WEEK 2

[umbralant]

WEEK 2

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The first week is over, and two of your number are gone. Everything related to the case has been cleaned up, with nary a knife left at the Main Square nor a trace of the mud shapes that once painted the clock tower walls, although some stray graffiti still dots some storefronts.

However you may feel about the entire debacle on Friday, there’s no doubt that something has changed about the atmosphere, although whether it’s something tangible or just a trick of the mind is hard to say. Maybe it’s nothing. Either way, there are more palpable changes to the city, with some of the fog retreating away from a few of the surrounding areas, uncovering new buildings and streets along the way. The night, however, remains unchanged as always save for the slow waxing of the moon, leaving it bright and full as early as Thursday night. Regardless of if you take it as an omen or not, at least that means the streets will be lit up fairly well for the week, provided some inconvenient cloud cover doesn’t slide right in.

[[Welcome to Week 2! Note that new areas have been added, and can be found under the Week 2 tab on our Locations page. Once again, feel free to make top levels at your discretion, and remember to note it in your header if you plan on investigating any locations. You can also privately contact The Lady or Rembrandt.]]

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[bawcock]

[ Predictably, as soon as Alfyn leaves Erik turns back to the chute.

Predictably, he goes back in. ] ... Sorry about this, but I need to get back in there.

[umbralant]

[Welcome back to the chute, Erik. The creature hasn't moved at all, it's still nested into the chute, although now it's alert. As soon as it sees Erik again, it gets ready, prepared to strike once again. Even though only its blue eyes can be seen clearly, what little can be seen in the darkness indicates it will bite again, if given the chance.

Better keep yourself away from those fangs this time, Erik!]

[bawcock]

There you are! [ No worries, he's not all that eager to get bitten again. Once was enough, thanks. The only reason he's here now is because he's not sure if he was poisoned.

If he was, then the best thing to do is find out what kind of poison it was. So.

Yeah.

He holds his hand out. There's a flash of light and then, a blade appears in his palm. Don't mind him as he tries to stab ol' blue-eyes with it! ]

[umbralant]

[The creature doesn't move at all when the blade appeared -- it was going to defend the mail vent it hanged out in, and that was that! Before it could make a move, the blade stabbed it. It hissed in response, backing off to be out of the blade's reach. It's too dark inside the chute to notice if there's anything like blood or similar, the eyes are hidden when the creature covers it with one of its arms, like it feared it'd get an attack right there.

Looks like you're not driving this thing out that easily, Erik! It's not attacking right now due to the blade in your palm right now, but it's matter of time before it happens!]

[dominioned]

[ While a hissy not-quite snake and Erik are having a standoff, a new challenger enters the scene. The sound of hurried footsteps may not be heard, but the gloved hand that reaches to pull Erik out of the chute with a vice grip will be noticed either way. ]

What exactly do you think you're doing?

[bawcock]

[ He's right about to go for another stab when he feels a hand on his ankle.

Damn, he's out of time—

Except, no, that's not quite it. Once he's out of the chute, he looks up and expects to see Alfyn again. When he sees Rembrandt, he's kind of... floored. ] Wait, you?

[ No, no, that's not the important thing here. Neither is Rembrandt's question, 'cause he gets up to his feet and clenches his fists. ] What are you doing? I thought you guys were content to sit back and watch us, so what happened?

[dominioned]

We are. Up and until you decide to intrude on our territory. Nor would it do us any good if you decided to forfeit your life on your own. [ There's a couple of things flying here, but by the sounds of it they're all equally important. He glares at Erik, unmoving until he catches sight of that arm, however tucked away out of sight it is. For a moment there's a flash of red in his eyes that's way too bright to be a trick of light. ]

..you contacted it, didn't you.

[bawcock]

[ Their territory, huh? He's not sure why this place specifically qualifies as that, but ok. At the comment about forfeiting his life, he crosses his arms. ]

That's not exactly what was going on. [ Or if it was, he had no idea. From the looks of it, that thing was recoiling from him rather than coming after him. That made it seem like it was in more danger than he was.

He's a second away from saying just that when he sees the flash of red. ] You can tell?

[ His fingers curl and he instinctively wants to hide his arm but, actually... Maybe he shouldn't do that. Instead, he holds his hand out (the one that was bitten) and reaches for Rembrandt. ]

[dominioned]

Of course, contrary to general opinion I am more than just the "muscle" or her "mook".

[ Instead of recoiling, he grabs that arm and pulls Erik close. This isn't what it looks like, but he murmurs something in the thief's ear before pushing him away. ]

If you survive the day, you may just be her new favorite.

1/2

[bawcock]

[ Wait, what? He was pretty damn sure Rembrandt was going to slap his hand away, not drag him in close. Which he definitely hates. He immediately starts stepping and leaning away as much as possible, at least until he catches the whisper.

What?

At first, he's too stunned to do much more than stumble backward and blink comically. ]

[bawcock]

[ But he eventually catches himself. He doesn't wanna be either of your favorites, Dist and Cumore can keep that position thx. ]

What do you mean if I "survive"? This... this mark or whatever it is isn't actually going to kill me, is it?

[dominioned]

[ Wow, his taste is better than the Lady's okay. He crosses his arms then brings a hand to his chin. ]

I wouldn't say kill is the correct word, but you would cease to exist as you do now. The fact that you continue to bicker is promising, however.

[bawcock]

[ Both y'all suck so it doesn't matter anyway!! Also, what kinda person just grabs someone, plz 2 respect boundaries. ]

Cease to exist, huh... [ He frowns down at the dark material tinting his fingers. Yeah... yeah, he could see that happening. Briefly, his expression turns melancholy before he clenches his fist and looks up at Rembrandt.

This guy is always so talkative. ] In other words, I'd probably become like one of those things we keep seeing around.

Is that the same thing that'll happen to anyone who takes the Lady up on her offer?

[dominioned]

[ He is, him and his boss have that in common at least. ]

Correct! [ Clap, clap. This is the most sarcastic yet also pleased clap. ]

Which offer?

[bawcock]

[ At least literally everyone can agree on that.

Also ew, gross, stop liking things he says plz. ]

Come on, you know which one! [ Know what, it's faster to say it. ] It's the one she made at the trial. The one about giving us a "gift" to help us.

[dominioned]

Ah, that one. [ He smiles. ] You are right, yet again.

[bawcock]

Great... [ He's not sure what else to say to that. He has a lot of questions, he's just not sure how to ask them here and now.

He's also been through a lot. He hasn't forgotten that Rembrandt appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him either. Or that flash of red from his eyes... What was with that?

Rubbing his hand as he thinks. ] Did you really show up here just to pull me out of that chute?

[dominioned]

I did. The area beyond that chute and the employee area in its entirety are off limits. Given how we've let you have the run of the city, I hardly see how that's imposing on your freedom. [ He gestures to the chute and to the locked door. ]

I see now that we should have placed even greater barriers against trespassing. [ The most disapproving look. ]

[bawcock]

[ Gives a disapproving look right back. Hey, you guys kidnapped him so y'all started it. ]

You make it sound like you did us a favor by giving us "run of the city," but none of us should be here in the first place. [ Just sayin', just sayin'. ] But is that really the only reason why?

Since you showed up when I attacked ol' blue-eyes, I thought you might've shown up here to stop me from killing it.

[dominioned]

[ That's only a tiny detail! ]

You're partially correct, but it's not like we couldn't find a replacement. It is in both our interests that you ceased contact with it, is that enough of an answer for you?

[bawcock]

[ Pretty big fuckin' detail, bro. ]

For now. Does this mean you're gonna leave soon?

[dominioned]

Not until you do.

[ Sigh. ]

I would prefer to not have to literally throw you out given your...condition. But I can't say I'm terribly opposed either. [ Eyeing that arm again. ]

[bawcock]

[ Don't say it like that!! And now he's looking at his arm, hmm. ]

Kind of a weird thing to say, don't you think? You haven't had any problems throwing other people around. [ Suzaku, he means Suzaku. ] You said this won't work on you, but does this mean you don't like coming into contact with it anyway?

[dominioned]

I don't much care unless you were to damage my attire. [ He has priorities, alright. ]

Which certainly would be the case if you were to- [ Stroking his chin, he then shrugs. ] explode. You really have no idea how unstable you are right now.

[bawcock]

[ You say lots of bad things, Rembrandt. ]

Explode?!