Chapter 13: Pray For Me

[Tristan Tuzanic]

After leaving Anja, Tristan heads home and changes into a suit jacket, jeans, and a t shirt. He doesn't look as dressed up as the others who will be at the party, but he looks dressed enough for his own tastes.

To relax before the party, he smokes some red leaf...then it's off.

He takes the teleportation booth to near Keitoleinen's mansion and enters the door. He already feels uncomfortable. He looks around for someone to talk to...

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

Seeing as people have already started arriving for the pre party celebration, Keitoleinen heads downstairs to greet the guests. The entertainment has not yet arrived, but he hopes it will be there soon or else it will be a very dull pre party. He has booked some music as well as a strange European circus. He has also asked for Genetech to bring some of its animal creations later to entertain and perhaps frighten the guests. The animals and some plants will be trained freaks, showing off the genius of Genetech while entertaining the guests.

Keitoleinen wanders over to Anthony West to talk to him about the show later.

"It's good to see you. I sent a message to Genetech several weeks ago about the entertainment tonight. Will the beasts and strange creations be here soon?" Keitoleinen asks.

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari arrives at the pre party and starts looking for someone interesting to talk to. He notices Ronja, who looks like an attractive woman. That's reason enough to talk to her.

He wanders over to her, but grabs a shrimp appetizer on his way. His mouth is full when he starts talking...

"Mow, dis wall be ah goof par...(swallow)..ty, don't you think?" He asks her with a big smile.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I wait at Tuesday's door for a while, but when she doesn't answer, I assume she isn't in. I check my cell and see that I have a message from my brother...inviting me to the Banqyuet of the Blessed. I feel odd about going, since I am not Blessed, but...if he invited me, then maybe I should go!

I write a note and slip it under Tuesday's door. It says that I have gone to the Banquet as per my brother's invition. Then, I leave her apartment and start walking to Keitoleinen's mansion. I am wearing a boring black dress, but since I have nothing better it will have to be good enough.

I walk...I walk about a mile it seems. Then...I arrive. There are all sorts of guards outside though,so it doesn't look like I will get in.

[Annette Rosenthal]

Annette arrives at the party with two Creditors as her guards. She enters and glares at everyone there. She hates social gatherings, but will endure this one, since after all, she is Blessed and she might as well be honored for it. She looks around for familiar faces...or anyone who looks like they are worth her time.

She accidentally steps on the toes of a red haired woman
(Ronja) as she walks through the living room. She doesn't even offer an appology. She simply snears.

[Li Violette]

"It is a pity that the Moderator will not be able to make it." I say to some business person who I don't know. I fold my arms behind my back and wander calmly amongst those who have arrived. Most people here avoid talking to me if they can, which is rather rude.

Still, I try to make conversation at the party.

"It is certainly nice to be around such accomplished people. I heard there would be an award ceremony later and that The Master is scheduled to make an appearance. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

[Momo Kurokawa]

Momo arrives at the party, riding in a giant, mechanical squid. The robotic squid can shoot lasers out of a mouth like hole on the front side of the machine. It's primary weapon is simply metallic, flexible, tentdrils which can enlongate, grab things, and lift things as well. The machine disrupts the party, but she likes to show off.

Using one of the mechanical tenticals, she gets herself a drink from the kitchen, while sitting in her giant squid machine in the living room. She never found a date, but, a giant robotic squid is better than a date anyway.

[Jack Kruschev]

I hear Jumala and laugh. He always cracks me up, no matter how serious he is. I turn to greet him.

"Mr. Jumala sir!" I say while closing my eyes and smiling. "Of course they will be here, they're in the lot outside where my assistants are making the final touches on their genetich forms. As you may have heard, these creature will only life for today, then they will die."

Jumala is a serious man, but somehow not a man, I'm not sure why I feel this, but I do.

[Cillian Machiavelli]

Mac nods and bows to his friend.

"Well what are we waiting for Master...Lets go party. I do hope it's not too boring..."

Mac moves to walk beside of his friend quickly opening his small cross around his neck taking the small spoon to his nosril. His cocaine habit does not effect him as it would a human. His drugs calm him and keep him in check with mild hallucinigenic effects. He tucks his cross back under his tunic and is ready for the party.

[Bambi Engel]

In a moment of extreme immaturity, Bambi sticks her tongue out at Alexei as he is led out by the creditor. There was nothing she could do, her orders wouldn't outrank creditor orders. After they are both gone from the room, however, she sighs deeply and checks her watch.

She makes an annoyed decision to head home and attempt to sleep before the preparty of The Blessed. She remembers Aubrey setting Peter and herself up to head to the party together, but she had no clue of his whereabouts nor did she feel like calling him at the moment. The fact she was in All Mart hardly stopped her from simply heading home.

As usual for the sleep deprived woman, she tossed and turned for hours until eventually falling asleep. Which is exactly the reason she woke up far late for the first time in her life, bolting up and tumbling out of bed once she realized the time. The numbers on the clock blinked their usual red as if taunting her.

She ran into her closest, pulling her shirt over her head before realizing she needed to shower first if she wanted any hope of taming her mane of hair. Once the shower was done, she piled her hair up into a loose bun that she did only once a year for The Blessed party. It was also the only time she really ever bothered applying light makeup.

Black eyeliner, a bit of mascara, a light coat of lip gloss, and a dab of blush. Now that all of that was done, to put on her dress... which caused another panic fit. She had never went shopping with Aubrey for a dress, had she?!

Rushing for the second time into her closest, she searched the racks before coming across a mystery hanger that was covered by a white sheet. A note was tacked to it: Always working, silly woman. - Aubrey The first thought was how the hell everyone just seemed able to prance into her apartment.

She really needed new locks.

But now wasn't the time for that. Grasping the hanger, she pulled the white sheet off and gasped. Her face flushed a shade much redder than the pink blush on her normally pale cheeks. Of course, what else would she have excepted from Aubrey? She glanced from the clock to the dress about three times before pulling the wretched thing on her.

She had to suck in her breath just to get in it. Maybe Aubrey just didn't know her size- The thought was cut off as she saw herself in the mirror. No. No. She just wouldn't go, she could fake si- No she couldn't! This was a Manalist party, this was The Blessed, she couldn't just not go.

... Was her bust really that big? It looked a lot smaller in her usual suits- Oh what was she doing!? Tossing what she thought was the usual stuff in her purse, she almost walked out her door bare foot. Had Aubrey gotten her shoes too? Checking the closet, sure enough. Aubrey was insane.

And so Bambi finally rushed out of her apartment for what she knew was going to be a very, very bad night.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

Kaschei and Machiavelli wander inside the mansion but thread through the crowds without greeting anyone. Kaschei wonders if perhaps Alfonso will show up and if Alexei is out yet. After they make their way to the back of the room, Kaschei finally speaks to Machiavelli.

"Things have been going well. At first I was upset that 'Alexei failed in his mission related to the bank in London, however, I am pleased by recent developments since he has been imprisoned by Global Bank." Kaschei says in a quiet and low tone to his friend.

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

"They will die? May we have the honor of killing them? I could distribute all of my best knives and at the end of the show, we can all butcher them together. Then...we could bar b que them in the back. It will be quite nice I think." Keitoleinen say with a chuckle. "I could put a tarp down in the living room so that the blood does not stain the carpet when we butcher them. Now, that is what I would call entertainment."

But, Keitoleinen is interupted by a call from the guards that someone tried to sneak into the party. A young woman.

"Just tie her up and bring her inside." Keitoleinen orders.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I was poking around outside looking for a way in, when the guards grab me and tie me up! One of them carries me like a sack of potatoes into the living room of the lavish party. I feel totally embarassed, but can't even speak for myself!

"I was invited...through my brother!" I peep. I know very well though that I am not one of the Blessed...far from it!

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

Keitoleinen looks at the tied up girl and laughs. "Look, the first entertainment...from the sado masochistic dance troupe that I ordered. It looks like they only sent one. Well, hopefully more come later." He laughs. He pulls her up by the hair and marches her to the kitchen. He is gone for a while, but returns with tomatoes, fruit, and sharp or heavy objects.

"Everyone, take one of the objects so we can throw it at the stripper who will be entertaining us. And of course, be sure to issue terrible put downs...as, this is all part of the entertainment. I call it, punishing the cursed!" He laughs.

He claps his hands, and Hilja comes out, wearing a burlap bag over her head and nothing but her undergarments. Her legs and hands are still tied. Keitoleinen starts things off by throwing a tennis ball at her shoulder.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I yelp when I get hit hard with something. This is terrible. I just stand there feeling so upset and humiliated. But then, on another level, I sort of like the attention. I feel cold though and I don't like that. Without my over clothes I feel pretty cold here...and I do wish that I would have lost that extra ten pounds since everyone can see me now and I feel so self concious.