[sub][sub][h3]B L A I R   [color=lightpink]C L O V E R F I E L D[/color]   &   G I D E O N   [color=fff200]C A R R A H Y[/color][/h3][/sub][/sub][hr]
[center][sub][sub][h3][i]Palace of Ivalice: Servant's Quarters & Kitchen[/i][/h3][/sub][/sub][/center]

Gideon set a slightly faster, more casual pace than his contemporaries did as they entered into the palace. Gideon listened with half of his brain as Nero rattled off their orders and split the group into teams, the other half idly examining the map of the grounds provided by his earpiece. When at long last his commander was done talking, Gideon tapped his earpiece and motioned Blair to follow him. [color=fff200]"We'll take the kitchens and the servants quarters, check for poison, conspiracy, strange looking personnel, or anything out of the order in your average aristocratic cesspool. Come along, dear, we ought not tarry."[/color] He set off walking briskly, pausing only once to check if Blair was following.

Blair didn't mind being with Gideon, out of all of her team she was one of the ones that got the least on her nerves. That was a feat in and of itself. She tapped her earpiece to study the map again before putting it away and followed Gideon. Though she didn't enjoy use of the term "dear" she let it slide this one time. [color=lightpink]"I never understood why people had servants. Is it that hard to serve yourself food or clean up after yourself?"[/color] She rolled her eyes in contempt as they entered the first room.

[color=fff200]"Oh, it's dreadfully difficult,"[/color] replied Gideon as he pushed through the servant's door behind her into the kitchen, quickly setting about rummaging through cabinets for anything overtly suspicious. [color=fff200]"You've got to get into the head of an aristocrat. Never done an honest day's work in your life, never intend to - your sole goal in life is to preen and prance and impress so that you can marry well and die fat."[/color] The soldier made a show of shuddering at the notion. [color=fff200]"Of course you're not going to do any of the washing - might mess up your pretty hands."[/color]

Gideon picked up an apple from a nearby counter and tossed it from one hand to the other before taking a bite of it. He chewed reflectively for a moment, then swallowed. [color=fff200]"Well, this one's not poisonous."[/color]

Gideon's description of aristocratic life sounded painfully dull to her. She kept silent as they searched, finding nothing out of ordinary in the kitchen. [color=lightpink]"Rather than taste testing every apple there, let's assume that if the ones within easy reach aren't poisonous, none of them are."[/color] She opened the side door that led to a hallway towards the servants quarters, checking for patrols. She didn't expect to see anyone, since she doubted the guards patrolled the servants area. Assuming anyone gave a care at all, she felt like the servants were looking out for themselves.

[color=lightpink]"You almost sound like you've been there, done that before."[/color]

[color=fff200]"Works for me,"[/color] Gideon said, tossing the apple over his shoulder into a bin. [color=fff200]"Let's give the servant's quarters a once-over for suspicious... things, then link back up with the others."[/color] He followed after his partner, striding quickly through the hallways so as to avoid appearing any more suspicious than he already did. [color=fff200]"Of course I have. The Carrahy line is one of the most respected families in all of Teirland. It is the life I would have led, had I not proved... uncooperative."[/color]

Gideon stepped into the first of the servant's bunkrooms, cramped affairs with up to ten beds a room. [color=fff200]"Ugh. Despicable conditions, the poor bastards. Check the beds, I'll look in the desks."[/color]

Blair began checking the beds. There was almost nothing of note, which was sad in its own way. There were almost no personal objects and they all looked the same. Like the same person was sleeping in each bed. Were they clones?

Blair did find the odd journal, personal jewelry, and all that, but nothing that stood out as anything useful in their mission. She was giving Gideon's words more thought. She thought back to her old life with her family. Would they have been considered Aristocracy? She didn't know. They lived a comfortable life, had money, power, she imagined, and a decent sized home. They didn't have servants though, but she guessed it could be argued that the soldiers under her father's authority were servants in their own right. And her mother taught her students and ruled over them, in a way.

She shook her head. No, she wasn't like these people. She wasn't like her old life. [color=lightpink]"I didn't know that about you. How did you become uncooperative?"[/color]

Gideon found nothing in the desks or wardrobes of interest, save a few personal letters that made him feel a bit bad for reading them. This whole affair was bringing back unpleasant memories of his youth, and all the merry exploitation he'd unwittingly been a part of. He'd be glad to be shut of this place. [color=fff200]"Oh, you know, I started being myself. Offending family friends, making scenes at dinner parties, beating up vaunted heirs of rich households, you know. What's more, there was a woman they were intent on my marrying; a dreadful creature. I wouldn't hear of it. I suppose they shipped me off to the academy mainly just to be rid of me."[/color]

He straightened his back and dropped the letter he'd been skimming. [color=fff200]"You'd understand that, though. Military family, right? Different city, but it's the same everywhere. Suppose we head into the next room? There's nothing going on here save some particularly scandalous gossip about one of the washing-girls."[/color]

Blair nodded and proceeded into the next room. It seemed like a communal recreational area, for the servant's off hours. There was a small kitchen, a sitting area, some tables, but otherwise nothing of serious note. She went in, you never know.

[color=lightpink]"I never really gave it much thought. I suppose it is the same. However, I don't believe my family planned on marrying me off to anyone. They mainly wanted us to be good at fighting. If you were good, you got their attention. If you didn't, they didn't notice you."[/color] She closed her eyes and clenched her fists upon remembering it. She was torn between the hatred she had for her parents and the lifestyle they led, but also knowing that they did care, in their own way, for their children's well-being. No one is perfect.

She checked out the kitchen. It wasn't as stocked as the other one, but she noticed a note sticking out of the back of one of the cabinets. She picked it up and read it. It was a simple scribble that read [b]"A, meet me in our usual place. You know the drill. -X".[/b] She held up the note, [color=lightpink]"Found something. Not sure what to make of it, but perhaps we'll find some more information as we continue our search. Don't suppose the letters mention an A or an X do they?"[/color]

Gideon wandered around the recreational area, poking and prodding and checking under things and generally feeling slightly ridiculous. He'd been under the impression that the Kingsglaive were meant to do the impossible, not poke around pool tables for clues. He furrowed his brow slightly at Blair's description of her circumstances. [color=fff200]"That's a bit rough, I suppose. Doubt you ever had any trouble with that, though - you're a proper firecracker."[/color] It was exceptionally rare for Gideon to make a kind word about anyone's prowess other than his own, but he was sincere; though he doubted she'd be a match for him, she was still one of the most capable warriors he'd encountered, (though being a literal firecracker probably helped with that.)

He strode over to Blair and examined the note for a second. [color=fff200]"Huh. No, can't say they did. I would say that that definitely qualifies as 'suspicious', though it's probably just regular palace cloak and dagger stuff. Still worth bringing to the old man."[/color]
 
There was a noise from the hallway - heavy footfalls of a booted man. Gideon tapped his earpiece and sent a message to Blair. [color=fff200]"Someone's coming. Better hide."[/color]

Blair appreciated the compliment, but felt a little weird at hearing it. As long as she's known Gideon, she didn't hear him compliment many people. He usually was boastful about himself. She put the note away for later, you never knew what would be useful information to have.

Before she could respond to his observation, he blipped her with the warning. A place to hide? Here? There wasn't a whole lot. She opted for the tried and true way of hiding: in the closet. She pushed herself in and neared the back of it as best she could. She managed to conceal herself behind some cloaks and tools, but it was a tight squeeze. She held her breath and waited for the steps to either pass, or enter their room.

Gideon looked left and right frantically as Blair climbed into the closet. It was a good hiding spot, but it was only going to fit one of them, and unless he wanted to cling to the bottom of the pool table, there weren't any other spots in the room he could reach that'd be likely to conceal him. The door cracked open and Gideon was still standing in the middle of the room. On an impulse, he ripped off his mask.

The man that stepped in was old and gruff-looking, dressed from the neck down in the armor of an Ivalice guard. He barely made it two steps into the room before he was confronted by an incredulous Gideon. [color=fff200]"Just what the hell do you think you're doing in here?"[/color] the young man shouted at the guard in a well-practiced 'angry aristocrat' voice.

"I-I was just makin' my rounds. Who the devil are -"

[color=fff200]"Who the devil am I? You don't recognize Head Inspector Godor when you see him? My picture's on the wall in the damn guard's lounge, and yet you don't know who I am?"[/color]

"I... I never heard of no Head Inspector...." The confrontation was clearly leaving the guard less and less certain of his own position, and he mumbled his words while looking down at the floor with the inescapable sensation that he'd done something wrong.

[color=fff200]"What, is there anything you do know? Your wing is in a goddamn state, let me tell you. My partner and I were able to waltz all over without being seen, and you didn't even recognize that she's in the room? Disgrace to the nation. Isabelle, my dear, come out here and tell the man what he's doing wrong."[/color] Gideon turned to look pointedly at the closet.


Blair had to give him credit, Gideon was able to think quick on his feet. In wasn't until he decided to include her in on the act that she actually grew worried. She was NOT an actor. She preferred to punch people and be sassy than pretend to be something else. Yet, she was called into the spot. She gave a short huff as she took off her mask. She stood up, well as far up as she could in the closet, sighed, and walked out.

The Guard was flimsy in appearance. Really, it was quite sad. She adopted the best Aristocrat voice she could muster, and pointed a finger at the Guard, [color=lightpink]"Really now! It's quite sad to see you guards missing the most obvious of hiding places. All one has to do is hide in the bleedin' closet and they can get away with anything. Such shoddy work. I have half a mind to report you. What is your name, imbecile?"[/color] She felt weird doing this, but oddly enough, she found herself enjoying it. If for no other reason that to make the man pee himself.

The man, now berated from both angles, quailed under the assault. "Uh... uh... my name's Thomas, m'am... I swear it, I, I'll always check in the closets now. I never slacked off a day in my life..."

Gideon made a disgusted noise and shoved the man in the chest. [color=fff200]"Goddamn disgrace. You're not fit to guard a sewer, let alone the Queen's damn palace. Report to my office for disciplinary action immediately. Wait with your thumb up your ass as long as it takes us to show up. Am I clear?"[/color]

"Y-yes sir. B-but... I don't know where your office..."

Gideon grabbed the man by the shoulders and shook him. [color=fff200]"What the hell [b]else[/b] don't you know, your mother's name? Bloody well FIND IT!"[/color] 

"Yes, sir!" Thomas saluted hastily and left, almost sprinting out the doors. Gideon cracked a wide grin and turned to his companion, clapping his hands together smugly.

[color=fff200]"That was fun. Ought to do it more often. Now, then, I'd say it's about time we got on with things?"[/color]

Blair kept the stoic face as the man bumbled about. As the man left, tail between his legs, she let out a long breath she was holding. Much to her amusement, she enjoyed herself. She even let a smile smile crack its way through. [color=lightpink]"That was...interesting, to say the least. Thanks [i]so[/i] much for including me in that charade."[/color] she said with sarcasm. She looked around the room one more time before she walked toward the door, [color=lightpink]"I think that's all for this room. Let's move onward. I wonder where Thomas is going to end up."[/color]