Prushka?
Location: Pinefall High Main Building - Second Floor
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
"........."
If looks were anything to go by, Ahti was seriously pondering punting Prushka out of the second floor window at this point. However, grumbling under his breath words that didn't sound like they were meant to be compliments, he did as he was told and slowly made his way over to the shivering sleeping bag cocoon. Then he got down on his knees and brought his down as well, showcasing the white mane and cat ears that had been fluffed up earlier that day thanks to Prushka.
... In all honesty, it was a rather hilarious look for the young man. But there were some things better left unsaid.
That tail was swishing around rather dangerously.
"H-hue... a-a-a tomcat...?"
A slightly confused question could be heard from within the cocoon, and soon enough the mouth of the sleeping bag opened enough to reveal a single eye that peeked from within. It took in the sight of the twitching animal ears and the white hair that was presented as a type of peace-offering almost... and after few moments of contemplative silence, a wondrous gasp could be heard from within.
"O-oh... it really is a kitty... y-you brought a kitty too..." Alpa murmured from within her barrier, still sounding a little out of it thanks to her surprise. "And it's okay if I... pet it...? Pet the kitty...?"
Wait. Why did it suddenly feel like Alpa hadn't completely grasped what Prushka had said? Or rather, had made some sort of simple yet crucial misunderstanding along the way, and now things were headed somewhere awkward.
Well, even if it did, it was too late to stop anything. The eye retreated from the tiny hole in the sleeping bag, and instead, a pale, lithe hand reached out and...
"O-oh... ooh... that is so very soft..."
It landed on top of Ahti's head and started slowly stroking the mane.
"Mm, who's a good kitty... who's a good kitty? Yes you are~"
And it didn't stop with just slowly stroking the hair. No, Alpa was - apparently - master at the art of petting. She went far and beyond the usual, and after few moments of her fingers searching around, she managed to find the twitching cat ears even though she was basically blind. Her fingers stroked those ears, found their base and gently scratched them. Then her fingers stretched out to slowly massage the scalp along with the ear, essentially doing what would have been a full-face treatment for a normal house cat. Except this wasn't a house cat. This was Ahti. And in his case, it looked more like Alpa's tiny hand was almost disappearing into the white mane.
And as for the boy in question?
Rrrr~, rrrrr~!
The massive purring sound was an answer in itself. So was the fact the one-eyed youth was holding a hand over his mouth, as if to physically stop the dumb, goofy grin that was spreading to his face despite how much he was fighting back. It would have almost made him look constipated, if he hadn't looked secretly so happy.
"What's the n-name of this kitty?" Alpa quietly asked, continuing her treatment.
Ahti didn't even look to be in any shape to answer.
... Actually, wasn't this a bit too much? He had never acted even remotely this way when Prushka had head-patted him.
Vivienne Bianchi
Location: Owl's Nest - Dining Area
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
"Aah, yeah. I think I'll have a cup, if you don't mind."
With Rachel's voice coming from behind her, Vivienne approached the coffee maker set to the side of the cafeteria, on its own table. It was certainly a large enough thing, fitting for the room, but at the same time it couldn't be the only source of coffee around, could it? No, most likely not. Judging by the simple sign next to it on the table which had a red chili painted on it, this was the one and only source of the strange hybrid coffee that Rachel made herself. In other words, the most effective, eye-opening coffee in this whole place... and the ashen-haired guy was chugging it like there was no tomorrow.
It was a small wonder his heart hadn't leaped out of his chest yet.
Now closer, Vivienne realized something strange about the young man before her. That smell... it was strong, yes, but now that she paid attention, it wasn't as overbearing as before. Was it growing lesser? Dimmer? Or at the very least, fading away? Almost like whatever wild animal had caused it was getting further and further away. Then again, that was just a silly mental image, considering it was the man himself who was the source, but... at the same time, facts couldn't be denied.
That being said, what now? She had arrived at her destination, but the man had yet to let go of the coffee pan. And it didn't seem like he realized there was a line forming behind him...
--- A small voice inside Vivienne insisted she should just take the remaining coffee and run. It was a voice that sounded awfully familiar, and there was almost a face she could put to it.
But before she could react to that feeling properly...
"..........?"
The young man seemed to finally notice her.
"......."
He stared at Vivienne for a moment, almost like he didn't get why she was there.
Then, those crimson eyes turned to look at the machine over his shoulder, then back to her, and finally... it seemed to click. He looked at the yet another cup he was about to pour, and how there was only maybe three cups worth of coffee inside the pan.
The man frowned.
".......... Sorry."
He grumbled something that sounded like an apology and decided against pouring himself another cup. Instead, he set it back on the table and nodded to Vivienne.
As if telling her to get to it.
Meanwhile, he himself marched off towards the breakfast counter, hands in his pockets and bags under his eyes, almost as if lured by the smells...
Alexstrasza Lockhart
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Gabi's Room
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
"... No. I think I agree."
Souma smiled mysteriously.
"Both the carry bag and the telescope are gone. Which means he was carrying them somewhere. And if they're not up at the lookout..." He left a pause in his words, full of implications. "... Then it's most likely as I theorized, and he had them with him when he was taken. He was, after all, most likely headed to the overlook in the first place. That's why I wondered about their current location."
He put his gloved hand against the surface of Gabi's desk and let his fingers touch it, slowly dragging them across the painted wood. Then, once he reached the end, he lifted his fingertips up for himself to see, as if he had been searching for dust that had been gathered. But whether or not there was some, he didn't tell. Instead he rubbed his fingers together in a dismissive way, closing his eyes and letting out a quiet sigh.
A slightly bored one.
"--- If he was taken here, at the campus, the murderer had to hide the items. And telescope is not something you can hide or destroy easily - not if you're on schedule. Not if you have also a body to hide or dispose of," Souma explained. "So if he or she took the easy way out, the two places brought up so far... the science classroom and the storage room... may be the place our culprit choice. And if we find the item in question, it may...... illuminate us in some new way."
His smile deepened.
"Even if we cannot lift fingerprints or analyze any blood on the items, Gabi was smart. He may have left something behind on purpose," the boy suggested. "Or... the murderer may have gotten careless."
The last option seemed to amuse him.
Hisa Momoi
Location: Canseliet Clinic
Phase: Morning Phase
Date: 10.09.1994 (SAT)
Weather: Overcast
"H-huh? Samuel?"
Tris looked surprised at this sudden revelation that came from Hisa, blinking at it. Then her face turned into a rather adorable frown and she rubbed her chin, the gears in her head slowly grinding to understand the implications of what this meant. Of course, it didn't seem like she had caught up completely, but then again...
"Samuel... Samuel... Samuel...?" Tris muttered to herself. "Why doth that soundedeth so familiar...?"
From the corner of her eye, Hisa could see Dr. Canseliet put her finger to her lips momentarily. Yes, perhaps the doctor had a point. Shoving too much information all at once on the blonde girl might just make things worse instead of helping. Not only that, but with Samuel out there, he would most likely contact Tristellia when he was ready. And the young man would definitely be more adept at explaining all the weirdness that was going on with him so far.
Of course, it might have been interesting to be a fly on the wall to listen to just how that went down, but for now, it was best to leave well enough alone.
There were other things to take care of too, after all.
"Hmm... Like, I think I'll pass, Nancy Drew," Mercedes answered with a rather dry smirk. "Human-based mysteries and whatevah are fine and all, but this?"
She made a vague gesture towards the doctor with the Cheshire Cat-like grin.
"Yeah, like, I don't think I'll that with a ten foot pole. God knows that's just asking for trouble, sticking my nose in there," the starlet continued. "Even I have, like, some sorta self-preservation instinct."
Dorothy Canseliet cackled at that.
"And a good one too! Nothing good tends to come from getting carelessly wrapped up in fae trouble," she replied, before turning her grin towards Hisa herself. "As for what comes to your questions, Child of Man, well... as I said. I was drawn here by the scent of the All-Father. And it's for that reason I remain here. There's still something for me to do here - and few memories of the past I need to see through. Very dramatic ones, in fact~"
Ah. Cryptic hints.
The fae, infuriatingly, loved these.
--- Thankfully, however, it did sound like the doctor was just teasing her, and it wasn't actually about anything serious.
"As for what has changed me, well... it would be you and your kind. You humans define me with each time you regard me, each time you observe me. I lose my concept as a being of the Turnside, tied to my nature and what I am. Instead, I'm humanized and brought closer to what you can relate to... or so would the philosophical answer go, I presume," she cackled and threw the last cookie in her mouth. "--- Simple truth may just be that having been with you humans so long, I've began to feel kinship with you. Strange, that. Never figured myself for the sappy type, but here I am - worrying and caring over humans."
Judging by the tone of her voice, the doctor didn't really mind that. If anything, she seemed to like it.
... What a strange elf.
"A-anyways, fae and other stuff aside... what should we do next then?" Pyry asked, finishing his cup of tea now that it seemed the meeting was coming to an end. "Did you have anything else in the plans? The day's not endless, but I feel like we have plenty enough time to do what with we want..."
His feline eyes focused on Hisa's.
"--- So, what's our next step?"