[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.
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.
[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.]
[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.
[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.]
[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.
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.]
[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.]
[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.
[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?]
[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.]
It'd be nice, wouldn't it? To have a world made exactly to your liking.
[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.
[It's hard to fully pay attention to the man across from her when all the dishes she'd ordered are placed out before her. The rest of the steak she had initially ordered is stuffed in her mouth before she sets the empty plate aside, ready for the next thing to devour. It's clear even from the way she stares at her food that she's ultimately feral at heart, despite her best attempts at manners and civility.
There's a shake of her head as she looks up at him from her plate.]
Oh I don't want to return. I want to stay here with my boyfriend. Duplicity isn't perfect by any means but...I don't want to ever leave him.
And if you could bring him with you? Keep your family whole?
[Because has she considered that possibility? Perhaps not. She's such a simple creature in the end.]
I would like to be able to keep your family safe here after all. To the best of my abilities. After all, there is no way to look for getting home with him if you two do not make it out safely.
I hadn't really considered it...going back with him.
[She's not sure it'd be wise to, the more that she thinks about it. There's a sprig of asparagus before her, the prongs of her fork piercing it as she flitters her gaze about.]
It might be better to stay here. My Chevalier and my darling twin are back there but...the entire world is out to kill me. If I stay here I'm safe. My family is safe. I have a cottage and a life with the man I love. The only desire I have now is for him to realize if he were just like me it wouldn't be so terrible. That we could live together forever.
[But Tsurugi doesn't want that. He finds such a thought, well, monstrous.]
[Because he knows they can't thrive here. And that at best terrible things could be done to them. Or they could be taken away. Or they could, well, never be born basically.
It's cruel to bring this up but it's certainly the best way to get to her.]
[That causes her to pause, her gaze narrowing slightly. She doesn't remember bringing them up, being more cautious as of late with regards to talking about them. Far too many things have happened over the past months for it to be safe to bring their existence up in conversation with strangers.
Then again, her memory isn't the best. Maybe she had mentioned them?]
Children cannot be born here. If yours could then they could be in danger here. After all, there are no other children in the city. The fact that even my being aware of them suggests that there are others who do as well.
[Elias sets down his utensils so he can look across at her. Because he wants her to understand the path he's leading her towards. It's important.]
I could erase any recordings or knowledge that this place might have in regards to them. Just as one of the ways I can offer to protect your family.
There are children in the Down...I've been to the orphanage Father Andersen runs.
[So he's not entirely correct in what he's telling her and it's apparent from the look on her face that it's a dangerous topic to breach with her. The suggestion that her cocoons might not hatch here is something she utterly refuses to believe. It would just take time, just as it had for her and Saya to come into the world.
Even so, he does have a point; the fact he's aware of them means that others could too. Which makes his offer a surprising one to her. It sounds like a lot of effort and nothing good is ever for free.]
My apologies. I meant that there are no children born from those of us of other worlds.
[With that, he easily moves on. Because it's clear what she's latched onto. So, he reaches into his pocket to get out his device. Lifting it, he takes a picture of her before moving around the table to show her what it looks like.]
I can change the dress you are wearing in this picture to something else as you watch.
[Sure enough, the picture changes. It's the same thing but suddenly she's not wearing the same dress. Then soon after the picture just vanishes. It doesn't include her anymore.]
I have an ability that lets me alter images and recordings. I could make sure they never know where they are to protect them no matter what.
[Ever curious her gaze falls to the screen as he slides the device toward her, her eyes widening as the picture of her changes to a near identical one, save for her attire. Then, it's gone. Just like that. Poof. Disappeared.
It's an impressive ability, to say the least, especially to someone who's a Victorian by default.]
And you're willing to do this for me out of the kindness of your heart, Sir?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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It's annoying. I'm quite tired of it, you know? I deserve to get what I want.
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[Is he a terrible influence? Most definitely. But she has something he wants and he's very ready to get it at whatever cost.]
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[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.]
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[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.]
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[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.
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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.
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...Why would you wish to offer that, exactly?
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[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.
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I'm not used to people being moved by what I've endured.
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[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.
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[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.]
Mmm...ishf soh goob!
[Yeah. She likes it.]
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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.
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...Are you speaking from personal experience?
[Was he someone who had been considered a monster too?]
Did that happen to you?
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[...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.
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[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.]
It'd be nice, wouldn't it? To have a world made exactly to your liking.
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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.
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[It's hard to fully pay attention to the man across from her when all the dishes she'd ordered are placed out before her. The rest of the steak she had initially ordered is stuffed in her mouth before she sets the empty plate aside, ready for the next thing to devour. It's clear even from the way she stares at her food that she's ultimately feral at heart, despite her best attempts at manners and civility.
There's a shake of her head as she looks up at him from her plate.]
Oh I don't want to return. I want to stay here with my boyfriend. Duplicity isn't perfect by any means but...I don't want to ever leave him.
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[Because has she considered that possibility? Perhaps not. She's such a simple creature in the end.]
I would like to be able to keep your family safe here after all. To the best of my abilities. After all, there is no way to look for getting home with him if you two do not make it out safely.
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[She's not sure it'd be wise to, the more that she thinks about it. There's a sprig of asparagus before her, the prongs of her fork piercing it as she flitters her gaze about.]
It might be better to stay here. My Chevalier and my darling twin are back there but...the entire world is out to kill me. If I stay here I'm safe. My family is safe. I have a cottage and a life with the man I love. The only desire I have now is for him to realize if he were just like me it wouldn't be so terrible. That we could live together forever.
[But Tsurugi doesn't want that. He finds such a thought, well, monstrous.]
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[Because he knows they can't thrive here. And that at best terrible things could be done to them. Or they could be taken away. Or they could, well, never be born basically.
It's cruel to bring this up but it's certainly the best way to get to her.]
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Then again, her memory isn't the best. Maybe she had mentioned them?]
...
[Chew. Chew. Swallow.]
...What of them?
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[Elias sets down his utensils so he can look across at her. Because he wants her to understand the path he's leading her towards. It's important.]
I could erase any recordings or knowledge that this place might have in regards to them. Just as one of the ways I can offer to protect your family.
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[So he's not entirely correct in what he's telling her and it's apparent from the look on her face that it's a dangerous topic to breach with her. The suggestion that her cocoons might not hatch here is something she utterly refuses to believe. It would just take time, just as it had for her and Saya to come into the world.
Even so, he does have a point; the fact he's aware of them means that others could too. Which makes his offer a surprising one to her. It sounds like a lot of effort and nothing good is ever for free.]
...How could you do such a thing, exactly?
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[With that, he easily moves on. Because it's clear what she's latched onto. So, he reaches into his pocket to get out his device. Lifting it, he takes a picture of her before moving around the table to show her what it looks like.]
I can change the dress you are wearing in this picture to something else as you watch.
[Sure enough, the picture changes. It's the same thing but suddenly she's not wearing the same dress. Then soon after the picture just vanishes. It doesn't include her anymore.]
I have an ability that lets me alter images and recordings. I could make sure they never know where they are to protect them no matter what.
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It's an impressive ability, to say the least, especially to someone who's a Victorian by default.]
And you're willing to do this for me out of the kindness of your heart, Sir?
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