melodiesoflife | Event || Genesis

[He perks up when he hears his name, already looking over with a smile -- only for it to abruptly fade when he recognizes that tone of voice. Uh-oh.

He takes the concern-scolding with grace, at least, not interrupting or arguing. He doesn't take it the wrong way, either, well aware that Aqua would do the same if she were here.

Ven's next smile is sheepish, apologetic, but he does his best to sound reassuring.]

I, um -- I was going to heal myself! And I will! After I rest. [See?? He didn't want to overdo it! Isn't that kind of being responsible?

As for the leg issue... he glances down at it, but yeah how about we change the subject instead?]

But it's good to see you, too! I'm glad you're okay.

[That's 100% earnest, too.]

[Her expression does soften a little.]

I'm glad you're okay too. That whole mess got pretty hectic.

[She looks over his injuries speculatively. The Paladin class does come with a very useful cure spell, but honestly she's exhausted. She's not sure she can muster enough energy right now. But at least she can try...]

Here, let me see if I can do something about those injuries...

[She's drawing on the last reserves of her strength for this cura and she can feel the spell drain the energy out of her. But she tries not to show her exhaustion and manages a weak smile. The irony of lecturing him about over doing it and then doing so herself helpfully escapes her.]

Better?

[That spell is indeed a wave of relief to all those nicks and bruises, enough that Ven's momentarily surprised by how much they were weighing down on him without his realizing. Unfortunately, that shot to his leg is more complicated and remains untouched by it -- but unless he's pressed on the matter, he won't draw attention to it. He's made enough people worry as is.

He breaks into a grateful grin, already looking a little more energetic than before.]

Yeah, sure am! Thanks, Alice. [But concern goes both ways! So--] How about you? Did you make it out okay?

[She's relieved, and doesn't notice that the injury on his leg persists.]

Good.

[That was a little much for her though, so she's lowering herself into the nearest available pew.]

I made it through. I was guarding the library, and I didn't wind up having to fight much.

[Even the small amount she did have to fight was more than enough for her.]

Fighting people.... is a lot different than fighting monsters...

[And really, Alice hadn't wanted to fight those either.]

[Carefully, Ven swivels on his good leg so that he can drop onto the pew beside her -- and winces at the jolt it sends through him, although he manages to minimize it.]

Ah -- I'm glad to hear that. [His time of fighting in the streets... that's not something he wants anyone to experience. It was hard, it was exhausting, it was painful and risky and it reached a desperate point where he didn't even see his opponents as people anymore. At least, not at the time, but since then the guilt has started to creep in, the realization that there are people -- friends, maybe families -- somewhere who won't be greeting their loved ones home. He's aware that he had no choice, but...]

...Yeah. It's definitely different. [It's spoken quietly, thoughtfully.] I fought a few people before I came to this world, but I never actually... struck anyone down. [After a moment, a slightly sour look crosses his face. Not regret, just something like distaste.] ...Well. I did once, but... I'm not sure that counts.

[How did Yuna put it? "Things were complicated." The story of his short life.]

[Kids his age shouldn't have to do things like this. Actually, no one should have to. Fights like this always get started by the people at the top, but it's the rank and file soldiers who wind up doing the fighting. Making the sacrifices. It's awful.

Those soldiers did indeed have families, friends..... but so did all the civilians that had remained in the city. And many of them weren't even armed. So Alice does understand why they had to fight. To protect the people who couldn't protect themselves. But still....]

I... couldn't do it. I knocked a lot of people out, but.... I just couldn't...

[She hesitates over the last word, childish as it is. But then with a sigh decides that semantics are really not the issue. At this point she's not sure whether it makes her idealistic or just naive anyway...]

..kill anyone.

[Ven blinks curiously at her hesitation, only for the look to soften when she finishes. He's quiet for a moment, staring towards the front of the room.]

That's not a bad thing, I don't think. [He hesitates, but then speaks in a way that's clearly a quote.] 'Everyone... has their strengths. For some, it's keeping order, fighting if necessary -- they do it so others don't have to. It's a difficult road, but it's an honorable one. Yet we shouldn't elevate our purpose above that of others, because in the end all destinies are intertwined, and every heart has a role to fulfill.'

[He breaks off from the citation, blinking out of his nostalgic daze, and then offers a smile. A slightly sad one, but only slightly.]

That's... what my master always said, anyway. So I think... even if you have trouble fighting, that's okay. It just means you're better at something else. [That smile breaks into a grin.] The important thing is that you made it out okay.

[She blinks in surprise which melts quickly into an almost bittersweet amusement. Of course. Throughout this entire mess Alice has been trying to fit herself into the role that Crystallis laid out for her. But why?

She knows her own strengths, her own weaknesses. And she's not a knight. Not a fighter. But that doesn't mean she can't help out in her own way. She's been so foolish...]

You're right.

[She shakes her head with a self deprecating smile.]

You're absolutely right. I should know better than to try to fit myself into role that was decided for me. Your master was pretty wise, Ven.

[He nods once, lightly.]

Mm. I always thought that was just part of our teaching, but... now I know it's the same for everyone. [Fighter that he is, he can still empathize. All those civilians who refused to leave the city despite the impending danger, for instance -- most of them couldn't fight, but that wasn't what it was about. They knew their roles and wanted to keep them, whatever it cost.]

Knowing where you belong... it's not easy. I think I always took it for granted. But I also think -- every time you decide where you don't belong, you get a little closer to finding out where you do. Y'know?

[Personally speaking, Ven floundered after learning about his origins -- it wasn't until he was confronted by Vanitas, given an offer he absolutely had to refuse, that he remembered who and what he really was. And still is.

He grows more serious, although the shadow of his smile lingers.]

And to be honest... I'm kinda jealous. You found a way to spare some lives -- that's how much taking them would've bothered you. That's a good way to be. [Whereas he, after a while, didn't even hesitate anymore. Sacrifice is necessary, he knows, for the sake of balance; but he can't be quick to call his behavior a strength and Alice's a weakness, or vice versa. It all depends on the person and the situation.

Eraqus did well in teaching him that.]

So, soul searching by process of elimination? Not a bad idea.

[She'll have to remember that one in case she ever sees Ace again. It's definitely something he could stand to hear.

She just shrugs at his admission of jealousy.]

I don't think what I did was all that impressive. Honestly it probably led to other people having to fight those same soldiers when they woke up later.

Your heart's in the right place, though. Following it isn't always easy. [Especially when you're confused, or scared, or lost...]

Mm, still... I hope that's the last of it. We were hit pretty bad, but I think the Empire was, too. I can't picture 'em attacking again anytime soon.

[But then, they didn't make that much sense in attacking in the first place, so... any call he makes is really just a guess.]

[She sighs heavily, entirely to pessimistic to stop herself from mentally running through all the possible bad scenarios they might return to.]

Unfortunately, with us stuck here, anything could be happening back in Aqures Ixen. But hopefully we did too much damage for the empire to have the resources for another attack so soon.

[Alice isn't wondering why they attacked. She's pretty sure she already knows.]

I suppose I can understand them being desperate though...

Edited 2015-08-10 20:02 (UTC)

[That makes him frown. The city still has the army, he figured, but... he's not sure what state they're in, either.

After that thought, he looks over curiously.]

Oh, yeah? You think they want somethin' that bad?

Well... I imagine they want the land. Their own is going to be swallowed up by the calamity pretty soon, right?

[Truth be told the whole world will be swallowed up before too long, but Alice can imagine that living on the edge of the calamity would make even the calmest people panic.]

They'll need somewhere for their citizens to go. They may also believe that eliminating the heroes will slow the whole thing down.

[Ven blinks, taking that in for a couple heartbeats. It... does make sense, but--]

But they can't do that! What's that solve? It'd have been a lot better if they'd just gone about it peacefully!

[In his brief flare of temper, he forgets that it's only Alice's opinion, not necessarily fact -- but if she's right... Everything about that would be so backwards. Killing innocent people to save others...]

If they'd just tried asking, then...

I agree. They should have just asked. But...

[She frowns, looking up toward the ceiling as she goes over all the different factors in her mind.]

Just asking might not have worked out for them. The government of Aqures Ixen is still a little unstable without the queen, and the empire had already been aggressive before the calamity became a problem.

At the very least, the negotiations would have been lengthy. Maybe they were afraid it would be too lengthy. That it was better to come at us while they still had some strength...

[His frown deepens, but for the moment he's silent, hands fisting absently at his sides.]

...It's fine if they were scared -- anyone would be. But panicking and taking it out on people who aren't even involved...

[It's terrible. It makes more enemies. And if the calamity keeps spreading, the Empire can steal all the land it wants -- it won't matter, eventually.

Ven growls lightly -- it's unlike him, but he's frustrated just by the thought of this possibility. Not only by the injustice in it, but it's also stalling their efforts. It means it'll just be that much longer before he gets off this world to find his friends.]

All that time they spent planning and fighting, we could've been working together to try and slow the calamity down. Now... everyone's tired and hurt, and we're going to be busy rebuilding -- on both sides. We're just wasting more time.

[He closes his eyes for a few seconds. Then, he looks up again as if stricken by a thought.]

But... I wonder if they'd be willing to talk now.

You're preaching to the choir here, Ven.

[Alice shakes her head with another sigh. She does understand his frustration though.]

But... now that their invasion failed, we could certainly try talking to them. Although... we can't really negotiate on the behalf of Aqures Ixen. It's not as if the heroes have any political power.

[He tilts his head at that, puzzled.]

I've heard a lot about politics and things since I came here, but I still don't really get it. I'm not sure what political power has to do with it -- the Queen's gone and we're the ones the city looks up to, right?

[Those kinds of technicalities and formalities are over his head, clearly.]

And Aqures probably can't handle another war anytime soon. If it's between that and trying to talk things out...

[Well. Who's going to stop them? And if someone tries, well... "so what" is his first thought, but he's simplifying things, of course.]

[She shakes her head with a wry smile. His innocence is kind of adorable.]

They may look up to us but that doesn't mean they have to do what we say. The Queen being missing actually makes the situation even more difficult. It means there's no one person who can make decisions on big issues like this.

[Of course, the heroes could try to leverage their influence into political power, but Alice is pretty sure that would be a slippery slope.]

Oh... so that's why the Queen being gone is such a big deal.

[That does make sense, when put that way. Still, he doesn't like it, and that frown stays as he crosses his arms.]

Then... we can't do much, can we? Even if the Empire wanted to try it peacefully now, it'd be hard to get everyone to agree. [They did just have their city invaded and all that. People died. Still...] They made a mistake, and they'll have to make up for it -- but they probably have civilians over there just like we do. People who weren't involved in the attack. They shouldn't be punished for that.

Right. No matter what, the people in charge of each country will have to negotiate. And there's a lot of bad blood between them, so it won't be easy.

[She hesitates over the next part, but then decides to continue.]

And while we could probably influence the outcome.... I'm not entirely sure that would be a good idea.

[Ven immediately starts to ask why, but hesitates, thinking that over himself first in light of what he already knows and what's been said. What's the risk of imposing your opinion on the society of another world, even if your intentions are good?]

...Meddling. We'd be meddling, for one thing. [An old term as far as his teachings go, but he remembers it well.] Even if we did it to protect this world -- if the Queen never comes back, the world would fall into imbalance once we left.

[He doesn't know about power vacuums and all that, but the simple fact that imbalance comes into the equation is enough to be a threat to that barge-in-and-help reasoning.]

Exactly. But not meddling could be just as bad. We're going to have to be very careful about what we do next.

[There's a lot of complicated issues here and Alice is pretty sure there are no easy answers.]

And if you ask me, the first thing we 'heroes' need is to be more united as a group. We have to settle on goals and work together toward them or we'll never accomplish anything.

[Ven makes a thoughtful sound, tilting back to stare up at the ceiling. This politics thing sucks.

Still--]

Yeah, you've got that right. [He smiles at her.] I guess it's tougher since there are so many of us, but... we pulled together pretty well for the battle, y'know? Once we do what we need to do in this time, that should be a step in the right direction, at least.

Event || Genesis

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ok but seriously, gagtags aside--

I lol'd. Then I was sad.