thenearshore | [BBS/Action] | If I have to sin to see you again...

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[BBS/Action] | If I have to sin to see you again...

Posted:July 27, 11:34 AM
From: Baron Samedi

a. bbs; the Baron declares war

[ It starts with a message on the BBS]

I know one of you did it. One of you killed Rei Ryugazaki. I'm bloody well sure it was and I'm not going to stop til I find you, I swear on me scythe.

But there were others too, I know. I want anyone who knows anything about these murders to come forward. I want to hear everything you lot know and where we can start looking for the bastard to bring them to justice!

My name's Ronald Knox. I'll be waiting here if anyone wants to talk for your privacy's sake.

[ Included are directions to a quiet cafe tucked away in the sidestreets of Tokyo. ]

--

Who: Ronald Knox, Kuroyukihime, anyone who wants to talk about MURDERS~
When: July 27, 12am-6pm
Where: A small cafe in Tokyo
What: Ron wants answers and Hime needs a hug
Warnings: M U R D E R S

b. action; Not so shady dealings...

[ Anyone who decides to take Ron up on his offer is going to find him taking up one booth of said cafe, right in the corner with a cup of tea in front of him. It's gone cold and he's intently watching the door. Beside him sits a young lady, her dark hair shielding her face but her shoulders are shaking and her eyes are red. Hime isn't looking her best but she's trying. In front of her is a notepad, and a pen. Clearly she'll be taking notes.

But should anyone approach, Ron would be sure to address them, looking up at them before rising from his seat and motioning to the cushioned seat in front of them. ]

She's with me. Rei was... special to her and he was my shinki. If you've come to talk, there's nowhere better. I want to know everything.

[ ooc: both prompts are ota, either one will do. Answers may come from Ron (

diehardreaper) or Kuroyukihime (

papillonprincess). Please indicate who you want in the subject of your tag. ]

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We'll surpass the Heavens.

[ For what should be higher than everything else, towards what does everything with wings strive, but the sun? The sun, giving light to all.

She has to make sure she has the perfect path upwards prepared for her performers. The curtain will fall on a world where this sort of thing happens.

This time, for sure, she's not mistaken. This time, for sure, she'll succeed. ]

[ Surpassing the heavens... what a grandiose idea. But then again, it's Hibiki. When are her ideas never grandiose to begin with.

But in Rei's memory, she will soar. Though for now, she has to stay grounded and focus.

Her next text doesn't come until later that afternoon. ]

I hope you don't mind but I've come with a somewhat personal matter
I'd like to ask about a shinki named Venus
If it's alright, I want to know as much as I can about how you found her
Though I understand if this is something you'd rather not talk about

[ Hibiki's response is also somewhat delayed. All things considered, she would almost rather dip a toe within the 1 km radius she prefers between herself and, say, the likes of Joshima Ken than discuss Venus. (Almost.)

Truth be told, she has been trying very hard not to think about Venus. The fact that she has been thinking about Venus, noticing Venus's absence, despite her decree to the contrary is a major irritant in and of itself.

And yet. When it's one of her Princesses asking, is Hibiki really in a position to refuse...?

So Hime will receive a reply. ]

Come to my temple.

[ She will find, and take, her stomach medicine while you do. ]

[ She hand't been counting on a response so it's a relief when she does. ]

Thank you.
I'll be there in an hour.

[ Mostly to freshen up and find some fitting wagashi to give as a show of trust. No sense looking like the wreck she is when meeting up with Hibiki. Best behaviour, best impression.

She's there on the dot in the hour, knocking on the door with a box of goat milk cookies. The Baron thought it would make a nice touch. ]

[ Hibiki isn't at the door, but said door will swing open if Kuroyukihime touches it. The TV in the foyer is blinking with an arrow down towards CelePara's practice rooms, too.

And Hibiki's voice comes out of her office. ] Enter.

[ This is apparently a business transaction. ]

[ A business transaction, yes... but there's still that signature showmanship that is just so very Hibiki.

But Hime does offer a light nod as she steps in. ]

Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I'm sure you're aware but the Baron wanted to gather as much information as we can about the murders.

[ A breath. ]

We're doing this for both Venus and Rei.

[ Hibiki is at her desk, the chessboard slightly out of reach off to one side. The Queen of the white pieces has moved forward, but one of the castles has been taken. And a black pawn has advanced fairly far across the board unchecked.

In front of Hibiki, however, she rests her hands and then laces her fingers together. ] I understand.

[ A pause. The sort of pause someone with breeding and class knows better than to interrupt. It might be for effect, it might be for gathering her -

Nope. Did. Did she just swallow? ]

...You may begin.

[ She can't help but wonder if the chessboard means anything. If she's supposed to be the black piece then surely the black king would be more fi--

What an odd though. Her? A king? But something else at the back of her mind tells her not to follow that train of thought. So she won't. Better focus on the task at hand. ]

I suppose it would be best if I got straight to business. Following the Baron's message on the BBS, Wendy contacted him and mentioned one of the victims had been your shinki... and that you had found the body. So I'd like to find out as much as I can about that day. What you found... where you found the body... if there was anything out of the ordinary.

[ Does Hibiki seem... nervous? Surely it's the stress of remembering that day... ]

I see.

[ That's not surprising. This all still seems unnecessary, but it's not like Hibiki doesn't understand where it's coming from - and, as always, she can't refuse her Princess's heartfelt request.

Her fingers squeeze together before she's able to speak. ]

...I've made arrangements to capture the culprit. [ Disclaimer! Rest assured! She's on it! The Prince provides! ] Since he wasn't...expedient...this is all I know.

[ It's just a monologue. Just a monologue, on stage. The expository dressing. She's done this a million times before. Focus.

Hibiki opens her mouth, closes it. Closes her eyes. She doesn't want to talk about this. Doesn't want to think about it. Thinking about it takes her back to feeling those things she's been trying not to feel. But for her Princess, she has to...to persevere....

Her shoulders hunch. She doesn't want to go back there. ]

[ She listens in silence. It's only been nine... ten days if what Wendy had told Ronald was right. Barely a week, not even a month. Surely the pain is still fresh.

But she does reach out, placing a hand on Hibiki's own and squeezing lightly. Just a reminder that she isn't alone - she's not the only one suffering. ]

Hibiki-kun... I understand this must be hard for you.

[ That hand not letting go though. There's no pity in her eyes, only concern. She'd only just lost Rei, after all. She knows. ]

It's not easy losing anyone you'd think of as a friend. Grief... is a very heavy thing.

...Friend?

[ That word is a loaded one for Hibiki, and not one she was expecting to hear. She looks up, meets Hime's eyes, and then sort of...stares beyond them. That - Venus wasn't - had she...?

In the mango groves of Hibiki's mind, a whole crop of fruit falls off the trees simultaneously and splatters everywhere. The sun comes out from behind a cloud, illuminating the shape of this nameless, irritating ache.

Oh.

So that's what had happened.

So this is....this is grieving.

For a friend.

The sheer enormity of how much sense the world suddenly makes again is enough to continue to stun Hibiki into silence. She looks like Pewton after the apple hit him on the head. Parachimedes right before he'd shouted "Eureka!".

In the company of geniuses for sure, this one. ]

[ There's a tilt of her head as she blinks slowly. It's almost as if friendship was a foreign concept to Hibiki.

But she does offer the smallest smile back. ]

I can imagine that you did think of Venus as a friend.. if thinking of her death and that day elicits this sort of reaction from you.

[ A prince can have days when they feel less than princely after all. ]

How long ago was it...?

You can get that information from Lavi.

[ Her voice is flat, but at least it's calm. And forming sentences. Hibiki draws in a deep breath, lets it out. This is....this is an okay place to be. She's in her temple. In the company of someone with a calming presence.

And she'd made a friend. Only to lose her without realizing it.

Of course she's hurting if she'd lost a friend! How dare this place's indiscriminate hiring practices take Venus from Hibiki before giving her a chance to detect this rare and extremely non-obvious fact during a time when it could have helped her!! ]

I woke up knowing something was amiss. She wasn't in her bed. I sought her.

[ She went looking for her friend. Because that's what people do, when friends go missing. Everything seems so much more sensible now! ]

It was too late.

Lavi... I'll be sure to contact him.

[ Note to self, ask Hibiki for his number afterward.

But she does let out a breath, both her hands clutching Hibiki's. If the contact keeps her talking, then maybe. Heck, maybe Shun was wrong about her all this time.

There's a nod as the god speaks.

Such cruel hiring practices this heaven uses, indeed. ]

...It's just as the Baron said. He just felt Rei was missing... but it was too late for him as well.

[ A small frown. ]

Was there anything else you recall of that day? Where Venus had gone the night prior? Where you found her?

She was running errands.

[ That much, even in her distress, Hibiki could gather from the various objects scattered around the scene. It's the next part that gives her set jaw an extra grimness, however. She isn't squeezing Hime's hand back, nothing like that, but she isn't pulling it away, either. ]

If her wounds are reliable, she saw her attacker.

[ Damage in the front, but not enough. Eyes wide open, staring. So a final blow to the back of the - of the -

No. She's not going to be trapped there again. She will not go there again. Hibiki wills the picture away, knows herself the master.

That helps. ]

[ There's a brief shake of her head at the mention. This is all too soon, all too raw for either of them. But for Rei, she must press on.

And perhaps for Hibiki and Venus, as well.

She'll take the fact that her touch isn't being rejected as a sign that she doesn't need to pull away... so she won't. ]

This killer seems to have that much in common. It's almost as if he wants to be seen. I'm not sure if this is overconfidence or narcissism on their part.

[ And a breath. ]

You mentioned Lavi. I'm afraid I haven't met him yet. Where can I find him?

His information is here. [ It seemed she had predicted this conversation might go this direction, as she slides a notecard (purple, monogrammed with her name and a little crown) across the desk. True enough, it's got Lavi's name, his cell number, and even a small drawing of where to find his goddess's temple on it.

Hibiki's handwriting in Japanese is surprisingly bad. Also, she presses too hard with her pen. ]

I've entrusted this matter to him.

[ She takes the card, looking over the information.

Yes... this will be a good next step.

With that, she holds it close to her chest with a breath. ]

Thank you, Hibiki-kun. This... I'm sure this will be a great help.

[ Uh... now what? Apart from clutching hat hand one more time what else can she do? Gods why is she terrible at human interaction? Does she go in for a hug? What does she even-- ]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[ That'll do. ]

[ Self-absorption and emotional turmoil are going to trump courtesy here, unfortunately. It would be polite to return the gesture for Hime, but Hibiki doesn't even think of it. So in a way, they're bad at this together.

She averts her eyes, though, swallowing. All right. So this is mourning. She can handle that. Focus on the present. On Hime, one of her geniuses, her Princess of the ethereal wings. Asking about the murderer who killed Venus. Hurting. Choosing to take direct action. Hibiki would never prevent her geniuses from flying in whatever sky they chose, but.....

She sounds almost surly, reluctant, when she speaks. ]

...Don't die.

[ This is a serious moment. She can, for this moment, if she tries very hard, be honest. ]

[ For a pair of supposed royals, they can be fairly terrible at this sort of thing.

But that bit of advice does cause the smallest smile. A wish for her not to die. How... ironic? ]

I'm afraid I can't do that, Hibiki-kun... according to heaven's rules, I'm already dead. But... I'll do what I can to ensure my survival.

Mm.

[ Hibiki swallows. This is too heavy. For both of them. And if she keeps thinking about the heaviness, then she'll keep staring at those words, "friend" and "mourning", and - she doesn't need to. She's okay.

She is going to be okay.

So she sits up a little straighter, folding her hands on the desk. ] Well, as long as the balance onstage remains unchanged, I'll figure something out behind the scenes.

[ So definitely don't die again. Hibiki will have to RE-CHOREOGRAPH EVERYTHING.

Unforgivable. ]

[ As long as she can help it, she'll make sure to secure her spot on stage, both literally and figuratively.

But it looks like Hibiki's gonna be okay... and she's sure she'll be okay too. Time heals all wounds, as they say. Time... and cracking her fist across the murderer's face once they get a hold of him.

With that, she finally releases her hand. ]

That's the last thing I'd want. If... there isn't anything else, I should take my leave.

I'm sure the baron would want to hear what Levi has to say.

[ Hibiki's hand retreats back towards herself, but slowly. She's more adjusting for a new pose than flinching. ] As you desire.

[ She won't ask for updates. Lavi will tell her when it's done.

This is one part trust and one part just not liking being given tiny updates. ]

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[BBS/Action] | If I have to sin to see you again...

a midsummer maaaaaa-racle

be free little goat~

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