hope I’m not too late for the ship meme, could I request 13,18,23,25,37,39 for Estinaud (found you on wordpress, then ao3, thank you for aiding my descent into Estinaud madness 🙏🏻)
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE, FRIEND.
13: What do they do for fun? Do they have a favorite activity or do they like to switch things up?
While they don’t share many hobbies, Estinien has discovered he enjoys listening to Alphinaud narrate from whatever he’s reading--the man has a good voice for it. In turn, it’s gotten him more into reading himself, something he never really had much time or interest in when he was the Azure Dragoon. There’s also the ever-popular activity of adventuring together, which to an Ishgardian is pretty much Peak Romantic Bonding. (”look, I killed you a whole Ascian!”)
18: What are their dates like? How long do/did they date? Do they ever feel the need to take a break from each other?
Estinien tends to be a lowkey kind of person, and so are his dates--walking the streets of Kugane, eating street food, nights spent talking by a campfire under the stars. When Alphy plans their dates, they’re much more likely to involve a night at the theater or a trip to a museum. (Not a bookstore. Esti might never see his boyfriend again.) Their dates tend to be somewhat sporadic, since their schedules are busy enough that most of their bonding is over linkpearl; while their relationship is secure, they both recognize that not being joined at the hip is helpful.
23: How do they hug? Kiss? Tease? Flirt? Comfort?
Given half a chance, Estinien would be hugging his young lover all the time. The only reason kissing isn’t on that list is because Alphy needs his mouth to talk and Esti does like hearing him. Esti is fond of big sweep-you-off-your-feet bear hugs, whereas Alphy clings like a limpet and digs his fingers into Esti’s shoulderblades like he’s afraid Esti will vanish. Their kisses vary as much as their moods. Between the two of them, Alphinaud is the biggest flirt (just ask his former Studium classmates), but Estinien can be a terrible tease if you let him have access to a linkpearl with which to growl sweet words. Comfort is a quiet thing, an offer of company and outstretched arms after a hard day, and it’s usually Alphinaud who offers it. (Esti is...trying.)
25: How much time do they spend together? Do they share their feelings, or hold things in?
Physically? Not much, and it’s entirely due to their schedules. (Well, maybe a little due to Esti being scared of the extent of his feelings.) Over linkpearl or letter? Quite a lot. It’s Alphy who shares his feelings the most; Estinien is still getting used to having feelings, never mind actually putting words to them. His lover’s example helps a lot in modeling How To Use Feeling Words that aren’t anger, joy, or adoration.
37: How much would they be willing to sacrifice for the other? Any lines they refuse to cross?
y. yeah. Life and soul is very much on the table for a sacrifice here. They’d stop short of sacrificing other people, but their own lives and safety? For each other, they’d go up against the world.
39: Who initiated the relationship? Who kissed who first? When did they realize they were in love?
Alphy fell in love like a sack of bricks down a staircase sometime during Heavensward, but it took Estinien until after being freed from Nidhogg’s grasp to put a name to the feelings inside him...whereupon he promptly fled like a coward. It’s not until later that they managed to be in the same place long enough to initiate anything; he was teasing Alphy for his obvious crush and wasn’t expecting Alphy to tease right back. Alphinaud was the first to initiate a kiss and confess feelings, but words of love took a few months of dating...and Estinien was the one who said it first.
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