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

[apostatises]

For now.

[But he repeats it with a tone that says that he's not sure if it ever will... Though also in Lucifer's measure of time, it may not come until all of the current Travelers are long dead.]

But also for now, the peace should be enjoyed as best as we can. Paranoia tends to ruin that.

[auditor]

[ lucifer. claudia is an assassin. ]

I will heed some of your advice.

[ "but not that. don't become patronizing." ]

[apostatises]

[Lucifer just shrugs. It happens sometimes, sorry Claudia...]

I understand. [a beat, as he just changes the subject] I am curious, however. How has it been for you to establish your new business? I found my own to have its troubles, yet Lux doesn't operate in the same way as your... [He looks at her] Does it have a name?

[auditor]

Not yet. That is the hardest part, names. [ she sort of shakes her head in frustration. she has considered taking a page from another madame's book, but the italian, and the blatant theme of flowers, would alert her brother of her deeds for the order. that, she can't deal with yet. ] But it was fine until the flood. And now...

[ a helpless gesture. it's been pulling teeth. she knows at any moment she will meet delay because the businesses and go-betweens for utgardian merchants she works with are having trouble recovering. she hates it. ]

[apostatises]

I have to say that I don't envy you for having to deal with a flood during your startup. Lux has been open long enough that the damages were easily covered.

[Though it's put him back a bit on paying off the loan, but whatever. That's his business, and also not really a big deal.]

If I may ask, where have you been having difficulty? Perhaps I can provide assistance. [Because with such a partnership in the works, it's really to both of their advantages to do so]

[auditor]

Perhaps you can... The biggest problem is my contacts with the Utgardians.

[ go-betweens cost more, but it's worth it when claudia can't meet the merchants, herself. such business transactions are above most of the locals, and even when they aren't, they are busy working. they don't stop just because of a promise; claudia wouldn't ask them to, either. ]

[apostatises]

[He considers it in silence, but he quickly decides that giving her a direct contact with a supplier wouldn't be any problem. While Lucifer couldn't take credit for building the black market, he certainly had played a big part by spending time with those faceless locals until they were people in their own right. It was a win-win situation.]

Have you met any of the direct suppliers from Utgard? I happen to know one of them that would be willing to help you without any issue, and another who would be more difficult, but whatever you would need would be delivered more quickly.

[auditor]

[ claudia consider. then, nods in a particular direction. ]

Mind talking about the rest of this over breakfast?