fight a nerd

[goldenmage]

[For those looking for Shugo, he can most often be found at the Shrine of Curiosity. More of a library than a typical shrine, the building is powered by the curiosity of every citizen in the city. As a result, the building is sturdy and hard to damage. It also welcomes any visitor, at all hour of the day and night, to check out books or stay in its free bedrooms. Numerous spirits in cat form wander the library and meow loudly to greet visitors.

The morning after Ariel's dream, the library is especially quiet. Many of the cats are sleeping on the front desk and the spirits don't seem to be working much. Things are pretty easy going after July, when so many volunteers came to help with the library's maintenance. But it's probably about to be a chaotic morning, so... if you're still living here rent-free, then sorry. The morning wake-up call may be brutal.]

(( mods will be rolling a d20 to determine which npc you unfortunately encounter here. ))

Comments

[nightwild]

[Unfortunately, for everyone involved.

Fauna is here and she's pissed. She does, at least, manage to remember to park her bike outside rather than just ramming through the front door on it. Wouldn't want to send the wrong kind of message...

As she kicks open the door like a crash of thunder.]

Shugo! Get out here!

[oh she sounds pissed. this is clearly the right message she's sending.]

[omichron]

[Chron lifts her head from the reception desk, where she's been rolling a pen around with her psychic powers. Despite Fauna's strangely hotheaded entrance, she yawns into her hand and looks up with bleary eyes. Someone took the morning shift because it was supposed to be boring.]

Hmm? What do you want with him, Fauna? [She yawns again-] And what are you doing here so early?

[nightwild]

[Have you ever watched someone's brain do the equivalent of a bicycle slipping its chain? Now you have. Here's Fauna, having the wind completely taken out of her sails as she's suddenly trying to figure out how to do this.]

I should be asking you that- Why are you here?! Shouldn't it be Shugo? I gotta...

[Hold on.

Slowly, slowly, putting things together.]

... Oh, hell- He's using you as a deterrent.

[... maybe not the right way of putting things together, but.]

[omichron]

Uh... huuuuh.

[Chron squints suspiciously. Something's going on and it's skewing Fauna's logic, isn't it?

She shakes her head and stands up.]

No, I work the night shift during the summer. It's nice and quiet here. Or it was.

You think my noodle arm dad could use me, Fauna?

[violetlies]

[So, after the family meeting yesterday, the V3 household agreed to go to the library. Diplomacy was the first priority, but if that didn't work...they'd see what else they had.

He looks around. No sign of Shugo. If there's a bell on the front desk, he dings it.

Ding.

He at least knows not to be too loud in a library...]

[denouefate]

[A black cat on the desk yowls when Kokichi rings the bell, then hops off of the desk and leaves the room. It's a few seconds later that someone pokes their head out of the back office, locking the door behind them as they leave.]

Hm? Aren't you... Kokichi? What brings you here at this early hour?

[violetlies]

[Kokichi looks up, and--oh. Thaaaaaat's not Shugo. But at least it's someone who seems easy to talk to.]

That's me. You're...Mikhale, right? Would you maybe know where Shugo is?

I have something important I want to discuss with him.

[denouefate]

Mm, that's me. Nice to meet you.

[He slides some pleasantries in before nodding in response to the question.]

Yes, I do. But if it's a question about the library, then I can sometimes answer them. What do you need?

[loveedition]

[ She needs information. She doesn't really care who she gets it from, or how she finds it, but Ryoko's taking up the mission to get that train up and running-- potentially giving them the chance to see what's beyond the town.

She's furious, but she's heading in and desperately looking to find something, or someone. ]

[goldenmage]

[Shugo is used to a lot of people coming to the library, sure, but rarely are they giving off an angry aura. The burning curiosity from Ryoko's search for answers does make her stand out in the library, so he has no trouble in tracking her down.]

Good morning..? You seem agitated.

[loveedition]

Just a little.

[ This guy-- ]

I had an annoying dream last night, and it made me want to look more into kami and what they can actually do.

[goldenmage]

Kami..? Well, you're in luck? I'm the Kami of Curiosity, so...

You looking for books? Audio? Movies?

[dereban]

[ Inaba does in fact work here, so her being here isn't even odd.

But the spirits are her friends so she's not even going to actually go for Shugo first. Au contraire. If he's not easy to find, then clearly we go for the big guns.

Asking the spirits. ]

Hey, you wouldn't happen to know where the kami of curiosity is, would you? If not... you wouldn't happen to know where his secret journal is, right?

[ai_nnihilate]

Shugo's secret journal? The gushy mushy lovey dovey one about his family?

[Satou steps in from behind Inaba and... sounds more interested in the journal than like she wants to stop her.]

Oooh have you read it before? Is it embarrassing?

[dereban]

[ --aaaand Inaba's interrupted by Satou.

Hm.

Well, that's interesting. But then again, it's not something that's utterly surprising, although this is the first time she's seen her here. That's something she'll pocket in the back of her mind for later. ]

I haven't read it, but I've seen it briefly. Although I'd expect him to have moved it at this point. So if the spirits know the new hiding spot, I'd like to see it.

[ Awful. ]

[ai_nnihilate]

Oh! If it's been found before, then yeah. Our search is screwed!

[Satou laughs softly,] Shugo has the power to make things 'hidden' if you get curious about them. If you're actively searching for it, then you probably won't be able to find the things that he wants to keep a secret. You gotta scatter your brain!

[shellrender]

[ Ushio is awake and because she lives here she finds it odd how quiet it is--

Although hearing the noises gets her up so she's just going to go ahead and hunt for pretty much anything, determined to find some answers. Or someone, to say the least. ]

[destructomatch]

[It's after about an hour of searching alone that Ushio gets company: A familiar face, who looks neither happy nor upset to see her. He stands at the doorway, arms crossed, and sighs before he calls out:]

You're not going to find anything like that.

[shellrender]

I am only one person.

[ She won't dismiss him; instead, she answers calmly without disregarding him. ]

Unless ya got any ideas t' suggest to me?

[ It might be a little tempting to go into her shadow form to attempt something that most people can't do, though. ]

[unquestioned_loyalty]

[ For once in his life he's come here to have a civil conversation instead of beating answers out of them.

Prior to coming here he had texted Shugo that he planned on stopping by and wanted to talk to him about something.

He's... not terribly worried about it since clearly Shugo had his reasons and talking to him like a reasonable person would probably work, right? Its not like he's unaware of what they were up to with the train, right?

So he waits in the library stroking one of the cat spirits as best he can. ]

[goldenmage]

[The black cat receiving pets may have been difficult at first, but they curled up to enjoy the attention eventually. At least, until they hear the approach of Shugo and flee the scene. He gives the cast a judgmental look before sighing.]

Welp. I'm going to die tonight.

[He looks to Akutagawa and smiles faintly.]

So. What can I do for you?

[unquestioned_loyalty]

I apologize for bothering you so early.

[ he seems a little confused by that comment, but contunues ]

Last night i was contacted by the one called Ariel, and we spoke about the train on the lowest level... and our efforts to repair it. Specifically she mentioned that a Kami had made it so that no one could wonder what was outside of the city, though she gave no specifics of what it was like out there.

[ He taps his fingers against the table ]

... If it's not your doing I figured you'd have an idea of who it is... and if it is, then I am certain you have your reasons. I just want to know what they are.

[ He wouldn't even really blame him if it was just to spare Satou since she can't leave, but he'd like to know that rather than guess. ]

... I highly doubt I am the only one that was told, either.

[tigerpoet]

[Atsushi's here because... well, he lives here. And also because it was kind of hard not to notice all the yelling earlier.]

...I understand people are angry, but this is still a library...?

[goldenmage]

[A very tired dad waves as he re-enters the main entrance, having sent his two guests away in very different states.]

Sorry. Lost my temper.

Though this might continue for a few more hours.

[tigerpoet]

[Atsushi understands the feeling of Tired Dad very well.]

Ah, well. ...Can I get you some tea or anything?