revolutionne | ❧ open post

Rest does seem ever elusive when it is most needed, does it not? I should hope that it finds you soon, though I am happy to offer my company until that time.

My lady, that sounds dangerously close to flattery. I am afraid Ser Croquembouche may not be so discerning. A warm lap and a little attention is oft enough to please him these days.

Yes, I can see you are quite pleased to have someone to talk with, if the mead and wine is anything to go by. Truly though, I am grateful for it as well. Perhaps if I can focus my attention on just this conversation, sleep will find me sooner rather than later.

As for flattery... only in so much as you wish it to be. I believe everyone requires a warm lap to rest their head and some affection every now and then. You should not underestimate it.

Then mayhaps I should endeavour to be as boring as possible so that sleep will find you swiftly?

It sounds as if you speak from personal experience.

You are welcome to try, but I doubt you could accomplish such a level of boring even if you were to try.

Personal experience in having a lap to rest on and affection or in needing it? One is rather different from the other and one is certainly truer than the other.

Ah, you underestimate me with the best of intentions. I could but recite only a few of the missives that found themselves on my desk this morning and that would be more than enough to put most to sleep.

I will admit I am curious to know which is which.

[ Cecil can’t help but laugh. She can certainly see where that might be a challenge, having just gotten off several hours of paperwork duty herself not that long ago. ]

Oh? Is that why you find yourself awake at this hour as well? Took a bit more shuteye on top of the dryly written missives this afternoon than originally intended, did we, Lord Speaker?

[ As for the other thing... hmmm. Cecil feels like they’re about to be flirting with scandal again. In spite of this though, she only pauses for a moment before answering truthfully. ]

I confess it is the latter and I might be a bit envious of your pet’s current good fortune.

The mood did strike me several times, yet I resisted, much to my own regret. Would that I had the foresight to bring some work home for late night reading.

[ Well...he often does that, but this particular evening Lucia had seen it fit to shoo him away from the office before he could gather much. All in his best interest, he knows. ]

I must admit I find that surprising, Your Majesty.

Surprising? How so?

[ Well, she thinks she knows how. A young woman ruling by herself often has people wondering: should she not be taking a husband and making an heir soon? The whispers haven’t started yet, thankfully, but Cecil is already bracing herself for them.

In the meantime, she has her own Lucia to chase her away from working too late into the evening— a certain blonde white mage she’s known since childhood. ]

Pray forgive me if I overstep, yet I imagined such overtures would have readily been made, though I realize that does not require reciprocation.

[ He may have something of a following, but the sense of bloodlines and legacy does not hold same for elected officials. ]

...I find it difficult to truly find anything you say untoward, even when mayhap I should. I admit, however, I was not aware you thought so highly of me.

Before, I toiled for several years ensuring I was unapproachable in the eyes of most for unrelated reasons. Now, I suppose I hope to find not simply affection for the sake of distraction or duty, but for love. As it happens, this is quite the challenge in my position.

Is that so? Then I have done a poor job in conveying my admiration.

A challenge indeed, though not insurmountable. Duties and obligations are they are, however, I would venture a guess that you may have little time to afford to such undertakings.

Indeed. I would prefer to walk my path alone rather than with someone who cares more for my political position than myself, and someone who I have no deep feelings for.

...I was aware of your admiration for my leadership qualities and my friendship, but to think I am worthy of garnering so much romantic interest... It may be myself who is speaking out of turn to even wonder if that is not a different manner of admiration.

Perquisites that should be hardly out of line, complicated as prestige and responsibility does make them. That you want only to be treated as another person is the least of what you could ask.

[ Something that he can relate to a little as well, though to not such a great degree. Reforming his reputation from illegitimate noble to true knight and high-ranking politician has left him open to his own array of earnest interest from those who would prefer to tie their lineages to the future of Ishgard, though he harbors similar doubts to their sincerity.

But...has he said too much? ]

No, it is I that have overstepped. It is incident for me to imply such intents towards Your Majesty and the wine is certainly not an excuse...

[ She can imagine so, particularly as she has done her share of teasing him about his following to make light of the awkwardness she imagines he must inwardly feel at social events. But it’s true, Aymeric’s political status is rather different from hers and they don’t have the same social pressures applied against them.

His quick apology serves as a reminder of this to her. She frowns to herself and hesitates before answering, uncertain if that is quite enough honesty for one night. She always feels a sort of uncomfortable twinge of discontent whenever he calls her by the appropriate honorific. ]

Though I am confident you would say the same to any other woman, on occasion I wonder... would you still feel you have been so indecent were I not a queen?

[ It is a fair question and one that Aymeric gives a decent moment's thought, though in the end he comes to the same conclusion. ]

To someone who has gained my admiration and respect, not through her title, but through her deeds and actions? Yes. 'Twould be remiss of me to put her ill at ease under any circumstances, nor have my intentions become misguided.

But I believe we both know that outside of private correspondences, station rightfully supersedes much.

She never said she was uneasy.

[ Honestly, perhaps just the opposite, really. Unfortunately, as far as misguided intentions and responsibilities go, again, he’s right. She sighs, frowning to herself as she reads his message over and over again. ]

I understand. I would have to agree.

[ His own reputation is not of concern, having spent a long time crafting it thusly, but he does care for hers and what conflict he might incidentally bring to it.

Yet, perhaps there is a bit to the wine speaking for him as he finds himself typing against his better judgment. ]

Would that it not be so...

[ Cecil doesn’t have the excuse of wine— just her own sentimentality and recklessness. And it is reckless, isn’t it? Admitting there’s some manner of attraction between them that isn’t mere obligation or even purely platonic, when neither of them really have the freedom to act on such feelings. She knows it as well as Aymeric does and she knows this is her cue to bid him goodnight, yet she doesn’t. ]

Perhaps any possible action either of us would take, were our circumstances not so, is best explored in private, as you say.

[ He sits up outright to read the message once, twice--the motion is enough to stir his cat who voices his displeasure. Aymeric then must attend to Ser Croquembouche's complaints until the elderly feline settles back against him. But it does afford him a moment to think before hastily replying.

Then he had not read too deeply into their banter? A part of him had hoped, yet he attributed it mostly to his own feelings. They are absolutely toeing a line they ought not, yet he pushes it all the same. ]

Indeed, it would behoove the both of us to discretion.

[ Though Cecil has no pet to disturb when she rolls over onto her stomach after reading Aymeric’s message the first time, she’s just as surprised to see he agrees with her as he is to see she returns his feelings. Perhaps even more surprised. Even now, Cecil has the bad habit of putting others on pedestals and Aymeric is hardly the first potential paramour that she’s been afraid to sully. If anything, she expected him to tell her she was being foolish and that they couldn’t possibly entertain the notion of indulging their feelings for one another even in written word. He’s older, more experienced, and certainly has a cleaner track record when it comes to being a pillar of virtue and nobleness.

But he... isn’t telling her any of that. Instead, he’s validating her and now also agreeing to engage in a clandestine romance with her. He truly feels something for her and she’s touched that he’s willing to risk his reputation to be with her. She’s happy, excited, and really wishing she was closer to him right now. ]

Aymeric... You warm my heart.

I want to see you. Soon? I am even more envious of Ser Croquembouche now.

[ Older, yes, but more experienced? Perhaps less so in matters of the heart than one might imagine. He has ever been guilty of holding onto is feelings for another quietly for long stretches of time, making small hints at the most yet never expecting reciprocation nor right out admitting to them. Despite his feeling, romance has always been a notion that he sets aside, knowing there are more important matters at hand, duties and obligations that require his utmost attention. To force another to share that burden would be the least loving thing he could do to someone he cares about.

Yet times have changed. The world is changed--still changing. The endless war is over and new challenges bring themselves forward, but Aymeric sees hope in his kin and country for the first time and he is want to follow it through. Somehow despite his own responsibilities having doubled (if he is being modest), there are areas in which he feels more free. Perhaps, in part, for the first time he feels that maybe his affections would not be a burden on someone else who also must put their kin and country first and would not fault him for doing the same.

It's a bold move on both their parts--but he is feeling rather bold at the moment. ]

I will make time. That I take a few days leave has been impressed upon me much of late. Mayhaps it is time that I heed that advice.

Do not, he can be a horrendous bedfellow despite all his better qualities.

[ Cecil chuckles quietly at that, imagining the feline giving Aymeric a headache by mewling loudly late at night, and she must admit she finds it hard to think of Ser Croquembouche as anything but amicable. She is also fiercely biased though and they all know that. ]

Nonsense. He's a perfect little gentleman always, I am sure.

Certainly we would be happy to host you here in Baron for a spell. Or I could slip away to neutral ground, if you would prefer to holiday somewhere not quite so far from home.

[ That prompts Aymeric to turn to said cat and share the news. "Did you hear that, Bouche? Someone is advocating for your good nature." Unsurprisingly, Ser Croquembouche opens his eyes in a silent way that conveys displeasure at being bothered after he has only just settled back in.

Point taken. ]

You might be the only person other than myself so readily jumping in his defense. I wish I could assure you that he appreciated it, but he is woefully selfish in that regard.

[ Aymeric loves his cat, through and through. No matter how cranky he's become. ]

I must admit that the opportunity to travel beyond Ishgard's borders is always appealing to me. Would it be much trouble?

[ If they are trying to be discreet, after all. ]

Poor Ser Croquembouche... He is so misunderstood! A tired old knight like himself who has served for all his life is owed his share of sympathy.

[ Definitely biased towards fluffy white things. Although Namingway is a rather unique example of his race, he’s certainly grown more... eccentric as of late. Most would use words like “tiresome” and “tedious” to describe the Hummingway with a strange habit of changing his name often, but Cecil still has a soft spot for him. ]

I do not foresee there being trouble, no. In fact, I wager it will be easier to travel undetected away from both Ishgard and Baron.

Where did you have in mind?

He has certainly earned a peaceful retirement, should he actually allow that to happen. I daresay that if you keep this up you may earn a more than lukewarm welcome next time.

[ Granted, a "lukewarm" greeting is usually the best case scenario when Ser Croquembouche meets someone new. It is far more common that he make his displeasure known immediately, if he deigns to grace them with his presence at all. ]

I am endeavouring to find a place that will offer both privacy an anonymity, both of which would be difficult on the western side of Aldenard. I have heard much of peoples being able to be lost in the comings and goings in Vylbrand, however. Though mayhaps there is someplace more amicable to my lady?

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me, googling all the ffiv locations...