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Estinien found X'rhun deep within the hidden forests of the Shroud. It was not unusual to Seek a Seeker but this one, in particular, was strange in all regards. The vestiges he wore upon his back were a crimson that Estinien had never seen within the walls of Ishgard and very few places outside of it.
X'rhun had been, and still was in many ways, battling the demons that had wandered their way into the thickets and bent boughs of the trees. They fell to his blade as they did to any other, but it was the way that he struck that drew the Elezen to him. If he were being cynical, which he often was, Estinien would say that it reminded him of the Dragoons that one only found in legend. Pointed blows followed by leaps into the air, it seemed that the only true difference was the magic that he was using, it lit the sky in hues of red, black, and white until the demon lay shattered at his feet.
Estinien barely registered the battle as over until the Miqo'te turned to him, amusement pinching his brow.
"Have you come to gawk, or to fight? Or for some reason in between?"
Estinien did not know how to respond to such a question. Reason said the first but something in his loins said the last. For one raised in Ishgard, it was an uncomfortable sensation overall.
"I came to find those who would fight the ending of this world. Would that be one such as you?"
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"It may," X'rhun answers in a tone that suggests caution. He makes a fluid gesture with his weapon before stowing it back upon the hilt at his hip. "Depending however on whom may be asking. I've found many a creature with a face I once found familiar, and you barely have that."
"Then rest assured that my allegiance is with the Scions," Estinien answers. He finds himself awed by the way the Seeker's body moves as he lithely steps closer, snow-white tail drifting lazily behind him.
"The Scions."
X'rhun hums, as if considering the words and his response to them. Estinien decides to press the matter, impatience the only emotion that seemed to bubble past the strange, dull warmth settled well in the bottom of his stomach. The man smells of battle and triumph, not so in blood but in aetherical energy. Though Estinien had long been out of Nidhogg's influences, traces of the old wyrm's habits and power yet linger across the elezen's very soul.
And he can *feel* X'rhun's talent. Experience. Wariness. Estinien can't help but respect the heavy weight that presses against his chest -- and fear the weight laying deeper still. He tries to chase it away with an inward scowl; he'd been without a proper bed, meal and company of any sort for the past several weeks. Getting to the Black Shroud in itself was a challenge. Getting to Gridania? Seemingly impossible.
But X'rhun seemed capable, and Estinien knew of his aid to the Warrior of Light and Scions both -- having him around would be a much safer and smarter bet.
If only the squirming desire to pin the man down and rip off his brilliant crimson clothes would dull within his skull. Nidhogg and his blasted sense of need and instinct be damned to all the hells and back.
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But X'rhun was grinning at him, a confident smirk of one who is not unaware of the effect he is having on someone, as he reached to adjust his collar, exposing his neck, briefly, to Estinien.
"Then you must be aware of Alisaie, my former pupil."
"Aye, the girl's got a sharp blade, a sharper wit and a distaste for being mistaken for her brother." He remarked dryly, pleased with himself for managing to sound unaffected, "are all red mages so spirited?"
"Not all, we are a varied lot. Or were." Here something flickered in bright blue eyes before he focused on Estinien again, "but I sense you don't wish to speak of allies, do you, Ser Dragoon?"
"Estinien." He said gruffly, his armor giving a metallic click as he shifted his weight, "and perhaps not."
X'rhun purred and Estinien about lost his mind at the sound alone, damn himself for his desires, he wanted to know what other sounds this man was capable of. "Perrhaps you too have been traveling too long by yourself as well, and you wish to release some frustration? Find your balance and recenter yourself?"
Estinien went still, he could feel the Miqo'te's eyes on him, watching him like a predator and it thrilled some part of him but made another wish to pin him against the tree with a growl and pull that damn cravat off to have at his throat.
Which is exactly what he did, stopping only when he felt X'rhun's hand on his chest, "bade me to stop and I shall." He promised, Nidhogg be damned he was not that far gone.
The Miqo'te relaxed his hand, "that's all I needed to hear. Do not break skin."
Estinien looked up at him and grinned, "no promises."
A sharp pull of his hair had him inhale sharply and meeting X'rhun's gaze, "I will do my best."
"Much better," X'rhun purred, releasing him, "do try to behave, I would like to remove these layers of clothing and I can't do that and have my hands full."
Just for that Estinien bit him hard on the shoulder, beneath that composure, born of years of experience in many fields, but beneath had to be a man who wanted the same as Estinien did now, burning beneath his skin with the desire to take and give and move as one.
A soft gasp slipped out of X'rhun, his hands pausing in the middle of removing his gloves, eyes wide, his expression almost reverent, "good. Would you be..." he had to swallow and his eyes moved to Estinien's face, "be opposed to good boy, or would you prefer good man? Or your name, I suppose, to give all options."
Estinien groaned in his throat, "call me what you like just stop interrupting me."
"Patience Estinien," X'rhun caught him to pull him into a kiss filthy in ways even Estinien had never experienced, and desperately wanted to again, "good things come to those who wait, and believe me, I can show you excellent things."