Roleplayer Guild - Forum Roleplaying Games

About an hour later, the group arrived at the Agency - which, Brother Antony thought, sounded more like an official government bureau than a group of detectives who investigated creatures that weren't supposed to exist. It was really quite a new thought for Antony, because the Vatican didn't work that way.

There was little need for 'detective work' in the predominantly Catholic countries of the world. Thanks to the activity of the Vatican's warriors (damn it, there has got to be a better word for a person who protects the innocent and combats the wicked), those regions had remained quiet and those creatures that the Agency sought out and fought were nowhere to be found in Italy, Ireland, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Malta, etc. So when one did show up, it was usually obvious to the experienced Vatican.

The Vatican had more information on the otherworldly than any other organization on Earth. Unfortunately, much of that was hampered by superstitions and people who liked to claim that their toast, when it happened to be burned to particular perfection, was a miracle. It was especially endangered by the corruption of several of the human members of the Catholic church. But it was the same with any other group, be it government or independent. The fact that the Church, as a whole, was a force for good was evidence of its divine nature.

God was with them, after all.

Brother Antony look towards Nicky, whom Antony called Mr. Wong, and tittered his hands. He'd done plenty of research on the man in the interim, and had found out much. This was, like the Vatican knight and squire, his first mission with the Agency. But he, unlike the Romans, was actually a 'member' of the Agency, rather than an outside aide. And he didn't like the Vatican. Records indicated that he'd had past encounters with his brothers, and every time he hadn't exactly cooperated with their methodical, precise, and 'safe' methods. That wasn't something that Antony necessarily liked.

But it was damn well something that the young monk could respect. So he spoke. "Mr. Wong, sir- uh, I'm, behind you, when we g-g-g-o inside. I've got, uh, a gun, somewhere, I think. It's yours, or, yeah, it's yours, I think. Yeah."

__________________
~ "Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree."

~ "The best way to fight the devil, if not with holy scripture, is to jeer at him - for he can not stand to be scorned."

~ "An atheist is just a person God hasn't met yet."

Sara had jumped so violently when Nicky dropped the nail gun on the table that she almost fell off her chair. But, when she saw had caused the noise, all thoughts of hospitals, and the bad things inside them, vanished and she was back in her normal chipper mood. She let out a high-pitched squeal and leapt up to throw her arms around Nicky’s neck in a brief, but tight, hug with the child-like innocence of a kid getting their favourite toy back. Releasing the somewhat shocked man, she scooped the tool up from the table and began to stroke it as if it were a beloved pet, frowning when one of the bandages on her hand caught on the point of a nail.

"Listen up, someone's infiltrated the agency and we need to go back."

‘Infiltrated?’ she repeated. ‘It’s because we didn’t fix the door before we left isn’t it?’ She glanced at the knight and his squire. ‘Guess we should go kick ‘em out, huh?’

Plucking a small open-ended spanner from behind her ear, she fished around in her overalls pocket until she emerged with the keys to the van, ironically having remembered where they were after she was inside the hospital. Grinning at the group, she moved to a nearby open window and swung her legs out over the sill. ‘See you out at the van,’ she said, before dropping two meters to the footpath below - because there was no way she was going through those halls again – where she promptly made her way around the building to the waiting vehicle.

It took the others so long to get out of the hospital that, even with Sara driving as fast as she was allowed, it took them just under an hour to get to the agency. On the way, Ri had muttered something about Hospital Discharge Forms but Sara had been too busy trying to change gears with her elbow, she hadn’t had a chance to get the full story. When they arrived, Sara leapt from the vehicle, which she’d parked on the street because they didn’t want to tip the infiltrator off by going into her basement garage, and stood looking up at the building, nail gun in hand.

‘So, who’s going in first?’

__________________

Kundiman closed the door of her car gently and walked around to get her new babies. She was humming, walking to the rhythmm of the song that was playing on the car stereo before she stepped out of it. "I bet you think this song is about you, don't you, don't you?" she walked around the building, entered the code and walked rather happily up the stairs, still swaying to the beat.

The empty lounge welcomed her. She continued past it, ignoring the lights that were on on the supposedly empty agency. She had two shopping bags on each arm she walked past the reception area without a backward glance.

She dropped the goodies on her table and checked her reflection on one of the various mirrors of her desk. She blew a kiss to herself and patted one of her shopping bags, as if it were a baby that needed the reassurance of her presence. She then walked right back to the reception area and smiled at the man behind the desk.

She walked around the desk and bent on his right hand side, opening the bottom drawer. She took out a little bottle that looked like a pepper shaker. She then straightened and walked left of him, to a fish bowl obscured by a plant. She shook fish food into it. "There you go Chi-chi, I bet you miss Izumi, she used to feed you a lot on time." she then turned around to face the man who still watched her like a hawk.

"I'm sure you know who I am." she began. "I'm Kundiman, welcome to the agency. You've come to replace Marcus right?" she extended her hand. Kundiman was known, if not for her vanity, very, very volatile temper, then for her selective memory. This was Selective Memory at its best. She was pissed when she left the hospital but there was nothing like a shot or two of new shoes to get her in a really cheerfull mood. He shook her hand, a firm handshake which she liked. "The boss called me on the way, car chargers are great. He says you've come well recommended. I'm glad that I've a very competent person at hand. He also said he had authorized the transfers and my agents will be dealt with by very, very, efficient people. He also said that I can finally get my bonus and vacation. He also said that the agency is actually paying for my expenses." She sat on his desk, which he seemed not to particularly like. She didn't care currently. "So, my sweet Marv, if we are to live in relative peace and all that good stuff, you never ever hang up on me and I'll never yell at you. Over the phone. Sounds fair? Pinky swear?" she extended a pinky.

____________________________________
READ ALL BEFORE YOU REACT. Or not.

Warm hands slid over her flesh, warming, soothing, exciting. Kundiman gave a hum of pleasure as he added a little bit more pressure on certain areas. "That hurts a little Joshua," she gasped and he gentled.

"It's going to be fine in a while, darling, just stay still and relax, we're good." he added a little more pressure again.

She closed her eyes and indeed, after a moment, the pain melted away and she was a happy and relaxed woman. "That was the greatest massage ever Joshua. Thanks. What would I ever do without you." She lay on her stomach on the spa's bed, a towel draped over her bottom.

"Anytime honey, that was thank you for introducing me to Wilzen, he is just so perfect for me. The love of my life honey, the love of my life! Can you believe it? He also likes karaoke." The spa's masseuse wiped lavender oil off his hands.

"Well, you two are such sweet people I knew I had to do something about it." And I knew you'd get each other out of the closet soon enough. Plus it made you give me the massage of my life did it not? "Anyway, I'll go and have a quick dip and look around for more things to but. Tell me about the big date?" She sat up, pulling the towel, almost nonchalantly around her.

"Sure honey, every beautiful detail." They air kissed and he left the room for his big date. Kundiman stretched then stood to walk to the locker in the massage room. Her beach kit lay there and her swim suit hung on the lone hanger there.

It had been two days since she got her salary from mister stud muffin. She had flown over immediately and had been enjoying Pinacoladas and other tropical fruit mixes that the resort had to offer.

She wore the suit, a turqouise one piece. Completely backless and deep in the front. She wore a straw hat with a white and yellow ribbon because it looked cute with the white flip flops she owned and the huge shades she wore out in the beach.

The place was paradise, no ex boyfriends, flesh eating creatures, hair style challenged friends, hospital phobics, woman phobics, normal clothes phobic, healthy food phobic, people who hanged up on her... people. No one. Just people who understood and appreciated beauty. She loved the place. IT was service to the max and most of all, she didn't have to pay for most of it.

She stepped out of the spa and walked through connecting walkways, to the reception which was the nearest exit to her rather huge cottage and the beach. She had winked and flirted with all the men workers around so they tended to give her special everything. She smiled at Silas who had walked over with her usual glass of four seasons. "Thank you honey."

"People are looking for you in the lobby miss,"

Kundiman looked and found, give or take a dozen people at the lobby. "Whatever are you talking about." she said and walked towards the lobby exit. That person's hair really needed a haircut. And please don't tell me that's an armour underneath that huge hawaiian shirt... and please, the good Lord, don't make that person be praying the rosary just because he's surrounded by almost naked women. She never knew she had such vivid imagination. She walked past all of them and the doors were opened for her when someone spoke from behind her.

"Aren't you even gonna say hi." a man in all black said. God, it was shining outside and he was wearing black? Who on Earth wore black to the beach? Who carried whips to the beach?

She didn't even turn around. She would have walked out if Nick did not reach for her arm and turn her around. "Kundiman, we're here. In the flesh. Ignoring us won't change it."

"Hmmm... I never knew my imagination was so vivid. Nick's hand really feels painful around my arm." she said as she broke free of him. She prayed to God, to all the saints she knew, and God knew, she knew a lot of them, her mother and father made sure of that. She even closed her eyes and clasped her arms together. Please, Lord, don't let them be here. She opened her eyes and huffed an angry sigh.

"What the hell are you all still doing here? You guys are figments of my imagination, a very vivid one but I don't want to see you all now. And if ever you're gonna be stubborn and stay here, then stay the hell away from me."

"That's hard to do, we live in the same cabin." Marv smiled at her.

__________________

...some people are only alive because it is illegal to kill them...

" It seemed like yesterday that I was in this hotel. " Izumi gave a small sigh. " Now I have to endure this for the rest of the month. I'm glad they made me come along, at least carrying their luggages will help me weight train a bit. If this continue, I could carry a man in armor with one hand. "

She looked around her, the hotel was the same as the day that she left. The only difference was that there a lot of people this time, including the agency's employees. It was decorated in a rather usual summer style theme. People walked from left left to right wearing whatever keeps them cool.

Izumi joined with the rest of the group. They had been waiting for Kundiman for half an hour or so. When she did finally arrive, she made a run for the door but was stopped by their M.I.B ( Man in black lol ).

"Hmmm... I never knew my imagination was so vivid. Nick's hand really feels painful around my arm." she said as she broke free of him. She prayed to God, to all the saints she knew, and God knew, she knew a lot of them, her mother and father made sure of that. She even closed her eyes and clasped her arms together. Please, Lord, don't let them be here. She opened her eyes and huffed an angry sigh.

" Yes Maria. Even I came with them since I hardly saw you at the Agency. " she coughed. " I had to clean every nook and cranny of that building especially Chi-chi's bowl. She's a growing fish and you haven't brought her a fish tank. Anyways, I know we're on a job and everything but I suggest you continue relaxing while you still can. " Izumi wore her sunglasses. " I'm volunteering to do the investigation ahead. "

__________________

‘So, who’s going in first?’

Nicky looked at the squire and led him to the front of the pack. Stark was about to say something but Nicky cut him off.

"I'm sure that God will protect you brother. Who better to smite the unknown enemy and you guys are used to breaking into places anyway."

"I don't what you exactly mean but I do not like your tone Wong," the inquisitor warned.

"As if you don't know but fine I'll go ahead for now," Nicky answered back sternly. "Croix cover me." Nicky brought out his gun and rushed into the building.

Their little stealth mission ended rather quickly after Nicky ended up poking his gun behind the tiny little figure who turned out to be Izumi. Without turning she quickly knelt and let loose an upward kick that set the pistol flying from his hand. It set off and the bullet pierced the clock suspended over one of the desks. The clock fell down and fell just a few feet from Kundi who was conversing with another stranger.

Nicky looked around and saw that no one was hurt. Izumi, Kundi, and the two strangers seemed fine. Only the clock lay on floor broken and banged up. There was big red dog in it, but the bullet punctured the face. Damn woman must have still been watching the irritating kiddie show.


It didn't really matter as much now. The little scuffle that they had at the agency cleared after a few hours of talking and negotiating. Nicky was at the Carribean with the other members of the agency and the knights whom the group couldn't seem to lose.

He made sure to pack appropriate clothing for the trip or rather mission ahead. He decided to stay with the agency for now. In his mind the most he'd stay was for at least one more mission. He just had to make sure that everything was in working order again.

But life wasn't always about missions. Who said that business and pleasure couldn't mix? Right now he wore a pair of loose khaki chinos with his tank top. There was going to be pleasure but Kundiman needed to be reminded of the business at hand.

He’d not needed the flak jacket. He’d not needed the throwing knives. He had needed more things on his desk. No wonder Marcus kept his desk so messy!

And he hadn’t pinky sworn with her. Oh, she was gorgeous and all. She was also small and terrifying in her own right - and he saw right into the temper, the desire for the paycheck he held out to her with a bored expression on his face, and the way she just sauntered in like nothing had happened at all. Spoiled brat.

He had smiled though at her promise and nodded. She’d learned. Or rather, she would learn, when she found her phone didn’t work for the next three days. It was a slap on the wrist.

Only she never used the phone to find out. But Marv didn’t know that. So all in all, it went rather well for everyone concerned. In the end, even the Goddess of Clean left and Marv was relegated to slogging through the multitudinous mail that Marcus had left behind. As well as the expense accounts, the issues with the latest damage reports, the weapons restock, the almost dead plant someone had put on to of the main office file cabinet, and the requisition/travel expense/phone record/everything else from hell and gone forms required for both Kundiman’s "vacance" and everyone’s suddenly formalized travel plans.

It was bliss. For a handful of days, he did stints of reading his newest romance novel and fixing up forms two minutes before they were needed just to piss the Big Cheese off. It was a effort in futility. The Big Cheese knew that Marv would always get it in just as Marv knew that if he didn’t get it in, the Big Cheese would send someone like Marv had been sent (only not as aggressively seeing as it was only forms - there is a sense of priority here) to make sure that Marv never forgot to turn in a form again.

Not that he needed fear as a motivator. Marv took great pride in his job and he would have been devastated to discover he’d missed a deadline.

But then reality had crashed in and Marv had been shuttled onto a plane and had settled into an uncomfortable third class seat like a very gorgeous looking ten year old (Izumi hadn’t allowed him to wear his shades on the plane) with a pout that would have looked like a sneer if he’d had the glasses.

He was on the verge of tears by the time they gave him back his computer once they’d set back down to earth (having had it taken away by Izumi again - the woman was a menace after the stewardess had had to remind him for the fifth time that electronics were not allowed on during flight) but he’d been allowed to put his glasses back on once they left the terminal and he was back to feeling spunky and cocky and altogether sure of himself. Computer under arm and dressed to the nines.

They waited in the lobby for her. Various members of the office shuffled embarrassed feet while others glared at all of the sunlight like it had offended them somehow. Still others acted as if they had every right to be standing amongst this much skin and still be covered completely. Marv posed like a model (unknowingly of course) and fixed up their reservations. They’d have to put everything into the cottage and Kundiman was the only one with all of the keys.

Of course, she also didn’t look very pleased to see them. Marv grinned as she tried to pass them off as imaginations or a bad Sex on the Beach. The Big Cheese had said not to worry about it. Marv had understood. Completely.

After Izumi’s "please continue relaxing" comment, Marv merely added at the end. "Not until you’ve lent us your key, of course. We’ve got to drop off our luggage and I have to charter a boat. And change," he gave a sexy grin at the thought of all of the paper work he could get done on the beach. Not bad. He’d even packed the potted plant, to keep it from dying while he was gone. He still had to discover who it had belonged to.

__________________

‘What will my death be like?’ he thought- and knew at once
with abrupt certainty, that it would be just like his life:
... the same balance of bearables.
~Amis

Ri wasn't surprised at the intruder comment. Just the word. "They had the access codes...no one can change 'em without my knowing," she muttered as they all shuffled out of the cafeteria. "And what about the Discharge papers," she added as she stabbed daggers onto the knight walking before her -well, in her mind at least but she was sure he felt the intention anyway. Even the Vatican couldn't just walk away from the hiospital without proper clearance. She sneaked a few stabs onto Seth as well. More importantly, she was also glaring at Nick's back the whole way through. How dare he. He'd almost scratched her notebook or worse he nearly broke the whole thing. Who knew a nail gun weighed so much. Ri sighed as they got into the van.

With Sara all fired up and driving they'd reached the Agency in record time. Again. She should know, she did keep tabs on the speedometer, the distance and the time it took to go to the Agency. A leftover habit from her dad's drag racing days. Sara's getting faster, she observed.

After Nick and the Knight squabbled, they'd all walked in on an ambush. Or so it seemed. Izumi was back, and (like always) she'd cleaned their desks. Ignoring everyone and everything, she stood before her desk, admiring the handy work. Ahh, the wires she'd been meaning to rearrange were already fixed into a better position than those she'd thought of. Izumi was an angel of clean -no, the angel of clean and truly heaven sent.

Going to the fish bowl, she was about to reach for the fish food when she saw bits and pieces of it already floating about. "Hey, Chi-chi. Did Izumi feed you? Make sure to eat lots of it." Satisfied the fish was eating healthy, Ri finally looked about and for the first time noticed there was someone who did not belong. Not another newbie -new guy, she corrected herself. The man was conversing with Kundiman and seemed to have overtaken Marcus' desk.

Ri blinked, her mind blank for a moment.

"New secretary," Izumi said when she saw Ri was puzzled.

"Oh. Okay. His name?"

"Marv." Ri waited for more. "That's about it." Izumi pointed at the name plate.

Ri saw and thought, the man's got an ego. Great. Going to her desk, she went to charge her notebook and sneak a few "looks" into the only system she had a hard time with -the Van Hellsing Agency information system, specifically the higher-up's part of that domain. Marv was listed and the others' "active" status had been changed into "transferred" or "inactive" which wasn't much help and she was too tired to go deeper. They were fine and that was all she needed to know.

The door opened and Ri saw Kundiman walk out, shopping bags in hand and a huge scary smile on her face. Paycheck.

_____

Ri was sweltering. The heat was too much. And Kundiman's thinking them to be figments of a very vivid imagination made her left eye begin ticking in irritation. "Look, just give us the keys Kundiman. I need shade..." Her sight was starting to blacken. Shaking her head to clear her vision, Ri regretted not having taken the food on the plane. But then again, it would've most likely gone back up anyway.

Not really listening to their conversation, Ri concentrated on the keys that were handed over and the door being unlocked. "Yes!" she said as she plowed through them all and went in. Blessed shade. Walking to the north end of the cabin where she knew the right room for her was situated (she knew of course, having downloaded the building's floor plans). Setting down her bags, she dropped herself on the bed after making sure the outlets and phone was where they were supposed to be. This room was the closest to the circuit breaker and definitely closest to the phonelines -lifelines really.

With the soft pillow cradling her aching head, Ri sighed. Heaven. And went to sleep.

__________________

Kundiman stood in front of the door to her room with her arms crossed in front of her. The house was an eight bedroom house with five toilet and baths, one large living area, an even larger kitchen and a beautiful veranda. She didn't care about most of that except for the fact that she would not share her room. Eight bedrooms mean some people haveto shara and she will not be one of those people. She didn't care that she used the biggest room or that it had a king size bed. This people already ruined her vacation by being around when she wasn't ready to see them, she'd die before she allowed them to ruin them all.

Her eyes narrowed at the passing secretary who, after being graciously forgiven by her, had refused the peace sign of the pinky swear. The audacity, the nerve of him. How dare he reserve the same house for all of them? The man had to be taught one lesson or two. He was secretary for a reason, he was hired to make them all comfortable, how dare he not make her happy? If looks could kill and burn then Marv would have been writhing on the floor by now... that was something she would win over him. His eyes were so cute they couldn't even scare a kid away without those glasses of his. What was she doing noticing his eyes? She didn't care if the man was handsome or had the lashes the length of rapunzel's braids... or that he had a cute butt. She took her eyes momentarily off the back of his head to check out said cute parts. Everyone had cute butts. She looked around and caught Croix entering a room. See? Everyone in this agency had cute butts. Cute-butts weren't an excuse for treating her badly.

Everyone began to settle down, Izumi, taking the organizationing upon herself, tried to arrange the roommates and all. Kundiman smiled brightly when the woman didn't include her room in the ones to be shared. She approached the woman and embraced her. "I miss you. These people just don't understand my need for privacy as much as you do. And you always give me cute presents whenever you come back from trips. Unlike someone," she raised her voice and looked around for Nick. "Who went halfway around the world and didn't even bring back any freakin thing!" Nick had a cute butt too but he didn't need her to tell him that now.

"And the next time you call me Maria again I'll steal one of your clothes." she kissed her cheek and looked around. "Where is Ri and Sara? I got them both cute two piece bathing suits for when I went back. I guess this is a perfect oppurtunity for them."

She saw the Knight open a room and walk into it. The man really, was wearing his armor. Was he ever gonna be without it? Maybe she should have it... stolen by the fishes... or something. She had to get rid of that. The poor man was ridiculed... or not really, the poor man will be stared at... it was her duty to help him. Perhaps she could get Marv, to steal it for her while the knight took a bath. He did of course, take a bath right? And the squire followed the knight into one room. She grinned. "Antony, I'll be happy to share my room with you!" she called out.

"I'll share your room."

She whirled around. "Who said that?

__________________

...some people are only alive because it is illegal to kill them...

Seth rolled his eyes and gave off an irritated look as Kundiman tried to pass them all off as a hallucination or something. Sitting in the hotel lobby quietly, he'd been checking and rechecking his luggage, playing cards with some French tourists, unsuccessfully attempting to hit on someone serving drinks, and generally finding anything he could do to stay in the air conditioned areas. Seth hated hot places. Hated them. Well, not the places, but more the temparature itself. Also, flying didn't agree with him. He was always worrying about something, like terrorists, or engine failures, or lost luggage, or a plane crash.

As they'd been picking their rooms, Seth had pickeda small one where he could hopefully get away with having it to himself. Seeing the place, it was only then he realised how ridiculously overpayed Kundi was compared to everyone else, and made a mental note to bring that up next time he was denied a payrise. Considering that, a payrise would be nice. He'd been dumped when he couldn't come up with a good enough reason for being in hospital. He'd decided to come up with some arbitrarily long ridiculous excuse, because pretty much anything is better than 'I was attacked by a murderous winged monster from hell'. Lying back on the bed he'd chosen, he rested for a while, before heading into the living room to check what everyone else was up to, before deciding to just read a book quietly.
I wonder if anyone's told Kundi why we're here yet... I feel sorry for whoever has to.

__________________
Van Hellsing Detective Agency - Hiring again!

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.
If You Have Already Abandoned Hope, Please Disregard This Signature.

"I did," Marv stated unequivocally as he pressed past her and walked toward the bedroom. "I’ll take the floor. But I’ve got paperwork to catch up on. You’d never believe the mess that was left! No way can I leave things in the main living area and expect my papers to survive." His beloved computer under his arm, he twisted midway and looked back at her with a sweet smile.

"Don’t worry, Kundiman. You’ll be safe with me." He slipped his glasses down so he could look at her over the tops of them, then smiled even more sweetly. "I’m not tempted by anything under five foot ten."

Which basically summed it all up for him. Not completely of course. There were other factors. He wasn't so shallow as to be turned off by shortness. Though she was quite beautiful. She was also his boss and she obviously was not the type to be concerned with something long term. One thing Marv had was a rather fixated view on what a relationship was bound to be (not that he’d had any - the one downside of having a fixation) or not be. He didn’t play it fast and loose and he had enough brains to keep from following his groin about everywhere. Of course, it could have been that he never had to worry about finding something if he’d wanted it.

He just hadn’t. Besides, there were plenty of good looking men in this group for her.

All of this went through his head rather quickly and was just as quickly displaced by his need to arrange the small breakfast table by the window into a working space. Both took about the same priority. He placed his bags (enough clothing, hello!) inside of the second closet, intending to unwrap everything later, then settled with a happy sigh to begin work on the now opened and wifi connected laptop there in the sunlight. It was warm enough he could unbutton a shirt button or two and roll up h is sleeves. Something good was going to happen here. He could tell.

Marv had brought the packet of goods for his boss. This he laid on the foot of the bed, figuring rightly that most of them would want to take a rest after the long flight. Not everyone was up to par as it was, considering what he heard of the last job they'd had. They could go over the paperwork in the late afternoon, after luncheon.

__________________

‘What will my death be like?’ he thought- and knew at once
with abrupt certainty, that it would be just like his life:
... the same balance of bearables.
~Amis