The Bossbird

"You know it isn’t. In fact, you might already know my best stratagem, if it weren’t for the fact that I know that you would have been trying to decipher my best stratagem and have  altered my plans accordingly to accommodate."

"I have a poor feeling that this would degrade into a standoff. A draw. You know, bah! Just imagine a battlefield, with one of us on each opposing side. It would be....boring. Constantly countering eachother."

"Stop talking to yourself."

"Very clever. But is that your best stratagem?

"Then perhaps my offer is a little too intense for you, dear, for everything that comes from the Shadow Isles is exotic. Everything. Though I have to say not much could be called rubbish. Perhaps some of my associates, if I were feeling malicious, but other than that the Shadow Isles are more mysterious than rubbish, even to us denizens~”

"No no no, I mean exotic things that ARE rubbish. Not anything that is exotic, is rubbish. I'm just in no mood for hallucinating. Not at all. I demand the most peculiar taste, with the least dangerous effects."

"Ah, but knowing you I cannot know how to disappoint you. Would you be disappointed if I didn’t trick you, or are you merely looking for something delicious, or would you like a combination? I know of a particularly vicious hallucinogenic herb. The illusions even have the ability to harm you, among other things, when brewed into tea."

"I'll have to decline the offer of hallucinogens. Especially on a first date." He cackled, arching his worn back with a crack. "I was leaning towards the tea tasting excellent. I don't want some exotic rubbish. I am very particular about my tea!"

"Drinking or collecting?" she asked with a wry grin, shaking her head. "Tea sounds lovely, perhaps I could even bring some of my own, if you’ll trust me. The Shadow Isles have some remarkably rare herbs that make for a fine tea. And I assure you, there are a handful that don’t have any negative effects for mortals.”

"Both. I collect tea sets as well. I have a particular fondness for Ionian craftsmanship. As well as their tea, it is sublime." Again bringing a finger to his lips, he pondered. "Hm. It'd be silly to turn down a chance at something rare. I'll put my faith in you. I expect to not be disappointed."

"That depends on your defintion of free, or at least which one you meant. For the most part, however, the answer is always. I keep my webs quite flexible, after all, and there are rarely people requiring my attention who are too impatient to wait for me~”

"Very good! I have nothing important going on for the next few days. So I look forward to our little meeting. Would you like to arrange to meet at my villa? I have a room specifically for tea. It is a hobby of mine."

"Perhaps neither. Perhaps you’re merely too comfortable now that you’ve found yourself in a position of nearly indisputable power. Sure, you have to watch your back, but you have the Institute of War to reinforce your position politically~"

ask away lovelies.

"Yes, well, I’m quite fond of this youngster’s view of a new-aged Noxus," Elise teased further with a giggle. "Nor should you disregard anyone, even your closest allies. It might be a pain for a mortal mind such as yours, but paranoia is survival to kings and rulers~"

"I'm aware that my practices can be unprofessional, I used to be much more paranoid. How do you think I got my title? But, alas, these days, I've grown cocky. Or, uncaring."

"Spiders are everywhere and my convent is even deeper entrenched into this world. My network is quite extensive—I’d almost compare it to LeBlanc’s Black Rose, if it weren’t in a way part of it," she explained vaguely, then abruptly let the topic drop there. "The Grand General of Noxus invites me for tea and talking, I would be quite horrible if I declined the opportunity."

"My webs weave far and wide, the Isles are merely my home, where my power resides. Before I went to them I was Noxian nobility myself~" Elise explained as if it were so simple. "You’d find we have much in common, despite the drastic difference in our … themes, as it were," she chuckled.