I'm With You
by: Sesus Shuuichi

Okay...I know it's been awhile, but "real-life" got in the way of the whole writing thing. It's definitely time to get moving on this and the other 2 stories that I've been writing.

Oh yeah...I'm gonna see if the PC who played Alexiel will help me with the zaney personality that is that character. Alexiel is SOOOOOO difficult to write.

And I NEED REVIEWS!!!!!

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Take Me Somewhere New...

It was nice to get out of the palace for a day--and away from the expectations of everyone there. As wonderful as everyone was, Shuuichi never felt as though he could be himself around any of them. Even the people he "dated" would expect him to be the epitome of nobility.

When in fact he was anything but.

The name Sesus was rightfully his, as his mother was a Dynast aspected of Wood. His father, however, had been one of the Lintha Family, and Shuuichi had been raised in Blue Haven amongst the pirates and their families. He spent most of his time in a temple under the tutelage of the High Priest Setsu.

Until his Exaltation into the Eclipse Caste.

Since then--for a whole 620 years--Shuuichi and his Circle had been changing the world. The Solars were back and here to stay, and it had taken quite a while to get the Dynasts to realize this. When they finally did, the Empire expanded, and peace finally reigned over Creation.

However, in all the years that Coruscant had been the Imperial City, he'd never really met anyone who hadn't expected him to be anything other than noble and well-bred. Even Tidus, who'd become his best friend, had expected him to be the gentle, yet passionate, diplomat.

Alexiel, on the otherhand, was an entirely different story.

Currently, they were sitting in a rather packed tavern in the merchant district, talking and laughing over the loudness of the rather poor, yet friendly room. Everyone here seemed so at ease. So incredibly happy and warm. Not at all like the artificial kindness in the palace. The young man had bought him a glass of wine, and they were currently making idle chit-chat while they waited for the events of the Night Festival to start.

Alexiel suddenly smiled, taking a drink of his ale. "So...you're Chief Diplomat, huh?"

Shuuichi nodded, taking a small sip of his wine. "Elections are still underway, but it does look like I will win." He said, a shy smile appearing on his face. "But I don't want to talk about politics tonight."

Alexiel frowned a little. "Well...what do you want to talk about?" he asked, leaning across the table. His eyes were intense, and Shuuichi suddenly realized how attractive Alexiel truly was.

He hadn't really noticed before, but Alexiel was one of the few people that Shuuichi found physically attractive. The young man eyes so brown that they were almost black and a warm smile that could make the coldest of deathknights melt. He had ash-blonde hair that was, as far as Shuuichi could tell, perpetually messy.

Tyrael, his first love--albeit unrequited--was probably one of the most beautiful people that Shuuichi knew. To this day, Shuuichi could count on one hand how many people he'd ever seen that could come close to matching Tyrael's ethereal beauty.

But as beautiful as his mentor was, he was just as cold and unfriendly in demeanor. Though Shuuichi knew that Tyrael cared for him, it was rarely seen in anything other than his lectures. Shuuichi, at one point in his youth, would have given almost anything for a kind word from the man...and he rarely got his wish.

Alexiel seemed to be completely the opposite. He was warmth incarnate...and though he couldn't match Tyrael's beauty, he had a fondness that Tyrael couldn't hold a candle too.

~Stop it, Shuuichi....~ he thought, mentally chastising himself. ~He wants nothing more than friendship...and I should respect that.~

Shuuichi smiled a little, taking another sip of his wine. It wasn't at all the expensive vintages that he was used to, but somehow, it was better. "I'm...not sure. Honestly, I'm used to politicians. They can talk for hours and say nothing at all. I'm...not used to actually having to start a conversation."

Alexiel laughed a little, "Well...I purpose a game then."

Shuuichi was intrigued. "A game? What kind of game?"

Alexiel was smiling again, waving to the serving woman. "Well...I'll ask you a question that you have to answer. Any question. After you answer it, I'll answer any question you want. Whoever chickens out first loses."

Shuuichi nodded. "I'll play. But...what's the prize?"

Alexiel's expression turned from playful to mischievious. "Winner's choice."

At that, Alexiel waited for the serving woman to refill their glasses before he spoke again. "First question....."

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Feedback is essential...let me know what you all think of this next chapter.