Chapter 22: When In Rome

[Horacio Hatfield]

Horacio is a bit surprised to see Malak show up at the flower shop, but it does seem to be a good location. Horacio looks at the time and knows that there is little time to waste. He turns to Akira and Cephrien.
"I have an idea...historically, in these sorts of fights, there was a charon and someone who dressed up like Mercury. The person who dressed up like Mercury would check a fighter for vital signs if they had fallen. The charon's job, I believe, was to move the bodies. If you two simply....I don't know, somehow replaced the ones they chose for that job, you might be able to get the rebel fighters out of the arena by helping them fake their defeat and death." Horacio suggests to the two of them. He knows that they must go soon, since the fights will soon start.
He turns to Malak.
"I'm sorry if you don't know, but the captured rebels at the Temple of Terror are going to be fighting in the Colosseum."

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

"I see. I was just in Germany with some other socialists there. We were staying with the nihilists. I came here to find out more about Salome, Lucio, and Kasper...the three captured by the Manalists. But, I see that..this is what happened to them." Malak replies to Horacio. Even now, he finds it is hard to look at Horacio. He is not a shallow person and he has seen people deformed by the violence of war, but, somehow Horacio is different to him. Maybe it is because he isn't sure of the source of his deformities and it is too impolite to ask. Malak looks down, then glances over to Cephrien and Akira. Horacio seems to have a good idea, but Malak isn't sure if he can help much with it.

[Master Scrag]

Finally, it is 9 am and time for the first fights to begin. The event will be drawn out, with prisoners first fighting one on one, or in pairs against animals. Those who survive the animals will later be pit against each other in fights between humans.

Scrag stands up and starts speaking from his booth. Kaschei is next to him, as well as Will..and the Flesh Monger.

"On behalf of the Highest Temple, I welcome you to this...the first fight of this kind..in this place, for over 2000 years. Now that the Temple of Terror has opened, it is our hope that we can have these events on a regular basis, since what better way is there to celebrate greatness than by pitting humans against each other in an ultimate test of their strength and will to live." Scrag announces.

"I would like to thank Genetech for providing the animals today, the rebel movement for providing the entertainment."

Scrag pauses and there is some laughter from a few of the priests nearby.

"I am not the Speaker, so I am not going to waste your time with a long speech. With that said, the event will commence. May Father Manala bless this day."

Scrag takes his seat again. There are a few employees of the temple in the arena. One is dressed like the Roman God Mercury, which is for theatrical purposes. Another is dressed in gray robes and is wearing a costume that makes him look like Master Scrag. He is supposed to be the one who brings the fallen fighters off the field.

In another corner is an animal handler, who will be helping with the release of animals into the arena and returning them to the cage if they survive.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

Kaschei sits in the balcony with Scrag. He certainly picked an interested time to join the Manalists. All of this is new to him and he is for the most part, just observing and trying to find his place. As head of the Temple of Terror, he will be responsible for overseeing the employees and prisoners. He wonders if this was the right time to make a move. However, he tells himself that he will eventually fall into place amongst these religious fanatics and that he has more in common with them than he thinks.

The first fight begins. Kaschei's job today is an announcer. He doesn't like to speak, but, he isn't going to argue. All he really has to do is give a short introduction for each fighter and their crime against the Manalists.

"The first fight today will be between a Christian woman named Nancy Fishbourne. Her crime is that she was a Christian nun who would not convert to Manalism. Today she will be fighting a Kodiak bear, which was created by Genetech." Kaschei announces.

An elderly woman clad in a light tunic and sandals is pushed out into the arena. She has her hair in a bun and looks to be over 70 years old. She is carrying a spear, but only weakly holding on to it. She looks terrified as the crowd cheers. A small cage with a large bear inside is wheeled out from a side entrance. The animal handlers open the cage to release the bear.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I talk to a few employees of M TV, still pretending that I am nothing more than a curious tourist. I am told that there is a lab not far from the station and that maybe I can have a tour if I ask the secretary working. I thank them for the information and walk a few blocks to the lab. Finally, I am about to start my real mission...trying to talk to the staff about the Eyes of God. But these workers are scientists and a little better paid. Their conditions are not so bad. They probably won't want to listen to what I have to say...since they don't have it is bad as some workers.
Oh well though, I have to try...

[Li Violette]

I am seated near the front with Ariel and some other members of the Economic Council and business leaders. I sit there and watch in horror and disbelief as they pit an elderly woman against a giant bear. Am I the only one here who thinks this is ...wrong? I look at Ariel and he looks emotionless as always.

Everyone watches intently. I find that I can't watch. I have seen many bad things in my life and have been desensitized to much of it, but still...I can't bring myself to watch some elderly woman get mauled by a bear.

[Salome Weil]

There are a couple of fighters before me, many of which are religious rebels of various sorts. I watch as Nancy, an elderly woman whose only crime was refusing to give up her religion...
She probably became a Nun when she was younger than me, back when a person could become a nun, and now, after all of these years, she is about to meet her death against a bear. I don't know what I will be pit against.
As bad as I feel for Nancy, I also feel some relief. I feel relief that I am not out there yet and that there are several people before me. It is strange how I think of myself and how they are just numbers right now...the number of people...the number of minutes and hours before my life is put at risk. I feel no solidarity with them and it is ...disgusting. What sort of person am I? If I could, I would go to the end of the line, but the line up is set.

[Annette Rosenthal]

Annette is sore and stiff the next day from all of the dancing. When she arrives at the Colosseum, she takes a seat by Bambi and some of the business people towards the front row. She watches as a woman, about her age, prepares to fight a bear. Annette isn't impressed. "They're only pitting her up against a bear? What is this...agism?" Annette snarls. At about the same time, the bear lumbers towards the old woman, who feebly tries to fight it off with the spear.

[Émilie LaFramboise]

Émilie giggles when he starts turning red. She'd also never met a guy who blushed like that. Thinking back on her life, she supposes she'd just never been around the places to run into men like that. Shy men don't really go to hostess clubs, nor are they usually Blessed or business men. Climbing behind him, she leans back unlike yesterday. Distance would help.

The wind blows past her face, also aiding her in keeping her head clear. He was so innocent, she'd hate for her nymph urges to make her forcefully come onto him. She idly wonders why she hadn't give her unofficial name of 'Winter' when they'd first met. Perhaps she was becoming more inclined toward the name Vivien had given her.

"It certainly was a thrill." She agrees, even with the spider it was the most fun she'd had in ages. "Well, I assure you that you didn't just imagine me. Imaginations certainly don't get chased by giant spiders." She laughs softly, feeling the urge to touch him again but restraining. "I bet your friends are nice like you."

She doesn't mention anything about her own friends. She didn't really have any except some of the maids and workers around the house. They'd been scared of her at first, especially with the fact she'd drag them into her room to paint their nails together. She'd read nymphs were social creatures, so she assumes that's why she'd done so.

[Bambi Engel]

"I've never placed bets before. It sounds interesting, at least." Bambi muses. "I suppose any betting should be done tomorrow, though." She adds as the concert appeared to be closing down. Of course, she didn't see the point in going to stay in a hotel. She arrives home, spending most of the night cleaning herself up and attempting to rub the stains out of her clothes.

Thankfully, her hair cleans well enough even if her clothes don't. Her insomnia had been worse for the past few months. However, even when she only caught an hour of sleep... she felt rested in the mornings. It was strange, but what was the point of complaining? She dresses a little less formal, forgoing her jacket and tying her hair up.

One of the first to arrive, she takes a seat where the business people were meant to. She gives a wave to Dinari. Annette arrives and takes a seat beside her. She crosses her ankles, not wanting to watch but not wanting to appear as if she wasn't. What was the appeal in this? She isn't sure how to feel or what to think.

[Fitzhugh Dubois/Arah]

Fitzhugh listened intently to Charon as he spoke, taking a mental note of the nice voice he seemed to have. Fitzhugh obviously didn’t have the man around his finger, but Charon was clearly an individual who took some convincing.

“Actually,” Fitzhugh responded, “I am the owner of Book Line. My name is Fitzhugh Dubois. You’ve probably heard of us. In fact, you of all people should know who we are. After all, we’re the ones who publish theological books you’ve undoubtedly read.”

Fitzhugh got out a pen and paper from his desk and began to doodle.

[Kasper Schultz]

"I hope we can be friends too. My friends are nice and I think you would like them. But, I hope that we can hang out sometimes. My friends don't like going outside much. Especially my best friend, Armin." Kasper says. He tries to stay focused, but it is hard to. He feels good though. Even though he is worried about Em, she is nice, and it is nice to meet someone who accepts him for who he is.
"I like you. When I was in school, girls always called me nerdy and no one wanted much to do with me, but you accept me for who I am. That means a lot to me." Kasper states. Really, by hanging out with Em, he feels strong, attractive, and cool. He doesn't feel like the nerdy little guy that he feels like in everyday life. A part of him wishes they wouldn't have to go back, because going back means that he will be...Kasper. Uptight, unpopular, Kasper. He keeps pedaling. Em sure is nice. It is as if she never went to high school, or college, or work places...where looks, personality, and conformity are paramount.

[Alisa "Miia" Baykal]

What, were the Manalists getting into theater now? Because this certainly wasn't how Romans did it in the past. There was, at least, some sport in that. Old women against bears? A dark-haired woman turns from the shadow of the entrance/exit, the one where the animal handler stood just a few feet out from. Only a red, silk robe covered her pale body. Her emerald eyes seemed to radiate in the darkness as they scanned over the other caged animals.

Her cage may not bear cold, steel bars- but she was caged all the same. She tilted her head, stretching her neck as the collar shifted to match the exact size of her neck. Bringing her head back down, the collar returned to its natural size. Inescapable no matter the form the witch assumed. With a silent sigh, she leaned against the rough wall.

Alisa Baykal, called out "Just in case," as the priest she'd spoken to put it. She'd been given off yesterday, at least. Her day of freedom had been spent losing herself in a sea of bodies at an underground club. It was, possibly, the human activity that came closest to what it was like forgetting her humanity as an animal. Of course, the stench of drunk and drugged humans was a bit of a put off. Those kind of clubs were usually mafia run or at least affiliated.

She didn't understand the appeal- couldn't, even. No alcohol or drug of any kind had ever worked on her the way it did on humans. She'd felt effects before but only vaguely. She didn't mind the fact. It was, honestly, one of the prices she payed being what she was. Bringing herself back to the present, she moves toward one of the caged wolves. Out of the corner of her eye, she notes one of the assistants beginning to reach his hand out toward her. To stop her? To warn her?

Ha! Leaning down, she slides her arms through the bar. Her eyes stare into the golden ones of the sandy colored wolf's. It was a male. He moved toward her, licking her hand with his tongue as she slid her other hand's fingers along his fur. He'd been raised to be aggressive via mistreatment. She was sure it was the case with all the caged animals here. She glances toward the assistant who appeared to be too stunned to hide his disbelief.

She smiles, a smile which purposely bared her teeth. Allowing a shift to begin, her teeth lengthened and curved into canines. The assistant quickly moved back. Well, at least he knew why a naked woman clad only in a robe was here. Turning back to the wolf, she allowed her body to become completely human once more. To be more accurate- as human as the witch could be.

It was a bit aggravating at times that clothes didn't shift through with her. Her circlet and ring did. Then again, she'd never much bothered trying to bring her clothes through the shift with her. It could simply be the attributes of the circlet and ring. Continuing to stroke the wolf, she wondered if she'd really be called on to fight as an animal. More than likely, only if one of the other animals could not fight for some reason or if some other complication arose.

[Émilie LaFramboise]

"I guess the outside isn't for some people." Different things made different people happy, she reasons. She smiles but feels a little sad that Kasper had gone through those things. Émilie never had to, she was really very lucky in her life. Even though she had to pretend to be the perfect Blessed sometimes. Compared to other things, it was nothing- especially if it meant Vivien and her would be able to help the world someday.

"I like you too, I'm glad you didn't change just because people said mean things to you. People, especially girls, can be cruel. Even more can be small-minded." She mentally sighs, thinking of all the first-hand accounts she had witnessed of such things. At least she had Vivien, Vivien had always been there when she felt everything was too much.

She's happy she got to meet Kasper as herself, they were able to get to know each other without the fact she was the adopted daughter of Vivien getting in the way. She'd have to tell him eventually though, especially if she wanted to continue to hang out with him. The talking was helping a lot to distract her.

[Calithin Crest]

The next morning I take a walk around Rome before heading to where the fights are taking place so I arrive a little bit late. I sit down near the other business leaders and important Manalists. This particular fight makes me very angry.

"Well... We can't bet on this! We'll all bet on the next one. I think it's pretty obvious that the bear is going to take the victory here. Ugh. Ridiculous."

I frown and cross my arms over my chest. The questions of the fairness and morality of the event do not cross my mind. Many things are wrong in the world. If you're going to get upset about one of them you have to get upset about them all, and that is simply not the nature of my life.