Video;

[aunitedeorzea]

[There's a brief moment of rustling and it took a little while until the feed focused on a rather young-looking Elezen. Clearing his throat before proceeding, he's had a few days to really play around with this kind of technology.]

Pray forgive my lateness in introductions. My name is Alphinaud Leveilleur and I have just recently arrived here in Havenwell along with my sister, Alisaie.

I have already been given the rundown of how things work here and have been settling in fine, but admit I have been finding myself wanting for something to pass the time while I'm here. And it is for that matter that I would like to extend my talents during my stay here.

What kind of work would one find here? I am quite familiar with politics and do so love it when a plan comes together. I'm not really picky. I am also happy to learn new things as well.

Thank you for your time.

[OOC: I will have some catch-all stuff in the comments to continue TDM threads for certain people, otherwise feel free to hit me up. Like I requested in the OOC intro, I would like to avoid spoilers past Stormblood because I'm working on patches currently to get to Shadowbringers.]

Comments

Closed to Estinien;

[aunitedeorzea]

[He better be B|]

[That is... certainly odd.]

By the Twelve, how is that possible? [But there have been other Warriors of Light in the past, so... it wasn't improbable...?]

[Continued from here.]

Closed to Gaius;

[aunitedeorzea]

[Hearing that makes him let out a small sigh. Of course he'd be behind everyone else. It would also make sense as to why someone who should by all rights be his enemy was acting anything but that way. It was a little frustrating, but he assumed it couldn't be helped.]

Great. [It wasn't much of a response, but it was enough. Did that mean he was just going to drag the others down?] I'm sure that all will come in due time...

[Continued from here]

Closed to Era;

[aunitedeorzea]

The back pats are nice, but definitely not enough to downplay the situation. There were so many questions and then the deflection only made it worse. Finally pulling away to look at her with the most confused expression...

"First of all... Why did you have to get your soul out of your body?" He's still worrying..., "And second of all... What?"

"You have a boyfriend and a husband...? At the same time?"

When did this happen? How much shit did he miss? What the hell was going on? And through all these questions... He's still worried about her nearly dying. The deflection is not working at all.

[Continued from here]

Closed to Alisaie;

[aunitedeorzea]

Well, right now we lack the right information to access the situation. What I need to do first is find out more about this place and then devise a plan after sufficient information is found.

How about you? What do you plan on doing here?

[Continued from here]

Closed to Ardyn;

[aunitedeorzea]

[Carbuncle likes him. He gives good ear scratches.]

I'm sure there will be plenty to do here. Now all that's left is to adjust, I suppose.

[Continued from here]

Closed to Ardbert;

[aunitedeorzea]

"That's good. I wasn't aware that there was a field dedicated to it, but all the better for it," and if anyone needed it, it was probably Ardbert. Alphinaud was still not used to the idea that he could be so friendly with someone who tried to kill Era in the past, but there was no sense in lingering on the thought.

"I suppose not," he paused for a moment, "I'm relieved that things worked out then."

[Continued from here]

text | private

[astralera]

I've got a plan do u want in? It needs a diplomat ( ‾́ ◡ ‾́ )

[aunitedeorzea]

[He knows Era has shown him how to text, but it wasn't something that he was used to just yet.]

What do you have in mind?

[astralera]

Era had hoped the deflection would be enough to shock him into forgetting about her current condition, and hadn't quite been prepared for that to fail. She falters, mentally fumbling for a way to explain things without going into details he would be better off not knowing for now.

"My body was... limiting. So I had to get out of it for a little bit. Everything went according to plan, so it's fine, really." She gives him a pat on his arm in what she hopes is a reassuring manner. "My physical and aetherial recovery is something I accounted for."

Barely accounted for, beyond 'will need some recovery', but that doesn't make her answer inaccurate.

"And yes. Ardbert and I couldn't not love him, so he's our... beau. Everyone is happy with the arrangement, so it's good. Love is... It's love. It does what it wants, even when you don't want it to."

[astralera]

I had been working on improving my relations with the native populace while acquiring information for another plan, and had a great deal of success.

The end goal in the long term was to help improve relations between the natives and the offworlders overall, as I believe that is the way to saving their world. I also believe they deserve much more consideration than they've been receiving, if I'm honest.

Unfortunately a recent, short-sighted mishap has set everything back a fair bit.

We need to begin reparations, and bridge this swivving distance. You are skilled with politics and diplomacy. The timing of your arrival has been serendipitous.

[scourgingstars]

Often easier said than done, but you'll surely manage just fine with time.

[thefatedpath]

Expecting me to have a grand plan in place already?

Although we've gained a vast amount of information from those who have greeted us, we would be fools if we didn't explore on our own. I would, for my part, get to know the terrain first. Observing what goes on here with mine own eyes will give me more of an idea of 'what to do', I'm sure.

[Video]

[pinkxeno]

Uhm, I'm not sure about politics. [ she has no clue ]

But I guess someone did something shady recently and natives are pretty pissed at us. I'd say we probably need someone to try and smooth things over.

[firstbump]

There's much Ardbert could add about his world, but he's going to wait until a better time for that. Alphinaud is more correct than he knows about the mental health thing.

"As am I." Feeling something else welling up in his throat, Ardbert just shifts to what he's assuming is the cause behind the flowers. "... also, I owe you and yours an apology for that whole attempt to kill Era. Urianger suggested her death would have caused a calamity, and we had no idea it was simply to get all of us in one place to summon Minfilia. It's still our fault we went with it so easily, and we still attempted to go through with it no matter what."

The apology is easy to say, truth be told. Ardbert has just forgotten about himself wanting to give it until he finally could.

[ Video ]

[shroudedsecrets]

It is not a requirement to introduce yourself, but it is nice to meet you, regardless.

[ Says the white haired elven-like woman who has unfortunately neglected to say her own name, but to be fair, she's usually a bit distracted when she comes to a point of looking at the network. ]

If you are already able to settle in, continuing to broaden your understanding of the situation can only suit you further. Though some might consider it an opportunity... to breathe instead, if you are already so motivated by the need to work or otherwise.

[aunitedeorzea]

Listen. Hearing that you basically died? That's not enough to deflect something that serious. Even if she's trying to reassure him, he couldn't help but gave her a look that said, "Excuse me?". Letting out a deep sigh, he put his hand on his forehead.

"I...," He's doing his best to come up with a good response and words are escaping him right now, "I'm happy that you're happy, my friend." He was tempted to bring up that he found it shocking how she could talk about this so casually when he just had a few mini heart attacks but decided it wasn't worth bringing up. He doubted anything good would come from it, so he decided to let it go. At least, speaking about it anyway. He's not okay with it deep down yet.

And yet this was her life and she could choose how to live it. What right did he have to question how the Warrior of Light -- or anybody for that matter -- how she lived her life?

[aunitedeorzea]

Another plan?

That's a good goal. I think that improving relations would be beneficial to both parties involved. What are the natives like here? I haven't had a chance to observe them much myself just yet.

I would be happy to help however I can. Would they trust an offworlder who has just arrived to handle such matters though? What do you think needs to be done to repair relations?

[Once he knows that, he can start brainstorming ideas. She knew this place and the populace better than him, after all. Her knowledge on the matter would be invaluable to the cause.]

[aunitedeorzea]

What kind of things happen here generally?

[If he has an idea of what to expect, he could be better prepared for the possibilities.]

[aunitedeorzea]

You mean you don't? I thought you were the brains of the operation. [Joking, clearly.]

There aren't very many options available to us at the moment beyond simply observing for ourselves. Once we get to know Havenwell better, we'll be much better suited to come up with a plan.

['We' because he knew her well enough then to simply sit down and accept what's ahead of her without questioning it. He wasn't expecting her to take on the challenge like he was bound to, but he also knew she was a woman of action.]

[aunitedeorzea]

I briefly heard about that. Might I bother you with the details? What happened?

[aunitedeorzea]

Mayhap when Alphinaud isn't adjusting to this place. There was still a lot to get used to and there was always time to talk about it in a better setting. Listening closely to his words, he had wished back then it had been this easy to talk to him and the others about this rather than how they had to deal with it back then. With Urianger playing a part in all of this, that made a lot of sense. He often worked in mysterious ways, but Uriager's actions generally held meaning behind them.

"If there are no hard feelings, I see no reason to linger on it. You did what you thought you had to in order to save your own world... I can't fault you for that. I would much rather be friends than enemies," he admitted, accepting his apology naturally.

[aunitedeorzea]

Mayhap not, but I know I would eventually do it anyway. I think it best to get introductions out of the way so that I can focus on what needs to be done here. It is also a way for me to familiarize myself with other people here.

[He won't make her introduce herself, but a name would certainly be nicer than "that Elezen looking woman".]

I am quite used to having enough responsibilities that I don't have free time to myself generally. Sitting around waiting for something to happen does make me feel a little bit antsy; like there's something I should be doing.

[Free time was definitely a good thing, but it might take him a while to adjust to that as well.]

Nonetheless, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, miss.

[shroudedsecrets]

[ She inclines her head. ]

You may call me Honerva.

[ Since that was a clue in to the fact that she'd forgotten. Mostly though, she listens to his perspective on the matter. ]

There will be quite a few people for you to meet, both otherworlder and citizen alike. Although you have only just arrived; I hope you do not feel rushed to overlook your own needs while setting in.

[astralera]

If Alphinaud is happy to believe she's happy, Era sees no reason to change that. He isn't exactly wrong, either. With regards to her partners she is happy, no matter how conflicted she may feel about it at times. She knows he doesn't understand it (how could he? she barely does some days), but that he doesn't seem to understand is the significance of Ardbert in her life... Well, it all but confirms something for her.

Era shifts, maneuvering until she can comfortably place a hand on either of his cheeks, holding his face ever-so-gently and giving him a brief, searching look. He might note the change in her eyes as she does so (a thin ring of light encircling her pupils, like an eclipse—) but it's easy enough to dismiss as a trick of the light, because she all but glows with such joy as it continues to sink in that Alphinaud is truly here.

She can scarcely handle such overhelming emotion, and though it seems for a moment as though she may cry again she doesn't—instead she lifts one hand to smooth down his hair, then pulls him in for another fierce hug.

"I hope it's alright... All those here who know of you know you as my brother."

[astralera]

Secret for now. ♥

They are, as a whole, very generous and welcoming. Though they are a bit less exuberant about it these days... They are more reserved with us than they had been. Even wary, I would say.

At the moment refrain from asking questions about their history or anything that would seem too prying, as after the robbery it makes them feel anxious. But questions about things like the gardens, zoo, theatres, or what they enjoy doing, et cetera, are generic, 'safe', and show an earnest interest in their culture and lifestyle.

I have become quite friendly with numerous priest from various temples (mostly Ohma's and Ainea's, as they are nearest to the house, but I am not a stranger to the others). If you let them know you are my brother you will benefit from the good will I've earned over the past months.

I believe you should do well enough finding your own way with them. It is just important to keep in mind that Offworlders recently broke their trust, and so they are understandably nervous as a result.