video; um: aegis

[ofnovalue]

[ The video is fairly rough and difficult to parse what's going on, at first. Apologies to anyone with motion sickness, but at least it's really brief. Eventually it comes into focus on Ovelia's face, who is looking just off-camera to make sure everything is working properly.

Her hair is being swept by a breeze, and both she and Agrias, whom is also leaning into view, are lightly... bouncing? Or, more appropriately from the sound of a delicted "kweh kweh!" in the background, they're riding. On chocobos. ]

There we are... You see, Ser Agrias, tis as I was shown and said unto you. These devices are not so truly impenetrable in their machinations. Tis simple enough to learn with practice!

[ Ovelia laughs, brightly, gesturing towards Agrias. ]

Since we are, as I am told, 'live', I shall make introductions on behalf of myself and my knight. I am Princess Ovelia Atkasha, of Ivalice. And this is my knight and protector, Ser Agrias.

[ She specifically pans the camera to show Agrias riding beside her. Agrias has yet to fully understand how these trinkets operate, but she at least has a rudimentary grasp thanks to said princess. ]

Ah, yes. Well met, one and all. As the lady has mentioned, I am Agrias Oaks, knight of Ivalice. 'Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

...

My lady, you are certain that they can see and hear us? 'Tis such a strange method of making introductions...

[ Ovelia made a slight pout ]

Do not call the customs of others strange, Ser Agrias, tis simply their way...

[ There's but a brief sigh. ]


Aye, that much is certain. I shall simply have to adjust.

[ Slowly. Very, very slowly. Which was fine. They had time now...

Ovelia turned the camera back to her and gave what appeared to be a... wink and a peace sign? Before signing off. ]

Comments

video; un: li_min

[kiss_it_better]

If you still have doubts, miss, then let me assure you that people can indeed hear and see you.

[He's smiling but there's nothing meanspirited about it. Rather it is mild and gentle.]

That being said, please forgive me if I'm being rude by speaking so casually. I'm afraid I do not know the proper way to greet a princess in Ivalice.

[ofnovalue]

[ Ovelia hummed, tilting her head. The hand holding the reigns raised just slightly, a finger pointing. ]

Before I answer, mayhaps you should instead tell me how a princess would be greeted in your own home? I think such would be more comfortable, in the end, correct?

[kiss_it_better]

I suppose that depends. Bowing until asked to rise and offering greetings is common for those who are not from the royal family. Whether they need to go down to their knees depends on the person's own rank in the government and their relationship with the princess. But even among the royal family there is a hierarchy. For example, if the princess were a younger sister I wouldn't need to offer formal greetings but could just greet her by name.

[Pause.] We didn't have any technology like this, however, so naturally there are no established rules for greetings in situations like this.

[ofnovalue]

[ It sounded complicated, really But other cultures did approach formality differently, so she hardly minded. After a moment, she hummed. ]

If you must, simply addressing me as "Princess" would be certainly enough.

[ She definitely would feel weird if he started bowing to her. ]

[kiss_it_better]

Princess.

[A greeting, but also an acknowledgement of the offer to simply greet her this way.]

Sometimes it can be difficult to be thrown into such strange circumstances. It's good that you appear to be adjusting well.

[ofnovalue]

My knight, Ser Agrias, should be thanked for that. Her presence here eases my heart, parting the clouds from me.

[ Though she might be overselling the whole matter, still riding the high of their reunion. ]

[kiss_it_better]

Having someone familiar, especially someone reliable certainly helps a lot.

[He can understand that feeling all too well.]

Is she your personal guard?

[ofnovalue]

Aye, she is. She has watched o'er me since I was much younger.

[ Though in reality it was more like they grew up together, since Agrias was not much older than her. ]

[kiss_it_better]

The two of you must be close then. Are the two of you close in age?

[ofnovalue]

Closer than most I am known to. She is but five years my senior.

[ Considering most of the people she knew were old men, and she hadn't really kept in good touch with many of the other girls she had attended school with her. And well, Ramza, but she hardly knew him nearly as well. ]

[kiss_it_better]

Five years isn't a large different. [And yet could also feel like a lot.] The two of you could have been sisters with an age difference like that.

[ofnovalue]

Aye, perhaps... had the circumstances of our births been different...

[ A lot of things would be different, really... ]

[kiss_it_better]

[Did he touch on something painful?

Even as he wonders it he chooses not to ask.]

Ah, there's no helping the circumstances of our birth. Still, have you ever considered becoming sworn sisters?

[Is that a concept that existed where she was from...?]

[ofnovalue]

[ The tilt of her head and arch of her brow probably answered for him. ]

I know not of what you speak, sir.

[kiss_it_better]

Where I'm from, people who are not related but share a special bond that is as close as families can swear an oath of sisterhood or brotherhood. Though they are not related by blood they make a promise to the heavens to support and care for each other, vowing to treat each other as if they were true siblings even going so far as to refer to each other as such.

[ofnovalue]

[ There is a moment where she just rides in silence. The keen awareness that Agrias was riding next to her set in, and some color moved to her cheeks, but otherwise, she tried to steel away, to temper, any reaction beyond that. ]

As I am of the royal line, and she is a knight, such things would be impossible... The breadth between our stations is too great.

[kiss_it_better]

Sworn sisterhood has nothing to do with that. It is a bond built on heart and vision. As long as the people making the oath share the same values--as long as they face each other with sincerity, then something as immaterial as wealth or station doesn't matter. There are even examples of emperors who had become sworn brothers with subjects they were particularly close with.

And at the risk of over-stepping, [He smiles.] We are not in your kingdom. Even if you were to be willful and rebellious and do what you want who could judge you for it? Here, of all places?

[ofnovalue]

... You are indeed stepping over polite conversation, good sir.

[ There's no resentment in her tone of him, specifically. Rather... it just seemed like something difficult for her to talk about. ]

[kiss_it_better]

[He inclined his head.]

Then I must beg Your Highness for your forgiveness.

[He sounds sincere enough, not at all like he's teasing...but at the same time also not very sorry. His smile is inscrutable (opaque). But at least there's no mockery in the way he speaks or acts. ]

[ofnovalue]

I shall not hold this offense against you, good sir.

[ His earnestness comes through. It really had seemed like he was only trying to help. But she can't help but feel he finds her protest without weight... but she lacks the energy to truly form them, much less in Agrias' presence. ]

video;

[cleansingstrike]

To think it so simple, yet I've no reason to doubt your words.

'Tis convenient, that much is true. Though I still cannot help but feel as though it comes at a cost.

[kiss_it_better]

It is convenient. I imagine such technology would see a lot of use where I'm from.

Though I wonder if I can ask what sort of cost you're thinking of.

[cleansingstrike]

There is much to be gained from an in-person conversation. Would you not think so?

[kiss_it_better]

I agree to some degree, though I think those things can still be gained as long as not all communications happen like this, and as such, I think the cost is well worth the convenience.

After all, where I'm from, to speak with someone I cared about who was far away our only option are letters. If such technology existed where I was from, far from being limiting it would provide me opportunities to see and hear the person I otherwise would not be able to see for months.

[Also, you know, from a military and administrative standpoint this sort of technology that allowed near instantaneous communication would be a game changer.]

[cleansingstrike]

Your points are valid, and well-noted.

[And she'll just go ahead and say what he's thinking.]

To have such ease of communication available to oneself, I daresay it would shift the tides of war so very dramatically. Perhaps in that sense, I remain grateful that the technology never reached my homeland.

I should not want to imagine what would've transpired had we not been victorious.