[ Three days into the conference of the eastern kingdoms regarding the recent ice storms plaguing the coasts, the kirin are given leave. The younger creatures are tiring and the older are growing rebellious, and the kings vote unanimously to release them into the wild for an afternoon.
Keiki resists only for a short while, until the desperate, longing glances from his shy ruler become too obvious - and too painful - and he is forced to withdraw. His first thought is to visit the gardens of En's palace, but that would be her Majesty's choice also. He reluctantly heads towards the city below, instead. ]
[ Keiki is in the process of dutifully wrapping his mane when Taiki's call reaches them. He lifts a hand in greeting the moment the cloth is tied, and then realises he hasn't yet spoken to the En Taiho. Perhaps the presence of Tai's kirin is a booster shot to his social abilities. ]
Don't worry 'bout it. But if you wanted to get down there and not be bothered... [Shrugging, Enki snorted and tugged on his own tied scarf, them turned around.]
You ain't gonna need to cover up though, if you want to come with. Hey, kiddo.
[When Taiki had caught up to them, Enki reached out and ruffled the black locks with a grin.]
[Taiki paused a little distance away from them but broke into a grin at Enki's words] Can I? I mean, Lord Gyousou said I could... as long as I was with you...
[ He looks Taiki over, and agrees with the En Taiho. He could pass for a young human boy, albeit one in noticeably ornate clothing. But none of them have time to change, so... He shrugs internally and holds out a hand. ]
[ For someone so expressionless, Keiki manages to look both disapproving and guilty remarkably well. And sends another prayer that the Royal Kei will agree to return for the reconvening at all, for good measure. ]
Eh, maybe. As long as all of 'em ain't as lazy as the royal bum, it'll be fine.
[Enki shrugs and pats Taiki on his shoulder, grin softening.]
'Course he is, he forgot about wrapping' his mane, didn't he? Though I suppose that could be forgivable, since you haven't been out much.
[Enki aimed the last at Keiki, even if his initial poor about 'troublesome' hadn't at all had to do with Keiki being forgetful or not out much. Not like some other kirin that could be mentioned, and who had BC a king that was yet worse.]
[Taiki held onto Keiki's hand and blinked sadly again, he didn't like Enki criticizing Keiki.
Instead he tried to awkwardly change the subject] Um... En Taiho is the city really big? Lord Gyousou said it was, that's why I had to come with you... because I might get lost...
Indeed. [ He can't really argue against that. Other than his search for the king and his visits to Taiki, he hasn't seen the need to leave the palace.
Taiki's getting upset for some reason - potentially at the thought of exploring a foreign city - so he shifts his grip on the younger kirin's hand to hold it more securely. ]
It's huge, yeah. [Intertwining his hands behind his head, Enki glanced up towards the sky, not even watching the steps as they walked down them.]
And since neither of you have really been here, you might get lost... And then the lazy bastard would get annoyed with me if I didn't make sure you got back and Tai and Kei got upset or something'.
[Not all kirin were as used to wandering as the kirin of En was, after all.]
[Taiki held onto Keiki's hand tightly as they walked, watching the steps carefully.] Can we see it all? Or is it too big? [He was excited though still nervous, and worried about why Enki was insulting his king]
It would be difficult to become so lost that we would lose sight of Mount Kankyuu. [ He's going for reassuring, in case Enki's flippancy causes more worry for Taiki. ]
[ They could easily get lost within the city, of course, but that isn't something to worry about. He looks askance at Enki. ] We should perhaps limit ourselves to one or two districts.
Keiki's right, one or two districts would be easier, since we're walkin'.
[It was probably a good thing they didn't literally need to walk all the steps to get down to the bottom, otherwise it'd take much too long.]
Would be kinda hard to lose sight of Kankyuu no matter where we were. [Enki grins and shrugs.] Anything you wanna see? Should be some candy we could get... Would ya want that, kiddo?
[Taiki's face lit up. Of course he would like candy. He tried to act like the adult kirin he was supposed to be and resisted being too excited.] I'd like that.
Nothing in particular. [ he had vague plans to visit a nursery said to have been granted a new type of scented rose, as a present for her Majesty's attending the conference, but that could be accomplished on their return journey. ]
[When they finally hit the bottom, Enki pointed off down one of the streets.]
That way. How's things goin' now, kiddo?
[This time, Enki glanced first to Taiki and then to Keiki, considering what they had to do for the poor black kirin to start feeling like his choice had been the right one.
And, well. Keiki seemed to have some... issues with his young king.]
[Taiki bounced along at Keiki's side, swinging their arms the epitome of an adult kirin.] They are okay... there's lots to do still and I still don't understand a lot...
Lord Gyousou is doing really well though. [He brightens, the moment of doubt leaves his eyes.]
[He catches the angled look and jerks his head slightly in the direction they need to go, admittedly, it's a bit of a walk from the base of Mount Kankyuu, but it's not as if it'll be hard to return quickly or easily if they have to.]
Yeah, like Keiki said, you'll get in time... And some things you'll just know how to do, or won't even need to think about how.
[Enki shrugs, thinking back on his own early years and smirks. Mostly because of Shuko and the other ministers not knowing how to deal with either kirin or king.]
Since part of what we do is to make sure the probable disasters Kings can cause the people don't happen... or are mitigated, at least.
[Mercy. Rokuta almost snorted, but managed not to. Sometimes it seemed impossible, but that was the nature of Kings, wasn't it?]
[Taiki nodded, once such news would have made him despair but now he knew that there really were things that he would get in time, it just took him a little longer than most...
He blinks sadly at Enki's second words and nods] I hope I do just understand it because... I don't know if I can remember everything I have to learn... [Never mind prevent disasters]
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SHOPPING
Keiki resists only for a short while, until the desperate, longing glances from his shy ruler become too obvious - and too painful - and he is forced to withdraw. His first thought is to visit the gardens of En's palace, but that would be her Majesty's choice also. He reluctantly heads towards the city below, instead. ]
sob i'm so rusty 8(
[The yell from behind is followed by something hitting the mission of Kei in the back of his head and fluttering to the ground while Enki catches up.]
If you're gonna go down to the city, you might wanna cover that up.
[Enki nods to Keki's fall of pale gold mane, being in the process of covering up his own with well-practised movements.]
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He ran round the corner and broke into a grin when he saw he hadn't lost them yet.] Kei Taiho! En Taiho!
same same don't worry
I thank you, Taiho.
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You ain't gonna need to cover up though, if you want to come with. Hey, kiddo.
[When Taiki had caught up to them, Enki reached out and ruffled the black locks with a grin.]
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Of course. You are always welcome, Taiki.
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[Enki gave another shameless grin and then gave both taller and shorter kirin a light push, Taiki in the small of his back, Keiki at his shoulder.]
Let's go before they change their minds... And before they reconvene and decide to bring the sun down to fix their issues or something, I dunno.
[Faith that'd they'd come up with a passable solution without their kirin? Enki had none.]
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He also looks sad about Enki's mistrust of their kings, because surely they would come up with a solution.]
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I doubt they would resort to that.
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[Enki shrugs and pats Taiki on his shoulder, grin softening.]
'Course he is, he forgot about wrapping' his mane, didn't he? Though I suppose that could be forgivable, since you haven't been out much.
[Enki aimed the last at Keiki, even if his initial poor about 'troublesome' hadn't at all had to do with Keiki being forgetful or not out much. Not like some other kirin that could be mentioned, and who had BC a king that was yet worse.]
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Instead he tried to awkwardly change the subject] Um... En Taiho is the city really big? Lord Gyousou said it was, that's why I had to come with you... because I might get lost...
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Taiki's getting upset for some reason - potentially at the thought of exploring a foreign city - so he shifts his grip on the younger kirin's hand to hold it more securely. ]
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And since neither of you have really been here, you might get lost... And then the lazy bastard would get annoyed with me if I didn't make sure you got back and Tai and Kei got upset or something'.
[Not all kirin were as used to wandering as the kirin of En was, after all.]
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[ They could easily get lost within the city, of course, but that isn't something to worry about. He looks askance at Enki. ] We should perhaps limit ourselves to one or two districts.
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[It was probably a good thing they didn't literally need to walk all the steps to get down to the bottom, otherwise it'd take much too long.]
Would be kinda hard to lose sight of Kankyuu no matter where we were. [Enki grins and shrugs.] Anything you wanna see? Should be some candy we could get... Would ya want that, kiddo?
Anything you were plannin' on seeing?
[The last was aimed at Keki, a brow arched.]
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[When they finally hit the bottom, Enki pointed off down one of the streets.]
That way. How's things goin' now, kiddo?
[This time, Enki glanced first to Taiki and then to Keiki, considering what they had to do for the poor black kirin to start feeling like his choice had been the right one.
And, well. Keiki seemed to have some... issues with his young king.]
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the epitome of an adult kirin.] They are okay... there's lots to do still and I still don't understand a lot...Lord Gyousou is doing really well though. [He brightens, the moment of doubt leaves his eyes.]
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Yeah, like Keiki said, you'll get in time... And some things you'll just know how to do, or won't even need to think about how.
[Enki shrugs, thinking back on his own early years and smirks. Mostly because of Shuko and the other ministers not knowing how to deal with either kirin or king.]
Since part of what we do is to make sure the probable disasters Kings can cause the people don't happen... or are mitigated, at least.
[Mercy. Rokuta almost snorted, but managed not to. Sometimes it seemed impossible, but that was the nature of Kings, wasn't it?]
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He blinks sadly at Enki's second words and nods] I hope I do just understand it because... I don't know if I can remember everything I have to learn... [Never mind prevent disasters]