Astronomika - Shooting Down Falling Stars (IC)

**Verg Avesta** · February 3rd, 2021, 01:36 PM

Alexstrasza Lockhart
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Kitchen
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Overcast

Originally Posted by Alexstrasza

"It is very rude to call a young girl a thing, Travis. You should apologize to Evinakala at once, or she'll start to sulk."

"Mmm, that's right~"

Something spoke those words in a dirty moan right next to Travis's ear.

"I'll start to sulk, big boy~"

Potemkin, who else? Now that she had freed herself from Stephanie (who had, in turn, retreated to corner thanks to Alexstrasza's more than dubious question), the literally monochrome girl was undulating herself against the boy. Travis, on the other hand, didn't take this too well. When those breathy words were spoken to his ear, he let out a sound that sounded quite a lot like a cat about to claw someone's face off and pushed Potemkin away from himself. The monochrome girl, on the other hand, just let out a dull "Ahahaha~" and fell flat on her back, like one of those inflatable waving tube humans with air let out of them.

And she didn't seem to be in much hurry to get back up.

"Listen here, you textbook sociopath!" Travis growled, red on his face and finger pointing towards Alexstrasza's face. "I know skin pigmentation or lack thereof to know that that is in no way natural! That is something that nature could never produce! That is far out of normality's reach that even a ten foot pole wouldn't reach it! I dunno what the hell sort of monster you've managed to ensnare, but I swear to God if you don't put that back where it came from, I'll smack you--- What are you doing?"

Travis's angry tirade had been cut off thanks to the vaguely lewd sounds coming from the floor. Glancing over there, both him and the blonde girl saw how Potemkin writhed on the floor, lurid smile on her face and her own hands running up and down her body. She seemed to be excited beyond belief... until she noticed the stares and flashed a nasty grin in response.

"What~? And here I thought you pushed me down because you wanted to have your way with me? I mean, with the two choices you have right now, aren't I the obvious one? So go ahead, big guy~!" Potemkin said and cackled, before sneaking a glance at Alexstrasza. "You don't mind, right? After all, this whole idea of someone for once overpowering us and wanting to do all sorts of things with us... it's kinda exciting, isn't it, Alexjones? Get's the saliva going~"

Travis, now beet red on his face, whirled back towards Alexstrasza and pointed his finger at the downed, moaning, cackling facsimile of a girl.

"Just what the hell did you do, you knuclehead!?"

Liana Skye, Vier Wolff & Vivienne Bianchi
Location: Owl's Nest Hotel
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

For a moment, Rachel stared at Vier with an odd look on her face. There was slight change in the air pressure at the reception area, and for a moment it looked almost like some sort of small fragments, like tiny shards of a mirror, had danced in the air around Vier and the redhead. However, just as soon as that feeling had appeared, it was also gone. Rachel, whose eyes had gained a momentary glassy sheen shook her head, and her gaze returned to normal. With a sigh, she waved her hands towards the stairwell and the broken elevator.

"Ahh, I suppose it's fine... though I don't wanna hear any complaints from the Omkaras after this. When it's a hotel in a place like this, customer satisfaction is basically our lifeline. So don't do anything stupid, alright? Let's see..." Rachel grabbed another book that was nearby and studied it for a moment. "The Omkaras are staying at room #211. Once you're done with that, though, come get yourself some grub before work. Don't want you to go hungry on your first day, right?"

With a bit of a grin she waved the girl off, returning to her work.

"And while I appreciate the offer, I can handle things here. Let's just say this is a bit of a mess I got myself into, so it's up to me to get myself out of it," she said with a chuckle. "So thanks, but there's no need.

Meanwhile, Liana and Vivienne had already left the reception to head towards the dining area. The hard-to-resist smells wafting from the kitchen were getting stronger, and as the two entered the large hall with multiple wooden tables set up for the hotel residents, the reason became clear as day. Though there weren't that many customers at the moment, they more than made up for it by the amount they ordered. And if the two girls weren't completely mistaken, some of these weren't even residents here - just local townspeople who had come for a hearty breakfast. For example the truck drivers over at one corner, or the small fisherwoman over there, or the shoe salesman over there, or the young reporter--- Ah.

Vivienne spotted Alex Terrot almost immediately.

The French girl was sitting at one of the corner tables where she could keep her back against the wall. Spread on the table next to her was a journal of some sort that she kept writing at - most likely the same one filled with information written in short-hand that they had found in the previous iteration of the week. Next to her were couple of empty plates with jam stains spread all over there, and a big cup of steaming coffee that she took occasional sip from. The blonde girl shot an occasional glance towards the room, keeping an eye on the people there, but so far she hadn't realized some of her classmates had entered the room.

Still, judging from her comfy clothes and the slippers she wore, Alex Terrot... she definitely hadn't come from the school to over here.

And as for Liana, well...

... Her target was easily found.

"Excellent. Just like I asked - cremated. Boy, you sure do spoil a man over here, Mrs. Waystone. If only I could say the same for the food they give us back at Washington."

There, at the table near the entrance, chatting with one of the older waitresses while wearing a soft smile was the much-talked-about FBI agent. A man whose age was hard to say and even harder to guess, with silver hair and mouth in a child-like smile despite clearly having passed his innocent years long ago. He was dressed rather casually for a Bureau member, though that didn't diminish the clear aura of authority he had around him. Next to him, a fancy walking cane leaned against the table, and on the table, next to his breakfast of bacon and waffles, sat today's newspaper and a dictation machine.

"My compliments to the chef, and---" the FBI agent paused for a moment, took a sip of his coffee... and let out a very satisfied sigh. "... I must say this is, pardon me, damn good coffee. That niece of the owner sure knows her stuff."

The waitress let out a warm laugh and told the agent to just holler if he wanted a refill. Then she left him alone with his morning reading, though instead of grabbing the newspaper he took a hold of the dictation machine. Raising the machine to his lips, he clicked it on and began to speak in a confident manner, as if reporting to someone who was listening.

"Roxie, it is my third morning in Road's End and, I cannot stress this enough, the breakfast at Owl's Nest just keeps amazing me. If you ever come this way I implore you try the bacon. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the chef is wielding a blowtorch back there - just how I like it," he said, continuing to wear that goofy smile. "I'll be doing some legwork after this and interviewing some of the locals. Remind me to contact Sarah in the forensics in the afternoon. Not Dwayne, but to go straight to Sarah. This is a bit too delicate work for him."

He paused for a moment to take a sip of his coffe and glance outside the window, where the rain kept beating the pine trees of Ghostwood in a pleasant-yet-forceful manner.

"Oh, and Roxie... you won't believe what I saw this morning. I told you about the small pond outside my window last night, didn't I? Well, tonight, despite the rain... ducks! There were ducks in the pond!"

The agent let out a delighted chuckle.

"Ah, I certainly feel like I've come to a magical place."

... What a weird guy.

Elise Pelltier
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Empty Classroom
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Elise

"I'm not a fan of that last idea I suggested by the way. Still, that could get me inside overnight without too many questions. You could sneak in, and then we could maybe snoop around? Although I'm about as quiet as an ox when it comes to sneaking around."

A slightly dry smile appeared on Sakura's lips.

"Yes, I'm not a fan of it either. Injuring you just so we could get you into the hospital without suspicion... even if I'm well-trained enough to cause a specific injury like that, I don't like the idea one bit. There's enough hurt to go around even without purposefully causing some. So... let's shelf that idea for now. Besides, milady would never agree to a plan that would cause you pain - and neither would I," she said. "Still... considering Samuel is a long-term patient, it's not unlikely they would put him in a room next to a window. It makes it much easier to keep the air clean and to allow some signs of nature to enter his solitary existence. Thus, if I can find that room, I could get you inside that way... and believe me, sneaking into the hospital is easy enough for me."

She giggled a little bit and thumbed her chest.

"It's what I was trained for, after all!"

At the very least, it looked like Sakura was getting some of her good cheer back after all the serious talk.

"And Hisa Momoi, huh...? Well, if it's brain-related, an esper is a good bet - though are you sure we want to get her involved? She might have enough troubles on her own as it is. Though at the same time, having more allies would be reassuring... and if you bring up her name like this, I take it that she's someone to be trusted? I doubt you'd otherwise mention her name," Sakura asked with a hint of a smile. "I admit that with all these daunting tasks ahead of us, the idea of having more people to trust my back to would put me more at ease."

Rubbing her chin, for a moment Sakura's eyes grew serious once more.

"That being said... this monster. What do you know about it? If it lives in the sewers, then it's certainly a danger to the school at large, and all those in it. After all, while many of us seem to have abilities suited for stuff like this, there are also those who don't..." The brunette said, biting her lip for a moment. "Colt, for example... if he was thrust into this Turnside business, I've no doubt he'd be in immense danger. That boy... he's got a good heart, but no power to back it up. I'm..."

She sighed a little bit, almost like wondering why she had brought up his name in the first place.

"... I'm sure he'd do something foolish just because it 'was the right thing to do', even if he was powerless against the dangers of our side of the world."

Prushka
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Hwan's Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Hwan snorted.

"Puppy, huh? Wow, sounds like wizards of Menlo Park are scratching he bottom of the barrel already," Hwan cackled, eyebrow raised at Prushka. "But I see, I see! So that's how it is! Man, sounds like you're involved in something quite overly-complicated, Puppy."Revelation of the codename might have been a mistake. No, it had definitely been a mistake. Just one look at Hwan's mocking grin told the small girl that he was going to milk this reveal for everything it was worth, just to annoy her. Though instead of the type of annoying that he had tried previously, this was just for his own amusement. Yes... just for the sake of having a chuckle.

Hwan Bin might have been an awful human after all.

"Also, nah. Leave my Lucky Bastards alone," Hwan said, snatching the pack away from Prushka with a snicker. "You'll stunt your growth."

... Yes, definitely an awful human.

"Still, uh... what was it? 'A ghost from another timeline sharing memories?' The fuck's that and why ain't I getting any? Would make my job a hell of a lot easier," Hwan continued the conversation, taking a drag off his cigarette and flicking it against the ashtray. "So let me get this straight. You have memories of another timeline where you got stabbed by a spear while I was fucking off somewhere not doing my job, and apparently revealed my job to some totally unrelated person. And now you're in this timeline, remembering all that stuff, and you used that info you got to track me down?"

For some reason the boy heaved a heavy, heavy sigh and hung his head for a moment.

"... Why is this sounding just the type of shady shit that Eureka Labs would be involved in? Please don't tell me they are. Those nutjobs are the bane of existence for people like us," Hwan groaned. "The last thing I want to be involved is some grand conspiracy of alternating timelines and memories flung across time and space..."

The magenta eyes turned to stare at Prushka.

"... Who was it who I told about my job, anyways? Since I figure the situation would either be super dire - to the point I was dying, or then it'd be someone I'd actual trust. And I trust people here as far as I can throw 'em. Meaning you the most, though only by association."

Colt Davin & Lucille Faraday
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Colt Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Colt

“Thanks Gradient. So while the blondes play with their swords, how was your day yesterday? Anything interesting happen? And have you had breakfast today?”

"Nnn."

Gradient simply shook her head at the last question, indicating that she hadn't eaten yet. However, right afterwards she took the notepad and pencil and frowned at it for a moment, as if trying to think what to write... but quickly realizing that whatever she wrote, the boy next to her wouldn't understand it. She wrestled with this issue for a second, before suddenly starting to furiously scribble something. And once she showed the notepad to Colt...

"Muuuu~!" Gradient beamed, looking mighty proud of herself.

Before Colt was a picture of... two people? It was drawn very amateurishly, almost looking like a kid's drawing, but still it could be understood to an extent. There was a short happily smiling girl with a bit of a smudge on her face... a scar? And a very tall boy who was also smiling. And for some reason the two of them were holding hands. Then there was a picture of a normal-looking boy, an arrow to the pair, as if telling something to move, and finally, a speech bubble? Talking?

Gradient poked Colt with her pen, and then pointed at the normal-looking boy in the picture.

... Was she asking him to go to talk to someone?

"Fooo..." Gradient then added, looking a little lost again, until she added something to the picture. "Fofooo..."

She added... another girl? This one that looked almost identical to the normal boy that was apparently Colt. She was holding hands with Colt, and then... Gradient drew another girl. Herself. And she was holding hands with the other girl in turn. Almost like the three of them were forming a circle, with the unknown, yet familiar girl holding hands with both Colt and Gradient.

"Muuu..."

Letting out a bit of a solemn sound, Gradient suddenly reached out and squeezed Colt's hand tightly with her own.

Why...?

Originally Posted by Lucille

“Where did you—how did you—why do you have this?”

Meanwhile, on the other end of the room, a new sort of crisis had reared its head. After all, Lucille had realized that the weapon in Tris's hands was not just your typical hunk of metal, but a fabled weapon of yore, a holy relic among holy relics of the Christian canon. A weapon made both to destroy and subjugate dragons, wielded by one of the most famous saints whose name had been heard all across the world. If there was an image of a dragon-slayer in myths acknowledged by the Church, then it was that of Saint George - and his weapon of choice had been the fabled Ascalon.

Neither a spear nor a sword.

Yet a weapon that could tear a dragon in half.

"H-huh?"

Tris, on the other hand, seemed not to realize this in the least.

"D-Dost though recognizeth this blade of mine?" The blonde girl asked, sounding flabbergasted. "T-that is... I-I dids not knoweth that it had amassed such fame! So art not just a good companion in a fight, but a sword with hath been nameth and given a proper history too, ist that it? Egads... what sort of rudeness hath I showeth such a gradiose weapon, without even knowingeth of it? I-I even spilledeth some BBQ sauce on it the other dayeth..."

It was starting to look like even Tris was beginning to get the gravity of the situation... and that was reducing her to a nervous wreck. One could only imagine how carelessly she had handled the mythical weapon, when even now it had just been tossed into the corner of the room without much thought.

"B-but! It art not my fault! I-I didst not knoweth!" Tris hurried to explain herself. "T-T'was my partner, U-Salem, who gaveth it to me! A-after I escapedeth the House of Vile Darkness, h-he saw how defenseless I was, and gaveth me this blade! I s-sweareth I didst not know!"

Tears were beginning to form in the corners of Tris's eyes as she looked at Lucille, as if begging the girl to forgive her.

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Cafeteria
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Hisa

“I mean…you wouldn’t like if I read your thoughts now, especially without consent, would you?”

Ubon blushed a little, and nodded.

"Y-yeah... for realsies. I-I mean, I loves you and all, Hizzie, but having you look around in my nogging sounds a little... well, it sounds a little weird. And scary. And uncomfortable. A-and... n-not that I don't trust you, Hizzie, it's just that...!" Ubon stammered, looking for the right words... but just ended up hanging her head in shame. "... You're right. My nogging in the last place I can truly have to myself. I-I wouldn't want anyone to look in there, no matter how much I like or trust them..."

Pyry, who had seen the cyanhead's plight, decided to join in on the conversation at this point.

"... Isn't that alright? I mean, everybody has secrets they don't want others to know, even their loved ones. And they don't have to. Just because you're friends with someone doesn't mean you have to share absolutely everything about yourself with them, whatever big or small secrets you have. That'd be just cruel," the golden-maned boy said. "I think that's the point Hisa's trying to make, too. That it's not just that easy to go listening in on the thoughts of others. In a way, everybody deserves that privacy."

The boy took a look at the girl besides her, and seeing that she had more or less gathered her bearings, gave her head one final pat and tousled her hair a little bit, before nodding at her.

"And with temptation like that dangled in front of them all the time, it shows just how strong willpower someone has when they can resist it - when they can put themselves in the shoes of others and understand the importance of that privacy," Pyry said, sounding strangely proud of Hisa. "Though at the same time... we also have a dilemma here. If there's a bad guy out there, or worse yet, if that bad guy is hiding here among us somehow, then... that same power would really help us out and make it easier to find them. But we can't just go and mind-probe everyone in the school..."

With a slightly frustrated groan, Pyry slumped backwards in his chair and leaned it back so that it only stood on it's hind legs. He wobbled back and forth, barely keeping himself balanced.

"Gaaah, why don't we know anyone with divination spells or tracking abilities? That would make this so much easier...!" The boy grumbled, rubbing his temples. "Hell, even one of those loonies from the Viewing Pool would do. An oracle spouting vague nonsense is better than nothing at all! Blargh, a prophecy! My breakfast for a vaguely-worded prophecy!"

It seemed that the complicated nature of the situation was starting to get to the boy a little bit too.

"W-well, maybe we can also make do with someone who's just attentive? Someone who watches the campus a lot?"

Ru's sudden question cut into the conversation.

"I mean, even if it's a familiar that sticks to their master, familiars are meant to do scouting and spying and stuff like that, right? So they'd send it periodically to do that stuff, right?" Ru continued, looking a bit excited as if he realized something. "And since it's such a weird birdie, like Hisa mentioned, then there might be someone here who's seen it.... especially if they're the type to keep a watch over the campus for other reasons too."

Ru looked at the group with a slightly nervous expression, as if he didn't know whether or not his suggestion was useful in any way.

"... D-does that sound stupid?"

Anna Vandemeel, John Dove & Elaine Winters
Location: Road's End - Streets
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

The rumble the car's engine filled the air as Elaine drove her beast out of the parking lot, and into the wet streets of Road's End. Rain continued to fall like lashes of a whip from the completely grey sky, and even though it was morning, some sort of shadow seemed to have draped itself over the whole group. With John sitting shotgun, and Ramia and Anna sitting in the back, the group made their way towards End's Store & Post, to get... whatever was needed from that place. However, at the same time, the atmosphere inside the car had turned waiting - anxious. After all, Ramia had promised an explanation... and after a bit of waiting, she finally started.

It was almost like she had mentally prepared herself.

"Well, first of all... here."

Ramia suddenly said, pulling up her sleeves and revealing a tattoo on her arm. A tattoo of a snake eating its own tail, forming a perfect ring. In other words, a tattoo of Ouroboros - the symbol of eternal repetition. However, this tattoo... it looked almost ancient, in a way. There was something in it that made it clear that it hadn't been made in some random tattoo parlor during one of the many missions the child mercenary had been on.

"This... is the Coil of Mehen. It's a... symbol I created, long ago. Or rather, you could call it a sigil. Sigil etched into my soul. It protects me during the night that is death, what comes after the day of life, and keeps me safe in the Hours of Afterlife. You could think of it as a... casing, for my soul. That way, it isn't sublimated into the great Oversoul and recycled, or filed away into the afterlife, or whatever comes after we shuffle off this mortal coil," Ramia explained. "However, make no mistake... this is no perfect reincarnation. Not something that just plops me into a new life wholesafe, my immortal soul completely untouched. Instead, you could think of it as... well. Think of it this way. If I were a character in video game, this symbol would keep all my stats, all my levels and experience points, all my knowledge and memories, stored away. And when I die, it installs those into a new body. So I'm myself... but also a new person. It's... a bit hard to explain, honestly. Maybe 'amalgam' is a good word to describe what I become?"

A momentary dry, humorless smile passed by Ramia's face.

"... It's also not a perfect process. Think of taking a photocopy of a photocopy, and then keep copying them over and over again. The sharpness of the picture degrades, and at some point you start losing parts of it," she added. "That's... that's how it pretty much is. But, most of it is still here. Some of it."

A bout of silence fell over the car, as Ramia drew a deep breath. She prepared herself, and then continued.

"So that's why... I remember. Back in the days of long, long ago. After my... first iteration had finished their Magnum Opus and branded herself with this. After I had foolishly thought that any sort of immortality was something to strive for. It was during those ancient days that I met... Her. A creature even older than I was... an Antediluvian lifeform that had taken an interest in me," the dusky-skinned girl spoke, her voice sounding distant now. "I helped her with a few things, and over the years, we became something like friends. And then..."

A pause.

Yet another.

Like she was stalling.

"Then... that being came to my original iteration with a question. A stupid question that only a bored, immortal being could come up with. Too bad I was also a bored, semi-immortal mad scientist. It was that meeting that gave birth to the object you hold, John..."

--- Ramia's eyes narrowed.

"...

The Eight-Banded Star of Ishtar

Ishtar Irkalla

."

And so, Ramia began her tale.

A silence reigned in the car afterwards.

A silence heavy with the history of the tale they had all just heard.

Ramia, having spoken so much, let out a little sigh and leaned back in her seat.

"... In short, it's a piece of the underworld made reality. Where you go, you bring the land of the dead with you. Nothing can live there, and lives turn to death wherever it goes. You walk through the valley of the shadow of death as long as you have it, and that is all your life can be for," the dusky-skinned mercenary quietly ended her tale. "In the hands of a deathless being, it lets them experience what makes life such an important thing for mortals, what makes lives worth living for. But for normal beings, for normal humans..."

Ramia's eyes, full of pity, gazed at John.

"... It surrounds them with death they can't escape from," she said. "One that affects all those around the one who has it, and ends up being their doom."

**Frantic Author** · February 3rd, 2021, 01:47 PM

Alexstrasza Lockhart
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Kitchen
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Overcast

I pointedly ignored Potemkin's incredibly dubious behavior, pretending not to see as she fell down or molested Travis. If I pretended she wasn't there, then she wouldn't be there, naturally.

"Listen here, you textbook sociopath! I know skin pigmentation or lack thereof to know that that is in no way natural! That is something that nature could never produce! That is far out of normality's reach that even a ten foot pole wouldn't reach it! I dunno what the hell sort of monster you've managed to ensnare, but I swear to God if you don't put that back where it came from, I'll smack you--- What are you doing?"

My response was cut off by Potemkin molesting herself.

"What~? And here I thought you pushed me down because you wanted to have your way with me? I mean, with the two choices you have right now, aren't I the obvious one? So go ahead, big guy~! You don't mind, right? After all, this whole idea of someone for once overpowering us and wanting to do all sorts of things with us... it's kinda exciting, isn't it, Alexjones? Get's the saliva going~"

"Not particularly, Elibaba. I'm not inclined to do something as ridiculous as losing," I said with a frown. "If anything, you're far too quick to give up. Isn't half the thrill the part where you might die?"

"Just what the hell did you do, you knucklehead!?"

"I went to the hospital, naturally," I said with a frown, crossing my arms. "Cesarina had collapsed, after all. Then I met some people who asked me to help them, so I did. And then they asked me to look at a corpse, so I did. And then Elizabeth showed up. I can't really put her back, as I'm not entirely sure what happened."

I gave him a thumbs up and winked.

"Suffice to say, Eromana is here to stay for the time being! Please support her as I attempt to teach her how to operate in civilized society!"

**Airen** · February 3rd, 2021, 02:43 PM

Liana Skye
Location: Owl's Nest Hotel (Dining Area)
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by ???

"Ah, I certainly feel like I've come to a magical place."

"It does feel a bit like that, doesn't it?"

She speaks up naturally, a plate of french toast and coffee in hand; there are a number of approaches one can make to talk to someone else, from the overly polite to the far too casual, but simply listening to the man speak, well...

---This one was a bit of a weirdo.

The best sort of course, dictation machines and reporting to invisible others is a bit new, but the Bureau was the Bureau, you don't get that far by being a normal person, and well, this person was certainly a weirdo, so...

That's why this will probably work.

He seemed the friendly enough sort of guy, if he was talking aloud to the air (or rather the dictation machine) then he can't really complain if she responds to his words, right?

---Yeah, there were a number of approaches to this sort of thing, but as always, Liana Skye...

Straight forward.

"Pretty different from the city, right? You don't really see these sorts of places anymore, old-fashioned towns where everyone knows everyone else~ it's sort of refreshing! You can see the stars out here really easily too! Way easier than back in the city! Gets a bit too dark at night for my tastes though-!"

She smiles at him, voice chipper and energetic.

---The Bureau tend to like mysteries too, so...

Might as well make her reason for approaching him it's own sort of mystery, eh?

"Although ducks in the rain... That's neat I suppose! More energetic than me, I heard the rain and was dreading going out, but animals are really amazing at times!"

A chuckle, as if she had suddenly realized something, then-

"Ah sorry, I didn't mean to just start talking away at you randomly, got a bit too excited~ That didn't ruin your recording, did it?"

-she brushes a bit of hair from her eyes, letting out a bit of a nervous laugh as she does, as if the concept of her voice showing up on the dictation machine had only just hit her-!

"Name's Sora, mind if I eat with you for awhile?"

But of course, this is just her usual method...

On the 'attack,' just like always.

**Bloble** · February 3rd, 2021, 02:53 PM

Prushka
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Hwan's Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

"Yeah, yeah, yuk it up. Not like they let us pick our own codenames. Stupid scientists."

Hwan's true self, it turns out, is a lot like his fake self. They both like to poke people just to see what happens. Why are all the guys I meet around here jerks? Well, except Colt I guess. Hope he's doing okay wherever he is.

The ill-mannered boy continues his streak of savagery by snatching away the carton of cigarettes, tossing back a lame excuse about them stunting growth. Which has got to be a lie. There's no way something that conveniently inconvenient could be true. You obviously just don't want to share.

"Even Xylia isn't this stingy, y'know."

Well, distractions aside...

Originally Posted by Hwan

"So let me get this straight. You have memories of another timeline where you got stabbed by a spear while I was fucking off somewhere not doing my job, and apparently revealed my job to some totally unrelated person. And now you're in this timeline, remembering all that stuff, and you used that info you got to track me down?"

I lean back, fold my arms together, glance out the window at the rain, then back to Hwan.

"Pretty much. Oh, and I'd guess a good... third of the class went through the same thing? Maybe?"

Training and conventional wisdom would say to limit shared info to a minimum in a situation like this. Make them earn every inch and don't give out anything for free. But training also didn't account for the sword of Damocles hanging over everyone's heads. Fact is, alliances need to be rushed and limits pushed if we're to work together in time. That means handing out everything that could help Hwan help me - and by extension everyone else. Besides, if he's an associate of Boss', then he can't be a bad guy. An awful guy, but not a bad one. And I don't like hiding things anyway. That's what humans do.

Originally Posted by Hwan

"...Why is this sounding just the type of shady shit that Eureka Labs would be involved in? Please don't tell me they are. Those nutjobs are the bane of existence for people like us. The last thing I want to be involved is some grand conspiracy of alternating timelines and memories flung across time and space..."

"Can't say for sure. Black Tech might be one of the explanations, but it could just as easily be magic. There's some pharmaceutical company, Gottlieb, that shows up in the list of capital nouns, acronyms, and weird phenomena I've been building, if you want to take a look, but there's nothing conclusive yet. That's why I was coming to see you, actually..."

Before I can segue to the second reason I wanted to talk to Hwan, and the promise of further information for us both, he asks something I should have by all accounts expected. It still catches me off guard.

Originally Posted by Hwan

"... Who was it who I told about my job, anyways? Since I figure the situation would either be super dire - to the point I was dying, or then it'd be someone I'd actual trust. And I trust people here as far as I can throw 'em. Meaning you the most, though only by association."

I pause. For a moment, only the rain makes noise.

"It was someone I'd trust my life to. Don't think they talked to you much before, so the situation was probably dire. No, it was definitely dire. For everyone." Did Vivi die shortly after that? She didn't say. No, I didn't want to ask. But everyone died, one way or another.

I slide the seat back, and lean forward. One arm is placed on the table, elbow down, hand sticking up as if to challenge him to an arm wrestling contest... with only one finger extended. The last finger.

"I'll tell you who, but you have to promise - pinky promise - not to do anything mean to them. No exploding heads like Akira, no human pinball, and no sticking a whoopee cushion under their seat. They're a friend. I want to help them."

Was that it? Oh, right.

"...the Institute called me Puppy because I can sniff out feelings. Old, new, rotten or otherwise. In this case it would be ill intent." And because I was always the runt of the litter, but he doesn't need to know that. "I trust that sixth sense of mine more than the other five combined. I'll trust it to the ends of the earth. So if you want the details..."

I wiggle my pinky.

**Mormarth** · February 3rd, 2021, 05:16 PM

Elaine Winters
Location: Road's End - Streets
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

I shifted my hands on the wheel, peering out at the morning, the rainy veil appearing and disappearing and appearing again with each sweep of the wipers.

In a sense, this windshield was not that dissimilar to the existence Ramia had described, the rain would continue, and the windshield, the Body formed, would be wet by rainwater from above, in this case being the 'Soul' she described (though perhaps it would be akin to the Mind? Or perhaps some mixture of both, curious). But with each 'death', the wiping away, the rain lands, and the soul reaches a body, but it is not precisely the same as before.

Lessened, perhaps. Some may say.

Personally, rain's rain, when you're wet, you're wet. The past exists to learn from, and forge on.

If they were so good, why're they dead, huh?

Checkmate.

"So, in essence, you, or rather she, I suppose at this point, is using an establishing mind to coat the collective soul 'you' and the past 'yous' have carried on through that Coil of yours, using the grand spiral to vomit it back out into another baby. This, in turn, gives a certain degree of permanence to the identity, and allows the carrying on of memories, theorems, thoughts and so on."

I paused for a moment at a stop sign, frowning out at the rain.

"But by allowing this gestalt to be caught and carried on, it isn't as rigid," I continued, "It splats over the Body like rain on a windshield, over and over and over, each splat being carried on to the next, becoming more and more degraded as time goes on."

I grunted, turning to look over my shoulder, "S'not much of an immortality at all, really. After all, you're Ramia Ramalsaqr, not Cleopatra the Alchemist."

I turned back towards the front, moving forward, "Personally, I think it's an improvement."

Fingers drummed along the wheel once more, my head tilting back and forth, "So, what, this chain he's got there, it's basically Raw Death, yeah? It's like," I frowned, considering, "Acid Rain, essentially, but like hydrochloric in intensity, good for meltin' away something gristly and tough, like some old vampire bitch who needs a good kick in the head, not so great for pretty much everyone else."

I looked out into the morning, "Well, I hope we all buckled up, certainly hope no one's going to shoot my tires out."

Again.

I knocked on the wooden dash twice.

I glanced over to John, sitting in the passenger seat, "But hey, look at the bright side, go to Seattle you could probably get like, all the goth chicks. 'Oh yeah, I've just got this space rock made of Raw Death, it's pretty cool.', like, bro."

I dealt with it like I dealt with all things.

Intellectual acknowledgement of its purpose and what it was, then cheerful irreverence and moving on with my life.

"So, as much as I appreciate driving around with something that apparently quite literally increases chance of death around it, what exactly do we do about it now? Stick it in a lead-lined cage? Duct-tape it to a tortoise? Maybe go and find a Turritopsis dohrnii?"

I paused, slightly.

"Find old Granny Bloodbags?"

That one I certainly was not opposed to.

**Mellon** · February 4th, 2021, 07:13 AM

Anna Vandemeel
Location: Road's End - Streets
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Anna listened to Ramia’s tale in silence, even as both the rain and the scenery rolled past behind the window, accompanied by the throaty rumble of Elaine’s muscle car.

The first part of Ramia’s tale, the one concerning the general process of her reincarnation, was something that the Kyöpelinvuori witch was already somewhat aware of. In fact, she’d already told as much to the reincarnating mercenary beside her, hadn’t she.

Yesterday

The Coil of Mehen. The all-female paramilitary force called Cleopatra’s Coils, which snaked throughout history. Their, rather classical in structure, formulations of alchemical transmutation which were focused around warding of the degradation of the soul. The Χρυσοποιία Κλεοπάτρας. These things were all things she’d managed to dig up already… though most of them came from her memories prior to her unfortunate demise at the hospital.

Indeed, one could already say that the general theory of Ramia’s past was something that Anna had already hypothesized days ago…

...when she’d first laid eyes on that coiling snake „tattoo“ during their slow and winding bus-ride towards Road’s End.

Regardless, it was necessary to bring both Dove and Winters up to speed on the matter. They would get nowhere otherwise, and it was most likely necessary in order to fully understand the second, and far more interesting, half of the story at hand.

So. The Ishtar Irkalla. An artifact, a chain, capable linked the land of the dead with the reality of their world. While normally, the crafting of such an artifact would be a ridiculous feat in itself, there was nothing wrong with the concept itself. Especially before the re-alignment of numen that took place during the Great Disaster, such a thing may have been far more feasible than it was during these twilight hours of magic that they were living in right now.

Well, she couldn’t see the creation of such an artifact as anything but an act of utter irresponsible idiocy, though.

Sometimes it truly amazes me how much suffering is wrought into this world when curiosity, power, and arrogance intersect.

"So, as much as I appreciate driving around with something that apparently quite literally increases chance of death around it, what exactly do we do about it now? Stick it in a lead-lined cage? Duct-tape it to a tortoise? Maybe go and find a Turritopsis dohrnii?"

"Find old Granny Bloodbags?"

„If we were closer to home, I’d suggest we’d dump it on the Vault Legion and leave it at that. While those guys can be utterly clueless at times, they’re more-or-less on point when it comes to things like this. Wouldn’t be their first time dealing with dangerous toys, either."

„I’m sure Astartes would find some „closet“ that’s cut off from the flow of space and time where we could dump this thing.“

In fact, such an option was even more preferable than usual, in this case. With more „usable“ artifacts of this grade, there was always the risk that someone would be tempted to take it out of its isolation, but in this case, such a risk would be far lower than usual. The upside would be far more limited. Well, there would be some of those morose idiots from the Faculty of Black, of course, considering that it was a literal fragment of the underworld, but…

„In the more immediate sense… we might still be able to do something like that on a smaller scale."

„During the Northern Crusades, most of the shamans back home tried to save their holy sites and artifacts by jettisoning them into the… well, I suppose you can call it a type of „faerie land“.“

„Not that shoving all that stuff to the other side of the hiis made any difference in the end, but… it did work to some extent at least. It's not really my specialty, but with enough time I might be able to make something, a box maybe, that can act a miniature version of that.“

„Trick the world into thinking the contents of the box exist on that side and loop all that negative energy into there, basically.“ Anna gave a small shrug on the back seat. „Could also try some protective wards, but would need to know the complete elemental composition for that.“

„If it's decay, I might be able to give a hand, but if it has some additional attributes mixed in like curse or darkness, it might be a bit trickier to handle that way.“

„Well setting that aside for a moment…“ Anna turned towards Ramia who was right next to her. „Why is this thing even floating around, to begin with? Shouldn’t your Antediluvian friend still have it? Unless…”

A certain sense of uncomfortable dread wormed its way into the chest of the raven-haired witch.

“Was relating to humans too large of a cross for her to bear?” A deep sigh escaped her lips as she glanced at the window outside. “Truly understanding death means understanding the inevitable pain of loss, after all.”

**Cheetose** · February 4th, 2021, 08:31 AM

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Cafeteria
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

“I wouldn’t say I can always resist the temptation,” I said sheepishly, feeling that Pyry’s high praise is not entirely deserved, “I do things when I see fit, whether out of curiosity or necessity, though what seems to be the right solution for me is often not one for others.”

I shrugged in sort of a ‘I can’t help it’ manner, then looked at the others again.

“Still, since it could potentially help us avert a tragedy, it likely wouldn’t hurt if I looked around a bit more. As I said, I can filter out what I’m not interested in anyways...or rather, only look for what I want to know.”

A sour smile appeared on my face as a thought came to mind.

“Besides, it’s better if people end up holding grudges against me if they find out than if they wound up dead because of the events.”

It’s not like I wasn’t used to people not liking me anyways.

As the discussion continued, Ru’s sudden suggestion got me thinking for a moment, but it also made me realize that there were way too many people I didn’t really know around the school. And for sure, there were plenty who were trained at and focused on gathering intel…

Maybe I should have resorted to some more countermeasures, especially when talking about things like this…

And be more proactive about spying myself.

When exactly did I get so careless and lenient about my methods?

“The only person I can think of for something like that is Mercedes. Considering last time, she...certainly keeps an eye out for things. What with her being so influential and apparently having others to relay information to her as well.”

It wouldn’t hurt to see how she was doing anyways, after all the things we dragged her through yesterday. Wonder where she is, though…

“Still, it’s certainly an annoyance. Having weird familiars spying on us, that is. I thought I had a pretty keen eye for noticing things like this,” I said as I gestured towards my left, slightly faded eye, “But I never even spotted anything. Last time, we did not find you either, and I assume you were here just the same. It’s kind of unsettling, really.”

Will I have to start using my radar on every corner just to make sure that there are no unwanted eyes and ears spying on us?

“Speaking of which, unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what happened to you last time…” I said as my attention turned to Ubon, “You kinda just disappeared, and...supposedly it did not end so well. We weren’t that well acquainted last time, nor did I know that things like this would happen, so…”

A momentary pause, as I reach into my backpack to pull out a small item sitting in a metallic case.

“But this time will be different, okay? I can’t ask you to stick around with us all the time, but I can at least make sure that if anything at all happens, you can contact me. With this.”

With a somewhat awkward smile, I hold out the syringe for Ubon to take.

“It’s...really not much. I need to work more on applying my abilities from afar. I also need something to supplement these, since I only have five of them, but...being able to call for help is still more than nothing, I suppose.”

**Daneel Rush** · February 4th, 2021, 01:15 PM

Location: Road’s End – Streets (Inside Elaine Winter’s Car)
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Elaine Winters

“But hey, look at the bright side, go to Seattle you could probably get like, all the goth chicks. 'Oh yeah, I've just got this space rock made of Raw Death, it's pretty cool.', like, bro.”

John does not retort immediately. Winters and Vandemeel are offering their comments on Ramalsaqr’s story, and he is listening, but there are other things in his mind now.

He remembers everyone. Every single one.

Distant relatives burdened with the task of raising a child who is nothing but a black stain on the reputation of the “Dove” family name.

Completely innocent and unrelated people like the newspaper delivery boy, the school bus driver, and the nice lady who looked after him at the town library.

The good-natured children who tried to befriend the quiet, gloomy kid in the corner of the classroom.

The caretakers at the orphanage where his relatives dumped him when people began to place him on the background of every dead and missing person.

The man of deplorable morals who offered him money so he would “curse” a wife he no longer loved.

The school jock who thought bullying the “cursed kid” was some sort of badge of courage, and the girl secretly in love with the jock, who thought she could somehow “direct” the curse so it would kill his hot girlfriend.

The girl of questionable mentality who thought it would be “cool” to fuck the “cursed kid” and live to brag about it.

The even-stranger girl who called herself a witch, claiming she would “cleanse” him with a “Tantric ritual.”

The detective who was absolutely convinced he was America’s youngest and most effective serial killer.

And his cousin, Evelyn, who never believed in curses and tried harder than anybody else to “break him out of his shell.”

He remembers each and every single one of them. The boy who sees all humans as grey, who dismisses the dead as no longer relevant, nonetheless remembers each and every single of them.

Because convincing yourself of your lies in no way makes the truth disappear.

Spoiler:

He is not aware he has taken out the artifact until it is before his eyes. While the events of that night turned him into what he is, two different issues, one of them being “the curse of John Dove”, have more directly influenced his life after that night.

Does he lament this? Does he feel he has been dealt an unfair lot in life?

Of course not.

“I do not think that is a proper way to seduce a woman, but I’ll keep it mind, Elaine” he finally says, still looking at the piece of hand wear he has owned for years. “And Vandemeel does share my immediate inquiry: if this…artifact was meant for Her, and it has such a dangerous effect in the hands of a mortal, then how did it end up in my possession? She called it my ‘shackle’, but She also called it ‘her gift to me’.”

Elaine Winters might remember that, or perhaps not. She probably was too busy fighting against her inner beast at that point.

“But I did not receive it from Her hand. I had no idea it was connected to Her until…” That Sunday. “…fairly recently. I just held to it because it reminded me of Her own adornments.”

And he found her again, thus slaying the insignificant part of him that wondered whether Her presence that night was a dream conjured by his mind wrecked by trauma. He found Her, he conversed with Her, and he told Her everything he wanted to say. He no longer needs a trinket to refresh his memory of that night, because their encounter on that relinquished Sunday seared Her presence into his mind for good. He believes with absolute confidence that She will remain vivid in his thoughts for the rest of his days, even if he never meets Her again.

He just cannot entirely accept that it happened at the cost of the lives of Winters and Ramalsaqr and, indirectly, the dead they left behind at the Pinefall campus on that morning.

“Ramalsaqr, I must ask you to prove that you have the means to hold possession of this artifact without suffering its properties. I am not handing this over to you just so you get ‘cursed’ in my stead. Furthermore, we have to consider how She might react to my handing this over to anybody else.”

The previous time, She likely responded to the threat of imminent death from Ramalsaqr. They do not really know how She feels (as much as an immortal Ur-vampire can “feel” human emotions) about John giving ‘her gift’ away of his own volition. Besides, it is not as if defeating this artifact is that difficult. He just has to isolate himself completely from the rest of humanity. If he does not interact with other human beings, they cannot be dragged into the netherworld. Easy-peasy.

“Aside from that, I have two other questions, but these might not be much related to the issue at hand. This is more…my own curiosity; my need to understand things.”

He looks over his shoulder at the Libyan on the back seat.

“I am aware of the distinction between ‘Mages’ and ‘Mystics’. However, the more I think about it, and reflecting on what you just shared with us, am I right in assuming that there is nothing really stopping a mage from using the procedures, ceremonies, and traditions mystics need to cast spells?”

Of course, John cannot plainly assume that the three girls present are ‘mages’ by baselessly extrapolating from Ramia. Furthermore, humans have the habit to define their interpersonal relationships according to their preexisting labels and self-assigned hierarchies. He does not know anything about the relationship between mages and mystics, so he does not want to risk breaking some unknown Turnside etiquette or raise any hostility among them by bluntly asking what kind of magic user they are.

John turns back to facing the front, his face resting on his right hand. Wait, when did he start wearing the artifact on his left hand?

Glancing down at the mysterious object that would find its way back to him if he flung it out the window, John murmurs more to himself than to the ladies in the vehicle as he carefully acts to remove it from his limb.

“I should talk to a mystic at some point…”

It is not as if he is thinking of slinging spells himself or something like that. Even if that were an available path for him, it is definitely not something he could do without years of effort. However, call it intuition or whatever, but John Dove feels he might be able to grasp ‘something’ if he gets a glimpse of how a mystic prepares their ceremonial magic.

More importantly, there is another matter (well, a whole lot of matters, but one thing at a time) he wants to bring up with Ramalsaqr.

“The other thing is, well…” he pauses to let his mind figure out exactly what he wants to say. “I was changed because I looked into Her eyes for too long, and neither of us had the caution to look away quickly enough. It was merely an accident. On the other hand, if Cleopatra’s acquaintanceship with Her was close enough to do cooperative research…how was she spared from looking at Her eyes?”

**Thalraxal** · February 4th, 2021, 02:38 PM

Elise Pelltier
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Empty Classroom
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Sakura Tsukioka

"Yes, I'm not a fan of it either. Injuring you just so we could get you into the hospital without suspicion... even if I'm well-trained enough to cause a specific injury like that, I don't like the idea one bit. There's enough hurt to go around even without purposefully causing some. So... let's shelf that idea for now. Besides, milady would never agree to a plan that would cause you pain - and neither would I. Still... considering Samuel is a long-term patient, it's not unlikely they would put him in a room next to a window. It makes it much easier to keep the air clean and to allow some signs of nature to enter his solitary existence. Thus, if I can find that room, I could get you inside that way... and believe me, sneaking into the hospital is easy enough for me. It's what I was trained for, after all!"

The empty classroom started to feel a little less dreary as Sakura's cheerfulness started to return. Elise's own relief at Sakura's stated preference for not stabbing her may have also contributed.

"Heh, I was trying to get help to get into the boarded-up section of the dormitories this time last week so I could take a look around in there. I wish I'd known that I could've just asked you for help instead."

Not that could find you this time last week, since you were too busy running yourself ragged.

"That's a good point about the likelihood of Samuel having window room. If he does have a window, that would make it a lot easier for us to get to him. Doesn't matter if he's on the ground floor or not, I might not be great at stealth, but I am a pretty decent climber. I don't even need to be that close to use my healing thaumaturgy. For that matter, if it's raining, one of my thaumaturgies would let me move around unnoticed, which would mitigate my lack of stealth. Although, if I remember my weather forecast, it'll be raining all day today, before it clears up for most of Saturday before the storm hits that evening."

Hm… Elaine mentioned something about the hospital on Saturday night, didn't she?

"Although… Hm, now that I think about it, E-er, someone, mentioned that the hospital was closed on Saturday night. I thought that was kind of weird, especially since it was during the storm when people are more likely to get seriously hurt. Not to mention that the hospital has long-term patients like Samuel. Might be an opportunity, might be a deadline. I wouldn't relish being caught out in the storm though."

Originally Posted by Sakura Tsukioka

"And Hisa Momoi, huh...? Well, if it's brain-related, an esper is a good bet - though are you sure we want to get her involved? She might have enough troubles on her own as it is. Though at the same time, having more allies would be reassuring... and if you bring up her name like this, I take it that she's someone to be trusted? I doubt you'd otherwise mention her name. I admit that with all these daunting tasks ahead of us, the idea of having more people to trust my back to would put me more at ease."

"Y-yeah!" replied Elise, with a nod for emphasis, "Absolutely. Hisa's a friend, she knows about my, uh, condition, and even has few ideas how she might be able to help me with that, actually. She also remembers last week, and she already knows who Lucille and I are. I think its fair to say that we all have enough troubles on our own, but our chances of dealing with them are better when we're working together and pool our talents. She'd definitely be better at sneaking into the hospital than I'd be, and I think the specific nature of her esper powers would make her well suited for the task of helping Samuel. That said, I think I'd like to see if my healing thaumaturgy can do the trick first, before we need to ask her to come to the hospital with us. Although it might not be a bad idea for me to ask her for advice before I go around trying to, uhm, trying to heal-heal brain injuries."

Originally Posted by Sakura Tsukioka

"That being said... this monster. What do you know about it? If it lives in the sewers, then it's certainly a danger to the school at large, and all those in it. After all, while many of us seem to have abilities suited for stuff like this, there are also those who don't… Colt, for example... if he was thrust into this Turnside business, I've no doubt he'd be in immense danger. That boy... he's got a good heart, but no power to back it up. I'm... I'm sure he'd do something foolish just because it 'was the right thing to do', even if he was powerless against the dangers of our side of the world."

"I don't know as much about that monster as I'd like," admitted Elsie with a frown as they returned to a more grim subject matter, "Lucille's the one who encountered it last week, although I did get the chance to see its handiwork. The rest of what I know is second hand from Hisa. Lucille and Mercedes ran into it while they were exploring the Pool Building on Sunday. Lucille wasn't able to destroy it, she was only able to drive it off at the time. Like she said though, she didn't have her sword with her at the time, and that probably would've been a game changer."

A sword fashioned from the staff that parted the Red Sea… It almost certainly would've been really useful when the demon tried to drown her not long after that. Hm. Is it wrong that I really want to go sparring with Lucille at the beach now?

"You're right though, the monster is a threat to everyone here, and apparently has been something of a scourge on Pinefall, if not all of Road's End. I don't know if you've had a chance to take a peek into the boarded up section of the dormitories, but apparently about twenty years ago, it tore through there which led to the dormitories being shut down and boarded up. Not to mention its later encounter with Remington, Samuel, Jake, and that led to the school being shut down entirely. It killed Xylia last week, and I'm pretty sure it got Jake and maybe Inacio too."

"It can reduce humans into goo. We found what was left of Xylia after she presumably ran into it last week. All that was left of her was liquified flesh, and her hair. Since the hair was left over-"

-and Colt's body was still intact and floating in the pool, but I'm not going to mention that part out loud.

"-I think it can only do that to living cells. Hisa said that it seemed to also be an esper, but she was really frustrated by it seeming to have two very different powers: immense strength and the ability to liquify flesh. I think it might just be two sides of the same power though. It turns people into goo, flushes them down the drain to its lair in the sewers, and then uses that liquified human flesh as building materials for its body to make itself bigger and stronger."

"That said, there are also some weird murders and unexplained deaths in Road's End that involved liquified organs. Apparently all the McLampets who died had their hearts liquified, so it seems likely that it was involved in that too somehow."

"Either way, that thing is by all accounts, immensely strong, immensely cruel, and brought untold suffering to Road's End and Pinefall. I was really hoping we could head down to the sewers and take it out early, before it had a chance to come up to the surface, but I get that we don't want to do that until we've figured out how to mitigate Lucille's… problem. It'd be dangerous to go down into the sewers at the best of times, and I'll admit I'm not fond of the idea of fighting it on its own turf. At least we can be ready for it if it shows up again on Sunday though."

**Spinach** · February 5th, 2021, 12:51 PM

Colt Davin
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Colt Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

“Not eaten yet huh, well we’re gonna eat soon… ish.” Colt took a long look at the two other girls in the room, discussing whatever it was that pretty blondes with swords felt so inclined to discuss. “You can join us if you like.”

While Colt had his eyes on Tris and Lucille, Gradient rapidly sketched on her notepad. A hearty “muuuu~” drew the boy’s attention back to the odd girl, who was now proudly showing her creation to him.

“Hmm…” On one hand, it was like what a child would draw. On the other, he was no better than a child himself, so there wasn’t room to judge. “Whaddya got here.”

Idiot that he was, Colt was not so stupid as to assume there was no point to the drawing. The girl had already established that on top of being unable to speak English, she clearly couldn’t write it either, going by what she’d written for Lucille.

“That’s Pyry and Hisa, right?” Gradient began to gesture between the third character on the drawing and Colt. “Then that’s me?”

He looked at the intent of the message. An arrow connecting him to two characters that were obviously Pyry and Hisa along with what looked like a speech bubble, like out of a comic.

“I’m talking to them? Or you want me to talk to them?”

"Fooo… Fofooo..."

The girl added more. Two new figures. One that matched the plain, ‘normal’ appearance of the drawing of Colt and another that looked like Gradient herself.

The three of them holding hands. His brows furrowed as he pondered who the unknown third girl was, but before he could even take a guess.

“Muuu…”

Gradient took his hand and squeezed it.

“…”

For a second he stared at her. She was normally so jovial and zany, often times doing things seemingly without purpose. A stark contrast with what he was seeing, hearing.

He gave her hand a squeeze of his own.

“It’s that important?”

**Verg Avesta** · February 5th, 2021, 02:31 PM

Alexstrasza Lockhart
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Kitchen
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Overcast

"Oh-ho? So the danger of dying is what turns us on? My, my, Alienantfarm~" Potemkin cooed, now half-laying down on the floor while seductively biting her fingertip. "That's quite deviant even in my eyes. But ah, don't worry. I'm sure we can find someone who's willing to hatefuc---"

"Oi."

Travis's voice cut into the perverted verbal vomit. At the same time his hand jolted forward, grasping Alexstrasza by the shoulder and squeezing it tightly. At the same time he pulled her little closer, and the blonde girl found herself staring straight into those wild eyes of the thug. In a week that no longer existed, she had found herself in a very similar situation, staring into those eyes while a fight was about to explode out on the beach.

But this time things were different.

The focus, the intensity of Travis Gagnon was not because of a meaningless battle. It was aimed like a laser at something else.

Something Alexstrasza had just said.

"... Corpse? What are you talking about?" Travis asked, his voice low and serious, hushed and gravelly. "No, wait, before that... that twin-tailed menace collapsed? What the hell happened? Where is she? At End's Mercy? Did they tell you anything about her situation? No, no, before that..."

Something flashed almost angrily at the boy's gaze as he pushed even closer to the blonde girl's face.

"--- What the hell, Lockhart? I figured that meeting at the pool set us up as some sort of group. If not allies, at least people with the same goal," he asked, growling. "Why the fuck didn't you mention something as important as that? Both me and Noah are medical professionals, goddammit."

... Why the heck did he seem so pissed off at her all of a sudden?

Liana Skye
Location: Owl's Nest Hotel - Dining Area
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Liana

"Name's Sora, mind if I eat with you for awhile?"

An impeccable, warm smile greeted "Sora" as she asked this question.

"Young lady, it would be my pleasure if you would grace my breakfast table. I'm afraid that the older I get, the less energy I have each morning - and I've noticed that the presence of younger, curious people rubs off on me quite well," the FBI agent replied. "As for the recording, worry not. My assistant, Roxie, is quite the sharp woman and I'm sure she won't get confused by such a small matter."

Like a proper gentleman, the agent set aside the newspaper he had before him and swiftly pulled a chair out for Liana to sit on. After sitting back down he flashed yet another one of those surprisingly genuine smiles he seemed to be made out of. It was weird, in a sense. The older one got, the easier it was to realize just how many people faked their smiles, or at the very least hid something with it. However, just one look at this man told that he was just as he appeared - what you saw was what you got. He put on no fake airs because he didn't need to.

Rare were the people who naturally, effortlessly, and without even realizing it radiated the aura of a "good person" like he did.

"Ah, but I'm forgetting my manners. FBI agent John Ferguson, as you probably already knew. Though most call me Scottie, thanks to my unfortunate namesake on the silver screen," the man introduced himself with a chuckle. "As for you, young lady... well..."

His inquisitive, surprisingly sharp eyes took a good look at Liana, scanning her clothes, face and other features while his mind was clearly making guesses and estimations. At the same time his smile seemed to deepend, and eventually he broke out of the small silence with a gentle laugh. Punctuating the end of the silence by taking a sip of his coffee, he leaned his elbows against the table afterwards.

"Now, 'Sora' is certainly a name that does not sound local. Japanese, perhaps, though your features do not completely fit that Far East country, either. Judging by your accent, I'd wager you would have grown up in the States at least for a time. Yet that politiness... hmm, perhaps a bit of time spent in both locations? After all, kids these days tend to be much more informal," Ferguson spoke out, still smiling. "Taking a gander at your clothes, they are more fashionable than most of the youth in a rural place such as this, though in no way flashy. Selected more for function than fashion, huh? Bought in a big city, but not something you hunted meticulously. Then in that case..."

Yes, it was quickly dawning on Liana.

This silver fox was much sharper than his innocent smile suggested.

Very sharp.

"... A student from the Pinefall High School for Troubled Youth, I'd wager?" He asked, clearly already knowing the answer. "That'd be quite fortunate, actually. I've been wanting to talk with them."

He smiled again.

"Bacon?" He asked, pointing his fork at his plate.

New Person Met!

Prushka
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Hwan's Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Hwan rubbed the back of his neck.

"Ugh... this is gonna be a pain, isn't it? Proper nouns, mysterious organizations, people remembering timelines that didn't happen... I'm gonna have to take fucking notes, don't I?" He muttered to himself, before giving Prushka a bit of a glare. "I'll be pumping you for information this whole morning, so be prepped for it, midget. You ain't leaving this room till you've spilled your guts."

Then, after staring at the wriggling pinky for a moment... he sighed.

And rolled his eyes.

"I swear to God, of all the childish shit..."

Then, without any warning, his hand shot forward - pinky extended. With ease he stuck that limb against Prushka's, knuckles now touching, and wrapped his extended finger around that the girl offered. It was a strong, resolute gesture. There was strength to that pinky finger almost like a firm handshake, and the warmth of it showed that despite his prickly, cold exterior Hwan was a person too. His finger was just like that of anyone else's.

He then shook Prushka's tiny hand gently, up and down. Gently but with determination.

Locking her into that promise as much as she did him.

"Fine. Fine! I promise I won't bully their ass. I mean, Christ..." He said, snorting and casting his gaze aside. "If I was a dumbass enough to let it slip what I did and what I was here for, then I figure I can promise that much. If anything, I wanna know what sort of person I told something that was supposed to be top secret, to the point that I wasn't even supposed to tell your non-existent ass."

Then he settled his gaze at Prushka's eyes, locking their gazes together and refusing to buckle down.

"So gimme a name already."

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Cafeteria
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Hisa

“It’s...really not much. I need to work more on applying my abilities from afar. I also need something to supplement these, since I only have five of them, but...being able to call for help is still more than nothing, I suppose.”

Ubon stared at the syringe for a moment with a surprised expression... before her face melted into a moved smile, slight flush on her cheeks. She took the syringe gingerly, clearly trying to be careful as to not break it with her usual antics. At the same time, her other hand caught hold of Hisa's now-empty hand and squeezed it tight, as if trying to reassure her. Pyry, watching over this exchange, smiled warmly as well, while Ru chuckled at the sight.

"Mm! Don'cha worry, Hizzie! If anything happens, anything at all, I'll use it and call for help! For realsies!" The cyanhead replied, nodding her head up and down. "But... I want'cha that you promise me something too. That if something bad happens, anything at all, or even if you just need someone there with you... you'll contact me. I-I might not be able to do much, and I'm a bit dummy when it comes to complicated thinking stuff, but there's one thing I can promise."

Ubon, putting the syringe in her pocket, thumbed her chest with much gusto and determination, flashing a brilliant grin.

"If you call me, I'll be there for you - anywhere at all you are - at lightspeed!"

Despite her goofy nature, it didn't look like Ubon was exaggerating too much. And considering what Hisa had seen before of the girl, she certainly did have affinity for speed. Especially with those wings of hers.

"S-so even if I disappear this time, I'll be sure to let you know beforehand... though, honestly, I can't even begin to imagine where'd I disappear like that," Ubon continued, looking a bit embarrassed after her emotional declaration. "I mean... I-it's a bit embarrassing, but I don't like to hang out where there's no people. So unless it was something super important, I wouldn't go anywhere. Unless... unless someone knocked me out, or..."

Clearly realizing what possibility there was made Ubon's face flush a little pale, and her hold of Hisa's hand got a bit tighter.

"Well, whatever it was, we won't let that happen this time, right?" Pyry stepped into the conversation, giving reassuring smile to the cyanhead. "You got Hisa, you got me, you got Ru... and you got a whole lot of other people. We'll make sure you won't disappear and protect you from someone out to get you. So don't you worry about a thing. You got allies in the lot of us."

Yes, this time, things were quite different. Instead of just flitting about, being everyone's friend, Ubon had opened much more and found a whole bunch of friends she could trust and who would protect her... and even she seemed to realize that, as the blush returned to her face once more.

But that didn't answer the unspoken question.

... Who would try to make Ubon disappear? And for what reason?

Was the girl an obstacle in some way? Ubon of all people?

"Oh, right. Speaking of finding answers, I think I saw Mercedes when I arrived," Pyry suddenly continued, looking at Hisa now. "She was headed to the reference library, so she'll probably still be there. She was also holding some sort of book, so maybe she's doing some research. Looked pretty serious too."

The golden-maned boy glanced at the plate of breakfast before him.

"Should we finish up here and go bother her?" He asked with a bit of a grin. "I mean... considering what sort of personality she has, I doubt Miss West would come looking for us even if she was having trouble with something."

**Verg Avesta** · February 5th, 2021, 03:17 PM

Anna Vandemeel, John Dove & Elaine Winters
Location: Road's End - Streets
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Ramia let out a quiet sigh, leaning back on the seat once more and staring at the ceiling of the old car.

"A way to deal with it... well, Red, you have some good suggestions there. While I hate the idea of handing it over to those yahoos, it'd at least keep it safe. Even if it feels like handing over a personal heirloom to a group of museum directors, there's no doubt that they'd make sure it was contained," the dusky-skinned girl started. "But honestly, that's not a possibility right now. We don't have enough time. It would take a month or two at least... and from what I gather, we need to act faster than that."

Ramia had a point. Contacting authorities of the Zodiac Clock, trying to get them to take the situation seriously, and dispatching the Vault Legion here - to a part of the world where mages were illegal... it would take far more time than they would have. Especially considering that Sunday seemed to be a deadline set for them. Not to mention the fact that how fast the Vault Legion could even contain the artifact.

Unfortunately, it was rather clear that there was no help coming from that direction.

"Still... don't worry. I have a plan. If... if you understand why it's important that we get that artifact sealed, and if you transfer its ownership over to me voluntarily, not under duress, I doubt that will cause any averse reaction from Her herself. And when I have it... I can bring the story of Ishtar to a close. One way to another," Ramia continued, and suddenly a smile passed by her face... an oddly solemn and lonely smile that had already accepted something. "So there's nothing to worry about, Dove. I won't be taking the artifact just so I can get cursed. That wouldn't remove the underlying problem."

Ramia's eyes glanced at John, and for a moment - just for a moment - something in them looked like she had given up on something.

"... It's a plan that should work. And if it works like it should, we all will live, one way or another."

The child mercenary chuckled, switching the target of her gaze from the boy to the rainy world outside.

"As for how the artifact is in your hands now... honestly, I have no idea. I only recently learned that it had gotten out as well, and been hunting it for the last few lifetimes I've had. When I... when Cleopatra's life ended, she had already gotten separated from her sworn friend. Cleopatra succumbed to the wounds she had suffered while rescuing the texts from Theophilus and his insane plan. So at that point, she had no idea what befell her friend or the artifact," Ramia continued. "But from what I can remember, she... well. She definitely changed. That deathless princess came to understand death, and her world-view was shattered. She understood the atrocities she had committed towards humanity she, in her naive way, loved so much. So it's plausible she..."

The husky-voiced girl never finished that sentence. She instead let the silence hang in the air, that dreadful feeling creeping into the car as all there understood the implications of what sort of result such a revelation would have.

"Also."

Ramia's voice piped up again, breaking the silence.

"I think that we have two others here who are much better at explaining the difference between mystics and mages," the girl said with a hint of a grin, glancing at Anna and Elaine. "But what comes to your other question. Well..."

Leaning on her hand, Ramia once again stared at the rainy scenery outside, the woods coated in gray and falling water.

What her eyes saw, nobody else would know.

"... It was simple, really. There was a reason why that being was Cleopatra's... my sworn friend," she said. "After all, for the sake of their friendship, that woman... took her own eyes. So she wouldn't hurt her companion. The one madwoman who didn't shun her."

Rain seemed to fall harder.

Elise Pelltier
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Empty Classroom
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by Elise

"Either way, that thing is by all accounts, immensely strong, immensely cruel, and brought untold suffering to Road's End and Pinefall. I was really hoping we could head down to the sewers and take it out early, before it had a chance to come up to the surface, but I get that we don't want to do that until we've figured out how to mitigate Lucille's… problem. It'd be dangerous to go down into the sewers at the best of times, and I'll admit I'm not fond of the idea of fighting it on its own turf. At least we can be ready for it if it shows up again on Sunday though."

Sakura frowned, rubbing her chin deep in thought.

"A monster that's been around for ages, threatening people around this town and making life in this school dangerous... Hmm. I wonder," the brunette murmured. "Honestly, I can understand Hisa's frustration. If its powerset was that diverse, it makes the monster sound almost all-powerful... but that might not be the case. Like you said, it could all revolve around manipulating living cells. But even that is a rather broad power, maybe a bit too broad..."

Her eyes glanced at Elise, and her expression was that of a warrior or an assassin running dozens of plans within her mind at the same time, trying to make sense of the flood of information that she had just received.

"... If I know anything about espers... which isn't much, I admit... I'd hazard a guess that there's more to it than that. More rules, more restrictions. It might be a power that's more specific, but we just haven't pin-pointed it yet. Still, for now it might be a good idea to treat the thing with extreme caution. Expect that it can manipulate living tissue or matter, and try to avoid such clear attacks," she continued. "Anyways, you're right. We best deal with the problem that milady has first. If we're not at our full strength, fighting against such a monstrosity is only a suicide. We shouldn't throw away our lives needlessly."

Some sort of decision made within her head, Sakura rose from the chair she had been sitting at and nodded to herself. She then turned towards Elise, looking the younger girl directly in the eyes - almost like asking if she was ready.

"And that being the case, I'd suggest we try invading End's Mercy tonight. If something happens on Saturday, it might be too late. So it's best to strike while iron's hot. I'll sneak in, find an infiltration route that you can use, and sneak you into Samuel's room so we can try out your prayer - and hopefully it works," Sakura said with determination. "That being said... should we try to invite anyone else? You said that Hisa might have her own trouble to deal with, but is there anyone else, outside of milady, who might be of use to us?"

She bit her lip.

"As frustrating it might feel, honestly... I think that having allies is a good strategy considering how many obstacles and dangers we're facing."

**Cheetose** · February 5th, 2021, 03:20 PM

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Cafeteria
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

“Well…”

Contemplating, my gaze wanders from person to person, then on their plates.

“I’m not sure if Mercedes would find it pleasant in any way if the four of us just showed up there. She doesn’t even know Ru, and...well, she is not too fond of Ubon, if we consider yesterday.”

I shot an apologetic glance at Ubon - but unfortunately, it was still the truth.

And if both Ru and her came, then it was likely that much of the discussion would go off topic.

“Besides, you guys barely even had time to eat yet. Just take your time, and we can always catch on later.”

I rested my eyes on Pyry, as my lips curled into a smile.

“We can stay in touch from anywhere, anyways.”

[“You just have to think of me, then form the words in your mind, just like normal.”]

“It’s best to make use of that connection. It still worries me that so many people are nowhere to be seen, and if we’re all at the library it’s unlikely we’ll notice if anyone else shows up.”

Finishing my tea, I stand up and throw my backpack over my shoulder.

“I’ll see you guys in a bit then.”

With a small wave, I excused myself from the group and made my way out of the cafeteria, hoping that Mercedes really would be at the library.

**Verg Avesta** · February 5th, 2021, 03:48 PM

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Reference Library
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

The reference library was as quiet as a mouse when Hisa entered it.

Bunch of heavy, wooden shelves painted with lined up the walls, with aisles made out of other shelves forming an L-shaped that faced the door with its pointy corner. The wall next to the windows that overlooked the campus grounds and the forest beyond were lined with tables meant for studying and research work, while other tables had been set as if to encourage study groups among the groups. Truly, it was a model sight of a school reference library, adorned with motivational posters and even weirder ones that just showed a confused-looking book and the text of: "Read?"

Whoever had been responsible for the interior decoration was clearly rather weird person...

"Hmm... *grumble*..."

However, in that silence, a familiar voice could be heard muttering to herself in ways that could only be curses spoken under her breath.

There, next to one of the tables that faced one of the windows that showed the rainy world outside, was Mercedes West. She was poring over some sort of small notebook with many larger tomes open next to her, spread in a fan-like pattern. The starlet occasionally glanced at those books, wrote down some sort of notes into a small notebook, and then ready some more of the old journal. Occasionally she underlined something with her pencil, frowned at the thing she had marked, and scratched her way in a very un-ladylike manner.

If something was stumping even the starlet's surprising intelligence, it must have been quite the conundrum.

"... Oh?"

Hearing the door open, Mercedes's head whirled towards the sound, her face frozen in a confrontational expression... but it soon melted into a languid, if a bit smug smirk when she saw the person who had shown up was Hisa. The actress leaned back in her chair, stretched a little bit by lifting her arms above her head, and let out a satisfied sigh. Then she gazed at the scarred girl again, raising an eyebrow.

"Well well. Gawd, if it isn't, like, Nancy Drew of our school again - here to solve yet another case. What is it this time? Like, the case of a missing hunkalicious boyfriend? Because that certainly sounds, like, super 'exciting' to read," Mercedes greeted Hisa, now wiggling her eyebrows. "If I'm not wrong he's at, like, the cafeteria at the moment. Saw him drag his Calvin Klein model body over there. So you might wanna search there, Clarice, or what-evah. Get a lick of that beefcake."

As if to punctuate her Anthony Hopkins impression, the starlet waggled her tongue and made a hissing noise.

... Though she quickly broke into a cackle and relaxed her face from the confrontational look it had had.

It was instead replaced with equally smug, but much calmer, look.

"Anyways... what's, like, up? Find out anything else about yesterday's bona fide weirdness? You good?"

**Katie** · February 5th, 2021, 04:13 PM

Lucille Faraday
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory – Colt’s Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Taken aback by Tris’s teary-eyed reaction, Lucille immediately backpedaled. The wonders of how Tris obtained Ascalon in the first place would be a mystery for another day. After all, someone else gave it to her, and from the sound of it, it seemed she didn’t have a clue past that.

“It’s alright. I’m just surprised. I’ve seen many replicas, but this is my first time dealing with the original... And it seems that it’s in good hands with you,” she concludes. “Just be a bit more careful with it from now on.”

Lucille sighs, wondering where to go from here. She certainly didn’t expect this, and she wasn’t really sure where to go from here. Or rather, she was avoiding an easy question on her part.

The idea made her a little sick, but no pain, no gain.

Turning around, she spots Colt with Gradient, the notebook being used to its fullest. It’s kind of a cute image, really, and perhaps Colt has questions of his own.

“If you have anything to ask her, I can translate,” Lucille offers. “She met Pinefall’s previous class, if thats a mystery you’d like to investigate. And if you have questions about the supernatural, I could give you a Church flavored perspective?”

**Cheetose** · February 5th, 2021, 04:33 PM

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Reference Library
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

As it appeared, she really was at the library. And already hard at work, by the looks of it. Not to mention, back to her usual self…

Sort of.

Still, somehow, even if it earned a raised eyebrow, I couldn’t really find it as offensive and spiteful as her comments normally would be.

“Good morning to you as well.”

In fact, I couldn’t help but grin slightly.

It felt a lot more natural, unlike yesterday. Far not as awkward, and I didn’t really feel the need to try to impress her either.

“Sounds like you’re quite frustrated sexually, talking about a boy’s body like that.”

I took a few steps towards her until I reached the table, and with my head tilted to the side, I tried to see what exactly she was reading.

Then, I looked back up, and stared deep into her eyes.

“Want some help with that?”

Just like her, I stuck my tongue out a bit as well, and licked my upper lip slowly, all the while not breaking eye contact for a moment.

“With the books, that is. Looks like an awful lot of materials you have there for ciphers. And by the looks of it, it’s quite a troublesome one.”

**Verg Avesta** · February 5th, 2021, 04:56 PM

Hisa Momoi
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Reference Library
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Mercedes returned the grin with a naughty one of her own.

"Gawd, you know it girl. What I wouldn't give for some muscled out, oiled-up bodybuilder to just appear and take me," she replied without shame and punctuated her words with a laugh. "No offense. I don't, like, bat for the same time. My time in Hollywood taught me that's not my jam. But those Adonises with peanut-size brains and a battering ram sized---"

Mercedes stopped mid-sentence and threw Hisa a sultry look... only to break into a cackle of her own and slap her knee, leaning against the table. The hot-and-bothered atmosphere disappeared just like that, leaving behind just the aftermath of a stupid joke that both girls had refused to let go. Mercedes, still guffawing like some sort succubus or a devil, pulled a chair from nearby and patted it to signal her to sit down.

Then she sighed and groaned and hung her head.

"--- Ohmigosh, I so need a boyfriend, you dig? Just someone to pamper me. Ugh, Hisa, just dump that athlete of yours so I can catch him on a rebound. Or, like, introduce me to someone or something," Mercedes spoke out in what was more of a whine than anything else. "I totes need someone to pamper me these days, my brain is killing me with this migraine. And this damn book ain't, like, helping me."

She pushed the leather-bound, hand-written journal for Hisa to read. The contents seemed to be complete nonsense, to the point that they had been written with dead language to form a cipher of some sort.

"It's something my, like, mother left me. Found it recently and been trying to make sense outta it," Mercedes explained. "So yeah, like, be my guest if you wanna give it a go. But honestly, it's just bunch of utter nonsense. A forgery of, like, a dead language that's being used to cipher some sorta message. I don't even know what that old cow tried to, like, say here..."

Looking at the open pages, Mercedes was right. Phoenician language, or some sort of fake reconstruction of it, had been used to write a message... but that message was nonsense. Meaning that some sort of letter cipher had been used to hide the real meaning. But then there was also the fact that odd symbols had been added on top of certain words, making it look like they were specifically meant to do something... but those symbols made no sense. Astrological symbols? What did they even mean here? And was that some sort of cuneiform written in margins, with seemingly random arrows pointing away from it?

... The more Hisa looked, the more she got the feeling that the extravagant complexity and unnecessarily over-complicated nature of this puzzle, this cipher, was just that.

Purposefully obtuse.

Like someone who had wanted to show off and make the most ridiculous puzzle possible.

... Maybe that was something Mercedes's mother would do?

.....?

Wait.

Suddenly, something caught Hisa's eye.

Looking at this whole thing, looking at this absolutely ridiculous and overly complex puzzle... something that was completely unrelated to it caught Hisa's eye.

That being... the page number.

The journal was about halfway through, and while the left page didn't have a number in the lower margin... the right one did.

Number 19.

In the middle of the book.

......... That was in no way possible.

There were definitely more pages than 19 before this.

**Airen** · February 5th, 2021, 06:15 PM

Liana Skye
Location: Owl's Nest Hotel - Dining Area
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Originally Posted by John

"... A student from the Pinefall High School for Troubled Youth, I'd wager?" He asked, clearly already knowing the answer. "That'd be quite fortunate, actually. I've been wanting to talk with them."

---She blinks.

FBI Agents were typically sharp of course, one does not get to their position without at least some form of intelligence, but the sudden wave of information being deduced about her from her words and clothes alone, well, he was quite a bit smarter than that innocent smile was letting on...

"Yeah, you're right on the money."

She laughs.

It's a useless confirmation in a sense -he clearly already knew she was- but this was part of the ritual of this sort of game, in a test of insight, it's only customary to tell them if they got it right, and well...

"I'm one of the new girls in town, friends call me Skye. You can call me that too if you want, so long as I can call you Scottie."

Sitting down in the seat he so graciously pulled out for her, the raven-haired girl continues with a chuckle.

"Been back and forth between Japan and America a lot, but I've made stops in other places too, like Paris," hands move to cut the french toast, coffee sitting prepped as her future lifeline, the thing that will get her through today, "Art school, went there as a small-time j-pop idol, that's where the name "Skye" comes from, it's part of my stage name... Well, other name really."

She beams.

In a sense, she's showing off, as to why...

Well...

...In the face of someone radiating the aura of a "good person," she can't help but be cheerful, the honest types are so rare nowadays... Of course, figuring out the puzzles that are other people is fun in it's own way, but well, seeing someone so brazenly honest made her want to reciprocate in kind, so...

She does.

As much as she is able to anyway...

Using that name still felt a bit weird... But...

Weird wasn't wrong, and well...

That name might get a bit further in this town than Liana...

"As for the clothes... Well, martial arts. If I can't move around freely it just feels wrong, you know? Thanks for not putting the sweater and jeans down though, two people have taken shots at the style so far in town~"

My fashion sense isn't completely broken, I knew it was a good style!

She winks, then...

"But an FBI Agent wants to talk to the students...? That's not something that happens every day."

Back to the chipper smile.

"Well, if you want to talk I'm fine with talking, always wanted to hang out with an FBI Agent, so I won't turn you down~"

Although, when it comes to the bacon...

"Well, it seems to have survived it's encounter with what I can only assume was a flamethrower, so it'd be a shame not to eat it~ If you really want to share, I'll take some, although..."

She smirks.

"You the type that likes more bitter flavors? Or is it about the texture? The crunch? If it's just a craving you get, you might need more carbon in your diet."

More fruits and vegetables!

"Although you look pretty young, so whatever you're doing is working for you!"

She finishes with a laugh, then...

A sudden thought, as she realizes that comment was perhaps a bit too natural, yes...

...I don't have like... a thing for older guys, do I?

A sudden question that was probably best left unanswered...

**Bloble** · February 5th, 2021, 06:51 PM

Prushka
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Hwan's Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain

Hwan grips my finger, neither laughing nor refusing it. Even though he knows what that means.

A sour mood. Someone's just barged into his room, interrupted his work, blown his cover, and is dropping a bunch of ominous information on his lap. It'll only get worse from here. He's allowing himself to be dragged into someone else's bad day.

He never once considered backing away. So that's the kind of person he is.

My fingers tighten to match his. Our hands are nearly clasped together, knuckle to knuckle. A puff of cigarette smoke drifts through the air.

"Vivienne Bianchi. Vivi didn't say how she found out. But it was probably at the end."

There's no more reason to doubt. Not even an iota of distrust remains. Even though we've only exchanged a few words I can safely part with this information, secure in the knowledge that Vivi's safety won't be jeopardized.

For humans it's nearly impossible to come to trust someone else this quickly, over the course of just a few minutes. Especially in an environment where suspicion is carefully cultivated between individuals that have every reason to keep to themselves. But I'm not human. I know what trust smells like. So I can offer it in return without hesitating.

It's not me that he trusts, not really. Nor is it Hwan that I trust. Instead, rather...

There's a man we both trust implicitly. Our belief in him is strong enough to bring even strangers together. He's the kind of person you can't help but respect. Hwan smokes his favourite cigarettes. I still wear his old cast-off helmet so as to not forget his scent. Before coming here, he was the only human I ever considered a friend.

The strongest man in the world.

I look upon my new ally - for he can be nothing else - in the eyes, and make a silent promise to myself: he's not going to be dying. Not for me, or for anyone. I don't know what kind of past Hwan had to be labeled a superweapon, but... no, I'm getting ahead of myself.

"You guessed it right this time, Hieut. The week's about to get a whole lot more miserable. Last chance to call it quits before I spill the beans and ask for your help doing something dangerous and illegal."

It's a ceremonial warning. A courtesy to the freelancer that picks his own battlefield.

Because it'll only get worse from here.

**Frantic Author** · February 5th, 2021, 07:06 PM

Alexstrasza Lockhart
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Kitchen
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Overcast

The cutting response I was forming to eviscerate Potemkin verbally with was left unsaid, as Travis grabbed me and looked me deep in the eyes. It would ordinarily fluster someone, naturally; but I am unflappable. I blinked as he glared at me, eyeing him speculatively.

"... Corpse? What are you talking about? No, wait, before that... that twin-tailed menace collapsed? What the hell happened? Where is she? At End's Mercy? Did they tell you anything about her situation? No, no, before that... What the hell, Lockhart? I figured that meeting at the pool set us up as some sort of group. If not allies, at least people with the same goal. Why the fuck didn't you mention something as important as that? Both me and Noah are medical professionals, goddammit."

...Was he worried for Cesarina? There was no need to be worried, she seemed to be in good hands.

"In order," I said, holding up a finger with a smile, "I was alone with Cesarina when she collapsed, so I simply didn't have time to go searching for you or Noah, nor did I know she had a condition that would require... medical professionals. I took her to the infirmary, and then a woman - Stentato, I think her name was - appeared who took her to End's Mercy with Noah and myself. Cesarina collapsed due to some mishap with her brain, according to Noah."

I grinned wide, tilting my head and placing a finger on my cheek as I stared back at Travis.

"Your worries for her are appreciated," I said, pleased that someone else cared for Cesarina half as much as I did. "I left Noah to watch her, as he does work at the hospital."

Pausing for a moment, I frowned as I thought, mulling over the events of yesterday and last night. It was hard to talk about them with Travis, to be honest - he had no knowledge of the turnside, and incorporating him into it would be inconvenient. I let out a sigh, as I looked mournfully at Potemkin.

"Truly, Esmerelda's appearance is not something I desired," I said as I glared moodily at the creature. "Nor anticipated. But I am confident she will be of great help, as long as I can... Prevent her from talking to people..."

I peered up at Travis hopefully.

"Incidentally, what are your thoughts on fighting nigh-omnipotent creatures that can steal souls? I am in the market for allies."

Thread: Astronomika - Shooting Down Falling Stars (IC)

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