A Royal Betrothal (Ell)

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

Genji had watched me shoot, which held no surprise at all. ”Your trainers obviously were not good enough then,” I smiled in amusement. He was possible right. ”If they failed to teach a skill as important as kyujutsu. A student’s skills must be balanced before they progress to specialization.” I was slightly confused at his wording, looking at him. I watched as he looked at the dagger and the arrow and how close they were, my own smile coming with ease. ”If I had aimed a bit higher, I might have ruined your arrow.”

[/color] My amusement mild, but it was there yet again. I watched as he signaled the woman to go and get arrow and dagger and then grabbed the bow I had put away before putting his own against the wall.

After a moment, he grabbed my own wrist and pulled me to where I was standing in front of him and the target. ”Kyujutsu, like any skill, is an art form. And while not everyone can be exceptional at it, anyone can learn to be exceptional. It starts with proper form.” All fighting or weapon use was an art form, I had learn that during my training. I saw him place the bow against the wall as well and then watched as he stood behind me. My left side was facing the target and I felt his feet pushing my legs apart and then felt him pull my body to arch my back slightly. ”One of the keys is balanced posture. Make sure your stance is wider than your shoulders, your feet angled to create a V-shape.” I nodded slightly, allowing him to move me with ease. He then grabbed the bow, placing my hands where they should be. I gripped the bow carefully, but with a firm grip before he lifted my arms to shoulder level.

”You then turn your gaze to the target.” My eyes were set on the target. ”Next is the draw itself.” I felt a nudge on my arms and I lifted them above my head and then with his own hands, he pulled by my wrist and had it ready to fire. ”And then you release.” I felt his breath against my ear and then he released my wrist as I released the string. It did better then before, but that was only because he actually helped me a bit. ”An art form, as taught to us in the halls of the Academy.” I nodded, looking at the bows in my hands. ”Though in battle such perfect style is impractical, the basics you can pull from it are applicable on and off the field.” I smiled slightly and nodded.

”My brother will be surprised I can get that close to the center now.”[/color] I said, seeing the dagger being handed out to me and taking it, slipping it up my sleeve and looking back at him for a moment. ”My sister may actually see it as more of a art form now… She does not care for fighting or war, she hates it with a dirty passion.”[/color] I said, wrinkling my nose slightly at the thought of a world with no war. It was something I was so use to now that a world without it would not be right.
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count five. four six.
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size]

[Elloria]

Genji shrugged at Nayeli's statements. “It takes years of practice to use this form properly. It is rare for beginners in its use to make a strike such as you did. Still, I suppose you’re not completely a...what is the word? ...Greenhorn.” He plucked the bow from her grasp and returned it to the wall. “As for your sister, it does not matter if she considers it an art or not so long as she keeps her opinions on war and fighting to herself. I haven’t the time to bother with teaching her its subtleties nor the patience to listen to her prattling about it.” He moved back and picked up his own bow as Mami held out the quiver he had been using. All the arrows were accounted for once more. With a nod to her, he returned the equipment to the wall. He looked back at Nayeli. “My people are warriors, but we are honorable in battle. We do not fight as the humans and elves did in the Blue Divide. We are not animals like that.” Genji flicked his gaze away to look across the training grounds. There were times when he actually wished to return to Itasus. The people made sense there. They could be vicious and unreasonable - what human wasn't? - but at least they never failed to remain orderly and civil even during the bloodiest battle. The Blue Divide was nothing short of genocide and senseless slaughter on all sides. He had seen no purpose to it, other than to utterly annihilate the opponent. What good did that do? An all-out slugfest like that meant weakened infrastructures afterwards, countless years of rebuilding to achieve the glory once held. He hoped to establish proper order here, starting with the troops of Teirm. “Alagaesians lack common sense when it comes to such important matters,” he said. “My people have warred with one another for centuries, yet you’ll not find the sort of devastation and shaky state of affairs on our islands.” He looked back at Nayeli, contempt for all things Alagaesian smoldering in his sea-colored eyes. “You people have no business desecrating something so sacred and natural. Alas, it seems none of you can comprehend that with ease.” He closed his eyes and shrugged again. “But I must work with what is available, no?” He gazed at her once more. “What do you wish to do next? If you’ve nothing in mind, I will find someone to spar with.”

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

I watched as he shrugged off my statements. "It takes years of practice to use this form properly. It is rare for beginners in its use to make a strike such as you did. Still, I suppose you’re not completely a...what is the word? ...Greenhorn.” I could not help but smile slightly. He had not seen my true work, my silence when it came to stalking, so I could kill what needed to be killed. I found it fun to torture those who dare come to kill me, or who went against me. "As for your sister," I looked at him for a moment, my eyes not narrowed, but I wanted to know what he thought of my words on her. "It does not matter if she considers it an art or not so long as she keeps her opinions on war and fighting to herself. I haven’t the time to bother with teaching her its subtleties nor the patience to listen to her prattling about it.” I chuckled slightly at him.

"I doubt you will have to teach her... She knows it all when it comes to the reasons behind war and fighting, but she still finds it all Barbaric."

[/color] I said, finding what her words said Amusing. I could not help it. My sister was beyond delicate, but she was very smart and she was my little sister. I had to love her, just for that. "My people are warriors, but we are honorable in battle. We do not fight as the humans and elves did in the Blue Divide. We are not animals like that.” I was not old enough to be apart of the blue divide, but I did not mind listening to him. I put my fingers on my chin and listened to him. Animal... It was a good word for some of those warrior back in the blue divide. I thought to myself as I listened to him speak about it. "Alagaesians lack common sense when it comes to such important matters... My people have warred with one another for centuries, yet you’ll not find the sort of devastation and shaky state of affairs on our islands.” I had to agree. He was correct on that end for sure. My uncle had allowed everything to become chaotic, along with that woman he seemed to like for some odd reason. "You people have no business desecrating something so sacred and natural. Alas, it seems none of you can comprehend that with ease.” I chuckled. Where he was from, he was probably right.

"But I must work with what is available, no?” I nodded slightly. "What do you wish to do next? If you’ve nothing in mind, I will find someone to spar with.” I smiled and shook my head. "Go, you do not have to treat me with anything special... Besides, I must get with my men to make sure they are not getting to drunk and becoming worthless slugs."[/color] I said to him. I replaced my blade in my sleeve and then made sure my knife was hidden as always. "I will see you at Dinner."[/color] I said to him before turning and leaving to head towards the city of Teirm. As I walked past the many soldier, I had many watching me, but one glance from my icy glare caught them all by surprise. I could only hope that tonight, he would agree to marrying my sister and return to Carvala with me to announce it. Maybe his men, those closes to him, could talk some sense into him.
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count five. four six.
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size][/quote]

[Elloria]

This Nayeli listened well for an Alagaesian. Genji thought for a brief moment that perhaps this continent held hope after all. The notion died quickly. They were all senseless barbarians. Look at the way his own troops gawked at the princess. Or whatever she was. Had they no pride? No honor? No sense of respect for either themselves or for their fellows? The more he thought on it, the more it galled him. “You there.” He jabbed a finger at one of the gawkers. The man jerked slightly and looked at Genji. Something like fear shone in his eyes as the count stalked over to him. “Get up and spar with me.” The icy gaze drew the man swiftly to his feet, sword in hand. A cruel grin split the count's face.

It was another two hours before Genji finally left the training field. He would have stayed longer, but it was getting to be time for the evening meal. Not to mention the fact that there were effectively no more sparring partners for him besides his guards. And where was the fun in that? They were more interested in their own specialties. Which left him with no one really worth sparring against. Not with swords, at least. He might as well have napped or something. Or find some new texts to read. He had steadily worked his way through the Citadel library and was nearing the end of it. These people were so troublesome. Genji made his way through the quieting streets of Teirm, his four guards in formation around him. As always, the people stared and murmured. It seemed they would never become accustomed to the sight of him. Genji's mood was less than pleasant when the group arrived at the Citadel. His personal attendant stood outside the doors, waiting for them. She seemed eager - almost anxiously so. This did not please him. His arms crossed as he ascended the final step and he glared at her. “Are there fresh clothes waiting for me, Emily? Water drawn, that I may shower briefly before dinner?”

“There are certainly clothes for you, Lord Genji. The ones I ordered have finally arrived!” Emily ducked back into the Citadel. Genji's eyes narrowed. Her voice was too...bright. She was normally a cheery girl to begin with, but even this was too much. It could not bode well. He followed her in and stopped in shock. The only indication that shock was what stopped him was a slight widening of his eyes. His arms slowly lowered, the hands clenched into fists. Throughout the entryway were several servants and slaves. All stood by various boxes and trunks. All held some article of clothing - shirts, pants, cloaks, even underwear. And each one in some absolutely outlandish color. Or at least they were outlandish to Genji's simple tastes. Violets and oranges and sunshine yellow....was that a pair of pink boxers he was staring at? What sort of blue was that supposed to be? Unforgivable. He looked at the brightly grinning girl. Her smile faltered slightly at the glower he directed at her. “...Are you not pleased, my lord?” Behind him, Rikuto snickered.

And Genji snapped for the second time that day. He walked calmly over to the girl and slapped her. The resounding thwack echoed in the silent entry hall, followed by a softer thud and an “Oh!” as Emily fell to the floor. Genji's chest rose and fell rapidly as his anger escalated. Was this the height of her idiocy? Or was there greater incompetence that she could perpetrate? He had no intention of letting her show him. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her to her feet, earning a sharp yelp of pain. He slapped her to the floor again. “Do I look pleased, Emily? DO I?” He turned and leapt towards Rikuto. Without pause, he pulled her sanjiegun from the holster on her hip and turned back to Emily. The girl let out a shriek and attempted to rise as Genji put the three sections of the staff together. As she was about to run, he lashed out at her legs with the staff and knocked her back down. “When have I ever worn such...such...garish, reproachable, unspeakably horrendous, filthy, wretched clothing?” As he slipped into his native Itasan, he landed a solid blow on the girl's body with each word that flew from his mouth. She screamed with each hit, sobbing between blows. “I am Genji Lantieri, the Itasan Count of Teirm! Itasan, do you hear me? Not some filthy Alagaesian whore-noble who loves nothing better than to make a shocking and vile spectacle of himself! My blood is not so tainted as that!” He beat at nearly every available inch of her body. Only her head and neck did he leave untouched. When it soon became obvious that he wasn't going to stop any time soon, Rikuto and Raiden stepped in and grabbed his arms to drag him away from the now-silently sobbing girl. He landed one final kick upon her as Mami and Hiroshi wrested the sanjiegun from him. He breathed heavily for several minutes, his eyes wide and enraged. Once Rikuto and Raiden were certain Genji wouldn’t leap at Emily as soon as he was free, they released their grip on him. His breathing remained heavy, pulled as he was by the tides of his anger. “I will not have this imbecilic whore working in my Citadel. I will not tolerate her presence here. Dismiss her and cast her from my sight. I care not what you fools do with her after she leaves the gates! JUST GET HER OUT OF HERE AND GET THE DAMN CLOTHES OUT OF MY SIGHT!” The servants and slaves scurried to obey his orders. Clothes flew back into their respective containers while several of the servants gingerly lifted the beaten Emily up and carried her out of the Citadel. Genji stood there with his eyes closed, trying to rein in his emotions with several Itasan meditation techniques.

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

As I walked into the city, a few people gawked at me, but my own ice cold glare touched their own were turned away. I finally found the Inn/Pub my men were at and I walked in, pushed a glass from one of the men already drunk. "Quit the drinking, you have drank enough."

[/color] I said, pouring the liquid onto the ground, catching the attention of the rest of my men. Dave walked over to me, kissed my cheek in greeting. "How was the training, Milady?" I looked at him for a moment, wanting to know why my man was drunk when no one was suppose to be. "He was like that when I arrived Milady." I nodded. He could not control when he was away. I set down with my men, not at all ashamed to do so. "I learned new thing... He is a good warrior, much better then half the men in my uncles army, if not better then three quarters."[/color] The men chuckled, one close to me and I punched him hard. He hushed quickly. I did not lie and they knew it, Dave was impressed. "Though, I would not see why he would not marry your dear sister, Leilani, I am sure you could offer him a chance to train the soldier... If he is that good, I would not mind learning myself." I smiled.

I took a drink from his mug and listened as my men talked, speaking back and forth about how they could not wait to get home. These men were all nobles, they were the best and most the time, the most respectable men out there. They had wives that they loved and children that held their hearts. I listened to stories of both and it was nice. I had once thought I wanted children, until I realized my father was a cowardly bastard who needed to be put in his own place. I had yet to do that, but one day, I would do it. He would be dead and I would be laughing as he laid at my own feet before having my men take him away. Then... My mother would be my problem...

I loved the woman, more then anything... She was kind and sweet, completely opposite of my uncle and someone I truly cared about. It was why my father was possible still alive. I could kill him anytime, but I had not and it was because of her...

"Lady Nayeli?" I looked to Dave who was standing. "We should go." I took his arm and stood, walking outside and mounting his horse. He took another soldier's since mine was in the stables. She needed to rest and I would need her in the morning when we started our return home. She was not a war horse like the ones my men road. Dave did not speak as we rode and soon, we were with the gates in front of the Citadel. As we stopped, two of the guards came out carrying a woman, she was bruised badly and Dave was shocked. "What has happened here?" His voice was strong and demanded a answer. Dave was not one in charge here, but he was my right hand man behind my brother and I was the King's Niece and one of those in line to the throne, I had a right to know. I gave my horse to a servant and walked towards the door.

"Yes? What happened to this woman?"[/color] I asked, her sobs were loud and she looked as though her bones had been broken. After they answered me, I was even shocked... My uncle was cruel, but he never beat anyone over clothing, it was just that, clothing. Such a thing to beat over was stupid and I could not help but shake my head. Dave and I went past and into the place, seeing that not many were around. I would wait here for the man to come and take us to the Dining room.
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count Not counting
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size]

[Elloria]

As soon as Emily was out of the Citadel, Genji had stormed up the stairs and turned towards the west wing. His four guards followed a short distance behind. It had been a long time since they had seen him lose his temper like that with a servant. Most had learned to not displease him by now. But sometimes...sometimes the newer ones lived in blissful ignorance. Until moments like this happened, which humbled even his closest confidants. Genji paused outside the locked doors to the wing. Mami rushed forward, silently unlocking and opening the doors. Genji strode past her without comment. His eyes and expression were inscrutable once more. No trace seemed to remain of that terrible. None...save for the rigidity of his stance and the stamp of his feet. The guards shared a glance, silently agreeing that Emily had been lucky. Genji seemed unaware of the effect his outburst had had upon not only his servants, but upon his guards. The truth was that he simply didn't care. Idiocy had been removed from his rank and file. That was all that mattered.

He entered his room and moved to his wardrobe. Opening it, he flicked through the clothes that hung there. There was no time to bathe properly. It would have to wait until after dinner. This vexed him sorely, but his body rebelled against the thought of waiting to replenish its energy. Between thoroughly trouncing his troops and beating Emily to within an inch of her life, he was more than a little fatigued. But at least he could change into something a bit less soiled. Something somber, perhaps? Definitely a shirt that was light and he could leave unbuttoned. He was starting to get that feeling of being smothered by his own body heat. He quickly unstrapped Hinote and Seisui from their respective positions and set them carefully on the bed. He then discarded his vest and pants. Feeling cooler and freer, he went back to perusing his wardrobe for something. It wasn't like any other day where he might just head down in a robe or have dinner sent to him and call it good. He had a guest and would be expected to entertain her. He sighed. Because of her, he'd gotten nothing productive done. He briefly contemplated some of his kimono before discarding the idea. It would take too long to put on and Nayeli was not worth that much effort.

He finally settled on a simple navy blue pants with a slightly lighter button-up shirt. As usual, Genji only buttoned the lower half of the shirt. The sleeves were long, falling a good half-inch below the tips of his fingers. Unconcerned, he strapped Seisui to his back and Hinote to his hip before leaving the room and the wing. His guards followed, Mami locking the wing securely behind them. The group made its way back to the stairs. They were greeted by the sight of Nayeli and her knight standing near the foot, as if waiting for Genji to arrive. He descended the steps silently, stopping beside Nayeli. He met her gaze squarely, the disdainful look back upon his face. “Is there a reason you wait here instead of in the dining hall?”

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

I could tell Dave was a bit concerned for my Sister, but I was not. Know noble, no matter what, would touch my sister, even if she was his betrothed. Dave thought otherwise, I could tell. My brother, myself, and Leilani were all good friends with the man and he cared for my sister, but she needed to be married to a noble... And a Count was perfect for her. She would be well taken care of and she would forget about the slave trade since she lived in the main place for it... Teirm. I smiled slightly at the thought. I could not wait to see her in a wedding dress. She was beyond beautiful and I knew she would look even better in a wedding dress. I looked around for a moment, waiting for Genji to join them. "Is there a reason you wait here instead of in the dining hall?” I turned my ice blue eyes towards him and then smiled slightly.

"Though I have been here many times, it is not my place to welcome myself in your citadel and home."

[/color] I said to him, looking at her guards before acknowledging him. Dave was silent, standing behind him as he waited for Genji to take us to the Dining hall. He normally did not speak much, which was always a good thing. I could not help but think Leilani would be happy here... She would make friends quickly and she already enjoyed coming here. She had a few Diplomatic friends here and such, so I was not worried about her. Sure, she had taken her title as Princess away, even stating she would never take the throne if it was her turn, but she still needed to be married.

She would be happy here and if he refused... Well, I only hoped he did not. If he did, I was sure that possible he would agree to training the troops in skills much like his own. It would help our chances in battle. The army was a joke, the only reason we probably won is because there were farmers protecting their fields and family. We needed those who would fight to win, not to just protect. I thought about it carefully and then looked to Genji for a moment. "Count Genji... This is Dave, one of my men and a good friend."[/color] I said, figuring it would help to at least introduce them before continuing. "I guess it would be best to head on to dinner."[/color] I said, merely as a suggestion since it would soon be so late dinner lasted far too long.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count Not counting
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size]

[Elloria]

“How...considerate of you.” There was a slight inflection to his words as Genji spoke. He wondered if the subtlety would escape Nayeli's notice as it escaped most Alagaesians. Most of the people on this continent made little attempt to hide exactly what they were thinking. Other Alagaesians might be fooled, but Itasus thrived on the subtleties. It was why Genji knew which nobles he could trust and which he couldn't. He could trust this Nayeli to a certain extent. She seemed to admire him, if only slightly. Fear had no grip upon her as far as he could tell. While that made her more difficult to manipulate, it raised his respect for her. “Count Genji... This is Dave, one of my men and a good friend.” There was a slight pause as the men eyed each other. There was something in the knight’s eyes that Genji did not like. As if the man did not believe Genji was worthy of this proposed betrothal. Genji’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I guess it would be best to head on to dinner.”

Without a word, Genji swept past the two - closely followed by his guards - and led the group to the same dining hall they had used earlier that day. At some point, the blood had been scrubbed away. No visible trace remained. This lightened Genji’s mood immensely. He kept a clean citadel, with the exception of certain areas in the west wing. He entered the dining hall. The large table had been moved to one wall in favor of Genji’s usual set up - five smaller, low-set individual tables set up in a large circle surrounding a round serving table. Two of the spare tables had been added to the mix for Nayeli and her knight. A slave sat in the space separating the serving table and each individual table. These would act as the servers for the evening. A large bowl of boiled rice was set on the seven tables as well as an empty bowl, a large plate and a wine glass. The bowl sat atop the plate on one corner. In the center of each table on a small appetizer plate was a traditional Itasan delicacy - a quail century egg. Each egg was diced into five sections to show off the creamy dark green yolk cupped in the gelatinous brown that had been the egg white. The sections were arrayed around a steamed dumpling. The wine glass sat to the right of each appetizer. A faint smell of ammonia lingered around the tables, courtesy of the aged eggs.

Genji and his guards took up their usual places and settled onto the large zabuton cushions. Genji and Raiden sat cross-legged while the three women sat with their feet tucked beneath their butts in a more traditional style. Genji gestured towards the two remaining tables that faced him. “Sit. Though I am certain this is an unusual style for you, it is not uncomfortable.” As his guests settled onto the cushions, he picked up a section of the egg set before him. “I was not expecting you, thus this evening’s meal is a collection of delicacies from Itasus. This, for example,” he said, waving the egg slightly at them. “We call this pidan. It means something like ‘century egg’ in Broddring common. Through a curing process, the eggs are aged to create an earthy flavor quite unlike their normal taste. The smell is not particularly wonderful, but the taste and texture are worth it.” He popped the egg slice into his mouth as the slaves poured Itasan wine into the glasses. His eyes drifted half-closed as he chewed the piece and tasted its rich flavor, felt the smoothness of the creamy yolk. This was, perhaps, the best batch the cooks had produced yet. “It has taken years, but my cooks seem to have finally grasped how to make the dish properly. Tell me, Princess. What do you think of it?”

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

“How...considerate of you.” I heard something in his voice, but I said nothing, but I wanted to get on to dinner mostly. I was sure, that after the wine I had tasted today, it would be highly wonderful. I then moved on to introduce my Knight, my friend, and someone my brother always seemed to push towards me. I could not marry Dave though, mostly because, we were better of as friends and he did not have my... Same Morals or Ideas on what should happen to those who try and harm me. He would rather kill them quickly then take pleasure in torturing them. I was the only one who did that in my sibling area, but I did not care. As I waited, I thought mostly about my sister slightly. She would like it here... The Citadel was beautiful and clean, which would give her some happiness and it was beside the ocean... She had always loved the ocean.

I looked between the two as they stared at each other. Dave did not move his gaze until Genji moved to head towards the dining hall. I took his arm again... Though I wore what I had before, I was still beautiful, or so I hoped I was. I had made sure I looked my best for the most part, but even I could not advert things from my travels. As we walked, we did not speak and I watched the guards slightly...

They were highly protective of Genji, which was a good thing. I could only hope that my sister would be well guard, of course, once they were married, I was sure they would. She would probably not come to Teirm with him until closer to the wedding, so that I would not have to worry about until later one. As we got closer to the dining hall, I noticed that the blood was no where around, which was a good thing, I hated to see something dirty unless it could not be avoid.

As we walked in, I noticed the large table had been moved and seven small tables were set around it. I noticed that someone was in the center of the table where all the food was and I looked at it, slightly confused. I had never seen anything like this and the slight aroma of something was causing my nose to twitch. It was not a very nice smell and I could not help but wrinkle my nose while Genji's back was to me. Other then that, I could smell many nice things and I saw the wine glasses, which made my smile brighten. "Sit. Though I am certain this is an unusual style for you, it is not uncomfortable.” I took the place he motioned to and I looked around the table. "It is different."

[/color] I said to him, looking over at Dave who was silent for the most part. He was not wearing heavy Armour, that was back at the Inn he would be staying in, but he wore light armor and instead of the Kingdom Colors, my own colors... It was Black with a R on the front right hand side of the chest.

"I was not expecting you, thus this evening’s meal is a collection of delicacies from Itasus. This, for example,” I watched as he motioned to the egg, which was where the smell was coming from. "We call this pidan. It means something like ‘century egg’ in Broddring common. Through a curing process, the eggs are aged to create an earthy flavor quite unlike their normal taste. The smell is not particularly wonderful, but the taste and texture are worth it.” I nodded, taking the egg. Dave ate it first, closely followed by myself.

The egg, though nasty smelling, was very good and taste. It was better then things back in the Castle. "It has taken years, but my cooks seem to have finally grasped how to make the dish properly. Tell me, Princess. What do you think of it?”[/i] I smiled slightly and swallowed. "Genji... If you deny my sister, you still may have to put up with me... So far the wine and this egg have won me over."[/color] I said, smiling slightly as I looked at some of the other food.
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count Not counting
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size]

[Elloria]

(OOC: I should’ve mentioned earlier, but Dave and Nayeli have both been given spoons and forks to eat with instead of chopsticks. Raiden made sure to let the kitchens know about it.)

Genji popped another slice into his mouth as Nayeli finished her bite. As he swallowed, she spoke. “Genji... If you deny my sister, you still may have to put up with me... So far the wine and this egg have won me over.” He would have choked on the egg had he not already mostly swallowed it. What was with these Alagaesians? He did his best to show his undying disdain for them and yet they seemed to flock to him! When they weren’t trying to assassinate him, anyway. He flicked one sleeve back with practiced ease and ate the rest of his egg silently. He had no desire to wed the sister - why on earth would he want to put up with the crazier Nayeli? Once he finished the egg, he flicked the sleeve back again and picked up the dumpling. “I am certain I find neither option particularly desirable. You are not as ignorant as most Alagaesians, but neither is a horse.” He bit into the dumpling. The flavors meshed together seamlessly - the bland winter melon had soaked up the beef broth, off-setting the chicken flavor well. He licked his lips in delight. “The dumpling in the center of your plate is what we call donga mandu. Winter melon steamed with chicken and boiled in beef broth.” He picked up his glass of wine and drank from it.

Setting it down, he finished the dumpling as the slaves in the center picked up the empty bowls. He picked up his chopsticks and pulled the bowl of boiled rice closer to him. As he started on the rice, the slaves went to one of the covered dishes on the serving table. One by one, they dipped into the dish and and spooned out servings of the soup. The appetizer plates were whisked away and replaced by the bowls of soup. Genji looked into the bowl curiously as he continued eating his rice. Finishing a bite, he said to the slave before him, “Gregory, be sure to tell the cooks the sura was well done. I can only hope the fo tiao qiang is as acceptable.” The boy nodded with a small smile. It was rare for Genji to offer so many compliments in one meal. He gestured to the soup before him and addressed Nayeli. “The soup before you is fo tiao qiang. The large piece of meat you see is shark fin. The rest is a mix of quail eggs, sea cucumber, abalone, ginseng, mushrooms, and chicken. If they went with the recipe they were given, of course.” He set the rice aside and, wiping the chopsticks on a small napkin, carefully picked up the bowl of soup and plucked a piece of abalone from it to pop in his mouth. As he chewed, Hiroshi leaned in close to him. “I know we have not had a chance to speak with you about this, Kazan-sama, but we have discussed it amongst ourselves. We feel that you must consider taking Leilani-sama’s hand in marriage,” she murmured. Genji flicked his hair from his eyes irritably. He didn’t wish to think about that distasteful subject. “Nayeli-sama made many excellent points in favor of Leilani-sama. More importantly, it brings you but one step away from Broddring’s throne.”

“If I wished for the throne of Broddring, I would wed that twisted creature seated across from me,” he snapped irritably. “I wish to reshape this crumbling kingdom, not rule it. It’s in piss poor shape. Why would I wish to saddle myself with such baggage? Better to manipulate from the shadows than to be the puppet king.” Hiroshi’s protests stuck in her throat. That or she thought better of arguing with him just then. She looked at Mami, who sat between Nayeli and Raiden off to Genji’s right. Mami shook her head slightly before tilting it left towards Raiden. Glances flew rapidly between the four guards as they silently held a consultation on how to next approach the topic.

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

I could not help but smile slightly as he nearly choked. It was amusing, mostly because I could tell he did not like me very much. I did not mean to make him choke and Dave had to pinch me under the table to keep me from saying anything else on the subject. He had eyes as Keen as my own and he saw the same slight choke. I did not flinch as he did so, just looked over at him as he ate. He was silent, only ate his food in silent. He wanted to leave as soon as he could. I watched as he flicked a sleeve back for a moment, I could tell he was well practice at such movement. "I am certain I find neither option particularly desirable. You are not as ignorant as most Alagaesians, but neither is a horse.” I smiled, chuckling slightly. I took a bit of another egg before trying some of the other food. "Well, we can not be as well trained or... Well mannered as other countries... Besides, the Kingdom has been falling apart since the first King, I myself and waiting for it to finish falling apart so I can take it up from scratch... My Uncle is doing a find job at it."

[/color] I said in much pleasure and disdain.

Sure, I got this high because of him, but once he was gone, it was my turn and I could make this place a little bit better. More money to the cities to make them better. I would get rid of some of those idiots and bring in those smarter and better at the job. "The dumpling in the center of your plate is what we call donga mandu. Winter melon steamed with chicken and boiled in beef broth.” I looked at it for a moment and nodded, trying some and finding that it was a taste that was much different then I had had, so I would have to get use to it during the night. I took some of the wine and then set down my glass. Dave ate quietly still.

I watched as he ate with sticks... It was rather different seeing such a thing, but I figured I would get use to it one day or another. The slave in the middle began serving soup and had some myself. It was rather nice and then, I heard him speak once again. "Gregory, be sure to tell the cooks the sura was well done. I can only hope the fo tiao qiang is as acceptable.” I noticed the smile. At least he was kind to some slave, which means Leilani would be able to deal with having them. I needed her to be taken care of and I would rather have her away from the Castle when things started going down. My other option was Illrea and that was out of the question. I did not want her around the useless, hariless rats. "The soup before you is fo tiao qiang. The large piece of meat you see is shark fin. The rest is a mix of quail eggs, sea cucumber, abalone, ginseng, mushrooms, and chicken. If they went with the recipe they were given, of course.” I nodded to him and took some of it again. It was very nice and I had to say, the Shark meat was very good. I had never had it before and it was a true treat.

I watched as Hiroshi, one of his Guards, began to speak with him in a Language I did not know. I tried not to be rude and I ignored him mostly, speaking with Dave for a moment in hush tones as to not disturb him. Dave wanted to leave as soon as he could, which was natural for the man, he hated staying any place but his home. As they finished eating, I could tell he was irritated. "Genji... I would like you to meet my sister before you deny the offer of taking her hand."[/color] I said to him, looking at him for a moment. It would be easy for him to meet her since she was always studying in the Sitting room. She only left when she had a meeting, which was good for me. "I understand you caution of it... I have probably had the same reasons for not wedding anyone yet."[/color] I said to him, looking at him and then towards his guards for a moment before taking another bite of the food, waiting for him to speak.
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count Not counting
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size]

[Elloria]

“I highly doubt that,” Genji muttered as Nayeli attempted to sympathize with his position. He lifted his soup bowl - filled only with broth now - and drained the last of it. He had grown tired of this back-and-forth on a matter that was utterly pointless to him. He wanted no bride. He wanted no legitimate connection to Alagaesia, much less the accursed Broddring kingdom. He wanted to run Nayeli through with his swords and gut her knights. He wanted to march to Carvala and disassemble the entire palace piece by piece with catapults. Mostly, he just wanted these stupid, ignorant, irksome maggots to get out of his Citadel and to stop pestering him. What wouldn’t he give for Yawata no Kami to strike them down now in their godlessness?

When he set the bowl down, one of the slaves whisked it away and set it beneath the round serving table with the other dirty dishes. “Genji, what harm could it do simply to meet with the girl?” Raiden said in his deep, rich, genteel voice. Genji’s upper lip curled ever so slightly into a snarl. The city would probably collapse without him, that’s what. What few nobles still opposed him would find a way to incite rebellion. The Itasan fleet would arrive while he was away. He would have to meet the damn girl. Admittedly, he spent a good deal of time in the company of women. Rikuto, Mami, and Hiroshi were almost perpetually at his side, just as Raiden was. His father had had a penchant for female slaves and servants, so they had practically filled the citadel to overflowing before Genji assumed control. He picked up his glass of wine and drained it. A slave quickly refilled it. Was he particularly fond of the emotional creatures known as women? No. Not in the slightest. His guards were a different matter. They were of Itasan stock and Itasan mentality. By their very nature, they were superior to the other women of Alagaesia. He could tolerate marrying an Itasan woman some day. “Genji-”

“I heard you the first time!” he hissed at Raiden as the next dish was placed before him. He looked at the plate, then up at Nayeli. He felt as though he was being pushed into a corner. He despised the sensation. He picked up a piece of the food before him. “This is called ayu tempura. It’s simply sweetfish dipped in a batter and deep-fried in oil.” The princess said that there would be no consequences - but this was King Azuan he was dealing with. The man was legitimately insane. To refuse the king’s offer would likely bring unpleasant consequences down upon him. He sighed inaudibly and bit into the ayu tempura violently. Swallowing the bite, he said, “I suppose it is not...unfeasible to leave Teirm long enough to meet your sister.” He popped the rest of the piece into his mouth and ate it. “When do you intend to leave?”

[Nayeli]

’introducing
{nayeli richards*}
featuring--! --! ---! ---!
Long lost words whisper to me
Still can't find what keeps me here
When all this time I've been so hollow inside
I know you're still there...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

I heard him mutter something, but I did not say anything. I found it very rude, but I would not say anything. This was not my home, this was just another Count's home and even though I had more power then he would ever have, I had a mission to try and get my sister married, though he was proving harder then I expected. I did not know anything about the woman back in his home land, nor did I care. I wanted my sister away from Carvala and Teirm was the best option. Not only was it on the other side of the Spine, but it was also away from Ilirea and those dragons. It was something I liked better then anything. I did not need her talking about those hairless rats in my home and this place would be best, since she would not be able to travel without guards and the only guards who would be here were those that this man put around her.

I drank the last of the broth like he did. It was very good and I wondered if I should just forget about it and marry him myself, but I did not want to marry, I had my own plans and marriage just was not for me. Ruling a country was a far better thing. I watched as his guards spoke with him, but I could not understand them as they spoke in their language. I did not care for it, but I turned slightly to Dave who had finished his food and was given the next dish. "What is wrong Dave?"

[/color] I asked him silently, so as to Genji would not be bothered by our discussion or speaking. He was in his own conversation and I was okay with that. "Nothing Lady Nayeli," I knew he was lying, but I did not push the subject. I would tonight before we went to sleep, I would ask him about it and he would tell me then. He nearly always did. As they spoke, I could hear his guard saying his name and then something came from Genji's mouth in a hissing tone.

As the next dish was placed before us, I looked at it, seeing that it looked like fish slightly. "This is called ayu tempura. It’s simply sweetfish dipped in a batter and deep-fried in oil.” I nodded and took fish. I had promised him nothing would happen if he chose not to marry my sister, but my Uncle would probably say other wise, but then again, he was too concerned with other things and it did not matter much. "I suppose it is not...unfeasible to leave Teirm long enough to meet your sister.” I nodded slightly, taking another bit before looking at him. "When do you intend to leave?” I looked at him for a moment and I dabbed my mouth slightly. "Well, we were going to leave tomorrow, but since you will be coming, we can give you some time to get your city ready for your departure, no rush."[/color] I said to him. It would take a few days of travel, but we could make it in a week if we rested at night and rode during the day.
[/blockquote][/blockquote]

Hunting you, I can smell you - Alive
Your heart pounding in my head
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Saving me; Raping me;
Watching me...
Watching me; Wanting me;
I can feel you pull me down
Fearing you; Loving you;
I won't let you pull me down

’word count Not counting
’tagged Genji Lantieri
’song Haunted--! Evanescence
’post status done
’template creator nayeli

[/size]

[Elloria]

Genji sighed in irritation. He had not missed the small exchange between Nayeli and her knight. He wondered how the man felt about this affair. Genji suspected he didn’t approve or feared what might come of it. The thought both amused him and soured his mood even further. While everyone else seemed to be enjoying the last course before dessert, he was no longer interested in it. He set his chopsticks down gracefully and pushed the plate away from him. Gregory immediately picked up the plate and stashed it beneath the serving table. His guards eyed him as they continued to eat the ayu tempura, but Genji paid them little attention. He now had to consider who to place in charge while he was away in Carvala. There were few of the nobles he actually trusted with that weighty task. He supposed he could leave his guards here. On the other hand, it would be incredibly foolish to go into enemy territory without backup. He absolutely did not trust or respect Azuan and barely held respect for his niece. It could very well prove to be suicide if he went alone to the madman’s lair. His eyes gradually became distant and unreadable as he weighed the options. If he left one of the older nobles in charge, it was highly likely that they would find some way to depose him as count and usurp control. Putting a younger noble in charge - one he could sort of trust - would probably result in a similar situation. If he left just one of his guards behind, they would be able to hold things down for a while - but how long would he be gone? Travel would take at least a week, if conditions were good. And then he’d be stuck in Carvala for who knew how long. So figure at least a month. As much as he respected any one of his four guards, he highly doubted one alone could handle the entirety of Teirm for that long. If the fleet arrived while he was gone, it would be best to leave one or two of his guards behind to greet them. And then he would not have to worry about losing Teirm. But the odds were low that the Itasan fleet would be arriving any time soon. It was not yet spring.

Genji figured he could leave at least two behind to hold down Teirm whilst he was in Carvala. Three would probably be best. Three could definitely handle the nobles and be here if the fleet happened to arrive. If that were the case, he would probably leave the women behind to govern while he was away. Yawata no Kami bless Raiden, but the man was even less intimidating than Genji was. Raiden was his shadow guard, the man no one suspected of being capable of cold-blooded murder - which was ironic because Raiden had killed more of Teirm’s nobles in the name of Genji’s cause than any of the women. He was trained for it. So he would take Raiden with him and leave the women to take care of Teirm. They, along with the young nobles, would keep things in line. He was sure of it. As his thoughts turned to what he would need to bring, a cup of warm amazake was set before him before Gregory took a grater and shredded some fresh ginger over it. The boy went around to each table and repeated the process of shredding ginger on the sweet drink. As the boy made his way back to where he started, Genji raised his cup. “We call this amazake. It’s a naturally sweetened rice drink on Itasus that is commonly consumed as a dessert. I’ve found that few Alagaesians like how sweet it is. But considering how bland your food usually is, I am hardly surprised by that.” He tipped the cup slightly towards Nayeli in a mock toast. “To the crippled Empire we call home.” He sipped the amazake, delighting in the richly sweet flavor and the somewhat grainy texture. He picked up his napkin and dabbed at his mouth. “I believe I will be ready to leave in two days time at the earliest,” he said calmly, no trace of disdain in his voice. He was purely business right now, though he very strongly wanted to tell Nayeli to choke on her offer. He would need the strength of Yawata no Kami to keep him from doing something regrettable in the future. He could feel it.