Anne Radcliffe on Nov 5, 2013 wrote:

(OOC: you did just right, Alura , no need to repeat their speech unless you are fitting something else in)

While initially shocked by Alura's outburst, Evalina and Katerina very soon smiled. Evalina's smile radiated pride and confidence in her friend.

"I told you she would help us," Evalina commented happily to the Unicorn girl.

Katerina's smile was tremulous with relief. "I can't thank you enough," she addressed Alura. "I love my grandmother very much. She is the only one I have left, you see. My grandfather died before I was born. My father and my aunt supported the Resistance. They weren't fighters, but they did what they could. A few years ago, my father was arrested for being allied to the Resistance. He... he was executed for treason. My aunt was never formally arrested, she just 'disappeared.' We all believe she is dead, too, however."

"People are polite. They pretend Grandmamma lost her children through accident, so as not to taint her with the word 'traitor'. My grandmother was questioned for her involvement at the time, but she had no links to the Resistance, so she was set free. But since then, she has often spoken against the growing power of the Armada and will even express the opinion that perhaps the Resistance is a good thing. Grandmamma is a bit of a 'firebrand'," Katerina explained, evidently torn between pride and embarrassment at this facet of her grandmother's personality.

"But Grandmamma is a member of the Council of Padova. Although her strong opinions are sometimes simply regarded as the cranky notions of the aged, people do listen to her. I have often feared for her open speech, but Grandmamma does not listen to me. She is not a member of the Resistance, but I fear some may see her as such."

"Then, in the past few months, there have been these... incidents. First there was this dinner at a Council meeting, where I fear she was poisoned --"

"Merely some kale in the soup that went 'off', I'm sure," said a new voice, aged and a bit creaky, but still having the resonant depth of a trained speaker. Evalina and Katerina rose again and curtseyed as the Contessa Beatrice Pergolesi gracefully entered the room.

The elderly Unicorn was black, like her granddaughter, but greyed with age, her beautifully dressed hair was pure white and needed no powder to achieve that hue. Giving a light curtsey in return after waiting for Alura to be introduced, Beatrice fluidly lowered herself into a chair and sat, her back ramrod-straight.

"I see you are a woman of action," Beatrice shrewdly assessed Alura in polite terms. "I hope you are not here on my account," the elderly Unicorn confided in a friendly fashion. "My Katerina does worry so."

Anne Radcliffe on Nov 5, 2013 wrote:

The young pirates gazed upon the girls they were supposed to impersonate. They didn't look anything like the adopted children of the duke and duchess, really. The Vinaldi daughters all had olive-toned skin and dark hair of varying shades. Indeed they looked to be biological sisters as well as familial ones.

Alcina Vinaldi nodded at the unspoken question as Scarlet looked at her. "Yes, my daughters are all the children of a couple who were dear friends of ours. They perished about a decade ago, and we adopted them as our own. They know of their first parents of course, and their story..."

"All the more reason to fight the Armada -- ourselves," interrupted Kara, the 16-year-old. "The Armada killed our parents! We should be fighting them ourselves instead of running away," she concluded spiritedly.

Anne felt a jolt of unexpected kinship. The Armada had killed her parents too, about the same time. Had they known each other? Had they worked in the Resistance together? Not that she could remember her parents anymore; she had paid the price, perhaps a fair one, for the information she had so desperately needed. Still she felt a brief flush of envy for these girls, not for their wealth or even pretty gowns, but for their present loving family and their certain memories of their deceased birth parents.

The point that Kara brought up, however, seemed to have been part of a continuing argument. "Indeed," said the Unicorn boy, whose name they soon learned was Antonio, "it is not right for us to hide in safety when others come to take our places and perhaps face death thereby!"

"You all are brave, but you don't have experience fighting -- no, not even you, Antonio," said the other young male Unicorn. "A few fencing lessons does not make you into a skilled swashbuckler, not yet anyway. Besides, you are only 14. I'm older by two years and far more experienced," the boy concluded rather smugly, and turned to the newcomers. "Forgive our poor manners, ladies," he gave a graceful bow with a flourish of his hat. "I am Tazio, Resistance impersonator for Antonio here."

"And you have served in the Resistance as what, a messenger boy? I don't know that you are ready yourself to face these dangers," Isabella added worriedly. "I too think it wrong to ask courageous strangers to take our places."

"Not to mention we will miss the Ball," Mariella, the 13-year-old added practically, but with a rather dreamy air as she began to evidently trace out the steps of a dance in her head.

The youngest one, Violetta, had been gazing at the newcomers with wide eyes the entire time. Now she finally spoke, in a light, piping voice: "Are you really pirates!"

Anne Radcliffe on Nov 5, 2013 wrote:

(OOC: you did just right, Alura , no need to repeat their speech unless you are fitting something else in)

While initially shocked by Alura's outburst, Evalina and Katerina very soon smiled. Evalina's smile radiated pride and confidence in her friend.

"I told you she would help us," Evalina commented happily to the Unicorn girl.

Katerina's smile was tremulous with relief. "I can't thank you enough," she addressed Alura. "I love my grandmother very much. She is the only one I have left, you see. My grandfather died before I was born. My father and my aunt supported the Resistance. They weren't fighters, but they did what they could. A few years ago, my father was arrested for being allied to the Resistance. He... he was executed for treason. My aunt was never formally arrested, she just 'disappeared.' We all believe she is dead, too, however."

"People are polite. They pretend Grandmamma lost her children through accident, so as not to taint her with the word 'traitor'. My grandmother was questioned for her involvement at the time, but she had no links to the Resistance, so she was set free. But since then, she has often spoken against the growing power of the Armada and will even express the opinion that perhaps the Resistance is a good thing. Grandmamma is a bit of a 'firebrand'," Katerina explained, evidently torn between pride and embarrassment at this facet of her grandmother's personality.

"But Grandmamma is a member of the Council of Padova. Although her strong opinions are sometimes simply regarded as the cranky notions of the aged, people do listen to her. I have often feared for her open speech, but Grandmamma does not listen to me. She is not a member of the Resistance, but I fear some may see her as such."

"Then, in the past few months, there have been these... incidents. First there was this dinner at a Council meeting, where I fear she was poisoned --"

"Merely some kale in the soup that went 'off', I'm sure," said a new voice, aged and a bit creaky, but still having the resonant depth of a trained speaker. Evalina and Katerina rose again and curtseyed as the Contessa Beatrice Pergolesi gracefully entered the room.

The elderly Unicorn was black, like her granddaughter, but greyed with age, her beautifully dressed hair was pure white and needed no powder to achieve that hue. Giving a light curtsey in return after waiting for Alura to be introduced, Beatrice fluidly lowered herself into a chair and sat, her back ramrod-straight.

"I see you are a woman of action," Beatrice shrewdly assessed Alura in polite terms. "I hope you are not here on my account," the elderly Unicorn confided in a friendly fashion. "My Katerina does worry so."

Just Add Bacon on Nov 7, 2013 wrote:

Lizzy curtsied politely upon being introduced to everyone, and listened to their conversation. Her smile grew when she saw Tazio tease his younger brother. "Hey, don't feel bad." She spoke up, directing this to Antonio. "I'm 14 too, age doesn't really matter, when it comes to defending others. What matters is heart, and the courage to do what you believe is right."

She laughed when Violetta asked if they were really pirates. "Yes, we are really pirates." She winked at the young girl. "But we're not the kind that you may read about in fantasy stories. We're not mean and scary, we're nice." Lizzy playfully tickled Violetta, making the young girl burst into giggles. "And we're here to help your family." She bent down a little, shaking the girl's hand. "My name's Lizzy, and you must be Violetta. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The blonde swashbuckler turned her attention to Isabella. "I appreciate your concern, but we're choosing to do this. If this doesn't go as well as we hope, then we are willing to put ourselves on the line to ensure your safety. And this is our choice, no one forced us to do this. I will continue with this mission until the end." Lizzy's happy expression turned into an unsure one. "Please, don't make me get cold feet." She shook her head and returned her expression back to a happy one, so as not to concern the others. Inside, though, Lizzy was terrified. Their mission had suddenly gotten real.

Ruthless Alura Bri... on Nov 8, 2013 wrote:

Alura turned her head to see a new Unicorn enter the room, amazed at the grace she did so considering her obvious older age. '' Uh, I'm sure Katerina is just taking extra precautions for your safety. '' She responded to the last question. Trying to make herself look a bit more proper, Alura rose from the floor unfortunately spilling a few drops of tea, but was kind of glad; she always thought tea tasted awful. '' Anyways, if there's something else you need help with I'll be glad to... oh! I'm sorry, I never introduced myself. The name is Alura, what might yours be?'' She said while extending her hand to grandmother, unsure if it was inappropriate or not.

OOC: Is it okay if I write Katerina's, Evalina's, and Beatrice's actions and voices as my own too; like make them say something I make up for them?

Just Add Bacon on Nov 7, 2013 wrote:

Lizzy curtsied politely upon being introduced to everyone, and listened to their conversation. Her smile grew when she saw Tazio tease his younger brother. "Hey, don't feel bad." She spoke up, directing this to Antonio. "I'm 14 too, age doesn't really matter, when it comes to defending others. What matters is heart, and the courage to do what you believe is right."

She laughed when Violetta asked if they were really pirates. "Yes, we are really pirates." She winked at the young girl. "But we're not the kind that you may read about in fantasy stories. We're not mean and scary, we're nice." Lizzy playfully tickled Violetta, making the young girl burst into giggles. "And we're here to help your family." She bent down a little, shaking the girl's hand. "My name's Lizzy, and you must be Violetta. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The blonde swashbuckler turned her attention to Isabella. "I appreciate your concern, but we're choosing to do this. If this doesn't go as well as we hope, then we are willing to put ourselves on the line to ensure your safety. And this is our choice, no one forced us to do this. I will continue with this mission until the end." Lizzy's happy expression turned into an unsure one. "Please, don't make me get cold feet." She shook her head and returned her expression back to a happy one, so as not to concern the others. Inside, though, Lizzy was terrified. Their mission had suddenly gotten real.

Anne Radcliffe on Nov 9, 2013 wrote:

(OOC: Absolutely, Alura. It's much more interesting, I think, to make up dialog that has participation of the others in it)

The elderly Unicorn was at first a bit confused by the offer of a handshake, but quickly recovered and took Alura's hand into her pale, wrinkled one, soft with age. "I am Contessa Beatrice Pergolesi, my dear. I know my dearest Katerina has been worried that someone is trying to kill me, but why would anyone spend such effort on one so old as I, when nature is bound to take its course in not so very long a time?"

"Grandmama!" Katerina burst out, quite upset. "I hope that you will be around for many years yet."

Beatrice chuckled. "Calm down, granddaughter, and remember your manners. I too hope I shall have a number of years yet."

"You won't if you are almost run down by a mysteriously runaway carriage, or attacked by a gang of ruffians, both of which happened this past month!" Katerina argued spiritedly, but forced her posture to relax into a politely accepted mode.

"Those mishaps could happen to anyone," Beatrice steadily maintained as she lifted a cup of tea to her lips.

"My lady, please listen to Katerina," Evalina chimed in. "She genuinely fears for your safety. That's why we asked Alura to come here. There will be so many people at the masked ball, that we think it would be a perfect time for an assassin to strike. We thought you could ask Alura to be your attendant, and she could keep an eye on you..."

"It would have been better if you conferred with me first," the old countess replied with some asperity. She gazed into Alura's eyes. "And you, young lady, have put yourself into considerable danger by coming here, haven't you?" she added in a softer tone, with a keenly penetrating air.

Beatrice took another sip of tea and held the cup in silence for a moment, then laid it back on the tea tray. "But you are here, Signorina Alura, and I would not wish to have you endure all your trouble to get here for nothing. And it will do no harm to humor my dear Katerina," she said with twinkle at her granddaughter. "But you need not play the role of a servant, unless you wish it. You are Evalina's friend, and thus by extension, my granddaughter's friend also. Perhaps I could bring you out as a young lady attending her first ball instead? Of course we would need to get you a gown, mask, and all the necessary accessories, and the ball is only a day away, but it can be done. Seamstresses can do wonders when they look forward to extra pay."

CdeWinter on Nov 9, 2013 wrote:

"Oui, we are most definetly pirates." Scarlet responded while laughing quietly to herself. I think Anne will have no problem pretending to Violetta, she seems as impulsive and Anne is.

"Je m'appelle Scarlet Kidd." Scarlet said, gracefully curtsying while introducing herself to the Vinaldi family.
"I believe I 'ave ze 'onour of portraying Isabella at ze ball." Scarlet continued, "I do not mean to be forword, but zere are some questions zat I would like to ask you, if I may. I would also like a tour of your beautiful chateau, I need to know my way around as if I 'ave lived here as long as you 'ave."

Anne Radcliffe on Nov 10, 2013 wrote:

(OOC: Oooo! Does Chrissy sense Omar's magic or someone not so nice? Are you adding a new layer of intrigue to the story, Chrissy? You can if you want -- that would be cool!)

Dona Graziella checked herself at Chrissy's timely warning. She had been so concerned about her friend's fate that she had nearly forgotten indeed that in Padova, often 'the walls had ears' as was often said. But magic? Graziella swallowed. Magic was not a factor that she had considered. If someone with magic was listening, she sincerely hoped they were inclined to be friendly.

"Your Serenity," Graziella forced herself into formal politeness, although her tone was still heightened with emotion and anxiety, "You yourself have acknowledged that Maestra Lia was imprisoned for no good reason. In the Armada's hands... she will suffer. You know she will. Yet she is innocent of any crime."

Nicolo Foscari gave her a cool look. "Perhaps the Armada captain had a reason for her arrest which he did not choose to share with you. Though it seems unlikely, I admit. Still, whatever she has to suffer is unlikely to kill her," he added, quite callously in the view of his listeners.

Graziella searched her mind frantically for another argument she could use. The Doge calmly watched her, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. He let the moment lengthen, then continued.

"However, I could arrange her early release -- if you do something in return for me," he added with smooth thoughtfulness.

"What is it you wish me to do, Most Noble Prince?" Graziella replied, very cautiously.

"Nothing strenuous, I assure you. But you frequently oppose my will on the Council, which -of course- is your right. However, it would greatly please me if you bent both your vote and your influence on the other Council members to favor my most recent request, the change to the search and seizure law."

Graziella inhaled sharply. "The new law would reduce the rights of the citizens of Padova even more than the 'crisis' acts have already done!"

The Doge shrugged. "Not by so very much. I would still require the Armada to make their arrests with genuine evidence," he retorted, and then looked like he could have bitten off his tongue, given the current situation.

"Like Maestra Lia's arrest," Graziella retorted acidly, a perfect hit to the sore point.

"That was outside my jurisdiction," the Doge shot back irritably. "But enough of these games. I have offered my price. What is your answer?"

Graziella was pale and silent for a long moment. Finally, she raised her chin defiantly, refusing to acknowledge her inward defeat. "I will do as you wish."

"Excellent. I will order Maestra Lia's release in the morning."

"The morning! But..."

"In the morning," Nicolo Foscari replied firmly. "This interview is hereby at an end." He bowed, and led Dona Graziella to the door, Jack and Chrissy perforce following.

Serpent996 on Nov 13, 2013 wrote:

"You shouldn't have done that," I hissed to Dona Graziella once we were alone. "We could have found a way to free her without you losing that battle. I won't pretend to know the intricacies of the Council, but there had to have been a better way." I closed my eye and sighed. "I just hope we won't have to give up anything else like that, any more rights, before we finish here."

Sam Underhill on Nov 10, 2013 wrote:

"We have one last place to visit," Magdelena told Sam. "Enough of history, it's time for some fun!" And so saying she put action to words and led him off towards more fashionable end of town. The streets were becoming more crowded with partiers as the Ball neared, but navigating them proved no problem for the streetwise Unicorn, who led them unerringly towards a building with Museo di Libri emboldened upon the stonework.

"A museum of books?" Sam asked incredulously.

Magedelena turned an amused eye on him. "What else?" she asked back. "What could be more fun?"

"Anything about Marco Pollo in here?" Sam queried hopefully, not expecting a useful answer. He followed her inside anyway, resigned to his fate. The interior of the building matched the architecture of the city, overly ornate and ostentatious. Sam half expected the place to be ivy covered, with dusty professors droning on and on about ancient tomes of yore, or something similar.

"Magdelena, my love, benvenuto, welcome," an ancient Unicorn in full Professorial Regalia approached. He kissed her on both cheeks and led them into a side room where a literary party was in full swing. Not only Unicorns, but Guinea Pigs, Owls, Dogs and other denizens of the Spiral were chatting amiably in scattered groups. Even humans could be spotted amongst the guests. Sam was introduced to several, but there were so many people that names blurred quickly, although Magdelena knew them all. The librarian's world was a close knit one after all. Sam soon found himself alone on the sidelines, so he helped himself to a piece from the large cake shaped as an open book that was the centerpiece of the themed fare.

"Poetry game time," someone called out. The game consisted of producing a new second line to a famous poem. "I think that I shall never see..."

"A chicken with a PhD!" came some quick wit's answer. An indignant squawk from the corner of the room was ignored. "I wandered lonely as a cloud..."

"Did you have to say that poem aloud?" General chuckles met this witticism. "How do I love thee, let me count the ways..."

"Eight!" everyone called out in unison in response to the old joke. Now peals of laughter rang out from the assemblage. Sam had had enough and decided it was time to go exploring.

People were wandering about in the building, but it still came as a surprise when a voice whispered in his ear. "There's something you need to know about your girlfriend." Sam turned and saw the blonde girl from before, although now she was dressed in a decidedly more traditional Valencian style.

"Oh, really?" Sam shot back, annoyed at once again being taken by surprise.

"Shall we go for a walk?" the girl asked sweetly, placing her arm in his and leading him down the stairs towards the basement. "There's something I think you should see."

Intrigued despite himself, Sam allowed himself to be led along. This time it was a Unicorn's narrow gaze that followed, watching the pair descend.

Ruthless Alura Bri... on Nov 17, 2013 wrote:

OOC: *gasp* I forgot to respond

'' Uh... okay? I think.'' Alura said to Beatrice while jumping to conclusions about what she just heard. '' Did this lady insult me or am I too low class to understand half of what she just said. '' She thought the whole time Beatrice spoke of her lack of 'precisely manners'. Oh well, this is the price she needs to pay for helping a friend and that's what Alura was going to do no matter what. '' Anyway, I'm going to go get this new gear... uh I mean ensemble. I'll be right back.'' Walking out the door, Alura started her hunt for a new outfit but there was one problem. She walked back inside the building, hanging her head in embarrassment. '' Would you happen to know where I could find any of this junk... I mean uh... I got nothing fancy to say this time, sorry.''

OOC: Alura isn't really too happy about wearing any of this stuff and is a bit insecure so she might act a little more like Rowan in this roleplay... paranoid, hot tempered, and in addition to those quick to use actions without thinking too much, without thinking at all really.

Anne Radcliffe on Nov 16, 2013 wrote:

Guiseppi Zipoli remained in sympathetic silence for a long moment. "I will be honest with you, ma dona. There is little I can do to help. But Crabs may do something. The Armada do not deign to deal with the necessary cleaning of their prisons, but it needs to be done if they do not want their prisoners to perish swiftly from jail fever. I will go see if any of the cleaning Crabs are known to my associates. I doubt they could even give a prisoner a cup of water -- but they can at least give a kind word, a sympathetic gesture."

Graziella pressed the hard carapace of his hand in a gesture of gratitude. "Thank you so much, Guiseppi." She looked like she would have said more, but their conference had attracted the attention of a particularly tall handsome Unicorn.

The stranger kissed her hand with courtly politeness. "Dona Graziella? Whatever is the matter that I see you in such distress?" his eyes slid curiously towards the elegantly dressed Crab. Like the Doge, he did not seem to notice Chrissy or Jack.

Dona Graziella managed a smile. "My lord, Conte Cesare Tori," she dropped a polite curtsey. "I seem to be pleasantly surrounded by members of Padova's Council this evening." After a slight hesitation needed to order her thoughts, she gave him the brief synopsis of the situation.

"So the Doge has ordered the professor's release?" he summed up the events. "That is good news. Usually he is so caught up in his own games of politics that little is ever achieved," Cesare commented the last with a bitter edge.

"Yes, but she will not be released until tomorrow!"

"Do you think then she has such information she could be forced to give the Armada in the meantime?" he asked with seemingly idle curiosity, but his eyes were watchful and penetrating.

"Of course not," Dona Graziella retorted stoutly, in an ingenious blending of truth and lie that made her words seem all truth. Graziella knew perfectly well that Lia knew enough to compromise the rescue of the Vinaldis as well as certain other missions, but she was completely confident in her friend's fortitude. "She is an innocent."

"Yet my colleague on the Council, Dona Elena Cornaro, who holds the Chair of Mathematics at the University, has openly argued against the Armada being put into any positions of authority. She claims that the Clockworks are inherently flawed by lacking the complexity of mortal intellect, emotions, and morality. Rumor has it that she may be a member of the Resistance."

Graziella smiled blandly. "It must be poor rumor then, or she would already be arrested. Besides, when has it been illegal to hold opposite views on the Council?"

Cesare smiled, a warm, charming smile. "Not illegal, but perhaps unwise. But you are, of course, correct. And I will see what I can do for this innocent professor of yours. I have many contacts. Perhaps I can get her released before the Doge decides to get around to it."

"I would be most grateful," Graziella replied sincerely.