Who are you calling short?!
Jon Archwood, outside the church
Unfortunately for the two passerby, Jon had in fact noticed them. He walked up to them with his trademark smirk, seemingly a different person from the boy who had argued with Reiki inside the church.
He opted to go talk with Dan first.
"Hey, bud! Didn't think someone would catch me here! Damn this is really embarrassing! I've been doing some really kink stuff back there and um, I'd appreciate it if you kept it our little secret, huh?" He laughed loudly, whilst patting Dan in the back.
Then he walked towards Allistair. And he froze, his eyes widened in shock. But that lasted only a few seconds, and he was back to being smug old Jon Archwood.
He walked past Allistair, but whispered into his ear as he passed.
"You've awakened as well? Go into the church. Find your answers."
Master of the Cliffhanger! Fire Emblem Elibe LP!
Reiki — The Church
"WELL we better get moving to the hospital. Maybe asking around will net us some information... then again that stuff is usually confidential." the leader of the group sighed, scratching the top of her head. "I dunno, but... let's just get moving. The faster we get there, the better." with that Reiki walked down the aisle, opening the door.
Delicious in the Moomin Valley
The fact that Archwood's expression changed so fast was alarming. He hid something. His normal - although Allistair wasn't sure about it now - happy-go-lucky personality again shifted when the two made an eye contact. Richardson frowned. Jon Archwood, of all people around, shouldn't be afraid of him. He quickly masked that, but not quick enough, leaving Allistair with another set of thoughts. That's when he... whispered those words.
"Awakened?" "As well?" So, he apparently wasn't the only Persona user in Archwood. Allistair decided that he can catch Archwood later and ask for more information. Englishman sighed and went to open the door only to be opened from the inside by... Reiki Ademson. Of course, she. One year younger than him, she just loved to get herself involved into weird or unusual stuff. That wasn't very surprising for Richardson. What was surprising was that, apart from Kingston, she was accompanied by... Miss Masen?
An awkward silence lasted a second or two.
"Good afternoon." He casually greeted them, adjusting his trenchcoat. "Archwood pointed me here."
Big Grah
In The Zone
Christopher
He followed Reiki out the door as he said "Well, my car can fit three maybe four if you squeeze someone in the middle. We'd certainly get there faster than by foot." He saw Allistair and raised his hand to greet the two people outside the door. He knew Allistair from school, who wouldn't know about you when you were a self-proclaimed satanist who supposedly carried weapons on his person at all times. They'd talked a few times and Chris had come to the conclusion that his beliefs may be wierd but he was an ok guy in the long run. Beside him was another man, one Chris knew less well. Dan something.
"Hey guys. No offense but what brings you, Allistair, to a church of all places" he said with a quizzical look. He didn't think people who believed what Allistair did would frequent the local church. "And what do you mean Archwood pointed you here?" he finished
I, for one, welcome our new Basketball Z overlords. All hail The Generation of Miracles! (Aomine is the best though)
Delicious in the Moomin Valley
Allistair
"Being a Persona user." He responded flatly, shrugging. "And for the love of Pete, do you guys really think satanists avoid churches at all costs as if they were, I dunno, bowls of acid? I may not approve of the belief, but I certainly can approve the building itself. As for Archwood, he said that I'm awakened. I suppose he meant that certain voice in head. I swear, it's the first time I saw him that serious."
Oh right, Conway was still here. Richardson decided to ignore him for the time being.
"So... All of you too?"
Big Grah
Stupid Man Suit Wearer
Ken Underwood – Redrock Town, Park
Now Playing: Maximum the Hormone – Zetsubou Billy
Ken was deep in thought as he swung upside down from a chin-up bar. He had lost count of how many abdominal crunches he had performed, but he knew that it was more than he usually did as his gut was beginning to get the familiar burning sensation that comes with overexertion. In between reps, he had noticed when…what was that girl’s name again? Ricki? No...it was Asian…Reiki. That’s it. He had noticed when Reiki had finally woken up and left the bench where she had been sleeping for some time.
Part of him had wanted to ask her what was wrong as she seemed somewhat disturbed by something.
But he knew better. Small Talk led to Conversation, Conversation led to Acquaintance, Acquaintance led to Friendship, Friendship led to Pain. Might as well not bother.
We are Cerberus…
As Ken did another rep, he heard that deep, slightly terrifying voice in his head again. A memory? No…just a dream. But, man, was it weird…
No way out.
Ken leveled his pistol at his first target, a jet black humanoid, and pulled the trigger. A *Crack* emanated from the pistol, and the enemy’s head snapped backward, releasing jet black blood. The shade fell, only for the others around him to edge ever closer.
Why can’t I wake up?
He felt something brush against his back. He whipped around and fired off another shot, except this one went wide, hitting nothing but air. His turn knocked him off balance slightly. But before he could fall completely, he managed to drop himself to one knee and leveled his pistol again, firing one more at the advancing horde. His shot was true and he eliminated another shade.
He suddenly heard a roar from somewhere behind him. Before he could react, a great, black claw swiped at him, throwing him several feet. When he turned back to see the new assailant, his heart almost stopped.
Before him was a Shadow. He didn’t know why he imagined that it was a proper noun, but something inside him told him that this Shadow was much, much stronger than the shades he had eliminated. Before his eyes, the remaining shades seemed to be absorbed by the Shadow, making it larger, and most likely, stronger.
When the last shade was absorbed, the Shadow raised one foot and began its grim advance. Ken fired off several shots, not one of which seemed to do any damage. The Shadow, not within striking distance, reached out with a clawed hand and pinned Ken to the ground.
WAKE UP!
Ken wondered what actually happens when you die in a dream. Part of him wondered if he would go into a coma, like the others he had heard about on the news. If that happened, he wouldn’t be able to tell anyone what had actually happened. It was like that old riddle that Julius Caesar had dreamt that he was falling and when an advisor tapped him on the shoulder, he died. The riddle was, “How do we know this was false?” Ken remembers replying, “Because he was stabbed to death.”
The answer actually was, “He wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone what he was dreaming about.”
It made sense now.
Suddenly, Ken heard a great roar and a huge beast suddenly crashed into the Shadow, releasing Ken from its grip. As Ken slowly got to his feet, he saw that the great beast that saved him was…
We are Cerberus. One of the canine’s heads turned toward him and spoke. Well, not so much spoke as ‘mentally projected’. We have heard thy call and will obey thy commands. Command us to rend this fiend, and we shall.
Ken, struck completely dumb, simply nodded.
Very well. As Ken felt what could best be described as part of his Life Force being ripped from his body, Cerberus clamped down on the Shadow with all three of his mouths and after a little bit of straining, tore the creature in three different directions.
It was then that Ken had shot awake in a cold sweat.
He suddenly felt very exhausted and carefully lowered himself from the chin-up bar. And not a moment too soon. As soon as his feet touched the ground, his legs completely gave out and he collapsed there on the spot. Panting, and with sweat now dripping from his face, he was suddenly very glad that Reiki had left.
Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.
Web Slinger/Hope Bringer
Hayley Proctor - The Church
Hayley Proctor arrived in Archwood in search of the truth behind the mysterious comas a few days ago, but had only just scrounged up some info on these so called 'Persona Users' and their meeting place. She made her way around the side of the church and stole in through it's rear entrance. Silently she made her way through dust and cobweb-filled rooms that looked like they haven't been used in years, until stopping at a door when she heard voices from the other side of it. Hayley pressed herself flat against the wall next to the doorway, doing her best to listen in on the conversation that took place.
It seemed Miss Proctor had arrived just in time for a shouting match. Soon one of the shouters exited through the front, but the conversation continued. Listening intently she managed to hear something about "awakening to Personas" and "the fifth coma patient". It seemed they were definitely connected to the coma cases, but how? Were they trying to cure it or were they instigating them? Hayley continued listening even as another joined them, she had to know more.
edited 29th Aug '12 8:40:39 AM by BetaRay
You are not alone, and you are not strange. You are you, and everyone has damage. Be the better person.
Reiki — The Church
"Huh?" as soon as Reiki opened the doors, he saw Allistair. Of course, like the others, she knew him from school. A few talks here and there, but no prolongued conversations. "Oh, hey Allistair, what's up?" the young girl said, extending a hand to shake. "Oh uh..."
All of you too? He probably means Personas.. and he just said he's Awakened, so...
"Yeah, we all have the Gift, although I can use multiple Personas... which I still can't find out why." the green-haired, green-eyed girl scratched her head absent mindedly. To tell the truth, Reiki never believed in anything but her family. Just her mother, and this ring bestowed upon her. "Persona user? May I ask but... are you interested in solving the coma cases?" her arms folded. If they could get another person on their team, that would be grand.
In The Zone
Christopher, Outside the Church
"Oh no, I just have a keen sense of irony Allistair and I enjoy the reaction" he smiled. "I do agree with Reiki though, the more people who can control their persona's the better. The shadows are no joke" he said. He had, without thought, reached for the sword he used against shadows but there was nothing there right now. He stood beside Reiki waiting for Allistair's answer which he hoped was yes.
I, for one, welcome our new Basketball Z overlords. All hail The Generation of Miracles! (Aomine is the best though)
Delicious in the Moomin Valley
Allistair
"It will certainly be easier to solve them in a team, rather than on my own. I tried. Wasn't pretty." He responded, adjusting his trenchcoat. "To be honest, I don't have anything better to do at the moment and if we can jail some scoundrel thanks to our activity, I'm more than eager to help you out... So, counting Archwood, there's four of us. Should be enough to stop another coma." He then turned to respond to Kingston's words. "Given what I see and hear in school, I have my doubts believing it really was irony, but to hell with that."
edited 29th Aug '12 10:39:35 AM by FergardStratoavis
Big Grah
King of Lame-Style
Alice - Church
Alice snapped out of her thoughts to find... Allistair? The satanist? Odd... Yes she had heard the rumors but Alice was probably the only teacher in school that wasn't terrified of him "Mr. Richardson, good to see you" She said politely
edited 29th Aug '12 12:06:38 PM by Sanojutsu
The graceless warrior, wielder of the edgeless blade, prophet of the old religions, writer of fluent nonsense, saviour of soul and song.
In The Zone
Christopher
"Hey now, I'm many things, a liar isn't one of them. You've given me no reason to antagonize you. All that said, good to have you on board" Chris said once Allistair finished. "So then, who has a way to get to the hospital besides walking other than me" he asked the group standing there "I would assume Miss Masen drove but I could be wrong."
I, for one, welcome our new Basketball Z overlords. All hail The Generation of Miracles! (Aomine is the best though)
King of Lame-Style
"I can drive" she said turning to Chris "I just don't own a car"
The graceless warrior, wielder of the edgeless blade, prophet of the old religions, writer of fluent nonsense, saviour of soul and song.
Reiki
"Welcome aboard, Allistair!" she gave him a slute, turning toward Christopher. "I'm going with you for obvious reasons. Ms. Masen, you can drive yourself, right? We can take Allistair if you want." she flashed the satanist a wide smile. So innocent, she didn't judge anyone but herself.
This weight is kind of heavy, but I'll bear it with everything I've got.
"... You don't?" Reiki just assumed she didn't. Well, that was complicated. "Alright, I have an idea. You three go, I'll stick around here. You guys can do some work for information, so report back anything you find." Reiki placed a hand to her chin. "I'm going to work on Jon." the young girl started to walk out the door, past Allistair.
King of Lame-Style
"Good luck!" said Alice as reiki sped away, then turning to them "So... are we going?"
edited 29th Aug '12 12:22:11 PM by Sanojutsu
The graceless warrior, wielder of the edgeless blade, prophet of the old religions, writer of fluent nonsense, saviour of soul and song.
Delicious in the Moomin Valley
Allistair
"Hospital? Going to check that latest victim?" Richardson wanted to make sure. "I surely can go. It'll always be good to get some more insight on the case, rather than walking in the dark."
I hope they are trustworthy. His Persona muttered.
"It's not like I have any other option." He responded in his mind, shrugging. "But I suppose I can trust a group with teacher in it, even if they're as quirky as Miss Masen."
Big Grah
In The Zone
Christopher
"Well, I guess we are headed to the hospital then I'll call you if we get something Reiki" he said "Come on, I parked the thing over here." He lead them to his car which was actually his father's but he was in Europe currently so he had free reign to use it. The car itself was a two or three year old Dodge Charger, which was a nice car all told Chris figured. He unlocked the car and opened the door for the other two.
"Hopefully this victim is recent, I think we might have a better chance on someone who just fell into a coma than otherwise but who knows for sure" he said as he got in the drivers seat.
I, for one, welcome our new Basketball Z overlords. All hail The Generation of Miracles! (Aomine is the best though)
King of Lame-Style
Alice nods and gets in the passenger seat shuffling over to let Allistair in.
The graceless warrior, wielder of the edgeless blade, prophet of the old religions, writer of fluent nonsense, saviour of soul and song.
Delicious in the Moomin Valley
Allistair
"Does the time matter considering the victim is in comatose either way?" Allistair asked, getting into car. "Or, for another thing, why would they even want to allow us to see that guy?"
Big Grah
Reiki — Speeding out of the Church
Reiki ran as fast as she could to catch up to Jon. One step, two, three, each one brought her closer to the stuck-up, egotistical heir to the Archwood fortune. "HEY!" she yelled to him. "YOU DICK!" Reiki yelled again.
If that won't do, I'll just slug you in the FACE!
She decided against it because, soon enough, Jon was in her sights. "HEY! YOU!"
In The Zone
Christopher, Leaving the Church
"My theory goes that the longer they remain in a coma the more shadows there are to fight, attracted by the person's unwillingness to leave the dream" he said as he started the car. "As to how we get in the room, luckily for us the area around the dreamer is a gateway into the dream so we don't really have to do more than get close and enter. It might be a little difficult for you Miss Masen since you don't have an awakened persona but with the latent potential and the rest of us there you should be fine" he concluded his little speech and began to drive toward the hospital.
edited 29th Aug '12 1:10:18 PM by AuraofMildChaos
I, for one, welcome our new Basketball Z overlords. All hail The Generation of Miracles! (Aomine is the best though)
Delicious in the Moomin Valley
Allistair, inside the car
Richardson frowned. "Miss Masen doesn't have a Persona to use? Well, that certainly complicates things. Anyway, if that what you say is true, then maybe we will be able to get to that guy with some minor problems." That would be great. Perhaps the guy in question could later help him out as well. He took out his pride and glory, his Armsel Striker, from underneath his trenchcoat. "I'll just make sure the magazine's full...", he murmured, slowly loading one shell after another.
Big Grah
In The Zone
Christopher
Chris could hear the sounds of the gun being loaded though he didn't know what it was until he got a look in the backseat. "Is that a gun? You actually carry around a gun" he asked in utter confusion, certainly such a thing was abnormal. He looked at Miss Masen for a second with a confusion written on his face before he returned his eyes to the road as a light turned green. "Either way, just keep that hidden, last thing I want is the police on us. We should be arriving at the hospital in a minute or two now" he was still confused but he would have to accept it for now.
I, for one, welcome our new Basketball Z overlords. All hail The Generation of Miracles! (Aomine is the best though)
King of Lame-Style
She sighs "yes I don't have a persona... I've been trying to awaken her since I began looking after this crew"
The graceless warrior, wielder of the edgeless blade, prophet of the old religions, writer of fluent nonsense, saviour of soul and song.
Allistair, outside of The Church
Richardson was a patient guy. If necessary, he could wait here an hour or so. It's not like he had anything better to do. There was still time for exams and Sonia just today decided to infest their computer with viruses of all kind by recklessly visiting some sites. For the sake of being an ass, he refused to format the hard drive for her. He could always check the web in school or even in internet cafe if necessary. She got into trouble, so it was in her best interests to be concerned about that instead of whining over it.
Conway was still here, trying to avoid an eye contact with Allistair. Richardson sighed. If he was involved into this little conspiracy, then his interest was pretty quickly dropping. To be honest, what was he trying to accomplish, that Conway? Walking so slow, hunched like that... He was pretty clearly afraid of Allistair which seemed to piss the Englishman in question even more. He surely wasn't eating babies, listening to death metal or whatever laymen associate with satanists and still...
"Oi, Conway!" He called him, giving an irritated sigh. "What's with that look? I don't bite."
Big Grah