Teddy: Alrighty, so this is a request story from the awesome LuckyDreamer91 that brought you all The Pool House! I for one am super excited to give out the newest finished project! Hopefully it'll come somewhat close to expectations! XD
CIC: Hi LuckyDreamer91, I'm also excited to write with you again. The last story (even though it took a while, which I apologize for) was a lot of fun. This one was a challenge because I don't really know a lot about Final Fantasy XII, but with Teddy's help I think we made something good.
Teddy: Alright you lovely, brilliant people, here we go again! Sorry in advance if there's anything wrong with the facts I got about FFXII, and Happy Readings!
Here I am - standing stock still against an oppressive invisible force emanating from the monolithic stone structure before me. How did that stupid woman expect me to just waltz in there like I owned the fucking place and be totally fine? I not only didn't belong here, but I had no desire to stay and turn myself into the "good boy" she so desperately wanted me to be.
Leaving Rabanastre had been really difficult; more so than I would ever admit to anyone. Especially Penelo, my childhood friend that I'd been forced to leave behind. All my life I'd lived in the cramped, bustling streets, dreaming of one day setting out and exploring the world on one of my own ships, completely happy with her by my side. The orphanage gave us the freedom to be whatever we wanted, and that was enough for me. I never asked for this…Lady Ashe B'nargin of Dalmasca to come and force a life I never knew about – and would rather forget – down my throat.
Her late husband Rasler had been an old family friend of the Hikari's for many years. In fact, their eldest son Reks was very good friends with the young man. It was through this bond that Reks was able to acquire the funding required to attend a very prestigious school on the outskirts of the beautiful city of Nabradia called Spira. Unfortunately a tragedy struck the two families. Rasler died in a horrible shooting while on a business excursion, and Reks was found on the school grounds dead from seemingly no apparent cause, which came as a great mystery. There were no signs of foul play or anything even physically wrong with him; he was just dead.
So, Reks' parents set out on a search for the son they'd given up fourteen years before, which surprise, turned out to be me. I never got the opportunity to meet the people that abandoned me, because they died in a car crash in Dalmasca a year after their search began. It was only a year after that that Lady Ashe discovered me in Rabanastre. She was on a sort of personal vendetta to put to rest the memory of her husband and his wish that a member of the Hikari's received an education.
The day she found me, Penelo and I had just scraped up enough money to buy an engine part that we'd been waiting for for quite some time. Hopefully, we could come up with enough to make our dream come true within the next few years. We were waiting outside the shop when I was roughly grabbed from behind. I attempted breaking free, but they had the jump on me. In a flash they'd dragged me to a waiting limo and shoved me inside, closing the door as I fell in a heap on the back seats. Without wasting any time I'd jumped up and tried the handle to the door. It was locked, with no way of unlocking it.
Slowly I looked around at the interior of the vehicle. And there on the far side, looking me over like I was some sort of unsavory meat, was the Lady Ashe herself wrapped in a stole of soft white fur that I suspected was some sort of endangered animal from the Moonflow or Mt. Gagazet regions.
Setting my expression into one that would resemble stone I glared over at her and asked harshly, "What the hell?"
"You should not curse at your elders," she stated simply, still scanning my features like a hawk. Finally when I'd taken in many deep calming breaths I asked, "What do you want?"
I was thinking I'd finally gotten myself into serious trouble with some kind of sinister group or something like that. But when she explained the story of my family, I could barely keep my jaw off the floor. Never in a thousand years would have I expected that. But then she dropped the "you're-going-to-this-school-whether-you-like-it-or-not" bomb. I was furious. Who did she think she was, telling me what my life was supposed to be like? I'd gotten along fine my whole sixteen years without anyone's help, so why should I oblige some stranger's whim? Especially when that stranger knew the people that left me for dead the day I was born?
I soon learned that I had little say in what was going to happen. Turned out that Lady Ashe legally became my parent by adopting me from the orphanage that had literally forgotten I was registered with them. She didn't even give me a proper chance to say goodbye to Penelo. There were many occasions where I tried to run away back to Rabanastre, but each time I made it shorter distances than the last escape, and soon we were further from my home than I'd ever been before. The determination leaked from me at increasing levels until finally I was dropped unceremoniously off in front of this place.
It certainly looked like a private boarding school for the rich. A very impressively large stone building, standing on rising ground that was backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a shimmering stream that had hardly been touched by the hands of overly capricious landscapers, giving it an overgrown feeling. Both the stream and the rest of the estate seemed to have been modifications of the nature it was built in. There was a sort of wild but whimsical quality to it that – I'm sad to say – pleased my aesthetically adventurous tastes.
Making a huffing sound, I forced myself to hoist my duffel bag from the gravel drive in front of the main entrance, and resolutely strode towards the beginning of my "new life".
The inside of the building was just as impressive as the outside. The ceilings rose high, casting back echoes of each step I took towards a large wooden greeting desk, ominously. All the rich furnishings of gold trimmed this, and jewel encrusted that filled strategically placed tables hand carved from deep woods from some distant land. It was already making me feel more uncomfortable than anything I'd ever had to deal with before. But determination won out in my mind in the end. Resolutely I strode up to the desk and peered over the shining surface to the woman sitting primly behind it. She too looked like she had been polished recently, just like everything else in this place.
"Excuse me; I'm Vaan Hika– I mean…Vaan B'nargin of Dalmasca." I muttered, catching myself begrudgingly. Her long make-up laden lashes blinked twice up at me before her perfectly highlighted head dipped in acknowledgement.
"One moment…" she said in a light voice.
I stood awkwardly waiting while she compiled paper after paper into a thick accordion folder, and tapped carefully away at a sleek humming computer. This whole time, not one soul entered the spacious entrance room. Just as I was starting to shiver from the chill in the room, she held out the folder and explained, "Everything you'll need to become acquainted with your new academic surroundings is in here…please, if you have any questions, do call this desk."
My clammy hands clasped clumsily over the folder as I dipped my head in thanks. But before I could make an escape back into the open air, she raised her arm dreamily and held out a separate sheet of paper as she said, "A map of the grounds…"
"Th-thank you," I muttered, taking the paper and stepping hurriedly towards the heavy wooden front doors to leave.
"Welcome to Spira, young master…" she called faintly after my retreating back.
Jeez, did this place give me the creeps, or what? Shaking my head as I stepped into the cool autumn air, I decided that finding my dorm was all I could really do at this point. Glancing down at the intricately drawn map with the (of course) looped cursive title that read dramatically 'Grounds of Spira' I saw that the dorms were in a separate building to the west of where I stood. Looking in that direction, I caught sight of the also impressive ivy covered stone façade in the shadow of huge oak trees a little ways down the hill from the main building. Adjusting the hold on my belongings, I strode down the gravel drive as long as I could before having to change course and trudge through the lush green grass towards my destination.
It took only a few minutes, but that little time was long enough for me to want to change my mind about going along with Lady Ashe's ridiculous impulse and turn tail and run. I mean, who was she trying to kid? Even looking at me, anyone could guess I'd be hopeless in an academic setting. My destiny was in the sky, traveling to places even further than this, surrounded by the people I cared about.
"You must be young master B'nargin of Dalmasca…?"
It took me a moment to pull from my thoughts and register that that was even my name. My head snapped up just a few meters from the door leading into the dorms, letting my eyes fall on a very wry looking man. He stood looking down at me with a small smirk as he ran a hand through his slicked, unruly sandy blonde waves. I took in his appearance. All I could think was that maybe I could relate to someone here after all. His attire consisted of the normal cut of a suit, but to my surprise, I saw that under his double-breasted, powder blue jacket, was a very brightly colored, intricately patterned waistcoat, and to pull it all together, oddly shaded pants that were either hued green or blue. My mouth, needless to say, dropped at the sight of him.
The smirk on his lips deepened further as he took in my expression before standing from his leaning position against the doorframe and turning to stride into the dim hallway that lead into the building. With a wave of a heavily ringed hand over his shoulder he called, "Try to keep up! Lot's to see before I have to get my beauty rest!"
Starting, I took off after him. And for nearly half an hour he led me to the student lounge area, the in-dorm study hall (that he said wasn't nearly as impressive as the library's, but that I thought was just as impressive in its own right), and finally to my room. All the while he explained all about the different buildings, where I could find them in association to this building, and so on. When I'd set my things down on my bed, I managed to cut in, "Where is everyone?"
I hadn't seen a soul besides him and that off-putting secretary the whole time I'd been here. His eyes glittered with amusement as he answered, "Ah, yes. That brings me to the topic of rules. Curfew starts at eight thirty sharp."
Glancing over at the clock next to my door I saw that the time read a quarter past eight. Drawing my brows together, I started questioning the dorm master (whose name I'd heard mention somewhere along our tour as being Balthier) about this when he explained easily, "Normally the students buckle down early. Here at Spira, we like to keep our rules enforced. Now, you should know about areas that are off limits. There will be the gymnasium, which is under construction, and the…"
By now, my mind had had an overload of information that I was sure I'd forget by tomorrow anyways, so I tuned the rest of his welcome speech out as I studied the contents of my room. The width of my room can be explained by stretching out my arms. I could easily fit two of me with our fingers touching and stand comfortably. The length I would guess at being three of me. In one corner, there was a moderately sized bed, already with its sheets and pillows. On the opposite side I had a desk and chair, waiting for me emptily. Near the door sat a comfortable looking reading chair, lamp, and side table. And across from that, was a large bookshelf and dresser.
I was amazed at how much stuff the school supplied to the room. Or so I thought until Balthier commented, "Lady Ashe is a very kind patron to provide you with all your fixtures. You must be very glad to have her so invested in your happiness…?"
Giving him a polite nod, I kept my voice as neutral as I could as I answered, "She's really something."
"Yes, well, I shall leave you for the evening to get adjusted to your new living quarters. In the morning I will come fetch you at eight a.m. sharp to take you to your first class." Balthier said, back pedaling out the door to the hall. "Pleasant dreams!"
After shaking my head after the strange man, I trudged over to the side of the bed, and fell face first down onto it. Damn, I thought defeated rubbing my face against the cool, silky surface of the fabric. It even felt expensive. Rolling over so I lay facing the ceiling, I let my mind go blank. Soon the subtle swirls in the ceiling plaster began to meld together, and I felt myself drifting into a gentle sleep.
Teddy: Right, so I hope you enjoyed this first addition! LuckyDreamer91, message and let us know what you thought!
CIC: See you in the next.