[Closed to Gino]

[veepofchess]

Lelouch was minding his own business, really. Just walking past the store, getting a feel for the layout of the campus. He'd actually been in classes all day, which had left him thoroughly bored. So he decided to make use of his evening time before dinner to explore the campus, and make notes of possible vulnerabilities in his PDA. He had to be careful how he proceeded, since that woman claiming to be Britannia was 'protecting' him from Zero.

Comments

[trollofthree]

"That brother?!"

The exclamation probably came out of nowhere, considering that Gino had been inside the shop a few seconds before. No longer. Now he was almost gaping down at Lelouch, full of the sudden, bizarre realisation that this was why the Empress had been so cagey when they'd talked last.

[veepofchess]

Damn. He'd been hoping to avoid Gino a bit longer. He changed programs on his PDA to the communications application, then turned to Gino. "I'm sorry?"

[trollofthree]

And here he was under imperial command to not start any fights. Life was tough. In any case, he seemed just fine with half-talking to himself as he loped over.

"Man, why'd she have to give that order? But more to the point, you know you're meant to be dead... right?"

[veepofchess]

That was the second time he'd heard that. "No, I am very much alive, as you can see," he replied coolly.

[trollofthree]

"Yeah, I'd noticed that," he said it casually, having decided that the easiest way to handle this was pretend everything was sunshine and Ashford all over again. "Dunno what I'm meant to say to that. Congrats?"

[veepofchess]

"I don't recall that ever being at issue, but I suppose I can accept." As long as Gino behaved himself, Lelouch didn't have much cause to not reciprocate.

"So if what I have come to understand is true, then you are my sister's Knight?"

[trollofthree]

"One of 'em." Ha, he made a pun. But anyway. He'd mention that technically Zero is as much Nunnally's Knight as he is, outside the political sphere, but nah. That's not something you'd tell a school chum, is it? "There going to be a problem with that? Because I'm gonna serve her whether you like it or not, but since you're her brother'n all..."

[veepofchess]

"As long as you serve her well, then there shouldn't be a problem," he answered. "As long as she is happy, then that is what is most important to me."

[trollofthree]

His grin was Lelouch's only warning before one hand came to rest on his shoulder. Lightly, of course. Pretending was kinda easy, really. Nothing to it. "Great, great! Then there's no problem at all."

[veepofchess]

"No, none at all. Unless that changes." He still appeared bored, but Gino ought to know better than to take that at face value.

[trollofthree]

And know he did. "Ha, sure. Guess you'd better hope she doesn't change her mind, 'cause if she takes back the ceasefire order, you're gonna be in serious trouble."

[veepofchess]

He didn't really show any kind of response to Gino's poorly-veiled threat. "Gino, you should know better. What could I possibly do to sour my sister's view of myself? I have another chance to live peacefully with her. Why would I ruin that?"

[trollofthree]

"Do you really want me to answer that?" He let go of Lelouch's shoulder, and rested the hand on his hip instead. There really wasn't much he could add to that. "So. What's it like over in Fortitude, anyway?"

[veepofchess]

He shrugged. "Not particularly interesting enough to be worth commenting on."