She hated how he had locked eyes with her and would not turn away. It only encouraged her irrational fear that if she allowed it to continue long enough, he’d somehow pry all her deepest secrets from her.  Yet she couldn’t look away, that would feel like a retreat,  something that was against her very nature. Instead she continued her stillness, arms still crossed, barely breathing, until he had passed judgment on the situation and directed his eyes behind her.

She sighed in relief, both from the broken gaze and the words that meant she’d be keeping her position for now. Silently she berated herself to show more control next time as she turned to stand behind him as he studied the map.

She felt her heart jump when he the word Shurima passed his lips. Perhaps she was being punished after all. There had been freedom in Shurima, and some of the warmest memories of her life, but she had lost Cassie there. Every one of those glowing moments had turned to ash for her. She had not returned since her and her father had left, since the invasion that had changed everything for Noxus.  “It has been a number of years, before Ionia. Tell me what you need of me.”  

The general nodded, still eyeing the empire of sand. Good enough, he reasoned silently. Shifting his gaze, Swain noted a dried rose resting on one of the bookshelves. The onyx colored flower was a reminder and a memento; while he was the supreme commander, the Grand General, there were many ways to opposing him, and not all of those were in open rebellion. No, some sought to challenge his power in more subtle ways.

He turned to face the anxious woman, a minuscule, joyless smile tugging at the corner of his lip. “A governor of one of our Shuriman colonies is visiting capitol. There will be a banquet” He explained, circling Katarina and retrieving a letter from his desk, the invitation to the event. “I shall attend, and you’ll act as my valet” the general offered the bleached pergament to her. The fancy letter gave the date, the venue and a very strict dress code. It was a high class party and all attendants were expected to dress accordingly. This went for military and civilians alike. 

“I hope you have the necessary wardrobe for this kind of event, if not, I offer my tailor’s services” Swain mused, taking a seat behind his desk. “No weapons in the open. But I am sure you’ll be able to skirt that issue”. The general leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on Katarina’s face, scanning her expression. “Time for Du Couteaus to show their glamour again in the court. And their allegiance” The Raven nodded ever so slightly in the direction of the dried up black rose.

The general listened in silence, his piercing gaze locked at Katarina’s emerald colored eyes as she spoke. Swain’s expression was carefully managed, cold and attentive even as he sipped from the water, never diverting his eyes from her.

Emptying out the cup, he placed it back on the desk, the metal clinking against the sturdy wooden surface. A small shake of his head denied her apology.  “I am not your father” the Grand General reminded Katarina. “I do not consider it a fault for my subordinates to have initiative” he offered a half concealed compliment to the assassin, stepping past her to take a look at the enormous map covering one of the walls of the office. Swain’s eyes scanned the detailed depiction of Runeterra, once again impressed at the artist’s talent who’d created the enormous piece of work for him to use for his plans. “When is the last time you visited Shurima?”.

She quickly sheathed the dagger at her belt, straightening her posture. “Grand General Sir.”  She took a breath, perhaps it was too presumptuous of her to come here like this. No going back now.

Intentionally she avoided his gaze. “I need an assignment. I’m restless. Give me a target.” She needed something to focus on, she was tired of thinking about the past, about family history. She laced her fingers together, holding her hands in front of her, keeping them steady. “It doesn’t matter who.” 

She chanced a glance upward, had she irritated him with the request? Her work for the Trifarix was her everything to her, but she couldn’t be idle in that haunted house a day longer. 

The shift between the stances of the assassin were clear, practiced boredom giving way to the more anxious stature. The way her now idle hands locked with one another, as if to force calmness to the fiery redhead. “Is that so?” The general mused, stepping past her and unlocking the office door. A small motion of his hand invited the assassin to follow.

The general strode through his office, discarding the heavy trench-coat and pouring himself a cup of water from the heavy iron pitcher. The bronze colored irises turned to look at Katarina, evaluating her coolly. “Assassins should be used sparingly. Yet your blades thirsts” Swain mused, sipping from the cup. “What is haunting you?”.

[☾] – Curious how merely being regarded a look could feel flattering, & yet she only allowed a modest curl to betray her lips, as if hiding slightly more into the details. “You could say such a thing is inevitable when it comes to you, my dear. It’s also about the scent more than the flavor of this wine that makes it particularly enchanting lately.” She had brought a couple or some more choices for his wine cellar regardless of any case, a little welcoming gift.

“Hope my visit doesn’t interrupt any of the plans you may have for tonight. You were away for so –so- long I was almost apprehensive thinking something had caught you before I could.” Beneath the uncannily bright eclipse, her golden eyes seemed to catch a little scarlet glimpse. “Thought maybe I shall check on your well-being~”

The general nodded at LeBlanc’s musings of her tastes as of late. “The fragrance is pleasing” he admitted, offering the silk-clad woman a glass.

“My evenings are often spent with matters that are of less importance” the man mused, clinking his glass with hers. The bronze hues spied that red layer of color in the usual pools of gold. A trick of the light or a hint of something..? He chose to dismiss it as the effect of an eclipse. “There are precious few things in this world that could keep me from returning” He reassured her, sipping from the wine. The sweet, cool liquid washed down his throat, the general turning to look at the nightly city. “I could not leave this behind, even if I wanted to” he mused, not elaborating further on what exactly ‘this’ was.

Vayne stared at him. A vigilant breeze ever so slightly tagging her rose petal cape. There was this emotion in the back of her mind always creeping. Always reminding her what bitterness tastes like. But it's a trick of the light. Nothing more. "I may be. But that is exactly the reason you should fear me, Swain... Raum."

The general crossed his arms behind his back, tilting his head ever so slightly as she addressed him. Them. “I agree. A lone crusader is much harder to keep track of than an army of zealots” and a determined one might very well come up with a smart plan, rather than hurl themselves at the enemy, the general added in his mind. “Tell miss Vayne, where did you learn my companion’s name?” The general requested, intrigued by the knowledge the Demacian possessed. He’d love to hear just how much she knew.

"It's my profession to know my enemies, General. After all it would be a waste of time to tell you when you have read my mind." Waved the hunter dismissively.

“And you’d award such powers to me and Raum? The ability to just steal glances from your mind in impunity” The general asked with curiosity. “And that I’d invade your privacy so?”.

Vayne turned around and approached him, staring him in the eye. "You will not look into my thoughts again. I'll make sure of it next time. Believe me when I say that." There was no anger in her low voice. Only silent malice in her cold eyes.

@visionofnoxus

The general nodded at her assertion. “Then I will do my best to refrain” He reassured her, though how much Swain meant it, was up to interpretation. 

“Oh, yes sure, he is mighty, nothing about that.“ Obviously. She of all people isn’t one to judge on tastes, her own is wide enough, it’s just that- “I just always thought you only liked women.“ The surprise ebbs and she accepts the new fact as correction for her beliefs. “Huh.“ Interesting.

Oh well, time to find out about Darius, she might have been wrong there too. It’s strange, she can usually guess this well enough. “Speaking of, do you know where he is?“

Swain looked at the woman, wondering in his mind about this entire conversation. This woman seemed to breed inappropriate conversations within her vicinity. At least when the Grand General himself was concerned. “Your observation bears some merit. I rarely partake in carnal pleasures. And my partners in those occasions have been of the fairer sex. It does not exclude a wider view however” he pointed out.

At her question, the Tactician gave her an inquisitive eye, suspecting that the woman was up to no good. “General Darius should be somewhere within capitol. Check within his office at the barracks or the training yard” He recommended.

Hmm, yes, yes, we are fairer, she agreed in though and nodded to his recommendation with a “Thank you.” But as she walked out, a new thought stopped her and turned her back, side facing the grand ruler of all Noxus.

“Hmm. I’m just curious, since there’s this whole openness spell on all of us today. Do you think I’m attractive?“ She knew her merits, it was more a matter of how much her attitude had changed his views, and of hearing it from him personally.

He gave her a glare at the question. Almost. She’d almost been out of the door without the situation escalating. Sighing, the Grand General gave a curt nod of affirmation. “You are an impressive, strong willed woman Meria Hanmar” Swain replied, turning back to his works. 

“Oh, yes sure, he is mighty, nothing about that.“ Obviously. She of all people isn’t one to judge on tastes, her own is wide enough, it’s just that- “I just always thought you only liked women.“ The surprise ebbs and she accepts the new fact as correction for her beliefs. “Huh.“ Interesting.

Oh well, time to find out about Darius, she might have been wrong there too. It’s strange, she can usually guess this well enough. “Speaking of, do you know where he is?“

Swain looked at the woman, wondering in his mind about this entire conversation. This woman seemed to breed inappropriate conversations within her vicinity. At least when the Grand General himself was concerned. “Your observation bears some merit. I rarely partake in carnal pleasures. And my partners in those occasions have been of the fairer sex. It does not exclude a wider view however” he pointed out.

At her question, the Tactician gave her an inquisitive eye, suspecting that the woman was up to no good. “General Darius should be somewhere within capitol. Check within his office at the barracks or the training yard” He recommended.