cut for XIV spoilers.

[notspoony]

Mundane of mine! Ah, it has but been too long since you graced mine sore eyes, much less allowed the grace of breath to pass mine parched lips! For what reason shall I honour this momentous occasion?

Ah, that reason. If you wish for me to speak frankly, I- ...I am grateful, very much so, that you have not lost faith in me and still shall not believe I am but anything but a poor, overworked replacement for a far greater man than I. You ask if that is bitterness in my tone? As ever, your eyes will not be fooled, and your ears will not be dulled by platitude.

Mundane...
I ask you, and your extension...
If you cannot obtain the dark crystal, kill me. I must profess, I quite wanted to have the opportunity to see your extension for who he was! He's quite the mystery, you see. But the fact remains, dear friend, that I would far prefer to be but a corpse than any thrall of theirs. The Ascians are a threat far greater than any Empire, but their force combined...

We cannot allow that to come to pass.

Comments

casually screams

[conjurist]

[ there's a slight twitch of the tail and a look of distaste, although it's difficult to tell if it's the subject matter that has her upset, or the fact she can do little for her friends predicament ]

We must not allow ourselves to fall so easily into despair, Thancred.

screaming but not casual

[notspoony]

Ah, speaking of ears undulled...

[Normally, there'd be some sort of comment about any observer being as wise as she is beautiful, primarily to disarm. But this is Y'shtola, and while indeed he wouldn't be lying, he's been working with her far too long for her to fall for any of that. So. He merely looks away, a scowl marring his features.]

I cannot apologize to you, Minfillia, Papalymo, Yda and Urianger enough. Let alone those who fared worse.

[Even five years ago, Thancred's priority was human life. Those killed in the Waking Sands because of him... It's too much to bear. Lives entirely destroyed, and what remained dumped in the Lichyard at Drybone because of the information he holds in his head. He's shaken, very much so. But if there's one thing (he reckons) Y'shtola hasn't quite worked out about him yet...

It's the fact he's stellar at hiding his emotion. So!]

Aye. You have the right of it, old friend. Though my eyes were clouded, I must admit, some part of me which remained me struggled to stifle a cheer as you and Yda fought your way through that unit of Magitek Vanguard!