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The time is set, the location is set, and Ari waits in their cottage in the Spring Hollow. The Spring Crown rests on their head: fresh green vines wrap around a silver circlet interwoven with jade and set with sapphires, with pink spinel, and from that crown cascades down to their broad shoulders in a fall of young blossoms native to the area: lilies of the valley, asturs, daisies, black-eyed susans, peonies, periwinkle. The Crown itself creates the robe they wear, as the flowers weave and intertwine, slowly growing and blossoming before the watcher's eyes.
There's a glass pitcher filled with ice water, and two glasses; Ari's hands rest on their stomach, and a tendril of ivy slides up around one of their fingers, the Crown interplaying with their verdant Mantle as they wait.
Makoto Mori arrives on time, precisely when she agreed to for the meeting. The late thirty-something fox woman is wearing a dark green three-piece suit this [insert proper time here], a pocket square and tie - with designs that looks like molten gold - both of which match her plush fur perfectly. Her fluffy ears twitch subconsciously as she steps inside - the only real indicator that she might be nervous about the meeting she's walking into. She removes her sunglasse and tucks them into the front pocket of her suit jacket, revealing her piercing, vertical-slit eyes.
She knocks at the door to the cottage. It would be rude to just barge in after all...
"Enter." Ari's voice rings soft and evenly, carrying just far enough for her to hear it, as if they are precisely aware of how to pitch their voice to reach who they want. They don't move: the Spring Monarch's settled in place, waiting. Their pitch-black stone eyes swing their gaze toward the door.
... and the foxy lady enters as bade.
"Mx. Ari," she respectfully bows her head once the spring monarch is in view, and she's shown herself to be present. Her tone is even - almost cool - as she addresses them. "Makoto Mori at your service."
The Spring Monarch rises when she enters, the Crown's cascading flowers shimmering and fluttering little petals onto the ground. "Ms. Mori," Ari greets, their tone as smooth as the green granite of their features. They gesture toward the other chair in their small living room. "Have a seat. May I offer you some water?"
"I would love some water, thank you for your kind offer." Makoto returns the greeting with a smile - a flash of her pointy fox teeth, anyway - and waits for Ari to re-seat themself before she undoes the bottom button of her jacket, and follows suit.
Water poured, for the guest first and then for themself, after they sit back down. Ari takes a swallow of their water, their stone lips clicking against the glass, and then sets the glass down on the side table by their oversized, overstuffed chair; one forefinger taps once, twice, against the glass.
"I am told that you are a 'boardroom warrior,'" Ari begins. "Someone of incomparable skill in negotiation, or so Mearcstapa has sold you to me. And yet... " they pause. "I wonder: what kind of exemplary boardroom warrior would rush into a contentious meeting without a fully-vetted dossier, or at least a few sketched outline notes, to speak for the CEO before they've even got their job offer letter in hand?" One slow blink of their solid black eyes.
"Boardroom warrior is not the term I'd have used to describe myself - though bless dear Mearcstapa's heart for trying." She takes a sip of water to clear her throat. "To use the metaphor I've been dealt, though... I suppose the answer to your question would be "a reckless boardroom warrior" - at least in the sense that I utterly failed to properly - or, at all - consult this Freehold's leadership in my very earnest, but overzealous desire to help a friend." Beat. "... but in my defense, I did do my research beforehand - and I've a small amount of history in common with the contentious meeting in qustion, so I didn't quite go in empty handed, at least." She tilts her head to the side, and her ears twitch just a tad. "Just not bearing the... very important job offer letter. Of course."
A low, considering hmm vibrates the Elemental's stone chest, the sort of resonance one normally gets when wind rolls through a canyon. They tap their forefinger against their glass. "Then discard the metaphor," Ari responds, "And tell me how you view what you did, and why. And ... your research. I am curious what you think you know."
"It was a little cavalier - you'll find no argument from me on that point - and as I said, I overzealously came to the aid of a very dear friend. There's no question about that, either." Memento leans forward to set the cup of water on the nearest surface before settling back into the chair and interlacing her fingers together. "I would describe myself as an incorrigible snoop, and a liar - and, if you'll pardon my crass language - a fucking good one. I can wield a smidgeon of information as handily as one might a weapon - and my intent with meeting Miss Cordray was to, hopefully, use much more than just a smidgeon of information to bludgeon her into leaving my friend - and his friends - alone." She holds up her palms - an innocent enough gesture, but it seems rather disingenuous when paired next to her very sharp teeth.
"As for what I know..." Memento shrugs. "Well, I know that she is a vampire, I know some of how she does manages her firm, I know that this is not the first place - and where the first place was - she's attempted to carve out a niche for herself, I know that she is very crafty, careful, and has - in the past - had both criminal charges levied against her business interests, and had zero qualms with making problems disappear when they prove to be in her way."
"I see. And your thoughts on how the Sakima's working relationship with Regent Marjorie might be impacted?" Ari's finger taps against the glass once, twice. "Or how the rather unique family system of the vampires in Philadelphia might alter the outcome of this situation?" Other than the movement of their forefinger, the Monarch has gone very, very still, their pitch-black stone eyes fixed on her.
"Well, I don't rightly know what a Sakima is, admittedly - and I don't know of her relationship with Regent Marjorie - but I have it on good authority that Anna-Marie Cordray is in sink-or-swim territory." She smiles awkwardly - it's nearly visible how painful it is for Memento Motherfucking Mori to admit to an information deficiency. "Or perhaps here's the rope, try not to hang yourself with it territory." Beat. "... and I assume, that I am currently there, as well."
"You think?" The Spring Monarch answers, and the words roll through their cavernous chest.
"Here is what your research did not show you, Ms. Mori. Philadelphia is a complicated city. Philadelphia is different from Chicago. And here, no one knows who you are, and frankly... "
"... no one cares."
"Not yet. And if you continue down this path, no one will continue to care." Tink. Tink. Their forefinger taps against their glass again. "Which, I think, to you, would be worse than being hated." One carved eyebrow lofts and then drops again.
"You see, Ms. Mori, I am the nice Crown, and you have succeeded in making my life much, much more annoyingly difficult than it had to be. You should be thankful you did not pull your stunt during Summer or Autumn. Buidhe and Devon are far, far less tolerant than I am. Far, far less patient."
Tink. Tink.
"So here is what will happen. I will take your Oath. I will take your apology. And then I will hold your dear friend Mearcstapa's esteem of you as mortgage for your not making the messes which currently exist any bigger. So have a care of how you swim, Ms. Mori, because the drowning tend to take others down with them."
"Of course," Memento bows her head slightly, and she turns up her palms again - though there's no smile, or flash of teeth to accompany the gesture this time. Seems like that read was probably spot on - or at least close enough that it worked to cow her. "... and you have my deepest, most humble apology for any part my reckless actions may have played in increasing the difficulties you face while while governing the Freehold through this very contentious situation." Sure, it wasn't really a humble apology, but she does at least seem sincere about it.
She uncrosses her legs, and reaches for the glass of water again - just taking a sip before setting it back down. "... and," she begins again - clearing her throat. "I will happily take this Freehold's oath, and pledge not to make the currently-existing messes bigger without a life-saving reason to do so - if it would please you." She pauses - and her lips twist back into that predatory grin. "... because I think you'll find that I'm a valuable asset. Doubly so when not needing to expel water from my lungs."
The silence in response to Mori goes on for a long, long, long time. If it weren't for the fact that Ari is staring right at her, she might be forgiven for thinking that they'd fallen asleep. They just stare at her. "I will take your Freehold Oath. As for the rest, I believe we will leave it as I said." A slow blink of those green marble eyes. "I don't know you well enough to know whether taking that kind of oath is something you could even do."
"And I don't set people up to fail."
"Excellent." Memento clasps her hands together. Her smile only grows wider. "So. Shall we, then?"
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