[thread;open]

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Characters: Vayne and OPEN to everyone who went to Wutai
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: With Kefka already vanished and a small army of would be defenders present, Vayne extends his hospitality by hosting them all.
Location: Wutai
Date: January, 1804
Warnings: Probably political schmoozing out the nose. Beyond that, nothing comes to mind.
Other: Feel free to treat this like you would a party event. There's a lot of us in Wutai, so go ahead and start subthreads to interact with each other as well as Vayne. My inbox can handle it. RAWR!

To put it blunty, Vayne was pissed. Gabranth had dawdled in returning to Wutai, leaving it shorthanded on defenders. Larsa had arrived, prepared to battle, and without the mercenaries paid to guard him. Ondore was off blathering about Ivalice politics in the the thinly veiled guise of fiction. All of these irritations were matters that he would normally treat as a challenge to be overcome, but that madman Kefka had to go and torch the place.  Not that he particularly cared in the slightest, but the village was a means to an end. Still, the Solidor was already calculating how to turn this to his benefit.  In fact, in objective reasoning, while it hindered one aspect of his planning, it served to far advance others strategies he had not counted on being able to employ. Yes, this would be beneficial in the end. Yet he was angered, even if his stoic demeanor did not reveal it.

And Vayne Solidor angered was a dangerous force indeed.

Still, there was a small army of defenders who had presented themselves to face off with the false god in facepaint. With a good portion of the town smoldering and in ashes, it was necessary and prudent that he accomodate them all within his own residence. Fortunately, that had been spared. So he put on the facade of the deeply concerned and caring leader, suffering the harm to his protectorate as a personal blow, and invited them all to stay with him, as thanks for their efforts. Now the task before him was to win over them all, whilst coordinating and delegating others to find shelter for the newly homeless and to begin the repair efforts.

Comments

[cetra-flower.livejournal.com]

Aeris hadn't quite jumped at the chance but an offer was an offer and it wouldn't hurt to at least meet the man she'd heard so much about. She didn't know fully what to expect as she entered the property, briefly taking a moment to examine the surroundings.

Everything she'd said had been the truth and while she wasn't one to pre-judge, the things she had heard had come far too close to the ShinRa executives she remembered. She hadn't officially spoken with Rufus since her arrival here but it was likely only a matter of time. At least, if he did decide to follow in his father's footsteps, here would not suffer like their own world had.

She lifted a hand brushing a lock of hair behind an ear as she slipped out of her sandals to step off the path into the gardens. They had at least been spared the devastation the rest of the town had suffered. She'd done the best she could for those who'd survived but it still felt like it wasn't enough.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Wearying day, this was. So much to be done, so much frustration to deal with. As the day wore on, Vayne found his irritation growing enough that he nearly lost control of his temper. At last, finding a respite from the ever growing lists- supplies, deaths, wounded, damages- he stole away to the gardens to clear his head, to cool off, to regain control.

And instead found one of his house guests roaming about barefooted.

Intrigued by this, he quietly approached the young woman, while avoiding the topic of her missing shoes. "Forgive me for interrupting. I was not aware there was another here." He placed a hand on his chest, and dipped his head politely, by way of apology.

[cetra-flower.livejournal.com]

Aeris turned at the words and offered a smile in greeting. "If you would prefer to be alone, I could return indoors, I just prefer the outside." She glanced over her shoulders at the gardens. "I am glad he didn't damage this part of the town at least. I've been trying to help the survivors but ..there's only so much one person can do.."

[bastard.livejournal.com]

What a waste of time.

For someone who'd been looking forward to the conflict in Wutai as a means of venting his own personal frustrations, Seifer was pretty pissed to find out that the epic battle he'd been promised had turned into little more than a slumber party. He didn't particularly care about the town, the people in it, but he'd stuck with Aerith while she did her thing. Needless to say, mingling wasn't exactly the first thing on his agenda for the evening. Seifer ditched Aerith shortly after realizing there wasn't any danger left. He figured he would take their host up on his offer to stay the night (if only because it beat checking into the smouldering remains of Wutai's inn), and then head off on his own come morning.

For now though, he'd found himself a nice little balcony away from the others on which he'd plopped himself down so that he could take in the view--most of it still smoking in the distance due to the recent destruction. It almost reminded him of Dollet te first time he'd been deployed with the other candidates for SeeD. Huh, that was something. Forcing the memory from his mind, his expression hardened as he turned to look over a non-demolished section of the horizon.

[cetra-flower.livejournal.com]

Aeris had had no trouble locating him after she'd come inside from the gardens. She quietly stepped out onto the balcony behind him, looking over the town before sighing quietly. "...So much pointless destruction. At least the people who died seem to be at peace. It's not much comfort for the survivors but..." She moved to lean on the railing.

"I'm sorry you didn't get the fight you wanted."

[bastard.livejournal.com]

Figures she'd track him down. For whatever reason, Aeris reminded him of Rinoa in a lot of ways. Although that might usually be a good thing, right now it was sort of working against her.

"I didn't come here to fight their war for them," Seifer reminded her. His loyalties didn't lie with one side or the other, but he had intended to make good on his word to protect Aeris in the meantime.

After Aerith work?

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

After suffering through additional hours of complaints and requests, Vayne excused himself, claiming that all were overworked enough and that the troubles would hold for another day. No sense in sending survivors to an early grave from being overworked.

Still, he felt it worthwhile to step out to the balcony and overlook the town. He discovered a visitor doing something similar.

He strode out to stand beside the other, and remained silent, merely taking in the scene and leaving it to the man to begin a conversation if he chose.

~

[bastard.livejournal.com]

Seifer didn't bother to glance in Vayne's direction. Instead, he continued looking out over the ruined image of Wutai, while making sure to keep the other within his peripheral vision. Hell, he wasn't going to start trusting any of these people until they'd earned it--and that included turning his back to anyone he didn't know while in a city that had just been torched to the ground. He recognized the man as their gracious host soon enough, a slow smirk creeping over his features as they looked on.

"You always make it a habit to invite potential assassins into your home like this?"

[notruejudge.livejournal.com]

It was the first that Basch had seen of this world beyond Lindblum, and unfortunately it wasn't the greatest of impressions. Not that there was aught to blame but this Kefka himself, of course—had this tragedy not occurred he was certain this land would be quite the wonder to behold. There was little opportunity to behold what little was left, however. With no battle to be fought there were instead people to be helped, and even as Larsa went to the aid of civilians Basch was doing the same.

He kept near the young lord as best he was able while clearing debris. It was work suited to his strengths, so to speak, and it helped him to forget that Vayne Solidor was nearby. No longer wearing his—Gabranth's—armor, Basch blended in more efficiently with those around him. With Gabranth alive he would need new armor more suited to him.

For now, though, there were more pressing concerns.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Vayne had given his brother his space to do as he wished with the relief efforts. He was, in fact, still furious that Larsa was here, without the SeeDs and with of all people, Gabranth's twin. This was entirely a fiasco, and not well pleased was he.

Waiting until Larsa was unoccupied, and mercifully not immediately beside Basch, Vayne approached his brother, after handing off some paperwork. There was always paperwork, even in a crisis.

"Larsa, I am pleased to see you are well."

[nethi-cite.livejournal.com]

Unlike many of the other would-be heroes, the doctor was actually grateful that the madman left when he did after secretly conspiring with the lunatic over the network. After his brief talk with Ffamran, Cidolfus was honestly not sure what to think about Kefka and his lunacy. It seemed as if the clownish jester was trying his best to ruin the good doctor's cover. He saw no reason as to why Kefka would want to torch Wutai but the fool managed to do so which greatly agitated Lord Vayne.

Dr. Cidolfus hoped that in the future, he could introduce Kefka to elder Solidor but now that dream was completely dash; scattered to the four winds. It was perhaps this fact that made Cidolfus so irritable this evening but whatever the reason, the doctor managed to fake a genial smile here and there, as he welcomed these stalwart fools.

"Ah, if it isn't the little Solidor." Dr. Cid said with a wan smile as he approached the regal youth. "Long time no see!"

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia was upset as well. After having arrived with Tidus and his crew, intent on at last purging the world of Kefka, only to be denied by his timely departure, she had every right to be. Since there was nothing that could be done for the time being, she had done what others many others expecting to battle Kefka had, and channeled her energies into helping when and where she was able.

Still, this wasn't her home. Not wanting to worry Cecil further and tired of roaming the world, Rydia was quite ready to return to Troia...tomorrow. Reluctant though weary, she accepted the offer of accommodation.

Despite her weariness, however, Rydia couldn't rest or even remain still. Too much was on her mind and it always helped to walk it off, and so the summoner went exploring. She hoped to find something of interest in these halls, enough to possibly distract her from her frustration.

[cetra-flower.livejournal.com]

Aeris noticed her a few moments later as she was making her own rounds to do what she could for the people in the area. She offered Yuna a smile before finishing with the woman in front of her, and then turned to join the girl with her group.

"..Hello." She spoke after a moment of studying Yuna before her attention shifted back to the others.

[knowshermachina.livejournal.com]

Rikku was continuing on her exploration of Wutai when she walked around a corner and nearly smack into the also-exploring Rydia. She took a quick hop back to avoid any collision risks, and then waved at her, smiling brightly.

"Heya!"

[knowshermachina.livejournal.com]

Rikku had only been in Wutai for a couple hours, having delivered the robots to Vayne and then promptly told the Al'Bhed that they weren't leaving right away and to have the night off.

And now she was playing tourist. Not quite gawking, really, but it was close. Everything was so different from back home, there weren't any buildings even remotely like the ones here. In fact, she hadn't seen buildings like this anywhere on Gaia either. Most of the people she'd seen at least a few of before, but that was probably because of the way people seemed to be relocating into all the new cities so quickly. They'd probably have more people like that in Goug except that the Al'Bhed had kinda taken the poor place over. And who wanted to be around a ton of people who didn't speak common?

So, she was just...wandering about. She knew Yuna and Tidus were around here somehow, though she hadn't gone hunting for them just yet. She would, though!

[cetra-flower.livejournal.com]

Aerith had been moving through the village offering assistance where she could when she caught sight of the other girl. She straightened and pushed her hood back before changing directions to meet her. "Did you come to help too?"

[waterblade.livejournal.com]

Out from one major construction site, into another.

Tidus kicked a fallen timber in his frustration - the bastard had gotten away yet again. He hadn't been able to get to Figaro, but this - he'd dropped everything, including a paying job, to come get a shot at him. Only to find out over the ocean that the clown had escaped.

At least they were getting fed.

But damnit!

Still, they were being a help. Yuna was healing, and he'd gone back to lugging wreckage away. And seeing as he couldn't kick it away, he bent to grab the timber that he'd punted, hauling it up and starting to pull it over to the pile he'd been stacking to be burned off to the side.

[recites-always.livejournal.com]

They followed a guard that would lead them to Vayne Solidor, the walls of the palace looking just the same as they always had been. Genesis remembered it well.

He stretched his arms again, sighing lightly and wincing. Carrying Sephiroth for such a long distance strained his body something fierce but he wasn't about to just hop into bed and sleep for a day. Not after Sephiroth so publicly announced how tired he was. And here Genesis thought Sephiroth still had tact. But, he didn't care in the long run. They were going to just tell Vayne they had arrived, get briefed on what was going on (further details) and then he could go soak for a couple hours tonight.

[dynast-king.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, Vayne was seated in the room he now used as a study, giving consideration to the map of Gaia spread out before him. Civilized territories were marked, by both size and native or alien in nature.

Where could that firebrand false god have gone?

He looked up as the sound of feet in the hall outside the door and raised his voice. "Come."