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[hauntedking]

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[tattooism]

You must allow me to open your mind to the possibilities... They were quite common in my world...

["Were", of course, because she is supposed to be Zenith and believe that her world was gone. Her fingers continue their casual, slow stroke along his arm.]

And I promise, I was quite well known for my skills.

Did you know even your Tribune has tattoos? Quite large ones, I hear.

[hauntedking]

I hadn't heard that, but I also haven't inquired too much into his personal business...

[ She assumes a great deal of intimacy and it throws him off a bit. ]

As for me, that's something I'd have to consider very seriously before I decided to indulge.

[tattooism]

Oh, my~ Perhaps I was a bit forward, asking as I did, then... But I couldn't help myself... It's my interest, after all~

And I wanted his permission to continue my work in Springstar, naturally. I am not trying to ruffle any feathers just to get to my clients. ♡

[... Who are more in Kowloon than Springstar proper, but. Though he might expect her to be annoyed with his answer, putting her off with it being a serious choice...]

Of course you do. I do not do work on drunk men looking to mark their friends as fools or twitterpated women who think they are in love and want to mark their lover's name on their body.

I only tattoo that which matters.

[hauntedking]

I find that rather admirable, honestly, even if I've never really gotten into that sort of artisanal work myself.

[ And he does sound like he thinks that sort of thing is very impressive! Admirable, even. ]

Especially with tattoos. Those are usually rather personal, aren't they? If you mark your own body...

[tattooism]

They are. That is why my clients must understand I only ink the most important of things... their duty, karma, sins, or glories... there, upon their skin, forever.

But some things deserve to be shown.

[hauntedking]

I've never thought of it like that. But I suppose it is a way to tell the world that you are there; that you exist. It simply isn't a tradition among my people.

[tattooism]

My~ A poet as well as a king.

[another fleeting sensation, like fingers through hair]

That’s exactly it.

I hope your are able to feast your eyes on some examples. It might inspire you.

[hauntedking]

[ That's simultaneously comforting and a little off-putting. He doesn't know why. ]

A poet? Hardly. I'm just... ignorant of this form of art for the most part. I know almost nothing of it or what makes it beautiful.

Learning more about it seems as if it might be enlightening, in a way.

[tattooism]

That approach is admirable enough itself~ To be open to learning, rather than rejecting that which is unknown simply for that sake.

[She keeps doing it, as long as she is not stopped.]

Shall I show you mine? I am quite proud of them.

[hauntedking]

I would be interested in seeing them, yes.

[ He's still wary, but honestly this is surprisingly pleasant so far. ]

Learning new things is always rather enjoyable.

[tattooism]

In person... ? Or here, in the world of smoke and whispers of the heart?

[She has her personal preference, but...]

[hauntedking]

I feel as if in person would have more of the desired impact, wouldn't it?

[ Completely guileless. ]

[tattooism]

I agree completely~

Shall I come to you... ?

[hauntedking]

Well, is there a place you would prefer to meet? I have a house in Springstar.

[tattooism]

I make house calls ♡

That seems easiest. Simply show me where and when and I shall be there~

[hauntedking]

Easily done.

[ Maybe he shouldn't just give his address out - but he does. It's an image of a small little house with a front garden on a sunny street in Springstar. ]

[tattooism]

[How cute.]

I'll be there soon, Your Highness~ Just give me an hour or so.

[And true to her word... Kiritsubo arrives in at the door with a bag of shopping, wearing the shape of a blonde woman she has used to make several acquaintances and take clients with in Springstar. One that wasn't connected at all to the broadcast from the Oracle labyrinth.]

Hello, hello~ Anyone home... ?

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri takes the hour to putter around his house and prepare for a guest. A touch of cleaning, splash some water on his face, make sure his hair is tied back and out of the way... and prepare some tea and some snacks, just in case.

The door opens to present the young king; he's dressed down in high-waisted trousers and a flowing cream-colored shirt. He examines her for a moment and then smiles, beckoning her inside. ]

Welcome, welcome. You must be Kiritsubo! Please, come in. Would you like anything to drink? I'm afraid I can only offer water or tea...

[ Inside there's a small sitting room-slash-studu, a dining area with a table and a few chairs, a small kitchen and what must be a bedroom and a bathroom. ]

[tattooism]

[Kiritsubo would be amused if she knew what sort of preparations had gone into her visit. But as it was... she was amused either way, in the manner in which fishermen tended to feel when they tried a new method of bait fishing that was doing particularly well.

The door opens... and Kiritsubo's chin tips up to view her host. This shape was only a few inches taller than her "natural" one, and the blonde king towers over her... not that she seems intimidated at all, despite being a Zenite supposedly on enemy territory, entering the home of a man who had actually exploded a man during the last Oracle trial. (Technically.) It's all smiles.]

That I am~

[She even gives a little curtsy, though it lacks the gravitas one would normally require from meeting royalty.]

I'd love a tea actually, thank you.

[Brushing some of her heavy hair back over her shoulder, she freely waltzes about his home once shown inside, fingers brushing over the back of a chair, examining the decor, already seeming to make herself comfortable (or perhaps check for traps?).]

[hauntedking]

[ Fortunately, Dimitri is not the type to lull someone into a false sense of security and then try to murder them in his own home. So he's exactly as he appears, even if he's a little surprised at how fast this is starting to go. He nods and gestures for her to sit as he starts to putter around the small kitchen. There's already water on to boil and so it won't take him more than a few minutes to have something ready. ]

Please, make yourself comfortable. This shouldn't be more than a few minutes. I hope no one gave you too much trouble on your way here?

[tattooism]

[Obligingly, Kiritsubo eventually stops her little exploration and takes a seat, near enough to the hall that she can still engage him from a distance, hear him well from the kitchen and watch him putter. How strange- a king, puttering. The king of the demon world certainly didn't do such things...

But it's fun to watch. Had Kenos done that to him, or... ?]

It's kind of you to ask...

[Though she often dressed quite provocatively, she had come rather modestly clad today, all for the effect of what she planned to later do. Long skirts and sleeves flutter as she shifts and crosses a leg on her seat, checking her nails briefly while he works on the tea.]

I've just been keeping my head down...

[By, you know, changing her entire shape and avoiding those that had been ruined by the unexpected broadcast, but. She doesn't say that. She doesn't know if this fellow read the papers.]

Thankfully, the people of Springstar seem willing enough to tolerate me as long as I stick to my work. I suppose not raising a hand against any Meridians during the trial also helped...

[hauntedking]

[ He's always been a bit of a putterer when it comes to domesticity. Or gardens. He prefers to work and he likes helping people, so... it comes a little naturally. He turns back to her, bringing along a steaming teapot and a couple of cups for them to use. He sets the tray on the table and then slides a chair out for himself to use. ]

I suppose it would help, yes, although quite a lot of them seem hostile to most Zenith, regardless. I'm sure I wouldn't find a warm welcome in Highstorm these days.

[ He looks a touch sheepish. ]

I may have gone slightly overboard.

[ Well. The less said about that the better. ]

[tattooism]

[His house guest welcomes him back with a smile, brushing a bit of imaginary dust off the table for him to place the tea upon. It smelled nice and fragrant- a good choice. Another surprising thing from a King. Interesting, interesting...]

Is it really "overboard" if you are fighting desperately for a cause... ?

[She had not been doing that, and she had no intention of pretending otherwise. If the citizens of Highstorm wanted to resent her for her casual seeming approach to the faction conflict, they were free to.]

The more explosive outcome, well. That sounded like an accident to me.

[She read the papers, which had made quite a fuss over that one, but...]

Are you alright, after that?

[She sounds genuinely interested, perhaps even concerned.]

[hauntedking]

Sort of. I didn't realize that the idol would do... that.

[ He sighs and pours them both a cup as he considers, glancing up with a little frown and a shake of his head. His speech comes after a moment, a little halting. ]

...well. I've experience with bloodshed and wars. I'm managing. It's not the first terrible thing I've seen and I'm sure it won't be the last. I think I'll be alright. Thank you for asking, though.

[tattooism]

I believe hardly anyone would.

[So, an "accident". Even her own eyes, which could see the 「truth」of things... likely would not have been able to「see」something so specific as the outcome of a person coming into contact with an effigy. Perhaps she would have been able to sense it would not be a good outcome by any means, but.

The specifics of a gory explosion? No. But she keeps her expression a sympathetic one, the blue eyes of her transformation soft.]

I have seen war, too, but, still...

[She lets the comment trail away, just implication, before she smiles ever so slightly and gestures to the tea he has brought.]

Here we are, to have tea and discuss my work, despite the fact that we are supposedly at war ourselves.

[Was that not laudable, in some way? Some proof that peace could be had?]