caughtinanetwork | three flowers ( video / action )

Vatheon... an' already I've gotta belly full 'a it. Everyone fendin' for themselves... da authorities bein' paid ta turn a blind eye and ear to the howls 'a despair dat cry though dese lonely, undawata streets.

Me, though? I couldn't do it. S'not my style. And that's where I come in. I'm here ta watch over dis town and protect my friends. Like da gargoyle keepin' a stony eye on 'is belov'd citadel.

[ ... yep, if you thought things couldn't get any stranger in Vatheon...

Of all the hats Shiemi ended up with, it just had to be the pinstripe fedora. So now Shiemi's just slinking around in the shadows of some ~*~*~*~*~*~MYSTERIOUS LOCATION~*~*~*~*~*~ -- in actuality the Villa -- all while speaking. ]

Today was yet anotha strange day, like any otha in dis town; more hats all ova da city than there were sirens at da local club. No one knows how dey got here, or why dey was here... but then again, if all cases were dat easy I'd be outta a job.

[ A better question to ask would be where that saxophone is coming from. Or why everything around her seems to be impossibly smoky. ]

An' while da city's howls 'a confusion at dese hats hit octaves usually reserved f' callin' dogs, it means I had a case. Th' sound 'a greenbacks slappin' 'cross my palm is music ta my ears any day.

Afta all, I ain't a music critic. I'm a private eye. So whoeva's responsible betta keep their eye on th' shadows...

'Cause I'm takin' ya down.

[ SHIEMI PLZ... anyone want to try talking to her... or if you're in the Villa, just catch her sneaking around the place or something... >> ]

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[To answer the question of where the smoke is coming from, it's from a bucket of dry ice, fanned by hand to fill the room with the fine mist. Adds both a visual and temperature effect to create a richer atmosphere.

The music plays from the SFC at the side of the one so carefully fanning the mist. But just who is this mysterious person in the ninja hood?]

Stranga things have happen'd in my day, and dis was no exception. Th' mystery man contributin' to the mood hidin' nearby look'd like 'e stepped off some marble pedestal -- eyes piercin' th' soul and legs f' days. Like th' paper blowin' in the wind, no one knew where 'e came from or why 'e was there, but I knew a fellow ally when I see one.

[ Grinning, Shiemi just waves at Dhaos, giving him a thumbs up in approval. ]

Thanks f' improvin' the mood, friend. Hard t' find ya kind o' people in dis town, ya know that?

[Although the mask makes it a little difficult to see, the supposedly internal monologue makes Dhaos turn a rather deep shade of red. He knows that he'll probably never get used to other people complimenting his looks and being sincere about it. Nevertheless, he diligently keeps up with his task.]

...I am just fulfilling my duty, Miss. The effect is greater if my presence is not acknowledged.

I see, I see...

Truly a mysterious individ'al. Anonymity was 'is name, rumor 'is existence and silence 'is native tongue, or that bein' how most spooks stay spooks. Truly a mystery how such a slice a beefcake became a spook, but in my line a' work some things are betta left unanswa'd.

Then I'll pretend not t' have seen anythin', okay?

[ SHIEMI PLZ... AGAIN... ]

[Awkward. That's the only way to describe this situation. Very, very awkward.]

...Thank you.

[He'll just... go back to his task and pretend that he's not being hit on by a girl who looks to be a few years younger than his boyfriend. ...Maybe it would be prudent to leave soon. His duty of adding to the atmosphere should have been sufficiently fulfilled at this point, so perhaps a minute more is all that's needed...]

Mmn. Ya welcome.

[ ALL the awkward. ]

Silence 'ung in th' air b'tween us like an oppressive curtain a fog, too think t' cut through... per'aps now it'd be good timin' t' 'ead off on m' case. Besides, we both 'ad jobs t' do, I'm sure...

[ Shiemi no, we don't need you to add to the awkward by narrating about it... ]