Chaper 14: The Blessed

[Cillian Machiavelli]

Mac holds his tongue as he should letting his master do all the talking. He composes himself as any good backman would cutting his eyes making himself look as imposing as he could. He kept his face stern and hard. He telepathically told his master...

~Kaschei if you need me to do anything just let me know. I am here to serve...~

[Alonso "Alfy" Leno]

Alonso quickly reads over the mammoth recipe, and then gives a shrug to Anthony. It looked simple enough.

Alonso was too crowded, even in the private room. His knee's pain had started to ease since he sat, but he decides to stay with Kaschei anyway. Alonso crosses his arms and sits up in his chair, attentively following the speaker with his eyes.

[Calithin Crest]

"What's? As in... A hypothetical apotheosis of the cursed? Good question. Let's see here..."

I squint a little and purse my lips, a very intense thinking face is dawned.

"Wellll... Someone named Jack or Tom or Eric who works at a job that requires no elevated thought. Someone who has no elevated thoughts. Ever. With a family. A family that will evolve, also without elevated thoughts. With a small, but loyal group of friends. That do not have elevated thoughts. They like and do only simple things. But really, all of that is on the surface... There's one thing that really cinches it for me..."

I pace a little at this point, which is a habit I've tried to break. I can never break my habits.

"It's not being mediocre, in my opinion, that qualifies someone as cursed. It's being happy in mediocrity, that's the real curse. Not realizing that there's something better, and thus, not wanting anything better. Being blind to the higher points, the best points, of existence. I have accord, atleast, for people who grasp at something exalting. Regardless of whether or not they succeed. But people who are happy in their prostration?"

I stop and push my hair out of my eyes and over a little. I sigh.

"They're not worth breaking glass on."

[Rutheven Dellacroix]

Rutheven had been present at the party, just rather quiet. The party was rather ridiculous. The amount of nonsense just taking place prompted him to take a seat outside of the affairs for a time being. It was all well and good for staying out of the chaos, but staying out of the party didn't make for good socializing which was entirely the point that Rutheven even appeared at the event. So Rutheven decided he would finally participate in the festivities.

He decided to to converse with Keitoleinen since this was his party.

"Combine the liquids of the creature with something else would likely have killed it. It would die in a way close to how poisoning any other creature would. Should be amusing to watch." Suggested Rutheven.

[Mollie Marionette]

Mollie had been invited to the Banquet, and, after some personal debate, decided to attend. Clad in a simple white dress and heels, both of which suited her well enough, she arrived soon after the second entertainment.

Had she known what the first entertainment had entailed, she would've been very grateful for her tardiness.

Upon arrival, she took a drink from a waiter with a smile, and surveyed the room for a familiar face.

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

"Oh that's a good idea Rutheven. I didn't even notice that you were here." Keitoleinen remarks. He watches the new entertainment. The fighter sponsored by Allmart. It is too bad that Lumbor is gone, since a fight between the two of them would have been very entertaining. Instead, there is Chris Frost, and a few strange circus performers in the corner doing different twists and contortions. Some juggle.

"How are things, Rutheven. I see that the Moderator is absent, any idea why?"

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

It didn't occur to Kaschei that the conversation could continue telepathically until Machiavelli spoke into his mind. Kaschei keeps his face towards Anthony, but directs his thoughts to Machiavelli.

We should try making new connections here. Especially with that old hag, Annette Rosenthal. I want to somehow gain her favor so that I have less to worry about...financially. Kaschei thinks to Machiavelli.

He blinks and waits for Anthony to reply, hoping not to give any clue to the mental conversation he is having with Machiavelli.

[Dinari Dollar]

"That was a really good answer, Calithin." Dinari replies. He of course couldn't think of anything better. "To me...the Blessed is anyone who makes their own Blessings...someone who doesn't complain or waste time feeling sorry for themselves. They do stuff. They take action. They don't let life run them..." Dinari decides. He thinks for a moment that he has something else to say, but no, the thoughts are gone.

"Do you think the world will ever run out of Manala crystals...and like...what would you do then? I think..people will always buy clothes, food, gadgets and things...so I don't really worry about the future. There are ups and downs, but you know, people always want to buy my stuff...and it won't run out. More can always be made."

[Isvara Sharma]

Isvara finally arrived at the mansion where the party was being held. He knew it would be brimming with Manalists so he immediately started to act like one before he started walking towards the building. He was late; a sign of laziness. No doubt the Manalists would oppose that.

Aright, be indulgent and materialistic. I was late because...car broke down...no, they won't accept that. Okay, grandmother died...no, they are social darwinists. I know, I was too busy making money. Yes, money. Money is good. They can't argue against that.

As he walked through the parking lot he saw all of the cars around him. Newer models. Things he didn't have. All he had was a ten year old hatchback. Its not like he cared, but he wasn't materialistic.

Brag about your cars; wait, I only have one and it looks shitty. I know, brag about...wait no, chess is no fun. Goodness, I should really treat myself to something someday instead of being all cooped up in my office trying to solve string theory...

He came up to the doorstep and took a big breathe to prepare him for what was happening next.

Okay, so I'm here to sell my product. Anti-graviton technology. Revolutionizing transportation. Fun stuff. Great for the kids. etc. Wait, but that place is full of freaks who probably don't have kids. Wait, this isn't even targeted towards kids. Its for mechs, military, transportation, and other such things.

He then exhaled and stepped in. He heard quite some ruckus as if he entered into the house of a neanderthal.

Note to self: DO NOT CALL THEM HEDONISTIC NEANDERTHALS

Isvara waited for someone to greet him or guide him around the house.

[Li Violette]

Since I am bored with the current entertainment, I get up and notice that a newcomer has entered the house. He is late, since the party is already well under way. No one seems to notice though since everyone is too distracted by the chaos of killing rare animals and watching the circus or this ultimate fighter.

"Oh, you've missed the pre party entertainment." I say to the newcomer. "They killed some animals from Genetech. Now they are cooking them in the back."

I shrug and look back at the current entertainment. "No matter, the Master and the Moderator have not yet arrived either."

[Isvara Sharma]

"Oh phew," remarked Isvara, "Animals are very rare in this world therefore I can't fathom seeing them die. I mean, you know, their rarity determines their value. Seeing them die is like watching a 100k diamond fall into the gutters. Makes me cringe."

Isvara truly was glad that he missed the supposed "entertainment". He was vegetarian after all.

Aright, so I'm a vegetarian because its good for my health, not because of my religion.

Upon his second look upon the woman he was talking to, he realized that she was the Speaker of the World Economic Council. Immediately he stopped the smart talk.

"Oh I'm sorry," he mumbled, "I'm terribly sorry I did not greet you properly. I did not know who you were. You in that dress. You don't usually wear that dress or have your hair like that when I see you on TV. I just didn't notice. I'm sorry. But you do look fantast...I'm sorry again, I should shut up; I need a place to sit."

[Rutheven Dellacroix]

Rutheven observes the circus performers turning his whole body to them and observing them while still talking to Keitoleinen

"I tried to abstain from being directly in the earlier chaos, but it's not very personable to isolate yourself at a party. Anyways I've been wondering about the Moderator myself. He should be here but I haven't seen him yet. The Moderator of the World Economic Council really should be here if everyone else is."

The circus performers continued their act doing a few unorthodox and interesting moves. Rutheven kept his eyes on them observing their moves and truthfully he liked the entertainment.

"Really Keitoleinen just have newer and more creative ways to entertain people at these events every time. I must admit I'm impressed every time. It is...what would these damn kids say...awesome?"

[Li Violette]

I feel both insulted and confused by his statements. "I believe...the animals were wasted because they can be wasted. It is the Manalist way...it is one thing to have excess...it is a greater thing to waste excessively." I state, in explaination of the logic behind the slaughter. I do get the impression that this person does not belong here, even though he was invited.

"That's fine that you did not recognise me, since I don't know you either. What do you do?" I ask curiously. Maybe he is a rebel spy, so I watch him very carefully. There is just something out of place about him, though not everyone here is the same.

I look behind me and see that Rutheven is now here. I didn't notice him earlier. I give him a nod and turn my attention back to the stranger.

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

"The entertainment won't last much longer. Soon it will be time to eat." Keitoleinen states. He is truthfully a little bored with the circus, which he thinks is a little gay. He taps his fingers on the arm of his chair and does feel pretty bored. The tapping continues. "Oh, now this is the good part." Keitoleinen states. He mentally summons a swarm of killer bees to attack the circus performers, who are now dashing around the room trying to avoid getting stung. Keitoleinen laughs heartily and all is better in his world.

"You know, I was thinking that...since the best should rule...maybe the Master or the Moderator are getting a little obsolete. Maybe someone should replace them. Or...even the Speaker or any number of important positions. It gets boring seeing the same few people run things for too long. You know what I mean?" Keitoleinen asks, but not innocently. He is just trying to pry information out of Rutheven as to his own ambitions.

"Or...you know, about France. That maybe someone else should own that company. Really, a soda company owning France. I suppose you find that a little..I don't know, tacky. At least it isn't Allmart. But really."

[Isvara Sharma]

"Rare animals lose their value once dead. Regard them as any other commidity under a demand and supply curve," Isvara mused, "once dead you can't sell them as high as you can than if they were alive."

He looked into the room behind the Speaker to see the dead carcass of a mammoth.

"However, this isn't the case behind genetic engineered animals. Their value lie in their genes so I concede this one.'

The woman asked him what he did . He saw this as a prime opportunity to sell himself.

"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. My name is Isvara Sharma. I was invited due to me and my company's work in state of the art anti-gravity technology at Graviga Incorporated. I am the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of this company. In fact, we're the only company that is working on piecing out the puzzle of the graviton and other such relevant subatomic particles. I was invited because the host and his colleagues are interested in this technology which will revolutionize transportation of nearly everything."

He then waited for her response.