Backdated to before the Knight's Message

[in_over_his_head]

1) [One Thread only please.]

[Calvin is standing before the Stone door with a very wary look. He probably shouldn't have brought along a particular stone with him... but it was better to have it on hand in case they found something inside. He feels his stomach churning in a horrific way that Asagi would be familiar with on bad days. With this he carefully looks back to the others accompanying him.]

On a scale of one to ten, how much of a bad feeling are you getting from whatever might be behind here?

2)



[After everything that has happened Calvin has retired back to his quarters. As soon as the bag holding the Stone is put away... he crashes to the floor, curling up into the fetal position and shaking badly with a wide eyed expression. Clearly the day's excitement along with discovering the fact that Project Pedantic Blue not only existed... but there had been actual living physical proof of it on the same base as he was currently occupying freaked him the hell out.]

[Bother him?]

Comments

1

[star_of_sad]

...

[After what Setsuko has been through recently, her nerves are pretty torn up as well. Watching over insane brainwashed prisoners was bad enough, and now...]

About seven and a half. Maybe an eight.

[What a strangely specific answer.]

[in_over_his_head]

About eight and a half over here. It'd be a seven on its own, but being right next door to that.

[He points over to where a certain project was run.]

Well it kind of adds atmosphere of the worst sort...

[He's going to look at the stone door and approach it ever so carefully.]

[star_of_sad]

The Ebon Court... that's how they called themselves, right? They said they have good reasons for doing what they do.

[keep_your_dignity]

SO SAY HALF THE CRAZIES WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THE LAST YEAR, OHARA. I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT. [The massive shape of Kagura comes in, flanked by a couple of her Executors. She raises a hand and makes a curt gesture at them]

SPREAD OUT, CONTAINMENT PROTOCOLS TWELVE TO FIFTEEN. IF ANYTHING COMES OUT OF THERE I WANT IT SUBDUED OR DEAD BEFORE IT HAS TIME TO SNEEZE. UNDERSTOOD?

"Yes'm!"

[Well, Calvin, you got your backup. On the other hand, said reinforcements are apparently Graveyard thugs and some kind of heavily armed, huge robot also bearing the Graveyard insignia. So, be careful what you wish for, is what we've learned today.]

SO, EDWARDS, DID YOU ACTUALLLY LEARN HOW TO OPEN THIS THING OR ARE YOU GOING TO TRY OPEN SESAME?

[cloningblues]

Can't we just force it open? The pressure is killing me...

[Fortunately Blue One doesn't suffer from stomach ulcers, unlike its pilot, so it can stand there and aim its gun while Asagi is busy being in pain.]

[in_over_his_head]

Considering we only found out about this thing today?

[He gives the heavily armed robot a shaky glare.]

Sarcasm despite a monotone. For all I know you're that mistletoe's best friend.

And for all we know forcing this thing open might make it worse and-

[As if whatever was behind the door heard them...]

"You are not of the Court."

[A symbol seemed to burn to life on the stone. Calvin let out a startled yelp before swinging around to regard it.]

I'm not the only person who heard that right?

[star_of_sad]

Who's that?!

[Setsuko's reaction shows she too can hear it.]

2

[majestic_keiki]

What was that crash?

[Kei's voice can be heard from the other side of the door.]

[in_over_his_head]

N-

[Calvin takes a deep breath and tries to keep a level tone.]

Its nothing. Just tripped. I'm fine n- now.

[majestic_keiki]

...Are you sure? [He certainly didn't sound fine.]

[in_over_his_head]

... Not really. Kinda freaking out here right now!

[Calvin's voice raised in both pitch and volume before he started to hyperventilate. Oh yes. This was pretty much routine. Survive an investigation. Go back somewhere safe and THEN collapse into a quivering ball of fear.]

[majestic_keiki]

[There's a long break before anything else is said from the other side of the door.]

Do you need to go see the medical staff?

[in_over_his_head]

Would it lead to me getting tied down, sedated heavily, lobotomised or any combination of those things?

If yes then no.

2

[mc_of_mcs]

[A certain purple-haired girl was walking by when that crash happened. She can't see what's beyond that door, but she sure as hell heard the noise.]

Nepu?! What's going on in there?!

[For some reason, she sounds almost like a generic guard here.]

[in_over_his_head]

Nothing. Nothing's wrong... except the entire goddamn world just turned itselfonitsheadagainohgoodgodwhydidIeventakethisjob

[Que hyperventilation.]

[mc_of_mcs]

[Well, that settles it. Because it doesn't sound good at all.]

Give me a sec! I'm busting in!

[And the door goes down with another crash. However, what she sees in front of her has her completely stunned...]

...Huh?

[in_over_his_head]

[Neppu. The place is cramped and looks like the head on collision of a detective's office, an occultist research area and a witch doctor's hut. The door kinda went down on the person you were talking to as well. There was a yelp of pain right there.]

[mc_of_mcs]

What did I just stumble onto? A dungeon? Or is it a villain's lab?

[At that moment, she finally remembers the yelp of pain.]

Yipes, hang on!

[She heaves the door off the poor guy soon enough.]

[in_over_his_head]

Ugh.... This is not my best day....

[Calvin's rubbing at the side of his head as he sits up before looking at Nep incredulously.]

Thanks I guess. And for your information this is a det-... Inspector's office. I just like to be prepared for unusual occurrences.

['Something about this dame feels peculiar. It isn't the fashion sense. It's like looking into a river but not being able to see just how far or how deep it goes. Whatever it is, she's definitely not like anyone else.']

2 - the batman thing never gets old...for the people doing it

[brought_it_back]

You don't seem well.

[Said physical proof is sitting at Calvin's desk, looking over some of his papers.]

[in_over_his_head]

[Yeahno this doesn't help Calvin at all.]

Gah! Whatareyou- howdidyou-

[He's gonna back up a lot.]

What... Why are you here?

[brought_it_back]

To deliver some threats, actually.

[Eva puts down the papers, and starts trying to balance a pen end-first on one of her fingers.]

But if it's a bad time, I can come back a bit later.

[in_over_his_head]

Oh. OH THAT IS JUST FANTASTIC. WHY DON'T WE JUST GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WAY AT ONCE THEN?!

[brought_it_back]

Relax, it's not that bad.

[Now she puts that pen down, arranging it in a nice line with some others. Those papers are more in order now, too.]

I know you're...rather interested...in secret projects and the like. And I am the direct product of one of them. I'll answer your questions, if they're not too disagreeable.

But I like my privacy, and I won't accept you interrogating me. Furthermore, I'm going to be leaving for a while soon, and if you rummage through my stuff while I'm gone I'll...think of something.

...That aside, are you really alright? You look to be having a panic attack.

[in_over_his_head]

... Clearly I AM NOT-

[Calvin takes a deep breath and tries to calm down. While he's somewhat shaky, he has to a degree managed to get a handle on things. ]

Let's... Just say I need a little more time to deal with being proven right and having my worldview shaken like its a snow globe.

And considering what you came from for all I know you left a minefield in your room.