Viktor reads the regret in G'raha's eyes and tries not to let it reflect in his own expression. You'd think by now he would remember that heads of state and their ilk all carry the sort of burdens antithetical to the lives of adventurers. It makes him itch, thinking of all the allies and friends, duty bound to lonely offices and great half-empty halls. How often do his doggish invitations to freedom cause pain and worry, instead of joy? His gaze dips, taking in the marble tiles beneath their feet.
A chance to actually rest. Hadn't the Exarch always urged the same? It's just coincidence, he tells himself, as that itching feeling grows into a more pressing urge to move his body.
He stretches his arms up and over the back of his head. When the knot in his back doesn't immediately work itself out, he slings his greataxe across his shoulders, then drapes his arms over the hilt. It makes him look like he's been yoked, a beast who would never stop moving if not pulled to heel -- but at least his shoulder finally pops.
"Rest?" he asks, still grinning, one eye squinting shut. "Never heard of it." There is never enough time, but maybe he can scrounge a few seconds to follow a friend's advice. "You'll have to show me."
G'raha shakes his head in fond amusement, though he hopes the 'fond' part is slightly less obvious.
"I'm sure I-" He begins, but he's cut off by a shout from nearby.
"Your highness, there you are!" A grey-haired elezen hurries towards them with a look that's somewhere between relief and disapproval "Please don't disappear like that on your own."
"I wasn't on my own," G'raha says mildly, turning to the man with his face a picture of innocence "I was accompanied by Viktor. Surely you don't expect any ill to befall me with the Warrior of Light at my side?"
The man frowns, but he doesn't have a rebuttal - G'raha knows he's the diplomatic type, he won't want to risk insulting the Warrior of Light so early in the journey.
He'll probably get an earful for it later, though.
"Allow me make introductions," G'raha continues smoothly "Viktor this is Elmort, one of my family's advisors, he will be one of the people joining us on our journey." The unfortunately goes unspoken, but it's in the hint of a mischievous smile that G'raha gives Viktor as he turns to him.
"Elmort this is Viktor, the Warrior of Light."
"A pleasure to meet you." Elmort says with a bow, impeccably polite "I came to inform you both that we are ready to depart, it is my understanding that the whole group will be travelling to Ul'dah, then after we meet the Sultana tomorrow those of us travelling with his highness will be continuing onwards. Does this match your expectations?" He asks Viktor
Viktor's attention lingers a few seconds longer on G'raha and that smile, but he still manages to deliver a crisp nod, as though Elmort had always had his undivided attention. As though he'd kept track of the itinerary at all. But that all sounds right. So, he drops his ax to his side, a soldier standing at attention, and adds an authoritative, "Aye."
(In Viktor's experience, gray-haired politicians rarely like to hear the words, "I don't know, sir, I just work here." No matter how adept you are at your job.)
Usually, at this point, Alphinaud would be leaping in to bridge the gap left by the Warrior of Light's predictable bout of sudden onset silence. With the twins engaged elsewhere, though, Viktor is left to try and conjure up something the boy would say on his own.
"Glad to meet you, Elmort." The name sits somewhat sour on his tongue; not wholly unpleasant, just sharp. He stammers through the next bit, dreadfully aware that he'd just been flirting when he should've been preparing for a serious, potentially dangerous diplomatic excursion. "And for the opportunity to...show your prince our home. If there's anything I can do to make our journey and easier one, say the word."
He glances skyward, makes a few quick calculations and adds, "Should make the city before sunset. It's not a long trek. Safe enough, so long as you keep to the roads. I'll stay at the head." Viktor looks to G'raha. There's a smile in his eyes, despite his attempt at looking serious. "You'll join me there, highness?"
"Absolutely." G'raha agrees before Elmort has a chance to object.
He feels a little sorry for Viktor in that moment, in truth, being thrust into the diplomatic role that doesn't entirely suit him. He had hoped to see Alphinaud or any of the other scions, but he's also not surprised to see them absent - no doubt they have more important business to attend to than playing escort to an Allagan prince.
(Viktor no doubt has more important business to attend to, but though G'raha feels a little guilty to have pulled him away from whatever crisis would otherwise be demanding his attention, he's also glad enough to be spending time with him that he can't bring himself to be too regretful)
He does want to ask about the others, but again that would be a poor way of confessing the truth to Viktor. He'll have to wait for another chance for them to talk more privately, this time he'll come clean, he really will.
"The others are assembled at the gate," Elmort reports, his jaw set "shall we?"
"As you say, sir." There is little to do now but extend an arm, giving both prince and advisor the right of way. Viktor slings his ax back across his back and follows close behind G'raha and his retainer.
With everyone's attention momentarily elsewhere, he does his due diligence, measuring the size of the Allagan delegation, judging whether they have the space on their persons or in their wagons to store weapons -- not that such a guess matters all that much when you're observing a civilization that once ruled the skies, made clones, and defied death.
He decides, thanks mostly to the complete silence of his Echo, that this whole business is politician-level dangerous. Not my circus, not my monkeys trouble. The sort of thing that the Syndicate breaks their fast on.
So, it's just as the prince said: his safety is the only thing Viktor need concern himself with. He prays he can keep his own head on straight long enough to see this mission through. But, by the Twelve is the prince distracting.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-03-13 08:04 pm (UTC)A chance to actually rest. Hadn't the Exarch always urged the same? It's just coincidence, he tells himself, as that itching feeling grows into a more pressing urge to move his body.
He stretches his arms up and over the back of his head. When the knot in his back doesn't immediately work itself out, he slings his greataxe across his shoulders, then drapes his arms over the hilt. It makes him look like he's been yoked, a beast who would never stop moving if not pulled to heel -- but at least his shoulder finally pops.
"Rest?" he asks, still grinning, one eye squinting shut. "Never heard of it." There is never enough time, but maybe he can scrounge a few seconds to follow a friend's advice. "You'll have to show me."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 08:25 pm (UTC)G'raha shakes his head in fond amusement, though he hopes the 'fond' part is slightly less obvious.
"I'm sure I-" He begins, but he's cut off by a shout from nearby.
"Your highness, there you are!" A grey-haired elezen hurries towards them with a look that's somewhere between relief and disapproval "Please don't disappear like that on your own."
"I wasn't on my own," G'raha says mildly, turning to the man with his face a picture of innocence "I was accompanied by Viktor. Surely you don't expect any ill to befall me with the Warrior of Light at my side?"
The man frowns, but he doesn't have a rebuttal - G'raha knows he's the diplomatic type, he won't want to risk insulting the Warrior of Light so early in the journey.
He'll probably get an earful for it later, though.
"Allow me make introductions," G'raha continues smoothly "Viktor this is Elmort, one of my family's advisors, he will be one of the people joining us on our journey." The unfortunately goes unspoken, but it's in the hint of a mischievous smile that G'raha gives Viktor as he turns to him.
"Elmort this is Viktor, the Warrior of Light."
"A pleasure to meet you." Elmort says with a bow, impeccably polite "I came to inform you both that we are ready to depart, it is my understanding that the whole group will be travelling to Ul'dah, then after we meet the Sultana tomorrow those of us travelling with his highness will be continuing onwards. Does this match your expectations?" He asks Viktor
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 09:59 pm (UTC)(In Viktor's experience, gray-haired politicians rarely like to hear the words, "I don't know, sir, I just work here." No matter how adept you are at your job.)
Usually, at this point, Alphinaud would be leaping in to bridge the gap left by the Warrior of Light's predictable bout of sudden onset silence. With the twins engaged elsewhere, though, Viktor is left to try and conjure up something the boy would say on his own.
"Glad to meet you, Elmort." The name sits somewhat sour on his tongue; not wholly unpleasant, just sharp. He stammers through the next bit, dreadfully aware that he'd just been flirting when he should've been preparing for a serious, potentially dangerous diplomatic excursion. "And for the opportunity to...show your prince our home. If there's anything I can do to make our journey and easier one, say the word."
He glances skyward, makes a few quick calculations and adds, "Should make the city before sunset. It's not a long trek. Safe enough, so long as you keep to the roads. I'll stay at the head." Viktor looks to G'raha. There's a smile in his eyes, despite his attempt at looking serious. "You'll join me there, highness?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 10:07 pm (UTC)"Absolutely." G'raha agrees before Elmort has a chance to object.
He feels a little sorry for Viktor in that moment, in truth, being thrust into the diplomatic role that doesn't entirely suit him. He had hoped to see Alphinaud or any of the other scions, but he's also not surprised to see them absent - no doubt they have more important business to attend to than playing escort to an Allagan prince.
(Viktor no doubt has more important business to attend to, but though G'raha feels a little guilty to have pulled him away from whatever crisis would otherwise be demanding his attention, he's also glad enough to be spending time with him that he can't bring himself to be too regretful)
He does want to ask about the others, but again that would be a poor way of confessing the truth to Viktor. He'll have to wait for another chance for them to talk more privately, this time he'll come clean, he really will.
"The others are assembled at the gate," Elmort reports, his jaw set "shall we?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-14 04:59 am (UTC)With everyone's attention momentarily elsewhere, he does his due diligence, measuring the size of the Allagan delegation, judging whether they have the space on their persons or in their wagons to store weapons -- not that such a guess matters all that much when you're observing a civilization that once ruled the skies, made clones, and defied death.
He decides, thanks mostly to the complete silence of his Echo, that this whole business is politician-level dangerous. Not my circus, not my monkeys trouble. The sort of thing that the Syndicate breaks their fast on.
So, it's just as the prince said: his safety is the only thing Viktor need concern himself with. He prays he can keep his own head on straight long enough to see this mission through. But, by the Twelve is the prince distracting.