Title: The games we play
Game: Suikoden V
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Characters: Skald Egan, Ferid, Prince
Warnings: Spoilers for Ferid's connections to the Island Nations and pre-visit to Nirva Island.
Word Count: 1506
Summary: Ferid and his father want to remember, though admitting it might kill them.

-

'My eldest brother ran away from home before I was born, so I wouldn't even recognize him if I saw him...if he's still alive. He's got that reckless Island Nations blood in him, after all.' -Bernadette Egan.

Night at Sol-Falena was never cold enough to make its dwellers snuggle up to thicker fabric.

Skald Egan was a guest at the Sun Palace, and the night was humid and warm, and he missed the thick comforters in his room. Walking along the pier, he realized he was also missing the ocean's salty scent on his skin.

You're a man of the sea through and through, a lover of the ocean, his wife often said, that's why you'll never have enough love for your own family, my love.

Though he was enamored with the sea first, he also loved her for telling him the truth.

He already missed the Lino en Kuldes, its great hulls and its gentle rocking as it coursed through the vast sea. His ancestors must have felt the same way. The Feitas might be a great river, but it didn't have the wild, untamable predictability of the ocean. The new Queen, however, shone with such radiance.

Skald almost understood the reason, though he didn't want to.

"We'll ask someone to prepare a carriage to Estrise if you insist on going back now."

More than a decade had passed since the last time Skald heard that voice, the treble of the teens was already replaced by a deeper tone, but Skald Egan could identify him anywhere. It had taken him a considerable amount of resolve not to call out during the Coronation Ceremony.

"Pardon me if I find your proposal uninteresting, whatever that might be, but the answer's No." Skald said gruffly, slowly turning to watch the newcomer.

"Thought you might miss your ship," the man uttered, clambering down the set of stairs, "you always do."

"My aides said that the ride from Estrise to the capital was too exhausting, so they persisted on staying for the night. So don't worry, you're stuck with me till tomorrow." Skald looked sideways, and after a moment added, "Your Majesty."

A shrug, and the younger man edged forward, ignoring the insinuated sarcasm. "There's no need to call me that when there's no one around, Admiral."

The Admiral whipped his head to younger man, staring at the new Commander's outfit glinting under the faint moonlight. "Better get used to that title. You're what now, Commander of the Queen's Knights, King of Falena?"

"Just the former, thank you."

"Now, Prince Consort Ferid – that sounds really nice."

The commander smiled wryly. "Considering your disposition, I'll take that as a compliment."

"Your Majesty is too kind," the Admiral smirked. "Perhaps Your Majesty might reveal his true intentions for visiting this senile old man now?"

"Still as sharp as a tack, I see."

"Are you telling me you want to catch up on things?"

"If that's what you have in mind--"

"How could I? Years ago, my eldest son ran away from home in the middle of the night, didn't send any letters, and the last time we got in contact he said he's getting married to some girl that has the same name with a Falenan princess. Imagine my shock when I arrived here to attend the Coronation Ceremony for the Queen of Falena, and saw my runaway son walking her to the throne."

"Admiral."

"Turning away the family tradition, scurrying off to some foreign country to become some landlubber--"

"Admiral."

"Only to hide under his wife's skirt--"

"Father!"

A smirk started to curve on Skald's face. "Careful with what you call me, Commander. Someone might hear you."

Ferid massaged his temples, and slowly looked up at his old man. Once again, Skald and his classic mind games had proven to be victorious. Catching up meant getting reacquainted in old memories—some even dig up old wounds. "I see your job on board the Lino en Kuldes as a career path I may have overlooked. I never knew you could be so touchy about it."

"Twelve years could do many things," his father murmured, "look where you're standing now, pompous as ever. Barbaric swordsman turned to King. What a laugh."

"I'm not falling for that again," Ferid announced briskly, "It's getting late, Father, should we continue our talk somewhere in the castle?"

"I've seen enough of the Sun Palace." The Admiral paused, whipping his head again, the cloak billowing in the wind. "Does being royalty means you get bragging rights as well?"

"As far as I'm concerned, in Obel it was only involving your self into suicidal cause."

"Being royalty also means putting aside your life for the people. Got New Armes Kingdom breathing down your neck, eh? How's that for an appetizer, Prince Consort?"

If Ferid was getting irritated at his father's creativity at monikers, he didn't show it. Part of him wanted to scream, but another part comprehended that doing such act was exactly bending to Skald's will. "Yes, about Armes' Western Marine Co--"

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, as I've told you before, the answer's No." Skald interrupted, scrutinizing his son, looking at the shining sword hilt on his waist and the Knight's armor. "I think you heard me the first time."

Calmly, Ferid took a step forward, noting their differences in height. His old man was still sporting the impossibly spiky hair that defied gravity and proneness to obstinacy, something that he couldn't help but inherit. "Do you feel intimidated by the new commander, Admiral?"

"That wet-behind-the-ears Valya boy could never beat me in a hundred ye--Did your wife put you up to this?"

"Arshtat have nothing to do with it."

"Did she?"

"She wanted us to catch up on things, and talk—like a real family should."

The Admiral almost scoffed. "She's putting words into your mouth, my boy."

Ferid almost cringed at the old nickname. "I'm the one who got this idea. I know I'm not in the position to ask anything from you--"

"You said it yourself. And the Obel Maritime Council," he imitated a swing across the throat with his fingers, "would have my head for acting on my own."

"You never cared about them before, Father. Why the sudden change of mind?"

"Call it a change of heart." There was a touch of finality in Skald's voice, and Ferid decided to leave it at that.

"Dad!"

Both men turned his head in time to see a boy running down the stairs, his silver hair whipping behind him. Halfway down, he tripped and collided on Ferid's leg.

"It's past your bed time," Ferid addressed his son, "What are you doing here?"

"But I'm not sleepy yet and there's too many people in the castle tonight and--" the young prince stopped abruptly when his eyes registered Skald's presence. Shyly dislodging himself from his father's leg, he bowed politely. "Good evening, sir."

This time, a content smile spread on Skald's worn face. "Good evening to you too, young man. And what might your name be?"

"I am Faroush Falenas, sir. It is a pleasure meeting you," he timidly replied.

"Nice to meet you too," the Admiral said, getting down on one knee to face the boy. "I'm Skald Egan of the Island Nations."

"Are you my da--father's friend?"

Ferid's grip on his son's shoulder tightened. "No. Admiral Egan here is family, Faroush."

Not a bit taken aback by Ferid's response, Skald concentrated on the boy. "Just like what your old man said. How old are you, little Prince?"

The boy held up his fingers and ticked off three of them. "I just became seven last spring, Admiral."

"I see. Do you have any brother or sister?"

"One little sister, Princess Lymsleia. Mother told me that starting from today I shall be the Prince of Falena, though I won't inherit the throne. Lym's the one who'll become Queen."

"You have no objections against that?"

"No." His tiny fists shook proudly in the air, "I'll protect Lym so she can become the best queen ever!"

For the first time in the night, Skald's laughter thundered on the pier. "You're a smart boy."

Faroush stared at him again, unblinking, and then offered him a childish grin. "I like you, Admiral."

"Oh?"

"You're nice, like Father."

Skald Egan was no stranger to compliments and sugar coated dishonesty, but at the young prince's words, he couldn't help but felt blissful. He reached out to pat the boy's head. "That's the first time anyone ever said that to me, Prince. I'll take that as a compliment."

Out of the corner of his eye, Skald caught Ferid's smirk and the exchanged look between his son and his grandson. Three could play this game, and this time, he just got bested by a seven year old at something he has been perfecting for the last decade.

He understood finally, what made his son fell in love with Falena and the Queen, with the same force that have pulled him in like the ocean.

As they left the pier, Faroush's hand on each of the men's, Skald laughed so heartily again and mussed the boy's hair. "Good thing you looked like your mother."