balancemod: (Default)
balance mod ([personal profile] balancemod) wrote in [community profile] balance_logs2019-09-02 04:13 pm

Field Mission 5: Il Prigioniero, Part 1


There was a theme park in Caleb Cleveland, Kid Cop #7: The Carnival Caper. Sirs, I gotta say, I liked that one a whole lot better.
NAVIGATION


Click here for the RNG thread!




1. IL PRIGIONIERO: WELCOME TO CORMANTHOR


A. A CRASH BETWEEN TWO FERNS

Lucretia has given the orders and locale for the next Grand Relic to be reclaimed and destroyed, a task that will present itself with many new and weird dangers that the Reclaimers haven't come across before. For anyone looking to brush up on their history of Myth Drannor, the Netheril, and the forest of Cormanthor, some of you have already learned a great deal of what occurred here, in bits and pieces. Leon, the Artificer of the Bureau of Balance, had described the tale of a very unfortunate city facing a major energy crisis that was bleeding out the land. You've already met the culprit behind one of the worst decisions humanity has ever made (Spoiler: it's Karsus, a god-tier shit wizard who sacrificed himself to get some of you out of dodge back in Lyrabar), and seen the destruction, first hand, of what happened to the Netheril via the events of Vista Virs. Phew, that's a lot of lore to take in all at once.

But as history would have it, there are always a few sides to every story, and the fall of the Netheril wasn't the only mass of land that had been affected deeply by its twisted magical decay. The forested region of Cormanthor, not far from the source of corruption, did as well. Cormanthor was once home to capital of High Elves. They had resided in a city deep within, warded carefully from the outside world, known as Myth Drannor. Today, it lay in shambles, lost forever and protected by the sickened forest that surrounds it. You see, over 200 years ago, a floating city of Netherese fashion had appeared over the vicinity of Vista Virs. A battle raged on between heroic paladins and the cult that had raised it into this plane of existence. The result of that war sent the planar magics that bound the raised city into turmoil. Its target? Myth Drannor. And what didn't destroy the city from impact damage left a far deeper, darker problem among the elves that lived there. A twisted sickness, a dark corruption, it seeped deeply into the hearts of all that dwelt there. Legend has it that the Tree of Life itself, Yggdrasil, is at the heart of Myth Drannor.

But that's all ancient history at this point. No one's been able to make it deep enough into the woods to find out what really happened. Most often, they find the city of Shadowdale instead, and with that... Wonderland.

Speaking of which, you'll be blasted down to the outskirts of the forest. The entire balance of magic in this area is highly off kilter, which isn't entirely new to some of you veteran Reclaimers. When a Grand Relic is used, it often leaves behind a very distinct path of destruction that makes even the most learned scholars scratch their head. Magical interference runs nigh high throughout all of Cormanthor, which makes this mission particularly dangerous. Bubbles are not able to penetrate the canopy of Cormanthor or land directly at Wonderland. As Lucretia had said a few months ago, these missions are going to get harder and come with higher consequences. She has faith in all of you to make better decisions. You're the most amazing and stalwart people she's ever met, after all.

Blasted down to Cormanthor in parties no more than 4, you land somewhere near the outskirts of the forest. Look behind you, and you can see the yellow-hued mountains of the Netheril behind you, boasting a land of pure desert and its own uniquely cursed roster of flora and fauna.

Pitter patter, Reclaimers.

Watching a coast as it slips by the ship is like thinking about an enigma. There it is before you, smiling, frowning, inviting, grand, mean, insipid, or savage, and always mute with an air of whispering, "Come and find out."



Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

Back to top



2. THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS


B. EMPTY WOODS

The woods of Cormanthor were stunningly beautiful once. Before most people who walk among these trees were born, sure — but once upon a time, this was a beautiful place. A living, thriving forest, like any other great wood.

When the Reclaimers enter, however, the first thing they'll notice is the silence. Unnatural, ubiquitous, and oppressive, silence is the single unifying factor throughout these woods. The trees themselves shift, first sparse pines, then white ash and beech, and finally towering oaks, maples, and hickory. The silence doesn't change. There is no noise but the wind rustling the leaves on the trees — and as you get further in, even that begins to fall away.

It will become quickly apparent that there's no animal life here. This is a forest in stasis, certainly, but it's utterly devoid of birds flying overhead, four-legged creatures scurrying through the leaf debris. No deer, no wolves, no bears. No monsters. No insects, even, if you're paying attention. Those with the ability to speak with animals will notice very quickly that life simply doesn't seem to exist here. Those with the ability to speak to plants may be even more alarmed, because while the trees and other plants do respond, their replies are sluggish and distant, somewhat reminiscent of speaking to someone suffering with a severe fever, drifting in and out of consciousness.

Travel through Cormanthor's forest takes a few days' time, and so much time spent in silence begins to take a toll. Never mind the fact that no matter your Boy Scout badges, you can't forage for anything useful out here: nothing from the forest that is eaten provides any sustenance. Eat a bucket full of berries, and you'll still be as hungry as if you hadn't eaten a thing. The trees press in on all sides, and you know each one is different from the last, but after a while they all start to look the same.

Some will be more affected than others. Those with a madness effect (RNG'd or chosen from the list on this mission's dossier) will begin to feel it by the end of the second day. There are infinite options of how to play with this in the frozen forest, but here are a few possibilities:
○ If you have forgotten something important to you (1), it can happen quickly or slowly. Perhaps you're camping with your bubblemates, talking about someone from home. That Greg Grimaldis, was he really that bad? the Reclaimer to your right asks. Who, you ask, perplexed, brow furrowing, is Greg Grimaldis?

○ If reality is beginning to distort (2) for you, you might become abruptly certain that you're going the wrong way. Wonderland is back the way you came. Anyone trying to convince you otherwise is absolutely up to something — trying to make you look bad? Trying to hurt you? Who knows, but they're definitely up to something.

○ If you've lost valuable skills (3), they might drop out from under you at the worst possible moment. Even a forest in stasis has its hazards: pitfalls, roots that disguise holes and twist ankles, flimsy bridges that collapse and leave you hanging perilously over ravines, et cetera. Design peril to fit the skills you've lost. When you reach for your tried-and-tested knowledge, what do you know? It isn't there. You have to figure out another way out of this.

○ If you're feeling unlucky (4), guess what? The one person/thing in this whole realm that was keeping you safe isn't here right now. Everything around you is a portent of awful luck. Is that tree telling you to go die? It probably is! Paranoia creeps up on you from everywhere. Even your teammates. There's something about them that makes you certain everything's going to go to hell any minute now.

C. EMPTY CITY

Before you enter, you can see a town and only a town. Step across the border and you'll feel a barrier, something invisible and not quite permeable. After a pause, it seems to accept you, and your foot touches down in Shadowdale.

Then you look up. You can't help but look up. Stretching so high you've got to crane your neck to see to the top is a great gold tree sprung from the center of town. You couldn't see any of it from outside of Shadowdale's borders, but the town, it seems, wants you here. It wants you to see Wonderland. This could be paradise for a while, a place to stay safe from prying eyes and protected by the vastness of the forest as the Reclaimers track down this latest relic.

Except, not to put too fine a point on it, it's kind of creepy here. The whole place is empty — not everyone-got-up-and-left-in-a-rush empty, but ghost-town empty. Nobody wants to stay here, it seems. Maybe there's somewhere else they'd rather be. Regardless, it leaves you with plenty of lodgings to choose from. If you don't mind making your own fun, there's plenty to do, too: bookshops to visit, bakeries to use, butcher shops to — okay, maybe not that one. There's a courthouse, though. Who wants to play Judge Judy? Consider any shop or government building one might find in a small town to be fair game.

After a few hours, though, it becomes clear that this place isn't quite empty after all. You aren't the only ones investigating.

D. A FAMILIAR FACE (OR TWO)
○ The first face you see is a friendly one. Upon seeing the bracer on your wrist, Matthew Hollyweather walks right up to you, all the more readily if he remembers your face from New New Aspen. Despite the setting, he's clearly and genuinely pleased to see Reclaimers here. To those he's met before, he's eager to share all the positive change going on in New New Aspen: the newfound peace, the booming economy, pictures of one bajillion bouncing new spider-nieces-and-nephews. To those new to him, he introduces himself as Mayor Hollyweather of New New Aspen with just enough good-natured self-derision in his tone that he comes off as authoritative but kind of embarrassed about it.

It becomes obvious pretty quickly that he's been here a while — a few weeks, perhaps, more than long enough to get kind of lonely. Matthew's only company so far has been that kid, who's nice enough, but only showed up a couple days ago. And why is Matthew here? Well, that's where he stops being quite so much of an open book. He's looking for something, that's what he tells you. Something he's missing . . . and that's all. If you want to know more, you're going to roll for it. Everyone can get information from Matthew, but if you were present for the New Aspen mission, you'll get +2 on any DC on top of your existing class or skill bonuses.

○ The kid Matthew is talking about makes himself known soon enough. Perhaps you catch him perusing the bookstore in his fancy-boy suit and spiffy fancy cap, nose deep in a tome his thin arms tremble to hold, clearly paying no attention to you. Or maybe he's chowing down on some truly unusual-looking fried concoction (where did he get that?) in the town square by the fountain, clearly paying no attention to you. Wherever you first see him, he is clearly paying no attention to you.

Once addressed, he will brightly greet you and introduce himself as "Angus McDonald! I'm a little boy, I'm ten years old! Who are you? How did you get here? It's a really nice day, isn't it? It's nice to meet you!" Angus says a lot, actually. But other than giving off a strong vibe of needing to be noogied, nurtured, or both, he doesn't actually tell you much. Asking him anything is a good way to get the question turned right back on you. But then, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? If you can stand listening to him extoll the virtues of Caleb Cleveland, Kid Cop for a few minutes, you might level up enough to actually learn something.

Of course, you can't stay in Shadowdale forever. Literally: you can't. Every Reclaimer's feet are inexorably pulled to the entrance to Wonderland after not very long at all. The golden tree at the center of town is impossible to ignore. Step into the elevator at its base, and you might very well find yourself elbow-to-elbow with Matthew or Angus, staring as the numbers tick up . . . up . . .

Carrying you to Wonderland.

Back to top



3. WELCOME TO WONDERLAND


E. A BEARY GOOD TIME

You arrive in Terminal Square, where you can sign up for a membership with Roland and find out more about this larger-than-life amusement park. The entire theme park city seems to run on a currency known as Wunderbux- directly inscribed via magic into a stone you're handed after filling out a small precursory screening by the giant anthropomorphic bear. Gifted with some starting credits and maybe a really gaudy Roland-eared hat, depending on how much of a good Wonderperson you've been so far, he explains that certain actions in the park will add credits or remove them. He advises against owing Wonderbux to Wonderland, if you can help it. "Wouldn't it be unbearable not to be able to ride the rides!?"

Yeah. You know what this guy is all about.

Chutes and ladders will take you all over the various places of the park, all branching out from Terminal Square. The entirety of the complex is, at scale, ridiculously large. All throughout Wonderland, you'll be treated like a king if you let yourself be pampered. The sheer amount of gilded perfection that went into crafting this place is at a scale even larger than the Moon Base. Gorgeous fountains spouting golden water are not infrequent, stands selling food of every type imaginable pepper anywhere there's space, and often as you pass by, you can hear people having the time of their lives here.

F. PLAY WITH ME IN THE SPACE!

There's so much to do in Wonderland. So much. Honestly, you wouldn't be the first to say it's overwhelming. That's part of the fun! Wonderland sweeps you away with all of the fun it brings. We could fill pages with the wonders in Wonderland, but why don't we stick with a few highlights and let you fill in the rest?
Wonder Square: When you first enter the confines of Wonder Square, you'll notice it looks and feels sort of like a casino... minus the strong and pungent smells that usually accompany those types of areas, typically. The wide birth of the room overlooks a beautiful vantage point of the top of Cormanthor's forest; pale greens look out into a sea of leaves for miles on end, as if the rest of the world doesn't exist outside of Wonderland itself. And why would you think it does, when you're here?

Tables are set up for games, games, and- you guessed it- more games. Arm wrestle against a machine to test your strength. Shoot hoops into a basketball for 60 seconds. Engage in a few games of chance: Queen's Call is particularly abundant in this area. You'll notice this is where Maria can most likely be found, surveying the area like a snake mother, carefully winding herself around the pit and ensuring that no one is up to anything less than pure, unadulterated fun around these parts.

You can do you best to scam a few extra Wonderbux here, either through legitimate play at any number of the machines present, or otherwise through less than scrupulous means. Don't get caught, though... it never ends up quite well.

Dodging in and out of the crowds of Wonder Square, often charging forward and giving his best at a VR simulation of as snowboarding game, you might find Niel here as well. He's awfully energetic, a typical cornerstone of youth in the midst of a truly killer arcade.

One thing you might notice, or might... not notice? Every now and then you might look at someone one moment, enjoying themselves thoroughly or getting a little deep into the game they play. You blink, and suddenly they're gone. And so is the recollection of events that've happened the entire last hour of your life. Something tells you not to question it, deep down. If you could only remember what they looked like... or the fact that they were even here to begin with.

Oh well, there are games to be had. Might want to head on over somewhere else. We hear Event Square has a ton of live entertainment for you to check out. Some people are even saying that there's a cactus like creature performing Jazz tonight! Now that's something you've never seen before!

Round Square: How did you end up in this luxurious tram? It's truly fantastic. Wheeling around the entirety of Wonderland as night falls, you're swept away with the romance of it all. Look at those stars! Look at that moon! You gaze fondly at the person sharing this ride with you, and—

Wait, who's that? How did they get in here? For that matter, how did you get in here? You don't remember getting on this ride. But here you are, with a fellow Reclaimer and, if you're particularly (un)lucky, a native elf, too. In the latter case, it might be a good time to ask them some questions. In the former case . . . snuggle? We're not your boss or mom.

Speed Square: Upon entering the speed square for the first time, another Roland will ask if you got your Roland Racing Registration! Then you'll have a stamp card shoved in your hands. Going on each roller coaster gives you one stamp on your card, which you can then hand in to a friendly Roland for a beary special reward.

Ghost Square: While the Ghost Square has many options to take some years off your life — from haunted houses to fortune tellers to wandering workers done up in bedsheets — the main attraction here is the Hall of Mirrors. It boasts of the "longest mirror maze in Faerun!*". Inside, all the mirrors are kept polished to perfection via magic, varying between normal reflections and wavy funhouse style, but some of the mirrors might reflect something... weird. Either a friend from your home world, or a version of you from your past, or even a reflection of the person's soul. It's a fun ghost story everyone shares.

*: The poster has the tiniest print of 'that we know of'. Whoever runs Wonderland has a good lawyer.

Reeducation Ride™: Not everyone's the funloving sort we want here in Wonderland, but there are ways to deal with that. For anyone who cheats, is rude to carnival workers, or is a persistent curmudgeon, party pooper, or fun sponge, it's time for the Reeducation Ride™. On this disciplinary ride, you are strapped into a cart that wheels in a wide circle for three hours, during which you are hugged and complimented by a slew of Roland Replicas™. Begone, sour face! Elevate, low self-esteem! Be snuggled! Be huggled! Be happy.

Everyone gets in on the fun here in Wonderland. No matter how reticent one might normally be to do so, something about this place just puts pep in everyone's step. Nine times out of ten you might be the kind of person who finds rides, games, and having fun to be childish or beneath you, but guess what? Here in Wonderland, you're at least a little into it.

So are the few non-natives you see. Angus is here, trying to figure out the rules of all these arcade games. Matthew is here, getting lost in Ghost Square and wandering the food court. A couple of other faces, too. Anything in the dossier is fair game for your use.

But keep in mind, Reclaimers: those madness effects? They're still very much in effect. You're still in Cormanthor forest, after all. The longer you stay, the more you play, the worse it gets. Little by little, hour by hour, day by day.

Have fun, kids. Be yourselves. Don't do anything Lucretia wouldn't do.



Back to top




4. OOC

In order to keep to our goal of providing the most personalized Wonderland experience for all of you, we're setting a limit of 3 RNG attempts per character this log. Additionally, please be aware that while more mundane rolls will have standard-level DCs (for this log, anyway), any RNG with the potential to uncover plot information is high-risk high-reward and will have a very high DC along with steep penalties for failure. As always, we will let you know of this before we roll, and you have the option to decline any roll at any time.

Other than that, this is your story to write and your setting to play with! Anything on the OOC post is fair game, and if there's something you'd like to try, please don't hesitate to let us know on the RNG thread.

Back to top





blurb code by photosynthesis
gotyourbach: (005)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-07 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
A.
[Investigation is extremely important, it's true. Kaede has been poking around where she can, but spotting a certain toy piano as a prize attracted her attention immediately. Well, how could she resist trying to play for it? And nagging some of her friends to lend her Bux in an attempt to get to that prize?

And now it's hers! She's very contentedly testing it out, sitting on the ground and playing a few childish songs on the toy-sized piano, whatever she can fit with its limited range. A little tinny voice congratulates another well-played song with an enthusiastic,]
GOOD JOB, MAESTRO!. [There's a pause as Kaede stretches her fingers, then-- pop! Magically where the piano stood is now a keytar.

Or, perhaps you've come across her later, sour-faced and trying to play said keytar like a keyboard when with another congratulation and a pop! an electric keyboard stands in its place. Or the upright piano. Or the grand piano.

(One person per stage of the piano, please!)]
B.
No, you can't come in the hotel! There's no room!

[Outside a slightly-above average hotel, Kaede appears to be arguing with... a grand piano. It looks like it's breaking her heart to do it, her hand clutched to her chest as she all but pleads with the instrument.]

Look, there's an overhang, the weather is going to be fine, so just... stay here, okay?

[She takes a step back, toward the hotel door, and the piano wheels itself forward to follow her.]

Aaaaaaagh, jeez!!
C.
[At some point while hanging out with Kaede, either eating, chatting, investigating, or playing games, her eyes widen with a guilty start, then she checks her bracer.]

Oh... sorry! I have to head to work! We'll hang out later, okay?

[It doesn't matter how important what they were doing was, she has to go, and the urgency in her voice suggests that no matter what, she has to leave now.

Since when does a Reclaimer have a job working at the carnival? Pressing her for more details will result in a roll from me on the short-term madness table!]
D. wildcard!
[Want to do something else with Kaede? As long as it doesn't interfere with her job (8:45pm-midnight), feel free to use this prompt here! She'll be investigating Wonderland, trying the snacks, sneaking comfy naps on the tram, and playing her portable piano prize in different places around the park. Feel free to hit me up on plurk with any other ideas @ [plurk.com profile] jaderhade!]
Edited 2019-09-07 18:56 (UTC)
ribticklers: (025)

C

[personal profile] ribticklers 2019-09-07 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sans wasn't talking about anything particularly important--that's often the case with Sans--but Kaede saying she has a job is definitely enough to get him to focus.]

You got a side gig? [Since being a reclaimer is kind of a job already.]
Edited (I used Sans three times in one sentence and it bothered me) 2019-09-07 19:22 (UTC)
gotyourbach: (027)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-08 09:57 am (UTC)(link)
Huh?

[It takes her a second to understand what he means by "side gig" because she doesn't really think of being a Reclaimer as a job. Like, they're not paid, and it doesn't always involve piano.

But after a second, she brightens and nods, though she doesn't stop gathering her things -- trash from snacks she was eating, mostly -- and moving to throw them away. Also something I definitely didn't forget and was definitely there in the toplevel, her piano rolls itself to follow the few steps she takes.]


Oh, yeah. Arisato-kun and I both work at the casino. Our boss is pretty strict, but it pays well. I'm hoping I can make friends with some of the patrons there to get more clues!

[There's a beat, and her brow furrows. Has she done that already...? She can't really remember...]
ribticklers: (019)

[personal profile] ribticklers 2019-09-08 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sans won't stop Kaede from heading to work, but he will walk with her, once she gets to that point. As for the piano, it's not that weird to Sans--seems like something that would fit in back home, so actually it's kind of a nice pet piano. He gives it a light pat as it passes by to follow Kaede.]

Just started, huh? You guys old enough to work in a casino?

[Sans would probably be more concerned about some reclaimers just getting a job out of nowhere like this under other, less mind-warping circumstances. As it is, there's just some seed of unease that has yet to sprout but is big enough to bother him. Like a rock in his shoe, or something.]

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-09 23:36 (UTC) - Expand
noblegarnet: (f: x to doubt)

A

[personal profile] noblegarnet 2019-09-07 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ferran is attempting to do some investigating of his own, writing something down in a notebook, when he comes across Kaede and her keyboard, which is... business as usual, he guesses. Where she might have gotten it doesn't seem important, but then—

Then it turns into a proper piano, and he just finds himself annoyed.]


Has anyone told you you're predictable?

[He's in a bad mood, and has been since the first day they got to the park, for pretty obvious reasons. His hood is over his head, obscuring his face from afar but not keeping anyone nearby from seeing it—particularly the new scars on the left side.]
gotyourbach: (008)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-09 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kaede, on the other hand, seems delighted at first. The keyboard had already been a significant step up from the -- ugh -- keytar, and now this is a real, honest-to-God upright piano! She giggles and claps her hands, tickling a quick octave from the keys before hearing Ferran's voice.]

Oh! Ferran-kun! I didn't know you were there... Isn't this cool?

[He might be in a bad mood, but Kaede herself is absolutely ecstatic. Even the sight of his scars can't really bring her down much, though she does frown with just a little concern.]

Hey... are you okay?
noblegarnet: (f: slightly less mad.)

i'm so sorry for him

[personal profile] noblegarnet 2019-09-10 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
[What Kaede gets from Ferran is... an actual scowl. She probably hasn't seen that from him... ever? He's certainly had a serious look about him before, but there's a certain bitterness behind his expression now.]

Of course not. None of us are okay—and we won't be until we find what's messing with our heads and keeping up this carnival.

[The relic. The Aurelian Compact, whatever that does. Funny how Lucretia never talked about details. He gestures at her magic musical companion with a hand that's also been recently injured.]

Is there a reason you're playing with a piano toy right now?

i love him

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 17:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-09-10 18:35 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-11 04:36 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-09-11 04:54 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-13 14:53 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-09-13 23:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-25 06:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-09-26 22:54 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-27 16:23 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-09-28 07:25 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-10-01 05:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-10-01 07:28 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-10-10 18:46 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-10-12 03:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-10-13 11:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] noblegarnet - 2019-10-13 18:41 (UTC) - Expand
reloves: (♥ hold on tightly to these feelings)

B

[personal profile] reloves 2019-09-07 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Listen, has Minako been feeling all weird for a while now? Sure. Even she's kind of aware that everything feels super off and weird today. But it's now that she's seeing a girl argue with a piano that she's slowly starting to question if maybe her personal problem is worse than she thought to be hallucinating this.

She pinches herself with a slightly jittery hand, but no, the girl is still there. With the piano. Is this real life? ]


I..

[ She starts the question, but somehow seems to lose her wording after only one word in, and then raises her voice so Kaede can hear. ]

Are you.. okay? [ What else can one ask in this situation. ]
gotyourbach: (003)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-09 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[Minako is the only valid person in this whole park.]

...Oh!

[Kaede at least has the decency to look embarrassed to be caught arguing with what is, in almost every normal situation, a completely inanimate object. She clasps her hands behind her back, eyes drifting up toward the sky as if searching for an answer that doesn't make her seem crazy.

She doesn't find one and has to regretfully look back to her fellow Reclaimer.]


Ummm... yes. I won this piano, and it follows me around! Which is super convenient, because pushing a piano would be pretty hard normally. But now it's trying to follow me into the hotel, and it's too big to fit through the doors...

[If she'd had even the smallest bit of self-control, she would have left it in its keyboard shape. But she'd been too excited to play it, and wound up transforming it into its current predicament-causing shape.]
reloves: (♥ wink at your sweetheart)

[personal profile] reloves 2019-09-10 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Normally that answer would definitely indicate that the person Minako was talking to is crazy.

In this place though.. she's not as sure? A lot of weird things have been happening in really quick succession, so this doesn't stand as much as it usually would have. Although it's still a little weird. (More than a little weird, that little paranoid voice that has kept Minako jittery all day already speaks up in the back of her head.) ]


So the piano.. moves. [ Look, she's just trying to confirm the facts here. The weird, weird facts. ] .. By itself. And listens to you.

Like a pet.

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-11 03:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] reloves - 2019-09-11 20:49 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-13 14:58 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] reloves - 2019-09-14 13:43 (UTC) - Expand
korekara: (Has the leaning tower of Pisa)

B

[personal profile] korekara 2019-09-07 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... She just came over to see if Kaede was amenable to BARD SLEEPOVER... 2! and this is probably both the most unexpected and yet least surprising thing she could've encountered. Like, if any of the Reclaimers was going to end up being stalked by a piano, it would absolutely, definitely be Kaede. ]

Um... do you need a hand or something?

[ please introduce her to your new piano pal?? ]
gotyourbach: (025)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-09 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Honoka-san!

[Kaede grabs Honoka's hand and drags her in closer to present the piano to her, pointing with her free one.]

How do you think we can get a piano inside? It's trying to follow me in, and I'm afraid it'll get broken trying to go through the door...

[That would be so heartbreaking. Surely Honoka would understand?]
korekara: (gbfhonk006)

[personal profile] korekara 2019-09-13 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a real piano?!

[ She was half-expecting Kaede to tell her it was some sort of wack Faerun nonsense that just so happened to coincidentally resemble a real piano, but no. It's a real, actual, not-a-joke piano. You stay weird, Faerun. ]

Uh– well, could we make it go in sideways? I mean, like, longways, you know! You think it could fit through that way?
napstar: (cute try)

B

[personal profile] napstar 2019-09-08 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a small upturn of his lips as he watches her argue with the piano. Of course it would want to follow her everywhere. She has so much love for pianos that he imagines that every piano capable of it would choose to do so. ]

It loves you as much as you love it.
gotyourbach: (005)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-09 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
...Oh! Maybe.

[That's such a sweet thought... it makes her blush, her hands pressing to her cheeks as she smiles back at him.

Then she realizes,]


...Aaaah, but that just makes me feel worse about leaving it outside! What are we going to do, Arisato-kun?
napstar: (i don't know shit about art)

[personal profile] napstar 2019-09-10 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Sleep outside with it? No, they've already paid for the room. Hm. ]

Turn it in its side?

[ Maybe get a cart or something to wheel it on. ]

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 17:21 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] napstar - 2019-09-10 20:38 (UTC) - Expand
bu773rfly: (23)

C wink wonk

[personal profile] bu773rfly 2019-09-09 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Wait. What? Kaedeeeeee you have to mention things like this before going all in on helping someone win one of the world's best stuffed animals -

- wait, a job?

Erika pouts first in surprise and then in confusion, taking her hands off the claw machine's controls and fixing Kaede with one of her slow, piercing stares.]


We are working, [she says, also slowly, as though having to think it through to confirm it for herself. Her butterflies rustle without flying - they've become less and less airborne each day here - and her memories turn over, chasing relevant data through latency. This is a mission. They are working. Kaede is trying to leave without Erika having gotten what she needs. That's unfair because she needs to win to understand and to do her job - fzzzzzzt etc.]
gotyourbach: (027)

;)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-09 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Aaah, Erika-san, the timer is gonna run out...

[Metaphorically and literally. Metaphorically, Kaede's timer sure is going to run out if she doesn't start heading to work, but also the claw machine's? It's very, very important that Erika get :clap: that :clap: prize!

Either way, Kaede just shakes her head, lips pursing into an apologetic half-smile.]


No, I mean another job. Arisato-kun and I got work as musicians at the casino! Oh, if you want to come see the show, you definitely should! We perform every night.

[She's edging away as best she can without looking like she's trying to edge away. This attempt is made much more transparent by the grand piano dutifully following along behind her that I definitely didn't forget about.]
Edited 2019-09-09 23:40 (UTC)
bu773rfly: (43)

[personal profile] bu773rfly 2019-09-10 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
[The machine times out with a jaunty buzz. Lucidity creeps back in.]

Did you tell anyone? [Blip. Did you tell me? Did I forget? Erika's frown deepens, sets into pride-concern-concentration, adrift in a sea of eerie calm. She reaches for Kaede's arm. Presumably she wants to push her sleeve back. She's been drawing on people, and sparing none but those who flee.]

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 02:08 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bu773rfly - 2019-09-10 03:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 23:26 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] bu773rfly - 2019-09-11 03:48 (UTC) - Expand
slieght: (You're gonna judge me.)

C

[personal profile] slieght 2019-09-09 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
[It's not that they were doing anything important that causes him to try and stop her, it's that he's a petulant child. They were just playing games after all, no big deal really, but he still tries to latch onto her arm with a loud whine.]

But Akamatsu-chaaaaaaaan, I can't plan these games alone! They're two player games!!

[He wants to hang out now!!]

Why do you even have a job, aren't we already working for the boss lady on the moon? Why would you ever want a second one?

[He's also slightly concerned about the job thing. Maybe. Because seriously, Kaede, why are you suddenly working here?]
gotyourbach: (027)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-09 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sorry... I'm sure Saihara-kun will play with you if you ask!

[She doesn't shake him off, but she doesn't stop trying to walk, either. She's going to work! You can follow too if you want.]

Arisato-kun and I got it! So we can try investigating the casino. All we have to do is play music for three hours... everyone is really nice. Even Maria-san. She looks scary, but she's not bad to work for. Oh, but if we don't show up, we'll get fired, so I really have to go...
slieght: my bikini area myself. Long story short, I'll be drunk when you get home. (I decided I was tough enough to wax)

[personal profile] slieght 2019-09-09 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Saihara-chan would never, ever play with me in a million years. He hates me, Akamatsu-chan!

[He tugs more insistently on her arm but his strength is in his legs, not his upper body, so it probably doesn't do much.]

And it's probably not even safe to work at a casino, y'know? Especially in this park!

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-09 23:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-09 23:48 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 00:19 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-10 00:22 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 00:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-10 00:35 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 00:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-10 01:08 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 01:53 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-10 01:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-10 02:22 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-10 02:27 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-11 05:07 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] slieght - 2019-09-11 05:12 (UTC) - Expand
shootstyles: (just a thoughtful bean)

C.

[personal profile] shootstyles 2019-09-10 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
...Kaede-San.

You work here now...?

[If he's trying to hide his concern, he's not doing a good job of it at all.]
gotyourbach: (024)

[personal profile] gotyourbach 2019-09-11 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Mmhm!

[Kaede, on the other hand, doesn't look concerned at all. She clasps her hands behind her back and turns on her heel to start her usual walk toward the casino, though Deku is welcome to follow along with her if he wants! She kind of expects him to, honestly.]

Arisato-kun and I are part of a music show! You know, trying to use our bard skills to make friends and get information. Maria-san, that's our boss, she's really nice... it's not like it's Roland or something.
shootstyles: (:o)

[personal profile] shootstyles 2019-09-11 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
[He follows because he's a Good Boy. But also a curious chaotic boy.]

Maria-san?

Is she the manager of this entire place?

(no subject)

[personal profile] gotyourbach - 2019-09-12 16:12 (UTC) - Expand