luministi | ◌ 017 ◌ What is behind door number two?

[Fuu gives the door an incredulous stare, embarrassment warring with stubbornness in her mind and on her face. She had been decently certain that she'd known the answer. But to strike out three times!]

[At Ms Sara's encouragement, she tilts her head and thinks carefully back on everything. She then takes out her Luministi journal (which she'd had on her when she'd been drawn here) and starts paging through it.]

No, I don't think so. Unless she means some other treat than a dessert. In which case, it could be nearly anything. 'Gold coins', 'a job well done', 'free time', 'truth?' No, 'truth' is certainly Miss Verita's answer.

[Still paging through the journal, she speaks softly to herself.] Treat. Reward. She works for the Mayor, so it might even be hidden in something he said?

[looks over Fuu's shoulder, wishing she had more of the evidence to solve this mystery] Maybe something you received from the Mayor then?

[Fuu sighs and shakes her head. She passes the book over to Ms Sara. Who knows if the answer is even in what she's written, but perhaps she could tease something out.]

There were things that might be a reward, but I wouldn't consider it a treat. And vice-versa. [She pauses, giving herself a mental shake.]

I didn't know the answer, but we'll find it. She wouldn't ask something hopeless, right?

Thank you. [starts to flip through the pages]

No, I'm sure she wouldn't. But here... [points at a passage in front of her] You say you helped find a murderer in town. The mayor really didn't give you anything after accomplishing something like that?

Ah, yes. To everyone who helped, he sent a plaque and a gift basket.

[With a shrug she grins.]

I'm not sure if Miss Osculia had anything to do with it, or if it's really a treat, but it's worth a try! Besides, there was candy in there, I think. What all was in that gift basket again? [After peeking onto the next page Fuu swipes her CAT before the door with each item:]

Commemorative plaque.
Gift basket.
Restaurant gift certificates.
Chocolate-covered cherries.

[watches the door, hoping that one of these will be the answer it's looking for]

[the door buzzes at those first three items, but at the fourth, it gives a ding of approval and swings open]

[dryly] Ah. So it's you.

[Miss Osculia is in the middle of the room, sitting behind a desk identical to her desk outside the Mayor's office in the Town Hall. In fact, the room is painted to look like that very hallway, complete with the door to the Mayor's office painted on the wall behind her]

Were you going to come in?

[Fuu smiles brightly as the door opens on 'chocolate-covered cherries'. It was candy after all!]

Ms Sara, that was splendid. Thank you!

[Despite Miss Osculia's dry reception, Fuu keeps smiling as she enters the room. She promises herself to treat the woman to a nice big box of chocolate-covered cherries once she can leave this house.]

Thank you. After all the trouble of unlocking the door, I had best do so.

[smiles] I think you'll find you were the one who opened the door.

[follows her inside, regarding Miss Osculia curiously. she's never met her before] Hello. My name is Sara. We haven't met, but I believe I know who you are.

[Miss Osculia is not terribly impressed by her cheerfulness] I would hope you would. You must be here for a reason.

[but her last word is almost lost in the sound of the door slamming behind them. and wouldn't you know, there's no reader--nor even a knob--on this side?]

[but, as might be expected, she isn't terribly surprised by the door] Yes, I do know who you are, Miss Kingdom. And it seems we'll have plenty of time to talk now.

[At the sound of the door slamming shut with such force, Fuu whips around and checks the door. A trap? Or is Miss Osculia captive as well?
Her smile now faint, she turns back and stands before the woman's desk. She has a dozen questions for her right off, but first she thinks to give her a chance to speak for herself.]

We are your captive audience. What would you like to talk about, Miss Osculia?

[Sara turns to the door when it slams as well, her mildly-pleasant expression slipping to a suspicious one] It seems we are at that... But how many of us?

[raises an eyebrow at them both] I'm terribly sorry, Miss Hououji, but I don't think that's how this game works. I must be here for a reason, and you must have come in for a reason. What would you like to talk about? Because it seems, for once, I may be meant to answer.

[Fuu's eyes glance over to Ms Sara at her whisper. Could it be that the others trying doors are in danger of being trapped as well?] Can you try to warn the others?

[She regards Miss Osculia for a long moment, turning over what she'd said in her mind. Her face grows serious.]

So this is a 'game' - another deadly challenge like the statues and the nanobots and the quizzes.
Miss Osculia, I can't believe for one moment that you don't know what I would want to talk about. Indeed, there is so much to cover that I hardly know where to begin.

Are you here in order to answer my questions fully and truthfully?

[smiles faintly at Fuu, a twinkle in her eyes] Maybe we should see if it requires a warning first.

[nods at Fuu's assessment of the situation] I'm assuming so.

I don't know. [smiles faintly] Which is, ironically, the full truth.

[Fuu feels uncomfortable with the idea of someone being trapped in a room with the Sheriff, but slowly nods to Ms Sara. Besides being locked in, nothing bad has happened-- yet.]

[She for once does not return Miss Osculia's smile.]
I'm glad for the truth, however how did you come to be here without knowing why? Clearly this room is made for you.

[gives Fuu a reassuring smile before she turns to Miss Osculia. it seems like a good idea to let her answer Fuu's questions, for a start, so Sara reserves comment for now]

[doesn't look terribly bothered by Fuu's lack of a smile. in fact, she sounds just as brusque as usual] I was told to wait here, so I did. The moment I entered, the door closed and locked--much as it did for you. So no, I really don't know why Constantine wants me to be here.

[Well, that saves her having to ask whose orders she would so blindly follow, and shows that she's trapped, but it doesn't explain the peculiar decor. But why the room is decorated like this is further down the list of her questions.]

All right. Well, like you said, it at least gives us time to talk.
Perhaps we could start at the very beginning.

Who is the man who brought us here? A tall man dressed in a black suit, a black hat, and holding something. Please tell me about him.

[softly, content to observe more than to participate] Not to mention how he did that.

I'm afraid I don't know that either. You'd have to ask Constantine.

[Fuu keeps her face impassive, but reasonably wonders if it would be faster to have her tell them what she does know.]

If I ever get to see the Mayor face to face, I will do that.
Is he the only one who would know?

Yes, of course. [smiles faintly as though amused, but its tinged with bitterness] He likes to keep everything that's important very close to his chest.

[Fuu gives her a small, compassionate smile.] Which would make your job very difficult, I'm certain.

[And "everything important" are the things Fuu would like to know about.]

What about the application forms that we supposedly filled out to come here? Is it the truth that you have them, or can you not show them to us because they don't really exist?

[Mun gives the door an incredulous stare--]

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[o.o omg yay!]

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