Winter in Alexandria

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Characters: Marquis Halim Ondore IV & OPEN to whomever
Progress: Incomplete
Summary: After quitting Lindblum with the Onion Knight in tow, the Marquis finally makes his way to fair Alexandria.
Location: Alexandria, the town.
Date: January 1804
Warnings: None


While the journey to Alexandria may have been a long one, these two unlikely adventurers managed to reach the town just a minute after two. Riding from Lindblum to the South Gate proved to be arduous than the Marquis assumed, a pleasant surprise. With the Onion Knight towing along, this slightly boring trip turned out to be a tad more pleasant than it should have been if Ondore decided to venture alone. Grateful for the young knight's companionship, Ondore hoped that his nice wouldn't mind if he invited the young man to visit her and Lord Nabradia. Certain that the young queen wouldn't shun his newly made friend, the Marquis led the way towards the rural town thanks to the helpful guide of some of the wayfarers they met at the gate.

"Ah, so this is Alexandria?" Halim questioned aloud as he gawked at the whimsical scenery before him. While winter chill still clung within the air, this beautiful town reminded him a little of fair Bhujerba. Perhaps it was the more laid-back atmosphere that made him think of his homeland but whichever the case, the Marquis certainly felt at home here.

"Come now, we mustn't linger for lo-" Ondore's words were cut short once he realized his faithful companion seemed to have wandered off into the crowd. With a deep sigh, the Marquis decided to search for the nearest inn on his lonesome.

Comments

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Keeping an eye out for his young companion, the Marquis found himself almost lured to the expansive lake-like mote that surrounded the grand Alexandrian palace nearby. "What a whimsical design." Ondore whispered to himself in mild fascination as he wandered closer towards the docks. Giving the guards nearby a slightly worried gaze, the Marquis stood far enough not to impede upon them while gazing at the palace that lied within the distance.

"It reminds me of early Galtean architecture but it’s far too fanciful to be compared with such boorish stone." Another comment made to no one other than his own private musings.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Well, there was a suspicious man, to be sure! Muttering to himself, strange foreign accent, rather too much interest in observing the castle. A spy? Certainly worth investigating.

Steiner narrowed his eyes as the man approached.

"Excuse me! Just where do you think you are going?"

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Pulled from his thoughts by the voice of a rather less than eloquent man, Marquis Ondore glanced over towards the guard with a curious gaze. "Aye?" There was something amidst about the knight's gaze and Halim hoped that the foul rumors about Alexandria being hostile towards Sky People weren’t true.

"Going? Ah, I am going nowhere in particularly but I am here to visit my niece." Hopefully his honest reply would be enough to keep this wary knight at bay.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

One couldn't blame the citizens of Alexandria for being wary when it came to Sky People, not when one of them had attacked the Queen and trashed half the palace. Naturally, that fiasco made Steiner more security-conscious than ever.

He glared at the man. "Your niece? Who might that be?"

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Giving the knight an equally stern glare, Ondore let out an annoyed sigh as he ended the standstill between the two with another honest answer. While he does realize that Lady Ashelia wish not of others to know of her regal status within this world, he couldn't help but hope that her good name would mean something here. Gaia is a far cry from the lands they knew of, completely different from Ivalice in every way which makes it quite difficult for these royals to cope with the idea of being forced to linger here from their beloved kingdoms.

"The Queen of Dalmasca, I speak of Lady Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, sir." Halim answered at last with a much calmer gaze than earlier. There was no need to fault this knight for being suspicious of him but the Marquis was beginning to miss the comforts of Bhujerba by now. Despite his fondness for Alexandria, this beautiful kingdom paled in comparison with the beauty of the floating continent.

“Does this quell your intrigue?” Uncertain if the knight knew of whom Lady Ashe was, Halim hoped that the other didn’t take his words for jest now.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Steiner had indeed heard of this foreign queen, though he hadn't met her. That did not change the fact that this man could be anyone trying to reach her. Royals were always under threat.

"Then I suggest you make haste to see your niece," he replied, "if she is really your niece."

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

What an outlandish comment! Knight or no knight, this captain certainly earned the Marquis' scorn for now. It was quite a sobering experience to be treated with anything less than respect by others but this knight's tone really didn't sit well with Ondore at all. "Such a boorish demeanor..." The Marquis muttered to himself as he walked past.

"If I didn't know any better, I would assumed he such manners from Vayne himself.” He grumbled aloud with a sigh.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Steiner continued to watch him as the man walked past. He had the arrogance of a nobleman, but even noblemen received short shrift from Steiner if they couldn't prove who they were. As far as Steiner was concerned, these Sky People needed to earn his respect.

But at the mention of Vayne, Steiner paused. "Did you say Vayne?"

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

When he was just about to wander away from this uncouth knight, the Marquis stopped cold once he heard the guard's question. A moment of intrigue as well as fear passed within his mind as he slowly turned to look upon this knight with a curious gaze. "Aye?" He answered hesitantly at first before adding a few more words. "In Ivalice, I knew of man who once donned the name of Vayne Carudas Solidor but surely such a name means nothing to a citizen of Alexandria." The Marquis had no idea what this villainous man has been up to since his arrive to Gaia for none of his companions dared to utter that tyrant's name.

There silence may have seemed to be forged by fear but the reason why these heroes opted to keep silent was that they desired for peace. The Lady of Dalmasca wasn't fond of the idea of reliving the conflicts that brewed within Ivalice and because of this, many of these stalwart heroes decided to hold their silence. That is until now...

"Excuse me but do you know of this man?"

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Steiner nodded. "I do! His name is known to many in Alexandria, as he has stayed at the castle before."

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

That very answer was more than enough to make one's blood run cold but luckily, for Ondore he managed to wear his shock rather well. "Really now? Do tell." Wishing to hear more about what this knight had to say, the Marquis knew better than to speak too freely about Vayne to someone who could be a potential ally of his.

"I take it you are on good terms with Lord Solidor assuming that your queen is." He silently hoped his earlier comment about Vayne would be ignored since it seemed as if Alexandria favored the older Solidor.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Steiner opened his mouth to retort, but couldn't quite decide whether to agree or not. The queen did get on with Vayne, so it wasn't Steiner's place to badmouth him in public. But privately Steiner didn't trust the Emperor.

He hid his confusion by blustering at Ondore. "Ah, I see your motive now! You won't be getting any information out of me. Now move along!"

[marquisofthesky.livejournal.com]

Blinking owlishly at the knight with rather confused glance, Ondore couldn't help but wonder as to why this man was so fidgety. By the way the Captain acted, it seemed as if Vayne Solidor owned all of Alexandria and not the courageous young Queen that the people adore.

"Sir." The Marquis' tone was friendlier than before, maybe because he found some humor in this discussion. "If you wish to talk, then you would do best without such paranoia. I am no ally of Solidor but I am no spy, either." Turning to take his leave, Ondore just hoped he could find Ashelia soon.