New Carthaginian Royal Wedding [RP-IC][See OP For More]

[Socialist Macronesia]

OOC : I think this wedding lost its main purpose

(The problem is that NC is on an entirely different time zone than most of us, so night for him is day to us. Therefore, we're just screwing around while NC is asleep and can't stop us.)

[Eurasies]

OOC : I think this wedding lost its main purpose

(I mean, it’s RP. The wedding is pretty much just the setting.)

OOC : Okay, I understand your point, go on

[Insaanistan]

OOC : I think this wedding lost its main purpose

(The problem is that NC is on an entirely different time zone than most of us, so night for him is day to us. Therefore, we're just screwing around while NC is asleep and can't stop us.)

(Oooh. Well, you know what they say. “When the Carthaginian is away, the mice will play!“ or something.)

[Kiu Ghesik]

"No, he drank the punch. He uhhh... had kinda a seizure and died."

Ross may have had a little too much punch. And unfortunately he saw Ari.

"Damn girl, you thicker than a jar of peanut butter! CHUNKY peanut butter!"

Ross realizes what he just said.

"Okay, we all agree that nobody heard that, right?"

Wilhelm narrowed his eyes. "Ja, and whose fault would that be? Not even Alastair does things like that." 'Sblood, this man was worse than his slobbering brother.

"Damn girl, you thicker than a jar of peanut butter! CHUNKY peanut butter!"

Wilhelm felt Ari tense.

"Okay, we all agree that nobody heard that, right?" Ross hastily added.

"You're high, aren't you. Figures that no leader here has the guts to stay sober." Wilhelm shook his head. "You deserve to be in power less than my brother, Ross."

"Oh, that one died? I though he just, um, wait one moment. What the... Ross, you bastard. That's just... I'm not sure whether to be insulted or not. Like... you're clearly not of... sound mind? If you're ever? Even more so now than..."

Ari paused and bent down to collect her knife, then stood up again, twirling it between her fingers. "I've got the guts to stay sober, whoever you are. Where's Alastair, by the way? I need to talk to him, if this one-" she caught the knife mid-spin and swung it to point at Ross, "-doesn't insist on interposing himself between us. He's already killed someone, apparently, which is unfortunate, to say the least." She leaned forward, the knife still between them. "I've never had peanut butter, but I'd for hate that comparison to be an insult to my honor."

[Insaanistan]

President Mustafa ibn Sina Abu Jamal walks around the castle watching the chaos unfold while drinking Vimto and eating sweets and silently praying the hosts show up soon.

[Socialist Macronesia]

"Oh come on. Ari, you are the most conspicuous person here. Why do you even need to see Alastair? You are being horribly suspicious. No, that was a compliment.

You are single, right? Wanna get a drink?

And besides, I've already been shot today. I was trying to lighten the mood.

Now if you excuse me, I need to go find Alastair. I pray to God he hasn't found any punch, lest he ODs at a wedding."

A guard walks in.

"Another call."

Ross goes white and picks up the radio.

"Hel--"

His eyes go wide and his arm falls to his hip.

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" he screams into the radio.

Pause.

Ross storms out of the room.

"Did anyone else notice him unholster his pistol?"

[Kiu Ghesik]

"Oh come on. Ari, you are the most conspicuous person here. Why do you even need to see Alastair? You are being horribly suspicious. No, that was a compliment.

You are single, right? Wanna get a drink?

And besides, I've already been shot today. I was trying to lighten the mood.

Now if you excuse me, I need to go find Alastair. I pray to God he hasn't found any punch, lest he ODs at a wedding."

A guard walks in.

"Another call."

Ross goes white and picks up the radio.

"Hel--"

His eyes go wide and his arm falls to his hip.

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" he screams into the radio.

Pause.

Ross storms out of the room.

"Did anyone else notice him unholster his pistol?"

"I mean, thank you, I suppose, um, I was going to go drink with Alastair, but, um, I could always, uh... and, he's leaving. Ross is leaving. What was the point of all this, then?" Ari turned to look at Wilhelm, who looked rather cross. At her, Ross, or life, she wasn't sure. "Was I not meant to, um, say that? Uh, isn't the point of a wedding to, um, drink and be merry? Or is Alastair not meant to be, eh, drinking?"

No response, at least not right away. He was either thinking or furious beyond words. "Okay, then." Ari slouched against the wall and went back to spinning the knife.

[Socialist Macronesia]

"Oh come on. Ari, you are the most conspicuous person here. Why do you even need to see Alastair? You are being horribly suspicious. No, that was a compliment.

You are single, right? Wanna get a drink?

And besides, I've already been shot today. I was trying to lighten the mood.

Now if you excuse me, I need to go find Alastair. I pray to God he hasn't found any punch, lest he ODs at a wedding."

A guard walks in.

"Another call."

Ross goes white and picks up the radio.

"Hel--"

His eyes go wide and his arm falls to his hip.

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" he screams into the radio.

Pause.

Ross storms out of the room.

"Did anyone else notice him unholster his pistol?"

"I mean, thank you, I suppose, um, I was going to go drink with Alastair, but, um, I could always, uh... and, he's leaving. Ross is leaving. What was the point of all this, then?" Ari turned to look at Wilhelm, who looked rather cross. At her, Ross, or life, she wasn't sure. "Was I not meant to, um, say that? Uh, isn't the point of a wedding to, um, drink and be merry? Or is Alastair not meant to be, eh, drinking?"

No response, at least not right away. He was either thinking or furious beyond words. "Okay, then." Ari slouched against the wall and went back to spinning the knife.

Ross marches out from a room.

"This was not me."

Everyone glances inside. It's the boiler room. There are at least twenty charred corpses on the ground next to the furnace.

"I did not do this."

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

"Oh come on. Ari, you are the most conspicuous person here. Why do you even need to see Alastair? You are being horribly suspicious. No, that was a compliment.

You are single, right? Wanna get a drink?

And besides, I've already been shot today. I was trying to lighten the mood.

Now if you excuse me, I need to go find Alastair. I pray to God he hasn't found any punch, lest he ODs at a wedding."

A guard walks in.

"Another call."

Ross goes white and picks up the radio.

"Hel--"

His eyes go wide and his arm falls to his hip.

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" he screams into the radio.

Pause.

Ross storms out of the room.

"Did anyone else notice him unholster his pistol?"

"I mean, thank you, I suppose, um, I was going to go drink with Alastair, but, um, I could always, uh... and, he's leaving. Ross is leaving. What was the point of all this, then?" Ari turned to look at Wilhelm, who looked rather cross. At her, Ross, or life, she wasn't sure. "Was I not meant to, um, say that? Uh, isn't the point of a wedding to, um, drink and be merry? Or is Alastair not meant to be, eh, drinking?"

No response, at least not right away. He was either thinking or furious beyond words. "Okay, then." Ari slouched against the wall and went back to spinning the knife.

"No, he's not meant to be drinking," Wilhelm responded belatedly. His focus was on Ross, who was almost certainly the root cause of any death that was going on. "If you will excuse me. Or accompany me, if you wish. I am going to see what this--OH MEIN GOTT!"

Upon seeing the burned corpses, Wilhelm nearly hurled. He lurched into Ross and grabbed the other man by his shoulders, then slammed him against the wall. "ART THOU NUTS!? YOU'RE MURDERING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT, YOU CONNIVING SCUM!" His wrath welled within him again, accumulated, rose, and, in a massive crescendo, punched Ross in the spot where there was blood on his clothing.

Wilhelm was yanked backward by one guard, while two others restrained Ross. The fourth, as far as Wilhelm knew, was going to have the cup of punch...analyzed.

"I'm sorry," Wilhelm gasped, his anger receding. "I should not have punched thee. But there had better be an explanation for this lest you end up in prison for espionage!" He was fairly certain this qualified as espionage.

---

Marie let out another scream as her latest call to Margaret went unanswered. "That's it," she huffed, and dialed Christophe's number.

"No," moaned Alastair, whose head was nestled into her left shoulder. Marie did not care; it was not that her clothing didn't have stains already.

"No--not you, Al. Not you." She cupped her left hand round the nape of his neck and leaned her head against his. Furious and disgusted though she was, she could only be angry at him for so long, which was probably why he had resorted to stunts like this. She had not been firm enough with him.

Alastair clung to her tightly with his fingers digging into the back of her blazer. He was trembling as he cried, and his breath rattled.

"Please pick up." She gritted her teeth, holding her breath as she waited for Christophe to respond.

[Socialist Macronesia]

"I mean, thank you, I suppose, um, I was going to go drink with Alastair, but, um, I could always, uh... and, he's leaving. Ross is leaving. What was the point of all this, then?" Ari turned to look at Wilhelm, who looked rather cross. At her, Ross, or life, she wasn't sure. "Was I not meant to, um, say that? Uh, isn't the point of a wedding to, um, drink and be merry? Or is Alastair not meant to be, eh, drinking?"

No response, at least not right away. He was either thinking or furious beyond words. "Okay, then." Ari slouched against the wall and went back to spinning the knife.

"No, he's not meant to be drinking," Wilhelm responded belatedly. His focus was on Ross, who was almost certainly the root cause of any death that was going on. "If you will excuse me. Or accompany me, if you wish. I am going to see what this--OH MEIN GOTT!"

Upon seeing the burned corpses, Wilhelm nearly hurled. He lurched into Ross and grabbed the other man by his shoulders, then slammed him against the wall. "ART THOU NUTS!? YOU'RE MURDERING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT, YOU CONNIVING SCUM!" His wrath welled within him again, accumulated, rose, and, in a massive crescendo, punched Ross in the spot where there was blood on his clothing.

Wilhelm was yanked backward by one guard, while two others restrained Ross. The fourth, as far as Wilhelm knew, was going to have the cup of punch...analyzed.

"I'm sorry," Wilhelm gasped, his anger receding. "I should not have punched thee. But there had better be an explanation for this lest you end up in prison for espionage!" He was fairly certain this qualified as espionage.

---

Marie let out another scream as her latest call to Margaret went unanswered. "That's it," she huffed, and dialed Christophe's number.

"No," moaned Alastair, whose head was nestled into her left shoulder. Marie did not care; it was not that her clothing didn't have stains already.

"No--not you, Al. Not you." She cupped her left hand round the nape of his neck and leaned her head against his. Furious and disgusted though she was, she could only be angry at him for so long, which was probably why he had resorted to stunts like this. She had not been firm enough with him.

Alastair clung to her tightly with his fingers digging into the back of her blazer. He was trembling as he cried, and his breath rattled.

"Please pick up." She gritted her teeth, holding her breath as she waited for Christophe to respond.

One of the guards tried to handcuff Ross. In hindsight, this was not a good move. Ross was a military operative, these guards may have been too, but that was not gonna stop Ross from drawing a pair of brass knuckles, and swinging at the guard's head. One fell, probably either concussed or dead. The other two drew pistols, as Ross sprinted out of the area, not before being shot in the shoulder, narrowly missing a bone by a few millimeters. Ross ducked behind a wall, and drew his .357 Magnum.

He sprinted away, guards in pursuit. Outside he ran. Ross reached the edge of the fence.

"Ah, hell."

He chucked his suit coat over the barbed wire, and scaled the fence.

---

"I see him, David! He's scaling the fence!"

The crack of an unsuppressed 7.62x51 round rang out once more. This time Ross was lucky: it missed by a milimeter.

---

With all the strength left in his body, Ross fired 6 shots from his revolver in the general direction of the guards, assuming one of them had shot him.

[Kiu Ghesik]

"No, he's not meant to be drinking," Wilhelm responded belatedly. His focus was on Ross, who was almost certainly the root cause of any death that was going on. "If you will excuse me. Or accompany me, if you wish. I am going to see what this--OH MEIN GOTT!"

Upon seeing the burned corpses, Wilhelm nearly hurled. He lurched into Ross and grabbed the other man by his shoulders, then slammed him against the wall. "ART THOU NUTS!? YOU'RE MURDERING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT, YOU CONNIVING SCUM!" His wrath welled within him again, accumulated, rose, and, in a massive crescendo, punched Ross in the spot where there was blood on his clothing.

Wilhelm was yanked backward by one guard, while two others restrained Ross. The fourth, as far as Wilhelm knew, was going to have the cup of punch...analyzed.

"I'm sorry," Wilhelm gasped, his anger receding. "I should not have punched thee. But there had better be an explanation for this lest you end up in prison for espionage!" He was fairly certain this qualified as espionage.

---

Marie let out another scream as her latest call to Margaret went unanswered. "That's it," she huffed, and dialed Christophe's number.

"No," moaned Alastair, whose head was nestled into her left shoulder. Marie did not care; it was not that her clothing didn't have stains already.

"No--not you, Al. Not you." She cupped her left hand round the nape of his neck and leaned her head against his. Furious and disgusted though she was, she could only be angry at him for so long, which was probably why he had resorted to stunts like this. She had not been firm enough with him.

Alastair clung to her tightly with his fingers digging into the back of her blazer. He was trembling as he cried, and his breath rattled.

"Please pick up." She gritted her teeth, holding her breath as she waited for Christophe to respond.

One of the guards tried to handcuff Ross. In hindsight, this was not a good move. Ross was a military operative, these guards may have been too, but that was not gonna stop Ross from drawing a pair of brass knuckles, and swinging at the guard's head. One fell, probably either concussed or dead. The other two drew pistols, as Ross sprinted out of the area, not before being shot in the shoulder, narrowly missing a bone by a few millimeters. Ross ducked behind a wall, and drew his .357 Magnum.

He sprinted away, guards in pursuit. Outside he ran. Ross reached the edge of the fence.

"Ah, hell."

He chucked his suit coat over the barbed wire, and scaled the fence.

---

"I see him, David! He's scaling the fence!"

The crack of an unsuppressed 7.62x51 round rang out once more. This time Ross was lucky: it missed by a milimeter.

---

With all the strength left in his body, Ross fired 6 shots from his revolver in the general direction of the guards, assuming one of them had shot him.

Ari had watched all hell break loose around her without much of a reaction; she was still trying to determine what to do with the bodies, in all honesty. And so, when Ross had leveled one guard and left the cellars with two more in hot pursuit, her main concern had been waiting for the ringing in her ears to subside and checking on the guard on the floor. Wilhelm, well, he wasn't taking the whole thing well, his face a mixture of shock and anger, but at the moment he was of no concern. Once the sounds of the pursuit had faded away, Ari had simply pushed off of the wall, knelt next to the guard, and felt at his neck for a pulse.

"Okay, he's alive. Out cold, though." She flipped him onto his side and sat him against the wall, absentmindedly folding his hands behind his head and crossing his legs. She stepped back and looked at her work. No, didn't quite look like he was napping, what with that nasty welt on the side of his head, but. What's a girl doing her best to make a comatose man look funny to do?

"So, just leave him here? I mean, he's comfortable, I guess. But, ah-" Ari turned to look in the boiler room. "You want to just, I don't know, close the door? Yeah, let's do that." Gently, she closed the heavy steel door, pushing it into its frame until the latch clicked.

"So," she said, crossing her arms and leaning against it, "You, um, Alastair's friend or something?"

---

It was with something resembling confusion that Patyughin watched that strange fellow- Ross, that was his name- run across the lower courtyard, throw his coat over the fence, jump it himself, fire a group of shots at two pursuing figures and miss entirely, and then run off into the surrounding city, screaming like a madman as he did. Or maybe he wasn't screaming, Patyughin was too far away to tell. He wouldn't put it past Ross to do something like that. Rather than react with anything resembling fear at the chaos, he simply sat down with his back against the bastion and shook his head. It made too much sense for this nonsensical man to get himself into some deadly situation or another. He was glad he wasn't John Adam Ross, such a life would be hellish beyond belief.

"Bloody freak."

Curiously, he peeked over the wall to look into the courtyard below. Kotera and Pentti were still there, unfazed as ever, discussing... something.

"I suppose if I don't go Ari would find out, wouldn't she? But I don't have to... I guess I'll go in a bit. Five more minutes, that's it."

[Socialist Macronesia]

"Halt! State your name!"

"John Ross."

The soldier lowered his weapon.

"About damn time, Ross."

"Is everything in order?"

"You bet. No new news."

"Has the shipment arrived?"

"Washed up yesterday."

"Thank God. Now, I've gotten into some trouble."

"We'll clear your name."

"Ain't that a relief."

Ross shook hands with the New Carthagean soldier.

"And as reward."

He tossed him a manila folder. 50k dollars.

"Have a nice evening, Mr. Ross."

"You too."

He began the walk back to the party.

[Socialist Macronesia]

When Ross arrived, it was understandably tense. The guards were initially relieved.

"Okay, thank you, good sirs, we'll take him from here."

"Nope."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"We cleared him. He didn't do anything."

"But he put someone into comotose!"

"That doesn't matter anymore?"

"Why?"

"I have a letter FROM CHRISTOPHE HIMSELF that says he goes free."

Everyone paused.

"Right here." He held up a paper.

Ross walked to the astonished crowd.

"Let's get this party started again, shall we?"

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

One of the guards tried to handcuff Ross. In hindsight, this was not a good move. Ross was a military operative, these guards may have been too, but that was not gonna stop Ross from drawing a pair of brass knuckles, and swinging at the guard's head. One fell, probably either concussed or dead. The other two drew pistols, as Ross sprinted out of the area, not before being shot in the shoulder, narrowly missing a bone by a few millimeters. Ross ducked behind a wall, and drew his .357 Magnum.

He sprinted away, guards in pursuit. Outside he ran. Ross reached the edge of the fence.

"Ah, hell."

He chucked his suit coat over the barbed wire, and scaled the fence.

---

"I see him, David! He's scaling the fence!"

The crack of an unsuppressed 7.62x51 round rang out once more. This time Ross was lucky: it missed by a milimeter.

---

With all the strength left in his body, Ross fired 6 shots from his revolver in the general direction of the guards, assuming one of them had shot him.

Ari had watched all hell break loose around her without much of a reaction; she was still trying to determine what to do with the bodies, in all honesty. And so, when Ross had leveled one guard and left the cellars with two more in hot pursuit, her main concern had been waiting for the ringing in her ears to subside and checking on the guard on the floor. Wilhelm, well, he wasn't taking the whole thing well, his face a mixture of shock and anger, but at the moment he was of no concern. Once the sounds of the pursuit had faded away, Ari had simply pushed off of the wall, knelt next to the guard, and felt at his neck for a pulse.

"Okay, he's alive. Out cold, though." She flipped him onto his side and sat him against the wall, absentmindedly folding his hands behind his head and crossing his legs. She stepped back and looked at her work. No, didn't quite look like he was napping, what with that nasty welt on the side of his head, but. What's a girl doing her best to make a comatose man look funny to do?

"So, just leave him here? I mean, he's comfortable, I guess. But, ah-" Ari turned to look in the boiler room. "You want to just, I don't know, close the door? Yeah, let's do that." Gently, she closed the heavy steel door, pushing it into its frame until the latch clicked.

"So," she said, crossing her arms and leaning against it, "You, um, Alastair's friend or something?"

---

It was with something resembling confusion that Patyughin watched that strange fellow- Ross, that was his name- run across the lower courtyard, throw his coat over the fence, jump it himself, fire a group of shots at two pursuing figures and miss entirely, and then run off into the surrounding city, screaming like a madman as he did. Or maybe he wasn't screaming, Patyughin was too far away to tell. He wouldn't put it past Ross to do something like that. Rather than react with anything resembling fear at the chaos, he simply sat down with his back against the bastion and shook his head. It made too much sense for this nonsensical man to get himself into some deadly situation or another. He was glad he wasn't John Adam Ross, such a life would be hellish beyond belief.

"Bloody freak."

Curiously, he peeked over the wall to look into the courtyard below. Kotera and Pentti were still there, unfazed as ever, discussing... something.

"I suppose if I don't go Ari would find out, wouldn't she? But I don't have to... I guess I'll go in a bit. Five more minutes, that's it."

Wilhelm knelt beside the guard and shifted him into the recovery position. One of the other guards was calling what he hoped was an ambulance, whilst the other had his rifle aimed in the direction Ross had gone.

"Don't," Wilhelm commanded. "He is not worth starting a war over. If his nation has a diplomatic or justice system, we will press charges there." He rubbed a spot on the side of his head where the guard had been knocked out by--

He mentally replayed the scene. Brass knuckles. Ross had attacked him with brass knuckles.

Unsure whether the sensation ripping through him was shock or rage, he motioned for the third guard to approach him. "This man is a walking war crime," he hissed in Fardelshufflesteinian. "How can we believe anything he says? We need to alert Marie so she and Alastair can get to safety, and--call, I do not know, Christophe? Their military? Something must be done, and if any more people end up dead--"

"So, you, um, Alastair's friend or something?"

The knife woman, Ari. Wilhelm had practically forgotten he was there. "Younger brother, though he behaves like he's an infant." As if things were not already complicated enough, she had to remind him of his primary mission. "We need--to alert...someone that zere are burned...bodies in zat room." He pressed his fist into his mouth and swallowed back bile.

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross walked past the intial doors with a slow drawl. Not because he was tired, but because he was waiting.

One Mississippi, two Mississippi...

At ten he stuck his right leg as far back as he could go

BOOM! A tiny explosive had detonated behind him. Ross broke into a sprint. To the bathroom.

He locked himself into the third stall, lifted up the toilet tank, and drew out the waterproof bag. Suppressor, check. Uniform, check. Covert submachine gun, check. He took everything, and walked up to his room. There he stashed away everything but the suppressor, build to function on his modified revolver. Down to the boiler he went.

Ross may have been outnumbered, but he was coming from the opposite side they were watching. And this time Ross had all the time in the world. And a suppressor.

Ross fired three rounds, each hitting a guard T-bar in the center of the head. The air temporarily turned to pink mist.

[Kiu Ghesik]

Ari had watched all hell break loose around her without much of a reaction; she was still trying to determine what to do with the bodies, in all honesty. And so, when Ross had leveled one guard and left the cellars with two more in hot pursuit, her main concern had been waiting for the ringing in her ears to subside and checking on the guard on the floor. Wilhelm, well, he wasn't taking the whole thing well, his face a mixture of shock and anger, but at the moment he was of no concern. Once the sounds of the pursuit had faded away, Ari had simply pushed off of the wall, knelt next to the guard, and felt at his neck for a pulse.

"Okay, he's alive. Out cold, though." She flipped him onto his side and sat him against the wall, absentmindedly folding his hands behind his head and crossing his legs. She stepped back and looked at her work. No, didn't quite look like he was napping, what with that nasty welt on the side of his head, but. What's a girl doing her best to make a comatose man look funny to do?

"So, just leave him here? I mean, he's comfortable, I guess. But, ah-" Ari turned to look in the boiler room. "You want to just, I don't know, close the door? Yeah, let's do that." Gently, she closed the heavy steel door, pushing it into its frame until the latch clicked.

"So," she said, crossing her arms and leaning against it, "You, um, Alastair's friend or something?"

---

It was with something resembling confusion that Patyughin watched that strange fellow- Ross, that was his name- run across the lower courtyard, throw his coat over the fence, jump it himself, fire a group of shots at two pursuing figures and miss entirely, and then run off into the surrounding city, screaming like a madman as he did. Or maybe he wasn't screaming, Patyughin was too far away to tell. He wouldn't put it past Ross to do something like that. Rather than react with anything resembling fear at the chaos, he simply sat down with his back against the bastion and shook his head. It made too much sense for this nonsensical man to get himself into some deadly situation or another. He was glad he wasn't John Adam Ross, such a life would be hellish beyond belief.

"Bloody freak."

Curiously, he peeked over the wall to look into the courtyard below. Kotera and Pentti were still there, unfazed as ever, discussing... something.

"I suppose if I don't go Ari would find out, wouldn't she? But I don't have to... I guess I'll go in a bit. Five more minutes, that's it."

Wilhelm knelt beside the guard and shifted him into the recovery position. One of the other guards was calling what he hoped was an ambulance, whilst the other had his rifle aimed in the direction Ross had gone.

"Don't," Wilhelm commanded. "He is not worth starting a war over. If his nation has a diplomatic or justice system, we will press charges there." He rubbed a spot on the side of his head where the guard had been knocked out by--

He mentally replayed the scene. Brass knuckles. Ross had attacked him with brass knuckles.

Unsure whether the sensation ripping through him was shock or rage, he motioned for the third guard to approach him. "This man is a walking war crime," he hissed in Fardelshufflesteinian. "How can we believe anything he says? We need to alert Marie so she and Alastair can get to safety, and--call, I do not know, Christophe? Their military? Something must be done, and if any more people end up dead--"

"So, you, um, Alastair's friend or something?"

The knife woman, Ari. Wilhelm had practically forgotten he was there. "Younger brother, though he behaves like he's an infant." As if things were not already complicated enough, she had to remind him of his primary mission. "We need--to alert...someone that zere are burned...bodies in zat room." He pressed his fist into his mouth and swallowed back bile.

Oh? Alastair had a brother, now? Hm. That was new.

"He never told me that. Though I guess I only knew him for a couple of weeks or so. Not really enough time to call someone a friend, now is it?"

She looked to the door. She knew what was beyond it, and didn't particularly care to look. At the same time, Wilhelm seemed... rather irritated by them. She'd have to reassure him that it was no real problem at the moment.

"So, um. The bodies. Well, yeah, someone needs to know, but your people can handle that, right? Tell the Queen about it?" No, that wouldn't do. Too apathetic, no promise of action. Action comforts. Wilhelm needed to hear action.

"In the meantime, there's not much we can do about it, is there? I mean, we can't very well burn them, as much as I'd like to put them to rest. That's up to their own to do, and at the moment we've no idea who they belong to." She looked over at Wilhelm. He didn't seem to be particularly thrilled with the idea. In fact, he seemed outright disgusted by it. Or maybe it was by something else, there was no shortage of things to be disgusted at at the moment. "What? That's what you do with bodies, right?"

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross shouted, "AYY KOTERA, WANNA HIDE A BODY?"

Naturally the answer was "Sure!"

The two chucked the bodies off the cliff into the ocean below.

"Thanks for the help!" He threw Kotera a beer.

Anyway, now he had to deal with Ari... And Wilhelm.

Ross rushed into the room, weapon down.

"I didn't shoot anyone. Please don't stab me. Christophe says I'm innocent."

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Wilhelm knelt beside the guard and shifted him into the recovery position. One of the other guards was calling what he hoped was an ambulance, whilst the other had his rifle aimed in the direction Ross had gone.

"Don't," Wilhelm commanded. "He is not worth starting a war over. If his nation has a diplomatic or justice system, we will press charges there." He rubbed a spot on the side of his head where the guard had been knocked out by--

He mentally replayed the scene. Brass knuckles. Ross had attacked him with brass knuckles.

Unsure whether the sensation ripping through him was shock or rage, he motioned for the third guard to approach him. "This man is a walking war crime," he hissed in Fardelshufflesteinian. "How can we believe anything he says? We need to alert Marie so she and Alastair can get to safety, and--call, I do not know, Christophe? Their military? Something must be done, and if any more people end up dead--"

"So, you, um, Alastair's friend or something?"

The knife woman, Ari. Wilhelm had practically forgotten he was there. "Younger brother, though he behaves like he's an infant." As if things were not already complicated enough, she had to remind him of his primary mission. "We need--to alert...someone that zere are burned...bodies in zat room." He pressed his fist into his mouth and swallowed back bile.

Oh? Alastair had a brother, now? Hm. That was new.

"He never told me that. Though I guess I only knew him for a couple of weeks or so. Not really enough time to call someone a friend, now is it?"

She looked to the door. She knew what was beyond it, and didn't particularly care to look. At the same time, Wilhelm seemed... rather irritated by them. She'd have to reassure him that it was no real problem at the moment.

"So, um. The bodies. Well, yeah, someone needs to know, but your people can handle that, right? Tell the Queen about it?" No, that wouldn't do. Too apathetic, no promise of action. Action comforts. Wilhelm needed to hear action.

"In the meantime, there's not much we can do about it, is there? I mean, we can't very well burn them, as much as I'd like to put them to rest. That's up to their own to do, and at the moment we've no idea who they belong to." She looked over at Wilhelm. He didn't seem to be particularly thrilled with the idea. In fact, he seemed outright disgusted by it. Or maybe it was by something else, there was no shortage of things to be disgusted at at the moment. "What? That's what you do with bodies, right?"

"You've met him? Could you stand to be around him for more than a minute? Do not tell me thou'rt addicted to alcohol...please." His palms were clammy, his breath shallow. Nausea made the dim corridor spin. "We need...to do something. Alert the castle security." The latter sentence was an order to his remaining guard.

Unfortunately, the alert was never given, for Ross sprinted into the vicinity with a crazed expression.

"I didn't shoot anyone. Please don't stab me. Christophe says I'm innocent."

Wilhelm's guards immediately leveled their rifles at Ross, and Wilhelm growled, "Prove it."

[Kiu Ghesik]

Ross shouted, "AYY KOTERA, WANNA HIDE A BODY?"

Naturally the answer was "Sure!"

The two chucked the bodies off the cliff into the ocean below.

"Thanks for the help!" He threw Kotera a beer.

Anyway, now he had to deal with Ari... And Wilhelm.

Ross rushed into the room, weapon down.

"I didn't shoot anyone. Please don't stab me. Christophe says I'm innocent."

"Christophe is an idiot I need to introduce to the business end of this lovely thing." Ari flicked out the knife and spun it once more. "Besides, it doesn't matter whether you're innocent or not, as long as you clean up your mess. That's the whole point of justice, Ross. And you owe me a round of drinks. Not tampered with, mind you."

Ari turned to Wilhelm with the knife still in hand. "No, I'm not addicted to alcohol. It's a drink. I drink it on special occasions." She then realized that he likely had more pressing matters on his hands than her alcohol habits, given the... person... standing next to her, and tilted the knife's tip ever slightly towards him. "Well, looks like our friend is back, Alastair's brother. Now, if you don't mind, let's not do anything hasty-"

In retrospect, that was not enough to prevent anything hasty. In fact, it might've just encouraged it.

[Socialist Macronesia]

"Here!" He stuck out a sheet of paper, careful not to draw attention to the revolver at his side.

The paper, printed on Chris's own stationary, was an official pardon "for the purposes of national security".

"Are you satisfied? Do I need to call him myself? I have a radio, you know."

[Kiu Ghesik]

"Here!" He stuck out a sheet of paper, careful not to draw attention to the revolver at his side.

The paper, printed on Chris's own stationary, was an official pardon "for the purposes of national security".

"Are you satisfied? Do I need to call him myself? I have a radio, you know."

"Yes, please, do call him. I want to insult him to his face."

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Ross shouted, "AYY KOTERA, WANNA HIDE A BODY?"

Naturally the answer was "Sure!"

The two chucked the bodies off the cliff into the ocean below.

"Thanks for the help!" He threw Kotera a beer.

Anyway, now he had to deal with Ari... And Wilhelm.

Ross rushed into the room, weapon down.

"I didn't shoot anyone. Please don't stab me. Christophe says I'm innocent."

"Christophe is an idiot I need to introduce to the business end of this lovely thing." Ari flicked out the knife and spun it once more. "Besides, it doesn't matter whether you're innocent or not, as long as you clean up your mess. That's the whole point of justice, Ross. And you owe me a round of drinks. Not tampered with, mind you."

Ari turned to Wilhelm with the knife still in hand. "No, I'm not addicted to alcohol. It's a drink. I drink it on special occasions." She then realized that he likely had more pressing matters on his hands than her alcohol habits, given the... person... standing next to her, and tilted the knife's tip ever slightly towards him. "Well, looks like our friend is back, Alastair's brother. Now, if you don't mind, let's not do anything hasty-"

In retrospect, that was not enough to prevent anything hasty. In fact, it might've just encouraged it.

"Here!" Ross stuck out a paper that was evidently from King Chrisophe. "Are you satisfied? Do I need to call him myself? I have a radio, you know."

That was not enough. A pardon could not exempt him from the horrific acts he was committing.

Wilhelm twitched and eyed Ross with a cold glare. "Bloody, bawdy villain," he began, his voice low in pitch and volume but steadily climbing. "Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, damned VILLAIN!" He screamed the last word, fists clenching, the vessels in his forehead protruding in pulsating webs. It was irrelevant that he was quoting Hamlet--Ross wouldn't comprehend such things to begin with--for all that mattered was the wrath that made him shake like a building in an earthquake.

"Thou art a murderer, a lowly murderer, that's all you are, you think you're doing something worthwhile but you're insane--"

"ENOUGH!" His guards yanked him backward to put a shield betwixt him and Ross. Still, Wilhelm vibrated in his ire, the incendiary words flowing from him furiously.

"YOU DESERVE TO PERISH FOR WHAT YOU DO, AND I WISH I HAD SHOT YOU MYSELF!"

[Socialist Macronesia]

"Here!" He stuck out a sheet of paper, careful not to draw attention to the revolver at his side.

The paper, printed on Chris's own stationary, was an official pardon "for the purposes of national security".

"Are you satisfied? Do I need to call him myself? I have a radio, you know."

"Yes, please, do call him. I want to insult him to his face."

"Alright, I'm calling him."

He pressed a few buttons on the radio, threw it into the room and shut the door. The occupants were unconscious in seconds.

Ross rushed in with a two-gallon pail of the punch. Making sure to douse it in mouths, shoes, the floor, he placed several lit joints on the ground, grabbed his radio, and chucked any remaining dead bodies into the furnace.

Ross hoped they would assume it was all a dream.

[Socialist Macronesia]

Ross rushed to the hallway.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME WILHELM? ALASTAIR HAS GOTTEN INTO THE PUNCH BOWL! YOU'RE JUST AS USELESS AS MARIE! DO YOU NOT KNOW OF YOUR BROTHER'S HOMOSEXUAL AFFAIRS!? YOU ARE A USELESS MAN, WEAK, FEEBLE MINDED, WHO ACTS SMART BECAUSE THEY KNOW SHAKESPEARE!"

Wilhelm looked... Confused to say the least.

But Ross was not going to let go. Not an inch.

"You're fatter, uglier, and honestly dumber than your brother! And he's a raging alcoholic! Change Wilhelm, change your ways and STOP HIS BEHAVIOR!"

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Ross rushed to the hallway.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME WILHELM? ALASTAIR HAS GOTTEN INTO THE PUNCH BOWL! YOU'RE JUST AS USELESS AS MARIE! DO YOU NOT KNOW OF YOUR BROTHER'S HOMOSEXUAL AFFAIRS!? YOU ARE A USELESS MAN, WEAK, FEEBLE MINDED, WHO ACTS SMART BECAUSE THEY KNOW SHAKESPEARE!"

Wilhelm looked... Confused to say the least.

But Ross was not going to let go. Not an inch.

"You're fatter, uglier, and honestly dumber than your brother! And he's a raging alcoholic! Change Wilhelm, change your ways and STOP HIS BEHAVIOR!"

"I'm not even fat!" Wilhelm exclaimed as soon as Ross was finished with his outburst. "And--we'll see if he has indeed gotten into ze punch bowl--Alastair is not having any affairs--he's not, he would never do that, even though he is a drunkard!" He bit his tongue ere he could launch into a tirade about his not being dull, for part of him was eager to hear what Ross spewed forth next.