WHY hasn't the Kaiser been found yet? I demand doubled numbers and efforts immediately.

I'm being urged to celebrate the holiday. I hear they're holding a Masquerade in one of my... preferred places to visit. Perhaps I'll attend, now that I'm not longer contained.

And so I find that scientist are separated into two categories. If one does not act in the attempt to understand the workings of the Gods, one acts to become God.

Zeng fixes the cuffs of his new suit, something a bit different from the usual work garb- a touch more old-century, but still modern enough to look sleek and successful. He checks himself in the angled mirrors to make sure he's entirely presentable, undoing the tie keeping his hair back and brushing himself. With another check-over he nods to his tailor, writing him in a fair tip to take from the normal credit purchase.

He heads outside onto the streets of the upper plate, figuring on getting himself some tea from one of the teahouses before perhaps catching one of the operas in town. Even the hard-working First in Command needs nights off.

A rough hashing of lines from Dracula by Bram Stoker, for the amusement of a few particular individuals.

"It is only the beginning!"

What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell... He was very pale... hard, and cruel, and sensual... a tall, thin man, clad in black... What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature, is it in the semblance of man?.

Zeng's taken the evening off after seeing his Kaiser to his suite. To manage the recent onslaught of stress, he's relaxing in a Wutai teahouse with proper old Wutai music. A rare pleasure and nothing else like it.

((EDITED now that writer is fractionally more coherent))

( Returning from Resident Evil )

I find myself... with a terrible headache and a slight haze of memory. I don't believe I've had anything to drink in some time. Curious.

I find myself running dangerously thin on reading material. This will not do.

((Also, we now have what pretends to be a Shin-Ra bio for Tseng))

*sighs* I wouldn't mind the harm to myself if it did not involve the attacker ruining my suits in the process. *examines the damage* If I were any less of a man, I'd follow Reno's example and pick the pockets of the victims just to cover this. Of course, I wouldn't lower myself to such standards.

I love nights like this.

Tseng found himself more thankful than usual that he was on good terms with Professor Hojo as he downed a handful of pain killers mixed with a couple sedatives.

With a worn thin sigh he turned on the small radio he had bedside and laid down, wincing and carefully arranging himself to rest comfortably.

Tseng runs his fingers across a light gouge in the surface of his wooden desk, glancing to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows in his room. If one looks close enough and can catch the almost minute falters in his guard, they'd note an uncharacteristic anxious impatience in his behavior.

After a long moment he finishes the last of his stack of his paperwork he rises from his chair and heads to the elevator to find one of the areas similar to that given to SOLDIERs for sparring with the busters. As a Turk he spent most of his time with a gun in hand but it was still a welcomed respite to wield properly forged and tempered steel. He practiced often, mostly in solitude.

In any case, there was no harm in spending one's spare time in swordplay before a mission. If he was lucky he may even find a partner.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading The Art of War. Always a pleasure to read, if not a bit brief. Quite a shame so few have bothered to pick it up.

Ah, here are a few points I rather like.
"To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."

"The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting."

"Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate."

You wished to speak with me, Sir?
I believe you mentioned something of missions?

"Here we may reign secure; and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition, though in hell:
Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven."
-- Milton, Paradise Lost. Book I. ll 261 - 63.

Something isn't right. Excuse me, my Kaiser, but I'm afraid I must leave a bit earlier. *bows head* You may take it from my vacation. I have something of pressing importance to see to quickly. I'll make this inconvenience up to you, sir.

There's a note left on the desk of Saïx' private study where it won't be intercepted, scripted in the neat hand of Tseng. The note reads:

"Forgive me, Sir, but do to some unforeseen circumstances, I will have to take care of your pawn tonight. It seems a few mice have crawled from the woodwork and they're becoming something of a nuisance and a problem. Hopefully this will not interfere with your plans; please contact me if it should. I'll see what alternatives we have in the meantime. If there are no complications with this change, simply contact me when you find time to watch and I'll begin.

Tseng"

Hmmm. This should be enjoyable. It's been awhile since I've been allowed a copy-cat murder.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas- it's a very good book. I do suggest you read it.

As for this death... Brucine in lemonade should prove the best course of action. I would use Strychnine, but I'm afraid it might kill him a bit too quickly. How enjoyable it is to do a proper book assassination again. One of my... small joys in life.

My dear Sir, he will truly suffer some of the most excruciating pain imaginable before he dies. I hope it suits your tastes.

I've returned from my... mission at Icicle Inn. I'll be in my office should I be needed.