enthraller | IC inbox

[ Yuuri visibly relaxes when Saralegui smiles. ]

I'm alright. Better now that we can talk things out.

[ Because now they actually move on to working on being friends. ] How've you been?

[His smile doesn't slip, but it certainly tightens a little.]

I'm stuck in a strange world while my country might be falling apart without me back home. I have no idea what I'm doing here, or even where I'm going to stay in the long term or how I'll manage once the locals' hospitality runs out. And my closest friend doesn't even remember me.

[Basically: not great. Saralegui's smile went a bit dry, and he shrugged.]

Did you want to sit and talk, or maybe take a walk?

[ Yuuri's smile certainly does falter as Saralegui continues to speak, and his eyebrows are knitted together in concern. He has some similar worries too, but he's spent enough time away from Shin Makoku before to know that they'll be fine there.

Still, he knows saying anything about it won't help any, so he stays quiet about it. ]

We could take a walk, if you want. [ Having distractions around them might make it easier to talk. ]

[Yuuri's country was at least always in a less precarious position, and usually still being looked after by fairly competent retainers. But there have always been people looking to snap Small Shimaron up, Large Shimaron and people working for them and people looking to take power for themselves and people who just didn't like him as their king. And Belias is a wonderful bodyguard and quietly intelligent, but he's not a politician, and there's no one else he trusts to keep the country running and independent in his absence.

Saralegui smiles, but the expression is a little stiff, now that he's letting those very legitimate concerns out into the open and thinking about them again. He stands, straightening the long skirts of his clothes out with a smooth, efficient gesture.]

Fine. Let's walk.

[Part of him wants to take Yuuri's arm to do so, whether out of habit or instinct or whatever. But he's not quite sure where they stand right now, so he keeps his hands to himself.]

[ That lack of contact is something Yuuri does take notice of, since Saralegui was so touchy before. It's hard not to notice. But Yuuri decides not to say anything about that either.

He lets them walk in silence for a little bit, contemplating what to say. There's no reason for him to go into any discussion on where they stand just yet, not when he doesn't even know where exactly they stood before. ]

So... what happened after we met officially?

A great deal, a lot of it mote politically complicated than you might be interested in. An attempted coup d'etat in my country, Large Shimaron taking issue with the fact that we'd been meeting, a whole mess involving the hidden country of Seisakoku and my mother...

[He gives a helpless little shrug, a sort of "what can you do" kinda gesture.]

It really is a long story. And I wouldn't want to bore you with the details.

[Okay, maybe he's being a little evasive. But Yuuri is at least still talking to him and everything, and he finds he doesnt really want to risk spoiling that yet. And the risk will be there no matter what he says. Honesty about everything that happened might actually turn Yuuri away from him this time, who knows. And dishonesty might come back to bite him in the ass if Murata happens to bring anything up.]

[ Well. That already sounds a lot more complicated than he was hoping for, but he's come to expect everything in his life being complicated. ]

You're probably right about the politics, but... I still want to know as much as I can. [ He pauses for a moment, watching a few people pass by thoughtfully. ]

If I don't know everything, that still wouldn't be fair to you. I wouldn't know what I should.

[Saralegui pauses as well, half a step in front of Yuuri. He's thoughtful for a moment before he decides fuck it and pushes right into the risky stuff, tone and body language kept carefully light like maybe that'd make it seem less serious, less of a big deal.]

Fair warning: you probably won't be very happy with some of the things I've done. [He makes a loose, airy gesture, shrugging.] You forgave me back home, of course, but...

[But things aren't necessarily the same here.]

[ That makes him a little nervous, but Yuuri steels himself. ]

But what? If I forgave you back home, I'd probably forgive you here too.

[ He takes a step so that he can actually look at Saralegui. ] I'm still me, you know. Even if I'm missing some memories.

You still said "probably".

[Yeah, like he was gonna fail to notice that. Saralegui frowns and goes silent for a moment, but eventually he sighs and carries on.]

I tricked you into using your powers to...ah, deal with Large Shimaron for me. [A beat, and he adds:] Not that it wasn't for your own good as well. King Lanzhil would have hurt you and your people, and you weren't about to do what was necessary to stop it yourself...

[Yes, it sounds a little better phrased like that. It's even true, sorta.]

[ Yuuri's quiet for a long moment. So... he was tricked? Saralegui doesn't seem like the type to trick people, but then again, he barely knows him. ]

How exactly did I deal with them? [ He has a feeling it was violent in some way, because that would definitely be something he'd never resort to on his own. ]

[~~yuuri you sweet summer child~~]

Storms, earthquakes. Your usual methods.

[Or rather, the Maou's usual methods. But whatever, Saralegui's trying to be flippant about it.]

[ He was afraid of that. That's usually how things ended up going, if his powers ended up getting too out of control. Yuuri clenches his fists, letting out a breath he wasn't even aware he was holding. ]

So... how did you trick me into it?

[How does one say "I have mind-control powers" without sounding really creepy? Especially when your companion already seemed a little unnverved?]

Let's just say I'm very persuasive.

[ Unfortunately, that unnerves him a little more. ]

...What do you mean?

[The sideways glance he shot Yuuri was more than a little exasperated. God, he'd almost forgotten how dense Yuuri could be. And it wasn't always quite so charming.]

You're not the only king with unique powers. And to be honest, you're extremely predictable. It didn't even take any special magic to guess what would set you off and arrange it. I only really had to force it once.

[ It's only just now that all the work Saralegui put into manipulating him dawns on Yuuri. He subconsciously creates a little space between them. ]

...You arranged everything to manipulate me into doing something you know I wouldn't ever want to do. [ They're supposed to be friends, though. That's what he said, and there's no way Saralegui would have been that upset before if they weren't, right? Yuuri wants to say something along the lines of "that's not what friendship is supposed to be", but. That wouldn't help anything, and it's all in the past anyway. There's nothing he can do about it now.

So, he takes a few seconds to gather his thoughts, letting a soft sigh. ]

What... happened after all of that?

[Saralegui is very much used to reading into body language. It's a large part if why he'd wanted to have this conversation in person. And currently, Yuuri's body language is suggesting a pretty pessimistic outcome here.

He wilts for a moment, the disappointment hitting him harder than he'd expected it to. He knew there was a chance Yuuri wouldn't be so forgiving this time around -- hell, it was the most rational response. Saralegui only allows himself that brief second of distress before he steels hunself, lifting his head and straightening his back like a proper king, above such emotional responses to actions that had been, pragmatically, the best option at the time.]

You lectured me. And then said you'd always trust me.

[It sounds ridiculous. He still doesn't get it either. But he still appreciated it.] Maybe that's why Yuuri's reaction is so depressing.]

[ Yuuri pauses in his steps, taking a moment to really concentrate.

He would always trust him? That does sound like something he would say, to someone he considered a friend. But... they don't have a history, not here. Still, he's the same person, memories mixed up or not. Whatever he had wanted to say before is out the window now, and Yuuri is a little unsure of how he feels.

For now, he'll just have to go with his gut instinct. ]

Okay. [ It's a small affirmation that's more for himself than Saralegui. ] Memories or not, I trust my own judgement. I knew you well enough then to keep trusting you, after everything. So... I'm going to do the same here.

[ Yuuri pauses again, trying to carefully hash out his words. ] The fact that you told me that, even when it would've been better for you to lie... I think I made the right decision back then.

[Saralegui pauses as well, half-turned to watch Yuuri warily. Warily, because he honestly at this point expects some level of rejection and is prepared to take it in as dignified a manner as possible.

He shouldn't have been surprised to hear the exact opposite out if Yuuri, really. Yuuri being Yuuri and all. But he is, and he just blinks at the other king for a moment, stunned.

And then, of course, he has to fight back a smile. He doesn't really succeed, but the attempt is made.]

...It would be stupid to try lying. Your Great Sage would probably just tell you anything I didn't.

[ Yuuri smiles back, relieved. ]

Probably. [ Then again, it's always hard to tell when it comes to Murata. ] It's still better to hear it directly from you, though.

[Saralegui has to look away. The Yuuri smile is too pure. He turns back to continue walking, shrugging in an exasperated manner.]

You're still far too trusting. Ambitious men like me will take advantage of you if you aren't more careful.

[ Yuuri hurries to catch up. ]

Well, nothing too bad has happened... yet.

[Scoffs. Good lord, Yuuri, how have you survived this long?]

Well. No wonder you forgave me so easily, if all that wasn't "too bad".

[ It's honestly a miracle.

Yuuri realizes exactly what he says, and his face colors with embarrassment. ]

You know what I mean! Everyone can be redeemed, or improve themselves... I've never met anyone who couldn't.

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lost track of this notif for a few days orz

no worries!

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