customized Viera man.

(Scales. He needed scales somewhere, it felt weird being entirely flesh. His hips and thighs have a lovely pattern of scales that are easy to hide.)

They've settled in, of all places, the Dravanian forelands for a time. They heard that there was someone interesting, someone interesting enough to urge Midgardsormr to wake up for a moment. They're settled in Tailfeather, their draconic bodies tucked safely away in Anyx Trine for now. Belle's taken to being a chocobo tender while Wise has set up as a alchemist and scribe for people who want to write letters but can't.

Hopefully this interesting person will show up.]

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[While those siblings were having a great time, a certain man wasn't and had opted to step away outside the settlement's gates for some air. One L'renz Byrne, or "Lighter" as he's fashioned himself, hasn't had a chance to breathe until Iceheart brought them into this village. Now there was a tribe who needed dealing with before they could proceed.

Naturally, Lighter wouldn't leave the Gnath situation alone. But he did have the idle thought that he wasn't paid nearly enough to be Hydaelyn's Chosen.

But he couldn't give up on this. Not only was Midgardsormr watching him like a hawk, but if he left this behind how would he ever face the people that died because of him in the Aetherial Sea?

That didn't mean he wasn't allowed a moment to himself to light up a pipe of tobacco with his own fire magicks, take a long drag, then exhale.]

Just when I thought I'd kicked the habit...

[Wise has no idea this man is the one he and Belle are interested in. He just heard him comment about kicking the habit and. Well.

He has something for that.]

Have you considered replacing the tobacco with something else?

[He is perhaps a bit too sneaky for his own good. Oops.]

[Lighter's Miqo'te ears twitched. He had no idea there's specific interest in him that isn't being after his throat right now. He did want to get away from it all, but he didn't mind striking up conversation.

He did, however, slip his shaded spectacles back on to do so. The sun was facing in the direction of this new person, and unfortunately he not only had a Hyur's eyes rather than a Sun Seeker's, but injured eyesight from a years old bout.]

Is there something you had in mind?

[Oh, the glasses are...interesting.]

Mhm, it's a...well, it's still tobacco, in a way, but it's been crossbred with a Thavnairian plant for generations now to the point that it's hardly the same thing at all. I have some, if you'd like to try?

[Weird plants were a hobby of theirs a few centuries ago, and this one worked out so well that Wise has kept cultivating it even now.]

[And they hide the suspicious squint Lighter gave this Viera man very well. He knew Thavnair produced a variety of different plants and such for their alchemical this-and-that (he's not a scientist he's a punch guy), but.]

I'll give it a try, but it'll need to be on my own time and in my own space. I have some important work I need to get to and I can't afford for some new substance or another to impede that.

[He took another long drag from the pipe, knowing he was sounding a lot sharper than intended but. He was rather stressed, hence the smoking.]

[Wise just smiles.]

Of course. Let me get you a sample? Free, of course, I don't charge for people to try the products before they buy them, not with this.

...

[Nothing in life is free, he wanted to say. But gods, he wished that wasn't true. Maybe not for products or services but a sense of freedom isn't even free. And that was one of many things getting to him right now.

He sighed lightly, adjusting his tone to be more neutral. There was no need to take his bad mood out on a guy just trying to help.]

Sure, but I won't guarantee I'll buy it after the fact. I don't like promising what I can't commit to.

Hey, if I had a problem with that I wouldn't offer to let you try it for free. [Another smile.] I'll be right back.

[And off he goes, getting the small package of not-quite-tobacco as well as a small thing of the calming perfume he makes. The man looks like he might need it.]

Here, it burns just like tobacco so there should be no problems. The vial is something extra, if you want it, just a perfume designed to calm the mind.

[He glances over at Estinien, who is skulking around in the shadows somewhere he knows it.]

Might be useful for other people, too.

[Lighter snuffed the fire from his pipe in the meanwhile, setting it away for another time. When the Viera returned with the samples he took them with a nod.]

Thanks, I'll give them a shot when I have another chance. I'll be in the area for a little bit longer, the Gnath are causing trouble and I'm here to put a stop to it. So if I find you in town again I'll tell you what I think.

[While he was staring at Estinien, Lighter was suspiciously eyeing Iceheart -- Ysayle rather -- speaking to Alphinaud. But he seemed delighted by whatever they were talking about, so it was alright.]

No kidding. The taller ones'll get it out of their system eventually. I just let them go at it.

Are they a couple or....?

No, just two Ishgardian with wildly conflicting ideologies. But it really is an easy assumption, isn't it? With how much they're at each other's throats like they're on their 19th married summer.

They're more similar than they think, but they'd deny it until the day they both die.

[A shrug. They'd probably be cute together, come to think of it. But Ysayle was still in the process of earning Lighter's trust.]

Oh, I knew a couple like that. Never did find out if Hugo and Lycaon were actually ever married.

[He's pretty sure they're not, but he also still isn't sure what either of them are, so he won't be asking.]

And the young lord?

He's a friend. A Sharlayan prodigy who got caught up in a messy situation that caused the two of us to be cut off from the rest of our faction.

[The Crystal Braves were a complete disaster and... if Lighter had just said something sooner maybe he could have prevented it...]

[...oh. Oh Wise knows who this is. Rumors spread, and even if you're out here in the middle of nowhere the moogles can still find you and bless Phaerie for keeping them up to date on the latest happenings in civilization.

How the hell did he find the apparent Warrior of Light at random like this?!

But Wise says nothing or indicates that he knows who the man is. He's smarter than that.]

I see. At least he has you.

[Some good that's done the lad so far. But well, it was best to not be alone regardless of how much of this was preventable.]

Yeah. When all else fails, he won't be alone.

[...

Wise offers a hand.]

Wise. My sister is the Au Ra you'll see around, Belle.

[The hand is taken with a firm shake and a small smile. It's the most he could muster but it was something.]

Nice to meet you, Wise. I'll be on the lookout for your sister too. You can call me Lighter.

Nice to meet you, Lighter.

[A few days later, the Warrior of Light and his party are back in Anyx Trine. Most of the dragons are just doing their own thing and napping, but one of the smaller ones seems to be looking for something.

("Smaller", as if Wise isn't still pretty big compared to most of the other dragons around here. He's just older, that's all.]

[!

A medium sized dragon looking around for something? That sounds like a side quest to Lighter. What is a man to do but click where the exclamation points are even within the place many Dravanians call home.]

Hey, you look like you need some help.

Hm?

[Wise turns around and--oh. It's Lighter.

Well if he's asking.]

Aye. I have misplaced something of great value, or, more like, the young ones hath made a game of hiding it. Dost thou knowest of "alembics"?

[It's Lighter! And he has no idea this is Wise. But that's okay, gods know he wasn't going to act any different with a dragon than he would with a Viera or whomever else.]

I've heard of those before, it's an alchemist's tool right? I don't know what you'd need one of those for in a place like this, but maybe I can help you track it down.

I would be most grateful. It is made of glass and golden metal that is not gold, inlaid with gems not of this land. It should not be difficult to find...unless mayhaps my sister hid it as is her wont.

[Yeah, no actually, Belle probably did hide it. And she's still in her avatar, damn her.]

She around here somewhere? Maybe she'll give up the prank when she realizes there's more than you on the hunt for it. Either way, I'll take a look around for it on the next level and leave this one to you, sound good?

[This was a pretty tall place, after all. And sure, Lighter didn't have great eyes and had dark shades on to boot but he'd still give it his all.]

Nay, she is elsewhere at the moment. But her things are on the level above, so if she did hide it it would be there. My thanks.

[Okay where the hell else does he need to look...]

Got it, I'll take a look.

[And so up and up and up the round stairs lighter went to the upper levels. Thank the gods being a fighter long before Hydaelyn's chosen did wonders for his stamina.

As he was checking around the upper level though, he spotted a strange looking creature shuffling around in a corner. Was it tidying up? Actually, what is it for that matter?

With curiously raised ears, Lighter approached the funny little... bunny thing? It was very cute.]

Well, hey there. You look busy over here, don't you?

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