dead hearts are everywhere

[goodforsomething]

[Stan arrives at the chapel early. It doesn't take long to re-create his ghost summoning setup from yesterday; he left all the materials stowed under one of the middle pews, where the hymnals should have been. He sets it up exactly as it was, right down to the angles of the candles. Honestly he suspects the mirror was the only really important part, but he's not about to risk technical difficulties. Not tonight.

The rest of it was all gathered up earlier: there's some coffee, to ward against people falling asleep outside the rooms, and a lot of extra notebooks and pens taken from the storage room. He didn't tell anybody what to bring, after all, or what to expect. Secrets are easier for one person to keep, even if only for a day. Some of the rest might have gotten excited, the Kingmaker might have gotten curious, and then what?

As the meeting time draws near, he tears a page from one of the notebooks, scribbles his little symbol and a message on it, and slides it in front of the mirror.]

You there?

[To the others, he turns with a grin. In a voice somewhere between a gravelly whisper and his Mr. Mystery act, he says:]

Thanks for comin'. Our friends on the other side have been waitin' for us.

Comments

[cherryblooded]

[Cherryblod isn't sure what he was expecting, but this - actually, after the Glory thing? This is pretty close.

He takes a notebook and taps on it with a pen idly.]

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

[...He knows already what he's going to ask first.]

[goodforsomething]

Long as we're all here - the ghosts think they've found the Kingmaker's control room. They're the ones who set off the alarms before.

[cherryblooded]

Was wondering about that. Where is it?

[goodforsomething]

There's a hidden room on the second floor, behind some wall panel. Slides to the side.

I think we oughta go check it out pretty soon. He's probably seen us lookin' for hidden rooms already - we need to get in there before he realizes we're close.

[sleepingkogoro]

So what, somebody like Glory contacted you here?

['Friends on the other side' is kind of vague and Mouri doesn't make the connection. It also doesn't help he's half asleep right now, it is almost 1 AM, god damn it]

[goodforsomething]

Somebody like Aqua, more like.

[sleepingkogoro]

Like Aqua? Do you really think they're going to be here at this time in the morning?

[Okay, that gets Mouri to be more awake. He saw Stan put that piece of paper with text onto the mirror. He decides to follow Stan's lead, to the point where Mouri drew Stan's odd symbol too. For all he knows it's an occultism emblem, what does he know.

His first message is kind of generic]

Who is there?

[goodforsomething]

You think I just randomly decided to drag everyone outta bed? We set up a meet!

[pokexplorer]

So...you were being literal when you said "friends".

[Colress came with his Pokemon, ready for some more cool ghost action when Stan finally said what this gathering was for, but...

He didn't expect to hear about their own. They're...they're still here?]

[goodforsomething]

Sure! They're friendly ghosts, it's fine!

...oh, they wanted to know if any of your Pokemon can sense ghosts or somethin'? Could help them out.

[notjustawriter]

["Friends on the other side" makes this sound menacing as hell, but he's not about to turn down a chance to know for certain that the others are still around.

...Still around as ghosts, but that just means they need to get out of here for their sake, too.]

...I hope this works.

[goodforsomething]

Worked yesterday. They said they'd be around.

[trustharder]

[After a moment you'll find another message in the mirror. It's written backwards, but it shouldn't be too hard to make out what it says.

"HERE NOW, GATHERING AS MANY AS WE CAN IN HERE."

Below this are a good number of doodles. We've got:
- A little crown like the one on Yato's robes
- Two fish that form a circle
- A Wayfinder
- A shell with wings, like a certain mermaid's pendant
- A fancy cross surrounded by little sparkles
- ...okay who drew another knife
- And another poorly-drawn cat with the words "zagi would you stop" nearby.]

[cherryblooded]

[Time to seance. Cherryblod's done backwards reading enough to not struggle too much when he gets up to the mirror and puts his paper down.]

This is Cherryblod.
Is everyone who's died so far around as a ghost?

[Look at him, not being specific.]

[trustharder]

["I'M SORRY."

Followed by the much more blunt "HE'S NOT HERE."

And finally: "TO CHERRYBLOD AND SIGRUN: I'M SO SORRY."]

[isafraid]

[A seance, of all things.... who knew it could lead to something like this?

Speedwagon's jotted down on a piece of paper and, when he can, he approaches the mirror.]

It's Speedwagon.
Where are you all?

[trustharder]

["RIGHT BEHIND YOU."
And scrawled immediately under that is "BATES STOP THAT."
"CAREN STILL ISN'T FUN IF ANYONE WAS WONDERING."
"I TOLD YOU!!!!"
"CAREN IS TRYING VERY HARD."

...It looks like someone actually tried to answer the question though, because you've got "RIGHT HERE?" as well.

Oh wait, that's not helpful either. Sorry about your dead friends.]

[pokexplorer]

[When Colress' turn rolls around, he begins writing his question. He can still hardly believe it, they're actually here.

He ponders who represents what picture as he writes.]

Hello again, everyone. This is Colress writing.
Mr. Pines told me you would like me to try to have one of my Pokemon help you. I believe I have one with me that may be capable. What would you like Beheeyem to try?

[trustharder]

["I DON'T THINK I'VE MET BEHEEYEM, BUT IF YOU BELIEVE THAT ONE'S MORE SUITED TO IT... WELL, YOU'RE THE POKEMON EXPERT HERE."

"WHAT DOES BEHEEYEM DO? IT SOUNDS CUTE!!!!"

"TRY IT. WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?"]

[penduli]

[ ...this would be sort of unbelievable if he hadn't talked to Glory yesterday and brought Sigrun up to meet them today too.

What should he ask... ... ....... ........ ]

opinions on the stuffed animals?

[ #important question hour

why bother signing it really there's only like two people this could be from. ]

[trustharder]

[You're getting a little doodle of Yato with black cat ears and a speech bubble that reads: "They're adorable! Practice makes perfect!"

"misa-misa loves her little lambie <333 thank you!!!"]

[sleepingkogoro]

[Huh. Suddenly there are hieroglyphics. At least Mouri can decipher most of those.

Time to get to business]

Hello everyone. Detective Kogoro Mouri here. I'm sorry for the lack of pleasantries exchange, but I'd rather to get down to business as soon as possible

[Because this is a valuable opportunity! Who knows for how long it can last]

I suppose you all are in something like a copy of the Vault, right? What differences have you noticed from the Vault you are in now and the one you were in when you were alive?

[trustharder]

[You're going to get a drawing of the second floor of the Vault. It's nicely done too! More importantly, there's an arrow pointing to the closed off room between the art studio and the sewing room. It's labeled "SURVEILLANCE ROOM".]

[notjustawriter]

[Well it's... time to see what he can do.]

Hello everyone. Gabriel here.

Have you been able to get to places we can't?

[trustharder]

["Just the surveillance room, so far, but we've been searching."]