[ late in the afternoon on monday, a figure sits on the wooden slats of the boardwalk, feet dangling over the edge - it's taair, who seems to have parked himself here as the dusk begins to streak across the sky.
he's got a book spread open in his lap, and occasionally writes something in it. he also, occasionally, tosses a piece of some kind of food (pizza...?) to a seagull nearby that's cozying up next to his hip.
he doesn't seem to have noticed that he has company yet! or if he does, he's not really paying attention. what are you up to, claude.... ]
if claude looks over his shoulder, he can see the book looks to have a map on one page of the areas they've been to so far - and on the other page, some meticulously written notes, though they appear to be more about some of the people here. ]
Ah! Well, I sat down to make some edits to my book, but... I found myself drifting back to the stories of the people I've met here so far, and I started to record those, instead. Perhaps you'll help me add to it?
[ he turns the book a little to the side so claude can see it better - if he wants to look at the pages, he's more than welcome to! it's a thick and heavy book, with nice binding, and he hands it over without any trouble. ]
...It's always been a dream of mine, to be able to sit down with the people of Iria and interview them - to garner their stories and their words together for my chronicle. I was never able to achieve it, but... here, I get the opportunity to learn all of your stories. And that, to me, is more of a paradise than anything else we've gotten to do so far.
Yeah. People find out you run a country and then dump all their problems on you... [ Closing his eyes. ] Well, I can't complain. That's the price of having the privilege to make change happen.
[ oh. :( unfortunately, it's not that surprising, but... ]
... Ah. [ well, it's affection week, so he reaches over to put a hand on his arm and gives a little squeeze. ] That's the way these things go, isn't it...?
Will you tell me what you hoped to do? With our situation, perhaps your chance to bring them to fruition will still come.
[ omg AFFECTION WEEK takes his hand... claude's hand now
He looks back over the water, some of the easy going demeanour shedding into exhaustion. ]
To be honest, it's hard to even remember. I feel like I had all these hopes and dreams, and even though I wouldn't say I was naive... I still wasn't prepared for just how complicated the real world was.
It felt like every hour of my day was used up just to hold things together. There was no time to do anything else.
[ hand holding.... taair will hold it!! and he puts his other one on top, even, as claude starts talking, as if to comfort him through the exhaustion, an immediately sympathetic reaction to what must be an unfathomable amount of suffering.
it all puts a sad little smile on his face. too familiar. ]
I understand that, too. [ unfortunately. iria is just as war torn as war torn can be. ] Wartime makes things even harder, and the recovery from it in periods of peace can be just as grueling. I can imagine the suffering your people must have been through.
...It is a system that is designed, I think, to crush those who bear its weight.
I can't argue that. [ He shrugs, letting a sigh before smiling. ] But I can't complain too much either. As I said, it's the responsibility of having authority... It must be even worse to be a regular citizen, and have your fate left in the hands of nobles you've never even met.
[ Looking back at Taair now. ]
I'm sorry to hear your navigating similar circumstances, my friend. I wish it wasn't this that we had in common.
Isn't that the truth. [ about the common people. ] From my perspective, when I study the histories of Iria, it is almost the sole constant. Regimes rise and fall, and the people still struggle to have bread on their plates - even when the fall of the regime is for independence and led by the people all along.
But... there are other constants, too. Though they suffer, they continue to move forward. Though they struggle, they still find reason to celebrate, reason to share with their neighbors when times are hard. Reason to continue fighting. They even find human connection across enemy lines, here and there. So... those are the things I like to hold onto, when I can.
[ feeling eyes on him, he returns the look - a gentle smile on his face, too. ]
It is a terrible thing, but the weight feels a little lighter, to share. And should you ever feel like you're struggling under it, I'm always happy to lend an ear.
You're quite the optimist. [ There's a hesitation, but he keeps smiling nonetheless. ] I haven't read much about the common folk in the history of Fódlan... A downside of most scholars also being nobles.
[ And with a sigh, he's falling back against the boardwalk, tucking his arms behind his head. ]
You're from a time of war too, right? What triggered it?
I don't know if it's optimism, so much as it is survival instinct - but thank you, nonetheless.
[ sometimes you have to hope not to be crushed by the weight of despair
he watches claude flop over with a little amused huff, and leans his weight on his knees as he considers the question. what started it. ]
Well...it's rare that the nations of Rodinia are not at war one way or another - but the nation of my homeland in particular suffers. It's mostly over resources, though... [ the smile on taair's face goes a little wry, and he leans over a bit to peer over him. ] I'd be happy to share the fuller story, but be warned: I can ramble.
The short version is that it comes down to an ore called luxite, which was discovered in a mine in Iria, hundreds of years ago. Luxite is incredibly powerful, and the magic that can be siphoned from it can be used in a variety of manners, but nations tend to want it for warfare.
When the mine was discovered in Iria, the Papal States of Rodinia immediately declared that luxite itself was a holy material under the Radiant, and therefore, it was the rightful property of the Papal States. They invaded Iria not long after.
Edited (noticing a typo literal hours later ) 2025-02-13 14:32 (UTC)
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week 0 monday
he's got a book spread open in his lap, and occasionally writes something in it. he also, occasionally, tosses a piece of some kind of food (pizza...?) to a seagull nearby that's cozying up next to his hip.
he doesn't seem to have noticed that he has company yet! or if he does, he's not really paying attention. what are you up to, claude.... ]
no subject
And greet him by grabbing the top of his head.
Hi! ]
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Ah! [ as he's attempting to lift his head up where it is grabbed to look - ] Oh. Hello, Claude.
no subject
Grins at him. ]
Working on something?
no subject
if claude looks over his shoulder, he can see the book looks to have a map on one page of the areas they've been to so far - and on the other page, some meticulously written notes, though they appear to be more about some of the people here. ]
Ah! Well, I sat down to make some edits to my book, but... I found myself drifting back to the stories of the people I've met here so far, and I started to record those, instead. Perhaps you'll help me add to it?
no subject
Like biographies? Why are you recording those?
[ He'll sit down next to him. ]
no subject
[ he turns the book a little to the side so claude can see it better - if he wants to look at the pages, he's more than welcome to! it's a thick and heavy book, with nice binding, and he hands it over without any trouble. ]
...It's always been a dream of mine, to be able to sit down with the people of Iria and interview them - to garner their stories and their words together for my chronicle. I was never able to achieve it, but... here, I get the opportunity to learn all of your stories. And that, to me, is more of a paradise than anything else we've gotten to do so far.
no subject
[ He will look over at the book, trailing a hand over the pages. ]
That's a beautiful dream. Is there a reason you weren't able to achieve it while living?
no subject
[ he says this like it's a joke, with a hint of a smile. ]
My own circumstances aside, it is also wartime. That alone makes it difficult.
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Mm, well. Some get out too much during wartime, you could say. [ Refugees. ] Were you royalty?
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... Yes...well, sort of, but you must not tell anyone so.
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Why keep it a secret?
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...because I have quite enjoyed being just Taair, as opposed to Your Highness.
[ sometimes it's nice to be a person as opposed to a title. ] Even if it's just for a little while.
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I can understand that. [ Then... a beat. ] At the very least, I doubt the lot here would show you any reverence.
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[ and that reverence might not be purposeful, but if he can cast off the shackle of it for a little while, it's kind of nice. ]
As for understanding, mm... 'running a country', right?
[ same hat! ]
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Yeah. People find out you run a country and then dump all their problems on you... [ Closing his eyes. ] Well, I can't complain. That's the price of having the privilege to make change happen.
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a little closer ]
And... have you made change happen?
[ the sparkling eyes of an incredibly rapt audience ]
no subject
Gives him a thin smile. ]
Died too early to see it through, I'm afraid.
no subject
... Ah. [ well, it's affection week, so he reaches over to put a hand on his arm and gives a little squeeze. ] That's the way these things go, isn't it...?
Will you tell me what you hoped to do? With our situation, perhaps your chance to bring them to fruition will still come.
no subject
He looks back over the water, some of the easy going demeanour shedding into exhaustion. ]
To be honest, it's hard to even remember. I feel like I had all these hopes and dreams, and even though I wouldn't say I was naive... I still wasn't prepared for just how complicated the real world was.
It felt like every hour of my day was used up just to hold things together. There was no time to do anything else.
no subject
it all puts a sad little smile on his face. too familiar. ]
I understand that, too. [ unfortunately. iria is just as war torn as war torn can be. ] Wartime makes things even harder, and the recovery from it in periods of peace can be just as grueling. I can imagine the suffering your people must have been through.
...It is a system that is designed, I think, to crush those who bear its weight.
no subject
[ Looking back at Taair now. ]
I'm sorry to hear your navigating similar circumstances, my friend. I wish it wasn't this that we had in common.
no subject
But... there are other constants, too. Though they suffer, they continue to move forward. Though they struggle, they still find reason to celebrate, reason to share with their neighbors when times are hard. Reason to continue fighting. They even find human connection across enemy lines, here and there. So... those are the things I like to hold onto, when I can.
[ feeling eyes on him, he returns the look - a gentle smile on his face, too. ]
It is a terrible thing, but the weight feels a little lighter, to share. And should you ever feel like you're struggling under it, I'm always happy to lend an ear.
no subject
[ And with a sigh, he's falling back against the boardwalk, tucking his arms behind his head. ]
You're from a time of war too, right? What triggered it?
no subject
[ sometimes you have to hope not to be crushed by the weight of despair
he watches claude flop over with a little amused huff, and leans his weight on his knees as he considers the question. what started it. ]
Well...it's rare that the nations of Rodinia are not at war one way or another - but the nation of my homeland in particular suffers. It's mostly over resources, though... [ the smile on taair's face goes a little wry, and he leans over a bit to peer over him. ] I'd be happy to share the fuller story, but be warned: I can ramble.
The short version is that it comes down to an ore called luxite, which was discovered in a mine in Iria, hundreds of years ago. Luxite is incredibly powerful, and the magic that can be siphoned from it can be used in a variety of manners, but nations tend to want it for warfare.
When the mine was discovered in Iria, the Papal States of Rodinia immediately declared that luxite itself was a holy material under the Radiant, and therefore, it was the rightful property of the Papal States. They invaded Iria not long after.
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