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"Since when did you wear earrings?"
It had been quite some time since any of them had been able to gather without there being some world ending calamity at their backs. Even longer for it to be all of them, though there were still yet few of their own to arrive. After the last adventure, many of them had parted, still sticking to the ways of secrecy and neutrality.
For the time being, the Leveilleur twins had cornered the warrior of light and his beloved. He had been the one to willingly take leave of the conversation upon spotting a familiar Hyur in the distance.< br />
Why Thancred had a sack with him was another curious thing.
They had caught up, quickly settling into old routines and banter as the four behind them chatted away.
At least they had been until they both caught Alisaie’s question.
The hyur does nothing but send him a smirk, setting the bag down and crossing his arms. "So when precisely are you going to tell the rest of them?"
He hums, eyes curiously on the bag, "In due time."
"When? It’s not that I fear they’d react with violence but I cannot help but feel a few of them may be a little upset."
"Tis thou’s oath naught to protect?”
“Well yes. Not from consequences of one’s own making however.”
“Thancred, why are thou with-”
“I’m aware of what’s in it. Hells if I know what your partner is going to do with it.”
He recalled the last letter he received from the bard, that he had mentioned he’d acquired what was asked of him. The contents of it were unknown to him and though he wished to pry, he thought better of it.
The nudge at his side snaps him out of his thoughts.
“Do you think if I ask Alphinaud if he recalls anything of Ishgard customs he’d figure it out?” the hyur asks, spotting not one but three familiar approaching figures on the horizon.
"It is possible though I would not wager on it."
"What about Krile, G'raha? Y'shtola?"
"I am beginning to believe," Urianger starts, side glancing at the other, “That thou is awaiting our companions' reactions.”
"Mostly Alisaie’s. I can’t imagine she’ll be anything short of irrevocably upset once she learns.”
Whatever he’d like to say can wait as the trio stops in front of them and they go about their own reunion of sorts, trading tales that had been too long to put in written form.
Over the course of the next few bells, others begin to file in. Familiar faces not seen in some moons, newer ones mixed and accompanying those they knew. He finds himself just a little pleased at the even tinier faces and hands that mix within them, either clinging to the legs of parents or boldly chatting with strangers.
It’s only much later into the evening, when nearly everyones settled in for the evening around the bar, their own little group sat around a table and ale before them that the last of them arrives.
Estinien greets them in the way they expect, a gruff noise and sitting himself in the open chair between Alphinaud and Krile. He thinks nothing of it, considers the other to be easing himself into the flow of conversation.
And yet he feels apprehensive once the man does open his mouth.
“You have a new ring.”
Alisaie sputters, “What, no? Urianger has always had-”
“Check again. He usually had two on his left. It’s three now.” The former azure eyes him cooly, taking a swig of the mug in front of him.
There’s silence for a moment as he feels one very hostile glare at him, surrounded by a few equally surprised looks.
Thancred scoffs next to him, “Oh who could have predicted this.”
“Lady Alisaie, allow me-”
“I am going to-”
“None of you thought to ask about the earrings?” Estinien quips, content to let him suffer in his reveal.
“..do the earrings have significance?” Alphinaud inquires. The former azure sighs, shoots a glare at his fellow retired azure and scowls at the realization that she’s exchanging gil with the warrior of light across the table.
At this point, he’s not sure if telling her more will save him.
He does not believe she will be anything less than murderous upon the knowledge that he had asked over a year ago.