video;

[stringent]

I demand to speak whoever is in charge!

[ the woman on the line, despite her rather harsh tone is looking as calm as she possibly can. the only thing revealing franziska's anger is the way that she clenches her sleeve, as if indicating that she doesn't have time for any of this nonsense. ]

Abduction is a criminal offense. I fully plan to prosecute the fool who dared to take me, a von Karma with the full force of what that entails!

[ there's the sound of a whip and the flash of something in the background hitting the wood desk in the standard Hinoto-Ri apartment very hard. she doesn't look happy at all and it shows openly now. ]

My father is dead. You will not extract any ransom from him. The von Karma estate is held by me, so asking my brother will be of no use either. If I have to negotiate a fee for my release, then so be it. I refuse to talk to these kinds of lowlifes in a normal circumstance however since all that has occurred in my flawless memory is waking up in this barely adequate apartment, I feel I have no other choice but to use this... device to hear the kidnapper's terms.

[ franziska won't even mention the dream she had. it is not relevant. however she is painfully reminded of one of her cases, and she involuntarily clutches her shoulder again, remembering the pain of the bullet once there but cuts the feed soon after ]

Comments

video

[badluckhealer]

[Sup, Franziska. There is a very lineface girl on the line.]

I'm sorry, ma'am, but this isn't even your world. Or mine, for that matter. I do not believe the laws of our worlds apply here. As for our kidnapper, I have not met them myself, but when I first arrived, I was told that our duty here is to save Hinoto-Ri.

[There's a pause, and she rolls her oddly pale eyes. This is a thing she probably wouldn't have done when she first arrived - the city has changed her.]

...Though to be honest, that's a pretty ridiculous goal, especially since it's not very concrete. I assume it's got something to do with the weird things that happen around here, but that's just conjecture.

[There's another pause before she looks horribly embarrassed.]

... I apologize for talking so much. Hopefully it has been of some aid, at any rate.

video;

[stringent]

There are laws that exist in every world. Surely kidnapping is a crime here if it is developed enough to have such advanced technologies such as this.

[ but what she says definitely unsettles franziska a little ]

Duty? Hah. I have no duty but that of perfection as a prosecutor. I have no time to get wrapped up in world protection in this manner. Who are these people to impose upon me, or you for that matter?

video;

[badluckhealer]

Tell that to the fairies that pulled their little prank back in February.

[Snarky? Yes. Very snarky.]

Again, I don't know. But whoever they are, they are probably very powerful.

Text forever

[dekillerqueen]

[There are several faces Shelly would be minimally pleased to see in Hinoto-Ri. He can't say this is one of them, though he imagines Franziska von Karma would be even less pleased to see him.

He notices what happens just before she cuts the feed, too. It isn't often that Shelly regrets his actions, but that entire case was a terrible mess.]

Unfortunately, I doubt our "kidnapper" will answer your pleas, or that you would be allowed to prosecute him. The circumstances we are in are quite... unique.

text;

[stringent]

[ john doe is the name that comes up with this text reply.

... how horribly generic. ]

We are not talking mysterious figures who communicate via radio. It is clear that there is some forward facing point who is to answer my queries and I shall find them.

text;

[dekillerqueen]

Do keep me informed in case you do, Miss von Karma.

[Hold on, was she talking about him just now...?]

Video

[unbroken_chain]

Here, have a cheerful 16 year old girl responding to your demands.

"Hi! My name's Kotoha; I'm about to send you a text file with details. Please read it carefully before you reply, alright?"

BEEP BOOP BEEP COMPUTERY NOISES

video;

[stringent]

Is this some sort of elaborate joke? Is this what our captors have reduced you to, to raise morale in such fantasy?

[unbroken_chain]

Instead of replying, Kotoha just smiles a little bit before a blue glow surrounds her body. With a sound like breaking glass, she summons her Persona.

"It's not a joke. If you're here, you had the dream, and you agreed to come."

[istotesbatgirl]

[A masked teenage girl appears on the monitor.]

You've been kidnapped? That's terrible! Luckily I'm here to rescue you. Now try and describe your surroundings to me anything that could help me figure out where you are.

[stringent]

I do not need rescuing, I need evidence and a response to my demands before any sort of sortie may occur! Are you even a member of the police?

[istotesbatgirl]

No, I'm not technically a member of the police. I'm a superhero.

But I'm really good at gathering evidence. Did you see any of your kidnappers? What do you remember?

[Video]

[spiritofjustice]

[Von Karma? He's heard that name before. One can't be a devoted member of the Los Angeles Police Department and not know about the Von Karmas.

When he replies, it's with a toothy grin and a quick salute.]

Not to worry, ma'am! At the very least, you can rest assured that no ransom will need to be paid. If you do choose to prosecute [...And find a way to get away with that.] the Hinoto-Ri Police Department would be happy to lend their aid in any way possible!

In justice we trust!

video;

[stringent]

[ who is this man and why does have an obnoxious theme playing in the background... ]

What kind of police department allows a fool like you to work in it?! And you can start by aiding me in finding the culprit post-haste!

video; 1/2

[spiritofjustice]

[Franziska's insults just seem to bounce right off him, as if they're not even registering.]

You got it, ma'am! Right away! They won't escape my iron fist of justice! I'll-

video; 2/2

[spiritofjustice]

[He breaks off with a sudden realization, then pouts.]

Oh no, wait. I mean... The culprit's Mr. Philemon, so... I guess we should be finding him?

[Video]

[cykedfists]

[While Athena had never personally met any von Karmas, she has heard about them while she was in Germany and a little bit from the boss. The way she was talking, there was no doubt this woman was from her world.]

I don't think that's possible. You're in Hinoto-Ri right now... [And then a pause...] I'm sure you have tons of questions. I'd be happy to help out the best I can.

video;

[stringent]

That information means nothing to me! There are fools who are telling me that I agree to some such nonsense and parts of psyches and superheroes and incompetent police!

[ she cracks her whip on the floor, out of frustration more than anything else ]

I simply wish to return to my home and my work with no fuss and no hassle!

video;

[cykedfists]

Honestly, I can't say I understand why or how we came here.

[Even though it's mostly explained... You can only remember so much when you're half-asleep....]

As far as I know, there is no way out. The only other suggestion I'd have is try to take up with Philemon.

video;

[electricyousei]

A rather expressionless girl replies in a deadpan voice, "The ones who took you almost never reply on these devices. These are how those of us who were brought here speak. I can't even say any of us have figured how to connect to those responsible's com channels."

Re: video;

[stringent]

[ finally, someone who sounds like they're talking sense, or at the very least, told her something useful. ]

Are we left to our own devices then? Hah, that seems rather poor.

Video

[terminally_clever]

Well, you'll have to play the Persona game if you want to talk to him.

video;

[stringent]

I am not in the mood for games. Are you saying that these phantasms have something to do with my being kidnapped?

[hawkattack]

[Now that is a name he recognizes. Still, his expression is mostly amused when he turns on the video.]

'Abducted' is a poor word for our situation here. Unfortunately it seems supernatural forces are at work, though decisive evidence that does not seem the work of some bizarre fantasy is difficult to produce, von Karma-dono.

[stringent]

...

[ she pauses for a second. how does this person know her name? so far only that athena cykes woman had recognised her but this face seems wholly unfamiliar. someone who knew her father? or someone from her own world, dare she say it? ]

Who are you and how have you of the illustrious von Karma name?