Work Text:
-Aymeric-
“Commander Leveilleur. It is both an honor and a pleasure to meet you,” I said in way of greeting to the smaller of the two figures before me. “I am Aymeric, lord commander of the Temple Knights.”
“Alphinaud Leveilleur, at your service.” The young elezen stepped forward. He had an air of one in command, though I tried not to focus too hard on his limited years. From what I had read, he had accomplished much during his time with the Scions. Though how much of that was truly thanks to the efforts of his compilation, was hard to say. “Your reputation precedes you, Ser Aymeric. I think we will find that we have much in common.”
I nodded with a polite smile before finally allowing my eyes to move to the cloaked figure beside him. She was taller than I expected, wrapped in thick snow-white furs and although I couldn’t see her face, I knew she was looking at me.
I pretend I didn't notice when young Leveilleur gave her a small jab with an elbow.
“Oh! Forgive me,” The words were breathy. The voice deeper than I expected. Long-fingered hands, with softly painted nails, reached from within the billowing sleeves of the cloak to pull down the hood. “I’m still adjusting to the cold.” A smile graces her lips, matching the embarrassed dusting of pink across her cheeks.
He had heard the tales. He’d read the reports. The Champion of Eorzea. Primal Slayer. Even Haurchefant had waxed his poetry over her bravery and her beauty.
What had seemed to be no more than a footnote in the reports and what he often forgot, was that she was a viera.
As the hood fell, twin black long ears rose up on the top of her head. With a shock, I realized quickly that we stood eye-to-eye, a rare thing indeed even among other elezen, but with her ears included, she was indeed far taller than myself.
Beautiful too.
Tanned skin, round face with large ruby-gem eyes which gleaned in the candlelight. Likely what had given her her namesake. Black hair, long and wild escaped the confines of the hood, lending her an exotic beauty I had only seen captured in books. The sharp contrast between the white of the furs she wore compared to her own deepest black didn’t help.
“Greetings, Ser Aymeric. My name, as I’m sure you know, is Ruby Nhrmont. It’s lovely to finally meet you. I’ve heard quite a lot about you as well.”
I fought the blush which desired to bloom across my own cheeks like some green knight and thanked the twelve for years of political speaking to keep myself from stuttering in return. “Speaking of reputations, yours towers over us all. Does it not?” Inwardly I cringed, cursing myself and the Fury as I fought to keep my eyes from straying upward to the long columns of her ears. Was the fur as soft as it looked? Did viera have fur in other places too?
I violently kicked that particular thought to the back of my mind.
Lucia at my side bowed her head. Though I heard the near-silent snort. She knew my thoughts, having picked up on my embarrassment from years of service at my side. “It does indeed, Lord Commander,” she agreed. She was never going to let me live that stumble down now.
Doing my best to pretend that it hadn’t happened I continued on. “I am not too proud to admit that I have followed your activities with an interest bordering on fascination.” I could feel Lucia’s amusement grow. I nearly bit my own tongue to keep from saying more and I was pretty sure I had lost my battle to keep from blushing. Thank heavens Estinien hadn’t needed to join in on our meeting as well. I would have been well, and truly, doomed.
Bringing my hands together, I instead went with a smile. “Full glad was I to learn that you would be joining us. Now then, shall we begin?”