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]

[ Yuri almost takes a step back, blinking her surprise at how close he is. Almost. The blink of a second is enough for her to regain her composure. ]

A title is like the door to the house and a name is the heart of it. [ She doesn't know if Hamelin is his real name, but... ] You might not have said no, Don Hamelin, but your heart has not said yes either. Until then, I will address you properly.

[ She softens her words with a small smile as she steps into the room. ]

Thank you, really, for opening this door at least - and for allowing me the choice.

[begrimed]

Hahaha, my heart?

[ He smiles then turns around and just...sits down on his desk, in the middle of the papers he already there. There is a chair for her if she'd like to sit in it! ]

I've never been too good at formalities, fraulein. But you're welcome. [ A quirk of his head. ] So then, what curiosity blessed me with your beauty today?

[sempiternel]

That's what I said.

[ She takes the seat, thank you. He doesn't get a thank-you for the compliment, however, because it slides off her like water. Empty words. ]

It might... be too intrusive. I'm sorry if it is, but I've been thinking since our first meeting - and. Well. [ It's a little difficult for her because this is the first time she's been able to freely talk about - this. The curse. Everything. ] Are you trapped in some sort of cycle, too? You'd said you've done this before, but not...

[ Not this particular story. ]

[begrimed]

A woman who cuts to the heart of the matter... [ It's hard to say whether his word choice is purposeful here or not, but he leans back a bit, sending a piece of paper fluttering off his desk. ]

I've been in stories for a long time fraulein, but that's just the nature of fairy tales. And also just the nature of—immortals?

[sempiternel]

[ Immortals. She considers the idea. ]

Am I also immortal, of a sort? I can't say I've never died. [ Because Peacock Melody only kills those he loves... and he's only ever loved Yuri because that's how the story goes. ] After thousands of cycles, of the same lives and the same deaths, would that count, too?

[begrimed]

[ He closes his eye with a hum. ]

I know a man who'd put up an argument when it comes to your case but...for me? It's close enough. [ One lilac eye blinks open again. ]

But that's not the case here. Or I guess I should say, you can both die and stay dead here.

[sempiternel]

[ She smiles faintly. ]

You mean to say I can die here and haunt you for eternity?

1/2

[begrimed]

[ Blink. ]

As if I could be so fortunate to have a beauty like you by my side.

[begrimed]

It wouldn't be for eternity fraulein, even if you could do any haunting. This isn't a place that stays static for too long.

1/2

[sempiternel]

What a sweet way to completely reject my invitation to be everlasting friends. Ah, whatever shall I do.

[ If he keeps complimenting her for his amusement, she'll keep sassing him for hers until he stops. ]

[sempiternel]

Hm... Yes, you did mention the story must go on. So eventually, I wouldn't go on with it? My part would come to an end?

[ If she sounds a little hopeful, well, could he blame her? He knows what she's been through after all. ]

[begrimed]

Ahaha, isn't that's what expected of me?

[ He smiles easily. This'll be a time. ]

That's right. Getting any ideas?

[sempiternel]

[ Hm. Any ideas she has will remain only hers to know... for now. ]

I don't know what to expect of you, honestly.

[ He keeps smiling and saying sweet, empty things out of that sly mouth of his. In truth, she doesn't know how to feel about him. Maybe it's because he doesn't seem to mean any of his compliments, so she doesn't mind them much. ]

Whether or not you mean to, you have afforded me this aid. [ She is grateful, even if he is just idly tossing her scraps of information. Still, she knows more than she has ever known about her situation. And... it helps to know he's in a similar situation, from what she can gather. ] If there is anything I can do to help you in turn, please let me know. If you, too, are trapped and you need help, well - I'm nothing but determined.

[begrimed]

Don't expect much. [ Just a touch muted before he picks up the cheerful tone he's been carrying all this time. ]

Haha, you'd help your captor? But sure, I'll humor you fraulein: assuming I need your help and assuming you would without stabbing me in the back, there's still that matter of "Happily Every Afters" to deal with.

And you know how those go.

[sempiternel]

You're talking to the "heroine," as you well know. [ Yuri turns her nose up at him with faux haughtiness, taking a leaf from Lady Melissa's book. More seriously, she says: ] I've spent my life - lives, really - being unable to make my own choices and unable to take my own chances. As much fun as it would be to try acting the villainess this time, I will have to pass.

[ Something she has never gotten to go before either. ]

I choose to pass and I choose to take my chance on you. [ A brief smile, not necessarily at him, before she drops it to touch on one of the topics she hates the most. ]

... I do know, yes.

[begrimed]

You should try it sometime! There's really nothing else like it, fraulein.

[ He perhaps purposefully doesn't address the rest beside with a smile. ]

And my suggestion to you is take advantage of what you've got, including me. No one looks out for the main heroes or villains besides themselves.

[sempiternel]

[ Yuri shakes her head at him. Now that she's free to speak outside of Fate, the temptation is there. Desperation fuels it so. But she knows all too well how it feels to be victim to villains. If anything is stopping her from becoming one herself, it's that. ]

Then how shall I take advantage of you this time?

[begrimed]

[ He laughs. ]

I'm all yours. But I'm not just gonna dictate your every step—I've always been a fan of the non-traditional like flamenco.

[sempiternel]

Flamenco...?

[ What is that, besides being apparently "non-traditional." ]

[begrimed]

It's a dance where the lady leads instead of the man.

[sempiternel]

[ Oh - she's definitely interested in that. She'll have to look that up in the royal archives when she gets the chance. ]

So that's what you like. Are you being led around now by some terrible lady?

[begrimed]

[ A beat and then he laughs. ]

Ah, so now you think I'm doing all of this for someone's affection? Being romantic just isn't my thing.

[sempiternel]

[ Affection?? She wrinkles her nose. ]

My goodness, why would you associate terrible ladies with affection?

[ Not what she meant at all! Why in the world... ]

[begrimed]

[ Should he be embarrassed? Because he isn't, smh. ]

I'm told I have terrible taste.

[sempiternel]

[ Well. She can't say she doesn't agree? ]

Now who would dare tell our Don Hamelin such a thing?