“Oh, I’m sure it is decently biased.” Alina said, eyes sparkling slightly beneath her cool facade. “Between the fact that you are both Night Fae, and Miyaki’s tendency to manage working her way into even the hearts of some of those prejudices against her, it’s only natural you would lean a bit more towards a positive view. She tells me you’ve been honest about the darker parts of your Court, though, for which I am grateful.”
Jin nodded. "Of course. The Night Court is not all sunshine and roses, and I would never attempt to make it seem that way." He responded evenly. "Though there are things that I will not tell her unless she picks my Court, as it is sensitive information that I do not want to be spread." He added.
“I completely understand. Though, a bit of friendly advice.” Alina leaned forward slightly, the impassiveness dropping from her face to show something that didn’t make a lot of sense. “You’d do well by warning her however you can. She does not take well to surprises. You do not even need to give details, just tell her there are things to worry about if they are. Otherwise, you’ll have a bit of a…mess on your hands. Mad or stressed, my dear friend is not someone you want to deal with when she is either of those things.” She leaned back, scanning him up and down. “Which brings me to one more warning, or piece of advice. Do not take her trust for granted. You managed to earn it, so keep it.”
Jin blinked, but his face remained impassive. "I understand. I will do my best to warn her. And I don't take people's trust for granted. I never have." I have had to work so hard to earn it from my own court…how could I ever take it for granted? He thought, lips twitching for a moment as he pressed them into a thin line. Just for a second, before his expression returned to normal.
“Good. Then you might just be worth letting around her.” Alina stood, making her way slowly and smoothly to a bookshelf to look for something. “I’m somewhat amazed. I’ve known her all her life, and the only men she’s ever taken to this fast are the Evansian brothers.”
Jin raised an eyebrow. "Am I allowed to ask who they are?" He questioned, looking at Alina. "And who says you could stop me if you had decided differently? I have diplomatic immunity."
"Oh, your Majesty, nothing could stop me. Miyaki is the only family I have left, and even if it wasn't by my hand, you would have been stopped." Alina smiled politely over her shoulder at him before continuing her search. "The inventors, Aster and Orion Evansian. They apprenticed under our last inventor, and at some point, their paths crossed with Miyaki's. Trouble makers, all three of them, at heart, so it's no wonder they got along so well. Still thick as thieves. They come up with some frankly amazing devices together, I must say. The lights you see around the palace? Aster's idea, Orion's building, and Miyaki's fine tuning."
"I still have diplomatic immunity, and whoever stopped me, it would be considered an act of war if any harm came to my person or to my bodyguard." Who, he realized, was no longer here. "As for the lights…I see." He replied, remembering the lights he had seen throughout the palace.
"Of course. But some things are worth consequence." Alina found what she was looking for, pulling an old and heavy looking large book from the shelf, dusting it off with a light breath. "They're quite neat, aren't they? Ingenious little inventions. I wonder often how people like Miyaki and the Evansians do it, how their minds work to create such complexities and things we've never even thought up. How they bring them to life. A magic of it's own, I guess."
Jin nodded. "Of course." He looked at the book for a moment. "Yes. But for those of us without the same inclination, it is difficult to understand. I gave up trying quite a long time ago." He shifted slightly, hands resting on his legs.
"I am sadly incapable of giving up on anything, so I find myself attempting to make sense of it all, even though I'm well aware I can't." Alina huffed a laugh, flipping open the book and searching through it. "Ah, was there anything you wanted to talk about or bring up while we're here? Concerns or otherwise?"
(who exactly is Miyaki's Fae parent? Like…can i have some info on them? Because I'm flying blind about it right now)
Jin nodded, then thought for a moment. "Hm. No, I do not believe so." He replied, looking at her. "Though I must tell you that Morrigan, my bodyguard, was called home on urgent business. She will be back within the week, but until then, I will be my own bodyguard. As such, I may be a little more on edge and defensive. No High Lord, no matter how powerful, enjoys being alone in a strange Court."
((both of her parents are half fae, actually. i'm assuming you're asking about her villain parent?))
"I do hope whatever the urgency is fades. It is not easy, being somewhere else while your home is dealing with things you cannot be there for." Alina said, making her way back to her desk and setting the book down as she sat. "Do not fret over being defensive. It is completely understandable. I do have a question though."
(ohhhh okay. Yes)
Jin dipped his head. "Yes. Although I know Morrigan can and will take care of it." He replied. He frowned slightly. "Ask. I will answer to the best of my ability." He tipped his head slightly, fingers tapping against his leg for a moment.
((Tbh, she's fairly underdeveloped. But I do know that her mother is the main villain, a half blood Night Fae intent on basically destroying the Courts and human Kingdoms, to start over and build a New World))
"Do the issues in your lands, pardon my slight intrusiveness, have anything to do with one Chausiku Himura?" Alina asked, tilting her head and finally looking up at Jin. Miyaki's mother, not that anyone but Morrigan and Jin knew that, though Alina was starting to see it. And also arguably the biggest potential threat the realms had seen.
(ah okay. Please keep me up to date on the information please)
Jin frowned. "No. At least, not to my knowledge." He replied. "It has to do with a group on the border. Been an issue for years. Nothing too big, though. And certainly not Chausiku Himura." He tapped on his leg again. Why would she ask that? Does she know? If she does, why didn't she tell Miyaki, who seems to have no idea?
“That is good.” Alina said with a nod, fingers trailing over the pages of the book before flipping to the next. “Himura has gone strangely quiet, don’t you think? At one point, all I heard about were the attacks and moves she made. And now…they seem scattered at weak. Like someone managed to weaken her. Or like she’s plotting.”
Jin nodded in agreement, then raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know that? Her attacks are weaker to you, but many of her attacks were focused on my Court in the first place. Seeing as how one of my own Court was her parent." He cocked his head. "How do you know that the attacks aren't continuing in my territory, and I am simply covering them up so as not to show weakness?" In truth, he was doing no such thing.
“Word gets around.” Alina said simply, returning her gaze to the book. “And something tells me my Court, while not as great a target as yours, still has some importance on her hit list. Tell me, if you can, what exactly was it that surprised you so much when you recognized Miyaki? I highly doubt it was just her particular alignment, considering the extent of your surprise.”
Jin nodded. "True." He frowned slightly. "I…do not know if I should tell you." He replied slowly. "It might not be wise." The more people who know…the worse it will be later on. He thought to himself, tapping his fingers again.
"Your Majesty." Alina folded her arms on the surface of the desk, meeting his gaze intently. "If this has to do with Miyaki, I want you to know that I will find out. One way or another, the knowledge you have will reach me, because when it comes to my friend, I do not play around. I am asking you to tell me up front, to entrust me with this information on your own terms."
Jin pinched the bridge of his nose, thinking. "Fine. But the information changes nothing." he replied. "Her parent is Chausiku Himura. Miyaki doesn't know, I don't think. If she did…" he trailed off, shaking his head a little. "I do not know what would come of it. Maybe you do. You know her better than I do." he shrugged, eyes watching Alina carefully to see her reaction to this news.
Alina blinked once.
And that was it.
For a moment at least, before she was staring wide-eyed at Jin with a flurry of emotions crossing her normally serene face. "She… what? She is Chausiku's daughter? As in, the daughter of the woman plaguing the Courts, who has killed more of my Fae than any other threat has?" She stood from her chair with one quick and fluid movement, pacing back and forth across her study. "She has absolutely no clue, of that you are certain? Good. She is to never learn of this, if it can be helped."
She paused suddenly, turning to look at him with intensity in her eyes. "I love Miyaki dearly, with all of my heart. She is one of the best people I know, and has a heart of gold. But she is also fragile when it comes to her past and how she has been treated. I hope, to the Fates and Gods above, that she would make the right choice if she was ever forced to choose, but humans….they see things differently. Different shades of grey than we do, and that is volatile in the hands of one treated wrongly."
"Yes." Was Jin's simple response. "She doesn't know. I intend to keep it that way. It is better for her not to know." He folded his hands in his lap, watching Alina carefully.
“You’re right, it is.” Alina agreed, growing quiet as she paced. Her hands were clasped behind her back, brow furrowed similarly to the way Miyaki’s did when she was thinking. After a few moments, she ceased her pacing, taking a deep breath. “This changes absolutely nothing, but I am curious. Why does the news not affect you or your decision in wanting her?”