Chapter Text
Nivienne worries for a moment that this may be where the Warrior of Light meets her long-awaited match. Not to some great sorcerer of eld. Not to the manifestation of a thousand dead worlds. Not to the essence of humanity's fear of death. But instead, well… she tries to avoid looking directly at the small huddle of Loporrits, so she doesn't have to see the disappointment in their wide, shinning eyes.
"I'm simply not sure I'd have much to say, that's all" She tries, again, to state politely.
Her opponents swiftly outmaneuver her. "Nonsense! We started this broadcast to give people hope! To connect all the people of Etheirys together: and what connects them together more than you?" Nivienne frowns at that but none of the Loporrits seem to notice. "I'm sure they would love to hear from you - whatever you want to share." And gods be damned they sound so sure of that.
Nivienne feels her will slowly being eroded by fluffy rodents that (even accounting for the ears) can't reach past her knees. "I'm just not really sure what I could share. That is all."
Paying no mind the Loporrits answer in chorus.
"Whatever you want!"
"Whatever you're passionate about!"
"Whatever excites you!"
Nivienne groans inwardly. She isn't even sure how to answer that question. Something must show on her face, because the Loporrits huddle together to mumble conspiratorially.
One of them speaks up, only now hesitant."You do have things you like don't you? Hobbies? Urianger told us that even in times of strife it is important to find things to love." They punctuate this wisdom with a sage nod.
Of course he would say that to you! Nivienne thinks I'm sure I've said the same thing to dozens of people! Nivienne takes a moment to mentally curse.
She debates how one explains to the Loporrits that you've mostly forsaken things like "hobbies" and "experiencing lasting joy" in favour of "being the Warrior of Light" and "saving the world"? More pressingly, how does one explain that without making is sound as though they are one bad day away from jumping from the nearest cliffside!
Nivienne is suddenly very glad none of the other Scions are here to hear how long it takes her to answer. She's been quiet too long, and the Loporrits, for all their naivety, pick up on it.
"Are you okay? Do you want to talk to us about it?"
Absolutely not. She thinks.
She smiles halfheartedly. "I'm just lost in thought. There are so many things I could share, it's hard to pick just one."
"Then don't!" They chime. "I'm sure you've done all sorts of things! and met all sorts of people! If you shared those kinds of stories, you could help connect people from all over!"
Nivienne reflects on this option. She does have a lot of stories. Some she would never tell a living soul. A handful that could probably be some sort of international incident. And many that were even harder to believe that her usual ones.
And it would be good wouldn't it? To tell a Garlean survivor about mischievous Sylph in the Shroud? To share the stories of Little Ala Mhigo with a Thavnairian fisherman returning from a day's work?
It would do the world some good to feel connected like that. And she'll be doing plenty of traveling anyway, so it's no great burden of hers to just take the time to record what people say. It could even be considered a quest of it's own - to help the Star recover in the wake of it's many tragedies.
The Loporrits stare up at her with their wide eyes and Nivienne knows she can either agree to this, or word will eventually make it back to her allies - who will somehow inevitably feel a misplaced responsibility for her lack of hobbies.
Nivienne smiles placatingly at her audience. "I may have one idea for your broadcasts. Let me get some notes together, and I will see what I can do to help."
The Loporrits cheer and inwardly Nivienne hopes that this really is the kind of thing she should be spending her time on.
---
"Good morning. or - evening. My apologies, but I'm not sure what time you'll be hearing this."
Caught off foot from the start, Nivienne falters, but the Loporrits nod at her encouragingly from outside their small broadcasting area.
She clears her throat and looks back to her notes. "I am a simple woman who has traveled to a great many places, and I have met a great many people, and even with the Final Days behind us, I know many of you are still struggling with the challenges you face each season. So what I wish to do is to convey to you some of the words I have heard."
She grimly thinks of the work still to be done across the nations she's visited. She wonders again if this is the best place for her to focus her efforts. She knows as well as anyone that a hero - a legend - is a very powerful thing. But if you need food on your table and a roof that doesn't leak, do stories really make a difference between despair and delight?
But she's here now, and she isn't prepared to let down her fluffy-eared hosts.
So she takes a deep breath and continues. "I am here to share with you all - whoever is listening - the story of someone I met on my travels, and what they told me the meaning of their own life was. Why they choose to go on, day after day, even after all the struggles they've faced."
"These are just words, but I hope they can find you well, and that you can listen to this broadcast, and the next one."
"So today let me share with you the story of just one person I've met in my travels through the star."