Arista

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Ellie took the hand offered to her with a smile, letting her chauffeur who was actually another undercover officer help her out of the limo they'd arrived in. She wore a long strapless golden dress with matching heels, her hair had been styled and tied up high in a hairstyle she couldn't pronounce. D'Angelo had explained what she would be doing exactly, from start to finish with clear instructions on what she needed to accomplish.

Looking up at the near gleaming hotel as other guests moved towards the front doors, she couldn't help but wish she hadn't pestered her boss into letting her out into the field. This hadn't been at all on her mind, but here she was and though not a high-ranking case she had no intention of failing.

Turning to collect her small purse which held a decoy phone and the device she needed to strategically place, she let her other hand move through Delta's fur once before moving away. Exhaling through her nose she ascended the stairs that led to the doors, head high and expression calm despite her stomach being twisted in knots.

She tried to keep her eyes from widening as she was let inside, pace only stuttering for a fraction of a second at the sheer beauty of the entrance. Willing her heart to settle as she walked forward to where a line had formed, Ellie let her eyes close for a second to center herself.

She was the daughter of a foreign businessman who wanted to see if Mr. Crawford and his company would be a great aid in helping expand his own business would be a good venture. Her eyes caught on the man everyone was pausing to greet with handshakes and smiles, no doubt this was the man in charge of tonight's event.

Forcing herself to calm and not look like a panic foal caught unawares, Ellie let a practiced smile curl her lips as the line moved forward. Mannerisms drilled into her from a young age by loving parents who held money and a regular presence at social gatherings that demanded respect, she fell easily into them now. She needed to prove that she could do this, that she could curb her own hyperfixation on certain cases by herself without someone tugging her ear to get her attention.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

In a modest-sized office, with navy-blue painted walls and gray furniture Sar a woman typing away at her computer. The single large window that decorated the left side of her office let sunlight stream in, which had her squinting at her screen before she let out a huff of air and rose to her feet. She was dressed in black pants and a white-sleeveless shirt, brown hair tied in a bun atop her head with black-heeled boots bringing the look together.

Her expression softened as the harsh sunlight dimmed as she half closed the blinds, a huff from her right has her head turning to peer at her companion with a snort. Sprawled on the white carpeted floor, a sable-coated German Shepherd lays with her head half-raised as if in protest to the lose of sun. Ellie snorts again and moves back towards her desk, tired eyes blinking twice as she settles in her chair once more.

Technically her shift ended four hours ago, but the Director had asked her to return at seven, it's now close to nine and she'd rather be home sleeping off a twelve-hour shift. She's interrupted just as her fingers touch the top of her keyboard, by the door opening to reveal Director D'Angelo himself.

Delta flips over onto her belly at the new presence with her ears perked, Ellie blinks again before lifting a hand in a half-hearted wave. "Come along, Hale. We need to talk." His tone is even and calm, his expression blank in a way that has a shiver racing along Ellie's spine. She stands slowly and moves around her desk, stomach fluttering as D'Angelo moves away from the door and to let them pass. His usual smile and teasing is gone, he's serious in a way he only gets when something large in happening in a case, or something went wrong and they'd lost a member during a case or investigation.

Delta follows beside her as they walk down the hall, her office closing with a click as the automatic lock settles into place. D'Angelo leads them with long strides, broad back covered in a beige suit that's a few shades darker then his blonde hair. The main area of their headquarters is filled with cubicles and long glass tables used for debriefing any large-scale cases, passing them all without pause Ellie can't help but feel appreciation pool in her stomach. She's rarely called out to deal with very important cases on her own, usually she's sent out with an older agent who can help curb her tendency to obsess over a case until she's able to solve it.

D'Angelo's office is grey with brown furniture and black carpet, the opposite of her own. He gestured to a cushioned chair and she settles in it quietly, brows furrowed even as Delta sits on her feet with a sigh. "Sir?" She asks with cautious politeness, fingers burying themselves in soft, warm fur.

"I need your help with a case, Hale. You're going to have to go undercover, and plant a device so that we can get some much needed information. " A pale hands holds out a crimson folder, taking it she opens it up to see what's inside.

The picture pinned at the top is followed by printed information, her head tilts as she reads what's before her, silently wishing that she'd had coffee before sitting down to finish her own half-finished case reports. The establishment in question is a beautiful hotel with what looks like five floors, a place the screams it's usual clientele are those with money. "You've been asking for a real case for awhile. This shouldn't be too hard." His tone lifts and when she glances up he's grinning at her, nose wrinkling at him as it settles in that this isn't as big of a case as she'd thought she can't help but shake her head at him.

"Now, what's this about a Gala?" She asks with a finger pointing down at the sheet before her, the only response she gets is D'Angelo's laughter filling the air.

Lovely, Terrible Things [Arista & LetsFly]

Eloise "Ellie" Hale
Yuri Katrina Mikhailova|34

Delta
Anastasia "Nastya"

Rogues and Rulers

I hope your sleep schedule rights itself! I've had that issue and it's not fun, i recently bought a heated blanket and it seems to help, I hope you get some rest!

You're fine! :)

Course~

I shall begin plotting, haha.

Rogues and Rulers

Nah! I'm like that too, but I also get bored and love to write stories that keep my brain focused. But! You do you~ I'll be here ^^

Ah, see I do know this. Apparently my zombie brain forgot that key detail and settled on typing out past tense. Sorry about that, honestly.

No! No! I must've missed it! You're post was amazing! :)

I didn't mean to have them be so overpowered z.z Limits shall be added like you've mentioned. And as for them being something major in the story, I'd say it'd add a twist so I'm open for them being a part of this if you are ^^

Rogues and Rulers

I shall keep that in mind, I'm just one of those people that don't like keeping their partner waiting for a reply. I feel guilty~

I wrote in present instead of past? Really? Sorry about that~ I don't mind I think, I'm just used to writing in present so that'll be different ^^

I'll take your word for it, lol.

Sooooooo...I blame my zombie brain for this, honestly. So long story short my brain that "Let's have families who breed animals that can be used to keep tabs on the humans while looking like regular animals so as not to draw attention." Basically normal-looking animals are bred to replace police presence on the streets, the difference is these animals have a telepathic bond with the parent/who bred them and can relay information back and forth, they can also talk like humans. Sorry if this is a reach, I can edit my post to remove this if need be. Again a random sleep-deprived idea

Will do! Meant to updated it but got busy~

Rogues and Rulers

Double post, sorry!
Let me know if my post is okay or not, not 100% feeling Vik yet and I haven't been sleeping well but I wanted to get this to you~

Rogues and Rulers

There's a small, purring body curled in his hands. Tired eyes blink slowly as his mind slowly takes in the features before him, strained muscles releasing their tension as the purring continues. Its tiny with sleek charcoal-white fur and a pink nose. Another smaller body he notices with another blink of his golden eyes, is curling around his ankles.

"They seem to like you." Comes a musically-lilting voice from his left, his heavy head leans against back against the cushion he'd been pushed into to peer at the speaker. Meriel has a tray in hand and a cat along her shoulders, brunette hair tied high and a dark blue almost navy-blue dress on. Her skin is pale in a way that reminds him of porcelain, and yet she's anything but a dainty, weak Noble.

"You called me here to socialize your kittens?" He asks with a wrinkle of his nose, but he remains where he's seated despite being half on the floor. He should be sleeping, curled under silk-soft sheets and recuperating after being awake the last two nights straight.

And yet here he is. Kitten-socializing.

"Like this isn't normal by now." Meriel quips as she sets the tray down on a wooden table, dress fluttering as she moves. He shrugs and let's his eyes close for a moment, the room is warm from the sun in a way that could easily drag him into sleep.

"I'm not naming them." He grumbles out quietly, fingers absently petting both kittens to keep them purring and near him. He's grown up with Meriel and has gotten used to being summoned when any of her Houses cats have kittens, they will become future Shadows who help maintain the balance after all. Early socialization helps them retain their humanity, not doing so means the kittens will loose control and will need to be put down.

"Have some tea, you grouch." Meriel mutters seconds before something soft slams into his face, his magic flares outward and a gust of Wind bursts into the room with enough force that it has his clothes rustling. A yowl is followed by two smaller but still heard hisses, clicking his tongue he reins his magic in and opens his eyes. Two-fluffy rounded ears poke up from neatly maintained hair, his eyes catch a glimpse of a tail before he lifts his eyes.

"If anyone saw how you acted behind closed doors..." A new voice sighs out as Vik slowly stands, two kittens held in his hands. He shrugs and he moves towards the table, pausing only to set both down with their mother who's settled on a pillow in front of a large window.

"Did you hear?" He asks as he takes a seat, long legs crossing at the ankle despite the person before him, her elbows rest on the table in an action neither of them would dare do in public. But here nestled away in a cabin where pregnant cat mothers are kept to birth their young, they can relax.

"About the string of thefts? Oh yes I have." Her tone is dry and sarcastic, vermillion-blue eyes narrowed.

"And this meeting?" He inquires with an arched brow as he lifts his steaming cup, a familiar weight settling along his shoulders moments later.

"A social call." Is said with a shrug, he shakes his head and settles in to drink his tea.

He can feel his magic withering just beneath his skin like a trapped animal wanting to be freed, having Saoirse close helps. His usual iron-clad grip is frayed at the seems, too much time out and not enough time to rest and settle like he needs.

"The Enforcers are a joke." He mutters after he's snacked on a few sweets on a platter he hadn't noticed before, his jaw ticks seconds later and the cup in his hand begins to crack along the edges.

Nothing is said aside from Saoirse shifting so that she's sitting in his lap, her tail slowly swaying behind her.

He wakes to several warm bodies splayed over his body, skin vibrating with their purring. Meriel has a book in hand and says nothing as he untangles himself from soon-to-be mother cats, until he's on his feet and blinking at her.

His magic still withers beneath his skin but it's not as prominent now, though he doubts he's been asleep long enough to count as more then a nap. Exhaling a breath he runs a hand through his hair, a slight throbbing along his temple indicating an oncoming headache.

Tea and snacks have never filled him for long, his belly rumbles softly and it draws a sigh from his lips. Moving forward with careful steps, he passed Meriel where's she's seated in a rocking chair. He presses a kiss to her cheek before he continues towards the door, the air smells of flowers and is warm with the spring sun.

His magic envelopes him in a whirlwind of air, a trick he's mastered for quicker travel. He keeps to the backroads until he's nearing a familiar pub, boots touching the ground as his magic fades to nothing. A warm tail circles his neck as he rolls his shoulders, he can feel how his expression and demeanor change. How he looses that almost gentleness and turns serious, cold.

With another grumble of his stomach, he exhales a quiet huff and moves forward. Meriel's note still in his coat pocket, the sun above bright and warm on his skin.

Rogues and Rulers

Sweet! I'll go read it now ^^

I'll try to~ haha

I'm doing much better thanks! I've also started my reply. It started out differently than I had intended but so far I like it so let's see haha. You're fine, I do hope you feel better soon and not off~

I'm going to change Zephyr's name, just wanted to let you know ^^

Rogues and Rulers

Yay! A post! Sleep won last night, sorry for the late reply. I'm also getting sick again so this is a perfect distraction~ And of course, feel free to add Nyx's part whenever ^&^

Thanks very much for it :) You have skills~

Edit: I kinda have an idea for Vik, let's see how this goes lol

Edit 2: Can I be added as a GM?