◆ plotted starter for @il-mostrc
It was during times of peace that the economy prospered; and as strange as it could sound to a third party who happened to be aware of the demoness' true nature, the one who called herself Jade was not purposefully seeking conflict or destruction. Labeled as a merchant, moneylender and even a broker of desires, the feminine figure with a fondness for jewelry, contracts and reptiles was showing, in fact, considerable diplomacy and respect by that surprise visit to Hannibal Lecter's office.
The doctor was in - she could hear the muffled talked between psychiatrist and patient, but only because Jade had no interest in really paying attention to the content of that session (otherwise, the heightened senses would have given her a perfect play-by-play of the topics discussed). Instead, the demoness spent her time studying the artwork in the foyer and the occasional evidence of professional triumph.
It was rather adorable - Hannibal seemed to be the type to enjoy mingling with humans and disguising his own nature. It had been a couple of centuries since she had last ran into someone with a penchant for such a detailed lifestyle mimicking that of another species, but it was not her intention to destroy or even harm the precious ecosystem that the doctor had created for himself.
The expensive bottle of wine in her hands attested to her good intentions (or as far as someone like her could claim to be doing anything for the benefit of another) - Jade was making a social call, as well as introducing herself to the one servant from below that seemed to rule that city. It would be impolite to trespass and operate within his territory otherwise - and her trade had taught the female the importance of making allies rather than enemies.
Peace and prosperity - humans living under such conditions got greedy, ambitious and desired even more. It was when everything seemed so perfectly safe that her appointments reached the dozens every day, appraising, measuring and collecting the most interesting collaterals in exchange for an equivalent desire.
The 1945 Romanée-Conti had been one of these offerings - the original acquirer of the bottle had looked Jade up not too long ago, his immense wealth contributing nothing to draw the eye of a lady he had met in one of the many auctions he frequented. That wine had secured him precisely five minutes of conversation with the woman - but whether that would lead to anything else remained to be seen; the outcome was not part of the deal with the demoness.
When the door to the psychiatrist's officer finally swung open, his patient walked out and Jade kept her distance, still busy with a particular painting in the lobby. It was a pretty tableau, showcasing a vibrant garden during a cozy afternoon - but her blue eyes had caught a serpent coiled around a tree, no doubt a reference to a biblical theme.
How endearing.
"I hope I did not make for too much of a distraction during the session," Jade said in a pleasant tone, turning around to face the other creature who stood at the threshold to his own professional space. With a gloved hand pushing some of the wavy hair out of the way, the female approached Hannibal while cradling the bottle with the other arm, performing a small curtsy in front of her fellow immortal. "My name is Jade - I came to introduce myself to the one presiding over this city."