But they've always gone to you. They present opportunities for experiences like none other! Surely you know that?
[She looks down as her tail's movements become agitated in her lap, and lets the appendage slip off her thigh to rest behind her, balled fists taking its place out of sight beneath the table. Her emotions never make half-efforts, and the immediate sense of irritation is magnified. She's at least aware enough of this to hide their presentation.]
What do you think is really happening, then? If we're just to be pawns in some game and the cause is insincere?
What is really happening is that we will embark on campaign, we will bleed and sweat and suffer for our victory, and when all is said and done, no one will speak of our skills or our strategies. When we win, it will be entirely because of Eorzea's finest, the infallible Warrior of Light.
[alfeoux, for his part, is quite still. in fact, he is so unnaturally still that it might actually be rather unsettling.]
Tell me, Sayano: when a woman steps out in a fine garment, is she entirely the cause of its beauty? No — a designer and a host of weavers crafted her raiment. But did they not toil just as much as she who paid its price?
Do those craftspeople expect credit unless the woman is asked who made her clothes? Does a soldier expect to have equal credit alongside his or her leader when a battle is won?
[Her expression betrays the fact that she's holding back most of her emotions, an intensely focused look directed up at the other adventurer, and then it's all sublimated into passion for her job.]
I want glory too, Alfeoux! It's why I became an adventurer in the first place. But the realm is at stake! Shouldn't it be enough to look back on it and be able to honestly say you contributed? To have a tale to inspire newcomers to our trade with, even if we aren't the central figure? To know you took part in preserving all we hold dear?
[as soon as sayano says "the realm is at stake," alfeoux closes his eyes. he leans back, slowly, into his chair as she speaks. his head has met the back of it by the time she finishes her series of rhetorical questions; he winds up staring dead into the ceiling beams, as if he is praying for divine providence to spare him this fate.
divine providence comes in the form of the hyuran barkeep from downstairs, coming upstairs to secure an order for one of the brume patrons, perhaps. alfeoux flags him down with a lazy flick of his gloved hand. he does not even turn his gaze toward the man as he speaks.]
...Emond, will you tell Gibrillont I'd like a bottle of my usual?
[shrugging, emond wanders off toward the forgotten knight's proprietor, sparing alfeoux the effort of doing so himself. sighing, alfeoux snaps his neck back into place, fixing sayano with his usual steely glare.]
Pray forgive me. Your speech was just so inspiring that I decided I needed some liquor with which to swallow it.
[Her inspiration for becoming an adventurer was legends and accounts of historical heroes and sometimes actual fairytales. She can definitely wax dramatic and/or pretentious herself, and being talkative in general doesn't help matters. She heaves a sigh that ends on a growl of a pout, folding her arms.]
I'll admit I got carried away for a moment, but that isn't an answer. Don't you have any concept of personal glory?
My concept of personal glory involves the ignorant masses expressing gratitude for what I do.
[given that gibrillont's counter was, in fact, not at all far from alfeoux's table, emond returns with the elezen adventurer's drink in due time; once more without even looking, alfeoux slides payment, plus a generous tip, towards the man as he takes his chilled bottle in hand.]
What does it matter to you whether or not I appreciate the Warrior of Light, Sa-ya-no? You must realize that if I do not go, some other fool will do it in my stead.
Do you think you were foolish in agreeing to defeat the Garleans, and those who would take advantage of their zeal?
[She slouches in her seat to go with the folded arms and the pout, though that is transitioning into a proper frown as she speaks.]
You could be called a Warrior of Light, yourself. The title only seems to have lingered with one, but you were there, and you - all eight of you - did a great thing.
[something like vulnerability flickers in alfeoux's icy eyes, but it is gone in an instant as he closes them while he takes a sip of his drink. yes. operation archon. van baelsar and the rest. that was fun. the battle itself was fun. the opportunity for destruction, the opportunity to trash garlean toys, crush them into scrap metal and cermet and leaking ceruleum — yes, that was fun.
why did he agree to do it? because he hated the garleans? because he did not want to see eorzea under garlean rule? because he knew that if the city-states surrendered, ishgard would be next?
but none of these things should matter to him. he left his birthplace long ago.
so why did he agree to do it?]
...That was — [he swallows and clears his throat] — a matter of slim pickings. I needed money and it was the only job available for an adventurer of my stature.
[The look of vulnerability might go mostly unnoticed, brief as it was, but the hesitation catches her attention. She looks up, studies his face for all of half a second, and tilts her head in open curiosity. There's a feeling of introspection to the activity in her eyes, which is rare for her. It doesn't happen often or for very long, but in this case, it's something remembered.]
I won't pry for your real reasons. Maybe I should share mine.
When I heard the tale, it reignited my passion. I'd stagnated. Your feat reminded me what I adventured for, and here I am! That's the sort of honor it was to share the battles I've had with the two of you.
[Maybe she'd fixated on the one that remained in the popular eye due to them being a Scion. Maybe it was simply following the crowd or ease of access. Maybe it was because they had continued to spearhead legendary feats. But the truth is, the title had been given to everyone to come out of that steel fortress.]
[alfeoux sighs, though he seems marginally less irritated than before — the bitter look in his eyes has ebbed. now, the emotion lurking in the corners of alfeoux's expression more closely resembles exhaustion. he sips again at his drink.]
...You should grow out of the habit of looking up to others. Heroes only disappoint you in the end.
[There's no bite to it. Sayano reluctantly straightens out of her comfortable slouch.]
People need goals, don't they? I'd given up on my dreams of glory without one. I suppose, keeping to lofty shadows to rise out of, that's how I set mine.
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valoirs
no subject
[She looks down as her tail's movements become agitated in her lap, and lets the appendage slip off her thigh to rest behind her, balled fists taking its place out of sight beneath the table. Her emotions never make half-efforts, and the immediate sense of irritation is magnified. She's at least aware enough of this to hide their presentation.]
What do you think is really happening, then? If we're just to be pawns in some game and the cause is insincere?
no subject
[alfeoux, for his part, is quite still. in fact, he is so unnaturally still that it might actually be rather unsettling.]
Tell me, Sayano: when a woman steps out in a fine garment, is she entirely the cause of its beauty? No — a designer and a host of weavers crafted her raiment. But did they not toil just as much as she who paid its price?
no subject
[Her expression betrays the fact that she's holding back most of her emotions, an intensely focused look directed up at the other adventurer, and then it's all sublimated into passion for her job.]
I want glory too, Alfeoux! It's why I became an adventurer in the first place. But the realm is at stake! Shouldn't it be enough to look back on it and be able to honestly say you contributed? To have a tale to inspire newcomers to our trade with, even if we aren't the central figure? To know you took part in preserving all we hold dear?
no subject
divine providence comes in the form of the hyuran barkeep from downstairs, coming upstairs to secure an order for one of the brume patrons, perhaps. alfeoux flags him down with a lazy flick of his gloved hand. he does not even turn his gaze toward the man as he speaks.]
...Emond, will you tell Gibrillont I'd like a bottle of my usual?
[shrugging, emond wanders off toward the forgotten knight's proprietor, sparing alfeoux the effort of doing so himself. sighing, alfeoux snaps his neck back into place, fixing sayano with his usual steely glare.]
Pray forgive me. Your speech was just so inspiring that I decided I needed some liquor with which to swallow it.
no subject
I'll admit I got carried away for a moment, but that isn't an answer. Don't you have any concept of personal glory?
no subject
[given that gibrillont's counter was, in fact, not at all far from alfeoux's table, emond returns with the elezen adventurer's drink in due time; once more without even looking, alfeoux slides payment, plus a generous tip, towards the man as he takes his chilled bottle in hand.]
What does it matter to you whether or not I appreciate the Warrior of Light, Sa-ya-no? You must realize that if I do not go, some other fool will do it in my stead.
no subject
[She slouches in her seat to go with the folded arms and the pout, though that is transitioning into a proper frown as she speaks.]
You could be called a Warrior of Light, yourself. The title only seems to have lingered with one, but you were there, and you - all eight of you - did a great thing.
no subject
[something like vulnerability flickers in alfeoux's icy eyes, but it is gone in an instant as he closes them while he takes a sip of his drink. yes. operation archon. van baelsar and the rest. that was fun. the battle itself was fun. the opportunity for destruction, the opportunity to trash garlean toys, crush them into scrap metal and cermet and leaking ceruleum — yes, that was fun.
why did he agree to do it? because he hated the garleans? because he did not want to see eorzea under garlean rule? because he knew that if the city-states surrendered, ishgard would be next?
but none of these things should matter to him. he left his birthplace long ago.
so why did he agree to do it?]
...That was — [he swallows and clears his throat] — a matter of slim pickings. I needed money and it was the only job available for an adventurer of my stature.
no subject
I won't pry for your real reasons. Maybe I should share mine.
When I heard the tale, it reignited my passion. I'd stagnated. Your feat reminded me what I adventured for, and here I am! That's the sort of honor it was to share the battles I've had with the two of you.
[Maybe she'd fixated on the one that remained in the popular eye due to them being a Scion. Maybe it was simply following the crowd or ease of access. Maybe it was because they had continued to spearhead legendary feats. But the truth is, the title had been given to everyone to come out of that steel fortress.]
no subject
...You should grow out of the habit of looking up to others. Heroes only disappoint you in the end.
no subject
[There's no bite to it. Sayano reluctantly straightens out of her comfortable slouch.]
People need goals, don't they? I'd given up on my dreams of glory without one. I suppose, keeping to lofty shadows to rise out of, that's how I set mine.