[attr="class","seraposttext"]



Bijou's ears perked up at the sound of a voice echoing through the spacious primary gallery, and the Persian nudged Seraphine's leg with her nose. It was appreciated, but unnecessary: the artist had heard the voice as well, and was already in the process of standing. She set the novel she had been reading - while lounging in one of Gallery Mirage's many tasteful (and quite comfortable) couches - on a small yet sophisticated wooden side table, but not before slipping a silk bookmark between the pages. She did not have anyone scheduled for this afternoon, but the gallery was open to the public four days a week, and though she did most of her business by appointment it was not unheard of for her to receive spontaneous visitors.[break][break]
"Let us go and greet out guest," She murmured to Bijou, who purred softly in acquiescence. Together, the two gracefully made their way across the vast room over to the arched entryway, the sharp clicking of heels on marble flooring accompanying the nearly silent padding of paws.[break][break]
Seraphine froze as she caught sight of the man who matched the voice she had heard. Her immediate thought was that this must be some kind of mistake; clearly this man had stumbled into the wrong building, for he looked completely out of place with his ragged clothing and rugged demeanor in contrast to the cosmopolitan aesthetic of Galerie Mirage. Upon closer inspection, however, there was something...desperate about the way the man held himself - furtive glances at the front door, a tension to his muscular build that reminded Seraphine of a Seviper waiting to strike. No, this man was not here to buy fine art, that much was certain, but she had a sudden gut feeling that he had not, in fact, wandered into her business by mistake.[break][break]
"Hello," She smoothly returned the man's initial greeting, golden gaze discerning despite flashing him a coy smile. "Welcome to Galerie Mirage. I am the owner of this establishment, Seraphine D'Aureville. How may I help you today?"[break][break]

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention[break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE

[attr="class","seraposttext"]



Seraphine took the offered piece of crumpled paper from the man's outstretched hand, expression curious. Her eyes flicked down to the signature at the bottom before reading the full message, and in that instant, her suspicions about the man's purpose in coming to Galerie Mirage were confirmed. I owe Elisabeth Fiorelli a visit, Seraphine reminded herself as she processed the request the Rocket admin was making. It was hard to picture this burly Ethan Bishop fellow amongst Elisabeth's delicate flowers, but then again, here he was standing in a refined upper district art gallery. Life was full of surprises.[break][break]
"You're early then," Seraphine noted as she idly re-folded the letter and met his gaze once more. He had a handsome, strong jawline that Seraphine couldn't help but notice as he grinned at her. "Elisabeth hasn't contacted me yet to formally set up the appointment. But you must be a lucky man, indeed, Ethan Bishop. As it happens, I have an opening today." She walked past him to the front door, where she flipped the ouvert sign to fermé, indicating the gallery was closed to the public for the remainder of the afternoon. When she was finished, she glided back into the entryway, but did not stop at his side. Instead, she continued forward in the direction of the spiral staircase towards the rear of the main room.[break][break]
"Follow me," She called back to him without turning around. "I discuss this variety of commission exclusively in my private studio." There was a provocative weight to her tone as she emphasized the word private. Bijou purred softly and nudged the man's leg with her nose, encouraging him to move. She waited until he began walking, and then followed after him, as if she were his own personal guard.[break][break]

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention[break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE

[attr="class","seraposttext"]



Seraphine had begun to busy herself with pulling out a notepad and various colorful pens from a half-open desk drawer when Bishop asked about her current work-in-progress: realizing the nature of his question, she immediately straightened, stunned. "Yes, actually," She answered, staring at him. "But the reference is somewhat obscure. It's the château oublié from a collection of fairy tales I used to read to my sisters when we were young, inspired by the real life Shabboneau Castle in Camphrier Town."[break][break]

A sudden memory surfaced, of Mira and Josie cuddling close to Seraphine as she read aloud to them, the three of them curled up beneath the fluffy cashmere blankets of her large four poster bed in the D'aureville mansion back in Laverre City. They giggled as Seraphine described the fat, rosy-cheeked buffoon of a knight who kept falling - literally - for the various traps set by the mischievous Ghost Pokemon haunting the château oublié. The room had smelled of vanilla spice, a plate of cinnamon cookies and warm milk on the bedside table. In the present, Seraphine's golden eyes instinctively found the small framed photograph of herself and her sisters on her primary work table, but she did not let herself linger very long in the unexpected reverie. She had business to attend to.[break][break]

She cocked her head at the tall man admiring her in-progress painting, now sincerely intrigued. She did not usually pry into the backgrounds of her forgery clients, more concerned with who they were supposed to become rather than who they had once been, but she could not help herself as she asked in a soft tone, "Who are you, exactly, Mr. Bishop?"[break][break]

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention[break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE

[attr="class","seraposttext"]



Bishop's verbal dismissal said one thing, but his body language said entirely another. As he sprawled out languidly on Seraphine's studio couch, legs wide, grin wolfish, he did not look like a man who considered himself unimportant. He might be on the run, but he doesn't regret the life he's lived, she recognized as he described his situation. She had met her fair share of arrogant, hot-headed men throughout her life thus far, but she had to admit that there was something undeniably attractive about the way this particular man was gazing at her. To further emphasize this observation, when he said her name out loud, a small shiver traveled up Seraphine's spine - his pronunciation was perfect, despite his otherwise crude manner of speech, and he seemed to genuinely enjoy the sound of it, as if it were a fine wine to be properly savored.[break][break]
She felt compelled to smile back at him with an equal measure of seductive confidence. "I can do all of that and more," she intoned suggestively, picking up the notepad and a blue pen and sauntering over to lean her back against the work table, facing him. "So what will it be, then? I've made men such as yourself into hotel managers, bar owners, and club bouncers, to name a few. If you fancy something more sophisticated, we can transform you into a more skilled professional, but you must have at least some of the required knowledge base so as to complete the lie."[break][break]
She eyed him, wondering what he might have in mind. His well-muscled appearance suggested he would do well as a hard laborer of some kind, but perhaps he had some preconceived plan specific to a skillset she could not easily discern just by looking at him. She was content to look at him, though: she found it quite easy indeed.[break][break]

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention [break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE

[attr="class","seraposttext"]



"Me?" Seraphine almost laughed at the suggestion, but then paused. She had lamented the lack of help when she had hung all of Rouge’s newest collection of abstract paintings up by herself recently. Galerie Mirage was well cared for, but it took up a tremendous amount of Seraphine’s time to do so; if she hired a permanent employee, she’d be able to dedicate that much more time to her artwork. Paying an occasional cleaning crew was one thing, but someone to act as her personal, well, laborer would be quite convenient indeed. He would make for good protection, too, should anyone threaten my business, she mused, sizing him up in an entirely new way.[break][break]
”Well,” She started, tapping her notepad thoughtfully with the capped pen. ”I actually could use some help around here. My Pokemon can only do so much. How are you with building maintenance, appliance repairs, plumbing, yard work, and, of course, hanging paintings?” She smiled somewhat deviously, figuring the rather cocky criminal was more likely than not to boast about his prowess in all of these areas.[break][break]
I would like to keep my eye on this one, she found herself thinking.

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention[break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE

[attr="class","seraposttext"]



"Do I look like the sort of woman who doesn't pay well?" She shot back as he winked, expression amused. "You’ll be just fine, I assure you.” She uncapped her pen, finally, and scribbled a few notes. "This certainly simplifies things for us in terms of hiring documentation. However, you will still need a new identity, even if I am to be your employer.”[break][break]
As she considered this fact, Bijou rubbed up against Bishop’s legs, wide eyes inquiring about a head scratch. Silly girl, Seraphine mentally sighed, though a part of her couldn’t help but envy the Persian for her request. Seraphine vaguely wondered what it would feel like to have this man’s hands on her, instead, but she dismissed the thought before she could get too entangled in it.[break][break]
"Have you considered what name you would like to use?” She asked, composing herself.[break][break]

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention[break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE

[attr="class","seraposttext"]



Seraphine watched with curiosity as Bishop’s expression turned contemplative, and his eyes once again swept over her unfinished painting of the château oublié. When he suggested the surname Castle, she chuckled, unsurprised by the choice. Perhaps if he impresses me, I’ll give him that painting as a bonus, she considered. It clearly evoked some essence of nostalgia in regards to his past, as it also did for her. The way he said my name…the painting…he must be from Kalos too, though the name Bishop makes me think of Galar.[break][break]
"Ramsey Castle it is, then,” She concurred, writing down his choice. "The next order of business is to settle on a believable background for Mr. Ramsey Castle, assistant to the renowned painter Seraphine D’aureville.” Now it was her turn to wink. ”I suggest including bits and pieces from your own life; the best lies are those that include some truth to them, after all.”[break][break]
For the next hour, the two of them hashed out the details of his false identity. Seraphine took several pages of notes, which she would convert into a birth certificate, ID card, travel passport, and employment documentation in the coming weeks. Bijou curled up next to Bishop on the couch and napped as the discussion continued. Finally, Serpahine set the notepad and pen down on the work table, satisfied.[break][break]
"That should do quite nicely. Everything will be ready for you in a week’s time. Until then, well…you probably don’t need me to tell you to lie low. Do you have a place to stay?”
[break][break]

[attr="class","serapostooc"][break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Vying for Attention[break]
+ Seraphine's Outfit[break]

original template by GUNSMILE