The Man In the Window (Xiadi/Quan)

[Sun Quan]

The palace was finally shaping up to be something great. Lord Sun Quan was particularity amazed with just how fast and diligent the hands of Wu could work. Everyday a new room seemed to be complete, a new corridor appearing, a new hall, a new this, another brick in the wall, the whole palace seemed to be getting 'fixed-up.' So much so that Quan often just spent his days wandering around the capital grounds, finding out what had been built over night, what was waiting to sparkle in his eyes next..

So upon a fine day like this, Quan took up to a new section that had just been finished previously. The tasks for the day had been finished and it was around noon, the sun lord figured he'd take down the whole corridor today, get an understanding of the layout and then move on to further tasks that would arise in the evening. 'One must understand their habitat,' Zhang Di's words replayed in his mind as he walked down the corridor and admired it's depth. Six large wooden doors plagued each side of the wall, spaced about.. about 15 feet each, Quan figured. These rooms would provide excellent space for diplomats or visitors.

Going up to the first set of doors Quan swung one open slowly, figuring he was the first to ever open them and should show proper respect in doing so. His eyes flew over the room, its insides furnished with a fine bed, couch, plants and fine items adoring the walls, two chairs and a table, a view of over the palace and.. Quan was dumbfounded, someone was already in the room. The man was over by the open doors leading to the small 'deck' that was attached to the room. From this view you could see all of Jian Ye, it was nothing short of breathtaking.

Speaking slowly after tapping his fingers across the door, Quan quickly realized this was Wei Xiadi, the man from Wei.. Previously they had little conversation, and Xiadi had seemed to feel the blunt of Quan's anger that day. [red]"Hello there.. oh, it is you master Wei Xiadi."[/red] Zhongmou entered the room, closing the door in the same manner as he opened it before he carried on. Such respect should be shown, and besides that, this was not his room, but Xiadi's now. [red]"How do you find your lodgings? I am sure it is nothing compared to your lord Cao Cao's palace, but for now it must do."[/red] Quan looked to the man, trying to smile slightly. He'd been curious about this man, whom Cao Cao had sent to do a deed that surely he'd thought to be impossible.

[Cao Cao]

Xiadi did not move for the ruler of Wu, nor did he show any type of disrespect. In a way, things had always been like this, even if back then he was the victim of cruelty and dishonour, now he was being cared for, listened to and most of all – respected as a diplomat.

He had in fact enjoyed the quarters provided for him, it was nothing less of grand, granted – it was nothing compared to the architecture enlisted by Cao Cao, nor did it have that fragrance that he had slowly began to long for, but it certainly had something going for it, something blissful, and serene.

He turned when Lord Quan beckoned and invited him in for conversation. He never bothered with the bow or the formality – it was a tradition that he believed to be stupid. He respected men, but as another man he had a sense of dignity that would not falter, he supposed it was this certain charm that had even gained him entry into Wei’s diplomatic structure, but it was also that bluntness that made him a prisoner of Wu.

“The room does suffice for that of a cage. To be honest I was expecting something a little...” He paused as he turned to face the lord, dipping his head in a gentle decline as he swept the smirk from his face, “smaller.”

“But,” he added, “I will not condone to these sorts of measurements. I am a prisoner in your palace walls, and yet here I feel free, if psychological warfare is your thing my lord, then we of the Zhong Yuan know nothing about you.”

He smiled gently, “I have watched Wu for many days now. You grow stronger, may I ask how Wei goes in my absence, this little predicament cuts the ears and eyes I have planted here and your guards speak nothing but lies, they told me you took Xu Chang.”

He moved over to the bed and sat down, “But I don’t think this is true. If Wei was to win you’d kill me in retaliation, and if you won I would still die since my value would become meaningless, whatever way I put it – I seem somewhat doomed here.”

He laughed, but made no further statement; he placed a hand over his head and gazed up at the lord of Wu. Truly, this man was scary – but he felt no pang of worry, no remorse, no regret – he did his job and he would die willingly if it meant upholding his moral belief.

[Sun Quan]

Quan allowed the minister to go about with his points, and smiled too gently with his comments of Jian Ye. The man had a way with words, making Quan wondered if he truly gave a damn about the state of his capital.. then again, Quan had him in a position where it didn't make much sense to tell lies, besides, he would already know that Quan would expect them. Dropping a hand and brushing a crinkle in his robes, the young Wu lord found himself beginning to like little Wei 'devil,' or at least he began to feel compassion for the man- who no longer had his Xu Chang, or his Cao Cao.

In defense to the manner in which he was holding Xiadi, Quan replied casually, [red]"Indeed, I am not my enemy, you may have finally understood. Besides, is a prisoner of war a criminal? Judging one as so I believe only leads one's path back, further down the hill."[/red] Quan walked past the minister, viewing the city now. After a pause to think of his next reply, he spoke in a much lighter tone, [red]"Besides, you are a fine man Xiadi, and I am not one to show disrespect when it is uncalled for. Perhaps, this is a difference between me and your lord."[/red]

Quan drew a hand, swiping it through the air and then turning back to the minister, his hand still out, hailing the view of Jian Ye. [red]"Jian Ye is different too, different from Wei's capital. It still grows, it finds both failure and success as it moves further up the hill. But it is my gem, and I love it more than anything else... and your gem, Xu Chang does fine too. My troops have yet to breach its walls, and I promise you that when such an act must be done, you will be watching it with me."[/red] Quan smiled to the man, showing his honesty, even if it was a cold comment.