Right Back At Ya

Right Back At Ya

Enigma had sunk lower into the water as she listened to the woman's tale. By this point, her chin was being stroked by the subtle waves caused by their bodies shifting.

Exhaling the smoke from her pipe, Malikah averted her line of sight. “So now you know the first part. Do you know understand why I'm here?”

Mirroring her friend’s expression, the younger girl looked down at the water. “Hm.”

Regaining her smile, the ashen female playfully flicked water towards the girl opposite her. “Don't look so down, it ruins your pretty face.”

“But that...I had no idea.”

“Don't worry about it. I got everything I could wish for by following Kōen.”

“But you're always fu...Even in Reim...You and Rohr---”

Coughing a laugh, Malikah cracked her neck as if the whole notion was trivial. “Don't mention it.”

 

Roughly an hour had passed when the two guests had been called for by the same maids which had showed them the way. After hearing that there would be a banquet held in their welcome, both Malikah and Enigma made for the eldest girl’s old room in order to change into something more appropriate.

“Was this your room before you left?”

“Hm.” Ammolite eyes skimmed the bed which appeared to be a little different from when she had left it before pointing to the ornamental trunks at the far end of the room. “Pick out something to wear.”

Not needing to be told twice, the younger girl went about rummaging through the clothes folded neatly inside the treasure chests. Soon enough, Enigma had straightened up with two items in her hands: A plain white strip usually used as an over-the-shoulder sash and a royal blue bandeau type cropped top.

Malikah already knew what she was after as she made for one of the other chests and pulled out the top items. Flinging her dirty clothes aside, the older girl pulled on a pair of black pants so baggy they could be confused as a skirt.

 

“This way.” A maid led the female duo towards the great hall.

Scratching her head Irritably, Enigma whined. “What is this?”

Taking a deep breath, Malikah whispered to her friend. “Don’t unnecessarily insult anyone and if you happen to get told any crappy jokes, laugh if you want to survive the night.”

“Yes, yes~” The younger girl answered flatly. “Just point me in the direction of the food and booze and I’ll be fine.”

“My bad habits really have rubbed off on you, haven’t they?”

The female's took their seats at a medium sized table, out of the way of any high ranking officials. The scent of incense from earlier had been overtaken by native herbs and spices while the atmosphere buzzed under stable torchlight.

Elbowing her chaperone, Enigma broke the brief silence. “Oi~ those relics keep looking over here.”

“Don’t mind it.” Malikah waved her off.

Furrowing her brows, the Fanalis grumbled to herself as she started to glare at a table full of high ranked ministers. “But they’re acting like we can’t even notice while they’re giggling behind their fans like little girls.”

The sound of hushed whispers temporarily caught Malikah’s ears, causing the female to glance up to see what the commotion was about. Catching a figure walking in to the main hall, she stood up abruptly and made a scooping motion at the new guest. As soon as she was sure the boy had seen her, Malikah sat back down on her cushion as if nothing had happened.

“Don’t tell me that’s the lover boy.” Enigma nearly choked as she glared from the boy advancing towards there table and to her friend.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I have to check these things. As long as it had a pulse and a cock, you’d probably smash it.”

Unaffected by the remark, Malikah downed the last bit of her drink. “That’s brilliant coming from you.”

The vulgar conversation had thankfully come to an end by the time the newest addition had made it over.

Greeting with a traditional bow, the brunette boy knelt down at the other side of the table. “What are you doing back here?”

“Am I not allowed? It is my home after all.”

“It’s unnerving how you can say that so calmly.”

“Yeah, just carry on chatting and don’t introduce us.” Enigma stuck her finger in her ear as she pouted as if she was deeply hurt.

“This is Ren Hakuryū, the forth Prince of Kō.” Malikah reached for the container holding alcohol, but it was already swiped away before she could get a grip on it. She was about to send a glare to Hakuryū, who had his eyes closed while holding her wanted item, but stopped herself when she noticed him taking her cup and pouring the snatched drink. Coughing a laugh, the eldest present faced her female friend who seemed to have gained interest in the strange interactions between the young teen and her friend. Once she’d received the drink which had been prepared for her, Malikah held it to her lips but stopped short in order to finish her introduction. “And this is my friend, Enigma.” She jutted her head to the careless girl lounging back on one elbow with her legs partially crossed Indian style.

“What made you come back here?” Hakuryū asked.

“I thought I’ve already answered that.”

“You wouldn’t tell me straight anyway.”

Peering at the tense boy in front of her, Malikah thought she may as well ask. “Have you seen Judal?”

Hakuryū instantly scrunched his face up. “Do you understand what kind of position you’re in?”

“You’re asking me that?”

“Judal, Kōen, Sinbad…And probably a handful of others along the way. I don’t know what you’re planning, but you’re walking on thin ice.”

“You know what they say right?” Taking the young Prince tenderly by his jaw, Malikah brought his face closer to hers with a grin. “If you’re on thin ice, you might as well dance.”

Shaking his head free from the loose grip, Hakuryū glanced around to check that no one was looking over at the scene his tutor was playing up. “You’re going to get everyone around you dragged into your trouble.”

The ashen female's expression softened as her eyes turned up into crescents. “You really shouldn’t worry so much. No trouble has been caused yet and besides, the people I surround myself with are perfectly capable of holding their own.”

Enigma raised her glass in mocking support to her friend’s cocky words.

The bustle of the open space soon came to a pause and whispers flitted around. “It’s the High Priest and the third Prince, Ren Kōha.”

Malikah and Hakuryū snapped to attention upon hearing the calls coming from just about every direction.

“I have to go.” The boy in the company of the two female's stood up straight and held his fist clasped in his other hand in front of his chest.

Nodding in acknowledgement, Malikah hummed. “I want to talk to you properly before I leave; don’t go running away.”

“As you wish.” Bowing his head slightly, Hakuryū turned away and strode off back from the way he’d came.

Along the way, the young boy had crossed paths with the newest occupants. The tallest of the pair didn’t even bat an eyelash as he sauntered past the royal while Kōha spared an unreadable glance before catching back up with the Magi.

“It’s nice to see you back.” Throwing himself down without permission, Judal lounged around in a similar fashion to Enigma.

Adjusting her line of sight, Malikah saw the youngest Prince debating with himself on whether or not he should join the group.

Catching the brief awkward moment between the woman and the young boy, Judal scoffed. “Don’t mind him.” Picking up a piece of fruit which had been placed out, the young man took a bite. Clear juice escaped the boy’s lips and ran down his chin as he kept his rubicund eyes on the older girl. “Why are you back?”

“What’s wrong with people around here? Do I have to have a reason for everything?”

Wiping the liquid that had dripped down onto his collarbone, Judal licked the remnants off the back of his hand without averting his gaze. “You never do anything for no reason.” Taking another bite from the peach, the Magi eyed the older woman as more juice trickled over his fingers and down his neck. “So, tell me you want?”

Enigma blinked at the provocative scene before opening her mouth. "To lick that juice off your naked body and then fuck you into the carpet."

Malikah choked on her drink as she glanced between her company. “What are you saying?”

Blinking innocently, the younger girl shrugged. “That’s what you was thinking, wasn’t it? No need to lie; I could see it on your face.”

Eyes narrowed dangerously, Malikah growled lowly at her friend. “I thought I told you before---"

“Yeah, yeah~ Kōen - Fire Emperor - Scary. I get it.” Pushing the pastel pink locks off her face, Enigma hummed an unknown tune as she debated over what dish to try next.

Sat back with his brows raised, Judal pointed at the oddity. “Who’s she?”

“Enigma: Your new King Candidate.”

"As if." He scoffed without a second's thought.

"I thought you'd say that."

Locking eyes with the older female, the Magi prodded the table lazily. "Then give me the answer you rehearsed."

"That's for later." She smirked.

Judal coughed a laugh. "How exciting." Poking at the fruit bowl, the Imperial Priest batted his lashes. "Then, what shall we do to pass the time?"

Rolling her neck once, Malikah snatched up her glass and held it forward for a moment before bringing it to her lips. "Do what you will. Enigma and I will drink the place dry for now."

Without saying goodbye, the Magi got up and brushed himself off. "Don't go doing anything unnecessary. I have plans of my own, y'know." He turned away only to have his name called.

"Judal?"

The boy turned around only to see a peach flying at his face. Catching the projectile object just in time, Kō's priest sneered.

"Right back at ya." The eldest sent a facetious wave at the boy staring her out as he took a bite from the piece of fruit.

Huffing, the brunette sauntered off with the youngest prince in tow. After a few seconds of watching his back disappear, Malikah turned back to her friend wearing a look only she'd understand.

Enigma tilted her head as she watched the boy leave and then faced her friend. "Explain, please."

"Explain what?" The older girl played dumb.

Not even bothering to play along, Enigma rolled her eyes at the bad act. "You know what."

Giving up, the ashen girl lowered her line of sight and answered. "Yes, I have."

"Goddamn, you can't be trusted to keep---"

Malikah's head shot up as she held her finger up to the younger girl's lips. "Walls have ears."

"Well, whatever...There's free food and drinks, the music isn't bad either." Shrugging off her friend, the foreigner slumped back onto her side as she picked up a piece of some unknown meat and shoved it in her mouth.

Raising one brow while the other dropped, Malikah watched the younger girl repetitively munch on everything she thought looked decent. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

"I am, so you can go and talk to the tank-top guy if you need to." She shooed her hand without looking up from a platter of seafood.

"Hah, you think I'm going to leave you here at the mercy of these people?"

The Fanalis glanced up, but only for a fraction of a second. "You're the one who shouldn't worry. I'll just return to my room with some grub." She continued to pick at the assortments and nibble while deciding what to choose next.

"Like you'd just go and lock yourself away when so much is going on." Looking around the packed hall, Malikah caught the eye of one of the maids and waved her over quite aggressively. "Judal can wait."

"You said it was important."

"Not as important as stopping your from potentially causing national havoc." She jabbed her friend in the top of her thigh.



 

NG: 1
Practice Your Catching.
 

Rolling her neck once, Malikah snatched up her glass and held it forward for a moment before bringing it to her lips. "Do what you will. Enigma and I will drink the place dry for now."

Without saying goodbye, the Magi got up and brushed himself off. "Don't go doing anything unnecessary. I have plans of my own, y'know." He turned away only to have his name called.

"Judal?"

The boy turned around only to be assaulted by the piece of fruit that had been hurled.

With eyes wider than usual, Malikah held her hands up at shoulder height facetiously. "Oh, I really thought you would have caught it." She glanced from the Magi blinded by clumps of peach flesh and to her friend holding back dangerous laughter.

"'You alright?" The eldest weaved her head from left to right, actually concerned over the boy hissing and whimpering as he tried to remove the hindrance from his face.

Now partially able to see, Judal glowered at the female before storming off with the youngest prince in tow. After a few seconds of watching his back disappear, Malikah turned back to her friend.

"Explain, please." Enigma snorted a laugh as she continued to watch the dark hair boy stagger every so often.

"I have no idea either," Picking up the jug in front of her as she also watched Judal fume while furiously wiping his face as he speed-walked away. Contorting her expression into a mix of confusion and astonishment, Malikah let out a sigh of despair when she saw the Magi back-hand one of the maids attempting to offer him a cloth. "but I don't think I'll be getting away from this one unscathed."
 

Updated: 3rd June 2013 - 04:08