[ Tsurugi shows up, as promised, around dawn, after a fairly restless nights sleep. He never quite sleeps well, not even when he's curled around Diva, so he looks fairly tired when he knocks on Claudia's front door early in the morning, a cup of (incredibly cheap) coffee in one hand and a stack of papers stuffed under his other arm.
He'll head to work after their meeting, but he's in no particular rush for now. Yawning, he rocks back on his feet, waiting for the door to swing open.
He's surprised, a little, that Claudia has even agreed to meet him, much less in a place as private as her home. They've worked together before, of course, but she's clearly, understandably, not fond of him. ]
[Claudia's fortunate that her history with Lestat helps her prepare for these kind of characters. Though, granted, Tsurugi is worse in many respects; Lestat at least had taste. And tact, too, when he wanted. She often reminds herself to be good behavior, if not her best behavior, when dealing with him. For Diva's sake, if nothing else.
Although she doesn't necessarily smile when she opens the door for him, it's clear that she's not particularly aggressive.]
Good morning; come in.
[And what do you know? She gives him a joke. Well, a very dry, bemused sort of joke.]
How ironic, the vampire being the one to invite in the hunter.
[ She may not smile, but Tsurugi does, giving her his usual lopsided grin. It doesn't come with an innuendo this time, at least (... yet). ]
Haha! [ Even his laugh is grating, but it's genuine enough. While vampires don't actually have to be invited in from his world, he's well aware of the lore that says they do. From the sound of it, Claudia is a much more 'traditional' vampire. Duplicity seems to have drawn in all types. ] Don't worry~ I didn't bring a stake.
[ He steps inside, taking his shoes off by the door, one of the few sets of manners he did have. ]
I would have brought you a coffee, but I know you can't drink one. [ That's a lie; he was way too cheap to actually spend the money. There's no harm in pretending he could be polite though. ]
[To not bring a weapon, or to consider purchasing her a coffee? She doesn't clarify, but she does tell him:]
There's a coffee pot in the kitchen, if you'd like to make yourself anything further before you leave. I keep it for guests.
[The very, very few guests she has. Closing the door behind him, she makes her way to the living room. It feels too strange a time of morning to escort him to her office, especially when she'll be asleep before long. Taking a seat, she holds out her hand for the papers he's brought.]
Do you know about how many months of documentation this is?
Ah, I should have asked... I could have saved the money.
[ It takes him a moment before his mind is off the couple of dollars that he wasted on the cup in his hand, but he snaps out of it after following her mindlessly to the living room. When she holds her hand out, he shifts the papers into his hand and then hands them over to her. ]
One or two, maybe? We haven't been open for long, and my, uh, previous business partner helped out with some of it.
[ It's still strange that he's in business at all, considering he'd had no real experience with it back home. He'd been people's boss before, but he'd let a combat squad -- although with the way C3 operated, there had been ridiculous amounts of paperwork involved in that, too. Back home, though, he'd had friends to sucker into doing the boring side of things for him. ]
[Claudia hums thoughtfully as she looks through the papers. It isn't too bad, definitely not much of a backlog, and she's sure she can get everything sorted out for him and digitized without trouble.]
Excellent; I'll have this taken care of tonight after I sleep.
[Which makes her wonder what her next move is, here. It would be rude to just dismiss him, especially when she'd only just invited him in. And maybe he doesn't particularly deserve the courtesy, but it's her own habit to give it just the same. So, maybe a bit of unbearable conversation is in order before the sun compels her to bed.]
If I may ask, why ever are you so stringent with your personal finances? Surely you have enough to live comfortably as it is.
[ Tsurugi would have been just fine turning around and leaving, but he doesn't mind the conversation either. It isn't like he'd be able to get back to sleep at this point anyway. He was only good at getting an hour or two of sleep at most at night, and once he was up, he was up.
Still, finances aren't his favorite topic and he hesitates before telling the truth. ]
I was poor back home. Owed a looooot of money. [ It was debt that had been inherited, and not his own, but he doesn't bother to clarify. He doesn't mind making himself sound worse than he is if it means not having to talk about the real reason behind it. ] I had to save every penny, so I guess I just do the same here? It's not like we know when this city will decide to screw us over next. A simple designation switch and I could lose my businesses~ Or they could impose a new tax just because. I don't trust this place.
[He doesn't clarify, and she doesn't ask for further details. It's partially a courtesy, and partially selfish: she doesn't want any sort of reason to know him too well.]
I understand; I don't trust this city, either.
[Well, she doesn't trust the government. Feels disgust at how lewd it is. But she can't hate what gave her a body to fit her mind more appropriately.]
Still, you could indulge yourself now and again. [Now, she finally smiles, though it's a bit of a sly thing.] And if you ever became a submissive, I'd undoubtedly help you keep your businesses.
[ For all of Tsurugi's distrust of Duplicity, he doesn't hate it either. It gave him a level of freedom that he could never have imagined back home. Here, he isn't scheduled to be sacrificed, and he does live an almost luxurious life. Sure, his cottage with Diva is nothing compared to Claudia's home, but it's fancy in a way that he's still not used to. ]
I do. [ He holds up his single, cheap cup of coffee. See. Indulgence. ]
Uhm, that's nice of you, but ... why?
[ She doesn't like him -- for good reason -- and helping him in that case seems like it'd be getting the short end of the stick. It's not like he'd be able to pay her back. ]
[She feels a little awkward all of a sudden. Claudia straightens her shoulders and glances down at the paperwork again.]
It would benefit me, as well, in such a scenario.
[She doesn't owe Tsurugi anything, of course. Still, she imagines how his misfortunes would cause distress to Diva, who would also have her contract displaced if such a thing were to happen. And maybe she has to admit, by now, that the two really are friends.]
[ Tsurugi clearly still seems skeptical. It sounds like kindness, even if she hides it behind the guise of business, and kindness is one of those things that he's always struggled to grasp. He's felt it before, but never really understood it.
After a moment, he forces a smile. ]
You do already keep the businesses from falling apart. What made you want a second job, anyway?
[ If her home was anything to go by, she clearly didn't need it. ]
[She enjoys immortality, now more than ever, but the ennui can be dangerous. Tedium suddenly something completely life-altering. Claudia stands, looking at him with a dark, unblinking gaze.]
I'm sure you can guess the sort of things I might get up to when I run out of things to keep me occupied, and I am trying my best to keep a clean reputation.
[ Tsurugi sips at his coffee. If he's bothered by her gaze, he doesn't show it. He's been around creatures like her and worse all his life.
There's no humor to her statement, but he laughs anyway, shaking his head. ]
You're definitely the type of vampire I'd kill without question!
[ 'Trying' to keep a clean reputation didn't mean keeping one, after all. If Claudia hadn't been Diva's good friend, he probably would have stalked her to be sure she was behaving. As it was, he didn't want to explain to Diva why he'd killed someone she cared about, so for now, they were at a stand still. ]
[She doesn't move as he laughs. There are a number of things she can think of to say, from goading to dismissive. Still, she doesn't underestimate him. Claudia's too cautious to underestimate even a fool like Tsurugi. Attitudes can be deceiving, and she can't imagine he'd be so brazen without being able to back it up.]
I don't doubt it.
[Claudia smiles back at him, as if they're sharing some sort of obvious joke.]
[ She's right to not underestimate him. His entire nature is a lie. There were glimmers of it that were true, but all in all, he pretended to be as dumb and as degenerate as he was to do two things: keep people away from him and to keep their guards down. ]
A chance~? [ He sips his coffee, the warm expression never leaving his face. ]
I hope that's not the case! Diva-chan would be quite upset if I killed one of her friends.
[ Besides, Claudia would come back. It'd be a hassle, but even so, he wasn't entirely opposed. If it came down to protecting someone, he'd do it without hesitation. ]
[Having died already, Claudia most certainly doesn't wish to experience it again. The idea that she would have no control over where, when or how she ended up makes her feel uneasy.]
Well, as thrilling a conversation as this is, I think I'll be turning in for the morning. You'll hear from me when I have everything recorded, and we can set up a general schedule for the paperwork drop off.
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He'll head to work after their meeting, but he's in no particular rush for now. Yawning, he rocks back on his feet, waiting for the door to swing open.
He's surprised, a little, that Claudia has even agreed to meet him, much less in a place as private as her home. They've worked together before, of course, but she's clearly, understandably, not fond of him. ]
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Although she doesn't necessarily smile when she opens the door for him, it's clear that she's not particularly aggressive.]
Good morning; come in.
[And what do you know? She gives him a joke. Well, a very dry, bemused sort of joke.]
How ironic, the vampire being the one to invite in the hunter.
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Haha! [ Even his laugh is grating, but it's genuine enough. While vampires don't actually have to be invited in from his world, he's well aware of the lore that says they do. From the sound of it, Claudia is a much more 'traditional' vampire. Duplicity seems to have drawn in all types. ] Don't worry~ I didn't bring a stake.
[ He steps inside, taking his shoes off by the door, one of the few sets of manners he did have. ]
I would have brought you a coffee, but I know you can't drink one. [ That's a lie; he was way too cheap to actually spend the money. There's no harm in pretending he could be polite though. ]
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[To not bring a weapon, or to consider purchasing her a coffee? She doesn't clarify, but she does tell him:]
There's a coffee pot in the kitchen, if you'd like to make yourself anything further before you leave. I keep it for guests.
[The very, very few guests she has. Closing the door behind him, she makes her way to the living room. It feels too strange a time of morning to escort him to her office, especially when she'll be asleep before long. Taking a seat, she holds out her hand for the papers he's brought.]
Do you know about how many months of documentation this is?
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[ It takes him a moment before his mind is off the couple of dollars that he wasted on the cup in his hand, but he snaps out of it after following her mindlessly to the living room. When she holds her hand out, he shifts the papers into his hand and then hands them over to her. ]
One or two, maybe? We haven't been open for long, and my, uh, previous business partner helped out with some of it.
[ It's still strange that he's in business at all, considering he'd had no real experience with it back home. He'd been people's boss before, but he'd let a combat squad -- although with the way C3 operated, there had been ridiculous amounts of paperwork involved in that, too. Back home, though, he'd had friends to sucker into doing the boring side of things for him. ]
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Excellent; I'll have this taken care of tonight after I sleep.
[Which makes her wonder what her next move is, here. It would be rude to just dismiss him, especially when she'd only just invited him in. And maybe he doesn't particularly deserve the courtesy, but it's her own habit to give it just the same. So, maybe a bit of unbearable conversation is in order before the sun compels her to bed.]
If I may ask, why ever are you so stringent with your personal finances? Surely you have enough to live comfortably as it is.
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[ Tsurugi would have been just fine turning around and leaving, but he doesn't mind the conversation either. It isn't like he'd be able to get back to sleep at this point anyway. He was only good at getting an hour or two of sleep at most at night, and once he was up, he was up.
Still, finances aren't his favorite topic and he hesitates before telling the truth. ]
I was poor back home. Owed a looooot of money. [ It was debt that had been inherited, and not his own, but he doesn't bother to clarify. He doesn't mind making himself sound worse than he is if it means not having to talk about the real reason behind it. ] I had to save every penny, so I guess I just do the same here? It's not like we know when this city will decide to screw us over next. A simple designation switch and I could lose my businesses~ Or they could impose a new tax just because. I don't trust this place.
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I understand; I don't trust this city, either.
[Well, she doesn't trust the government. Feels disgust at how lewd it is. But she can't hate what gave her a body to fit her mind more appropriately.]
Still, you could indulge yourself now and again. [Now, she finally smiles, though it's a bit of a sly thing.] And if you ever became a submissive, I'd undoubtedly help you keep your businesses.
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I do. [ He holds up his single, cheap cup of coffee. See. Indulgence. ]
Uhm, that's nice of you, but ... why?
[ She doesn't like him -- for good reason -- and helping him in that case seems like it'd be getting the short end of the stick. It's not like he'd be able to pay her back. ]
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[She feels a little awkward all of a sudden. Claudia straightens her shoulders and glances down at the paperwork again.]
It would benefit me, as well, in such a scenario.
[She doesn't owe Tsurugi anything, of course. Still, she imagines how his misfortunes would cause distress to Diva, who would also have her contract displaced if such a thing were to happen. And maybe she has to admit, by now, that the two really are friends.]
It isn't kindness, it's business.
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[ Tsurugi clearly still seems skeptical. It sounds like kindness, even if she hides it behind the guise of business, and kindness is one of those things that he's always struggled to grasp. He's felt it before, but never really understood it.
After a moment, he forces a smile. ]
You do already keep the businesses from falling apart. What made you want a second job, anyway?
[ If her home was anything to go by, she clearly didn't need it. ]
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[She enjoys immortality, now more than ever, but the ennui can be dangerous. Tedium suddenly something completely life-altering. Claudia stands, looking at him with a dark, unblinking gaze.]
I'm sure you can guess the sort of things I might get up to when I run out of things to keep me occupied, and I am trying my best to keep a clean reputation.
[Maybe learn from past mistakes.]
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There's no humor to her statement, but he laughs anyway, shaking his head. ]
You're definitely the type of vampire I'd kill without question!
[ 'Trying' to keep a clean reputation didn't mean keeping one, after all. If Claudia hadn't been Diva's good friend, he probably would have stalked her to be sure she was behaving. As it was, he didn't want to explain to Diva why he'd killed someone she cared about, so for now, they were at a stand still. ]
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I don't doubt it.
[Claudia smiles back at him, as if they're sharing some sort of obvious joke.]
Maybe you'll get a chance sometime.
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A chance~? [ He sips his coffee, the warm expression never leaving his face. ]
I hope that's not the case! Diva-chan would be quite upset if I killed one of her friends.
[ Besides, Claudia would come back. It'd be a hassle, but even so, he wasn't entirely opposed. If it came down to protecting someone, he'd do it without hesitation. ]
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[Having died already, Claudia most certainly doesn't wish to experience it again. The idea that she would have no control over where, when or how she ended up makes her feel uneasy.]
Well, as thrilling a conversation as this is, I think I'll be turning in for the morning. You'll hear from me when I have everything recorded, and we can set up a general schedule for the paperwork drop off.
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[ He doesn't bother to say anything else -- no actual goodbye -- until he gets to the front door long enough to turn around and wink. ]
Don't have too dirty dreams about me.