[LOGS] Dundee Game: Day Three, Early (2/2)
#amurderof
Lucia is sitting on her front porch when Sidney pulls up in the car, with Team Derp. Robin and Sera are coming out of the back yard, following . . . some manner semi-humanoid creature, made up of sugar, spice, blood, guts, spiky hair, zippers, and . . . we don't even know. There is a raven on Lucia's shoulder, and she looks distraught. There is blood dried on her arm and her dress.
Miss Lucia--!
W-what happened to you all--?!
* Koizumi^Risa stumbles out of the car, looking disheveled and wet and.. possibly muddy, depending on the water. "What's going on?"
You're here.
* Shuri ... gets out of the car, rather... dazed... clutching the little box. "Wh-What happened?"
Sidney gets out of the car and morphs to Lucia's side, somehow closing the distance without moving.
Lucia jumps up, grabbing onto Sidney.
* Vaan keels over from getting out of the car too fast.
A-And what's that--
...
* Ashton stumbles out.
* Koizumi^Risa looks around
Where's Konatsu?
He wraps an arm around her, soothing, ducking down to her height. "Miss Lucia-"
"That," being the creature, tilts its head at Shuri and blinks. It has two sets of eyelids.
Konatsu took a car and left.
He what!
We don't know where he is.
* Shuri r-recoils a little
This is Cherry Laurel.
...H-He can't drive though?
... he can drive?
...Is it another one of the--pet--things?
.........
C-cherry Laurel?
Cherry Laurel...
* Ashton eyes Cherry.
Cherry is... a snake person. I think.
I-I see...
Anyway, really, what happened?
"Konatsu left! I don't know where!" Lucia bursts out.
* Vaan listens.
... So that's the problem?
Why would he...?
One of them, anyway...
Well what are the other ones??
* Sera looks at Lucia.
What was he doing before he left?
Sidney pets her back slowly, listening.
Research?
He wouldn't explain anything to us!
"The furies are looking for him," Lucia mutters, looking up at Sidney.
. . . the furies.
The--what?
....That doesn't sound good.
* Shuri shifts uncomfortably...
Konatsu had gone missing earlier while we were all in the study-- he went to go to the bathroom, and disappeared for hours. We all looked for him, and eventually found a closet that had some of his blood in it.
--What?
. . .
He showed up later when I was looking upstairs, though. He said he'd gotten lost on his way to the bathroom, and hadn't been injured.
He didn't know anything about the blood and the closet.
...Are you sure...?
It could be--one of those time things--
Dammit, Konatsu.
Then he left, apparently.
* Sera is still looking at Lucia.
Ahhh.
Ughhh...
Lucia is letting herself be soothed by Sidney, eyes closing.
Lucia summoned a bunch of ravens that took her blood to go look for him... the "furies", I think.
He... couldn't have gone far... and he might be onto something, right?
"Shall I track him as well, Miss Lucia, or shall I stay with you?" He curls his fingers into her hair.
Lucia clings to him. "Don't leave me!"
Then she told us... to go look at one of the sites we researched. She said that if-- if we didn't come back, she'd kill John.
Hah--?
...
...
My roommate--?!
"I won't leave you," Sidney soothes into the sudden shocked silence, apparently unsurprised by Robin's latest revelation.
* Sera says rather blankly "...so, that's what happened while you were gone."
We were about to go to the Seagate, when we... met Cherry. Cherry's supposed to accompany us.
L-Lucia...
Lucia looks at them all. Then, demandingly, "Did you find anything in the manor?"
Y--Yes!
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
... W-what at Seagate?
...yeah, we...
* Shuri goes up and hands over the jewelry box to Lucia, quickly.
* Ashton rummages. WE GOT YOU SOME TRASH, LUCIA. ... I mean, occult artifacts.
Seagate is one of the places we found out about when we were doing research. It's where Grizzel Jaffray and a member of the Fiend's Den were executed, so I wanted to go there.
Ah.
Aha...
Ah....be careful.
* Koizumi^Risa also hands Lucia a fragment of the mirror.
... that's about it... oh, I met another dog-person. His name is Pox. He's very friendly.
* Shuri shuffles off... somewhere... next to Ashton
How many... dog-animal people are there?
A lot, I think.
* Ashton gives Lucia a bone fragment, a clock gear, and the Diavolo book.
What... happened to everyone?
......To us?
Hmm?
Yes.
Are you alright?
We explored just fine.
....We're fine.
Lucia begins to look at everything, eyes lighting up.
That's all we really found, though, at least interesting things that we could take...
Is that what you were looking for--? We couldn't find the sword.
He took us before we could keep looking...
We were kinda rushed out.
By... what?
Mr. Sidney, of course.
By, uh, Mr. Sidney.
Oh.
* Vaan nods at Shuri and Ashton.
* Ururun glares at Mr. Sidney.
... Ashton decided to freeze the floor
and then we all fell into the water
...
and there was something in the water
What was the manor like...?
I said I was sorry.
H-Hey! We found things that way!
It's in ruins...
Wrecked....
and then we encountered a giant bone dragon that tried to claw us to death
The manor's in ruins, but there's still underground stuff...
Oh yeah the bone thingy.
L-Let's forget about that part...
...oh, that's still...?
That fragment's from it...
And then Ashton and Shuri became preoccupied with how pretty they looked.
YES!
* Robin^Sena blinks.
* Koizumi^Risa glares at them both.
...look, there was--something weird about that mirror.
It was weird....
Ehhhh, but it was just a mirror.
...no, it...
And this is why I threw the chair at it!
It might be an enchanted mirror.
* Ashton looked really handsome ;;
* Vaan outmanlies.
Lucia looks horrified. "You broke it?" she demands of Risa.
* Koizumi^Risa points to the mirror fragment
I don't know why!
That's where it's from.
* Ashton makes faces at Shuri.
I-It'll probably be okay...
"All right," Mr. Sidney says. "It sounds like quite a bit has gone on. Perhaps we can all catch up over dinner. Then you can all head out together to follow up on further research, while Lucia looks over what you have brought her."
R-right.
* Koizumi^Risa raises her hand
I need a shower.
Lucia opens her mouth as if to say something, glances up at Sidney, then falls silent.
....Can we rest a little.
* Shuri glances at Lucia...
Oh, miss Bellcourt? Could we know what that book's about later, too? None of us could read it, really.
"Dinner will be a wonderful refresher, I'm sure."
Mmmm. I am hungry~
* Vaan starts daydreaming about food.
* Koizumi^Risa looks over to Sera. Can you fill me in on what you guys did? Up in our room?
* Ashton 's stomach growls.
... I think so.
"Fine. Do what you want!" Lucia says, turning on her heel, and storms inside.
...Eh?
* Robin^Sena looks curiously at Lucia.
...miss...?
....What's up with her?
* Shuri looks at everyone rather confused...
* Sera nods to Risa.
"Please come in and I will serve dinner." Sidney begins to follow Lucia inside.
* Vaan follows....
* Robin^Sena glances at Cherry. "What about you?"
* Koizumi^Risa motions Sera to follow her upstairs to #thegirlsroom
* Ashton moves over to Sera. "Could you fill us in, too? With Risa."
Cherry considers. "I like dinner," it says.
... okay.
All of us....
--Eh?
... guys, shower.
SHOWER
Give a girl soem privacy.
...SORRY!
I wasn't--I didn't--
* Vaan sniffs himself.
#thegirlsroom
* Koizumi^Risa closes the door behind her.
What is it...?
* Robin^Sena has followed Sera and Risa.
There is a knock at the door.
So, what's going on? Also... any of you can read e..
* Koizumi^Risa checks the door
Cherry is standing outside. It slithers in the moment you open the door.
Oh, it's you.
Uh.
... hi.
...
...
"Hello." It stands in a corner.
is that a girl or a guy?
... either...?
Who're you supposed to follow, Cherry?
W-well. C-can you turn around for a second then, Cherry?
Cherry blinks both eyelids slowly. "Okay?" It turns around, unzipping one pocket.
* Koizumi^Risa looks nervously before pulling a piece of paper out of her bra.
She means not to watch us for a minute, Cherry. Can you do that?
* Sera casually shifted in front of Risa.
* Robin^Sena moves to the other side of Risa.
* Koizumi^Risa hands it to Robin. Can you read English?
"I'm here to watch you though," Cherry points out, but otherwise doesn't turn around.
I know some.
* Koizumi^Risa if you glance at the note, Bastien's name should show up.
* Robin^Sena tries reading it. "... Bastien..."
The note begins addressed to a "My Lord"
* Sera looks back at Robin.
It's all in English
Sera, can you read English? I know some, but it's not perfect.
* Koizumi^Risa also tosses out some piano sheet music on the bed.
* Sera nods silently and changes places with Robin, taking the note.
* Koizumi^Risa walks over to Cherry to distract... her him it.
Hey, do you know if there's a change of clothes I can borrow?
I saw "My Lord" and "Bastien".
* Sera reads.
* Robin^Sena leans over Sera's shoulder to try and read it together.
It says:
My Lord, I write to you to express my true feelings on the events of this evening.
Lady Roddenfield is a beautiful and deservinge Young Lady and I hope sincerely that your courtship gos well for I know your Father will be deeply troubled should you not marrie soon and you two seem well suited to Each Other.
Above all things I will Support you with the fullness of my love and duty.
But I must be honest though it is shameful to say as much and Admit that it is painful to do as much. It will not make me waver but I trust you to be understanding with me in this time, Lord Bastien. I do not know whether you two will decide to Marry or not,
but I do not want my feelings to sway you one way or the other. Still as I love you I needed to let you know for I fear it will affect my own behavior and I do not want you to misunderstand me.
I Hope you understand me as you love me.
Yours most sincerely Christian
under it, scrawled in another hand, is one word
Idiot
There is nothing else on the letter.
... "idiot".
Well?
...from the ghost to the Shepherd.
* Robin^Sena glances at Sera.
...
Really?!
It's written by Christian.
* Koizumi^Risa 's eyes light up.
* Sera is smiling a little. "Mm."
Okay. So you guys hold on to that... and take a look at the sheet music, and if it's important, I'll hand it over... I guess. I'm going to run and take a quick shower.
* Koizumi^Risa thumbs up.
Okay.
But give it back, okay?
Yeah, definitely.
* Sera tucks it into her inventory.
* Koizumi^Risa will go and shower and pray nothing bleeding comes out of the faucet. Looks over at Cherry...
You don't have to follow me into the shower, do you?
"No, I'll go with those two," Cherry says, looking at Sera and Robin, each with one eye.
* Robin^Sena looks at the sheet music, reading it.
It looks like piano music.
If we split up, who would you follow, Cherry?
Mozart.
"You're going to split up?" It sounds dismayed.
It is piano music. It's Mozart.
If we went to different places. I was just wondering.
...Mozart, huh?
If there's a piano, I might be able to play it.
...let's find out, if you think it'd be a good idea.
"I guess we'll see if that time comes," Cherry says.
* Robin^Sena looks to see if the piece has a title.
* Koizumi^Risa shower antics ensue.
The piece doesn't have a title listed.
Cherry sticks its tongue in the air. "I smell food..."
We could ask Sidney if there's a piano... although, we could also try and play it on the computer.
...okay... I guess let's go back downstairs, for now.
* Robin^Sena nods, and folds the sheet music into her pocket.
* Sera heads for the door.
* Robin^Sena exits the room with Sera and Cherry.
#amurderof
* Shuri ... goes in to eat dinner and stuff sigh
* Vaan (sniffing self) EWWWW.
* Vaan follows follows~
* Ashton dinner + shower yay?
* Vaan ....won't have a roommate tonight....
Sidney is setting out table settings.
* Shuri looks around for Lucia :/a
Mr. Sidney? Uh, could we get quick showers or something before dinner?
She is not there.
....Yes.....
...We are sort of...
Wet.
"I believe one of the bathrooms on your floor is free," Mr. Sidney says. "Ah, and two on the floor above."
....That's enough for all of us.....
* Ashton thinks about asking for a change of clothes, and then decides not to push his luck.
* Shuri ...is perfectly willing to press his luck: "Can we get less wet clothes, too??"
"Please fold them and leave them outside the door," Sidney says. "I will take care of them for you."
...All right.
...thank you.
* Shuri goes off to shower then
* Vaan goes to the top floor!
* Ashton goes to the top floor too.
* Shuri obviously goes to the other one then.
Showering proceeds! Other than finding a few spiders in the shower, Ashton, Vaan, you have no particular incidents.
* Ashton hooray. WHAT ABOUT OUR CLOTHES.
* Vaan DOES VAAN GET A SHIRT
When you get out! Your clothes have been washed, dried, and ironed.
...whoa!
Ahhhh.
These are nice.
* Ashton hastily dresses.
* Vaan dresses quickly to avoid the spiders!
* Ashton hurries back down for dinner.
* Vaan 'S STOMACH GROWLS!
A-ah I should go eat something too.
Mr. Sidney is putting out a variety of dishes: Salad, pasta, steaks.
* Vaan picks at everything!
Th-thanks for the clothes and the food and everything, Mr. Sidney.
He smiles at Ashton. "Certainly, Mr. Anchors."
Ah--Yes!
Thanks!
* Ashton takes some pasta. Feeds the dragons strips of steak, too.
--hey, why isn't Shuri back yet?
SHURI HAS NO SHOWER INCIDENTS SO IDK WHY
my bad
* Shuri comes back eventually because he was just too busy making himself look pretty in the bathroom mirror obviously.
--ah, there you are, we were getting worried!
He looks sooo pretty
Ehhh, really?
I thought I took a quick shower.
You were taking a while....
* Koizumi^Risa comes back down later all refreshed, staring at the food.
Uwaaah
Well, they said Konatsu got lost on the way to the bathroom and stuff.
...Oh, right...
Hi, Risa! it's really good.
* Shuri sits down :x
* Vaan has been nomming!
Jez comes downstairs with John Brown.
--John--!
Eh--?
Ah, it's you...
A-ah, hello everyone.
* Koizumi^Risa looks up from her seat. Hey.
Are you all right?
Jez pulls a seat out for John. "Sit."
...........
* John^Brown sits "I'm fine..."
* Ururun snakes over, below the edge of the table. Nudges Risa.
...Are you still...
Jez stands behind his chair, growling faintly.
* Koizumi^Risa shrieks a little. PERVERT!
...is that really necessary...
* Shuri ... redirects his attention to the food!
* Robin^Sena comes down the stairs with Sera and Cherry.
"Is everything all right, Miss Risa?" Sidney inquires.
Ah...
* Ururun I AM NOT A PERVERT. Rests his chin on the arm of Risa's chair.
... I. It's fine!
* Vaan nods at the people who came downstairs
Sorry, just jittery. We should try and find Konatsu as quickly as possible, right?
* Ururun ... traces a shape in the air with his beak. The precise shape of the note >(
* Robin^Sena sees John and walks over to him quickly. "Are you alright, then?"
Yes, I'm fine.
* Shuri ... watches ururun and risa closely!!
Jez growls at Robin.
* Robin^Sena takes a step back. "Sorry..."
* Vaan ...notices What Ururun Is Doing.
* Koizumi^Risa kicks Ashton under the table.
* Ururun is trying to be stealth here jeez you guys.
OW.
What?
* Shuri does not know the meaning of stealth.
Cherry takes a seat at the table. Sidney frowns, then puts a plate of dead mice in front of it.
* Ashton hauls Ururun in.
* Koizumi^Risa gives you a 'later' look.
* Robin^Sena decides to sit.
* Ururun makes a grumpy noise, but resumes eating steak.
* Sera sits down.
* Shuri eatsss food
So, Sera, Robin... John.. what did you guys find in your research?
"I hope you all enjoy." Mr. Sidney puts a slab of meat down in front of Sera.
We found a few places to go look, anyway.
* John^Brown looks at the food for a second and then serves himself some food
Such as--?
The McManus gallery is one of them. It has the items that Lucia listed, but it also has personal belongings to some of the victims of the Tay Bridge incident.
Is that the museum...?
... couldn't she just, buy the gallery?
Oh, Lucia... I don't think I ever got an answer for my question on what kind of information of the family that lived at Fiend's Den you were looking for.
Yes.
Lucia has not shown up.
* Shuri is kind of worried :/a
I know we didn't want to steal, but... it has a bunch of the items we're looking for.
* Ashton just listens.
* Vaan is still listening.
And Seagate?
Yes. The Dundee Seagate was the place where Grizzel Jaffray, the last Witch executed in Dundee, died. It's also where they executed a member of the Fiend's Den family-- a girl.
For those, we're looking for belongings and information... I'd like to go there myself. I'm certain I can find something out about them.
* Shuri picks at his food. "I see..."
Cherry swallows mouse after mouse whole.
...
* Vaan gapes at Cherry.
...we're supposed to switch off after this, right? You guys head out, we stay here? Or is that plan changing?
* Shuri tries not to look at this thing.
* Ashton trying not to look at Cherry.
...Ehh, really?
* Sera eats her people steak without anyone having trouble with it, apparently.
* John^Brown just focuses on his food
I think we've found out all the information now, right?
We only have a few people here now, but I would like to go out.
I don't mind staying...
Less of an adventure seems really great right now.
....I kind of have to agree with Risa.....
I'm good either way, but--not with going somewhere with a lot of people.
Well, I'm going!
* Ashton looks up at the dragons.
Oh, there was another place, too. The Dundee-Perth dual carriageway is where the Devil's Stone supposedly is.
.....BUT
* Gyoro and Ururun look sheepish.
* Vaan starts zoning out.
What's the Devil's Stone?
"I think it would be a good idea if you continued searching tonight," Mr. Sidney puts in.
Maybe split in two groups?
...All right.
...I'm good to keep going for a while.
But there's three places--?
... Oh.
Three groups?
Mr. Sidney, will we be able to get a ride to the places?
The Devil's Stone is a big stone near the carriageway.
Are any of those palces isolated, like the Mayfair manor?
We don't have to split into three if it would be safer... but there's a few, at least.
There might be enough of us...
I don't know, Ashton.
I think we should find things faster, so--we can find Konatsu afterwards.
We should definetely find Konatsu.
E... Exactly!
Yeah.
* Sera nods.
I don't know why he wanted to leave... he was fine when I met him upstairs.
Right.
* Robin^Sena picks at her food.
So let's just split up and go to all of the places at once.
If we split up, I'd...like to head to the carriageway, then, I guess.
* Shuri hmphs and also picks at food.
I'm interested in the Seagate...
That's two, two, and three.
...I don't really care.
Me neither.
...Better to go somewhere then be stuck here alone.
Mr. Sidney says, "I can arrange drivers, Miss Risa."
* Gyoro tugs at Risa's sleeve.
Shuri and I will go to the gallery then!
--Eh?
...Can we really rob a museum??
* Koizumi^Risa looks at Gyoro
... we can do recon.
We have to--finish it!
* Ashton huffs.
Robin and I should stick together.
* Sera looks over at Cherry
I'll do what people tell me to do but I don't know how to do anything like that!
.......
* Robin^Sena nods.
* Vaan scratches his head.
We'll both learn together. clearly.
* Gyoro rolls his eyes, but clamps his jaws around Vaan's wrist instead, then.
...Fine!
* Gyoro gently.
A-ah!
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
* Koizumi^Risa leans over and pets gyoro consolingly.
Cherry smiles at Sera around a mouse.
Awrk.
Then, Sera, John, and I will go to the Seagate, Risa and Shuri to the McManus gallery, and Vaan and Ashton to the carriageway?
* Ashton sighs. "Right, Vaan, we can go together."
* Sera smiles back at Cherry a little
I-I guess!
What is it we need to get from the gallery?
Sounds good.
We need--what was on the list? A chip off the stone?
... What are we supposed to do at the gallery again?
* Robin^Sena reaches into her pocket for a list. "A figure of Thoth, a false tomb door, an amulet box, a bell ghanta... and the belongings from the victims of the Tay Bridge collapse, which are letters, a watch, and a pair of gloves."
...Can we just take the list...
All that?
Sure.
* Robin^Sena hands it to Shuri.
* Shuri pockets it
I'm not sure how we're going to carry it all...
And then not get caught...
"John isn't going," Jez says.
...
Oh, come on.
* Robin^Sena stands up. "He'll be fine."
...
......
Don't worry, I'll be alright.
Why is Lucia so mad, anyway?
I don't know.
...I guess about Konatsu.
But that mad...
* Shuri picks at his food more. ;;
...well, he did take a car...
Well, you did make her upset the last time
Wh--How is this my fault!?
Hurry up and eat, Shuri.
Jez glances at Sidney, shuffling a little.
* Shuri ... EATS, GOD.
The faster we do this, the faster we can go look for him.
* Robin^Sena sighs and eats.
* Vaan HAS FINISHED EATING.
"I will speak with Miss Lucia about the matter of Mr. Brown," Sidney says. "In the meantime, have you come to some sort of consensus as to what you are planning to do this evening?"
* Ashton is also done eating.
* Shuri nods while eating, though he still looks ANNOYED.
I think so.
* Koizumi^Risa kicks Shuri under the table.
Mmmm. [swallows] I think we've figured it--ow!
Yeah, we'll split into three groups, if there are enough drivers--?
I can drive... probably.
"I can drive," says Cherry, licking its plate. "A car."
........
... ooooh.
. . .
* Vaan stares at Ashton.
Cherry's zipper-tongue clinks against the ceramic. A stray mouse tail wiggles at the side of its mouth before getting sucked in like a noodle.
Well, I'm used to walking?
...
... I think it'd be faster by car ... but ...
It's pretty close, right?
* Robin^Sena sets down her silverware. "I'm done."
I don't know. Is it?
They're all not terribly far, I think...
Good!
Well then, we'll get going soon, hm?
Yes.
We can walk too, sure. If we get a map.
Ah, Mr. Sidney?
"Yes?"
Is there a piano here?
"Yes, a mini-grand. Why?"
I would like to play it, if that's alright.
Ooh!
I guess I'll go relax a bit until we get going.
"Certainly, Miss Robin."
* Shuri ... pulls Risa aside. "Hey~ Excuse me~"
Hmm?
I want to talk to you for a bit!
* Shuri DRAGS RISA INTO THE HALLWAY #obsessivelystillhere
* Ashton COMES WITH.
* Vaan sneaks out.
#obsessivelystillhere
Koizumi^Risa> What?
...Did you get to read the note??
* Vaan IS JUST SITTING AGAINST THE WALL YOU CAN'T SEE HIM
* Shuri ... tried to be sort of subtle, okay.
* Ashton is chillin.'
Mmm...
Sera helped
Ah, so what was it about?
she... it was written by who we thought wrote it.
* Shuri ... teehee
Really?
Mmm.
And about... some lady he's courting and his feelings.
It's not very... occulty.
...what lady?
I don't remember her name.
But... Lady... ... Puddingcomb or something like that.
Never heard of her~ I don't think.
I don't either.
... Sera has the note right now though
Ehhhh, really? I guess that's okay...
* Shuri siiiiighs :/a
what?
So is it not very interesting??
Or what! Tell me!
It's a love letter. What do you expect?!
I don't know...! So it's a love letter--to the lady...
No...
Ah?
It's Christian telling Bastien to marry the girl despite... his feelings for him.
...That's horrible!!
Horrible?
Ehhhhhh? Of course it's horrible, right?
Well... it's very much like star crossed lovers and society not letting them get together!
... I think it's pretty romantic.
What would be romantic is if Lord Bastien didn't marry anyone else because that's completely unfair!
Are we really going to be discussing this?
Here?
While Konatsu's gone crazy and drove off with a car?
* Shuri ... crosses his arms...
You know I'm right.
...I know...!!
I just--whatever!
Fine, it doesn't matter!
* Shuri TSUN HUFF
* Koizumi^Risa crosses her arms and sulks too.
We'll get all the stuff from the gallery really quickly.
... Are we really going to go and steal it?
...What else are we supposed to do?
... maybe we should go get disguises.
And bags.
...I don't think we need disguises, since no one knows us...
And bags would be pretty suspicious...??
... plastic bags?
...I-I don't know what we should do.
I don't either.
* Koizumi^Risa pouts
Maybe we can just... see first
Just go through the gallery and see what we can do...?
Yeah.
I guess.
* Shuri ... gives her another tsundere glareish thing. sigh
Stop sighing!
Well, sorry--! You're the one who seems mad at me anyway!
I'm not mad.
... well, not really.
I just don't see why we keep getting dragged into doing stuff like this.
I don't know... It could be that we're special, right?
And there's nothing wrong with enjoying it at least a little while we're here, since we'll just go back to camp soon.
You call being chased by a giant bone dragon enjoyable?
... you sure you didn't hit your head when you were a kid?
... multiple times?
No, I'm talking about the note!! It's not like we ever hear anything about them most of the time!
Well, they are... possibly kinda dead.
I know that!!
* Shuri is possibly throwing a mini-tantrum.
I'm going to try and take the note back anyway.
And do what with it?
... keep it.
* Shuri ...sulks a little
What?
I found the note while the two of you were busy preening in front of the mirror.
--Whatever! I don't care~~~!
...
liar.
...So what do you want me to say?!
If I say I want it you won't give it to me anyway!
Well of course not!
... but I can lend it out.
If you want to...
...I-It's not a thing to be lent...
* Shuri ... looks like he is considering it though.
Well, think about it
* Koizumi^Risa handwaves
I'm going to see if we need anything for the trip.
...Fine.
* Koizumi^Risa exits the hallway.
#amurderof
After everyone has eaten up and rested up, Sidney returns. "I'm sorry to say that Mr. Brown will have to stay here for the time being," he says. "No harm will come to him, of course."
............
Ah...all right...
* Ashton :|a
* John^Brown ... nods
* Robin^Sena looks sad.
Ahh... Of course...
* Shuri super dubious.
* Sera looks blank.
Jez comes back over to John's side. "Can do what you want here, just not leave," she says.
Alright then...
"I assure you," Mr. Sidney says gravely, "that he will come to no harm so long as you do not betray Miss Lucia."
We won't.
We're not betraying her.
Betray her doing what?
She already told me that no one would be hurt at all. It's hard to hear more promises.
Leaving.
...
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
* Ashton looks back x3.
* Sera stands up. "Let's go, then..."
* Robin^Sena hands Risa the list of things at the gallery. "Here you are."
Thanks.
* Vaan stands up!
* Ashton moves over to Vaan. "All right..."
Good luck everyone.
Mr. Sidney looks at Sera. "Who has been hurt?"
Thank you.
* Ashton nods to John. "Thanks; we'll see you in a bit."
Uh, Mr. Sidney, can Shuri and I have...
* Vaan nods.
... like.
thieving things?
like a lockpick
Or... explosives or something.
"Do either of you know how to use a lockpick?" Mr. Sidney inquires.
Maybe not explosives
E-Explosives...
I'll more then likely be in the study when you get back.
I don't know how to do it...
* Sera raises her eyebrows at Mr. Sidney. "An 'if' is really different than a 'no,' that's all..."
... how about a large hammer?
* Robin^Sena says, "If you find out anything else in the research, please let us know." to John.
What do we need all that stuff for??
* John^Brown nods and says "I will."
... I dunno, haven't you seen those movies?
they always blow something up
"Only a fool makes a promise that lasts under every condition," Mr. Sidney says. "She wanted you with her because she trusted you; believed in you. That one of you has stolen from her and abandoned her -- what does it say to her? You may have a hammer, Miss Risa."
No...
* Shuri ... listens to Mr. Sidney, looking rather uncomfortable.
Wait-- Konatsu stole something?
The car...
Oh, right.
Shuri, what do you think we need?
"She has quite a few that she collects."
I don't know what we need--! I'm not a thief.
I'm not either!
Let's just go, already!
Just... think like one.
* Sera shrugs.
"If it may be a while, shall I send the others on their way and drive you myself?" he asks Risa and Shuri.
* Robin^Sena looks around for Cherry.
* Ashton shifts, uncomfortable. "Could we just...?"
* Shuri ... jiiiiiiii... "I guess..."
...Who's driving us, anyways?
It's ok.... let's just go.
* Koizumi^Risa looks at Shuri sullenly
Right.
Cherry is waiting against one wall.
* Shuri gives her a look back. :/
* Robin^Sena looks at Sera, then Cherry. "Shall we go...?"
Mr. Sidney, it's okay... we'll just head over there
...Mr. Sidney, is someone driving us out, or is it close enough to walk?
Sydney says, "Earl will drive you, Mr. Vaan, Mr. Anchors."
* Sera nods to Robin!
...Earl...?
...who's Earl?
--oh, I forgot about the piano... I'll do it when we get back. I hope.
"He should be pulling your car around now," Mr. Sidney says. "Miss Risa and Mr. Oak may accompany... ah, come to think of it, perhaps I should stay here. Rand can drive. And ...Cherry can drive Miss Sera, Miss Robin."
Rand...?
He ushers you towards the door.
* Koizumi^Risa is ushered.
* Shuri --goes...
* Ashton heading outside, then...
* Vaan goes!
#bearisdriving for Vaan and Ashton
* Robin^Sena goes.
#pyromobile for Robin and Sera
#getawaycar for Risa and Shuri
* John^Brown gets up, nods to everyone and heads towards the study.
#bearisdriving
Waiting outside is a very very large, very hairy man, standing beside a small car. He nods to you both seriously.
........
...h-hello! You must be Earl.
He nods again and gets into the driver's seat.
...We should probably both sit in the back....
...yeah, okay.
* Ashton gets in the back!
* Ashton and buckles up.
* Vaan sits on the opposite side of the car and buckles up as well!
"...........................................where?" Earl asks, finally, in a deep gravelly voice.
...uh...Devil's Stone?
* Ashton thinks for a moment.
On the Dundee-Perth carriageway!
Whatever that means.
...I'm shocked you remembered that.
Well, I didn't; the dragons did.
* Ururun looks smug.
A-ah!
Earl silently maneuvers the car onto the road around. "Carriageway," he mutters.
* Vaan whispers, "Do you think he knows where he's going?"
* Ashton shrugs. Looks pensive.
...ah, have you worked with miss Bellcourt long, Mr. Earl?
"Nope," Earl says.
I--I see...
........
Just a few months or so, then?
"Mm."
...
....He doesn't say much, does he.....
...it's not a bad thing...
Do--do you like working with her?
......I-I guess you're right.
"Like?"
Well--she seems like a nice girl!
* Vaan looks out the window.
"I'm a servant," Earl says. "What's to like."
...masters and servants can be friendly too...
* Ashton has Christian and Bastien flashbacks. Sighs a little. Then pictures Lucia and Earl and wants to die a bit.
* Vaan is half listening.
"No," Earl says, shortly. "Not for me."
O-okay!
...what do you think about Mr. Sidney, then?
Earl is silent.
O...okay! Sorry. You don't like to talk much, huh.
* Vaan is really wondering what he's looking at out the window. It's pretty dark though.
* Gyoro and Ururun stare out the window, too.
You may notice a stalled out car on the side of the road as you stare, Gyoro and Ururun. Oh. And a hacked apart corpse beside it.
* Ururun squalls in alarm.
WHOA
What on earth is going on in this place--
--could we stop the car? I think they've spotted something important!
Earl stops the car.
* Vaan runs out!
S-sorry! Please don't drive off without us.
* Ashton HURRIES TO CORPSE
* Vaan stares at the corpse.
Oh, no...
The corpse looks fairly fresh. It has been violently torn into with a bladed weapon.
* Ashton ... but it's not Konatsu, right.
Someone really didn't like this guy....
* Vaan hopes its not Konatsu....
* Vaan barely saw him, after all.
The corpse is not Konatsu.
* Vaan SIGH OF RELIEF
* Ashton BUT IT'S STILL A DEAD GUY 8(
* Vaan A FRESH DEAD GUY
* Ashton ... tries to move it off the road???
* Vaan tries to help ashton.
It is not very solidly in one piece anymore.
It is a messy process.
* Ashton bawwwwww.
* Vaan ignores the mess!
That shower was a waste....
* Ashton PUTS EVERYTHING MORE OR LESS IN A NEAT PILE
We--can't just leave a dead guy here though!
I mean!
What are you saying we do!
I hope Konatsu's okay!
Me too....
...I, I don't know, let me think! ...why would someone attack--oh dear.
.....
We should probably just keep moving, this is dangerous.
* Ashton deep breath.
There's a reason someone killed this guy, right? Could you--check the car quickly, at least?
.....Fine.
* Vaan heads towards the car.
....Can he get in though, and are the windows tinted.
* Ashton /)(\
* Ashton having flashbacks to the news articles last game, about the mysterious killings.
* Ashton ... also trying to get a look at the dead guy's face; Gyoro is helping with the light issue.
He looks terrified.
...Some pretty scary must've killed him, huh.
It looks like the car has not been disturbed, beyond the hood being open and some blood spattered inside, as if he were attacked with the hood already open.
* Ashton shivers, then undoes his cape and wiggles out of it, to lay it over the...heap...of corpse.
....Should we go.....
Anything in the car?
Doesn't really look like it....
* Ashton tries a car door. :X
It's unlocked.
A-ah!
* Ashton looks inside it!
Not much unusual here unless you want to steal his CDs.
* Vaan doesn't even know what a CD is
* Ashton decides taking a murdered guy's CDs isn't okay.
His keys are also in the ignition.
....Huh....
* Gyoro ... yanks THOSE out.
You now have his keys
We should leave this place...and get going to the rock.
Okay. I'll--I'll ask later if Miss Bellcourt can send someone out to investigate or call the police or /something./ But we can't do anything for him right now, short of putting him in the back.
* Gyoro keeps the keys, because he can.
That seems best.
* Ashton starts walking back to Earl's car.
* Vaan walks with Ashton!
* Ashton is now all over blood, booo.
* Vaan stands around awkwardly.
Earl lets you guys in. "Done?"
I think we are.
Yeah, let's go.
* Vaan passes out in the car.
He continues to drive, and I think we should stop there for tonight. Can continue tomorrow.
#pyromobile
Cherry slinks out with you two and heads towards the garage. "I'm driving~ I'm driving~" it singsongs to itself.
... is this safe...?
...I don't know, but...
It clambers over one of the cars' hoods to climb into the driver's side window.
...
* Robin^Sena uses... the door.
* Sera does that too.
It runs its fingers all over the wheel, then the ignition, then the dashboard, then the stick shift and parking break. "Okay."
* Robin^Sena is putting that seatbelt on, sitting in the backseat.
* Sera sits shotgun. ...where the airbag is.
* Robin^Sena should have thought of that.
* Sera buckles up. "Okay, we're ready, I think."
"Okay." Cherry unzips a pocket on its hip. It takes hold of the ignition and starts the car, undoes the parking break, then puts two hands on the steering wheel and a third on the stick shift.
* Sera watches this in fascination.
* Robin^Sena crosses herself.
For a moment it doesn't move. Then, "Oh, is this the gas?"
The car lurches forward.
* Robin^Sena grabs onto the seat. "Yes!"
* Sera is just along for the ride.
For a few moments it's hectic, and then Cherry seems to sink into his seat a little, smoothly shifting gears and finding a pace that works. "Where are we going again?"
The Seagate.
"Where at the Seagate?"
* Sera glances at Robin.
Cherry drives in little circles while waiting.
... um.
The websites just said they were executed in the Seagate. I don't know exactly where.
...let's try the center of town.
Okay. Sorry...
I forgot to double check, too.
Maybe there will be someone around that we can ask.
"It's a street. There's an area known as the Seagate," Cherry offers. "Like a roundabout as well as the street... it's a mini-downtown district."
Let's try there.
Cherry straightens the car out. It stalls.
It ponders, then restarts the car and gets into the right gear before continuing down the road.
* Robin^Sena sighs in relief.
Experimentally, Cherry pumps the gas.
* Robin^Sena braces herself...
* Sera accepts all the possible consequences of this car ride at this point.
YOU GET THERE WITHOUT CRASHING somehow. Eventually.
* Robin^Sena gingerly steps out of the car and looks around.
...t-thanks, Cherry.
* Sera follows Robin.
Dundee Seagate Bus Terminal seems to dominate the roundabout and Seagate street.
There seems to be a lot of restaurants, bars, clubs, etc around
Several of the bars hang pride signs.
I wonder if we can go in there.
* Robin^Sena points to a bar.
The buildings in the area are probably best described as 'quaint'
I don't see why not...
* Sera is way more uncomfortable here than she's ever been in freaky haunted houses full of gore and monsters.
* Robin^Sena walks into a nearby bar.
* Sera ...follows hesitantly.
Excuse me...?
"Yes mum?" The accents here are quite heavy.
* Sera hangs around near the door and is awkward.
I'm looking for the public execution site. Can you tell me where it is?
I'm doing a history paper.
"Where're you from, girl?" He slaps her shoulder. "Ah, you'd be thinking of the old jail."
Italy. Where is the old jail?
* Robin^Sena is nonplussed.
* Sera is still awkward.
"It's not there anymore," he says. "Market square, I think? It was right near the tollbooth..."
Oh, okay. I think I saw the tollbooth when we drove in.
"Now, that's the newer tollbooth, seventeen hundreds, I think. There used to be an old one on the other side, think it was nearer where the first prison stood... Don't know much more about it."
Alright... thank you.
* Sera sidles out, if Robin is done. :x
* Robin^Sena is going to go look for that tollbooth then!
There's an old stone structure that might have been a tollbooth...
* Sera wanders over to it.
* Robin^Sena closes her eyes and touches it.
OVERWHELMING FEAR
* Robin^Sena draws her hand back and recoils, face scrunching up.
--Robin!
Are you okay?
T-this is it...
Is there anything I can...?
I... I'll just need to keep at it, I guess.
It's... she was so afraid.
Whoever it was, I mean. Maybe it's lots of people. It probably is.
* Robin^Sena swallows and puts her hand on the stone again, concentrating. "Grizzel...?"
* Sera winces and sticks close to Robin for moral support.
It's hard to sense a specific spirit, though there's a growing feeling of fear, confusion, longing.
Grizzel Jaffray... can you hear me?
...who...
It's okay.
*NO*
* Robin^Sena winces. "I-it's alright... I won't hurt you. We won't hurt you."
*hurt...*
*torture torture torture*
Torture...
*pain*
Are you... Grizzel?
*....yes yes yes*
* Robin^Sena breathes shakily. "Good... good, I'm glad. I wanted to meet you."
*What do you ---want---*
Will you tell me... where you lived?
Confusion. *Here...*
Dundee, yes. Did you live in a house?
*Once.*
Where was it?
...................*nethergate...*
Nethergate?
*I lived there once...* She's fading
Grizzel, where in Nethergate? What was your house like?
*it's all over, I can't go home.*
I know... I know, I'm sorry.
*I want it to be as it was... he'll walk to the bank every day, I'll open the windows and let the light in...*
her voice fades out again
Grizzel!
*we can see it from our house, that bank. Could. Can't. I'll die.*
... I know. Grizzel... please rest. It's over now.
*Rest...* she sounds wistful, almost dreamy, and then she's gone.
* Robin^Sena breathes deeply and lets go of the rock.
* Sera looks at her, wide-eyed, and puts a hand on her shoulder.
She lived... in Nethergate. In a house, very close to the bank. He would walk there every day, and she'd... they could see it from their house.
* Sera ... nods
* Robin^Sena wipes the corners of her eyes.
I'm sorry.
I think... she'll be okay. She was scared, at first, but not anymore.
...I... I hope she finds... whatever it is that she needs.
Rest. No more pain.
They... tortured her.
* Sera looks down. "..."
* Robin^Sena lifts her head, smiling a little painfully. "I don't know if I helped any... but we know where to look."
...Nethergate. Let's tell Cherry.
* Sera squeezes her shoulder comfortingly before letting her hand fall.
Yes. I... should try and speak to the girl from Fiend's Den, too. I don't know if I can, but...
* Robin^Sena glances at Sera gratefully. "I just... need to sit down for a minute."
C-come on, there should be a bench or something--
* Robin^Sena nods.
#getawaycar
Around to one side of the house is a small volkswagon beetle car with a thin, almost spindly man in a suit waiting beside it.
You're... Rand?
* Koizumi^Risa punches Shuri
punch buggy
--Ow! What?
It's a game.
"I'm Rand," he agrees easily. His eyes look hollowed out. "Where are we headed to, friends?"
* Shuri looks unimpressed. "I don't know it..."
Ah--the gallery...
To the... Mc... something gallery.
... wow, we really should have checked where we're going.
Th-There's a list.
It says the name on the list, right??
UH... yes
* Koizumi^Risa looks at the paper
McManus!
"Sure thing, friends."
* Shuri speaks softly... "Well, at least he seems nice."
* Shuri goes to get in the caaar
* Koizumi^Risa nods
Do you work for Lucia as well, Rand?
"That's right," Rand says, easy-going.
Are you a demon?
"That's right."
... wow.
...How many does she have...
A lot, I guess.
"It's hard to keep track of some days," Rand agrees. He drives according to the speed limit on the way into town, very precisely.
So how far away is it?
"It's downtown," Rand says. "Maybe a half hour. Want the radio?"
Yes please!
Uwah, okay~
Rand puts on the radio and taps spindly, insectile fingers against the wheel in time as he drives.
* Shuri stares out the window
* Koizumi^Risa yawns a little.
Um... Do you know anything about stealing from museums, Rand?
"Me?" He chuckles, the sound papery. "I've stolen a thing or two in my time. Not really from museums."
Any tips would be great
"Don't get caught."
Y-Yeah, I've never really...
* Shuri s-sighs
Is the museum closed right now?
"It closes at 5 sooo... yes. Do you need to get inside?"
Well... we need to get inside to get things that are inside...
... We have a hammer.
Won't there be... alarms??
...
Probably.
"I can get you inside," Rand says easily. "For a cost."
...Cost?
... What kind of cost?
"Nothing you'd miss."
...But you have to tell us...
Y-yeah.
I mean, how do you know what we'll miss or not??
"Just a sip of your life," Rand says. "That's all."
* Shuri ...considers this
If it's only a sip, whatever.
. . .
Uh.
...
I kinda have my doubts.
About sips... I mean.
...
From both of us?
"You both want help, don't you?"
I-If you don't want to do it then I can get in and then let you inside.
well, I don't want you to... bear it all yourself.
* Shuri SHRUGS
But... I. We're sort of risking our lives here, literally.
All for what?
...
If we don't do this then we're risking other people's lives...
You know.
* Koizumi^Risa makes a face.
Fine.
Let's do it.
* Shuri ...nods, though it looks like he has his own doubts, a little
He smiles. "You're too kind," he says and keeps driving.
...You're not a vampire, right?
...
"I'm not a vampire," he says. "Though I'm close."
Uwaaah~.
...
a vampire bat?
He laughs. "We're about here," he says, pulling up in front of a gothic building.
Ah, good.
This... isn't what I expected a gallery to be.
It looks nice!
Nice?
He parks the car and leans back to look at them with hollow hollow eyes and a thin-lipped smile. "Shall we make a trade?" he asks.
* Koizumi^Risa ponders your definition of nice.
Can we try the door first?
"Go ahead."
It's probably locked...
* Koizumi^Risa gets out of the car and hurries to the front door.
It's locked.
* Koizumi^Risa checks for a back door?
* Shuri gets out of the car, not really bothering to look.
You slip down a side alley, Risa, but the service entrance is also locked.
kljfsdf
I'm fine with trading.
He gets out of the car and beckons.
* Shuri ... goes over...
* Koizumi^Risa contemplates smashing a window as she walks back to Shuri
No luck.
Rand smiles at her too. "Do you want to also?"
It's probably the only way...
... fine, I guess.
* Koizumi^Risa looks really nervous about it.
He takes hold of Shuri's shoulders first. "Look at me," he says.
* Shuri ... looks into his... eyes, a little timidly.
(It's cold and dark. You feel a chill, like when the wind rushes over you and sweeps your body heat away from you.)
* Shuri shudders, but tries not to look away.
You feel... pale, if pale is a feeling, and then he lets go of you.
* Shuri steps back ;; definitely... feeling pale.
He, however, is looking a little less spindly. He turns to Risa and opens his arms, jokingly.
... ...
you want a hug?
"I wouldn't say no."
... kay.
... I still have my hammer.
Just saying, you know.
"I won't touch below the waist or above the ribcage," he says.
* Koizumi^Risa approaches Rand cautiously... and gives him a hug?
* Shuri is... just standing over here trying to regenerate his body heat.
(A sucking, deep coldness, like standing outside when underdressed in the winter.)
* Koizumi^Risa shudders. Geez you're freezing...
He releases you, licking his lips. He's still thin, but looks fuller under his skin, less emaciated. "Well, let's go in, then." He slides back, takes Risa's hand, and reaches for Shuri's.
* Shuri ... grabs his hand. "Good."
You're feeling okay, Shuri?
* Koizumi^Risa shivers
I-It's just... cold...
He pulls you down through your own shadows.
* Shuri --whoa
It's dark, space makes no sense
you can't breathe to talk
you can't see, you can't hear
* Koizumi^Risa panics
* Shuri ... is also sort of -- oh reality -- ...feeling dizzy
and then he's pulling *up* and you're in the museum.
Lucia is sitting on her front porch when Sidney pulls up in the car, with Team Derp. Robin and Sera are coming out of the back yard, following . . . some manner semi-humanoid creature, made up of sugar, spice, blood, guts, spiky hair, zippers, and . . . we don't even know. There is a raven on Lucia's shoulder, and she looks distraught. There is blood dried on her arm and her dress.
Miss Lucia--!
W-what happened to you all--?!
* Koizumi^Risa stumbles out of the car, looking disheveled and wet and.. possibly muddy, depending on the water. "What's going on?"
You're here.
* Shuri ... gets out of the car, rather... dazed... clutching the little box. "Wh-What happened?"
Sidney gets out of the car and morphs to Lucia's side, somehow closing the distance without moving.
Lucia jumps up, grabbing onto Sidney.
* Vaan keels over from getting out of the car too fast.
A-And what's that--
...
* Ashton stumbles out.
* Koizumi^Risa looks around
Where's Konatsu?
He wraps an arm around her, soothing, ducking down to her height. "Miss Lucia-"
"That," being the creature, tilts its head at Shuri and blinks. It has two sets of eyelids.
Konatsu took a car and left.
He what!
We don't know where he is.
* Shuri r-recoils a little
This is Cherry Laurel.
...H-He can't drive though?
... he can drive?
...Is it another one of the--pet--things?
.........
C-cherry Laurel?
Cherry Laurel...
* Ashton eyes Cherry.
Cherry is... a snake person. I think.
I-I see...
Anyway, really, what happened?
"Konatsu left! I don't know where!" Lucia bursts out.
* Vaan listens.
... So that's the problem?
Why would he...?
One of them, anyway...
Well what are the other ones??
* Sera looks at Lucia.
What was he doing before he left?
Sidney pets her back slowly, listening.
Research?
He wouldn't explain anything to us!
"The furies are looking for him," Lucia mutters, looking up at Sidney.
. . . the furies.
The--what?
....That doesn't sound good.
* Shuri shifts uncomfortably...
Konatsu had gone missing earlier while we were all in the study-- he went to go to the bathroom, and disappeared for hours. We all looked for him, and eventually found a closet that had some of his blood in it.
--What?
. . .
He showed up later when I was looking upstairs, though. He said he'd gotten lost on his way to the bathroom, and hadn't been injured.
He didn't know anything about the blood and the closet.
...Are you sure...?
It could be--one of those time things--
Dammit, Konatsu.
Then he left, apparently.
* Sera is still looking at Lucia.
Ahhh.
Ughhh...
Lucia is letting herself be soothed by Sidney, eyes closing.
Lucia summoned a bunch of ravens that took her blood to go look for him... the "furies", I think.
He... couldn't have gone far... and he might be onto something, right?
"Shall I track him as well, Miss Lucia, or shall I stay with you?" He curls his fingers into her hair.
Lucia clings to him. "Don't leave me!"
Then she told us... to go look at one of the sites we researched. She said that if-- if we didn't come back, she'd kill John.
Hah--?
...
...
My roommate--?!
"I won't leave you," Sidney soothes into the sudden shocked silence, apparently unsurprised by Robin's latest revelation.
* Sera says rather blankly "...so, that's what happened while you were gone."
We were about to go to the Seagate, when we... met Cherry. Cherry's supposed to accompany us.
L-Lucia...
Lucia looks at them all. Then, demandingly, "Did you find anything in the manor?"
Y--Yes!
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
... W-what at Seagate?
...yeah, we...
* Shuri goes up and hands over the jewelry box to Lucia, quickly.
* Ashton rummages. WE GOT YOU SOME TRASH, LUCIA. ... I mean, occult artifacts.
Seagate is one of the places we found out about when we were doing research. It's where Grizzel Jaffray and a member of the Fiend's Den were executed, so I wanted to go there.
Ah.
Aha...
Ah....be careful.
* Koizumi^Risa also hands Lucia a fragment of the mirror.
... that's about it... oh, I met another dog-person. His name is Pox. He's very friendly.
* Shuri shuffles off... somewhere... next to Ashton
How many... dog-animal people are there?
A lot, I think.
* Ashton gives Lucia a bone fragment, a clock gear, and the Diavolo book.
What... happened to everyone?
......To us?
Hmm?
Yes.
Are you alright?
We explored just fine.
....We're fine.
Lucia begins to look at everything, eyes lighting up.
That's all we really found, though, at least interesting things that we could take...
Is that what you were looking for--? We couldn't find the sword.
He took us before we could keep looking...
We were kinda rushed out.
By... what?
Mr. Sidney, of course.
By, uh, Mr. Sidney.
Oh.
* Vaan nods at Shuri and Ashton.
* Ururun glares at Mr. Sidney.
... Ashton decided to freeze the floor
and then we all fell into the water
...
and there was something in the water
What was the manor like...?
I said I was sorry.
H-Hey! We found things that way!
It's in ruins...
Wrecked....
and then we encountered a giant bone dragon that tried to claw us to death
The manor's in ruins, but there's still underground stuff...
Oh yeah the bone thingy.
L-Let's forget about that part...
...oh, that's still...?
That fragment's from it...
And then Ashton and Shuri became preoccupied with how pretty they looked.
YES!
* Robin^Sena blinks.
* Koizumi^Risa glares at them both.
...look, there was--something weird about that mirror.
It was weird....
Ehhhh, but it was just a mirror.
...no, it...
And this is why I threw the chair at it!
It might be an enchanted mirror.
* Ashton looked really handsome ;;
* Vaan outmanlies.
Lucia looks horrified. "You broke it?" she demands of Risa.
* Koizumi^Risa points to the mirror fragment
I don't know why!
That's where it's from.
* Ashton makes faces at Shuri.
I-It'll probably be okay...
"All right," Mr. Sidney says. "It sounds like quite a bit has gone on. Perhaps we can all catch up over dinner. Then you can all head out together to follow up on further research, while Lucia looks over what you have brought her."
R-right.
* Koizumi^Risa raises her hand
I need a shower.
Lucia opens her mouth as if to say something, glances up at Sidney, then falls silent.
....Can we rest a little.
* Shuri glances at Lucia...
Oh, miss Bellcourt? Could we know what that book's about later, too? None of us could read it, really.
"Dinner will be a wonderful refresher, I'm sure."
Mmmm. I am hungry~
* Vaan starts daydreaming about food.
* Koizumi^Risa looks over to Sera. Can you fill me in on what you guys did? Up in our room?
* Ashton 's stomach growls.
... I think so.
"Fine. Do what you want!" Lucia says, turning on her heel, and storms inside.
...Eh?
* Robin^Sena looks curiously at Lucia.
...miss...?
....What's up with her?
* Shuri looks at everyone rather confused...
* Sera nods to Risa.
"Please come in and I will serve dinner." Sidney begins to follow Lucia inside.
* Vaan follows....
* Robin^Sena glances at Cherry. "What about you?"
* Koizumi^Risa motions Sera to follow her upstairs to #thegirlsroom
* Ashton moves over to Sera. "Could you fill us in, too? With Risa."
Cherry considers. "I like dinner," it says.
... okay.
All of us....
--Eh?
... guys, shower.
SHOWER
Give a girl soem privacy.
...SORRY!
I wasn't--I didn't--
* Vaan sniffs himself.
#thegirlsroom
* Koizumi^Risa closes the door behind her.
What is it...?
* Robin^Sena has followed Sera and Risa.
There is a knock at the door.
So, what's going on? Also... any of you can read e..
* Koizumi^Risa checks the door
Cherry is standing outside. It slithers in the moment you open the door.
Oh, it's you.
Uh.
... hi.
...
...
"Hello." It stands in a corner.
is that a girl or a guy?
... either...?
Who're you supposed to follow, Cherry?
W-well. C-can you turn around for a second then, Cherry?
Cherry blinks both eyelids slowly. "Okay?" It turns around, unzipping one pocket.
* Koizumi^Risa looks nervously before pulling a piece of paper out of her bra.
She means not to watch us for a minute, Cherry. Can you do that?
* Sera casually shifted in front of Risa.
* Robin^Sena moves to the other side of Risa.
* Koizumi^Risa hands it to Robin. Can you read English?
"I'm here to watch you though," Cherry points out, but otherwise doesn't turn around.
I know some.
* Koizumi^Risa if you glance at the note, Bastien's name should show up.
* Robin^Sena tries reading it. "... Bastien..."
The note begins addressed to a "My Lord"
* Sera looks back at Robin.
It's all in English
Sera, can you read English? I know some, but it's not perfect.
* Koizumi^Risa also tosses out some piano sheet music on the bed.
* Sera nods silently and changes places with Robin, taking the note.
* Koizumi^Risa walks over to Cherry to distract... her him it.
Hey, do you know if there's a change of clothes I can borrow?
I saw "My Lord" and "Bastien".
* Sera reads.
* Robin^Sena leans over Sera's shoulder to try and read it together.
It says:
My Lord, I write to you to express my true feelings on the events of this evening.
Lady Roddenfield is a beautiful and deservinge Young Lady and I hope sincerely that your courtship gos well for I know your Father will be deeply troubled should you not marrie soon and you two seem well suited to Each Other.
Above all things I will Support you with the fullness of my love and duty.
But I must be honest though it is shameful to say as much and Admit that it is painful to do as much. It will not make me waver but I trust you to be understanding with me in this time, Lord Bastien. I do not know whether you two will decide to Marry or not,
but I do not want my feelings to sway you one way or the other. Still as I love you I needed to let you know for I fear it will affect my own behavior and I do not want you to misunderstand me.
I Hope you understand me as you love me.
Yours most sincerely Christian
under it, scrawled in another hand, is one word
Idiot
There is nothing else on the letter.
... "idiot".
Well?
...from the ghost to the Shepherd.
* Robin^Sena glances at Sera.
...
Really?!
It's written by Christian.
* Koizumi^Risa 's eyes light up.
* Sera is smiling a little. "Mm."
Okay. So you guys hold on to that... and take a look at the sheet music, and if it's important, I'll hand it over... I guess. I'm going to run and take a quick shower.
* Koizumi^Risa thumbs up.
Okay.
But give it back, okay?
Yeah, definitely.
* Sera tucks it into her inventory.
* Koizumi^Risa will go and shower and pray nothing bleeding comes out of the faucet. Looks over at Cherry...
You don't have to follow me into the shower, do you?
"No, I'll go with those two," Cherry says, looking at Sera and Robin, each with one eye.
* Robin^Sena looks at the sheet music, reading it.
It looks like piano music.
If we split up, who would you follow, Cherry?
Mozart.
"You're going to split up?" It sounds dismayed.
It is piano music. It's Mozart.
If we went to different places. I was just wondering.
...Mozart, huh?
If there's a piano, I might be able to play it.
...let's find out, if you think it'd be a good idea.
"I guess we'll see if that time comes," Cherry says.
* Robin^Sena looks to see if the piece has a title.
* Koizumi^Risa shower antics ensue.
The piece doesn't have a title listed.
Cherry sticks its tongue in the air. "I smell food..."
We could ask Sidney if there's a piano... although, we could also try and play it on the computer.
...okay... I guess let's go back downstairs, for now.
* Robin^Sena nods, and folds the sheet music into her pocket.
* Sera heads for the door.
* Robin^Sena exits the room with Sera and Cherry.
#amurderof
* Shuri ... goes in to eat dinner and stuff sigh
* Vaan (sniffing self) EWWWW.
* Vaan follows follows~
* Ashton dinner + shower yay?
* Vaan ....won't have a roommate tonight....
Sidney is setting out table settings.
* Shuri looks around for Lucia :/a
Mr. Sidney? Uh, could we get quick showers or something before dinner?
She is not there.
....Yes.....
...We are sort of...
Wet.
"I believe one of the bathrooms on your floor is free," Mr. Sidney says. "Ah, and two on the floor above."
....That's enough for all of us.....
* Ashton thinks about asking for a change of clothes, and then decides not to push his luck.
* Shuri ...is perfectly willing to press his luck: "Can we get less wet clothes, too??"
"Please fold them and leave them outside the door," Sidney says. "I will take care of them for you."
...All right.
...thank you.
* Shuri goes off to shower then
* Vaan goes to the top floor!
* Ashton goes to the top floor too.
* Shuri obviously goes to the other one then.
Showering proceeds! Other than finding a few spiders in the shower, Ashton, Vaan, you have no particular incidents.
* Ashton hooray. WHAT ABOUT OUR CLOTHES.
* Vaan DOES VAAN GET A SHIRT
When you get out! Your clothes have been washed, dried, and ironed.
...whoa!
Ahhhh.
These are nice.
* Ashton hastily dresses.
* Vaan dresses quickly to avoid the spiders!
* Ashton hurries back down for dinner.
* Vaan 'S STOMACH GROWLS!
A-ah I should go eat something too.
Mr. Sidney is putting out a variety of dishes: Salad, pasta, steaks.
* Vaan picks at everything!
Th-thanks for the clothes and the food and everything, Mr. Sidney.
He smiles at Ashton. "Certainly, Mr. Anchors."
Ah--Yes!
Thanks!
* Ashton takes some pasta. Feeds the dragons strips of steak, too.
--hey, why isn't Shuri back yet?
SHURI HAS NO SHOWER INCIDENTS SO IDK WHY
my bad
* Shuri comes back eventually because he was just too busy making himself look pretty in the bathroom mirror obviously.
--ah, there you are, we were getting worried!
He looks sooo pretty
Ehhh, really?
I thought I took a quick shower.
You were taking a while....
* Koizumi^Risa comes back down later all refreshed, staring at the food.
Uwaaah
Well, they said Konatsu got lost on the way to the bathroom and stuff.
...Oh, right...
Hi, Risa! it's really good.
* Shuri sits down :x
* Vaan has been nomming!
Jez comes downstairs with John Brown.
--John--!
Eh--?
Ah, it's you...
A-ah, hello everyone.
* Koizumi^Risa looks up from her seat. Hey.
Are you all right?
Jez pulls a seat out for John. "Sit."
...........
* John^Brown sits "I'm fine..."
* Ururun snakes over, below the edge of the table. Nudges Risa.
...Are you still...
Jez stands behind his chair, growling faintly.
* Koizumi^Risa shrieks a little. PERVERT!
...is that really necessary...
* Shuri ... redirects his attention to the food!
* Robin^Sena comes down the stairs with Sera and Cherry.
"Is everything all right, Miss Risa?" Sidney inquires.
Ah...
* Ururun I AM NOT A PERVERT. Rests his chin on the arm of Risa's chair.
... I. It's fine!
* Vaan nods at the people who came downstairs
Sorry, just jittery. We should try and find Konatsu as quickly as possible, right?
* Ururun ... traces a shape in the air with his beak. The precise shape of the note >(
* Robin^Sena sees John and walks over to him quickly. "Are you alright, then?"
Yes, I'm fine.
* Shuri ... watches ururun and risa closely!!
Jez growls at Robin.
* Robin^Sena takes a step back. "Sorry..."
* Vaan ...notices What Ururun Is Doing.
* Koizumi^Risa kicks Ashton under the table.
* Ururun is trying to be stealth here jeez you guys.
OW.
What?
* Shuri does not know the meaning of stealth.
Cherry takes a seat at the table. Sidney frowns, then puts a plate of dead mice in front of it.
* Ashton hauls Ururun in.
* Koizumi^Risa gives you a 'later' look.
* Robin^Sena decides to sit.
* Ururun makes a grumpy noise, but resumes eating steak.
* Sera sits down.
* Shuri eatsss food
So, Sera, Robin... John.. what did you guys find in your research?
"I hope you all enjoy." Mr. Sidney puts a slab of meat down in front of Sera.
We found a few places to go look, anyway.
* John^Brown looks at the food for a second and then serves himself some food
Such as--?
The McManus gallery is one of them. It has the items that Lucia listed, but it also has personal belongings to some of the victims of the Tay Bridge incident.
Is that the museum...?
... couldn't she just, buy the gallery?
Oh, Lucia... I don't think I ever got an answer for my question on what kind of information of the family that lived at Fiend's Den you were looking for.
Yes.
Lucia has not shown up.
* Shuri is kind of worried :/a
I know we didn't want to steal, but... it has a bunch of the items we're looking for.
* Ashton just listens.
* Vaan is still listening.
And Seagate?
Yes. The Dundee Seagate was the place where Grizzel Jaffray, the last Witch executed in Dundee, died. It's also where they executed a member of the Fiend's Den family-- a girl.
For those, we're looking for belongings and information... I'd like to go there myself. I'm certain I can find something out about them.
* Shuri picks at his food. "I see..."
Cherry swallows mouse after mouse whole.
...
* Vaan gapes at Cherry.
...we're supposed to switch off after this, right? You guys head out, we stay here? Or is that plan changing?
* Shuri tries not to look at this thing.
* Ashton trying not to look at Cherry.
...Ehh, really?
* Sera eats her people steak without anyone having trouble with it, apparently.
* John^Brown just focuses on his food
I think we've found out all the information now, right?
We only have a few people here now, but I would like to go out.
I don't mind staying...
Less of an adventure seems really great right now.
....I kind of have to agree with Risa.....
I'm good either way, but--not with going somewhere with a lot of people.
Well, I'm going!
* Ashton looks up at the dragons.
Oh, there was another place, too. The Dundee-Perth dual carriageway is where the Devil's Stone supposedly is.
.....BUT
* Gyoro and Ururun look sheepish.
* Vaan starts zoning out.
What's the Devil's Stone?
"I think it would be a good idea if you continued searching tonight," Mr. Sidney puts in.
Maybe split in two groups?
...All right.
...I'm good to keep going for a while.
But there's three places--?
... Oh.
Three groups?
Mr. Sidney, will we be able to get a ride to the places?
The Devil's Stone is a big stone near the carriageway.
Are any of those palces isolated, like the Mayfair manor?
We don't have to split into three if it would be safer... but there's a few, at least.
There might be enough of us...
I don't know, Ashton.
I think we should find things faster, so--we can find Konatsu afterwards.
We should definetely find Konatsu.
E... Exactly!
Yeah.
* Sera nods.
I don't know why he wanted to leave... he was fine when I met him upstairs.
Right.
* Robin^Sena picks at her food.
So let's just split up and go to all of the places at once.
If we split up, I'd...like to head to the carriageway, then, I guess.
* Shuri hmphs and also picks at food.
I'm interested in the Seagate...
That's two, two, and three.
...I don't really care.
Me neither.
...Better to go somewhere then be stuck here alone.
Mr. Sidney says, "I can arrange drivers, Miss Risa."
* Gyoro tugs at Risa's sleeve.
Shuri and I will go to the gallery then!
--Eh?
...Can we really rob a museum??
* Koizumi^Risa looks at Gyoro
... we can do recon.
We have to--finish it!
* Ashton huffs.
Robin and I should stick together.
* Sera looks over at Cherry
I'll do what people tell me to do but I don't know how to do anything like that!
.......
* Robin^Sena nods.
* Vaan scratches his head.
We'll both learn together. clearly.
* Gyoro rolls his eyes, but clamps his jaws around Vaan's wrist instead, then.
...Fine!
* Gyoro gently.
A-ah!
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
* Koizumi^Risa leans over and pets gyoro consolingly.
Cherry smiles at Sera around a mouse.
Awrk.
Then, Sera, John, and I will go to the Seagate, Risa and Shuri to the McManus gallery, and Vaan and Ashton to the carriageway?
* Ashton sighs. "Right, Vaan, we can go together."
* Sera smiles back at Cherry a little
I-I guess!
What is it we need to get from the gallery?
Sounds good.
We need--what was on the list? A chip off the stone?
... What are we supposed to do at the gallery again?
* Robin^Sena reaches into her pocket for a list. "A figure of Thoth, a false tomb door, an amulet box, a bell ghanta... and the belongings from the victims of the Tay Bridge collapse, which are letters, a watch, and a pair of gloves."
...Can we just take the list...
All that?
Sure.
* Robin^Sena hands it to Shuri.
* Shuri pockets it
I'm not sure how we're going to carry it all...
And then not get caught...
"John isn't going," Jez says.
...
Oh, come on.
* Robin^Sena stands up. "He'll be fine."
...
......
Don't worry, I'll be alright.
Why is Lucia so mad, anyway?
I don't know.
...I guess about Konatsu.
But that mad...
* Shuri picks at his food more. ;;
...well, he did take a car...
Well, you did make her upset the last time
Wh--How is this my fault!?
Hurry up and eat, Shuri.
Jez glances at Sidney, shuffling a little.
* Shuri ... EATS, GOD.
The faster we do this, the faster we can go look for him.
* Robin^Sena sighs and eats.
* Vaan HAS FINISHED EATING.
"I will speak with Miss Lucia about the matter of Mr. Brown," Sidney says. "In the meantime, have you come to some sort of consensus as to what you are planning to do this evening?"
* Ashton is also done eating.
* Shuri nods while eating, though he still looks ANNOYED.
I think so.
* Koizumi^Risa kicks Shuri under the table.
Mmmm. [swallows] I think we've figured it--ow!
Yeah, we'll split into three groups, if there are enough drivers--?
I can drive... probably.
"I can drive," says Cherry, licking its plate. "A car."
........
... ooooh.
. . .
* Vaan stares at Ashton.
Cherry's zipper-tongue clinks against the ceramic. A stray mouse tail wiggles at the side of its mouth before getting sucked in like a noodle.
Well, I'm used to walking?
...
... I think it'd be faster by car ... but ...
It's pretty close, right?
* Robin^Sena sets down her silverware. "I'm done."
I don't know. Is it?
They're all not terribly far, I think...
Good!
Well then, we'll get going soon, hm?
Yes.
We can walk too, sure. If we get a map.
Ah, Mr. Sidney?
"Yes?"
Is there a piano here?
"Yes, a mini-grand. Why?"
I would like to play it, if that's alright.
Ooh!
I guess I'll go relax a bit until we get going.
"Certainly, Miss Robin."
* Shuri ... pulls Risa aside. "Hey~ Excuse me~"
Hmm?
I want to talk to you for a bit!
* Shuri DRAGS RISA INTO THE HALLWAY #obsessivelystillhere
* Ashton COMES WITH.
* Vaan sneaks out.
#obsessivelystillhere
Koizumi^Risa> What?
...Did you get to read the note??
* Vaan IS JUST SITTING AGAINST THE WALL YOU CAN'T SEE HIM
* Shuri ... tried to be sort of subtle, okay.
* Ashton is chillin.'
Mmm...
Sera helped
Ah, so what was it about?
she... it was written by who we thought wrote it.
* Shuri ... teehee
Really?
Mmm.
And about... some lady he's courting and his feelings.
It's not very... occulty.
...what lady?
I don't remember her name.
But... Lady... ... Puddingcomb or something like that.
Never heard of her~ I don't think.
I don't either.
... Sera has the note right now though
Ehhhh, really? I guess that's okay...
* Shuri siiiiighs :/a
what?
So is it not very interesting??
Or what! Tell me!
It's a love letter. What do you expect?!
I don't know...! So it's a love letter--to the lady...
No...
Ah?
It's Christian telling Bastien to marry the girl despite... his feelings for him.
...That's horrible!!
Horrible?
Ehhhhhh? Of course it's horrible, right?
Well... it's very much like star crossed lovers and society not letting them get together!
... I think it's pretty romantic.
What would be romantic is if Lord Bastien didn't marry anyone else because that's completely unfair!
Are we really going to be discussing this?
Here?
While Konatsu's gone crazy and drove off with a car?
* Shuri ... crosses his arms...
You know I'm right.
...I know...!!
I just--whatever!
Fine, it doesn't matter!
* Shuri TSUN HUFF
* Koizumi^Risa crosses her arms and sulks too.
We'll get all the stuff from the gallery really quickly.
... Are we really going to go and steal it?
...What else are we supposed to do?
... maybe we should go get disguises.
And bags.
...I don't think we need disguises, since no one knows us...
And bags would be pretty suspicious...??
... plastic bags?
...I-I don't know what we should do.
I don't either.
* Koizumi^Risa pouts
Maybe we can just... see first
Just go through the gallery and see what we can do...?
Yeah.
I guess.
* Shuri ... gives her another tsundere glareish thing. sigh
Stop sighing!
Well, sorry--! You're the one who seems mad at me anyway!
I'm not mad.
... well, not really.
I just don't see why we keep getting dragged into doing stuff like this.
I don't know... It could be that we're special, right?
And there's nothing wrong with enjoying it at least a little while we're here, since we'll just go back to camp soon.
You call being chased by a giant bone dragon enjoyable?
... you sure you didn't hit your head when you were a kid?
... multiple times?
No, I'm talking about the note!! It's not like we ever hear anything about them most of the time!
Well, they are... possibly kinda dead.
I know that!!
* Shuri is possibly throwing a mini-tantrum.
I'm going to try and take the note back anyway.
And do what with it?
... keep it.
* Shuri ...sulks a little
What?
I found the note while the two of you were busy preening in front of the mirror.
--Whatever! I don't care~~~!
...
liar.
...So what do you want me to say?!
If I say I want it you won't give it to me anyway!
Well of course not!
... but I can lend it out.
If you want to...
...I-It's not a thing to be lent...
* Shuri ... looks like he is considering it though.
Well, think about it
* Koizumi^Risa handwaves
I'm going to see if we need anything for the trip.
...Fine.
* Koizumi^Risa exits the hallway.
#amurderof
After everyone has eaten up and rested up, Sidney returns. "I'm sorry to say that Mr. Brown will have to stay here for the time being," he says. "No harm will come to him, of course."
............
Ah...all right...
* Ashton :|a
* John^Brown ... nods
* Robin^Sena looks sad.
Ahh... Of course...
* Shuri super dubious.
* Sera looks blank.
Jez comes back over to John's side. "Can do what you want here, just not leave," she says.
Alright then...
"I assure you," Mr. Sidney says gravely, "that he will come to no harm so long as you do not betray Miss Lucia."
We won't.
We're not betraying her.
Betray her doing what?
She already told me that no one would be hurt at all. It's hard to hear more promises.
Leaving.
...
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
* Ashton looks back x3.
* Sera stands up. "Let's go, then..."
* Robin^Sena hands Risa the list of things at the gallery. "Here you are."
Thanks.
* Vaan stands up!
* Ashton moves over to Vaan. "All right..."
Good luck everyone.
Mr. Sidney looks at Sera. "Who has been hurt?"
Thank you.
* Ashton nods to John. "Thanks; we'll see you in a bit."
Uh, Mr. Sidney, can Shuri and I have...
* Vaan nods.
... like.
thieving things?
like a lockpick
Or... explosives or something.
"Do either of you know how to use a lockpick?" Mr. Sidney inquires.
Maybe not explosives
E-Explosives...
I'll more then likely be in the study when you get back.
I don't know how to do it...
* Sera raises her eyebrows at Mr. Sidney. "An 'if' is really different than a 'no,' that's all..."
... how about a large hammer?
* Robin^Sena says, "If you find out anything else in the research, please let us know." to John.
What do we need all that stuff for??
* John^Brown nods and says "I will."
... I dunno, haven't you seen those movies?
they always blow something up
"Only a fool makes a promise that lasts under every condition," Mr. Sidney says. "She wanted you with her because she trusted you; believed in you. That one of you has stolen from her and abandoned her -- what does it say to her? You may have a hammer, Miss Risa."
No...
* Shuri ... listens to Mr. Sidney, looking rather uncomfortable.
Wait-- Konatsu stole something?
The car...
Oh, right.
Shuri, what do you think we need?
"She has quite a few that she collects."
I don't know what we need--! I'm not a thief.
I'm not either!
Let's just go, already!
Just... think like one.
* Sera shrugs.
"If it may be a while, shall I send the others on their way and drive you myself?" he asks Risa and Shuri.
* Robin^Sena looks around for Cherry.
* Ashton shifts, uncomfortable. "Could we just...?"
* Shuri ... jiiiiiiii... "I guess..."
...Who's driving us, anyways?
It's ok.... let's just go.
* Koizumi^Risa looks at Shuri sullenly
Right.
Cherry is waiting against one wall.
* Shuri gives her a look back. :/
* Robin^Sena looks at Sera, then Cherry. "Shall we go...?"
Mr. Sidney, it's okay... we'll just head over there
...Mr. Sidney, is someone driving us out, or is it close enough to walk?
Sydney says, "Earl will drive you, Mr. Vaan, Mr. Anchors."
* Sera nods to Robin!
...Earl...?
...who's Earl?
--oh, I forgot about the piano... I'll do it when we get back. I hope.
"He should be pulling your car around now," Mr. Sidney says. "Miss Risa and Mr. Oak may accompany... ah, come to think of it, perhaps I should stay here. Rand can drive. And ...Cherry can drive Miss Sera, Miss Robin."
Rand...?
He ushers you towards the door.
* Koizumi^Risa is ushered.
* Shuri --goes...
* Ashton heading outside, then...
* Vaan goes!
#bearisdriving for Vaan and Ashton
* Robin^Sena goes.
#pyromobile for Robin and Sera
#getawaycar for Risa and Shuri
* John^Brown gets up, nods to everyone and heads towards the study.
#bearisdriving
Waiting outside is a very very large, very hairy man, standing beside a small car. He nods to you both seriously.
........
...h-hello! You must be Earl.
He nods again and gets into the driver's seat.
...We should probably both sit in the back....
...yeah, okay.
* Ashton gets in the back!
* Ashton and buckles up.
* Vaan sits on the opposite side of the car and buckles up as well!
"...........................................where?" Earl asks, finally, in a deep gravelly voice.
...uh...Devil's Stone?
* Ashton thinks for a moment.
On the Dundee-Perth carriageway!
Whatever that means.
...I'm shocked you remembered that.
Well, I didn't; the dragons did.
* Ururun looks smug.
A-ah!
Earl silently maneuvers the car onto the road around. "Carriageway," he mutters.
* Vaan whispers, "Do you think he knows where he's going?"
* Ashton shrugs. Looks pensive.
...ah, have you worked with miss Bellcourt long, Mr. Earl?
"Nope," Earl says.
I--I see...
........
Just a few months or so, then?
"Mm."
...
....He doesn't say much, does he.....
...it's not a bad thing...
Do--do you like working with her?
......I-I guess you're right.
"Like?"
Well--she seems like a nice girl!
* Vaan looks out the window.
"I'm a servant," Earl says. "What's to like."
...masters and servants can be friendly too...
* Ashton has Christian and Bastien flashbacks. Sighs a little. Then pictures Lucia and Earl and wants to die a bit.
* Vaan is half listening.
"No," Earl says, shortly. "Not for me."
O-okay!
...what do you think about Mr. Sidney, then?
Earl is silent.
O...okay! Sorry. You don't like to talk much, huh.
* Vaan is really wondering what he's looking at out the window. It's pretty dark though.
* Gyoro and Ururun stare out the window, too.
You may notice a stalled out car on the side of the road as you stare, Gyoro and Ururun. Oh. And a hacked apart corpse beside it.
* Ururun squalls in alarm.
WHOA
What on earth is going on in this place--
--could we stop the car? I think they've spotted something important!
Earl stops the car.
* Vaan runs out!
S-sorry! Please don't drive off without us.
* Ashton HURRIES TO CORPSE
* Vaan stares at the corpse.
Oh, no...
The corpse looks fairly fresh. It has been violently torn into with a bladed weapon.
* Ashton ... but it's not Konatsu, right.
Someone really didn't like this guy....
* Vaan hopes its not Konatsu....
* Vaan barely saw him, after all.
The corpse is not Konatsu.
* Vaan SIGH OF RELIEF
* Ashton BUT IT'S STILL A DEAD GUY 8(
* Vaan A FRESH DEAD GUY
* Ashton ... tries to move it off the road???
* Vaan tries to help ashton.
It is not very solidly in one piece anymore.
It is a messy process.
* Ashton bawwwwww.
* Vaan ignores the mess!
That shower was a waste....
* Ashton PUTS EVERYTHING MORE OR LESS IN A NEAT PILE
We--can't just leave a dead guy here though!
I mean!
What are you saying we do!
I hope Konatsu's okay!
Me too....
...I, I don't know, let me think! ...why would someone attack--oh dear.
.....
We should probably just keep moving, this is dangerous.
* Ashton deep breath.
There's a reason someone killed this guy, right? Could you--check the car quickly, at least?
.....Fine.
* Vaan heads towards the car.
....Can he get in though, and are the windows tinted.
* Ashton /)(\
* Ashton having flashbacks to the news articles last game, about the mysterious killings.
* Ashton ... also trying to get a look at the dead guy's face; Gyoro is helping with the light issue.
He looks terrified.
...Some pretty scary must've killed him, huh.
It looks like the car has not been disturbed, beyond the hood being open and some blood spattered inside, as if he were attacked with the hood already open.
* Ashton shivers, then undoes his cape and wiggles out of it, to lay it over the...heap...of corpse.
....Should we go.....
Anything in the car?
Doesn't really look like it....
* Ashton tries a car door. :X
It's unlocked.
A-ah!
* Ashton looks inside it!
Not much unusual here unless you want to steal his CDs.
* Vaan doesn't even know what a CD is
* Ashton decides taking a murdered guy's CDs isn't okay.
His keys are also in the ignition.
....Huh....
* Gyoro ... yanks THOSE out.
You now have his keys
We should leave this place...and get going to the rock.
Okay. I'll--I'll ask later if Miss Bellcourt can send someone out to investigate or call the police or /something./ But we can't do anything for him right now, short of putting him in the back.
* Gyoro keeps the keys, because he can.
That seems best.
* Ashton starts walking back to Earl's car.
* Vaan walks with Ashton!
* Ashton is now all over blood, booo.
* Vaan stands around awkwardly.
Earl lets you guys in. "Done?"
I think we are.
Yeah, let's go.
* Vaan passes out in the car.
He continues to drive, and I think we should stop there for tonight. Can continue tomorrow.
#pyromobile
Cherry slinks out with you two and heads towards the garage. "I'm driving~ I'm driving~" it singsongs to itself.
... is this safe...?
...I don't know, but...
It clambers over one of the cars' hoods to climb into the driver's side window.
...
* Robin^Sena uses... the door.
* Sera does that too.
It runs its fingers all over the wheel, then the ignition, then the dashboard, then the stick shift and parking break. "Okay."
* Robin^Sena is putting that seatbelt on, sitting in the backseat.
* Sera sits shotgun. ...where the airbag is.
* Robin^Sena should have thought of that.
* Sera buckles up. "Okay, we're ready, I think."
"Okay." Cherry unzips a pocket on its hip. It takes hold of the ignition and starts the car, undoes the parking break, then puts two hands on the steering wheel and a third on the stick shift.
* Sera watches this in fascination.
* Robin^Sena crosses herself.
For a moment it doesn't move. Then, "Oh, is this the gas?"
The car lurches forward.
* Robin^Sena grabs onto the seat. "Yes!"
* Sera is just along for the ride.
For a few moments it's hectic, and then Cherry seems to sink into his seat a little, smoothly shifting gears and finding a pace that works. "Where are we going again?"
The Seagate.
"Where at the Seagate?"
* Sera glances at Robin.
Cherry drives in little circles while waiting.
... um.
The websites just said they were executed in the Seagate. I don't know exactly where.
...let's try the center of town.
Okay. Sorry...
I forgot to double check, too.
Maybe there will be someone around that we can ask.
"It's a street. There's an area known as the Seagate," Cherry offers. "Like a roundabout as well as the street... it's a mini-downtown district."
Let's try there.
Cherry straightens the car out. It stalls.
It ponders, then restarts the car and gets into the right gear before continuing down the road.
* Robin^Sena sighs in relief.
Experimentally, Cherry pumps the gas.
* Robin^Sena braces herself...
* Sera accepts all the possible consequences of this car ride at this point.
YOU GET THERE WITHOUT CRASHING somehow. Eventually.
* Robin^Sena gingerly steps out of the car and looks around.
...t-thanks, Cherry.
* Sera follows Robin.
Dundee Seagate Bus Terminal seems to dominate the roundabout and Seagate street.
There seems to be a lot of restaurants, bars, clubs, etc around
Several of the bars hang pride signs.
I wonder if we can go in there.
* Robin^Sena points to a bar.
The buildings in the area are probably best described as 'quaint'
I don't see why not...
* Sera is way more uncomfortable here than she's ever been in freaky haunted houses full of gore and monsters.
* Robin^Sena walks into a nearby bar.
* Sera ...follows hesitantly.
Excuse me...?
"Yes mum?" The accents here are quite heavy.
* Sera hangs around near the door and is awkward.
I'm looking for the public execution site. Can you tell me where it is?
I'm doing a history paper.
"Where're you from, girl?" He slaps her shoulder. "Ah, you'd be thinking of the old jail."
Italy. Where is the old jail?
* Robin^Sena is nonplussed.
* Sera is still awkward.
"It's not there anymore," he says. "Market square, I think? It was right near the tollbooth..."
Oh, okay. I think I saw the tollbooth when we drove in.
"Now, that's the newer tollbooth, seventeen hundreds, I think. There used to be an old one on the other side, think it was nearer where the first prison stood... Don't know much more about it."
Alright... thank you.
* Sera sidles out, if Robin is done. :x
* Robin^Sena is going to go look for that tollbooth then!
There's an old stone structure that might have been a tollbooth...
* Sera wanders over to it.
* Robin^Sena closes her eyes and touches it.
OVERWHELMING FEAR
* Robin^Sena draws her hand back and recoils, face scrunching up.
--Robin!
Are you okay?
T-this is it...
Is there anything I can...?
I... I'll just need to keep at it, I guess.
It's... she was so afraid.
Whoever it was, I mean. Maybe it's lots of people. It probably is.
* Robin^Sena swallows and puts her hand on the stone again, concentrating. "Grizzel...?"
* Sera winces and sticks close to Robin for moral support.
It's hard to sense a specific spirit, though there's a growing feeling of fear, confusion, longing.
Grizzel Jaffray... can you hear me?
...who...
It's okay.
*NO*
* Robin^Sena winces. "I-it's alright... I won't hurt you. We won't hurt you."
*hurt...*
*torture torture torture*
Torture...
*pain*
Are you... Grizzel?
*....yes yes yes*
* Robin^Sena breathes shakily. "Good... good, I'm glad. I wanted to meet you."
*What do you ---want---*
Will you tell me... where you lived?
Confusion. *Here...*
Dundee, yes. Did you live in a house?
*Once.*
Where was it?
...................*nethergate...*
Nethergate?
*I lived there once...* She's fading
Grizzel, where in Nethergate? What was your house like?
*it's all over, I can't go home.*
I know... I know, I'm sorry.
*I want it to be as it was... he'll walk to the bank every day, I'll open the windows and let the light in...*
her voice fades out again
Grizzel!
*we can see it from our house, that bank. Could. Can't. I'll die.*
... I know. Grizzel... please rest. It's over now.
*Rest...* she sounds wistful, almost dreamy, and then she's gone.
* Robin^Sena breathes deeply and lets go of the rock.
* Sera looks at her, wide-eyed, and puts a hand on her shoulder.
She lived... in Nethergate. In a house, very close to the bank. He would walk there every day, and she'd... they could see it from their house.
* Sera ... nods
* Robin^Sena wipes the corners of her eyes.
I'm sorry.
I think... she'll be okay. She was scared, at first, but not anymore.
...I... I hope she finds... whatever it is that she needs.
Rest. No more pain.
They... tortured her.
* Sera looks down. "..."
* Robin^Sena lifts her head, smiling a little painfully. "I don't know if I helped any... but we know where to look."
...Nethergate. Let's tell Cherry.
* Sera squeezes her shoulder comfortingly before letting her hand fall.
Yes. I... should try and speak to the girl from Fiend's Den, too. I don't know if I can, but...
* Robin^Sena glances at Sera gratefully. "I just... need to sit down for a minute."
C-come on, there should be a bench or something--
* Robin^Sena nods.
#getawaycar
Around to one side of the house is a small volkswagon beetle car with a thin, almost spindly man in a suit waiting beside it.
You're... Rand?
* Koizumi^Risa punches Shuri
punch buggy
--Ow! What?
It's a game.
"I'm Rand," he agrees easily. His eyes look hollowed out. "Where are we headed to, friends?"
* Shuri looks unimpressed. "I don't know it..."
Ah--the gallery...
To the... Mc... something gallery.
... wow, we really should have checked where we're going.
Th-There's a list.
It says the name on the list, right??
UH... yes
* Koizumi^Risa looks at the paper
McManus!
"Sure thing, friends."
* Shuri speaks softly... "Well, at least he seems nice."
* Shuri goes to get in the caaar
* Koizumi^Risa nods
Do you work for Lucia as well, Rand?
"That's right," Rand says, easy-going.
Are you a demon?
"That's right."
... wow.
...How many does she have...
A lot, I guess.
"It's hard to keep track of some days," Rand agrees. He drives according to the speed limit on the way into town, very precisely.
So how far away is it?
"It's downtown," Rand says. "Maybe a half hour. Want the radio?"
Yes please!
Uwah, okay~
Rand puts on the radio and taps spindly, insectile fingers against the wheel in time as he drives.
* Shuri stares out the window
* Koizumi^Risa yawns a little.
Um... Do you know anything about stealing from museums, Rand?
"Me?" He chuckles, the sound papery. "I've stolen a thing or two in my time. Not really from museums."
Any tips would be great
"Don't get caught."
Y-Yeah, I've never really...
* Shuri s-sighs
Is the museum closed right now?
"It closes at 5 sooo... yes. Do you need to get inside?"
Well... we need to get inside to get things that are inside...
... We have a hammer.
Won't there be... alarms??
...
Probably.
"I can get you inside," Rand says easily. "For a cost."
...Cost?
... What kind of cost?
"Nothing you'd miss."
...But you have to tell us...
Y-yeah.
I mean, how do you know what we'll miss or not??
"Just a sip of your life," Rand says. "That's all."
* Shuri ...considers this
If it's only a sip, whatever.
. . .
Uh.
...
I kinda have my doubts.
About sips... I mean.
...
From both of us?
"You both want help, don't you?"
I-If you don't want to do it then I can get in and then let you inside.
well, I don't want you to... bear it all yourself.
* Shuri SHRUGS
But... I. We're sort of risking our lives here, literally.
All for what?
...
If we don't do this then we're risking other people's lives...
You know.
* Koizumi^Risa makes a face.
Fine.
Let's do it.
* Shuri ...nods, though it looks like he has his own doubts, a little
He smiles. "You're too kind," he says and keeps driving.
...You're not a vampire, right?
...
"I'm not a vampire," he says. "Though I'm close."
Uwaaah~.
...
a vampire bat?
He laughs. "We're about here," he says, pulling up in front of a gothic building.
Ah, good.
This... isn't what I expected a gallery to be.
It looks nice!
Nice?
He parks the car and leans back to look at them with hollow hollow eyes and a thin-lipped smile. "Shall we make a trade?" he asks.
* Koizumi^Risa ponders your definition of nice.
Can we try the door first?
"Go ahead."
It's probably locked...
* Koizumi^Risa gets out of the car and hurries to the front door.
It's locked.
* Koizumi^Risa checks for a back door?
* Shuri gets out of the car, not really bothering to look.
You slip down a side alley, Risa, but the service entrance is also locked.
kljfsdf
I'm fine with trading.
He gets out of the car and beckons.
* Shuri ... goes over...
* Koizumi^Risa contemplates smashing a window as she walks back to Shuri
No luck.
Rand smiles at her too. "Do you want to also?"
It's probably the only way...
... fine, I guess.
* Koizumi^Risa looks really nervous about it.
He takes hold of Shuri's shoulders first. "Look at me," he says.
* Shuri ... looks into his... eyes, a little timidly.
(It's cold and dark. You feel a chill, like when the wind rushes over you and sweeps your body heat away from you.)
* Shuri shudders, but tries not to look away.
You feel... pale, if pale is a feeling, and then he lets go of you.
* Shuri steps back ;; definitely... feeling pale.
He, however, is looking a little less spindly. He turns to Risa and opens his arms, jokingly.
... ...
you want a hug?
"I wouldn't say no."
... kay.
... I still have my hammer.
Just saying, you know.
"I won't touch below the waist or above the ribcage," he says.
* Koizumi^Risa approaches Rand cautiously... and gives him a hug?
* Shuri is... just standing over here trying to regenerate his body heat.
(A sucking, deep coldness, like standing outside when underdressed in the winter.)
* Koizumi^Risa shudders. Geez you're freezing...
He releases you, licking his lips. He's still thin, but looks fuller under his skin, less emaciated. "Well, let's go in, then." He slides back, takes Risa's hand, and reaches for Shuri's.
* Shuri ... grabs his hand. "Good."
You're feeling okay, Shuri?
* Koizumi^Risa shivers
I-It's just... cold...
He pulls you down through your own shadows.
* Shuri --whoa
It's dark, space makes no sense
you can't breathe to talk
you can't see, you can't hear
* Koizumi^Risa panics
* Shuri ... is also sort of -- oh reality -- ...feeling dizzy
and then he's pulling *up* and you're in the museum.