Madeline stared blankly at the sprawl of city before her. She'd made it to the capitol at last. Though, why she'd needed or wanted to come here in the first place, even she didn't know. Her eyes, an unnerving shade of silver-blue, searched for and found a food cart.<br/><br/>"Pardon me, miss. Could you spare a coin or two for me and my siblings? Just to eat?"<br/>Madeline's eyes shifted down to the boy who had addressed her, and then to his siblings, one of whom was poorly hiding a coin purse. Stolen, likely.<br/><br/>"Lie. Thief," Madeline stated in a quiet murmur, even as a deft fingered girl slipped Madeline's own purse from her belt. A little frightened by Madeline's demeanor, the group of budding thieves moved on. Madeline looked after them, a strange smile on her face. She had very little money, and most of it was stashed on her person instead of in her purse for this very reason. There were a few coins in that purse, but mostly unusable charcoal stubs from her sketch book. It was oddly satisfying, to her, to imagine the looks of disbelief and disappointment on the little bandits' faces when they discovered that they'd stolen very little of value. Shaking her head, the young woman continued to the food stand and purchased a small meal.<br/><br/>She wandered a few more minutes before settling down to eat her meal and watch the people. The color blue caught her eye, and she raised an eyebrow.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Is that an aquatic elf, then? I've never actually seen one, but I suppose she fits the description I've always read about. How unique.</span><br/><br/>Setting her meal aside for the time being, Madeline retrieved her sketch book and charcoal pencil and began to draw. It wasn't every day you could see an aquatic elf; there was no way she was going to pass up the opportunity to draw one. Not caring if she seemed rude or if the elf noticed the artist's eyes on her, Madeline stared, noting the lines and contours, and began to sketch.<br/><br/>-----------------------------------------<br/>Zhira was pissed. Again. Granted, that was a continuous state for the White Demon.<br/><br/>"What the hell is with this TEA?! I didn't ask for this overly sweet oolong. Where is my pu'ehr?"<br/>"It was a gift, General Zhira."<br/>"From what sort of abomination?" Zhira demanded, sharp green eyes flashing dangerously.<br/>"The Lady Odette, General."<br/>"Abomination indeed," Zhira spat bitterly, dumping the offensive beverage on the ground.<br/>"I thought it might help temper your... well, temper," a melancholic voice explained.<br/>"Odette. Not often you come up from your stale dungeons. To what do I owe the<span style="font-style: italic">pleasure?</span>" Zhira drew out the word as though it caused her great pains to say.<br/>The woman who appeared from the shadows sat down at the table, looking mildly around the garden that Zhira had chosen to take her tea in, "It tends to be a bit bright for my eyes up here. But I couldn't pass up an opportunity to visit my dear sister-"<br/>"Half-sister."<br/>"- and how nice of you to have tea for me as well; this oolong has always been my favorite."<br/>Zhira felt the vein in her forehead twitch, "I only have one cup, and as you can see, I'm using it."<br/>"That's okay," Odette replied, reaching into the sleeve of her long dress, "I brought my own."<br/>Barely resisting the urge to scream in frustration, the general exhaled through her nose, "What's your real reason for coming up here, witch?"<br/>Odette smiled secretively over her cup, amber-red eyes glinting mischievously, but she did not answer. Instead, she took another look around the garden, "This garden... It's quite calming. I would have expected you to take your tea in the armory or some such place... Can it be that you're finally learning to relax and calm down?"<br/>"I'm always calm."<br/>"Of course you are. My mistake. Tell me, sister-"<br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Half</span>-sister, dammit."<br/>"-how do you like the tea I sent you?"<br/>"It's abhorrent."<br/>"Nice word choice. How disappointing," Odette shook her head in mock sadness, "I should have known you wouldn't be able to handle or appreciate the complexities of such a fine brew. I should have sent a simpler flavor to placate your utterly dim palate."<br/>"EXCUSE me?! Pour the tea!"<br/>"G-General?"<br/>"Pour the Gods damned tea!"<br/>"Y-yes, sir! O-or rather, Ma'am. Right away, General Zhira!"<br/>"I'll take some too, if you don't mind," Odette added, holding out her cup. Once the tea was poured, the two girls had a silent standoff.<br/>"Cheers, sister," Odette smiled, nodding at her older sibling and taking an indulgent sip of tea. Zhira, on the other hand, downed her cup in a single gulp, and made a face.<br/>"Oh, my. Was it too much?"<br/>Glowering at the other woman, Zhira held out her teacup for refill. Odette's smile widened irritatingly.<br/>It wasn't until the entire pot was gone (Zhira having drank four cups and Odette taking two) that the younger spymaster stood, "It was delightful to have tea with you, General. You have a lovely day." She vanished in a whirl of shadow and black feathers.<br/>Zhira glared at the place she'd been standing, squeezing the teacup so hard it broke, "I hate that woman."