starsand | June ADA Meeting/Open Mingle/Rumor Discussion

June had been an active month for everyone in Starsand. The fake tradition at the Shrine of Love, the three ghost stories, and still no way home. Knowing this, Osamu Dazai decided the only thing to do was to organize a meeting for the Fallen Stars and citizens alike...🗈

[Dazai had set up a gathering at the park with a small podium. This would do until they'd gotten an official meeting hall. Atsushi, Fauna, and Akutagawa had probably all been tasked with putting up flyers earlier advertising the meeting. He approached the podium, clearing his throat.]

Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen, Fallen Stars and citizens of all shapes, sizes, and gender persuasions. This is the first meeting held by the Armed Detective Agency to discuss recent events and to set up plans for the future ahead. Let's go ahead and go over what we already know, shall we?

[He shuffled his cards at the podium, flicking one aside. Tellingly, if anyone picked it up...it was blank. Showoff.]

First off. The 'protection charm' so-called tradition. This, as some of you may know, is not an official tradition sanctioned by the Kami of Love. We're not certain who started it, but my guess is that it's for nebulous purposes. If you've tried to 'protect' someone, you had better let them know. And if you've been 'protected', prepare for whatever may come. We'll be doing what we can to decipher the intent behind this and the perpetrator.

[Fwip. Another cue card to the side. This one, if picked up, has 'Chuuya Nakahara has a stinky butt' written on it in red crayon with a chibi drawing of Dazai's face winking with his tongue out next to it.]

Now, let's get into the meatier situations. I believe we've had three curious spirits haunting our dear city as of late, and I'd like to go over each. If anyone has any relevant information pertaining to any of them - encounters, confrontations, simply details you've overheard - please do feel free to contribute to the discussion after the overview is finished.

The first of these is Bloody Mary. The Armed Detective Agency - meaning, my team - Atsushi, Fauna, Akutagawa, raise your hands. These three and myself have looked into this incident in particular. We intend to look into all of them, but this one was our first priority. We regret to inform you that she is quite real. Do not attempt this ritual. She will chase down whoever summoned her, and attempt to attack. She left us with the warnings that she 'learned so much' and that she'd be 'stronger next time' before melting into a puddle of blood. I repeat, do NOT summon Bloody Mary. We will not be discussing how to summon her in the interest of less people doing it...but you've been warned.

[Fwip. Another cue card to the side. This one, if picked up, has 'YOU CAN REACH BLOODY MARY BY SPELLING OUT ICUP AND PRAYING IN FRONT OF YOUR TOILET' written on it in blue crayon. Off to the side, it has the word 'spooky! do not attempt!' written on it. And a little drawing of a bedsheet ghost seemingly dripping blood.]

The second is the Footsteps Behind You ghost. Much like Bloody Mary, I've looked into this one on my own. It attempted much the same. An assault, a promise that it had learned, and a declaration that it'd be stronger next time. It, too, melted into blood. Do NOT summon the Footsteps Behind You ghost, either. Once more, no discussion as to how to do so will be taking place for your personal safety.

[Fwip. Another cue card to the side. This one, if picked up, has 'DON'T TELL THEM THE FOOTSTEPS BEHIND THEM IS ACTUALLY A LARGE HAMSTER WITH SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES. THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH.' written on it in green crayon. The giant hamster is drawn on it looking sad.]

The third and final spirit that has been spoken of is regretfully the one I have the least amount of information on. The girl in the reflection. I made an attempt to summon her as well to no success, but the important thing about her is she made no attempt to attack. Unlike the other two spirits, the potential harm of this one is undetected. Still, you should not make an attempt to reach out until further information is given.

[Fwip. Another cue card to the side. This one, if picked up, has 'Potential Reminder: have ADA attempt another summoning. Certain issues may have gotten in my way.' Unlike the other cards, this one was written in pen in fairly elegant handwriting.]

With that, I open the floor to you, meeting participants. If you have any further information, feel free to share with the rest of us and talk amongst yourselves. The purpose of this meeting is to gather information and perhaps get to know your colleagues a bit better.

[And then, suddenly, he brightens.] Of course, after that, if anyone has any way to brighten the mood, we may all need it! So feel free to contribute that, too!

We at the Armed Detective Agency thank you for attending. We'll appreciate your cooperation in the future and know that we are looking into each and every incident with precision and care. Good night, tri-state area~

[And then he just. Drops the rest of the blank cue cards on the podium, folds his arms behind his head, and walks back.

The floor is yours, other participants.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh no. Whatever shall I do?

[Vanitas does not care. If anything, those encounters went exactly as he'd planned: He announced his intent, gathered some information, and watched everyone cut ties with him on their own.

He'll wait a few minutes for the attention on him to die down. Being especially mindful of anyone who might be trying to be sneaky... Then he taps Inaba's shoulder and points outside of the barrier.]

[ She glances around her for a moment, making sure that there aren't any eyes on her before quietly nodding quietly and following. Of course, she's still being cautious, as she always is, for better or for worse. ]

[Once they're out of sight, Vanitas drops his act entirely. He isn't ashamed of a quiet groan of annoyance, before he begins stretching his arms over his head.]

Well, that went surprisingly well. Not a Noe among them.

[He lowers his arms, though one settles on his hip-- resting on the pouch that stores his book.]

Alright then. I'll hear you out, but my terms are simple: You're using me and I intend to use you. Can we agree on that?

That's fine. Coworker terms are what I was thinking of, anyway.

[ She can at least work with that. ]

Good.

[He turns his attention to her fully.]

So? What do you think you need the Book of Vanitas for? If it suits me, then I'll do it. [Not 'help.']

There's someone who shuts down the 'soul' at Satou's shrine at exactly three in the morning. If there's a way to prevent that so that the culprit can be caught, that would be optimal.

As I think that it is either the person behind this or the rumor itself.

Ah yes. I did hear you bring that up earlier.

[So she wants to use the book to interfere with that? Vanitas hums thoughtfully.]

Unfortunately, my power cannot reinforce your soul and make it invincible. If it was a matter of being corrupted, I could reverse it. And obviously, I'm able to corrupt as well. [After all, he 'inverses' the operation. But that also means that he can perform the operation.

This was obviously not worth bringing up at the meeting. They all failed their test by getting emotional so quickly, so he decided not to say anything that might divide their efforts. Inaba, at least, seems reasonable. Her use will only be amplified by knowing more.]

The most I could do is replicate the power that 'knocked out' your soul.

[He quotes so she knows how much he was listening, and therefore won't waste time repeating herself.]

However. I can use the book to negate all abilities within a certain radius. It would also negate The Book of Vanitas itself, but I assume that would include negating any ability similar to my book. In other words, they would be unable to perform that skill.

If I were to set up this reality field around that location, then the culprit may very well be reduced to uselessness.

That's fine. I'm not expecting to become a kami myself anyway-- and I'd rather not have my soul tampered with more than it already has. I just want to get back at whoever did that sort of thing. If we can put them on the same level as a normal human, then I have no objections to negating it.

Very well.

I imagine that no one wants to work with me right now. [And he has no remorse.]

So I'll be watching for a like-minded person with a sturdy body that we can employ for this experiment. I would suggest we find someone who specializes in weaponry, whose abilities are not enhanced by any 'supernatural' abilities. We'll want to have someone smart enough to react quickly, as our opponent may well be prepared to counterattack. Targeting this kami's shrine is not something I'd imagine they are taking lightly.

[And before Inaba gets too hasty, Vanitas adds with a sigh;] The success or failure of this operation benefits me as well. Put your 100% into it and I will return the favor.

I'll look and see if there's anybody that I can find as well on my end. I plan on putting more than a hundred percent into all of this, after all. That's why I'm already coming up with other countermeasures, too.

Good. I'm glad we're on the same page.

You may call me 'Vanitas.' And my associate back there is 'Noe.' I'll inform him of our agreement later tonight. He'll be coming along, but I will keep him out of the radius as a back-up.

[ Mentally, she wonders if all men named Vanitas act like jerks externally... ]

Got it. And it's Inaba, by the way.

Good to know.

[Vanitas looks back towards the gathering.]

Well. Let's not linger so long that they miss up. Noe will begin to panic if I'm gone too long, especially after all that I did.

Of course.

[ Time to head back to the meeting proper, then! ]

June ADA Meeting/Open Mingle/Rumor Discussion

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