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.
"You know well enough my hand was forced. In the beginning I had slightly more freedom though. I did help Eva out a few times, I even talked to her after her first race with Toros. I agreed to her fair race for speed, which, may I remind you, you broke. I went after her after your racer crashed in your race against Spirit. I even defied orders to lose to Spirit in my final race! Even on Oban I tested my limits with Kross by sneaking out to bring her to listen to the Drudgers sing, and then to warn her that she should forget we were ever friends in the next race. I told her not to get near. Those were the days that hurt the most. I hated having to shoot you down in the ice region, but I had no choice. My situation was very precarious! It wasn't until the end that I decided to look to her for help."
Aikka's breathing was heavy as he glared at Jordan. He hadn't felt this sort of rage toward anyone for some time.
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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 a bit ...))
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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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"I ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean--" Jordan stepped away from Aikka, clutching himself. He gave the young Nourasian king one last desperate look before his body faded into golden motes of light and vanished.
"Forgive me ..." Those last words echoed in the empty air as Jordan disappeared.
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