Meetings

[begrimed]

Behind an ever traveling emerald green door (you'll find it when you really need it, but it never seems to be in the same place in the palace) lies a quaint office, often slightly ajar with a few notes of music beckoning guests inside.

In the center of the room lies an ornate cedar wood desk, cluttered but just short of messy, with various sheet music piled on top. The bookcases on each side are in a similar state, books shelved away neatly were it not for the lack of any semblance of alphabetization.

The boss of this domain can often be found with his feet up with no regard for decorum; a casual enough atmosphere for casual enough chats, surely.

Those who venture into the palace to seek out the emerald green door will find it's different than usual, sturdier, with a particularly bright sheen and emblazoned with an insignia.

The door is also always closed, though whether it's locked or not depends on when you visit.

Comments

[sempiternel]

Here’s advice from me to Mister Scarecrow: the carotid artery is found here. [ She brings a hand to her neck. ] You simply need two stabs there to end a man.

[ Yes, specifically a man. Also: the second stab is just for fun - er, just in case. ]

[begrimed]

[ He laughs and touches his own neck, finding the spot easily and practiced. ]

That guy hates to get his hands dirty, so he would never. "Murder of crows" is a literal thing with him, but it winds up being messier than just using your hands, ha.

[sempiternel]

[ Hmm? ]

I'm starting to think your family business is not too wholesome and upstanding, is it? That said, would he not make a great spy if he could control birds?

[begrimed]

We wouldn't be called the mafia if it was. [ He may not have realized that not everyone is familiar with the terms as he is. ]

The scarecrow is part of a different familigia, for one. But yeah he's not a bad one—as long as he's not dealing with me. I can talk to birds too, you know?

[sempiternel]

Yes, you are quite troublesome. Many here would agree.

[ Well, now she just associate mafia with rude men like him. ]

Well, so can I - because we have two wonderful birds here. Unless you mean with your flute or some other manner?

[begrimed]

Glad to hear it.

[ And he does indeed look happy about it. ]

Ahaha, that's right, I can talk to them with my flute too. You know, I've known more useless soldato than those birds. [ The birds are good? Even the mastermind agrees. ]

[sempiternel]

They are interesting characters, to be sure. I’m glad to have met them, even if the circumstances are not ideal. But I’m surprised we’re not surrounded by more birds if you can talk to them.

[ Like she said earlier: they would make good spies. ]

[begrimed]

I could get more birds in here but...where's the fun in that?

[sempiternel]

[ Hmph. It would be fun for her. ]

Then... What other animals can you talk to that's fun?

[begrimed]

All of 'em? The animals aren't the boring part. That's got to do with spying on everything and all of that. I dance to a song, not play chess.

[sempiternel]

[ It's no surprise to hear about the spying. In this situation, it would be stranger if this wasn't the case.

Is she reading too much into his words, however? ]

Everything? ... Even you?

1/2

[begrimed]

I'm a piper, of course I do.

[ He says it just like that, strawberries are red, frogs hop, pipers dance, these are just the basic facts of the world. ]

[begrimed]

[ But he doesn't linger, for whatever reason that is, and bounces back to her other question. ]

My point was, spying on people isn't my thing. That's for scarecrows and their ilk.

[sempiternel]

And the rest - how much of that is what you want to do? As opposed to what you must do to play your role?

[begrimed]

[ A quiet moment in which his eyes find themselves closed again. ]

My lady, for the longest time, I've danced. That's just what a piper does, just like heroes who protect their princess. There's nothing more to it than that.

Even before I came here, I danced. And I'll keep dancing, and keep playing until the end of this tale, and then move onto the next one.

[sempiternel]

[ Hearing that, she turns her face away. The cycle just never ends for people like them. She hates it. ]

A hero protects their princess, and a piper dances - but who does he dance for?

[ And why is he being made to play chess now? An answer she won't get from him. ]

[begrimed]

The story never tells. It's how it's always been, in every version of the tale.

[ It's said plainly, without any particular weight, but maybe that means something on it's own. Either way, he finally sits up properly, even if a desk isn't made to be sat on. ]

But that's enough storytelling for tonight, isnt it? I wouldn't want to give my lady- [ a short flash of laughter that almost sounds embarrassed ] a bad dream.

[sempiternel]

[ Him sitting up puts them too close face-to-face, even with the height difference. Yuri automatically moves to slide off the desk, sweeping her skirts straight in a practiced manner. ]

Mmm, I would not say it has been all bad. [ A bad dream. Pondering his phrasing, she moves to the door in an absentminded manner. Past this door is everything she had been crying about. It helps, in a way, to take his puzzles with her. They're problems she thinks she can solve; she can't solve Sami's death and she can't solve other people's wishes. She still feels emotionally worn out, but settled, perhaps. ]

I ought to thank you again for tonight. [ Hand over her heart, she curtsies, head bowed. Keeping her head low, she says softly: ] If you don't know who you dance for... My lady - ... ah. Lady Asahina... once gave me this advice: "You pick one and then claim them for yourself."

[ The ghost of a smile. ]

Just something to think about.