Work Text:
Zenos stands easily a head taller than the tallest students attending Ala Mhigo University, but this is not a novel experience to him. What is a novel experience is stalking the halls of the university without his blades at his hip. Varis had made himself very clear; this university, savage and uncultured though it may be, would not be like the others. No duels, no threatening professors, no prowling around campus grounds with blades longer than most students were tall. This university is Zenos’ last chance.
Zenos does not care for last chances. He hardly cared for his first chance. Or his second chance, or third, fourth… on and on it went. All of the Garlean universities had been an utter waste of his time. Women, men, and others attempted to win his favor, only to quickly learn that Zenos had less than no interest in anything any of them had to offer. He demolished the fencing team of the best sports academy in Garlemald in one afternoon, and maimed the instructor when the man dared to order Zenos to teach his trembling, pitiful excuse for a team how to fence like him.
He does not need a university degree. He does not need the experience of being on a university fencing team. He does not need any university, any experience, any team whatsoever. None of them are worthy of Zenos yae Galvus, fencing prodigy and world champion… duelist extraordinaire. The “competition” he has met thus far in his infamous university career all cower and scurry about him like little more than rats, and even those who dare challenge him fold like so many playing cards stacked in the most precarious of towers.
But Zenos has never been to Eorzea before, never had the chance to interact with so many Eorzean staff and students in one place. He has heard such interesting, filthy rumors about Eorzeans while back in Garlemald. He is eager to learn how much truth there is to such rumors, so he endures Varis’ latest decree… for now. Zenos will obtain a degree of some sort from an accredited university. Even though he has been banned from every university in Garlemald. His chosen program of study is exercise science. His first class is this morning.
The crown prince of Garlemald is not enthused. He has been in Eorzea for less than a week, and so far, the land of the savages has done naught but disappoint him, the same as Garlemald. More students avoiding him, more staff doing their best to ignore his imposing presence, more subpar fencers. Anyone who voluntarily speaks to him wants something from him, and no one will voluntarily enter his personal space-
“Oh! Terribly sorry,” a voice speaks behind Zenos, as the Garlean stops dead in his tracks, having felt a small body collide with his own, as if its owner had stumbled directly into his back. “Are you alright? Who am I kidding, look at the shape of you - you’re fine, aren’t you, old boy? In more than one way, my, aren't you handsome?”
Zenos turns slowly on his heel, observing this intruder into his personal space dispassionately. Unkempt black hair, shoulder-length, but well-maintained; he judges this boy comes from an upper-class upbringing. Bright, pale blue eyes not unlike his own blink up at Zenos, above a smattering of freckles on peachy, porcelain skin, and a confident smile. Pointed ears protruding from that messy black hair inform Zenos his new prey is an elezen. The prince feels one of his eyebrows twitch with a mild sort of disinterest.
“Not much of a talker, are you, old boy? That’s alright. Say, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before!” The elezen presses on cheerfully, leaning in to nudge Zenos’ hip with his elbow. “Are you one of our new students? Where’s your first class? I’d be happy to walk with you, wherever it is,” he offers, smiling brightly up at the prince, and shifting a sleek-looking bag slung over his shoulder behind his back as he holds out a hand for Zenos to shake. “Emmanellain de Fortemps, RA; that stands for Resident Advisor. Actually, officially it stands for Resident Assistant , but I’m more advisor material. This is my floor of the dorm, so I presume you’re one of my residents!”
Zenos stares blankly down at the elezen man… boy? Several moments pass, but Emmanellain does not lower his hand, nor does his smile dim at all. Zenos takes a mental account of his emotions, and finds he feels… amused. He raises his hand and clasps the elezen’s tightly, giving it one firm shake. “Zenos.”
“Zenos! What a charming, foreign name,” Emmanellain proclaims, wrapping his other hand around the top of the Garlean’s in his own, and making vigorous shaking motions, though Zenos’ hand does not budge in the elezen’s. “Well Zenos, where are you off to this fine morning?” He asks, undeterred, finally releasing Zenos’ hand. “I’ve got my first class in the physical education building, clear ‘cross campus; how about you, my new, tall friend?”
“My class is in the same building,” he answers simply, glancing towards the door at the end of the hall that leads to the stairwell. Zenos doesn’t care if he’s late to class, but this… Emmanellain character seems like he might.
“How very splendid!” Emmanellain declares, and hitches his expensive-looking bag up higher on his shoulders. “We can go together, old boy! My, what an auspicious start to the day…”
Emmanellain babbles. Zenos watches the unkempt lock of hair sticking up at the back of the elezen’s head as he leads the way to the physical education building “clear ‘cross campus.” He considers simply turning and walking away. He wonders idly whether the elezen would even notice his absence before Zenos made it much farther in the opposite direction than their shared destination. But in the end, he follows this Emmanellain character.
Perhaps this university, unlike the others, will be… entertaining, if nothing else, after all.