Lsael Elswer
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A black-clad woman leans up against the wall, far from the limelight of the crowd and noise of her fellow patrons. A half finished drink in her hand and an unmarked book on the other, she remains quiet and observant. The xaela occasionally peering from the leather-backed tome... only to catch your fleeting glance. Her crimson and yellow gaze locking with yours for but a blink of a moment. And as fleeting as it was, had came and gone. Returning to the book in which she was preoccupied with. Her posture spoke clearly. Even at half a head taller than most women of her race, she doesn't stand out. Her expression had hints of decisiveness, yet generally uninterested by those around her. With so many people coming and going, not a single soul stopped to give her a passing glance. Yet the woman paid it no mind. Rather, she seemed to prefer the situation that way. Despite this you find yourself approaching this odd xaela. You feel an odd, subtle longing, your imagination mayhap playing tricks on you? Each step closer to her vicinity, and you find yourself stealing more glances than you should. The woman is armed, fire arms hoisted on her back and hips. Machinist's gadgets strapped to her belt with several patches of reinforced armor on her coat and her sleek black sollerets. You can understand now mayhap why most of the patrons avoid her. But you yourself can see... She doesn't have a hint of intimidation.
Whilst your curiosity overtakes your thoughts, and your feet straying off your original path. The woman continues to sneak a glance to watch the din of the crowd. Looking out into the bustling establishment without so much a hint of happiness nor contempt for the others enjoying their time. Her head veers at the pink voidsent which hovered nearby, sometimes scowling. Yet while the xaela remains invisible beyond the crowd... your presence has been noted. You feel her sharp gaze turning back to you once more. Heralding your arrival with what appeared to be slight annoyance. She briefly pauses before speaking up. She spoke simply and concise, her tone was subtle and with purpose. With what her lips would not convey, her eyes would carry on, as she meets you with an indifferent yet respectful expression. Like your conversation was a ripple of brine beneath a watery wave of conversations. But this time, your focus seems much clearer. As if the inaudible ringing in your head had just ceased to deafen you, your perception reinvigorated as the sounds of the crowd begin to muffle out from your view. With the xaela's overarching attention has now focused sharply onto yourself, you stand at a slight loss for words before introducing yourself. Not realizing the woman had already spoken up first, now somewhat irritated as she repeats herself to you a second time.
"I said, can I help you?"
Lsael Elswer (Pronunciation: /Leh-Sail Else-Wher/)
How does one spend their "Happily Ever After?" All throughout her life, while trudging through some of the darkest days in her past, A lonesome Lsael often looked enviously up at the sky. Watching the birds flock overhead, the occasional airship flying past and the stars that shimmered from above and beyond. That sense of freedom in its purest form. At the time, it felt like nothing more than a distant dream. So when this wanderlust sell-sword found herself with a substantial amount of gil. After years of scraping to get by and simply reading about her would-be fantasies. It came as no surprise how, instead of a sword, she armed herself with wings. Taking the opportunity to a buy herself new manacutter. A manacutter which she would eventually modify throughout her days, growing into her very own airship. And so, like the past she left behind and with the same stubborn determination. The au ra didn't once look back on her choice.
As self-taught tinkerer and repurposer of war machina. A lone wanderer traverses the world by airship. Working as a skilled pilot, mechanic, and even smuggler with the right amount of gil. Lsael put aside her sword, her shield, and other pointy-ended business tools to seek a life flying wherever she pleases. Leaving the burdens of her past as she took to the skies.
If you were asked to spend the rest of your life flying high above the clouds with nobody by your side. Would you agree? Would you accept it?
For someone like Lsael, who'd choosen to do so. Do you think she regrets it?
Lsael is a young adult Xaela appearing around her mid to late twenties. Standing slightly taller than most women of her race, Lsael last checked herself at just above 5 fulms 7 ilms, which is noticeably taller than the average female Au Ra. She sports a lithe, well balanced and athletic figure having ran about in plate mail for most of her younger days. Her natural fair-skin is accented by dark purplish scales. Lsael's scales bearing no special traits in comparison to those of her other kin. With the slight exception of being slightly lighter in tone compared to most tribal-raised xaela of the Steppes.
She has few but notable scars on her body. A large, deep scar on her lower-left side of her waist indicating a very painful flesh wound. A fading, piercing-like scar on her upper right-shoulder visible from the front and back. A large slashing scar, cutting just above her right thigh, just below the waist. And several smaller and fading cuts littering her right arm.
Lsael has short black hair with faint red highlights, often preferring to keep it to a minimal length. Occasionally her hair will grow out, but poor maintenance only sees it grow so long. At most often covering only the left side of her face with stray bangs. A habit formed when she was still a sell-sword gladiator, as hair maintenance wasn't an important requirement under a plated reinforced helmets. Once in a blue moon however, she may grow it out long enough to warrant a pony tail. In which any stray comment about it would promptly force the xaela's hand to shorten it once more.
Lsael also has heterochromatic eyes. Her left eye is what she describes as her natural crimson red. And her right eye, more recently changed, is a bright crystal yellow. Both are enclosed enclosed within black limbal rings which remained unchanged.
Growing up. Most of her life was spent in long periods devoid of any meaningful social connections. Her refusal to admit to her own shyness, combined with a surprisingly docile persona has made Lsael a very silent and reticent character. While she's the type that could go for months on end without any sort of conversation, and be perfectly contempt with such a fate. Those who manage catch wind of her would find it difficult to describe her as asocial, brooding or gloomy.
In fact, Reservations aside, Lsael is quite adept in socializing and holding a conversation given a meaningful topic. Her pragmatism and practical approach in all topics of life lets her walk a fine line between seemingly apathetic, and being a rather curious individual. Despite this, she may often come across as oddly rude at most times. Insensitive, blunt, or politically incorrect. Lsael seems to have little care about the worldly ideals and politics unless such topics directly concerns herself. Her far and few acquaintances will note that xaela also remains oddly well mannered. Though stubborn stubborn in her words and ideals, as long as they initiate a conversation with some degree of respect. That sense of trust is easily reciprocated in turn.
On the topic of respect, she absolutely despises those who think they are above others. Blind racists, pretentious high-born, politicians and radical religious zealots alike. Having grown up with her own set of struggles, Lsael could easily relate to those less fortunate. Even giving away what little change she could afford if the feeling ever occurs to her. But that's not to say she's the most kind-hearted person around. Having lost hope in herself at one point. Lsael values the strong-willed sensibility which she refound, helping her move along in her life. And so she'll often seek the same out of others. If introduced to a person who has given up with the struggles of life, expecting pity or empathy of their plight rather than facing it head on. Lsael won't find much value in their life whatsoever, and will not hesitate to leave them to their fate.
When faced with an unyielding aggressor in an argument. Lsael has learned throughout the years that preemptive aggressiveness works as a proper deterrent. If faced with continuous harassment after being promptly asked to leave her be, for example. Lsael will not hesitate to swing the hilt of her blade or put a bullet in their thigh with no given warning. Whatever action it would take to desist the individual and make a point loud and clear. (While on this note, she's on a low alert criminal list in Gridania for this very reason. Which is why she never frequents the city proper)
Trust after all, is earned to some degree. Her pragmatism and social tendencies often leaves the xaela untrusting and wary of everyone she encounters. While Lsael does occasionally enjoy hooking up with a stranger for a night between cities. There isn't much hope for a romantic connection with the girl. Lsael will often feign interest for the sake of enjoyment. After the deed, most partners often describe her as reserved or easily irritated, especially if she was approached for only sex in mind rather than anything else. In which case the au ra would only give up only her last name. As Lsael prefers to keep her distance from strangers before she's gotten a hold of their true intentions. Should Lsael casually hold a conversation with someone, it would be seen as a small form of trust. For this girl to even disclose any personal details about herself at all, would probably mean that she actually likes the person.
What little friends Lsael HAS come to trust however, would describe her as much radically different than the other persona's she would sport among strangers. Lsael is much as more talkative, given that they are around to start a conversation. Her tone changes slightly from a formal sense to rather casual dialogue, letting her limsan accent shine through all the talking. They are treated to a rather a blunt and straight-forward way of thinking. The sassy and underlying cynicism that the xaela often brings is divisive at best. Some finding humour, others finding insult in her choice of words. Crass or politically incorrect, Lsael is noted not to shy from the truth of the conversation, often stating her opinion regardless of other's reaction or consequence. Whether this is charming or rude to her friends is dependent on the thickness of their skins.
Outside of other's influences however, Lsael is still pretty much a lonesome individual. Years of strife and lonesome hard work has tempered her will. Something which is readily apparent when the xaela is about to fight. She becomes eerily silent, often expressed with a motionless calm and neutral sort of focus in her eyes. Lsael has lost her fair share of fights and brawls growing up, knowing fully well the consequences that awaits the loser, especially to women. This silence is a testament to that, and her focus is the reinforced resolve in which she carries herself through those faults. Lsael's only confidence in a fight lies on sheer force of will. Her tenacity in a fight going sour is unbridled and defiant, and the lessons she had been taught over the years drilled into her instinct. She is very much an amazing close-quarters fighter, her martial prowess the sum of her hard-work and blind resolution to better herself. Despite her martial prowess, Lsael is very much considered average or below median when accounted for her magical and arcane skills. While her endurance, tenacity, strength and quick reactions are well accounted for. Her mental fortitude is also not up to par. Those who have readily teamed up with her in the past have noticed she was much more susceptible to certain mental debuffs when caught in them (such as Charms, Confusions, Fears). Though given a familiarity to attach herself to, she seems quite capable when Lsael is able to apply herself. For example, her Red Mage skills are above par in comparison to any other magic/arcane-based class she has picked up.
Her pet atomos is known to cause trouble when she isn't looking as well. Either gobbling up something that isn't her's or biting the people who spoil it with food.
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