View source for 2833/That Was The Interview Actually

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2025/11/12
|Location=Obsidian Tower
|Synopsis=Most people would say that Mai Elcamino is a nuisance. Hawkmoth would say that she's perfect for the job.
|Cast of Characters=306,156
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:306|Mai Elcamino (306)}} has posed:'''<br>What does it ''mean'' when the head of a completely unrelated division cordially invites you, a relative newb, to his office?<br><br>When Mai Elcamino arrives, she's doing a really good job of concealing physically exactly how nervous and offbalance she is; she looks smooth and collected and crisp and perfectly put together. One extremely professionally done eyebrow is lifted very very slightly and her head's held high, but her smile is gracious.<br><br>She stands, average height by global standards and fairly tall by Japanese, in the doorway with her baby Scully bob and her flawless makeup, and she looks politely, deferentially confused. "I apologize for letting myself in, Hawkmoth-sama, but there was no one in front... I'm Elcamino Mai."<br><br>A beat where 'I shouldn't have to announce myself' is simmering under the surface in direct opposition to the other thing simmering, 'you shouldn't have to admit your own appointments!!' and she's having a crisis of protocol, and her expression's uncertainty collapses from multiple potentials to one reality. She is in control of herself. That's the important thing.<br><br>She smiles expectantly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth (156)}} has posed:'''<br>Hawkmoth knows that Mai Elcamino - Corona - is waiting outside of his office. When he ''focuses'' on a person, there's very little about them that he misses, and he's been focusing on her from the moment she entered the building, tracking her trip up the tower and towards his office, feeling her stifled anxiety, her consternation and confusion at his lack of adherence to expected protocol, the nervousness she stifles well. <br><br>It's wise, that she's nervous. Only an utter fool wouldn't be, in her shoes, and while he can't read her thoughts, he can admire her control. <br><br>Useless on him, but she doesn't have to know that - and it's not like he can always read her emotions. She doesn't need to know about this. <br><br>In most cases, he'll be much busier reading the entirety of Tokyo. <br><br>"No need to apologize. Your ability to take initiative is one reason we're having this meeting, Mademoiselle Elcamino." <br><br>His office is - well, it's an office, sleek and modern, no signs of his civilian career in place, though the colors are well-coordinated, the shade of purple and silver matching the silhouette of his costume. He's sitting behind a large desk of dark wood, his own chair quite plush and comfortable, the two set for those who might meet with him comfortable looking as well - genuine leather and wood, though they are still rolling chairs. <br><br>"Take a seat, and tell me - do you feel that you are appreciated in your current position?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Mai Elcamino (306)}} has posed:'''<br>It's gracefully, all finishing school genteel, that she takes that seat; she sits almost as if she were sidesaddle, knees together to one side-- it makes sense, as in her heels, the chair's a little too low for her.<br><br>Sorting that out and saying thank you gives Mai an extra couple of seconds to freak out internally. Her anxiety ratchets up immensely when she's asked if she feels appreciated. Like ''your final grade is what you get on this pop quiz'' anxiety.<br><br>Mai's smile is a little frozen. "Ah--" she says, that couple of seconds not quite enough, and then she clasps her hands in her lap and laughs. "I cannot guess what you would like to hear, so I will tell you the truth: I do not care. I do not believe that 'appreciation' is something I must aquire from those above me. They give me a budget and do not get in my way as long as I collect energy for them. It's a perfectly mercenary relationship."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth (156)}} has posed:'''<br>"Honesty ''is'' an excellent quality. With a mentality of that nature, it won't be trouble for you to submit your resignation letter." <br><br>All finishing school grace and gentility, perfect posture, elegant physical handling - someone who wasn't violating her privacy without a care would have no idea of the storm of anxiety spiraling to greater heights inside of her. A bit of anxiety is good for an underling, kept them from being too quick to reach for a promotion, but ''still''. <br><br>Is he that frightening? <br><br>(Honestly, he's pleased at the thought.) <br><br>"After all, I would much prefer that you be fully committed as my first Lieutenant. Split loyalties are far too bothersome in the workplace." <br><br>From his top drawer, he pulls out a folder, and then deftly slides it across the desk to her. Inside, is an employment contract, offering her full benefits as a member of ''his'' department, including a higher salary than her current department is offering.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Mai Elcamino (306)}} has posed:'''<br>Yup, there's the heart attack right on cue, but the oh god gut sinking feeling belongs to Mai, so it is accompanied by its escorts: instant fury and a cold, wound-licking vengeance-swearing withdrawal. Her smile's frozen again, already more faint than it was before, but that's the only place it shows. It doesn't even show in her eyes like gimlets, the tiny inclination of her head.<br><br>She realizes she embarrassingly forgot to breathe when she remembers to breathe after his third sentence, and the tiny chuff of a laugh she lets out is breathlessly shaky. Her hands are tight in her lap. Is he fucking with her? Really. There's disbelief; SHE would do that to fuck with someone below her socially, so why wouldn't he?<br><br>Well.<br><br>Well.<br><br>If he's fucking with her, she'll eventually gain enough power to destroy him, so whatever. He can feel her just let it all go, wholly making the decision to just go with it. The adrenaline's got her blood thundering in her ears and singing through her veins, and she ''cannot'' let it show. She does, though, because her smile relaxes too.<br><br>She pulls the folder closer to herself, surveying its contents, and reading them, and there's-- there's actually bubbling joy and excitement in her heart. She reads it! She blinks.<br><br>All she has to do is be herself, basically. And she'll get a raise for it? She grabs a pen and signs.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth (156)}} has posed:'''<br>There's the seizing horror-terror-dread first, a wave of emotion more than strong enough to support an akuma, quickly followed by a rage that would have been ''perfect'' for a particularly vicious akuma, one that could truly give a group of those heroes a run for their money, and this is just what he can provoke in her, with a few carefully chosen words, with the flex of his social position above her. <br><br>With this much emotion within her, she'll be perfect to truly understand the cocktail of negativity she could go onto inspire in others. <br><br>He doesn't smile, and his mask covers the movement of his eyebrows. His eyes remain calm and placid even as he gloats over stealing away such a perfect asset internally. <br><br>The wild joy and excitement racing through her makes it clear that she's processed his words, and the way she reads through the contract - short and simple and straight to the point - before signing without a word? <br><br>Oh yes, he's pleased. <br><br>"I observed the results you achieved on Halloween," he offers as the unasked for explanation she would want, to soothe the last potential suspicions that could reignite into that vindictive urge to seek vengeance in spurned. "I was quite impressed with what you managed with such a short preparation window, fueled by impulse. Do you know of my abilities, how I manage my affairs for Obsidian?" <br><br>He doubts it, though she may have heard of the akuma from others within Obsidian,<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:306|Mai Elcamino (306)}} has posed:'''<br>Looking up from signing her name on the contract and dating it with a triumphant little smirk, Mai caps the pen and puts it back in the pen cup. She closes the folder and slides it back to Hawkmoth; she'll ask for a copy before she leaves.<br><br>"Thank you," she says with a nod to the recognition of her accomplishment, pleased that he noticed. Then she shakes her head. "I've only heard that you use akuma instead of youma, though I'm afraid I don't know the difference."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:156|Hawkmoth (156)}} has posed:'''<br>Satisfaction and triumph, pleasure in the taking of something offered - emotions so positive that a part of Hawkmoth is sickened to feel them, even knowing it's all part of the strategy. (There's another part, undoubtedly influenced by Nooroo, that is so ''glad'' to sense something light and bright, even this sparkling triumph, this resolve to sink so much further.) <br><br>None of what he senses shows on his face, still. Instead, he lifts a hand, and a butterfly flutters out into the open, to land on it. It's a deep purple, nearly black, and it doesn't quite flicker with magic. <br><br>"This is an akuma, a construct of my magic. When it lands upon those experiencing negative emotions, it transforms them into an akumatized version of themselves - an alternate persona with power as strong as any mahoujin, fueled by their own desires and negativity. I have never needed to hire a lieutenant - but recently, I've seen the use in hiring a professional. There are times when even a city as large Tokyo simply does not have someone mired in useful negativity. That is where you will come in."<br> <br>
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