Oh, that is very good to hear. In truth, I was a mite ill at ease when I could not find you among the group of travelers, so I am quite relieved to know you are... "okay."
[ Look at her, picking up peasant words! ]
I am well enough, though quite a number of my friends have been stricken by this illness... it is most worrying. I am glad to hear that you are not among their number.
You were worried? [ No one does that. Also that combination of words means... worried, right? Look at him, deciphering rich people diction. ] — ahh, well. It's not the first time I've had to move like that, so... sorry.
[ aka smuggling a fugitive. What he hasn't dealt with so far is anyone he knows being sick. ]
[ Wow, he's an actual farmer!!! Alm and the others had told her a little bit about it, of course, but... ]
My word, I had no idea, Mikazuki! During our first meeting, I cannot recall you blanketed in manure—or smelling as much. Oh, but by then we had spent some time in the station, no? Though Alm did inform me that manure is not quite as ubiquitous as I had imagined in these cases...
[ Clair, no... she's still going... ]
Why, you simply must tell me all about your experiences! [ Oh, yeah— ] If you are willing, of course.
[ It's Clair... she gets worked up over pretty much anything. ]
Oh, how very good of you! I do admit, I find it most fascinating, mucking about in the fields with the cows and the pigs and such. [ Pretty sure farmers don't spend their days "mucking about"?? ] To think that so many people earn their living in such a fashion! Is it not difficult?
Farming where I'm from is different. Do you remember how I told you there wasn't a lot of water anywhere? There weren't any animals either. [ Today in: peasants versus the bourgeoisie. ] The soil was poor, so all that grew was corn. It was difficult, but I liked it.
Is that so? [ She sounds almost... disappointed. The image she had in her head of chickens and pigs running about willy-nilly... shattered. ]
That is quite different indeed. But I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it—I imagine there is some manner of satisfaction in... mm, tending to the earth with your own strength, no?
[ She should probably just quit while she's ahead... but no. ]
Why, since I have arrived, I have found great pleasure in washing my own dishes after a meal—I have performed this task many times now and the novelty has yet to wane. To think that something so pedestrian, done with mine own hands, could feel so gratifying!
[ He hears that. Don't think he doesn't. What a mess. ]
Honest work is like that. I just happen to like the earth. And plants. [ Though he's sure they can find some pigs or chickens amidst all the dragons. And Mikazuki usually speaks with purpose but he can't help it — ] You never washed a dish before?
[ She likes the sound of that, apparently. Probably because it's so far removed from her own life experience... ]
Oh, certainly not.
[ She pauses here—she got a little carried away with her own enthusiasm before, but now she seems to realize that she just made herself sound... incredibly spoiled. Which she was. But still.
A little more subdued: ] I am given to understand that such a thing is quite strange, is it not? But we had so many servants in our employ that we were not required to perform any physical labor at all.
[ This isn't his first rich girl rodeo though he's aged 20 years since he did this last and needs a nap. ]
I guess it's strange. But it's more like... it's just the difference between how we were born.
[ Not that he's angry about the fundamental difference when the inequality isn't being shoved down his throat. If he sat there being angry at everyone who had more than him he'd just waste a lot of time on it?? ]
Mikazuki... [ Her voice softens a little. ] I can see that you are truly kind.
[ She wouldn't blame him if he was angry at her, after all. Even she realizes how incredibly easy she had it—and how unfair it all is. ]
Ah, well... [ She pauses here again, giving the idea some thought. ]
The parts of it that I miss above all are Clive, my parents and our friends, as well as my maid and the servants. Rather, if I were to miss anything that we possessed, then... it would be the memories they afforded me, for I have so many fond ones. My nursemaid singing lullabies to me, Father teaching me to ride, practicing my swordplay with Clive and Fernand...
But these are the sorts of memories that can be created even now, are they not? Besides, I very much enjoy learning so many new things!
[ Kind... okay. He doesn't have anything to say to that. What he does have to say is fairly succinct in comparison: ]
So many people. Coming here must've been lonely.
[ Just as many people, sure, though it's different in a way he actually gets. Still, you do what you can, even if making new memories wasn't exactly on his agenda. Trust wasn't either, but here we are, regardless of his sour mood thanks to the whole witch hunt Olympia pulled. ]
There was a lot I was still reading about, but I can teach you what I know about farms.
[ Her voice is quiet. She still misses them, even now. Especially her friends in the Deliverance... her brother... she hasn't gone this long without seeing them in... she shakes her head. ]
Oh, of course! I am ever so excited to learn—goodness, we were about to venture out together to gather food and look for that ingredient for the cure, were we not? Come, meet me by [ insert landmark here ]!
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Oh, Clair. What's going on?
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Are you well?
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What about you?
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Oh, that is very good to hear. In truth, I was a mite ill at ease when I could not find you among the group of travelers, so I am quite relieved to know you are... "okay."
[ Look at her, picking up peasant words! ]
I am well enough, though quite a number of my friends have been stricken by this illness... it is most worrying. I am glad to hear that you are not among their number.
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[ aka smuggling a fugitive. What he hasn't dealt with so far is anyone he knows being sick. ]
Part of the cure is here, right?
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[ Seriously, gremlin... they're friends, and why wouldn't she worry about her friend? Especially with everything going on. ]
surprise 2/2
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but in princess language. ]
I see. [ no he doesn't... not fully aware of how lame it sounds either. ] If that's the case, do you want to go look for it? I heard it was a leaf.
[ Or, well. Part of it. ]
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[ Finally, something she can do. Maybe that's why she's latching onto the idea so fast... ]
Do you know whereabouts we may find it?
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Not exactly. But I was planning to go out to harvest food anyway... we can look together.
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[ She's heard that peasants do this, since they can't always afford to buy food from the market... but wow!! Her very own chance to do it too! ]
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[ TIME FOR PEASANT 101 ]
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[ Who knew one could actually sell the food that one gathered too?? ]
Is this a task that you have performed often?
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[ Economy! Which he's weirdly not terrible at. ]
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[ Wow, he's an actual farmer!!! Alm and the others had told her a little bit about it, of course, but... ]
My word, I had no idea, Mikazuki! During our first meeting, I cannot recall you blanketed in manure—or smelling as much. Oh, but by then we had spent some time in the station, no? Though Alm did inform me that manure is not quite as ubiquitous as I had imagined in these cases...
[ Clair, no... she's still going... ]
Why, you simply must tell me all about your experiences! [ Oh, yeah— ] If you are willing, of course.
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It's the truth. [ TAKING TURNS OF PHRASE TOO SERIOUSLY, THE SAGA ] I just couldn't help with the work there anymore before this.
[ As an explanation for his lack of manure smell, thanks Clair.
Still, he shifts a little over the line. ]
But I'll tell you about it if you want.
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Oh, how very good of you! I do admit, I find it most fascinating, mucking about in the fields with the cows and the pigs and such. [ Pretty sure farmers don't spend their days "mucking about"?? ] To think that so many people earn their living in such a fashion! Is it not difficult?
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Farming where I'm from is different. Do you remember how I told you there wasn't a lot of water anywhere? There weren't any animals either. [ Today in: peasants versus the bourgeoisie. ] The soil was poor, so all that grew was corn. It was difficult, but I liked it.
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That is quite different indeed. But I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it—I imagine there is some manner of satisfaction in... mm, tending to the earth with your own strength, no?
[ She should probably just quit while she's ahead... but no. ]
Why, since I have arrived, I have found great pleasure in washing my own dishes after a meal—I have performed this task many times now and the novelty has yet to wane. To think that something so pedestrian, done with mine own hands, could feel so gratifying!
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Honest work is like that. I just happen to like the earth. And plants. [ Though he's sure they can find some pigs or chickens amidst all the dragons. And Mikazuki usually speaks with purpose but he can't help it — ] You never washed a dish before?
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[ She likes the sound of that, apparently. Probably because it's so far removed from her own life experience... ]
Oh, certainly not.
[ She pauses here—she got a little carried away with her own enthusiasm before, but now she seems to realize that she just made herself sound... incredibly spoiled. Which she was. But still.
A little more subdued: ] I am given to understand that such a thing is quite strange, is it not? But we had so many servants in our employ that we were not required to perform any physical labor at all.
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I guess it's strange. But it's more like... it's just the difference between how we were born.
[ Not that he's angry about the fundamental difference when the inequality isn't being shoved down his throat. If he sat there being angry at everyone who had more than him he'd just waste a lot of time on it?? ]
You don't miss it? Like your house.
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[ She wouldn't blame him if he was angry at her, after all. Even she realizes how incredibly easy she had it—and how unfair it all is. ]
Ah, well... [ She pauses here again, giving the idea some thought. ]
The parts of it that I miss above all are Clive, my parents and our friends, as well as my maid and the servants. Rather, if I were to miss anything that we possessed, then... it would be the memories they afforded me, for I have so many fond ones. My nursemaid singing lullabies to me, Father teaching me to ride, practicing my swordplay with Clive and Fernand...
But these are the sorts of memories that can be created even now, are they not? Besides, I very much enjoy learning so many new things!
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So many people. Coming here must've been lonely.
[ Just as many people, sure, though it's different in a way he actually gets. Still, you do what you can, even if making new memories wasn't exactly on his agenda. Trust wasn't either, but here we are, regardless of his sour mood thanks to the whole witch hunt Olympia pulled. ]
There was a lot I was still reading about, but I can teach you what I know about farms.
[ Hard work is good medicine. ]
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[ Her voice is quiet. She still misses them, even now. Especially her friends in the Deliverance... her brother... she hasn't gone this long without seeing them in... she shakes her head. ]
Oh, of course! I am ever so excited to learn—goodness, we were about to venture out together to gather food and look for that ingredient for the cure, were we not? Come, meet me by [ insert landmark here ]!
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