(2022-06-27) The Humanity of the Mercenaries

Details

Author:	Saaron
Summary:	Gwen and Sandy discuss the philosophical side of their job as mercenaries and what shouldn't be easy about this type of work. They catch up on some personal news as well.
Rating:	T for Teen

+ Show additional content warnings

Mentions of killing, love, kisses, romantic touches

Gausanders yawns and stretches. "Time for that well-deserved nap!"
Gwenivene: Yeah…
Gausanders: Who wants to go take a nap?
Gwenivene: I think…I'm gonna go out flying for a bit.
Gausanders he looks more at Gwen then he does at Cam. Sorry Cam.
Gwenivene: I just need to clear my head.
Cambrin: I'm going to go clean up. See you both later!
Cambrin waves goodbye to Arechron. Farewell!
You wave goodbye to Cambrin. Farewell!
Gwenivene waves goodbye to Cambrin. Farewell!
Gausanders: Oh, I see. We did a lot of a… bad stuff today.
Gwenivene: It…really wasn't any worse than any other day. It's just…
Gausanders: But we also did a lot of good! That's what matters! *He smiles.*
Gwenivene: But is it -all- that matters?
Gausanders: Well… I… I think so? That's why we're doing this job!
Gausanders extends his hand toward Gwen.
Gwenivene sighs. "I wish I could agree, Sandy…but I don't."
Gwenivene takes Sandy's hand.
Gausanders looks reassured that she takes his hand, and he squeezes hers. "Are you disappointed by…" he pauses, frowning sadly, before shaking his head. "That you joined one of the squads?"
Gwenivene: No…no I just think we have to be so, so careful not to get complacent about how we accomplish the good we're doing. We must never be flippant about dealing death. That…that's how the Burning Legion treats life.
Gausanders takes a deep breath. "That's… that's right. But we don't really have a choice with orcs and ogres, right?.."
Gausanders: If we did have a choice like that, we wouldn't be here in the first place, right?
Gwenivene: Don't we? Even if we have to fight them, that doesn't mean we have to delight in it, or treat their deaths any more lightly than the death of a human or gnome.
Gausanders scratches the back of his head with his free hand. "I… guess so?"
Gausanders: But if we see them like our gnome or human or dwarf or night elf friends, that's going to make all of this… more difficult, don't you think?
Gwenivene nods vehemently. "Yes! And it should be!"
Gausanders looks at her, a bit confused.
Gausanders: You want the work we do with the Company to be… worse?
Gwenivene: Not worse. But taking a life shouldn't be easy. Not emotionally easy. We should always feel the weight of that…the responsibility.
Gwenivene: Otherwise…we'll become just like the Legion. Callous. Soulless. Able to snuff out lives without a care.
Gausanders looks down at his feet. "I… I think I get what you're saying. I just think… thaat's a lot of responsibility to bear."
Gwenivene: That doesn't mean it shouldn't be borne.
Gwenivene: That's why the Company is a good thing. Like-minded people can bear it together.
Gausanders: But the Legion don't think they're doing good when they take a life, right? They're being controlled. But we're free, and we're doing this for things we know are good!
Gwenivene: You tell me. What are the Legion's goals? Do they really sit around a table and say, "Hey, what evil can we do today?" That seems pretty silly.
Gausanders nods slowly. "I… I think I see what you're saying. My mom says stuff like that, too! I just never thought about this…"
Gausanders: But like you said, the Company is there to help each other. I hope you find the help you need with all of this among us! *He gives her a very small smile, his eyebrows showing some curiosity.*
Gwenivene squeezes his hand. "I worry about you, too. I don't want you to start finding this too easy. That's a dark path."
Gausanders: I think I've always find what we're doing easy! But that's because I never thought about all of this… like you do!
Gwenivene: I think you have to think about it…before it consumes something good in you…or someone uses it to manipulate you.
Gausanders chuckles softly. "Don't worry about that, I'm un-manipulable!.. I mean if you don't use mindcontrol, but that's a different story!"
Gausanders: I've been warned that my demons would try to manipulate me ever since I became a warlock and look at me! I'm not manipulated! Even when I lend them half my soul! *He grins.*
Gwenivene gives him a meager smile. "Nobody is immune to being manipulated, sweetie. Just…promise me you'll think about what I've said?"
Gausanders smiles softly, offering his second hand to her. "I will. I promise. I'm already doing it right now!"
Gwenivene cannot help a little giggle.
Gwenivene: Thank you.
Gausanders: Thank you for worrying about me, but in a nice way! Sometimes people are kind of mean when they worry, at least that's what mom sa— anyway… Thank you!
Gwenivene: I'm gonna go for that flight with Grace now. I could use a bit of Nagrand wind on my face.
Gausanders: And I'm rescheduling my nap to do some thinking instead!
Gwenivene smiles.
Gausanders yawns.
Gausanders: No, I think I'll do the nap first, and then some clearer thinking -after-.
Gwenivene leans in to press a soft kiss to his lips. "I'll always worry for you…in a nice way."
Gausanders: But I will think about all of this for sure, I promise!
Gausanders kisses her back, letting go of her hand and moving to place his own on her back.
Gwenivene sighs happily, leaning into him. Even as their lips part, she presses her cheek to his chest, holding him close for a few moments.
Gausanders wraps her with his arms and -with some difficulty because of their hats- places a kiss on her forehead.
Padrick croaks in protest as his perch on Gwen's hat is invaded by the brim of Sandy's, and hops down to her shoulder.
You laugh.
Gwenivene giggles, peeking up at Sandy. "Oh dear. We've upset His Excellency."
Gausanders lets go of Gwen and bows to Padrick. "My apologies, Sir Padrick! I will start speaking with Gwen from one side of the room to the other, to make sure that this incident never happens again!" He grins.
Gwenivene smirks and playfully smacks Sandy's chest. "Don't you dare!"
You laugh at Gwenivene.
Gausanders: Okay, fine, I won't! But I think Padrick won't be happy about it!
Gausanders: Which reminds me, Grimnos really likes you!
Gwenivene blinks. "He…does? Wow! I can never get a read on him."
Gausanders: Yeah, I asked him to protect you more than me today, and he did really well, he really wanted to make sure you were safe!
Gwenivene beams. "Awww, how sweet!"
Gwenivene: Oh…and that also reminds me. I really need to apologize to Brynia. Like…I know I messed up bad when I called her your pet. I'm just not sure what I can do to make it better.
Gausanders: Nah, don't worry! I'm pretty sure she's forgotten already. She's not like that!
Gausanders: … I don't know what kind of gift you could give her anyway, to be honest.
Gwenivene: Still…maybe I could just say something. I'll give it some thought.
Gausanders nods. "Looks like we both have thinking to do!" *He laughs.* "Just like you… you did last week. Or rather… 7 years ago, was it?"
Gwenivene goes quiet very suddenly.
Gausanders: I… did… If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay!
Gausanders: Don't worry about it, I won't talk about it again!
Gwenivene: I…don't…no no. It's…not you.
Gwenivene sighs.
Gwenivene: I just…haven't gathered up the courage to ask Momma about it yet.
Gausanders: Oh!
Gausanders: Do you want to do this together?!
Gausanders: Like you helped me with my dad?
Gwenivene smiles softly. "Maybe…I don't know. I'm not sure I want that to be the first time you meet my parents."
Gausanders: Well I could meet them once… and then meet them a second time to help you ask her? *He smiles.*
Gwenivene chuckles, charmed by the simple logic.
Gwenivene: Let me think on it.
Gwenivene pecks a kiss to his cheek. "I've kept you up for long enough. Go get that nap."
Gausanders grins. "Just let me know! I'd be happy to help or not help, you just have to ask!"
Gausanders kisses her back on the lips. "And you go get some Nagrand air!"
Gwenivene blushes softly, eyes shining at him. "I will."
Gausanders takes a step back to leave her some space to get her gryphon and take flight, smiling at her.
Gwenivene opens a portal to call her gryphon, Grace, and teleports into the saddle.
Gwenivene: See you soon, sweetie.
Gausanders: Bye Gwen! Thank you… again! See you soon! *He waves, a huge grin on his face.*
Gwenivene gives Sandy an adoring smile as she pats Grace's neck, and the golden gryphon bounds off the ledge and spreads her wings, launching into the Nagrand sky.
Sandy waves goodbye to Gwen as she flies off into Nagrand.