Homecoming [Vivian/Ryuzaki]

[Ryuzaki]

Ryu's eyebrows raised when the man brought over his feast. Yes, yes, having leftovers was a fine idea, but the heaping platters held enough for a few meals... For him at least. Unless this old man ate like a squad of mercenaries, that was simply too much food. How...?

No matter. He'd have to ignore that unusual fact. This old man was full of quirks, it seemed. So the thief sat quietly, observing, as the young mage heaped her plate full and began to eat. The old man also filled a plate, so Ryu followed suit, but, as the elder did not eat, Ryu felt it impertinent to do so.

And then he spoke.

Ryu narrowed his eyes. This was uncanny. Fine, then, he'd play along. He would see just how much this old man knew. How well he could read the thief's closed pages. But first... The smell of the stew was tantalizing, and Ryu could not resist a good, hot meal.

"With all due respect, sir... I think it may be best if we eat first and talk afterward. I know I have a habit of becoming very animated when I talk, and I lose track of time. Since you put so much time into this meal, I would be loath to see it grow cold."

Nodding respectfully, Ryu began to eat, quickly but neatly, noticing that the food was every bit as good as it looked and smelled. It was truly a wonderful meal, and after finishing two large yet modest bowls, the thief relaxed, satisfied, and collected his thoughts to begin.

[Deleted]

"Hoohoo...fair enough." The old man began to tear into his food like a machine. Vivian...didn't exactly mind too much considering her gramps was just weird like that. If he needed to eat fast...boy would he eat fast. It was quite amusing watching him go as she couldn't even concentrate on her own meal too well. He must have really taken a liking to Ryu so far if he wanted to talk to him as quickly as possible. After every few bites of her own, Vivan couldn't help but stop eating for a moment just to stare out of awkwardness. Now this was just getting embarrassing...he already finished off a plate of seconds and was finishing up his bowl of stew.

"...I really hope I don't become as...crazy as grandpa when I become an old lady..." Well, you're well on your way there, lady.

After the meal was finished, and Vivian coming close to completing her own plate, the old man settled for a rather peaceful smile as he didn't look at anyone in particular. "Ah, that was quite the meal. And I still have leftovers. Perhaps I really should cut down on the amount I cook!" He began to stroke his beard, both out of a little embarrassment and at the same time still proud of the good meal. He knew Vivian was used to his cooking, but it was nice to see their guest enjoyed it as well. However, he turned to Vivi with a smirk on his face. "Jeez, you even eat slow, my girl. Pick up the pace!"

"...Whyyyyy do you do this to meee?" All she could do was just whine as she began to eat her food faster and the old man laughing at the sight of it.

But he knew that he didn't have to wait on the girl to finish, as both he and Ryuzaki were free. Besides, the man could tell that Ryu was quite the serious and down to business-young man. Properly cleaning himself up before saying anything else, the man finally turned to Ryu directly as he still maintained a neutral smile. "So, you say that you're fighting for equality between the rich and common folk? Would it be rude of me to ask for your intentions? He started off slow, allowing Ryu himself to get the topic flowing better.

[Ryuzaki]

"Yes. I wish to equalize the world. I find it detestable how the well-to-do get wealthier and the poor folk get poorer. I think it is unacceptable, and I won't sit idly by as we descend into slavery."

Ryu nodded slowly, his expression grim. It was a terrible crime, this inequitable division of wealth. It was horrifying, what happens to the people as they take more and more weight until they crack under the pressure. It was torture. There was no excuse for such an awful system.

"I plan to eliminate those who use their resources for their own personal good, and make examples out of them. I want to motivate those with wealth to share it... And when that doesn't work, since they're all greedy pigs... I will slay them. I will distribute the wealth myself. My dream is a world in which all people have the same resources, the same opportunities to advance themselves and to make their mark. It's like climbing a mountain. Some people have top-quality equipment and supplies, and others don't even have a coat.

Detestable.

If we can show people the error of this trickle-down system, perhaps we will be able to convince them to change their ways.

I don't want to punish those who work hard; I just want to give everyone the same chance to succeed. It's not as important that everyone has identical resources so much as identical opportunities. If everyone has the same chance, their talents will speak for themselves, no?"

[Deleted]

"Hmm. Interesting. The more you speak on the matter, the more you remind me of myself when I was around your age..." The man stroked his beard as his little smirk changed to a more neutral expression. Vivian chose to keep her big mouth shut during the conversation, but she couldn't help but stare at her grandfather when he said that. Guess he was finally going to bring some things to light that even she didn't know about his past. Just the general vibe she got from his past life made her afraid to even ask him for more details personally. But with Ryu's goal being the literal perfect opportunity for him to share that knowledge, she was more curious than afraid to know at this point. She almost wanted to scream at gramps to just say something, but she was being impatient. As always.

Eventually as the old man stopped stalling, he began to rock in his chair a bit, though in a calmly manner. Ryuzaki was quite passionate about his goal than he let on, the man finding it a lot more easier to speak on things. "...Even at my old age, I have bits of my youth that can't ever disappear, such as my similar view of equalizing wealth within the world. Before I even had children, I lived a rather poor life with my own father and mother. I felt it was quite unfair how my family and many others were suffering while the rich wallowed in their wealth without a care. Eventually, my father was forcibly enlisted in the army and my mother fell deathly ill as time passed. With no money and no one to rely on, I took matters into my own hands...and picked up a knack for thievery. Turned out little ol' me had a natural talent for it!" Even admist the serious conversation, he still couldn't resist throwing a lighthearted comment in there.

"My mother's illness was thankfully curable, but it wasn't an immediate life threatening disease. As a few more years passed and I became a lot more proficient with a sword, I finally went for my grand plan: Assassinating a very wealthy aristocrat who was further pushing the slums I lived into poverty. I even stole enough money for both a doctor for my mother and money for our people in my escape before anyone could see me. Even though it wasn't going to last forever, we were all quite happy...that was until my good-natured, but morally incorrect action finally brought some dire consequences." His voice went a little sour, but wasn't displaying any lapse in his serious tone. "Since they couldn't find out who killed the aristocrat, people of the slums were instantly blamed for it. Soldiers raided and murdered about half of us, while those who surrendered were forced into slavery. My mother risked her life to make sure I escaped the town safely. I never knew what happened to her with my own eyes, but at this point, her fate was obvious. You'd think that slaughter would have taught me a lesson, but I was still just a stubborn child."

...Vivian didn't know her gramps had such a dark tale behind that crazy smile of his, almost glad she never asked him about this personally. But she knew her old man wasn't finished speaking, still deciding not to interrupt the two's conversation.

"I wandered the world with a new goal, which was to make the poor's life easier. In a sense, it was almost exactly the same goal as yours, young man. Over more passing years until I've came around your age now, I brought upon myself a stunningly large amount of infamy for my thievery, given some sinister title and name, but keeping my true identity a secret to all. I began to think my work was paying off, until I nearly lost my life one night when trying to break into a mansion of one of the most well known nobles for their large amounts of gold, but kept it all for herself and other high-class members. I gained a small group of comrades over time, and we invaded the mansion together. One by one, they all were murdered my a surprisingly skilled swordmaster who was hired to protect the location they stored all the gold. All my comrades I trusted with both my name and my dream, gone before my very eyes. They used their bodies to shield me so I could continue to fulfill my dream. For...if the dreamer himself is killed, how will it become a reality? They also just wanted me to live on with my life, above all else."

"Grandpa..." The young woman couldn't bring herself to say much, but feeling like she should say something despite the conversation not really needing her input. The old man looked her as he gave her a big, cheesy smile.

"Come now, girl. This all happened several decades ago. No need to worry about this old coot's feelings. I'm already behind it." Indeed, he moved on a long time ago, and he was concerned for Ryuzaki's future now, turning back to the young man as he got back into the tone of seriousness. "...But escaping from that mansion made me realize that I wouldn't carry out my dream by just stealing all the time. While it was still...quite frankly my only choice, I'd end up losing more people over the cause, and if I ended up dying in one of my thefts like I almost did that night, the dream would die with me. And doing so afterwards would only be a betrayal to my friends' sacrifices. They wanted me to keep dreaming...but also wanted me to live a happy life. I realized that I wasn't the only one feeling the way I do about my dream, and perhaps someone else could come along...like you, and do my job more efficiently. I took up archery after living in Pherae for a while, then settled down in this village I found that I now called home...to start my life over and protect more life I bring into this world, as well as my home. My friends wanted me to live happily, and now I am. So...I give you this question, Ryuzaki..."

He fixed his stare at the young man as he maintained some rough eye contact, crossing his arms as he was making it perfectly clear that all jokes were gone. "Even knowing that your actions could get both yourself - as well as those who've placed their trust in you - killed, are you still determined to walk the dark path? As I said, once you die, it's all over...and the torch gets passed to someone else who shares the dream of equality. Dying means a betrayal to your ideals, and since I've walked in your shoes for all of my childhood and early adulthood, I'd hate for you to suffer the fate I've narrowly escaped from, and your dream fade along with you."

[Ryuzaki]

"Even knowing that your actions could get both yourself - as well as those who've placed their trust in you - killed, are you still determined to walk the dark path? As I said, once you die, it's all over...and the torch gets passed to someone else who shares the dream of equality. Dying means a betrayal to your ideals, and since I've walked in your shoes for all of my childhood and early adulthood, I'd hate for you to suffer the fate I've narrowly escaped from, and your dream fade along with you."

"..."

The thief looked at the old man. Age looked at youth, ice at fire. Reason fought emotion, and a storm brewed within Ryu, boiling and hissing and frothing like a geyser. There was a long silence, as he shook his head, fighting the urge to scream and run.

"I cannot. I cannot abandon my dream... I will not give in. But if I die, as you said... I have no one who will take up my arms and rejoin the struggle. But how can you live? How can you get up every day and know that this inequity is just perpetuating itself? Doesn't it make you sick? How can you look upon the haves and the have-nots and not feel this sense of hatred and powerlessness I feel? What can you do? I have to do my part... Is that wrong? Is that unacceptable? How can I live with myself if I do not fight to change the world?"

[Deleted]

The elder man rubbed his chin once more, processing Ryuzaki's response as he could tell the young man has indeed struggled to have such a similar mindset he once shared at his age. Ryu brought up an interesting response for him, but the man wasn't going to keep his guest waiting any longer on his returning answer, smiling lightly as he crossed his hands on the table. "I'm only able to sleep soundly at night and look at our world's ugly state without problem due to the fact that it's already too late for me. I am old. Sure, I'm still in good shape, but not the kind of shape to change the world. But it puts my heart at ease knowing that young fellows such as yourself are still trying to find a way for everyone to live both peacefully and equally. I pass that torch to the generations after mine, leaving my old hopes and dreams with them. I'll be dead and gone before change comes into full effect, but I want the world to still be the same as you envision it even after my eventual passing..."

Speaking of death was never an easy topic, Vivian herself stuck in an odd silence as she didn't really know what to say or feel about what the two men were talking about. It made her feel quite powerless that she had nothing of value to add or say to the conversation at hand. She was never a good thinker on this sort of thing, and hearing her grandfather talk about his death so casually scared her a little on the inside. But she knew the old coot better than anyone else, trying not to make herself worry so much over things she couldn't control. So she respectfully kept her mouth zipped this time as to allow them to speak without interruption.

The elderly man kept his reassuring smile in check as he glanced over to his troubled granddaughter, nodding before turning back to Ryuzaki. "...That being said, there is no real right or wrong in this world. You have a dream to follow, and no one has the right to say anything you choose to do to equalize the world is incorrect. But at the same time, your survival, as well as any companions, is top priority. I nearly lost my life before due to being unable to choose my battles wisely...every little opportunity I had to steal from the rich to give to poor, I took it. But I learned the painful way that not every aristocrat was so vulnerable. I should have found a way to get closer to the root of the problem instead of trying to fix everything piece by piece at every given opportunity. I couldn't take what I learned from my failure and my friends' deaths to try again, but I wanted to bestow that knowledge onto you if you deem it useful. It's too late for me, but it's not for you. So fear not. Continue to chase your dream by whatever means necessary...but pursuing a way to get closer to the root of the problem is most beneficial to your survival. How to get closer? Hoohoo...well, you have many years ahead of you to find that out on your own. Even the retired, walking bones you see before you lacks that information. But a bright young fellow such as yourself has a much better chance at reaching that goal than I am..."

[Ryuzaki]

Too late? Was the man dying?

Oh.

"But..."

But there was nothing to say to combat this. There was no way of sugarcoating this truth. It was already evident that the world would not wait for this old man... So it was Ryuzaki's job to uphold the dream that old man had so fervently followed. To hold, with feverish zeal, the dream of the ideal world in his mind. To be able to destroy the hierarchy that kept him at the bottom. To dissolve the wealth of words, the clout of titles. To rend the fabricated and return to the natural order, the one true and equal standing.

The elderly man gave sage advice:

Strike for the root. Focus not on the leaves or branches. Fell the tree, and the problem is solved.

But the other advice caused Ryuzaki to pause. He had no friends, no allies in his quest. He needed allies. He had to have others. As much as he abhorred their company, their whims, their lack of focus or inability to see the true problem... He needed others to work with, to fight with, to be safe with. He needed a place to rest without fear, to recuperate and regroup. He would have to find a friend.

"But where do I begin? I apologize for asking so many questions, all of which must seem so simple to you... But I don't know where the root of the problem is. How will I strike at the root without that knolwedge?"

[Deleted]

"Hmm...well, when a problem like this surfaces, the true power that can physically make this world equal are the ones that are solely responsible for making the poor suffer. I'm unable to give you a straight answer, however...I can at least try to help point you into the right direction." The elder man continued to stroke his beard as he still seemed relaxed while pondering. Even with his age and wisdom, he didn't have all the answers, which that alone made him feel like he wasn't as useful as he should have been to the young man's dream. But he did feel confident in what he was telling Ryuzaki.

"The rich will always keep their money to themselves, for there's nothing anyone can do about greed. It will always exist. However, there are quite a number of aristocrats that are fair and righteous, just that they lack the power to help the lower and middle class directly. Perhaps if you were to gain the trust of those pure-hearted individuals, as well as share your vision with them, that could be your first step. Sometimes, it takes someone or something that's already within to help you strike the roots." He spoke with much certainty in his voice. He knew that he wasn't the most wisest old geezer in the world, but he always believed in extending the type of allies one gained. "I'm not sure if you have any allies right now, but it is certainly possible to befriend an aristocrat...or maybe a little more than one, who's willing to help see your dream come true. There is strength in both numbers and the type of support you have overall. And don't forget. I'll be supporting your cause in spirit as well."

"And I'm rooting for ya, too. Don't forget about me! I'll try my best to do my part in helping your goal while I'm out there randomly explorin'." Vivian...finally had to chip in on at least something, even if it was incredibly minor.

[Ryuzaki]

"The rich… I could befriend the rich?"

At first, Ryu was incredulous and sat in shock. But then, as the old man’s confident voice echoed in his head and continued, proud and unflinching, the thief’s eyes slowly widened. He realized what he had missed. It was true – many of the rich were corrupt and devlish, but there were some who were just and saw the world as Ryu did. And if he could use their power, their clout… He could be their beacon, and they the fuel for his fire.

His crusade would continue. Now, Ryu had a new goal… if he could gain the support he needed from the wealthy themselves, then he could rise and strike… He could raise a band of supporters, and they could spread like wildfire… Spreading their influence, their morals, their ideas…

"Yes. Yes! YES!"

His eyes flashing wildly, Ryu rose to his feet, clasping the elder’s shoulders in gratitude.

"You have illuminated the path. Now I see… I see the road ahead. It is difficult, indeed. But I will not give in. I will hold my dream alive – for me, for you, for all who have struggled against this evil.

I will be victorious – for you! I will honor your sacrifices and your devotion. I will be successful. I will bring you the release you strove for so passionately!"

Then the thief turned to Vivian, smiling broadly as he abruptly and awkwardly wrapped her in a hug, holding her tightly for a few seconds before letting go, embarrassed.

"Thank you. I will never forget you, Vivian. Perhaps… Perhaps someday we will meet again? Perhaps you will see me once more – in a world that is more just and equitable. The same sun will still rise and set – and as that sun is sure to rise… So also am I sure that you’ll see me again. You will see me, Vivian, in my full glory."

[Deleted]

"My. What a lively young man you truly are! You surprise even me at every corner, it seems." The elder couldn't help but poke fun at Ryu, going back to his usual laid back self, but still retained a serious demeanor. "It's great to hear those words from you. You'll need that resolve to push you through the tough trials ahead of you. Hah hah...but no need to thank me. I should be the one thanking you for willing to continue my, as well as many other's, dream for equality. Not many are brave enough to carry that kind of torch after hearing such a true story like that. But regardless, I'm glad you have seen light in this, and that I've been of use to you in your journey." The elder man simply shook Ryu's hand in the last few moments before the young man went over to Vivian suddenly, giving the purple haired mage quite the surprise.

Vivian didn't say anything, obviously out of not expecting the rather sudden hug. She just sat there with her eyes widened a bit, which from her grandfather's perspective, her expression was quite...gloriously hilarious. The old man couldn't help but chuckle a bit before Vivian was turned loose and she merely listened to Ryuzaki speak as she blushed a bit out of embarrassment and not knowing how to actually respond to all of that. However, it wasn't at all in a negative way. Vivian could tell Ryu was very serious and her embarrassment cleared up quite quickly as she passed on a warm smile towards the joyful thief before nodding her head.

"Of course we'll see each other again, dude! Mark my words. And I'll be looking forward to seeing you again, hopefully with you being much closer to your goal. Betcha you're glad I sent ya to my gramps now, eh? I had a little hunch things would turn out well for ya if you two talked." ...and wow, this was probably one of the only times where she actually had a good idea on something! Plus, she got to see grandpa again after like...a year. Okay, still not that long, but life's too short, damn it. Every year meant a lot of time to her. But instead of marveling in her own thoughts, she turned her attention back to the thief, as they all were standing out of their seats now. "So where will you go from here? You're welcome to stay here until you're ready set off. Right, Grandpa?"

"Ayeeeee~!" And there goes the old man's oddness in all it's glory once more, causing Vivian to halfway smile and other half being a little...disturbed by that. But it was her grandfather, after all. Expect the unexpected...

[Ryuzaki]

"You have not just been of use... You have been a guiding light. You have given me new resolve and new hope. I have a new purpose in life, and I know a new way to approach my goal. Your wisdom and your experience have helped me see more clearly. I am able to focus; the path appears in front of me. It is not straight, nor is it short... But I will never give in!"

As Vivian responded, her face showing clear and heartfelt happiness, Ryu felt at ease and happy. He felt a great weight lifted off of his shoulders. It was as if he had been given a whole new lease on life. There were plenty of places to go, plenty of things to do... Where to start, on his grand quest to better the world? It was a mighty undertaking. Vivian was right. He had to have a goal, a place to go...

"I think I'll first head to Santaruz. I know a few people there, unless they've all moved on and disappeared. From there, I should be able to get a jump on befriending some just nobles and striking at the unjust. It's by no means certain, but I suppose it's as good of a jumping-off place as any. I'd love to stay, though, but I had better get moving... Otherwise I might just end up talking about changing the world, while the only changing I'll be doing is my waist size!"

The thief laughed, looking at the dishes.

"The food really was wonderful. Thank you two so much. It's been an amazing experience, Vivian. Thank you for offering to introduce me. And thank you, sir, for all of the advice, the warnings, and the help. You've made a huge impact in my life."

[Deleted]

"Glad to hear it! Now go and make us all proud. You've given this old man hope, and when my inevitable time comes when my age gets to me, I'm sure my spirit will rejoice in the new world you dream to build. I wish you well on your journey." The grandparent gave his own big, bright smile before making his way towards another part of his home, seemingly attending to more chores while also giving Vivi time to say her good-byes. Unfortunately, the elderly man didn't have any kind of relics from his past life to pass onto Ryuzaki. Usually that's what some people did when they tried to help someone along a path they once shared in their youth. But since Ryu gained much more out of the man's words than some fancy knife or anything, Vivi's grandfather knew that it wasn't something to concern himself about.

Vivian shook her head as she understood where Ryu was coming from. With things as they are with the monsters around Lycia, she herself knew that their home of Santaruz was also at the beginning of suffering the same fate as the areas closer to Ostia. But he was right and he should still have some hope of finding someone around these parts. "Welp, gettin' more food in yer belly is also a good thing!" At terrible response to his joke, she knew...but she thought she was being clever too.

"Good luck on your journey, friend! And if you're ever in the area again, I'm sure gramps would be happy to take you in for a rest or anything you'd. This town itself is very friendly, as you know by now." She never liked saying good-bye to friends, but they all had their own journey to embark on...just like Vivian herself. Her journey was just simply to find her purpose in this world by derping around in every corner of Elibe possible. However, speaking of which...she did remember her other reason of wanting to come back home, more about the contents of her grandfather's last letter he sent her before coming here. The old man going in the back of the home may have also been a sign that he wanted to talk to her about what he told her about this acquaintance of his that could help her with her magic. This'll be interesting...

Topic End