June ADA Meeting/Open Mingle/Rumor Discussion

[bluemackerel]

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.]

Comments

[stavros]

Very well!

[The cross indeed comes back, but misses him. Kokoro barely catches it again as she dodges the water, and grumbles, running in with another strike of the whip again.]

Never got the hang of these things --

[notquitedracula]

[This time, when he dodges the air rushes to get out of his way as a shockwave spreads outward. In less time than it takes to blink, Soma has moved behind Kokoro, and is closing in fast. Does she have time to dodge?]

[stavros]

[She turns on her heel and skids forward, then appears to phase through him. Turning around, Kokoro hurls another bottle of holy water.]

Prepare yourself!

[notquitedracula]

[He knows that dash. He's distracted enough by it this time that he doesn't get out of the way of the holy water in time, and is thoroughly splashed when the bottle breaks. He's not burning to a crisp, but there is definitely some smoke happening.]

Do your worst, Belmont!

[stavros]

I plan to!

[She's built up enough power now that she lifts up off the ground. Soma will know this, too, but if he tries to move out of normal people's Grand Cross range, he might be surprised. She doesn't rise up as high as expected, and the beam goes sideways, shooting forward the longer way.]

Lightning Sword!

CW: Mention of scars

[notquitedracula]

[Well. He definitely wasn't expecting that. He's caught full-on in the beam and thrown backwards, crashing against a tree. He continues to take the full strength of the Lightning Sword, though he does cross his arms defensively in front of his face.]

[It doesn't take long for the beam to punch a hole in his shirt, revealing a patchwork of scars beneath. They're not more than a couple years old at best - clearly, he went through hell sometime fairly recently.]

Ngh! That hurt!

[stavros]

[Kokoro drops to the ground. She approaches warily, albeit still keeping about a metre between them.]

Perhaps I went too hard on you. We can stop, if you can't take more. ...You did well, I'll give you that.

[notquitedracula]

[Soma takes a moment to collect himself. He'd taken Julius' Grand Cross, strikes from the Vampire Killer, and attacks from all manner of monsters and demons. Been impaled by spikes in that accursed clocktower. Barely dodged being cut in half by Death himself... and she was asking if he couldn't take more. Honestly? It's kind of sweet.]

You hit me pretty hard with that last one, I'm not ashamed to admit. I can keep going, but we should probably stop there for now, before we wake everyone in the neighborhood up.

[He walks over to the bench with his coat - slowly - and plops down beside it, before pulling a couple potion bottles out of one of its pockets and offering one to Kokoro.] Gandolfi's own recipe. That was an interesting take on the Grand Cross - what drove you to use it that way, instead of the normal method?

[stavros]

[She hesitates and takes it, leaning over the back of the bench.]

It was more practical, because then I could use it airborne on a Ride Viper. I've also found it useful to blindside someone expecting the regular way around... albeit that does only work the once.

[notquitedracula]

[He chuckles a bit at that - the tactic had certainly worked on him.] I sometimes forget you're not technically from the same world I am. Having a strong front-facing attack like that would make a great deal of sense if you're using it as a ship-based weapon. [He uncaps the potion he's still holding and downs it in one gulp. The worst of his wounds heal very quickly, but his shirt appears to be a total loss.] There's something you need to know. You're familiar with your family's bestiary, right?

[stavros]

Well familiar, I would say. We kept very good records over the generations. I'm sure you're aware -- you seem to know everything else, after all.

[notquitedracula]

I mean... I did inherit Dracula's memories, after all. And your brother is one of my few friends. [Did she expect Dracula not to pay attention, all those times the Belmont clan raided his castle?]

Anyway, that's not the point. Pretty much every creature in there - from skeletons and zombies all the way up to the higher class demons - I can use their abilities as my own. I... don't often tell people about this. It's frightening enough to know I'm not entirely human, after all. But you need to know, if you may eventually have to fight me for keeps. Without the Vampire Killer... you're going to need help.

[He takes a moment to think things over, and comes to a decision.] Do you trust me enough to let me enchant your whip? I can't recreate the Vampire Killer, but I can at least give it elemental powers, much the same way Rinaldo Gandolfi did with the whip of alchemy he gave to Leon.

[stavros]

[She nods, mulling this over with a frown. It's a few seconds before she says anything.]

So this is your game, then. You intend to ensure your own demise should need be. And you ask me if I trust you, when a few weeks ago I only knew you as the twist on the second half of a prophecy. ...You're a strange person, but I suppose I know worse.

[notquitedracula]

Something like that, yes. I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that, but I've come close enough to that threshold before that it would be foolhardy to believe it can't happen here. I'm not the sort who wants to watch the world burn, no matter who I was in a past life.

[He reaches up to rub the back of his neck - a nervous tic, it would seem - and adds:] I realize I'm asking a lot of you, especially when you barely know me. You have every right and reason not to believe a word I say, especially considering how I was teasing you about how I think you're cute - which I meant, by the way, but now's not the time for that.

[He blushes a bit as he realizes what he just said, but soldiers on.] A-anyway, what I'm saying is that I want to prevent as much damage as possible, if the worst comes to pass. And I think you're probably the best person for it.

[stavros]

Will you stop.

[She huffs and shakes her head. Now's not the time for another tangent on the teasing thing.]

...I suppose you have my thanks. And my word that I'll stop you should anything prompt it. I'm well aware of the weight of your expectations.

[notquitedracula]

[Sorry, Kokoro - he's a dork. He clears his throat in that 'let's move on' way.] I think I should be the one thanking you here, but I doubt the particulars matter too much.

[stavros]

Of course. It's my job. [That's almost a smile, despite the serious tone.] Fate brought everything to this point for some reason or another, besides.

[notquitedracula]

[Soma actually does smile, because he remembers how this whole thing started. Mathias would be proud.] Fate has a way of doing that, I've found.

[stavros]

You certainly would, with all you've got in your head now. At some point, it moves from a simple pattern to a way of the world. Mine, yours, and this world, it would seem.

[notquitedracula]

It kind of does, really. [He looks down and plucks at the remnants of his shirt, chuckling a bit.] This was my favorite shirt, you know. But I suppose we're even, considering I kind of soaked you. ...Speaking of which.

[He holds out a hand and conjures a fireball, letting it float in place.] That should help dry you off. Sorry I didn't think of it sooner.

[stavros]

[She stands up straight rather than lean on the bench, and sighs.] My apologies, then. I did say I wouldn't go easy on you, but perhaps I take things too seriously.

[notquitedracula]

Nah. You're fine - I've taken worse hits than that and walked away. Got the scars to prove it.

[It's a good thing Kokoro can't see his back. A lot of those scars have mirrors on the other side.]

Related note? I hate that goddamn clock tower.

[stavros]

I'm well familiar with our records. I don't think anybody likes that clock tower.

[notquitedracula]

It was very, very satisfying to watch the castle fade back into that eclipse. It almost looked like it was dissolving. One can only hope...

[Sadly, he knows better. But at least it won't kidnap anyone else while he's still alive.]

[stavros]

Such hopes never come to pass, but that only makes it more imperative to try regardless. So it is they say.