New Friends: Nobunaga
//I finally got my butt in gear and wrote the next part to this meet n' greet for our newest cast member, Viola!
Viola comes face to face with Nobunaga and learns what her fate will be during this chaotic time in history.
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Viola clutched her hands, nails digging crescent moons into pale skin as she stood ramrod straight, facing the dark and imposing man on the dais. His keen eyes never left her, studying her, seeing through her, appraising her as if to weigh her worth while Hideyoshi explained the situation. This was Oda Nobunaga.
Mai had mentioned how they were stuck in the Warring States Period; that hadn’t hit home until just this moment--faced with two of the great Unifiers of Japan. She had figured out that the man she had so rudely bumped into was Toyotimo Hideyoshi, and now she was wishing that the earth would swallow her up. She didn’t know how her companion could stand there nonchalant before these esteemed men. In fact, Mai seemed to be going toe-to-toe with Hideyoshi like a younger sister with an older brother.
It was difficult to keep up with everything that they were debating. Top of her Japanese language class meant nothing when tossed into the real thing with no guide to help. Well, Mai kind of counted, when she wasn’t in a heated argument, talking five million miles an hour. Viola would’ve sighed except she was too terrified that she’d offend someone and end up locked in the dungeon.
Something must’ve been said that drew Nobunaga’s attention as interest flashed in his sharp eyes before he gracefully rose to his feet. Viola forced herself to remain still, fighting the urge to fiddle with the ends of her hair as she was wont to do when nervous, watching wide-eyed as his imposing form loomed over her.
I’m dead. This is how I die, she thought, every nerve on end as calloused fingers grasped delicate chin, forcing her eyes to meet his own. Mother, Father, I love you. Don’t let Ed and Ted near Mr. Darcy or Captain Wentworth, you know they’ll hold beta fight nights if they do. Tell Melanie I’m sorry for taking her favorite cream cardigan on my trip. It was just so comfortable and matched perfectly with my floral dress. Michael, looks like you’ll have to finish the truck without me. Goodbye cruel world!
“You speak the language across the sea?” a deep voice cut through her jumbled thoughts. Language? Across the sea? Viola blinked, processing his question.
“I-I speak English. The language of my home.”
She desperately hoped this was the correct answer. Mai’s relaxed nature was a small encouragement that things weren’t all that bad and maybe the dungeon wasn’t going to be an option.
Nobunaga seemed satisfied with her response, eyes glittered with open interest as a wide smile creeped over his previous stern frown. Releasing her chin, he returned to his seat on the dais. There was something almost gleefully boyish about the way he looked at her now, as if he had just gotten his favorite toy for Christmas. This worried her for some reason.
Turning his attention to the rest of the room, he declared, “This woman will be my teacher and instruct and teach me her native tongue.”
“WHAT?!”
