FFXII Fic: Question and Compass (Vayne, Larsa, Drace, Gabranth)
Somehow, I think 2008 is shaping up to be the year of extremely off-the-wall writing experiments for me. That is, at least, the only reason I could think of to explain why I tried writing a story about Vayne Solidor that involved him having, of all things, a screwball sense of humor. And which is meant to be, strangest of all, not entirely facetious either. I suppose that’s what makes this piece actually interesting-- and possibly what completely doomed it as well.
But in any case, this is the second side-story for the Knots, Ties and Tides, one that’s meant to fill in the gaps about just why Larsa is the well-meaning but devious manipulator that he is, though it also works as a stand-alone. And it’s for ravynstoneabbey. Happy birthday, darling, and I hope you enjoy!
(BTW, this is my last fic up for a bit. Pray for me-- school starts on Tuesday and I’ve got a fearsome workload…)
Title: Question and Compass
Fandom: Final Fantasy XII
Series: Knots, Ties and Tides
Characters/Pairings: Vayne and Larsa, Mentions of Drace, Gabranth, Gramis, Other Judges
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Larsa raises an interesting question, his brother always has an even better answer.
*
You realize, Larsa, when you first came to my room to speak of a ‘matter of the utmost importance,’ as Judge Magister Gabranth explained, I had no idea it would be one of… this particular nature.
Well… I suppose I really shouldn’t be so surprised. Even among those of our pedigree, you’ve always been precocious. You were toddling about at seven months, reading a little before two and all but ruling your nursery with a velvet glove before you had quite mastered the toilet. And furthermore, I suppose I should have realized that Judge Magister Gabranth would be the sort to pass on the torch when it comes to a matter such as this. God only knows what he’ll do to fob off responsibility when you arrive at the age of real trouble.
(Which, if you’re still curious, isn’t anywhere near your present age. Don’t start raising your eyebrows at me just yet, little brother.)
But curiosity-- as well as fate’s odd sense of humor-- forces me to ask this, though I can‘t even begin imagine an understandable answer.
Why on earth, Larsa, do you believe it’s time to try and unravel the mystery of what appeals to women most?
True, I shall give you that trying to understand the peculiar ways of Judge Drace might have instigated the question in the first. It probably does make superficial sense to try and understand the inner workings of the closest thing I’ve ever met to a pit-bull with a downward enclosure. But trust me, Larsa, you would be better off learning of the mindset of actual pit-bulls rather than of hume females if you’d like to learn more about subverting Her Honor. She may appear of normal origins but I’m quite convinced that she has a bale of black ice where her heart ought to be and origins that are not of this earth. Any woman that would turn a prince down simply for the chance to tackle a few extra inches of sweaty foreign...
…Forgive me, Larsa. I really have to insist on you never mentioning the last three seconds of our conversation forevermore. Not that anything that can be said about your nurse maid should alarm you unduly, of course. I don’t know if you’ve realized it, Larsa, but the Judge Magisters under our command, valorous though they might be, tend to have some very… peculiar flaws. Zecht has an insatiable passion for pink pantaloons, Ghis lives to cultivate increasingly vertical coiffures, Gabranth twitches every time you mention family ties-- be sure to ask about his brother soon, Larsa, and compare him to yours-- and as for Judge Bergan…
…Well, we shan’t speak of what happened to turn Judge Bergan the way he is now, Larsa. It would be terribly rude and not the sort of incident that we can respectably gossip about in public anyhow.
(Though really, he should have known better than to have leaped at the chance to avoid a ball by testing safety measures for the Draklor Labs. I hear they had to replace half the ceilings in the place altogether afterwards.)
Really, Judge Zargabaath is probably the most normal of the lot. And considering his passion for a man who wears pink pantaloons in private…
…Pardon. For your own sake, please forget the last seven seconds of that as well.
And Larsa, you cannot evade me forever. There is to be another reason for the question that you shan’t speak of directly to me, isn’t there? I know you are young yet but are you perhaps… interested in a specimen of womankind yourself?
Hmmm. Begging your pardon, my little lord. I had no idea the idea would offend you so. But I suppose when I was your age, I thought little girls were also prone to being exceedingly ‘icky’ and perpetually ‘cross’ as well.
(Or perhaps that was merely early exposure to Judge Drace at work.)
And no, I promise you, I wasn’t laughing. That was merely a hiccup gone wrong.
But Larsa… Larsa, you know you can tell me anything that crops up in your mind, anything that might cross your path, anything that in the least impacts your world. You already know I would never so much as raise my voice to you, yes? I swear, I could never laugh at any of your ambitions, no matter how those beneath us might snigger.
We’re men of the world, you and I. All that we do, we’ll eventually do together.
And… oh. Larsa. Oh. I had no idea you were thinking more on my behalf than of your own.
And little brother… I have no idea what to say, except perhaps words of thanks for your kind offer. But Larsa, you do not actually need to scour the world to find a bride that would finally make me happy. Did you really suppose having another family could bring me any more joy than you already do?
There is nothing, I promise you, nothing that could give my life more meaning than helping you grow. And if I seem a bit… preoccupied as of late, there is no blame that can be laid on your shoulders. There is so much in this world, Larsa, that men of our stature must pay heed to for the sake of our stations. When you are grown and when you have troubles of your own, you shall understand it all a bit more.
And little brother, there’s still so much you don’t know. For instance, kind though your ambitions were, the question of matrimony has already been settled for me.
Larsa, I was already married once before.
No, don’t be alarmed. It only makes sense that you would not remember or even be informed. It was brief, it was unhappy and it was all but extinguished three years after you were born. And yes, Larsa, I did marry fairly young. It isn’t uncommon-- our own father also married at 15, though his first wife toppled off shortly afterward. Though you wrinkle so at the thought, there are reasons for marrying so young. Excellent proposals can come at any time of life and if your bride should be older than you and ripe for the plucking-- well, best not to miss what opportunities come.
…And when I say ’ripe for the plucking,’ Larsa, no orchards are actively involved, though god only knows that would make the whole torturous process easier. We refer to that sort of phrase as an innuendo-- one phrase that masks another. I’ll explain it more thoroughly as soon as you are… hmm, let me think… exactly twice the age you are now.
No pouting, Larsa. We’ve already discussed boundaries. You simply aren’t old enough to understand that sort of term yet, not at only seven years old.
(You are still merely seven years old, yes, Larsa? I suppose even you couldn’t magically flower into adolescence overnight… I believe. Pray. Hope.)
In any case, my wife was… well, she was what she was. She shall be akin to what your wife will be as well, Larsa: blue-blooded, finely-bred and probably rather horsey-looking as well, though I very much hope that your wife will have a finer temper. Avoiding marriage to anyone related to the royal line of Dalmasca would probably help a great deal.
Best not to enquire after details, Larsa. Merely be grateful that the current heiress of Dalmasca will soon enough to Nabradia’s headache, not ours. She’s thankfully half a decade your senior and is already said to have the ability to castrate a man at twenty paces, as her generals have likely already learned.
And there is no need to worry in any case, or to frown so. In fact, I promise you that I’ll assure you a wife that pleases you , even if it comes down to me picking one for you myself. Not that any of this even matters yet. Young though royal brides and grooms can be, I have yet to hear of a boy-- pardon-- man of House Solidor married off at the age of 7. There are years enough for you to live a life unhindered by a wife. I advise you to cherish both the rhyme and the time while it's possible.
And I suppose there is no use delaying the end of this story, sordid though it might seem for us all. We married and we were wed for two years before we realized that… well. That there wasn’t really any reason to be married, at least on my end. There was no real reason to stay with her after, especially after relationships with Dalmasca broke.
The truth is, Larsa, that I cannot have children and, therefore, no true marriage either. My wife and I could never give rise to any daughters and my sons… both of my sons died, the first right before and the second shortly after their births.
And no, Larsa, no. There‘s no reason to be the least bit unhappy at the thought. They are all in a better place now, a place where they shan’t have to face any of the ugliness of our world.
You are still here, of course, and you must not even entertain thoughts of leaving any of us behind. But fate had a different route in mind for them.... and considering the mess that could have ensued, perhaps the gods chose the kindest path overall.
Their passing was a tragedy, yes. But Larsa… think now of how well you must rule now that you realize how much we need you. There are no other heirs and if you can use the thought of your dear nephews as a reason for strength, then even their sad deaths can serve a noble cause.
You see, Larsa, a good ruler-- a just ruler-- is one who looks first and foremost toward the welfare of their people. And in Archadia, a good ruler of the Solidor line must engender sons that are strong and wise, just as our lord father has done. I cannot carry on in this regard so you must look forward to doing so even more.
It is rather ironic, isn’t it? You came to me to learn of the workings of women for my sake and instead, we’ve come to see why you need to know so for yourself. Indeed, Larsa, though you are young yet, you have had the right idea all this time. It probably is best that you devote further study to understanding more of people altogether.
Learning the subtle art of enticing others is something any lord worth his title must know. Learning of history and geography and ways to perpetuate mathematical enchantment means nothing if you cannot persuade others to follow your lead as well.
It is simply so important, Larsa, to learn how to gently press your will towards those who cannot know any better. You will never meet any outside our circle that will know what you know, that can match your abilities well. Simply put, there will be few, if any, people you will ever meet that will have your consequence or your intelligence.
But of course, the best way to deal with them is to never let them fully know of both.
And learning how to properly court a woman is a valuable skill, however silly it might seem at present. I know being a manly man at your age seems to have more to do with other men than with women… but that shall change, I promise you. In fact, I’ve no doubt that as soon as your age reaches that of duplicate digits, you shall rather gladly go about rescuing beautiful damsels in distress at every corner.
Yes, as well as any hero in a story book! We had best start polishing your suit of armor as soon as possible. And to do so, it might be best for you to find a subject to practice it on as well.
…Although I must admit I am a little dubious about Judge Drace serving as your first area of practice. From long and painful experience, I can assure you that she is not a woman to trifle with. Especially where nannas are concerned.
Apparently, she did not find shedding desert animals appearing in her bedroom to be a very romantic gesture. But who could have possibly guessed that from her perpetually demure demeanor? I merely thought that gifting her with something that matched her own stubbornness would be both whimsical and playful.
And thank you, Larsa. I have no idea why she burst into such a fury when she saw it either. I thought it a most appropriate offering also.
But at present, it would probably best to stay away from her when practicing your budding skills. I don’t suppose crones know much of love anyway and in any case, I would be more than happy to serve as your adviser in this. I believe I know just a little more of the workings of a courtship than she does. I’m not sure anything better than a bangaa’s beak has breached her inner chambers for at least a decade, if not longer.
Yes, little brother, that was another example of innuendo. But no, I shan’t tell you exactly what it refers to... at least until your voice has dropped an octave or four with a corresponding height-wards surge up.
And you needn't bother trying to conspire with Judge Gabranth to understand more. He always reports back to me eventually, after all.
But perhaps most importantly... Larsa, you shall remember to keep this between the two of us, shan't you? It would grieve me most dearly to learn of you failing me in this manner. You will remember to keep your word for me, no?
Shhh. I understand now. And you needn't protest so. Larsa, I promise, I was merely jesting. I never doubted you for even the briefest spell.
And Larsa… strange though it may, I really am glad we have had this talk. I cannot pretend that I was not initially nonplussed by the topic… but the paths we‘ve found stemming from it will only serve us all. You are coming ever and ever closer to the man you will be, little brother, and simply watching you take these first steps makes me proud.
I shan't risk any more children, Larsa, and our lord father is far too old and infirm to hope for another miracle of your caliber. No, you remain the only hope of the future budding of our family-- of our line and our empire both. For all our sakes, you must always strive for the best you can-- to be the badge of our house, the coin of our realm, the bright fruit of our bitter flowers.
Such a burden to put on such small shoulders, I know.
But somehow, despite all the troubles that beset us, I know you shall do well.
*
Author‘s Note: When I set out to try and give Vayne Solidor an actual sense of humor, I had no idea it would turn out this way. I’m not sure I’m entirely pleased with the end result either. So if it’s okay, I’d love to get some feedback on the following questions. (And please only answer those you’d like to answer, if any!)
1) Was this Vayne appealing? Interesting? A good fit for a cameo (or better) in Knots in the future? (I wanted to keep him creepy and devious but also let him have a sly sense of humor. The all important banter would be missing otherwise!)
2) Did this Vayne seem to have a realistic and loving (if still very self-promoting) relationship with his younger brother? Does it make sense to have Larsa love and look for this Vayne?
3) Does it seem as though a few years of “learning” lessons like this would lead to the frankly very manipulative and short-sighted Larsa we see in Chapter 10?
Depending on the answers, I might or might not deep-six this experimental side-story for Knots. Thanks so much for the help, everyone! And as always, I really do appreciate feedback-- I wouldn’t have the motivation of writing if I didn’t have such kind folks cheering me on.
But in any case, this is the second side-story for the Knots, Ties and Tides, one that’s meant to fill in the gaps about just why Larsa is the well-meaning but devious manipulator that he is, though it also works as a stand-alone. And it’s for ravynstoneabbey. Happy birthday, darling, and I hope you enjoy!
(BTW, this is my last fic up for a bit. Pray for me-- school starts on Tuesday and I’ve got a fearsome workload…)
Title: Question and Compass
Fandom: Final Fantasy XII
Series: Knots, Ties and Tides
Characters/Pairings: Vayne and Larsa, Mentions of Drace, Gabranth, Gramis, Other Judges
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Larsa raises an interesting question, his brother always has an even better answer.
*
You realize, Larsa, when you first came to my room to speak of a ‘matter of the utmost importance,’ as Judge Magister Gabranth explained, I had no idea it would be one of… this particular nature.
Well… I suppose I really shouldn’t be so surprised. Even among those of our pedigree, you’ve always been precocious. You were toddling about at seven months, reading a little before two and all but ruling your nursery with a velvet glove before you had quite mastered the toilet. And furthermore, I suppose I should have realized that Judge Magister Gabranth would be the sort to pass on the torch when it comes to a matter such as this. God only knows what he’ll do to fob off responsibility when you arrive at the age of real trouble.
(Which, if you’re still curious, isn’t anywhere near your present age. Don’t start raising your eyebrows at me just yet, little brother.)
But curiosity-- as well as fate’s odd sense of humor-- forces me to ask this, though I can‘t even begin imagine an understandable answer.
Why on earth, Larsa, do you believe it’s time to try and unravel the mystery of what appeals to women most?
True, I shall give you that trying to understand the peculiar ways of Judge Drace might have instigated the question in the first. It probably does make superficial sense to try and understand the inner workings of the closest thing I’ve ever met to a pit-bull with a downward enclosure. But trust me, Larsa, you would be better off learning of the mindset of actual pit-bulls rather than of hume females if you’d like to learn more about subverting Her Honor. She may appear of normal origins but I’m quite convinced that she has a bale of black ice where her heart ought to be and origins that are not of this earth. Any woman that would turn a prince down simply for the chance to tackle a few extra inches of sweaty foreign...
…Forgive me, Larsa. I really have to insist on you never mentioning the last three seconds of our conversation forevermore. Not that anything that can be said about your nurse maid should alarm you unduly, of course. I don’t know if you’ve realized it, Larsa, but the Judge Magisters under our command, valorous though they might be, tend to have some very… peculiar flaws. Zecht has an insatiable passion for pink pantaloons, Ghis lives to cultivate increasingly vertical coiffures, Gabranth twitches every time you mention family ties-- be sure to ask about his brother soon, Larsa, and compare him to yours-- and as for Judge Bergan…
…Well, we shan’t speak of what happened to turn Judge Bergan the way he is now, Larsa. It would be terribly rude and not the sort of incident that we can respectably gossip about in public anyhow.
(Though really, he should have known better than to have leaped at the chance to avoid a ball by testing safety measures for the Draklor Labs. I hear they had to replace half the ceilings in the place altogether afterwards.)
Really, Judge Zargabaath is probably the most normal of the lot. And considering his passion for a man who wears pink pantaloons in private…
…Pardon. For your own sake, please forget the last seven seconds of that as well.
And Larsa, you cannot evade me forever. There is to be another reason for the question that you shan’t speak of directly to me, isn’t there? I know you are young yet but are you perhaps… interested in a specimen of womankind yourself?
Hmmm. Begging your pardon, my little lord. I had no idea the idea would offend you so. But I suppose when I was your age, I thought little girls were also prone to being exceedingly ‘icky’ and perpetually ‘cross’ as well.
(Or perhaps that was merely early exposure to Judge Drace at work.)
And no, I promise you, I wasn’t laughing. That was merely a hiccup gone wrong.
But Larsa… Larsa, you know you can tell me anything that crops up in your mind, anything that might cross your path, anything that in the least impacts your world. You already know I would never so much as raise my voice to you, yes? I swear, I could never laugh at any of your ambitions, no matter how those beneath us might snigger.
We’re men of the world, you and I. All that we do, we’ll eventually do together.
And… oh. Larsa. Oh. I had no idea you were thinking more on my behalf than of your own.
And little brother… I have no idea what to say, except perhaps words of thanks for your kind offer. But Larsa, you do not actually need to scour the world to find a bride that would finally make me happy. Did you really suppose having another family could bring me any more joy than you already do?
There is nothing, I promise you, nothing that could give my life more meaning than helping you grow. And if I seem a bit… preoccupied as of late, there is no blame that can be laid on your shoulders. There is so much in this world, Larsa, that men of our stature must pay heed to for the sake of our stations. When you are grown and when you have troubles of your own, you shall understand it all a bit more.
And little brother, there’s still so much you don’t know. For instance, kind though your ambitions were, the question of matrimony has already been settled for me.
Larsa, I was already married once before.
No, don’t be alarmed. It only makes sense that you would not remember or even be informed. It was brief, it was unhappy and it was all but extinguished three years after you were born. And yes, Larsa, I did marry fairly young. It isn’t uncommon-- our own father also married at 15, though his first wife toppled off shortly afterward. Though you wrinkle so at the thought, there are reasons for marrying so young. Excellent proposals can come at any time of life and if your bride should be older than you and ripe for the plucking-- well, best not to miss what opportunities come.
…And when I say ’ripe for the plucking,’ Larsa, no orchards are actively involved, though god only knows that would make the whole torturous process easier. We refer to that sort of phrase as an innuendo-- one phrase that masks another. I’ll explain it more thoroughly as soon as you are… hmm, let me think… exactly twice the age you are now.
No pouting, Larsa. We’ve already discussed boundaries. You simply aren’t old enough to understand that sort of term yet, not at only seven years old.
(You are still merely seven years old, yes, Larsa? I suppose even you couldn’t magically flower into adolescence overnight… I believe. Pray. Hope.)
In any case, my wife was… well, she was what she was. She shall be akin to what your wife will be as well, Larsa: blue-blooded, finely-bred and probably rather horsey-looking as well, though I very much hope that your wife will have a finer temper. Avoiding marriage to anyone related to the royal line of Dalmasca would probably help a great deal.
Best not to enquire after details, Larsa. Merely be grateful that the current heiress of Dalmasca will soon enough to Nabradia’s headache, not ours. She’s thankfully half a decade your senior and is already said to have the ability to castrate a man at twenty paces, as her generals have likely already learned.
And there is no need to worry in any case, or to frown so. In fact, I promise you that I’ll assure you a wife that pleases you , even if it comes down to me picking one for you myself. Not that any of this even matters yet. Young though royal brides and grooms can be, I have yet to hear of a boy-- pardon-- man of House Solidor married off at the age of 7. There are years enough for you to live a life unhindered by a wife. I advise you to cherish both the rhyme and the time while it's possible.
And I suppose there is no use delaying the end of this story, sordid though it might seem for us all. We married and we were wed for two years before we realized that… well. That there wasn’t really any reason to be married, at least on my end. There was no real reason to stay with her after, especially after relationships with Dalmasca broke.
The truth is, Larsa, that I cannot have children and, therefore, no true marriage either. My wife and I could never give rise to any daughters and my sons… both of my sons died, the first right before and the second shortly after their births.
And no, Larsa, no. There‘s no reason to be the least bit unhappy at the thought. They are all in a better place now, a place where they shan’t have to face any of the ugliness of our world.
You are still here, of course, and you must not even entertain thoughts of leaving any of us behind. But fate had a different route in mind for them.... and considering the mess that could have ensued, perhaps the gods chose the kindest path overall.
Their passing was a tragedy, yes. But Larsa… think now of how well you must rule now that you realize how much we need you. There are no other heirs and if you can use the thought of your dear nephews as a reason for strength, then even their sad deaths can serve a noble cause.
You see, Larsa, a good ruler-- a just ruler-- is one who looks first and foremost toward the welfare of their people. And in Archadia, a good ruler of the Solidor line must engender sons that are strong and wise, just as our lord father has done. I cannot carry on in this regard so you must look forward to doing so even more.
It is rather ironic, isn’t it? You came to me to learn of the workings of women for my sake and instead, we’ve come to see why you need to know so for yourself. Indeed, Larsa, though you are young yet, you have had the right idea all this time. It probably is best that you devote further study to understanding more of people altogether.
Learning the subtle art of enticing others is something any lord worth his title must know. Learning of history and geography and ways to perpetuate mathematical enchantment means nothing if you cannot persuade others to follow your lead as well.
It is simply so important, Larsa, to learn how to gently press your will towards those who cannot know any better. You will never meet any outside our circle that will know what you know, that can match your abilities well. Simply put, there will be few, if any, people you will ever meet that will have your consequence or your intelligence.
But of course, the best way to deal with them is to never let them fully know of both.
And learning how to properly court a woman is a valuable skill, however silly it might seem at present. I know being a manly man at your age seems to have more to do with other men than with women… but that shall change, I promise you. In fact, I’ve no doubt that as soon as your age reaches that of duplicate digits, you shall rather gladly go about rescuing beautiful damsels in distress at every corner.
Yes, as well as any hero in a story book! We had best start polishing your suit of armor as soon as possible. And to do so, it might be best for you to find a subject to practice it on as well.
…Although I must admit I am a little dubious about Judge Drace serving as your first area of practice. From long and painful experience, I can assure you that she is not a woman to trifle with. Especially where nannas are concerned.
Apparently, she did not find shedding desert animals appearing in her bedroom to be a very romantic gesture. But who could have possibly guessed that from her perpetually demure demeanor? I merely thought that gifting her with something that matched her own stubbornness would be both whimsical and playful.
And thank you, Larsa. I have no idea why she burst into such a fury when she saw it either. I thought it a most appropriate offering also.
But at present, it would probably best to stay away from her when practicing your budding skills. I don’t suppose crones know much of love anyway and in any case, I would be more than happy to serve as your adviser in this. I believe I know just a little more of the workings of a courtship than she does. I’m not sure anything better than a bangaa’s beak has breached her inner chambers for at least a decade, if not longer.
Yes, little brother, that was another example of innuendo. But no, I shan’t tell you exactly what it refers to... at least until your voice has dropped an octave or four with a corresponding height-wards surge up.
And you needn't bother trying to conspire with Judge Gabranth to understand more. He always reports back to me eventually, after all.
But perhaps most importantly... Larsa, you shall remember to keep this between the two of us, shan't you? It would grieve me most dearly to learn of you failing me in this manner. You will remember to keep your word for me, no?
Shhh. I understand now. And you needn't protest so. Larsa, I promise, I was merely jesting. I never doubted you for even the briefest spell.
And Larsa… strange though it may, I really am glad we have had this talk. I cannot pretend that I was not initially nonplussed by the topic… but the paths we‘ve found stemming from it will only serve us all. You are coming ever and ever closer to the man you will be, little brother, and simply watching you take these first steps makes me proud.
I shan't risk any more children, Larsa, and our lord father is far too old and infirm to hope for another miracle of your caliber. No, you remain the only hope of the future budding of our family-- of our line and our empire both. For all our sakes, you must always strive for the best you can-- to be the badge of our house, the coin of our realm, the bright fruit of our bitter flowers.
Such a burden to put on such small shoulders, I know.
But somehow, despite all the troubles that beset us, I know you shall do well.
*
Author‘s Note: When I set out to try and give Vayne Solidor an actual sense of humor, I had no idea it would turn out this way. I’m not sure I’m entirely pleased with the end result either. So if it’s okay, I’d love to get some feedback on the following questions. (And please only answer those you’d like to answer, if any!)
1) Was this Vayne appealing? Interesting? A good fit for a cameo (or better) in Knots in the future? (I wanted to keep him creepy and devious but also let him have a sly sense of humor. The all important banter would be missing otherwise!)
2) Did this Vayne seem to have a realistic and loving (if still very self-promoting) relationship with his younger brother? Does it make sense to have Larsa love and look for this Vayne?
3) Does it seem as though a few years of “learning” lessons like this would lead to the frankly very manipulative and short-sighted Larsa we see in Chapter 10?
Depending on the answers, I might or might not deep-six this experimental side-story for Knots. Thanks so much for the help, everyone! And as always, I really do appreciate feedback-- I wouldn’t have the motivation of writing if I didn’t have such kind folks cheering me on.