((Logged 1/27/01))

Fatima Castle, The Fatima Throne
Contents:
Tsukai
Luka
Roni
Shakhan

Shakhan sits on the throne of his wonderful castle, sitting back comfortably, 
for the moment not having much care in the world.  The war was going well, 
Jasper was secure, and for the moment he needed no do anything but sit and 
comtemplate his own power.  

Leaning wearily on his spear, Tsukai just stands beside Shakhan's throne, and a 
little to the rear, just trying to stay awake in all the boringness. He occupies 
his mind somewhat with thoughts of the tournament, and somewhat with what he'll 
have for dinner. That's pretty much the only thing keeping his eyes open.

It's a little fitting, isn't it? Into these moments of one's contemplation might 
other worries tread. Or at least reminders of what -could- be. Luka Kalval has 
landed Proteus in the belly of Fatima Castle, making her way through to the 
Throne room with the occasional nod to the guards she passes by. She barely 
waits for the guards to the Throne Room to announce her before striding in, 
glancing to Shakhan with the call, "Good afternoon, Shakhan. I hope I am not 
interrupting?"

Shakhan gets up and claps his hands together in excitement, at the opportunity 
to finally DO something.  "Ah, Luka.  What a pleasure to see you again."  He 
smiles, and strides over to her, indicating to Tsukai that he should follow with 
a motion of his head.  He turns back to Luka and grins widely.  "You have 
interrupted nothing.  What can I do for you?"

Tsukai straightens up and follows, trying to seem professional and uninterested. 
But he listens closely to their words, anything to break the monotony. He rests 
the shaft of the spear against the opposite hand loosely, gripping it in his 
right, and  holding it diagonally so he can walk.

Luka? Here? Don't ask -how- Roni heard that, or where he was previously, but 
that snagged the bored ghost's attention like touching a live wire. Or would 
that be a dead wire, since he wasn-- Oh hell with it. Having been spoking the 
cooks in the other side of the castle, he drops everything and zips as fast as 
he can to the throne room, leaving a few things upset in his wake. Only the 
faintest breath of wind stirring the blue flames of the candles lining the way 
to the throne signalled anything out of place, for now choosing to stay unseen.

An honest smile from Luka, and she nods to Shakhan. "I was in the area and 
realized that, what with all the fuss in Nisan..." She shakes her head at that--
still smiling--and paces slowly with her hands folded behind her back, "We have 
not had an update recently since the dropping of local rebel interference. Do 
you happen to have an estimate of how you have gauged the current situation in 
Aveh--especially with the upcoming Tournament?"

The smile on Shakhan's face can be seen dropping for a minute, but only if one 
is to watch carefully.  He expertly lifts it up once again and says "The current 
situation in Aveh seems to be excellent.  The Gebler are doing an outstanding 
job keeping rebel activity at a minimum, and the identification checks now 
enforced in Dazil are allowing our country to live more free of the rebel menace 
than ever before.  I am confident that the war is going very well for us.  
What's more, we have Jasper secured."  He stops to ponder the Tournament.  "This 
will be an excellent demonstration of just how comfortable our nation has become 
since the suppression of the Rebels.  I would say that Aveh is at doing better 
than it has in quite a long time."  What an understatement... 'quite a long 
time...'

Not for long, if things work out correctly. Tsukai holds his tongue, resting the 
butt of the spear on the floor again. Even this was fairly boring, besides the 
irony that Tsukai had insight to. He shifts a little, his armor becoming heavy 
after hours of standing, but he's endured worse. He watches the strange visitor 
for her response, wondering distantly where the breeze that stirs the candles is 
coming from...

Boring, too boring. Too -formal-... but curiosity made Roni hold his tongue and 
watch, sitting on the empty throne and making faces at Shakhan, unseen, but it 
amused him mildly, at any rate. Sit and watch, too curious for his own good.

"I have to agree that Aveh has been in a far different state than it ever has 
been before," Luka agrees, nodding and continuing the lazy stroll through the 
Throne room. "The lockdown through Gebler has kept things so quiet here that I 
am amazed. An excellent job, Shakhan." She tilts her head and seems to be 
enjoying the satisfaction of the moment as well. "I worry, though... that the 
Tournament will be cause for more interference, from one group or another." She 
glances back at Shakhan, brushing a few strands of hair loosened from the bun 
off the back of her neck. "Although it seems so safe here now..."

Shakhan walks up to Luka and puts his hand on her shoulder, that professional 
look of reassurance in his eye.  "Please worry not.  Our country seems so secure 
because, for the first time in a long time, it is so.  The Aveh Championship 
Fighting Tournament will not only serve to demonstrate the comfortable state of 
the war, but it will also bring in many funds from the ticket holders."  He 
smiles at the word 'funds.'  "Furthermore, you might not be aware of this, but 
if someone truly impressive comes and wins both the Gear and Fist-to-Fist combat 
tournaments, they are referred to the Gebler military.  This means that, 
possibly, the strongest of these men will be working for the Gebler military 
afterwards."  His gaze turns away for a minute.  "Everything about this 
tournament is going to result in bettering the state of the war, Luka.  Don't 
think for a moment that i don't know what I am doing."

Now personally glad that he hadn't signed up for the tournament - not that he 
could do well in a gear portion of it anyway, but... far better safe than sorry. 
Tsukai shifts again, armor clinking together, and he again leans on the spear, 
seeing no need to be really ready for action considering the easy companionship 
the two seem to have.

Normally the Doctor narrows her eyes to being touched so casually--but this is 
the surface, and Shakhan has no reason to know of that trait. Besides... Aveh -
was- as stable as anyone could truly hope for. It was... rather nice to watch, 
from the part of her that approved of clockwork. "I was aware of that," she 
replies mildly, but without rancor. "But if you are confident?" She considers 
the man, and then shakes her head with an unworried smile. "None fault your 
current track record, Shakhan. Indeed, we approve... hence, I am confident that 
you will handle the Tournament in an appropriate manner." She shrugs a shoulder 
and paces to the edge of window, looking out over the land. "Interesting..."

Shakhan follows her over to the window, with his hands clasped behind his back.  
Interesting?  He follows her gaze out the window.  "What is it that you find 
interesting, may I ask?"

Tsukai sets it in his head to throw some sort of wrench into the cogs of the 
tournament, and make it look like an accident. Not something that will get 
anyone killed, mind you - that would be too far, but it might just make Shakhan 
have to work a little harder from now on, and while that inevitably would mean 
more work for him, he is willing to take it on. He steps closer, keeping a set 
distance from shakhan.

Interesting? Ha. This was anything -but-.... Don't mind Roni, he was as bored at 
the guard was... Then what better way than to ease mutual boredom? Instantly at 
the young man's side, he gives a light tug on a part of his armor, just enough 
to get Tsukai to notice, but no one else.

"Bledavik." Luka rests her hands on the windowsill, leaning upon them slightly 
as she watches the afternoon sun melt into early evening. "A city which should 
not exist save for the fortune of a random source of water. Like how it must be 
drawn up, so do the people here pull their livings piece by piece... in a land 
that is only too happy to swallow them whole and forget about them." She glances 
up at Shakhan wryly out of the corner of her eye. "Rather... beautiful. Do you 
think so?"

Shakhan feels the urge to say something, but holds his tongue.  "Indeed, my 
lady, it is quite beautiful.  It makes me ever that much proud to be the king of 
such a nation."  He turns suddenly to Tsukai, who actually looks a bit 
disturbed, as though thinking of something.  So as to ensure that the man is not 
growing distracted, Shakhan snaps his finger in the man's direction, so as to 
break his concentration.

Tsukai startles, looking down, and smoothing a free hand over his armor, 
eyebrows drawing in in confusion. He looks around for anything that could have 
caused the disturbance... and finds nothing, becoming even more confused.

Finally turning his attention up at the snap, Tsukai colours faintly, and 
resumes watchfullness.

It took all Roni had to not start into laughter, settling for a broad, amused 
grin. He really shouldn't tease the poor guy... So he desides to torment Shakhan 
instead and zips over to him and gives a tug on the back of his robes. Silly, 
harmless ghost, if only he could learn to haunt correctly.... He has an idea, 
but startling him first is more fun.

Hearing the noise, Luka also glances back towards Tsukai in time to see the 
young man recover his attention. "How do your guards suit you, Shakhan?" she 
muses in sudden curiosity. "They are not an inattentive crowd, are they?" She 
leans against the windowsill with her hands still, but watches Tsukai in 
consideration. 

Shakhan turns red at what he considers a personal attack against him, and steps 
back slightly, turning his back to Luka.  "If you've no business remaining with 
me than to insult my soldiers, Luka, then I do insist that you leave.  I am a 
busy man," he lies.

Tsukai straightens a bit more under the scruitiny, clearing his mind of 
thoughts, as if Luka could read it on his expression, or perhaps more directly, 
but no sense taking chances with the Solarians - who knows what they could do. 
He tries to keep his eyes straight ahead, on Shakhan, again wondering where the 
breeze was coming from.

Shakhan is quite upset at the remark, so much so that he doesn't even notice a 
tugging on his robes.

Damnit. Roni was so tempted to just up and -mallet- Shakhan to get his 
attention, but he settles for a swift kick, going chibi and hiding behind Luka 
immediately after, semi-visible.

Luka glances sidelong to Shakhan, shaking her head. "Insult? Hardly." She 
studies Tsukai a while longer. "If you would take offense from everything, 
Shakhan, I would advise you to at least consider the source twice." A mild 
warning, but the Doctor has nothing more here to worry over. "It is a sign of 
appriciation that we are concerned over the continuation of your health and 
happiness, Shakhan." She begins to wander towards the door, her pace relaxed but 
certainly determined. "Do not mistake that." A look back at the door with her 
dark eyes, and then suddenly Luka laughs and shakes her head again. "Truly, 
Shakhan... your position is not so shaky that you need fear every conversation 
to be an attack against you. Continue the excellent work, by all means..."

Shakhan sighs, and turns around.  "Of course, Luka.  But you must understand 
that i have many enemies."  He flinches a bit at what feels like an impact from 
someone, turns to Tsukai, and jumps to conclusions.  "Tsukai!  What do you think 
that you are doing?"  Perhaps Luka was right, after all...

Tsukai blinks. "Sir, I have not moved from this spot..." He looks abashed. "What 
is the problem?"

Roni laughs, finally, at that, and sticks his tongue out at Shakhan, floating 
above Luka and plainly visible now. He didn't want to get the guard in trouble, 
after all... Besides, it was fun to let Shakhan know that his actions would not 
go completely unpunished.

Shakhan delicately rubs his behind, and looks about nervously.  "I am tired," he 
says at last.  "If you will excuse me, I'm going to go and take a nap."  He 
walks out of the throneroom unprepared for the nightmare that awaits him in his 
slumber.
Shakhan says, "Tsukai, be sure to show miss Luka out.""

"I understand, Shakhan," Luka replies, unoffended even yet. "Sleep well." 
Raising a hand in farewell, she pushes the doors open and departs.

Tsukai can't quite make it there before Luka takes off and the door shuts in his 
face. He sighs tollerantly.