luministi | ✧ 03 ✧ Burning glances, turning heads

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✧ 03 ✧ Burning glances, turning heads

[The festival is a new experience for Jamie, and it would have likely brought him out even if he hadn't received the note. That just makes him more determined to go. He's even managed to get the idea that he should maybe dress up a wee bit, and is wearing a nice coat, ruffled shirt and a decorative baldric along with his usual great kilt. The mask he's gotten doesn't quite match, but he's resigned to having to have it on, at least for now - and the music notes on it aren't so bad.

It's a grand get together, to be sure, but his gaze keeps going over to the archways. And despite spending a good deal of time where there's food, he finds himself wandering closer and closer to that part of the square. Maybe a peek behind one of those curtains is in order...]

(( OOC: Jamie and Natsuo are going to explore curtain #1 thanks to the wonderful combination that is curiosity and boredom, but things are also open if people want to come chat or see about tagging along. Feel free to tease him about his kilt and get faces made at you in return. XD ))

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[You don't have to tell Natsuo twice! Though he would prefer not to be the first, and would actually much prefer to all go through at the same time, so he reaches to take their hands (if they'll let him) before starting toward the arch.]

If the murderer's back there, we should hurt him. [He says like it's a perfectly normal thing to say.]

Aye, but they're lasses. [And therefore shouldn't be fighting period. There's nothing he can really do about it save go through the curtain, though, and he sighs.]

One moment.

[He undoes the leather cord that's keeping his claymore peacebonded, and then lets Natsuo take his hand. It's a good idea so they don't get separated. His other hand rests on the hilt of his sword.]

Aye, we'll deal with the murderer right enough. Together, then.

[He'll wait for Xion to hopefully take Natsuo's other hand - and then move with both of them to go through the first curtain.]

So? What does that have to do with anything? [HUFF ... goes the "boy."]

[Xion nods solemnly to what Natsuo says.] But we can't hurt him too bad. We're going to need to get answers from him. [She blinks in surprise when Natsuo reaches for their hands, but she doesn't pull away. In a way, she... likes the gesture. We'll go together.

After watching Jamie untie his sword, Xion decides that, whatever is behind that curtain, it'd be safer for them if she goes through with Keyblade in hand. She summons Aubade (http://images.wikia.com/kingdomhearts/images/b/ba/DaysAubird_Lord.png) to her free hand.] Okay. Let's go.

[the room the group of three enters into is dark and difficult to see into--that is until all of them are beyond the curtain. once they are, the curtain stiffens with a "zing", effectively trapping them within, and at the same time, a small light turns on just as the wall opposite the curtain begins to slide open.

in the dim light, they should be able to see the Sheriff's office peeking out above what seems to be a wall of mirrors covering up the walls of the office. The mirrors reflect everyone in their refinery, Iussus' desk sans chairs, and the curtained room they're in. set just before them on the desk is what looks like a CAT with a note on it that reads:]

"Play me"

[a video will start up once everyone is in the room and someone has pressed play on the display screen that pops up the moment someone touches the CAT]

[Natsuo isn't paying attention to much of anything when they first step through the curtain, he's distracted by the weaponry! His eyes definitely light up at the sight of Jamie's sword, but he is especially interested in Xion's keyblade.

So don't mind him, he's just staring at the shiny. There's a CAT? He doesn't notice. Sorry~]

[And Jamie is also distracted, first by Xion's sword, and then by the curtain stiffening behind them. He whirls around, letting go of Natsuo's hand in the process.]

Hey! What do ye think you're doing?

[Don't mind him, he's just going to ineffectively try and get the curtain open for a minute or two.]

[Xion is alarmed when the curtains trap them in, but quickly turns her focus elsewhere. They're here for a reason, after all. She tightens her grip on the Keyblade and slowly takes a few steps forward.]

This is the Sheriff's Office, isn't it? But, the mirrors...? That's... That's weird...

[She blinks, surprised at the CAT. That's not the kind of thing she'd expect to see on the sheriff's desk. Plus...]

Hey, there's a note. "Play me"...

[She reaches to pick it up, and as soon as she touches it, the display screen appears. Blinking again, she hits play.]

[the video itself keeps switching from different fixed security cameras as a large group of people continue to pass through a long, meandering hallway past several closed and open doors. in the middle of the armed escort is a wounded Sheriff Iussus is being supported by both Caligin (who is in color) and Audrey behind Ms. Osculia, who has an arm protectively around Verita. everyone, aside from Iussus whose head is resting on his chest, has a mix of fear and anger on their faces.]

[after a moment of this, Ms. Osculia finally speaks:] Where are you taking us? The spaceport isn't this way!

[none of the armed people respond to her (and these people should be recognized as the team of deputies who have been out and about in recent weeks). Caligin's expression hardens as he shifts Iussus' weight. Verita glances back at him nervously when he begins to speak] I know you no longer recognize my authority or that of CSO Iussus, but you can show some respect for a former colleague and answer a simple question when asked!

[the man leading everyone away glances over his shoulder at Caligin, a "LRL Security Officer" patch on his arm] Sorry, Dr. Caligin, such a thing would imply I had respect for Osculia in the first place--and if you haven't noticed, she's a bit of a bitch.

Verita starts to jerk towards him, but Osculia keeps her back] Don't talk about her like that!

Oh, quit your complaining. You're almost there anyway. See? [the man suddenly grabs Verita out of Osculia's grasp and shoves her through the nearest open door. as that happens, the camera footage switches to inside the room itself.]

[sitting in one of the chairs is an older gentleman who stands and doesn't look pleased by the random violence.] That isn't necessary, is it? [from the voice, he should be recognizable as the man known as "Proctor".]

[the head security officer shrugs, his hand never once leaving the side his weapon is holstered on] Resarci said we could do whatever we wanted. [he watches coldly as Verita drags herself to her feet and runs back over to Osculia, but does so more to shield the older woman than anything.]

Yes, but that was before he was shot, wasn't it? [he shakes his head and steps forward towards the group now that everyone has gathered in the room] Never mind. It doesn't matter any longer. But I should thank all of you for coming--and thank you for not resisting. Our company has been a fan of your work at the Luministi Research Labs for a long time, Dr. Caligin, so much so that when we got word it was for sale, well, you can only imagine how--

It what? [Caligin's face begins to redden as his temper climbs] Why would I sell my own lab when my work was far from com--?! [then something dawns on him. his next words are soft] So that is what Ernesto had done...

[Audrey casts a worried look at Caligin before turning her attention to Proctor] What are you going to do us? Parade us before your boss? Or are you the boss?

[Proctor's darkens for a second before he looks away] If they had interest in such things, they would've come down themselves. But no, they've left it up to me to oversee the destruction of loose ends.

"Loose ends"? [Verita's eyes go wide]

It's an unfortunate side-effect of things. [Proctor sighs and turns away] All data had been transferred to us an hour ago.

Even...[Caligin trails off, torn between mentioning something in case it hasn't been found or on the off-chance that Proctor is ignorant of those parts of the experiment]

[Proctor doesn't turn, but his lips curl into a sharp smile anyway] Oh yes. That was part of the bargain, Dr. Caligin. Everything was quite cheap considering all that we got.

[Caligin suddenly lunges forward leaving Audrey to support the wounded Iussus while he cries:] How dare you pervert the integrity of my life's work?! [but a nearby security officer smacks him across the face with the butt of their weapon, sending backwards into Iussus and Audrey]

From what I've seen and heard about what's gone on here, you were doing just fine all on your own. [this earns cries of indignation from everyone which Proctor ignores.] But now you know and I do believe we are all done here. Conveniently, this room seems the easiest to clean, though CSO Iussus made quite the mess on his way in. Shame. I don't think he's fully conscious now from the looks of him. Oh well. [he turns and nods at the head security officer, who draws his weapon] You know what to do. [he starts to walk away so he doesn't get caught in the crossfire]

[but suddenly, a young man appears amongst the group of Caligin, Audrey, Iussus, Ms. Osculia, and Verita. no one has seen him before, but his voice might be familiar.] Quickly, hold on to me!

[his arms shoot out, taking hold of Iussus and Osculia, and the others grab onto his shirt sleeves, regardless of the dubious looks on their faces. it's either stay and die or escape with a stranger, after all. but once all of them are touching him, all six people including the mysterious young man, all disappear, leaving the security officers and Proctor absolutely dumbfounded.]

[once the video ends, the CAT shuts down--but it can be taken by anyone who wants to take it. somehow, though, once everyone is done watching the video, all three people will find that their masks have loosened for some reason. there's also that "zing" sound again as the curtain softens to allow them to exit the enclosure of mirrors in the Sheriff's office and the blank room just beyond the curtain.

but if they take their masks off, they will find that their own faces come off with the masks. without the masks on, Natsuo, Jamie and Xion can't talk--but they can still see that they have no face--like this, even though their eyes are technically gone.]

[unfortunately, the left curtain was the wrong choice.]

Ah! [What happened to the Sheriff?! Why is he hurt? And... What's wrong? What's happening? She doesn't understand.

She flinches at the insult to Miss Oculia, but as soon as the deputy grabs Verita, Xion's demeanor... changes. Noticeably, if her companions are watching her (unlikely).]

[Xion's free hand clenches into a fist, and her grip tightens again on Aubade. Those blue eyes narrow slightly and turn fierce. Don't treat her like that! Don't hurt her! She's my friend! You won't get away with this. How dare you?]

[But her eyes widen again, almost to the point of being comical.]

What?! [For sale?! But why? Why would the doctor do something like that? Just to be mean? She knows he isn't -- wasn't? -- the nicest man, but...]

D-Destroy? [He's not talking about us, is he?

But that thought is quickly banished from Xion's mind. Instinctively, she jerks forward, as if she could somehow leap through the CAT into that room in the video and save them all.]

No! You can't do that! Don't --

[But someone beats her to it. The young man arrives just in time to rescue them, and then all of them vanish, just as quickly as the young man appeared.]

[Xion is left standing there, staring blankly at the CAT after the transmission is over, hands still outstretched. Her (fake) heart is hammering in her chest, and it's all she can hear in her ears.]

What... What's going on?

[Her voice sounds so small and distant to her. Slowly, she reaches out to pick up the CAT with her gloved hands and stares at it, brow furrowed in confusion and worry.

Everyone... Verita... Please, be safe...

She's too preoccupied to notice her mask has loosened.]

[Hey, is that man hurt? Oh. They're all talking. Boring. ... Wow, they're talking a lot. Hmmmm.

Natsuo looks away while the video continues to play, not paying it a bit of attention. His focus is on the mirrors. He watches his own reflection for a bit, glances at Xion's and Jamie's reflections momentarily... He looks above the mirrors, curious as to what kind of room this is and what it looks like behind them. With a small, but downright devilish grin, he raises a hand and points his palm toward the mirror nearest to him.]

Break. Shatter into a million pieces and fall to the ground. Do not stand in my way.

[In an instant, with a jarring "crack!" the mirror breaks, littering the floor with a ridiculous amount of little reflective shards. Natsuo, looking quite pleased with himself, marches over to investigate~]

[When the video starts up, Jamie turns to watch, growing gradually more wide-eyed at the surroundings the townsfolk are in - and even though he doesn't feel the same way towards them that Xion does, the threatening is enough to make him tighten his hand on the sword. The man grabbing them all and disappearing is enough to make him back up a step or two in surprise.]

That's...

[Whatever else he is going to say is cut off as the mirrors shatter, and he whips his head around to see what's going on, causing his mask go flying and revealing a smooth, featureless face to the others.]

[Xion turns to blink at Natsuo, wondering why he's saying that, but then the mirrors shatter, making her jump. When she feels her mask slipping, she grabs it out of reflex, and at the sound of Jamie's mask hitting the ground, she turns to look at him.

And

He

What?!]

Ahhhhhhh!

[Natsuo spins around when he hears Xion scream. He spots Jamie, and while he doesn't scream, he does look pretty frightened. His eyes go wide and his ears flatten, tail curling around himself. He even unconsciously scoots a little closer to Xion.

Then, the initial shock wears off. He straightens up, and though he's still wide-eyed, he asks, curiously:]

How'd you do that?

[He has no idea there isn't a face there at the moment, although he does feel a wee bit strange, and he can tell the lads are frightened. He goes to ask why...and realizes he can't talk. Even without any features to speak of, his body language is confused.

Jamie winds up turning his head slightly, enough to get a glimpse of himself in one of the shattered pieces of the mirror. Frantically, he goes to grab for it. It's large enough that he can see what's happened to his face, and he drops the piece of glass in horror. He gestures wildly to the others, but without a mouth there it's hard to tell what he wants. They may pick up that he's a bit frantic about the situation anyway.]

Wh-What? What... What is it?

[She doesn't know what to do. He -- What should she do?]

[Well, Natsuo doesn't know what to do either, but the guy sure seems really upset about it! He finally notices that his own mask has become loose, and he pulls it off...

He would smirk at his faceless reflection, but it's hard to do that without a mouth.

He puts his mask back on, though, and nods at Xion. When he speaks, he's clearly way too calm about this.]

I think he wants his mask back. It has his face in it.

[Xion has gone very, very pale. She secures her mask so it definitely won't come off unless she makes it.]

I... O... Okay... I'll look...

[Jamie is startled by that - which may or may not come across without a face - but then he nods, very firmly. Getting that back would be a good idea.

He starts to search around to see if he can figure out where it's gotten to. It's not that big of an area. Surely it'll turn up sooner rather than later.]

(( OOC: Up to you guys if one of you wants to find it before Jamie does! I'll go with whatever. :) ))

[Natsuo glances to the area behind the mirrors, the others... the area, the others, the are, the others... and with a sigh, he goes to help look for the mask, too. It couldn't have gone far, right?]

((OoC: He won't find it, he's only really half-heartedly looking. ^^; Sorry. ))

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✧ 03 ✧ Burning glances, turning heads

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