@Leslie HallSora Kaze and Rosalina collab
The train had barely even stopped at the station before Sora had gotten off, all the while mumbling and grumbling under his breath about the overall slowness of the whole process. Not even bothering to tell the others what he was up to, seeing as he was already running behind his schedule thanks to the train, he stepped away into the crowd.
He was sure that the three of them could work out what to do from here, and if not he'll deal with it later when the time came. As of now he had to get to his meeting with Rosalina, which he was already late to which would probably infuriate, but not surprise, the woman.
It only took a few minutes to don the disguise he had planned. It was perfect, a Gentlemen's Convention just so happened to be running at the same location. So with his top hat, monocle, fake mustache and glasses on he entered the hotel he had told Rosalina to meet him at.
The Nonchalance hotel.
Talking to the receptionist, it would seem that Rosalina had already arrived and was awaiting him in the room he had booked before he had come to Magnolia. Not wanting to keep the councilwoman waiting any longer, he make his way to the room up a couple of flights of stairs and didn't even bother removing the beyond ridiculous disguise he wore upon entering.
"Pardon me Captain but my train was running late. Sorry excuse for a train system, but that's a matter for another time.""Spare me the idle chatter, would you?" Rosalina responded, paying little mind to Sora while she scoffed at the gaudy decor of their meeting point. Tacky red felt wallpaper lined every corner of the room, with a matching carpet with several unidentified stains and marks. The whole room was dressed up in shabby furniture that creaked when sat upon. Not to mention the whole place smelled of cheap perfume and sweat.
Finally turning her attention to Sora, she did little to hide her discontent.
"I think you know that my expectations of you are already quite low, but this really does take the cake." Her beleaguered tone was almost funny, if not for the exasperated look upon her face. "Let's get down to business, shall we?"
The Councilwoman rose from her seat, carefully eyeing the armchair with warranted suspicion. She folded her arms across her chest before addressing Sora once more.
"Now, what exactly is it you want, Sora?" She accused, impatiently awaiting a hopefully swift and concise response.
Sora shrugged at Rosalina's scathing words. Most people might be offended by the tone that she used, but it didn't seem to bother Sora. He was used to it, it was part and parcel in his line of work.
While he himself wasn't her number one fan, and obviously she wasn't his, he must say that she at least got to the point rather quickly. He had a few smartalec and witty one liner comments prepared for this meeting, but decided to shelve them.
For now.
"What can I say, I never disappoint." Sora joked, swiftly moving into the nearest armchair even as Rosalina stood from her own. He noted the noticeable, loud groan that sounded like it belonged in a horror movie more than a hotel before leaning back into it.
He took a moment to get comfy, purposely making the councilwoman wait before continuing. This time, without his usual mocking tone.
"What I want, and what you want, are very similiar Captain. Similar, without being the same." Reaching up, he removed the fake glasses and mustache set, and consequently the monocle, and placed them tenderly, like one handling a newborn child, onto his lap.
Taking a moment to think of his next words carefully, he turned his full attention back to Rosalina.
"You see Captain, as much as you hate to admit it, but you need me, or at least someone like me. You can go on and on about ethics and whatnot, and I'm sure you would be more than happy to do so too, but when it comes down to it, the end justifies the means. You need someone not attached to the Knights to weed out your little....problem. Someone who isn't afraid to get their hands more than a little dirty, someone who no one can trace back to the Knights if complications were to arise. That's where I come in Captain." Leaning forward, Sora emitted a serious aura to accompany his tone.
While Sora spoke, Rosalina approached the fireplace on the wall adjacent to where the armchairs sat. Running a gloved finger along the mantle, she quickly grew disgusted at the layer of dust and grime caught on her fingertip. Her eyebrows perked up at Sora's offer whilst she carefully removed a handkerchief from her breast pocket to rub away the dirt. She attempted to hide her surprise, but the situation had taken a rather unexpected turn.
"I take it you expect something from me in return? You don't strike me as someone who would take on such a task for the benefit of Fiore; much less out of the kindness of your heart." Now she fully turned to face Sora, an icy cold glare boring into him like a pair of daggers.
"Not to mention, there are hundreds of different people I could ask to fulfill what you're offering. I'm afraid you're going to need to up the ante a bit. What do you possess that could possibly entice me to enlist your services? Skill, strength? You'll need much more than that."
Now Rosalina took a seat opposite the man, almost smirking at him in a most challenging manner.
"I'm not convinced you possess the finesse to provide me the service I require. Nor the ambition. So tell me, how do you intend to prove me wrong?" She spoke, taking little offense to his comments on ethics. What he said was true. What Rosalina was trying to achieve was bigger than herself, and bigger than the Knights. Progress had been slower than expected, and if she wanted to make any headway she'd need to work outside the rules. Even if it meant enlisting someone as insufferable as the man she sat across from.
In negotiations such as these, Sora knew that showing any weakness, such as letting the other see that their words had hit a sore spot, was as good as fatal in the stakes competition. Rosalina too seemed to understand that, as she seemed to take everything in her stride and keep rolling out the punches to match.
She was good. Sora couldn't deny that.
"Too true Captain. There are hundreds you could ask. But how many are willing? And what can I say, you've caught me." Sora shrugged, sporting a wide smirk as he leaned back again.
"Of course my services aren't free. However, my 'payment' of sorts might too be of benefit to you Captain." Using all his experience in such talks, Sora saw the chance and pounced. She already knew he was after something, but would she be expecting this?
"You see Captain. I may lack 'finesse' as you put it, but results are all that matter. Make things look pretty all you want, but it doesn't matter if you can't get the job done, no? Results are what I get, guaranteed. So you needn't worry about my end, but rather....your end." Sora returned the challenging smirk, showing that he wasn't prepared to back down to the woman.
"As I'm sure you're more than aware, while Ethel may be my employer I am still technically, for better or worse, her guardian." Sora payed close attention to Rosalina as he talked, watching to see how she took him suddenly changing the topic to Ethel and how it would affect her.
"You've met with Ethel, you've surely sensed it haven't you? That strange sensation she gives off. Well, you see, that sensation is her magic." While that wasn't a hundred percent true, Sora technically didn't lie. He just couldn't be bothered explaining it fully, nor did he feel like it was his place. Employee Secrecy and all that.
"Her magic is a very unique one, unique in the way that some...unsavory sorts have and will continue to come looking for her. To use her in whatever nefarious plots they've concocted." As soon as he said that, he seemed to give it a dismissive gesture however. Like what he said didn't matter.
"But what am I saying? I'm sure you couldn't care less about the girl, right?" Just from the look in his eyes one could see he was mocking her. But if she gave in to emotions, it was his win in this negotiations.
"My offer is simple Captain Idwal. I take care of your little infestation within the Knights, and whatever other problems you may have, and in return I simply ask you accept Ethel into the Knights' ranks. Oh and I suppose the occasional little snippet of information I may ask for here and there, as I assume so long as I accomplish my job with little fuss a blind eye will be turned to my actions." He had laid his offer on the table, and while he was still happy to continue negotiations, he was also sure that the swiftness of this talk would've taken her by surprise and hopefully would force her hand.
Captain Idwal took a few moments, perhaps one too many, to consider the offer on the table. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that there was more to this 'simple' request. Though before she could dwell on it, her prolonged silence had reached an uncomfortable level. Leading forward with her fingers interlocked beneath her chin, Rosalina looked through Sora with a curious glare.
"I have no reason to believe you are a man capable of achieving the results I desire; that has yet to be seen." She began, holding her finger up in case Sora felt the need to rebut her brash statement. "However, your eagerness is clear. Either you no longer see yourself fit to protect Ethel, or you've just simply grown tired of playing the part of a babysitter. Regardless, it's a wise choice. One I'd be willing to partake in."
With the topic of Ethel now sorted, Rosalina shifted her posture back and watched Sora with a strange aura of anticipation. One could even swear she was smiling.
"Even you must know the issue of the Knights corruption cannot be so easily solved by one person. Furthermore, that is not your place to intervene. However, if it's hard work you're after I'd be willing to accept your aid." She chuckled, her ice cold features melting away with a foreign warmth. "Of course, your involvement would need to be discrete. I am afraid you would end up being too much of a liability if your 'results', as you put it, ended up pointing back to me."
Standing up in front of Sora, Rosalina carefully removed a glove from her right hand and outstretched it to Sora.
"Do we have a deal?"
Sora glanced down at the outstretched hand of Rosalina for a moment before turning his gaze upwards to look her in the eyes. This was going almost too smoothly, like he couldn't have planned it better if he had tried.
It was just in his nature to be at least slightly suspicious of such an easy development. With a shrug, he allowed the smug look to return as he reached out with his hand.
"Of course Captain, those were the terms I expected." While he managed to hide the relief he felt from appearing outwardly, he gave it away with his tone. Clasping her hand tightly, he opened his mouth to say something and paused.
"About Ethel..." He paused again, obviously hesitant to continue. It wasn't his place to tell Rosalina this, seeing as Ethel was his employer, but it was something he felt she should know.
"Be careful with her. She's a lot more fragile than she likes to believe." Releasing Rosalina's hand, Sora got up and put his top hat back on.
"Anyway, was there anything else we should talk about? I shouldn't leave the kids alone too long, they have a habit of getting themselves into trouble without me around." Sora added with a chuckle. Of course they usually got themselves into bigger trouble with him around, that trouble usually bought about by Sora rather than their own deeds.
Rosalina's stone gaze crumbled away at Sora's rather considerate warning regarding Ethel. She could feel her firm grip around his hand loosening at the thought that perhaps this man, as crude as he may appear, had a soft spot for the child.
"I understand, but you need not be concerned. Ethel will flourish under my tutelage provided she is willing to learn." Rosalina glowed with pride; her reputation for producing exemplary soldiers was well known to most who knew of her. From her brief encounter with Ethel in Crocus, she had sensed there was something different about her. She was ashamed to admit it, but her curiosity had gotten the best of her in this deal.
When Sora began to depart, Rosalina nodded in agreement.
"Very well. You have your duties to attend to, as do I. I expect to be hearing from you soon though; I want updates to your progress." Her demands put bluntly, Rosalina had nothing more to add as she bid farewell to her new confidant. She watched the back of Sora's head as he left, perishing the brief thought that perhaps she may come to enjoy his company.
