New faces (Invite)

Jayden Heartly

Wrapped in his own shroud of black, Jayden approached the 'alleged' Familia house of Freya he had gotten from a drunken tip. Of course he had not a clue what to expect, since the one who told him was nearly blackout wasted and her words were slurred to the point that Jayden literally had to take her to the back of the tavern just to get her some water. Though what Jayden was told "a work-in-progress,' guaranteed to be put lightly.

This was a bit more than a work-in-progress. If progress was included in the very foundation of the estate, then maybe. It wasn't exactly in tatters or anything, just seemed very archaic, ancient perhaps in architecture. The young chienthrope took strides through the sunlight, feeling the heat of it baring on his coat's back. The all obsidian attire generally did this kind of thing, paired with his own black hair on his head. Heat was an inescapable thing, it seems.

As he made it to the front steps of the abode, he put his eyes on the door. He peaked up the steps, blinking, then pressing his ear nearby to check if anyone was even alive in here, or if that chick was just spouting nonsense at him in order to get a free glass on the house away from the ruckus. Regardless, Jayden cleared his throat then pressed his knuckles firmly to the door.

Once, twice, thrice. Each knock sustained the vigor that it's predecessor did. Jayden kept his dominant hand on the blunt end of the hilt of his sword, the one that did the knocking now returned to his hip. The sun shone brilliantly behind him, causing a golden aura to encompass his figure, especially making the special horns he wore over his feline ears especially glow a salmon-esque hue. Finally, after perhaps three or four seconds, his impatience got the better of him. He called out the residences of the abode.

"Ah, hello? Is anybody home? I-I was told to come here, I was just checking for uh...

He sort of trailed off, feeling very stupid all of a sudden. It was early, but not that early. Adventurers from the Familia must be vacant, and it was likely the Goddess of the manor was also absent taking care of business elsewhere. It would have probably been wiser to come at another time. He sighed depressed sigh.

"Yeah... figures," he muttered, coming to the conclusion that there was likely nobody there.

​

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

Jayden's first reaction was to turn tail and head out, until he heard that crashing sound. His brow furrowed, as the door suddenly shook then pulled itself open. He blinked, peaking in through the crack to get notice of... a woman... stuck in a hole. He blinked at her, his mouth slowly becoming more and more agape. He turned his head quizzically, pondering how this fiasco happened just as he had arrived. Though it was her alarming embarrassment that made Jayden feel some semblance of desire to assist her.

Then she demanded the help, and his feet were already rushing through the door which he assumed he had been invited to. He tossed his coat the side towards the floor, then knelt at the staircase where this woman, assumed by Jayden to be one of Freya's warriors, despite it actually being Freya herself stuck within the floorboards of the manor. He bit his lip, looking for some solution to this.

"Here, I'll try to pull you straight out. Probably beats falling into the basement..."

Jayden paused, gulping as he stood back up and circled around the black-haired woman. He bent down using his knees, taking hold of her hands, and with all of the might he had in his joints, he sprung himself up hoping to pull this woman out of her predicament.

While he wouldn't admit it, she looked so helpless and cute, he definitely had to help her or his conscious would eat him alive forever. Despite that, he now knew that helping her was the right decision not only for his conscious, but also for his desire to be a hero. This was an act of heroism, right? Unless this person he was helping was a villain or something. But it wasn't like he could just determine that by looking out her. He thought that she must be far too beautiful to be a villain!

Then he stopped thinking about her beauty altogether, because he realized the more he daydreamed, the more that his hands were going to slip from hers when he tried to heave her out of this hole-- actually now he tried to think how in the world she even fell into this hole, let alone how it got here. So many questions, must wait for answers.

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

Clunk, crash. Jayden found himself briefly being weighed down by the armored woman, who then swiftly rolled off of him to keep herself from crushing the poor guy. He sat there, dazed and a bit out of it after the sudden movements. He reached out his hand to meet the gauntlet of the woman, his eyes focusing on hers.

"Wow..."

He hadn't quite realized how beautiful she really was until he got a good look at her eyes, the way they glowed a piercing gold. They reminded Jayden of a lynx's gaze, but he soon shoved that image out of his head as he used her hand and his sword, which had been briefly knocked loose from its sheath, as a way to get him back on his feet. He himself was not nearly as armored as she was, only greaves and boots. He also had long gauntlets he wore, up to his elbows and around them to keep his arms safe in combat.

He pinched the bridge of his nose as he finally got to his feet, trying to vanquish to oncoming headache before it even appeared. To no avail, the feeling of pressure from the back of his skull began to arise, causing him to shut his eyes as he followed the woman, whom introduced themselves as...

...

"F-Freya?! Goddess?

Jayden's eyes shot open as immediately as his eyes did, now feeling embarrassment wallow over him, as did a light red blush. He waved his hands out to her, trying to sort push away the shame and play it off as an accident that this whole incident sort came about, but then in the end something that Freya said to him got him to stop. What was it? What phrase set Jayden on another course.

Oh. The usual mistake, eh? Jayden blinked, lowering his arms slowly and sighing quietly to himself. Before Freya herself could continue speaking to him, or rather inquiring, he brushed his hair from his forehead, sheathing his blade and straightening his back.

"Erm, Freya... Goddess, I mean. I'm a boy. Apologies if I don't look it, but I am telling the truth."

Normally, at this point, Jayden would draw his blade and formally request a duel for his honor, because he felt there was nothing more embarrassing than being mistaken for the wrong gender. He felt his "manliness" was simply shredded and his heroic image was tainted with it. Though, she did refer to him as "Miss Hero," so at least it wasn't a misinterpretation of him but simply of the sex. He then blinked again, forgetting to answer her question at first.

"Who am I? O-oh, I'm Jayden, Goddess. Jayden Heartly. I got a tip from someone telling me about this place, and the Familia staying here. I hope I wasn't, erm, too intrusive.

Jayden sort of blushed again, but it was mixed with a modest case of annoyance for the misgendering, and also the confusion of why he was here in the first place. Was he looking for a Familia to join? Did he just want to confirm the rumor for himself? He came in his armor and weapon, so clearly he didn't come with no business in mind. The boy hero a breath once more, walking closely to Freya, but only within arm's reach in the freak case one of them end up falling through the estate floor again.

​

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

A... trap? Jayden was entirely confused what Freya meant by calling him a trap. He'd never heard the term before. Was it some kind of way of describing his appearance? Was it another kind of mistake? Jayden somewhat discarded the thought, now taking in what Freya was relaying to him. Most of the discussion seemed to refer to one of two things, Jayden's gender, or about the actual state of the Familia.

Jayden had retrieved his coat and tossed it upon his shoulders once more, following Freya to the dining room, sitting in a chair on her left side. He leaned back, letting the wood structure of it creak erratically under his weight. His eyes wandered to Freya, capturing a portraiture of her in his mind.

Well, he at least remembered the person she mentioned. Kuro was her name, though when Jayden asked for anything, even an alias, her drunkenness totally overshadowed the question. He chuckled a bit to himself, now straightening back up to the table, lightly placing his hands which were coated by black steel gauntlets on the table.

"You seem really accepting, Goddess..."

Flipping the black locks across his own shoulder, Jayden stopped examining the Goddess, but now really looked at her. His curiosity reigned supreme, his eyes asking questions to her own.

Would you accept me? Why would you want me here? What are your goals, what are your morals? What can I do for you? Can I trust you? Are my secrets and my life wroth value to you?


These are the things that Jayden's sterling rubies inquired now.

​

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

Jayden kept his ears open, fully awaiting the full explanation that Freya might provide him. Considering her demeanor, she was completely serious. The boy's ears flickered within the horns, perking up at her words. All of what she said was within the boundaries of his necessity.

Acceptance. It was a calming and refreshing kind of endearment, especially to hear from a Goddess first hand. Despite this, the goddess herself was Freya, and a very spontaneous and admittedly a bit of a ditz in Jayden's eyes. He examined her calmly as she spoke, finding her intimidating disposition rather calming and commanding at the same time. Exceptional for that of a leader. However, that facade abruptly shattered as the leg of the chair from under her broke.

Jayden shot up from his own seat, leaning over the long table to see how Freya was. It was then he noticed she was not only blushing, but seemed to have lost a shoe in the process. Or was that earlier? His memory was honestly a tad shot at the moment, more or less taking in the goddess' words and perspective, rather than the physical surroundings he encapsulated himself with.

As Freya stood up, finally getting herself together after that little shtick of tender joking, Jayden placed his hands on the table, his shoulders now relaxing. His eyes look down at the tips of his gauntlets briefly, before turning to Freya. While she spoke of her ability to take anyone in, he had to beg the question himself.

A deep breath, then, he drew his blade. Not to her, but to keep at his side as he spoke to her. His eyes broke through the stemmed tide of his messily drafted locks that normally hid his face or framed it in an odd-fashion.

"Freya, Goddess. You say you would take anyone, and while I doubt not your words, I have but a question for you."

What was the question though? He hadn't rehearsed this scene at all. In fact, he did not even expect the resident God or Goddess to be present at the household, or really for anyone here to be at all. It was now a ball of heat stuck in his throat, his lips becoming dry and his dazzling rubies becoming lackluster. He gripped the hilt of his blade, nearly piercing right through the floorboards with a jab at the ground, instead managing to narrowly find its purchase right between two crooked boards, now sheathing itself between them. His face was wearing fear and overbearing pressure as he spoke.

"Goddess, I'm not here to simply join a Familia. I want to do so much more than simply roam the Dungeon in search of monsters to slay mindlessly. I want--"

What do you want, Jayden?

"I want to save the damsel in distress. I want to fight for the good of the world even when there is no apparent evil that needs to be stopped. I want to know recognition and feel pride because it is deserved, not born out of hideous intention or false appreciation. I want to understand what the great Adventurers of their time did, I want to know what it takes to be great. I want to be great. I want..."

Jayden slammed his fist against the table, his emotions flaring rambunctiously. What had gotten into him? If only a moment ago he was composed and static, but Freya's words of blind acceptance triggered his own desires and goals into question. Could she accept someone who was so apparently ready to blindly drive themselves down a path with no true end in sight?

"I want to be a hero! I want to be the hero!"

Jayden blinked, his face still contorted with emotion. It was after roughly three or four seconds of silence that the blood rush raced to his face, causing a blush so intense that the red of his eyes rivaled it. He abruptly covered his face with one hand, pulled the sword from the ground and turned away from Freya, walking in the opposite direction. His feet caused a reverberating echo against the creaky floorboards. He was now aching with embarrassment. For a moment, he thought his feet might not stop and he would disperse from the manor altogether. What it might take to stop him were simply a few words.

Shouldn't I wait for her to say yes or no? Why am I leaving without an answer? I should stop and wait. But my feet won't stop moving.

It wasn't until he already had his hand on the door knob to leave the estate that his feet finally came to a pause, now hanging his head shamefully for walking out of the Goddess' presence in such a rude fashion. He stood there, gritting his teeth at his own stupidity. Impulsive and impatient reactions.

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

The boy was facing the door, hands still tightly gripping the door knock. Her words did not fall deaf to his ears, but he was welling with some indistinguishable emotion. Some unidentifiable blend of anger and shame swirling inside his gut and venting through his bloodstream. He stared down, only listening to Freya speak.

Encouragement. Further blind encouragement and acceptance. Freya reminded Jayden of someone he knew. His eyes remained forward, his shoulders shaking now. Perhaps a by-product of this welling vat of emotions. Her words flowed like honey, sweet and understanding yet thick and rich with determination.

"... Freya. I never got to ask my question."

It was just then Jayden had remembered that he requested to ask a question, but he never did. He turned his head to face the Goddess, his eyes baring scarred innocence. He stared back into the pools of gold of Freya, now unsure of himself.

Humiliated. He spoke of his own wish and desire without even thinking of the Goddess' own emotions. He unconsciously decided to deny himself the ability to even be given the chance to be accepted. Was it because Jayden felt he was being allowed to join out of pity? No, probably not. Freya didn't seem the pitying type. She even stated clearly why she was so open to it.

So why did he feel this way? Was it his intention to join a Familia with great pride, not out of the homeliness of the heart? Was it more destitute heroic desire, than the hospitality of the Goddess. It wasn't until now he realized how foolish he was. Wasn't this exactly what he wanted? A place to call home, a Familia that welcomed him with open arms regardless of his ultimately hopeless and childish goal? This was a place he wanted to call home, even if it looks like it hasn't been kept up for centuries.

"Freya, you might not be the best Goddess out there to help me. Probably not in fact. I may not ever be suited for these halls, but regardless I must ask, may I be a child of your Familia?"

Jayden's hand removed itself from the door knob, his conscious now wading in the balance of the still air that this admittedly foreboding mansion held.

​

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

It was only a few moments after acceptance that he nodded and awkwardly discarded his jacket and gently lifted the back of his onyx black tunic. On his back was a prong of flame, as Freya's fingertips danced across his spine.

Jayden tensed, his waist up setting on fire in comparison. His breathing became off-beat, feeling someone touch him so closely. The setting of the Falna was far more intimate than he imagined. His eyes fell away from Freya's as she focused on the features of his back. Jayden stood at the door of the abode, each touch from his Goddess lightly startling the boy. His slighted aggression completely disappearing. Jayden even bit his bottom lip to keep his audible breathing from reach the Goddess, becoming incredibly self-conscious.

Jayden felt the uncomfortable nature of the process escalate. Each tap and tow of her finger against his skin was a lick of heat. He closed his eyes in an attempt to shut out the entire ordeal. It was taking extraordinarily long, evident by Freya's admission of messing up the first time.

Jayden straightened himself after she her hand left his back, his heartbeat and breath finally returning to normal. While he was aware the procedure was just formal protocol, his boyish immaturity took hold of his reactions. He then draped his coat over his stilled shoulders. The metallic taste on his tongue subsided as he finally regained composure.

Jayden turned around to face his Goddess now, finding his irrational behavior before more and more strange. He felt a welling of deprecating sorrow in his chest, as his eyes met with the golden pools of Freya once more, this time enveloped by a devious blush. He and her, unbeknownst to him, were only moments apart in distance. Though it was a phrase that departed so succulent from the lips of Freya, that Jayden's heartbeat began to double over.

"U-uhm, right. F-first time for me too."

Jayden caught his breath, shutting his eyes to muster all of the courage that dwelt in his bones. He allowed the embarrassment of the situation to succumb to logic and reason. His wishes had been met, or at least were being met, despite what he originally thought about Freya and her Familia. His mind was originally saturated with thoughts of heroism and a prideful welcome of champions, not coming home to an empty hall and a timid Goddess with a bit of bite to her tone. If he knew any better, he might have declined on the spot, or just never shown up at all.

That changed, quickly, so to say. While he was, admittedly, still quite put off by the lack of individuals hosting the Familia, even he realized that everybody has to start somewhere. So he accepted being the first, or rather, the second. If he was going to become a hero under her wing, then he had decided what he must do. He discarded his pride to wear a badge of loyalty.

"So, I suppose this means you are my Goddess, and I am a child of your Familia."

Jayden opened his eyes, now baring courteous and virtuous crimson irises. His smile grew courageous and beautiful, giving back to Freya the hospitality that she offered him. The boy knew some form of manners after all, even if his impatience often got the better of him. But he felt it better that he at least gave some level of solace to Freya for offering her companionship and household to Jayden in exchange for realizing his hopelessly childish dreams.

"I want to apologize, for what I said earlier. My outburst and all... That was sort of unfitting of me, no? Really, I mean that."

He took a deep breath, now placing a hand upon the hilt of his blade, the remaining one bore itself as a blanket to his chest. With his palm over his heart and his heart in the right place, Jayden spoke once more to Freya.

"Thank you for this opportunity, Freya. I honestly don't think I can ask for more.

​

@Freya

 

Jayden Heartly

Freya was quick on the uptake, disregarding Jayden's promise of loyalty and getting straight to proper introductions of the home. Jayden hadn't exactly broughr any of his things with him, so he'd have to bring those things with him when he made a return trip.

As he followed Freya, his eyes tracked her finger while she pointed to various points of interest in the abode. First and foremost, do not go in Freya's room. Also, tread lightly if at all on the second floor, falling through was likely imminent. Jayden took mental notes on the structure of the home layout, as he'd be living here henceforth. Not knowing how to navigate your own living quarters could prove troublesome.

Finally making their way to the Familia quarters, Jayden noticed a distinct lack of members. It was then that it really set it in that Jayden and one other, apparently quite the drunkard, member, would be staying here and adventuring in the name of Freya. While he didn't particularly mind the solitude, he did feel that meal times may be a bit scarce for company. Then again, he did spend most of his days before now alone anyways, so this was only an upgrade for Jayden. As his boots met with the floor creating a boundless echo, he placed his upon the doorknob of the farthest door on the right. He turned the knob, hearing a brassy clicking sound. Before he could push the wooden structure ajar, a familiar phrase accompanied by a familiar voice bellowed out.

"Ah, that must be Kuro. I wonder how her day went... Actually, I can guess."

Jayden sighed, instantly coming to the realization that Kuro was likely very drunk or on the edge of intoxication. He pushed the door open regardless, turning to face Freya for a moment.

"Thanks again, Miss Freya. For showing me around, and for... you know. I'll try not to let you down."

With an aloof glance, Jayden parted ways with the Goddess and pushed his way into his new room. It was rather empty, Jayden's face torn askance. Perhaps he just needed to bring some of his own things to spruce the area up. At least make it feel a bit more homely. Though, it was a room of his own, living with his new Familia. His face relaxed, a smile once more generating upon his face. He turned to the shut door, placing his forehead upon it, grasping lightly at it with his fingertips.

"I'm home."

@Freya