Chapter Text
Claudine mindlessly sips her third (fourth?) glass of Pinot Noir for the night. She never thought that her first mission as the heir of the House of Saijou would be so boring — especially considering where she’s found herself for the night. Her mission? Assassinating the heir of the House of Tendou: Tendou Maya.
Yes, she knows that assassination is a game of patience. She didn’t become the heir by twiddling her thumbs and picking roses, but she’s been dying to meet The Tendou Maya. The woman she was compared to all of her life; the woman who’s legend was even greater than hers.
And what a better place to do it at than at Tendou Maya’s own engagement party? The venue is as dramatic as the woman who’s being celebrated. The edges of the room are populated by imperial black columns. From their top, Claudine can see grape vines webbing from one column to the other, hiding ceilings so high they reach the gods of Mount Olympus. Servers dressed — and looking — like Greek gods are quietly supplying guests with only the greatest of modern day nectars and ambrosias.
It’s also a golden opportunity for the woman to work on her public front. While her main focus is on inheriting the power and glory that comes with being the head of the House of Saijou, she also spends a considerable amount of time working on her public persona: Flora. Her assassin’s education forced her to spend years arduously training in the theatrical arts. As such, it was only natural for her to craft Flora, the rapidly rising star of the silver screen, as soon as she finished her trainings. She may only be 25, but after winning her fifth César in as many years, her name is on everyone lips.
Thankful for an excuse to investigate, she sprinkles her networking with glances around the venue, always on the lookout for Tendou Maya. Throughout the night, she meets incredible people such as Daiba Nana, the storied director of the Théâtre du Flamme, wearing a tapered green Yves Saint Laurent suit. She’s accompanied by her wife, acclaimed comédienne Hoshimi Junna, who’s dress has an Edwardian voluptuousness that can only be signed Christian Dior.
However, after a few hours of careless flirting and impassioned entertainment, Saijou Claudine is tired. One can only endure so many unwanted stares, whispers, and grazes from tasteless rich men. She hopes that Maya will make an appearance soon. Maybe, if she’s fast enough (she is, after all, the best assassin in Europe), she could hit up Koharu after completing her mission. She’s just entered the venue, looking as elegant as ever in a taupe dress, and Claudine did promise to call her back after last year’s tryst.
Just as Claudine is about to grab her fourth (fifth?) glass of wine from a passing waiter, the room goes silent. All eyes — including hers — are glued to the entrance. Tendou Maya is standing there, in what is most definitely an original Edith Head purple halter dress, slowly making her way through a crowd of well-wishers. She also can’t help but notice the other woman’s dramatic high heels (18cm!!) And how they bring to prominence her refined hourglass figure and domineering height.
At her side, her infuriatingly perfect fiancé follows her like a fool in love with his chiseled jaw, piercing grey eyes, perfectly feathered black hair, and what Claudine can only assume is an exercise regimen approved by Charles Atlas himself. The engaged couple is constantly checking in on each other, eyes shining with a level of love and admiration Claudine has only seen from her own parents. She’ll have to find a way to separate her from her august shadow.
The actress spends a considerable amount of time observing her target. She’s gracefully walking from group to group, personally thanking them for attending the celebration. When Tendou Maya runs into particularly close friends, actresses Isurugi Futaba and her long term partner Hanayagi Kaoruko, and their friend Tsuyuzaki Mahiru, her arms slither to her companions’ waists and her lips warmly graze their cheeks. Claudine notes that is probably the only time tonight that she’s seen a crack in the mask that is Tendou Maya.
As she’s watching the woman greet people, laugh with people, and toast with people (Jesus. How much is that woman able to drink??), Claudine repeats her plan in her head. Infiltrate the engagement party? Check. Locate the target? Check. Isolate the—
“Miss… Flora?” The blonde woman turns abruptly to find herself face to face with Tendou Maya. Piercing purple eyes are focused on her. The other woman continues: “I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Tendou Maya.” The taller of the two pauses to lazily regard her blonde counterpart’s garb, curious smirk on her face. “Nice to meet you,” she continues. Claudine reaches to shake the Japanese woman’s hand (donner la bise à cette femme exaspérante? Jamais!) when she abruptly realizes that she’s holding two full champagne flutes in her hands.
And offering one to her.
“Here, as a token of friendship. It’s not every day that the star of the silver screen graces one with her presence. Who do I have to thank for making my greatest wish come true?” Claudine is staring speechlessly as Maya winks at her. How dare she one-up her with her smooth talk and winking eyes. Non, mais sérieusment!
Not one to be outmaneuvered, she gracefully accepts the flute.“I think you’ll have to thank my manager. He thought that it would be good for my career to connect with the House of Tendou.” This was actually only a half lie. While her main goal is to take down the House of Tendou, her father did suggest that it would be a good opportunity to improve her front as Flora. “After all, your family is nicknamed the Modern Medecis for a reason,” she suggests.
The two women easily fall into beat with each other. Claudine is unsure if the haze clouding her brain is from the other woman’s charming allure (never) or from her fifth (sixth?) glass of wine. She quickly finds herself opening up about her experience as an actress to Tendou Maya, who’s curiosity about the industry seems never ending.
As the night advances, Claudine starts to notice small clues that could help her isolate her target. After their conversation about her first César-winning movie, she notices that Maya very intentionally brushed her arm when giving Claudine’s empty flute back to a waiter. After their discussion on their favourite ballets, she feels a gaze linger a touch too long.
Emboldened by her sixth (seventh?) glass of wine, Claudine loses patience and decides to create her own opening to isolate her target. “Maya, would you like to get some air outside?” She innocently asks. Smouldering eyes consider her for a moment and then consider her lips for a moment more.
“Yes, I’d love that, actually,” her rival answers. “The balcony in my room has the best view of the estate. Would you like to go there?”
Within minutes, the two women were at the grandiose balustrade. As the party was still in full effect, a trio of devilish jazz musicians enrapturing the crowd, they found themselves alone. The moon their only source of light. Much like the rest of the venue, the balcony oozes of pretentiousness. The balustrade is composed of columns much like the ones in the venue below. The large pillars make Claudine feel like she’s in a god’s prison more than in her rival’s personal chambers.
The balcony is also rather empty. A pair of solid gold chairs finding themselves to be their only companions for this portion of the night. She feels that these chairs are much too opulent, too vain, for someone like the women she’s met today.
When she turns back, Maya is already at the marble railing, quietly admiring the lake at the base of the building. Claudine can’t help but take in Maya’s beauty one last time. Her impeccable posture gives her the grace of a swan. Her luscious brown hair is gently flowing in the midnight breeze. Through an act of pure iron will, she’s still wearing those ridiculously high heels. Claudine won’t complain, though, as they deliciously accentuate the curve of her legs and the shape of her hips.
When Maya notices her approaching, she drags herself to the side, making space for her companion to admire the reflection of the moon in the water with her. She pulls a cigarette seemingly out of no where. Lights it. Inhales. Her eyes still staring at nothing in the distance. “Thanks for getting me out of there. I really needed this.”
Claudine is taken aback. The symbol of perfection, the women who’s mind, body, and beauty were fine-tuned to kill, is doing something as idiotic to her body as smoking. Offended by the sacrilege, she blurts: “You smoke?”
Maya chuckles lightly. “Only when I’m really nervous.” The woman exhales the noxious smoke. Inhales again. She turns her whole body towards Claudine, resting her free arm on the balustrade. A magnetism causes both women to gravitate towards each other. After a few long beats, their faces are a breath’s distance from each other.
“Do I make you nervous?” She taunts.
The brunette abruptly breaks eye contact. She crosses the balcony in a few swift steps, and sits down on one of the ostentatious chairs. Now refusing to look at Claudine, she crosses her legs and takes another long drag of her cigarette. In this moment of tension, Claudine notices the paintings that adorn the velvety red façade. Some depict famous scenes of Greek mythology. Some, scenes of Roman mythology. The gaudiness of it all strikes her as odd. She’s learnt enough from Maya to know that this is nothing like what the women would enjoy for herself.
Claudine, faced with a new challenge, finds herself creeping towards Maya. She slowly sits on her. Their faces are a breath apart. She gently caresses the other woman’s jaw. “Do I make you nervous?” She whispers. Maya finally looks at her. Exhales on the side. A light blush dusts her cheeks. Has it always been there? The silence extends for a moment longer. Neither women finding the will to look away. Unable to stand the tension anymore, she continues. “Can I kiss you?” She asks.
Mirth dances is Maya’s eyes. “I thought you’d never ask.” Claudine slowly begins to close the gap. Both women’s eyes shutting in anticipation. Seeing her opportunity, the actress subtly unhooks her stiletto heel from her shoe. A collapsed dagger reveals itself from the removed section the process. As she presses the tip of the dagger on her target’s chest, she feels a cold barrel on hers.
At the cold touch of metal on their skin, the two women observe each other. Maya takes over the lead of the conversation. “What’s your next move, Flora — or should I say, Saijou Claudine?” Neither women flinches. The only movement the constant breath in their chests.
“You knew,” she whispers. Tendou Maya keeps staring at her in response. Her cigarette is still dangling from her soft lips. Anger flushes Claudine’s complexion. “Why didn’t you kill me earlier? Your entire House is here.” Claudine demands. She’s infuriated by Tendou Maya’s ego, infuriated that her rival opted against getting the help of her allies to finish her off.
“You intrigue me,” her rival offers, inhaling her cigarette through her teeth. Amusement is still dancing in her eyes. Her lips are slightly curved with the cocky challenge of one who’s looking at Death in the face. Tendou Maya’s eyes flicker to her cheeks. Quickly acknowledging the surprise in her complexion and the furious scowl of someone who’s been underestimated.
“I intrigue you enough to die?” She questions. Clouded by alcohol, she tries to evaluate her options. On one hand, she could just stab Maya right now and get it over with, but on the other, every bone in her body is vibrating in anticipation of something… In anticipation of Tendou Maya.
The brunette, her composure now fully regained, exhales in her face. “You and I both know it. You won’t kill me. At least, not tonight, ma chère” she states. Claudine starts to lose her patience. After spending all night enraptured by the actress’ presence… After spending all night lusting for the actress, Tendou Maya dares to claim something as ridiculous as that?
“And why is that?” She snaps back.
Her rival boldly puts her gun down on a marble table that the actress hadn’t noticed prior. She then uses her free hand to extinguish the cigarette on the same marble table. Then, she gently brushes Claudine’s sharp jaw with the back of her right hand, before gently prying the stiletto dagger out of the actress’ hand, putting it on the table next to the other weapon. “Because you’ve fallen in love with me.”
Claudine’s eyes go wide with panic, realization strikes her immediately. Every bone in her body knows that her rival’s word ring true. In the span of a few short hours, she’s managed to not only fail her mission, but succumb to the charm of the succubus known as Tendou Maya. Her greatest enemy.
Tendou Maya can clearly see realization plaster itself on her face. As arrogant as ever, she subtly strokes the outer side of Claudine’s hand. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have guests to entertain,” she says as she begins to leave the balcony.
As Tendou Maya prowls towards the exit, realization hits Claudine. While she may have failed her mission tonight, her rival was no closer to killing her, either. Determined, she whips around, grabs the brunettes shoulders, and whispers in her ear, “I haven’t lost yet,” before readjusting her stiletto heel and departing, leaving Maya gazing blankly in the distance.