Foulques tilted his head slightly in confusion at the term 'accomplice'. He'd only ever really heard the term used before with regards to one who aided in committing a crime, but it didn't sound like that was what Ian was referring to. Thankfully, an explanation followed directly after, and he listened as they detailed the differences between an ally, a friend, and an accomplice in this context.
He nodded his understanding of the term ally. Though he was more used to hearing it in terms of nations than individuals, the definition still fit. Two or more who were united in common cause, enjoyed cordial relations, and who would aid one another in times of danger, but in the end, retained a degree of separation.
Friends too, he understood the definition of, though he frowned as he nodded. Those he had thought were his friends had proved to be nothing of the sort. And that betrayal had left a deep wound, one that left him fearful of using the term again. Naming a thing made it real, made it something that could be broken or taken away. So perhaps in his own way, he was following the rest of the definition Ian laid out as well.
The definition of accomplice though... struck home in a way they couldn't know. It made a wonderful and terrible sort of sense, and explained why the wound had cut so deep. But he allowed them to finish without interrupting.
The last bit, however came as something of a surprise, and it was obvious in Foulques' expression. "Truthfully I hadn't even considered the possibility that you might be able to do more than correct the damage done by the attacker," he said. "But rest assured that I would never ask you to do such a thing. Tis perilously close to Tempering, an ability used by entities called Primals to impose their own will on unwitting victims." His expression turned grim. "And though the results of such alterations as you mentioned would not be nearly so dangerous, still... suffice to say that death is considered a mercy in cases of Tempering. The person who was once there is gone; there is only the will of the Primal."
He shook his head with a sigh, before getting back to the meat of the explanation Ian had offered. "I believe I understand the rest of what you've said, however. Parts of it better than you could know. I had once asked those I thought to be my friends to stand with me in such a manner, you see, and yet when the time came..." He trailed off though, with a thoughtful frown, reconsidering.
"Perhaps I should begin nearer the beginning," he said after a moment. "As a young man, I joined the Lancer's guild. As a Duskwight, I faced much prejudice and had to put in twice the effort to be considered as skilled as my fellows, but nonetheless I persevered, and was proud of the opportunity to stand in defense of my homeland as a Wood Wailer. Over time I made a number of friends in the guild and believed that I had at last found a place where I would be valued and not judged for simply being born to the 'wrong' race."
"But as noble as the Wood Wailers' mission might profess to be, they do not provide. Our wages were not enough to sustain us, and out of desperation, I conspired with a number of my closest friends to steal from the guild's coffers. We were not caught, but it quickly became clear that it had been done from within, and suspicion hung heavy over the guild. At last, unable to bear the guilt any longer, I convinced my friends to join me in confessing. If we stood together, I reasoned, not only would our punishment be less severe, but perhaps we might provide impetus for positive change if we explained why we had acted so."
"I asked them to stand with me, and each swore that they would. And yet when the time came, and I stepped forward and confessed... they did not join me. And more than that, they actively turned against me. 'Of course it was the Duskwight! It all makes perfect sense!' I pleaded with them to speak the truth, but not a one did, and many pelted me with insults and called me foul names that I don't care to repeat. Men and women who just moments before I had called friends, brothers and sisters in arms, who I had trained, worked, and fought beside for years...!"
The last bit was snarled, but it trailed off into a sigh. "...I thought them true until the moment I felt the spearpoint at my back. Thus was I alone charged, convicted, left to rot in a dungeon, and then banished upon my release. And set upon the path that would lead me to being the vengeance driven madman I described to you earlier."
"I will not betray Sun or Chara in such a manner, however. Granted, I highly doubt that those who would target them would be nearly so eager to act against me, as such cowards prefer to prey upon those they see as weak, but should the moment come, they will not stand alone. I swear it."
no subject
He nodded his understanding of the term ally. Though he was more used to hearing it in terms of nations than individuals, the definition still fit. Two or more who were united in common cause, enjoyed cordial relations, and who would aid one another in times of danger, but in the end, retained a degree of separation.
Friends too, he understood the definition of, though he frowned as he nodded. Those he had thought were his friends had proved to be nothing of the sort. And that betrayal had left a deep wound, one that left him fearful of using the term again. Naming a thing made it real, made it something that could be broken or taken away. So perhaps in his own way, he was following the rest of the definition Ian laid out as well.
The definition of accomplice though... struck home in a way they couldn't know. It made a wonderful and terrible sort of sense, and explained why the wound had cut so deep. But he allowed them to finish without interrupting.
The last bit, however came as something of a surprise, and it was obvious in Foulques' expression. "Truthfully I hadn't even considered the possibility that you might be able to do more than correct the damage done by the attacker," he said. "But rest assured that I would never ask you to do such a thing. Tis perilously close to Tempering, an ability used by entities called Primals to impose their own will on unwitting victims." His expression turned grim. "And though the results of such alterations as you mentioned would not be nearly so dangerous, still... suffice to say that death is considered a mercy in cases of Tempering. The person who was once there is gone; there is only the will of the Primal."
He shook his head with a sigh, before getting back to the meat of the explanation Ian had offered. "I believe I understand the rest of what you've said, however. Parts of it better than you could know. I had once asked those I thought to be my friends to stand with me in such a manner, you see, and yet when the time came..." He trailed off though, with a thoughtful frown, reconsidering.
"Perhaps I should begin nearer the beginning," he said after a moment. "As a young man, I joined the Lancer's guild. As a Duskwight, I faced much prejudice and had to put in twice the effort to be considered as skilled as my fellows, but nonetheless I persevered, and was proud of the opportunity to stand in defense of my homeland as a Wood Wailer. Over time I made a number of friends in the guild and believed that I had at last found a place where I would be valued and not judged for simply being born to the 'wrong' race."
"But as noble as the Wood Wailers' mission might profess to be, they do not provide. Our wages were not enough to sustain us, and out of desperation, I conspired with a number of my closest friends to steal from the guild's coffers. We were not caught, but it quickly became clear that it had been done from within, and suspicion hung heavy over the guild. At last, unable to bear the guilt any longer, I convinced my friends to join me in confessing. If we stood together, I reasoned, not only would our punishment be less severe, but perhaps we might provide impetus for positive change if we explained why we had acted so."
"I asked them to stand with me, and each swore that they would. And yet when the time came, and I stepped forward and confessed... they did not join me. And more than that, they actively turned against me. 'Of course it was the Duskwight! It all makes perfect sense!' I pleaded with them to speak the truth, but not a one did, and many pelted me with insults and called me foul names that I don't care to repeat. Men and women who just moments before I had called friends, brothers and sisters in arms, who I had trained, worked, and fought beside for years...!"
The last bit was snarled, but it trailed off into a sigh. "...I thought them true until the moment I felt the spearpoint at my back. Thus was I alone charged, convicted, left to rot in a dungeon, and then banished upon my release. And set upon the path that would lead me to being the vengeance driven madman I described to you earlier."
"I will not betray Sun or Chara in such a manner, however. Granted, I highly doubt that those who would target them would be nearly so eager to act against me, as such cowards prefer to prey upon those they see as weak, but should the moment come, they will not stand alone. I swear it."