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You had never been secretive about your living situation, you were a proud owner of a beautiful home located in the residential districts of Kugane. Emphasis on the ‘proud’ part. Your acquisition of the lot had been no easy task, the housing market of Eorzea was hell but your perseverance had rewarded you with a comfortable estate to call your own. You had been very vocal to your companions about your recent renovation works, you had a very specific idea in your mind. You knew exactly what you wanted, which furniture, ornaments and wall decor, and exactly where you wanted to place them. So when your renovation project was complete you insisted on hosting the Scions for a visit and show them your pride and joy.
You looked at the door expectantly from the kitchen before looking back at the oven.
“Y’shtola will be on time, same for Urianger. Then Raha and Kryle,” you mused to yourself, predicting your companions’ order of appearance “Thancred is going to either be super late or right on time, no telling,” you chuckled and opened the oven a little to check on the appetizers.
You grabbed a toothpick to check if they were ready, poking a hole and inspecting the wooden stick. You nodded with a smile, the croquettes were good to bring out, but the canapes needed some more time. You put on your oven mitts and carefully brought the steel pan containing the golden-brown spheres, they smelled amazing already and you had to remind yourself they were probably scorching hot and you should wait before taking one for yourself. You hummed as you closed the oven door and placed the tray aside and served the croquettes in a big plate, placing them carefully with tongs.
Soon enough you had everything set up. You were fairly proud of your table, the Culinarian guildmaster would definitely be happy to hear you’d been honing your skills in the kitchen. you were no professional but you knew your way around your kitchen tools well enough and you were settled in hosting the best dinner party the Scions would ever experience.
The sound of the doorbell made your ears perk up, you made quick work of your apron, folding it neatly before setting it aside. You gave the interior a last once-over before taking a deep breath and opening the door for your guests.
“Y’shtola, Urianger! Welcome, I’m so glad you managed to come,” there was a small spark of amusement inside you from the fact you correctly guessed their order of appearance.
You held open the door and Y'shtola had a gentle smile gracing her lips. Her usual Thaumaturge robes had been exchanged for a more casual outfit, revealing a side of your seldom seen. You felt a warm feeling in your chest, being able to see her let her hair down. Beside her stood Urianger, with his usual gentle yet enigmatic demeanor. He still wore his long intricate Astrologian attire but in his hands he held a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
"Alas, we might have arrived earlier, but Urianger insisted it would be terribly impolite to come here empty-handed,” the Black Mage commented before shooting a teasing look at Urianger. You chuckle and stepped aside, allowing your companions to enter your home. The astrologian simply shook his head in disapproval at Y’shtola’s remark.
“‘Tis not everyday we are allowed a moment of respite. Even less so in the welcoming abode of the champion of Eorzia herself,” Urianger defended himself before shooting you a small smirk as he offered you the flowers. "Thine invitation is most appreciated, my friend."
You happily accept the flowers, the bouquet bloomed in vibrant colors and scents. Sunflowers, dahlias, and marigolds decorated the array, bound with a sky-blue ribbon. Summer flowers, of course, how thematic.
“They’re beautiful, Urianger, you’re too sweet,” you thanked him cheerfully as you carefully handled the flowers. “Please make yourselves at home, I’ll put these in water.”
Time passed swiftly, and soon almost all the guests had arrived at your home. Y'shtola and Urianger were already present, their expressions filled with warmth and contentment as they talked to you about their recent exploits. Y‘shtola recounted in detail how her research was going. You did your best to keep up as she explained terms you had never even heard before, while Urianger watched with a small glint of amusement in his eyes.
Moments later, the doors swung open once again, and in stepped G'raha Tia, accompanied by Krile. Their arrival sparked smiles and cheerful greetings, as G'raha's wholesome presence and Krile's infectious laughter lifted the spirits of everyone present.
“This place is super well located, did you pick it because of that?” Krile asked curiously before taking a canape into her mouth.
“Oh Krile… Oh no, oh no…” You sighed with genuine sorrow in your thousand yalm stare “The housing market of Eorzea doesn’t allow space for choice. It’s a warzone out here.”
“You scare me, my friend,” G’raha chuckled and you couldn’t help but laugh alongside him.
“You know very well how invested I got in making this place a home!” You retorted.
G’raha was indeed the only one among the guests to have visited you before. It was hard not to, you were inseparable ever since you got back from the First with him in your pocket. He shook his head with a smile.
“She stood in front of this house for bells on end, awaiting the auction to start,” Raha recalled with a twinkle of nostalgia in his eyes. "That’s our dear warrior’s determination and unwavering resolve, for you." That pulled a laugh from the group.
“The price I paid in my time was nothing compared to the gil I spent,” you sighed in defeat before sipping on your drink. “With the amount I spent furnishing I could technically have bought a whole other house.”
As the evening progressed, Alisaie and Alphinaud arrived, a tad bit late but fashionably so. They shifted the blame back and forth, the chatter turning to good-natured banter and friendly teasing.
“At least we’re not the last ones. That spot is definitely Thancred’s,” Alisaie assured her brother.
“Thancred? Oh no, Estinien is bound to arrive later than him,” Y’shtola predicted.
There was a pause and before you knew it. You were all placing bets on who would be the least punctual of the two. There were good arguments on both sides, you had to admit. Urianger defended Thancred, saying that he was now a family man and was not as reckless and irresponsible as he once was. Meanwhile G'raha playfully argued in favor of Estinien, emphasizing the exceptional speed and agility of the dragoon.
“Thancred’s gunblade is far heavier and could hinder his speed,” he said with a grin.
“Who brings their weapon to a dinner party?” Krile quipped back and you laughed in response.
You were aware that some of your guests did bring their weapon with them. You couldn’t hold it against them, while you were off-duty at the moment, it was always difficult for the Scions to feel completely safe.
“Hey, you never know, the Bloody Banquet was also a dinner party,” you joked, referring to that particularly memorable event from your past adventures. The lighthearted banter continued and the bets were settled, each one of you eating and sharing stories while also keeping a curious eye on the front door.
You rallied your companions to give them a complete tour of the place, excited to explain the story behind each furniture piece and wall decor. You made sure to show them your collection of weapons, an assortment you’d curated through your adventures, displaying your favorites behind glass cases. Y’shtola was particularly intrigued by your selection of flashy staves, admiring the ether flowing through them as the different patterns and effects decorated the weapons.
“You have a good selection of music, my friend,” Raha said, noticing the welcoming tunes coming from your orchestrion.
“Thank you! I go out of my way to find music sheets of my favorite scores,” you smile.
Your showcase was interrupted by the doorbell. All of your guests turned their heads towards the entryway before smiling among themselves. You headed over, watching with amusement as everyone followed suit like an audience to an important event. You suppose it wasn’t too far from the truth. You heard a frustrated sigh from Krile behind you, trying to stand on her tippy toes to catch a glimpse of the entrance. You couldn’t help but open the door slowly to keep up the suspense. As you open the door you are met with both Estinien and Thancred standing there.
“Heyy, what’s with those looks on your faces?” Thancred asked, slightly tilting his head to the side as he was greeted by the expecting expressions of the rest of the Scions.
“It’s due to our late arrival,” Estinien answered simply.
“Wait… we’re late? Ah… I thought it started at nine bells?” the gunbreaker said in surprise and Estinien shook his head at that, earning him a sigh.
“It’s alright, don’t worry. Make yourselves at home,” you chuckled before stepping aside and welcoming them in.
“And what happens to be your excuse for being late, Estinien?” Y’shtola teased. Estinien let out a frustrated sigh.
“Shirogane is a maze. I only found my way because I happened to stumble upon Thancred.”
“What? But I gave such clear instructions!” You pouted before letting out a laugh as they joined in the conversation. You clued them in to the bet that took place, Estinien feigned insult but you could see a faint smile pulling at the corner of his lips. While Thancred laughed wholeheartedly, before bringing out the bottle of liquor he’d brought for the occasion.
As the night progressed, you couldn't help but feel a profound sense of contentment, surrounded by your closest allies in this intimate setting. Each of them had become an integral part of your journey, and this evening served as a celebration of your accomplishments and the bonds that had grown between you.
You smiled softly, hoping to see this side of your friends more often in the future.