Character Mansion

[Dining hall]

"Oh, I'm not worried about her," said Mai, waving a hand. "I mean, if she's doing this, then her employers would put her through ultra-rigorous tests to make sure she didn't, you know, snap and do exactly what she's supposed to be stopping. Otherwise, they'd risk a PR nosedive into hell." She chuckled a little.

"All right," she continued, partly to herself and partly to Linna. "So the eccentric rich person is funding this whole division or whatever. Fill gaps and what have you. But..." She tapped a claw on the tabletop, gathering her words. "Now it sounds like the cops have the same equipment and training as you. So how can you get there more quickly? They're watching around the clock for that sort of thing, same as you. Although..." She paused for a moment. "I suppose you're group's a niche thing. Handles robots and nothing else, whereas cops have to watch for other things, like robberies. You can tune out the less important stuff."

Wait, I'm probably not being totally clear on this. "I guess," Mai said, picking her words carefully, "is that I'm not entirely clear on what you do or can do that separates you from the police force, other than a lack of government funding or regulations. So if you could explain that a bit more, that'd be great."

[Library]

Samira looked at Anne sympathetically. She knew that feeling of culture shock all too well. Unfortunately, in Samira's case, she'd gotten used to it with the help of Blake and Sean — a charming, healthy couple who had patiently helped her get over her previous prejudices over the years. On the other hand, Aseyu was... well, Aseyu. Then again, maybe Anne was just alarmed by Aseyu's appetite and lack of subtlety, not her preferences.

Keeping her voice low, Samira asked, "what's making you uncomfortable, exactly? You can be honest, I won't mind."

Aseyu was annoyed, but knew better than to press Anne on the topic. Samira was better suited to this sort of thing. So she turned to Sven and said, "I know what I like, and I do what I like. Right now, I'm thinking I like you. Not written in stone, but you're making a good start." Her voice slightly more serious, she added in a stage whisper, "but if sweet little Claire here is only interested in a feminine touch... well, I'm thinking a fellow as handsome and open-minded as yourself should have no trouble finding someone else to enjoy yourself with."

[Entry Hall]

Ozzy halted his laughing and managed to bring his head upward, looking towards the ceiling and presumably, the second floor. The lights in the room illuminated his pupils which, even then, were unusually large and dilated. He stared at the ceiling for a moment longer, then emitted a strange whining noise that sounded as though it could have come from a large creaky door.

He lowered his eyes to meet Alice's, then shook his head, saying, "Goodness, swallow me whole! I'm an uninvited guest!" before breaking into some more shaky laughter.

[Entry Hall]

Alice blinked several times, then stared Ozzy in the eyes. Her tone complete deadpan, she asked, "okay, fine, I invite you, if that's worth anything. Now tell me: what in the name of Zombie Jesus are you on?"

[Smoking Room]

John looked at his wine glass sadly. "I wish it was that simple. I really do. But it's hard to trust other people with those things."

[Cellar]

Mary only shrugged again.

"I know our world doesn't sound so amazing, but it is what it is." she said, "No elves, no werewolves, no fairies...nothing. We only see those in fiction. Like fantasy books, fantasy movies, games, and so on so on." She shook her head, "I'm guessing there's not a lot of humans in your world, huh?"

[Cellar]

Friedrich sends a robot off to collect a tiny single consumption bottle of sake, if you could call the container that, the idea of rice wine is completely foreign to him. "No they're the majority, if only by a little bit. Society is pretty integrated you know."

The robot arrives and Friedrich inspects the packaging, it's like nothing he's seen before. "Actually though, I have no idea what the heck werewolves are." He locates the seam in the plastic and slits it open. He pulls back the cap. "Don't worry about me getting drunk by the way, I accidentally used a stone of complete purification for the ritual. I won't be able to get tipsy at all for probably another fifteen minutes."

[Library]

"Oh Aseyu, you're just perfect aren't you. You have so politely summed up my opinion on you two. I might just let you two do just about anything you want." He raises an eyebrow, "So Claire, what's the verdict?"

Smoking Room

Markus looked down sadly, "True. Nothing in life is easy, but we sometimes have to go through the hard things or else we don't get far in life."

[Dining Hall]

"Heavy weapons require authorization from someone high in the department. A Gerlitch or shoulder-fired rockets can only be deployed with authorization from the Chief..." she trailed off. "That's a minimum of five minutes to get authorization when dealing with a heavy industrial or heavy bodyguard, and it can be a lot longer than five. The police tactly support us, because we offer the first responder in that situation a chance to get out alive if they're smart and don't pick a fight. If there's a mass incident caused by a virus, or if a combat model goes rogue, that means K suits. Deploying K suits requires authorization from the Mayor or Deputy Mayor. That's a minimum of fifteen minutes." A grimace, brief. "What isn't usually said that if a heavy combat type or several lighter ones go rogue or are hacked, it is a statistical certainty the first responders and most of the backup tactical team will be dead by the time K suit authorization comes through. Along with a significant number of people within a one-block radius. It hasn't happened more than two or three times. But it has happened. At that point we're the only meaningful defense the city has."

Nara grinned humorlessly. "You forget. I'm not in my position now because anyone ever designed me for it. I'm merely good at it by coincidence. But you're right, having people's favored sexbots gut them would be bad for business. Fortunately I've proved resilient far outside design standards unlike some of the less-sophisticated models."

[Entry Hall]

Ozzy glanced up at the ceiling again, then back down at Alice, looking confused. "Are you- are you- is that-? Is- is- is permissible? Is that permissionable?" He leaned backward, as though he were trying to avoid the stench of bad breath, and continued to stare at her. Then Ozzy's eyes became fixed on something else, behind Alice— beyond Alice.

He followed the 'something else' with his eyes downward, to the floor, across the floor, behind himself. He turned all the way around, mumbling words in a voice loud enough to hear, but too quiet to comprehend from where Alice was standing. "Shumhin... aires shumhin... hinee- ear... ear..."

[Library]

Claire eyed Sven rather skeptically, before turning back to Aseyu. "What's that saying?" She said, quietly, suddenly seeming a little bit miffed as she looked at her nails. "You can't have your cake and eat it too? Something like that." It took a bit of effort of Aseyu's part to convince her to even leave Tammy's side; perhaps hoping she'd immediately accept Sven the way Aseyu had was hoping for too much. Or maybe she just didn't swing that way. The possibilities are potentially endless, but it seem Claire and Sven were mutually exclusive in terms of what Aseyu was after.

The adults in the room were actually doing a pretty poor job of hiding their adult conversations from the eight year old in the room. Tamara was a smart girl, and she had a vague sense of what 'promiscuity' meant. "Grown ups are so gross and weird sometimes..." She muttered.

[entry hall]

He blinked, smiling in confusion.

Matthias had seen only the most deranged of Spirits behave like this, the ones on the verge of death by old age. In those cases, it was best to simply cut their magic and leave them unconscious for the orderlies to pick up, but the automaton on the upstairs landing seemed to be telling him no, enough for him to practically feel its visual sensors drilling into his skull.

Inching away from Alice so as not to accidentally snag his web on her, he cast out his senses in Oswald's direction, creeping ever so carefully towards him in case of another snag of anti-magic.

Matt's magic-sense is a lot more passive- he's 'looking' at stuff -but you can feel it if you're magically-attuned enough.

edited 10th Feb '13 6:18:25 PM by CrystalGlacia

[Library]

Aseyu sighed and said to Claire, "oh? Well, don't say we didn't offer." She looked over at Sven. "Sorry, but I think you're gonna have to find another way to amuse yourself. Take a look around — I'm sure there's plenty of lonely men and women who would love a fellow like you."

Then she turned back to Claire. "I hope I didn't offend you," she said with a smile. "My offer still stands. There's a few bedrooms upstairs, I understand, if you want to skip silly pleasantries. But if you're more of a 'dinner and a date' sort, we could order ourselves a nice meal." Her voice turned serious as she cautioned, "I don't drink, though. It's harder to resist spells when you've got alcohol in you, and where I come from, that sort of thing can end very badly. So I stay away from it in general, although I certainly won't be offended if you do."

[Entry Hall]

Sensing Matt's intent, Alice stepped away to give him more room to maneuver without suffering the usual effects of prodding her with magic. Mostly because she was curious what he'd find, since her own inquiries had done no good.

Library

Anne decided to take a hint from Samira and lower her own voice. "Well...just the fact that everyone's talking about...it in public. I'm old enough to be around for this sort of talk, but where I'm from it isn't considered a polite conversation topic." She glanced at Aseyu, noting that she looked somewhat annoyed, then at Sven, then back at Samira. "It's weird to have a group of people walk in and start making moves at each other right off the bat. Aseyu's not so bad, since you already told me she was like this. It was Sven walking in and start adding onto it that unnerved me."

She frowned. "I...didn't tick Aseyu off, did I?"

[Library]

Samira's voice was just as low. "Aseyu isn't easily angered. At least not at this topic. But... just so we're clear. You're bothered by the fact that she's being so blatantly flirtatious, and not that her target is, er, another woman. Right?" She cleared her throat, looking both nervous and hopeful. I hope this turns out to be as simple as I'd like...

[Dining Hall]

"On the way to the museum, Herman suggested we make a stop at "Dead Man's Ferris Wheel". When I told him that we really needed to go, he threatened to "ask the ass", so we ended up stopping at the Dead Man's Ferris Wheel.

Turns out it was just an abandoned ferris wheel. That is, until we noticed the disembowled corpse in one of the baskets. Then Herman got into the basket and started talking to it. We decided it was best to leave Herman behind and continue."

edited 10th Feb '13 6:26:23 PM by BiggerBen

[Dining hall]

"Fucking bureaucrats," spat Mai in disgust. "Don't you just love 'em? Oh, sure, you can save lives, as long as you fill out these forms in triplicate, get a seal of approval from five different authority figures, dance the Macarena, and wait a day for processing." She snorted. "You'd think that they'd streamline that sort of thing in some way, but I guess bureaucrats need to foul up the works in order to have any power."

She grit her teeth for a moment, then sighed and said, "Okay, that's probably a bit harsh, but it always seems that way. A lot of the time, you don't even notice they're there, since they're making things go, but they always seem to pop up when it's important. And... Heh, I wonder if they're like that in every universe."

Entry Hall, Second floor

"Ahem...wronged...uh...about that..." Jonathan stammered and hesitated, before deciding to answer honestly.

"I can't honestly say that I was attacked unprovoked. I was there to see what Stellark was doing in an abandoned building. He didn't look too happy about it either.

"I managed to intercept the courier he was meeting and stole his package. I could feel that it probably was some dark magical object. Before I could get out, Stellark caught me. I tried fighting him, but in a one-on-one fight, he was just too powerful and too good for my skills, so...I lost. He could of killed me right then and there, and I could see it in his eyes that he considering it. But...he didn't. I don't know what was going on in that cold motherfucker's heart, but I don't like it.

"I never got a good look at his face. The entire time it was covered in a grey scarf. I did see his eyes though: Blood red, like those of the Corrupted."

Library

Gabrille examined Tammy's necklace. "It's a pentacle, a symbol with five points, representing the four classical elements, air, water, earth and fire, along with spirit, all contained within human will, which is the circle. It's a very pretty necklace."

Gabrielle looked at the Oracle, suddenly intrigued by the machine. How was it made? What could it do? Was it entirely mechanical or was it made by both magic and technology?

She answered Tammy's question, "I'm not sure about that, but possibly. It seems as if this mansion is at a crossroads between worlds. It wouldn't be too much to assume that people may come here, perhaps."

Uh...is the necklace supposed to be magical? What's it purpose?

Dining Hall

Andrew's face tilted towards the side in what could be amusement, then turned rather sharply towards Nara and said, "I suppose since you are from another world, I could educate you. What marks me is what we call the Corruption, a condition caused by overuse of the Dark Arts. It scars the body and twists the psyche, eventually making you go insane and death."

He lifted the mask a bit and finished off his steak and ate another forkful of mashed potatoes. "But I wouldn't worry your heads about me being a dark sorceror or shit. I was stupid, and thought I could use the Dark Arts for good, that nothing is truly innately evil and that I could overcome it's bad connotations and make something good out of it.

"I was right, in the way that nothing is truly evil, but I all my good intentions could of paved a new freeway to Hell. I still ended up Corrupted."

Andrew took a small sip from a glass of cold water, and continued. "I used to be a shopkeeper for little magical trinkets and tools. I earned enough money to live comfortably. I had a beautiful wife I loved more than anything in the world, even though we were unable to have children. I had friends who were funny and adventurous and sometimes we'd go out and have a drink and laugh.

"Then about ten years ago, I was wandering in the countryside collecting materials to make potions. That's where I found that goddamn tome.

"That tome was like any dark mage's dream come true. I couldn't believe the treasure I had found, so few complete texts on the Dark Arts existed. I took it home and hid it, and started reading its taboo information. A lot of its magic was in ways disgusting blasphemy towards the order of the universe, and life and magic itself, but I found many of its spells and curses to be useful if in the right hands. I thought I could use the magic for good.

"I told my friends about it and they were doubtful at first. But somehow I convinced them it was a good idea. I don't remember if I convinced them by my own charisma or if I used mind-altering magic to do it.

"We became a vigilante group, taking down criminals and villains. I was the sole mage of the group, using the dark magic I learned along with my natural talents of Seeing. I have to admit, those times were pretty goddamn awesome. All of us being badass in our own way; but it wasn't meant to last.

"I tried to ignore it first. Didn't think the change of my eye color or my teeth was that bad. I just filed down the fangs and put on sunglasses or colored contact lenses. Then the pain came, and I started to doubt my decision, but I guess I was having too much of a fun time to really care? Even when all the other nastiness came, the taint, the wounds that would never heal, I guess I was so gone that it didn't matter anymore. My friends were worried, but I spurned their warnings. My wife and I went our separate ways. I don't know where she is anymore. I guess it doesn't matter.

"I don't know when was the point where I stopped being this handsome, anti-heroic dark mage and started to become a real psychopath. I didn't care. The power was so goddamn great, I didn't give a shit about anything. Not losing my wife. Not alienating my friends. Not the loss of the good looks I was so vain about.

"About 5 years after this whole goddamn thing started, something happened. I don't remember what it was. Maybe because it was an injury I sustained? Or maybe it was because I don't want to remember it. I'll probably never know. Well, anyway, all my friends died. I think it was some kind of fight, but who killed them? Some adversary? Or was it me, who finally snapped after all these years?

"It was the loss of my friends when I realized I was fighting the insanity. Fighting the monster I had become. It was too much. I was going to die.

"So I did what I should of done years ago. I hid away the tome, and I found a healer with the skills and power to purge the Corruption in me. She told me I was pretty far gone, but if I sacrificed something for my own redemption, for atonement, then maybe I'd had a chance.

"She asked me what I was willing to give up to be free of my curse. I told her:

Anything.

"After two weeks raving in a bed in a fever, regenerating my blood, I was free of the Corruption. But it still left its scars. I was still batshit ugly. The pain was still there. So were the loss of empathy and emotions.

"But the worst thing I lost, the thing that was worse than the lost of everything I had, my looks, my wife, my friends, my emotions, was my magic. I was completely severed from my magic, unable to do even the most mundane things. I lost everything I hadn't realized I took granted: My magical vision, my precognitive ability, my super-speed. Even the most mundane things like lighting candles without matches I missed, and still miss.

"I sacrificed my ability to use magic for my sanity and my life. Was it worth it now I look back? Was it really worth it? I still think so. I would do it a thousands times if I had to."

Andrew took another drink and ate several bites of his meal before saying, "That was quite the story, wasn't it?" Then he continued eating until all the fruit, potato and steak was gone. Then he gestured for a waiter and asked for an almond flan.

He then looked up at his audience, and said, "When my wife left me, she gave me a note along with her wedding ring. It said: Do you know how to love anymore?"

edited 10th Feb '13 6:47:38 PM by Tehpillowstar

Library

Anne glanced at Aseyu and Tamara's caretaker one more time, and then looked back at Samira with a raised eyebrow. "You were worried about that? I'm pretty sure that's normal where I'm from. Granted, the Church doesn't like it, but it's normal. My mentor even told me it's expected of a ruler."

[Smoking Room]

"We're trying." John said, rubbing his neck, remembering what happened to him in the summer, "It's a slow process, but it's..."

Not wanting to confuse the man, Thomas finally decided not to withheld their past now. "You see, during our summer, we had a...terrible experience, to say the least. That's why we're so weary."

[Cellar]

"Half human, half wolf." Mary said, taking a quick sip of her wine, "In almost all the myths, they transform at night deep in the woods. And they're extremely dangerous. Of course, like I said, they don't exist in our world. Only in movies or novels or games." She chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if I meet one here, actually."

[Entry Hall-Second Floor]

"Corrupted?" Abeiyuwa asked, "What are the Corrupted?"

[Library]

A warm and vaguely mischievous smile appeared on Claire's face. "Resisting spells, huh?" She said. "Well don't worry, I can't cast any spells. And I don't really drink either." She winked and said. "Lead the way..."

Smoking Room

Markus nodded and leaned forward, interested at where they were going, "What happened that makes it so difficult to advance?"

edited 10th Feb '13 6:49:22 PM by DarkbloodCarnagefang

[Entry Hall]

"Something here... I- something..." Ozzy's mumbling grew louder. He turned his head and stared at the doorway to the parlor as he continued to ramble thoughts to himself. "I need...ded? Needed? Needed need needed? What am I doing- what am I doing- what... where? Here. Something here. Something I need... I..."

Ozzy turned his head again and noticed Matthias for the first time. "Oh, hello! I... believe I was thinking about something but deemed it to be of little importance after all. I... think." He put a hand to his covered mouth, and seemed confused once more.

Once more, the only thing magical about or affecting Oswald is a perennial curse (for lack of a better word), which is why he looks the way he does (once again, more info in the characters list ) but that has nothing to do with his current problem.

edited 10th Feb '13 7:04:09 PM by Ryuhza

[Library]

Samira laughed with relief and said, "ah, I see. Well. It's not accepted everywhere, you see, and it never hurts to make sure."

[Library —> Entry Hall —> Outside the Master Bedroom]

Aseyu grinned and said, "aha, I knew you weren't quite so sweet and innocent as you seemed!" She took Claire's hand and led her out.

Alice looked over at Aseyu as she left and said, "Aseyu! Shoulda known you'd be here. Got yourself a new toy..."

"Fuck off, Alice," Aseyu said. She whispered to Claire, "don't mind her." She glanced between Matt and Ozzy. "I think she's found a new source of amusement anyways." Aseyu was right: Alice ignored Aseyu, still curious to see where things were going with Matt and Ozzy.

Aseyu led Claire up the stairs, then let her hand go and leaned against the wall by the door. "One last request," she said. "The lab coat stays on. Deal?"

Correct me if I'm assuming too much.

[Dining Hall]

Irilemi's voice was dry as she said, in between portions of salad, "sounds like somebody took the name a bit too seriously. Also, disembodied corpses? My interest in this story has just increased."

edited 10th Feb '13 6:57:12 PM by KillerClowns

[Outside the Master Bedroom]

They ran excitedly out of the room and up the stairs, right past that strange Alice woman Aseyu didn't like. Claire grinned as they arrived, finally seeming to relax and start having fun. "Ha ha!" She said. "Sure! Deal!"

Library

"I can see why people wouldn't accept it, but personally I've no problems with it," Anne said, before turning to watch Aseyu and Tamara's caretaker leave. With them gone, the amount of talk about uncouth matters was likely to go down. Then again, Sven was still in here. If he tried to keep it up, hopefully the other people in the library would ignore him and that would be the end of that.

She turned back to Samira. "Actually...I'm sort of curious as to what it's like. I mean, I was perfectly happy with the young man Father picked out for me, but I don't think I'll see him again since...." She trailed off, expression suddenly looking rather pained again. "On second thought, I'm not much in the mood to push the subject."

She attempted to come up with another subject to talk about. Her eyes settled on Tamara, who at the moment appeared to be talking to the dark-skinned woman in the fancy dress. "Now that her caretaker isn't around, do you think the little girl's capable of handling herself?"