video; un: eraserhead

[eyedrop]

[ Aizawa's lolling against some tree somewhere. Terrible, slumped posture; hair wild about his face. His expression is neutral, bordering on irritable, and his voice is an exhausted monotone. He sits with one leg folded over the other, idly tossing a cat figurine from hand to hand. ]

Hey. Myself and a few others did some looking around. Apparently, both the sea clan and the mountain clan have their allies--but they're not within easy reach. In the case of the sea clan, the empress's brother is married to some far-off queen. The mountain clan's allies aren't too nearby, either.

[ He shifts minutely. His eyes flutter briefly shut, and he sighs. ]

Point being, war between these two would be irrational. The old man we spoke with said no one really wants to start anything, but I don't know how true that is. I haven't tried to approach the nobles.

[ He really doesn't look or act the part, and he knows it. Nor does he have an escort. ]

If you've spoken to any of them, what's the mood? What do they want?

[ He cards a hand through his hair, frowning slightly. ]

They're the key to this, I think. Certainly the key to actually meeting that empress of theirs. So if you've got info, or if you've made any connections, spill it.

Comments

un: quickfish // voice

[kisha]

[She hates these sorts of crowded posts, can hardly keep track of all the voices and opinions flashing on the magitek but.]

I spoke with women of the imperial guard. The palace is in chaos after the ambush, and the Empress sequestered and seeing only her advisors.

The nobility I have heard of two minds- those who weep and those who curse their enemies. There are surely moderates, but such is less noteworthy.

Rather than attempting like fools to suddenly appear as royals and think that will somehow gain us audience, I think it far wiser to spend that time ascertaining just who amongst the advisors has the actual power. Those ears are what we need to gain, and facilitators behind the scene is a far more fitting role for a motley group like this.

voice; un: kyouken

[justbeingknife]

Speakin' of which, Hayame-han -- heard ya spent some time in the noble's district. You get any promising namedrops while you were out there?

[ or would that just be too easy ]

[kisha]

Not any that I could say for sure were the more prominent in their factions.

[hnnnngh she should probably mention...]

I have full faith that I could blend near flawlessly with these people if need be- and did, in the noble’s district. But it requires use of a ring from ALASTAIR that turns me human, and it cannot be used freely.

I have only two uses remaining.

[justbeingknife]

[ well that's

weird but okay he can accept this, he saw a guy turn a woman's head into a book ]

Don't suppose there's anyone in this group good at illusion magic?

[ I mean WHY WOULDN'T THERE BE ]

[kisha]

... I have heard of one.

But I am not in position to request a boon of him.

audio; un: alucard

[reposing]

Wisely spoken, Hayame.

Perhaps it might be best more of us find a way into the noble's district to determine who among the advisers we must address. Though some of us more suitable than others.

[immediately thinking of inuyasha]

Alternatively... I may have another way, possibly. At least if we wish to see about gaining insight on the empress and said advisers.

[kisha]

[/preens just a little AT LEAST IN THIS WORLD SHE’S WISE]

You speak the truth. The last thing we need right now in the aftermath of that attack is foolishness that might be taken as spies or outside meddling if someone was to, say, masquerade poorly as a woman and be caught doing so.

What is this other way?

[reposing]

If needed, I would be able to go inside in another form. It... would essentially be spying, but I could watch them if I was undetected.

[kisha]

What form?

[She wishes this was unbelievable, but.]

[eyedrop]

[ He's against this for the same reason that he's against that other kid's idea, but people are gonna do what they're gonna do. So there's just a long, tired sigh. ]

audio; un: laphicet

[rhinostagros]

If you're planning to sneak inside, let me go too. Please.

[ He wants to help so bad... ]

[reposing]

[??? is there an actual child on this team]

How would you like to assist?

[rhinostagros]

I can help listen in on any conversations! Humans normally can't see me, unless they have spiritual talent. I'll... have to go in by foot once I see an opening to slip inside. We'll cover more ground.

[eyedrop]

[ Aizawa's not exactly happy about all this noise on his post, either. Can't be helped, though. ]

Nobody's saying we swan up to them and call ourselves king of the world. It's about having the right attitude. The upbringing.

[ Things he doesn't personally have. ]

[kisha]

And I am not saying to send a sandal bearer to wine and dine the Minister of the Left.

[Hayame your experiences are not universal!!! Use vague words.]

But surely you see the folly in attempting to rely on such elite ranks in this place. These people did not call Hathaway themselves. We hardly need to introduce more lands for these people to need account for.

[eyedrop]

[ He's pretty decent with context clues. ]

I wasn't actually thinking they'd introduce themselves as royalty at all. Like you said, our titles have no force here. But I'd logically expect that nobility knows how to talk to nobility.

[ But ... it does seem like that's taking shape as the plan ... He shrugs. ]

I'm willing to put a little faith in them, regardless.

[kisha]

As if nobility in every world were the same.

[she scoffs and doesn’t even bother trying to hide it]

You may be willing to, but without knowing they’ve been actually taught how this world’s nobility conduct themselves, I shall not.

[refashioned]

Our royals are royal. We don't get an audience through them, we get an audience through playing nice with the nobility ... possibly through making them feel safe.

Going after the advisers isn't a half bad idea, but we still need an in.

[kisha]

I do not consider them liars. But I fail to see how you propose to claim a title that means nothing to these people and get deference for it.

[refashioned]

How do you propose we, as outsiders, get the attention of the Empress' advisers? Half of it is knowing how to play the part. The rest will come from there. We need to present ourselves as people worth listening to, and right now, we don't have a leg to stand on.

Our princesses do.

[kisha]

I am not saying we send sandal bearers and craftsmen.

Let these princesses do it. But unless they know the ways of this world’s court, their experience will do little good. They will need a tutor.

And I cannot see it as wise to go as princesses. Let them be wealthy women or scholars or merchant leaders or mystics, but what princess would be here in this place with no fitting escort and no retinue and no announcement? And what gain would there be to having these Empresses need worry about more countries they’ve never heard of appearing out of nowhere and potentially taking up more of the land in this world?

voice; un: altea

[juniberries]

There are already those of us posing as nobility along with having our own titles from our home dimensions, so I do not think it is foolish for a small handful of us to pose as high ranking nobility.

There are those of us who were raised to deal with situations like these. It would not feel right to stand idly by the sides.

[kisha]

I am not telling you to do nothing.

I am telling you that I think it foolish to think you can convince these people purely on the basis of your own experience with nobility. Do you know the proper channel to gain an audience with the appropriate minister? The proper gift to give when paying a visit to a home in the spring season? Where to sit in the room if given audience with the Empress?

Without such knowledge, that same “advantage” is claimable by anyone who thinks highly of themselves with a glib tongue.

[juniberries]

There is no harm in seeking council with the Empress and others in high ranking positions in each clan.

I have been to many planets as a princess when I was younger, each with different customs. All it takes is a bit of reading.

[does it Allura. does it???]

[kisha]

And when exactly did Hathaway give you that book to read?

[wait is she srs]