[center][h1][color=ff5000][b]Renar[/b][/color] & [b][color=b5a0d2]Steffen[/color][/b][/h1][/center][hr]
[hider=Modest Ambitions]
At some point in the week...

In his trusty and comfortable oak chair, Steffen laid his head on one palm and the other holding a white quill, occasionally slipping the paper he was writing on onto a stack of them, moving almost automatically just from muscle memory. He had lost count of how many times he had to fill this document out just this quarter, so much so that he wanted this form pinned on the training yards for members to do it themselves. But given certain ‘individuals’ they had in the Roses - a certain opportunistic Hundi, mischievous rogue, lazy vampire, or just people who would just plain forget about due process - he wasn’t sure if this was such a good idea. 

Finishing the last of the form, Steffen cracked his knuckles, twisting his wrists a couple times before rearranging the pile neatly and heading out to Sir Renar’s office. The Ingvarr knocked on the door upon seeing the light from beneath.

[color=b5a0d2]”It’s me.”[/color] Steffen said. 

[color=ff5000][b]"Enter,"[/b][/color] Renar glanced up from his desk, tucking the letter he’d been drafting off to the side. Fortunate that it was Sir Steffen, which meant that the following conversation would likely be something of substance, even if it was just regarding the day-to-day administration of the keep.

[color=b5a0d2]”The broken training equipment is documented. Can you write the smith the order to make new ones?”[/color] Steffen said, peeking in from the door. [color=b5a0d2]”Also, if you don’t mind me asking, what happened to that order about the squeaky door in my office?”[/color]

[color=ff5000][b]"Very well,"[/b][/color] Renar nodded in response to Steffen’s first request, reaching for another sheet of parchment to do as he was asked. [color=ff5000][b]"Who was it this time? If it was Fionn or Gerard again, I apologize on their behalf. They tend to underestimate their own strength at times. As for the door,"[/b][/color] He sighed, dipping his quill back into the inkwell.

[color=ff5000][b]"The request to oil the hinges has already been sent in. If it’s not been done by now, either someone’s marked it as low priority or the culprit has intercepted the message. Knowing Lein, I give it even odds."[/b][/color]

[color=b5a0d2]”It’s both. But that’s fine, if it’s for the cause of improvement.”[/color] Steffen entered the room and handed those aforementioned documents to Renar. [color=b5a0d2]”You should bet money on that odds. He did cause the door to be that way, I’d imagine he’d do that too just to annoy me.”[/color] Steffen rolled his eyes, but the Ingvarr sounded more amused than angry. 

Renar matched Steffen’s rolled eyes with his own as he took the documents, though his tone sounded more exasperated than anything. 

[color=ff5000][b]"I will never understand why our better archers all seem to have inane personality defects."[/b][/color] He groused, scanning the sheets over briefly before setting them down on his desk’s inflow pile. 

[color=ff5000][b]"Have I complained to you yet about Dame Cecilia getting exceptionally drunk in the Knight-Captain’s presence? I swear she emptied an entire cask of wine on her own. At that point, it was too much to conceal in the bookkeeping, and I’d had to inform the kitchen staff."[/b][/color]

Steffen burst out a laugh as he stroked his cheek. [color=b5a0d2]”Really? That’s probably more than I could on any given meal.”[/color] Though given that he rarely ever drank in his life, it was hard to accurately determine his limits. 

[color=ff5000][b]"And unlike you, she isn’t seven feet tall."[/b][/color] Renar remarked wryly. [color=ff5000][b]"In any case, while you’re here, I’d like to ask a favor of yourself as well."[/b][/color] His eyes narrowed slightly as he began to explain.

[color=ff5000][b]"To be frank, you’re one of the only knights in administration that bothers to give me the time of day. My birth status does me little favors with several of these parchment-pushers that see no field action. If I could trouble you to deliver some of these requests and suggestions I have, I’d be very appreciative."[/b][/color]

[color=b5a0d2]”I don’t know if my status is that much better, having none of that noble blood to come along, but I’ll gladly help.”[/color] Steffen nodded with a small smile. [color=b5a0d2]”Is it alright if I ask what those requests are?”[/color]

Renar grinned slightly in satisfaction, gesturing towards the half-drafted letter he’d set aside. 

[color=ff5000][b]"Merely some thoughts as to how to speed up the flow of paperwork among Candaeln’s administration. Less extraneous requests, shortened orders, abbreviation for common forms. And frankly, better an upjumped commoner at times than a bastard. You’re here unquestionably on merit and valor."[/b][/color]

[color=b5a0d2]”Hmm, alright. Yeah that makes sense.”[/color] Steffen simply agreed, taking the letter, thinking nothing much of Renar’s requests. [color=b5a0d2]”Though to be fair, you did do your part on merits as well. Just that the blood in your veins even spilled for Thaln is not enough for some people.”[/color]

[color=b5a0d2]”Though, just prefacing it, it’s still going to be quite a difficult proposal, with all the traditionalists and all. I know it’s just mundane paperworks, but who knows how many of the traditionalists in our court are motivated by laziness.”[/color] Steffen sighed. [color=b5a0d2]”I wish we’re a bit more progressive sometimes. For this, and…well…people like you, getting stained by that.”[/color]

[color=ff5000][b]"I’m aware."[/b][/color] Renar said in response to Steffen’s first few statements. [color=ff5000][b]"The state of things isn’t something that any one person can change, even if the crown decreed it so. Royal proclamations don’t change how people think, and they can always fall back on any number of excuses to keep the status quo as it is. Creative interpretations of the law are something I’m rather familiar with."[/b][/color] His tone was cold, though turned wry at the last few words. 

[color=ff5000][b]"Frankly, any dreams I had of the state of things improving died with my boyhood. All I can do is rise as high as possible, no matter what stands in my way. And what of you? As I understand, you aren’t Thalnan by birth. I’m not quite fool enough to believe that crown and country are what binds every knight of our order, but what compels you to stay, outside of a better life than you would have had otherwise? Which is quite a good reason in itself, honestly."[/b][/color]

Yeah, Steffen couldn’t blame him for that. The society they both lived under created the kind of person he was. Still, he hoped that at the end of the day, his ambitions came with good intentions after all was said and done. 

He leaned onto the wall nearby, crossing his arms. [color=b5a0d2]”Yeah you can say that. I’ve never been into what my ‘compatriots’ are known for: a life of constant fighting. It’s…unfulfilling.”[/color] He shrugged apathetically. [color=b5a0d2]”Now, I know, it sounds oxymoronic that now I’m in the knights doing the fighting, but life finds a way to ruin peace. At least here, I’m fighting for a purpose.”[/color]

[color=b5a0d2]”I guess that makes us sort of opposites?”[/color] Steffen let out a light-hearted chuckle. [color=b5a0d2]”N-Not in that sense. Just goal-wise I suppose.”[/color]

[color=ff5000][b]"Don’t concern yourself overmuch about the matter."[/b][/color] Renar waved a hand dismissively, unconcerned. [color=ff5000][b]"My goals stand at opposites with many knights. You share more in common with most of our fellows than I do, at this point. If I were talking to Fionn about this, he’d give me grief over it."[/b][/color] To say nothing of the damned dream. Blasted Merillia, and that shade of Edwin. 

[color=ff5000][b]"But that does make sense. You have no opposition to fighting, you only seek to derive purpose from it. How noble."[/b][/color]

[color=b5a0d2]”...Thanks, Sir Renar.”[/color] Steffen rubbed the back of his neck in response. [color=b5a0d2]”It’s more a lesson learned.”[/color] 

Going back to the topic about Renar’s ambition though. [color=b5a0d2]”For your ambitions. For the state of things right now, what do you expect to rise to? Baron? Count? And what do you want to do once you get there?”[/color] 

Renar pursed his lips as he considered how to answer the question. After a few moments, he deigned to speak.

[color=ff5000][b]"Currently? Any landed title. More to prove certain naysayers I have wrong than anything. In truth? I’d not put too much thought into what I would do should I achieve that goal. Getting there will be difficult enough as it is."[/b][/color]

Spite-driven apparently. It is certainly a motive, just not something Steffen would want to see in a person. But then again, from Renar’s shoes, after having been beaten and dragged through mud his whole life for something he couldn’t control, it’s understandable. 

[color=b5a0d2]”Because it might entail more work and responsibility than what you would bargain for. And also you can’t be proving everyone wrong all your life, right?”[/color] Steffen said, lowering his voice again. [color=b5a0d2]”You don’t have to decide what you want to do right away though. Everybody has a dream first and consideration later. Just, I guess, sleep on it.”[/color]

Renar narrowed his eyes at Steffen’s words, well-meaning as they might have been. Fionn all over again. Goddesses save him from this sort of [i]concern[/i].

[color=ff5000][b]"Your consideration is duly noted."[/b][/color] His tone turned glacial. [color=ff5000][b]"I am more than aware of what goes into managing and administering lands."[/b][/color] And like hell he couldn’t spend his life defying fools. It was what had gotten him this far in the first place. Though it went unsaid. There wasn’t any point in needlessly antagonizing the man. Pressuring him into backing off the topic, though? Absolutely.

[color=ff5000][b]"To both of our [i]modest ambitions[/i], then, Sir Steffen."[/b][/color] Renar’s face locked up into passive formality. [color=ff5000][b]"I’ll be certain to get those forms of yours sent in to the right places. Now if that will be all? The hour grows late, and it’s soon time to [i]sleep[/i] on certain considerations."[/b][/color]

A rather cold response, he could sense, but Steffen harbored no ill-will against that. If his experience with himself ever told him: doubling down on telling the unwanted what to do would just deepen the wounds. 

[color=b5a0d2]”To both our modest ambition, Sir Renar.”[/color] Steffen gave the man a friendly two-fingered wave. [color=b5a0d2]”Thank you, that should be it. Yeah, get some good rest. Who knows when the Knight-Captain would want us bashing undeads again.”[/color]

Another wave sent Renar’s way before the door was closed.
[/hider]