realpolitik | A Bustling Castle Greeting

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A Bustling Castle Greeting | 039

[It's a dark and rainy night.

Seriously, who thought traveling in weather like this was a good idea...?

Thankfully, at the end of the road, there's always the Clarines castle, inviting to those who need to get out of the storm. Inside is certainly much brighter, bustling with people doing their own tasks and doing them well.

Everyone can be found here, if you look around hard enough. There are even snacks set out, so surely someone intended to eat those but perhaps got sidetracked--

Just don't make a mess. Prince Izana won't be pleased.]

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[Her offensive ploy works, and he's forced to back up even as he hurries to parry each of her strikes.]

Actually, I was referring to Prince Zen.

[it's true enough, he does live to serve--but he's happy to do whatever Kiki wants too. Still, with that he decides to change it up a little, lunging to one side to get away from her constant strikes, and trying to duck around behind her.]

... Of course you were.

[ deadpan to the last, even as she spins-- but a step too slow, because he's already behind her when she slides a foot back and lifts her sword to try and block whatever strike he's going for. ]

[So deadpan. It makes it hard to know when he's in trouble and when she's just messing with him, sometimes--

But in this instance, they both serve prince zen, so it's not too worrisome.

Unfortunately, as well as he knows her, she knows him. She predicts his strike perfectly, blocking it from behind her like that, and he looks a little startled despite himself.

Eh???

Really, he should be used to this.]

What's the matter, Mitsuhide? [ okay, now she's just teasing. ] You're not doing too well in the rain, either.

[She's making fun of him.......

He just looks sheepish, but he does get a bit more serious, unlocking their blades and immediately turning to swing another strike at her.]

You seem perfectly at home here, but you have to admit the weather's not that good today!

[ that's more like it. She's grimly satisfied, noting that she has to pick up the speed to block his next strike and try to push back. ]

We won't always be defending Zen in sunny weather, you know.

[He moves with the force of her push, allowing it to push him back only a little--and then he's bringing his sword around again, another fast strike.

Though as serious as his sword work is, the rest of him certainly isn't.]

If only he would stay inside when we ask him to...

And not to use the windows or ledges when he inevitably doesn't?

[ because we all know what good that would accomplish.

The strike sends her sword arm back a little, but she's quick for a retaliatory strike, this time aiming to disarm. ]

[Okay, that actually distracts him--]

It's dangerous, especially in weather like this--!

[...and because of his distraction, he almost loses his sword. Her strike is dead on, and he feels his grip loosen--and instead of fighting it, allows the sword to leave his fingers. He only barely manages to catch it with his other hand, quickly stepping backwards to buy himself some time to steady himself again.

WHOOPS]

[ and there's that small curve of her mouth, which is most definitely a Kiki smirk.

She won't follow up on that attack, though, preferring to watch that realization settle over him-- that yes, he is still very much distracted by their prince. ]

[The realization comes--and he looks so sheepish about it.]

...As his knights, his safety is of our utmost concern.

[But he sounds sheepish, even, because he knows he takes it above and beyond.]

And in order to ensure his safety, what should we be focusing on, Mitsuhide?

[ she might actually be smiling. ]

[And he just sighs.]

You're right as usual...

[Swordwork, but also--he slides his sword into its sheath with a clack, offering her a smile.]

But as well as our swordwork, we should also focus on our health. Come on, Kiki, let's go inside.

[ she can't say she hasn't had a good work-out-- so she concedes with a short nod this time, sheathing her sword and moving over to join him. ]

Sometimes even you make sense.

[...... yeah okay he pouts at that, even as he starts towards the castle.]

It isn't that rare...!

...Is it?

That you even have to ask me...

[...]

You're so hard on me...!

[whine whine whine.

at least they're going in where it's warm.]

You'd be offended if I went easy on you, wouldn't you?

[ ... and boy are they dripping. ]

...I suppose it wouldn't be you if you went really easy on me. So no, in that case, I wouldn't want that at all.

[things are better when Kiki is Kiki.

But Mitsuhide just. Drips for a moment.

And then starts off towards the place where the linens are kept, nodding cheerfully to the servants as they go even as he drips.]

Good. I was beginning to wonder if you'd caught something.

[ but she trails after him, nodding silently to the servants and doing her best to drip water in a straight path at least. ]

[awww, kiki. That's almost like concern or something. Regardless, when he makes it to the linens closet, he just tosses her a towel first before reaching for one of his own.]

Don't be silly. I never get sick.

[because idiots don't catch colds--]

You mean all of the idiotic things you've said over the years have come from a coherent mind?

[ she catches the towel, eyebrows lifted. ]

Impressive.

[.......... :(]

H-hey! That's so cruel, Kiki!

[he's not whining, he's not-- okay yeah he might be whining a bit in the last syllable of her name.]

I'm impressed, and you're insulted?

[ as she drapes her towel over her head for some calmly vigorous rubbing. ]

[.......he can't win this argument, can he--

okay right. He just takes a deep breath and when he lets it out, he's smiling. It wouldn't be Kiki if she didn't tease him like this.

And so he tries his most solemn expression and bows his head, though the smile keeps peeking through.]

Then I thank you for your compliment, Miss Kiki.

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