Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25389303-20191221164519/@comment-25389303-20191223194746

"Hmph...as you wish."

Diaboli followed Zanipher into the elevator without another word, turning his head from side to side in quiet curiousity as he walked. His natural inquisitiveness compelled him to explore further, but obviously that was out of the question. To everyone besides Zan, he likely appeared to be just another client. It was probably in both their interests to maintain that illusion.

He allowed the silence between them to stretch out longer than he would usually allow as they made their way to the highest level. It wasn't for the purposes of confidentiality, though. The reminder of his harsh words back on the auction floor was not something he had an easy response to - no matter how justified he had felt in saying them. And despite her calm and cool demeanour, Diaboli was all too aware of how volatile Zanipher's mood could be. He'd have more success betting at a rigged roulette table than he would predicting how his words would be interpreted by the Dragon.

"Remember back in Mistral, when I invited you into my home?" Diaboli eventually said, glancing up involuntarily at the elevator's single visible security camera. "I told you I leased out the building to a pharmaceutical company, so as to appear unremarkable to the public eye. I then mentioned that your agency did something similar, and you seemed confused."

He waved his hand at the walls surrounding them. "This is what I meant. On the surface, just another white-collar company, barely worth a second glance, while every day the fates of hundreds are bartered and bought behind closed doors. An obvious observation, perhaps..."

Diaboli sighed distractedly as he watched the floor numbers tick by. Each level felt like it was taking forever.

"You left me with quite the puzzle, you know," he eventually continued, folding his arms over his chest. When he did, each word seemed have been picked very carefully. "I had to find half the pieces myself, but I found them easily enough. I understand now why you were in Mistral, all those months ago. I understand why it was so important to you."

Standing in his blind spot, Zanipher's expression was invisible to Diaboli when he next spoke.

"So...how does it feel, being the rightful heiress to two family dynasties?"