[ For once, he has no ill humor to add to the tidings, and only sends messages to two users. ]

-

[Private | Maximum Ride]

Were you at the party, love? What went on after the surprise? I was a little indisposed.

-

[Private | Dai]

I was just checking in. Was that something planned or not at all? If the latter, did things turn out well? [ A tell enough that he missed the very end. ]

Voice;

I just wanted to say Thank— [ahahaha, snerking all around.]
... —thank— ...

[oh fuck it.]

Nevermind, I can't even say it.

Next time you want to host a party, just don't. [Your parties are too dangerous, Dai.]

Action;

[The loneliness the streets provide in Nuadoria is always refreshing. It's a hard cold reminder of what they're all doing there, what other have done, and what still others will be doing more than likely even once those currently present's time is up.

Heine's long given up on rhyme or reason for this place and there's no room for hope that this place can be saved even for those who wish to save it. It's dead, it's over, it's a shadow of a once grand place and nothing that is spoon fed to them does Heine believe as truth for a moment. They aren't heroes. None of them ever will be here, either.

He walks the streets by himself save for his one companion, the three-headed female Cerberus stalking beside him. Although there's no battle, there's enough danger in this city nowadays that one can't ever be too prepared and he's found that she is much more effective in battle against the native creatures than his own weapons with limited ammo.]


[ooc: so yeah if anyone wants to run into heine on the street feel free :Dc ]

[ you have: one unread text. read text message? ]

You are cordially invited to the celebration of Irie Shouichi's 26th birthday.

The festivities will begin on the 3rd of December at 1PM within the church. Do come to congratulate him on lasting a full twenty-six years- it's quite a feat.

A little bird told me about someone's special day.

[ ooc: EVERYONE WELCOME, bring your own food unless you want to be subjected to the truly villainous curry!! The church will actually be looking festive at this event, courtesy of Mukuro expending energy on truly pointless things.

Feel free to action log or whatever in this post!! ]

All right, now that the dust has settled, let's have a show of hands. Did we all have fun on our various tasks?

I know I did. Despite time slipping away all too soon. [ Ironically, enough. ]

Was anything interesting found?

[ At least something to amuse for awhile. Things have been quiet. ]

Angel, darling. Did you return in the end? I'd be so sad if you were still trapped down there.

Well.

[ what else can one say, really, in reflection of certain things. dai appears on the video feed, smiling thinly in the weird grungy light afforded by the all-too-familiar scenery of the run-down cathedral. in the dark, only barely revealed in shape by one filthy, washed-out window of unbroken glass, a handful of figures move sluggishly, their bare ribs jutting as nothing but bumpy shadows. chains rattle. dai pays them no mind, as always. he only has eyes for whoever might be watching him, out there on the network. ]

Please allow me to welcome you back from your long journey. I hope we haven't suffered an excess of casualties; while it's a matter of personal preference, I do like it better when you're more conservative with your grisly deaths. Being, as I am, unable to rescue you once you've gotten yourselves killed. Isn't it a horrible feeling, being helpless? I don't like it at all.

... Welcome home, nonetheless. And welcome to those of you who had just joined us. I hope our local residents are already at work making you feel as welcome as they once did, as fledglings in our modest family.

I have some news for you, by the way — a little good, and a little bad. Let's get the bad side of matters out of the way, so we can dwell on a more pleasant subject:

One of our new arrivals is hoping for the safe arrival of his sister, Rose Lalonde. Being honourable, I felt it was important that you know of its importance. I'm told that she speaks eloquently and favours a purple colour. If you should happen to find her, of course, I trust that all of you, being similarly honourable, will treat her well. [ he smiles sweetly. just barely in the frame, his left leg seems to jolt, a little — but closer inspection reveals something nudging at it, seeking his attention. a humanoid figure, nudging their skull against his thigh. he doesn't acknowledge it with a glance, but his hand strays down to pet its hair. ]

... Onto better news, then.

( and a familiar image appears, with some slight adjustment:Collapse )

Please welcome me back into the fold, residents and magisters alike. I have busily spread my territory in your absence, that I could surprise you all with something nice on your return! I hope you'll rejoice with me. Perhaps we should all celebrate? Hasn't it been a long time since we all did something nice together? With this big Cathedral here, wouldn't it be wasteful not to take advantage?

[ all figures have, at some point, stopped their rustling. their heads are turned to the feed, and even if their eyes can't be seen, there's little doubt that they share the same pointed gaze as dai. ]

... Should I insist?



(ooc: I'm really sorry for being so late with this! I've had a sluggish couple of weeks, but I should buck up now. there'll be more details posted on the ooc tomorrow regarding dai's territory-grab and its related consequences.)

[The first sound you hear is—a sort of wet rustle, actually. How odd. But it's punctuated by a thin whine after a moment—canine?—and then more staticky sounds and shuffling.

Then the image clicks on. And if you guessed "dog's tongue" for the licking sounds, you were right—because there's a closeup of it.

But the object of said affections and owner of this device, a small old man—no, wait, that's a young man with white hair—begins to stir. (There's also a... golden ball with a tail and wings(?!) of grapefruitish size that gets displaced in the process, hovering over him in a concerned sort of fashion.) Scuffed looking, some bandages on him, and sporting quite the fashionable prisoner's uniform—er, a long white tunic, that is. Quite the old and very odd sort of scar jagging down his face, too, with the pentagram on his brow. That left arm looks a little—odd, too. Red like dried blood in color with strange stripe and kunai tattoos winding up his shoulder, looking almost plated and armorlike in his hand.

But pardon him, he's looking utterly baffled at being woken up by the large white dog panting with a slack sort of smile at him.] Ah—

[You know, it's quite possible those rather large silvery eyes can't get any wider.]

—hi there. [But um. Just. Rolling with it and patting the dog on the head out reflex seems as good an idea as any. Erm, alright then. 

But beginning to slowly stand (lurching for a moment, like he's off balance—or feverish) and look around, the colors drains from his face. Tense, nervous, eyes flicking quickly to his surroundings (tombstones. church nearby), then lifting his right wrist to blink at the silver bracelet (it seems) there.

—then realizing the new (familiar) weight on his ear when he last remembered there being none.

And there's a marked shift in his expression at that. The flare of shock for a moment, breath caught, but then swallowing hard and quieting, mouth drawing somber and serious. Sobered, he carefully (so carefully) raises a hand to touch the wireless device on his ear.

It's not quite terse, but it's the flatter sort of tone one would adopt with a captor. Stiff. But uncertain.]  —Hello?

[But no reason not to have manners when one's just been kidnapped.]

[Quiet, steely, meticulously measured manners.]

I need some volunteers for a surveillance mission to the casino.

Nothing but a investigation at the moment. We won't be hanging around if we find anything nasty. I'd still prefer people with combat training if possible.

Meet me at the docks if you're interested. Weapons and equipment will be supplied.

[An audible sigh. Those who have known Caim for a while may notice his personality seems to have changed. His words are cold, stiff, and short.]

It seems I will be your information provider, instead of Lilith, temporarily due to unfortunate circumstance.

But, first: I do hope at least some of you plan to investigate that... noise coming from the Entertainment District. It must be rather... unpleasant to listen to.

It's been rather quiet as of late, however, that won't last long. You'll begin to hear strange noises coming from the casino district. It sounds like a nightmare you can't wake up from—with each passing moment, the screams, cries, sobbing of people seem to become more and more real, and you can't seem to block it out.

You may consider heading over there to find out what's going on, even if it's so you can get a decent night's sleep.

((ooc; check out the ooc post here!))