Cast: Bells, Sam, Dia
Location: Salon, Expo Park, South Central
Time: Mid-evening on May 26, 2016
Synopsis: Dia tells the Keeper of Expo Park (Bells) about her violation of the Elysium's rules.
Salon - Expo Park
This high-ceilinged room is a broad ellipse, about thirty by thirty five feet. There are two large white single doors on the south side of the room. Between the the doors is an information area featuring a pair of bookshelves, a map and a bulletin board. Near the door on the right is a guestbook on a wooden stand.
The curved wall of the room is dominated by a great mural. Its most striking feature is above the information area between the doors; there you see a depiction of a planet, pockmarked with glowing craters and shrouded by dust. Above the mural is gilded scrollwork, and above that, the high ecru ceiling of the room is gently arched. The ceiling seems to glow softly; it is subtly lit by lights hidden in recessed niches; the scattered light is entirely adequate for reading but gentle on even the most sensitive eyes.
The floor is done in green and black marble that counterpoints the dominant colors in the great mural, and the furniture in the room varies according to the occasion, but there are benches built into the walls as a permanent feature, and there is generally a black wooden desk directly opposite the bulletin board.
This room has +views and places.
Contents:
Bells
Obvious exits:
Keeper's Chambers (E) Staff Only Areas (N)
Bells is seated at one of the benches, sitting cross-legged and tuning an acoustic guitar that looks as if it has seen better days.
Carefully pushing open the two white doors leading in and out of the Exposition Park Salon, Dia Reina Chavez quietly makes her way into the room. She moves her hands into her back pant pockets, her palms flat against her backside and her elbows jutting out to either side slightly. Making her way across the room, she appears to be heading towards Bells in a beeline. Stopping about seven or so feet away from the woman, she asks in a soft, nervous voice, "Excuse me… Um… You wouldn't happen to be Ms. 'Bells' would you?"
Bells strums the guitar once, then twice. As Dia approaches, she perks up an eyebrow, then smiles at the woman's nervousness. "Yes, I am," she says. "Can I help you wish something?" she asks. She strums the guitar again, lightly and without much interest in it. Her attention is mostly on Dia.
Dia flicks her eyes down to watch the woman play the guitar, her mouth slightly ajar as she tries to summon the words she feels are necessary. Returning her eyes to meet Bells', she starts out slowly with, "Yes… You see, my name is Dia Chavez… Ali Santiago is my sire?" The last few words are asked more as a question for Bells' acknowledgment and understanding rather than a statement of fact.
Kerplunk. The fingers hit a bad note on the strings, and Bells swings the guitar off her lap, and she stands it up beside her. She flips her hair over one shoulder, then turns her attention back to Dia. After a long moment, she says, "I see. What can I do for you, Miss Chavez?"
"Well… Last night, and I'm probably sure you've heard from rumors floating around…" Dia lowers her eyes for a moment to look at the tips of her shoes. Much like a child, she begins to grind her right toe into the ground - shifting her shoes back and forth as her nerves seem to be fighting her composure. "Well… I was in a bit of an altercation and I drew a knife on someone…" She rolls her eyes back up to look at Bells, the girl now having stopped playing with her foot as she's gotten the worst part out. "I felt you needed to hear it from me…"
Sam steps out of the elevator, balancing a pot with bluebell flowers, wrapped up in gift-foil. He halts a moment in order to skim the contents of the Salon before proceeding.
Bells' expression tightens, and she frowns. Her shoulders pull back and she straightens up. "You… Drew a knife on someone… In my Elysia?" she asks.
Bells is sitting with her guitar beside her. About seven feet away is Dia, who looks rather nervous. Bells looks uncharacteristically frowny.
Sam waits before approaching.. but has to put that heavy pot somewhere, so he finds one of the desks.. waves toward the pair and starts to wander in the direction of the bulletin board first.
"Yes ma'am…" Dia says softly, hating to admit it but having already crossed the point of no return. "Specifically, someone I only know as 'Coco'… If you need any eyewitnesses, I believe Ms. Nita, Mr. Conrad and Ms. Kusala were present for the events."
Bells hasn't spotted Sam, her concentration is locked onto Dia. She lets Dia's words hang in the air for a moment before she responds, which is short, soft, and simple: "Why?"
Sam continues to read, not disturbing the conversation at hand.. occasionally casting a glance in the direction of the pair. There's a faint smile around his lips.
"In all honestly ma'am, Coco frightened me…" Dia says, her eyes dead-locked on Bells and paying absolutely no attention to Sam at this time. "I was telling Mr. Conrad and Ms. Nita a story about certain events that occurred two nights before in the Elysium regarding Ali Santiago and several others… While I was telling my story, this 'Coco' character appeared out of nowhere… About an inch or two from my face… After the events I saw the previous night and the 'surprise' of his presence, I was a little more than startled and naturally reacted…" Her eyes finally flicker over towards Sam without her moving her head, but they don't remain long. "I'm not trying to make excuses, I understand… I just want you to understand my reasoning and that I take responsibility for my actions…"
Bells frowns deeply and stands up. She crosses her arms, and her eyes follow Dia's toward Sam, just in case there are any insane mimes over there. Her eyes stay on Sam for a moment, then they return toward Dia. "Then I regret to inform you that you are unwelcome within the safety of this Elysia, Miss Chavez, until such time that I lift the ban, or Prince Cora orders otherwise. You… You didn't /stab/ him with it, did you?"
Sam offers both ladies a nod-smile.. Bells an encouraging one, when they look his way.. and returns to the messages again, allowing them to continue their discussion un-disturbed.
Dia closes her eyes as she hears the ban placed on her - not the words she was looking forward to. Her shoulders slump slightly and the girl opens her eyes once again to look upon Bells. "Understood…" she says softly. "And no, I didn't stab him…" It looks like she wants to add something to her last few words, but refrains from doing so.
Bells offers a half-smile to Dia. "Then it will probably be a short-lived ban. I will deal with the mime, as well. I appreciate your bringing this to me; I would have been far more upset having heard about it from someone else.
Bells offers a half-smile to Dia. "Then it will probably be a short-lived ban. I will deal with the mime, as well. I appreciate your bringing this to me; I would have been far more upset having heard about it from someone else. It shows that you have the honorable courage of your blood, and both go a long way in my book. Have a good night, Miss Chavez."
Sam can't help glancing over his shoulder every now and then. His expression takes on something that might indicate approval, not to say being proud of. When Dia makes her way back the lad offer her a slight polite bow with an 'Goodnight miss" before he goes to gather those flowers.
Dia seems to take some comfort in the words Bells offers her. She nods her head once in acknowledgment before saying, "Thank you Ms. Bells… You as well. I'll let you get back to your guitar…" And with that said, the young girl turns about on the balls of her feet and makes her way back towards the doors of the Elysium. As she passes Sam, she gives the man a brief smile in response to his words and silently mouths the word, "Night…".
You leave the Salon through the white double-doors, go past the guard, and take the private elevator up.