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year 5, quarter 3
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[attr="class","character-spring-1c"]“Crowns and Blessings”
[attr="class","character-spring-1d"]Rebuilding her social status would take time. It was a delicate process, but she could do it again. Social events, arranged meetings, letters with the Fabool seal. Even if she had to take her place as a lady-in-waiting, then she would exercise her patience knowing it was but a stepping stone. But then again…
Was this really what she wanted? She now had choices that she did not have when she was a girl.
She mulled it over in her mind. Did she know any other way? And look at her now with such girlish fantasies. She should be over these thoughts. A part of her blamed such a passionate, romantic festival the day before for such improper notions.
Ah. Here she was.
She aired herself with a soft, feathered hand fan as she looked up at the church. Torensten was a terribly hot and humid place. One would think the Lady was used to such things flying on airships powered by steam. And here she was, strolling on foot. She looked up to the intricate designs of the church. The religion here would be different than Lindblum’s, but she was sure the heart and services would be the same.
It was common for noble women to find protection in the church, at least for a time. It protected their good name. It gave them shelter. And it taught them how to be humble and continue their service to others. Better, everyone was on equal terms there. She could read by candlelight, work on manuscripts, and meditate without being bothered. Lady Hilda enjoyed such rare pleasures, even if there was no luxury with the lifestyle.
Only this time, she had no dowry to offer the church in order to be taken in. But, she could offer her services to them.
She took her measured pace up the steps. The doors were left open to those who would come off the streets. The wooden benches were rowed neatly in the larger room. A red carpet divided the pews, and led up to the altar and dais. Bowls of holy water, communion wine, and an open book with a quill lined the altar. A statue of an unknown female stood upon a pedestal, carved beautifully with hands stretched down as if giving away the items on the altar. And yet, the church seemed empty except for two side doors beyond the altar.
Lady Hilda folded her fan closed and humbly dipped her fingertips into the holy water. She touched it to her forehead and across her pulses - for what she thought, for what work her hands would unfold, and for where she would go. She thought to kneel before the deity, as she would in Lindblum. She folded her dress neatly beneath her, and humbled herself. Her head lowered in prayer. She would pay her homage while she waited.
Post by Garnet Til Alexandros XVII on Mar 23, 2021 6:58:19 GMT -6
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The young woman known as Dagger had fitted in well at the church. She didn't seem especially religious, but she was a powerful healer, polite, and kind hearted. There had been chatter of course about where she had come from. At times she could seem oddly formal, even stilted, but at other times, she spoke with the ease of an experienced adventurer, and seemed to know far more about life in the wilds than most of the young healers. The one thing the people of the church agreed upon, however, was that she seemed plagued by a great sadness or loss. There was a distant look in her eyes at times, and she seemed driven. She would often disappear for days at a time, or join adventuring parties to support them directly, but with no rhyme or reason. Some thought that she was searching for someone. Others thought that she had lost someone close, and was looking for any distraction.
All agreed, however, that there was something sad and lonely about the young woman known as Dagger.
That was, until recently.
Something had changed in Dagger recently. As if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She smiled more. She laughed more. And that sadness that had been behind her eyes? It seemed gone. Whatever she had been looking for, she had found. She seemed lighter, even if she worked as hard as ever. The compassion hadn't gone anywhere, after all. Sometimes they even caught her singing to herself.
For Dagger herself, or Garnet, as she was really, finding Zidane had brought her a lot of relief. Of course she was still worried about Alexandria, about Beatrix and Steiner and all of her friends back home concerned for her, and her people who had been left without a leader. But right now, she had Zidane by her side again, and just with that, she felt complete once more. She still worked at the church, of course, because they needed gil and while she loved Zidane, she wasn't sure she wanted to know where he got his gil from.
"Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why..." she sang lightly under her breath as she entered the church, white mage cloak pulled up and over her orange jumpsuit. She was already smiling, thinking about what her and Zidane would do that evening. It wasn't a life she had ever imagined for them, but it was one that now had. Together, but together and free. No Alexandria, no throne, no Tantalus. She knew that it couldn't last, but the last few days had been like a joyous dream. She realised it was the only life that she ever wanted.
She paused in shock, however, losing her place in the song, at the golden figure sat praying at the altar. For a moment, she almost dismissed it as an uncanny resemblance. After all, noblewomen sometimes came to visit. Truthfully, Garnet found the entire experience enlightening, seeing nobility from the eyes of what they regarded as a simple healer. Oh, she had seen it before when travelling the world, but it never failed to make her reassess how she addressed others as Queen. But this woman didn't just dress like the figure she thought she was. She looked like her too.
No, she was her.
Garnet approached, still shocked. "Aunt Hilda...?" she asked, her voice startled. By contrast to Hilda's rather impressive appearance, Garnet's simple robe and jumpsuit must have looked incredibly plain, even with the Falcon Claw necklace still dangling around her neck. Mind you, Garnet thought even her gown as Queen was rather plain compared to Lady Hilda's outfits. She was definitely a woman who knew how to dress. Garnet let out a startled laugh when she realised that this definitely was the woman she had thought. "It is you!" she remarked in surprise. "It's me. Dagger," she quickly introduced, to try and prevent the inevitable title and lengthy name pouring from Hilda's lips and revealing just who she really was.
[attr="class","character-spring-1c"]“Crowns and Blessings”
[attr="class","character-spring-1d"]Lady Hilda bent her head in prayer. Though, just what she would pray for would remain silent. Her privacy was kept well to herself. At least, until it was broken by Garnet’s delightful singing. She politely pretended she did not hear it, not wishing to disturb the young queen. But it seemed, the lady regent’s mere presence had put a stop to her daily activities. Upon hearing her name, she opened her earthy eyes. Perhaps this meeting was fate by the goddess herself.
She made sure to not rush standing up. It would not do for a lady to seem hurried. And it seemed disrespectful to the higher power to do so. Once she settled, she turned around to verify that it was who she suspected. “Dagger?” She seemed a little confused by this name. Ah. This must have been the name she chose when she was forced to travel with Tantalus - the thieves she and Cid hired to steal and protect Garnet from her own mother.
“I certainly don’t know another me.” Lady Hilda posed her soft smile and gentler joke. She greeted Garnet with open arms. “My dear, Queen Garnet.” She stepped closer to her, extending her hands in greeting. “We just spoke, but a few days ago, but it feels like ages. The play was absolutely exquisite. I simply cannot wait to see what other twists Alexandria has in store for us in the future.” She was trying to read why Garnet looked so surprised. Perhaps, their circumstances were worse off than she thought. The Queen was no longer in her royal gowns, but in humble white mage garments. What was this?
But such dark topics did not suit the first topic upon such a meeting.
“May I inquire how you’ve been?” She certainly had not had much time or before or after the play. But, she suspected the surprise of Zidane had put her in high spirits. Especially after seeing such a beautiful reaction. “Oh, you must tell me everything.”
Post by Garnet Til Alexandros XVII on Apr 4, 2021 7:47:39 GMT -6
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Garnet couldn't hide a light smile at her Aunt Hilda's playful reply. Of course, Hilda wasn't actually her Aunt, no more than Cid was her Uncle, but in how she had been brought up, she thought of both them as that. Even when her mother had tried to go to war with Lindblum, Cid had always been 'Uncle Cid' to her, the person she could turn to in any time of darkness. Without Cid in her life, Garnet wasn't sure she'd have ever been brave enough to stand up against her mother. And she suspected that the fate of Alexandria, indeed, of Gaia, would have been very different. To her, Cid, and of course, Hilda, were her family, and she was delighted to see her again.
Of course, it also raised many questions. Hilda was a powerful mage, perhaps more powerful than Garnet in some ways, at least in the sense of unique, transformation magic, but she was no adventurer. It was hard to imagine Hilda surviving cramped in a tent with eight others on a rainy night on a long lost continent, or trekking through a marsh full of Qu, or indeed ending up on an alien world made entirely of crystal. But then again, Garnet was quite sure that nobody could have imagined Princess Garnet Til Alexandros XVII doing that but a few scant years ago. People could, it seemed, surprise you.
Unfortunately, she immediately called her 'Queen Garnet', but fortunately, there didn't seem to be many around to hear. Garnet hid a slight wince, and offered Hilda a gentle smile instead. "Please, it's just Dagger while we're here. Alexandria is far away, in another world. Claiming to be a Queen with no kingdom will cause more problems than it solves. Here, I am just Dagger, White Mage and occasional adventuress." She took a bit of a bow as she introduced herself with the term 'adventuress'. It wasn't a term she had ever thought she'd use for herself, but she quite enjoyed it. Not just for the subversion of expectations, although that was an element certainly, but also because it was true. She knew now that she had seen more than so many, she had battled more monsters than most ever dreamed of. She might not have been a warrior swinging a sword around, but she knew that she was, in many ways, as much of an adventurer as Zidane or Steiner.
She hesitated slightly when Hilda commented on the short time since they'd seen each other last. It seemed that Hilda was unaware of the strange time displacement that seemed to happen upon arrival. It also implied that Garnet was the first person she had met there. Another fact that caused Garnet pause. "Aunt Hilda... Things are... different, here. From my point of view, I arrived here many months ago," Garnet explained as delicately as she could. "Much has happened in that time. It seems many of us from home have been displaced here. I have met several people that I used to know. Sir Fratley, Amarant, Mikoto, and recently, finally, Zidane," she smiled at that. A true smile of delight. "But for most of this time I have been alone. This life here, healing others, helping where I can, it is how I have survived," she explained.
She paused again. Hilda, she knew, worshipped etiquette. Moreso than Garnet ever had. Garnet had followed it, yes, but she had followed it like she continued to breath; to her it had just been natural, it was how she had been raised. Now, however, things were different. Garnet wasn't just Queen Garnet anymore, she was Dagger too, she knew how common people interacted. And even if she didn't, she had always believed that important issues needed to be dealt with. She had always considered herself to not be the type of royal who would put an urgent matter off until dinner had been eaten or something of a similar matter.
Which was why she said what she said next.
"Aunt Hilda, you need to know... that somebody else is here too," she paused. "Kuja. I encountered Kuja," she warned. "I do not know how he is still alive, nor do I understand what his plot is here. He feigned innocence, but I do not trust him. However, alone, I also could not stop him." She left out that she hadn't wanted to try. Summoning an Eidolon in the middle of the city against Kuja felt like an open invitation to repeat the mistakes of Alexandria. Not to mention she was no combatant alone.
"Where are you staying? Do you have a place to stay?" Garnet asked. She knew that when she had first arrived finding accommodations had been her priority, but again, she had experience travelling that she knew Hilda did not, and had sold her gown for gil. She was somehow sceptical that Hilda would sell her clothing.
[attr="class","character-spring-1c"]“Crowns and Blessings”
[attr="class","character-spring-1d"]The Lady was overjoyed to see the smile tug at Garnet’s lips. Hilda had been taught at a young age to smile. It puts everyone in the room at ease, even in tough situations. As a high-ranking noble lady, they were expected to wear one as much as possible in addition to de-escalating situations. It was not always an easy task, but it served well in a manner of tactful tools.
And despite Queen Garnet’s words, she kept that same smile frozen in place. Even as her heart sank at learning that Alexandria was a ‘whole’ other world away. Where in the universe were they? And if Alexandria was so far away, then that meant Lindblum and her husband were too. What would Cid think if he found her missing again? What did this mean for their relationship? “Very well, Dagger.” Lady Hilda conceded, though she did not like the thought of masquerading around as a peasant. But, she understood its practicality. “An adventuress. Oh dear. Shouldn’t you be securing your safety?” She frowned at this. Even when Cid hired Tantalus to protect her, at least then she had an unlikely band of people to aid her. It kept her hidden and safe.
But now she was here on her own. Oh no. Lady Hilda simply couldn’t abide by that.
Garnet’s further words seemed to shock her. She was getting the vapors listening. She unfurled her fan and aired herself. She said nothing as she absorbed this information. Amarant and Zidane she knew. They were present during her meeting with the group. Sir Fratley was a Burmecian hero, she knew him by reputation only. But Mikoto? She was unsure who she was. A new friend Garnet met on her travels, perhaps? “Pardon me. I did not realize our times were different…” She had thought perhaps they were all pulled at the same time. She seemed to be mistaken. “Then, it seems not everyone was pulled here? Who in the heavens would do such a thing?” Then, she gave a soft sigh and a smile. “But it seems you have found comfort and joy here.” She could see that dreamy, delightful expression when Garnet spoke of Zidane and how she fell into new roles here.
The Lady needed to process all this new information. But it seemed Garnet would give her little time to recover before she was given the next warning. Kuja.
Her captor who manipulated her with controlled ignorance of the world that laid outside her cage. The one who laid to ruin their kingdoms and nearly their world. The one who could create life and recklessly pawned this new life as nothing but tools.
Hilda could not help but feel guilt that she played a part in aiding him. Worse, a part of her felt that perhaps they could have been friends if circumstances had been different.
She felt the vapors again. She found it hard to breath in her corset suddenly and she moved to take a seat at the front bench.
“He is not to be trusted.” She had been fooled so many times by men. She found they cheated on her when she could not produce an heir. Or they burned her world down as they smiled sweetly at her when she was an inconvenient guest. She never had the time to process her feelings for either. “Besides, one can never truly know the mind of another.”
Her eyes looked up the marble figure before her. She refused to show her weakness in front of Garnet. In front of the one person she knew she had to protect. Instead, she feigned strength, acting like it was simply too hot in here as she fanned herself.
“Above all else, he is a narcissist. He will not act unless it pleases or benefits him.” And she paused before closing her fan and laying it in her lap. She looked at Garnet. “And his tastes are quite grand. So, if he wants something, it will be as such.” She hummed thoughtfully, “Tell me exactly what he told you.” She patted the seat next to her for Garnet to come over.
They would worry about her accommodations later. This was far more important.
Post by Garnet Til Alexandros XVII on Apr 5, 2021 14:04:16 GMT -6
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Garnet wasn't sure whether to smile or to gently frown when Hilda commented on securing her own safety. Yes, Garnet knew that to most she was a Queen, and many still thought of her as the sheltered and helpless princess she had once been, but Hilda knew exactly what Garnet had been through. It was either adorable that she still thought Garnet needed protecting or frustrating, but Garnet leaned towards the former. After all, she knew that Hilda only cared for her.
"What better way to secure my safety than journeying along side experienced adventurers?" Garnet offered in a counter. "Besides, I serve them as a healer. I do not often fight directly, but rather keep them healed and protected," Garnet paused only to smile slightly at the irony. "You might say that I am the one securing the safety of others, rather than someone securing my own. I'm sure that Steiner would object, but that's what I think a Queen should do. The people should always come first. I suppose, here, I'm just living by that philosophy on a slightly smaller scale." Especially since she had no actual authority. But it did tie to her belief; some people, Kuja, her mother in the end, others they had fought, even Steiner sometimes, they thought that royalty was served by its people, but that wasn't the case. Royalty served its people. The people of Alexandria were Garnet's responsibility. She did not expect them to protect her. She expected that it was her who would protect them. "Besides, you may not have heard, but I am no slouch in battle any longer," Garnet smiled. She paused, remembering endless etiquette lessons from her Aunt Hilda. "Uh, not that I slouch, of course. It is... an expression," she said quickly, because she did not want to be lectured on appropriate posture.
Hilda seemed surprised by the time displacement, which Garnet realised was natural. She also seemed confused about who had drawn them there, but that also was a natural question. One Garnet felt she had to try and answer. "I do not know who has brought us here, or for what purpose. I do not believe that it was Kuja, but... apart from that, I don't know. There seems to be no pattern to the chosen victims or reason. It is... a mystery," she admitted. She also noted that Hilda thought Garnet seemed happy, and Garnet had the decency to look slightly ashamed, glancing away from her Aunt. "I... Seeing Zidane again, it... is nice. And living here, without a kingdom to rule, without... the constant pressure, it... Sometimes... I like... it," she admitted slowly, finding it awkward to say so. "My entire life I have been told to be Garnet Til Alexandros, I have had everything prepared for me, presented to me, I have always known my life and my future... I always knew that one day I would be Queen, I always knew that I would have that life... but here... as Dagger... with none of that... Sometimes... I feel like I can truly be me..." She paused, and shook her head gently. "Not that I am refusing to return. Quite the opposite. When I find the way back, I shall return. I am the Queen of Alexandria, whether I wish to be or not, and the people of Alexandria depend upon me. Being Dagger, well... It is just a childish fantasy while I am here. I know my responsibilities. Do not worry, I have not forgotten them," she assured Hilda, perhaps predicting her Aunt's disapproval.
She felt guilty for bringing up Kuja. She could see how much it had shaken Hilda, even as she tried to hide it. Garnet shouldn't be surprised. Truthfully, she thought that she had reacted worse when she had seen him. She had almost been ready to attack him openly in the street, to summon Ramuh consequences be damned, and that was something she had sworn she would never do. She would never use an Eidolon to put the innocent in danger. But she had nearly done it out of rage and fear. Hilda's emotions were understandable.
Garnet moved to sit next to Hilda as Hilda gestured, even as Hilda lowered the fan. Hilda asked about what exactly Kuja had said, but Garnet realised she wasn't sure how to answer. "He did not say... much that was useful. He claimed to be... shopping," she realised that sounded absurd. "And insisted that he had no interest in me, that he had no method for Eidolon extraction either. He said nothing else about his plans. And yet, I am concerned. Mikoto seems dangerously close to him, and she has the potential to be more powerful than Zidane." Garnet admitted. "She is... a genome, like Zidane, from Terra, only without his experience on Gaia to shape her." She explained, in case Hilda was unfamiliar.
"But I do not know what to do. If Kuja has a plan, which I am sure he does, it is a secret, and I do not have any friends here I can turn to with any authority. I wish... Uncle Cid was here. He would know what to do," she admitted. Aunt Hilda would help too, she was sure, but Cid had always reassured her in hard times.
[attr="class","character-spring-1c"]“Crowns and Blessings”
[attr="class","character-spring-1d"]Lady Hilda only kept smiling when Garnet defended herself. She had not meant any offense. She knew Garnet had done well to take care of herself in her journeys. Hilda only felt protective as a parent might a child. Even if Garnet was not blood-related, she was still close enough to be concerned about her safety no matter where she went. That was natural was it not? But much like an unruly teenager, Garnet bit back an argument justifying her freedom from such concern.
But Lady Hilda would only be concerned, no matter what was said. However, there was little else she could do, but let the young lady do as she would bid. Give her the room and space she needed to be herself. Isn’t that what a good aunt does for a niece?
“Of course. A queen should learn of what is outside her walls, so she can best secure the safety of her people.” Hilda agreed reasonably, not looking to argue. Lady Hilda tried to put the people before her own needs as well. And the one time she did not…
Well...she regretted her actions.
“Do not misunderstand. I have no doubt in your prowess.” She said reassuringly, chuckling a little at Garnet telling her she did not actually slouch. “I simply worry about your health.” Cid had worried about Garnet as a friend and not as a ruler. Hilda was simply doing the same.
With that topic off to the side, Hilda watched Garnet from her seat. She sat up straight, ankles crossed and her skirts smoothed. So it was not Kuja who brought them here, but that only made the mystery more alarming to her. Kuja, she at least knew enough to properly handle him. A mysterious force with even more ability to move people to another world…
How terrifying. She nodded her understanding to Garnet.
But it seemed Garnet felt the same guilt at enjoying herself without a kingdom as the Lady, herself had. She only strengthened her smile and held out her hand to Garnet. If Garnet took it, Lady Hilda would have patted it soothingly with her free hand. She studied Garnet’s expression as she talked. “My dear, I have the same feelings.” She said reassuringly. “I was groomed at a very young age. My parents consented to my marriage to the regent when I was but fourteen.” Well, arranged the marriage quite politically. “It, too, is hard to imagine a life where I have no responsibility to family or my people.” She paused for a moment, reminiscing. “When I ran from, my sweet froggy woggy, and took to the skies, I saw an entire world expand below me. There was such freedom I never dreamed of below the clouds.”
And she would never see any of it, as she was soon held captive by Kuja. From one cage to another.
“Pardon. I lose myself. I simply mean to say that it's okay to feel the freedom that you do. Our work is overwhelming and we forget to enjoy ourselves. It is okay to do so from time to time.”
And in time, she trusted Garnet would make the decision that was right for her and her kingdom.
Garnet moved to sit with her. Then, the harder conversations began. She tried to slow her breathing and the rush of blood to her head. The soft dizzying sensation. She still could hardly believe he was alive and here. “Shopping?” She said mulling it over in her mind. He carefully chose what to say. Duplicity was second nature to him, so it was hard to gauge second hand if he had no interest in summoners and eidolons. And the mundane task wasn’t what was important. She could easily imagine him doing such things. He was a functional person, after all.
“Did he mention what he was shopping for?” That was probably more important. Artifacts? Weapons? Magical items? Alchemical ingredients? She remembered being startled awake on what she believed to be nights - there was no natural light in his palace - where he was experimenting on creatures or components.
Lady Hilda looked forward at the relics laid out on the table by the statue. She did grow concerned for this Mikoto. Was he controlling this ‘genome’ and he had controlled Lady Hilda. “Who is Mikoto to him? And have you talked to her?” Was she close to Kuja? Or simply a girl from his world he kept near?
She was becoming dissatisfied that the mere thought of him was causing this much distress. She had hoped to escape such a thing. She reached out her hand again to give Garnet’s a reassuring squeeze. “Do not fret. I will not let him bring harm to you, or others, if I can help it. I am not your Uncle, nor do I wield much authority here, but I am on your side.” She knew enough about Kuja to at least gauge him and keep him from weeding into the wrong crowd. It just meant Lady Hilda had to be quick about scaling the nobility system here.
Post by Garnet Til Alexandros XVII on Apr 10, 2021 12:26:38 GMT -6
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Garnet smiled slightly as Hilda told her that a Queen should see what was beyond her walls. It was, of course, true. A lesson Garnet had learned travelling the world with Zidane and the others. She wondered if it was a lesson Hilda knew as well. Her Aunt seemed, well, less equipped to survive the world than Garnet was, but looks could be deceiving, and Garnet knew that Hilda was as powerful as she was with magic. She hesitated for a moment, looking away from Hilda and at the fountain, and the water falling gently. "Sometimes... I wonder if there should be a Queen at all," she admitted. "I think of how little I still know. How much of the world I have still not seen, how... naïve and childish I feel when I listen to Zidane or the others tell me stories, and I think... what gives me the right to rule? Why should anybody listen to me? Why should I deserve such power, such privilege? Sometimes I think that the idea of Queens and Kings is broken. That Gaia would have been a better place without those born into rule. Where only the truly worthy lead. I mean, we both know that I am not even a real Queen. My entire rule is based upon a lie." Garnet paused, shaking her head and smiling gently. She looked back at Lady Hilda. "I apologise. Such thoughts... should not be aired, and... it is not as if I can change anything. Perhaps I only dream of an excuse to walk away from my responsibilities, but it does not exist. Whether I wish for it or not, I am Queen of Alexandria, and it will not change until my death. Those people are my responsibility. I must protect them," she decided.
"Please, do not be concerned for me. Life here is safe, by comparison to what I have been through. Has Eiko ever told you about the time we battled the Kraken alone? It was just the two of us, and our magics, with no warriors to protect us, no blades or black magic. Just the two of us white mages facing one of the fiends of legend." Garnet paused and laughed lightly. "I suspect one of two things. Either Eiko has told you that story every day for the past two years or she has never mentioned it because she's worried you would tell her off for doing something so foolhardy." Garnet wondered which it was. In fact, part of her expected Hilda to tell her off then and there.
When Hilda spoke of her time aboard the airship, Garnet smiled and nodded understanding. "For me, it was the first day that I spent in Kalm. It was a small farming village outside of Alexandria that I did not even know existed. We arrived there and I adopted my Dagger alias for the first time. And I simply... walked. I walked through the town and nobody looked at me twice, nobody announced me, I didn't have guards rushing about me or fussing to protect me. I remember feeling... almost light headed. As if I was floating with every step. It was like a wonderful dream. I was free. Whatever action I took in that moment, it was all me. Nobody to tell me what to do, or how to act, what was right or wrong. In that moment, for the first time in my living memory, there was only... myself." Garnet shook her head lightly. "Over time, I guess I grew used to that. And sometimes our journeys took us to dark places or on trying paths. There was so much heartache and loss, so much pain and so much suffering, but I will never forget the freedom that I discovered. It's a freedom that I have here too," she explained. She knew that Hilda understood, even if her newfound freedom had been different. And she expected that Hilda enjoyed traditions more than Garnet did.
"Thank you. It is... pleasant being here, but I know that I have duties to return to," Garnet concluded.
Next, Hilda asked about Kuja, and his strange claim. Again, Garnet shook her head. "No. He told me very little, and I suspect he was playing the innocent to avoid accusations. I do know that he gave Mikoto money, and sent her to buy... cosmetics, of all things. It seems that he is encouraging her to find her individuality, but... I do not believe his motivations to be benign. Kuja values his individuality, but in a selfish manner. I believe he is attempting to mould Mikoto to be the same," she explained. She asked about Mikoto, and Garnet hesitated. It was difficult to explain. "...I am not sure I fully understand genome relations myself. Mikoto was given a soul, like Kuja and like Zidane, and unlike the other genomes. She was destined to be Zidane's replacement on Gaia. Zidane was sent to Gaia to be its angel of death, but instead, he was raised as one of us, and his heart was pure. It is as though Mikoto is a blank slate. Kuja, I believe, views her as a sister, just as he viewed Zidane as a brother. I believe he wishes to shape her to be like him," Garnet reiterated. "I made contact with her but... I was unable to sway her. I do not... think she understands me. She sees in me... everything that she does not understand about humanity. But now that Zidane is here, I hope that he may reach her and avert what is coming."
She smiled weakly as Hilda assured her she'd protect her. "Aunt Hilda, please, do not seek him out. Allow me to protect you, to repay you for the years you protected me. I have dealt with Kuja before. I shall do so again, if needed."
[attr="class","character-spring-1c"]“Crowns and Blessings”
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It seemed Garnet had quite a bit to get off her chest. It was a little surprising, but Lady Hilda was here to listen. She covered her mouth with the tips of her with a surprised gesture at Garnet's proposal. No queen? But she did not interrupt. She simply let Garnet speak on the matter. When she came to an end there was a gentle silence between them. Lady Hilda decided to handle Garnet's self-doubt first. "I do not believe anything you do is based on a lie. Why would you even say such a thing? You are a REAL Queen. You were educated and trained for your role. You even now have more worldly experience than most people have in their lifetime. And you are willing to learn and listen to others. These are huge traits." A queen should never show self-doubt in front of others though. It represented an instability in one's rule, especially during a time when one should project strength. It was unbecoming to continuously ask for reassurance. "You were adopted into your roles. I married into mine. Does that make me any less worthy of my position?"
And now, the more shocking of Garnet's comments. "You propose no Queen, but the people need some order and leader. Without any structure, there would be chaos." The people needed something. There would always be someone out there willing to hurt another. There had to be a system in place to prevent that or treat it. Or if a group of people was struggling for resources, there should be a system in place to aid them. "What criteria would one even use to pick a 'worthy' leader? No one will ever fit the role perfectly because it is a big role to fill, and everyone will have different opinions on the definition of 'worthy'. And even if a leader is chosen, there will always be discontent no matter how the role was picked." She shook her head on the matter. "I do not mean to frown at your idea. I simply mean that if you want a different system, you DO have the power to create one. Just know it will take work, patience, and planning to change it." Not to mention that not everyone takes kindly to change and you will need to be ready for the backlash. "But by the way you talk, you sound like you do not trust anyone else to take care of Alexandria." She tilted her head to the side and gave a soft, knowing smile.
"I will always worry about you, my dear." She had many reasons to do so. Garnet ruled a country, so she had the politics to worry about. She was a goddaughter to Cid, so she was family. And she had powers that had already been stolen from her once before. Who was to say that someone knowledgeable could not do so? And Garnet was one of the last of the summoners. And these were to name a few. She nodded through her talking about the Kraken and her battles. Then there was a glint in Garnet's eye when she did it. "What a feat! As I said before, I never doubted your prowess. But I feel now you are just trying to upset me." Well Lady Hilda would not have that. It would take more to goad her. Instead, she gave her a disapproving frown. She was still acting a child, despite her big roles. "I request that you do not."
She simply nodded at Garnet's newfound freedom. She was glad that she found a small bit of it. It was a rare thing to be afforded ladies of rank. But she raised a brow, "What duties do you attend here?"
Lady Hilda had no reason to doubt Garnet. Duplicity came easy to Kuja. But what purpose could he have for the girl? Hilda remained silent. She doubted that Kuja would want Mikoto to be the same as him. But he may be teaching her the only way he knew how, especially if she was of the same cut as him. It may do him some good and keep him from being bored. Perhaps even out of trouble. "It is hard to break up family." She simply said, shaking her head. "You did what you could. You must trust in her to make the right choices now. Perhaps Zidane could mentor her later." Though, she could not help fretting a little. She now wanted to see this for herself. Hearing this second hand, it was too difficult to gauge.
But, alas, Garnet asked her not to. "It is kind of you to offer to protect me. But I too have dealt with the Lord Sorcerer in his own home. I survived him." She learned much of his mind and behaviors while she was there. "You could still be a target that he seeks later." Like she had been before. "It would be best if he did not get the chance." It ended poorly last time.
Post by Garnet Til Alexandros XVII on Apr 16, 2021 10:20:37 GMT -6
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Hesitation flickered across Garnet's features. She could sense that she had made a mistake discussing this with Hilda. It was something that very much prayed on her mind. Hilda didn't really see it. Garnet could tell that. Hilda was much nicer and kinder than her mother, but still, an awful lot like her mother had been. Part of the system and not somebody who would ever understand why the aristocracy was flawed. Garnet wanted to point out that the very thing she used to boost Garnet's standing, that she had trained her entire life to rule, was Garnet's exact point. When she had left Alexandria Castle, she had been naïve, clueless, and helpless. Without Zidane she wouldn't have even made Lindblum. What kind of ruler, what kind of leader, was that unaware of life outside her walls? And that was typical for a princess, or so she was led to believe.
And that was without worrying about power corrupting. Everybody said her mother had been a kind, a just, a gentle Queen once. But she had power. And that power had corrupted her. It had turned her into a monster. What was to say the same would not happen to Garnet? She had been given power just because she had looked just like the child who had passed, she had been adopted and raised into power she had done nothing to earn. What was to say it wouldn't corrupt her? That thought terrified her too. She had always told herself, even when she was young, that one day she would be queen, but she would always be herself. But was that true? If power had done what it had done to her mother, could it do it to her?
And on TOP Of that, Lady Hilda had a point about herself. Hilda was vastly more qualified, or so it felt to Garnet, to lead than she ever was, but she had married into power. So... what if there were others like Hilda out there? So much more experienced than Garnet, so much better to lead, missing their chance because of some ancient blood claim to the throne that wasn't even true?
All of it rattled through Garnet's head, but she felt like she could say none of it. Hilda wouldn't understand. And besides, Garnet was a Queen. She had forgotten what it was like to be treated as one. Zidane saw her as an ordinary person, the people of the Church too, obviously. Even Beatrix and Steiner knew her differently now after her adventures. But Hilda saw her exactly as a visiting dignitary would, and it wouldn't do to further express doubts.
"Yes, I suppose that you are right. I apologise," Garnet said gracefully, with a small incline of her head, instead of going any further into the subject.
When Hilda snapped at her (in so far as a lady like Hilda would snap), Garnet actually looked a little startled. She replayed what she had said in her head, but she couldn't understand what she had said to offend her Aunt. She frowned a little.
"I apologise, Auntie. I did not mean to offend you," she said, but she was clearly puzzled. She didn't understand it at all.
Fortunately she moved on to asking what duties Garnet attended within the convent.
"Oh, it is rather simple really. We get visitors who are injured or sick, and I use my white magic to heal them. In exchange, I am given food and lodgings. Sometimes, adventurers come through here looking for experienced white mages to join their adventuring parties. Sometimes I sign up as it's a good way to make some gil, which until recently I had been spending on my search for Zidane. That... is less required now," she explained pleasantly. It was a rather good set-up really, if a bit mundane. A far cry from castles and corsets, but Garnet wasn't sure that was a bad thing. Even if there were nights she missed her comfortable poster bed.
"I hope that she makes the right choices. I do not know that I trust her," Garnet replied when she spoke of Mikoto. "I will never forget what Kuja did to Alexandria. To Lindblum. To his own world. Mikoto has as much potential within her to walk that path as she does to walk Zidane's. And while she is close to him, I will not be comfortable. I can only hope that Zidane can reach her when I failed."
It was only Garnet's well trained poise and grace that prevented her from showing offence when Hilda called Kuja 'Lord Sorcerer'. She simply commented dryly;
"He is no lord. He is a monster, plain and simple," Garnet said. She was worried. Hilda was speaking as if she was intending to confront Kuja. And do what? Ask him to leave Garnet alone? That was how it sounded. But Hilda also spoke as if she admired him. As if Kuja had just misbehaved a little, like her Uncle Cid. She wondered just how much Hilda knew about her captor. "I know that he has charm. I understand how he works his way into the courts and palaces of people he needs. He grew close to my mother and manipulated her. But I have seen his true face. I know what he truly is. I stood on a world as it died beneath his fury, as he tore apart the very foundation of a planet out of petty anger. And, at the end, in Memoria, when we did battle with him. I saw his anger, his rage, his power, and his desire to destroy. I stood at the source of all creation, of all life, and watched as a man tried to destroy it all. Kuja would willingly wipe out every living thing in the universe if given the chance. I beg of you, do not underestimate him." She sighed, and gave a small nod. "Do not worry. I will not confront him here without considerable back-up. I'm not the foolish girl I once was. I know how dangerous he is. When Kuja is brought to justice for his crimes, and I promise you, Aunt Hilda, there will come a day that he is brought to justice, I won't be alone."
