#chochoba choba

[chysgoda]

Last Dragoon: Dux Bellorum Part One

September 01: Envoy

The Song had been distracting for the last few days. There was something amused in the steady drum beat of Midgardsomer's heart that laid under Hrasvalger's strange yearning for family, his horde's curiosity, and a new note in the harmony that she did not recognize. Someone had slowly been making their way to the Dravinian forelands. Someone who should not be taking so long to get here and the white wyrm was growing grumpy. Bel Aliender did her best to cast aside the urge to retreat to Aynx Trine and fall into the Song. She had business with her own horde, as Vidofnir was fond of calling Defiant. 

Nearly ten years on from the eighth umbral calamity and Defiant was looking more like a proper town than a refugee tent city. She watched her husband drilling his pair of squires and her small cadre of dragoons spared under Baelsar's critical gaze. At the communal hearth Chochoba Choba was haranguing someone about disgraceful bread baking while Linda Carter and Dark Autumn watched the few children that had been born safely to Defiant. Whatever had Hrasvalger in a twist she would not let it sour the song in her own heart. 

Bel's ears flicked back, near the gate talons were pounding on the hard packed dirt of the road between Defiant and Tailfeather. She turned to see a black chocobo and one of the messengers that regularly made the run between the two settlements. They were pushing their bird far more than they normally would. They caught sight of her and did not bother to slow down as they barreled through the town's gates. The horse bird's talons let goudges in the dirt when the messenger finally reigned in their mount. "Thank the Traveler that you're not on patrol!"

Bel caught the chocobo's reins, "Breathe, Rolant."

Rolant absently patted their bird's neck before he dismounted. One of Constaint's squires came up to take the chocobo's reins and guide the bird to water. Constaint and Gaius joined her while Rolant carefully opened an inner pocket in the bag slung crosswise over their body. Bel arched an eyebrow when she saw a pair of envelopes made with fine paper. The young elezan handed them to her. "There's two envoys in Tailfeather. They sent those letters and plan to start out for Defiant as soon as their traveling parties are rested."

Bel hummed an acknowledgement as she read the front of the envelopes. There was a subtle trace of magic in one of the envelopes. Not an intentional charm, more like the strings of a lute vibrating in sympathy was the sound of other instruments. The hand that wrote the address was simple and elegant.

'Ser Bel Aliender'

Bel flipped the first over to see if there was a seal and both her eyebrows arched. Next to her Baelsar shifted his weight and no doubt if she looked he'd have the tight subtle frown he always had when thinking. On her other side Constaint rested a hand on the small of her back. "I don't recognize that seal."

"It's the personal seal of the Satrap of Radz-at-Han," Bel ran her thumb over the rich blue wax and thought of the Song with exasperation. if Hrasvalger was going to inflict the Song with his personal annoyances the least he could have done was provide an actual explanation of who he was upset with. "and his envoy is more than what he appears." 

Rolant nodded, "The envoy is Au Ra but he's got the strangest green horn and scales. He's polite at least. Treats everyone in Tailfeather like equals. The other one…"

Bel shuffled the envelopes and frowned at the address on it. 

Dux Bellorum Aliender

Gaius hissed out a breath and explained when Bel glanced at him, "it is An old Garlean title. Dux Bellorum, leader of war, was given to generals of renown when Garlemald was just a collection of petty chieftains and kings." 

Bel pressed her lips into a thin line and checked the seal. She found the Empire's interlocked links pressed into pale red wax. What was that strangling chain doing anywhere near her people? "What does this second envoy call themselves?"

"Qunitus van Cinna legatus of the first legion," Rolant grimaced and ran a hand through their hair, "he and his escort have been trying. There would have been blood in the dirt if Machop and Envoy Varshan hadn't been able to defuse things."

"Do you know him, Gaius?" Bel tapped the edges of the envelopes against her lips as she thought. 

"A fanatic," the old wolf said decisively, "I did not think he had survived the fall of the empire."

"Love, could you ask the council to join me in the town hall?" Bel asked after a few long minutes. "Gaius could you make sure that the road stays clear and organize an escort? It would be wise to keep this legatus from encountering our vanth allies."

Baelsar nodded crisply and strode off to gather up what constituted Defiant's militia. Constaint bent to kiss the crown of her head and then straightened to go over to hearth where Chochoba still was. Rolant gave her a half bow and headed to the stables where his bird would have been. Bel blew out a breath and pinched the bridge of her nose. In that unguarded moment the constant background of Song surged and the ever present melody nearly pulled her into it. 

"Something wrong Lady Knight?" The lilting and oily voice brought Bel back to the present. She turned to glare at Carry Ermingild who held his hands up, "I'm only concerned for our Dux Bellorum."

"Carry please find something to do that doesn't involve finding titles to annoy me with." Bel said with an evenness that only six years of enduring the man's teasing could grant. 

"Oh don't be like that," the elezan man chided. "but I shall go and aid our old wolf with escorting our new guests."

He walked past her raising his arm and gave two twists his hand in a loose wristed wave.  

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite2023 #ffxiv fan fiction #au: last dragoon #Bel Aliender #Gaius Baelsar #constaint #red head writes a thing

[chysgoda]

Crane

Many thanks to @autumnslance for letting me play with her lovely Dark Autumn!

AU: Last Dragoon

Summer

Year 07 of the Eighth Umbral Era

Wedding planning was going as well as Linda had expected it to.

Constaint was amiable to almost anything and she could bring him around to her point of view on this. Bel was less inclined to give in at all. “I don’t want it to look like I’m pilfering from the winter stores.”

“Bel,” Linda paused when Chochoba tapped on her elbow. Absently she picked the lalafel woman up and placed her on her own shoulders. When Chochoba settled Linda continued. “It’s one small feast, it’s not going to destroy the winter stores. And it will help morale, something that everyone can celebrate, something that feels stable.”

The Miqo’te woman dragged a hand down her face. “Are you ever going to drop this?”

“No we are not.” Chochoba said sternly from Linda’s shoulders. “Let the old women have their pleasures.”

Bel narrowed her eyes at both of them and her tail thrashed like she was cornered. Which, if Linda was being honest, she was. The pair of old women waited and stared perfectly willing to stay where they were at until Bel cracked and agreed with them. Bel glowered some more with an expression she had picked up from Gaius Baelsar. “Fine.”

Linda and Chochoba smiled brightly. Now it was on to the fun part.

—

Gaius looked over his shoulder when he felt tugging on the back of his coat. He had expected to see one of Defiant’s children. He had not expected to see a lalafelen matron expertly climbing up his back. He stared nonplussed for a handful of moments before speaking, “What are you doing?”

“Hush long bones, I’m too old to be putting a crick in my neck looking up to check decorations.” Chochoba settled on his shoulders.

“But not too old to climb up the back of my coat?” Gaius knew the answer already, but felt the need to voice the question so that he could say he had.

“Yup!” Chochoba chimed brightly. “Now let's check that this is all perfect and our fearless leader will be shocked into a few moments of self indulgence before she shoves the rod back up her butt.”

Gaius Baelsar, former legatus of Garlemald and hunter of Ascians sighed. After just three years a pair of old women had managed to brow beat him into going along with this kind of nonsense. He walked over to the first set of decorations that Chochoba indicated.

—

“Constaint be a good lad and put me on your shoulders. My old neck can’t take all of this any more.” Chochoba smiled broadly.

“Oh course Lady Choba.” Constaint got down on one knee and held out an arm so that the matron could easily climb up to his shoulders. “What high cupboard did something get hidden in this time?”

“Such a clever boy.” Chochoba reached around to pat the paladin’s cheek affectionately. They walked in comfortable silence for a time before the old woman spoke up again. “Thank you for helping to take care of our Bel.”

Constaint smiled thinking of his soon to be wife. “She hardly needs me to hold her hand, I am deeply honored that she has trusted me to hold her heart.”

“She’s lucky to have you dear boy.”

—

“Dark Autumn, could I bother you for some help?”

The Roegadyn woman glanced down to the lalafel and smiled. “Does it require a piggy back ride?”

Chochoba laughed, “No, not this time. I just need help putting ribbons on flowers.”

“Lead the way,” Dark motioned ahead of her and followed the matron with a deliberately slow step. She smiled when they entered the town hall and she saw a pile of fresh wildflowers and many colored ribbons at the long table. Realizing what Chochoba wanted she sat down and began to gather the flowers into bouquets to be tied with the ribbons. She paused when a yellow ribbon came to her hand. The ribbons were all handsome with rich soft color, though they weren’t as intense as what adventures had once loved to parade about in. Dark Autumn drew the yellow ribbon through her fingers. “She used to wear yellow ribbons in her pigtails.”

Chochoba paused, it was rare either Bel or Dark Autumn spoke with anyone else about the friends and family they lost with the Warriors of light and Scions of the Seventh Dawn. She forced her hands to go back to their tasks. “It’s hard to picture her with hair that long.”

Dark chuckled and went back to tying the ribbons. “She cut it when she became a squire. She told me once that her ears were hard enough to deal with under a helm, let alone ears AND hair.”

Chochoba smiled, that did sound like their pragmatic girl. “Would her mother have approved of this?”

Dark Autumn smiled, “Constaint was Art’imis’s squire and she trusted him, I can’t imagine she’d be anything but supportive. Lord Edmont, Count Artoirel, and Estinien on the other hand, would have wanted their time to question him.”

Chochoba laughed at that. “As grandfathers uncles and big brothers, are want to do.”

“Yes,” Dark Autumn agreed and they went back to their jobs. After a few minutes Dark Autumn spoke up again. “Art’imis would have liked you and Linda, and appreciated how you’ve taken care of her girl.”

Chochoba stilled again and looked up at the Roegadyn woman and her kind eyes. “Thank you, it’s good to know that.”

“Now we should get to back to work before Vidofnir runs out of reasons to keep Bel away,”

#ffxiv #ffxiv fan fiction #ffxivwrite 2021 #red head writes a thing #chochoba choba #linda conner #bel aliender #gaius baelsar #Constaint #dark autumn #have I skipped over the courtship phase? #yes #why? #because I suck at writing romance #grandmas in the apocalypse

[chysgoda]

Adroit

AU: Last Dragoon

Spring

Year 06 of the Eighth Umbral Era

It had gotten to the point of ridiculousness. It wasn’t that it was disruptive. Neither of them would have allowed something so petty as their own feelings (Chochoba snorted to herself) to upset the town. No, Defiant would never be at risk because of a pair of idiots.

But if she had to keep watching Bel and Constaint fumble around much longer she might just end up screaming at both of them in the middle of the town square.

Chochoba huffed out a breath as she tracked down her most likely allies. She had seen that all four of her children and her three grandchildren thrived in happy, healthy relationships. She was far from a bumbling matchmaker. She was THE matchmaker. Besides, it wasn’t like the idiots didn’t already know about their feelings. It was that one was not willing to ask for more if the other was not ready, and the other had poured so much of herself into Defiant for so long that she’d forgotten how to hold anything back for herself.

She nodded to Linda when she found her friend minding young Serella. Chochoba picked up the toddler with absent familiarity when the little girl made excited babbling noises. “So.”

Linda grinned, “So.”

Perhaps it wasn’t directly their business. But a single baby and the back breaking labor of reestablishing civilization were hardly enough to keep a pair of old grandmas occupied.

#ffxiv #ffxiv fan fiction #ffxivwrite 2021 #redhead writes a thing #au: last dragoon #eighth umbral era #Chochoba Choba #linda conner #grandmas in the apocalypse

[chysgoda]

Fic Premise: The busybody older ladies of Defiant somehow get Gaius tangled up in their plans to get Bel and Constaint to settle down. Hijinks ensue.

😂

Oh that’s going on the list. Chochoba and Linda would absolutely use Gaius as their patsy. Probably for as much as they can get away with honestly.

#ffxiv #ask response #au: last dragoon #gaius baelsar #Chochoba Choba #Linda Connor

[chysgoda]

Shameless

Prompt 23: Parched

FFXIV Write 2019

Word Count: 769

Rating: PG-13

AU: The Last Dragoon

Defeat and necessity were powerful remedies against arrogance. He had been fighting fit when the Warriors of Light had cast him, the Ultimate Weapon, and Lahabrea down at Castrum Meridian. In the weeks that followed he had learned how flimsy fighting fit was to the rest of the star. The old farmer that had taken him on as farm hand the following spring had scoffed at his gun blade and grabbed his right hand that had not been bound in bandages to examine the callouses. The old farmer had scoffed again and told him that he was expected work not noodle around with shiny metal. Still, skills he had learned that season had helped to see him through to becoming the Shadowhunter and surviving the aftermath of Black Rose.

The axe came down with a satisfying thunk and split the log, adding to the pile of cut lumber. He raised a hand to wipe sweat from his brow and caught sight of Linda Conner and Chochoba Choba sitting in the shade of the storage shed mending clothes and cleaning weapons. He nodded to them politely and got the toothy smiles that seemed to be their response to any attention paid them. He set the wood axe against the chopping block and turned to shrug off his coat and shirt.

“Oh don’t stop on our account deary.” Chochoba sang out.

“Don’t interrupt the man Cho.” Linda chastised the other matron.

Gaius shook his head as the pair bickered and draped his shirt and coat and a nearby fence post. Wise as they could be he found them to be a bit... much. He picked the axe again and set back to work.

“Linda pay attention!”

“I am paying attention!”

The highlander matron cleared her throat and Chochoba cackled maniacally. “Bit of a parched throat dear? I’m sure we’ve got a tall glass of something around here.”

Gaius glanced their way and was met with toothy smiles once again. He shook his head and focused on his task again. After he’d gone through a few logs in relative silence he glanced over to see if the pair of matrons had left, only to find them watching him with intent and appreciation. He frowned and narrowed his eyes, “is there something I can help you with Ladies?”

“Absolutely.” Linda grinned.

Chochoba smacked Linda’s arm. “Some subtly!”

“Subtly’s no good with this one! Even if he’d gone about subjugating Eorzea without his stupid hat he wouldn’t have understood why it was so easy until some lass threw sopping knickers in his face.”

Gaius blinked once, twice, and a third time all very slowly. Chochoba smacked her friend’s arm again. “Now you’ve gone and done it! He’s broken!”

“Cho? Linda? Have either of you seen G-“ Bel Aliender came around the side of the shed only half paying attention and stopped abruptly seeing the stalemate. She took half a step back almost immediately, “I’m obviously interrupting something-“

“Nonsense! Come enjoy the show, you could do with some relaxing.” Chochoba waved the young mi’qote woman over.

Bel’s nose automatically scrunched in distaste. Gaius thanked whatever greater power there may or may not be that at the very least he’d never have to worry about that problem with the girl.

“What if we got that Cary fellow?” Chochoba cackled at the disgusted look that suggestion netted her.

“Knew you had good taste dear,” Linda said approvingly. Gaius had to agree on that point at least.

“That Paladin lad rode into town last ni-“ Chochoba started

“Constaint’s back?!” Bel’s tail stood straight up and then everything about her froze in horror. Both of the old women grinned like courel’s that had found the cream. The young woman blushed such a deep red that it clashed with her lavender hair. She glanced at both Gaius and the pair of troublemakers.

Then she turned tail and ran.

Gaius blew out a breath slowly. It wasn’t like he’d never had to deal with sexual attention. It was just that he’d never met anyone as shameless as this pair of spinsters. Carefully he set the axe against the chopping block and went to retrieve his shirt and coat. There were sighs of disappointment which he ignored as he put the garments back on. Steadfastly he did not look at either woman as he gathered up the lumber he had cut and carried it to the woodshed they sat by.

“Oh deary, that tan isn’t nearly deep enough to hide a blush.” Chochoba said with mock sympathy. He felt heat rush to his face and both women cackled in triumph.

AN: just so we’re all clear Gaius/Bel will never be a thing.

Also can I blame this on my mild fever?

#ffxiv #ffxiv fan fiction #ffxivwrite2019 #gaius baelsar #bel aliender #chochoba choba #linda conner #little old ladies know no shame #au: last dragoon

[chysgoda]

💍💎 (Love HCs!!)

Gonna go with Art‘imis/X’rhun which has become the current ship for my writing. Bel as of the current time line is single so I’ll go with Bel/Constaint from my last Dragoon AU

💍 = Big or small wedding

Art: her and X’rhun have every intention of living in sin.

Bel: yes? Small in terms of the number of people large given is probably all of Defiant attends. Bel is Ishgardian enough to feel that marriage is important in general and also as a sign/assurance that Defiant will continue and be stable enough for something so normal. Also if she and Constaint didn’t decide to do it, Chochoba Choba and Linda would arrange it themselves and just drag them into position.

💎 = What kind of gemstone would your muse prefer on their engagement or wedding ring?

Art and Bel would both prefer plain bands, easier to wear with daily use and nothing to get caught on gauntlets or gloves. They would appreciate the artistry and skill of something like a mokume ring.

#ffxiv #ask meme #ask meme answers #art’imis chysgoda #bel aliender #x’rhun tia #constaint

[chysgoda]

Resources

Last Dragoon: Tales of the Eighth Umbral Era

Rating: Teen

Word count: 1629

Bel landed on the cliffs overlooking Aynx Trine with soft feet. She looked across the Dravinian forelands, her eyes resting briefly on the woods that hid Tailfeather, on the settlement of the gnath, and finally on Defiant. The home she and other survivors had clawed from the stagnant earth. The fields where they toiled to quicken the soil with vitality. It was easier here than near the city-states where Black Rose had been released, but even with the last seedseer it was a work of years to get where they had and would be many more still. She looked to the churned-up earth outside of her small town, three days ago they had fended of bandits. Three days ago they had lost the husband of the only woman how had become pregnant in the last four years. She removed Estinien’s gale bog from her back so that she could sit on the edge of the cliff. She stared at the churned-up earth where they had fought bandits for their home and she had failed to save one of her own. Her lavender ears fell flat against her skull and here away from where she had to be Ser Bel Aliender the last dragoon she sobbed.

Old Jaren was on gate duty when she returned. The former Temple Knight looked her over noting how her face had been scrubbed almost raw with freezing river water. He rested a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “No leader has ever been spared losing men Ser Aliender. You’ve done well to lose so few.”

Bel gave him a weak smile and reached up to squeeze the back of his hand. “Thank you Ser Jaren.”

“Long Bones is getting restless.” Jaren nodded past the walls into the town. “Best go channel the Lord Commander and get him back on track before he tries to whip up an army.”

Bel grimaced. “I’ll take care of it. Thank you for the warning Jaren.”

Jaren gave her a lazy salute and returned his full attention to his watch. Bel rolled her shoulders back and stood taller than she felt. She strode into Defiant proper and looked around the square. She found the tall Garlean by the storage building frowning deeply to himself. Quick steps carried her over to where Gaius Bealsar stood. “Gaius could I speak with you please?”

She barely waited for the former legatus’s arched eyebrow and nod before turning to walk to the building that housed the communal kitchen and meeting room. At the end of the building opposite the kitchen was the small room where she kept records of Defiant’s day to day running that she may need to refer to later. The office is where she went to and planted herself on one side of the table that currently held her notes on how much seed they’d been able to harvest from last year’s wheat. “I’m concerned about you getting restless.”

Gaius stood straight-backed as he always did, arms lose at his sides and face stoic as he looked down at her raising an eyebrow. “Is this a wellness check Aliender?”

“What are you planning Baelsar?” Bel asked flatly. She placed her hands on her hips.

“We need to remove the root of the bandit problem.” Baelsar frowned and folded his arms over his chest. Chochoba Choba had once pointed out to Bel that the stoic expression Baelsar perpetually wore was a horrible poker face. Pay attention and get to know the man and you could read him like a book.

“How? As soon as one camp is razed there’s another. This isn’t an army or horde of dragons that could be routed.” Bel considered the older man frowning. “Unless you’re thinking of doing a bit of light conquering? An empirette perhaps?”

“And how many of these attacks do you think Defiant can weather Aliender.” Baelsar asked sharply. He moved her records aside to get at the map that was spread out on the table. Bel cocked her head as she watched him.

“Did you go back to Garlamald after the calamity?” The Miqo’te woman asked softly. She watched his hands go still and the muscles in his jaw twitch. “How much was left?”

“Nothing,” Gaius stared down at the map of Dravinia without seeing it. “Wyrmblood and I had tracked the final two factories to the capital itself. By the time we got there the capital was dead, all that was left were scavengers picking over the bones.”

Bel ran a hand through her hair and decided not to press for details on the story. “You know we don’t have the resources for any kind of campaign. There just isn’t the people, food, water, infrastructure, even if it was a good idea. Which it’s not.”

Baelsar glared down at the petite Miqo’te woman. “How many more men do you intend to lose to attacks we could prevent?”

Bel went very still. On her back, the remembered rancor in Estinien’s gale bog called to her. She fought her temper down, better to delay a response than give her temper over as a tool to be used against her. She’d taken notes at the assembly of the House of Lords for Uncle Antoriel a few times before the war with Garlamald, and she’d seen that particular barb wielded against Ser Aymeric. It was a diversion, a trap to get an emotional response without divulging what the reasoning was. She sprung the trap and turned it the way she’d seen Aymeric do. “We would lose men either way. What do you want here Gaius Belsar?”

“Defiant is not secure if we-“

“It will never be secure. We thought the waking sands was secure until Lahabrea brought Liva Sas Junus and her team to abduct those who were useful and kill everyone else. You thought the Castrums and the Praetorium were secure until they were each brought down by an eight-man team during Operation Archon.” She watched the muscle in his jaw twitch again. She decided to press on. “What would you do sort threw those you grind down and send me back any who might be useful tools? Like you planned to send me back to Garlamald so that the empire could have an Elikon Slayer of its own to train up?”

“I did not realize you’d been told about that.” Baelsar’s tone had gone flat.

“Guards tend to think kids are stupid and don’t have ears so they don’t mind their tongues to well.”

“That would explain some of the changes in the scions behavior.” Baelsar took a long breath in and let it out before speaking again. “You’ve obviously been expecting this conversation Aliender.”

“I’m not an idiot Baelsar I knew who I was letting into my town.” Bel didn’t realize the emphasis she’d put on ‘my’ until it had left her lips.

“Then why let me in at all?” Baelsar’s tone grew short.

“Because it’s better to have you inside pissing out than outside pissing in.” The dragoon snapped back.

Baelsar leaned back and blinked at her. “You are very much Latia’s daughter.”

Bel paused for a moment, “That was Mama Mel’s name when she was still with Garlamald? When you and she were….”

“Lovers? Yes, Latia Sas Ursis.” Baelsar arched an amused eyebrow at the blush that colored the young woman’s cheeks. “I didn’t think she’d told anyone her history with Garlamald.”

“She didn’t remember it until just before the Calamity,” Bel said absently as she restored the records she’d been reviewing back to where she had left them on the table.

Before the man could respond an old lalafel woman stepped into the doorway to look over the situation. She nodded satisfied, “Thank you for leaving the door open Bel.”

“Not a problem Chochoba.” Bel smiled at the other woman.

“They’re having trouble with one of the new birds from Tailfeather, you’ll probably want to make sure no one tries to drag tar and feathers through the forest.” Chochoba jerked a thumb in the direction of the stables. She gave Baelsar an unreadable look before moving on to the kitchen.

“Leave the door open?” Baelsar asked sharply.

“Deserved or not you have a reputation,” Bel stated unapologetically. “It costs me nothing to set her mind at ease.”

Baelsar frowned deeply at her, “Your town does not trust me I take it.”

“Not if they remember the Black Wolf well.” Bel shrugged. “Otherwise they’ll take their cue from me.”

Gaius Baelsar folded his arms and considered the young woman carefully. She was just gone twenty summers and the indisputable leader of one of the few settlements left standing. He could see the legacy of her mother’s, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, the Dragoons and Temple Knights of Ishgard, all distilled down into this woman shouldering the burden of more than just Defiant. “There is still the question of defense.”

“We will look over physical defenses and see what can be improved,” Bel Aliender looked down at the table seeing the map without looking at it. “Look at sentry and scouting setups as well, an earlier warning will be most effective.”

Gaius Baelsar nodded. “Reasonable under the circumstances. When would you like to start Aliender?”

“We can grab Jaren and inspect the town itself today then spiral out from there tomorrow.” The young dragoon nodded and motioned to the door.

Baelsar followed her out of the building but paused when they stepped into the sunlight. “They would be proud of what you have built here.”

Bel glanced up at him, for the skin of a moment looking her age when uncertainty and hope flashed in her eyes. It was gone and she was looking over her town within a heartbeat. “I can only hope so.”

#ffxiv #ffxiv fan fiction #au: last dragoon #gaius baelsar #bel aliender #military campaigns are not good coping skills #A town called defiant #red head writes a thing

[chysgoda]

👌 For a Random Headcanon Between Your Muse and Mine

(From Last Dragoon AU)

It is a not so well kept secret in Defiant that Bel Aliender and Gaius Baelsar sparing together tends to reinforce bad habits and traits they both have. Since joining the settlement Dark Autumn has decreased incidents of Bel training while injured by at least half. (Much to the relief of Raya-O-Sena, Chochoba Choba, and Linda Carter)

#ffxiv #ffxiv rp ask meme #gaius baelsar #bel aliender #dark autumn #au: last dragoon

[chysgoda]

Small Victories and Large

Prompt 20: Bisect

FFXIV Write 2019

Word Count: 2553

Rating: PG

AU: The Last Dragoon 

Bel laughed with everyone else in the kitchen as they watched the lalafellen matron Chochoba Choba repeatedly bisect the mound of cookie dough on the counter of the communal kitchen. She winked as she handed out the little pieces of dough and told them with a perfectly straight face that they had to make sure it was alright for the rest of the village to eat. She savored the mild sweetness of the dough and the rich flavor of butter. The cookies and bread being made were a distraction, something to keep people occupied as they waited for word on how the first childbirth in four years was going. She caught Cho’s eye and gave her a grateful smile. The matron winked at her and motioned for her to keep kneading the bread dough in front of her. 

She let herself hope. They had managed a decent harvest of wheat finally, a blessing given that winter showed signs of being a trial and a half this year. But they had done it. The goats and pidgeons were staying alive more often, there had even been a boar to slaughter. She ran her tongue over her lips to catch the last vestige of the sweetness of the cookie dough. She wanted to take a loaf of bread and go shove it down Nero and Cid’s throats just to prove that not all hope was lost. She let the warmth seep in and ease the fury she’d been trying to quell since leaving Revant’s Toll. Small victories in their little teacup story in the eighth umbral era. Victories that made her heart soar nonetheless. 

Small victories, she had heard so many of her family and mentors say that small victories were what made all the toil and suffering worth it. She had remembered asking Serella why as she’d watched the Elezan paladin work on repairing her armor. She laughed, a sound that always made Bel think of spring and warm soil ready for a garden. “Because they’re real, and nothing can steal those small victories without your permission.” Bel hadn’t understood the answer entirely at eleven winters. Now nine winters and a calamity later she understood it to the depth of her soul. She wished she could share her new insight with her aunt… She blinked and looked up half a second before Gaius Baelsar stepped into the kitchen. 

“Ser Aliender, a moment please.” The handsome Garlean was stoic as ever which just made the tittering whispers between some of the women and a few of the men all the more salacious. Bel hid a grin at his expense as she turned away to take off her apron and hang it on a hook in the wall.  

“I’ll be in the mood for some mountain climbing later deary!” Cho gave Baelsar an exaggerated wink. 

Bel had to suck her lips between her teeth to keep from laughing at the slow blink that was the former Lagetus’ only response. Once they were out of the building Gaius looked down on the Mi’qote disapprovingly. “You shouldn’t encourage them.” 

“You think they need encouragement?” Bel laughed. “It’s a good day, a bit of light-hearted ribbing is good for the soul.” 

Gaius sighed and shook his head. “There’s a traveler that’s asked to see you, he said he is interested in joining the settlement.” 

“What did you make of him?” Bel had to skip every third or fourth step to keep up with the tall Garlean. She frowned and managed to keep herself from rolling her eyes, even the Shadowhunter could be petty in his own way. 

“He is at the very least a competent traveler and mage to have made it out here by himself,” Gaius stopped and frowned. 

“But?” The dragoon encouraged, something in the pause made her uneasy. 

“There is something that does not feel right about him, though I can not say what it is precisely.”

“Would you turn him away?”

Gaius Baelsar frowned. “There is no reason to turn him away out of hand.” 

“Than let’s hear what he has to say.” 

Gaius shortened his stride so that Bel could walk without having to skip steps. She took in a breath and focused on the situation at hand. When she had first made it back to Ishgard after the calamity she’d nearly choked when she’d been addressed by a title she’d had less than six months with the expectation that she was the one in charge. To start with the persona of Ser Aliender had been that a persona. An amalgamation of Mama Mel, the Lord Commander, Uncle Estinien, and Uncle Haurchefant pulled together to help her cope with the fact that her Drachenmail identified her as someone who was probably in charge. (Even if in the order she and Bianca had still been considered to wet behind the ears to be let loose without supervision.) In the four winters since the calamity, she’d lost track of when it had stopped being a persona and was just another aspect of herself. 

They reached the gate in the fence and Baelsar held it open for her. She nodded her thanks as she stepped out. One of the dragonettes from the tower was curled up on the ground between the traveler and the gate chin on her forearms as she watched the traveler with interest. The guards on either side of the gate saluted as she walked past, Fury when had that started? She focused past the guards and the bored dragonette to the elezan man. More likely half elezan given the shortness of his ears and stature. His copper hair was streaked with white and badly needed a trim, but who didn’t these days. His clothes surprised her the most. A bright white sleeveless shirt under a plum vest and purple leather gunslinger’s harness all tied together with a flourish of a cravat. To say nothing of leather trousers that were flattering. The dandy was balanced by signs of trials won, two scars on his face one on his left cheek and the other crossing through the center of his forehead. There was a Garlean pistol on one hip and an Arcanists grimoire on the other. 

“I’m Bel Aliender.” Bel stopped beside the dragonette who looked up at her curiously before turning back to the traveler. 

“The Last Dragoon in the flesh.” The man bowed. “I am Cary Ermingild.”

“And what brings you to our town Mr. Ermingild?” Bel watched as the man straightened up and noticed his posture was deplorable. 

“Perhaps a place to stay for a few days or maybe to settle down.” 

“Are you willing to abide by our rules?” 

Cary Ermingild laughed, “Are you always so blunt Good Ser?” 

“This isn’t the royal court of Ul’dah or the halls of Imperial Garlemald Mr. Ermingild. I don’t have time for word games.” Bel was a bit sharper than she had intended but something about how he called her Good Ser made her defensive. Behind her Baelsar shifted his weight and his boots crunched the gravel.  

Pale gold eyes continued to laugh as Cary Ermingild bowed again. “My apologies Ser, yes I will abide by your rules.” 

Rushing feet made Bel half turn. She recognized one of the youths that Raya-O-Sena was training in conjury. The boy practically slid to a stop. “Ser Aliender! Lady Raya said to tell you that both mother and child are doing well and that Elianne wants to see you!” 

Bel felt the tension in her spine release, she’d stressed and worried since Elianne went into labor during the previous night. She smiled, “Let Lady Raya and Elianne know I will be there shortly.”  The boy nodded and ran back the way he had come. 

“You certainly are much prettier with a smile than that forbidding scowl.” Cary Ermingild chuckled. 

Bel’s smile vanished as she turned back to the traveler, he smiled with affected innocence. Behind her, Baelsar and the older of the two guards regarded him with disapproving looks. The younger guard looked like his eyes might pop out of his head.  Bel turned her head to address the older guard. “Jaren could you please show our guest around? Ask Jessica to take your place on lookout duty.” 

“I seem to have offended with my observation, I do beg your pardon Ser Aliender.” Carry spread his hands in a show of regret.

“I’m not overly fond of insincere apologies,” the dragoon spoke shortly. She gave the man a curt nod of farewell and turned on her heel. 

A few heartbeats after the dragoon and the shadowhunter had walked back into the settlement. Jaren eyed the newcomer, “You are incredibly lucky that she takes the rule of hospitality seriously.” 

“And why is that pray tell?” 

“Because the last bloke that said something like that to her doesn’t have a straight nose anymore.” 

~~~

Bel let out a relieved breath when she stepped into the room and saw that the new elezan mother was indeed healthy, worn out, but healthy. She smiled at the indignant sound the highlander midwife made. Linda Conner had been cut from the same cloth as Chochoba Choba and then left out in the wind and rain until what was produced was a healer and midwife with a taste for weaponry that went boom. The old woman nodded to a pot of steaming water and the harsh lye soap next to it. Bel took the hint and rolled up her sleeves before scrubbing up to the elbow. 

“Thank you for coming,” Elianne said with a tired smile as she adjusted how her baby was laying on her chest. 

“I couldn’t say no to the hero of the season.” Bel sat on the edge of the bed. She grinned at the Elezan woman’s blush. “I am serious about that. It’s not been an easy time for you and as far as I know, this is the first successful birth in Coerthas, Mor Dohna, Dravinia, or Idlyshire since the calamity.” 

“I wish Imax was still with us.” Elianne whispered as she ran her fingers over the baby downy, russet hair. “He had hoped for a daughter.” 

Bel put her hand on the other woman’s knee and gave it a gentle squeeze. She managed to keep the grimace off her face. She’d been teaching Imax how to fight with a lance, he’d been a quick study, but it hadn’t been enough to save him in a skirmish with bandits midsummer. 

Elianne put her hand on top of the Mi’qote’s. “We didn’t want to pick out a name until she was born, and… and I could use some suggestions that didn’t come from a crone with no shame.” 

Linda snorted, “None of your sass girly.” 

The exchange brought a soft smile to Bel’s face. She glanced at Elianne who nodded and between the two of them, they transferred the baby girl to the dragoon’s arms. Bel swallowed hard looking down into the little face. She gently ran a finger over the point of a little ear and stopped when the baby scrunched up her nose in distress. She thought of all the women she had known, all strong in such different ways, all kept close in her heart. She thought of little victories and the battles to win them. She said the first name that felt right, “Serella.” 

Elianne leaned forward and ran a hand over her daughter’s head. “Serella is a beautiful name. Who did it belong to?” 

“My Aunt, she was a free paladin.” Bel rocked the baby gently. 

“A good name, Imax would have liked it.” Elianne wiped tears off of the Dragoon’s cheek and then wiped away her own. 

Bel kissed the baby’s forehead and then gave her back to her mother. “I’ll let you sleep.” 

The new mother smiled gratefully and Bel slipped out of the after giving Linda and Raya both hugs and quiet words of appreciation. 

~~~

The news of baby Serella and Elianne both being healthy had brought celebration to the small town. Four years of hard struggle, four years were it felt like life could barely find purchase and they had come through it. The coming season would be just as hard, but they had stores of wheat, honey, and smoked pork. It meant that more would survive the winter, that the new life could be supported. On the outskirts of the town square, Bel closed her eyes and felt the heat of mulled cider seep into her hands, listened to untrained human voices raised in song with dragonettes eager to join in the celebration. Bel opened her eyes when a presence settled next to her. She looked up at the former Legatus as he watched the festivities and drank from his own mug. “Is it foolish of me to take hope from small victories?” 

Gaius took a long drink as he seemed to consider his answer. “Enough small victories will win wars.” He paused looking into the middle distance for a moment. “But these are not small victories Aliender. We’ve both been through the ruins of other settlements that did not survive. Do not underestimate your own strength the way the fools you have bested did.” 

“Thanks…. Dad” Bel hid a grin by taking a drink of her own cider.  

Gaius Baelsar arched an eyebrow, “If that is leave to be more direct with my critisim you may regret it.” 

“Why? Going to try to ground me?” Bel grinned openly now. She yelped when she didn’t move fast enough to duck when Baelsar cuffed the back of her head. 

“You are hardly the first callow youth I have met that needs guidance.” 

Bel laughed and let a bit of pride sink into her bones. Small victories and large, it had been a good day for both. Baelsar’s usually neutral expression cracked for a moment to betray a smile quickly hidden by taking a drink from his mug. They stood in companionable silence for several moments, for a time undisturbed on the edge of the festivities. 

“Could I be so bold as to ask the Lady Knight for a dance?” Cary Ermingild’s voice broke the silence from behind them. 

Both the dragoon and the Shadowhunter tensed suddenly reaching for weapons that were not there. They turned to the grinning mage both looking for how he had gotten so close without their notice.  He grinned lazily and held out a hand to Bel. The dragoon frowned deeply, but before she could speak to turn him down the redhead spoke again. “I merely wish to have a few moments offer a more sincere apology for my misstep at the gate. Such tension would not help to foster cooperation.”

Baelsar watched as the young woman blew a breath out of her nose and composed herself. She rested her hand delicately in Cary’s offered one with all of the drilled in etiquette of a daughter of Ishgard’s high houses. He watched as Cary bowed over her hand solemnly and lead her into the square where there had been space set aside for dancing. The Shadowhunter frowned feeling unsettled. There was something about the Mage’s mannerisms and eyes that haunted him, but he could not place it. He watched and made a note to keep an eye on the second newest arrival to the town called Defiant.

AN: It’s fucking done!! Oh my god, this ran so much loooooooonger than I intended, but I really needed Bel to have some victories after Violence of Light. 

@stars-bleed-hearts-shine does Bel naming a baby in honor of Serella make up for Hallowed Ground being on cooldown in Violence of Light? ;)  

#FFXIVWrite2019 #ffxiv #ffxiv fan fiction #AU: Last Dragoon #Bel Aliender #gaius baelsar #some new faces #a town called Defiant #why? Because I love me some good wholesome Cheesiness