Chapter 25: Fever 103 Degrees

[Émilie LaFramboise]

"I'll look forward to it." Émilie says as she closes her folder. She laughs kindly at his bribe of a dollar. Being called 'sweetie' didn't bother her in the least, she was used to men calling her all sorts of similar names. Thankfully for Dinari, she finds history a marveling area of study. Even if she didn't how could she turn down that face?

He was just too delightful. "Alright, you can use the open one we have here. Follow me." She leads him to the floor that held the booth Vivien and her had kept open for emergency or important use. Gesturing to the booth, she bows a little. "Here you are, Mr. Dollar~ And I believe you owe me a dollar."

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

"I don't... dislike books," Peter replied after some consideration. He could read. Technically. Peter was what one might consider functionally literate. He was able to read what he had to in order to do his job, which until recently had been virtually nothing. He'd generally though of books the same way people thought of the moon: it existed and it was kind of nice that somebody else had gone there but he didn't feel the same driving need.

Come to think of it this was stupid. He didn't need any books. He'd be better off if he just left and go on with something more interesting like... there was probably something. "I think I can manage a short shopping trip before getting back to Allwhere," Peter said with a smile. "We're a little busy with the minor bug going around but I needed to take my lunch break anyway. So, I don't know any good places to get books. Do you?"

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

Tristan leaves abruptly and the house feels quiet and empty. I wonder when Armin and the others will return. I finish my breakfast of oatmeal and spend a long time in the kitchen just thinking to myself. I think I am feeling better. Perhaps because I haven't had to work, it helps.

After a while, I head to the living room and turn on Armin's old TV. The thing looks like it could have been the first TV invented. I turn the nob and the picture slowly expands from the middle to the whole screen.

I watch as Li Violette gives a speech. It is about the flu and taking precautions. I guess this flu was a bigger deal than I thought. She also mentions about elves being enemies of Father Manala now. That worries me a little....at least for Professor Charon, who is the only elf that I know.

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari pulls a genuine dollar, in good condition, out of his wallet. He flashes the nymph a smile then places the dollar in her hand. He closes her hand with his own and laughs, but for what reason, only he knows.
Maybe she is the first person to take him up on the dollar offer.

"It was good talking. See you around!" Dinari says to Emelie before stepping into the teleportation booth. He punches in the code to his office, which is the only teleportation booth in America in operation. In a flash of light he is on the other side of the world, in Florida..and standing in his office.

He shakes his head and gets to work looking at the mail and messages on his desk. Everyone has followed his orders, but many of his stores have been shut down due to illness. Allwhere looks like a ghost town with all of the cancellations. Some items, like bread and milk are low in areas. There was rioting north of Allwhere in a smaller city when the Allmart there was forced to close. Afterall, people need Allmart for food and many everyday supplies. However, Dinari's police force was able to restore order.
Other than that, things seem peaceful in the land of Allmart.

[Charon Dejardins/Asphodel]

While Charon is fretting over the new laws concerning elves, Asphodel is stuck in Rome. She has been there since Holy Week. She was going to try to leave Rome, but by the time she could find enough spare change to use a teleportation booth, they were shut down due to Cat Flu.

Unsure of what to do, the little pink fairy zips across Rome looking for the only people she knows: Cephrien and Ophelia. It is hard for her to remember where Ophelia had a flower shop. The streets are confusing and busy. But, since she is small, most people don't notice her as she zips on by.

Finally, she comes upon Ophelia's shop and finds that the shop has more security than before. It appears to have also been repaired since damaged by that Creditor. Asphodel searches for some way inside. The door seems locked, or at least is too heavy. She darts past the windows, but can't open them either.

Finally she finds a small hole in the side of the building. Perhaps it had been chewed away by a rodent or eroded by the weather.

The fairy is able to slip through and starts exploring the flower shop looking for anyone. She doesn't see anyone, so, she starts to explore the flowers. She loves flowers and takes her time sniffing each one.

[Horacio Hatfield]

"Your parents had gray sickness? I'm sorry to hear that. So, that is why you are all alone right now.." Horacio reasons when the girl mentions that her parents died of the horrible disease caused by mining and over exposure to the Manala crystals. He looks at the girl sympathetically.
"You poor thing. Well, I think you can travel with us. Most of us are safe people to be around. " Horacio tries to reassure her. He notices that Attis has returned with some forest foods. Horacio helps himself to some berries and mushrooms. He supposes they should leave soon so they can go forth with their plans to abduct Dinari Dollar.
He doesn't know what they will do with the girl if they go ahead with these plans.

He ponders over this for a moment.
"My name is Horacio by the way. I see that you know Kasper. Armin is the sick one on the floor. Salome is over there...Amelia is the around...and Archer and Bonifaz are outside." Horacio explains. He accidentally leaves out Attis, since he isn't used to thinking of Attis as a part of the group or anyone who can help them.

[~Ophelia Vespera~]

She let him in and left the door a crack open allowing air into the windowless room. The room was lit by single bulb in the middle of the room, that she had forgotten to turn off earlier. The room did not seem to match the clean, up-right young woman to whom it belonged to. Although it was quite clean, as clean as an attic could be, it was still dark and crowded. The kitchen was to the left, with a small stove and a humming antique refrigerator, along with a dining room table with only one chair. On the minimal counter space of the kitchen was a dinky TV set, and two dwindling white liliy flowers in a vase. To the right side of the room, on a slightly raised level was a bed with a thin blanket and two pillows, and a desk with books and newspapers stacked beside it. There was also a small faded red sofa with a lamp next to it, and a pile of books too.
She immidiately went over to the desk and dragged the chair in front of it over to the table.
"Here, make yourself comfortable," Ophelia told him, patting the seat, then stepped over to the stove. The stove was propane, a really old technology as well. She lit the fire underneath the pot of soup again. It seemed she had some of the soup earlier from the half-empty bowl on the table, or at least she had intended to have some.
"I don't think I've had anyone up here, before.. It makes it seem so small having another person up here,"Ophelia stated blowing out the match and adjusting the flame, "How long are you planning to stay?"

[Sylvi Saarela]

"You and everyone else. I assume you're here to correct that problem in a way other companies aren't though. Modeling?" Slyvi laughed, thinking he was joking. Realizing he wasn't she answers.
"Modeling sounds dreadfully boring and there's nothing to fix or operate. I'm sorry to say if you came here seeking models I'm not sure if we could... well, I guess we could make modeling things or something." She shrugged thoughtfully, they mostly dealt in destruction dealing technology but hey, if the money was there why not?
"Oh, err, nice to meet you Roland." What did he run again? Greece and food came up in her mind. She didn't really require food very often so that might be why she didn't know offhand.

[Nihato Gallagher]

Nihato feels bad lying to these people as they were being so nice to her, but she doubted they'd believe she was actually a 28 year old scientist just a few days ago. It was a relief that they were though. Staying with them would give her plenty of time to think on what course of action she should take.
"Thank you, so much. I appreciate it greatly. You can call me Nii, it's nice to meet you all." She replies, nodding her head to the group as a whole. She notes the un-named man and figures he must not go with them often.
Wait a moment... Bonifaz?! Wasn't he Fredrick's son? She'd seen him in passing but never actually spoke with him. What in the world was he doing with these people?

[Calithin Crest]

I let him lead the way inside the office and as we walk I gaze intently around at all of the filming equipment and the people at work. It's certainly different than our offices at Crest Mining.

"Hmm... Well I think a standard Public Service Announcement will do. Talk to people about being careful around those infected with flu's, to stay clear of crowded public places, maybe a short little run through on the dangers of germs... I know it seems like common sense stuff to us, but most of the world is uneducated and ignorant about things like that."

I give a slight shrug and think for a minute about what exactly I want to do...

"You're the professional though! Any advice or any thoughts on what I should do?"

[Archer Aylmer]

"It looks... Um..."

I scrunch up my face and try to find the exact words for what I'm trying to convey. The truck isn't much to look at and between it and that girl's terrible acting as far as I'm concerned this plan is going to go about as well as a duck on roller blades.

"Bootleg."

I clear my throat awkwardly and kick some dirt around with my feet.

"I hope this works, Bonifaz."

[Amelia 20]

Amelia returns to the abandoned grocery store with an assortment of old clothes from the old lady's closet. The clothes include sweaters, skirts, pearls, and other items that might be used for an All-American look. There is even a pair of saddle shoes. Amelia drops the items on the floor between Salome and Horacio.

"Are we ready to go now?" Amelia asks everyone.

She looks around the room. Armin is still sick and there is a little girl. Amelia looks at the little girl, carefully examining her. Since the little girl just showed up from nowhere, Amelia is confused for a moment. But, she doesn't let it bother her.

"I am going to wait in the van." Amelia announces, then leaves for Bonifaz and Archer.

[Tristan Tuzanic]

To any Manalist or Manalist supporter who wants a mission

Tristan hurries back to the High Temple in Helsinki. When he arrives, he finds that many people are sick and that there are various restrictions on travel. However, he is also told that he has a new mission. He is supposed to find elves to arrest and bring to the Temple of Terror. Although he hates working for the Manalists, he doesn't mind this job. He hasn't met many elves in his life time, and those he has tend to be exotic and attractive. He accepts this mission and is told that someone will be sent to work with him. Someone more powerful than him and someone who can watch him to make sure he doesn't make any mistakes. This annoys Tristan, since he would prefer to work alone...but, he has to do what he has to do. It isn't like he can complain...or at least that much.

He bows his head and leaves the head priest. At least he didn't have to deal with his wife. It turns out that she is on a mission as well.

So, Tristan heads down the long hallway of the temple and waits by the main doors to be met by the one who will be assisting him.

[Bonifaz Artz-Lehrer]

"I think that Dinari Dollar is exceptionally stupid, so he may fall for all of this. However, if there is anyone with him, I don't think we should go forth with this plan." Bonifaz admits to Archer.

"If Salome can't act well enough, maybe we could have Amelia do the acting. OR, dress up one of us in a skirt and we could act...but I think Amelia would be slightly more convincing and appealing." Bonifaz adds. Perhaps this is a bad, poorly conceived idea. "Much of this is dependent on Dinari Dollar's stupidity."

Bonifaz steps back from the van and admires his work. It looks a little....amateur. However, maybe she just started her pie business and hasn't had the money to invest in a proper van.

"Maybe we need a backup plan or escape plan, so, in case this doesn't work....at least we can avoid arrest and get out of here." Bonifaz suggests. He feels he has no responsibility to the well being of the anarchists. Though, he does feel some responsibility to Null.

[Charon Dejardins/Asphodel]

To Cephrien and Ophelia

Asphodel happily buzzes across the Flower Shop, but, gets a little too carried away. She decides to test how fast she can fly and how quickly she can turn. This is good and fun until she accidentally flies into a silver watering can on the counter. She hits it at full speed. It is enough to knock the watering can onto the floor. It is also enough to knock her out. She tumbles to the ground with the watering can, falling limp beside it. She hits the floor with a tiny thump, but the metal can makes a large crash.

The watering can spills its water on the floor. Asphodel, unconscious, lays by the can, face up in a small puddle of water. She's going to have a nasty bruise on her head.