Location: Pinefall High Dormitory – Souma Nubatama’s Bedroom (Room 109)
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
Souma speaks. John merely listens, and ponders. His thoughts are too scattered. Their knowledge is limited, missing too many pieces for them to be able to tie them together.
“Yes, Souma, I read Dr. Leuzinger’s report on DDS. And yes, I find some discrepancies between what she describes and what I am experiencing, to the point that I believe it is not a simple as our teachers would like it to be.”
He then turns to Alexstrasza. Perhaps this is a mistake, but John wants everybody to be on the same page—as much as such a thing is possible for these characters.
“Alexstrasza, our teachers believe the supernatural to be a contagious, shared delusion, which can be spread through sufficient exposure to it. They believe the supernatural is not real, and they can ascertain this because they are thus far unable to perceive it. Furthermore, they have developed a drug that blocks a person’s perception of the supernatural, to a limited degree.”
He can only hope Souma does not add unnecessary context to this “explanation.” The last thing they need right now is a debate on the reality of the supernatural.
“Regardless, if the supernatural were to be completely false as our teachers believe, then our ‘time travel’, or however you want to call it, would also be part of that shared delusion. However, the scientists would then have to explain how a delusion revealed Souma’s Tuesday evening encounter to us…among other things.”
Turning to Souma, John returns to the subject of the Disembodied Man.
“Souma, we do not know much about this criminal. What I can tell you is that it is driven by a vendetta. Its actions seem intent on making us suffer and feel impotence and hopelessness. It blames us for something, and intends to hurt us for it.” He pauses. “Well, I say ‘us’, but perhaps I should not make that assumption. Perhaps the Disembodied Man is projecting. Perhaps it is targeting us because it cannot target the real object of their vendetta, or because it sees somebody else in us. There seem to have been a number of tragedies in this very campus; perhaps its actions are connected to those past events. I do not know.”
John pays close attention to Souma’s list of ‘suspicious classmates’.
“Vier Wolff also shares mine and Alexstrasza’s alternate memories. From everything that happened in that version of Sunday, I am not surprised she is having a hard time.”
Are you not having a hard time yourself, John Dove?
“Montjoy…yes, he is…reserved. I got the impression that he avoids talking about himself.”
Prushka claimed he is an ESPer. Perhaps he should have asked about that. It seems like finding their smallest classmate grows as a priority, for she has valuable information on both Montjoy and Bakhauv.
“From what basis do you call his behavior ‘erratic’, Souma? What is Caleb Montjoy’s ‘normal’, and how has his behavior diverged from that normal? I know not enough about him, so I have to inquire further on this. As for Hwan Bin…”
Prushka seems to trust him. Does John Dove trust Prushka as a judge of character?
“…well, that would be a matter of investigating the outbuilding and seeing what he’s been up to. It seems an almost surprisingly simple line of investigation. By any chance, has either of you visited the outbuilding?”
That was one of the spots in the test of courage. The ones who went there…Pyry and Momoi, if John’s not mistaken.
Alexstrasza then speaks. If he were a more…emotive man, he would find her words and reactions endearing.
“Alexstrasza, we do not know for a fact that Gabi Bakhauv is dead, only that he is missing. We are suspecting that he is dead because of the claims the Disembodied Man shared with you. Before we can examine Bakhauv, we first would have to find him, dead or alive.”
After that, he needs a moment to gather all these scattered thoughts, and try to make anything of them. Seated on Souma’s bed, he rests his elbows on his thighs and brings his hands together in front of his face. Closing his eyes, he intently, almost desperately, looks for the next course of action.
“From what I’ve heard, we have two locations to investigate: the outbuilding, if only to confirm or discard Hwan Bin as a suspicious element, and the Ghostwood Overlook, plus the road leading to it. If Bakhauv was attacked outside, however, any physical evidence has likely been washed away by yesterday’s rain. On the other hand, I am also interested in investigating the statue and the things left behind by the Klallam…yes, I think I will make that trip later.”
His sight refocuses on the two in the room with him.
“I also want to talk to Prushka. She is the one who brought Bakhauv’s absence to my attention in the first place. I think she has more information—like I said, she’s been investigating as well. And like I also said, we have to ask other people, for whatever else they may know about him.”
Resting his hands on his knees, John allows himself a small smile.
“As much as I find myself enjoying your company, I think we should split for this. Souma, would you be willing to help Alexstrasza investigate the outbuilding later today, while I investigate the overlook? How’s that for a plan?”
He has no qualms about making the trip on his own, but considering the circumstances, he is not against finding a partner for that endeavor. He already has somebody in mind, in fact.
“Anyway, as interesting as this conversation is, I have no plans to skip breakfast this morning. Furthermore, there’re probably still others in the dorms at this time, so this is our best chance to ask them about Bakhauv.”
A nod towards Souma.
“Again, my apologies for interrupting your early routine, and my thanks for sharing your time and your thoughts with us.”
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Originally Posted by Jake
