Fennie had never really considered himself rich, growing up. Living in Mor Dhona, he didn’t really reap the benefits of such a life except the few times he visited his family in Sharlayan. In fact, when he finally moved there full time to attend the Studium, it had even been a bit of a culture shock — servants cleaning the house and cooking the meals, someone to wait on him hand and foot.
Fennie objectively was rich, being a Leveilleur, and it was no secret that in his adult life Fennie enjoyed the finer things in life — nice clothing, fine foods, the best things he could get for Feldspar and the children. Yet, there were times when Fennie hadn’t been rich, and he’d managed, too.
When he first arrived in the past, Fennie had nothing. Then again, he’d been clever enough to forge his grandfather’s name to access some of the family funds, hoping no one would notice a strange amount of money going to an “F. Leveilleur” in Ul’dah — perhaps they’d just think it as one of Alphinaud’s many transactions as he galivanted around the globe. He’d lived in relative comfort, then, even managing to buy a house with the funds he’d obtained and his job at the Arcanists’ Guild. It was a comfortable life, and one he’d not have been able to have if he wasn’t dipping into his rich family’s funds, but Fennie had never thought of it like that, either.
When Fennie hopped across time to chase after Feldspar, he was truly poor. No connections to the Leveilleurs, a tiny apartment with Feldspar in the Mists, and not a gil to his name. And yet, through that same good Leveilleur fortune, he’d found his way back into the family — adopted again as heir on this timeline. Enjoying a nice apartment in the Toll with all the finery he could want.
He’d inherit the Estate back in Sharlayan, eventually, not that Fennie tried to think about it unless he was visiting to help manage the books and give a few guest lectures at the Studium. And if asked, Fennie would probably shake his head, softly smile, and say it really didn’t mean that much. But, if not for his name — if not for his family’s fame and fortune — would Fennie have made it as far as he had?
He couldn’t change who he was — he’d certainly tried once or twice. He knew he had an unfair advantage over many others in the world. And he knew he’d use that advantage to make sure his children had every chance, too. All he could do was try his best to help others through his privileges. His family had taught him that.
((A bit of a ramble, but some of his inner thoughts on it...? Thanks for the prompt @gatheredfates ! ))
