#ch: urianger augurelt | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ffxivbabey · 2 years

Text

Void Revelations

The Fell Court of Troia was… quieter, now. A lot quieter with the majority of the voidsent now dispersed, including the one who had been all but pulsing with power. For some reason, they’d all looked at Veronyka strangely, muttering something about a lot of aether or having consumed a lot. Y’shtola was quick to threaten those foes when they came a little too close, though that was also… confusing.

Even before the group of them had ventured into the void, Y’shtola had given Veronyka a strange look, as though about to say something. She hadn’t managed it, though, for at that moment, Varshahn had appeared in his new adult-looking body.

But the strangeness hadn’t ended there. As the group had worked through the court, dispatching foe after foe, Y’shtola had been strangely attentive in healing Veronyka’s wounds and yanking her out of danger. Which had been wonderful for Veronyka’s stomach, which still hadn’t quite settled since the last time she’d been here. Well, not void here but Thavnair here. When asked, Veronyka had said that maybe it was the aether of Thavnair disagreeing with her for some reason. A side effect of the final days, or something. Never mind that nobody else was affected, nobody else had to run from the Mehayne and apologise profusely to Meryde for not being able to stomach her food. Even spicy Ala Mhigan or Ul’dahn food was a gamble. The mere smell of it was enough to have her stomach twisting. But she had been fine after the initial stomach upset. Until the guardian of the void had spun her and her friends, leaving both her and Y’shtola running off in search of an empty treasure chest. She had used the dizziness as her excuse, then.

Deep down, she knew. She’d been tired, too, but put that down to sleeping off the effects of the Final Days, naturally. Never mind that she’d made a full recovery from that aside from some light sensitivity (which, she would loudly tell anyone who asked and those who didn’t, was a massive pain in the arse when fishing for fish that only appeared during the day). There was no way to know for sure, not with Eorzean technology, though she’d heard rumours that the Garleans may have the technology. Not that she would dare ask Cid, it would feel wrong to ask her father’s ex (no matter how friendly they were) about something that her father should find out first.

And so, when Y’shtola pulled her aside, Veronyka knew, somewhere deep down, what the sorceress was about to say.

“Ere we depart,” said Y’shtola, pitching her voice low, “are you aware that you are with child?”

“Oh right, your aether sight,” Veronyka blurted. Y’shtola gave her a look. “Um. I had a feeling.” Her hand strayed to her stomach, though she quickly glanced around to ensure that they weren’t seen or overheard. “Is that why you were taking extra special care of me?”

“Yes,” said Y’shtola. “I can only hope that you didn’t go into the void willingly in this condition.”

“We have the warding scale and the crystal of light so it’ll be fine, right?” said Veronyka. Y’shtola’s tail flicked behind her, her ears flattened.

“If you are certain,” said Y’shtola. “I will monitor them, and you. Thus far, I have detected no abnormalities. Thus far.”

“Well, I can’t just leave, we just got here,” said Veronyka. Y’shtola raised an eyebrow. “Please don’t tell them.”

“If I were going to tell them, I would have told them already,” said Y’shtola. “Nay, though I worry about you, I do respect your privacy. And I will respect your decision to continue onwards, for it is not my place to dictate the choices of another woman.”

“Thank you,” said Veronyka, though she desperately wanted to tell Lyse or someone. They had their mission here, and she did very much want to see the void. She could handle a little void.

And so it was decided that the group would press onward, speaking to the voidsent in an attempt to find Azdaja. It wasn’t long before Veronyka heard the strange whispers again, and they made sense this time.

“You must be powerful to have devoured so many souls,” one hissed at her, reaching out with spindly fingers. Y’shtola drew her staff, readying a shield over Veronyka. But Veronyka was looking at her.

“How many souls?” Veronyka asked her once the voidsent had skittered away.

“Four,” said Y’shtola, a smile curling her lips as Veronyka stumbled back a step.

“Menphina’s grace, Eric, what the hell was in that spell?” Veronyka muttered, her hand splaying over her stomach as though she could feel the life within.

“Ah, so you know the time of conception already,” said Y’shtola.

“It was a weird heat, okay?” said Veronyka. “You know those always make us more fertile anyway.”

“I do,” said Y’shtola. “Knowing what you know now, are you still willing to continue?”

“Yes,” said Veronyka, nodding. “Are they still… okay?”

“All five of you are fine,” said Y’shtola.

Their inquiries led them to a smarter voidsent, one all assumed to be a warped version of Azdaja. But when they came to the room, it was familiar. Frighteningly so.

“Zenos’ avatar,” Y’shtola hissed, drawing her weapon. Estinien looked to be readying a jump, but something happened. The crystal of light around Zelda’s neck suddenly pulsed, and she stepped towards the reaper avatar that had once belonged to the late Zenos viator Galvus. Zelda reached into her shirt, producing the crystal on her hand. As its light washed over the reaper avatar, a change came over it. The strange limbs and look of it disappeared, vanishing into the shape of a woman. A reaper, wearing a very nice little hat. Her eyes were blue, the pupils large. Weapons were stowed away as Zelda blinked at the stranger and asked who she was.

It came to be that the strange woman had no name, or none that she could remember. Y’shtola was the one to suggest ‘Zero’, a name that the woman accepted. Talk was made of aether and exchanges, and then it came around to how Zero had come to be half-voidsent.

“Darkness touched my mother when I was in the womb,” said Zero. Veronyka heard Y’shtola gasp even before she turned to look at the other miqo’te.

“Is that what’s going to happen to mine?” Veronyka asked, forgetting where she was, who she was in front of, her mind only on what Zero had said. Behind her, Astrid froze, though Veronyka didn’t notice, too caught up in her mind whirling through every reason why this was a bad idea.

“Not necessar-” Y’shtola began, but Zelda grabbed Veronyka by the wrists, pulling her closer.

“You’re pregnant?” Zelda gasped. “Congratulations! When were you going to tell us that slight major detail?”

“I just found out, like, five minutes ago,” said Veronyka, walking after Zelda as her leader began walking her swiftly in the direction of the void gate. “Where are we going?”

“Home!” said Zelda. “Or you are, at least. The void is no place for a pregnant lady.”

“Especially one pregnant with four,” said Zero. Zelda whirled around, melted a little at Zero’s face, and then turned back to Veronyka.

“Four?” Zelda echoed, the exclamation echoing against the castle walls as they made their way back down to the void gate.

“That discovery was even sooner,” said Veronyka.

“Gods, no wonder you’ve been so tired and sick and don’t say you haven’t been sick because you let everyone know about it, you go home and rest and prepare for your new bundles of joy.” She paused, though her steps didn’t slow any. “I am so sorry for your body and Lyse’s hand.”

“We’ll be fine,” said Veronyka. “I think.” Zelda laughed as though Veronyka had just said something hilarious.

“Oh Nyka, you are in for a world of surprises. Or so I’m told,” said Zelda. “I only wish that there was a way that we could give you advice. But we can give you time and maybe babysitting and we will be just fine without you. You will be missed, though, of course.”

“I’m going to miss adventuring,” said Veronyka. “I didn’t think of that.”

“Oh, so this was planned?” Zelda asked.

“Kind of?” said Veronyka. “In the way that I plan anything. I make one split second decision and suddenly I’m lost in a dungeon or exploring an abandoned factory with a pair of dwarves or about to become a mother apparently.”

“The time felt right, I suppose,” said Zelda. “With the realm being safe and all.”

“Yeah,” said Veronyka, nodding. They had reached the portal by now, the rest of the group having surprised them by following them.

“Now, go and make your wife very happy and give your father more grey hairs and your sister a heart attack and your spot will always be open when you are ready to return,” said Zelda. She squeezed Veronyka’s hands. “Good luck. And congratulations.”

“Thank you,” said Veronyka, and hugged her before stepping through the portal. Astrid suddenly surged forward, her eyes overbright, her smile too wide.

“Congratulations!” Astrid called as Veronyka turned and waved to her before disappearing back through the portal to the Source.

“Warrior?” one of the radiants asked, and Veronyka yelped, having forgotten they’d been guarding the portal, and disappeared into a teleport spell.

Thanks to the magic of the Eorzean wedding rings, Veronyka was able to teleport directly to Lyse’s side. Which happened to be in the middle of an alliance meeting.

“Oh, hello,” said Veronyka as all eyes turned to her. “I don’t know where I expected to find you.”

“Nyka, what are you doing here?” Lyse asked, grinning as she rose from her seat and hugged her wife.

“Um… how important is this meeting?” Veronyka asked.

“Oh, it’s more of a catch up that probably could’ve been a group linkpearl,” said Lyse, waving it off. “We catch up every moon or so just to have a chat and keep relations cordial.”

“Alphie would be so proud,” said Veronyka, smiling. She looked around at the group. “Mind if I steal my wife?”

“Would that I could steal mine,” said Aymeric. “Er, girlfriend. You know what I mean.”

“She sends her regards,” said Veronyka. And then she took Lyse’s hands and teleported the two of them directly to the royal gardens.

“Okay, so this must be special,” said Lyse, looking at her surroundings. “Last time you took me here was when you proposed. And then I proposed. And then we got married here.”

“You could say that,” said Veronyka. “I’m pregnant.” She’d half been expecting Lyse to laugh or to faint. But instead, her wife grabbed her in her arms with a happy gasp.

“Really?” Lyse asked, her voice cracking. She let go of Veronyka as her wife giggled, Lyse resting her hands on Veronyka’s still mostly flat stomach.

“Yes,” said Veronyka. “I had a feeling but Y’shtola confirmed it and then Zelda made me come home because the void is no place for a pregnant lady.” Lyse, mercifully, remained blissfully unaware of Veronyka accidentally leaking their secret mission.

“Our babies are in there,” Lyse whispered, falling to her knees, pressing her ear to Veronyka’s stomach.

“How did you know there were more than one?” Veronyka asked.

“Because you’re a cat,” said Lyse, her voice slightly muffled by Veronyka’s shirt.

“Fair point,” said Veronyka. “There are four, actually.”

“Four,” Lyse whispered. Now she fainted, though only for a moment before she sprung back up, Veronyka giggling as her wife took her into her arms and kissed her all over her face. “Four babies! I’m gonna be a mama.”

“You are,” said Veronyka, still smiling, unable to stop smiling.

“You’re going to be a mama,” said Lyse. Veronyka nodded, giggling.

“That’s how it works,” said Veronyka. Lyse was crying now, Veronyka joining her, the news finally settling in now that she was home and safe.

“We should maybe go to Old Sharlayan, just to make sure,” said Lyse. “I trust Y’shtola but we have to make sure that they’re okay and you’re okay.”

“Okay, but if they give me Archon Loaf, I’m throwing it in the harbour,” said Veronyka.

“I will not hold it against you, my love,” said Lyse, hand on her heart. “That would almost certainly be bad for the baby.” Veronyka giggled as she took Lyse’s hands and teleported them both to the aetheryte plaza in Old Sharlayan. Immediately, nausea gripped her stomach, though Veronyka managed to not recreate the beginning of the tale of how two cats had discovered the impact of Zodiark’s death on Eorzea’s fish population.

“Veronyka! Are you okay?” Veronyka straightened up just in time for Tataru to run up to her, stopping and waving.

“I’m fine,” said Veronyka. “Just pregnant.”

“I knew it!’ Tataru crowed. “Congratulations, by the way, but I have a gift that just so happens to line up oh so nicely with that.”

“Can it wait until we visit the chirurgeons?” Lyse butted in. “She found out mid adventure so I’m a bit… worried.” Veronyka nodded.

“Oh, of course, the surprise can wait,” said Tataru. “I will await your return!”

The chirurgeon was a nice woman, not Kytte as Veronyka had half expected and half feared but a kindly miqo’te who took one look at Veronyka and knew what her question was before she even asked.

“Four healthy babies and one healthy and soon to be very exhausted mother,” said the chirurgeon. “My congratulations to both of you.”

“Thank you,” said Lyse. “Anything we should know?”

“Plenty of rest and don’t eat too unhealthy,” said the chirurgeon.

“I am not eating Archon Loaf,” Veronyka huffed. The miqo’te gagged.

“Gods, no, that’s the last thing I’d suggest,” said the miqo’te. “Traditional Seeker food should suffice, as well as hydration. You look after your wife now.” This last she said to Lyse.

“I will wait on her hand and foot,” Lyse said solemnly, and Veronyka giggled and butted her shoulder with her forehead.

With a clean bill of health, the two returned to the plaza, where Tataru awaited as promised.

“There you two are,” said Tataru, perking up. “A clean bill of health, I trust?”

“All five of them are healthy as can be,” Lyse reported.

“Four babies?” Tataru gasped, her eyes huge. “Well, let it never be said that a secretary cannot also be a babysitter.”

“You’d probably have to get in line,” said Veronyka. “So, what the surprise?”

“While you were all off saving the world, I have managed to secure an island for each and every one of you,” said Tataru. “It fits in quite nicely with the news, I think.”

“Almost like you knew before we did,” Veronyka mused. Tataru giggled.

“Oh, it was only a matter of time, really,” said Tataru. “Though I certainly wasn’t expecting you two to start the next generation. But never mind, you will make wonderful parents, I’m certain of it.”

“I hope so,” said Lyse.

“I know so,” said Veronyka. “Let’s go to the island. Oh, but first, is that where dad is?”

“He is indeed on his island,” said Tataru. “I have but recently returned from showing him and his beloved husband to their future home.”

“Do you think we can visit him first?” Veronyka asked, pulling her tail into her hands. “I want to tell him before anyone else can.”

“But of course!” said Tataru. “Let’s hope that he’s not too busy.”

For a mercy, Veronyka’s stomach was calm on the boat ride to the island, though she did certainly feel the nerves setting in. Lyse looked far more nervous, though, white as a sheet.

“Lyse, he’s not gonna freak out,” said Veronyka.

“But what if he does?” Lyse whined. “I got his daughter pregnant, that’s like the old cliche.”

“His daughter who you have already married,” said Veronyka. She kissed her wife’s forehead. “We’ll be fine, Lyse. And then we can go and relax on our island.”

Though Lyse still looked uncertain, she let her wife reassure her and tried to relax as the boat pulled onto the sandy shore. They disembarked, Lyse steadying Veronyka as she stumbled a little getting out of the boat.

“Lyse, I’m not that fragile yet,” said Veronyka, smiling at her. “If you baby me too much, they’re going to suspect.”

“Says the one whose hands haven’t left her stomach for more than a few moments since you found out,” said Lyse.

“I have not,” said Veronyka, worry immediately gnawing at her again. “Have I?”

“You had your hand on your belly when you teleported into the meeting,” said Lyse. “I thought you were hurt or something at first, I only relaxed when I didn’t see any blood.”

“Oh, shit,” said Veronyka. “Now the whole alliance knows. Merlwyb better not tell my sister before I can.”

“Next stop then?” Lyse asked.

“I’m kind of terrified of what she’ll say, to be honest,” said Veronyka. “Can’t it wait?”

“D’you want Merlwyb to tell her?” Lyse asked. Veronyka sighed.

“Alright, fine, she can be my next port of call,” said Veronyka. “Can this boat go to Limsa, Tataru?”

“Oh, but we’re so close to your island,” said Tataru. “Although, the Cieldales, where these are located, is rather close to Vylbrand.”

“Island first,” Veronyka decided. “I want to rest.”

“As the lady wants,” said Tataru. “Now, let’s see your father.”

The small group ascended a small hill before the island spilled out before them, revealing a clearing nestled among several high, rocky walls. And in the middle was Jack, humming to himself as he went about constructing a rudimentary building. Urianger was helping him, levitating things that were too heavy to hold.

“Dad,” Veronyka called, trying very hard to keep her hands to her sides. Jack turned around, confused at first before a big grin spread across his features, lighting them up.

“Nyka,” said Jack, putting his tools down and making his way towards her. “What brings you here? Weren’t you going to the void with the rest?”

“Something came up,” said Veronyka as Urianger joined them.

“Art thou ill, Veronyka?” Urianger asked, and Veronyka immediately noticed that her hand had strayed to her belly again.

“Is your tummy giving you trouble again?” Jack asked, ears lowered.

“Well,” said Veronyka, suddenly unsure of what to say.

“She’s pregnant,” said Lyse, immediately trying to hide behind her wife. “I’m sorry.” Veronyka wasn’t sure who she was apologising to.

“Really?” Jack asked, his entire demeanour brightening. Veronyka nodded, lacing her fingers together over her stomach.

“Y’shtola told me after we got into the void,” said Veronyka. Jack gasped, Urianger copying him.

“And she did not think to warn thee before?” Urianger asked, immediately moving to fuss over her.

“There was no time,” said Veronyka. “But Zelda convinced me to leave and I was worried too.” She thought it best to not tell them exactly why she’d been worried. They could find out the full mission details from Zelda. Jack folded his arms over his chest, a stern look crossing his features.

“Well, I am very disappointed,” Jack said. And then, before they could panic too much, his face split into a grin. “That you didn’t tell me sooner. C’mere.” And he pulled Veronyka into his arms, hugging her tightly but not too tightly, swaying her from side to side.

“Dad,” Veronyka complained. “Movement makes me sick.” Jack gasped, snapping his fingers.

“Is that why you were sick when we were exploring the treasure vault?” Jack asked.

“Uh huh,” said Veronyka, nodding, though she looked a little pale. “I thought something was up then but I wasn’t sure. The smell of spicy food never used to make me sick.”

“Mine congratulations to thee as well,” said Urianger, and yelped as he, too, was pulled into the hug. And then Jack looked at Lyse, who stood where she had been left, looking uncertain.

“You’re not… mad?” Lyse asked.

“Only that you didn’t tell us sooner,” said Jack. “You’ll make an excellent mother, Lyse. You know I trust you with Nyka, if that’s what you’re worried about, you’ve proven it time and again and you’ve married her. Made an honest woman of her, as they say. She’s clearly happy with you, what’s there to be mad about?”

“I… I don’t actually know,” said Lyse, brushing away tears. And then Jack pulled her into the group hug, squeezing her tightly, and Lyse was twining her fingers with her wife’s and they were all crying and celebrating the news and musing about the future.

“I insist on babysitting,” said Jack. “At each and every opportunity, you and your little one will want for nothing.”

“Ones,” Veronyka corrected him. “Y’shtola said that there are four.” Jack gasped, his one visible eye filling with light.

“Four?” Urianger echoed. “Then I must needs insist on immediate and prolonged bed rest. Multiple babes can be quite taxing on the body.”

“I have been sleeping a lot more lately,” said Veronyka.

“As well thou shouldst,” said Urianger.

“Anything you need,” Jack reminded her. “Even if it’s something as annoying as going to the mainland to get whatever it is you’re craving.”

“Hey, I’ll be there to help her with that too,” said Lyse.

“The healthy things, then,” said Jack. “I’ll even rub your feet and your back, unless you’d prefer Lyse did that.”

“I can do that too,” said Lyse. “Buuut someone’s going to have to be her impulse control, we’re both pretty bad at that.” She gestured to Veronyka’s condition with a laugh.

“Ah, so it was half planned,” said Jack.

“In the way that we half plan anything,” said Veronyka. “I thought it’d just be one but I guess the Spinner has other ideas.”

“Doesn’t she always,” said Jack. “I mean it, though, Nyka, anything you need. Will you be raising them on the island?”

“Yeah,” said Veronyka, nodding. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

“Wait, where is Tataru?” Lyse asked, looking around for the lalafell who had been forgotten in the excitement.

The lalafell in question was eventually located in the boat, chattering away to the ferryman. She brightened with a smile as the group appeared.

“Oh, hello! I trust the news went well?” Tataru asked.

“Very well,” said Veronyka, nodding and squeezing her father’s flesh hand before moving to stand with her wife once more. “Lyse was worried for nothing, like I thought she would be.”

“You can’t tell me that you weren’t scared of his reaction,” said Lyse. “He’s a big hrothgar, Nyka!”

“Aye, but a soft-hearted one at that,” said Urianger.

“A big teddy bear,” Veronyka teased. “He’s going to check up on me so much.”

“Just knock first, yeah?” said Lyse. “Or call.”

“It would indeed be wise to not see things that cannot easily be unseen,” said Urianger. Jack laughed while Veronyka blushed.

“I will remember that,” said Jack. “Go on, get out of here. Enjoy your island and don’t overdo it.”

“Yes, dad,” said Veronyka, slowly lowering herself into the boat. Now, there were three sets of hands to steady her. She laughed. “Guys, I’m barely a moon, not full term.”

“Babe, you’ve been having to loosen your belts for weeks,” said Lyse. Veronyka huffed but didn’t deny it. She had been blaming it on the bedrest that had been required following her recovery from the battle with Zenos, and the rich and delicious food from Thavnair. Also helping with the hippo delivery service.

“Call if you need anything,” Jack reminded her as they left the beach behind. Veronyka and Lyse waved to the pair standing on the beach.

“I will!” said Veronyka.

“Want to see your sister now?” Lyse asked, looking to Tataru before looking back at her wife.

“May as well,” said Veronyka. “Rip the bandage off and get fussed over and lectured. Gods, she would have known weeks ago if I was still living with her.”

“She is very observant,” said Lyse. “I bet she’ll know before we even open our mouths to tell her.”

“I just hope she’s not too mad,” said Veronyka.

“Why would she be upset?” Tataru piped up. “You're a woman grown, Veronyka, hardly the little kit who she smuggled across the border. You’re married, you’ll soon have a place of your own, why not add babies to the mix?”

“She worries,” said Veronyka. And, as they grew closer and closer to the Moraby Drydock, Veronyka worried too.

“Part of me wants to teleport straight to her and just rip the bandage off,” said Veronyka as she and Lyse stood with Tataru in the busy aetheryte plaza. It wasn’t usually so busy, but judging by the gentleman who was currently being swamped by people, this was the one way to reach the islands. A sudden bout of nausea twisted Veronyka’s stomach, though as she heard a ribbiting in her mind, she knew the cause.

“Are you alright?” Lyse asked, her hand on her wife’s shoulder.

“Frog’s here,” said Veronyka. She grimaced, then rushed for the nearest privy, too much of a lady to lose her lunch in the harbour.

“Hey, Tataru, elite marks don’t appear on the island, do they?” Lyse asked while Veronyka cleaned herself up.

“I was assured that they do not,” said Tataru.

“Good,” said Veronyka, rinsing her mouth with water. “Then I’ll happily stay there. As much as I’ll miss hunting, it’s not safe. Especially with my echo.”

“A swift trot to Limsa it is, then!” Tataru declared with a clap of her hands.

“Stupid frog speeding things up,” Veronyka muttered as she climbed into the chocobo carriage that Tataru had rented for them. She knew that it wasn’t due to her pregnancy, of course, she wasn’t that far along, after all, but rather due to the simple fact of elite marks making her woozy.

Veronyka relaxed once they were inside of Limsa, taking deep breaths of the sea air.

“Strange, I thought the stink of Limsa would’ve made you sicker,” said Lyse.

“It’s home,” said Veronyka. “I know that technically home is on the other side of the wall but…”

“It’s the place you grew up, yeah, I know,” said Lyse, nodding and taking her hand. “Now I’m the only one who’s nervous.”

“Scared of my sister?” Veronyka asked with a laugh. “She wouldn’t hurt you, she’d just fret and try to keep me at home with her and insist on running her own tests. Let’s not mention the void.”

“Agreed,” said Lyse, nodding swiftly. That was a surefire way to have Veronyka locked inside of her bedroom and have all manner of tests conducted on her and the babies well into their childhood.

“Louisa?” Veronyka called as she reached the apartment that her and her sister had lived in since the Calamity. It looked empty, though. There wasn’t even a carbuncle to come bounding out to greet them.

“Guess she’s not home,” said Lyse. “That means we can turn around and go back to the island and skip this awkward conversation, yeah?”

“Lyse,” Veronyka chided, smiling. “No, she has to know, she’d kill me if she was the last one to find out.” Even if she kind of was, considering that Veronyka’s friends and adopted father had been the first to know.

“Find out what?” Louisa emerged from her bedroom, looking as though she were about to head out for a nice lunch with her girlfriend.

“Um,” said Veronyka while Lyse tried to hide herself behind her wife. Louisa sniffed the air, then, and Veronyka silently cursed the better senses of miqo’te.

“And when were you going to tell me that you’d gotten my little sister pregnant?” Louisa asked, looking directly at Lyse.

“Um,” said Lyse, looking very much unlike the woman who had punched Zenos hard enough to break his faceplate.

“Please tell me it didn’t happen here,” said Louisa, wrinkling her nose.

“Gods, no, it was at our home,” said Veronyka. “Ala Mhigo. But if something did happen here then it’s our business and I don’t complain when you bring Merlwyb over.”

“Well, at least it wasn’t while you were recovering,” said Louisa. Veronyka remained very silent. Louisa chose to ignore the quiet admission. “How long have you known?” She turned to her sister again now, her expression softening.

“I found out for sure today but… I’ve suspected since we found Alzadaal’s treasure vault,” said Veronyka.

“Well, you’re lucky that you haven’t been visiting our tribe recently,” said Louisa. “They would’ve smelled you coming.”

“Keepers and Seekers smell different, don’t they?” Veronyka asked. Louisa nodded. “Then I guess that’s how my friends took a while to find out.”

“Even had they known, it is very subtle,” said Louisa. “Apart from the fact that it’s taboo to say that unless you’re family or tribe.”

“So it’s weird that Y’shtola told me?” Veronyka asked.

“Y’shtola is smart and respectful, she wouldn’t say it without good reason,” said Louisa.

“Yeah, I guess she was just worried about our adventures,” said Veronyka, remembering at the last moment to keep quiet about the void stuff.

“Did you come home to stay here until you have the baby?” Louisa asked, warming to the situation far more quickly than either of them had expected.

“Actually, Tataru found an archipelago of islands for us all,” said Veronyka. “We’re thinking of starting our new life there.”

“I heard about those,” said Louisa. “Merlwyb will be happy to know that they’re being put to good use. And this will probably spoil the surprise but there are actually mammets to help you out if you need help building or gardening or tending animals.”

“It really is perfect,” said Veronyka, tears stinging her eyes.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” Lyse asked, rubbing her upper arm.

“Just… something nice and good is finally happening,” said Veronyka. “What’s the catch?”

“There is none,” said Louisa, holding her sister’s other shoulder. “You’ve saved the world, now it’s time to rest.”

“Yeah, isn’t that what you said when you decided to risk pregnancy?” Lyse asked. “The world’s safe enough for babies?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” said Louisa, and Veronyka managed a tiny giggle at her wife’s flustered face.

“I wish mum and dad were here to see this,” said Veronyka, the emotions staying now.

“I know they’re watching,” said Louisa. “The Sharlayan scholars allowed me access to the Aitiascope, so I managed to see them. They’re so proud of us, Nyka, proud of how we’ve grown.”

“I should see them,” Veronyka managed to say through her tears, the waves of emotion crashing over her. “Before it’s too unsafe.”

“We’ve had enough emotions for one day, surely?” Lyse asked, and Veronyka sniffled and wiped her face.

“I’d heard that pregnant women get emotional, but this is a bit ridiculous,” said Veronyka. Lyse kissed her cheek.

“My family too,” Lyse whispered, and now she was crying too.

Tea was had, safe tea for pregnant women with a touch of ginger after the frog incident was mentioned. More tears were shed, and advice was given, and the two were sent on their way with supplies to help nourish growing babies and their very hungry and soon to be exhausted mother. They left while Louisa was trying to tell them which sexual positions would be best, Louisa laughing at the last and wishing them well and promising to visit at the earliest opportunity. This was followed up by a ‘linkpearl first!’ that had her blushing scarlet.

“Now are we ready to depart for the island?” Tataru asked after they found her at the markets.

“Yeah, we are,” said Veronyka, leaning against her wife for support and closing her eyes.

And then, at last, they were at the island. Lyse disembarked first, insisting on sweeping her wife into her arms to carry her over the ‘threshold’, as it were.

“There are going to be many buildings,” said Tataru. “Are you going to carry her over each and every one?”

“Absolutely,” said Lyse, Veronyka giggling in her arms. But then she stopped, gasped, and pointed as a mammet who Tataru introduced as the Felicitous Furball came to greet them.

“They’re already dressed the part!” said Veronyka. “Cat ears for the babysitters.” Her ears instinctively flattered when the mammet began to speak but, once its voice evened out, she was more than happy to listen. Even if she took in almost none of it.

While the mammets built their little hideaway in record time, Lyse sat down so that Veronyka could use her lap as a makeshift pillow.

“You okay, baby?” Lyse asked, running her hand through her wife’s hair.

“Tired,” said Veronyka. “It’s been a long day.”

“And that’s on top of being pregnant,” said Lyse. “It takes a lot of energy to make one baby, let alone four.”

“I’m tired just thinking about it,” said Veronyka. An instant later, her breathing deepened into that of sleep, Lyse gazing down at her. A place of rest and relaxation, where they needn’t lift a finger… they’d earned that, hadn’t they?

#ffxiv #fanfic #Burgie fanfic #pregnancy #ch: Veronyka Felis #ch: Zelda Starkk #ch: Y'shtola Rhul #ch: Zero #ch: Jack Epocan #ch: urianger Augurelt #ch: Louisa Felis #ch: Lyse hext #ch: Astrid Witte #ch: Tataru Taru #ship: Lyseka #6.2 spoilers #very mild though

6 notes · View notes

starcunning · 6 years

Text

This Beast That Rends Me: 5 Apr

Hi I obliterated my word count target for the day but I still wish I could have done more. See you tomorrow!

Previously: 1 Apr, 2 Apr, 3 Apr, 4 Apr

Chapter Three

The sky—her sliver of it, anyway—was leaden gray in the morning. Her calves ached, a bone-deep feeling that satisfied more than troubled her, but stretching took most of it away. There was a carafe of coffee awaiting her on the table, and propped against it an envelope of vellum. Both were black.

Shasi poured herself a mug, tail twitching behind her as she drank, and then she took the envelope and turned it over in her hands. The seal on the back was gold wax, stamped with a pair of scales. That didn’t surprise her, but she finished her coffee first.

Lieutenant Kilntreader, the letter inside read, Under most circumstances even results would not spare you the indignity of a court-martial, but Ul’dah has done enough harm to the name of the Scions. So says the Sultana, who has ever counted you a friend. If I were you, I would do nothing that would jeopardize that friendship, nor the friendship between Ul’dah and Ala Mhigo, even with our home restored to us.

Although we have declared a general moratorium on your briefings, you should be permitted to know this: the interim leadership council of Ala Mhigo has been selected. It is their intent to serve the will of the people—the same people Zenos yae Galvus kept beneath his heel. That he yet lives is not common knowledge, or there would be rioting in the streets. Learn what you can from him, but do not expect him to survive.

Included is a questionnaire on matters of critical import. Of especial interest are the “Populares” mentioned in your conversation with Urianger Augurelt. You may submit your report in writing. You are under no circumstances to break the terms of your sequester; the Echo is the only thing that keeps you on an even footing with him, but its unpredictable nature precludes your contact with anyone holding sensitive knowledge.

I trust you will remember what it is to serve.

For Coin and Country, General Aldynn

Shasi frowned, flipping through the pages of the questionnaire, committing them to memory. The room felt cool, and she shivered. Whatever relief was to be found in Raubahn’s letter, it was tempered by a sense of foreboding. But this was the bargain she’d struck, and now had to fulfill. She could delay it a while—another cup of coffee, and then she’d make ready for the day and go find a megalith board—but X’shasi had learned better than to think she could shirk her own destiny.

She could smell the petrichor from the menagerie even within the glass walls of the greenhouse, a few of the windows canted so that the air might circulate. She had dressed more formally, in a coat of slate blue and dark trousers—there had been, for a moment, the temptation to come in uniform, but that had seemed unwise. The game board was folded under one arm, tucked against her elbow.

The Viceroy’s head was already turned toward the entryway as she approached, and the lift of his chin betrayed his attentiveness, but when he rose he did not look directly at her. He loaned his robe an air of formality despite the simplicity of his garb: the same indigo yukata she had seen him in weeks before.

“Eikon-slayer,” he greeted her. “Viceroy,” she said in turn. “No,” he said, “you have taken that from me.” “What should I call you, then?” Shasi asked. “As my friend, you might call me Zenos. Come,” he said, “sit.”

The table was set below a chandelier of crystal. With no candles, it simply refracted what light it could snatch from the air around them; in the wanness of the morning it was little enough. He waited for her to sit first, and she found herself recalling he was royalty after all, and schooled in some manner of courtly graces.

“You found one,” he said as she set the megalith set between them. “I had to bribe a quartermaster,” she said with a sly little smile. “Somehow I doubt that.” She turned it around on the table, lifting the latch on one side to open the casing. “They’re all Ul’dahn, don’t you know.” He regarded her a moment, and as she laid the case open to reveal the pieces stowed away, he plucked one up, running a nail over the carved stone. “Aren’t you?” “Yes,” she said, sorting them by color. “And no. I was born in the mountains of Gyr Abania, but I barely remember it. Then it was southern Thanalan, but I don’t recall that either. Perhaps my memories are hazy enough that it all looks the same to me.”

She pushed the marble pieces across the table at him, flipping the case over to reveal the playing board of inlaid stone on the other side. “I thought you would play light,” he said with a tight little smile. “I thought you might like to represent the ivory standard,” she countered. His laughter filled the airy room then. “Perhaps I might. Well,” he said. “Your Princeps goes here, on his own color.” He set the piece in place with a decisive motion.

Soon, the board had been arranged, and the pieces and their movements explained.

“White plays first,” Zenos told her, those long fingers plucking up a piece to advance. “Just as well,” Shasi laughed. “Is that how you see it? Is acting not better than reacting?” Shasi could only shrug at that, tentatively moving one of her pieces in turn. “You know the game better than I. At least I have the benefit of observation.” He shook his head, that smile still tugging at his lips. “Eventually, observation and reaction can carry you no further, and you must round on your foe and act,” he said, removing a piece from the board. “But you know this already, eikon-slayer.” “I thought we were friends. Zenos.” “It is a compliment,” he said. “In its way.” “From the rest of the Empire I might believe that,” Shasi agreed, propping her chin on a loosely curled fist. “Not from me?” “I don’t think it impresses you overmuch,” she told him. “Don’t overextend,” he told her. “You’ve left your castrum vulnerable. When did you come to Ul’dah?” “As a girl,” Shasi said. “I was perhaps five summers old then.” “With your tribe?” “No,” she said. “Why do you want to know?” “Call it a personal curiosity,” Zenos told her, leaning in to move a piece across the board. “You must have a curiosity of your own,” he said. “Several,” she said, capturing one of his flanking pieces and plucking it from its place. “What do you know about the Populares?” “I said ‘of your own,’ he reminded her. “This one, I think, comes by way of your Scions.” “Perhaps,” she said, “but I have a personal interest. We know of the Empire by their exclaves—the castra that Gaius van Baelsar established after the Calamity, and the provinces you have conquered. I have only the smallest inkling of what the heart of it is. It snows there?” “Often,” he agreed. “The winters there are bitter. Exile was bitterer.” “Like Ishgard?” she wondered. “Coerthas was blanketed in snow after the Calamity, but Garlemald has always been swathed in white,” he said, moving his Princeps back to a more fortified position.

“I have to give them something,” Shasi said, “and I do want to know.” He sighed. “The Populares are exactly what their name implies,” he told her, watching as she picked off one of his supporting pieces. “They are populists. My great-uncle was their champion. Whether they survived him I couldn’t say. It seems unlikely any would reveal themselves to me.” “Because you are your father’s son?” “Am I?” he asked, fixing her with a tight lipped smile. He drummed his fingers against the board. “He never seemed to think so. Because I am a Legatus, X’shasi. A military man. So yes, in that, I am Varis’s son. I am Solus zos Galvus’s great-grandson. They concern themselves more with internal matters than conquest, so I am beyond the remit of their trust.” Shasi heard the regret in his tone, and told him so: “So perhaps Varis was not wrong to doubt your loyalties. What could they offer you?” “He was,” Zenos said, snatching back one of his pieces angrily. “It was van Baelsar’s journals that changed my mind, and I did not read those until I arrived here.” “What was in them?” Shasi wondered. “A great deal,” he said. “Half a decade’s observations of Eorzea. His collaboration with the last ‘Warrior of Light.’ Musings on the primals,” he said, nudging a piece into place. “And you.” That surprised her, and she looked up into his face. He was smiling at her, an indulgent sort of expression. He continued: “He admired you, in a way. I suppose he would have made you regent. It would have made things much simpler, don’t you think?”

“That’s not something the Populares could offer you,” she said, feeling her jaw tighten. “No, but they could have offered it to you,” he said. “An end to Garlean expansionism? A different approach to the problem of the eikons? Tell me that holds no appeal for you.” “I don’t think you’re so terribly opposed to your empire’s expansion,” she said mildly, pressing forward to take another piece. “No more than you are opposed to Lominsan expansionism,” he agreed. He must have seen how it stung her, for he lifted his fingers from the piece he had been toying with and made a less threatening move instead.

A less obviously threatening one, anyway.

“So now you know something to tell your masters.” “Later,” she said. “I did promise. And if it had been any less dire a portent before, I would not have gone then.” “This Elidibus occupies you greatly,” he noted, lifting one of his discarded Legatii to examine its form. “Are you afraid of him?” Shasi swallowed, glad his gaze was elsewhere. “Yes,” she said. “You never seemed to fear me.” “No,” she agreed. “I knew your reputation ere ever you came to Rhalgr’s Reach, as it seems you knew mine, but even then … I was not afraid.” “You knew me,” he said flatly. “My mentor had spoken of you, once or twice. As a thing of unholy terror. But … it was not so long before that I chanced to see myself through another’s eyes, and I was no less a horror than as had been described.” He chuckled, a low, rolling purr that seemed to spill over the table between them. “So you were not afraid because you thought you had my measure, as I was sure I had yours.” “No, I was not afraid because I wanted to take your measure,” she said, darting a piece forward with a small smile. “Why not take his?” Zenos wondered. “He’s an emissary,” she told him. “I could no sooner harm him than, say, a prisoner of war.” “A pity,” Zenos said, plucking up one of her pieces to set his down in the square. “I have you,” he told her. “No, you don’t,” she said, diverting a piece to her defense. He looked at her a long moment, a crooked smile upon his features. “So your hands are bound,” he said. “Little as I like it,” Shasi shrugged. His smile only broadened. He leaned in, took her castrum, and set a fingertip to the crown of her Emperor. “I have you,” he reiterated, and toppled the piece.

Shasi cursed. “Well, I suppose at least I have the comfort of knowing you weren’t holding back.” “Have I ever?” he asked. “Dine with me tonight. That seems an appropriate forfeit.” “I didn’t know we were dictating terms,” she said. “What if I’d rather write a letter to my masters, as you so disdainfully call them?” He pouted, an oddly boyish expression bereft of the anger she had expected. “How disappointing,” he said. She looked at him, reaching down to roll the Emperor beneath her fingers. “Do you know what your life is missing, Zenos?” she said. “Challenges, I should imagine,” he drawled. “Yes,” she agreed, sweeping the pieces from the board. “Just not the ones you mean.” “Oh?” “You don’t hear ‘no’ nearly enough,” she said, turning the board back over.

“X’shasi,” he said, reaching out to take hold of her wrist. His grasp was gentler than expected, his fingers rough with a swordsman’s calluses, but surprisingly warm. She looked down at his hand a long moment, where it lay against her skin. “Please,” he said. “Please what,” she prompted, her voice steadier than she might have feared. “Please come and dine with me this evening.” She waited, not looking up into his eyes. In the face of her indifference—feigned though it might have been—he capitulated. “Not because you owe it to me, or because I’ve won it from you. Come because it pleases you to do so.” She nodded once. “I will return for dinner,” she said. “For now I should see to other matters.” He let go of her wrist, but she lingered over the task of putting away the megalith pieces, rising only when she was sure her knees were steady.

#TBTRM #x'shasi #zenos yae galvus #wol/zenos #original content #starcunning writes

9 notes · View notes