RPG The Ripper Program

[Otori_Girl]

Ariana sat quietly in the carriage, her arm wrapped around her husbands. She was worried about what Lord dante had said earlier, he had cleary stated that he did not trust her.

Rufus glanced down at Ariana, and smiled, then placed his hand under her chin and to direct her eyes to him.

"You shouldn't worry your head about what happened, I'm sure he'll get over it. after all the young Lord is still learning a great deal himself, and is quite frustrated. Besides, a frown doesn't suit you, only your bright smile." His smile was truely genuine as he spoke and Ariana's shy smile returned. Rufus leaned down and gave her a small kiss, then replied. "Thats my girl."

Ariana's heart fell and she became saddened, tough she did not allow Rufus to see. The thought that her memories of them together being fake did not please her, he was so genuinly kind that she didn't want to believe that their time together had been created.

"I do hope that Lord Dante's spirits lighten and that we can speak pleasantly at dinner." Ariana replied.

OOC: Sorry its so short I didn't know what to write!

[missrelena]

Geni's eyes fluttered open and she stared at a ceiling that was starting to become familiar. She recalled visiting her mother, changing her dress, and traveling with Dante to his manor house. Everything got blurry after that. She knew that several things -- important things -- had occured after that, but she just could not bring them into focus.

Strangely, she could feel something in the back of her mind that had never been there before, brooding and worried. She felt at it curiously and was suprised to feel it change from brooding to startled to slightly relieved. Still not understanding what the presence was, she decided to let it lay and see if its source would reveal itself. She still wasn't sure how she had gotten into this room and onto this bed, fully clothed, and slept for what looked to be several hours. She didn't even recall feeling tired.

A light knock at the door interrupted her musings. The housekeeper and a young maid that Geni thought was named Denna softly opened the door and peered in at her.

"Oh, Miss! Milord said you were awake." the little maid said in a spritely tone when she saw that Geni's eyes were open. "I do hope that you are feeling better. Milord was in such a rage when you had your spell and I weren't there to lend a hand to you." she gushed.

"That's enough, Denna." the housekeeper shushed. "The young Miss needs her tea, and then would probably like her hair repaired. Snap to and get the tea cart." She wasn't harsh, but it was obvious who was in charge below staris.

"I had a fainting spell?" Geni asked the housekeeper after Denna had scampered off.

"Yes, Milady. With all the excitement of late, your constitution seems to have become a bit delicate, if you don't mind me saying so." the older woman observed.

"No, I don't mind." Geni reponded.

"But [I]I[/I] do." a deeper voice interrupted. "Lady Geni is just fine the way she is. See to her comfort and keep your opinions to yourself." Dante stepped into the room with a slight scowl on his face.

"Yes, Milord." she bobbed. She helped Geni to rise, then led her to a vanity chair where she began to straighten out Geni's mussed hair.

"So harsh, Milord?" Geni teased lightly, not wanting to undermine his autiority in his own home before his own empolyees. Amazingly, despite the dimness of the light in the room, she knew that Dante blushed slightly. She felt his blush in her mind. Never being at all empathic, being able to sense his emotions came as a bit of a shock, especially as she was shielding her mind from outside thoughts. Curiouser and Curioser, as Alice would say.

"Go help Denna with the tea -- please." he ordered, a bit more polite this time. Again, the housekeeper bobbed a curtsey and left the room.

"So, what did I miss? I think it was imporatant." Geni asked

[Lord Dante]

"It seems our killer has a name." dante said as he drew the letter from his poket, cleansed of chloroform.

"'Jack' as he calls himself, seems to think himself funny" he passed her the letter.

"good lord, who we 'really are'? Do you think this relates to the memory flashes we've been having?" Dante shrugged his shoulder self-conciously, as if to say he wasn't sure.

"have there been any more insigts into our 'other' selves recently?" she asked him.

Dante faltered for a fraction of a second, regaining his composure just in time "no... there have been no more memory flashes as far as i'm aware" she frowned at him

"that's strange, i could have sworn i felt a similar sensation after opening the letter.... but maybe it was just the chloroform"

"maybe" dante said, not meeting her eyes.

a booming, gong-like sound reverbarated through the room, cdrowning out geni's reply.

"what on earth was that?" geni asked, quite shocked.

"my doorbell"


[B]OOC: there you go. sorry it's been a while. [/B]

[natchan]

Nathan knocked on the door of Lord Dante's Manor, then stepped back to stand slightly behind Eclair.

"You're sure this is alright? After all I don't even know the Lord." He asked. Eclair smiled.

"Of course it's alright, you know me, and I know everyone worth knowing. Besides what he going to do, reject us flat?" Just as she finished her sentence the door opened to reveal a maid, behind her coming down the stairs was Dante. His expression changing to automatic frustration, though he did try to hide it.

"MiLady Eclair, what a surprise, and you brought a friend?" His voice ringing with restraint.

"MiLord Dante, this is Nathan." Eclair introduced the Officer with a smile. He bowed tipping his hat.

"Pleasure Milord." He replied politley.

"May we come in?" Eclair asked.

"Please do." He envited opening the door wide for them to enter. Eclair stepped past Dante and into the warm not-rainy comfort of his home. Nathan helped her remove her claok and handed it to one of the maids.

"This is a lovely home Lord Dante, I must say so myself." Eclair replied looking around at her surroundings.

"I didn't want to leave anything to be desired." Dante stated.

"Well yoiu certainly did quite the job doing that." Nathan added.

"Lady Eclair, what a pleasant surprise." Geni's voice came from the stairs.


OOC: Sorry its so short, take it away Dante!

[Lord Dante]

OOC: here I go!

"duchess chaimberlayn, to what do I owe this [I]Pleasure[/I]?" Dante asked the woman, now styanding in his home. his voiced was laced with hidden frustration, although there was a modicome of releif around him.

Just as she was about to reply, dante cut her off, staring intently at the stranger she had brought with her. A blue aura was eminating from him.

"you - "

Dante stood up to his full height, pulling all of his mental abilities around himself. pulling all of his mental ability around himself. His blue aura flowed outwards of himself, joining with and feeding the aura of the stranger, who's aura in turn joined and fed power into dante's. At the back of his mind, dante could feel a slight tingling of fear and apprehension, though he could have sworn they were not his own.

"you are one of the blue auras?" dante asked the man.

[I]"yes"[/I] came an answer into dante's mind. the man was a telepath.

dante was no telepath, but he had learned how to speak with telepaths who had spoken to him.

[I]"you are a gentleman of the blade, good sir?"[/I] dante willed into the man's mind.

[I]"better than most"[/I]

[I]"we shall see..."[/I]

dante drew his concealed sword, and ran at the amn, the distance between them shrank alarmingly. A clash of metal upon metal. the two men rained blows of steel upon each other, parrying and launching themselves back into the fray.

the combat languished in the spaces between thoughts, seeming to take an eternity as steel clashed upon steel.

a minute later, the two stood tall, and clasped hands.

[missrelena]

Geni was happy to see Eclair, but was having a hard time remaining on her feet. She felt dizzy, a bit nausiated, and for some strange reason her lips were sore. She knew there was more to what had happened with the letter than Dante was letting on, but she couldn't find a polite way to dig deeper on the subject -- and scanning his mind wasn't even an option. An invasion of privacy on that level was beyond any horror that Geni could imagine. So she gripped the bannister at the top of Dante's staircase, and hoped no one noticed her distress.

In her mind she 'heard' Dante ask [I]:Are you a gentleman of the Blade, good sir?:[/I]. When he continued the conversation, and Geni hadn't heard the new gentleman's response, Geni understood that Eclair's blue-glowing escort was another telepath.

Suddenly, she felt shy and unsure of herself. She didn't feel at her best physically, and the strange emotions she was receiving from -- she presumed Dante -- were throwing her mentally off balance. She didn't even know if she could count on her shields to remain strong. The last thing she wanted was a gentleman telepath picking up her stray broadcast thoughts. Especially one she didn't know. She did her best to tighten her shields around her mind, and swayed as the dizziness hit her again. It was getting more pronounced the longer she stayed standing.

Fortunately, Dante was distracted by his fraternal duel with a brother of the sword, and did not notice Geni. If luck was with her, no one had. She placed a warm smile on her lips as the two men shook hands - no one was hurt, and therefore she was going to smile, even if she didn't understand what had really been happening - and prayed that Dante would unknowingly come to her rescue by climbing back up the stairs and offering her his arm as she attempted to decend them. That hope was pushing the extent of gallantry, but one could pray all the same.

[natchan]

Ecliar watched as the two men starred at eachother for a moment, drew swords, fought right there in the walkway, then shook hands as if nothing had ever happened.

"What just happened? Did we miss somthing, or is this some Gentlemens onlything that we don't get to be included on?" Eclair asked remaing just in front of Geni on the stairs. Therefore not noticing the young girl's dizzy swaying. She turned to say somthing to Geni, but paused for a moment then smiled mischeviously.

"What is it Milady?" Geni asked meekly.

"Your lips." Eclair stated. Geni put a hand up to her lips, she knew they were sore but that was it.

"I'm sorry, did you say lips?" She hesitated a moment.

"Yes, your lips, they look.... different." Suddenly she let out a gasp and her grin grew. "My dear Geni have you and the oung Lord been getting to know eachother better?" Then before anyone could object Geni's face turned a all shades of pink and red. Dante was surprisingly a similar color. :animeshy:

"Milady I do believe that you have embarrassed them." Nathan added.

"Oops, my apologies."

OOC: Hahahaha, that was fun! :)

[Lord Dante]

"you dare to question my integrity in my own home?!" dante barked at eclair. maddening anger eminating from his furious eyes.

"well, no I just..." eclairs sentance trailed off into incoherency under the power of Dante's glare.

"there is more going on than either of you fools - " he stared at eclair and nataniel "can coprihend. All will be revieled to you however, when we attend the dinner party that The lady Geni has so kindly envited us to."

Dante turned, without a word, and strode into his loungeroom.


(OOC: short one here: just wanted to set up geni's next post)

[natchan]

Eclair was quite unsure what to say, in fact for once she knew that saying nothing at all would be the best course of action. She ddin't mean to make the young Lord explode. She looked to Nathan with quite a lost exression, his was equally lost.

"I didn't know the extent of what was happening here anyway." Nathan stated under his breath as so Lord Dante wouln't hear. [I]'Don't worry your head Lady Eclair, I'm sure he didn't mean to call youa fool. He just doesn't know you very well yet.' [/I] Nathan sent this secretly to Eclair allowing only her to hear him in her mind. She gave a weak smile and he offered his arm. She accepted his offer and they walked silently and cautiously after Dante.


OOC: I know its short but I didn't really have time!

[missrelena]

Dante stormed out, a black cloud of fury raging inside him. As Nathan tried to console Eclair, Geni felt the young lord's anger pounding in her mind. Already dizzy, her equalibrium was lost entirely. Fortunately for her well-being, Geni had the forethought to sit down abruptly rather than tumbling forward.

"Why Geni, dear, whatever is the problem?" Eclair asked, putting aside her speachlessness over Dante's misinterpretation of her teasing aside to try and aid the obviously distressed Countess.

"I am not -- not feeling very well." she stammered. "I guess I fainted earlier today, and I have not been quite myself since then." She gasped as a wave of Dante's rage broke over her mind again. He was seething, and it was excruciating to experience second-hand. She dropped her head into her hands, closed her eyes and attempted to make the world stop tilting.

"Poor thing. Nathan, would you be put out if we took this young lady home?" Eclair kneeled next to Geni and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"That will not be a problem." the officer replied. "I need to make a call to that worthy house anyway. Word at the yard is her mother is hosting a dinner party tomorrow -- I believe Dante mentioned it. My orders are to attend the silly thing so that the lady of the house will have an offical presence in case the lunatic that attacked her tries again. I need to find a way to get myself included to the event without inviting myself."

"I -- I would be honored if -- if you would be one of my -- guests at my mother's party." Geni offered, pausing at each stab of pain. If possible, Dante seemed to be getting more angry as the minutes passed. Despite all she had been taught about smiling though discomfort, she cried out to him. [I]: Dante -- please. Please, you're hurting me. Keitaro it hurts!:[/I] Unable to help herself, she began to cry pitifully.

The pain cut off like a switch. The relief of it was almost as overwhelming as the pain itself. It was replaced with suprise, then regret. The anger was still there, but just a dull brooding rather than a blind fury. If Dante had said anything to her, she was either too far away or she was too upset to hear him.

"Come, dear. Can you stand?" Eclair took Geni by the elbow and helped the young woman to rise. She kept her voice low and soothing. The girl was obviously unwell. Eclair was sure there was more to Geni's 'fainting spells', but she didn't want to speculate in front of her. With the Duchess's assistance, Geni made it down the stairs and Nathan carefully handed her into the carriage.

Before they could drive away, Geni pushed passed her headache to tell Dante what was transpiring. Heven forfend he think that Eclair was abducting her. [I]:Milord, I'm sorry. I'm afraid that I am still unwell. Eclair is taking me home. Please forgive me for missing our dinner tonight. I am so sorry. Please come to dinner at my home tomorrow. Please come.:[/I] She sensed resignation and apology, but again, she was too far away for words. He would have to have been a telepath for her to hear him as they traveled down his drive.

"Lord, my invitation was in earnest." Geni turned her attention back to her present companions. "Please come to dinner tomorrow as my guest and not a representitive of Scotland Yard. Then you, Dante and Rufus can protect my mother. She may be a snob and a despot, but she's the only mother I have." The carriage rocked gently, and Geni felt her eyelids grow heavy. She fought it off long enough to continue. "Just give your card to our butler and he will take care of all the arrangements." That said, she allowed herself to be lulled to sleep.

"Rufus?" Nathan asked Eclair softly.

"A friend of ours. His wife, the Lady Ariana also glows blue. She's a telepath, like yourself and Lady Geni." was Eclair's answer. She watched the sleeping girl with concern the entire trip to her home. It was obvious that the two young ones cared for each other, but with one being so volatile and the other so fragile they were both going to require a lot of care.


__________________________________________________
OCC: Okay everyone, we're now jumping to the dinner party. Since you are Geni's friends, feel free to show up early if you are so inclined. Yay Dinner Party!

[Otori_Girl]

OOC: My turn wheeeeeee

Ariana woke with a start as she usually did as of late. She had experienced another memory only it was a very intense flash. She thought back on it and a shiver ran down her spine.

"Dear is there somthing wrong?" Rufus asked as he entered the room, he had a breakfast on a tray, he set it aside and sat on the bed next to Ariana. "Your as pale as a ghost." His voice was filled with genuine concern. Ariana tired to smile and brush it off as nothing, but Rufus didn't fall for it.

"Its nothing really, just a nightmare, quite childish really." She replied her voice quivering slightly. Her body was trembling as much as her voice did.

"Was it another memory?" Rufus asked looking away. Ariana knew that it hurt him to think that her memories of hime might be fake, and that this was all planned out. "Those aren't "childish nightmares", those aren't important to you and..." His voice trailed off and he turned a warm smile on his face. He stood and retrieved the tray of food, then brought it back to his beloved. "Eat up... I made it myself." Ariana didn't want to believe that her memories of Rufus were merely created for some other purpose. Did she truely love him, or were those emotions created as well? Would she ever know? She felt Rufus place a hand on her shoulder and she looked up to meet him as he gave her a gentle kiss.

"You know you can tell me anything... you don't have to be afraid, I'll always be here for you." He whispered.

"Apparently in my other life I was married as well, but... my husband died in a armed robery trying to protect me. That is why i chose to come back, I didn't have anything to hold me back in that world of death and loneliness." Her voice fell to silence and tears came to her eyes. Rufus emaraced her and held her close as she began to cry. "It was so real, theres no way that these memories are fake. She... I was devistated. It was so horrible, don't ever leave me Rufus, please."

"I promisse you Ariana, I will always be with you."

[0ber0n the Neko]

OOC: Listening to: "Ghost Love Score" by Nightwish. BADASS music, by the way.

IC:

The doors opened, and before Nathan lay a legion of tables, covered with exotic foods. People danced in unison as an orchestra played a mellow three-beat score. All this was under the enormous vaulted cieling, which seemed to spread like an ornate sky overhead.

He felt himself reach for a gasp, but could not. "It's beautiful," he stated idly. Eclair, whom he was escorting, shrugged.

"It's mediochre. You should see the Queen Victoria's villa," she said levelly. She smiled. "You seem easily impressed, even for one who has been bestowed such a high honor."

Nathan let a smirk run across his face. "Still, a knight is unable to compare to lordship. I am but a vassal, and at that, a watchman."

Eclair appeared to consider this thought, and smiled sweetly. "But you're such a great watchman. You shouldn't downplay your performance, even if in a mediochre field!" She puffed her chest in jest, putting her free arm in the air. "You must be proud of your position!"

Nathan chuckled silently to himself. "I guess you're right, Miss Eclair."

He let his eyes run over Eclair. She looked wonderful in her evening dress, which was an intense blue. He smiled at her sadly, knowing that he was just one of many suitors that wished to ask for her hand in marriage. He looked once again on the room, whose splendor had dimmed in comparison to Eclair's radiant face.

He looked over at Lord Dante, whose grin was smug, but understanding. [i]I don't need mind-reading to see what's going on there...[/i] came Dante's "voice" in Nathan's head.

Nathan turned a bright shade of red. He straightened up, and shot a nervous glance towrds Eclair, who seemed to be turning away just as he did so.

He sighed, and pulled out Eclair's chair. They both sat, and awaited the call for dinner to start.

"Ahem!" rang a voice. All eyes looked at a Maitre' d' at the head of the table. In a heavy french accent, he said, "Dinner is served."

OOC: I CAN DO THIS AT SCHOOL NOW! WOOT! ^_- You'll be seeing more of me. Sorry for the shortness, too.

[missrelena]

Geni looked out an upstairs window at the line of carriges and hacks that were slowly flowing down her front drive to disgorge thier passengers at her front steps. "Mother! I thought you said a few guests. This is far more that a few. Did you invite all of Almack's?" Geni was taken aback. She was prepared to face twenty new faces tonight, not two hundred and twenty.

"Of course not, dear. That would be unseemly. Where would we put everyone?" her mother answered. "Now finish your preparations. You will enter fashionably late, as is expected for a debutante." With a smile and a whirl of her skirts, her mother disappeared down the stairs to greet her -- many --guests.

Geni's insides were beginning to knot up. She was never comfortable in large crowds. There were just too many minds pressing in on hers. At least she had recovered from her faint yesterday. After a night of sleep, she felt right as rain, or at least as right as a person who knew that all of her memories were probably false and that a psycho-killer was out there plotting his next attack.

She just wished she hadn't had to leave Lord Dante's manor so unceremoniously last night. What she had wanted to do was go to him, calm him, and help him to understand that Eclair only teased him because she knew his honor was above all reproof. If there had been any question, Eclair never would have mentioned it to anyone. If only she hadn't been so ill. If only she could have stayed. If only she hadn't told him how much his anger was hurting her. She knew how much he regreted that - knew it because she still sensed it in her mind - and she wished she had kept her thoughts to herself.

Sighing, she placed the last pearl pin in her strawberry curls and surveyed the resulting look. She was in pastels - again. Much as those pale colors made her green eyes huge and her skin a ghostly white, they were the only colors allowd a deb at social functions. This night she had dressed in a pearl white silk with light blue trim. Her elbow gloves were also light blue. Geni couldn't wait till she could wear real colors again. With a shake of her shoulders she left her rooms and headed for the top of the stairs to wait till her mother motioned her down. At least this way she was able to watch most of the guests arrive without having to say anything to them.

As the que of people streamed past, Geni did her best to stay out of direct line of sight. Then Lord Dante entered. Just as at Almack's, he looked emaculate in his all black tuxedo and tails. He was perfectly tailored and looked supremely confident. But looks were decieving. She could feel his own unease.

[I]:Milord, I am so glad you came!: [/I] She spoke into his mind.

[I]:Why wouldn't I?:[/I] He thought back with a lift of an eyebrow.

[I]:After my rudeness yesterday evening, I didn't know if. . .:[/I]

[I]:You were never rude, milady.:[/I] He interupted [I]:I would speak to you further about last evening, but when we are face to face, rather than shouting toughts across the distances.:[/I]

She nodded her agreement to him. [I]:I am still glad you came.:[/I] Dante withdrew his attention so he could properly greet his host and hostess. He followed the flow of guests into the ballroom and Geni went back to people watching. She 'heard' Ariana's greeting in her head before she saw the lady and her sweet husband. Again she stepped out of the shadows long enough to be seen and smile a return greeting to them both. Nathan and Eclair were not far behind the newlyweds. Geni suddenly began to feel better about the evening now that she knew that she would not be facing it alone. And maybe a few answers to all her questions might surface.

Her mother finally signaled Geni to decend, and she gracefully crossed to the lady. Her heeled slippers weren't the best for walking much of a distance, but they added a touch of elegance to her youth.

"Your father and I have decided to have a bit of dancing before supper, so enter and find yourself a partner among all those handsome batchelors I have invited for you." Her mother was a matchmaker of the worst kind - a determined one.

"Yes, Mama." she whispered. Gripping her lace fan, she painted a pleasant smile on her face, entered the ballroom and faced the crowd.

[natchan]

Eclair was quite thrilled with the fact that she did not have to attend this event without an escort. Athough she was beginging to think that dear Nathan was a tad bit nervous when she caught him a light shade of pink. This made her smile. As they sat down at a table to prepare for dinner, Eclair suddenly felt an urge to go out on the floor. Somthing overly excited inside of her took over, and she turned to Nathan with a flirtatious grin.

"What is Miss Eclair?" His voice questioned.

"Ask me to dance." She replied happily, her eyes shown with happiness.

"I'm afraid that I haven't danced in quite sometime Milady." He stated honsetly. "But if that is what you wish." He stood and held a hand out to Eclair. "Lady Eclair, would you please honor me with a dance?" Eclair smiled warmly and stood taking Nathans hand. He led her out onto the floor and they took the position amongst the crowd. he led more gracefuly than Eclair had expected, thuogh she should haven't expected anything less, afterall he was a known swordsman and had excellent footing.

Nathan seemed to loosen up as the two of them danced across the floor. They spoke of the weather, Nathans duties as of late, and how Elcair's house hold had been over the last few months. He tried not to touch any subjects that might lead to her deceased husband.

"Tell me Nathan is this the first Event that you have attended as a guest or have you always been on duty when you attend these parties?" Eclair asked searching for conversation. Nathan seemed to be more relaxed when speaking. After their dance they returned to their seats to find Ariana and Rufus sitting next to them.

"Lady Elcair how are you? Who is your escort?" Ariana asked kindly as they sat down.

"This is Nathan, he guards the streets in my division." Eclair repied happily.

"How is it, protecting the streets of our fine city?" Rufus asked as he reached forward to shake Nathans hand.

[0ber0n the Neko]

"Hey, there." Nathan replied tersely. He accepted the hand that was offered to him.

Ariana grinned menacingly, "So has he proposed yet?"

There was a sudden silence. Eclair began to speak, but was cut off by Nathan. "I hardly believe it would be appropriate for someone of my status to ask anything but friendship of Lady Eclair." His statement was like a giant period at the end of his sentence.

"Yes, of course. How could you say such a thing?" she said, rather flatly.

Nathan turned her a short glance. Arianna shrugged. "Just poking fun, dear. Even if it's inevitable. Good luck, both of you."

The couple trotted off, giggling silently, while Nathan and Eclair remained soundless.

"So..." Eclair managed. "Did you really mean that?"

"Of course," lied Nathan. He tried to keep his face unreadable. It was better that she didn't know... at least not now. He sighed slightly, so that Eclair could not hear him. He thought about the ring that lie in wait at his flat at the other end of town.

He looked at Eclair. "What an absurd thought, isn't it?"

"Yes, absurd..." she said, absently.

Nathan smiled. "Eat, Miss Eclair. They don't call it a dinner party for no reason." He reminded her playfully.

"Oh! Yes. Right. Sorry." She said, as if just entering the conversation.

[i]Why... Why can't I ask her?[/i] he wondered intensely, as he lifted the fork to his mouth. [i]Because she will say "no"[/i]

[Lord Dante]

Dante moved over towards the lady geni, who had just descended the stairs.

[I]"my lady, allow me to apologise again for what happened at my manor.2[/I]

[I]"dante, please don't worry about that, let us just enjoy the party."[/I]

[I]"you may not be surprised or pleased to hear this geni, but I have a - "[/I]

[I]" - bad feeling about this?[/I] she sent into his mind sith a sly smile.

[I]"bah. now you seem to be without partner. and it would b highly "unsociable" of me to not ask you onto the floor, will you join me?[/I] he sent into her mind, offering his arm.

"of course "milord"", she said as she was led into an ancient waltz by dante.

"geni, are you sure we can trust the others? I mean Eclair seems to have a modicome of trustworthiness about her, but the other two.. they... i just have a bad feeling about them. "


"i always get the feeling that If i turn my back to them, i'll find myself with a blade jutting from my shoulderblades."

[missrelena]

"Milord, I think you might be a little over-cautious." Geni smiled softly. "It is quite difficult to lie around a telepath. We tend to pick up intent to decieve rather easily when we have our wits about us." She looked him in the eye as they swirled around the dance floor, trusting him to lead through the crowd of other couples. She squeezed his hand lightly and then contunued. "You, however, are keeping something from me. I would dearly love to know what you are 'protecting' me from. What happened yesterday that you are not telling me?"

"I am not sure what you are referring to." Dante temporized. "We can discuss yesterday when the others are assembled. "What do you know about Officer Nathan and Lady Ariana?"

"Sir Nathan was made a knight of the realm for valor. He is a telepath, and he appears to have his heart set on Lady Eclair, which I think is sweet. Since she is a widow, her marrying to a slightly lower social class is usually quite acceptable. I wonder if [I]he[/I] knows that." Again, the soft smile appeared on her lips as she glimpsed the topics of her statement dance by over Dante's shoulder. "Lady Ariana married Lord Rufus only a few months ago. Most of the mothers of unmarried girls in our social set hate her for 'catching' his heart after only dancing with him once. She is known to be shy, but warms up to people as she gets to know them." Geni stopped short and raised an eyebrow. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Because you trust far too easily, I fear." Dante murmured back.

Geni laughed brightly at his statement. "You are not the first to tell me this." Merriment twinkled in her green eyes. "I think, between the two of us we create a person who trusts just the right ammount." Then she sobered slightly. "Never feel that I discount your warnings. Quite the opposite, in fact. But I cannot stop being who I am - much as my mother might wish I could."

"Your mother wouldn't know her head from a hand basket." Dante replied sardonicly.

"Yes, well, I would be foreced to agree if she was not my mother." The sparkle returned to her eyes. [I]:I really am quite happy you came this evening. It's cliche, but I [B]do[/B] feel safer with you here. Besides, I quite enjoy your company.:[/I] Geni blushed and looked down at Dante's crisply pressed black linen shirt.

Dante smiled, but did not comment. He didn't need to. She could feel that her declairation had slightly suprised him, but it pleased him, too. The waltz ended, and Dante took Geni's arm and escorted her to the tables piled with food. He sat her opposite where Eclair and Nathan had seated themselves, then took the chair next to the young lady before anyone else could claim it.

[natchan]

Eclair's thoughts were quite scattered at the moment as she sat quietly eating her dinner. Did lady Ariana know somthing that she didn't, or was she seriously joking?' [I]Did Nathan really mena what he said about simply being friends? [/I]' She thought to herself.

"Lady Elcair." Geni's voice broke her chain of thought, and she came back to reality.

"I'm sorry, what were going to say?" Ecliar replied her smile returning.

"I just wanted to thank you and Sir Nathan for joining us tonight." Geni stated kindly.

"Oh of course dear, it was mine and Nathan's pleasure. I wouldn't miss any event of yours, well your mothers, for the world." Ecliar answered cheerfully.

"And so far things are going much more smoothly than your mothers last party." Nathan added.

"Well of course it is, because sir Nathan is here to make sure of that.... and enjoy himself of course." She replied turning to Nathan and giving him a sweet sile. She turned back to Geni and Dante suddenly. "Have I ever told you about the time Nathan rescued me?"

"No... I can't say you have." Geni replied.

"Well you see it was just a few months after my husband and I were married. Vincent had to go his motherr who was in France at the time, and had been quite ill at the time, so naturally he didn't want to leave me behind alone. So he had asked dear Nathan here to keep an eye on me, and make sure I would be safe while he was away. Well to make the long story short, while Vincent was away, some thief had got it into their head that attempting to rob our manor whilst 'we' were away would be a good idea. Unfortunatley he entered through my room, from the balcony, and Nathan was there to intercept him. If it wasn't for Nathan refusing to sit anywhere but in my room whilst I slept I could be gone now. Vincent was very greatful to Nathan when he returned to find out what had happened." Elcair finished up and turned to Nathan, who was pretending not to listen. "You remember don't you?"

"How could I forget." He stated, but there was somthing odd about the way he did so. Luckily though Ecliar didn't notice.

[Otori_Girl]

OOC: O.o Let the couplage begin!

After a dance together, Ariana and Rufus returned to the table where they had made both Eclair and Nathan blush. Ariana sat next to Eclair and Rufus next to his wife obvioulsy. Ecliar was chatting away and Nathan was just returning back from his normal shade of flesh.

"Miss Geni, how is your mother since the attack at the Gala." Ariana asked

"Not to bad apperently if shes throwing another party so soon." Rufus added with a grin.



OOC: Wow talk about major writers block, I wanted to write but I didn't know what and I'm at work so I have very little time. So sorry about the super shortness... at least we're going.

[missrelena]

Geni smiled and let what could have been an eyebrow raising statement about Nathan in Eclair's bedroom slide un-commented on. "In my mother's defense, Milord, she has been planning this evening for weeks. She's toom much a determined hostess to let something like an attempt on her life postpone her events. I just wish she would have let me understand the size of the gathering sooner than as everyone was arriveing." Politely she looked across the table and addressed Sir Nathan. "It sounds, sir, as if you and Eclair's late lord were great friends."

"Yes, we were. Lord Vincent and I knew each other for a very long time. He is the reason I can even claim an aquaintence with Milady." He glanced at Eclair, then went back to his meal.

Course followed course, mountains of delicasies flowing past as they made thier rounds up and down the long oak tables. The six of them spoke of the weather, upcoming social events, and other inconsequential topics. It was all too obvious that this was not the most ideal place to discuss topics that could be easily misunderstood. After enough food had passed before Geni to feed all of Calcutta for a week, her father rose to his feet. Long and lean, his barritone voice was easily heard above the conversational din.

"My wife and I would like to thank all our friends for joining us this evening. There will be more dancing just as soon as the musicians get their wind back. There is also cards in the front parlor for any who care for that diversion. For any who would like a breath a fresh air, despite the chill of this Spring evening, our gardens are yours." He lifted his glass of sherry in a toast. All others followed suit with their own beverages. "To friendship." Everyone echoed his short toast and drank. The meal began to break up after that as everyone went chasing their preferred entertainments.

"If it wouldn't be too much of a bother," Geni volunteered to the group, "I thought we might withdraw to the gazebo in the garden to 'stargaze'. It's a clear night, and the city lights do not dim the stars too much when viewed from there. Besides, it is an excellent place to talk without the worry of being overheard."

"It sounds enchanting. What a wonderful idea." Eclair gushed in her I'm-making-fun-of-social-air-heads voice. Her smile, however, let Geni know that she was only teasing again. As one they exited the glass doors of the ballroom, each gentleman taking a lady on thier arm so they could not be claimed for an unwanted dance, and entered the open air of the manor gardens. Ariana and Eclair pulled their wraps tightly about them, and in the brisk spring night air, Geni found herself wishing for such a luxury. As a deb, nearly bare shoulders and light fabrics were the rule. Sometimes being the youngest just wasn't fair.

They reached the open structure of the gazebo after a short walk over groomed gardern paths. Each lady was offered a seat under exotic asian paper lamps before the gentlemen seated themselves. Once they were reasonably comfortable, if a touch chilled, Eclair opened the discussion. "So, Lord Dante, what was it that you so vocally declared last night that you would speak to us about here? I must say the curiosity is killing me."

[Lord Dante]

Dante turned to face the people gathered on the gazebo, but what to tell them? he knew he could not tell them all of it, they were not yet trustworthy.

"the time has come. the time for me to fill you in on at least a little of what is going on. It seems that our killer has a name. 'jack' as he calls himself, seems to know that we are not whom we appear to be. Though I am not sure of the extent of his knowledge, I make the natural assumption that he is dangerous."

"well, duh." eclair whispered under her breath.

Dante began to resume speaking, but felt a chill ripple trough the back of his mind. Turning his head, dante saw that geni was shivering with cold, as she had not brought a wrap with her. Removing his long, black leather coat, he turned to her.

"here, take this, it will not do to have you freezing out here."

[I]"make sure you don't touch any of the hard protrusions in there geni, oh, and don't mind anything sharp or pointy in there, just be careful."[/I]

[I]"Ok, dante, they are dangerous then?"[/I]

[I]"Only to those who would do us harm"[/I]


Turning back to the rest of the group, dante resunmed speaking.

"now, where did I get to?"


OOC: sorry, I wanted to write some more, but I've got a dozen people yammering in my ear to get off of the computator.

[0ber0n the Neko]

Nathan slowly rose to his feet. "So, Milord, what do you propose we do about this 'Jack'?" he said, remembering Jack's strange message.

Dante stood, nonplussed. "That is where we run into problems..." he said, pacing. "There really is no way for us to seek him out, as we don't really know who, or dare I say [i]what[/i], he is."

"Assuming it's a 'he', sir?" Nathan asked, not intentionally sarcastic, but still meant to shed doubt on Dante.

"Yes. Assuming it's a 'he'," Dante replied bitterly. "Please don't burden me with semantics, watchdog."

Nathan bowed his head in submission. He knew that fighting nobles only brought trouble. "I shall have the watch keep an eye on the streets."

He looked at Eclair. "In the meantime, I don't think any of us should risk being alone. We should travel in pairs. I can take leave of the watch for awhile, and I daresay that you fine nobles have nothing much to do yourselves?"

The nobles exchanged looks. If there was an expression that indicated someone was crossing out party after party in their mental calendar, this was it.

"I think I can free up some time..." said Dante, wincing at the loss of one more gala. The others chimed in with reluctant agreement.

Nathan nodded, turning to Rufus. "You're quite handy with a sword, yes?"

Rufus waved a pistol in the air. "And a gun."

Nathan turned to Dante. "And your skills rival my own, Milord. I believe we should distribute the men among the ladies, just to play it safe."

Dante grinned. [i]You just want to be alone with-[/i]

Nathan cut him off with a stream of subconscious profanity that would have made Sir Frances Drake himself seasick.

"I'll take Geni, then." Came an injured sounding Dante.

Rufus laughed, and turned to Ariana. "I think it's obvious who I'm taking."

Nathan felt his heart skip a beat as he turned to Eclair. "I'll protect you, Miss Eclair."

Eclair nodded, and smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Nathan."

Nathan bowed. "It is my pleasure, I assure you."

He tried not to remember the night of the burglary that nearly killed Eclair. He had meant no harm to anyone, especially not Vincent...

--------

[i]"Nathan! What has happened?"
"Nothing to fear, Milord. The Missus is only a mite shaken. She will be fine. We had a minor burglary, sir."
Vincent paused. "The glass to [/i]her[i] window was broken. How did you find him in time?"
Nathan paused. "I was guarding the Lady in her bedchambers, Milord."
Vincent's face was pale. "Bed... Chambers?"
"Oh, nothing like that, Milord..." Nathan reassured him. Vincent still remained pale.
Vincent hung his head. "Out, Nathan."
"Sir?"
"I said OUT!"
"Milord." Nathan saluted, and walked briskly out of the foyer.

Vincent was left alone in the drawing room. "I fear that, even though I have Eclair's hand... Nathan will always have her heart..." he muttered.

"Vincent? Oh, thank the merciful Lord! The most horrible thing just happened-"

Vincent put on a smile, and listened to Eclair's story, the whole time knowing that soon he would no longer be necessary...

OOC: Oh, BURN! Someone's just corrected the first FALLACY! O_o

[natchan]

Eclair thanked Nathan kindly for his offer, but she couldn't help but see the sadness in his eyes as he spoke. She then turned to Dante.

"So all we know is his name? Do we realy not know anything else, there must be somthing." She stated looking down at her feet. She pulled her wrap tighter around her shoulders as a sudden chill ran down her spine. She shut her eyes for a moment, and took in a sharp breath.

[I]The young lady that Ecliar recognized as herself sat at a desk of a sort in a room by herslef, a pile of papers sat on top of the desk in front of her. The top paper read "Ripper Program", next to this pile was another. She sifted through the second stack of papers, reading over various notes, and historical data. The name Jack the Ripper was repeated several times through out the papers. There was a light tap at the door of the small room, and Eclair lifted her head.

"Come in." She replied with a quite voice. The door opened and Geni walked in, holding more paper work. She held it out for Ecliar to take from her.

"This is one more Tech that is to be added to the canidate listing." Geni replied, then turned for the door. "Oh yeah, maybe you could eat lunch with us today, instead of eating in the corner like you always do." She stated. As she shut the door behind her leaving Ecliar alone again. She glanced down at the papers infront of her, under victorian history she found the canidate's name as Nathan.[/I]

"Lady Eclair, are you alright?" Nathans voice brought her back to the reality that was now and opened her eyes. "Milady?"

"Ripper, this is all based on somthing in History from this time period. The name Jack was follwed by "the Ripper".

"Milday, may we see your memory?" Nathan asked quielty. Eclair knew what he meant by this, Geni and Ariana had both shown this ability before.

"Yes" She stated almost inaudible.

[0ber0n the Neko]

Nathan closed his eyes, and focused. [i]A man's mind is his most powerful weapon... I have to focus my energies into the weapon... Into the weapon...[/i]

-----

Everything was white. Nathan glanced around, seeing that all around him was a space that seemed immeasurable by all human standards. He didn't know why, but it seemed even more vast than the Earth.

Then, a door faded into existence. He touched the knob, which was warm like a handshake. He turned it, and pushed lightly...

...Stepping into a room filled with papers. There was a desk of peculiar make, and the walls were made of metal. The floor was unusual, and he could not identify the material. It seemed like, had a gelatin turned instantly solid, it would have formed this material. It came back slowly, like a trickle of water into a stream. [i]Plastic...[/i]

He heard a yawn, and turned to face the noise, putting his hand on his sword. The sight he saw was hard to take. [i]Huh?[/i] he thought, as his hand slid off of his sword. [i]Surely that can't be...[/i]

Geni stood next to him. Her sudden presence startled him, but she smiled lightly, easing his tensions. [i]Enjoying yourself?[/i] the thought hit him like a warm breeze. It was much more pleasant than the forced messages sent by Dante.

[i]Milady, is that... Really...[/i]

[i]Yes. That would be Eclair.[/i]

[i]Oh... But the lady is not wearing suitable dress for her rank... Surely that can't be Miss Eclair... [/i]

[i]Yes, that's always a puzzler. Every time I've tried this, it seems that everyone is dressed so strangely... But you must admit... It does appear to flatter her figure...[/i] Geni's reply came, teasingly.

Nathan blushed instantly, and tried to pry his eyes off of Eclair. [i]You use such base words, Milady! That's not the way to address her ladyship![/i]

Geni's smile was mischevious. [i]Oh, you know it's true... Shut up and watch.[/i]

Eclair sighed, putting down the file. "Kinas Tiring, eh?"

Nathan froze. Geni's glance was concerned. [i]What is it, Nathan?[/i]

[i]That's... my name... I'm not sure how to describe it. I just know that it's my name.[/i]

He glanced to the head of Eclair's desk, which read "Helen Yvo".

[i]And that's... I know that name... It's-[/i]

Nathan was interrupted by a knocking at the door. Eclair ran to open it, and was met with a shockingly familiar face.

[i]And that's... me?[/i]

"Operative Kinas Tiring, alias Nathan reporting for duty, sir- I mean- Ma'am," spoke Kinas.

"Eclair or Helen will be fine, Kinas. Or 'Miss'. I've always fancied being called 'Miss'."

Geni was over by the desk, looking over the "Ripper" files. [i]Interesting... We're done here, Nathan. Let's leave before we cause any damage.[/i]

Nathan wanted to stay, but he knew the damage was not to him...

It was to Eclair.

[i]Yes. Let's.[/i]

-----

He opened his eyes, and was looking intently into Eclair's eyes.

He tried something. "Helen," he whispered.

Eclair nearly fell over backward with the utterance. "Wh-What?"

Nathan sagged. "It's.. nothing," he said, resigned.

Geni stood a second later, smiling wide. "We've got some work to do!"

Nathan caught a brief message from Geni. [i]...wait until Nathan finds out...[/i]

[0ber0n the Neko]

Nathan closed his eyes, and focused. [i]A man's mind is his most powerful weapon... I have to focus my energies into the weapon... Into the weapon...[/i]

-----

Everything was white. Nathan glanced around, seeing that all around him was a space that seemed immeasurable by all human standards. He didn't know why, but it seemed even more vast than the Earth.

Then, a door faded into existence. He touched the knob, which was warm like a handshake. He turned it, and pushed lightly...

...Stepping into a room filled with papers. There was a desk of peculiar make, and the walls were made of metal. The floor was unusual, and he could not identify the material. It seemed like, had a gelatin turned instantly solid, it would have formed this material. It came back slowly, like a trickle of water into a stream. [i]Plastic...[/i]

He heard a yawn, and turned to face the noise, putting his hand on his sword. The sight he saw was hard to take. [i]Huh?[/i] he thought, as his hand slid off of his sword. [i]Surely that can't be...[/i]

Geni stood next to him. Her sudden presence startled him, but she smiled lightly, easing his tensions. [i]Enjoying yourself?[/i] the thought hit him like a warm breeze. It was much more pleasant than the forced messages sent by Dante.

[i]Milady, is that... Really...[/i]

[i]Yes. That would be Eclair.[/i]

[i]Oh... But the lady is not wearing suitable dress for her rank... Surely that can't be Miss Eclair... [/i]

[i]Yes, that's always a puzzler. Every time I've tried this, it seems that everyone is dressed so strangely... But you must admit... It does appear to flatter her figure...[/i] Geni's reply came, teasingly.

Nathan blushed instantly, and tried to pry his eyes off of Eclair. [i]You use such base words, Milady! That's not the way to address her ladyship![/i]

Geni's smile was mischevious. [i]Oh, you know it's true... Shut up and watch.[/i]

Eclair sighed, putting down the file. "Kinas Tiring, eh?"

Nathan froze. Geni's glance was concerned. [i]What is it, Nathan?[/i]

[i]That's... my name... I'm not sure how to describe it. I just know that it's my name.[/i]

He glanced to the head of Eclair's desk, which read "Helen Yvo".

[i]And that's... I know that name... It's-[/i]

Nathan was interrupted by a knocking at the door. Eclair ran to open it, and was met with a shockingly familiar face.

[i]And that's... me?[/i]

"Operative Kinas Tiring, alias Nathan reporting for duty, sir- I mean- Ma'am," spoke Kinas.

"Eclair or Helen will be fine, Kinas. Or 'Miss'. I've always fancied being called 'Miss'."

Geni was over by the desk, looking over the "Ripper" files. [i]Interesting... We're done here, Nathan. Let's leave before we cause any damage.[/i]

Nathan wanted to stay, but he knew the damage was not to him...

It was to Eclair.

[i]Yes. Let's.[/i]

-----

He opened his eyes, and was looking intently into Eclair's eyes.

He tried something. "Helen," he whispered.

Eclair nearly fell over backward with the utterance. "Wh-What?"

Nathan sagged. "It's.. nothing," he said, resigned.

Geni stood a second later, smiling wide. "We've got some work to do!"

Nathan caught a brief message from Geni. [i]...wait until Nathan finds out...[/i]