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Post by Cloud on Jun 29, 2020 13:49:45 GMT 12
Shannon locks the shed up. Everyone gathers in the study. There are four guns, handled by Rudolf, Kyrie, Rosa, and Eva. The main pressing question, aside from the disappearance of the bodies, is how the remaining family and the servants will last until the storm clears.
"If anyone is going to go get us supplies, I would suggest the servants take point." Rudolf barks.
Rosa, on the other hand, still insists on Eva disclosing where she left to at the end of the siblings meeting.
Eva, possibly still in shock, reiterates her experience of finding the shed as the others had - one moment full of bodies, the other, wiped clean.
-----
Kinzo acknowledges Beatrice's waning interest in the game. He probes her, "You've taken your time, my dear. Why don't you explain to me your next step in your resurrection ceremony? Who will you take next? One of my knights? My bishop perhaps? At this point I dont know how you're planning to progress."
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Post by animex75 on Jun 30, 2020 11:06:26 GMT 12
"I agree with Rudolf, the furniture should go. It's their job after all." Eva leans against a bookshelf, checking to see if her gun's loaded.
Battler, meanwhile, gives the books a glance out of curiosity. Has he even been in here before? It's been so long since he last came, he doesn't remember. "Hey, uh, odd question...anyone know where Gramps is? We didn't see him, and he's not here...."
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Post by Yarn Witch on Jun 30, 2020 14:28:04 GMT 12
Shannon seems uncomfortable at the order that she be one of the ones to take point.
But, there's no telling how long this typhoon might last, and the one thing Kinzo's apartment-like study lacked was a pantry.
"Forgive me for suggesting," Shannon says softly, "but considering the danger, perhaps it would be best to avoid leaving the mansion?" she asks. "Th-there's a kettle in the servants quarters, it may not be as glamorous as the one meant for guests, but it would be far safer to get." She looks over at Genji, hoping for some indication of how she should be acting right now.
At least Natsuhi wasn't here. No doubt her former mistress would react badly to serving guests with something so common. Shannon could only hope that considering the danger in the air, the others would be a bit more reasonable. Oh, but was the kettle there? or had she taken it to the guest house last night? If only she could remember...
~ ~ ~
"Oh, you know me. I haven't decided yet," Beatrice says, a wry smile playing on her face. "I prefer to make my moves when the mood strikes me."
As if by magic, a letter appears in her hand, and she twirls it between her fingers. "The way things are now, it'll be quite difficult to perform the next twilight, don't you think? The way they're all grouped together like that, and the ritual specifies the 'two that are close'."
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Post by Cloud on Jul 1, 2020 14:05:58 GMT 12
"I agree with Rudolf, the furniture should go. It's their job after all." Eva leans against a bookshelf, checking to see if her gun's loaded.
Battler, meanwhile, gives the books a glance out of curiosity. Has he even been in here before? It's been so long since he last came, he doesn't remember. "Hey, uh, odd question...anyone know where Gramps is? We didn't see him, and he's not here...." Everyone checks their guns. Eva has a little difficulty working the loading mechanism. The gun itself is a sawn-off 1892 Winchester. Rudolf, a fan of Western films, and a frequent participant in Kinzo's hunting expeditions, explains that it's a working replica of the 'Mare's Leg' gun used by Steve McQueen, built in 1958. The handle of the gun is cocked, ideally so it can still be aimed while cocking it. However, it would require someone experienced enough with the gun to utilise it's fast-shooting potential. If accustomed to it's unconventional handle, one would be able to use to one-handed. Rudolf remarks that his particular gun is one that is slightly off-set and shoots a little low. While reliable at close-range, it would take someone of his ability to shoot with it effectively at long range. Currently as far as anyone can tell, all bullets are accounted for. 16 bullets in total, making for a four way split of four. Kinzo's study is essentially an apartment within the mansion. There is a bedroom, a kitchenette, a bathroom, and the main study itself. The books are lined with a litany of tomes devoted to the history and practice of the occult. In the centre of the room is a miniature version of the painting of Beatrice, the supposed Golden Witch who has returned to take back Kinzo's gold. Rudolf spins back to face Battler. "You're dead right. Where is father?" He angles his question in the direction of the servants.
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Post by Cloud on Jul 1, 2020 14:11:57 GMT 12
Shannon seems uncomfortable at the order that she be one of the ones to take point.
But, there's no telling how long this typhoon might last, and the one thing Kinzo's apartment-like study lacked was a pantry.
"Forgive me for suggesting," Shannon says softly, "but considering the danger, perhaps it would be best to avoid leaving the mansion?" she asks. "Th-there's a kettle in the servants quarters, it may not be as glamorous as the one meant for guests, but it would be far safer to get." She looks over at Genji, hoping for some indication of how she should be acting right now.
At least Natsuhi wasn't here. No doubt her former mistress would react badly to serving guests with something so common. Shannon could only hope that considering the danger in the air, the others would be a bit more reasonable. Oh, but was the kettle there? or had she taken it to the guest house last night? If only she could remember...
Genji seconds Shannon's suggestion. Under any other circumstances, utilising the Servants' supplies would be out of the question, but in this case, it may be necessary. "If you do indeed believe we have something to do with these events, we would be happy to remove ourselves. If you would prefer, we can retrieve what we can and leave it outside the study. Meanwhile, Shannon, Gohda, and I will remain in the servants quarters while we await for the storm to pass." ~ ~ ~
[/font][/quote] "My beautiful witch, where will you make your next move? Of course there's no room for you to take any pieces just yet. But if you were to move your bishop behind my pawns... well, there's no point in me explaining a move you've clearly already calculated."
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Post by animex75 on Jul 2, 2020 8:31:11 GMT 12
Eva perks up, diverting her attention from fiddling with the gun's mechanism. It may be important for her to know how to use it, but Battler raises a good question. "Now that you mention it..." She stands up off the bookshelf she'd been leaning on. "Didn't you say that Father was still up here? Well, we didn't see him downstairs at any point, and yet he's not here!" Eva glares over at Shannon, Genji, and Gohda. "Admit it, we were right weren't we!"
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Post by Cloud on Jul 2, 2020 13:29:36 GMT 12
Gohda starts to panic, "Madam Eva! We don't know anything about his whereabouts! If he's not here he could be anywhere!"
As Gohda starts to freak out in front of Eva, more specifically at the end of a row of guns pointing at him, Shannon starts to hear a knock at the door.
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Post by Yarn Witch on Jul 2, 2020 18:30:39 GMT 12
At this point... without Krauss or Natsuhi, was there any point? Should they just admit it? In any case, after all this, it wasn't as if the rest of the family was getting anything out of it. Shannon still decided to follow Genji's lead on all of this, staying calm as Gohda panicked, but she jumps when she hears the knock at the door.
She turns to the door, but before reaching out to the handle, she looks over the room. Everyone was here, weren't they? Had they somehow left someone behind? ca131c ~ ~ ~
Beatrice nods absently, her attention seemingly elsewhere.
"So, what about you, Kinzo? Are you still in this game, or are you content to simply watch your progeny struggle? Do you have any moves left in you? Or..." she chuckled, "for that matter, do any of them?"
f6ec55
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Post by Cloud on Jul 3, 2020 2:34:01 GMT 12
At this point... without Krauss or Natsuhi, was there any point? Should they just admit it? In any case, after all this, it wasn't as if the rest of the family was getting anything out of it. Shannon still decided to follow Genji's lead on all of this, staying calm as Gohda panicked, but she jumps when she hears the knock at the door.
She turns to the door, but before reaching out to the handle, she looks over the room. Everyone was here, weren't they? Had they somehow left someone behind? ca131c ~ ~ ~
Beatrice nods absently, her attention seemingly elsewhere.
"So, what about you, Kinzo? Are you still in this game, or are you content to simply watch your progeny struggle? Do you have any moves left in you? Or..." she chuckled, "for that matter, do any of them?"
f6ec55 In the study stands everyone that should be remaining - Shannon, Genji, Gohda, Nanjo, Battler, Maria, George, Eva, Rosa, Rudolf, and Kyrie. By all accounts there shouldn't be anyone else on the other side of the door. Except, of course, for Kinzo. Rudolf's sights are trained on Shannon, Gohda, Nanjo, and Genji. "It looks like the jig is up for you lot. Your masters are dead. You have no one left to serve." Kyrie snaps her fingers, "Unless that's not entirely the truth," Rudolf furrows his brow, Kyrie continues. "It seems it's time we pick up from where we left off from last night. We received a letter from a mysterious extra guest telling us to solve the epitaph. Suddenly the conversation steers from Kinzo's death to Kinzo's fortune. Let us consider two theories: Theory one - Krauss has orchestrated a little game for us, possibly with or without Kinzo. No one is dead, and we'll find one of them on the other side of that door. Theory two - They are indeed dead, and have been killed with the help of one or all of you servants. But how, indeed could they get your help? Perhaps if they became declared as the new head?" Kyrie cocks her gun." Of course both of these theories don't quite add up. If they did, theory one - why would they go out of the way to knock on the door if they wanted us to think they were dead? Theory two, there can't be anyone on the other side of the door. And one of you, just now, knocked while we weren't paying attention." Kyrie aims at the servants, " Fact of the matter is - neither theories paint you in a good light." Genji respectfully answers." Madam Kyrie, I apologize if you believe we are in some way responsible for this occurrence, but there is another possibility." "And that is?" Kyrie probes. "That Beatrice is on the other side of the door." Kyrie let's out a wry chuckle. "Then if you dare, be my guest. Open up that door for us. We'll be ready to greet her."
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Post by animex75 on Jul 3, 2020 8:48:41 GMT 12
"Stupid furniture, I'm sick of hearing about that witch! Witches don't exist! You all have just been blaming your own clumsiness and forgetfulness on an imaginary witch for years!" Eva cocks her gun and joins Kyrie; however, her aim is trained on the door. "Open the door and you'd better pray someone's out there!" Eva is having none of this shit today. Someone in this room murdered her dear Hideyoshi and she isn't about to put up with this 'witch' nonsense from the staff.
"Whoa whoa whoa, everyone calm down!" Battler steps up between his family and the servants. "If we start acting crazy like this, we'll just play into the killer's hands! Let's just lower the guns and take a breath. I'll open the door; George, back me up just in case, yeah?" Battler nods to his cousin and steps towards the door.
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Post by Cloud on Jul 3, 2020 11:29:42 GMT 12
Everyone lowers their guns, though not completely. Battler, backed by George, opens the door.
Outside rests a single envelope a metre away from the door.
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Post by Segaco on Jul 4, 2020 14:53:58 GMT 12
George peeks out from the room to see if there's anyone around the hall. After (very likely) confirming no one is out, he goes pick up the envelope and checks its contents. If there is actually someone around he chickens behind Battler.
While everyone's busy looking at the door, Rosa stares at people's faces. Are they surprised, amused, anything?
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Post by Cloud on Jul 4, 2020 19:10:48 GMT 12
George peeks out from the room to see if there's anyone around the hall. After (very likely) confirming no one is out, he goes pick up the envelope and checks its contents. If there is actually someone around he chickens behind Battler.
While everyone's busy looking at the door, Rosa stares at people's faces. Are they surprised, amused, anything? There does not appear to be a single person outside, with the exception of Battler whom he successfully (and honestly quite fittingly) chickens behind. As George picks up the envelope, the lights go out. He can feel something small and hard inside it. Just before the lights go out, Rosa takes not of everyone's faces. They seem to be in a stunned, pensive, and shocked disposition. Eva seems incredibly tense, while Rudolf and Kyrie seems cautious but altogether keeping their cool. The lights black out, perhaps through a storm-caused blackout. A panic ensues. A gunshot. Shuffling about in the dark. Silence. And then, on a small table next to one of the bookshelves, the phone rings.
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Post by Yarn Witch on Jul 5, 2020 7:30:58 GMT 12
Shannon raises her hands in front of her, palms out, and open, in panic as Kyrie, then Eva, levels their guns.
She wants to object that none of this makes any sense; that no one knocked on the door, and if they were behind this, why would they set things up like this, why would they let the family get the guns, and place themselves in this situation in the first place.
But she's frozen, and Battler gets between everyone, and the moment passes.
As the lights go out, and the gunshot rings out, Shannon ducks, kneeling by the ground. The family is too on edge right now; she doesn't feel she can risk going for the phone, even if she's curious about it.
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Post by Cloud on Jul 5, 2020 16:34:02 GMT 12
The phone rings for an seemingly endless time.
Neither Rosa, nor George, nor Battler, nor Eva nor Shannon can feel anyone else around them.
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Post by animex75 on Jul 5, 2020 16:35:24 GMT 12
Battler turns in an instant when he hears the gunshot. He runs back to the study before he can find out what the envelope has within. "Hey hey hey, hold it! Is everyone okay?! Who fired just now?!"
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Post by Cloud on Jul 5, 2020 17:00:58 GMT 12
Battler turns in an instant when he hears the gunshot. He runs back to the study before he can find out what the envelope has within. "Hey hey hey, hold it! Is everyone okay?! Who fired just now?!" Rosa and Eva sound out. They deny firing any shots.
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Post by Yarn Witch on Jul 6, 2020 15:41:33 GMT 12
That still left Kyrie, and Rudolf with guns.
Shannon lets the phone ring, still not trusting it to be safe to move or answer. But, she worried, with only two of the gun holders answering.
"Is- Is everyone alright?"
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Post by Cloud on Jul 6, 2020 20:04:58 GMT 12
Eva, Rosa, Gohda, Genji, Battler, Maria, George and Shannon all sound out. No response from Rudolf and Kyrie.
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Post by animex75 on Jul 7, 2020 8:34:46 GMT 12
"Dad! Kyrie! Are you two okay?!" Battler pushes past Shannon and the other servants.
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