*TATARATATATAAAAAAAAAAaaa*
Kate- "What are the trumpets for?"
Jack Heart- "To welcome you lady Aiok, why else? Only high nobility receive such a treatment!"
Kate- "Isn't it a bit over the top? Feels like we're ringing the dinner bells for any wannabe assassins."
Jack- "Nothing of the sort happens here. We are under the watchful eye of the gods and country!"
Kate- Bet they are pushing surveillance to a new level if they are that confident.
Cere- I haven't seen that many cameras.
Kate- Probably don't need 'em. Must be using people, probably the microbots injections with the level-up tracking people and feeding data to their systems.
Cere- That's concerning. We can't shoot our way out then. We could get a swarm of them on us if we do anything out of the ordinary.
Marcel- *whisper* "That's a lot of hardware on the guards. Automatic weapons and poleaxes. Seem like they are all augmented to the gills."
Kate- *whisper* "See that cupola? That's a freaking microwave canon dish."
Marcel- "Feel like they are gearing for war. Looks a bit like 20th-century Soviet and Nazi pageantry"
Cere- Marcel's comparison is quite apt. The council is also in a sort of Cold War with Avalon. I wonder who this display of signals is for. Normally, they are reserved for other countries to telegraph intent.
Kate- And we are smack in the middle of it.
"Let's keep our holes tight on this one, right?"
Marcel- "Oh, mine are tight alright, bottled shut like a pressurized door."
Kate- "I really don't get it, it's not like we're anyone important."
Marcel- "Are you kidding me? You're not aware are you? He'z not courting you, he's courting your mom."
Kate- "Fuck you're right, she could give him the keys with the tech and special force training. Combine this with his manpower... that's just for conventional wars though. Corporate would dominate a missile exchange."
Marcel- "Nobody would play a no-win scenario. Throwing missilezes would be a death sentence for everyone. No, this one would be played with special forcez and propaganda like in the first part of the 21st. Small aczions, domino effects, long playz, acceptable losses."
Kate- "And the Angels would make of this a one-sided shitshow with their tactics and gear."
We have to get out of here fast. If we stay, I'll become a hostage with a front seat for a new total war game or die if Cherry answers fuck no.
Jack- "Your eminence, if you would please follow the maids, they will help you with appropriate clothes to meet the king. Marcel please follow me I'll help you with yours."
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Head Maid- "Please madam, after me."
Kate- "Thank you, mister Heart, I'll see you later."
Gotta play dumb and compliant until I find an exit from this stage.
Cere- Dumber you mean.
Kate- Not the time for banter, too much shit is at stake right now.
Cere- Is it? I mean ultimately they will probably come to blows with or without you. You are just another angle of attack. A pawn in a greater game.
Kate- And that bitch pulled me into her little narcissistic games. You're right, I'm fucking dumb to fall for her tricks again. Fucking Gwen, I think I know now why she got kicked out. I got pimped by my sister in a world-ending deal and all I got is this stupid archology. OK, won't lie, the arcology is pretty cool and the world sucks, still...
Cere- No wonder the computer set your starting luck at zero.
Maid- "Madam, please raise your arms, we'll help you undress."
Kate- Should have stayed in bed with Marcel this morning instead of coming here.
Maid- "Witch one do you prefer?"
Kate- "I'll go with the cream one with the pearls."
Maid "Good choice! It will go nicely with your skin tone. We'll adjust it for you while you take a bath."
Kate- "Thanks."
At least there are upsides to being sold like a cheap whore.
Cere- Apt analogy with all the clothes and makeup that seem involved in the affair.
Kate- Dumb bitch, I'm so done with her and her little schemes after this. There are limits to how high the stakes of your ambition should be. Why did she have to drag me in this?
Cere- Well, you are Cherry's favourite, she might be jealous or you might be her only real play here.
*Splash*
Kate- Am not... I'm a fucking mess, Hell, I've left home.
Cere- You get the most attention for sure. It might be a case of "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" but truthfully I think Cherry sees a lot of her younger self in you. She might not want to play favourite but she probably can't help it.
Kate- It's not as if I asked for this.
Cere- Narcissists don't really care about your intents, they care about personal validation and attention. They are inwardly deeply insecure so they try to hide it by gaining power over others they see as chess pieces for their games. When they are not the center of attention well, you can expect them to act according to their desires.
Kate- Zero indeed. Fuck!