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ajremixI originally wrote this back in August of 2020 in fits and spurts and periods of neglect over the course of a few weeks. Before I could put this up, however, I suffered a personal tragedy that left me in a severely depressed state that I'm still in the process of working through. During that time I ended up in a cycle of forgetting about this, remembering it and then procrastinating until I forgot it again which is why I'm only getting around to posting it now.
At least I've finished one fic last friggin' year.
Just some speculation to deal with a frustratingly hastily dropped plot point. Title from Sonata Arctica's "The Boy Who Wanted to be a Real Puppet". Minor spoilers for early parts of Raven's backstory/The Empty Mask but otherwise ignores it.
Title: This Only Ends with a Sharp Knife
Fandom: Tales of Vesperia
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2888
Characters: Raven/Schwann, Flynn, Yuri
Summary: Pre-game/mid-game. Perhaps the strings on Alexei's puppet weren't as strong as either of them thought.
It had been an absolute mess of an operation. The planning sloppy, execution haphazard- if it weren't for the Royal Guard being comprised of Alexei's most faithful and the investigation headed by Schwann, people would've heard about Ioder's abduction before the Blood Alliance even smuggled him out of Zaphias. As it was Alexei managed to keep it under wraps, giving only the bare minimum details to the captains stationed at the palace under the guise of not causing panic that one of the candidates had disappeared. Everything else would be handled secretly to prevent the culprits from realizing how quickly the knights were closing in on them.
So they said. Schwann did just enough to keep up the ruse, but solving this 'mystery' wasn't in Alexei's plans.
"Captain Schwann! A moment, if I may."
It was one of the junior officers, Flynn Scifo. "Yes, Lieutenant?"
"I would like to offer my services if necessary," he said in the prompt yet respectful way Flynn had become known for.
"Services for what?"
Flynn's gaze drifted to the side, head tilted thoughtfully as he said in a casual tone, "It would be a little earlier than normal, but I can petition to start my pilgrimage." His eyes slid back to Schwann knowingly. "In case you needed someone in the field."
Schwann's head lifted, eyeing the young officer critically. "...you know?"
"Lady Estellise mentioned she hadn't been getting replies to her letters so I looked into things on her behalf."
Schwann's mouth twisted- he'd known Ioder and Estellise had a biweekly book club of sorts, one they adhered to except in the most extreme cases, but he hadn't known they'd been pen pals. He supposed it made sense given how little the two were allowed to socialize outside of their small, strictly controlled circles. Alexei was certain to give him an earful if he caught wind of this. But Schwann gave Flynn the faintest smirk and said, "It's rude to pry into affairs that aren't yours."
"That's why I'm offering myself to be brought in to assist."
Schwann knew all about Flynn Scifo. There hadn't been anyone with as much promise and potential in years, it was difficult not to hear of him and foolish not to know. The young man was well liked by nearly everyone: the Lower Quarter adored him, the lower ranks looked up to him, the upper ranks sang his praises, even the less elitist of the nobles considered him a testament to his kind.
Even the scattered ashes of Damuron stirred in Flynn's presence, reminded of Casey's conviction and strength of will.
Flynn had the makings of someone that could tear down all of Alexei's plans. Or, if the fates were twisted enough, become a powerful asset. Alexei was well aware of that but, so close to his plans coming to fruition, he wasn't taking any chances.
Schwann wondered what Flynn would do if he knew he was speaking to one of the people secretly orchestrating his assassination.
"We've got it handled," he said.
But Flynn continued doggedly on. "I mean no disrespect or to imply you're incapable, sir, but even with the small amount of digging I did, I found out they'd already passed through Deidon Hold. Master Ioder is easily recognizable to any knight, to minimize risk to his abductors it's most likely they're heading to Capua Nor in order to get off the continent. The only reason I can think that you'd have not to mobilize, coupled with how they managed it in the first place, leads me to suspect it was orchestrated by someone powerful enough to monitor your investigation." Flynn's expression went firm. "If your hands are tied, then use mine instead."
Schwann knew the kid was sharp, but of all the times for him to prove it... Even if Schwann could come up with an excuse, turning Flynn down would still cause him to become suspicious- perhaps even to the point he'd begin to consider Schwann himself had some kind of hand in this. He could, of course, agree to bring Flynn into the investigation and then just string him along for a bit. The assassination was set to occur at the end of the week after all, but...
Schwann didn't know if it was the Raven part of him, the residual bits that were Damuron, or if somehow a feeling other than apathy had wormed its way into his cynical, artificial heart, but he didn't actually want Flynn to die.
"You'll leave in five days, so start preparing," Schwann said, watching Flynn trying to contain his eagerness. "I'll make sure your petition clears. The case file will be hidden within your orders. Don't fail."
"I won't, sir," Flynn practically beamed like personified sunlight. "I swear."
Schwann just turned and walked away. If Flynn did fail, then so be it. But if he succeeded... if he really was able to bring Alexei down...
He squashed that hope down and began to prepare for his next mission.
~*~*~*~
Alexei didn't like using arrests as a means of meeting with Raven. For one, it left a paper trail, and two, there was a risk someone might recognize who Raven actually was. But sometimes Alexei needed to speak with him immediately and a couple of knights would approach Raven with some trumped up charge and put him in a cell.
Raven had actually been expecting it, though. It seemed Alexei finally realized his sacrificial lion had left the capital the day before his scheduled assassination.
Of course, Alexei couldn't seem eager to come down to see a prisoner so Raven was forced to lounge and wait, counting minutes into hours by the rhythmic pulsing of his blastia. About halfway into hour four the sound of the prison gate swinging open cut into his conversation with the guard. For a moment he thought it was the commandant but there was one set of footfalls too many and what sounded like a third person being dragged. The guard by his cell quickly stood at attention, acting as if he were at his post instead of obviously idly chatting- so no one super important -and the cell door next to Raven's clanged open. There was grumbling, the sound of a body flopping onto a crappy prison bed, more grumbling, another clang and then heavy tromping feet retreating. The guard shuffled over to take a peek at the new prisoner. Raven's interest was piqued.
"So?" He asked when the guard came back. "Who's my new roommate? They a good conversationalist?"
The guard snorted. "If you like talkin' to mouthy shits. He's out cold, though."
"Oh? You know 'im?"
"Yeah, Yuri Lowell's a regular 'round here. Always stirrin' up trouble in the Lower Quarter. Can't blame Leblanc's squad for roughin' him up some, he seems to like pickin' on them the most."
Schwann was quite familiar with Yuri Lowell, even without having to hear Leblanc's rantings on the young man, being one of the few acquaintances of Flynn's close enough to be worth investigating. An immensely talented swordsman with an absurdly short military career. And, the gears in Raven's brain began turning, potentially soft hearted enough to be useful. With all the trouble Yuri caused in misguided attempts to help those he lived with in the Lower Quarter, what ends might he go to to save the childhood friend he'd grown up with..?
He thought about a desert and of lives being picked off, one by one.
It would be cruel to let Flynn face everything on his own. Allowing a friend to be by his side, even if it all ended in failure, seemed like the least Raven could do for him.
~*~*~*~
He'd been staring up at the sky so long his neck was starting to hurt. He'd been putting this off long enough, he supposed. They were beginning the final prep before heading into Tarqaron, if Raven kept dragging his feet, his only choices were to wait until this was all over- with neither their survival nor success guaranteed -or during the final approach which wasn't the best time to be making these kinds of confessions.
Of course doing it while stuck on a ship flying hundreds of feet in the air also wasn't the best time given the lack of escape routes, but Raven fully acknowledged he brought this upon himself. Besides, Flynn deserved to slug him just as much as the others did.
The man in question was leaned up against the Fiertia's cabin, using it as a windbreak as he read through some missive. Poor guy, even on a quest to save the world he was still working. Already the same lines that had embedded themselves into Alexei's face were beginning to crease Flynn's.
And here Raven was, about to add to that stress. He took a deep breath and approached. "Yo, Flynn-chan. Got a moment?"
Immediately Flynn rolled the papers up, tucking them away, the same mild smile on his lips he always had when someone called for him, automatic and deflecting. "How can I help you, Raven-san?"
"I wanted to apologize. Woulda done it before but," Raven waved his hand vaguely. "Ya know."
Flynn tilted his head in confusion. "Okay. What for?"
"I helped conspire to kill ya."
"I see. Thank you for doing a poor job of it."
"Rude," he retorted, feigning insult. "I was the one that got you outta there before it happened, remember?"
"My apologies. Thank you for intentionally doing a poor job of it."
Raven tsked. This was supposed to be a serious discussion. He was supposed to be reaping what he sowed, here. "I know you an' Yuri like brushin' over that sorta thing, but it's kinda something to take seriously, an officer tryin' to get another assassinated in order to justify going ta war with Dahngrest."
"But you're not an officer," Flynn said lightly. "You're very adamant about that. Therefore, you couldn't have taken part in that particular conspiracy."
For a moment Raven's brain tripped over itself trying to come up with a response. "That- it's not- you can't- you seriously gonna let me get away with that?"
Flynn shifted, his hands clasped in front of him in a way young soldiers often did as a sign of deference. But the square line of his shoulders and the firm expression on his face turned it into something commanding. Damn, Raven thought to himself, the kid grew into leadership fast. "What you did was wrong, and I know you know that. You followed Alexei's plan because you thought you had no choice. He had fooled everyone. He had me willingly doing his dirty work as well. If it wasn't for Yuri, how much longer would it have been before he put me in the same position he had you or Yaeger?"
The thought of Flynn, heart replaced by a blastia and under Alexei's thumb, had Raven's blood flushing cold.
Flynn continued on, "And yet, the moment you were free from him, you didn't run. You came with us to make things right. You helped us try to stop Alexei and you're still here to help us stop Duke and the Adephagos. You're risking your life to fix your mistakes, knowing there's no guarantee you'll survive. I could wrack my brain for years, but I'll never be able to come up with a more genuine act of atonement."
Raven swallowed, trying to hide the lump in his throat. "That's kinda soft for justice, don't ya think?"
Flynn's expression softened with a gentle smile. "I prefer the term compassionate. Justice that's not tempered with compassion leads to blindly following laws without understanding why they were created to begin with. I've decided that that's not the sort of leader I want to be."
"Flynn-chan, stop being so cool. You almost make me wanna go back to the knights."
He laughed brightly. "I wouldn't stop you if you did." His eyes danced mischievously. "If you're really so determined to be punished for Schwann's crimes, you'd have to take on his responsibilities, too."
"Nope. Absolutely not. I like being a flaky vagabond, thank you. Besides," Raven's smile turned old and worn but so very proud, "you're gonna bring in a brand new era to the knights. You don't need an old man gettin' in your way." He patted Flynn's chest and walked off with a wave, rounding the corner of the cabin.
Leaning up against the wall was Yuri. Unsurprising not because the Fiertia was a small ship but because Yuri could occasionally be painfully transparent.
"So you were the one that set Zagi on him," Yuri said, so blunt and neutral it made the short hairs on the back of Raven's neck prickle.
"I didn't ask for Zagi specifically," he merely passed on the time and location along the line that would get to Yaeger with the recommendation of sending his best, "but yeah."
"I see." Yuri pushed away from the railing and looked Raven square in the eyes. "Thanks."
For a moment, Raven didn't think he heard correctly. "You two have a weird habit of thanking people for planning someone's death."
"You're the one that set this all into motion." Yuri waved a hand, indicating to the ship, to Ba'ul, to the rest of the group doing whatever they were doing on the deck of the ship, talking and laughing as if some eldritch being wasn't looming over the planet.
Huh. He sort of did, didn't he? Raven just waved it off. "You're imagining things."
"You got me out of that cell the very day Flynn was supposed to die."
"Coincidence."
"And Estelle hearing about the plot was also coincidence?"
"They happen. You're being too suspicious."
Yuri's grin was sharp and not particularly nice. "Having so many well-timed coincidences happening at once is something to be suspicious about. Especially when a shady old man is in the center of it."
Feeling off balance, Raven eyed him warily. "You upset about it?"
"Nope. Like I said: thanks. You might've been the one that orchestrated it to begin with but because of your meddling I've been able to watch Flynn's back." He turned his eyes out to the horizon, lifting his head up to let the wind stream through his long hair. "I got to see what this world has to offer and," he looked back at Raven, "I'm able to fulfill a promise I made. So thanks for getting involved, old man."
"It's not like I planned it like this," the words fell out of Raven's mouth before he knew they were there. "I was pretty certain Flynn was gonna die either way. Didn't really matter how so long as we could pin it on the guilds."
Yuri hummed like that was unimportant. "So? Why target Flynn?"
"To start a war with Dahngrest, of course," he shrugged like it was obvious. "Flynn's beloved enough his death would've caused an uproar from the commoners and knights and an officer being killed in the palace would have the nobles worried enough about their own safety to demand action."
"Oh?" Outwardly Yuri was as unflappable as ever. But his grip tightened around the sheath of his sword and his words were full of teeth. "Suppose I shouldn't be surprised Alexei was cold enough to make that kind of calculation."
For a moment, Raven's blastia felt chilled where the metal met skin. "I suppose he always was." Not that he knew Alexei all that well, even after ten years. Raven wouldn't be able to point out any moment and say, "That's when he changed", or give any thoughts as to why. He didn't even know if Alexei had changed or if the things he did he'd always been capable of and he'd just stopped hiding it.
Not that Raven was in any position to judged, he thought with a snort of laughter. He barely knew himself some days.
"What's so funny, old man?"
"Ah, just thinkin' how bein' 'round you kids makes me feel like a young man again." Before blastia hearts and wars and the end of the world, before changed names and fake lives. Back when he was aimless, unsatisfied. When Casey looked up at him with her knowing eyes and asked "What kind of knight do you want to be?"
Wasn't that the million gald question, now. With Raven unmasked and Schwann buried, with both his keepers laid to rest, who was he now? What kind of man was he going to be from this day forward? Raven rubbed at the scruffy hairs on his chin, eyeing a shady part of the ship closest to Judith. "Guess all we can do is just try to make tomorrow a better day than today, right?"
He gave Yuri the shitty grin he'd perfected over the years, pretending he wasn't being nearly as vulnerable as he truly was. Raven was certain Yuri didn't buy it for a moment but, understanding guy he was, didn't say anything. He wandered to the others and settled against a coil of rope piled along the edge of the deck, cheerily responding to Karol's greeting. He laced his hands behind his head, leaning back to the see clouds drift along the sky and wondered, for the first time in many, many years, what the future had in store.
At least I've finished one fic last friggin' year.
Just some speculation to deal with a frustratingly hastily dropped plot point. Title from Sonata Arctica's "The Boy Who Wanted to be a Real Puppet". Minor spoilers for early parts of Raven's backstory/The Empty Mask but otherwise ignores it.
Title: This Only Ends with a Sharp Knife
Fandom: Tales of Vesperia
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2888
Characters: Raven/Schwann, Flynn, Yuri
Summary: Pre-game/mid-game. Perhaps the strings on Alexei's puppet weren't as strong as either of them thought.
It had been an absolute mess of an operation. The planning sloppy, execution haphazard- if it weren't for the Royal Guard being comprised of Alexei's most faithful and the investigation headed by Schwann, people would've heard about Ioder's abduction before the Blood Alliance even smuggled him out of Zaphias. As it was Alexei managed to keep it under wraps, giving only the bare minimum details to the captains stationed at the palace under the guise of not causing panic that one of the candidates had disappeared. Everything else would be handled secretly to prevent the culprits from realizing how quickly the knights were closing in on them.
So they said. Schwann did just enough to keep up the ruse, but solving this 'mystery' wasn't in Alexei's plans.
"Captain Schwann! A moment, if I may."
It was one of the junior officers, Flynn Scifo. "Yes, Lieutenant?"
"I would like to offer my services if necessary," he said in the prompt yet respectful way Flynn had become known for.
"Services for what?"
Flynn's gaze drifted to the side, head tilted thoughtfully as he said in a casual tone, "It would be a little earlier than normal, but I can petition to start my pilgrimage." His eyes slid back to Schwann knowingly. "In case you needed someone in the field."
Schwann's head lifted, eyeing the young officer critically. "...you know?"
"Lady Estellise mentioned she hadn't been getting replies to her letters so I looked into things on her behalf."
Schwann's mouth twisted- he'd known Ioder and Estellise had a biweekly book club of sorts, one they adhered to except in the most extreme cases, but he hadn't known they'd been pen pals. He supposed it made sense given how little the two were allowed to socialize outside of their small, strictly controlled circles. Alexei was certain to give him an earful if he caught wind of this. But Schwann gave Flynn the faintest smirk and said, "It's rude to pry into affairs that aren't yours."
"That's why I'm offering myself to be brought in to assist."
Schwann knew all about Flynn Scifo. There hadn't been anyone with as much promise and potential in years, it was difficult not to hear of him and foolish not to know. The young man was well liked by nearly everyone: the Lower Quarter adored him, the lower ranks looked up to him, the upper ranks sang his praises, even the less elitist of the nobles considered him a testament to his kind.
Even the scattered ashes of Damuron stirred in Flynn's presence, reminded of Casey's conviction and strength of will.
Flynn had the makings of someone that could tear down all of Alexei's plans. Or, if the fates were twisted enough, become a powerful asset. Alexei was well aware of that but, so close to his plans coming to fruition, he wasn't taking any chances.
Schwann wondered what Flynn would do if he knew he was speaking to one of the people secretly orchestrating his assassination.
"We've got it handled," he said.
But Flynn continued doggedly on. "I mean no disrespect or to imply you're incapable, sir, but even with the small amount of digging I did, I found out they'd already passed through Deidon Hold. Master Ioder is easily recognizable to any knight, to minimize risk to his abductors it's most likely they're heading to Capua Nor in order to get off the continent. The only reason I can think that you'd have not to mobilize, coupled with how they managed it in the first place, leads me to suspect it was orchestrated by someone powerful enough to monitor your investigation." Flynn's expression went firm. "If your hands are tied, then use mine instead."
Schwann knew the kid was sharp, but of all the times for him to prove it... Even if Schwann could come up with an excuse, turning Flynn down would still cause him to become suspicious- perhaps even to the point he'd begin to consider Schwann himself had some kind of hand in this. He could, of course, agree to bring Flynn into the investigation and then just string him along for a bit. The assassination was set to occur at the end of the week after all, but...
Schwann didn't know if it was the Raven part of him, the residual bits that were Damuron, or if somehow a feeling other than apathy had wormed its way into his cynical, artificial heart, but he didn't actually want Flynn to die.
"You'll leave in five days, so start preparing," Schwann said, watching Flynn trying to contain his eagerness. "I'll make sure your petition clears. The case file will be hidden within your orders. Don't fail."
"I won't, sir," Flynn practically beamed like personified sunlight. "I swear."
Schwann just turned and walked away. If Flynn did fail, then so be it. But if he succeeded... if he really was able to bring Alexei down...
He squashed that hope down and began to prepare for his next mission.
~*~*~*~
Alexei didn't like using arrests as a means of meeting with Raven. For one, it left a paper trail, and two, there was a risk someone might recognize who Raven actually was. But sometimes Alexei needed to speak with him immediately and a couple of knights would approach Raven with some trumped up charge and put him in a cell.
Raven had actually been expecting it, though. It seemed Alexei finally realized his sacrificial lion had left the capital the day before his scheduled assassination.
Of course, Alexei couldn't seem eager to come down to see a prisoner so Raven was forced to lounge and wait, counting minutes into hours by the rhythmic pulsing of his blastia. About halfway into hour four the sound of the prison gate swinging open cut into his conversation with the guard. For a moment he thought it was the commandant but there was one set of footfalls too many and what sounded like a third person being dragged. The guard by his cell quickly stood at attention, acting as if he were at his post instead of obviously idly chatting- so no one super important -and the cell door next to Raven's clanged open. There was grumbling, the sound of a body flopping onto a crappy prison bed, more grumbling, another clang and then heavy tromping feet retreating. The guard shuffled over to take a peek at the new prisoner. Raven's interest was piqued.
"So?" He asked when the guard came back. "Who's my new roommate? They a good conversationalist?"
The guard snorted. "If you like talkin' to mouthy shits. He's out cold, though."
"Oh? You know 'im?"
"Yeah, Yuri Lowell's a regular 'round here. Always stirrin' up trouble in the Lower Quarter. Can't blame Leblanc's squad for roughin' him up some, he seems to like pickin' on them the most."
Schwann was quite familiar with Yuri Lowell, even without having to hear Leblanc's rantings on the young man, being one of the few acquaintances of Flynn's close enough to be worth investigating. An immensely talented swordsman with an absurdly short military career. And, the gears in Raven's brain began turning, potentially soft hearted enough to be useful. With all the trouble Yuri caused in misguided attempts to help those he lived with in the Lower Quarter, what ends might he go to to save the childhood friend he'd grown up with..?
He thought about a desert and of lives being picked off, one by one.
It would be cruel to let Flynn face everything on his own. Allowing a friend to be by his side, even if it all ended in failure, seemed like the least Raven could do for him.
~*~*~*~
He'd been staring up at the sky so long his neck was starting to hurt. He'd been putting this off long enough, he supposed. They were beginning the final prep before heading into Tarqaron, if Raven kept dragging his feet, his only choices were to wait until this was all over- with neither their survival nor success guaranteed -or during the final approach which wasn't the best time to be making these kinds of confessions.
Of course doing it while stuck on a ship flying hundreds of feet in the air also wasn't the best time given the lack of escape routes, but Raven fully acknowledged he brought this upon himself. Besides, Flynn deserved to slug him just as much as the others did.
The man in question was leaned up against the Fiertia's cabin, using it as a windbreak as he read through some missive. Poor guy, even on a quest to save the world he was still working. Already the same lines that had embedded themselves into Alexei's face were beginning to crease Flynn's.
And here Raven was, about to add to that stress. He took a deep breath and approached. "Yo, Flynn-chan. Got a moment?"
Immediately Flynn rolled the papers up, tucking them away, the same mild smile on his lips he always had when someone called for him, automatic and deflecting. "How can I help you, Raven-san?"
"I wanted to apologize. Woulda done it before but," Raven waved his hand vaguely. "Ya know."
Flynn tilted his head in confusion. "Okay. What for?"
"I helped conspire to kill ya."
"I see. Thank you for doing a poor job of it."
"Rude," he retorted, feigning insult. "I was the one that got you outta there before it happened, remember?"
"My apologies. Thank you for intentionally doing a poor job of it."
Raven tsked. This was supposed to be a serious discussion. He was supposed to be reaping what he sowed, here. "I know you an' Yuri like brushin' over that sorta thing, but it's kinda something to take seriously, an officer tryin' to get another assassinated in order to justify going ta war with Dahngrest."
"But you're not an officer," Flynn said lightly. "You're very adamant about that. Therefore, you couldn't have taken part in that particular conspiracy."
For a moment Raven's brain tripped over itself trying to come up with a response. "That- it's not- you can't- you seriously gonna let me get away with that?"
Flynn shifted, his hands clasped in front of him in a way young soldiers often did as a sign of deference. But the square line of his shoulders and the firm expression on his face turned it into something commanding. Damn, Raven thought to himself, the kid grew into leadership fast. "What you did was wrong, and I know you know that. You followed Alexei's plan because you thought you had no choice. He had fooled everyone. He had me willingly doing his dirty work as well. If it wasn't for Yuri, how much longer would it have been before he put me in the same position he had you or Yaeger?"
The thought of Flynn, heart replaced by a blastia and under Alexei's thumb, had Raven's blood flushing cold.
Flynn continued on, "And yet, the moment you were free from him, you didn't run. You came with us to make things right. You helped us try to stop Alexei and you're still here to help us stop Duke and the Adephagos. You're risking your life to fix your mistakes, knowing there's no guarantee you'll survive. I could wrack my brain for years, but I'll never be able to come up with a more genuine act of atonement."
Raven swallowed, trying to hide the lump in his throat. "That's kinda soft for justice, don't ya think?"
Flynn's expression softened with a gentle smile. "I prefer the term compassionate. Justice that's not tempered with compassion leads to blindly following laws without understanding why they were created to begin with. I've decided that that's not the sort of leader I want to be."
"Flynn-chan, stop being so cool. You almost make me wanna go back to the knights."
He laughed brightly. "I wouldn't stop you if you did." His eyes danced mischievously. "If you're really so determined to be punished for Schwann's crimes, you'd have to take on his responsibilities, too."
"Nope. Absolutely not. I like being a flaky vagabond, thank you. Besides," Raven's smile turned old and worn but so very proud, "you're gonna bring in a brand new era to the knights. You don't need an old man gettin' in your way." He patted Flynn's chest and walked off with a wave, rounding the corner of the cabin.
Leaning up against the wall was Yuri. Unsurprising not because the Fiertia was a small ship but because Yuri could occasionally be painfully transparent.
"So you were the one that set Zagi on him," Yuri said, so blunt and neutral it made the short hairs on the back of Raven's neck prickle.
"I didn't ask for Zagi specifically," he merely passed on the time and location along the line that would get to Yaeger with the recommendation of sending his best, "but yeah."
"I see." Yuri pushed away from the railing and looked Raven square in the eyes. "Thanks."
For a moment, Raven didn't think he heard correctly. "You two have a weird habit of thanking people for planning someone's death."
"You're the one that set this all into motion." Yuri waved a hand, indicating to the ship, to Ba'ul, to the rest of the group doing whatever they were doing on the deck of the ship, talking and laughing as if some eldritch being wasn't looming over the planet.
Huh. He sort of did, didn't he? Raven just waved it off. "You're imagining things."
"You got me out of that cell the very day Flynn was supposed to die."
"Coincidence."
"And Estelle hearing about the plot was also coincidence?"
"They happen. You're being too suspicious."
Yuri's grin was sharp and not particularly nice. "Having so many well-timed coincidences happening at once is something to be suspicious about. Especially when a shady old man is in the center of it."
Feeling off balance, Raven eyed him warily. "You upset about it?"
"Nope. Like I said: thanks. You might've been the one that orchestrated it to begin with but because of your meddling I've been able to watch Flynn's back." He turned his eyes out to the horizon, lifting his head up to let the wind stream through his long hair. "I got to see what this world has to offer and," he looked back at Raven, "I'm able to fulfill a promise I made. So thanks for getting involved, old man."
"It's not like I planned it like this," the words fell out of Raven's mouth before he knew they were there. "I was pretty certain Flynn was gonna die either way. Didn't really matter how so long as we could pin it on the guilds."
Yuri hummed like that was unimportant. "So? Why target Flynn?"
"To start a war with Dahngrest, of course," he shrugged like it was obvious. "Flynn's beloved enough his death would've caused an uproar from the commoners and knights and an officer being killed in the palace would have the nobles worried enough about their own safety to demand action."
"Oh?" Outwardly Yuri was as unflappable as ever. But his grip tightened around the sheath of his sword and his words were full of teeth. "Suppose I shouldn't be surprised Alexei was cold enough to make that kind of calculation."
For a moment, Raven's blastia felt chilled where the metal met skin. "I suppose he always was." Not that he knew Alexei all that well, even after ten years. Raven wouldn't be able to point out any moment and say, "That's when he changed", or give any thoughts as to why. He didn't even know if Alexei had changed or if the things he did he'd always been capable of and he'd just stopped hiding it.
Not that Raven was in any position to judged, he thought with a snort of laughter. He barely knew himself some days.
"What's so funny, old man?"
"Ah, just thinkin' how bein' 'round you kids makes me feel like a young man again." Before blastia hearts and wars and the end of the world, before changed names and fake lives. Back when he was aimless, unsatisfied. When Casey looked up at him with her knowing eyes and asked "What kind of knight do you want to be?"
Wasn't that the million gald question, now. With Raven unmasked and Schwann buried, with both his keepers laid to rest, who was he now? What kind of man was he going to be from this day forward? Raven rubbed at the scruffy hairs on his chin, eyeing a shady part of the ship closest to Judith. "Guess all we can do is just try to make tomorrow a better day than today, right?"
He gave Yuri the shitty grin he'd perfected over the years, pretending he wasn't being nearly as vulnerable as he truly was. Raven was certain Yuri didn't buy it for a moment but, understanding guy he was, didn't say anything. He wandered to the others and settled against a coil of rope piled along the edge of the deck, cheerily responding to Karol's greeting. He laced his hands behind his head, leaning back to the see clouds drift along the sky and wondered, for the first time in many, many years, what the future had in store.
