Raindrop Valkyrie

Nastasia This day kept getting stranger and stranger. Nastasia had never quite see Lain like this before, she'd always known him as the type that kept the true workings under wraps, locked where others couldn't see. She wasn't quite sure how to handle someone defying expectations so spectacularly like this... She wanted to lash out like she usually did, to scold the boy, yell at him for being a fool. But that was a lot easier during his usual routine... not, not when she knew exactly how he was feeling. It was clear he was overwhelmed, scared. She was too and it wasn't even her own parent in question. She knew how it felt when her father passed away and he didn't return home that night. She took a deep breath to center herself, to stop the shaking. She planted her hands firmly on Lain's shoulders, trying to look him in the eyes if she could. It was... she wasn't sure what to do, but she needed to do something to help calm him down. She wanted him to feel she was there, that he was alone right now. "Lain, listen to me. I'm here, I don't know any better what's going on then you do, but there are a few things I do know." This, wasn't something she was used to... business was a much different matter, often an inhuman one. One needed to remain detached and aloof to some degree. All of her experience talking, it was useless here. So instead of talk with her head... it had to be from the heart right? "Firstly..." she said after she hesitated. "Whoever sent left this note, also sent this to me." she quickly showed him the piece of paper, She kept one hand firmly on his shoulder while she did so. She took a moment so that he could read it, or register what it was before she continued. "They asked me to meet them here. Or at the very least, somebody here. I have to assume that it was you I was supposed to meet. I didn't fin your mother, but I found you. We can figure this out together Lain, We can." she pressed her forehead into his, the light sweat of worry sitting on her brow. She didn't really think about the gesture, she instinctively did what her father always had when she was all worked up and worried. She always felt safe like that, a calm would always wash over her. Perhaps her body assumed that it'd work for Lain as it had her...

Yama lifts his mighty wing and cuts the stale air before him to life. Attack the Konko with Wind.

This had all been utterly strange... from the moment it had began. Her experience with the god known as Seeker was quite limited but... through the boy before her Nastasia had a crystal clear picture of her. If Lain was good at anything it was capturing the essence of people in words... though the talent wasn't used for the most innocent things all the time she was sure. This... this wasn't like Seeker. Sparse, vague. The woman cared too much about details for a note to be like this. Unlike Lain however, Nastasia was surprised to see him there. She nearly started when he began speaking to her, even moreso at how shaken he seemed to be. It didn't soothe her burning worry that was for sure. Something wasn't right here but Nastasia wasn't sure as to what that meant. Normally she'd be a lot more brutal towards the boy, but feeling what he was herself, she stayed her typical verbal lashings. "I... don't know Lain. I figured she'd be here when I arrived. I'll take that's not the case." she said trying to remain calm and level in her tone. She didn't want to add to the boy's worry.

The Archangel crashed into the earth beneath, a spray of debris and the crash of thunder as the world beneath it seemed to groan under the immense weight. It was the sound of wrathful thunder that shot through the ground and air. Perhaps The Councilor was not literally tread underfoot, but the silence from him spoke volumes. Unfortunately so, after all the former would make a much better story of triumph. But alas, even she was unable to attain the impossible state of perfection. "Ohohoho!" The same confident that had never died this match echo'd out once more from the dust cloud where the Archangel's flight had ended. From the aftermath of a mad gambit, one that did not end in failure despite it missing the supposed mark, The Iron Fist clad in Cobalt Velvet laughed. "Cat got your tongue Thomas?" she jested as the dust settled around her, seemingly not a speck landing on her. An untouched beauty in the midst of an iron fortress. "You used to have so many words dear Councilor. Always a witty retort, a measured response. And now..." she waited a moment, one that felt like an eternity, to punctuate her point. "...Silence." She i not even move, but it was clear she began a new address. "People of Envy! You've borne witness to an event, one that only happens once in a lifetime or so. When an unstoppable force and an immovable object met and clash. We oft ask the question of which would win in a clash of fates. I think you can see with you own eyes the implications. An Unstoppable Force. There is no such thing as an unmovable object. It simply does not exist in this world. Even the Archangel, a Fortress! EVEN HE CAN FLY THE SKIES!" the woman shouted, shooting her hand to the sky. "Now tell me people of Envy... now that you've seen impossible, now that you've seen Unstoppable Resolve! Do you still believe Thomas an unmovable object? His facade has cracked, his demeanor broken. All because of a simple snap." *snap* "Can the Councilor, the "immovable" ego, defeat my unstoppable will? I ask you, the people of Envy! WHAT SAY YOU!?"

"AAAAAH!!! DAT WAS NUTTERS COOL!!!" The Treasure Hunter yelled at the top of her lungs at the new arrivals to the combat. She somehow seemed even louder than the battle-crazed skald, and like she had about 50x the energy in the extent of her much much smaller body. "Dat fire was all like WHAM! Oh but Bea's dark magic's da fink ta beat still it tis! It's waaaaay more adventurous n' romantic n'finks!" the bundle of mischief begin speeding forward as fast as she could, not actually having any plan in mind as there was no enemies in sight. She spotted a door up ahead and then sparked an idea! "Whoa, 'ey ya think dey locked up dose Doors too? Methinks they 'ave! I'll check 'em out!" Move to L22

This was certainly a bunch of unruly children. Yama suddenly remembered why his sense of wanderlust had returned as often as it did these days. It wasn't loud but the ones near him if they were paying attention could've heard what sounded like someone sighing. The Mountain bird wouldn't seem to be the source, after all he didn't have typical human mannerisms and further never seemed to portray much emotion on his face. As it turned out, Bird's faces weren't suited to being emotive, past the emotion of cold dead anger. One guessed it was the result when nearly half your face was a hardened protrusion made for the means of tearing prey and foes apart. "Hmmm, l'm glad you wish to hear an old bird's tales Dark Flame." The old grandfather started, puffing up ever so slightly. The emotions of the Mountain Lord were always much more apparent in his body language, the movement of his feathers and the like. He seemed happy as the crest of feathers on his head perked up, and his errant head movements seemed to focus on the samurai in front of him. The Lord was perceptive however, he noticed the young grasshopper's words to the Blade Maiden. It had seemed that something was afoot. Grasshopper was ever the perceptive one, perhaps the youngest of the children assembled and yet he had a wisdom far beyond the years of perhaps all but He, The Lord of The Mountain himself, and The Dream Eater. He proceeded to tell his story, hopping that tea would arrive soon, he felt the weight of his age... 5000 years at the least, grinding into his form. He supposed it was but natural... especially with the extent of his recent travel and battles. "She was the commander of a young peak it had seemed... a mountain that was new to the world a child in it's eyes, perhaps even younger than me myself..."

Luckily for the Young Baroness she knew how to keep her cool under pressure. She'd been through countless business deals, countless meetings and negotiations with other businessfolk, politicians, Gods and Goddesses, even if not in person. An unexpected development was hardly going to set her back, she merely needed to do what she'd always done before, Adapt. She knew what her Shroud was made for better than anyone else. When released early the destructive force was more focused on resetting positions to where her Archangel could leverage it's ability to synthesize explosions once more. Or in the case of a fight of ranged versus ranged it served to either blow projectiles off course, or for those persistent homing type weapons... incinerate them. This latter part presented some issue, Archangel wasn't suited to moving, it's weight was designed to keep it in place more or less. It was a Fortress, it was even designed to look like one. Every ounce of destructive force instilled in the Shroud at the current charge was still present even if was expelled for the purposes of battering mechs or projectiles away from the mighty fortress. While she knew Archangel had quite the resistance to it's own explosion synthesis the power used to fuel the Shroud of Retribution was on a whole other level when at full bear. Even Archangel would find itself obliterated from the wrath of such overwhelming power. She knew that in the battle of an unstoppable force and an immovable object... The Object would lose. But, resigning herself to fate was what a quitter would do. While he'd seen one function of the Unstoppable Force, Thomas had seen but one function of it. She needed only last until she could fully charge the Shroud... until she could unleash the full power of Divine Retribution. But how? Well... if blasting the discs off course didn't work, perhaps she could blast something else... She'd never tried this before but... it was her best shot to try and defeat her own Shroud. Archangel was designed to resist the inertia from blasts and the like from the front, sides and any exposed area of itself when on the ground. However... It never was from underneath! Nastasia quickly formed a new mote of energy underneath Archangel's Rear, a slight bit of the explosion not underneath. She waited as long as she could before she released only hoping she had enough power for this crazed plan of hers. *Snap, BAAAAAAANG!* "OHOHOHOHO!!!" The Explosion shot the mighty fortress up and over the explosion from the discs, a feat Nastasia couldn't quite believed worked the first time she ever tried it. She supposed all those classics of education her father insisted on were finally proving useful as where she applied the force ended up being the exact she needed. If such was the case soon she'd hit the back end of the False Shroud using the momentum from the push to send her giant fortress crashing directly on top of the man currently flinging his vulgar discs everywhere around this arena. She was sure this alone wouldn't work but it bought her the time to assess what exactly he was doing... how his powers worked.

"Ohoho!" The raucous laughter of the business rung through the air as the discs flew forth towards her. Nastasia knew more than any other she needed to play this crowd and play it she would. Her persona was perhaps not the most traditionally inviting but it was truly and uniquely herself. It was quite the boon to have in what could be considered dire straights. She didn't flinch once, she never broke. The fact she could see the intention behind such a move was more than enough to tell her how to defeat it. "Unbind seraphic chains of oppression, burst forth with the wrath of a million suns! Holy Shroud of Retribution... RELEASE!" She had not wished to release the energy of her trump card so early in he match but she needed to in this moment, it was the true surefire way she had to repel this attack, and further... she could use this to either destroy his discs or them them back at him. An explosion that wracked even those standing within the stands shot through the air, a glowing golden wreath of fire and destruction enveloped Nastasia and the mighty castle she sat atop. A dome of angelic power blasted forth at a short distance when the discs neared. She aimed to push the 4 discs back at her opponent each now carrying the force of her beloved Archangel's Holy Shroud. If the discs were remotely controlled by The Councilor and he could shift their direction at will, if he tried to stay the course they'd incinerate and burn to naught but ash in the burning wake of Archangel's Wrath type Shroud. "A clever trick... but you will not lay a hand on my Archangel with such simple tricks as that, Thomas..." she was still unsure what his game plan truly was... but she'd play her part in this play to the end. She was the Cold Blue Woman, Fists of Iron covered in a velvet glove. Haughty, proud. She'd never break that image!

The Lord Yama bowed politely in response even if his form was ill suited. He much enjoyed the soothing aroma of a lovely tea and Dream Eater had always proven an artisan in the craft. He looked forward to such a lovely exchange. The samurai so filled with the fire of youth shouted something akin to what he claimed he hated... he seemingly had a way of words when it came to explaining anything that related to battle or the slaughter of foes. Truly fascinating in it own right. As he left the Dream Eater to attend his business with the Young Grasshopper he knew that soon in the moment he'd need to prepare for whatever stupidity would fly out the mouth of The Dark Flame. It was only natural the wild one's attention would turn back to he when he was the only left with which to converse. To his surprise it was tamer then the usual drivel that poured forth from the burning youth. Praise for his elder and to know of his travels. As much as he was driven mad by this one he genuinely enjoyed the company as well. Due to his nature the others seemed much less willing to engage him in any manner let alone that of battle, whether physical or of wits. The Dream Eater and The Dark Flame seemed the two that had no qualms with the One who had once lorded over the mountains. They did not shy away, a thing he certainly found himself grateful of. But an answer was warranted... "Hmmm, if I did not bear the truth of danger and of killing you in my intent, then nothing would be learned of true battle Dark Flame." which wasn't untrue of his viewpoint. However most of his intent in those bouts certainly came from his desire to be left the hell alone. He didn't feel the need to mention this knowing that it'd not hurt his feelings, just that Dark Flame would never believe that was the true reason no matter how convincing he was. "We've the ability to restore our corporeal form here so there is no true risk even if l "go all out" so to speak. Therefore, l should clearly afford you a true lesson in the art of battle and war." He seemed to ponder a moment...his feathers ruffling and the chimes atop his head tingling as his head darted about. "As for my travels... l could speak about the Oni of the Mountain l had battled with. The battle had held me for a week and a fair few days. She was quite the powerful warrior, one of great skill and rage like myself."

The tinny chime of Yama's bells ring yet again as his head cocks to the side as he assesses the one who approaches. While he was much more than just an average bird, he certainly still possessed their mannerisms. It made it ever clear he was never human... he had grown as the spirit he was. He flexed the ruins once called wings on his back, making sure they weren't stiff before proceeding. "Ah, Dream Eater. Seems the last has left an impression on you. l hope you learned something from the match." returning his head to it's usual position he refocused his gaze. It'd seem each of the Shikigami were present. He'd have mentioned the unusual phenomena with the weather of late but by his return it seemed it'd be obvious to the others by now. He'd not waste words on what had to be known already. "Graciously l accept. However l must rest my body and mind after such long travel. l'm sure one such as you understands." his booming voice devoid of any true emotion.

As if summoned by the mere mention of the name bestowed to he by the young grasshopper, the familiar chimes of wind rang out with each weighted step as "He Who Lorded Over The Mountain" approached. The wind chimes attached to his great feathered crest, they were a warning he approached more than anything else. He remembered a time he was too silent... and could kill a man before they ever saw his mighty form despite his size being that of a small mountain. He wore the chimes to prevent his wrath ever allowing that to happen once more... though it probably helped more so he could no longer take flight. The enormous bird had always had a strange air about him, one of hollow sorrow but something that bubbled just under the surface... as if one wrong move would send him into a fury unlike the world had even seen. As a result while he was not the newest arrival he was perhaps the most unknown of all the youkai that Yoriie's Shikigami. He largely kept to himself, often taking strolls into the surrounding forest and checking the boundaries of the Master's home using the time to reflect on a great many things. He always seemed utterly ancient, as if he was by far the oldest being here as he always seemed to treat each as a child... though respectfully of course. He never used names, only concepts that he seemed to invent himself to refer to each and every soul that found their way here. Despite the palpable aura of malice that flowed from his being... there was one of a wise ruler, perhaps the reason why Yoriie had been the first to refer to him as Lord Yama. He was such a conflicting being... he truly felt like that grandfather of yours that supposedly fought in every war but would never tell you their past. Further, he towered over every other in size. He had walked in from the wild path that he always left from. He stopped behind the fight crazed newcomer, the one that had just praised him as one of two worthy of his time. He towered over even this one, at least a full head or two above him. "l'm glad you consider them of worth, otherwise l'd be wasting my time Dark Flame." he said the clear title he used to refer to the samurai he was standing behind. His voice was that of the thunder booming off the distant mountain. His inflection was hard to read as always, no clear emotion within his words. He seemed to wait for an acknowledgement of his presence before further speech or action after such.

Nastasia picked up on the intent behind such a move quickly as she heard the stunned gasps of the crowd, as their eyes watched the attack as if in a trance. This wasn't to be a fight about raw firepower... this wasn't truly a battle of strength. It never was. They had sent a business woman not because they had no better option. They sent her as she was the only option. If this was as simple as brute force there were those much more suited to this though Archangel's arsenal was hardly anything to scoff at. There were those far stronger then her though, she knew this. She made be prideful but she was nary a fool. It seemed that her elegance and the touch of one in tune with the finer points of what made people tick was needed. When you went to war with a politician, you bring not a blade but a quill. She felt a sense of ease wash over her. While she knew she'd have to fight her way up a variable mountain... she understood now what Lain had seen. She knew that Lain wasn't falling to something pointless, meaningless. His words meant something this time. She wasn't here solely to bail his ass out of trouble yet again. She was here because he truly trusted in her, and he knew she needed to be the one to fight this battle. Perhaps he'd finally grew as a person even if but a small amount. The last thought caused her to wince through her steely composure but a moment... but she recovered amicably. She'd keep her cool level-headed demeanor, her air of disinterest. She was the steely blue Madame that sat atop her unassailable fortress, she should play the part. She should give the audience they show they came for. The crowd was stacked against her from the outset, but that didn't change she needed to the pull the people to her side. Whatever this man planned she did not know but she needed to make them waver... she needed to break the crowds cohesiveness first and then win them to her side. Then there was no longer time for thinking, it was time for action. In a moment Nastasia decided the best place to put her blast to send the now spinning discs off course but moreso to do so with as much flair as she possible could. She decided to center the synthesis right between the discs, a mote of burning white energy twinkling amoungst the lightning. She waited until it was about half the distance between them, all the while seeming like she not dare make a single move. She didn't move a single muscle until the moment came... just smiling with eyes that were up to something. *snap* She struck her thumb sharply with her middle finger, the sound reverberating through the air amoungst the crackle of thunder. There was but a second there was silence and then an explosion made manifest from the small mote of light. She had hoped the discs went flying, even if one scattered towards Archangel he could take the hit. The white radiant light of heaven for engulfed the area, only time would tell it's results.

"A rugged mountain man, living off the land traveling town to town selling the gifts of nature he learned to harvest with his own too hands. Aaah, so romantic~" Anne was starting to get the feeling what that word meant to Chance might be different then your average maid... it seemed to come up frequently at the least whenever she was speaking, and more than another other person he'd ever spoken to before. She was certainly a strange individual, and it was impossible to read her at all. Anne knew if this was a business deal or he had to sell something to her it'd probably have been an impossible task, but luckily he'd only need to watch her. It'd only be a moment before Anne realized she was suddenly quiet as could be. Given she never seemed to be unable to find words before the silence had a bit of eeriness to it. Her singular eye seemed to be fixated towards a certain point, but he couldn't catch what it was before the maid suddenly closed it as she went into another beaming smile. "l suppose that' why I've never meet you before~ I've met my share of Miss Carnation's siblings before and l'd certainly have remembered one like you. I knew she was hiding the best ones from me hmmm... l knew l'd called it." she seemed ever so proud of herself yet again. "I'm sure you know by now but I'm Chance~ A pleasure to meet you Anne." She reached out her hand in the start of a handshake, though her still closed and her smile still beaming ear to ear. lt'd almost seem sinister if she wasn't about the most adorable maid Anne had met.

"Human, thou stand before He Who Lorded Over the Mountain... he who whips rending winds to rise and has tempests at his beck and call. Harm not the land, or my winds shalt cut thee to ribbons."

"It's an art form after all~ Not everyone's cut out for it so don't feel too bad now." The maid said a reassuring smile on her face. She knew the art wasn't anything easy. It'd always been trouble for the maid when she had started out. She figured she didn't have the ability... but practice found her the way to unlocking something she didn't otherwise know. Well, that and a few broken dishes, exploded cakes, and a live bear tearing around the estate... That... was a story for another time however. She happily took one of the sandwiches and began to inspect it, though in a way that only she'd ever do of course. Anne would notice only a puzzled look on the maid's face, as if gears were slowly turning. He could almost hear them that image was that powerful. "Hmmm, seems to be... Turkey, lettuce, onion... what kind l wonder? Doesn't seems like they are yellow. Red maybe?" she seemed to be parsing the ingredients but she wasn't using her sight to do so having the ever so humble food item still within the pouch Anne had handed it to her in. She rattled off quite a few more things, striking out a few possibilities, and making some of the wild guesses that Anne could imagine. She seemed to get so absorbed in her strange exercise that it was like she forgot he existed for the time being. That was... until she suddenly addressed him. "Ah what a hero~ Coming ever so prepared! That's a truly admirable quality in a person, it is, it is!" Pleased as could be, she took a bite as she began swaying back and forth ever so lightly where she had been seated. "This will do quite nicely..." she said, but there was a strange lowering to her voice. Was she lying? Did she not truly enjoy it? Was it going to be a bad mark on his performance and end up in a dock of his PAY!?!?!? It was none of these things. "So... who are you anyway? You never visited Miss Carnation before as long as I've been working here and it's been a few years of service at this point. She paying you to watch me or somethin'?" a sinister tension hung in the air for a moment as the Maid smiled at the man in front of her, a tension thick enough to be cut with a knife. Had she figured out what was going on? Was she angry? She certainly could be wearing one of those hollow smiles that hid murderous intent... "Ppp-... PPPPSSSSSH~ HAHAHA!!!" and all of it dispelled in a mere instance. She wiped a tear from her eye, a quick flick of her index finger but she couldn't contain herself clearly. "Aaaah what a silly thought that was! Be quite the thing if Miss Carnation was spending so thoughtlessly when she knows l can take care of myself. l certainly do appreciate the company though.~ l was being serious... you are...?" the question clearly leading. She sat patiently waiting for the answer as she nibbled at the provided food, no longer a trace of any sinister intent... only the cute innocent maid that she first seemed to be.

"Being swept off one's feet is a state of mind, not a state of being~" The tiny maid corrected, her finger pointing to the sky, she declared it so. She gleefully giggled at her own statement, perhaps at of some sort of indecipherable pride. She listened intently to the current sales pitch that her clearly current caretaker was sewing. He'd probably done similar before when she wasn't exactly coherent. She'd honestly not paid a single mite of attention to anything he'd said then but sensed the presence from his voice. She had hoped he'd not pulled the old Anna scheme of trying to put her into a blood contract while she was sleeping and it had seemed by his second limited time offer it hadn't be the case. He was not quite the salesman Miss Carnation was! Ha HA! She'd be more than fine then if this was the case. She'd picked up a few things here and there from Miss Carnation's antics... "A 100% guarantee huh? Good news! Miss Carnation would be quite upset if l wasn't happy with you service after all as her mostest and favouritest maid in this whole wide world." she said her smile completely and utterly innocent in every single way possible. She kicked her feet lightly over the edge of the hammock, whistling quietly to herself. There was still a quiet lethargy to her but it seemed to put her to a level of energy that was more normal for... less peculiar folks. "You know there was the one time somebody tried to extort money from me and Miss Carnation put an arrow through his hand... aaaah you should've seen the look on his face when from what was nearly a block over an arrow just zipped through! He still flinches every time l wave to him in the street... nice guy really." her anecdote just popping to mind. Miss Carnation was ever so nice to her after all... she was happy to have such a nice boss. Honestly they were more like good friends or sisters or something then Master and Servant. Well...maybe less sisters, the boss seemed to have more than enough siblings so being a close friend was waaaaaaaaay more special. "l think l'll take you up on that offer though! l could use a bit more to drink and some decent breakfast. l hadn't had the chance..." a snort sneaks out of her before she continues. "Just bring me another bag of water, and whatever ya thinks good in the food sense. l'm not a picky eater... it'd get in the way if couldn't taste the food l was preparing.~"

Chance had been resting quite soundly since the last time that Anne had seen her. She seemed quite peaceful, her breaths calm and peaceful. It almost felt like it'd be a crime to wake her up, an injustice against the universe or something. Or maybe that's only what Chance would've thought as Anne seemed every so eager to awakened the pink haired maid. The decision to not shake her awake was a smart one at least... but he'd not need to find out why for the time-being. Small groans of protest came as slowly her body booted back up hearing a voice she only somewhat recognized. It didn't sound like Miss Carnation, the only person she was used to being awoken by. "Hmmm?" her first sound that could be interpreted as something other than a random sound. She began to sit up in the hammock, rubbing the sleep from her eye. When her vision cleared, she then saw who it was, it was the pretty bodyguard! The shock of such made her unable to contain a small "Eep!". Chance's hand quickly came to her chest as her face went bright red. She suddenly began fidgeting with the whole of her body, unprepared to have dealt with this situation right when she awoke. She used her technique from before, taking a deep breath and then slowing counting to 3 to calm herself, of course doing the latter out loud again. "You didn't have to~ So sweet of you for little old me..." in a flash, the tiny maid snatched the waterskin from Anne's hand and tilted it up to the sky. Gulp after gulp she drank it down within seconds not stopping to breath even once. "Ahhh~ That definitely hit the spot, almost like you knew just what l needed. A true knight in shining armour saving the maiden in her time of trouble and need. OOOOOO, lt's just so wonderful~ l can almost feel myself being swept off my own two feet! It's like they aren't even planted on the ground!" she said as if it was a completely normal thing to say and she wasn't being suspended in the air by a hammock.

While it wouldn't remotely stop Anne from lifting the tiny maid with relative ease, he had noticed she was strangely heavy for a girl around her size. lt'd be impossible to truly tell what it was but it was inconsistent and seemed to shift at odd intervals. It was if she was carrying a hundred or so tiny weighted object somewhere out of sight... was probably nothing in the scheme of things but it was certainly utterly strange. It was getting increasingly clear that she was out of it, as the weirdness just continued but less frequently. "Woaaaah, l'm flying!" were the words out of her mouth as she was lifted followed only by a bunch of incomprehensible whispering. By the time Anne had reached the hammock with her it had seemed she was finally coming at least somewhat out of her stupor of exhaustion. Here eyelid drooped, as she nearly began to fall asleep. Her body wanting to make up for the lost rest she'd be missing over the course of entire week of her obsessing over getting things spic and span for the current day. If there was anything that Carnation knew about Chance was that despite her numerous eccentricities that she was extremely dedicated to her work as a maid. Perhaps too dedicated as what was occurring was hardly a new development. She'd collapsed from exhaustion more than a handful of times before as she had a tendency to work through the night until whatever task she'd set her mind too was done to the point she was happy with it. She'd pursue her lofty goals of such to her own detriment time after time, learning some of her lesson but the full of it never quite sticking. She was dependable, and loyal to a fault even if she lashed back with her razor wit in protest she'd still do the task she was meant to do. She'd never once tried to fake illness, or the like to get out of work. ln fact that was the problem as she'd keep forcing herself to work in those states unless Miss Carnation explicitly forbade her from doing so. So what was happening easily had explanation, it just wasn't one that any person who wasn't familiar with the maid would understand at first glance. Finally and securely in her hammock, something Carnation knew would help her to relax, her body deflated as she exhaled a deep breath. She calmed, for now, seemingly knocking out for the time being and getting some of the rest she desperately needed.

"Are you an angel?" the maid suddenly said her voice groggy beyond words. lt definitely seemed whatever it had been that had caused this level of exhaustion in her had finally caught up to her. And it was only going to get worse before it got any better. The only thing present in her vision was Anne's face due to her shallow cone of vision. lt was a nice face...a really nice face. lnhumanly beautiful. There was no way in the world he could just be some regular guy!Maybe he was a shining knight in armour coming to whisk her away... no... pretty sure what just happened was dying. lt was right? This was the Pearly Gates, yes? no? maybe so? lt had to be... "Heh, you certainly look like one. l guess dying wasn't so bad after all if l got ta meet you sweetie~" She began rubbing her hands around on the carpet, giggling to herself. lf one was keen they'd realize she was trying to confirm where she was, but it seemingly would backfire. "Such a nice fluffy cloud. Hmmm, heaven's nicer than l imagined." said the overworked maid lying on the mostly clean floor of a less than above board business. She was not as far as away as she could possibly be but she was certainly not where she had currently thought.

"1... 2...3!" Chance blasts out one more time, not having noticed the change of tone in the room or that once again someone had been speaking to her while she was carrying on in some manner or another. "1... 2... 3... all the desire to punch blood into my lovely carpet shall be erased with this simple little exercise. Haaah haaaaaah yes yes it shall, l need it to work l spent 7 hours on it and not to need to remove more of them! lt's been the 5th time this weeeeek.~" the maid seemed to be feverishly speaking to herself even singing the last bit of her lines. lt was at that moment she heard Anne speak and pull her from her strange trance of numbers and breathing. Perhaps it was the loopiness getting to her but upon seeing his face she just smiled a wonderful smile, a beam that could break the dark of night. "Well if the handsome fella says so l'm sure it'll be alright. Bloodshed managed~ " she seemed proud of herself? or something. lt was pretty hard to tell especially given she was just absentmindedly staring at Anne the entire time, her single eye darting up and down his form though never resting in a single spot for long. "You know bloods not easy to get out of carpet... l feel like l just avoided death..." as she said this she suddenly began to collapse, purely from her prior day's exhaustion. lt seemed the maniac energy spent the last of her dwindling power and it sent her tumbling towards the floor. Perhaps the shock had just reminded her body it was about out of power, whatever it was though it now remembered it's state.

It'd taken more than a few moments for the maid to even realize that someone had been talking to her that wasn't Miss Carnation. She'd only been listening for her familiar and lovely tone of voice that the one that had spoken to her had to be for someone else surely. Suuuuuurely... until she opened her eye and realized they'd been looking in her direction. She couldn't say she wanted anybody else doing her work... "What...?" she said reflexively, unable to contain herself as it was the current thought on her mind. However by the time she'd seemed to do so something else had caught the woman speaking to her's attention. The two bodyguards/bouncers seemed to be having a bit of a pissing contest of sorts... one of them was Cody. Chance had seen him plenty before, talked to him on occasion while Miss Carnation was busy when she had called for him. She didn't know much though, he never seemed to be the talkative sort so they never got much of anywhere. The other... well. He... Chance could feel her heart jumping out of her chest just looking at him. Even under that clothes... she could tell just the quality of muscles that's be on display had it not been there. lt had seemed he was one of Anna's many siblings with the same name though... she never knew Miss Carnation had a brother! Where'd he been all this time? He neeeever visited his sister!? For shame for shame... the maid thought to herself as if she had no ulterior motive. lt keeps seeming to get worse with time, the maid nervously laughing to herself hoping that this doesn't come to blows and blood she has to track out of the carpet... again. "Hehehe! Look folks! l'm the one who has to clean up any messes here! So let's all just relax and take a deep breathe. Here try it with me!" she suddenly sucking in a large amount of air. SHe exhaled sharply and then "1. 2. 3." She inhaled deeply again, another sharp exhalation after. "1." a pause "2." and another "3. See! It's easy! Now everybody after me!" she kept repeating this until somebody stopped her.

Towards the side there was at the very least, one hand raised in the air. There was seen a woman by herself clad in a uniform unlike any of the others present, one of a maid. lt was quite peculiar a sight for what was more or less a storefront, unless it was one of those businesses themed after them perhaps. Though this didn't seem to be a Maid Cafe of any sort... Perhaps even more strange however was the eye patch on her. Just what kind of maid was this girl? She'd been dusting something, a duster of unusual size by her side. For some reason there was a strange blue gem affixed to the handle that glittered ever so dully with a faint radiant light. Her hair was an utterly bright pink, and her face quite the example of quiet contentment. Ever about her was utterly bizarre and clashing! And yet they weren't at all either! Regardless it had seemed she had a question as her hand was raised. "Ah Miss Carnation! Hey hey! l have one! You didn't give me any maidly duties to attend to! Does that mean l have the day off? l certainly don't have to walk around town doing some menial task in addition to the job l'm actually paid for l'm sure, cause that'd be weird and pretty super unfair to your most adorable employee who works, oh so very hard to keep your property nice and shiny! After all this place was a pig sty until this morning because l spent the entire night cleaning out all the dust and cobwebs and reorganizing the entire inventory~" She said smiling, her left eye closed as it seemed to force it shut. She graciously awaited the answer i silence continuing her smile that seemed less and less like a real one over the course of her speaking and every second she stood there somehow filling the room with a malice and bubbly sunshine at the same time. There was a moment it seemed she was about to collapse from pure exhaustion in there one could swear , but it seemingly passed to quickly for it to be confirmed.

Nastasia Such a hollow indignant gesture, hot air... poppycock. She was used to such things by now. She could smell the emptiness of his words, after all it was just business. Perhaps it was due to her lack of life experience or her tender age of 16 that Nastasia felt as she did but she never liked the falsehoods of "business". Deep down they always sickened her to a degree that made her insides churn with the bitter twang of disdain. Nastasia's face read of nothing but a creeping amusement, one brought about by the wild pride that run rampant in her heart of hearts. Dear... such a casual and dismissing remark. Treated as if she was just some child... so many were so eager to do so now that she ran the business in the open. Father had always been the face for a reason, no one would've believed a child built an Empire. Yet it wasn't solely a curse, while it made her blood broil, her pride sting... lt meant she was always underestimated. A dangerous thing to do in her presence. "Ohoho!~" her laugh rang through out empty air, a stark development in what was prior one of stillness. She stared up at the man who stood atop his ridiculous disks, the grey visage that stood before the beauty clad purely in brilliant blue. She did not lower herself once. "Truly a disgrace. The field of battle is not the place l wish to meet any for the first time. l am no warrior, l'm a business woman. But such tumultuous times call for those from all walks of life. l am only doing my part. Executive, solider, worker, laborer... such meaningless words in these times. We all must fight for what we believe in and to protect our way of life." her speech was an attempt to play towards the crowd, the very people of Envy. Though despite this she did believe them, while her views and theirs differed... she had realized perhaps they were not wholly incompatible. She needed to believe that... she needed to pull the crowd to her side. They were The Councilor's Chief weapon, the very thing that he'd use to win this day if she sat by and did nothing. lf he made no move she was surely going to. She now curtsied, but more to the crowd then her opponent. "My name is Nastasia Susanna Sinclair, do not forget it. That means you and all those who are watching." a flourish of her intricately braided ringlets accompanied her confident words. She clicked her right heel on the ground twice before she cried out "My darling Archangel! Rise!" The very earth beneath their feet began to tremble with a terrible tremor. Beneath her feet a metallic surface formed, a seat forming quickly... like that of an Iron Throne just behind the heiress. She left herself gracefully fall into it, holding her chin with her left hand as she crossed her legs and began to await the arrival of her mighty mech. She could just materialize it all at once, but the show was important. Before long, she now towered over the Councilor from her high perch as The Mighty Archangel's full glorious form came into existence. It resembled the keep of a castle, parapets and all, It's Arms big enough to be two towers in and of themselves. Dark irons chains ran down the arms, crashing and clinking as the beast of a mech seemingly rose from the very earth itself. Dust and dirt sifted off it, seemingly unable to stain the brilliant white steel of armour as it rose to the heavens above. She sat atop the being, a field of invisible energy serving as a cockpit but maintaining a regal and powerful air as the Queen of the castle could be seen during her battle. "Now, shall we begin?"

"The best maid in the wide world at your service~ Let's get out there and find a little romance shall we?~"

The witch decided to look in her own way. Even if this area was used to the Accursed sort she wasn't exactly the usual suspect. Humans did not oft react well to the presence of a witch after all. She also had to admit... she was out of practice with speaking to such entities. If her faux pas at the meeting had proven anything it was that she was still somewhat out of touch with humanity and how to properly communicate with them. She supposed centuries in a forest alone wasn't great for the retention of one's social skills. She'd thought she'd never need them again, but her whims proved such thoughts false. She audibly sighed, she amazed even herself sometimes. Perhaps however she could put to use what she learned in the time such was declining. There'd be magic she'd devised to keep some contact with the outside world when she was isolated in the Knifewood. She searched for what would hopefully be a quiet place on the outskirts of the town. She felt the most at home in nature, and frankly concentration would be more than difficult in the bustle of even a small town. The Witch drew from a pouch a small sprig of holly that she held within the palm of her hand. A ward from bad luck. She pressed magical power into the spiny leaves, then after she'd done so she focused her mind and power inward as she shut her eyes. She was seated on the ground holding her hands to her chest, a soft green glow about her person. She focused on the Legends and the talk about the mighty knight of black. She'd seen specific people before in her visions... it was much harder pinpointing legends but she'd managed it before. She searched for the figure she knew was close by. She figured that would aid her magic this time. She'd never used it at such a small distance before. The Witch was unsure what implications that held for her clairvoyance, but she was intrigued all the same. She always wished to see the new effects of her dark magics. She was never truly sure why they had this power. Why could darkness provide such a clarity? Why could she weave far off visages to her mind as if she herself was but in the presence of what she witnessed? She was unsure, but she wished to further her understanding of such magic. Perhaps it'd lead her further to her ultimate goal. Huh... she had thought sh'ed given up on that. A dead end, a lost cause. Yet she'd seen the humans chasing them regardless of their short lives. She'd met one that gave up his humanity and took up the Curse himself like she had. Surely if she gave up she mocked his drive... what he stood for. She chuckled, nearly losing the spell she was weaving. What a human thought she just had. Perhaps the small amount of human blood she had finally poked through. But, she was different. Better? No. But different all the same. She focused her thoughts back on the task at hand rather than muse on life any longer. She had a Dark Knight to find...