dear_mun | Voice-Testing after a year of storage

...Despite the crimes you've committed, I desire for you to have "peace" instead of death, Judge Magister Gabranth.

Hmph.

[ Leave it to Ondore to speak of his crimes and yet offer impossibilities ~~mercies~~ in the same breath. ]

I have found little difference in the two. I would chose the one that allows those more righteous to remain.

[ Basch is alive, and Larsa is well. It is enough. ]

[ Considering that the Marquis' good name has become synonymous with that of a silver-tongued serpent, Gabranth should come to expect anything to pass from Ondore's lips. Yet, despite the nasty rumors spread by one Dalmascan gutter churl, Ondore is no liar. ]

Then you willingly embrace death as penance for the deeds you've done? Hm...

[ He couldn't help but frown at that. ]

[ A liar, perhaps not, but a deceiver and a man of hidden loyalties for certain, though Gabranth knows he would be hard pressed to find a politician who did not present a false-face to those he did not like. ~~If nothing else, Vaan's little stunt was amusing.~~ He will not, however, deny that Ondore is speaking truth now ]

It can hardly be named penance, Marquis; I was dead long ere there had been aspersions to King Raminas' possessions.

[ Landis is dead, and truly, Noah had been dead with it. His magisterial armour was but the empty shell Archadia's enemies had thought it. ]

Penance will come after.

Edited 2012-06-21 04:25 (UTC)

[ Ondore's frown deepened a bit once he listened to the former Judge Magister. He suspected to hear such from Gabranth, especially considering the Judge was once citizen of the Republic. Since the fall of Landis, many refugees found themselves without both a home and identity. While many like Basch decided to find a new home in Dalmasca, twice as many wandered throughout Ivalice like unwanted lepers.

Gabranth was one of them.

While his hatred for his cowardly brother may have provoked him to join the ranks with the Imperials who destroyed his homeland, Gabranth might as well had perished alongside the Landis. ]

Then this begs the question, Gabranth, what shall you do now? The welcomed void of Death eludes you still and the Gods won't heed your cries for rest.

Are you truly doomed to roam this land as a mere specter of your former self?

[ There is some amusement in his voice. ]

Death is rarely a void, Marquis.

[ Gabranth want to laugh at the thought of the Gods. Which ones did Ondore mean? The false-gods that Vayne had succeeded in destroying through the works of the Lady Ashelia and her party? Or those of the infernal cycle of war that only Vaan of all those of Ivalice would know of? Gods do not head cries; they toy with those in their grasp until they bore of such toys, and move on to new ones.

Gods aside, he had his reasons for his allegiance to the Empire, and not all of them apparent, even to himself. Some, perhaps, more unselfish than he would believe them to be. ]

I shall do as I have always done, before my death and after, and protect those I would care for, in what capacity I am able.

[ In some ways, he and Basch are truly alike beyond their faces. ]

[ His almond gaze lingered on the Magister for a moment before casting their sights upon his hands in mock fascination. Ondore couldn't bear to look at this man, to look into the face that slew King Raminas. While one would expect the Marquis to glare at Gabranth with great contempt and hatred, Ondore could not bring himself to do so.

Is it shameful for one such as he to feel the slightest bit of sympathy for the man who destroyed the peace Dalmasca once knew? It's because of Gabranth that so many Dalmascans suffered during this brutal war. Yet for some oddity, Ondore could only look at this man with compassion and not hate. Perhaps it's Gabranth's ties to Lord Larsa and stops him for utterly loathing him. ]

Then one would hope you would take your place by Lord Larsa's side once more as his sword and shield. While the young prince makes a fitting Emperor, it would be untrue if I were to say that many feel the same. Being that he is of Soldior blood, many shall view him in the highest contempt for the deeds of his elders.

[ Sympathy for one's enemy is of no shame, in the same way that mercy does not shame justice. Indeed, it is necessary for temperance and fairness. A lesson Gabranth learned too late to be of use for anything other weapon of regret.

Loathing, however, would perhaps be more comfortable for Gabranth to bear. ]

Such a post is better suited for one with honor. [ Like his brother. He knows what he is Ondore, and though he regrets the necessity of his actions, he does not regret them more than one would regret any death. Larsa needs a purity in those who would advice him now, and that is a quality Gabranth lacks.

Besides, he had stolen position from his brother, it is only just that it be returned ]

He faces no more censure than any Solidor before him. Emperor Larsa has his actions and his allies to speak well of him, better than could the words and works of a regicide.

Edited 2012-06-21 05:34 (UTC)

[ Ondore chose his following words very carefully, almost as if he was looking to rout the black knight's queen in a game of chess. He looked somewhat apprehensive as he spoke but the sternness in his tone beguiled that. If there's one thing that the Marquis of Bhujerba was known for, it would be for his excellent impassivity. ]

While such might be true, where does this leave you? I'm confident that Lord Larsa's persistence to prove his worth shan't ever wane, but your sense of honor has.

[ He sighed as he finally forces himself to look at Gabranth. ]

If you aren't meant to lend your service to your lord, then what purpose shall you serve now? Will you merely linger within the shadows controlled by the strings of your puppeteer?

Edited 2012-06-21 05:50 (UTC)

[ It irks him, somewhat, that this man can hide with his face and voice what Gabranth could not hide from Gramis, even with a helm to swallow expression and tone. ]

You imply that it was ever my desire to cling to such things. A man born with no master does not need one, though his service to one will be ever more earnest.

[ Landis was always a republic, and no man was of more worth than that which he etched out upon his life. Titles did not carry the value they do elsewhere in Ivalice, and Gabranth was ever a dog to cling to scraps of lives and memories. ]

I shall bide. To seek more would be to seek absolution, and I would not ask such a thing of those from whom I have already taken far too much.

Edited 2012-06-21 06:02 (UTC)

[ At first, the Marquis wasn't quite sure what to think of that answer but he respected Gabranth choice to linger away from his past digressions. Men are born free of masters and should die free. Gabranth made a good enough point with that statement alone, one that he couldn't possibly argue. ]

Then I do believe you've earned your freedom by forfeiting not only your life but your identity as well. You are no longer of the Empire and haven't been a citizen of Landis for quite some time. The brutal war has stolen both away from you, therefore I suppose you shall live whatever days may come as simply yourself untethered to any master.

[ For once, a smile actually graced Ondore's weathered face. It was a reserved smile but a smile nonetheless, one free from malice. ]

Do make sure to take care.

[ Gabranth is rather suprised someone thinks he's earned anything other than the pointy end of a sword. ~~Especially since he himself may or may not believe it as well.~~ It is... almost disconcerting to hear someone speak of Landis so casually. It seems that even nineteen years has yet to soften the blow. But it is a pain he knows will fade in time. ]

Untethered, but–all willing–not adrift.

[ The smile is even more off-putting, and Gabranth feels terribly out of depth. Hatred he can revel in, so long as it forces such feelings away from Lord Larsa. Disgust and deprecation he can bear; they are familiar bedfellows. But this absent malice, this goodwill, is foreign to him.

And there is still a small part of him that desperately wants it. ]

As should you, Marquis. [ a pause ] May things go well with you.

[ To be quite fair, only in those within the political arena could speak so causally about the events that transpired nineteen years ago. However, in the heart of the people such events are still quite taboo to mention. This open wound that Gabranth bears won't close so easily and nor should it. ]

You have my sincere thanks, Gabranth. I do hope this shan't be the last I see of you. I certainly do plan to pass such news to Sir Ronsenberg shall fate allow it.

[ There's been enough malice and hatred, haven't there? Such primal hate had torn Ivalice asunder one too many times. The gentle Marquis doesn't plan to continue the cycle. ]

Although, I do believe it would be wiser to keep such news secret to only a few. I trust your puppeteer shall treat you well.

[ It is likely true. Gabranth had made a better judge than he had politician, before judge mean something more than a keeper of the law. Regardless, this whole... conversation has been more a balm than Ondore likely knows.

He may have a slight smile of his own. ]

We may indeed meet again; stranger things have come to pass in our world.

[ A nod of acknowledgement, and a moment of quiet. ]

I- I would ask that you not burden Basch with such news, though I am grateful of your willingness to do so.

[ Let Basch rest secure in his death, and not force his brother to dwell on past regrets.

It is less difficult to put aside conflicted feelings of the dead than it is to so of the living. ]

My puppeteer is most accommodating, though she has that damnable way of sitting silently while projecting the smug air of "I know something you do not".

Ah, I see. Then my lips are most certainly sealed for I'll honor your wish for as long as I can grant.

[ Ondore is no heckling hen, he'll take this secret to his grave if need be. ]

Is she now? That same flair for arrogance you speak of is quite prevalent in the one who plays me in this daunting role. However if I do state, my puppeteer is a tad...clumsy at times. I find myself worrying more for her health than for my own fate.

[ He sighs and shakes his head. ]

I wonder, how is it possible for the two of us to find ourselves with such people? I consider my puppeteer as a minstrel of some kind. She's quite clever with her words.

You have my gratitude, Marquis.

[ That places him above, oh, almost everyone else in Ivalice except Lord Larsa. He loves his brother, but Basch was ever a mother hen. ]

It is ill-advised to disregard one's health. [ This coming from the guy who got his ribs crushed in. ] My puppeteer would similarly be suited to take more care, though she is not as neglectful as some.

[ He does the Gabranth version of a shrug, which is really more of a lineface. ]

Mine is less clever, though she has her good points. I suppose whoever decides to place us in such hands as these does so for their own amusement. I could hardly find a more dissimilar mind that still knows and understands mine as intimately.

[ A sigh ]

Often, far more intimately than I would like.

Voice-Testing after a year of storage

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

I just have to say how much I love your Ondore. I'm dying here; he is so amazing.

Why thank you! I feared I might be too rusty for my own good

Not at all.

That's great since I do plan to app him somewhere!

Oh? Sounds exciting! I've actually been thinking about searching for a home.

Probably Dragon Haven or maybe Selacao

Neat. I'm still not sure yet what I'm looking for.

Lemme know where you may go!

Will do! :3

no subject

no subject