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[umbralant]

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Good morning.

Or perhaps it might be more appropriate to say good evening instead, considering how it is moonlight that will rouse you into consciousness. And what a bright moon it is, half-full and clear without contest in the sky as it outshines the stars and galaxies in the backdrop. But it’s all the better to emphasize that the buildings that speckle the landscape before you are all completely devoid of any light. And by the way—do you always sleep outside?

The lack of light can be something to deal with later though, at least when you've properly gotten up from the cold, unyielding stone below you. And that chill down your spine—no doubt that probably has something to do with combination of cool temperatures and poor sleeping conditions, but it’s odd how it seems to linger.

Checking your person for any items that should be in your possession yields disappointing results, but it seems you're not empty handed (or pocketed) because you are now the proud owner of one (1) small bundle of black cloth. Unwrapping it reveals a key imprinted with a roman numeral, along with a simple note.

“Come at 6PM to the place circled on this map:”

“Don’t be tardy, dear Survivors, that’d be a bad first impression. If you don’t want your stay here to be more unpleasant than it’ll already be, you’ll want to avoid seeming careless or disrespectful. You’ll want to listen to my opening speech~!”

Finally, after an empty space that may be simulating an intense pause, there’s one last line:

“I know what you’re thinking, so I’ll say it straight: if you don’t come, you’re as good as dead.”

The news likely isn't welcome, but it's a start. And it seems you're not alone in your plight, though whether company is within arm's length or a stone’s throw away is up to fortune’s whims. For now, you're free to explore the town square and the surrounding areas as best you can in the dim light.

For some reason or another, Krakow, Poland is now your new home. That much is clear from the sign posts that you can inexplicably read, as red and white flag posts with "Święto Niepodległości" flutter lightly in the wind. While the storefronts are dark, the street lamps that scatter the town provide some measure of light, providing some solace against the layer of fog that's begun to creep in.

( OOC: Welcome to Antumbra! This intro log occurs ICly Sunday. Your MM's will be around at 6pm EST to hear your complaints. )

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[inordertobelieve]

a.) waking up (to ash and dust)

[ Waking up in Poland is a big shock, that's for sure. But to Mikami, the worse shock is that there are people around him. His world has already been turned completely upside down in the last few days and he's getting better and better at handling what life throws at him. Handling, in this case, means suppressing any kind of thought about his situation until he's on his own. Where he will then fight a break-down. It's fine.

So, he's in Poland. That's fine, he'll deal with it later.

More imminent is the state of his clothing. He's wearing some grey-green ensemble that may look a little like very uncomfortable pajamas to the untrained eye - but to those in the know, it's unmistakably a Japanese prison uniform.

And the people around him are strangers.

If there is one thing Mikami does not want to be associated with, it's this. After he gets his bearings just a little, he very quickly vanishes into the side streets and then tries to make his way to the assigned room without being seen. That doesn't mean he'll succeed, though... ]

b.) make us holy - clergy housing

[ It takes Mikami two hours to emerge from his room again. These two hours were filled with a lot of internal struggle and information sorting and generally questioning his perception of reality, but basically, don't worry about it. He's back out now! Hurray!

He's also looking very much like a priest.

The irony of this clothes change is certainly not lost on Mikami but he does not find it particularly funny. As far as improvements from prison clothes go, this is only a minor step upwards. He'll take it, but he won't be happy about it.

If you're still around the clergy housing hallways or in front of the door somewhere, he'll stop you. ]

Do you mind clarifying just what is going on here?

c.) to each their vice - bookstore

[ After a cursory sweep of the city that tells Mikami nothing other than that Europe is weird, he finds himself in the bookstore. Books are, by far, the most comforting thing in the whole town. He doesn't even want to read, it's just their presence that calms him down, and boy, he needs to calm down.

Which makes cooking coffee a little counter-intuitive, but he hasn't had a coffee in nearly a week and he's dying for one.

Come find this involuntary priest cosplayer downing black coffee with shaky hands, I guess. ]

C

[wishuponazoi]

[Well. None of Kathleen's family ever drank coffee, and neither did Miss Smith. So the smell is definitely new to Sirius, and he approaches with a fascinated look in his eyes.]

What is that smell?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Tall. Holy shit, why is this person so tall... Mikami looks visibly startled by the giant appearance. ]

Can I help you...?

[wishuponazoi]

I'm simply curious as to what that delicious smell is. Is that the drink you're holding?

b

[raventhaw]

[ raven, on the other hand, is not looking like a priest at all. quite frankly she thinks their new outfits are ridiculous and not meant for mobility, so she's sticking to her regular outfit, thanks.

she's on her way out of the housing hallways when she's stopped. ]

And what makes you so sure that I know what's going on, exactly?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Of course the first person he'd run into would already insist upon being difficult. Mikami's goodwill is at floor level and it's ready to start sinking. ]

One would assume you know something, given you're conscious. Anything would be helpful right now.

[raventhaw]

We've been kidnapped. Our captor wants to meet us at 6pm at the Opera House with the threat that we'll be "good as dead" if we don't show up.

[ a beat. ]

Happy?

B

[reanbeans]

...Sorry, but I really don't know.

[ Seeing as Rean was still in his instructor uniform here.

Though, given that the other seemed just as disoriented as himself and some others... ]

There was this note I found in my pocket, though. Did you happen to find something like that too?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mikami nods, with a grave expression. ]

I did. If you're not a local, then it appears we really are looking at a large scale mass kidnapping. Why they'd leave us in an open area is beyond me though.

[ He has yet to experience that they physically can't leave town... ]

[reanbeans]

No, I'm not.

[ That's particularly worrisome... ]

Maybe they're just that overconfident? Or, they have something waiting for us if we try to leave this place.

[ Which isn't wasn't a comforting thought, but it was the only thing he could think of that made sense. ]

Bookstore

[noellemadic]

[The smell of coffee in such a strange situation stands out like a sore thumb. Noelle had entered the bookstore, looking for any clues about her current situation, when she smells it. For a moment she stands there, breathing deeply. So long since the last time she could enjoy something as simple as a cup of coffee...

Well she isn't really that fond of coffee, but the sentiment is what matters]

...this almost makes it feel like we're not in a strange, dangerous situation right now...

[She mutters to the person she thinks may have made the coffee. Hi Mikami. But yeah, having coffee available is almost a relief]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mikami gives her a look full of scrutiny. Nobody here is trustworthy, not until they know what is going on. But this looks to be just a teenage girl and he supposes that makes her rank lower on the suspect list. ]

That's why I made it. It helps me focus.

[ He's really clinging to that cup in his hands like it's a lifeline. ]

Panicking won't do us any good after all.

[noellemadic]

It's weird...It's a little hard to panic when you have an entire city at your disposition...

[Because if anything it gives the illusion you can move and actually try to do something about it. She can't imagine the panic they'd all suffer if they were locked in some underground complex or something]

A, that will probably slip into B.

[twoasone]

[It's funny how prison uniforms vary from country to country. In America, they either wear orange or black and white stripes depending on the prison. The cut, though... That's as unmistakable as the man's behavior.

Shin follows the man as soon as he rushes off, staying a few paces behind and letting the fog conceal him... Although it makes it harder to track the man down, he is used to working in dark rooms with a single light source.

The question is, does the man notice his presence?]

[inordertobelieve]

[ It takes Mikami a good while to notice Shin. Panic has always been the greatest enemy to Mikami's attentiveness and smarts - and he's panicking right now, that's for sure.

It's only because he keeps looking around himself to reassure himself that he's alone that he gets the feeling that he's not.

A short bit from the clergy home, he stops. ]

Who's there?

[ If anyone. ]

[twoasone]

[How inattentive... He should be silent, but he thinks he can fool this man.]

Hm? Another one? [He feigns concern as he steps closer.] How many of us have been trapped here?

clergy housing

[puperoni]

[ Pizza visibly brightens when he's stopped, all smiles. ]

O.K! We're in a placed called Krakow, Poland! [ That's helpful, right? ]

[inordertobelieve]

[ It.... sort of is? It's certainly more helpful than people who are uncooperative. Mikami will take it. What an unnerving chipperness though... ]

Are you from around here?

1/2

[puperoni]

[ He is here to brighten everyone's day! ]

Yeah! I come here now and then for festivals with Cheese and Cassata.

[puperoni]

[ A beat and then- ]

Just kidding! I have no idea where Krakow is, but it doesn't look like any other place I've been in the Light Kingdom. And it's really dark here too like that one Haunted House... I've heard Sakurajima is a scary place so maybe we're there?

b

[ortion]

[Mikami has stopped Dist in this instance, a terribly-dressed individual that looks completely unimpressed by the question. It takes all of his willpower to not roll his eyes. But he can't avoid a look of "Seriously?" He's pretty sure he saw this guy when he woke up with the others...]

Please tell me that you have at least discovered the letter in your pocket.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mikami wants to judge that outfit so badly, but he's in priest robes and that's cramping his judgmental style. ]

Naturally. We've been kidnapped and we are left to roam free for six hours before our captor decides to speak to us. Pardon me for not finding that a very satisfying explanation.

[ortion]

Oh, you're absolutely correct that it isn't. I was simply finding a base to start with. I do so detest wasting my breath on what others already know.

[You feel him, Mikami? Anyway, he'll go ahead and actually give some more information.]

From what I have gathered, the entire town's power supply is, annoyingly, out of operation. Thankfully there is a conspicuously convenient candle shop in the town square with which to provide ourselves a meager amount of light, but it is far from ideal. Further conspicuous is the lack of a real population aside from ourselves. It is almost as if we have been dumped in a ghost town.

B

[youspinmeknightround]

[He's just making it to the door now, actually. Have a teenager in a cape to make yourself feel better about your priest outfit!

Although, Suzaku is already eyeing him with doubt because of said priest outfit. He shakes his head.]

I thought finding out what this key goes to would provide some answers.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Did they kidnap this guy straight from a cosplay convention.....? The doubt is so so mutual. ]

If it's anything like my key, it will disappoint. They're barebones living quarters, nothing else.