RL with Jordan- locked
Aikka immediately had a private room prepared with tea, wanting to make Jordan's visit a little less awkward than he knew it was going to be for him.
After ordering out all the servants and advisers, warning them not to disturb him unless it was an absolute state of emergency, he sat down and waited for Jordan.
After ordering out all the servants and advisers, warning them not to disturb him unless it was an absolute state of emergency, he sat down and waited for Jordan.
"I've been wanting to try out Nourasian attire for a while," Jordan said, keeping his tone light. "You know, as they say, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'."
He took a seat at the table, a pleasant smile on his face which belied the serious nature of his visit. He decided to make some small talk first, before getting down to business.
"So, I hope you've been doing well for yourself. Seems you missed the last virus on the comm. Lucky break, eh?"
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"I am guessing that is an human saying, but I will say your wardrobe is very good," Aikka replied politely, bowing. "Thank you for coming."
After Jordan took a seat, he resumed his own.
"I have been doing fine," he continued, offering him a cup of tea. "Any viruses that have been going through the comm since that one over the summer that changed our genders have thankfully passed me by. Perhaps taking time away did me some good. How have you been faring?"
Though relieved they weren't getting down to business right away, Aikka felt as if they should get it all over with. However, that was not the Nourasian way. To try and calm himself, he took the remaining cup and took a sip.
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He set the cup down and plucked up a nearby fruit and started to peel it.
"I've been doing pretty well, all things considered. Still kinda riding the happy feeling I got after proposing to Eva ..." He cast his eyes downward, falling silent.
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After finishing it, he poured out some more and replaced the pot on the serving tray.
"Yes...," he replied, averting his own gaze. "Congratulations on that again."
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It's like pulling off a Band-Aid, Jordan thought. Get it over with quickly and it'll hurt less.
He took a bite of his fruit, chewed, swallowed. "Look, let's just cut to the chase. I know you have some ... unresolved feelings for Eva, but you're just going to have to let them go. I mean, I've been in love with this girl for a lot longer than you have, and you never made a move, so ... well, there you have it. We're getting married, and that's that."
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"What makes you so sure, you loved her longer than myself?" he asked coolly. "Did you fall for her when you first saw her? Or perhaps you only began to pursue her when you realised someone else had feelings for her that were more than platonic?"
The words had just slipped out, but he couldn't take them back. They were there and he had meant them.
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"You sure have a funny way of showing affection. After all, I thought knights were supposed to rescue damsels regardless of their feelings? I can't imagine attacking someone on multiple occasions being mistaken for anything other than aggression."
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Jordan set his teacup down hard enough to rattle the saucer. He took a deep breath and folded his hands in his lap to keep them from balling into fists.
"You know, that's the just the thing." Jordan leaned forward slightly, as if confiding to Aikka some important secret. "When you love someone, and I mean really love them, you can't keep your guard up around them constantly. You have to lay your heart bare to them, and hope that they won't stick a knife in it. Eva and I had a very open relationship: we could confide in each other and talk to one another about anything. And if I did something to hurt her or make her upset, I was always quick to apologize. When did you ever actually say you were sorry for all the grief you caused us, huh? You just counted on Eva's forgiving nature and never once actually came out and said you're sorry!"
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Aikka sat fuming for a bit as his temper began to overtake him.
"And what exactly are you insinuating? That I put up walls against her? That I hide everything? Or perhaps you are saying that I am an unfeeling shell that cannot express itself? Though do tell me, when did I ever cause you grief? You didn't seem to care much about me on Alwas or Oban."
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"Not any concern to us humans, huh? The Crogs were planning to destroy Earth! It's the whole reason we got involved in the Great Race in the first place. We wanted to use the Ultimate Prize to fight against them."
Jordan didn't even realize that his voice had grown louder as his temper escalated.
"You hurt Eva ... badly. And seeing her suffer hurt me, because she's my partner, and I hate to see her be hurt like that. She crushed on you really hard, but you gave absolutely no indication that you returned her feelings whatsoever. It was like falling in love with a brick wall! And I ..." Jordan's voice lowered slightly as he clenched his fist on the tabletop. "I tried so hard to tell her how I felt about her, and she didn't even notice, until ... until the very end ..."
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Aikka glared at Jordan through narrowed eyes as he paused for a moment.
"I gave no indication?! Perhaps humans are more blind than I thought, as I thought I was being rather open about how I felt for Eva! Though perhaps what is considered open on Nourasia isn't the same as what customs you have on Earth. I did what I could until my hands were tied, and even then I pushed as far as I dared."
He took a deep breath to calm his temper as best he could. When next he spoke, his tone was cold and stormy, to match his expression.
"I think it is best that you leave now."
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"Leave?" Jordan said, a low chuckle rising in his throat. "You want me to leave?"
The young Avatar stood and with one hand he upended the table and flung it to his right where it crashed against the stone wall, scattering fruit and dishes every which way.
"You don't tell me what to do." Jordan walked slowly toward Aikka, his golden eyes glittering dangerously. "I'm the Avatar! I could break you with a thought, tear your palace down around your ears, and not even work up a sweat! I could even make you fall out of love with Eva. It'd be easy, like flicking a switch."
Jordan's lips spread into a feral grin as he raised his right hand, the thumb and middle finger pressed together. "All I have to do is snap my fingers ... and you won't even remember ever loving her. I think it'd be the best thing for all parties involved, don't you think?"
((OOC: Don't worry, he won't actually do anything to Aikka! He'll snap out of his power-trip in just ( ... )
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"You wouldn't do such a thing Jordan. No matter how much you would care to do so, it's too much like him."
He let his words settle in the room for a little while before speaking in the same low whisper.
"I will not ask you as politely next time. Please take your leave, Jordan."
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A small voice inside Jordan said, Whose benefit is this really for: Aikka's ... or yours?
He gazed past Aikka's determined face and noticed his own reflection staring back at him in a gilded mirror. And what he saw made him recoil in fear and revulsion. Staring back at him was his own face, twisted in bestial rage ... and behind his shoulder he could just barely make out a black bird with crimson eyes perched atop a bust ...
"N-no ..." Jordan clutched at his head. "I-I'm not ... I not like him ..."
Selfish abuse of your powers will only make you into a monster ... Just like Canaletto.
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Cold fury had now found its way into the young king's voice and eyes. Any politeness, whether forced or genuine had finally vanished.
"Now go!"
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