}{ ＥＸＯＴＲＯＰＩＡ }{

[Light]

He had stopped his hands on his hips. He was thinking, his eyes focused on the city... "Very well!" He booms, "Xena! You want to stay? Then you have to pretend to be a man in public."

[CrimsonMoon]

She winces at the volume of his voice... Well.. This Easterner was her master now... Despite how revolting it was..." I will dress as a man," she murmurs though she wondered how that could possibly help her

[Light]

He yanks a pack from the back of one of the mecha's, "Change into this before we get there. Tie your hair back. Don't speak." He lightly tosses her to light bundle.

[CrimsonMoon]

She nearly drops her original bundle in her effort to catch the next one but she nods warily and quickly rushes away, finding some tallgrass to change behind. She quickly managed to wrap some old gauze around her chest to make it seem flatter before slipping quickly into the men's clothing... Compared to the Westerner clothing it was scratchy and seemed to tear at her fair skin... This was for the King though... So... She sighs and ties her hair back, unable to locate somethig to put over the obvious bun before hurryig back, clutching the blundle as well as her clothing... The choker still on her neck

[Light]

Kibō had changed out of the burnt clothes as well by the time she returned, his white and gold shirt bearing the symbol of his clan on the sides of the sleeves and on the back. He wore light leather boots, the sandals tossed into the dirt. "Mm. Lets get moving then."

[CrimsonMoon]

She nods grimly, huding her original clothes behind her bundle she protected so feircly... She stays behind him and keeps er head bowed.. As log as she didnt make eye contact with anyone... They'd leave her alone.. Right?

[Light]

They passed through the gates of the city after awhile, most of the soldiers seeming to have forgotten, or ignoring her. His steps had calmed, and his back straightened under the scrutiny of the citizens, who cheered, but seemed to hold him in disregard all the same, just as she did.

"Fool." Someone venomously whispers, the source unknown. He was The Fool here--not a Savior or a warrior.

[CrimsonMoon]

Her ear twitches when she hears the comment... Why was he the fool when his soldiers seemed so devoted to him? But she dares not look up, her blue hair and light skin probably having drawn enough attention already

[Light]

More whispers follow as she comes into their view, eyes scathing and full of opinions. "What has he brought home with him now? Not only a giant war armor, but a foreign male," one whispers behind their hand--to them she was a man. Most of the men had there long hair, including Kibō, and since most of them had never seen a westerner... That was all they saw.

"How foolish. Bringing trouble here. His poor father."

[CrimsonMoon]

She feels a flicker of amusement... Maybe the Fool was more clever then they thought.. She dares to raise her gaze to the back of his neck, praying it wasnt an insult on this planet or something..

[Light]

He kept his arrogant walk, the amused look she had reflected in the slightest twitch of his fingers. The reached the castles gates, the large red war armor being taken to a side gate. He fingers his jacket pocket for a momen before stepping through the entrance, expecting her to keep following when the soldiers had all gone a seperate way.

[CrimsonMoon]

Se hurries after him and watches the back of his head... On her planet, arrogance was for the high born and stupid wjo wanted to act better... Humility and compassion was valued in the royals... She felts her heat clench a bit... She... Missed them...

[Light]

He suddenly freezes in his walk, the confident exterior cracking. On the steps stood a man, an older, grayed version of Kibō. He wore a lords robes, and had an obviously annoyed look on his face. "Kibō. I heard what happened." The old lords eyes dart over to Xena before looking back at his son. "I'm disappointed." With that, he turned and walked back up the steps.

[CrimsonMoon]

Xena's jaw drops... Thats it? Thats everything? She felt anger suddenly boil up in her chest, maybe this WAS. Different culture.. But she'd getthe wrap for it, that was for sure," Excuse me Sir," She calls quietly, staring straight at the man's face. Her voice was lower now, making it seem like pre-pubescent boy sounding..

[Light]

His gaze slowly moves back to Xena and Kibō seems to take in a sharp breath of warning. Bad.

"...You are not excused... But you may continue, if you are willing to die for it."

[CrimsonMoon]

" Sir, my life has always been hanging from a thread. I do not care what your culture does to free speaking peoples, but my culture encourages it," She stares straight into his eyes, her voice cold and low... She had dealt with men and women like this man... This was not new," Your son brought back a valuable peice of technology as well as a hostage. I am the one who stabbed him in the back, and for your people it may be cowardly but for mine it is cunning," She holds the bundle a bit looser, relaxing," I would appreciate if you took out your utter 'dissappointment' on me and not my master,"

[Light]

A heavy silence hung in the air, and... His nose twitches, just like his sons did time to time. His expressions weren't as easy to read though, and he calmly turns away. "I will then. I have a council to deal with now, and a war mecha in need of repair. Receive your lessons on our culture from someone with time they can easily give."

[CrimsonMoon]

She merely stares at the old man coldly, nodding faintly," Thank you for your consideration," she replies, not allowing her boyish facade to fail.

[Light]

He turns and leaves, and Kibō quickly hisses, "Didn't you hear I word I said earlier?" He runs his hands through his hair and begins to quickly walk away from the steps. "Damn. Damn it all. Lets go,"

[CrimsonMoon]

She glances back, seeming to wither a bit,"... Sorry master," she mumbles and bows her head