Scorned Thoughts

[Garland]

There was something truly mysterious about Chaos. Mysterious in ways that not even Garland could understand. Why Chaos, the ruler of his own empire, would move to Cornellia completely puzzled him. He could find some form of thought that would explain it, but it felt impure. A possibility was a 'in your face' comment to Cosmos, but at the same time, Garland felt as though there may have been secrets about Cornellia that he did not know. He was glad to retrieve his familiar quarters (which had been untouched due to stigmatization of the chamber), but he always felt as though there were some things that he did not know. Compared to other mortals, he knew much of the way of the gods, and the plans of the gods - and the workings of those very gods, or, rather, god, as there was only one now: Chaos was the only god left. Or, at least, the only god with enough power to be seen as a god.

Garland wanted to know more. Not out of desire, or curiosity, but out of necessity. His very existence, and the existence of his future self (secret as that may be) depended on his survival; it took no wizard to figure that out. But the unknown and hidden complications it held was far more devious, and immediate. In a way, Garland was blessed, by being able to hold the knowledge, and cursed, for having the responsibility of such knowledge.

As he walked through the halls, his metallic armor clanked. His walk was rough, ragged; it displayed how he was feeling: his steps held confusion and anger, and yet, determination as well.

[Kuja]

Kuja sighed softly, sitting at the vanity of his quarters as he put the finishing touches on his make-up. Another day, but the same old song and dance: look pretty, obtain any useful information he could, report any useful information he obtained, be a distraction to visiting diplomats that they wished to sway over to Chaos's side... ad nauseum. It was enough to drive a Genome to tears, curse it all!

Looking at himself in the mirror, he ran a hand through his long, silver hair. Something needed to be done to break the routine... ever since Chaos had set off to conquer other lands and left the Ten behind to watch over things his life had slipped into monotony. What was the use of a spy master if there wasn't anyone to spy on, really?

Getting up from the Vanity, he took one last look at himself in the mirror, chuckling softly. Oh, he welcomed scandal indeed and definitely had a flair for the dramatic. He'd chosen his favorite purple silk robe today with matching thong and half-skirt, needing a little pick-me-up. It was definitely his most risque outfit, but it suited him. He had long put the sniggers and whispers behind him, not caring if most of the court only saw him as a courtesan, that actually made his job a lot easier.

Leaving his personal quarters, he began walking towards the library, intending to get lost in the plays he'd hadn't read yet. Of course, that was until he heard one of the most recognizable sounds in the court, the sound of the armor of Lord Garland, Chaos's right hand... Sighing softly to himself, their meeting was inevitable as they were walking towards one another.

As soon as they were within a decent distance, Kuja bowed respectfully. "Greetings, My Lord Garland."

The Genome would remain in the respectful bow until Garland either passed him by or acknowledged him, whichever came first.

[Garland]

Garland was deep in thought until a very distinct voice caught his attention. His eyes flicked to the side to see the bowed silver haired genome. Another one of Chaos' mysteries. Garland had heard of Kuja's tail and it fascinated him further when he heard about the destruction of Terra; he wanted to use that power but Chaos told him not to toy with Kuja's too much. He assumed the silver haired effeminate male was obviously fragile behind his mask — of course, he could be wrong. Chaos never truly told him anything directly. All annoying hunts.

But that was off focus. He gave a respectful nod to the genome, "Greetings, Kuja." He was about to walk away but stopped himself.

"Tell me, Kuja, do you happen to know where Chaos might have gone? Or furthermore, what he couldnhave wanted?" Might as well ask, Garland mused as he stared at the one before him for a reply.

[Kuja]

Kuja had straightened up from the bow once Garland had acknowledged him, preparing to continue his trek to the library when Garland's questions stopped him. Kuja lightly bit his lip, knowing that those same questions had been on the lips of many. Even though Chaos did not allow anyone to question his decisions, he simply made them, there was still many whispers and speculations about the dark god's mercurial mind. The genome hummed lightly at Garland's question, lightly twirling a bit of hair around one finger, something he did when he was thinking.

"Surely you know Lord Chaos's mind better than anyone, my Lord Garland," Kuja stated, his tone light and airy. "All I know is that Chaos saw fit to cross the sea to see what lie beyond, to find other places to conquer or ally with to expand his empire. That seems to be the main thought on his mind, but I do not claim to know Lord Chaos's motivations or thoughts."

Indeed, Chaos's secrets were some of the few that Kuja did not know, nor could he ever find out. Many thought that Chaos had used Kuja as a courtesan, which simply wasn't true. The Dark God wasn't interested in the physical, at least as far as pleasure went...

[Garland]

The metallic knight twitched behind his helm at when Kuja said that he knew Chaos more than anyone else... did Kuja know what connection was held between Garland and Chaos?

Garland nodded very slowly. "Yes, Chaos has left quite the mystery as to where he went... it makes it hard to aid him if he is wanting to be alone, though... I suppose we should respect his decision." He seemed to be talking more to himself then he was talking to Kuja, that was for sure. Garland crossed his arms and pondered for a moment, "If he was to ally or conquer another nation, I doubt he would go alone without telling anyone, especially since: if it had got to the point where he had to personally do something, we, the ten, or at least one of us, would have known about it far earlier, no?" Garland hummed before looking back at Kuja.

"Forgive me, it seems I have ranted and rambled." Garland looked around the room, seeing guards at the end of the hallways, and at every few large intervals, but none close enough to hear. He leaned in, "Kuja, I wish to ask your aid; it seems my ears no longer hear the tone of whispers, but your's should, no? If you find any information on Chaos -- or anything you believe I should know, for that matter -- not only as the Acting Leader of Chaos' Empire, but as one of the ten, I wish for you to tell me. People watch their words too cautiously for anything to slip around me."

He frowned behind his mask, "With the move of the capital, I feel at unease, lately, for reasons I know not. It has come to myself wanting more information on my own city."

((I feel like this whole post is awkwardly phrased... sorry XD ))

[Kefka]

((Usually I ask before things like this, but, hey, IT'S MY ENTRANCE ))

"LORD GARLAND!" A knight it clattering armor suddenly ran towards Kuja and Garland, "MAKE HIM STOP!" The poor knight cried out as he ran down the hall, invoking quite a bit of confusion to the guards in the hallway.

Kefka suddenly jumped into the hallway, "Buuuuuut I just wanted to PLAY!" Kefka yelled as he ran (if one could call his awkward fast skipping a type of 'walk') down the halls with massive fireballs twirling quickly behind him. "Don't make me catch you!" He gave a maniac's laugh but suddenly grinded to a halt when he was in front of Kuja, which would have been fine if he was not next to GARLAND. Kefka had already been caught doing crazy stuff three times this month, all of which were most likely forwarded to said acting-leader, since Kefka was one of the Ten... somehow.

"Garland!" He yelled, "You will never take me alive! Come, come my canary!" He grabbed Kuja's arm and threw down his other spell, "PALOOM PALLAHH!" A magic circle burst beneath them and suddenly teleported Kuja and Kefka away.

Sadly, since Kuja and Garland had leaned in so close to whisper secrets, when the teleportation spell was over, Garland, too, was teleported with the two mages. Kefka clased his hands over his face, "Oh, no! I'm sooooo suspended...."

They had been teleported the roof of one of the castle's scout tower, which was completely void of people. Perfect for secret talks. Perfect for secret killings of maniac clowns too...

[Garland]

Garland, who turned his head when the man ran past them, was in great surprise when he suddenly had Kefka teleport both he and Kuja to the tower. The confused face behind the mask was of great bewilderment. After a moment to regain his sense of... well, everything... Kefka had a tendency to take everything you thought was reality and make you realize, nope, it's not.

Garland turned to Kefka and smashed his sword in the ground behind him. He wanted to think of something to say but all he could say is, "Kefka!" He had nothing to add to his terrible roar. He only smacked his metallic hand on his metallic helm and groaned. "You know, Kefka... I understand why Chaos chose you as one of his Ten during the war, but now that we are out of the great war of the gods, it should be that the Ten serve a different purpose; a purpose I am unsure if you can fulfill." He suddenly took a very serious stance and gripped his blade tight. "If you cannot aid Chaos then I will have you know that I have the power to remove you as one of the Ten. Do not 'kid' with me, I am done with your childish antics. If I hear one more word of something you do from this time onward, I will remove you myself."

He frowned behind his mask, "You'll be forced to stand as a guard all day, in armor instead of those ridiculous clothes and you'd take all that make-up off! I am the acting-commander and I will not have you disgrace me, you understand?" His rage was growing rapidly.

[Kuja]

Everything happened so fast that Kuja's head was still spinning... hearing the guard run by, calling out for help, he sort-of knew what was coming. It was true, Kuja and Kefka had long been allied. They were both magic users, both seen as incompetent and unnecessary by other members of Chaos's group, so naturally they had formed something that could be called friendship if you tilted your head to the left and squinted really, really, really hard.

Kuja let out an undignified squawk as Kefka grabbed his wrist and teleported them away. Once the smoke of the teleportation cleared, Kuja sighed, putting a hand to his forehead. He could already feel a headache coming on, all he had wanted to go was go the library and read...

Hearing Lord Garland's words, Kuja placed a hand on his arm, looking up at him.

"He will not disturb you any more, right, Kefka?" Kuja glanced over at Kefka with an "oh you are in so much trouble and you will owe me your sorry ass later(tm)" glare.

[Kefka]

Kefka suddenly jumped behind Kuja and licked his neck (for no reason whatsoever). "Y-yes, lord Garland! I'll be A-Okay! Absolutely positively fragmentidly weathermanifiedly juiceboxfactorygotsuidoveracourtcasedly going to change my attitude for the better of Lord Chaos!"

He smiled.