Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-5999656-20161216022828/@comment-5999656-20161222013617

Zanipher took a deep breath before responding. He was sharp, she gave him that, and versed in knowledge of criminal dealings, if he'd inferred that from the customs of traditional mafia hierarchy.

"Yes, as a primarily family-run business, the ones in charge of the company are the direct descendants of the founder. Currently, those are my mother and father, who are back in Vale after going overseas to establish a branch in Atlas. As one of the nine heads of the Dragons, our specialty is private investigations."

Zan took out her wallet and showed Diaboli a paper business card.

"For most people, that means going after disappeared friends or family. For customers in the black market, that involves detailed profiles of rival companies or certain dangerous figures, information needed to find and bring down a target. But our most valued clients are neither of these groups."

Zan stowed the card away and looked sideways at Diaboli walking next to her.

"It seems few people recognize this fact, so I find myself having to articulate it unfortunately often. The Dragons exist as a means of making profit without coming into physical conflict with other organizations. We do what we are paid to do. And the Nine Dragons are paid by Vale's high society to provide them with the information and means to protect them from any sort of harm that may befall them. You want a conspiracy? You provide the money, we provide the conspiracy."

Zan stopped and took Diaboli by the arm. It was not a tight grip, just one meant to bring his attention fully onto her. And then she gave a coy smile.

"Of course, it is a conspiracy, so no one outside of our circle should know about it. And I cannot reveal the names of the specific families who solicit our services. But since you were curious, I just thought you should know ~"

She let go of his arm and turned and faced forward again with a slight blush. She hadn't meant to get all dominatrix-y just now, but damn if it didn't feel good to act evil once in a while.

"Sorry, I got carried away. But I'm assuming you're aware of the Dragon as a literary device?"

(Note: This whole 'man-behind-the-man' with the Dragons was intended to be a subplot in my Zaniphilos fic, which I ended up discontinuing. I'll describe it in Dragons Report II, along with the events of the Patched, once I finish my new OCs over break.)