etraya | UN: ScielCandide

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UN: ScielCandide | Video

[The camera is fixed on a table, upon which sits a neat stack of cards –– black with gold foil in the shape of a sun and moon bisecting each other. The user’s hands pass over the deck and spreads it wide into an arc. Her hands are tanned, with two rings on her ring finger and one on her index finger, and she has so many colourful braided bracelets that some wind around her palm.

Her voice is pleasant, playful, French, a little theatrical:]

Bonsoir, mes amies!

Tonight and tonight only, I will tell your fortune with a single card. Tell me your name, and if you would like to hear about love, money, health or the soul.

If it moves you, you must repay me with an amusing anecdote about yourself.

Ready to play?

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Liked it that much, did you? You can have it.

[She flips the card between her fingers, and when she flips it back, suddenly there is a duplicate nestled in with it. She spreads them apart for him to see, with a sound that is at least a little pleased at her trick.]

How kind of you, both to concede the prize and offer a story. Tell me about… [A pause, more for drama than anything else.] The best meal you ever ate.

[Clive watches the trick and claps politely at the trick. It really was very neat to watch. Whether it was magic or sleight of hand, it didn’t matter. It still brought a small smile to his lips.] Thank you. I can pick it up when I help with the mattress.

Now, the best meal I ever ate…

[Clive is quiet for a little bit. A soft look comes over his face, wistful and full of affection.]

Maybe this isn’t quite what you are looking for, but I don’t even remember what I ate for the best meal I ever had. Ultimately, it wasn’t about the food.

I was younger, around 12, and my Uncle Byron had come to visit. He was there to celebrate my becoming a Shield. It was he and I for most of the day, just doing whatever it was that we wanted to do. We had plans to see a play that evening. My uncle surprised me by showing up to collect me with my father in tow. I didn’t get to see him terribly often; he was a busy man, so it was a pleasant surprise. On top of that, they had somehow managed to convince my mother to let Joshua come out with us. The play ran a bit long, so we got home too late to have a proper supper.

Being a bit of a scamp, Joshua helped me raid the kitchen. I’m pretty sure it was just meat, cheese, and bread that we managed to bring back, but Uncle Byron insisted we use the finest china in celebration. We didn’t even eat at the table. The four of us just sat on the floor, fine china scattered around us, candles to light our little corner of the room.

[Clive looks back up, pulling himself from the memory, the fondness of it still softening his features.]

So, there you have it. That was the best meal I've ever had.

[Oh, but it’s so touching, to see the way his face shifts as he tells the story, to hear the cadence of his voice shift. She has no idea what a Shield is or who Joshua is, but the scene is beautiful nonetheless, and she finds herself smiling from her hidden place behind the camera.]

Oh, that’s a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with me. It’s never really about the food, is it? Some of the worst food I’ve ever eaten has still been in good company.

Thank you for listening. Stories like that don't tend to come up so this was nice.

[Clive chuckles softly.]

Some of the weirdest food for me, too. I have another food-related story if you'd like to hear it.

[Getting to share the good things in his life, the happy memories, it was different and it was so nice. He was used to talking about the painful things. Sometimes it got too easy to forget the good.]

[He seems to be enjoying himself so much that she couldn’t imagine saying no.]

Of course. I love stories.

[The soft smile returns. He nods once.]

I do, too. Both hearing them and telling them.

[Clive looks out at the sky above.]

Back home, there are two cooks who live in the same place I do. One of them found this really old cookbook, ancient really, that has recipes in it from before any of our parents’ parents were born. For whatever reason, the two of them are obsessed with one-upping each other with these strange things. Some of the ingredients are weird and can be dangerous to collect so I’ve helped with that part.

[He makes a little bit of a grimace, but it is clearly still fond.]

These dishes? Smell absolutely disgusting. Every time they make one, I make sure to let them take the first bite. So far, I have not regretted that choice. The punch these things have has literally floored people. And yet, they talk about how delicious they are. Once you get past the initial foulness of them. Personally, it’s not worth it to me. But the two of them? They love it. The learning, the competition. I would wander out into fields and valleys day and night getting ingredients for them just to see that fire in their eyes when they are trying something new.

[Clive looks back at the camera.]

Food really brings people together, no matter what it is. I think that’s beautiful in its own way.

I’m glad they have such passion for cooking, and that you, apparently, have such a passion for running errands!

[She’s teasing, but there’s an overwhelming sincerity to it. There is nothing better than people pleased with their own choices, undertaken selflessly in the pursuit of some more good in the world.]

Did I mention to you I was a farmer? [She has no earthly idea what she might have said when she was very drunk and meandering around that party after the Eikon battle; she can’t even be certain she spoke to Clive that night.] I’m a serviceable cook, but I’ve always loved to feed people.

[Clive chuckles.]

Yeah, I don’t mind it. It’s a lot safer for me to run errands than it is for a lot of the other people I live with, so it works out.

[There is a clear fondness in Clive’s voice. Most of the time, he doesn’t even really see them as errands. He gets to help out and it keeps him busy, two things that he enjoys.]

You did not. What kind of crops did you grow?[As far as Clive could remember, they didn’t get the opportunity to meet in person. He had been… otherwise distracted.]

I am a ‘it gets you the nutrients you need so you don’t starve’ kind of cook so I usually leave that bit to the people more capable, but having meals together is important. There is a rather large kitchen and dining area where I am living. Would you like to come over and share a meal and more stories some time?

Lots of different things, but wheat was the most labour intensive. My people riot in the streets when there are bread shortages, so the bakeries must get their deliveries.

[But the invitation is nice, and a smile tugs at her mouth again, and she replies:]

Sure, sounds like fun. Just let me know when and where.

I've seen my fair share of wheat fields and the toll working them can take. That is a commendable task. I don't think that people tend to think enough about where their food comes from or the people who make sure they have it.

[Which was definitely something that was regularly considered when you had to be very careful about resource collection.]

Sure thing! I live at Garreg Mach. Let's get moving that mattress set up first, then we can make dinner plans.

Mmm. I can’t imagine being so disconnected from it all. Do your people live in cities far from the land, like the people of San Francisco do?

[It’s so fascinating, to hear about how others live.]

Can you do tomorrow? I’ve foretold a friend’s arrival and want to have a bed ready for her, but it could wait a little longer, if you’re not available.

I travel quite a bit, so I don't have as much of a disconnection. I see a lot more than most people where I come from. Mostly, people live in smaller villages where I am from, though the cities we there have pretty high populations. Those are usually the capitals of various countries or military forts. What is it like where you are from?

[Clive would agree. That's probably his favorite thing about this place.]

I'm free tomorrow. Send me your location and I will be there. What time would you prefer?

That’s so unusual… you’d think people in such a small village would see the land around them and know what goes on there.

I grew up on an island. Not a lot of open space, so we had to be efficient with the land wherever possible. Lots of vertical growing in more recent years, hydroponics, that sort of thing.

Perhaps one or two o’clock? I live in the apartments.

Most people where I am from don’t tend to perform much of the heavy labor themselves. The smaller villages are more hands-on. They don’t have as much money so they can’t afford to buy Bearers to work their lands, care for their livestock, do their chores.

[Clive’s voice, for the first time since the beginning of this call, is bitter. He takes a slow breath and when he speaks again he is more even-keeled.]

One o’clock works for me. I’ll meet you there. Do you want me to meet you in your apartment or the lobby?

[Clive makes a mental note to look up hydroponics the next time he is at the library.]

Bearers?

[Sounds.. odd, especially with that tone shift, but she keep her own tone light.]

Lobby is fine.

Where I am from, everyone is tested at birth to determine if they are capable of doing magic. If they test positive, they are taken from their families, branded with a toxic ink, and forced into labor using that magic for the rest of their lives. The work is often grueling, and they are treated poorly by nearly everyone. My apologies, I should have explained that earlier.

[He couldn't think of a more concise summary. Sciel didn't need the entire history of Bearers. If she wanted to know more, she could ask, but it wasn't exactly a cheery topic of conversation.]

Perfect. The lobby of the apartments tomorrow at 1 it is.

[There's a pause, and then she replies with sympathy:]

You don't have to explain anything you're not comfortable explaining. But that's an incredible cruelty, that a society would turn against its own people like that.

I agree. That's why I'm doing something about it. It's a long road, and it's been a lot of work, but if I can help to build a better future for them, for everyone, then I am going to.

[Clive sighs.]

Thank you. They aren't your people, and yet you still took the time to express care. Not everyone would do that.

Perhaps it’s a reflection of my own community, but it honestly concerns me that anyone could hear about something like that and shrug it off. I’m glad you’re doing something about it. I wish you success.

You and me both. How anyone could treat another person the way that they do where I am from and still sleep at night...Thankfully, I'm not alone in this fight. I have the support of many people who can all do things I cannot. There may be terrible people in the world, but there are also those who are brave and kind, and I am proud to stand beside them.

[Clive's smile is a little wistful.]

Anyway, I'm sure you have better things to do with your time than listen to me talk about my home. I'll see you tomorrow?

Mm. I’m glad to hear you’re in good company. But don’t sell yourself short; I like listening, and I came here to chat with people. But I’ll gladly see you tomorrow, friend.

Thank you for listening. I'll see you tomorrow.

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UN: ScielCandide | Video

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TW: mentions of slavery

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I'd say that's a wrap!