[hr][center][h3]Just Chatting? [color=fff79a]Jeanne du Bordeaux[/color] and [color=0072bc]Shou Zheng[/color][/h3][/center][hr]

With his head briefly bowed, Shou missed the brief flicker of light that bled through Jeanne's fist. By the time he straightened his posture and met her blue eyes, there was nothing seemingly out of place. [color=0072bc]"Zheng,"[/color] he introduced himself with a grin. [color=0072bc]"Shou is fine too if you wish to drop the Monsieur."[/color] He tilted his head as he considered her warning for a moment before his lips curled into more of a smirk. [color=0072bc]"Well, it would make things a bit more exciting. Haven't even found a Technologist willing to put their works to a test yet,"[/color] he griped with a shake of his head, [color=0072bc]"granted the Titania wasn't the best site for tests of that sort."[/color]

Before he continued though, Shou offered out a hand for Jeanna to shake and a chance to intoduce herself in turn.

[color=fff79a]"Jeanne"[/color] She gave his hand a  brisk shake. [color=fff79a]"Jeanne du Bordeaux. From your... interesting, appearance, you are an Egoist, no? Careful what you ask for, Monsieur Zheng. Not all have forgotten the war."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"You'd think so, but drugs have proved that the body is quite malleable,"[/color] Shou replied after a measured handshake. [color=0072bc]"But yes, I am an Egoist like many of my family. I'm sure someone back home would have a fit at the possibility of Technologism replicating our advancements."[/color] 

A glance over his shoulder followed Jeanne's own from moments ago, and he exhaled sharply. [color=0072bc]"Hard to imagine they have when the Konig's heir has her floating death machine with her. That's not even going into the other militaristic Polymaths among our peers. Though I'm not sure if you would be among them. The stories I've heard about your exploits all seem rather destructive enough to count."[/color]

Jeanne simply waved those comments away. [color=fff79a]"Bah, those were but experiments upon which to test out my machines. The machine matters not when it comes to killing, for it is the Man that commits it. The Germans would have you believe the heartless machines would win wars, and parade around ridiculous overengineered machines such as those [i]she[/i] brings."[/color]There was no question of who she was refering to. 

[color=fff79a]"But..."[/color] She took a closer look at Shou. [color=fff79a]"I have heard it took a hundred times what a normal man can take, to kill an Egoist. I cannot deny it would be amusing to see how well you fare against my machines. Tell me, Monsieur Zheng, have you experienced well the knowledge of Technologists while travelling? I've assumed with your form, you have much experience under your belt, even with your age."[/color]

He supposed the rumors he had heard about her all had carried a sort of derisive tone to them. [color=0072bc]"Such blunt honesty is refreshing,"[/color] Shou remarked before he clicked his tongue. [color=0072bc]"I suppose that might be why she sought out the budding Mesmerologist then. True automation seems unlikely without unlocking the secrets of the mind, and I'm sure the Germans can't wait until they no longer have to dirty their hands with such [i]barbarism[/i]."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"In my case, I believe it would be dozens,"[/color] he answered with a confident nod before he took a few moments to consider her question.[color=0072bc] "Not as much as I would like if we're being honest. With my family's reputation, most law abiding citizens are somewhat reserved when it comes to indulging my desires to test myself. Pirates on the other hand? Well, they don't mind breaking out the lightning guns and power loaders at all!"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Ah... Such experience you have then."[/color] Jeanne could barely hold back a smug smirk, trying to suppress it into a small smile but only managing an odd sort of condenscending exression halfway between a grin and a smirk. [color=fff79a]"I suppose the majority of Technologists are unenlightened brutes such as them. The light of understanding seems to evade quite a lot of people after all. Those pirates you speak of seems no more than unwashed louts barely able to string together a light."[/color]

Shou on the other hand had no such compulsion and snorted with amusement at Jeanne's expression. [color=0072bc]"Most of them weren't even Polymaths, just lucky brutes that managed to get some better equipment than their peers. They did put up a bit more of a fight at the least."[/color] He rubbed the side of his gut briefly afterwards before he raised an eyebrow. 

[color=0072bc]"And what would you be then, Madame? Are you truly enlightened, or seeking the fuel to grow your spark brighter?"[/color] It wasn't the first time he had heard something along the lines of what Jeanne espoused. Usually people didn't like hearing that sort of thing either, and the resulting conflict was at least interesting, if not even fun~

Jeanne's smirk grew wider at that. [color=fff79a]"Who knows? Perhaps I shall be the one to bring the dawn upon the world and have come here to do so. Perhaps I shall do nothing, and remain perfectly content living shrouded in obscurity. Enlightened or a glory hound? Which one do you think I am?"[/color]

[color=0072bc]"If you wanted obscurity, you've chosen a very interesting spot to try and achieve that. I'd hate to find out that there was no substance to what you've said as well, so why not both? A bit of fame is warranted for the torchbearer after all."[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Reality is often disappointing."[/color] Fishing in her pocket, Jeanne pulled out a round button, a domed circle with a flat bottom. It looked like bronze, with a beautiful relief of the morning star upon it, but it would be clear it was made of something similar to porcelain once one held it. She tossed it to Shou. [color=fff79a]"Here. Find me again after this if you still wish to test yourself against a true Technologist."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"All the more reason to try and make things interesting."[/color] He caught the small object between his fingers and held it up to examine for a moment. His thumb rubbed against the design embedded onto it before he nodded in response. [color=0072bc]"Sounds like a plan then. I'll be in touch."[/color] With another brief bow, he finally turned away from Jeanne and headed back into the throng of students.