To see the duchess in the lower ring was out of the ordinary, but for the woman; to do actual charity work. Was downright rare. Cassiopeia was the sponsor of a lot of originations who alleviated the pain of the poor, broken, and the mentally ill. But she almost never volunteered for any of them. Really; the closest she ever came to that was visiting wounded soldiers at the hospital. But nothing more. So why the sudden change? Why break tradition? It was for a silly reason really, her son. Her dumb, yet well-meaning son. Clarence. He often frequented at places like these; orphanages. To lend his medical services. Cassiopeia hated it, she hated how far her son went to help them. It was unbecoming of a nobleman. And yet; she loved him. Even if she didn't always show it. And she knew that her presence her would mean a lot for the orphanage, it would give them the exposure they desperately needed. It would surely change the fortunes of this little establishment. And that in turn would help all those little much more than Clarence ever could on his own. Surely he would see that; and be grateful for it. That and; Cassiopeia hoped that if she showed her softer side towards these children, her son would start to think differently of her. Even if it was just a little.

Cassiopeia was talking with a little girl, small, too small for her age. Probably due to malnourishment. She had little pigtails and big green eyes. That looked up at the older woman with awe and adoration. The little child bombarded her with questions, about all sorts of things. And Cassiopeia answered them all the best she could; not all of them were truthful, but-she figured telling the girl what she wanted to hear was no bad feat. However, then a servant came rushing up to her. Holding a letter. The duchess didn't need to see the sigil of the piece of parchment, nor the writing on the back of it, to know that she had to read it urgently. And somewhere away from prying eyes.

And so she quickly stepped outside. In her haste; she hadn't even checked if she was followed by her guards. She stood, totally alone, on the street. In front of the orphanage. Still; it would take a very brave, and perhaps even stupid man. To approach her.

@nick x

The woman wasted no time in opening the letter, she slid her long sharp nails across-thus breaking the seal. And scanned the words that were written down. Very troubling information indeed. And yet there was nothing she could do right now. She had no choice but to wait it out, at least for the time being. Cassiopeia sighed as she rolled the parchment up again. Wanting to hide it away in one of the secret pockets, her dress contained. But before she could so, a voice called out to her. It didn't surprise her, though, she had seen the man in the corner of her eye advance on her. He was a young, and clearly belonged here in the lower ring. The patched up clothes he donned made that obvious. And yet it, despite that. He didn't look like he had it the worst, Cassiopeia had certainly seen those who were much worse off than this man. Which suggests he did have access to some money. Which, she guessed, wasn't acquired in the most legal of means. The shiny coin he waved around, that salesman smile he wore. And his quick and clever words. He must be some sort of charlatan. "Why?" She asked, as if she didn't already know the answer. The woman locked eyes with the man, burying her sharp and cold eyes in his. "You don't think anyone here would want to hurt their beloved Duchess, do you?" The woman faked surprise and shock as she ran her hands through the fur of the hound the stranger had with him. The animal seemed friendly enough, as it reacted favorably to her touch. But then again, the duchess did have a certain way with dogs. It was something she always had. Perhaps that's why she owned so many herself."I certainly wouldn't advise it, for whatever would be done to me, the offender will receive back a thousandfold." Her voice was low, and dripping. Her words borderd on a threat. And yet she didn't mean it as one. It was more of a warning than anything.

@nick x

The man seemed to follow her example, and also played along in this little game named "pretend." And that made the corners of her mouth curl up ever so slightly. "I'm glad to hear it," she noted, her voice sounding just as sarcastically as his. "Since it certainly looks that way." The woman continued to, mirroring his tone. And well, perhaps in a way; he wasn't wrong. Not entirely anyway; there certainly wasn't much sunshine to be found here, but one could almost call this place rainbow-like in a way. Since the place was littered with varying yet muted even dirtied colors, that obviously; didn't go together. But the people here didn't care about holding up some sort of pleasing aesthetic, only caring about practicality. And sometimes not even that; sometimes it was simple, all they had. When she had given him her thinly veiled warning. He quickly responded back with a rather witty quip, the duchess had to admit. Tossing his shiny coin her way - which she caught without much difficulty - and then for that to be returned to him a thousand times. The duchess narrowed her eyes, but her smile only grew. "I suppose you are right, but-giving me a coin; hardly makes you an offender now, does it?" She moved her gaze away from the man, and unto the shiny piece of gold she had in her hand. "Or is giving someone a gift of money somehow seen as a sort of attack in the lower ring?" She was grinning now. Her eyes lightening up a little. "That would be strange, you'd think people here would love to receive that, though I suppose reminding people of that which they don't have; doesn't always go down well." The woman wanted to keep the coin for herself, it was bad manners to refuse a present after all, but. After the statement she just made-Cassiopeia placed the coin on one of her fingers and then flicked it in the air towards the man. "A thousand coins is a lot, though, I think there aren't many things that could compare to it." The woman stepped a little closer now. Closing the distance between them. "But what do you think, hmm mister..?" She allowed to for the man to fill that in himself. "What do you think rivals a thousand coins in value?"

@nick x

Cassiopeia, was amused by the fact that he didn't respond to her comment about the look of this place, though he clearly wanted to; but perhaps he couldn't think of a counter. That was unlikely, though, he looked like a man that could come up with a comeback to almost anything. He mostly likely didn't because he wanted to keep the conversation light. Something which she appreciated, but the Duchess also wondered how long he would try to keep that up. "Well, what is and what isn't an offense is a rather subjective thing, lady duchess. If I decide this was an offense towards you, there's no way to tell me it ain't" The woman hummed as she tilted her head slightly upon seeing that sly smile return back to the man's face. "You are very good at spinning things around." She noted. "You almost had me convinced that it is indeed as you say." Not really; he didn't have that power, he couldn't decide what was an offense to her and what wasn't. "But you are wrong, and I think you know that." The woman narrowed her eyes a little. But kept the corners of her mouth turned upwards. "Since you don't have the authority to decide anything for me, you may try if you want, but it would only be an opinion and nothing more." Cassiopeia once again moved her hand to the fur of his dog, who still seemed to be rather fond of her. And her attention. The animal was clearly well treated. Having a shiny, yet clean coat. Clear eyes, white teeth. "With which I may choose to agree, but if I don't then it would simply be your word against mine." She shot him a challenging look then. Because he could never win it from her, her voice rang louder than his ever could.

When she stepped forward, it seemed like an action he hadn't expected. As he raised his eyebrow almost in surprise. He was able to look down at her, but not by a lot. They were very similar in stature. But that was simply because Cassiopeia was a very tall woman. He looked deep into her eyes, as if he was trying to see down through her soul. He didn't give her his full name, instead prompting her to simply address him as "Nick" A little too informal for her tastes, but it'll do. The conversation went on, he responded to her rather simple question with a full-blown tirade. And yet the woman didn't mind it at all. She quietly and intently listened to everything he had to say. Even when she didn't agree with some of the points he made. Cassiopeia supposed she simply liked to hear him talk, especially about topics like this. Since it gave her a little more of a picture of his mind, of how he thought. Even if he didn't share everything with her. "I wasn't asking for you to share your deepest desires with me, Nick." She said with a playful and friendly voice. "But you are wise to keep them from me." Even if she likely couldn't do much with that information anyway. Since it would surely just be unattainable for him. Useless wishes and dreams. Still; such things should always be kept close to one's chest. For it very well could be used against him. "But if you did tell me, I wouldn't think you are pathetic for it." No, not that; The duchess wasn't completely out of what exactly she would think of him then. Stupid perhaps but-not pitiful.

@nick x

Cassiopeia chuckled at his reaction, it was dramatic and childish, and yet she liked it. "You accuse me of something I did not do," It was true she didn't explicitly mention their rank, but her choice of words had heavily implied it. "I didn't mention our difference in rank at all now, did I? If I was a simple ordinary woman; she same rules would still apply" The duchess flashed a toothy grin at the stranger. The woman turned her head back towards the orphanage. It amazed her that no one had come outside yet to come looking for her. Though she was sure that they will very soon. Thereby cutting her little exchange with Nick short; something that would be a shame. Since he was a pretty amusing conversation partner. A far cry from the dull people she usually had to endure.

When she had honestly told him; that she wouldn't think him pethic for sharing his deepest wants and wishes, he simply laughed at her. Yet not in a mocking way; no, his voice was warm. Something it always seemed to be, no matter how he changed it. That hint of warmth never truly left. It reminded her a little of the feeling one would get when huddled up in front of a hot fire. Or when one was walking the gardens back at the winter palace on a summers' day. The peasant man told her that he didn't care about what she thought of him. Cassiopeia scoffed a little at that remark; yet she wasn't offended. If anything, she expected it. Many people here probably didn't think that highly of her to begin with. So, whether or not she had a good opinion of them, surely left many people cold. "No, but it's it nice to have? It's rather rare, you know; for a person like you." The woman smiled, somewhat mockingly this time, though not overly so. He did take rather kindly to her calling him wise, however; stating that he would never put such a truthful compliment down. "Ow, how nice, I'll keep that in mind next time." The duchess said. "Though, it rather surprises me that you don't also take fake compliments as well, my friend, since you do look like the type who dishes them out regularly." One had to when they were a salesman, no? A quip there, a compliment there; all to make their unfortunate costumer feel more at ease. And hopefully more willing to make a sorry investment.  "But now you got me asking the question's lady, how come you don't see it as pathetic? Is it because you are used to getting whatever you want, perhaps?" Cassiopeia pretended to ponder deeply on those words. Like they were some mathematical question. Though in truth, she already knew the answer. "I don't see how - me not thinking any less of you than I currently already do - if you had decided to tell me your deepest and desire has anything to do with me being used to getting what I want." She did; in a way, but still the correlation was a little shaky. "What is more likely, I think; is that I am really not that bad of a person that the people of the lower ring make me out to be."

@nick x

She was testing the waters with him a bit, seeing how far she could push him. Play with him. It seemed rather far, since while he clearly didn't agree with her words. As he scoffed quite loudly. However, he kept his mouth shut otherwise. The man simply smiled at her, in a manner that had become quite familiar. Cassiopeia did consider going further in on the subject. Explain exactly why he had no authority of her, no matter what. They were strangers, after all, if he had been her father, husband, or even brother. Then things would have been different; But he was of no relation and thus couldn't declare anything for her. But she also didn't want to push him too far. And so decided to follow his example and drop the issue entirely. There were other things to talk about, after all; like the wise lesson his father had taught him. One he was relaying to her right now. It wasn't bad advice, but definitely not something the woman would apply to those in the upper ring; there, reputation was everything. And this ensuring others had a positive view of you, and your family, was vital. It was funny really, how one piece of advice could helpful to one, and useless to another. The joy in the man's expression didn't go unnoticed by the woman. And so when he told her that she was just "another person" to him, it was her turn to scoff. "You must forgive me, but I do not believe you." She mused. "I think you like the fact that I'm fond of you much more than you'd like to admit." She was being deliberately contradictory. Especially in regard to her earlier statement, where she  alluded to the fact that she didn't think very highly of him. By stating she couldn't possibly think any lower of him than she already did, even if he had shared his desires with her. It was another way for her to play with him, keep him guessing to what she really thought of him. But, it also hadn't been entirely deceiving. For despite his social class, and undoubtedly profession; she did favor him. For he was witty, and entertaining, handsome. And those were rare qualities. So she had to give him some credit for that, at least.

"Hmm it could make you ignorant I suppose" He said, when they moved on to their latest subject of conversation. Cassiopeia moved her eyes away from him when he said that. She didn't like that line, mostly because it reminded her of something Matthew would say. And that, just instantly, brought a bad taste into her mouth. "It's not pathetic for you to share your desires because well-yours would be rather short-lived wouldn't they?" Ah, he was pulling out all the stops this time around. In response to her own rather aggressive words, no doubt. "I'd like to have you know, that not all my desires are short-lived. Quite the contrary, most of the things I want I have to work incredibly hard for." When one is rich, many things that would be a want for another person. It was simply a call away. But that didn't mean every dream, or aspiration, was easy to achieve. They were often different from those in the lower rings. But just as unattainable.

Things did seem to turn up, though. When she told the man, that she really wasn't as bad as many made her out to be. Which was more true than he probably believed. If that laugh that escaped his lips was any indication. The blond man held his head at an angle and stepped forward. Making the already short distance almost non-existent. Yet the duchess didn't back down. If anything, she was very intrigued. He questioned her words, in a humming kind of way. His voice deep and warm.  "Hm- i suppose i haven't been dragged off yet- and i still have my tongue!, So you have that in your favor, Cassiopia" The woman smiled back at him, much more genuine now. Her eyes weren't narrowed like they were before. Be relaxed. This was the kindest her facial expression could appear. His eyes were focused on hers. And the woman didn't dare to look away. It was almost as if something, some sort of force. Made her keep looking. "You see?" She said while she gestured slowly with her arms. "I'm nicer than you expected, hmm?"

@nick x