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Full Version: While We have Time (Quentyn and Pumpkin)
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Quentyn left from talking to Arrhidaeus, though slightly disappointed that he didn’t know how to tell the au ra about Allag or at least nothing he wasn’t already aware of. He made his way to the house that Pumpkin had claimed for herself. 

"This is the right choice for you, don’t be shackled by chains you don’t want."

When the house came into view he hesitated and stood for a few seconds staring at the building. He started to turn to walk away.

"This is for your own happiness, move forward."

He sighed inwardly, walked over to the building and knocked on the door. 

"What if she doesn’t let you go? What if she just gets angry at you? She needs you, don’t be so selfish."

"Choose your own fate, don’t let it be decided for you. If she cares about you at all, she won’t keep you bound to her."

“Pumpkin, are you home? I would like to speak to you about something if you have time.”
Alexander, at this beginning phase, was disorienting to Pumpkin. With the help of Cullen she managed to bunker down within the strange city that was provided for them.

The first few days had been spent within her claimed home. She meditated. She tested her vision. She spoke to whomever came through. She slept... and that was what kept her.

Today, she-- surprise! Meditated! And, suprise! It was interrupted, as it had been every day since she arrived, and every day before that since she joined the Conjurer's Guild.

With an expectant huff, Pumpkin opened her eyes, curious at Quentyn's tone and the whole of his arrival.

"I am, in fact, home." She spoke up, beckoning him in while remaining still in both tone and pose, "Come, take a seat, Quentyn. What's on your mind?"
Quentyn walked in and sat down lotus on the floor across from Pumpkin.

"I wanted to speak to you about after this thing is all over. I..." he trailed off nervously.

Speak and be heard. There's no backing out now."

Steeling himself with more resolve he spoke clearly. "I wanted to speak to you about leaving the Entwined Serpents."

Good. This is the first step to remove your shackles.

Or you will shatter your relationship with her. You need her to be able to stay in Gridania don't you?

He took another deeper breath. "I truly appreciate the opportunity and it helped me to rebuild myself. I however.. I never really wanted to be a soldier or a guardian. My heart isn't in it and you deserve better then that Pumpkin. I want to serve Gridania still, but hopefully in a different capacity."
Pumpkin raised her eyebrows, and then immediately furrowed them as Quentyn continued to speak. She seemed to squint at him, in an effort to focus on him.

She snorted through her nose at his thanks, frown still remaining.

"Your heart..." She began, careful, yet still a smidgen snide, "Hasn't been in an oath that you've managed to keep for, oh, going on a year now?"

She shook her head, as her tone edged to true irritation. She huffed and held her hand out in a 'stop' motion. She took a breath, in through her nose, out through her mouth.

"Apologies... Quentyn. Everything here is... bright. It's been setting me on edge... far more than I'd like to. And, a potential surprise? Not exactly welcome at the moment. Yet, it obviously warrants discussion, as those were not my kindest words."

She looked to her guardian and bowed her head, apologetic. "Pray, let us start over, please forgive my initial rudeness."

Pumpkin was still struggling to focus on Quentyn's face.

"Tell me, what has brought you to this conclusion. Tell me your thought process?"
Quentyn nodded, seemingly unphased by the au ra in front of him.

"Of course."

He shifted slightly, his tail curled around to his side keeping still. "Stand tall, you know that you have things of value to offer. You earned the right to at least be heard out."

"Over the course of this war with Garlemald, while I was away on Summoner business digging up secrets on ancient Allag. While I was using my gift in Amdapor to get a clearer picture of the past there. Even the short time I was in Mhach. That's where I truly believe I'm better suited. I can honestly say that nothing is quite as exciting to me as uncovering information on those who came before us. We both know how valuable that knowledge can be as well as dangerous. I think Gridiana of all places takes that particular lesson to heart moreso then any other place I know of."

The taller man stopped for a second, finding the right words. "I do not intend to actually abandon my oath I took either. I just wish for perhaps an expansion or a slight change to my actual duties to serve Gridania. So I guess I would like to discuss with you first if that would even be possible. Then the next step I suppose would be to iron out what they could be and of course speaking with the rest of the Seedseer Council about this as well."

"Why would she ever agree to something that leaves her potentially vulnerable? Do you think yourself so important?"
Listing with a scrutinizing, tired, expression, Pumpkin chewed the inside of her lip in thought as Quentyn spoke. After he finished, silence hung between them as she was clearly thinking.

She lifted her hand and ran a hand through her hair, the coffee and cream colors ran together-- as did her thoughts, as she opened her mouth to speak.

"I see your reasoning. Your gift is certainly a boon, a rarity at that." Pumpkin sighed and she did not skip a beat, "Quentyn, do you know just why I was able to onboard you into the esteemed Order of the Entwined Serpents with as little trouble as I did?"
Quentyn shook his head slightly as he answered. "I honestly don't know for certain. Could've been because you've known my family for some time, could be the vision I saw with Anima, could be my Blessing. Some combination thereof. Or could even be something I haven't thought of myself."

A small smile appeared on his face. "I will admit I am curious as to what led to that decision and the ease it was implemented in."
Pumpkin's hand dropped to her legs and her fingers drummed against her leg, thoughtfully. "That very battlefront that you joined me upon was the foundation. Your brush with Anima, your experience and the addling you experienced, therein, lent strength to my lobbying for you to join. In short, Quentyn. War has been brewing upon Gridania's borders for what feels like eons."

With yet another characteristic deep sigh, she continued.

"Your admittance came in two parts. The first was that Anima's nature should be dealt with in a decisive fashion. Anima is our history, the sins of White, pain and war brought to bear. Bringing that power to heel within yourself was of the utmost import, lest it overwhelm you. I did not wish to leave you in such a state. The next was the impending trouble at the border. As mentioned, you are one of four within the current order. I can count you all on one hand.

"Thus. I had to lobby. Seriously. Lobby. To allow you admittance to the Order. Both of the aforementioned factors were worth it to the Council.

Pumpkin's tone of explanation slowly ebbed away, slipping back into one that lingered between stressed and disappointed (which was not too far from normal, mind you). She held one hand out wide to Quentyn, displaying the number four on her pointer through pinky fingers. Pointedly, she dropped her pinky. Three remained.

"Now, imagine my displeasure when the individual-- one Gridanian outside to another, that I campaigned for comes to me and wishes to bow out of this coveted position almost he finds himself right of mind again. Within less than a year of recruitment and training, too. Know that your gift did not play into our decision. We made the choice to admit you due to the quality of character we know of you and your family." The white mage frowned, exacerbated by the topic.

"I do not wish to mince words, Quentyn. I know you did not come here to argue. You came here to see about your future in a reasonable sense. Yet, before we go further, I do wish you to know that the timing of your resignation has a painfully convenient-feeling to it as soon as your position no longer suits your needs."

She let her words simmer long enough for them to resonate within the room, yet not long enough that Quentyn could respond to her in any meaningful way. Instead, she continued with a renewed even tone.

"And thus, if you had an ideal outcome, of your own design, what would you wish out of this conversation, in the long term?"