Board Thread:Role Play Discussion/@comment-5999656-20170619043145/@comment-25582638-20170730225437

“You're welcome, Miss Zanipher. And if Fen needs one, just give me a heads up. I would gladly help her,” Basilia said, her eyes glinting cheerfully as she clasped her hands behind. She’d never been a PR coach before but the idea of becoming one seemed exciting. Just imagine her having a “student” to watch over (and make fun of, in a good way), and actually learning bits of things she didn't know from her “student”. These were her thoughts for now, fueled purely by her celebrity persona.

The duo boarded the elevator as soon as the doors opened. More people streamed into the elevator, making it difficult to talk about things that shouldn't be overheard.

“Give my regards to your father,”

“I will, my lady,” came the reply of a young man dressed in black suit and tie, bobbing his head briefly at the silver-haired woman seated on a chair before taking a step back and leaving the restaurant.

The matriarch swirled her drink slowly in deep thought, her eyes closed as she listened to the serene surroundings and soft murmurings of the diners. The place, Velvet Crown Restaurant, was an expensive restaurant. Hence, the people here weren't that many and being overheard was the least of their problem. In many days, casual business meetings were conducted here because of such reasons. Accommodate potential clients, treat them like kings and queens, anything to court them to get them to invest. Mere cold facts like numbers in financials wouldn't be enough to influence rational yet emotional beings to take action.

At that point, Mona Bluthardt revealed her dark blue eyes staring at the glass window beside her. She was seated in a table for two, located in the near the corner of the restaurant. Suddenly, a reflection of a middle-aged man with caramel-colored hair appeared beside her’s. Even so, the matriarch didn't turn.

“My lady, Lady Basilia and Miss Hei'An are here,” the man said in a gentle manner, prompting Mona to turn her head slightly at their names.

“Is there anything you would like us to prepare before the meeting?”

To normal people, food and beverages would typically be the first things they would think of. But as to the intent and the way the question was phrased, the man was referring to something else. Namely, a weapon.

“None. Thank you, Robin. I’m already satisfied.” she said, smiling faintly.

At her reply, the man bowed respectfully.

“And Robin,” Mona called out, finally turning to face the man. “Is she still in Vale?”

Robin blinked for a moment, swallowing his saliva. “Yes, my lady. She hasn't left Vale yet according to Lady Brunhilde’s last update. I can relay your orders to her as soon as possible.”

If she's still there.

The matriarch became silent as she put down her drink and clasped her hands on the table. Relay her orders. She had never spoken to that child in person for a long time. They’d seen each other many times, usually in family reunions, but not a word nor a gaze were exchanged between them. The last time that they’d met was after the fall of the Battalion, where Mona remembered seeing Cyzarine’s shamrock green hair that had grown longer. It became curlier similar to her twin sister’s.

As orders formed in her head, Mona caught a glimpse of Basilia and Zanipher out of the corner of her eye. “Just let her be, for now.”

-

Basilia led the Ninth Dragon towards her mother. She saw Robin bowed to mother, and left before she could even say “hi” to him. Even so, Mona was already looking at them with a hint of delight, particularly looking at her. Basilia finally removed her hat, now that there weren’t any potential paparazzi lurking in the shadows, and wordlessly walked a bit faster ahead of Zanipher.

“How's your trip, Silia?,” Mona asked first thing as she rose from her seat and took a few steps forward to greet her youngest child. Gently, the matriarch wrapped her arms around Basilia, rubbing her back gingerly. She didn't let her prosthetic left arm touch her daughter as firmly as her right.

“Uuuneventful,” the daughter replied childishly as she grinned and hugged back.

“But Miss Zanipher’s nice to talk to so it was fun.”

“Is that so?” Mona hummed at her daughter’s reply, now staring straight at Zanipher's eyes as she let go of her daughter.

“It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Zanipher,” she said with a smile, moving forward to her fellow Dragon and stopping at a distance, enough for her to give the young woman a light shoulder-only hug as a customary social greeting.

“Before anything else, was my daughter in her best behavior on your way here?” she asked, initiating a small talk that would die in a blink of an eye before getting into the business.