Aymeric's Orb Pondering Party

[borelblue]

WHO: Aymeric de Borel, E'kayan Tia, Night Sky
WHAT: Aymeric shares his 2nd place fishing prize with the two friends who accompanied him
WHEN: June 14th, mid-afternoon
WHERE: Aymeric's new place in Amberfall
WARNINGS: Nothing in particular, but will change if/when necessary


Aymeric looks over his work in his new home's living room. Despite this supposedly being an informal affair, Aymeric has, as always, put in the effort to still make the event special. His new house is spotless. The homemade snacks he laid out are as delicious as they are perfectly plated. Tea waits perfectly-brewed in a simple teapot, the fixings and cups ready next to it.

And the holographic orb he won in the fishing contest is ready in the centre of the living room. He hopes that what he has planned will go over with E'kayan and Night Sky - that it will prove to bring them comfort, and learn from one another.

All he needs now is for them to arrive. He adjusts his clothes, having managed to balance dressing down and dressing up all together. And he waits.

((OOC: Reference pictures for Aymeric's new house are in the works. Quick version is that it's on a quiet street in Amberfall, it's a bungalow with a bedroom loft and a front/backyard, and it's more of a rustic stone-and-wood aesthetic. EDIT: Have some general aesthetic references for the interior and exterior.))

Comments

[wildwarden]

Night Sky would have contested that she hadn't really done anything re: the fishing tournament beyond laughing at Aymeric's hat and telling him where to find good worms for bait should he ever have the desire to gather his own. Other than that, she had just watched.

Fortunately for Aymeric, she had a hard time telling him no, and took any chance she could get to spend time with him. So of course she accepted his offer, and once again went so far as to not look like an absolute disaster when the time came; arriving on the steps of his home in a green sundress, brown ankle boots, and white stockings with flowers embroidered into the thin fabric. Her wild hair was still, well, wild, but the curls had been wrangled into a poofy ponytail and the only thing in her hair were a few flowers she had purposefully set there. Her staff was still set upon her back... just in case.

If E'kayan was already there or arriving not long after, she would wave and wait before knocking on the door, not wanting to be rude to Aymeric's friend.

[orangebrained]

E'kayan had accepted the offer without hesitation not because he felt he deserved a reward for his help but simply because he is very fond of Aymeric and delights in spending time with him regardless of the circumstances. The company of someone else doesn't bother him either - he's always been a friendly sort - but he has definitely not gone to the level of effort that Night Sky has before setting out.

He has, at least, made himself look presentable.

"Hey." Not wanting to be late he had made sure to be prompt, but she manages to arrive a couple of minutes before him. He approaches with his ears pricked up and tail lazily waving back and forth in interest, a warm and friendly smile on his lips.

"Hope you've not been waiting out here just for me."

Mostly because he would hate to be an inconvenience.

[wildwarden]

"Hi." She smiled back, "E'kayan, right? I'm Night Sky." She assumed that was obvious, given that Aymeric told her his name and likely the opposite was true. Still, she figured it polite enough.

Night Sky laughed. "Kind of, but I figured we should go in together so Aymeric doesn't have to get up to greet us separately. You wanna do the honors?" She motioned to the door. If not, she would do it.

Either way, someone was knocking.

[borelblue]

And there they are!

Aymeric opens the door soon afterwards, smiling bright at both of them. "Good afternoon, my friends! Please, come in, and make yourself comfortable."

He stands aside and gestures towards the inside of the house. It's a bit more rustic than the all-stone masonry manor that he calls home in Ishgard, but it's already cleaned, organized, and decorated with simplicity and class. Not to mention quite a bit of the decor is blue.

It's not Borel Manor, but the house suits Aymeric, and vice versa.

"I have refreshments prepared, but if there is anything else you'd like, you need but ask."

Said refreshments are mainly easy finger foods, like little sandwiches and cookies, and a simple charcuterie board. It's akin to a high tea, but without the sit-down formality.

[orangebrained]

He doesn't get the chance to do much more than smile and nod at her introduction before Aymeric answers the knock, and E'kayan immediately brightens on seeing him. There's just something about spending time with a friend that always puts a certain light in his day (and especially here, where so many things are so strange).

"Heh, I'm sure anything you've done is fine."

The Miqo'te is fairly easy to please when it comes to food, after all. He's sat down to a fancy dinner with Aymeric before now but he can find himself just as at home eating a burger in The Last Stand.

"Looks nice in here. Reckon I'd guess it was yours."

[wildwarden]

Night Sky entered a few steps behind E'kayan, old habits suggesting she keep her distance before she remembered she no longer needed to do that with new people. There was a snort of a laugh from the elf.

"Fancy and blue sure seems like Aymeric's style." She teased, unsurprised by how nice the place looked. Granted, Aymeric could have invited them over to a single room cottage with a chair, a table, and a fireplace and the forest elf would have been equally as impressed by the extravagance.

She sat down in an attempt to make herself comfortable, one leg crossing over the other. "You make all these yourself, too?" Gesturing now to the table.

[borelblue]

"I suppose I am predictable in that regard," he replies, shrugging a bit. "My thanks, E'kayan. I hope the two of you will enjoy your time here."

He turns to Night Sky. "And yes, I did. Please help yourself to as much as you'd like."

She's already seated, but still, he wants the two of them to feel as welcome as possible. As his guests settle in, Aymeric glances to the holographic orb that would be the centre of their little gathering. It rests on a coiled white blanket, placed atop the mantle.

[orangebrained]

E'kayan, for one, has always enjoyed the time he has spent with Aymeric. Even when the two of them first met and the other man was understandably guarded when it came to the intentions that those asking for his help might have had he had sensed something about the Elezen that he liked.

And never one to turn down a free meal he quickly helps himself to some of the food on offer and gets a drink before he joins them. His ears flick as he follows Aymeric's gaze and curiously observes the orb for a few moments.

"How predictable your taste in decoration is aside... I'll admit to being a little surprised at being invited." Since while he does view Aymeric as a dear friend, he's very aware that the other man has no memory of him. Only a little surprised, though. It was, after all, very Aymeric.

[wildwarden]

"Can't see why we wouldn't." Likewise, time spent with Aymeric was time she cherished at this point, even if she had only met him a few months prior. That's what happens when you isolate yourself for years and then suddenly find someone that more or less won't let you do that anymore.

The elf did not partake in the food just yet, the unrelated nervousness coiled in her stomach suggesting she should probably ease into it so she didn't make a fool of herself in front of Aymeric and his friend. Instead, she turned her attention, as they did, to the orb in question.

To E'kayan's comment, she looked vaguely confused. Were they not good friends? Why wouldn't he be invited?

[borelblue]

Aymeric shrugs lightly. "I but wish to share my second-place victory with those who were there with me. E'kayan, despite our differing memories, camaraderie with you falls so easily into place. And you were so eager to teach me. I consider that particular catch to be a joint effort."

"Of course, perhaps this is all a pretext to invite friends over to my new abode," he adds with a quick wink.

"And this is the prize in question," Aymeric continues as he gestures to the orb. "With a combination of memory and magic, it creates an illusion of another location. I have tested it myself, and I was once again standing in the heart of the Holy See, then looking over the Churning Mists. I thought I would share this with the both of you, that we might each of us visit our far-away homes - if only as an image."

[orangebrained]

Camaraderie with you falls so easily into place, he says, and E'kayan's ears flicker in pleasure at hearing those words. Aymeric might not know him, by some cruel twist of fate, but it hasn't made it difficult for the two of them to get along. The Elezen knows all of his deeds save with a different face to them and has been entirely accepting that E'kayan is somehow, too, the Warrior of Light.

His attention goes back to the orb and he fancies he can feel the magic coming off it, though he couldn't properly put it into words. Urianger probably could, or Y'shtola, or someone better with that kind of thing than he has ever been.

"Don't know if my home before the Scions is much to speak of," he replies, though he does smile at the thought. "A scruffy little room in the Arcanist's Guild in Limsa Lominsa, or the docks before that. But you're welcome to see it, if you want to."

[wildwarden]

"That's pretty neat." Night Sky said uselessly, "and I'm sure whatever you show off is far more impressive than you think- especially to me, because I haven't seen any of it and from what Aymeric has told me, your world in general is gorgeous." The bar was exceptionally low with Night Sky, woodland dweller that she was.

A thought did occur though, just a second later. "Uh... did you have something in mind you wanted me to show you?" Because she could think of something she had spoken of, but was suddenly a touch uncertain now that a stranger was there. No offense to E'kayan, of course.

[borelblue]

E'kayan seems glad by his words, and he's glad for that in turn. Theirs is something of a strange relationship, at least to start, but it's coming along well. Even if it may feel like starting anew to the Miqo'te.

"Both of you need only show what you wish to, no more and no less. E'kayan, I have seen Limsa Lominsa in only passing during political excursions. Certainly not enough to do her justice." He places a hand on his chest as his tone turns mock-tragic. "I spent so much time in the Admiral's office that I have barely actually seen the sea there."

Merlwyb has much to answer for.

"And Night Sky, we would be glad to see whichever part of your world that you are willing to share with us. After all, you are the one here from an entirely different world - anything from your world is entirely new to us," he responds. There's a light of excitement in his eyes at the idea of seeing parts of a different world. "If you want for ideas, perhaps the Everliving Tree? I must admit, I am greatly curious about seeing it."

LATER, WHEN THEY'RE ALONE. OOOOWOOOO

[wildwarden]

It had been a weird night. Not bad weird, of course, but definitely weird. She hadn't fully anticipated how nerve wracking it would be to show not only Aymeric the vision of the Everliving Tree, but his friend at the same time. A friend she hoped wouldn't judge or mock her for any reason - though she really doubted it. He had seemed nice enough, and Aymeric trusted him, so it would be fine. It had to be fine, because it was already done.

It probably didn't help that on top of the anxiety of showing a stranger what was essentially the holy site for her people that outsiders never laid their eyes upon (and if they did, usually didn't live long to mention it), she was also anxious about something else.

She had come over not fully intending to tell Aymeric how she felt about him, but with E'kayan gone home and her having blurted out 'Hey, do you mind if I stay for a few minutes longer? I want to tell you something.' she left herself little choice. It was now or never.

So Night Sky sat with a cup of now cold tea cradled in her palms, having not sipped from it for some time. Instead she stared vacantly at the liquids surface, looking away only when Aymeric returned from wharever he was doing.

"Hi - Sorry. I'm sure you want to go to bed or something soon. It won't take long. Promise." Maybe.

[borelblue]

"Not to worry, Night Sky," he replies as he rejoins her. Having just started a fire in the hearth to stave off the evening chill, his cozy new house became that much cozier. "You are ever welcome here."

Aymeric sets down a tray of fresh tea before taking a seat on the nearby couch. He gestures for her to join him. He's in good spirits following the little gathering. Not only did he get to revisit his own world with E'kayan, but show it anew to Night Sky. She's now seen Ishgard in it's pride and glory, at least as much as a hologram can portray. And he's seen the natural, deathly majesty of her Everliving Tree.

Now, as the evening winds down, it becomes theirs alone. As it so happens, Night Sky isn't the only one with something to say. There's a particular note of warmth in his smile as he looks to her.

"Please, speak your heart. Afterwards, I should like to do the same in turn."

[wildwarden]

Night Sky, with only a faint hint of hesitation, shifted to sit beside him, carefully setting her teacup down to likely be ignored unless Aymeric saw fit to refresh it. It was one of the furthest things from her mind, especially when Aymeric mentioned that he had something to say, too.

By the tree was she suddenly so glad that she hadn't eaten much during dinner or partaken in many sweets. The way her stomach churned and fluttered was enough to make her want to double over. That she managed to remain sitting upright was a wonder, but she willed herself to remain steadfast. She had to tell him- and whatever he was going to tell her would, hopefully, not make it all pointless.

"I-" she was already fumbling, her cheeks suddenly blazing hot; red drifting down her throat and along the tips of her pointed ears. "First, I wanted to say thank you for tonight. I really enjoyed seeing Ishgard - it's beautiful. I can see why you're so fond of it." Besides the obvious of it being his home, of course.

Night Sky forced herself to meet his eyes when she started to speak next, almost instantly melting from the way he smiled at her. She smiled back, nervous as it was, purely out of habit. "I also wanted to get something off my chest, and I want you to know that when I say it, I don't want you to worry... I'll still care about you no matter what you say. If you even want to say anything at all."

Enough stalling. She sat up a little straighter, hands clenched in her lap to hide the way her fingers shook. "I have... feelings for you, Aymeric. Romantic feelings. And I think I've had them for a while but I was too scared to tell you because I didn't know if you felt the same and I really, really didn't know if you would reject me. But I spoke to someone - a few people, not as myself, but... I asked for advice and they all just told me to tell you, and if you were as sweet and gentle and wonderful as I said you were, then it would be alright. So. Here I am. Telling you."

[borelblue]

Aymeric sees her nervousness. A part of him recalls his conversation with Saya - about honesty, and fondness. That same part wonders if the two of them are about to confess the same thing.

And then, as she speaks, pushing through her anxiety, it turns out he guessed right.

Really, given their relationship and how she acts around him, it's not that much of a surprise. But with romance being such a rare and beautiful thing, it knocks the breath from his lungs for a moment all the same. Before he finds words to respond, he places his hands over hers. And he smiles so brightly you'd think the sun wasn't in the midst of setting.

"Then here I am, telling you the same," he begins, his voice soft. "Thank you for your honesty, Night Sky. Do not doubt the courage of your heart, for I certainly don't. I, ah..." Aymeric pauses. For once, he's stumbling on his words some.

"I must admit, I've little experience with...this. With romance. I am still sorting out just what has taken root in my own heart. But I know that something is there, and it is there because of you. Even if we are not yet in step upon this path, I would walk it with you regardless."

He lifts her hands to his lips. Closing his eyes, he places a feather light kiss upon her knuckles.

His eyes open again as he continues. "I care for you, Night Sky. Very deeply. May I court you?"

[wildwarden]

Night Sky didn't know what to think at first. The now very familiar feeling of his hands in her own was both comforting and concerning - that nervous, negative part of her screaming that he was holding her hand to console her while he told her no, absolutely not, why would he ever feel the same; or something along those lines. But then he was smiling. At her.

And then he spoke, and Night Sky, not for the first time in her life, felt her heart stop. She thought she might die a second time with how every muscle in her body tensed and her nerves felt damn near electric. She was convinced for a few seconds that she had imagined it; that her brain was covering up the truth. But it wasn't. This was real.

"Ah--" it was a croaked noise that burbled from the back of her throat; some attempt at words she couldn't manage while she stared, wide-eyed in shock at him. Aymeric de Borel, the gods damn knight, was kissing her hand like she was some fancy lady and asking if he could court her. Court her?! The little Sylvan gremlin that lived in the woods?

"Ye-Yes." She finally managed, her cheeks so hot she felt like she might actually burst into flames. "Yes - of course. I would love nothing more, Aymeric." Oh. She might have been (definitely was) crying. She hurriedly added, voice low: "How do...how do we do that?"

[borelblue]

Ever prepared, Aymeric pulls out his handkerchief - the very same that he used when they first went out drinking - and begins gently dabbing her tears away. He won't tell her not to cry. These are happy tears. Besides, after his conversation with Saya, he feels he owes it to her to let her be honest with her emotions. His other hand still holds hers.

"Oh, wonderful. Splendid. You've made me happier than I have the words to say," he replies.

But then, her question. He pauses. His years of inexperience come surging forth to haunt him, a spectre of nothingness to grasp at.

"I believe it mainly entails spending further time together. So, I suppose, it won't be too far from what we already do," he begins, still smiling even if it's now taken a very sheepish turn. He continues patting away any remaining tears of hers. "Otherwise, we...forgive me, but in my drive to rise in the ranks of the Temple Knights, then aid in Ishgard's restoration, I did very little courting along the way. However, since we are not in Ishgard, I fail to see why we couldn't figure out what works best for us. Perhaps we should simply court as Aymeric and Night Sky would, and not as what is traditional."

[wildwarden]

It took all of her not to cry harder because everything in that moment just reminded her why she fell so hard for him in the first place. He was so sweet it actually hurt her teeth; so gentle and warm she felt like a better person just being around him.

Somewhere between the sobs, she laughed. "Sorry. I'm not - I'm not laughing at you." She was quick to clarify. "It's just that I have no idea what I'm doing either. So that- that should work?" Of course, that meant she would have to figure out where to start with all of that, and since she had as much experience with romance as Aymeric did (that is, fuck all), she was already fresh out of ideas.

In the meantime, she tilted her head to try and nuzzle his palm, her tears staved off for the time being. Night Sky squeezed his hand gently and laughed again. "Whatever you want to do, Aymeric. I think my brain wants to skip ahead a little too far too fast, so I'll follow your lead." Listen! She at least wanted to kiss him asap, but seeing as courting had come up, she figured he might need a minute for that.

[borelblue]

It's all right. He finds himself laughing a bit as well as she explains herself. "Aye, that should work," he says softly.

With her tears seemingly abated, Aymeric is glad to let her rest her head in his hand; it seems a natural, easy fit. Her words make his eyebrows raise a bit, though. He's not naive - he has an idea of what she's implying. He'd forgotten that courting someone - that caring for someone like this - does lead to increasing acts of intimacy. A part of him wants that, too. Maybe even soon - maybe even now. But he's sure as hell not going to listen to that part of him.

"Indeed, though I am flattered, I would ask that we temper our eagerness. This is a new journey for us both. Let us savour each step along the way."

Still, he's not going to leave her too wanting. He kisses the back of her hand again. It's a kiss of some kind, isn't it?

As for taking the lead, as she says...he's at a loss. He'd like to figure out some kind of next step in their aforementioned journey. After a moment, he shifts a bit in awkwardness, then suddenly finds himself asking, "Have you ever had a milkshake?"

[wildwarden]

It's a kiss, so it counts; and it's so on brand for Aymeric she cannot even be upset about it. "I'll do my best to contain myself." She half-teased, because yes she was absolutely excited by the prospect of doing a lot more explicitly intimate acts with him, but she also respected his desire to take things slow. It was probably the smarter choice anyway - just in case things didn't work out, though she had a feeling, for once, that they might.

The question gave her pause for how seemingly random it was. "Uhh... no? Is that - what?" Huh??

[borelblue]

Well, the question didn't land perfectly, but she's interested. They're still on the right track.

"'Tis a sweet drink. Are you familiar with Master Kagami and his diner? He serves all manner of foodstuffs I've not encountered before, the milkshake being among them. It contains rather copious amounts of dairy - milk and something like a sorbet both, and as a result it is satisfyingly thick. Perhaps I might treat you to a meal and a milkshake there, as my first act of courting you?"

[wildwarden]

She shook her head. No, she wasn't familiar, but she was absolutely interested. "That sounds like a lot - the milkshake I mean. Not that it doesn't sound good!" Fumbling, Night Sky took a deep breath and squeezed his hand gently. "I would like that."

The whole 'courting' thing was so beyond her. How many things did they have to do to make it... official? Was it official now? What would they call each other now? She might as well ask - but she was suddenly very aware of how awkward a question that might be, her cheeks bright red. "So... I have to ask, if it's okay, what do I call you now? Like, what term would you use back home?"

[borelblue]

There is no judgment. If nothing else, he's glad that he can answer this one.

"I would be your 'suitor'. Or 'paramour' - we can both use that term for each other."

He has a paramour. And that paramour is Night Sky. Night Sky is his paramour. His cheeks turn red as well.

"And your paramour is very much looking forward to taking your out to dinner. Were this proper Ishgardian courtship, we would require an escort. But I think we shall forego that tradition."