PSLs

[bardische]

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[disarming_prince]

Clearly the man does not intend to offer him a chocobo. The very fact that he could go riding off on his own would be unacceptable. Not, of course, that he could ride. With but one arm to his name and no familiarity to a bird it would be an impossible task.

"You surely could not trust me on my own were I to walk. You would have to have guards around me, and they would have to be extra attentive which would be draining. It seems a foolish gesture when it seems unlikey you mean to deliver upon it."

[bardische]

"You will have guards around you either way, yes, but there is a trade-off in speed. You may also ride in the wagon. If you do not choose I will choose for you."

He won't rise to the bait of an argument, which is easy for him because he is not much for arguments. Truly, though, keeping his charge in as much physical comfort as possible is beneficial; he needs to be presented in good shape, and frankly, despondent as his is, keeping his blood moving and his mood as good as it can be is beneficial should they need to react quickly.

That's the responsible reason, anyway. He often has a soft spot for offering prisoners what autonomy he can, if they do not present an increased risk to themselves or others.

[disarming_prince]

What even is a good mood in this situation? Is he supposed to be happy that he is captive? That he will be taken to this neutral territory for negotiations? How hard to believe.

"We both know that is not how captivity works, General. The will of the captive is not relevant."

[bardische]

No, Basch knows better than that...though it's the sort of putting his foot in his mouth he knows he's prone to. Just...an urge to decrease unnecessary misery.

Still, he knows he can only do so much, and he doesn't blame Ravus at all for being skeptical.

"Your well-being is part of my charge. Very well. We will walk for this leg." He motions at the other guards, and the nod, finding formation as the faux caravan begins. Exercise is good for restless minds, and a tired prisoner will hopefully sleep more soundly.

[disarming_prince]

“It would seem your charge comes upon you months too late,” Ravus muttered under his breath, shrugging in a way that emphasized the lack on his left side.

It was a petty complaint indeed. The damage done to the arm with the fire spells had been justly dealt in battle, one he was leading against Basch’s own nation. And when he had been captured the healers on Dalmasca’s side had done their best to save the arm, but as things had been so drawn out and Ravus so stubborn, the wound had gone bad. The loss had been the only way to save his life in the end, not that he had been glad of it.

But at least his legs still functioned, though his balance was still a thing of question. Sure, he had been held far mores respectfully than he would have thought fitting for an enemy general, but he had still been that. An enemy. One who had spilled blood. And given that no one in Dalmasca seemed to know, and no one in Nilfheim wished to acknowledge, Ravus’s noble birth… Well, a standard cell had been agreeable enough. The space had hardly been enough for suitably maintaining his body to his old standards, or walking far enough to master the change in his balance.

That did not mean he was not about to try. If nothing else his family was stubborn. And while his status as the remaining Nox Fleuret might be a tightly guarded secret, everyone knew that ‘General Ravus Leonis’ (and oh how bitter it was to be granted a false name based on the sword representing his status had always tasted in his mouth) was quite stubborn in his own right.

He would walk until they bid him stop. Even if he was tripping more than he might have in the past.

[bardische]

Basch is rapidly of the same opinion. Not that he could have done a whole lot. The situation would have been tricky, given Ravus's past, Basch's position, and the delicate state of Dalmasca. Basch holds no ill-will toward him for leading the charge from a foreign nation, but he understands the political optics of it. He does not, however, realize the loss of the arm was another emotional wound Ravus holds.

Which is why, now, as he notices the asynchronous nature of limbs, the occasional stumble, all he reads it as is a cell too small, and another thing to consider in prison reform, should they get the chance. Or maybe it's a chance he needs to make.

So he matches pace, and doesn't draw attention to the increasing tripping. But when it gets bad enough, he calls his men to halt for a rest and a round of water and food.

"You'll ride in the wagon the next leg," he says. If the other protests, fine, but he saw that offering choice got them nowhere.

[disarming_prince]

In another situation Ravus happily would have protested. Eagerly would have even. Because that was just the nature of the man. But he was so tired now. So frustrated with the infirmity he could not yet compensate for. Thus, when the man proclaimed the next choice, Ravus just nodded.

He was far too tired.

“As you say. You do not wish me to slow you down I assume.”

[bardische]

"That would be a sound tactical reason." It's not his, but he's not going to give room to argue.

He offers an arm to Ravus to get up into the wagon, giving his men another hand signal. They'll take chocobo from here.

[disarming_prince]

Yes, it would be a sound tactical reason. But that doesn't mean that it's why Basch is doing it, and Ravus knows that.

"Yes, I would hate to delay you on your march to return me to those who slaughtered my mother," Ravus grumbles as he braces his whole right arm against Basch's offered one to step up into the carriage. "It would be horrible of me to consider doing so, would it not?"

[bardische]

Basch is deeply quiet at that. He knows it's not meant at him personally, it just...hits close to home. He's quiet through helping Ravus into the carriage -- glad the other takes his help -- and steps up after to make sure the other has access to water as needed. He doesn't bother trying to bind him; the carriage is surrounded, and not going fast enough to do major damage if the other leaves.

As he goes to return outside, he pauses. "I know my word means little, but if sparing you that reunion did not cost my country its safety, I would gladly release you."

[disarming_prince]

"You presume this course of action your queen has been fooled into will win your country any safety. Lady Lunafreya of Tenebrea believed that, were she to abide by the rules her conquerors laid down, she and her people would be safe. And surely we have all heard tell of what happened there."

But those oaths had not been given to her. They had been given to Ravus. Should he behave, should he do what they wish, his sister and his people would be safe. And so Ravus Leonis had been forged into a weapon, and the son of the Nox Fleuret line to be left to be forgotten.

[bardische]

He's quiet at that, pausing at the threshold, weighing if he should keep this to himself or not.

"My home country fell, while others who assimilated quietly kept their autonomy and the lives of their people. Dalmasca has tried to hold it's own on military might thus far. Too many are still dying, and we do not want a generation enmeshed in war. My queen is not a fool, and we will raise arms again if terms are not kept. But we have to try. No one else should go through what Landis or Tenebrea did. No one should have to grow up parentless with only the option of being a soldier."

Basch was a weapon too, or maybe a shield. He'd accepted his fate a long time ago. But he didn't wish it for the youth he trained, or the children he saw on so many streets.

[disarming_prince]

Yes, Ravus was aware of what this particular general was supposed to be like. Who he was supposed to be. What his history was.

"A man such as you, with the history you have, I would think you less willing to play their games. But I see you chose to be tamed by the hand of your new queen. You lack the fire to fight, to protect."

And with that disdainful comment, Ravus settles into his seat as best he can.

[bardische]

Ah well, nothing he hasn't heard before. He isn't the sort of man who needs to defend his pride, so he shrugs. "Perhaps you are right." And then he's gone, mountain a chocobo, and they increase their pace.

It's good riding, and they don't need to slow often. So they go until it's time to camp. He doesn't wake their hostage, though he does peel back the flap once or twice to check if he's awake, and sets food just inside.

He'll take watch, just like any of his men. It's near the end of his shift when the commotion starts, shouting behind him. They've got wards on the camp, of course, so he isn't worried so much as discerning.

Until an enchanted arrow, bright with mage fire, pierces too close to the wagon. That shouldn't have gotten through, and immediately he's calling orders, pressing fast to get to the wagon. They can't lose Ravus, and more important, Ravus is still partly bound, and secured in the caravan. If soemthing happens, he won't have a chance.

[disarming_prince]

Indeed, if something happens he won't have a chance. Ravus wouldn't even care, would he? Sure, fire is a bad way to go, but he had already shown his lack of care as to where his life went from here.

And then the door is being thrown open. Ravus raises an eyebrow.

"Very secure perimeter there."

[bardische]

"You can critique my leadership later. We need to move. Can you ride?"

He's already undoing Ravus's binds. He doesn't want to lose the man, but he wants him dead even less.

[disarming_prince]

"I assure you that I am more than capable of multitasking," Ravus assures the other man. He can critique and ride.

"I can ride. My balance has not suffered enough to not handle a bird. But I will not be able to direct it as easily."

[bardische]

Well, at least he isn't too rattled, if he can quip.

Basch just nods, getting the binds off and offering an arm to help him up. He hadn't meant it as a jibe at balance, only a question of skill and and stamina.

"Your bird will follow mine. We go."

Except an arrow pierces the wagon's side, and immediately the heat of flame blooms.

[disarming_prince]

What is the point of being rattled? There's no value to it. He was battle hardened, so he was not going to be shaken by all of this.

He doesn't even flinch as the arrow lands so close to them. There is a little jolt of something around his hand which had already come to lay on Basch's skin. But it's gone just as fast. Ravus ignores it, ducks low, and tackles Basch right out through the open door of the wagon. There. That gets them outside with minimal burns. You're welcome.

rises from the dead on this one. it sure has been a month

[bardische]

He lets out a startled sound, when Ravus lays something on his skin, and stronger yet when he's tackled out.

He says nothing. Rolls the other man and gets to his own feet while offering a hand up, eyes searching.

The camp is ablaze. It's chaos, and hard to tell who is who. The chocobos are still penned. He'll free them, and they'll leave that way.

"This way," he says, taking Ravus's forearm. "You first. I'll steer." He frees the other chocobos, then gets to his knees, offering laced hands as a step onto the bird.

[disarming_prince]

Getting just short of dragged along to the birds is frustrating, but he supposes there's no point to arguing. And he even swallows his pride at having to get a hand up. Which is clearly kind of him. He mounts up and goes his best to tangle his hand into the reins to stabilize himself a bit more. Surely the man doesn't mean sharing a bird... Surely not.

[bardische]

He can't leave Ravus on his own, not as a prisoner and not when he doesn't know how stable the man's riding is. The latter matters more to him. It's hardly a beat before he swings up behind him, oblivious to their closeness outside putting a stabilizing arm around the other. He scans their attackers, but its fire and chaos, and so he clicks in his throat and kicks lightly, urging the chocobo on. There's a safe house east of here, and they can zigzag through some of the desert.

[disarming_prince]

Ravus is too dignified and proper of a man to yelp in shock over a man mounting up behind him. Wrapping himself around Ravus. Which is a reasonable thing to do when sharing a bird.

Which doesn't help with the fact that there is this strange tingling running over Ravus's skin. He hates it.

"Is this bird even any fast?"

[bardische]

"Faster than we are on foot," Basch grunts, attention on their weak flank and the trajectory of another fire spell. When Ravus does not take the reins, Basch reaches around to grasp them, clicking instructions to the bird while kicking its sides lightly.

The bird breaks into a canter, and Basch instinctively moves his thighs to stabilize the other, like he's a new recruit or a civilian.

[disarming_prince]

That's perhaps true, if the thing was carrying but one person. Who knows if that is true now.

"I still cannot fathom why you are so intent upon my safety," he grumbles as Basch gets the bird moving.