Thread Closed
Vesper Bay, within the Sultana’s Revenge
“You’re fired.†The voice of a girl thundered within a room. Despite the natural softness of it, the authority and resolve behind the words was more than felt, like an echo that installed itself in the back of one’s mind.
“What…?†said a hyur, eyes bulging out in surprise. “But for what?!â€
Leanne was sat behind a desk within the captain’s quarters, flanked by a tall, tanned highlander of brown eyes and long, messy, unkempt hair, whose beard seemed to stop growing after a while, destined to stand as a stubble until the end of days. The seeker demeanor did not show passion nor love, and the man by the right did not say a single word as he eyed the hyur sat by the other side of the desk, as if he were there just as a glorified bodyguard.
“You heard me. Pack your things, sir. You’re permanently discharged. No strings attached.†Leanne continued with an impassive voice.
Frowning indignantly, the hyur persisted, raising himself from the chair and resting his hands on the desk. “I heard the chit-chatter midst the crew, about what you’re doing right now. Why. And I can tell, it was not me who-â€
“Then who it was?†she interrupted him immediately, raising her brow. The hyur paused, and gritted his teeth. Looking at the highlander, he roared in anger. “Ribald, are you really letting her do this?!â€
“Answer th’ lass, James.â€
It had been a little more than a couple hours since the seeker of golden eyes began what she claimed as the “pruning of the Revengeâ€. What began as a pursuit of those that sold her about the mutiny by then turned into a social experiment for Leanne, as she digested the reaction of the crew for analysis. She had seen it all by then. Relief, discase, terror, begging, threats, and many others. One of the more fascinating ones to her; anger.
“You promised me! We would keep the job! We could keep working in this blasted ship! It is why me and all others chose -you-, and not Melkire!â€
Leanne didn’t react to the words. She had heard them, several times. At first she was taken aback when the argument was first given. But by then, she were just used to it. Numb.
“...What is your choice?†Leanne kept going in a calm, collected persona. “Follow Melkire out of the ship, or tell who sold your captain?â€
His lips quivered. James sat back on the chair in defeat, body sagging as if his bones liquefied within his body. “..It was…â€
His next words didn’t matter for Leanne. She already knew. It was too easy for her to discover them. What she wanted was to know if he would sell his comrades.
Slaeglac rebelled against Limsa, and even if temporarily, allied himself with the Empire. Many others followed him, herself included. For the sake of freedom. For the sake of happiness. Others could say...for the sake of self-interest.
Ulf, through the efforts of her, Gallien and Virara, turned against the Empire, and declared his loyalty to Gloam. Her words may have reached to his selfless side, but even so, he betrayed people who trusted him.
Osric sold out Gloam and betrayed others for the sake of his family. Ojene sold out and betrayed Zanzan to acquire the verdict she wanted.
And right now, that exact moment, Leanne was forcing people to sell out and betray people they might consider friends so they could keep their jobs. Said people who sold her out too. If she expected an epiphany or catharsis to come out of this, none came. It was all too distressing, too confusing. Several loyalties were broken, so others may be upheld. And in the end, no correct answer was achieved. For there was none.
“Such is the nature of men.†the voice in her head said. “Miserable creatures of contradiction and lies, ever seeking meaning and justification in what they do.â€
“Capt’?†Ribald set a hand on Leanne, shaking her lightly.
“A-Ah.†the seeker blinked before regaining her surroundings. Raising her gaze to Ribald, she offered a weak smile. “...Was him the last one?â€
“Aye.â€
“...How many of the crew is left?â€
Pursing his lips, the man scratched his rebellious mane. “Not that many. Between th' ones ye fired 'n th' ones that left on their own, we have enough to run th' ship, but just barely.â€
“I see. I guess, that’s good enough. We can replenish those numbers as time goes by.†grunting, she lifted herself. “First Mate Ribald. Tell the remaining crew to prepare for voyage. We’re returning to Gloam.â€
“Aye aye capt’.†he turned away from the girl before striding towards the door...
“...Ribald.â€
...Only to stop. He looks over his shoulder to his young captain, tilting his head in inquisition. “Yes, Leanne?â€
“...Did I do the right thing?â€
“May ye be more specific?â€
Leanne pursed her lips. “The mutiny. The “pruningâ€. The…†she paused. “You know. Everything.â€
Ribald turned his eyes away from the seeker, only to look back at her. That sight was strangely comforting for her then. No warm smile denoting affection. No frown hinting at hatred. Just a critical and thoughtful expression, entirely devoid of bias. “I do not think that be a question I can answer, cap'n. Me right may be different from yer right.â€
Leanne pursed her lips before exhaling in resignation. “...Aye. I guess so.â€
Ribald pauses momentarily to gauge her reaction, before continuing. “Do not take as a sign that I disagree wit' ye, Leanne. Just that I reckon thar be no true right in th’ world. If thar was, ye would not be crackin' yer noggin’ right now.â€
Leanne nodded once more before straightening herself. “...I guess you are right. Thanks, Ribald. You’re dismissed.â€
“Aye, capt’.â€
Leanne looked down to the desk. “There’s no true right in the world, huh…â€
“You’re fired.†The voice of a girl thundered within a room. Despite the natural softness of it, the authority and resolve behind the words was more than felt, like an echo that installed itself in the back of one’s mind.
“What…?†said a hyur, eyes bulging out in surprise. “But for what?!â€
Leanne was sat behind a desk within the captain’s quarters, flanked by a tall, tanned highlander of brown eyes and long, messy, unkempt hair, whose beard seemed to stop growing after a while, destined to stand as a stubble until the end of days. The seeker demeanor did not show passion nor love, and the man by the right did not say a single word as he eyed the hyur sat by the other side of the desk, as if he were there just as a glorified bodyguard.
“You heard me. Pack your things, sir. You’re permanently discharged. No strings attached.†Leanne continued with an impassive voice.
Frowning indignantly, the hyur persisted, raising himself from the chair and resting his hands on the desk. “I heard the chit-chatter midst the crew, about what you’re doing right now. Why. And I can tell, it was not me who-â€
“Then who it was?†she interrupted him immediately, raising her brow. The hyur paused, and gritted his teeth. Looking at the highlander, he roared in anger. “Ribald, are you really letting her do this?!â€
“Answer th’ lass, James.â€
It had been a little more than a couple hours since the seeker of golden eyes began what she claimed as the “pruning of the Revengeâ€. What began as a pursuit of those that sold her about the mutiny by then turned into a social experiment for Leanne, as she digested the reaction of the crew for analysis. She had seen it all by then. Relief, discase, terror, begging, threats, and many others. One of the more fascinating ones to her; anger.
“You promised me! We would keep the job! We could keep working in this blasted ship! It is why me and all others chose -you-, and not Melkire!â€
Leanne didn’t react to the words. She had heard them, several times. At first she was taken aback when the argument was first given. But by then, she were just used to it. Numb.
“...What is your choice?†Leanne kept going in a calm, collected persona. “Follow Melkire out of the ship, or tell who sold your captain?â€
His lips quivered. James sat back on the chair in defeat, body sagging as if his bones liquefied within his body. “..It was…â€
His next words didn’t matter for Leanne. She already knew. It was too easy for her to discover them. What she wanted was to know if he would sell his comrades.
Slaeglac rebelled against Limsa, and even if temporarily, allied himself with the Empire. Many others followed him, herself included. For the sake of freedom. For the sake of happiness. Others could say...for the sake of self-interest.
Ulf, through the efforts of her, Gallien and Virara, turned against the Empire, and declared his loyalty to Gloam. Her words may have reached to his selfless side, but even so, he betrayed people who trusted him.
Osric sold out Gloam and betrayed others for the sake of his family. Ojene sold out and betrayed Zanzan to acquire the verdict she wanted.
And right now, that exact moment, Leanne was forcing people to sell out and betray people they might consider friends so they could keep their jobs. Said people who sold her out too. If she expected an epiphany or catharsis to come out of this, none came. It was all too distressing, too confusing. Several loyalties were broken, so others may be upheld. And in the end, no correct answer was achieved. For there was none.
“Such is the nature of men.†the voice in her head said. “Miserable creatures of contradiction and lies, ever seeking meaning and justification in what they do.â€
“Capt’?†Ribald set a hand on Leanne, shaking her lightly.
“A-Ah.†the seeker blinked before regaining her surroundings. Raising her gaze to Ribald, she offered a weak smile. “...Was him the last one?â€
“Aye.â€
“...How many of the crew is left?â€
Pursing his lips, the man scratched his rebellious mane. “Not that many. Between th' ones ye fired 'n th' ones that left on their own, we have enough to run th' ship, but just barely.â€
“I see. I guess, that’s good enough. We can replenish those numbers as time goes by.†grunting, she lifted herself. “First Mate Ribald. Tell the remaining crew to prepare for voyage. We’re returning to Gloam.â€
“Aye aye capt’.†he turned away from the girl before striding towards the door...
“...Ribald.â€
...Only to stop. He looks over his shoulder to his young captain, tilting his head in inquisition. “Yes, Leanne?â€
“...Did I do the right thing?â€
“May ye be more specific?â€
Leanne pursed her lips. “The mutiny. The “pruningâ€. The…†she paused. “You know. Everything.â€
Ribald turned his eyes away from the seeker, only to look back at her. That sight was strangely comforting for her then. No warm smile denoting affection. No frown hinting at hatred. Just a critical and thoughtful expression, entirely devoid of bias. “I do not think that be a question I can answer, cap'n. Me right may be different from yer right.â€
Leanne pursed her lips before exhaling in resignation. “...Aye. I guess so.â€
Ribald pauses momentarily to gauge her reaction, before continuing. “Do not take as a sign that I disagree wit' ye, Leanne. Just that I reckon thar be no true right in th’ world. If thar was, ye would not be crackin' yer noggin’ right now.â€
Leanne nodded once more before straightening herself. “...I guess you are right. Thanks, Ribald. You’re dismissed.â€
“Aye, capt’.â€
Leanne looked down to the desk. “There’s no true right in the world, huh…â€
"Forever walking forward, towards the ever distant horizon."
-Leanne Delphium