Autumn

My dear friends, Millardo, Wufei. Welcome to ... Animak and Nomis, as it were. Had I more information, I would be glad to share it with you. I hope that you are able to find suitable accommodations.

I suppose I will inform the entire network of this, simply because I do not have anyone else to inform: I have secured a job at the library and a lease for a ... cottage.


( Private//Encrypted )

( Encrypted//Addressed to Lorraine )


[For some reason, there is a slightly fuzzy picture of an oil lamp on a plain table attached to the message.]


[ooc: replies to this will be slow at best. <3 thanks for bearing with me]

[He speaks lightly, although it is impossible to tell what emotion might lie behind his words.]

Well, it seems as if we're all lost.

Has anyone else taken up residence in Animak town?

[It opens with a moment of silence, and then Treize speaks. His tone is quite dry. In the background there is the soft sound of water lapping at some nearby shore.]

This is His Excellency Treize Khushrenada. To anyone that may receive this message, I am requesting retrieval. I seem to be... [A moment's pause, and then he adds, even more dryly,] ... by a lake. Possibly in Europe. I apologize for being unable to provide a more specific description. Well, hold on a moment -- I believe this can take pictures.

[A moment of silence, although some distant sounds like someone fumbling with the with only the lake shore and a quiet twittering of birds; then he says, almost cheerfully] If this is the afterlife, it seems well-equipped and pleasant.

[[Attached image: a well-framed although slightly blurry picture of the lake, with the mansion clearly in view.]]

The house has been destroyed.


Though not by me.


Pity.

To White Fang, and all other remaining citizens.

The house is a threat; another game, most likely with lethal consequences. I suggest that we do not wait for things to resolve and instead move to take action before lives are lost. We do have access to heavy ordinance.

Mariemaia.

Where are you?

Everyone seems so distant, lately.


Progress is being made.

I would like you to investigate the deaths of Christina, Mello, and Heine. They may be related. Having briefly looked into the event, I find Heine's manner of death very interesting. I believe that there are three organizations capable of procuring that manner of firearm on short notice; one of them is mine.

On an unrelated note, I would like to hire your research team for a small task. The reconstruction contract has concluded, I believe.

And what is to be done regarding the matter of Sephiroth? There has been very little information forthcoming in the past week.

[[OOC: YEAH THAT MEANS NOT YOU, WHITE FANG, SO GTFO.]]

( Private//Unhackable )

An explanation.

Now.


I have told all of you repeatedly not to go into the prison. I had legitimate reasons to do so, as I hope you now realize.

Furthermore, Mao was in Chalkoi for a reason, and I hear that you released him?


[ooc: SILENCE. I AM STILL ON HIATUS. I BLAME YOU ALL. Also pretend that he's been quiet because he's drafting up detailed plans for a Gundam. And also, uh, burying himself in paperwork and small quality-of-life-in-the-city tasks so that he doesn't have to deal with anything else. I suppose this means both Khushrenadas are plotting. Like father like daughter?]

Hiatus
Indefinite.

Now that the fire has been dealt with, another matter at hand.

Well, two matters.

First, we will find and arrest the man called Mao.

Second, we will arrange the reconstruction of what buildings can be repaired, and the demolition of the buildings that cannot.

As you may have noticed, part of the city is on fire. This is ridiculous We will secure the city and question those responsible.

...it pains me deeply to say this, but we are not in a position to attempt to restrain anyone. Do not engage in combat. All we can do is find the cause and collect information.


Marina, you may move in with me, if you wish.

We have three new employees; Ashley Williams and Jeremiah Gottwald, both former members of SOLDIER, and Trunks.

L, an update on Sephiroth?

While it seems that the purpose of the dream has been solved, people are still dying from it. I am not sure than an announcement will affect the matter; in any case, those who die will return in three days. I doubt that the perpetrators can be caught or punished, so I will end this line of investigation. My apologies to those whose friends or family members have died.

White Fang will be working with the Department on the case regarding Sephiroth; they seem to have experience regarding this matter. It will be a contractual agreement. I am drawing up the contract now.

Please be aware that the information in these announcements is confidential. Do not spread this information.

//Roster
Public Relations
Princess Marina Ismail

Mariemaia's Bodyguard
Lieutenant Tyve Russell-Rasmussen

Secretary
Lena Vela

Administrative/Investigations
Sasori
Billy Katagiri
Mello
Matt
L/Ryuuzaki
Jeremiah Gottwald

Tactical/Operations
Kratos Aurion
Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Smirnov
Captain Graham Aker
Lieutenant Patrick Colasour
Shibuya Yuuri
Ashley Williams
Trunks

Contractual
Makubex
Yuki Nagato (as recruited by L, apparently.)

Secretary
Lena Vela

Administrative/Investigations
Sasori
Billy Katagiri
Mello
Matt
L/Ryuuzaki

Tactical/Operations
Kratos Aurion
Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Smirnov
Captain Graham Aker
Lieutenant Patrick Colasour
Shibuya Yuuri

Contractual
Makubex

The recent death of one of White Fang's employees has come to my attention. Kratos Aurion's mutilated body was found in the forest.

Sasori, Katagiri, L, and Mello. You will take on this case immediately. There have been other reports of attacks; they may be linked.

...the matter of the apparently shared dream bears looking into as well.

( Private//Mello//Unhackable )

[Treize sounds a little giddy, or ... maybe nervous. In any case, more emotional than usual, speaking a little faster.]

I will be taking tomorrow off from work. I trust that my employees will conduct themselves as though I were present. Reparations are almost complete; I would like to install something like a medical ward next.

Mariemaia. I apologize for my sudden absence. Are you well?

[The shuffling of papers.]

Excuse me. I am here to make a report. Kanan, do not reprimand me for my actions; consider this a preemptive warning. Tyve, I expect that your duties are occupying your time. Quatre, I apologize for the state of the city; were I running it, it would be far improved, a sentiment which I am sure that you do not share. My time here has changed me, of course. Humbled, if you will. But one never truly fights for the sake of oneself.

Aaron, would you like to meet my daughter? I imagine that she will be singularly unimpressed. Mizore, I trust that you are behaving yourself with honor? And Astha, of course, as well? I hope that you have taken my words to heart. Makubex, how soon can you start? I will be teaching her history. History and mathematics; they define everything, do they not? Through history one may trace ideals; through mathematics, absolute truth. Both, of course, rendered meaningless here. Lena, you will be attending the lessons as well.

...

The report.

I believe that the prison is called Chalkoi. While I am hesitant to ascribe sentient properties to buildings, I am sure that it called itself that. Multiple times. The keys seemed aware of the doors they were assigned to. I suppose that many of tenants never had a chance to leave should not surprise me although the uncanny resemblance to some people I knew was quite remarkable and, I assume, a trick of the gods.

[There's an tiny skip in the background noise here, like a portion of the recording was cut out.]

I am currently extremely hesitant to confine anyone in that place.

Pending further review.


[ooc: Since Treize now holds the keys to Chalkoi, he decided to go and check it out. Alone. He spent maybe half an hour in there -- it seemed like a lot longer. He did not get very far in. He intended to map it; he has a sketchy outline of maybe a fifth of the first floor. And by "people I knew" he means "people I had assassinated by Lady." :| The skip is a more detailed description of what he saw; he went back and cut it out due to sounding too agitated. And yes, he's started voice-posting mostly because he really enjoys the sound of his own voice. oh shit i wrote a lot why are you still reading this cut that out right now.]

How disappointing, Zhygure.


Mariemaia. You may best help by staying with Tyve.



Kratos, Yuuri, we are going hunting.

In the event that I am unable to lead, Marina Ismail will be the leader for the amount of time that I am indisposed. In the event that Marina is also unavailable, Kratos Aurion will serve as the provisional leader.


( Private//Marina Ismail//Unhackable )