DUPLICITY INBOX

[colorature]

TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO

Comments

[colorature]

1455 Ellis Avenue.

[fingeronthebutton]

Wonderful. I will be there in half an hour. I look forward to meeting you in person.

[colorature]

I'll see you then.

_{[It isn't as if Diva has to do much to get ready for her surprise dinner date. With her hair adequately brushed and her body covered with a pretty white dress, she easily slips into the blue heels Tsurugi had bought for her. Blue and white are always a nice combination, after all. All that's left is to listen for the door and so she does, quietly humming to herself to pass the time.]}

[fingeronthebutton]

[The knock comes to the door and there's a man in a handsome suit with his hair styled back. He smiles down at her, nodding his head politely.]

Diva, I presume? You look lovely.

[colorature]

Mm, yes. I'm Diva.

_{[The one and only. His compliment gets a small curtsy out of her, if only because she feels like it. She's been down as of late and so this is a nice, unexpected distraction.]}

I try to be lovely.

[fingeronthebutton]

[He offers her his arm to take, still smiling as he does.]

You succeed admirably. Come, it's time I treated you to dinner and we got to know each other better.

[colorature]

_{[He gets a nod out of her, as she reaches up to slide her arm through his. It's something she's done numerous times over the years, linking arms with men who were supposed to chaperone her. Amshel, Solomon, James, Nathan...they all had been given a turn at one point or another. Usually the honor had fallen to Amshel or Solomon however. Amshel seemed to particularly enjoy it, especially when the two of them, if seen in public, drew comments of a dignified looking man with his eerily beautiful daughter.]}

It's been awhile since I went out for dinner.

_{[Not that long mind you, Tsurugi did take her out from time to time, but Diva was someone who craved to go out and be seen. Usually that involved spending money.]}

Where did you have in mind?

[fingeronthebutton]

There is a lovely space in the Up where we have a private box reserved. The glass will allow us privacy to talk while still allowing everyone below us to see us.

[After all, he's not unaware that she loves to be seen. That there's a desire in her to be shown off.]

Of course it is largely used for sexual matters but we can ignore those unless they intrigue you. My only wish is to take you out to dinner and let the world see how beautiful you look tonight.

[It's amazing how easily the lies slide off his tongue to sound like a sweet truth. Then again, getting on her good side will make befriending her that much easier. And all the benefits he can achieve from that.]

[colorature]

A bit like an opera box?

_{[That has her eyes light up with excitement, her head turning to get a better look at him. A private box for dinner...but everyone could still see them. Honestly it sounds like her cup of tea.]}

If I knew dinner would be such a fancy ordeal I'd have worn a better dress...

_{[Not that the one she's wearing now isn't fancy but it could be frillier.]}

[fingeronthebutton]

Would you like to pick up a new dress on the way? There's a shop we can stop inside.

[He even changes their direction already. After all, he knows the answer will eventually be yes.]

We can have that shipped back to your home while you wear the other out.

[colorature]

...Can we? Is that all right?

<sub>[She should probably be suspicious of a man she doesn't know offering to buy her a new dress just like that...but this isn't the first time it's happened. In fact, it used to happen in Duplicity quite a lot. She used to be spoiled rotten all the time.

How can she possibly say no?]</sub>

[fingeronthebutton]

Of course.

[Around the corner they go and... The dresses in the window are breathtaking. He smiles at her as he leads her inside.]

Pick what you like. Don't worry about the price.

[colorature]

_{[It's definitely an expensive shop but Diva wastes no time rushing inside, letting herself free from her date's arm. She's a bit like a kid in a candy store but soon enough picks out a dress that catches her eye. The girl in the shop is eager to help Diva change into it and when she appears she looks even more darling than she did before. The other dress she'd been wearing has been folded up neatly and placed in a bag by the shop keep as the chiropteran twirls around, laughing to herself.]}

Ohh...it's lovely, isn't it?!

_{[There's probably a catch to all of this, but if anything it'll most likely be sex. Which is fine. She could care less. Right now though, she's enjoying herself clearly.]}

[fingeronthebutton]

You look beautiful.

[Of course he extends his arm and pays for the dress then provides the address to send the other one. Once they're back outside, he smiles down at her. She's really so deliciously easy to manipulate. It's almost sad really.

Almost. He doesn't have enough of a heart to care that much.]

People will be jealous of me. I'm honored.

[colorature]

_{[She loves it. She loves praise. She loves compliments. She loves, above all else, attention. It doesn't matter if it's positive or negative, even if the former is what's preferred. Hooking herself back on his arm she eagerly follows, falling into step at his side with ease.]}

They should be jealous of you. I am a queen, you know! You're very lucky.

[fingeronthebutton]

Very lucky. You honor me, Diva.

[Of course at the restaurant, he gives his name and they're led up to the private room. There's a cabinet off to the side which is clearly filled with everything one could need for more...intimate activities. Elias leads her past that to the table where he pulls her chair out for her. Below is the rest of the place and it's clear they can all see them through the glass. A perfect way to show off a queen.

Sitting across from her, he offers her the menu.]

Order anything you like. I have much to make up for if I want to claim to be your friend, after all. I made you wait far too long.

[colorature]

_{[She's only half paying attention when he gives his name for the reservation, far more focused on the commotion of the actual dining room itself. Alois? Elliot? Who cares what his name is. He's offering to pay for an expensive dinner and she's determined to stuff herself till her heart is content.]}

Anything? Well, if you say so...

_{[She doesn't hold back. A set of steaks done as rare as possible, a risotto dish with truffles in it, caviar...she orders quite a few things. Alcohol however isn't one of them. It's clear she's most excited for the steaks though. Unsurprising for a carnivorous predator.]}

I'm used to waiting a long time...I don't like it, but it happens.

[fingeronthebutton]

[Elias isn't bothered by the amount of food. He is aware already that she eats a lot, after all. Instead he just gets himself a steak dinner before sending their orders in and then looking across at her.]

I understand. I had to wait a long time once to get something I wanted. It can be challenging to be sure.

[colorature]

_{[Happy with her order she settles back into her seat, watching her company with keen, curious eyes. He orders steak as well, which Diva can only silently approve of. Vegetarians never made sense to her, after all.]}

It's annoying. I'm quite tired of it, you know? I deserve to get what I want.

[fingeronthebutton]

You do. So I don't see why you should need to give up your dream so soon.

[Is he a terrible influence? Most definitely. But she has something he wants and he's very ready to get it at whatever cost.]

[colorature]

Well...the dream I had before I came here doesn't matter much now.

_{[People didn't exactly care what she was here and it wasn't as if Saya was here either to appreciate the effort she would have to go to.]}

I have other things I want. I'll get them eventually.

_{[Hopefully. She wants to turn Tsurugi, after all.]}

[fingeronthebutton]

Doesn't it? No one feels you're a monster here. No one at all? It's a cruel assessment but I think they just don't understand you.

[After all, he knows that Jon has definitely said things to upset her. That he doesn't like her. Various little matters like that. All exactly what he needs to play on to get this work.

It's honestly so easy.]

[colorature]

...You're right. Not many understand me here.

_{[Her gaze falls down toward the table, a hand reaching out to pick up the fork set out for her. Absentmindedly she fiddles with it, the smells of the restaurant whetting her appetite.]}

At least people here don't wish for my death.

[fingeronthebutton]

[Getting up, he moves to sit next to her, offering her a warm smile as he rests his hand on her own.]

It's difficult for them to when death doesn't last here. But they can do worse to you. Send you to the center. Threaten your family. You are strong but with more allies to protect you and yours you could go further.

[He gives her hand a squeeze.]

I would like to offer that. If you will allow, of course.

[colorature]

_{[She's not expecting him to move to take a seat next to her but it doesn't bother her in the slightest, even if he's suddenly in possession of her hand. His words coupled with the squeeze garner a raised brow from her, unsure as to how to respond.]}

...Why would you wish to offer that, exactly?