[closed] enough is enough

[saikusu]

Who: Saïx and Niles
What: Saïx has had enough of Niles's attitude
Where: Odin's temple
When: May 9th
Warnings: none... yet. possible violence?

As Saïx was heading out to run some errands before work, he caught sight of Niles in the library. He wasn't sure when the next time he'd get the opportunity to talk to him would be, so his errands could wait. He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him and leaning against it.

"I was given some clearly terrible advice to wait for you to come to me, but that's clearly never going to happen. I don't care whether you like me or not, but you and I need to be able to work together. Which means we need to talk."

Comments

[deniles]

When he hears Saix's voice, his book immediately slams shuts and he stands up.

"I owe you nothing. Not my time, not my teamwork, and not my skills. You can continue to do solo missions with Leo, as will I."

He narrows his eye, and looks right at Saix. "Now move."

[saikusu]

"No." He crossed his arms and redoubled his efforts to block the door with a slight change in posture - to something he felt was more authoritative looking.

"You owe me a chance. Which you have avoided doing from the moment I showed up. I gave you space because you asked me to. Then I gave you even more space. It is time you gave me a chance."

[deniles]

"I owe you nothing. I owe him nothing. I owe no one a single damn thing."

Niles wasn't afraid of him. This man had no authority over him. No control, no demand. He was an asshole he'd just have to wipe from the map.

"Move."

[saikusu]

Saïx is not going to budge and has quite a lot to say on exactly what it is that Niles owes to Leo.

"No. As his first shinki, you have a duty as the exemplar to our god. You are supposed to be his moral compass, and you are supposed to set an example for him, and as a result also for myself and any other shinki Leo might acquire in the future. If you won't perform your duties, then perhaps I will take your place. You shouldn't mind after all, you're only the exemplar by default."

[deniles]

"Oh, is that so? My duties?"

He smirks and takes a step closer.

"And pray tell what moral compass do you think our lord follows? And you continue to call him by his first name, do you honestly think you've earned that right? That privilege?"

Moving right into his face. "If anyone is looking up to me for an example, I'm sure they'll have a rough time."

[saikusu]

"I believe him telling me to call him Leo does in fact me I have the right and privilege to call him by his first name. He has never asked me to call him by any other name, and unless he does so, I shall continue to use it."

He doesn't flinch when Niles moved into his space. If he thinks he can intimidate him that easily, he's wrong. "Then you don't deserve the title. You don't even deserve to be a shinki. We may not have had any choice in the matter of becoming shinki, however that doesn't mean we can do whatever we please, consequences be damned. I can only hope your attitude and actions never result in you blighting Leo. If you don't like me now, you certainly won't like me if you hurt him."

[deniles]

"He told me the same. He's still our lord. And if you choose not to respect him as such, you're just being a hypocrite standing in front of me."

He smirks. Intimidate? Hardly. But he's going to get nice and close to give him a little scare. "My title as first shinki is secure. And Milord will never give me up for the likes of a mutt such as yourself." Licking his lips. "If he hasn't been blighted yet, he never will. So I suggest you step back now."

[saikusu]

"I respect him more than I do anyone else I've met in my time as a shinki. Forcing any title upon him that he has not asked me to use when speaking of or to him would be disrespectful. I honor him by calling him as he wishes to be called and treating him with respect."

Saïx rolls his eyes. "You misunderstand me, I never said he would need to give you up. You will always be his first shinki, whether or not I think you deserve to be a shinki at all has no bearing on this. However, the title of exemplar only goes to the first shinki by default. That title can be transferred to any shinki in a god's service that fulfills the role. And I will see to it that the title goes to me if you refuse to work together."

[deniles]

"He is still your lord. He should be referred as such. Or should I start planning the wedding now? You and his ass."

Niles chuckled a bit. "Oh, please, do go on about how wonderfully perfect you are. A wolf. Incredible. You really do want to be thrown a bone here, getting praised by our lord." He smirks. "How about I go tell him myself? About how you trapped me and scolded me like a little child and that you should absolutely gain the title of exemplar."

"That's what you want, after all." Niles looked up at him. "My title. And you'd do anything to get it. I'm sorry that it's not up for sale, but take my head from my body, and maybe it would be."

[saikusu]

"I have no interest in being wed to anyone and if I did, I certainly wouldn't want you to plan it."

The more Niles prattled on, the harder it was to remain calm as he had been up to this point. His anger was beginning to slip through small cracks in his facade, but still he tried to present himself calmly.

"Tell him if you want to be a tattletale. Just know that when we first met, I didn't go running to him telling him how you threatened my life. But if you're going to go that route, I suppose there would be no reason to withhold that any longer. Not to mention you're the one with a whole room behind you and I'm here with my back to the door with you in my face. Hmmm, I wonder who looks more trapped right now?" He tapped a finger to his chin. "Besides, books belong in a library. Why don't you go climb on a shelf and sit there like a good book?"

[brynwieldr]

The door behind Saix opened.

"Excuse me, Saix."

It was Leo, and in just three simple words he made it very clear that he knew what was going on in here. He could feel their anger and loathing, after all, and it was time to stop it.

[deniles]

Niles could have easily said more, but the way Leo was right at the door, he probably already heard everything Saix had to say.

Fortunately, he wasn't apologetic about it.

"Yes, let our lord in, Saix. Don't be rude."

Just going to do whatever he can to make Saix look worse compared to him. Not hard to do. Long blue hair was, of course, very nasty.

[saikusu]

"Of course, Leo," he replied, stepping forward away from the door and knocking Niles's shoulder with his as he squeezed between him and the open door to let Leo in.

While his back was still turned to Leo, he shot Niles a dirty look before turning to face their god with a placid expression. There were still signs of irritation visible, as it would have looked suspicious if he tried to completely mask his agitation, but he didn't want Leo to wrongfully think that any of it was directed at him.

[brynwieldr]

"Thank you." Leo stepped in and turned around to look at his shinki, arms folded behind his back. "So. Do either of you remember how, shortly after Saix arrived, I told the Far Shore at large that if there were any problems with my shinki to come to me?"

He paused for a second for effect, as it was clear he wasn't going to wait for answer.

"Did you think that did not apply to my shinki themselves? Your mutual annoyance and anger was enough to distract me from my work. I only heard about half of the conversation, but I heard enough to know you are both behaving like bratty children, playing a game of 'father likes me best'." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Before we get into that, however, I will let you both explain what exactly was going on in here. Niles, you first."

[deniles]

"No, Milord. I do not remember that. I was staying off the computer at that period."

Not false, by the way. So don't try it.

"I was sitting in my room alone today when he came in unannounced and proceeded to lecture me like a small child. And refused to let me leave."

He doesn't say anything about threatening, of course. Mainly because he can save that for another time.

"That's the main thing, milord."

[saikusu]

"I entered the library to speak with Niles." As much as his comment moments ago implied that this was a room Niles belonged in, it did not mean the room belonged to Niles as had been suggested moments ago.

"We have not spoken until today since the day after I arrived. I gave him the space he asked of me, but I came to him today in hopes that he would give me a chance so that the three of us could work together as a team. Fighting with Niles was not my intention when I entered the room. I had hoped for some civil discourse, but as you can see, things did not go as planned."

Everything he'd said was the truth. There wasn't even a bit of it that was a stretch of the truth. However, there was plenty he left unsaid that filled the space between his initial conversation and what Leo walked in on.

[brynwieldr]

Leo waited a few moments.

"So you're telling me I didn't here Niles imply you wanted to do something to become my 'exemplar', Saix. And you're telling me I didn't hear you call Saix an ass-kisser, Niles?"

He did say he'd heard some of the conversation, after all.

"Knowing you both, I doubt that was the worst thing either of you said to the other. I can of course solve this problem right now. Neither of you are my exemplar, since I put neither of you above the other one and have my own morals to guide me." Maybe the other gods, the ones who had never been human, needed that, but Leo didn't. (And if he did, he certainly wouldn't rely on either of his shinki to be one. He knew Niles too well to think he'd be a good one, and frankly he as much as he liked Saix he was pretty sure it'd be much the same.) "You are both equal as far as I care, and if I hear one more word against that you will not like me."

He paused again to let that sink in. "There will come a time where I will need both of you to aid me in battle, you realize. You both have your uses as shinki. You both are valuable friends. I don't care if you like each other or are friends, but you had better be able to work together for my sake. Do I make myself clear?"

[deniles]

He didn't say he said everything, after all.

He smirks a bit, listening to Leo. Not another word on the subject, well that's what he's worst at. Keeping his mouth shut when he had to. Was it the worst thing he's ever said to Saix? Considering he threatened to kill the man before, probably not.

"Of course, milord. I was considering talking to you about taking our next prayer as a group. Before we're truly thrust into the face of battle."

Because if he says it before Saix does, he looks better.

"We haven't taken on a prayer together due to my own issues, however I think it's time we do that. As god and shinkis."

Looking to Saix, "Any complaints?"

[saikusu]

Saïx gave Niles the deadest of deadpan stares. Really? This was his response? He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and turned his attention to Leo. At this point he doesn't care about his pride regarding not being a tattletale. He's not going to let Niles spew bullshit that makes him look better when it directly contradicted what actually happened.

"While I sincerely hope that Niles does want to work together - and not just to appease you - that is exactly what I just told you I had approached him about in the first place. His not wanting to work together is what led to the fight you walked in on. I have always wanted the three of us to be able to work together. I even sought out advice on the BBS for how to get along with him."

[brynwieldr]

Leo held up a hand. "I don't want excuses or explanations. If I give you half an inch both of you will take the full mile and I am not in the mood for that. We're done here. Saix, you leave first and go somewhere not the yard. Niles, you're coming with me as if we're to take a prayer I should train with you, since I've used Saix more recently. Now."

[deniles]

"Understood, Milord." He smirks, and moves closer to Leo. "Let's get to work." Turning his head around to look at Saix, "I will talk to you again later."

[saikusu]

Saïx nodded and headed to the door. "Understood. I'll leave you two to it. I'll be in the hot springs if you need me for anything later."

He didn't wait for a response before he left the room, nor did he directly address Niles alone, only in conjunction with Leo.