tampered | Log-Complete.

Log-Complete.

When; Monday afternoon.
Rating; PG-13.
Characters; Caterina Sforza (

juste_ultionis) & Isaak Fernand von Kämpfer (

rozenmagician).
Summary; Isaak guides Caterina through several spots of the city. Tres ~~stalks~~ guards his Duchess.
Log;
Tic-tic-tic-

The noise stopped as soon Isaak summoned kohoruto to keep him company. The adorable, ravenous monsters growled and followed him through the shadows of his tidy laboratory, pushing the madding, incessant ticking out the Magician’s mind.

It was not the noise itself what disturbed Kämpfer or the possible countdown linked to the carousel. No, those things were meaningless currently, low priorities in his thoughts. The unnerving aspect was that each tic represented a second and made Isaak aware of time itself.

He who had chosen to forget the pass of time.

Self-absorbed as he normally was in his research, Isaak had been anticipating his appointment with the lovely Duchess Sforza. He had already bathed and chosen a proper outfit to stroll with the Iron Lady through the streets of the charming but nonsensical city. He still wore black but a still wore black, but a virgin wool gabardine with a grey tweed vest beneath instead of his Order uniform. The squared, small spectacles on his nose aided to project the perfect gentleman image he sought to maintain.

They would attend to a quiet place, Isaak had planned. None of the sultry and dangerous underworld whose sights were terrible for a lady of her rank. Not on this occasion at least. He would have plenty opportunities to show the Duchess all the attractions hidden in the town.

Abruptly, two of his kohoruto rushed towards the main door, scratching the wood blindly. Cocking an eyebrow, Isaak’s lips curved into a small smile. There she was. His servants had sensed her. They would recognise her. With a snap of his fingers, the beasts were gone. He opened the door and held it, inclining forward on a bow before Caterina had a chance to announce her presence.

“What a coincidence, Duchess of Milan. Good afternoon.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She knew what he was doing by giving her doses of the Puppetmaster's past. Fleshing him out as a living being, as a person, and giving her also the intelligence and information of which she wanted for her files that were sorely lacking.

Her lips tightened slightly, then relaxed into an amused expression as his fingers lingered on her palm. But she said nothing of the gesture, only gave Isaak a glance from the corner of her eyes as they readied to leave.

A slender brow arched at the growling coming from his apartment, "Are your pets upset that their father is leaving them?" She attempted to keep a serious tone, but found mirth creeping into her inflection.

"Let us go," Caterina affirmed and, after looking at his arm for a moment, slid her hand to the crook of his elbow, her body closer to him than she had been ever before. Caterina could feel him, and, though she blamed it on her illness, her heart sped up a bit, a faint, pressing feeling welling up inside of her stomach. "To hear you speak of such simple things as anti-burglary precautions lightens my mood." And so it did, something so mundane yet handled in such an un-mundane way.

Tres' eyes narrowed once more, both at the odd sounds from Kampfer's supposed 'anti-burglary system', as well as his words themselves. However, all that passed his lips was a flatly-voiced, "acknowledged."

Following the pair at a fair enough distance, Tres was far enough away for the illusion of privacy that the Duchess sought, but well within the range of his sensors - as well as within firing range, if necessary. He didn't pretend to know what information could be gained on this world by viewing a candy garden, other than having more proof of the paradoxes that made up the place, purity and despair all rolled into one.

Isaak was pleased to notice a spark glittering in Caterina’s razorblade eyes when he informed some basic details about Dietrich. He would not let the boy come to harm ever. However, he needed a rough awaking regarding Cain’s true self that did not result in his death.

The cyborg was cooperating at least. He should be grateful Iqus had not shot first, asked question later about his unorthodox, security methods.

“They are tame creatures and are fond of you, Duchess,” confessed Isaak, granting her a sly grin whilst he secured her firmly on their path to the garden, placing a hand over hers on the crook of his arm. The flashing stoplights and zombie-like crowd around them could upset her. “Is that so surprising? Even I am not spared of thieves. Have you ever been stolen? It’s not a pleasant experience I want to repeat for being careless.”

The noise and people were left behind, along the disorienting signs, buzzing and lights. The atmosphere turned quiet, slightly colder but bearable. Isaak relaxed his hold when the glow of the breathtaking, porcelain twin gates of Xanadu garden welcomed them.

"Fond of me, Kampfer? In the sense that a guardian dog is fond of a fresh bone covered in meat? I do not see how they should be fond of me in the least for when last I saw them, your creatures were devouring my allies." She replied, examining his sly grin.

Caterina said nothing when his hand pressed over hers at the crook of his arm, Isaak was wearing gloves for one, and for two, he was upping the stakes. She had given him an inch and he was making good use of it. She upped the stakes, however, by rubbing one of her fingers...accidentily...over the side of one of Kampfer's finger's where his hand covered her own.

Delight, in spite of herself, welled up inside of her at seeing the beautiful glow of the gates to Xanadu and she could not help but wonder at them, deciding to allow herself a small indulgence instead of ruthlessly suppressing the interest she felt. A quick glance over her shoulder caught a glimpse of Tres and she looked forward once more, "Exquisite."

“Oh no, nothing of that. You never show as their meal. They recognize you as the Luna to my Sol,” Isaak commented coyly. That sounded better than vulgar animal language of looking up the Alpha pair, in this case, meant the owners.

The Magician was aware of the brushing and wondered if was another seduction attempt or a misunderstanding of his former actions in the crowded street. While he had delighted to hold her hand close, Isaak had not ulterior motive when he did it other than looking after her welfare. Of course, he would welcome her flirting.

“Remarkable, isn’t it?” Isaak asked, wistful. “Like a dream. The entire city appears to be taken of our hearts. The dark, hellish underworld. The maniac rhythm of the streets where you are never alone. The opera house where everything you have is yourself, insolate from the entire world. And there is Xanadu, the still utopia of roses without thorns.”

He was not waxing lyrical. As soon, Isaak ushered Caterina through the twin gates, she could corroborate herself the existence of said, thorn-less roses. They were as big as human heads.

Caterina frowned inwardly, either Kampfer was purposefully ignoring her attempts or he was simply inexperienced and given his skill at attempting to ease her, she highly doubted his lack of experience was to account.

"This is the second time you have used that phrase, Kampfer," Caterina replied, still with her arm on his, "I shall have to discover the meaning behind the two objects and why you would compare us to them." As it were, the phrase did not sound spiteful, but more like moon and sun, to her untrained ears. Perhaps the Sir Hellsing would know, her creature had named her as an alchemist.

"If these places are taken from our hearts, I am surprised there is so much darkness and insanity," Caterina commented and allowed Isaak to usher her through the gates. Her eyes widened, the flowers were marvelous, but the upsurge she felt in the beating of her heart was caused only in part by the beautiful sight.

Her fingers tightened imperceptibly on the crook of his arm, "Perhaps there is a bench of some sort, after all of that walking I feel the need to sit. I believe I laced my corset too ambitiously." An excuse, of course, but followed by the rise in her pulse, her lungs would next constrict painfully, forcing air to rattle through them, then the coughing.

But her fatigue, the sudden onset after such a little exertion, why was this happening now?

“I could explain it to you, Duchess,” Isaak offered solicitously, enjoying the silence. There were barely people at this hour. The sky had darkened; magenta hues mixed with the blues inks above. Most citizens were at the café or the club, he supposed.

He ignored the cyborg, pretending both were alone. It was a pity he could not offer her a cigar or smoke himself. Isaak was mindful of her health.

“Are you surprised? Most people hid the darkness and insanity, they buried it within their hearts, in their mental fortress,” explained the Magician, guiding Caterina through the sea of blossoming lilies. The flowers glistened, dripping caramel nectar. “While, very, very few, buried their happiness. Only those who cannot reach it and push it away, like an impossible dream. Like this garden.”

He paused his tracks when noticed the Duchess had tightened her grip on his arm. Isaak turned to notice her agitation with furrowed brows. He did not ask questions, knowing fully well how bristly Caterina was when he touched the subject of her health. Instead, silently, leaded her to a bench made of glittering azure crystal. “Should I bring you water?” he inquired, helping her to sit.

[[OOC: Oh no. She’s going to ask ~~Mummy~~ Integral]].

"I think I would prefer the explination to come from someone of a more neutral tenure," Caterina replied good naturedly, "That way I would have time to think on the meaning instead of automatically taking offense were the meaning of an odd nature."

After the small inklings of the attack started, she tried to detach her mind from her body, to calm it, to not dwell and perhaps make things worse. This only furthered her notice of Kampfer's lack of questions as to her state, and as she looked at him, while he, ever the gentleman, assisted Caterina in silence to a crystal bench, she had a steadfast intuition that he knew. Perhaps not the extent of her illness, but he knew and in his own way, he was being kind.

In that instant, she hated his gesture, hated this kindness from an enemy, hated that her own body was flaunting its weakness before him.

Those feelings passed, because, hadn't he always known? She had smelled the tobacco lingering in his home and on his jacket, yet he had not lit a cigar or cigarette in her presence.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to calm her breathing, "I am only winded, Kampfer, the walk was long and I am unused to such extended excercise with all the time I spend shuttered in the Vatican. No, thank you, I do not need any water, only a moment of rest. Sit with me and let us enjoy the view."

Still she would not let on that she was ill. Even if both were in on the secret, saying it aloud would make it true.

Her vitals were beginning to calm, but internally, she was alarmed. Something was more off than usual in her body.

“As you wish, Duchess,” Isaak answered, pausing to survey her aspect before sitting beside her. Caterina’s features had paled visibly and her face glistened of what he could assume would be small drops of sweat. In the past, he had looked after Dietrich when he fell ill regardless; the role of a caring doctor was odd to someone as detached as himself.

The Magician resented himself for letting irrational thoughts overwhelm his logical process.

“How do you feel now, tiredness, aside, Cardinal?” asked Isaak with a note of amusement, pushing his glasses further up his nose. “No longer the Vatican holds the Iron Butterfly trapped between the stained glasses jar. Now, you can spread your wings and enjoy the flowers.” He motioned at the blooming lilies that perfumed the gardens. “Do you miss your world?”

As soon as he finished to say that, Isaak stood abruptly, catching with his shadows a fallen silver egg before it hit Caterina on her head. He reached for it and examined it in puzzlement; more eggs were raining from the sky but none come close to them except that one.

“That is… unique,” he mused, sitting back and offering Caterina the glowing treat. Not even himself could explain the strange phenomena. But this world lacked of true sense. Magic itself was as volatile like human feelings. “Perhaps it is mean for you, Duchess? Heaven sent?”

"I feel odd to be talking to you without you or your Order making attempts on my life," Caterina admitted, "Odd, but not entirely unpleasant. Perhaps if you asserted a better alliance a time of peace and pleasant conversation would be nearer." Then half smiled at him, glancing coyly from the corners of her eyes. "Our world, Kampfer. I do not miss the disturbances and the war, however being here and knowing that it is going on in our absence is mildly disturbing.

She tensed as Kampfer rose quickly, unsure what his intention was, but blinked as he sheilded her from what would have been a nasty knock on the head from a silver egg. "Where on earth...." She murmured, glancing around and seeing the seeming rain of eggs.

Caterina accepted the offered egg and in a quiet tone said, "Thank you." Meaning it more for blocking it from giving a concussion than actually offering the gift to her. "Heaven should work on their aim, what am I to do with an egg? I am not so sedentary to attempt to hatch it," she teased.

"This world is quite strange, shall I crack it and see if some clue to our exit lies within?"

Tres was concerned at Caterina's obviously flagging strength, but he knew better than to interfere at this point. The Cardinal would not appreciate such a thing, as it could show weakness to their enemy, adn now was not the time to be doing such a thing. All the same, it grated against his programming to watch Kampfer be so solicitous to his mistress, but he clamped down on the urge to remove the man by way of a barrage of bullets.

Eyes narrowing as an odd rain of egg-shaped vessels began, Tres drew both of his guns in less than a second, taking aim at two of the nearest him. All he acknowledged was the fact that something strange was happening that could be a potential threat to the Duchess, despite her earlier orders of discretion. They had not been tailored to include strange happenings including a hail of multi-colored eggs. With that, he fired...

...and found himself amongst a cloud of confetti and glitter, candy and roses at his feet. He merely stood there, one slow blink the only sign of surprise on his impassive face. "Illogical."

For minutes, Isaak was fully focused on the strange rain. His chin partly lifted at the darkening sky, observing the eggs falling like shooting stars sparkling with the colours of the rainbow. It was a subject to research better. Judging by the speed of the egg he captured, the limit of the sky was not far.

That was interesting to know. Was this city trapped through invisible walls above as well?

Shaking his head, the Magician turned to Caterina, his expression illuminated with pure wonder. “Forgive my distraction, Duchess,” he apologised sorely to space out. He even missed Tres’ display and shoots whilst it. “I reckon you must be concern for your brothers.” Particularly what would Cardinal di Medici do during her absence.

He tilted his head, glancing at the silver egg on her hands. “Perhaps. Last time I was here, I found an exit. I don’t know where…” he trailed off, hooding his expression. He had given up something; he was not sure what was. Memories of that occasion were gone completely. “Shall I open it for you? Or have your bodyguard doing it? We can’t be sure if the egg is harmless.”

Her expression shifted, "Yes. I am." Alessandro was but a child and she worried that Francesco would try to darken the pure spirit that he posessed. Alessandro was the perfect pope, good hearted, giving, generous and pure. Then inclined her head, "Your distraction was purposeful, you are studying the rain of eggs?"

Eyes widened and her head shot up, "Kampfer! You have been here before?" then allowed her expression to return to normal, "I see, you remember nothing? A pity, I am sure you are as eager as myself to return." Caterina returned the egg to him, "Open it, or have your shadows do so to ensure you do not lose a hand. That would make your laboratory work more difficult, I imagine. I believe from Tres' display that this egg will not be harmful, and he has already shot open enough of them for this evening."

Isaak nodded, his expression still guarded to speak about his previous experience in this world. “I recall the city spots quite well, Duchess. And a seller called Dorian…” he paused, narrowing his grey eyes. “She gave me a key out. To your world. In exchange of something precious. I don’t remember the process and how the key looked like, I’m afraid. Possibly the woman took those memories. I would advise against dealing with her. I had heard rumours of deserters who managed to escape freely.”

“I’m afraid that I did not see Iqus’ display to hazard a guess about the nature of the eggs,” Isaak pointed out, taking the egg and scrutinizing all details. Shape, weight, texture. “Missing limbs aren’t an issue for me,” he reminded her. He had lost his arm fighting Nightroad once but he could attach them nicely and unlike Cain, his body did not deteriorate.

Carefully, Panzer Magier cracked the top of shell with his thumb, the rest of the egg dissolved in lightning of fireworks and perfumed glitter that stained his right glove pink. When the lights faded, a sparkling red rose rest where the egg had been.

“That was different,” he commented, disgruntled by the new colouration of his cloth. He promptly removed and changed for a fresh, white one. Storing away that mild irritation, Isaak offered the rose to Caterina. “This must be for you, Duchess.”

[[OOC: Sorry I jumped you Tres. You went off line. :/]].

"Ah yes, one day you must tell me what exactly you are, Kampfer, to be able to regenerate your limbs. And your age," Caterina replied. "Though I imagine that is a long time off."

She fell silent, watching as he opened the egg and witheld an amused chuckle at the glittery perfume staining his glove pink. Accepting the rose with grace, her fingers brushed his once more and she smiled, "No thorns." Then looked at the rose, "Such a trivial thing to be a gift from the heavens of this world."

But much to the contrary of her words, Caterina kept the rose safetly with her and did not cast it aside. Were she prodded for an answer, she would simply say that she did not know why, but part of her felt compelled to keep the precious object.

"Different, but not unpleasant, I imagine growing your hand back would have been an annoyance," Then inclined her head, "My winded state has passed, shall we continue on the walk?" And offered her hand, the one not holding the rose.

“What I am?” Isaak asked, cocking an eyebrow arrogantly. “What and not who, Cardinal? Hmm. Should I feel insulted?”

He watched her intensely, noticing that Caterina tucked the rose safely despite her dismissing words. He was flattered at her gesture. How easily indulged he found himself tonight. Sentimentalism, Dietrich was correct, he was growing sentimental with age.

“Trivial but beautiful. Mustn’t a devout Christian enjoy the little, pretty things life offers?” questioned Isaak with a humorous voice. He did, after all, and he was no longer a fervent follower of any religion in particular.

Upon her request to continue, Isaak rose and offered her a hand down. “Certainly, if you are certain. I will extend you an invitation to the city best café after the tour is over. The meals are childish in appearance but taste like heaven.”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Log-Complete.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject