bakerstreet | That's not my waist.

[Suzaku had taken up position outside the bathroom, leaning against the wall and waiting. He really wasn't in any rush - dinner for them was a rather informal affair, since it was one of the few times the group of them had time to relax.

Although, to be honest, tonight was already slightly different, with the inclusion of Ryou. Suzaku didn't really know her, other then knowing that Lelouch and the Black Knights had picked her up somewhere and that he had taken her along when they had finally abandoned the plan of the Zero Requiem, had come clean as to what was going on to their close friends, and Lelouch was ruling Britannia as the Emperor he should have been and not the Demon King he had wanted to be remembered by.

Atonement wouldn't be found in death, Suzaku had known that he would never find it that way, so it didn't seem fair to allow Lelouch that escape either. Both of them would have to face everything that they had done, to themselves, to each other, to their families, to their countries and find atonement through actions then surrendering their lives.

If Lelouch had taken in Ryou, then there was a reason and since she was Japanese, it probably had something to do with either her family being gone, or, like in his case, they had disowned her for whatever reason. Although, considering that she hadn't gone the Honorary route that he knew of, it was more likely that they were gone.

Which reminded him, he should probably ask Nunnally how Kaguya was doing. He wasn't close to cousin and she didn't particularly like him very much, but she was family - the only part of his that would even acknowledge that he still existed.

The moment Ryou stepped out of the bathroom, Suzaku straightened up from his position leaning against the wall. He made sure not to comment on her appearance. Girls usually slapped boys when it came to that, didn't they?

Or maybe that was just Kallen.]

Don't apologize. [He gave her a small smile.] And you can call me Suzaku, you know. If you're going to be around here and hanging around Lelouch, then we'll probably end up seeing a lot of each other, after all.

[It might have just been Kallen. And a lot of the girls that she knew were quite finicky about their appearance. Then again, most of those girls had been raised in a society where your appearance and how you presented yourself mattered greatly. She'll probably want an honest opinion and she won't slap you for it.]

[It was sort of true, most of her close family had been killed in the Invasion, her father went the Honorary route, but she hasn't seen him since she was ten. And then there was the other reason for being disowned, one where strange things started happened around her, people turning up missing or in comas, long lapses in memory for those events.]

[She had a mix of reasons why she was with Lelouch. Probably the majority of which she couldn't divulge so openly, even this far into the Royals wing.]

O-oh. I...I didn't know that it okay... or even proper, to call you by your first name, Kuru- I mean, Suzaku-san.

[Suzaku waved a hand dismissively.]

Why wouldn't it be? Most people around here do. Unless you're one of the guards or something and then it's either 'My Lord' or 'Sir Kururugi.'

[And really, even after all this time, he wasn't used to that.]

Besides, I've been calling you 'Ryou-san', haven't I? It's only fair.

[Well, he was one of the Knights of the Round, the Knight of Zero in fact. He has a lot more weight to his name that she does, not to mention his other titles.]

[Then again, so did Lelouch and she called him by his first name. Even though she knows Lelouch a little better than she does Suzaku.]

[Palace politics were really confusing sometimes.]

I-I guess so...

It's a little difficult to remember who to call by what name and where that name is appropriate to use. I guess... when we're in the royal members' wing, it's okay to use first names?

[Suzaku found you were usually safe it everyone was addressed with a neutral 'My Lord' or 'My Lady', to be honest. It was usually his default response if he was faced with someone he didn't know.

But yes, they were. That was something he could agree with her on wholeheartedly.]

Among Lelouch and the others, yes. If we come across Schneizel or Cornelia, however, it's usually safer with a "prince" or "princess" added on. Although Schneizel usually isn't around much and you can usually drop it around Cornelia once she's been around you a few times.

[Maybe it might be easier for her to observe what the people she did know were doing and followed suit. Lelouch or Suzaku, or even Nunnally and Milly would know what to call someone, so it was probably better to follow their lead.]

[Or just follow Suzaku's approach with the 'My Lord' and 'My Lady' thing.]

O-okay. I'll try to remember that.

...Would be okay to call the other Knights by first name? [It might be uncomfortable for her, at first, but she will try hard to get the right name and title if she can.]

[Either/or would probably be best, given their circumstances.]

In a setting like this? It would, yes. Personally, I don't care if you want to call Suzaku all the time. I would consider you a friend and among friends, titles are rather stupid, if you ask me. The only place I would advise against it would be if Lelouch is holding court, but the chances you would be at something like that are probably rather low. Then, a simple 'Sir' would suffice, I think.

[Okay, amongst friends, it's okay to go with a first name basis. Use titles only if finding yourself with a high ranking official you don't know, or if you somehow find yourself in a court session and have to be formal.]

Sir Kururugi if I ever find myself in some sort of court session or in the presence of an official I don't know, Suzaku any other time. I think I can remember that.

[Suzaku nods at her with a smile.]

Pretty much, yeah. It's a good rule to go with, at any rate. It will probably save you from any embarrassment later. Although I can tell you now that Kallen will probably look at you funny if you use any sort of title with her.

[He chuckles.]

It's kind of amusing, really.

[~~Behind their backs, of course.]~~

[Oh well, with Kallen, she's known her longer, so she knew it was okay to call her by first name, even preferred.]

Just around officials I don't know. [Which was... many of them, at the moment.]

...Hmm. Would she look at me more funny if I called her Lady Kozuki... or Sir Kozuki? [Poor attempt at humor, she knows, but she is trying to make herself feel better after crying on him.]

[He gives a nod.] Exactly.

[At Ryou's question, Suzaku stops and thinks.] .... Either one of them would be amusing, although the 'Lady' thing might remind her too much of her father's side of the family. Gino would think the 'Sir' is hilarious though.

...Sir Kozuki it is, then. [Not that she would actually do it, of course. She'll probably slip and just call her Kallen, like normal. She'll probably do the same for Anya, also a lady Knight of the Round.]

[...Though, would she get away with calling Gino 'Lady Weinburg'? Doubtful, but she wasn't about to say that aloud to Suzaku.]

[She totally should, Suzaku would laugh and while he might not say it to Gino's face, he'd tell Kallen, who probably would.

Sometimes, he's not sure what's worse - the antics the Student Council at Ashford would get up to under President Milly, pr the antics that the Knight of Rounds gets up to, under the command of Kururugi Suzaku, Knight of Zero.

Although, admittedly, Suzaku knew he would never have the flair for the dramatics that Milly did. As far as he was concerned, that was Gino's department.]

You're just going to call her Kallen, aren't you?

[He grinned with a shake of his head.]

That's probably best, since this is Kallen we're talking about after all.

[~~Tho, to be fair, he'd probably have a few names for her once she's Empress... I MEAN, STOP THIS. NO CHEATING, STOP IT, BRAIN.~~]

[Well, so long as Suzaku did tell Kallen where he heard it first...]

It'll probably always be Kallen, no matter the social situation. She'd probably like it better that way. It does make it easier to remember that than trying to remember who has what title. Less likely to slip up and say something like Lady Weinberg or something-! [Did she say that out loud? Whoops. You can expect those cheeks to be lighting up right about now, as well as a hand covering her mouth once she realizes her mistake.]

[Suzaku stops and blinks at her a few times, his mind processing what she just said. It takes him a moment, before he breaks out laughing.]

If you do that, let me know, so I can let Lelouch know. He'll want a front row seat for the fireworks.

[Not to mention that he knows Gino wouldn't mind that, but he's not saying that.]

[~~An AU for an AU where the threesome actually happens >>; XD But she'll probably always blush at him calling her 'your majesty' always.~~]

[She didn't do it on purpose, honest! Her red face is a good indication of that.]

I wouldn't slip up that badly! [At least... she hoped that she wouldn't.]

You should! It would be hysterical. And I know for a fact that Kallen wouldn't deck you, so you don't have to worry.

[Him? Maybe. Gino? Definately. But not Ryou.]

[No way, she's not that brave to save something like that in front of Kallen, even if she wouldn't get decked for it, no way, Suzaku!]

No way! Even if she wouldn't deck me, it's still such a bad slip up, she'd wonder what I was thinking to let something like that out! [Nope, not doing it. No wai.]

She'd probably think that Milly got her claws into you, to be honest.

[Because Milly liked playing matchmaker when she could. Suzaku was thankful that she tended to leave him out of it - probably thinking that after Euphemia, he wouldn't want to give himself to anyone any time soon. And she was right.]

[She probably still won't say it aloud, if only for her own safety from Kallen.]

E-even then... It'd still be a pretty bad slip up.

[Wasn't there a dinner they were supposed to be attending at some point, maybe? They should be getting back to that, right?]

Still, you have to admit, it would be funny.

[They were, yes, but he was hopefully distracting Ryou for long enough so that she didn't look like the world was ending and was hopefully no longer thinking what he assumed were depressing thoughts. He was thinking of you, Ryou, really.]

...Not that funny. [Have a pout face, Suzaku. She's not that brave. Or stupid. Though this is a good distraction from her previously depressing thoughts. Good job, Suzaku.]

...Might have to do so from a safe distance.

Are you kidding? It's hysterical.

[Her pout face makes him stifle his building laughter, instead relaxing a bit as he gives her a smile.]

Or with one of us as a buffer. As much as I think Kallen would love to deck Lelouch sometimes, she won't while I'm around.

...Not Gino though. She might punch him instead, no matter what you say. [It was his name that she would be saying. Kallen might have taken it as him putting the idea in her head, for some reason.]

True. But Gino probably deserves it.

[Well, not always, but sometimes. And besides, he knows from personal experience that Kallen has a mean right hook. And a hard knee.]

slow dancing

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Just wait til you're Empress, Ryou. You can call them what you want, even dirty names.

She better share those name with Suzaku

Even the dirty names that were meant for him--I MEAN NO, She's not cheating on Lulu with Suzubutt

are they about his ass?

NOT TELLING, SHE'S NOT CHEATING I TELL YOU. .... of course they're about his ass.

Yeah, 'your majesty' unless they end up in some sort of threesome

Well, I did post in the Courtly Love Meme yesterday... Because I'm a sucker for those kind of things

XDDD

I have a thing for lady/princess and Knight pairings, okay? Okay.

There's nothing wrong with that! XD

Especially now with Empress Ryry and Sir Suzubutt

Palace intrigue!

Oh mai~

Remember, kids, it's a series about terrorism!

Terrorism, fanservice, and pizza!

Pizza Hut supports the rebellion!