11 ◦ [AUDIO]

[akingmuststand]

[SUZAKU KURURUGI // 98%]

[He speaks with cordially, not opting to smother his tone in sympathy. He is to the point, but concerned.]

Major Kururugi. I hope you're doing well.
[VALERIA // 98%]

[And now he adopts a smile, small and genial.]Valeria, there's a matter I'd like to discuss with you involving a task that I feel may be well-tailored to

Comments

[voice - action // filtered]

[akingmuststand]

I will await you there, in that case. I look forward to it.

[Action]

[True to his word (of course he is, the good prince), Schneizel is located at one side of the hall. Not the far end, atop the dais - that would be a clear show of dominance, or a bid for it, and that might not be received well. Besides, dominance is not his goal here, and so he's chosen midway, where the space is well-lit.

Kanon stands just past his shoulder, tall and still seeming impeccably dressed and put together, even if Demeleier has taken something of a toll on fine clothes. Schneizel is seated close to the window, a table adjacent to his chair, on which lies communicator and rowan crown, together. His lips curve into a smile upon her entrance, and he rises, takes a step forward to meet her. He has requested this audience, after all, and it is he who is being honoured.

One white hand over purple sheathed chest, he bows. There is earnest respect in the gesture, rather than being something just for appearances.]

Your Highness Zelda,

[His smile deepens minutely.]

I thank you for agreeing to meet with me today.

[action]

[forhyrule]

[ Zelda cannot help a minute sense of unease as she enters the Hall, alone but for the strength of her own resolve. A secretive meeting such as this is ill advised, even by the most idealistic of politicians, but Zelda insists upon it as a show of good faith. (In truth, she probably wasn't alone at all; Sheikah have a talent for being present and unseen.) ]

[ And still, though Schneizel had never shown Zelda anything but due respect, the Princess sensed that he was a man of many secrets. ]

[ As she reaches him, she touches her hand delicately to her chest and inclines her head in greeting. A hereditary princess must never curtsey. ]

Prince Schneizel. The honor is mine.

[ At invitation, she will sit in the opposite chair to Schneizel's, back straight and hands neatly folded in her lap. ]

I must admit surprise at this sudden invitation.

[action]

[akingmuststand]

It was an abrupt request, and I apologise for that.

[He folds back into the chair, hands on either arm. His smiles, his actions, his breathing is all that is befitting of an Imperial Prince, but there is no arrogance to it, as might be expected. The white prince is not a conceited man, not victim to pridefulness, unlike most of his family. He is confident, however. One in his position must be.

Part of him would be willing to forego pleasantries - Zelda is a capable woman, that much is apparent, and she is clever. She does not need to be lulled and lured in any way. And yet, she is a princess, and a politician, and she understands, he does not doubt, that such must be honoured.

Besides. One should start a venture as they mean to go on.]

However, it was not the will of whim.

[He has so few of the latter, and fewer still of the former.]

I hope I find you well, regardless. I feel I might thank you for bringing people here as you did under our recent duress. It was a prudent move, and one I think we were all grateful for.

[action]

[forhyrule]

[ Pleasantries are an unfortunate necessity of politics. Zelda tires of masking her interests behind meaningless words, but not to do so would nullify any progress she hoped to make. ]

My thanks, but I did only what I felt necessary. Were it not for the aid of the citizenry, that night may have ended badly.

[ She nods respectfully. ]

Let us dispense with the pleasantries, My Lord. [ She gives a knowing smile. ] I don't imagine you asked to meet me simply for an exchange of flattery.

[action]

[akingmuststand]

[He smiles, bowing his head a moment.]

There is a suggestion I wish to make, your Highness, which I believe would be of benefit to each other and, in turn, the people here.

[Straightening, he looks at her directly. They are similar, in a way, favouring directness that cuts through the pomp and circumstance of usual exchanges.]

What I propose is a partnership between you and I, princess. I feel that we each work to the betterment of this place - all of us, that is. Our front is certainly an allied one, and unity is something we need against our enemy.

However, by working close together, we would be able to do so far more effectively. While our work has us crossing paths, a great deal of the time it seems to me that things could be handled with further efficiency. We seem to have like goals in mind, why not work to achieve them together?