[Nothing was more difficult than trying than trying to rouse from the sleep. A sleep brought on from intense emotional turmoil. A sleep as if her very life had escaped. A sleep filled with dreams of her surrounded by cat-like cubs pouncing on her, overlooked by a ferocious parent. A happy dream.

Arietta's grip weakly tightens, feeling the plush, comforting fabric of her fonic doll. Was she alive? Was she dead? She couldn't tell. She managed to weakly sit up. Something is on her lap? She managed to open her eyes to find the box.

One small question on her mind, "Who is it from?" She found necklace inside. How pretty. And a odd device. Some red papers? They look like money. It's not gald, for certain. Claiming the items, brochures included, she eases her way off the bed, or whatever this was, and out of the cave. Waking up in the cave wasn't the weirdest thing. It felt like home, but less foliage and monsters.

She was now awake enough to be aware of her surroundings. There was no such advanced city near the Cheagle Woods. The haze on her memory lifts... What is going on? Where are her friends? Largo? What about the duel with Anise? Clutching her doll tightly while holding on the items she found, she roams the city searching for her comrades, a forest with monsters, or any sort of clue. But to start, she tries to call for her monster friends...

...But nothing came... Arietta was all alone. Once more, everything was taken away from her.

She can't help but suspect that Anise is behind this. Anise is the origin of all her problems.]

"Largo? Where are you?"

A. Patrols.
[ Security for Genessia city isn't as interesting as he hoped it would be. Jean didn't expect much, but more than doing what he currently was seemed better. A funny thing, really, since this was exactly what he wanted every day of training back home. A boring, safe life. But now that he'd seen the kind of destruction he had back home and been at the mercy of seven witches, boredom should be the last of his worries.

It wasn't. In fact it feels more surreal and easily broken than anything. Like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop any time.

So, he ducks into shops, exploring the city, and keeps his eyes sharp. Are you a troublemaker he gets to arrest? How about someone who just happens to be there for chit chat? ]


B. Attack on Mansion!
[ Sleepless nights aren't a new concept. Jean punches a pillow roughly and flops onto his back, kicking his legs in frustration. His eyes are wide open, staring at the ceiling. The strangeness of sleeping in a big bed with the knowledge he wouldn't be sharing it with anyone any time soon hadn't worn off yet. Part of him still expects someone to nudge open his door, pad across the room, and climb in with him. Whether that be a dog or person, it didn't matter.

Instead, he finally gives up and tosses the covers off, soon wandering into the other areas of the mansion.

On September 2nd, he ends up with a feather duster in hand, cleaning light fixtures.

On September 4th, Jean wanders into the library. The obviousness of it being Armin's space has him backing back out immediately, though. ]

The Tea Time Cafe seems to have a new waitress there.

Granted, working at some place like this was not Micaiah's first choice, but when it came down to things, Maribelle was far too convincing (and she needed to have money coming in before she wound up being unable to pay for her own food! So that's what she was doing today. Donning one of Maribelle's provided dresses she had been slowly getting used to serving customers. She was still cautiously slow, but considering the swift training Maribelle put her under she was at least competent. Fortunately, the restaurant wasn't too busy at this time, so her slowness wouldn't be a problem, albeit she was surely working on getting faster.

For those of you wandering into the cafe, you'll likely see her taking orders and bringing out food. She always seemed to greet people with a smile, seemingly making her popular with the patrons.

[Video]

[ Micaiah is taking a break, and is currently deciding to use the device to ask a question that had been bothering her since before the festival. ]

I didn't think a job like this could be so... intense! Maribelle was right.

...b-but anyway, for everyone that's been here, I'm quite curious. Has there been any reports of this place's history? I've read a few of the past newspapers, but I don't have a strong understanding of this place in the least.

Action 1 - pre-smokes (Genessia City)
[There's so much wrong with having woken up in a bubble washed up into an area he doesn't recognise that Badou isn't sure where to even begin. On the plus side, he can't feel the gunshot wound any more and unless it happened when he was knocked out, he doesn't remember being pumped full of enough painkillers for that.

And if he were that doped up on painkillers, he likes to think he wouldn't be so aware that he'd been snatched away here before he could so much as take his first drag of the first cigarette he'd been allowed since he'd been admitted. That certainly doesn't make for the best first impression, though he'll grant some leniency for the fact that at least he has what appears to be money.

By the time he hits the streets proper, he's found himself a map but hasn't looked at it because he'd been distracted by the hologram and that he'd only heard snippets of because the speech had only grated on already raw nerves and had been the final indicator he'd needed that he has to attend to priority number one right now.

And that means approaching whoever he happens across, forcing a patience stretched thin to hold just a little longer so he can actually get his question out.]

Nearest smokes shop. Now. Please.

[See, he remembers his manners and everything.]

Action 2 - post-smokes
[It's amazing the difference one little burning stick of nicotine can make. Once he's found the grocery store, Badou's barely stepped foot out of there before he has a cig between his lips and as soon as it's lit he can feel some of the tension bleed out of him.

Okay, there's still a ton of shit he doesn't understand and this is still about the worst time to get kidnapped when there's so much else going on. But at least he's in a better mood to get himself some answers.

And that means checking out wherever in the city his feet can carry him, determined as he is to work out just how similar or different it is to what he knows. Including the apartment space he's been granted, if on a temporary basis. Nothing fancy, but he thinks he can make do...at least until he realises the bathrooms are communal. And he is not quiet in his disapproval, and never mind he's probably already filling his section of the apartment block with his distinctive smoke trail.]

You gotta be shitting me.

[Beyond that, he'll roam just about anywhere within Genessia City, looking out for anyone who might know more about this place than he does - which shouldn't be difficult.]

Yo. Help a new guy out?

Video
[Badou's been an information broker for long enough to know not to turn down sources of intel, which is why he turns to the network. He seems relaxed, at least, though there's a sharpness to his one good eye that sits at odds with the otherwise apparent carefree vibes he might give.]

All right. Full disclosure, I was only half-listenin' to that hologram chick to begin with but I don't need a recap. What isn't she telling us? Not like I'm not used to sifting through bullshit but it's been a rough ride lately and I could really do with catching a break.

Oh and a job, too. Guess I'm needing me one of those. I'm an info broker by trade, freelance mostly, but I'll take what'll keep me in smokes right now.

[Priorities, he has them.]

WHO: Lucan Savir, Tony Stark, Airy, Lenalee, Rude, and maybe some other people at Stark Mechanics.
WHAT: Savir's shitty heart finally gives out after 47 bullshit years of life.
WHERE: Right in the middle of Stark Mechanic's lobby.
WHEN: 9/4
WARNINGS: u know he ded. also descriptions of a heart attack and legit a dude dying.

( than a heart attack )