at once short of life, and long of sorrow.

[strangerpeople]

[You are dead.




Well, obviously. You remember how you died. It was...not fun, to say the least. But hey, at least you're off that ship, right?

Except...you don't know exactly where you are now. It seems like a house, but if it is, it's...a work in progress. Most of the rooms are empty, and your steps echo up through the marble columns and down faint mosaics on the tiled floor. The few windows you find have a green light gleaming through them; you can't really see anything beyond the eerie light.

It feels like you're in a temple of some kind. The columns and mosaics seem to indicate it is something like that-it's certainly reminiscent of something out of an ancient culture, perhaps even one you're familiar with. For some reason, though, it's clear someone-or something-lives here. One of the rooms to the south is stuffed with pizza boxes. Another, larger room has a makeshift futon in one of the corners. There are imprints of multiple footsteps all through the dusty floors as you look around, many of them leading to a small alcove to the west. And-

and there's a giant van. Just. hanging out there. Completely out of place with the seemingly ancient decor. And inside, there is the sound of light snoring.



Ok then. You're apparently not alone in death, after all.]

((OoC: Map for reference.))

Comments

[hatesdeerstalkers]

WHAAAAAAAAAT?!

[That comes...weirdly muffled. Almost like he was on the floor? Also, it's annoyed.

After a moment, Moriarty comes sauntering in, looking...well, looking like he was basically screaming into the earth for five minutes.]

...I see even in death we are not free from exploration. Or being forced to be detectives.

[He gives the note a once over.]

....The end of the poem is incongruent with the rest of it.

[carvemyname]

[ There's laughing from off screen. ]

[unpossibilities]

I thought it seemed off...do ya think it's genuinely suspicious? Or should we just check the van anyways?

Dude could just be shit at poems. I know I am. 's why I never wrote any poetry...

[hatesdeerstalkers]

It's more like an ATTENTION SEEKER wants us to be sent on a wild goose chase, most likely.

[Yes, he yells that out because he fucking heard that laughter.]

...But, very well. I suppose there's not much harm in going to the van.

[He sighs...then smiles at Kaito.]

So! Shall we?

[unpossibilities]

Well...maybe that's our way out?

[He also heard that laugh - he doesn't recognize it, but he heard it. Still, he nods with a smile.]

Sure! Let's go, Pops! Couldn't hurt to get a little adventure in insteada just rottin' away!!!

[hatesdeerstalkers]

Ah yes - always keeping that bright disposition of yours.

[He nods, before beginning to head off towards the van.]

Towards adventure we go, then! The Napoleon of Crime and the Luminary of the Stars!

[strangerpeople]

[ The van is playing music so loud that the van is thumping. ]

[devilmehcry]

[And here is...this random guy looking for the power button!]

...I look away for five seconds-

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[What the fuck is that music???

He is giving the Old Man Grimace at this, because all he hears is BRRRR BRRRM BRRRM from the bass.]

....Is this your music, sir?

[Who's this guy with his hair color?]

[devilmehcry]

No.

[Finally. He turns it off.]

A certain idiot decided to turn this music on while I was away fighting a monster.

[strangerpeople]

[ An arrow whizzes through the air, right by Vergil's ear, and hits the van!

There's another note! ]

Talk to the blue eyed stranger,
Learn his true secret,
Then bring it to the pizza room.

[devilmehcry]

[He barely even flinches as the arrow flies past him.]




...

And he's still trying to annoy me, I see.

[strangerpeople]

[ Another arrow. ]

You're the annoying one.

[devilmehcry]

[At this, he turns.]




...You do realize I can see you through the window of the car, right.

[carvemyname]

...

[ Dante ducks and runs. ]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[As he leaves-]

WORK ON YOUR POETRY! YOUR METER IS ATROCIOUS!

[carvemyname]

[ Beaming, shouts back - ]

Thank you!

[ .... Dante. Do. Do you know what atrocious means? ]

[hatesdeerstalkers]

A monster?

[Thank god the Noise is gone, but he raises an eyebrow at that.]

There are monsters in here with us, or did you mean elsewhere?

[devilmehcry]

I assume you've not been through the portals that have been popping up in this place?

[hatesdeerstalkers]

The what?

[Answer: absolutely not.]

The only portals I'm aware of were the ones I could make myself when I was on that godsbedamned ship. I've also only been here for about two....'days', I suppose?

[And he was screaming on the floor for a while as one does when they realize they were cringe the day before. You know how it is.]

[devilmehcry]

...I see. The portals, I believe, are a side effect of the Qilphoth growing in this place. All of them have various monsters-spirits who have been twisted in some way to fight.

But, there are three types of portals. The green ones lead into a brick and mortar maze. The red ones lead to a place overrun by lava-that is where I bought the monster I referred to earlier. The blue one leads to a...rather pleasant place. Grassy, cool...

I recommend against drinking the water there, though, should you be tempted to.

[carvemyname]

Nah, they made me feel all serene and shit.

[ Popping up behind Moriarty's shoulder. ]

[devilmehcry]

...My brother knows nothing about his mythology, in other words.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

My condolences.

[On the brother thing, he means. He's just met his brother and he's amazed at Virgil's restraint.]

Regardless, then - am I correct in assuming that the Gimme is Charon, and the portals you are referring to are parts of the Greek underworld?

...Specifically, in that the field you mentioned are the fields of Elysium.

[hatesdeerstalkers]

[He doesn't react, strangely.]

Hush, the adults are talking.