[color=mediumspringgreen][h3]Shu[/h3][/color]
Shu had never dreamed she'd step inside the emperor's palace. Splendor and luxury lined the walls like a coat of paint, making everything shine in Phoenician sun. She'd come in her finest clothes for the occasion – though fine for her meant a plain green and white hanfu made of cotton that had only one small hole in the sleeve. In the face of such grandeur, she felt… inadequate. Dirty. (Then again, these were constant states of being for her, so perhaps it wasn't the castle after all.) But underneath all the royal extravagance was a tension that made her itch for her sword. People from the different kingdoms had come together for this occasion, but the peace was a tenuous one and felt like it could break at any time. 

Wu the Gallade stood beside her, a steady presence in the cacophony of noise and activity. The many smells wafting through the hall were almost as overwhelming as the crowds, saturated with conflicting elements. The emperor had gone the extra mile to put the foreigners at ease with their own foods, it seemed. As one, Shu and Wu stepped forward, navigating through the crowds like they would through a battlefield. The distrustful looks from the occidental countries were to be expected, but it was the Phoenicians and Argentians who made her want to flinch away. Most of them seemed downright insulted to see a misplaced foreigner daring to wear their cultural garb. But it was nothing Shu hadn't experienced before, and she marched on like the good soldier she was.

The Phoenician table was loaded with familiar foods and scents, though it was all much more extravagant than the versions she was used to. She doubted she'd be able to stomach such rich foods when every hair was on end, so she elected for a simple bowl of broth and noodles. Picking up a pair of chopsticks she began placing garnishes on her bowl, aware of the stares of her fellow countrymen. All the while, Wu was beside her, a quiet sentry. The Gallade moved away from the table and Shu followed, glad to escape her "brothers." 

The two stood off to the side, out of the way but also unapologetic for their presence. They were here because they had been called, and they were skilled warriors. The other volunteers didn't have to like them… but potential enemies on all sides would certainly make this more unpleasant. 

Wu shifted next to her and Shu wordlessly handed the bowl over to him. The noodles were almost all gone, but the Gallade lifted the bowl to his mouth and drank what was left of the broth. 

As she scanned the grand room, her eyes fell on an emblem she's seen many times before: Leonias. A wistful thought fluttered through her mind – she just as easily could have carried that banner instead of Phoenicis' had her mother raised her instead. But the thought died when she remembered that she likely would've been just as hated there as she was here. But still, the foreign food that might've been familiar in a different life called to her. How different would she be if she grew up there instead?

On an impulse, Shu stepped forward, approaching the Leonias table. People watched her all the same, but she was careful to mask her uncertainty with a cool expression, her head held high. Exotic meats and vegetables were laid out before her, and she took a few tentative sniffs. She piled bits and pieces of everything on her plate, quietly eager to sample them. Wu eyed a few berries but otherwise remained still at her side. With her plate full, the foreigners' stares grew heavier on her skin, and she was more than ready to retreat back to her spot against the wall. 

[i]"I'm Gentry, of Leonias, and this is my partner Scizor."[/i]

The voice cut through her thoughts, stilling her. She knew that voice. Granted, she was used to hearing it shout rather than speak, but she recognized it all the same. Gallade glanced at the voice's owner and gave a small nod to her. So it [i]was[/i] him. The Leonias soldier. Most faces merged together in the sea of battle, but Shu had encountered this face enough that it pissed her off whenever she saw it. Leonias and Phoenicis were almost always having one battle or another, and Shu had encountered this man more often than she cared for. She had a grudging respect for his ability to live this long and he was a decent fighter. But that was about it. Apparently his name was Gentry. 

Like hell she was going to run away from the table now. Wu gave a small huff at her childishness, but stayed with her nonetheless. Shu raised her chin and stubbornly pulled out a chair and took a seat, determined to eat her dinner at the enemy table. 
[@chexmix]