Elise Pelltier
Location: Pinefall High Campus
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
"Yes, that is the true horror of prophecies..."
With a somber voice, Subaru turned her eyes to the heavens, where the rain fell incessant.
"... We only learn of their magnitude and their power in hindsight. Ergo, when it is too late."
The atmosphere behind the school changed. The pine trees slowly swayed in the wind, and the coldness of that breeze picked up. In her arms, Elise could feel Tonkori suddenly perk up, as if shedding its playful mood and standing in attention. The dog switched her gaze from the brunette to her own, and stayed quiet, as if waiting. Subaru, on the other hand, simply stared up to the skies, slowly reaching towards it with her hand. It was like she was trying to catch the droplets of rain, slowly, ever so slowly, closing her hand into a fist and holding it there.
What had she really caught? The rain? Something else from the heavens?
The wind itself?
"--- A prophecy unfulfilled is naught but a nightmare, Child of Man. Something that verily may have happened once upon another world, another time, but which was denied in this reality of ours. Thus it is but a fleeting reflection of a possibility that could be and naught more - yet enough to give our dreams a fright and strike paranoia in our little hearts," Subaru suddenly spoke up, an odd sort of gravitas and pomp to her voice. "A prophecy that has come to pass can naught be changed again, and thus we can only learn from it, gaze back in our history and think of the things said and things done, woefully short-sighted as we were back when it was truly happening. 'Tis only from the future whence we may gain understanding of such a foretold sequence of events."
Pulling down her hood, Subaru let the rain fall upon her head. It was like she was refreshing herself, letting herself be purified, and taking in the holy water raining down from the heavens. And in that strange atmosphere, looking the same but acting very much unlike the girl Elise had been talking to, she turned around - slowly - and leveled her solemn gaze upon the brunette.
Those eyes were like mirror-sheen pools that saw nothing. Eyes that had glassed over, and instead spoke of something else...
... Something inhuman.
Or perhaps, something dangerous.
"But what of the prophecy that should be coming true. The prophecy where all the pieces are in place yet something is amiss? What of the prophecy that we are living right now?" Subaru continued, her clear voice ringing through the woods. "What if what you need is to change your perspective, Child of Man? What if it is not that the prophecy has somehow fallen astray even though everything has been prepared for it to come true? What if... that prophecy has already been fulfilled? What if it is already underway, and you simply do not realize it? What if it is not the prophecy who is wrong... but you are, Child of Man?"
An enigmatic smile floated onto the girl's face.
"--- Mayhaps you need a perspective akin to the Child of Gods to consider such a possibility?"
John Dove
Location: Avery’s Dinner (Men’s Toilets)
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
"Hm... so I was right."
The man narrowed his eyes at John.
"You are part of the Turnside."
So, he hadn't been sure after all? That had been just a test to see if John would react to the key phrases the man had dropped? Admittedly, he didn't give an aura of a person who exactly laid those sorts of verbal traps, but then again... looks could be deceiving. Just like John Dove might have appeared normal on the outside, this man might have appeared like a regular thug on the first glance. But judging from how he had approached this situation, there was at least certain type of cunning intelligence within him. So the question became...
.. How would he proceed?
"Still... I see. A student. Right. Not a threat, then," the man continued, still watching John's movements. "Or could be. Hard to say at this point. But... you're snarling the proper way. Or is that an act? Curious..."
Slowly, he set his hand on the lock of the bathroom, as if readying himself to open it back up - depending on John's answers. So far, he didn't seem too on the edge - not to the point of starting a fight out of nowhere at least.
"... Understandable though. Paranoia settles in quick. That being said... when it comes to me, I'm just being careful. Yah, can never be too careful," the man said, as if to make a point. "My aura... bothers people. So I stay hidden. Thus, if someone sees through me... it makes me paranoid in turn. So, I have to assess you. Who you are. What you are after. Are you a threat. Those sorts of things."
A ghost of a smile, a slightly sarcastic one, floated onto his lips.
"... But you wanted a name? Yah, we can start there," he spoke, that Minnesota-accent creeping into his voice once more. "The name's Isaiah. Isaiah Kincaid."
He snorted.
"But you can call me Isaac."
Hisa Momoi
Location: Road's End - Streets
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
Sakura took the syringe, eyeing it curiously.
"Hmm... I suppose the Turnside never ceases to amaze me. Are those Odic Particles floating inside?" Sakura asked, before leveling a smirk towards Hisa and a raised eyebrow. "You've got quite the gadgets yourself, huh? Definitely not just a normal Nancy Drew, like Mercedes said."
Gradient, upon hearing that, grinned widely and let out an agreeing "Muu~!", as if praising her friend. Even Pyry chuckled a little bit at that.
"Still, are you sure? I figured the interview was your initial target, and if we move through - say - roof, it shouldn't be too hard to stay hidden even if you can't hide your physical form. The houses around here love their attics, so those are always a good choice as well," Sakura continued with a question. "I'm a decent enough climber and have a few 'special' climbing wires that I can attach to help you get up. So if you're worried about that don't be... though, on the other hand, I agree with making Pyry and Gradient here our quick response squad."
Sakura chuckled and shot Pyry a teasing look.
"No hard feelings, big guy, but with your size even an attic won't be enough to hide you."
Pyry took the jab in stride and just laughed in response, nodding.
"Yeah, I getcha. Plus, Hisa's right. I move much better outside, so leave the perimeter and the grounds for us two. And if need be, I can just bust in and get you both out of there in no time flat," he replied. "A plan like that plays more to my strengths, too."
With that, Sakura turned back to Hisa.
"So... what do you think? I don't mind giving you the play-by-play about what happens at the interview, but there's advantages in moving as two two-man groups," she asked. "Still, this is your plan, so I'm fine with going with whichever option. I'm just here to lend my expertise, after all."
Elaine Winters
Location: Ghostwood Overlook
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
A quiet chuckle escaped Mr. Oceandrop's lips.
"... Yes, I know. It's an awful lot of homework. But, I believe in my students. I know that if it's you lot, you can get it done," he spoke with utmost faith. "It's up to you now... for it's a race against time. Schemes within schemes, and not all of them good. I... should know. I know I should. But I don't. It's this... existence that I am right now, teetering on the edge of what I am and what I am not. Or perhaps I am both?"
Letting go of Elaine's shoulder, he momentarily hovered his hand there, as if trying to decide something... and then finally simply went ahead and ruffled her hair. Plainly, gently, reassuringly. In a way an adult would to a child. Just a simple gesture that said "It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine." Just a simple gesture loaded with those feelings, and his faith in the girl who stood before him. No, not just her... all the other students as well.
Oceandrop's faith in them was unwavering.
"I suppose that's why she called me that... Elizaveta always had a knack for nicknames..."
With another laugh, this time much more somber, the principal let go of Elaine and started taking steps back. One, after another, heading slowly, backwards, towards the edge of the overlook.
Towards the long drop down.
"--- The Man-In-Between. That's what she called me."
The laughter on his lips died, and the stern, serious look reappeared.
"... Do you know of the cat in the box, Winters? What does decide its fate, in the end? In what state is it in before the box opens? Walking through the valley of the shadow of death... yet always immutable, always changing, always elusive and always mysterious. It's like that. So, there's no need to panic. While it might be presumptious of me to say, there's no need to grieve for me. When the chessboard is reset, I'll be back. Right there, in my office, same as ever. And it all begins again," he said. "So just keep your head up, keep eyes eyes ahead, and don't lose sight of your goal. The path out of this nightmare is somewhere... I promise that. Just as I promise that you can find it. As much as I hate to say it... it's all up to you lot now. Everything. Consider it my last homework. And, heh, the first."
With that, Oceandrop turned his gaze to the skies, where the single ray of sun shone through the rain.
And as he did, he spread his hands, and spoke... with a booming voice that resonated with the silence of the Ghostwood.
"A man who came here from the woods
A shout of a silver fall
In the house of amber light
It sees us all
Break away from within that Eye
Escape from the umbra sea
The Mad whispers it again:
Stars, fall for me!"
And as he spoke, Elaine could see it.
--- The form of Mr. Oceandrop started turning transparent, fading away just like the sound of his wristwatch.
Prushka
Location: Abandoned Cabin
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
Originally Posted by
Prushka
"...Xandra. Would you happen to have a phone with you? Or a computer?"
The silver-haired girl snorted.
"Out here? In this shack? Yeaaah, sorry. No luck there. I came here 'incognito' so to speak, didn't bring much else than my personal communicator - and that's just a two-way street between me and a few guys in Seattle," Xandra replied with a shrug. "We'd have to hit some sort of local radio club or something if you wanna go that route... or just use one of the few public phones around that actually work. Most of them are busted."
Ahti, hearing that, grunted and looked at Prushka with a raised eyebrow.
"Wasn't there a room in that school of yours with lots of computers? Can't you use that?" he asked. "... Well, that or a phone. I'd imagine they'd have a phone there too."
Xandra let out a snort.
"It doesn't exactly sound like the type of call you'd wanna make with teachers breathing down your neck, right?" She replied, before glancing over to Prushka. "Still... what's up? Did someone come to mind who'd know more about this stuff? If so, let's get this show on the road. I mean, I've been mulling over how to get more info on them myself, so any lead's golden right now. More helpful than going over the same stuff over and over with Mr. Abs-of-Steel over there, or cozying up with him like you are."
The girl let out a snicker, only for Ahti to throw her a confused gaze.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Xandra just laughed again.