Hydaelyn Role-Players

((All follow the events of Sunday June 14th))

Alexander shifted again, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, but every movement was agony. His shoulder, where Menelwen's axe had struck, throbbed. His abdomen, where Vash had sliced him, stung. His jaw and cheek stiff and sore from Rhianna's punches and subsequent slaps. Every muscle and every old bone ached from the cold and the strain of the previous day's encounter. He lay there, eye closed, as he tried to find one spot, just one spot that didn't hurt in some way. Only one... his groin. He grimaced, shifting again. Even his brain hurt from the primal aether and the efforts and after-effects of removing it. He drifted in and out, rocked between waves of sleep and pain.

As the rays of mid-morning sun filtered through the infirmary's curtains, Alexander dragged himself fully awake, fighting off the heavy eyelids and grogginess of the poor night's sleep. His sour mood turned darker as he realized Rhianna still wasn't there. Unlike the previous times he had been injured and she had stayed by his side, this time he hadn't seen her at all.

The revelation of her pregnancy yesterday had come as a shock, but it had given him the strength he needed to overcome the primal influences just long enough to give them a chance to defeat and free him of them.  And, now that he knew his child grew within her, the need to protect her was greater than ever; a challenge made infinitely difficult by the extent of his injuries and his lack of magical abilities, not to mention her absence.

He pushed himself up, gasping in pain as pressure was placed on his stomach; the wound sealed, but still healing. "Dammit, there is too much to do. Too much I have to fix..." He took a few moments, breathing heavily as the pain subsided. Grabbing his monocle off the nightstand, he affixed it to his good eye. "Hells. That's right. I need a new glass eye, as well. Add that to the list of things I need to do," he sighed, grateful, at least, that someone had bandaged over his missing eye so he didn't have a gaping hole in his head staring out at the world.

    He started looking around for something to write with; he needed to get the wheels rolling now if he was going to avert further disaster. It was about this time he heard voices asking for him followed by the sound of boots coming up the stairs. He exhaled heavily, "Seems getting myself arrested won't be necessary after all. I wonder who beat me to it. I shall have to send them a fruit basket," he mused to himself.

A trio of figures in blue uniforms rounded the corner and arranged themselves at the foot of his bed. Crystal Braves. Of course they would send the damned Braves. This was a matter of "Eorzean security" afterall, so certainly this gaggle of chocobo chicks would be his retrievers. Alexander sat upright, looking as dignified as he could in his current physical and mental state as the first of the three men procured a parchment from his uniform, opened it, and read it aloud.

    "Alexander Octavius Stormwind, also known as Alexandros Van Tempesta of the Garlean Empire. You are hereby under arrest for crimes against the people and sovereign powers of the Eorzean Alliance. You and your associate Rhianna Oruissi shall be detained and returned to sovereign Ul'dah soil so the details of your crimes may be examined." He rolled the parchment back up and stuffed it into his uniform.

   The mention of Rhianna being implicated made Alexander's eye twitch. She had gone through a lot of trouble to get him back in one piece, only to be arrested as an accomplice. The idea of this band of thugs mishandling the matron of the Tempesta name made his blood boil, but now wasn't the time... and with his magical ability gone, he was powerless to stop them by force. He would have to get her freed by playing their game for now. Rhianna was a new wrinkle, but not one he could not overcome. He would see her released once he was in Ul'dah, then he could focus on the matters at hand.

    He grunted, slowly swinging his legs out of the bed. "Would you gentlemen kindly hand me my robes and something to walk with? I'm afraid my wounds aren't fully healed and I'm already advanced in age as it is." He moved gingerly and lingered briefly on the amazed thought that he wasn't creaking and cracking like some rusted automaton. He rocked on the side of the bed until he got enough momentum to stand. He stood on wobbly feet and accepted his robe with a nod. "Than you." The men exchanged uncertain glances as Alexander slowly and painfully dressed himself; they didn't know whether to help, hurry him along, or he said with a grunt as he pulled his legs out from the bed. His body was still incredibly stiff and the mere act of walking was going to be an endeavor. He finally got to his feet after a minute of slow movement and carefully pulled his clothes on. The added weight of his robes put pressure on his busted shoulder and his feet ached at being crammed back into their boots. In hindsight, this magicite idea was proving to be more of a pain than he had anticipated.

   Once dressed, they cuffed him to a Brave on either side of him before handing him a simple walking stick. The arrangement wasn't the most comfortable and the stick-side Brave held the staff with him, however, it enabled him to support himself. 'They probably don't know I can no longer use magic,' he mused as they started off. 

It was slow going; between his own pain and the cold Coerthas air which made him ache even more, he was winded by the time they got to the stairs. He stumbled and was surprised to find they caught him. A few steps later, he stumbled again, this time on purpose. Once more, they came to his aid, catching him before he hit the ground.  His suspicions that they needed him alive and relatively unharmed were confirmed. The question was now would he remain that way or was there someone who wanted that pleasure to themselves once he got back to Ul'dah?  'Could be both...' he thought as they reached the bottom step. He asked for a moment to catch his breath. He felt so damn helpless and already it was grating on his nerves. He was tired, it was cold, he had no idea where Rhianna had disappeared to and now they were looking to locate and arrest her as well. One day to recuperate was apparently too much to ask.

The Braves fidgetted impatiently while they waited for him. When he was ready to move again, they opened the door and helped him out into the snow-blanketed courtyard. At the bottom of the ramp a covered chocobo-drawn cart was waiting for him. Either someone had done their homework and learned he was injured or the Braves simply didn't want to sit out in the cold any more than he did. Either way, he was thankful; the trip to Ul'dah would be far more comfortable in the cart than having to walk or ride on the back of a chocobo. 

When he finally reached the bottom of the ramp, the two bound to him hopped into the back of the cart then turned to assist him. His walking stick was given to the third, who took it with him to the front of the carriage. Once they were settled he turned to his two guards, "When your compatriots find Miss Oruissi, would you be so kind as to have your superiors pass word to me? I'd like to get her released as soon as possible rather than draw out this whole process. She had nothing to do with my research or what happened, so she is completely innocent in this situation." 

The men looked at him for a moment before one smirked and responded, "Your lady-friend has been in custody since last night. And never you fear; our interrogators will determine the extent of her involvement and guilt." The Brave leaned smugly back in his seat as Alexander's jaw clenched. The carriage lurched as they started to move. Alexander sat back in silence; the news was troubling, but not entirely unexpected. It just meant he had to come up with a plan a little quicker. Exhaling slowly, he closed his eye and began to formulate ideas and contingencies.

The ride back to Ul'dah was thankfully uneventful. Alexander closed his eyes and rested his head against wall so he could think. He felt the cold wind change to temperate climate, then change again to the dry air he had become so accustomed to these last few years. His guards made passing comments on the weather and the political climate of things, but nothing of major note. They were foot soldiers, nothing more.

Finally the sounds of traffic surrounded them, merchants and travelers on foot, chocobo, and creaking cart. They were getting close. A glimpse towards the front of the cart revealed the great walls of the desert city ahead.  He had not expected to see the city again so soon; after the supposed events of the evening surrounding the warrior of light he had not planned to return at all, and certainly not in cuffs, but there was a lot going on today that he had not anticipated. There was no sense in dwelling on it. No, he needed to figure out how to turn this to his advantage.

Before long they passed through the city gates. The noise and bustle crowded them as they made their way through the narrow streets. Surprisingly, he discovered the sounds of the city were almost soothing, as though he'd missed it in his time away. The sound of merchants plying their trade and people buying and selling at auction gave him the nostalgic sense of home, to the point it made him ache slightly. He didn't have long to reminisce however, as the sound of a nearby paperboy caught his ear.

"Read all about it! Crazy Captain found dead after escape! Body burned! Exclusive obituary in the Lantern!"

Alexander's eyes popped open as he shifted to look over the side of the cart towards the voice. He could barely see anything, given how much exertion it required just to turn his body around right now, but he already knew who they were talking about. Dogberry dead? That didn't add up. He had just seen him. The two had a very candid conversation after he had been freed of the primals' influence, unless...

A grin pulled up on Alexanders lip. 'Ah, I suppose that does make sense. Though why...? No, there must be another angle to this,' he thought to himself as he settled back into the cart. Maybe he could get more information wherever he was going.

A few minutes later and the cart came to a halt outside a rather plain looking house off the main street. The guards helped him to his feet and then slowly assisted him with getting out of the cart. They were doubly careful now; with him still cuffed to them both, it was clear that they did not need him falling from such a height with no real way to protect himself should he slip. Once he was out, they gave him his walking stick again and readjusted the handcuffs. He would be glad when they were done with this; the cuffs chaffed horribly when they walked.

Entering the building, Alexander got the sense that this was not the most official of places for holding a criminal. No, this place had other purposes, purposes where those conducting business could keep from being disturbed. A set of stairs leading up greeted them immediately, as well as a pair of Brass Blades sitting at a table on the first floor. They pointed to the back of the house and he was given a stiff shove, a silent warning to keep moving. He could hear quiet, hushed voices speaking upstairs as well, but was unable to make anything out. Regardless, there were people here, people with agendas and he imagined he might be a part of them.

The Crystal Braves moved him towards the back of the house, into a hallway where a series of doors met them. They opened the first one to a barren room with a table, a pair of stools and a small bed, with no windows. Alexander immediately realized that unless he could come up with something quick, this would be his residence and interrogation room for the duration of his stay. The Braves undid his shackles and let him loose in the room. Two of the Braves moved outside and closed the door behind him, while the other stood in front of the door, guarding it quietly.

Alexander walked over and sat down on the bed, sighing heavily as he waited. He was tired, sore, and hungry. He had not gotten to eat before they came for him in Coerthas and the dogs had not stopped to eat along the way. He shook his head, "Figures," he said, exhaling in frustration and laying down on the bed. If nothing else, perhaps he could get some sleep while he waited. He closed his eyes and drifted off.

((OOC note: I'd like to take a moment to apologize to those who I left hanging on this one. Let's just say it has been an unfortunately eventful summer in some of the worst possible ways. I'd like to thank those who continued to express interest while I've been handling things on my end and for being understanding of the situation.))



--That same day, a few hours later--


Alexander was not sure how long he waited, but he had ended up trying to take a nap by the time he heard noise coming from outside the door. There was a knock, and the Brave guarding his door turned, checking outside before opening the door. Alexander slowly pulled himself up as a small Lalafell man dressed in Ul'dahn fashion walked into the room and hopped up onto the stool. He looked across the table at Alexander, motioning to the stool across from him.

"You must be famished Lord Tempesta. The Braves told me they arrested you early this morning and you were still in bed, as if you had just woken up." the lalafell smirked, producing an apple from a bag he had placed on the table. He put it on the table, and pushed it to Alexander, "You should keep your strength up my Lord, we have a great deal to discuss."

Alexander took the apple, casting a suspicious glance at the Lalafell. If they wanted him dead, dragging him all the way to Ul'dah just to poison him seemed like an awful lot of trouble just to do it in some old house. He lifted the apple to his mouth and took a bite, chewing slowly while staring at the smirking Lalafell, taking his measure. When he finally swallowed, he spoke.

"Alexander Stormwind while we are here, please. Most don't know my true allegiances, and even fewer know my true name. I'd like to keep it that way." he said, taking another bite of the apple. It was amazing what food was doing for his mood, not that it was improving it at all but at least his stomach wasn't growling on top of it. The Lalafell continued to smile as he spoke.

"Most people didn't know you were gathering primal data to create weapons which harnessed primal energy and you saw how that worked out" he said with a condescending smile. "See Lord Stormwind, all of this comes from a web of lies and deceit that you spun around yourself and it's my job, and the job of my cohorts, to unspin those lies and get to the truth of what's happened. Once we've done that, then we'll decide just how many lifetimes you're going to spend in the Marasaja Pit."

Alexander scoffed, "Threats already. Dear me you gentlemen waste no time do you. At least I got something to eat before we launched right into the "casting me into the deepest, darkest pit monologue". Very well, I'll play your game but I've got some ground rules I want to set before we lay our pieces on the table..." he said before the Lalafel cut him off, pulling a copy of the Lantern out of his bag.

"Games? Lord Stormwind, have you read today's paper? Your lies have already finished the work you started on one of your former compatriots. How many more do you intend to sacrifice before you come clean and admit to your guilt?" he pushed the paper at Alexander, who picked it up and read over the obituary for one "Dogberry Himalspyr". He read it twice over, just to be sure he was sure of what he was reading, then he read it a third time.

Slowly he sat the paper down, and looked across the table at the Lalafell.

"You and I both know this is chocobo shit." he said calmly. "One, I have it on personal authority that the Captain is alive and well. Two, I know the people who surround the Captain and unless you got all of them, then he isn't dead. No, they just "found" his charred body? Really? This might work on the doe-eyed masses, but even if I had not seen him with my own eyes I'd know this was chocobo shit. I am curious as to the angle that is being played here, and I don't expect you to tell me, but don't insult my intelligence with this tripe." He pushed the Lantern back at the man, "...and who reads the Lantern for serious news anyway? Have you seen some of the tripe in there?"

Alexander set his hands on the table, looking across at the Lalafel. "Whoever you report to wants me. Fine. They can have me and we can do this little song and dance all day but I cooperate on one condition. Rhianna Oruissi, I know they have her. Your men said as much. I want her released, and I want it done before another word is said. Otherwise, you may as well poison the next apple or toss me in a pit because you'll get nothing further out of me."

The Lalafel looked back at him, "You're right, we do have her, and in doing so we have your unborn child. You'll cooperate or you won't see them again." he stared back.

Alexander shook his head, "We both know why I'm here. I can't escape what I've done and I'm in no shape to physically resist you. Even if I somehow managed to get out of the house, I'm in no shape to move via the aethernet and I'm in the middle of the city being run by the most corrupt governing body, which owns the most corrupt domestic force in Eorzea. Where exactly am I going that is not going to get me killed?"

"Rhianna is smart and talented, make no mistake, but she can't give you what you want. In fact, if anything happens to me I venture she'll either find a way to disappear at best, or just kill herself at worst, then you have nothing. You let her go, we talk, and in the end you come out ahead. You retain her, and in the end you'll probably end up with nothing to show for it except maybe a headline about stopping some rogue scientist."

The lalafel paused a moment, considering Alexander's words. After a few moments he climbed down off his stool and had the guard open the door for him so he could walk back out into the hallway. He disappeared, clearly heading to the landing but likely upstairs, as the door was closed behind him.

Alexander sat impatient for God knows how long before the Lalafell returned sometime later with a linkpearl in his hand. He handed it to Alexander, "It's for you." he said.

Alexander lifted the pearl to his ear, "Hello? Rhianna?"

There was some chatter on the other side, "Yes, I know. Just go back to the house. Contact Menelwen in the meantime until I can sort this all out." There was a pause, and Alexander flinched a little at the yelling in his ear. "...This isn't up for discussion. Not now. I have to go. I love you, and stay safe."

He pulled the linkpearl off his ear and placed it back on the table. The Lalafell picked it up and tucked it back into his robes. "Satisfied?" he asked.

Alexander breathed a sigh of relief, now he could focus. "Yes, I am. Let us begin."

--Day 8--

Alexander took another drink of water. He had been talking all morning and he needed a break. The Miqo'te woman sitting across from him pushed her glasses up her nose as she waited for him to finish. This was her second day now talking with Alexander. She had proved personable, better then that damned Lalafell from the week prior. That one had loved to lecture, and he lectured Alexander the entire time they talked. Every time Alexander got going on the events, the Lalafell would go on about something. It was like listening to an uppity conjurer.  

Alexander finished his water and exhaled heavily, looking back at the young woman. She opened her book up again and removed her quill from the inkwell.

"Now Mister Stormwind, we were about to discuss the incident surrounding the primal Ifrit..." the young woman said, "...and the death of the young man named Tom?"

Alexander leaned forward, putting his arms on the table and clasping his hands together.

"The whole thing was a mess, a miscalculation-" he began. The Miqo'te cut him off, "Mister Alexander, a miscalculation is what you do on your taxes. A young man is dead, under your watch, because of your negligence at best. -We- have reason to believe that the young man's "accident" wasn't that at all and that you coordinated the entire thing so to get your hands on a freshly tempered corpse to study."

Alexander opened his hands, lifting them up with palms raised. "Yes. More then a miscalculation, on that we can agree. The young man's death was a tragedy, but unless you have some proof to substantiate your implications, then I suggest you drop them. The fact is that each device was drawn out of a box, at random. Your accusation suggests that I did not care who drew the device, so long as I got my corpse."

The miqo'te tilted her head slightly, "And would you have, hypothetically?" she asked, "Would you have cared who it was if you had gotten your corpse?"

There was a few moments of silence. Alexander looked back at the young woman, and she looked back at him.

"Yes." he finally answered.

The woman looked at him with surprise, "Do you believe that?" she replied.

"Rhianna was a valued assistant, Captain Dogberry was my best chance at getting bodies and the items I needed to continue my research. So yes, hypothetically, I would have cared." he stated calmly. 

The woman nodded, scrawling a few things into her book.

"I see. So, tell me about the fight..."