15strangers | FINAL INVESTIGATION

FINAL INVESTIGATION

FINAL INVESTIGATION

[Fifteen X-Passes. Six weeks. Freedom at last.

But it's not the end. Of course it's not. There are questions to answer, and souls to save. And now that the group is outside, they can see where they are.

They are inside a massive cavern, illuminated in an eerie green light, standing on a stone path. On one side is the ship-or rather, a massive, ship-shaped tangle of bloody branches, the trunk-like roots snaking out and into the river its buoyed on, as well as into the ceiling of stalactites. Said river is wine dark, but it's clearly not water. No-it is blood.

And on the other side of their little pathway? A root-encrusted palace. It sits over a labyrinthine city, bathed in emerald, and all is eerily silent save for some sounds coming from within the castle. It's clear the infestation somehow started here. And it is here that answers are likely to be found.

The doors are right in front of the group-and they are already open, covered in branches. From the outside, it seems little more than a ruin. Once everyone goes in, though?

It's even worse. The tree has taken over. Whatever lives here is no longer in charge. There's no easy way to disentangle the Qilphoth from this place. But there is life here, somehow. You can see figures entangled within the roots as you explore. And-they are still, somehow, alive. More than alive. They are beings that bleed ichor instead of blood-beings of incredible divinity and power. They are gods. And they are hostage to the tree, forever and ever, trapped in induced ennui, unless something is done.

So welcome, Strangers, to the House of Hades.]

[Once you enter, the investigation shall begin.

Good luck.]

((OoC: And here are team assignments!))

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You're not too badly hurt after all of that, are you?

[ Another step closer, and he stopped just shy of the robe itself. There was a number of varying emotions flashing across his face right then, one hand halfway to reaching for the other but not knowing if Moriarty was tangible enough to interact with.

Then Roland paused, registering what was said and he couldn't help but smile a little. ]

It's alright. I'm not mad about that, nor is it really something I could hold against you.

[Sadly, if he tries - all he'll feel is slightly colder air, and no tangible thing to hold onto. There's still a barrier that cannot be crossed, even now.]

Ah, well...just a broken arm. Though it is beginning to feel much better as I rest, oddly enough?

[Just said casually, though he's a little curious at the end. He was never injured before the breakout, so he never had a chance to find out what healing was like for the dead.]

....And I suppose so, but...I believed I should say it. Despite my intentions, I hurt you quite badly...and made a mess of my 'final stand', as it were, lying to your very face about what I'd done. Strong bonds have broken over less.

That's a relief. [ A pause, followed by some concern. ] I suppose the roots did that to you...?

[ That's enough to have his expression completely soften, and it's very clear if he could have hugged you by now, he would have. For now this will have to be enough. ]

That all had... been quite a lot to process at the time and now that i've had time to let everything sink in? I get why you had to lie about things and what you had been going for.

[ Then his smile returned, bright and sunny as Moriarty may have remembered. ]

I do believe Alastor may be a little upset about everything, as well as that letter you sent back with those corrections on it. He's at least improved from where he's started, though.

[Ah....yes, he truly did miss Roland. And while he still can't believe the man in front of him forgave him so easily...Well. He'd remembered another girl that did just that, after all, and still called him a good person in the bargain. He doesn't say anything, but the sense of relief and gratitude is clear to sense even as a faceless shadow.

He chuckles, though, at the last bit.]

I know English is quite the tricky language - though it'd be hard not to be, given it arose from the melding of three entirely different languages together from all the invasions and homesteading Britain has faced in it's history.

[Including....y'know....britain and france's beefs, but he respects Roland too much to point it out.]

[ While he might not always pick up on the more subtle things? This was different. He can feel that relief and gratitude, even if it's never spoken aloud.

Even amidst these unfortunate circumstances, he's just glad to see Moriarty's doing okay for the most part. Heck, he's even getting to learn more things! What a great day this was! ]

That would definitely explain why it's hard to master, now that you mention it.

[ Both hands clapped together and suddenly he seemed to be a bit more energetic now. ]

Oh! Moriarty!! You'll never guess what happened!

It is akin to three languages stitched together, to the point even native speakers could barely be called masters of it.

[ANYWAY, Language lesson over - at Roland's excitement, he perks up.]

Good news, I take it?

You put it that way and it makes it sound so much more difficult.

[ Roland nods, bright and happy as ever. To most people they might not necessarily find it 'good' news but because Moriarty is a friend?

He feels it's imperative to share it all the same. ]

Me and Alastor are dating! I didn't think I'd find someone I could actually get attached to but I really do truly love him!

...Oh!

[Well, they'd seems a bit chummy during his trial, so it's not such a large surprise, and he smiles - not that it can be seen, but it's the feeling of it all.]

Congratulations, then. Though it is a bit ironic that someone from the church and a literal Devil from hell have found their way into each other's arms, wouldn't you say?

[ A LOT had happened since that fateful trial, some of which he was glad Moriarty hadn't been there to experience. At the same time... it would have been nice to have him around but musing on that wasn't going to change what has already happened.

He doesn't even look too phased by those words, still practically beaming. ]

Thank you~

[ He brought a hand up, absently brushing against a spot on his chest almost idly. ]

I suppose when you put it that way, yes. It is. [ Roland chuckled softly afterwards. ] No more surprising than me having befriended vampires back home, though. Oh! I also adopted Ritsu!

[ Just gonna drop that one casually, too. ]

[Yes, there wasn't any reason to dwell on what could have been, or what ifs. He nods, a bit happily, at the ending bit.]

Good, Good. She'll need someone to be a guiding figure to her, at the very least - and a source of love, which you have an overarching abundance of! In fact, Are you certain your heart doesn't have a leak in it somewhere, Roland?

[ At Moriarty's last words, it made him blink a couple times then looked down to his chest before looking back up to him and laughing. ]

Hahaha! As far as I know I don't think it does?

[ He figured that Moriarty had meant something non-literal by that but he couldn't help it. ]

I'd be quite worried if there was one and I just hadn't noticed it yet!

[He laughs, one of his roaring 'wahahaha's echoing through the area.]

No, no - trust me, I'm well aware of what that does to one! You're fine, I assure you!

[LMAO, THE FIRST MINIGAME.]

Hmhmhm...but all jesting aside, you truly have a capacity for compassion and kindness I've rarely ever been allowed to be witness to before. That, at least, is why I am so certain Miss Ritsu will be quite loved in your capable hands.

Not saying I'm not still mad over you lying to me about it...

[He steps forward, his second pair of wings on his back, and is that...is that a robot dragon behind him?]

But I'm still glad to see you, even if you are still just a soul.

Hmph! As if you would not do the same, Alastor.

[That's said in good spirit, at least, even as he remains on the floor...and doesn't blink at the robot dragon. He's seen weirder shit in Chaldea, man.]

'Just' a soul? Please, if there was not whatever is asserting it's Authority over us, I could regain my proper abilities! After all, such a state as this is much more 'natural' to me than the Incarnation I was in previously.

[He assumes, anyway.]

I at least told Roland I had plans for the trial when Aoi let me in on what he'd done and gave me a message for after his death.

[This grin shows...a little too much fang, but...frustrated as he is, there's still a sense of relief.]

And since you don't have your magic back, you're still no different from any other ghost.

You make a mistake one time when you don't have all your memories and you can never live it down! I thought a fellow compatriot in Evil would understand my plight.....Sob, Sob.

[mmmrohrrhhgh DON'T REMIND HIM]

...And must you be such a killjoy, Alastor? Really, I've already a broken arm, I don't need a broken pride on top of it!

I thought a partner in villainy would let me in on his evil schemes.

[ARMS. CROSSED.]

Or did you not think I could keep a secret?

[He didn't explain well...then again, it's been a while. He sighs, putting his head down.]

At the time, I assumed I was not truly James Moriarty, but a cast off bit of the man - the remnants of his 'good' nature. And I did not know how accomplices would be punished within the game.

[It's an explanation, not an excuse.]

I had thought that if anyone had to be killed, to let it be myself, totally and utterly, and despised as a hideous villain for none to mourn over. Telling Aoi was merely because he was in the same area I returned to for my Alibi for trial, if it had come up.

But, regardless, I now know who I am. I am fully James Moriarty, not a cast away fragment...and I have more than enough knowledge to know when I have slighted a friend.

[The robe bows, head almost to the floor.]

My deepest apologies, Alastor, for leaving you in the dark. Though my intentions were to spare you, I realize I instead hurt you more.

[With the full apology, he seems to relax, arms uncrossing and tail lowering from where it had been arched in anger.]

Alright...apology accepted. But for the record, I saw through your ruse from the beginning.

[A slight smirk, maybe with a hint of pettiness to it.]

For one thing, you've got too much Good in you to torture someone unless you were desperate or they deserved it.

[He gives another huff, as if sulking.]

And now you must kick me while I'm down? Alastor, mercy!

[Though...]

But yes, if I'd regained my full memory - well, I wouldn't have faltered so, I could tell you that much. Though working in the going theory about Kaito's death was a bit much in hindsight....

Yeah well...I knew what Aoi did before his trial and didn't say a thing until we'd worked the evidence over enough to point at him anyway, so.

[Shrug.]

Sometimes the good thing and the nice thing aren't the same. Agreed that rolling with the torture theory was over the top, though.

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FINAL INVESTIGATION

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