foodbin | pc catchall for shess (nonbelligerent)

...I know. [And maybe that's why, finally:] Riddikulus!

[All at once, the blood becomes a garish kind of makeup, smeared across her face and mouth, and the glass scattered throughout her hair shifts into silver confetti strewn around.

Emma, for her part, does laugh - even if it sounds more than a little watery and weak.]

[ah. that seems to be working.]

You've got this.

Edited 2019-07-03 23:21 (UTC)

[She laughs again, and - it vanishes.

After a moment, rather than talk about anything that she just saw:]

Who were those people...?

[he just tilts his head. she'll have to be more specific about who she meas, because a lot sure just happened.]

The two women who came out...

[The ones she didn't recognize, at least.]

[...

this isn't exactly something he likes to talk about, but he has no reason to lie either, so.]

My mother.

[... both of them?]

[Yeah, hm.]

But... There were two?

She took on the other form for certain purposes.

I'm... guessing the two of you don't get along that well.

[he shrugs.]

She is my king, and I am loyal to my clan. Regardless of what my mother and I may think of each other in private, it won't interfere with our duties.

I know, you just seemed... not exactly happy to see her. That's all.

[...]

Wait a second, you're royalty?

[he blinks.]

You can think of it that way, I guess.

You just said she's a ruler, and you're her son, so... Is there another way to interpret that?

Technically speaking, you're not wrong.

But individual power matters more than lineage. Even if I had any desire for the throne, I would never inherit it. For all suras, the position is always passed down to the next strongest of the clan.

So it's not inaccurate to call me a prince, but it doesn't really mean anything either.

Oh.

[...]

Is that how it works for every clan, or just yours?

Every clan. Though I suppose most have never had to put it into practice, since unsurprisingly, being the strongest of your clan makes you very hard to kill. The majority of kings have ruled since the creation of the universe, my mother included.

...Sorry. I don't mean to grill you or anything.

Don't worry about it.

[better than thinking about what just happened, and if it helps distract emma for a bit, then he doesn't mind.]

Was it really so surprising to hear that I'm technically royalty?

It's not something most people would just assume, you know.

I guess. Though where I'm from, kings and the like are mainly just a sura thing. I think I told you before that magicians are the ones who hold authority among humans?

What about your world?

Well... It depends on the area you're from. Where I'm from, we voted for who we wanted in charge. There's a long process beforehand, where people get the spotlight to convince you that they're the right pick for the job, and all that, but in the end it's up to us.

I see. Doesn't sound like a bad process.

Unless the people voting are stupid.

[he smiles wryly.]

Of course. In the end, to benefit from the ability to make your own choices and to suffer from it are two sides of the same coin.

Right. Beats not having a choice at all, though.

(no subject)

nonbelligerent - 2019-07-05 16:09 (UTC) - Expand