[Action] Post Heads of State Meeting

[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

[Meet and greet mingling time after the meeting on the Invincible.]

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[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

[Uh oh. Cecil's already got that look. No good can come from this. Ceodore nods solemnly. No running! He knows he screwed up.]

Yes, Father.

[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

[Cecil leads him away from the rest of the group to where they can talk in private.]

I trust you already know what I want to discuss?

[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

Yes, sir.

[More nodding. Yeah, he knows.]

[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

If you've an explanation, I'd like to hear it. Why Ursula?

[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

Because she's been waiting for a shot to prove herself. She's very capable. She deserves that chance and she wouldn't ask for herself.

[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

[You barely even gave her a chance to blink before you blurted it out, Ceodore, never mind volunteer herself.]

But that's also true of you. Your knight trial -- you also undertook that to have a chance to prove yourself. Why did you not volunteer?

[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

[He's told his mother as much before and seeing her angry was too much. This time he can't bring himself to even look at his father.]

I don't want to.

[It's bad enough knowing that he's duty bound to take over Baron eventually and the comparisons will never end. Volunteer for more? Not a chance.]

[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

[That... had not been an answer Cecil ever expected him to hear from his own son. Shock and disappointment are fighting for dominance.]

So you would sooner have Ursula shoulder the heavy burden of responsibility in your place. Do you not think that selfish of you, Ceodore?

[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

[Ceodore visibly wilts. Disappointing his parents is worse than getting slugged by Biggs who is turning out to be right that the boy is a spoiled prince.]

I'm sorry, Father. I hadn't thought of that. I just didn't want it for myself.

[trinitycrusades.livejournal.com]

[Cecil gives him a long, searching look. He knows Ceodore is being sincere in his apology, but it doesn't undo the fact that it should have been Ceodore volunteering himself, not shirking his duties. At least Ursula accepted it with good grace.]

I'm sure you know this already, but your knight trial did not end on the Adamant Isle. Knighthood is an ongoing path to be followed, and part of that includes accepting duties required of you, of putting others before yourself.

[He pauses, and his voice drops.]

One day I will be gone, my son, and the throne of Baron will be left to you. I hope you will accept that, when the time comes.

[lunarianlegacy.livejournal.com]

[Or sooner than Cecil thinks if he doesn't snap out of that zombie state he's in at home. Ceodore looks down and stares at the ground. He'd told Rosa once that he didn't want it... and it made her angry. He still doesn't want it, but he just got a fresh reminder about putting duty before self. At first the nod is slow and reluctant, but changes to a firm one and no more looking away.]

I will. I know what I have to do.