insideoflight | (no subject)

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[Exhaustion is hardly anything new for Naltryd. The moment she decided to become an adventurer, she knew that life ahead of her wasn't going to be easy, filled with hard knocks and barriers to overcome. Granted, those many years ago, she hadn't an idea that adventuring would lead to her at the very edge of the universe, fighting to save her world--nay, every world. Her exponentially growing adventures over time had lead to no small amount of injuries and near death experiences, though none had come quite as close to this one. Had that teleporter not appeared out of thin air, she knows she would have died alongside Zenos.

(The thought scares her less than she would have expected, but she's grateful to be alive nonetheless.)

Her friends and the healers in Sharlayan alike have done what they can for her, fixing up the most grievous of wounds, but even magic can only heal so much. The rest is up to her own body and time. It was difficult enough being bedridden for several days, and she's still only allowed outside of the Annex for stints at a time as she recovers (she's pretty sure the combined will of Alisae and G'raha will keep her from even accidentally stubbing a toe). Still, there's plenty of people coming and going to see her and keep her company, at least.

The person she wishes to talk to most, however, is still asleep. Not as if she knows exactly what she wants to say, granted.

Emet-Selch is the last to have awoken, though her worries have been lessened by Hythlodaeus' insistence that he's perfectly fine, just needs to sleep a little. Still, there's uncertainty there, as she doesn't know where this road is going to lead exactly. She doesn't know where the first step is going to fall.

And so she sits there at his bedside, still-healing bruises and scrapes across the skin of hers that isn't still bandaged, thumbing through a book. It's difficult to focus; she's not sure if she can recall exactly what she read on the previous page, and her eyes keep flickering over to the sleeping Ancient in the bed beside her.]

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[By now, she's half dozing, her stubbornness only going so far when it comes to her recovery. However, the sound of speaking quickly rouses her, and her book drops to the floor as she looks up.]

Ah--you're awake.

[There's certainly relief there, even if he certainly sounds on the grumpier side.]

[He'd only half registered not being alone when he woke, though that half-realization is enough to keep him from starting at someone else's voice. He stifles a yawn, then uses the same hand to push his hair back out of his face. And if that gives an indication of why his hair tends to look scraggly and lazily combed...well. Why would he pay much attention to it when it's normally covered by his cowl?]

Unfortunately enough. Tell me that bag of yours contains something properly edible.

Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to refill it with provisions. But--mn, if you'll give me just a moment...

[She gets up with a slight wince, moving to the table in the room. On top of it lays a bag which she opens up, retrieving a wrapped sandwich. Naltryd had planned on eating it later, but right now, it seems as if he needs it more.

And so she returns to him, handing it over to him.]

Some of the only decently flavored food in this city. Here you are.

So long as it's proper sustenance. I may have made a mistake in choosing sleep before food.

[He takes the sandwich and unwraps it, then begins devouring it with a certain lack of grace that...might not be all that surprising, given this body has technically never eaten, and he's been asleep since making sure the hero of the hour wasn't about to depart for the Lifestream so soon after demanding he stay.]

I take it Hythlodaeus has found enough to keep him occupied?

[She watches him with curiosity; it's the first time she's seen him eat, and it's so terribly...human.]

Ah, yes. The last I saw, he and Y'shtola were having tea and discussing some matter of aetherology that I couldn't claim to understand a word of.

[He might be an ageless, immortal being, but he still needs to recover his corporeal aether, just like anyone else. Honestly, he very much enjoys food, though it might be hard to tell his opinion beyond the fact that he's obviously famished.]

Ah, 'tis no wonder they should get along. Soulsight was a rare gift even among our people, there were few save each other that understood aether as we did.

[A pause, as he gulps down more of the sandwich.]

...And what about you? Oughtn't you be abed, given the state you were in when we found you?

No wonder they get on like a house on fire.

[She gives a little shrug, and the movement makes her wince again.]

I'm perfectly fine.

[Says the woman who, despite plenty of healing magics, still looks as if she's just gotten run over by a small stampede of chocobos.]

Edited 2022-04-03 04:47 (UTC)

[Eyebrow.]

And your definition of 'fine' includes being bruised to the Hells and back, and stiff enough that simple movements are painful, does it?

[And no more sandwich...he's still hungry, but at least his stomach isn't so empty it hurts.]

Trust me, I was in much worse shape before, no thanks to your great-grandson.

[She gives a wry smile. "Worse shape" being on death's door.]

And, I've been through plenty before regardless. I suspect that I'll be up on my feet ready to fight the next universal threat within the week.

My recent vessel's great-grandson, thank you. I share no actual blood relation to that disaster of a family, and consider Zenos' actions grounds for disowning regardless.

[He huffs, simultaneously balling up his sandwich wrapper to throw at her. How dare she remind him of the biggest disappointment in a disappointing family.]

And you shall do no such thing. Your next quest is to actually take time to explore, remember?

Edited 2022-04-03 06:32 (UTC)

[Naltryd simply...blinks, taking in his words, and the fact that she just had a sandwich wrapper thrown at her by Emet-Selch.

...Emet-Selch threw a sandwich wrapper at her.

After everything that's happened in these past few years, the time on the First, just...everything, and... She can't stop herself from laughing. And despite it hurting her ribs, she really can't bring herself to stop, because it's so silly, ludicrous to think that this is where things actually stand.

And yet...]

Hah... I suppose it is, isn't it?

[To him, it doesn't really feel that unnatural. Everything he'd done on the First...there had been no real animosity behind it. There had been some amount of disgust, at first, when he had initially assumed her to be just a dim imitation of his beloved Azem...but by the time they had actually come to blows, it had only been desperation and the force of Zodiark's will driving his actions.

The fact that his petty gesture gets her to laugh brings a soft, almost-smile to his face, before he catches himself and makes a show of stretching his arms and back.]

Besides, this star has relied upon you overmuch already. It is past time the people learned to deal with some problems for themselves.

[She catches that almost-smile, brief as it is, and she can't deny that it lightens her heart some.]

Why, Emet-Selch, that just might be one of the most charitable things I've ever heard come from you.

Consider this my revised determination on the worth of mortals. You've earned your chance, but I'll not tolerate the world falling to ruin the moment their precious Warrior of Light is unavailable.

[He jabs a finger toward her pointedly, before removing his blanket and moving so that his feet are on the floor.]

The truly irritating thing about mortality, after all, is that even the most stubborn among you might depart without warning.

...you are hardly wrong about that.

[Sudden loss is nothing new to her, and for a moment, she sees a flash of a smile and bright blue eyes--

But that's neither here nor there.]

Very well, then. I'll take a brief rest from saving the world. A simpler adventure doesn't seem so bad after all.

[It hardly takes a strain of his powers of observation to tell she's been hurt by loss, herself. Instead of pressing the subject, he extends his legs in a stretch, then stands up and brushes the wrinkles out of his robe.]

Mayhap your first 'simpler adventure' can be finding me something more to eat. Evidently your precious Hydaelyn didn't think to ensure her spell would resurrect people with full stomachs.

Was I not supposed to rest? Now the Warrior of Light becomes an errand girl... Though I suppose that's always been part of my job description.

[Still, she gets up.]

The one place with decent food isn't terribly far from here, and I could use the fresh air. I shouldn't be long.

[But as she leaves the room, she tosses a smile over her shoulder.]

You can't have expected Venat to make things too easy for you.

[And off she goes~]

Proper nutrition is included as part of rest, you can take this opportunity to replace your own lunch.

[While he...reacquaints himself with his own body, honestly. It's been so long, it actually feels strange, looking like himself while still being tangible. When she gets back, she'll find he's actually properly brushed his hair, and thus no longer has the straggly mix of bedhead and hood hair from before.]

Does this building have adequately insulated bathing facilities, or will I be forced to look elsewhere for a properly warm bath?

[She's a little tired by the time she gets back, but really, she's glad to have taken the walk and get some sun and fresh air. It's been aggravating to be so cooped up as she is.

When she walks in, it's with a sizable paper bag that she plops down onto the table.]

It does, thankfully. No bathing in a pond for the illustrious Emet-Selch.

[She grins, her words having the same tinge as Hythlodaeus' ribbing. Because really, she's endlessly amused by it.]

Ugh, can you imagine bathing in a lake, this far North?

[He wrinkles his nose at the very idea, before opening the bag to see what's inside.]

I'll not be touching any body of water unless it is properly steaming, thank you.

I've had to bathe in spots about Ishgard before. I don't need to imagine.

[Inside are two sizable cheeseburgers, along with an assortment of cookies.]

I've no clue how you didn't freeze. You can be certain I never even considered the prospect in Garlemald.

[He grabs one of the cheeseburgers, though this time he's much less ravenous about unwrapping it and eating. He'll actually take time to taste this one, unlike the sandwich.]

You have no choice when you're on the road at times.

[Though yes, she very nearly did freeze.

Naltryd moves to reach into the bag once he's done, taking a cheeseburger of her own and unwrapping it, happily biting in.]

Unless I ran afoul of a morbol, or something equally vile, I can think of naught that could not wait until reaching civilization. The cold is horrid enough when dry and heavily clothed.

Unfortunately, it did involve getting soaked with some rather unpleasant monster entrails. I certainly wasn't going to trudge all the way to Tailfeather looking and smelling the way I did.

[She doesn't consider herself fancy and is plenty used to roughing it, but there are some standards to be held.]