#aergitar

Aer pushes a door wide open proclaiming "I have arrived, LET'S PARTY!!" A man sitting on his couch turns over at the sudden noise, blankly staring at the Roegadyn. He looks the Roegadyn up and down, trying to process the fact he is wearing this bomb decorated robe...which happens to be extremely tight….and just BARELY covering his smallclothes, paired with the silliest looking moogle cap. After the shock value wears off, he has no choice but to ask "Excuse me….what in the seven hells are you doing in my home?". 

Aer stares at the man, with a most menacing grin. "Heheh, good one sir! So right downstairs then?" asks Aer as go towards the staircase. The man jumps up screaming "Listen, this is no game! What are you doing in my home!?" Aer once again just stares at the man, scratching his head. "Err….is this not the Halone's dirty secret bathhouse event….?" 

The man is just seething with rage at the words he just heard. "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!" screams the man, startling Aer. Aer instantly runs out of the house screaming "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!!". The man sits back down on his couch, and let's out the heaviest sigh. "Just...what….WHAT was that…?" the man asks himself while shaking his head. 

A bit of time passes and the man hears a knock at the door. He goes to open to see the same obscene Roegadyn. They both stare blankly at one another. "So this...isn't ward 4 plot 31?" Aer asks puzzled. The man starts shaking, and balls his hand into a fist. "This is war--you know what just LEAVE!!" screams the man, prompting Aer to flee again. 

     “Family is the last thing I want to talk about anyway.” The Hellsguard crosses her ankles and lowers herself to the ground, sitting cross-legged in the grass. Silence settles over her as she seems to lose herself staring at the blades of deep green beneath her. After some time, she takes a shallow breath and raises her gaze.

     “I had many friends once. A company full of them. They took me in and cared for me. They trusted me with their secrets and their lives.” Fingers reached into the grass and plucked a blade, keeping her hands busy while she spoke. “They allowed me to lead their mercenary branch and believed me when I told them I would keep them safe after we were attacked… and then I left.” The blade of grass snapped in half in her fingers. “I cannot say I know where they are now, or whether they are safe or not. I went back to grab the belongings I had left behind, but no one was there.” Her head tilted slightly during her brief pause. “But those are relationships I no longer have, so that does not answer your question.” Her fingers separated, the two halves of the blade dropping back to the ground.

Aer had been wandering around Limsa Lominsa, with no goal other than to enjoy the beautiful weather and have some peace to himself. Approaching the hawkers alley he suddenly hears familiar voice ring out from behind him "YOOHOO, AEEEEEER!!" 

He turns around to see none other than one of his dearest friends, Puff Pastry. Puff and Aer had enjoyed many trips together, taking in many sights the world has to offer. Being of a considerable age difference, Aer had taken to Puff as more of a daughter figure.

"OI!!!" Aer yells back waving his arms cheerfully around. Puff runs slightly past Aer, but reaching back grabbing his hand and tugging him forward. "This is perfect timing! I hear there's a whole trove of goodies in the alley today just waiting to be owned by yours truly! You can help me carry it all!" she exclaims with a cheerful wink. 

Aer didn't have any plans, and is always willing to help a friend. However, he couldn't help but feel this won't end well for him. He stares into her cheery face as she keeps tugging his hand, much like a child. He couldn't say no, he dared not ruin a smile so bright. "Ok lead the way!" Aer exclaims, allowing the petite Au Ra to appear to be dragging around a huge Roegadyn such as himself.

Now roaming the alley, Puff has been buying all sorts of trinkets and accessories left and right. She had given Aer a satchel for transport, that has been growing at a dangerous pace. Noticing the staggering amount if items piling up, he begins to protest but is suddenly interrupted by an ear piercing "EEEEEEEEE!!!" coming right out of Puff. 

She's wagging her hips in motion, as if doing some sort of cheerful dance while examining these rings at a vendor. "THEY ARE SOOOO CUTE!!" she exclaims. Aer stares at the satchel, which he is now holding with both of his hands, then looks to Puff. "Didn't you...just buy a bunch of rings?" he asks. The peddler hears the Roegadyn's remark and replies quickly with "She may have, but not at these low prices of 300 hundred gil per ring!!" 

Aer slowly turns to Puff after listening to the peddler, and her face is just filled with pure delight. "Sir I'll take two, no three, wait ten!! Puff exclaims. Aer shakes his head in the background. Puff goes to reach in her coin purse just to realize she's out of gil. She stares inside the emptiness, and slowly turns to Aer, seeming as if she's on the verge of tears. "So traaaaaaaigc!" she exclaims. 

Aer sighs. He knew she had more than enough from her previous shopping, but couldn't bear to see her like that. "The pouch in my left side, take what you need." He says in a peculiar tone, much like a father would address their spoiled daughter. She doesn't hesitate one bit to the amount needed and pay the peddler. The peddler goes to hand Puff a small satchel of rings, but Puff motions toward Aer and his large satchel. With a devilish smile, the peddler tosses the small satchel perfectly on top and waved them goodbye. 

Aer starts walking, unsure if he should've indulged in her spending habits. Before he could even give it much thought,  he feels this giant thud against his back. Puff quickly scales Aer's back and places herself on his shoulders like some toddler. Aer looks up at Puff, who has the most childlike delight on her face. "Wow what wonderful bargains today!! Hey Aer, let's go grab some food!! All this shopping worked up an appetite!!" says Puff. 

Aer begins walking forward while muttering to himself "A bargain would mean you have saved some gil, no?". Puff is humming cheerfully, and Aer couldn't help but hum along. Although it wasn't the day he planned, he couldn't help but feel blessed to be in the presence of such wonderful energy and friendship. As they venture forth he suddenly thinks to himself "Wait a minute….wouldn't I have to pay for food as well?"

Had a most....interesting night at the Moogle Cafe yesterday! 

Aer arrives at the designated location in Thanalan. He can’t help but feel intimidated by all the strong looking warriors walking about. His heart is racing, no matter how hard he’s trying to settle down. He manages to register his name to the Judge, and just awaits for the contest to begin.

Suddenly he feels a pat on the back of his leg. He turns around to see one of his favorite lalafells, Suzi. “Aggie! I’m glad you were able to make it to Grindstone! This is your first one, right?” Suzi asks. “Errr...yeah my first one. There are ...quite a lot of contenders, huh.” says Aer. “It’s ok, Aggie! I know you’re a good fighter, YOU know you’re a good fighter, but no matter what this is a contest for fun! Don’t let worrying about your skill or strength stop you from enjoying yourself! Plus...if you do get a little beat up, I’m right here to heal you back to perfect health!!” says Suzi with a most cheerful expression. 

The judge yells out “ALLLLLRIGHT EVERYONE, IT’S TIME TO TEST YOUR METTLE!! THE GRINDSTONE HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN! OUR FIRST MATCH WILL BE BETWEEN BERTHOLT AND…..AERGITAR!” Aer can’t help but feel his heart beat rapidly, but he knows this is something that he wants to do. He makes his first steps toward the arena. 

A dragon lay slain. At its feet lies Aer and his free company mates, who seem to be in some sort of disagreement. "All I'm saying is if Rico held its attention properly I would've been able to cast more efficiently." Proclaims Aer. "Excuse me? MORE efficiently? That would insinuate you had ANY sort efficiency at all!! Don't think I didn't see you screwing up your casts!!" Says Rico.

Odelle scoffs. "I honestly can't tell what's worse, Kuretz's aim, or that toolbox of his with no useful items at all…" she says. Kuretz stomps his foot on the ground and says "Well if you used a lance as long as your neck, you probably could've gotten some precise strikes yourself!" 

Nanaia is shyly picks her head up from looking at the ground. "I'm sorry, everyone. I know this was probably my faul---" when suddenly she's interrupted by Aer "Oh shut up, Nanaia!! Don't make this about you, you were perfect out there!" Aer gives her hard ass pat on the back. "Yeah, Nanaia. Don't act like you're the issue in all this." says Rico. "No seriously guys, I'll try to do better next time! I'll be just as good as Tish and Ogre!" Exclaims Nanaia.

Aer laughs."Hah! Tish and Ogre, what even did they---". Suddenly the two other members, who had their backs toward the party this whole time start to slowly turn around. They both just stare at the group, producing this very menacing aura. The air grew thin, the temperature dropped, and the tension was so great everyone thought that time froze. When time began to move again, Tish and Ogre in unison replied with "Hmm?". 

Aer, who is now holding Nanaia in front of him says "I was just saying that we're such a great group! I wouldn't dare adventure with anyone else, and that it would be very sad if anyone of us was suddenly not here anymore…." Everyone but Tish and Ogre slowly nod. 

Tish stares for a couple more seconds, then turns around and starts to leave. Ogre cracks a small grin, and follows Tish's lead. The rest of the group follow behind them in complete silence all the way back to their free company house. 

@sea-wolf-coast-to-coast

@kuretzffxiv

Aer places his palm against the soldier's chest, and thrusts forward pinning him into a wall. Surrounding them are corpses of allies Aer and Kuretz were tasked with locating and rescuing. Kuretz is in the background going through documents occasionally shifting his gaze to Aer and the lone soldier. Aer slowly pushes his palm deeper into the soldier's chest, causing the soldier to groan in considerable pain. "Where...where are the rest of them?" Asks Aer in a dark tone. The soldier looks up at Aer and smiles. "Why? So you can get a pretty view at another pile of corpses?" Says the soldier. Aer immediately takes his free hand and backhands the soldier's face so hard their mask came off revealing a younger kid still in their teens by the looks of it.

Aer freezes up as this kid looks up at the roegadyn with the same devilish smile. "Look you're not getting anything from me, so do what you have to.'' says the soldier. Aer's eyes veer off to his fallen allies and back to the soldier, he stares in disbelief. Before Aer can say anything else the soldier says "Yes, yes I did this! I killed them! You wanna know why? Because I had my orders, as you do yours. That simple. Now ...do what you must...or not...haha" says the soldier who finds humor in Aer's hesitation. 

"Aer. Let me try speaking to him." Says Kuretz walking up to the two. Aer moves his palm back, causing the soldier to slide down to the ground. Taking a few steps back, Aer crosses his arms hoping to settle his nerves. Kuretz unsheathes his blade and points it at the soldier on the ground. "Stand." Kuretz commands. The soldier picks himself up slowly, and the second he does Kuretz has his blade pointed right at his heart. "Will you tell me what we need to know?" Asks Kuretz.

"Will you kindly piss o---" utters the soldier before he suddenly freezes. The soldier's eyes grow wide, and starts gasping for air as he looks down and sees Kuretz's blade sink deeper into his heart. The soldier starts grabbing at Kuretz's arms while muttering "wait...wait…", his eyes filled with fear and regret. Kuretz's face reminds unchanged as he pulls the blade out, watching the youth fall to the ground. Aer turns Kuretz around, but before he can say anything Kuretz holds up a document.“I know what you’re about to say, but I have the information we need already. He wasn’t going to tell us, nor did he have plans to let us leave if we turned our backs on him.... Aer?"

Aer took a seat inside the Cathedral. He wasn’t one for faith, but one of his comrades in arms would always mention frequenting this place. His comrade fell in a recent battle with Garlemald, and so Aer deemed this the best way for him to pay his respects.

Aer couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable in this place. Everywhere he looked he saw pain. Sobbing families, people sobbing in lonesome, and most of the ones who weren’t had the most broken looks on their faces. It was truly a lot for the heart to bear. 

An elderly woman takes a seat next to Aer. He found this a bit peculiar considering there was plenty of space everywhere else, but he did not mind. “And what brings you here, child?” asks the woman. “I am here to pay my respects to a fallen friend. This was his favorite place, so it just seemed right.” said Aer. The woman slowly nodded. “Yes yes, my grandson loved this place more than anything.” Aer looked at the woman in shock, while she gave a very soft and innocent chuckle. “Come now...I receive news of my grandson’s passing, and a few days later I see someone matching a description of someone from his stories. That can’t just be coincidence.” says the woman. 

Aer couldn’t help but feel overcome with guilt. “I….I…” Aer stutters on his words. “It’s alright, dear. It’s war. Whether we like it or not, people will die.” says the woman, still a faint smile on her face. Aer knows better. Behind that smile lies a bunch of pain, but he would never comment on it. “Come pray with me, dear.” says the woman. “What if…what if I don’t believe?” Aer asks. “That means that your cries will be heard the most, for Halone will have to save you like she did us.” Aer gets on his knees along with the woman, closes his eyes, and just let his thoughts flow freely.