[b]Scene Title:[/b] Friends in High Places

[b]Characters:[/b] Rikka Masami and Azumi Ian. References to Dani, Cain Flueves, and Ignis Fatuus.

[b]Context (Situation)[/b] Following Azumi's progress in the Human-Covenant War and return from active duty, Rikka summons her to her throne room/bedroom in order to discuss a reward for her continued loyalty.

Rikka was waiting in her room for Azumi.  She sent one of the many servants that Dani had hypnotized to find her.  Since Rikka did not have any idea where Azumi was in the White Night it gave Rikka the chance to think about what she was going to do.  Dani had come to her and had asked about Azumi again.  She had asked earlier to have the contract changed about one of the Zivaku's.  Rikka didn't really know much about them other than Azumi was willing to enter the contract for them and people close to them and considering Dani at the moment was the member of the Collective Rikka had the most respect for, she allowed it.

The thought about the previous talk made Rikka scowl as she remembered Ignis.  She was disgusted about the man, who Rikka had some respect for but that changed after what he did to Azumi.  While she did agree Azumi needed to be punished, she felt like Ignis did worse.  He did after all break the contract first by going after someone close to the Isaac Zivaku.  And the punishment of Azumi just increased her anger.  But Ignis was powerful and as much as Rikka was disgusted by him, he was an ally.  So for now she would tolerate him.

The result of that made Rikka start to look toward Dani.  Before Rikka was a bit bitter toward the other female in the Collective but now she was the most trustworthy remember of the group with Ignis and the fact Rikka still hated Crane.  It was part of the reason why she agreed to change the contract and why she was doing what she was doing now.  So all she had to do was wait for Azumi.

The door to her room opened courtesy of the brainwashed servant at last, her personal maid entering the room, eyes forward, seeming to something in between defiance and loyalty, between a dislike for the need to be a servant and a desire to show her worth. Azumi wore her maid's dress, complete with the jacket, corset, and all of the rest, even the bow in her hair. That hair had grown. Although it was now normally done up in a braid that wrapped around and tied into itself to keep her hairstyle above her neck to allow for the use of a hat or helmet, it was instead left loose in this attire, and reached down to about a quarter down her back, streaks of orange meshed with those of black. There was still as scar on her face from the final battles of the war, from an assault against her by a mercenary who had been hired by Ignis to scare her, one Cain Flueves. It reached in a diagonal, from a little above her right eye down toward the same cheek. It was very faded out, but still there, not distracting from her beauty according to others, but still a remnant of the war itself.

The Lightsworn maid put down her cleaning gear beside the door, then entered, dropping to one knee after a curtsey and looking up at her "employer". "You called, m'lady?"

"Indeed I did."  Rikka responded.  She looked over her maid nodding in approval.  She always liked how Azumi had looked, the soldier seemed to fit as a maid and at the same time she did have a bit of a threatening air around her even like this.  It just made Rikka think she made the right decision in choosing to pick Azumi as her personal maid.  The scar was something Rikka had saw when Azumi returned from that war.  Rikka had personally bandaged Azumi back up when she returned.  While the brainwashed servants were useful, that was something Rikka did not trust them for.

"Now I have been talking to Dani and I have made a decision that may come to a change in the contract again."  Rikka said, pausing so that it could sink in for a second.  "She put this idea forward though I was thinking about the same thing myself.  Her recommendation is the reason why I am doing this now as opposed to later.  You have served me well Azumi and so a loyal servant most be rewarded.  You will no longer be a simple maid."

The soldier stayed there, looking up at her, trying to gauge the truth in those eyes. She had blushed at how she had been sized up upon entry. Was Rikka interested in something beyond her normal work? Physical appearance normally didn't matter to her beyond its function, but she seemed to think of her differently since her return, as she stayed in her maid outfit and her style changed. She was surprised by her care for her well being beyond the contract, was surprised by her concern for her as an individual. However, she hadn't expected a promotion, or in the least a job change. Seeing the honesty, she lowered her gaze, kneeling as if reverently, a knight bowing to her liege. "What kind of change?" She did not appear to be sure of how to react, since a change could be worse than what she already was. There was a moment, her surprise temporarily making her forget her station, but she quickly stated the end to that. "M'lady."

Rikka smiled slightly at Azumi's reaction.  It was rather amusing to see.  "It will not only be with myself but with Dani as well.  If you choose to accept that is."  Rikka said as she stepped off the light platforms she would stand on almost all the time.  With Azumi kneeling before her there was no need for them at the moment.  She walked around Azumi as she continued to talk.

"For Dani she wishes you to be an adviser.  An adviser about history and psychology.  What those entail I do not know so you would need to speak to her about that.  Now as for myself you have proved to be a strong and loyal servant.  One that deserves to be more than a simple maid, even though you have done a wonderful job keeping the White Night clean.  If you accept it, you will not simply be a maid serving me but a priestess who will serve my will.  You will serve as my voice and as my blade if necessary.  You will help spread my glory among the world.  You will be able to stand beside me as I continue my quest across these world."

The promoted woman remained there, shocked. She lowed her head and hands, dipping into a prostrate bow for her employer's benefit, eyes closed as her hair fell over her shoulders and rested on the ground on both sides of her head. She knew that she could not fight her effectively, regardless of anything else. Azumi nodded, though she had to speak. "I accept, m'lady, though I do not know my position with the others, or this group in general as a result. If you require, I can call you something else from now on. However... I would like to not have to kill. I have people I know who would not appreciate it, so... would I have the choice of killing or not, even as a blade for Your Ladyship? And would I have the option to tell you of ideas that will help with the spread of your religion, to make things easier for us both?"

Rikka nodded though Azumi could not see it.  "Good.  You would not be a servant anyone among the Collective.  You would be closer to an equal with us.  You might not be a full member of the Collective but you won't have to ordered around the way you were before.  As for the killing...I will leave that to your discretion.  Though I should hope you understand if you fight someone that could be a threat to us you would make sure they are no longer one.  And as for voicing ideas I will allow it.  I hate to admit it but I have little experience in spreading a religion so any help will be needed."

Rikka walked away from Azumi and picked up something.  If Azumi looked up she would see it was a sheathed sabre.  The sheath was white with golden sections in the middle and the end of it.  The handle had an elaborate golden hilt guard.  Rikka drew the sword and placed the glowing green blade on Azumi's shoulder.  "From now on you shall be my first Priestess of Dawn."

The newly knighted priestess kept her head bowed, nodding to the self-proclaimed goddess. The slightly-less-dark knight looked to the sword briefly, surprised, but lowered her head again for her own protection. "An honor as always, m'lady," she said softly, not sure how to take this. She wasn't ever particularly religious anyway. "How may I call you? Goddess? Your Holiness? Something else? I do not know what a priestess should call her deity, I apologize."

"You may keep using My Lady.  At the moment I feel no need for you to change it."  Rikka said as she removed the blade from Azumi's shoulder.  She quickly sheathed the blade as she stood back on top of her light platforms.  "Now Azumi, stand before me so that I may give you your new uniform."  Rikka ordered.

The First Priestess of Dawn rose, standing at attention as she was still used to from military service, hands at her sides. "Of course, m'lady. Whatever you want me to wear...so long as it leaves me somewhat protected from...them. If you don't mind."

"It will."  Rikka said as she walked over to her thrown and picked up a carefully folded clothes.  With the sabre resting on top, Rikka took it back to Azumi and presented it to her.  "This shall be your new uniform which I have enchanted with what I call the White Veil that will give you a strong protect.  I also give you the Lightsworn Sabre.  It is a strong weapon I have summoned and though I may trust you I do still have to be careful.  This weapon can not harm me nor any of my summoned warriors.  It can harm Dani but it will be limited."

Azumi took the clothing carefully, holding it. She could see the slight glow of the White Veil, but nothing more. "I understand," she said, bowing at the waist. "If you need, I will keep these clothes just in case. Should I go get dressed, or would you like to talk to me about anything else, m'lady?"

Rikka let Azumi take the clothing from her.  "Go and change.  I would very much like to see how you look in your new uniform."  Rikka responded and she was indeed interested.  While she did create the uniform from one of the Lightsworn until she actually saw Azumi wearing it, Rikka had no idea what it would look like.  She had to make sure her priestess looked the way she wanted.

The soldier left, nodding, and was gone for some time, getting the clothing just right. By the time she returned, she was in the uniform, which was a modification of her Lightsworn maid attire. She wore a white corset with a jacket over it having only one button, approximately at her abdominal muscles, and with coattails that reach a quarter of the way down her thighs. Covering the corset, she had on a sleeveless top that consists of many wrapped-around pieces of fabric, in both white and silver. Two of those strips reached down her back, tying on the jacket further by wrapping around her waist and criss-crossing her back. The coloration of the jacket was a navy blue at the ends of the sleeves, but faded into silver, and finally to gold for the torso-covering area. The jacket shoulders were somewhat stylized, "crumpled" like an old-fashioned dress. The jacket was marked on the back by two kanji symbols: "Miyabi" (Elegance) in silver, and "Hijiri" (Holy) in white. The entire top was tight to her body, compressing her to both make her look less imposing and allow for cleaner movements, while also accentuating her form for visitors. The golden bow was still in her hair, as she did not know if she should have it removed. For pants, she had a white mini skirt that fades into silver at the edges, with gold on the outermost edge and on the inverse, as well as a knee-length skirt underneath for somewhat more decency, and cut to resist flaring in case of a need to jump. She had on nylons under the skirt, with navy at the bottom and fading up into silver and finally a silvery white as they reach her waist, and white-and-gold boots that reached thigh high. On the outer sides of the nylons, the Japanese "Raitorōdo" (Lightlord, or Lightsworn) was marked in gold on the outer sides, and "Joō Shin'eitai" (Queen's Bodyguard) in navy on the inner sides. She still wore her hair down, on her shoulders and a bit down her back.  The Lightsworn Sabre she had been given was on her right hip, kept there by the scabbard on her waist. She entered, her eyes on her semi-accepted goddess.

"Sorry that took so long, m'lady. Had trouble figuring some of it out."

Rikka smiled slightly more as she moved a bit closer.  "It suits you rather well."  Rikka's hands went up and touched Azumi's cheek and went over her scar.  "Despite the unfortunate scar you're face is still as beautiful as before.  You should wear your uniform much more.  It would do well to show off your overall beauty."  Rikka said as she tenderly stroked Azumi's face.

Azumi blushed deeply, not moving away from her at all, even relaxing under the caress. "Do... do you have anything you would like your priestess to do, Your Ladyship?" She had had a crush on Rikka for some time, though it had sated somewhat over time. Perhaps it wasn't for naught? "I... I mean I can stay here if you have something in mind for me..."

Rikka moved her hand away and paced in front of Azumi slightly.  "You spoke of aiding me in creating worshipers.  I loath to admit it but creating worshipers is something I have no experience in.  Before I can start to spreading my glory to the worlds and creating my followers I need a plan.  I must be careful as if I become too infamous there will be problems when the other Interferences hear of it.  They will not let me continue.  You said that you want to be able to speak about my religion so here is your chance.  Speak freely."  Rikka said.

Azumi nodded, trying to compose herself. Time for romance would be later, if at all. "I believe that you focus too much on destructive components of light, m'lady. If you concentrate on the healing elements, if you show what a world of your light can really do [i]for[/i] people instead of [i]to[/i] people, it would probably help in your projection of your divinity and assembly of followers. If you were to aid more people, even if to your own gain at first, it could be a great help. Fear is a good element, but hatred can be born of it. Adoration may help you a lot more in the long run. And... associating with Ignis isn't really helping your popularity either, m'lady. Maybe tone that down?" She thought for a moment. "Also, if you were to establish religious tenets and beliefs to follow, that could also help. Not just obedience, but something more than that for your followers to follow, and to attract more of them."

Rikka kept her pacing as she considered Azumi's words.  What Azumi said make sense after all.  If she kept trying to make others follow her through force that would just make any resistances to her stronger.  And she had been thinking about her own association with Ignis already.  Overall Azumi's suggestions all had merit and were things that Rikka would need to think over.

"You speak well.  I have mostly been focused about the destructive power of light due to my own focus on getting stronger.  A...gentler approach especially to the populace of the worlds.  I will have to work on the tenets and the beliefs and once they are complete you can start spreading my word.  I will also need to make a few...appearances to show the people of my power as well.  Unfortunately there is a limit to how far I can remove myself from Ignis.  Despite my displeasure at him I need powerful allies and Ignis is one of them. It is not something I take lightly but I can not cut my ties to him when I am not in a position of strength."

Azumi nodded in acceptance, bowing her head. "I understand, goddess. However, perhaps we can work on that. Not cutting the ties, but downplaying them. At least for now. For all we know, he may even appreciate it for the time being if we concentrate on your works. He does love attention, but keeping the focus on others also is something he likes. At least for now." She looked back to her liege lady, the blush finally fading somewhat. "And... thank you for the compliments. Do you have any suggestions for me?"

"That is acceptable.  If I were to be perfectly honest I am fine staying as far away from Ignis as I possibly can for the foreseeable future. If he prefers it as such then all the better."  Rikka said as she stopped and looked at Azumi.  "They are not just superfluous compliments, they are the truth.  As for suggestions you are nervous around me.  As a Priestess you have more of a standing to be able to speak to me so speak with confidence.  I suggest you do the same when you start spreading my word.  People will not be so receptive if you do not seem confident in what you are saying."

The soldier nodded, taking in what was suggested and trying to stand straighter. "It would be easier to do so if I were to be certain of your increased benevolence, goddess. As it is, I... do not have much to keep me from being harmed by those against the Collective. Thank you, in any case. If you can give me a list of preaching elements for me to use, it would also help." She looked down, then back up Rikka's body. "I... also had one question. Do you... have a reason for your behavior, your forwardness? Is it just your connections to romantic thoughts, or... is it about me? Do you want something from me?"

"If they attacked you for preaching peacefully then it will look far worse for them and I trust your skills to take care of yourself.  However I will show my benevolence in time.  I am not ready to start spreading my word just yet."  Rikka said.  When Azumi asked her last question she stopped, facing away from Azumi.  It was a good thing as Azumi might have seen the small blush on Rikka's face.

"I will admit I have some...attraction to you.  However for a goddess to be intimate with her own Priestess would be unseemly.  Do not take offense in this Azumi for it is nothing against you.  It would be same for anyone I would have attraction toward.  And especially now when I have not even a single worshiper among the worlds, seeking such things would just work against me."  Rikka said as she turned to face Azumi again, looking her in the eyes.

The priestess nodded slightly to the first, acknowledging the truth of her words. She could work that way, and nonviolence would allow her to continue. To the latter, she smiled slightly. A true smile, not just a fake one, or one hidden, as she took one of Rikka's hands in hers, stepping forward. "I... I don't take offense at all, goddess. Perhaps you can find a way in time? I do think that it is common in religions for relations between worshippers and worshipped, but... on your own time, and only in certain instances. I... have a bad history of those I care about dying." She looked down briefly, then up again. "But... thank you. I thought it was all just a joke, to play me. I will be honest, I am not quite certain yet, but thank you for at least the hope.

"Will that be all? Do you have anything in mind for the day?"

Azumi taking her hand caught Rikka off guard but she did not pull away.  It was strange to see Azumi going for it and the smile made Rikka look away, hiding a blush.  "I can not say.  Perhaps in time but right now I do not believe I can afford to think of such things.  I am a goddess yet I have no true followers.  I need to build myself up and spread across the worlds."  Rikka said as she finally pulled her hand away.  She walked away from Azumi.

As she kept her back to the Priestess Rikka spoke again.  "There is one final thing.  I apologize for the punishment I gave you.  I was...angered by you telling others of the White Night.  The punishment went too far.  It is something I regret."

The priestess let her pull away, looking to the ground in her distress. The torture had been extremely strenuous for her, paralyzing and choking her until she showed a split personality and pledged herself forever. She took almost a minute to regain her composure, finally looking back to her. "I... I won't say it's okay, but... thank you, goddess. I was having nightmares about that, but...maybe this will help. If you are truthful with this... perhaps we can work together after all, and not just out of fear." She watched her, wondering how she should speak now, but decided on it. "So... what would you like next? Is there anything you would like, as my liege or... otherwise?"

"No there is nothing needed at the moment."  Rikka replied.  She turned back to Azumi and seemed to be thinking about something.  "But before you leave there is something."  Rikka said, finally speaking up.

"I have made an arrangement to go to a spa.  I am inviting you as well as Dani.  With Ignis showing his true character I believe I will need to create a stronger alliance with Dani.  This will be an olive branch of sorts toward her as you are sure to remember our past antagonism.  I will inform you of the date at a later time as I have yet to speak with Dani about this.  Other than that, you may leave for the time.  I will contact you if there is something I need."  Rikka said as she started to walk off, moving slow enough that she could catch if Azumi had anything to say in reply.

Azumi nodded, watching her go. The idea of a spa was indeed intriguing. She hadn't actually been to one in a long time, and the idea of getting to know them better... it helped a lot of ways. She couldn't hold back one last question. "...would you want more from me if I could get this room shielded from surveillance? I could work on it, so that nobody knows. Anything to help you out, goddess."

Rikka took a few seconds to think about it.  Having a room none of the others could spy on would come in handy.  While this was her ship, she didn't put it past the rest to have some kind of spying done on her.  "That will come in handy.  Tell me whatever expenses it takes and I will pay you back once you are finished.  Thank you.  But I need to go.  I will speak to you later Azumi."  Rikka said as she walked off.

This meeting turned out a lot better than what Rikka had expected.  It was a rather good day really.