I'll take thee away

[cullionfish]

Characters: Her Imperious Condescension and YOU
Setting: The Art Gallery
Format: Action
Summary: Realistic gore? Terrible atrocities? That's Condesce's bread and butter.
Warnings: Condesce is always a warning

[Since arriving, Condesce found it easy to grow weary and restless. When things like that happened, she wandered up to the aquarium level or, lately, this one. Art hadn't always been something she found herself appreciating, but the tower's idea of art seemed to appeal to her. She had even found a few of her dear lusus lingering about.

That's where she's seated herself -- she's pulled a chair from who knows what level and has seated herself in the center of Alternian artform, many of which depicted the skyline, the ocean, and various lusii before they got darker, depicting images of Condesce herself and the terror of the deep that would one day be the entire planet's demise.

None of it seems to bother the Empress. In fact, she seems rather at peace, drumming her talons against a large glass bowl, which seems to be housing a single cuttlefish from the aquarium level. She's not very focused on the doorway, instead tracing a rather intricate painting of Gl'bgoylb with her eyes.]

Comments

[mamadonna]

[ There were certain sections of the gallery Dolorosa prefers to avoid. She likes looking at most of the paintings, perhaps draw some inspiration for a future project from them, but she can never imagine what the appeal of the harsher selection would be. Unfortunately, the layout of the place necessitates passing some of those halls, trying to avoid a momentary glimpse.

But some glimpses are unavoidable, and some inspirations entirely inadvisable. This is how the Dolorosa fond herself stepping into one such hall, on seeing the Empress herself. It's a mixed mood she finds herself in, somewhere between flippancy and fear. But she still stood at her full height, holding her staff straight, and glancing down at the Condesce from an elevated chin. ]

I suppose I shouldn't consider it a surprise, that your predilections would fall along such lines.

[cullionfish]

[The tyrian is pulled from her momentary calm by the song of the Dolorosa's voice, which earns the jade-blood a sidelong glance of loathing before she makes the effort to turn her head to stare in her direction.]

And to think I was beginning to believe that the Tower was through with dragging rabble into my midst.

[The statement is very gentle, very quiet, very lucid. The cuttlefish in the bowl jumps every time her claw hits the glass.]

I must say, you looked so much better in shackles.

[mamadonna]

[ She crosses one arm over her chest, hand tucked behind the elbow holding her staff. Her head tilts slightly, her brows raise, regarding the other troll with a fair lack of fondness. ]

I suppose I should find it flattering to be so remembered. That it would be in so unflattering a context, one you instigated yourself, comes with little surprise.

[cullionfish]

I'll leave that for you to decide.

[She speaks as if she's granting the Dolorosa a great honor and smiles unpleasantly, but she doesn't stand up just yet. Probably for the best, in Dolorosa's case.]

Tell me, how is the little mutant?

[mamadonna]

[ Dolorosa scoffs and shakes her head. It certainly isn't as though the Condesce could bear any genuine concern on the topic. ]

He was in the prime of his health, when last I spoke to him. Though I imagine even that would be seen as an act of defiance, in your consideration.

[legislacerates]

[considering her mediocre successes so far in investigating the tower, the condesce is basically the last person redglare wants to see at the moment. so it's really to her dismay that she enters the art room to find her empress seated there.

maybe if she's lucky she'll be able to back out without being noticed...but then again, she can't help the sharp intake of breath that escapes her when she enters, either. hey, a neophyte is bound to make a small mistake here or there. though, considering the two new scars on her face--a vertical stripe down each cheek--one could infer she's been making more than a few of those mistakes lately.]

[cullionfish]

[Condesce's head turns to Redglare's direction slowly, eyelids drawn quietly in a way that would suggest that she were somehow sated by the presence in the room. For a few moments, she doesn't say anything, staring like the unhinged, bloodthirsty empress she was so well known for being.

And if her boring gaze wasn't enough, Condesce will soon speak up.]

Legislacerator. How nice of you to join me.

[The statement is dry, free of any real gratitude at her presence. Merely a formality.]

[legislacerates]

[and so the neophyte is trapped. but it would be untoward, and perhaps dangerous, not to return the formality, so she straightens and folds her hands behind her back.]

I hope I am not interrupting you, Your Highness.

[cullionfish]

Of course not.

[A lie, technically. She had interrupted her thoughts, but they hadn't been particularly important...yet.]

Have you anything to share with me?

[legislacerates]

I have been following some new leads, but my investigation is still ongoing.

[that...is likely not what the condesce wants to hear, of course, but it's the best that redglare has to offer.]

[chocotits]

[ Belgium was still getting used to the place, without a warning of the art gallery.

She walked into the room and noticed the person just watching ]

Are you all right?

[cullionfish]

[The Condesce turned to eye the supposed human, her expression unchanging. If anything, there was a very subtle crease of displeasure in her browline...almost as if her concern offended her.]

Naturally.

[chocotits]

[ She notices the offended expression ]

I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you.

[cullionfish]

Then don't apologize.

[That's all she says on the matter. After all, she wasn't here to educate aliens on proper Alternian etiquette. Her tapping against the glass pauses long enough to allow the cuttlefish to get a better look at Belgium.

The Condesce continues to stare expectantly.]

Did you require something from me?

[chocotits]

[ Wow, talking about intimidating, she talks with little confidence now ]

No... I just wanted to see if you were all right.

[capax_infiniti]

[There's so many interesting ways to learn about people without asking them. Simple observation based on location will often say more than simple words can.

Such as now, as he traverses the gallery, casting sidelong glances as those taking in the art on display. Most of them stay to what is safe and what is recognizable, as to be expected. It's really a shame... the wilder and daring pieces are still fantastic art, even if they would make the viewer uncomfortable.

They have no effect on him. There is very little that can truly disquiet him.

Finding someone else who can sit amongst the macabre and the explicit is a rare treat, indeed. He lets his footsteps echo, stopping a ways away to give an appropriate amount of space.]

Fascinating styles, don't you think?

[cullionfish]

[Even by troll standards, Condesce is very tall, so she's able to meet Xehanort's eyes evenly without having to do much more than tilt her head. The cuttlefish gets momentary relief from her tapping talons as she focuses on the man who had spoken.

She doesn't seem pleased by his expressed pleasure at the surrounding pieces, but it was a different reaction than usual, so any outright displeasure isn't visible in her expression.]

I suppose. I much prefer the quiet.

[Somewhat of a lie. Condesce was much more at ease when there was mayhem around her, rather than stillness and silence.]

[swordofzero]

[This floor disturbed Suzaku yet it was one that attracted few visitors for that very reason and so he often came here when he wished to think.

He blinked as he came across the Condesce, noting the pictures in surprise but he supposed it would make sense that her world would have pictures of her, as she was empress.

Why they would be here though... He frowned, clenching his fists slightly.]

[cullionfish]

[She doesn't miss that gaze he gives her -- the Condesce remembers Suzaku, and he happens to be one of those people that are high on her shitlist, seeing as he always seemed to be around Signless and her Helmsman.

Her tongue slides along pointed shark teeth and her eyelids lower dangerously.]

[swordofzero]

[His eyes narrow as well, but warily not dangerously.] Condesce. [His tone was polite, if barely so.]

[cullionfish]

[She doesn't greet him in kind. Instead, her chin raises ever so slightly to give Suzaku a more thorough glance.]

Mm. Yes. What do you want?

[orphans]

[well it'd. certainly been a while.

he hasn't been avoiding her precisely, just hasn't gone out of his way to seek her out. and well, she hadn't sought him either, but then he has to remind himself that she doesn't have to because she's the goddamn empress. thus, after having gone without crossing paths with her for such a time, he is a little surprised to find her here of all places.

it's a place he rarely visited too, after all.

once within proximity, he bows low as is customary of him; nose practically bumping the floor. to say he's uneasy, well...]

Your Highness.

[cullionfish]

[The Condesce observes this carefully, her usual air of pleasure completely absent when Dualscar makes his presence known to her. There's a long, tense pause as she debates how to respond to him, eyelids closing very slowly and one hand coming up to prop up her chin.]

Orphaner.

[She doesn't sound impressed. One claw begins to trace the edge of her lips in thought. There is plenty she wants to say -- but she'll give him a chance to correct his lack of presence.]

[orphans]

[at his side, he hand absentmindedly clenches into a fist. perhaps he was blowing everything out of proportion, as he was often prone to do. she probably hadn't even noticed his absence, and that hurts a little to think about, though knows it to be worse otherwise. his absence, and things that probably should have been kept a touch more... discreet.

he inclines his head, muscles tense despite the inner monologue. he wasn't afraid of anything he deserves, per se, but rather... disappointed. as disappointed as one of his caste could be with themself, anyway. and even then the reasoning is a somewhat fuzzy and not at all complete. but however much there is, little shame shows upon his features.

his usual inquiry as to her well-being is skipped for the moment. how far should he go with this?]

I apologize.

[not nearly fucking far enough, not even in the right direction, and he knows it too.]

[cullionfish]

You're going to have to do better than that.

[Her tone is suddenly ice cold, snapping like a hard whip in the otherwise silent art gallery. The tapping on the cuttlefish bowl halts entirely, leaving the awkward and tense silence to hang between them as she glares at him, waiting.

The Condesce knows that there really isn't much for him to say, but she wants to see him wither, wants to see him cower, wants to hear him beg for forgiveness...just to ensure she hadn't completely lost one of the higher castes to the whims of the tower.]