open.

[gita]

You stand before the Raja's daughter.

Comments

[insuperiorstrength]

[ Mostly just giving her a sideways glance here. Not disinterested, exactly. ]

What do they call you? Your people.

[gita]

They call me whatever I tell them to.

[ She has no reason to mask her interest. He gets her full, undivided attention. Relish it. ]

[insuperiorstrength]

[ Please. He raises an eyebrow slightly. Very slightly. ]

Then tell me.

[gita]

Only the chosen few take my name in their mouths. What would you do with it?

[ It's a genuine question, asked with honest curiosity. ]

[insuperiorstrength]

Some names hold power in their own right. [ A shrug, just one-shouldered. ] If you're lucky, I'd do nothing with it.

[gita]

I - [ An exclamation. It simply bursts out of her and she raises her chin, looks down her nose at him as if he were the size of an ant. ] - hold power in my own right! My name is but a confirmation.

[insuperiorstrength]

Of your own, inherent power. [ His voice is flat. ] Then it speaks volumes that I don't already know it.

[gita]

[ An angry, open-mouthed gasp. ]

Have it, then! Take it! [ Pronouncing each syllable with pride. ] Gamzatti. Say it!

[insuperiorstrength]

[ Dryly. So dryly: ]

Gamzatti. [ The word doesn't sound as foreign when he pronounces it as one might have thought, his language and accent taken into account. Khan is used to foreign names. ] A name. Not a title?

[gita]

My birth name. Chosen by my mother.

[ She sounds young like this. A girl. ]

[insuperiorstrength]

Privileged.

[ Whereas she sounds younger, he sounds colder. ]

[gita]

Of course. [ She sounds nonchalant, like it's to be expected. As it is.

Cocking her head to the side a little, Gamzatti returns her attention to him. ] Now, tell me your name.

[insuperiorstrength]

[ A second's pause. Then, he turns away. ]

In time. [ He gives her the briefest smile and it doesn't go anywhere near his eyes: ] Or ask around.

[gita]

[ A furious expression flashes over her features, her eyes narrowing as she runs up next to him. ]

Who are you to refuse me like this?

[insuperiorstrength]

[ ... oh? He glances sideways at her. ]

Someone who already knows your name, Gamzatti. And being one step ahead of you - [ He steps closer, looking down at her, his voice lowering. ] - I'd better not test my luck.

[gita]

Your luck could be tested with or without a name, maghribavasi.

[insuperiorstrength]

Could it? [ Head-tilt. ] Don't strain your eyes, looking to the west for me, rājakumārī. I'm not hiding from anything or anyone; once you find me, you'll know.

[gita]

[ For a very long time, she's just staring at him, obviously enraged. Then, slowly, her face falls and cools and stills. Her lips are trembling, when she says: ]

Perhaps I shan't look for you at all. Perhaps I will forget all about you as soon as you've left this room.

[insuperiorstrength]

Yes. [ A pause as he looks her over, face expressionless. ] I wonder which of us would lose the most from that.

[ And off he goes. ]

[gita]

[ And she sees him off, seething. ]