Charmed, I'm Sure by seta_suzume (Suikoden, Sasarai)
Title: Charmed, I'm Sure
Author: seta_suzume
Words: 764
Theme: Table 1, #4 listen closely
Fandom: Suikoden series
Rating: PG
Author's note: I enjoyed writing this incident because it starts the same, but takes a different turn from the first meeting between Dios and the male Sasarai described in my other writings.
The tent flap flipped back as Sumi, the strategist attached to Sergeant Hap, entered. She bowed her head slightly in respect to the small lady bishop seated at the table. "Bishop Sasarai," the blond girl spoke cheerfully, "General Rimini has sent over a member of his staff to work with you during this conflict."
Sasarai raised an eyebrow curiously. She didn't know any of Rimini's staff, but she hoped this person would be intelligent and easy to work with. "Are they outside? Let them in," she commanded cooly.
"Yes, Ma'am," Sumi nodded, her straw blond hair sliding loose from her twisted pink hair band. She drew back the tent flap and a tall man stooped to get through the entryway. His black military cap fell from his head as he looked up and he scrambled nervously to catch it before it hit the ground.
Sasarai smiled benevolently. This thin, blond man was so awkward, but she couldn't help but find him charming. "Pleased to meet you, Sir. I am Sasarai."
The military man blushed a little as he met the attractive young woman's wide, green eyes. "Dios Mikahil, Ma'am." He saluted. He looked her over cautiously, interested, but afraid to appear disrespectful or too forward.
"Have a seat, please," the bishop gestured for both strategists to fill the places beside her.
Dios took his seat happily, always pleased to be so close to a cute girl. His wife didn't have to know that he had spent his time in Higheast gazing on this sweet face instead of Rimini's bespectacled scowl. ...Of course, he still feared it might get back to her. Finding things to nag him about seemed to be one of Kina's talents.
Sasarai, for her part, couldn't say she disliked being seated so near this man. She had little romantic experience, but even she knew enough to tell that Dios was looking her over- and liking what he saw. Of course, they still had serious business to attend to, so she pointed precisely to the place on the map she and Sumi had been considering prior to his arrival.
"I think we could cut off the enemy troops on the way to L'Renouille if we head over here," she explained.
Dios shook himself and settled back into military mode. Further flirting could be saved for after the meeting, once Sumi was out of sight.
*****
"Would you mind if I stayed a moment longer, Ma'am?" Dios asked, pausing in the entrance of the tent as though he had meant to leave with Sumi. Actually, he had had no intention of departing at this point unless the bishop ordered him to do so.
"No, not at all," Sasarai answered, catching a hint of the glimmer in Dios' eye. She responded with her own small smile.
Dios returned to his seat. "You're by far the loveliest bishop I've met," he charmed her with an honest compliment.
She was often flattered by admirers from all over, Harmonia and abroad, who had some interest- erotic, political, or both- in winning her heart, but his tone and bearing showed that he was among the more emotionally sincere of them. "They should've warned me about you!" she laughed lightly, her cheeks rosy with warmth and merriment.
"Yes," Dios had to chuckled as well, "I have a terrible reputation that I don't deserve! This manner of mine has gotten me into trouble with my wife more times than I can count!"
Sasarai was careful not to let her smile dissipate too harshly or quickly. "Oh, so you're a married man. I hope your wife appreciates all your ridiculously enchanting charm."
Yes, she had been gentle about it, but Dios could easily see what this meant. He was being turned down. ...But he didn't want to let this go so easily... Hoping he wouldn't be punished for his boldness, he took her delicate little hands in his.
Sasarai seemed flustered by the action, but not angry. She was looking steadily into his narrow eyes.
"I plan to serve you ably and loyally, Your Excellency. I hope that will be enough to change your mind."
She disentangled her hands from his gloved ones calmly and politely, now focusing her eyes down on them, allowing her gaze to linger longest on her carefully polished pink fingernails. "I've been very faithful to the teachings my whole life, Dios. You may try, but you will see you have your work cut out for you."
He stood and bowed before he left, conscious of the need to remain a gentleman, as Sasarai looked away thoughtfully.
Author: seta_suzume
Words: 764
Theme: Table 1, #4 listen closely
Fandom: Suikoden series
Rating: PG
Author's note: I enjoyed writing this incident because it starts the same, but takes a different turn from the first meeting between Dios and the male Sasarai described in my other writings.
The tent flap flipped back as Sumi, the strategist attached to Sergeant Hap, entered. She bowed her head slightly in respect to the small lady bishop seated at the table. "Bishop Sasarai," the blond girl spoke cheerfully, "General Rimini has sent over a member of his staff to work with you during this conflict."
Sasarai raised an eyebrow curiously. She didn't know any of Rimini's staff, but she hoped this person would be intelligent and easy to work with. "Are they outside? Let them in," she commanded cooly.
"Yes, Ma'am," Sumi nodded, her straw blond hair sliding loose from her twisted pink hair band. She drew back the tent flap and a tall man stooped to get through the entryway. His black military cap fell from his head as he looked up and he scrambled nervously to catch it before it hit the ground.
Sasarai smiled benevolently. This thin, blond man was so awkward, but she couldn't help but find him charming. "Pleased to meet you, Sir. I am Sasarai."
The military man blushed a little as he met the attractive young woman's wide, green eyes. "Dios Mikahil, Ma'am." He saluted. He looked her over cautiously, interested, but afraid to appear disrespectful or too forward.
"Have a seat, please," the bishop gestured for both strategists to fill the places beside her.
Dios took his seat happily, always pleased to be so close to a cute girl. His wife didn't have to know that he had spent his time in Higheast gazing on this sweet face instead of Rimini's bespectacled scowl. ...Of course, he still feared it might get back to her. Finding things to nag him about seemed to be one of Kina's talents.
Sasarai, for her part, couldn't say she disliked being seated so near this man. She had little romantic experience, but even she knew enough to tell that Dios was looking her over- and liking what he saw. Of course, they still had serious business to attend to, so she pointed precisely to the place on the map she and Sumi had been considering prior to his arrival.
"I think we could cut off the enemy troops on the way to L'Renouille if we head over here," she explained.
Dios shook himself and settled back into military mode. Further flirting could be saved for after the meeting, once Sumi was out of sight.
*****
"Would you mind if I stayed a moment longer, Ma'am?" Dios asked, pausing in the entrance of the tent as though he had meant to leave with Sumi. Actually, he had had no intention of departing at this point unless the bishop ordered him to do so.
"No, not at all," Sasarai answered, catching a hint of the glimmer in Dios' eye. She responded with her own small smile.
Dios returned to his seat. "You're by far the loveliest bishop I've met," he charmed her with an honest compliment.
She was often flattered by admirers from all over, Harmonia and abroad, who had some interest- erotic, political, or both- in winning her heart, but his tone and bearing showed that he was among the more emotionally sincere of them. "They should've warned me about you!" she laughed lightly, her cheeks rosy with warmth and merriment.
"Yes," Dios had to chuckled as well, "I have a terrible reputation that I don't deserve! This manner of mine has gotten me into trouble with my wife more times than I can count!"
Sasarai was careful not to let her smile dissipate too harshly or quickly. "Oh, so you're a married man. I hope your wife appreciates all your ridiculously enchanting charm."
Yes, she had been gentle about it, but Dios could easily see what this meant. He was being turned down. ...But he didn't want to let this go so easily... Hoping he wouldn't be punished for his boldness, he took her delicate little hands in his.
Sasarai seemed flustered by the action, but not angry. She was looking steadily into his narrow eyes.
"I plan to serve you ably and loyally, Your Excellency. I hope that will be enough to change your mind."
She disentangled her hands from his gloved ones calmly and politely, now focusing her eyes down on them, allowing her gaze to linger longest on her carefully polished pink fingernails. "I've been very faithful to the teachings my whole life, Dios. You may try, but you will see you have your work cut out for you."
He stood and bowed before he left, conscious of the need to remain a gentleman, as Sasarai looked away thoughtfully.