lynchpin_castle | Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

The servants are unseen and unknown. Residents are welcome to take over the Servant’s rooms or not, but it is not recommended. Likewise, it is unclear where the Master resides. Usually s/he will call a meeting of their champions and meet them within the reception all or Banquet room.

Meals are typically taken together as a group, and if requested--training times for the champions as a group may be arranged. Both of the mundane variety, and also recreations of challenge-zones, such as the Labyrinth and the Mirror Gallery. The castle and its immediate surroundings have been set to mimic Earth with its single moon and 24 hour cycle of time, along with a standard Julian calendar for convenience.

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Tamaki was not nearly a fighter--he was a fairly normal (if eccentric and extremely wealthy) Junior in High School. His other hand moved to cover her own in thanks, and he smiled. "You're kind Ahsoka-san. I only hope I don't make you or him or Logan-san regret my flaws and lacks in a crisis."

"He reminds me of Mori-sempai, that is Morinozuka Takeshi. A senior back home, who is a member of the host club I am president of at Ouran. Silent and strong, but his heart is larger than one would expect, and he is a dedicated guardian to his friend, Hunny-sempai. Their families are entwined as such throughout the years no less, with the Morinozuka serving the Haninozuka."

Attempting to give her some background, albeit not too much.

"Much as with Trunks-kun, there is more to Mori-sempai than most would suspect. He is, among our hosts, known as the 'wild type'." There is a sly-glint in his eye. "For a few reasons."

She gave his hand a soft pat back, giving him a more real smile. "I think we all worry about that, Tamaki. You are not alone. I don't want to let anyone down either. Not everything here is going to be a fight though, don't forget that. The Masters wont put you out there if there is to be a fight, and if they do? You sure as heck wont be alone." She said it warmly, firmly even. She truly believed that.

And if anything, he was already making her feel better about things.

But she did tilt her head, watching him as he spoke of his people. His friends. It all sounded interesting. Hosts. In a school. That seemed wild to her. "Wild type, hmm?" She asked, seeing that glint and chuckling. "And you say Trunks reminds you of your Wild Type friend, was it?" This did amuse her.

"Mori-sempai is regarded as the 'wild type' because it is not always clear what type of lady will seek his company. He is often with Hunny-sempai, who is the 'cute' type. They compliment each other well, as it allows Mori-sempai to be that strong and silent type, where he listens much. It allows those girls we cater to, to project some of what they might wish, onto him. Or simply to enjoy being with him."

Business first--Kyouya'd be so proud.

"BUT, and here is where I believe he and Mori-sempai would be similar still, although he has not had the benefit of social company and graces that Morinozuka has had. I would place Trunks-kun as a 'wild type' in that he keeps his thoughts and feelings to himself, unless one knows how to look." A dazzling grin. "There is much more to him under the surface, but I suspect you know that better than I do ne?"

She watched him as he spoke. It honestly was like talking to one of the masters. Master Vos maybe, if anything, but maybe a bit of Plo as well. A kindness but a brilliance and a very matter of factness to him. It was kind of refreshing.

"You've figured all that out about Trunks in such a short time?" She said with a soft smile. "I mean... I can't say one way or the other, but what I know of him, that makes sense." You have such a dazzling grin, Tamaki. It's very hard to feel sad around that. She didn't say that, but she did feel it. "There is... a lot more under his surface than even I know. He's a very deep one. I... want to know more but I'd rather not push it."

"Patience." A chuckle, and let it not be said Tamaki couldn't laugh at himself. "Not entirely one of my virtues I admit, so I think you shall succeed more there."

He'd lost track of how many laps this was of the pool area. He was definitely coming to swim with her though, if she allowed. She was good company, and Tamaki guessed that she was perhaps not used to acting as a 'normal' girl her age would. Then again, what was normal for her?

Perhaps he should see if he and Hima-chan could organize a 'normal' dinner and party for everyone. Something entirely frivolous and fun. Maybe--that idea is going into the back of his brain to sit and breed.

"I gather you're not used to being around others like Ty Lee-chan either. She is more...playful. Open with her feelings, she holds little back, and makes what she wants known. I do not believe she means any harm."

"And now you really do sound like my Masters. Patience is something I had to fight to learn." She said with a smile. She had learned though. It had just taken a while. She smiled at his comment however.

Normal? No, that wasn't her upbringing at all. Though that was meant to be 'normal' in a way.

What he said of Ty Lee though made sense. She didn't hold it against the girl. She liked her so far, just... she didn't know how to handle her. "I'm... not used to people like her, no. She's open and playful, and though we were encouraged to be open and creative in thinking, we were also held by the code, which forbid attachments. You didn't try and make long lasting attachments with people. Which... meant you don't open up much." It's a wonder they allowed Jedi to get attached to their masters. Then again, more Jedi went down a darker path even for a moment after their master had been taken from them, so who knows? Maybe there was a truth there.

She shook her head, a hand rubbing at the back of her neck, under the back lekku. "Who am I to stand in anyone's way of what they want though? And I don't mean to... be snippy. Is it that transparent? I hadn't meant anything by my comment today." Ahsoka.... Tamki wasn't there. He has no idea what you did.

But this was also Ahsoka opening up for a bit. Something she didn't generally do.

Now Tamaki was even more interested in what had happened. "Patience is not my strong suit, but I am well-acquainted with people like Ty Lee-chan." An encouraging smile to her though, and no judgement in his tone--only sadness. "It seems...lonely, this code of yours. It must require a lot of strength."

Which also explained to him some of why Ahsoka might be having trouble now. Teenagers felt things, and attached themselves most easily. Especially with others their own age, who were attractive.

"If you do not want it to be, then no one but us two shall know, if you wish to share with me Ahsoka-san." Turning to her and his hand over hers in solemn vow. Inviting her to confide if she wanted, but not pressuring.

He was already planning to ask Hima-chan about the spar for details anyways, later.

Part of him very much wanted to go after Ahsoka--huh? But then Himawari was talking to him and Ty Lee was still there and they were both in the same direction Ahsoka'd gone even as his feet had started taking him that way. Had he done something wrong--why did she have a problem with him holding back? This was sparring, and she knew what he could do...

Reaching up to rake his fingers through his bangs in confusion and annoyance, he caught the tail end of whatever it was Ty Lee had said in response.

Ty Lee smiled and preened a bit. "I don't think I did, not really. But it was fun! I was an acrobat in the circus! It's really not that hard, Himawari. I could teach you some stuff." One arm curled under her chest, she brought the other up to her chin, thinking. "I'm still really surprised my chi-blocking didn't do more--I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd have thought you Air-bent at me Trunks."

That being the part his mind finally clued his full-attention on. Huh? Blink-blink. "Uh...not..not really." Ducking his head slightly, eyes going to the side. "I know you did something to my Ki, and I need to figure out just what it was, but that was sort of my first reaction in response to a sudden surprise like that." Both hands coming up and rubbing at his shoulders, expression serious. "Generally when I've had people pop up in my space like that suddenly, pain and a lot of hits usually follow, so it was kind of a defensive thing, as well as a preparation to sudden threat."

He was well acquainted with people like Ty Lee? Poor guy. No wonder he handles her so well. She frowned, looking at him as he spoke of her code. How lonely it seemed. That it must require strength. She... supposed that was true.

He was... making a vow to her though. About... talking? To him maybe? Was that it? Her brows raised as she looked at him, unsure how to respond to all this. "I ah... you... want me to, uh..." she blinked, unsure of what exactly he was meaning. "I don't know what to say, Tamaki. Everything is a little.... um, foggy, I suppose." She gave a halfhearted smile. "If my master were around, he'd know what I should do." Then again if he were around he'd tell her to knock it off, focus and go meditate. To get her mind back in line.

Did she even want to do that now?

Himawari drew back a bit, a softly worried look on her face. Was there something there? Was that why Ahsoka ran? Hmm. And Trunks looked as if he wanted to take off as well. Maybe she shouldn't have interrupted and spoke up. She hoped she hadn't some how brushed her bad luck off onto Ahsoka some how. She could control it, but even then she worried over that kind of thing.

Still, she tried to give him a good smile. To Ty Lee she beamed. "An acrobat! How exciting. I would like that very much, though I don't think I could learn an ounce of your grace in all the time we might have together." She said with a polite chuckle behind her hand. She wanted to know more about Air bending, though that reminded her of some people she had met before as well. And to Trunks...

"Perhaps Chi and Ki are the same things in different places, or at least similar? Her technique may need some some new training to go against a Ki as strong as yours. That could be something you could both work on, to help improve each other!" She then chuckled, hands twisting a bit behind her, together. "I've seen both Chi and ki used before. As well as other energy based focuses. Sometimes they come out a bit different."

Supportive... as she could be.

"But he is not, and presumably he has been training you with the goal that you will think and act for yourself." If he hadn't been, then Tamaki was decidedly NOT impressed. "If you wish to tell me what is on your mind, Ahsoka-san, then I will listen and confide in no one else. Likewise, if you wish to keep your own counsel, I will not judge or press you for it."

A hint of grin, finger against his chin. "I won't deny some curiosity on my part, especially since it seems the spar was exciting for more than simply two skilled fighters interacting. Especially since it is clear you are bothered." Again that smile, quieting his voice although he didn't move to be as close as he had a moment ago. "But again, it is entirely up to you what you would like to do."

"I... I wasn't bothered." She protested, her face darkening a bit more in a blush, the white marks on her face going a bit pink under the skin. Master had trained her to think and act for herself, of course, but attachments were forbidden and she was... feeling... attached?

That thought only made her brighten further. Oh no. She ran a hand over her face and glanced at the blond, a bit hopeless. "She was just very.... um... I don't... know the word for it. And he? He was... I mean, he should have been holding back. And he was. They were just sparing, and I know he has an insane amount of power, and shouldn't use it, but she was literally holding back way too much and..."

She huffed, looking confused. "I don't know why I said that to him. I literally told him he was holding back, as if that was a bad thing. And it distracted him. You never yell stuff out when others are sparing. What the kriff was I thinking?"

There you go Tamaki, the flood gates opened for a moment.

"I'm sure I could teach you some things." Ty Lee responded with cheer and a grin. "It's really not hard once you know the trick to balancing." Then she was listening, as Trunks was, to Hima talk about Chi and Ki. "Well, Chi is the energy that flows through you. Everyone has it, and it runs in pathways through the body. Benders--those who bend the elements, like fire and air and so on, are more adept at it because that's how they bend. Using Chi." As if it was all matter of fact to her, as slight flip of her braid.

"No, that's...definitely similar enough to Ki." Trunks responded, before something else that Himawari had mentioned earlier pinged in his mind. "You said you've seen an energy like mine before?" And she didn't seem surprised that he had strong Ki. She HAD traveled a lot... "What HAVE you seen, Himawari. If you don't mind me asking."

Trunks still wanted to go after Ahsoka--but manners, and his own sense that maybe she wouldn't want to be around him right then? Not if she was upset. Both that, and his own curiosity kept him there for the moment.

Tamaki listened patiently--he was absolutely going to ask Himawari-chan for details later with this information. A slow blink, and a comforting pat against her hand, hopefully encouraging her. "Ty Lee-chan, to be plain, is a flirt. She is not shy in showing her feelings, and she is playful. I take it she was flirting with Trunks-kun, while sparring? Teasing him perhaps?"

Especially since the other was clearly not used to dealing with it or people like Ty Lee. Tamaki was not a fighter, but he could see how it might be a useful strategy to unnerve an opponent. Especially when one was as skilled as the two in question. "Why did you bring it to his attention?"

Clearly it did bother her, even if Ahsoka didn't recognize it.

"That would be really amazing! With luck, I might be able to get a bit of it!" It might have sounded like a throw off comment, but she really did mean that she might be able to pick up some of it so long as she changed her luck a bit. Still, no reason to mention all that. She didn't want to scare off any of them with her luck or past.

With a small clap she grinned. "And like Ahsoka's Force! She was telling me about that while we were dueling a bit. It's all an energy. How amazing is it, that we could be from different places and yet all have similar sources of energy to help us through our training?"

What had she seen? Her hands came down to her sides, then tucked behind her back, fingers curling together as she leaned forward a bit on her toes. "Oh, lots of things. This one place I ended up had a lot of people, from a lot of different places. I knew one man who could control his spiritual energy, even to the point that he could go out of body to fight ghosts and spirits. And then there was this one man with such a prideful temper. He could gain an aura around him like you do, Trunks-kun. It's really amazing the things you can see and learn while traveling to different places."

The pat was reassuring, for some reason, and not at all annoying. For some reason nothing Tamaki did (so far) did she find annoying. He was... refreshing, in a way.

Flirty. That was it. She was a flirt. Ahsoka frowned as he said that, and everything he said was true. She was flirting with Trunks and it had... bothered her? Why should it though? It's not like she was openly... interested... in him. Or... maybe. But she couldn't anyhow. It was against everything she was taught. Not... that she was a Jedi anymore. Or that the code meant anything now.

"I don't know why..." She said softly, frowning more now. "It was smart of him to hold back. No reason to hurt her. She was just-- and he was--" She stopped, and gasped, looking thunderstruck for a moment. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "I'm not jealous am I? That's absurd!"

"Wow, that sounds almost like something the Avatar would do." Ty Lee commented. "Fighting spirits I mean. The Avatar is a being who can bend all 4 elements. Most people can only bend one. They're supposed to be the 'bridge between the spirit world and our world' or something like that."

"It sounds as if you've seen a lot of amazing things, Himawari-san." Trunks commented. Prideful temper huh? It'd be too much of a coincidence and was so very unlikely, even if his first thought had been towards his father with that comment. "It's...kind of a defensive thing, in some ways."

Once more reaching up and rubbing the back of his neck in awkwardness. "My father died while I was a baby, along with most of the others who were my mother's friends, but they were all a group of highly skilled martial artists. Using Ki was almost second nature for a lot of them, and sometimes is for me. Ahsoka and I have discussed it, and her Force, a few times. The main difference seems to be that she's used to pulling from 'without', aka the Force. I'm used to pulling from within, from my own reserves of Ki."

Tamaki simply smiled, saying nothing for a moment as he let her speak. It was clear to him that Ahsoka was jealous. Nor was he at all surprised to find out such. If she and Trunks-kun had been the only two for a few weeks, then they had had time to work together, fight together.

Trunks-kun would absolutely be a valuable draw to the Host Club, so to Tamaki it made sense he'd be attractive a young lady. Add in this 'code' of Ahsoka's that seemed to discourage familiarity, and that they were teenagers, and why wouldn't she be jealous? If only because someone who's attention she had been able to monopolize before now had to share with others, regardless of if there was any other reason.

Turning to Ahsoka, taking her hand in both of his and very gently asking "Why is it so absurd, Ahsoka-san?" A pause, and a grin. "Even if you don't answer me--and you don't have to--you need to examine for yourself why you think that."

Avatar? Her head tilted a moment, but then she smiled. She'd heard that term before too. "I've known people who can control fire, if that counts, but I'm not sure about all the elements at once. And... I wouldn't call what Ichigo could do as being a bridge between two worlds, but, honestly, that could be how it worked for him too."

She held a bit of her hair in her hands, fingers fidgeting with it now, smiling, almost blushing a bit as Trunks said she must have seen a lot of amazing things. "The city I was in, everyone had their own powers. Everyone. So I did get to see a lot of amazing things."

Her smile softened when he spoke of his father and his fathers friends dying while he was a baby. A sad kind of look. That was terrible, to lose a parent at such a young age. Thankfully both her parents were unaffected by her curse, and so she got to keep them for a while, but she knew many who had lost theirs. "Do you know if your father could do that as well? What you do?" She asked, then smiled again, softly. "Ty Lee, is yours from within or around?" Because she was curious now.

"That would be a fire-bender, probably. Like Azula, or Zuko." Ty-Lee beamed. "Most people can only bend one element. There are fire-benders, water-benders like Katara, and earth-benders, like Toph." Clapping her hands, Ty Lee bounced a bit on her feet. "The avatar is able to bend all of the elements. Aang, the current avatar, is an air-bender to start with, as what he was born as." Then she was tilting her head, trying to think of how to answer Himawari's question.

Trunks nodded, hands at his side once more. "He could. And a lot more." Clear enough that they were on par with each other, even if they had different skills in some ways--he and his father. "He was a crafty and strong fighter, very arrogant and prideful. Stubborn, just like my mother too. They were...very different from each other and I'm still not sure I fully understand how they ended up together."

That was him being polite.

Ty Lee was distracted by this too. Poor Trunks. Where energy in her world came from was honestly forgotten, listening to him.

Okay so his calm adult nature might be a bit annoying, in the way that Obi-wan could be, or a strange twist of Obi-wan and Master Plo. Calm, wise and mischievous in some soft way. She stared at their hands as he had taken hers to hold like that. Very touchy, Tamaki was.

She looked up at him again, unsure of herself as sh e watched him talk. "I... have no reason to be jealous. It's not as if I want to flirt with him too. Or even... would know how to. Or..." She huffed and stopped a moment then... "Jealous isn't an emotion I should hold. It leads to the dark side. It causes problems. If he's interested in Ty Lee that's... that is a good thing. A better thing." Her fingers were curling in his hands. Oh no, this was like with Lux. That tightness in her chest and all. This was just like with Lux and Steel.

"I'm not jealous." She repeated, looking down at their hands. "There is no reason to be jealous. It's fine. I just spoke out of line today."

Himawari beamed, bouncing on her toes a moment and clapped once. "Zuko! scar on his face, a short temper but very kind? I've met a version of him!" Generally she's careful of mentioning who she has met before, but this place seemed a bit different. Like it might be okay. They already knew she had been to different places like this.

And Trunks was listing off everything that sounded like...--oh. She looked at him with an amazed little look, then a soft sad smile. She wanted to reach out and give him a squeeze to his shoulder, but she didn't want to ruin his day with that. "I'm sorry, if the subject is a hard one. Your father sounds a lot like the version of the person I have met. If there was any way I could take you back to that city to meet him, I would move time and fate to do so for you."

Tamaki just grinned wider. "This might be forward of me, Ahsoka-san, but I do not think Trunks-kun is interested in Ty Lee. Not the way she would like, or you seem to think he is."

There might be a hint of a smirk, and he finally let her go. Gesturing dramatically as he did so. "A young man's heart is not so easy to read as a maiden's, but being the host that I am, my instincts guide me to believe that is the case." A wink, and hands on his hips. "As for your dark-side and jealousy...Perhaps it is only dangerous because you fight it and deny it." Wagging a finger at her, still playful. "No one said you had to flirt or want to."

Then his hand out once more, not taking hers but inviting her to take his if he wanted, with that dazzling smile and one eye winking. "But I would be happy to teach you, if you wished to learn, and to let you practice with me."

And Tamaki would be certain to make it clear that it was only as friends, nothing more, and not serious at all. One friend aiding another, in his eye--as he found Ahsoka a lovely person but his heart was well-spoken for. Unfortunately for him, and their timing....

The Locker rooms, and way out, went right by the pool--and Trunks had meant to at least reassure himself Ahsoka was alright. Quiet steps, and blue-eyes narrowed as he'd heard Tamaki's words. Fist clenching at his side in frustration, as he'd poked his head in to the pool area with the voices.

Ty Lee wasn't thinking, as she reached out and grabbed Himawari's hands, bouncing too. "That's HIM! A nasty burn-scar right? But Prince of the fire nation?" Pulling back "About yea-tall?" Holding her hand up roughly. "I grew up with his sister, Azula, and our other friend Mai. Wow, I wonder how he never mentioned meeting you before."

Trunks was blinking, and once more his thoughts were going in a few different directions. "He might not know, or be the same one you know Ty Lee..." Holding up his hand, as he had something (well two things, but one right then) more important to focus on. "I'll explain it later, or try to. Himawari...what was his name?"

It would be....wow, it would be weird, and odd, and fate wasn't like that was it?

She gave him a side eyed glance, looking at his dubiously as he wagged a finger at her. If Master Yoda had heard that he would have some backwards words for him. Still, the sudden flair of the dramatic was making her smile, and he was so friendly to the idea of helping her.

Helping her what though? She didn't think Trunks could actually be THAT interested in her. Again, like Lux. She thought maybe... but then no. Enter a tough girl, like Steel into the picture, or Ty Lee, and things were looking more and more like her past anyhow.

Not to mention she really shouldn't let herself get close to anyone. Not just because of the code. The code she didn't HAVE to follow anymore, but because of what Barrius and the rest of the council did to her. When she left she told herself she wouldn't allow that to happen again, and then she found herself here not long after and... getting attachments.

Still, at the offered hand she let out a small laugh, reaching out to take it. "Sure. Why the kriff not? I'm... I'm a different person now. Let go of the code and open up more, huh?" She said with a bit more of a smile to him.

He was very good at lifting spirits if anything.

And she wasn't at all focused, so she wasn't picking up on anyone's location at the moment.

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Page 14 of 18

Lynchpin---Castle and Surrounding Grounds.

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