[ The mantle of responsibility that he carries as Lord Commander has never been unbearable, but there are times when the load becomes heavier than even he is accustomed to. This particular instance is trying, given the recent loss of Estinien and the fact that they do not know where he is or what his condition might be. On top of that, he has had many accusations leveled at him in recent days about the circumstances of his father's death.
Combining this with the unanticipated attack and now Alkaid's- K'lantaa's clear upset, his normally clear thoughts now resemble a churning storm.
Truthfully, he sees nothing childish about what she has related to him. She is a healer, and he can only imagine the natural inclination to desire to heal when there are those in need. If it were feasible for him to do so, he would grant her the position of Ishgard's principal healer, but he knows full well that her duties as the Warrior of Light more than likely will call her away from Ishgard. At least, he sees that doing so would be of no use or good, and so he refrains.
His eyebrows lift in surprise when she states that not only does she consider him a friend, she considers him important to her. Of course, he could say the same for her, and more besides, but he never dared to think that she might view him in such a light. A friend, perhaps, but beyond welcoming her to the place he calls home and making her an honored guest, he has tried to keep himself from having any loftier thoughts than that. How well he has succeeded remains to be seen. ]
You have rendered me speechless with your words, Alkaid. I can hardly claim to speak for Haurchefant, as he would surely have words to say of his own, if he were present with us, but taking you in and standing by you was, and still remains, the right thing to do.
But I can wholeheartedly agree that friends and comrades should be ready to offer care and support, no matter the circumstance. [ His smile widens, knowing that his apologies and attempts to forestall her so as not to add more troubles to her already existing ones now seem just a little bit superfluous.
And if he could be completely forthcoming, he would state that he wishes he could be so fortunate as to be the one who cares for her and her needs, but again, that is something he can scarcely bring himself to hope for.
He watches her rise and move to stand beside him, eyes fixed on her as she makes her move. ]
Only one? [ His eyebrows raise, mostly in jest, but with a hint of seriousness as well. ] You may make as many conditions as you like, of course, and I will do my best to comply.
[ But when he hears what she has to say, this time, he truly does appear surprised by her request. He wished that they might begin to become better acquainted with each other, to move past a superficial sort of relationship, and this request that he address her by her real name both surprises and warms him all at once.
... So much for his resolve to not allow his hopes to grow. It seems that they have already begun to do so, and there is no calling them back now even if he wished to. ]
I believe, K'lantaa- [ The name feels strange on his tongue, and yet he has already decided that he likes it. He chooses to focus on that, and not on the immediate thought that perhaps she did not intend for him to use her name so soon after learning it. Perhaps she meant he should use it under other circumstances. His fingers fold together and he gives them a halfway nervous twist even as he continues: ] I believe that this request of yours is one I shall very gladly grant.
[ And where his smiles were somewhat reserved and held in check but no less genuine, now a smile breaks through that is wider than all the rest, and fonder too. ]
no subject
Combining this with the unanticipated attack and now Alkaid's- K'lantaa's clear upset, his normally clear thoughts now resemble a churning storm.
Truthfully, he sees nothing childish about what she has related to him. She is a healer, and he can only imagine the natural inclination to desire to heal when there are those in need. If it were feasible for him to do so, he would grant her the position of Ishgard's principal healer, but he knows full well that her duties as the Warrior of Light more than likely will call her away from Ishgard. At least, he sees that doing so would be of no use or good, and so he refrains.
His eyebrows lift in surprise when she states that not only does she consider him a friend, she considers him important to her. Of course, he could say the same for her, and more besides, but he never dared to think that she might view him in such a light. A friend, perhaps, but beyond welcoming her to the place he calls home and making her an honored guest, he has tried to keep himself from having any loftier thoughts than that. How well he has succeeded remains to be seen. ]
You have rendered me speechless with your words, Alkaid. I can hardly claim to speak for Haurchefant, as he would surely have words to say of his own, if he were present with us, but taking you in and standing by you was, and still remains, the right thing to do.
But I can wholeheartedly agree that friends and comrades should be ready to offer care and support, no matter the circumstance. [ His smile widens, knowing that his apologies and attempts to forestall her so as not to add more troubles to her already existing ones now seem just a little bit superfluous.
And if he could be completely forthcoming, he would state that he wishes he could be so fortunate as to be the one who cares for her and her needs, but again, that is something he can scarcely bring himself to hope for.
He watches her rise and move to stand beside him, eyes fixed on her as she makes her move. ]
Only one? [ His eyebrows raise, mostly in jest, but with a hint of seriousness as well. ] You may make as many conditions as you like, of course, and I will do my best to comply.
[ But when he hears what she has to say, this time, he truly does appear surprised by her request. He wished that they might begin to become better acquainted with each other, to move past a superficial sort of relationship, and this request that he address her by her real name both surprises and warms him all at once.
... So much for his resolve to not allow his hopes to grow. It seems that they have already begun to do so, and there is no calling them back now even if he wished to. ]
I believe, K'lantaa- [ The name feels strange on his tongue, and yet he has already decided that he likes it. He chooses to focus on that, and not on the immediate thought that perhaps she did not intend for him to use her name so soon after learning it. Perhaps she meant he should use it under other circumstances. His fingers fold together and he gives them a halfway nervous twist even as he continues: ] I believe that this request of yours is one I shall very gladly grant.
[ And where his smiles were somewhat reserved and held in check but no less genuine, now a smile breaks through that is wider than all the rest, and fonder too. ]