[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gLo8q0S.png[/img][h2][color=crimson]VICTOIRE BORDEAUX, THE BLOOD COUNTESS[/color][/h2][/center][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]The aroma of her prized Demon Roses and the shrieking sounds of a swarm of shadow bats preceded Victoire's arrival at bowels of Hell. After her latest attempts at finding entertainment failed, the Blood Countess was beginning to wonder if eternal boredom would be the punishment for whatever sin she might have committed. [i][color=crimson]"'Tis on times like this that I wonder if it would be better if I was like my parents,"[/color][/i] she thought, before heaving a wistful sigh as she walked through the corridors leading to the Throne Room.

Victoire's objective was simple. She came here to report one of her findings that might hold a special value for the forces of Hell in the future. Even though she fully expected that no one would pay heed to her words, it was still better to play her role straight. [color=crimson]"After I'm done reporting, I will likely go there on my own, anyway. The Bloodstone Cave and the Crystal Forest, uh? 'Tis not like that power suits anyone but one of true nobility, after all,"[/color] Victoire mused out loud as she came upon a certain trio blocking the most of the passage.

The look of disdain was clear in Victoire's eyes as she felt the scent of dirty blood and herbicides wafting from them as she stood there waiting for the trio to get out of the way.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7tFrO7i.png[/img][h2][color=goldenrod]DIANA, THE CLAW OF HEAVENS[/color][/h2][/center][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]Back in the Kingdom of Heaven, Diana walked the down corridors of Celestia after coming back from her trip with Suparna. It was an awesome idea to take a few days to explore the world and have some wild adventures. Diana would certainly be glad to it again in the future. In fact, the dragon girl thought about the wild possibility of going on such trips with certain others but readily dismissed it, knowing that it wouldn't end too well.

Not in the Nexus, at least.

[color=goldenrod]"Anyway, I didn't think that time would fly by this fast. I mean, Valentines is right around the corner, if I don't get 'that' done soon, I'll miss my only chance,"[/color] Diana said to herself as she made her way to one of a 'shop'; she still needed to get some items to prepare for the upcoming festivities but didn't have much time to acquire them. On her way there, Diana couldn't help but feel the smell of sweets coming from the direction of the Imperator's throne room and wonder if someone else had the same idea as she did.

Love and War are two sides of the same coin, after all.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/qKQB8aN.png[/img][h2][color=ffb7c5]EOS, SUPREME QUEEN OF THE MACHINA OF MANKIND[/color][/h2][/center][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]The guards that were summarily dismissed by Henry and Karizawa's Assistant stopped dead on their tracks a moment after Henry passed by their side. It wasn't as much fault of his demonic aura, but more of a bit of information that all Machina should know by now, but — as always — was dismissed by TEP's personnel. Before any of them could mention it, a hologram of no one other than the Supreme Queen manifested itself in the hangar.

[color=ffb7c5]"Henry, take back your items or I will have to confiscate them,"[/color] Eos said, addressing the Demon directly. [color=ffb7c5]"All of you should know by now that the use of artifacts, spells, technology, and any other source of power from non-sanctioned origins is forbidden. I cannot overlook the dangers that the Angels and the Demons pose to my Children. I may have given the benefit of doubt both to you and to TEP as a whole, but both are still on probation. I believe I told you that before, did I not?"[/color]

[color=ffb7c5]"This will be the second warning I issue to both of you; please, do not make me do it a third time,"[/color] Despite her rebuking words, Eos didn't change her usual tone or behaved in any particularly expressive way. She was almost as emotionless and robotic as ever, except for a small tinge of warmth in her speech. In that moment, she was like a mother trying to avoid having to scold her children any harsher. Whether the plea would be acquiesced or not was up to those who heard.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/2ms6Yph.png[/img][h2][color=gold]HOHENHEIM, THE ALCHEMIST OF GENESIS[/color][/h2][/center][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][color=gold]"My my, my Dear Titanica, you seem to have misunderstood the instructions just a little bit, right?"[/color] Hohenheim's voice came out of thin air to greet Titanica. Whether the derisive tone was meant to mock or was a legitimate expression of grief, only the Alchemist knew. What was certain is that second later, Titanica would find herself teleported to smallish blond's bedchamber.

The lizard woman would land into a rather soft pile of cushions, stuffed with the best of feathers, laying right beside the fireplace, on the opposite wall of Hohenheim's way-too-large-for-her-size bed.

It wouldn't take long for Hohenheim's pajama-clad figure to emerge from the sea of covers, throwing a sideways look at Titanica. [color=gold]"I guess that I cannot fault you forgetting it when I said that you should come here. You had more... important things in your head, right?"[/color] the Alchemist said before a long yawn escaped her throat. [color=gold]"Anyway, give me those materials and let's get done with this once and for all. Once I'm certain that you won't try to stab me in the back, I can give you the information that you seek,"[/color] she added, extending a lazy hand towards Titanica, right after sluggishly making her way to a writing desk that laid close to a window which had a pretty nice view of the roiling chaos of the Nexus' boundaries — as well as an occasional glimpse of that which holds all of this dimension together.