A royal discourse

[dreamsofahero]

Who: Sion and blue!Saber
Where: some restaurant in Celadon City
When: September 17 (backdated like woah)
Summary: Kings converse about kingly concerns
Rating: PG
Log:

The restaurant Sion had chosen to meet at wasn't particularly large or fancy, but it had convenient booths, which helped give some modicum of privacy. He arrived a bit earlier than the appointed time to pick out an appropriate table, then ordered himself a drink while he waited for Arturia to arrive.

Comments

UNLIMITED BACKDATE WORKS

[ex_cashcow493]

She wouldn't be too far behind him in arrival. Familiarity with the city meant that the only thing that could delay her would be a maiden in trouble or some other being who needed help. Fortunately she would cross neither in her path to the restaurant. While it had been a last minute decision to meet up over a night's rest, she still managed to find some time to dress in something other than her usual breeder's clothes, although the blue gown she had fit to her form did little to cover up the remainder of scales along her chest. Surely a left over from that craziness a few weeks back, but one she didn't feel up to hiding.

"Good day." In fact, she would be more energetic than usual as she approached him hastily, an arm up with a wave. "Were you waiting long?"

[dreamsofahero]

"Not long at all," Sion responded with a smile. He noticed the scales, of course, but didn't remark on nor even react to it; he still had highly visible horns himself, after all.

"Though I do hope I'm not imposing, asking you to meet me on such short notice as this..."

[ex_cashcow493]

"If you were, do you think I would hesitate to tell you?" That remark alone earned a playful smirk from the smaller king before she found herself to a seat.

"Well, what is it you would like to speak about?"

[dreamsofahero]

"Do you really wish me to answer that?" Sion replied, teasing back in kind. "Though in any case..."

He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts and deciding just how to put it, as well as waving the waiter over so they could place their orders. It wouldn't do to sit talking in a restaurant and not eat anything, after all. "Well, I suppose you could say it's a matter of priorities, really."

[ex_cashcow493]

Don't worry. Whatever it is he had to say, it could wait for Saber to put in her order. Not too large of an order at least. Once completed, she would face him again with a curious look.

"A matter of priorities?" That could be meant in a number of ways, so she would have to wait on him to flesh out the statement.

...I go to bed and wake up to ALL THE TAGS XD

[dreamsofahero]

Sion paused again, more to consider just how to explain his thoughts than anything. It wasn't a situation he'd ever encountered before, after all, much less attempted to speak to anyone about.

"As you understand," he began at last, "I have a certain duty to my kingdom. I certainly can't help the fact that I'm trapped here for the time being, at least, but that doesn't change who and what I am. And yet... I find it difficult to overlook the actions of certain individuals or groups here. But if I were to take action effectively for the sake of another country, wouldn't that be nearly tantamount to betraying my own?"

Or so it felt like to him, anyway. Much as he couldn't stand seeing people hurt or injustice done, neither could he help feeling almost as though he were betraying his own people, even if it was only temporarily and in another world altogether.

And then I failed to keep up with them in a timely fashion once more u_u

[ex_cashcow493]

"Have you not heard of free knights?" A term that was coined who knows how long ago, Saber's familiar with it enough. "Those who roam the land without allegiance to any lord with the intent of just doing what is right. They follow their own code of chivalry and while it hardly deviates from that of a standard one, there may be slight differences."

Beside, it would be easier to just yell "FOR PONY MY LAND!" with every victory in battle, wouldn't it? The thought amused her briefly, but the only hint of joy found in her features would rest in her eyes. A fondness settles around her as she fidgets in place slightly.

The topic bothered her to some detail, but what could she do. "I suppose I have never thought much of that conflict since I have passed beyond my time." A remark that she meant to keep to herself, Saber appears horrified when she realized it had been said out loud.

Aww, it happens~ <3

[dreamsofahero]

"That may be, but even if I've no particular ties to these lands, that doesn't absolve my duties toward Roland, does it?"

Being a completely free agent would be one thing, after all, but the issue at hand was that Sion didn't feel he could in good conscience call himself that, exactly. Claiming to have no allegiances would by implication deny his connection to his own kingdom as well, wouldn't it?

He didn't blink at her second remark, however- it had fit in with what she'd said and implied in an earlier conversation, after all- instead merely giving her a sympathetic smile.

"Though I can imagine that would make it rather unnecessary to worry about such things, yes," he remarked.

[ex_cashcow493]

"Yes, it is a burden that has been lifted. There is no way to change the fate that has fallen my kingdom. The only remaining course in my life is to live it to the fullest here so that when I return to that final place, I may serve the world with more ease."

A roundabout way of saying that death wouldn't be the end for her. In all honestly, a cruel fate was laid out before her, but that was what she sacrificed in order to have a chance.

A chance she destroyed both times with her own blade.

"You will always think on it. That course of action is wise, yes, but you should not allow it to weigh you down. Instead use it to guide you towards victory in all that you do whether it be battle or learn more of the people around you. Additional wisdom has never harmed a leader, no?"

[dreamsofahero]

Sion nodded, not questioning the implications of what Saber said. The notion of fates other- and in some cases worse- than death wasn't foreign to him, after all. Instead he focused on the main question at hand.

"It doesn't, no," he replied. "But learning and facing whatever challenges happen to come my way is one thing; seeking out engagements or championing a cause is another, isn't it? What would it say about the king of Roland if he started to fight on behalf of the people of a foreign nation? And yet, to overlook something simply because it doesn't immediately affect me..."

He shook his head. He'd never cared to sit on the sidelines and allow others to come to harm when he felt there was something he might be able to do about it- that was exactly how he'd ended up becoming king after all, wasn't it? But he was king now, and he couldn't ignore the responsibilities to his people that came with that, either.

[ex_cashcow493]

"This is to be my opinion and one possibly shared with others, but I believe that any king who offers to help any who need it is one that will be well-respected no matter what. You might view it as a betrayal, but who else in this place would?"

She felt as though she had begun to repeat herself already, so instead she'll dismiss it with a shake of her head. "Diplomacy has always been a tricky thing to balance. I find myself caring less for it each day and with that, more focused on doing what I feel is right. I was told before it was impossible to make everyone happy, so you should do what you feel is right for the good of all."

Honestly, there would be no easy answer. There never was when it came to matters of the kingdom and justice.

"I wish I could offer you fairer counsel, but this is hardly my strong point."

[dreamsofahero]

It was impossible to make everyone happy.

How often had he been told exactly that? How many times had he stubbornly insisted- even argued- in favor of giving someone or several someones a chance to be won over rather than sacrificing even the worst of them for the greater good?

Sion sighed, shaking his head a little. "No, you make perfectly good points, Arturia, it is I who can't let go of such rigid standards, perhaps." He paused, taking a sip of his drink as he mulled the matter over a bit more. "So your advice is, not to forget Roland, but likewise not to let something I cannot do anything about interfere with addressing the immediate concerns before me?"