Post by cassiopeia on May 15, 2013 20:52:05 GMT -5
February 13, 23 CLE[/i]
A beautiful carriage, gilded and red--though ashen after its long journey--came to a halt at the base of the Institute's stairs. From it slithered the slender form of Cassiopeia Du Couteau, clad in a pale pink day dress and much clinking golden jewelry. She sighed as she descended the carriage steps after such a long journey.
The Burning Vengeance's assault following Noxus' secession left the lamia without much faith in the League. She laid a slender hand over her sunhat, scowling up the incline as she began her ascent to the parthenon's doors. It was this or her Noxian citizenship... and how many years had it been? There was no better place for answers than at home. "...obviously.. don't give a damn," Cassiopeia muttered under her breath.
So she had come to clean out her quarters. Many expensive dresses and priceless gems would have to be carted back to Noxus, as well as her feather mattress and chaise! Then there was the business of the note... But whether or not the mysterious letter-writer was here, the serpent-woman's main pretense rang true. She passed summoners a plenty, flashing her sultry grin as she went, until finally she came to her room.
Cassiopeia heaved a heavy sigh, folded her arms beneath her bust and tapped her tail impatiently upon the floor, waiting for her servants to open the door to her chambers. A butler strode forth, wordlessly permitting his mistress into the room. "Lights!" Cassiopeia called. Another servant flicked on the gas-powered lamps, bathing the chamber in a warm glow. The door would remain open as servants bustled in and out, packing up Mademoiselle Du Couteau's delicate belongings and hauling them out to the carriage.
The many servants hauled countless boxes of clothing and chests full of other languish and exquisite items out from the chambers of the Lady Du Couteau. They seemed to take an eternity of sorts, forming a solid line of bodies moving the objects out of the serpentine seductress' quarters. However, after some time, Cassiopeia would be left more or less alone as all the servants left at the same time, carrying possessions. They would be back, but not for a few moments. It was about that time that a single figure would be walking down the halls of the Institute.
Clad in a simple brown cloak, held shut by a Noxian cloak-clasp, and bearing a Noxian military crest on the back, the figure's footfalls were comparatively quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the rest of the wing. The hood was pulled low on the face of the figure, hiding it quite well. As the last of the servants made their way out of the quarters with a load of belongings, the figure allowed itself inside after it was sure the two persons would be alone, and spoke calmly.
"I wasn't certain you'd come." A pause. "I'm glad to see you did. Otherwise my options would have been very few indeed." The figure made no effort to hide its entrance to the room as an attacker might, and began to speak before they were fully visible, so as not to alarm the lamia.
Post by cassiopeia on May 15, 2013 21:21:19 GMT -5
Cassiopeia turned, hands still folded beneath her bust, to address the newcomer. She had expected a summoner or some overzealous fan, come for a last chance at her autograph, perhaps! But instead, a hooded figure crossed the threshold, spoke in a woman's voice sounding strongly of relief. A slight huff escaped the youngest Du Couteau, the long journey and bumpy carriage ride having worn on her patience!
"Well," she crooned, slithering over nearer her visitor, one slender hand splayed over her cleavage, her pale pink dress swishing with each movement. "What is it you need?"
"My letter was fairly clear in that regard, I would think." The figure spoke again. "I know you care about Noxus, and I know you care about your father." The figure folded their arms over their chest and sighed, continuing to speak. "The current Noxian regime spits on his memory, his beliefs, merely by existing." A sigh.
"I suppose there is no reason to hide my identity from you, though I'm certain you may have had your suspicions the moment I walked in." With a slow motion so as not to alert the woman, the figure pulled back the hood, revealing the lightly tanned face and amber eyes of Riven, the Exile. "I seek to honor your father's legacy and his memory by wiping the blackness and corruption from Noxus."
Riven looked into Cassiopeia's eyes, knowing the dangers that she was putting upon herself. She was ready to defend herself the moment the serpent turned hostile, but she was hoping that this visit would not take that path. "What I would like, what I need, Lady Du Couteau, is your help, your assistance." She sighed again. "I cannot save Noxus from itself, by myself. If I could have done so already, I would." She shook her head. "But, as loath as I am to admit, I do need help, and I am asking for yours, if you are willing to give it."
Riven. Of course it was Riven. Cassiopeia was curious, ready to listen, and her eyes told as much--until the visitor spoke of her father's legacy. The lamia's face went suddenly red with offense. She seized a bottle of perfume from the bureau and hurled it at Riven's feet, where it shattered.
"You don't know a thing about my father!" Cassiopeia shrieked, incensed. "How dare you try to use that to manipulate me!" She huffed, so foul of temper, scowling over Riven's tanned face. But then, as quickly as the fit had come it passed, and the lamia's expression softened--if only slightly.
"What do you want from me and what can you give me in return." She tilted her head, her forked tongue flickering out over her lips out of habit.
Last Edit: May 16, 2013 0:02:43 GMT -5 by cassiopeia
Riven flinched when the Lamia lost her temper, and again when she hurled the perfume at her. She waited until she was finished with her burst of anger before she spoke again. "First, all I know about your father was that he was one of the only people in Noxus in my early years that inspired me. I looked up to him as a person I wished to be." She lowered her gaze. "Strong, admirable, the best of the best at his craft, and honorable. When he presented me with my blade at High Command, it was the single greatest day of my life. A man I had seen as truly great honored me with such a great gift." She glanced to her side, where the blade hung at her belt, hidden by the cloak.
"When I shattered my blade, I did so for many reasons. I felt I had been lied to and betrayed by Noxus. I felt I had failed everyone that ever looked up to me for strength...and...I felt as if I was unworthy of your father's grace." She looked back to the lamia, the smell of the perfume permeating the air around them as she spoke. "You're right, Lady Du Couteau. I can not speak as if I knew your father. I simply met him once, and was given an honor that I am just now beginning to realize should, perhaps, truly be in my hands after all..." Her eyes were calm, understanding, and apologetic. "I meant no disrespect to you, or to him with my words, and if I have offended you, then I do apologize."
"However, I do need help, and you are someone I know can gather information like no other." She met the lamia's eyes once more. "I honestly don't know what a person in my position can honestly offer to you, other than sharing what I learned about Kalamanda and the Matron from Heywan Relivash." She frowned slightly. "Honestly, it may be of more use to you than to me." She huffed to clear her mind and spoke again. "However, if you require something else, I am open to listening to your price should you require something specific. I'm not one to expect something for nothing. I know how Noxus tends to work..."
Post by cassiopeia on May 17, 2013 21:25:48 GMT -5
The lamia listened on, arms folded under her bust, a pout upon her lips--until Riven proffered her trade. Cassiopeia's shapely brows rose in surprise. She slithered closer to Riven, taking care that her snake's belly might avoid shards of shattered glass upon the floor. When she drew near, she extended a slender, hand. Her nails were still quite strikingly long, and painted a venom green, but she had abandoned the gauntlets she wore upon the fields in favor of exposing her flesh.
A nod of her head indicated that Riven should take her hand and step over the perfume puddle, to follow the chamber's host deeper within. Cassiopeia's signature sultry smile settled over her full lips. "Now that is interesting..." She tilted her head, batting her overlong lashes. "What secrets did the madman whisper in your ear...?"
Riven took the serpent's hand and followed her deeper into her quarters. Despite the woman's outward appearance, she knew she was still a Du Couteau, and was still a member of one of Noxus' most influential families. She'd certainly treat her as such. She was still wary of the dangers the youngest Du Couteau carried with her, and was still keeping herself alert, but for the moment, things seemed to be going as good as she could have hoped. For the moment... She'd already seen evidence of the younger woman's temper. As they walked, Riven spoke.
"He spoke of the goings-on inside Kalamanda, the assassination of Darkwill, the hand behind the coded messages in the Journal of Justice." She sighed. "I know much, and yet I feel like I know nothing at all." She looked to the lamia with her amber gaze. "He spoke in riddles, but I've gathered what I can from them. I can tell you what I know, but, before I do, I would like to know that I can count of your help in breaking Noxus free of that tyrannical crow..." She nodded.
"I am willing to help you, Lady Du Couteau, but only if you can help me as well." Riven knew that giving away her only trump card was a bad idea. She wasn't totally sure she could trust the woman before her anyway. if she gave up everything before she had even agreed, then she would have given away the only things she could offer to seal the deal between the two of them.
Post by cassiopeia on May 17, 2013 23:54:50 GMT -5
A few servants trooped in and out of the room, carrying the last of the serpent's many possessions from the Institute and out into her carriage. Cassiopeia gave a slight squeeze to Riven's hand, her blue eyes half-mooning in an encouraging smile. She stopped and turned to face her guest, then leaned in close, lifting her free hand to Riven's face. Slowly, sensuously, she stroked the Exile's jawline, cooing, "Sweet Riven..."
She leaned in close to the white-haired woman's ear, the warmth of her sweet breath washing over tanned flesh as she whispered, "What you are about to tell me... will either merge our paths or cause them to diverge." Her forked tongue flickered out over her luscious lips. She pulled away, lowering herself a bit on her tail to look admiringly up at the warrior. Her hand gradually, gracefully dropped from Riven's face. Her brows knit in tenderness. "You know what I want."
Her deceptively dainty hand tightened around her guest's, strong slender fingers applying pressure as though to indicate her solemness. "Answers. Then...? Revenge."
Last Edit: May 17, 2013 23:55:30 GMT -5 by cassiopeia
Riven found herself blushing somewhat under the actions of the lamia. This was due to their proximity, Riven's uncomfortable sitting with such things, and the fact that she was most certainly not the forward type. This, coupled with her slight embarrassment was enough to elicit a blush that crossed her slightly tanned face before she shook it off, and nodded in understanding. It was now or never, she thought to herself.
"Very well..." She sighed and lowered her tone to keep what she had to say from the busy servants. For all she knew, spies of the Deceiver could be watching, tailing the snake-like woman without her knowledge, or, even more horrifyingly, perhaps with it. "Relivash spoke in nonsense, his mind clouded by something, but he shared with me things that few know." Riven glanced to the door to make sure the servants were going about their work and not eavesdropping.
"The Matron of the Black Rose, the Deceiver, the old raven's arm-candy herself was directly involved in the hidden messages within the Journal." her eyes were stern, she wasn't lying. "The Prince himself, was not himself when he supposedly attacked the now Grand General in Kalamanda. That, too, was another of her grand illusions, at least that was what I gathered from Relivash's inane rambling..." Another glance was cast to the servants before Riven returned her gaze to the lamia. "More, Relivash was convinced that visions, ghosts, demons of the mind had seen to the slaying of Darkwill and his followers, again, pointing directly to the Matron herself. With that information, it proves that the Deceiver had a hand in Kalamanda, and that together, she and Jericho Swain played the League perfectly for him to gain power." She paused again before continuing.
"Relivash also warned of darker things going on behind the scenes. Things he could not specify, but it does not take a military tactician to see that the Grand General is placing Noxus into a war stance, gathering allies, looking to expand the armed forces, all under the ruse of the 'safety' of Valoran." Riven shook her head, her brow furrowing. "Of course, I can not offer any proof of these things other than Relivash's word, and most people would not take the ramblings of a madman as proof of anything." Her gaze once again met with the lamia's. "I know it isn't much, but, it is all I have to give, and the only clues I can follow as far as finding proof to show that despicable corruptor of Noxus as the scum he truly is..." That said, Riven merely waited to see what Cassiopeia had to say, or if she had any further questions. She had been honest with her, now, all she hoped was that it had not been for naught.
Last Edit: May 18, 2013 0:34:58 GMT -5 by The Exile
Cassiopeia's exotic features darkened as she listened, a seething hatred seeping out from behind aquamarine eyes. The Serpent's Embrace withdrew her hand from Riven's, shaking bodily. She poised her slender fingers like talons, emerald nails glinting in the chamberlight, as her unexpected guest detailed the matron's involvement in Kalamanda.
When the Exile's speech drew to a close, however, Cassiopeia's frame slouched, her eyes shut, her face fell. Rage was quickly replaced by sorrow as she brought a trembling hand up to her face.
"Of coursssssse..." the lamia hissed: a whisper of utter contempt.
She wiped her eyes on her knuckles, then straightened quickly, a sultry smile forming on her face as her servants re-entered the room. She batted her overlong lashes, pushing herself up again level with Riven's ear, opposite the eyes of her staff. "Then this is where we begin," she whispered. To her attendants, it would simply appear as though she had given Riven a tender kiss on the cheek.
Riven shivered at the whisper into her ear. It tickled, and also made her feel just a little uncomfortable at the closeness. That, and it felt somewhat interesting. She shook it off and lifted a hand to her ear, as if to check for the area where the lamia had left a kiss, partially as cover, but also to take a moment to scan the area and make sure it was still fairly safe to talk. Seeing that they were most certainly not alone any longer, Riven would nod and lean into the naga's ear.
"Keep in touch as best you can, and let me know what you find. We'll work together to bring this down." To the observers, it would appear that Riven had returned the kiss to the cheek of the serpentine seductress, similar to how one might do so in greeting, or in parting. Riven allowed herself a faint smile, before speaking again less secretly.
"Thank you for your long service to Noxus, Lady Du Couteau. It was truly a privilege to finally meet you in a more...personal and less...hostile environment." Riven would bow to show her respect to the Noxian noble.
Last Edit: May 23, 2013 23:35:57 GMT -5 by The Exile
Cassiopeia smiled at the woman's expression of respect, batting her over-long lashes. She splayed a slender hand over her cleavage to illustrate her flattery. "Oh me?" she tittered. "I am forever in service to our great nation. A sultry smirk spread over her exotic features--but the slightest twitch of sadness drew down the corners of her luscious lips, momentary, barely discernible...
Her eyes gleamed. Her forked tongue slipped out between her teeth as she regarded the Exile, preparing to depart. She secured her sunhat atop her neatly styled locks of hair as her gaze fell momentarily to the floor between them. When she brought it to meet Riven's again, her eyelids opened slowly, sensuously. "And," she said in barely more than a whisper, "where will you go...?"
Riven, too, spoke quietly. She didn't want to linger any longer than was required. After all, simply by being next to the youngest Du Couteau was dangerous. Someone like her, and most certainly her sister, would be kept close at hand and under the watchful gaze of Noxus. It had been risky to simply appear, but at this point, all she could do was take risks...
"South." Riven said in response, locking eyes with the serpent woman. "I've heard there are some...old allies of Noxus there." She sighed somewhat and ran a hand through her hair, the gesture cooling her worries to a degree. "And then...perhaps East. Wherever the winds take me. They haven't failed me yet." Riven would allow another small smile to grace her lips before she'd turn on her heel and raise a hand in parting. "Take care of yourself, Lady Du Couteau. I hope to talk to you again soon."
Her final comment done, Riven would then move to leave the woman's chambers. She had a long walk ahead, and when that was done...a boat to catch to where it all started...all those years ago...
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