((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."
--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."
