[center][h2]Zakroti Unalim[/h2][sub] 
Interacting with: Aymiria Unalim [@Amethyst], Aurora Liesma [@WeepingLiberty][/sub][/center]

Zakroti noted her step back away from him. Perhaps that had not been the best way to bring up the subject, but this certainly confirmed it for him- not that he had truly needed much in the way of indication. She was indeed related to Kasari in some way, likely a sister or cousin.

Zakroti found the sudden invocation of Pyrus actually more... Amusing than anything. It was the fire he had expected. He had not quite expected to have death wished upon him right out of the gate but it wasn't entirely shocking either. Doubtless the girl was not quite expecting to be handed to one who had known her sister. He kept himself composed as best he could, the colour returning to his face along with a slightly... Arrogant smirk. 

"So let Pyrus come and face me in battle, if he had the bravery and daring to try it. I have not yet killed a god, but it would sit well alongside my other achievements." He jested, darting his hand to the hilt of his sword in mock preparation before with sliding his hand away again with an amused look on his face, his body relaxing. His voice was slightly shaken, but he maintained his composure well enough for now. His moment of amusement subsiding, he glanced off to the side across the hall, eyes darting around curiously to each of the faces around him before turning back to Kasari. He opened his mouth and began to speak "I know th-"

He was cut off by her sudden outburst- and with her next words, his composure was broken again but for a moment. Was she accusing him of murdering Kasari? The cheek of it, after warriors had bled and died fighting that night. Including one of [i]his[/i] warriors. And had she just called Miry a snivelling child? The shame of it, had another Drakken dared to say such, he would have had their tongue cut out and cast away into the dirt! How dare she think that she could get away with such an insult. 

He could feel the heat radiating off her as she grew increasingly angry with him, could see her fists clenching- and the fury in her eyes! He thought that was part of what was making him so angry, the way she looked at him. It was almost like a challenge, something instinctual inside him wanted to glare at her until she backed down. It wanted deference. His own emotions played off of hers, her anger adding fuel to his own...

Zakroti took a step forwards and leaned in towards her, his face being drawn into a frown and anger burning in his eyes. In that moment the guilt vanished completely, the shame and shock replaced by indignation and offence. He had treated her sisters death with more respect and care than any other Drakken would have... After everything he had done, who was this girl to so falsely accuse him of murder? He had killed men for lesser insults than that.

Then Aurora seemed to try and calm herself somewhat, to regain her own composure. The bowing placated his instincts somewhat, yet although her body and face had relaxed, he could still see the anger inside her eyes.

Peace, he told himself. She had every reason for her wroth, to have lost a sister was devastating to these Gems. He had seen that with Miry, and was it an unreasonable expectation for her to assume that the Drakken who had taken her had a hand in it? Of course not, in her place he would have made the exact same connection - although he liked to think he would not be such a fool as to voice it and threaten his superiors to their faces. Further, this was precisely what he would have expected from her, was it not? Fire was not so easily tamed. This was as much within his nature as his own instinctual desire to subjugate her was. He would not be baited by it so easily. No, he would avoid the trap, and subvert her expectations.

So his expression softened over the following seconds into a more neutral one, his face relaxing and his reptilian eyes fixed on hers as he spoke. He considered each word carefully, and weighed up his options. He would not insult her as she did, he would not threaten her as she threatened him. No, that would only alienate her and weaken his position.

'My crime? I did not harm your sister, let alone kill her. You have fire in your heart indeed to jump to such conclusion without good cause. Nonetheless, I concede explanations are necessary and deserved. I can give you it here if you so desire, although a more private venue might be better. Suffice it to say, the one who killed her is long dead, and the one responsible for this whole affair was struck down and turned a drooling fool by my hand. I [i]avenged[/i] your sister." Zakroti said; his voice was calm and careful, to try and hide his indignation. He was eager to cast himself away from the role of a villain; yes, he felt this was to a large degree his fault. Had he refused to allow Aery entry or merely not decided that arming the Gems was the right course of action, none of this would have happened. But he would not be branded a murderer for that minor inadequacy.

Zakroti paused, glancing off to the side for a moment again as he took a step away and turned slightly so that his right side was closer to her. It was disguised as a casual gesture, as idle movement, but this served only to disguise its true nature. If there was one thing he had learnt from that incident the year before, it was that grief stricken Gems and blades made poor bedfellows. While he doubted she would be able to draw it before he stopped her and indeed there was much she could do with it to harm him, it was better not to tempt fate by presenting such an opportunity to her while her judgement was still clouded by anger. He looked back to her as he weighed his options carefully. 

"I understand your outburst; any one of these events would be difficult to handle individually, let alone thrown at you together. When we withdraw to my families spare residence here in the city this night, you may interrogate me for every detail of that morning your sister died and I shall answer the best I can. If you find it insufficient or find me at fault, you may throw every curse you like at me, launch whatever other empty threats you desire- vent your anger and hatred and sorrow and so forth. But here in public, I must maintain appearances. Is that a reasonable proposition?" He said, his voice much quieter now to avoid any eavesdropping. 

It was a fair offer, by his reckoning. He did not wish to hurt her, but no Drakken could not merely accept tongue lashings from brides, especially not a lord such as himself. This served both their interests far better than insults and bickering ever could; she would answers, he would not be forced to discipline her to save face. Further, both would have had time to collect themselves from this sudden turn of events. He doubted she would be anything near calm, but he felt he at least had a somewhat better chance of getting rational responses out of her than he would have if he tried to explain himself to her now. It was perhaps a long shot, but one he felt preferable to both parties. It was far better than having to choose between his pride and reputation or his hope at convincing her he had not murdered her sister. Aside from his own emotional investment in such, he seriously doubted that having a bride with a vendetta against him would be in any way beneficial...

[hider=Summary]
Zakroti feels his blood boil at the accusation, but calms himself and deliberately tries to subvert her expectations. He makes an offer to her in the hopes of defusing the situation and saving himself from a no win situation; while he can't ignore his brides threatening and insulting him in public without risking a credible blow to his reputation, disciplining her as would be expected of a Drakken warlord would not precisely be conducive to convincing her that he was not a violent brute who murdered her sister.
[hider=Quick apology]
Sorry for this post taking so long and for it being quickly cobbled together and of rather poor quality. As it turns out I've got two more university coursework deadlines on top of the one I was already working on, leaving me with a bunch more essays and a short timespan in which to complete them. I also managed to accidentally delete it last night so that was fun.
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