Let's Do Business (Jehanne)

[Ayen]

Carari Grey and her colleague David Spense rented a jeep and drove down the road from Kari that led through the desert and straight to the Empire, escorted by three other cars of the Kari military. The desert had turned into a war zone after power shifted from Empress Ranko over to Empress Jehanne and Grey had very little interest in getting involved in the war. However, she did have a lot of interest in Jherrazad itself and that would be a matter of some discussion when she reached the Empire to speak with the new Empress.

“It's all rather sandy, isn't it?” said David.

“It's a desert, David,” replied Carari, “it's supposed to be sandy.”

“It's unnecessarily sandy.”

David looked around from the jeep to all the desert around them while Carari took out a cigarette from her suit pocket.

“Would it kill them to build more roads out here?”

He looked back in time to see the cigarette in Carari's mouth.

“Must you smoke that fag right next to me?”

“It's a long trip, David.”

“It's going to be a hell of a lot longer if I have to smell that.”

“Remember who signs your paychecks...”

The jeeps eventually came to a stop at the entrance of the Empire where they were cleared to enter, leaving the jeeps and walking the rest of the way to the castle's gates where the guards stopped them.

“State your business here,” said one of the guards.

“David, state our business here.”

“Hm? Oh, yes. We're here to see...”

David rolled up his right sleeve and looked at the name he had written on his arm.

“Jehanne.”

He pulled the sleeve back down.

“We're here to see Empress Jehanne.”

“You wrote that on your arm?”

“I write down everything on my arms.”

“What do you do when you run out of arm?”

“I write on my assistance's arm.”

“I bet she loves that.”

“I've heard no complaints so far.”

“She's a mute, David.”

“That explains the constant staring.”

“On second thought, let me do the talking.”

Carari looked back at the guard and smiled.

“The Empress is expecting us.”

The guards at the gate looked at one another and then sent word to the Empress for further instructions on what to do with the strange guests.

[Jehanne]

Jehanne was currently in her royal bed chambers standing atop the balcony that looked out to the entire city. Her long brown hair was being worn down for a change as she dressed in a much more casual style attire in the form of a short sleeve gray shirt and matching jeans and shoes. Her long sword still strapped to her waist in its sheath while the twin blades and the new shield in her possession were on her back. The shield covering the twin blades which were still easily accessible behind it by simply moving her hands over her shoulders and grabbing the hilts of both. Her choice of attire wasn't what was accustomed in Jherrazad for its rulers but she had just removed the head of the Crimson Devil, impaled her head with the demon sword she broke and killed their strongest Generals. She'd wear what she want.

"My Lady?"

One of her guards entered the bed chambers and Jehanne turned her head slightly to look at him meanwhile not changing the rest of her position.

"Do the men here ever knock?" asked Jehanne.

"Forgive me, My Lady. I did not mean to disturb you it's just there are some people at the gates here to see you."

"Who are they?"

"They say they're expecting you. A man and a woman."

"That tells me a lot," said Jehanne sarcastically as she turned her head back the way of the balcony.

"I'm sorry, My Lady."

"Find out who they are."

"Yes, My Lady."

"And you better learn to do your job more effeincently otherwise you'll be the next one with your head on display."

"Yes, My Lady!"

The guard left the chambers and then sent word back to the guards at the front gate who looked to the pair standing before them now.

"The Empress wish for you to identify yourself."

[Ayen]

"The Empress wish for you to identify yourself."

“Certainly. My name is Carari Grey of Carari Incorporated and this is my associate David Spense.”

“Hello.”

“We're here from Kari in the hopes that we can help the Empress make her city... how can I put this nicely? Less dull?”

“It's extremely dull. No offense.”

“We're the head of the Entertainment Industry here in Genesis. That means movies, television, animation, games, sports, you name it we got it. Here's my card.”

Carari pulled out a small business card from her suit jacket and handed it over to the guard.

“Now go tell your boss we'd love the chance to do business.”

[Jehanne]

The guard returned to Jehanne and repeated what the two said. Jehanne chuckled at the words of the two and gave the clear to allow them entry into the castle. The castle guards escorted the two up to her royal chambers where two sentries stayed behind to guard the door outside the room in case the guests tried anything as Jehanne turned around to face them from her position on the balcony.

"Ms. Grey and Mr. Spense, I presume."

[Ayen]

"Ms. Grey and Mr. Spense, I presume."

“Were you expecting another Carari Grey and David Spense to see you today? I love what you've done with the place.”

“Absolutely fantastic!”

“But let's be honest, Empress, when it comes down to it Jherrazad is the last place to be uttered by anyone's lips.”

“It's a shame.”

“People will go on, and on, and on about Isafaro, Hallowton, Kari, Moon Valley, Aircano and the continent of Elim until they're blue in the face but how many people talk about Jherrazad or visits here?”

“Not many.”

“That is why we have come, to give your city some much needed tourism. How do you feel about an old fashion stadium where you can have jousting, sword fighting and all the games where you knights can face off for honor and... whatever else you knights fight for. What do you say?”