Dreamland (round 3)

[foundationmods]

[A strange house of some sort sits in the pitch black nothingness that exists around it. For those just now wandering in, they will be drawn to the building, finding it lit up in a way that it should not be. It's as if the whole area- house, yard, fence, and giant sakura tree- all give off their own light, and the newly-arrived are drawn to it like a moth to the flame.

Inside the boundary of the yard, the familiar faces of those who have passed on already will greet them. Depending on who is asked, they might give an accurate explanation. But even if they don't, one thing is clear: you don't want to leave this place. The area outside feels Dangerous, and it is probably best to stay put.

Fortunately, the house is built in an old style, and there are many rooms to explore. One room on the second floor seems locked, but the rest are open to explore as desired. The standard rooms are easy to find: kitchen, a W.C. and a bathroom, a sitting room of some sort, and a couple bedrooms (with plenty of futons for the dead to use). There are also several tatami mat rooms with nothing in them currently, but it seems like there might be some use for those rooms.

Around the house, perches for birds can be found. No birds are on them currently, though.

Sometimes Watanuki can be found in the house, but most of the time the dead will be left to their own devices. The question is, what will they do here?]

Comments

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen, uh... Karen agrees with this sentiment.]

I'm not sure, but I feel like I've done something I shouldn't have.

[foundationmods]

Uh...Ta-daaaaa?

[He'll shake his hand slightly, like a stage magician does.

There is a long pause, and then a cockatiel will fly in and land on one of the bodies. It looks a bit 'fuzzy', so to speak, like it's being viewed in 340 pixel resolution or something. It seems to inspect the bodies, and then it makes a happy noise before flying into the storage room.

Follow it?]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Follow it!]

[excavated]

Wait, that's- [ He recognizes that bird. Okay you know what, yes, he is following the bird into the storage room. You have a +1, Karen!! ]

[foundationmods]

[The bird will fly into the storage room and land on a shelf along one of the walls. On this shelf sits three items:

The first is a green bandanna with 'Summer Camp Petoskey' written on the edge of it. This bandanna is tied up, like it's holding something inside of it. And indeed, if anyone peeks in, there is a pile of marroni chestnuts in the middle.

The second is a roll of dirtied bandages. They have been wrapped up neatly, but are covered in gunpowder residue, dirt, and what looks suspiciously like dried blood.

The last item is a book called Magic for Beginners. If anyone looks through it, they will see that it contains the basics of misdirection and illusionary work.

Any of the three is available, and is likely meant to be given to 'John'. However, only one can be chosen, so choose wisely.]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Well, it'd be good to ICly know what we're working with here, so Karen goes ahead and starts inspecting the bandanna. (Summer Camp Petoskey, huh? You're not so slick, Foundation.)]

...what do you think?

[excavated]

If the summer camp one is referring to what I think it is, I don't think we should choose that one. The bandages might also scare Doe-san off. The book seems like the safest option of the three, in my opinion.

[oceanicbutterfly]

Safest, yes, but I wonder whether it'll teach him anything he doesn't already know. How much of a "beginner" is he, exactly?

[excavated]

Do you think we're allowed to ask him?

[oceanicbutterfly]

I'm not even sure how to ask him. Is there a magic ranking system or something?

[...

She takes the book and opens it up to the first page on the off chance that chapter one is "The Magic Ranking System."]

[excavated]

Maybe we could ask him how often he uses his abilities or how much he knows about peromance arts.

[sotoshini]

The blood's real. Why would chestnuts scare him off?

[excavated]

It's not about the chestnuts. It's about the camp. Takumi found a book on the second floor of the library that talked about that camp. . . and it had a bunch of people getting killed week after week, similar to this.

[oceanicbutterfly]

It was also almost definitely a Foundation operation of some kind.

[To save them the trouble of asking, she points to the initials in sequence.]

[excavated]

Yeah, he mentioned that too. That's why I think we should avoid it. I don't think it would be good if we're really trying to help everyone.

[sotoshini]

Then the book is the only real choice.

[foundationmods]

[There's no turning back once a choice has been made. Are you sure you want to give him the book?]

[sotoshini]

[ If no one objects he's going to continue his #yolo life and grab the book and give it to "John". ]

[oceanicbutterfly]

[No objections here. She's not confident in this choice, but it's the only one they have any sane argument for.]

[excavated]

[ +1 in no objections have fun with that ]

[foundationmods]

[Well, he sure is getting that book! And he frowns a little as he looks at the cover. ]

Uh...huh...right, thanks for giving me a book I read when I was like 10? Super-helpful, I guess?

[foundfate]

It is a reminder of where to find your answers.

[Oh hey, look who's here!

He's stepping over to the group, smoking his pipe casually. ]

Your power may seem useless, but the situation means you are the best to intervene. Think to the basics of stage magic, and you will be fine.

The price... has already been paid. 23 lives saved here today-

[He indicates to the gigais on the floor. ]

-plus one more, saved previously. 24 lives in exchange for 24 more in the future.

[oceanicbutterfly]

[Karen smiles and nods and pretends this is exactly what they had in mind.]

[excavated]

[ He can't help but sigh in relief because it seems that Kimihiro knows a lot more here than Tsubasa is at moment. ]

[sotoshini]

Better than stale chestnuts. [ Not mentioning the blood. Hmm though.

...well hes full yolo path so the future can be dealt with then. He's pretty fine with this. ]

So we can use these? [ Pointing at the gigais.]