[Lobelia had been whisked to the restaurant by the whim of a curious note left, of course, by a rather fascinating man. Order and chaos, was it? Lofty concepts that deserve a longer conversation, and McGillis was right to choose a restaurant as the venue.
By choice, Lobelia arrives early. If McGillis had the same idea, he'll find Lobelia perusing the wine rack, assessing various vintages with muted interest. If he prefers punctuality down to the minute, he'll instead find Lobelia settled in a booth that offers a clear view of every door and exit in the restaurant. In either case, he is greeted with a warm smile and a genial wave.]
Bonne soirée, Monsieur McGillis. Tell me, did you have much trouble braving the cold to get here?
[ By the time the scheduled meeting actually rolls around, McGillis had enough opportunity to experience the weekly haunting for himself that he feels thoroughly on edge. It's not the greatest mindset to meet one of their strange companions in, but it also makes the meeting feel more urgent. He needs something to not make him go out of his mind, something to keep him grounded. Progress. Forward movement. Power.
McGillis takes off the jacket he's grabbed from the clothing store just earlier and takes his seat opposite Lobelia with a smile. ]
Not at all - it's a stark drop in temperature, but you have to be adaptable when your work has you traveling a lot. Are weather changes of this kind common for this place?
[McGillis is composed, polished like expensive porcelain. Lobelia can hear the barest threads of tension in his voice. A man too aware of himself to show discomfort, and too proud to pretend he doesn't feel it. Fascinating.]
Your adaptability is commendable. I'll admit I've never been fond of the cold, nor very tolerant of it.
[He smiles, soft but edged with curiosity. Lobelia's gaze turns to the windows, the snow shivering restless against the glass. Is this normal here? Lobelia shrugs, suggesting he neither knows nor cares to bother himself with the answer.]
Alas, I would not know. I've been here longer than you, but not so long that I've had the time or inclination to study the weather.
[He tilts his head, studying McGillis with frank interest. That is where his attention lies.]
Tell me, Monsieur McGillis... what drew you to such a curious topic as order and chaos? Or rather, what made you think I would be a worthwhile partner for that conversation?
[ Down to business, then. It suits McGillis just fine - even his idle question was nothing but a lead-in that would have gotten them here sooner rather than later. ]
I'm sure you're already aware that your study has been made quite public last week - and being fascinated by books as I am, it was hard to resist surveying the selection.
[ He'd amend that this was before he knew it was Lobelia's, but they both know he would have checked it out even sooner if he had known. Besides, McGillis expects that Ramuda has already recounted this escapade to Lobelia to begin with. ]
You seem interested in the topic. And more than that, you seem the only one of your group to enjoy the goings-on in this place. I was wondering if those two aspects were related?
[Lobelia leans back slightly, as though the answer pleases him more than it should. McGillis's interest is deliberate, but not unkind— that makes him infinitely easier to speak with than the average scholar who only wants to pick him apart.]
Bien sûr, I am interested. The world bends in peculiar ways here, and I enjoy knowing what shape it chooses next. If that happens to be related to commande and chaos... well. I've always had a soft spot for grand ideas.
[His smile spreads, warm but undeniably sharp.]
But you give me too much credit, Monsieur McGillis. I am only as informed as anyone who listens closely and looks where others don't. If my... enjoyment of the goings-on gives me an edge, then that is simply a happy coincidence.
And that is no matter to me. I did not come here because I expected you to have the answers we've been craving.
[ He expects the puppet collective would do a lot less running around like headless chicken if they knew that much. There's clearly much and more they are hiding, but when it comes to the Third Power in control of the settlement, they appear genuinely lost. ]
You are looking at this world from a different angle than the rest of them - or even the rest of us. Happy coincidence or not, it makes your perspective cover blind spots that the rest of us may leave unattended.
So what do you think? Is our mysterious Third Power more fond of chaos or order?
Mais bien sûr... a coincidence can still be useful, non?
[His smile tilts, thoughtful, an edge of amusement cutting through it. McGillis gives him too much credit. He enjoys it far more than he should.]
You see patterns where others see noise. That alone sets you apart. And if my enjoyment merely sharpens what was already there, then I am flattered to be of service.
But as for your question... Chaos and order are siblings, not opposites. One breathes life into the other. Whatever power governs this place... mm, I doubt it is so rigid as to choose only one. It seems to feed on tension. On imbalance. On what people reveal when pressed.
[He gestures lazily with one hand, as though brushing away dust, though his eyes remain fixed on McGillis with bare interest.]
If I had to guess? It favors whichever stirs the pot most beautifully. Order can be oppressive, chaos can be dull. But the interplay... that is where real artistry lies.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 2, monday
By choice, Lobelia arrives early. If McGillis had the same idea, he'll find Lobelia perusing the wine rack, assessing various vintages with muted interest. If he prefers punctuality down to the minute, he'll instead find Lobelia settled in a booth that offers a clear view of every door and exit in the restaurant. In either case, he is greeted with a warm smile and a genial wave.]
Bonne soirée, Monsieur McGillis. Tell me, did you have much trouble braving the cold to get here?
no subject
McGillis takes off the jacket he's grabbed from the clothing store just earlier and takes his seat opposite Lobelia with a smile. ]
Not at all - it's a stark drop in temperature, but you have to be adaptable when your work has you traveling a lot. Are weather changes of this kind common for this place?
no subject
Your adaptability is commendable. I'll admit I've never been fond of the cold, nor very tolerant of it.
[He smiles, soft but edged with curiosity. Lobelia's gaze turns to the windows, the snow shivering restless against the glass. Is this normal here? Lobelia shrugs, suggesting he neither knows nor cares to bother himself with the answer.]
Alas, I would not know. I've been here longer than you, but not so long that I've had the time or inclination to study the weather.
[He tilts his head, studying McGillis with frank interest. That is where his attention lies.]
Tell me, Monsieur McGillis... what drew you to such a curious topic as order and chaos? Or rather, what made you think I would be a worthwhile partner for that conversation?
no subject
I'm sure you're already aware that your study has been made quite public last week - and being fascinated by books as I am, it was hard to resist surveying the selection.
[ He'd amend that this was before he knew it was Lobelia's, but they both know he would have checked it out even sooner if he had known. Besides, McGillis expects that Ramuda has already recounted this escapade to Lobelia to begin with. ]
You seem interested in the topic. And more than that, you seem the only one of your group to enjoy the goings-on in this place. I was wondering if those two aspects were related?
no subject
Bien sûr, I am interested. The world bends in peculiar ways here, and I enjoy knowing what shape it chooses next. If that happens to be related to commande and chaos... well. I've always had a soft spot for grand ideas.
[His smile spreads, warm but undeniably sharp.]
But you give me too much credit, Monsieur McGillis. I am only as informed as anyone who listens closely and looks where others don't. If my... enjoyment of the goings-on gives me an edge, then that is simply a happy coincidence.
no subject
[ He expects the puppet collective would do a lot less running around like headless chicken if they knew that much. There's clearly much and more they are hiding, but when it comes to the Third Power in control of the settlement, they appear genuinely lost. ]
You are looking at this world from a different angle than the rest of them - or even the rest of us. Happy coincidence or not, it makes your perspective cover blind spots that the rest of us may leave unattended.
So what do you think? Is our mysterious Third Power more fond of chaos or order?
no subject
[His smile tilts, thoughtful, an edge of amusement cutting through it. McGillis gives him too much credit. He enjoys it far more than he should.]
You see patterns where others see noise. That alone sets you apart. And if my enjoyment merely sharpens what was already there, then I am flattered to be of service.
But as for your question... Chaos and order are siblings, not opposites. One breathes life into the other. Whatever power governs this place... mm, I doubt it is so rigid as to choose only one. It seems to feed on tension. On imbalance. On what people reveal when pressed.
[He gestures lazily with one hand, as though brushing away dust, though his eyes remain fixed on McGillis with bare interest.]
If I had to guess? It favors whichever stirs the pot most beautifully. Order can be oppressive, chaos can be dull. But the interplay... that is where real artistry lies.