THIS IS HOW WE'LL DANCE WHILE THEY TRY TO TAKE US DOWN

( Filtered to Abel Nightroad, Viewable to Duchess Fortuna & Empress Vradica; Unhackable )

For any of those seeking employment in this place?

I am seeking persons with skills encompassing cleaning, cooking, and routine housework for the Fortuna household, what with the loss of employees due to this City. And for the Empress. She needs someone to do such mundane things.

Inquire here and we'll see about interviews and references.

[ooc; Mirka said sparkles~]

Well, if this doesn't make my day- Curse? Again?

I need the services of a doctor.

The culprit being a green substance applied to metal surface that came in to contact with skin, the symptoms involving an almost instantaneous lapse into unconsciousness.

I require one immediately.

Them? Surely not, and yet-

( Private; Unhackable )

( Locked to Friends & Allies [You Know Who You Are?]; Unhackable )

( Private to Empress Augusta Vradica; Unhackable )

Mister Butler, you flatter me with your gift. Not bad.

Seems we're back to the annoying curses.

( Private; Nigh Unhackable )

Mister Butler, I must thank you for a pleasant evening the other day. You may call again.

Duchess Fortuna, I will be instructing the help on new security measures, if you do not mind? And we should see about securing help for Her Highness-

... Ah- The tigers need a good romp in the sun. Tempting to use some of the UV gels I've acquired, but I know I should save them for emergencies. Shame I cannot give them that. Perhaps the help may. Or... Romeo, perhaps.

I think some people need to learn when others don't want them.

This wou-

[A hiss, the soft squelch of blood, gritting teeth and a voice tinged with fury and bitterness]

Endre, you son of a-

[fumbling, a glass shattering, and the communicator being thrown violently before it shatters and the signal cuts off]

[ooc; tempting to have her redo her nice burns from the Empire, but here we have her own reflected weapon scorching her abdomen from when she was pursuing a criminal through Venice. ... And oh, when Abel was all stabbed and bleeding because of her and so were a whole lot of humans under that bridge she collapsed- yeah she's sorry about that :/ Bad memories all around.]

( Private; Unhackable )

Duchess, Count of Memphis, if you don't mind, I will be out very briefly this night, but I will return before daybreak.

Abel, we need to talk. Now.

Sister Blanchett, you as well.

If the City were to take a moments respite from all of this utter nonsense, it would be greatly appreciated.

As it is, I have several matters of business.

A retainer of mine has not reported in for work this day. Basil was his name. If anyone has information, please provide it.

Abel, Sister Blanchett. Are you any closer to an exit from that... "other" City? Several hypotheses have been presented. I suggest you try them, or I assure you, I will be pursuing you into this other world to return you to your rightful places.

And for the love of-

Does anyone have definitive proof of just why this has occurred? I have never encountered a curse longer than three days, and this has gone on for far too long.

... It would be this place again, wouldn't it.

A good thing I made arrangements for my estates.

Everyone?

I'll be needing a new pair of boots.

The heels of these won't ever come clean.

Vampires?

The only thing I'll say about vampires is. Call me or mine one?

Meet the heel of my boot.

Why, isn't today just lovely?

I've half a mind to have a picnic, the moment that darned sun gets out of the way. Duchess Fortuna, Count, Basil? What do you all say, mm? Ah- Do you mind if I invite one Mister Butler, I made his acquaintance earlier due to a curse, he's quite the gentleman, I assure you.

Father Nightroad, Sister Esther, why don't you two come as well?

Basil, help me prepare some light snacks? I just can't contain myself, it's too good a day, though I'm awful disappointed, and I'm not often, that I can't enjoy the sunlight as I did in my early youth. But burns from the sun aren't the best thing for a day, now are they, so, evening it is, mm?

Ah, being a methuselah can only be troubling when it comes picnic time.

[ooc; cursed! ... and boy she'll regret it tomorrow]

I hope all of you eating these things?

Are ashamed of yourselves.

[low muttering, and the scratch of paper and pen]

... Aden, maybe, if it's male. Or, Bashir... that would match Binas' name. Hasim... Nasir...

[humming, the creak of a chair leaning back, sipping a drink]

If it's a girl... Isra... Kadira... Leila... Nadira...

[an amused chuckle]

I imagine Abel'd fancy one of those names from his religion. What were they... Daniel... Abraham... Cain... Delilah... Boaz...

[a hmmph, and fumbling]

Damn thing turned on agai-

My sincere apologies for Father Nightroad's behavior yesterday.

Let me assure you all that he did not perform any perverse or lewd behavior while in my presence, and no matter how deviant he may have acted, he didn't actually act. And for that you have the word of his partner.

In addition, whatever lewd acts he seems to have convinced you that he has done with me are completely false. Utterly.

Thank you.

WHO WANTS TO JOIN ABEL AND I IN THE HOT SPRINGS? ♥ AND NONE OF THAT SILLY SEPARATE GENDER BATHING, NOW~

Which of you is responsible for this, for injuring the Count of Memphis!?

Lilith Sahl, what happened?

I will, of course, apologize for my behavior on that last curse day. It was never my intention to extort blood a business deal like some common criminal, not to keep hostages, or threaten Terran safety in such a manner.

Any reparations demanded of me would be met.

Duchess, I will be going out once the sky darkens. I shall return before daylight.

Stupid brat- Just because he's the grandson of the Fortuna Family- No finesse- No subtlety- All brash and no brain-

I think it's about high time some people came round to collect their things.

Before they were to, ah... break.

It would be a terribly shame after all.

[ooc; Mafia member of the Fortuna family~! And stuck with the hostages, Megumi Yamamura's "daughters", Sakura and Sarah.]

Well, that was refreshing. It's been a long time since I've been able to have a proper warm bath. The Hot Springs are nice, but hardly that temperature, and these... pitiful attempts at private bathing pools are positively shameful.

City, I did approve so of that curse. You may continue in that vein in the future, if you would.

[ooc; Yes. She bathed outside in the ocean. Nakedness is nothing to be ashamed of. .__.]

... I would ask why consuming some Terran candies would inform me that someone feels lost, someone feels like they'll never be loved, a certain Bansai thinks non-Japanese terrans are inferior, and that the woman Ichihara Yuuko doesn't do deals without getting things in return, but then I remember.

This place is pointless, and it's curses like this foolish.

No one had best be learning anything about me

[ooc; picked secrets at random from the post]