tampered | Log ;; Ongoing.

Log ;; Ongoing.

When; 22 January.
Rating; G.
Characters; Belial (

despairingdream)
Summary; An inquiry regarding a dragon.
Log;

Three days had been more than enough time for the Count to set up shop. Had he ever thought himself the least bit inefficient he could truly say that he was proud of the establishment as it now stood, in glory that rivaled that of its former incarnation in China Town. While the front proved nothing out of the ordinary, entrance to the seemingly small store induced an utter change in atmosphere. From the bustling streets customers would emerge to the silence of the warmly decorated entryway, greeted by the sweet and drifting aroma of an indescribable incense, the haze of which hung throughout the building. The building which, for the moment, seemed inexplicably empty.

Of course, such was not the case--at the present moment the Count was simply preoccupied. No customers had come to call yet, and so he was taking his time behind the lush curtains separating the intricate front room from the true center of the place, caring for each of his charges in turn. However, a careful ear listened for the soft sound that would indicate the entry of a potential client, he fully prepared to make his way back onto the sales floor were one to arrive.

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“Come on, Princess, hurry! It could close if we don’t arrive in time!” Mad Hatter ushered Princess Kurai with a chipper voice, pointing at the direction of the store with a silver cane. Sie was dressed with a black suit with white stripes and an Edwardian-stylized hat. As usual, Belial concealed hir features under heavy jester make-up. It provided the demon an even more androgynous appearance.

The store looked normal in the outside, but Mad Hatter sensed a strange aura inside, the stillness and sweet incense that made hir nostrils flared brought suspicious. No human normal place would sell fire dragons, sie reminded to hirself, opening the door so Kurai would enter first. “After you.”

"Yeah yeah, I'm hurrying," muttered Kurai as she slipped inside the latest addition to the City's wide variety of shops and restaurants. Of course, she could feel how very different this place was, but she couldn't quite pinpoint how.

She was wearing a light dress that contrasted nicely against her dark skin, but it was pretty much hidden beneath a long coat that she had buttoned up to her neck. Her long hair was also clipped up to keep it out of her face, so she didn't look as 'elegant' as some royalty, perhaps, but it was effective in keeping her warm and not irritated.

"I still don't think that--Ooh!" A 'shiny' had distracted Kurai, and she was immediately drawn over to crouch and look at it. The décor here was nice, that was for sure.

The faint rustle of fabric would have been enough to announce the Count's entry upon noting the presence of guests. He emerged from behind one of the many sweeping draperies, the intricately patterned cheongsam providing an immediate contrast to the otherwise dark fabric behind him. He was still for but a moment, a small but knowing smirk curving upon his darkened lips. It was only when it he established that there were two visitors that he moved farther into the peaceful light of the room.

"Welcome." While his voice was plainly audible in the otherwise heavy silence, it possessed an awkwardly fluid quality--his tone one to match the surrounding air. The Count bowed, one pale hand swept to his chest in a polite manner of greeting.

The decoration was pleasant to Belial as well. Sie entered after Kurai, studying the furniture and inhaling deeply the incense. Smirking, Mad Hatter moved to stand to the princess’ right, adjusting hir hat when sie heard the soft rustle of the draperies. Hir attention was focused on the store owner - Count D, sie remembered. It was hard to tell what gender the good Count possessed but it didn’t matter to the demon who thought those divisions as worthless.

“Thank you! Forgive this one’s enthusiasm for not announcing our presence first,” Belial replied, voice rich as honey. Extending a gloved hand, gestured to hir female companion. “Count D, be kind to allow this Mad Hatter introduce to Princess Kurai of Anagura, from the race of Evils, Dragon Master without dragons in this City. Kurai, dear, don’t be shy and say hi to the Count.”

Sie straightened, blue eyes mocking Kurai’s would-be reaction and strategically taking steps backwards to set hirself away from the range of any possible lash out.

If Kurai wasn't slightly embarrassed by the long introduction, then she certainly was by that last sentence. Looking away from the decoration she had been poking at, the princess was quick to jump up and glare in Belial's direction. "Axiael! What am I, your kid?! Honestly, and I'm not shy!"

But with a huff, Kurai quickly contradicted herself when she looked back ahead to the person Axiael had told her about--Count D. He was definitely pretty. But not in the crazy way that made her think of Rosiel. That thought alone made her shudder a bit, and the embarrassment accompanied with her outburst made a soft hint of pink stain her dark cheeks, and her eyes averted off towards the side.

"It's nice to meet you."

"The honour is mine." It was a long moment before the Count straightened from his bow to regard the two more critically, the secretive curl of lip having yet to fade. He did not acknowledge the short exchange in which they engaged, rather focused on the mere mention of the creatures in question.

"Ah, then it was you who inquired as to the fire dragon?" Two-toned gaze settled then upon Belial, ripe with interest. Those of this City proved fascinating to him, and he made little true effort to hide the fact. He had never been fond of the company of humans, and there seemed surprisingly few of them here--which was pleasing. It left him in a good mood.

"And I believe that there was mention of tea, as well. Please, sit. I've some freshly made." He gestured elegantly to the table at the center of the room, antique and obviously of Asian design, as were the chaise and chairs around it.

Kurai’s reactions never ceased to entertain the Jester. Sie could not muster energy to be outrage as the transparent Princess was, sie deceived and lied, conveying words made of honey about things that tasted to poison. However, Mad Hatter could be honest when the subject did not require hir expertise.

Hir blue gaze lingered a bit more on Kurai before paying attention to Count D. His heart was interesting, such a pretty face hiding more beautiful hatred but it wasn’t directed to Kurai or hirself, therefore not hir immediate concern. It was rude to read people’s souls when you do business with them.

“Oh yes!” Belial exclaimed, stopping being a demon to act as a gracious costumer. “Princess Kurai used to keep a fire dragon with her all the time but the City has separated them. Truly tragic friendship. She doesn’t say a word but one knows that she misses him dearly, any dragon, in fact. Her race is connected to them, evolved to take on that appearance but they have the same origins. Like humans and monkeys, one could say.”

The mention of tea sparked more interest, following Kurai to the neatly served table. “Please allow this jester the audacity to make contributions to the tea party. We wouldn’t want to be greedy with your supplies.” Belial removed hir hat again and waved in direction of the mantle. In a heartbeat, pastries and pies appeared from the thin air, along with a vase filled with blue roses as centerpiece.

Count D's gaze unnerved Kurai, but only because he vaguely reminded her of Axiael. The air of mischief was definitely there, anyway. Perhaps just less obvious.

But she was distracted again as they walked towards the table by Belial's speech, and it made her sigh. It was true... She missed her brethren. Even doing things like silly tricks at a circus with the dragon had been more fun than she could explain. The closeness was...

...

"Did you just indirectly compare me to a monkey?!" Kurai was just about to try and reach for something to fling at Axiael, only to stop when she saw the blue roses.

Immediately her cheeks reddened and she fell silent, gaze turned to the ground while she quickly occupied herself with a pastry,

"I have but one dragon available at the moment," D murmured, having trailed away briefly to retrieve the elaborate pot and matching cups. "However, I believe that this dragon in particular will be quite suitab--Oh my."

It was at the sight of the various pastries and sweets that the Count's face lit up in earnest. Since his arrival he had not seen such an array--he had yet been granted the opportunity to visit the bakery himself, and since had been living on the gifts of new and potential customers. It was understandable that the sight excited him so.

"How lovely!" He nearly chortled, aforementioned devious nature all but stifled for the moment in his new found brightness. "You are too kind." There was another subtle bow as the Count moved to fill each cup with tea, the mingling scent enough to imply that it was Jasmine.

Belial waited for Kurai to sit before doing it hirself, sie was used to play the role of servant to take the initiative in serving hir needs first. Sie ignored Kurai’s obvious dimness regarding the comparison but that was one of the many things Mad Hatter enjoyed about the Princess. She took things too literal sometimes, so easy to toy with.

It made the demon feel like a better person when sie actually didn’t manipulate her. Kurai’s blush always was lovely, fresh like the roses.

D’s switch of topics from professional discussion to the food Belial had manifested brought a grin on the jester’s face. A sweet tooth, sie thought, removing hir heat and perching it on hir cane. An easy assumption from the first conversation they had established through the journals.

Kurai will have her dragon and one’s going to meet someone with good taste in make up. Sie picked up one of the served cups and inhaled the scent of the tea, enjoying the soft perfume.

“This is nothing. Just a return of kindness, Count,” Mad Hatter said, observing the abrupt mannerisms shift once more before sie gave a small sip. “Businesses are more pleasant when done after a good tea and pastries, one says.”

"And you certainly won't meet any disagreement on my part," the Count assured, smiling pleasantly then as he moved to lower himself delicately into one of the single seats. He was silent for a moment as he went about retrieving a bit of the first thing to catch his eye, momentarily occupied between the treat and his tea.

Fortunately, he had been a man of business far too long to allow something as such to distract him to the point of rudeness, and he began to speak softly over the rim of his cup.

"Concerning the Dragon," he began. "I cannot guarantee that she is like any that you know. What creatures I have are those that arrived here with me; I have yet to meet a great number of the species in this place. However, I can promise you a rare and powerful breed--one that will prove both a loyal ally and fearsome foe. Of course, it all depends on the manner of upbringing... she is still young, and not yet so set in her ways that they cannot be influenced."

Kurai listened quietly while Belial and the man exchanged words, chewing on her pastry, which she was sure was called a bearclaw. What a revolting name...but it tasted delicious.

After drinking the tea to wash it down, Kurai licked her lips and stood up. "Let me see! I mean... Please, let me see her? Trust me, nobody knows how to raise one like me. I'd really like to meet her. How old is she?"

Belial sipped hir tea calmly until sie’s satisfied. Gingerly, the demon placed the cup down and reclined on the chair to listen to the Count’s speech about the dragon. The breeds would be different, that was something sie had been expecting but the anticipating smile on Kurai’s features was enough to take the decision.

“The Princess is very good with dragons. Anyone would be charmed with her,” Belial assured with an easy-going smile. Sie straightened on the seat and poured more tea in hir cup. “Kurai, dear,” Mad Hatter addressed next. “Let us finish the tea, then you can see your new friend.”

"She is a mere forty-eight years of age," the Count explained calmly, though the obvious excitement the potential owner explained wrought a small smile from him. When Kurai rose, The Count set his cup delicately to the table and followed suit.

"Your excitement is understandable; enthusiasm is certainly not an unwelcome trait in an instance like this. If you would like, I can take you to her now." He was already moving across the room, toward one of the thick curtains that separated one of the many hallways from the lighter front.

"I cannot deny that she is equally eager to meet her potential Master."

Kurai was just about to settle back down into her chair when the Count went ahead and stood up. His response made her grin, not to mention stick her tongue out in Belial's direction for just an instant. Not terribly mature of her, but just because she had gained wisdom with age didn't mean she always applied it.

"See? My enthusiasm is good."

More than happy to follow along after the soft spoken man, the Dragon Master reached back to take Belial's hand without thinking on it. She really wanted to walk faster, but she couldn't just rush ahead of the man, now could she. At least holding the Satan's hand helped her keep her pace better.

Belial rolled her eyes at the Count indulging Kurai in this. Sie was about to let both deal alone, if only to have the Princess learn to move without the jester as a faithful shadow but hir lady had other idea in mind. Just when the Mad Hatter was about to take a sip on the delicious tea, Kurai grasped hir free hand, forcing the demon to rise, leaving hir cane and hat behind.

“Princess, your enthusiasm will stain one’s clothes,” Belial said pouting, slowing hir pace as sie finished the tea in the cup that still held gingerly with hir digits. Sie made it vanish to the table after done and glanced to D, expectantly.

D smiled pleasantly as they made to follow him, bowing his head and withdrawing the curtain to have them pass through first. He would soon overtake them to lead again. The hallway proved far darker than the front of the shop, and was not so lavishly decorated--he reserved such for the individual rooms, themselves.

Various animal cries and chitters were evident enough throughout, all from different, closed doorways and various other manner of passages--most of which seemed fairly commonplace, save for the occasional, louder roar or unnatural hiss.

It would not be too long a walk before the Count halted, the double doors in front of which he stood larger in design. "It may be best to approach quietly."

And he drew the doors open, gesturing them in ahead.

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Log ;; Ongoing.

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