Does it look professional enough?

Kyo's brown orbs scan the screen before her several times, subconsciously checking every little detail of the advertisement; making sure the text is bold and clear, that the letters are all neatly aligned and that the job description is stated plainly.

It would appear as though Mihawk isn't interested in taking steps toward getting a more adequate receptionist so she decides she'll create the 'help wanted' leaflet herself and subtly leave it on his desk for him to either approve or discard of - when he returns that is.

He was supposed to be coming home during the afternoon but apparently, his ferry had to set off a lot later than intended due to a storm, so she had to take charge of the museum once again in his absence.

A calm knock at her office door soon snapping her attention away from her screen as a polite voice sounds; "Madam Dracule?" 

"Come in." Silence follows her instructions, she can almost hear Drake hesitating on the other side of the wooden barrier for a moment before the handle twists and the door slowly creaks open, revealing the ginger-haired male.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but my shift ended over an hour ago..." Judging by how nervous he seems and the small flicker of guilt in his eyes, she'd deduce that he is hoping for dismissal. 

She had asked him to stay late and sweep the floors while she was working on the leaflet, it wasn't the proudest request she had made of him, he isn't a janitor after all but the company that they'd usually hire to clean is unable to attend tonight and she is quite busy so she had to rely on the only other employee they have aside from the night guard - not that Drake had complained at all, the poor angel. 

"Understood, you may leave." She calmly murmurs as her eyes shift back to the computer screen, beginning to reread the leaflet once more but still managing to speak despite her mild distraction. "You'll be getting a bonus in your paycheck this month for your assistance, obviously." 

All she gets in return is a small hum, the man shifting his weight from one foot to the other before he finally speaks again; "Isn't it...Mr. Dracule who pays my wages? How can you guarantee--"

"You'll get your bonus. I'll make sure of it." Her voice harbouring a slight deepness to it in this moment, mainly because she will be transferring the bonus personally from her own paycheck since Mihawk doesn't agree with empathy in business. Her employee seemingly still unconvinced but he doesn't vocally argue at least, instead just nodding his head as he begins to exit the office, only pausing very briefly when Kyo speaks again; "...Thank you for all your hard work, Diez. We truly appreciate it." She might sound somewhat monotonic but the gratitude is certainly genuine. 

She would have crashed and burned long ago had it not been for him and his loyalty toward the museum - this is probably why she has a little bit of soft spot for him, he has been good to her - she feels she owes him at least some courtesy in return.

"You mean to say; you truly appreciate it." He quietly argues although judging by the very vague smirk on his lips, she'd assume he's merely joking with her.

Quite the rarity, I didn't know he was the playful type...  

"Mm." She would like to disagree with his joke but in actuality, he's likely correct so instead, she decides against giving any clear answer. Simply just watching him leave the room before a sudden vibration beside her hand catches her attention, her phone lighting up while a message from facebook displays on-screen, the text immediately drawing a deep frown to her features. 

Donquixote Doflamingo: "I have something you might be interested in."

What the hell do you want now?

Her hand slowly abandoning the computer mouse and looming over the device for a moment, hesitating to pick it up however when she remembers warnings from both her father and her lover. 

Whatever this man has can't be worth the hassle she would receive in return for reaching out to him, surely. 

He's a con-artist, his goods are likely fake anyway...

Her attention diverting once again when her office door sudden swings open, her brows knitting and teeth gritted as her stare snaps up to the wood, ready to bark at the visitor for entering without knocking - though her words fall flat in her throat when she sees that it's her father who has entered. 

She had half-assumed it would be Drake or Zoro; that Drake might have forgotten to mention something or Zoro just wanting a chat since it's late enough for his shift to be set in motion.

But she hadn't expected this one and she certainly isn't ready for him.

"Well, welcome back, finally." She had intended to greet the man more politely but she seems to be lacking in control of her tone, her voice coming off as more sarcastic and instantly causing the raven's brows to furrow as he stares down at the girl with a stern look in his golden eyes. 

She was holding in tension from running this place with only Drake for aid and being the one who has to take steps toward improvements anyway, of course the perplexing message from Doflamingo hasn't helped her mood at all, needless to say Mihawk just entered the room at a very bad time.

"And what a warm welcome it is..." His sarcasm challenging her own as he very slowly makes his way toward her desk, his attention trailing toward the plastic skull sat on one of her shelves in the process. "I'm pleased to see your taste hasn't changed, I trust you liked the duvet set."

"...Yes, I liked the duvet set." She begrudgingly admits, her fingers entwined as she straightens herself up in her seat, trying to maintain the stoic male's stare. "Now, do you think you can get me a good receptionist for Christmas? Preferably one that doesn't swan off on holiday for two weeks without warning?"

"She was at an excavation, not a holiday park." Her father coldly reminds, his voice void of any real emotion as his sharp eyes seem to study her face.

"She is a receptionist, she has no need to be there."

"She's a scholar, just like you." His brows noticeably furrow with these words, a small crease denting his forehead as his chilling gaze freezes her on the spot, though despite feeling somewhat intimidated, she still finds herself annoyed with the comparison. 

"Oh, yes, a scholar...a busy one at that, obviously." Her voice practically dripping with sarcasm, something that doesn't appear to impress Mihawk in the slightest, his eyes harbouring a slight glare despite his overall expression seeming blank, his real feelings are unreadable but his aura gives off a clear indication; she's beginning to annoy him.

"Perhaps you should focus on your own love life, you've become quite impudent since you've been with Trafalgar, should I be concerned?" The raven speaks with so much confidence, even when his assumptions are completely wrong, which is something that grates on his daughter's nerves immensely. 

"My attitude is my own, it has nothing to do with Law!"

"Oh, I'm sure. I presume being drugged while on a date with him isn't his fault either." 

Of course, Shanks told him.

But did he really need to word it so poorly?

"He was testing a car at the time--! I wouldn't have even been at the auction if you were around for once!" She isn't wrong, in her defense. Shanks wanted Mihawk, not her, she was just the unfortunate substitute. Although, her heated little bark finally seems to gain a reaction from her father, not one that she would've hoped for however.

"You're always so eager to blame somebody else." His voice is deep but firm, his eyes harbouring a slight distaste to them, it almost seems as though she disgusts him. 

"I must have gotten that trait from someone, yes?" He did just try to blame Law for her mood and her drug mishap after all.

"Yes, that was your mother's attitude, was it not?" Well, that reply has shut her up. Her eyes slightly widening as her mouth falls ajar, her hands subtly trembling at the memory of the woman although she tries to calm these nerves by fiddling with the silver band on her index finger. "Wasn't she always taking her anger out on you?"

"Don't..." Suddenly Kyo's bark is gone, her tone now seeming much more delicate, she can hear and acknowledge how pathetic she sounds but she can't control it - the more she tries to harden herself, the weaker her voice seems to become. "...Compare me to her. 

"Then don't behave like her, you're better than that." Despite the lack of change in his expression and tone, he does feel remorse which is why he decided to end this discussion on a backhanded compliment, rather than tear her down further. Not exactly how he had planned to greet his daughter upon returning but she started this argument, the raven heading back toward her office door but briefly stopping on his way out, his back still turned to her as he reluctantly mutters one more thing; "I...am sorry your life turned out this way."

Huh?

Of course as she glances up at him, he leaves. It's not everyday Mihawk apologizes, in fact it's a rarity, it makes sense that he doesn't wish to stick around after doing so.

"Sorry...?" But sorry for what? He gave her a life, he gave her meaning, a purpose. Before him, she was just an unwanted mistake, a punching bag even, and this is the thanks she gives to him.

What a horrible child, perhaps mother was right to try and...

 Another buzz from her phone catches her attention, her eyes surely resembling laser beams as they glare down at the device, although the message surprises her. It's not from Doflamingo this time which is always a welcomed sight, although the text itself isn't so promising.

Lotte: 

We need to get to the police station! Now!

Oh, that's right. Kid and Law were drinking together this evening. 

Now what's happened?