FFVI - Edgar and Sabin
Apr. 25th, 2011 08:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lirillithTitle: Sleep of the Just
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Characters: Edgar and Sabin
Length: 434 words
Summary: Edgar, the coin toss, and doubt.
Warnings: None
****
It had been a sacrifice for his brother's sake. They both wanted to be free, to be able to live wherever they chose, to move around without guards and attendants, to leave the castle - to leave their chambers - without telling anyone. He'd let Sabin choose a path, whatever path it might be. Had Sabin taken the throne, Edgar could have gone where pleased. A place in Jidoor, he thought. He'd find a manufacturer interested in selling his inventions, or go into business on a much smaller scale. He'd have leisure in the evenings for superb Jidooran wine and beautiful women. A chance and a reason to work on ideas that didn't contribute to the defense of Figaro.
But he was almost certain Sabin wouldn't take the throne. Sabin's own dream was different - a chance to follow up on his martial arts training, a home in a quiet place with trees and water. He'd always loved the mountains. When Edgar tossed the coin, he knew he was giving up that free life in Jidoor, a chance to walk down a city street alone. Tossing the coin was a sacrifice, and he watched from the battlement as his brother walked away that very night, he was certain that he'd made the right choice. He didn't sleep long - their discussion and final goodbyes had put them only a few hours from dawn - but when he did, his sleep was untroubled.
The doubts came later. When he read the petitions decrying his laws as too strict, when he learned of the protests over his new treaty with Gestahl's empire, he lay awake at night, wondering if his father would have approved of his decisions. Wondering if he'd done wrong, giving Sabin the choice; maybe they should have done as Father wished, ruled jointly, his level head countering Sabin's temper, Sabin's direct approach countering his tendency to over-deliberate. Did he enjoy being king too much? He'd known what Sabin would choose. By taking away the element of chance, he'd seized the throne for himself as surely as if he'd usurped it by force. Perhaps Sabin would have been a better king, despite his reluctance, or even because of it.
He took to wandering the castle at night. The guards never interrupted him, and there were some parts of the castle where he could feel like he was alone. It was the only time he was, and the only time he could empty his mind, even slightly. He'd look at the night sky and hope that wherever he was, Sabin at least could sleep soundly.
****
Fandom: Final Fantasy VI
Characters: Edgar and Sabin
Length: 434 words
Summary: Edgar, the coin toss, and doubt.
Warnings: None
****
It had been a sacrifice for his brother's sake. They both wanted to be free, to be able to live wherever they chose, to move around without guards and attendants, to leave the castle - to leave their chambers - without telling anyone. He'd let Sabin choose a path, whatever path it might be. Had Sabin taken the throne, Edgar could have gone where pleased. A place in Jidoor, he thought. He'd find a manufacturer interested in selling his inventions, or go into business on a much smaller scale. He'd have leisure in the evenings for superb Jidooran wine and beautiful women. A chance and a reason to work on ideas that didn't contribute to the defense of Figaro.
But he was almost certain Sabin wouldn't take the throne. Sabin's own dream was different - a chance to follow up on his martial arts training, a home in a quiet place with trees and water. He'd always loved the mountains. When Edgar tossed the coin, he knew he was giving up that free life in Jidoor, a chance to walk down a city street alone. Tossing the coin was a sacrifice, and he watched from the battlement as his brother walked away that very night, he was certain that he'd made the right choice. He didn't sleep long - their discussion and final goodbyes had put them only a few hours from dawn - but when he did, his sleep was untroubled.
The doubts came later. When he read the petitions decrying his laws as too strict, when he learned of the protests over his new treaty with Gestahl's empire, he lay awake at night, wondering if his father would have approved of his decisions. Wondering if he'd done wrong, giving Sabin the choice; maybe they should have done as Father wished, ruled jointly, his level head countering Sabin's temper, Sabin's direct approach countering his tendency to over-deliberate. Did he enjoy being king too much? He'd known what Sabin would choose. By taking away the element of chance, he'd seized the throne for himself as surely as if he'd usurped it by force. Perhaps Sabin would have been a better king, despite his reluctance, or even because of it.
He took to wandering the castle at night. The guards never interrupted him, and there were some parts of the castle where he could feel like he was alone. It was the only time he was, and the only time he could empty his mind, even slightly. He'd look at the night sky and hope that wherever he was, Sabin at least could sleep soundly.
****
