Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25389303-20191221164519/@comment-5999656-20191223091549

Years of both Huntress and assassin training had long desensitized Zanipher to the most gruesome of disfigurements, so when she looked upon Diaboli's face her expression was one of quiet observation, not disgust. Alyxia had already reported the loss of his eye to her, but she scanned the fresh burn scars across his face with complicated feelings.

Violent delights had violent ends, she had read once. Time and again it rang forth as a law, and it was because of this understanding that Zanipher had begun to tread carefully in matters of criminal warfare. Not that she hadn't been careful before, but the increasingly personal nature of her work had forced her to recognize where her limitations lied.

"... That agent you spoke to in the auction has particularly good memorization skills. She told me every word you said to her," Zanipher replied carefully. "And now that you've appeared in person, I'd be a fool not to be unsettled."

Zanipher gestured behind her at the waiting elevator. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of a towering hooded figure waiting ominously outside the rotating glass door. She found Trago's perpetual nearby presence almost amusing, despite his obvious threateningness. It was sort of like a boy and his loyal pet - only in this case, it was a mob boss and his obedient killer machine.

"Let's talk somewhere quieter."

It wasn't just that she was concerned about waiting guests overhearing their conversation. Here in the Syndicate lobby, every one of her words could be picked up by the numerous hidden cameras and microphones planted throughout the vestibule. However, this wasn't the case in more isolated areas of the building. Zanipher knew every place where she could speak freely, without her words being captured for analysis by the members of her family whose inquisitive nature would prompt them to listen in on private conversations.

"I hope you don't mind hanging around on rooftops. It's a place where I've always found I can speak more freely, as you know."