fearthearrow | [Event]

[Event]

*another instance of marks burning happened. It was sometime during the extremely early hours of the morning, and it ended just as soon as it came.

Of course, without any real leads, it might be hard to figure out just what's going on, but one hooded person who's been trying to clutch at straws is hanging out in an alleyway, trying desperately to try to pick up on something. Anything. And well... let's just say he hasn't been having much luck.

If you want a B route though: Tezaki Kou is at the library, going over some recent news articles on the computer. They seem to be about crime and disappearances that've happened recently in Domino City, if you look closely. Why would someone be looking at that?*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

*Shian had found the alleyway, and they definitely-- they DEFINITELY knew that this person was the one they thought they were. It was that other Signer who had gone around hassling them before!

They yelled out before they had a chance to think about it (an honest mistake, of course), and was caught off guard as the other Signer stopped and stared at them. A moment's hesitation, before they started to speak again.*

You heard me, right? I said to stop right there. You have some questions to answer.

I dunno, I think I don't have to answer anything you want to know. *Kou, clearly not in the mood, straightened out his hood*

Shouldn't you be concerning yourself with your own problems, as you other Signers do? Or is that not enough for you right now?

*Shian bristles a bit. Ah, yes, this guy still has a stick up him....*

I've got a problem, yeah. A problem with whoever you are, kid. Now what're you doing snooping around an alleyway?

Does it matter if you know? Just go back to your own business, and I'll take care of mine. Long as we stay out of each others' ways, I won't have to be reminded of why I don't like you guys.

Well, maybe my "own business" is right here. Listen-- *Shian held up their hand*

I get it, you don't like me. You don't like the other Signers either.

Except the Ancient Fairy's Signer, I have nothing against young children.

Oh, good, you have some sense of morals. Be that as it may, you're still a Signer, right? Do you know anything about what keeps making our Marks burn off our arms, right now?

*Kou couldn't help but grimace under the mask. Sure, he could say he's looking into it too, but something about seeing another Signer... it grated at him.*

What does it matter to you if you know or not? It'll get taken care of, so just go back to whatever it is you do to pass the time.

I'm trying to get it done with quickly, so whatever is happening will stop setting us off, you idiot. Either you don't know, or you do know and want to keep being obstinate. Fine! *throwing up their hands*

But is it going to get you anywhere if you keep spitting at me like a snake or something?

*well. no. but it's easier to be hostile, much as he hates to admit that. He notices Shian taking a step forward, as Kou instinctively steps back.* Stay away. Long as you keep your distance, I won't have to retaliate against you. I'm sure you're rather not end up in another duel with me, right?

I'll end up in whatever the hell I please, kid. Now answer the question before I pull it out of you.

*"pull"? Whatever, it was clearly a threat, and Kou was ready for it, pulling out his bow. Even just a warning shot should scare them off...*

I'm warning you. Stay away. If you want to figure out what's going on with our Marks, then figure it out yourself.

*Shian stopped and grumbled at seeing the bow. who the hell uses a bow in this day and age anyway? They grumbled a bit, turning around slightly...

... before turning back and rushing at Kou, sharp teeth gritted.*

*Kou didn't fully expect Shian to just rush him-- after all, after seeing how pain avoidant they were and how much they tried to dodge conflict, it was kinda a surprise. They pulled back the string, aiming to give the warning shot at Shian's feet, and then--*

*they just instinctively leap over the embedded arrow, as though not caring at it at the moment, tackling at the hooded Signer, and placing their fingers at his head.* Last chance, kid. I'm really not in the mood for your emotional outbursts.

*oh, geeze, they've gotten a bit stronger, when the hell did that happen...?

Kou composed himself though. The worst they could do was pull off the hood, and even then, it's pretty likely that they wouldn't recognize them at a glance...*

Whatever. Do your worst-- in whatever sense that is.

*che* Fine. I don't like doing this, but I guess there's no other choice, if you're being that stubborn.

*to Kou's surprise, they felt something... sink into his head. Whatever he was really expecting, it wasn't that sensation. He felt paralyzed by it, even as he tried to send the signal to his hands to try to get Shian off of him.

But then as quickly as he felt it, the sensation vanished, and Shian got off of him.

... only his hands still weren't moving. Neither were his legs.*

Hey, what the hell did you do...?!

Oh, I removed your ability to move your arms and legs for the moment. Don't worry, I'll put them back after we have a nice, calm discussion about what you know, kid.

You did what...?!

Yes, yes, I'm terrible. So what's this about burning smells?

*Kou had to think quickly. Whatever Shian did, it-- it pulled information out of his head. He wasn't even sure how that was possible, they'd never shown this before. He had to stay calm and wait whatever Shian did out, so he could move quickly.*

It's... Whatever is going on with our Marks, whoever is causing it... the most I've been able to figure out is that they're tied to the last couple weird disappearances that've happened, and whenever I manage to track a source, there's a burning smell in the air. Right now, I've been able to find scratches in the ground, but nothing I can tell as a definitive shape. And the last two times this has happened, it's been in the middle of the night.

I don't know what's been causing it yet, but it's what I know for a fact.

*Shian crossed their arms, pondering. The kid wasn't lying-- looking at the memories quickly, he had been examining the ground for whatever marks there were. And the burning... how are this kid's senses so good?

Shian could've looked deeper. Figured out who this kid was, who he knew, things like that...

But they were here to figure out the problem with the Marks. Not indulge someone who makes up problems.*

And what do you plan on doing? Do you plan on trying to keep track of other disappearances? Or to scrounge up information that might not exist?

*grimacing under his mask, again*

I... I'll admit that I can't figure out anything right now, with what little information I have. But if I have to track the alleyways and wait for others to vanish to find the source of this, then so be it. It's what I'm ready to do.

... Fine then. Let's make a deal, kid. *Shian crouches down in front of the hooded Signer, playing with two small, glowing orbs*

[Event]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]

Re: [A]