[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?
Some people call me a monster but I am just someone wanting to live my own life as any other is.
[He sits next to her again and looks right at her as he does.]
I have an impressive amount of knowledge. I could bring you harm if I wished but instead I am here to offer you help. To protect you and your family.
[He sighs almost as if he's wounded emotionally.]
I know Jon has spoken to you. My name is Elias Bouchard. He treats the pair of us like we are monsters when all I want is to live in a world where everyone is equal. After I gave my protection to Tsurugi I realized that your family would be in danger if something were to happen to me. So I wanted to offer you my aid while I had the chance since I don't know when they will kill me. It's the least I can do for putting you at risk, something I truly apologize for.
[It's so easy to twist his words to make himself seem exactly the person she would want to get close to. Worse still, the type of person she'd want to ensure never dies in order to protect her family.]
[The shock on Diva's face is palpable as she physically recoils a bit in her chair, the hand gripping her fork tightening so tight upon reflex that she ends up bending the utensil without meaning to. Elias. Elias Bouchard. The man Jon told her about. Then man who, if he died, would take Tsurugi with him. The impulsive part of her wants to stand up and throw her chair, to flip the table with all the delicious food she hasn't had a chance to eat yet but she doesn't. Instead she places the fork down and grits her teeth as she goes through the motions of trying to process what she's been told.
Her hands find her lap, fingers fisting the delicate fabric of the skirt of her dress as she does her best to remain calm. It's clear though from how tense she looks that her composure won't last for long.
Who was this Elias? What did he want and why would he give his protection to Tsurugi? Why did Tsurugi need it in the first place? Why didn't he tell her about Elias?]
Jon told me if you die then Tsurugi will. He said you're dangerous, more so than I am. Why did you give Tsurugi your protection in the first place? What does that even mean? Why does he need it?
Jon isn't fond of Tsurugi so I wanted to offer him employment. In doing so I offered the chance to protect his family. Honestly, I just like him. The trouble is that people from my world keep wishing to threaten my life despite the fact that it could harm those contracted to me.
[He shakes his head. Like he's disappointed that they're the real monsters here. Obviously nothing like him who clearly isn't.]
It was a miscalculation and one I wish to make up for. If I were immortal then I could ensure the safety of your family. Sadly, it seems that I'm not and that comes with great risks.
[If only he were immortal...well. That's something Diva could sort out, isn't it? Not that she's going to say as much right away. Hell, he probably already knows what she's capable of. It isn't exactly a secret that she's able to gift those she turns with the same durability she herself holds to a lesser extent.
She had been so hungry coming here but now? Now her appetite is shot.]
How are you going to do it? How will you protect us?
I can manipulate recordings to make any incidents involving you two disappear when I see them. It will keep you under the radar of the authority here. Then, I have been known to silence people who attempt to ruin things for others. That is something I could offer to you as well.
[Elias looks right at her, looking so serious as he speaks.]
I am not afraid to get my hands dirty to ensure you find peace and happiness, Diva.
[Keeping them under the radar would be particularly helpful and if this is what Elias had been offering Tsurugi she can see why he would take the man up on his offer. He was more paranoid than Diva was at any rate about most things, especially when it came to keeping his family together and safe. As flawed as Tsurugi was he was a family man at his core. It's part of why Diva adores him as much as she does.
Still, it's distressful. Everything about this is. The little queen's head is spinning.]
I'm not hungry anymore. Have the food we ordered packaged for takeout. I don't want to be here. I want to go somewhere else.
[This isn't a conversation they should be having out like this.]
[He summons the waiter and makes sure all of their food is packaged, taking the bags for himself to hold onto before offering his arm to her. So that they can get out of here and go elsewhere.]
Where would you like to go, Diva?
[See how good he can be serving you? Taking care of your needs? Imagine making that man a Chevalier.]
[Where exactly that would be she isn't sure. She doesn't even know what sort of place a man like Elias would live so she doesn't press to go to his residence. With the arm offered she hesitates to take it, but the raised brow of the waiter has her slipping hers through his as they move to exit.
She's already picturing it as a solution, what it'd be like to have this man she barely knows anything about as her newest Chevalier, even though it's obvious she's still upset, thoughts whirlwinding away inside her skull. As much as she wants one there's also an instinctive need for a Chevalier as well. A Queen isn't nearly as functional as she could be without one, after all, not to mention this is the longest she's been without any at her side.
But should she? Right now it's hard to think straight.]
[He nods to let her know he understands. Then he takes her with him to the Up tower where he currently still resides. After all, he can manipulate video footage so anything spying on him is pointless. He can just change it.
Closing the door behind him, he sets the food to the side then guides her to the couch to sit. Gently, he fixes a strand of her hair, tucking it into place.]
I apologize for upsetting you. Especially when you were in the middle of your dinner.
[Yeah it was pretty Rude of him to upset her when she was enjoying the meal she'd been treated to but nice things never last long for her do they? This always seems to happen. Something will be enjoyable and sooner or later the moment will be ruined. She doesn't move once she's seated, slumped against the back of the sofa, allowing him to tuck her hair back neatly. She's so eerily still as she sits, unblinking for a moment, that in her new frilly dress she looks a bit like a life-sized porcelain doll.
Just how many men had seen her as that and nothing more? A toy? A puppet? Is this how this Elias saw her too? Or did he genuinely care? Did it even matter?]
...Tell me why they want to kill you. Jon and whoever else. I want to know.
For the same reason those of your world want to kill you. They don't understand and view me as a monster.
[Well actually it's for the fact that he is a monster but he doesn't tell her that much. After all, he doesn't want her to know he's actually as bad as Jon has been telling her.]
Unlike you, I haven't been able to escape that torment.
They want to kill me because I'm a threat to humanity. Are you?
[He did say it was for the same reason. There's a slight tilt of her head to the side as she stares his way.]
Tell me - are you afraid of dying?
[It's a genuine question. She's curious as to why Jon seemed so adamant about Elias being a threat - just what had the two of the gone through for there to be such hostility between them?]
I suppose one could say that I am. Though I don't really see much of a reason to spare humanity.
[At least that's all true.]
I wouldn't say that I fear death. Rather, I know that dying will mean I cannot continue to advance and learn. To see everything around me. Jon does love to imply that I'm terrified of death though. Largely I find it to be something of an inconvenience.
[At least that's a straight enough answer she can make sense of, both with regards to humanity and to death being an inconvenience. Not that death was something she had to worry about but it was for those mortals who she had come close to.
Her voice is much quieter and softer when she speaks again, her gaze on her lap rather than Elias or her surroundings.]
What if I made that possible for you? If I took that inconvenience away?
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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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[He sits next to her again and looks right at her as he does.]
I have an impressive amount of knowledge. I could bring you harm if I wished but instead I am here to offer you help. To protect you and your family.
[He sighs almost as if he's wounded emotionally.]
I know Jon has spoken to you. My name is Elias Bouchard. He treats the pair of us like we are monsters when all I want is to live in a world where everyone is equal. After I gave my protection to Tsurugi I realized that your family would be in danger if something were to happen to me. So I wanted to offer you my aid while I had the chance since I don't know when they will kill me. It's the least I can do for putting you at risk, something I truly apologize for.
[It's so easy to twist his words to make himself seem exactly the person she would want to get close to. Worse still, the type of person she'd want to ensure never dies in order to protect her family.]
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Her hands find her lap, fingers fisting the delicate fabric of the skirt of her dress as she does her best to remain calm. It's clear though from how tense she looks that her composure won't last for long.
Who was this Elias? What did he want and why would he give his protection to Tsurugi? Why did Tsurugi need it in the first place? Why didn't he tell her about Elias?]
Jon told me if you die then Tsurugi will. He said you're dangerous, more so than I am. Why did you give Tsurugi your protection in the first place? What does that even mean? Why does he need it?
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[He shakes his head. Like he's disappointed that they're the real monsters here. Obviously nothing like him who clearly isn't.]
It was a miscalculation and one I wish to make up for. If I were immortal then I could ensure the safety of your family. Sadly, it seems that I'm not and that comes with great risks.
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She had been so hungry coming here but now? Now her appetite is shot.]
How are you going to do it? How will you protect us?
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[Elias looks right at her, looking so serious as he speaks.]
I am not afraid to get my hands dirty to ensure you find peace and happiness, Diva.
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Still, it's distressful. Everything about this is. The little queen's head is spinning.]
I'm not hungry anymore. Have the food we ordered packaged for takeout. I don't want to be here. I want to go somewhere else.
[This isn't a conversation they should be having out like this.]
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[He summons the waiter and makes sure all of their food is packaged, taking the bags for himself to hold onto before offering his arm to her. So that they can get out of here and go elsewhere.]
Where would you like to go, Diva?
[See how good he can be serving you? Taking care of your needs? Imagine making that man a Chevalier.]
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[Where exactly that would be she isn't sure. She doesn't even know what sort of place a man like Elias would live so she doesn't press to go to his residence. With the arm offered she hesitates to take it, but the raised brow of the waiter has her slipping hers through his as they move to exit.
She's already picturing it as a solution, what it'd be like to have this man she barely knows anything about as her newest Chevalier, even though it's obvious she's still upset, thoughts whirlwinding away inside her skull. As much as she wants one there's also an instinctive need for a Chevalier as well. A Queen isn't nearly as functional as she could be without one, after all, not to mention this is the longest she's been without any at her side.
But should she? Right now it's hard to think straight.]
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Closing the door behind him, he sets the food to the side then guides her to the couch to sit. Gently, he fixes a strand of her hair, tucking it into place.]
I apologize for upsetting you. Especially when you were in the middle of your dinner.
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Just how many men had seen her as that and nothing more? A toy? A puppet? Is this how this Elias saw her too? Or did he genuinely care? Did it even matter?]
...Tell me why they want to kill you. Jon and whoever else. I want to know.
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[Well actually it's for the fact that he is a monster but he doesn't tell her that much. After all, he doesn't want her to know he's actually as bad as Jon has been telling her.]
Unlike you, I haven't been able to escape that torment.
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[He did say it was for the same reason. There's a slight tilt of her head to the side as she stares his way.]
Tell me - are you afraid of dying?
[It's a genuine question. She's curious as to why Jon seemed so adamant about Elias being a threat - just what had the two of the gone through for there to be such hostility between them?]
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[At least that's all true.]
I wouldn't say that I fear death. Rather, I know that dying will mean I cannot continue to advance and learn. To see everything around me. Jon does love to imply that I'm terrified of death though. Largely I find it to be something of an inconvenience.
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Her voice is much quieter and softer when she speaks again, her gaze on her lap rather than Elias or her surroundings.]
What if I made that possible for you? If I took that inconvenience away?
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