diatu | The Potbellied Emperor [Closed to Eleven, Hendrik, and Jecht.]

The place was not a dingy one--as if Yotsuyu would ever allow herself to be seen in a place that was run down and dingy. Still, it was not overpowering in its decor, either. The walls were simple and whitewashed, though the paintings and Noan calligraphy on display were elegant. There were a great number of carved partitions that separated the dining room into private areas where patrons could be seated and dine. Bamboo plants were placed around to give life and greenery to the place, and in certain corners, they were accompanied by very real scarlet lilies, to catch the eye and give a pop of color--one echoed by the strings of drying bird chiles that criss-crossed the restaurant. Perhaps the centerpiece was the fountain centered in the restaurant, upon which was seated a statue of its namesake--Huayuan, a generations-past emperor of Noa, seated, with his robes somewhat open (tastefully, less the place's reputation be smirched) to expose the place's namesake. Indeed, Huayuan was possessed of a pot belly, both in the paintings that depicted him in life, and the statued namesake that sat above the fountain and the small fishpond that served to give the place atmosphere.

All in all, a quaint little place, one that might be overlooked because it was small and unassuming--until a person's nose caught the rich scents perfuming the air.

This was where the Witch of Doma had invited her...friends? Well, they counted her a friend, and she certainly returned the sentiment, and so perhaps it was not so strange. In truth, she only hoped that the three men would get along...

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Eleven was frankly surprised he had been allowed to order it. Perhaps it was due to its light alcoholic content.

And though it rankled that Hendrik was insistent that Yotsuyu could play minder, he'd leave it off for now.

"Come with us, Hendrik." And all right, maybe he'd get in a little revenge. "You could use a hobby."

Edited 2019-05-12 04:51 (UTC)

"That sounds like a plan." This was said to Yotsuyu and the thought of joining a team provided he had the time to dedicate himself to such a thing was a question. His first loyalty was to the Luminary who was now commenting that he needed a hobby.

Because he was in mixed company, Hendrik watched his words and his tone and looked directly at Eleven.

"Indeed. If I find that I have time for the hobby I shall do so. But having fun is not the first thing in my mind. My duty always comes first."

"Oh, come on. You got yanked to another world to learn magic in a crazy place like this," Jecht said, grinning lazily. "Live a little. You gotta unbend and relax every now and then!"

That message might very well be intended for more than just Hendrik.

Yotsuyu just settled her eyes on Jecht and let the glare bore into him.

Not that he'd actually notice. He was probably feeling smug with how he'd phrased that, but she caught it, oh, yes.

"I understand that your duty comes first, Hendrik. You know I would not do anything to interfere with that. But at least we here, I believe, all know how important that is." Even Jecht. Yotsuyu imagined if he'd been appraised of the importance, he'd at least treat that with some seriousness.

Not that he did anything else.

Eleven swallowed under Hendrik's stern gaze, his unspoken title and the knight's oath weighing over his shoulders. He dropped his eyes to the table and sampled his drink in an effort to quell the uncertainty turning over his stomach.

"I can protect myself," he muttered into his mug, frowning.

He wasn't terribly hungry, suddenly.

The knight's gaze went from Jecht to Yotsuyu to Eleven. But the truth of the matter was that he didn't know how to unbend and relax. His life had been duty and following orders.

He'd sworn an oath that he was going to keep and only Yotsuyu managed to get through to him. Still, he looked away and focused on the table.

"Perhaps you are correct." But still, he wasn't sure how to do such a thing because it wasn't included in his oath.

"Okay, okay." Jecht leaned back in his chair, looking over the three of 'em. "Somebody tell me the deal, here. It's like wet blankets are wet enough for this gathering all of a sudden!"

"You are a dolt," Yotsuyu informed Jecht. As if the man did not already know. "A wet blanket? You have an inkling of why I am, and gods know, he is bound up by his duty." With that, she gestured to Hendrik, although she certainly was not angered at him.

Eleven...she let him keep his own counsel. Partly because she did not know, and the other part? He looked woeful enough already. He did not need her help to drown in that cup of plum wine he had.

"I know you choose to just ignore your past, but for some of us, it is not so easy!" The kami knew it was not so for her.

Eleven's shoulders hunched and he straightened self-consciously.

"Sorry. I'm okay." He cast around for another topic of conversation, looking anywhere but Hendrik until his eyes landed on the decorations strewn about the restaurant.

"..Have any of you been to Noa before?"

He wasn't sure why he was being called out here, but Hendrik just sat there. It was half on his mind to excuse himself and he would if he could keep cutting the tension in the room with a knife.

He looked up at Yotsuyu as she mentioned him but wasn't sure what was going on. Why did she seem upset? Just because Jecht didn't have the duties he himself did?

It was half on the knight's mind to rescue her too, but there was nothing he could really rescue her from, even if her comment about her past made him sad and uneasy.

The Luminary had said..something, but the knight just sat there in silence, contemplating cutting dinner short.

Man, he didn't get it. No one died because some people lightened up a little. Sheesh!

"Nope. I ended up in some place with castle and towers and stuff all over. Can't remember the name because it was totally unpronouncable. Lot of rare letters involved."

"I arrived in a country called Imathia, on the coast. There was a lot of fish," Yotsuyu said with a sniff. "Beyond that, it was rather pleasant. Temperate, if a bit rainy. I enjoyed my time there, short though it was. Noa reminds me more of my homeland, though, which is why I asked you here." It was a bit like Doma, at least in its cuisine, or so she thought.

She hadn't intended it as an attack, Hendrik! Only that you had a duty that you took very seriously. She hadn't thought that she was incorrect...

Eleven nodded, trying desperately to ignore the silent, weighted air next to him. It somehow managed to rival the pit in his stomach, and neither seemed willing to right themselves.

"I arrived in Noa," he supplied. "The Empress is a nice person, and ensured I arrived here safely. The flight over took a few hours, but perhaps we could visit sometime."

Dinner parties were never his thing. He did them as was required of course but this wasn't that. He didn't want to sit and make small talk, because that wasn't his thing either. But Hendrik didn't have any duties to attend to as he could have used back home to excuse himself and get out of things.

If he left he figured the Luminary was in safe hands. So the knight finally stood and bowed slightly to Yotsuyu.

"I apologize, but I must go. I have matters to attend to and I thank you for dinner and the company that you have provided."

Turning to the Luminary, he patted him on the shoulder before he left. "I will see you for training tomorrow."

"The hell...?"

Jecht stared at Hendrik, then glanced back to Yotsuyu and Eleven with an expression that clearly said, 'you guys got ANY explanation for him?'.

To judge by her expression, no, Yotsuyu had no explanation for this, and was just as startled as the others.

Well, she'd simply have to do her best to keep up appearances, wouldn't she? Clearing her throat a moment, Yotsuyu shook her head briefly and tried to smile. "I thank you as well for coming, Hendrik. I shall see you at the Academy."

She guessed. Clearly she was not as good at dinner parties as she had hoped...

The Potbellied Emperor [Closed to Eleven, Hendrik, and Jecht.]

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