Capture
About two moons later…
The well groomed waiter placed the tray of food onto the table, dispersing the contents appropriately to the two guests before walking away while dusting off his apron. The two occupants were alone in the eatery’s private room, the feint sound of slow music playing outside the chamber. The male was a somewhat husky hyur with yellow and white robes of the finest silk. His short auburn hair was neatly groomed, as it would be with any noble. The husky man smiled at his date across the table, a bluish skinned female miqo’te with long white hair in beautifully prepared curls. Her yellowish eyes had a feral look in them and she wore a modestly tight black strapped dress to match her beautiful figure. The woman took a sip from her wine glass and then purred at the man across the table.
“What a delightful meal this is. I certainly didn’t expect a private chamber in this restaurant. The quiet atmosphere is just lovely though, Balor. Thank you again.â€
“No need for thanks,†the husky Balor said with a faint smile as he took a bite from his meal and downed it with a sip of wine. “A woman of your fine caliber deserves naught but the best. What better way to get to know one another than somewhere quiet and peaceful like this? Speaking of getting to know one another, I’ve been meaning to ask you…that scar on your face, where did you get it from?â€
The noble continued to eat his meal, an occasional sip of wine to down it as he did so. The miqo’te watched him for a brief second before responding to his question. “Oh this hideous thing? An accident from my childhood. I apologize if it’s unappealing.â€
“Not unappealing at all. It’s actually quite endearing. Besides, we all have our battle scars.â€
The woman raised an eyebrow. “With all due respect, you don’t seem the type to be in the battlefield.â€
Balor coughed faintly, gently patting his chest as the miqo’te watched him carefully. His eyes watered slightly, possibly from the strong wine. The noble shook off the sensation and smiled at the woman. “Battlefield is a very subjective term. I may not be active in physical battle, but the political battles amongst the elite in Ul’dah are ever meticulous. Many look at the wealthy as individuals who didn’t earn what we have. But we do fight for what we have.â€
The man coughed again before taking another sip of wine to attempt soothing the sensation. The miqo’te smiled faintly before she spoke. “I couldn’t agree more. I hear that’s how you obtained the museum that you now own. You went through a rather big legal battle after it was auctioned off, yes?â€
Balor’s eyes lit up at the mention of his precious museum. “Ah, yes! The Avalon Heritage Museum. Perhaps my grandest acquisition yet. When House Mavanix crumbled prior to Dalamud's coming, they left their resources up for grabs. And then that Cartius fellow comes back from the beyond or whatever and tried to reclaim what I spent an absurd amount of gil on. Thankfully the law of Ul’dah was on my side. And now the museum and all its wondrous artifacts belong to me.â€
The woman tilted her head ever so slightly, seeming amused by the story. “I hear the museum was a precious family commodity to the Mavanix clan with roots extending to the Felstar family as well. It’s only natural that Cartius would want it back I suppose. But at least you’ll eventually be able to pass it down to the next generation of your family and forge new family roots, yes?â€
The man shrugged, patting his chest again after another cough. “I have no legal heir to take the museum after my time. And my ex-wife and I have long been divorced.â€
The miqo’te took a sip of her wine, gazing intently at the man across the table. “That’s a pity. I do wonder what will happen to the museum then. And if Cartius were to ever learn of your lack of any legal heir, he may feel inclined to strike at you before you can name one.â€
Balor chuckled, taking a bite from his marmot steak and chewing it before speaking. “Let the Felstar do his worst. I do not fear him. As for your concern about the future of the museum, worry not. I could care less what happens to it after I’m gone. Why should I? Besides, I intend to live a long and healthy life.â€
The miqo’te’s lips curled into a faint smile, Balor’s cough suddenly beginning to intensify. The man grasped his chest as his face revealed a great look of pain. He tried to speak but couldn’t, firmly grasping at the table before falling out of his chair to the ground. All the while, the miqo’te seemed completely unfazed, sipping her wine and watching the man with utter indifference. After a moment of watching the man struggle, the white-haired keeper of the moon finally rose from her seat and strode to the gasping noble, carefully kneeling beside him while keeping her pretty black dress as neat as possible.
“The Avalon Heritage Museum was initially fully funded by Lady Anabelle Felstar,†the woman chided the man softly. “It was safeguarded by the Mavanix clan, who kept it to themselves for generations. The museum is an entity that is steeped in familial roots. You are undeserving of such an inheritance. Lord Cartius gives his apologies for it having to come to this. But your death prior to the naming of a legal heir opens the door for a variety of state laws that favor House Felstar’s reacquisition of the museum.â€
Balor stared in horror at the woman, weakly reaching out to her as she easily swatted his hand away. The noble tried to desperately scream for help but was unable to make a sound as the poison paralyzed him further. In a matter of moments, he was completely still. The man’s eyes slowly closed themselves as his breathing came to a halt.
Vertigo stared at the corpse a moment with a passive gaze before rising to her feet. She stepped over his body and took one more sip from her wine glass before composing herself. “It’s show time.â€
The miqo’te’s smile turned into a feigned look of horror as she let out a staged bloodcurdling scream that resonated through the entire restaurant.
The noble's tragic death would be ruled as a heart attack, with no suspicion of foul play. A legal battle would ensue over the next couple moons in which the museum would eventually be returned to the possession of one Cartius Felstar...
About two moons later…
The well groomed waiter placed the tray of food onto the table, dispersing the contents appropriately to the two guests before walking away while dusting off his apron. The two occupants were alone in the eatery’s private room, the feint sound of slow music playing outside the chamber. The male was a somewhat husky hyur with yellow and white robes of the finest silk. His short auburn hair was neatly groomed, as it would be with any noble. The husky man smiled at his date across the table, a bluish skinned female miqo’te with long white hair in beautifully prepared curls. Her yellowish eyes had a feral look in them and she wore a modestly tight black strapped dress to match her beautiful figure. The woman took a sip from her wine glass and then purred at the man across the table.
“What a delightful meal this is. I certainly didn’t expect a private chamber in this restaurant. The quiet atmosphere is just lovely though, Balor. Thank you again.â€
“No need for thanks,†the husky Balor said with a faint smile as he took a bite from his meal and downed it with a sip of wine. “A woman of your fine caliber deserves naught but the best. What better way to get to know one another than somewhere quiet and peaceful like this? Speaking of getting to know one another, I’ve been meaning to ask you…that scar on your face, where did you get it from?â€
The noble continued to eat his meal, an occasional sip of wine to down it as he did so. The miqo’te watched him for a brief second before responding to his question. “Oh this hideous thing? An accident from my childhood. I apologize if it’s unappealing.â€
“Not unappealing at all. It’s actually quite endearing. Besides, we all have our battle scars.â€
The woman raised an eyebrow. “With all due respect, you don’t seem the type to be in the battlefield.â€
Balor coughed faintly, gently patting his chest as the miqo’te watched him carefully. His eyes watered slightly, possibly from the strong wine. The noble shook off the sensation and smiled at the woman. “Battlefield is a very subjective term. I may not be active in physical battle, but the political battles amongst the elite in Ul’dah are ever meticulous. Many look at the wealthy as individuals who didn’t earn what we have. But we do fight for what we have.â€
The man coughed again before taking another sip of wine to attempt soothing the sensation. The miqo’te smiled faintly before she spoke. “I couldn’t agree more. I hear that’s how you obtained the museum that you now own. You went through a rather big legal battle after it was auctioned off, yes?â€
Balor’s eyes lit up at the mention of his precious museum. “Ah, yes! The Avalon Heritage Museum. Perhaps my grandest acquisition yet. When House Mavanix crumbled prior to Dalamud's coming, they left their resources up for grabs. And then that Cartius fellow comes back from the beyond or whatever and tried to reclaim what I spent an absurd amount of gil on. Thankfully the law of Ul’dah was on my side. And now the museum and all its wondrous artifacts belong to me.â€
The woman tilted her head ever so slightly, seeming amused by the story. “I hear the museum was a precious family commodity to the Mavanix clan with roots extending to the Felstar family as well. It’s only natural that Cartius would want it back I suppose. But at least you’ll eventually be able to pass it down to the next generation of your family and forge new family roots, yes?â€
The man shrugged, patting his chest again after another cough. “I have no legal heir to take the museum after my time. And my ex-wife and I have long been divorced.â€
The miqo’te took a sip of her wine, gazing intently at the man across the table. “That’s a pity. I do wonder what will happen to the museum then. And if Cartius were to ever learn of your lack of any legal heir, he may feel inclined to strike at you before you can name one.â€
Balor chuckled, taking a bite from his marmot steak and chewing it before speaking. “Let the Felstar do his worst. I do not fear him. As for your concern about the future of the museum, worry not. I could care less what happens to it after I’m gone. Why should I? Besides, I intend to live a long and healthy life.â€
The miqo’te’s lips curled into a faint smile, Balor’s cough suddenly beginning to intensify. The man grasped his chest as his face revealed a great look of pain. He tried to speak but couldn’t, firmly grasping at the table before falling out of his chair to the ground. All the while, the miqo’te seemed completely unfazed, sipping her wine and watching the man with utter indifference. After a moment of watching the man struggle, the white-haired keeper of the moon finally rose from her seat and strode to the gasping noble, carefully kneeling beside him while keeping her pretty black dress as neat as possible.
“The Avalon Heritage Museum was initially fully funded by Lady Anabelle Felstar,†the woman chided the man softly. “It was safeguarded by the Mavanix clan, who kept it to themselves for generations. The museum is an entity that is steeped in familial roots. You are undeserving of such an inheritance. Lord Cartius gives his apologies for it having to come to this. But your death prior to the naming of a legal heir opens the door for a variety of state laws that favor House Felstar’s reacquisition of the museum.â€
Balor stared in horror at the woman, weakly reaching out to her as she easily swatted his hand away. The noble tried to desperately scream for help but was unable to make a sound as the poison paralyzed him further. In a matter of moments, he was completely still. The man’s eyes slowly closed themselves as his breathing came to a halt.
Vertigo stared at the corpse a moment with a passive gaze before rising to her feet. She stepped over his body and took one more sip from her wine glass before composing herself. “It’s show time.â€
The miqo’te’s smile turned into a feigned look of horror as she let out a staged bloodcurdling scream that resonated through the entire restaurant.
The noble's tragic death would be ruled as a heart attack, with no suspicion of foul play. A legal battle would ensue over the next couple moons in which the museum would eventually be returned to the possession of one Cartius Felstar...