19th Edict [Video]
[The video opens to a location somewhere within Xanadu. The communicator is propped up against an aging, cracked and foreign-looking teapot at the very far end of a long wooden table, where it has a generous view of the going-ons. The table is absolutely covered with various food, teapots and finery that perhaps would have been fine were things not in such a disorganized state. Yet everything bears a rather Chinese flavor to the otherwise European-like setting, down to the paw-shaped feet of the table, and the ornate wild goose carvings running along the wood. Shouryuu is sitting at the head of the table, dressed in an odd yet casual manner, though his head boasts a very lopped-looking pink hat that matches the exact hue of the ribbon tying his hair. The man looks rather bored, checking broken watch ever few seconds as he stirs his own drink--which doesn't look to be so much as pure tea than a mixture of tea and a beverage of something distinctly suspect and likely alcoholic, though Shouryuu would likely never admit to it being something other than tea--for tea it is, if only half. And half is as good enough as it being entirely so. Directly to his left is a large mouse, Rakushun, seeming to be stretching over pile of thick books, mumbling only vague, barely-coherent ramblings whenever the king-turned-hatter tries to make conversation. On his right, however, is a large, white tiger-like creature whose body seems to flicker between solid, transparent, and invisible at will.]
[--Then, from the right, a short, blond-haired boy with rabbit ears comes into view. Shouryuu's head turns, and gives him a long-suffering glance as Rokuta approaches the table, eying a small basket of peaches near Shouryuu's end.]
You're late.
[Rokuta rolls his eyes, snorting before he takes his accustomed seat at the table.] So?
So? You're late.
And you're never early.
And how would you know if you've never been on time?
This is stupid, [Rokuta throws Shouryuu a flat look, making a quick grab for the peaches that Shouryuu manages to pull just out of reach, causing the boy to sit back and glower at him in return.] Who cares?
[Shouryuu shrugs his shoulders.] Somebody who is everybody and yet nobody at the same time, depending on who you ask. So, they could be anybody.
[The kirin-hare rolls his eyes again.] Yeah, well, you're wearing a pink hat, old man. You do realize that, don't you? Or are you so dim-witted that you didn't notice?
[How that has to do with anything is anyone's guess, but Shouryuu shakes his head.] It's amaranth. Or flamingo. Point is, It can't be pink if it's either, now can it? Pink wouldn't be pink otherwise. [He grins.] What, you like it?
No. [Rokuta twitches.] It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen since you came along, and that's saying something. Now you're only uglier.
[Shouryuu laughs.] And just whose fault was that again?
---I think it's more of a carnation color, actually, [mumbles the mouse, suddenly and randomly, from his place at the table, as if unaware he had entered the conversation a few sentences too late. He lifts his head for a moment, and only to turn the page of his textbook, before collapsing into it again.]
[Shouryuu shoots Rokuta a pointed look.] See?
It's still pink, you moron. Though, [Rokuta continues, tone low and biting] I'm sure a certain someone would be proud of you.
Don't you dare bring that self-absorbed pansy into--
Oh, I dare.
[--Then, from the right, a short, blond-haired boy with rabbit ears comes into view. Shouryuu's head turns, and gives him a long-suffering glance as Rokuta approaches the table, eying a small basket of peaches near Shouryuu's end.]
You're late.
[Rokuta rolls his eyes, snorting before he takes his accustomed seat at the table.] So?
So? You're late.
And you're never early.
And how would you know if you've never been on time?
This is stupid, [Rokuta throws Shouryuu a flat look, making a quick grab for the peaches that Shouryuu manages to pull just out of reach, causing the boy to sit back and glower at him in return.] Who cares?
[Shouryuu shrugs his shoulders.] Somebody who is everybody and yet nobody at the same time, depending on who you ask. So, they could be anybody.
[The kirin-hare rolls his eyes again.] Yeah, well, you're wearing a pink hat, old man. You do realize that, don't you? Or are you so dim-witted that you didn't notice?
[How that has to do with anything is anyone's guess, but Shouryuu shakes his head.] It's amaranth. Or flamingo. Point is, It can't be pink if it's either, now can it? Pink wouldn't be pink otherwise. [He grins.] What, you like it?
No. [Rokuta twitches.] It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen since you came along, and that's saying something. Now you're only uglier.
[Shouryuu laughs.] And just whose fault was that again?
---I think it's more of a carnation color, actually, [mumbles the mouse, suddenly and randomly, from his place at the table, as if unaware he had entered the conversation a few sentences too late. He lifts his head for a moment, and only to turn the page of his textbook, before collapsing into it again.]
[Shouryuu shoots Rokuta a pointed look.] See?
It's still pink, you moron. Though, [Rokuta continues, tone low and biting] I'm sure a certain someone would be proud of you.
Don't you dare bring that self-absorbed pansy into--
Oh, I dare.