I would not say required. It is more expected than required. It speaks more of status and beauty. People wouldn't think I was a consort if I weren't wearing all my rouge upon first meeting.
I do not think much of it. It is a part of my everyday routine, as much as putting on my shanquin is. When I go out pretending to be a court lady and don't wear my cosmetics, it is the same to me as when I do.
[ it's something she's used to and familiar with, and it doesn't feel quite right to wear her outfit without the makeup that goes with it. it's how she was raised, so it is something she doesn't question too much. ]
[ dion, this is boring behavior. unfortunately, this kind of response reminds her of someone, and she has to look away for a moment. ]
I do not think my other context is a context you are thinking of. Whenever I need to gather information, I wear what will grant me the answers I want fastest.
[ an odd sort of tone for a (crown) prince to have (can't remember if she knows he's the crown prince) but nothing she thinks is wrong. ]
The Raven Consort does not change if a new emperor takes the throne. For every other consort, they must vacate the inner court if that happens.
The current emperor recently came to me with a request to save a ghost, which I fulfilled, and I have told him that if he has no request for me, to stop visiting me, but he has yet to listen.
[ dion isn't entirely sure how to react to this, because the thought of being visited by the emperor, as a consort, against your wishes sounds deeply traumatic. shouxue might be sharing all this in an even tone, but she does appear to have excellent control over her emotions.
on the other hand, the idea of her telling the emperor what to do is very impressive. he himself hardly had that courage most days as a prince.
he's also like... save a ghost? i thought you solved murders? ]
I see. I am sorry to hear that he shows no respect for your wishes, but unsurprised. [ frowns... ] It seems you are a unique consort indeed. Are you able to close your doors to him?
I can teleport him out of my palace, if I want to.
[ it takes a second or two for her to realize that he may have misconstrued some of the things she's said (or because she didn't clarify).
she tries to make it more clear, if only because she doesn't want dion to think her life is terrible for the wrong reason. ]
Gaojun can be too earnest and sincere for an emperor at times. I only meant... I didn't want him to come see me, if he didn't have a reason. The Raven Consort's nightly duties are to listen to requests, finding items, freeing ghosts, benedictions, that sort of thing. They are not to share a bed with him. That is what separates me from the rest of his Inner Palace.
[ she meant it when she was unique. ]
He said.... he wanted to understand me more, but that wasn't something I wanted.
but oh, that does clarify things. he's never heard of such a consort, but considering that she possesses supernatural abilities, he supposes that it makes sense. ]
I've never heard of an emperor of such disposition, but I've also never seen a prince as guileless as Prince Sidon. [ at least ones that are adults ] I am glad that he is not as wicked as I was expecting.
Though I wonder what reason you have to dislike his friendship?
[ she flusters a little when he says the word friendship. this is a girl who doesn't know how friendship works. ]
He asked the same thing. [ she looks away. ] I already said I was a different kind of consort, but if I disliked him that much, I would have refused every time he brought me snacks.
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[ that much is likely obvious ]
Nor did I know they existed in such a variety. [ o: ] Is it familiar to you?
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[ she waves at her eyes and her lips, which are painted in makeup like in her icons. ]
What I use for my own face.... I expect it is made of different ingredients than what made these.
[ she waves at the mass produced makeup. ]
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It is quite exquisite, and unlike anything I've seen the noblewomen of Sanbreque wear. Is it required of your station?
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Do you enjoy it?
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[ it's something she's used to and familiar with, and it doesn't feel quite right to wear her outfit without the makeup that goes with it. it's how she was raised, so it is something she doesn't question too much. ]
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[ she looks up at him curiously. ]
Have you never gone out in disguise so you wouldn't be spotted or so you could see how something is without people stopping to defer to you?
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I have not. As a member of the military, I would not want the people to be alarmed in thinking that their prince is surveilling them in disguise.
[ ... ]
But I can see how it would be enjoyable, in other contexts.
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I do not think my other context is a context you are thinking of. Whenever I need to gather information, I wear what will grant me the answers I want fastest.
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but huh ]
... So it is for surveillance purposes?
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It is to investigate. I do not surveil anyone.
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What is it that you investigate, if I may ask?
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Ghosts and how they became ghosts.
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So... murder then. What drew you to such work?
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I would not say I was drawn to it. I was chosen for it.
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In addition to being a consort? Not exactly a common combination.
... As far as I'm aware.
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[ ... ]
Or he shouldn't.
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[ his tone is not pro-emperor here ]
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The Raven Consort does not change if a new emperor takes the throne. For every other consort, they must vacate the inner court if that happens.
The current emperor recently came to me with a request to save a ghost, which I fulfilled, and I have told him that if he has no request for me, to stop visiting me, but he has yet to listen.
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on the other hand, the idea of her telling the emperor what to do is very impressive. he himself hardly had that courage most days as a prince.
he's also like... save a ghost? i thought you solved murders? ]
I see. I am sorry to hear that he shows no respect for your wishes, but unsurprised. [ frowns... ] It seems you are a unique consort indeed. Are you able to close your doors to him?
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[ it takes a second or two for her to realize that he may have misconstrued some of the things she's said (or because she didn't clarify).
she tries to make it more clear, if only because she doesn't want dion to think her life is terrible for the wrong reason. ]
Gaojun can be too earnest and sincere for an emperor at times. I only meant... I didn't want him to come see me, if he didn't have a reason. The Raven Consort's nightly duties are to listen to requests, finding items, freeing ghosts, benedictions, that sort of thing. They are not to share a bed with him. That is what separates me from the rest of his Inner Palace.
[ she meant it when she was unique. ]
He said.... he wanted to understand me more, but that wasn't something I wanted.
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but oh, that does clarify things. he's never heard of such a consort, but considering that she possesses supernatural abilities, he supposes that it makes sense. ]
I've never heard of an emperor of such disposition, but I've also never seen a prince as guileless as Prince Sidon. [ at least ones that are adults ] I am glad that he is not as wicked as I was expecting.
Though I wonder what reason you have to dislike his friendship?
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He asked the same thing. [ she looks away. ] I already said I was a different kind of consort, but if I disliked him that much, I would have refused every time he brought me snacks.
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So it's not your dislike of him, but your inclination toward solitude?
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