eachdraidh | video | open to both courts

[ John is in a stranger position than he's usually in when he makes broadcasts. Sprawled out on his stomach on the floor, locket in front of his face, he looks- not relaxed, but at the very least less active than he usually is. On his back rests the head and front paws of his female saber-fanged cave lion, her toes flexing every once in a while as if she's kneading his back.

There's a loud sigh. ]

God damn, but this place makes me feel old sometimes. I'm in my thirties and here we all get triple the lifespan -- I'm way too young for this. Don't know how you elves and other long-lived people do it.

[ Granted, with his enhancements, John may very well be long-lived even without the lifespan boost of the Drabwurld... but that's not the point. ]

Of course, this could be part of what happens when you join the military at seventeen and see several lifetimes of war stretch out in front of you. Not that I assume the life expectancy for most shardbearers is that high...

[ And he's being morbid. He grimaces- and then swears again. ]

Buttercup, watch your claws!

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Buttercup, [ he confirms. Buttercup flicks her tail. ]

Cutting them down seems to be the more common result. Especially here.

[ He idly wonders what sense there is in becoming so overly familiar with such an obviously dangerous creature... But criticism won't serve him here. ]

Therein lies the reason for our lengthened lifespans, perhaps. Should our likeliest fate end with giving our lives in service to our court, it hardly makes sense that we should be allowed to age past our prime.

[ Not that Gabranth intends to die, of course. But hey, as long as this guy's talking about it like it's an inevitability... ]

[ gabranth you ride a feathered dinosaur shut up ]

That is a very good point. Though it does make you wonder about some of the people they've pulled in.

[ Not that he's seen too many ninety-somethings running around, Steve Rogers notwithstanding, but he sure has seen a lot of kids. ]

[ 1) feathered dinosaurs are awesome, and 2) he's not exactly letting his feathered dinosaur roll all over him so how about YOU shut up ]

Aye... Children, most of all.

[ Not that he can read John's mind. It's a chief concern of his, the number of young children he's seen drawn into this war from worlds unknown — not least of all because he wonders too often whether Lord Larsa might turn out to be a shardbearer as well. ]

[ 1) so are kittyweasels, 2) well why not, 3) NO ]

Yeah. Not so strange for some cultures, but- well, you're not an adult until you're eighteen where I'm from and even that feels too young.

[ are you prepared to take this to fisticuffs john come on let's GO ]

Eighteen years is a little generous for some parts of Ivalice... I was hardly so old myself when I first raised a sword to war.

[ But that's getting a little personal. Gabranth shakes his head. ]

But younger still are these children drawn here... What advantage does either court receive with such early summons?

[ BRING IT ]

It's pretty generous in some parts of my world, too.

[ Unfortunately. ]

The only thing I can think is that they might be- easier to mold. [ As much as he hates even saying that idea. ]

[ Gabranth can only scowl at that. ]

A dark thought, indeed... But one which I fear is correct.

[ Though, truly, his fears run a bit deeper than that. He sighs. ]

If I may ask, as you have seen more of this realm than I... How many children have you witnessed in the service of our court, and the Unseelie?

What age range?

[ Because, well. ]

I've definitely seen several children shardbearers on both sides, though- honestly, I think the Seelie court has more.

video | open to both courts

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