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tallbluelady · 16 days

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Coffee

(Mid ShB, after Rak'tika. Takes place in a shared WoL verse. Word count 3.3k ^^;)

Rowan bolted awake from her nightmare. She had fought Zenos again, a regular visitor of her dreams of late. What woke her this time is that he tore Urianger from her heart. She shook her head. The image was patently ridiculous in the early morning light, but still disturbing enough to know she wouldn't get settled back to sleep anytime soon. It was planned to be a recovery day of sorts, so Rowan could potentially take a nap later. She sighed, pulled up her hair, and started to get dressed.

Sniffing the various teas the Exarch had selected and finding them all unsatisfactory, Rowan started to shuffle down to the common room in the Pendants. Mayhap she'd see Thancred and Minfilia with some coffee biscuits. Or Kitali looking for aught to eat. Urianger was an unlikely subject, he'd probably only fell asleep a few bells ago…

But Urianger was far more likely a person than the pair she found. Sitting at a table, plain as day, was Emet-Selch and Yloise. Yloise smiled and waved to her, and Emet-Selch looked like the cat who had caught the mouse. Rowan gave a small hum and tried to find a better metaphor as she approached the table.

"You know, we were just talking about you," he said over tented fingers. "Why don't you have a seat and join us?"

"I was just going to find a tea blend I liked and return to my room..." Rowan muttered, unable to come up with aught more convincing.

"Just tea? With how bleary eyed you look, you may need something stronger. Here -" he poured a third cup, " - Yloise and I were just enjoying this fine coffee together. I'm sure we could spare you some."

"Oh, it's excellent, Rowan. You won't even need that much cream and sugar in it," Yloise added. She seemed... giddy? Gods, let that just be the coffee.

Rowan eyed the cup and then the Ascian. "You do know I trust you about as far as I can throw you. Well, I could probably throw you farther if I got the drop on you."

Yloise chortled at that. "See, I told you Rowan has bite to her bark."

Emet-Selch smiled with a hint of steel in his eyes. "That's smart of you, I won't deny. Whether or not you could get the drop on me is another story. But here, as proof of its safety..."

He poured a fresh cup for himself and drank the coffee black. He gave a contented hum.

"I can't tell you how overjoyed I was when I found this particular variety of coffee bean survived the Sundering..." he said wistfully. "A dear friend helped to cultivate it."

Rowan found herself taking a seat at the table before she realized her curiosity had won her over. Yloise reached out and patted Rowan's arm. Rowan blinked at the uncharacteristic affection. There's no coffee strong enough to explain that.

"Oh, here, let me add some cream and sugar for you..." Emet-Selch took the creamer and poured it til it was exactly the soft brown that Rowan liked it, and then added two sugar cubes.

"Yloise, did you tell our sworn foe how I like my coffee?" Rowan asked.

She shook her head, her green lenses causing the light to dance. "Nay. Strangely, he knew how I took mine too."

Rowan squinted at her friend's smile, then glared at Emet-Selch.

"Tis a gift of mine," he said with a shrug. "Most people's personalities line up with their coffee order."

"I won't deign to have you tell me mine own personality, even if you got my order right." Rowan swirled her cup in her hands.

She thought she heard a small gasp from his direction, but he seemed composed by the time she looked up.

"Suspicions aside, it really is quite good," Yloise said, taking a sip from her cup. "There's naught that I can detect in it to worry about."

Emet-Selch smiled and sipped his own coffee in a show to prove that it wasn't poisoned. I suppose it's inconvenient to poison your body even if you are effectively immortal.

She sighed, took a sip, and felt herself rush off into an Echo Vision. Dammit.

* * *

There were three masked figures at a table. It was raining outside, or it was at least grey. It took Rowan a minute to understand what they were saying as they all spoke in that over-loud language the Ascians were wont to speak in.

"- and please refrain from using my given name in public. I've asked both of you this multiple times," Emet-Selch's unmistakable voice rang from the figure in the red mask. "The Convocation deserves the honor of my title, even if you don't think I do."

One of the opposing figures sighed in an exaggerated manner, much like Yloise would. "Really? And after all the work Minthe did to create this concept of coffee just for you? You're worried about honor?"

"Oh, it's just that we're not special enough to him, Ariadne. I've heard him tell Daedalus he can use his name," said the last figure, Minthe, who swirled her cup just like Rowan would.

"Oh, you did, did you?" Ariadne turned to the red-masked figure.

The figure who spoke with Emet-Selch's voice sighed. "Please refrain from spreading such personal information to everyone, Minthe."

"It's just to Ariadne." Minthe took a smug sip of her coffee.

"Tell ya what, Emet-Selch. If you admit that you appreciate Minthe's coffee, we'll keep that little detail between us." There was a wink to Ariadne's tone.

"You need not black mail me for that, Ariadne." The red masked figure turned to Minthe. "I am grateful to you, truly. You've created something both potent and drinkable."

"Fulfilling both of our measures of success on a concept," Minthe said primly.

He nodded and the last thing Rowan saw was the figure in the red mask take her hand.

* * *

Rowan flinched when she came to and felt Emet-Selch's gloved hand on her wrist. "Don't touch me."

He raised his hands in a nonthreatening manner. "You were gone for a while. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Then you should have asked Yloise to check my pulse. She's a competent healer."

"I told him you wouldn't like it," Yloise said sheepishly. "But he insisted. And he even managed to save your cup of coffee from falling."

Rowan turned to her. Yloise was one of the few people who encouraged her to set boundaries and help keep them up when Rowan couldn't. And here she was letting the Ascian trample all over them.

"Then all the blame should be on me - twas my fault for assuming such familiarity. Tis one thing to accept a drink from a comrade, tis quite another to initiate physical touch. I took advantage of your vulnerable state and for that I am sorry." There was some actual regret to his tone.

Rowan gave a noncommittal hum at his little speech. If Emet-Selch wanted to give the appearance of contriteness, he was doing a good job of it. But it didn't do aught for the fact that he had orchestrated multiple genocides. She tried rising from her seat, but sat down when she felt woozy and heard concern from her companions. She wasn't going to give Selch the satisfaction of catching her. So they all sat in an uncomfortable silence while Rowan recollected herself.

"Is there anything you'd like to talk about, Rowan?" Yloise asked. Is there anything in that Echo Vision you saw?

Rowan took another sip of coffee. Despite her vision, it was some of the better coffee she ever drank. But it was mostly to give her time to think. How could she get Emet-Selch out of there? Well, if he insisted that he was a man like the rest of them…

"You know, I'd really prefer some privacy with Yloise, if that's alright with you, Emet-Selch," she said. "Tis a delicate matter I'd speak of to her."

"Oh, if there's aught to be said to Yloise, it can be said in front of me," he said, smugness returning to his tone.

Figured he’d say that. "Well, I do suppose the Paragons of Eld would have such fascinating opinions on contraception and menstruation..."

His smugness immediately dropped. Got him.

"It might be for the best. We'll, uh... talk to you later," Yloise said.

"Oh, I will speak to the lot of you later, have no doubt about that." He waved his hand dismissively and disappeared into the void, cup and all.

Rowan let out a sigh of relief, then jumped when she realized Yloise was leaning in close.

"So are you and Urianger fucking now?" she asked, eyes bright.

Rowan could only let out a few croaking sounds at that. Then she shook her head. "That's not important, I just needed Emet-Selch gone.”

Yloise laughed. "Well, you did a good job of it. The drop on his expression! Gods, I couldn't have thought of any better."

"Oh, thank the Twelve. When I saw you two at the table I was worried..."

"About what?" she asked quickly.

"Have you seen the way he looks at you? Like... like you're some sort of bauble to be coveted. I don't like it."

"Ha. Well, have you seen how he looks at you? Like he's a wounded man. All pain and regret."

Rowan grimaced. "I have caught glimpses of that, aye."

"Isn't that just fascinating? Aren't you curious why a Paragon of Eld looks at you like that? What could even cause that? I mean, you've always been curious."

Rowan looked at her half drank cup of coffee and set it back on the table. "I dunno, I find my curiosity's quickly sated for the man who signed the order for Black Rose."

Yloise grimaced. "Rowan..."

"Yloise, Gods know we need someone to track what Emet-Selch is doing. And it looks like you have an easy in with him. But... pray, don't get swept up in his game." She rose to her feet. "I think I've had enough coffee for now."

If she said aught else, Rowan ignored her. She headed towards the aethernet shard nearby. The annoying part was that Yloise was right. Rowan was curious. The three of them in the vision, set in the same positions as their little meeting. Obviously that was orchestrated. Emet-Selch had said the coffee was cultivated but the woman - Ariadne - said it was a created concept. Whatever that even meant. And... Minthe and Daedalus. Those must have been the ones she saw in the vision in Idyllshire.

Her mind was worlds away when she bumped into someone at the aethernet shard. Rowan actually bounced off of her fellow collider, and was grateful for the steady hands at her arms when they righted themselves.

She blinked. "Urianger! Uh, oh, I'm so sorry."

"Tis quite alright; thou merely gavest me a momentary fright. Is aught amiss?"

Rowan shook her head. Then she realized her hands were on his chest and her thumbs were stroking the fabric of his chiton. She sheepishly withdrew them, though it seemed he didn't mind.

"Ah, mayhap I should get a proper breakfast."

Urianger nodded, hands slowly tracing down her arms as if he didn't want to stop touching her. Rowan didn't want him to stop touching her.

"I too, was seeking sustenance after finding naught of use in the Cabinet of Curiosity. Shall we adjourn to the Pendants?"

"Ah - nay. I was just there," she said. She saw his puzzled look and added, "I can explain over a pastry."

They found a stall with suitably flaky rolls and took a seat by a bench. The whole thing felt rather nostalgic to Rowan.

"Do you remember the day I bumped into in Vesper Bay?" Rowan asked.

"Would it not serve to recall that day by the most important fact that it was thy first successful attempt at arcanima?" Urianger asked, faint smile on his lips.

"Aye, well, twas not aetherology that reminded me of that today."

"No, I suppose that other event twas the greater reminder."

There was a softness to Urianger's expression that caught on Rowan's heart. She realized that he must have always been so soft with his expressions, but it had been obscured by his goggles and cowl. She smiled back at him, reveling in the ease of doing so.

"Ah, but how far we have come! I..." Urianger swallowed. "What a fool I was for not seeing thy interest sooner."

Rowan turned away. "Tis my fault, really. I never said aught after Moenbryda... and Raer is so kind and gentle. If any man deserves you, twould be him."

"Ah. Yet he seemed so adamant that it was but a passing tryst for him... surely to save thine heart, yet he wounded mine by saying so."

Rowan hummed and the two of them finished off their pastries. The talk of wounded hearts reminded Rowan of her conversation with Yloise.

"I, ah. Before I bumped into you, I had coffee with Yloise," she said. "And Emet-Selch."

"Art thou well? Is Yloise yet safe?" Urianger asked.

"She's fine. I'm... physically well. Yloise would've been able to find aught strange with the coffee... but I'm fairly certain that he tried to orchestrate an Echo vision. Though I can only guess as to why."

"Curious. May I ask what thou sawest in the vision?"

"It's not what but who. There was Emet-Selch on one side of the table, and two women on the other side. Who resembled Yloise and I in our mannerisms." Rowan began to fold the wrapper her pastry had been in.

Urianger's brow furrowed. "It hath been surmised that each soul on the Source was once part of an ancient, whole soul. But tis a rare thing to see a vision of one's past self, even just a singular lifetime ago."

"Mayhap tis more likely when you're exposed to things of that past life. This... this is not the first time I've seen a woman resemble myself in a vision." She pressed the creases of the wrapper. "Once after eating curry I saw a man and that same woman having a picnic."

Urianger put a hand to his chin in thought. "Thine Echo seemeth to activate more with a physical sensation, if I recall correctly. Strong flavors such as curry and coffee must have had an influence upon thy memory."

"Aye, that's what I thought." Then Rowan turned. "Wait, you remember my Echo is like that? I've only had a scant number of visions throughout my life, and you weren't present for most."

"I do. Twas one of the details that convinced me of mine ardor for thee." He smiled and took her hand. "That and my numerous dreams of rowan trees."

Rowan laughed. "You know a rowan tree by sight?"

"I had visions of the same tree since I was but a lad. Luckily Sharlyan is a nation of learning and I easily found an example in a botanist's folio. Oft I would be caught in dreams of peril - only to fall from deepest azure skies -" he kissed her hand "-and land safely into the boughs of a rowan."

"Oh, that cannot be true, you incorrigible flirt," she giggled at it all the same.

"Tis so, though I am indeed incorrigible in that regard. The dreams first lead me to know that thou wert one of the Warriors of Light. Though mayhap they had always meant to lead mine heart to thee."

Rowan simply smiled and watched as Urianger stroked her hand with his thumb. Wasn't there aught else she wanted to do that day? To be fair, this was what she'd more or less had always wanted to do... The emotion felt distantly familiar and she had to shake her head.

"Urianger... you don't have to answer if it makes you feel uncomfortable but... When you worked with Elidibus, did he ever give any hints that it was his title and not his name?"

He gave a small hum and turned his attention to their hands. "Nay. Twas not a subject of importance in those days. Wherefore dost thou ask?"

"Emet-Selch is a title, as my Echo vision revealed to me. Also, it seems they were all very fond of wearing masks back before the Star was rent in twain... and I'm just... Do you think there's aught to be gleaned at the Cabinet about any of that? I would've doubted it, but the pictographs in Rak'tika make me think there could be aught."

"I cannot say aught of the efficacy of such a search, but I would fain aid thee in thy quest for knowledge," Urianger said quickly. His eyes were sparkling at the prospect.

Rowan smiled. "Then lead on, wise Archon."

It turned out that Urianger already had an alcove set up in the Cabinet. Rowan had usually borrowed books and taken them to her room in the Pendants to read, but it appeared the Archon had a different mode of study. He moved a stack of books off of the generous loveseat and tried to organize the tomes, muttering to himself. She was nigh transfixed in his motions. Rowan had resigned herself to a fruitless investigation earlier, but mayhap she'd find joy in the company.

"Mayhap thou shouldst start with these, my lo -" Urianger froze. "- m-milady."

Rowan nodded and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, acting as she didn't hear what he just said. He looked relieved when she took the pile of books without comment. I suppose it's still too soon for him to use the "l" word as well... She took a seat and started to read through the indexes for the titles of the Convocation members. Surely there was written history of their meddling with the fate of the First? When that was exhausted, she searched for the names of the Ancient ones she knew.

She perked up at the mention of Minthe in one text, only to laugh at the book's title. Botanica Norvrandt.

"Doth there be something amusing in thy study?" Urianger asked, looking up from his tome.

"Ah, it's... the woman who resembles me. It turns out she's named after a plant as well. Or mayhap the plant is named after her." Rowan yawned that last bit and stretched.

"Mayhap a break in our research shall do us both some good." Urianger stretched and sat on the loveseat next to her.

"Oh, you don't have to stop if you're..." She noticed his arm on the back of the love seat and general openness to his stance and expression. "Oh."

After a few nervous chuckles between them, Rowan rested her head on Urianger's shoulder.

"Art thou comfortable?" he asked softly.

Rowan sighed and readjusted. "You can put your arm around me if you want."

He nodded and looped his arm around her, hand resting on Rowan's waist. There was a dreamy look to his eyes that made her feel warm.

She nuzzled in closer. "Are you going to get bored while I drift off?"

"With a fair maiden such as thyself upon my arm? Perish the thought - only fools need constant stimulation and amusement," Urianger teased. "I have plenty to ruminate on in the mean time as well. Thou needst not be concerned for mine entertainment, my dear."

Rowan buried her blush in his shoulder at the term of endearment.

"Have I embarrassed thee?" he asked, concerned.

"Mm. Nay. I'm just unused to the gesture. I do - I do like it."

He gave a contented sigh and started to play idly with the ends of her hair. Rowan sighed and cuddled in more, thoughts drifting idly towards sleep until...

Her eyes snapped open. "Yloise."

"Is aught amiss with our comrade?" Urianger asked.

"Nay. She... she just gave the worst tree pun imaginable."

#rowan argentas #yloise coneillants #urianger x wol #aether and anatomy #Our shared OC Emet-Selch #Shadowbringers spoilers #Into the Blorboverse #Many Paths Intertwined

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tallbluelady · 2 months

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❛ you have to trust me on this. ❜

"You sure told him what for!" Yloise smiled broadly as they rejoined the others waiting in the Resistance Camp.

"I... I honestly can't believe I said all that," Rowan felt herself grow pale thinking about it.

"Is it really that bad, being a duskwight?" Alisaie asked quietly.

But before either of them could give an answer, Joda ran up to them, wide eyed. "Is it true?"

"Mm?" Rowan was starting to feel a little dizzy. You always hated politics.

"That you told off the bloody Emperor of Garlemald!" Joda turned to Yloise. "Lyse said it was Rowan."

"Twas so! She broke him to admitting that there was no chance for peace!"

Throw open the gates...

Rowan's ears started to ring and the world started to tilt and turn black. No!

She didn't have time for this, none of them had time for this! The war with Garlemald would only get worse before it got better, and they needed every bow and spear available...

If there was aught else other than Joda's look of elation turning to dismay, Rowan couldn't see it. The last thing she was aware of was his gloved hand holding hers.

* * *

The first thing Rowan was aware of was a large, spindly fingered hand holding hers.

The second was that she was wearing formless black robes.

"I hope you don't mind," the figure said in a soft voice, "but I thought you'd be more comfortable with some clothes."

"I was naked?" Rowan asked, then grimaced, feeling rather stupid after asking.

The figure's lips twitched into a smile. "That's a fair question, actually. It seems whomever is summoning you isn't very skilled at it and only caught onto your aether."

"I suppose that explains the scattered attempts..." she muttered. She looked up at the figure askance. "Wait, if someone else is summoning me..."

"Ah... you'll have to trust me on this. It sounds strange, but we're in the Rift between Shards. And between Time."

Rowan looked up at the figure, who still held her hand. Clad in the same formless robes as she was, she had to rely on his voice to tell her he was male. He wore a mask which covered the top half of his face, and a hood besides. It was familiarly redundant.

"It might be easier to trust you if I could see your face, ser."

"I suppose that's true enough." He removed the mask with his free hand, and Rowan felt her eyes widen.

"Daedalus?"

He nodded. "How do you know, if I may ask?"

"I, uh, had a vision of a past life. I think. The woman next to you looked an awful lot like me and called you Daedalus. And... uh... you..."

Daedalus shook his head. "No need to apologize. The scars are rather striking, I must admit. Luckily, I live in a culture of masks, so few people gawk at them."

Rowan was trying her best to not gawk at the bright orange crystalline scarring around Daedalus' eyes. Or to stare at how glassy his pupiless eyes appeared to be. "Do they hurt?" she whispered.

"Naught more than a slight sting when touched. But you must be wondering why you're here, and not where you were going to be summoned."

"A bit. Did you speak to the others?"

"I did not. I'm from your past, and it is very hard to focus on any particular soul. But the woman you saw in your vision? I love her very much. I... I often fall into trances through time. A consequence of my hubris... This particular trance, I was thinking of her and I found you in the Rift."

Rowan nodded slowly, trying to digest what she was told. To be loved that much..."And it must be because you've seen me before, I was able to take your hand and pull you aside for this brief meeting," Daedalus said. "It can be disorienting to be tossed across time and space, and I didn't want you to face it alone. I know first hand how much comfort another person can be."

"Thank you," Rowan said. The whole concept of being found because of... who she was, or what her soul had been before, was more disorienting than being tossed through time, even if the idea of it was a pleasant one.

Daedalus sighed. "I wish I could offer more help than my company. Unfortunately, I cannot send you back. You must go to where you are being summoned. It... it needs to happen."

"Would it break Time itself if I didn't?" Rowan asked in a nervous jape.

"You would fare far worse than Time if you didn't. Time is a flowing river. Inexorable. Trying to dam it will..." he averted his eyes shamefully, "That is not a fate I would have you walk."

"Oh." She swallowed. "Is there aught you can tell me?"

Daedalus hummed. "What you are going to face... I believe you have it all well in hand. Especially this - ah, especially because of the bonds of friendship you've formed. Though you may feel short of achieving your goal, you are skilled enough to achieve it. Just... don't let him sell you short."

Rowan tilted her head. "Him? Who?"

He shook his. "That would be telling you too much. You'll know who I'm referring to when the time comes."

She nodded, feeling as though she was just handed a puzzle box far more intricate than she could reasonably solve. "If that's all you have to tell me..."

"I will say, Rowan, that you are loved. Far more than you know, and for every noble and strange thing there is about you. And I'm not just saying that because I love your predecessor. From what glimpses I've seen of your time, love surrounds you."

Rowan swallowed the tears and nodded. "Thank you."

"Good. Now if that's everything... Alas, something tells me that there is something missing..." Daedalus squinted as he scrutinized her. "A small detail, but important... A visual representation of that love, if you will."

She instinctually reached for her right ear. If she didn't arrive with any clothing, then her earring would surely be missing as well...

"That's right, I do believe you wear a rather distinct earring. It's round and holds a soft glow. More than that, I cannot recall from my visions."

"Tis a pumpkin. A gift from my mother and friends to remind me of where I came from. Are you... making one for me? Like the robes?"

"Yes, it's a rather simple task if I can imagine it. Though if I had thought of it earlier, I would have made it by hand... What does the setting look like? The pumpkin dangles, does it not?"

"It does. Ah, it hangs off of three cubes, two white and one black, with the post comprising of four cubes in a checkered pattern." Rowan could scarcely believe he could make a replica, and quickly, but she was in a rather unique environment to begin with. Why not trust that Daedalus could?

Daedalus nodded, and with a snap of his fingers, Rowan felt a familiar weight at her ear. "You'll have to trust me again, but I do believe it should resemble the one you have on your body."

She smiled. "Even if it doesn't, the fact that you took the time to try..."

He smiled shyly, and it felt so familiar to her... "I've delayed you long enough. I'll set you back on your path... I-I enjoyed meeting you."

Rowan nodded. "Twas a comfort to meet you, Daedalus."

He nodded back, and let go of her hand. Losing his touch, Rowan started falling through a void, crystals and memories surrounding her, out of reach. She thought she saw Daedalus rest his head on the familiar woman's lap for a second, then it was gone.

* * *

"Praise the gods! Rowan! I didn't lose you," a familiar voice said.

Is that... Rowan opened her eyes, finding herself in a room of crystal.

"Are you well? Where did you get those robes?" the voice asked. It belonged to a short figure in a hooded robe. Crystal veins traced through his limbs. He's the right height...

She cleared her throat. "A... fellow traveler gave them to me." That's true enough.

"That would likely explain your delay in arriving..." the hooded figure said.

Rowan narrowed her eyes. "How long of a delay?"

Thanks for the prompt!

#i need a writing tag #rowan argentas #ancient daedalus #yloise coneillants #joda vox #the company of blorbos #many paths intertwined #:D #ngl i kinda made this scene up so that rowan could still have her earring in blorboverse shb #cuz as you can read #she's not in her body for blorboverse #but i also love the idea of her meeting daedalus #she reacts so weirdly with minthe #so having an ancient she can connect with is nice

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