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Post by Tahliya Carystian on Aug 24, 2015 10:57:33 GMT -5
If Tahliya noticed Keretheriel’s sudden wandering of attention, she made no indication of it, save that she perhaps slowed herself down by a fractional amount to ensure that the woman would be able to keep up with what she was sharing. The subject turning from Ishmaél, the Operative pivoted on a dime and changed her focus to the Ouroboros CEO instead, delving quickly and efficiently into what she knew of the man and his affiliations.
“If Aeorex Khestralicht could be said to be allied with anyone on the Council, it would likely be Ishmaél and Floraelia, but that would be simplifying matters. Aeorex has a known romantic relationship with Floraelia, though how involved it is isn’t clear: the tabloids paint a very detailed picture, of course, but I have doubts as to its accuracy\. I believe his practicality endears him to Ishmaél’s sensibilities. However, Aeorex is also himself the largest target on the Council right now – as the newest member he’s seen as an interloper, and the fact that Alpha seems to give him so much favor is a sore point for at least one of the other Council members, if not more. Additionally, he’s the Council member who seems the least invested in Council business, since he is head of the massive Vascxious Sigma conglomerate, the Ouroboros Corporation, which keeps him generally busier away from Council matters than his other compatriots save Ishmaél, who run individual government divisions, as well as their districts. Third District houses the city’s stock market and financial economy, which takes substantially less effort to regulate than the other districts infrastructure, and Ouroboros’ place as the top grossing corporation within the city makes its actions have direct implications for the Vascxious Economy: in essence, by running his company, Aeroex is also somewhat inadvertently running his district.”
Tahliya leaned back slowly in her seat as she finished speaking. Something in the woman’s eyes did perk a bit more as she began talking about Aeorex, though the reasoning might remain unclear until she finished her overall appraisal of the man.
“Personally, his history is not well known, save that he was a child soldier during the New Risis conflict, and that he is a former Operative who worked directly under Alpha, preceding me.”
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Post by Keretheriel on Aug 24, 2015 21:11:59 GMT -5
The Siren's mouth twitched in appreciation of her Aide's agility in navigating her questions.
At the mention of Khestralicht's romantic involvement with Devinian's daughter one sharp brow arched into a delicate lift. The politics of the Tower were becoming more and more fascinating by the minute. That little tidbit of information explained Tahliya's reaction to the admission that Viers was one of the White Princess' lovers, and also why Tahliya didn't believe Second and Third's Councilors were too terribly entangled to begin with: if the precious little pearl was known for her pristine nature― whether due to her typical behavior or because of her manner of dress― then she was either remarkably discreet or else precisely as pure as she seemed. Keretheriel didn't rule out that Khestralicht and Devinian could be simply performing for their Districts in some strange power play, especially if the 'tabloids'― whoever they were― apparently spent time detailing their romance. The thought was provocative and Keretheriel only barely kept from showing teeth. . .
The knowledge Tahliya imparted on Khestralicht's status as a target elicited a smirk: perhaps she would claim that status for herself and relieve him of its pressures. Perhaps not the most enticing angle of approach but the Siren would keep it at hand, though if Third District's Councilor spared too much thought for that status the Siren would be thoroughly disappointed. After all, how could the ire of other Councilors compare to the obvious prestige and power the man wielded. It was early for Keretheriel to be forming conclusions or making decisions but she suspected Khestralicht was going to be top-of-mind for her in the days to come. If she secured Seventh's Seat she imagined it wouldn't end there: it sounded like the fact that she would effectively control shipping and receiving for the City meant she'd be dealing with either him or his organization regularly. Maybe then her approach would benefit from explicitly acknowledging how a partnership might benefit them both. Honey instead of vinegar, or so she'd heard.
The last piece of information Tahliya offered drew the full weight of the Siren's gaze.
"Kheys-strhah-leekcht is from Risis?" When she spoke his surname this time, she conquered the individual syllables and made them hers, every vowel and harsh coupling of consonants made to pour from her mouth in a similarly possessive manner she'd thus far reserved for Tahliya. The second part of what she'd said instantly clicked, and the very slight expression change in her Aide suddenly made so much more sense.
"And he was what you are? Or rather, what you were. Does his path to power inspire you, Tah-lee-hah?"
Keretheriel smirked lightly, but her expression became slightly less intense. Tahliya had earned her own appraising stare.
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Bel Merenska
Initiated
Posts: 11
Title: Peacekeeper Investigator - Third Precinct
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Post by Bel Merenska on Aug 29, 2015 22:34:23 GMT -5
Investigator Merenska watched Hugo very carefully, but her hawk-like focus on the man’s every motion wouldn’t be readily obvious: Bel adopted the manner of someone enjoying a casual drink with a business associate, and as the waitress came back by, she would undoubtedly think, based on Bel’s pleasant laugh, that her dinner companion had just told some kind of deadpanned joke. Bel sold the interaction well, and casually ordered a chocolate soufflé as she casually tucked the offered envelope into her jacket pocket, reaching behind her to secure the document in a special inside pouch specifically designed for important objects. As the waitress walked away again, Bel smiled in a manner that was, somehow, both sweet and acrid at her Hugo: she had no intention of opening the envelope in their current location, and he should have known as much, considering the level of paranoia that was necessary just for Bel to survive her job day-in and day-out.
“I’m sure everything is in order. And, I can assure you that I’ll take care of everything as we discussed – there is a reason you came to me, after all.”
Merenska’s smile stretched the corners of her lips into the proper shape to indicate happiness, but her eyes were void of mirth – that deep, twisting feeling in Bel’s gut manifested just like all the rest of her emotional responses did: as anger. Suddenly, the man sitting opposite the Inspector’s face took on an aura of punchability, but Bel shook off her impulses by resolving to do some major damage to the bag later on in the evening . . . assuming she didn’t get too far gone by way of free drinks.
“Assuming this offer goes through, how quickly can I expect to see the results shipped? The precinct is in dire need of some new equipment: especially in leadership.”
Bel had to work not to grit her teeth as she talked, but her issues with anger wouldn’t be readily apparent: she had learned to affect the type of manner necessary for the situation as an interrogation technique, so her external self remained calm, relaxed, and semi-jovial, with the slightest tinge of tipsiness that, unfortunately, was wholly affected.
The deal bothered Bel. What she was being asked to do was an abuse of her resources, and it infringed on her honor as a career peacekeeper, but Merenska felt cornered into taking it: without Hugo’s connections, Bel would be sidelined as a low-level Investigator for the rest of her working life, despite her obvious skill. The deed might have left a bad taste in the Investigator’s mouth that even the sweet liquor couldn’t cover, but Bel was resolved to swallow the bitter down and get her business done, no matter the consequences. She knew Hugo was a little shaky on whether she would follow through or not, but he had no reason to be: Bel’s level of self-preservation was much higher than her empathy for strangers.
“Hell, if things go well, we might be able to arrange another shipment later on.”
Raising her glass to eye-level, it would take a trained eye to see that her pleasant smile didn’t follow the glass upwards past her mouth.
“To our continued success.”
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Post by Tahliya Carystian on Aug 29, 2015 23:41:13 GMT -5
Tahliya quirked a brow slightly at Keretheriel’s latching on to the information she was sharing about Aeorex. The Operative understood that the two shared a home region in common, but Tahliya honestly hadn’t considered that something like homeland would be important to a creature as old as Keretheriel. The woman took a moment to reappraise her assumptions: just because she didn’t understand the concept of belonging, of being born and growing up with attachments to a particular city, region, or people didn’t mean even very old, powerful former-humans were the same. Quietly, Tahliya filed the information away, and she also made a mental note to do a bit more research on Risis, especially with regards to the time period that the Siren reported herself to be from: having greater context on the woman’s home might give Tahliya a pathway to a more complete understanding of her new overseer . . . as well as a way to explain the link of interest between Keretheriel and Aeorex.
The Operative didn’t visually seem to miss a beat, though, and Tahliya continued on fairly seamlessly to answer Kereth’s question.
“Yes, though, as you might be aware, New Risis shares little more than a name and a geographical location with the Risis you are from. The way the city was rebuilt, too much time had passed for native Reisans to still be collected in the area: most relocated to Azaleth long before the reconstruction and subsequent war.”
Tahliya wasn’t sure how much of what she was saying Keretheriel was already aware of, but she felt the context was important to consider regardless.
“Also for Aeorex: yes, he was my predecessor, and his path to the Council was what helped alert me to the possibility of following suit.”
Tahliya stopped short of explaining further, and instead locked her dark eyes on Kereth and waited for a response. The Operative’s opinion of Aeorex was complicated and somewhat unclear: Tahliya respected Aeorex and his success, but she also simultaneously did not understand many of his choices, especially considering the people he chose to surround himself with. However, Søren also seemed to heavily dislike him, if only for the way Alpha showed him favor, and that fact naturally endeared the man to Tahliya’s sensibilities.
Adding one final addendum, the Operative smirked lightly before falling completely silent.
“He seems more concerned with his company than ensuring his place on the Council. Additionally, he chooses strange people to trust.”
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Post by Keretheriel on Sept 7, 2015 21:30:17 GMT -5
Keretheriel nodded slowly as Tahliya summarized how Risis had evolved once the City had been destroyed― at least that it had been leveled was something the Siren was already aware of. The destruction of Risis had been the last major event to happen before Keretheriel moved to bed down and sleep for a few centuries. At that time, Arktouros had been distracted with the current incarnation of the Akrathi Wars and the apparent eradication of the largest portion of the Akrathi army had happened to be in Risis at the time of its annihilation meant the Guardians of Balance had suddenly become much more freed up to continue their pursuit of her― their chance of success was exponentially higher without having to deal with ensuring humanity's salvation. Keretheriel hadn't been aware that Risis had been rebuilt: most of the current knowledge she had on the region was scattered. She'd known the area had become sort of a no-man's land due to its isolation from any real infrastructure and that Azaleth had ultimately withdrawn protection from those who had not been caught in the loss of the City.
It was an unfortunate situation for the land of her birth, but there was no helping it at the time. Truthfully, Keretheriel hadn't been anywhere near Risis for decades before its fall therefore its loss wasn't incredibly debilitating to her. To say that she felt some sort of connection to Aeorex Khestralicht because they shared a homeland was partially accurate in that regard: the Siren was very curious about the Third District Councilor's experiences growing up in the void left by the destruction of Risis― had Tahliya called him a Child Soldier?
Those intensely pale eyes narrowed slightly.
It was more that the man had probably led a very hard life in an area where she'd done the very same thing: that was the kind of common ground money couldn't buy in terms of looking for an in. That centuries and the existence of the City itself separated their childhoods didn't matter, really: there was a connection there she wouldn't be discounting.
Keretheriel focused on Tahliya, effectively holding any other train of thought for later exploration― the Siren had plenty directly in front of her to hold her attention.
"Strange people to trust? What makes them strange to you?"
The Siren traced the rim of her as-yet-untouched glass with the tip of an index finger before subsequently dipping the same digit into the liquid and bringing it to her mouth. Just because she had no intention of drinking the contents didn't mean she wasn't curious about what a 'Grey Temptress' tasted like. . .
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Post by Tahliya Carystian on Dec 21, 2015 0:49:32 GMT -5
Tahliya couldn’t help but smirk at the woman’s question. The Operative had realized very quickly upon meeting Keretheriel that the woman was sharp and adaptable – that was why Tahliya had been placed with the burgeoning Councilor by Alpha, in order to help the Operative gain some of those traits, or at least take advantage of their proximity. Yet, as their conversations progressed, Tahliya realized that Alpha’s cleverness moved in both directions: what the Siren possessed in terms of adaptability and guile, she also lacked in context and understanding, leaving the woman with a certain degree of naiveté with regard to how the world around her worked. At least, a world molded and shaped by one Virianus Devinian.
That, clearly was where Tahliya came in – while she lacked Kereth’s natural talents, what she possessed in spades was an understanding of the context of her world. It was that context that Kereth required, meaning that, in the end, the two women were meant by the Magistrate to help each other succeed.
There really was no denying the man’s level of foresight – Alpha had Tahliya life track planned before it had even become an idea in her own head to pursue it. If the Operative had been the type prone to existential ponderings, she would have spent her time endlessly wondering whether her drive to advance was really hers at all, and not a state of being imagined and developed within her by Alpha himself. The idea had merit, but was also potentially crippling, and therefore it was a windfall that Tahliya kept her mind focused on more grounded, realistic aspects of her situation, and instead turned her attention to answering Keretheriel’s question in the most contextually relevant manner possible. Tahliya leaned forward carefully as she began to speak, her dark eyes glimmering with intrigue.
“Trust is an expression that doesn’t get a lot of play in Vascxious Sigma. Most of the people here – well, beings, really – have their own secret agendas at work, and since political manipulation and carefully-timed alliances are a way of life, there is a general understanding that trust only exists as far as you can absolutely verify it. If you trust someone completely, you leave yourself vulnerable, and since, at the very least the Magistrate has likely given that person a hidden agenda, assuming they didn’t have one of their own, implicit trust can very easily lead to a knife planted squarely in your back by the person to whom you gave your trust.”
Tahliya slowly sat back and pressed her lips together. The Operative knew that Kereth wasn’t a stranger to the idea of watching her own back when it came to navigating other’s hidden motives – the woman’s inference wasn’t that the Siren somehow fell into the category of problematically trusting. Instead, the Operative was trying to give her statements the context they deserved, and reinforce to Keretheriel the gravity of her situation, therefore dictating just how high the woman’s guard needed to be.
“Aeorex has more trusting relationships per-capita than the rest of the Council combined. He has carefully-picked lieutenants and operatives, assets, and one very competent Administrative Assistant turned Chief Operating Officer that he has established trust with, not to mention his relationship, whatever it amounts to, with Floraelia Devinian. He trusts a great many of them with a great deal of information and responsibility, apparently without realizing that some are not as uncompromised and loyal as he suspects.”
Tahliya couldn’t go into further detail or name names, of course, but the message would be clear – at least some of the relationships Aeorex had cultivated came with their own hidden baggage that he, at least seemingly, neglected to observe.
“He is one of the newest Councilors, however, and Alpha protects him in some ways, so his trust hasn’t yet turned around to destroy him. But it could.”
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Sparrow
Uninitiated
Posts: 5
Title: Current Alias: Hugo Davin
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Post by Sparrow on Dec 24, 2015 17:18:59 GMT -5
The thin man's perception of her minute attention to detail might have left her somewhat disappointed in that, along with his otherwise deadpan expression and monotone voice, he was either exceedingly good at concealing his observations, or too dismissive to notice in the first place. Given their interaction thus far, it was possible that she couldn't be blamed for believing the latter, but it was also far from his occupational objective here to fluff her self-worth. As she herself indicated, they were here for agreed functionality, and wouldn't be in any form of discussion if they didn't believe the other to be capable of fulfilling the exchange's requirements. Silent on the note of her choice to inspect the document at a time better suited to its secrecy, he was at least expressive enough to give a short nod.
Why she might have suddenly become angry towards him was apparently beyond him, disregarding entirely whether or not he was capable of even noticing such a thing, or if he cared. It was only her next choice of words that drew pause from him, and then a response in kind, his brown eyes lingering on her on long enough to demonstrate the seriousness of his words before resuming his otherwise comfortable charade.
“It's difficult to say, and determined wholly by the success of the proposal's reception.”
Even the man before her knew that particular piece of information might be difficult to swallow, particularly if her quick-to-anger demeanor thus far was any indication of how she'd take anything less than the complete fulfillment of her own goals. With that said, while he'd allowed a pause initially to let the difficult information sink in, he was quick to follow in a way that both served to—hopefully--alleviate any immediate alarm, and more importantly, any verbal retaliation for such.
“My client places a great deal of value on those that are willing to cooperate, but an even higher regard for those that adequately meet the strictures of their agreements.” For a moment, he looked at no one but her. “Meet your end of the bargain, and you'll be more than compensated for your time.”
It was hopeful that this would assist in alleviating the investigator's apprehension. Despite his unwillingness to cater to any need of approval that she had or hadn't displayed, or more importantly his near-mechanical approach to the entire deal, he knew just how important it was that, above all else, it worked. That was his primary concern, and would do whatever was in his power to see that it did. If and when that were the case, he would personally see to the matter of her “just desserts,” as it were, himself.
If, at that point, she still chose to toast to their agreement, he lifted his own, otherwise untouched glass, but refrained from drinking it. Instead he watched her for any tells of hesitance with, by the both the nature of his occupation and his particular ability to excel in it, a highly trained eye.
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Post by Keretheriel on Dec 24, 2015 19:05:54 GMT -5
Keretheriel listened carefully as Tahliya clarified what she meant, though initially her explanation wasn't making any sense: if there was little trust to go around on the Council― which didn't come as an absolute shock in light of Alpha's leadership style― how then were any of them able to get anything done effectively? One brow quirked into a distinct arch. She was really in for it now.
From the picture Tahliya painted of Khestralicht it seemed like the man was a good leader and acted as a good leader should― putting the right people at the right time to do the right thing. It made sense then that the man would have protections from Alpha that might not actually have anything to do with his newness, but rather a need to preserve what the man had managed to build. The information that not all who were trusted by Khestralicht were worthy of such a thing was tucked away. Perhaps it was something she could use later to help secure an in with the Councilor of Third District.
If the Siren didn't know any better she'd be led to suspect that Alpha wasn't simply filling seats on his Council, but was looking to transition. He looked to orchestrate a changing of the guard, if the evidence was to be believed, and―on top of it all― he wanted her to be nothing but herself. Her impulsive, sharp, intoxicating self. The fact that she hadn't been aimed at anyone in particular suggested that she was meant to become a wild card to Council dealings. Would the ways of Khestralicht stand up to the chaos she could create, or would the secretive, double dealing standards that apparently ruled be so ingrained that they would determine everyone's moves?
She had enough to think on with Khestralicht.
"Let us move on to Callixta, was it?"
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Bel Merenska
Initiated
Posts: 11
Title: Peacekeeper Investigator - Third Precinct
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Post by Bel Merenska on Dec 24, 2015 19:46:53 GMT -5
Bel let a long, slow breath escape her lungs at the thin man’s response to her question, her teeth clenching instinctively as she briefly imagined sinking them into his jugular vein. Why couldn’t anyone in this fucking town just be straight up and honest with her, stop playing stupid word games, and get with the program unless they had a deadly weapon leveled at their head? The city was all smoke and mirrors, shadows and dust, as if the people walking around who were really in charge were ghosts instead of living, breathing human beings. Bel was sick of it – at least, if Hugo and his pals did come through, she would have enough control over her work life to lower the bullshit level to something more tolerable. The rest of the city was, for the moment, completely out of her control.
While Hugo might not have taken a sip from his drink, Bel unceremoniously downed hers in one gulp as soon as their would-be toast was finished, and the Investigator was already standing nearly before the glass come crashing back down onto the tabletop. As it so happened, Bel’s chocolate soufflé was just arriving – the woman calmly held up a hand to stop the server in her tracks before the china saucer could cuddle up to the tablecloth.
“I just got a call, honey – be a dear and wrap that up for me. I’ll be in the lobby, if you can bring it out there as soon as you are done.” Gesturing towards the likely still seated Hugo and giving him a wink, Bel continued quickly before the server could hurry away. “And, my friend here will be getting the check – we’re celebrating my success, after all.”
Merenska let her head slowly drift to face Hugo, her hands gripping the back of her own chair to allow her to lean hard on the wooden-backed piece of furniture. Right in that moment, Bel made up her mind as to exactly what she planned to do about the man. After, of course, he held up his end of the deal. The Investigator smiled sweetly at her compatriot as she rose to her full height, her off-hand instinctively travelling behind her back to make sure her firearm was in place as she smoothed her jacket down over her back and shoulders.
“Great seeing you as always, Mr. Davin. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”
Without waiting for a response, Bel turned away from the man and skillfully swept between the nearby tables, making her way briskly to the front of the Hundredth Balcony, where her dessert was already awaiting her at the host’s stand. Her false smile already stripped off her face like the mask it was and discarded, Bel glowered as she stepped onto the lift, her features dark enough to deter anyone from getting on with her.
Bel’s hand raised to her jacket and tapped the envelope, ensuring it was still in its spot. Merenska would open it when she got back to the apartment, assuming Tëruan gave her a few moments of peace. If he was in one of his moods, Bel would make up another excuse to head back to the office, like she usually did on late nights: sometimes she got better sleep in her office chair than she could ever manage at home.
She knew she had to handle things carefully, but Merenska couldn’t help but be angry – broadly, as if she had been blinded in the middle of a streetfight and kept swinging haymakers every which way, just trying to make sure she could hit something. The envelope weighed on her heavily, but she knew the deal had to get done.
Fuck them for making me do this.
The Commander. The Precinct. The whole fucking city – they were all complicit in Bel’s oppression. Hugo Davin, too – he was taking advantage of a situation people just like him had created in the first place.
He’ll get his. They all will. Just keep calm and wait for the right moment, Bel.
The lift dropped quickly, like Bel’s mood. Hopefully, she could catch the right tram and get home quickly enough to put in a few rounds with the bag before having to deal with Tëruan. After this day, Bel knew she just needed to hit something. Better that it wasn’t her boyfriend . . .
{Exit Bel Merenska}
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Post by Tahliya Carystian on Dec 24, 2015 20:16:52 GMT -5
Moving on from Aeorex to the Fifth District Councilor, Callixta, Tahliya had to suppress the urge to shrug and make a bemused expression. She settled instead for a thin-lipped expression, her gloved finger tapping the rim of her glass absently.
“No one knows much about Callixta, in so far as what she is or why she is where she is. Clearly, she was appointed by Alpha himself, and she’s been around in one form or another longer than any of the other current Councilors, including Mirr. I can’t be totally sure she is even just one person – until recently, two people sat in the Fifth District seat. Twins, essentially.”
Tahliya shook her head. She had never been able to get a handle on exactly who or what the Fifth District Councilor was, and it had always bothered her – though, at the moment, what bothered her more was her inability to share any helpful information with her new benefactor.
“What I do know about Callixta is that she has some kind of relationship with the Sixth District Councilor, and that her Peacekeepers run a very tight ship. Her district never has any problems, and she doesn’t make many waves on the Council. I’ll see if I can find out a bit more, but that’s all I can tell you for now.”
The Operative locked her eyes on Keretheriel in order to observe her reaction, but otherwise kept her manner fairly blank. Secondhand, Tahliya began taking in more information regarding her surroundings, in potential preparation of her benefactor choosing to move them again. The main floor seemed to be getting less crowded as the night wound on, meaning there were less beings around to see them leave, a fact that might mean a touch of disappointment or the Siren, but Tahliya saw it as a windfall. Less attention usually meant smoother sailing, at least in the Operative’s experience.
“What else would you like to know?”
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Post by Keretheriel on Dec 24, 2015 21:18:51 GMT -5
Keretheriel's head was beginning to clear and the Siren inhaled deeply as Tahliya began to impart what she knew about the Fifth District's Councilor. For the first time since they'd sat she experienced a sense of clarity that she hadn't had since entering the residence of Floraelia Devinian. If the Siren didn't know any better she'd suspect that she'd been under the influence of something or other and finally whatever it was had worn off enough for her to notice the difference. A furrow appeared in her brow.
She reverted her attention to Tahliya and what she had to say.
"Well, it appears that is a Councilor I will have to be flexible in dealing with considering our information on her is limited. And Søren?"
The name seemed vaguely familiar to the Siren but she was unable to place exactly where she might have known it from.
The tip of her index finger circled the rim one more time.
Perhaps she was the other former Guardian Alpha had so-casually mentioned in passing.
Keretheriel allowed her head to tilt into her open palm enough so that the chains dangling on either side of her temple were displaced: one swinging gently back and forth directly next to her face and the other prone and flush against her cheek. When Tahliya inevitably finished offering up information about the Councilor of Sixth District thick tones would spill once more from the Siren's mouth.
"We should speak on those residency options you mentioned earlier, when we were in the Tower."
Keretheriel's permanent smirk was apparently not so fixed: her expression was even but also serious, and her eyes had not lost their brightness. Whatever game the vixen had been playing at was paused for the time being.
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Post by Tahliya Carystian on Dec 28, 2015 12:39:57 GMT -5
The Operative suppressed the urge to grit her teeth slightly as she was forced to move on to the subject of Søren Kiirkegré – the Sixth District Councilor had always been one of her very least favorite people within the Tower. Tahliya suspected that her dislike for Søren was a mutual affair, as the Councilor had often gone out of her way to make life difficult for her on-again-off-again subordinate.
“Søren, the Sixth District Councilor, is head of the Special Operations Division, a specific subset of the Peacekeepers that operates independently as a specialist pseudo-military force and intelligence and surveillance operation. I technically belong to the Sec Ops division, though I am nearly always ‘on loan’ to Alpha for special assignments, such as this one, and therefore I rarely report to Søren as a superior.”
Alpha had always intended for then-Dorya to be his personal operative, and the arrangement suited the Operative herself quite well, given the alternative. Spec Ops, while an elite unit, very rarely had need of Operatives with Tahliya’s specific skills, and the Operative would undoubtedly find herself doing routine surveillance or desk work if she we left to languish in SOHQ instead of being put to use by Alpha. Tahliya’s expression inadvertently soured as she continued, her dark eyes keeping a close watch on Keretheriel’s features in order to gauge her reactions.
“Søren herself is the prototypical troublemaker of the Council: she’s disagreeable, narcissistic, and neither enjoys the good graces of her peers on the Council nor Alpha’s favor and support, at least for the moment. After Callixta, she’s the longest-serving member of the Council, and she’s grown complacent over time, a fact that the Magistrate has clearly taken notice of – she was essentially threatened by the Magistrate in front of me even earlier today.”
Tahliya smirked to herself slightly as she replayed the dressing-down Søren received in her mind. She had no doubt that Alpha had intended her to witness the exchange, and it had certainly planted the seed in the Operatives mind that could sprout into a design to overtake Søren and replace her as the head of Spec Ops. Undoubtedly, Keretheriel would hone in on Tahliya’s tense relationship with the Sixth District Councilor, so the Operative went ahead and laid out a bit more context in order to preempt a few of the Siren’s questions.
“I don’t like her. I’m not alone in that opinion, either, even among the Council, but I will also not discount Søren as in any way inept. She’s a forthright bitch, but she knows how to survive. She has a very storied past, from what I understand, but none of its public knowledge – just rumors, mostly, about her being involved with several very powerful groups of people in times past – which might explain why she’s here at all.”
More explanation would undoubtedly have to come on the current subject, but for the time being, Tahliya trailed off talking about the Councilors and moved on to administrative matters instead.
“As for lodging, part of the reason I chose the 100th Balcony is because it sits directly on top of one of the best hotels in the district. I sent a message while we were on our way, and a penthouse-style suite is available for you a few floors below where we currently are, if you want to take it. Otherwise, we can stay at any of the accommodations befitting your status in Second or Third District while I arrange a more permanent residence for you in Seventh.”
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Post by Keretheriel on Dec 29, 2015 14:23:38 GMT -5
Keretheriel didn't so much as twitch when Tahliya moved on― already the Siren was becoming accustomed to how quickly her Aide was able to change direction. The explanation of Sixth District's Councilor and her responsibilities were interesting insofar as they were complementary to Fifth District and it just so happened that the Councilors had some sort of relationship― intimate or otherwise.
The Siren's eyes narrowed as she continued to watch Tahliya, clearly beginning to suspect that the relationship between her and Søren was strained. It came as a surprise when Tahliya addressed it directly and voiced her dislike.
The furrow returned to her brow.
Did her Aide dislike Sixth's Councilor because she was resistant to Alpha and perhaps disingenuous in her fealty or did she hold the woman in contempt for being complacent while also being― as Tahliya phrased it― not in any way inept.
Her earlier musing that Søren might be the other former Guardian was almost immediately discounted due to the description of the woman's personality, but Kereth thought better of her assumption after a moment of consideration. Anyone not knowing her specific backstory would be hard-pressed to accept any connection from the Siren now to her younger days in the Temple of Balance.
At the last of her Aide's remarks the Siren righted her head out of its tilt.
Good girl.
"Remarkable foresight on your part, Tah-lee-hah. We will stay here, in Seventh District. The better I understand my District now the easier it will be for me later."
Truthfully, she'd been tempted to take temporary residence elsewhere if only to grant easier access to the Councilors of those Districts while she scheduled face to face meetings with them. Speaking of. . .
Keretheriel slid out of her chair and rose without preamble fully expecting Tahliya to follow. She paused only when that breathtaking Cityscape view was going to be impossible to see and glanced over it with fever-bright eyes. Now that the sun had completely set the endless sea of lights made a startlingly beautiful vista the Siren wasn't wholly prepared for. Perhaps Tahliya would catch the brief, unguarded expression of awe on Keretheriel's features before her expression shifted and eased back into neutrality. Her gaze slid away, unfocused.
"There is one Councilor we have skipped in my overzealousness to hear of Khestralicht," she offered over her bare shoulder as steps were taken to reach the top of the stairway that led down into the main dining area of the Hundredth Balcony.
Again, with the full expectation that Tahliya was going to be at her side Keretheriel began to descend those stairs― every easy swing to her hips displacing the chains that made up her dress.
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Post by Tahliya Carystian on Dec 30, 2015 15:46:14 GMT -5
Tahliya rose smoothly in concert with the Siren, her watchful eyes allowing her to easily ape the woman’s motions and keep in-step as her benefactor made decisions and enacted her will on their surroundings. The Operative had a reputation of being consistently on top of things, and her powers of mimicry and anticipation were highly coveted in an assisting capacity. Those skills were the reason that Tahliya had so often cast herself into attending roles to important figures while on intelligence-gathering assignments: she functioned so impeccably as a close aide and confidant, she was very easily trusted with a great deal of responsibility, and therefore, a great deal of intel. Those skills, undoubtedly, had something to do with the Operative’s current assignment, but the way she was being typecast lately didn’t bother the woman overmuch – after all, being around the powerful, in such close proximity, gave one more possibility of amassing power themselves than they would find fighting their benefactors enemies as a low-level enforcer.
The Operative took the time to slide her coat back on and button it up, taking note of Keretheriel’s sudden awe of the city sights. Tahliya didn’t bother looking over her shoulder at the view – it didn’t amaze her any more than it had on her first day of life. Being brought in to the world with a whole host of information already in your head took the wonder out of certain things, so the images of Vascxious Sigma’s skyline, while recognizably beautiful, had literally been in Tahliya’s head before she was born. She didn’t comment on Keretheriel’s reaction, though she did tuck the piece of information away: more and more, Tahliya was noticing that, while Kereth put up a good show of being powerful and unflappable, she was still very much a stranger in a strange land, and her unfamiliarity, at times, led to moments of surprise and shock. Those moments in and of themselves were endearing, but they also required a certain degree of management from the Operative’s side – wonder was all well and good, but its appearance at the wrong time could potentially spell disaster, especially when it came to Council negotiations.
Falling in step beside and one step back from Kereth after signaling to the bartended that they were leaving, her cavalry coat straightened, buckled, and smoothed, Tahliya spoke lowly as the two women began descending the stairs, her eyes tracking ahead to sweep over the floor below.
“You’ll find that foresight is one of specialties, Councilor.”
The tender knew who Tahliya was, and therefore would charge their drinks to the Council account, a handy little line of credit that had been negotiated with several of the key establishments that Councilors and Tower officials tended to frequent. The Operative herself rarely used it, since most of her dealings were of the covert kind, but she did have prior experience with the Hundredth Balcony and, from time to time, A Judicial Affair that left them ‘in the know’ about her affiliations. Tahliya kept in perfect step with Kereth, but as they neared the level below the loft, the Operative had to adjust quickly not to miss and stumble because of what she caught sight of.
Essarhaddon?
The woman’s countenance was fairly unmistakable, though the clothing and hairstyle she was wearing weren’t identical to what Tahliya knew of the former Seventh District Councilor. If Essarhaddon was back in the city, Alpha would definitely want to know – assuming he wasn’t aware already, that is. Never one to take chances, as she and Kereth began stepping across the crowded lower level in the direction of the lifts, the Operative fished her communikay from her jacket pocket and flipped it open, making sure that her string of explanations stayed constant even while she was typing a message to Raife, Alpha’s trusted assistant.
“Floraelia Devinian is a city darling, and is tasked as the City’s chief diplomat. She splits her time away from Vascxious Sigma between being an ambassador and some kind of treasure hunter, though it’s unclear what exactly she’s looking for. She spends the least time of any of the Councilors actually in the city itself, though odds are she will be here until Alpha is satisfied with the results of Council Elections.”
As she spoke, Tahliya’s fingers stuck the keys of her communikay in a flurry.
Potential sighting of Essarhaddon in 100th Bal., 7th – currently escorting Council hopeful. Instructions?
Normally, Tahliya would assume that she would be tasked with bringing the woman in, but her current assignment, given by Alpha, took precedence unless she was told otherwise. Worst-case scenario, she would get Keretheriel settled in the prearranged room a few floors down and come back to deal with Essarhaddon, assuming she wouldn’t have missed the woman due to the delay. With any luck, Raife had someone else to tap nearby who could take care of the situation.
Moving past the host stand and through the crowds towards the lift, Tahliya carefully pressed the call button and continued her small diatribe, ensuring that her closed communikay was still in her off hand so she could feel the buzz of Raife’s reply.
“Devinian is somewhat unpredictable when it comes to voting, and doesn’t seem to have any specific Council alliances, though she has good relations with Aeorex, of course, and Ishmael Mirr. She and the Councilors from Fifth and Sixth District seem to have a strained relationship.”
When the lift arrived, Tahliya would gesture for Keretheriel to enter before she would herself, gesturing to the patrons looking to share the lift in such a way as to denote that they would have to wait for the next one. It was a common practice to clear the lift of state dignitaries, and therefore the sour expressions would be only minimally visible as the lift doors closed. Carefully choosing the indicator for the 97th floor, penthouse level, Tahliya took a quick moment to explain where they were going, and hopefully preempt further questions from the Siren.
“The room I reserved takes up one quarter of the 97th floor – it’s a penthouse with a very good view, fully furnished, with two bedrooms, a full kitchen area, and a study. The doorman on the floor will let us in, and I’ll have Tower security here within the hour to watch over your comings and goings, since the location isn’t technically on the Secure Housing List.”
The digs were quite good – Tahliya had assumed that the woman at her side had a taste for finery, and therefore the penthouse would make her feel extremely comfortable. Hopefully security wouldn’t take too long to arrive, since there was a chance that the Operative would be called away to deal with Essarhaddon – Tahliya quickly sent an alert to the server with the appropriate location so that they could go ahead and get on their way. Also, hopefully, the wayward former Council Member would stay put long enough that she could be duly collected, whether by Tahliya or another operative.
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Post by Keretheriel on Jan 6, 2016 1:24:21 GMT -5
Keretheriel did not miss the fact that Tahliya had addressed her as 'Councilor,' but she also didn't respond outwardly to it. In some ways it seemed inevitable that Alpha's desire would be seen to fruition but the Siren wasn't one to leave anything to chance: she had every intention to win over as many members of the Council as she could. After all, she didn't understand what could really be at stake. She only had the distinct feeling that there could be unforeseen complications should she fail. It wasn't something she wanted to discuss with her Aide out here but she'd broach the subject relatively soon― perhaps in the privacy of the accommodations Tahliya had arranged.
The Siren's expression re-settled into a more characteristic, albeit small, smirk as the pair descended the stairwell. The moment the dangerously-curved figure was within sight of those who occupied the main dining area a strong echo of her earlier influence stirred. The vast majority of the eyes in the Hundredth Balcony would be drawn to Keretheriel and not in any way that was discomforting or forced. Only those easily distracted or fascinated would be coaxed into actually dropping their conversations for a moment― offering the distinct impression that the volume of the interior had been turned down a few notches by some mysterious covenant of the collective. It was remarkably subtle to all but the most attentive. Really, the sudden interest the Siren garnered could be chalked up to a variety of factors. People held their breath all the time when someone attractive to their senses moved about in the same area. It would be expected that Keretheriel would draw attention from the other patrons―anyone would walking about in public wearing a 'dress' that was comprised entirely of the sort of delicate chains one would usually wear as a necklace. Perhaps the majority of the stares turned in her direction watched hungrily for the moment when her smooth, easy sway might dislodge some of those chains enough to offer an even more tantalizing glimpse― what others might consider a wardrobe malfunction― of the flesh beneath.
The Siren herself seemed blissfully unaware that she was so closely observed.
The click! of her stilettos on the polished floors encouraged her smirk to deepen just so as she half-turned to Tahliya, the mirth in her features captivating to those who were watching.
"A darling, is she?" Her voice was more rolled purr than anything else, her accent smooth for once.
Keretheriel walked and talked, listening carefully to what information Tahliya gave her and taking the time to let those fever-bright eyes caress the room. The Siren had no reason to believe anything was amiss. To be fair, she considered her Aide's use of the little tapping device to be related to her acceptance of lodging here.
The little idiosyncrasies of the Council and its members were beginning to take shape in a way that was appealing to her impulsive nature. Their relationships were as delicate as her attire and already she wondered just how much pressure some of them could withstand before snapping.
"If she fulfills roles of Diplomacy I'm surprised her relationship with any of the other Councilors would be, as you say, strained." The harsh, wintry tones returned to the Siren's speech as her expression turned somewhat thoughtful.
The spell was left intact even as the Siren was beginning to move out of sight. In fact, the desire to continue observing the midnight-haired vixen would very likely move those most susceptible to suggestion to rise halfway from their seats before those of less pliable fortitude questioned them. To be fair, the thought to follow would probably cross the minds of those of stronger make and though they clearly did not act it did not mean they didn't experience her pull.
As soon as Keretheriel and Tahliya vanished behind the lift doors the tension that had been building among the patrons eased noticeably. Most relaxed and went back to their affairs.
When Tahliya shed more light on their destination Keretheriel's brow quirked and she grinned somewhat slyly.
"No expense spared for the needs of the Tower, I see. I'm sure it will be perfect, Tah-lee-hah. Since I've gotten us so deep in discussion of Tower politics I believe I've made us miss our dinner. Perhaps we can share a meal there. You will be staying with me, of course?"
{ Exit Keretheriel and Tahliya to 97th Floor Penthouse }
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