Like Father, Like Son

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Characters: Dr. Cidolfus Demen Bunansa and Balthier
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Balthier needs to talk to his father
Location: Wutai
Date: January 1804
Warnings: Bunansas. That's a warning in itself.


Balthier had to make a point of sneaking off, now. While Fran was aware of his relationship with his father, none of his other friends were and Balthier chose especially not to tell Vaan. The boy honestly wouldn't understand. Or... at least Balthier didn't think he would. Cid was insufferable. He was a brutal, aggravating old man that sent Balthier screaming up the proverbial wall at times, but he was the only family he had left and Balthier could see the sanity ebbing its way back in.

Of course, he had some damn harsh words for him, concerning the capture of Red XIII, but Balthier was specifically hoping to just see the man in person without having to deal with weaponry.

Clothed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, tight leather pants and his boots and gloves, Balthier made his way towards his father's place of residence, sighing as he texted the old man. He wouldn't just go in. Vayne could be there, after all, and while the older Solidor had little idea that Balthier had played him for his information and passed said knowledge off to Larsa and Ondore, Vayne and Balthier didn't exactly see eye-to-eye.

Perhaps it was because Balthier saw Vayne as the man who'd replaced his position of prodigal son. While he wasn't particularly fond of the title, he was still angered that his so called 'precious son' title had been given away so easily.

Comments

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While he worked meticulously upon his damaged 'toys' to keep his mind from wandering, Dr. Cid was anything but his usual self today. He was gloomy at best, his conscious finally catching up with his ill-mannered actions. While the doctor is definitely a man who likes to leap first and ask questions later, it seems that this big jump from father to villain is slowly taking its toll upon him. Without Venat whispering her venomous words within his ears, Cidolfus was left to the mercy of the nagging voice that began to tug at his heart.

It was odd to feel such guilt now, odd to hear his doubts so clearly within his mind without Venat's raspy voice speaking over it. The Occurian traitor acted as his muse for six years during his vigorous research. To be left alone without her grace was quite painful for Cidolfus to endure. When Venat was around, the doctor didn't care what others thought of him but now that she was gone; Cidolfus felt hesitant.

"Ah?" Gazing away from his blueprints once he heard the loud beeping of his phone, the doctor gazed at the frequency before letting out a soft sigh. [“Ffamran...?”] He answered with a quick text message back to the boy.

[ooc: the brackets indicate 'text' being sent back and forth between the two]

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

["I am in Wutai. I'll await your arrival at the square."] Balthier really wasn't in the mood to send long-winded messages back and forth. He wanted Cid to just come out, enjoy the evening air with him and maybe they could continue piecing back together their shattered family. It was about time they finally found a chance to work on their family now Gaia had given them the chance.

Without the pressures of war, without the whisperings of Occuria Puppetmasters and with a shred of sanity keeping Cid tethered to the real world, perhaps they could find something amongst the rubble to polish and call a relationship again.

Certainly, they had an odd sort of banter between them but they were forever reaching for their triggers, prepared to fire the first bullet.

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Letting out a mildly annoyed grunt once the boy's signal went dead, the doctor couldn't help but smile. It amazed him how willing Ffamran has been as of late to speak with him after all the bad blood spilled between them both. Cidolfus figured that the youth would eventually 'run away' again but it seemed that his son did not intend to flee just yet. With that smile brightening more, Dr. Cid tossed his blueprints aside and reached to claim his coat from the closet.

It only took the doctor a few minutes until he strolled out into the ruined courtyard of the Governor's Estate. Frowning greatly as he walked past the scorched trees and ash riddled bushes, Dr. Cid hurriedly made his way towards the town up ahead.

Wutai was an enchanting city, one filled with so much culture and beauty but even with such fantastic beauty; this city paled heavily in comparison to the Empire. Always having a somber thought or two as he passed by the great pagodas that littered the exotic skyline, Dr. Cidolfus pushed his thoughts aside once he spotted a familiar figure up ahead.

"Looking sharp." He commented idly with a grin. "Ffamran, I trust you are doing quite well for yourself as of late."

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Perking up at his father's Archadian tones, Balthier gave the man a small nod as greeting, a slight smile in place. He was honestly glad to see the older man. It put a large weight off his shoulders to know they weren't going to kill each other on sight.

"Rather well indeed, Cid." Arms crossed, Balthier inspected his father for injuries. "You know my feelings concerning your latest battle; are you well?"

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Raking a hand through his hair, a chuckle came from Cidolfus once his son mentioned that horrible night. "I am as well as I can be, I suppose." He replied a tad meekly since he knew that Ffamran would eventually give him another long lecture regarding his work. Hoping that the younger Bunansa wouldn't be hasty to turn this meeting from sweet to sour, the doctor quickly took control.

"You arrived here so suddenly. Has something gone awry, my son?" This was genuine concern within Cid's voice but the old man should be more attentive of himself because of his wounds. While his attire covered up any scrapes and cuts he may have, Ffamran could easily notice that Cidolfus' right hand was completely covered in bandages. The bandages reached all the way up to his shoulders but there is no way his son could tell that by first glance.

“Still refusing to actually walk into the manor, I see.” A wry smile settled upon his face. “I doubt Lord Vayne would mind your presence.”

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"Nothing particular. Actually, things are rather a lot better than they had been, Cid." As he began to walk about the town, Balthier kept a watchful eye on the older man. He knew Cid must've taken a beating thanks to the band of merry men who came to defeat him, and while he wasn't going to verbally harrass him again, he was planning on keeping his eye on him.

A slight laugh escaped as Cid suggested entering the manor. "I beg to differ. Vayne and I don't exactly see eye-to-eye. Something about men of honour and filthy trinkets called nethecite," he muttered dryly, his arms crossing tight over his chest.

"No, I think I'd rather stay outside, just out of the Empire's grasp, thank you."

[nethi-cite.livejournal.com]

Allowing a slight frown to settle upon his lips, the doctor let out an distressed sigh. It seems that his son is still quite adamant about disliking everything that is either Archadian or Vayne. A sad fact since Dr. Cid's been trying to find a way to merge these two elements with the life desperately wanted. Cidolfus wants to be a father again but at the same time he doesn't want to lose the prestige and fame he has earned acting as Draklor Laboratories' most decorated weapons researcher. Then there is the issue regarding his new prodigal son. The doctor realized that his allegiance with Vayne may cause some friction between his relationship with his real son but Cidolfus didn't want to be forced choose one over the other.

"Ffamran..." He called the sky pirate's name with a weary tone. "Must we embark upon such unpleasantness already? The Empire is gone and only the young Solidors and I exist here as its representative. The ugliness that has stemmed from the bloody wars waged upon Dalmasca's and Nabradia's soil is nothing more than a memory now. A memory I am sure still haunts those who've survived the wars of yesteryear." The doctor finished with a melancholy smile.

“As for your dislike for the nethicite…” Cidolfus trailed off for he wasn’t very sure if he should even finish that sentence.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Balthier wanted to get bratty and tell him that Vayne was and always would be a filthy beast of a man wrapped in golden chocobos feathers. Nothing but evil in a pretty disguise, but he managed to keep himself genial, his arms crossing as they walked, his gaze exploring Wutai slowly.

"I understand, Cid. It matters not. It is merely my own personal distaste for the very man you replaced me with that I choose not to stand in his presence. Forgive me if I cannot accept the unwelcomed addition to our family. Solidors are Solidors and Bunansas are Bunansas. I would choose to be neither." Alright, so maybe that was bratty as well, but at least he hadn't snarked about Vayne's appearance. He honestly never did like to look at the man for more than a few moments.

Shaking his head, he sighed at Cid. "Nethecite here is naught but a trinket. I've no interest in your games of stones."

[nethi-cite.livejournal.com]

Giving the rogue a sideways glance, a soft laugh came from the doctor's lips once he realized exactly why his son seemed so cross with him. "You are envious, Ffamran. Green with envy at the thought of Vayne Solidor besting you as my son, correct?" Allowing that fatherly smile to settle upon his aged face, Cidolfus couldn't help but find Balthier's bratty words to be somewhat amusing.

"For a man who claims he left the grace of our prestigious family name, it would seem you are quick to shun others from joining." Raising his hand to rest upon the rogue's shoulder, the doctor just laughed.

“You haven’t changed much since your younger days, son."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Scoffing at Cid's words, Balthier strode ahead, his arms tightening over his chest. How dare he suggest he was jealous of Vayne?! It was just unthinkable! "I am not envious, Cid, I am merely stating the facts." One of his eyes threatened to twitch, that was how annoyed he was right now.

"Do what you wish. Adopt the manic fool, for all I care. Just do not expect me to call him family, old man." Larsa, on the other hand, would make a pleasant younger brother. Almost as much as Vaan would. Although, he honestly didn't want to see Vaan as a brother...

Hadn't changed? Sure, he was still a brat, but he felt he'd changed too much at times.

[nethi-cite.livejournal.com]

Only his son could gain such a foul look from him, especially since Ffamran always seemed all too eager to provoke such looks from his father. With a huff, Cidfolus wandered past with a scowl streaked across his face. It bothered him that his own son seemed to think so little of work but to hear him bash the House of Solidor and the Empire in unison was a bit much to take. Then again, Ffamran did have a valid point.

Cidolfus truly does view Vayne as another 'son', his new prodigal heir despite the fact they hail from two completely different worlds. Vayne is a nobleman, he is the 'Emperor' now while Cidolfus is nothing more than lesser noble.

“Render me as fool if you wish, Ffamran but I shall not turn my back upon him.” It seems that the rogue isn't the only one known for their childish streak.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"Of course you wouldn't, and when his plans follow through and he becomes the monster he is destined to be I would rather you not get in my line of aim when I shoot the fool down where he stands," Balthier replied sharply, irritated at the very idea the Cid would choose to be closer with Vayne.

Shaking his head, the youngest Bunansa seated himself on a nearby bench, sighing slowly. "I tire of this bickering. I did not fly all this way to simply argue with you. I can do that over a call."

Crossing his arms again, he stretched his legs out, crossing them at the ankles. "Do as you please concerning Vayne Solidor. You always have."

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The doctor let out an aggravated sigh at Ffamran's parting words since he knows that neither of them will ever come to terms regarding House Solidor or anything on topic of Vayne. "The monster he is destined to be? You act as if you're a Dreamsage now." A minor quip at the fallen Gran Kilitas of Mt. Bur-Omisace who’ve met his end at the Empire’s blade. Cidolfus doesn't believe in things like fate or destiny, especially when such words are used by superstitious fools who fear the so-called supernatural.

Giving his son a look over once he sat upon the bench, Cidolfus walked by with a little smirk as he reached his hand out to ruffle those short blond-brown locks. "Quit frowning, young man." The doctor chuckled as he aggravated those overly stylized locks.

"You'll gain a few wrinkles if you continue to look so crossed."

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He'd been about to make a short remark about the Grand Kiltias' demise when, suddenly, a hand was messing up his hair and Balthier batted at him like an irritated kitten, pulling his head away from his father's grasp, sliding both hands through his hair to get it to settle right.

"Must you always go for the hair, Cid? Honestly, things never change..." He'd styled his hair similarly (if a little less audacious) when he was a young teenager and Cid had ruffled at it often. Too damn often.

Brushing his fingertip against the corner of his eye, Balthier sighed slightly. Cid always remarked about his appearance because the older man knew how vain his son was. Balthier would admit he was a narcisist. "I won't get wrinkles like yours, old man."

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Laughing at Ffamran's misery now that he ruined that all too perfect mane of his, the doctor eased down to sit next to his son upon the bench. You are always so fussy about your looks." He muttered in jest. "You really shouldn't be such a narcissist, Ffamran. It's unbecoming of a young lad." Feeling obviously better, about his son’s presence here in Wutai, Cidolfus decided to let his guard down a bit.

"I sometimes wonder how different our lives would be if neither of us put up such a farce." He seemed a tad thoughtful now as he gazed up into the sky. "I know such a thought has no place here but I do honestly wonder how life would be away from the limelight of politics and science." As much as he truly adores his life as one of Draklor’s most famed researchers and confidant to the newly made emperor, there was a part of Cid that longed for a far similar life away from such grandeur.

“I suppose that’s just my weary bones speaking…” Cidolfus chuckled.

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"I'm aware of how attractive I am; I should indulge myself," he replied lightly, laughing softly as he did. Crossing his arms, Balthier let his own gaze wander to the sky as Cid did, sighing gently at the man's pondering. "Things would be considerably different... I'd like never have become a pirate... or done so much later in life." He hadn't expected to run away from home at sixteen but things had gone so wrong between them that he just couldn't stay to watch his father fall apart like that.

Shaking his head with a small frown, Balthier let his gaze wander back to his father's face for a moment, finding the sky a second later. "We'd probably spend less time bickering, though we always did have our spats. With no one to break us up when we argued, we would go for hours," he laughed lightly, a nostalgic sigh escaping him.

Frowning at the sky, Balthier shifted awkwardly. "Father? ...what was mother like? And my brothers? I remember so little..." He didn't remember her at all, really. Just a vague glimpse of a face lost to him many years ago and a song she used to sing to sooth him to sleep. His brothers were even less of a memory, just tall, strapping men with the same eyes he and Cid had.

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Nodding slightly at Ffamran's words, the doctor looked a tad surprised once his son asked about the brothers and mother he never knew. A sad smile appeared upon Cidolfus' face as he turned to eye his son. This little moment between them reminded him of the days of his youth, his days as a young father raising the little boy who've grown to man he sees before him now. Fond memories began to dance within his mind, easily merging in sadder ones regarding his fallen sons.

"Your mother was an angel, a perfect angel armed with a frying pan and a shrill scream that would set the heavens ablaze." Dr. Cid chuckled softly as he thought about Verna. "She wasn't like most Archadian women for she could actually hold a conversation beyond clothing and makeup. That was one of the reasons I became so fond of her, she was an intellectual like myself." A slight frown settled upon his lips for just a moment. "Although, like you...she had no love for my work as a researcher but she did support me all the way through."

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Balthier chuckled lightly at the first comment about his mother. He was always aware that he got his sass from her. His looks came from Cid, his intelligence from them both, and his feisty attitude from his mother. "She must've had a screw loose somewhere to want to tie down a man of science. Although, I'm rather glad she did." That was, in his own round about way, Balthier admitting he was glad Cid was his father. Despite everything, he did love the old man, which was likely why everything that had happened hit him so hard.

"What about my brothers? All I really remember was when everyone got sick and I was confined to my chambers for fear of me catching that plague..." He sighed, frowning as his gaze lowered. That had been so horrible. Locked away with only a nanny as company. A shrill old woman, too.