Know what people want. That´s how she gets what she wants, which was taught to her not by her ¨private instructors¨, not by the teachers, but by her beloved father.
Men are only moved by two levers: fear and self-interest.
Fucking napoleon. But they all loved it.
He wanted a son, and he did get one. It´s just that he didn´t care about the daughter he left behind in the countryside.
Ma said he was charming, kind just when he needed to be, and oh so uncaring. At least they both learned, hopefully.
His presence made the colors in the wine seem deeper, the river´s bluer, and the sky luminescent. A person just can´t get enough once they have their first taste. An addiction, that takes and takes until it never leaves.
Charlotte stepped through the hallways giving smiles and waves to the rapidly accumulating club of adoring girls who just wanted the image of Charles in their mind, not the person.
Maintain the masquerade.
After making sure to mark out a path that was more out of the way than necessary, waving away the followers with a blown kiss just to sate them and keep up her image.
The squeals of joy reminded her of the pigs they left back on the farm, just getting the slop they were fed every day, eating it merrily, scrambling on top of each other to get their fill.
...Well, that was a rude metaphor. Pigs are adorable and nonsentient, they just live in a daze going from place to place, latched on to nothing. They were a khaki-colored hazy mist of blobs with pink hues.
But, ugh… they can be terrifying if left without food.
The second she managed to shake the crowded hallway Charlotte leaned her back on a pillar and gave out a deep sigh as if her frustrations and bitterness would vent with her breath.
Masks, wear them long enough and you become the very thing you are pretending to be, she was seeing people differently, not as individuals but as an annoying mass of things to impress.
An uncaring monster, a bitter old man, and an uncaring demon.
A slight bitter laugh came from that little hypocrisy, the very fact she disliked herself for those ideas was consolation enough that she wasn´t too far gone (yet?).
No matter what the ¨doctor¨ and Babushka tried.
But if they tried again, they might not fail, and the idea of returning to that small house, in that even smaller town…
Charlotte shook her head as if it might throw away the bad thoughts. She wasn´t there yet, and hopefully never will again her breathing was thrown off already.
More steps complicated the journey, a few wrong turns and unexpected corridors but she managed to make it, her destination reached, an awaiting hostage negotiation on both ends.
Maybe she could finagle her way to them being on equal terms, but… too many variables, possibilities, and the fearful probability, that being she lived under another thumb.
That partner of his, the one she blackmailed and bullied… He was in the right. Why was she so cruel? It was the eyes and the tongue.
Reminded her of her past stay. Setting the food together, starting with pleasantries, and devolving into an interrogation of language just to see the slightest crack of their human craftsmanship.
Reminded her too much of ¨home¨
Unfavorable memories, a want to vent her frustrations on something that deserved it, that little creature could ruin her life, it would be able to send her back to nothing. The accent and eyepatch didn´t help either.
Oh, what a good excuse. That gives her an excuse to antagonize and bully a little girl.
Even if that little girl was a killing machine? Just like her?
Would it even be the playing field?
Charlotte turned to look out of a nearby window was the only solace Charlotte took before another exhibit of brilliant diplomacy hit her with full force.
Her opponent would know she was wearing a mask, she likewise knew that he (probably) couldn´t afford to lose.
Why? It´s obvious she would have to discern the level of urgency victory was- god she couldn´t even right now.
Too many words and plays to think. After this, she would get a cup of Earl Grey and relax, relax, and relax. Close her eyes and relax. Charlotte was still Charlotte, not Charles. Decompress back to who she hoped she still was.
Finish her books, maintain her plants, shoot some blanks.
This calculating mindset was needed, she just didn´t want it. There was only her, not anyone else. It wasn´t suited for a farmer´s girl.
It´d be useless to throw it away now, she had to be an expert at throwing pretty words.
With a reasonable amount of tension and dread she grabbed the door handle, and waited for far longer than needed but not nearly as much as she wanted, Charlotte went in.
An empty silent locker room, bar one person.
Charlotte walked around wondering if she was early, how? She was going to turn back after realizing she was alone.
Nothing could be heard, just peak silence… here she was working herself up to…
On her left to her second step, she came near a corner and there he was washing his face with a loud running faucet.
How did she not notice-
That thought was turned off when she gave him a good look at how well someone gave it to him, the worst she ever got was when she mud-wrestled- is he cringing at the sight of her?
HIM?
¨Ahem.¨ He was looking at her now. ¨You have my attention, Miss Charles. ¨
Trying to strike a nerve from the get-go. Congratulations, he did it.
How should she respond?
An insult? That might alienate him. A clever remark? She couldn´t think of one.
¨Likewise. ¨ Keep cool, calm, and collected. Don´t flounder, she couldn´t afford it, this was the best she could do at the moment.
Charlotte decided to initiate the negotiation. ¨It seems like we both can´t afford to lose.¨
Good. Good. MAD. Mutually assured destruction. that was the thing she could use the most. Hopefully? Please?
Ichika raised an eyebrow, the black mark in his eye just made it look like he was having a stroke with his face giving the illusion of drooping to one side. Did it help him look intimidating? Was he embittered?
He crossed his arms and looked down at her. ¨Straight to the point.¨
There was nothing but unnecessary silence. Ichika was just staring her down, and she was trying to meet his gaze but was blinking too much, that was always her tell. Why, why, why?
Wait- wait- Crossing his arms. That means he's defensive! Ok, she had a case.
Charlotte coughed as to somehow clear the awkwardness, but at least she could be relieved, not really. But there was a chance.
She smiled at him and made it seem as genuine as it could be, this one charmed the audience, newscasters, and whoever else. ¨Might as well.¨
No reaction. Charlotte trudged on.
¨The fact that you put we means that you might have far more to lose than I do.¨
That simple remark tickled the growing level of resentment and loathing that was in her, following on the coattails was a cocktail of anxiety and fear.
She hid it well. Damn well, it got her this far.
¨You aren´t denying it.¨ A good point. Grasp for familiarity! There we go… There we go. Diplomacy!
Ichika gave a deep stare for the slightest of infinities. It reminded her of seeing Gigi calculate the hunt, just sitting while she looked at unexpecting mice. Anticipating the kill, but was this person in particular doing it for fun?
¨Here are my demands.¨
Woah- woah- woah, he was taking control. They needed to be on equal ground right?
Charlotte was making him rush through this conversation, she should´ve layered in more paranoia, but her heart wasn´t in the mood to smear another person's future, and when that happens she gives her worst work. Still, she can´t let him take the floor.
¨We haven´t even made expectations, uh-uh you can´t expect me to follow throu-¨ Floundering. She's not supposed to stutter even the slightest amount.
Ichika interrupted with a clear amount of annoyance
¨We don´t speak about our secrets, you help me win, and we never talk again."
It was said clearly, with a large unmistakable tone of finality. With an emphasis on never talking again. The man was a blunt object, with a blunt force trauma-filled face and a way of getting what he wanted the exact opposite of what she was used to.
Politicians, businessmen, reporters? Oh, she could play ball with them. Mostly because she disliked them, this guy- this brick wall was the exact opposite of what she was used to. Circumlocution and pretty words. Not cutting to the chase.
This was a good deal, To him. To her who was asked to investigate him, she couldn't afford to break off the arrangement.
¨What if we do need to? ¨ Charlotte pushed toward him. Trying to add the pressure by seeming perfectly confident. Her face twitched slightly, but it was a microtell. Barely noticeable. She still needed some specs to make up, and her father would find a way to hurt her here if she lost contact with the actual male IS user who upset all his plans.
. What if it´s more suspicious for us to never talk again?¨
¨ What if we are forced to talk? ¨
¨Wouldn´t it be strange for the only two guys here to not like each other?¨\
This flurry of what-ifs could make him retract his statement.
.Ichika stepped back, took a deep breath, and continued to not break eye contact.
¨Point is?¨
Give the big sell, and she might make it out with just enough.
¨This becoming an alliance, a cooperation, more than a one-off partnership-¨
Ichika was still steadfast and stone-faced and pushed through, looming larger. He was putting her off balance. She knew this, but her mind couldn´t make her act on it. More big words than necessary would come out of her mouth. He put his face as close as he could to hers.
"Why?"
He loomed over her, casting a shadow that seemed to make him a tower of uncaring, and she was insulting him by the mere act of insolence of trying to make him care about something he caused.
Regain ground, dig in her heels. Never surrender. Raise up whatever confidence is left and pray that it's enough to keep her alive.
¨Ẅe both have more to lose separate, do you think you can win with-¨
Charlotte instantly knew this was another mistake.
¨Yes. Can *you* afford not to?¨
Charlotte didn't care about winning the tournament, more about getting an inroad to this new unprecedented person her father was getting all heated about. Winning might give her useless brownie points.
Losing… she just needed data. See him fight, and make a connection that lasts as long as possible to find out his secrets.
Getting struck out in the first round wouldn't help.
"Then you still lose." Charlotte made sure to change her face to be as unflinching and serious as possible.
She retracted back, "It´s two people together, not one man."
"You still have something to lose. Maybe more than me. What if you do lose? What happens´s when you´re cast down by the blonde bimbo and the swordswoman and made fun of in front of the entire school?¨
This response barely phased him, not that it didn't at all.
If she said that she could disqualify him, that might completely put him against her and seemed to have a vendetta. Please have one, she needed to turn this around.
The silence that came from him seemed to add to her worries for every second he stood. What was he thinking?
He finally opened his mouth after too long. ¨…in what ways would I need to help you?¨
A break… A breakthrough! She just needs to pitch her deal.
¨Not much! Just some false information that´s somewhat believable, pretending we are friends, and just… It´s something I need to think out, I promising you-"
Her English was breaking down, she was stepping over herself, panicking.
"I mean promise you that I´m not…¨
A demon? A manipulator?
Ichika uncrossed his arms and pointed at her with his bloodied and calcified hand.
¨Not nervous? Not anxious? Not acting like this is the one thing that might be a matter of life or death? You´ve been falling apart. what does the ¨son¨ of a multi-billion dollar arms manufacturer have to worry about? Tell me. And I´ll humor you. ¨
An ultimatum, he was punching down and making sure that Charlotte was under his thumb. Like he was giving mercy to a dying animal. Telling her what she so confidently felt she hid well. It was his upper hand.
All the ideas, all the possibilities, oh no not again. Not to another person, never again. NEVER. AGAIN.
He WISHES he could control her. She´s been through more hell than this little thick-skulled idiot could ever even comprehend.
She'll get what she's earned. And this prick wouldn't be the first one to try and stop her, and he'll not be the last.
Charlotte clenched her fists and spat out a response. Making sure to not blink at his line of sight.
¨…What´s something you don´t know about me?"
Ichika reacted in confusion for a slight second, his bruised eye brow creasing, eyes widening by a slight fraction.
"Well-"
He waited and pondered for the slightest second, it made him seem less intimidating and more dazed. That's what she wanted.
That… wow, well at least the room lost the edge of interrogation, and her anger abated for a slight second.
Charlotte put her hands on her hips and pressed her index finger on his chest.
¨You have a file- a secret document on me, that´s obvious enough, what does it not say?¨
It wasn´t going to be an open-book answer, but trust needed to be built.
¨Why are you pretending to be a man?¨
Long story, a painfully long one.
¨A plan that spans over a decade and 6 years from my father, that is my life. You don´t get more.¨
Ichika furrowed his brow at that response. He continued thinking.
¨Who is Charlotte?¨
Oh, so now he was getting into the deep metaphorical. Still, it made Charlotte pause for a minute.
…
Who was she?
¨Daughter, good person…¨ Ichika chuckled at that, he didn't even try to disguise the lack of humor and warmth in it.
¨And someone who can help you.¨
His face scrunched up in visible annoyance, she was dancing around the point, but he might use it against her.
¨Told me nothing while answering my question, congratulations you…¨
Charlotte raised her finger in the air to stop him from finishing.
¨Tell me something personal or else this is doomed from the start.¨
Why not? When in doubt, double down.
It seemed like a way of making them more equal, maybe this was a good idea.
Ichika responded almost instantly.
¨I´m not here by choice.¨
It was like he didn´t even have to think about it.
So many ways to interpret that. Was he- It was her turn.
Could he tell if she lied? He read her already. That part of her that was forced to work told her that this could doom her. God. She needed to lie.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Her father, and his helpers. Herself.
What was a good li-
Charlotte spoke in rapid succession just so her mistake could come out faster.
¨Charles was a real person.¨
Ichika stood silent for a few seconds, he seemed to need time to calculate, and thinking on his feet seemed to be a weak point. Yes, use the training that she always forgot.
¨Could he-¨
It was Charlotte's time to interrupt.
¨We trust each other now. I don´t trust you enough to tell you that yet, and you don't trust me enough either.
In truth, Charlotte didn´t know anything about her brother, but she wasn´t that willing to show it yet.
Ichika grew a slight pout at the interruption. He could´ve asked for a number of things about the man, but it was most likely IS compatibility.
¨So, your father makes a large campaign over a male IS user being his son, and right now it´s just his daughter taking the position?¨
¨ Depends on whether you trust me or not.΅
The room went silent.
This was it. The final push. Make or break.
Ichika visibly deflated for the slightest second. Seemingly uncertain. He tilted his head at her. The longer he thought the bigger the chance he made a rational idea.
Charlotte could sympathize but was deciding on whether or not to do it. The amount of stress that day was too much for her already.
She tilted her back and widened her eyes to show she wasn't afraid, that she was aggressive, and most of all confident. Even if it was done by pushing down all the demons that were in here that would spring back up the moment she was in private.
Ichika looked at her for a second more after that brief action and responded with a wry quiet voice.
"Damn it… fine."
"Alright, Charles."
Charlotte fell back at that.
It was a small attempt at humor. That still stung like a wood splinter, but it made sense. It´d be the only intelligent move.
Rip it out.
¨Call me by my real name in private, or else."
Ichika seemed taken aback at that show of brazen force, but soon a slight smile betrayed him.
Allies or compatriots?
…best not to get one´s hopes up. That man acted feral at times and like a perfectly pleasant "normal" person at others. Would this be a person who she´d like to be on good terms with?
So many things to reconsider, so many new risks to worry abo-
Ichika stuck out his hand with a slight grin. Charlotte took a second to consider the terms and agreements.
¨Alright, Charlie. "
No. Not that. Not right now.
¨That´s what I call my mom. Don´t even start with that-΅
Charlotte took his hand and gave off a forced giggle, maybe if he thought he was funny he might like her more. It was a perfect mimic of his smile except she closed her eyes. It was a perfect way to humanize herself.
Except Ichika's hand didn't move when she shook it, she opened her eyes and looked up at him to see him blink at her in confusion. Was he really that slow?
¨…you don´t have to fake yourself that much around me.¨
That was a hard read on her. It didn't even- … why not? Trust a crazy, better than a greedy. Trust him more than she should.
A slight smile came from her this time, it might even be genuine, could she tell? Could he tell?
¨Alright."
His smile didn't get bigger, but it didn't get smaller.
They broke apart, but Charlotte felt surprisingly relieved. Both of them got what they wanted. He was hiding things maybe even being a masterwork liar and making her play into his palms.
But she´d have to take the risk.
They both walked to the arena to practice, just as they were about to reach the entrance Ichika suddenly stopped without turning to look at her.
¨You´re apologizing.¨
Record scratch, whatever genuine face she had was forced still and made her look like a deer in headlights.
¨¨…what?"
"I don't care how you do it. You will, and Laura will have to accept it."
Then he continued walking like nothing occurred.
Well well well, if it isn't the consequences of her actions. She almost felt relieved to find a way to undo her actions. Almost.
Worse things in the world to do.