[IC:] AUverse

[thekingsgambit]

[It's nearing mid-evening at the estate of the Governor-General, where one severely out-of-place prince is fingering the heavy curtains that edge a massive window. The soft glow of the city's nightlife, just starting to stir, masks the dark world that lies in the ruined cities beyond this oasis of civilization and prestige. He knows both worlds entirely too well, along with their protectors. It is not a sight he ever expected to bear witness to again. Maybe that's why he cannot pull himself away from this stark reminder of a course charted in blood. It would be easy enough to explain anyway, a quick line about contemplating the challenges before them or about the providence they were bringing to this land. Either way, his claim is to the duplicity, not the clutching, affectionate arms of his younger sisters, both eager to tell him about their days before launching into another of their playful squabbles for his attention. And while he cannot (or maybe will not) completely keep himself from indulging in their presence, those moments of simple joy, neither will he allow himself to forget that this is wrong.

The worst part is that after almost a week, he knows they are still no closer to figuring a way back. (Or maybe the worst part is that part of him wonders why they still try.)

Maybe that's why...]

Comments

[ascendthethorns]

[Blanks for a moment, then shakes her head.]

Not here. We can discuss this in my office.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Ah, I expect you may have something to share with me as well on this topic.

[Starts heading in that direction.]

[ascendthethorns]

[F-f-f-fast forward! In the large office with its sparse furniture and ample decoration, and the window that stretches from ceiling to floor. Cornelia takes her seat behind the desk and places her phone beside her computer. There's a pile of paperwork already out. She waits.]

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Brushing his hand over the desk and glancing at the pile of work by habit.]

I lingered around the counsel room after meeting with your knights. As you can probably guess, I offered my time for this precise purpose. I was not aware of your actual agenda for that evening. In any case, I heard them having having a short, ah, discussion.

[ascendthethorns]

[It's the entirety of paperwork from her efforts these AU days.]

It sounds like you were eavesdropping on them.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Looks up]

They are starting to notice the differences.

[ascendthethorns]

Starting? No. They've had their suspicions from the first day.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

The first day?

[ascendthethorns]

[Frooooowns.]

Begin with what you overheard.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

For the most part, they seemed to be joking about it, but they referred to a general change in demeanor and approach.

... Nunnally has brought up similar points in the same lighthearted manner. I think, for now, they suspect it is merely their own imagination. But I was also expecting we would have more leads on our transfer by now.

[ascendthethorns]

Darlton was the first person I encountered here, before I understood the situation. Guilford came upon us later. They were concerned then, and have been approaching me with further concerns daily because my fitness is their obligation. Euphie any Nunnally, they— have known our alternate selves — not you and I — their entire lives. The only thing keeping them from questioning our true identities is that they exist in a world driven by logic.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Running hand through his hair]

How much longer do we have before this becomes a larger point of concern? I originally suspected this was one of that place's manipulations, but it has never shown interest in supplanting alternate time lines. It has nothing to gain from offering us the chance to see things differently. We already know of the illusion.

[Glancing at the door.]

Though, that is a notion easier said than put into practice, it seems.

[ascendthethorns]

In two days it'll have been a week. Until then, stop humouring alternatives to camp's involvement.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Perhaps. For now, we have no course but to continue as we are, using what we know of the others' suspicions to tailor our roles accordingly.

[Not that it will be particularly easy, considering Nunnally's plans for the morrow.]

[ascendthethorns]

No. Fulfill the responsibilities set before you, but reconsider basing your approach in the facade. We risk hurting Euphie and Nunnally through it.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

That will only confirm their confusion...

[ascendthethorns]

Euphie... even in this reality, you and I deny her the acknowledgement she deserves. I intend to do what I can to prevent her from losing that here. In the event that I cannot, I will see that she's not disappointed by the return to normalcy. I can't do that by continuing to lie to her.

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Stares at her for a moment before pushing away from the desk and taking a few steps away.]

... You were never much for performance, especially before her. If I did not already know that, her words last night would have told me otherwise.

[ascendthethorns]

What words?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

Whatever she may feel about the situation, she is, nonetheless, grateful for the opportunity. Even if we have left her head in a fantastic spin, as she put it.

[ascendthethorns]

It is undoubtedly that. A fantastic spin...

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Setting a hand against the wall.]

Still, it cannot be helped. There is little point to only one of us keeping up this ruse. I will make no further alterations.

[ascendthethorns]

[Leans back in her chair.]

Just enough so Nunnally may still theorize on the nature of your insanity, I presume...?

[thekingsgambit.livejournal.com]

[Flinches. Even to Nunnally, his acting couldn't have been that bad.]

Did she actually use that term?

[ascendthethorns]

I'll leave that for you to wonder.