18:54:41: <Scandinavian> The room is an austere one, as befits a bureaucrat who values his reputation for honesty and reliability. A low table, a tea set, a work desk with a chair, and walls covered in bookshelves and scroll cases.
18:55:29: <Scandinavian> But the fact that it is a third-floor office with movable clear-glass windows with an unobstructed view of the three busiest Dragonsmouth piers speaks to the high station of its occupant, as does the unobtrusive serving staff keeping the teapot full and heated.
18:56:27: <Scandinavian> Since this is a private meeting rather than an official one, drawing upon the serving staff is actually a minor abuse of Cinna's office. If one wished to be technical about it, which of course nobody ever will.
18:59:38: <Kyruko> The woman sitting across from the bureaucrat has the look of one who has yet to do her first full day of honest work. Her hands are soft and pale, her kimono that is a deep, dark blue, embroided with ships, waves and sea serpants is also so constricting that it is only by the supernatural grace of her blood that she can move at all.
19:01:15: <Kyruko> Her violet eyes have the depth of the sea and her scent is reminiscent of the open ocean, the crash of waves and the brisk chill of the sea wind.
19:01:44: <Kyruko> She smiles warmly at the man as she sips from her tea cup.
19:02:52: <Cinna> The bureaucrat in question is a little balding, but still looking good though in his early thirties for a mortal. He is dressed in bureaucratic finery, the scholarly kind that are immaculately clean though simple in color.
19:04:10: <Cinna> A rich blue though, and he too shows the signs of little work. His dull blue eyes do their best to glint, and he runs a hand through black hair, still smiling.
19:04:58: <Cinna> "So, what can this humble scribe do for my good relation of Ragara?"
19:08:11: <Kyruko> "Your humility is most becoming, dear cousin," the woman says in her musical voice, "but you are more than a simple scribe. You are a dynast of the Realm and yours is not a role that could be filled by anyone."
19:14:11: <Cinna> "Thank you." Cinna accepts the compliment with ease. "True, true. Still, a little effort helps now and then. I'm sure you will do well soon enough."
19:19:51: <Cinna> "...You already have, I mean. The Dragons did favor you with Exaltation of, course." He suddenly moves to cover up the accidental faux pas.
19:20:49: <Scandinavian> A servant enters unobtrusively to refill the teapot, momentarily interposing a broad, hanging sleeve between the two Dynasts.
19:25:28: <Kyruko> The veneer of Kyruko's perfect face shows a momentary crack as the servant's sleeve disappears, the young woman's hurt shining through for an instant before her smile is back on her lips and in her eyes. "You are too kind," she says as her fan interposes itself between them and a gust of air sends her surf-white locks swaying gently.
19:28:34: <Kyruko> The veneer of Kyruko's perfect face shows a momentary crack as the servant's sleeve disappears, the young woman's hurt shining through for an instant before her smile is back on her lips and in her eyes. "You are too kind," she says as her fan interposes itself between them and a gust of air sends her surf-white locks swaying gently.
19:33:19: <Cinna> Cinna nods carefully hinting apology for a moment before settling into his smiling, serene, composure. "Thank you, your presence is an honor. Now then, how may I be of service?"
19:40:03: <Kyruko> Folding the fan in her lap, Kyruko takes another sip of tea before continuing, "the patrician house of Toyotomi is in grave financial hardship. My family has old ties with them and hope to offer them aid such that they do not fall prey to the hunger of the Guild."
19:40:21: <Kyruko> "I am here to ask you to lend your name to our efforts."
19:48:39: <Cinna> Cinna lifts up his tea cup and takes a brief sip as he listens. "Ah, yes. I am familiar with the woes of Toyotomi. And I agree, they do deserve our assistance."
19:52:54: <Cinna> "However, what precisely would you wish me to do?"
19:55:11: <Kyruko> "Your name carries great weight, cousin," she replies, her lips parted ever so slightly in a smile as her eyes catch his, "we ask for nothing more than you lending it to our cause."
20:00:46: <Cinna> "That is all?" Cinna chuckled, looking amused. " If I may, how long does Toyotomi need our aid?"
20:02:39: <Kyruko> "Yes," she says with a warm smile, "that is all."
20:05:13: <Kyruko> "And of course you may," she continues, her voice taking on a musical quality once more. "Despite the close ties between them and us, there are limits to how long we will assist them. Friends do not let friends be dragged down with them if all hope is lost."
20:23:52: <Cinna> Cinna steeples his fingers and nods, "Well said. But it is a grave state indeed... the Guild holds a great deal of debts from them. Do you believe they can free themselves in that time?"
20:26:00: Kyruko takes lifts the tea cup and drinks deeper than she has yet, gathering her thoughts. "I... I do not know," she says as the cup returns to the table, "but we owe it to them to offer our support now. If we do not, they have no chance at all."
20:35:42: <Cinna> Cinna, takes his own sip of tea, considering whether she meant what he thought she did. "I see. If you would give me a moment... there may be a document that may be of use in this situation?"
20:37:01: <Kyruko> "Of course," Kyruko says as a wave of her hand sends a servant hurrying to refill her cup.
20:43:27: <Cinna> Cinna looks through a few files, and asks, "While we have a moment, I'm hopefully not intruding to ask, which primary school did you attend?"
20:44:37: <Kyruko> ((ignoring the word 'primary' and moving on))
20:46:24: <Kyruko> Kyruko's gaze follows Cinna as he searches and pauses momentarily at his question. "Why do you ask?"
20:52:24: <Cinna> "Well, you remind me of a student from the Spiral Academy." Cinna offered. "Upperclasswoman, did quite well at the mercantile law class?"
20:53:49: <Kyruko> "Ah," she says with a faint smile before taking another sip of tea. "That would not have been me. My studies were in the other end of town."
20:54:39: <Kyruko> "And I never had much of a head for mercantile law," she adds with an infectious smile.
21:00:37: <Cinna> Cinna shrugged. "Ah. Well, we all have our areas of expertise. You certainly have beauty as one of yours."
21:02:04: Kyruko smiles demurely, "you are too kind, cousin."
21:02:41: <Cinna> "Nonsense. I speak truth. It'll bump up any dowries of yours tremendously."
21:48:22: <Ragara_Chu> ----------------------------------------------
21:48:48: <Ragara_Chu> The primary piece on display this month is bold. That is to say, dangerous. Entitled Forbidden, it is a granite statue of a deity that does not exist. A winged serpent, adorned in mail armor and elegant sales, it is a perfect depiction I every way. Just from careful observation of this statue, an occultist could divine the deity’s bureau, domain, role-
21:49:05: <Ragara_Chu> -function, and the approximate size of his cult. Just possessing it would be a serious crime, if that bureau, domain, or spirit actually existed
21:49:18: <Ragara_Chu> As is, it is meant as an exploration of the spiritual form, giving the listener a chance to see that which it would otherwise be a criminal offense to admire. Despite its technical legality, many bribes were paid to have it here, the Immaculate Order persuaded to see the greater good of things.
21:49:41: <Ragara_Chu> "Beautiful, isn't it?"
21:49:55: Ragara_Chu asks, as he walks up aside Kyurko, gesturing to the statue in front of them.
21:51:08: <Kyruko> "Very," the woman replies without looking. Today she is dressed in the white of her house and adorned with highlights of deep purple.
21:51:16: <Kyruko> "It is quite unlike anything else I have ever seen."
21:51:28: <Ragara_Chu> It's his function, and so his usual practical clothing won't do tonight. He still has pants, a shirt, and a heavy jacket, but a vest of bright thread has joined them, and his coat is now touched by golden emboridery, dragons seeming to loops around his wrists and ankles. Combined with the bright lights and his great personal energy, it makes him stand out.
21:51:53: <Ragara_Chu> "Perhaps you have a future in art? That's how it starts you know."
21:52:05: <Ragara_Chu> "That spark of appreciation of beauty that can't quite exist in the real world."
21:52:18: <Ragara_Chu> "Of course, the sculptor was mortal. As an exalt, you could see a spirit like this whenever you wished."
21:52:32: <Ragara_Chu> "But for me, at least, it is a glimpse at something... distilled would be the word, I think. It's entrancing."
21:53:17: Kyruko turns her eyes to her host with a flattered smile, "you are kind to say so, cousin, but I think a career in the arts would do more than a little to shock my dear parents."
21:53:59: <Ragara_Chu> "Well, that has a value inof itself, mmm?"
21:54:02: Ragara_Chu chuckles.
21:54:15: <Ragara_Chu> "But, best I find the will to silence before I say something I shouldn't."
21:54:46: Ragara_Chu would never dare touch an exalt without their permission, but he raises a hand to Kyruko's shoulders as if to grip it, though his hand hovers several inches from her.
21:55:00: Kyruko laughs with him, "the shock does not have a value in itself, I think, but it would do much to heighten the value of any intent behind it."
21:55:02: <Ragara_Chu> "Please, this way? There's someone I think you'd like to meet. A fellow observer?"
21:55:46: <Kyruko> She takes another moment to look at the statue before nodding at her host and following his direction.
21:55:59: <Kyruko> "How could I refuse?"
21:56:13: Ragara_Chu glances at her at that, considering his answer.
21:56:29: <Ragara_Chu> "However you wanted."
21:56:33: Ragara_Chu chuckles.
21:57:47: <Ragara_Chu> The section of the room he leads her too is devoted to paintings. These particular pieces are curious. They're boring landscapes on the face of it, but the colors are all wrong. The lilies are painted in orange, the sky purple, the buildings an angry red. Color seems to flow through them, from object to object, up towards the sky.
21:58:21: <Ragara_Chu> They're alien, but at once, familiar. The clash of color sharpens the mind, and where once, eyes would have glazed over a familiar scene, now they pick out every stark detail.
21:58:44: <Ragara_Chu> They're certainly popular, but of the crowd gathered in front of them, Chu quickly picks out one man, guiding Kyruko this way.
21:59:38: <Ragara_Chu> "Exalted one," Chu greets him to his back, the gentlest of motions behind the dragonblood letting him know he is being indicated.
22:13:20: <Dracorion> The man in question. man was dressed in clothes of fine red silk embroidered with looping golden dragons, seemed lost in thought, puzzling over one of the paintings before noticing he was being approached. He turned, revealing a handsome face and bright blue eyes, his mane held back in a ponytail. "Ah, our distinguished host."
22:13:26: <Dracorion> Then he noticed the mortal's Dragon-blooded company. "And of course, belated greetings to you, milady." He said to her with a curteous nod. "I am Cathak Yona. How may I help you?"
22:14:56: <Ragara_Chu> "Good exalt-"
22:15:10: Ragara_Chu puts on tones of mock offense, though it's a paper-thin veil.
22:15:33: <Ragara_Chu> "I understand the inclination to serve Realm and Empress, but you are not here tonight to come to the aid of others."
22:15:34: Kyruko smiles at Yona, purple eyes sparkling and the scent of the cold salt sea about her.
22:15:35: <Ragara_Chu> "I must insist you relax."
22:15:49: <Ragara_Chu> "This is my cousin, Kyruko. She too is relatively new in the city."
22:16:37: <Ragara_Chu> "It occurred to me, watching you, that you were lacking something -- to wit, a conversation. Half the fun of art is discussing it with others."
22:16:42: <Ragara_Chu> "I thought I might make some introductions."
22:17:42: <Kyruko> "It is a pleasure to meet you, Cathak Yona," Kyruko says with a slight bow that sends her artfully arranged white hair swaying.
22:22:09: <Dracorion> "The pleasure is all mine, milady." Yona says with a smile, then turns to the host. "You are quite right, of course. Here I was just observing this painting behind me and lamenting that there was no one to study it with."
22:26:37: <Kyruko> Kyruko's eyes pass from Yona's as if moving through tar, glacially at first, but then swiftly. They come to rest on the painting behind him, a bright blue deer by a deep red lake.
22:27:05: <Kyruko> "It is certaily striking. Exquisitely detailed, but..." She trails off, giving Yona a chance to finish her sentence.
22:36:16: <Dracorion> Yona turns to study the painting once more. "But, aside from the warped colors, it doesn't seem to portray anything significant."
22:37:24: <Kyruko> "No," Kyruko agrees with the slighest of frowns and a smile, "and I do not believe our gracious host would include an insignificant piece on his gallery."
22:38:46: <Kyruko> Her eyes glide from the picture in front of them to the leafy green sunflowers on a grey field next to it, tilting her head she observes it.
22:39:32: <Kyruko> "And his one is the same. Pretty in its simple way, clearly made by someone of great skill, but there is nothing new in it, except the colours."
22:41:24: <Dracorion> "Before you came I was wondering if there was some greater meaning in these paintings that eludes me." Yona sighs.
22:43:11: <Kyruko> "As a child," she muses, her eyes gliding to the picture on the other side of them as she takes a step closer to Yona, "I sometimes wondered if the colour I call red is the same that others call red, and if the colour they call blue is the same that I call blue. Perhaps, I thought, everyone has the same favorite color, they only call it by different names."
22:44:10: <Kyruko> "But," she says after some time of staring at a basket of bright yellow kittens, "I do not think that is what this artist is trying to tell us."
22:46:00: <Kyruko> As she raises her hand to take a glass from a passing waiter, Kyruko briefly touches Yona. She turns to him with a smile as she sips the clear liquid, "are you in the Legions, Cathak Yona?"
22:51:22: <Dracorion> Yona turns to Kyruko as her hand brushes his bicep, and she can tell he's no stranger to physical activity. "I serve as a Dragonlord in the 7th Cathak Legion." He says simply, smiling back. "Do you hold an office, Ragara Kyruko?" He asks curiously.
22:52:35: <Kyruko> Still smiling, she takes a step back and lets her eyes move across the vista of strange and magnificent paintings, "if these pictures were enemy units, what would you say they were doing?"
23:00:18: <Dracorion> "Hm." Yona takes a step back as well, and examines the collection at large. "I would say they are engaging in some unorthodox tactics." A spark of insight lights his face. "But it's the same tactic. Whatever they are doing, they're meant to work together."
23:02:43: Kyruko nods, "I find that most good art draws attention to itself naturally, by something hidden that you must study it long to see. These paintings scream as loudly as they possibly can that you should look at them, crudely demanding attention rather than commanding it by sheer personality."
23:03:13: <Kyruko> "And they are all competing in the same way, no single piece seems to stand out."
23:03:20: <Kyruko> "Why would the artist do that?"