[Gair]

Gair parts from the small crowd disembarking from the airship landing, the Astrologian Atheneum at his back as he descends the Pillars steps and leads Lucatiel for Saint Valeroyant's Forum. The fountain in the center square burbling and chugging along in spite of the cold. He casts his gaze over his shoulder, making certain she is actually following him. “The Knight's congregation is just up here, Luca.”

He points to the tower that looms over the even the saintly statue in their midst, a pair of azure banners hung on either side large double doors. Bearing the proud sigil of the four great houses on a four-point field of black and red, flanked by a cross of halberds and topped with a most heavenly winged crown. One such knight lingers out front, bearing an azure kite shield with the winged crown emblazoned over it's surface.

[Lucatiel]

Covered nearly head to toe in fluffy and cumbersome warm clothes, Lucatiel trails after the man with some minor difficulty as she runs. “Hey wait Gair! It's so heavy!” she whines as she catches up. The only exposed bit of her was her face which was brightly flushed and still shivering a bit. “Sooooo coooooold! Umm, the Knight's Congregation? Is that… where Luna works?” she asks, finally catching up. “Wooooow, it's so huge! It's kinda cool!” she adds, looking at the building in amazement.

[Gair]

“The Congregation of Our Knights Most Heavenly,” Gair offers the long-winded title for Lucatiel, gesturing to the banner on their approach. Surprisingly well-versed in the institution of knighthood, “Answerin' first to Halone, that's what the crown and wings signifies- and why it's always above the four great houses. God above man.” As they walk up to the front door, he offers the usual salute of the Immortal Flames to the knight at the door, a fist pounded over his heart. “It is somethin', when they actually uphold their godliness.”

[Lucatiel]

The girl's mouth opens wide in awe. “Ooooh! Does that mean Miss Luna is a Knight Most Heavenly!?” she asks, the very thought exciting to her. She takes a look at the banner as Gair speaks of it, further impressed. “Oooh! Pretty!” She stumbles when the man pauses to salute the guard, haphazardly trying to imitate the salute but failing utterly thanks to her own lack of practice and the cumbersome garb. “You've seen it? You've seen Knights be really cool and save people!?” she asks him, her excitement soon restored.

[Gair]

“She's a paladin, at least. And done some damn good work,” Gair says, somewhat uncertain of how to explain to Lucatiel without sending her imagination into the stratosphere. *To the left…then at the end of the hall is the knight's quarters, I think…* He leads the duo through the inner recesses of the congregation, passing the odd armored knight and squire on their way to various tasks. Finally coming upon the shared barracks, a room with a rows upon rows of bunks and footlockers for the myriad of the lower and middle rank knights or squires in training. His gaze flitting around to search for their friend, *if* she is even in this restive area.

[Lucatiel]

“A Paladin? Oh! Aren't those, umm, sandy desert knights?” she asks, not sure of much to do with Thanalan. She follows without paying attention, basically on auto-pilot. Even once she is aware again, she mainly walks in awe of the knights and the building itself.

[Gair]

“Some of them are,” Gair hastens to explain to Luca before they are approached by the squire. Turning to greet them with a nod. “Sorta, we're here to see Dame Luna, of House Neaucant. Figured I might find her just by lumberin' around and bein' loud.” He straightens his stance to ask. “Have you seen them? White hair, eternal scowl, taller than you.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucca peaks out from behind the giant of a man, pouting. “What!? She's been here? She hasn't been *home* in weeks!” she protests, as if the poor squire was the cause of it all.

He looks at the girl in confusion. “I'm sorry Miss, I am sure it must be something important in that case.”

[Gair]

Gair steps up and places a hand on Lucatiel's shoulder in an attempt to placate her. An apologetic smile offered to the squire. “It a'right if we wait here for her, then? If ya need any assurance, I ain't just any 'ol rabble.” After a pause, he offers introduction. “Gair Brandt, Sergeant at Arms'n cavalier.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel looks almost vindicated by Gair's hand, feeling rather pleased with herself.

[Gair]

Amused by the line of questioning from the squire, Gair's lips curl up into a toothy grin. Not answering for an uncomfortably long time, only tilting his head as if to beckon him to inquire further. His shoulders shake as he tries to muffle an amused chuckle. Gaze flitting from Lucatiel, to the Squire, then doing the double take once more for emphasis. “The little miss is her ward.” He releases the suspense like an archer loosing an arrow. Going on to comment further. “The good Dame *is* available, however. Spinner's Fortune to whoever tries'ta bark up that tree, though.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel looks from Gair to the squire in confusion. “What? How young do you think I am!? I happen to be 19 you know!” she says indignantly.

[Gair]

Gair chides the squire as he departs posthaste, wielding his own code as a weapon. “Chastity, dear squire. In word, deed *and* thought!” Making certain to exclaim it plenty loud for others to look upon him and at least be curious about what might have transpired. *Fuckin' dhalmels,* he thinks and slumps down onto one of the nearby bunks without a second thought. Intent to wait Luna out for the moment.

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel takes a cautious seat next to the man. “Umm, so I guess she has quite the reputation with the other knights, huh?” she asks idly, kicking her legs back and forth as they dangle.

[Gair]

Gair nods toward Lucatiel, shifting his weight on the cot to get more comfortable. “Lord Neaucant has a reputation,” he says, “as not a particularly pious, honorable or good man. Which colors Luna in a…complicated light.” *As well as being a fucking sick piece of shit,* the thought sours his countenance some. Unable to hide the disdainful scowl that takes hold for a few moments. “Not only that, rich boys hate watchin' a gal with less do better than them.”

[Lucatiel]

The girl looks at him, thinking. “Oh! Lord Neaucant, that would be umm her father right? What is he like? She never talks about him when I ask - She just changes the subject or goes really quiet. I… I feel like it's really bad” she asks. “He's rich too? She's not though, right? She lives really pretty plain - I think she spends more on me than herself!”

[Gair]

“He ain't a good person,” Gair tells Lucatiel, “imagine if your father had hurt you as a girl, would you want to talk about it?” The topic was rather difficult to dance around in such a public place, with current company. He gives his squared jaw a scratch in thought and continues to dance this delicate line of answering. “He has some coin, in truth…I've no idea if she benefits from his meager estate. But I know knights earn decently enough, they're basically a commissioned officer.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel looks at the man for a moment, her face turning to a frown. “Oh. Oh no. I guess I understand. But I want to know what happened! She should tell me!” she pouts as she whines. Though she returns to normal as Gair mentions coin. “She never mentions getting any money from him! I wonder if–”

[Luna]

As the two talk, the sounds of the elevator opening and closing are masked. Luna hears them and makes her way over just in time to respond. “I receive no funding from that vile man, nor would I take it I'd offered. The real question however is what you two are doing here.” Her tone is cold and harsh, and she is bruised and bandaged in varying places, sporting a scowl and more casual attire.

[Gair]

“See, that's where you and I differ,” Gair swivels his head around for the source of the voice and comes to a stand. *At least take some and buy something stupid to spite him.* He shakes his head toward the icy woman and brings a hand to his pocket, tossing a linkpearl her way. “You didn't answer yours, so I sniffed around. That a problem?”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel beams at the sight of the woman. “Lunaaaa!” she exclaims, bouncing in place.

[Luna]

Luna meanwhile catches the linkpearl and pockets it, sighing. “Why did you bring her?” she asks, looking at Luca. “This is no place for a girl like her. Especially with me here as of late.” she adds, her hand clenching for a moment.

[Lucatiel]

The girl frowns. “What? Why wouldn't I come with him!? I was worried about you! It's been weeks!”

[Gair]

“Have you ever tried tellin' this girl no?” Gair asks rhetorically and gives Luna the stink-eye, his gaze panning between the two women in front of him. “Besides, she's got a right to know what's been goin' on. Ain't a girl to be sheltered, not even Tera would do that to her kits. Now what's kept you out here without a word back south?”

[Luna]

Luna walks up to the pair, taking out a small badge and palming it into the young girl's hands. “Miss Lucatiel, would you kindly go and fetch my linens and cleaned attire for me? I have told you where prior, yes?”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel smiles widely, taking the badge. “Oh yes! No problem!” She practically jumps to her feet and nods, lightly hugging Luna and departing before she could even react, happily humming to herself.

[Luna]

Luna sighs overlong before taking the now vacant seat, putting her head in her hands. “That operation I had discussed with you and Miss A'erina. It… It was a considerable failure, and my hands are now stained deep crimson.”

[Gair]

“If it was an utter failure we'd be in the Vault and I'd be lookin' at you in a box, this is an improvement,” Gair had a way with silver linings, perspective does that for a man. *Not an unlikely outcome for soldiers, either*. He brushes aside his contentment with Luna having just survived a mission, a low bar given her veteran experience. “The hostage situation, aye?” He asks for clarification. “What exactly happened?”

[Luna]

“Were it what happened, I wish.” she says in a morose manner, pausing to recall what happened. “I attempted to make use of the advice that you two had given me. They had a considerable number of hostages, so I worked with a small squadron of fellow knights. We stole into their camp in the dead of night, and attempted to secure one of their own.” She sighs, stopping for a solid moment. “I… know not if they anticipated such an action or merely had luck on their side, but they caught on. A skirmish broke out between my squadron and a handful of theirs - Naturally we emerged victorious. However, more of theirs had fled the field to inform their leader, and soon the unthinkable happened.”

Her tone grows more distant now. “They did indeed possess Dragonsblood. And they force fed it to the hostages. What must have been half a dozen true sons and daughters of Halone… Corrupted into those… sinful beasts.” She pauses to rub her temples for no small amount of time. After she does, she looks up at Gair from her slouched position. “Among them was a child, Gair. That I had to cleanse personally. As my blade tore into their corrupted scales, I could see in their eye such fear… I know not if her family were among the hostages, but it matters not. Though surely she called out for them…. All she found was…” she falls silent, unable to bring herself to finish.

[Gair]

“Your steel,” Gair finishes that unpleasant sentence and shakes his head at her, not at all flippant with his words. *Just a kid, huh, fuck.* His own countenance was a hardened neutrality, perhaps hardened by recent events, or merely on top of it at the moment. His gaze flitting down to her sword's hilt as it dangles from her belt. “I can't mend the hurt, Luna. But you did what you could, *and* I know you.” He stares a hole into her forehead if she happens to not be looking his way. “You made it clean, you always do.”

[Luna]

The woman nods. “I *could* have done more. I *could* have succeeded and not been found. Had I taken another route, or gone alone perhaps…” She doesn't turn her head but she feels the evergaze all the same. “Of course I did. But still. There was no need for such senseless violence had they not force-fed her Dragonsblood. There is much I could have done differently and she would yet live.”

[Gair]

“And what good is there to do by wonderin' what could have been, when what's done is done?” Gair asks rhetorically, his tone softening ever so slightly. *I'd be beating myself up, too.* “You wouldn't curse your rescuers for trying, so don't curse yourself. Be grateful you survived to try again.”

[Luna]

Luna stands up as if suddenly upset. “My actions were not enough however! Because of my failure, she is dead as well as a dozen or so more Ishgardians!” Her voice is raised and filled with frustration. “I would not begrudge someone else when they did their best, but I am a tool of Halone! I must exceed my best!”

[Gair]

Gair remains firm, not much taller than Luna, he stares down at her from the slight angle afforded by the difference. Eyes narrowing as he agrees with her. “They're all dead, aye, never to laugh or cry again. Not only by your failure, but by the depravity of others.” As if to offer some solace, he knows in the absence of success and protection, justice come after. “When the savior's shield falters, the blade of vengeance needs be drawn. And better by your hand, one who doesn't relish in bloodsport.”

[Luna]

“You need not remind me! I laid them low, I mixed their blood with my own upon my holy sword. I ensured they could not draw breath eternal. Do you know what?” she asks, looking at the man, something off in her eyes. “*I enjoyed it*. Not wholesale, I would rather it not have been necessary. But there was a part of me that reveled in the violence, in the holy condemnation I brought to bear. This is not something new to me - I have found a lust for vengeance growing within. I push it down as I must, but it can not be ignored in the furor of combat. So I slew them. Efficiently, but slightly less so. Enough to rejoice within it all.” The woman looks considerably upset with herself.

[Gair]

“You've changed,” Gair utters on reflex, there is a disdain in his voice, though most certainly not for the woman in his presence. “I'd be a hypocrite to condemn ya. Fuck those child takin' murderers, I'd have tortured them too.” he wastes no time spitting on the memory of dead people he really doesn't like. *Almost a shame she was efficient about the whole affair.* He takes in a breath and reigns in his own righteous furor, definitely easier to set off these days. “What matters, though…” He lifts a finger to indicate Luna's heart. “Is the shame you feel after.”

[Luna]

“Torture!? I did no such thing!” she says, audibly offended. “It is fine for you or someone else to fall to your own devices. There is naught wrong with error and mistakes, but for myself it is unacceptable. That I would succumb to my own bloodlust… I am hardly fit to bear a blade of Halone.” She sits back down next to the man dejectedly, holding her left hand over her indicated heart. “Shame indeed. I am incredibly shameful.”

[Gair]

Gair snorts and shakes his head. “No shit, I'm saying what I'd have done to 'im.” Looks sidelong at his friend, a downcast frown on his features. “I haven't been doin' this nearly as long as you, my friend. But if there's aught I've learned…is that there ain't a point to askin' for forgiveness or someone to judge you then and there. It ain't gonna make the sin any lighter.” He claps down on her shoulder heavily to shake her. “It weighs as it should, ya learn from it and get stronger from holdin' it.”

[Luna]

The woman remains silent, jostled by the man's clap. There is only a small startle, the woman clearly contemplative. As she finally formulates her thoughts into something coherent, there is the sound of gentle humming as Lucatiel finally returns, walking happily up the stairs and towards them now.

[Lucatiel]

“Miss Luuuna!” she calls as she closes in, a basket filled with freshly cleaned linens and casualwear folded neatly. She holds it in front of the pair, clearly proud of her assistance. “I got your clothes and stuff! They smell pretty good and they're totally not frozen! It's crazy! I would have thought that they would be all crunchy and cold since we're in Ishgard, but nope!”

[Luna]

As if pulled out of her own thoughts by the girl, Luna rubs her temples for a moment. “C'est magnifique, Miss Lucatiel. Thank you kindly. I suppose I ought to return home with you and Gair, should I not? I… do apologize for my extended absence. To both of you.” she says, clearly forcing herself to sound neutral. She was quite adept at hiding her emotions and feelings at this point, even if she could not do so forever.

[Gair]

Gair claps his hands together as Lucatiel returns, pleased, or at least feigning it. It was convenient timing all the same, he'd dropped something of a bomb for her to think on, and the wick on it was a long one to contemplate. “This lot has gotta cope with the cold somehow, you'd be even more miserable if you didn't have a way.” He grinned toward Luna, it was a fake thing meant to keep up appearances around the youngest among them. To him the apology was ill needed, so he shrugged at his friend. “Fret you not on my account, I understand why you was gone…though I'll be the one lingering in this frigid land when you two return south.”

[Luna]

The woman sighs at Gair's words, though it is one less of anguish and more of friendly ribbing. “I have lived in the frost of Coerthas since the moment it became a snowy waste. Even without fresh garments I dare say the cold would be but a nuisance, and not a death sentence. It is not as if I am being pushed into Witch Drop.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel smiles at the banter, though she pauses. “Ummm, what's Witch Drop?”

[Luna]

Luna looks at Lucatiel for a moment. “It is… Rather, it was a… sort of…” Despite not stammering or stuttering, her inability to sanitize the subject for the girl was apparent. “I shall tell you when you are older, I fear. You would not understand.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel puffs her cheeks out and pouts. “That's not fair! I want to know what Witch Drop is!” She turns from Luna to Gair, still whining.

[Luna]

The knightess ignores the girl for now, turning to Gair as well. “You will be remaining here? Whatever for?”

[Gair]

“A bit like stones throw in Ul'dah,” Gair offers a rather quick explanation for Lucatiel. “We take bad people, lash 'em to a post, an' throw stones at 'em.” He can only shrug toward Luna and grin weakly. “Duty brings me back to the Sea of Clouds, I'm our ships…interpreter for the locals, those feathered beastmen. Even though it's just the fighting men I get along with.”

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel looks just as confused, though she does frown. “That sounds terrible! You shouldn't throw stones at people! In Ul' Dah or Ishgard!” she protests, “Even if they're bad people! Just arrest them!”

[Luna]

Luna also looks perplexed, though for a different reason. “The Vanu Vanu? They have taken to you, have they? That is… a source of humour.” she says, her plain tone at odds with her words. “Very well. Take care for now, Gair. Come, Miss Lucatiel.” she says, coming to a stand and beginning to leave the barracks.

[Lucatiel]

Lucatiel continues to carry the basket, looking from Luna to Gair for a moment. “O-oh! I'll see you later Gair! Byyyyyeeee!” she says happily, trying to wave with her hands underneath the basket before trailing Luna as they leave.

[Gair]

“Some folk deserve stones, I think,” Gair says offhandedly and waves a hand dismissively toward Lucatiel. After a pause, he nods toward Luna. “If you ever wanna, stop by the Rosehouse in the Clouds. I'm not all that far away, in truth.” Turning about face, he waves a hand lazily over his shoulder to bid. “Wardens warmth, you two. Here's to hoping I don't go fallin' down Abalathia's spine.”

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