He wasn't sure why he said it.
Well, to be more precise, he knew exactly why he had said it.
Gogonji and An - or more precise, "Tmesis Oan" and "Annunu" - had made a show of announcing the engagement of their front personas moons and moons ago, in a great spectacle out on the picturesque beaches of Costa del Sol. The event had even received attention from papers like the Tonberry's Lantern, giving the proposal even wider attention. And yet, there had been no visible advancement on that particular front since that bombastic announcement. The two certainly made their regular appearances together - from noble gatherings to competitions of mettle like the Runestone and the still-growing Spellguard - but the status of the relationship and its progression was left heretofore unspoken upon. So, when Sasha and her newly bonded mate questioned why the Lalafellin couple had yet to tie the knot, an answer had to be given before the gathered group.
Stating that the two would be wed was the most logical answer - there had been nothing to imply they were having any manner of difficulty in their relationship, and it would quash the few baseless rumors floating annoyingly about involving him supposedly "eyeing" other potential mates. As if any of the other mindless, brutish rabble could possibly grab his attentions in that way. Of course, he had presented Oan as a bit of a oblivious and friendly sort in defiance to his true nature, so even the smallest conversations with someone of the opposite gender could lead to such rumor-mongering. Gogonji was no stranger to misinformation - such was part and parcel of his profession - but he had a strange distaste for this particular bit of hearsay for reasons that eluded him, and quelling them would put the matter out of mind wholesale.
Setting it a season and a half away, wrapped up in some symbolic nonsense of Spring being a time of new beginnings, also had reason: time for planning. Setting it that far ahead allowed for all the specifics of the event to be ironed out. Required details like the venue, how much media attention should be focused on it, the outfits and colors to be worn, the food and entertainment to be provided, the guest list, it could all be considered. It would also provide enough time to manufacture some manner of fiasco that "broke up" Oan and Annunu, should it be required, but he found himself considering that a non-issue. And that sudden, illogical urging was part of the reason why the eldest Gegenji child was up at this late of an hour, staring down blankly at the tactical map of Eorzea set on his table.
Why was he so intent on having the wedding happen? It was not as if it put either them in a superior position to the one they were already in. In fact, manipulating the allure of drawing apart the engaged pair had been beneficial in a few information-gathering ventures. Mostly on Annunu's part, it seemed, as many gentlemen were eager to try to beat the dawdling Oan to claiming the Cherry Blossom Socialite's hand. Once wed, such tactics would be far less useful, though the blackmail potential of one seeking such infidelity could recoup some of those losses.
Perhaps it was the mystery of An's own stance on the matter that stymied him so and left him uncertain as to how to proceed. The lady Plainsfolk had be surprised by the declaration - which was unsurprising considering it had been rather spur-of-the-moment - but the rosy-cheeked silence that followed had left him wondering if she had been following his lead or reading deeper into the matter. She had not spoken on the announcement - either openly or privately - during the following Runestone either, where they had oft spoken quietly amongst themselves during the arcane clashes. There wasn't even a request to relocate to one of their favorite locations to speak on more sensitive matters. Â She was the second part of this equation and yet she was an unknown variable still, and that vexed him.
There were other variables here as well. If they were to continue forward with the wedding, would it be solely for their personas, or would they be bonded in truth as well? The latter would serve only to weave another identifiable link between their fronts and their true selves, a dangerous move for someone in their line of work. And yet, rather than ensure that such a bonding was just between "Oan" and "Annunu" and leaving it at that, Gogonji kept finding himself thinking of other alternatives instead. He mused on having the master of ceremonies be someone neatly in his pocket or easily sworn to silence, or even having the "real" bonding occur on another date to distance the connection betwixt truth and fiction - while still seeking that the bonding be "true" in both.
Was this his id imposing itself again? As it had when Rosewater sought to "steal" Annunu from him, or when he had plotted vengeance when he had thought Restless Wind's actions had returned the Plainsfolk prematurely to the Lifestream? The former had resulted in the elimination of a Sultansworn black agent and a heightened alert for moons to follow. The latter had sown unnecessary seeds of discord, and it had only been due to his quick thinking and adaptability that he had been able to twist the situation back into his favor when it became clear the number of dangers inherent in having a powerful Black Mage as an enemy. Potential tools both lost due to his possessive id.
Or perhaps it was closer akin to the flares of possessiveness and anger that surfaced in situations like the mind-manipulating mage's attempts to weaponize her at the Runestone? Or when An herself mentioned the various individuals that sought to add her as another notch in their bedposts. His reactions to these were far more tempered than with the Paladin and the Black Mage, but still gave far too many a peek beneath the veil of misinformation he had so expertly draped about himself. Providing far too many hints that there was more behind the mask that was Tmesis Oan.
It was - as far as Gogonji could figure it - some manner of primal desire to claim her and make her his, and to figuratively bellow this claim from the rooftops so that all were made acutely aware of it. To chase away all the horn-dogs and brutes and savages that who dared to think they were worthy enough to have her hand or a place in her bed, and to firmly declare that to seek her was to go through him first.
The false bonding would be enough, his logical mind knew that. Just the belief that Annunu was wed would be enough to stay all but the most insistent - those who cared not for such vows - and such individuals could be controlled in other ways. And yet, on his desk lay a tome on auspicious dates to be wed - cracked open to the spring moons with annotations left by several possible suns. And speaking of suns, he had spent several running through the scenario of introduction her to his parents - and how to ensure that it was made clear that they would accept their relationship, whether they wanted to or not. And he had already done some delving into whom in his network could provide such a bonding and keep silent.
All things he had no logical need to do, and yet...
And yet...
Well, to be more precise, he knew exactly why he had said it.
Gogonji and An - or more precise, "Tmesis Oan" and "Annunu" - had made a show of announcing the engagement of their front personas moons and moons ago, in a great spectacle out on the picturesque beaches of Costa del Sol. The event had even received attention from papers like the Tonberry's Lantern, giving the proposal even wider attention. And yet, there had been no visible advancement on that particular front since that bombastic announcement. The two certainly made their regular appearances together - from noble gatherings to competitions of mettle like the Runestone and the still-growing Spellguard - but the status of the relationship and its progression was left heretofore unspoken upon. So, when Sasha and her newly bonded mate questioned why the Lalafellin couple had yet to tie the knot, an answer had to be given before the gathered group.
Stating that the two would be wed was the most logical answer - there had been nothing to imply they were having any manner of difficulty in their relationship, and it would quash the few baseless rumors floating annoyingly about involving him supposedly "eyeing" other potential mates. As if any of the other mindless, brutish rabble could possibly grab his attentions in that way. Of course, he had presented Oan as a bit of a oblivious and friendly sort in defiance to his true nature, so even the smallest conversations with someone of the opposite gender could lead to such rumor-mongering. Gogonji was no stranger to misinformation - such was part and parcel of his profession - but he had a strange distaste for this particular bit of hearsay for reasons that eluded him, and quelling them would put the matter out of mind wholesale.
Setting it a season and a half away, wrapped up in some symbolic nonsense of Spring being a time of new beginnings, also had reason: time for planning. Setting it that far ahead allowed for all the specifics of the event to be ironed out. Required details like the venue, how much media attention should be focused on it, the outfits and colors to be worn, the food and entertainment to be provided, the guest list, it could all be considered. It would also provide enough time to manufacture some manner of fiasco that "broke up" Oan and Annunu, should it be required, but he found himself considering that a non-issue. And that sudden, illogical urging was part of the reason why the eldest Gegenji child was up at this late of an hour, staring down blankly at the tactical map of Eorzea set on his table.
Why was he so intent on having the wedding happen? It was not as if it put either them in a superior position to the one they were already in. In fact, manipulating the allure of drawing apart the engaged pair had been beneficial in a few information-gathering ventures. Mostly on Annunu's part, it seemed, as many gentlemen were eager to try to beat the dawdling Oan to claiming the Cherry Blossom Socialite's hand. Once wed, such tactics would be far less useful, though the blackmail potential of one seeking such infidelity could recoup some of those losses.
Perhaps it was the mystery of An's own stance on the matter that stymied him so and left him uncertain as to how to proceed. The lady Plainsfolk had be surprised by the declaration - which was unsurprising considering it had been rather spur-of-the-moment - but the rosy-cheeked silence that followed had left him wondering if she had been following his lead or reading deeper into the matter. She had not spoken on the announcement - either openly or privately - during the following Runestone either, where they had oft spoken quietly amongst themselves during the arcane clashes. There wasn't even a request to relocate to one of their favorite locations to speak on more sensitive matters. Â She was the second part of this equation and yet she was an unknown variable still, and that vexed him.
There were other variables here as well. If they were to continue forward with the wedding, would it be solely for their personas, or would they be bonded in truth as well? The latter would serve only to weave another identifiable link between their fronts and their true selves, a dangerous move for someone in their line of work. And yet, rather than ensure that such a bonding was just between "Oan" and "Annunu" and leaving it at that, Gogonji kept finding himself thinking of other alternatives instead. He mused on having the master of ceremonies be someone neatly in his pocket or easily sworn to silence, or even having the "real" bonding occur on another date to distance the connection betwixt truth and fiction - while still seeking that the bonding be "true" in both.
Was this his id imposing itself again? As it had when Rosewater sought to "steal" Annunu from him, or when he had plotted vengeance when he had thought Restless Wind's actions had returned the Plainsfolk prematurely to the Lifestream? The former had resulted in the elimination of a Sultansworn black agent and a heightened alert for moons to follow. The latter had sown unnecessary seeds of discord, and it had only been due to his quick thinking and adaptability that he had been able to twist the situation back into his favor when it became clear the number of dangers inherent in having a powerful Black Mage as an enemy. Potential tools both lost due to his possessive id.
Or perhaps it was closer akin to the flares of possessiveness and anger that surfaced in situations like the mind-manipulating mage's attempts to weaponize her at the Runestone? Or when An herself mentioned the various individuals that sought to add her as another notch in their bedposts. His reactions to these were far more tempered than with the Paladin and the Black Mage, but still gave far too many a peek beneath the veil of misinformation he had so expertly draped about himself. Providing far too many hints that there was more behind the mask that was Tmesis Oan.
It was - as far as Gogonji could figure it - some manner of primal desire to claim her and make her his, and to figuratively bellow this claim from the rooftops so that all were made acutely aware of it. To chase away all the horn-dogs and brutes and savages that who dared to think they were worthy enough to have her hand or a place in her bed, and to firmly declare that to seek her was to go through him first.
The false bonding would be enough, his logical mind knew that. Just the belief that Annunu was wed would be enough to stay all but the most insistent - those who cared not for such vows - and such individuals could be controlled in other ways. And yet, on his desk lay a tome on auspicious dates to be wed - cracked open to the spring moons with annotations left by several possible suns. And speaking of suns, he had spent several running through the scenario of introduction her to his parents - and how to ensure that it was made clear that they would accept their relationship, whether they wanted to or not. And he had already done some delving into whom in his network could provide such a bonding and keep silent.
All things he had no logical need to do, and yet...
And yet...
~