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31_days2012-04-01 10:28 am
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-04-01 10:28 am
[April 1] [Suikoden II/III] Tea with the Bishop, Part 1
Title: Tea with the Bishop, Part 1 (of ??? - hopefully to be continued later this month)
Day/Theme: April 1, 2012 "the great dark birds of history screamed and plunged"
Series: Suikoden II (/III)
Character/Pairing: Sasarai, Jowy, OFC, etc.
Rating: PG
Prologue: Crystal Valley, Central Harmonia - 458
The first tea Sasarai shared after his appointment as bishop did not count. It was not "his" tea at all. He was not the host, rather, he came, yet again, as a guest of his father, sitting tucked away in a lovely room amidst the chief priest's stacks of ancient books. Hikami and Sangyun and Raphael, all good, dependable men of the chief priest, were invited in as well at the beginning, but politely declined to stay beyond their first cup. Which left Sasarai alone with his father's circuitous ramblings (today they were focused on the fact that he was very proud of...well, presumably Sasarai, but that part was never made explicitly clear) until he drifted off into the daze of a waking dream.
It was not quite up to the standards he had been stepped in by his various minders and tutors (though chiefly Bishop Hikami T'Rainfellour) throughout the years. Perhaps he would not be as traditional as they'd like him to be, but, Sasarai resolved, whenever in his capacity as a bishop he had company for tea, he would try to be a good host.
1: Outside Applevale, Southeastern Harmonia - 460
"My sister and I used to play tea party with our dolls," his serving girl bubbled cheerfully. "But I suppose it's nothing like having tea, even a semi-formal one, with a bishop, so it doesn't count as practice."
"You never know," Sasarai shrugged. He had only the mildest idea of the games girls played, particularly non-noble girls out in the countryside. And, in any case, this was his first attempt at hosting such a tea on his own. It might be perceived a somewhat cowardly to begin with a low-born guest with only a partial knowledge of how things should proceed, but it was less nerve-wracking than inviting someone more his equal. He paled to think of of Bishop Hikami judging some tiny detail in his choice of tea leaves or the flavor of the pastries.
Yes, he believed it could be forgiven. He was still young and largely untried. And this was not Crystal Valley, that shimmering beacon of culture and class. He was camped out alongside Applevale, their last stop in his homeland before crossing the southeastern border into Highland. It felt right to invite someone to take their tea with him before taking that step.
Odds were, Nika would make it back; she was a servant, not meant to set foot on the actual battlefield. He would return safely too, or so his guards and leaders among his men assured him. Nevertheless, he had a bad feeling. This would be his second trip to Highland. The first had been unofficial and his identity was disclosed to none but the royal family. He had managed to embarrass both himself and Bishop Hikami and return home somewhat worse for the wear after taking a tumble into a royal gazing pool. ...He sincerely hoped that, if they remembered, no one he encountered upon his return to Highland would bring it up.
It was a sign of esteem and good faith to fill his guest's cup, but as he poured tea for Nika she appeared more uncomfortable than honored. "Err, ah, thank you, Your Excellency." Returning the favor suited her better.
Like all the rest who served within the Crystal Palace, Nika was a servant because she had chosen to be. She was generally a casual sort and good-natured. If this were her reaction, Sasarai wondered what look would paint the face of some Third Class indentured servant being treated thus.
He added a dab of honey to his tea and Nika followed his lead, waiting awkwardly until her bishop took his first sip before following suit. "Is, uh, there something in particular we're supposed to be talking about in this situation?"
"I didn't invite you out for any strategic reason," Sasarai's smile strained wide and he held back his desire to laugh, "You're my guest, Nika. I'd gladly discuss anything you like."
"Oh, okay," she agreed to it and her posture relaxed a bit. "...Why'd you pick me to come down with you?"
Perhaps there was more strategy in her approach than his at this point. A dust of crumbs from the apple-flavored cookie he had just bitten into caught in his throat and shook a cough out of him. Cookies on their own were not the most proper accompaniment for tea, but they were convenient on the road. Nika eyed him curiously until the tickle had passed. "I was told it was hardly expected for a bishop to go off to battle, even on such a small scale in support of a foreign ally, without some personal aid. I've scarcely had the chance to begin developing any tactical support staff, but I could at least see to it that I'd have a measure of home and comfort within our camp."
"And you picked me."
"Well, I like you." Which was true. ...But it was also true that she had no duties back home that could not be taken over capably by others. Janas and Petyr and Lixae and Hap, the military men, were the ones who'd be doing the real work. "You're good for morale."
That he was speaking of only his personal morale was no cause for disappointment. "I appreciate the honor, Bishop Sasarai!" the girl beamed. "I will do my best with your lodgings and meals and equipment!"
He was sure she would. She was about two years his junior and enthusiastic. She drank three cups of apple and rose tea and six apple-almond cookies. It wasn't particularly lady-like, but neither Nika nor Sasarai held any delusions that she did or should fit the society definition of a "lady."
The following day, she was the last member of their company to step onto Highland soil. "I'm the first one in my family to leave Harmonia," she admitted, peering back in the direction of the central valleys of their nation, and a tiny farm in particular.
2: Highland Army Camp, Highland-Muse Border - 460
"Harmonians still do that?" Yuber quizzed his contracted master, "Right in the middle of the army encampment?"
"Harmonians love their traditions," Leon Silverberg replied, unphased, studying the bishop's written invitation to Jowy. His common letters were somewhat linked and eccentrically style. Leon judged he had learned his alphabet in Harmonian first. It was rarer these days for a child to learn that way, but who would be dyed darker in the old ways than the rune-blessed child of Hikusaak? Leon had spent enough time in that land to know plenty of what it felt toward tradition. If one traced the family tree back enough generations, one would see he bore some Harmonian blood himself (though this was true of most nobles on the northern continent whose lineage stretched back over two hundred years).
"I just want to know what's prudent," Jowy said, ignoring this tangential exchange. He had an idea already of how he wanted to react, but with Leon so near there was no reason not to run it by him to see that he hadn't overlooked any major factors.
"Just keep it short," the strategist said, "Unlike these Harmonians, we have little time for frivolities."
He had felt the same, but from Leon's lips it was an amusing suggestion. "Even if it's fluff to us, it means something to the Harmonians."
"Highland still has strong ties to that land. The middle of a war is the last time you should consider weakening them."
"He should really be having tea with Jillia instead," Jowy sighed fondly, "She'd have a better time of it than me." Not only did she like that king of thing, but, however briefly, she had been previously acquainted with this young but well-bred bishop. Supposedly, Sasarai was the same age as him. If that were truly the case, Jowy marveled at how he felt the war had aged him. The blood on his hands had made him old, where the curiously untried Sasarai remained naive and young.
In better times, Jowy would have enjoyed himself. He could imagine Nanami's bemusement at trying a ridiculous chocolate cream-filled pastry shaped like a bishop's hat. A somewhat embarrassing story came out about an unplanned swim in a L'Renouille decorative pool. But there were too many heavy matters on his mind to allow himself to drift away with the steam.
Jowy listened carefully to everything Sasarai had to say to pin down his personal politics or angle. His promised pro-Highland stance's only nuance could be found in his sparing remarks about Luca.
"Mine might be the only ones sent to assist," Sasarai said, "But it's doubtful we are the only Harmonians here to observe." The way he spoke, so sweet, yet serious did little to banish the feeling of Jowy's that a decade's worth of pain and experience existed between them, but neither did it cause him to doubt Leon's judgment regarding Harmonia in general and these Harmonians in particular. This was just a bit more than a token force, yet better on his side than against it. He couldn't blame the Harmonian high command for asking, "If Highland wins or if Highland loses, what's in it for us?"
"Is the recipe for these pastries secret, or may I ask for it to bring back for a little friend of mine?" he asked, instead of speaking of politics.
"It's hardly a secret and you may gladly have it," Sasarai decreed. It seemed a small favor to do for such an interesting young man.
Day/Theme: April 1, 2012 "the great dark birds of history screamed and plunged"
Series: Suikoden II (/III)
Character/Pairing: Sasarai, Jowy, OFC, etc.
Rating: PG
Prologue: Crystal Valley, Central Harmonia - 458
The first tea Sasarai shared after his appointment as bishop did not count. It was not "his" tea at all. He was not the host, rather, he came, yet again, as a guest of his father, sitting tucked away in a lovely room amidst the chief priest's stacks of ancient books. Hikami and Sangyun and Raphael, all good, dependable men of the chief priest, were invited in as well at the beginning, but politely declined to stay beyond their first cup. Which left Sasarai alone with his father's circuitous ramblings (today they were focused on the fact that he was very proud of...well, presumably Sasarai, but that part was never made explicitly clear) until he drifted off into the daze of a waking dream.
It was not quite up to the standards he had been stepped in by his various minders and tutors (though chiefly Bishop Hikami T'Rainfellour) throughout the years. Perhaps he would not be as traditional as they'd like him to be, but, Sasarai resolved, whenever in his capacity as a bishop he had company for tea, he would try to be a good host.
1: Outside Applevale, Southeastern Harmonia - 460
"My sister and I used to play tea party with our dolls," his serving girl bubbled cheerfully. "But I suppose it's nothing like having tea, even a semi-formal one, with a bishop, so it doesn't count as practice."
"You never know," Sasarai shrugged. He had only the mildest idea of the games girls played, particularly non-noble girls out in the countryside. And, in any case, this was his first attempt at hosting such a tea on his own. It might be perceived a somewhat cowardly to begin with a low-born guest with only a partial knowledge of how things should proceed, but it was less nerve-wracking than inviting someone more his equal. He paled to think of of Bishop Hikami judging some tiny detail in his choice of tea leaves or the flavor of the pastries.
Yes, he believed it could be forgiven. He was still young and largely untried. And this was not Crystal Valley, that shimmering beacon of culture and class. He was camped out alongside Applevale, their last stop in his homeland before crossing the southeastern border into Highland. It felt right to invite someone to take their tea with him before taking that step.
Odds were, Nika would make it back; she was a servant, not meant to set foot on the actual battlefield. He would return safely too, or so his guards and leaders among his men assured him. Nevertheless, he had a bad feeling. This would be his second trip to Highland. The first had been unofficial and his identity was disclosed to none but the royal family. He had managed to embarrass both himself and Bishop Hikami and return home somewhat worse for the wear after taking a tumble into a royal gazing pool. ...He sincerely hoped that, if they remembered, no one he encountered upon his return to Highland would bring it up.
It was a sign of esteem and good faith to fill his guest's cup, but as he poured tea for Nika she appeared more uncomfortable than honored. "Err, ah, thank you, Your Excellency." Returning the favor suited her better.
Like all the rest who served within the Crystal Palace, Nika was a servant because she had chosen to be. She was generally a casual sort and good-natured. If this were her reaction, Sasarai wondered what look would paint the face of some Third Class indentured servant being treated thus.
He added a dab of honey to his tea and Nika followed his lead, waiting awkwardly until her bishop took his first sip before following suit. "Is, uh, there something in particular we're supposed to be talking about in this situation?"
"I didn't invite you out for any strategic reason," Sasarai's smile strained wide and he held back his desire to laugh, "You're my guest, Nika. I'd gladly discuss anything you like."
"Oh, okay," she agreed to it and her posture relaxed a bit. "...Why'd you pick me to come down with you?"
Perhaps there was more strategy in her approach than his at this point. A dust of crumbs from the apple-flavored cookie he had just bitten into caught in his throat and shook a cough out of him. Cookies on their own were not the most proper accompaniment for tea, but they were convenient on the road. Nika eyed him curiously until the tickle had passed. "I was told it was hardly expected for a bishop to go off to battle, even on such a small scale in support of a foreign ally, without some personal aid. I've scarcely had the chance to begin developing any tactical support staff, but I could at least see to it that I'd have a measure of home and comfort within our camp."
"And you picked me."
"Well, I like you." Which was true. ...But it was also true that she had no duties back home that could not be taken over capably by others. Janas and Petyr and Lixae and Hap, the military men, were the ones who'd be doing the real work. "You're good for morale."
That he was speaking of only his personal morale was no cause for disappointment. "I appreciate the honor, Bishop Sasarai!" the girl beamed. "I will do my best with your lodgings and meals and equipment!"
He was sure she would. She was about two years his junior and enthusiastic. She drank three cups of apple and rose tea and six apple-almond cookies. It wasn't particularly lady-like, but neither Nika nor Sasarai held any delusions that she did or should fit the society definition of a "lady."
The following day, she was the last member of their company to step onto Highland soil. "I'm the first one in my family to leave Harmonia," she admitted, peering back in the direction of the central valleys of their nation, and a tiny farm in particular.
2: Highland Army Camp, Highland-Muse Border - 460
"Harmonians still do that?" Yuber quizzed his contracted master, "Right in the middle of the army encampment?"
"Harmonians love their traditions," Leon Silverberg replied, unphased, studying the bishop's written invitation to Jowy. His common letters were somewhat linked and eccentrically style. Leon judged he had learned his alphabet in Harmonian first. It was rarer these days for a child to learn that way, but who would be dyed darker in the old ways than the rune-blessed child of Hikusaak? Leon had spent enough time in that land to know plenty of what it felt toward tradition. If one traced the family tree back enough generations, one would see he bore some Harmonian blood himself (though this was true of most nobles on the northern continent whose lineage stretched back over two hundred years).
"I just want to know what's prudent," Jowy said, ignoring this tangential exchange. He had an idea already of how he wanted to react, but with Leon so near there was no reason not to run it by him to see that he hadn't overlooked any major factors.
"Just keep it short," the strategist said, "Unlike these Harmonians, we have little time for frivolities."
He had felt the same, but from Leon's lips it was an amusing suggestion. "Even if it's fluff to us, it means something to the Harmonians."
"Highland still has strong ties to that land. The middle of a war is the last time you should consider weakening them."
"He should really be having tea with Jillia instead," Jowy sighed fondly, "She'd have a better time of it than me." Not only did she like that king of thing, but, however briefly, she had been previously acquainted with this young but well-bred bishop. Supposedly, Sasarai was the same age as him. If that were truly the case, Jowy marveled at how he felt the war had aged him. The blood on his hands had made him old, where the curiously untried Sasarai remained naive and young.
In better times, Jowy would have enjoyed himself. He could imagine Nanami's bemusement at trying a ridiculous chocolate cream-filled pastry shaped like a bishop's hat. A somewhat embarrassing story came out about an unplanned swim in a L'Renouille decorative pool. But there were too many heavy matters on his mind to allow himself to drift away with the steam.
Jowy listened carefully to everything Sasarai had to say to pin down his personal politics or angle. His promised pro-Highland stance's only nuance could be found in his sparing remarks about Luca.
"Mine might be the only ones sent to assist," Sasarai said, "But it's doubtful we are the only Harmonians here to observe." The way he spoke, so sweet, yet serious did little to banish the feeling of Jowy's that a decade's worth of pain and experience existed between them, but neither did it cause him to doubt Leon's judgment regarding Harmonia in general and these Harmonians in particular. This was just a bit more than a token force, yet better on his side than against it. He couldn't blame the Harmonian high command for asking, "If Highland wins or if Highland loses, what's in it for us?"
"Is the recipe for these pastries secret, or may I ask for it to bring back for a little friend of mine?" he asked, instead of speaking of politics.
"It's hardly a secret and you may gladly have it," Sasarai decreed. It seemed a small favor to do for such an interesting young man.