tunein | 04 ❥

[Another day, another assignment. Though this one would be much longer than what Ky usually got. He'd already received his briefing and spoken with the division chief, as well as got his house ready for a guest. It'd be his first time taking a VIP into his direct care, but at least it'd mean some company.

Even though he had to travel halfway across Paris (the IPF branch was located in the 1st arrondisement and Ky's house was in Neuilly-sur-Seine), Ky arrived a few minutes early -- as was typical of him. He was informed that the woman he would be watching over was already there and waiting, though, so he entered the room.

Ky spotted her right away. Hard not to -- she was relatively tall, with gradient hair. Immediately, he bowed politely to her.]

Milla Maxwell, I presume? I'm Captain Ky Kiske. I'll be your steward from here on.

[Crossing the Temporal Crossroads had been interesting. Especially as, until not two days ago, she had only been objectively aware of its existance. Now, here she was, across worlds, a spirit taken a human form and here, it would be put to use.

There was no particularly obvious reason for coming. Not that Milla knew, anyway. It had been tasked of her, she had gone, received varying degrees of welcome but all were coupled with respect.

Say the name Maxwell and you get a lot of things done quickly, no matter where you are.

Today, she was told to come here. She showed up several hours in advance and had spent much of the time ignoring the structure of the room and its various places designed to sit and relax, instead watching the world past the window. Humans were fascinating, something to be discovered, and here it was no different. She had only once made tracks across the room for food perhaps an hour or so before. She was used to the Four Great Spirits providing her sustinance, but here, they couldn't make the full trip like she could. Food and water, and sleep. How novel.

She looked up when Ky entered, sizing him up and taking the bow with good grace. She herself made no movement.]

Indeed. [She nodded once in affirmation, before apparising him.] You're early, Captain. That's a good start.

Edited 2013-09-27 02:04 (UTC)

[Were this not their first meeting, Ky would have made a comment about how he didn't know that he was being tested. But he refrained from it this time. Regardless, he let his posture adjust into a more natural one, though still very professional, and the look in his eyes softened into a friendlier one.]

Well, of course. I'm sure you've waited long enough already. First impressions aside, it'd hardly be becoming of a man like myself to leave a lady waiting longer than necessary, would it not?

[Ky looked around briefly. He didn't see any bags. That was odd.]

Where are your belongings?

An accurate assessment. It's not at all becoming. [Blunt and honest, that's Milla, it's probably what has sent several of the people she's spoken too reeling because depending on the subject, it can be sharp as a knife.] I'm glad to see that you're the opposite.

[She simply stands, hand on one hip, as he glances around the room. At the question, she blinks once.]

I didn't bring any.

[Straight to the point, this one.]

[That earned a look of surprise from Ky. What kind of a person would travel without any equipment? He was told that she came from a different world, but even then, that struck Ky as being more incentive to bring stuff -- so that you'd have equipment you're familiar with.]

Really?

[Yeah, it's that hard to believe.]

All...right, then. I suppose our first order of business should be to go shopping. Unless you'd like to go home and relax first, which I can most certainly accommodate.

[Aside from the clothes on her back, and the sword at her side, that's all she has to hand.]

I am sure whatever else I need can be found in this world. It's cumbersome to bring too much along with me.

[The first part is a true enough statement. The second is moreso selfish, though she doesn't really see it that way. She was asked to come here, was told she would be looked after and accompanied, what more does she need?

She contemplates the latter for a second.]

I think I would most like to sample the food in this world. I believe what I am feeling now is hunger. If we can shop as well, that takes care of two things at once.

[On cue, there's a growl from her stomach. Yeah, the nibbles laid out for her were not exactly that filling.]

[Milla's explanation for her lack of belongings wasn't good enough to satisfy Ky's confusion. But if she insists she can be fine, he won't pry -- after all, she is (or at least looks like) a grown woman.

But the response to his latter question made him curious again. that was an odd way to put it.]

You believe...?

[That just slipped out. What did that mean? Ky thought it might have been that she wasn't speaking her native tongue, but she didn't show any other signs of speaking a second language. Her speech was clear and perfectly understandable, with no unfamiliar accent.

But his train of thought was then derailed by the growl emerging from Milla's stomach.]

Oh. Yes, of course. Virtually every shopping district in Paris has plenty of restaurants around. It's simply a question of what kind of food you'd like.

[Paris was a world city, after all, and the Crusades had prompted many waves of refugees from the New World and eastern Asia in addition to the enclaves of south Asian and Middle Eastern people the city already had. Cuisine of virtually every nationality was available within the city limits.]

[Did no one give you the memo that she was a spirit, Ky? A spirit in human form, to be precise? Or maybe no one actually understands what Maxwell is, thinking that it's just a fancy title. Milla certainly isn't going to think on it. She is what she is.]

This is one of the few occasions where I have had to eat. I cannot be certain, but I think my stomach speaks for me.

[Another growl to punctuate it. Sorry, Ky, she isn't making this any easier. She certainly seems convinced that she's never eaten of her own volition before.]

Excellent. That's just what I wanted to hear. [She gives another pause before adding,] What would you recommend? I would be willing to try all places at least once. Not necessarily at the same time.

[He can think of half a dozen things that could explain her...odd comments. Though none hold a lot of water when further scrutinized.]

Well, I would certainly hope not. I don't think even the most gluttonous person in human history could handle that.

[After all, this is Paris.]

Perhaps Italian cuisine, then. I know of a good Italian restaurant in a shopping district closer to home, so that would make things convenient.

[Not to mention that there's an Italian dish to satisfy virtually any person alive.]

...And judging by your stomach's actions, I imagine you'd like to get going as soon as possible, yes?

[This Paris was becoming increasinbly better by the second, if it can handle the most gluttonous person. She certainly feels that right at this moment.]

I would indeed. Italian certainly sounds like a good place to start. Lead the way, Captain.

[... even if she takes off walking a second later without waiting for him to actually lead the way. She knows how to get out of the building. There's an elevator. She did go up and down in it a few more times than necessary.]

Huh? Hey, wait!

[Ky rushed out of the room to catch up with his charge. What was with her?]

You don't tell someone to lead the way and then walk out on your own!

[She stops when she hears him calling, looking fractionally confused. Exasperated would be a good term, but that's not really what she's feeling.]

But I already know the way out of the building. Besides, I assumed you would simply follow until you were in front.

[Milla logic, don't fight it.]

Still, you are here now.

[Ky closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose for a few seconds as he took a deep breath. Lord, give me strength.]

That's irrelevant. You can't go just walking off like that. I mean...OK, yes, it's fine if you do it in HQ, but not elsewhere, all right? You're with me for a reason, please remember.

[She folds her arms as she considers that, placing a hand against her chin in thought for a second.]

Fair point. It is your task, and what was requested for me. I should not be at odds against it.

[Her posture relaxes after that.]

I will be sure to keep it in mind for the future.

Edited 2013-09-27 19:57 (UTC)

[Huh. That went easier than he expected. At least he knows she'll respond to proper logic.]

Thank you. Now please, come with me.

[Ky led her to the elevator and rode it down to the ground floor, then out of the building into the city proper. Cars were not a thing in Ky's world, since the discovery of magic led to a ban on all devices powered by anything other than magical energy, and they hadn't properly replaced cars. So the street was full of people and carriages.]

All right, this way.

[Ky began to walk toward a Métro station. Personal transportation had not been updated for a magical world, but public transportation had been a long time ago.

Better enjoy the view while you can, Milla, because you'll be going underground in a few minutes.]

[Milla nods once, before following him out. The elevator is just as bemusing as last time; humans make the most interesting things. If she had Slyph here to help her fly, she wouldn't need it. It was charming that humans wanted to go higher, towards the clouds. It was something she hadn't really had the chance to appreciate until Slyph was no longer carrying her on the wind.

It's fortunate, then, that Rieze Maxia doesn't have cars, either. The carriages were a familiar sort of sight, as was often seen in the busier towns and sea ports. Smaller villages, like Milla's own, often had little need to trade with the outside world, being particularly self sufficient. They were common enough that they didn't feel out of place to her, but she still stops and observes several times along the way, before walking double time so as to keep her word that she wouldn't go off on her own.

She could protect herself, she was sure, but it was an insistance and she'd rather not get into trouble for it at a later date. Stick with the guardian, easy enough.

Still, when Ky approaches the Métro, she looks contemplative, stopping once more to look at the entrance.]

Hmm. Interesting. What kind of transport do you use, other than carriages?

[Ky was willing to be more lenient with letting Milla sate her curiosity, and he slowed down his own pace so that she could catch up. As long as he didn't lose sight of her, it was fine.]

Well, that depends. For traveling great distances, we use airships, but for smaller distances, such as within cities, we have public transportation systems. The Paris Métro is an underground rail system that spans the entire city. Regardless of where in Paris you are, you're almost always within walking distance of a station.

So you can fly. [Ships, she is familiar with. Airships, not so much, but she gets the general idea. Flying ships.] That is something we do not readily have in our world. Neither do we have transport underground, beneath a city. I suppose the only similar thing would be the abandoned mine shafts, and the carts inside them, though I would assume it would be much larger and safer if it was used to carry humans.

If it goes beneath the entire city, it must be quite useful.

It is. It enables the working class and middle class in the city to avoid the costs of raising horses and owning carriages, and makes commutes useful, particularly from the outskirts of the city. Most major cities around the world have similar underground rail systems much like the Métro here in Paris.

[Ky's voice picked up as he spoke. There was a certain sense of enjoyment he gained from explaining things and educating others.]

As for flight, we've actually had use of that for nearly three hundred years. The first manned flights took place in the early twentieth century, and ever since then we've been traveling through the skies in some form or another.

[Milla was certainly grateful for that, at this moment. Someone willing to satsify her curiosity was good to have around, in her opinion, and she had much of it. The explanation of both the underground and air travel brings her mind back to Sylph, and also, Gnome. She wonders what they'd make of it, if they could see it. She'll have to tell them about it later. Whilst they not be able to manifest, should she wish, she most certainly would be able to call them.]

I wonder if I could see all of those underground systems. Though that would not fit in with the plans at hand. [Hmm. Maybe some other time.]

It is definately the best way of travelling. It is so much quicker than going by foot, even if you don't get to see the city close at hand. [Take that as you will, Ky, she isn't going to specify.] Would it be possible to travel on one of those, at least on one occasion?

[So she can tell Sylph about it. Possibly compare. A number of reasons.]

[They entered the station, and Ky presented his pass to the teller. He also pulled out some money to pay for Milla's ticket.]

You're quite fascinated with the idea. I'm afraid, though, that the underground transit systems are all quite similar in most aspects. Some are more efficient than others, others are cleaner, but other than that, they're all alike.

[But the tone of his voice indicated that he was pleased with her curiosity. It was always wonderful to see people so invested in learning new things.]

But traveling on an airship? I imagine we'll do that at some point. Sometimes I have to leave the city, and you'll be coming with me if I do.

[Ah, money, another foreign concept. Well, to Milla anyway. Why should Maxwell carry money? Everyone does everything for her anyway. That's what Ivar is for.]

Oh. That is somewhat disappointing. I would have thought they wuold have been largely unique to each area, depending on the quality of the ground, and the design and functions of the city.

[She doesn't look too put out by it, though, moving swiftly onto the next subject.]

Then it is an experience I will look forward to.

[Well, just don't expect Ky to be the same. He may be rich, but he doesn't like spending money.]

They tend to go deep enough underground that it doesn't matter. For example, I can think of three cities off the top of my head divided by rivers, and they all go beneath them with no problem.

And yes, there's something...enjoyable about flying. I don't know if it's because it's always been man's dream to soar among the clouds or not, but when you're in the air, you feel...well, more free.

[Sadly, she probably will until he makes his stance on it quite clear.

She would question how they manage to get under rivers, but, well, magic.]

Yes, I suppose that is the feeling for it. Humans have always longed to go beyond their natural means, especially into the air. Not that that's a bad thing. I certainly can't fault the pluses of flying myself.

So, do you mean to tell me that you've already flown somewhere?

[By this point, they've descended to one of the platforms. Now to simply wait for the train.]

Milla Maxwell | Canon Mash | First Meeting

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