Intro: Chizuru's Night Out

[Halbarad]

[13:36] <@Kotono> ------
[13:38] <@Kotono> The end of October is a glorious time. October 30th brings with it another day of rain and gloom, the morning pleasant. But as Chizuru stirs and yawns, she blinks. In her sleepy, hazy eyes it lies on her bed! A great green snake, hissing and looming over her! Venom dripping fangs drip clear ven-ack! With a blink it's gone, a nightmarish image lingering in the morning's awakening?
[13:41] * @Chizuru blinks, and the illusions disappear like a waning mist. Ah, mornings were the worst time for her, before Chizuru could arrange every single detail of her attire, her manneirisms - her life, in short. "It's raining. At least, I don't have to do anything this morning..."
[13:42] <@Kotono> As Chizuru stirs, she hears something quite loud. An insistent knocking on her front door, over and over and over.
[13:45] * @Chizuru raises an eyebrow and winces as she tries to get at least somewhat dressed. She puts on at least a shirt and pants, washes her face and heads to the door while passing lipstick. Her steps slow and steady - wouldn't want to mess your face with gloss now, would you? "All right, all right... what the..."
[13:47] <@Kotono> The door knocking stays steady until opened. Outside is a tall, dark man. He wears a black suit and cap, face obscured. "My Mistress wishes to talk to you," he says, getting right to the point, voice emotionless and cold.
[13:49] * @Chizuru bites her lips, and laughs awkwardly. "You... haha... this must be a joke, right?"
[13:50] <@Kotono> "My Mistress informed me that she does not joke with Matsumi Nanayo." His words are still flat as he waits.
[13:53] * @Chizuru freezes. A chill rushes through her spine, the eyes suddenly lose their flare, taken aback. Chizuru breathes heavily, and shakes her head. "... I will need a few minutes to dress up properly. Can you wait that long?"
[13:53] <@Kotono> He simply nods, waiting just outside the door. No motion or movement from him, simply going quiet until it's time, perhaps?
[13:55] * @Chizuru goes to her room and dresses up. Cologne, makeup, a fancy tailleur, a haircombing. Nanayo... it had been so long since she was called by that. Chizuru's lips froze blue as she imagined. Her masquerade... what was going to happen? Regardless, she wouldn't play games with that. Fifteen minutes later, there she was, business-woven and splendorously plain to the guard's eyes.
[13:56] <@Kotono> He doesn't seem to care or notice, only turning to head outside once seen. Out here is a long black four door car, shiny and new. A fresh model, the rear passenger door opened by him to admit Chizuru.
[13:58] * @Chizuru quickly grabs a briefcase before leaving the flat, hurriedly scurries along and enters the car. The mood doesn't seem appropriate for idle chatter, nor... anything else, really. She just sits and firmly grasps herself to the briefcase.
[14:00] <@Kotono> Inside of the car rests today's newspaper and a boxed breakfast. As Chizuru sees these the ride starts up, no commentary from your black suited driver. He seems simply there and little else.
[14:02] * @Chizuru lazily picks up the newspaper. "Hmph. Might as well", she mused to herself. At the very least, she could silently laugh at the horridly inaccurate news and badly concealed one-bit opinions of the company paying for that particular news vehicle.
[14:06] <@Kotono> On the front page is a splash of the last few days' biggest story. Fushio Nakukyaku, a business man, was brutually murdered in front of his home! The police have no leads, but continue to assure the people that all avenues are being investigated. Past that? A fluke gun death of a teenage girl, Prime Minister Koizumi announcing a new Creation Drive coming onilne, the normal range of things.
[14:09] * @Chizuru shakes her head. "Savage animals, all of them. If they're not ravaging their own flesh, they're numbing themselves...", she sighs, and considers. Why couldn't they handle death more subtlely than that? There should be an etiquette for everything, indeed. Including brutality. After all, it was an immoral world. Chizuru, then, folded her hands together and watched the rain. The ride would certainly take a long time...
[14:11] <@Kotono> The drizzling rain goes at it's own melancholy pace, the drive taking most of an hour. At this time Chizuru sees the car outside of Tokyo, going up a sea cliff. A great iron gate is here, the sea roiling below! At the top? A great mansion, four storied and tall! The gate opens as the car approaches, no one in sight...
[14:13] * @Chizuru remains quiet, watching as the mansion affairs slowly unfold. In an inner musing, she muses the sheer amount of grandeur that has been imposed so far. Seemed almost child-like that someone would put such fanfare to a measly researcher - even a black widow one. Regardless, she remained firmly gripped to her briefcase, as if she needed to cling to something for salvation.
[14:22] <@Kotono> Inside is a large circle of a road, looping around to the front page a large fountain. It shoots a jet of water  back towards the rainy sky, the drizzle slowing for now. The car stops right at the front door, the driver getting out and opening Chizuru's door. "This way."
[14:24] * @Chizuru gets up, briefcase in hand, and silently follows. She stops for a moment to gaze at the fountain, and remarks to herself some amenity about the rain. "Uninviting day..."
[14:24] <@Kotono> Chizuru gets no reply. Instead she's led inside to the mansion! (More)
[14:25] <@Kotono> Inside is a vast foyer and entryway! A large, vast circle of the ceiling is gone, a great winding, twisting, snakelike pair of staircases leading up. You can see all the way up to the distant fourth floor, and the undersides of the stairs are littered with hanging chandeliers. Like crystalline teardrops, bright and shining. (More)
[14:30] <@Kotono> On the first floor are doors and hallways, leading to mundane things unseen. Ont he second are private rooms, hidden away and mysterious. The third gets Chizuru's attention! It's one gigantic greenhouse, too many plants to count to see! (More)
[14:31] <@Chizuru> 2d8
[14:31] * +Hatbot --> "Chizuru rolls 2d8 and gets 7." [2d8=5, 2]
[14:34] <@Kotono> Chizuru's well trained can notice a few interesting plants. The deadly belladonna alone catches her attention. Whiel she's not skilled enough in this realm to be overly familiar, she knows obvious poison when she sees it.
[14:36] * @Chizuru glances at the belladonna with a smile. Deadly and oddly entrancing. This is an ambiance she'd be familiar with, indeed. Smiling delicately to herself, Chizuru continues to follow the strange man, almost lingering to touch those terrible, terrible flowers.
[14:37] <@Kotono> The fourth floor is much the same in spirit - but instead of flowers it is a vast library. A library of curves and stained wooden tables, of leather chairs and confort. Sitting in one of them, a woman reads a leatherbound book. Her blonde hair is soft but her green eyes are sharp as a hunting cat's as she looks up. "Welcome, Black Widow."
[14:39] * @Chizuru grips tightly to her briefcase, and her amethyst eyes meet the blonde lady's own shining emeralds in a sharp gaze. "It'd be obvious to remark that this wasn't an invitation to brunch. And, quite frankly, no one had ever called me that. It's somewhat unflattering."
[14:41] <@Kotono> For half a moment her eyes slightly divert, before she reinforces herself with a knowing smile. "It's true...your kiss is as poison as what you create from thin air. Come," she gestures at a nearby chair.
[14:41] <@Kotono> Her voice has an accent, one strange and nearly forgotten in this post nuclear world. French, European roots lost 20 years ago.
[14:44] * @Chizuru approaches slowly, not straying her eyes from the strange madam for a single second. As she sits down, Chizuru rehearses a smirk and shrugs. "Your accent... heh. Didn't think there were still people with those roots left in the world. Not ones with such wealth, anyway. And... useless to dwindle around the subject, I believe. You seem rather interested on the small con I played years ago, it seems."
[14:50] <@Kotono> "Small con? It showed your very heart. Therefore, I have a proposition for you." Reaching out to the side of her chair, she pulls out a manila folder. "I trust you will have no problems agreeing to this, so we can avoid...difficulties?"
[14:51] <@Chizuru> "... I'd assume I have no choice. You know enough about me to ruin everything I've built so far. However... I hope there are more compensations to anything you might pull off than just 'we'll let you live', mistress."
[14:54] <@Kotono> "Three million yen," she says dismissively, before smirking at those words. "Mistress is for my servant. Alexandria Eli Ouroboros is what you may call me."
[14:56] * @Chizuru sighs and coughs, breathing heavily. Then, she sheepishly looks up. "... sounds fine, lady Alexandria. What do you have in mind?"
[14:58] <@Kotono> With a slight flick of her wrist the manila envelope is slid towards Chizuru, "Read inside. This man here...must die."
[15:00] * @Chizuru picks up the envelope silent and flicks it open with an agile maneuver. Even now, the stage magic days resound within... as she picks up the contents of the envelope, she reads quickly.
[15:05] <@Kotono> Inside is a picture - a cute man of perhaps thirty, dashing and strong. He smirks, wearing a power suit and with perfect black hair and white smile. He oozes charisma - or would, but the image is of him openly feeling up a passing by woman in tight T-shirt and skirt. Looks like some sort of party. "Wylchev Andropov. A Russian raised in Japan and playboy. He contributes heavily to the JRP when he's not molesting women."
[15:07] * @Chizuru nods and smirks. "I've seen that lecherous nobody harassing girls right and left in a few parties myself. Actually... if I recall correctly..." Chizuru smiles sarcastically, and opens her briefcase. She grins as she looks inside, and looks up to Lady Alexandria. "I can set him up rather easily if you want. This should be fairly quick and painless."
[15:10] <@Kotono> "Excellent." Alexandria smiles easily at this, "Excellent indeed...I hope to read of his untimely death soon." With that she rises, going to one of the great glass windows in the library. The rain has gone strangely dead, a heavy cloud cover obscuring the sun. "I expect nothing but success."
[15:12] * @Chizuru nods sheepishly, giving back the envelope to Alexandria. "I would keep this, but it's undesirable evidence to my side. It will take me no more than three days to achieve the expected results, lady. Until then, I bid you a solemn adieu." With this, Chizuru gets up, waiting for the escort.
[11:18] <@Koworking> So Chizuru is escorted back down. The drive back is without comment and soon enough she finds herself back home. Time to prepare and get ready, her plan looming. OOC - Go ahead and elaborate what your plan is, Chiz-chan.
[11:20] <@Chizuru> OOC - I'm going to juggle between social column research with poison creating for the next day. Need to find the next party my victim will attend, and devise the appropriate poison to get him killed. Do you want to RP/roll the process out?
[11:20] <@Koworking> OOC - We'll deal with the poison first. What are you going to make?
[11:21] <@Chizuru> OOC - I basically need a poison that will act somewhat slowly, that can be mixed to an alcoholic drink without much trouble or staggering changes to its taste.
[11:22] <@Koworking> OOC - Okay. Fatal, I assume, and how long from ingestion to onset to death?
[11:23] <@Chizuru> OOC - From ingestion to death, five to six hours would be preferred.
[11:23] <@Koworking> OOC - Go ahead and make a poisons check, with a 2 point penalty since that's moderatedly difficult to make.
[11:24] <@Chizuru> 2d8
[11:24] * +Hatbot --> "Chizuru rolls 2d8 and gets 12." [2d8=5, 7]
[11:26] <@Koworking> OOC - Chizuru works awhile and thinks she has a good poison. Okay, what about the setup..mmm. Just make a generic mind check for the other part.
[11:28] <@Chizuru> 2d8
[11:28] * +Hatbot --> "Chizuru rolls 2d8 and gets 9." [2d8=6, 3]
[11:29] <@Koworking> OOC - Chizuru finds out that there will be a party and dance/pick up cute and available women affair this evening starting at 7 PM. It's at a quiet, popular club. Chizuru knows enough to know that the purpose is pretty much for rich men to find willing, beautiful women to screw 'round with.
[11:34] <@Koworking> -----
[11:38] <@Koworking> Sizzle - the club that oozes wealth and power. Inside the darkly lit place are all the trappings of modern wealth - fine booze, excellent cigars, beautiful women. A hedonist would be at home here, dozens of people milling about as you enter. There's a bar and lots of long, smooth metal tables about, many people rather close already...
[12:02] * @Chizuru grins with a head shake. Fools, all of them. Just disposable fools. However, she has important business with one of them. Briefcase in hand, materials gathered, her most splendorous dress and a face born from heaven and made to sin, Chizuru moves dashingly within the club.
[12:08] <@Anastasia> Attention immediately falls on her. No creature of the shadows is this one, many rich menl ooking at her! Even one of note - Police Chief of Tokyo Enki Watanabe. He looks on from the bar, a square jawed man with his arm around a beautiful 18 something girl.
[12:11] <@Anastasia> As he leers up Chizuru, loose white dress shirt open buttoned and showing a strange pendant around his neck, you see him. Your target - black haired and suave, a woman on each arm as he trots around, like a fox in the henhouse. A blonde and a redhead, both stunning.
[12:16] * @Chizuru raises an eyebrow and smirks knowingly. On the other hand, that police chief might cause problems later. Chizuru decides it'd be best to lay a bit low for now, but not without rising up a small flare. Chizuru moves decisively to Andropov's line of sight - almost dangerously so - and glares with a stunning smile as she walks forward, heading towards a more subdued, hidden table.
[12:17] <@Anastasia> roll 2d8
[12:17] * +Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8 and gets 6." [2d8=4, 2]
[12:17] <@Anastasia> He raises an eyebrow at Chizuru as she passes, fleeing to a different table. She finds herself alone for only a few seconds, quarry following. "Aaaah," he says, the faintest hint of Russian in his tone, inviting himself to slide in and sit right next to Chizuru.
[12:23] * @Chizuru smirks as her target approaches, suave as she'd usually expect. Hands folded, the face of a malicious angel, she gazes into his eyes. "Quite a dashing entrance."
[12:23] <@Anastasia> "Very," he says, arm wrapping over Chizuru's shoulder. "You're gorgeous...so gorgeous." He's already moving in, quickly.
[12:26] * @Chizuru smiles and puts a finger over Andropov's chin suggestively while gently putting his arm away. "Now, now. You aren't the first person to tell me that. However, I'd love to listen after a nice drink or two. Would you be a fine gentleman and pick some fine bourbon for us? That'd make me very happy..."
[12:28] <@Anastasia> "Very well," he says, dashing as he lets his hand go lower, drifting over Chizuru's front and faintly groping before he gets up. With a lecherous smile he goes off to do just that.
[12:31] * @Chizuru sighs and stands straight in her seat, carefully looking around. She had to be careful. That pesky police chief could be watching, which would put her plans in jeopardy. She keeps a grip on her briefcase, looking around to see if any unwanted eyes kept watch. She couldn't make any move until it -is- safe enough.
[12:33] <@Anastasia> Chizuru sees lots of people about, but no one looking right at her - she thinks.
[12:36] * @Chizuru glances once more and coughs. She briefly opens her briefcase, and, with it, a rather typical make-up case. She opens it and feigns to pass some lipstick while looking at the mirror.
[12:37] <@Anastasia> Chizuru sees herself in the mirror if she wishes, as she can see Andropov starting to head back. Time ticks away, faster and faster!
[12:43] * @Chizuru quickly puts away the lipstick, half-closes the case and looks at the small gap left open. There it is... the small capsule that will put that idiot out of his misery, safely tucked in the very back of the case. However, that wasn't quite the moment to pull it off. She would have to grace that mudball some more. Upon musing, she closes the case, and feigns surprise to Andropov's return. "Oh, you are already back? How sweet."
[12:45] <@Anastasia> Two small drinks of bourbon, his arm sliding around Chizuru again most aggressively. "Good, good...you want to see my loft, don't you?"
[12:57] <@Chizuru> "One thing at a time, my darling. For now... I need to touch up a little, and it wouldn't be polite to do so in front of such a handsome man, would it? I'll be right back, then we can discuss more exciting affairs. Is that okay with you?" Chizuru slides her palm slightly over Andropov's cheek, feigning a kiss, and getting up as she picks up the compact and the briefcase.
[12:58] <@Anastasia> Andropov merely smiles with a hungry look, Chizuru not being interrupted in her fleeing. "DO hurry..." he murmurs throatily.
[12:59] <@Chizuru> "I will", Chizuru smirks maliciously as she strides confidently to the bathroom.
[13:02] <@Anastasia> The bathroom is full of women getting ready - lipsticking or  washing up - well, besides one palewaif snorting white powder off the sink, but everyone's giving her a wide berth.
[13:05] * @Chizuru snickers. She quickly opens her compact and skillfully snags the pill, while pretending to touch up her face. Those ditzy whores were probably too drunk to see anything smaller than a transatlantic colliding with their waifish, drugged-up bodies. Not that it mattered, it was a motion swift enough to raise nothing at all, wasn't it? Closing the compact and putting it inside the briefcase, Chizuru heads back, hands firmly grasped.
[13:07] <@Anastasia> No one even gives her a second look, everyone lost in their own conquests. On coming bakc out Andropov awaits, sipping his bourbon slowly and waiting. He ogles Chizuru openly, waiting.
[13:12] * @Chizuru returns, as splendorous as ever. In a black evening dress, silver silk gloves, astounding high heeled black shoes and a small amethyst necklace, a tiara ornating her long, loose hair, Chizuru smiles to Andropov as she sits down and puts the briefcase to her other side. "Thanks for your patience, darling. Let me just tighten my gloves a bit, mmm?" OOC - Sleight of Hand maneuver. She'll tighten her glove to slip the pill (more)
[13:12] <@Chizuru> (more) in the glove's cuff.
[13:15] <@Anastasia> OOC - Go ahead and make a check on that, Chizuru-chaaaaaaaaaaan.
[13:15] <@Chizuru> 2d8
[13:15] * +Hatbot --> "Chizuru rolls 2d8 and gets 7." [2d8=1, 6]
[13:18] <@Anastasia> Chizuru moves expertly, as Andropov just smirks, reaching to sip his drink again. "So beautiful...it's good you aren't wasting your timewith the others."
[13:24] * @Chizuru reaches for her own glass and takes a sip from it, intently staring at Andropov's eyes. "I know what I want, my dear. I only spend time with people worthy of my time", she replies with a shining smile. "Hmmm..."
[13:24] <@Anastasia> "Good..." he says, leaning in closer, enraptured in Chizuru's eyes as he goes into brazenly kiss her!
[13:31] * @Chizuru leans closer, almost kissing the suave mister, but stops just an inch, holding his lips with her finger! Chizuru leans one of her hands to his hand still holding the glass, and softly takes it away from him as she stares, now slowly putting the finger down and closing her lips for a scorching kiss!
[13:32] <@Anastasia> He is indeed busy, quickly returning the kiss and lost as Chizuru takes his glass!
[13:34] * @Chizuru "passionately" kisses Andropov, coordinating eye-hands to swiftly sip the poison in his glass! Chizuru puts the hand of her poison glove a bit over the cup, directing it to fall on the drink during that moment of LOVELOVELOVE. ("I will have to bleach my mouth for days", she'd ponder idly later.)
[13:35] <@Anastasia> This goes without incident - the only price is oral contact and a few gropes, the poison payload delivered! Like most men he's totally into it, lost to the world!
[13:38] * @Chizuru finally lets the grip of the kiss go, and smiles intently. Grabbing the cup she poisoned, the Poison Ivy takes a sip from it, and suggestively glares to Andropov. "This is a fine drink, indeed..." With that, she glances to the lecher, offering the glass forward so he could have not only an extra taste of alcohol, but of her sweet essence inside the glass...
[13:39] <@Anastasia> He smirks, "It is...very sweet on both counts," he says, taking the glass and sipping again! A second time as well, "Very, very sweet...mmm?"
[13:41] <@Chizuru> "Now, now... don't you want to drink it all? Just for that extra taste of desire and lust..." Chizuru intently stares at Andropov - maybe even a little too intently, as if she was commanding him to do so... OOC - Mind Control.
[13:43] <@Anastasia> OOC - Mind check.
[13:43] <@Chizuru> roll 2d8
[13:43] * +Hatbot --> "Chizuru rolls 2d8 and gets 8." [2d8=6, 2]
[13:45] <@Anastasia> roll 2d8
[13:45] * +Hatbot --> "Anastasia rolls 2d8 and gets 9." [2d8=1, 8]
[13:48] * @Chizuru smiles and directs him as needed. "Yes, my darling. Just drink it all up...", she muses, tempted to lead him by the hand as if he was a mindless animal - wait, he IS a mindless animal. Regardless, she folds hands, smiling gracefully as her command goes through.
[13:48] <@Anastasia> He finishes the drink quickly, eyes slightly dilated and empty as he puts the glass down. "It's good," he murmurs.
[13:55] * @Chizuru pats Andropov gently, taking the glass with her as he's still distracted, replacing it with her barely sipped drink. She gets her briefcase and opens its buttons over her lap, then pushes the other drink to Andropov. "Here's another glass. For us." Chizuru tries to coordinate these momevents as swiftly as possible, to avoid any confusion.
[13:56] <@Anastasia> Andropov takes the second drink in his hand, a little loopy and smiling at Chizuru, totally trusting...
[13:58] * @Chizuru hides the glass inside her briefcase with a swift motion, and closes it. As she finishes, Chizuru smiles to Andropov. "Good boy. Sadly, I'll have to leave now, but don't be shy, pick another girl. Don't worry, I won't forget you..." Chizuru then kisses his cheek (god, need bleach) and gets up, waving goodbye to Andropov, as silent and scintillating as she was when she came...
[13:59] <@Anastasia> He watches, spellbound but not saying a word. WAtches as Chizuru goes, watching as the fatal poison blooms in his body..
[14:01] * @Chizuru leaves the club, a triumphant smile in her face blossoming as she enters the darkness. Heh. Things seemed to go very well. Now, to rest. And to receive Alexandria's call as soon as the news broke in. That would be a headline worth reading.
[14:07] <@Anastasia> ------
[14:07] <@Anastasia> The next morning is awoken into life by not the dream of a snake, but by an insistant knocking on Chizuru's front door. Very insistant, as a matter of fact.
[14:10] * @Chizuru once again blinks, awakening to an unpleasant sound as always. She takes a bit of time to arrange herself and not look like a dead body to the person possibly behind the door. She approaches somewhat cautiously, though... what if she was found? She slowly opens the door...
[10:35] <@Kotono> The man waiting out front is not a police officer. Merely a servant - black suited and capped again, face indistinct. He bows once, stepping side. "Mistress waits for you."
[10:37] * @Chizuru sighs in relief, and nods sheepishly. "Certainly. Let me just dress up in a more appropriate fashion than this, and I'll be right there."
[10:38] <@Kotono> No reply, only waiting in a cold, emotionless pause. He stays exactly where he is, no sign of unneeded movement.
[10:39] * @Chizuru swiftly leads to the bedroom and changes. A few minutes later, she returns, wearing her typical gray tailleur, make-up done and briefcase in hand. "Thank you for your patience. I am ready."
[10:41] <@Kotono> Without comment Chizuru is lead back to the same black car, into it's seat. There is no newspaper this time, but the back of the passenger seat slides down! In the recess is a small television, the news on. "...are investigating the death. Police have not annouced if his death is a homicide, suicide or of natural causes yet. Mr. Andropov was only 30 years old."
[10:45] * @Chizuru blinks and suddenly smiles gleefully as she watches the announcement. There was her reward. "Good riddance, monkey boy."
[10:47] <@Kotono> So on you drive, as the news rehashes his death. Past that, speculation on another case, the Nakukyaku case is being called 'cold' and 'unsolvable' by pundits, while a lesson on gun safety is shown in light of a tragic gun incident. To this the day is only cloudly, no rain and perhaps hopes of sunshine.
[10:52] * @Chizuru observes the scenery warmly through the window. With a slight hint of perversity, she notes that death might have brought the best of that morning to New Tokyo. There would be tragedy indeed, but it all felt like a light of hilarity to Chizuru.
[10:56] <@Kotono> So the drive goes on. The sun is indeed finally breaking through the clouds as she arrives at Alexandria's seaside mansion, car door opened and path lead up, back to up that long, winding stair.
[10:57] * @Chizuru silently leaves the car and follows the lead given, grasping her briefcase firmly, as a slight, thrilling chill rushes down her spine.
[11:03] <@Kotono> Up the stairs you go! The crystal decorated stairs like a snake, whirling and twisting as you go up. As you pass the belladonnas and the like you faintly hear music in the distance, but you have no time to identify it as you head to the library. Alexandria is here, reading from a heavy, old book in her lap. "You can go, and you can come sit here, Chizuru," Alexandria stays, looking up from her studies as the servant departs.
[11:06] * @Chizuru raises an eyebrow and takes her steps. Slowly, somewhat confident. She sits down and slowly raises her eyes to Lady Alexandria. "I believe you heard the news."
[11:08] <@Kotono> "Well done." Alexandria reaches down, a smooth metal brief case placed on the floor in front of her. "Your payment...and..." Slowly she smiles, book closing with a soft, dusty thump. "You enjoyed it."
[11:11] * @Chizuru bites her lips and smirks awkwardly. That's not quite the kind of thing you'd expect to hear so nonchalantly... even after a job like that. "Well... I..." And, even there, she wasn't sure whether she should admit or not. It was just obvious that Chizuru was quite thrilled by the experience itself.
[11:13] <@Kotono> "I know." Alexandria smiles like a slithering housecat, hungry and aware. Her green eyes are locked onto you, burrowing in past the defenses of the body and into the meat of the soul. "You can do this all the time if you wish."
[11:16] * @Chizuru raises an eyebrow warily. "It's quite a risk I'd take under my arms, though. The thrill of deceit is tempting, but it won't do just by itself. My very survival is at stake there."
[11:20] <@Kotono> "Your survivial is...mmmmmm." Smiling slowly at that, Alexandria merely looks on. "What use in this world is there for a Black Widow that does not hunt?"
[11:26] * @Chizuru shrugs and sighs, biting her lips expectantly. "I certainly see your point. However, hunt for the sake of hunting isn't enough. I have ambitions, after all. And I have certain needs, so to speak."
[11:28] <@Kotono> "Money is of no concern," Alexandria says as if it's no matter at all, "Further...mmmm." So she pauses again, "I want you and I need you for this. My..organization is looking for specialised assassins to form a team, and you are exquistily exceptional." As she speaks the sun breaks through the clouds, drenching the library in golden light.
[11:34] * @Chizuru smirks in vague disbelief, shrugging and fixing up her hair casually. The tone of the conversation somewhat approached the one you'd find in a tea shop where two middle-aged ladies discussed their laundry woes. "Hmmm. Maybe. I am not sure if you can narrow down my skills so precisely from a simple black widow scam and a minor murder, but... I could just surprise you more and more."
[11:36] <@Kotono> "You could..." Alexandria stands, offering her hand. "Come, you cannot deny your nature. I reconginze what you are, as does my group...Magnum Deus 666."
[11:37] * @Chizuru raises an eyebrow yet again. And finally smiles, taking Alexandria's hand and standing up. "Then... I might as well."
[11:41] <@Kotono> "Welcome." Alexandria smiles simply, "There is one other gathered so far. In the garden, amid distant relatives to your craft you'll find her. Go."
[11:47] * @Chizuru nods and leaves, headed for the garden. Funny how could she feel somewhat nostalgic over a bevy of plants simply because of their chemistry. A minor scent, a simple grasp to a blood vein... and snap. That was the beauty of poisons. Regardless, Chizuru quickly makes it to the garden and its endless stems of flowers.
[11:50] <@Kotono> downstairs Alexandria leads you! To thet hird floor - a great plant museum of death. Amid the greenery and lushness you can distantly hear music, faraway. "Go on," Alexandria says simply, heading back upstairs.
[11:51] * @Chizuru bites her lips silently, hiding the vague smile she seemed to muster. Her eyes gaze the greenhouse as the steps take her further, the music echoing louder and louder in a constant, soft crescendo.
[11:59] <@Ana-chan> Rounding a bend in the greenhouse brings Chizuru to the source of the music. A young woman sits on a bench among the greenery, a fine clarinet between her lips as a slow jazz tune makes itself heard. Just as Chizuru steps into full view of the girl she stops playing, turning her face towards the interloper - her eyes concealed behind a pair of reflective silver sunglasses. "Yes?" she says quietly, looking directly at the older woman.
[12:02] * @Chizuru approaches somewhat carefully. She seems so frail... so delicate. Maybe it was one of the reasons that got her chosen by Alexandria, truth be told. Chizuru knew how deceiving looks can be herself. That eerie stare, hidden behind the sun shades... Chizuru awkwardly coughs, and mires the young lady. "That was... quite a soothing piece."
[12:04] * @Ana-chan smiles. "Thank you - it's been nice to get a chance to spend more time practicing. There's not a lot to do here most of the time, but I like it here - it's peaceful." Gracefully moving to her feet, the blonde carefully disassembles the instrument, placing the pieces inside a case on the bench next to her. "Ms. Ouroburos sent you to find me?" she asks curiously, a hint of a Russian accent evident.
[12:07] * @Chizuru nods thoughtfully. "Yes, she did. I was... invited, so to speak." Chizuru pauses, still a bit awkward - possibly pondering over Ana's slight accent.
[12:08] <@Ana-chan> "Mmm, I see," Ana says, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "You are a part of the team she spoke of?"
[12:12] <@Chizuru> "You could say so. It seems that we may be teammates... at least, I assume you were invited as well."
[12:16] * @Ana-chan nods. "I was extended an offer a couple of days ago, yes," Ana says, slowly approaching the other woman - although notably, her gaze doesn't really move, still looking directly towards Chizuru's face. "You are also... mmm. An assassin?"
[12:18] * @Chizuru coughs. "If we must be blunt, well, yes." Chizuru turns away slightly. What was it that bothered her so much about the girl? She seemed so naive and sweet... yet so deceiving...
[12:20] <@Ana-chan> "I must confess, I have not yet listened to the news today - I would guess you have completed a 'test' mission of sorts as well?" Ana asks, her cheeks tinging very slightly pink. "It has been a busy couple of days for me, I haven't stayed too well informed outside of the news about my own assignment."
[12:24] <@Chizuru> "... well, yes. You guess correctly." Chizuru rubs her chin, raising an eyebrow and bites her lips, carefully observing the young girl. "You know... I acknowledge that looks can be deceiving. But it's a shock to see such an unassuming lass lined up as an assassin. I'd guess many people made the mistake of taking you for granted."
[12:27] * @Ana-chan blushes a bit more. "In all honesty, I have not, ah, encountered all that many targets," Ana admits. "Only four, to be honest. Only one witness that I know of, however - or else Ms. Ouroburos might never have found me at all."
[12:29] * @Chizuru smirks. "So, we're somewhat in the same boat. This is 'just' my second murder, truth be told."
[12:31] * @Ana-chan smiles a bit more widely. "The second time for me as well - I don't suppose you've heard anything new about the Nakukyaku case today? I have not yet checked the radio for the latest word on it, although things still sounded quite troubling for the police yesterday." The smile twists into a slight smirk of pride. "Such a shame."
[12:33] * @Chizuru lets out a loud giggle that sprawls around the greenhouse. "Oh, so you're the little devil who killed Nakukyaku? You must have made Alexandria proud. The putzes over the police nailed the 'seemingly unsolvable' label on that case. You're good."
[12:36] <@Ana-chan> "Simply pleased that it's gone so well - it was far more rushed than I would have liked, but sadly I had little information about his home." Ana allows the smile of pride to remain. "Even if I have little field experience, it is reassuring to know that all the training works as well as it was meant to." She offers a slight bow to the older woman. "Although I am forgetting my manners, especially if we are to be comrades. (more)
[12:36] <@Ana-chan> Anastasia Cherenkov, at your service."
[12:37] * @Chizuru smiles maliciously and nods, offering her hand to Anastasia. "Takematsu Chizuru. It's a pleasure."
[12:40] * @Ana-chan hesitates a moment before reaching for Chizuru's hand, her aim just slightly off - her own hand going slightly to the left of Chizuru's own. "Ah, I beg your pardon - was I mistaken to bow? I am still not fully familiar with all the customs in Japan."
[12:41] * @Chizuru nods blankly. "No, not at all. I just take a more personable approach to matters, is all. Anything wrong? You seemed to have a bit of a problem now..."
[12:42] <@Ana-chan> "What do you mean?" Ana says, straightening up a bit and lowering her own hand.
[12:43] <@Chizuru> "Your hand. You seemed to misdirect it a little..."
[12:45] <@Ana-chan> "Oh! I beg your pardon," Ana says, blushing a bit. "It can be harder to track smaller movements such as an arm being raised." She slowly removes her glasses, revealing a pair of blank white orbs beneath as she gives Chizuru an apologetic look. "Your movements were a bit too smooth to hear very well."
[12:49] * @Chizuru blinks and coughs, losing composure for a moment. She begins an awkward smile that comes off unwanted, a strange trembling taking over her legs. "I... I... oh my. I'm sorry. So very sorry..."
[12:50] * @Ana-chan raises an eyebrow. "Why be sorry?" she says, replacing the glasses. "You had nothing to do with it, and I do quite well without my sight." She gives Chizuru a slight smile. "It is something you will learn in time if we are to work together in any case, so why should I try to hide it?"
[12:55] * @Chizuru gains a bit of composure, but still shakes a bit (and that awkward smile just won't go away). Straightening up a bit, she nods. "I suppose. It's still a bit of a shocker, but makes sense. Don't think many people with their sights intact could have handled Nakukyaku as skillfully as you did, for starters."
[12:59] * @Ana-chan shrugs. "Sight can deceive as much as it reveals, though," Ana replies, heading back over to take a seat on the bench. "Always people worry about hiding themselves from prying eyes, and don't pay attention to what the other senses can reveal. Some things can even be simpler without sight."
[13:10] * @Chizuru nods, taking a few steps further to appreciate the deadly flowers. "Makes sense. Probably applies to my own methods as well, I'd say. What people don't see may be what terminates their existence..."
[13:11] <@Ana-chan> "Just so," Ana agrees, smiling a bit. "If they never see their end approaching, what exactly can they do about it?"
[13:14] <@Chizuru> "Even less than they can when it's clearsighted. There is more than a single way to be blind. We revel on that and make it our living. Right?" Chizuru delicately caresses a lonely belladonna with her fingertips, smiling with delight.
[13:16] <@Ana-chan> "As you say," Ana replies, nodding a bit as she takes her clarinet back out. "Will you also be staying here at the mansion, or remaining in Neo Tokyo?"
[13:18] * @Chizuru ponders about that a bit. "I... quite frankly, I don't know. I have some things that I decidedly care about in my house. Staying at the mansion would be safer, but I just couldn't imagine staying away from my lab."
[13:20] <@Ana-chan> "Ah, I see," Ana says, looking vaguely disappointed. "I had little to hold me in the city myself, and Ms. Ouroburos is working to erase my existence so it is better if I remain here."
[13:22] <@Chizuru> "I can't really have such luxury, truth be told. I have earned some space in the New Tokyo society. My sudden disappearance from the scene would raise eyebrows, and... well, I enjoy some hedonistic flares myself. Which is not to say I won't be here often."
[13:25] * @Ana-chan nods. "Ah well, I suppose I shall simply have to look forward to speaking with you when you are here," Ana answers, her smile returning. "It has been a pleasure to meet you, Takematsu-san."
[13:27] * @Chizuru nods, preparing to leave with a simple smile. "The pleasure was all mine, Ana-chan. First impressions are quite important to me, and I can't say I was disappointed. I look forward to our work as a team, and... maybe you could play a few more songs when we meet again. See you..." With that, Chizuru takes her leave with a malicious smirk - one that Ana would probably sense easily and understand its meaning.