◌ 027 ◌ Truth be told

[wind_of_reason]

[To say that seeing snow staring to fall inside her house was a shock would be an understatement. Even the experience of all the strange things that happen in Luministi couldn't change her instinctive thrill to see snow (so uncommon in Tokyo), and her subsequent startlement at it being inside.

Grabbing her purse and coat she runs to the door and throws it open wide to see what is happening outside. The puffy snow is falling from the sky as well (at least that is normal), and the accumulation is already thick. This is when she notices the footprints that lead away from her door. That is... strange. Coupled with the message on the Guide, it's downright suspicious.

Curious she follows the footprints all the way to the Mayor's house and through to the observation deck. She wonders just how many people came this way because it seems like there are way more footprints than people who have come here...

She frowns at all the displays of the question 'What have you done?' It seems so accusatory that nothing good springs to mind. Besides, the Guide said that they would be told something! This is just another question.

With a faint frown as she considers this new situation she stands closer to the strange fire to ward off the cold.]

[[Backdated to the start of the truth hits everybody plot]]

Comments

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk's not quite as thrilled with the snow, though the upside is that it seems less out for their extremities than the Sub-Zero Snowfield. His first thought on getting to the observation deck is to shake off the snow that he's accumulated on the way, and then to head towards the closest source of warmth. He hesitates a little on seeing Fuu, but… they'll have to talk sooner or later, and Kon's words come back to his mind. He steps a little closer, offering her a smile.]

…hey.

[wind_of_reason]

Hawk. [Her tone is light and cheerful, but her smile is a little restrained. Luministi hasn't been too physically challenging this time, but emotionally, it's been extreme. She keeps her eyes on her hands as she stretches them towards the fire.]

Welcome to our new puzzle, ne?

[desertdaggers]

[He nods, with a quick glance up at the words.] Yeah. [He rubs his hands together and tucks them under his armpits, moving a little closer to the fire, still with a reasonable distance between them.] I don't think those words should exactly be aimed at us, though.

[wind_of_reason]

[She glances over with a touch of concern- neither of them are really dressed for the cold, and there is only so close one can get to the fire.]

I don't think so either. How does this line up with the message saying we would be told something here?

[desertdaggers]

[and fire jutsus are generally not the way to go to warm up, either.]

Mm. It'd make more sense if they were here- then we could ask them what they've done. I'd rather like to know.

[wind_of_reason]

Me too! But they probably won't give a straight answer.

[Although, that episode in Lab #3 had the disconcerting thread of truth...]

[desertdaggers]

Yeah. Probably they know that this'd just rile us up more. [he presses his lips together and shakes his head. But… yes, maybe there would be a truth behind it- although how much, and whether it would make sense at the time is unclear.]

[wind_of_reason]

Yes... at least with giant killer topiary animals or zombies, you know what you're up against! This, though... [she gestures broadly at the room. The sentences, the Guide message, the snow and the fire- she doesn't know what to make of it. Not knowing troubles her, especially here.]

[desertdaggers]

Yeah. The solution doesn't seem quite so easy. [Not that it's necessarily been easy before… He takes another glance around the room and frowns, shifting his arms.] I hope they don't think this'll get us to turn on each other. After everything…

[wind_of_reason]

Perhaps they do, but I'm sure no one will. Even Mister Ichijou. [She trails off, thinking of 'everything'. Or at least, everything having to do with herself and Hawk. Especially everything that had happened during the Festival-]

N-no, we've all been through too much together to not get through it together!

[desertdaggers]

[He nods. Even if they have different desires, in the end, they're all thwarted by the same person.] It's quite obvious the enemy isn't one of us. If anything, what we've been through has brought us closer together. [And in their case… He goes quiet for a few moments, and then unfolds his arms and straightens up.]

Actually… Fuu, about that…

[wind_of_reason]

Mm? About what? [She glances over, her expression curious (perhaps a little too much so, as her mind dodges away from certain things...)]

[desertdaggers]

[He opens his mouth, but his throat seems to be stuck, for some reason, and he glances away for a moment, clearing it.] I… what I said then, when… when we thought we'd lived here… [His lips twitch down, but he keeps going.] I know the situation wasn't real, but… my feelings are, and… I'm glad. That… at least we had this opportunity to meet.

[He pauses there, not sure where to go next- he'll miss her, he knows, but at this point that's already too final. There's still a little time. He watches her face for her response, his own expression worried, one hand holding onto the wrist of his other arm.]

[wind_of_reason]

[She is a few years older than when she'd come to terms with the feelings she and Ferio have for each other, but she feels not much wiser.

She has now turned to fully face him and it takes a long beat for his words to sink in. But they are so straight-forward, there is nowhere for her mind to run to.

And... that's a good thing. She thinks. Her face feels horribly hot and her heart is beating fast, which are usually not good symptoms. Except for when she is near someone she loves.

But she also remembers how she'd felt on the ferris wheel, wondering if she was fickle, but also struggling to be fully honest.]

Hawk, I- [She swallows and takes a deep breath, looking down at the shadows the fire is casting.]

Thank you. My feelings were- [her eyes flick up to meet his] are real too.

[She pauses there, hesitating to go on as if giving further voice to her feelings will irrevocably solidify them and open the door to all the eventual pain that will follow, for both of them.]

[desertdaggers]

Fuu…

[He expected this, more or less, but he still feels unprepared for the ache flaring inside him. It's one thing to confess, knowing he might be rejected but still with hope that maybe- just maybe-, and another when things are like this. There's no doubt in his mind that it will hurt, whatever happens after this, whatever choices they make. Nothing can truly come of this, and yet…]

I'm selfish. [He takes a slow step forward, one hand reaching out to touch hers, his gaze dropping.]

[terezi_pyrope]

[Guess who also arrived here.]

I have a feeling this won't amount to anything helpful, but I guess we might as well go look around.

[wind_of_reason]

[Hello peculiar person with the hard to pronounce name!]

Of course looking around is helpful! You never know what you'll find out. [Not that leaving the warm fire is appealing, but exploring is important too.]

I admit I've been a bit curious to see how the hydroponic plants are holding up in this indoor snow.

[terezi_pyrope]

[Hello hello!]

Maybe the dead body of one of the criminals at large.

Hyro...ponic plants? What kind of plants are those?

[wind_of_reason]

[She winces a little- finding who's behind this would be good; finding dead bodies would be bad.]

They are plants growing in water!

[terezi_pyrope]

[Terezi has a feeling it wouldn't help, but her wish for them to be punished is just maybe a bit stronger.]

I probably wouldn't be able to see them well, but I wouldn't mind you showing me sometime anyway.

[The Seer's touching walls, with occasionally her hands, but mostly her tongue.]

Having any luck?

[wind_of_reason]

Certainly!

[Right. Just... taste your way around, then? (Mental note to avoid leaning against any walls.) So on they go.]

[Fuu shakes her head at the question, shivering continuously.]

N-no. I'm sorry, it seems like it's getting way colder, and the snow is thicker... Oh! Be careful that your tongue doesn't stick to cold metal!

[fortune_sought]

Fuu! It brought you here as well?

[having spotted her friend, Sophie hurries over to her, concerned. she was hoping that at least someone in town had managed to stay out of this apparent trap]

[wind_of_reason]

I'm afraid so! Wait- what do you mean by 'it'? The footprints?

[fortune_sought]

[she's surprised by that question] Well, yes, but they must have been a trap. We're the only ones who have come here, and there were enough footprints for the entire town.

[wind_of_reason]

Oh, good! I was afraid that there was something else luring us in!

You're right, it's strange how many footprints there are... And it was a trap with an invitation. [She holds up the Guide to show what she means.] We aren't being told anything like this.

[fortune_sought]

[sourly] Well, I'm certain there's something behind it...

No, though I suppose that's to be expected. [Sophie has obviously had quite enough of this place. she sighs, gesturing at the message on the wall] Just a question, "What have you done?", as though it's our fault rather than theirs!

[wind_of_reason]

I will always worry my family because I can't talk about Cephiro to them. I willingly put my sword against my closest friends. I killed Princess Emeraude-!

[Fuu's hands fly to press over her mouth, her eyes wide. What was she saying? Two- two of those things are her fault, but-]

I- I'm sorry!

[fortune_sought]

[she gapes at her, completely confused by what just happened--not to mention she has no idea what to say to any of that] Are...are you all right?

[wind_of_reason]

Yes, but- [she shivers, suddenly feeling the cold cut through her jacket even more] I don't know why I said that...

[fortune_sought]

I...see. [she was wondering if it was involuntary, considering the way Fuu's words sounded] Then it must be something more this place is up to. [she scowls] I suppose that's what it actually brought us here for.