Onyx and Ivory (CA - Melinda & Diane)
Quote from Indy on January 16, 2021, 10:49 pmMelinda withdrew the package as it was rejected for the second time and replaced it into the pocket of her blouse. Gathering her things, she followed after Diane and fell in pace besides her as they walked among the gravestones. The beautiful masonry of the mausoleum fell behind them.
"Perhaps there is. I believe in the relationship of common self-interest, Miss Betine," Melinda said with a crisp nod, "If we are to work together, it is because it will profit both of us. Not without risk, because every venture worthwhile will invite danger in one shape or form, yet I've come to you seeking such a partnership".
Melinda withdrew the package as it was rejected for the second time and replaced it into the pocket of her blouse. Gathering her things, she followed after Diane and fell in pace besides her as they walked among the gravestones. The beautiful masonry of the mausoleum fell behind them.
"Perhaps there is. I believe in the relationship of common self-interest, Miss Betine," Melinda said with a crisp nod, "If we are to work together, it is because it will profit both of us. Not without risk, because every venture worthwhile will invite danger in one shape or form, yet I've come to you seeking such a partnership".
Quote from Mae on February 12, 2021, 6:50 pmDiane stepped lightly in heels over grass and still her grace was impeccable. With her eyes downcast as she tread between the stones, her dark lashes fanning her cheeks, she appeared as thoughtful as she was careful.
"An intriguing proposition, to be sure." she said. "I'm listening."
Diane stepped lightly in heels over grass and still her grace was impeccable. With her eyes downcast as she tread between the stones, her dark lashes fanning her cheeks, she appeared as thoughtful as she was careful.
"An intriguing proposition, to be sure." she said. "I'm listening."
Quote from Indy on February 14, 2021, 1:39 pmThe corners of Melinda's mouth turned in amusement. She navigated the tombstones with careful step so the heels of her dark pumps did not sink far into the grass. She kept her purse clutched daintily over one arm so that it scarcely swung with her step.
"I should hope so," Melinda replied after a moment of thought, "Do you have an answer to my question, then?"
She did not withdraw the package for a third time, yet her gaze flickered to it. Then her eyes turned upwards, studying Diane's expression for a response.
The corners of Melinda's mouth turned in amusement. She navigated the tombstones with careful step so the heels of her dark pumps did not sink far into the grass. She kept her purse clutched daintily over one arm so that it scarcely swung with her step.
"I should hope so," Melinda replied after a moment of thought, "Do you have an answer to my question, then?"
She did not withdraw the package for a third time, yet her gaze flickered to it. Then her eyes turned upwards, studying Diane's expression for a response.
Quote from Mae on March 12, 2021, 10:09 pmDiane led Melinda very deep into the city cemetery, far from the buildings which overlooked them on every side. The park, or grove, was very beautiful with tall shady trees, elegant pathways, and every once in awhile a bronze statuette. Flowers were spread over the field on most every headstone, and there were lovely benches to sit on to talk and mourn. It was a terrible place to do business, but a wonderous place to reflect.
Before Melinda posed her next words, she and Diane came to a solemn, heavily shaded place where they were met with a pavement path and led down a short flight of steps into a cement pool. In the center of the pool stood a short building; a building of some importance, though its decoration was simple and its appearance unassuming. Into the shadow of this building, under the shade of the mighty trees which stood over it, Diane led Melinda.
The moment the two stepped down into the pool the sounds of the wind and the birds and the affairs of the city fell away. Diane at length brought down her black parasol, and closed it with a quiet elegance. Now, she lowered her chin and turned to face Melinda.
"I have an inkling..." She said with her bright green eyes glittering, "That you already know my answer."
Diane led Melinda very deep into the city cemetery, far from the buildings which overlooked them on every side. The park, or grove, was very beautiful with tall shady trees, elegant pathways, and every once in awhile a bronze statuette. Flowers were spread over the field on most every headstone, and there were lovely benches to sit on to talk and mourn. It was a terrible place to do business, but a wonderous place to reflect.
Before Melinda posed her next words, she and Diane came to a solemn, heavily shaded place where they were met with a pavement path and led down a short flight of steps into a cement pool. In the center of the pool stood a short building; a building of some importance, though its decoration was simple and its appearance unassuming. Into the shadow of this building, under the shade of the mighty trees which stood over it, Diane led Melinda.
The moment the two stepped down into the pool the sounds of the wind and the birds and the affairs of the city fell away. Diane at length brought down her black parasol, and closed it with a quiet elegance. Now, she lowered her chin and turned to face Melinda.
"I have an inkling..." She said with her bright green eyes glittering, "That you already know my answer."
Quote from Indy on March 15, 2021, 8:25 pmMelinda passed through the grove as though she had walked this very path a thousand times before. With her charcoal dress and soft, downturned expression, it were as though she were as much a part of the cemetery as she it. Her eyes did not wander, but rather remained steadfast just at the horizon. She followed Diane down into the cement pool, her heels making a pleasant clack with every thoughtful step. She showed no reservations of following the woman down to such a secluded location, but rather looked upon it expectantly.
“I find ‘know’ to be a very strong word, Miss Betine,” Melinda said quietly, though her voice echoed loudly in the cement pool all the same, “I may have a guess, but I will not know it to be true until you have spoken it”.
“Besides,” the woman noted with a wry tug at the corner of her mouth, “This is a partnership of common self-interest. If I give you all the answers, then what is left for me to discover?”
Melinda passed through the grove as though she had walked this very path a thousand times before. With her charcoal dress and soft, downturned expression, it were as though she were as much a part of the cemetery as she it. Her eyes did not wander, but rather remained steadfast just at the horizon. She followed Diane down into the cement pool, her heels making a pleasant clack with every thoughtful step. She showed no reservations of following the woman down to such a secluded location, but rather looked upon it expectantly.
“I find ‘know’ to be a very strong word, Miss Betine,” Melinda said quietly, though her voice echoed loudly in the cement pool all the same, “I may have a guess, but I will not know it to be true until you have spoken it”.
“Besides,” the woman noted with a wry tug at the corner of her mouth, “This is a partnership of common self-interest. If I give you all the answers, then what is left for me to discover?”
Quote from Mae on March 15, 2021, 10:13 pmThe corners of Miss Betine's red lips curled upward. She leaned forward just so, and spoke softly.
"I have a feeling," she said, "That knowing the standing of our differing organizations, neither one of us are willing to yield that information to the other on such sandy foundations of trust. Your common self-interest may not be enough to build on this relationship."
Produced from a very small black leather pouch on Diane's person was a solid iron key. Diane turned from Melinda, inserted the key into into its place, and opened the crypt. Then she turned toward Melinda again and motioned with a gliding hand for her to enter.
"We shall be alone."
The corners of Miss Betine's red lips curled upward. She leaned forward just so, and spoke softly.
"I have a feeling," she said, "That knowing the standing of our differing organizations, neither one of us are willing to yield that information to the other on such sandy foundations of trust. Your common self-interest may not be enough to build on this relationship."
Produced from a very small black leather pouch on Diane's person was a solid iron key. Diane turned from Melinda, inserted the key into into its place, and opened the crypt. Then she turned toward Melinda again and motioned with a gliding hand for her to enter.
"We shall be alone."
Quote from Indy on March 17, 2021, 11:29 pmMelinda watched Diane insert the solid, iron key. Yet if she had any reservations, she did not note it. She followed Diane inside, heels clacking on the cold floor as measured as a metronome.
"Do we know the interests of our respective organizations?" the woman mused once inside, "I think on the end of the other, that remains largely guesswork. And insofar to those foundations, sandy they may be, yet I believe I have made the first step Miss Betine..."
Melinda nodded curtly into the solitude of the chamber they had entered.
"A foundation cannot be built with one pair of hands alone. Where I take the first step, so too must you take the other. Perhaps we have every reason not to trust each other, yet for there to be any hope at all for this endeavor, I insist our relationship of common-self interest be built upon it".
Melinda turned to watch Diane, her grey eyes intent and settling firmly upon the final phrase. Was it strange for such a slight woman, delicate and poised in her coifed charcoal dress and prim heels, to regard Diane with such confidence? Perhaps, yet there was expectation as well in those eyes, the slight turn of her eyebrow as she awaited the reply.
Melinda watched Diane insert the solid, iron key. Yet if she had any reservations, she did not note it. She followed Diane inside, heels clacking on the cold floor as measured as a metronome.
"Do we know the interests of our respective organizations?" the woman mused once inside, "I think on the end of the other, that remains largely guesswork. And insofar to those foundations, sandy they may be, yet I believe I have made the first step Miss Betine..."
Melinda nodded curtly into the solitude of the chamber they had entered.
"A foundation cannot be built with one pair of hands alone. Where I take the first step, so too must you take the other. Perhaps we have every reason not to trust each other, yet for there to be any hope at all for this endeavor, I insist our relationship of common-self interest be built upon it".
Melinda turned to watch Diane, her grey eyes intent and settling firmly upon the final phrase. Was it strange for such a slight woman, delicate and poised in her coifed charcoal dress and prim heels, to regard Diane with such confidence? Perhaps, yet there was expectation as well in those eyes, the slight turn of her eyebrow as she awaited the reply.
Quote from Mae on March 18, 2021, 2:01 pmDiane stepped into the crypt behind Melinda. She closed the door and locked it with the same key from the inside. Then she set a-light a simple candelabra and gave it to Melinda.
"For your benefit," she said. Her pupils glinted silver in the candlelight.
The two found themselves alone, save for the four persons whom lay entombed.
"I am willing to guess that you already possess significant information on that subject." Diane said nonchalantly. At the back of the crypt was a small door which Diane opened as she spoke, and thence descended a flight of no more than thirteen steps to the bottom.
"Firstly," she continued, "Because you presented the plant to me upon the opening of this discourse when it is not easy to be found. And secondly, because traces of it were on your person at our prior encounter."
Diane stopped and turned to face Melinda. She stood in a long arched hallway with many branches that spanned the darkness under the cemetery. Chambers for stone coffins lined every wall. Diane was unaffected.
"I can state with certain confidence," she said, "That your organization procured that information at no small risk, and with a great deal of difficulty. It is not common knowledge. And you may equally assume that since I am not standing in a dull stupor or twitching about as if possessed that I am also aware of the properties of that plant."
Diane tilted her head slightly to the side and smiled. "I told you I am curious about you. That is, perhaps, the only self-interest I possess. The information you have acquired would mean a great deal of trouble to my organization if divulged, but you might be surprised at the lengths I have gone to satiate a bit of idle curiosity."
Diane lifted her chin just so. "The plant's Latin name is Exspiravit Herba. It is called in the Greek Lycaons Lachtára. It was brought to Greece in the 6th century BC by maritime traders. Previous to that time it's origins are unknown. Shall I divulge further?"
Diane stepped into the crypt behind Melinda. She closed the door and locked it with the same key from the inside. Then she set a-light a simple candelabra and gave it to Melinda.
"For your benefit," she said. Her pupils glinted silver in the candlelight.
The two found themselves alone, save for the four persons whom lay entombed.
"I am willing to guess that you already possess significant information on that subject." Diane said nonchalantly. At the back of the crypt was a small door which Diane opened as she spoke, and thence descended a flight of no more than thirteen steps to the bottom.
"Firstly," she continued, "Because you presented the plant to me upon the opening of this discourse when it is not easy to be found. And secondly, because traces of it were on your person at our prior encounter."
Diane stopped and turned to face Melinda. She stood in a long arched hallway with many branches that spanned the darkness under the cemetery. Chambers for stone coffins lined every wall. Diane was unaffected.
"I can state with certain confidence," she said, "That your organization procured that information at no small risk, and with a great deal of difficulty. It is not common knowledge. And you may equally assume that since I am not standing in a dull stupor or twitching about as if possessed that I am also aware of the properties of that plant."
Diane tilted her head slightly to the side and smiled. "I told you I am curious about you. That is, perhaps, the only self-interest I possess. The information you have acquired would mean a great deal of trouble to my organization if divulged, but you might be surprised at the lengths I have gone to satiate a bit of idle curiosity."
Diane lifted her chin just so. "The plant's Latin name is Exspiravit Herba. It is called in the Greek Lycaons Lachtára. It was brought to Greece in the 6th century BC by maritime traders. Previous to that time it's origins are unknown. Shall I divulge further?"
Quote from Indy on March 20, 2021, 10:56 pmMelinda took the candelabra, investigating the crypt with the minimal light it provided. She followed after Diane, heels a'clacking, and made her way further into the darkness. Goosebumps prickled along her arms in the faint, damp chill of the air. It seemed the further in she descended, the more the cold seemed to seep in, and the further her attention was drawn to those entombed.
She put aside her misgivings in short order, however, and studied Diane as she finished speaking.
"I believe that is sufficient for now, Miss Betine. Thank you..."
"In return, I shall tell you this: While the secrets of this herb are of no small matter, do not think yourselves the first that must have guarded its secret. Even amongst your own organization, you admit holes in your knowledge on where it came from, and where it came to be.. and so to in present day, you may have lost track of whom came to know it - and indeed, that number is to a startling degree. This information is of no small trifle to my organization. In fact, it is the stones upon which it was built in the late 1940s".
"I have profited well from your curiousity, Miss Betine, yet it is only the beginning," the woman nodded, "You speak of the plant's properties to your senses, yes? The leaves may appear to 'mask' scent - thus allowing you to move unnoted - and one may train themselves not to be caught in its stupor. Yet I believe this to be the least curious affect of this plant..."
Melinda watched Diane carefully as she spoke next, "And what do you know of its flowers?"
Melinda took the candelabra, investigating the crypt with the minimal light it provided. She followed after Diane, heels a'clacking, and made her way further into the darkness. Goosebumps prickled along her arms in the faint, damp chill of the air. It seemed the further in she descended, the more the cold seemed to seep in, and the further her attention was drawn to those entombed.
She put aside her misgivings in short order, however, and studied Diane as she finished speaking.
"I believe that is sufficient for now, Miss Betine. Thank you..."
"In return, I shall tell you this: While the secrets of this herb are of no small matter, do not think yourselves the first that must have guarded its secret. Even amongst your own organization, you admit holes in your knowledge on where it came from, and where it came to be.. and so to in present day, you may have lost track of whom came to know it - and indeed, that number is to a startling degree. This information is of no small trifle to my organization. In fact, it is the stones upon which it was built in the late 1940s".
"I have profited well from your curiousity, Miss Betine, yet it is only the beginning," the woman nodded, "You speak of the plant's properties to your senses, yes? The leaves may appear to 'mask' scent - thus allowing you to move unnoted - and one may train themselves not to be caught in its stupor. Yet I believe this to be the least curious affect of this plant..."
Melinda watched Diane carefully as she spoke next, "And what do you know of its flowers?"
Quote from Mae on March 22, 2021, 1:13 amThere was a dangerous light that came to Diane's eyes as Melinda spoke.
"Oh yes, you are quite right..." She said. "Tis not the least of all it's curious properties."
Diane took a careful step forward and lowered her chin just so.
"Tell me," she said. "You know that many people hate us and fear us. Even in this modern world... they find any tool to spill our blood with their bare hands. Knives, forks.. guns. Why wake the sleeping anarchy and rouse the age-old bloodshed?"
Diane's eyes glinted silver with the shifting of her gaze."If you are seeking a tool to get the better hand in this war, I'm afraid you took a very dangerous chance by asking for it."
There was a dangerous light that came to Diane's eyes as Melinda spoke.
"Oh yes, you are quite right..." She said. "Tis not the least of all it's curious properties."
Diane took a careful step forward and lowered her chin just so.
"Tell me," she said. "You know that many people hate us and fear us. Even in this modern world... they find any tool to spill our blood with their bare hands. Knives, forks.. guns. Why wake the sleeping anarchy and rouse the age-old bloodshed?"
Diane's eyes glinted silver with the shifting of her gaze.
"If you are seeking a tool to get the better hand in this war, I'm afraid you took a very dangerous chance by asking for it."
