[04:08] <Wraithstrike> General Abaddon stands before his compatriots, explaining what occured on the rooftop. "There were four of them. The whelp, a Hero, and I'm sure it was two of those accursed Maidens."
[04:09] <Wraithstrike> Standing next to him is General Koroviev, whose skin seems to be slaking off like flower blossoms. "You have no evidence that there were four." That illusion could have come from an "upstanding citizen."
[04:13] <Wraithstrike> "Uninvolved or not..." Abaddon shows some pictures taken by his agents. "We have information about the ones who are acting against us." he throws down the first picture. "Nina Dolohov. Student at Pashkov Lyceum. Maiden of Flowers."
[04:13] <Wraithstrike> The next picture to fall is Sergei's. "The whelp son of the destroyer himself, Sergei Volkov."
[04:14] <Wraithstrike> A picture of Agata, seeming taken from a long distance away, "Agata Tatlin, responsible for spending the money to have to coins taken from the street and the Rosa Imperium shipped in."
[04:16] <Wraithstrike> "Sasha Kuznetsov. Wields the Northern Hero's Blade. Will soon be attending school alongside Dolohov and Tatlin."
[04:17] <Wraithstrike> He lays down a picture of a blonde girl wearing the same school uniform as Agata. "This one...is unimportant. I don't know how it got in there."
[04:22] <Wraithstrike> "What is important is that we now know how to hit them and we should do it as soon as possible. Bring down the fire of our masters on them..."
[04:23] <Wraithstrike> At this point, the female general Hella speaks up. "Your last efforts haven't exactly been subtle, Abaddon. Let me take the lead on this one."
[04:24] <Wraithstrike> Abaddon responds "Subtlety is for those who have time to spare." Nonetheless, he waves her to continue.
[04:26] <Wraithstrike> Hella starts her plan by bringing forth her human agent. It's a girl with dirty blonde hair, about 13 years old. Taking the picture of Sasha, she hands it to this agent.
[04:26] <Wraithstrike> "What am I to do, Mistress?" the girl asks. "Shall I kill him?"
[04:27] <Wraithstrike> "No. You are to befriend him. Get him to the point where he will do anything to protect you... then stab him in the back."
[04:27] <Wraithstrike> "As you wish, Mistress Hella." the girl vanishes from sight, and Hella starts moving on her other plan. "Abaddon, I will need your help. Since each of us can only create one Nocnamora at a time..."
[04:29] <Wraithstrike> "Yes, I get it." Abaddon and hella start working together to create a pair of Nocnamoras. And here, we move to Moscow proper as Sasha, Sergei and the Ambassador are headed to the Bolshoi Theatre.
[04:32] <Wraithstrike> The ambassador is taking his young charges out for a night of Shakespeare, with the play that cannot be named.
[04:33] <Sasha> *Is walking alongside the Ambassador as they head to the theater, how long has it been since the last session ended?*
[04:35] <Wraithstrike> "Have you ever seen Shakespeare performed, Sasha?"
[04:36] <Sasha> "No; I read the Tempus once though, we had an old softback copy of it in the Orphanage. I havn't even read any of his other plays."
[04:37] <Wraithstrike> "The Tempest is still a good work, but we are seeing macbeth tonight. I hope you enjoy it, so we can work on healing your soul."
[04:38] <Sasha> *Smiles a bit* "It'll be nice to just go out really..."
[04:40] <Wraithstrike> As they walk towards the theater, we move down the street nineteen blocks, where Maksim Essen, driving Agata to the same theater, has been beset by strange creatures with blank faces that have stopped the vehicle.
[04:42] <Wraithstrike> He steps from the car with his AK-47 and locks in a magazine before the odd...things start moving towards him.
[04:42] <Agata> Upon perceiving this bizarre threat and having her budding supernatural senses tingle awkwardly, Agata reaches into her pocket and hits her electronic panic button with full force. She then grabs her right wrist and pushes down on it with her left thumb.
[04:44] <Agata> Agata keeps her composure, draws out her phone (no more calling it "PDA-phone," Agata's player), and dials the number of... she chooses randomly between Sasha, Nina, and Sergei, all of whom have new, secure phones by now... Sasha.
[04:45] <Sasha> "I'm sorry I havn't been around much Sir...maybe tonight we'll finally get a chance to enjoy something tog-*Feels his phone go off, hesitates, then opens it* Hello?"
[04:46] <Wraithstrike> As Agata dials, the strange creatures overwhelm Maksim, simply crashing over him. Using a strange amount of strength, they start rocking the SUV to get to Agata.
[04:46] <Agata> "Sasha, I am being attacked by monsters with no faces. I am sending you a GPS mark," Agata speaks with as much calm as she can manage, then proceeds to send said mark. The call is ended.
[04:46] <Agata> Agata rides around in a sedan, not an SUV.
[04:47] <Sasha> *Listens and nods* "I'm on my w- *Shuts the phone, hesitates and looks up to Saad and Sergei, with a look that says he doesn't want to abandon them...but he's going to.* I've got to go Sir, Agata is in trouble...sorry."
[04:47] <Wraithstrike> "Go to her boy." The ambassador nods.
[04:48] <Sasha> *Checks the GPS; then takes the covered sword out the backpack he keeps around him all the time and starts running.*
[04:49] <Agata> Immediately afterwards, Agata takes a deep breath and hits up Nina's number. She may as well send for as much backup as she can.
[04:49] <Wraithstrike> Agata: as the strange creatures press in towards you, one of them reels backward from an impact. If it had been maksim, it would have fallen forward. But as it pulls back up, you can see an arrow buried three inches into the creature's head.
[04:50] <Agata> Come on, Nina... just pick up the phone...
[04:51] <Agata> Agata sets her phone to keep on redialing Nina's number, then turns her attention to the... arrow? The arrow that was shot into the faceless aberration.
[04:52] <Wraithstrike> The aberration takes another shot, and now two arrows are hitting it. All the things seem to sense a new attacker, and turn as one to face whoever it may be.
[04:54] <Wraithstrike> This momentary distraction is enough for Maksim to get back up and into the driver's seat. Throwing the SUV into reverse and burning rubber, he rolls over the creatures with a SPLOORCH. He stops the vehicle a hundred yards back, where another schoolgirl with a bow opens the rear door and sits next to Agata.
[04:55] * Nina picks up the phone
[04:55] <Nina> 'llo ?
[04:56] <Agata> "I am... or, well, was being attacked by a gang of faceless monsters," definitely calmer now. "I would send you a GPS mark if you were more accustomed to those; please come to [street] so that we can look into this together."
[04:56] <Wraithstrike> Even as it looks like the creatures were crushed, they seem to be reforming.
[04:57] <Agata> Agata sets down her phone and has a look at the person who has just invited herself into the car.
[04:57] * Sergei (Sergei@MagicStar-29F4EFC2.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #DFMirrorMaiden
[04:58] <Wraithstrike> Agata: you are looking into the eyes of your friend Natalya. She stares at you without blinking. "Agata, I believe you have some explaining to do."
[04:58] * Nina considers whether Agata is just messing with her, but decides against it after a moment of reflection
[04:58] <Nina> 'kay. Be there in a moment.
[04:59] * Nina gets her stuff and begins jogging to the indicated street
[04:59] <Agata> And explain she does.
[05:00] <Wraithstrike> By this point, running at full clip, Sasha has arrived in time to see a large puddle of grey goo take humanoid shape and attack an armored SUV.
[05:00] <Agata> And Sergei too.
[05:00] <Sasha> *Instantly charges the thing without a moments hesitation*
[05:01] * Sergei takes a moment to take in surroundings before joining in with Sasha.
[05:01] <Agata> It is a sedan, not an SUV, narrator ;_;
[05:02] <Wraithstrike> (armored sedan. Got it)
[05:06] <Wraithstrike> Now Sergei, Sasha and Nina are all present to see the five large grey goo creatures.(Not *That* grey Goo, mind you)
[05:14] * Sergei moves in quickly to attack the biggest of the creatures, his shield opening as he runs in for the attack.
[05:20] <Wraithstrike> Sergei slams his shield through the thing, and it splashes all over him. But this time it just stays on the ground as a puddle.
[05:23] * Nina Nina jumps from puddle to puddle, distracting them with some crowbar smacking, too weak to do any damage, but making them focus their attacks on her
[05:27] <Sasha> *Finally reaches the goo; and brings down his sword in an arc*
[05:30] <Wraithstrike> The goo creatures try to fight back against the heroes, and can't seem to do anything.
[05:30] * Nina evades the goo monster's assaults, pushing Sasha out of the way as one of the greys is about to strike
[05:31] * Sergei draws back his fist before bringing it forward in a quick blow to the middle of it.
[05:33] <Wraithstrike> While Sergei manages to splash another one of the goo golems, Nina has much less luck.
[05:33] * Nina tries to imitate Sergei, bringing down her crowbar in as powerful a swing as she can manage, but the weapon simply bounces off the gooey form
[05:34] <Sasha> *Brings the blade full arc into another of the monsters, not even slowing*
[05:35] <Sasha> *Gets his sword stuck in the goo*
[05:39] <Sasha> *And wrestles with it, while hiding behind his shield for defence, glad Agata gave it to him*
[05:43] * Sergei moves in to assist Nina who seems to be having a harder time than Sasha. He brings his fist down in an arc to smash the goo.
[05:44] <Wraithstrike> Sergei's fist gets stuck in the ooze.
[05:44] <Nina> This one's tough as hell !
[05:44] * Nina tries to smash the goo together with Sergei, but to no avail
[05:47] <Sasha> *Attempts to free his sword by twisting it inside the gunge and dragging it out*
[05:53] * Sergei grabs ahold of the goo with his free hand, trying to rip the creature apart as a means to free his hand from it.
[05:57] <Wraithstrike> The goo creatures are now all destroyed and start flowing towards the drains.
[05:58] <Sergei> Well... that was nasty, but its done with.
[05:59] * Nina wipes goo off her crowbar
[05:59] <Nina> I need a shower...
[06:00] <Wraithstrike> Twenty minutes later, Sergei, Sasha and Agata have arrived at the Bolshoi theater for the production of Macbeth.
[06:00] <Sasha> "What were those?"
[06:01] <Agata> "Florian said that they were Greys, beings of ectoplasm with flesh masks. Basically, minions for Nevernever entities, such as the generals of the Night Wave..." Agata explains sagely.
[06:01] <Sasha> "Ohh *Nods*"
[06:02] <Agata> "I think that the Night Wave is resorting to attempting to directly assassinate us individually," Agata theorizes. "So, they send their minions to do it, right?"
[06:02] <Sergei> "So we better get sued to fighting these things too now." He sighs softly, shaking his head as the images from the other day float up for a moment before he can push them down again.
[06:03] <Agata> "Oh, and one of my friends... well, a friend from before all of this... she had helped me escape from those Greys earlier, and now she wants to help out in the war too. She is a very, very good archer," Agata explains.
[06:04] <Agata> "I dropped her off a while ago, but she would really like to learn more soon, so, I guess that gives us another ally in this fight," the girl finishes.
[06:04] <Wraithstrike> Once you arrive at the theater, the Ambassador greets you. "I trust you are all unharmed. Please come into the theater, all of you."
[06:05] <Sergei> "If she thinks she can help and can stand the horrors, then I guess it is ok."
[06:06] <Agata> "Those were Greys that attacked me," Agata tells the ambassador with a degree of concern. "I think that the Night Wave is trying to assassinate us. None of us were hurt, though."
[06:07] * Sergei barely manages to resist the pun, a small smirk on his face a she imagines the groans.
[06:09] <Agata> "They tried to get me when I was alone. We are a lot more vulnerable by ourselves, but we are never alone for long."
[06:10] <Wraithstrike> The ambassador smiles to know you're safe. He shows the playbill to Agata, and points to the name of the star. "Does this name seem familiar to you?"
[06:12] <Agata> Agata has a look at the name that the narrator has seen fit to withhold at the moment.
[06:12] <Wraithstrike> The name is Augustin Malorvich
[06:14] <Agata> *Ostrovsky
[06:18] <Sasha> "If there are Greys wandering about, I might miss the play. Just to make sure there arn't any we missed...I wouldn't want them to hurt anyone."
[06:18] <Agata> "Mr. Ostrovsky is a gym teacher at our school," Agata responds to the Ambassador. "What is he doing acting in Macbeth? He never really seemed like the type to do theater..."
[06:19] <Sergei> "People can have hidden sides that no one sees." He chuckles.
[06:20] <Wraithstrike> The ambassador asks "Did you ever meet this gym teacher, Agata?"
[06:21] <Agata> "Not really; I only ever heard other people talking about how harsh he was. Nina knows him well though." Out comes Agata's phone. "Let me call her..."
[06:21] <Sasha> *Heads out to go search for any more danger, since no one disagreed*
[06:21] <Agata> Dial, dial, dial.
[06:21] <Agata> Bweep-boop.
[06:21] * Nina after a while, Nina answers
[06:22] <Nina> What ?
[06:22] <Agata> "Say, Nina, Mr. Ostrovsky is your gym teacher, right?" Agata asks rhetorically, though some curiosity still bleeds though. "Did you know that he is taking the lead role in Macbeth at the Bolshoi Theater tonight?"
[06:23] * Sergei looks to the Ambassador. "This is the first time I have ever been to the theatre. Is there anything I should avoid doing to not be an embarassment?"
[06:24] * Nina after a short silence, Nina answers again, this time on a different tone
[06:24] <Nina> What ?
[06:24] <Wraithstrike> Ambassador Saad: "Be quiet when the lighting changes, do not talk over the performance, turn off your phone and do not throw grapes or similar other messy foods from the balcony."
[06:25] <Agata> "Yes, I am looking at the poster right now... Augustin Ostrovsky. That was his name, right?" Agata expounds.
[06:25] <Nina> ...Yeah. Must be another guy with the same name.
[06:25] * Sergei nods, pulling his phone out to turn it off before going any further.
[06:26] <Agata> "Well, if he looks like the Mr. Ostrovsky we see around school, I will let you know," Agata assures Nina, then ends the call.
[06:27] * Nina mumbles to herself about taking her out of her shower for that crap, then puts down the phone as well
[06:30] <Sasha> *Returns after making sure the area was safe*
[06:30] <Agata> Upon seeing Sasha return from his foray outside of the theater, Agata places her hand on the white ascot adorning her blue dress, which lies beneath a very specific brooch.
[06:31] <Agata> "By the way, Sasha, I do not know if you had already noticed, but I had been wearing the brooch you had given me every other day. It appreciate its austereness," oooooooooh, big word.
[06:32] <Agata> "I am sorry for not mentioning it earlier," calm and polite.
[06:32] <Sasha> *Smiles* "Thank you, I'm glad you liked it."
[06:34] <Agata> "In any case, I have my own seat for this play. I will be in the front row, near the orchestra," Agata tells the ambassador and the two boys before heading off.
[06:34] <Wraithstrike> Soon, the performance begins and though you are in the balcony and VIP seating, you can confirm that yes, that is the gym teacher playing macbeth. He might not be hamming it up, but he's passable.
[06:35] <Wraithstrike> While the others are at the performance, Nina receives a message from Crimson. "I apologize for my actions. I would like to make it up to you be teaching you some new spells."
[06:37] <Agata> So far, Agata has been trying to split her attention between her beloved--no, nothing like that, really--Florian playing the violin and the actual play. Upon confirming that it really is the gym teacher, she draws out her phone, theater etiquette be damned, and sends a text message to Nina. "Yes, it really is Mr. Ostrovsky playing the lead role."
[06:38] * Sergei watches the play with some interest, trying to be on his behavior since he is with the Ambassador.
[06:39] <Wraithstrike> At this point, those of you with some attunement to the supernatural notice something about the theater. Though the audience is quiet, it seems to hum with a lingering note.
[06:41] <Agata> Agata's arcane senses are tingling. She has a look back and upwards towards the Ambassador, Sergei, and Sasha; then to Florian in the orchestra pit; then to the stage itself. What could this be...?
[06:42] * Sergei blinks for a moment as he begins to notice the hum before looking to Sasha and the Ambassador.
[06:43] <Sasha> *Listens to the music appreciativly; apparently oblivious to the supernatural note*
[06:44] <Agata> Agata draws out her phone once again, then hammers out another text message to Nina. "There is some weird magic going on in the theater too. I think you should come."
[06:46] <Sasha> *Quietly* He's a fantastic violinist.
[06:47] * Sergei whispers softly for just his group to hear. "Does anyone else hear that strange hum? It's not matching up with the music at all and it feels weird."
[06:51] <Sasha> *Quietly* "What hum?...*Listens hard for it*"
[06:51] <Agata> Agata sends out yet another text message to Nina, but this time also includes Sergei, Sasha, and the Ambassador as recipients. Hopefully, even if they have set their phones to silent, they should still be alerted by the vibration.
[06:52] <Agata> "There are some strange magical energies coming from Mr. Ostrovsky on stage. I can feel them."
[06:52] * Nina picks up the phone, notices the message, and sends back a text "You're paying for my ticket"
[06:53] * Nina then reluctantly gets dressed and heads out to the theater
[06:53] <Sasha> *Checks the text and nods slightly*
[06:53] <Agata> Agata hopes there is an intermission soon, so that she can discuss things with everyone.
[06:55] * Sergei looks over to Sasha as he had turned his phone off completely to try and be more polite. "What is going on?"
[06:55] <Sasha> *Shake my head a little bit and mouth 'Talk about it in the break'*
[07:28] <Wraithstrike> Soon, the first intermission comes up and the theater patrons are free to walk around for a bit.
[07:28] <Agata> Agata cannot help but mildly blush as she approaches Florian; he just looks so adorable in that formal suit and bowtie. Oh, if only he had his cat ears out too; they would match the color of his black and white ensemble...
[07:29] <Agata> After shaking her head and washing away those lovey-dovey thoughts from her mind, Agata closes the distance and gets down to business. "Florian," she speaks to him in a hush, yet serious tone. "If I can sense that from Mr. Ostrovsky on the stage, then you probably can too, right? You said you were good with magical music; what is this weird tone?"
[07:30] * Sergei gets up and stretches. "So? What's going on?"
[07:30] <Sasha> "I don't know, Agata thinks theres something wrong."
[07:31] <Wraithstrike> "You've heard the tone as well, Agata? Perhaps your supernatural senses are improving. What we're dealing with here is a spell called Aegis of Applause. Ordinarily, it's used to give someone who is performing a boost in his ability. It's one of those 'gentle let down' spells."
[07:32] <Sergei> "I wonder if it is related to what I felt before? Hmm... well, should we head down there?"
[07:33] <Agata> "Yes, I have been reading fanfiction to improve my senses..." Agata admits, embarrased in more ways than one. He... he complimented her! She should really keep up her studies, so she can continue to impress him. "So, something is making Mr. Ostrovsky better at acting? Is that a bad thing?"
[07:34] <Wraithstrike> Sergei and Sasha arrive soon as Florian explains. "The spell is only supposed to last long enough to give a person the courage to get through one performance. It's certainly not supposed to hover."
[07:35] <Wraithstrike> Florian points at Mister Ostrovosky as he passes by. "Look at his face. There's no joy in this. It looks as if he's being forced to do it."
[07:37] <Agata> "In that case, something tells me that this is another crazy Night Wave scheme," Agata infers. "It seems like the type of thing they would do..." she trails off, before picking up with a request, "Florian, can you use a musical spell to do anything about it?"
[07:37] <Sergei> "Could this be an attack by the Night Wave or more of a prank by some supernatural jerk?"
[07:38] <Sasha> "...I wonder if the night wave ever have any normal schemes."
[07:40] <Wraithstrike> "Given the rest of the intermission, I could prepare something. However, I have to warn you, countering the spell is going to take away any talent Mr Ostrovsky may have, and the man will be socially shamed."
[07:41] <Sergei> "Can it wait till after the show then as long as it is monitored so nothing bad happens to him because of the spell?"
[07:41] <Agata> "If we wait until the show is over, the Nocnamora's magic might have done something worse to him," Agata expresses her concern. "It is better for him to be embarrassed than to be a victim of the Night Wave. Please, do something, Florian."
[07:43] <Sergei> "I'm not saying we don't protect him. Just, if it isn't necessary, we hold off. I'm sure Florian, out fo all of us, would instantly recognize the signs if something bad was about to happen enough to stop it in its tracks."
[07:45] <Agata> "Hmmm..." Agata sees that Sasha and Sergei are reluctant to remove the supernatural influence from Mr. Ostrovsky. "Alright, how about this. Florian," maintaining her gaze on him and trying not to blush. "Prepare something during the break, but use it if, and only if, the tone becomes stronger or starts doing something."
[07:45] <Wraithstrike> "As you wish, Agata. You had all best return to your seats."
[07:46] <Sasha> "I think we should do as Agata says. *Agreeing* "
[07:46] <Agata> "Okay, Florian. Good luck." Agata offers a smile before returning to her seat just several feet from him.
[07:48] * Sergei sighs softly in relief that Agata did back down. "Good luck. We'll be ready if it comes down to it also." He smiles at the catboy before starting to return to his seat, determined to keep a sharper eye and ear out the rest of the show.
[07:50] <Wraithstrike> The performance resumes, and as the play kicks into gear, Mister Ostrovsky goes from being just mediocre to absolutely amazing.
[07:52] <Agata> Agata focus is kept away from the gym teacher pretending to be a misogynistic Scotsman, and focuses her eyes and ears on Florian and his violin. Oh, how cruel he must be this evening, but what he does, he does for the greater good.
[07:53] <Wraithstrike> Every scene tops the one that procedes it and as the audience's appreciation for the perfomance improves, so does his performance. Truly, nobody has put so much love into misogynistic scotsmen.
[07:54] <Agata> Agata shuts her eyes and listens for the tone, trying to hear its beat and rhythm once more.
[07:54] <Sasha> *Waits and watches, enjoy the play*
[07:55] * Sergei has been listening carefully the entire time, his ears focused for the hum he heard before.
[08:00] <Wraithstrike> The hum builds to a crescendo and then dies out as an opposite tone plays. And in those moments, as the play reaches its highest point, Mister Ostrovsky plummets from greatest actor of all time to washed up gym coach.
[08:01] <Agata> Agata looks towards Florian, wondering if the opposite tone is what had caused him to neutralize the magic, or if he was the one who had produced the opposite tone.
[08:03] * Sergei looks down to the orchestra pit to see if it is Florian who is playing that new tone before looking around the theatre from what he can see.
[08:03] <Wraithstrike> Florian's violin seems to be glowing with every stroke of the bow, and as the curtain falls, Sergei can faintly hear a combination of relieved laughter and sobbing coming from Mister Ostrovsky.
[08:06] <Agata> Agata rises from her seat, looks up towards Sasha and Sergei, produces a "Come down" gesture, and rushes towards the backstage, glancing at Florian along the way.
[08:06] <Wraithstrike> There is a sinister air about the theater, and the boos and whistles come from almost every seat.
[08:07] <Sergei> "Excuse us Ambassador." Sergei rushes out of the box to head down to meet up with Agata backstage.
[08:07] <Sasha> *Follow quickly*
[08:08] <Wraithstrike> The three of you manage to meet up with Mister Ostrovsky before he flees out to the side alley.
[08:09] <Agata> "Mr. Ostrovsky, please wait!" Agata calls out.
[08:09] <Sergei> "Wait sir. Are you ok sir?"
[08:10] <Wraithstrike> He's now wearing just an old t-shirt and slacks, which he had worn under the costume, which now lies crumpled in the corner. "If you want an autograph, don't ask for it. It would just make them happier."
[08:11] <Agata> "This was all very strange, sir. What were you doing performing in a lead role of a play?" Agata half-sincerely asks.
[08:12] <Agata> She is, however, curious as to how the man is going to personally rationalize it.
[08:12] <Sergei> "Make who happier? Sir, we want to help. Just tell us what is going on."
[08:13] <Wraithstrike> "A week ago, I was contacted by a talent agency. They claimed they had seen footage of me acting in a commercial, and wanted to bring me up to this level. I never wanted this, but they promised fame and glory."
[08:14] <Agata> "What kind of talent agency would hire a gym teacher...?" Agata presses.
[08:14] <Wraithstrike> "I hate acting, and would never have done if the money wasn't good. Somehow, with just a few days of coaching, I found myself here, performing for everyone. I wanted to shout, to tell those fools to stop clapping."
[08:14] <Sasha> *Remains quiet, leaving this to the people who know the teacher*
[08:15] <Wraithstrike> "I can't even remember their name. It's some kind of musical term." he looks back at the stage. "Every second I was out there, I thought I was having a heart attack. And I just kept building. But there's no way in hell that this is what I wanted to do."
[08:16] <Agata> "But you were such a good actor for a long while, until... I guess you could not take it any more?" Agata tries to sound sympathetic.
[08:18] <Sergei> "At least you're ok now. But maybe you can tell us some more about the talent agency. Let's get you somewhere you can relax, get something to eat or drink so you can calm your enrves."
[08:19] <Agata> "Right; I can take us all to a good restaurant," agreeing with Sergei. "Would that be okay with you, Mr. Ostrovsky?"
[08:20] <Wraithstrike> Ten minutes later, you are all at the restaurant and the stress on Mister Ostrovsky's face melts away.
[08:21] <Agata> Agata has sent a text message to Nina informing her that she need not visit the theater; they are now in [somewhat high-class restaurant, but not so high-class as to make someone in a shirt and slacks feel awkward].
[08:23] <Sergei> "Feeling a bit better now?"
[08:24] <Wraithstrike> "Yes. So, what are you guys going to do about this company. There were a lot more like me that this company got their hooks into."
[08:26] <Agata> "Well, we are just kids, but..." Agata tries to express this as delicately as she can. "Maybe we could try to be around to help others like you?" Agata is extremely worried about how many more victims the Nocnamora have in their clutches. "We might be able to talk to other kids better though."
[08:26] <Sergei> "If you can remember the name and where it is we could check it out."
[08:26] <Wraithstrike> "When I was there, I saw they had two piles of contracts. One for "In-progress" and one for "completed." There were 20 contracts in the completed pile.
[08:27] <Agata> "What is the difference?" the girl asks with her signature inquisitive tone.
[08:28] <Wraithstrike> "It means there's 20 people out there who are like me, being pushed into doing something that they're not going to enjoy. And at least ten others waiting."
[08:29] <Agata> Agata gives a grim look towards Sasha and Sergei, as though suggesting that the situation is far worse than they could have imagined.
[08:29] <Sasha> "...we need to start looking for them then."
[08:30] <Agata> Then again, she figures... they have stopped a supernatural plague-curse devastating the city, so this cannot be so insurmountable a challenge.
[08:30] * Sergei winces as he made the man suffer even longer to try avoid the embarassment he eventually had anyways. "Can you tell us the address of the agency at the very least?"
[08:31] <Wraithstrike> At this moment, a bus passes by the restaurant and Mister Ostrovsky points at the sign. "That's them! That's the company." The name on the advertisement is Nocturne Talents, and the face they're advertising is that of a boy from Agata's school. His name is Lukas Bhakirev.
[08:32] <Sasha> *Does not know who Lukas is*
[08:33] * Sergei is also clueless as to the boy, but feels sorry for the boy, just hoping he doesn't get too embarassed when they stop the plot behind all this.
[08:34] <Agata> "Noc... Nocturne Talents..." Wow, she thinks. That is not subtle at all. "Wait, that face they were advertising was Lukas," staring at the space that the bus had occupied. "There are rumors at school of Lukas being Nina's... well, 'boyfriend,' kind of..."
[08:35] <Sasha> "...oh *Nods, not shocked or horrified or any real emotion behind it, just sort of 'Oh...this might be a problem for Nina'*"
[08:35] <Sergei> "Sir, we'll do everything we can to make sure they don't hurt anyone else. We promise you that much."
[08:35] <Agata> Now is when Agata whips out her phone and sends yet another text message to Nina, grimly informing her: "The Nocnamora responsible for this have set up a talent agency called Nocturne Talents. Mr. Ostrovsky is fine now, but they got Lukas too."