FINAL INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

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!))

Comments

[15unknowns]

Aoi suspected before his death.

[Delta has stood up by now, and is behind Akane, arms folded.]

In the timeline where she is born, Ayame Tenmyouji is a powerful ESPer-perhaps the most powerful in our little corner of reality. She is capable of SHIFTing not just information and data and minds through the morphogenetic field, but matter as well. Unfortunately-that includes herself and multiple others, related or otherwise. As she is only a baby, she also has no control over her power-only my power, and I assume the presence of her immediate family, is capable of limiting her abilities at present.

So, she is how we are all here.

[exequte]

No.

That doesn't make sense.

Because if she'd wanted her mother, then she should have brought her mother.

I'm not. Maybe a me could be, some day, but I'm not her.

[She smiles, faintly.]

Besides, if this is the result of her having been born... maybe it's better that she isn't. Not by me, anyway.

[15unknowns]

...What is done is done. Even if not by you, per se.

[A grim smile.]

I naturally would not claim you are the Akane Kurashiki who is her mother. But there is an Akane Kurashiki who is searching for her. One who cannot hold her child. Who does not know the fate that has befallen Ayame, or Aoi.

She at least should be able see her infant and brother again, when this is over.

[exequte]

But why me, then? Why this me, I mean? Because it really doesn't make sense.

[15unknowns]

She is an infant, Ms. Kurashiki. They are necessarily not known for their...astute logic.

[exequte]

They also tend to reach for what the know, not a stranger. Even a stranger who has familiar DNA.

I wouldn't even be the same physically, only similar.

[15unknowns]

This is also true.

The only other explanation is that it may have to do with the tree, and the magic that the witch uses in her...pursuit. It may be influencing how the child SHIFTs people into this place. Of course, that is hardly scientific, and not quite something any of us can quantify-but given who has arrived, it is the best guess.

[exequte]

Maybe.

[But, well, whatever, that's a problem for another time.

Anything in here look interesting which Hubert hasn't already locked down?]

[strangerpeople]

[Actually, there is.



Remember that coin that Zero had flipped at the very beginning?]

[exequte]

[She does indeed! And if it's here, she will walk over and regard it more closely.]

[unpossibilities]

[....Well. He's watching this from afar. Kaito's silent. At first, anyway. Then he speaks.]

...

You're sure, babe?

[He's uneasy, honestly. This is a little life. This is...confusing, but he's trying to roll with it.]

I guess she got the wrong you...but...

[He looks at the little girl with concern.]

...I get how she feels, being lonely.

[I'm not the stepdad

I'm the dad who stepped up]

[exequte]

... No.

But if this is what a child of mine could do....

She's dangerous. It would be dangerous. I don't know if I can afford to allow that, now that I know.

1/2

[unpossibilities]

I don't think---

I mean, yeah, sure. Danger. Kids are the embodiment of danger. If y'aren't worried about your own kid, y'ain't doin' right.

Besides, uh, we're both young. We've still got time. I don't know if I could really deny a kid based on how dangerous they could be, since...

I guess as their Dad, I'd probably ground 'em for this! I'd track 'em down and give 'em a real scolding! Your ma's worried! Get back to your room and stop psychic-ing, little missy!

2/2

[unpossibilities]

...But that's just what I'd think.

We've got plenty of time before that, though. No need to worry a lot about this yet!

At least, I'd like to think so.

1/2

[exequte]

[exequte]

[And she dissolves into helpless giggles, covering her mouth to muffle the sound so that the baby doesn't wake up.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

HOW ARE YOU SO GOOD, KAITO?!

[SURPRISE IT'S FATHER IN LAW JUMPSCARE TIME

wait did he just yell in front of a baby-]

Truly, I continue to be astounded by how there can be two souls in this vast multiverse that shine so brightly with pure Goodness! It's preposterous! Unthinkable!

[unpossibilities]

Wagh! Hey, Pops!

[He does jump, a little.]

I just...say what's on my mind, heh. That's just honestly how I'd--

[wait. looks. at the baby.]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[Follows his line of sight -

oh.

oh fuck,]

...Ah.

[OOPS]

[pegasinister]

[still here rocking the crib. Whsipering:]

If either of you wake this baby you will not have to worry about returning to Tartarus after I am through with you.

Understood?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[





> Moriarty ran away.]

[unpossibilities]

.... Yeah, okay.

[exequte]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

.....Er, Hello dear.

[A bit sheepish...he got excited...]

[exequte]

.... Daddy, there's a baby right there....