There had been a handful of groups and rebellions and even some lone individuals that had caught the Empire's attention in the past. People were people; it was natural they wanted to fight against those who oppressed them. And, make no mistake, Mei was not under the impression that Garlemald was doing any sort of benevolent unification of nations.
The Empire had always intended to subjugate others. Even Emperor Solus' death without chosen heir had been by design. There was no false pretense regarding the morality of whom she had aligned herself with, intentionally or no.
The thing was, Meiko didn't particularly...care.
The memories of Apate and the Unsundered World that Emet-selch had bestowed upon her had sort of given her the answer to life's many mysteries. Even the gods and the primals that Garlemald 'feared' so much had been named and revealed, making them small in their simplicity. It was like colors of existence had been dimmed to that of a muddier palette.
It was better this way. Giving up her flesh and becoming indifferent to life itself were necessary experiences into becoming what she needed to be in her role. And, just like the woman she had been before, simple instructions and quiet tasks brought her satisfaction and joy that little else did.
Even if the tasks received nowadays weren't considered very quiet at all.
"--Sorry." The man beside her stopped himself suddenly, shaking his head. "I hope that didn't -- I mean, I know you were--"
Here he was: Hydaelyn's Champion, Eorzea's Savior, the Warrior of Light. Eikonslayer, too? The lad had plenty of titles piled up on his head. Meteor was the name he had decided to take up for himself, mainly due to a case of amnesia that likely occurred during the Battle of Carteneau. It was something she had used to relate to him.
"What, mentionin' slavers?" she shook her head, waving a dismissive hand. "Nah. S'good tae hear ye helped catch one. Dinnae know if Doesmaga was responsible for where I ended up, but..." She shrugged. "M'no very keen on recoverin' those memories. I like tae think I suppressed them fer good reason."
While she had had plenty of occasions to strike the man when vulnerable, that had not been her orders. Emet-selch merely wanted her to watch and share information on this hero, ever since he had caught the former Emperor's attention after freeing Doma. She didn't even think he was sharing the details with Varis. He was just...hoarding it for himself, or maybe using it to direct Elidibus...
It was fine. She didn't need to know what he didn't deem her necessary to know.
"I suppose not," Meteor agreed, although he looked bothered by the thought.
She tilted her head. "...Ye still wantin' tae recover yers, though, I suspect."
He nodded. "I keep thinking something's going to jog them. Some face, or some place I go to, or even just -- words I hear. I don't know."
"Mm. Well," she shrugged. "So long as ye dinnae get so stuck on th'past that ye forget tae live in yer present. What's gone is gone, ye? Whoever ye might've been afore whatever happened... he's dead, fer all intents an' purposes. Likely best ye move on."
It was an intentionally ironic statement -- not that Meteor would understand. Still, he appeared comforted by the words she offered, and after a few more minutes of chatting, bid her goodnight.
Meiko sighed, leaning back against the railing she'd been leaning against.
Easy as feedin' a starved dog.
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