[Thread; Open to Garnet]

[mademyresolve]

Characters: Ashe, Regent Cid, open to Garnet
Progress: Ongoing~
Summary: Ashe decides she can't stay silent about Vayne any longer.
Location: Aboard the Invincible
Date: February 1804, predated to just before the Heads of State meeting
Warnings: None?

Comments

[mademyresolve]

The princess took a deep, silent breath. "I have refrained from speaking out until now for good reason. Were I to publically come forward regarding his deeds in Ivalice, label him as a threat, I... would endanger my family and the people of Gaia, and this, I will not do." Absently, her fingers stroked across her wedding band. "However... I can remain silent no longer, not since I heard he has gathered a fleet.""

"Vayne Solidor may present himself as an admirable gentleman with the best interests of Gaia ever in mind," she began, knowing all too well how he was able to seduce, to manipulate, to hypnotize like a serpent seeking to devour its' next victim. "Yet all he seeks, his only true interest, is power. He will conquer any land, guiltlessly order the demise of any people who deign to stand in his path."

At that moment her thoughts strayed to Nabradia, Rasler's once magnificent kingdom brought to ruin merely because his people opposed Archadia. "His quest for power brought about the fall of nations across Ivalice... the loss of so many lives..."

At that, Ashe's head lowered in a genuine regret which Vayne could never feel, only to lift and look directly to Cid. "I understand you may be reluctant to believe me, given his gestures toward 'peace' so far," she explained.

[tidesnpcs]

Cid listened to her story in silence, frowning thoughtfully.

"There's one thing I don't understand," he said at last. "Why didn't you speak out before? Vayne is only one man and you're not the only one from Ivalice. If what you say is true, then we might already be too late... Vayne governs Wutai, and he is assisting Lady Rosa in Troia."

He stood up and shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. "The one thing I don't want is war. You have no idea how much Gaia has suffered because of war. It's taken us four years to rebuild, and I welcomed you Sky People, you leaders of other worlds. Maybe I was wrong to do that... But I can promise you that if Vayne makes trouble, Lindblum will stand against him. I'm sure that my niece Garnet would say the same. Does that help?"

[mademyresolve]

The small comfort that the Regent seemed to believe her was overshadowed by his last remark. So badly had she wanted to avoid this, the potential of war. To think that her silence may have only worsened the situation was painful, physically, anxiety tightening her chest.

About to comment on the presence of Vayne's most staunch and dangerous ally, Doctor Cidolfus Bunansa, Ashe bit her tongue. The man had been killed, apparently slaughtered in some fiend's attack. She tried not to think of Balthier, who was enduring the loss of his father for a second time.

"Choices of the past... they cannot be remade." Standing, she turned to a matter more impending. "Your Grace, the meeting - I must ask that you refrain from allowing Vayne to know of this conversation. I... I fear for the safety of my child." It wasn't lost on Ashe that, should the Archadian learn of this, he would ensure she suffered, somehow, for her actions.

[tidesnpcs]

Cid nodded and pressed a finger to his lips. "I won't say a word. But, ah, if I were to let slip anything... just to test his reaction, and not say where I got the information from - would that be too risky for your liking? I don't like all this tiptoeing around."

That was a little insensitive to the plight of her child, perhaps, but Cid had bigger things to concern him.

[mademyresolve]

"I would condone that," she was quick to nod and answer, "for I, too, shall take great interest in his response." No doubt he would deny any claims against his person, justify himself with false words - however, Vayne would be unsettled, caught off guard, know that Gaia's leaders were not blinded to his duplicity.

"Until the meeting, then." Ashe could only wait, anticipate the direction the meeting would take, and pray for the absence of any talk of war or conflict. Again, her hands found one another, the princess ready to take her leave. "... I thank you for your time and consideration."

[tidesnpcs]

"Always a pleasure." Cid nodded, smiling. "Until the meeting."