hadriel | 003 [Video]

[Ikaruga looks serene as she pats her golden cyclops cat. It's visibly sparkling. She's learned this is what it does in lieu of purring.]

I hope everyone is having a lovely evening. I've decided to host a dinner party tomorrow night. The dress code will be semi-formal, and I ask that everyone who attends bring something to share.

[The conversation topic is light-hearted and ordinary enough, but she has an underlying purpose behind this that goes beyond simple socialization. Anyone who's spent much time around her can probably gather that, even if they're not sure of what that underlying purpose is.]

While useful, the network is a poor substitute for face to face interaction.

[Not to mention, the gods can see everything said over the network, and she'd rather they not be able to easily eavesdrop on this conversation.]

We can discuss current events, and toast to our loved ones. I will be supplying the main entree and two bottles of wine.

[She can supply other things as well, if need be, but she's curious what others might bring.]

Do let me know if you'll be able to attend and what you intend on bringing.

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Perhaps you should try writing one sometime.

[It's not like they have much else to do.]

I could make some illustrations to accompany it.

I think I'll pass on that. You'll find while I can read well that my writing skills from a lack of education will fault me there.

[It's why sometimes large words confuse him. He's far from stupid but don't throw giant terms at him.]

We could always co-write it. I imagine we could craft some interesting stories.

[She knows he'll need some more brooding time before he's ready to leave here, but she can cheer him up a bit in the meantime. A short reprieve, at least.]

Hmmmm, Nope. Sounds like far too much effort on my part to keep up with that kind of thing.

[Hours upon hours. He didn't need to sulk just brood and he'd be back to his cheerful self.]

[She mock pouts, but really, she didn't expect any other answer.]

Oh, very well. I suppose we'll have to stick to telling one another stories verbally and deny the rest of the community our brilliance.

The community still needs a lot of work and while lead by example is something that could benefit them the lot of them still have no class despite the ball showing what few could. It simply doesn't stick.

Lessons are best learned through repitition and reinforcement. Opportunities to teach the community to have a little more class have been scarce.

I know but that requires tremendous effort and for often a lost cause. If signs of it sticking were something manageable perhaps. Sometimes I do miss my enemies because at least they did have some. Well, one or two that is.

Oh, there are a few people with class here. Dr. Lecter, Regis, Anakin, Anne and Henry all come to mind, and there are a few more who manage it with conscious effort. Those who have some class are still in the minority, though. Alas.

Even Allen had some class and could be a gentleman. [He's mentioned Allen a few times now. About how he was the enemy and a fighter that was worth it. There were very few Exorcists that actually gave him a challenge. Besides a general, Kanda and Allen were the rare couple of Exorcists that could.

But then his face turns a little sour.] Not to mention he was rather good at poker. [And Tyki lost for once.]

[With the way that he talks about Allen, and likes to playfully torment Kanda, Ikaruga suspects that if they weren't on opposite sides that would never be able to peacefully resolve their problems with one another, that he might prefer a friendlier rivalry with them instead. Given that killing Kanda would be useless, he seems to have a bit of that with Kanda now. Friendly is an exaggeration, but she hasn't seen them out for each other's blood in the months she's been here.

She can't hide the smirk that spreads across her face when Tyki mentions Allen's talent with poker.]

Oh~? Completely hoodwinked you, did he?

[It's not a truce. It's a hard compromise that they stay away from what is important to each other. Family wouldn't attack family unless provoked. If Allen and him weren't on opposite sides there was a great possibility they would be friends.

His face is sour though now it was showing strong sides of regret.]

Something like that. He simply caught me off guard the first time.

We should play a game of poker one day.

[After that event, she has no urge to turn her sword against someone she's close to. Even knowing that he'd give her a truly excellent fight, it wouldn't be worth the emotional toll. Non-violent forms of competition, however, are completely fair game. With no currency, they could bet on other things. Chores, perhaps. Her other idea of playing strip-poker is completely improper and thus she won't suggest it. But a lady can imagine.]

Poker? If you want to see me naked that badly I would be happy to beat you in a game of strip poker.

[He is completely improper around her sometimes and generally has no filter. It's a shame but it is true. He doesn't know how to handle himself around her. He's too honest.]

Edited 2017-08-03 03:00 (UTC)

[Ooops. Was it that obvious that her mind went there or is he just joking? But there's something that has her a bit confused. She tilts her head curiously at him.]

That's quite a bit different from how strip poker is played in my world. One plays multiple rounds and whoever loses must remove an item of clothing for each round they lose. In your world, the winner takes clothing off instead, and takes it all off at once?

[He laughs and honestly doesn't mean to. Perhaps he jumped a little ahead of himself.]

No, no. It's just when you suggested poker against a skilled player such as myself I assumed you also had some skill to rob me of a bit of my clothing before I actually won.

[She's glad he seems to be in better spirits than he was when she first arrived. Hopefully she can talk him into coming down from here...but if not, she suspects she can at least persuade him to eat a proper meal.]

Ah, but so much of the game is chance and artful bluffing. Perhaps I would be lucky and win.

[More like she'd cheat with superhuman speed and sleight of hand.]

Well then, if that is all there is to it you better have a really good poker face. I am rather skilled at reading someone's expression.

[Because he himself will also be dreadfully cheating.]

Ladies are taught to behave courteously even toward people we would much rather kick in the shins or have murdered. I daresay I will manage.

[So much cheating. They might as well be playing a different game.]

As you wish then, my lady.

[He has no doubt she will 'manage' with all that cheating.] I'm still not going to come down quite yet.