caughtinanetwork | 002. video; This public service announcement is brought to you by....

[ What's up, Vatheon? It's your resident doctor-who-totally-isn't-Alpha come a-calling. Last we saw of him, he was battling off a fever or so during the last curse. Today, however, the feed is coming from his shared apartment with Mao. ]

I would like to take this time to announce that despite these unsettling events, I am still carrying on with my practice. However, as the clinic staff seems to be where the murderer is taking his targets, I'll be taking patients in my apartment starting tomorrow. Our hours are the same. Cielo, please report here in the morning. I can be found at Vita Apartments, fourth floor, room two.

Secondly, Shinra and I are going to be performing the autopsy of Cosette's body within the day. I am aware there are those who may find this information of use in any investigation and I will be more than happy to release the results as soon as they've been finalized.

For those I haven't had the pleasure of introducing myself to, I am Doctor Kazutaka Muraki, one of the city's resident physicians.

I bid you good day then, Vatheon.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[He lifts a hand and twirls it in Muraki's direction, leaning his head back on the arm of the couch to look over at him rummaging around in the kitchen.]} Top shelf on the right, Muraki~

_{[Then he drops his hand onto his stomach.]}

Tell me something, doctor. What if you couldn't suppress it? What if it failed, hmm? I'd have my only... _{[A slight grimace as he rolls the word around on his tongue,]} friend at the mercy of a terrorist. As much as I'm willing to risk that under a normal day, I'm not prepared to lose you to him like that.

[ Moment of surprise as he shifts his hand to the right, finding the can he needed. Huh. Handy little roomie he had. ] Ah. Yes, thank you.

[ Shifting back to tend to his coffee while Mao carried on. ]

I consider it a high compliment to be called someone's friend, much less an asset that can't be disposed of so easily.

[ Bit of a smirk as he turns around, leaning against the counter as he stirs his mug. ]

I've never known my methods to fail. They are as ancient as they are powerful. But truth be told, I can't help but want to see this as a way to experiment, so to speak.

After all, such a risk won't be taken without proper payoff. Quid pro quo, as I've said. All I require is a little information.

It's difficult for me to consider someone else that. Consider yourself one in a million.

_{[He laughs, pulling himself back up into a sitting position so he can fix Muraki with a curious stare.]}

You have my full attention now, doctor~

[ Have a smirk back from that, hidden behind his cup as he continues to watch Mao over the rim while he takes a sip. The cup is set down back on the counter afterward though. ]

I consider that quite the compliment. I must say I'm flattered.

[ Another pause as he rests his head on his hand. ]

And just what garnered it, exactly? The source of my power or the information I require?

Hm~ I can pick both, right? You're a very puzzling man sometimes to the point where even I have a hard time picking your brain in a near literal sense.

[ And he's further amused from that, chuckling as he mulled over his drink. ]

I didn't think I'd be that difficult. Which would you like answered first then? I suppose it's only fair I satiate your curiosity.

How about... _{[He makes a thoughtful sound, then snaps his fingers with a small 'Ah!'}] Let's go with the easy one first! The information you need~

[ See that smirk? The way it curls ever so slightly behind the rim of his mug as he takes another sip. ]

I require information on someone in this city. Perhaps you've met him. One of my patients, actually.

[ Another sip, sinking against the counter again. ]

The little earl.

_{[At first Mao simply feigns surprise, both of his eyebrows up for a few moments.

And then his face snaps into a vicious grin.]}

Ah~! Aren't you a lucky one~? I've met him. He was actually asking me about you not long ago, but don't fret; I didn't tell him a thing beyond that you're very reliable and a very respectable doctor. He reminds me a little bit of Lelouch but unlike him he made one very crucial mistake. He met me face-to-face.

[ Oh. Oh goodness but it's on now. Yes. Good roomie. Don't tell him a thing. This was more than enough. But that mug is set back down and he interlaces his fingers a moment. Ah, the upper hand.

Hopefully, his roommate managed to get something rather vital from the boy. Something he couldn't get from playing nice. ]

Quite lucky indeed.

[ That smirk only gets wider. That gleam in his good eye a little more crazy. It doesn't surprise him in the least that Ciel asked about him. ]

Surely he has his secrets. I've been following him for a while now and never got the opportunity to unravel them. Perhaps you have something for me.

Oh, he has plenty. The little earl has his fingers deep in the candy jar you could say. He's in control of a company that makes sweets and whatnot. It's nothing too juicy since there was something else that really stood out to me. Most people usually have a cat or dog as a pet. Sometimes the rich have exotic wild animals, but this little Earl has a demon at his heels~! I never heard of anything like the kind of contract he made with him, but it's sca~ry! He's got to give up his soul when it's complete!

[ There's evident surprise in his good eye as his fingers press together in thought. There it is, right there laid bare for him to see. All his theories, all his ideas, confirmed at last. His shoulders are shaking a moment as he allows a low chuckle to escape his lips. Oh, but this is priceless! This is rich! The boy was far more interesting than he let on.

He'd had his eye on Sebastian ever since he'd first seen him commanding Alucard like no one's business but to see him under the thumb of a boy so young? Priceless. Certainly, there was more to the story but this was something he would want to find out for himself. ]

A demon you say. A demon posing as a butler in service to a young boy. How interesting... how interesting indeed.

Goodness, Mao, but you've provided me with quite a bit of valuable information.

002. video; This public service announcement is brought to you by....

action; best clubhouse ever! Look at all the sharp pointy objects like... like pens!

action; and the free dissecting table! 8D

action; don't forget the cotton ball fights, too!

action; ...we are the most mature creeper club.

action; totally. /hangs up 'No Girls Allowed' sign

action; ...yes. Very mature.

action; every other club is -so- jealous of this mature club.

action; there are no other clubs. We killed em all.

action; so that's where all the other clubhouses came from...

action; hide the bodies.

action; already in the suitcases and off to some little island!

action; First, the other clubs... tomorrow, the world!