A Familiar Face
“A ball?” Quinn asked quizzically over the breakfast table at Fortemps manor.
“A ball? In these times? I can hardly see how it is appropriate when the Dravanians are nearly at your doorstep.” Alphinaud mused to himself as he sat across from Quinn, barely touching his breakfast. Lord Edmont de Fortemps sat at the head of the table, placing his knife and fork down as he looked towards the youngest Elezen at the table,
“Be that as it may, the lords of Ishgard aren’t one to forsake an excuse to hold a party. This one will be smaller than the usual foray, but nevertheless, I was requested to bring Eorzea’s savior in tow, along with my sons.”
“Why me?” Quinn tilted her head a bit, “I’m not of nobility. Sure, I’m your ward, but if anything, I’m just a runaway. Wouldn’t Alphinaud be a better choice to attend? He’s more…diplomatic.”
“This is probably a way for the Lords to put you under a microscope,” Alphinaud pointed out, “I’m sure despite the city being as closed as it is, word has traveled of your deeds. Given how close you’ve been working with House Fortemps these last few weeks, I’d say you may have become a popular topic of gossip, I’m afraid.”
Quinn sighed, absolutely defeated by the truth that came from her fellow Scion. Nothing sounded less appealing than getting dressed up and mocked and prodded all night by a load of stuffy nobles. She looked to Edmont with pleading eyes, as if to say, ‘Please, don’t make me go, dad.’. But to no avail, he closed his eyes and gently grasped his cup of coffee,
“It will be tomorrow evening, around sunset. We will have a seamstress fit you with a proper gown as well–at our cost, of course.”
Quinn sank in her seat, the feeling of dread wafting over her. She was never one for formal events, nay, she was an adventurer and heart and a bard by trade. She wasn’t meant to dance along with Ishgardian nobles, she was meant to sing and parade around tavern locals.
“C’mon, Quinn, old girl, it won’t be that bad!” Emmanellain stated as he entered the breakfast nook with Honoroit behind him, “A night of food, wine, and dancing with some of the finest in all of Ishgard. It will be a delightful event, for sure!”
He was a little too excited for the gala for Quinn’s taste, she sank further in her chair in response. Alphinaud shrugged with a wry smile as he looked upon his friend with pity. She would have to take the fall that evening while he continued his work at the manor. Quinn stared blankly at the young Elezen across from her, irritated that he had no further objection to the idea.
“Who knows, maybe this will be good for you, Quinn.” Alphinaud finally broke the silence between them, smiling into his morning tea, “It may teach you some class.”
“Oh, haha, you’re so funny, Alphi.” Quinn extended her leg underneath the table and practically dug her toe into the young lad’s shin. He yelped in response, almost dropping his teacup and saucer. Despite everything that happened to him, there was still an air of cheekiness to him. That, he hadn’t grown out of just yet.
——
The evening approached rather quickly, almost too quickly to Quinn’s dismay. She arrived at the House Durendaire estate along with Edmont, Emmanellain, and Artoirel, adorned with the finest Ishgardian gown that matched the other ladies in attendance. Truly, one could not distinguish her in the crowd—she looked as if she belonged within the circle of socialites. Her only distinguishing feature was the grimace on her face as they walked about, obviously displeased to even be there in the first place. The dress was uncomfortable, her bodice was tighter than she’d like, and the extra makeup on her visage felt caked-on and unbearable. Artoirel had her on his arm, serving as her official ‘date’ for the gala, for every lady needed an escort of sorts.
“At least try to act the part,” he muttered under his breath so that only she could hear him, “you’re already under scrutiny, after all. Best you act like you want to be here.”
“Maybe if I had a drink…” Quinn eyed the refreshment table from afar, manned by a steward who seemed to be serving the finest ports. While she was more partial to ale and hard liquor, wine would certainly do the trick in calming her nerves.
“Just don’t go overboard.” He warned her as he allowed his arm to fall, allowing Quinn to float away from him and gravitate towards the table with glee. At the very least, it got her to drop her sour expression.
As she approached the table, Quinn could overhear some faint whispers around her,
“….outsider.”
“….Fortemps ward…..outsider…”
“….oh, it’s her…..Eorzea’s ‘savior’….”
“…..drunkard…..harpy”
That last one stung a bit. Sure, she got around, but outside of Ishgard only. Not once had she bed anyone since her arrival in the city-state, and she barely visited the Forgotten Knight for a drink. At least, that’s what she could remember…
One drink was followed by another as she strode around the gala, visiting the refreshment table every time her glass went dry. It put her at ease, her body feeling warm with her cheeks and suddenly the whispers were so faint they barely bothered her.
Let them talk. I’m Quinn-fucking-Rin’ria, the savior of Eorzea.
She spun around a bit to the music as she came dangerously close to the dance floor. A few patrons had to step aside in order to not be bumped into, yet, one guest in particular was not so lucky. Quinn’s hand smacked the arm of one Ser Forlemort, who immediately whipped around and glared at the young woman,
“Bah, you again!” He coughed, “I thought I’d had enough of you and your party poking your nose around Ishgard, yet here you are in the city. I can’t believe they let rabble like you in.”
Quinn glared back, yet a smirk was painted across her features, “Same goes to you, old man. They should have kept you locked in that observatorium where you belong to wither away.”
“How dare you, you drunken-” he stopped and his gaze went upwards, past Quinn as if there were someone behind him. He gritted his teeth and turned away, muttering curses under his breath as he went back to his own party. Quinn tensed up as she, too, felt a looming presence behind her—such a presence that seemed to startle the old man back to what he was doing. She slowly turned to find a rather tall Elezen standing behind her, dark hair with piercing blue eyes and a warm smile with a look of bemusement on his face.
“Are you always getting into trouble like this?” He asked.
“Ser Aymeric?” Quinn straightened up at the sight of the man no longer in his imposing golden armor, but rather relaxed in what she figured was the standard Ishgardian evening coat. She shook her head a bit, trying to clear her mind so that she could talk to him without coming off as a drunken fool, “I didn’t expect you to be here.”
“As the Lord Commander of the Temple Knights, I have a duty as a representative here at these formal events. But that aside, I am more surprised to see you here.”
“Me? Well, I was encouraged to come here as a member of House Fortemps.” She explained, “Though I think I was invited here to be more of an entertainment piece than a guest…” Her gaze fell to the floor, and Aymeric looked awkwardly off to the side,
“I cannot deny that I have heard whispers of you here and there. Though, I feel that now is a time where I can meet the proclaimed ‘Warrior of Light’ on a more personal level to expunge such rumors I’ve been hearing.”
“Truly?” Quinn looked to him rather curiously, “Well, those rumors are rather true. I’m just a bumbling outsider who drinks too much. Aside from the whole ‘savior of Eorzea’ thing.”
Aymeric chuckled, offering his hand to her as the music changed, “If I may?”
She wouldn’t let his charm get to her, her trust in people already as fragile as ever. Yet, something compelled her to take his offer, her slightly-shaky hand touching his palm. Aymeric guided her to the dance floor,
“Do you dance?” He asked.
“Not particularly. I mean, I used to when I was a young one.”
“It should be easy to catch on. Just follow my lead.”
The pair made their way to the dance floor, Aymeric taking the lead in their waltz,
“…So, how much wine have you had this evening?”
“That’s,” she hiccupped softly, “none of your business, Ser Aymeric. Is that what they teach fancy nobles to say to a lady during their first dance?”
“I consider us friends at this point,” he said with a warm smile, “I was just wondering if you were enjoying yourself, that’s all.”
“Oh, Gods,” she sighed, “between you and I, I’d rather be performing at the Forgotten Knight than dolled up and in this place.”
“Well, if it means anything to you, you clean up well.”
“You as well, Ser Aymeric.”
Quinn’s feet moved in unison with Aymeric’s, as if she were a well-seasoned dancer. Their movements flowed with ease, Aymeric being somewhat gentle with the way he held her hand and somewhat timid with the way his other hand sat at her hip. Quinn expected a military leader to be a bit rougher with his movements, but something about Aymeric seemed more refined and gentlemanly. He truly was treating her with care, and she noticed.
“So, question and answer time,” Quinn began, “you said you wanted to get to know me better?”
“Well, just by your movements alone I’ve gained quite a bit of insight.”
“Hmm,” she tilted her head, the alcohol really taking effect, “I guess then I can keep my mouth shut for the rest of this dance then?”
She looked at him with a smile. Her smile. The smile of a thousand suns, one would describe. Aymeric’s grip tightened slightly on her hand, and his eyes glistened ever subtly.
“You needn’t silence yourself. In fact, I encourage you to tell me a little more about yourself.”
“What is there to tell that you haven’t already studied with your ‘borderline fascination’?” She mused, “I’m an adventurer, a member of the Scions, and a bard by trade. I like to drink and dance and be merry. Not much to tell you past that.”
“I see.” His gaze never left hers, and the two of them locked eyes as they went about another turn in the dance.
“Boring, right?”
“On the contrary. I knew you had skill with a bow, but I wasn’t aware you were an entertainer.”
“You should stop by the inn some nights, if you’re not busy being…commander and all that…I’m sometimes there.”
“I may just have to.”
The beat of the music slowed down, just a tad, just enough to where the world itself seemed to stop at that very instant. His piercing blue gaze felt as if it went right through her, as if he were studying her. Yet, there was a tinge of red in his ear, something that Quinn failed to notice past his stare.
“Something wrong, Lord Commander?” Quinn asked, noticing that Aymeric suddenly went quiet. He shook his head immediately, continuing to smile back at her with his charming expression. The music changed number, meaning that their dance had come to an end. Aymeric gracefully released her, bowing slightly to thank her for the dance.
“I hope that we can see each other again soon, my friend.” He said, “It was a delight dancing with you.”
“You’re too formal,” Quinn teased, “I thought we were friends.”
“Ah, you’re right.” Aymeric straightened himself before looking to his left to see that Artoirel had approached them, “Lord Artoirel, it is a pleasure to see you.”
“Same to you, Ser Aymeric.” Artoirel gave him a slight bow, “I see you’ve had a chance to get more acquainted with Quinn here.”
“Please, we barely talked.” Quinn huffed,
“Well, perhaps we should choose a different venue next time.” Aymeric replied back, “One where you’re more comfortable.”
“I’ll take that offer.” Quinn shot back with a big grin, “Drinks on Ser Aymeric at the Forgotten Knight!”
Artoirel sighed, pressing his fingertips to his forehead, yet Aymeric patted his shoulder with a chuckle, “I tag out to you, friend. Take care of her.”
“Hm?”
“You heard him, Artoirel,” Quinn snickered, “You are my escort, after all.”
“Yes, yes, please remind me.” He sighed, turning to her and offering his hand, “Shall we?”
“Another dance?”
“No, I’m taking you home.”
“Gods, yes, finally.” Quinn sighed, grabbing his arm and leaning against him, “I’m getting tired of this place.”
“Lower your voice, please.”
——
“Artoirel-”
“Keep quiet.”
She hummed against his lips before he allowed her tongue in his mouth. Artoirel kept his grip firm on her hips, allowing her to continue to grind against him in such a seductive manner.
“By the Fury-” he muttered as she parted from him, she placed her fingertips against his lips to silence him. Quinn smirked behind her drunken daze, sitting back on his lap as she ran her hands down his well-toned frame.
It all started with their arrival back at Fortemps manor, Edmont and Emmanellain had not yet arrived and Quinn, inebriated to hell and back, felt that her sudden feelings of longing needed to be satiated. Artoirel had no such immunity to her own personal charms, and one thing lead to another. The once-irritable and stoic lord now lay on his bed, shirtless, being straddled by the Warrior of Light.
“What? Do you think your daddy’s gonna hear us?” She muttered with a smirk, her aching hands slowly gliding down his abdomen and towards his belt, “It was just a matter of time, my good ser. He would be proud to know you’ve bedded Eorzea’s savior.”
Artoirel’s lips made a thin line, his hands doing most of the talking as his grip tightened on her hips. Quinn snickered at his response, tapping a finger to his nose. Yet, as she leaned over the world shifted slightly and her vision blurred. Perhaps….it was too much wine. Perhaps, trying to drink away your anxiety was not the best plan of action. Nay, the Warrior of Light, with as little grace as possible, closed her eyes and flopped on the side of his bed. Sound asleep. Artoirel sat up from his daze, looking over the poor thing and gently patting her head,
“I’ll carry you off to your room then. Get some rest, ‘Warrior of Light’.”
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