Hermes 🐦🦚🦅

#FF14

💤

Oh, Meteion... [He sits down in front of her and opens his arms.] Don't worry, little bird. It's just a silly little holiday. I promise you, it is harmless - but we will just spend the day together, you and I, and we won't worry about what anyone else is doing. You know I would never lie to you.

[He was looking away for just a second, he swears. And then he looks back and...]

Ah-- Meteion, please... that isn't food either. Nor was the last crayon... even if the wrapper did say 'macaroni and cheese'...

(( meteion taught him to respond in gifs and now he thinks it's the pinnacle of communication ))

... Oh dear. Erm...

I'm not with them.

Uh. Of course.

[He appears in Emet-Selch’s office but a moment later, looking rather nervous.] You wanted to speak with me, Hades..?

He seems a bit far away in thought when her little voice reaches him, and he blinks in surprise, glancing down toward her. Something is... off, and he kneels down to her level, smiling - though, he's a bit noticeably tense.

"Of course, dear... are you feeling alright?" he asks, smile faltering.

((AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT...))
♒

Tell them it's because birds are wonderful, and so are you!

But it is. Somehow, by some unbelievable miracle, she's here in his arms, and never in his life - in all of his lives - has he been so happy. The other stars, the meaning of life... none of that matters, now. Not anymore. All that matters is her, and that she's /here./ He needs naught else.

"We will stay together. We will go anywhere you want to go, and do anything you want to do, and we'll go there and do those things together. Just you and I."

He still doesn't understand how this could possibly be real. How he could be so blessed, after all the pain and devastation he's caused. +

He shakes his head at the idea that she did anything wrong. He's never seen it that way - she only ever did what he designed her to do, even when it hurt her. But he yet again struggles to find the words, so he just hugs her tight, petting her hair.

"Yes, my dear," he says with a nod, +

that she can feel how sorry he is. How he knows she did her best. How proud he is, despite it all. "I'm so sorry, Meteion... no more missions. No more reports. I just want you to be happy."

wipes her tears away.

"Meteion... you've done naught that needs forgiveness, my dear. You only set out on your mission as I instructed... it is I who needs ask your forgiveness." He sniffles, trying to form the words, but there are none to properly convey his remorse. He hugs her again, hoping +

"Remember you... oh, my darling blue bird, how could I forget you?" he asks, voice cracking as he pulls back just enough to show her how wide he's smiling. But the question makes his face fall somewhat, and he prays she cannot feel how it breaks his heart. He cups her cheek and +

But before he can convince himself to awaken... she's in his arms, and she's warm and she's soft and she's /real/. A small sob rises in his throat, and he holds her close, shaking hands gently stroking her back and hair.

"Meteion... are you truly here..? My dear Meteion..."

Just hearing her sweet little voice is enough to bring him to his knees, tears falling from his eyes before he's even fully processed what he's seeing. He has to be dreaming. She can't be real. For all he's done to her, to his friends, to the star, he doesn't deserve this to be real. +

i'm not good at symbolism except the one time i was. and then it got 17 notes on tumblr
#ffxiv #ff14 #ffxivart #hermes #ffxivhermes

(( grasp, but the other way around! no jumping into tiny bird arms lmao ))

... Are you alright, little bluebird?

Meteion??

(( 3! ))

This is true! I will always be here to catch you should you fall.

It's alright, dear. Just do be careful climbing. He is quite tall...

[He's just watching from afar, obviously nervous, but not intervening.] It's polite to ask before climbing someone, Meteion...

You did..? Ahah, you remembered my favorite... thank you, Meteion. [don't cry don't cry don't cry]