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Fic: Swimming Lessons (The Hunger Games/Final Fantasy XII)
Title: Swimming Lessons
Author: suzume
Prompt: Mags goes into a bar and meets... Ashe (Final Fantasy XII)!
Fandoms: The Hunger Games and Final Fantasy XII
Word count: 561
Rating: PG
Contents: lots of discussion of death and war, but nothing gratuitous
The very pretty Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca preferred to be just called "Ashe," or failing that, "Princess Ashe." Her swimming instructor, Margaret Gaudet-Umber, also preferred to be called "Mags." It seemed funny that they would both sport nicknames.
In the very round, almost oval-like pool, with palm branches hanging over some parts of in (if bits of a palm branch fell in it- they would inevitably be fished out within the day), Mags would give Ashe lessons in how to float, to swim, and to hold her breath as long as she could. For such a small child, Ashe was coming along very well.
"Yes, just like that, Princess Ashe," Mags coached her in how to paddle along in a situation where there wasn't room to swim.
"Do you ever think I'll be in a situation where I need this?" Ashe asked, then dipped her head into the water.
"I can't see the future, y'know, Princess, but I can make some educated guesses," Mags said, "But the Archadian Empire does seem to be gunning for us as way to break through to Rozarria."
"Oh, pishtosh, Mags, my father wouldn't never let them do that," Ashe mumbled after her head popped out of the water, “They’re too fussy.”
"I can't say he knows anything about that," Mags continued on, "He only knows them in a professional sort of way..." She had been young when Raminas was young. Jack had been young then too, relatively speaking. He had still been older than her. Raminas B'Nargin Dalmasca had been a king while he was yet a boy. Even if Ashe became queen tomorrow, regardless, she'd be older than Raminas had been.
The Archadian Empire held back for many more years and Mags continued to teach Ashe about swimming until she was deemed a fit enough swimmer.
And, finally the year of Ashe and Rasler's wedding, they invaded Nabradia and used a piece of deifacted Nethicite there, practically decimating Nabradia. Emperor Gramis Solidor was reckless. Prince Rasler was killed. Supposedly, following Rasler's death, Ashe committed suicide. Mags couldn't believe that. Jack didn't either. "She wasn't that kind of girl," he said, "She was too... respectable? For that. She wasn't like that."
Mags nodded in agreement. "Maybe she'd do something else like go into hiding or something along those lines, but not suicide."
They were all too clear in their agreement. (and they were close to right in their assessment of her character)
Amalia saw Mags across the market one day. Was she about as old as her father would have been? Or possibly older.
"You know her, don't you?" Vossler remarked.
"Yes. She taught me everything I know about swimming." Amalia smiled fondly. "I was lucky when it came to that."
"Hmm." That was the way she had made out her suicide. By drowning, as if that could do her in. She was far too accomplished a swimmer, but not many people were familiar with that side of her skill set. Vossler was among them.
"I wanted to call out to her, but I couldn't imagine any way that wouldn't get me identified as the princess, because who else knows her?"
Maybe someone else who looks like very close to Princess Ashe? Vossler wanted to say, but didn't, that would have been facetious.
Ashe rubbed one hand along the other arm and kept her silence.
Author: suzume
Prompt: Mags goes into a bar and meets... Ashe (Final Fantasy XII)!
Fandoms: The Hunger Games and Final Fantasy XII
Word count: 561
Rating: PG
Contents: lots of discussion of death and war, but nothing gratuitous
The very pretty Princess Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca preferred to be just called "Ashe," or failing that, "Princess Ashe." Her swimming instructor, Margaret Gaudet-Umber, also preferred to be called "Mags." It seemed funny that they would both sport nicknames.
In the very round, almost oval-like pool, with palm branches hanging over some parts of in (if bits of a palm branch fell in it- they would inevitably be fished out within the day), Mags would give Ashe lessons in how to float, to swim, and to hold her breath as long as she could. For such a small child, Ashe was coming along very well.
"Yes, just like that, Princess Ashe," Mags coached her in how to paddle along in a situation where there wasn't room to swim.
"Do you ever think I'll be in a situation where I need this?" Ashe asked, then dipped her head into the water.
"I can't see the future, y'know, Princess, but I can make some educated guesses," Mags said, "But the Archadian Empire does seem to be gunning for us as way to break through to Rozarria."
"Oh, pishtosh, Mags, my father wouldn't never let them do that," Ashe mumbled after her head popped out of the water, “They’re too fussy.”
"I can't say he knows anything about that," Mags continued on, "He only knows them in a professional sort of way..." She had been young when Raminas was young. Jack had been young then too, relatively speaking. He had still been older than her. Raminas B'Nargin Dalmasca had been a king while he was yet a boy. Even if Ashe became queen tomorrow, regardless, she'd be older than Raminas had been.
The Archadian Empire held back for many more years and Mags continued to teach Ashe about swimming until she was deemed a fit enough swimmer.
And, finally the year of Ashe and Rasler's wedding, they invaded Nabradia and used a piece of deifacted Nethicite there, practically decimating Nabradia. Emperor Gramis Solidor was reckless. Prince Rasler was killed. Supposedly, following Rasler's death, Ashe committed suicide. Mags couldn't believe that. Jack didn't either. "She wasn't that kind of girl," he said, "She was too... respectable? For that. She wasn't like that."
Mags nodded in agreement. "Maybe she'd do something else like go into hiding or something along those lines, but not suicide."
They were all too clear in their agreement. (and they were close to right in their assessment of her character)
Amalia saw Mags across the market one day. Was she about as old as her father would have been? Or possibly older.
"You know her, don't you?" Vossler remarked.
"Yes. She taught me everything I know about swimming." Amalia smiled fondly. "I was lucky when it came to that."
"Hmm." That was the way she had made out her suicide. By drowning, as if that could do her in. She was far too accomplished a swimmer, but not many people were familiar with that side of her skill set. Vossler was among them.
"I wanted to call out to her, but I couldn't imagine any way that wouldn't get me identified as the princess, because who else knows her?"
Maybe someone else who looks like very close to Princess Ashe? Vossler wanted to say, but didn't, that would have been facetious.
Ashe rubbed one hand along the other arm and kept her silence.
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