I see the world for what it is... [Open]

[sekaikawaranai]

Characters: Ramza Beoulve/Ruglia, and whoever wishes to join him.
Content: Ramza, as a new Quartermaster aboard the Silvana, wishes to look through the ship. In his search, he finds the deck.
Setting: The Deck of the Silvana
Time: After the races.
Warning: It's Ramza, so probably not much. Angst, maybe.

Comments

[why_halo_there]

Ever since Shinjiro had been injured, Hikari had been busy. Not just a little busy, but busier than she had ever remembered. Working in the bakery, and even the inn, was nothing compared to this. Her arms hurt, her back hurt, her everything hurt, and she was left with a lingering ache, a newfound understanding of Shinjiro's moods, and a strong loathing of dried beans.

Enough was enough. It was time to get some air. She told herself she wouldn't be gone for long - it would only be a short break - and stepped out onto the deck. However, it didn't take long for her to spot a new and unfamiliar face.
Was he a new crewmember, or was he merely someone she didn't know well? Either way, it couldn't hurt to talk to him, could it?

Hikari stepped up to him, and said, "Hello?"

[sekaikawaranai]

A young woman. Ramza had only seen one on the ship so far--and that was Lady Grants. But this young woman was a bit different--younger, perhaps.

Ramza smiled, turning to as if to give the young woman his full, undivided attention.

"Oh, hello, Miss." A small laugh, and a scratch of the head. Looking like this, he must have seemed much younger than he was--rather than his nineteen years. His clothes and his face didn't help much either, though he was certain.

"It's a wonderful day, is it not?"

[why_halo_there]

She nodded enthusiastically, and said, "It really is, isn't it?"

Not that she had gotten much of a chance to enjoy it. Oh well, at least she had a few minutes here.

"So," she asked, with a smile on her face, "Did you just get here?"

[sekaikawaranai]

"That I did." He said with a smile. "I am Ramza Ruglia, the new Quartermaster, ma'am."

At least he didn't slip into "Milady" like he had with Lady Grants. He had been trying to curb it, but it was difficult...

"And you, miss?"

[why_halo_there]

"Hikari," she said, "Hikari Glie. I'm one of the cooks here - oh, and there's no need to call me miss. Just Hikari will be fine."

[sekaikawaranai]

"Are you certain?" Lady Grants had certainly not objected to him calling her as he did, but then...maybe she was just a bit more for formalities than the others.

Not that there was anything wrong with it, of course. It was just...different.

"Hikari, then."

[why_halo_there]

"I'm positive," she said, with a smile on her face. "Oh, but what about you? What do you prefer to be called?"

[sekaikawaranai]

"'Ramza' will suffice."

That is what everyone called him, if they didn't refer to him as a proper title. As a child, the servants had often called him "Young Master" or "Little Lord" or "Lord Ramza", but it always felt so stuffy...so strange.

He himself never had any trouble referring to others by titles and honorifics, but he himself...

He was undeserving of any such titles.

"I...am not much comfortable with formalities."

Which was true, though it left out the fact that he was often called that.

[why_halo_there]

"All right. Ramza it is."

She wings stretched out slightly as she folded her arms behind her back, and she asked, "What brings you to the Silvana?"

[sekaikawaranai]

Wings?

...That was a bit curious. He hadn't noticed it before, not really. They were not anything negative, or anything wrong, but...something to note.

He gave her a smile, though to him it felt slightly forced, piecing out just what he should and shouldn't tell her.

Perhaps the usual story would suffice.

"I am...a traveler, hailing from Erealia. I...am merely here for new experiences."

Which wasn't a lie, just...wasn't very conclusive.

"And you?"

[why_halo_there]

"The same thing, really," she said. "Oh, but I'm not from Erealia - I've never even been there, actually - but I'm..."

She trailed off, and shrugged. "I just wanted to see more, I guess."

[sekaikawaranai]

He nodded. It was understandable when a person left their home to see more of the world...in Ramza's case, he had not thought he would have ever left Erealia. No, he would have lived there happily with Alma, Delita, and Tietra...

...

Those days though were over now. But still, he thought of them.

Though he was grateful for the knowledge and the experiences that this new life granted him as well. He saw so much more as Ramza Ruglia than he ever would have as Ramza Beoulve.

That, and...

He could never be a part of a family that condoned what they did. Or allowed what they allowed to happen to Tietra and Delita.

Still, Ramza smiled. At least to hide the sudden pang that hit his chest.

"It is understandable. Everyone must 'leave the nest', so to speak, at some point, right? Life is not always what you see in front of you--sometimes things must be found in the most obscure of places."

[why_halo_there]

"Exactly," she said. "Sometimes you just have to move forward, you know?"

She hesitated for a moment, before her expression turned serious. "Are you all right, though? You seem a bit...well, out of it."

[sekaikawaranai]

He blinked a moment, genuinely surprised. She could tell? Well, his brothers had always told him that he was easy to read. His heart was on his sleeve. Still, though, he smiled anyway, though perhaps it was a bit wistful, shaking his head.

"I am all right. Thank you, Mi--Hikari. You need not worry."

[why_halo_there]

"Well, you might want to take a rest, all right? Sometimes travel wears people out more than you expect."