rakuen | posted in Seeking

How so?

A particularly useful weapon ability.

What does it do? I'm curious.

A victory will win my Player two tokens, rather than the customary one. If we transfer one of these tokens, there is no disadvantage in losing.

How clever.

I'd offer to fight, but I'm a Weapon this round. Good luck.

My thanks. Perhaps if you find a partner, you could suggest it?

What?! How dare you! You [Suzaku gave up typing, he was so angry. He didn't use the computers very often but had decided to look today and had saw this. He hit enter without even thinking and stormed out of the computer room. How could Shōryū do something like this. Suzaku hadn't known Enki long but he knew that the Kirin hated violence and hated fighting. He also knew that Shōryū was the only person who could order Enki to fight.

It didn't take much to work out what had happened and Suzaku's eyes were blazing as he stormed out and started searching for Shōryū or Enki. He stormed towards the Black dorm first, they wern't in the common room but as Suzaku flung open the door to the kichen he saw them. They were cooking something and this made Suzaku even more angry for some reason.]

You! [A blur of limbs as Suzaku flies towards Shōryū his leg aiming to contact with Shōryū's head.]

[well, they were making froot salad, but apparently Suzaku has other ideas, because he makes the mistake of yelling to telegraph his attack. It means Shōryū has time to bring the bowl they were slicing peaches into up between his head and Suzaku's leg, if not fast enough to block the attack completely. He staggers backwards into the counter, now just a tad covered in pieces of fruit and orange juice.]

Wha---[Enki wasn't a warrior by a long shot, so the sudden appearance of Suzaku was startling, but even he saw the kick. Not to talk about the yelling.]

Suzaku! No! Ri--- [But Enki swallowed his call for Rikaku, first because he didn't want Suzaku hurt, and second because... well... Rikaku couldn't answer. Wasn't present enough, or couldn't hear, to answer the call.

And then the fruit went all over the place. Enki winced for the loss. Sure, they could get more, but, still...]

What was that for! You can't just--- [Yet again he swallowed words, because, well. It was kinda funny. Especially now that Shōryū had bits of fruit in his hair, on his shoulders, and decorating the bench and floor around him. Enki swallowed snickers, and schooled his face into a frown.

(Maybe no one saw him pick up a few pieces of fallen fruit... that would ruin the stern disapproval he had going, but he'd been looking forward to that fruit salad, even if it was such a simple thing.)]

[Lelouch had been also heading into the kitchen for something to eat after his long, abyssmal morning, and finds his Knight kicking Shouryu. He expected it was in response to making Enki fight.]

Suzaku! Stand down! [Ordered like a general]

[Enki's words didn't even register, nor did the fruit flying everwhere, he had brought his fist up not paying attention to anything but the anger rushing through his mind.

Until he heard the order, it was Lelouch's voice and so he stopped, his fist never connected and he stepped back shaking with anger, his eyes blazing.]

I assume there's a reason for this? [he seems almost casual as he brushes fruit off his shoulders and out of his hair, but he glances over to Enki to check the kirin's state as he does so. There's also an undercurrent of the 'offended monarch' act he perfected those years ago.]

[Enki resists the urge to smirk, because really, it wasn't every day you saw your king being forced to brush pieces of fruit off himself.

Of course, it also distracts from the absolute choking rage from Suzaku, and it's hard not to back up as far as he can where he's sitting on the bench... Okay, so he's already failed that. He'll just hope Shōryū didn't actually see the winces or anything.]

Suzaku... What was that for? [Enki frowns at Suzaku, hoping he's calmed down enough. He really can't see where this explosion came from, Suzaku hadn't done much at all when they'd walked in on Shōryū and Lelouch talking.

Enki busies himself with picking up more stray pieces of fruit, putting almost all of them back into the bowl that's now been deposited on the bench beside him again.]

[Looks at Suzaku] Would you explain what's going on, Suzaku? [A bit more quietly, encouraging him to tell him more privately, instead of broadcasting it, if he's so inclined.]

[He was still angry, his eyes were blazing and he glared back at Shōryū. How dare he wonder why Suzaku was angry, after he had pretended to be worried about Enki. After he had told Suzaku he wanted to avoid making Enki fight. In this round battles were optional, there was no reason for this. No sense at all to make Enki fight.

Enki had been right, even though he had forgotten that Shōryū was the king. Suzaku had been confused because Enki had seemed to be so happy to see him. But he had been right all along, Shōryū was a jerk. He looks to Lelouch]

He... He... [He looks back to Shōryū anger blazing]

You promised you wouldn't make Enki fight, you said you'd never 'dream' of doing so... [He is still trembling in anger, he looked like he wanted to punch Shōryū order or no order.]

Do promises mean nothing to the King of En.

[Jumping in before Shōryū has a chance to open his fool mouth, Enki leans forward just a bit, enough to be able to stretch out a hand and put it on Shōryū's shoulder (though he is still pressed up as far back as he can come on the bench, Suzaku's rage is unsettling).]

I ain't gonna be fighting, Suzaku. Even if this was a normal round, I wouldn't have been able to. I have an... [Enki pauses to grimace, because it's such an affront that they'd managed to come up with something that would, however marginally, make him able to participate.]

An ability ring. He'll [Enki lifts his hand briefly to poke Shōryū in the temple before settling it back on the shoulder again] be able to wield his own weapon an' fight.

[Not that that made anything better and Enki was not gonna mention the order. That was private.]

A ring called 'Pact'. It effectively makes me his shirei, for the time being. [he doesn't look impressed by Suzaku's anger. He is, personally, both insulted and amused at the boy's apparent loyalty to Enki, but what he feels personally doesn't particularly factor into how he'll act. His expression is stern, almost forbidding, as the knight stammers and Enki cuts in.]

The king as the guardian demon. [he's drawn himself up, and fruit or no fruit it is an intimidating aura he's giving off.] A position I will gladly take. A kirin will not fight! A kirin will always advise their king on the most merciful and just action, but it is the king's duty to make the decisions a kirin would condemn. The king goes to war, the kirin presides to ensure a minimum of bloodshed. Ruthlessness tempered with mercy. That is why we rule together. Suzaku. You believe in Lelouch despite his decisions, do you not? Do you honestly think I would take this path if there was a better option? If there was a way to ensure our country's future without conflict, I would take it.

[You do not intimidate Lulu. Period. But defusing, for now.] As we said before, Shouryu, it's beneficial to learn about other worlds, and how they work. [Though he was intrigued by that ring for Nunnally's sake.]

[Incidently he doesn't intimidate Suzaku either, he's still staring at Shōryū with defience in his eyes. But he was listening and he did understand. Somewhat. He was glad that it was Shōryū was fighting and not Enki but he had seen Enki when the tournament was on, Enki didn't like fighting none stop.

If this had been a normal round, one where participants were punished if they did not take part, then he would have apologised. But it wasn't; in this round battles were optional and so there was no need for this. Pact ring or not.

But if this was Enki's choice, free choice then Suzaku was prepared to let the matter drop, maybe even apologise for kicking Shōryū. He stepped over to the kirin, his eyes intense.]

Tell me truthfully Enki, did he order you to agree to this? [After all Enki had said that his king was the only one who could order him to fight or let violence happen. That he had no choice and from the way Enki had spoken Shōryū had forced violence on him before.]

Did he force or coerce you in any way?

[Suzaku had calmed down marginally, but not enough, really, and since he had come closer, Enki subtly shifted backwards again... even if there really was no place to go. At least the ministers couldn't, wouldn't and didn't resort to violence and knew their king enough that real animosity, real rage didn't really happen.

They became angry, yes, but the emotions were frustration and exasperation, not hate, rage or animosity. Enki shook his head, and for once kept his mouth shut when it came to his opinions of what kirin were, or could do, when Suzaku asked a thing that would usually invite him to rant about it. Asked three things. In quick sequence.]

No, he didn't. [No, Shōryū hadn't forced or coerced him in any way; the king's will was the will (or action) of the kirin. As to the first... well. Benevolence and mercy and being just in all things didn't wholly extend to his person. That was, he had stolen before, and, however vaguely, lying was something this (however unsual) kirin didn't consider an impossibility.]

[well, at least his kirin is diplomatic. Had he been more like Keiki, honest to a fault, this would have been a problem.

Fortunately Enki is as he is. He snorts lightly, both at their set expressions and the kirin's reticence, this time well-earned.]

To force a kirin is to rule crudely, no two ways about it. If you have been at all misinformed about the ways of En, you should air the imagined grievance now. I would rather keep the next meal I'm preparing in its bowl. [he's relaxed again, at least enough to lean back and give Enki a sidelong look of amusement for his half-lie. Is there also approval? Probably.]

It's understandable that you would be confused. Our worlds are very different.

[Noting the looks those two are giving each other, but keeps it cordial.] No, I believe that's it. [Glance to Suzaku says 'yes, really'] From one removed from his court to another, if there's any assistance I can be, let me know.

But for now, I think we'll be on our way. [Note the distinct lack of an apology. Or helping to clean up. :|]

[And now Suzaku feels stupid. He nods to Enki, believing him completely because he sees no reason why Enki would lie to him. As for why Enki would agree to letting Shōryū fight Suzaku didn't know, but that didn't matter. The anger didn't fade, rather it just turned inward at himself. Which, really was where his anger was aimed at most the time.]

In that case then, [He turns to Shōryū still looking angry but apologetic at the same time.] Please accept my appology, I'm sorry I ruined your meal. [A miniscule bow and he turns and marches out still trembling with anger.]

[Very, very quietly, Enki groans and manages to not reach out to attempt to stop Suzaku. It just won't do any good, unless and until Suzaku gets a better understanding of where Shōryū and Enki comes from, and, in particular, what it means to be a kirin.

There is a very simple explanation, but that would entail expressing, out loud, the fear of (lack of) time, the possibility of shitsudou, the looming threat of death and then destruction of En.]

Great. Just... [He can't find any other words, and crosses his arms, glaring at the floor. Why couldn't this just have been easy? But no, of course there had to be more crap after the order...]

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