o13 § ( visual ) forget the sun in his jealous sky

[herquietude]

Since her attack the Countess has been scarce, leaving her tablet locked in a drawer and accepting no visitors save the necessary. While she's still obliged to be careful - a shoulder injury like hers can take a long time to heal, and she's not as young and hardy as she used to be - she is now up and about again, albeit dressed far lighter as a

Comments

[ location: Gatas castle ]

[biverbam]

It's been a long time since River last saw the Countess outside the tablets. Even with rumblings of her attack, River was more inclined to hide than visit, especially considering the dungeon's resident.

The most recent broadcast, however, gets her moving in that direction. She even remembers to wait, let herself be announced and directed instead of wandering off and standing on furniture.

It's an improvement.

[ location: Gatas castle ]

[herquietude]

One of the maids alerts Petra to her company and soon River is directed into the Countess's drawing room, where she's trying another collar on Abby in the hopes of finding one that fits just right and suits her present inclination to spoil.

"Hello, dear," she says, looking up. "Come in."

[ location: Gatas castle ]

[biverbam]

The moment River sees the dog, she smiles and makes her way to kneel next to it. "Hello," said absently as she looks at Abby, even if it's (mostly) directed to Petra.

"Getting better."

[ location: Gatas castle ]

[herquietude]

"I am, as it happens. You haven't been by in quite some time, my dear; I'm glad I'm up to receive you today." In her nice silk and satin, even, which she's miraculously not having ruined by the dog.

[ voice | locked ]

[obscuronoctis]

I'm glad to hear you're doing well, Countess.

[ visual | locked | bruce + petrana ]

[herquietude]

"I know what to expect from an injury like this," she admits, tipping Abby's head up a little to let her fix the collar in place. (She's being very careful with how she uses her other arm, relying on her good arm and a firm tone when necessary to keep the dog in front of her under control.) "Not on myself before, grant you."

[ visual | locked | bruce + petrana ]

[obscuronoctis]

Bruce looks as blandly serious (it's possible) as always, letting the tablet switch to visual mode on his end since he isn't engaging in anything sensitive. "You handled it admirably."

[ visual | locked | bruce + petrana ]

[herquietude]

"I've led an interesting life," she says dryly; it's interesting, sometimes, what she will say privately vs the prim and nigh unfailingly stern manners she employs in public. "It could have been a good deal worse than it was, and I'm accordingly grateful."

[ voice ] [ locked ]

[tothelibrary]

[ somewhat unusually, dawn will be leaving her tablet off visual. largely because she looks like the proverbial seventy zillion miles of bad road. ]

Are you feeling better?

[ la la la, she's fine, nothing to see here, la la la. ]

[ visual | locked | dawn + petrana ]

[herquietude]

"Yes, dear, much improved." A little brittle underneath the smooth readiness to get on with everything, but she's well enough to be convincingly all right, and that'll have to do. There's an unspoken question in her expression, but she waits. For now.

[ voice ]

[hercandleguides]

What can I do for you, Countess?

[ visual ] [ locked ]

[herquietude]

"I'd like to discuss the possibility of a project that might interest you- but aside from that entirely, Master Wayne gifted me with a nice bottle of wine and I believe at this point we sincerely deserve it. If you'd be available to join me?"

[ visual ] [ locked ]

[hercandleguides]

Leila switches to visual in return, making sure the feed is 100% secure as she does.

"I would love that, actually- tomorrow afternoon, if that suits you?"

[ visual | locked | leila + petrana ]

[herquietude]

"I'll be delighted to see you then- they'll expect you at the gates." Petra taps her fan against her thigh, briefly, and then goes on, "I'd rather not oblige you to discuss work when I've invited you over in the hopes of relaxing, so if I may elaborate on my project now...?"

[ location: gatas castle ]

[mightyfallen]

Jack sees the broadcast, but he waits until Petra appears to have taken care of her other business before he seeks her out. Not too long--he'd rather not catch her when she's tired, for instance--but there's no urgency in what he needs to speak with her about either. (If it seems like he's putting it off, well, what of it.)

"Countess," he greets her when he finds her, one eyebrow only slightly raised. "Feeling a bit better today, are we?" Well enough to spoil his dog, he sees.

[ location: gatas castle ]

[herquietude]

"Better than I did yesterday, certainly." Petra is entirely unrepentant about the dog-spoiling, occasionally shameless thing that she is. She waves Jack to a seat nearby, there in the parlor that serves the master chambers.