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Gracious Conversationalist
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 Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:31 am
Awh you foolish woman. NO sense.
Na, the equipment here was less hi-tech than it was expensive and versatile. Various high-performance personal computers, displays, hardware and software... On these babies, even the most picky computer nut would find a delightful moment of frustration-less use of the technology.
Was that a gaming console setup in the far back? Full HD beamer, surround sound systems, classy stuff.
The actual specific techy equipment had been transported to and stored in the floating laboratory she'd undoubtedly hear more about soon.
While she was looking around -feel free to turn one of them on to witness the miracle of a pc booting up in less than five seconds-, Jonathan passed by, glanced inside the room and with a headshake recognised what she'd done to her outfit. MiLADY dear... You could've just asked, the more casual wear is stored someplace else, but nobody is expecting you to wear a dress... There were some limits to how well-prepared they could be, and there hadn't been time to try and convince miss Magdalen -another older employee here- that truly, dear, not every female valued a nice ornate dress.
Stifling a goody sigh, he quietly made his way further through the halls, and went to retrieve her something less awkward to wear.
Not too ridiculously long later, he knocked on the doorframe politely, and handed her some clean women's trousers, a small variety of modern-distinguished tops he believed would fit her, a belt and some more little fussy things she could try if she so desired. No comment about her massacring her current clothes came over his lips, but an amused twinkle of disapproval couldn't be missed.
"Duke DeLonghy is expecting you quite soon, if you would be so kind to... try again? Our sincerest apologies for not meeting your expectations."
In the meantime, Banning had indeed finished his shower, and dressed himself again in a clean, well-tailored suit. Much, much better. His longish black hair he'd given a brief ruffle and slicked back, it'd dry on its own in time. Now to get the more secret documents together, and go to meet his future partner for dinner -if things worked out.
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Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:28 pm
One glance and Mei's eyes were glittering, her mouth watered. No, it wasn't hunger for food, it was a little something called love at first sight: tech edition. The girl went around eyes wide and touching all the latest equipment she could find. Especially that gaming systems. This is the life! I'll have to add this to my bargain list! She smiled satisfyingly to herself.
Her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of the platinum exterior of the Daimon, one of the most renowned computers of the day. Imagine, something even more fancy than that rich snob's Formine XIII processor. Giddy and gleeful, she pranced around as though dancing with an invisible partner.
The knock startled her. It was a miracle she didn't knock anything over as she stumbled backwards but it was quite apparent she was embarrassed. And it was Jonathan! He spoke quite casually, maybe he didn't see her just moments before. A small sigh escaped her, as she ran over, "Oh, no, I just didn't want to trouble you. Hope the Duke doesn't mind that one of his dresses is...erm...better than before?"
Mei took the bundle and hurried back to the other room changing at the speed of sound, not literally by quite close. When she was done, she opened the door and gave a -Ahh...much more comfortable- smile. "So where to?"
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Gracious Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:55 am
Hmm, that was much better indeed. No more of that ridiculous I-do-not-wear-dresses attitude, nobody had expected her to try and adjust to the haute couture of yore anyway. At least nobody had been sentimental enough to allow her to get to the family's most revered female's clothes, those were safe and sound elsewhere.
Not to say that the ones that had been present in Mei's temporary room had been any less in value, though.
Jonathan nodded with a warm, wrinkly smile, looking miss Lecter up and down in a single glance and finding her more then acceptable now.
"Truly gorgeous, Mei. Well, follow me, then." with a slow expansive gesture, he invited her to come with him. He would take her through the same hallways for a while, until taking a turn right and descending deeper into the mansion, towards the central garden-patio-multi-purpose open space. The manor's main dining room and kitchen were located there, kept pristine and fresh with the regular renewal of the flowery decorations, but left unused for long times. Ever since the family had collapsed, leaving only banning to care for the manor and the treasury, the place had been wistfully desolate.
Bane had never managed to part from it, and wiggle out from under the burden it was, but it was a personal point of pride in his life, and a welcomed cover and secondary home. The magic he did in his deals and other businesses kept the finances coming, even apart from E.B.I., and he gladly invested a large share of that moneyflow into keeping DeLonghy manor alive and usable. The people working here were trustworthy and experienced by now, and didn't question him as long as he paid them well, which he did.
By the time the old butler entered the spacious piloned dining room, indeed much like a low-ceilinged, classy casino hall littered with subtly decorated tables and plants, Banning had arrived as well.
Standing in deep thought, he was looking through the glass panes that allowed a most spectacular view on the central open space of the mansion. Quiet pale gravelly paths and dormant lush flowerbeds sprawled out under the purple and orange-painted sky, forming a pleasant decor for the softly murmuring spring.
In a year or two, maybe one of the first participants in his planned project would find a moment's reprieve here with his Essentic. Who knows.
When he heard Jonathan and his guest enter, the Duke awoke from his reverie, turned to the entrance. What a change, in both people. He had to admit she looked breath-taking, compared to earlier. A fine young woman. About himself he didn't worry much. His natural charisma didn't fail him often, and he knew he looked alright in his suit.
... maybe he should have tied his hair up again though. The way it hung over his back now he almost looked innocently handsome, if only he didn't still have that softened bird-of-prey gaze.
"Good evening, miss Lecter."
Almost a self-chiding glint showed, but he held that back. Don't... DON'T you sound mushy now. Indeed, he'd sounded almost dreamy, astonished. Darn that husky tone. No, there no need to get all fussy now.
"Please take a seat, we may get right back to business if you desire so." he managed a rare genuine smile, a niggle diluted as if he was afraid of looking like he was trying to woo her. He politely gestured at the table he was standing next to, as well as the stack of documents and other things they might need, pictures, graphs even, neatly arranged on the one right beside it to not clutter the dinner table. It wasn't a desk, after all.
Jonathan left her side and pulled her chair back chivalrously while Banning waited for the lady to be seated, quite visibly amused.
"Is there anything I may serve you, miss Mei?" Oh, it was almost painfully hard for him to ignore how flustered his master was. It wasn't easy to tell, but once you knew what to look for... That ever-so-faint flush, the occasional glance at the right-hand wall, the subtle twitch in his wrist which he tried to suppress by straightening up and locking his hands behind his back...
If he didn't know any better, he would think he was observing a noble young twentier here, not a sixty-year old.
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 11:10 am
Gorgeous? The word and the girl didn't quite match but she'd let it slide. It was his job to complement the guests even if he were to spill a little white lie here and there. Mei nodded her thanks as she followed the old man further into the mansion. It was hard not to appreciate the large living area even though she taught herself to remain negative about the waste of space. Although her dorm room was probably the size of their closet space, she was still snug and comfortable there.
After what seemed like forever, the butler finally led her into to their destination. The place seemed like something out of a picture book. Have to count on the duke to make the place as classy as possible. It didn't take long for the actual host to arrive and make his grand entrance. The man certainly knew how to fill the room with his aura of authority doesn't he? She almost snorted out of amusement, almost but not quite, but her grin was much harder to hide.
Yes, business, exactly what she wanted to get down to. It's hard not to stare and make the comparisons of earlier than day to right now. That grin slowly merged into a smirk and back as she sat down and continued staring. Thankfully, Jonathan's brief question snapped her to attention. "Erm, water should be fine. Thank you!" She turned back and the grin of amusement returned, it could possibly cost her this job but it was just so hard to wipe off her face. "So, is wearing casual clothes and pretending to be a college student one of your hobbies?"
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