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.”

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“Violence is less natural than illness, Duchess?” asked Isaak, fascinated after they exited the lilies garden. The perfume faded when they came out, their clothes dried immediately from the nectar by magic, leaving them spotless. “Curious. Nature proves you wrong on that. However, several society avoids both illness and violence, normally. It’s a social condition, not a natural one.”

He did not release her when they strolled out the gardens, back to the noise and startling lights of the city that never slept. He headed to Cafe Juliet directly, skirting the misery square to avoid Caterina’s discomfort.

The restaurant appeared small and crowded on the outside yet, against the laws of physics, was spacious inside. There were many citizens and newcomer, eating and chatting, others swinging at the rhythm of the zigzagging tuned played at the background.

“I’m afraid there is no better restaurant than this one, Duchess,” he commented, holding the door for her to enter. Isaak peered over her shoulder.

The cyborg had not lost his way.

"Violance for the sake of violence is wrong. We are not animals to settle disputes with our claws and teeth," Caterina replied. Though she fell silent on the topic of illness, not trusting herself to argue dispassionately about it.

He did not release her and nor did Caterina pull her hand from his arm as they strolled from the gardens back into the city. Upon reaching the restaurant, she marvelled at how quaint it seemed on the outside, while holding a vast seceret upon breaching the threshold.

"Not as private as you would have liked, am I correct?" She asked, casting her eyes up to Isaak, then back out to the crowd. "The atmosphere is fine, for now," she granted with a small smile and stepped inside, appreciative at his efforts to remain in every way a gentleman.

The cafe was more crowded than Tres would have liked, should something happen, but it could be worked around. Usually humans ran when bullets rang out anyway, so should something happen where he would need to protect the Duchess, it was unlikely that there would be any civilian casualties.

Knowing the pair would settle down at one of the tables to refresh themselves, he moved to a good vantage point, where he could both see all of the goings-on in the cafe as well as the surrounding area. No one would be able to come within a hundred meters without him detecting them immediately, plus he would be at Caterina's side within a moment of a threat being noticed. Now all he had to do was wait for this escapade to be over with so he could escort her home once more.

Isaak led her to an empty table near a window that possessed less neo-light illumination to hurt her eyes then pulled the chair for Caterina to sit down. “Please,” he motioned with a polite nod. He passed her the menu and took a seat himself, waiting for her to make her order first to choose his meal.

“We have little to talk in private now,” he explained, opening the menu to pass the pages idly. “You have enough information for a night, don’t you agree?” Isaak wanted to enjoy some quiet moment without worldly discussion if short. Take a sip of coffee and just relax without concerning to offend her with his philosophy or actions.

Caterina waited while he pulled her chair, then sat down and looked at the menu. As her eyes passed over every menu option, she felt her stomach tightened in disgust. But she had to keep up appearences.

"Privacy to enjoy each other's company, Kampfer, not to speak. I agree, I must think carefully on what you have told me already," Caterina murmured, then closed the menu with a perfunctory snap, ordering unsweetened tea and a very light seafood bisque. She could sip on the soup and pass a few mouthfuls.

After ordering, she inclined her head, tucking back the veil to take a sip of tea, allowing the hot liquid to course through her veins. Setting the delicate cup aside, "You have behaved very well tonight, Kampfer. It is against my better judgement to say so, but I am enjoying myself."

Isaak ordered dark coffee and asked for the flying bubbles to be removed of it before the drink was served. No matter how well they tasted, it was completely against his intellectual flair to partake on such things. He asked some of the bright candies as well, to contrast the sour taste with sweet one. They were small and looked like pixie dust in the little vase.

“I’m afraid the city didn’t offer a better spot after the garden to an eventual excursion, Duchess,” apologised Isaak before digesting one of the cherry flavoured stars. “Most of the stores are dead spots and dangerous to wander. You must remind that. Grey and lifeless.”

He looked openly pleased at her admission of enjoying the appointment. He was quite proud at his own self-restrain and educated manners. “As did I, Duchess of Milan. You are a fascinating lady to converse with. I appreciate your honesty and opposite viewpoint despite my efforts to change them.”

Caterina took a sip of her soup then put the spoon down and swallowed, lifting her glass of tea as she replied, "This spot is fine, I have had Tres scout the city, I know of the dangers." Then sipped her tea, still holding the cup cradled in her hands to warm the cold digits. "As I appreciate yours and enj-" she froze, nearly pitching forward as her lungs convulsed in a fit of coughing. The tea sloshed over her dress, quickly forming a large, round patch of brown that seemed to grow as it abosrbed into the silk brocade fabric.

She dropped the cup and the sound of it shattering was a sonic boom to her ears. Grasping her chest, she began to cough, searching her handkercheif and covering her mouth as the salty, coppery taste of blood splattered onto the pure white cloth of the handkercheif.

Rising quickly, her vision blurred, but she refused to fall or faint, "Tres!" She called in blind panic, then contained herself, straightening her spine and looking to Isaak, "I ... must go..." Breath rattled in her lungs as her rasping voice forced the words from them, lips unnaturally red with her own blood on them, "The tea. .will stain. . I am sorry," And turned, nearly stumbling over the chair.

Eyes taking in the first minor spasm that heralded one of the Duchess' fits, something that, up until now, only he had known about and been a witness to, Tres immediately left his post, pushing his way through the crowded cafe to Caterina's side. It was times like this when he was glad for the limitor he had placed on himself and his emotions. He did not want to acknowledge any feelings he had in regards to seeing his mistress so weakened.

Tres spared not even a glance for Kampfer, arms moving around Katerina as she stood, helping her to her feet. He analyzed the distance they would have to travel to get back to her rooms and did not like his calculations. The Duchess was far too weakened to make the trek herself, and it would take far too much time. It would be best to get her back there as soon and as safely as possible. Therefore there was only one logical conclusion.

"Apologies, Duchess," were the only words he uttered before lifting her into his arms,and moving back through the crowd, glaring at anyone who looked like they may protest or get in his way. His mistress' health and safety was first priority, the sensibilities of those around them not even a consideration.

The coffee felt warm through his throat and it tasted sour enough to wash away the sickening sweetness of the candies Isaak had eaten previously. It was too perfect, he supposed, with Caterina agreeable, her hound obediently staying out and not firing at him. That was why something had to unrest their little solace.

Caterina’s true health displayed openly the fact that no matter how much make-up she wore, she could not conceal it. Heads were turned immediately, focusing on her. Isaak stood and rushed to pat her back and offered her a handkerchief too late for she had one on her hand, stunned slightly by the sudden crisis he had to face.

“Don’t speak, Duchess, you could choke yourself,” he urged vehemently, barely restraining himself to work his magic in her system. But he would not do it against her will. Isaak respected Caterina too much for their own sakes. He pushed her down the chair when she foolishly stood and only moved out when Tres appeared.

Isaak glared at the cyborg but unquestionably moved aside. He would not start a fight when her health was at stake. “It doesn’t matter. Go and rest. I will visit you later,” he promised as Iqus whisked her away through the sea of people, into the glittering city.

Panzer Magier paid the damages and the meals before following the Duchess and her hound through the shadows, assuring their safe and fast arrival by… tossing people that may have crossed unwisely their path.

[[OOC: The end?]]

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Log-Complete.

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