[LOGS] Dundee Game: Day Four, Early (3/4)
#imlovinit
Sera, Robin, Cherry, you encounter a familiar face coming out...
well, familiar to Sera.
* Robin^Sena glances.
Ah!
Kazuki, you see some familiar people as well... who is accompanied by a young man with spiky hair, wearing very heavy clothing that covers most of his skin.
...hi! Have we met before?
* Robin^Sena tilts her head, curiously.
* Sera gives Kazuki a frantic look.
Cherry glances between them curiously.
* Kazuki looks confused, "You don't remember?"
* Robin^Sena is contemplating a McFlurry.
"I want nuggets," Cherry tells Robin confidentially.
Do you want me to order...?
I have a very good memory... go ahead and order, you two.
* Robin^Sena goes ahead.
"I can order," Cherry says. "What do you want, you?" It nods to Sera.
* Robin^Sena gives Sera and Kazuki curious glances before she does, however.
...anything? I've never, um...
* Kazuki glances curiously back!
"Okay," Cherry says. "Can you come in too? I don't want to let you out of my sight."
...sure.
* Kazuki pipes up, "If it'd be okay, I'd like to talk to her one-on-one? Er, we don't have to go out of your eyesight or anything."
"Um," Cherry says. "I guess that's fine."
It walks up to the counter to order for the three of them.
* Sera whispers.
(Lucia has a guard on us.)
* Robin^Sena wants a Reese's McFlurry with extra Reese's.
Cherry orders a happy meal for itself and Sera and a reese McFlurry with extra Reese's and an apple pie and a smores pie tart thing.
* Kazuki gives a nod of understanding, and turns so his back is to a counter, ("I know there's something going on already. Now, when they come back I'm going to say some crazy things, I want you to play along.")
(I... can do that... is everything with you guys okay?)
Cherry begins to pay entirely in eurocents no larger than 1 cent or 10 cents.
(Yeah. We met up with these guys, Elli and Tristan. They're investigating deaths, and Lucia and her demon're probably linked. Do you have anyway to contact us...?)
(My phone, or Robin's. Tristan -is- around, huh...)
(Do you guys know who Sidney really is?)
(No, but I'm pretty sure I can find out. Give me your number?)
(--you know Tristan?)
(I still have it from camp, I'll text you... yeah. I think Sidney's one of the greater demons.)
(He is. David pretty much confirmed it.)
Cherry is now waiting by the counter for the food, its tongue out a little.
* Robin^Sena glances back at Sera and Kazuki.
(Let me know if you find out. Lucia's... she looks tired, she's been having nightmares, something's been -biting- her--)
(She threatened one of us with death if we didn't come back.)
(I'm pretty sure Sidney's been sleeping with her, or at least going into her room at night. According to David again!)
* Sera nods
(...she said he could stop the nightmares. Are those David...?)
(I doubt it, he can barely get in there.)
(In anycase... I have no idea how to get back to my hotel, so I might tagalong.)
* Sera nods.
(How did you get here if she didn't summon you?)
Cherry gets the food and hands Robin her flurry and then starts to head back towards Sera.
(I thought Elli was the one that summoned--) Cuts himself off!
* Robin^Sena eats her McFlurry, apparently satisfied.
...what's in that?
* Sera gestures at the paper bag.
* Kazuki turns around with a grin!
"It's a happy meal," Cherry says. "It has a toy with it." It glances curiously at Kazuki, blinking slowly.
* Robin^Sena mumbles, "I wanted a toy..."
* Sera takes it and looks inside curiously.
"You can have my toy," Cherry offers, slyly.
THERE'S A DRAGON TOY IN THERE SERA.
Oh, can I?
also some chicken mcnuggets and fries and a small drink came with it
...cute...
* Kazuki puts an arm casually around Sera, "Sorry for interrupting you guys. It's just I haven't seen Sera for so long! We're ex's, y'know, so it's undersandable she was a bit embarrassed to admit she knew me at first."
"I don't need belongings," Cherry says. It hands Robin a purple dragon toy.
* Sera CHOKES
"Scandalous," Cherry says.
* Robin^Sena takes the toy, then raises her eyebrows at Sera. "Wow..."
* Sera takes a deep, gulping breath, and then says valiantly "I-I-I was e-embarrassed."
"Did you have an embarrassing relationship?" Cherry asks curiously.
* Kazuki grins at them! "Yeah, you could say that. But the past is the past!"
* Sera looks down and mutters "He locked me in a closet once."
* Robin^Sena sips her McFlurry, fascinated.
* Sera continues bravely "...could he come back with us? His ride left him here."
We have a lot to catch up on, too.
* Sera BRIGHT, BRIGHT RED
Sera, are you okay? You look feverish.
Cherry says, "I'd have to ask the master. Um, what's your boyfriend's name?"
* Kazuki blithely answers, "Haruki."
* Sera nods.
"Haruki... why do you have wings?"
(You may or may not be able to see wings, Sera and Robin, depending on if your supernatural powers extend to vision)
* Robin^Sena blinks, and lo and behold, there they are.
(They are creepy black skeletal/mechanical wings)
* Kazuki looks sheepish, "I don't really have a good answer, except for the same rason you can see them?"
(Like these: http://www.ssbrpg.com/w/images/d/da/Uzuki.jpg)
"...you're a demon?" Cherry asks, bluntly. "You do feel it a little, but not entirely..."
* Kazuki pointedly looks at Sera, then back at Cherry, "There's a reason why our relationship is embarrassing!"
* Sera twitches.
"I see," Cherry says. "Well, I don't mind. The Master'll be happy to see you if that's the case...."
* Sera wants to die.
* Robin^Sena glances back and forth between everyone.
* Kazuki smiles!
"I didn't get you anything though," Cherry says, looking down at their food. "Is that okay?"
* Kazuki nods politely, completely entering his 'act-like-Haruki' mode, "You didn't know we'd meet."
"Come on, the car's just around the block."
* Robin^Sena goes out the door.
* Sera just... heads towards the car before anything more terrible can happen.
Car get. Cherry once more gets in via the window.
* Kazuki ...to the car!
* Robin^Sena sits in the backseat. "It's nice to meet you, Haruki. I'm Robin."
* Sera sits in the front seat so that Kazuki and Robin can bond and she can die in private.
* Kazuki sits in the seat directly behind Sera :), "You too, Robin."
* Robin^Sena eatin' mcflurry whoooo
Cherry eats nuggets as it starts up the car. "Let's go home," it says.
Y-yes.
* Sera tries a nugget after a while.
It is pretty good for grease-dipped chicken.
* Kazuki ...tummy rumbles. Looks semi-ashamed.
* Sera hands him the rest of her meal without looking at him. ...keeps the dragon toy.
You pull up to the house finally, at #manwhilebackattheranch
#getawaycar
If you want to look around the car at all you will find Rand's cellphone....
I don't want to go back there...
* Shuri ... finds cellphone?!
R-Risa, I found a... I found something.
What?
OH.
Give it here.
* Shuri hands her the cellphone
* Koizumi^Risa checks the contacts for a familiar name...
You see, among a few other names, "Master"
* Koizumi^Risa calls that.
Sidney picks up. "Yes?"
Mr. Sidney?!
Mr. Sidney is that you?
"...Miss Risa? Are you all right?"
Mr. Sidney! We... we made it to the gallery and we have the stuff but then Konatsu showed up and there were guards and someone died and we couldn't find Rand and... and... we drove somewhere and I don't know where we are and I just want to go home!!
Please come find us!!
* Koizumi^Risa chokes back a sob.
* Shuri starts to protest at mentioning Konatsu like that, but shuts up. :(
"A deep breath, Miss Risa," Sidney says. "Can you explain more clearly? I'll be right there. Do not hang up."
Th-there were guards in the gallery. And... Rand took care of the first one
But, there was another one just as we were going to leave.
* Koizumi^Risa sobs a little.
"And?" Sidney prompts her.
Risa...
And things got bad and we couldn't find Rand and it sounded like there were more people who were going to show up so I drove the car somewhere.
* Shuri looks slightly relieved
I just want to go home!
"One more question. Which seats are you and Mr. Oak in?"
... A-... I'm at the driver's seat.
* Shuri is in the back seat next to the stolen goods, although he cannot hear the question
Shuri's at the back, with the stuff.
"Please move the stuff onto his lap. Can you do that?"
* Koizumi^Risa cups the phone. "Sidney says to put all the stuff on your lap, Shuri."
* Shuri ...gathers the stuff and sets it on his lap, although dubious
* Koizumi^Risa back on the phone. "Okay."
There is a rush of displaced air and Sidney is in the passenger's side seat; Lucia is in the backseat.
* Shuri ... blinks. "L-Lucia?"
Mr. Sidney!
Lucia!
Sidney hangs up his phone.
Lucia blinks back at Shuri, then down at the things in his lap. Then, notices he's been crying, expression flickering.
* Koizumi^Risa looks like crap, eyes puffy from crying.
...Here are the things.
* Shuri ... passes them over to Lucia??
"Now, what happened, exactly?" Mr. Sidney asks. He leans over, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing Risa's face.
We got caught.
Lucia takes the things, then lets them slide to the floor, pulling Shuri into a hug.
* Koizumi^Risa looks like she's about to cry again.
* Shuri --is taken by surprise... "Ah..."
"It'll all be fine now," Sidney soothes.
We were going to leave... but, but there was a guard with a taser and Shuri tried to fight him.
* Shuri ... hugs back.
Lucia rests her chin on top of Shuri's head.
But Konatsu showed up and killed the guard. And...
And..
and then he disappeared again.
Lucia glances at Sidney.
H-Had you still not heard where he was--?
* Shuri can't very well cover up for konatsu anymore so... may as well ask
And Shuri was worried about other guards coming and we drove off in the car because we couldn't find Rand!
So... so I drove.
"Rand is gone," says Lucia, vaguely.
We have what you wanted! Please, please take us home
I don't want to do this anymore!
Sidney frowns, and puts a hand on Risa's shoulder. "You must have done a good job driving. Konatsu was here? He left again, you say?"
Gone where? He's dead?
--I-I saw Konatsu last in the gallery.
I left and then looked back and he was gone.
Lucia tightens her arms around Shuri a little. "Risa, can you switch seats with Sidney? . . . please take us home."
She pauses, then asks, "How did Konatsu seem?"
* Shuri baww hugging Lucia ;;
"Of course, Miss Lucia," Sidney says, getting out of the car. "You've had a hard night, both of you."
He... He seemed... to know what he was doing, at least...
* Koizumi^Risa shakily opens the car door and stumbles out.
As they pass each other around the car, Sidney puts a hand on Risa's shoulder again. "You're a strong girl," he murmurs to her. "Thank you." He continues on.
He said he wanted the amulet box to prove that he was helping you but he wouldn't even tell me why he needed that particular, a-and...
Sidney slides into the driver's side.
* Koizumi^Risa gets on the passenger side and curls up on the seat.
Sidney shrugs out of his jacket as he gets in and puts it over her like a blanket, warm with body heat. He starts the car again.
"The amulet box?" Lucia asks sharply.
R... Right.
Are you going to find him--?
* Koizumi^Risa is just quietly sitting here.
". . . we'll get you two home first," Lucia says softly, one hand smoothing down Shuri's hair.
...Can't I go?
* Shuri is clinging.
"To look for Konatsu?"
Sidney drives quietly
I mean, if I can help at all, I want to go. I mean, it's my fault that I let him just leave anyway...!
"We'll see," says Lucia. "You should rest, first."
Can't we just go home?
* Shuri ...just buries his face in Lucia's shoulder then
Or back to camp?
* Koizumi^Risa whines weakly.
Lucia holdsssss Shuri.
"We'll go back to the mansion," Sidney says, calmingly. "We'll figure this out."
* Koizumi^Risa too tired to argue.
* Shuri mumble. "Fine."
"Don't drive too fast," Lucia says softly. "Ahh. I'm sorry, you two . . ."
"I won't. Let's make it a safe ride," Sidney says.
I-It's all right, I mean, we got the stuff, in the end.
"Stupid," Lucia mutters. "It's not always the stuff that's important."
Yeah, those words just came out of her mouth.
* Koizumi^Risa mumbles something about having a criminal record now.
"Technically, you have to be caught and identified to have a criminal record," Sidney points out. This may not be as comforting as he intends.
* Shuri s-smiles into Lucia's shoulder
* Koizumi^Risa still looks terrified, all the same.
"They won't find you, Risa," Lucia assures her.
"Among other things," Sidney says, "We protect our own."
I don't see why we had to do this.
* Koizumi^Risa sulks.
I mean, you have guys that can sneak into museums through shadows and everything.
"There were holy items," Lucia points out. "And . . . other reasons, like that."
Y-Yeah, I guess...
* Koizumi^Risa just sulks.
Did everyone else get the other stuff...?
"They haven't returned yet," Lucia says. "So I'm not sure. I hope so."
Mmm.
Sidney's car pulls up at the house. Notably the other groups vehicles are back now.
Lucia and Sidney head inside, to #manwhilebackattheranch because I can't spell
#manwhilebackattheranch
Your two cars pull up about the same time. There is an extra person in Sera and Robin's car.
* Vaan sobs a little.
Thank you for the drive, Mr. Earl!
Earl parks, gets out, and immediately stomps off. Cherry parks, climbs out, and sticks around.
* Ashton crawls out of the car.
He got out fast...
* Kazuki gets out of the car, finishing off the happy meal.
* Robin^Sena steps out of the car with Sera and Kazuki.
* Vaan gets out of the car.
* Sera stares at Ashton and gestures at Kazuki. "This is Haruki."
* Kazuki adds on, "Her ex."
* Sera twitches.
* Ashton is missing his cape and probably has blood on him.
...are you okay?
* Robin^Sena is eating a McFlurry, but looks worried.
We got in some trouble, but we're fine. ... hi, Haruki?
Cherry tilts its head, looking up at the mansion. "...not here..."
* Ashton looks confusedly at Sera.
Hey everyone....
* Sera looks like she wants to die, but is DETERMINED!
...what's not here?
...Sera, are -you- okay?
"Master and Lord," Cherry says. "Weird."
... Lucia and Sidney?
I-I'm fine.
* Kazuki puts on an air of mild, oblivious interest
...where did they go...?
* Ashton :X.
* Kazuki also has vaguely torn clothes, but that COULD be waved off as a fashion statement. Maybe.
"I don't know," Cherry says. "Anyway, let's go in."
...okay.
...'kay.
* Vaan looks a little nervous.
* Robin^Sena nods. "Did you find out anything?"
...We found a piece of the rock.
Yeah, that.
And some, uh, other stuff.
How did you get hurt?
We didn't.
We found a dead body on our way to Devil's Stone.
A body!?
...it wasn't Konatsu.
In a car....
But yeah, it was no one we knew.
It'd been discovered on our way back.
Oh...
There were lots of...uh...vehicles?
We couldn't come back that way....
Did they have lots of red and blue flashing lights?
Yes!
Police cars...
...that's good, isn't it?
I saw that on the news. It was the recent murderer. You guys... are probably going to be suspects if you aren't careful.
...
Just our luck.
There have been murders--?
Yeah, a ton of them.
Can you tell us more?
Not really, that's all I know.
...I saw it on the internet, too...
Cherry tilts its head, listening with interest. It's stripping off some of its heavy outer clothes.
I don't think anyone say us.
...they're similar to the ones that were going on around Lucia's house in California.
From the news descriptions, anyway.
We knew about the fatigues, but...
* Ashton looks at Vaan. "I left my..."
"Your coat...."
...
Ahhhhhhhh.
Hopefully they won't make the connection.
* Ashton RESIGNED SIGH
Uh oh...
How would they even know it was us?
We don't exist, in this world. Not to the authorities.
That's good, because a whole lot of people at the hotel saw us.
--hotel?
Hotel?
Devil's Stone was at a hotel.
. . . can we go insidee, please?
* Sera nods and heads towards the door.
Uh, sure. I'm just amazed that I suddenly got caught up in a murder mystery!
* Robin^Sena does so, as well.
* Kazuki goeeees
* Vaan starts walking forward.
* Ashton trudges in.
Hey, does anyone know when Risa and Shuri will be back?
They might've been held up...oh dear.
Cherry finishes shedding layers and looks pleased to have its skin and zippers bare again. It is looking a lot less human all of a sudden.
* Gyoro stares at Cherry.
Cherry's long tongue flickers, snakelike. A metal tag at the end jingles.
* Gyoro croaks the dragon equivalent of 'cool story bro.'
Cherry sniffs Gyoro with its zipper.
The house is fairly quiet.
So... uh. What now? you said something about a hotel? Was it kinda seedy?
* Gyoro :|a
N-no, nothing like that!
There were a lot of guests, I guess...and they'd fenced the rock off to keep people from damaging it.
* Sera heads back to the closet on her own, ruthlessly leaving Kazuki to maintain the cover story.
It was a nice place!
Cherry looks torn as Sera walks off. It glances between her and Robin.
* Kazuki looks a little disappointed, "I'm lost. What's this about the stone?"
... she's probably just going to the bathroom.
"Okay...." It stays with Robin.
* Sera finds her bff the closet again, closes the door, and sits in the back to take her cell phone out.
[I have my phone again, and the guard isn't on me right now. We found Kazuki and brought him back to Lucia's. What do you guys know?]
A text comes back almost immediately. [You have Kazuki? How on earth did that happen??]
[He was in a McDonalds.]
[What?? Well ok, he and Joshua are both missing. At least now we know where Kazuki is. Ask him if he knows where Joshua went?]
[Okay, I'll ask. What do you know about Lucia and Sidney?]
[Not much. Mostly what you told us. But from what I gather, they're causing some trouble? Some major demon?]
[He's much more powerful than you are. It's scary.]
[Do you know his name or classification?]
[I wish. Lucia wears a pendant with a six-pointed star that she uses to summon him... I think it might be a variant of a Seal of Solomon, but I don't know.]
* Sera takes this opportunity to text Kazuki. [do you know where joshua is?]
[Not the actual Seal of Solomon, I hope . . .]
[I haven't seen it that clearly, and I don't know the variations. I wouldn't even know this much if I hadn't had my memory refreshed back home the other day.]
[what would that mean?]
[Refreshed back home? What do you mean? And um in legend the Seal let Solomon summon and command a lot of demons . . . 72, or 1000, it depends on the source. But it's been missing for centuries.]
[Sam was going over enochian and seals that might work on angels at home, I was helping... well, Lucia has a lot of demons...]
* Sera gets the text 'i know he's in a hotel with the others but i don't know where it is' from Kazuki.
[Kazuki says Joshua's in a hotel with the others as far as he knows]
[Okay, that's no help . . . what is going on? I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help to you. This is my world and everything, but I'm really . . . I'm sorry.]
* Sera stares at the cell phone for a minute, disturbed.
[...we'll do our best, I'll stay in touch. I'm going back where the guard'll see me now.]
* Sera pockets her phone and heads back out of the closet.
#manwhilebackattheranch
Oh, Lucia brought us here to look for items and information. She's a collector.
--what Robin said.
A fragment of the Stone was one of the items.
Mm, we also got a brick piece from the home of Grizzel Jaffray.
* Robin^Sena produces it from her pocket.
It's not much, but...
Did you run into any trouble getting it?
I have it!
Not really... well, I mean, I spoke with Grizzel.
...ehh?
Her spirit was still there.
. . . so did you have to apologize about stealing bits of her house?
Ahh--
Well... I asked her where her house was, and then went to it. It was in Nethergate.
* Ashton absorbs this.
We didn't want to break in and steal anything, so we just took a brick.
Ahhh.
* Kazuki looks interested! But also preoccupied, "I wonder why she wants to collect that stuff."
Oh, I also spoke to the spirit of the girl from Fiend's Den-- she... was definitely a cannibal. We didn't get much information from her... she knew nothing about her family, since she was taken from them at birth.
Wow....
Then we went to McDonalds.
And then we met up!
...what's McDonalds.
* Kazuki looks horrified
It's a fast-food restaurant...
. . . what's a . . .
......Fast food?
Food that's made fast.
* Ashton LOOKS ENLIGHTENED.
* Robin^Sena holds up a little dragon toy. "I got one of these."
--awooork!
* Ururun takes a closer look at that!
Ahh--
It's cute, isn't it?
I guess....
* Gyoro squawks in approval.
* Kazuki looks around, not really finding much to comment on the conversation itself, "So, you guys have been here since...? It looks pretty comfy, and what about the master? Good company?"
We've been here since yesterday!
We've only been here a couple of days, technically...
Long story?
* Ashton is still very confused about this IDENTICAL KAZUKI TWIN.
Lucia wants us here to do collecting for her... but things have gone a little strange. Konatsu was with us originally, but apparently he stole a car and left. Lucia was really upset.
* Kazuki smiles at Ashton, and winks. "Sounds like a weird situation, that's for sure. But now I'm interested, anything else that was strange?"
This whole thing is strange...
Everything is!
* Ashton ... makes an OH I HAVE CAUGHT ON SORT OF face.
* Robin^Sena sighs and sits down, looking tired. "I hope Shuri and Risa are okay..."
I'm the newbie here, so it'll be great if you could start from the start.
How long ago does it even go back to?
...months ago, I think...
Too long...
* Ashton sighs. "K--Haruki, are you familiar with camp at all?"
* Kazuki siiideglances at Cherry, "Only what Sera told me."
Cherry is watching them all unblinkingly.
Sometimes we get pulled out of Camp to play games... I've been in two of them, and Sera a lot more. Some of us met Lucia and Sidney in the last game-- I didn't, but she and Sera are close.
Alright, suddenly being pulled into games are pretty weird, but what's so weird about being hired to work for a collector?
There's stuff from the other games that comes up in Lucia and Sidney's, too.
The things she collects are all demonic in nature, from what I can tell.
At least, that's what it looks like from the list she gave us.
Huh! That'll probably cause you trouble, yeah.
We also--had to investigate the house we played some of the other games in yesterday.
Except it's in ruins now.
* Kazuki hummmms. Also at that moment his phone rings his text ringtone! "Ah, sorry, this is interesting and all, but that's probably my friend that ditched me." Aaaand moving back to flip open his phone to read the text and reply.
* Ashton also sits down.
* Robin^Sena , reminded, sends a text to Elli and Luka: "Send me the directions to your hotel anyway. If we can, we'll see if we can go there."
The door opens
......
Lucia, Sidney, Shuri, and Risa enter. Shuri and Risa are both red-eyed and puffy-looking. Sidney is carrying a coat full of stolen goods.
--!!
Ah!
Shuri, Risa--
* Shuri ...does not have on his coat, obviously
* Kazuki looks to the door, and immeditely puts his phone away, standing aside.
Lucia is standing close to Shuri, worriedly.
Are you all alright?
Lucia looks around, sees Kazuki, and yelps, "You!?"
* Kazuki looks innocent!
* Shuri follows Lucia's gaze--"Eh??"
* Robin^Sena looks at "Haruki".
Sidney's brows raise.
* Koizumi^Risa has Sidney's coat over her.
* Kazuki cocks his head, "I think you've got the wrong guy?"
* Shuri ...tilts his head also. "Ah..."
. . . Kazuki?
"The wrong guy," Sidney repeats, amused.
* Ashton :Da
Kazuki...?
* Kazuki grins, "Yeah. Ah, you just said 'Kazuki', right? That's the name of my twin. I can show you a photo if you want."
. . .
Sidney glances at Lucia, brows still raised.
I... see...
* Koizumi^Risa kind of stares at everyone and tries to find the farthest chair to sit on.
* Shuri does not seem overly concerned about the identity of this mysterious man.
Lucia is glaring at Kazuki suspiciously. "What are you doing here, either way?"
* Kazuki replies simply, "Sera is my ex. We bumped into each other at McDonalds."
"Sera isn't from this world!"
* Sera wanders back in at this auspicious time.
* Shuri ... glances at Sera...
What on earth is going on here--?
* Kazuki retorts, "It's not the first time she's come here."
* Robin^Sena tilts her head.
Sh-She's been trapped in houses and stuff--
Are you sure about this??
* Kazuki looks to Sera, eyebrows raised, and heaves a HEAVY sigh.
...we weren't trapped every time.
Lucia smacks Kazuki in the face with the heel of her hand.
Lucia--!
--ow!
"I don't think Miss Lucia appreciates bald-face lies," Sidney comments.
Uwah--!
* Sera sits down, for lack of anything else to do.
* Kazuki holds up his hands, "Alright, you got me. It's true I do have a guy that looks just like me named Haruki, though."
So you are Kazuki...?
So what are you doing here?
Sera was acting weird, so I decided to tag along!
Wow . . .
...and Kazuki wanted to be incognito.
What are you doing HERE, though?! As in IN THIS WHOLE WORLD?
* Sera rubs at her forehead. SIGH.
* Kazuki shrugs.
* Vaan is so lost.
Lucia, we met up with Kazuki while we were out. I don't know how he got here. He didn't want to say who he was in front of Cherry, that's all.
I can't help but be suspicious, right? Considering.
"Answer Shuri's question, though!" Lucia demands.
...apparently a lot of people here know the Director...
* Kazuki replies semi-honestly, "I opened up a door of a closet and found myself bloody with my clothes torn up in a library of kids, who started screaming and panicking, so I went to McDonalds to clean up."
. . .
Ehhhh??
...did you see who summoned you here, Kauzki...?
To this world.
Why McDonalds...?
* Kazuki replies to Robin first, "Closest place with public toilets that wasn't the library."
As to who summoned me... I don't know, you mentioned Lucia?
Oh, okay.
Lucia's right here!
Since she's so surprised, it can't have been her...
And she doesn't know what's going on!
I thought it might've been.
* Kazuki shrugs
* Sera puts a couch pillow over her face. THIS IS SO CONFUSING.
* Robin^Sena goes and sits next to Sera, puts a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
I'm seriously confused.
Me too...
Lucia throws her hands up in the air. ". . . whatever! You're here with us now, so . . . whatever. Sidney, bring these things upstairs! The rest of you, did you get anything?"
We got the bit of rock...
* Vaan takes it out!
We got some information and a piece of brick.
Lucia raises her eyebrows.
It's from Grizzel Jaffray's old house... but that was about it. We didn't get nearly as much as we'd hoped for.
The family from the Fiend's Den was buried in the old graveyard. I thought we could find out where that was online, maybe.
Sidney bows to Lucia and takes the things upstairs.
* Robin^Sena takes the brick piece out from her pocket.
* Kazuki staaaays aside, not making anymore comments.
Robin talked to the surviving daughter and to Grizzel... I gave the daughter some of my blood. We found Grizzel's house, but we didn't want to break in, since it was a shop we could just buy something from during the day.
Lucia takes the . . . rock, and the brick--then perks up a little, looking at Sera. "You talked to Grizzel?"
Yes.
Robin did...
"What was said??"
* Sera looks at Robin, since she could only hear half of it.
* Robin^Sena clasps her hands in her lap. "... her house was in Nethergate. That's where we went. It's across the street from an old bank-- she and... I guess her husband, lived there. It's an antique shop now. Every morning, he would walk there to work and she would open the curtains to let the light in..."
* Robin^Sena swallows. "They tortured her before she was executed, at the Seagate."
... that's all.
.......
...
...damn.
Her spirit was in a lot of pain, so I... just let her rest.
* Koizumi^Risa is only half listening.
She's a ghost...?
* Robin^Sena nods. "She was the last Witch executed in Dundee."
I-I see...
Anyway... that was all I learned.
...the last girl from the Fiend's Den family was still hungry. I could feel it.
She never knew much about her family, from what Robin said to her, except that she knew where they were buried. ...and that's the information we got.
She didn't even have a name.
Lucia looks unsatisfied, but nods. "Okay! Good."
* Sera takes out her adorable dragon toy to fiddle with. :/
So... What are we... doing now?
Lucia wants it-- nah just kidding.
Its pretty late, isn't it?
Konatsu is still missing...
"It is," Lucia agrees. "We could rest for the night. Konatsu will stay missing until tomorrow. And if he doesn't, then we don't have anything to worry about."
She huffs.
What else do we have to do?
* Koizumi^Risa pales as she says that.
* Robin^Sena swallows and looks nervous.
* Kazuki just fiddles with his claw-pendant, looking bored.
* Sera leans her head back against the couch, closing her eyes. "John's still okay, right?"
"Yeah . . . I think he and Jez are making friends . . ." Lucia says.
* Sera doesn't say anything.
* Robin^Sena suddenly remembers something. "Ah... Mr. Sidney, could you show me where the piano is?"
Sidney has arrived back and is standing in the doorway. "Certainly, Robin. Unless there is something you need from me, Lucia . . .?"
Lucia shakes her head. "No. It's fine. Everybody, you can do whatever you want. Kazuki--" She narrows her eyes. "You can have Konatsu's bed."
* Robin^Sena gives Risa a side-long glance.
Ehh...
Ah--.
* Vaan looks at Kazuki.
* Ashton looks over at Kazuki.
That means that you'll be my roommate.
I don't have to stay here if you don't want me to. I was just tagging after Sera.
* Koizumi^Risa kind of stares back at Robin.
* Robin^Sena rises, tugging the sheet music out of her pocket for a split second so Risa can see.
* Koizumi^Risa stands up and follows, handing Sidney back his coat. "Thanks." she says quietly.
* Robin^Sena follows Sidney, presumably.
Lucia smiles at Kazuki. "You should stay here," she says, firmly.
* Kazuki raises his eyebrows, but doesn't protest.
* Sera stays on the couch, looking tired.
#mutegirlonabeach --> piano antics
* Ashton makes HEEEY motions at Vaan and Kazuki.
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
#heeeeeeeey
...
pfft
.....
* Vaan follows Ashton out.
* Ashton VAAN KAZUKI LET US HAVE A CONVERSATION IN #heeeeeeeey WHY NOT
* Shuri ... just sits on a couch too, hey.
* Kazuki ...glances a Lucia, and then is actually polite enough to DO A SMALL BOW with a 'sorry' handsign, holy crap, before going.
Lucia grabs Shuri's wrist, tugging. "Hey, come look at things with me . . ."
...Okay.
* Shuri goooes with Lucia.
#heterosexuality
(HAHAHAHA)
* Sera hangs out in the living room alone \o/
#oneisalonelydemon
#oneisalonelydemon
* Sera looks around the room idly, mostly just CHILLING OUT IN HERE and trying not to FEEL VERY SAD.
* Sera checks texts! 'Hey, you have Elli's number, right? Ask him to ask Joshua about a demon sigil, and finding that demons weakness.'
* Sera texts back [I don't think that they know where Joshua is. He disappeared.]
* Sera continues with [what about demon sigils?]
* Kazuki listens in, and is texted back! Replies, 'Damn. Maybe Itachi? i think he was there...' then again, 'Sidney has one, he used it to keep us in a room last game.'
@Kazuki [what did it look like?]
* Sera is having a conversation with Kazuki. 'It's not like I have a picture of it. Someone who knows what it looks like would need to look it up.'
[do you remember? there's internet here. We could find out.]
'Do you really trust using the net here? that Sidney guy gives me the creeps. Besides, it might help Elli out.' [I can check to see if anyone else is watching, online. I'd like to know too. I'll tell them, though.]
* Sera texts Elluka [Kazuki says that if you have any of the players that got eaten/ousted last game with Lucia, they'll have seen Sidney's sigil. Itachi maybe.]
[That's a big help!]
* Sera texts with Kazuki again: 'Awesome. It sounds like Ashton remembers it too. Txt back if you find out stuff.' [sure thing.]
[let me know if you find out...]
* Sera deletes her message history just in case.
(So whatcha want to do now?)
(go find the piano room)
You can detect the strains of Mozart at #mutegirlonabeach as you walk around
#mutegirlonabeach
* Robin^Sena follows Sidney.
"Are you well enough, Miss Risa?" Sidney asks politely as he leads them to the piano room.
* Koizumi^Risa shrugs. "I guess so."
"You sound like you went through quite a bit tonight."
It's just...
* Koizumi^Risa pauses... "I don't want to talk about it anymore. And... why can't we just go home?"
Even in Camp... we're not really home, are we.
I don't care.
"I'm sorry," Mr. Sidney says, gently. "Can't you see this through with Lucia? I'm sure she'll take your previous experience into consideration."
* Koizumi^Risa looks like she's about to cry again.
* Robin^Sena takes Risa's hand.
* Koizumi^Risa stares at Sidney for a long time before taking a seat in the room.
* Koizumi^Risa dragging Robin with her.
* Robin^Sena is dragged.
* Robin^Sena turns to Sidney. "Thank you."
* Koizumi^Risa shakes off Robin's hand and just sits there. "You can go play."
... okay.
* Robin^Sena goes to sit at the piano, and takes out the sheet music.
* Robin^Sena flattens it out, and looks it over before she starts to play slowly.
Sidney is listening.
The song sounds like Mozart's Fantasy in D-.
* Robin^Sena hesitates. "I got a text from the twins today. They were meeting up with some friends."
. . . friends?
Yes.
* Koizumi^Risa looks a little confused.
Some people we know.
* Koizumi^Risa still confused.
..ah.
They're here?
"Personal things?" Sidney murmurs. "Shall I leave you to it?"
* Robin^Sena nods. "Yes, if you would... thank you."
--oh! Wait, one moment.
There was one thing I forgot to tell Lucia.
Mr. Sidney seems amused. "Yes?"
The... one thing that the girl from Fiend's Den said she might have left behind was a doll. I think that was her only belonging-- I don't know if still exists, but it was the only other piece of information I got.
... that's all.
* Koizumi^Risa mutters under her breath. "She's probably gonna want that doll."
"I'll let her know," Mr. Sidney says, ignoring Risa's comment.
Thank you.
* Sidney starts to exit as Sera enters. He nods to her in passing.
* Sera nods back.
* Robin^Sena is playing piano.
* Koizumi^Risa is sitting on a chair looking sullen.
...what's up?
I was telling Risa about the text from Elli and Luka.
...in front of...
* Sera glances back through the door Sidney left through.
I called them 'the twins'.
... I hope that was okay...
They're around here?
...it's probably okay. We should be careful, though.
* Robin^Sena nods. "They met with eight people, most of whom sound familiar."
... eight?
* Robin^Sena plays with one hand while quickly taking out her cell phone and tossing it at Risa. "Catch."
* Koizumi^Risa fumbles with the cell phone and lets it drop into her lap.
...Lucia's given limited assurances on our safety, the people she summoned. I don't know what she might do to anyone else. So... let's be careful.
It should be one of the newer texts.
* Koizumi^Risa checks Robin's phone.
Oh... I should give this back to you, too.
What does this have to do with us though?
* Robin^Sena 's phone does indeed have a list of people Elli and Luka met with: " Rayfell, Raidou, Germany, Belphegor, Kazuki, Joshua, Kaname, and Itachi."
* Sera pulls out the letter from Christian and hands that to Risa, too.
Lucia didn't summon them, it seems.
* Koizumi^Risa makes a face upon reading Joshua's name.
* Koizumi^Risa takes the letter and puts it in her pockeet.
They also said that they were at Mayfair Manor-- late night and early morning, so they must have missed you.
We didn't get there until later... but I didn't notice anyone else having been there recently.
...maybe it's still not... stable?
Multiple entrances, probably.
We did have trouble when Sidney summoned us.
Mm.
* Koizumi^Risa sets the phone aside.
Anything else..?
Sera, what's up with Kazuki...?
He was another player in Lucia's game.
I, I, I don't know why he decided to--
* Sera blushes fiercely.
* Robin^Sena tilts her head.
...it w-was a really stupid cover story.
Cover story...?
I told him we were being watched, and he said he'd handle it, and asked me to play along...!
* Sera head in hands
Oh...
... Cherry?
* Sera nods without uncovering her face.
He's been with us this whole time... except now.
"Yes?" Cherry's voice says.
-ah!
* Robin^Sena fumbles with the keys.
Hi, Cherry.
Cherry leans out from a curtain and waves.
* Koizumi^Risa looks at Cherry then stands up.
... you two can talk, I'm heading back upstairs.
...that's astonishingly creepy. Are you still hungry? --okay, Risa.
* Robin^Sena bows her head.
"Sorry," Cherry says. "Was I interrupting? I thought you wanted some privacy."
* Robin^Sena .____.
* Sera puts her hand on Robin's shoulder. "We're okay. Are you supposed to watch us at night, too? Should we share a room...?"
"I don't know," Cherry says. "I'll have to ask. Is that okay if she says so?"
... I'll have to ask Shuri, but... it's okay with me.
* Sera nods at that.
* Koizumi^Risa exits the room.
...did she tell you what you were supposed to be looking for? In following us around.
It frowns. "I might only have had to follow you while you were outside," it says. "But because you were the ones who saw Konatsu that time..."
...what was weird about us seeing Konatsu?
"When he'd vanished and there was blood," Cherry says. "Master was a bit incoherent about it honestly."
I forgot to ask Risa what happened today...
Oh.
Did you just get summoned for that, or were you around before?
"I was around before," Cherry says.
How many demons does Lucia have...
"Lots," Cherry says. "She collects us."
That makes sense.
It nods. "She likes collections."
Was Sidney the first? Your Lord?
"I don't know. He was before me," Cherry says.
* Sera nods.
* Robin^Sena remembers that she's supposed to be playing piano, and continues.
* Sera sits down to listen.
It's a very pretty song... but kind of sad, and wistful. That's very common of Mozart.
Mm...
... I wish... I knew what was going on.
Nothing feels right.
...yeah...
Robin, your phone beeps
A moment later, Sera's phone starts to beep as well.
* Sera checks it, angling the screen so Cherry can't see.
* Robin^Sena opens it up.
Both of your texts say the same thing:
Sidney - Sydonai - Asmodeus
MOTHERFUCKER.
* Sera blinks and puts her phone away.
* Robin^Sena ... says nothing as she puts her phone away, but her eyes are wide.
* Robin^Sena 's fingers may also be shaking as well.
...I'm tired.
Me too. It's been a long day.
Cherry, will you ask Lucia...?
"Sure," it says. "...Stay here until I find out?"
* Robin^Sena nods.
Okay.
It heads out the door.
#heeeeeeeey
Ashton, what'd you want?
I wanted to talk to Haru--Kazu-- ...
Kazuki
Kazuki.
WHAT IS GOING ON.
Oh.
Yeah, I've never seen you.
I wasn't lying when I said I came out of a closet in the library. But that's after tons of other stuff.
Is it--
Was there weird stuff in the closet again.
Oh, I was part of one of these games before too. I just don't trust that Sidney guy, not after Sera started acting like she didn't know me at first.
And yeah.
Similar weird stuff?
It was David, in the closet. And I was summoned by this guy called 'Elli', along with some other guys, like Joshua.
...!!!
* Kazuki ...now that he thinks about it, flips open his cellphone again.
So THAT'S why she messed up back at the beginning, getting us here.
When we ended up in the forest?
Yeah.
Huh.
Elli said he felt interrupted, when he summoned us. I guess that was it.
So you were with other people for a while?
* Kazuki ...texts Sera, 'Hey, you have Elli's number, right? Ask him to ask Joshua about a demon sigil, and finding that demons weakness.'
About a day, yeah. This guy called Tristan was there too.
...dunno him.
Huh.
You're from camp too, right?
Sera does. And yeah, sorry about that confusion. Like I said, I didn't trust what was going on.
You were trying to fake your way in, huh...
We don't know much more than you.
Why were you asking about the hotel?
It's not like I planned on sticking around. Ah-- and that's cause I was in a hotel!
Did you see any big weird rocks?
--yeah.
It might have been the hotel we went to.
nah, it's not the same one. Yours sounds pretty flash, the one I was in was kinda rank.
Well, okay--not that we saw much of ours. Just the entry bit and a hallway, and the big rock.
Yeah...the guy at the front desk was really nice to me too!
* Ashton rubs his forehead. "There's way too much stuff going on."
I feel kinda bad about taking that thing....
What thing?
* Kazuki listens in, and is texted back! Replies, 'Damn. Maybe Itachi? i think he was there...' then again, 'Sidney has one, he used it to keep us in a room last game.'
Oh, that thing I was chipping the rock with.
Can we see? --Kazuki?
Oh, sorry, I'm texting Sera. She has Elli's number.
They're investigating stuff out there--?
Yeah, that's right. The murders. I'm pretty sure it's linked, but even if it isn't, I made a promise.
* Kazuki gets another text! Replies once again, 'It's not like I have a picture of it. Someone who knows what it looks like would need to look it up.'
Mm...I hope they'll be all right. Whatever killed that guy must be pretty nasty.
Anything we can help with?
Yeah...he looked really scared.
Actually... Ashton, do you remember that demon sign on the door from last game?
I--
* Ashton 's dragons nod emphatically. Gyoro snarls.
* Kazuki text recieved, replies /o/ 'Do you really trust using the net here? that Sidney guy gives me the creeps. Besides, it might help Elli out.'
Great! We need to look it up.
* Ashton 's eyes flicker and go blue. His voice is much deeper.
We remember it very clearly; how will you search for it?
* Kazuki teeext, texts back, 'Awesome. It sounds like Ashton remembers it too. Txt back if you find out stuff.'
Sera says she can try the net, but there's probably books as well.
* Kazuki --looks at latest text, then puts his phone away, done!
We can do that, then.
* Ashton 's eyes and voice go back to normal.
--a-ah--shall we do that tonight?
* Kazuki looks to Vaan?
What--
* Vaan has been spacing out.
.....you do know that Sidney is an evil, powerful demon, right?
.......No?
I kinda figured.
The dragons don't like him at all.
* Kazuki .......sighs. Looks to Ashton, "Should we give him the rundown of what happened last game? Since it's connected."
...yeah, let's.
* Kazuki EXPOSITION GOES HERE.
* Ashton loves exposition!
* Ashton , in the middle of the exposition, suddenly perks up. "Speaking of books, I wonder if we can get hold of the one we found in Mayfair Manor again."
Which one?
I gave it to Miss Bellcourt, but maybe if we asked nicely--uhhh.
None of us could read what it was written in, except Risa a little.
And she said it was about demons.
Ah--I think I understand.
Well, shit.
* Kazuki thinks things!!
Knowing that girl, she probably won't give something back easily.
Didn't she say something about ... some word like ... Diavolo?
Yeah, that.
...Miss Bellcourt said we could do what we wanted tonight, right? Let's check through some books, and if we get really desperate we can, uh, try and figure out where stuff we found is being kept.
Or ask her. Either way.
* Kazuki shrugs, "It doesn't ring a bell. Speaking of that last game, though... when I met up with David he told me some interesting stuff."
--oh?
His body is probably here. Sidney leeches off whatever power he has, so he can't be as close to Lucia anymore, but Sidney still moves his body around and keeps it close.
Ahhh--we found that last game, didn't we? Did he mention if it was as well-protected now?
* Kazuki wonders if he should keep saying the name 'Sidney', and if it'll summon him.
If it's behind another sigil we're in trouble.
Yeah, it's probably better protected than it was.
Well...it still won't hurt to keep an eye out for it, too.
* Vaan stifles a big yawn.
* Kazuki nods, "And part of finding out what the sigil is is to find out his weakness."
Mm, okay.
* Ashton looks over at Vaan. "Tired?"
Today was a long day....
I think I should get some rest.
All right; if anything happens tonight, we can tell you about it later.
Yeah. We'll let you know if we find anything.
Good luck.
* Vaan pads over to his room and ...
* Vaan sleeps super comfortably in his armor and clothes.
So--library for us, or something?
Yeah, I guess.
Do you know the way?
. . . nope.
I guess we could. Ask.
Ooor we could snoop around and say we were looking for the library.
Good plan.
Quick, pick a direction.
East?
* Ashton PROCEEDS EAST.
* Kazuki does too /o/
* Harukami rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CD: 2
You run into Mr. Sidney in the hallway.
* Ashton ... 8(
...hi!
* Kazuki ...waves!
He nods to them and continues off downstairs.
...
...uh, okay then.
Well that was creepy.
Tell me about it...
...I'd suggest we follow him except he'd probably know.
* Ashton keeps going east.
* Kazuki nods, and does too.
You find a stairwell!
It goes up and down.
* Harukami rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CD: 1
. . . upstairs?
We can flip a coin, if you want.
* Ashton rummages in his pockets.
...I don't have a coin.
Alright, then upstairs by default!
* Ashton HEADS UP
* Kazuki too, obviouslyyy
You find a floor that looks like some kind of student housing -- hallway with lots of rooms paired off cross the hall and bathrooms at either end.
Eh...
* Ashton tries opening a random room on the right!
Do they host a lot of guests or something?
Well, there's us.
And Miss Bellcourt doesn't just have--her butler around now.
* Kazuki decides that yes, it is probably a good idea not to call Sidney by name if Ashton also thinks it's a bad idea, "Yeah, but we're in different rooms."
Who knows? We can ask her that too, if you want.
It's an empty bedroom, though it looks a bit lived-in.
...huh, it looks like people have stayed here.
* Ashton tries opening the next room up!
* Kazuki also looks in the room, "I'm betting they're all like this."
We can look in the bathrooms too.
And if there's nothing here--downstairs!
* Kazuki shrugs, and also opens a random door
A fluffy dog with twelve horns bounds out.
. . .
Ah.
Hi there!
* Kazuki blinks at the random dog
You're definitely not nothing.
It yips excitedly.
* Ashton offers his hand for it to sniff, only a little gingerly.
It sniffs and then licks it. It has way too many teeth when it opens its mouth.
I wonder what his name is. Does he have a collar?
* Ashton is just glad it's not a bone dragon.
Ahhh--
* Ashton tries petting it and also collar checking???
It has a collar! It says, "POX"
IT LOEV PET.
* Kazuki also moves over to pet the doggy! "Well hey, what a friendly guy, despite appearences."
* Ashton ruffles behind its ears. "Nice to meet you, Pox!"
Pox rolls over hopefully, presenting its tummy.
* Kazuki ...throughly distracted from library search in favour of PUPPY!!
* Ashton SKRITCHES. ALSO DISTRACTED.
Puppy wriggles gleefully!!!!
* Kazuki ...after a few minutes... "We should probably go back to looking for the library..."
...can we take him with us. He's adorable.
If he follows us home, I'm not complaining.
...is he even a he?
He is on his back. He is a he.
...yep, that's definitely a he.
C'mon, boy!
You have to be sure, don't want to offend the little guy.
* Kazuki BACK DOWNSTAIRS WITH POX?
* Ashton checking the bathroom at the far end of the hallway, very quickly.
I'll catch up with you in just a second--!
* Kazuki waits at the stairwell a little impatiently
* Kazuki ...wait, scratch that, checks if one of the rooms has a closet.
The rooms all have closets!
* Kazuki files away this information!!
Ashton, do you want a bathroom room?
So many closets! It's a world of closets. Disneyland for closets.
* Ashton ... sure why not.
#ashtonhastowee
#ashtonhastowee
* Ashton PROBABLY DOES ACTUALLY.
You successfully wee.
* Ashton HOORAY.
* Ashton NOW LOOKS AROUND THE BATHROOM.
There is a medicine cabinet and a REALLY NICE JACUZZI TUB WITH SHOWER and a big mirror and the counter is MARBLE!
...waaah, I wish I were rich...
* Ashton opens the medicine cabinet first!
There's some basic first aid and painkillers in there.
* Ashton steals bandages. Closes cabinet. . . . Ururun checks out the mirror, just in case.
Ururun's good lookin', but not preternaturally so.
* Ashton \o/ LOOKING MYSTIFIEDLY INTO THE JACUZZI NOW
* Harukami rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CD: 1
Ashton... the jacuzzi has water in it, and bobbing in the water is exactly the thing you want to see the most.
Can you guess what it is?
* Ashton IS IT A BARREL???
IT IS A BARREL OMG there is a lid on the top but it looks like the lid could come off if you wanted to sit in it.
* Ashton *______*
* Ashton gathers the barrel close. Fondles it gently. Pries the lid off with a flourish.
Barrel loves you baby. Barrel is deep and ready and waiting and -- wait there's something in there.
* Ashton uwaaah, reaches in for it!
It... appears to be a bible.
Judging by the big "The Holy Bible" in gilt gold writing on it.
* Ashton has no idea what a Bible is, man.
* Ashton flips through it one-handed, still cuddling the barrel with the other arm.
It's heavy and the letters are shiny.
* Ashton looks at the barrel. Bible. Barrel. Bible. "...for me?"
The barrel does not respond.
It simply bobs gently.
* Ashton is grateful to the barrel anyway, and tucks the Bible into the front of his tunic.
You could probably carry the barrel with you if you really wanted. You could roll it down the hall.
...
...
...
* Ashton HEFTS THE BARREL OUT OF THE WATER YEAAAAHHHH
* Ashton and rolls it out of the bathroom.
Sera, Robin, Cherry, you encounter a familiar face coming out...
well, familiar to Sera.
* Robin^Sena glances.
Ah!
Kazuki, you see some familiar people as well... who is accompanied by a young man with spiky hair, wearing very heavy clothing that covers most of his skin.
...hi! Have we met before?
* Robin^Sena tilts her head, curiously.
* Sera gives Kazuki a frantic look.
Cherry glances between them curiously.
* Kazuki looks confused, "You don't remember?"
* Robin^Sena is contemplating a McFlurry.
"I want nuggets," Cherry tells Robin confidentially.
Do you want me to order...?
I have a very good memory... go ahead and order, you two.
* Robin^Sena goes ahead.
"I can order," Cherry says. "What do you want, you?" It nods to Sera.
* Robin^Sena gives Sera and Kazuki curious glances before she does, however.
...anything? I've never, um...
* Kazuki glances curiously back!
"Okay," Cherry says. "Can you come in too? I don't want to let you out of my sight."
...sure.
* Kazuki pipes up, "If it'd be okay, I'd like to talk to her one-on-one? Er, we don't have to go out of your eyesight or anything."
"Um," Cherry says. "I guess that's fine."
It walks up to the counter to order for the three of them.
* Sera whispers.
(Lucia has a guard on us.)
* Robin^Sena wants a Reese's McFlurry with extra Reese's.
Cherry orders a happy meal for itself and Sera and a reese McFlurry with extra Reese's and an apple pie and a smores pie tart thing.
* Kazuki gives a nod of understanding, and turns so his back is to a counter, ("I know there's something going on already. Now, when they come back I'm going to say some crazy things, I want you to play along.")
(I... can do that... is everything with you guys okay?)
Cherry begins to pay entirely in eurocents no larger than 1 cent or 10 cents.
(Yeah. We met up with these guys, Elli and Tristan. They're investigating deaths, and Lucia and her demon're probably linked. Do you have anyway to contact us...?)
(My phone, or Robin's. Tristan -is- around, huh...)
(Do you guys know who Sidney really is?)
(No, but I'm pretty sure I can find out. Give me your number?)
(--you know Tristan?)
(I still have it from camp, I'll text you... yeah. I think Sidney's one of the greater demons.)
(He is. David pretty much confirmed it.)
Cherry is now waiting by the counter for the food, its tongue out a little.
* Robin^Sena glances back at Sera and Kazuki.
(Let me know if you find out. Lucia's... she looks tired, she's been having nightmares, something's been -biting- her--)
(She threatened one of us with death if we didn't come back.)
(I'm pretty sure Sidney's been sleeping with her, or at least going into her room at night. According to David again!)
* Sera nods
(...she said he could stop the nightmares. Are those David...?)
(I doubt it, he can barely get in there.)
(In anycase... I have no idea how to get back to my hotel, so I might tagalong.)
* Sera nods.
(How did you get here if she didn't summon you?)
Cherry gets the food and hands Robin her flurry and then starts to head back towards Sera.
(I thought Elli was the one that summoned--) Cuts himself off!
* Robin^Sena eats her McFlurry, apparently satisfied.
...what's in that?
* Sera gestures at the paper bag.
* Kazuki turns around with a grin!
"It's a happy meal," Cherry says. "It has a toy with it." It glances curiously at Kazuki, blinking slowly.
* Robin^Sena mumbles, "I wanted a toy..."
* Sera takes it and looks inside curiously.
"You can have my toy," Cherry offers, slyly.
THERE'S A DRAGON TOY IN THERE SERA.
Oh, can I?
also some chicken mcnuggets and fries and a small drink came with it
...cute...
* Kazuki puts an arm casually around Sera, "Sorry for interrupting you guys. It's just I haven't seen Sera for so long! We're ex's, y'know, so it's undersandable she was a bit embarrassed to admit she knew me at first."
"I don't need belongings," Cherry says. It hands Robin a purple dragon toy.
* Sera CHOKES
"Scandalous," Cherry says.
* Robin^Sena takes the toy, then raises her eyebrows at Sera. "Wow..."
* Sera takes a deep, gulping breath, and then says valiantly "I-I-I was e-embarrassed."
"Did you have an embarrassing relationship?" Cherry asks curiously.
* Kazuki grins at them! "Yeah, you could say that. But the past is the past!"
* Sera looks down and mutters "He locked me in a closet once."
* Robin^Sena sips her McFlurry, fascinated.
* Sera continues bravely "...could he come back with us? His ride left him here."
We have a lot to catch up on, too.
* Sera BRIGHT, BRIGHT RED
Sera, are you okay? You look feverish.
Cherry says, "I'd have to ask the master. Um, what's your boyfriend's name?"
* Kazuki blithely answers, "Haruki."
* Sera nods.
"Haruki... why do you have wings?"
(You may or may not be able to see wings, Sera and Robin, depending on if your supernatural powers extend to vision)
* Robin^Sena blinks, and lo and behold, there they are.
(They are creepy black skeletal/mechanical wings)
* Kazuki looks sheepish, "I don't really have a good answer, except for the same rason you can see them?"
(Like these: http://www.ssbrpg.com/w/images/d/da/Uzuki.jpg)
"...you're a demon?" Cherry asks, bluntly. "You do feel it a little, but not entirely..."
* Kazuki pointedly looks at Sera, then back at Cherry, "There's a reason why our relationship is embarrassing!"
* Sera twitches.
"I see," Cherry says. "Well, I don't mind. The Master'll be happy to see you if that's the case...."
* Sera wants to die.
* Robin^Sena glances back and forth between everyone.
* Kazuki smiles!
"I didn't get you anything though," Cherry says, looking down at their food. "Is that okay?"
* Kazuki nods politely, completely entering his 'act-like-Haruki' mode, "You didn't know we'd meet."
"Come on, the car's just around the block."
* Robin^Sena goes out the door.
* Sera just... heads towards the car before anything more terrible can happen.
Car get. Cherry once more gets in via the window.
* Kazuki ...to the car!
* Robin^Sena sits in the backseat. "It's nice to meet you, Haruki. I'm Robin."
* Sera sits in the front seat so that Kazuki and Robin can bond and she can die in private.
* Kazuki sits in the seat directly behind Sera :), "You too, Robin."
* Robin^Sena eatin' mcflurry whoooo
Cherry eats nuggets as it starts up the car. "Let's go home," it says.
Y-yes.
* Sera tries a nugget after a while.
It is pretty good for grease-dipped chicken.
* Kazuki ...tummy rumbles. Looks semi-ashamed.
* Sera hands him the rest of her meal without looking at him. ...keeps the dragon toy.
You pull up to the house finally, at #manwhilebackattheranch
#getawaycar
If you want to look around the car at all you will find Rand's cellphone....
I don't want to go back there...
* Shuri ... finds cellphone?!
R-Risa, I found a... I found something.
What?
OH.
Give it here.
* Shuri hands her the cellphone
* Koizumi^Risa checks the contacts for a familiar name...
You see, among a few other names, "Master"
* Koizumi^Risa calls that.
Sidney picks up. "Yes?"
Mr. Sidney?!
Mr. Sidney is that you?
"...Miss Risa? Are you all right?"
Mr. Sidney! We... we made it to the gallery and we have the stuff but then Konatsu showed up and there were guards and someone died and we couldn't find Rand and... and... we drove somewhere and I don't know where we are and I just want to go home!!
Please come find us!!
* Koizumi^Risa chokes back a sob.
* Shuri starts to protest at mentioning Konatsu like that, but shuts up. :(
"A deep breath, Miss Risa," Sidney says. "Can you explain more clearly? I'll be right there. Do not hang up."
Th-there were guards in the gallery. And... Rand took care of the first one
But, there was another one just as we were going to leave.
* Koizumi^Risa sobs a little.
"And?" Sidney prompts her.
Risa...
And things got bad and we couldn't find Rand and it sounded like there were more people who were going to show up so I drove the car somewhere.
* Shuri looks slightly relieved
I just want to go home!
"One more question. Which seats are you and Mr. Oak in?"
... A-... I'm at the driver's seat.
* Shuri is in the back seat next to the stolen goods, although he cannot hear the question
Shuri's at the back, with the stuff.
"Please move the stuff onto his lap. Can you do that?"
* Koizumi^Risa cups the phone. "Sidney says to put all the stuff on your lap, Shuri."
* Shuri ...gathers the stuff and sets it on his lap, although dubious
* Koizumi^Risa back on the phone. "Okay."
There is a rush of displaced air and Sidney is in the passenger's side seat; Lucia is in the backseat.
* Shuri ... blinks. "L-Lucia?"
Mr. Sidney!
Lucia!
Sidney hangs up his phone.
Lucia blinks back at Shuri, then down at the things in his lap. Then, notices he's been crying, expression flickering.
* Koizumi^Risa looks like crap, eyes puffy from crying.
...Here are the things.
* Shuri ... passes them over to Lucia??
"Now, what happened, exactly?" Mr. Sidney asks. He leans over, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing Risa's face.
We got caught.
Lucia takes the things, then lets them slide to the floor, pulling Shuri into a hug.
* Koizumi^Risa looks like she's about to cry again.
* Shuri --is taken by surprise... "Ah..."
"It'll all be fine now," Sidney soothes.
We were going to leave... but, but there was a guard with a taser and Shuri tried to fight him.
* Shuri ... hugs back.
Lucia rests her chin on top of Shuri's head.
But Konatsu showed up and killed the guard. And...
And..
and then he disappeared again.
Lucia glances at Sidney.
H-Had you still not heard where he was--?
* Shuri can't very well cover up for konatsu anymore so... may as well ask
And Shuri was worried about other guards coming and we drove off in the car because we couldn't find Rand!
So... so I drove.
"Rand is gone," says Lucia, vaguely.
We have what you wanted! Please, please take us home
I don't want to do this anymore!
Sidney frowns, and puts a hand on Risa's shoulder. "You must have done a good job driving. Konatsu was here? He left again, you say?"
Gone where? He's dead?
--I-I saw Konatsu last in the gallery.
I left and then looked back and he was gone.
Lucia tightens her arms around Shuri a little. "Risa, can you switch seats with Sidney? . . . please take us home."
She pauses, then asks, "How did Konatsu seem?"
* Shuri baww hugging Lucia ;;
"Of course, Miss Lucia," Sidney says, getting out of the car. "You've had a hard night, both of you."
He... He seemed... to know what he was doing, at least...
* Koizumi^Risa shakily opens the car door and stumbles out.
As they pass each other around the car, Sidney puts a hand on Risa's shoulder again. "You're a strong girl," he murmurs to her. "Thank you." He continues on.
He said he wanted the amulet box to prove that he was helping you but he wouldn't even tell me why he needed that particular, a-and...
Sidney slides into the driver's side.
* Koizumi^Risa gets on the passenger side and curls up on the seat.
Sidney shrugs out of his jacket as he gets in and puts it over her like a blanket, warm with body heat. He starts the car again.
"The amulet box?" Lucia asks sharply.
R... Right.
Are you going to find him--?
* Koizumi^Risa is just quietly sitting here.
". . . we'll get you two home first," Lucia says softly, one hand smoothing down Shuri's hair.
...Can't I go?
* Shuri is clinging.
"To look for Konatsu?"
Sidney drives quietly
I mean, if I can help at all, I want to go. I mean, it's my fault that I let him just leave anyway...!
"We'll see," says Lucia. "You should rest, first."
Can't we just go home?
* Shuri ...just buries his face in Lucia's shoulder then
Or back to camp?
* Koizumi^Risa whines weakly.
Lucia holdsssss Shuri.
"We'll go back to the mansion," Sidney says, calmingly. "We'll figure this out."
* Koizumi^Risa too tired to argue.
* Shuri mumble. "Fine."
"Don't drive too fast," Lucia says softly. "Ahh. I'm sorry, you two . . ."
"I won't. Let's make it a safe ride," Sidney says.
I-It's all right, I mean, we got the stuff, in the end.
"Stupid," Lucia mutters. "It's not always the stuff that's important."
Yeah, those words just came out of her mouth.
* Koizumi^Risa mumbles something about having a criminal record now.
"Technically, you have to be caught and identified to have a criminal record," Sidney points out. This may not be as comforting as he intends.
* Shuri s-smiles into Lucia's shoulder
* Koizumi^Risa still looks terrified, all the same.
"They won't find you, Risa," Lucia assures her.
"Among other things," Sidney says, "We protect our own."
I don't see why we had to do this.
* Koizumi^Risa sulks.
I mean, you have guys that can sneak into museums through shadows and everything.
"There were holy items," Lucia points out. "And . . . other reasons, like that."
Y-Yeah, I guess...
* Koizumi^Risa just sulks.
Did everyone else get the other stuff...?
"They haven't returned yet," Lucia says. "So I'm not sure. I hope so."
Mmm.
Sidney's car pulls up at the house. Notably the other groups vehicles are back now.
Lucia and Sidney head inside, to #manwhilebackattheranch because I can't spell
#manwhilebackattheranch
Your two cars pull up about the same time. There is an extra person in Sera and Robin's car.
* Vaan sobs a little.
Thank you for the drive, Mr. Earl!
Earl parks, gets out, and immediately stomps off. Cherry parks, climbs out, and sticks around.
* Ashton crawls out of the car.
He got out fast...
* Kazuki gets out of the car, finishing off the happy meal.
* Robin^Sena steps out of the car with Sera and Kazuki.
* Vaan gets out of the car.
* Sera stares at Ashton and gestures at Kazuki. "This is Haruki."
* Kazuki adds on, "Her ex."
* Sera twitches.
* Ashton is missing his cape and probably has blood on him.
...are you okay?
* Robin^Sena is eating a McFlurry, but looks worried.
We got in some trouble, but we're fine. ... hi, Haruki?
Cherry tilts its head, looking up at the mansion. "...not here..."
* Ashton looks confusedly at Sera.
Hey everyone....
* Sera looks like she wants to die, but is DETERMINED!
...what's not here?
...Sera, are -you- okay?
"Master and Lord," Cherry says. "Weird."
... Lucia and Sidney?
I-I'm fine.
* Kazuki puts on an air of mild, oblivious interest
...where did they go...?
* Ashton :X.
* Kazuki also has vaguely torn clothes, but that COULD be waved off as a fashion statement. Maybe.
"I don't know," Cherry says. "Anyway, let's go in."
...okay.
...'kay.
* Vaan looks a little nervous.
* Robin^Sena nods. "Did you find out anything?"
...We found a piece of the rock.
Yeah, that.
And some, uh, other stuff.
How did you get hurt?
We didn't.
We found a dead body on our way to Devil's Stone.
A body!?
...it wasn't Konatsu.
In a car....
But yeah, it was no one we knew.
It'd been discovered on our way back.
Oh...
There were lots of...uh...vehicles?
We couldn't come back that way....
Did they have lots of red and blue flashing lights?
Yes!
Police cars...
...that's good, isn't it?
I saw that on the news. It was the recent murderer. You guys... are probably going to be suspects if you aren't careful.
...
Just our luck.
There have been murders--?
Yeah, a ton of them.
Can you tell us more?
Not really, that's all I know.
...I saw it on the internet, too...
Cherry tilts its head, listening with interest. It's stripping off some of its heavy outer clothes.
I don't think anyone say us.
...they're similar to the ones that were going on around Lucia's house in California.
From the news descriptions, anyway.
We knew about the fatigues, but...
* Ashton looks at Vaan. "I left my..."
"Your coat...."
...
Ahhhhhhhh.
Hopefully they won't make the connection.
* Ashton RESIGNED SIGH
Uh oh...
How would they even know it was us?
We don't exist, in this world. Not to the authorities.
That's good, because a whole lot of people at the hotel saw us.
--hotel?
Hotel?
Devil's Stone was at a hotel.
. . . can we go insidee, please?
* Sera nods and heads towards the door.
Uh, sure. I'm just amazed that I suddenly got caught up in a murder mystery!
* Robin^Sena does so, as well.
* Kazuki goeeees
* Vaan starts walking forward.
* Ashton trudges in.
Hey, does anyone know when Risa and Shuri will be back?
They might've been held up...oh dear.
Cherry finishes shedding layers and looks pleased to have its skin and zippers bare again. It is looking a lot less human all of a sudden.
* Gyoro stares at Cherry.
Cherry's long tongue flickers, snakelike. A metal tag at the end jingles.
* Gyoro croaks the dragon equivalent of 'cool story bro.'
Cherry sniffs Gyoro with its zipper.
The house is fairly quiet.
So... uh. What now? you said something about a hotel? Was it kinda seedy?
* Gyoro :|a
N-no, nothing like that!
There were a lot of guests, I guess...and they'd fenced the rock off to keep people from damaging it.
* Sera heads back to the closet on her own, ruthlessly leaving Kazuki to maintain the cover story.
It was a nice place!
Cherry looks torn as Sera walks off. It glances between her and Robin.
* Kazuki looks a little disappointed, "I'm lost. What's this about the stone?"
... she's probably just going to the bathroom.
"Okay...." It stays with Robin.
* Sera finds her bff the closet again, closes the door, and sits in the back to take her cell phone out.
[I have my phone again, and the guard isn't on me right now. We found Kazuki and brought him back to Lucia's. What do you guys know?]
A text comes back almost immediately. [You have Kazuki? How on earth did that happen??]
[He was in a McDonalds.]
[What?? Well ok, he and Joshua are both missing. At least now we know where Kazuki is. Ask him if he knows where Joshua went?]
[Okay, I'll ask. What do you know about Lucia and Sidney?]
[Not much. Mostly what you told us. But from what I gather, they're causing some trouble? Some major demon?]
[He's much more powerful than you are. It's scary.]
[Do you know his name or classification?]
[I wish. Lucia wears a pendant with a six-pointed star that she uses to summon him... I think it might be a variant of a Seal of Solomon, but I don't know.]
* Sera takes this opportunity to text Kazuki. [do you know where joshua is?]
[Not the actual Seal of Solomon, I hope . . .]
[I haven't seen it that clearly, and I don't know the variations. I wouldn't even know this much if I hadn't had my memory refreshed back home the other day.]
[what would that mean?]
[Refreshed back home? What do you mean? And um in legend the Seal let Solomon summon and command a lot of demons . . . 72, or 1000, it depends on the source. But it's been missing for centuries.]
[Sam was going over enochian and seals that might work on angels at home, I was helping... well, Lucia has a lot of demons...]
* Sera gets the text 'i know he's in a hotel with the others but i don't know where it is' from Kazuki.
[Kazuki says Joshua's in a hotel with the others as far as he knows]
[Okay, that's no help . . . what is going on? I'm sorry, I wish I could be of more help to you. This is my world and everything, but I'm really . . . I'm sorry.]
* Sera stares at the cell phone for a minute, disturbed.
[...we'll do our best, I'll stay in touch. I'm going back where the guard'll see me now.]
* Sera pockets her phone and heads back out of the closet.
#manwhilebackattheranch
Oh, Lucia brought us here to look for items and information. She's a collector.
--what Robin said.
A fragment of the Stone was one of the items.
Mm, we also got a brick piece from the home of Grizzel Jaffray.
* Robin^Sena produces it from her pocket.
It's not much, but...
Did you run into any trouble getting it?
I have it!
Not really... well, I mean, I spoke with Grizzel.
...ehh?
Her spirit was still there.
. . . so did you have to apologize about stealing bits of her house?
Ahh--
Well... I asked her where her house was, and then went to it. It was in Nethergate.
* Ashton absorbs this.
We didn't want to break in and steal anything, so we just took a brick.
Ahhh.
* Kazuki looks interested! But also preoccupied, "I wonder why she wants to collect that stuff."
Oh, I also spoke to the spirit of the girl from Fiend's Den-- she... was definitely a cannibal. We didn't get much information from her... she knew nothing about her family, since she was taken from them at birth.
Wow....
Then we went to McDonalds.
And then we met up!
...what's McDonalds.
* Kazuki looks horrified
It's a fast-food restaurant...
. . . what's a . . .
......Fast food?
Food that's made fast.
* Ashton LOOKS ENLIGHTENED.
* Robin^Sena holds up a little dragon toy. "I got one of these."
--awooork!
* Ururun takes a closer look at that!
Ahh--
It's cute, isn't it?
I guess....
* Gyoro squawks in approval.
* Kazuki looks around, not really finding much to comment on the conversation itself, "So, you guys have been here since...? It looks pretty comfy, and what about the master? Good company?"
We've been here since yesterday!
We've only been here a couple of days, technically...
Long story?
* Ashton is still very confused about this IDENTICAL KAZUKI TWIN.
Lucia wants us here to do collecting for her... but things have gone a little strange. Konatsu was with us originally, but apparently he stole a car and left. Lucia was really upset.
* Kazuki smiles at Ashton, and winks. "Sounds like a weird situation, that's for sure. But now I'm interested, anything else that was strange?"
This whole thing is strange...
Everything is!
* Ashton ... makes an OH I HAVE CAUGHT ON SORT OF face.
* Robin^Sena sighs and sits down, looking tired. "I hope Shuri and Risa are okay..."
I'm the newbie here, so it'll be great if you could start from the start.
How long ago does it even go back to?
...months ago, I think...
Too long...
* Ashton sighs. "K--Haruki, are you familiar with camp at all?"
* Kazuki siiideglances at Cherry, "Only what Sera told me."
Cherry is watching them all unblinkingly.
Sometimes we get pulled out of Camp to play games... I've been in two of them, and Sera a lot more. Some of us met Lucia and Sidney in the last game-- I didn't, but she and Sera are close.
Alright, suddenly being pulled into games are pretty weird, but what's so weird about being hired to work for a collector?
There's stuff from the other games that comes up in Lucia and Sidney's, too.
The things she collects are all demonic in nature, from what I can tell.
At least, that's what it looks like from the list she gave us.
Huh! That'll probably cause you trouble, yeah.
We also--had to investigate the house we played some of the other games in yesterday.
Except it's in ruins now.
* Kazuki hummmms. Also at that moment his phone rings his text ringtone! "Ah, sorry, this is interesting and all, but that's probably my friend that ditched me." Aaaand moving back to flip open his phone to read the text and reply.
* Ashton also sits down.
* Robin^Sena , reminded, sends a text to Elli and Luka: "Send me the directions to your hotel anyway. If we can, we'll see if we can go there."
The door opens
......
Lucia, Sidney, Shuri, and Risa enter. Shuri and Risa are both red-eyed and puffy-looking. Sidney is carrying a coat full of stolen goods.
--!!
Ah!
Shuri, Risa--
* Shuri ...does not have on his coat, obviously
* Kazuki looks to the door, and immeditely puts his phone away, standing aside.
Lucia is standing close to Shuri, worriedly.
Are you all alright?
Lucia looks around, sees Kazuki, and yelps, "You!?"
* Kazuki looks innocent!
* Shuri follows Lucia's gaze--"Eh??"
* Robin^Sena looks at "Haruki".
Sidney's brows raise.
* Koizumi^Risa has Sidney's coat over her.
* Kazuki cocks his head, "I think you've got the wrong guy?"
* Shuri ...tilts his head also. "Ah..."
. . . Kazuki?
"The wrong guy," Sidney repeats, amused.
* Ashton :Da
Kazuki...?
* Kazuki grins, "Yeah. Ah, you just said 'Kazuki', right? That's the name of my twin. I can show you a photo if you want."
. . .
Sidney glances at Lucia, brows still raised.
I... see...
* Koizumi^Risa kind of stares at everyone and tries to find the farthest chair to sit on.
* Shuri does not seem overly concerned about the identity of this mysterious man.
Lucia is glaring at Kazuki suspiciously. "What are you doing here, either way?"
* Kazuki replies simply, "Sera is my ex. We bumped into each other at McDonalds."
"Sera isn't from this world!"
* Sera wanders back in at this auspicious time.
* Shuri ... glances at Sera...
What on earth is going on here--?
* Kazuki retorts, "It's not the first time she's come here."
* Robin^Sena tilts her head.
Sh-She's been trapped in houses and stuff--
Are you sure about this??
* Kazuki looks to Sera, eyebrows raised, and heaves a HEAVY sigh.
...we weren't trapped every time.
Lucia smacks Kazuki in the face with the heel of her hand.
Lucia--!
--ow!
"I don't think Miss Lucia appreciates bald-face lies," Sidney comments.
Uwah--!
* Sera sits down, for lack of anything else to do.
* Kazuki holds up his hands, "Alright, you got me. It's true I do have a guy that looks just like me named Haruki, though."
So you are Kazuki...?
So what are you doing here?
Sera was acting weird, so I decided to tag along!
Wow . . .
...and Kazuki wanted to be incognito.
What are you doing HERE, though?! As in IN THIS WHOLE WORLD?
* Sera rubs at her forehead. SIGH.
* Kazuki shrugs.
* Vaan is so lost.
Lucia, we met up with Kazuki while we were out. I don't know how he got here. He didn't want to say who he was in front of Cherry, that's all.
I can't help but be suspicious, right? Considering.
"Answer Shuri's question, though!" Lucia demands.
...apparently a lot of people here know the Director...
* Kazuki replies semi-honestly, "I opened up a door of a closet and found myself bloody with my clothes torn up in a library of kids, who started screaming and panicking, so I went to McDonalds to clean up."
. . .
Ehhhh??
...did you see who summoned you here, Kauzki...?
To this world.
Why McDonalds...?
* Kazuki replies to Robin first, "Closest place with public toilets that wasn't the library."
As to who summoned me... I don't know, you mentioned Lucia?
Oh, okay.
Lucia's right here!
Since she's so surprised, it can't have been her...
And she doesn't know what's going on!
I thought it might've been.
* Kazuki shrugs
* Sera puts a couch pillow over her face. THIS IS SO CONFUSING.
* Robin^Sena goes and sits next to Sera, puts a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"
I'm seriously confused.
Me too...
Lucia throws her hands up in the air. ". . . whatever! You're here with us now, so . . . whatever. Sidney, bring these things upstairs! The rest of you, did you get anything?"
We got the bit of rock...
* Vaan takes it out!
We got some information and a piece of brick.
Lucia raises her eyebrows.
It's from Grizzel Jaffray's old house... but that was about it. We didn't get nearly as much as we'd hoped for.
The family from the Fiend's Den was buried in the old graveyard. I thought we could find out where that was online, maybe.
Sidney bows to Lucia and takes the things upstairs.
* Robin^Sena takes the brick piece out from her pocket.
* Kazuki staaaays aside, not making anymore comments.
Robin talked to the surviving daughter and to Grizzel... I gave the daughter some of my blood. We found Grizzel's house, but we didn't want to break in, since it was a shop we could just buy something from during the day.
Lucia takes the . . . rock, and the brick--then perks up a little, looking at Sera. "You talked to Grizzel?"
Yes.
Robin did...
"What was said??"
* Sera looks at Robin, since she could only hear half of it.
* Robin^Sena clasps her hands in her lap. "... her house was in Nethergate. That's where we went. It's across the street from an old bank-- she and... I guess her husband, lived there. It's an antique shop now. Every morning, he would walk there to work and she would open the curtains to let the light in..."
* Robin^Sena swallows. "They tortured her before she was executed, at the Seagate."
... that's all.
.......
...
...damn.
Her spirit was in a lot of pain, so I... just let her rest.
* Koizumi^Risa is only half listening.
She's a ghost...?
* Robin^Sena nods. "She was the last Witch executed in Dundee."
I-I see...
Anyway... that was all I learned.
...the last girl from the Fiend's Den family was still hungry. I could feel it.
She never knew much about her family, from what Robin said to her, except that she knew where they were buried. ...and that's the information we got.
She didn't even have a name.
Lucia looks unsatisfied, but nods. "Okay! Good."
* Sera takes out her adorable dragon toy to fiddle with. :/
So... What are we... doing now?
Lucia wants it-- nah just kidding.
Its pretty late, isn't it?
Konatsu is still missing...
"It is," Lucia agrees. "We could rest for the night. Konatsu will stay missing until tomorrow. And if he doesn't, then we don't have anything to worry about."
She huffs.
What else do we have to do?
* Koizumi^Risa pales as she says that.
* Robin^Sena swallows and looks nervous.
* Kazuki just fiddles with his claw-pendant, looking bored.
* Sera leans her head back against the couch, closing her eyes. "John's still okay, right?"
"Yeah . . . I think he and Jez are making friends . . ." Lucia says.
* Sera doesn't say anything.
* Robin^Sena suddenly remembers something. "Ah... Mr. Sidney, could you show me where the piano is?"
Sidney has arrived back and is standing in the doorway. "Certainly, Robin. Unless there is something you need from me, Lucia . . .?"
Lucia shakes her head. "No. It's fine. Everybody, you can do whatever you want. Kazuki--" She narrows her eyes. "You can have Konatsu's bed."
* Robin^Sena gives Risa a side-long glance.
Ehh...
Ah--.
* Vaan looks at Kazuki.
* Ashton looks over at Kazuki.
That means that you'll be my roommate.
I don't have to stay here if you don't want me to. I was just tagging after Sera.
* Koizumi^Risa kind of stares back at Robin.
* Robin^Sena rises, tugging the sheet music out of her pocket for a split second so Risa can see.
* Koizumi^Risa stands up and follows, handing Sidney back his coat. "Thanks." she says quietly.
* Robin^Sena follows Sidney, presumably.
Lucia smiles at Kazuki. "You should stay here," she says, firmly.
* Kazuki raises his eyebrows, but doesn't protest.
* Sera stays on the couch, looking tired.
#mutegirlonabeach --> piano antics
* Ashton makes HEEEY motions at Vaan and Kazuki.
* Vaan looks at Ashton.
#heeeeeeeey
...
pfft
.....
* Vaan follows Ashton out.
* Ashton VAAN KAZUKI LET US HAVE A CONVERSATION IN #heeeeeeeey WHY NOT
* Shuri ... just sits on a couch too, hey.
* Kazuki ...glances a Lucia, and then is actually polite enough to DO A SMALL BOW with a 'sorry' handsign, holy crap, before going.
Lucia grabs Shuri's wrist, tugging. "Hey, come look at things with me . . ."
...Okay.
* Shuri goooes with Lucia.
#heterosexuality
(HAHAHAHA)
* Sera hangs out in the living room alone \o/
#oneisalonelydemon
#oneisalonelydemon
* Sera looks around the room idly, mostly just CHILLING OUT IN HERE and trying not to FEEL VERY SAD.
* Sera checks texts! 'Hey, you have Elli's number, right? Ask him to ask Joshua about a demon sigil, and finding that demons weakness.'
* Sera texts back [I don't think that they know where Joshua is. He disappeared.]
* Sera continues with [what about demon sigils?]
* Kazuki listens in, and is texted back! Replies, 'Damn. Maybe Itachi? i think he was there...' then again, 'Sidney has one, he used it to keep us in a room last game.'
@Kazuki [what did it look like?]
* Sera is having a conversation with Kazuki. 'It's not like I have a picture of it. Someone who knows what it looks like would need to look it up.'
[do you remember? there's internet here. We could find out.]
'Do you really trust using the net here? that Sidney guy gives me the creeps. Besides, it might help Elli out.' [I can check to see if anyone else is watching, online. I'd like to know too. I'll tell them, though.]
* Sera texts Elluka [Kazuki says that if you have any of the players that got eaten/ousted last game with Lucia, they'll have seen Sidney's sigil. Itachi maybe.]
[That's a big help!]
* Sera texts with Kazuki again: 'Awesome. It sounds like Ashton remembers it too. Txt back if you find out stuff.' [sure thing.]
[let me know if you find out...]
* Sera deletes her message history just in case.
(So whatcha want to do now?)
(go find the piano room)
You can detect the strains of Mozart at #mutegirlonabeach as you walk around
#mutegirlonabeach
* Robin^Sena follows Sidney.
"Are you well enough, Miss Risa?" Sidney asks politely as he leads them to the piano room.
* Koizumi^Risa shrugs. "I guess so."
"You sound like you went through quite a bit tonight."
It's just...
* Koizumi^Risa pauses... "I don't want to talk about it anymore. And... why can't we just go home?"
Even in Camp... we're not really home, are we.
I don't care.
"I'm sorry," Mr. Sidney says, gently. "Can't you see this through with Lucia? I'm sure she'll take your previous experience into consideration."
* Koizumi^Risa looks like she's about to cry again.
* Robin^Sena takes Risa's hand.
* Koizumi^Risa stares at Sidney for a long time before taking a seat in the room.
* Koizumi^Risa dragging Robin with her.
* Robin^Sena is dragged.
* Robin^Sena turns to Sidney. "Thank you."
* Koizumi^Risa shakes off Robin's hand and just sits there. "You can go play."
... okay.
* Robin^Sena goes to sit at the piano, and takes out the sheet music.
* Robin^Sena flattens it out, and looks it over before she starts to play slowly.
Sidney is listening.
The song sounds like Mozart's Fantasy in D-.
* Robin^Sena hesitates. "I got a text from the twins today. They were meeting up with some friends."
. . . friends?
Yes.
* Koizumi^Risa looks a little confused.
Some people we know.
* Koizumi^Risa still confused.
..ah.
They're here?
"Personal things?" Sidney murmurs. "Shall I leave you to it?"
* Robin^Sena nods. "Yes, if you would... thank you."
--oh! Wait, one moment.
There was one thing I forgot to tell Lucia.
Mr. Sidney seems amused. "Yes?"
The... one thing that the girl from Fiend's Den said she might have left behind was a doll. I think that was her only belonging-- I don't know if still exists, but it was the only other piece of information I got.
... that's all.
* Koizumi^Risa mutters under her breath. "She's probably gonna want that doll."
"I'll let her know," Mr. Sidney says, ignoring Risa's comment.
Thank you.
* Sidney starts to exit as Sera enters. He nods to her in passing.
* Sera nods back.
* Robin^Sena is playing piano.
* Koizumi^Risa is sitting on a chair looking sullen.
...what's up?
I was telling Risa about the text from Elli and Luka.
...in front of...
* Sera glances back through the door Sidney left through.
I called them 'the twins'.
... I hope that was okay...
They're around here?
...it's probably okay. We should be careful, though.
* Robin^Sena nods. "They met with eight people, most of whom sound familiar."
... eight?
* Robin^Sena plays with one hand while quickly taking out her cell phone and tossing it at Risa. "Catch."
* Koizumi^Risa fumbles with the cell phone and lets it drop into her lap.
...Lucia's given limited assurances on our safety, the people she summoned. I don't know what she might do to anyone else. So... let's be careful.
It should be one of the newer texts.
* Koizumi^Risa checks Robin's phone.
Oh... I should give this back to you, too.
What does this have to do with us though?
* Robin^Sena 's phone does indeed have a list of people Elli and Luka met with: " Rayfell, Raidou, Germany, Belphegor, Kazuki, Joshua, Kaname, and Itachi."
* Sera pulls out the letter from Christian and hands that to Risa, too.
Lucia didn't summon them, it seems.
* Koizumi^Risa makes a face upon reading Joshua's name.
* Koizumi^Risa takes the letter and puts it in her pockeet.
They also said that they were at Mayfair Manor-- late night and early morning, so they must have missed you.
We didn't get there until later... but I didn't notice anyone else having been there recently.
...maybe it's still not... stable?
Multiple entrances, probably.
We did have trouble when Sidney summoned us.
Mm.
* Koizumi^Risa sets the phone aside.
Anything else..?
Sera, what's up with Kazuki...?
He was another player in Lucia's game.
I, I, I don't know why he decided to--
* Sera blushes fiercely.
* Robin^Sena tilts her head.
...it w-was a really stupid cover story.
Cover story...?
I told him we were being watched, and he said he'd handle it, and asked me to play along...!
* Sera head in hands
Oh...
... Cherry?
* Sera nods without uncovering her face.
He's been with us this whole time... except now.
"Yes?" Cherry's voice says.
-ah!
* Robin^Sena fumbles with the keys.
Hi, Cherry.
Cherry leans out from a curtain and waves.
* Koizumi^Risa looks at Cherry then stands up.
... you two can talk, I'm heading back upstairs.
...that's astonishingly creepy. Are you still hungry? --okay, Risa.
* Robin^Sena bows her head.
"Sorry," Cherry says. "Was I interrupting? I thought you wanted some privacy."
* Robin^Sena .____.
* Sera puts her hand on Robin's shoulder. "We're okay. Are you supposed to watch us at night, too? Should we share a room...?"
"I don't know," Cherry says. "I'll have to ask. Is that okay if she says so?"
... I'll have to ask Shuri, but... it's okay with me.
* Sera nods at that.
* Koizumi^Risa exits the room.
...did she tell you what you were supposed to be looking for? In following us around.
It frowns. "I might only have had to follow you while you were outside," it says. "But because you were the ones who saw Konatsu that time..."
...what was weird about us seeing Konatsu?
"When he'd vanished and there was blood," Cherry says. "Master was a bit incoherent about it honestly."
I forgot to ask Risa what happened today...
Oh.
Did you just get summoned for that, or were you around before?
"I was around before," Cherry says.
How many demons does Lucia have...
"Lots," Cherry says. "She collects us."
That makes sense.
It nods. "She likes collections."
Was Sidney the first? Your Lord?
"I don't know. He was before me," Cherry says.
* Sera nods.
* Robin^Sena remembers that she's supposed to be playing piano, and continues.
* Sera sits down to listen.
It's a very pretty song... but kind of sad, and wistful. That's very common of Mozart.
Mm...
... I wish... I knew what was going on.
Nothing feels right.
...yeah...
Robin, your phone beeps
A moment later, Sera's phone starts to beep as well.
* Sera checks it, angling the screen so Cherry can't see.
* Robin^Sena opens it up.
Both of your texts say the same thing:
Sidney - Sydonai - Asmodeus
MOTHERFUCKER.
* Sera blinks and puts her phone away.
* Robin^Sena ... says nothing as she puts her phone away, but her eyes are wide.
* Robin^Sena 's fingers may also be shaking as well.
...I'm tired.
Me too. It's been a long day.
Cherry, will you ask Lucia...?
"Sure," it says. "...Stay here until I find out?"
* Robin^Sena nods.
Okay.
It heads out the door.
#heeeeeeeey
Ashton, what'd you want?
I wanted to talk to Haru--Kazu-- ...
Kazuki
Kazuki.
WHAT IS GOING ON.
Oh.
Yeah, I've never seen you.
I wasn't lying when I said I came out of a closet in the library. But that's after tons of other stuff.
Is it--
Was there weird stuff in the closet again.
Oh, I was part of one of these games before too. I just don't trust that Sidney guy, not after Sera started acting like she didn't know me at first.
And yeah.
Similar weird stuff?
It was David, in the closet. And I was summoned by this guy called 'Elli', along with some other guys, like Joshua.
...!!!
* Kazuki ...now that he thinks about it, flips open his cellphone again.
So THAT'S why she messed up back at the beginning, getting us here.
When we ended up in the forest?
Yeah.
Huh.
Elli said he felt interrupted, when he summoned us. I guess that was it.
So you were with other people for a while?
* Kazuki ...texts Sera, 'Hey, you have Elli's number, right? Ask him to ask Joshua about a demon sigil, and finding that demons weakness.'
About a day, yeah. This guy called Tristan was there too.
...dunno him.
Huh.
You're from camp too, right?
Sera does. And yeah, sorry about that confusion. Like I said, I didn't trust what was going on.
You were trying to fake your way in, huh...
We don't know much more than you.
Why were you asking about the hotel?
It's not like I planned on sticking around. Ah-- and that's cause I was in a hotel!
Did you see any big weird rocks?
--yeah.
It might have been the hotel we went to.
nah, it's not the same one. Yours sounds pretty flash, the one I was in was kinda rank.
Well, okay--not that we saw much of ours. Just the entry bit and a hallway, and the big rock.
Yeah...the guy at the front desk was really nice to me too!
* Ashton rubs his forehead. "There's way too much stuff going on."
I feel kinda bad about taking that thing....
What thing?
* Kazuki listens in, and is texted back! Replies, 'Damn. Maybe Itachi? i think he was there...' then again, 'Sidney has one, he used it to keep us in a room last game.'
Oh, that thing I was chipping the rock with.
Can we see? --Kazuki?
Oh, sorry, I'm texting Sera. She has Elli's number.
They're investigating stuff out there--?
Yeah, that's right. The murders. I'm pretty sure it's linked, but even if it isn't, I made a promise.
* Kazuki gets another text! Replies once again, 'It's not like I have a picture of it. Someone who knows what it looks like would need to look it up.'
Mm...I hope they'll be all right. Whatever killed that guy must be pretty nasty.
Anything we can help with?
Yeah...he looked really scared.
Actually... Ashton, do you remember that demon sign on the door from last game?
I--
* Ashton 's dragons nod emphatically. Gyoro snarls.
* Kazuki text recieved, replies /o/ 'Do you really trust using the net here? that Sidney guy gives me the creeps. Besides, it might help Elli out.'
Great! We need to look it up.
* Ashton 's eyes flicker and go blue. His voice is much deeper.
We remember it very clearly; how will you search for it?
* Kazuki teeext, texts back, 'Awesome. It sounds like Ashton remembers it too. Txt back if you find out stuff.'
Sera says she can try the net, but there's probably books as well.
* Kazuki --looks at latest text, then puts his phone away, done!
We can do that, then.
* Ashton 's eyes and voice go back to normal.
--a-ah--shall we do that tonight?
* Kazuki looks to Vaan?
What--
* Vaan has been spacing out.
.....you do know that Sidney is an evil, powerful demon, right?
.......No?
I kinda figured.
The dragons don't like him at all.
* Kazuki .......sighs. Looks to Ashton, "Should we give him the rundown of what happened last game? Since it's connected."
...yeah, let's.
* Kazuki EXPOSITION GOES HERE.
* Ashton loves exposition!
* Ashton , in the middle of the exposition, suddenly perks up. "Speaking of books, I wonder if we can get hold of the one we found in Mayfair Manor again."
Which one?
I gave it to Miss Bellcourt, but maybe if we asked nicely--uhhh.
None of us could read what it was written in, except Risa a little.
And she said it was about demons.
Ah--I think I understand.
Well, shit.
* Kazuki thinks things!!
Knowing that girl, she probably won't give something back easily.
Didn't she say something about ... some word like ... Diavolo?
Yeah, that.
...Miss Bellcourt said we could do what we wanted tonight, right? Let's check through some books, and if we get really desperate we can, uh, try and figure out where stuff we found is being kept.
Or ask her. Either way.
* Kazuki shrugs, "It doesn't ring a bell. Speaking of that last game, though... when I met up with David he told me some interesting stuff."
--oh?
His body is probably here. Sidney leeches off whatever power he has, so he can't be as close to Lucia anymore, but Sidney still moves his body around and keeps it close.
Ahhh--we found that last game, didn't we? Did he mention if it was as well-protected now?
* Kazuki wonders if he should keep saying the name 'Sidney', and if it'll summon him.
If it's behind another sigil we're in trouble.
Yeah, it's probably better protected than it was.
Well...it still won't hurt to keep an eye out for it, too.
* Vaan stifles a big yawn.
* Kazuki nods, "And part of finding out what the sigil is is to find out his weakness."
Mm, okay.
* Ashton looks over at Vaan. "Tired?"
Today was a long day....
I think I should get some rest.
All right; if anything happens tonight, we can tell you about it later.
Yeah. We'll let you know if we find anything.
Good luck.
* Vaan pads over to his room and ...
* Vaan sleeps super comfortably in his armor and clothes.
So--library for us, or something?
Yeah, I guess.
Do you know the way?
. . . nope.
I guess we could. Ask.
Ooor we could snoop around and say we were looking for the library.
Good plan.
Quick, pick a direction.
East?
* Ashton PROCEEDS EAST.
* Kazuki does too /o/
* Harukami rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CD: 2
You run into Mr. Sidney in the hallway.
* Ashton ... 8(
...hi!
* Kazuki ...waves!
He nods to them and continues off downstairs.
...
...uh, okay then.
Well that was creepy.
Tell me about it...
...I'd suggest we follow him except he'd probably know.
* Ashton keeps going east.
* Kazuki nods, and does too.
You find a stairwell!
It goes up and down.
* Harukami rolls the d666 and gets 4 3 CD: 1
. . . upstairs?
We can flip a coin, if you want.
* Ashton rummages in his pockets.
...I don't have a coin.
Alright, then upstairs by default!
* Ashton HEADS UP
* Kazuki too, obviouslyyy
You find a floor that looks like some kind of student housing -- hallway with lots of rooms paired off cross the hall and bathrooms at either end.
Eh...
* Ashton tries opening a random room on the right!
Do they host a lot of guests or something?
Well, there's us.
And Miss Bellcourt doesn't just have--her butler around now.
* Kazuki decides that yes, it is probably a good idea not to call Sidney by name if Ashton also thinks it's a bad idea, "Yeah, but we're in different rooms."
Who knows? We can ask her that too, if you want.
It's an empty bedroom, though it looks a bit lived-in.
...huh, it looks like people have stayed here.
* Ashton tries opening the next room up!
* Kazuki also looks in the room, "I'm betting they're all like this."
We can look in the bathrooms too.
And if there's nothing here--downstairs!
* Kazuki shrugs, and also opens a random door
A fluffy dog with twelve horns bounds out.
. . .
Ah.
Hi there!
* Kazuki blinks at the random dog
You're definitely not nothing.
It yips excitedly.
* Ashton offers his hand for it to sniff, only a little gingerly.
It sniffs and then licks it. It has way too many teeth when it opens its mouth.
I wonder what his name is. Does he have a collar?
* Ashton is just glad it's not a bone dragon.
Ahhh--
* Ashton tries petting it and also collar checking???
It has a collar! It says, "POX"
IT LOEV PET.
* Kazuki also moves over to pet the doggy! "Well hey, what a friendly guy, despite appearences."
* Ashton ruffles behind its ears. "Nice to meet you, Pox!"
Pox rolls over hopefully, presenting its tummy.
* Kazuki ...throughly distracted from library search in favour of PUPPY!!
* Ashton SKRITCHES. ALSO DISTRACTED.
Puppy wriggles gleefully!!!!
* Kazuki ...after a few minutes... "We should probably go back to looking for the library..."
...can we take him with us. He's adorable.
If he follows us home, I'm not complaining.
...is he even a he?
He is on his back. He is a he.
...yep, that's definitely a he.
C'mon, boy!
You have to be sure, don't want to offend the little guy.
* Kazuki BACK DOWNSTAIRS WITH POX?
* Ashton checking the bathroom at the far end of the hallway, very quickly.
I'll catch up with you in just a second--!
* Kazuki waits at the stairwell a little impatiently
* Kazuki ...wait, scratch that, checks if one of the rooms has a closet.
The rooms all have closets!
* Kazuki files away this information!!
Ashton, do you want a bathroom room?
So many closets! It's a world of closets. Disneyland for closets.
* Ashton ... sure why not.
#ashtonhastowee
#ashtonhastowee
* Ashton PROBABLY DOES ACTUALLY.
You successfully wee.
* Ashton HOORAY.
* Ashton NOW LOOKS AROUND THE BATHROOM.
There is a medicine cabinet and a REALLY NICE JACUZZI TUB WITH SHOWER and a big mirror and the counter is MARBLE!
...waaah, I wish I were rich...
* Ashton opens the medicine cabinet first!
There's some basic first aid and painkillers in there.
* Ashton steals bandages. Closes cabinet. . . . Ururun checks out the mirror, just in case.
Ururun's good lookin', but not preternaturally so.
* Ashton \o/ LOOKING MYSTIFIEDLY INTO THE JACUZZI NOW
* Harukami rolls the d666 and gets 1 1 CD: 1
Ashton... the jacuzzi has water in it, and bobbing in the water is exactly the thing you want to see the most.
Can you guess what it is?
* Ashton IS IT A BARREL???
IT IS A BARREL OMG there is a lid on the top but it looks like the lid could come off if you wanted to sit in it.
* Ashton *______*
* Ashton gathers the barrel close. Fondles it gently. Pries the lid off with a flourish.
Barrel loves you baby. Barrel is deep and ready and waiting and -- wait there's something in there.
* Ashton uwaaah, reaches in for it!
It... appears to be a bible.
Judging by the big "The Holy Bible" in gilt gold writing on it.
* Ashton has no idea what a Bible is, man.
* Ashton flips through it one-handed, still cuddling the barrel with the other arm.
It's heavy and the letters are shiny.
* Ashton looks at the barrel. Bible. Barrel. Bible. "...for me?"
The barrel does not respond.
It simply bobs gently.
* Ashton is grateful to the barrel anyway, and tucks the Bible into the front of his tunic.
You could probably carry the barrel with you if you really wanted. You could roll it down the hall.
...
...
...
* Ashton HEFTS THE BARREL OUT OF THE WATER YEAAAAHHHH
* Ashton and rolls it out of the bathroom.