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[log] Atobe and Taki
Who: Atobe Keigo, Taki Haginosuke
Where: Atobe's private meeting room at the castle
When 1/13, morning
What: Taki and Atobe meet at the castle to discuss the assassination attempt over tea and biscuits.
Rating: G
Comments: Sorry for posting this so late!
Calm and quiet was the scenery in the small, private, out of the way dining area. In his youth, it had just been a room no one knew what to do with. Much too small to house anything of importance, every king before him had ignored its existence, yet when he was smaller he found its many uses. That even now continued into his adulthood. It was a room used when he wanted few to find him, or for times when he felt the dining hall to be too stuffy and felt the need for comfort. The chairs and table were of the utmost high quality. Made for comfort and overstuffed so those sitting on them nearly sank in. The table itself already had a pot of tea placed in the middle, and some baked goods to fill their stomachs. There was also a small bookcase lining the one wall that housed his favorite works. And on the chair closest the bookcase sat its owner.
Appearing asleep, though Atobe didn't slouch even then. His shoulders were squared up and hands folded in front of him. Though really, he was just thinking. Planning a strategy for when whomever it was tried again.
"Thank you," Haginosuke nodded to the guard as the man opened the door to the king's private sitting room. "That'll be all," he added by reflex and let himself be ushered inside. He'd dismissed his own guard outside the castle gates with the order to take the day off. Haginosuke wasn't certain how long he would be at the castle but he wished for privacy while he was there. His escort had seemed to appreciate the gesture; he'd brightened and scurried off into the city after bidding farewell.
He'd dressed simply but elegantly, passing up his more flamboyant finery for a sedate dark blue tunic and trousers. Assessing the king's mental state and learning more about the murder came first. His Majesty had seemed collected enough on the journals yesterday but he preferred to see him with his own eyes and hear about what happened in his own words.
The king seemed to be resting for the time being but still Haginosuke stood after the guard announced him and shut the door, unwilling to break protocol by taking a seat before being given permission to do so.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Haginosuke greeted quietly.
Blue eyes slid open to take his guest in for a moment before his lips spread into a pleasant smile. Something to make him look more composed than he felt. Atobe's thoughts were rather dismal, despite outward appearances and that was how he'd like to keep it. A strong leader needed to look strong, no matter how chaotic the mind or body was. Which focused more on a strategic formula for picking whomever it was out of a crowd. Any one of his friends, guests, or those who worked inside the castle could have been the one to kill one of his hired hands. And while he had every faith that some wouldn't be the culprit, he was still cautious. He had to be, since he was the King.
"Haginosuke," Atobe greeted in return. A small gesture followed, letting the Knight know he was allowed to be seated. "You encountered no problems, I assume?"
"No, no problems." Haginosuke sat down in the chair across from the king, immediately sinking down into it. The cushions were softer than he preferred but still comfortable enough, even if he did feel terribly small in the chair. Or perhaps it was just being alone with His Majesty that made him feel a little smaller than usual. The king had that kind of presence.
His eyes shifted to the tea and snacks on the table and he suppressed a frown. It'd be a bold assassin, indeed, to strike again so quickly but strategically, it would be a sound maneuver to make another move now before the guards had time to adjust to increased security detail. If security had been increased at all. Haginosuke hadn't noticed anything terribly out of the ordinary but it had been some time since he'd visited the castle. The atmosphere was certainly more tense that it had been the last time he'd been here.
"Who prepared the tea for you?" Haginosuke asked, careful to keep his fretting carefully hidden. To say recent events had unnerved him would be an understatement. "Was it a servant?"
"Yes," Atobe replied. "But you needn't worry about being poisoned."
Though he gave little explanation as to why. The truth of it was, that he spent the morning chattering in the kitchen with those that made what was sitting on the table. It was his silent mission of 'inspecting' everyone in the castle throughout the week. Anyone that seemed overly awkward or strange would certainly be watched. Even present company. Anyone he could talk to, really.
Extending his hand, Atobe turned the cups right-side up and poured a gold-brown stream of tea into one, followed quickly by the other.
"I hope your stomach is empty. My baker makes these biscuits heavier than I have ever seen." Amused by the very thought of possibly dropping one and hurting the stone flooring, Atobe gave a little laugh.
I'm more concerned about you. But if His Majesty said they were unnecessary, Haginosuke would do his best to put his worries to rest. He hadn't come to the castle to sit and brood after all. He'd come to visit and do a little investigating into what very well may have been an attempt to take the king's life before its rightful end. Of course, there was the possibility it was also an isolated incident. Haginosuke didn't make a practice of drawing conclusions until all the facts had been gathered and analyzed from every possible angle.
The laugh was comforting to hear. At the very least, the king seemed to be in good spirits.
"I haven't eaten yet," Haginosuke admitted, cracking a small smile. The biscuits certainly looked hard enough to be lobbed as a weapon in a pinch. "It all looks divine. Thank you for having me."
"Think nothing of it. I'm a social creature; it's good to have outside company." Thus meaning the King was slightly bored with those inside, even under the circumstances. Perhaps once the latest fiasco was quelled, he would slip out of the castle and roam the streets of Eldan for a walk. Seeing that he didn't go out of the castle much, it was probably prudent to take a few 'guards' with him. Though there was another remedy for his boredom...
"The faster issues are resolved, is the faster I may host another banquet." Dark blue eyes landed once more on Haginosuke as he pressed the plate of baked goods closer for the taking."As a Noble and Knight you are, of course, invited."
Haginosuke's smile widened and he leaned forward slightly, snatching a biscuit off the plate. "A banquet would be pleasant, indeed. Perhaps it will be just thing to lighten everyone's mood. What happened here? Is it under investigation?"
It was a grave matter but he spoke of it almost casually, his eyes took on a faint hunting light as they always did when he was in the pursuit of information. Haginosuke nibbled on his biscuit.
Atobe let out a small hum as his thoughts delved more into rounding up what information he knew. He extended his own hand for one of the baked goods and let a small corner crumble off, he though didn't put it to his lips yet.
"It is being investigated, yes." The King answered after a moment. Though he wasn't entirely sure how much information he should let slip. Only a fool would open himself to an attack, should the wrong person overhear their conversation. "The dear servant was run through, therefore anyone with or without knowledge of the sword is under suspect."
Finally, he smiled like the very idea was exciting, though anyone who knew him knew he detested the idea that someone should die on his soil. "Quite a many to chat with in this castle, ahn?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Were there any witnesses and has the murder weapon been found?"
There were many in the castle but the likelihood a large number of the workers and inhabitants were involved were slim. That the murder had taken place on castle grounds despite the presence of the guards and servants limited the number of those who could have done the deed. It would have been difficult to avoid notice before the attack unless they were either highly skilled or someone that belonged on the grounds. And of course, Haginosuke couldn't neglect the possibility that the target had, in fact, been the servant who was killed.
Death was never a pleasant topic of conversation, particularly when it distressed the king so openly he apologized for circumstances beyond his control, but the sooner the killer or killers were found, captured, and punished, the sooner life could return to normal for all of them.
"Unfortunately not," Atobe shook his head mournfully. "The witness was without a doubt the servant." Slender fingers took hold of his tea cup and as he brought the tea to his lips, he sipped at it gently. A moment later it made the soft clink sound as the cup hit the table again. "Had there been a hero among my staff, I would have heard of it by now. And had the culprit fled, someone would have noticed."
The truth of it was, the unknown suspect was more than likely still roaming the castle walls. And despite that he should be afraid, Atobe simply wasn't. Not for himself. Then again, he was still young and cocky.
"A trap may just be best, in the end."
Disturbing. So they were probably looking for someone skilled at subterfuge then. It took a certain degree of nerve to remain on the castle grounds. Haginosuke frowned, concentrated on eating his biscuit (the king was right, they were heavy), and mulled over His Majesty's suggestion. It wasn't a bad plan if proper safety measures were in place. The thought of their only king risking his life to lure a killer out of hiding turned his stomach a little. Too many things could go wrong and who would lead them if the plan was botched? Perhaps the assassin knew the king well and had made allowances for His Majesty's... idiosyncracies and forcing the king into using himself as bait was, in fact, a lure to draw the king out where he would be more vulnerable instead.
Haginosuke finished his biscuit and reached for his tea, sipping slowly and thoughtfully before speaking again.
"Did you have something specific in mind, Your Majesty?"
Once again, Atobe seemed rather deep in thought. So deep, in fact, that when Haginosuke spoke again it took a moment to pull his attention back to the present. "Currently, no. I am more focused on finding the culprit first. I want to determine who I'm dealing with and for what reason they decided to strike."
Letting another small piece of biscuit crumple off into his fingers, Atobe ate them knowing that his approach was undoubtedly not strategic. Although in itself, it truly was. It allowed him to flush the culprit out, as well as put himself on display. There would be, of course, precautions. Such as telling Haginosuke about the situation, and of course Sanada and Shiraishi would be let in. Atobe was no fool.
Because you're the king and without you, there would be great political unrest, perhaps even a civil war without an indisputable heir should members of the nobility make a bid for power...
Haginosuke kept his thoughts to himself, however. The king had been unsettled by all of this enough. Telling him such things, especially without solid evidence to support his theory, would serve little purpose. The possibility of a conspiracy originated by an enemy within made Haginosuke abandon his tea in favor of biting into another biscuit a little more savagely than intended.
He reminded himself that the king was still young, still inexperienced, perhaps even a little trusting and naive. Keigo was still the king, however, and Haginosuke was bound to protect and serve, even if it meant agreeing to courses of action he found unnecessarily foolhardy. Haginosuke could discourage and advise, anything more would place him in the same category as the rebels he'd hunted down in the past century.
Haginosuke simply nodded, clamping down harder on his agitation. The king had good intentions, at least, and he could agree that finding the culprit or culprits and discovering the motivations behind the attack were the most important matter at hand, regardless of the methods used to apprehend them.
"If there's anything you need of me, you only need to ask," Haginosuke said quietly, pushing away a strand of hair that fallen across his forehead. "I wish to find the person or persons responsible for this as much as you."
"I had every intention of it." Atobe turned a cocky smile on Haginosuke. "However, it may take a day before I call on you again." Sanada, sometimes, was a difficult man to track down, after all.
Looking down to the massacred biscuit in his had, the King frowned at his sudden lack of appetite to finish it. He set the crumpled mess atop the table and smoothly rose to his feet. "You may feel free to wander the castle grounds at your own discretion," Atobe tipped his head to Haginosuke slightly in acknowlegement and rested his hand on the door once he crossed the room. "For now, I am going to retire to my chaimbers. Thank you for meeting with me, and I bid you safe journey back home."
It may have been rude, though Atobe didn't quite concern himself with the fact, but he opened the door and left Haginosuke's company without any further words.
Had it been anyone but the king, Haginosuke might have been annoyed by the abrupt goodbye but he was a busy man and this was a time of great stress. Haginosuke simply sighed and stood, placed the king's crumbled biscuit back on the platter, and headed for the door. At the very least, the king had provided him with an opportunity to gather more information from the castle's occupants - discreetly, of course - while he still had access to the grounds. At the very least, he would speak to those investigating the matter before returning home. Then perhaps, he would pay a visit to the Dukes of Eldan and Verbves to see if either of them knew more about the incident than they should.
Haginosuke nodded to the guard as he exited the room and walked quickly down the hall, mentally preparing himself to start working.
Where: Atobe's private meeting room at the castle
When 1/13, morning
What: Taki and Atobe meet at the castle to discuss the assassination attempt over tea and biscuits.
Rating: G
Comments: Sorry for posting this so late!
Calm and quiet was the scenery in the small, private, out of the way dining area. In his youth, it had just been a room no one knew what to do with. Much too small to house anything of importance, every king before him had ignored its existence, yet when he was smaller he found its many uses. That even now continued into his adulthood. It was a room used when he wanted few to find him, or for times when he felt the dining hall to be too stuffy and felt the need for comfort. The chairs and table were of the utmost high quality. Made for comfort and overstuffed so those sitting on them nearly sank in. The table itself already had a pot of tea placed in the middle, and some baked goods to fill their stomachs. There was also a small bookcase lining the one wall that housed his favorite works. And on the chair closest the bookcase sat its owner.
Appearing asleep, though Atobe didn't slouch even then. His shoulders were squared up and hands folded in front of him. Though really, he was just thinking. Planning a strategy for when whomever it was tried again.
"Thank you," Haginosuke nodded to the guard as the man opened the door to the king's private sitting room. "That'll be all," he added by reflex and let himself be ushered inside. He'd dismissed his own guard outside the castle gates with the order to take the day off. Haginosuke wasn't certain how long he would be at the castle but he wished for privacy while he was there. His escort had seemed to appreciate the gesture; he'd brightened and scurried off into the city after bidding farewell.
He'd dressed simply but elegantly, passing up his more flamboyant finery for a sedate dark blue tunic and trousers. Assessing the king's mental state and learning more about the murder came first. His Majesty had seemed collected enough on the journals yesterday but he preferred to see him with his own eyes and hear about what happened in his own words.
The king seemed to be resting for the time being but still Haginosuke stood after the guard announced him and shut the door, unwilling to break protocol by taking a seat before being given permission to do so.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Haginosuke greeted quietly.
Blue eyes slid open to take his guest in for a moment before his lips spread into a pleasant smile. Something to make him look more composed than he felt. Atobe's thoughts were rather dismal, despite outward appearances and that was how he'd like to keep it. A strong leader needed to look strong, no matter how chaotic the mind or body was. Which focused more on a strategic formula for picking whomever it was out of a crowd. Any one of his friends, guests, or those who worked inside the castle could have been the one to kill one of his hired hands. And while he had every faith that some wouldn't be the culprit, he was still cautious. He had to be, since he was the King.
"Haginosuke," Atobe greeted in return. A small gesture followed, letting the Knight know he was allowed to be seated. "You encountered no problems, I assume?"
"No, no problems." Haginosuke sat down in the chair across from the king, immediately sinking down into it. The cushions were softer than he preferred but still comfortable enough, even if he did feel terribly small in the chair. Or perhaps it was just being alone with His Majesty that made him feel a little smaller than usual. The king had that kind of presence.
His eyes shifted to the tea and snacks on the table and he suppressed a frown. It'd be a bold assassin, indeed, to strike again so quickly but strategically, it would be a sound maneuver to make another move now before the guards had time to adjust to increased security detail. If security had been increased at all. Haginosuke hadn't noticed anything terribly out of the ordinary but it had been some time since he'd visited the castle. The atmosphere was certainly more tense that it had been the last time he'd been here.
"Who prepared the tea for you?" Haginosuke asked, careful to keep his fretting carefully hidden. To say recent events had unnerved him would be an understatement. "Was it a servant?"
"Yes," Atobe replied. "But you needn't worry about being poisoned."
Though he gave little explanation as to why. The truth of it was, that he spent the morning chattering in the kitchen with those that made what was sitting on the table. It was his silent mission of 'inspecting' everyone in the castle throughout the week. Anyone that seemed overly awkward or strange would certainly be watched. Even present company. Anyone he could talk to, really.
Extending his hand, Atobe turned the cups right-side up and poured a gold-brown stream of tea into one, followed quickly by the other.
"I hope your stomach is empty. My baker makes these biscuits heavier than I have ever seen." Amused by the very thought of possibly dropping one and hurting the stone flooring, Atobe gave a little laugh.
I'm more concerned about you. But if His Majesty said they were unnecessary, Haginosuke would do his best to put his worries to rest. He hadn't come to the castle to sit and brood after all. He'd come to visit and do a little investigating into what very well may have been an attempt to take the king's life before its rightful end. Of course, there was the possibility it was also an isolated incident. Haginosuke didn't make a practice of drawing conclusions until all the facts had been gathered and analyzed from every possible angle.
The laugh was comforting to hear. At the very least, the king seemed to be in good spirits.
"I haven't eaten yet," Haginosuke admitted, cracking a small smile. The biscuits certainly looked hard enough to be lobbed as a weapon in a pinch. "It all looks divine. Thank you for having me."
"Think nothing of it. I'm a social creature; it's good to have outside company." Thus meaning the King was slightly bored with those inside, even under the circumstances. Perhaps once the latest fiasco was quelled, he would slip out of the castle and roam the streets of Eldan for a walk. Seeing that he didn't go out of the castle much, it was probably prudent to take a few 'guards' with him. Though there was another remedy for his boredom...
"The faster issues are resolved, is the faster I may host another banquet." Dark blue eyes landed once more on Haginosuke as he pressed the plate of baked goods closer for the taking."As a Noble and Knight you are, of course, invited."
Haginosuke's smile widened and he leaned forward slightly, snatching a biscuit off the plate. "A banquet would be pleasant, indeed. Perhaps it will be just thing to lighten everyone's mood. What happened here? Is it under investigation?"
It was a grave matter but he spoke of it almost casually, his eyes took on a faint hunting light as they always did when he was in the pursuit of information. Haginosuke nibbled on his biscuit.
Atobe let out a small hum as his thoughts delved more into rounding up what information he knew. He extended his own hand for one of the baked goods and let a small corner crumble off, he though didn't put it to his lips yet.
"It is being investigated, yes." The King answered after a moment. Though he wasn't entirely sure how much information he should let slip. Only a fool would open himself to an attack, should the wrong person overhear their conversation. "The dear servant was run through, therefore anyone with or without knowledge of the sword is under suspect."
Finally, he smiled like the very idea was exciting, though anyone who knew him knew he detested the idea that someone should die on his soil. "Quite a many to chat with in this castle, ahn?"
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Were there any witnesses and has the murder weapon been found?"
There were many in the castle but the likelihood a large number of the workers and inhabitants were involved were slim. That the murder had taken place on castle grounds despite the presence of the guards and servants limited the number of those who could have done the deed. It would have been difficult to avoid notice before the attack unless they were either highly skilled or someone that belonged on the grounds. And of course, Haginosuke couldn't neglect the possibility that the target had, in fact, been the servant who was killed.
Death was never a pleasant topic of conversation, particularly when it distressed the king so openly he apologized for circumstances beyond his control, but the sooner the killer or killers were found, captured, and punished, the sooner life could return to normal for all of them.
"Unfortunately not," Atobe shook his head mournfully. "The witness was without a doubt the servant." Slender fingers took hold of his tea cup and as he brought the tea to his lips, he sipped at it gently. A moment later it made the soft clink sound as the cup hit the table again. "Had there been a hero among my staff, I would have heard of it by now. And had the culprit fled, someone would have noticed."
The truth of it was, the unknown suspect was more than likely still roaming the castle walls. And despite that he should be afraid, Atobe simply wasn't. Not for himself. Then again, he was still young and cocky.
"A trap may just be best, in the end."
Disturbing. So they were probably looking for someone skilled at subterfuge then. It took a certain degree of nerve to remain on the castle grounds. Haginosuke frowned, concentrated on eating his biscuit (the king was right, they were heavy), and mulled over His Majesty's suggestion. It wasn't a bad plan if proper safety measures were in place. The thought of their only king risking his life to lure a killer out of hiding turned his stomach a little. Too many things could go wrong and who would lead them if the plan was botched? Perhaps the assassin knew the king well and had made allowances for His Majesty's... idiosyncracies and forcing the king into using himself as bait was, in fact, a lure to draw the king out where he would be more vulnerable instead.
Haginosuke finished his biscuit and reached for his tea, sipping slowly and thoughtfully before speaking again.
"Did you have something specific in mind, Your Majesty?"
Once again, Atobe seemed rather deep in thought. So deep, in fact, that when Haginosuke spoke again it took a moment to pull his attention back to the present. "Currently, no. I am more focused on finding the culprit first. I want to determine who I'm dealing with and for what reason they decided to strike."
Letting another small piece of biscuit crumple off into his fingers, Atobe ate them knowing that his approach was undoubtedly not strategic. Although in itself, it truly was. It allowed him to flush the culprit out, as well as put himself on display. There would be, of course, precautions. Such as telling Haginosuke about the situation, and of course Sanada and Shiraishi would be let in. Atobe was no fool.
Because you're the king and without you, there would be great political unrest, perhaps even a civil war without an indisputable heir should members of the nobility make a bid for power...
Haginosuke kept his thoughts to himself, however. The king had been unsettled by all of this enough. Telling him such things, especially without solid evidence to support his theory, would serve little purpose. The possibility of a conspiracy originated by an enemy within made Haginosuke abandon his tea in favor of biting into another biscuit a little more savagely than intended.
He reminded himself that the king was still young, still inexperienced, perhaps even a little trusting and naive. Keigo was still the king, however, and Haginosuke was bound to protect and serve, even if it meant agreeing to courses of action he found unnecessarily foolhardy. Haginosuke could discourage and advise, anything more would place him in the same category as the rebels he'd hunted down in the past century.
Haginosuke simply nodded, clamping down harder on his agitation. The king had good intentions, at least, and he could agree that finding the culprit or culprits and discovering the motivations behind the attack were the most important matter at hand, regardless of the methods used to apprehend them.
"If there's anything you need of me, you only need to ask," Haginosuke said quietly, pushing away a strand of hair that fallen across his forehead. "I wish to find the person or persons responsible for this as much as you."
"I had every intention of it." Atobe turned a cocky smile on Haginosuke. "However, it may take a day before I call on you again." Sanada, sometimes, was a difficult man to track down, after all.
Looking down to the massacred biscuit in his had, the King frowned at his sudden lack of appetite to finish it. He set the crumpled mess atop the table and smoothly rose to his feet. "You may feel free to wander the castle grounds at your own discretion," Atobe tipped his head to Haginosuke slightly in acknowlegement and rested his hand on the door once he crossed the room. "For now, I am going to retire to my chaimbers. Thank you for meeting with me, and I bid you safe journey back home."
It may have been rude, though Atobe didn't quite concern himself with the fact, but he opened the door and left Haginosuke's company without any further words.
Had it been anyone but the king, Haginosuke might have been annoyed by the abrupt goodbye but he was a busy man and this was a time of great stress. Haginosuke simply sighed and stood, placed the king's crumbled biscuit back on the platter, and headed for the door. At the very least, the king had provided him with an opportunity to gather more information from the castle's occupants - discreetly, of course - while he still had access to the grounds. At the very least, he would speak to those investigating the matter before returning home. Then perhaps, he would pay a visit to the Dukes of Eldan and Verbves to see if either of them knew more about the incident than they should.
Haginosuke nodded to the guard as he exited the room and walked quickly down the hall, mentally preparing himself to start working.