For unnecessaryflourishes

[bladesdarkandlight]

(Continuation of this.)

[Amh Araeng had been rough, in more ways than one. Storge had been a nightmarish fight, until she'd figured out how to read its attacks, leaving her hurting even before absorbing its Light. Now...now her mind is racing, and she needs anything to focus on other than the pain of the Lightwardens' aether trying to corrupt her own, and yet the others are insistent that she stay put and rest. And so she sighs, tossing her tomephone onto the bed next to her as Selene flits around her. The little fairy is doing her best to help with the lingering bruises and scrapes from the mines, but those aren't what worry her.

...And on top of that, she'd probably acting too comfortable with Emet-Selch again. She probably shouldn't have issued that challenge, but she can't help but find him endearing in ways she can't quite explain. Well, too late now.]

If nothing else...I was looking for a distraction.

Comments

[bladesdarkandlight]

Considering the shite you've called him, I can't exactly blame him for not wanting to tell you aught he might be sensitive about.

[She crosses her arms, fixing him with an irritated stare. As much as Thancred's been more than a little rude to Emet, Emet has been just as bad.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Which is why I have not asked. It matters little to me whether it should be something he came by naturally, a result of Lahabrea's forcible expulsion, or the consequence of any other mishap.

[To say nothing of the fact that he has no shortage of other things to needle Thancred about. Even if it might draw some ire from her.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

Here I thought you were the one as was talking about understanding each other. Or does it not count when you're the one looking to pick fights?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

You will forgive me for being somewhat less inclined to make the attempt when he cannot be said to have made any attempt of his own. Or would you have me continue to offer olive branches that are doomed to do naught but wither as soon as I so much as try?

[bladesdarkandlight]

I'm willing to get on his case, too, but I don't see it getting much of anywhere unless you apologize for that crack about him and Lahabrea. I know he was already being a right arse toward you before that, but stabbing the sore spot wasn't exactly going to help.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I said nothing that was not the truth.

[A cruel truth, perhaps, but the truth all the same.]

That he himself was subject to Lahabrea's tendency to jump vessels on whim alone is hardly my fault.

[bladesdarkandlight]

Didn't think it was, that whole business with the Ultima Weapon doesn't seem at all your style. Bringing it up, on the other hand...no way in hells I'm believing you didn't know that would be a sore subject.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's a pause and a moment of consideration before he speaks again.]

Forgive me for asking, but I had thought you had meant to find something suitably distracting, rather than seeking to question my motives?

[bladesdarkandlight]

Sounds like a deflection to me, but...yeah. Only so much dwelling on high stakes shite a gal can take afore she's ready to snap.

[And it hurts...it hurts so deep down, it can only be the pain of her soul cracking under the pressure of the Light. But like hells she's going to tell him that, not when his entire willingness to parlay hinges on the possibility that she might have the fortitude to pull this off.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[Given what he can see, it almost certainly is. It's not a new sight - he's spent enough time on the First to know what it looks like someone succumbs to the Light's influence - but even knowing it's for the Rejoining there's still a twinge of regret, sometimes, in seeing it happen to her soul.]

I would prefer even your insistent questions on ancient history over a continued examination of my motives.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[She raises an eyebrow, and Selene floats next to her with a hand on her tiny hip.]

Thought you wanted us to know about what you're fighting to get back?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I do. Our people, our homes, our world... I scarcely have the words to describe that which was in comparison to this world. To explain the wonder and the joy of those days.

[His eyes unfocus a little, as he speaks, as if he's half-lost in memory - a memory he shakes off quickly enough, before returning to the topic at hand.]

But not even I am immune to the frustrations borne of relentless pestering. No matter what the topic may be.

[Or how unsurprising he should happen to find it.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

I'm a historian, Emet. You can't dangle stories about a time before recorded history in front of me and not expect me to dig for more. I want us to know, whatever words you have.

[She hesitates for a moment, then picks up her tomephone and edges a bit to the side, so there's room to sit next to her on the bed.]

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Can I not?

[Though it's subtle, there's just enough to his tone of voice to suggest that he might not be entirely serious. Or at least, not entirely inclined to leave her questions unanswered, as he has implied.]

It was... unlike anything that has come since. A world where man sought only to better the world around him, and cared so little for violence that war was unknown to us.

[bladesdarkandlight]

Huh...sounds like somewhere what wouldn't have needed someone like me.

[She rubs at her shoulder, flaking off a bit of dried blood from the wounds Selene had been treating.]

Still, can't say I don't understand the appeal. Not having to deal with selfish arses like the Syndicate.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[There's a pause, and a sigh, and then - with something like resignation - he takes a seat in the space she's left for him.]

We may not have known war. But that hardly means there was no use for such skills as would now be considered to be solely for the purposes of combat.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[She should probably be nervous with him so close, but somehow...it almost feels comforting. Her fairy flits around, before settling to sit on Emet's shoulder.]

What, are you saying your perfect world still had shite like monsters running around?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

[His gaze flicks to the fairy as she settles on his shoulder, but apart from a faint frown he says nothing about it. As long as all it does is sit he has little complaint with it.]

Nothing so crude. But to create as we did was no easy task - nor was every creation ultimately deemed suitable.

[bladesdarkandlight]

[Sit and dangle her little feet. Aelienor's own eyes flick to Selene, but...she'll just try to ignore it.]

So you still needed someone to deal with the ones what turned out too dangerous to keep around. I don't know...still sounds like I wouldn't have been needed very often.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Surely you have other capabilities? One hardly becomes a historian by fighting.

[Even if the later is what she is most commonly called on for.]

[bladesdarkandlight]

My thesis was about the similarities between the rise of the Garlean Empire and the rise of Allag, and the difference what might have been made if'n Garlemald had known what they were fucking with. Not much for a war historian to study in a world without war.

[She shrugs, then turns to give him a pointed look.]

Though, gotta say...been a good feeling to have so many of my thesis points validated.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Even a war historian must, by the nature of their craft, be something of scholar. And there was any of a number of places where such skills were prized.

[They might not have been anything he had been inclined to do, and he isn't entirely certain she would find it fulfilling besides. But it is a possibility.]

Or perhaps you would be better served by being one of the rare few who chose a life of exploration.

[As indeed, had been the very thing she had been charged with, once upon a time, when she had yet been whole.]

That said, I suppose I am glad to have proven your theories in regards to both Allag and Garlemald.