DUPLICITY INBOX

[colorature]

TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO

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[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?

[fingeronthebutton]

I've had people try to steal dreams from me as well. I would hate to see the same happen to you.

[Of course he offers her a frown now.]

Was I too forward? I apologize. I was simply moved when we spoke several weeks ago and have had time to consider since then.

[colorature]

_{[The frown has her staring back at where an empty plate sits, awaiting the server to return and bring her the meal that had been ordered. There's at least a basket of bread that was left to be munched on and she decides to grab one of the loaves, setting her fork down. There's no reason to butter the thing as she tears a bit of it off with her sharp teeth and chews, thoughtfully.]}

I'm not used to people being moved by what I've endured.

[fingeronthebutton]

That's unfortunate. Perhaps those are the people who are the real monsters for not understanding what you have been through.

[A bell signals their first plates are arriving. He smiles as they start to come in, sitting back so that way they can be placed and indicating that they should serve her first. They don't question it since he looks like a Dom spoiling his Sub for a bit.

Once they depart so they can get more of the food, he looks to her.]

Enjoy. I hope you like it.

[colorature]

They are monsters.

<sub>[That she's convinced of, without a doubt. She's as feral as she is because of what she was put through and how under-socialized she was. Saya had been "accepted" well enough but Diva? Nah. She was far too dangerous and villainous to do anything with other than hunt down.

With the food coming out the steak is placed before her and she's already salivating at the sight of it. It's as rare as can be when her knife cuts into the flesh, bloody juices oozing onto the plate. The hunk she's sectioned off is stuffed past her lips with a sound of delight as she chews, clearly satisfied.]</sub>

Mmm...ishf soh goob!

_{[Yeah. She likes it.]}

[fingeronthebutton]

[Elias chuckles. Honestly she's such a simple creature to please. It's no wonder she's so very easy to manipulate.]

I'm glad you like it.

[He cuts into his own meat and enjoys a bite of it before continuing on.]

You are not the only one who has been labeled a monster for wanting to follow a dream, you know. People are cruel and rarely open their minds past their basic instincts. It's why I wished to extend my hand to you.

[colorature]

_{[Simple yet deadly. A force to be reckoned with. Emotionally volatile and stunted. All of these traits make Diva someone so very easy to toy with if one was willing to risk her wrath. The steak is already half gone by the time she speaks again, watching him curiously from across the table.]}

...Are you speaking from personal experience?

_{[Was he someone who had been considered a monster too?]}

Did that happen to you?

[fingeronthebutton]

I am. People have felt I'm a monster for some time now but all I wished to do was create a world where all could be on equal ground.

[...sort of. That's not really true at all but she doesn't need to know that obviously.]

So I find myself empathizing with you and wanting to find ways to support you.

[colorature]

Really?

<sub>[Unsurprisingly, such a lukewarm truth resonates with her. After all that's exactly what she wanted to create, a world where her and Saya were no longer seen as monsters or othered by those around them. A place where the two of them could belong and be happy. Granted that meant turning the majority of the human population into Chiropterans but Amshel was going to make the logistics of it all work out.

A few small potatoes that came with the steak are popped in her mouth as she chews thoughtfully again. It's clear from her expression that she's recalling her own desire that still, admittedly, exists. Sure, there was no way to have her so-called dream come to fruition but she didn't really need for it to in Duplicity. So long as she wasn't discriminated for what she was she could forego it, even if she still yearns to have her kind with her. The longer she spends in Duplicity the longer she misses her Chevalier. If only she could turn Tsurugi...but not yet. She can't just yet.]</sub>

It'd be nice, wouldn't it? To have a world made exactly to your liking.

[fingeronthebutton]

[The rest of the food is brought in so he stops a moment until they have privacy to speak again. Others don't need to know about this conversation. He's even manipulating the cameras to make it hard to read their lips.

All for the goal of getting her to bond with him. To let him in so close that she gives him exactly what he wants.

And he smiles gently at her.]

I succeeded in that actually. So if I could help in some way here for when you return then I could help you make it a reality there.