A quill makes elegant lines on parchment. It doesn’t seem to stop, except to draw more ink from the well. More and more writings about finances and expenses, and an endless wall of numbers on a neighbouring sheet. He rubs at his temples with his right, the left endlessly occupied with scripture. After scribing his signature, the quill rests, coupled with a relieved sigh. A pair of glasses join the quill on the table, as the crimson haired Duskwight reclines in his chair to stretch, before pulling himself to his feet. He gathers the papers and heads to the next room.
“Hey Dad. I’m all done now. Here’s the papers. Seems we’re making more of a profit than you thought, eh?” He beams. The older Elezen smiles, setting down his tools and bows his head upon taking the papers, narrowing his eyes to read them. After a few short minutes, he looks up, and nods approvingly, before rising to his feet.
“Hells... You’re getting good at this. Maybe you should run the stall?” He laughs. Versoix smirks and scratches the back of his neck, before sighing.
“Nah... You’re better with people than me. Way better. Besides... I like my job, dad” He admits. His father merely looks him over, and nods in agreement.
“It suits you. I just have some finishing touches to put on some of the finery, and then they’ll be good to go. Think you’ll be able to get them where they need to go tomorrow?” His father inquires.
“Of course. When do i not?” He chuckles, taking his leather satchel from the hanging rack. “I’ll head home to mom. From one set of paperwork to the next, eh?”
“Alright then. Tell your mother i’ll be home once i’m done. Later, son.” He smiles proudly, giving a dismissive wave as the younger leaves the building.
Versoix smiles as he breathes the air, setting foot out of his father’s workshop. The marketplace of Ul’dah. What some might say keeps the city so lively. Shifting his bag further under his arm, he makes his way through the masses, giving the occasional nod in greeting to his regular clients in passing. He was hardly one to blend into a crowd, all things considered. Taller than most others, and ghostly pale, aside from his vivid hair. The long, thin scar that stretched from his forehead to his cheek set him apart from the others, but he had long since stopped hiding it. He merely accepted it as the rest of him. After a short while, he offers a brief knock on the familiar wooden door, and enters. His mother gazes up at him with a smile, hovering over the stove as was usual.
“No schooling today...?” He asks. She merely smiles and shakes her head.
“No dear. Not today. Not... Not on your brother’s last day here.” She stuttered. Turning again to the stove, she wrinkles her nose, a tear rolling down her pale blue cheeks. Of course, she was worried. Her eldest son was to leave, on the morrow. Leave, and go to war, and the notion had barely had time to settle with her. Versoix frowns and looks to her, standing and giving her a tight hug.
“Mom... It’s... It’s going to be okay, you know...? He’s going to go there, and make you proud. And he’s gonna come back, none the worse for wear, you hear?” He beams. She nods quietly, and brushes a hand across her forehead.
“Of... Of course. Excuse me but a moment, dear. There’s something i have forgotten...” She bows her head, and leaves their home, rushed footsteps sounding leaving the door. Versoix sighs quietly to himself as he leans on the counter. The flame under the stove gutters out in the corner of his vision, and he tuts. Walking over to get a better look, he checks it over once or twice before standing again. He glances nonchalantly to his sides, and with a flick of his wrist, a small wisp of fire bursts from his fingers, igniting the stove once more. Satisfied, he smiles, seating himself at the table once more.
A fair few minutes pass, an a rhythmic knock sounds on the door and startles him. He looks around in shock, and the door bursts open to reveal two Elezen clad in armour. Versoix smiles widely at the duo.
“Greetings, brother!” The taller, paler one beams. “I didn’t know you’d be home so early! Hows about we head to the Quicksand for a drink, eh?” He smirks, reclining with an arm against the wall. The woman at his side looks to him, smirking. “A good idea, Leon. C’mon, Vers. You’re coming with us, like it or lump it!” She chuckles, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him to his feet, and towards the door. He yelps with shock.
“Ack! Faeeee! Wait a minu—“
He is cut off by laughter from the pair, which he shortly joins, walking with them by his own will. Literally but two steps from the door, the three bow their heads politely to the approaching couple, who smile back.
“Mom. Dad.” Leonnaire beams to them, receiving a smile in response.
“Faelierre, Versoix, Leonnaire. Where might you three be going, mm?” The woman chuckled.
“Ah, just to the Quicksand for a drink, mom. We’ll be back for dinner” Leonnaire nodded, gesturing to the other two.
“I see, i see.” She began. “Well then dearies, have fun.”
They’d made a few small steps in the direction of the Quicksand, before her voice called out to him again.
“Oh Leonnaire...? A moment, love?” She smiles over her shoulder. He furrows his brow and heads to her, listening intently.
“Yeah, mom? What is it?”
She narrows her eyes, taking a long, green vegetable from her bag, and lightly tapping him on the nose with it.
“Do not get him inebriated. I mean it.”
Leonnaire averts his gaze, and nods hesitantly.
“Alright, alright... Okay. We’ll only have one. Or two. We’ll be back soon, mom” He laughed, as he walked to join the others, his mother shaking her head with a smirk, sighing. The three continue down the street, making their way to the Quicksand.
“So, Versoix” She pines, placing an ale and two glasses of wine on the table, taking a seat between them. The Quicksand was unusually quiet. Likely because of the fact many would leave to serve not only their city-states, but Eorzea as a whole in the coming Moons.
“Mhm?” He smiles, looking to her after taking a sip of his wine. “Still nagging me to join you, Fae?”
“Hah, not at all” She laughs “If you went with us, i’d rather not have to take home what was left of ya in a tinderbox!” Shrugging, she looks to him, raising a shoulder in indifference. “No offence or anything. But you’re not the best with a sword. Have you ever tried anything else?”
Versoix glances down hesitantly. He sighs.
“Not... Anything seriously. I’m alright with just delivering things to people, and what have you...”
She gives him a frown, and sips her wine.
“So you can’t defend yourself with anything...? Don’t you think you should learn?” Versoix shakes his head in disagreement.
“I have long legs. A blessing of being an Elezen. I can run faster than most things that want to eat me...” Fae tsks and gives him a look.
“Only –most- things, Versoix. I’d rather not have to come back to have to pick you out of the teeth of a coeurl or raptor or something...” She sighs, as he takes a long sip of his wine, in an effort to ignore her point. Leonnaire chips in.
“Well, you know. You always have... That” He demonstrates, waving his fingers in a fashion near the candle on the table. Versoix gives him a stern look, one uncharacteristic for the smile that usually lies on his face.
“No. I’d... I’d prefer not to. I’d sooner take up the blade or something. Besides... Uh... When do you two go?” He grins falsely, in a bid to change the subject. Faelierre and Leonnaire merely glance to eachother, and shake their heads.
“Tomorrow, brother. We’re... Not sure for how long. But we’ll be back when we’ve served our duties” Leonnaire nods, and takes a long drink of his ale. The three look at one another, and smile. They talk for almost an hour, before finally finishing a third drink.
“Well, that’s me done for now” The older male smiles. “I’m going to head back to mom. I’ll see you for dinner, eh Versoix?” He smiles, giving a nod before he departs the Quicksand.
“Of course, Leon. I shouldn’t be long.” He beams, gesturing to his now dwindling glass of wine. Faelierre gazes to him hesitantly, sighing and glancing to her feet.
“Versoix...?” She begins. She catches his attention, and he cants his head.
“Mhm...?”
“Before you go back home... This is the last time i’ll see you before i go. Care for a walk or something?” She smiles, albeit a little sadly. Versoix nods in agreement, polishing off his glass and rising to his feet.
“Of course, Fae. You know i like walks. Right now?” He asks.
“Now works.”
She leaves with him, and she barely speaks a word to him as they leave the Quicksand, and head through the gates to the desert beyond, Thanalan.
Her expression calm, gaze lowered, they finally reach a tree; the one they met at. The one they often used to play together at in their childhood.
“Fae.... Are you alright?” He asks, as they both sit beneath it. She glances to him, and smiles falsely, seating herself beside him.
“I’m fine. All things considered... I thought i’d be more afraid.” She admits. “More nervous if anything.”
“I’m... Going to miss you, Fae.” He sighs. He shifts about, getting more comfortable, and averting his gaze from her. “You’re my best friend.” She offers him a small smile.
“And you, mine. Since we were little. But that said...” She hardens her gaze at him, tilting her head slightly. “There’s nothing stopping you from finding more friends whilst we’re gone, y’know?”
He sighs, shaking his head.
“You say that.. Look at me. I’m an eyesore. I’m not exactly... Approachable.”
Pursing her lips, she crosses her arms. Something she never did often, and it immediately garners his full attention.
“Versoix La’louvre. Just you bloody listen to me, you great red mop!” She fumes “I couldn’t give a Gods bloody damn what you look like!” She adjusts her position to look at him more fully. Whilst the rest of her tells anger, her eyes lie.
“You think i’m always going to look like this? Ya think my hair will always be this long, or i’ll always be young and pretty?”
Versoix goes to answer, but is cut off again by her.
“No. I ain’t. So... You just listen to me. Use those bloody ears the Twelve gave ya and just... Listen for a bleedin’ minute...” Her eyes begin to well a little, and she lowers her gaze from him.
“I had thoughts, Versoix. I almost didn’t go.”
“What?! Why? You’ve trained your whole life, pretty much, to go serve! Why would you do that!?” He asks, in utter shock.
“Because of you. I didn’t want to leave you alone. I know how you get and... I don’t want to see you sad.” She states, firmly. “Before i met you.. You barely spoke to anyone. You were afraid of everyone, and everything. Now look at you... And you’ve changed. And i’m proud of you for doing that.”
He nods solemnly, and accompanies it with a soft smile.
“But you helped me. You know that. I’ve told you a thousand times.”
“But i shouldn’t be the only reason!” Faelierre exclaims. “Versoix... You might have a scar. And pale skin. And funny hair.”
He tightens his lips, and nods.
“And i might come back with a few scars of my own. I might look a lot different. D’ya think you’d like me any less?”
He shakes his head.
“Of course not! You’re still my friend! You’re still Fae!”
She chuckles weakly, and smiles.
“Exactly. And no matter what happens to you, you’re still Versoix. So no matter what... You look like. You’ll always be...” She trails off, and glances to him.
“You’ll always be kind. So i don’t give a damned Twelve what you look like.” Her eyes begin to tear up, and they soon fall. “You’ll always be my friend. And i’m going to miss you when i go.”
He says nothing, merely nodding and pulling her into a hug.
“I’m going to miss you too.”
Her tears don’t last long, and she regains her composure, her eyes meeting his.
“Make more friends, Versoix. Because when i get back... I want to meet them.” She beams, still close to him. He scratches the back of his head, uncertain.
“But... Fae...”
“Nope, no buts! I’m going to go, come back, and you’re going to have more friends. Like it or lump it. And if i have to drag your sorry ass around Eorzea to find you them, i bloody will.” She gives him a look, with a mischievous grin. “You know i will.”
He laughs, and pulls her closer.
“I don’t doubt it for a second.”
“Good.” She rises to her feet, dragging him with her by his hand. She hesitates and looks at him.
“Is... Something the matter, Fae...?” He asks. She shakes her head.
“No. Not really. I have to go home to mom, soon. Dinner. You should too.”
He nods quietly.
“The last time for a while, huh?” He whispers.
“For a while, yes.” She replies. The two stare at eachother for a few moments. Without warning, she leans to him and kisses him on the lips. His eyes widen in shock as she does, and he blushes wildly.
“Wh--?”
“Shhh.” She smiles softly. “I... Will explain more when i return.”
“But...!” He stutters as she pulls away. She gives him a playful wave.
“I told you, no buts! You’d better wait for me when i get back!” She laughs, as she leaves.
“I...” He smiles, warmly.
“I’ll wait for you, Fae. Promise.”
She smiles over her shoulder and nods, heading back to the gate, fading from his view. He sits back against the tree, unable to speak or do much else. He just smiles.
The following moons passed fleetingly. The Calamity ensured that. Amidst the chaos, life still went on, in a sense. People still needed to eat and sleep. To eat, one had to work. His family struggled, but saw it through to the other side. After many, many long moons... It was finally over. It was time for those who had left to return.
Three Elezen sat in the room. Silence. Nothing could be heard aside from Versoix occasionally shuffling, and his mother sobbing quietly into her husband’s arms. Any minute now. He’d be back.
Versoix sighs quietly, fidgeting with the quill on the table. They had been sat like this for half an hour. Not a word said, just listening. Faint footsteps sounded, and silence took the room once more. They grew louder, and paused. The family looks at one another with worry. Three heavy knocks sound, and the door bursts open.
“LEONNAIRE!” His mother screams, running to him and throwing her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. The new arrival smiles. He seems mostly uninjured, aside from a few cuts and scrapes, his armour caked with dirt and grime, amongst other things.
“Mom...” He sighs, relieved. “Dad... Versoix...” His mother pulls away from him, her eyes streaming with tears.
“You came back to us... We were so worried...” She begins, taking a handkerchief and wiping her eyes.
“Of course i did. I.... I said i would.” He nods. His gaze drops to the floor as Versoix approaches.
“Leon.... Hells... I missed you so much.” He smiles, a little tearful, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. He glances over his shoulder to his father, who merely nods.
“It’s good to have you back, son. I’m proud of you.” Their father beams. Leonnaire nods again to him, and sighs, smiling only briefly.
“How about a drink, Brother? I’m paying! C’mon, let’s go grab Fae, and we’ll---“ Versoix is cut off abruptly as his brother gives him a look. The world stands still for the younger of the two.
Not a word was said. No words needed to be. Versoix takes a shaken step back as he looks on in disbelief.
“N...No...” He barely manages to utter, his eyes now streaming. “Please... Leon... Don’t... Don’t joke about things like that...”
Leonnaire stares at the floor. A silence passes before he answers, with a deep, shaky breath.
“She.... Served her country. She was... Was...”
He is unable to continue as he reaches to his eyes to suppress tears, as Versoix shakes his head again. He makes a run for the door.
“FAE!” He screams, agony present in his voice. He shouts again as he rushes through the marketplace, and the entire way to the guild, stopping to look for anyone that might be her.
“Please... No..” He sobs, entering the Gladiator’s guild. It wasn’t like it usually was. Every wall and corner a mournful face, and many drenched with tears and sorrow for the fallen. Versoix makes his way to the large wall. What seemed to be endless names were inscribed upon it. The names of the fallen. Of those whom either the Garleans, or the Calamity, had claimed. His hand shakily makes its way to the letter A. He draws a long, deep breath, and glances down the list. His heart jumps to his throat as he reads the name. Artenne.
“N...No..” He almost whispers, reading the name aside it. Damascet Artenne.
“Even... Her...” He trails off as his eyes read the name underneath. His eyes widen.
Faelierre Artenne.
He whimpers, backing away a few steps before just staring blankly ahead, eyes glazed over.
“N..No... Fae...” He slumps against the wall, and slides down, his head dizzying between his knees as the world seemed to spin.
“Fae...” He whispers again, his eyes streaming. “You... Said... You’d come back...” He sobs fitfully, head in his arms, knees drawn up. “I... Promised i would wait for you...”
He cries alone to himself for a few moments, before feeling a warm hand on his shoulder.
“Versoix... I’m... So sorry...” His brother begins. His eyes, too, are full with tears. Versoix looks up mournfully, and quietly rises to his feet.
“She was my rock... She was...” He began. “I...”
Leonnaire nods quietly, and holds his brother close.
“I know, Vers. I know.”
Head resting on his elder sibling’s shoulder, he looks ahead. His mother doing the very same for a woman around the same age as herself. Versoix sighs, his breath quivering as he does.
“Her... Dad too....?” He asks as he pulls away. Leonnaire merely nods.
“Seems.... Seems so. C’mon... No... Use just sticking around here...”
Versoix nods, reluctantly returning to his home. He casts another long glance at the wall, and follows, his mother and the woman in tow.
Five cycles pass. He weeps for what seems like Moons. His last memories of her... Under the tree, smiling, laughing. They burn their way into his mind. He waited moons to finally understand what that night meant, and now he’d never be able to know. It broke him.
Eventually, like the scar on his face, he came to accept it. Two scars. One on the inside, one on the outside. He’d always ask himself which one hurt the most, but he’d never answer. Deep down, he knew.
A familiar, yet somewhat older, flame haired figure approaches a pair of metal gates. He opens them. The churchyard was often quiet, and he preferred it this way. He raises the bouquet, giving it a long look, before finally arriving at the grave which was so familiar to him, and placing it down.
“Azeyma roses. Your favourite.” He smiles with a nod, before taking a seat next to it, back against a tree. It offered little shade, but he didn’t mind. He just exhales quietly as he puts his arms behind his head. Calmly, although in a hushed whisper, he proceeds to speak. He visited every moon or so, and fresh flowers every time he did. He had moved on, yes. But he wouldn’t forget. Not ever. Many minutes passed, as he seemingly had a conversation with someone who had so few responses.
“So... I’m finally going out to see the world. To La Noscea.” He sighs, looking to the sky. His eyes trail across the horizon to the strange, twisted orange Aether in the distance. “Leonnaire got me a job over there. He says it’s nice.” He pauses a few, before standing, and bowing his head in respect. “I know you wanted to visit. But... I’ll do it. For both of us.” He smiles, his eyes drifting across the headstone as his vision blurs.
“To meet more friends, eh?” He chuckles softly, with a nod. “We’ll see.” He takes up his bag, and slings it over his shoulder.
“We’ll see.”
He takes a few steps from the grave, and turns over his shoulder.
“Sleep well, Faelierre.”
Versoix La'louvre
