Show Me That Smile Again
Title: Show Me That Smile Again
Author: Yukito
Yukito flicked his wrist upward, stroking his left cheek with the sturdy slats of his closed fan. His hand curled back, and the silk unfurled with a sharp *SNAP*, concealing the lower half of his face from view. The weary sigh that echoed through the modestly appointed room had him clenching the delicate piece until the wood creaked ominously in his palm.
"You had better not break it, brat, or you'll be getting me another." An elven woman lightly rapped Yukito on the head with her closed fan, making him wince; It was much heavier than it looked, and likely had a blade tucked within the folds and pleats of black lace.
>>I'm not going to break it.<< Yukito petulantly retorted, >>Besides, I can easily purchase you another.<<
A smug grin curled over the woman's claret lips, "You can afford to replace a specially made fighting fan, Yuki? You are doing far better in Vornavis than I had realized."
He took a moment to stick his tongue out at his older sister from behind his fan before allowing it to glide closed. >>Well... no. We haven't exactly gotten to the fighting part, though. That's what I'm interested in.<<
Harin'le, or rather Harin, gave him a bland look as if she were fully aware of his antics, and was fully over them. She slipped the strap over her fan over her slender wrist and folded her arms, "And we will not get to 'the fighting part', until you learn how to properly use a fan in polite society." She exhaled briefly, then more directly said, "Are you certain that you wish to learn to dance? It is perfectly acceptable for you to simply know how to recognize the basic gestures and stances."
A quick dart of his eyes from one side to the other betrayed nervousness, before Yukito groaned audibly and sank into a plush chair. His family wasn't exactly wealthy, but they managed quite well for themselves as merchants, as was evidenced by their large home and modest holdings. The fire was warm, chasing away the frigid chill in the winter air. Harin merely watched for a moment, then moved toward him in a soft glide of silk and satin. Her slim hand slid through his hair, and he welcomed the soothing touch greedily, closing his eyes.
"Mn.." An affirmative grunt.
His sister leaned down and plucked the fan from his fingers, "If that is the case, then you will learn properly. I won't have you embarrassing me in public by doing it incorrectly."
"Which is why it is a waste of time, to begin with."
Yukito could have sworn, in that moment, that the temperature of the room plummeted as his grandmother abruptly announced her presence. He caught a fleeting glint of unreadable emotion in Harin's grey-blue eyes, before she nodded politely to the matriarch of the family.
"I will ensure his aptitude, Grandmother." Harin's voice was calm and unruffled, but she immediately sent a warm jolt of mirth to Yukito through their mental connection. "Is it time for dinner, already? Time does pass."
The older woman glanced between her grandchildren briefly, weighingly, before turning on her heel in a whirl of her dark blue skirts and striding away. Clearly, they were expected to follow.
Obedient, both Yukito and Harin flanked her and fell a step back. Appearance was everything, and they had been trained to present a certain image, even within the household. Perhaps, especially within the household. Their grandmother was a tall woman, her skin still satin smooth, and her heeled gait crisp and proud. Matching her stride always required Yukito to lightly hop forward, or he would lag behind. It made him self-consciously reach up to touch the short and delicate tip of his ear, before jerking his hands back down to his sides. The very tip of her pointed ear twitched in agitation as if she heard him fidgeting, and he swallowed worry and annoyance.
Harin's voice settled his nerves as if he were an anxious colt, >>I will still teach you. And I will be hard on you so that your performance will be without flaw.<<
>>I know.<< Was his only reply. There really wasn't much more to say, at the moment.
It might have sounded harsh to some, but Yukito once again settled and his shoulders sank from near his ears. His feelings about his grandmother were... complicated, but they did not dislike one another.. terribly. She took care of him, in her own way. His every action or move either rubbed the woman the wrong way, or made her want to force him to live at home again. As much as he adored his older brother and sister, he would not live under this roof again, if he could help it.
Eventually, his grandmother began asking questions and relaying information about the business - mostly to Harin, though her sharp tone penetrated Yukito's thoughts when his mind wandered. The near-lecture ended when they reached the well-appointed dining room. Asher was already present, holding a glass of wine and looking pensive. The twins locked gazes for a moment, again, something unreadable in those glances. Yukito began to get tense again as he moved toward his chair. Something wasn't quite right.
>>What...?<< Was all he had time to get out, before his grandmother gestured for everyone to seat themselves. Sliding into his chair, he gave his brother and sister a narrow-eyed squint. Then his grandmother's voice pulled him up short.
"It is time for us to stop putting off matters." Oh. So they were beginning the torture immediately.
Plates and glasses were set before each of them, before the staff wandered off for the evening. All three of them turned to fully look at their grandmother, curious. "Matters in the City-States are changing. Here.. and in the Empire." Her lips pursed slightly.
>>This makes me uneasy.<< Asher's deep voice rumbled through their sibling connection.
>>It's just her blowing hot air, as usual.<< Harin's comment.
Distantly, they could hear Blair ask, >>Is something the matter?<<
>>It is likely something to do with politics.<< Yukito's tone was bland and bored as he reassured their absent brother. >>Likely some new connections, or a profitable contract.<<
Their grandmother took a slow sip of her pumpkin soup, savoring the rich flavor as if she were analyzing it for flaws. Apparently satisfied, she continued without bothering to glance up, "I will be arranging marriages, shortly."
The other three at the table froze in place for a second, before eventually joining their grandmother in their meal. The soup actually DID taste pretty---
Internally, on their private sibling network, there was an absolute riot of emotion firing off like sparks from fried and smoking synapses. Both twins were worried, though their faces remained smooth and unruffled. Blair and Yukito both offered their support in whatever needed to be done to either keep them free of wedlock, or settled with someone they fancied.
Then their grandmother lobbed another fireball into the one-sided conversation, "With attitudes possibly shifting, it will be an advantageous time to find matches for all three of you." This time, Yukito almost vibrated to a fully upright position in his chair, eyes swiveling in her direction. The woman simply smiled and took a slow sip of her wine while they hung on her every word.
"I've arranged some meetings. You may gallivant off to do whatever it is you do, but you will attend each and EVERY scheduled meetup. ALL of you." A smile curved her lips, "Goodness knows, I should have heeded my own parent's words, in my youth."
A wistful expression flitted over her face, her eyes falling briefly on Yukito. Her gaze hardened, and her tone became a sharp as a blade, "I will not tolerate anything less than perfection from each of you."
>>Demon woman!<< Yukito's mental voice was soft with horror and confusion. It was a struggle to remain composed. His eye flicked up to look at the faces of his siblings, >>Did either of you know..<<
>>Of course not.<< Asher replied in a bit of a monotone, >>It is not an unheard of practice. Hopelessly outdated.<<
Harin stoically added, >>I've prepared for this. Let's simply get through this dinner, and we can see if we can get ahead of this, or find out who needs to have a series of accidents.<<
>>More than one?<< Blair quipped.
>>To make certain they STAY down.<< Harin muttered viciously.
Eyes on her plate once more, their grandmother's serene voice settled over them like a threatening cloud, "Yukito Lennan Ta'Nalfien, I see your figure fuzzing around the edges. If you attempt to poof away from this table, I promise to make you regret it." Daintily, she popped a bit of seared rabbit into her mouth and chewed as if she hadn't a care in the world. Not even realizing that he'd been about to silently spell himself away, Yukito took calming breaths and became completely solid again.
>>That's right.<< Harin grumped.
>>Not without taking us with you.<< Asher groused.
Blair's tone was calm and reassuring, >>The marriages won't happen for some time, right? You are all still relatively young, and Yukito is practically still a bab--<<
Yukito's mental snarl was enough to have Blair end his teasing on a mirthful laugh. The twins had apparently shifted their discussion to their own private chat, and from the looks in their eyes, they were likely plotting mayhem.
"By the way..." Their attention was dragged toward their grandmother again. She delicately brushed a tendril of dark brown hair behind her sharply tapered ear. Chilly blue eyes swept the table once, before she leaned forward smiled.
Like a vathor.
"I could use some reliable connections in the West. Blair is unspoken for, isn't he? I know of some matches that would work well in our favor."
>>What... WHAT?!<<
Yukito groused, >>Don't worry. You're still relatively young. Still a bab...<<
Blair's snarl echoes over the sibling chat as if he were a cornered animal.
Yukito could only think, >>Yep. It's a whole, damned mood.<<
No one refuted him.