Lunch; best served cold (D1 EA Expecting)

[Eliza Stardust]

Fresh off a somewhat major incident (not that Eliza considered is a major issue. Was just some books after all), Eliza had found somewhere to change out of clothes and freshen up, before moving downtown. She'd been informed that the queen would be arriving at one of these places for lunch...eventually. She knew the one; it was a simple cafe, that served boring foods but would afford some manner of privacy to talk.

Not that she didn't think the queen could make the whole place private if she wanted, which would be fascinating to see...

She ordered an ice tea (despite the woman behind the counter trying to sell her something hot, clearly worried about the girl who looked and felt frozen solid) and found a table in a far corner. Quietly contemplating things.

[Queen of Crows]

Her presence was announced by the cawing of crows, dozens of them as the door swung open and the slim frame of Vanessa wearing a dark tights with ritual designs on it and a black loose fitting sweater. She was having an animated discussion into her smartphone which she finished as she approached Eliza.

Behind her was Mr. Numbers who pulled her chair out as she sat and handed off her phone. The little cafe was light on customers, the server a slim man of mixed descent with a man bun presented the specials, to Eliza and Vanessa and made sure to explain how everything was cruelty free and organic, and locally sourced.

Mr. Numbers did not sit.

Once lunch was settled and the server departed the Queen gestured for her phone and Mr. numbers handed it back as she started tapping at her screen and said, “What’s a good outfit that says I’m sorry for your loss but I frankly don’t have any fucks to give to really care about your loss?”

[Eliza Stardust]

Dramatic entrances. Eliza was...mostly indifferent to them, as she was to most things. The menu was presented, and she barely glanced at it before ordering some sandwiches. She really wasn't here for the food, but the frosty company. While the queen seemed to have dressed up in some fancy clothes that likely had extra meaning, Eliza was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. Looking as bland and basic as she always did, her long red hair being the only standout thing about her.

Then the question was asked, and answered in an emotionless tone.

"Simple clothes, not bright and not black. Trying not to lord your not caring over the being in question. Depends on the culture in question as well."

She paused, to sip her iced tea, which was starting to become more like ice than liquid in her hands.

"Perhaps a grey or brown top with jeans."

[Queen of Crows]

She tapped at her screen and then replied, “I love jeans, so what are we going to do about this? On the one I don’t really care, but appearances are important and really I’m impressed but we got to make nice… well we don’t have to.”

“Just makes my life easier.”

She puts her phone down and added, “Which means if I am going to put with dealing with your mess, you can at least be useful to me.”

She lifted her phone and began taking several selfies, her face fierce and focused.

[Eliza Stardust]

There was a shrug.

"I'll do what is needed. If they want an apology for the stupidity of putting flammable materials and what I understand was kerosene openly on display at an event clearly aimed at children, I can give a convincing apology."

She paused as the woman started taking selfies of herself before continuing.

"But if I think what you wanted was for me to apologize, then I would have done so. You would not be the queen of winter if there was not more to it."

It might sound like a compliment if her tone wasn't so flat.

[Queen of Crows]

She waved off the idea of apology, “We don’t need to apologize as you said it was bound to happen. I don’t care about their problems. Still appearances have to be made so assume I was horrible to you in some way,” she said looking at the woman.

“Now to make it up to me for my mercy and leniency you can do something for me, and we won’t ever have to speak of this again.”

The server brought drinks and mentioned the food would be out shortly.

[Eliza Stardust]

"I'll come up with a most horrible punishment, befitting of our ways" Eliza said as more drinks arrived. Water...with ice in for the girl. There was an amusing irony about it. She placed a finger on the glass, watching it getting colder, before moving away before the whole thing froze.

"Wonderful, I can hardly wait to hear what you have planned" she added as the server went away, her tone completely flat. She looked up at Mr Numbers, then back at the queen.

[Queen of Crows]

“There’s a manuscript… or really just a script I have been looking for, and no you won’t find it at the library… or maybe you might? Called the Tragedy of the Golden Lord; it’s a romantic comedy despite the name,” she said taking a drink of soothing tea.

“Author is unknown, I want it for my collection though. The last folks to go looking for it… well they proved less than capable for the task. I am sure you are more than capable, given your initiative in antagonizing my rivals,” she finished.

“Prove to me you’re the bad bitch you seem to portray.”

[Eliza Stardust]

"Find a romantic comedy that your previous hirelings were unable to find" Eliza repeated, going quiet for a moment. It seemed such a stupid thing to request, but if the Winter Queen was asking for it that would make it a challenging thing to find.

After a few moments of silence, she nodded.

"Consider it done. Any information you have regarding it would reduce the amount of time it would take to find."

[Queen of Crows]

“Well there are two people that might have information, one is the Autumn King and the other is a goblin named Jasper, both have their challenges. The Tragedy of the Golden Lord is rumored to appear when needed or not needed; I have heard it’s complete and another story that it is just an idea of a story, a living meme that persists in the minds of the creative,” she responded as she looked at her phone.

“Personally, I just like collecting mystical things, and a mysterious work of fiction that may or may not exist is just the kind of thing that piques my interest.”

Mr. Numbers leaned in and whispered to the queen and she added, “Oh there may be a third source, if you like braving the bayou. Old Mama Genny, but she’s as crazy, I mean touched, as they come… got that hedge insight,” she added.