14810/Higher The Best

Higher The Best
Date of Scene:	30 April 2023
Location:	Sacred Tree Design NYC
Synopsis:	Raven seeks to employ Lei Ling for work on the Genoshian Palace, but first... they meet and talk, phone numbers are exchanged.
Cast of Characters:	Raven Darkholme, Lei Ling

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Raven Darkholme has posed:
Raven Darkholme was the sort of mutant who kept her finger on the pulse of the world, at least when it came to mutants. She had allies and connections in numerous countries, some that had signed the Accords, most that hadn't. It was important in her line of work to know where mutants might need assistance even before they new they needed it.

It was likely that the her reputation would proceed her where ever she went, as she rarely if ever wore a human form to conceal herself. Cobalt blue skin, yellow eyes, long flaming red hair, she was unmistakable as the one and only Mystique, and even though she wore a white tailored suit of silk and leather pumps, it was obvious who she was.

Today however, wasn't about mutants in need of protection or about who might know who she was, today was about a known mutant architect and engineer who had moved from Shanghai to New York City. Lei Ling was so prominent in her field that it was likely that even humans loved and respected her work, but that was to be expected when you were the sole woman responsible for rebuilding Shanghai. This was the sort of person that Raven wanted a connection to, even if it was just to hire her for a job.

Lei Ling has posed:
Lei Ling did not like New York City. It wasn't a city she had bled for, the people were some strange amalgamation of rude and polite in equal turns, and she could count at least six major building code violations from her studio window while she sipped her morning tea. No, she did not like it here at all. But Lei Ling could learn to.

Starting with getting a job.

Any job.

She'd build her American resume on the back of drudge design work if she had to. Starting with that building across the street. Offering her assistance with correcting the placement of the fire escape and trash chute would be neighborly, wouldn't it? If nothing else, it would save her from looking out of her new office window to see an affront to common sense design every morning. She sipped calmly at her tea until a flash of blue caught her eye.

There was a woman with blue skin and long red hair striding up to her studio like she owned the New York sidewalk. Lei Ling blinked rapidly and downed her tea like it was the only source of courage she could have before noon, and smoothed her palms over her grey suit jacket and skirt. Mystique's reputation preceded her, and no mutant with a functional brain in their head kept someone of that renown waiting in the lobby like some common person.

Lei Ling met her in the lobby with a bow. "Welcome to Sacred Design. How may I be of assistance?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There was a way that Raven held herself that kept even the most skilled of body language readers in darkness. Her facial expression was neutral, with just the slightest smile to be polite. A mutant of skill and power, as well as an actress who had spent over a hundred years perfecting the art of deception and manipulation... though neither of those things were on her mind today.

Offering a bow in return, though perhaps not as deeply as it should be, Raven straightens and does not offer her hand. The Chinese did not shake hands and Raven wasn't interested in forcing American customs onto such a prominent Chinese architect.

"I realize that this is most unexpected," she says in perfect Mandarin, sounding as if she's a native with the language. "But my attempts to reach you via phone lead to some issues. I am assuming it is due to the rebuilding of the infrastructure of New York City... again..." A slight hint of annoyance at the end of that, other wise her tone is smooth and calm.

"I am hoping to arrange a business meeting with you," she continues, folding her hands together in front of herself.

Lei Ling has posed:
The automatic reaction of most Chinese mutants when face to face with Mystique of the Brotherhood of Mutants was to assume that they were about to be in grave peril. Lei Ling was no different. While the mutant herself was most likely only there to help, her very existence was a sign that something awful was going to happen.

Mystique returned Lei Ling's courtesy with equal measure, but it was the other woman's words that mattered more. In perfect Mandarin and perfect cadence, Mystique laid Lei Ling's fears to rest. "I apologize for the inconvenience," she replied in Mandarin. No phone? Not a problem for a mutant of Mystique's caliber.

Lei Ling gave a smaller bow in apology, then gracefully extended her arm. "Please, it would be my honor. Come in." She smiled as politely and professionally as she knew how in the face of an unexpected client, renminbi signs glittering in her eyes and the hopes of gainful employment ever closer. "Be most welcome. Though I am... unsure of how I may be of help."

Lei Ling led Mystique into her office, her heels clicking on the wooden floors. "I am but a humble architect."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A slight nod is offered and Raven follows Ling further into the studio. "The lack of phones is not your concern, nor your fault," she explains with a hint of a smile, the act mask in place. "Sentinels attacked New York City, no one could have expected that. I often wonder if there is a giant bullseye on this city."

Yellow eyes begin to survey the office, taking in the decor and furniture of course, but also making note of windows and exits. There are some things you can never untrain from a person, and knowing her surroundings was one of those thing Mystique would always do.

"Humble architect," she then repeats, still speaking in Mandarin. "Ms Lei, you are one of the best architects in the world and that achievement is made even more amazing to me because you are a mutant." She pauses by the drawing table to look over what doodles Ling might have been working on.

"I wish to speak at length with you regarding those architectural talents and where best I can apply them to the Palace of Genosha," her eyes lift to look at Lei Ling now. The thought played through her head that the Chinese mutant might not realize the importance of that statement, but the cobalt mutant was ready to explain if needed.

Lei Ling has posed:
Sentinels? Attacking a major population center where more than a single percent of the population was likely to be a mutant? Say it wasn't so. Lei Ling gave an unmannerly snort and muttered under her breath. "Sentinels in New York? Is that not just every third Tuesday?" She gently indicated the comfortable chairs in front of her desk to cover her slip. "Please, be my guest. Tea?"

Lei Ling blinked as she watched Mystique pause and examine her half-baked plans for her neighbor's fire escape. Ah, her secret was out. Then again, this was one of the most famous mutants in the world. Mystique probably knew what she was even before Lei Ling bothered to do more than fill out her studio lease.

Lei Ling resisted the urge to sigh, then froze in place as her brain caught up to what the other woman said. Well then, polite niceties and deference were not the name of the game. "The Palace. Of Genosha. Ma'am, I beg your pardon. I primarily specialize in urban construction." She leaned against her desk, reached over to grab her ever-present tablet and stylus, and tapped the screen to life. "Perhaps more information? Were you looking to modernize a pre-existing structure? Or begin afresh? I must confess I am at a loss."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Once Raven finishes the perusal of the fire escape upgrades, and dropped the bomb on Lei Ling, she began a slow meandering walk around the drawing table to look at the rest of the room. The bomb had the effect she had been hoping for occurred.

Coming to stop near the woman once more, she slowly reaches into the pocket of her tailored jacket and removes a photograph of the palace, the structure that was completely destroyed and then rebuilt almost exactly the same. On the back of the photo is Mystique's name: Raven Darkholme - Head of Genoshian Royal Security and a phone number.

"I think it best that you contact me when you have at least three hours for a tour and conversation, but I will end with this much information. If we have to tear it down and rebuild it, we will... but it needs to be one of the safest, if not /the/ safest building on the planet." She offers the photo over. "So please, do call me."

Lei Ling has posed:
Her planned sketches no longer held Mystique's interest and she bravely resisted the urge to give a relieved exhale as the other mutant moved on. Lei Ling watched the other woman examine her office from the corner of her eye, every bit attentive to the needs of a future client. But detailed lists were not forthcoming.

No, what Lei Ling got instead was a photograph of what was clearly some kind of foreign palace. Flipping it over revealed what was clearly Mystique's human government name and her personal phone number. Lei Ling felt slightly faint, like she needed to sit down. It was one thing to work on the fire escape across the street as a goodwill gesture to her new neighbors, instead of her usual Shanghai towering skyscrapers and apartment complexes, and quite another to be invited to look over the mutant nation's royal palace. "Three hours?" Oh, she felt weak at the knees. "I fly fast, but not that fast plus a tour."

Lei Ling nodded to herself. "Very well. I shall set aside some time. Safety and security I can most certainly assist with." She gently slipped the photo into her tablet's case, safely hidden in the least likely place any intruder would look. "It shall be my magnum opus, if that is your desire." Paying clients? Royal paying clients? Oh, Lei Ling could hardly wait.