[PoT] War Games (Rikkai, PG)
Title: War Games
Characters: Rikkai (Niou)
Rating: PG
Notes: Embryonic war AU. 600 words.
Niou and Yanagi do not play chess or go together, because the types of analysis required are too limited. Advanced in a sense, so that you could spend a lifetime picking apart the minute details of strategy, but with a narrow focus. There are not enough factors to make a decent war game, even in quiet times; and they are not in quiet times at all. They play games of words and facts instead, lists of enemy forces and equipment and commanders spread out on the long table interspersed with weather forecasts, ground conditions, anything they can think of. Everything they can think of. Mostly they do not even look at it, after an initial examination.
They have been doing this kind of thing for years. Years before the war, even, in a slightly different form, playing other people's battles.
"It's already in here," Niou says, brushing a bony finger against his forehead, when Yukimura asks, during one of their first games as part of Rikkai. "Just processing."
One of them takes Rikkai's side, and one of them their opponent's, each time. They can spend a long time thinking, sometimes. Akaya brings them food, and Renji drinks cup after cup of tea; Niou drinks water and pretends that it is sake to scandalise the general staff, or drinks sake and pretends that it is water to pacify the demons, depending on how bad the day is and whether this is really a game or not. If it is ever really a game. Only Yagyuu and Yukimura are really allowed to interrupt, to bring in new information if the situation changes. Even Sanada stays clear.
They play out their games, scribbling diagrams on sheets of paper and arguing points to the death when they need to. Sometimes Rikkai wins. Sometimes not. A scenario gains favour, Yukimura listening to the whole thing, considering other factors, the ones Niou and Yanagi can overlook sometimes -- reputation, human cost.
A plan is drawn up, if this game counts. Very often it works, up to a point, when they go to apply it; these things are never perfect, but their odds are better than most.
"This is not a game, though," Sanada says. "You should remember that. You especially, Niou."
"It's a game." Niou shrugs. "Or it's a war. What's the difference?"
"Importance," Sanada says, and Niou raises a cynical eyebrow, knowing better than anyone that Sanada never knew how to disengage from games as a child, turned every bit of serious intensity to them as he turns to leading an army now. Reacted damn near as badly to loss. Whether this is because everything is a war to them or everything is a game to them comes down to a coin's toss as far as Niou can see. Sanada registers his expression sourly. "And cost."
"Don't use Yukimura's words," Niou says, and fishes out a coin, turning it absently between his fingers. "You'd rather win with five men standing than lose with five hundred."
Sanada does not say So would any of us, but it hangs there, a near-audible thought.
"Niou," Yanagi murmurs, "Genichirou. Please."
"Right," Niou says, and backs down, coin still twisting between his fingers. All a game or all a war? Heads or tails.
Walking out of the hall, he flicks the coin into the air and Yagyuu, stepping smoothly out of the shadows of the walkway to fall in step, catches it for him. Inspects it.
"Well?" Niou asks.
"Nothing of importance," Yagyuu says.
Maybe it isn't, at that.
Something to pick apart later. If at all.
They go and get breakfast while around them the barracks begin to come to life and the soldiers arm themselves. It's a beautiful day.
Characters: Rikkai (Niou)
Rating: PG
Notes: Embryonic war AU. 600 words.
Niou and Yanagi do not play chess or go together, because the types of analysis required are too limited. Advanced in a sense, so that you could spend a lifetime picking apart the minute details of strategy, but with a narrow focus. There are not enough factors to make a decent war game, even in quiet times; and they are not in quiet times at all. They play games of words and facts instead, lists of enemy forces and equipment and commanders spread out on the long table interspersed with weather forecasts, ground conditions, anything they can think of. Everything they can think of. Mostly they do not even look at it, after an initial examination.
They have been doing this kind of thing for years. Years before the war, even, in a slightly different form, playing other people's battles.
"It's already in here," Niou says, brushing a bony finger against his forehead, when Yukimura asks, during one of their first games as part of Rikkai. "Just processing."
One of them takes Rikkai's side, and one of them their opponent's, each time. They can spend a long time thinking, sometimes. Akaya brings them food, and Renji drinks cup after cup of tea; Niou drinks water and pretends that it is sake to scandalise the general staff, or drinks sake and pretends that it is water to pacify the demons, depending on how bad the day is and whether this is really a game or not. If it is ever really a game. Only Yagyuu and Yukimura are really allowed to interrupt, to bring in new information if the situation changes. Even Sanada stays clear.
They play out their games, scribbling diagrams on sheets of paper and arguing points to the death when they need to. Sometimes Rikkai wins. Sometimes not. A scenario gains favour, Yukimura listening to the whole thing, considering other factors, the ones Niou and Yanagi can overlook sometimes -- reputation, human cost.
A plan is drawn up, if this game counts. Very often it works, up to a point, when they go to apply it; these things are never perfect, but their odds are better than most.
"This is not a game, though," Sanada says. "You should remember that. You especially, Niou."
"It's a game." Niou shrugs. "Or it's a war. What's the difference?"
"Importance," Sanada says, and Niou raises a cynical eyebrow, knowing better than anyone that Sanada never knew how to disengage from games as a child, turned every bit of serious intensity to them as he turns to leading an army now. Reacted damn near as badly to loss. Whether this is because everything is a war to them or everything is a game to them comes down to a coin's toss as far as Niou can see. Sanada registers his expression sourly. "And cost."
"Don't use Yukimura's words," Niou says, and fishes out a coin, turning it absently between his fingers. "You'd rather win with five men standing than lose with five hundred."
Sanada does not say So would any of us, but it hangs there, a near-audible thought.
"Niou," Yanagi murmurs, "Genichirou. Please."
"Right," Niou says, and backs down, coin still twisting between his fingers. All a game or all a war? Heads or tails.
Walking out of the hall, he flicks the coin into the air and Yagyuu, stepping smoothly out of the shadows of the walkway to fall in step, catches it for him. Inspects it.
"Well?" Niou asks.
"Nothing of importance," Yagyuu says.
Maybe it isn't, at that.
Something to pick apart later. If at all.
They go and get breakfast while around them the barracks begin to come to life and the soldiers arm themselves. It's a beautiful day.