Bait

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn wasn't a patrolman, nor did he ever aspire to be one. He was the guardian of his country in the sense that he would respond immediately to dire threats but he had never been the man to watch every village one by one and butt his head into every squabble he saw. Despite that, he had a keen eye for trouble and countless thoughts about what justice was supposed to be--so, he tended to intervene in problems when they presented themselves if only because of the fickle nature of what justice looked like to him.

Two farmers were arguing over a fairy mound, claiming ownership over a magic bow that sprung out of it. It had been hovering in the air, moving around on occasion from their perspective. Cu Chulainn, puzzled, wondered if the two men were fools--as there was clearly a man in white attire holding the damned thing. He stepped down from his horse to approach the two in the middle of their quarrel, watching the bowman, who was ignoring them as he read from a thin piece of paper held up in front of him. The two men didn't notice the bowman at all.

The bowman met eyes with Cu Chulainn, perplexed.

"You can see me?"

"Yeah. You can call me Cu Chulainn and... I'm curious. Never seen an archer carry that kind of bow, before."

Their exchange of words was brief, if not polite on Cu Chulainn's end. The farmers backed off immediately when they saw Cu Chulainn speaking to what they presumed was a demented ghost clutching the bow and ran when the bow lifted and fired, trying to take off Cu Chulainn's head from the neck. The young man let out a terse sigh, unstrapping his spear from his back after avoiding the volley before making a bit more effort to close the gap and stride towards him. The dark-haired archer was stunned that his shot hadn't landed and even more so when the following dozen bolts were parried and redirected just as easily. He jumped up and kicked the bowman square in the chest, dropping him to the ground before there had been a few popping sounds.

Strange. It didn't sound like the sound of bones breaking--he didn't think he kicked hard enough to do that. The bowman stumbled back, coughing and wheezing, his eyes bulging open as he buried his hand in his clothing to pull out a vial. The thing had broken in the center and little white tablets fell to the ground, dissolving. The shocked expression he wore spoke more about what happened than whatever he could pull out with his strange accent.

"I--I can't stay here!"

He threw a capsule to the ground, blinding light shining and catching Cu Chulainn off guard. He stepped back, vanishing into a tear in thin air, just as a few more of the tablets landed on the ground where he had been standing. Cu Chulainn rubbed under his eyes before stepping over to the remaining tablets, picking them up with a scowl.

"What a pain--fairy mounds are just troubling these days. Nothing good comes out of the damned things anymore--"

As if proving him right, a dozen or so howling voices rose up in the woods, the town, and the mountains all at once. Screaming farmers and milling people came shortly after, clearly bothered by the owners of those inhuman howls. His irritated scowl deepened and he ran off, away from the mound and towards the sound of trouble, "Speak of the devil... and he'll come crawling right away, huh?"

Comments

[goneonenight]

For whatever reason, Cu Chulainn refuses her help, instead leading her towards the dining hall with his head tilted back and his hand covering his nose. It seems silly when she can just heal it in a few minutes, but if he wants to walk around with blood all over him, she's not going to push.

"He's the king's father?" Well, that could have gone worse. For all his amusement, she very well could have started a diplomatic incident yelling back at him like that. Not that she regrets it, but if the rest of the family is like that, she's going to have a hell of a time reining in her temper.

"Wait--was that your grandfather?" She knows the king is his uncle, so she assumes the king's father is also related to him. As harsh as her own family can be, no one's ever broken her nose in front of a guest before. She's starting to wonder if dinner could possibly be worth dealing with these people.

[red_branch]

"Yup," He responded, his eyes distant and deadened. It was the kind of reaction one would come to expect from someone who held regrets about being related to a crazy person. Though, Cu Chulainn had little room to talk when it came to discussing the downsides of mental illnesses. "That's my grandfather."

As they passed the threshold into the castle, Cu Chulainn released his nose. He slipped over to an open basin of water, splashed some in his face and blew his nose into it before pouring it out a window. Clearly, the next person coming was going to have to look for another basin to use. After he did all that, he looked to Yoruichi--suddenly coming to a realization.

"Ah, I see. He wanted to make a fool of me coming into the hall. Now, I get it."

He lacked a towel and a new tunic but neither seemed to matter when it would be worse to show up late and make everyone wait when Cathbad would obviously be talking up Yoruichi and Setanta by the time they even got there. So, Cu Chulainn shoved both hands against the main doorway leading to the hall and pushed it open for Yoruichi. Despite knowing he looked like a mess, he knew it would be disrespectful to delay and make everyone wait when he was likely expected.

What came next was an overwhelming smell of food and the sweet aroma of flowers and honey. Despite the reputation the Ulster clan earned for sweaty warriors in baked leather armor--they possessed an uncanny self-awareness of smell and happily layered everything as cleanly as possible, especially for guests. Setanta looked like a bedraggled mess compared to every man, woman and child in colorful, pressed attire getting food and eating it with family. They all turned to stare at the returning prince, somewhat surprised by his state. A thick-armed man in his crown stood up suddenly at the throne at the end of the hall and bellowed the moment Cu Chulainn stepped in. He was tall, with thick red hair and a leather eyepatch tucked under his crown and through tussles of hair.

"Cu Chulainn! Young man, look at the state of you in my dining hall. I thought the Queen of Shadows taught you manners in her court! And, to think, you're embarrassing the guest you've brought here with that poor appearance--come on, introduce us!"

The young man rounded the table, urging Yoruichi to follow him. He stepped along the edge of the room, ignoring prying eyes as he arrived at the throne, dipping his head in a slight way as a bow. Cathbad sat next to the king, giving Yoruichi and Cu Chulainn a wave and a smile before dipping his head to give his wife a kiss. Nessa ignored his flirting to give Yoruichi and Cu Chulainn a curious look and then reached down to grip Cathbad by the beard and yank his ear close to her mouth so she could speak into it. Unlike her husband, she had plenty of red in her hair still and age made her look sharper and sterner than she actually might have been.

"Uncle, this is Yoruichi. She's a noble spirit who helped purge monsters from one of our farming villages in the north."

Conchobor, who had taken a seat again, gestured for Yoruichi to come over to him. He beckoned for her to come close before leaning in to whisper--

"Don't mind my father, young lady. He's bloody nuts. We can chat later after you've had some dinner and--you have my thanks for your aid."

Without missing a beat, Conchobor gave his nephew another harsh look before slapping him on his shoulder.

"Anyway, get yourself cleaned up and come back for dinner. You won't shrivel up if you have a cold meal once in awhile."

[goneonenight]

The dining hall is a wash of color and sound, much more raucous than meals at the Shihouin manor. It looks as though everyone in the castle is in attendance, other than those on duty. Children dart between the tables, corralled by long-suffering mothers who place them firmly in their seats.

Every eye is on Cu Chulainn, but those few who can see her are wary, looking towards the head table to gauge how to react. When the king himself calls Yoruichi over, they relax, turning back to their meals. Conchobor is a large man, with bushy red hair and beard. She slips behind Cu Chulainn on her way to the throne, careful to dodge those who don't know to stay out of her way. To her surprise, the king leans in to speak to her, displaying a casualness that relaxes her a bit. She's still going to be on edge here, but it's nice that her presence doesn't seem to be a problem.

"Thank you, your majesty." She inwardly kicks herself for not asking how she should address the king, so she falls back on her own customs. With one hand on the hilt of her zanpaktou, she bows low enough to show politeness to a ruling monarch. It's not as low as she would bow to her own king, or as low as one of her vassals would bow to her; her own position means she doesn't need to be too deferential.

Despite herself, she feels a little bereft when Cu Chulainn is sent off to change; he's her only bit of familiarity here. Even if his grandfather does know her family, she's not in any hurry to speak to him, even if she knows she'll need to. Weird old man.

In no time, a servant has shown her to a seat at the head table. The food smells delicious even if it's unfamiliar, but the utensils are completely alien to her. Under the guise of idle curiosity, she scans the hall, looking to see how other people are eating. The spoon is easy enough and the knife she can figure out, but this other thing looks like a weapon; she doesn't want to do anything stupid while all these people are staring at her.

[red_branch]

Conchobor, smiling from ear to ear, waved a servant out to serve Yoruichi. It was clear he was happy to have her without knowing her if only because it was obviously a novelty to have dinner with a spirit. There was also the matter of her upbringing, which was alluded to him by his father. Cathbad began to behave in Nessa's presence, mollified by the warm but stern reigning she impressed by little jabs from the handle of her sword. She learned over time that she couldn't get his attention without wood or iron.

While the family itself had been eager to eat and chat about small things, the rest of the room was clueless about who Yoruichi was and had their doubts that she really was a spirit. Most people dining there were warriors. Men and women looked at her, unashamed to stare since they were speaking amongst themselves, asking one another if they had any trouble seeing her. There were the occasional squints and leans to make certain the edges of her weren't blurry and only a few people couldn't quite make out her shape. Eventually, the novelty died down and everyone went back to their meals--but no one actually approached Yoruichi to speak with her, leaving an open seat which Cu Chulainn took after awhile. His face was pink and red from a hot shower and he was wearing bright blue and orange robes, layered with the same sort of perfume that rolled off of everyone else. He didn't call for a servant to bring him anything--one of them just set a plate down in front of them and he gave the young woman a wink and a smile that rolled off of her entirely from past experience.

He turned to look to Yoruichi, tugging at his robes a little. Given how red he was--it was clearly a really, really hot bath that he dove into.

Glancing at her plate, he gave her a curious look, "Any good?"

The usual feast would never get old for him but he did wonder if Yoruichi would like it. He heard people from foreign lands ate weird creatures, so he imagined their mundane choices probably wouldn't be all that appealing. Still, what had him shift his gaze a bit was the strange way Yoruichi seemed to be avoiding her fork. Handling the whole meal with just a knife seemed a bit too difficult.

[goneonenight]

It takes a while to get her bearings--people are busier looking at her and talking among themselves than they are eating, and she can't observe the people at the king's table without giving herself away. By the time Cu Chulainn returns, she thinks she has the idea, but pauses to reply to him.

"It is, I just need to figure out how to use this thing." She picks up the fork, spearing a slice of meat before cutting it with her knife. Her brows furrows in faint concentration as she brings the fork to her lips. It's roast pork, and while the seasoning is different from what she's used to, it's still tasty.

She looks more closely at Cu Chulainn, her brows raising at his appearance. Between his pink and red face and his colorful robes, he's a far cry from the warrior she'd first seen. "What, did they boil you?"

He's pretty red, and giving that he's in good enough shape to run to the castle, she doubts it's from exertion. The hot springs here must be insanely hot.

[red_branch]

"Well, I tend to have hot baths one way or another..."

There was the matter of being embarrassed by his uncle and grandfather. Boiling over with irritation was easy for him when he wasn't careful and the busy morning he had before meeting Yoruichi brought on a bit of stress. An otherwise ice-cold bath turned to a bubbling, boiling froth quicker than he expected. Inwardly, Cu Chulainn reminded himself to mind his temper and shifted his hands to his plate--cutting up a few pieces of pork and greens with an absent-minded, placid smile.

He could stomach being embarrassed.

"Ah--you know, I think you're getting the hang of it," He commented, pausing after chewing a few bites to look over Yoruichi's grip. She wasn't holding it backward, at least. Maybe she took the time to watch people eat before she settled down to do it herself. Yoruichi didn't seem remotely the type to ask if watching would have gotten her the same information.

"Though, what do you normally use? I know of some northerners who refuse to use anything to eat but their knives. It was some sort of insult to them, using something that looked like a farming tool--as if they were treating themselves like cattle having hay shoveled in their mouths."

It was said with some good humor, Cu Chulainn letting his fork prongs hang off his lip for a moment. The redness in him was fading rapidly, though he was definitely still a little pink about the ears after he put down the fork--and a tankard of ale while he was at it. He made a concerted effort to keep any foam from spilling, taking much more care for his clothes than the other warriors in the hall. Notably, no one else in the hall was dressed nearly as garishly as he was--even if some of them wore fairly bright colors.

[goneonenight]

"We use chopsticks. And spoons for soup." Now that she's getting the hang of the fork, Yoruichi's food is disappearing at an alarming rate. She hadn't planned to be gone from home so long, much less to fight an entire group of Hollows.

They've got a lot of food here--they won't mind if she eats her fill, right?

The last bite of greens disappear, and she looks forlornly at her empty plate. To her delight, the servant from earlier reappears, refilling her plate with more unfamiliar, but lovely smelling food.

"I mean, it does kind of look like a pitchfork, but--" she shrugs, clear unconcerned. It's easy enough once you get the hang of it, and as hungry as she is, she couldn't care less what the utensil looks like.

She picks up her own mug of ale, and the first sip makes her eyes water. Coughing quietly, she sets it back down. It's even worse than sake, with a raw, bitter taste that's going to take some doing to get out of her mouth.

[red_branch]

Spoons, he knew. 'Chopsticks' sounded like something much sharper in his head than they were. Utensils that were too thin tended to break with the materials the locals liked to build with, though. They still preferred stonework when it came to smithing homes and goods--iron and bronze were things for war. Setanta took the time to eat and mull it over while Yoruichi did the same. Outpacing him, Yoruichi carried onto another meal as the servant from before decided the guest needed more to eat than the nuisance prince. That kind of thing flew over his head.

Cu Chulainn turned slightly to glance at Yoruichi's plate, almost wondering what she preferred to eat until he realized she was stowing it all away with a voracity that showed either a total lack of bias or an appreciation for everything that graced the pewter in front of her. In a way, that was probably more of a relief to him. He had trouble with picky-eaters.

Slowly he opened his mouth to compliment her fortitude on the meal when Yoruichi looked like she was having a rough time with the ale. He shifted his eyes to look back for the same servant from before but she was already there by the time he was ready to ask. She took Yoruichi's ale and set it in front of Setanta, replacing it with a deep, red wine.

"Good thinking," He complimented her as she set off, hustling with the energy necessary to deal with dozens of warriors and royal family members at dinner. Back to Yoruichi, Cu Chulainn registered no surprise at all. It wasn't an issue of local color--some people just plain disliked ale. "I don't know what you like to drink but that's a whole lot sweeter. Maybe it'll sit easier?"

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi barely has time to thank the woman before she's off again, clearly having seen someone else needing her attention. The best household servants have the observation skills of seasoned warriors, and nothing gets past their notice.

"I don't usually drink alcohol," she says, picking up the wine. "I never had a taste for most of it." Plum wine is good, and she likes peach wine as well. She's not sure what fruit this is, but it smells more promising than the ale. Another careful sip and she blinks, tilting her head in thought. It's good, if different than what she's had before.

"That's a lot better," she sighs, a pleased look settling on her face. She's hardly going to allow herself to get drunk in a strange place, but at least she's not unintentionally insulting her hosts by refusing to drink at all.

Her second plate of food is almost gone, and she's wondering how rude it would be to ask for more. To distract herself, she changes the subject.

"Is there anything I should know before I talk to your uncle? He said wanted to talk after dinner." They don't seem much for ceremony so far, but she'd hate to accidentally insult the king after he'd been kind enough to welcome her into his home.

[red_branch]

Cu Chulainn couldn't quite muster up the willpower to leave the second tankard alone. Once his first was finished--he immediately slid his hand around the handle of the ale set aside from Yoruichi and brought it to his lips. There was a certain sort of training one went through that brought them to appreciate bitter things, he thought. Maybe it was a metaphor for adulthood but then--even his uncle tended to prefer sweet things. Maybe ale-drinkers just disliked themselves.

"Really? Well, we've got milk and juice by the barrel during a season like this. Don't hesitate to ask," Said offhandedly and politely, Cu Chulainn leaned over to place one elbow on the table and watch Yoruichi a little more closely. There was a little hint of something in her eyes he couldn't place. Some mysterious thing that he imagined was on her mind--though certainly not more thoughts of dinner hiding beneath the surface, he imagined.

"You're worried about that?" He teased, his cheeks creased into a grin. "Just don't ask him questions you don't want answered. He can see the future, so he's full of irritating answers."

[goneonenight]

"There's milk?" Her entire face lights up. Yoruichi would never pass up milk, and would certainly prefer it over all the wine in the world. The apparently psychic servant shows up just in time to hear this, and signals one of the servings girls across the hall for a pitcher of milk.

And unlike Cu Chulainn, she correctly interprets Yoruichi's politely forlorn look at her empty plate and makes sure it gets filled once again. If for nothing else, Yoruichi would appreciate her for the fact that she doesn't bat an eye at how much Yoruichi t is eating; she simply seems determined to carry out her duty of making sure an honored guest is fed to her heart's content.

She bristled a bit when he leans in to look at her, feeling self-conscious by the attention. "Yeah, right," she says, assuming he's just teasing her for whatever reason. "Maybe you're just predictable." She drains her mug of milk, making a happy noise in the back of her throat. It's cold and sweet and rich, and better than what she gets at home.

[red_branch]

"Oh? Maybe I am," There was a flurry of activity around Yoruichi from the servants and Cu Chulainn was slowly beginning to realize that they seemed to be chatting with one another about how they could get a good rapport with her. It wasn't blatantly obvious but he could tell that they were sneaking glances at Yoruichi and sorting through things they could bring over on a whim.

He considered asking for a cup of milk for himself but the thought made his stomach twist. Ale and milk--he'd probably turn his stomach over if he mixed too much of both.

"I'll let Daire know you like it," Cu Chulainn leaned back in his own chair, taking another long gulp of ale. "Seems like everyone's excited to have a foreign guest about. I imagine they're trying their best to be polite and not ask you for stories."

[goneonenight]

She had noticed the servants in a little knot by the head table, but'd assumed the king would get a lot of visitors. They probably weren't spirits though, so she guesses it makes sense that they'd be more curious than usual.

She chuckles. "I could manage some stories. Maybe after dinner." She'd never stood on ceremony with servants, often asking after their families and treating them as part of her own. "Is that the woman's name who was helping us? Daire? She seems like she's been with your family a long time."

It's clear Yoruichi is no stranger to being waited on. There are numerous servants at the Shihouin manor, many of them having been sworn to Yoruichi's family for generations. They take pride in their service to one of the Great Noble Houses, and it's clear that's the same here. It's not hard to believe Cu Chulainn's story of the people preferring to keep his uncle as king from what she's seen so far.

[red_branch]

No one in their right mind was actually sticking to their own conversations politely--not in that dining hall. Just about everyone was trying to pry in and listen to Yoruichi and Cu Chulainn if they could manage. Some knew they had to keep talking to make sure they weren't clearly acting rude. Others held themselves together expertly. A couple managed to flat out move themselves out of earshot and just ask what the other heard.

As much as Cu Chulainn noticed, he didn't let on. Visitors were always a spectacle he didn't like to deny to anyone. Sometimes, the capital was painfully boring and no one saw anyone new for weeks and months.

"Yup. She's the cousin of a family friend and works out with the cattle during the day," He set down his tankard, deciding to breathe a bit more air than liquor for a bit. "She taught me how to tie braids when we were little."

So, if her patience with him was thin--it was before he wore it down.

"She's not as fond of me anymore, I think."

[goneonenight]

Yoruichi snorts, then drains her glass of milk. This time, it's a girl of about Yoruichi's apparent age who darts forward to refill her glass. Yoruichi thanks her with a grin, prompting a pleased and shy smile in return before she goes back to her group.

"Why?" she asks, her voice dry as she turns back to Cu Chulainn. "Did you ask her to marry you too?"

There's a muffled grown from more than one of the people listening in, similar to the exasperation of the people in the village where she'd met him. It's bad enough he does it regularly enough for no one to be surprised, but does he have to ask their guests as well? A foreign spirit at that?

[red_branch]

"Hah! Well, nothing like that," It was enough of a joke to him but plenty of folks in Emain Macha had a certain caution around Cu Chulainn that came from experience--the sort that was plenty friendly and just as dangerous. He was, to put it as lightly as possible, trouble. "I imagine if we got hitched, we'd be at each others' throats left and right. Don't think either of us would get a single night's rest out of sheer frustration."

Jokingly said, though it was clear that Daire's irritation didn't get under his skin. He would probably kill her out of her own frustration well before she did anything to actually bug him. Cu Chulainn placed his fork over a bit of meat and spun it on the plate to mop up gravy.

He leaned in a little closer to Yoruichi, whispering--

"Between you and me, I know the guy she's interested in. Word is--if Daire keeps in the king's good graces a few more weeks, she'll get a blessing of land for her bulls and she'll be able to marry and retire. In particular, if a guest of the royal family were to give her glowing praise..."

[goneonenight]

"Oh?" Yoruichi blinks, then grins. It's not unusual for a favored servant to be rewarded after years of service. At least Daire is young enough to enjoy it. With luck and hard work, she could make a comfortable life for herself.

"I can do that. I can tell she takes pride in her job." It's easy enough to do, but she's a little surprised Cu Chulainn thought to suggest it. He's more thoughtful than she'd given him credit for. "She reminds me a little of someone from home."

Unconsciously, she lets out a sigh, her expression darkening as her thoughts turn sober. Now that the immediate need for food has passed, Yoruichi can't help but remember that she's trapped here for the moment. Cu Chulainn seems confident her can get her home, but how much does he really know?

But there must be a way--not only had she made it here in the first place, but his grandfather knows Soul Society. She wonders if there will be a chance to speak to him as well.

[red_branch]

"Hey, you don't know the half of it," He grinned, giving Daire a little wave as she was working on setting up a side table for a couple of warriors set to ride in late. She scowled at him and continued working in earnest--something he liked to think of as a good distraction to keep her from listening in on Yoruichi's chat with him. "Pride is more than just currency for folks like her. She wants a family name that'll outlast all of us."

With a snicker, he fell into his tankard again--a little too inebriated to catch Yoruichi's own descent into a somber look. What did catch his eye was the hike of Conchobor's voice in the back. He was speaking to a few richly dressed warriors with fur lining their armor and cloaks. Both looked better off than most of the people in town.

"The answer is no--I can tell you now Daire won't sell her stags. So, move on. Tell Medb she can't have everything in the world."

i'm so sorry! I don't know how I missed this

[goneonenight]

Ambition is something Yoruichi can definitely understand, even if it doesn't drive her the way it does some of her kin. She's never sought power for its own sake, but she knows the value of accomplishing something through your own efforts.

The king's voice cuts through the murmur of the crowd, and Yoruichi's not the only one to turn her head towards him. The warriors seem to be a delegation of some sort, on behalf of a neighboring clan, perhaps? Daire's face is a mixture of apprehension, offense and satisfaction that quickly flickers away to the studied neutrality of a long-time servant. From what Cu Chulainn has already said, Yoruichi doesn't blame her. To have worked all these years to amass property of your own, only to have someone come along and assume they can simply name a price for all you've accomplished.

She leans over, murmuring into Cu Chulainn's ear so as not to be overheard. "Who's Mebd?"

no worries, i've been out of it anyway DX

[red_branch]

"A neighboring queen," Cu Chulainn spoke back to Yoruichi with a little hush, if only because he didn't want to look like he was paying that much attention. Given his sudden frown, it was clear that politics wasn't exactly his most valued topic of interest--especially not with a beautiful princess by his side that he was indebted to help. Helpfulness was just a means to the bonus of spending time with her and Medb's messengers were hampering it by luring the court back into trade deals and business--two things he really didn't like. Something about the situation was putting him on edge, too. As much as he wanted to flirt...

"Sorry. You'll have to excuse me."

Conchobor's response didn't score the sort of blow one might have expected on the crowd. They briefly quieted up as if to let the air clear and then resumed chatting. The men speaking to Conchobor seemed taken aback by his response, even if there wasn't so much as a glance set their way from the patrons around them. It was their first time making that request and Cu Chulainn knew what the outcome would be if they raised their hackles too much.

Medb's messengers never lasted too long if they insulted the king--1something she didn't take too much offense to.

"We can't leave empty-handed, your grace," One urged, spreading his hands evenly. Cu Chulainn notices the glimmer of iron on his forearm. He was wearing armor under his nice clothes, lending the impression of a body bulkier than it actually had been. Still, anyone who had fair eye-sight could tell it wasn't muscle at all. Someone who was simply supposed to be a messenger, wearing armor to see a king, was either foolish or traitorous. Cu Chulainn began to push his chair back, earning a sidelong look from Conchobor--placid and calm. He wasn't worried about himself, rather than the outcome of the young man becoming upset with someone who would insult his lord.

"I suppose it's too late to teach you the good manners to be used before a king, boy. Every messenger before you at least had the decency to wait for a challenge to arm themselves," Conchobor leaned back in his chair--leaving the messenger to take steps back as Cu Chulainn stepped to the side of the king's throne, unarmed and only bearing the gaudy robes he brought after his bath. He wasn't even wearing sandals, anymore. "We would have at least given you that much."

"Who is this garish fool?" The second messenger scoffed, drawing gasps from the crowd. Just to the side of Conchobor, Cathbad began scooting his chair just away from the situation, his wife doing the same though with a modicum more decorum--standing to move her chair out of the way.

"Just your average Ulster warrior," Cu Chulainn responded through grit teeth. Grinding his heel into the cold stones beneath his feet--he extended his other leg and kicked the messenger square in the chest. A cold rush of air came next as the messenger burst through the castle wall and into the courtyard, following Cu Chulainn's next few strained words, directed at the messenger's partner. "You have five minutes."

[goneonenight]

Cu Chulainn's earlier cheer fades as he eyes the messengers. And for good reason--they're pretty heavily armored to just be negotiating. And apparently it's just as rude to arrive in armor here as it would be at home.

He excuses himself, going over to stand next to his uncle. Not content to simply insult the king, they also dismiss Cu Chulainn as he steps up. While he doesn't look dressed for a fight, you'd have to blind to think he's not capable of one. While Cathbad and his wife scoot their chairs back, Yoruichi simply picks up her fork, calmly continuing to eat as the foreign warriors square up.

Between one bite and the next, one of them is flying through the castle wall with a thunderous noise, sending up grit and dust into the dining hall. While fights aren't quite this abrupt at Shihouin dinners, Yoruichi's sometimes wished they were--it would save a lot of needless back and forth. She grins to herself, subtly pushing just far enough from the table so she can easily move if needed. Tempers apparently run high here, so it only make sense to be ready.

[red_branch]

Heaving a sigh shortly after, Cu Chulainn reached up and placed one hand over his face. Flustered, he turned back to Conchobor even as he began tracing a rune in the open air. Visibly, it seemed to simply hang in the air--gradually rotating as he spoke with his uncle.

"Again? Uncle, you have to send her an appropriate statement. They were going to challenge you this time. I can go arrange a duel right now and end this before--"

Conchobor scoffed. He had been in the middle of beaming pride with Cu Chulainn's rough approach to diplomacy before finding himself irritated with the concept of being told how to act as a king.

"I'm not taking advice from a dog in plumage. I already look crazed enough, taking it from that old codger."

Cathbad moved back his chair, sniffing indignantly. Cu Chulainn bristled in return, glowering at the two of them as it was made very clear that they only wanted him to do the kicking--not the talking. The other messenger, still stunned by the disappearance of his associate and the fact that Cu Chulainn had stopped paying attention to him feebly raised his voice.

"Fi--Five minutes?"

"Isn't it implied? To get the hell out of here before I kill--"

Conchobor stood up, his hand finding a large golden sword strapped to his seat. Dragging it out of his scabbard, he dragged the tip along the floor lazily as he strode towards the messenger. Cu Chulainn stopped when Conchobor started up, stepping aside and lowering his head. Conchobor stopped short of the messenger, collapsing on one knee. All throughout the room, groans and heavy breathing could be heard as men and women collapsed--namely the ones carrying weapons. Daire dropped her tray and fell on her side, weakened as well.

"What--Is this a curse?" Conchobor stammered, his hand opening as his sword clattered to the ground. Cu Chulainn went to his side, supporting his weight with his shoulder while Cathbad sucked in a breath and grunted.

"--Yep," The mad old man responded, fishing his hand in the air--finding a thin thread in the air, resembling one from a spider. It connected throughout the room, leading to the messenger who was still left over. "Seems like the little conqueror didn't like your uncle's answer, boy."

Cathbad curled his finger and snapped the thread. Immediately, the messenger dissolved into snapping, cawing crows that immediately flew out of the opening in the wall Cu Chulainn made.

[goneonenight]

The disagreement between uncle and nephew seems like an old one, but Cu Chulainn gives way when his uncle stands and draws his weapon. It seems Conchobor is going to deal with the messenger on his own.

But then he drops to one knee, along with several others around the room. Cu Chulainn rushes to his side, still able to move. Yoruichi is unaffected as well, as are all the children and some of the adults. At a quick glance, it looks like everyone on the ground is a warrior, now unable to defend themselves or those around them.

Even as she jumps to her feet, Cathbad makes a curious gesture, and the messenger just...turns into a bunch of crows, crying their defiance as they escape through the newly destroyed wall.

Yoruichi's fully alert, her weight balanced to respond to a threat from any direction. "What the hell was that?" she says softly, not really expecting an answer.

[red_branch]

Conchobor, sweating at the brow, managed to pick himself up to stand--though he was clearly bent at the waist. He pushed his nephew away feebly, prompting a startled look from the young man. It was unreal seeing his uncle look so weak but it didn't keep him from looking to the rest of the warriors. There was a point connecting them all in that pain but he couldn't figure it out. Even Cathbad's wife was leaned up against him, breathing hard and clinging to his arm. She hid her pain well enough but he reached to take her hand and hold it, thinking on what he was seeing. Cathbad was struggling to think things over himself, his hand tightening on Nessa's.

"It's definitely specialized," He commented as Nessa gripped him. "I'm not affected--the dog isn't affected. The princess isn't affected. All the children are untouched and a few of the servants don't seem bothered."

At that point, Cathbad was simply laying out facts. Cu Chulainn spoke up, pointing something out. He looked to Yoruichi briefly before looking to Cathbad. She didn't know what was going on, so he tried to help out--if only a little.

"It's a pretty bad situation to be in. Only a god could create a curse based on a single condition like that. Which god was that--the one posing as that messenger?"

Cathbad grunted, watching the crowd as they began taking care of one another. Given the fact that the warriors were the ones clearly suffering, it fell to everyone else to do the lifting and moving and it looked incredibly awkward. Sons and daughters were supporting their mothers and fathers, too startled to do things properly and help to the best of their abilities.

"Crows. So, either the Almighty One or The Morrigan. Neither of them have any interest in causing us harm, so--I'd say you'll need to figure out which of the two it was."

Cu Chulainn shut his mouth immediately, helping Conchobor into his seat. Usually quick to chirp back, he looked as if everything he had to say would just be a jumbled, meaningless mess.

[goneonenight]

It looks like her hosts are only a little less confused than Yoruichi is, so there's no sense in asking for more information when it's clearly not there to give. So she turns aside, helping one of the servants to his feet. He looks alarmed, and she belatedly realizes he must be one of the people who can't see her. Another person whispers in his ear, and he sketches a bow and mumbles thanks in Yoruichi's direction.

One toddler vainly pats his mother's arm, his face crumpling as she struggles to get up. Mentally shrugging, Yoruichi goes to help, hoping she doesn't alarm the woman too much. To her relief, the woman nods her thanks as she's helped back into her seat. The baby is distracted by Yoruichi's arrival, and the silly face she makes at him causes him to laugh. She scoops him up and hands him to his mother, giving them both a grin before heading back to her seat.

Helping in even such a small way helps her feel a little more in control of things, as though she's not completely at the mercy of random chance.