FINAL INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

FINAL INVESTIGATION

[Its apparent when everyone wakes up that something isn't entirely right: Loewe's profile is gone.

It becomes incredibly apparent why, when people search: the bookshelf in Cafe MYJL has been destroyed, revealing the elevator behind it. Unlike the bookshelf itself, the elevator is not rigged with any kind of scanner; the Titled can get on the elevator without any problem. And, it goes down to the basement.

But. A thought occurs to everyone before they step on the elevator. They don't want to go down unprepared. Once they get on that elevator, they may not be allowed to come back up until they have finished what they started. If they are able to come back up at all.

So. Bring your supplies, your weapons, your notes on all of the information you've thus far gathered, your pets or whoever you want to steal from the cat cafe, and prepare.

And one you are prepared, you will find yourselves...going...

down.]




[There is a smell of burnt wire permeating the air around the elevator, and as everyone gets closer to the set of double doors at the end of the hall, the smell of bleach. A giant sword is stuck into the floor next to the double doors, with a very hastily-scrawled, blood-speckled note pinned by the sword: BOSS IS THIS WAY. -L

Loewe clearly knew he wasn't getting beyond the double doors alive - and, at the least, he had a sense of humor about it. In any case, at the moment, there is no real means of opening it from the outside anyways. Not yet, at least.

In the meantime, though, the entire basement is now ready to be explored. Some of the doors - Rooms 1, 2, and 6 - are locked with special locks that will need to be figured out, but otherwise?

Welcome to The Hall of Liberation.

And good luck, teams.]

Comments

PRE-INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

[Get ready. That is all.]

One Last Hope

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix wakes up and notices the information about Loewe. She squeezes her phone, fighting back the urge to have a breakdown. One last time, she makes breakfast, noting the elevator and bookcase. ]

...Loewe burned bright for us. He gave us a way through to an area we couldn't have gotten to. Just because he's gone doesn't mean we aren't connected. We're the Seven Stars, after all. He burned bright for us. So we can't waste this opportunity. Tell me what you want--what you need--and I'll buy it. Until then, eat up and get your strength, catch your breath... And let's get ready to go.

[ She got them all explorer kits. And she also stole all of the clothes from the Fabricator's Room. She's wearing her Seven Star costume. And she packed tools in her explorer's kit, just in case. She also has a baseball bat and her wand, however useful that is.

She's also made sure everyone has a blank pin. ]

luck potion, because we'll PROBABLY need it

[theirmagic]

Croix...

[ It had hurt. Another death, at what cost? But Croix's right. They have to move forward. Chariot is wearing the outfit she'd made the other day, and she's brought a kit. Flashlight, sword, all of her premade potions...

Speaking of which, she'll gather everyone close for a second and hold out a gold, glowing potion bottle. ]

Um, before you all go and we end up looking for things, I wanted everyone to take a sip of this Luminous Luck potion. I don't know what we might find down there, or what fights we may get into. So this will all help us be just a little luckier.

[ She'll uncork the bottle's cork and take a drink of it. She sparkles briefly, and then it settles down. She'll offer it to Croix next, and she can pass it to the next person, so on. ]

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix will nod and take a sip, before passing it off to the next person. ]

[thegreenhornet]

[He never thought he'd be accepting a potion from a witch. What has his life turned into]

Here goes nothing, I guess.

[Is he supposed to feel lucky? He has no idea. But hey, anything that means they'll stay alive is good.

Taking a sip and passing the potion to the next person]

[incrediblystressedout]

[Joey accepts it and takes a sip without hesitation.]

Thanks. A lucky, guiding star for us, huh Polaris?

[theirmagic]

Anything that could help all of us, Princess.

[ A smile. ]

[comesaround]

You've really been a great help to all of us. Think we wouldn't be doing nearly as good with our morale if it wasn't for the things you and Mimosa have either said or done here.

[ Just going to put in his five cents here. Which he means every word of. ]

[beguiledcard]

Seconded.

[ After making sure Karma takes some of that luck potion (seriously, he'll shove it into his chest!!!), he takes a sip and passes it. ]

It's almost like it's turning us into shoujo characters.

[ bc sparkles, get it? haha..... yeah no. nobody else gets it. ]

[theirmagic]

[ Once all the potion stuff is over, she'll turn to Croix and extend her hand. ]

... We should renew our pacts, every one of us, just to be safe. Croix... you're my partner and my best friend. Will you take my hand? Even if we split apart to search, I have a feeling it won't matter much.

[scienceofmagic]

...Of course.

[ She'll smile and take Chariot's hand. Time to form a pact! ]

[theirmagic]

[ Pact time! Obviously we all know the deal by now, but, you know, it's still a little surreal to be doing this. Hopefully it still works. ]

>Joey: Descend to the lowest point in the building.

[incrediblystressedout]

Dammit, Loewe...

[There wasn't much she could do about that guy, and he had made it clear what he was intending to do. At least he did something useful...and they're going to be pulling everyone from the other side along with them when they get out of here. Somehow. They're still around, so it's still possible.]

[That's what she's telling herself, anyway.]

[Time for a checklist: Flashlight, Ballet Slippers, Magic Uniform Thingy, and Frog Mask all equipped. Mr. Orion Mew is at her side, as is Yuriko's Pokéball. Joey isn't really sure how to use it other than throwing it out and letting Yuriko do her thing, but she deserves the chance to help avenge Ren, and is also a steely murderbird. Time to take inventory.]

[A First-Aid Kit enhanced with a few extra bits from Prime Time Care is the main thing, as is a bag full of a few miscellaneous vending machine objects: that creepy potato robot toy, a mirror, a "Shikon Jewel", a Lucky Mallet, and a pipe. These might not be evidence, but they all feel relevant to her. Or at least like cool Japanimation merch she can keep as a souvenir of the parts of this that aren't horrible. Finally, on her way to the café, she buys a lighter, a bottle of high-proof vodka and steals borrows a rag. Those...go in the bag too. She's not planning on explaining all that to Ursula.]

[Finally, she takes a deep breath.]

Okay. Is there anything I'm missing?

[theirmagic]

Your uniform should have given you some tap-dancing shoes if you needed them. We're going to be splitting into groups, because it's safer.

I'd be happy if you came with me, Joey.

[ Basically you're missing her. ]

[incrediblystressedout]

Yeah, I'll just...kind of...trade out shoes as I need them. This outfit actually works for both since it keeps my feet free.

And I'll absolutely come with you! I don't want to split up you and Croix for partner magic stuff purposes, though...

[theirmagic]

You won't be. Besides, I can fight on my own, trust me. We'll be fine. Croix can go with Karma and Akira. That way we'll cover more ground, and if she runs across something tech-related, she can cover it.

[incrediblystressedout]

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

[She thinks for a second.]

Actually, before we dive into this, there was one question I wanted to ask you...

[theirmagic]

What is it?

[incrediblystressedout]

Alright, this is going to sound like...really, really super dumb whether I'm right or wrong, so just forgive me being a dumb kid here, but like...

You and Croix are...together, right? Like...I don't know the right words for it, but like that, I mean.

[theirmagic]

[ ... She's blushing. ]

A-ah, w-w-w-w-well... y-y-yes, I-I suppose we are now, but it w-wasn't... we grew up together, so it's complicated, I've known her for a very long time, and she's my closest friend...

[ Way to embarrass her. ]

We, um. We're. We're partners. Y-yes.

[incrediblystressedout]

[A "yes" would have been less confusing, but Joey sympathizes.]

I get it. Yeah.

So I know this is really weird, but...

...can I ask you how to ask a girl out?

[theirmagic]

[ Oh god. ]

... I... I don't know if I'm exactly the person to be asking. W-when I confessed to Croix, it just kind of... h-happened. I... I think it would probably... depend on the girl...

[ She clears her throat. ... She imagines what Akko might say or do-- ]

I would just... go for it, right? I mean, the worst that could happen is you're still friends. But it... it probably depends on your relationship as-is. As for "how" to do it... I don't think there's a way to do it perfectly. Maybe... just be earnest.

[incrediblystressedout]

[Joey smiles.]

You're definitely the person I want to be asking. And thanks. I'll...give it a try, assuming we all get out of here.

[theirmagic]

A lot of stuff makes love seem really easy, but something you have to keep in mind is that relationships are... you have to work with the other person. Don't let what you read or hear make you think it's all one-sided, or anything. Relationships require communication and hard work.

[ She's... trying to give solid advice, here. ]

... Or that asking a girl out is wrong, because anyone that thinks that is stupid. It's not. Believe me, I teach at an all-girls school, I've seen my fair share of it. It happens all the time. It's perfectly fine to like someone of the same gender. Me, I just... get easily embarrassed...

(mod... ping?) inventory check

[beguiledcard]

[ It was after he packed a bag of some stuff, he'd changed into the latest rebellion attire. Well... this outfit comes with the Joker jacket and Joker boots, so it's almost like combining the two.

Weapons-wise? Daggers and a short sword. He's trying to get better at longer-range, okay... and he's still not comfortable with the idea of slicing a person, up close and personal...

He nearly drops the entire bag once he sees that message. He'd known Loewe was gone -- he'd checked the room to be sure, and... that was why he'd grabbed the items. He's learned to not let himself think something couldn't happen, just because the thought of it hurts... but... ]

... Thank you, Bladelord.

[ It's whispered before he quietly kneels down. He will actually try to pull that sword free. He's not going to fight too hard right now, but he does want to see if he can't bring that final part of their friend along. ]