[When the proposal of political marriage had first emerged at the negotiations table, many within the Alliance had thought it a poorly timed joke. Some mismatched sense of humor ill-befitting the somber atmosphere. But no, Maxima had insisted, evidently the offer had been all too serious and had therefore prompted an equally serious response in turn- however scrambled it might be.
The question then, of course, was of who they might offer to such a union- nevermind their lack of understanding of to whom amongst the Garlean royal family the union might be.
Nanamo had come up in passing- as quickly suggested and dismissed for the look upon Raubahn's face. It was a foolish thing to even think, really, for Ul'dah would not relinquish their beloved Sultana to anyone and it was nonsensical to offer a ruler in any regard. Lyse had also been mentioned, though she had swiftly denounced the very notion- claiming she would send the bloody bastard flying as soon as he attempted to place hands upon her. She could also, they had felt, not be spared from the efforts of rebuilding Ala Mhigo. (A paltry excuse, perhaps, but offered with the same amount of dignity one would expect from such a seasoned diplomat as Kan-e-Senna in the spirit of allowing Lyse to save face.) Hien had offered himself- bemused and joking- and Yugiri had nearly grown white hairs on the spot. Aymeric had also tentatively offered his candidacy- claiming to be no true leader of Ishgard and merely a representative of the House of Lords. Merlwyb had swiftly negated the possibility- citing that Aymeric's removal would surely see a regression in Ishgard's open borders policies and sow the seeds of discord as effectively were any of them to wed.
Suggestions thusly made and each calmly refuted left unanswered the question of Who would be a fitting representative of the Eorzean Alliance? That it must needs be someone with enough influence to show they were sincere in their efforts towards the union but not so influential as to potentially cripple a City State went unsaid, but seemingly there were none fit to fill the role.
None, save, perhaps one. And as the silence grew, awkward and uncomfortable with every passing second as those present refused to even so much as glance in his direction, it was Ze who finally broke the tentative silence with a sigh weary enough in its resignation to already herald the obvious conclusion. Nobody had wanted to say it- to offer up their Champion once more like bait upon the platter- and so he said it for them.
(Fray shriekedhis disapproval.)
When protests rose up- as inevitably for himself as they had any other suggestion- he merely proclaimed that should it indeed turn out to be a trap intended to force the Alliance's hand- there would be none better equipped than he fight to their way out their way out from the heart of Garlemald. (And, more quietly to himself, he added that if he should fail it would only mean the loss of an adventurer.)
"Steady, lad. You've enough notches to your belt that none here would doubt you- aye, but you're not a god." Raubahn had cautioned him, well-meaning kindness in his words.
"Yet." Hien had offered unhelpfully with a sheepish smile.
There was, of course, the small matter of his presumed murder of the crown prince, but Thancred (in an ill-mood over the whole thing) had merely pointed out that held little water since Zenos was clearly up and about. Lyse (in an equally poor mood) added that if any dared to speak ill of their suggestion upon the grounds of Ze's history considering Garlemald's own, then hang the whole thing and they could go back to the talk of war. (He was a little touched to see how many of those upon the table nodded in agreement of the latter.)
Still, as tempting as the idea was, it was the thought of countless others dying for his failure that kept him from decrying the offer in its entirety. Not, of course, that he expected that to change much if it was indeed a trap. Still, even if that were the case, this route would get him a bit closer to the possibility of a royal assassination and, truth be told, that suited his tastes far better than the dancing about in the politics of war and alliances. There was some danger with the whole plan, of course, but that was only to be expected and certainly it was no less than he might have felt in the face of a primal or surrounded by throngs of murderous wildebeests.
Furthermore, if his only true threat was Elidibus masquerading as Zenos- Ze was more than certain he would be able to handle him. No one had matched him the way the Garlean prince had and he was confident, same body or no, that the Ascian would be no different.
Small consolations, to be certain, but with the added security of an "entourage" in the form of half the Scions (with the other half serving reconnaissance,) Ze felt wholly confident in their ability to pull off this plan. Even if it never came to that- what was a marriage to an uncaring royal in the long run? Surely no well bred Garlean prince/princess would look upon a savage such as he and find him desirable. Once peace was brokered and the entire affair had grown stale, he had no doubt he would be discarded- free to return to his travels with a truce in his pocket for his troubles.
⤞ancientspark
[When the proposal of political marriage had first emerged at the negotiations table, many within the Alliance had thought it a poorly timed joke. Some mismatched sense of humor ill-befitting the somber atmosphere. But no, Maxima had insisted, evidently the offer had been all too serious and had therefore prompted an equally serious response in turn- however scrambled it might be.
The question then, of course, was of who they might offer to such a union- nevermind their lack of understanding of to whom amongst the Garlean royal family the union might be.
Nanamo had come up in passing- as quickly suggested and dismissed for the look upon Raubahn's face. It was a foolish thing to even think, really, for Ul'dah would not relinquish their beloved Sultana to anyone and it was nonsensical to offer a ruler in any regard. Lyse had also been mentioned, though she had swiftly denounced the very notion- claiming she would send the bloody bastard flying as soon as he attempted to place hands upon her. She could also, they had felt, not be spared from the efforts of rebuilding Ala Mhigo. (A paltry excuse, perhaps, but offered with the same amount of dignity one would expect from such a seasoned diplomat as Kan-e-Senna in the spirit of allowing Lyse to save face.) Hien had offered himself- bemused and joking- and Yugiri had nearly grown white hairs on the spot. Aymeric had also tentatively offered his candidacy- claiming to be no true leader of Ishgard and merely a representative of the House of Lords. Merlwyb had swiftly negated the possibility- citing that Aymeric's removal would surely see a regression in Ishgard's open borders policies and sow the seeds of discord as effectively were any of them to wed.
Suggestions thusly made and each calmly refuted left unanswered the question of Who would be a fitting representative of the Eorzean Alliance? That it must needs be someone with enough influence to show they were sincere in their efforts towards the union but not so influential as to potentially cripple a City State went unsaid, but seemingly there were none fit to fill the role.
None, save, perhaps one. And as the silence grew, awkward and uncomfortable with every passing second as those present refused to even so much as glance in his direction, it was Ze who finally broke the tentative silence with a sigh weary enough in its resignation to already herald the obvious conclusion. Nobody had wanted to say it- to offer up their Champion once more like bait upon the platter- and so he said it for them.
(Fray shrieked his disapproval.)
When protests rose up- as inevitably for himself as they had any other suggestion- he merely proclaimed that should it indeed turn out to be a trap intended to force the Alliance's hand- there would be none better equipped than he fight to their way out their way out from the heart of Garlemald. (And, more quietly to himself, he added that if he should fail it would only mean the loss of an adventurer.)
"Steady, lad. You've enough notches to your belt that none here would doubt you- aye, but you're not a god." Raubahn had cautioned him, well-meaning kindness in his words.
"Yet." Hien had offered unhelpfully with a sheepish smile.
There was, of course, the small matter of his presumed murder of the crown prince, but Thancred (in an ill-mood over the whole thing) had merely pointed out that held little water since Zenos was clearly up and about. Lyse (in an equally poor mood) added that if any dared to speak ill of their suggestion upon the grounds of Ze's history considering Garlemald's own, then hang the whole thing and they could go back to the talk of war. (He was a little touched to see how many of those upon the table nodded in agreement of the latter.)
Still, as tempting as the idea was, it was the thought of countless others dying for his failure that kept him from decrying the offer in its entirety. Not, of course, that he expected that to change much if it was indeed a trap. Still, even if that were the case, this route would get him a bit closer to the possibility of a royal assassination and, truth be told, that suited his tastes far better than the dancing about in the politics of war and alliances. There was some danger with the whole plan, of course, but that was only to be expected and certainly it was no less than he might have felt in the face of a primal or surrounded by throngs of murderous wildebeests.
Furthermore, if his only true threat was Elidibus masquerading as Zenos- Ze was more than certain he would be able to handle him. No one had matched him the way the Garlean prince had and he was confident, same body or no, that the Ascian would be no different.
Small consolations, to be certain, but with the added security of an "entourage" in the form of half the Scions (with the other half serving reconnaissance,) Ze felt wholly confident in their ability to pull off this plan. Even if it never came to that- what was a marriage to an uncaring royal in the long run? Surely no well bred Garlean prince/princess would look upon a savage such as he and find him desirable. Once peace was brokered and the entire affair had grown stale, he had no doubt he would be discarded- free to return to his travels with a truce in his pocket for his troubles.
Win-win all around, surely.]