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year 5, quarter 3
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Post by Caius Dragelion on Sept 9, 2023 21:03:03 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
“You speak as though the two things are mutually exclusive” the Kingsglaive cheeked with the slightest of amused smiles. It was true, of course, they were far and away from either of their previous stations. The same even went for Noctis, whom wasn’t a King or even a Prince of Lucis here when there was no Lucis to rule. And Caius was hardly a Kingsglaive without a king or even a kingdom to serve. But at the end of the day, old habits died hard. “You are already a friend. That is why I am here” he reminded her at that. You thought Caius was staying in this hole for longer than he had to be without a damn good reason? Because as soon as his business was finished and he felt like Garnet would be ok here on her own, he was gone. G-O-N-E. Sonora was Sonor-nah in his eyes, and he didn’t intend on becoming a permanent resident by any means.
“Unfortunately, even if Lady Lunafreya had been my friend. I would have still gotten my arse chewed out for using such informal language. There is much still, for me to unlearn” Caius admitted then, at least showing a touch of humor despite how informal that might be. But his true meaning was in the word “unlearn”. It was never that Caius couldn’t see past Garnet’s title. Never that he couldn’t see the person behind it. It was the person that he had befriended, after all. The issue of formalities was entirely his own, and undoing having them knocked into his head would take time.
“Alas, I have promised to try my utmost. And you have my word, Quee-“ he had begun, before stopping himself. Clearing his throat, he tried once more. “Dagger,” he corrected course then. Even if he didn’t much favor the alias, he would still respect her wishes. “That I will do all I can to honor your request.”
He listened then, quietly eating as Garnet explained the significance of her alias. It had been used by people who had done what she was requesting of him. It was important to her, both the name and the request. “Then I apologize for criticizing it. I spoke from experience, not thinking that the name may hold meaning” Caius expressed at that. A Princess, nay, a Queen that wanted to be known beyond Queenship. To be known as her own person, as if her title had stripped away her identity. An interesting story, he thought, and a perspective he couldn’t identify with. For someone whom had once idolized a King, grown up a commoner and then become a soldier himself, it was difficult to really understand what had led to that.
Perhaps being royalty wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. He wondered if this was the same reason Noctis had asked for his name to be used over his title as well? Perhaps it was good he wasn’t born royalty himself. While his mother had once made comments that, while clean shaven, he had resembled His Highness in his youth – he had grown up as common as could be, and was confident in his identity.
But then came Garnet’s answer to their second debacle – theatre. Caius blinked a few times, taken aback by the answer. But as harebrained as it was, he continued to listen carefully. “My experiences with theatre are… Limited. I hadn’t been to a play before coming to Zephon” the mercenary admitted softly. “It’s certainly an... Interesting idea. On paper, luring him into his own prison using his interests is a genius thought. Taking away his magic before he even realizes that it’s a trap, making it easier to capture him. However…”
Caius nibbled a few fries in thought as he examined the plan from every angle that he could. “Unless you mean to take ownership of the theatre, the magic field wouldn’t be yours to do with as you please. You would not be able to use it to hold Kuja permanently, I presume” he brought up first as the potential hangups for her plan began to form in his mind. “There’s also the issue of civilians. They would be in harm’s way if it comes to conflict, and Kuja I doubt uses only magic. Someone like him would have a backup plan. Even if you can get civilians out of harm’s way, there’s one more thing to consider.”
He took a quick drink to wash the food down. “Let’s say this succeeds. Kuja is lured into the theatre, you find a way to evacuate the civilians without harm, without Kuja himself escaping and you have something prepared to keep him contained. Kuja is now inside a building covered in an anti-magic field, devoid of his planet-destroying powers.”
Caius pointed a fry at Garnet, momentarily forgetting his formalities. “But so are you. Do you have the means to capture him without your magic?”
Garnet nodded simply when Caius went on to explain how he still had much to unlearn about how to speak. It was somewhat ironic, hearing somebody else discuss that issue. It was an issue Garnet knew only too well, after all. She had spent a great deal of time learning how to speak differently. She hadn't thought somebody else would struggle with it, too. Especially not someone like Caius, who seemed so... practical and capable, otherwise. She offered him a small smile. "I, too, had to unlearn my manner of speaking," she pointed out. "When I first left Alexandria, I was attempting to go undetected. And my manner of speech didn't help. Fortunately, Zidane helped me to learn otherwise, and I found by observing others, and adapting their speech patterns, I could learn to talk in a much less formal way," she explained, even if her tone was still slightly formal. She had fallen back into her speech patterns a little when she had returned as Queen after Kuja had been defeated, but now, she was caught between the two.
When he told her that he would do all he could to honour her request, she smiled a little. He really did remind her of Steiner in how he spoke, and she wondered what Zidane would have thought if he could see her now, trying to teach others to relax. "You know, you don't even have to be that formal. Instead of saying, 'I will honour your request', you can just say.... 'alrighty'," she smiled. After all, it worked for Vivi, and had been the first real casual word she had learned. She still liked to lean on it sometimes.
"It's fine," Garnet smiled when he apologised for criticising her fake name. "I've never understood the issue myself. A garnet is but a precious stone, what's the difference between being named after that and another object?" she asked. Of course, the fact that neither were her real name wasn't lost on her, but she didn't bother to bring it up at that point.
He seemed impressed, at first, by her plan, but then he went on to point out the flaws. Civilian causalities, the fact that Kuja could still fight physically, and more. Garnet hesitated for a moment, considering these factors. "Kuja has shown no aptitude without his magic; and in fact, has demonstrated in the past that he will not tread where it is taken away. I am confident that the right team could take him down without trouble without his magic," Garnet answered. "We would need to install hidden guards, to help the civilians evacuate," she added. "And as for your last point; you are quite right, I am not a physical fighter either. That is why I would be liaising with the Dragonblades. You have as much interest in stopping Kuja as I do, it seems. And I believe that you have plenty of warriors capable of battle without magic," she pointed out.
"The issue of containment once he is captured is one we must approach, but I feel that we have the formations of a plan. Kuja's capture is vital to protect Zephron. As is his containment. Sonora famously hates outsiders; I am sure they would not take much persuading to lock away Kuja and contain him once he is our prisoner," she added. Of course, doing that without being arrested themselves might be tricky, but Garnet was confident they'd find a way to pull it off.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Feb 29, 2024 15:58:10 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
So she had encountered similar, though… Different, in its own way as well. While they had, or needed to, both unlearn speech… It was a different matter entirely when it came to actual treatment of certain individuals. Still, it was her request, and he would oblige. Garnet continued by naming an example of how he should say things.
“... Right” was the best response he could give, shooting up a brow at the brazen Queen. His instructors would have been pissed if they saw this. But he was no longer in Lucis, their rules no longer applied, he supposed.
Garnet would note that both her real and fake name were based off objects, either way. He supposed she was right, though Dagger still sounded faker from an objective standpoint. But considering it held meaning, he had no real reason to raise that. What’s another false name in Sonora?
“I would consider coming up with a Sonora-fitting name, or change its pronunciation, if you deal with Sonora’s law enforcement at least” he did bring up, however. For most Sonorans, he supposed a blatant fake name wouldn’t mean much. But to its law enforcement? “Dagger will suffice otherwise. Sonora’s police, however, are as strict as they are oppressive. It won’t take much for them to bring you in.”
A sudden change in tact, perhaps. But Caius knew to adapt when the situation called for it.
Garnet elaborated on her plan: She intended to utilize the Dragonblades as her agents to capture Kuja. Caius scratched his head sheepishly, he supposed he should have known that would be her plan. The fact she hadn't bothered to get all the facts about them before hatching it however, was...
Caius let out an exasperated sigh. "We lack a dedicated Sonora branch" he admitted bluntly. "Moving a force to Sonora will be... Difficult. But considering Kuja's threat, it may be necessary. I'll have to discuss it with my co-leader -- this is far too big for me to facilitate without the guild's agreement."
Had he mentioned he was the leader? He didn't remember--probably. They'd been in that maze forever. It probably came up. But that note about how Kuja had no martial prowess to speak of... For a select few moments, a glimmer flickered in his eyes. In these moments, a thought came to Caius. Why -had- he wanted to spare Kuja’s life? Until Garnet showed up, he had been ready to kill Kuja with his own hands the next time he saw him, and he wouldn't have hesitated. Something had held him back, but what? No, actually… It wasn’t Garnet. It had been somebody else. He remembered something about family. About the chance that Kuja could be redeemed and neutralized as a threat. But that memory was vague now. And if that family member who could have contained Kuja from further harm had been here… Caius couldn’t remember anymore. But if there had been someone here who could have neutralized Kuja peacefully, they weren’t here now. Meaning to capture or kill Kuja was their best option.
Perhaps he himself was still naive. Caius reminded himself that his hesitation against the bandits had almost gotten Yuna and Vordun killed. He couldn’t allow that to happen again. Though he still wanted to ensure Garnet wouldn’t be consumed by her pursuit. She was a kind woman. He would prefer she stay that way. So… Perhaps it was best she continued to believe she had convinced him to see things her way, it would be easier to keep her on the right path if she thought he was willing to negotiate.
"The primary issue in regards to your last point, however, is..." he trailed off, his eyes darting to and fro a moment as if to ensure that they weren't being watched. His voice remained hushed, just in case. "Kuja hasn't done anything that we can prove. We can't even prove he's an outworlder. Perhaps in Torensten, King Hremit would go on my word. That's not the case here. Their law enforcement could also stop your plan midway through. The second civilians begin to be evacuated, they'll be on their way. And if there are members of their police or political structure at your play... They'll probably stop us. If you presented this plan to an outsider, without context. We look like the criminals."
Caius played with his food in thought, trying to find a loophole they could exploit, but... It was going to be harder than he would like.
"Worse yet... You told me yourself he has a way with people in power."
Post by Garnet Til Alexandros XVII on Mar 1, 2024 2:53:05 GMT -6
[attr="class,beacont"]
[attr="class,beatext"]
Caius didn't seem particularly convinced by Garnet's example of how to speak, and she noted that he said 'right' instead of 'alrighty'. But she supposed it was a baby step. Not everybody could pick it up as naturally as her, she assumed. She just smiled and nodded to his comment. It was good enough to sound informal, so it was a nice start.
He commented on her needing a more Sonoran sounding name, and she hesitated, because she was unsure what that was. She found it bizarre to imagine Sonoran police would arrest you for your name. She had heard they were corrupt but that was almost completely ridiculous. For a moment, she wondered if actually Sonora was the bigger threat to Zephron than Kuja. Maybe once Kuja was dealt with, finding a way to stop Sonora's cruelty should be her priority...
"And what would a Sonoran sounding name be?" she asked. "I am afraid I have no clue," she admitted. It had been hard to figure out so far. Sonora was a strange place, but if she needed another alias to blend in, she was happy to do so. At the end of the day, what was another name? She was already Sarah, Garnet and Dagger. She supposed she could add another one to the pile.
Caius continued to outline his concerns, and they all related to Sonora. Which caused Garnet to raise a quizzical eyebrow in his direction.
"Did you not just say yourself that Sonora would arrest a person for having a slightly unusual name?" she inquired, bringing his own point against him. "Given that context, I hardly suspect that they will concern themselves highly with concepts such as 'evidence' when presented with an off-worlder with an unusual name and incredible magic powers that they are told is a threat to their nation," Garnet pointed out. "Truthfully, with what you have told me, I am almost tempted to abandon the plan and simply slide an anonymous note under the law enforcement's door and leave them to do all the work for us," she stated. Since it seemed Sonora had absolutely no worries about arresting anybody for even the most tenacious reasoning. "Alternatively, we take the anti-magic device out of Sonora," she suggested. "Once we have it, why not take it back to Torensten with us, and bait the trap there? It would mean stealing from the Sonoran Government, but from what you have told me, they are not exactly the type of people that we should respect," Garnet pointed out.
She paused, and sighed slightly.
"I cannot help but feel that you are humouring me, and you do not want us to capture Kuja," she huffed slightly, hands on her hips. "I thought you understood what a serious threat he was. Didn't he try to kill you? I've seen his destroy a planet, and nearly destroy a second one. We cannot sit back while this happens again," she tried to persuade him.
Post by Caius Dragelion on Mar 1, 2024 13:57:41 GMT -6
The Dragonblade
‘Right’ would have to suffice as a start, but at least he was trying. Though then Garnet brought up the question… Just what exactly was a Sonoran name? “Huh. That’s a good point. I don’t know either,” Caius admitted, making a face as it hit him. What WAS the best way to take a Sonoran name that wouldn’t arouse suspicion? “Truthfully, I have avoided coming here if I can help it. This place is… Vastly problematic. I know less about its culture than I should, only that if you want to stay a free person, you either make an ally of its leaders, or don’t give them reason to suspect you of either criminal activity. Or being an offworlder. Which is also a crime.”
Garnet wasn't the only one who had considered the possibility of finding ways to... Improve, Sonora's quality of life. But Caius wasn't sure where to start. The Dragonblades were a force, but getting them involved against an entire government, one with better technology than them, wasn't something he was comfortable with doing at the moment. But Garnet, sharp as a tonberry's knife, would play her pieces once more.
“You’re correct. Anything suspicious is poking the bear with them. They might investigate him anyway, maybe even lock him up,” Caius agreed. But they were less likely to if Kuja framed it as, well, being framed. And setting a trap for him in the theatre would only make it easier for him to do that. “Unfortunately, you told me yourself that the world of corrupt politics is essentially his domain. I say this with due respect to those you care for, but if he can manipulate a Queen to his side, the chances are high he can do the same here. Could be they come after us instead. It won’t be easy, but the best hands are still our own... Less casualties too, if we do.”
He had absolutely no trust whatsoever that civilians would be safe if Sonoran law enforcement DID actually go after Kuja. They just straight up didn't care. Then Garnet broached an alternative, and Caius' gaze perked up with interest as he listened. He even started eating again, chewing methodically in thought as he considered the plan. What was it with his clients and wanting to break the law in Sonora? And not just unreasonable laws, but one wanted to break into a prison, and the other wanted to smuggle stolen government property across the border.
“Aye. That’s possible. But it would be highly difficult, that border is under heavy guard,” Caius brought up. He didn't like that he was just presenting more doom and gloom, but when you talk about smuggling government property, of course it's doom and gloom. “I also cannot sign off on using my men to blatantly break the law. Even if I really don’t like it, it puts the guild in danger, and I doubt Celes would allow it either. You would need outside aid.”
Doable, but it would require that proper arrangements be made. He regretted that it would mean she wouldn't be able to get help from his forces, but he wouldn't bring Sonora's entire military on their heads either. She was a Queen, she should be able to understand the responsibility one held to their people. It was a responsibility she had held over his head once already, after all.
“Things here… Need to change. Until then, we need to be careful. Especially me. I need to be responsible to those under my command. That’s my duty" Caius admitted softly, with an apologetic look. “Even if this place is horrible.”
He didn't even hide that fact. He detested this place and it needed to change. But until they had a better idea, they had to play by their rules. But Garnet was clearly getting frustrated, with him especially. He couldn't blame her, really, he had been giving nothing but opposition to every possibility, for the most part. He regretted that, even if he had only been trying to appraise her of the risks.
“He didn’t try. He did. I had a Phoenix Down planted on Vordun’s collar for an emergency. Pulled me from death’s jaws before it was too late,” Caius pointed out, with a sigh of his own. “I apologize if it seems like I’m stonewalling. It wasn’t the intention. I'm trying to analyze the risks, both for your sake and for the safety of my men. You know that responsibility just as well as I do.”
He was essentially the head of an independent military operation, and she wanted to put his men's lives on the line. It would be a disservice to them to not be cautious and consider all angles. But with her calling him out... Well, he supposed he might as well be transparent on one front.
“Truthfully. I was going to kill him myself before people he knew started to show up" he admitted full-out. Stone-faced, no signs of jest. He had every intention of putting a bullet between Kuja's eyes if given the opportunity. "Then a man claimed he could neutralize Kuja’s threat peacefully, if given a chance. As much as I despise Kuja… I don’t like killing people, and solitary confinement isn’t much better than death. Not to mention the risks to bystanders if Kuja was put in a corner -- but… This world does things to your memories, they get hazy when someone disappears. I don’t think our shot at a peaceful resolution is here anymore.”
The option was out. No persuasion was necessary. It was a shame that the option was no longer available to them, at least not right now. But they had to do what they had to do. “I fully understand that killing or capturing him is a must. But I’m trying to be careful. If something happens to you, this plan of yours is kaput.”
But he was at least aware he had spent too much time criticizing her plans and not providing possible solutions. Or plans of his own. So he took a little time, thinking about it...
"The play plan could work, on the grounds we're fast. My men would need to be disguised and we would need to incapacitate and escape with Kuja before anyone is the wiser. Obviously, I would still require the go-ahead from Celes, and volunteers who would be wiling to take the risk" Caius did bring up, at least. "Plus have a place ready to hold him before he can come to and escape with his magic. Unless..."
He practically shoved several fries into his mouth, as if hoping it would stimulate the brain. He always made sure to swallow before speaking again, however. "I wonder... Are the generators the only methods they have to disable magic? When the Original Sin captured Yuna and I, we were collared with some kind of armament that blocked our magic. It's not entirely far-fetched that the police here may have similar. That would also require full-blown robbery, however. And if you succeed, you still need a place to put him."
Wait... If those collars did end up being Sonora-grade, how DID the Original Sin get ahold of them? He had never heard of magick blocking instruments in Torensten or Provo until he was clamped in one... Strange. But then another idea came to him. He had met others from her world before, hadn't he?
“As far as manpower goes… Have you met any others from your world, Miss Dagger?” Caius brought up with a curious eye. Was that Caius actually trying to address her devoid of title? It was! “People who would know Kuja well. And may have less issue with potentially ruffling Sonora’s feathers if it comes to it. If not, what other contacts do you have that we could potentially utilize? We may need all the help we can get.”
