X's Character Q&A, Part II

Sorry for the late upload!! It took me a few days to get to this one. In case you haven't seen it yet, X's first Q&A from last year can be found here.

I'll be posting D's romantic snippet on Monday, since I didn't have much time to write it - I've been focused on CH11 this week haha.

Onto X's Q&A!

What are the best things about leading a mercenary group?
"Oh, that's easy. Doing good, helping people, feeling like you're making a difference even if it's small in the grand scheme of things. Seeing Arsur, traveling together and being together with people you would trust with your life, without hesitation. The camaraderie, feeling like you're working towards something great together."

And the worst things?
"I joke about it a lot, but truthfully... the fighting. The death. Having to kill, seeing your comrades get killed. The latter doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's... difficult to deal with."

If could give up being a mercenary, would you?
"Not for a moment."

Even with how dangerous it is - with all the fighting and the death?
"It's a risk we're all willing to take. Nothing worth doing is easy."

What about in the future? Would you be willing to settle down with someone?
They laugh. "Far, far into the future, perhaps. When my bones are too old to travel. Until then? No, I wouldn't give this up for anything. Anyone who wants to court me has to come to terms with that."

What's your favorite song or story to hear in a tea house?
"The story of Crown Kanî and Xeyal. I have a fondness for tragic love stories, and this one, in particular, has inspired many beautiful songs. Ervin sings a beautiful rendition of it."

Favorite outfit and why?
"The outfit I wore on Crown's coronation day. I like causing a little scandal every now and then."

What was the best night's sleep you've ever had?
"Not technically a full night's sleep, but believe it or not, it was after one of my fights with Azad/Ashti. I was so tired out that I fell asleep like a baby afterward, right beneath the tree where we were both resting after we came to a stalemate. I didn't dream, I just... had a long, uninterrupted nap.

"When I woke up, Azad/Ashti was still sitting there, wide awake. They just looked at me and taunted me, saying they could've slit my throat for how careless I was. But the thought never even crossed my mind. I knew they'd never do anything like that."

[If X is romanced] If you saw the Crown flirting with someone else, would you be jealous?
They look confused by the question. "What for? We're not promised to each other, they can do whatever they want."

Even if it happened right in front of you?
"Look, friend, I wouldn't care even if the Crown decided to have a public orgy in front of me." A pause. "Well, I might care then because that would be arousing- but no. I would be far from jealous."

What if you were courting each other?
"And they flirted with someone I was unaware of? That would be cheating, and I would dump them. Is there a point to this line of questioning, or can we move on?"

What would you do if you had to choose between saving the Crown or your Crescent Blades?
"I don't know. Scream and cry and lose my mind, most likely."

You couldn't choose?
"How could I possibly choose? You are asking me if I would let my only family on this earth die, again, or let the whole of Arsur fall into chaos, risking war and invasions and the destruction of everything I've ever known. Who could answer that question without despairing?

"I don't want to think about it, I don't even want to imagine it. If the spirits are kind, I will never have to choose."