aquaveiled | Abraxas IC Inbox

[ While Thancred has kept Himeka appraised of his status ever since the coup and the following attack on Castle Thorne (which he was nowhere near at the time; the benefits of being a fugitive), it's no true substitute for seeing one another in the flesh. They could have met by the Horizon, but they've each been busy with their respective tasks in their territories. Thancred is still adjusting to life in Nott, and letting his guard down by entering the Horizon hasn't been high on his to-do list.

Nocwich allows him some much-needed freedom, however, and taking the portal from Nott to the land of eternal night is like a breath of fresh air. While he can't assume he isn't still being watched here to some degree, it's more his surface level of situational awareness that he employs rather than being on high alert.

He and Himeka have a standing appointment to meet each other for drinks each month, and so he suspects that he will find her there. As expected, she's waiting near the tavern in question. Her brightly-colored hair — now longer than ever, he can't help but notice — causes her to stand out in the crowd despite her diminutive stature. (Sorry, Himeka.)

He can't help it. She's distracted by watching the performance on the outdoor stage a short distance away, allowing him the perfect opportunity to creep up behind her and tap her on the shoulder. ]

[ She knows she not ought be, but Himeka has been worried. Thancred is more than capable, mayhaps one of the most capable people she's ever known and especially the sort who can handle a little escape from a nation under duress. But she can't help it. That just comes with caring, with having family.

Himeka doesn't believe if she needs to ask if they're still on--they always are, that's the beauty of Nocwich. But admittedly she's a little on edge, which isn't like her, only because of that worry she just cannot shake. She knows that seeing him in person will abate her fears and remind her that it's Thancred, of course he's fine.

Of course he'd find her because she's SO TALL she clearly sticks out of the crowd. Half-dazed, she watches a local bard as she starts to imagine what state she might find him in-- ]

Ack!

[ Only to be caught off guard as she whirls around, whipping her tail out dangerously.

Au Ra have great hearing, but Thancred is a master of stealth. ]

[ Thancred is a master of stealth, and perhaps that's why he can't resist testing his own abilities by making sure he can still successfully sneak up on the Warrior of Light. Y'shtola he's never been able to manage, but he continues to argue that she cheats.

He huffs out a laugh at her yelp, but then reaches out to lay a hand on her shoulder and steady her from the shock. ]

My apologies. I couldn't resist.

[ She'll see now what he referred to during their check-in after the shared dream. Just slightly under his Archon tattoos, the red scales start, disappearing under the collar of his shirt. Thankfully they haven't attracted too much attention in Nott. He's gotten some strange looks, but most people are polite enough to keep their questions to themselves. ]

Shall we head inside, or did you wish to listen a bit longer?

[ He glances over to the bard who's singing of some folk tale from Luna while playing a lute. ]

[ Y'shtola absolutely cheats. Himeka will back Thancred up on that! And then probably live to regret her endorsement.

Of course it's Thancred! She recognizes him instantly and a hand falls onto her chest as she steadies her heart while she lets him ground her posture. ]

I'll accept an apology in the form of a pint, thank you!

[ Which she's sure he would buy her anyway, but now it's the point that matters. If she felt any true annoyance at his surprise attack (she didn't), it's washed away entirely after a few beats as she pulls him into a tight hug, bard be damned.

Seeing him in the Horizon is one thing...but in person? Hale and whole? That's infinitely more important.

Her tail swishes behind her back and forth in restrained excitement. She holds on as long as he allows before finally pulling back. ]

Let's head inside. You may need a drink more than me.

[ A pint, Thancred can manage. He's not so low on coin that he can't make that work, and he isn't going to worry Himeka by even making reference to his current financial situation. He's already found ways to earn his keep in Nott, and he suspects he'll uncover additional methods before long.

But then the hug comes, one he really should have expected. Himeka squeezes tight, almost knocking the air out of him, and he lets out a warm chuckle as he returns it, resting his chin atop her head for a moment (while also taking care not to bump her horns).

It is good to see her in the flesh after all that's happened and how much his life has been uprooted.

As they pull away, he heaves out a sigh at her comment and nods. ]

I won't argue that point. This time, anyhow.

[ So with that, they head into the tavern and find their usual table, putting in orders for their pints. Thancred lifts up a leg to rest his ankle on his opposite thigh and leans back in his chair. ]

How have things been in Solvunn? I understand you all had to retreat underground for a time as well.

[ If only she had more coin to share with him. Solvunn, being so intent on trade of goods and services as it is, has little use for it unless trading with outsiders. What she does collect usually gets spent in Nott anyway. But she would be happy to send him off with what she has left.

Not that she's paying for Thancred hugs or anything. She knows she gets those for free.

It's nice to be back in Nocwich too. The tavern has become something of a usual haunt and even if it's only once a month, it feels homey. Her tail even curls around one of the legs as she settles. ]

We did, yes.

[ Himeka, instead, leans forward towards the table, resting her forearms on it. ]

The land seemed blighted and the gods were angry, so they thought it'd be best if we got out of their way. Which upset some of the animals that live underground, unfortunately...

[ She shakes her head, turning her attention to Thancred properly. ]

But that's nothing in comparison to your journey, I imagine.

[ Blighted land, angry gods. That doesn't sound so different from Scion business back home, if he's honest.

Thancred raises a knowing eyebrow. ]

You must have found it frustrating to be shoved into a place far away from all the action.

[ Although it all seems to have calmed down by now, so perhaps it had been a false alarm of sorts. Better safe than sorry and all that.

Himeka's quick to turn the question back on him, and Thancred sends a reflexive glance around them to ensure there's no one nearby before he responds with a confirming nod. ]

Nothing I haven't been through before — with you, I might add. I'm only relieved I had some manner of advance warning before it all started. In that sense it was an improvement over our escape from Ul'dah.

[ It isn't a time that he brings up lightly. There had been much lost then, but it was also so long ago now, the wounds at least partially healed over. ]

[ Her lips take the form of a wry smile at that. He does know her well, doesn't he? She never enjoyed staying idle for long, less so in cramped conditions. ]

We made due, don't worry.

[ There were plenty of animals to wrangle and preserve (and incidentally cook) to keep her busy for a while.

But minor it is. It's Thancred, after all, who has had to find a new safe zone. Of course if anyone could weather it, could make the necessary arrangements...the memories do turn her smile a little softer. It would be easier if she could go through it with him this time again. ]

That and not having to wonder if you've been dead for several months.

[ Don't forget that detail, Thancred. ]

[ Ah yes, that. Thancred pauses for a moment, not wanting to handle his response to this in the wrong way because he knows it was a difficult time for Himeka, Alphinaud, and Tataru. They no doubt worried that all of their Scion friends had lost their lives, or suffered some even worse fate.

Maybe some of them came out a bit rougher around the edges, and as for Minfilia, well... they hardly need retread that particularly tragedy.

But eventually he does send her a wry smirk before he takes a sip of his ale. ]

I imagine that by now you're quite familiar with my ability to scrape through near-death experiences, eh?

[ First during that bout against Ran'jit, then in Ultima Thule — he's well aware that he makes a habit of such self-sacrificial acts. At least this time around no such thing was called for. ]

[ How many people have they lost? Much too many. Close friends, allies, kind acquaintances, faces she'd only seen in passing but knew they were all fighting for the same thing. Death is as much a member of the team as an adversary.

Given her own proclivity for putting herself in dire straits, she's in no position to hold him so accountable. But she does anyway, because it's Thancred and because she's allowed to.

To his credit, his delivery is perfect and all she can do is huff. ]

A very nasty habit, thanks!

[ She shakes her head. ]

Still...I'll admit, from what I know of Nott, it seems like it may be much safer in some ways.

[ A nasty habit is one way of putting it, but in Thancred's defense, what else was he supposed to do when Meteion appeared on the Ragnarok and sucked the very air from the cabin? He hadn't fully realized what he was doing until it was done, with dynamis taking his will and turning it into reality.

All's well that ends well, at least. They're both still here.

Thankfully, Himeka lets him off easy, and Thancred is quick to nod. ]

Aye, I think it suits me a bit better as well. I also have met with Nott's ruler before, one Lyle Vela, and he is open to harboring any Summoned who are not in the good graces of the crown.

[ Of course, that crown is now upon a different head entirely, but Thancred can't say he's eager to return to the castle either way. ]

[ They are all willing to put their lives on the line for the work the day. But when it comes down to it, seeing the people you care about fulfill that potentiality is hard. It's scary. The amount of times they barely make through it alive make it seem like they always will.

Himeka hopes that still holds. She believes in them.

She knew that Thancred has been making moves in Nott for a while, but for for the leader to making it a sanctuary for the Summoned? That is big news. ]

He is? That's wonderful. And you don't think the monarchy would try to follow up on that?

[ She remembers now Anastasia turned her and Estinien over to the King and Queen, but she does understand that politics are a little different in Nott. ]

[ It's a good question, yet Thancred does not have a good answer. He pauses for a moment, then heaves out a sigh and gives a shake of his head. ]

It's difficult to say. I don't know as much about Sidwell as I would like, not enough to hazard a guess as to how he'll rule. For now, the best thing we can do is keep our heads down.

[ And maybe they'll get lucky, and Sidwell will have a list of greater priorities than chasing down a few stray Summoned.

It would be a stretch to say he'll be better than Queen Ellya, but he might have different goals, if nothing else. ]

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nocwich weekend; july

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