[If Rose gave it more thought, she would soon realize why Takame feels on edge in Ishgard. She doesn’t. To her, Ishgard is home, a place to come when she needs solace.]
[That doesn’t make Takame any less right, however. Being a public figure makes her a target, and if she gets so intoxicated she can barely move there’s not much she can if someone decides to come after her.]
Yes, mother.
[She sighs. As much as she wants the sarcasm to make it better, it doesn’t, and she’s left with the sad reality of the situation.]
It pains me to say this, but you aren’t incorrect. I need to be able to defend myself at all times.
Ah, I... [It's at that sarcastic remark that he actually realizes that he'd been scolding her. He was fully at the ready to beg forgiveness for stepping beyond the bounds of his station.
But that wasn't his life anymore. And he did worry for her safety like he would for Hina or Zhian. Exactly why he lectured her on keeping herself safe as he would either of those two. It didn't quite connect in his mind that she did not live over two decades on guard as he did.
He was going to shut the room door behind him, but instead his hand kept mindlessly turning the knob, fiddling with the lock to relieve his nervous energy.] ... You might have someone accompany you as well.
[That was a better alternative, right? Than having to watch one's own back constantly. Somehow he doubted it helped, but he wished to try.] If... I may, why did you drink so much last night?
[She might use biting sarcasm, but she isn’t going to reprimand him. Not when he’s right.]
[It brings her some small measure of relief to know that someone is worrying after her. There are plenty who do already, or course, but it’s rare to find someone who does because they care for her as a person.]
I’d hoped not to need a bodyguard, but I don’t think I have a choice anymore.
[It’s legitimately dangerous for her to be alone.]
[It would be a lie to say he did not hold her in some reverence because she was the Warrior of Light. But there was more that he could not explain solely because of all she's shared with him, the pain he could feel from her words.
And she still spared his life despite his past association. He owed her this much respect, seeing past her title as was her wish.] There is no issue in requiring such protection. So long as you are safe.
[He's done his fair share of escort work, but mostly he was concerned about what weighed on her mind. He wasn't specific about just what kinds of outrageous things she spouted the night before, but.] I... could tell.
That is true, but I will likely need protection soon. There is no telling what Garlemald will do now that its Emperor is dead, and the Ascians are backed into a corner, which is likely to make them more aggressive.
[Did he know about the Ascians? She isn’t sure. It’s not so much that she doesn’t regret sparing his life, it’s that she isn’t aware she did. After saving her, killing him was the last thing on her mind.]
I’m sure I spoke to you about it at length, then. What did I say to you?
[Please tell her she didn’t mention the fairy king.]
Hrm... Ascians... the enemy. [It's a low grumble, almost a growl at mention of Garlemald, of these "Ascians". He only had a vague idea of what they sought after asking a knowledgeable Lalafellin woman he met one day when returning to the Rising Stones. Krile, if he recalled.
What was clear enough to him was that they were the enemy. That was all the knowledge he needed. And he would protect Rose if she needed it.
He did stutter though when she asked just what was said to him. He was reluctant but... to lie would be unspeakably disrespectful...
Oh kami, be merciful.]
Ah, w-well. You spoke of a "Lightwarden"? Becoming a monster... a dead man's soul... and becoming a Fairy King? [Wow, it sounds even worse said aloud by a completely sober person. Except for the next part.] ... And of how sleep was difficult for you.
[She appreciates his honesty, she really does, but she’s also mortified. Rose is going to neglect commenting on his response to the Ascians for now, in lieu of focusing on smoothing this out the best she can.]
All I ask is that you please forget what you can. I hadn’t expected to encounter anybody I knew, much less anybody who was a friend, and I got carried away.
[If she’s lucky, he’ll dismiss the ramblings as an overactive imagination. She’d much rather him think her crazy than know the truth, although she’s not quite sure why.]
[And then there’s that last part. There’s no lying away that last part.]
Sleep is difficult for me, yes. To anyone who knows half of what I’ve seen, that shouldn’t be a surprise.
You did. [Said with a stoic nod. You know. THAT nod. He would quickly reassure her that he would not speak of what he heard to a soul and immediately expel it from his memory, but.
"Anyone who was a" what?]
... You... consider me a friend? [She considers him anything positive, that isn't a monster? Wait, no, seven hells focus, Kesi. She asked you to do something.]
Ah, er... [He cleared his throat.] You needn't worry. More regretful things than that have been said by those too deep in their cups... I'll pay it no mind from this point on. [He could promise that at least. "Fairy King", though, what a concept... straight out of a storybook it was.
His tone took a more somber turn at her sober admission of insomnia.]
I can scarce imagine. [Even if he's seen his share of horrors.] 'Tis the reason I did not blame you for your choice. [He would be a hypocrite if he did.] I was simply concerned for your safety. [He is one, in fact.]
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[That doesn’t make Takame any less right, however. Being a public figure makes her a target, and if she gets so intoxicated she can barely move there’s not much she can if someone decides to come after her.]
Yes, mother.
[She sighs. As much as she wants the sarcasm to make it better, it doesn’t, and she’s left with the sad reality of the situation.]
It pains me to say this, but you aren’t incorrect. I need to be able to defend myself at all times.
no subject
But that wasn't his life anymore. And he did worry for her safety like he would for Hina or Zhian. Exactly why he lectured her on keeping herself safe as he would either of those two. It didn't quite connect in his mind that she did not live over two decades on guard as he did.
He was going to shut the room door behind him, but instead his hand kept mindlessly turning the knob, fiddling with the lock to relieve his nervous energy.] ... You might have someone accompany you as well.
[That was a better alternative, right? Than having to watch one's own back constantly. Somehow he doubted it helped, but he wished to try.] If... I may, why did you drink so much last night?
no subject
[It brings her some small measure of relief to know that someone is worrying after her. There are plenty who do already, or course, but it’s rare to find someone who does because they care for her as a person.]
I’d hoped not to need a bodyguard, but I don’t think I have a choice anymore.
[It’s legitimately dangerous for her to be alone.]
I had a lot on my mind, that’s all.
no subject
And she still spared his life despite his past association. He owed her this much respect, seeing past her title as was her wish.] There is no issue in requiring such protection. So long as you are safe.
[He's done his fair share of escort work, but mostly he was concerned about what weighed on her mind. He wasn't specific about just what kinds of outrageous things she spouted the night before, but.] I... could tell.
no subject
[Did he know about the Ascians? She isn’t sure. It’s not so much that she doesn’t regret sparing his life, it’s that she isn’t aware she did. After saving her, killing him was the last thing on her mind.]
I’m sure I spoke to you about it at length, then. What did I say to you?
[Please tell her she didn’t mention the fairy king.]
no subject
What was clear enough to him was that they were the enemy. That was all the knowledge he needed. And he would protect Rose if she needed it.
He did stutter though when she asked just what was said to him. He was reluctant but... to lie would be unspeakably disrespectful...
Oh kami, be merciful.]
Ah, w-well. You spoke of a "Lightwarden"? Becoming a monster... a dead man's soul... and becoming a Fairy King? [Wow, it sounds even worse said aloud by a completely sober person. Except for the next part.] ... And of how sleep was difficult for you.
no subject
[She appreciates his honesty, she really does, but she’s also mortified. Rose is going to neglect commenting on his response to the Ascians for now, in lieu of focusing on smoothing this out the best she can.]
All I ask is that you please forget what you can. I hadn’t expected to encounter anybody I knew, much less anybody who was a friend, and I got carried away.
[If she’s lucky, he’ll dismiss the ramblings as an overactive imagination. She’d much rather him think her crazy than know the truth, although she’s not quite sure why.]
[And then there’s that last part. There’s no lying away that last part.]
Sleep is difficult for me, yes. To anyone who knows half of what I’ve seen, that shouldn’t be a surprise.
no subject
You know. THAT nod.He would quickly reassure her that he would not speak of what he heard to a soul and immediately expel it from his memory, but."Anyone who was a" what?]
... You... consider me a friend? [She considers him anything positive, that isn't a monster? Wait, no, seven hells focus, Kesi. She asked you to do something.]
Ah, er... [He cleared his throat.] You needn't worry. More regretful things than that have been said by those too deep in their cups... I'll pay it no mind from this point on. [He could promise that at least. "Fairy King", though, what a concept... straight out of a storybook it was.
His tone took a more somber turn at her sober admission of insomnia.]
I can scarce imagine. [Even if he's seen his share of horrors.] 'Tis the reason I did not blame you for your choice. [He would be a hypocrite if he did.] I was simply concerned for your safety. [He is one, in fact.]