The door swung open open just as a loud crack of thunder rolled through the door drowning out the little bell that rang absent mindedly in the wind. A very tall figure stood in the doorway wearing a long armed forces overcoat his medium length blonde hair saturated his presence radiating strengh and authority. His green eyes cast over the room his piercing gaze taking in all the occupants of the establishment a series of names rattled through his mind. Seemingly satisfied he turned walking over to the counter his black boots clunking on the floor.
His piercing gaze bore deep holes into the soul of the lady behind the counter leaving the lady quaking. As his green eyes looked through her his face covered over with a facade displaying no emotion as he questioned her his well spoken accent poured through the room as he spoke with authority that not many would have the courage to defy, "Where is my daughter Christy? I received an urgent message that my daughter had collapsed while at your establishment." The man rested his right hand on the counter revealing an expensive gold signate ring with the Tarrant family coat of arms engraved in it.
Christy bowed deeply dropping her gaze she recognised the mans face it struck heavy family resemblance to the young blonde lady that had been in here earlier the countess there was only one man this person could be it was confirmed by the ring she noticed on her hand as she bowed, "My most Honourable Marquess of Arundel I fear you are late my Lord Marquess for she is long gone from here. She was carried by her guard and a captain of the armed forces I believe it was her twin sister judging by her striking resemblence though truly she can't of been as she looked much older."
The Marquess silenced her from speaking anymore on the subject of Lafiel having a twin that was older than her with his gaze and a slightly raised hand. He took a moment to scan the other occupants with frost bitten eyes anyone whom had taken interest in his presence broke gaze with him and looked away as he stared them in the eyes. He looked back at Christy, "Would you please care to explain to me why my daughter collapsed as a result of being in your establishment." He said flatly to Christy carefully listening to both her and the presence of the other occupants in the room.
"My Lord, I... I... It was nothing to do with my establishment or myself in fact your daughter paid me generously for the best of my tea and foods. If you please my Lord she was pale when she entered my establishment and appeared to be slightly shaking I would suspect she was ill. To the detriment of her state she confronted a hooded man numerous times each time she did it seemed to take a lot out of her. She had denounced him as an ex order commodore though truly i believe him to young and she hammered him for trangressions against our people and for many reasons you could see it upon her face that it hurt her emotionally to the point of tears. By the end of it he hugged her and she collapsed. I then... I guess I over heard the captain and her guard telling her off for not telling them that she was sick. I swear My Lord this is what happened." Christy's eyes pleaded as she realised the topic of his daughters well being was something of thin ice to skate upon, she almost hoped someone would interrupt the conversation but dare not hope for the person that did would surely recieve wrath.
The Marquess spat the name Dagen venomously under his breath cursing the name. Satisfied that he had received the answers he was looking for he nodded his face melting to reflect warmth a cordial smile, "Well while I am here I believe I shall dine. I would care for a pot of Earl Grey tea and one of your steak pies and I believe I should care for an eclair if you would please. Maybe one should add a bit of home cooking to the menu for fullsized meals" The Marquess smiling handed over a thousand credits as Christy disputed the rediculous amount of money he waved her off her arguing falling silent. Christy didn't realise if it was to pay for discretion that she would of kept or for the menu idea she was none the less grateful for the very large tip.
"Your daughter has brought a shred of light in with the upcoming opening of the new Embassy in Rheinland." Christy commented as she retrieved the things the Marquess had requested with a smile now the tension in the air had died. The Marquess raised an eyebrow, "I thought you said that they had taken my daughter away sick?" Christy almost laughed as she spoke teasingly, "Oh no my Lord Marquess that was a few hours ago. Where have you been this week not to hear about the embassy opening today its been all over the papers here grab one off the end of the counter I'll bring your food an tea out." The Marquess continued smiling as he grabbed the paper, "I have been...Away."
The Marquess left it at that and went over to the coat stand to hang his big over coat up he moved to sit at a table to find Christy on his heels he thanked her as she placed the food on the table he indicated as she went away he took a glance around the room again there was one individual whom he wasn't sure of his eyes turned to gaze at the hooded figure piercingly. He didn't like the demeanour of this individual he couldn't quite see a face but something urged him to alertness. His curiousity died down this time taking the room in a cordial manner he saluted with a smile to the younger police officers while giving a nod at Silsbury. He opened his PDA amazed as he realised todays date and the date of the message received putting it away he turned to contenting himself pouring himself a cup of tea and sipping it as he read the paper.
The hooded figure stood from her table. She felt a measure of unrest from the little one, and that troubled her...if she was correct, the little one was an officer, yes, but was...having trouble...fear...
The woman blinked slowly, shifting her emotions. She lightly touched the table with a hand, lifting herself, and she walked to where Kiri was sitting. In a voice that she knew, from experience, would pervade calm, she spoke.
"Peace, Kiri..."
Sitting down, she looked towards her, noticing her stance.
"You are afraid...do not worry, there is nothing to fear in this place..."
She gave Kiri a small smile. Her eyes no longer glowed, and they had gained a dimmer yellow color.
"I will not harm you...and neither will anyone else, i assure it."
A slightly blink of a light, just above her eye, flashed, highlighting a neural band, and, around the light, what could have been either hair or fur. The hooded figure winced as it blinked again, and she tightened her grip on the table, before relaxing again.
She stared at Kiri's right arm, with a curiousity rarely seen.
"You have some sort of implant in your arm..." She muttered, before looking back to Kiri's face.
"Well, i'm Vix..." She said, extending a glove hand in a friendly gesture.
A million dollars isn't cool. You know what is cool? A basilisk.
Kiri sat at the table with this young man, she made herself as small as possible as the big scary man came and sat down and began to read the newspaper. the young man on her table smiled warmly placing the cup of tea infront of her, kiri forced a smile for him, inside she was panicing.. she wanted to run out of that door as fast as her legs could carry her, she gasped as the hooded woman sat next to her at the table. Trying not to be rude Kiri gave a small smile as the hooded figure spoke calmly to her.
Kiri held her arm as the hooded woman spoke of her implant, trying not to make eye contact. Kiri had hoped the Hooded figure was part of her imagination, reminding her too much of the reaper she had seen not too long ago, she didnt want to disrespect this person, but she could not bring herself to look into her eyes. the woman held out a gloved hand as a gesture of kindness, Kiri saw the reapers outstreched hand in her mind unable to unlink the two from each other.
Wriggling off the chair Kiri stood up quickly, the young man looking confused and a little concerned. With short sharp breaths Kiri looked around quickly for the womens restroom, finding it she ran past the hooded figure and big scary man that had just came in, holding her baggy uniform with her right hand and holding her right arm with her left she entered the restroom.
Kiri began to pace up and down, feeling trapped now, she was unsure why she came in here, shivered as her wet hair was now cold on her neck and face, Kiri's eyes watered a little in pure anxiatey, "who was that..hooded person... shes scary..." she thought to herself. she could feel her heart beating fastthe and faster.. "why am I in here... I shouldnt have come... im different...i want mommy" spinning around in her head still on an endless loop. Kiri began to feel a little light headed, she held onto the sink, she looked at her right arm under her uniform.
Kiri turned round and wobbly entered one of the cubicals.
The Marquess smiled sipping his tea he exuberated happiness as he read the paper. Unbeknownst to him he softly voiced what he was thinking out loud sentimentally, "Oh my dear Lafie, I am so proud of you my daughter you have come so far."
His PDA rang like a bell tower the Marquess reacted quickly taking it out and placing it on the table he pressed a few buttons to accept the incoming call. Two holographic images one of his daughter Sophia the other of his father the Duke of Arundel. Sophia was the to speak first, "Father, Finally I haven't been able to get through to you for two weeks. I am with Grandfather on New London are you on the planet surface I would care to have a bite to eat with you if you are. I'll meet you at our city home."
The Marquess couldn't hold back a smirk as her younger daughter who was filled with the fire of command efficiently dictated how things was going to be. He raised a hand the hologram stopped talking giving the Marquess a gap to speak, "Yes my daughter I am on New London but you may come to me I am in Christy's Tea and pastries establishment if you both would care to join. I am sure I could be persuaded to wait. I do believe you know the place" The hologram of Sophia nodded, "Yes, we will be there shortly." The transmission died leaving the PDA to return to the main menu he pressed a few buttons locking it but didn't return it to his pocket.
It wasn't moments before the two holographic figures entered into the establishment his daughter was wearing her captains uniform for the armed forces while the Duke wore a top hat hiding his blonde hair that was going white with a jacket and vest in his right hand he held a cane with a rather large diamond at the top of it.
The Marquess stood going to walk to them but Sophia took a few strides arriving in front of him before any significant distance could be covered. They stopped stairing at each other the Marquess towering over his daughter by at least one or two feet. Sophia broke first she had been rather worried about the fate of her father in a recent skirmish. She wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug smiling, the Marquess kissed her slowly wrapping his arms around her. Sophia rested her head against the top of his strong chest unseen to the Marquess a few tears rolled down from her eyes as she spoke, "Father i'ved missed you so much." the Marquess smiled kindess and care emanating from him as she replied, "An I you my dear daughter."
The Duke walked over to Christy to order more tea before placing a cigar in his mouth unsure as to whether he was allowed to light it he refrained out of politeness. He had placed it in his mouth more out of a habbit than an actual need to light up a cigar. He placed his top hat on the coat rack but left his suit jacket on and came to stand in view of his son. "It's good to see your well my son. The war hasn't taken too much of a toll on you I can see." The Marquess regarded his father with a smile, "Nor you sir you are looking well and fit. I am glad you could make it." Father and son both exchanged guarded pleasantries both of them knew the real truth that in fact the Duke's health was beginning to fail as old age, drinking and smoking crept up on him.
Vixen sighed from under her hood. She ran her hand down behind her hood, and her ear flicked up into a more "active" position. She heard the tapping as Kiri entered the bathroom. She frowned and furrowed her brow as she heard Kiri walk into a cubicle, somewhat woozy-ly.
A million dollars isn't cool. You know what is cool? A basilisk.
Anthony dropped his newspaper and stared at the strange woman. He couldn't make out many of her features but Anthony noticed her paying close attention to the hall Kiri had just run to.
"You scared off my friend it seems, she was just about to have her first cup of tea too. A shame, I suppose you don't want to tell me much about yourself? I'm Anthony Baker, Junior Constable in the BPA."
Anthony stuck out his hand, not exactly sure what to expect...
Vixen shook his hand, welcoming the warm attitude.
"Sorry...i'm Vixen..." She said in a multi-layered voice. She looked towards the hallway, then over to Anthony. She sighed, looking down with her yellow, almost feline eyes.
"She's scared...more of this entire place than of me..."
She waved a hand around.
"It may have something to do with her being Kusarian..." At this point she was muttering to herself.
She looked back to Anthony.
"Sorry, again...the hood and gloves, my entire attire...is necessary...if you saw me, you'd understand"
A million dollars isn't cool. You know what is cool? A basilisk.
"Nice to meet you Vixen. Its quite alright about the attire you are in, sometimes I think I should cover my features as well..." Anthony said jokingly as he took a deep sip from his tea cup. "So I'm assuming you know Kiri pretty well? I can't figure her out, is she part machine? I mean she is always talking to her ship, the Cly-something-or-other. What is she doing in the BPA if she is so afraid of Bretonia? Maybe its not my place to know but this is all very mysterious and intriguing to me. I understand if this is all above my head and beyond me but I'd love to know if you can share..."
Vixen shook her head.
"I don't really know Kiri at all...but she seemed nervous, it was rather distressing to me...i tried to help..."
Vixen laughed somewhat.
"I did a fine job, hmm?...But what i can gather, is that she isn't really part machine, but she does have a mechanical implant...though whether its an advancement, or a medical reason, is yet to be seen..."
Vixen looked around, shifting in her seat.
"The 'attire'...is more necessary for me than you, i think..."
She lowered her voice.
"I'm not *entirely* human..."
She sat back, and winked at Anthony, a small grin dancing across her face.
A million dollars isn't cool. You know what is cool? A basilisk.
Kiri put the lid of the toilet down and sat on it, she swayed a little feeling her body getting heavier, she held her implant through her uniform, Kiri stood up she took off her top and draped it over the door she sat again in her vest on the toilet, she knew that she had to change her Capsule but she also knew it was going to hurt alot doing it.
it...is getting worse.. Cly..
Kiri opened the small hatch on her arm, inside reveiling a mess of scarred skin tissue and mechanical parts in the center of it all was a medium sized metallic capsual, about 1.5 centimetres in daimeter and about 4 centimeters tall, it bore the Cryer Pharmeticual logo. Kiri trembled she reached into her arm and slotted the capsual down into its release possition biting her lip in an attempt not to shout, she stalled knowing the next bit was worse. Kiri let out a small yelp and pulled the Capsule out of her arm, dropping it as she shivered, the Capsule clinked to the floor and rolled under the door out of sight.
Kiri thumbled quivering, she pulled a new capsule from her uniform, she looked at it and began to feel dizzy again, she quickly put the Capsule in the ready position, closing her eyes she yelped again as she pushed the capsule into her arm and a sharp breath followed as she moved it back into its original position. Kiri began to breath calmer. Still sat on the toilet lid she soothed her implant with her left hand, gently rubbing and stroking the skin around it.
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