Character Q&A: Siham and Ishrah

Hiya, here's the Q&A! Siham and Ishrah came in 2nd during last months voting, and since I didn't have time to put up a poll, I figured I should just pick them to close the year off with!

Starting from January, I think we'll go back to another round of LI Q&As, so you can look forward to that! For now, though, onto Siham and Ishrah's answers ✨

Tell us something about yourselves. Where you're from, your families, etc? 

Ishrah: "Well, I'm from a pretty big family that's originally from a village near Marabad! We moved to the city when I was little since there's a lot more work to be found here, but a few of my relatives stayed in the village. Like my uncle, who's a farmer! Sometimes I like to help out the gardeners at the Royal Palace, it reminds me of when I used to help my uncle."

Siham: "As for me, I was born and raised in Marabad. My fathers are both carpenters, and they wanted me to learn the trade as well, but I'm not very good at it. I do like carving wood, though. I have little figurines I sometimes work on."

How did you each get your jobs? 

Ishrah: "It wasn't anything special, really. I heard from a friend that the palace was looking for servants to clean it, and with how big my family is--I'm the fourth youngest of eight siblings--we definitely needed the income. So I showed up to the palace during recruitment day, and by the end of the day I was picked together with a few others."

Siham: "I ended up at the palace the same way Ishrah did. For mostly the same reasons. My family is pretty small, but we could still use the coin, and I wasn't sure what else to do since I wasn't suited for carpenting... recruitment day was a bit tiring, though.

What did they make you do on recruitment day?

Siham: "Cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning."

Ishrah: "And fetching things. And some people got to help with cooking. Oh, and weeding the gardens! But that part was actually fun, I got to help plant some of the flowers."

So you had to work before you even got paid?

Ishrah: "Huh.... yeah, I guess so! I didn't really notice since I got picked, but the people who didn't get picked at the end of the day really did just give the palace a free day of cleaning. That's kinda..."

Siham: "Exploitative." 

Ishrah: "I didn't want to say it, but... you're right, The examiner did say it was the only way to make sure the people picked were hard workers..."

Siham: "...In any case, I reported the examiner afterwards and Master Keko banished him from the palace. He compensated the people who didn't get picked for their day's work."

Ishrah: "You WHAT? How didn't I know about this?! I thought the examiner retired!"

Siham: (lol, lmao)

Well, what about now that you've been serving at the palace? Is the allowance decent?

Ishrah: "It's better than working as an apprentice at someone's shop, I think. But at least as an apprentice, you can get promoted. As a servant..."

Siham: "Bluntly said: once a servant, always a servant." 

Have you considered bringing this up with the Crown?

Ishrah: "Of course not! The Crown has a MILLION other things they're worried about right now!"

Siham: "I agree, this isn't really an urgent matter."

Ishrah: "Maybe they could consider it in the future? I don't know. Siham, you should tell them about it." 

Siham: "Wha- why me?"

Ishrah: "Well, I'm not going to do it!!!"

So, if either of you could choose any profession, without worrying about money/resources, what would it be?

Ishrah: "A gardener! Or a painter. Maybe a musician? I know how to play the flute... I don't know, there's so many things I'd love to learn!"

Siham: "...A magus, I think."

How did you two meet each other? During recruitment day?

Ishrah: "No, actually, we didn't run into each other until we got assigned to clean the throne room together. Do you remember that, Siham?"

Siham: "Yes. It was torture." 

Ishrah: "It wasn't that bad!"

Siham: "The throne room is massive. There were nearly two dozen of us, and it still took us from morning till night just to clean the floors." 

Couldn't this be done more easily with magic?

Siham: "Of course, much more easily. But none of the servants know enough magic to clean an area that large, and what magus would 'lower' themself to do something as 'degrading' as menial tasks? Even if it's cleaning the throne room of the Royal Palace." 

Ishrah: "I'm sure there are some magi who would be glad to help!"

Siham: "You're far too optimistic sometimes." 

What do you both think about the Crown?

Ishrah: "I definitely don't envy them... just thinking about having to be the Crown in this situation is enough to give me a stress rash." 

Siham: "I don't really have an opinion right now." 

Ishrah: "Really???"

Siham: "I wish them to be a good ruler and to be successful in their endeavors, since that would be for everyone's benefit... but there's no guarantee of that."

Ishrah: "I guess so... but regardless, I hope they'll do their best! As long as they do that I'm sure everyone will support them!"