#verheart

Thank you everyone in the tags of my last piece for so enthusiastically encouraging Lyrha to baseball pitch her Focus. X'rhun Tia wouldn't exactly consider it Red Magic, but the effectiveness of her technique is hard to deny.

Playing around with this height chart by sticking blorbos and a few of their partners in. Really amused to discover that if the gamerescape site is correct, then G'raha is a min-height Sunseeker male. Smol. He's just a little guy. X'rhun Tia though? Max height. Tol. Very sexy of them both.

"How much longer do you suppose they'll wait?" X'rhun asked, casually scanning the horizon and providing no indication who he might be referencing.

I'lyrha scoffed, flicking an ear. "Next turn 'o the road."

"There's far better concealment behind those boulders."

"Nah. Scout spotted us too late, they'll be scramblin'."

"Shall we wager?"

"Washin' pots'n'pans tonight."

"Agreed."

Sixty paces later, a pair of Brass Blades rode out from behind the bend. "Hold up, there." Commanded the one in front.

Stopping, I'lyrha gave X'rhun a knowing glance, but managed to contain her smirk.

He frowned at her, then cast his most winning smile in the direction of the leader. "Well! How refreshing to see the Divan's finest out and about on such dangerous roads as these. I'm sure the bandits we've been warned about will be much deterred with you brave fellows here to chase them into the hills!"

The sellswords shared a chuckle. "Aye, that they will. And given' how serious we take our duty, I'm sure you won't object to havin' those bags searched."

I'lyrha glanced at the old pack chocobo pulled between them, laden with the barest necessities — food, water, the aforementioned pots and pans. "We be only travelin' folk, good sirs." She mewled. "Nothin' in here of any value to ye."

"You're awfully well armed for common travelers." The Blade sneered. He gestured, and another pair of mercenaries strode into view from the stones X'rhun had pointed out before.

She scoffed. But not at the Blades. X'rhun's lip tugged up the barest amount.

Neither protested as their pack was yanked from the chocobo and thrown to the ground, contents spilling across the desert road.

The hyur kneeling over it then proceeded to perform the worst executed sleight of hand in the history of roadside shakedowns, and held up a parcel of somnus for all to see, "Well, well! Look what we 'ave here!"

Slapping a hand to her mouth, Lyrha feigned shock. "I've never seen tat before in me life, good sers! It'ain'tmine!" She wailed, interrupting what probably would have been a better-rehearsed spiel of threats and demands.

"Now see here, girl-" The Blade attempted.

X'rhun gestured to his chest, stepping between the two of them, "Surely you're not implying that highly illegal substance belongs to me, Lass!"

"Well, someone planted it, ye connivin' bastard!" She hissed. "An' it couldn't possibly be these wretched manky sellswords!"

The Duelist drew Murgleis and aimed it at his companion, "A bold accusation! And are you prepared to answer for it?"

She replied in kind, Guespiere glinting brightly in the sun. "Beggars belief, I know."

The Brass Blades, clearly unprepared for this turn of events, exchanged uncertain looks.

They remained uncertain right up until the point I'lyrha flung her Focus into the air with a whistle and a laugh, and spun a whirlwind of concentrated aether from the tip of her blade — knocking the two behind them right on their asses and sending their mounts fleeing in startled terror.

X'rhun leapt backwards, landing beside the ringleader to hold him at abrupt swordpoint. "You may wish to rethink that," he cast a meaningful glance at the captain's hand, which wisely hesitated over the pommel of a scimitar.

"Wh-what in the hells is this?" The highwayman snarled.

"Why, our trap, of course!" X'rhun answered.

"Ye've walked right into it, ye predictable gobshites." I'lyrha agreed.

(NOT sure if this one will actually be canon but I had the brain wiggles so I figured, what better excuse to put it to paper and see how I felt about it than ffxivWrite??)

"Lyrha, have you given much thought to the institution of marriage?"

One ear quirking, she glanced over the edge of her cards to peer at X'rhun. "What, like them fancy nobles do in Ishgard? Seems a bit of a scam t'me, but I reckon there's good money in it." She focused on her hand, determined not to let his wiley distractions put her at a disadvantage. Not that such resolve prevented running her mouth right back, "Why? Has yer livery attracted one'a them frippetous damsels?"

X'rhun's lips tightened. "Well, no — to your last question. At least, not lately. And yes, to the former, although… I was, er —" He swallowed, staring hard at his cards. She tried to divine his strategy from the tells. "— referring more to marriage for love, as is sometimes practiced in other places."

"Shame." She smirked. "I think I'd've made a grand mistress to you, Lord Rhun Red-britches."

"I daresay you would. If you did not instead sweep my noble lady off her feet and the pair of you abscond with her dowry thereafter, leaving me destitute in coin and heart." He chuckled.

I might have, not so very long ago. She thought ruefully, but pushed the notion aside and laid down her chosen Triad card. "Wit' Same rules in play, that takes ye on both sides, givin' me the lead." She grinned. He'd be hard-pressed to win now, with so few moves remaining.

X'rhun's brow furrowed as she tapped the magical cards triumphantly and they changed from red trappings to blue. "So they do. Hm…"

"I'll accept yer surrender for a modest fee, were you so inclined." She offered.

"Pfah, as if you have ever been modest in anything, my dear."

She shrugged, "Modest by my reckonin' if not yours."

"A generous offer, but I find I am committed to our match."

"Suit yerself."

After a moment of thoughtful observation which Lyrha was sure was more showmanship than actual effort, he placed a card down very delicately. "As Addition rules are also imposed, I think you will find that…" He gave her just enough time to do the math in her head, and smirked only after her fur began to bristle. "The board is now mine. In its entirety."

And indeed, as he tapped the cards a sea of red overtook them.

Lyrha thought it was very good manners of her to not backhand the board and send the game flying; instead she threw her ale at him.

X'rhun, anticipating this, was well prepared to evade it. "Now now, don't be a poor loser! Twas a perfectly legitimate move on my part."

Hissing, she demanded to see up his sleeves. He refused on the basis of pride and a few stuffy words about the importance of trust between colleagues and lovers, which, though she knew he hadn't cheated, provided her with ample excuse to accuse him of such until their argument devolved into fits of childish laughter. They swayed now instead of struggled, his arm rested gently about her hip, and Lyrha was struck again by how different — everything had become, where X'rhun was involved.

These past moons especially… a kind of routine had set in. An expected comfort, perhaps. Two dozen small things they once hesitated to initiate now came easy, and the adjacent change in her own self felt… safe. She kissed him. Hard.

Pale blue eyes, warm upon beholding her, narrowed after a moment of breath-catching. Something snagged. The faintest of frowns — well concealed, maybe, but she knew him too well. Trust her to let her guard down a moment too soon.

"Take a walk with me, will you?" He suggested, "Tis a beautiful night."

--

High on the starlit cliffs above Ala Gannha, they strolled at an easy pace. Lyrha twisted her tail around X'rhun's as they walked, blinking slow in easy relief when he twined his with reciprocal affection.

After a while of idle chatter, she got the sense he was still working up to something.

Finally he observed, "You know, you neglected to answer my question earlier."

"…Eh?"

"Regarding your opinion on marriage for love." Arms folded behind his back, he squeezed his own fingers.

"You're still thinkin' about it? I assumed ye were only askin' t'keep me distracted."

"Humour me." A tentative smile, "…If you don't mind."

Blinking several times, Lyrha turned her attention to the road ahead of them. "Well… it's not exactly traditional for a Miqo'te." She mused.

"Is that your objection?" He laughed, then smirked, but there was something strained about it that perplexed her. Even moreso when he appended, "…Is it a Nunh you're after, then?"

She snorted. "I'm not lookin' fer either."

X'rhun did not immediately quip back.

Green eyes squinted curiously at him. "What's got ye so fixated on it, anyway? I thought ye t'be jestin' about me stealin' away with another; are ye truly worried I might have eyes fer someone else in that regard?" She raised a single brow, "Really?"

"No, I—" He gave a shaky laugh, "I will confess I do question, sometimes. You are so young, I'lyrha. But tha—"

"Oh no, we'll not be startin' yer gobshite again." She huffed, shouldering forward to intercept him. "I know me own mind, a rúinsearc."

"I'm well aware." He stopped to avoid collision with her, and held up a placating hand. "Even so—"

The sound of his heart hammering twiched her ears. "Even so nothin'. Fuck that, y'hear me?"

"Will you — let me finish, Cielo?" He crossed his arms, leaning back on one foot.

"Not if ye be meanin' t'doubt my commitment to ye." She scowled, reaching up to tug at his forearm with half-unsheathed claws.

"I don't doubt it." He assured, intense stare pinning her down and doing most of the work to convince her of his sincerity. He relaxed his arms with a stiff exhale, and let her bare them. "But pray forgive an old fool his sense of inadequacy, all the same."

"S'long as y'properly make it up to me, later." She scowled theatrically.

"I shall certainly endeavor to." He smiled.

Tugging playfully on his surrendured forearms, her tail flicked. "Really… marriage, though? What lordling makin' eyes at me gave ye that idea?" She struggled to remember any recent diversions who might've given such impression.

"Nay, nothing of the sort." He insisted, stepping forward as she tugged him along.

She waited expectantly for several seconds, only to realize no additional context would be forthcoming.

"So—?", she prompted, frowning.

"Twas only an idle curiosity." He answered. "Think no more of it."

Well, that was a bleeding lie.

With a little growl, she tugged him again, only to find his resistance returned. "Will ye be insultin' me a second time, now? By presumin' me gullible?"

"Lyrha, you made your sentiment clear enough, we needn't discuss it further." He pretended to be interested in the meandering of other late-night travellers on the terraces below.

Her sentiment? But why would her sentiment matter so fuckin' mu— Oh.

Lyrha blinked again. Didn't let go, but leaned back on her feet. "Rhun, are —have ye been proposin' to me?"

"I was—," an exhale, "merely attempting to gather some discreet sense of your openness to the idea, nothing more." He insisted hastily, "You needn't fear an unwanted overture."

If it was him asking, though, that… changed things considerably. Possibly. Struck uncharacteristically speechless, Lyrha's tail gave an irritated sweep as she licked her lip. Finally, she chagrined, "I'd hardly call whatever ye just attempted there discreet."

Despite that she'd certainly managed to miss the more obvious tells.

He opened his mouth, but she cut him off in a sudden burst of impulsiveness, "If — I was open t'such an idea. Speakin' hyperthetically—"

Still stiff, X'rhun's jaw clenched. "Hypothetically?"

"No. Well — yes, maybe that too. Regardless," she waved a hand. "What… makes such a barmy thing different in yer mind from what we've already got?"

X'rhun tilted his head, glancing down at their feet — perhaps hoping the ground might conveniently swallow him up. "Practically speaking? Nothing. I've no wish to constrain you, Cielo, not even if I thought such a thing were possible. I've no need of a dowry." He started to reach for his signet, then seemed to think better of it, and adjusted the edge of his sleeve, instead.

"I think…" He started, "Pfa! Tis a silly, fanciful notion. But — well…" Closing his eyes briefly, he tilted his head, "Pardon my forwardness…"

As if such a thing needed pardon! Especially when asked for! She thought. "Aye, yes, I'll make up me own mind about whether t'be offended, a rúinsearc. Now stop stallin'"

"…You lilt often in your shanties of lasses waiting for their sailors to return and wed them, or leaving their homes altogether in search of wayward husbands. Even the one you sang to me, about the spinning wheel… There is a romanticism to it, is there not? A sort of — promise. I found myself wondering if they were only songs to you, measures by which to pass time… or if the decision to voice them sprang from a particular kind of longing."

Ears flicking, Lyrha stared down at their feet for a moment, too. "So… ye'd been considerin' it on the basis of such bein' my preference?"

"Aye, well. In part."

She looked up again, and found his gaze waiting for her. Despite the fact she'd faced down voidsent queens and blasphemous behemoths, this somehow set her heart racing like few other fears ever had.

X'rhun additionally seemed to have developed a nervous fidget. "Later, you see, it occurred to me that — perhaps they weren't only songs to me. After a while, owing to — who sang them..." He gave a fretful hum. "Tis — a little embarrassing, I must admit."

What did you even say to such a thing?

Yes or No… obviously. But — Lyrha traced the tired lines of his face, worn by years of toil 'neath an unforgiving sun. They made him look older than he was — an expression of the life he'd lived more than the years it took to get here.

He knew all her scars and shames. Knew what she'd cost others, and what she could have cost him, if things had gone differently. And still he spoke to her of marriage!

"Well… that's certainly somethin' to stew on, isn't it." Lyrha chose her words carefully. A bit of wiliness tugged her lip, eyelashes batting, "If it's truly on yer mind all that much — I suppose ye'd have t'ask me properly sometime, an' find out."

Celebration ran long into the night at the seaside tavern, with plenty of ale and an abundance of cheerful folk — eager to tell tales and happy to flirt. The Red Mages had come in to clean up the town. For the first time in a long time, these people had a reason to let themselves go.

I'lyrha had certainly seen bawdier revelries, but there was always entertainment to be had in company free of inhibition. Teasing a farmer for gabbing overlong on the usefulness popotos as a crop was less likely to get you stabbed, for one. Here, everyone was impressed by her knowledge of sailing and swordplay, and she was worth more to them than gold — of which they had little to none.

They really didn't seem to care much for gold at all. Value lay in other virtues, a sentiment she was still learning to anticipate and understand.

Lucky for her, she had a good teacher.

X'rhun Tia had shown her a lot of things. More than just how to be a Red Mage. She'd thought she knew a thing or two about seduction, another art he'd quite thoroughly shocked her in. Like finding new constellations in the night sky after sailing by them for a decade, suddenly there was a lot more to see.

And feel.

And do.

Tonight was shaping up to be good practice.

They'd danced this particular dance before, enough times the novelty ought to have worn off. But someone had forgotten to inform the butterflies in her stomach, and even now they fluttered right up into her head, making everything seem a little lighter. A little easier to give in to.

When X'rhun stroked his chin just-so, she answered with a sideways smile and feigned coquettishness. Making intentions plain would be much too forward a play in mixed company. And though the modesty of onlookers wouldn't have stopped Lyrha in the past, it hadn't been X'rhun who's attention she wanted back then. He played by a more refined set of rules.

So even though she hadn't set herself in his lap, or pulled the buttons of her shirt down, or whispered any temptations in his ear, she kept her senses tuned toward his, and the subtle plays of desire passing between them made it obvious enough what sort of thoughts they were both entertaining.

If she was being honest, she admired the challenge in it. These steps were precise — a song without words, but you could follow the rhythm all the same. You could follow it right into a sort of bliss she'd thought only existed in the daydreams of naive little girls, once upon a time.

His eyes tracked her carefully across the room as she made her way between revelers, and she made sure to catch him staring now and then — for the briefest of moments. Just enough to tease.

The rest of the time, she gave him plenty to watch, from the sway of her tail to flick of her ears. He knew that she knew. It was part of the game.

As the evening wore on and they went deeper into their cups, X'rhun would regale the table with tales of his adventures and the exploits of honourable Red Mages past, making every listener believe in fairy tales and found fortune — if only for a night.

Lyrha would still believe in them tomorrow. She'd seen enough of the man to know he was an honest one. And that made him different from all the rest, even her. Especially her.

As the hour grew late and folks fell into their cups or made their goodbyes, X'rhun finally played his hand. Rising from his seat, he made his excuses. Then inclined his head politely to Lyrha, gaze holding hers just long enough to make the offer clear before striding to the stairs and their allotted inn rooms.

A few minutes later, she made her own excuses, and followed him. Warm anticipation stirred in her core, and she was purring before she even reached his door to knock.

She liked this part of the dance, too. Where she got to decide whether there should be an encore. Where what she wanted mattered more than what she needed, and the two things need not always be in conflict. X'rhun gave her a choice. X'rhun would always give her a choice. And for that reason — she would always choose him.

I'lyrha lunged. Missed. Again.

X'rhun decided to add insult to injury this time, the flat of his sword giving her rear a good slap as she tumbled past him.

Whirling to find him already returned to a ready stance, Lyrha let out a frustrated yowl and pinned her ears. "If I was fightin' ye fer real —"

"You wouldn't have had time to get the words out." X'rhun smirked, tilting his head. Blue eyes sparkled with mischief, as white hair twisted faintly in the desert wind. "You've been distracted all morning. Be grateful I'm going easy on you, Lass."

A number of rising welts and darkening bruises accross her figure indicated no such leniency. Fur fluffing, she stomped a foot. "EASY?" Months of training, and even still, she couldn't come close to matching him in a duel.

She glanced at Arya, who sat on a nearby rock in observation. As if the embarrassment wasn't enough already, Lyrha had to endure an audience.

"Focus, I'lyrha." X'rhun warned her with a cavalier flick of his tail. "Or I might start taking fur." Her eyes fixed on the curve of his lip as he spoke, which moved with the same casual grace as the rest of him. He even talked pretty. Infuriating.

"Like t'see ye try! Decrepit bastard!" She hissed back, stancing up and then advancing on him again with even greater aggression than before.

X'rhun's gaze kept fixed intently upon her. He held himself steady. And still that cocksure fucking smirk!

Blade met blade in a chorus of ringing metal. They spun, Focuses throbbing brightly behind them in aetherbright trails. His steps were sure. Each evasion precise, each counter as instinctive as it was intentional. No matter how she pushed him, she could not knock him off balance.

A bold swing from her left an opening that he exploited mercilessly. She narrowly ducked beneath the downward sweep of Murgleis as the wind off his blade tousled her hair. X'rhun forced her into a hasty retreat, pressing his newfound advantage. Huffing, Lyrha took a great leap backwards to regain distance.

He pursued — as expected. Giving a Red Mage space to cast would be a costly mistake, and X'rhun was too skilled a duelist to take the risk.

But knowing what he would do and being able to thwart him were entirely different beasts.

Momentum thrust him against her as their rapiers crossed, and here his superior height and weight were brought to bear in pushing her down. She'd lost, again. There were only the last few steps to play out to confirm it. Lips pulled back, Lyrha hissed. And then, to further the point, she spit right in his flushed face.

X'rhun flinched, and retaliated immediately by kicking her in the shin. "You devil!"

Balance faltering, Lyrha kept her sword arm steady even on the way to the ground. She rolled, scrambling away and cussing profusely. Yet inexplicably, he gave her the space to retreat. She found this almost more insulting. What, now she wasn't even good enough to properly defeat?

Rubbing the edge of his hand across his face, X'rhun cleared it of her fluids. He flicked his gaze toward Arya, then back to his errant apprentice. "Must I remind you again? This isn't some — tavern brawl. Try to have a little decorum, at least. We are dueling, I'lyrha."

They were doing something.

Beneath the stuffy bright crimson of his coat, he was panting. Sweat slicked off his brow. Lyrha's ears pricked over the possibility she'd tired him. The fact her own sides heaved mattered little. If she could exploit his flagging strength and win through sheer endurance — that would be a worthy victory.

He took a heavy breath to steady himself. But instead of returning to the ready, X'rhun lowered his blade and decided, "That's enough for now. Take a moment to recover, and return to your kata."

She blinked, gaping. "What! Fuck that ye fuckin' coward! I'm not yet finished wit'ye!"

"You are meant to be practicing your forms." He frowned. "Unless you intend to tell me you've found some means to channel through that mouth of yours better than the blade, I fear you are too angry to find the lesson productive I'lyrha." His gaze softened, "Don't be discouraged. You've been improving steadily — if you can learn to curb the impulse to attack in anger, you'll find yourself on a much better foot next time. But for now, return to kata. Our match is finished."

When a chance at victory was within her grasp? Hardly!

He made the mistake, then, of turning his back to her. I'lyrha dropped her sword and flung her Focus at him with all the force she could muster. A thread of silver aether trailed behind it, so when the metal-caged bauble collided with the back of her mentor's head all Lyrha had to do was leap along her web and the whole rest of her came careening after it.

Then ninety-eight ponze of pure unadulterated fury latched itself onto him in a fit of swinging claws, kicking boots, and biting teeth. X'rhun barely turned in time to catch her, holding the worst of it at bay as he, too was forced to drop his sword and address the more intimate threat. "I'lyr-ghhhk!"

They fell to the ground in a flurry of sloppy wrestling. He was agile, but she was angry.

When the dust cleared and she straddled him in victory, I'lyrha couldn't help a little crow of triumph. Claws digging into his forearms, she leaned down close to his face to gloat, "How's that fer decorum, pisswank?"

He cocked an unimpressed brow.

Her own furrowed. His sweat was a distractingly heavy musk, this close. Salt and iron and that peculiar flavor unique to his individual. She swallowed. Licked blood that dripped off her nose down to her lip.

And then, in a swift motion, X'rhun pitched his hips upward and yanked his arms down, and any semblance of balance Lyrha had got chucked head over heels with the rest of her.

"Fuck!" She screeched, and managed only muffled profanities after that as X'rhun, who had recovered startlingly fast, flung his black cape around her head and yanked her back, trapping her in its nefarious folds.

"That's quite enough of that." He chuckled, pulling her tight against him and restraining her arms, legs splayed to avoid retaliatory kicks.

When he finally gave her back use of her eyes, she certainly wasn't any calmer, but if she was being honest, this whole ordeal was starting to feel a little disorienting and anger was not the first thing on her mind, anymore.

Pushing away from him hard, Lyrha staggered several fulms to the side and began aggressively smoothing out her fur.

"You've the heart, I'lyrha — but you neglected your steel. And fair abandoned your wit." X'rhun teased, bending down to pick up his hat and keeping one eye trained on her. "You see, Arya?" he asked, waving his fingers and turning his head towards her, "Sword or no, victory begins with observation and a steady mind."

"…Oh! Yes." Blinking, Little Sister wore the most peculiar expression, but she smiled as she glanced between the pair of them and affirmed, "I do see."