Changing of the Guard

[wrnpcs]

Characters: Garden Faculty.
Location: The Headmaster’s Office.
Rating: PG
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed.
Summary: Headmaster Cid receives a message.


The faculty member, hidden behind his red-and-white robes and concealing hat, nevertheless displayed certain qualities of irritation and impatience visible to the discerning eye. The shift of fabric in the sleeves, the subtle vibration as a foot tapped, the slight sway of the hat from left to right.

The faculty member was being kept waiting, and did not approve.

Comments

[wrnpcs]

He'd been dreading this appointment for weeks. It wasn't often that Cid dreaded something, but when he'd heard the news about Squall disappearing, he knew it was inevitable. Maybe if he kept the man waiting, he could avoid this discussion altogether and pretend he was conveniently busy with some off-worlder business or another.

Yet he knew he shouldn't delay the inevitable. With a heavy heart and a resigned sigh, he cautiously opened the door and stepped to the side to allow the other in. "Please, come on in."

[wrnpcs]

“Headmaster.” The faculty member spoke with cold disdain that only hinted at the barest level of courtesy for the tired old man. “I was not aware you thought yourself so important you could close the door to me.” Stepping inside without waiting for an invitation, the robed figure paced to Cid’s desk, disdaining the chair that sat in expectation of a visitor. Though still concealed, the motions of that hat as it turned from Cid to, pointedly, the Headmaster’s own chair, made clear that this was to be a business visit in every sense of the word.

[wrnpcs]

He goes ahead and takes a seat. Sitting up as straight as possible, he leans forward and asks, "May I ask why you've come so far to speak to me?"

[wrnpcs]

“SeeD Leonhart has appeared in this Garden on more than one occasion,” the faculty member said, each hand folded into the sleeve of the opposite arm. “Although clearly his presence here is due to Time Compression, you have allowed him to retain the title of Commander, earned over twenty years ago. This must stop. His old title is no longer relevant. The time of the Sorceress has passed, and whatever loyalty you feel to this boy is misplaced. His time as Commander is at an end.” The faculty member let those words hang in the air, ensuring Cid had absorbed them fully, before adding sharply, “As of this moment.”

[wrnpcs]

Misplaced? His loyalty to the boy who'd help defeat the Sorceresses was misplaced? Cid knew he couldn't hide his indignant manner, and he made absolutely no attempts to hide it. "As of this moment? Commander Leonhart has done a lot for Garden! He may not be from this time, but he's been more than a valuable asset! Garden hasn't suffered from his presence in the least."

[wrnpcs]

The faculty member lifted a hand to cut off the Headmaster. “Incorrect. The Garden is suffering. Delude yourself into believing that Garden has its old prestige and ties to the rest of the world as you like, but in your heart you know that its glory is fading. What you do not know, Headmaster…” The figure stressed the title to make a mockery of it, superbly disdainful, “is the true state of the Garden’s finances. You do not know this because it is not your business to care for them. It is the Garden Master who cares for them, and consequently, it is the Garden Master who is ordering this. Unless you care to see the Garden close its doors, unable to meet its operating expenses.”

[wrnpcs]

He fell silent. While it was true that he didn't bother with the record books, even more so these days because of the stress of dealing with Time Compression and off-worlders, he hadn't quite realized that NORG was behind this. Of course they were concerned with a profit. To them, Garden was a business. It always had been. He bit his lip, slowly shaking his head to acknowledge the faculty member's concerns.

"No, we wouldn't."

[wrnpcs]

Though the faculty member’s face remained concealed, the smirk might as well have been displayed in forty-foot neon lights, so clearly did it color the next words. “Of course, the Garden Master will gladly accept your resignation, in lieu of dismissing Leonhart. I’m certain your wife will more that understand your motivations for doing so, powerless and defenseless though that will leave her.”

[wrnpcs]

They didn't have any decency anymore, did they? In his day, people didn't bargain with such powerful chips! It certainly got a point across: the Garden Master wants this to happen, but not for any grand or altruistic reasons. If Cid didn't know better, he'd suspect revenge. He hides a sigh, folding his arms as he leans forward on his desk. "Then what do you want me to do?"

[wrnpcs]

From those voluminous sleeves, the faculty member produced a few sheets of paper. “You need merely sign the orders for dismissal and instatement of the new Commander.” A flick of an unseen hand sent them sliding messily across the desk in Cid’s general direction. “The Garden Master feels quite confident that you will manage to work things out with her to his satisfaction.”

[wrnpcs]

They've selected a new Commander without him? Is that what this has all boiled down to? Cid snorts, out of frustration more than any real amusement. "Her? I don't mind a new Commander, but her instatement should mean that the debt to the Garden Master is paid off, isn't it? I doubt I owe him anything anymore."

[wrnpcs]

The faculty member pondered this for only a motionless second before the hat tipped in acquiescence. “The Garden Master will charitably continue to allow SeeD Heartilly forbearance.” Which would have been the case anyway, the faculty member thought privately. The girl would pay for her actions against the Garden Master, and pay dearly… at a time and in a manner of the Garden Master’s choosing. As would the others of Leonhart’s ragtag band, should they be available when he chose to avenge himself.

But the Garden Master was patient.

[wrnpcs]

The Garden Master was also heartless. Cid rolls up his sleeve, pulls out the nearest fountain pen, and carefully signs each piece of paper as he takes a long, long while to read each page thoroughly. If nothing else, the Garden Master can't say that he didn't bother to look over the document and annotate it carefully with his own notes.

He wordlessly hands the papers back, barely able to keep that smile on his face.

[wrnpcs]

“The Commander is waiting outside,” the faculty member said, turning away from the Headmaster in dismissive contempt. “I will send her in. I’m sure you have much to talk about…”

[wrnpcs]

She's here already? He blinks back surprise. The Garden Master worked fast, Cid would certainly give him that. He stands up straight, pulling down his sleeve, and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "SeeD Zabala, please come on in."

[commanderzabala]

She stopped a few measured paces in the door, regarded the Headmaster with an inscrutable gaze, then very pointedly arched one eyebrow. “SeeD Zabala?”

[wrnpcs]

“Commander Zabala,” with a very resigned sigh. So this was to be the new Commander planted by NORG? Wonderful. Absolutely, positively wonderful.