(OPEN) Preparing for the Worst

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander couldn't get the meeting with his dead father out of his head. After venturing to Guasto for the Black Rose Festival he'd come out of it with one of the verily sought-out black roses. With it he used it to communicate with his dead father and unfortunately, the meeting he had with him was anything but...joyful. Not because of any bickering at all, however.

"Trucido was the one who killed me, not my illness..."

This one line echoed in Alexander's head ever since he'd heard it. Bradley had information to hand down to Alexander, and lots of it. Things Alexander had never known, things that Trucido probably wouldn't have wanted Alexander to know. In either case it wasn't the information (it'd be useless anyway, it was all past events) that stuck with Alexander the most as much as it was the fact that Trucido was Bradley Frexton's real murderer.

And for that Alexander was having difficulties making his decision. No doubt now he wasn't staying under Trucido, even out of fear. At the same time he was having trouble trying to keep his emotions out of his plans, he was worried that they'd drive him to do something stupid now to get killed. And right now Santo-Luce couldn't afford to look for a new ruler.

Alexander had to take control of his emotions and think things through carefully. He had to take control of his kingdom as well. First he'd had to deal with Leid - a public execution was something quite unheard of in Santo-Luce but Alexander had made it an exception keeping in mind the attack he'd made against everyone in the castle and attempted assassination of the king himself.

Alexander used it as a way to show that he would not tolerate such acts in his kingdom. He showed the people his backbone, discipline, how unafraid he was. Winning some respect back in his own castle as well as across the land built up some confidence in him. Also having allies behind the scenes helped. The people were still upset, confused, and even angry however because up until now Alexander had not yet announced his dismissal from the Sumata.

They wanted to be free from it. He wanted to be free from it. They weren't ready for it yet, though. Not quite.....


Or were they? He'd been holding it off for so long, there was almost nothing he felt they could do yet but to prepare for an inevitable attack.

Alexander paced in his throne room, rubbing his temples. When asked he had the word sent out that he wanted the people to gather at the castle, he'd have to tell them what he was doing. He couldn't let them wait any longer for an answer.


"And yet what am I supposed to tell them? Tell them we need to stay under the Sumata's thumb until further notice? Or do I tell them I'm done with them?" he bit his lip, he had to make this decision and make it quick. Even Holmes couldn't tell him what to do now...

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke peeked his head out just barely from the large double door to Alex's throne room, his face fraught with worry over the young king. Ever since the festival there had been a different air about him. Something that had left too many moments where he'd turn to see Alex deep in thought over something.

The attack was part of it, Zeke knew that much. There had been non-stop buzz in the castle over the execution of the man who'd tried to kill Alex, and Zeke was far from comfortable with the idea. Though he had come to try and talk to Alex about it, he wondered if now was the best time.

"If it isn't now I'll never get the guts to do it." Zeke mumbled to himself. Taking a deep breath of courage, he pushed his way past the door and headed towards the center of the room. "You doing okay King Alexander?" Zeke kept his manners in check, just in case anyone else was around. "You've had a lot going on in your mind recently, haven't you?"

It had been a while since the two had met on the beach that night, and Zeke had met up with Alexander several times since. Though he'd been worried that others would think badly of one of the Sumata being around a hero, most had been too disarmed by his lack of... well, arms to think him anything more than a pity project of Alex's. But now he wondered if Alex trusted him enough to really open up. He was usually so carefree around Zeke that recently he'd started to wonder if the king was comfortable being himself around Zeke.

[alexanderthegreat]

"Zeke."

By now, Alexander would have known that voice anywhere he'd picked up the distinguishable traits of it. It was a little unnerving, yet oddly comforting of a surprise that Zeke show up. Alexander turned his gaze towards the armless man and already knew that he couldn't lie his way out of this, it was like Zeke could read right through him.

Or maybe he was just far too obvious when showing concern, he didn't really know. Regardless, Alexander peered around to confirm that they had at least a moment's privacy before Holmes came to gather him to address the city. He approached Zeke, lowering his shaky hands to his sides and tried to keep them still as he spoke.

"To be honest, I could be better. Just pressing matters, big decisions to make. Usual king-like things, you know," Alexander spoke quietly and politely, however anything but his usual cheerful way.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"I know Alex, you have a lot going on. Not to mention after that incident at the ball. It seems more and more like the Sumata stuff is getting harder to keep in the shadows." Zeke could see the expression of worry on Alex's face too. "Look Alex..." Zeke started, having to breathe in another deep breath before he could speak his mind. "I wonder, if you think dealing with that Leid guy the way you are is really the best way."

"I mean, I'm not saying he should get off the hook. No way." Zeke seemed panicky and unsure of his words the moment he said them. "I don't know, a public execution though? That doesn't seem like you. Is there not a better way?"

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander took in a deep breath himself as Zeke brought Leid up. In all honesty Alexander wasn't entirely sure of his own decision himself. Something about it seemed definitely right though, if not a little uncharacteristic of him.

"I've never ordered anyone to die in my life. Granted I never had full command until this past year, but that's besides the point. This man conceived an entire plan to murder me out of the country, threatened my kingdom as a whole and murdered countless people living within this very castle. I don't know what better way there could possibly be to justly punish this man and permanently prevent him from committing crimes like this," Alexander's voice dropped to almost a whisper as he stepped closer to Zeke, standing only a few short inches in front of him, "...really, a man who shows no remorse for his actions? How would you deal with it? I'm having enough trouble trying to figure out how to deal with Trucido and his own murders, in mine and every other kingdom and he has more power to kill than Albert Leid does."

Despite Alexander's clear worry in his own voice, he still took note and carefully considered Zeke's words--this appeared to bother him. It shouldn't have surprised Alexander, though it almost did and in a way he worried about Zeke. Despite their short friendship it turned out that Zeke did appeal to Alexander as someone that could be probably the closest friend he had aside from Holmes (unlike the others he'd met so far, Zeke kept coming to see him which was awfully sweet of him).

Keeping this in mind and wanting to keep as much stress as he could OUT of his mind, Alexander was willing enough to talk to and listen to Zeke to try to keep him happy, he'd hate to lose this friend afterall.

[Zeke Omoihake]

The question put Zeke totally on the spot, and trying to think of somethign left him with a total blank. "What? I, I don't know. I mean... ugh, things were easier on the battlefield. After all, you see your enemy and you fight. If you fight to the point where one of you has to die, then that happens. Otherwise, you fight till the other person surrenders, or they can't fight and then you, uhh, deal with them later I guess. It makes sense there." Zeke was only grasping the tip of the conundrum that Alex faced.

"I guess it's like this Alex. I've changed since I came here. I figured the world could be saved and the only deaths would be those of the final bad guy and the truly horrible monsters we'd meet along the way. Coming here, dealing with this stuff first hand, I realize that was naive, but this doesn't feel the same as with the Sumata. He's just a guy. A guy you've beaten down to the point where he isn't a threat anymore... unless someone breaks him out." Zeke squinted his eyes tightly shut and sighed. No matter what point he made the counter argument came right beside it.

Smiling weakly at his friend he said, "I guess this is probably what's going through your mind too huh?" Zeke paced back and forth, trying to think what he would do, could do were he in Alex's shoes. Exile? But what if someone just sneaks him back in again? Prisons can just be broken into. Even just killing him might make even more people mad at Alex. "This wouldn't be such a hard one to figure out if we could be sure no one would help him do something like that again." Zeke said aloud as he pondered.

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander crossed his arms and closed his eyes as he listened to Zeke. He breathed slowly, trying to keep himself calm and was only thankful to hear that Zeke was slowly starting to understand what was only a fraction of Alexander's current problem.

"You're right. Unfortunately, we can't be assured that someone won't come for him, even with the tight security. The people who I'm supposed to be able to trust I can no longer. There are days I look around and it bothers me to try to pick out who'll be my friend and the next my enemy because I don't know who is who."

Alexander opened his eyes slowly and shook his head, eyes staring down at the floor as he continued quietly, "I'm more willing to have one known enemy die by my command than to risk having another hundred die when I could have prevented it. I'll be in even more trouble if I let him live and he gets out. I don't like having to tell people to die, I don't like having to fight, I'd rather avoid it and look after everyone. This isn't a choice I like to make but it certainly has been a much easier one to deal with than what's to come for me."

He brought his gaze back up to Zeke, then.

"Will this make you think any different of me? I'd like to think I'm still better than the Sumata, than Trucido. I didn't even want to be the king but I've learned since my father's murder that sometimes you really have to do what you don't want to."

[Zeke Omoihake]

And there it was. The question that lurked subconsciously in Zeke's mind. It was something he didn't to even think about it, but as Alex brought it up he knew it was exactly what had drawn him to the throne room to talk about Leid in the first place. Zeke's head sank as he thought about it.

"No Alex, you're still the same great guy I met at the beach. It doesn't sit well with me, you just offing someone that's defenceless, but that's more my own stubborn sense of honour than anything else." Zeke looked to Alex and smiled, hoping to bring a little bit of a happy face back to Alex. "To be honest, what you're doing is similar to what leaders in my world do. If you go easy on the guy, it'll just encourage other people that don't like you to try the same thing."

"Do what you have to Alex, and should the time come, I'll be there to help protect you the next time someone tries something as stupid as what Leid pulled." Zeke would think on his choice later, and know that even though it felt like he had backed out on his beliefs now, he would realize that his opinion till now had been uninformed.

Right now though, a certain word had finally clicked in his head, and his attention was now on something completely different. "Murdered! Whoa wait Alex, I thought you said your dad died from illness. When did you find this out?" Zeke's eyes were as wide as they could be from the revelation.

[alexanderthegreat]

Zeke's words truly relieved Alexander. A comforted smile crept onto his face as he answered, "It really does make me feel better that you do understand the situation I'm in and I thank you for all your help. Despite your different view though, I still do admire your sense of honour, being that you are one of those selected heroes from Earth and all..."

He took the time as he said "heroes" to try to strike one of the oddly dramatic poses that Zeke had every so often when they first met on the beach - Alexander didn't quite fill it with as much enthusiasm so he ended up looking even goofier than he ever would have otherwise.

Zeke's next comment on the murder brought Alexander back to a more serious tone as he stole a glance out the window, a strong bitterness shadowing his every word as he spoke again.

"I hadn't realized I'd said it, though I was never too good at keeping secrets. I got a rose from the Black Rose Festival. I chose to speak with my father, who yes, was ill and dying slowly already. Turns out he had a few bits of information back then he was going to give out to the heroes and to prevent him from doing so Trucido murdered him and covered it up, oddly well for a man like himself," Alexander turned his head back to face Zeke, features hardened, "...it's something that I've thought about heavily since then. I've a meeting coming to me as we speak, in only a moment I'll be announcing to Santo-Luce whether we stay under Trucido's thumb for security or we leave him for good and prepare ourselves for an attack. My father was in no shape to stand against Trucido but I have faith in myself, my allies, and the God itself that if I decide to, we'll be fine."

[Zeke Omoihake]

In any other situation Zeke would have laughed to have seen Alex strike such a pose, but the mention of murder had left him in anything but a humorous mood. He listened patiently, his expression turning from horror to anger as Alex explained the details around it. "What's there to think about Alex? There's no way you can stay under that tyrannical killer now that you know all that. We need all the help we can get now, and with Trucido being as close to he is to doing whatever evil he wants his 'security' doesn't mean anything."

"Alex, I respect that you have a lot of people to factor into what choices you make, but if you continue to sit passive at his side then he might manage to win this, and then what? If you're afraid, then join us and we'll be there to help you. Queen Milicia has openly opposed Trucido since the beginning and yet her kingdom is fine. With her and the Heroes at your side, Trucido won't dare try and touch Santo-Luce." Zeke spoke with defiance in his voice.

"Alex, I didn't know your father, but this couldn't have been what he wanted for you. If he was willing to defy Trucido, even on his deathbed, then he must have thought he was doing the right thing for Santo-Luce. Don't you think so too?"

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander uncrossed his arms and felt it necessary to not tell Zeke that really, his father was trying to sabotage him at first but SLIGHTLY tried helping him by defying Trucido..., bringing them back down to his side as he, oddly, smiled at Zeke.

"Zeke, your attitude towards this just made this easier; I've told no one the truth of what happened to the former king until now. I know I've already done what my father couldn't have accomplished and that alone tells me that we're already at a higher chance of winning this. That being said..." he stole another glance out the window. It'd be another few minutes yet before he was called upon, so he estimated.

Alexander turned his attention back to Zeke as he continued, "...I'll be looked for for this announcement fairly soon. I assume you are behind me on my decision, correct?"

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke nodded enthusiastically. "Whatever you do Alex, I'll be right behind you." Zeke looked towards the entrance to the throne room, and releasing his brush from his holster he was quick to paint a pair of arms on him, marked by the usual bizarre and blended look of the inky flesh.

"If I'm going to be out there with you, I'd better look my best. After all, if you want to send out the message that you're a no nonsense king, then you need an equally no nonsense bodyguard at your side." Zeke grinned wide and flexed his arms in a 'go get 'em' fashion. Looking serious for a short moment towards Alex he spoke. "You ready for this? Things are only going to get harder from here."

[alexanderthegreat]

"You don't have to..." Alexander stopped as Zeke was already halfway through drawing his arms, "...you look fine without them, you know. I thank you for the thought however."

Alexander stretched an arm out and made a pulling motion with his hand. From the side of the room his staff leaning against a marble wall sprang to life and gracefully slipped into his hand. He took a moment to look it over and admire its unique designs engraved into the polished wood before he took his spot by the end of the room - he refused to sit in a chair at this moment.

Matching Zeke in seriousness then Alexander said, "I tend to look at what the ending result will be instead. Things will get worse, but then they'll get better. And when they get better, I can not only have some peace of mind but I can also hit the beach again."

That last part was half in jest. In truth Alexander really did miss being outside and relaxing by the sea, though as the situation worsened his time outside of the castle to enjoy such luxuries had become scarce - now there was no chance of going at all until the war was over. How long that was no one had any clue but he tried as hard as he could to hide his longing for the white sands, waves, and soft sea breezes.

He noticed Holmes poking his head in from the corner and without saying another word he nodded to the older man. Holmes obediently marched to open the doors.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Yeah...I'd like that." Zeke thought back fondly on the sights and sounds of Bright Beach. "When this is all over, what say you and me head back there for a real day at the beach? I'd love to try these suckers out in the water."

Behind Zeke's warm comments he wondered to himself if he'd be able to keep that deal. Without a real hand to have, the timer of The Game was nothing but a distant memory to him, lost in the recent adventures of his time in Allorum. Yet now it nagged him, and he wondered what would happen to him if the world were to be saved.

Day 7, save the world. Does that mean me and Don will be going back home after this? If we beat Trucido, am I going to have to say goodbye to all this? His eyes lingered on Alex for a time as the king was focused on Holmes. Am I going to have to say goodbye to my friends, even Alex? It made his heart sink a little to think about it, but like droplets of water on a dog Zeke shook his head, trying to remove the sad thoughts from his mind.

"We'll save this world. No doubt in mind we'll save it." He coached himself, focusing on the now. Keeping close to Alex, he stood ready by his side as the king of light was ready to step out from his shell.

[alexanderthegreat]

((I'm sorry if it seems choppy at points and it is long >>; i didn't know if Zeke was going to have much to say/do during this whole thing. change what you want))

Alexander had closed his eyes, nodding as Zeke spoke of the beach. He already envisioned sitting there, letting his bare feet soak into the water and never worrying about his good clothes getting dirty.

Oddly enough, silence was what brought him back from his little daydream. People everywhere. They watched him, they waited. He was used to addressing large crowds but this was one of his first major decisions on his own that he'd done since becoming the king, aside from Leid's punishment that was. Alexander swallowed up any and all nervousness as he stepped forward and gave a quick nod...bow thing (he remembered Holmes scolding from previous meetings, "You may have gotten away with looking ridiculous as the prince, but as king you be polite but never drop to the ground for them."), straightening himself and speaking loudly.

"Good evening and I thank all of you for coming on such short notice. It's a good thing for those people waiting outside of the door yet that it's not raining today," he started and immediately heard random chuckles scattering around the room. He let it go as something he probably shouldn't have said in a meeting like this, he really hadn't meant to crack a...joke (if that's what you would have called that) at all.

The king immediately cleared his throat and brought the focus back.

"Residents of Lux Lucis, here tonight you will hear this important announcement first but I assure you word of it will get out around not only Santo-Luce but the rest of Allorum itself very soon afterward. My announcement regards the Sumata and Santo-Luce's involvement in its plans, of which I apologize profusely for putting it off for so long. There's nothing I can say for that aside I had to make sure we had a good security for when I did come to my decision and share it with you all.

My decision's made and it stands firmly--tonight, Santo-Luce ends its participation with and support for Trucido Damnedblood and the Sumata organization."

The room, the castle itself and anyone outside suddenly erupted into life. Despite how startling and sudden all of the noise was Alexander stood unfazed, watching individual faces and listening carefully to the reactions of some people. Just as he'd suspected, some were upset, some were excited, some were angry and some were happy.

Overall, from what he'd observed it seemed people were happier with this decision. Those who were unsure and scared Alexander was certain they'd understand and appreciate this decision in due time. Silence eventually came again as Alexander waved about for it so he may continue.

"This will be difficult, having been under them for over...hundreds of years, but to those who are upset with this I guarantee you'll see this will be for the better. If it's any consolation, the former King Bradley was trying to do this himself before he fell ill," he held his breath for a second, letting it out in relief afterward to see that comments about his dead father didn't rile the crowd up even more, "for months I've been gathering helpful allies from the Crepusculum kingdom, those of which include a great army of amazing warriors specifically picked to fight against Trucido."

Alexander motioned to Zeke as he quickly added, "One's here with me. Santo-Luce will face hardship but will be safe. I promise all of you I'll do only my very best to protect everyone here in this country. In the next couple of days I'd advise those citizens within Santo-Luce who strongly support the Sumata to leave while they can otherwise risk capture in which I'll deal with you when brought to me. The rest of you, should you want to stay as safe as possible I'd advise to stay within this country's borders until further notice."


Alexander heard one comment out of the many thrown at him, that one being "Santo-Luce doesn't go to war!"

"Santo-Luce is not a war-supporting country at all. We're merely changing alliances and aiding those others who either cannot protect themselves or are fighting against the enemy, on top of protecting ourselves. The guards here will be on high alert everywhere, especially the borders. I'll have a magical barrier installed shortly after this meeting that'll protect us from attacks all over."

Alexander sighed as some people already moved to leave, some stayed and cursed loudly or applauded. Alexander smiled nonetheless as he said, "That is all I have to say currently, I appreciate your support and thank you all for coming. Have a good evening."

Once it was over he glanced at Zeke and quietly added, "That did actually go better than I thought it would."