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

[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?

[begrimed]

Brats and other hoodlums.

[ But it's said pretty fondly. ]

[sempiternel]

[ She laughs. The image of little brats giving Hamelin a taste of their adorable minds. That's too funny, hahaha! ]

I wish I could have been there for that. Do invite me the next time it's bound to happen.

[begrimed]

Are you that interested in seeing me suffer? You'd have better luck trying to listening in on my conversations here.

[ He gestures to this office with one hand. ]

[sempiternel]

Hehe, suffering? No, hehe, I would never want you to suffer.

[ Honestly! ]

Would you really let me listen in? On everything?

[begrimed]

Ahh, that's playing favorites too much even for me!

[ But he does seem to consider something. ]

But I'll tell you what: next time you come in here, I'll tell you something I talked to someone else about.

[sempiternel]

Next time, hm? [ Bold of him to assume... correctly. ] Will this be for each time I visit, or just the next visit?

[begrimed]

Let's start with one and see how that goes, eh? You don't ask for a second date before your first one. [ Playfully said, of course. ]

[sempiternel]

[ Pfft. She has to cover her mouth for that little scoff. ]

My dear don, would a date not require an escort? [ But she gives his offer a serious thought. ] ... Will they know that you will be telling me?

[begrimed]

Only if you're an upstanding citizen, of which neither the mafia and I am not.

[ He shifts in his seat a little, crossing his arms over his chest with a smile. ]

No, and I doubt anyone would think to ask, anyway. Mostly I've fielded complaints and suspicions, for reasons which elude me!

[sempiternel]

[ "Mafia"... ? A term for an organization, perhaps? ]

So you are a suspicious hoodlum who was called out by another hoodlum for having terrible taste. Are they calling you any other fun things that I should know about?

[begrimed]

That's about the go of it, yeah.

[ Again his smile reveals no shame. ]

Does bein` the laziest boss count?