Chapter 1: Hunger for Strawberries

[Li Violette]

I complete the speech and wait for the applause to settle down before leaving the balcony I am speaking from. This time, I am speaking in Moscow, which has been suffering some serious problems with organized crime. I have some worries that perhaps there are some enemies within the crowd, but dispell the fears and decide to mingle, shake hands, and accept flowers. I am probably stronger than most rebels anyway. My greatest threat comes from my powerful allies.

Little girls run up to me with flowers, which I accept with a grateful smile. I wave and even sign a few autographs. This is actually the best part of my day. I feel happy as I watch the smiling people. They all seem so desperate for something to believe in. I don't blame them. This world is a difficult place. But this desperation makes them so much easier to manipulate.

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony watched as the gas cleared and he saw the creature he had created choking. Already, blood was splattered all over the place. The animal was dying.

“If I had a conscious, I might actually feel bad about doing this!” Anthony laughed to himself.

[Alexei Nacharade]

He takes his hand and shakes it politely before introducing himself,

"Alexei Nacharade. What brings you to Moscow, friend?"

[Grzegor Kulhan]

"I live in the area but, my agenda tonight was listening to Li's speech, I don't know if you heard it, but if you didn't you should be thankful. I can't comprehend how the world became so....." Grzegor paused looking for the right word "I can't think of any other word but awful to describe it, it's simply awful" Grzegor flagged down a waiter and ordered a cup of water "Enough of my rants though, would it be rude to inquire of you purpose here in Moscow?" Grzegor smiled and tipped the waiter as his water arrived.

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony opened the lab doors once all the mustard gas had filtered out of the room, which took about five minutes.

He kneeled and said a couple prayers to Father Manala, thanking him for the success of the experiment. He shot the beast a few times just to make sure it was dead, then called for some guards to bring the creature to the incinerators.

[Eun/Aoi Kiriyama]

"This is the third time this week that your mother didn't came to work, Eun." Jurga says to Eun.

"But my mother is sick."

"She always gave me that same excuse. Anyway go back to work."

Eun slightly bow before quickly leaving Jurga's office and quickly went to work. Her basic uniform for the designer at Sota Company is navy blue slacks and cotton tshirt with Sota logo on the back. Eun hate the uniform, but doesn't want to make a big deal about it. As soon as Eun enter her small working area, she notice a note on her desk.

"Just great." Eun mutter to herself before pick up the note and read.

Ms. Kiriyama, you and your mother need to turn in your designs by this Wednesday. Love Ian.

"Whatever." Eun says out loud before she put the note in her bag and began working on her designs.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei looks slightly uncomfortable at the verbal disagreement towards the speech, and in turn the manalist beliefs, though his eyes aren't quite disagreeing.

"I live here, too...well, most of the time. I was born here. I travel quite a bit sometimes." he fills his glass with the imitation vodka and takes a sip.

[Grzegor Kulhan]

Grzegor notices the strange look on Alexei's face and feels embaressed "Oh I'm sorry" Grzegor quickly blurts out "Are you in support of Li?" Grzegor tries to avoid staring at Alexei as he drinks his water.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei simply looks at him ambiguously and shrugs.

"I support whatever is practical at the time." He says cautiously, before adding, "What you're saying is pretty dangerous. Makes a guy uncomfortable, you know? Might wanna keep that thinking to yourself, or you're gonna find yourself on the wrong end of a creditor attack, or worse."

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony cleaned his laboratory up before he got up and decided to go out for lunch.

[Grzegor Kulhan]

Grzegor frowns "I suppose your right, I was only kidding anyway, who'd be crazy enough to openly oppose Li? It'd be faster to find the Creditors yourself"

Grzegor looks nervously around the room to see if anyone had noticed him making a fool of himself, luckily no one had.

Grzegor turns and flashes Alexei a smile "Do you have anything planned for tonight? My roommates deemed it proper to abandon me and leave me by my lonesome"

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony sat outside a local diner and nibbled on a mix of cheese and crackers. He was reading until he noticed someone was standing in front of him,

“Howdy partner!” He said, rather loud. “What can I do ya for?!”

The person simply stared at him like he was mentally insane.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei finishes the cheap vodka. This one fights him all the way down, but he manages to maintain his comosure all the while fighting the urge to regurgitate the vile beverage.

"I have a friend who owns a club in town. It's more of a...quiet establishment. Not a lot of people know about it. Private sort of place."

[Grzegor Kulhan]

A puzzled look overcame Grzegors face "Oh, so you must be busy then, sorry if it seemed like I was forcing myself on you"

Grzegor looked around the resturaunt to find no one there but Alexei and himself "Do you find it strange that there's nobody here but ourselves?"

[Jack Kruschev]

“If you’re not going to say anything, then away with you!” Anthony barked suddenly. He hated people that wasted his time, he just wanted to experiment with them.

“What a grand idea,” Anthony laughed to himself. He hadn’t experimented on an actual human for a while now. “Oh well, once it’s lawful, I’ll get myself a couple dozen,” he muttered.

Anthony finished up his crackers and cheese and headed back to the lab.