Private Conversations with the Lady

[soulspice]

[Welcome to the Lady's...not home far from home, but it's a place she tolerates. The moment you enter it's clear she did her best to make this office in the bookstore a place she approves.

Outfitted with an overly plush chair on a rather elaborate rug, the desk is overflowing with countless books stacked everywhere, with everything serving as a makeshift bookshelf including an errant fax machine. The Lady seems to have tried her best to make the amenities up to her standards: there’s a tray with a teapot, notes everywhere written with confusing ciphers, and what seems to be an attempt to make a generator, but wasn’t completed.

Where the Lady sits it’s far more orderly, facing the door and giving her the high ground against anyone who enters. On the far wall hangs a large portrait of the Lady, adding character and additional charm. Truly, this is the office of someone who wants you to feel small before her presence.

And, there on her chair, there she is. When the door opened she turned her head towards you, seeing who it was. Invariably of who it is, she sighs like this is a big interruption of her work, and keeps writing and drawing]

Don't touch anything and make sure you don't track mud in. If you have any complaints go see Rembrandt.

[She didn't even look up while saying that. So, what brings you to her office today?]

Comments

[notbymyside]

[The fact that she's keeping the mask on despite the wardrobe change is interesting, but he doesn't comment on it. Instead, he bows his head politely.]

Please excuse the interruption. Are you available for the discussion we planned previously?

[ortion]

Even if my complaint is with you?

[The familiar voice of Dist is at the door, and if the Lady looks up she'll see that he's partially soaked, his flower collar drooping down from being rained on. He looks pretty pathetic, really.

He takes a moment to look around before the Lady answers him. This sure is the office of a similar mind to his own. That machine is particularly interesting...]

[raventhaw]

Worry not, my shoes are clean, if only a little damp.

[ raven also brings in two cups of milk tea. one for herself, and one for the lady. she sets the lady's down on her desk, positioned in front of her but far enough to not interrupt her work any further. ]

Rean made tea for all of us, so compliments to the tea connoisseur. Now...

[ raven, completely unfazed by all of the excessive decor, sits on the couch. ]

Let's talk.

Week 1: Monday

[deadlygoals]

[ He's poking around the book store when he spots her. There's a pause as he remembers a similar encounter he has had in the past with someone being fussy in the library.

There's a beat and then a smile is plastered on his face as he steps closer. His shoes are wet just like everything else about him thanks to the all the storms. ]

Is there mud on my shoes? Whoops. I didn't mean to drag it in~

[ He moves in closer to get a peek at what she might be writing or drawing. What's up, gurl? ]

monday afternoon

[reanbeans]

...So, you set up shop in here?

[ It'd be rude to kind of pretend she didn't exist, considering he just waltz into here by accident. ]

[drydrown]

[The office may be designed to make people feel small before her countenance over there, but Cumore is pretty solidly in a state of SURELY, MY MASSIVE EGO WILL PROTECT ME and as such, he's not terribly intimidated. Perhaps if she'd ever made a move to harm any of them herself this would be different, but the fact of the matter is she hasn't, and from the sound of it she can't do her own killing here. So this isn't fine but it's acceptable, and he...admittedly wasn't even trying to find her but holy damn here she is in all her day-ruining glory. Hello there.]

Somehow I doubt you would hear any complaints we have, directed through your little friend or otherwise.

[He does bow slightly at the waist, however, the gesture at least pretending to be somewhat respectful even in the face of All This Fucking Yellow; yellow is a sometimes color, woman, we really need to get you some sort of style consultant- ]

I do have a few questions for you, however, now that we're both here. I even promise not to tease you this time.

[youspinmeknightround]

[It's a bit taxing to spend so much time in the bookstore while knowing the Lady is sharing the same space and not doing anything about it. Well, he doubts there is much he can do while he's injured without causing more issues, but he can at least try that working-from-the-inside thing. Keyword being try.]

May I have a word, miss?

[he still doesn't know what to call her but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ calling her Lady when she's not royalty would feel weird even if he did]

[p_q]

[Ulquiorra isn't one to bother judging clothing unless it's something egregious like some of his fellow, ahem, Survivors' outfits -- and that only because they're a little close to certain of his colleagues for comfort. The decor, on the other hand, he's going to assess fully: he strolls into the office with a feather-light sort of assurance and pauses just inside the door.

The place is trying to be grand, but suffocating under its own clutter -- compared to Aizen's vision of Las Noches and its echoing halls, ridiculous scale, it scores maybe a 3 out of 10. Balance certainly isn't this would-be ruler of something-or-other's strong suit. What sorts of books is she even hoarding, at a glance?

In the meantime, he'll pace forward a few steps.]

I was given a note that referred to you.

tuesday night

[psychophant]

[can't she just ditch the half-mask!!! that's his aesthetic!!!

Anyway, Iago enters late on Tuesday. He takes a moment to look around the room before dipping into a bow. It's a proper one rather than the rather half-assed ones he's been giving other people this entire time.]

First of all, I would like to apologize for my behavior during your introduction. I was caught off-guard and acted out of line; I understand if you have no desire to speak with me.

However, if you're feeling particularly generous... there are a few questions I have for you.

sunday!

[raventhaw]

[ what's up it's ya girl raven, strolling into your office once again. bet you're glad to see this face again, lady!!! ]

Good afternoon.

[ mud? nope. tea? yes. raven passes over a cup towards her, just like last time. ]

I wanted to follow up with you on the blood cube. Did you find it helpful?

Week 1, Monday

[twoasone]

Good morning, Lady. [Shin respectfully bows as he enters. As he looks up, he takes immediate note of the haphazard arrangement of books and papers...]

I have a proposition for you, actually. While you have leveled the playing field with unique powers, I still possess skills and interests you might be able to make use of.

[soulspice]

[Oho, that does get her attention. She looks up, putting aside her pen, and puts her chin onto her hands]

Now this is bound to be interesting! I'm aware of your skills, but I wonder how you'll pitch your skills to me.

[She's listening!]

WEEK 2

[soulspice]

[This time the Lady has something on her desk: some sort of large handheld cannon. She's giving it the finishing touches. Jolly!]

[drydrown]

[But is she still wearing a godawful amount of yellow -

I mean.

So the thing she's messing with is going to get a bit of A Look from Cumore, but that's...fine, probably; the point is that he actually seems to be seeking her out on purpose today, as opposed to just wandering in.]

I assume you're feeling better today...? Things seemed a bit rough at the execution.

monday afternoon

[reanbeans]

[ Dear Aidios, what in the name of the goddess did he walk into?!

As soon as he stepped into the office, Rean almost stepped right back out! ]

...What's going on in here?

tuesday

[galrarm]

[ Knock, knock, Lady. A moment later, he'll step inside and eye the thing on her desk. ]

I hope I'm not bothering you.

Thursday.

[twoasone]

[ Oh, hey! That canon gets his attention. ]

Hello again... Is that canon something of your own design?

[ortion]

[Dist probably had a proper reason for visiting the Lady today, but it's her latest gadget that has his immediate attention when he steps inside- this time thankfully completely dry.]

Well, what is this, then? Your next execution weapon?

[He can't help himself. It's...it's totally the sort of thing he would affix to one of his robots.]

[raventhaw]

So.

What would it take to get a peek inside of that book of yours?

Thursday

[deadlygoals]

[ He'll peek at that cannon. Looking it over carefully to see if there's anything he can recognize on it. Triggering mechanism, power source, that kind of thing... ]

Looks like you've been busy~ What does it do?

WEEK 3

[soulspice]

[The Lady is writing. Page after page after page of detailed information. Everything she writes has is encrypted, and she writes it with such fluidity it's almost amazing to watch.

Hi there]

can i make this sunday actually idk where weekends fall here

[pr159]

[ Rideaux really hasn't had much desire to interact with the Lady one-on-one up until this point, and... well, he still doesn't, honestly, but now he's got this dare to fulfill, and he feels like he at least made himself memorable at this last trial (whether she liked it or not), so this seems like as good a time as any to kill two birds with one stone. ]

Working diligently, I see.

WEEK 4

[soulspice]

[For once it seems she doesn't have anything new on her desk. Huh]

monday afternoon

[psychophant]

[Hey, Lady!! Surely you weren't expecting to be left alone for too long. So here's Iago, knocking before letting himself in and closing the door behind him.]

Good afternoon. I hope I'm not interrupting you.

WEEK 5

[soulspice]

[The Lady isn't at her desk. Instead she's pacing around, deep in thought]

tuesday afternoon

[psychophant]

[It's been a bit since the motive went out, which means the Lady should be back in her office to talk. Iago knocks and lets himself in, raising his one visible eyebrow at her pacing.]

Is something wrong? I've never seen you so restless.

WEEK 6

[soulspice]

[After the last trial, the Lady vanished from Krakow. What's more, her office is now vacant. The big portrait on the back is now gone, the pieces of the useless generator are lying around -- some of it looted already for purposes unknown. The desk drawers are all completely empty.

The Lady is unavailable.