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It occurs to me I don't think I've explicitly said before and this may be less considered in broader fandom:
I really, really think Igeyorhm accompanied Lahabrea at ARF for the specific reason of keeping him safe while he gambled with his life post-Praetorium.
I really, really think Igeyorhm accompanied Lahabrea at ARF for the specific reason of keeping him safe while he gambled with his life post-Praetorium.
A lot of the interactions Lahabrea has after Prae make me think that he was on forced bed rest and had obtained serious damage from that blast by Hydaelyn. Nabs working under his supervision would have been necessity.
Arriving late to the Chrysalis might be because of not being invited due to supposed to being on bed rest or because it took him some time to get ready due to injury. His dialogue in that scene could be him trying to make a case that Ishgard will be easy, he can help there.
Likewise him saying Nabriales got himself killed to Elidibus to me seems "the gentleman doth protest too much". Elidibus expects him to be distraught because Nabriales got killed working on his behalf. Lahabrea is, and feels obligated by guilt to "fix his mistake" and kill WoL.
If Elidibus knows Lahabrea is irrationally throwing himself into the fray again before he's ready, as one of the only remaining Unsundered, because he doesn't want to watch any other Convocation members die on HIS missions, Elidibus will never allow him back into the field.
Lahabrea trying to again, emphasize Ishgard will be easy, is because he wants Elidibus to let him back into action. And Elidibus correcting him from "by my will" to "by His will" might not be questioning commitment to Zodiark vs ego as much as "this isn't just your burden".
Added, Igeyorhm always attacks first and takes center stage first at ARF. Lahabrea sticks to the edges until it seems like Igeyorhm is having trouble. Even if he's willing to be reckless with his own life personally, as one of 3 Unsundered he can't jeopardize himself.
He's a limited, irreplaceable resource. And he may well have discussed that with Igeyorhm in advance. Despite smiling for the first time since Praetorium while entering also, he sounds p. freaked out in the fight proper. "YOU'LL NOT DEFEAT ME AGAIN"/"YOU'VE MEDDLED ENOUGH"
So I'm inclined to think the smile was a cover, which seems consistent with past behavior.
But then not only does Igeyorhm die for him, she fails. She dies failing after her failure on the Thirteenth.
But then not only does Igeyorhm die for him, she fails. She dies failing after her failure on the Thirteenth.
Lahabrea seemed shocked, shaky, and trying to cover/keep himself together after she dies literally right in front of him. But there was a hell of a lot going on there. And if he was aware in the Eye when he got handed off for use in Shinryu that "judgment" is gonna fuck with him.
Also Elidibus not knowing he handed alive-but-trapped Lahabrea over to be used as fuel learning later is such extreme angst potential holy shit.
Like if we ever get that examined in canon I'm gonna fucking yell. It's confirmed via interviews but Elidibus does not know.
Like if we ever get that examined in canon I'm gonna fucking yell. It's confirmed via interviews but Elidibus does not know.
