Storytime

[starshepard]

Who ⬤ Azem + Ydris
What ⬤ telling ydris about home
When ⬤ after things return to normal
Where ⬤ Ydris' apartment
Content Warnings ⬤ Shadowbringers/Endwalker spoilers


[ Now things are as normal as Hell gets and Azem has had time to recover, it's time she keeps her promise to tell Ydris about where she's from. After texting to see if they're free she heads over to the apartment. She spends a moment staring at where the whole nightmare problem had gone down, feeling her stomach turn at the whole thing.

From there she's quick to make her way up to the apartment. ]

So... I believe I owe you a story?

Comments

[starshepard]

Ah, right.

[ She looks a bit guilty as she got off track of what she'd been talking about. She sucks in a breath before she begins to speak of what she had only just come from before arriving here. ]

The Final Days. It started with what sounded like the star itself screaming, a great roaring sound that was soon followed by the skies turning red as fire began to rain from above. Flora and fauna began to wither and die. Water began to dry up. And our very magics that gave birth to magnificent creatures turned against us and created monsters that only desired to devour all in their path.

It started in places far from the capital but spread like an infection. The star was dying and I... I couldn't find the reason why.

All we knew for certain was that the aether in those area grew thin staring above and spreading to the ground. With no solution in sight the Convocation decided the only solution was to create a being of immeasurable power that could stop what was happening and then bring about new life at a pace faster than we possibly could.

[ Her expression turns to a frown as she takes a long draw from the wine glass. ]

[enterthe]

[They just... hand her the whole bottle and take the glass away. That seems like what she should be drinking from]

A catastrophe of that magnitude... I understand your feeling responsible, in part, to find a solution. There's simply no way a single being could stop something like that, is there? Cause it, maybe, but not stop something so large and already in motion...

[Ydris knows a thing about starting catastrophic, world ending events... but they're only the aftermath of that. Their predecessor was more ambitious than they are. Something Ydris feels they have to maintain, never get too wrapped up in seeking power]

Did this manufactured God of theirs end up helping or harming? I feel I can guess. [their familiar, if all too dire tone, guesses harm]

[starshepard]

[ Azem finishes off the glass before taking the bottle, though she doesn't drink from it just yet. ]

I don't know. [ She shakes her head with a shrug. ] All I know is that in order to summon a being of that magnitude it would require a great deal of living aether. Half remaining population was to sacrifice themselves to it.

Willingly, of course, but I couldn't stand by and just let that plan come to fruition. I tried to convince everyone that there was a better way. That if so much aether was required then how were to keep such a powerful being going? Half now, half of what is left later. Then what? What remains of that?

It all ended with me getting into a big argument with Emet-Selch over it and quitting the Convocation. Which, as you now know, isn't something one just does.

[ She pauses to drink from the bottle. ]

It wasn't just over Zodiark... Our friend had decided to give himself as a sacrifice. That... [ She pauses to suck in a breath, blinking as she fells her eyes get a little watery. ] That the two of us had a better chance at figuring it all out.

I couldn't... [ She trails off, shaking her head. ] We were supposed to return to the star together.

[enterthe]

Half!? That's an absurd cost. Who would- [pay that? Ydris quiets, wondering if they would... if cutting the world in half to save it would be well worth...

Not for an unsure shot. Not to feed some being that might need to keep being fed.]

That's an unreasonable solution. There would have to be a better one, none should rush to that conclusion foolheartily. Your hesitation only makes sense.

[starshepard]

People were willing to do what it took to save the star, even if meant their life. [ Her tone somber before takes a long draw from the bottle. ]

Time was against us. The spread was happening fast so we needed to act fast. I had hoped that I would have time to find the answer but... [ She trails off with a weak shrug. ] Here I am instead.

[enterthe]

You were taken before this could resolve, then?

[no wonder she feels a weight of guilt and sadness. That's a lot to leave unresolved. Ydris can not grasp how torn up that would make them, it's unfathomable in scope. It makes them feel small, even as a god themself. Maybe that's their age talking...

Or maybe they just ache for Azem,]

... I'm sorry.

[starshepard]

[ She nods and takes another long gulp from the bottle. When she pulls it back she blinks a couple of times. Seems the alcohol is finally getting to her a little.

She clears her throat before sighing. ]

I don't know what I'm returning to if I'm returning to anything when this is over.

[enterthe]

It's... best to be hopeful!

[Ydris, why did you pick that expression. Maybe they didn't it just happened because they're lost in thought and it's easy for their emotions to read incorrectly between face and tone. Maybe Azem can take a little comfort in Ydris' being too caught up to care]

You'll make it back and fix it. I'm sure. Maybe coming here was apart of helping save your home! There could be an answer here- or- Where you offered a contract price? That seems like what they should have promised!

[starshepard]

[ Azem does smile a little at that. ] You're right.

Still, even if I return with the answer and am able to fix everything I'm a traitor to the Convocation. I won't truly be able to return home.

[enterthe]

A traitor! Even if you save the star-? Who needs the Convocation, then!? Bunch of fools if they don't fall on their knees at your feet for bailing them out.

[Ydris is the ideal friend for being passionately on your side, Azem.]

[starshepard]

[ Azem laughs at that. Perhaps a bit inappropriate but they can just blame it on the wine. ]

Perhaps. At least two people on the Convocation might be on my side. And at least one holds more sway.

[ She's unsure, though. As she said before, one does not simply quit the Convocation. Especially when she hadn't even found anyone to fill her seat once it was left open. ]

[enterthe]

[considering how alarmed and nervous Ydris gets with tears, the tipsy laugh from her sets them more at ease, right along with her. They reach out and pet a hand through her hair, a idle gesture of comfort.

They still sound hilariously mad, tho]

You'll find a way and you'll show them all up. If they want to dig in their heels about procedure, they're prideful fools and it's no wonder they couldn't find a decent solution themselves.

[starshepard]

[ Azem leans into the touch with a soft hum. Even though they sound mad it's still comforting. ]

Pride is certainly an aspect my people hold.

[ The fact that they could deem it worthy to think of another way proved that much to her. ]

[enterthe]

You have my fa- [no... Faith is a silly thing. Ydris shakes their own head, hands reaching to Azem's hair to undo it if it was already tied up in some way. They brush it out with their fingers, then begin to pull a delicate braid through it on the side close to them]

I trust in you. You'll succeed, even if you have to be here a while longer.

[starshepard]

[ Azem almost always wears their hair up in a messy bun. So the sensation of having it taken down followed by Ydris running their fingers through their hair and begin to braid is met with a shiver and a soft sigh. They relax into the couch now, feeling warm and cozy thanks to both the wine and Ydris' attention. ]

Thank you.