FIC: Reins of History (6/30) - Cid/Fran - PG-13 - FFXII
Title: Reins of History (6/30)
pairing/characters: Cid/Fran, Ffamran
fandom: FFXII
warnings: Spoilers for the whole game, weird pairing
rating: PG-13
summary: Long before Rabanastre fell, Fran left the Wood, in search of her destiny. Instead she found strange hume ways and imperial politics -- and her soulmate Cid Bunansa. Years later, she and her son are put at odds with an empire, entangled in a war they never intended to fight.
notes: I am making a valiant attempt to put out at least one chapter a week. I am several chapters ahead and have those chapters in beta. Thanks to ayndin for the beginning of an idea that turned into a massive project and continued prodding, inspiration, and beta-ing. Thanks to regann for her beta, her prodding, for playing a game she doesn't like that much, and for shouting 'Frid!' at me a lot.
previous chapters:
[One] | [Two] | [Three] | [Four] | [Five]
current chapter:
Chapter 6:
They had always spoken of heading down to the Sochen Cave Palace whenever Cid was particularly cross with his father. Sneaking down to the lower parts of the city where ardents, shopkeepers and low class professionals lived was bad enough, but it was to be expected of any adventurous noble. Sneaking to Old Archades was below anyone with any sense of breeding.
Cid had always wanted to explore the old palace though. It was left over from a time when the great Kingdom of Arcadia had been ruled by the Sochen family, generations before the Empire had even been formed. Travelers heading south who were too poor to travel by airship or chocobo used it now. Younger children would go down to prove their mettle against the creatures that lived there.
It teemed with trouble. Fran took point, Cid following behind her, gun held loosely but at the ready. They took down several undead, bats, and even a strange flying fish. Cid explored it methodically, occasionally running hands over too smooth walls that obviously hid some door or switch or ancient treasure. He occasionally made note to himself of areas to explore in more detail when he had the time.
They cleared the old throne room of a few nasty ogre-things and Cid slouched ungracefully down in the old throne grinning at their shared triumph. After some prodding, Fran eventually took the seat beside him, perching uncomfortably. Cid relaxed in the eerie silence that was occasionally punctuated by the sound of dripping water or a screeching bat.
After several hours of walking, fighting, and fleeing, they sat exhausted and beaten at the foot of the lift back to Old Arcades. He pulled out the small wood disk he had kept in his pocket all day.
“In Arcades there are pinewood chops and sandalwood chops,” he explained. Fran nodded: chops meant status, she had learned that only a few days into her trip when Rudolfo had provided her with a sandalwood chop when she agreed to serve house Bunansa. “A mahogany chop is different. They are different for each house actually. Only house Bunansa would have such a chop. They are manufactured specially for every member of the house. Forging one is punishable by death.”
He handed her the chop. It weighed more than it looked like it would. It was only a few inches across, like any chop, but unlike pine or sandal chops, it was leafed with gold, silver, and platinum, inset into intricate carvings. Fran picked at it with a nail, inspecting it, turning it over in her hands.
“I had that made for you.” She nodded her understanding. “Wherever you wander it is reminder and proof that you are a part of my house - that you are a part of -” he trailed off, unable to find the words to say what he needed. She placed a hand at the back of his neck and drew him towards her. She kissed him, lightly, a press of lips to his cheek more than anything else. He held his breath while she hovered there, afraid she would draw away if he moved.
She drew away anyway a few moments later. He took a deep breath and turned to face her, trying to read her expression. Sad. Determined. A hint of a half-smile at one corner of her mouth. They returned to house Bunansa in silence. He packed for another border negotiation. She packed up her entire life for a destination unknown.
“I’ll wait for you,” he said, standing in her doorway. Fran shook her head.
“Do not wait, just remember that I will return.” Cid nodded, trying to take her words to heart, not quite sure what the difference between the two was. He left her to finish her packing so he would not need to watch her leave.
His father found him some time later, working on circuit diagrams for a new power regulator. Working was not really the correct term though. Cid couldn’t focus and knew that whatever diagrams he managed to set to paper today would invariably prove to be useless when he bothered to check his work when his mind was clearer.
“She left almost an hour ago.” His father pulled up a chair. Cid set his work aside. “It’s for the best you realize. Her kind doesn’t stay among humes and she would never be your equal.” Cid didn’t agree but he kept his silence. “And of course there was the matter of her frustrating lack of interest in other professions more suited to her kind.” Cid had no idea what his father meant by that, but it was said with more venom than he would have expected. The ire passed and his father continued, “I have a task for you this holiday, an important one.”
“For the honor of house Bunansa and the glory of the Empire? Ranked in that order of course,” Cid tried to keep his voice from sounding bitter. He was still young by any standards, but a child of a noble house would never be raised to not understand the importance of their house’s power. Cid’s education was such as to assure he had met just enough people without power to appreciate why it was necessary to keep and cultivate the advancement of a house.
“Of course. I’m sending you to Rozzaria, to live among your mother’s family.” Cid had visited various branches of his mother’s house, house Galaen, over his years. Those trips had always been to cultivate good will with other Rozzarian houses and to spend time with other children his age. Obviously the task was more complicated this time. “You will be staying with your second cousins in Nicaise.”
“That whole branch of the family is mad,” Cid protested quickly. “Too little care of bloodlines for too many generations.”
His father tensed. Knowledge was power, but it was clear that Cid was not supposed to know that detail about the branch of the family. They sat in silence while his father appeared to be thinking over what to say next. Clearly he was supposed to have protested, but not on the grounds that he had.
“You will get to know your cousins, and select one that seems most suitable to Prince Gramis,” his father finally stated, not even bothering to explain further. Cid let the implications sink in. That branch of his mother’s house had bred delightful and beautiful daughters who could never manage to conceive a son who did not go mad before he reached thirty years of age. It was not even common knowledge among his own house. Most of the house thought perhaps they were just unlucky with their sons who tended to die while on a hunting trip or of wasting illnesses. Gramis was the only remaining branch of house Solidor, if he could not produce an heir fit for the throne the line would end.
Cid opened his mouth to protest.
“House Solidor has expanded the Empire repeatedly for the last three generations,” his father stated, cutting him off. “Archades herself has begun to deteriorate -- I know you have seen that with your own eyes. The border provinces are disorganized and backward, unfit to be incorporated into the Empire, poor roads, no electricity, improper plumbing, taxes spent waging wars and rebuilding the land that was just ravaged, spreading us too thin.”
Cid mulled over the information. Everything his father had said was true. Taxes were stretched thin, the Senate always bucking against the Emperor who wanted larger armies, bigger roads, and more powerful airships. It cost far more money to rebuild a war torn territorial acquisition than could ever be raised by that territory. Perhaps a few of them would be profitable in 20 years, but they were draining purses now.
“My oldest cousin is only sixteen,” Cid offered thoughtfully, he’d met each of the girls at least once. “Alasce, I believe. But there is no certainty that she would be best suited. A marriage to one of the younger girls would see no children for at least five years. These plans will bear no fruit for almost thirty years, perhaps longer.”
“A civil war is far more costly than a poor emperor.” Cid had no knowledge to protest the assertion. He would have to accept his father’s word on this.
“And when the holiday is finished I will return to my studies?” His father nodded.
“You’ll always be the model of service to your Emperor, and for the summer holiday your lovely cousin will visit house Bunansa, will impress the Emperor greatly with her charm and her grace, perhaps even the young prince will come to love her.” Cid nodded. For a moment he tried to imagine explaining the intricacies of such an idea to Fran. He imagined she would not approve, but that hardly seemed to matter right now.
“I will obey, father.”
pairing/characters: Cid/Fran, Ffamran
fandom: FFXII
warnings: Spoilers for the whole game, weird pairing
rating: PG-13
summary: Long before Rabanastre fell, Fran left the Wood, in search of her destiny. Instead she found strange hume ways and imperial politics -- and her soulmate Cid Bunansa. Years later, she and her son are put at odds with an empire, entangled in a war they never intended to fight.
notes: I am making a valiant attempt to put out at least one chapter a week. I am several chapters ahead and have those chapters in beta. Thanks to ayndin for the beginning of an idea that turned into a massive project and continued prodding, inspiration, and beta-ing. Thanks to regann for her beta, her prodding, for playing a game she doesn't like that much, and for shouting 'Frid!' at me a lot.
previous chapters:
[One] | [Two] | [Three] | [Four] | [Five]
current chapter:
Chapter 6:
They had always spoken of heading down to the Sochen Cave Palace whenever Cid was particularly cross with his father. Sneaking down to the lower parts of the city where ardents, shopkeepers and low class professionals lived was bad enough, but it was to be expected of any adventurous noble. Sneaking to Old Archades was below anyone with any sense of breeding.
Cid had always wanted to explore the old palace though. It was left over from a time when the great Kingdom of Arcadia had been ruled by the Sochen family, generations before the Empire had even been formed. Travelers heading south who were too poor to travel by airship or chocobo used it now. Younger children would go down to prove their mettle against the creatures that lived there.
It teemed with trouble. Fran took point, Cid following behind her, gun held loosely but at the ready. They took down several undead, bats, and even a strange flying fish. Cid explored it methodically, occasionally running hands over too smooth walls that obviously hid some door or switch or ancient treasure. He occasionally made note to himself of areas to explore in more detail when he had the time.
They cleared the old throne room of a few nasty ogre-things and Cid slouched ungracefully down in the old throne grinning at their shared triumph. After some prodding, Fran eventually took the seat beside him, perching uncomfortably. Cid relaxed in the eerie silence that was occasionally punctuated by the sound of dripping water or a screeching bat.
After several hours of walking, fighting, and fleeing, they sat exhausted and beaten at the foot of the lift back to Old Arcades. He pulled out the small wood disk he had kept in his pocket all day.
“In Arcades there are pinewood chops and sandalwood chops,” he explained. Fran nodded: chops meant status, she had learned that only a few days into her trip when Rudolfo had provided her with a sandalwood chop when she agreed to serve house Bunansa. “A mahogany chop is different. They are different for each house actually. Only house Bunansa would have such a chop. They are manufactured specially for every member of the house. Forging one is punishable by death.”
He handed her the chop. It weighed more than it looked like it would. It was only a few inches across, like any chop, but unlike pine or sandal chops, it was leafed with gold, silver, and platinum, inset into intricate carvings. Fran picked at it with a nail, inspecting it, turning it over in her hands.
“I had that made for you.” She nodded her understanding. “Wherever you wander it is reminder and proof that you are a part of my house - that you are a part of -” he trailed off, unable to find the words to say what he needed. She placed a hand at the back of his neck and drew him towards her. She kissed him, lightly, a press of lips to his cheek more than anything else. He held his breath while she hovered there, afraid she would draw away if he moved.
She drew away anyway a few moments later. He took a deep breath and turned to face her, trying to read her expression. Sad. Determined. A hint of a half-smile at one corner of her mouth. They returned to house Bunansa in silence. He packed for another border negotiation. She packed up her entire life for a destination unknown.
“I’ll wait for you,” he said, standing in her doorway. Fran shook her head.
“Do not wait, just remember that I will return.” Cid nodded, trying to take her words to heart, not quite sure what the difference between the two was. He left her to finish her packing so he would not need to watch her leave.
His father found him some time later, working on circuit diagrams for a new power regulator. Working was not really the correct term though. Cid couldn’t focus and knew that whatever diagrams he managed to set to paper today would invariably prove to be useless when he bothered to check his work when his mind was clearer.
“She left almost an hour ago.” His father pulled up a chair. Cid set his work aside. “It’s for the best you realize. Her kind doesn’t stay among humes and she would never be your equal.” Cid didn’t agree but he kept his silence. “And of course there was the matter of her frustrating lack of interest in other professions more suited to her kind.” Cid had no idea what his father meant by that, but it was said with more venom than he would have expected. The ire passed and his father continued, “I have a task for you this holiday, an important one.”
“For the honor of house Bunansa and the glory of the Empire? Ranked in that order of course,” Cid tried to keep his voice from sounding bitter. He was still young by any standards, but a child of a noble house would never be raised to not understand the importance of their house’s power. Cid’s education was such as to assure he had met just enough people without power to appreciate why it was necessary to keep and cultivate the advancement of a house.
“Of course. I’m sending you to Rozzaria, to live among your mother’s family.” Cid had visited various branches of his mother’s house, house Galaen, over his years. Those trips had always been to cultivate good will with other Rozzarian houses and to spend time with other children his age. Obviously the task was more complicated this time. “You will be staying with your second cousins in Nicaise.”
“That whole branch of the family is mad,” Cid protested quickly. “Too little care of bloodlines for too many generations.”
His father tensed. Knowledge was power, but it was clear that Cid was not supposed to know that detail about the branch of the family. They sat in silence while his father appeared to be thinking over what to say next. Clearly he was supposed to have protested, but not on the grounds that he had.
“You will get to know your cousins, and select one that seems most suitable to Prince Gramis,” his father finally stated, not even bothering to explain further. Cid let the implications sink in. That branch of his mother’s house had bred delightful and beautiful daughters who could never manage to conceive a son who did not go mad before he reached thirty years of age. It was not even common knowledge among his own house. Most of the house thought perhaps they were just unlucky with their sons who tended to die while on a hunting trip or of wasting illnesses. Gramis was the only remaining branch of house Solidor, if he could not produce an heir fit for the throne the line would end.
Cid opened his mouth to protest.
“House Solidor has expanded the Empire repeatedly for the last three generations,” his father stated, cutting him off. “Archades herself has begun to deteriorate -- I know you have seen that with your own eyes. The border provinces are disorganized and backward, unfit to be incorporated into the Empire, poor roads, no electricity, improper plumbing, taxes spent waging wars and rebuilding the land that was just ravaged, spreading us too thin.”
Cid mulled over the information. Everything his father had said was true. Taxes were stretched thin, the Senate always bucking against the Emperor who wanted larger armies, bigger roads, and more powerful airships. It cost far more money to rebuild a war torn territorial acquisition than could ever be raised by that territory. Perhaps a few of them would be profitable in 20 years, but they were draining purses now.
“My oldest cousin is only sixteen,” Cid offered thoughtfully, he’d met each of the girls at least once. “Alasce, I believe. But there is no certainty that she would be best suited. A marriage to one of the younger girls would see no children for at least five years. These plans will bear no fruit for almost thirty years, perhaps longer.”
“A civil war is far more costly than a poor emperor.” Cid had no knowledge to protest the assertion. He would have to accept his father’s word on this.
“And when the holiday is finished I will return to my studies?” His father nodded.
“You’ll always be the model of service to your Emperor, and for the summer holiday your lovely cousin will visit house Bunansa, will impress the Emperor greatly with her charm and her grace, perhaps even the young prince will come to love her.” Cid nodded. For a moment he tried to imagine explaining the intricacies of such an idea to Fran. He imagined she would not approve, but that hardly seemed to matter right now.
“I will obey, father.”