Old Haunts and Memories

[roseline]

Rose was more in her element now. The charming buisiness face acting for a larger group. Of course she wasn't in complete control but the relatively more even playing field between a recruiter and prospective hiree was much more up her alley.

"A pleasure to meet you as well. Kabuki means well, but he's an Oni, the non-human races can get rather protective of things they perceive as theirs, mates included," she explained with a good-natured grin to her new companion, a small flush touching her cheeks in reference to the term

Rose kept silent as she was introduced and she slid into the seat, blinking a bit as dolls poured her tea but doing her best to remain composed and polite about it, it was rather unique after all. When asked about her friends and the timeline, she cast a quick look back and bit her lip.

"we're not in any hury to get to the Earth kingdom, taking a day might be the best course as it looks like my companions are a bit distracted right now," she agreed as she cast a glance back to the group, which seemed to have increased in size since she'd left all of five minutes ago....hopefully not because kabuki had caused more trouble.

"But let me see if I can't drag one or two away just to go over basics," she said with an apologetic smile, not wanting to disrespect her breeding by yelling across the hall at them. Unfortunately the place was rowdy and her petite (and currently malnourished) form was about as sturdy as hay. So when a patron accidentally bumped into her it sent her stumbling....right into florentine.

"Oh apologies sir i'm....a bit distracted today," she offered with an apologetic smile as she met his eyes for a moment but having never seen the man in her life she was soon distracted with her other task.

"Kabuki the trips a go, she wants to talk details, so that means I need details," she explains bemusedly with a light gesture towards Simone's table.

[Lance]

Florentine was about to answer Aria when Rose bumped into him and apologized, her turned his attention to the young woman and smiled warmly, his tone becoming less joking and more sincere, if only for a moment. "Think nothing of it dear lady.~ I hear that you're the new Duchess of the De Flores estate; I'll be expecting great things from you.~"

Florentine gave Rose a gentle pat on the shoulder and looked at Aria, his tone becoming more businesslike again, "Would you mind taking this conversation out front Aria? I'd prefer to keep the details private."

Kabuki nodded when Rose told him that Simone would need details on their journey, sighing softly and walking over to the young noble's table and then waiting for Rose to join him before sitting down and steepling his fingers together.

"So, I hear you're interested in bankrolling a journey to the Earth Kingdom. Before we talk about the finer points of the journey, I'd like to know what it is that has you interested in financing such a trip. Call it me being cautious, I prefer to know the objectives of my fellows when moving in a group, I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from."

[Arin]

Aria nodded and stood up, gesturing for Florentine to follow suit "If you would all excuse us, I'm going to step outside to have a word with Mr. Florentine here in private." She waited for Florentine before making her way outside.

[The Harrowed]

Simone tilted her head slightly to the side as the oni walked up and asked her intentions without so much as an introduction. "I am Simone Bucharest. Tea?" One of the dolls floated over to Kabuki holding a teacup on a saucer.

Regardless of Kabuki's answer, Simone folded her hands in her lap and regarded the oni. "I am part of the Ice Kingdom Historical Society, and I am taking this trip mainly on their behalf to recover any historical artifacts we can find. I admit, though, I do have an ulterior motive. Word has reached me of works related to my own particular branch of magic, and I wish to investigate. You two would be coming along to assist in the expedition, assuming you're willing."

[roseline]

Now there were quite a few reactions rose could get from the fire kingdom nobility. Confusion if they didn't know her because she was an outcast, but he seemed to know her via her recent 'promotion', fear if they knew her mother and wanted to avoid any behavior to her daughter that might anger the woman, or the typical noble attitude of fake smiles.....and this was none.

"I aim to do my best to live up to my mothers legacy, whatever her personal or political choices she ran her lands rather well, and truth be told i have little appetite for politics," she replied gracefully a shy smile tugging at her mouth, something about the man made her feel safe against all odds, but she quashed the feeling down to get back to business.

Following Kabuki back to the table she settled down and let him spearhead the discussion surrounding the trip, he seemed more familliar with the trip while she'd never left the Duchy. She did side eye him a bit at his suspicious tone but didn't outwardly comment on it for now, choosing to do what she did best and instead listen and think.

"What is in the Earth Kingdom that could ever be the buisiness of the ice kingdom historical society let alone the magic of one of its mages?" she didn't even know for sure if she was its rightful queen but the idea of already hostile foreigners rustling around in ruins of a place they had no right or buisiness in.....bothered her.

[Lance]

Florentine chuckled when Rose said that she had no stomach for politics, a small smirk curling at the edge of his lips. "On that, we are one and the same my dear lady.~" With one last lingering look at the young noblewoman as she began speaking with Simone, he just chuckled a bit and turned to leave the guild hall, waiting for Aria to follow him out to a secluded spot off to the side from the entrance.

"I know that you're more than likely aware of my connection with that girl, so just come out and share your hypothesis." Pagan's tone was far more serious now, the brief glimpse of the kindly man having vanished beneath a piercing gaze and an almost stern tone of voice as the clothier crossed his arms across his chest and locked eyes with the Majin.

Kabuki gingerly took the cup, nodding respectfully at the doll and then at Simone before taking a small sip of the steaming liquid. "Thank you." He found the brew a bit strong, preferring the more mild flavors of the green tea from his hometown, that being said, it was not unpleasant by any stretch.

When Rose asked what it was the Ice Kingdom's historical society would want in the Earth Kingdom, Kabuki nodded and set his cup down, all business once again.  "I must ask that as well, given the current tensions between the Ice Kingdom and the Fire Kingdom, you'd forgive us if we were concerned about ancient relics of weapons long buried. The legends regarding the mana infused technology of the wind kingdom have tempted treasure hunters for decades if not centuries, to say nothing of what the earth kingdom's ruins might hide."

The implication behind Kabuki's words was grave, as was the gaze he fixed Simone with, though he kept his tone respectful when he next spoke. "I do not mean to imply that you personally have ill intentions for the ruins of course, but I think we all know that there are those in both of our kingdoms that would love to take advantage of anything they could get their hands on to shift the balance of power in their favor, especially since the attack that befell the Fire King's palace." 

[Arin]

Aria nodded in understanding and took a breath, planning to keep this brief, and discreet "Well, There are some physical resemblances, and your interest to meet her is quite eager...She's your daughter, isn't she, Mr Florentine?"

[The Harrowed]

Simone had her cup halfway to her lips when Kabuki and Rosaline asked their questions. She paused, hearing them out, then set the cup back onto its saucer. "I won't deny that there are some among the nobility that would like nothing better than to plunder the dead kingdoms of their secrets for the war effort. However, the society works only to preserve knowledge. We are neutral in the current, what's the right term? Troubles? Tensions?" She paused for a moment, then shook her head slightly. "Beside the point. We try to avoid causing or exacerbating problems like those, and we regularly share our discoveries with our contemporaries here in the Fire Kingdom. It would be unethical for us to do otherwise."

"As for finding any superweapons, I highly doubt that's going to happen. When the Earth and Wind Kingdoms destroyed each other, the Earth Kingdom's mountains and settlements were, quite literally, ground into sand. That includes any military positions that may have housed such things. We are more interested in things like subterranean libraries or archives, where documents concerning how the kingdom operated may have survived, along with any artwork or architecture that may have survived the storm. Even if we did find evidence of such a superweapon, the society's rules forbid me from trying to excavate it, much less bring it back to either kingdom."

Simone stopped to drink the rest of the tea in her cup. "Anna?" One of the dolls took the saucer and teacup and took it to the pair manning the teapot to refill it. Simone returned her attention to Kabuki and Rose. "As for my personal work, I doubt any insights into my own branch of magic will risk upsetting the balance, as you put it. My style of magic is quite finicky, and requires a great amount of both focus and practice to use effectively. It has little military application that I am aware of."

The doll returned to Simone with a full cup of tea. "Thank you." The doll bowed, and moved to tend to the kettle and burner.

[roseline]

The more this strange scholar spoke the less she liked her. This wasn't some excavation site for her to dig up and display for the ice kingdom. Hell had she known this was an organization and not a person she'd never have responded to the ad! Still she was a princess and had to be diplomatic, deep breathes De Flores.

"this organization you represent, obviously they're based in the ice kingdom, how involved with the government and nobility are they?" she asks simply, her smile nothing but frosty politeness. The image of the palace, still entrapped in ice was burned into her mind and she was full on prepared to disband the agreement entirely if that was even remotely the case, the ice kindom seemed far too aggressive to be trusted.

Looking breifly to kabuki she did her best to communicate all this in a glance and squeeze of his hand. He was her muscle after all. Of course perhaps she could simply pretend to go along and then intimidate their company out of taking anything.....if kabuki would indulge her.

[Lance]

Kabuki glanced at Rose when she squeezed his hand, he didn't understand the whole of Rose's anxiety, but he knew that she was at risk of shutting this little deal down if something wasn't done. So, Kabuki prepared himself to do something he had never thought he'd be caught dead doing...he was going to get involved...in politics.

"Miss Bucharest...I do hope you understand that we're not trying to kick a hornets nest, but please understand. Rose is a noble of the Fire Kingdom, and the Fire King's palace has, as you can see, been attacked by someone wielding Ice Magic, and I assume there were casualties as a result of this attack. To call this situation "tense" would be akin to saying a rampaging Mountain Troll is a mild Kerfuffle, Rose's Kingdom and Yours are on the brink of war, and now the Ice Kingdom's historical society is asking for help in poking around in what is essentially a mass grave."

Kabuki's tone was dead serious, his posture stern but not aggressive, "Now I personally have no issue with an archaeological dig, the idea of the Kingdoms at large learning from the past and not fucking killing each other is incredibly pleasant to me. But as someone who's home village straddles the earth kingdom, as someone who has KIN buried in it's borders...I want you to tell me, flat out, who it is who's funding this expedition. If you do, I'll pledge to you some resources from my home village, it's on the way and we can use it as a final stop before entering unknown territory."

Florentine chuckled softly and smiled, his eyes glinting playfully, "Indeed she is...I ran from this kingdom shortly after she was concieved, her mother used me to sire a child, and then cast me out while also destroying my reputation in the process. I ran into a curious man who told me that, if I was so intent on abandoning my life here, that he could send me somewhere to truly start over..."

The nobleman paused for a moment, his expression becoming almost nostalgic. "That place was the human realm, smack dab in the middle of the 1980's." Florentine paused for a second to let that sink in, a playful smirk creasing the edge of his lips. "The world is full of strange things, Miss Delas. Tell me, can you keep a secret?"

[Arin]

Aria's eyes opened wide when Florentine told her that not only was he sent somewhere in the human realm, but he was also sent to a different time as well. Someone had tampered with space and time to relocate this man after his life was destroyed. And apparently, he had a secret that he wished to share with her, asking if she could keep it secret if shared.

She nodded, her interest piqued "...I am listening."

[The Harrowed]

"To answer your question, miss DeFlores, not at all and barely, in that order. To be honest, the society is more of a small social club at this point, half a dozen people from relatively minor noble families. While we have funded excavations in the past, the society's coffers are currently somewhat dry."

Behind the polite smile and slightly unfocused look, Simone's mind was going a mile a minute, rapidly piecing together facts based on what she had observed of the pair in front of her. She did not like the conclusions she was reaching.

"Which leads me to answer your question, sir. I am funding this expedition out of my own pocket, so to speak." Her smile briefly disappeared. "And I am well aware of the heightened tensions. I have already been questioned and interrogated a dozen times by the guards following the attack on the palace due to my connections to the Ice Kingdom."

Beneath her dress, a doll emerged under the table and quickly wrote a message on a piece of paper.

Simone's smile returned. "Now then, I have laid all my cards on the table. Now it's your turn to answer my questions, but in the interest of maintaining your privacy, might I recommend we move this discussion to the hall's conference room?"

The doll beneath the table tapped both Kabuki and Rose on the legs, then held up the piece of paper, curving it inwards slightly as to prevent anyone around them from reading the message.

You do not want me asking my questions in public.

[roseline]

Rose relaxed as Kabuki did the one thing she found herself far too hotblooded to do. Calmly and rationally laid out their exact concerns and stated their issues in no uncertain terms. She risked a beam and kiss on the cheek to him from where she sat, her little reward for the creature 'dirtying' himself with politics. She nodded with satisfaction at the assurance that little to no interference from the goverment or nobles was to be expected, even if she intended to keep a close eye on their new 'friend' here for the duration of the trip.

"Of course, I think this discussion has all gone well beyond the point of the open tavern, Kabuki, do we need to bring anyone else in on the discussion before we leave?" she asked pleasantly.

[Lance]

Kabuki "smiled" (as much as he could given the faceless form he was currently in) and shook his head at Rose. "I don't believe so, no. I also believe hammering out things in a private room is only proper etiquette at this phase as well." Kabuki stood up from the table, gently pulling out Rose's Chair for her and waiting for Simone to follow suit before nodding at the Ice Noble. "To the Confrence room then?"

Florentine's grin grew a bit at Aria's reaction, "There are very few mages who can alter time and space in equal order, and even fewer who can manipulate time's flow...but that man did all of that with...well with all the ease of you levitating something. And when I came back...he was there waiting for me, Ryu and Tora, the two young men I left Japan with. It was like he never left, and he told me something interesting..."

Florentine chuckled softly and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small scroll...one adorned with a familiar (to Aria and Florentine at least) Silver butterfly on the seal that held it together. "He said that there was a good chance that I would run into you on the day that I met my daughter, and that he had helped you with his powers much like he'd helped me...and told me to please give you this." Florentine handed the scroll to Aria, his grin knowing again. "It seems that even if one can't see THE future, seeing a future helps with plan things out so it happens eh?"

[The Harrowed]

((OOC: I'm just going to hurry things along a bit, if you don't mind.))

Simone nodded and got out of her chair before walking over to the bar and addressing the bartender. "Would you mind keeping an eye on my table, just to make sure noone takes anything?" The bartender nodded. "Thank you."

Simone walked back over to the table as her dolls floated up around her. "This way, please." She led Rose and Kabuki to the room, then motioned for the pair to enter. Inside was a long table surrounded by padded chairs.

As soon as the pair were inside and seated, Simone closed the door and locked it. Her voice was dead flat as she spoke, her back to the pair. "Before I question you, I will point out a few things. There are numerous guards in this inn due to the king's presence. If you try to kill me, I will make as much noise as I can to draw them here. Our kingdoms are not at war yet, so I am still protected by this Kingdom's laws."

From beneath Simone's dress, four dolls bearing shields and halberds emerged, forming a barrier between Simone and the seated pair. "And I am quite capable of defending myself."

Simone turned to face the pair. Her smile was gone, replaced by an emotionless, yet still intense stare. "Let me make some observations. First, you are not conventional adventurers. Second, you are high-ranking nobles, if your position at the King's table is any sign, meaning that you have the wealth and/or influence to set up a trip to the Earth Kingdom on your own without needing to join mine. Yet you still plan to. Why? You don't need the money, meaning you're after something else. And you could easily fund your own expedition. So why join mine?"

"Here are my thoughts. Forming your own expedition would be a high-profile event given your status, whereas mine is, if not stealthy, than still low profile compared to making your own. What's more, you're going yourselves rather than hiring an expedition team. That means that whatever you two are after is important enough to warrant a high-ranking noble and her consort go personally, but also needs to be kept hidden. Given your concern with the balance of power, you are likely after something that risks upsetting that balance if it falls into the wrong hands, and so you want to secure it to either stop an upset from happening or ensure it happens in the Fire Kingdom's favor."

"I honestly don't care about what side comes out on top in the coming conflict. My family both is low enough to be below notice and has enough connections to both kingdoms that we can go with whoever wins without too much in losses. But I will not risk either being abandoned in the desert or having my expedition hijacked for whatever purpose you two are pursuing."

Simone's brow furrowed slightly, making her otherwise expressionless face almost a glare. "So I will ask this once, and only once. What do you seek in the Earth Kingdom ruins?"