Char Aznable (MSG: Char's Counterattack) (
thirdtimesthechar) wrote in
imperial_stage2012-07-18 09:27 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
Entry tags:
The Pen and the Sword
Who: Char and Light
What: Discussing the state of Sawa's monarchy
When: During summer court
Where: A dingy but secure back room in Imperial City
Officially, Char wouldn't arrive in the capital for another two days, thanks to his sidetrip to that Crystal King-forsaken island and his stated desire to travel overland, bringing his entry for the Air Race. Unofficially, he had pressing business with the brains behind the Left Hand of the Emperor that needed to be conducted in secrecy. Thus, arriving in a third of the time expected via Waypoint, Char made his way incognito to an obscure, neutral, and most importantly easily secured tavern in one of the poorer parts of Imperial City. He wore plain merchants' clothes and his shaded glasses, brought only one guard, also disguised, and ignored the usual wave of disgust that the cleanliness of even 'the poorer parts' of the imperial capital gave him. There were more important matters to attend to, like determining who was actually ruling Sawa, and thus half of the Empire, today.
Char gains himself admittance to the pre-arranged conference room with a nod and a tip of his cap to the mute bartender, intuition telling him Light was probably already here. He dismisses his guard at the door to the back room, and enters.
What: Discussing the state of Sawa's monarchy
When: During summer court
Where: A dingy but secure back room in Imperial City
Officially, Char wouldn't arrive in the capital for another two days, thanks to his sidetrip to that Crystal King-forsaken island and his stated desire to travel overland, bringing his entry for the Air Race. Unofficially, he had pressing business with the brains behind the Left Hand of the Emperor that needed to be conducted in secrecy. Thus, arriving in a third of the time expected via Waypoint, Char made his way incognito to an obscure, neutral, and most importantly easily secured tavern in one of the poorer parts of Imperial City. He wore plain merchants' clothes and his shaded glasses, brought only one guard, also disguised, and ignored the usual wave of disgust that the cleanliness of even 'the poorer parts' of the imperial capital gave him. There were more important matters to attend to, like determining who was actually ruling Sawa, and thus half of the Empire, today.
Char gains himself admittance to the pre-arranged conference room with a nod and a tip of his cap to the mute bartender, intuition telling him Light was probably already here. He dismisses his guard at the door to the back room, and enters.
no subject
no subject
He briefly considered using that as a code phrase sometime, even though he just made it up on the plot. More importantly to the moment, he leaned over casually to pour himself a glass and spoke in a voice that couldn't be heard over the noise of the tavern - noise that encouraged to be especially loud in and around the back room for exactly that purpose. "So first thing's first," he murmured, "where's Mitsunari?"
no subject
"Gone," he murmurs. "He's disappeared. I suspect he may no longer be with us."
no subject
no subject
no subject
Char can't help but show a little surprise at that one. Oda Nobunaga, famed and feared strategist though he was, was supposed to have died years ago. Then again, so had Char.
"Well, first thing's first, I'm going to have to call off the wedding until we can track down the groom. Second, who's been handling Mitsunari's side of the Imperial throne?" Char asks, getting his two biggest concerns on the table.
no subject
no subject
...well, actually, even in these circumstances, an arrogant warmonger could have his uses, especially pitted in competition against Amestris for political power. "Do you have a plan yet? I think there might be a way to take advantage of this, but it's your country we're talking about."
no subject
Light delivers this line with dread certainty.
no subject
"I hate to be the one to ask this, but who will you replace him with when you do? Mitsunari had no heirs, and even he was stretching his claim to the throne a fair bit," Char observes. "I'm not sure anyone else in Sawa qualifies in any legal sense."
"Not that Nobunaga does either, except by virtue of 'you get what you grab'," he adds, looking disgusted by the concept.
no subject
no subject