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]

It just makes me wonder how many of these dates you've been on with the others. After all, Lord McGillis is quite dashing and Lady Edelgard is stunning beyond imagination. Just to name a few.

[ It's a subtle change, but she seems to perk up with interest when his speech changes. ]

Tails.

[begrimed]

Dates are only between us, my lady.

[ But he lets out an amused laugh nonetheless and then flips the coin. It lands on tales which looks like an apple. ]

And a lucky lady it seems. In that case—my very first visitor was Tenn. Familial love will make you do a lotta things you wouldn't otherwise.

[sempiternel]

That's the same love you have for your famiglia, is it not? [ She says the word carefully. ]

Lord Tenn seems to be very kind and passionate. What did he do - that he wouldn't otherwise?

[begrimed]

Right. That's why I know the lengths that people will go for them.

[ Just a touch quieter, and he rearranges himself on his desk to just lay across it completely, hands underneath his head. ]

Agreed to play a game with me.

[sempiternel]

[ No, she doesn't like that. She wants to see his face for this, to read what he can't openly say.

So she gets off her chair and pushes herself onto his desk, settling down next to him. ]

Game - as in what we're doing in this place right now, you mean? Or another one?

[begrimed]

[ A quiet blink but then he answers the question, unhurried. ]

Part of this one. The kid basically talked himself into it, and I wasn't about to just say no.

[sempiternel]

[ Poor Lord Tenn must have been distraught... ]

Can you say no? Can you tell me about his game?

[begrimed]

If my answer really was no, do you think I'd be able to answer that? I felt like havin' fun with him, that's all. [ He tilts his head to look at her with a shadow of a grin and then settles again. ]

No can do. The members of the mafiosa aren't rats, even if I'm on pretty good terms with 'em. [ He laughs a bit and closes his eye. ]

[sempiternel]

I just mean - when someone is asking you to enter a game or a deal, can you say no? You haven't refused me much, if anything.

[begrimed]

[ His lips quirk upward into a particularly amused smile, eye still closed. ]

I told you I play favorites. And I can say no—life would've been far easier for my caporegimes if I couldn't, though.

[sempiternel]

I would think being - how did you put it? - mercurial and prone to playing favorites would result in treating everyone the same.

[ As she remembers it, being his favorite did not last long. ]

Caporegimes... capo.. regimes. [ Maybe something similar to capi? ] Captain of the regime, perhaps?

[begrimed]

Ahaha, well maybe you'll see.

[ Maybe she's seeing already? ]

Close! It basically means "captain" but it's a role specifically used in the mafia. The don is the boss, and the caporegimes are his right hand.

[sempiternel]

[ Willful misunderstandings is the name of the game until she gets a better read on him. ]

Ah, your famiglia, the ones who called you the laziest boss?

[begrimed]

Right, right. [ Like before he does not seem bothered by this moniker. ]

Well, that's how I ran my familigia anyway. Other don's had a consigliere and then caporegimes below them, but I was never interested in having someone who only pushed papers around.

[sempiternel]

What's wrong with pushing paper? Every leaf is precious and the smell of books is unlike anything else.

[begrimed]

If all you're doin' is running schemes on paper and not actually fighting in the real world you're screwed if you actually get into a real fight. [ A beat. ] Unless you have someone who's willing to do that for you.

[sempiternel]

Fight for me. Fight over me. Fight to keep me.

[ Should she add: take her, cage her, kill her. All in the name of love, right? She rubs her eyes and shakes her head. ]

... But that's why you find someone who can push papers and fight. Stabbing someone with a letter opener must be satisfying.

1/2

[begrimed]

I've always been a fighter.

[ In a moment like this perhaps he should be more animated but he's not, still laying placidly on his desk. ]

[begrimed]

[ But he does turn to look at her, a bit delayed but movement nonetheless. ]

I'd pay to see the scarecrow try that on someone. I was working on it, though. One of my caporegrimes had the paper part down at least, the fight was more of a work in progress.

[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. ]