lycheepearlmilktea

Son of prominent government officials in the Zhong Federation, Souren Lee has virtually lived most of his life alone, his only companion being the android An. But when a diplomatic mission calls for Kosei Tao to come to the province of the royal capital, Souren’s solitary lifestyle is suddenly disrupted as their paths intertwine. All the while, unrest is rising in the nation, in what the people are calling "The Clockwork Rebellion," and the events that transpire will reveal Souren’s and Kosei's own hidden secrets.

Clockwork and Androids

Souren cannot quite place the visitor's tone. He gets the feeling that this person is amused, perhaps, yet there is no obvious tell to suggest it: his speech is clipped and elegant. He seems sophisticated and unfazed by the fanfare of all this, surrounded by a number of bright, pristine packages, some of them luggage and many more of them gifts. And something about the way he holds himself suggests that he is charismatic and aware of it, but that hardly matters.


"Good morning. You are Young Master Tao?" 


"Yes, but please, Kosei will do." Kosei, apparently, is fluent in the language and customs of the Common Tongue, speaking unaccented and without the dialect native to the Lianxiu region. But of course; as a child of the aristocracy, he must have studied the official language from a young age.


Souren tilts his head. "Very well, Kosei. Then you must call me Souren."


He smiles, brief but seemingly friendly. "Nice to meet you, Souren."


Souren finds these stiff pleasantries a nuisance, but they are justifiable, given the circumstances: son of high-ranking official meets son of higher-ranking official from different province of the Zhong Federation. Manners ought to be on point.


"I hope your journey here was satisfactory?"


"Yes, it was; the flight was comfortable."


"Oh, one of the new supersonic planes?"


"No, I've actually barely been out of this area."


Souren laughs, which comes out more forced than he intended it to be, and he winces internally. "Well, shall we start with a tour of the house?"


Kosei looks quizzically at him, a long stare. Finally, he responds, "Yes, thank you, that would be excellent."


Souren's tour is brief but informative. From the perspective of an outsider, the house might seem something of a museum, with various artifacts decorating the rooms, but Souren breezes through these quickly.


Dinner is a feast. It's a bit laughable, the two-meter long table filled with dishes that ten people wouldn't be able to finish, let alone two. 


This is the first time in a good few years that the dining room has been put to use, as Souren usually just has a serv-bot bring a meal to his room. More efficient than trekking downstairs to the empty room.


"You're the only person who lives here?" Kosei is surprised. Although Souren had been the only one at his reception, he had assumed the other occupants were busy and would join them for dinner, especially considering the impressive size of the mansion.


"Only human, I suppose. An and the serv-bots are company enough." After all, he's spent the past seven years with them. But he glances at Kosei, curious. "They didn't tell you this when they sent you here?"


"I was told I'd be staying with Young Master Souren." Kosei flashes him a quick smile, perhaps something that's meant to be charming. "I thought— well, I wasn't told much else."


"Oh. My parents are diplomats; they spend most of their time in other areas. Recently they've been in Lianxiu, as you must know."


Souren's never been skilled at small talk, and the few other attempts Kosei make quickly dwindle, so the room soon grows silent aside from the clinks of chopsticks against china.


Greetings