Sector I [Operation Moon Massacre]

It would be impossible to shake the feeling that he was a man like a microbe under the microscope, who would open his eyes only to look up into a glass lens that magnified a swirling pool of stark crimson blood around a black pit of infinite depth—that is to say, Nozomi's iris. They could not simply share eye contact without the sense that she was taking him to pieces under her gaze. In fact, it would be perceptive of the swordsman to realize she was gleaning details of him by simply looking at him... somehow. The way her eyes seemed to glow like a light source of their own was too unnatural; there was vim inside those orbs, giving them a capability they should not be able to possess. Under Nozomi's gaze, the natural reaction of the body would unmistakeably be to cover itself, feeling naked. If this man at all heeded to his instincts, he would sense this, this inexplicable vulnerability. What this was was not the warrior he had desired, but a woman more content to observe and study. Certainly, he would realize this.

Yet, Nozomi could only be pleased at his response, watching him pull out his chair and plant himself into it quite obediently. How uncharacteristic, for the warrior to concede to the wants of an inquisitor, especially with no formal request having been made in word. She wondered if he was more civilized than she expected or if he was interested in her in return; no, that must have been it. Nozomi was very open with releasing her Esper energy, so for a character such as Stefan, the only reason he would so much as acknowledge her invitation was because he caught wind of her power and he very much wanted to bite into it. Indeed, it was a very easy conclusion to reach, adequate for such a simple man. Of course, for whatever lack of dimension there was could be made up for by the complexity and measure of his skills. Nozomi could only believe the answer he gave her for it was an honest one, but that did not prevent her from searching further in. Having not been acquainted before, there was a treasure trove of abilities and techniques sequestered inside still left to be unearthed by her Arius. Quite the opportunity.

The porcelain cup was brought to her lips with a machine-like precision before tipping the fresh dark liquid past her lips; a reserved sip. Then, she gently set it down upon her matching plate, somehow completely avoiding making a sound as one would expect from ceramic clanking against ceramic. The ease with which she moved suggested she could reproduce the same sequence many times over, even while being distracted by her current company. It certainly did not stop her from speaking: ''No, as newly reinstated... Imperator of the Monsuta, your business is official Monsuta business, as mine is related to Eldrazi. Whether you believe yourself on vacation or not is none of my concern; there is no rest for people like you, and your actions reflect the Monsuta's will. And, if it appears as though your hostilities are aimed at the Vanguard then the Monsuta's intent will be taken as so. If it is just conflict in general you seek then that may be even more worrisome, but at the least could I not convince you to brandish your sword against the other side?''

She was not just here to investigate Stefan—that was a product of a sheer coincidence in all honesty—but her primary interest was laid bare to him there. She was aligned with the Vanguard in this scenario, and her proposition was to aim the indiscriminate force of strife at a more appropriate target. There was a large world of politics at stake in conflicts such as these, and Nozomi was one of the ones working to keep it stable for now. While not openly against Shadow Fall, their actions in this case, should they win, would destabilize the 'balance' she percieved as acceptable. She cared not for either side's ideals and goals; only that one force in this world not grow too powerful. This was accentuated by the frenzy that the one known as Neoveta seems to have gone into, suggesting that her actions were out of line and lacking complete rationality. Nozomi arrived in order to turn the tide in the Vanguard's favor, but the presence of this man—Stefan Soan—was too dangerous to let be, and too wasteful to not acknowledge. Of course... she spoke none of this aloud.

Nozomi was not so optimistic however. She had a level of precognition in these eyes of hers, and in her portent she discovered herself not truly being agreeable with the face of the Monsuta. She knew of this from the moment she revealed herself to him, that things would likely go the way of the sword and not the pen. Why, that's not to say they couldn't get along with each other, but rather that there was some reason he would rather cut down the Vanguard and not Shadow Fall. Recognizing this, that is why the Esper energy flowed from her and continued to spread, permeating every cubic inch of the atmosphere and environment at the pace of a crawl. While Nozomi's energy was quite unlike that of any other's, Stefan would still be wary of this process. It was not blatantly hostile from first judgment but it implied danger without a reason. That is to say that Nozomi's energy was too complex to be deciphered by logic and reason but still could be determined to be a danger through one's instinctual feeling. Nozomi was thankful for every moment that passed in peaceful conversation, where her power could grow in strength. Even without absolute certainty of the future, she needed to be prepared for the worst of the results.

If he would notice, parts of her Esper began to become visible to even the naked eye, taking not only form but consciousness as well. It would be as though small spirits were being created from thick densities of the energy, life being born from where there was none. These spirits were like sources of light, surrounded by swirling clouds of white; Wisps of the First, as they were called. It was unclear if they could sense their surroundings of if they possessed any unique abilities, but for what is was worth they seemed to float aimlessly through the air. Dozens of them formed throughout the sector they were in as sightless observers, as equally harmless as the raw Esper seemed to be. It was not as though Nozomi actively called them into existence, but rather that they spawned of their own will as a result of her being here. The miniature stars slowly began to fill the room, lighting their faces in many different ways and casting several different shadows. It made Nozomi's presence all the more overbearing in this way, if it could not already be felt.

''Please do consider cooperating with me and finding a suitable opponent among the ranks of the Shadow Fall instead, Stefan Soan, as your actions here are not without weight and people will remember them. Either way, I do not think I would be allowing you to interfere with the Vanguard's defense anyways.'' She would bring the teacup to her mouth once again to partake in the tea, a cheeky expression set on her face before she allowed the warm drink to soothe her. When she set the cup down once again, her crimson hues locked on the swordsman expecting an answer. She was utterly relaxed in her seat, but that visage deceived him.