(no subject)

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

Bi-Winning. You're welcome.

Who: Al-Cid Margrace and Quistis Trepe
What: Traveling to Garden to update Squall on this and that!
Where: Al-Cid's airship, Balamb Garden, Balamb Area.
When: After this thread (NSFW at times) which happened after the initial incident.
Interaction: Squall Leonhart, [OPEN]
Warnings: Dunno for sure, but it's Al-Cid, so I'm gonna tag this "D" for "Damn!", also, prolly at least PG-13.



Al-Cid had spent the next few days with Quistis flying low over the terrain, having Quistis pay attention to the readings his ship picked up of the aberrant Malboros, so that they would have an idea of the size and virulence of the outbreaks. The man wanted to stop a number of times and help communities, places overrun with the huge creatures, already too far gone to be saved, which obviously upset him. At times, he even seemed angry, though he never took it out on Quistis.. she'd be able to tell by the way his fingers danced over the controls, then gripped the pilot's chair. "Damn.." he would mutter from time to time, shaking his head. Al-Cid had traveled the world, how many places that he knew and loved would be ravaged by these Malboros? How many places would he be unable to help? What was the situation in his native Rozzaria? Through the days of travel, at a slow speed so as to get accurate readings and to allow Quistis to draw maps and charts, and to draft reports, Al-Cid was becoming more and more tense.

He wasn't a hero, though, he was an agent. It wasn't his job to leap in and save the day, and herein lay the worst part of his job, his life, for the man. He had to bypass these heavily infested areas, because he knew his talents would be put to better use delivering the information to those in a position to do something substantial would be able. If he knew the source, he could handle -that-, slipping into an area unseen and delivering swift and deadly justice was another talent of his, though he very rarely employed the black hand of death in his dealings. Al-Cid put up every night out of reach of monsters and the like, but it seemed only in the recent few hours as they had approached Garden that his mood had taken a turn for the dour. He still smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, he still tried to be pleasant and charming for Quistis, but the woman had been around him for the past few days, and would more likely than not have notice his slip into a miasmic sort of funk, culminating in this charade of good humor.

He cut the engine's propulsion as they approached Garden, and skydocked several hundred feet from the large structure, lowering the ship to the ground, where it would hang suspended several feet from the ground by the power of the Skystone core in the engine. The shields for the cockpit snapped down slowly, and locked into place, and the constant thrum of the engine died out save for a very faint echo of it, the engine idling as it was wont to do when not in use. "Here we are.. Balamb Garden." his voice had a sort of guarded quality.. really, Al-Cid was a noble person, a decent and kind man, and having to leave people behind, places in danger, was really taking its toll on the Rozzarian aristocrat.

Comments

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Quistis had only gotten to know Al-Cid all the better in the past few days. She studied his routines, and his moods, and noted how low he had become as their investigations continued. She said nothing of it at first, just pushing her glasses up her nose and quietly observing Al-Cid's tempers and mannerisms. Not to say that he hadn't been attentive, but between pouring over maps and charts, Quistis could see that his good humour was taking a reasonable amount of his energy.

She was sensitive to how he was feeling - everyone in her own group had sensed it at some point during their various missions. She knew too well what it felt like not to be able to single handedly save the world - but it was something that, with time, she had dealt with and, more particularly, could deal with as part of a team of others. That's why it was important that she should discuss the matter with Squall.

As he lowered the ship down into Balamb, Quistis couldn't help but feel a little comforted at the familiar surrounds. She tidied her various papers into a neat pile; findings that she could present and share at the Garden. She crossed the cockpit to stand behind him in his chair, leaning her head on his shoulder and passing her arms over his chest.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

Al-Cid finished powering down the airship, making sure everything was in order, venting the magicite fumes, a harmless byproduct of the use of the stones, and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. He wasn't sure what to do with himself sometimes, and was glad he had the blonde to pay attention to.. hopefully he could hide his ill humour until it simply abated, and it might in Garden. Perhaps they would stay for a short while while Squall pondered what to do, perhaps he would relax with Quistis and take her up on her offer to show him around. He had just been about to get up, when she circled her arms around him, and leaned her head on his shoulder.

The Rozzarian smiled softly despite himself, reaching a hand up to rub against Quistis' for a time, "Are you alright, my dear?" of course he would ask about her, Al-Cid hadn't complained outside of the short expletive he'd spoken numerous times. He wasn't used to having someone around who cared what was going on in his head so much as they did what was happening in his pants. It wasn't easy to get used to sharing his thoughts with her, and without prompting, he likely wouldn't have ever complained about anything effecting him personally. His tone was concerned, though, as he pushed his own needs aside to make room for any Quistis might have.

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Quistis shook her head slowly, leaning closer to kiss lightly at his jaw, her arms moving tighter around his chest - just in case he needed that extra reassurance that she was there. "I'm fine." She spoke the words gently, and they were honest. She was fine - apart from her concern about Al-Cid.

"How are you?" The question arose almost like she was flirting - it was a little bit daring, but she did care. She just wondered for how long he would keep up appearances as he was. After all, Quistis was known for keeping her own feelings bottled up, and she knew that Al-Cid was much the same. "What are you thinking?"

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

Al-Cid seemed relieved that she was okay, and the tightness of the embrace was a comfort in an of itself. He closed his eyes, and let out a slow, long sigh, wondering how he should answer her. The man didn't want to lie to Quistis, and tell her he was 'fine', but he also didn't wish to worry the blonde overly, especially when they were returning to her home. He opened his eyes again, and fixed them on hers, his expression revealing nothing, but pain lurked in those rich brown orbs, until he smiled softly.

"I shall be fine, my dear.. it is simply difficult to think of so many in need." that wasn't the whole of it, he shouldn't look that wounded if that was it, but that was all he said. He knew Quistis would understand, she seemed to be the same as he was when it came to her feelings.. though he expressed all of his joy and enthusiasm openly, he hid away the feelings of sadness and loss, the way being pragmatic ate at his core. "It is just.. I am unused to ignoring such widespread suffering to focus on a goal." that was the problem, but it was clear the man wanted to stay there in her arms and not go anywhere. Instead, he let his lips widen, putting on his best face for Quistis, "Perhaps.." he sighed softly, and looked more deeply into her eyes, "No, I shall be fine in time.. I have you, after all."

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Indeed, he only did have to look at her with those eyes for her to know. She'd become so intimately close with his body that she was able to read the signs of his mood, but his honest eyes gave it away. Perhaps, she wondered often, that this was what the shades before. With them on, Al-Cid was impossibly aloof and confident.

She slowly withdrew her arms from his chest and moved round his chair to stand in front of him. Quistis crawled up onto his chair, fitting a knee at either side of him and just looking at him for a moment. She wanted to kiss him, that much was obvious, but she wanted to talk first - kisses would only mean an excuse for him to keep quiet. "Al-Cid, the world isn't yours to look after on your own. It is hard to think about people suffering, I know that. As wonderful as you might well be, you can't save everyone. Besides, you're not ignoring it. We'll take the reports to Squall and we'll come up with a proactive plan."

She glanced back to the small table with her papers on - a little desk area that Quistis set up so that she could be with Al-Cid and work on her maps and charts while he was piloting.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

Al-Cid did indeed wear his sunglasses so much for just that reason. Even if his heart was rending asunder at the injustice, even if wild panic danced in his eyes and loosened his constitution, even if unmitigated horror blasted rational thought from his mind, he knew how to master himself and put forth the picture of calm and noble confidence. Eyes were the windows to the soul, and no-one could hide their feelings from someone who knew what to look for, so Al-Cid often wore his sunglasses to make himself a rock, a pillar of support, something to be relief upon. Al-Cid will know what to do. Al-Cid can handle it. That was the image he cultivated.

He rested his hands on the blonde's hips in a familiar manner, not quite groping at her, but not an innocent touch, either. It was a way he would have held her if she had mounted him on that chair, or if they were simply kissing heavily with her straddling him. He didn't move his hands, or push her away, but he did look into her eyes with a sigh and a helpless expression. "It.. is harder when you know these places. You understand, you have traveled extensively.. to see the places you love, the people you know, ravaged by something like this? Oh, they shall rebuild, but it is hard to realize that you are doing all you can to help them, and they still must wait for the danger to abate."

Still, Al-Cid managed a smile for her, an honest one, and leaned in closer, "So, you think I am wonderful, Quistis? Tell me more." he chuckled, then shook his head, "I jest. Forgive me, perhaps I should not attempt humour just now, but I understand what you are saying.. Thank you for understanding." he looked at her with an admiring expression, and a grateful one. He could rely on Quistis to speak with him and help him come to terms with things, right?

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

While Quistis was reasonably familiar with what Al-Cid was capable of, she was at least able to be touched by him without falling into a swooning fit. Not to say that she wasn't still driven absolutely wild, however. She was just more capable of handling the sensation that she had come to recognise as lust.

"Of course it is. I've seen towns ruined and known enough destruction that I would happily never see any more in my life but... You have to remember that they do rebuild. These towns do move on, as do the people." She reached a hand out to rest on his face, her thumb stroking lightly at his cheek. Really, she felt she would do anything to take that helpless expression away from his face.

Quistis laughed gently at his comment, "You know fine well how wonderful I think you are. And you're welcome. We'll go into the Garden, speak to Squall, and between ourselves and other Gardens we can formulate a plan to deal with these creatures." Straight forward, simple, practical Quistis. As far as she was concerned, if there was a will, there most definitely was a way.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

Al-Cid didn't mind Quistis getting to know his tricks and learn from them, that just made it all the more fun to put the effort out to seduce her. Not once had he treated the blonde like he expected her to just hop in bed, and not once would he take the woman for granted so much that he neglected the chase for the catch. He obviously lusted after her, but the look in his eyes when he gazed upon Quistis was slightly more affectionate than it had been a few days ago.

He smiled softly as she spoke, looking reassured by how much she understood, leaning his head against her hand and looking into her eyes with an adoring expression. "Quistis.." he turned his head, and kissed her palm gently, before returning his eyes to hers, "Thank you.. I did not realize at first that you would understand me so well, that you would know just how I feel. I.. I am indeed a very fortunate man.." as if he'd ever doubted it? The helpless look was soon replaced with a resolute one, determination to end this threat.

"Yes. We shall see Squall, and deliver these plans. I know I am not a SeeD, but I will offer my aid as best as I am able in his efforts to quell the Malboros." the older man frowned slightly, nodding, "Your plan holds much merit as it stands so far. Occam's razor is a tool I often employ when the formulation of tactics is at hand."

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Quistis smiled as he kissed at her hand, and with the touch she allowed herself to shuffle closer on his lap. "I'm just doing what I can to help you. And I'm glad that you think that I can understand." Her smile was bright, because after all - she'd always dreamed of a man that she could sleep with that she could also understand.

She nodded, so pleased to see that he looked that little bit better, and she sat up straight, her eyes looking back into his, "Occam's Razor is the preferable rool. But you sound surprised at my plan, Al-Cid? Have you been underestimating your woman?"

Yes, 'your woman'? But as much as he might consider her as his, she considered him as part of her. He'd certainly shared enough with her to warrant being considered 'hers'.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

The Rozzarian was again impressed by Quistis' intelligence and compassion, as he had been when he first met her, as he had been their first night together. The man was as glad as Quistis was to have someone he could be with that he also understood, but more than his understanding, of course the blonde had his respect and admiration, "I do not think it. I know you can understand me.. you cut right to the quick of my problem, even when I held it to myself.."

Al-Cid laughed gently at her question, and tilted his head, smirking, "The only time I underestimated you was when we first were together, and you were injured. I believe I underestimated your constitution, and perhaps offering an Elixir was a bit much, but I was quite concerned for your health and well being. Since then, I have not thought ill, or less, of you.." he knew she had been teasing, but he tried to be serious, "As much as you are mine, I am yours. I believe your man has only been assuming his woman has a number of talents and skills he has yet to witness, experience, or appreciate. You did not get your job based on the considerable charm of your smile, after all."

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

"You know, it's a pity you had to see me be injured. I'm normally more careful. But if it weren't for the fact that I had a handsome stranger staring at me I might not have been so distracted." She grinned as she remembered that, leaning forward to kiss his lips lightly and quickly.

So he thought she had hidden talents, hmm? She doubted it, but smiled coyly all the same and slipped from his chair, "Still...I wouldn't underestimate the power of a smile and a good body." And, she knew, neither would he - he'd already said it had gotten him far in life.

"Now, will we got get this business out of the way?"

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

"That is quite alright, my dear.. I am quite sorry I was distracting, perhaps in the future I shall work on being far, far less sexy." Al-Cid returned the kiss gently, and stood after she did, resting a hand on his hip as he came around the pilot's chair. "Ah, I have never forgotten the sheer power of a smile and a good body. Yours have quite the hold over me, after all." he smirked, and shrugged playfully.

"Yes! Come, show me your home, and let us meet with this Squall. He sounds like quite the stormy character." with a smirk, Al-Cid collected her papers like a gentleman, and headed for the hatch at the back, hopping down the few feet to land smoothly on his feet. He turned and backed up a few feet, tilting his head and smiling gently, "Where too? I have only been here a time or two, and do not recall the layout well."

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Quistis glanced over to him with a gentle smile, but it grew into a smirk as she did so. "Hmm? I don't think that you being any less sexy is going to be of any help to either of us, Al-Cid." She shook her head in false disdain as she followed him through.

She looked at him with amused patience, "I hope you don't think that you're the first person to make that joke?"

Quistis, still in her dinner dress of course, sat her legs over the edge of the hatch and eventually managed to make the jump. "Here we are. This is Balamb Garden."

She stretched out a hand towards the looming building just by them and walked alongside Al-Cid while leading the way. Eventually she takes them into the building, nodding soft smiles towards various students who, naturally, grouped together to talk about Quistis and her evening dress, and were whispering about who that gorgeous man was she was with.

Quistis made her way directly to Squall's office and knocked sharply on the door, turning to smile at Al-Cid before taking the papers from him.

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Squall was close to exhausted. When he wasn't in his office, he was out in the field trying to protect Balamb. His fingers were aching, marred with Mage burns, his shoulder ached, his wrist was bandaged up. He really looked like he'd been in the wars.

He hadn't slept since the invasion started and had barely eaten. He had managed to grab a few cups of coffee along the way to keep him going. His desk was buried under a mountain of papers, his laptop was open and the phone had been almost constantly ringing.

"... Come in," even his voice sounded tired.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I am well aware that others have come across such dry humour in their time, even before he was thusly named, my dear, I am certain someone was, and had had to endure the joke." he was smiling, though, and in a much better mood.

Of course, Al-Cid was nothing but polite to the stares and whispers of the students. He favoured women with charming smiles and nods of his head, and gave men a small nod, simply acknowledging them in a charming manner, though not quite as easily as he engaged girls, even from a distance. His body language was clear that he was with Quistis, and while he would never do anything to embarrass her, about halfway through Garden, his hand fell onto the small of the blonde's back as he kept step with her, his motions graceful and elegant.

The Rozzarian nobleman handed over the papers, and when Squall's voice drifted through the door, tired and worn down, Al-Cid opened it for Quistis, holding the door and smiling. Best if she went in first, that way she could report directly to Squall. He wasn't a SeeD, in fact his only affiliation with Garden was the very rare occasions he had stopped in to drop off a report on something he felt they needed to know. He didn't know Squall.. his only real affiliation with Garden now was that he had given himself to its second in command. "After you my dear." his smooth tone belied the anxiety he felt. He hoped this could be resolved soon, perhaps with Squall's aid they could accomplish something of merit.

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Quistis nodded slowly, though she flushed for a moment, suddenly aware that she wasn't sure quite how she was going to introduce Al-Cid. However, she became more concerned with the sound of Squall's voice.

She strode into the room like someone who belonged there, an air of authority having assumed itself since she stepped foot into Garden - this really was her territory. She paused half way between door and desk, smoothing down her dress before turning to Squall, to Al-Cid, to Squall.

"Squall, this is Al-Cid Margrace. Al-Cid, this is Squall Leonhart." She cleared her throat sharply before stepping forward with the papers, "We have done considerable travelling, and I have mapped and charted where the malboros have been, and the extent of the damage they have done."

She sighed softly, relieved to have that off her chest, "Now, how are you, Squall?"

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Squall looked far older than his nineteen years. "Pleased to meet you Margrace, sorry it isn't under more pleasant circumstances." He took the papers and glanced over them, before scribbling some notes down on his own papers.

"We have dispatched teams of SeeD across the worst affected areas. Malboros have yet to penetrate Esthar's borders, so they are sending us some of their soldiers as well."

Ah, the good old avoidance tactic. Pretend the question wasn't asked and then he wouldn't have to answer.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

Al-Cid bowed at the waist when he was introduced, smiling to Squall and looking around the office. It looked as if the man had a lot.. a lot of work to do. He noted how Quistis gave her report in the short and sweet, and how Squall easily took the reports, gave Quistis one of his own, and pointedly ignored the woman's question. That was all well and good, it was a man's choice to tell a woman, or -anyone- for that matter, whether or not he believed himself to be okay.

He didn't know Squall, but he could respect a leader, "The circumstances are pleasant enough for my liking," he cut a pointed, lingering look to Quistis, and cleared his throat, "In any event. We fought several of these creatures. Like any Malboro, they are quite susceptible to Fire magic and edged attacks, though they are quite a bit hardier than any Malboro I have ever encountered, and seem to possess a regenerative quality that goes above and beyond the norm encountered in monsters." Al-Cid spoke softly, putting his hands behind his back, and pacing a little.

He wanted to know what he could do to help, what they specifically could do, "In any event.. we encountered no area so significantly infested that I feel comfortable calling it the origin point of the invasion."

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

While Quistis might have missed Al-Cid's look, she turned slightly to give him a lingering look of her own. There was something amusing about watching him interacting with Squall, pacing up and down and being so serious.

She lifted one of Squall's reports to take a look, hiding her face behind it before she started to smile or, worst still, to giggle. She too cleared her throat before looking pointedly at Squall, "Selphie's currently in Lindblum. I know she'll hold fort there, and she has been helping to heal the injured. Have you been in touch with any of the other Gardens? What is their plan of action?"

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

The teen rubbed at his injured wrist, and then at his tired eyes. "Galbadia are sending some of their own soldiers out into the field. I have Zell and Irvine out with their own teams."

He really wished he knew where the source of the invasion was. Cut off the source and maybe the rest would stop coming. He'd love to get his hands on who or what was behind this.

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

"Right. I assume these men you have mentioned are skilled SeeDs." Al-Cid frowned slightly, tapping his chin and thinking, "We have some maps and charts, we know that they seem to be drawn to population centers.. People, dense populations. On the way out here, we saw several villages that were swarmed.." his voice choked, and he shook his head, frowning, "Swarmed and decimated. But outlying farmland, solitary homesteads.. for the most part were untouched."

Al-Cid was indeed serious, and he stopped pacing for a moment to eye Squall, "You and your SeeDs and allies seem to have things well in hand, for what they can be. I believe we need to find the source of these Malboros and put an end to it!" he was impassioned as he ever was, and even brought a fist down sharply on his thigh. Then, with a sigh, he got a hold of himself, and looked to Squall, "I am not a SeeD, however, and bear no affiliation to Garden beyond my word to Quistis." he looked at her again, then back to Squall.

"Use me. I cannot protect everyone, but I am quite skilled when it comes to finding.. anything. I am an agent of Rozzaria, and nothing, nothing escapes my eye." the old oath of his order, the sparsely populated brotherhood of Rozzarian weapons known as Agents, wielded by the hands of their governing monarch.

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

Quistis looked quite grave, a small frown appearing on her forehead as she listened between the two men, pacing across to the other side of the room with her arms around her chest. She turned sharply towards Al-Cid when she noticed his choked voice, and though she stood at the other end of the room, she felt the sudden urge to go to him and hold his hand.

But she resisted, just turning back to look at Squall. "The Malboro attack in Lindblum is where Al-Cid and I met. I have seen him in battle, and I know that he can take care of himself. Moreover, I would vouch for his claims on his information seeking. He would certainly be an asset to us here."

Quistis sighed deeply before walking across to Squall's desk, standing directly in front of him. She pulled a hand through her hair as she looked at him, "Squall. You need rest. Let me take over here until you're feeling better."

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

"My best SeeD are out there doing their best. But the more people we have the better." Squall wasn't going to argue about whether or not Al-Cid was right for the job. Things were bad and they needed as much help as possible, and if Al-Cid was offering, then Squall would accept that aid.

He frowned at Quistis. "I'm fine. I just need to keep working. Things aren't going to fix themself. More Malboro are arriving and I need to be ready to defeat them." No slacking off here!

[theftofhearts.livejournal.com]

The dusky man raked his fingers through his hair with a small sigh, and nodded to Quistis, then returned his attention to Squall, regarding the young man with a knowing expression, though it was well hidden by his sunglasses, "Quistis.. if the man claims to be fine, then he will be fine.. but Squall.. you are no good to the people who need you if you are unable to do your job. For the sake of Garden, and everything else, I urge you to take a break when you find you cannot continue without risking your health."

He of course couldn't tell Squall what to do. There was merit in a man who could take charge and take such vast responsibility, but from the way Squall looked.. young but aged, well, he was burning the wick too low. "It is not a weakness to rest and replenish yourself before you burn yourself out." he cast a worried look to Quistis, before continuing his pacing, and thinking.

"Perhaps Quistis and I could seek out the source of these creatures.. there are many places in the world that hold an unnatural amount of power that could have mutated Malboros into these creatures. Why, the Suncryst alone is enough energy to demolish all of Dalmasca."

[takeoffmyhead.livejournal.com]

"Squall, I'm here now, so you have to remember that 'we' need to keep working and that 'we' need to be ready to defeat them. This isn't something you're supposed to do on her own."

Quistis moved from in front of the desk to stand directly beside Squall in his chair. She looked down at him, feeling quite ridiculous in her evening gown, but nevertheless feeling more refreshed and ready that he looked. "At least, just for one day, let me do this. You need to eat and sleep, and whenever you feel ready for it, you can take control again." She glanced across at Al-Cid before looking back at Squall, "You can't burn yourself out over some Malboros."