Chapter 25: Fever 103 Degrees

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

the next thread for when the previous thread has 20 pages.

[~Ophelia Vespera~]

Ophelia had her back turned away from the front window as she counted out her total profit of the day from the cash register, and put away the rest of the cash. Cephrien appeared unnoticed by her until she went to put the empty tray back into the cash register. She jumped slightly, startled to find anyone in the shop, but recovered quickly.

"Oh, hello, I didn't hear you come in." she said, tucking a strand of curly hair behind her ear casually, cooly trying to play off the surprise she felt. She walked out from behind the counter and slowly approached him, "It's been a while.. What brings you back to Rome?"

She stopped in front of him, "I suppose you're not here to site-see."

[Bambi Engel]

Bambi was greatly relieved as well when people started departing. There was the problem of how she was going to return. She'd have to take a train back. Well, she supposed it'd be alright since a doctor had been sent to Annette. She turns her head in time to see Dinari wink at her. This cause her to raise her eyebrows questioningly but force a slight smile.

Seeming rude was something her paranoia strived to keep from happening. "I suppose I'd best be off, as well-" The thought was just passing her mind of not wanting to be rude as she turned to walk right into Peter. She gasped, moving her mouth as if she were still talking. "When-" She manages to get out before trying to compose herself, stumbling back way from him.

How long was he just standing near her like that?! She smooths out her skirt to distract herself and give her hands something to do. This really wasn't her week.

[Émilie LaFramboise]

Vivien had been right as usual, they'd only waited a short while before receiving the information to do as they seem fit. They decide to copy the actions of the others as they close down booths and a number of public places. Personally, Émilie was very happy that they could let the sick return home. Aside from the fact she felt uncomfortable forcing them to work, their illness could've caused more harm than good to the cola production.

Vivien was handling most of the work sending out the orders of things to shut down. Trains were left as people would still need some form of transport. She was also meeting with some others to assess how much the production would slow/profits drop. This left Émilie temporarily with not much to do as she brainstormed on her own predictions and ideas on how to handle the situation.

Her wild brown hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, green eyes gazing into the distant as her thoughts mulled around in her head.

[Nihato Gallagher]

So he was tracking her? Nihato's ponderings about the man are cut short, however, when he says his name slowly. Her jaw actually goes slack for a moment. After a moment, she regains her composure. Perhaps he thought people out here spoke a different language. It would've be an illogical assumption.

"I can speak fluent English." She lets him know quickly, someone speaking to her like that for an extended period would drive her up the wall. He seemed a bit eccentric but who wasn't these days?
"I haven't seen any others, I'm a... I'm just lost, I suppose. Why are you here?" She keeps a good distance from him, alternating between putting pressure on her right foot to her left and back again. This created a sort of rocking from side to side motion.

She didn't think he'd try to catch her or hurt her. He obviously seemed unafraid of her, probably because she was a kid. She wasn't very worried but it was better safe than sorry. "You can call me Nii."

[Calithin Crest]

I wave to those leaving the office then turn to speak to Max.

"Max, why don't you do a public service announcement about... Like... Flu prevention or something? You can have famous people on to talk about why it's important to not be disgusting... And such... I'd be happy to participate in something like that!"

I feel like A) I like being on TV, B) I need something to distract me from this whole incident, and C) This is a good idea so I smile and await Max's response hopefully.

[Archer Aylmer]

"Well... I think we can brainwash him using... Drugs, hypnosis, sleep deprivation, and by breaking down his sense of self whilst asserting a new set of values. I mean. The... Usual?"

I clear my throat awkwardly and stare at everyone.

"As for how... I don't know how. I'm sure he isn't protected at all times. What about honeytrapping him? Like when agencies... Send in their spies to seduce and then kill rival spies. We could have a girl go get him."

I think this is as good of a plan as any.

[Salome Weil]

"Well, I think that Amelia and I are the only two women here...at least that I have noticed. I am willing to volunteer for this. I just don't think I am his type. But maybe I can practice being more....his type. Does anyone want to volunteer to pretend to be Dinari Dollar so I can try to practice my acting skills?" I ask everyone.

Maybe this isn't such a terrible idea. It is somewhat creative. It might be a major blow to the Manalists and World Economic Council if Dinari was on our side. With his wealth and influence we could accomplish a lot.

[Kasper Schultz]

"You're lost? Well...um...where did you come from?" Kasper asks the mysterious girl. He digs his shoe into the dirt and looks down at it. He kicks up a little dust. He isn't sure how to react to this stranger. She is just a kid, so, it should be safe...but even children can be agents of the Manalists.
He isn't sure if he should tell her why he is there. That could be a disaster.

"Well, I'm on a camping trip with some friends." Kasper lies. "We just love camping in the rugged wastelands of America." He adds. He doesn't bother looking up at the girl when talking. He fears if he makes eye contact, he will give away his lie. He isn't a very good liar. He always feels to..wrong when he lies. So, he tries to avoid it if he can.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

"I'm here to see you." Ceph stated flatly as she approached him. That might've made an awkward impression, but it was true. "So I guess I am sightseeing."

Oh. He made a funny.

Ceph's eyes trailed around their surroundings, the inside of the shop. It looked as good as new, thanks to the repair men that were here. He had saw them walk out just as he was coming in. It would really suck if that rogue creditor came back and trashed it again.. or something else catastrophic like a driver losing control of their car and smashing right into the place. At least things were okay now--

"I'm glad." He began, his gaze landing on the woman's face again.

"-That you weren't taken prisoner. Or anything."

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

Peter managed to resist the powerful urge to say 'boo' when Bambi turned around. Funny as it would be he felt that might undermine the menace he was aiming for to do something foolish. He also resisted the urge to pounce. He wasn't sure what exactly 'pouncing' would entail in an interaction between two humans, he just knew he felt a particularly strong gut urge to do it. An odd experience, this whole affair at 'chasing' Bambi. He suspected that lions didn't need to think about what they would do once they caught a gazel, they just knew what to do with it by instinct. No such luxury was afford to Peter. Maybe it made more sense to people who's brains hadn't been scrambled by GeneTech.

Though now that he really thought about it the sensation was different this time. He could sleep now. He got tired. Whatever alterations had been made to his brain seemed to have faded away along with his powers. So, he should be able to interrperte these feelings and urges like a normal human. Well a normal human who came from a shattered family and had spent nearly twenty years living on the street and fighting to survive. So maybe healthy emotional expression wasn't so simple. Best to follow whatever desire he happened to experience and see where that lead him than.

He wanted to touch her. He'd start there.

Peter smiled and raised a hand to brush along the woman's shoulder. The motion was some odd combination of a pat, a sensual touch, and an affairing grasp. Peter's overall grasp of socially accepted and understood bodylanguage was clearly not great.

"Oh, I've been here the whole time," he said, trying to sound reassuring, as if he hadn't snuck up on her at all, "Just seeing to it that Dr. Dollar made it to the meeting and taking notes. He handles the people business and I'm afraid that lately I've been catching all of the paperwork. How times change our jobs, am I right?"

[~Ophelia Vespera~]

Ophelia's face felt warm just as much as the inside of her about Cephrien's comment. She directed her gaze else where though, feeling embarrassed, "Thank you.. I suppose I have been blessed."

She followed her eyes over to the bouquets still out on display, and went over to them. She picked two up at a time and moved them to the clear refrigerator where the other flowers stayed for the night for freshness.
"I am going to have to be careful though. These repairs. Well, let's just say they weren't cheap." she chuckled nervously, propping the refrigerator door open with her hip and carefully placing each bouquet in. Perhaps that was too much information to share, debt was a serious thing in a Manalist society.

"Anyways, it seems you were on a bit of a mission last time we were in contact And, I was wondering.." she shut the refrigerator door, "I don't mean to be nosy, but I think I should know. Who exactly you are, and who's side are you on? Obviously, you are not with the Manalists.."

[Bambi Engel]

Luckily for Peter, Bambi had spent her life purposely avoiding interaction. Her own grasp of social standards was just barely passable. She knew how to be polite and businesslike, even friendly, but deeper interactions were something she gladly ran from. Perhaps that partly explained her urge to flee from him? Then again, that urge had been there from almost the moment they'd met.

So much for trying to find a logical explanation to that. Besides, it wasn't like she hadn't gladly fled from people before. The thing with Peter was how complicated the raw instinct was- she wanted to run and yet she'd willingly ran to him on at least one occasion.

His touch pulled her from contemplating anymore as if he'd shocked her. (Which was an ironic way to put it, really.) She quickly controlled her surprised expression, eyes flicking to his hand as she resisted the urge to jerk her body in reflex. A strange sensation ran down her spine as if her body had been expecting something else with the touch. Why had she reacted like that?

"I must've... misjudged your position." She spoke, her voice still expressing her uncertainty. Her body had almost seemed disappointed by the lack of... whatever it'd been expecting. Was it related to the feeling of empty air she'd experienced during their last meeting? This was ridiculous, she was a rational woman!

Bambi appeared to finally become aware of the fact her eyes had been darting between his hand and face thoughtfully for some time. Her face flushed on cue. "Aha ha... right, yes... I would've never met you if time hadn't changed my job. Err, should we take this talk outside?" She inched toward the office door, horribly embarrassed and acutely aware of their surroundings. At least the inching helped clear her head and ease that ever present 'flee' compulsion.

[Archer Aylmer]

"Um... I'll pass unless it's absolutely necessary and no one else will do it."

I have no desire to make a fool out of myself and participate in any ridiculous rehearsal unless there are no other options.

"Maybe we can dress you up so you look more... Commercial. Or All-American. Like... In a poodle skirt and a sweater. Can you bake? Perhaps you can pretend to be an apple pie delivery person. I think Dinari may fall for something like that. A sultry pie delivery woman."

I laugh loudly. This is very amusing.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph feels a slightly, assymetrical smirk appear on his face. There is a nice, warm atmosphere in the flowershop that makes him feel at ease. He slides his hands into his coat pockets, giving the shop another once-over as she expresses her discomfort over the repair expenses. It was a shame that it had to be wrecked in the first place.. He watched as she placed her premade bouqets into the fridge and blinked. His smirk slowly disappears as she begins to speak of his business.. or rather his occupation. In their last meeting, he had made it plainly obvious that he wasn't much of a Manalist.. nor was he anywhere near being on their side.

She was right though..

He owed her an explanation.. and she seemed trustworthy enough. She probably figured that his very existance was probably an act of crime against the Manalists at this point.

"My name is Cephrien." The demon decided to begin with his name as he starts to wander over towards the cashier counter. "--I am a rebel.. and I plan to destroy the Manalist government. I work for a secret organization called 'Red Infinity'." He hops onto the counter and sits, throwing one leg over the other as he plants his hands upon it's surface.

"Now, I am going to find and possibly Kill whoever is spreading the Cat Flu."
With this, he gave her a firm smile, his eyelids lowered halfway as he gazed at her.. He almost looked seductive in a menacing kind of way.

"-and I don't think I've had the pleasure to know your name~""