Video | UN: hathorne

[oscarminer]

WHO: Teresa Hathorne and YOU!
WHERE: Libra Network
WHEN: February 1st, after the Zodiac announcement
WHAT: Hello, world. The Order has taken notice.
WARNINGS: Implied incestuous feelings towards her brother; implied emotional manipulation and abuse towards her brother; essentially a slave owner in a previous life and was very much fine with that actually; generally a very toxic person; do not interact if you are sensitive to these subjects as this is a core part of her character

[As Zodiac has already informed people at this point, there is a new person on the app. Although she looks prim and proper, there's a certain seriousness and severity to her expression. When people describe someone as being cold or an Ice Queen, you get the sudden sense that this is the kind of person they mean.]

Good day, residents of Kaisou. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to you all since I will be working alongside you for the foreseeable future.

[While her words are courteous and there is a hint of warmth to them, those more sensitive to tone can detect that there's no true warmth to be found.]

My name is Teresa Hathorne. I'm a Guardian with The Black Order. Our superiors have had some concerns over the situation with the Spirit Vein, and they have dispatched me to lend what aid I can in resolving this issue and to make a report on the finer details in collaboration with POKEGO. Specifically, because of how the city fell into the Spirit Realm, we believe that Zodiac does not have a firm handle on this issue and has gotten worse under their direction. This is why I'm here.

If you have any questions of me, you are free and encouraged to ask them. However, I respectfully request that no one gets in the way of my investigation. I'm not an easy person to work with and I wish to fully concentrate my energy into restoring order in Kaisou. Thank you.

Comments

video | UN: Thorn

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose was not especially happy when the Black Order reached out to try to recruit her. She’s also in a tense mood as another one of her friends is in a coma.]

[So today, she is going to cause problems. On purpose.]

You’re correct that Zodiac is unable to handle the city, but that doesn’t mean we need the Order’s assistance.

We’re doing just fine managing ourselves, thank you.

[oscarminer]

[Teresa knows a troublemaker when she sees one and she's clearly unimpressed.]

I'm afraid such a decision is outside of your hands. You are one of the outworlders, aren't you?

[She doesn't even wait for an answer to the question before continuing on.]

We have no guarantees that you aren't exacerbating the instability of the Spirit Vein. Forgive us for not having any faith in your abilities to rectify this matter when you have been here for over a year and things have gotten significantly worse since then.

Video: UN: hotgoss

[bebest]

[Oh wow. He dislikes this greatly. The vibes here REEK. He's not been a fan of The Order since befriending Zhongli and this is not doing anything to make him feel any more easy. ]

Nope! Nooooo. No thanks, we don't want any.

[oscarminer]

[The vibes will continue until forcibly removed.]

Such a decision is not yours to make.

voice: un: arise. > Private

[lowestclass]

[ ....fantastic. This was a bad sign. He sighs heavily, feeling every bit of tension in the world seeping into his bones as he reads over her message.

Typical of the Order to do this. Give them an impossible mission then send in a dog when it wasn't done properly. ]

Good morning, Theresa-nim.
If they've seen fit to send you, things here really must be starting to worry them.
I admit, Zodiac seems ill equipped to do much of anything.
As my ... well known poor luck would have it, I was on signed-off leave at the time of the spirit realm falling into the city, but from what I was told, it wasn't Zodiac--the Company--who solved the issue, but those on the app.

Am I to guess that's why the Order has decided to get even more involved?

Private!

[oscarminer]

You would be correct. As far as The Order is concerned, Zodiac seems to be relying on the good nature of civilians rather than their own people. Relying on the goodwill of volunteers can only last so long as that goodwill does, and from what I've observed that is growing in ever shorter supply. We are all losing faith in Zodiac.

voice; un: captainkenway

[jackdawvision]

[She would’ve flown under Edward’s radar had it not been for the bit about restoring order. Of all the red flags that Edward usually cheerfully ignores, it’s that one that gets his attention. Templar, he thinks—or at least as close to one as this place gets.]

Zodiac’s not handled shite since I first got here, but it’s fine, we can do that well enough on our own. [Piss off.]

[oscarminer]

[Unfortunately, Teresa is not the type to care about what other people think.]

This decision is no longer yours to make, outworlder. From what we've observed, you might even be the direct cause of Kaisou falling in the first place.

Video | UN: lunae

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng can't stop himself from responding to this. He might be taking care of his bedridden partner, but this Teresa... he knows her. He's never met her, but he knows of her from Theo. One of the very few people he has held a grudge towards that will carry on through every life that comes after his own. Dan Heng looks frostier than normal, but he's keeping his tone even.]

I had not expected to see you here, Guardian Hathorne. It's a pleasure to meet you.

["Pleasure."]

I'm Dr. Maple, an archivist and research biologist at POKEGO. I also worked as their guard during expeditions into dangerous Spirit Realms.

[oscarminer]

[If you thought her vibes were cold before, they'll seem like a warm summer breezed compared to how she turns when she realizes who is responding to her]

Maple. [She practically says his name like it's a curse]

The pleasure is not mutual. After all you've done, I'm surprised you have the nerve to show your face.

1/??

[rockily]

[ there had been a bad taste in his mouth when he woke up this morning, something he immediately brushed off as the lingering loneliness he's been feeling since velvet left. he didn't consider it could have been because of something else entirely, he couldn't imagine there was something far worse waiting for him the moment he opened his phone.

he's eating (it's unnecessary for him even so...) when he comes across the post, spoon clattering into the bowl of cereal as he looks it over once, twice, three times. ]

[rockily]

[ teresa.

of all people why did it have to be her? it was bad enough that arydn was in the city but now her? are the gods spitting his breakfast again? ]

1/3. voice, un: reaper.

[rockily]

[ no, not gods.

things had been quiet for too long and the reaper's luck has reared it's ugly head.

great.

alight eizen, this isn't anything you haven't dealt with before. he's still got people here, people who won't just stand aside and let her do whatever the hell it is they sent her here to do. a deep breath: ]

Teresa.

video; un: midnightfishing

[illucesco]

[Hey, it’s the FF protagonist that Ardyn did a whole thesis on! And he looks pretty annoyed with this whole vibe she’s giving off oh boy.]

Right, because the Black Order outside the city’s doing great with the whole lending aid thing.

[oscarminer]

[Her vibe will not be getting better anytime soon, either, Noctis. Please look forward to it!]

Perhaps if we had more willing recruits to join us, we would have the numbers required to tackle even the small threats to society.

UN: hikari-vi | video

[whiteshroud]

[Huh, another black order person. She certainly doesn't seem very friendly... but then again considering some of the other Order members, he can't be too surprised by that. He probably would've skipped the post altogether if it wasn't for the mention of POKEGO]

I wasn't aware POKEGO and the Black Order were planning a collaboration.

[So that's weird]

Regardless, welcome to Kaisou. I'm Olive, one of the members of POKEGO.

[oscarminer]

[... This one seems quite young to be in POKEGO. Then again, she's heard that they do recruit young people.]

Despite POKEGO's reputation after the Willow incident, your data is admittedly highly regarded as being accurate. Although we do not agree fundamentally with how to approach the Spirit Realms, I am not so prideful as to turn away this opportunity for a more scientific understanding of what is going on with Kaisou's Spirit Vein.

[It's also not exactly a consensual collaboration. Her respect only goes so far.]

You are a full member? Please excuse my bluntness, but you appear to be quite young.

1/2

[reenforces]

[It's her.

When he closes his eyes, he can remember Theo reaching out to him as he broke away. He can remember how Theo had been about to tell him what the plan was, to go back and save her, to prevent everything from happening. Mikleo knew. Mikleo also knew that wretched woman was beyond saving.

He feels like he's going to vomit.]

voice; un: wisteria

[reenforces]

[There is nothing but frost in his tone, not even an attempt at a greeting.]

The Spirit Vein isn't your concern, Teresa.

You aren't welcome here.

Leave.

text; un: noxxed

[sassery]

yknow last i checked we didnt call for a tbo goon to make their way here
been doing just fine without you
and tbqfh you can take your hoity toity self outta here
no one wants a bitch and tbh you fit that word to a t
so
bye
miss me with all your shit or w/e

[oscarminer]

[....

Yeah, this one reminds her too much of Velvet for her taste.]

Your complaint has been noted.

[Noted and ignored.]

voice | un: blackbirdtarot

[drewthetower]

[Okay, time to be professional and try to get a read on her.

Figuratively and literally. August has his deck out in front of him as he makes his response to Teresa, silently shuffling and drawing to try and figure out anything. Motives, damage, literally anything. He almost never does readings like this, but fuck they need something to work with here.]

August Villareal of Blackbird Tarot and Tailoring, and the head of Cygnus Academy. [He's keeping Waver out of this bitch's line of fire.] Did someone request you be sent here?

[oscarminer]

[August will feel the urge to draw four cards for her motives. The first draw is what her motives had been in the past: Queen of Wands Reversed and The Lovers Upright. The second and third are for her motives in the present: Three of Swords Upright and Queen of Swords Reversed.]

Does The Black Order need to be requested when an entire city falls into the Spirit Realm? What an absurd idea.

video | un: lastlullaby

[end_singer]

[Nito, by his very nature, is not a being easily moved to judgement of others. And yet, there's something about her demeanor that reminds him a bit too much of October, and he can't help but address her with the skeletal grin of a wolf rather than a humanoid.]

Your request is noted. If I may ask, what precisely do you intend to do to restore order?

[oscarminer]

[To Teresa's credit, she doesn't flinch. Her eyes do narrow, however.]

It depends on the conclusions that we arrive at. The unusual spike in outworlders arriving in Kaisou has been noted, especially when it appears that the city fell into the Spirit Realm shortly after this spike occurred.

video | un: fullbloom

[joies]

[ Persie has been watching, listening to this post. To every vile, hateful word she's said not just to the app users - but her team in general. Her family.

She'll need to make sure to tell Oak every little detail about this later. For now, she paints on a dazzling smile as the video feed turns on; there's not even the slightest indication of the sheer disgust she feels towards this woman. Even her tone is light and jovial, as if greeting an old friend. ]

Well now, this is the first I've heard of a collaboration. But a better working relationship between our organizations would be fruitful.

I'm Dr. Pomegranate, one of the senior members of POKEGO. It's a pleasure, Teresa.

[oscarminer]

[Teresa seems unmoved by Persephone's friendliness and charm. Perhaps that's not a surprise given the disposition she's shown.]

Indeed. I can only hope that your organization has improved its standards since Professor Willow's time.

[She's not bitter. Not at all.]

Video; un: Opera_Ghost

[not_a_possum]

This is Zodiac we're talking about here.

Of course they don't.