[Thread; Open to Garnet]

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Characters: Ashe, Regent Cid, open to Garnet
Progress: Ongoing~
Summary: Ashe decides she can't stay silent about Vayne any longer.
Location: Aboard the Invincible
Date: February 1804, predated to just before the Heads of State meeting
Warnings: None?

To anyone who was well acquainted with Ashe, the way in which she clasped her hands would have marked her as anxious, anticipating something she'd rather avoid. Walking down the lavishly decorated corridors of Regent Cid's flagship, the Invincible, the princess was completely oblivious to any she passed, staring at her hands and lost in considerations of what she was about to do, to say.

She had requested a private audience with the Regent and now, Ashe paused outside the intended door, hand pausing only a moment before knocking firmly. It had to be done. Vayne was growing more powerful, more established by the day, and she wouldn't allow him to bring devastation or war to Gaia. The very reason she'd stayed quiet until now; labelling Vayne as a power-mad dictator would have done more harm than good. However, the Gaian leaders needed to know the truth, know the threat they may possibly face.

"...Your Grace?"

Comments

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Regent Cid's quarters were no more lavish than any others - in fact, probably less comfortable since they were located near to the engine room and the constant background thrumming was vaguely disquieting. But Cid liked to be near the heart of the Invincible.

He had expected Ashe, though he didn't know what she wanted to talk about that couldn't be brought up at the meeting. She wasn't going to complain about her infant, was she? Cid had left his wife in Lindblum to look after Eiko and he wasn't an expert on babes, far from it. He'd ordered the best of care for the family and trusted his people to provide it.

Stroking his moustache thoughtfully, Regent Cid cleared his throat when he heard the knock at the door.

"Come in! Ah, Lady Ashe. Are you doing well? I hope our accommodation is up to scratch..."

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

Closing the door firmly behind her, the princess, mind still deciding upon the best way to approach the subject, offered a nod both out of respect and confirmation. Her hesitation overcome, Ashe stepped forward, though her hands remained clasped.

"Everything is beyond merit; my husband and I wish to thank you for your hospitality, particularly with regard to our son..." There was something in her tone which revealed some sort of 'however' was about to follow.

"Your Grace, I must speak with you on a matter of great importance." Making to sit, Ashe gave a sigh. It was quiet, yet spoke lengths of her seriousness, her sincerity. "Before I do so, I would have you know this; my only intent is to ensure the continuation of peace across Gaia. I would not see this land become entangled in the conflicts of my home world... conflicts we had believed laid to rest." A tinge of sadness and regret came through in her voice, though Ashe held herself with regality, her father's daughter.

"I must speak upon the Archadian Lord, Vayne Solidor."

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Cid nodded at the compliment, glad that at least that wasn't the problem. Her next words gave him a different cause for concern, however.

Cid frowned. "Then speak, my lady. What's the matter?"

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

The princess took a deep, silent breath. "I have refrained from speaking out until now for good reason. Were I to publically come forward regarding his deeds in Ivalice, label him as a threat, I... would endanger my family and the people of Gaia, and this, I will not do." Absently, her fingers stroked across her wedding band. "However... I can remain silent no longer, not since I heard he has gathered a fleet.""

"Vayne Solidor may present himself as an admirable gentleman with the best interests of Gaia ever in mind," she began, knowing all too well how he was able to seduce, to manipulate, to hypnotize like a serpent seeking to devour its' next victim. "Yet all he seeks, his only true interest, is power. He will conquer any land, guiltlessly order the demise of any people who deign to stand in his path."

At that moment her thoughts strayed to Nabradia, Rasler's once magnificent kingdom brought to ruin merely because his people opposed Archadia. "His quest for power brought about the fall of nations across Ivalice... the loss of so many lives..."

At that, Ashe's head lowered in a genuine regret which Vayne could never feel, only to lift and look directly to Cid. "I understand you may be reluctant to believe me, given his gestures toward 'peace' so far," she explained.

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Cid listened to her story in silence, frowning thoughtfully.

"There's one thing I don't understand," he said at last. "Why didn't you speak out before? Vayne is only one man and you're not the only one from Ivalice. If what you say is true, then we might already be too late... Vayne governs Wutai, and he is assisting Lady Rosa in Troia."

He stood up and shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. "The one thing I don't want is war. You have no idea how much Gaia has suffered because of war. It's taken us four years to rebuild, and I welcomed you Sky People, you leaders of other worlds. Maybe I was wrong to do that... But I can promise you that if Vayne makes trouble, Lindblum will stand against him. I'm sure that my niece Garnet would say the same. Does that help?"

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

The small comfort that the Regent seemed to believe her was overshadowed by his last remark. So badly had she wanted to avoid this, the potential of war. To think that her silence may have only worsened the situation was painful, physically, anxiety tightening her chest.

About to comment on the presence of Vayne's most staunch and dangerous ally, Doctor Cidolfus Bunansa, Ashe bit her tongue. The man had been killed, apparently slaughtered in some fiend's attack. She tried not to think of Balthier, who was enduring the loss of his father for a second time.

"Choices of the past... they cannot be remade." Standing, she turned to a matter more impending. "Your Grace, the meeting - I must ask that you refrain from allowing Vayne to know of this conversation. I... I fear for the safety of my child." It wasn't lost on Ashe that, should the Archadian learn of this, he would ensure she suffered, somehow, for her actions.

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Cid nodded and pressed a finger to his lips. "I won't say a word. But, ah, if I were to let slip anything... just to test his reaction, and not say where I got the information from - would that be too risky for your liking? I don't like all this tiptoeing around."

That was a little insensitive to the plight of her child, perhaps, but Cid had bigger things to concern him.

[mademyresolve.livejournal.com]

"I would condone that," she was quick to nod and answer, "for I, too, shall take great interest in his response." No doubt he would deny any claims against his person, justify himself with false words - however, Vayne would be unsettled, caught off guard, know that Gaia's leaders were not blinded to his duplicity.

"Until the meeting, then." Ashe could only wait, anticipate the direction the meeting would take, and pray for the absence of any talk of war or conflict. Again, her hands found one another, the princess ready to take her leave. "... I thank you for your time and consideration."

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

"Always a pleasure." Cid nodded, smiling. "Until the meeting."