RP: Rencontre & Ruminations

Part of the Welcome To The End Of Eras Arc

Summary: Rumiko seeks out Kasyr in order to offer her services, in the hopes of smoothing over any bad blood that may be there. Kasyr, for his part, once again fails to recognize her.

Great Hall of Vailkrin

The opposite side of the stained glass window depicting Vailkrin's flag visible from the foyer is visible within the castle's main room, its colors curiously much more vibrant than before. Overhead hangs an elaborate chandelier looked far too heavy to be so precariously suspended in air with now visible chains. Constructed of iron, it is a grotesque display of undead and nightmarish beasts entangled in flourishes of filigree. The light it produces is not from candles, but glowing stones cut and faceted in such a manner to depict massive jewels set in a night sky. Oddly, water features itself as a prominent motif in the room's décor, from tapestries of a dark, starlit sea on the walls, to statues of gargoyles and other creatures that haunt Vailkrin's streets and forest pouring large vases of water into basins at their feet along the walls as well. Stone columns to help support the high ceiling's structure are carved to look as if they're caught in a swirl of water at their base, and even that high, arched ceiling, via some sort of magical means, reflects dim lighting in a manner akin to the way light might shine down into an ocean's depths.. It seems as if the entirety of the castle is haunted by music. Even with visitors to the castle filling the long wooden tables with chattering, the sound of a string instrument can be heard in the background, occasionally accompanied by a distant, haunting voice A third long table rests at the northernmost side of the hall, and hanging right above the very center seats on the wall is yet another depiction of Vakmathras's black hand carved from obsidian, though this time within its palm is a very subtle indentation of what looks to be a lyre. Black marble staircases that lead to the castle's upper floors are hidden behind red-curtained archways just behind the grander of the three tables.

Rumiko wasn't sure how long she had stood outside on the street; it had been long enough that she'd seen at least three separate people walk in and back out again while she twisted the hem of her cloak. She could do this. She should do this. Right? A sigh slipped free of parched lips as she finally made up her mind, and booted feet pressed forward- she was already here. It had been a long time since she'd set foot in Vailkrin, longer than it had been since she'd been to her brother's house in Kelay too, but here was where she'd chosen to visit first. Funny how the little voice in the back of one's head can drive them to do foolish things, even for the best of reasons. "Mending fences." It was her mantra as she made her way through the hall, harlequin green eyes flitting over the details of the castle as she squared her shoulders and forced herself to look ore sure than she felt on the inside. She had run into the king- quite literally even- one a few occasions, and he had not moved against her. Maybe she was all worked up over nothing? Either way, the nymph made her way into the hall seeking audience with its ruler. Fingers finally released her makeshift worry stone as she stepped through the last of the doors, and it was then she'd linger once again. Was she supposed to be announced? Rumiko was unaccustomed to the courtesies here. Kasyr was starting to get a handle on things. The embargos with Cenril, Larket, and Xalious had been lifted- helping to provide a semblance of stability, and to generate faith in the newfound crown. There was also a small event now in the planning to help further reinforce the legitimacy of his position (even as he ironically was trying to figure out how to deal with smuggling routes to rynvale). Leftys presence was also serving it's purpose to a large degree- as their existence meant a fair number of undead petitioners would instead flock to them, given they represented a far 'better' chance at seeing their needs represented. Well, theoretically, anyways. At the very least, it had thinned out the number of petitioners flocking to the castle, and actually reduced the mail to somewhat tolerable levels- which meant, that Rumiko was neither turned away, nor did she even need to wait for prodigious amounts of time. In fact, the wait might even be comparitively pleasent compared to her inner monologues, given the curious sound of music which seemed to echo through it's hals- or the subtle play of light that illuminated the once dark castle. In any case, once she'd waited a suitable amount of time- a veiled servitor would move to escort them forward, a chilled extended to help the fae to her feet. From there, her journey would move relatively smoothly- though there would be some inquiries. Specifically, "Your name, please? Any houses or establishments you're associated with? And the nature of your business?" Really, they probably should have asked this prior- but given there seems always be someone in the waiting room- it's not like Kasyr's been given much time to prepare from one meeting to the next. Still, he's at least -trying- to be presentable, which is why he's dressed in a sharp looking silver vest, alongside a dark blue dress shirt, and matching pants. Really the most ostentatious part of his outfit, was the clip affixed to his tie, a golden mirror of his house emblem to offset the black silk. He looks surprisingly put together, unlike how he feels.

Rumiko spent most of her life in the shadows, lingering just out of sight, most of the time on purpose. It was unsurprising to her that she had made it so far into the castle without being stopped and asked for identification. She had been rather lost in the details of the waiting room and the music playing through the halls, when she was approached and spoken to. "Er, Rumiko Lyastri." The druid had known the question would come at some point, though that didn't seem to make her any more ready to answer it. "None that I think would matter here." Her family was in Sage, and there was little indication that her brother spent much time outside of the mages tower or his treehouse. "I am here to offer..." What exactly was she here to offer? 'An olive branch' seemed a silly sort of answer when she had no idea if such a thing was even warranted. "My services to the crown." That sounded simple enough going out but having heard the words aloud the nymph sighed inwardly. The offered appendage was taken gingerly, Rumiko careful to keep her own curiosities of the veiled being to herself as she stood. The moment she was on her feet however, she released the other. Fingers ran down her front; the fitted, forest green of her corset under a black traveling cloak and matching leather leggings not nearly as well dressed or presentable as Kasyr in all his finery. A single hesitant step gave her enough leeway to fall just behind the servitor as she cautiously eyed the king of Vailkrin. Rumiko was not accustomed to being on this side of the dais, and it made the woman already awkward in the revenants' presence all the more rigid. A slow bend at her waist came as they came to a stop- not quite a curtsy as tradition dictates, but the nymph was ever one for breaking traditions.

Kasyr can hear the tap of footsteps echoing along the hall, and so he takes a moment to shift in the throne that had been placed in the hall, straightening from the slouch, so that when the 'guest' arrived, they'd be faced with the regality they expected- and only the faintest hint of exasperation in his expression. And yet, though he was expecting yet another request, or perhaps some nebulous complaint he could not yet address- the truth of the matter was far less common, and by a faintly familiar face, though the name she's introduced with doesn't ring a bell. That said, placing it is something else entirely, and so, he rests there, his eyes tracing over her in silent scrutiny- the illusion of imperiousness as he tries his best to piece it together. After a few moments of this display, the Kensai nods his head towards the servant, making a faint gesture towards the door- a sign that there services would be better suited to checking over the others waiting for an audience. Which just leaves the pair of them alone, "So- what services could you offer to aid Vailkrin, par chance- or to the crown, if that bit of phrasing was intentional?" His tongue presses the inside of his cheek, and then flicks against a canine- as the memory flickers at the tip of his tongue. An earlier meeting, perhaps? Rumiko watched in silence as the veiled being left, the stretch of quiet lasted a touch longer still as pointed ears waited for the shuffling to cease. Not that anything she had to say would have been particularly scandalous or worth absolute privacy. It was more habit than anything more. Expression wrestled into neutrality, the nymph offered the barest dip of her head to his question, though whether it was in agreement, or a simple steadying of her nerves was unclear. Fingers laced together before her, and the rigidness of her posture relaxed ever so slightly. "The city has been through so much; I am sure you are aware. Between all of the death, destruction and displacement, I wanted to offer whatever aid I could to see Vailkrin eased of its burdens." A solitary step forward and her hand raising to rest over her heart might seem a touch dramatic for those that didn't now the nymph, but there were few places she care about. This city would always have a place in her heart. "Be it rebuilding efforts or simply offering comfort and laying to rest the unruly souls wandering the streets. I grew up here. I would like to help."

Kasyr isn't overly perturbed by theatrics- which is altogether understandable given ascendi he represented, and whose song now carried through the city. Still, while the general sentiment she espouses is a good one, the actual gist of what she was offering wasn't anywhere near as clear, "I can appreciate loyalty to a city you hold ties to. It es something I understand quite well. That said, there is, as you said, a lot that has happened to the city. Whether it's a matter of restoration, or attending to the denizens- I'm curious to know how you'd plan to go about this offer, et what you'd hope for in return?" That sense of recognition is a fair bit stronger now, the anxiety helping to tug the memory free from where it rested. That particular skittishness, "Is this an offer of fealty, to prove yourself worthy of being a vassal within my house, et afforded those protections?" And it finally clicks, at an awkward encounter carried within the belly of a secretive society. The memory robs this meeting of some of it's dignity, and coaxes the Kensai into propping an elbow on the arm of his seat, so he can casually lean on his hand, "If this is an effort to get my attention, you're certainly faring better than spilling into my lap." Surprisingly, he manages to keep a straight face.

Rumiko probably should have spoken to her brother before coming all the way here. He might have been able to talk some sense into her stubborn head, or at least helped her sort her thoughts before she fumbled through what- at one point in time- would have been a breeze of a conversation. "Restoration is pretty self-explanatory." The small smile that followed the words was a vain attempt to keep the snark from her words. "The people..." She paused then, gaze dropping to the hall floor as she thought of how best to word what she wished to convey. The nymph wasn't sure what exactly Kasyr was and was not aware of when it came to the unrest outside the walls of the castle. It wasn't just the bodied individuals that concerned her. "So much death, condensed and brutal, leaves some unaware of their ended existence. Not alive, not undead. Trapped in the middle with no sense of direction. I would wish to see them finally at peace." Could vampires see the souls of the lost? She did not know. Mentioning of his house drew her attention upwards once more, though the rest of his commentary silenced that particular train of thought. Fingers curled into fist as her arms dropped to her sides, and the flush of red cascading over her cheeks would reveal she remembered exactly the situation in which he mentioned. "That." The word was bitten out between gritted teeth before she swallowed hard against the discomfort. "Was an accident." She needed a drink.

Kasyr may have canted his head very slightly when she had mentioned the idea of restoration being self explanatory. Otherwise, it was only when his words had landed home- and dug up distant memories of an awkward introduction, that he allows a hint of amusement to color his expression, "Well, that at least makes you less shameless then others who've arrived- with similar words on their lips." His attention flicks away from her then, affording her some brief privacy in the moment of her discomfort, even as he produces a cigarette from some inner pocket of his vest. After a moment, he flicks his eyes up to see if she's situated- though, he doesn't do so long, returning his gaze to the smoke now cupped between his hands, the tip having lit by some unseen mechanism, likely magical. "Well- I suppose I ought to say this. Restoration es a bit of a problem- given we're not just repairing. We're curretly having to trace out entirely new city plans in order to accomodate all the 'visitors' et 'recent immigrants'. So, if you know some architects, or those familiar with administrative matters in crisis situations- that would, en fait, be useful. I wouldn't necessarily say no to aid with the construction when time comes, but I'll also admit that it currently provides an opportunity for locals to find work, given how many -lost- their employment." And employers, given the raw fatality count. Still, she did say something of interest. Something that resonated with him particularily- because while he couldn't -see- ghosts, his empathic nature meant he could tangibly feel the toxic mire of emotions that stained the city streets, that clung to the stones, a fouled foundation. "Do you mean like some form of necromancy, ou-?"

Rumiko wasn't usually so easily flustered, unless it seems she was standing- or falling- in the presence of the male before her. Perplexing as that were, it was a matter she would have to tuck away and deal with at a later time. "I do not know of any architects off hand, but I will see what I can dig up." Magik might know of something that could help there, or ay least point her in the right direction. His mention of necromancy had her shaking her head, though it was cut short the more she thought of it. "I suppose you could liken it to a form of necromancy, though it is an innate ability of mine, and the reason I think I may be of particular use to you." Eyes closed for the count of three before reopening to reveal green irises having shifted to a deep sanguine in color, "I can see them. Souls. Attached to the body or not, though it is particularly the 'not' in which I speak now." A hand motioned back towards the door in which she'd entered, "They linger in your waiting room even now, unsure as to why they are being skipped over." The frown that curved her lips was righted as she looked back towards vampire. "I am not seeking anything other than to ease the suffering where I can. There is no other motive." He could believe her or not. She'd likely try to help the lost souls anyway; it would just be easier with his blessing.

Kasyr might have taken a perverse sort of amusement of the exchange, if only because of how much it had thrown off the fae's poise. That said, while the reality of Vailkrins complicated restoration did hamper her initial offer - that secondary, and perhaps more pressing offer of aid yet remained. And more importantly, he had very little reason to doubt her. At the very least, his insight into emotions meant he could at least discern that she believed what she was saying was the truth. "If that es the case, I would not suggest staring at me for too long." Likely the kindest thing he's said during this exchange. Regardless, "I would suggest meeting with Khitti of the necromancers guild. She might be able to help you, since we're going to be collaborating with Xalious to attend to certain troublesome areas, et it sounds like you'd be able to help. That said- if there is certain areas which you feel may need some attention sooner than later, I see little harm in allowing you the freedom to pursue this." At the very least, it didn't seem harmful, "...You still haven't clarified on what you might want in exchange." There always was a catch. Some peripheral element.

Rumiko offered a small smile once more for his warning, "Thankfully, it is an ability that requires a certain amount of focus." Which meant she could look all she liked, though it was highly unlikely that bit of information would do anything more than create more awkwardness. The name Khitti sounded familiar, and she made a mental note to seek out the necromancers guild in the next few days. "I will do what I can." A dip of her head and a half-arsed curtsy was offered then, her boots twisting to start her towards the door when further clarification was requested. What -did- she want? The banter that peppered their more serious conversation led her to believe her original request would have been met with confusion. There had been plenty of opportunity, maybe enough time had passed that the threat that sometimes echoed through her mind when she saw Kasyr was simply that. An echo of a time long past. "I do not believe that what I had initially sought when I came to you, matters anymore." There were other places in need, other areas that could use her abilities and aid, but she had chosen here. "I know you are extremely busy, so I will thank you for taking the time to hear me. If you have need, I will be staying in Sage, there doesn't seem to be much room here for added guests."

Kasyr is having a fair amount of difficulty in fathoming what is going on in the woman's head, given the sense of anxious resolve she had, seemed to cede to a certain degree of confusion and relief- though it was not free of apprehension yet. He shakes his head, trying to take his own advice to avoid peering too deep, "Well, in that case- take some time to consider it, et I suppose my earlier offer, if you are, in fact, as capable as you posed." She did represent an altogether fascinating opportunity, after all. "As for a place to stay- well, given that some of us don't need to sleep, et there is ample work to be done, there are rooms to spare, if proximity to the problem helps." One final prod, to see if she can still be set off-balance- though the realization may dawn later.

Rumiko was having a fair amount of difficulty navigating her own thoughts, as it were. Especially as she found herself actually contemplating the idea of staying in the city. Being closer would help, especially if the workload was as daunting as she expected it to be with the little she could feel and see on the way to the castle. "I will consider both." Later, once she'd had a solid night's rest and gathered her thoughts in a more organized fashion. "Have a restful remainder of your evening." Another glance towards the waiting room had her adding, "If that is at all possible." Rumiko did not envy him his crown. If there was nothing more to add, Rumi would be turning to exit the Hall and make her way to Kelay.