starhuevalley | 01 - A Knight at the Beach -

Who: Haurchefant Greystone and you
What: Ocean frolicking. Shell collecting. S'more snacking. Star gazing.
When: All week. Next week. Haurchefant is always on the beach.
Other information: I will tread ever so carefully when it comes to FFXIV spoilers. But maybe some. Be careful.

It's hot. Haurchefant has heard stories of the sweltering heats in the deserts of Ul'dah and he suspects that it must be something akin to this. For someone who has grown somewhat acclimated to the ice and snow and the often below freezing temperatures of Coerthas... this is a dramatic change of pace.

There is a positive to all of this however. The ocean! It is a most splendid wonder. A beautiful shimmering ever moving jewel. The ocean waters were both too far and much too cold for him to ever dream of stepping a toe in but this one? It's simply splendid!

When dusk hits and the air itself cools off a bit the ocean is delightfully chilly and that seems like the best time for someone like him.

You'll likely find Haucherfant there most nights. He hasn't been here long enough to be considered a staple there but he's well on his way.

Seashells by the Seashore

It's like an unspoken treasure hunt. Each wave brings all sorts of curiosities. Shells mostly, of course. And they are of all sorts but so many he simply isn't familiar with. He even finds some star shaped creatures that are so utterly sublime! Sea creatures, that are as far away from the sky as you can get, in the shape of stars.

That's beautiful.

But there are plenty that he does know. Like washed up oysters. Or perhaps clams? He can't tell the difference. Is there a difference? Either way both can be considered tasty. And perhaps they are full of those ever precious pearls. A fine gift for any number of people.

But on top of that he's found all sorts of things that don't belong in the ocean. Or at least he certainly doesn't think so. Like... This clock on a leather band. And these cracked glasses. And these bottles! He's got a whole little pile of discovered treasures... or... trash. It's actually just trash.

Do you want to build a campfire?

Too bad. It's already done. But that's less work for you and more enjoyable fireside time. Warm as he is the light is necessary and a fierce breeze on a cool night does offer a chill. So best to keep cozy. It's no hearth in his keep but it is a fine replacement.

But even better. He has been told of a most splendid treat. S'mores! A sugared cracker. A piece of chocolate and some white blob create a most decedent piece of food. It feels so sinful yet delightfully delicious. (Which is kind of his thing.)

But there is plenty to share if you're feeling that late night sweet tooth.

Star Light Star Bright

This is not a sky he recognizes. If he was an Astrologian he'd be having a most dreadful time. There is no dragon star to pinpoint the rest of the sky with or anything like that. It's as much mystery as the rest of this place is. And there is something fascinating but altogether sad about that.

He could not see the sky too often in Ishgard or Camp Dragonhead. It's always snowing or grey storm clouds are billowing in. To see the endless pool of stars was a rare and fine treat. And he worked hard in his studies as a boy to be able to name them all. But this? This he does not know.

Beautiful as it is...

Well. He hasn't allowed himself to dwell too much on the future and what it might entail. What he may and may not see again. Nor the fact that no one will remember anything that has taken place. All these heart felt and sincere words will not remain for those that need them the most. And that is truly whom he worries for. The ones that needed to hear from him. They will be returned with the same burdens of the heart.

It leave the knight quite melancholy on this starlit evening.

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How is Coerthas these days? That he cannot say for certain. "Still cold..." Is a safe presumption. And what have warriors told him? "And goverment restructure seems to be going as well as one can hope..."

If things were amiss he's certain the Warriors of Light would tell him. Or... he'd hope they would anyway.

"Yda..." He repeats the name and it rings familiar. He knows he's heard it before. Beside a warm fire with the scent of chocolate heavy in the air. Listening to the softest spoken story he's ever heard. "Oh. Yda. I have heard a great deal about you from the Warrior of Light. You're a Scion of the Seventh Dawn! And you could knock a full grown man off any noble steed with one great hit. I have heard such wonderous things about all that you have done and sacrificed. Though I had also heard you might have been lost in Ul'dah I am glad to see that is not so. The Warrior was ever worried about you!"

"Mm… It's always been a little more than way in the north, hasn't it?" The north… does have something of a tendency towards chilliness. She leans forward, curious. "Restructure? After this long- I can't imagine it's going easily."

She blinks for a few moments, and then turns slightly red. "You have? That's- wow, that's quite an honour!" She laughs, but- there's something nervous to it. Because- is it her they meant, or…? "Well- I'm very sorry they had to worry! That's not really such a wonderful thing to do, is it?"

"Ah..." She's right. He does hope it's going well but he has no idea if it is. If the four houses are open to change he thinks it'll be alright. "Well, only time will tell for certain." He offers vaguely and softly.

He brightens considerably as the conversation shifts to her. "Oh... after what you went through it's quite alright. I am certain the Warrior of Light is just happy to see you hale and whole." He taps his chest happily. "I am sure they are most overjoyed. They have suffered too much already."

Yda considers for a moment, and nods. "That's true," she agreed. "One way or another- they'll all just have to get used to it, won't they?" The way Sharlayans had got used to her and her sister.

She seems somewhat awkward in turn, shifting, but she gives a nod. "I'm pretty sure they are! I mean… we've all been through a lot. I sort of… wish we didn't need to put them through it- I'm sure you know that feeling, right?"

He nods at all she has to say agreeing wholeheartedly.

"I most certainly do..." Would if he could change some things to ease the pain. Perhaps make some slightly different choices but he cannot. What's done is done and all he can do now is help those that are here.

Yda lets that lie for a moment, grimacing, and then shakes herself, with a clap of her hands. "Right! Well- it's too nice an evening to spend thinking about what we should have done," she says, a little forcefully. "What are you planning to do now? Will you cook more? Maybe some of the rest of us could help!"

He laughs lightly at her energy and then silences himself with a soft hum. What will he do?

"I fear I have not thought a great deal on it... My greatest concern has been on this heat and how to survive it. But I suppose I should be looking into farming or raising the animals. The horses here are quite lovely as well as some of the other animals I am less familiar with. I think that might be a good way to pass the days."

And if he can find chocobos? Oh yes... that would be most splendid.

It's her finest feature! She thinks so, anyhow.

"It's pretty tiring," she admits. "Coerthas is cooler, right? I bet it's taken some adjusting- but it's a lot better at this time, right? That's probably a good thought! They're probably not enjoying the heat much either," she muses. "What do you need for animals?"

"Aha that is an understatement to say the least." The very least. "Perhaps cooler was a better word to use before the calamity where summer in Coerthas was ever pleasant and only slightly chilled. Now it is naught but ice and snow all year round regardless of the summer season."

What he needs for animals though...

"I had not thought on it terribly much, truth be told. It will require some looking into before I make any decisions. And pray tell what do you intend to do? Or will you be heading back to Eorzea some time soon?"

Yda gawks at him a little. "Wait- it's that bad, really? I knew some things had changed, but- that's drastic." The Shroud has been… sort of noticeable, after all! But east of the Shroud is a bit further away, and it's always been kind of rocky.

"That sounds reasonable," she agrees. "I mean, you shouldn't rush into these things, right?" At the question, she hums. "I haven't really decided! I'm still trying to clean up a bit. I think I'll be staying for a while- I've got family and a few friends turning up!"

He nods smiling sadly at her surprise at this. "Mhm. A land of eternal winter now, I'm afraid. No green in sight... only in our memories now."

He never took those green hills for granted. He rode his chocobos all over them getting away from home and showing Francel their piece of heaven... but he misses them all the same as he no longer recognizes the lands he once knew by heart.

He would do anything to return his home to what he once knew but... that's a task far beyond him. Especially now.

"Glad am I to hear it. Lots of Eorzeans have ended up here. It's fun to see all the new faces and what friend might turn up next."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I remember lovely countryside, from what I saw." They hadn't ended up spending too much time in Coerthas, but it had been good enough to travel through.

"We have! It's kind of interesting, isn't it? Maybe the world decided all of us needed a break and offered it." She reaches out, making as if to hold something before she settles into stretching. "I wonder if a lot of people have come from someplace else, too, though!" She nods. "Have you got anyone you're hoping to see?"

"It was quite beautiful... maybe one day it can return to that. Though... I am uncertain how likely that is." And it's certainly not anything he's going to get to see.

"Oh." Such a question! Of course! Of course he's hoping to see someone! "The Warrior of Light. There are many here but not the one I am most familiar with. Though I know they are very busy I hope that they may appear, if only for a moment. That is, at present, my greatest wish."

"Maybe in time," Yda says. Although given it was the Calamity that changed it so violently… probably neither of them would see it, really.

"The Warrior?" Yda's met a few of them, and she nods, grinning. "There are! They've seemed like very nice people. Maybe yours would be able to get a break here as well! Maybe- would you like to tell me more about them?"

01 - A Knight at the Beach -

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