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yzeltia · 6 days

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A Night at the Opera

For @scrollsfromarebornrealm 's Our Fates Alight

Characters: U'rahn Nuhn, U'khuba Tia, Claudien, Y'lem Tia, Y'zel Tia

Rating: T for dominanT

Notes: Thank you to @scrollsfromarebornrealm for letting me play in the sandbox and to @scalefeathers and @biot08 all the editing!!

U'rahn had never felt so moved. Tears were streaming down his face, watching as a blue-haired Miqo'te sang to a Dragoon knight as he died in their arms. He could almost not believe this was on stage, the white-freckled contra tenor sounding anguished at the death of their lover.

“Oh stop blubbering. You don't even know what they're saying,” a voice hissed at his side.

U'rahn turned, ears folded and tail thrashing as his cousin U’khuba watched through gilded opera glasses. The Nuhn crossed his arms and huffed as the sorrowful voice radiated through the theater.

“I don't need to! You can just tell by the singing. The blue-haired Miqo is sad that his dad killed his knight after trying to get him to stay away!”

“Not even close…and get out your kerchief. You're getting puffy and I need you to look presentable.”

U'rahn grunted then did as he was told, wiping his face. Deeper in their box, he heard a chuckle, making him turn around. Their coveted box had come with a guard, a blond Hyur with fiery orange eyes and crimson armor. The Nuhn had thought him a bit rude, not in anything he'd done to him and his cousin, but that instead of enjoying the opera he'd taken to reading a pile of tomes.

“Hey hey! You laughin’ at me?” U'rahn hissed into the back.

“Just your interesting interpretation of the events on stage,” the Hyur answered.

“Yeah, well. What would you know? You haven't watched any of it!”

The guard shook his head and closed his book before coming to kneel beside U'rahn as the Miqo'te continued to sing, hand reaching up toward the aetherically projected twin moons. “They are Maria, the first Dominant of Menphina. She is mourning for her lover, Draco, who has just been slain by Prince Ralse for interrupting their wedding. Maria was promised to Ralse when the Knight didn't return from war and knew she'd leave with him back to his home country. She mourns her lost love but she also fears now that war will come again because of Ralse’s actions. Though the Prince struck down her love in a fit of jealousy, she knows he is ultimately good, loves his people, and that Draco who also had loved his country would not want another war. So, she prays to Menphina to grant her the power to prevent such a war and thus…”

As he trailed, the Miqo'te started to glow, light shining upon him to make it look as if they were priming under the moonlight. Wings were pulled from their gown from wires as they lowered down to kiss the knight in their arms.

U'rahn looked in awe before turning to the guard, finding them in a fierce glare into his pages, as if he might set the pages aflame with his stare. Swallowing nervously, he looked away in time to watch the glowing fade and the Miqo'te fall against the Knight’s chest as he stirred back to life. The man soon let out a melodic wail of anguish.

“The fate of all chosen by Menphina. To die for those they love. A one time miracle.

Now, united in grief and love, Draco and Ralse can honor her memory by pledging peace between themselves and their kingdoms,” the guard finished.

U'rahn lowered his ears, rubbing at his eyes while U'khuba scoffed, “Drama for drama’s sake.”

“Shut up - Shut up! She loved everyone so much she sacrificed herself to make sure they would be united in love instead of divided by hurt,” the Nuhn yelled back at his cousin.

His ears perked as he noticed the music stopped. All eyes were upon their box now in the wake of his shouting. Chuckling nervously, he looked out to the crowd then down to the stage. The blue-haired Miqo'te too had sat up from their death, staring a moment before starting to let out a melodic laugh. Soon the entirety of the opera house joined in, cementing the two Drakes’ embarrassment.

“I think our esteemed guests from Thanalan have summed this number up nicely for us this evening,” the contra tenor sounded out before standing, “so I believe it's time for an intermission. We will return with ‘I Want to Be Your Canary’ after the break.”

The theater rumbled as the lights came back on, leaving the two Drake men to get up and stretch their legs. U'rahn laughed nervously as he looked to his cousin. “Looks like we got a friendly reprieve.”

“We're lucky we're not being thrown out. Don't forget why we're here. Let's make our entrance now before you have a chance to screw this up,” U'khuba spat before turning to the guard, “Sir, if you'd kindly take us to see the star?”

The blond-haired man stood, giving a small nod before turning to lead the two from their box and down to the rooms below the stage. U'rahn was careful to keep his tail tucked and ears alert, people running through with props and costumes to ready the next show. He couldn't help but smile, everyone seeming so passionate and cheerful despite the labor it seemed to take to put on such a production. Approaching a door with a little moon on it, he swallowed, then let his guide knock.

“Go away,” a rough voice sounded out.

“Master Y’lem. Our esteemed guests have come to meet our star, as per their special tickets.”

U'rahn watched the guard roll his eyes as annoyed muttering came from within. The door soon was flung open with a stern-looking white-haired Miqo'te at the knob. His sea-coloured eyes flitted from the guard then to U'rahn and U'khuba before he forced a smile. “Right. Apologies. I suppose you paid good money for an audience with our star. Claudien, stand watch and I shall fetch some tea.”

Y'lem brushed past them, looking back momentarily before heading forward. The guard, Claudien, moved to hold the door open to let the two Seekers through before shutting it behind them. U'rahn rubbed his nose as the oppressive scent of lilies came from all directions, the room nearly blanketed in vases. On a lounge, the blue-haired Miqo'te was laid out, listlessly turning one of the flower’s stems in his fingers before sitting up.

“Oh. Hello. You're the enthusiastic gentleman from the box,” they said quietly, noticing U'rahn's discomfort before continuing, “Apologies. I made the mistake once of saying Nymeian Lilies are my favourite and now every show my room becomes somewhat of a field for them.”

“I'll be okay in a minute. Strong smells are tough on me,” the Nuhn said, taking in a breath before letting go of his face to give a deep bow, “I am U'rahn Nuhn, of the Sagoli Drake tribe and this is my cousin and Officer of Coin, U'khuba.”

“It is an honor to be in your presence, Y'zel Tia,” U’khuba added with a diplomatic bow.

“I'm sure that's just the magick of stage talking. I am nothing special, especially without my beloved patrons who support me. Ah, has my father truly left us so that you may speak freely?”

U'rahn stood back up then gave a nod and as his chin lifted the singer was upon their feet and into Claudien’s arms. The Miqo'te was taken aback at the two stealing a kiss before him. “Ex-Excuse us! U'khuba what do we do here?”

U'khuba was silent, head looking the other way as if preoccupied with another thought, much to U'rahn's disbelief. The singer soon parted, turning to their guests, eyes glowing an ice blue as Claudien covered his mouth and looked away with a slight tint of crimson upon his cheeks. “Please, forgive me. My father would separate us if he knew I'd fallen for my Hound.”

The primed Miqo'te reached out, taking U'rahn's hand into their own. “A secret. Between new friends?”

“Right right! A secret. I don't have a reason to say anything anyway! Er…um…your Dominant-ness?”

“Y'zel, please.” they answered, studying U'rahn's face, “You are somehow unaffected by my gifts. How refreshing! Come, sit and tell me what you really thought of the play.”

U'rahn felt himself being pulled to the lounge, sitting as instructed while looking to U’khuba who just seemed to be in a happy daze in Y'zel's presence while Claudien stepped back to the door, face already planted in another book. “Uh. I liked it. It was kinda sad though at the end. It kinda reminded me of the storytales my mom would read to me about knights and princesses…or rather, it looked like one. To be honest, I couldn't really understand what was being said all too well. Your uh…knight over there filled me in though. Khuba didn't seem to care for it.”

“Nonsense. You were a pearl upon the stage. That we could linger here and come to your shows…but no, our duty will pull us from you,” U’khuba lamented, pushing up his glasses.

“Uh….you okay cousin?”

“He’s been more or less thralled. Don't worry though. It's a temporary effect. As an Eikon I don't have much power beyond that of self-defense and support. My voice can charm others, even if I'm not primed. Perhaps because those chosen by Menphina do not have very long lives to begin with…”

U'rahn's ears and tail perked, “Ah! Right right! That's why we're here!”

The Nuhn stood, pushing his cousin out of the way given that he seemed unable to help. “Listen. I know you must hear this a lot, but we came here to recruit you as our Dominant! U'khuba had a bunch of reasons why to sell you on it…and I forget them, but I can tell you why we need you.”

U'rahn quickly dug out a piece of paper from his pocket and began to read from it. “As the Nuhn of my village, it is my duty to see my people are safe. The Forgotten Springs, where we live, and our friends in Little Ala Mhigo are under constant threat of the forces of the Amalj’aa armies as well as the constant encroaching of our lands by Ul’dah, and the ever present threat of our greatest foe: the sandworms.

“You,” he continued, holding out his hand toward the singer, “You who have been said to turn a raging behemoth into a timid puppy with your voice alone would be our greatest defense to cull the fiery spirits of those who seek to encroach upon our territories.

“We have little to offer, but our springs are renowned across Thanalan and our teas are some of the finest harvested in Eorzea. You'd…you'd want for nothing and as uh…as uh…the Nuhn of the Drake I would take it upon myself to become your new Hound.”

U’rahn lowered his head then got on one knee, holding out a small golden stone. “Please accept this rare sunstone and consider our request.”

Y'zel stared a moment then shook their head. Reaching out, they delicately ran their hands over U'rahn's fingers to enclose them about the stone.“You love your village, so deeply. That warms my heart.”

U'rahn looked up, eyes wide and ears perked, “So you will come?”

The singer sighed, hand brushing over the other's fingers to close them around the stone. “No.”

The Nuhn's ears and tail immediately went limp in the wake of the simple answer. His eyes flitted about, unsure what to do. Before he could question why, Y'zel stood and went to sit by their mirror with a sigh.

“I am not what you think. I'd be no use to your cause. My powers, for one, do not work on my Eikon brothers and sisters nor those blessed like yourself. If you fear Ifrit then I'd be able to do little more than mute the tempering of their followers, and only temporarily. Then there's the matter of how little control I have over my abilities. I'd fear your people would mistake me for a leader or find some other way to thrust their love on me.”

“You'd be far better than the one we have now,” U'khuba echoed.

“You see,” the dominant said.

“No…no. He'd say that if he wasn't er…”

“Moonstruck is the colloquial term,” Y'zel answered, watching the Nuhn mouth out the word ‘colloquial’ in confusion, “No, I belong on the stage. If I am to touch the hearts of others I should see that it is earned through something worthy of their love and not just for existing as the Lover’s chosen. My singing is something that can stay with them long after they're away from my influence…and maybe that will be enough to sustain them for a bit when the world becomes cruel.”

“Maybe it will be different with us. You don't have to impress us or anything. And Ul’dah could definitely use some love,” U'rahn said, feeling the futility rising, “Who says this is the only way to feel loved?”

Y'zel went silent for a moment. “It might not be, but I have precious little time to find any other way. My destiny,” they started, interrupting as Claudien slammed his book shut and gruffly left the room, “My destiny is to make sure that I use my ultimate power to keep a spark of love alive.”

“Like Maria…”

“Yes, like Maria and all the Lovers that came after her. I will gladly give myself over to make the world better for the people I love,” Y'zel said, placing their hand over their heart.

U'rahn let out a grunt, a flash of a memory coming across his mind as he heard a forgotten voice and saw a pair of scared blue eyes.

“I will gladly give myself over to save this star for the people I love.”

Shaking it off, he stood upright. “I think…I get it…”

Y'zel nodded, turning in they chair with a soft smile, “It seems you do. I'm sure with the love you have for your village you will find a means to protect your homeland.”

U'rahn looked up then beamed at the other, heart swelling with reassurance. Satisfied with his rejection he tilted his head and scratched his chin hairs. “Say…uh. I don't suppose you might know where I might find my most precious someone, do you?”

Y'zel’s ear twitched as they scowled, though it was largely missed by the Nuhn as he lightly jabbed at his cousin, only to be swatted away. Turning, the singer thought then smiled before pulling out a deck of old cards. “Ah. Well, let's see here,” they said, taking three arbitrarily from the deck.

U'rahn scooted behind the singer's chair, looking at the spread. Y'zel hummed, positioning them just right before pointing to the first card, a heart with swords stabbed through it. “Your soulmate card. Someone loves you deeply but they cannot reach you and might never, but that is okay. All will ultimately reunite again through the aetherial sea.”

“Aw…but, there's two more?”

“Yes, the middle one is your future love, though don't engrain this to your heart as these things are always in flux,” they said, pointing to a card, a half-moon.

“Who's that going to be?”

“I cannot say, this card represents natural duality but it is upside down which means it might be artificial in nature. Perhaps it's saying you will have to work hard to find this love or it will be someone that manifests at the right time. On stage we call that a ‘deus ex machina’.

“Uh…huh…wait. There's one more? Is that not my future too,” he asked, tapping the card picturing two men on a battlefield with swords crossed, it too upside down.

“The last is your present. Tell me…do you have a rival?”

U'rahn nodded, “M’zhet Tia! He's a wannabe Nuhn and I hate his dumb smug face.”

“I see. And do you often spend time thinking of him?”

“Just how I'm going to win our next fight. What are you saying? Does he have a sister into me?”

Y'zel turned, looking up innocently at the other, “Well no. But they do say that hate has a thin line with love.”

The Nuhn stared a moment then turned crimson. “Ah. Well, look at the time! We should be getting in our seats before the next show. Good luck! C’mon Khuba,” he said rapidly before grabbing his cousin’s arm and dragging him out of the room.

Returning with tea, Y'lem entered, brow raised as Claudien followed in from behind. “Fended off another adoring fan?” their father asked.

“No, this one was earnest and sought me as an Eikon of all things. A good lad but a bit gullible.”

Y'lem poured them a cup each before handing a saucer over to Y'zel, noting the spread on the table, “Playing the soothsayer again? You really shouldn't tease people like that.”

“I cannot help it. I am not a matchmaker nor psychic. I have to have my fun now and then,” the singer sighed.

Claudien cleared this throat a bit as he was handed tea as well, “The next production begins shortly. After that, the company should relocate. There's been word of that gilded Eikon hunter skulking about and I don't want to tarry longer than we have. I say we go east, perhaps to Corvos or beyond to Werlyt. Maybe return to Old Sharlayan. There are matters which I'd like to look into when we have a chance to return home.”

Y'zel looked up quietly to Claudien through his mirror then away. “Yes, I suppose we have overstayed our welcome here. I can only pray that my fellow Eikons, wherever they are, remain safe from his hands.”

#final fantasy xiv #final fantasy 14 #ffxiv #ffxiv oc #ff14 #ff xiv #ffxiv miqo'te #y'zel tia #u'rahn nuhn #ffxiv Claudien #ffxiv au #ffxvi au #mephina #ffxvi dominant #our fates alight #Y'lem tia

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yzeltia · 12 days

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petunia - your presence soothes me

“Censured! Again! Why even have the fourteenth seat if my voice is to be silenced!”

Elidubus flinched as Azem threw his mask off into the wall, breaking it. Seeing his dear friend angered tested his neutrality. He wished he had the freedom to act on his first impulse so assuredly, but it was his cautious nature that earned him his seat, to foil his love.

And in that love he was only able to watch as Azem let his temper flare. There were no words to comfort him, the decision was made. Watching Azem’s shoulders as they heaved, Themis delicately ran his hand up the other's neck then circled his arms around his waist to hug onto him. “I cannot speak for Loghrif’s actions, but in truth you only have me to be angry with. I am the Emissary, it is more fitting that I become His heart.”

Azem tensed up under Elidubus’s embrace, fist balling tight as he was clung. His head shook, as if having some sort of internal argument with himself. “I know well why Loghrif has abdicated her role. Mitron.”

“What do you mean?”

Azem turned, grabbing Elidibus by the shoulders, expression pained. “Are you so blinded by our roles you cannot see the people under them anymore? They are like us. Mitron loves Loghrif. They cannot bare to be separated, even if it is for the good of our Star,” he stressed, taking the other's hand and forcing through his robes and onto his chest before letting his lip quiver as he continued, “To become His heart is to take away my own as you are my heart. I do not love anything more than you, even our Star. This sacrifice asks too much. We should all find a third way or take our punishment together rather than gambling with peoples’ lives.”

Elidubus stared quietly up into Azem’s fiery eyes as he felt the other's heart pound beneath his chest. Gingerly he moved to touch his cheek, offering a small smile. “There is no other way. This will happen. No more can you stand to be in a world without me, I cannot conceive of a world without you in it. I might become the heart of our God, but mine will remain here. With you.”

Azem put his hand over Elidubus’s, grunting in frustration before taking his head into his hands to hold as he delivered a rough kiss. The Emissary leaned forward, returning the kiss as best as he could before gently pushing the other back.

“Bind our aether together,” Azem ordered, wiping his mouth with his wrist.

“Azem-”

“NO! Do not call me that. Not anymore…”

Elidubus paused, then pulled off his mask, “Gelos. I am uncertain if that is a good idea given what I am to become. To tie ourselves to one another when I'm to become-”

“I don't care what happens to me. If I am not enough to keep you here then let us always have a piece of one another wherever our roads end up taking us. Themis…please.”

The silver-haired male felt himself given, hand idly reaching out to tug lightly at the string of his love’s robes. Gelos soon was upon him, pulling away his white clothing as they fell to the floor. Themis found himself barely able to keep a thought together as he was kissed and swiftly united with his ever eager lover. Once used to the fullness, clarity finally hit, allowing him to focus on their aether, finding Gelos’s to be nearly overwhelming as always. Still, with their bodies and hearts as one, binding their souls seemed almost trivial. He couldn't help but wonder why he had any hesitation to begin with…there was no other presence he was more fond of.

Even when at odds. Even with their union being as heart wrenchingly painful as it was physically pleasurable. Even if tomorrow Gelos would be gone and the Convocation made to be only thirteen…Even if tomorrow did not come…they'd be bound forever.

#final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #final fantasy 14 #ff14 #ffxiv oc #ff xiv #u'rahn nuhn #elidibus #gelos #wol x elidibus #wol x themis #themis #angst

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