All the Years Between: Diplomacy
Apr. 8th, 2006 01:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
onemuseleftNot yet beta'd. Possible suckage. Part two.
All the Years Between: Diplomacy
di·plo·ma·cy
n.
1. The art or practice of conducting international relations.
2. Tact and skill in dealing with people.
3. A skill most demons lack.
All the Years Between: Diplomacy
di·plo·ma·cy
n.
1. The art or practice of conducting international relations.
2. Tact and skill in dealing with people.
3. A skill most demons lack.
"I hope you will consider my proposition." The demon lord Rorgan lounged comfortably on his throne as he spoke, a goblet of wine in one taloned hand, the other curled around the throat of the slave girl kneeling beside him.
Mukuro watched him from beneath the concealing hood of her robe. "An intriguing proposal." She had no taste for wine but wet her lips from the goblet she had been presented with. "I must admit, this is not what I had anticipated when I came to speak with you."
Rorgan smiled. It was an unpleasant sight. "I feel we would make mutually beneficial allies."
Of course he did. Mukuro graced him with a non-committal nod and swirled the wine her goblet. Rorgan was temporarily in control, but even a lord as inexperienced as he was had to realize that his position was tenuous. Other demons ventured freely through the Tear, spilling into the human world. Rorgan had been one himself, separated from the others only by the fact that he'd had the common sense to seize the city before anyone else got around to it. He had to know that sooner or later a true demon lord would come and try to take his new dominion. After all, demonkind had been squabbling over the human world for as long as it had existed.
"There are matters which we will have to discuss in greater detail," she finally said. "And my allies Yomi and Urameshi must be involved."
He nodded graciously. "Of course. I would not dream otherwise."
That was worthy of note. Rorgan claimed to be an admirer of the Three Kingdoms, saying their great alliance was known throughout even the deepest depths of the Makai. Mukuro did not doubt that, but she did suspect that his knowledge of her fellow Kings was somewhat lacking. The fact that he did not object to the presence of King Urameshi – the champion of the human world, the servant of the spirit world – proved that there were potentially fatal holes in his knowledge.
Excellent. Mukuro could do wonderful things with an enemy who only had a little knowledge.
Rorgan leaned forward on his throne. "Shall we discuss details?"
Eager and ignorant. Mukuro was liking him more every moment. "I am willing to carry your proposition to my allies. There is one thing they will be anxious to hear." She leaned back in her own chair; far less ornate than Rorgan's throne and undoubtedly more comfortable. "Why has the Spirit World not yet retaliated? Lord Enma is somewhat distant, but even he would not close his eyes to this." And Koenma was notoriously proprietary of the human world and the beings that dwelt within it. His absence was most notable, and a cause of some concern. If Rorgan's petty rabble had managed to eliminate the threat of Koenma… Well, perhaps they were not so petty.
But Rorgan waved aside her concerns like smoke. "I have not encountered the forces of the Spirit World, nor have few from my realm, so I do not understand the concern you seem to have for them. They would surely have intervened before now if they could. It seems to me that they aren't as powerful as they would like us to believe."
"A god with the power over life and death is not an enemy to treat lightly." Mukuro set her goblet down. "Do you mean to tell me that the Spirit World has not challenged you? They have not attempted to close the Tear?"
"Not directly." Rorgan shrugged his massive shoulders. "We have encountered a few minions here and there as we secure our hold of the city."
"Minions?"
"A handful of ferrygirls. A few humans with unusual abilities." He grinned. "Quite intriguing beings. The power they possess is not unlike the life force of the ferrygirls, though far stronger. One of them is rumored to even be a servant of the Reikai."
Mukuro reached for her wine, glad for the robe and deep hood that helped disguise any surprise she may have displayed. "Indeed? A servant?"
"A detective of some sort. Enma's son apparently uses them as demon hunters here in the human world."
"I've heard of this. The Reikai Tantei. A position of some notoriety." To say the least. "Is he causing you trouble?" With Kurama and Hiei and Yuusuke accounted for, this tantei could only be the human who had been the fourth in Urameshi's team. Mukuro had never met him, though she'd seen his performance at the Dark Tournament. Quite a determined individual, even when outclassed.
Rorgan laughed and slammed his wine goblet down on the arm of his throne. "Not anymore!"
Her disappointment was vague but genuine. "A pity," she said. "I'd have liked to see this servant of the Spirit World."
Rorgan smiled. "That could be arranged."
Mukuro regarded him over the top of her goblet. Eager and ignorant and something of a braggart as well. Mukuro could grow to like working with this would-be demon lord. "You have the Reikai Tantei captive?"
"Consider him a war trophy," Rorgan gloated. "A testament to my troops' victory over this world."
Victory over one island nation, more like. Rorgan had barely conquered the city – Mukuro had seen the turmoil in the countryside when she crossed through the gate. If he had spread his control to any other nation in this world she would be quite surprised.
"And of course, his presence in my dungeons helps quell any lingering fears about the Reikai intervening." Rorgan bared his teeth in a mocking grin. "Surely no one could still fear this Koenma once they see he could not even save his own servant."
"Some lords," Mukuro said sweetly, raising the goblet in a false toast, "do not care overmuch for their servants." She waited long enough to see a brief flash of uncertainty cross Rorgan's face before adding, "But I would much like to see this trophy. If it is indeed a Reikai Tantei you hold in your cells… well, my allies will be most eager to meet the being capable of such a feat." Urameshi in particular, she thought with a certain amount of malice.
Mukuro could not help but think that if this was truly a Tantei whom Rorgan held than Urameshi would be willing to do almost anything for the information.
"Come then," Rorgan said, "my future ally. Perhaps we can cement our relationship. Shall we bring your servant?"
"No," Mukuro said. She stood, the hem of her rough grey robe brushing the ground and covering every inch of her except her gloved hands, which she clasped before her as they exited the throne room. "Hiei will be content to wait for our return."
Hiei was slouching against a wall to her left looking bored and disdainful. He bristled slightly at being called a servant but held his tongue. She smiled safely beneath the hood of her robe and ignored the dark glance he gave her as he sensed the emotion. Hiei was not pleased to be relegated to mere servant, when it was his rightful place to stand as her heir and second-in-command. But he was infinitely more useful to her this way. Servants were so often overlooked. She nodded to him once, indicating that she did want him to remain and that she was not speaking merely for the benefit of others listening.
Rorgan sent a servant scurrying ahead of them, a lower-class demon that walked on all fours and skittered across the walls as easily as the floor. To prepare the slave for her viewing? Doubtful. Rorgan was the type who would take pride in showing off a battered enemy; he would not waste time making a slave look presentable. It was possible he was preparing a trap, but her intuition told her otherwise.
As they reached the lower levels of the stronghold a wizened old man approached, so bent and bony, covered with wiry silver hair and steeped in the scent of magic that he barely looked human at first. "You called for me?" the old man asked. His eyes twitched toward her briefly and he added, "My lord Rorgan," as an afterthought.
Not the most deferential of servants, Mukuro could not help but notice.
"My Spellbinder," Rorgan announced. "He joined my forces when we took the city."
The Spellbinder seemed neither bothered nor flattered by Rorgan's prideful tone.
"His magics have come in quite useful," Rorgan continued. "Especially when it comes to controlling the more difficult slaves."
So the humans were giving him trouble. Mukuro filed that information away as they stepped through a doorway into a room that seemed to be made entirely of stone. The door opened into a narrow staircase, and below was a barren, water-stained room filled with nearly three dozen huddled humans.
The Tantei was not hard to find, even buried as he was beneath more than a dozen separate wards and spells. She saw him instantly, sitting with his back against the wall directly opposite her. He was shirtless and his feet were bare; she could see the pale white lines of scars crisscrossing his skin. Wards to hold his spiritual power in check. At his throat and wrists she saw the gleam of metal, and she inhaled slowly, studying the magic in those wires. Beneath it all she could feel reiki, a stunning amount of it surging and swelling against its bonds.
The damage this one would be capable of wreaking were his wards to fail…
"I am convinced," she said softly. "We simply must finish our discussion so that I may return to the Three Kingdoms and meet with my allies at once."
If the Tantei heard her, he did not show it, but he kept his eyes on her the entire time. She wondered if he could sense her youki with his powers shielded as they were, or if he had simply learned to be wary of all strangers.
Rorgan bared his teeth. "Excellent."
Mukuro swept out of the stone room and they shut the door behind her. "I warn you, Rorgan. My allies are not so easily convinced. Urameshi will desire to see and hear what you have accomplished for himself."
"Bring him with you, with my promise of safety," Rorgan said. He paused in the middle of the hall, the Spellbinder a still and silent presence at his side, looking about as respectful as Hiei ever did. "And since your people have had such problems with the Tantei in the past, I would be happy to let him view my little trophy."
Mukuro let the thinly veiled insult pass unchallenged. "Urameshi will desire a more up close inspection," she said.
Rorgan waved her off. "I will arrange it. I warn you, he is difficult to control. Other lords have been quite surprised to find themselves missing rather vital limbs after a session."
It was a pathetic demon lord that let himself be maimed by a bound slave, Mukuro thought. Rorgan had no idea what a true demon lord could do, or he would not think to count himself one.
Not that it would matter much longer. Once she returned to the Makai with this information, Rorgan's days would be numbered.
"I will return to the Makai now," Mukuro said, "and call my allies to council. Perhaps your Spellbinder would be so helpful as to guide me back to the throne room?" She could have found the room blinded, but she was curious to see if Rorgan would allow her alone with such a powerful servant.
"Of course," Rorgan said. "Then I shall take my leave of you, King Mukuro. When you return, simply send your servants ahead and I will make sure everything is prepared."
"Tell me, Spellbinder," Mukuro asked as the old man made a show of leading her back to the throne room. "Was that your magic I sensed chaining the Tantei?"
The Spellbinder quirked an eyebrow over his shoulder at her and Mukuro smiled.
Foolish of Rorgan to leave her alone with him. A powerful servant was a valuable one.
And a servant who had changed sides to join you could just as easily change sides to betray you.
"Tell me how they work," Mukuro said, and the old man chuckled.
To be continued in Messenger
All the Years Between: Diplomacy
di·plo·ma·cy
n.
1. The art or practice of conducting international relations.
2. Tact and skill in dealing with people.
3. A skill most demons lack.
All the Years Between: Diplomacy
di·plo·ma·cy
n.
1. The art or practice of conducting international relations.
2. Tact and skill in dealing with people.
3. A skill most demons lack.
"I hope you will consider my proposition." The demon lord Rorgan lounged comfortably on his throne as he spoke, a goblet of wine in one taloned hand, the other curled around the throat of the slave girl kneeling beside him.
Mukuro watched him from beneath the concealing hood of her robe. "An intriguing proposal." She had no taste for wine but wet her lips from the goblet she had been presented with. "I must admit, this is not what I had anticipated when I came to speak with you."
Rorgan smiled. It was an unpleasant sight. "I feel we would make mutually beneficial allies."
Of course he did. Mukuro graced him with a non-committal nod and swirled the wine her goblet. Rorgan was temporarily in control, but even a lord as inexperienced as he was had to realize that his position was tenuous. Other demons ventured freely through the Tear, spilling into the human world. Rorgan had been one himself, separated from the others only by the fact that he'd had the common sense to seize the city before anyone else got around to it. He had to know that sooner or later a true demon lord would come and try to take his new dominion. After all, demonkind had been squabbling over the human world for as long as it had existed.
"There are matters which we will have to discuss in greater detail," she finally said. "And my allies Yomi and Urameshi must be involved."
He nodded graciously. "Of course. I would not dream otherwise."
That was worthy of note. Rorgan claimed to be an admirer of the Three Kingdoms, saying their great alliance was known throughout even the deepest depths of the Makai. Mukuro did not doubt that, but she did suspect that his knowledge of her fellow Kings was somewhat lacking. The fact that he did not object to the presence of King Urameshi – the champion of the human world, the servant of the spirit world – proved that there were potentially fatal holes in his knowledge.
Excellent. Mukuro could do wonderful things with an enemy who only had a little knowledge.
Rorgan leaned forward on his throne. "Shall we discuss details?"
Eager and ignorant. Mukuro was liking him more every moment. "I am willing to carry your proposition to my allies. There is one thing they will be anxious to hear." She leaned back in her own chair; far less ornate than Rorgan's throne and undoubtedly more comfortable. "Why has the Spirit World not yet retaliated? Lord Enma is somewhat distant, but even he would not close his eyes to this." And Koenma was notoriously proprietary of the human world and the beings that dwelt within it. His absence was most notable, and a cause of some concern. If Rorgan's petty rabble had managed to eliminate the threat of Koenma… Well, perhaps they were not so petty.
But Rorgan waved aside her concerns like smoke. "I have not encountered the forces of the Spirit World, nor have few from my realm, so I do not understand the concern you seem to have for them. They would surely have intervened before now if they could. It seems to me that they aren't as powerful as they would like us to believe."
"A god with the power over life and death is not an enemy to treat lightly." Mukuro set her goblet down. "Do you mean to tell me that the Spirit World has not challenged you? They have not attempted to close the Tear?"
"Not directly." Rorgan shrugged his massive shoulders. "We have encountered a few minions here and there as we secure our hold of the city."
"Minions?"
"A handful of ferrygirls. A few humans with unusual abilities." He grinned. "Quite intriguing beings. The power they possess is not unlike the life force of the ferrygirls, though far stronger. One of them is rumored to even be a servant of the Reikai."
Mukuro reached for her wine, glad for the robe and deep hood that helped disguise any surprise she may have displayed. "Indeed? A servant?"
"A detective of some sort. Enma's son apparently uses them as demon hunters here in the human world."
"I've heard of this. The Reikai Tantei. A position of some notoriety." To say the least. "Is he causing you trouble?" With Kurama and Hiei and Yuusuke accounted for, this tantei could only be the human who had been the fourth in Urameshi's team. Mukuro had never met him, though she'd seen his performance at the Dark Tournament. Quite a determined individual, even when outclassed.
Rorgan laughed and slammed his wine goblet down on the arm of his throne. "Not anymore!"
Her disappointment was vague but genuine. "A pity," she said. "I'd have liked to see this servant of the Spirit World."
Rorgan smiled. "That could be arranged."
Mukuro regarded him over the top of her goblet. Eager and ignorant and something of a braggart as well. Mukuro could grow to like working with this would-be demon lord. "You have the Reikai Tantei captive?"
"Consider him a war trophy," Rorgan gloated. "A testament to my troops' victory over this world."
Victory over one island nation, more like. Rorgan had barely conquered the city – Mukuro had seen the turmoil in the countryside when she crossed through the gate. If he had spread his control to any other nation in this world she would be quite surprised.
"And of course, his presence in my dungeons helps quell any lingering fears about the Reikai intervening." Rorgan bared his teeth in a mocking grin. "Surely no one could still fear this Koenma once they see he could not even save his own servant."
"Some lords," Mukuro said sweetly, raising the goblet in a false toast, "do not care overmuch for their servants." She waited long enough to see a brief flash of uncertainty cross Rorgan's face before adding, "But I would much like to see this trophy. If it is indeed a Reikai Tantei you hold in your cells… well, my allies will be most eager to meet the being capable of such a feat." Urameshi in particular, she thought with a certain amount of malice.
Mukuro could not help but think that if this was truly a Tantei whom Rorgan held than Urameshi would be willing to do almost anything for the information.
"Come then," Rorgan said, "my future ally. Perhaps we can cement our relationship. Shall we bring your servant?"
"No," Mukuro said. She stood, the hem of her rough grey robe brushing the ground and covering every inch of her except her gloved hands, which she clasped before her as they exited the throne room. "Hiei will be content to wait for our return."
Hiei was slouching against a wall to her left looking bored and disdainful. He bristled slightly at being called a servant but held his tongue. She smiled safely beneath the hood of her robe and ignored the dark glance he gave her as he sensed the emotion. Hiei was not pleased to be relegated to mere servant, when it was his rightful place to stand as her heir and second-in-command. But he was infinitely more useful to her this way. Servants were so often overlooked. She nodded to him once, indicating that she did want him to remain and that she was not speaking merely for the benefit of others listening.
Rorgan sent a servant scurrying ahead of them, a lower-class demon that walked on all fours and skittered across the walls as easily as the floor. To prepare the slave for her viewing? Doubtful. Rorgan was the type who would take pride in showing off a battered enemy; he would not waste time making a slave look presentable. It was possible he was preparing a trap, but her intuition told her otherwise.
As they reached the lower levels of the stronghold a wizened old man approached, so bent and bony, covered with wiry silver hair and steeped in the scent of magic that he barely looked human at first. "You called for me?" the old man asked. His eyes twitched toward her briefly and he added, "My lord Rorgan," as an afterthought.
Not the most deferential of servants, Mukuro could not help but notice.
"My Spellbinder," Rorgan announced. "He joined my forces when we took the city."
The Spellbinder seemed neither bothered nor flattered by Rorgan's prideful tone.
"His magics have come in quite useful," Rorgan continued. "Especially when it comes to controlling the more difficult slaves."
So the humans were giving him trouble. Mukuro filed that information away as they stepped through a doorway into a room that seemed to be made entirely of stone. The door opened into a narrow staircase, and below was a barren, water-stained room filled with nearly three dozen huddled humans.
The Tantei was not hard to find, even buried as he was beneath more than a dozen separate wards and spells. She saw him instantly, sitting with his back against the wall directly opposite her. He was shirtless and his feet were bare; she could see the pale white lines of scars crisscrossing his skin. Wards to hold his spiritual power in check. At his throat and wrists she saw the gleam of metal, and she inhaled slowly, studying the magic in those wires. Beneath it all she could feel reiki, a stunning amount of it surging and swelling against its bonds.
The damage this one would be capable of wreaking were his wards to fail…
"I am convinced," she said softly. "We simply must finish our discussion so that I may return to the Three Kingdoms and meet with my allies at once."
If the Tantei heard her, he did not show it, but he kept his eyes on her the entire time. She wondered if he could sense her youki with his powers shielded as they were, or if he had simply learned to be wary of all strangers.
Rorgan bared his teeth. "Excellent."
Mukuro swept out of the stone room and they shut the door behind her. "I warn you, Rorgan. My allies are not so easily convinced. Urameshi will desire to see and hear what you have accomplished for himself."
"Bring him with you, with my promise of safety," Rorgan said. He paused in the middle of the hall, the Spellbinder a still and silent presence at his side, looking about as respectful as Hiei ever did. "And since your people have had such problems with the Tantei in the past, I would be happy to let him view my little trophy."
Mukuro let the thinly veiled insult pass unchallenged. "Urameshi will desire a more up close inspection," she said.
Rorgan waved her off. "I will arrange it. I warn you, he is difficult to control. Other lords have been quite surprised to find themselves missing rather vital limbs after a session."
It was a pathetic demon lord that let himself be maimed by a bound slave, Mukuro thought. Rorgan had no idea what a true demon lord could do, or he would not think to count himself one.
Not that it would matter much longer. Once she returned to the Makai with this information, Rorgan's days would be numbered.
"I will return to the Makai now," Mukuro said, "and call my allies to council. Perhaps your Spellbinder would be so helpful as to guide me back to the throne room?" She could have found the room blinded, but she was curious to see if Rorgan would allow her alone with such a powerful servant.
"Of course," Rorgan said. "Then I shall take my leave of you, King Mukuro. When you return, simply send your servants ahead and I will make sure everything is prepared."
"Tell me, Spellbinder," Mukuro asked as the old man made a show of leading her back to the throne room. "Was that your magic I sensed chaining the Tantei?"
The Spellbinder quirked an eyebrow over his shoulder at her and Mukuro smiled.
Foolish of Rorgan to leave her alone with him. A powerful servant was a valuable one.
And a servant who had changed sides to join you could just as easily change sides to betray you.
"Tell me how they work," Mukuro said, and the old man chuckled.
To be continued in Messenger
