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Zero Kiryu	PREVIOUSLY... As Director Kuran's political designs for her own world began to approach their endgame, an enemy interjected from the shadows and engineered what appeared to be a feral vampire attack on a political summit in the city of Agnafit. The assassin escaped, having killed Ambassador Kurenai and injured several others, leaving the powers of the world clamoring for someone to take responsibility. In the absence of a clear offender, the reality of the attacker's vampirism would serve as a reasonable scapegoat. Needing to maintain a local masquerade for a little while longer yet, and racing to prevent the daughter of Yuuki's ambassador from taking revenge on her father's killer, the group temporarily secured a ferry terminal that the attacker was departing from and managed to lull the terminal into a temporary psychic pacification long enough to get her aboard the ferry. Maria Kurenai, the late Ambassador's daughter, was thwarted peacefully from her assassination attempt but has joined the group aboard the ferry; as a close friend of Director Kuran and Hand Kiryu, simply killing her is not an option. The ferry is now enroute to Kvaland, an island in the Baltic Sea, and the group has gathered to interrogate the recovering assassin.     NOW... The first-class cabin of the Kvaland Ferry was bought out by Maria Kurenai, who intended to use it as a potential secondary location from which to kill the assassin. The ferry resembles a 21st-century ferry; large, covered, with a robust interior filled with rows of deep blue, comfortably plush seats. The first-class cabin has nicer seats spaced farther apart, with a lounge and a bar area that people can go to during the trip. The only person who is still here other than the group, the assassin, and Maria Kurenai is a rather bored-looking bartender. New members of the Concord are able to join through a 'gate' composed of Zero's vines set up in the expedition room back at Elysium Apex, which passes through to a matching gate at the back of the first class cabin. The ferry has set out from the terminal. From Agnafit to Kvaland is around 3 hours, give or take a few minutes, which is more than enough time for you to finish your business here and decide what to do. The assassin is a diminuitive, blonde-haired, blue-eyed young woman with a scarred face and heavily pierced ears. She looks rather pathetic, secured to the seat with vines as she is, but she's started to come out of the stupor that she was thrust into with various psychic and pharmaceutical effects imposed on her. Her eyes are coming back into focus, and she's trying to get a fix on where she is. No one is injured, not even the prisoner. While the assassin has come around, Zero Kiryu has distributed primers (see Zero's +info) to explain various elements of the history of vampirism in this world, and what to expect of vampires here. Presently, he is at the back of the cabin talking with Maria Kurenai. It's not a happy exchange, but at the end of it Maria takes a little bottle from Zero and drinks its contents.
Zero Kiryu	Information Advantages [Kukuru]: Kukuru has a moment more to examine the assassin. Once more, she discovers that there is an object embedded in the woman's left arm. With the time to 'look' at it properly, she'll discover that it has some sort of etching on it that appears to be preventing the woman's regenerative powers from closing it. Those powers have, not incidentally, been thrown into overdrive by something. Probably because she was fed the blood cordial by Zero at Yuuki's request, however. The smell of her is unusually attractive in a way that Kukuru has a hard time quantifying; she WANTS to go over, at least a little, though it isn't particularly strong. She can imagine it being enthralling to somebody who thought the assassin was attractive to begin with, though. The assassin still has no fangs. [Metamorph One]: 'What is your place in the world?', she might ask. This person is Gudrun Miyata, a native of a place called Kvaland, located in the Baltic Sea. She is a Dhampyr (though not one whose family has been an active participant in anti-vampire activities for many years), and thinks of herself as a protector of the coastal city of Bi. She has trained with the "Fang", a spear called Baldur, which now rejects her touch. She has been convinced that the leaders of the world are steering humanity into being cattle to vampires. She thinks she is a defender. Thinks, but is not sure. Something happened, and now she feels cut loose, but she doesn't even know what went wrong. She is sick, and that sickness threatens her place in the world. [Raziel]: The ghosts thin as the ferry glides through the water, until at last they are gone. There are ghosts here on the ferry, but they are fewer. Most are those who died here incidentally-- an unfortunately-timed health crisis, or similar. But that also means the density has gotten to the point where it's practical to actually talk to these phantoms, if he wants to. There's an old gentleman in a tophat playing the piano; the noises are ghost-noises that (probably) only Raziel can hear, but he plays well enough. A seasoned lounge player. [Sougo & Woz]: There's not much new to learn about her past, but Woz's book contains information on the object that Kukuru is detecting. It is an injection device that was designed as a sort of "super-steroid", and uses Hunter's Association blood magic to make it stay in the body of somebody with a healing factor. The contents, of which no useful trace will remain at this point, are an experimental form of synthetic Vampyr venom. In short, it is intended to have a diluted version of the same effect as being bitten by a Vampyr-- but it is flawed. No, it won't fully turn somebody into a Chevalier, and yes they will get most of the benefits of being a Chevalier. The problem arises from a lack of stabilization and any of the equipment necessary to imbibe fuel for their new physiology. It is a chrysalis that will eventually turn the subject into a starving, blood-crazed beast who isn't equipped to consume blood at all. Like a hercules moth. [Yuuki Kuran]: There is a figure in the assassin's mind, a silhouette that told her... many things. Over a very long period of time. The Miyata family are a known hunter clan, but one which 'retired' and initiated few members of the family into its prior secrets. Gudrun was not the one chosen to bear the burden of the family's history. Somebody introduced it to her from left field, insinuated that she had been deceived, and was far more special than the family had allowed her to be. "They'll let them eat us all, you know..." The dark, white-haired figure had said. There are patches of memories that have not been suppressed, but burned away. Yuuki recognizes this blood magic; it is a form of the same that was used to obfuscate Kaname's responsibility for what happened to the Kiryu family, which burned away records as soon as somebody moved to look at them. an
Zero Kiryu	Information Advantages [Kukuru]: Kukuru has a moment more to examine the assassin. Once more, she discovers that there is an object embedded in the woman's left arm. With the time to 'look' at it properly, she'll discover that it has some sort of etching on it that appears to be preventing the woman's regenerative powers from closing it. Those powers have, not incidentally, been thrown into overdrive by something. Probably because she was fed the blood cordial by Zero at Yuuki's request, however. The smell of her is unusually attractive in a way that Kukuru has a hard time quantifying; she WANTS to go over, at least a little, though it isn't particularly strong. She can imagine it being enthralling to somebody who thought the assassin was attractive to begin with, though. The assassin still has no fangs. [Metamorph One]: 'What is your place in the world?', she might ask. This person is Gudrun Miyata, a native of a place called Kvaland, located in the Baltic Sea. She is a Dhampyr (though not one whose family has been an active participant in anti-vampire activities for many years), and thinks of herself as a protector of the coastal city of Bi. She has trained with the "Fang", a spear called Baldur, which now rejects her touch. She has been convinced that the leaders of the world are steering humanity into being cattle to vampires. She thinks she is a defender. Thinks, but is not sure. Something happened, and now she feels cut loose, but she doesn't even know what went wrong. She is sick, and that sickness threatens her place in the world. [Raziel]: The ghosts thin as the ferry glides through the water, until at last they are gone. There are ghosts here on the ferry, but they are fewer. Most are those who died here incidentally-- an unfortunately-timed health crisis, or similar. But that also means the density has gotten to the point where it's practical to actually talk to these phantoms, if he wants to. There's an old gentleman in a tophat playing the piano; the noises are ghost-noises that (probably) only Raziel can hear, but he plays well enough. A seasoned lounge player. [Sougo & Woz]: There's not much new to learn about her past, but Woz's book contains information on the object that Kukuru is detecting. It is an injection device that was designed as a sort of "super-steroid", and uses Hunter's Association blood magic to make it stay in the body of somebody with a healing factor. The contents, of which no useful trace will remain at this point, are an experimental form of synthetic Vampyr venom. In short, it is intended to have a diluted version of the same effect as being bitten by a Vampyr-- but it is flawed. No, it won't fully turn somebody into a Chevalier, and yes they will get most of the benefits of being a Chevalier. The problem arises from a lack of stabilization and any of the equipment necessary to imbibe fuel for their new physiology. It is a chrysalis that will eventually turn the subject into a starving, blood-crazed beast who isn't equipped to consume blood at all. Like a hercules moth.
Zero Kiryu	Information Advantages 2 [Yuuki Kuran]: There is a figure in the assassin's mind, a silhouette that told her... many things. Over a very long period of time. The Miyata family are a known hunter clan, but one which 'retired' and initiated few members of the family into its prior secrets. Gudrun was not the one chosen to bear the burden of the family's history. Somebody introduced it to her from left field, insinuated that she had been deceived, and was far more special than the family had allowed her to be. "They'll let them eat us all, you know..." The dark, white-haired figure had said. There are patches of memories that have not been suppressed, but burned away. Yuuki recognizes this blood magic; it is a form of the same that was used to obfuscate Kaname's responsibility for what happened to the Kiryu family, which burned away records as soon as somebody moved to look at them. GM Note: This is based on tags! People who tagged but aren't here yet might be represented.
Captain Hook	Usually, if there isn't profit involved, you don't find Captain Hook involving himself.      This is...a different situation. The Captain's not here for personal profit but the Concord's profit. It's not a situation of bettering one's own state, but a situation of bettering one's home.      Therefore the usually-flamboyant Hook has himself quite a bit more subdued than usual, in keeping with the desire to keep things at least a little quiet. While his cutlass is hanging from his hip and his flintlock is tucked into his jacket pocket as normal, his pirate outfit's been traded for a sleek dark blue tuxedo, and his hat's been put elsewhere in favor of just combing his hair into a business casual state. As he passes through the terminal with one of Angela's agents in tow, he's got a deep frown on his face.      "Nasty business, this," he says as he takes the primers with his good hand and starts flicking through them, "When friends are set against friends."
Timespace Riders	Sougo and Woz are both reading, near the edge of the lounge, that the light of the sun might filter through the windows and provide ample light for the both of them. The Demon King has his nose in one of Zero's primers; Woz, meanwhile, studiously pores through the mysterious book always in his possession.      The two have a brief exchange, after a few minutes of research. They're keeping their voices down, but anyone with sufficiently good hearing can pick it up, without having to strain overmuch. It mostly relates to the prisoner, as could probably be expected. After they've had their back-and-forth, Sougo smiles, nods, and crosses the lounge to take a seat near her. Woz follows, but doesn't sit, instead offering a response to Hook.      "Indeed. It would appear that the culprit was rather... meticulous, in the arrangement of this business."      The same warm, gentle smile is on Sougo's face. "Finally coming to, huh?" he asks. "I'm Sougo. That's my retainer Woz," he says, nodding over at the retainer, who hangs formally (and not a little uncomfortably) nearby, refusing to take a seat. "You probably have a lot of questions. We have some, too, if you don't mind answering." His smile grows a touch brighter, despite the circumstances.      The first question is obvious--how much does she remember, before the attack?
Raziel	Raziel's purpose here was to support his allies in the Concord, and for now, make sure their goals went through. That is to say, make sure nobody hurts Yuuki or Zero, make sure the person responsible is captured, and that their friend is not hurt. Beyond that, his goals were to make sure nothing endangered this. Right now, the boat doesn't give him a lot to do, so instead he decides to walk it and check to see if there is something to do instead. Others would have something to do, but he is a warrior. Questioning assassins isn't something he is particularly good at... at least gently. 'Music played throughout the boat, and my ears struggled to find its source... at least at first. Drawn to the piano, I came to observe a man in a top hat playing a beautiful song. I decided to engage him, at least to have someone to talk to while the interrogation was handled by those better suited for it.' "Hello, surprised to see someone capable of playing on this side of things... it seems being a spirit over here is much more relaxed than where I come from," he starts, conversationally.
Angela	Today you unlocked a new agent! This agent is a pink haired red eyed woman wearing the Funeral of the DEad Buttterflies Ego Gear. The Ego Gear is called Solemn Lament and includes a pair of pistols, one white with a black butterfly pattern and one black with a white butterfly pattern. It also includes a black tuxedo with white gloves. On her back, she is carrying a black coffin with a butterfly insignia on it. She is also, as fate would have it, wearing an eyepatch but she does have both hands. She arrives with Hook. He--and any Concord agents who cared to ask--know her name to be Nikki. She seems to be assigned to Hook directly as she is just following the Captain where he goes for the moment. Nikki is not a vampire. The pistols are presently holstered allowing Nikki to flip through the primers. She has not been given a lot of advance notice to get ready, almost like her player had woken up and realized she actually COULD go to this scene. "When there's power for the taking, new friends can become enemies. We'll get the Director's foes to their peaceful slumber. Doesn't make it less tragic, I suppose." Nikki's gaze glides over the other Concord Agents.
Kukuru	The assassin's sorry state, along with the discovery of a strange object stuck in her left arm, is more than enough to get Kukuru to keep watching over her closely. She's caused quite a bit of trouble for Zeor and Yuuki, after all, so she's not taking any risks in preventing the destruction of the masquerade and watching her intently without leaving even a second to chance! The unidentifiable scent certainly doesn't hurt, either, although Kukuru probably doesn't even realize it immediately until she realizes that she finds it vaguely pleasant. That's not supposed to happen with someone that's causing problems for her family.. <Tac-Concord> 4 Kukuru says, "That thing in her arm... It's got some weird carvings on it. I don't know how it works, but it's... Not letting her heal right. Should I take it out?" Although she's actually discreet about informing the rest of the group about the object in Maria's arm, it takes her a moment longer to remember that said removal would be a little harder to do just as quietly. Instead, she just loiters nearby at first, hovering by the bar briefly to order some cold drinks (non-alcoholic) for everyone interrogating the prisoner. She even gets one for said prisoner, too, with a convenient straw so that she can drink without having to get up or use her hands. "He-llo there. Would you mind telling us what you know about all that stuff that happened?" Sougo's question has Kukuru wondering about what else to ask about, and then she gets one whole idea! "Does it hurt anywhere? Your arms, your face, wherever? I can fix it, if you let me know."
Zero Kiryu	"I don't think this was conducted by a 'friend'," Zero remarks to Hook, as he returns to the group. "Even though she shouldn't have been an enemy, exactly, either." He issues a small, irritable sigh. "Hunter's Association political blocs are complicated, especially the farther out we get from headquarters." The young woman restrained to the chair comes around a little more, looking up at Sougo and Woz. Before she answers him she looks around at the others. There's an impression that, perhaps, she didn't really expect to be 'taken alive' if she was in fact subdued. She's good at hiding her reactions to thinks, but there are some mitigating factors at the moment. A big one is that she's just in a lot of pain. "Not seeing why I should answer," she replies, though her stubbornness has already been audibly deflated by her physical condition. After a moment, she adds, "Gudrun." No surname, though. With regards to what she remembers AND is willing to share, she doesn't seem to really think there are holes in her memories but she's also not really willing to share much on account of being captured by relative unknowns to her. In parallel, Raziel talks to a ghost. The phantom regards him with some surprise, and then says, "Oh... the living world is far more tumultuous than this one. Most of the real spooks are still living in their bodies while their bodies do whatever they please. Once they've been freed of that, they tend not to be terribly upset anymore comparatively. Unusual for anybody to be able to see us, though. Even among the various espers." "Do either of you require supplemental empowerment?" Zero asides to Hook and Nikki. //<Tac-Concord> 4 Kukuru says, "That thing in her arm... It's got some weird carvings on it. I don't know how it works, but it's... Not letting her heal right. Should I take it out?"// "Yes," he adds towards Kukuru, the vines tightening their grip on Gudrun. They begin to generate powder along their surface that causes Gudrun to relax and look a little spaced out. She doesn't seem happy about this. "Hurt...? Hurts everywhere," Gudrun mumbles pliably, the unhappiness disappearing from her features. Zero walks away again, pulling a phone from his inside pocket. He says to Kukuru, "Mark the extraction site. Pen or marker will do."
Yuuki Kuran	Things had 'calmed down' from the fervent frenzy of before, and Yuuki - both physically apparently, and as a back-of-mind presence in the various Partners of the Concord about - eases off with a smooth exhalation(-like) release. Still dressed like the lead singer of a visual kei band and not the leader of the monster mafia, with black lace in ornate cross-and-ring patterns wrapping neck, shoulder, collar, and wrist, while a long black dress implies hanging flowers with ruffles and span. The dark fall of her brown hair is artfully scattered about her, though she's drawn it back into a loose straight fall rather than a rather voluminous anime blowout. Lingering her physical attention on Maria and Zero's exchange for a few long moments, the distracted-sleepy Director hits a 'startled awake' at the presence of Will and Nikki. "Oh, thank you for coming." Yuuki smiles, faint and warm across her slightly pale cheeks to the newcomers. "This may be a lot to handle, coming in at the end. Even if we're given forever, that just means the choices we make are even more precious and important. But... I appreciate your help." To the group, Yuuki speaks as the 'suspect' - Gudrun - awakens. "She's had her memory tampered with - as vampires can do." Yuuki admits with the dull tone of someone reciting statistic-adjacent facts. "And her feelings played with as well. So please remain kind."
Raziel	Raziel listens to the specter, though he also remains attentive to the proceedings.  His question about the assassin is 'What is she now'?  However, that will have to be answered by others, hopefully, Kukuru can help her, restoring her to a state that is herself.  Something beyond his power.   Hook receives a glance next.  'Friends against friends. Family set upon family...' "Yes, you are right, it is.  Though my own desire for revenge fueled me in those early days, I regret what has happened between me and mine, and wish to spare that feeling for others.  Even if my desire to avenge myself on Kain remains as strong as before." Yuuki speaking on being kind causes the old spirit to smile somewhat.  "I am impressed that you have the strength to say these things.  It shames me when I think about Kain, but reminds me that perhaps even I can strive for better." To the Spirit, he finally speaks again.  "I am neither.  I am a spirit like you, killed long ago by my maker.  I live again through... forces I am unsure of, and continue to exist for some purpose that is unknown to me.  For me and where I am from, the afterlife is not kind.  It is where souls suffer and are eaten.  Either by my former 'master' or those who have become parasites to avoid his hunger..." He pauses, "So it is nice to see it is not that way here, but more relaxed.  Do you still see into the realms of mortals, or is it all uninteresting for you?"
Captain Hook	"May be a lot to handle, but that's what you've got us for," Hook says, offering Yuuki a broad, charming Pirate Smile. He resumes flicking through the papers with a distant nod to Zero. "Suppose not. Still."      "Messy business all about."      "Feels like I ought have a smoke, but I can't stand the stuff," he says with a cheerful laugh. "Still, has the atmosphere, eh?"      "No, I'm quite alright." Hook waves his hand at Zero's offer. "I've all I need here. Thank you, though, Hand."      He finishes flicking through the primers and hands the papers off to Nikki to read. Hook tilts his head at Woz with a thoughtful look. "Meticulous makes sense, considering, I suppose. If I had eternity to plan I'd take my steps careful-like, too, just as the Director says."      His face softens. "...aye, of course we'll be kind, Director." He walks over to pat Yuuki on the shoulder very gently, just reaffirming what he's saying with physical contact.      His fingers go to his collar, which he tugs at slightly, loosening it a bit. He's clearly not used to wearing this sort of thing even if he can pull it off just fine.
Angela	Nikki is distracted as she shows up to a place and someone kind of sketchy looking offers power. But the sketchy looking person is an Agent of the Concord and Nikki... She remembers a winged dragon slashing out her eye. Rose is lying on the floor, her face blasted off. Carol cowers and curls in a corner, surrounded by slaughtered friends from multiple teams. And she...their Captain...failed to... Nikki takes in a breath. She lets it out slowly. She knows that a deal like this might actually be a fair bit of danger--Always Be Careful of an Abnormality's offer, but always be even MORE careful of a Wing Head and if Zero Kiryu is attached to the Director of the Concord, he's probably plenty dangerous. But in the end, that kind of danger is what Nikki is hoping for. She starts to raise her one of her guns when Yuuki mentions the suspect's memory has been tampered. SHe lowers it again when Yuuki mentions her FEELINGS have been played with. That second thing seems to make her reconsider. "Not a problem. Will try to be." She looks to Zero. "Won't say no. What're the terms?" But she crouches down a bit, pistols pointed down as she looks into Gudrun's eyes. "Hey. Take your time, we'd like to help, but if you can handle it we'd like to ask you some questions." Her gaze slants back up to Zero Kiryu after.
Kukuru	"Everywhere, huh? Aw, don't worry. I'll make it feel better if you trust us, okay?" Kukuru tries to coerce Gudrun into agreeing, even if Gudrun doesn't seem to have much choice in the matter thus far. As an initial show of good faith, though, she provides her with a little hit of healing nanites, spreading all over to try and alleviate some of that vague pain she's mentioned. A slightly larger portion of those are concentrated in her her arm, though, having noticed the messed up regeneration from the presence of the device. There's still some apprehension about actually removing the thing in her arm, but largely from knowing that the bartender is around. Kukuru considers just taking Gudrun's entire arm off so it can be extracted carefully later, but Zero reassures her about the bartender. With her concerns completely assuaged, she circles around Gudrun once and nods at Yuuki, considering how to best resolve her conflicting tasks of both getting the thing out and remaining kind. Zero's hit her with that sleep-inducing chemical, so Kukuru steps over by Gudrun's left, hugging her head against her chest gently. "This is gonna hurt for a little while, but you'll feel even better later. Trust us, okay?" She murmurs with a bit of her own mental influence seeping in, then takes out a wadded towel to try sticking that in Gudrun's mouth so she doesn't end up biting her tongue off. Kukuru also takes out an apron to put on over her shirt, and she rolls her sleeves up as far up as she can. Afterwards, she takes hold of Gudrun's arm where she detected the device. She gives her a few gentle pats, then holds the arm still with one hand while stabbing the other right in to begin the process of getting that thing out. She's being careful not to damage the device as she does, of course, since Kukuru knows she's got a better shot of healing any damage to Gudrun's arm with her nanites in conjunction with Zero's cordial compared to fixing any damage to the device if she's too rough with it.
Timespace Riders	Sougo nods at Yuuki, momentarily making eye contact. He'd suspected exactly the kind of memory manipulation she'd mentioned, from the moment he first peered into Gudrun's past. The Greatest, Kindest Demon King of Time would treat her with nothing less than the utmost kindness. Once Yuuki can glean this from his expression, he returns his attention to Gudrun.      "Hi, Gudrun," says Sougo. It doesn't take a trip through time to see that she's mistrustful. She all but said it herself. "We're friends of Yuuki Kuran's, and she and Zero there have gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that we could get you here safely. A lot of people are upset right now," Sougo adds with a frown.      He leans back in his seat, and turns his gaze to the window. "But if I cared what those people were going to say," he says, nodding towards the sea on the other side of the lounge, beyond the exterior railing of the ferry, "I'd be out there asking them. So, just try to relax," he says, projecting outward calm, that Kukuru and Zero might remove the device with a minimum of fuss.      Once it's done: "Is there anything unusual you remember in the days leading up? Or... anything that you have *trouble* remembering?" Sougo Tokiwa shifts unnaturally in his seat, in a blink-and-miss-it moment. He's checking Gudrun's testimony or lack thereof to her passage through time, to see what's been altered.
Yuuki Kuran	The matters of everyone's commitment to kindness eases the lingering worry that plagues Yuuki, who is still fairly stressed out by - as admitted and explained in Zero's notes - the culmination of a decade of work and the revelation rubicon of a falling masquerade. And now, a threat? And now, stiff hurdles? It was obvious why the Director took this matter truly seriously. Touched by Will, Yuuki's eyes slowly turn, catlike in her shift of attention slow across the captain's shoulders, until her red-browns blink at him. Then, after a panel pause, she smiles. "Thank you. I do feel better, though I will be recovered once this is resolved." Introduced by Sougo in passing, Yuuki waves to Gudrun while lingering about Nikki accepting the delicious dark vampire power. For reasons. She's very interested in that.
Zero Kiryu	The woman trapped in vines, Gudrun, glances towards Yuuki. She is not, and anyone can see this, what Gudrun expected when it came to a 'Vampyr'. Rather the opposite, actually. She expected something... she's not sure. More frightening, certainly. A tall, tall figure in robes of ominous patterns, certainly. Not this... k-pop smol. She certainly doesn't expect any sort of mercy to be offered, much less kindness. Parallel to this, the piano-playing spectre shrugs. "Not much by the way of suffering on the other side here, but there's not much of anything you don't make of it. But then, I'm told that is because I choose to linger here and watch the living instead of seeking the bounties of spirits. Whatever THAT means. Well, at least here I have an audience..." "I'll be steering clear of your place, though. Sounds dreadful." Though he just demonstrated that he does see mortals, the spirit makes a rumbling sort of 'hmm', and says, "It's a bit different, than seeing them when I was flesh. But yes, they're there. I can hear them, though sometimes I have to try. I assume they can hear me, but have to try also. But I don't try to make contact, exactly. I just play. Sometimes, I'm not alone in playing." Glancing towards the captive, the ghost adds, "I suppose she'll be joining me sooner rather than later. She was an odd sort. Skittish. Not that there's nothing to be skittish about here, of course..." Zero nods at Hook. He pauses for a moment, and adds, "You can dress down a little, if you like. Just a fancy coat is enough to have the 'pop' you might be looking for, out here." Then he moves on, focusing on Nikki. Reaching into his coat, he produces a stoppered bottle of red liquid. It looks more like a cordial than it does blood, but it is in fact blood. What it smells and tastes like to Nikki will depend on her impression of Zero; if she doesn't like him it'll taste foul, if she's indifferent it will be bland but inoffensive. The gradients are wildly varied. Zero passes the bottle to her. "You will be susceptible to my mental influence even if you are otherwise protected, not as a term but as a side-effect. It will not make you vulnerable to the influence of others. You will be unable to wield your borrowed power against myself, Director Kuran, or First Priscilla. You are forbidden from taking harmful actions against myself, Director Kuran, or First Priscilla. Lastly, providing commensurate future value to myself in services, favors, or goods... though as a member of the Concord, you are already doing that. If you agree, drink. Otherwise, return the bottle to myself or the Director," he explains. Then he... dials somebody on his phone and steps away. Gudrun is in enough pain that she's started panting now. She glances from person to person, assessing them. Practically nobody is what she expected, and the things they're saying continue to be consistently unexpected. "Mmmn... if you're going to ask them, just ask them," she grumbles at Nikki. Then surgery is being performed on her. Gudrun spits out the rag and flashes a reproachful look towards Kukuru. She is, apparently, tougher than that-- and very much not put to sleep by any of this, though the 'doesn't care what's going on' element of the drug seems to be holding her together. Getting to the device isn't hard; it's not deep, though fighting her steady natural regeneration is a mild nuisance. The device fits uneasily between the fingers (it's small enough that it's easy to imagine breaking it), narrow and metallic. Larger than a grain of rice, but not by a lot. It has a mechanism for pushing a tiny amount of some kind of liquid into surrounding tissue, which has long since been spent. Gudrun shudders. It might be less that she's not feeling the minor surgery and more that she's already in enough pain that it doesn't change her experience much. Hissing through her teeth for a long moment, she looks up at Sougo. "Nothing unusual. Remembering..." She has to think about that. "... there's a few fuzzy faces."
Zero Kiryu	Further examination of Woz's book would suggest that Gudrun was aware of the implant; it was an emergency failsafe that would give her an out. She didn't actually know the details of what it would do, and was led to believe it would activate automatically. It turned on around 3 hours before her attack. Whatever was altered seems to be farther back, though-- it's probably whoever is using her as a proxy to begin with. The attack itself doesn't register as 'sketchy' to her, so much as a matter of humanity's survival. She didn't consent to what's happening to her, though.
Captain Hook	"Hah, your permission is appreciated, Hand, but it's alright. Won't let it beat me. Just reminds me of a noose, and of days long gone, and dressing as a boy to be presentable for my father's associates." Hook's face takes on a rueful look. "Greedy adults one and all, more interested in seeing the lad's existence than the lad."      "Oh well."      Hook tilts his head at Gudrun. At her shudder, at her painful reaction, Hook reaches over and settles a hand on her shoulder. It's a gentle hand, a kind hand, reinforcing the others' assertions of gentility, offering support not only to her but to the statements that they're trying to help. It's all he can do, but it's *something*.
Raziel	"Tell me about it.." Raziel says in response to his home being dreadful.  Maybe in time that would change, but right now he would not blame any ghost for avoiding it.   He listens to the spirit explain, and nods.  He continues to listen, both to the others and the spirit for a time until he says something that piques his interest. "We have no desire to cause her to join your side.." he says, though he looks at the spirit, "But that's not what you meant, is it?"
Kukuru	"Easy, easy... You're doing great, Gudy. We'll be done soon, okay?" Kukuru coos softly, definitely in that sort of patronizing, yet well-intentioned soothing way that a parent or hospital worker might with someone gettinga  shot. In this case, though, it's while she's using her fingers to carefully pinch and pierce into someone's arm. The look from Gudrun goes seemingly unnoticed by Kukuru, as her hands are deep in trying to get the thing out of the captive arm. She can't yet afford to let her focus drift elsewhere despite the smells hitting her from every direction. That minor regeneration being the annoyance that it is, though, has Kukuru eventually resorting to carving out some more flesh than she might need to get the whole device (and some flesh) out entirely instead of trying to do all of that while it's still in Gudrun. That way, she can heal up the extraction wound, restore what was taken out, and then focus on extracting the device from the chunk of flesh at her leisure.  Before she does, though, Kukuru wipes off a bloody hand on her already-bloodied apron, then pats Gudrun's leg and smiles up at her without noticing that she's got a fair bit of blood splatter on her face as well. "There. Not so bad, right?" Before she can forget or get distracted, Kukuru also remembers to take out a pink marker. She draws two hearts on Gudrun's arm, each one's bottom tip right where she started digging around in that arm, then connects them both with more standard lines to show how big the extraction area was.
Timespace Riders	"Okay," says Sougo. "As far as I can tell, Gudrun... Yuuki is right. It looks like someone did alter your memories. Maybe your feelings, too, I don't know." He pauses, then follows her gaze, smiling when he realizes she'd been looking at Yuuki and Zero for a moment (among the rest of the Concord). "Not what you expected?" he asks, with a warm yet impish smile.      "Yuuki wants a world where everyone can smile, I think. That's why I'm helping her. And why I'm here, talking to you." Sougo breathes in, out, palms resting neatly in his lap. "Anyway... Woz?"      The retainer steps forward, inclining his head respectfully towards Gudrun. "You were led to believe the device which was removed from you was a 'failsafe;' a device meant to secure an escape. This is not the case. Rather, it was designed to confer some of the strengths of a certain manner of vampire, *without* allowing you to draw sustenance thereafter." Woz purses his lips, and adds, "I am not an authority on the matter, but I feel it at least somewhat reasonable to suppose that this is the cause for your present pains. Moreover, that this was intentional; a means to be rid of you, after your work was done."      "From what I can see," says Sougo, "It turned on a few hours before the attack. The fuzzy faces you mentioned--if you had to put a date to the first time you remember them... could you?"
Angela	Nikki reaches for the bottle of... ... well, it's not...blood? No, it is blood? Nikki does listen to what Zero has to say while looking at the fluid within the bottle. It actually is starting to SOUND like a deal with an Abnormality but that's okay. Nikki has one goal left in her life--one that would probably make her a shoe-in for Disciplinary but she insisted on staying with the Center. ''If you agree, drink--'' Nikki downs the blood as readily one might down a shot of liquor. No, a shot of WATER. The puts the stopper back, wipes at her mouth, and says, "Thanks." to Zero. It is unlikely that this is something that Lobotomy Corp would have wanted Nikki to do but, well, she hadn't even turned on her video pad yet. She had barely just arrived before receiving the offer. Convenient for her, really. She's expecting some kind of painful pulse throughout her body but if anything she feels...healthier. The wound behind the eyepatch usually aches periodically but she isn't feeling the pain now. There is a faint throbbing in her wrists but other than that--she doesn't entirely dwell on the other feelings right now. She didn't even ask what kind of power it'd give her. She might be a maniac. Or not really be in the best mindset to make such a bargain with a clear head. Nevertheless, she does take a moment to turn on the videopad. It's wrapped around her wrist. Tiphereth A appears on the screen. She looks like a child, but Hook--specifically--will no doubt quickly recognize those eyes doesn't belong on a child. "Is that the assassin?" Tiphereth asks the Agent. Nikki says, "Yeah, but it's complicated." Nikki watches Gudrun. It occurs to her she has no idea what to ask. Who put her up to this? It surely couldn't be that easy, could it? Tiphereth starts running an Analysis of her own from back at L-Corp through the pad. Starting with checking vitals, then--perhaps--drawing something from beyond. A tale, fictional or otherwise, from this girl's past. That might take her a while. "What a coward." Nikki snarls, a little grouchier than she intended. "Using this poor girl as a pawn so they take none of the risk." She spits to the side. "Before your memory gets fuzzy--where were you from? Any friens or family?"
Yuuki Kuran	Sougo recites and Yuuki remains hung back, certainly not cutting the dramatic persona of Dracula for their captured assassin. But then, the assassin isn't cutting the dramatic persona of a feral killer, is she? More complicated than fangs and claws under the light of day. There wouldn't be such a need, such a drama, over the howling of wolves. "Memory, feeling, the spirit is all one thing, and if you can hear its pulse..." Yuuki speaks, eyes lidding slightly and reddening sharply as Nikki drinks down the blood-cordial. Sympathetic at the scent, and her own memories-and-feelings of a similar moment, long ago. "... you can gain a lot of insight about a person. What quickens the feelings, memories. Drawing and mixing, taking and replacing. It's all very wet, when all is said and done." A gentle, sad smile. "But it leaves a terrible thirst."
Zero Kiryu	"Not from around here, are you," Gudrun 'asks' Hook, though it is more of an observation than a question. She glances at his hand. "And just why... are humans working with these people?" The phantom smiles thinly at Raziel. "You learn to recognize the smell of death, sooner or later. Her smell is a peculiar one. Perched on the edge, ready to topple over, but not-- not quite yet. A few more steps, a few more stumbles." "But there are a lot of people who feel like her, staggering around with their sword in hand, marching towards doom. And some have already fallen, and just haven't noticed how far there is to go to the ground." "If you're not going to send her along, what ARE you going to do?" The piano phantom asks. //... doing great, Gudy.// "Pretty sure we're not close enough for you to call me 'Gudy'," she gripes, temper rising. //Not so bad, right?// "Pretty fucking awful actually, you guys have just drugged the shit out of me." //Not what you expected?// "He is," Gudrun nods towards Zero. "But he's the Association's future President. Everybody in my family knows that guy. I'd heard of her--" She nods at Yuuki. "But..." But Yuuki is a 5-foot-nothing girl wearing very very modern clothes. Considering Gudrun is even smaller than her, maybe this lack of expectations being met is a bit hypocritical. She grunts. "Don't see why the vampire queen would want anything for 'everyone'." //If you had to put a date to...// As soon as Gudrun tries to remember that factoid, the memory burns up. She winces, and shakes her head. "W-well... it did give me a boost of strength back there, but... what, you're telling me it's turned me into some kind of pseudovampire?" It wasn't actually intentional, though. Or rather; it was a callous possibility. The progress of the pertinent research was in question, and too much confidence was given it. "If you're asking me about--" Fwoosh. Gudrun winces again, "Uhm... about... the Professor... she's got a lab somewhere in... the place this ferry is going." Kvaland. Zero glances back when Nikki drinks down the blood cordial. He nods, then goes back to his call. "Kvaland. City of Bi. Cambion Club," she answers Nikki, hollowly. This ferry is bound for that very city. It wasn't a very long route she was taking to throw off potential pursuers. Perhaps she thought she was home free before she got caught. "Take the plant gate from the board room. Thank you," Zero says to his cell phone, turning around and putting it away. He moves over next to Yuuki, nodding towards the heart markings Kukuru left where she had done the extraction. "We should... be able to slow this down like mine was. I've called Kaien over." He indicates the tattoo on his own neck, by way of explanation. "You want to give me a 'taming' tattoo...?" Gudrun sounds pretty disgusted.
Zero Kiryu	Tiphereth's Analysis Dhampyr. In some places it is simply another word for vampire, and in others it is something... else. A descendant of a vampire, in some configuration. Or someone born under a strange star. Gudrun is a member of the Militia of Bi, and once wielded a spear that would ruin the substance of which monsters were made. But the 'emergency option' given to her stole that spear away. One day she learned from a shadowy figure that the monsters had made deals with influential humans, and was convinced to fear that they intended to do great harm with this influence. The shadowy figure gave her a boon to put an end to it, and then...
Captain Hook	"Oh, arguably I'm not from much of anywhere," Hook says cheerfully, "Just sort of about." He pats her on the shoulder.      "I owe them," he says, "A debt I can never repay. Kindness, you know. Kindness of strangers. Kindness to open their doors and take me in, even though I am who I am. And Captain Hook, he pays his debts. Never let it be said he doesn't."      "Even were it not for that, I like them. I'm home with them. It's pleasant, and cheerful, and a little bit fun, besides."      Tiphereth's eyes get a long look from Hook before he breaks contact with them and turns back to Gudrun, smiling again. "You can trust me, at least, to have no reason to lie to you. Never let it be said that Captain Hook is a liar, either. An honest pirate is a proper pirate. Man who lies as a pirate is a man who lies at the bottom of the ocean."      He chuckles at his own joke, because he's trying to make her smile a little. Make her feel a little safer, so she can think a little clearer, so she can think a little bit about something other than her hate, or the fuzziness.
Raziel	Raziel frowns at the Ghost's response.  Raziel, doesn't say anything for a moment.  What /were/ they doing?  Yuuki wanted to save this woman, a woman who was used as an assassin... someone who was used and thrown away by the looks of things, but there was something else underneath it all. He speaks, finally, to the phantom, "Preventing that stumble," finally, and takes a step forward.  He closes the distance between the girl and himself until he is with the group.   "What happened to you to make you hate like this?" Raziel says, finally.  "Because it is not the words of others that have caused you to be here, but your own actions as my own have taken me here.  Someone has taken advantage of you, but the real question is..." "Why did you let them?"
Timespace Riders	Sougo's warm smile is a touch more wan, in light of Yuuki's observations. "Yeah," he says in response. "It does. After all, if you can do it once, you can do it again, right? A drink that makes you thirstier the more you have... that's dangerous. So I try to make sure it's not the only thing I drink."      Woz looks away, tucking the mysterious book against his side.      "Thanks, Gudrun," says Sougo, turning his attention back to her. "Really, thank you. I'd be happy to answer what I can, since you've answered my questions. As for Yuuki... *good* kings and queens have to think about things like 'everyone.' The narrower you go from there, the closer to 'I' you get. It's not like a bad ruler can't rule for a long time," he says, touching a finger thoughtfully to his lower lip, crossing one leg over the other.      "But I don't think she'd be satisfied, to be that kind of ruler. Or even an 'average' ruler." He smiles fondly at the notion. He looks, curiously, over at Zero, as if to ask what Gudrun might mean by the mention of such a tattoo.
Angela	Nikki's eyes glance towards Yuuki--but Yuuki has only asked for kindness. Nikki's eyes are already red so this might have been inevitable, really, but she does give her a small nod of respect (she is the Director after all) and quietly wonders why she's so sad. If anything, the Director should be happier than anyone right? Her focus on Yuuki means missing Zero's look and nod but she feels it on her skin all the same. She puts the concern out of mind for now because there's work to do. The City of Bi. Nikki blinks twice. District B? No, just coincidence, she's sure. "Your spear. What happened to it?" Tiphereth asks. How did she find out about that? Nikki glances towrds Tiphereth for a moment and they murmur to each other before the Agent says, "Someone who doesn't want your work to come to pass. Guess that was evident enough but..." Nikki stands up, looking to the Director. "Ma'am. Do you know anyone who objected to your plans? Someone with a talent for this kind of manipulation--or the personality for it? It'd have to be someone who knows what your plan is, right? How many people know?" Nikki glances to Hook. She examines how she feels---she feels a little... Deeper? Strange. She does laugh a bit at Hook's joke, despite herself. It is inappropriate, Nikki thinks. You don't laugh at funerals.
Kukuru	"No... No, we're not." Kukuru relents with a light sigh, giving Gudrun one more pat on the leg before turning her primary focus back to the piece of flesh she removed. Without needing to worry about it being inside Gudrun any more, she can just tear it up enough to get the device out safely, then wraps it up in a napkin before passing it over to Zero or anyone else that'd like to do an inspection of the thing. She gets a distant look in her eyes as she looks over in the direction the ship is moving, staring off into space while Gudrun comments on Yuuki's rule. Stroking her chin lightly, Kukuru finally realizes she's still rather bloody, and she wipes her face and hands off with a clean-ish part of the apron before taking it off and rolling it up with the blood on the inside. "Yuuki's a good ruler, and a good person." She asserts, nodding in agreement with Sougo, Hook, and Raziel. "Her wanting to make things better for all of us means we all want to do the same for her, too. Anyone that's going to threaten her world threatens ours, and... Um.." She pauses, then gets up to finishing compressing the apron as much as she can before sticking it back into her pocket. There's no bulge anywhere, and it doesn't even look like her skirt has pockets. "Is it the same way for you? For... Um. Why you got involved in all this stuff?" She glances over at Nikki as she asks Yuuki about potential motives, then looks back at Gudrun again with a more thoughtful expression. "Is someone you know getting hurt?"
Zero Kiryu	Gudrun makes a clicking noise with her tongue. "And just... who are you, then?" She has never heard of Captain Hook. Perhaps no one in this world has. The world from which that character came is not even on the distant horizon; twice the span of living human history has passed again to bring this world to the state that it is in now, and it ended at least once through all of that. "A pirate," she repeats, incredulously. "Not sure that 'honesty' is what I expect when I hear 'pirate'..." But, maybe that's the point-- she thinks it, even though she doesn't say it. The phantom smiles at Raziel, and resumes playing. The restrained assassin looks up at Raziel. She shrugs, though it is with difficulty since she's still lashed down. "Back when vampire's Council of Elders was wiped out, vampires went pretty wild. Bi is out on an island, so it's a pretty good place for... food tourism, I guess. It was bad, for a while. It's hard for me to imagine the vampires coming out in the open being anything but a one-sided deal in their favor. That's just what they're like." "And the humans who would allow it, have a lot to gain letting the rest of them get hurt..." //Really, thank you. I'd be happy to answer what I can, since you've answered my questions.// "Can you really just... read my life out of that book?" She wonders, irritably. The idea of it bothers her. //But I don't think she'd be satisfied, to be that kind of ruler. Or even an 'average' ruler.// "I've never known a vampire who cared about being below-average towards humans," she says. This isn't actually accurate, but she's prejudiced enough about the vampires of Bi as to not be able to see their better qualities. //"Your spear. What happened to it?"// Gudrun sits up straighter at that. She's even more creeped out by the fact that this was known than anything else. Even so, she's not quite enough in her right mind to not answer: "It just stopped responding. Won't come out of a collapsible state for me." Those who were present before might remember her reaching for a concealed weapon. Apparently that's what she was going for and couldn't get to, because it wasn't there.
Zero Kiryu	When Sougo looks to Zero for an explanation about the tattoo, Zero raises a hand to touch the tattoo on the left side of his neck. It is a stylized rose with several daggers pointing towards its center. "It is a form of blood magic that is used to delay transformation into a vampire. We apply it to the site of a Vampyr's bite. It doesn't buy an infinite amount of time, but it buys some. It also serves as a key for Hunter's Association buildings, which often erect wards against entry by vampires." He takes the discarded implant from Kukuru and produces a baggy, dropping it in. There is a faint spark as it passes through his hand, though nothing significant appears to have happened in spite of that. Some small while of silence passes after. Eventually, on the tail end of Kukuru's talking and questions, Gudrun explains, "The Professor said we could put a stop to this whole... deal, if we screwed up that summit. I said I'd do it, she gave me the implant just-in-case, and I did it." Which means that Nikki is right, and it was somebody who had SOME connection to ongoing political winds.
Raziel	"That wasn't all, was it?" Raziel asks again.  "Vampires who can not control themselves is one thing... and would be frightening, but this sort of hatred does not come from vague 'these vampires were dangerous where I lived once.'" Raziel says, lowering himself so that he's staring her in the eye.   "From where I stand, on either side of the human and vampire line... I have seen humans commit horrors against them, but the reverse is true.  It is less what you are... and the scars placed upon you.  It is easy to place the scars we bear on others, blame them for the reason we feel pain." "It is far harder to let them go and to grow past them.  To, instead, make a world where every generation isn't paying for the crimes of the last.  A world where everyone can be happy." "I used to not think it was possible, myself.  I was hurt and scared in a way I didn't think would ever heal.  I was willing to do anything to get my revenge... even more so when someone slipped into my ear that it would save the world.  It feels /good/ to be right, that your actions will not only satisfy yourself but help /everyone/." "But the world is so rarely black and white.  So be honest with me, and yourself.  What happened to cause this hate inside of you?"
Yuuki Kuran	When you're asked a direct question, like that, sometimes idiocy is the sharpest sword. Yuuki had practiced a sort of softvoiced mildly-confused tone, a declarative question-and-answer. 'Don't see why the vampire queen would want anything for 'everyone'.' "Oh," The director of the Concord begins. "That's simple. And I'm glad that everyone else here is in on it, too," Even Maria? Well, now that she's had a drink off of the same blood cordial that Nikki had, of course. As long as she said it simply, out loud, then there wouldn't be any confusion about what hurting the Director, the First, and the Hand's plans was. "We are a part of 'everyone', too. If you ask the queen of the hungry, I would say 'to make a kinder garden where things could grow'. If you ask the queen of the powerful, I would say 'to bring others into gentle power'. If you ask the queen of the harmed and hurting, I would say 'to build a world where such a rule was not necessary'. If you asked the queen of the painless, I would say 'to bring others towards such a state of grace'. There are so many reasons to help everyone... But you ask a girl who hears the heartbeats and memories of others. Wouldn't I want a world that was pleasant to my ear? Pain creates thirst." Yuuki pauses, when asked specifically about who would oppose her efforts - even after explaining them. This, too, gets the same thoughtful-dazed Oh Okay I Will Simply Answer That tone. "Oh... Well, anyone who stands to gain from the current cruel state. Every Pureblood that isn't already a part of my political coalition in the Senate, and the nobles beneath them. Also, every Hunter who doesn't like Zero thinks I'm the devil." A light tittering of laughter, as if it's completely apparent that she isn't. She thinks it is!
Kukuru	'I've never known a vampire who cared about being below-average towards humans' "Really? That's a shame... But now you do." Kukuru asserts with a confident nod towards Yuuki and Zero at first, then at Raziel a few moments later. When Zero explains the purpose of the tattoo, meanwhile, Kukuru gets a little more confused. "That doesn't sound like a 'taming tattoo' at all, then. I mean, if someone doesn't wanna become a vampire, wouldn't having one of those make it easier to not be tamed by... Somebody?" She looks over at Zero and Yuuki at first with that question, then at Gudrun as if expecting an explanation there. More importantly, though, the Professor's promise to Gudrun gives Kukuru something else to chew on, especially after Yuuki throws out some potential culprits behind all of this. "That sounds like... Wait. But wouldn't stopping the summit make things worse for everyone else? I don't get it." She grumbles with a trouble noise, pausing again to take one of those drinks and chew on some ice. "So... Um. Gudrun. Do you know why the Professor would want to stop all of this stuff from happening?" Kukuru pauses, then settles back down on a nearby chair while frowning slightly. "... And who's 'we'?"
Captain Hook	"Nothing more honest than a man who says 'I want that' and takes it," Hook says cheerily, "No more honest employment in the world."      Pain creates thirst.      Hook looks off into the middle distance at that, removing his jovial hand from Gudrun's shoulder. He slides it into his pocket and goes silent. Then, finally, he says,      "Aye, it does, doesn't it,"      in a very quiet, faraway voice.
Timespace Riders	"No," says Woz, answering in Sougo's place, regarding the book. Gudrun's question draws the retainer out of his contemplative floor-gazing, and has his brown eyes looking less imperiously upon her than they had a moment before. "It can tell what *was,* what *is,* and it peers, unblinkingly," he says, gesturing with a slow sweep of an open palm, "Into the yawning infinity of potential, which spreads out before you with each passing second." His swept palm gestures outside of the lounge, to the water, before he lets it fall gently to his side.     "A life is... something different. Even if it weren't, a map is only so useful as its navigator is skilled."      Whether Gudrun's opinion on vampires is accurate or not is not immediately seen as relevant by Sougo--his answer is short and simple. "Oh? Well... now you have," he says to her. "The thing about people who are allowed to be ugly is that they can smell change on the wind, I think. They really hate it. Even if it's the smallest little bit; the slightest change in air pressure, that says they have to *act* differently, much less *feel* differently. It's unacceptable to them, and Yuuki doesn't settle for small."      The Demon King nods gratefully at Zero. "There isn't any of that synthetic blood left in the implant," he laments. "So, how can we help her, with the time it'll buy us?"
Angela	Nikki blinks slowly as Yuuki reveals that her plan is basically unpopular amongst everybody. Then Yuuki laughs as if it's apparent that she's not the devil. Nikki grabs at her sides and laughs. "Well, that's really in accordance with the values isn't it. You and those close to you against the world." Nikki nods once. "Well...That's how I got into this business." She makes her way back to Hook, hands sliding into her jacket pocket. The guns have long since been reholstered. "Don't suppose The Professor has a name huh..." She mutters. She supposes it wouldn't be someone who would just announce it. "Surprised they tried an assassination, it seems like they could just declare war on you directly." "Probably politics. Wings don't like it when anything is directly attached to them either." Tiphereth surmises before looking up to Hook. "Hey." She says softly. "You alright?"
Zero Kiryu	"The 'vampires that are out of control' are one thing, but you have to have somebody doing some biting they shouldn't to get them in the first place. 'Those' people," Gudrun looks towards Yuuki pointedly, "... they don't appear. They sweep through, have their fun, and move on, leaving behind scores who go mad. The vampires behind the ferals are bad, but the ferals are a worse experience because you have to see them degenerate. The world's not that big a place." "Everybody knows somebody who's lost it that way..." There is no deep underlying reason. The culture of fear that certain vampires have caused is simply very thick. Gudrun herself is actually too young to have experienced the worst of it firsthand, and has simply absorbed the fearful atmosphere from others. She shuts her eyes and sighs. "I don't know... why you're trying so hard to convince me. You're going to have to use me as a political piece, and I've already told you what I know about the Professor. You'll find her at--" Another thought goes up like flames. Gudrun makes a disconcerted noise. "... Well, you'll find her in Bi. Somewhere." She sounds uncertain, now. Zero replies to Kukuru, "Bitten dhampyr are not treated well. They are considered 'leashed dogs'. The tattoos are a method of granting security clearance and restraining vampirism's side-effects, but it's not a thing that anybody wants to wear on their skin. You don't hear me complaining about it because I just don't care. I also like the design." The question about making things worse goes ignored. Gudrun skips over to the one about the professor, "She's human. Sympathetic to the Cambion Club. 'Cambion Club' is another way of saying hunter's association." In other words, it's connected to vampire hunters. Opening her eyes, she squints at Hook. "Yeah. Guess that's true. Haven't heard of a pirate any worse than anyone else, I guess..." A notice comes on the ferry's speakers that they'll be arriving in port shortly. The vines that wind around Gudrun recede partially, becoming only bracelets and anklets that allow her to move again. She draws her arms in around herself and sits forward, staring at the opposite wall. "The maladies associated with vampirism are always under study. And these circumstances are suggestive of somebody knowledgeable about what was done to her. In short... it is probably for the best if we follow through on what she's said, in Bi," Zero offers, hands moving to the insides of his pockets. "She can't escape me right now, but I think it is probably safest to rent some space on Kvaland where she can remain while we sort things out." //Surprised they tried an assassination, it seems like they could just declare war on you directly.// "Our most numerous enemies," Zero turns to look at Nikki, "cannot resist Yuuki's order to stand down. Our most powerful enemies, cannot defeat me reliably enough to risk their eternity. Creating a political incident is much more convenient." "She calls herself Professor Snegurka, but that's not really a name, so we just called her The Professor," Gudrun explains, after a while. This draws a flat look out of Zero. "Professor Snow Maiden, huh..." Gudrun ignores this and carries on towards Sougo and Woz, "She's never seemed 'ugly' to me. She provides medical support to the Cambion Club, and it's a really specialized field since normal people aren't allowed to know about all of this, so I just assumed she was worried about the same stuff we all were." Finally, the would-be assassin focuses on Yuuki. "You want things to be better so you'll be less 'hungry', huh..." That, it seems, is the most believable part of these assertions.
Raziel	"Is that so..?" Raziel says to the girl.  It's... depressing.  He's experienced it because he was on the front lines of it too many times.  He's never really encountered someone who wasn't directly touched by it, but this child was not directly touched... but rather there to absorb the ambiance.   "Sounds like to me my fear has already come to pass.  Maybe you should consider what will happen to those who come after you, and those who are in the ripple effect of your actions." He stands up, and turns, "Because you shouldn't leave the world in pain, you should try to leave it better than it was before."
Captain Hook	"Oh, yes," Hook says to Tiphereth after a moment, a smile lighting up his face, "Quite alright. I was just thinking about the truth of that statement. That pain creates thirst, and the sorts of thirst it creates. A man in a desert suffers for lack of water; a flower in the shadow suffers for lack of sun; and so on, and so on, et cetera, et cetera."      Hook looks at his hook hand thoughtfully. "It's very powerful. A marvelous summary of so much of the world, I think. That's our kind-hearted Director for you, Miss Tiphereth. Cuts right to the heart of things without even trying."
Angela	"Mmm..." Tiphereth admits. "That sounds about right. But..." She trails off before frowning. "Well." She says. "Makes sense for a Bloodfiend to know where the hearts are." Nikki stretches her arms out behind her. "We're allies so we'll continue helping to the best of our ability. Confident in my gear, at least."
Timespace Riders	Sougo shrugs his shoulders lightly, at Gudrun. "It's a word you use for actions, not people. The Professor isn't someone who can help your friends *or* hurt mine. She's both. Everyone is like that--everyone is the good things they do, and the bad things they do. Pretending otherwise... it's best not to, I think."      He stands up, stretches, and takes his retainer's free hand, squeezing gently. The two of them make ready to disembark.
Kukuru	Even after reading that primer provided about this world, Kukuru's still taken aback briefly at how ingrained the pain is upon hearing Gubrun's response. "Even if we have to use you for that later doesn't mean we can't want... Doesn't... We can want to help you now, too, you know? That's the kind of world me, Yuuki, Sougo, and everyone else here wants to make. One that's better for us, for you, everyone." Kukuru's calming smile returns with that statement, and she rests a hand on Gubrun's shoulder to try and reassure her when she makes that noise signaling that something's wrong again. Turning to Zero, she lets out an understanding noise before leaning aside briefly to peer at him more closely. "It's a nice design, mhm!" Nodding in agreement, she goes to the bar to get some more cold drinks (still non-alcoholic) for everyone while nodding again in agreement with Zero. "That sounds like a good plan. Oh, maybe we could get a whole floor for ourselves if we can find the cheaper ones." She suggests with a light chuckle and a quiet yawn, then looks back over at Gudrun. "If you can think of anything else, can you write it somewhere for us? In case you forget while we're out or something." She suggests to Gudrun next, then taps her chin briefly before turning to Zero. "Oh. Would it be better if one of us had a room with her? Then we could keep her..." The instinct to say 'company' is strong, but Kukuru actually reconsiders. "... An eye on her. And safe, if anyone tries to come after her."
Yuuki Kuran	"The sad truth of things is that my goals threaten the value, the habits of the powerful." Yuuki admits. "Despite being 'more powerful', it's against my values to simply smash and dominate them, and if I did - I would instantly lose." And they can't countermand her if she's ordering them, nor beat Zero if he's aggressing on them. A stalemate, where pain is just the smokescreen. Thirsty work. "You can wet your throat and fill your mouth with pain, warm your lips and cheeks with it, but it'll never sate you. The hunger doesn't leave, doesn't get better. And at the end, what are you left with? Forever... Forever is painful because of the self-interested little choices of the moment." Yuuki Kuran looks about the luxury level one more time, and paces over to the bartender. All the talking of thirst had made her interested in a glass of water of all things. "If we just turned enough hands to making things easier, then we wouldn't work up such a terrible thirst." The director finishes, lifting a highball of iced water to her lips and draining it in a series of gulps. "A world that maintains itself - that sounds quite beautiful."
Zero Kiryu	"Uh huh," Gudrun replies to Raziel. She eyes him suspiciously for a moment longer. Her expression turns notably sour concerning the ripple effects of her actions, but she's not willing to linger on it too long. She feels too poorly as-is. "If you shouldn't leave the world in pain, and every kind of solution causes pain, what can you do?" She wonders, quietly. Her expression hardens almost imperceptibly at the divide between Kukuru's notions of helping her but maybe sacrificing her later. This was not the correct thing to say, but it's hard to tell that she registered it properly. "I've given you what I'm going to. If you don't remember it that's not my problem," she grumbles.
Zero Kiryu	Zero observes Nikki with some distant curiosity. "'Allies', but... we always thought of the Concord as a greater family we were making," he says, without offering elaboration. His attention swivels to Kukuru. "It won't be necessary to deny her all privacy. I would like you to be on hand to attempt some medical remedies, however. It will not do for her to be hungry indefinitely." He breaks away from the greater group, joining Yuuki at the bar. While she's getting a water, he goes to work modifying the bartender's memory-- and using his vines to absorb the blood from the semi-improvised surgery.
Zero Kiryu	The city is visible through windows and exterior decks; Bi looks like any port city that you might imagine, though this one has what looks like the remains of a truly ancient castle wall stretching a little ways inland. It is not enormous, as these things go; it is, after all, the main urban center on a relatively small island. Docks stretch out onto the water, big enough to accommodate cruise ships and ferries alike, though most of what's here is personal sailing vessels. Orange-red roofs dot the landscape, and the ferry building looks appropriately grand for being the most important transport center in the area. It is cool, humid, and misty at the moment. The mist is coincidental, and has nothing at all to do with vampires. The lodgings that Zero ends up picking is more of an oversized house than it is a modern hotel, though the upper floor that he designates as their space has plenty of extra rooms for anybody who decides to stay for the duration. Gudrun is given the run of the common areas upstairs, and directed to one of the bedrooms as hers. This bedroom is the one without windows, which seems okay with because she's not terribly thrilled about sunlight at the moment.