thefeywood | why don't you figure my heart out?

It is, in fact, Estinien - in the middle of actively seeking Aymeric out, having heard he was back in the congregation. Of course, when he notices that Aymeric is in the middle of a discussion, he stops and keeps to the wall, crossing his arms as he waits for them to finish up.

It doesn't take long. The older Elezen heads off, and Aymeric is left available for the moment. Estinien finishes his approach, raising an unseen eyebrow. The dragoon helmet does make him damn near impossible to read.

Thankfully, as has become his habit, when he closes quarters with Aymeric and sees no other interruptions, he makes to slide off his helmet, long white hair pooling around his shoulders. He casts his steely gaze in the other Captain as he leaves, and then focuses intently on Aymeric.

"Well met, Ser Aymeric," he says with a small nod. "Have your plans been coming together?"

As soon as Estinine approaches, he gets Aymeric's full attention and a widening smile. Though he is generally congenial to all at the Congregation, it is easy to see the genuine happiness that emanates from the greetings he shares with Estinien. At least to anyone looking.

"Ser Estinien," he says with no small amount of pleasure. "Surprisingly well, actually. The initial overtures have been made and we need only but two more companies to sign on before it will have enough support to bring to the Lord Commander's desk. And how fare you this day? It is rare that we catch one another in these halls."

Estinien's expression remains more neutral in this context, but he's clear from his eyes and from the way he so eagerly came over that he's glad to have caught him in a quiet moment. He's been very glad to see Aymeric make progress with no unreasonable interruptions.

"I did mention the idea to a few of the other dragoons," he says. "They were not opposed. If it receives approval from the Lord Commander, it seems like a sensible step to add our numbers, as well."

He's certainly keeping his appraisal understated, knowing that the dragoons do tend to have fairly narrow focuses when it comes to their tasks.

"Ser Heustienne, in particular, seemed interested in the collaboration - no doubt, as an opportunity to advance her leadership abilities."

Aymeric is visibly pleased by the progress made on Estinien's end too, though he knows putting the idea in the Knights Dragoon's heads is all that is needed at the current moment. Having any of them on their side would be a boon and offer even more clout for the venture. Truthfully, Aymeric would like to see these drills also corroborated with the Houses stationed in the area--

--but one thing at at time, he reminds himself.

The mention of Heustienne in particular does pull a moment's pause and a raise of a single brow.

"Is that so?" Estinien likely has a few thoughts on the matter. "And what do you think of said leadership abilities?"

Estinien's eyes lift, surveying the area to see if they are receiving any unwanted attention. Then, he shrugs his shoulders.

"She is interested in the mantle of Azure Dragoon, and sees those skills as a path towards defining herself for the role." Aymeric is fully aware of how critical that entire area of consideration is for Estinien, but in the moment, he keeps that burning desire concealed. "We have different priorities."

He shakes his head.

"I do not fault her for her ambition. She has more patience than I for such matters." But also he desperately needs her to not succeed in outpacing him.

Estinien's skills are what carries his reputation more than anything, but if Heustienne does have more of a talent for dealing with the politics that come with such a position, Estinien may yet have some true competition. Of course, that would be if ascension to any station were as simple as that...they both know better.

Estinien even says as much and Aymeric does allow a bit of a smile to come back.

"Her current show of support will be welcomed, though you are, of course, the first to bring the idea to the Knights Dragoon." He thinks that is an important distinction to make.

"What of your schedule for the rest of the day? My squadron should be returning from their last patrol any moment now."

There is the unspoken offer of meeting them, should he feel inclined. Of course, it is also the opportunity for Estinien to make like a true Dragoon and jump out of a situation he prefers to avoid.

Estinien doesn't care for the idea of petty squabbles over who did or didn't introduce ideas first, as much as he knows that trying to retain credit is crucial for advancement. It chafes against is sensibilities, though, and part of him would rather Heustienne remain in the spotlight for the endeavour, if she does end up giving Aymeric's plans the advantage they need.

Ser Draneux would certainly be more willing to listen to her. Yet, a trace of anxiety does stir within him, even if it's one he would rather banish. It seems ridiculous that dragoons should be in such a situation, wishing for others to perform at less than their best.

Aymeric makes his offer, though, which allows Estinien to put such issues to the side. With his helmet off, Aymeric will also be able to catch his hesitation. He wonders if he should put it back on.

"...Naught but personal training," he says, after a pause. "If you have use of my presence, I can easily remain."

Yes, he will meet your new team. Though he hopes the lancer boy will contain his enthusiasm.

He does understand that social obligations are far from his preference, but Aymeric has been wanting to introduce him to his squadron...well, pretty much since it's inception. That Estinien agrees at this point is something that brings him great joy.

"It would do well to bolster their resolve, being such a new company. And I am always glad of your presence."

Estinien can put his helmet back on if he prefers.

With that, Aymeric starts to lead them down the hallway and up the steps to the small shared office he has with three other Captains. Small squadrons have little need of the full space. Aymeric doesn't mind, though he has yet to really make any strides with the two he does share the office with, both being stationed in other areas around Coerthas.

That being said, neither Captain are in the office when he and Estinien arrive. It is empty as he imagined it may be.

Aymeric moves to the desk settled on the right, the least cluttered given the fact that Aymeric has only recently settled into the role and his general inclination towards organization. Naegling is propped up beside it.

Aymeric sighs, moving to stand in front of his desk and instead leans back against it.

"As you can see, I am clearly moving up the in the world," he waves out to the office, but in good humor.

Estinien decides not to put the helmet back on, as it turns out, keeping it tucked under his arm as they head upstairs. He is relieved to see the office in question is empty, though, as it means that he has time to settle in first, and also there are fewer overall people to worry about.

He takes a few moments to look around, passingly curious about the work environment a Captain enjoys. It's nothing surprising, though he is slightly amused to see Aymeric's giant sword propped up against it. That blade had been at the center of some interesting training sessions.

"You do have a desk," he says with some slight amusement, setting his helmet on top of it for the time being. As a dragoon he does get a small room to himself, but a desk is something is order does not find itself in need of.

Aymeric chuckles and crosses his arms.

"Aye, they have afforded me that and I am grateful for it, though I do not spend as much time in here as I feel that it is explicitly necessary."

With his squadron so few in number, he takes to the field more than Captains of more experience or larger reports may. And it is probably unsurprising that he is the sort to take work home with him too.

"It seems more a formality than anything else, as I rarely see my...roommates of sorts. Similar duties, but in different regions of the Highlands. But I have made it a habit to hold regular office hours when all of my charges are in town."

He glances at a clock on the wall.

"And Ser Saidine is ever dutiful and thorough in her reports, repetitive though they have been. As much as I would prefer to be out on the field with them, I do realize that such tasks may need to be delegated. I want to garner a show of trust in both their martial prowess and decision making skills. I would seem overeager to accompany them on every routine patrol, would I not?"

Maybe he is looking for a little validation, but he knows Estinien would only give it if he agreed.

Estinien feels as if what his own inclination would be isn't all that indicative. There's a reason that making Captain was never one of his goals.

"Were it my position, I imagine I would send myself to the field regardless," he says. Then, he shrugs his shoulders. "But that is why I am not a Captain. Until we begin facing sterner advances from Dravania, this seems entirely reasonable."

Besides that, Estinien can't help but feel some relief to know that Aymeric is away from such duties. The fact that they twice had their unit devestated while on routine patrols has not left his thoughts.

He would never say as much, though.

Aymeric finds himself smiling at that, unsurprising though that is. "I cannot deny that I would prefer to be out on the field with them, even if it is just making rounds."

He is, of course, blissfully unaware of his friend's wishes to see him not. Probably for the best.

And as if on cue, there is a knock at the door with Saidine's familiar voice announcing her presence. Aymeric pushes off his desk, standing properly and straightening his shoulders. Though he does not appear unfriendly, he is definitely "on" in the professional sense. He gives a nod to Estinien before facing the door.

"Come in."

The door opens and two knights walk in--a tall, dark-haired Elezen woman with a stern brow but light smile until she stops to salute, all business. Beside her is a Hyuran man of middling height with short, ashy brown hair who salutes just a second after she does. Though his gaze is straight ahead towards Aymeric at first, it readily flicks back and forth between his captain and the very obvious Dragoon standing a few fulms away.

The lance at his back probably gives away exactly who this is.

"At ease," Aymeric says with a smile. Both Knights relax into their proper stances. "How went the rounds?"

"As expected, Captain," the woman--unmistakably the Ser Saidine Aymeric had mentioned previously--begins. "Naught an onze of unexpected Dravanian activity."

Aymeric nods. "Good to hear. And your times?"

"On a clear day it will take but 10 minutes to make it to the Black Iron Bridge on foot once we receive word, Captain." Unsurprisingly, Aymeric is already running drills of his own regardless of whether or not the other squadrons sign on. "Ideally we will not be without a chocobo."

Another nod, but Aymeric is visibly pleased. "'Tis prudent to be prepared for all circumstances. Good work, Sers."

The Hyur, Ser Theodlac, does seem to brighten at the praise, though he is staring fully at Estinien at this point. It does not go without notice, though Saidine has the manners not to.

"Ah, forgive me, I should introduce my guest." Aymeric half-turns towards Estinien and motions with his hand to Estinien, then to his knights. "Ser Estinien Wyrmblood of the Knights Dragoon. Ser Estinien, this is Ser Saidine Glourie and Ser Theodlac Todd."

Saidine and Theodlac both salute, the latter of the two trying very hard to contain his brimming excitement.

In this moment, Estinien does end up wishing that he'd decided to wear his helmet. It means he has to put more effort into managing his expression - through his natural inclination towards stoic expressions is to his advantage here.

The moment Ser Theodlac starts looking at him, he feels a bit overwhelmed. Still, he manages to regard the Hyur with a steely expression, inclining his head with professional distance as he's introduced.

"Ser Aymeric has spoken well of you," he says, which is certainly friendly by his standards. As much as he finds Theodlac's enthusiasm daunting, he can't exactly find it in himself to discourage someone looking to pursue the lance. He just wishes that passion wasn't being thrust in his direction.

He keeps it at that, for now. He's mostly here to listen.

Saidine allows her lips to twitch upwards a minute enough, but it is enough to please her. She knows that she does a good job, but that does not mean that she doesn't appreciate positive appraisals. She has ambitions to move up in the ranks as well and seems undeterred by their current assignments, no matter how minimal they may appear.

"Kind of you to say, Ser Estinien."

Theodlac, on the other hand, is of course happy to have the confidence of his captain, but is really struggling to care about much else than the fact there is a very stern-looking dragoon right in front of him. Full drachen armor. It is, undeniably, one of the most exciting things he has seen in a long time.

"Ser Estinien--" Theodlac starts, before sharing a quick glance with Aymeric to see if he really is okay to ask. Aymeric cocks his head to the side in Estinien's direction, so Theodlac continues. "--is it true that you slew a dragon before you even began the Dragoon trials?"

Estinien's eyebrows lift. He's not offended by being asked a question, but the choice surprises him. His thoughts flicker back to that day - is that a tale that's told of him? Or did it come from Aymeric himself?

"...Aye, with the aid of Ser Aymeric. I had tracked it's path across the Highlands... and his arrow allowed me the opening needed to end it. The rest of our unit was slain ere it fell to my lance."

Whenever he tells a tale of supposed glory, he feels the need to recall that part, as well. Many men perished on that day, regardless of the outcome.

To his credit, Theodlac looks surprised by this information and he needs a moment look back and forth between both Estinien and Aymeric. Aymeric, for his part, clears his throat lightly and nods. It may be a tale that is following Estinien's reputation more than Aymeric's--clear as it is that, apparently, others are happy to omit his involvement--but it was a grim day all the same.

"'Twas at a great cost that the beast was felled."

Theodlac's lips form a tight line as he nods too in understanding. Young and eager, just as Aymeric had described.

"Apologies..."

Aymeric shakes his head. "We can only strive to avoid such a fate for our own company and others."

Saidine nods, casting a glance along her shoulder towards the shorter Hyur. "And why no matter how minimal the activity, we will stay on top of our drills and training."

"I would expect nothing less." Hard-working and determined as ever, something of which Aymeric is very grateful.

Theodlac purses his lips. "It's not doing much for Hemlock, is it...?"

Saidine lowers her brows at the man.

It was the day that first brought them together, and it's hard to imagine trading it, but there is an unavoidable grimness to that twist of fate. Apparently, a more simplified version of it has been going around. He supposes that was a key factor in him being introduced to dragoon training as quickly as he was.

He's left reflecting on images from that entire experience as the conversation begins to shift, tough he tunes in again as Theodlac brings up something else. He can easily relate to the plight of the towns scattered across Coerthas, and so he's immediately curious about what the young man is referring to.

"Is it struggling?" he asks, glancing at Aymeric to see if this is news to him. He assumes it would have Aymeric's attention as soon as he was informed - and to see Saidine's reaction, he wonders about the truth of the situation.

Aymeric's expression turns serious almost instantly, though Estinien asks the question for them both. Theodlac glances back at Saidine and stays silent, and she turns her own grim expression to the senior knights in front of her.

"A few of the locals have reported that the monthly allotment from the Holy See has yet to be received."

Aymeric raises his brows at that, eyes flickering to Estinien for a second. "Do we know when it was scheduled?"

"Nay, Captain. 'A week or more' is what was stated."

He brings a hand to his chin and rubs the edge with his thumb in thought. "A delay could be expected if forces and supplies needed to be directed towards the Dravanian conflict, but with no activity of late..."

Theodlac looks back up. "Does that mean it was missed?"

Aymeric offers a placating smile as he drops his hand. "'Tis possible, but it is likely a clerical error. There are several villages and townships in the Highlands that receive monthly aide for their dedicates wares. With men being in charge of such efforts, mistakes are bound to happen now and again. I will touch base with the committee in charge and see that this is corrected posthaste."

Theodlac, at least, looks relieved and nods. Saidine nods as well.

"Anything else to report?"

"No, Captain."

"Then you are dismissed. I'll see you in the morning."

The pair salute, Theodlac sparing one last almost hopeful gaze at Estinien before they exit, leaving the door shut behind them.

Estinien steels himself against the onslaught of whatever that look means, staring back at the young man for only a moment before turning his gaze towards Aymeric. He tries to shrug it off.

"Who would be in charge of dispensing those funds?" he asks, tilting his head. As naturally suspicious as Estinien is, it does sound like something that was likely an error caused by carelessness. Still, he's well aware of how critical such relief could be to struggling townships.

He does note that Theodlac seemed particularly concerned about the situation. He can appreciate that instinct in a person.

Aymeric's posture does not relax when his knights leave, though his expression does open up more when it settles once again on Estinien. It's clear the other man is troubled by the news as well, likely in no small part because he grew up in the Highlands, feeling for the folk in similar situations.

"Ser Fauwax de Moutette. I have never traded word with the man, but I have seen the work of his committee. It is no small task orchestrating the woven supply chains across the region as routes become no longer available..."

And the worst, when villages are removed from the chain entirely. But he says naught of that aloud. It goes without saying.

Aymeric shakes his head. "What troubles me most is that the locals saw it fit to speak so plainly of this to patrols. My squadron is not stationed at Hemlock, only to scout the surrounding areas."

He leans back again to sit on the edge of his desk and crosses his arms, frown deepening.

"As much as it pains me to put it as such, Hemlock is both near enough to Ishgard's walls and a large enough settlement that there ought to be a Knight stationed there at least on a semi-regular basis. Would this report not have been best delivered through them?"

Estinien pauses to contemplate the implication of that. Aymeric has a point. Surely there should be enough presence in Hemlock that there would be people to report to beyond a wandering patrol. He frowns more deeply.

"Do you suggest that the locals may not trust the resident knights enough to lodge a complaint with them?" Estinien asks. "Or... that believe naught will be done as a result?"

It's the only explanation that comes to his mind for that. Ishgard does give plenty of reasons to become disillusioned in the system for the common folk.

Aymeric's brows pinch together in thought. He does not like admitting that Ishgard favors the townships that are of most economical import or are the closest to her own borders proper, but he also does not like thinking on the different ways the commonfolk are let down by the establishment. It is the sad reality of their time, one that should--nay, will need be corrected.

"Mayhaps both," he finally says, then shakes his head. "It is no secret that the Temple Knights have done little in recent years to earn the trust of the masses. If only the Holy See realized that it is equal import to the war that we wage against our enemies."

He exhales sharply through his nose, turning his gaze on Estinien proper. "Either way, I shall raise the issue and instruct the squadron to pass through Hemlock proper on our next patrol. I may join as well, to at least validate that their concerns were heard and to reaffirm that they are yet valued citizens of Ishgard."

Estinien nods his head. It sounds like a solid plan to him, and he feels like not many captains would take so much initiative for the townships under their watch. It's heartening to see Aymeric in a position where he can finally start working towards his vision, no matter how small in scale.

"It sounds to be a situation where your skills would be of use," he agrees, knowing that Aymeric is more skilled than average at leveraging with others. As much as the sound of the situation causes his hackles to instinctively rise, he would hope it's something that could be resolve plainly.

He pauses, glancing back towards the door the other squadron just left through.

"Tell me, what do you know of Ser Theodlac's origins?"

Aymeric cants his head to the side as if to say 'we will have to see'. There has definitely been a singular benefit to receive ire throughout most of his life for his questionable origins--his ability to play diplomatic under tense situations. This would be his real first venture out to speaking to citizens on behalf of the Temple Knights, though, so it is something he wants to do justice, both for the villagers and for his squadron.

At Estinien's question, he raises both of his brows. Aymeric had thought that Theodlac's clear excitement for all things Dragoon might have been too much of a deterrent, yet it seems his heart and empathy may yet be his saving grace.

"I know that he is from a settlement that is close to our border with the North Shroud, though his papers indicate he has lived in Ishgard proper for several years prior to enlisting. I believe his father was a Wood Wailer before coming to Coerthas. I venture that it was his father's abilities with a lance that gave rise to Ser Theodlac's own enthusiasm for the discipline."

Estinien does not have much to spare in terms of being a bleeding heart, lest he exsanguinate himself completely, but if he couldn't respect it in other people he certainly wouldn't be friends with Aymeric. He could easily see that Theodlac had a good heart, and attention towards his fellow man that not all Ishgardians managed.

He nods his head, as if that explanation confirms something in his mind.

"An immigrant, then," he confirms. That could be as troublesome as anything when it came to existing in Ishgard. Even if Theodlac himself had been born in Coerthas proper, the fact that his father had not been is something that would be talked about. Immigration was very uncommon, and his father must have had to prove himself wit his lance.

"Not as cloying as I might have thought," he adds a few moments later, as overt of approval as Theodlac was likely to get.

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