[o] Date

[cueball]

Who: Doc Scratch and The Condesce.
What: Fancy dinner with night time star gazing at the end.
Where: L'Déplaisant and then Makeout Point (minus any makeouts)
Warnings: Hideous.

[It had been one day since Scratch propositioned the Empress for a night out. A lot can happen in 24 hours and Scratch has been busy preparing this in advance. He has no romantic intentions at all, but even purely business matters should be treated properly. Condesce is an employee of Lord English's (well, future employee for her point of view) and he fully intends to treat her with the same respect he would treat anyone loyal to his Master. And, as always, he a most excellent host.

Which is why he will arrive in front of 724 Anderson on schedule with his car (which he has finally learned to drive) to greet her. As always he's dressed the same way, but why change what is already perfect? He also has a small bouquet of lavender roses, naturally for her. So, right as schedule dictates, he will ring the door bell and wait.]

Comments

[cullionfish]

[Condesce appears not long after, dressed in a rather simple (or what she would have considered simple) dress that trailed well passed her feet. It was difficult to find anything in Mayfield that fit her properly because of how large she was, so almost everything she owned was a long gown of some sort, meant to trail behind any shorter woman.

Of course, that rarely solved the problem of her more broad, Alternian shoulders, but she made due.

She made a brief glance at the flowers, obviously taking in the detail. Purple. At least he had sense not to get red roses.]

Good evening, Doctor.

[cueball]

[It was a good thing that he was human. Being slightly taller than six feet is fairly good for a human male, though she still is much taller. If he was in his regular body...well it would look awfully silly. Not that he would care.

Regardless he takes her hand and even presents the roses to her formally.]

Good evening, Empress. Lets not waste time and get going. It won't be a long drive, should be there in under a minute.

[cullionfish]

[She accepts the gesture without much interest, though recognizing the formality. Condesce carefully places them in a vase near the door before shutting it behind her with a discrete nod of her head.]

Good.

[After all, she had been walking everywhere thusfar.]

[cueball]

[He'll take that hand and gently nudge her to move with him toward the car, minding his own strength, and opens up the 'shotgun seat' door.]

After you.

[cullionfish]

[She takes the lead and steps into the car, mindful to move the trail of dress out of the way of the door before he shuts it.

In the mean time, she observes the composition of the car curiously.]

sorry for slow =u=

[cueball]

[He enters the car and is quick to start it. For a moment everything is normal, he pulls out from the sidewalk and begins to drive on the road. However, only a few seconds later does the car begin to accelerate. Immediately after Scratch will suddenly begin to glow green and the car itself will be illuminated with the same illumination. The windows also spark in thunderous green and yellow sparks and, for a brief moment, it looks as though they are in space.

But, that only lasts for a few seconds, and then the car stops. The green glow vanishes away and the car is now parked outside the restaurant.]

I'm not a very good driver, so I do hope this is fine.

[cullionfish]

[The Condesce watches with interest, a rather delighted grin expanding as the whole process takes place. If there's one thing she can appreciate, its a presence of power.

It was one of the chief reasons she enjoyed the Guardian's company. As far as his driving went...well, how could she argue, when she had all of her battleships powered by psionics?]

Think nothing of it.

[cueball]

[He nods and steps out of the car, moving around to the other side and opening her door. Being a gentleman is something he prides himself on and he naturally extends a hand to help her out.]

The night is young, but we shouldn't make waste. I have much I want to speak with you about.

[cullionfish]

[She takes his hand without second thought for formality's sake, fixing Scratch with a slight narrow of her eyes. Its contemplative, rather than resentful.]

Oh? Of what sort?

[Granted, she was certain the good Doctor wouldn't have wasted her time dragging her about if it wasn't important, which had been the reason she agreed.]

[cueball]

[He gently pulls her out and grins.]

No need to rush things. The flow of conversation will lead us there, as an inevitability. We will get to it with due time. For now, you should enjoy the evening.

[cullionfish]

[Typical. She was never certain whether he was being genuine or simply tempering her lack of patience. Her displeasure with that answer is noted with a light crease in her brow and nothing more as she follows his lead, sweeping the train of the gown out of her path before releasing his hand to instead rub her talons against one another in yet another contemplative gesture.

She had a lot on her mind since Mayfield's interference in her timeline.]

We'll see.

[cueball]

[He easily takes note of her annoyance, but he doesn't care for it. She will understand with due time and just jumping to the end would be boring for him. Even he appreciates the pleasures of conversations, as he steers them in the direction he desires.

It isn't long before they are sitting in the dimly lit restaurant across from one another, the waiter leaving as soon as he hands them the menus.]

I won't be getting anything to eat, but feel free to order for yourself. It's all on me.

[cullionfish]

[Condesce eyes Scratch carefully before she glances down at the menu in front of her. Its a pretty swift glance, all things considered, but she will easily go with what a seadweller knows best...even if the names of the animals don't quite line up.

It was simply a matter of which fish she would take a gamble on. When the waiter makes his way back, she simply points at a seafood fish at random, which happens to be red snapper.

While he disappears into the back, she watches him with a look of mistrust, pursing her lips slightly. She didn't like the idea of someone she was unfamiliar with preparing her meal.]

Do you frequent this area?

[cueball]

No, not at all. Food was never a high priority for me, as I lacked the mouth to eat it with, but I do enjoy the atmosphere.

[He takes a sip of the cold water on the table and grins.]

You need not worry. I doubt the drones have any ill will toward you, unlike others who have crossed your path many times before.

[cullionfish]

[Her eyelids lower and her gaze doesnt move from where she had left it.]

Word gets around rather quickly here in Mayfield, I find. Assuming drones are all that is back there.

[Her tongue slid thoughtfully across her lips before her eyes fell back to Scratch, hands folding upward to support her chin.]

[cueball]

Oh, so that's what you think? Hm, I can't have that. You are my guest after all and for you to be in such paranoia...I know! I'll taste test for you! Haa Haa - does that sound fair?

[He doesn't really mind Condesce's fears. They are natural for an Empress like herself, who has had her reign met with such strife and grief.]

[cullionfish]

[One, twice, three times her finger taps against her hand as she contemplates this option.]

I have a legacy to protect.

[She nods once in Scratch's direction and seems to relax, eyelids lowering a bit.]

Yes, that is acceptable.

[cueball]

Excellent. You have nothing to worry about. Your legacy is tightly secure, I absolutely guarantee it. Food shouldn't take too much longer to come out, so lets wait.

[cullionfish]

Good.

[No Scratch, she doesn't want to wait!!!!!!!!

She will, only because she has to. But she takes the time to be rid of that glass of ice water once she's satisfied that it isn't laced with something. It doesn't take long for her to glance back and watch for the waiter again, a crease of impatience forming between her eyes.]

[cueball]

[He simply watches her expression and can't help but smirk a little. It's a good thing Mayfield hasn't let her regain any weaponry, or he fears she may attempt a culling for her dinner. He won't say anything, but luckily it seems her wait is just about over. Their waiter is walking by now, holding a platter with a metallic lid over it.]

Looks like your dinner has arrived.

[And no sooner does the waiter make it to the table and, with a faux french accent, he lifts the platter and reveals the red snapper Condesce ordered.]

[cullionfish]

[Her life is pain.

She eyes said fish with an immense amount of scorn, her jaw shifting in and out of place. Its fairly difficult to keep her cool, and so instead of doing something rash...

The Condesce simply unrolls her fork and stabs the snapper right in the center of its body before looking at Scratch expectantly.

She's silent for obvious reasons, and simply pushes the platter toward him with a single finger.]

[cueball]

[...]

Hee Hee.

[He already had an idea of what it looked like from when Condesce ordered, but just her reaction was priceless.

He unrolls the napkin with his own utensils and picks out the fork and knife. For a moment he stares at the snapper, before deciding how to cut a small portion off and bite into it. It takes him some time to chew before he swallows, but he does so successfully.]

...It could have used more salt, but it's cooked well otherwise. [He pushes the plate back to her, the fork still wedged in.] Enjoy it.

[cullionfish]

[Oh she'll enjoy it alright.

She'll enjoy mincing it into small pieces with just her fork. She's not even interested in eating it at this point. First she has to cut it into the smallest squares imaginable.]

You were saying?

[cueball]

I was saying the food isn't lethal. Hoo Hoo. [Condesce you sure are a charmer.]

But, now is a good time to get to why I invited you. At least the beginning portion - there is still one more place I want to take you to after you finish eating. [If she ever begins eating, anyway.]

I wanted to talk to you about the future. Your future, that is.

[cullionfish]

[Ha...ha....

And no, she's not eating, she's still pulling the meat apart. The part about her future causes her to stop, however. She still hadn't been certain what was waiting for her and her dying Helmsman on Alternia. Part of her didn't really want to know.

But the rest of her was too weighed down by curiosity. Finally, she pulls a portion of the snapper between her teeth and chews, waiting for him to continue.]

[cueball]

[...He almost forgot how 'refined' Alternians are when it comes to dining etiquette. Either that or Condesce is literally imagining a certain red-blood being crushed and chewed on, by her no less.]

It's a long journey back to Alternia, without your Helmsman moving the ship. You arrive only 612 solar sweeps after the whispers of that creature sing through the entire galaxy, and Alternia is ultimately an empty wasteland. Easy to see, when you consider everyone is dead and the only living creatures are old chess pieces making cities and gangs.

[cullionfish]

[The Empress' brow furrows deeply. He's only confirming what she already knew and putting it into perspective. The tyrian continues to pull off pieces to nibble on as she rolls the knowledge over in her head. Her Kingdom in ruins, her great beast dead and buried at the bottom of the sea.

Very sobering thoughts, despite the fact that thinking about it makes her stomach turn and tie in knots. She takes a moment to rest the fork on the table in order to fold her hands again.]

What of it?

[The snapper lays momentarily forgotten. Nothing quite like failure to kill one's appetite.]

[cueball]

With the lack of an empire to rule and no feasible way to acquire a Matriorb to hatch a new Mother Grub, there will not be much waiting for you back home. And, to make things worse, the lifespan of your universe comes to a dwindling end not long after your return.

[He pauses to take a sip of his water and continues, folding his own hands on the table.]

Yet, all of that aside, there are always new opportunities ahead for those wishing to seize them. Take for example -- Earth, the planet we are quite possibly on right now.

[cullionfish]

[The Condescension sighs and sits back away from her plate, folding her arms momentarily. She has to think about how to answer this one, as its already obvious that Scratch is looking to lead her to an answer.

When she speaks again, she gestures nonchalantly.]

As limited as I am, there are hardly movements to be made, even on a planet so docile as this one.

[cueball]

For now there isn't. This place needs more than a hundred years of development before anything happens. But, I understand your limitations given the circumstances. The fact is that there simply isn't much going on in your home universe anymore.

With the end of one road, comes the opening to a new road. One paved by a man who can assure you a new place and a new empire, just as glorious as the old. Perhaps even greater, if you choose to make it so.

[cullionfish]

[Somewhere amidst Scratch talking, Condesce had pulled the knife from her napkin and had begun to twirl it thoughtfully between her fingertips.

Scratch already knows how she feels about Alternia, and she has a good guess that he knows how she feels about its downfall, so she doesn't answer back in regards to that. This was not a time to lose her temper.]

I prefer fighting my own wars. However, in this case...I am listening.

[cueball]

And so you will. Only not the sort of war that you are accustomed to.

[He takes the glass of cold water and stares it down, then looking back to her.] The war that awaits you is much like a game of chess. A white side, and a black side. All taking place on one battlefield, with the pieces all at your side. Alongside that, a war on a planet that you will have no troubles conquering. You can't call it a war as much as a takeover.

[cullionfish]

[She pauses in her twirling and presses the tip into the tablecloth as she listens. The Condesce lifts her head again and lets the knife fall to the table, a light quirk of amusement appearing on her lips.]

I rather like the sound of that.

[cueball]

As you should.

[He sips the last of the water from the glass and puts it to the side.]

Finish with your food and we'll go to the last part of our evening. I have something to show you there.

[cullionfish]

[Upon being reminded that her meal is there, she polishes it off without second thought, picking at her teeth with a single claw.

Manners? Seems she's forgotten to give a damn. This time, she doesn't wait for someone to pull the chair out for her. Now that the conversation has entered interesting territory, she can't stand to wait.]

[cueball]

[He waits in silence, not really minding her manners, and then rises as she does.]

Lets go. I'll take us to the second location.