ғᴏᴜʀ ✥ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ/ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ;

[auditor]

[ claudia seems to have a habit, and this habit is posting to the network during the morning. even when it's an accident, apparently! today, though, the post does not begin purposefully; the video records... nothing, only a quiet view of claudia auditore's suite. clean but rich in colors and details, much like the room one would expect of an italian renaissance noble. if more updated, of course. (someone is, clearly, not wearing her bracelet.) but the feed remains quiet for only so long. — a rose-ringed parakeet (recently, feral. has someone lost one of their blackmarket goods?) squawks. once, twice, thrice in alarm as a hair brush nearly collides with its small body. ]

E che cazzo, chiudi il becco!

[ the bird, instead, flies across the screen's corner to settle between books and a plant, all sitting on a high shelf. the window is open, but something about the suite must be awfully nice for it to tolerate thrown objects; it hasn't left for several days, now. some on the fourth floor residents of freya's welcome hall may have noticed. ]

When I finish with you...! Caterina will have bird for dinner. And she asks: "what is this lovely meal," I can tell her it's exotic chicken! Do you hear me! [ claudia is... wet. wearing a towel, of course. but wet. and she has something akin to a mane sticking to her neck and back: soft but long and thick. no wonder she wears her hair up, huh! that's one of those distinctive things people notice when someone is reaching for the recording device, you know. that, and the incredible volume of claudia's voice. ] Oh, because if I hear you one more time, I swear — uch! I'll use those pretty feathers to make new earrings, and —

[ oops, did someone realize she is being recorded in the middle of a tirade against a bird? the surprise passes, though, and claudia's face scrunches before the emotion releases in a heavy sigh. the feed cuts, suddenly. ]

Comments

[auditor]

[ their relationship is perfect on the basis of how well their wardrobe compliments each other. because likewise, claudia is dressed in an elegant cocktail dress. almost like it was the first sort of modern dress she discovered and doesn't know anything else. but she is caught in pants on occasion, still.

and that would be a squawk as the door opens. ]

You made it in time.

[apostatises]

[He nods his head, perhaps equally at the bird's greeting as hers.]

I'm sure the bird is happier than you. It feel like you would find making it dinner rather therapeutic.

[Lucifer looks toward the bird, stepping inside her room once he has the occasion. And he doesn't spare a glance to anything in the room, since the bird has his attention at the moment] How did it manage to get here, out of curiosity?

[auditor]

[ she closes the door behind him. ]

I had a window open...

[apostatises]

[He chuckles slightly, stepping towards the bird, which is pretty much frozen now that he's in the room. It's staring at Lucifer like he's entranced, just occasionally chirping now instead of squawking. And really, it's just a matter of Lucifer walking up to the bird and grabbing it. Whether it's an affinity for birds or it just being kind of paralyzed in fear at sensing his presence is hard to tell, but the job is done, at least!

Lucifer looks to the bird in his hand, shrugging slightly like it's nbd]

And am I correct in assuming you don't want to keep him? He's rather lively. ["which means he's worth money"]

[auditor]

[ waves a hand. ]

I don't want to deal with that pain in the ass anymore. The runes are yours. Consider it my thanks.

[ a parrot probably runs for far more than what that monetary thanks should be. obviously, she doesn't rake in as much as he does, but she isn't hurting for the money, either. it would only be one more transaction to keep account of: something she would rather avoid while finishing the brothel for business. ]

[apostatises]

Then I'll gladly take it.

[He faces her fully, inclining his head slightly, pretty much the closest to a "thank you" as he'll get. And I basically just imagined him putting the bird in his pocket and continuing the conversation, but since this isn't weirdo land (to that extent), this doesn't happen, and he starts toward the door]

Would you like to come with me? If you're not busy, of course. I heard something interesting that I'd like to confirm, if you wouldn't mind it.

[auditor]

[ claudia raises both eyebrows, not curious so much as uncertain. lux is possibly the best place in all of asgard to learn intel, and so she isn't surprised he has heard something about her; she is, though, worried he isn't so keen she is using his business, and employees, to do so. even if he seems cool as a cucumber. claudia wonders what the anger of man as old as him looks like — is he capable of that feeling, still? ]

Certo.

[ she motions forward and reaches for her purse, a simple clutch, to follow him out. ]

[apostatises]

[Another nod of his head, and he starts to lead the way, because it's a role he falls easily into. Even the greatest men and women found themselves following his lead when he sought to show them something, so it was something he didn't give any thought to by now.]

Perhaps luckily, a buyer that I know isn't far. There's a fair market for lively animals, and one of the better ones has their base in this district. Though it's just a side business to them, though that may be their strength.

[He's engaging in small talk for now, since of course he won't get down to business until they're out of the realm of potential eavesdroppers.]

[auditor]

[ and following is a role claudia slips into easily. like a true assassin, her leadership is behind a curtain; many know her as their own, but those many follow others in the light. and in the dark, claudia prefers following her brother above all. ]

I'm still wondering which seller it escaped from.

[apostatises]

For their sake, I hope that you don't find out. I imagine they would receive more than an earful for the annoyance of not keeping better track of their merchandise.

[A shrug! Though he does have a feeling that it's kind of true... Would Claudia murder someone over a parrot? It doesn't matter, because Lucifer knows people that would, and that's enough for him.]

[auditor]

[ she would pretend to want to murder the owner, if only to work the anger out. but otherwise, yeah. an earful. what would be hilarious is leaving fake blood and feathers somewhere for the person to find... ]

Veramente.

[apostatises]

It would at least teach them a lesson, I suppose.

[But with that, he's content to let the conversation lull, since he's not much one for small talk. But once they're well outside of the Hall, he slows his gait slightly so that they can walk evenly. Lucifer glances to her, golden eyes meeting hers.]

But I heard that you're interested in starting a business here. On its own, this information would be boring, but the nature of the business caught my attention.

[auditor]

[ ...oh. this is much better than she thought. surprising, too. because claudia knows he had seen her with kaz, but Lucifer has neither acknowledged nor indicated it more than once. compacted the hints of his gender politics... she wouldn't know if she should say he is disinterested or not. ]

Did it. You didn't strike me as the type to care about such business.

[apostatises]

Certainly not as a patron. The extent of pleasures that I partake in are good books, music and liquor. Anything else doesn't interest me.

[His shoulders raise slightly, a very small shrug] And besides that, there would be nothing to partake in, even if I were interested. Angels are sexless beings.

[yeah he just admitted he has no junk. what now. I mean, moving on.] But I care about any business that pops up in Asgard. Clubs, tearooms and trivial businesses along those lines are good to know about, but I wouldn't say I'm interested in them beyond that. But a brothel is a different story. [And he pauses here, because it's the first use of the word, and he wants to measure her reaction to it, in part.]

I would say that illegitimate businesses are of interest to me, but that's not quite accurate, since there's no system to say that it's one or the other. Such an establishment has the potential to be useful for the information that might be overheard, and such an establishment would surely benefit from discounted prices for its alcohol to make its patrons more likely to say things worth being overheard. Or whatever may be of interest to you, within reason.

[auditor]

[ here, claudia laughs. she has two conversational habits: joking and say anything, both because they are comfortable. familiar. easy. she doesn't mean it, and even when she purposefully avoids to in his company... it's funny, the things people do despite. (but it is different: to joke, suggestively, for the sake of business and to do the same for the sake of personal freedom.) ]

What a shame about your, ah, condition. You're after my heart! [ her smile lessens. joking aside: ] The brothel will exist for that reason. So. I'm glad you're interested. Your own establishment is good for eavesdropping; I can't imagine all you've heard. But with a fair trade...

[apostatises]

[Lucifer smiles, since being able to joke with him is something that he rarely takes offense to, and rather, gives some measure of respect to. Most wouldn't dare out of fear that they would offend him, so that show of "bravery" was notable.

But it returns to the cool neutral quickly, since he has no comment on the joke itself, just wishing to show a quiet sign that she hadn't offended.] I've heard and seen plenty, you're right. And there's plenty to gleam from the network in addition that gives a complete picture of whatever may catch my interest.

[There were a few people quietly on that list, and he looks ahead as he turns down a side street to head towards their destination]

So you'd like information from me, I take it. [There is a strange little informant network being set up, but it's amusing.]

[auditor]

If not you, some of your staff.

[ nevermind mako works for her as well, to begin with. but he is the only one she pays for more than wine, and he is learning, still. besides, lucifer knows war; and he knows people. someone like johan, he must know. to hire him is far more good business. there must be others that would be just as well. ]

[apostatises]

That you'll have to take up with them. Though it's worth noting that they're welcome to their private ventures as long as they don't interfere with their work at Lux.

[Which, of course, his permission to let Claudia do so, packaged with a small warning about interfering.] But sharing information we overhear is to both of our benefit. So I would be interested.

[auditor]

[ a point. ]

And if they — your staff, my girls. If they work for both of us?

[apostatises]

Then I have no issue with it. They're my employees and little else.

[He admits it coolly, and though it sounds cold, he really doesn't feel any particular fondness for them over any other resident, just a gratefulness that they would help run his bar. Anything beyond that was something of a special case, which is why he spares her a glance as he continues]

Though, clearly you have someone in mind. Who?

[auditor]

[ shrugs. ]

Mako is learning. Riku attracts attention, but... That is not always bad. And Johan... Johan is brilliant.

[apostatises]

[The only one that really comes as a surprise is Riku, for the reasons she cited herself. Based on the interactions he had seen in his bar (and taking Claudia to the VIP room before it was finished, jeez!!), his immediate guess was naturally Johan, though he's somewhat satisfied to see a measure of her shrewdness in seeing the potential in Mako. Johan was really the obvious choice, but also the one that would result in her downfall. Of that he was certain.]

Your attention would be best given to the first two. [But Lucifer is still Lucifer, so that's the closest thing to a warning that he'll give.But they've arrived at their apparent destination, since he stops at a household that looks like any other, rapping on the door.]

[auditor]

[ claudia nods, slight, her only acknowledgement of the warning. as much as she sees johan's potential, her ability to trust him is... lacking. and that makes for a poor business venture. ultimately, johan is best considered too high risk. it's a good reminder. ]

What about Gai?

[apostatises]

He would be a fair investment. He's a good barman and very charismatic. [a beat, since he considers whether he should impart his opinion further, because Lucifer's judge of character was a very valuable thing in his world, because he was very rarely wrong. But of course, the value is somewhat lessened here.] If I were to guess, he held a position of substantial leadership in his own world. Or if he didn't, he should have.

[And the door opens, showing an elderly woman who clearly has nearly all of her personality back. She immediately gives a warm smile to both of them, though her eyebrows do raise at the new face. She introduces herself as Marilyn, but other than that, it's down to business. It doesn't take long, since clearly she and Lucifer have some sort of system already set up, and Lucifer pockets a fair little profit from the bird.

But with that done, he starts to lead the way again! Though he doesn't specify to where, he assumes that Claudia will follow as long as she's able and he continues to speak with her.] That should certainly help with the repairs. I would have almost preferred a more biblical flood for the sake of starting anew than replacing all of my carpet and making sure my hardwood floors don't rot.

[auditor]

[ claudia is polite when addressed, but otherwise, she only observes the exchange. notes merchandise, too. and then, she is following lucifer again. ]

Personally, I would prefer not living in a poor impression of Venezia at all.