Her thoughts swirled around aimlessly in the form of a black mist.
"Layna."
A red spark interrupted the mist.
"Layne?"
The black was interrupted by another flash of red.
"Alanna. Dios mío, get up!"
Alanna opened her eyes to find Esperanza standing in her line of vision. She blinked, clearing her eyes before looking at her expectant friend.
"What?"
Esperanza's eyes flickered to her right. Alanna slowly moved her head until she saw who she as looking for. A tall man with green eyes loomed above her.
"Can I help you?" Alanna asked.
The man smiled and took a seat next to her. "I believe you can. Alanna Kozachuk?"
She nodded. "Are you the man who's supposed to tell me what I'm doing here?"
"Yup." He said. "I would like it if it were a bit more private however." He eyed Esperanza.
Ranza rolled her eyes. "Aye aye Capitan." With a sarcastic salute Esperanza strutted out of the room.
The man sighed. "Introductions are nice. My name is Peter Davin." He held out a hand.
And Alanna took it. "Obviously you know me, Alanna Kozachuk. Now, would you be so kind as to tell me what I'm gonna be doing?"
Akellah snorted from under them, knowing it would be a long night.
Oh you are fine, I just didn't know what to do and I wanted to let you finish your post first.
Peter Davin-
"We're here to find the Black Fox." He said it rather bluntly but didn't know anyway else to say it. She looked at him and nodded, "I'm not sure exactly why we were supposed to meet here specifically but I do know our next stop is a police station."
"Alright." She said. She didn't seem like much of a talker. Peter had been to Venice enough times to know where the Police Station was and he was ready to lead the way, but Alanna didn't move.
Peter sat there at the bar with his hands resting on the table. He began to feel cold, from walking in the rain. His dark hair was wet and his suit soaked through.
"I also have the name of the Hotel we will be staying at. The Regalia, it's a very nice hotel. I guess this case is really important." She nodded again.
*haha awkward..anyways thats all I got*
All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.
All right. It is the fourteenth, since everyone is posting as that. It is the fourteenth, it's going to be about 4 in the afternoon, and we're all in Venice. I'm going to post now with my character, and Kitty15's character, arriving at the hotel. Everyone else should be arriving to the hotel in their next post, and getting to the dining room so they can be completely filled in on the events happening. I've already briefed Alice on this, because she's part of the VPD, so they have more information than those of us from other parts of the world. The VPD will be the ones filling us in, mainly Alice because, as I said, I've talked to her.
And don't forget, we have a DT if you have any questions! So far the only person to post on it has been the Black Fox. =P
Isabella Milan - October 14th, 2008 - 3:52 pm - Venice, Italy - Hotel
Our cab pulled to a stop in front of The Regalia. Sam paid the driver, while I grabbed our belongings out of the backseat.
"Thanks," Sam said, smiling when I handed him his bag. I nodded, opening the door to the large hotel. "These must be the keys to our hotel," he noted as I pulled out the two keys the man had given us.
"I suppose so," I checked the numbers on the keys. "Our rooms are beside each other." I handed one key to Sam.
"Can I take your bags?" a worker asked. I nodded, handing both of our bags to him.
"Room 152 and 153," I said. "Thank you."
"We should get to the dining room. We're supposed to meet the rest of the agents working this case, and get some more information, there."
Nodding my agreement, I walked to the large doors at the other end of the lobby.
Alanna and Peter had arrived at the hotel just before the rain again. They took off their coats, handed them to the hotel staff in exchange for the keys to their rooms and instructions to head into the dining room.
Akellah was allowed in as long as she kept her nose out of things. Alanna opened the door to the dining room. It was empty but not in an eerie way. Elaborate gold walls were decorated with draping pieces of maroon fabric, velvet by the looks. Lighting shone around the perimeter of the room, giving off a royal glow.
"This is... fancy." stated Peter.
"Mhm." Alanna responded.
She snapped to get Akellah's attention. They walked over to the large wooden dinner set. She selected a chair towards the head of the table. She pulled it out and settled into the maroon and gold cushions. She caught Peter's eye and motioned to the chair next to her. Akellah sat dutifully by her side, waiting.
Seul took a firm grip on Kudo's chain, murmured, "Stay," and tried to breathe again. He was tempted to pull his gun on the knife-throwing lunatic, but forced a calm blink instead. He gripped the knife beside his head and pried it from the wall. Kudo was growling lowly; but obeying.
The lady made a move as if to retrieve her weapon, but he held it at his side and asked, "ID?"
If his assumptions were correct, it would be a federal id, an id that would link her to the incoming agents. He doubted highly that Kudo had brought him here just to have a knife thrown at him; the dog's instincts seemed to be better than that. Still, the great German Shepherd kept an aggressive stance, so Seul was on his guard. He waited for her to identify herself. And hopefully clue him in.
I sat next to Alanna and looked around the room. Just by looking at the people, by studying their body posture and facial expressions I could tell which were leaders and which were followers, which were independant and which were needy. College hadn't completely failed me.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out apologetically as everyone looked my way at the noise. There was a text message from one of my cousins.
"Your father tells me you won't be joining us in London. It's a shame we'll miss you this time." I debated then decided not to answer and shoved my cell phone back in my pocket.
"So are we here for some sort of meeting?" I asked Alanna leaning forward a bit.
"I would assume so." She said turning and petting her dog. I checked my watch then leaned back in my chair and sighed.
All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.
Samuel Andrews - October 14th, 2008 - 3:55 pm - Venice, Italy - Hotel
As the doors opened, the flood of golden light that descended upon Isabella and Sam was quite spectacular. The golden walls drew their eyes and at regular intervals, the maroon fabric made them bolder and more beautiful with its contrast. The tables and chairs were rich mahogany with tasteful, mauve table cloths and the room's vast emptiness added to the splendor. Sam was not impressed. In fact, he thought the decoration silly and frivolous. At heart, he was a field agent and he'd put up with some terrible eating and sleeping arrangements during his service.
Two people occupied one table, not far from the door. Sam observed them, making it look like a casual, sweeping examination of the entire room. They didn't look like they were there for dinner.
"Shall we sit down?" Isabella asked. Sam shook his head and instead walked directly to the occupied table. Sometimes the blunt approach was best. The two people were talking quietly but fell into silence when they saw Sam and Isabella approaching.
"Sorry to interrupt," Samuel began, remaining standing. "Am I right in presuming that you are two of our fellow agents?" The seated male nodded, his shaggy black hair dipping slightly.
"Doctor Peter Davin, CIA," he said, holding out his hand. Samuel shook it somewhat cautiously, remembering his last male partner.
"Alanna Kozachuk, VPD," the woman added. Samuel shook her hand too as Isabella and Peter shook hands.
"I'm Drew Harlow and this is my partner Isabella Milan. There's another with us too, Miss Maijorie Gensitine, but she hasn't arrived yet. We're all SIS." Samuel had warned Isabella that he might be using a code-name, that his real name was a little too well known and he was impressed that she gave no sign of having heard a lie. Isabella and Alanna shook hands and then there was a moment of silence.
"I think we'll sit by the window," Sam said casually. "Nice to have met you." And he and Isabella departed to take a table on the other side of the room.
"Homework time," Sam decided with a slight grin. He was having too much fun with this. He knew he was having too much fun but he couldn't help it. It felt good to be back in the game. He took out his phone and put it to his ear, smiling a little more at Isabella's expression.
"Yo, Sam. I wondered when you'd call. It's good to have you back."
"Good to be back. I need a background check," Sam whispered, quickly scanning the table decoration - a vase of roses and the usual baskets of sauces and bread - for a camera. He found none and the detector in his phone wasn't picking up any electrical interference.
"The names are Doctor Peter Davin, CIA and Alanna Kozachuk, VPD."
"Got you. Call me back in an hour?"
"Thanks." Sam hung up the phone and pushed it back into his pocket. Isabella raised an eyebrow.
Isabella Milan - October 14th, 2008 - 3:57pm - Venice, Italy - Regalia Dining Room
I nodded my agreement, and scanned the menu in front of me. After that, I scanned the room, noticing how many people were paying for their bills and leaving. Looking back down the menu, I nodded approvingly.
"The dining room closes for two hours, from four to six," I commented nonchalantly.
"Ah, that must be the time we'll be having our meeting," he said, watching those who stayed seated. He seemed to be profiling each one individually, making a mental assumption about them as he went.
While he did that, I ran through the profiles that had been in my information file. There had been one for every member we would be working with, and I had done my best to memorize them before leaving.
"Well that was ridiculous..." I mumbled, remembering how I stood there for a couple seconds and then turned around.
The colds winds from yesterday night and my impatience at the door seemed to melt away now. I sort of did felt guilty if someone answered after I left, but that feeling melted away, too. Venice was absolutely beautiful without the weather being horrid like yesterday. I shifted my bags to one hand as I pulled on the sunglasses and slid them on.
I kept on, turning random corners and trying to figure out where I was. My Italian wasn't as great as I thought it was and I never bothered trying other languages. My hands felt a little wet, probably sweat from carrying around the bags. I pulled out my cell phone and then stopped abruptly. When I did I get a new text message?
Go to the Regalia - Unknown Caller
The phone snapped back shut and slid into my back pocket. I always did have luck with things, but... my eyes followed the beautiful brick work up the building until I saw the sign. In shimmering, black calligraphy that seemed to be specifically made for that building, it read: Regalia. In very regal letters.
I stepped inside and wandered to the counter where I was immediately recognized and given a room key. A bellhop took my things--which made me sigh in relief--and escorted me to my new room. I didn't get a chance to look around before something vibrated in my back pocket.
Dining room - Unknown Caller
Okay, someone has to be spying on me or they couldn't have been so precise with these texts. I put the phone back and walked out of the room, locking it behind me, and then rushing to and elevator. The little, red light passed over each number slowly, until finally it reached level 2.
I glided out smoothly and made my way towards a room with another sign on it: Dining room. I pushed on the doors. Nothing. I pushed again, harder, and this time, someone else opened it; from the inside. I fell forward and a pair of hands caught me.
Our happiness here is all vain glory,
This false world is but transitory,
The flesh is weak, the Fiend is slee
Timor mortis conturbat me.
--William Dunbar
"Excuse me for a second," Peter said to Alanna and stood to leave the dining room. It was stuffy and very very quiet in there and he was begining to be bored. Also his cell phone kept buzzing at him with messages from his cousin.
He was going to go out into the hall to call James and tell him that he would call him later. He was also getting fidgety.
He walked across the dining room feeling a few suspicious eyes on his back. After what seemed like a very long walk, he reached the doors leading out of the room. As he pulled them open a girl came tumbling through.
"Whoa," Peter said reaching out to catch her, "You alright?" She got back on her feet and nodded, straightening her shirt.
"Sorry about that, the doors were stuck." She replied. He realised he had managed to drop his cell phone in the process of catching the girl and scanned the floor for it. It was sitting open just by the door.
Peter nodded to the woman and walked over to bend down and pick up his cell phone. He then continued out into the hall to call James.
All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.
So you all are aware - Alice has dropped out. Also, sorry Lupe and cat4prowl, I didn't know what else to do to get this moving again, but something had to be done.
Isabella Milan
I looked up as a few people stood up, walking toward what appeared to be the front of the room. There was a small spot, almost like a stage, where the floor had been raised.
"Excuse me, I need your attention please," one of the two said. "My name is Alanna Kozachuk, and I am with the Venice Police Department. This is my partner, Seul Freeman. He and I are helping with the mission to stop the Black Fox, and are here to brief you all on what we know, seeing as we have been here throughout the entire ordeal."
"The Black Fox is cruel, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He kills, he kidnaps, he robs - he pretty much does it all. We have no idea what he looks like, and he doesn't leave much for clues."
Both officers fell silent, obviously unsure of what else to say.
Milo glanced up as a man and woman marched up onto the small stage near the far wall of the room and called for everyone's attention. Finally, the meeting was getting somewhere.
The two introduced themselves as Alanna Kozachuk and Seul Freeman of the Venice Police Department.
"The Black Fox is cruel, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He kills, he kidnaps, he robs - he pretty much does it all. We have no idea what he looks like, and he doesn't leave much for clues," Seul said, and then fell silent, as if not knowing what else to say. His partner didn't seem like she was about to add anything either.
Milo glanced around the room to the other occupants, who were in turn watching the pair with expectation. A few were whispering among themselves.
"Do we have any leads? Anything?" he called out, surprising even himself.
All eyes turned to me for a split second, then back to the two standing at the front of the room. Silence fell again as everyone waited for an answer.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
