linkingup | IZOU'S PALACE

[Nothing will catch her eye, but as far as overhearing things, she can try to catch an earful of conversation if she'd like to listen in. Any strategies she'd like to employ or do you just want a flat roll?]

[what is that icon caitie haha

Yeah, let's try to be subtle. Kirumi, almost at the entrance, with one hand pretends she's adjusting her hair, and manages to nudge the thing on her head undone, it falling to the floor. Sighing and making sure not to glance in any direction except down, to not reveal she's stalling, she picks it up, glances at Argenti and Yi Sang like she's making sure to look presentable for 'her masters' like all maids should, smooths over her attire and moves to leave.

It's not a huge strategy, really. At best she's able to stall only for like ten seconds, but she attempts to listen as much as possible during that time]

[IZOU'S ARTIST JUST DRAWS HIM ALL OF THE TIME IN SITUATIONS OK. ASK HIM!!!

Anyway, her gambit to stall is effective! She gets a +2 to her roll, netting her a 16. This is what she overhears some young men saying;

My father's rounding up men to go fight the demon! Leave something like that to the shinsengumi. Well I heard even the shinsengumi are afraid of it. Your father thinks he can find men braver than them??

Kirumi can likely glean further context to where and when they are from this discussion. Better fill the divorcees in.]

[Haha, now I have to see more art, I'm so curious.

Indeed, that was very enlightening. That and the way the Japanese writing is a tad more old-school than she's used to see, are big clues of where they are and what this place is.

Time to inform them. She tells Yi Sang and Argenti what she heard, textually, and adds:]

I believe we're in my home country, at one point in the past, between the years 1863 and 1869. I would guess it is in the latter years, since the Shinsengumi seem well established. [A bit of an educated guess, mostly, but okay] Whether the 'demon' part is literal or not remains to be seen.

[Personas, deities, and the such makes it plausible it could be an actual demon!]

[Not at all one of the divorcees, but - after arriving somewhat late to the newly-formed district, it's actually a bit of a relief to be filled in so immediately! Without asking! Wow! Well, at least in regards to where (and when) this place is supposed to be replicating.]

That... is a bit before my time.

[And considering they seem to be somewhere not-quite real and not-quite Nekiya, the 'demon' issue is a bit more pressing?]

I suppose we'll find out soon enough about this demon, no?

[ Oh hello, we seem to have a new friend. Argenti listens to the information well first, so that he can digest it, and then turns to face Céleste (fellow Frenchmen meet other Frenchmen-) with a brief smile as well as a nod.

Then he turns to face Kirumi once more. ]

We will need to find this demon as soon as possible. Luring out this demon may be easy or it could be difficult, depending on what exactly would draw it out.

[ He looks thoughtful at all of this. He doesn't have any further thoughts on any other kind of strategies, so... ]

But perhaps we shall find more clues upon our close investigation of other areas. I believe we should start next with the park.

Thank you, Kirumi.

[ Celeste gets a nod of acknowledgement upon his arroval— it doesn't hurt to have more eyes and ears with how this environment seems to be. ]

I do not believe it will be difficult to find that demon, if they are so prevalent to deem groups required to take it down. If that is what we focus on, then some further observation may be helpful in a likely encounter.

[ The park is a sound idea, especially with what they understand now about this palace. No divorce papers needed. ]

I'm... thankful that only eavesdropping and watchfulness are truly necessary. I would assume that we are more of an audience than set pieces, if that makes sense.

So it seems. Let's go. I can watch out for any danger, but I would like to have someone else helping with that while we move through the park.

[There are plenty of dangerous spots in a park, after all! Trees, dark places...especially at night!]

I can easily do so.

I am used to being vigilant for danger!

[ Argenti will actually walk swiftly towards the park so please keep up yall. Besides the drunks that he is actually ignoring (wouldn't it be hilarious if they needed to be interacted with...), what is even in the park besides foliage? It was briefly described before, but if there are any other points of interest, he will be keeping an eye out for it! ]

As can I.

[Really, they should all be keeping their eyes and ears open for danger, but, like, he's trusting he doesn't need to say that!

Anyway, yes, definitely keeping up with Argenti, but also not ignoring the drunks outright, either! He'll be trying to listen in on what they might be talking about amongst themselves, but considering he rolled a four (4), I'm assuming the powerwalking by was a bit too speedy to decipher Drunk.]

[There's one of those zen sand and rock gardens in the middle of the park. I don't know if they exist outside of buddhist temples but neither does Izou probably and this is his mind palace so. It's here now.

There's a few scattered drunks, a young couple tucked away in the corner probably trying to canoodle... And also a few kids playing in the sand??? Where are their parents.

If Kirumi is watching out for danger, she will observe that most of the trees are Japanese Cedar, and aren't really big enough for someone to hide behind and escape notice with her looking directly at them... The large sakura tree maybe, but it's in the center of the park, so not great to hide. The lanterns scattered about leave plenty of dark corners, but it's not so dark that looking directly at them as she is, she would miss seeing something... Right?

Celeste... yeah. He hears one drunk say something that sounded like;

I heard the demon has blood red eyes and sickles for claws!

But the guy sounded like... super drunk so maybe take that with a grain of salt. Or maybe not. Maybe it's true.]

[Oh yes, definitely going to stare hard at the dark, just in case! Guarding time! Watch out for demons!

Other than that she's silent, letting the other three talk. She's listening, of course, but as usual with her, she's keeping quiet]

[ Kids are playing in the sand? If he heads over to there, would he so happen to see any other adults hanging around nearby besides the drunks and the uh. Couple?

That strikes him as very odd. ]

Edited 2024-09-01 21:26 (UTC)

[Definitely taking the drunk ramblings with a huge grain of salt, but also, like, tucking it away just in case. Even if a creature with blood red eyes and sickles for claws isn't the demon, it still sounds kind of dangerous.

In the meantime, though, with Kirumi staring into the void and Argenti heading to the kids, Celeste will find his way over to the couple. Divide and conquer, or something like that! (More like "be a nibshit" but anyway--)]

[ Yeah, by the sounds of that kind of rumor by a drunkard... It's not much. Just something. Anyway.

Yi sang will inspect the sakura tree. It's in the middle, but it's very nice and big. He'll look behind, then up at its branches. ]

[Kirumi: The shadows continue to be dark but presenting no further danger. A dog wanders into one of them from an adjacent alley. It looks fluffy, round, and well fed.

Argenti: No! The kids are unattended. Sometimes it be like that. They don't seem uncared for, their clothes are neat and clean. They are chattering amongst themselves. One's even caught a firefly in his hands! Do you want to listen in?

Celeste: The couple does not notice you! They are definitely canoodling, the girl is giggling and the man seems to be getting a bit handsy. You perhaps feel as if you are intruding.

Yi Sang: There's nothing behind the tree it doesn't seem, nor anything up in its branches. However despite seeing nothing, after looking you can't shake the feeling of being watched]

[I'm glad that in this expanse created from Izou's soul the dogs are well taken care of.

Kirumi doesn't really lower her guard, but at the same time the sight of the dog is nice to see. The rest don't need to hear about this, she can enjoy the dog's presence over there all by herself.

Good luck all of you with your stuff!]

[ Eavesdropping is wrong...

...

Haha, just kidding. It's just a bunch of kids, anyway.

So he will definitely eavesdrop by turning away, closing his eyes with a smile, sparkling at his allies who happen to be looking over in his direction, or something. Yeah! He's listening in...strategically! ]

[Argenti says no to childrens rights...

Anyway his strategy makes sense... The children don't notice him immediately, and he'll hear one of them say;

My brother's coming to walk me home when he finishes work, 'cause there's supposed to be a demon out at night!

The others exclaim with shock, but are then distracted by Argenti who is simply too dazzlingly radiant (5 + 1 = 6) for them to not notice. They all stare at him silently which is a little creepy to be honest.]

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beautifulknight - 2024-09-01 23:46 (UTC) - Expand

[ Given that this is a palace, it's already rather gracious that they can get these hints at all. When Yi sang feel what may be a set of eyes on him, he doesn't make any sudden movements, instead continuing a stroll around the tree. He has a hand on his dagger though, strapped to his leg. ]

These blossoms are known for both their beauty and tragically short life. A strong wind can take out the flowers and leave naught but what resembles a corpse of a tree.

[The tree continues being inanimate.

There continues to be nothing (visible, anyway) within the branches. A flower petal falls onto his head as if daring him to make good on his threat which is apparently just how he talks.

The sensation of being watched also intensifies at his words, though.]

[ Don't worry Palace Sakura, he won't actually hurt you beyond some morbid musing. He's already fought a tree (that was his friend), taken the place of said tree friend in some alternate world... No more tree murder, he just takes the petal off his head with his other hand.

Also a knife wouldn't do much? He does get an intensified gaze though from somewhere. Mission accomplished. ]

[Un(?)fortunately, he doesn't actually feel like he's intruding at all. In fact, he waits a biiiiit longer (for maximum jumpscare potential) before actually speaking up and interrupting them.]

So daring! Especially with rumors of demons about.

[Celeste you got one of them problems disorder. Also I'm imagining him in that pose waiting to jumpscare the couple.

Which he does!!! They are very startled and embarrassed at being interrupted!!! They are going to try and rush past Celeste to avoid him. Does he let them or try to stop them?

Either way, startling the couple has now inflicted Celeste with the sensation of being watched!!]

[...I mean kind of. Just as chinhands, not as pretzel.

And it's 0% better that he was watching for the spook moment and not to be a creep about the canoodling, I know this as well.

Regardless, he will try to stop one of them, because he figures stopping one will stop them both!! And tbh being watched is fine and normal, he'll barely notice that sensation.]