week one afterparty ★ where is this warmth going? when it's tomorrow, it'll vanish

[excavated]

The day had ended on a rather solemn note, with not just one innocent dead, but two.

Both the Great Detective, Erika Furudo and the magical girl known as Cure Aqua, Karen Minazuki were killed in cold blood, and all that was left behind was a pool of blood that acknowledged their deaths. And yet, in spite of that, they had to move forward... 🗈

Of course, in spite of the lingering feeling that hung in the air, the possible suspicion that would probably stick through them for the rest of their stay here, if not for the rest of their lives.

Being used to death, he knew very well the sting of having blood on your own hands. He understood too well the consequences. But he didn't want people to simply just blame themselves for something that wasn't entirely their fault.

Which is why after a while, he goes on ahead to search people out to tell them that if they would prefer not to be alone, they can come to the dining room and that there will be food. For those who stay in their rooms, however, they'll find a neatly handwritten letter:

To the one who might read this:

We're dealing with a difficult time and I know that because of this turn of events, that people might start to distrust one another and even make the decision to not face the future. But I don't want to hide and run away from our present; I want all of us to face the reality and change the future so that it isn't a sad one. I'm certain that the two that we lost would not want that from us, either.

Feel free to meet me in the dining room if you wish to mourn, or if you'd wish to not face all of this alone. Nobody deserves to be alone on a day like this. Food will be provided. Don't force yourself to come, though.

- Syaoran

Set up in the dining area are a lot of various comfort foods - a lot of soup based dishes, kebabs, hot pots, you name it. Even if the times are difficult, especially with the results, at the very least there's a small glimmer hope, right...?

Comments

Investigation?

[goldenmaniac]

[Takumi doesn't come to eat right away, he feels he'd be sick if he did. But he knows if he goes to his room he will fall right back into that 'not really here' state.

So he, almost manic, goes outside. To the Chapel. ]

"Those that seek the truth are blessed.
You who would seek it, travel to the holy land."

[He looks around and spots the angel statues. Including the strange ones. He has the entire epitaph written down on his digivice, so when he gets 'before' the angels he lays down, putting his head as close to the ground as possible]

"As you travel, you will see the guardians.

Offer your fervent prayers to them with your head to the ground and reach out.
Only then you will be allowed into the way of the truth..."

[aleph_armed]

[Gebura does in fact pop in for a little while. At the very least, she stays long enough to grab a bowl of spicy ramen, and gulp the entire thing down.

...How is she eating it? That is a question that won't be answered while her cognition filter is up, at least.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He's here and he's going to immediately be looking for Syaoran, aiming to approach him right away. There's a very tired smile that doesn't reach his eyes, but he holds the letter up. ]

Agreed.

[ There's a quiet sigh. ]

Thanks. Is there anything left to do that I can help with?

[ Later on, Akira will be sitting quietly for most of this, spending a lot of time looking for anyone who looks to be in need of maybe... someone to just sit next to them, quietly? Because he will be doing that for some folks.

Later still, he will wind up outside, away from the party; he can be found sitting on the beach. He just needs a moment. He does eventually head back inside, but he's going to be heading for the place now dubbed the PT's Room. ]

[foundationmods]

[....

he sees a small hole at the bottom of the statues.]

[excavated]

It's no problem.

[ He smiles as well, something a little sad that also doesn't entirely reach his eyes, but there's something determined about his gaze, too. ]

You can help set the table. Would that be alright?

[goldenmaniac]

Reach out...

[Let's see if he can get his fingers in there]

[foundationmods]

[He can!

There's a click, but you feel like you'll have to do this with the rest of the statues.]

[goldenmaniac]

Hmm...

[Lets hit them all]

[foundationmods]

[There's a clack coming from the chapel.

Hm.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods. ]

That's definitely not a problem. [ just going to start getting to it, pausing at one of the dishes ] You're really amazing at cooking... Have you worked at a restaurant before?

[goldenmaniac]

[Lets go see! Alone, cuz Takumi is smart!!!]

[excavated]

I haven't. I learned all of my cooking from my father, but I lived alone for many years.

[foundationmods]

[As he enters the chapel, he'll see that the altar has moved back, revealing a set of stairs going down.]

[literalidiotball]

[It is dangerous to go alone! Take this curious moron entering the chapel.]

I thought I heard something in here...?

[Well. This is sure a secret passageway. And Takumi standing near a statue.]

Did you- Did you do that?

[goldenmaniac]

I... I think so?

[He wasn't prepared!!]

[literalidiotball]

Uh... Okay, I dunno what you just did, it it looks like you're making progress.

[Wheatley moves forward and peers into the stairwell. How dark is it from the entrance?]

[foundfate]

[At first Watanuki is tempted to hide away and not go see anyone, but Syaoran's note is what changes his mind. He can't say no to his dumb kinda!twin.

So he's in the dining area, poking around at some rice and miso. He's not really eating it, though, and he seems lost in thought.]

[foundationmods]

[dark.

You can just barely make out that it opens up into what is apparently a room, though...]

[excavated]

[ HE LOVES YOU TOO, WATANUKI ]

[chaoscontrol]

[Shadow doesn't plan on staying.

He comes to the dining area, no longer wearing any gloves and one hand wrapped in bandages. He ignores everyone and makes a beeline for the liquor cabinet]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[Before he gets to getting hammered, he thought to smoke out a pack, heading outside to clear his head, slowing down as he passed the chapel... 'the holy land'.

That slab in the manor mention it, perhaps? Maybe he'll distract himself from his own failure with something other than alcohol, and it seemed he wasn't the only one when he went inside, noticing Takumi and Wheatley]

Found something interesting?

[goldenmaniac]

I... think I might have solved the epitaph?

[Oh shit it's dark tho...]

[literalidiotball]

Impressive, innit? Dunno how he did it, but it must have been bloody clever.

[Wheatley, the kid just pushed some buttons.]

Hang on, lemme turn the flashlight on.

[Click! Wheatley's optic is now functioning as a flashlight. Now can we see anything?]

[foundationmods]

[You see....doors! and a room.

Go down, is what I'm saying.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[His brows went up in surprise, before a smile appears]

Good work. This may illuminate things for us...

[Are there any markings on the door that can be seen?]

It's unlikely something this hidden will have actual guards in place, but let us proceed with caution.