Character Inn

[[Dining Hall]]

A smile slowly broke across Daniel’s face. If she was suggesting what he thought she was suggesting, then she had read his mind more thoroughly than he’d imagined. Or maybe he was reading her wrong, which wouldn’t exactly be difficult with her.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, that just won’t do,” he said, “You’ve given me nothing to mistrust your brother, unless you feel the pursuit of power itself is a sin. And if you do, then unfortunately for you, I too am guilty. Who, then, am I to get in his way?”

He raised a hand before Erica could protest, and added, “If you have something substantial, you can save it for when we’re alone. I suspect we’ll have enough opportunities for that on this trip. In the meanwhile, why don’t you tell me more about yourself? I believe I heard your name is Erica. My name is Daniel Harper.” After a short pause, he pointed a finger at his head and continued, “If you hadn’t learned that already.”

[Daisuke's room]

She heard the water shut off. Ran dug her toy fishie out of Daisuke's backpack and begun to bat it about, not caring much about the noise outside. It wasn't like they could get in, and she knew someone was going to complain about the noise. Humans didn't like noise.

At long last, Daisuke opened the bathroom door, having put on the yukata that was put in there just for him. It fit perfectly... which brings up the question of how they made it without measuring him, because that's how his last kimono fitting went.

Did the birds not listen to Ryouta at all? He slumped on the futon and sighed.

[Aquabella's room]

What the hell was that?

Raphael got up; he was getting a cramp in his legs anyways. He headed to the door and cracked it open just enough to tell off the source of the noise, which appeared to be... crows, across the hall and down two doors. Or maybe ravens; he couldn't tell.

Raphael went back to his natural Cockney-Australian accent. "Oi, you three." One of the three turned its head slightly at him. "Yeah, your mates, too. Kindly shut the fuck up." He closed the door and headed back over to the futon.

Alrighty then. She hadn't moved, and he set to work on her stab wound.

Still need more info on the rest of her in the form of a post, not a PM.

[Daisuke's room]

Nuuuu, that's exactly what he didn't need! If they were quiet, he couldn't tell if they had gone away yet. What's more, it was freakin' Rafi. He hated Rafi, he was so creepy!

Daisuke rolled over and curled up. This was the worst day of his life.

edited 3rd Jun '14 9:26:24 AM by CrystalGlacia

[Hotsprings]

"I'd hardly be a good spy if I admitted to it, and it's not like I'm in control of my hair."

He smiles, "Although, I can see it now, throw my picture on a buildboard, fix up this hair, and thank some shampoo. You could get em coming in for miles."

He looks Sona over again, "Sex sells, does it not?"

[[Dining Hall]]

Erica gritted her teeth. He didn't get it. With her brother only a few tables away, she didn't want to get any more specific. And even before she could fully examine his mind and determine his worth, she was already having doubts.

"The pursuit of power is not a crime. What you do after you obtain it is a different matter. As for who I am—"

Her eyes flashed.

"Certainly not someone you ought to be calling 'sweetheart.' There are certain words that, when used, scream 'I'm an asshole.' And that is one of them. I've gathered statistics on this. I suggest you drop that word from your vocabulary before someone hurts you."

[Hotsprings]

"Like hotcakes. Whatever those are."

"So, how much are you selling it for?"

[Hotsprings]

"Depends."

Proseda looked Sona up and down again.

"For you? Free."

[Hotsprings]

"I could at least show you a couple of magic tricks," Sano said and reached behind Proseda ear and into his hair.

He pulled out a foil package and held it up between his fingers, "Do you always store these behind your ears?"

[Outside Daisuke's Room, 2nd Floor Hallway]

Great. I'm not sure if they have a sense of humor, or they're just mocking me. Where's Izumi when you need to chase away some birds? Ryouta thought, then again, she might actually try to eat one, and if they are some kind of alien sentient birds - well, that could be bad, to say the least. Probably best not to call her then.

Miyuki could easily freeze them solid, but again, that might cause problems, he thought, what to do?

"Well, I'm not letting you pounce on them once they get out, so I'll just wait here for the moment," Ryouta said to the ravens, hoping they'd get bored and move on with nothing to do here.

Man, does this place even have security? he thought, if they do, that would sure make this easier...

Hey Crystal Glacia, does Raphael still look the same as he did in the Swashcoupler plot?

edited 3rd Jun '14 12:47:03 AM by Sonzai

[Inn Entry -> 2nd Floor Hallway]

A break from the hectic days. It was what Naoko thought when she was offered the trip into this inn. Her investigation, as well as her brother's, had hit an impasse when the last lead they had turned out to be a red herring. However, that block-headed individual, with the pretense of 'looking things from another point of view' sent her here and worked on the case by himself.

Regardless, from the gentle jump she felt when passing under the torii, Naoko realized that this world was not hers anymore. She checked her appearance: a white dress, nothing too formal, but something trendy enough that she wouldn't look out-of-place in Shibuya... or as a showpiece in a kid's clothes shop. Such is the pains of having a small stature. As she began walking, she found her left hand unconsciously fiddling with her black hair, "a bad habit", she said, "this is why I'll never have straight hair."

Making some distance from the gate and to the inn, she flinched as if entering a room full of smokers, she took a step back, intoxicated by the foreign mix of abnormal powers permeating the air. Her bright blue stare is directed toward the check-in table, where a long-nosed, red-skinned receptionist sat, clearly half bored to death.

Naoko approached the table. Her gait was slightly hesitant, but she's convinced, from the aura that man exudes, that he's rather easy to talk to. She spoke, "So, are you a bona fide tengu or is that beard plucked from-"

Saburo snapped back, "Hey! That's rude, little miss! I was going to play my part and greet you like the nicest tengu since antiquity, but shots at my honed beards isn't going to fly." He pointed a pen at Naoko.

"Sorry, it's just so white and long I had to make a comment." Naoko bowed slightly as she apologized. As she had always been, a sinking feeling appeared in her heart when she was told a little miss, but that couldn't be helped.

"See? This is why hate not getting paid for this." Saburo leaned back on his seat, "You have reservations here, right? Miss...?"

"Naoko. Although I'm not the one who arranged for it." She replied.

"Hmm..." Saburo opened a book and quickly ran through it, "Ah, right there, room 114. Naoko Miyahara." Seemingly out of nowhere, a clinking sound suggested that he had just the right keys, "Don't cause too much trouble, human girl, we're getting a lot of guests today." He said.

"I'll behave." Naoko wrote her name in the register and took the keys, before heading upstairs.

When conversing with Saburo, she eyed several presences within the dining hall. She made a mental note to talk to them later. Still, a tengu in the receptionist desk. It seems like she's in for a really exciting stay.

Or so she thought. Was that a man having a staring contest with the birds?

edited 3rd Jun '14 3:11:16 AM by FlowingCotton

[2nd Floor Hallway -> Entry hall]

Unkindness realised they had forgotten to take the keycard to room 116. The trio usually didn't act in accordance with Unkindness, but they got bored waiting hallway ande the cat was a boring normal cat anyway.

"Anymore," "nevermore," "claymore," they said and raced to get to the counter first.

Sorry sorry sorry.

[Dining Hall]

The raven appeared at the other table, and John wasted no time scooting over to the next one. "I hate Ravens..."

He then zoned out for a few moments, still trying to grasp why on earth he suddenly woke up one evening and found himself in these...hideous cloths. He then snapped out of his thoughts when Takeo spoke to him again.

"Huh?" he said, "O-oh! Where I'm from? Well, to be specific, I'm from Atlanta. I own a gun shop that's about three blocks away from my brother's house." He twisted his lip, "For some reason, I woke up on an island that's far away from where I live, and when I left, I went through the gate and ended up here."

He shrugged, "Luckily, this gives me the chance to tidy up before I go tomorrow. Try to find my way back. In the meantime, I'm going to give myself a break."

edited 3rd Jun '14 10:03:28 AM by Masterofchaos

[2nd story hall]

A more proactive approach seemed necessary. To Jim, he said, "now, if you will excuse me, duty calls." After nodding politely at Naoko and Ryouta, he closed his eyes and once more began to hum. His mental shield dissolved, and his mind sought out energies unnatural to his world.

Given all the healing magic he had been using, Raphael stood out. Mazak approached the door to Aquabella's room and began to reach back for the harsh, hinge-rattling knock of an investigator.

But he stopped short. Having no authority here meant he could not afford such a display of power. He would not blame others, especially given his mohawk and jagged tattoos, for assuming he was a criminal and reacting appropriately if he started banging on their door like a beast. So instead, a few polite taps. Steady and confident, but not urgent.

edited 3rd Jun '14 10:49:34 AM by KillerClowns

[2nd Floor Hallway]

Whew. At least it worked, Ryouta said, looking relieved that the ravens had left.

Then, noticing Mazak knocking on the door of the man who had complained about the ravens a moment ago, he thought, best not to get involved in that argument waiting to happen. Although that guy in the room looked unusually similar to someone I heard about a little while ago - who was it?

Turning around, trying to stay out of the possible confrontation between Mazak and Raphael, he noticed Naoko standing nearby.

"Hey there," he said to Naoko, "staying here as well? Sorry about the birds, just trying to keep them out of trouble."

[Aquabella's room/2nd floor hall]

Well, that's gonna have to wait; he had little bitty nerves to put back. At least it was easier than that undead girl who got bitten. The area was much smaller, but that didn't mean his eyes weren't slowly drying up from trying to focus because holy fuck these were tiny, she was lucky it didn't get any deeper because he could feel her fucking vertebrae a millimeter below the wound, and now he had to hook it all up to the rest of her body.

Raphael still counted to three out loud, even though she most likely wouldn't hear, and her little body recoiled. He gently turned her over on her back, keeping her head turned to the side, then got up and checked the peephole in the door.

...O-kay.

He opened the door by about a foot and put on a content expression. "Is there something I can help you with?" He chose his natural accent, guessing that perhaps this wasn't the best person to plant a seed of deception in.

That was when Daisuke left his room, cat in tow. Raphael wasn't surprised that he tried to avert his gaze and slip out of the hall, given all the shit the poor kid had most likely gone through. So they ignored each other, occupying themselves with their respective aims.

[Entry Hall]

"Really?" Said Claire, clearly somewhat mystified. "How should I introduce myself, then?" She scratched her head. "Oh, and I don't mind talking about myself, if you're curious." She shrugged and offered a friendly smile. "I'm trying to be a bit more open about my nature, you see... And, speaking of non-biological persons, did you say you knew some?"

[2nd floor hall]

Mazak sensed that this was the man he had sensed the power from. No sign of deception, clearly physically different. "My apologies if I disturbed you," he said. "It seems I had the wrong door. However..." he quietly put his foot in the door, just a little. "I am an officer of the law in my native land, and I have reason to worry this intended 'vacation' will be anything but. At present, I am looking for an individual by the name of 'Cal'. A pale boy in his late teens with well-combed black hair." He added a few other descriptors as well, enough to make reasonably certain there would be no confusion of who this "Cal" was. "He made himself scarce with disconcerting speed when I mentioned I was a law enforcement agent. If you should encounter him..."

Again, Mazak remembered his technical lack of authority. "I leave the response to your judgment, but be advised and do recall the inn's security is, according to my sources, extremely competent. Let us hope this is merely a misunderstanding." The foot was withdrawn, freeing Raphael to close the door if he so chose.

[2nd Floor Hallway]

Naoko felt an odd presence coming out from Mazak, and the conservative way he was dressed didn't help matters. He was short, but had a sufficiently intimidating presence; something Naoko'd like to have. He seemed like he's in the middle of something, though. It might be for the best to leave them for the time being.

For one reason or another, the ravens bothering Ryouta was gone. Naoko approached the boy, "I'll have the room next door booked for quite a while. This inn seems really lively, albeit weird." Naoko said.

edited 4th Jun '14 3:25:25 AM by FlowingCotton

[Aquabella's room]

This is what he was interrupted for? To help the police do his damn job? In fact, that actually sounded like it would be a more pleasurable experience than, er, talking to somebody's parents. He healed bodies, not families; what the fuck was he thinking when he took that on...

Raphael heaved a mental sigh. He'd deal with it when she woke up.

"Ah," he said, still perfectly genial. "Thank you for letting me know. I have a patient to tend to, so good day to you, officer." And he closed the door without waiting for a response.

With that done, he headed back to the futon yet again and sat at its foot, legs folded and head resting in his palm.

Unfortunately, he couldn't walk out on her, not after foisting his help onto her until she relented. For all he knew, there was yet more legitimate work to be done here, so he remotely cast his powers even further into her little body, looking for something, anything to occupy himself with.

[Dojo]

After taking some time to examine the weapons, Blossom took a short, foam training dagger. She found to her satisfaction that it still had some heft, perhaps a core of some sort. "This?" Then she shook her head and put it back. "I'd never get close. What else..." she scanned the rack again. "Oh?" She found a training weapon akin to a gladius and made a few experimental stabs. Not bad. This would do.

She turned to Izumi, bowed, took on an approximation of a fighting stance, and muttered, "I'm going to regret this."

[2nd Floor Hallway]

Mazak frowned irritably. Nobody in Zavi would dare to treat a policeman this way, but he'd learned to accept that Westerners had far less respect for the rule of law and its enforcers than his own people. So with a shake of his head, he returned to leaning against the wall. So that plan had been a bust. He considered his options.

[[Dining Room]]

“For someone who doesn’t feel emotions, you sure do express them well,” Daniel said with a smirk, but he quickly put on a more serious face before continuing, “But I apologize, I may have been a bit out of line.”

“As for the matter of your brother, I’m sorry but I won’t act against him till I know for certain that he resolves to use his powers for harm. He may rant, he may rage, but at the end of the day, he will be judged only by his actions.” He looked down at the table as another memory came to mind.

He was standing with his longsword drawn, his broadsword and its sheath nowhere to be seen. His clothes were different as well. He was wearing grey shirt and pants, loose at the sleeves and legs, which could have passed for chainmail from a distance. On top of his shirt, he wore a tunic with a white crest on the front – a sideways warhammer radiating light from the metal end. He wore sandals which covered very little of his foot.

He was standing over a man, older than Daniel but not by much. He was kneeling in front of Daniel with his head on the ground. “Please, spare my life,” he begged, “I swear I know not what you speak of.”

“Shut your mouth, vile warlock” Brother Bart spat, “The stone does not lie.” He said holding up a small green orb, shining with a dazzling light. He was standing in front of a woman’s limp body, the gash on her back from his sword still leaking blood.

“Wait, brother,” Daniel said, “He has uttered not a single spell till now. Surely, he would have known his death was upon him.”

“He knows they would have been of little use,” Bart replied, “He thought his sly tongue would get him out of this, the coward.”

“But what if he speaks the truth?” Daniel asked, turning to Sir Hugh.

“Be that as it may,” Sir Hugh answered, “the fallen immortals have claimed him as their own, that fact will not change. He may be innocent now but when the rest of his ilk finds him, he will not be able to deny his nature, his urges. If you don’t quell him now, there is no knowing how many lives will be lost.”

Daniel turned back to the man who was now shaking in terror. He hesitated for a moment, realizing how easily he could be on the other end if his brothers found out the truth. But finally, he raised the sword above his head and brought it down on the man.

[Hot Springs]

"Now I do."

Proseda leans in, attempting to snatch a kiss.

If this is going to happen in the hot springs (which yeah it shouldn't but frankly proseda doesn't care) you can fade to black now)

edited 4th Jun '14 7:40:04 AM by Aqueos

[Hot Springs]

Might happen, but there's still time for some more sillyness.

Sano poked him away.

"They actually come from my impossibly cool invisible blue tophat," said Sano and tapped the top of the fictitious top hat with the other hand.

[Entry Hall]

One raven flew into the hall from the stairs. One followed closely after and tackled the first one in the air. The third one landed on the desk.

"KEE Kard!"

[2nd Floor Hallway]

"Definitely," Ryouta said to Naoko, "apparently everyone else heard about the grand opening today as well."

"And as for weird, I suppose that just comes with the territory of being an interdimensional youkai inn," he said, "have you been to any before?"

[Entry Hall]

"However you want to is fine with me," Miyuki said, "it's only a problem if you don't want people to know."

"For non-biological life, well, one could say that I qualify, but spirits are gray areas, at least according to scientists," she said, "otherwise, the only others that come to mind are hybrids or cyborgs. Like my physics teacher, Mrs. Kikuchi, she has some technological components."

"So... are you a completely non-biological person? Like an artificial intelligence?" she said. She'd have a field day talking to Takuya and Yuuta if they were here, she thought.

[Dojo]

Izumi bowed back and said, "Alright! Hit me if you can!"

She then did a backflip and twist above Blossom, almost hitting the ceiling, and landed so she was now behind Blossom, and said, "on guard!" pointing the foam katana at Blossom again.

She's very fast, but is also impulsive, mostly a gymnast rather than a fighter, and likes to show off. :P

edited 4th Jun '14 5:18:41 PM by Sonzai

[Garden - Near Lake, Grove]

Suddenly, there was a shrill whining noise and the space above part of the garden began to twist into a large spherical disturbance. It flickered between bright green and purple light for several seconds, then disappeared with a popping sound to reveal a two-meter-high reptilian alien, who fell heavily to the ground.

The alien was covered in red scales and stood (unsteadily, at the moment) upon wide clawed feet and a long tail. It had a long neck and a protruding snout with pale orange eyes set on either side - though their placement was curiously asymmetric - small nostrils, and hands with two long claws and a shorter thumb-analogue. It wore a thin but baggy brown garment, had thin netting wrapped around its neck and exposed forearms, and had four gold hooks embedded in the left side of its jaw. The overall effect was vaguely reminiscent of a large, featherless velociraptor that had gotten entangled with a load of fishing equipment.

The alien staggered, tail twitching, for about half a minute, then spoke in a rather incongruous squeaky female voice. "Oh, metaphorical One. I believe I am going to be - "

With that, she collapsed to all fours and vomited into the vegetation.

edited 4th Jun '14 6:32:54 PM by nrjxll

[Garden, near Lake/Grove]

"Is it a good sign they remembered the 'metaphorical' part of that statement?" Rein wondered aloud. Neither of the two seemed particularly bothered by the fact the newcomer was throwing up somewhat graphically.

"I have no idea. Is it a good sign they materialized out of thin air?" Se asked pointedly.

"Still processing data," Rein hummed, then took a step forward. "Do you need a towel? Maybe some water?" The hooks-in-face thing could just be cultural. Maybe.