#grumpy jumpy

A story of found siblings

Sometime before the Great Dravanian Road Trip

In his office High Lord Commander Aymeric de Borel generally could not hear the rest of the goings on of the Congregation of the Knights Most Heavenly. Given the sensitive nature of many of his duties this was for the most part a benefit. Other times it meant that mischief caused by bored, restless, or overstressed Knights took longer to be brought to his notice. Most often it was Lucia or Houdulope that we’re the harbingers of shenanigans gone to far. Other times an unnatural stillness would draw him out of his office to check on what was happening.

He nodded to the squire currently serving as paperwork shuffler when the girl handed him a freshly written report he had been expecting. He quickly flipped through the parchment to ensure everything was there and frowned. “Where is the report from the Dragoons?”

The squire shifted her weight uncomfortably. “Errr… Ser Wyrmblood and Lady Art’imis are having a disagreement about some of the details.”

Aymeric arched an eyebrow. “A disagreement?”

The squire cleared her throat nervously, “they’re screaming at each other in the Dragoon mess hall Ser.”

Aymeric took in a long breath and then released in what he would swear to his dying day was NOT a sigh. “Does this screaming have anything to do with what should be in the report?”

“I’m not sure Ser.”

Aymeric set the Temple Knights report down in the center of his desk as he stood up. “Go about your other duties, I’ll see to the other report.”

The squire gave him a relieved salute and vanished from his office. Once the door closed behind her he pinched the bridge of his nose. There were many things that were commendable about his old friend and the warriors of light. Sometimes those same things were also the most stress inducing things about them. He shook his head and left his office to see if there was a chance that he would get his report before the pair of warriors shouted the Congregation down around them.

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Lucia and Brucemont were both in the Dragoon mess hall when he got there. He nodded to acknowledge their salutes and was silently relieved that there were at least two adults in the room. They both looked exasperated but only mildly concerned. Melisande was leaning against a wall munching on an apple. She waved at him apple in hand but was more interested in the show in the center of the room. Art’imis Chysgoda, Free Paladin and Warrior of Light stood on one of the tables so she could be face to face with the Azure Dragoon as they yelled at each other. Neither of them had changed out of their armor and given the dried blood on the side of Art’imis’ face they probably hadn’t been to the healers yet either. He glanced at Melisande again and noted that she had changed out of her armor and a slight bulge under one sleeve indicated the presence of a bandage. So they had been at this at least since they had returned to Ishgard.

“You were reckless and it could have put -“

“You have no place lecturing me about recklessness! Not a damned other soul was in danger from what I was doing.” Art’imis jabbed a finger at Estinien’s chest. “This is not my first time at the races. I know what I’m doing!”

“These are not whatever small beasts lurk outside of Coerthas, this is Nidhogg’s Horde!” Estinien smacked the offending hand away as he snarled at her. “You cannot just assume whatever it is you call tactics will work-“

The exaggerated eye roll that Art’imis provided as response only made Estinien’s eyes flashed a stronger blue and his lips pulled back from his teeth as he growled at the Paladin. The few other Dragoons who were still in the room stared at the AuRa woman like she had a death wish. For her part the free paladin arched an unimpressed eyebrow. “Really? That’s the tactic,” the sarsacam that dripped off the word could have been bottled and used as an alchemy regent, “you are going to go for?”

Lucia glanced at the table and floor beneath the shouting pair. Aymeric followed her gaze and grimaced to see the blood that was slowly trickling from untreated wounds to splatter around their feet. Lucia took a few quick strides and before either warrior could bother to pull away from their battle of wills she reached up and slammed their heads together.

The pair jumped apart cussing violently. Estinien’s forehead now showed the imprint of Art’imis’ scales and the cut along the Aura’s hairline began to bleed again. They both rounded on Lucia who merely folded her arms over her chest. “Get to the infirmary before the pair of you make even more work for the cleaning staff.”

Art looked down at the blood on her greaves and boots and on the table top. “When did that happen?”

“Most likely when you were letting a Halone damned dragon knock you around all over western Coerthas.” Estinien groused plainly pleased to have his point made for him.

Before Art’imis could open her mouth to respond Melisande tapped the back of her knee. “That’s enough, children.”

“Indeed it is.” Aymeric agreed. Both the dragoon and paladin blinked at him only just realizing he was there. Aymeric folded his arms. “I might advise that any other bouts of sibling rivalry be kept to less public venues?”

Office art! Because the computers were stupid slow today. So a grumpy jumpy in his nest with a grumpy eye.

This grew out of my husband saying “Estinien has an office? I thought he had a nest”