[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uurhDHh.jpg[/img][/center][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/HtvPRRx.png[/img][/center]The words and movements of everyone else in the room were gone, dulled, deemed unnecessary and not important by the buzzing virus leaking in Kanbaru’s head. The vampire was just as proud as ever and the others held no clue. No, who was the most interesting person right now? The girl with her scythe and cloak as red as blood. Of this the JSTR made special note of in Kanbaru’s head, reminding her of the description Garou gave the party of the thief. There was no better suspect than the girl trying to smooth talk and negotiate her way out of being cornered. And if they were wrong? It didn’t matter. From how the JSTR was buzzing, it seemed there would be more benefit than cost in taking the girl with them, be it through forceful assimilation into their merry band or something more. The JSTR flashed its thoughts and Kanbaru’s attention over to Ami. The girl, so young, so full of fire, and itching to spark a fight. It wouldn’t be difficult coercing her to strike first and, if needed, act as backup in taking Riku the suspect. The JSTR assured Akiko would follow suit, for it was more likely she would against a stranger. The last factor was Victoire but the vampire, full of pride, would do nothing if it meant gaining an audience of bloodbath and sport. So caught up in her amusement was she that the events of the theater room were well beyond her sight. The pieces for a devising solution were there; all that needed to be taken was the first step, the gentle push in Kanbaru’s mind to act and play the card of rallying her allies against the red-cloaked suspect or attack outright. The odds were in their favor either way, just as they were for something else in the other side of the manor. The noises heard by Thomas and Caprice became louder and more rampant as the dark serpent continued its assault on Claire and Rose. The snake let out a resounding hiss strong enough to shake bones once the foxy thief made her move with a blast from her star blade. Momentarily blinded, the snake’s eyes sheathed themselves with a dark iris layer to keep from being stunned again, swiveling and swerving away from Claire’s shots. Lined up for another attack at Clair, the snake’s movements suddenly darted to the side from the knife tossed its way. Now it faced Rose, another predatory hiss filling the room once the pirate manifested with a shield and a slimy layer coating her body. Suparna’s Card seemed to have its uses after all, especially when Rose’s shield made sure the snake, now charging at Rose, would keep it at bay. Coiling back on the ground, the dark serpent’s scales lit up suddenly in a bristling burst of power and energy. Heat built up around its jaws and the snake opened its maw wide with dislocated muscles before firing an orb of purple right at Rose’s shield, testing how easy it was to bend and break. [hr]