Story: Meanwhile... Bál and Osmund Are Not Friends

After Tucker had effectively killed Osmund’s fighting spirit, everyone was left standing in the courtyard of the barracks, wondering what will happen next. They didn’t need to wait long before a very distressed Gaius arrives with an escort of guards. The bug looks out at the scene before himself with confusion, causing a few of the guards and Free Sword members to look away shyly.
: Wh- what’s going on here?
No one spoke up for a moment, though Osmund and Bál threw accusatory glares at each other, as if daring the other to try to speak first. After a few more seconds of silence, Matteo clears his throat.
: No doubt you’ve heard about what happened at the Outskirts by now, yes?
: Yes, we did receive your letter, but I don’t understand how that led to... (gazes at Bál and Osmund) all this.
: To be truthful with you, neither do I. The Outskirts Squadron was going to be called to the barracks for questioning about the events of today, so I accompanied them back. I was hoping to speak to Bál, but…
: Well, I don’t know about you all, but I have spent all day standing in the cold of the Outskirts and would love the chance to get warm.
He gives Gaius a pointed look and the bug, quick as a whip, catches his meaning and nods.
: Yes, this is hardly the place for us to all speak. Let’s head back to the cabinet, shall we?
: … s’probably for th’ best.
Bál waves off the members of the Free Swords, and the ‘mons tentatively make their way out of the barrack’s courtyard. The members of the Aetherian Guard do the same when Gaius makes a similar gesture. The Chesnaught casts a glance back at Tucker before he strides over to Onfroi and whispers something to them. The knight nods and the Chespin sighs, fully aware that he’s being babysat. With all outward signs of hostilities gone, everyone goes their own way: Gaius, Matteo, Bál, and Osmund to the castle, and the Outskirts Squadron to the barracks, now with Onfroi in tow.
The cabinet itself was Gaius’ and it served as his private study. The room was small enough for the fireplace alone to heat all of it comfortably, and its only decorations were bookshelves that lined the walls. The rest of the room was occupied by furniture that Gaius considered to be necessities - his desk, his chair, and a few extra seats and couches on the odd chance that he had meetings. It was meant to suit a ‘mon of his size and a few others, so almost everyone found the room to be cramped with its current company.
Gaius himself sat at his own desk - more out of habit than anything - and surveyed the scene: Matteo, who, because of his size, was the only other ‘mon comfortable in his cabinet, was seated in a low chair, and his eyes drifted between Bál and Osmund; Bál stood on one side of Matteo’s chair, arms crossed and eyes hard, and stared down the Chesnaught; Osmund stood on the opposite end of the room and glared back at the Typhlosion; and finally, the queen had joined them only seconds ago, and the other ‘mons waited in a polite, but tense, silence as she coiled herself atop one of the couches. When she was seated, Osmund spoke.
: Why are you here?
: (snorts) Blunt as ev’r.
: Last I heard, you had scurried back to your hole in Veethrfölnir, so I’ll ask again: why are you here?
: Perhaps you didn’t receive word t’at my guild has a headquart’rs here - understandable, you’re too busy pissin’ ‘round in th’ woods t’ hear anythin’ important anymore. But anyone who did hear would realize t’at I’d come back t’ Aether at some point.
: Now, let’s ask a bett’r question: why are you here?
: That was my doing, Bál. The queen was kind enough to give me a summary of some of the things Alaric said in his… panic. It sounded very much like it involved Celebi, and Osmund is from Oakdale.
: And in turn, Sssir Osssmund, I will admit that I requesssted Bál’sss presssence here. Alaric ssspoke of him many timesss in hisss panicked ssstate, ssso I invited Bál for the sssame reassson Matteo invited you: to help usss underssstand what hasss befallen my husssband.
: Asss you are both my guessstsss, I would have both of you ressspect each other’sss expertissse rather than fighting.
: I’ve a’ready sent word to someone - t’ey’ve got plenty of expertise wit’ dealin’ wit’ any mental breakdowns.
Tara gives Bál a hard stare as a warning, but Osmund snorts.
: Can we even trust this associate of yours? It’s a great and terrible power, having free reign over the mind of another ‘mon; imagine what they could do to the king.
: (rolls his eyes) An’ you, th’ most charmin’ of th’ forest hermits, have a contact you can call on t’at I don’t?
: Any contacts I have, whether they have expertise or not, are honest ‘mons that one can put their trust into; the same cannot be said for the pack of brigands you associate with.
: I had hoped that bringing you two together would have provided sssome quicker way to help Alaric, but I can sssee now that the two of you can’t even take a sssecond to ssstop acting like feuding toddlersss, let alone focusss on a tasssk when in each other’sss company.
: Alaric hasss been in ssshambles for too long. I don’t want to wait monthsss, or even weeksss, for a sssolution that isssn’t even guaranteed to work. I want Alaric back to normal now, and you two are going to ssstop behaving like mewling ssskuts ssso we can achieve that.
There is a tense period of silence, and Gaius realizes that he has held his peace for too long - the two warriors won’t get anywhere without guidance.
: Is there no one near to Aether with expertise that we could call upon? Someone who possesses at least a basic understanding of the problem and could at least alleviate the symptoms?
: …
: What about Caldene? Or perhapsss Nimue? They both are wissse in waysss that mossst are not.
: With all due respect to both ‘mons, I don’t think that “faith” or “magic,” or whatever they wish to call their respective practices, will be much help with something as delicate as the mind.
: Perhapsss, but both are quite old. They’ve lived exxtraordinarily long livesss and have exxperiencced many exxtraordinary thingsss in that time - you can’t claim what isss ailing Alaric to be anything ordinary. Plusss, if Celebi isss truly involved with this, then Bál’sss exxpert might not have the knowledge to do anything.
: I unders’and you’re grievin’, your highness, but trauma cannot be “magicked” away - or prayed away, for t’at matter.
: At leassst I’m trying to give ideasss!
: I’ve offered more t’an ideas: I’ve provided you wit’ a solution t’ your problem. You’re being impatient.
: I’ve waited long enough-!
: You’re goin’ t’ have t’ wait long’r.
: You said it yourself: you don’t want t’ wait weeks for a solution t’at isn’t guaranteed t’ work. I have a solution t’at is guaranteed t’ work, but it will take time t’ ensure t’at it does.
There’s rage burning in the queen’s eyes, but Matteo coughs and everyone looks to him.
: Bál’s contacts have always been thorough, I have no doubt that we can trust them. However, as we will need to wait for them anyway, I see no harm in inviting Caldene and Nimue to share their thoughts with us. And, while we’re inviting more people into this cozy room, I might suggest that we invite Mindaugas as well.
, Gaius Shocked.png|baseline|150px]] & Osmund Shocked.png|baseline|150px]]: WHAT?!
: You can’t be ssserious! I don’t want him around Alaric!
: Do you have something against alchemists, your highness?
: She’s right to be, especially with that one! He can’t be trusted - you of all ‘mons should know that, Matteo.
: Why do you t’ink t’at Mindaugas could help?
: While I’d normally agree with all of your sentiments about Mindaugas, I did spend the entire day down at the Outskirts, and rumors travel fast: recently, he’s acquired something, something rare and irreplaceable, according to the rumours - perhaps fate has smiled upon us and this thing could prove useful.
: You’re confident of this off of rumors alone?
: No, even rumors with truth in them are still rumors until proven true. That said, Mindaugas’ project recently supplies the Reuniclus with… how shall I put this…? linguistic-related issues. As that is my department, I was contacted about it.
: (looks at Bál) I do believe it could help us. Greatly so.
: (grunts) Wouldn’t hurt t’ at least hear th’ blob speak, as pretentious as he is.
Matteo nods gratefully and then looks to Osmund. The two stare at each other for a few seconds before the Chesnaught sighs.
: It goes against my better judgment, but I’ll hear him speak.
: Thank you.
: If he looks like he’s causing trouble though, I will squish every bit of his jelly body.
: I think I’d rather enjoy seeing that.
: Heh.
: Your highness?
: Yesss, yesss, he can come.
: Then it’s agreed: Mindaugas, Caldene, and Nimue will join us. However, I would suggest that they join us tomorrow - it’s rather late, and I don’t want to keep Matteo up for much longer after the day he’s had.
: I already have a long night ahead me, us ending early just means that I spent my sleepless hours writing rather than advising.
: When do you sleep?
The Pikachu slowly turns his head towards the Typhlosion, face expressionless. Bál shrugs.
: He seems t’ do fine.
: ...indeed.
Category:Meanwhiles
Category:Arc 2
Category:Aether