( MINGLE - WEEK 2 )

[abhoth]

SURVIVORS: 40 The sun is shining, the air conditioner units hum as they always do, and a gentle morning breeze blows against the windows. The scent of pine cones and evergreen follow you wherever you go in the motel, save for the parking lot and outdoor pool. It seems like someone was very generous with the detergent while moping the floors. The two grandfather clocks (one on each floor) will ring with each passing hour, indicating the time of day without fail. With this knowledge — they'll note the motel will continue to be surrounded by fog until 8:00 AM on the dot. It is at that hour that the fog will begin to recede. Not enough to reveal the whole city, but enough to allow residents to explore some of the buildings surrounding the motel. And speaking of the motel, it seems like the Storage room has unlocked itself overnight. How quaint. Welcome to Week 2's mingle, everyone! As of this week, we are now accepting murder proposals. If you're interested in having your character murder someone this week, please send in your proposal before Tuesday, 9:00 PM EST. We'll be contacting you on plurk over the week to finalize the details, or ask for rescheduling if necessary. As always, feel free to PM us or send us a PP over plurk if you have any questions! ( quick navigation ) ic rulebook | locations | statuses | room assignments private conversations | ic profiles | graveyard | full navigation

Comments

[vitamin_a]

[Don't worry, Kaito, Apollo isn't going to try to knock you out with the mannequin torso. He hasn't lost his marbles, thankfully, hahaha]

Really? What's wrong with that...I see now. It's for children. [It'd make sense for a version for children to not have the worst details] Omega seems to know a lot about Lovecraft and his work, she's the one who told me Innsmouth is from one of his stories. You should talk to her if you want more details.

[Apollo nudges the mannequin torso]

Do you want to give this a try? My arms are tired, I have been doing this for a while.

[nowyouseeit]

[yet, anyway]

[he holds the book up, pops it open, and flips to a random page. it has pictures on it, but no actual explanations. no wonder it's the Necronomicon for Kids]

Dave knows a lot, too. But I thought asking for this world's version of the grimmoire would be helpful. So much for that plan.

[a sigh, and he snaps the book shut]

And-- sure, why not? Who'd pass up the chance to break stuff for no reason whatsoever?

[vitamin_a]

Those are some creepy images...I thought yokai were bad enough but those pictures are in an entirely different category.

[Why couldn't this town's eldritch undertones be fake too]

Go ahead. I'll be surprised if you do manage to break that window, though.

[nowyouseeit]

Welcome to Lovecraft! Craftly hates it when you make references to the guy, by the way.

[his head twitches, gaze flicking to the left, like he's reacting to some sort of invisible stimuli. he shakes his head and addresses Apollo again]

How long have you been trying?

[hands Apollo the Necronomicon as he goes to pick up a mannequin torso]

[vitamin_a]

[Apollo browses through the tome, telling himself to never mention that author. Better not to piss off the guy in charge of the motel. Don't mess with kidnappers for no reason, that's common sense]

Half an hour. I had to keep myself busy, and doing that is good enough. Besides I still want to get in there, it makes sense that room would have answers as to what happened to this town.

[nowyouseeit]

[as Kaito said, it's mostly useless. it's really more of a picture book than an actual tome]

I'd suggest you try picking the locks instead, but. ..

[THAT WAS A PRETTY FRUITLESS ENDEAVOR ON KAITO'S PART. he shrugs, picks up the mannequin torso, and immediately throws it at the glass as hard as he can]

[which isn't that hard, because he's a rogue-class thief. his focus is dexterity, not strength]

[vitamin_a]

[Yeah, but there's something strangely enticing about the pictures, like watching a trainwreck in slow motion. Besides maybe it'll help to know what these things look like once these creatures start springing out from under the bed or something]

I tried already, with Akira. It's harder than I thought it'd be, how do people manage to pick the locks?

[Trucy made it look so easy]

[nowyouseeit]

[SOUNDS ABOUT PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR LOVECRAFT, REALLY]

S'actually pretty easy when there isn't some kind of weird force preventing you from poking at the tumblers inside of 'em.

[sighs when the mannequin torso bounces off the window harmlessly. he moves to pick it up again]

I could teach you, if ya want. But I'd have to get a lock I can actually pick.

[vitamin_a]

[Sheesh, Kaito, smash that window already, where's your youthful vigor]

I'd like that. It's not like Craftly would have any reason not to give us a padlock.

[Say, now that he thinks about asking Craftly for stuff...]

Did you manage to find that deck of cards you were looking for?

[nowyouseeit]

[apparently his youthful vigor is outmatched by a window]

Yep.

[THROWS THE MANNEQUIN AGAIN, and as last time, nothing happens]

Is that you asking me for a quick show?

[vitamin_a]

You are the one who's itching to brag about your skills.

[You know what, maybe what this needs is two objects crashing against the window at once. There must be a sizable rock around here...]

I'm expecting nothing short of impressive, Kaito. Do your best!

[nowyouseeit]

[maybe, but Kaito's attention is no longer on the window. in fact, he turns away from it, spreading his arm wide in a flourish. he's suddenly arcing a deck of cards between his hands, and wow, when did he get those? was he holding them all along]

And nothing short of impressive you'll get! ♥

[he begins to shuffle, hands moving almost imperceptibly fast as he flicks the pieces of paper between his fingers. the shuffling is pretty damn skilled too, if Apollo can tell. each time he cuts the deck, he gives the cards a flip in his hand before he stacks them all back together again]

[when finished, he holds the deck out to Apollo, head bowed, like he's some kind of butler offering a platter of food to a noble]

Pick one.

[vitamin_a]

[Huh, not bad. At least it's immediately obvious Kaito has lots of practice. Those are some nimble fingers]

Let's see...

[Here's a card. Five of clubs, okay]

Do I put it back in?

[nowyouseeit]

[once Apollo grabs a card, Kaito cuts the deck again and nods]

Yep. Riiiight in the center. Watch it carefully to make sure it gets shuffled back in with its brethren, too.

[vitamin_a]

[There's actually a nice feeling of anticipation to what may happen. There goes the card, right in the middle]

[nowyouseeit]

[stacks the other half of the deck riiiight on top of the chosen card, shuffling it into the rest of the pile seamlessly. he even hands the entire deck to Apollo afterwards]

All right then. Give it a good shuffle of your own, just so you can make sure I'm not bein' sneaky. 'M sure your eyes have been watching my hands this entire time, heh.

[vitamin_a]

Of course I did.

[Apollo shuffles the cards, slower than Kaito did but he's rather sure he did well enough. All the cards seem normal to him, there doesn't seem to be anything strange]

Here you go!

[nowyouseeit]

[they are normal! no trick decks here. and when Kaito receives the deck back in return, he closes his eyes and lays his palm on top of it]

[ooooohm]

I sense. . . [hmmm]

I sense. . . the five of clubs.

In your pocket.

[BETTER CHECK YOUR POCKETS APOLLO]

[because the five of clubs is in one of them]

[vitamin_a]

Wait what?

[You have to be kidding him. In his pocket? There's no way it's--oh my god there's something in his pocket, his fingers just stumbled into something. He doesn't even have to take it out to know it's his card. There's no way it's anything else but his card]

How did you -- I know, a magician doesn't reveal his secrets no matter what.

[Unless it's related to a murder]

[nowyouseeit]

[his only response is to grin, sweep an arm in front of himself, and take a pleased bow]

[how's that for impressive!1]

[vitamin_a]

[It was hella impressive, yep]

Are you sure you don't want to do shows with other magicians? I know someone who'd like to meet you once she hears about what you can do. Even if you're in another world she'd definitely try to reach you somehow.

[nowyouseeit]

[holds out his hand to retrieve Apollo's card]

That depends. Is she very good at what she does?

[vitamin_a]

[Here, take the card]

Trucy is amazing! She has been training herself as a magician and doing shows since she was eight years old. Recently her fame has increased considerably, and I'm sure soon she'll be recognized internationally just like her father and grandfather's troupe was!

[Apollo is genuinely thrilled to sing praises to Trucy]

[nowyouseeit]

[he takes it, and sticks it back into the deck. for real this time]

Really?

[he perks up, immediately interested in this Trucy girl]

Heh, she sounds impressive! I'd sure like to meet her myself, if I'm gonna be honest.

Maybe we could perform together. . .