Had the king always been able to do that? Had he ever been able to do that? Well, well, tick one more box in the list of suspiciously magical new skills acquired since the tome came into Yukimura's life. Niou is torn between manic delight and profound unease at the usefulness and chaotic potential of that trick. This would be simpler if Yukimura were still himself.
"Yukimura!" Sanada instinctively moves to once again brace the king, staying his tongue as well as his sword in the face of that aimed lance. Niou takes ten seconds to survey the situation and make a decision.
The princess is understandably on high defense. Four on one in a foreign territory right on the heels of an attack, and her assailant right there in front of her. If this was going to have any hope of being smoothed over, a rebalancing was needed. The first step would be helping her not feel so threatened. Now, who should stay with the king as a support? What did he most need right now?
Sanada had the advantage of having been in that earlier meeting. Yukimura would be able to speak freely with him. He was an intimidating presence, though, and he was ill-equipped as a wingman in psychological tactics.
Yanagi suffered neither of those drawbacks, but he carries the unenviable baggage of having been the one to isolate the princess, quite plausibly without her consent. And he was the only one who could really control Akaya, who might be in the mood for some violence of his own after the spectacle.
He had the advantages of Yanagi, the drawbacks of neither, and the bonus of being the most socially charming and the least physically intimidating. Primary downside: he was going to miss so much of the fun out in the ballroom. Oh, the sacrifices he makes.
"Ahhh, this room is too crowded. Yukimura, what do you think? How about I create a little breathing room?"
no subject
"Yukimura!" Sanada instinctively moves to once again brace the king, staying his tongue as well as his sword in the face of that aimed lance. Niou takes ten seconds to survey the situation and make a decision.
The princess is understandably on high defense. Four on one in a foreign territory right on the heels of an attack, and her assailant right there in front of her. If this was going to have any hope of being smoothed over, a rebalancing was needed. The first step would be helping her not feel so threatened. Now, who should stay with the king as a support? What did he most need right now?
Sanada had the advantage of having been in that earlier meeting. Yukimura would be able to speak freely with him. He was an intimidating presence, though, and he was ill-equipped as a wingman in psychological tactics.
Yanagi suffered neither of those drawbacks, but he carries the unenviable baggage of having been the one to isolate the princess, quite plausibly without her consent. And he was the only one who could really control Akaya, who might be in the mood for some violence of his own after the spectacle.
He had the advantages of Yanagi, the drawbacks of neither, and the bonus of being the most socially charming and the least physically intimidating. Primary downside: he was going to miss so much of the fun out in the ballroom. Oh, the sacrifices he makes.
"Ahhh, this room is too crowded. Yukimura, what do you think? How about I create a little breathing room?"