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

[twoasone]

I see... [ He kind of wants to touch it, but he knows better than that. After all, he doesn't like people manhandling his own creations. ]

I take it, this is a weapon to help with your executions?

[soulspice]

No. I wish I could make one that could actually kill you all, but I don't have what I need for that. [She sounds upset about that] I would build a death ray if I could but with no electricity that's not going to happen, dear.

[No self-respecting megalomaniac is complete without a death ray, really]

[twoasone]

[A death ray? Now that gets him laughing.]

It's a good thing you can't build one. You'd lose so many pieces in the blast! Buildings, brains and all!

[After a moment.] Besides, you already have a fate worse than death on your hands. Is that not how those blue eyed friends of yours came to be?

[soulspice]

[The Lady blinks. She seems to be thinking for a moment, before finally saying:]

Do you believe they work for me?

[That's the impression she had. She's neither confirming nor denying, but she wants to know what Shin thinks]

[twoasone]

[Interesting reaction.]

Not quite, but they seemed so afraid of your partner. I assumed you two were controlling them somehow.

Is this not the case?

[soulspice]

We do have ways to control them, but it's not like they're our -- let's say -- thralls. They're more like creatures we work alongside with.

[With a serious imbalance of power, as shown by the way they fear Rembrandt]

[twoasone]

Are they now? And here I assumed they were from the rumors. Did you have any hand in creating them, or was it something Rembrandt did?

[soulspice]

[The Lady crosses her arms]

It wouldn't be inaccurate to say I created many of them.

[Looks like the wording is something she had to mull for a moment]

Rembrandt simply helped me, as my assistant.

[twoasone]

[ Wording noted. ]

I see... And a part of me would like to see them fully one of these days. They're quite beautiful things you've made...

But what of those you did not create?

[soulspice]

Oh, I'm sure you'll get your chance of seeing them closely, but I'm also certain that'll be the last thing you ever see.

[She smiles mysteriously]

Those were here in Krakow before I arrived.