closed log

[emet_sulk]

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.

Comments

[emet_sulk]

"Hmph. That sounds about right."

If Loghrif and Mitron hadn't erred on the First, he would have been sleeping through the next Calamity. Eternal rest sounds nice however...

"Hold a moment - how am I able to perform creation magicks for you whilst incorporeal?" he asks suspiciously.

[likethestars]

"Azem's crystal. Hydaelyn imbued it with some of her aether which allowed me to call both you and Hythlodaeus back from the Lifestream."

She continues working at the tree. "I suppose that act drained it quite a bit." But she'd promised Y'shtola she wouldn't waste that magic on just bringing back the Scions.

[emet_sulk]

He voices a sound of complete and utter disgust. His axe bites into wood so deeply he nearly can't get it out.

"Now I understand why I refused to linger. I want nothing to do with Her or Her magicks at all."

[likethestars]

Yuja would argue that while it was Hydaelyn's magic it was also channeled through Azem's crystal and brought forth because of Yuja's will. But there's no point arguing the semantics, she supposes.

"Yeah." All she can do is agree. After all, he's well overdue for a rest, though it would have been nice to get to know Hythlodaeus better. Maybe she can get the chance now.

[emet_sulk]

Emet-Selch's annoyance is enough to power him through more manual labour than one would perhaps expect of him. But eventually he tires of hacking at wood.

"Shall we take a break before we try hunting?"

[likethestars]

"Sure, allow me to finish this tree." A break would be nice, her arms are starting to feel a little tired after so many trees.

She'll make quick work of the tree with a rest dangling in front of her. Not that she was working slowly before.

[emet_sulk]

While she does that, he moves away to fetch a small pack containing sandwiches and two canteens of water. He doesn't know if she thought to bring her own meal but, well, he can always give the excess food to his familiar later.

"We'll come back and have our creatures take the logs to the plot afterwards. Will your chocobo be fine on its own?"

[likethestars]

She joins him once she's done, digging out her canteen from her chocobo's saddle bag after returning the ax to his holster.

Yuja came prepared with food of her own, but given how meagerly she lives she won't say no if he offers a sandwich.

"He'll be fine." She says after giving the beast a pat. He seems content to just laze in the grass for the moment.

[emet_sulk]

A nod. After seeing her pull out her own canteen, he stows one of his two away and comes over with the sandwiches. He holds out them out to her.

"Take one. They're not poisoned."

[likethestars]

"I should hope not." She says as she takes the sandwich.

Poisoned or not, she takes a bite and chews as she looks over at the work they've done for the day. It's not bad for the two of them, but it's going to take a lot more wood for a larger house.

[emet_sulk]

Even if she doesn't return to help, Emet-Selch knows this won't be a one day job. Although he does rather hope she'll come back again to help the work go faster.

"Elidibus told me - threatened me, rather - in no uncertain terms that I was to avoid harming you," he says, taking a seat on the grass. "I haven't seen him so passionate since-- well, since before the Sundering."

[likethestars]

The mention of Elidibus brings heat to Yuja's cheeks as she remembers the last time she saw him. She glances away and chews in silence. Well, that explains why Emet-Selch hasn't outright tried to kill her.

"Is that a good or a bad thing?" She finally asks, gaze still fixated on the forest.

[emet_sulk]

He shrugs. "Good for you, I would have thought. No? It seems you've won him over to your side in the end."

Emet-Selch has mixed feelings. On the one hand, Elidibus seems to have his memory back. On the other, their Emissary now seems to be showing her favouritism.

"I do wonder what I would have done if he had said to kill you," he muses. "How much do you know about his...circumstances?"

[likethestars]

Bad for Emet-Selch, she assumes, given that he's still under Zodiark's thrall. She hums, still keeping her gaze focused on the forest.

"Do you mean as the Emissary or as the Heart?" She knows he's meant to be impartial, though it seems to be something he might be struggling with. "Or do you mean his memory?"

[emet_sulk]

"...Everything. If you know about all of that then there is no need for me to explain further."

He chews idly on his sandwich. Swallows. "Regardless, I must observe his judgements. Even if I disagree with them."

Not just as the Emissary but as Zodiark's Heart as well.

[likethestars]

"I see." She takes another bite and chews before turning her gaze to him. It's only after she swallows that she speaks again.

"Does all of that even matter here?" This isn't home, their duty has come to an end. Though she supposes they'd feel a little lost if they strayed too far from what they know. She knows she often feels fairly lost without one crisis after another needing her attention.

[emet_sulk]

He glances at her, frowning.

"...Does it matter? Of course it does. One day our time here will end and we will return to our world. My duty to our people and the star doesn't end simply because I was briefly taken away from it."

[likethestars]

"While true, what if we return not remembering any of this?" She supposes that would go against whatever they're supposed to be learning in their time here, but the thought had crossed her mind. Did any of this matter once they returned home? Would they remember the lessons learned or the relationships that played out?

[emet_sulk]

"...So, what - you want us to be friendly on the off-chance we return with no recollection of this place?" he asks cynically. That would be convenient for her, wouldn't it? He sighs.

"Give me one reason why I should entertain your proposal."

[likethestars]

"It would make all of our lives easier, no?" Though it would be nice if they do remember everything once they return home. Not that it'd matter much given how much further ahead in time she's from compared to him.

[emet_sulk]

"Your lives, perhaps."

And he would be saddled with unnecessary feelings which would make carrying out his duty all the harder later.

"There is no benefit to my befriending you. You haven't the slightest interest in allying with me. In fact, you've already confessed that I will die by your hand. If it transpires we do remember our time here after all then it would be better for us to maintain this-- whatever this is."

An uneasy truce? A distant companionship? Emet-Selch cannot deny he would like to spend time with this remnant of Azem but he knows he can't allow himself to grow too fond of them.

[likethestars]

"If your methods hadn't meant the destruction of all I knew then maybe I would have allied with you." She shoots back, tail lashing behind her. "But fine, we can just continue whatever this is."

She's clearly irritated as she finishes off her sandwich. She doesn't want to go hunting now, she'd prefer to return to her camp at this point.

[emet_sulk]

He stares at the last bite of his sandwich, jaw tight. It always has to end like this, doesn't it? But he doesn't want her to go this time. It feels like he'll always be watching their back as they walk away from him and he's tired of it.

As she's standing to leave, he speaks up.

"...Wait, please. I-- I apologise."

He has to drag the words out of himself by force. They stick in his throat. He swallows but the passage is not made any easier. He can't even look at her.

"I can't-- I can't forsake my duty to my people," he continues, working through clenched teeth. "You know why I can't, don't you? However, that doesn't mean I don't wish to befriend you. That's why I invited you in the first place."

[likethestars]

Yuja nearly stumbles over herself in surprise as he forces out the apology. Even her chocobo seems taken aback. She looks back over at him, eye wide behind her bangs.

“Come again?”.

[emet_sulk]

"Don't make me repeat it," he says snappishly, briefly sounding a little more like his usual self. He forces himself to look up. He's grimacing. "I invited you here to spend time with you, hero. I sent Hythlodaeus away to the beach on purpose."