homeless/voice testing/procrastinating

[idealizing]

Are you sure about this? You haven't even finished the other game yet.

[ A pause. ]

...ah, yes. I guess the language barrier would be a problem. Well, I'll trust you for now. They'd say the same thing, right?

Comments

[idealizing]

You don't have to answer if you don't want to.

[ N's expression doesn't change, either, and he just continues to watch Lelouch through calm gray eyes. ]

But your face earlier... it was the face of someone who never wanted to be king.

[kingside]

That's a very specific description.

[And not one he plans on denying, considering, but even so.]

Is it a face you've seen before?

[idealizing]

It's a face I've worn before.

[kingside]

What were you king of?

[idealizing]

A cause that I regret.

[kingside]

Not a country?

[idealizing]

Ideals are much larger than countries.

[ His gaze trails back to Lelouch's face, steady, straightforward. ]

One could say they're even larger than the world itself.

[kingside]

[N gets a tiny smile for that.]

I didn't say they weren't.

[idealizing]

So is that what you fight for? Ideals?

[ N seems very interested in his answer, leaning forward a little. ]

Or is it truth?

[kingside]

Nothing so selfless as that, but I had been wondering what other evidence you were drawing from with your other conclusions about me. Elaborate, if you would.

[idealizing]

[ Ah, too bad, but all good things in time. He leans back, and his reply is immediate, too fast for most people to make sense of. ]

Well, a cynic would deduce they're all meaningless statements. "You've traveled plenty, but at the same, you haven't gone very far at all." That's a vague, empty phrase that could apply in many cases. Everyone is particular about something, and anyone can be famous for any reason. Anyone can also become good at games through practice, and checkers is one of the simplest. Therefore, the probability of one of these statements being true is high; however, the probability of them all being true is low in comparison. On that note...

[ One single, short breath, and he's off to a running start again. ]

A king is a person who travels far in a figurative sense, but generally remains bound in a literal one by the nature of his duties. The clothes you're wearing are well-tailored and well-kept, and your physique suggests you're selective about your meals. You've also made it apparent you're selective about the people you converse with. It is rather difficult to become king without becoming famous, at least on a local level. Royalty has plenty of free time, which can be spent on recreation. I don't think you're into physical activity, which is most common, so games would be the next logical choice.

...of course, I could be wrong.

[ But judging from that massive wall of words, he's pretty confident he's not. ]

[kingside]

[Most people, but not Lelouch, and he allows himself a faint smirk as N finishes.]

Right for the wrong reasons, I'd say. I have traveled extensively in the literal sense, but one might argue that figuratively, I haven't come as far as some. There are certainly those who argue that I haven't changed at all since I was younger.

I am still famous and I don't anticipate that changing, so you weren't entirely on the mark there. You're right about my clothing and eating habits, however, but those were easily observed.

I did play chess as a prince with my older brothers and while I was growing up, but I wouldn't say it was a result of free time I had as royalty. If anything, being royalty has meant that I had precious little time to waste on such pursuits. That's changed since I came here, but that has more to do with the fact that I rule over nothing in this realm and therefore have an abundance of free time, as you said.

[He seems almost as though he's finished, but something else soon occurs to him.]

I was also an emperor, not a king. There is a difference.

[idealizing]

[ That Lelouch managed to digest all of that without complaint is enough to impress him; more so that he managed to dismantle many of his arguments, though it flusters him just a little. Still, he smiles slightly, features softening from icily analytic to reserved geniality. ]

I learned a lot just by looking, and now, I know even more. So thank you for telling me.

[ That impassioned inquiry from before returns. For all his powers of deduction, his powers of tact are rather lacking. ]

But you still haven't told me what your dreams are. Are they powerful enough to change the world, I wonder?

[kingside]

You'll have to forgive me, but I'm not in the habit of sharing my dreams with total strangers. I'm sure you understand.

[idealizing]

[ There's a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but N manages to rein himself in this time, keeping his demeanor sunny. Not everyone saw the world as he did, after all, and there was nothing wrong with that, as he'd also learned. ]

Even so, I hope you achieve them someday. If your dreams shine bright, and become reality, I'd be pleased.

[ And almost forgetfully: ]

My name is N, by the way. But I'm not a king anymore, so it probably doesn't matter much what you call me.

[kingside]

[An odd thing to say to someone he'd just met, but Lelouch had heard worse. It's a nice sentiment, at least.]

Lelouch vi Britannia, and I don't care for formalities. Call me what you will.

[idealizing]

[ It's just the sort of thing he says to everybody. Dreams are, after all, what change the world. But you know that already, don't you, Lelouch? ]

Then we're no longer strangers, Lelouch. I'm glad.

I'd introduce you to a friend of mine, but my mundane says it might startle you.

[kingside]

[He does, yes. He's also sorely tempted to correct N because no, they're still strangers, thank you very much, but that can wait.]

I'm difficult to startle, as it turns out. Who is this friend?

[idealizing]

[ You'll probably have to elaborate on that one a little more, considering N's idea of making friends is talking to animals and shoving people into Ferris wheels with him. Not exactly up to date on social graces, this one. ]

Its name is Reshiram, the great dragon who created the region of Unova together with its counterpart, Zekrom. It's spoken of in the legends of my world. It's very gentle, but... some can find it intimidating.

[kingside]

[-- Dragon?

His apathetic expression flickers for a moment, but with any luck, it's barely noticeable. Of all the stupid-- no, there's no reason to... a friend, N had said, so it's not like...

All right. Calm. It isn't a big deal.]

Then I would be honored to meet it.

[idealizing]

[ N either doesn't notice or doesn't comment, a smile brightening his face. ]

Reshiram says it would be honored to meet you, too. Meeting new friends, forming bonds, and expanding your view in that way... if everyone could do that, then the future would be very hopeful, I think.

[ N lifts his hand to the air and calls out just its name, Reshiram, to the sound of an engine revving in the distance. Not moments later, a large figure swoops overhead, before coming to a graceful landing on two legs. It lowers his head, which N pets affectionately. ]

It's good to see you, Reshiram. [ The dragon rumbles low in response, its voice smooth and melodic, like a song. ] This person's name is Lelouch. Would you mind saying hello?

[ Breaking away from N, it studies Lelouch, then takes a few steps forward. Despite its size, its movements are light and nearly soundless. N looks on in approval, though he does seem slightly surprised. ]

...that's odd. Reshiram usually doesn't get so close to other people. Is there something different about Lelouch, Reshiram?

[ It doesn't answer, and just continues to survey Lelouch with clear blue eyes. It's impossible to know what it's thinking, but the power of its presence is undeniable. ]

[kingside]

[... N's more than a little odd, isn't he. Lelouch doesn't comment, though, too busy steeling himself for the arrival of the dragon to bother. The sound that precedes its arrival is a little alarming in and of itself, but the moment he sees Reshiram, he immediately relaxes, shoulders sagging just the tiniest bit before he corrects his posture. N is hopefully too preoccupied with the appearance of his friend to notice, but he'd prefer not to take any chances.

He manages a faint smile with this in mind, looking up at Reshiram with barely concealed interest while the dragon... seems to do the same. N's commentary quickly draws his attention, though, and the smile vanishes. That... great.

He glances away.]

I'm in regular contact with another dragon, one very different from your friend. Reshiram must be sensing that.

[He meets blue eyes then and closes off his expression as much as possible. If the dragon says a single damned thing about Deathwing--]

Hello.

[idealizing]

[ N finds the reaction curious, but again, makes no mention of it, instead focusing on the interaction itself. ]

Dragons are a common enough sight in Unova. [ He shakes his head. ] No, it's... something else...

[ Reshiram lets out a soft cry, and suddenly appears expectant. N listens carefully, sounding tentative when he speaks up again. ]

Is that your honest belief, Reshiram?

[ It nods, but doesn't take its eyes off Lelouch. N's glance falls away, thoughtful, though withdrawn. ]

I see.

[kingside]

[This is beginning to grate on him. Lelouch watches the exchange silently enough, though, resisting the urge to cross his arms as the two discuss... whatever it is. Had N been saying more or reacting more in general, he might have been able to piece together what they were talking about, but as he isn't...]

What is it?

[idealizing]

[ Not everyone reads like an open book, and N can certainly be more closed than most at times. When he finally answers Lelouch, his words are also neutral; Reshiram could've granted him the highest of praise or condemned with the lowest of remarks, for all that can be gathered. ]

Reshiram says it feels nostalgic. You remind it of someone, of the hero who followed Zekrom. The hero who pursued strength and ideals.

[ N looks a little nostalgic, too, almost fond as he wraps himself in an old, familiar memory. ]

I've only seen it look at one other person like that before... the person who revealed to me the truth.