[u]Location: Unknown, Tenebrae[/u] [i][color=lightgray]Time: Early Morning[/color][/i] [@Blizz] The furious typing on a keyboard could be heard as Akihiro sat at a desk, squinting up at a large, glass pane. Blue coding flickered down the screen in one section, while other sections displayed holographic maps with pinpoints of light. The doctor leaned back, hand pressed to his face in concentration as he read the text feeding through. "Who on earth would [i]he[/i] be seeing? And why?" He typed in another line of code, fishing up a file. The 'Access Denied' flashed once before dissolving, and he scanned through the contents. Biographies of metas with names, faces, and locations flashed by, until he came to the last entry, lit up in green. An unread entry, with the face of an older, thin-faced man. And below, a picture of smouldering rubble lined in police tape. The old [url=https://images.app.goo.gl/kBDxvkiNkU1dq7C69]Crane Company Factory[/url], located in West Loop Gate. To his knowledge, it had been demolished years ago. At least, that was [url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/4/20/11472286/crain-company-factory-chicago-demolition]the public story[/url]. It was shortly after that Tenebrians began seeing a rise in gang wars. The two couldn't be related... right? Why would the city council go as far as to cover the truth, claiming the factory to be demolished instead of burned down? What were they hiding? He pulled out his phone and dialled Ellie's number, hoping his suspicion was true. If Ellie didn't mind that he'd done his snooping into her personal history already, then he would rest the responsibility on her shoulders. Perhaps, if his plan worked, they'd gain entry into the lab by tidal means. "Hello? It's Doctor Takeda," he said, "I, uh, hope I'm not catching you at a bad time, but um, have you heard of the Crane Factory? And who died there?" He fidgeted as he tried to phrase his words delicately. "I, uh... Have reason to believe he's, uhm, alive? And if you could talk to him and see if he could help us—I mean, he's—there's his affinity with water and all..." [hr] [u][url=https://goo.gl/maps/Pw9ho4hGnSC6Nsrv9]Navy Pier[/url][/u] [i]Loop, Tenebrae [color=lightgray]Time: Early Morning[/color][/i] [@Blizz] [i]”Do I know you?”[/i] A smooth hand unclipped the silver mask, pulling it away to reveal strong eyes, a youthful face, and a thin, sweeping scar from the right side of his eyebrow to his left cheekbone. A minute haze, like black fairy dust, rose from the scar's faint edge. "I wouldn't imagine so, no. But I'm a human being, like you," he said. "My name is Soliman Kader, I'm in charge of keeping the balance in this city, and with me are a team of Shadow Knights to carry out my mission." His eyes glanced at the city sprawling out from the entrance of the pier. "Metas have always suffered a power struggle in Tenebrae, fighting each other and fighting this city. But with you here..." his eyes shifted back to Rainsinger. "It's a whole different story." "A lot of corruption has happened in your lifetime. But, perhaps the years have changed you," he said, a thoughtful look gracing his face. He stepped forward, head inclined toward Rainsinger, eyes soft. "I'll admit, I'm nervous that you're here. So, I wanted to approach you directly, and ask you to not get involved in anything that'll 'sink the city', so to speak. Or I'm going to have to deal with it, and I won't want to." He turned away, eyes staring out toward the ocean as his mouth twisted in thought. "To put this in a better way, you've come at a critical time. I am days away from completing a certain project that will change the face of the world. There will be a struggle to get there. At present, I can contain it, knowing which metas will be in play." His eyes glanced back at Rainsinger. "You though, are what is known as an alpha-class meta. Something I was not expecting, which is half the reason for our unexpected encounter." His shoulders shrugged a little, shifting the collar of his black mantle. "I can offer you to join me. But, of course, I have a feeling you didn't come here looking for a job. So, I would ask that, for the next few days, move in the city peacefully. After that, it won't matter." [hr] [u]Location: Unknown, Tenebrae[/u] [i][color=lightgray]Time: Late Morning[/color][/i] [@Lady Seraphina] Myriad held a delicate hand to her face, hiding a blushing grin as Phantasm threw on the cloak. "My, I'm starstruck," she chuckled. Her hand reached toward the gateway behind them, and the black substance pooled in her hand before curling up her arm, solidifying. [i]"Where to?"[/i] Myriad skipped down the grill platform gleefully, hands behind her back and she spun toward Phantasm. "Aren't you curious where you are? What these are?" Surrounding them on both sides were the large tubes that, upon closer inspection, contained what looked like rays of light, suspended in clear liquid. The rays shifted in and out of sight and disappeared entirely if stared at too long. Myriad put her hand on the glass, turning toward Phantasm. "Do you know where meta abilities come from? There are lots of theories out there, sure, but has anyone actually told you?" Her eyes lifted to the tubes. "Each one of these vessels contains a meta's abilities, directly as a manifestation shining off their soul. You know," her hands made a circle, fingers wiggling behind it, "like a sun, and the sunlight coming off? That's what these are." They walked a few paces down, and Myriad pointed to a tube. "Some of these are really pretty, like that one there. Do you see the little white flames peeking through the sunlight? This is what a fire meta's ability looks like." She shrugged, "Some don't have a visible trait of their meta ability, so they might look a little boring. But they're just as important. At least, that's what Eos told me." They stopped in front of the door, Myriad pausing with her hand on the knob. "Hmm, you know," she grinned. "You might get to meet him today." She held open the door for Phantasm, eyes peering into the next room. A large 'Happy Birthday' banner was hung along the back of a cement wall, flooring to match. A simple portable banquet table with twelve folding chairs was pulled up underneath the banner, with balloons and streamers placed haphazardly here and there. Two men bearing the Shadow Knight's crest stood around a tall man, pearlescent gold in his brown hair and lab coat worn neatly over his dress shirt. He looked up as the door opened. "What a pleasure, Phantasm. Myriad." He nodded solemnly as they entered the room. "Oh, yes," Myriad smiled sheepishly, "Phantasm, this is Eos. He's uh, well... Beside him is Arc, you've already met, and the other one is Chronos. He likes to be intimidating." She made a face at Chronos, to which he silently glared at. Eos politely inclined his head. "Ma'am." Arc's eyes narrowed at Phantasm, half his body still bandaged from their encounter last night. He jerked away in a dismissive manner before Eos leaned in and whispered something in his ear, causing the colour to drain from Arc's face. Immediately, he bowed his head towards Phantasm. "Please forgive me for disgracing myself in front of you last night. It won't happen again," he said. Chronos, an IV in his arm and black-lined eyes staring down Phantasm, simply turned and pushed through the double-swinging side doors, footsteps clomping down the other hall and out of sight. Eos turned toward Phantasm, a calm expression on his face. "This is for you if you choose to take it, Miss Phantasm of the Valkyries." In his hands he held out a thin black briefcase, unlocked, containing documents on an underwater lab, and sketches of a Heart. "I've spoken with your colleague already for this two-person mission. The job itself is simple enough, to steal a microchip from a lab here below the coastal reefs of Tenebrae. We have a submarine and a pilot, but our point of entry is blocked." He smiled softly. "That is unless you want to try that device Arc gave you." [hr] [u]Jade Arts Emporium[/u] [i]Oak Street, Near North Side, Tenebrae[/i] [color=lightgray]Time: Daytime[/color][/i] [@Shu] [i]“Shen?”[/i] "Oh, [i]xiè tiān xiè dì[/i]!" Shen called out heartily, popping in from the kitchen. "Just a moment, Miss Shadow, I'll bring the tea." A few moments passed as Scarlet Shadow could hear the clinking of china and rustle of bags. The old man walked serenely into the showroom, carrying a tray inlaid with the carved stone of a dragon. Atop it was a steaming clay tea set and plates of sesame rice balls and custard tarts. He set it on the front counter, coming around to take a better look at Scarlet Shadow. "My dear, it is so good to see you. You're looking beautiful. Have you been eating enough?" He said, studying her like a concerned parent. He waved his hands in a beckoning manner. "Come, come, there's so much to discuss. Backroom like usual?" He scooped up the tray and walked with her to the back of the shop where, at the turn of a key, let them into where Shen did his real business. His eyes cast around the wooden floors and unopened crates before turning back to Scarlet Shadow. "There's a number of new shipments since your last visit. You're free to look around while I set our tea." If the front store held a mystical charm, the back could be compared to an oasis of history and mysticism. On top of some of the crates were opened treasure chests with pirate loot, doubloons, gems and all. And placed against the wall were eight-foot high frames, curtains hiding the exquisitely painted canvases beneath them. And on a pedestal near the table, a thin veil covering Scarlet Shadow's shining diadem. Shen took a seat, gesturing to the chair beside him. He poured a cup of tea for Scarlet Shadow, the fragrance of perfectly timed jasmine tea infusing the air. He smiled, pushing a plate of sweets towards her. "Please, enjoy! If you want more, you only have to ask, dear." The old man leaned back in his seat, sipping his tea with a contented sigh. He paused, eyes falling on the diadem. "My dear, I have just one question..." His eyebrows wiggled mischievously. "Have you tried the crown on yet?" He laughed heartily before settling in a more serious mood, tea resting in his hands. "I have a potential buyer. However, he's completely undercut me. [i]'It's too hot,'[/i] he says. [i]'I don't want any trouble.'[/i] Ah, in my youth, clients didn't care about that." Shen sighed, stroking his long beard thoughtfully. "Alas, my dear, I cannot push him any further. He's offering $500,000. Of that, I would take my 25% cut, and the rest would be yours." "We can always wait for another potential buyer," he shrugged. "But, unfortunately, with all the press in an uproar about Her Highness, it would take many years for this item to cool down." He sipped his tea again. "Of course, the decision rests with you, my dear." He gestured to the rice balls, winking. "Please, have another sweet. You're not eating enough these days, I think."