(no subject)

[mostheavenly]

Despite what anyone might have thought about the likelihood of such things happening or not, Aymeric had never really much thought about being the Archbishop.  It's not that he wasn't aware that it was a possibility.  If anything, he was occasionally too aware of it.  But it was never part of any kind of grand plan or desire, never part of any of his dreams.  There certainly was no thought of being the figurehead of a nation in any way that wasn't being the Archbishop, either.  How could such a thing even have been possible?  He's always known he had the power to lead, but there's a difference between being a good leader and being the Leader-- and even though he's tried to push Ishgard to be more egalitarian, helped make a council of nobles and commoners alike, the people have hundreds of years of single, absolute leaders and he's not blind to the fact that, despite what power he has on paper, any time a decision needs to be made, everyone in the room looks to him to see what he will decide.

He can't say that he has either positive or negative feelings about that-- it is simply something that is.  But he does find that the work seems to land on him as much as the recognition and by the time he's working on plans to shepherd people to the moon of all things, he's worn thin.  He's not given to despair in even the worst of situations, but there is a time, when some of the citizens start to succumb to the blasphemies, where he has the thought that at least he would get to rest.

It's fleeting, but it makes an impression on him.  And so, when he sees who's come to help hunt the remaining blasphemies, he decides that perhaps it's time to be selfish, for once.  

... easier said than done.  There are still things to do, there are still people to save, and this particular adventurer friend of his has objectives pulling him to every end of the realm.  Aymeric cannot keep him here on a whim.  But one time, while they are waiting for the final pieces to fall into place and he's watching his friend's back retreat out the door, he finds that he's spoken before he's even really fully thought about speaking, 

"Wait just a moment, if you would.  I would speak to you about a more pleasant matter, if you have the time."

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[gildedrogue]

Osha'li, of course, doesn't give much thought to religion. Since coming to Ishgard originally, what seems like ages ago now, he's learnt quite a bit about their religion and how important it is to Ishgardian society, for better or worse. He hopes better now. He was a seer practically from birth, and various peoples and races take that how they will. (It's complicated by just being from his tribe, of course, with some of the inherent distrust of Keepers of the Moon.) But his own belief system has changed so much since he first awakened the Echo and joined with the Scions.

He has learnt too much of the world, but he's not one for philosophy, really.

Like Aymeric, he gets slotted into the role of Leader simply because of who he is. He's not a leader, or a general, or any military rank save that given to him temporarily in dire circumstances. He's an adventurer at heart, preferring to leave leading to other people. But people look to him for answers.

That's part of why he's here now, helping take down the last of the Blasphemies. He's faced enough of them, and he is not afraid of them. Ishgardians and their superstitions, well…a lot of them are afraid. He doesn't blame them for that. He's happy to help in order to keep others safe, as he has done since this whole strange journey began.

He isn't hurried when Aymeric stops him. There is time yet; not everything changes in an instant, thankfully.

One ear quirks with recognition and he turns, offering a small, playful smile.

"I'm certain I have time for you, my lord," he says. The title is unnecessary, of course, but he uses it anyway.

[mostheavenly]

Aymeric is good at hiding his thoughts and, usually, his emotions. He even easily remembers a time when he could do so from Osha'li as well, when he was just another interesting piece in a larger chessboard he was playing for the sake of Ishgard. But that time is long gone and now it's all he can do to not blush at the teasing title.

He has no intentions, however, of letting the other man know that he's harboring any feelings more tender than a close friend, doesn't wish to impose something like that on someone who must always go, while he knows he must always remain, even before getting into any other difficulties inherent in such a thing. But surely, surely, he's allowed a tiny bit of indulgence at the end of a long road?

"There is still much and more to be done and I am sure you have commitments pulling you elsewhere," he offers the out, graciously, before he has even offered the suggestion, "But if you could spare an evening, I would be delighted if you could dine with me tonight," he does let a hint of that fondness slip (perhaps more than he intends) lest Osha'li presume he means something overly formal, "I already felt as though I hadn't heard the half of your stories the last time and you've certainly been well-traveled since."

[gildedrogue]

Osha'li has gotten somewhat used to people looking at him with stars in their eyes. He's not always sure what to do about it. People who don't actually know him can come up with some absolutely wild things that they expect of him, ranging from that he simply be taller to something like expecting him to glow with blindingly bright light at all times.

But Aymeric does know him, and he finds that the fondness he hears there in the invitation is both welcome and welcoming. He has certainly thought of the Lord Commander at various times since leaving Ishgard, though duty has always come first for both of them. Osha'li and his adventurer's heart long for exploration. And he is not really used to the cold of Coerthas, though he knows how to dress for it now. But he still likes coming back here, and the company is a large factor in that.

"Some of it, I think you'll scarce believe. I was there and I struggle to believe it," he says with a smile. "And it so happens that my evening is completely free."

[mostheavenly]

"All the better, then, for I scarce believe the parts I have been a witness to," he returns, a soft smile curving his lips. "And it has been far too long since I heard anything from outside of Foundation that wasn't a military report. I am sure your stories will be a welcome change." He considers for a moment, perhaps caught just a fraction of a second too long in simply enjoying being the recipient of Osha'li's smile.

"Would a bell or two be sufficient for you to ready yourself? I've no time to have a formal dinner prepared as last time, so we'll likely just dine in the parlor. There's little need to do more that make yourself more comfortable." Yes, hide in practicalities for a bit longer, at least. And it's practical of course and not a burning curiosity to see how his friend's mode of dress may have changed when he's allowed to dress as he pleases.

WHEW I didn't realise it was my tag on this, here i am 100 years later

[gildedrogue]

Osha'li has gotten quite used to the way that people look at him, though it sometimes makes him uncomfortable. Aymeric's gaze lingering for a moment longer does anything but that. He wants more of it, the Lord Commander's attention on him. He has never wished for fame or recognition, though now he has much more of it than anyone probably should. But if Aymeric will grant him his attention, he'll take as much as he can get.

It's a good thing he doesn't blush easily, he thinks, though he certainly can.

"Yes, that would be plenty," he answers with one affirmative ear flick. He's dressed in armour and all of that now, largely because he's always travelling between things (though he does not favour heavy armour at all), but it will be nice to relax for even a few moments. There has been so little time for that in the crises upon crises of the past few moons.

So he goes away and returns dressed down. He was a pirate before he was most other things, and he still favours the fashion he picked up from the rogues in Limsa. That leaves him in soft black trousers that hug the curves of his legs until they meet with calf-high boots of polished leather. Ishgard is cold, of course, much to his eternal annoyance, so he has a coat. But inside Aymeric's estate, he can remove that, leaving a billowy white and blue shirt that laces at the neck. He seems to have lost those laces, whether on accident or not, leaving the V of it open midway down his chest. His jewellery hasn't changed much, but he's always had that, rings and bracelets and necklaces alike, tones of silver against his dusky skin. Whether there is more jewellery under that loose cloth, well, Aymeric will have to see for himself later on, perhaps.

"I hope I have not kept you waiting too long," he says, standing on formality because he's used to that being required of him. He's not a formal creature — again, he was a pirate first — but he's learnt the way these things go. And mayhap it is a way to cover up nerves, though his tail moves a little quicker than it ought to, betraying him as it often does.