Setting
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Minimap
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You are here. |
east |
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southeast |
The Inner Empire is a part of 
New Hadden.
13 Characters Here
Thistle Erutin [142]
Erich Brenner [91]
Nixie Conner [59]
Josef Kampf [52]
Viktoria Kampf [17]
Augustus [17]
The Hegemony [8]
Josef Wagner [6] The monster unleashed...
The Director [2]
Start Character Here »
"And girls are sissys. Just don't tell Winnie I said that." The boy looked to his mom also, hopping for a yes.
"You two go ahead and tell the others. Your Papaw and I have to talk." She waited until they had raced aroudn the corner and she couldn't hear their feet. "Steven. Why did you come here?" When he knew she had forbidden it.
"You two go ahead and tell the others. Your Papaw and I have to talk." She waited until they had raced aroudn the corner and she couldn't hear their feet. "Steven. Why did you come here?" When he knew she had forbidden it.
Steven sighed, knowing this was coming, and looked to the young woman, placing his hands behind his back as he did. She had forbidden it, but the man wanted to see for himself. "Erica kept coming, ma'am. I wanted to see for myself." And see did he, the boys looking just like their father. Something he certainly didn't expect.
"I know... I know Erich doesn't want to see me now."
"I know... I know Erich doesn't want to see me now."
"...You won't even acknowledge him. He's your son." She said simply. "You can stay this once, but only because Niko and Kaiser have already seen you. Next time, you have to ask my husband directly. You, not your wife. He's your son." She took a deep breath and forced the tension away.
"The play room is this way. I would advise you to watch you're step once in there, and watch out, because they will nearly knock you over."
"The play room is this way. I would advise you to watch you're step once in there, and watch out, because they will nearly knock you over."
"I thought he was dead." The man's stubbornness persisted, but he soon cured it, closing his eyes for a moment and mentally reprimanding himself. “And I will.” He needed to speak with him, but not now. Not in the shape that Erich was in. Despite his age, Steven still maintained several skills from his days in the LW, and observation was one of them. “And I will be most careful to.”
He followed her, and almost entered before pausing, looking at her for a moment. “… thank you.”
"Make it right, and you'll be welcome." She said simply. The man had five years to come to terms with the fact that he son was alive. He could have been there sooner. Hell, she could have provided records.
As they entered, the children did indeed come running, running into their Papaw at full speed. Four little boys, all yelling "Papaw!" All at once and clamoring for this new relatives attention.
As they entered, the children did indeed come running, running into their Papaw at full speed. Four little boys, all yelling "Papaw!" All at once and clamoring for this new relatives attention.
The man understood the terms well enough, entering to see the little ones rush towards him, smiling at the horde of children. Happily did he engage in their games, relishing the chance to finally meet the children his wife had gone to see for so very, very long. Their papaw was more than happy to impart them the very attention
And Erich was happily ignorant, enjoying the time he spent with his daughters, and making the ball that much more legitimate with an officer attending.
And Erich was happily ignorant, enjoying the time he spent with his daughters, and making the ball that much more legitimate with an officer attending.
The children were just finishing up lessons with Thistle, in the mechanic jumpsuit, arrived, covered in oil and an absolute mess. She managed to get in the door before they noticed, and watched them, counting their numbers, and then watched as they all read the word on the board together. They could, of course, read individually, and often took turns reading. But this introduced them to new words. Her fast learning little kittens.
They were adorable, and she well knew it. Slowly, the realized she had come home and cries of Mommy began.
They were adorable, and she well knew it. Slowly, the realized she had come home and cries of Mommy began.
Of all the visitors to arrive soon thereafter, it was the Archduchess, clad in the vestiges of her office, but with such an odd image beside her; a little boy, clad in vaguely militant dress, short-cut brown hair. He looked to be, for all the world, like his father, except the striking green eyes that he did steal from his mother. He held her hand, a small boy sticking close to the bloused boot of the head of the Emperor's personal guard.
He had only recently grown taller than it, proving to be quite the beansprout.
Barrett had to be with his men today, and so the boy's mother decided to take him along as she went to go meet the little girl who bore her name - her friend's daughter. The Azrik woman rang the door's electric bell, hoping that she wasn't coming by at a poor time. She knew how interruptions could frustrate her and her Barrett.
She offered to pick up the boy, who happily made his way into his mother's embrace, much to her delight. Holding Lawrence close to her, she waited, lightly gliding her hand across his back.
He had only recently grown taller than it, proving to be quite the beansprout.
Barrett had to be with his men today, and so the boy's mother decided to take him along as she went to go meet the little girl who bore her name - her friend's daughter. The Azrik woman rang the door's electric bell, hoping that she wasn't coming by at a poor time. She knew how interruptions could frustrate her and her Barrett.
She offered to pick up the boy, who happily made his way into his mother's embrace, much to her delight. Holding Lawrence close to her, she waited, lightly gliding her hand across his back.
Liese was shown in, and Alke, having an inkling what the woman was here for, picked up little Liese and put her on her hip, carrying the child to see their visitor. "Is it Daddy?" The little girl asked, sticking her foot on her sister's head. Winnie walked a little faster to avoide the foot. Liese reached her foot out to try an do it again.
"Don't put your foot on your sister's head, sweetie. And no, Aunt Liese came with her son Lawrence. Can you two promise to play nice?" The boys had NOT been behaving so weren't allowed to play with the younger boy today.
"Don't put your foot on your sister's head, sweetie. And no, Aunt Liese came with her son Lawrence. Can you two promise to play nice?" The boys had NOT been behaving so weren't allowed to play with the younger boy today.
"Okay Mommy." Liese promised and Winnie nodded happily. "Yes, Mommy. Do you think Lawrence would play dolls?"
The Archduchess smiled to the young woman as she arrived, "Hello Alke, how are the others?" The elder asked, approaching, her overly tailored appearance a stark contrast to the casual work clothes of the Erutin. Lawrence fiddled with one of her medals as the two spoke, not having bothered to turn and see the other children behind him, the golden rays emanating from the shiny triangle did hold his fancy for the moment.
"... and how are you, miss Liese? Miss Winnie?" The former Redwing inquired with a smile, looking to both of them with a smile, part of her still wanting a daughter of her own. Perhaps Barrett could provide. "You two have gotten so big since I last saw you." Lawrence turned, curious, seeing the girls with their mother and looking at them curiously, waving shyly to the older girls.
"Hi aunt Alke."
"... and how are you, miss Liese? Miss Winnie?" The former Redwing inquired with a smile, looking to both of them with a smile, part of her still wanting a daughter of her own. Perhaps Barrett could provide. "You two have gotten so big since I last saw you." Lawrence turned, curious, seeing the girls with their mother and looking at them curiously, waving shyly to the older girls.
"Hi aunt Alke."
"Well, but in trouble. Then again, when aren't they in trouble?" Rarely. Very rarely. The boys individually were well behaved, but together? Way too much at once. "Sorry about the grease. I just got home a few minutes ago myself."
Liese beamed and reached for her aunt. "Aunt Liese! Daddy got us new dolls, and one of them was you!" And she had been absolutely thrilled with it. "It's the best one. He gave Winnie a Sieglinde doll, but it's not as cool."
Winnie hugged the archduchess waist happily. "It's true, too. But that' okay cause I have a landwachter-Liese plush and she doesn't."
Alke smiled. "Trade you?"
Liese beamed and reached for her aunt. "Aunt Liese! Daddy got us new dolls, and one of them was you!" And she had been absolutely thrilled with it. "It's the best one. He gave Winnie a Sieglinde doll, but it's not as cool."
Winnie hugged the archduchess waist happily. "It's true, too. But that' okay cause I have a landwachter-Liese plush and she doesn't."
Alke smiled. "Trade you?"
"I'm sure they can be, I know that my Lawrence certainly can be when he wants." The woman placed a quick peck on the boy's cheek, gaining a glance from his bright eyes. Just like his father. "And it's just fine dear, each of us does their part, and it shows that you're not lacking in the slightest." That grease showed just as much of a contribution as her medals.
"Did he, sweetie?" Asked the Azrik as she moved to set Lawrence down, being caught soon by Winnie as she did. "Well. I hope that you find Kampf to go with her." The Archduchess soon moved to take the little Liese in her arms, bouncing her slightly as she did, smiling to her.
"Oh, do you Winnie?" She smiled down to the other girl and patted her cheek, lightly, "I'd very much like to see her." Indeed she would.
"They're delightful, Alke." Liese spoke, happiness in her face to be with such happy girls.
Lawrence hugged his aunt in kind, happy to be in a place with other children more his age. The twins at home were getting older, and didn't always want to play with him.
"Did he, sweetie?" Asked the Azrik as she moved to set Lawrence down, being caught soon by Winnie as she did. "Well. I hope that you find Kampf to go with her." The Archduchess soon moved to take the little Liese in her arms, bouncing her slightly as she did, smiling to her.
"Oh, do you Winnie?" She smiled down to the other girl and patted her cheek, lightly, "I'd very much like to see her." Indeed she would.
"They're delightful, Alke." Liese spoke, happiness in her face to be with such happy girls.
Lawrence hugged his aunt in kind, happy to be in a place with other children more his age. The twins at home were getting older, and didn't always want to play with him.
Alke bent and gave Lawrence a hug. "You grow so much. One of these days you'll be bigger than your father even." She said firmly It would be interesting to see, for sure. Lawrence was a big kid already as far as she was concerned.
Winnie beamed. "I can go get them!" the little girl ran off and returned in minutes, with the two dolls. Liese meanwhile chose to play with the pretty medals on her aunt's chest.
"Aunt Liese, how come you have so many more than Mommy has?"
Alke rolled her eyes. The children were obsessed with medals, and insisted that she, Erich, an Stahl all explain each medal they had all the time.
Winnie beamed. "I can go get them!" the little girl ran off and returned in minutes, with the two dolls. Liese meanwhile chose to play with the pretty medals on her aunt's chest.
"Aunt Liese, how come you have so many more than Mommy has?"
Alke rolled her eyes. The children were obsessed with medals, and insisted that she, Erich, an Stahl all explain each medal they had all the time.
"Really? Dad's very big, he and mom are just so... tall." He wasn't so sure, after all, he was only so big, and they so large! "I don't think I'll even get as big as you, aunt Alke." The boy was rather skeptical of it all. After all, what proof was there?
Liese smiled as Winnie saw to fetching their toys, returning with the rather striking representations of her and her sister. "Are these them, Winnie? My..." She happily looked to the girls' toys when her namesake did ask her of her decorations. Liese shot a smile and a glance to Alke as she responded, "Well, dearie. I'm just older than your mommy. I've had more time to get them."
Much more time.
"Medals aren't everything, little one." Spoke her aunt, drawing her gaze up with a lithe finger under the girl's nose. "This," She said, pointing to her shoulder-board. "Matters just as much."
Liese smiled as Winnie saw to fetching their toys, returning with the rather striking representations of her and her sister. "Are these them, Winnie? My..." She happily looked to the girls' toys when her namesake did ask her of her decorations. Liese shot a smile and a glance to Alke as she responded, "Well, dearie. I'm just older than your mommy. I've had more time to get them."
Much more time.
"Medals aren't everything, little one." Spoke her aunt, drawing her gaze up with a lithe finger under the girl's nose. "This," She said, pointing to her shoulder-board. "Matters just as much."
"Your shoulder?" Liese didn't understand. "Well I guess you gotta have one. Otherwise, you gotta go to the factories, I think. And work there." Work at the factories indeed. The children didn't quite understand what, exactly, the facotires were.
Winnie beamed happily. "They're nice, Aunt Liese. But they aren't like you." They were largely spared time with Empress Sieglinde. The family only ever appeared when requested for some PR event, and Alke understood perfectly well why.
Alke smiled. "I think you will. You've grown a lot already. You may even end up bigger than the twins, you know."
Winnie beamed happily. "They're nice, Aunt Liese. But they aren't like you." They were largely spared time with Empress Sieglinde. The family only ever appeared when requested for some PR event, and Alke understood perfectly well why.
Alke smiled. "I think you will. You've grown a lot already. You may even end up bigger than the twins, you know."
Her aunt kissed her cheek at the child's innocence, smiling as she did. "Indeed. You'll understand later." Of course they would. There was no doubt that some of these fine young children would go into the service. It'd be incredibly odd for them not to, considering their parents. "They're very nice, Winnie, and how aren't they like me, dearie?"
They looked well enough, but perhaps the children were onto something the designers weren't.
"Even if they're older than me?" Asked the young Belkan, curious. People who were older were always bigger. It was a rule. "You're just being nice, aunt Alke."
They looked well enough, but perhaps the children were onto something the designers weren't.
"Even if they're older than me?" Asked the young Belkan, curious. People who were older were always bigger. It was a rule. "You're just being nice, aunt Alke."
"Well. I don't see why not." Alke said and smiled. "Tell you want. Why don't you get some of the boy's toys and come back here." She offered with a smile. "You can play with them over here with your mother an the girls. Do you remember the way?"
Winnie thought it over. "Cause they made you in a dress." She finally answered. "And they didn't get your face right. Your lips don't do that." She pointed to the expression on the face. "And, you got more medals on you than the doll does. And you are better, cause you're real."
A Kampf doll would be nice. Maybe if she asked Daddy.
Liese shrugged and smiled at her aunt. "You missed our gala! Daddy came and had it with us. But the boys got to meet Papaw. We didn't. Maybe next time. But the emperor keeps Papaw really busy you know. He's a hauptsturmfuhrer, I think."
Winnie thought it over. "Cause they made you in a dress." She finally answered. "And they didn't get your face right. Your lips don't do that." She pointed to the expression on the face. "And, you got more medals on you than the doll does. And you are better, cause you're real."
A Kampf doll would be nice. Maybe if she asked Daddy.
Liese shrugged and smiled at her aunt. "You missed our gala! Daddy came and had it with us. But the boys got to meet Papaw. We didn't. Maybe next time. But the emperor keeps Papaw really busy you know. He's a hauptsturmfuhrer, I think."
"Alrighty aunt Alke, they won't mind, will they?" Not that he would break anything. Oh no. He remembered what happened when he broke things he wasn't supposed to. "I do, but I don't want to go if I'm not supposed to." He sighed, unsure if the boys would want him rummaging through their stuff.
"Well." Spoke the archduchess, who moved to sit down with the little Liese still in her arms, beckoning for Winnie to follow, "Believe it or not, sometimes I do wear dresses." Though the occasion was rare, and only when her sister made her. "... I suppose I am real, aren't I?" She chuckled at that, opening an arm for the girl to come and hug her in.
"Oh my, a gala? With some of my favorite girls?" She playfully frowned, looking to either one, "And I never received an invitation? At least there was an officer there to keep you safe." One would think she wasn't loved. "I'll just have to come to the next one though, won't I?"
"Well." Spoke the archduchess, who moved to sit down with the little Liese still in her arms, beckoning for Winnie to follow, "Believe it or not, sometimes I do wear dresses." Though the occasion was rare, and only when her sister made her. "... I suppose I am real, aren't I?" She chuckled at that, opening an arm for the girl to come and hug her in.
"Oh my, a gala? With some of my favorite girls?" She playfully frowned, looking to either one, "And I never received an invitation? At least there was an officer there to keep you safe." One would think she wasn't loved. "I'll just have to come to the next one though, won't I?"
"Well, they have long lessons today, because they were bad, and they know you'll take good care fo their toys." She promised. "Run along and go grab something to play with. Soemthng tells me you don't want to play dolls with your cousins. So you and I can play something instead."
"Oh! Okay Aunt Liese. You can come to the next one. We'll call you up on the phone and everything." And they would too. It would rove most itnerestign using the phone. They never had before, but it couldn't be too hard. There was a contacts book in it and if Liese knew her own name then she knew her aunt's.
"Oh! Okay Aunt Liese. You can come to the next one. We'll call you up on the phone and everything." And they would too. It would rove most itnerestign using the phone. They never had before, but it couldn't be too hard. There was a contacts book in it and if Liese knew her own name then she knew her aunt's.
"Okay aunt Alke, I'll go find something." Lawrence made his way back to the boys' room, scrounging through to find something that caught his fancy, careful to avoid anything terribly nice. It was true, he didn't care much for dolls, but he didn't want to play anything that his aunt might not want. Lawrence was odd in that regard. More of the collective mentality his parents imbued him with, as well as his views on playtime, so rare that he was careful to always make sure the other enjoyed it.
They might want to do it more often, then.
"I would be delighted, Liese." Their aunt said with a smile, kissing both of them on the forehead. "... Alke, who did you steal these sweet little children from?" She looked to the both of the girls for a moment, the woman still harboring her desire for a daughter of her own. "They're wonderful."
They might want to do it more often, then.
"I would be delighted, Liese." Their aunt said with a smile, kissing both of them on the forehead. "... Alke, who did you steal these sweet little children from?" She looked to the both of the girls for a moment, the woman still harboring her desire for a daughter of her own. "They're wonderful."
Alke beamed. "Than you Liese. They're their father's girls though. If h came through the doors right now, I assure you, we wouldn't exist." Their father spoiled them all absolutely rotten too.
"Personally, I'd love to have a single son half as well behaved as your Lawrence. He's a darling boy."
"Personally, I'd love to have a single son half as well behaved as your Lawrence. He's a darling boy."
"Oh, of that I have no doubt." And spoiled they certainly were, though not without good reason. They were quite proper young ladies, and would make fine women one day. Much better than so many of the others around toady. "He is certainly doing them well... and Lawrence? Oh, Alke." Liese looked down at her knees for a moment, slightly ashamed of herself.
"I worry that I'm not doing him right, at times. Work is just... demanding."
"I worry that I'm not doing him right, at times. Work is just... demanding."
Stahl smiled back to her, happy to help, standing by to make sure she got in safely before turning to leave. Of course, the naturally curious part of him glanced inside her quarters as the door opened, seeing what lavish accouterments the place enjoyed with wide-eyes. He had never seen such things, even as a noble.
And then he saw the man sitting inside, glancing to the door himself at the new arrivals.
Oh God.
Kampf glanced to the door, seeing Kerli return with a curious eye, having wondered for some time where she had been. "Kerli?" He asked, curious, rising to meet her and walking towards the door. "Where were you?" He asked, a spare glance to the rigidly saluting marine by the door coming with some curiosity.
His voice, however, bore more concern than it did irritation.
And then he saw the man sitting inside, glancing to the door himself at the new arrivals.
Oh God.
Kampf glanced to the door, seeing Kerli return with a curious eye, having wondered for some time where she had been. "Kerli?" He asked, curious, rising to meet her and walking towards the door. "Where were you?" He asked, a spare glance to the rigidly saluting marine by the door coming with some curiosity.
His voice, however, bore more concern than it did irritation.
Kerli threw herself in his arms, holding on tight for a moment, before answerign his question. "Lost." Very lost, and in a frightening part of the ship. She remained agaisnt hi, glad to se the familiar face that was kind to her once more.
Kampf would take care of her. "I look you. You gone, I looked and was lost." She sighed. "He...not lost me." She motioned to the marine, pleased to hve had such a kind guide. She didn't have the words, not quite.
But she could convey what she could. The marine, Stahl, had been nice, an had taken her back to her quarters, and to the safety that was Josef. That was kidn of him, and made her want to give him some sort fo trinket, if she could. She just didn't have anythign she owned, specifically.
Indeed, everythign that was hers, except for the clothes she had arrived in, where given to her by Josef, which meant that in reality, they were his. "Missed you, Josef."
Kampf would take care of her. "I look you. You gone, I looked and was lost." She sighed. "He...not lost me." She motioned to the marine, pleased to hve had such a kind guide. She didn't have the words, not quite.
But she could convey what she could. The marine, Stahl, had been nice, an had taken her back to her quarters, and to the safety that was Josef. That was kidn of him, and made her want to give him some sort fo trinket, if she could. She just didn't have anythign she owned, specifically.
Indeed, everythign that was hers, except for the clothes she had arrived in, where given to her by Josef, which meant that in reality, they were his. "Missed you, Josef."