Laced in Chaos

Bellwether suddenly fell back into her element. It was like she was born to make tea for meetings. Well, Lionheart liked coffee but these were elite class and royal ladies. Not a brutish lion. Tea was perfect for them. She had taken a while to prepare the tea because it took her forever to choose it. Something soothing, something calming. The kitchen was vast, bigger than she'd imagined, and it had taken her a good deal of time to locate a stool and a box to stand on in order to work with everything including the fireplace.

Finally she'd selected two teas so the women would have a choice. Passion Flower and Valerian Root tea. Herbal teas to sooth the nerves and the soul. Though she would have much preferred to give these two women a few shots of whiskey and watch the world burn beneath their fingers. Hopefully this meeting would get her Zootopia.

She put a silver tray down and stocked it with teacups, sugar cubes, lemon, milk and the teapots. She even put some cookies, buttery tea biscuits in the center of the tray.

Leaping down with nimble hooves, the sheep trotted happily to the meeting room. "Oh Miss Maleficent? I have the, oh dear, I hope I'm not interrupting! I've got two teas here for you to try!" Using her rear she opened the door to the room and walked to the room. Her eyes widened as she gazed at Eris. The power in the room was pulsing like a heartbeat.

"Where can I put this so it's easiest for you, my queens?"

The smile never left her face as Maleficent responded, denouncing and dismissing her stress all at once. Eris nodded as if she were convinced while giving a most unconvincing "Mhmmmm" in return. Laced within her tongue and cheek display was that common patronizing demeanor that Eris often carried with her, the one that said she was much more amused than she was taking it seriously. As the mistress of evil continued Eris busied herself with other things, turning her head as she lifted a hand and spread her fingers to inspect her nails, the tips of her fingers only a slightly lighter blue than the rest of her skin. Despite this casual display it only became apparent that she was listening at all when she replied promptly when the wicked mistress was finished.

"Oh, no one wants to put their lives on the line for you? Pity." she tutted her tongue afterwards. This still sounded mostly like a game to Eris, perhaps because it was likely she already knew the details of the sad affairs and had other business she wanted to get to. She'd play the common run-through it took to get to what she actually wanted to talk about. The Goddess had nothing but time to play with, and she intended to enjoy every lasting moment.

"So, they won't die for you, maybe they'll work for you? Plenty of black hearts out there who'll do just about any dastardly deed," she paused, looking back at Maleficent with an impish smirk, "for the right price."

The tiny sheep woman entered the room and as far as Eris was concerned she was perfectly timed.

"Speaking of black hearts..." Eris sounded amused, running a finger through her hair that was just about swimming in delicate swirls of some unseen water. Just as the sheep was prompted to place the tray upon the table Eris's form slid from sight like she was melting into a funnel. In seconds she re-materialized for only a moment to be seated in Maleficent's very chair, a cheeky smile taught upon her lips.

"Oh, me?" she gestured inward to her chest with both slender hands, feigning a bashful duck of her head that had her hair do a sharp wisp at the incline. In a moment her tone changed, and she sounded as though she were more inclined to business this time.

"You know me so well..." she chuckled, her sultry tones sounded flattered that the mistress of all evil would predict her so well. As fast as she'd been in Maleficent's seat Eris was suddenly sprung from it with writhing ribbons of inky shadows, straight above the chair before fluidly materializing in front of the desk where she made brief hand motions to begin pouring one of the tea's. The deep red of a well steeped Passion tea flooded into the delicate china.

"Well, besides to see my favorite despicable secretary..." those red eyes gave a sharp and smug glance to Dawn for a moment. When she turned around the small teacup was gently rested between her fingertips, the red tea swirling from motion and she hovered ever so gently towards Maleficent to close the distance.

"I know something you don't know..." she sing song'd at Maleficent, but the tune was much more sinister than the jests usual joyful sound. Eris extended the tea cup closer, her gaze upon the mistress as she cocked an eyebrow and propped a smirk in a display that offered Maleficent knowledge, should she be so inclined just to take it.

Eris could show her any number of things.

Eyes were like shards of frosty gems in which flicked towards Eris’s ever changing silhouette. She was like whisked ink, body flickering as if it was but smoke upon the wind. Maleficent would have assumed she wasn’t tangible if not for the aura of magical ability that swelled from her. Maleficent may not have indicated heeding her words previously but the thought of hiring did perk her interest, perhaps Helga would be up for the task. At the mention of black hearts, slit-like eyes trained atop her secretary with mild interest. She was curious to what Eris might have known that she didn’t, aside from her trying to throw Zootopia into disarray, she mildly was aware of a serum she used.

Pale features wrinkled at Eris’s attempts at complimenting them, flattery often got you everywhere but Maleficent could detect the ulterior motives this goddess has. As of now, Maleficent still wasn’t convinced she desired only chaos; it was such a bizarre concept to crave only unfathomable turmoil.

The mistress of evil lowered to seat into her own chair once again, wisps of her ebony robe swished with the movement and her horns carved through the air when she turned to stare at Eris. It wasn’t a confrontational stare, more confused than anything. With her eyes resting atop Eris, her expression was firm and nearly unreadable if she was pleased or not but the slightest raise of a brow hinted her acknowledgment of the cup. Maleficent wasn’t sure what to expect when Eris extended the tea towards her but she wasn’t foolish enough to believe she was merely brandishing the crimson liquid for fun.

Not even breaking eye-contact, the sorceress flexed her fingers towards the ceramics, not even bothered to extend her arm to receive her own tea. Golden dust like magic fluttered from her fingers, cradling the very china Eris once held and poured her own tea. The scarlet fluid cascaded smoothly before promptly hovering towards Maleficent’s expectant hand and beckoned a gentle sip whilst entirely staring at Eris. She was silent in her preparation and smoothly rested herself in her seat quite casually.

“I’m assuming whatever you’re offering isn’t free, what’s in this for you?” prompted the queen with a certain shine to her face. She intended on seeing the depths of the cup but not without realizing if she was signing into some deal. She knew not the binding in which Eris could conjure but as a woman of curses, knowing the details was absolute. She had no forgotten Dawn, no she was actively observing the sheep as well for her reactions she was casual if not a bit amusing especially with her offer.

Dawn lowered the little sugar cup, ears flicking back slightly as she stepped back. Sheepishly (no pun intended) she returned the cup to the tray. She casually placed her baked shortbread cookies between the two women. Even if they weren’t going to drink the tea they could have at least taken a cookie. You could take the sheep out of the secretary position but you couldn’t take the secretary out of the sheep. Scrambling back to her seat, she grabbed her pen and pad to take down the meeting.

She felt chilled as Eris stared her down. Even if it was brief, it still felt like someone was gripping her spinal cord with bony fingers. She smiled awkwardly and wrote down a vague version of what she said. “Scr-ea-ming,” she sounded out, “Okay!”

Her ears twitched a bit giving away the animal in her. Eris was offering Maleficent a cup full of assistance. But Maleficent was right, Eris was a spirit of pure chaos. She was a savage animal running the streets. Was it worth it to get in bed with her?

It wasn’t her decision of course but Bellwether’s brain flowed with the 8 thousand ways she would use the goddess’ powers. To destroy Nick and Judy, to send Zootopia into terrifying fear based anarchy. The sheep gave a delighted grin and pushed her glasses back with a hoof. She was hanging on the edge of her seat hoping desperately that she would be able to see what was going on in the cup.

Eris watched Maleficent for a short while, listening as she claimed she was in fact not fighting her. Eris didn't seem to think so, but she inclined a single sharp brow and nodded although she were listening and taking it in. Eris was no fool, she was under no impression that Maleficent was some sort of lackey that she could order about. Willingly manipulated though, perhaps. And wasn't that just the best kind, when both parties were in agreement and on the same side. It made it... sweeter. So Eris laughed when Maleficent finally caved and accepted the offer,

"Ohhh I knew you'd see it my way..." she purred it with such satisfaction as she tilted her head and let her hair caress the side of her face and dance along her shoulders. The lady said it, time to stop wasting time. With a single hand Eris reached towards the cup, one slender finger touching the middle of the deep red liquid and its surface shuddered and swirled before their very eyes.

"As you well know your little heroes are doing well for themselves right now. Luck would have it, oh, whats this?" she inhaled a sharp gasp, as though she were surprised. The surface of the liquid formed and selected their image. A wagon being loaded up with all kinds of goods. Riches in resources, weapons, foods, all sorts of things.

"Wow those adorable lions sure are going to enjoy those spoils once they get their paws on them... Unless.. someone knew about the trade path..." Eris trailed off, tapping her forefinger to her lips as if she needed to ponder it. The goddess was being cheeky, as she often did. Turning her gaze back to Maleficent Eris flipped her hair back to her other shoulder, it cascaded slowly although suspending in water as it often did.

"And aren't you so fortunate that that someone... is me." she allowed the dramatic pause before revealing, followed by a wicked grin so befitting of the title Maleficent had previously dubbed her with. Without taking those chaotic crimson eyes from the Dragoness, Eris flourished her hand in a full circle over the cup. The men finished packing the wagon as the image swirled away and instead showed a collection of Enchanted Suns signing off on the forms authorizing their pick up crews.

"They'll be in the best position for you to act in three days time. Too early and these men armed to the tooth to kill will be escorting it before the hand off. Too late and you might miss your shot." Eris advised Maleficent as best she could. What Maleficent did with that information was entirely up to her, but Eris had but only her humble requests for chaos from the wicked mistress. Still, despite her previously 'don't mess it up' tones, that smug smirk worked its way naturally back to her features.

"Better make it good, Dragon Queen."

Maleficent leaned forward with her tapered chin craned to cast her gaze into the scarlet fluid. As of now, the fluid was still, nothing was revealed but the fairy could sense a feeling stirring. Eris had something planned, Maleficent couldn’t place her abilities but with her being a goddess, it was likely that title wasn’t something light. With Eris’s purr, she wasn’t fond of seeming predictable, but refusing her offer would have been foolish anyways if it was free.

A sort of monologue dripped from Eris’s lips, Maleficent could certainly tell she adored her stories and hearing the sound of her own voice. Perhaps the witch did survive off the inky twists of chaos, which was her soul goal? While she quite liked this form of service, Maleficent didn’t think herself so special and exclusive for this treatment. Who knows when Eris will feel bored enough to spew her info to the Suns. This did at least prepare Maleficent to anticipate potential meddling, that did comfort her at least in the slightest.

Glimmering gem-like eyes fastened atop the wavering shapes within the mug, crimson ripples offered images of something quite interesting. An ability to see others? Maleficent noted this within the confines of her mind; it’s likely she couldn’t hide from Eris either.

Eris had not let spill the coordinates and so Maleficent curled back into her chair to let her gaze linger atop Eris. She had intended to speak if not for Dawn’s sudden slippage which caused the dragoness to slide reptilian eyes over. Her previous goons were idiots, mindless, opinionless, yet Dawn here had a lot of personality. It was interesting.

“Exactly so, Dawn,” uttered her name quite clearly whilst she folded her fingers along her stomach. “I’ll rally my most trusted forces, all I need is where this is and you’ll see your chaos and if we’re lucky,” she halted for a moment as a deviant smirk ascended atop her lips, “There will be screaming,” a cruel cackle flicked whilst she met those crimson eyes. Did she like Eris? This was to be decided but she didn’t quite hate her.