expiationlogs | closed log

closed log

Who: Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, and Yuja (plus self-invited guests)
Where: The woods/cave etc
What: They're going on a quest to build a house
Warnings: None besides spoilers for canon

Emet-Selch doesn't expect it to be so easy to request a new dwelling, but simple enquiries reveal that the workers are more than happy to get it done should he provide the raw materials. Now, he knows building a house is not a simple task, so there is the niggling suspicion that some kind of magic will be involved. However, it's none of his business so long as it's done and done right. He leaves his request to the builders - a home with three bedrooms, as many bathrooms, and the usual amenities - then departs with a list in hand of what they need for it.

Hythlodaeus, he informs of their new quest in person since they live together. The Warrior of Light, he leaves a message using his charm:

I have a quest for you. Meet me at the edge of the forest. Dress comfortably.

Emet-Selch will be waiting.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Truth be told, she doesn't see why he'd offer her a room. Sure, things have been okay between them, but she doesn't think they're on staying under the same roof terms.

Yuja's already in the middle of inspecting a tree when he asks about the paints. She turns to give him a quizzical look, confused as to why he's asking, before returning to the tree. "Aye. Thank you again for them."

After a moment, she seems to decide the tree is good and begins the process of cutting it down.

If Hythlodaeus were here, Emet-Selch finds himself thinking, he would know what to say.

He doesn't know Yuja. He knows Azem, but the only similarities the two share are a love for adventure. At this point, she knows more about him than he does of her. How is he supposed to find common ground like this?

He watches her start on the tree then turns aside to inspect the trees himself. She doesn't seem upset at least, even if she had seemed disappointed to not be fighting or exploring. Perhaps he should apologise for letting her down regardless?

"If you desire more excitement than cutting lumber, you could always hunt instead," he says eventually. "I imagine that bonemeal will be needed for making mortar."

Hythlodaeus would help make things less awkward, for sure.

"Lumber is more important at the moment," she says while taking swings at the tree. "I can hunt later."

She's taken to hunting as a way to get by here. People can always use the meat, pelts, and bones and she can use whatever they're willing to give her in return.

"Do you enjoy hunting?"

A short sigh. "No. If I have to hunt then I only do so to feed myself or those in my care. Hunting does not present a challenge for one with my sight after all."

Since he can just...see creatures no matter where they hide.

"Ah, that makes sense." She's hunted for sport in the past and she could imagine how boring it'd be if she could easily spot her quarry.

She pauses to evaluate her tree once more before giving a warning, making the final cuts, and letting it fall. Once it's down she begins cutting away the branches and stacking them off to the side. They might not make for good lumber but they're perfect for little projects or firewood once dried.

By contrast, he's still hacking at his own tree. It's fair to say that Emet-Selch has...not felled all that many trees in his lifetime.

"...We won't be done within the day. If you like, we could spend half the day on lumber and the other half hunting together," he suggests.

She raises a brow at him, "You are willing to hunt with me?" What she really means by that is to spend more time with her. Strangely, he seems willing to spend more time with her than is necessary ever since the maze.

"Is there something wrong with that?" he asks defensively.

As if he would ever admit to having a reason to want to spend time with her.

"No, I guess not." She can't help but smile a little as she goes to work on another tree. "I'm just surprised you want to spend any more time with me than necessary."

Is she pushing his buttons just a tiny bit with that? Maybe.

He scowls and takes his axe to the tree a little more vigorously than necessary.

"If you don't want my company then say so. I'm sure Hythlodaeus will have thoroughly gone off course within the hour. I can supervise him instead."

The tree topples with a loud crack and rush of foliage.

"I never said that." She says with a huff, hitting the tree a bit harder than intended. Why is he like this?

"But if you'd rather go look after Hythlodaeus, I won't stop you." Sorry, Emet, she doesn't get the whole tsundere thing. She's more inclined to just take what he says at face value and let him do as he wishes.

"I left Hythlodaeus to his own devices so I could spend time with you!" he snaps back. "Despite how he is absolutely terrible at assuming any sort of responsibility for a length of time, despite being quite sure that he's building sandcastles on the beach right now instead of doing what I asked!"

Arguing with Azem had never been like this, he thinks resentfully.

Yuja is taken aback by the outburst. She pauses what she's doing and stares at him in silence as if he's grown a second head.

It takes her a moment before she speaks.

"You... You actually want to spend time with me?" A pause before she continues, "After everything?" She's finding it difficult to believe.

"I had planned to anyway when I saw your little group running off to Il Mheg."

He only knows the overarching events so he has no idea if he does end up spending some time with her or if they rebuff him coldly. Judging by her reaction, he supposes that he kept something of a distance from her in the end. Not surprising.

"It seems I'm going to die regardless of what I do, so I shall spend my remaining time as it pleases me."

"Oh." She almost looks disappointed, almost, as she goes back to cutting down the tree.

Wait, he'd been there? No, that makes sense. She shouldn't be surprised that he was following them from that early on.

"You showed yourself at the Crystarium after we returned from Il Mheg." She wonders where he was during that time.

And now she's upset again. This is infuriating. What did he say this time??

He crouches and hacks away at branches sticking out of the trunk, almost sulkily. "Only a fool would dare meddle with the pixies. I did not want to be turned into a hedge for my trouble."

She's not upset! Only a little disappointed that he just seems to keeping to his plan from back then.

"True, that would be a terrible way to end things." She could see the pixies going after him if only because of the way he acts. "I think my deal with Feo Ul is the only reason we weren't kept there longer."

Dryly: "How very tragic."

He glances at her, watching her swing at the next tree for a few seconds. Perhaps he shouldn't have sent Hythlodaeus off after all.

"So I introduced myself after your return. I presume you rebuffed whatever I offered and sent me off."

"Mnn, complete with Urianger throwing a card at your illusion." Which had been a surprise to them all.

"You didn't take that as an answer and turned up again shortly after. We begrudgingly allowed you to come along to the Rak'tika. Only to have you leave us again." It may have been because she had to be a little bit of a smart-ass, but still.

"I take it you must have bored me then. Or been accosted by the locals."

He thinks it's only practical to send a phantom in place of himself for a first-time meeting with an enemy. What idiot would go in-person to confront a godslayer?

The tree falls as she lets out a soft laugh. "Both."

She then goes about cleaning up this newly fallen tree. "We joined us again later after some of the Vie-- Viis caught you while you were napping. You pulled Y'shtola from the Lifestream shortly after that and everyone seemed to warm up to you, just a tiny bit."

She can't say they trusted him after that, but he'd proven he could be helpful.

Having yet to meet the entire group of Scions, Emet-Selch finds himself frowning as he tosses away loose branches.

"Who is this Y'shtola and what in Zodiark's name did she do to require me to pull her out of the Lifestream? I don't generally interfere with the cycle of rebirth."

Mental note: do not let his guard down around the Viis of the First.

"Flow." Surely he knows the spells. "It's not the first time she's used such a spell."

She remembers the first time, they'd all been running for their lives after she'd been accused of regicide. She frowns and hacks away a little harder at the branches, remembering that night still made her feel angry. She'd thought she'd lost everyone.

"She didn't seem to learn her lesson the first time she used it." However, there didn't seem to be any ill-effects the second time. After all, she'd already lost her sight.

Oh. That little spell. He sighs and stands up straight, rolling the log over with his foot to where Yuja has left her first tree.

"'Tis a foolish mage who uses the same spell improperly twice."

(He says, conveniently ignoring all the incidents in his distant youth where he had done the same.)

"Throwing oneself into the Lifestream without any thought or care to one's soul... Bah!" He shakes his head but it his tone sounds more like a grumble than critical. "Even I was never so reckless."

"As I understand it, it's a forbidden spell for a reason."

She's never been a good study when it comes to magic. She can pick up a spell by seeing it cast, better so when it's cast on her, but she much prefers to use a blade to solve problems.

"Oh?" She asks with a little grin. "Not even as a youth?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject