Impromptu Audience (MK)

[Hitura Rael]

On such a diplomatic mission, Louise li Britannia was afforded the best of accommodations. While Bahbem had offered a place in his home, she opted for the hotel. The Hotel Avenida Palace provided the best of the best accommodations. The Suite Palace room sufficed for the regent, affording her all the amenities she needed for her stay.

The view of the city from the suite was enough to take one's breath away. It overlooked the city itself, restored to resemble the ancient look of the city, culminating in the hill upon which Castelo de S. Jorge perched in the distance. The rooms featured pale gold walls with vintage décor in colors that complimented, but were ugly on their own. The cream colored curtains and bedding on the twin beds featured complex flowers of gold colored thread. Replicas of famous paintings dotted the walls, the vintage feeling ruined by monitors and screens mounted here and there with a jarring interruption of modernality.

Whatever she thought of the rooms, there was one thing she could be thankful for. The suit came with a suitable space with work rather than luxury in mind. Ample table space, a desk, and computer access provided the bare necessities for the working diplomat, separated from the bedroom and bathroom to maximize productivity. While Rose took her shower, Louise settled down on the couch. A pile of manila folders sat in front of her on the lacquered table. Information of the Vermillions and whatever else Bahbem deigned to pass on for the coming mission.

But it was not yet time for that. Louise picked up a folder to skim the contents. Yet, when she set it down to reach for another, she was no longer alone. A young woman stood on the other side of the table, hand raised to her lips in a shushing motion. Though her sudden appearance was definitely shocking, something about her presence was non threatening, despite the Fijin origin.

 

[MKR]

The Britannian princess had had a very stressful few days, the very notion of the fate of Britannia had her stumped. The ultimatum had her positively stumped, the possibility of Britannia's destruction levied against her nephew. The comfort of the hotel room, while a decrease in that which she was used to and an increase compared to the insides of Orphan, was of little aid to her. Money, while certainly an excellent aid in happiness did not guarantee it.

No manner the room service bought and brought it was not quite that simple. And now, she finally was able to touch the folders delivered to them. Still, she wondered as she closed the reading material. How would this be the doom of Britannia if they used Foundation personnel and weapons? She was effectively a figurehead for them. Unless they intended to fully advertise her involvement to the Mu she didn't see how this reasonably would come to bear on the nation she 'represented'. A very wrong term given she was here despite her father rather than because of him.

Given the Foundation seemed eager enough to convince her to be the figurehead of this expedition that outcome seemed more and more likely. She tapped the folder a few times before putting it aside and looking up at last, to see an unfamiliar face across from her. Her eyes, though tired, still went wide with shock. Especially as the woman motioned for a shush, was she being held hostage? Was this some form of robbery? She didn't get that feeling from this situation, more like a stray child hiding under a table in that regard.
"Who..." She remarked "Are you?"

Her voice wasn't raised, more emphasizing the confusion within rather than the surprise. If she needed help a single loud yell would likely get Rose scrambling in here but for now this was simply too weird.
"And how did you get in here?" While she was ready to call for security the feeling kept that at bay.

 

[Hitura Rael]

Ixtli's aura radiated, soft and gentle, like a warm spring day basking in the sun, or curled under a blanket, cozy in front of the fire with hot chocolate and a good book. Little much gave away the identity of the girl before her. She exuded an air of familiarity, like someone that had once been glimpsed on the street or in a sweet dream. The way she held herself was similar to how a young child would, eager to share a secret and up to benign mischief to hide that secret; ready to take mom or dad to their surprise gift.

"You lost a friend and a loved one recently," Ixtli began, skipping over the two questions asked of her. "The one you're worried about is fine." Ixtli whispered, finger still held to her lips. "But you must wait to act. It is up to you to save them both, princess. But... we must not open Pandora's box."

Ixtli slowly removed her finger from her lips, slipped the hand into her pocket, and from it pulled a familiar looking statuette. She placed the small Vermillion upon one of the folders in front of the princess. "A rescue mission, instead of an invasion."

 

[MKR]

Louise's eyes went wide as the girl before her spoke, a wave of relief washing over her as she revealed that Lemuel was fine. This had not been a fool's errand she finally knew for certain, the feeling she had felt when they could not find hide or hair of him finally getting reaffirmed brought her joy. Enough of it that the question of how this weird little girl knew this did not come to mind. The viceroy in name only eagerly basking in the positive news enough to let the strange delivery of it go unquestioned.

"He is?!" She questioned, raising her voice for but a moment before lowering back to hushed tones. "He is?" the happiness was tangible in her voice, but became intermingled with confusion as the Fijian lass continued. He was fine but she shouldn't rush to his rescue? Make it only a rescue and not an invasion?
The sharp contrast between her words and those of Bahbem stood out to Louise, the scope of aggression was so vastly different. One called for eradication lest there be a retaliation, the other an extraction it seemed.

Yet all the same, the small Vermillion was placed on one of the folders. The solution to both solutions, remained the same it seemed.
"What do you mean? Won't they retaliate?" She questioned nervously, the same worries seeping back in though somewhat relieved by the earlier news. The fact didn't change that the message earlier had been clear and this one so far remained unclear.
Her eyes moved to the small Vermillion, once again the burden seemed to be hers. There was no escaping that, unless she outright refused. Yet who would save Lemuel then? Rose perhaps?

 

[Hitura Rael]

"He is; bait and pacification." The girl lowered her hand to her side. "Their attention will focus elsewhere, once the Olin is free to roam. So long as the box is not open, there is little to fear from them." Of course there were a few things to worry about, but only one that the Xephon could not handle alone. From behind her, she pulled two more models, and set them in front of Louise.

The first, an odd shaped thing that looked like a bulbous fighter jet flying upward, her face visible from the Egyptian esque beard of her chin to just below the nose, the rest missing and squashed down as if displaying the top of a head wearing a golden coif. The second, a massive open book with the repeated key hole eye motif found through out the Mulian iconography.

"One's song swallows all in it's wake." She removed her hand from the orange and gold oddly shaped figure. "And one sings of destruction unfettered." Her fingers lingered upon the book shaped Dotem, pressed firmly to bow at the first joint, emphasizing the danger with physical pressure. Her eyes lingered upon Louise the whole time.

Her fingers reached to gently lay upon the Vermillion. "While this can silence many, sometimes, silence itself will reveal the unheard voices." She gave Louise another knowing smile. Whether the princess sent aid to Olin and his odd companion was of no consequence. So long as they did not release the Mulians free. It was not yet time for that part of this performance.

 

[MKR]

Another riddle, less about how the girl came to be here and more about what was to come. Also a question of how became two, were these the one that Xephon could not handle on its own or were these the consequences for opening Pandora's box. It was a bit hazy which was which currently given the shifting topics. Still one message was clear, don't antagonize them by killing their fellows.

"Okay." She hesitantly said, deciphering the messages "So this Olin will be the focus of their attention. But, how do we do this rescue operation? How to actually get inside for that without opening the box?" She asked, Bahbem made it sound like his method of opening the box was the only way in but that usually meant there were at least two more and if she were to rescue Lemuel without breaking that seal. There had to be another way in and out.
Her eyes went over the two new additions on the table, after the events in Area 10 she knew to watch out for anything these Mu did but if these two were specifically brought up they meant doom in one way or another.

 

[Hitura Rael]

Ixtli gave a slight nod. The woman was bright, asking all the right questions and capturing the correct points. Soon, Olin would be free once more to experience what he needed. There were still so many more sides to this conflict to see and understand, having him caged just wouldn't do for that. A shame the Mulians did not understand this. Or perhaps they refused to, as flawed beings were wont to do.

"You use the key to open the door. Once you step inside, the door closes. Anyone with a key can enter and exit. That is how the dolem come and go. How the Xephon can leave." Her hand once again came to rest on the Vermillion, the words unspoken. How the Vermillion can enter and exit. There only remained the question of who would be the one to take on this task. Ixtli's eyes flicked toward the bathroom, her gentle smile eased at the corners. That one was a wild card, unsuited for the mission presented. But that was beyond her control, beyond her influence. Beyond the right to influence.

 

[MKR]

The unfortunate reality of riddles, is that the interpretation of them usually matters more than the answer. As asking someone 'what creature walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon and three in the evening' could by itself lead to unusual answers if the one asked such a thing was completely unaware of the existence of canes. Yet, could they be faulted for lacking the requisite knowledge to answer such a puzzle?

In the same sense the eyes moving to the bathroom gave the princess a false clue, believing it as connected to the riddle at hand as the Vermillion which Ixtli lay her hands on. "Okay, so the Vermillion has this key." She muttered to herself, she would need to convince Bahbem to let her do this mission to begin with, likely by setting a timer for her success.

Stress set in as things sunk in, she really seemed to be the only one in a position to do something. The fate being thrust upon her like a great weight that wasn't getting lighter. This conversation had been one that was comforting but at the same time it brought with it new, fresh, concerns as it was no longer really a doubt on whether she was going to do this but more one of whether she could succeed.

The fear of failure, or rather of failing once again.
"How do I find him in the box..." She asked, mainly to herself but still hoped for an answer from the girl.

 

[Hitura Rael]

"Patience," Ixtli whispered. After all, if everything went to design, she wouldn't have long to wait for one or both of the individuals to make their locations known explosively. If all went to plan, the Vermillion would not even be needed. But she knew the importance of back up plans. "Take a care on who you trust." Ixtli's eyes cast to the door. And once the Princess's eyes were off her, Ixtli would simply disappear.

 

[MKR]

Louise pondered, so once in they needed to wait? That seemed counterproductive in a sense doubly so with the threat of Mu retaliation. Still, this strange girl hadn't given her, for some odd reason, a cause for distrust yet and the information that had been given had been really useful, so she kept it in mind. Something to ponder over that as well as the almost ominous implication Rose could not be trusted with this.

That got Louise to look over, and ask "Wait do you mean-" but when she flicked her head back the girl was gone, as if she was never even there. Well, not quite that the small statuettes remained as proof this had not been a fever dream imagined by her sleep deprived mind. She grabbed the Vermillion piece, looking it over. If Knightmare Frame seats and controller could be added she was certainly capable of using it. While the Gran Cher felt more natural she had still been trained for this an advanced form of self defense in case of the dire.

Who could she trust, if not Rose?