[Gair]

A sleepy and calm morning like any other, one of the few Gair was content to not go on patrol for. Having had a generous amount to drink the night before, and a couple bumps and bruises from the colisseum in that same evening. Without missing a beat upon awakening, he would crawl up off the couch that had become his indefinite bedding for the last couple of weeks. Heavy footfalls signaling his approach for the bath, leaning over the railing and dunking his head into the water to both wash up and wake up. With a light splash does he raise his head from the depths and shake it out like a dog before making for his armory, *THUD* does he ham-fistedly open the door and begin to dress himself for the day to come.

[Miyuki]

Long accustomed to Gair's noisy morning routine, Miyuki doesn't bat an eyelash even when he stumbles shirtless past where she sits at gair's desk. Her eyes don't leave the novel that she's been buried in for the last bell, and it's only when she hears the telltale sounds of Gair getting dressed in his cupboard does she bid him a good morning.

[Gair]

Gair stretches upon emerging, letting out a half yawn half growl like that of a bear being roused from hibernation. “Damn I needed that..” He puts his knuckle to the left of his jaw and presses against it until an audible crackling can be heard, doing to for the opposite a breath later. A thin-lipped smile breaks through the bleary tiredness, half leaning in the doorway as he speaks, “Mornin', you.. really likin' that book, eh? Must be good if it's gettin' ya up 'fore me.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki finally looks up, a playful scowl on her face. “I'll have you know that I rise at a perfectly reasonable time in the morning. You can't hold my sleeping habits during my early days in Eorzea against me!”

[Gair]

Gair's chest rumbles in a laugh at Miyuki's defense, “Oh I will.. you were like one'a those maidens from the tales. Cept there 'ain no princes hereabout to rouse you with a kiss're somethin'.” He closes the distance and leans some against the desk. His gaze flitting curiously to the text in Miyuki's hands as he asks, “Is that the one we got in the Sapphire exchange? What's it about?”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki slaps Gair's thigh lightly as soon as he is within reach. “I have no need for a prince to wake me up, with or without a kiss - which, by the way, makes absolutely no sense as far as I'm concerned.” She looks back down at the book in her hands, sliding in the thin slip of parchment that she'd been using as a bookmark before closing it firmly, placing it back on the table.

“It's your typical tale of a band of fledging heroes travelling the world and doing good deeds wherever they go. Admittedly cliche, but what can I say - I have a soft spot for those sorts of stories.”

[Gair]

Gair tries and fails to wiggle away from Miyuki's rebuke on his thigh, shifting and turning to sit halfway on the desk. Paying the former topic a sparing due as he admits, “Yeah, not sure what would make a prince a better kisser anyhow. Wouldn't be a bad way to wake up..” He trails off and looks at the cover, nodding once in recognition. “Ahh, aye- most everyone likes a tale'a heroes. Drives most men'ta recruitment in the Flames, might have the one I read as a lad 'round here somewhere..”

[Miyuki]

“Oh, that would be nice! I'd be interested to see what sort of reading material a young Gair perused.” Miyuki shoots him a flash of her customary cheeky grin before she stretches her arms above her head to loosen up muscles that had undoubtedly stiffened while she'd been hunched over. “So what's on the agenda for you today?”

[Gair]

Gair answers Miyuki almost immediately, “Not much in the way of reading.” His brow furrows in consideration, as if the cursory glance of the books on his desk were all he owned. Eyes widening in realization, “Oh, I let little A'mhet borrow it. She's like to be done readin' it by now.” He pushes from the desk and makes for the partitioned kitchen, his voice carrying through the modest apartment along with the sounds of food preparation. “Breakfast, first.. then I dunno, I 'ain doing my patrol in the midday. It's hotter 'an Ifrit's arse out there.”

Gair turns the question onto Miyuki as the burner flicks to life on a (Cerul)eum stove, “How 'bout you?”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki follows Gair out into the kitchen area, tempted by the sounds and smells of breakfast cooking. She kneels on the couch and braces her forearms on the back of it so that she can keep her eyes on Gair's form bustling around in the kitchen as she replies. “I might drop by the Coliseum again and see if they need any assistance - there's always someone there with a gash that needs closing or a bone that needs mending.”

[Gair]

A passable cook so long as the ingredients are simple and he can throw some pepper onto it to help with the taste, cracking a large egg over the pan. He scrambles that shit up and throws some ham into it to sizzle and pop along with the egg. “Too true, that. Sometimes I'm the lad who needs it.” He looks up from his cooking and shoots Miyuki an impish grin. “Which I duly appreciate, by the by.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki huffs, puffing out her cheeks. “And as I keep saying, it's the least I can do to repay you for everything you've done for me!”

[Gair]

“Well, your touch is always a welcome thing.. speakin' of.” His hand slinks into his pocket, beggaring the question if these are the same pants he wore yesterday. Fishing out what looks to be a fresh key that he tosses Miyuki's way. “There, that you don' need me to be openin' the door for you no more. Forgot I'd had that made a few days ago.”

Gair finishes up his cooking, dishing out ample eggs and meat on a pair of plates.

[Miyuki]

Miyuki fumbles with the catch, the key nearly nailing her on the nose. She looks down at the nondescript key in her palm with wide eyes before she beams at Gair. Unwilling to let Gair see just how touched she is that he trusts her with a key to his home, she covers it up with cheerful glib. “So does this mean I don't have a curfew any more?” She tucks the key away into a pocket of a dress before snatching up a plate and then proceeding to stuff her face with delicious eggy and bacon-y goodness.

[Gair]

Gair smirks up from his plate, already half-way devoured his part of the meal. He gives her similar cheek back, “You've always had free reign, just don' have strange guests over. 'An you know where the guns are if I'm not home 'an someone's tryin' to get in.” Showing his usually odd brand of concern, bringing up methods of self defense.

[Miyuki]

Miyuki rolls her eyes playfully, pointing her fork at Gair. “I don't know *that* many people in Ul'dah yet, unless you count the fighters in the Coliseum.” She spares at glance at Gair's well-stocked weapon locker towards the back of the apartment. “I don't think I'll even be able to lift one of those blasted things, let alone aim it properly.” She continues to demolish the contents of her plate even as Gair rises to retrieve the mail that had just arrived.

[Gair]

Gair abandons the letters on the table in favor of finishing his eggs and ham, picking at the remnants by the time he answers Miyuki. Plucking one last fatty piece of meat off of his fork and chewing on it for a pregnant moment. “It is quite funny that the conjurer I bring along ends up healing the men I beat up.” He sets the fork on the plate, his lips cracking into a self-satisfied grin. Snatching those letters back up and idly digging at one in particular that stands out: an envelope of pure black sealed with wax scales. His attentions flitting to and from her as he peels the letter open, “It baffles the mind you're so weak and can swim like a damned fish for hours on end.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki gives Gair a look that could dry an ocean. “Not everyone is as physically inclined as you are, mister I swing a sword around and look good while I do so and I know it.”

[Gair]

Distracted in that moment from his letter, Gair just stares at Miyuki for a moment- one might hear those gears grinding in that thick skull of his as he tries to piece together what she meant. His comprehension, or lack thereof will however remain a mystery as he dismisses her dryness. “It looks good because it's good technique, obviously.” His eyes roll, finally unfolding the letter. He grows deathly quiet as he reads over it's contents, after giving it the once over does he check the seal he broke. “Thal's balls, good thing I had that extra key made.”

[Miyuki]

Picking up on Gair's serious tone of voice, Miyuki sets down her empty plate and rises to stand beside him in the hopes that she could read the letter over his shoulder. “Well, that's certainly a dark and ominous envelope if I've ever seen one.”

[Gair]

“Sometimes it's the last letter men are to receive.” Gair holds it up for her to more easily read the letter, having digested the contents in short order: it would be a letter of deployment that bears the signature of General Tarupin and the Sultana for a month long campaign in Ghimlyt. “It's even penned by General Pip, my airship departs in two bells.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki's eyes skim across the paper, expression growing more and more grim as she nears the bottom of the page. By the time she'd reached the last line, she'd unknowingly begun to wring her hands together in front of her. “Two bells from now? That's awfully short notice! And this means you'll be fighting, right? With the enemy?”

[Gair]

“Fighting, aye. Less you can see me healin' folk or doin' paperwork.” Gair has a laugh at his own expense, the soldier being quite well adjusted to being called on. With little ceremony does he lean over and set the letter on the end-table on his right. He looks up toward Miyuki, clearly his concern lies more with his roommate than his own wellbeing. “You'll be alright here on your own? I can set aside some gil for expenses.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki looks up at Gair in dismay. She doesn't speak for a few seconds, her eyes blinking rapidly as she struggles to make sense of what Gair had just said in such a blase manner completely unbefitting of the situation. “Why in kami's name are you worrying about me?! You are the one who is about to be sent off to fight in some bloody battle!”

[Gair]

Nigh dismissive of the personal concern for him, Gair can do little to allay any fears or distress Miyuki may be wrestling with. “Battles.” He corrects. Even less helpful are his next words, delivered matter-of-factly. “I mean, I'd rather you have food and shelter in my absence. There's always the chance I wont come home.”

[Miyuki]

Shocked into silence at Gair's, quite frankly, completely skewed priorities and casual acceptance of his possible death, Miyuko can only stand there and gape at him.

[Gair]

Gair audibly exhales heavily from his nostrils, seeing Miyuki just gape and silently judge him. Like a child he averts his gaze from her and asks. “What? WHAT?” He pushes himself up and out of his chair, discarding that letter onto the table. A clear disconnect and inability to empathize with her concern for him as he continues. “I'm a soldier, it's my *job* to fight and die if need be.” And with that, he steps into the walk-in closet to arm and armor himself.

[Miyuki]

In the uncomfortable silence that follows, Miyuki can do nothing but drop down heavily back onto the couch. She picks up the letter and holds it delicately between a thumb and forefinger, staring intently at the crisp parchment as if she can divine some sort of hidden meaning between the inked words.

[Gair]

The sounds of talking can be heard from the closet, clearly Gair was corresponding by linkpearl. “A'nala, are you working? I'm well, you?” After a pause, “Aye, aye.. I'm being deployed. Two hours, the airship platform.” After an *even* longer pause, his tone like that of a child who'd just been scolded. “What, WHAT? What do you mean she's right to be cross? Ugh, can you come by and feed Veloe while I'm gone, I'm taking Gust… thanks. Love you too, hug the kittens for me.” And with that, he emerges.

Gair looks to Miyuki, the highlander almost comically tiptoeing toward the couch. “Umm..” He starts awkwardly, as if he'd been put on the spot by some mother figure to apologize. “I'm.. sorry?” A gauntleted hand meets her shoulder.

[Miyuki]

Miyuki starts slightly at the tentative touch on her shoulder. She tilts her head just enough to glare balefully up at Gair through her lashes. “Do you even know what you're apologising for?” Without giving Gair a chance to answer, she places the letter back onto the low table before shooting up from the couch. She whirls around in a flurry of white and blue - they're standing close enough that the ends of her skirt thwap softly and harmlessly against Gair's plated shins.

Miyuki reaches an arm up to jab a finger into his equally plated chest, the other hand fisted on her hip. Her expression is set in a determined scowl, brow drawn low over narrowed eyes and flashing limbal rings. “You and I are going to have *words* when you return, do you hear me?!”

[Gair]

It was clear by Gair's body language that he harbored some reflexive fear for being berated and scolded by Miyuki. His body arched back away from the digit that plunks firmly against his armored chest, his paltry attempts at avoidance availing him nothing. His own deep green gaze finding her deep blues, reflecting no small amount of shame in his narrow eyes. “Yee… no…?” He answers her initial question weakly.

Like a soldier standing to attention after being grilled by his superior, his straightens right the hell up- which looks only more absurd with how he towers over her. Both hands held up stayingly and passive, “Y-yes ma'am, *when* I return.” He shies from the eye contact, finding the ceiling very interesting. “Do you.. want to come to the airship landing with me?”

[Miyuki]

Taking pity on him in the face of Gair's chastised countenance, Miyuki's expression softens. She gives him a firm pat on his breastplate with the same hand that had cowed him mere moments ago. “Of course I will, you big lout.”

She takes a step back, inhaling deeply in a visible attempt at gathering herself.

[Gair]

In this situation, Gair could either continue to be browbeaten or happy there's a woman (that isn't one of his sisters) to see him off at the platform. He chooses happy, a faint grin cracks through the shame. “Great!” A vain attempt is made to hide the spring in his step as he bounds for the armory, retrieving his gear bag that jingles with steel and ammunition. He steps up to the door, the only pairs of shoes being at the entrance are Miyuki's- marking the cultural disconnect between the two. Standing at the ready to open up, lock up and head for the airship platform.

[Miyuki]

Miyuki follows after Gair, who looks like a heavily armoured and overgrown child whose birthday had come early. After slipping on her shoes and locking the door behind them, the two make their way swiftly to the airship platform.

The platform itself was much more crowded than usual, and Miyuki spots many other armoured men and women milling about while they await the all clear to begin boarding.

[Gair]

Gair's gaze flits to the heads among the Flames soldiers milling about, a couple of them recognizing him and giving him amused looks for the company he keeps. He shows them visible scowls as he remains near Miyuki, losing that dour expression as he looks to her.

Frowning thoughtfully as his gaze finds Miyuki, one hand finding the other and fidgeting with his gauntlet. “So.. it'll be a little while.” He attempts to make small talk as they wait at the platform. “Until I see you again.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki glances up at Gair for a brief moment before she turns her gaze back out to the restless crowd, crossing her arms over chest. “A month, was it?” Her demeanour suggests there is more that she wants to say but is holding it back, knowing that it is neither the time nor the place. “You are taking Gust with you, right? You had better take good care of him and make sure he comes back with not a feather out of place!”

[Gair]

Gair decides it's better to look out on the crowd, seeing the odd soldier being sent off by their respective family members and spouses. His brow furrowed as he watches one or two of these heartfelt goodbyes. “Mmh.” He answers her first question half-heartedly and bobs his head in a nod, not even looking at Miyuki. Seemingly distracted by his own thoughts, the second and more biting gets the same treatment. “Aye.” And another faint nod is afforded to her.

Finally does he look toward Miyuki to ask, some hope reflected in that squinty gaze of his. Skepticism laden in his tone. “You'll be here when I get back?”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki responds, deadpan, without looking up at Gair. “I rather fancy the idea of finding myself a wealthy, strapping young lad who will fall madly in love with me - and then we will elope together to live a life of luxury. Or lass, if filthy rich lads are in short supply.”

[Gair]

Given pause by that cold-served snark, Gair just reaches up and scratches his scruffy chin and clears his throat. “Oh.” Once again examining the crowd and ticketeers doing their work of processing passengers. “This is the right city for pampered sons of merchants with too much gil on their hands. Though most are pudgy.” Perhaps catching onto the sarcasm a little late, or the highlander prefers straight answers. “Soooo, is that a yes or no?”

[Miyuki]

No longer able to keep a straight face, Miyuki cracks a grin and finally looks up at Gair. “You're no fun.” Her features soften as she replies with warm sincerity. “Of course I will be here. I'll also take good care of Copper!”

[Gair]

Gair appears visibly relieved by Miyuki's answer, exhaling a long sigh that had been pent up- was he holding his breath for that answer? Unable to be soured by the sight of her warm grin, he cracks a small smile in turn. Rebuking her snark by ruffling her raven locks with his gauntleted hand. “Good, and you better!” His hand lingers. “I'll write you, too. It'll be the first time I've written to a girl from the frontlines..” He trails off and admits with a murmur. “That wasn't one of my sisters.”

[Miyuki]

Miyuki scowls playfully and bats away Gair's hand from her head. She again uses humour to conceal the doki doki she feels at the fact that Gair appears to be relieved by her answer. “Aww, would you miss me if I left?”

At that moment, there is a sudden surge of movement at the front of the crowd closest to the landing gate. It appears they've started allowing passengers to board the airship.

[Gair]

There is denial abound between these two as Gair tells Miyuki. “No,” terrible liar he is. The question does, however give him the sensation of butterflies in his stomach- that or breakfast is bothering him.

As the bustle starts up, goodbyes are had and ticketeers go into full bore admitting soldiers and civilians alike through the chest-high gates. That feeling intensifies in Gair's stomach, he gives Miyuki a long look and a forced smile. A number of things he clearly wanted to say, he would settle on. “I'll see you soon, Miyuki.” Awkwardly not knowing that to do in this situation, he lays a hand on her shoulder and gives her an affirming shake before he parts from her and joins the herd onto the airship.

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