daybreakacademy | This is Halloween, This is Halloween

Entry tags:

This is Halloween, This is Halloween

Who: Goro Akechi and you! (Featuring one closed prompt)
What: Pumpkin carving, poor sleeping habits, and a secret meeting...
When: Throughout October
Where: Lum 3's common room, various places on campus, and a movie theater in Soleil
Warnings: Closed thread will involve discussion of conspiracies involving the sort of people who would sell out the rest of humanity to save their own skins.

[Open – Lum 3]

[The Halloween season is upon us, and that can only mean one thing: it's time to carve up some Jack-o-lanterns! Akechi's set up carving equipment in the common room of his dormitory floor, along with a posterboard sign reading 'free pumpkins', helpfully decorated with Jack-o-lantern doodles, taped to a box of pumpkins of varying size, shape, and color. Signs elsewhere on campus advertise a pumpkin carving party, in case anyone outside the dormitory wants to participate.

...Just don't mind the weird pumpkin goblin floating around and offering advice like 'it should look more like me-hee, ho!' or 'I know where to go-ho for a spare butt if I ne-hee-d one!']

[Open – Around Campus]

[Outside of pumpkin carving, Akechi seems even more stressed and fatigued than usual. He normally drinks an unhealthy amount of coffee, but these days he's almost never without a thermos or a can of energy drink. That might explain why he's so jittery and jumpy, but...well, maybe the crash is why he keeps turning up passed out in his chair in just about any place a student might opt to sit down for a while. Usually he just has his head leaned against his chest or the nearest firm surface, but every now and then he winds up curled up on the floor...and not always out of the way. Try not to trip.]

[Closed – Text]

[At some point between pumpkin carving and passing out, Akechi manages to send a text to Lia.]

Halloween movies are starting to show in theaters. Maybe we should catch one?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh! That sounds like a wonderful idea.

[... And while she's waiting for her food, she's gonna dig out her phone to turn it off.

The movie's an enjoyable time for both of them, at least, but Lia's not forgetting what happened the last time she and Akechi went to catch a movie together, so as the credits roll, she stretches... but otherwise doesn't move from her seat.

In fact, she looks over at him expectantly.]

Edited 2019-11-02 08:20 (UTC)

[He turns off his own phone before going into the theater, and Lia might notice he's having to fight not to sing along with the musical segments.

When it's over and the theater is mostly empty, however, his expression turns more serious.]

I've identified one of the connections your problems have.

[When she notices how serious his expression's gotten, the lingering smile from the movie fades from her face. And at his statement...]

Huh, really?

My knowledge of this is a close secret, and if the wrong people hear about me sharing it, it could get me killed. Can I trust that you won't tell a single person without my permission?

[She gives a solemn nod in response.]

I won't tell anyone. I swear it.

There's a...group, originally based in Japan but with connections worldwide, called the Rising Sun Coalition. Their goal is to usurp Daybreak's position as the center of hope for overcoming Nightfall.

But, really...they don't care about the average person. They want the credit for saving the world, but they'd be perfectly willing to accept being responsible for it ending as long as they're able to ensure survival for the people they consider important. They're even willing to broker a deal with the Outlands...they hope to leverage their plans to undermine Daybreak for a promise to spare certain people from the carnage if Nightfall succeeds.

... The Rising Sun Coalition...

[Somehow, even just the name puts a bitter taste in her mouth.]

... That lines up with what I found before I had to come here, unfortunately... So there's really no doubt Bloodworth's connected to... these people...

[...]

Jeez, even his name just about spells things out, how the heck didn't I see any of this coming?

Considering a mafia boss whose name means 'Moneycastle' managed to get away with extortion for...quite a while, I think people just don't pay much attention to names.

[There's an amused snort before she pauses.

Man. This fucking sucks.]

Um... do you mind if I ask how you found this stuff out, though...?

...I have a magical app on my phone, that helps me navigate a certain area of the Outlands. I can visit landscapes born out of people's cognition, that reflect their beliefs. They're controlled by a part of the owner's psyche called the Shadow, that represents the parts of themselves that they don't want others to see. Naturally, that part wants to be acknowledged, so they're often quite free with volunteering secrets.

Once I gain access to the Shadow of one person in a conspiracy, it's usually pretty easy to find out at least a few of their accomplices and investigate them in the same way.

Don't spread it around, though. It's a little embarrassing as a renowned detective to admit I have a magical advantage.

[... Hmmm.]

So Bloodworth has one of these things is what you're saying, basically.

[Though, heh...]

Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.

I haven't been there directly, but images of him have appeared in ones I have been in. These cognitive versions of people know everything the area's owner thinks they know, so they can still be interrogated up to a point.

So... in that case...

[... hm.]

Do you need anything specific to actually get there?

I need a name, a location that serves as the center of their distorted viewpoint, and what they mistakenly treat that location as though it is. I...also need to be able to reach the location in question, so I've never been to one outside of Tokyo or the towns in easy travel distance from Soleil.

Unfortunately, Bloodworth's is probably in Manhattan... It'd likely be the Peacekeepers' base, if my guess is right.

[Although...]

We could make it happen, though. If you went with me on a trip back home or something.

I have been talking to someone about the possibility of magical recording equipment that could get video evidence. Are you thinking of exposing him?

I mean... yeah, of course. I'd kind of like to be able to go back and visit my parents or do stuff in NYC without having to look over my shoulder all the time...

It's all in the planning stages right now, but I have hopes for it working out.

There are...other ways to take advantage of these worlds, too, but they're a bit more extreme.

Mm, hopefully it does!

[... Although, hmmm.]

What are the other ways?

One is inflicting a change of heart. By telling a target you're going to steal the core of their warped desires, it temporarily becomes a physical thing in the Outlands. If you succeed at removing it, their cognition realigns with reality and they come to regret their crimes. Of course, this is causing a change in someone's personality without consent, so it's not precisely ethical.

The other...requires more of a stomach for violence. The Shadow is a fundamental part of a person's psyche. If one were to destroy it in the Outlands, they would also be destroying a portion of their mind...it would cause a chain reaction leading to mental collapse and catatonia. In essence, you would be killing their mind and leaving the body an empty shell.

... 'Not precisely ethical' is kind of the least of my concerns when I'm being threatened like this, to tell you the truth...

[Not to mention, there's something appealing to her about Bloodworth wallowing in guilt and shame as opposed to just being exposed for his crimes. He deserves it, frankly.

... Ahem.]

The latter is definitely off the table though. I... don't think I could stomach that at all.

It'll take some preparation. Alerting the target to our plan to steal the core of their desires will also put their Shadow on high alert, so we'll need to secure a route to where the target object will appear. The Shadow will also most likely try to stop us, so...be prepared for a fight.

[She listens quietly, nodding along.]

Right... well. We have time for now... [She pauses.] And we do have that deal of ours. We can see about sharpening my skills in the meantime, right?

Of course. Rushing in before you're ready wouldn't serve any purpose. Besides...I can probably get us some backup, if you don't mind others knowing about your situation.