Naoko Tashima, the manager of the group named Sirens was up to her ears in paperwork and preparation. This ridiculous thing Valdis wanted to be a part of, that week long affair in the 'Sun Dome' or whatever it was caused. The delusions people have of trying to emulate a beach in a world that has long since lost the climate to support such a thing. The idea of it was absurd, why go through such an expense to operate a theme park like that?

She didn't understand. She never could.

All the paper work, the plans, the equipment transports, scheduling, ticket pricing, and all the other things, she had been up for the last forty-eight hours trying to keep it all in line. She was famished, and with what happened recently...she had a hard time recovering the energy. Trying to fill the void that was left from the sudden disappearance of the master left her with little recourse.

If only she could fulfill it somehow...


With a defeated sigh, she leans back in the chair of her office in the studio where Siren did it's day to day activities of rehearsal, recording, editing, and et cetra. Her black boots dangled on her legs as she bobbed up and down in annoyance. Her khaki pants and business shirt with coat finished a professional if not low budget look. Her brown hair drifting in the breeze in the room, she looked with disgust at another paperwork piece, filling in the forms and inwardly grumbling about her mundane existence.

Rehearsal had been finished, but Rosaline had remained behind for a bit longer on her own. There were some places in her part she wanted to change, and she had spending the last hour or so trying to adjust the sound to her liking. Experimenting and playing around also helped her to think. Looking at the clock though, Rosaline remembered she had a modeling job soon and began to pack her instrument away and gather her things.

Today the young bass player was wearing a bright red, ruffled skirt with a matching red fedora lined with a white, silk band. She wore a simple, yet cutely designed white shirt, the top widely cut and hung lopsided so as to expose one of her shoulders as well as the black tank top she wore underneath. The sleeves then tied off just above her elbows, and the bottom of the fabric neatly hugged her hips. On her legs she wore long black leggings and her typical brown boots that laced up just below her knees. Grabbing her purse and draping her coat over her arm, Rosaline began to head out, cutting through the office when she spotted her manager.

”Ah good afternoon Manager. Thank you for your hard work today,” Rosaline spoke politely, inclining her head slightly towards the other. The two of them had a professional relationship, and Rosaline was not the type to be overly friendly. Even so, picking up on the other’s distress, Rosaline figured she could endure a brief amount of small talk.

”As others are always trying to tell me though, it is important not to work yourself too hard. Please try and get some rest Manager. Have a good day.” With that Rosaline began to take her leave, figuring there wasn’t much else to say.

As Rosa entered and sounded cold, distant, and almost too professional, the manager's eyes narrow at her. There was something just a little different about her. It seemed to be vigorous, full of energy. Her lip quivered slightly, so delectable, but she couldn't just draw from her as a member of the band, especially before the large concert. She weighed her options carefully, before coming to a conclusion of the next step to take.

Maybe just a little...just a little to get by.

"Oh, Rosa. It's good to see you. Would you like to go to the cafe around the corner and get something sweet? I heard they had a fantastic new Turtle Cheesecake, and you've been working just as hard as I have been lately, so I figure I might be able to treat you for it." she says with a warm smile and standing up as a more welcoming gesture. The young woman had a weakness for sweets after all, something that might be...useful.

The invitation surprised her, but even Rosaline found herself tempted by the offer.

”Oh yes…I remember passing the place on my way over.” The café was one of the ones Rosaline frequented often, and she was never one to miss out when a new dessert was being offered. Rosaline had wanted to stop by during her lunch break but there hadn’t been time. Upturning her wrist, she quickly glanced at the time on her watch.

”Ah well….I do still have some time. If it isn’t too much trouble then…I suppose I would like to join you.” Rosaline was hesitant, but the offer was difficult to turn down. A part of her figured there must be a catch and that her manager must have wanted something from her….but these sort of things she was used to and plus their big concert was coming up soon, so if anything it was to be expected.

"Excellent" Naoko says, moving to get her coat and belongings. She puts on her most genuine smile to convey a feeling of enjoying Rosalinda's presence. She had to be careful with this: enough to only get by for now while not raising any red flags. There was still the concert after all, and the extreme opportunity to collect on the profit there. It would potentially even allow her an opportunity to take advantage of the vacant position.

A brisk walk through the studio led to the streets, where the evening travel led to a steady stream of traffic and pedestrians. A few hawkers try to sell their wares on the streets while a pair of MPs make their way on patrol, thinking little of the situation around.

"Are you excited about the show coming up? You're so quiet it's hard to tell what you're thinking sometimes." Naoko says to Rosalinda as she walked with the young woman on the sidewalk along the corner, the sign for 'Isolde's Cafe' about two hundred feet down. The snow began to fall once again, powdering the area gradually. Meanwhile, Naoko begins a very slow and subtle energy drain, tapping into the reserves of Rosa's proximity.

Within Rosa, she would feel as though something wasn't right, and that even there might be an unnatural presence nearby, but there was no clear evidence of what it might be.

"No it's not, you just suck at reading people manager-san"

Val had come up from behind and slung an arm around her dear friend Rosa's shoulder. She flashed the pink girl a grin.

"I heard someone mention cake and had to gather my coat and come along"

Valdis was wearing her long black trench coat that had been replaced after she lost the first one. This one had orange fox fur lining the edges of the hood which was left down. Black leather gloves adorned her hands. Her hair was pulled up in a mess bun with strands sticking out here and there. Her ears covered with thick fuzzy black earmuffs. While the mention of cake had caught her attention to begin with while she had been passing by it was the fact Rosa was leaving with the manager that made her decide to join the two. She wasn't about to leave her precious Rosa alone with a known Youma...other then herself of course.

”The show…. Rosaline repeated, when the manager asked her a question. To be honest, Rosaline didn’t really get nervous or excited when it came to preforming.

”I believe my performance should be adequate…however…” It took Rosaline a few extra moments to respond, all of a sudden she began feeling somewhat tired and sluggish. It was at that moment, that Valdis’ sudden appearance both surprised and distracted Rosaline.

”Oh Val….I didn’t know you were interested in such sweets.” Part of her was relieved to see Valdis, the singer always knew how to handle their manager better than Rosaline did. And now that she thought about it….hadn’t Valdis also mentioned something about their manager being a part of the covenant in some way? Well they were in public so that fact, true or not, probably wouldn’t matter too much for a simple outing to sample some sweets. Regardless, Rosaline was glad to be in more familiar company.

Follow one's nose. That's what the boy had done, and that very nose had led him to this street and to these people...he recognized one of them. Great, that Valdis girl is probably the reason I...wait...two?. As Lance gets closer he raises his nose to the air and sniffs a couple of times and then begins to walk towards the group as he walks he gets closer he seems to trip and winds up running into the manager. He turns around and bows very slightly as he gives the manager a very dry and VERY unamused look. "I"m very sorry for that." he says locking eyes with the manager and looking up at Valdis.

"Huh? Oh you're ummm...Val is what I think they called you?" He asks Valdis his features still cold and direct. "You make hunting really inconvenient you know." he says to her as he looks down at the manager. He wasn't sure why but he was pretty irritated about how this youma was going about things. Shouldn't the victim at least have a chance to fight? "Anyways I'm very sorry about that. I haven't eaten in a while so I felt a little weak. I'm so hungry I could eat a youma." He says as he he starts to walk away from the group his words seeming to carry a certain significance.

As Valdis approached, Naoko's eye twitched just ever so slightly.

"Oh Valdis, how good of you to join us. We will need to talk about your wardrobe for the event ahead."

Her presence was becoming a problem: she had been seen around and involved with thwarting the master's plans. And the energy she could sense: partially dark, partially positive...she didn't know what to make of her. Her hand then clenched into a fist, but her annoyance was instantly broken by the young male bumping into him.

"The mental hospital called, they are looking for you. You better get back before the men in white suits come after you" Naoko says, her annoyance obvious with Lance and his crytpic ramblings. Internally, she was on guard. This one had a feral energy to him, a rather dangerous one. As she debated on what to do in this situation, another woman appears seemingly out of nowhere wearing a black trenchcoat. Her hair was pink, while her expressions seemed more mature. She touches Naoko on the shoulder and smiles warmly.

"Ah, Naoko, my old friend. How have you been? I heard you were preparing a high profile concert. Let's take carenot to jump the gun and rush things. Yes? I know you do such thorough work normally." she says, before walking off quite quickly...Valdis might recognize her as a vaguely familiar face, but to Rosa, it was likely that something was abundantly clear to her...

...it was her mother. The same face and hair color, the same colored eyes...

Naoko exhales deeply, looking at her her two charges.

"Shall we go then? This time of year always seems to bring out the crazies..." she says, shrugging off the awkward moments with Lance and the other woman. She motions to approach Isolde's cafe.

"Are you kidding? Sweets are one of the few things that brighten my day...oddly enough Daddy doesn't let me have them much..."

She grinned at her dear friend; but she turned when her manager spoke. Gracing her with the same goofy smile.

"I'm sure wardrobe will be an easy matter to take care of. But we can discuss it over the cake if you like."

Despite her smiling face Valdis eye's were cold when looking at the manager. Then a man she barely recognized appeared before them. A half smile cracked on her face when he mention she made hunting a bit difficult. She would have to make a mental note to find out exactly what hunting he was referring to. She was about to call out to him when a woman in a black trench coat appeared.

"Hey I think I have the same c..."

Val blinked and looked back and forth between the woman and Rosa...then the exchange of words that were head...things began clicking into place only thought....'oh shit'...and the energy she sensed from this woman....with Vals new form she had a chance against the manager....but Rosa's mother...not a chance. But Rosa's suspicions of her mother joining to the covenant was likely just proven. Vals arm laced around her friends shoulders protectively as the woman left. Unsure if her friend would take off to go after her mother. She would ignore the manager until she saw Rosa's reaction.

Rosaline was intrigued when an unfamiliar boy who ran into the manger was apparently acquainted with Valdis. She studied him for a few moments not quite sure what to make of him. The fact that he knew Val and demonstrated that he had knowledge of these youma meant that he was probably one of the members of that group Valdis and Nazo had mentioned to her.

As he was walking away, before Rosaline could make a comment, a look of genuine shock crossed her usually masked features as she spotted her mother of all people. Rosaline wasn’t sure what to think…her mother had left without so much as a word so long ago…and yet here she was. As the woman walked away, without even thinking about it, Rosaline took an unconscious step towards the other, when Valdis’ arms around her shoulders halted the girl’s action.

Blinking a few times, Rosaline tried to regain her composure. Even when she had been around, Rosa’s mother was more like a stranger to her anyway. Approaching the woman right now would accomplish nothing. Rosaline squeezed Valdis’ hand tightly for a moment as a calm look returned to her face.

"You are well connected it would seem," she answered in response to the manager. Rosaline then followed the other into the café.

"Tch, it looks like the manager didn't get the hint." Lance sighs to himself as he walks into an alley. However, as he does a strong youma scent assaults him, oppressively strong, what the hell is this? "Shit! Those girls are gonna be in trouble." He grunts as he takes out his transformation item. Time to go berserk! "Eris Knight Power!" He says after making sure the coast was clear and hiding. Though as he starts to transform Sophia's words come back to him. Also, you’ve shown you’re a pretty good knight… when you feel like it. His last thoughts before the transformation occured were hell what kind of lunatic would want a knight like me protecting them?

As he transforms the familiar rage and power were nowhere to be found. Instead of discord Lance found harmony in the transformation. "This shit again?" He growled as he looks down at the transformation. Where was the familiar lust for battle and surging power? As he begins humming War chants he climbs up a nearby fire escape with inhuman agility and strength. As he looks down he sees the source of the scent the pink haired woman was oppressively powerful. He probably couldn't beat her, and starting a fight with her with so many people around was a good way to get hundreds if not thousands killed.

As he looks down he sees that she is leaving and decides to let it go, not the time or place. Of course if she wanted to come fight him, he'd certainly accept. Though since he couldn't really go into the shop looking as he was so he decides to wait and see what happens. If possible he'd like to catch the manager on her own and deal with this quickly.

While Lance was lurking however, waiting for the coast to be clear after the manager and two young women left the scene, a sharp pain would penetrate his back from surprise. The abrupt, sudden attack would then cause freezing to begin internally on Lance, as he hears a soft, feminine laughing. When he eventually turns around, he will find the woman from merely moments, ago, standing fifteen feet away, her arm having turned to fluid and in the shape of a blade. The woman had a wicked smile on her face as the entrance to the alley begins to freeze over.

"...Oh my~ I happened to find one of the kids that Lady Virgo was speaking of...how convenient. After my comrade's unfortunate death, bringing her the dead, cold, lifeless body of one of the kids will likely gain me ever more favor...though I suppose I should try to bring you in alive, she does want to torture...I mean...interrogate the ones who had a hand in Scorpio's demise"[/color] she says with a distinct coldness. In this woman's eyes, there was no warmth, no compassion. Her face was as sweet as a woman's could be, but the eyes screamed: killer.

Without further comment, she laughs softly as the ice and snow that Lance was currently on begins to shoot out as spikes from points turned to liquid, but instead of being merely ice, the spikes had the penetration power of metal and the empowerment of chaos energy as a natural counter to Lance's mostly positive energy.

In the cafe, Rosa would feel a shock enter her system. Something within her soul would tell her that something was wrong. Valdis meanwhile would likely sense the commotion with her natural senses.

Naoko didn't twitch as the battle elsewhere broke out, turning and smiling at the two young women as she gestured towards an empty booth.

"Let's go there and hail a waitress over, yes?" she says cheerfully, approaching the booth and taking a seat, opening a menu that would have the day's specials on it. Within was a number of well-described desserts and sandwiches from various cultures around the world ranging from Dulce de Leche, to the house special which was a French Inspired Turtle Cheesecake.

Valdis wasn't sure how she would protect Rosa if a fight broke out, nor did she feel comfortable fallowing the other pink haired woman. So her relief was great when she felt her friend squeeze her hand. She only hoped the other knight didn't attract any unneeded attention. She fallowed Rosa into the sweet shop; her senses alert sensing any energy out...she was distracted as she noticed that one energy was draining another. Her gaze snapped to the manager... it took pure will power not to narrow her eyes in a glare. That bitch was draining her friend...

Val turned her attention to Rosa and gave her a small smile. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a fully functional ofuda and slapped it on the girls sleeve.

"There a friendship sticker to cheer you up my friend"

A valid excused for slapping a sticker of sorts onto the girl. She Knew Rosa was feeling some turmoil in seeing her mother and not getting so much as a hello. Plus the ofuda as a chain reaction would give a nasty sting to the one who was draining her energy at the moment. Her little moment of victory was ruined when she felt another energy signature pop up....and attract the big baddie herself. To the others Val would seemed a bit out of it as she stared off into space, paying more attention to the energy signatures outside then her surroundings. This was bad...very bad. Her eyes shifted towards Rosa.....she couldn't abandon Rosa. But then again she couldn't in good conscious let a knight get killed....but perhaps she could aid him in creating a distraction. It was time to make the underling make a scene.

Despite her best efforts, Rosaline was finding it hard to concentrate. First it had been the sudden fatigue, only a minor discomfort on its own. The true bomb had been unexpectedly seeing her mother after all this time. Even now, as Rosaline quietly followed the manager into the shop, her mind was reeling. At first it was simply shock…but there was anger there too. Throughout her young life and even after all this time…her mother never acknowledged her.

As they were taking their seats, Rosaline snapped out of it for a moment when Valdis appeared to have placed something on her sleeve.

”An….ofuda?” Rosaline was perplexed, but Valdis had done stranger things in the past. Rosaline wasn’t aware these talismans held any real power, but perhaps they did.

Suddenly though, all this happening around Rosaline ceased to matter. Something felt wrong…very wrong, and Rosaline wasn’t sure how but she could feel it...like a sharp pain. Without warning she abruptly stood up from the table, a look of unease on her face.

”I….I’m sorry but actually I can’t stay.” Rosaline quickly glanced over at Valdis uncertainly before quickly exiting the shop without explaining herself. She then quickly glanced around, getting the feeling that she knew who she was looking for. Strangely feeling compelled to look up...Rosaline thought she noticed two figures on a nearby roof. There also appeared to be a fire escape leading up to the place, though as she entered the alleyway, Rosaline hesitated on whether or not to attempt the climb.