[Yeah, a refill sounds like a great idea right about now. Once Yeager's done, he'll hold out his hand for Yeager to pass the bottle.]
I guess you and I makin' friends does have a dangerous edge ta it, huh? [That's said jokingly, though.] I know it's easy ta say these things when I'm the one leavin' ya behind, but...I really do have faith that you'll do just fine.
[Yeager needs to be strong so they can hopefully meet again some day. But...he doesn't say that part aloud. They both have complicated feelings about coming back from death for a very good reason. If this is going to be an enjoyable last few memories for the both of them, Yeager doesn't need to know that Raven actually hopes to come back from this.
So with his glass refilled, he winks and takes another long sip.]
Alright, enough with the gloomy talk, then! Got any last burnin' questions fer ol' Raven while he can still answer 'em?
[He passes it over with a laugh; it's true, Raven's certainly in the easier position here. He gets to leave them behind and they have to deal with the fallout. It's frustrating to be the one left behind, but it's not like he's angry at Raven.]
You have far too much faith in me.
[Way more than most people do, really, which is sort of terrifying if he stops and thinks about it. Maybe he just really likes disappointing people, but more likely it's that he doesn't know how to handle anyone else's expectations and just does whatever the hell he wants because he can.
But Raven shifts the topic and Yeager's all too willing to let that go.]
Ooh, are you sure you want to give me that much freedom to ask? I'm sure you'll regret it~
[There are questions he wants to ask, but Raven doesn't remember enough to know the answers to them. They're certainly more on the gloomy side anyway, though...]
How about this, then? You can ask a question in return for every one I ask!
[...Is this a really backwards way of saying "yeah, there's probably a lot you have questions for me about and I'm fine sharing"? Yes. Shut up.]
Let's start with this, then... When did the Don catch onto you? There's no way he was blind to why you were there, ja?
[...yes he legitimately thinks this is a fun question???? dear god yeager.]
Don't make me regret this instantly. [Though he really did walk into it so he has no one to blame but himself.] But sure, I'd be happy ta ask you some questions of my own.
[Because...yeah. He's got plenty of questions for Yeager. He'll try to follow his own rules, though.
...Boy is that a hell of a first question, but listen, it's definitely more fun than talking about the gloomy things. It's fine.]
Oh, damn near instantly. He caught me spyin' on him from outside HQ and gave my ass a good beatin'. [THE DON LITERALLY KO'D HIM.] He patched me up though, and put me ta work ta make up fer the treatment. Took me two months ta work off the debt, and by the time I got back ta the Empire, Alexei wanted me ta keep up my position as Raven.
[After another sip, he adds:]
Didja know the name "Raven" came from the Don? I wouldn't give him my name so he just tossed that one at me.
[That gets a laugh from him and Yeager shakes his head.]
That sounds just like him! I am a bit surprised he let you stay on and only gave you a debt of two months... but that's part of the reason he's so charming, you never know what to expect from that man!
[Ah, he really does miss the Don, huh...]
Did it? A shady name for a shady man, it's a bit simplistic but it suits you. He has good taste!
[Some part of him wonders if he should tell Raven the truth because it's not like Alexei's orders will matter in a day when Raven's dead, but... there isn't any need for that. It's easier - and better - for Raven not to have to deal with that right now.]
Believe me, I was just as surprised. I expected him ta kill me right then and there, but he saw somethin' in me that made him wanna keep me alive. I guess he's always had a soft spot fer feisty youths shakin' up the status quo.
[It really does feel like it was so long ago... Yeager's right, though, the Don's always been such an unpredictable man. That's exactly why he loves working alongside him.
Anyway, after giving Yeager a joking Look for the comment on his shadiness, he conjures up a question of his own.]
All right. Let's stay on the subject of our guild lives fer now, then. What's the truth behind how ya ended up takin' over Leviathan's Claw? Didja really kill the old leader?
[Yeah, he can definitely see it. So Raven was a feisty youth back then, huh...?]
Oh dear, you really do want me to expose all my secrets~ Well, I suppose there's no harm in that one.
[It isn't as though it matters, ultimately. Raven already knows far too much about him anyway.]
I did, ja. I actually was a regular member for awhile until I got settled. The previous leader was getting on in his years but he was quite talented - I figured it didn't really matter what the outcome was.
[If he won, he'd be the new guild leader. If he died, then he wouldn't have anything left to worry about.]
I thought the rumors would be useful for my reputation - better than someone simply showing up one day from out of nowhere, ja?
And besides, it's done quite a bit for keeping everyone in line! I would allow any of them to challenge me if they wanted to, but they've all been remarkably well-behaved.
[Feisty in the fact that he actually tried to take the Don head-on like a fucking idiot, maybe.
He listens intently, sipping on his drink as Yeager spills the tea. In a way, it really does feel like he's learning some really juicy info that people back home would kill to have.
"I figured it didn't really matter what the outcome was." Yeager might catch him nodding at that if he's looking Raven's way. He knows that sentiment completely. It's the same thought that he carried when he fought the Don.
...sorry, we're definitely talking about Zagi though.]
So that's the truth, huh... [He grins and raises an eyebrow.] How many times has that nutjob Zagi challenged ya?
[Yeah. If anyone's going to understand that sentiment, it's Raven.
But since we've moved onto Zagi... He answers without hesitation, he doesn't even have to think about it!!]
Thirty-two. Maybe thirty-three if we count that time I wasn't having it and just left.
[zagi absolutely deserves this, but lbr yeager likewise deserves this.]
Make no mistake, he's one of the best assassins I've ever employed. But there's quite a difference between a challenge and a murder, ja? He never was able to get the jump on me either.
[...okay is it any wonder why gauche and droite decided they needed to be yeager's bodyguards after this shitshow, though...]
[Reasons Yeager keeps Zagi around: good at killing people, and also he's hilarious.
But he's content to move on as well and he does so with a laugh.]
Good to see you didn't try to get away with it~ Two questions, then!
[Hmm, what to ask, what to ask... He should stick to two questions that go together as well, oh!]
Have you been enjoying spending time with the plucky orphans? I'm guessing that the Don sent you along with them to keep an eye on the little princess, ja?
[Well, maybe it was the other way around, with Alexei sending Schwann after her. Or maybe it's both, who knows. But that first question is important too!!]
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I guess you and I makin' friends does have a dangerous edge ta it, huh? [That's said jokingly, though.] I know it's easy ta say these things when I'm the one leavin' ya behind, but...I really do have faith that you'll do just fine.
[Yeager needs to be strong so they can hopefully meet again some day. But...he doesn't say that part aloud. They both have complicated feelings about coming back from death for a very good reason. If this is going to be an enjoyable last few memories for the both of them, Yeager doesn't need to know that Raven actually hopes to come back from this.
So with his glass refilled, he winks and takes another long sip.]
Alright, enough with the gloomy talk, then! Got any last burnin' questions fer ol' Raven while he can still answer 'em?
[Fun questions only!!]
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You have far too much faith in me.
[Way more than most people do, really, which is sort of terrifying if he stops and thinks about it. Maybe he just really likes disappointing people, but more likely it's that he doesn't know how to handle anyone else's expectations and just does whatever the hell he wants because he can.
But Raven shifts the topic and Yeager's all too willing to let that go.]
Ooh, are you sure you want to give me that much freedom to ask? I'm sure you'll regret it~
[There are questions he wants to ask, but Raven doesn't remember enough to know the answers to them. They're certainly more on the gloomy side anyway, though...]
How about this, then? You can ask a question in return for every one I ask!
[...Is this a really backwards way of saying "yeah, there's probably a lot you have questions for me about and I'm fine sharing"? Yes. Shut up.]
Let's start with this, then... When did the Don catch onto you? There's no way he was blind to why you were there, ja?
[...yes he legitimately thinks this is a fun question???? dear god yeager.]
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[Because...yeah. He's got plenty of questions for Yeager. He'll try to follow his own rules, though.
...Boy is that a hell of a first question, but listen, it's definitely more fun than talking about the gloomy things. It's fine.]
Oh, damn near instantly. He caught me spyin' on him from outside HQ and gave my ass a good beatin'. [THE DON LITERALLY KO'D HIM.] He patched me up though, and put me ta work ta make up fer the treatment. Took me two months ta work off the debt, and by the time I got back ta the Empire, Alexei wanted me ta keep up my position as Raven.
[After another sip, he adds:]
Didja know the name "Raven" came from the Don? I wouldn't give him my name so he just tossed that one at me.
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That sounds just like him! I am a bit surprised he let you stay on and only gave you a debt of two months... but that's part of the reason he's so charming, you never know what to expect from that man!
[Ah, he really does miss the Don, huh...]
Did it? A shady name for a shady man, it's a bit simplistic but it suits you. He has good taste!
[Some part of him wonders if he should tell Raven the truth because it's not like Alexei's orders will matter in a day when Raven's dead, but... there isn't any need for that. It's easier - and better - for Raven not to have to deal with that right now.]
Your turn, then! What's your question for me?
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[It really does feel like it was so long ago... Yeager's right, though, the Don's always been such an unpredictable man. That's exactly why he loves working alongside him.
Anyway, after giving Yeager a joking Look for the comment on his shadiness, he conjures up a question of his own.]
All right. Let's stay on the subject of our guild lives fer now, then. What's the truth behind how ya ended up takin' over Leviathan's Claw? Didja really kill the old leader?
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Oh dear, you really do want me to expose all my secrets~ Well, I suppose there's no harm in that one.
[It isn't as though it matters, ultimately. Raven already knows far too much about him anyway.]
I did, ja. I actually was a regular member for awhile until I got settled. The previous leader was getting on in his years but he was quite talented - I figured it didn't really matter what the outcome was.
[If he won, he'd be the new guild leader. If he died, then he wouldn't have anything left to worry about.]
I thought the rumors would be useful for my reputation - better than someone simply showing up one day from out of nowhere, ja?
And besides, it's done quite a bit for keeping everyone in line! I would allow any of them to challenge me if they wanted to, but they've all been remarkably well-behaved.
[...except Zagi, but we don't talk about Zagi!!]
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He listens intently, sipping on his drink as Yeager spills the tea. In a way, it really does feel like he's learning some really juicy info that people back home would kill to have.
"I figured it didn't really matter what the outcome was." Yeager might catch him nodding at that if he's looking Raven's way. He knows that sentiment completely. It's the same thought that he carried when he fought the Don.
...sorry, we're definitely talking about Zagi though.]
So that's the truth, huh... [He grins and raises an eyebrow.] How many times has that nutjob Zagi challenged ya?
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But since we've moved onto Zagi... He answers without hesitation, he doesn't even have to think about it!!]
Thirty-two. Maybe thirty-three if we count that time I wasn't having it and just left.
[zagi absolutely deserves this, but lbr yeager likewise deserves this.]
Make no mistake, he's one of the best assassins I've ever employed. But there's quite a difference between a challenge and a murder, ja? He never was able to get the jump on me either.
[...okay is it any wonder why gauche and droite decided they needed to be yeager's bodyguards after this shitshow, though...]
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S-Sorry, it's just so hard ta believe between how he is around Yuri and now this! I'm guessin' he's sure not yer stealthiest, though.
[But he won't subject Yeager to too much Zagi talk. He's gotten his share of entertainment.]
Okay, okay. It's yer turn now! I technically hit ya with two questions though, didn't I? Feel free ta throw two more my way.
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[Reasons Yeager keeps Zagi around: good at killing people, and also he's hilarious.
But he's content to move on as well and he does so with a laugh.]
Good to see you didn't try to get away with it~ Two questions, then!
[Hmm, what to ask, what to ask... He should stick to two questions that go together as well, oh!]
Have you been enjoying spending time with the plucky orphans? I'm guessing that the Don sent you along with them to keep an eye on the little princess, ja?
[Well, maybe it was the other way around, with Alexei sending Schwann after her. Or maybe it's both, who knows. But that first question is important too!!]