[3: video]

[paper_knight]

Mark's glaring at the comm device. It's a somewhat lopsided glare--his left eye is swollen shut, and there's a spreading bruise on his jaw.

He can't do much else but glare, because he's also bound and gagged . Yes, he'd wished for a knife to cut the ropes, and yes, one had materialized, but maneuvering in the tiny closet is harder than it looks,

Comments

Fun fact: Lamb is apparently a vulgar drunk.

[echo_of_utopia]

My--

[ She looks at her sleeves. Then at the rest of herself. Then she looks back at Mark, excuses herself for a moment and disappears in the bathroom.

She returns after a while, moustache removed, expression uncomfortable. Sure, this could be any gentleman's outfit, but Jack won't be buying it... and neither will she. ]

Ah, it.. it appears the recent event--

[ Unfortunately this is where she chooses to steady herself on the wall, thus activating a recording of some of last nights event:

Where is it and who attended? It doesn't really matter. All that matters is the scene: Plenty of food, even more drink and Sofia Lamb, dressed as she is now, laughing, her hand draped around a... a man in a wedding veil?

She stands up, steadying herself on a golf club as she proposes a toast. "I welcome you all to my wedding. This woman," she puts her hand down hard on the veiled figure's shoulder, "is now mine. Help yourelf to the food, but consider," she pauses, "that it is all mine. In fact, starting tomorrow this", she spreads her arms,

[kindly_done]

[Jack gapes at her, blank-eyed. What is--

He can't even process this. In the benumbed voice of a man deep in shock, he points at the now-blank wall monitor, and mumbles,] That thing you were holding, what's it called?

[echo_of_utopia]

[ Both her mind and voice are in a state similar to Jack's, so she replies without even grasping the question. ]

A golf club.

[ Silence.

...

...

Wait, what? ]

Why?

[kindly_done]

A what?

[More staring. His hands clench and unclench. His mouth twitches.

And then he bursts into hysterical laughter.]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ Oh brother. The mansion handed her her own set of problems on a silver plate, but this looks like something that could use her undivided attention.

The aftermaths of the event have made her features harder than usual and the soothing look is not as soft as it could be, but she is at least getting there. ]

Jack...

[ She hurriedly slips off the suit jacket. Still an odd outfit, but at least it already looks a good deal more generic.

If he lets her she will step closer, put her hand on his arm if she can. If he moves against it somehow she will stop and stay at a distance. ]

Talk to me, Jack.

[kindly_done]

[He doesn't move away, just cackles, nearly doubling over.]

Y--you looked just like him!

[echo_of_utopia]

[ She doesn't relish that thought, flattering to her perfectionism (even in drunken cosplaying) as it may be.

But well, that cackling doesn't sound too good, so... first things first. ]

Just a moment, Jack, all right?

[ She will hold up her hands and hurry to fetch a dress from the closet, put it on in the bathroom and return as quickly as she can. ]

[kindly_done]

[Jack has calmed a little by the time she gets back, though he's still giggling intermittently.]

W-why would you do that?

[echo_of_utopia]

[ Sigh. ] Believe me, I would like to know myself.

[kindly_done]

[He makes an effort to look serious.] Somebody drew on me. I don't remember it happening.

[Where are these drawings? Who knows.They're certainly not visible right now.]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ She doesn't see any drawings. They were on his face and he washed them off already. Moving on. ]

It appears a lot has happened without our knowledge. At least it seems there--

[ It seems her mind won't allow her to stay focused anywhere near its normal capacity today. ]

Why did you ask about the golf club?

[ She should be grateful the subject's changed a little, but evidently she just can't help it. ]

[kindly_done]

Must have been an event, the--

[He narrows his eyes as if he suspects her of playing a trick on him.]

About the...?

[echo_of_utopia]

[ She almost starts the 'apologise for asking about something that is none of your business' spiel, but then notices the wording and realises that that's not what brought about the change in mood. ]

Golf club, Jack. The item I was holding. [ She pauses, then decides to repeat. ] A golf club.

[kindly_done]

Oh, that thing. [He twitches a nervous smile.] It must be...it must be the thing I--well, anyway, I can't remember it. The Mansion took it.

[echo_of_utopia]

The thing you--

Oh.

[ How exactly Ryan died was not widely known. She had looked into it back then, but combing through all the rumours appeared more time-consuming than the information was worth.

But now one of the rumours returns to her, one which would conveniently explain why the memory of a golf club should be worth taking. ]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[ The memory, that is. Interesting as the exact circumstances surrounding Ryan's death may be, now is hardly the time to enquire about them.

She remembers that her appearance was the only reason they came to talk in the first place. She recalls him looking for his dog.

She considers excusing herself from the conversation, but decides that an attempt can't hurt, at least. ]

I don't suppose there is anything I can help you with?

[ He seems fine, however, last night considering... well, whatever lost memories there may be to consider. ]

[kindly_done]

I'm trying to find Celeste. I think she might be in the closets somewhere.