A Little Mouse, In Over Its Head [Claudia/Arlette/Eliane, Alastair]

"Oh, you really do not need to be so formal with me, you know. You are a guest in my home, so please allow yourself to relax. Take a seat, enjoy the view. I would offer a swim, but I think such a thing would be better after a meal, hm?"

Taking a seat of her own on a sofa overlooking the city, Claudia beckoned for Alastair to come and join her. She did assume he was intelligent enough not to take this as some sort of invitation for intimacy, given how little she wanted to be dealing with anything so wholly unwelcome on a night she had expected to be spending completely alone. But when hosting company, naturally one wanted to be sociable.

"Eliane tells me you are unfamiliar with the area? I really must insist that you at least stay tomorrow night as well, and allow us to show you the breadth of what this city has to offer. After all, we would hardly wish for you to miss out on anything if you do not anticipate returning any time soon."

While her guards lacked much in the way of accent, the same certainly could not be said of Claudia, who even in only a few words was quite plainly a woman raised in the depths of Paris. She had trained herself quite well to speak in a neutral nature when in business dealings, of course, but in a "casual" situation she would not bother to do so. Besides, it was hardly so thick as to inhibit a conversation, even if she did concede that might have been a bit amusing.

"Ah, I do not suppose you've any swimwear with you, do you? I will have to have some sent up, I would be thoroughly disappointed if you were not able to enjoy the pool during your stay."

"Ah, is that so? Arlette is always quite accomodating, one of her very best traits. Then, Mr. Eisfluch, I really must insist that you stay here upon your return, if nothing else. Do not even consider it a matter of imposing upon me, please. My home is hardly so small as to be strained by the addition of one more person for a few days, and besides, this city is so very expensive. I would not wish you waste needless expenses."

Of course, Claudia's image of an overwelcoming host was one that she cultivated only for the sake of this particular guest. Others were not treated quite so warmly, others still treated even moreso. His seeming hesitation at her assumption, as if she cared in the slightest what he had actually brought along, was rather amusing to her, and she allowed herself a smile at his expense. But, of course, it simply seemed nothing more than a kind little expression as she waved for Eliane to fetch her a drink.

"That is very good to hear, then. Beyond my own suite, please treat this as your own home while you are here. Eliane and Arlette will of course show you to anything you might require, and anything which is not already present can be fetched for you in only a moment."

If she were a less experienced woman, she knew that this sort of insistence could have come across as insincere. After all, she had certainly been rebuffed many a time in her younger years because of that exact issue. But she was well practiced by now, and she had long since realized that the simplest way to avoid insincerity was, of course, to be sincere. If he wished for anything, then he would have it. As Eliane brought her a glass of wine, Claudia studied it for a a few moments, her eyes focused now on the deep crimson within the glass.

"Are you familiar with wine, Mr. Eisfluch? My homeland is, it is said, the home of the world's greatest wines."

"Oh, thank you kindly, Mr. Eisfluch. I think, in truth, that there are likely better places in this city, but this building carries some sentimental value for me. It was here that the Duvalier Group was first formed, and so I feel it is more of a home than anywhere else."

It was remarkably easy for Claudia to speak about herself in such a manner, to share what most would likely have assumed were not details she would be willing to share. She hardly cared what anyone knew of her life, in truth. Everything about her person had been laid bare so many times before that something as inconsequential as her personal life meant nothing. It was no different from her wealth, her body, simply one more thing to use as a tool when appropriate.

"There are countless varieties from countless regions, but I have read that in the days before the third world war, it was exponentially more elaborate a field. Something around which whole lives could be built, where every vineyard held specialties hundreds of years old. It is a tragedy, to know that such knowledge is lost forever."

It could have been so profitable, after all. So easy to exploit the national pride that her countrymen seemed so attached to. Ah, but Claudia would not expound on that. She had painted such a lovely picture of herself thus far, after all.

"It is always a welcome reminder, but at the same time I prefer to look at it as something of a wall for any reminiscence. There is only so much to be gleaned from looking backward."

Claudia's gaze hardened, just the faintest touch. Of course, she hardly cared about the way that her life had gone, but she was far more curious about the way that her guest might respond to that faint display of emotion. Well, it was really of no consequence to her. She did so much enjoy simply seeing how others acted in her presence.

"Yes, I do quite like your outlook on the matter. To think of what may now be done to fill the voids left behind. So little has been truly done to repair this world, beyond those grand displays of power by one leader or another which seem more akin to threats than any sort of benevolence. There is still so much of the world which is nothing more than unlawful waste, filled with scum both spiritual and mundane."

Taking a sip of the wine in her hand, Claudia allowed her thoughts to move toward all of her current projects. The Gotei had proven more difficult of late, and the Vandenreich was quickly becoming stale. And Vastime? This country was practically on its knees, even if it portrayed itself as so much more. What good was all of their political clout when the king's strength no longer upheld it?

"People often seem surprised that I so willingly do business with Vastime and the Vandenreich, even as they hold blades to each others' throats. I do not deny that I travel where there is profit to be found, but I am hardly such a fool as to put my whole company in jeopardy for the sake of a few more dollars. No, Mr. Eisfluch, it is because I value stability. Regardless of the myriad philosophical differences between the two, they pursue stability, and I wish to join them on that journey."

Oh, Claudia did quite like to hear him speak such praise about her. It did always please her to hear that others were aware of just the degree of success she had achieved, particularly of late. Integrating the Duvalier Group into America so completely had been no easy task, and naturally there was still some competition now and again. But when one had such resources as she, it was easy to convince others that she was the best possible option.

"Politics do not interest me, nor have they ever. I think that the world would be in a far more productive place if all these leaders of great power and prestige were to set aside their personal differences and genuinely communicate about their aims. But, then again, that would likely keep them from being able to show off the scope of their own power, wouldn't it?"

Most of the time, Claudia didn't even bother to speak to other people genuinely. If she had something she thought worth considering, she would just think about it on her own later. But this was her own home, after all. If Alastair was to come into her den, then she would put him to the test. It would be interesting to see if he could keep up.

"How childish those in power have been. Those with genuine power are those that hardly even need to show it. Those who simply make things happen by saying that it should be so, and who do not even need to be present for it to be done. I am tired of watching imbeciles play at authority, and I do quite hope the Vandenreich does not disappoint."