luministi | ◌ 022 ◌ The power of belief brings even monsters into existence

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◌ 022 ◌ The power of belief brings even monsters into existence

[The scream that comes directly after the CAT's strange message makes Fuu's head snap up from where she'd been resting it on her hand, staring vacantly across the street. Eyes wide, she at once focuses her gaze towards what had been the object of her fixation for the past two weeks- and sees a woman's body collapsing outside the White Rabbit, part way into the street like she'd been about to cross-.]

Ahhh--!

[A thin scream of her own erupting from her, she runs over to the person-- no, not just any person. That hair...
With shaking hands she tentatively kneels beside her and reaches over to touch her shoulder, brush away the hair, glimpse at her face--]

No- no, no. Oh, Miss Ardes-

[Unsteadily she tries to find a pulse, but it's impossible with her hands shaking like this, and she knows she shouldn't move an injured person... So she takes out her CAT and broadcasts in the hologram mode to all the residents.]

I- I need help! A d-doctor, anyone- please! Please. Out s-side the White Rabbit, Miss Ardes- she- she's just collapsed- she's not moving-

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How is that even possible? Did we not just hear her in a broadcast from an entirely different location a moment ago?

[Oh, a new person- She sniffs a bit and wipes away her tears with her sleeve. Grateful for the question to distract her, she tries to pull herself together.]

I- I'm not sure. Perhaps... mmm... [a long pause as she thinks] perhaps the video was on time delay. Or pre-programmed to broadcast in case of- of- [She glances down at Miss Ardes and wipes at her eyes again, taking a couple deep breaths.]

I'm sorry.

In case of what? In case someone feels the desire to- [picking up his diary and flipping to a recent page] "-get some noise going?" [Then slamming the book shut and tucking it under his arm]

The timing is too perfect, and the girl in the broadcast sure as hell didn't sound like she wasn't aware of exactly what was going on. Shouldn't she have sounded just a little bit worried?

[Shaking his head] I need to see this in person. On camera, something about this seems... Off. It doesn't feel the way it should. I'm not far away, I'll just be making my way there from the town's gardens.

In the meantime... [Quirking an eyebrow and sounding rather agitated] Shouldn't a massive group of people have stopped by to help you with this situation by now!? What the hell is wrong with this town!? Is everyone else deaf and blind, or are they just stupid!?

[She notes his book with interest - ah, good, someone else is keeping a journal! - but interest gets overridden with shock. He- he's so brash-]

Ah- thank you for coming... and you're right. There hasn't been even a passer-by or anyone...

[She stands up and looks over to the pub. She can't see anyone through the windows, not even the staff who should be behind the bar.]

Where is everyone...?

Someone had to. When a person collapses all of a sudden, it's completely inappropriate to just disappear to leave nobody but a young girl to deal with the situation.

[Although, frankly, he's probably not the best candidate to handle this either. He's visibly shaken by all of this.] Like I would know where everyone ran off to! They probably just couldn't stand the thought of actually being useful in an emergency!

[Fortunately, he manages to quiet down for a minute to inspect the body. He gasps upon discovering something-] They're different!

[She's unable to get a word in edgewise in all that, but at his exclamation she tries to see what he's looking at.]

What's different?

[He's already taking note of his discovery in his diary before even saying anything, but eventually points at one of Audrey's hands with his pen.] Her nails aren't painted. Even if it were removed, such a vivid purple like the one in that broadcast would probably leave a slight tint for a while.

[She patiently waits while he makes his notes. And is suitably impressed when he makes his statement!]

Wow! That's amazing that you noticed that! So maybe that video was from a while ago? But... they were talking about stuff that had just happened. And that chart...

[She tilts her head in confusion.] ...Maybe is was a twin, like in... [but she trails off and shakes her head. She then smiles kindly at the man.]

It sounds like you found out something really important! Oh- I'm Fuu Hououji. Age fifteen, third year of junior high school in Tokyo, blood type A.

[Taking a bow and smugly introducing himself:] I am Ichijou. I'm a first-rate manicurist when not dealing with security-related matters- [Translation: does nails while he's supposed to be working.] -so of course I would notice such a detail.

[The smugness quickly gets overtaken by worry again.] But if most of those in town have inexplicably vanished, and this was somehow orchestrated by those people we heard...

Wouldn't that mean that the ones who are trapped here are the potential "traitors?" But how could any of us betray a group when we hardly even know who any of their members or what any of their goals are?

[She shakes her head, then her face flushes with emotion]

It's very confusing- I don't understand why- why she had to die...

To get someone's attention, apparently, however; even when I'm looking at this scene in person, something about it just doesn't feel... Right?

No, it doesn't feel wrong enough. It's too perfect. And with most of the town's population gone, this is starting to feel more like a horror film than an actual event.

[...How many murder scenes have you been around for you to know it 'feels wrong'?]

It is pretty creepy. This- [well, both the death and the disappearances, but she means the latter] has happened once before, actually. But this time it's much more... quiet.

[Don't ask questions that you don't want to know the answer to, Fuu. Though honestly he's more into torture than murder - it's much classier. His employers, however...]

And? [He's already starting to take notes!] How did that turn out?

[She feels a bit strange having her words recorded like this, and tries to peek at his book.]

Well... during that week not only were the people all gone, but the stone and topiary animals from the Garden tried attacking us. Even the plants grew really fast and came after us. But at the end of the week we fell asleep for one minute, all the damage was fixed and all the people came back.

[He silently writes down a summary of the story, then places his pen in the center of the book, gently closes it, and holds it out to Fuu.]

Were you interested in reading this? I doubt it says anything that you don't already know.

((If she accepts it, because I haven't gotten around to writing it all out yet ~~because I'm lazy~~, it's mostly straightforward observations and questions about the town including transcripts and/or summaries of notable broadcasts, the content of his "B card," and notes about conversations that he's had including occasional fashion commentary. He seems particularly fond of Hawk's and Sophie's hair (and finds both of them pleasant to talk to), and describes The Doctor as "average in looks, bizarre in behavior." There are also occasional references to being afraid of being caught or killed by something called "Teiai," and other references to being "safe" or "free."))

I am, thank you. I've not seen anyone else take notes...

[...although she knows that Mister Braxiatel probably is.
Taking the book with both hands, she gives a slight bow in thanks before opening it and slowly skimming the contents.]

Wow, Mister Ichijou. This is excellent! [*giggle*] Hawk does have nice hair, ne.

[[ooc: did he ever talk to another person with a 'B' card? The extra note would be news to her.]]

I tend to prefer recording things electronically, but the CAT system doesn't seem all that reliable. Of course, I don't mind doing things the old-fashioned way from time to time.

[Nodding, with a somewhat amused look;] Very nice, yes.

((Nope, no second B card.))

Yes... [that and the fact that the CATs are without a doubt being monitored.]
Nothing wrong with paper and pencil!

[She looks through for a bit longer. Anything not having to do with Luministi is discreetly skipped over, so she doesn't get anything further than an brief impression of that extra content.
With a grateful smile she hands the book back.]

Thank you. I'm certain that it will come in very useful. I started keeping a journal myself, but only after a warning I received last time. Shortly after I started, a fog erased all our memories of the town, so it was indispensable to have everything written down-- sorry. I talk so much about 'last time', when there is so much still to figure out now...

[He gently takes his diary back and stuffs it back under his arm.]

I wasn't aware of that detail. It seems like this "last time" was quite eventful! It may be a good lens to look at current events through, and during times when it isn't, at least I'm sure there are a couple of relative newcomers like myself who can offer fresh perspectives.

Hopefully no such "mass amnesia" event or the like occurs here - I don't appreciate having my mind tampered with, and I promise that in the event of a repeat performance, I will be making whoever is responsible deeply regret it.

I'm already very displeased with this. [He holds a hand out toward Audrey, as if introducing the scene.]

[She follows his gesture and frowns sadly.]

I'm afraid that the people behind Luministi don't think much of taking lives to protect their secrets. Who knows who could be next... [Shaking herself mentally and shivering, she looks back up at him.]

I'm very grateful for your perspective on things. I hope that you will share what you find out with everyone - we have to work together to get out of this.

Clearly. We'll just have to be extra careful, won't we?

While I'm not personally invested in leaving like most seem to be, I'm curious enough that I will continue to attempt to sort things out. And share my findings, obviously.

[She nods, but knowing how in control of them Luministi can be, she wonders if just being extra careful will be enough.]

I'm glad to hear it!
If you think it would be helpful then, I could let you look through my journal from last time. Or, if you have the time, I could tell you about what happened.

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◌ 022 ◌ The power of belief brings even monsters into existence

[Holo~]

Re: [Holo~]

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-> [action] (belated, but just for the record!)

(oh yes, that. :V)

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