[] Follow your hunch to the old Thorns hideout
[] Go into the Nest to investigate
Tie!
You deliberate for a long minute while everyone orders something to drink, then turn to Rose with a question. "Is it true that there are no Sweepers in the Nest?"
She wrinkles her nose in distaste, you can not tell whether at being talked to or because of the Sweepers. But she does answer after a moment: "There aren't."
So it is like you recalled. Now you know you want to check the Nest first because any physical trace in the Backstreets will be gone; the people who may have seen something will probably keep another day. But at the same time you still have that feeling in your gut; it may be nothing, but a bunch of Feathers going into the Backstreets has to mean something. It may as well be related to the last thing you know Feathers sponsored, the Briars in particular.
Maria engaged Rose in conversation by the time you resurface without a clear decision, asking question after question about life in the Nest. The blonde is clearly alienated but no amount of subtly acting superior seems able to break Maria's cheer. She may not even notice she is being looked down on.
Seeing that she is distracted, you quickly lean toward Giano and whisper at her: "Do you remember the Thorns raid?"
She nods minutely, one brow raised. Hifumi probably listens in as well, but he does well pretending to just sip the sweet coffee. You make sure the other two are still talking, even if neither is likely to hear you at this low volume anyway. "I'm thinking this might be related in some way. Maybe something like them trying to revive the gang. I want to check on their old hideout, but I don't think we can afford to waste that much time."
She nods thoughtfully, one finger tapping a slow rhythm on the table. Her gaze slips to Maria and Rose, then to Hifumi.
"You can always delegate," she suggests. "It isn't advisable to split the group often, but sometimes needs must. We are short on time here. Just remember that I need to stay around you to examine what you do."
Giano leaves it at that, but you feel there is something unsaid. You mull it over for a bit before breaking the new plan to Maria and Rose; Hifumi is clearly unsurprised. Maria does not mind either, though Rose does.
"Absolutely not," she snaps. "If you are leading this investigation, then I will come with you. This is non-negotiable."
You have the strong urge to sigh; there goes the plan of sending her to the Nest with Maria while checking out the Thorns hideout with the other two. Not only would that keep Rose safe, it would also keep her from realising that you know her longer than just thirty minutes.
"Are you sure?" Giano joins in mischievously. "The Backstreets are this nasty and dangerous place, you know?"
The picture-perfect 'are you stupid' look that earns her could almost be patented by someone. Rose demonstrably crosses her arms and says nothing, lips pressed into a firm line. Giano in turn rolls her eyes, though you do not blame her. At least she tried.
"So are we still splitting up?" Maria queries. "I don't mind going alone, you know?"
The fact aside that this is dangerous even for a Grade 4, you need to reconsider the situation. Giano and Rose both stay with you, which leaves only Hifumi and Maria to assign elsewhere. You briefly consider calling Parvati to ask her about a quick scouting trip, then squash the idea as soon as it rears its head.
What do you do here? Hifumi is clearly waiting for input and everyone else made themselves clear. [] Character distribution
-[] (Write-in) to the Nest
-[] (Write-in) to the old Thorns hideout
Distribute Ciel, Giano, Hifumi, Maria, and Rose.
Giano and Rose must be in the same spot as Ciel.
At least one person must be at each location.
Plan votes only.
We also have a twelve-hour Moratorium. Do not vote for 12 hours! ???
-Current Classification: Urban Plague
-Number of Opponents: ???
-Goal: ???
-Displayed Strategy: ???
Ciel's Team
-Number of People: 5
-Current Grades: 6 (Ciel), 5 (Giano, Hifumi/Shadow), 4 (Maria), None (Rose Briar)
-Goal: Find Holly Briar and information on the missing Feathers before the new year, protect Rose
Information
-Holly Briar and some colleagues head into the Backstreets on occasion
Grade 6 - 9; The Secret of Making Progress is To Get Started
[] Character distribution
-[] Giano, Rose and Ciel to the Nest
-[] Maria and Hifumi to the old Thorns hideout
In the end you decide to play it safe with Rose; she is better off not knowing that you were involved with the Thorns. Hifumi knows the place as well, so he and Maria will be more than enough with whatever may now live there.
Nobody has complaints after you share your decision, although Rose does insist on taking the train. She also agrees to fund your and Giano's tickets as a compromise, which makes the journey to Nest I much faster than walking. Her being a Feather and your job allow you and to disembark in the Nest without any trouble.
The place is... different. Nice. Not necessarily cleaner than the Backstreets but it feels that way, all gleaming buildings rising high into the sky. There are less people around too, the air seems almost alien.
It hits you half an hour into walking along the sidewalk: there is so much less suspicion here. Barely anyone looks over their shoulders every other minute even when no Zwei Fixers stand guard. Everyone is in a hurry just like the Backstreets, but everyone is also dressed better than you could hope to afford for most of your life. The casual display of wealth is dazzling and keeps you occupied until you reach the Briar home. At least Giano is similarly mesmerised for once, just as unused to the Nest.
After that it is back to work, though; you reluctantly force your mind into the correct track and consider how to approach this. The security feeds around the area are not available for you or Giano, at least not on short notice; not even Hana's reputation can get you that. This leaves asking people along the route Rose's father most likely took to the checkpoint.
This is... problematic. Even with Rose and Giano there, most people do not even give you the time of day. The few that take a moment to listen have not seen anything. It remains the same even when you have Giano take over and more passersby take the time to talk to her. Your mood declines steadily, which Rose clearly mirrors.
"This is getting nowhere," she grouses about halfway to the checkpoint. It has been two hours since you started doing this and nothing to show. "How long are you going to do this?"
You have half a mind to snap back but manage to keep it in and explain with forced calm: "We need to check the whole route. Someone having seen them would help, but we're also seeing if there are any signs of violence along the way. If not then we can rule out something happening here in the Nest."
It is not quite true, the perpetrator may have been good enough to just not leave traces or remove them. But in that case you do not have a chance to begin with, so worrying about it brings you nothing. Rose may catch on as well but does not say if she does, she simply huffs and crosses her arms.
In retrospect, you absolutely should have started at the checkpoint to ask about Holly Briar and friends. It is almost deceptively easy to get confirmation after almost five hours of fruitless labour in the streets: the clerks who were on duty that day are present and gladly check the footage after Rose asks nicely and some money changes hands. Her father left and did not return that day.
That is one side of the route covered, you now know they were not attacked in the Nest. Though you can not say if Rose scowls over the wasted time or Giano smoking nearby... then again, your senior is all but blowing the smoke in her direction on purpose.
You check the time and decide to go for lunch first; the women are fine with it, though nobody eats a lot. Now that you have a moment to look, Rose seems almost anxious about something. You do not know her nearly well enough to say why, though; it could be her being worried for her father or about something illicit coming to light. Maybe both, even.
Maria and Hifumi both write you not long after that; according to them, the general area of the Thorns hideout is currently abandoned because several emptied-out corpses walk around attacking whoever they see. No match with your man among the few they re-killed, so there is no telling if those things are involved in your case. Eerie, though.
"Are you sure you don't know which way your father went?" you ask Rose as you enter the Backstreets once more; it almost feels like coming home, though you pay the feeling little mind.
Rose for her part scowls and shakes her head. "I already said I have no idea."
So much for that then. You sigh and look around the area, visibly protected by a sizable Zwei presence.
Just figuring out which direction Holly Briar went takes the rest of the day. It takes time to not only find someone who saw the group of rich people come by but also to 'conveniently' remember it once prompted with some bills. But the older person who finally gives you the hint you need turns out to be a veritable treasure trove of information.
"Been a few days," they say thoughtfully, one metal tendril rubbing their chin. You try not to glare at it while they think. "But I remember that lot pretty well; buncha fancy pants, y'know? They got like three cars and Fixers escorting 'em. Went down thataway."
You quickly write down the directions and ask a follow-up question: "How could you tell they had Fixers? Was it like a Zwei escort?"
"Hm? Nah. Not Zwei, I woulda seen that." They snort and motion for the Lucerne on your back. "But it's hard to miss a buncha weapons like these. Well, I guess they could've been with some Syndicate, but why'd Feathers not hire Fixers?"
You have some opinions on that but keep them to yourself with Rose right there. Instead you thank the person, both in words and money, before planning the next move with Rose and Giano.
"Why can't we keep going?" Rose demands the moment you mention stopping for today; you glance from her to the time on your phone, already well into nightfall.
"Because Night in the Backstreets is soon, for one." A bit of an exaggeration, but you doubt Rose knows the exact time. "And the streets aren't safe after dark." Especially for her. For your final point you glance to Giano. "Can you get information on which Office Mr. Briar hired by tomorrow?"
"Probably. It hasn't even been a week, so there should be something I can dig up in that time."
Rose is not happy, but she slowly nods. "That is fair enough, I guess."
You end up walking her to her hotel, where you also meet Maria who stays in the same place. She has some insight into the Thorns hideout, which is itself empty. The corpses stumbling around the area worry her, though. Hifumi is already on the way home but sends a message asking about investigating these dead bodies further.
You defer the question to tomorrow and go home after wishing Giano good luck. It feels like more than just a few hours passed since you started on this.
Parvati takes the news of Rose's reemergence with a grin, clearly seeing the irony.
"And she has no idea?"
You shake your head, making Parvati snort.
"So what's the Nest like?" Mai interrupts with a flicker of interest and you indulge her, retelling your impressions of the place. It definitely felt different from the Backstreets, exalted almost.
You have a calm evening and an almost restful night, after which both sisters wish you good luck.
The team meets in the lobby of Rose's and Maria's hotel for breakfast; Rose is bleary-eyed and mostly just sips her coffee while the rest of you compare notes.
"It was so weird," Maria explains with sweeping gestures and some sugar smeared over her cheek. "These bodies were all empty inside, like someone took out all the veins and stuff. But they kept shambling around and stuff, they were even pretty fast. Not much stronger than they were in life, though."
"They felt no pain and thus had no fear," Hifumi adds from his seat, a cup of steaming tea in hand. "Killing them required more than slicing off a limb or two, some even kept moving for a time after I removed the head."
You nod slowly, taking it all in. "You're right, that is weird. Not like anything I heard before."
The Shi assassin nods agreement, though Giano shrugs. "Eh, so-so. Not the first time but definitely not the usual stuff." She pulls out a few sheets of paper. "But we still don't know if it's even related, so here. I got what you wanted. Funny how these things coincide."
You take the papers and skim them, then frown at a particular line. The name sounds familiar, though you can not put where from. "Jade Office?"
Giano huffs at seeing your confusion and hearing the question in your tone. "From the Prophet of Yesteryear job."
That is when you remember that day you investigated this very Office's operator for attending the Prophet's sermons. It has been months and you long forgot. "Oh."
The irony grows ever thicker; first Rose, now this. At least you have a decent in with Jade Office to get information on where their Fixers went. "This says they were brought on for bodyguard duty over the last month. Can you get any reports filed in that time?"
She shakes her head at once. "Not a chance, those aren't available unless we review them. Maybe I could pull some strings, but you know I'm not allowed to."
"Alright."
There are some questions about that comment from Rose, who takes the information about your restrictions with some disgruntlement. At least she agrees that going to Jade Office directly will be faster than sifting through reports anyway.
Though there is always the chance Operator Yaling has no idea, or the Fixers never came back that day either. Or they were paid not to tell anyone where exactly they went. It may be easier to follow their trail from the checkpoint they passed into the Backstreets from, or to look into those walking dead to determine if they are related. It is unlikely but not impossible. Being in the area but not going to the hideout will not tip Rose off either.
Splitting up worked out well enough yesterday, too. Maybe you can do it again?
Rose is slowly waking up properly and everyone finishes their breakfast, so it is about time to make a decision. It is the 28th, you have less than three days left. [] Go to Jade Office
[] Try following the Feathers' trail through the Backstreets
[] Investigate what is going on around the Thorns hideout
You may split the group, just remember that Giano and Rose must be in the same spot as Ciel.
Also: twelve-hour Moratorium. Do not vote for 12 hours! ???
-Current Classification: Urban Plague
-Number of Opponents: ???
-Goal: ???
-Displayed Strategy: ???
Ciel's Team
-Number of People: 5
-Current Grades: 6 (Ciel), 5 (Giano, Hifumi/Shadow), 4 (Maria), None (Rose Briar)
-Goal: Find Holly Briar and information on the missing Feathers before the new year, protect Rose
Information
-Holly Briar and some colleagues head into the Backstreets on occasion
-the Feathers did not vanish in the Nest
-the Feathers were escorted by Jade Office Fixers
-(likely unrelated) hollowed-out corpses shamble around the old Thorns hideout's neighbourhood
Grade 6 - 10; Failure Is a Detour, Not a Dead-End Street
[] Character distribution
-[] Giano, Rose, and Ciel go to Jade's Office.
-[] Maria and Hifumi try following the Feathers' trail through the Backstreets.
After some deliberation and asking yourself if this is really the right choice, you send Maria and Hifumi into the Backstreets to try following the Feathers' path. While it has been several days since their vanishing, so the Sweepers will have taken care of any evidence, people who saw them should still be around.
You take Rose and Giano on an excursion to Jade Office in the meantime. Or rather you make the attempt and even call ahead to schedule a meeting with Operator Yaling, which is where the trouble starts.
As it turns out, the Office is running itself ragged lately and Yaling himself does as much fieldwork as everyone else to keep things going. The secretary also insists that even if Rose is related to a client, they need written proof of some form that would justify getting to see their records. You get severely annoyed about them all but stonewalling you, even if they are that busy. Especially because they are the best lead you have. At least they gave you a few minutes in the evening after pushing a little.
So instead of investigating, your group spends half the day traveling; first to the Hana Office for Giano to pick up some papers saying that you work on their order and to please comply, in legalese of course. Then back into the Nest via WARP Train to pick up several other papers identifying Rose as Holly Briar's daughter and to confirm his being missing.
This is somehow still the more enjoyable part of the mission, seeing how Maria and Hifumi have trouble finding anyone at all who saw the Feathers. It is kind of eerie how even so unusual things can just be drowned out in the crowds, forgotten in minutes and hours. But the two do make slow progress, following the trail further into the Backstreets.
In the meantime you show up early to your appointment after a late lunch, a supremely annoyed Rose and a faintly smirking Giano in tow. Seeing Hana colours stops the receptionist from making a fuss, then the official papers make them turn deathly pale. You are in front of Yaling within the minute.
He looks worn now, is the first thing you notice upon shaking hands with him. It takes him a while to recognise you and his expression turns even more glum when he does.
"Did you ever finish off the prophet?"
You nod in response, showing no hesitation. "It took a while but we hunted them down. But none of that is why we're here."
"Yes, I already heard." The man utters a tired sigh and slowly flips through a set of papers on his desk. "I'm afraid there is so much to do right now that Jade Office can not provide service to our usual standard. Holly Briar is one of our clients, I can confirm that."
"And you know where he went?" Rose chimes in immediately, far more intent than before. Yaling glances at her and shrugs.
"Probably. I gave him Johnathan's team among others, so their reports have to be somewhere in the archive. I just don't know where and nobody has time to look for them on short order. I also can't allow anyone else in there," he shuts down the offer before you can even make it. "That's a risk I am not going to take."
Giano makes a curious noise and pipes up as well: "Even if that gets you a mark for failing to uphold your contract?"
Her needling has the opposite effect of what she probably wanted, Yaling just offers an unimpressed snort. "I haven't seen Johnathan around for a bit and our client is missing, so chances are they're all dead. Jade Office already failed to uphold that contract, so I'm not making more trouble for myself."
Rose scowls mightily and stands. "How dare you-" she starts, but you grab her arm hard enough to give her pause.
Ignoring the demand to let go, you meet the Operator's gaze head-on. He is tired, but there is a calculating look in his eyes nonetheless. "You said you didn't have time to check. So what if we make some time for you?"
His lips quirk up ever so faintly and a folder finds its way in front of you without hesitation. Rose finally pulls herself out of your grasp and sits down while rubbing her forearm and scowling up a storm.
You flip open the folder and pause on the 'Urban Plague' classification. What lies in front of you is a Thumb Subsidiary, the Red Lily Gang. Yaling gives you an expectant look in the silence and explains after a moment: "I need their leader dead as soon as possible."
"So an assassination mission?"
"...yes, though nobody will complain if more of them die."
There is not a word of an actual job here and the pause he left before confirming only makes it more clear; this is off the books for some reason. You chance another look at Yaling and put one hand on the folder. "I will think about it. May I take this along to read properly?"
"Of course. Please contact me with your answer, regardless of what it is."
You technically have the perfect person for the job, but one Grade 5 Shi assassin against an Urban Plague Syndicate is just asking for trouble; you need to talk to Hifumi and consider your options before making a choice there.
The day passes like this with little progress made and time running out. Your allies lost Holly's trail a few kilometres from the checkpoint around the same time you met Yaling. They tell you what they found over breakfast again, but it is precious little. You also explain the Red Lily Gang problem to Hifumi, who becomes thoughtful for a little while.
"It is possible," he judges in the end, "but I do not like my odds on my own."
Maria waves her hand cheerfully. "I can help!" That immediately earns her skeptical looks and prompts her to pout. "I mean it," she grouses without any real heat. "I can be quiet if I need to."
You look back to Hifumi, who offers a nod. "The two of us should be able to do it, though we do not have time to waste then. We would have to do it today, which will require taking what time we can to prepare and thus remove us from any other activity."
Giano shrugs at that. "Not like we have any other leads left. The trail is cold."
There are still those zombies, though you already do not trust your gut on them anymore.
But before you can actually mention them, someone clears their throat and all eyes move. Only now do you realise how quiet the hotel's lobby became, all because of the black garbed man and woman standing right by your side. Their white cloaks reach down to the ground but never touch, edges fluttering on a nonexistent breeze. You recognize the man and his six mechanic dendrites, expression as curt as the last time you met.
Giano sucks in a strangled breath and Hifumi becomes deathly still much like you. For just a moment you feel yourself the little rat once more, completely at the mercy of two Index Proxies.
The woman smiles warmly, which only agitates you more. "Good morning, you lot! I'm Index Messenger Jiro, this is Proxy Gwyneth." The man offers a little nod and she looks around the table as if her words were any consolation. "Which of you is Ciel?"
They know your name.
Your heart skips a beat and you consider not answering, or fleeing even. But Gwyneth already caught at least one gaze flicking your way and puts his full attention on you. There is no escape anymore. You somehow get your tongue to work and raise a faintly shaking hand. "M-Me."
Your voice shakes almost imperceptibly, but you know they noticed. Giano noticed too and for once does not seem to be amused. If anything she is as pale as the Jade Office receptionist became yesterday.
Jiro steps forward without a care for your flinch and offers her hand. "Good, good! You see, we have a bit of a conundrum." When you do not react beyond a faint twitch, she pulls back the limb with a shrug and rifles in her pocket. Then she presents a carefully folded slip of paper to you; silvery stitchings show your name on it.
You stare at it owlishly, then at the Messenger. Giano's and Hifumi's gazes bore into your side with suspicion; that hurts a little, but you barely recognise it under the dread.
"I'm not with the Index."
It is really all you can get out when your chest feels like lead. For some odd reason Jiro just nods enthusiastically. "You aren't one of us or under our protection, which is why I brought Proxy Gwyneth to arbitrate. I never had this happen before, you see. Proxy?"
He nods, voice calm yet not at all soothing: "As one not sworn to the Prescripts, you may do with it as you wish after receiving it. You will not be penalised by the Index for refusing to fulfill this Prescript unless the Prescripts themselves deem it necessary."
That takes a bit of pressure off, but you do not dare grasp the paper. In the end Jiro has to grab your hand and close it around the Prescript with a little smile. "There you have it. I guess you're not going to follow it, but consider if you really want to ignore this. The Prescripts know all after all."
She steps back with a spring in her step and waves. "Anyway, that's all. Tata!"
Nobody dares move until the pair has left. The Prescript in your hands almost feels burning hot, tainting you with its very presence. And once again you could do nothing but shake in your boots. Disgust is the main flavour of your thoughts, both to the thing in your hand and to yourself.
"Well then," Maria chirps and leans forward eagerly. "What does it say?"
You do not even want to open it. But it is the 29th and you only have two days left to finish your mission. We deploy weighted voting for this cycle. Decide what to do next, plan votes / group splits are allowed.
[] Send Maria and Hifumi to assassinate the Red Lily Gang leader
Weight: x1
[] Ciel and Giano support the assassination without joining
Weight: x1
[] Follow the Prescript
Weight: x0.2
[] Write-in another approach
Weight: x1
Any plan that includes the Prescript requires five times as many votes to pass as any other option. Sending Maria and Hifumi on that assassination job requires adding a plan about where the others go in the meantime. Ciel is out of leads for the moment, though the audience may follow up on something they noticed but that Ciel does not have in mind right now.
Also, we have a one-hour Moratorium because I was a derp and forgot to put this up in the morning. Please do not vote for 1 hour! ???
-Current Classification: Urban Plague
-Number of Opponents: ???
-Goal: ???
-Displayed Strategy: ???
Ciel's Team
-Number of People: 5
-Current Grades: 6 (Ciel), 5 (Giano, Hifumi/Shadow), 4 (Maria), None (Rose Briar)
-Goal: Find Holly Briar and information on the missing Feathers before the new year, protect Rose
Information
-Holly Briar and some colleagues head into the Backstreets on occasion
-the Feathers did not vanish in the Nest
-the Feathers were escorted by Jade Office Fixers
--Jade Office Operator Yaling wants an off-the-books favour in exchange for checking his records
-the Feathers' trail in the Backstreets has gone cold
-(likely unrelated) hollowed-out corpses shamble around the old Thorns hideout's neighbourhood
Grade 6 - 11; He Who Fears Dangers Will Not Perish by Them
[] Plan: No Oracles, no gods. ONLY CROWBAR.
-[] Destroy the Prescription.
-[] Send Maria and Hifumi to assassinate the Red Lily Gang leader
-[] Ciel and Giano support the assassination without joining.
You stare at the Prescript a moment longer before your hand closes around it. You look up at the others, well aware of that lingering wariness; the Index inducts new members via Prescripts as well and even you can not help but wonder. But even if it is that, you know your answer already.
"Giano?" Your voice feels terribly loud in the silence. "May I borrow your lighter?"
She blinks at you just once before producing the little thing; it feels unfamiliar to hold, considering you are not a smoker, yet every single edge burns itself into your mind. A single flick is all it takes for flame to sprout and set the Prescript alight.
Nobody speaks beyond a surprised gasp from Maria, all watch whatever may have been written there go up in flames. You put it into the ashtray to burn out fully. Whatever the Index wants from you, no matter if they want to stop or help you, you do not want to know. They will never stop being your enemies.
"But why?" Maria whines. "You could have read it at least! Now I'll be curious forever!"
She is either oblivious of the looks that gets her or does not care for them. You just shrug, wondering how it is she of all Fixers is the only one not to understand. "I'm not working with the Index in any way, not now and not ever."
Though this mollifies Maria, she still lets out a sad "awww" and starts doodling in her notepad.
Giano takes her lighter back and gives you a little grin. "Wonder why I even worried there," she jokes and twirls it around her finger before pocketing it. "So what's the plan?"
Right, that. You nod at her before turning to the group as a whole. "Shadow, Maria, I want you two to take care of the Red Lily Gang leader. Giano and I will support you from afar to save on time. We can scout an escape route and keep an eye on that or something."
Maria perks up and Hifumi nods, though another voice chimes in with clear annoyance: "And what about me?"
Rose has her arms crossed and glares at you. She knows as well as you that there is nothing to really do for her, especially not when you need all attention on the task at hand. And she clearly does not like that at all.
You still try to calm her: "I'm sorry but you have to sit this one out, ma'am. We're getting closer, but this is too dangerous for you. So please stay here for today, I will call you when we're done."
Her glower grows in intensity, then she throws up her hands and stalks away. Giano glances after her and back to you, but you can only shrug. This is a risk you do not want to take.
The four of you quickly get to planning, which takes several hours and several cups of coffee. Hifumi is quick and efficient, which Maria surprisingly matches without a fuss. She really is different once she puts her head in the game and you feel a little bad for having doubted her. Nobody makes Grade 4 without being able to keep their eyes on the prize.
Before long you have a general idea, a route into the place the files say is the Red Lily Gang's headquarters, and an extraction route straight over a convoluted maze of streets right to its back. Scouting the area goes off without a hitch and there are no messages from Hifumi and Maria as they infiltrate; you trust them to have made it in and to not be dead.
Your heart skips a beat when your phone does vibrate twenty minutes after taking up your post. At first you relax when you see it is not from the infiltrating team but from Rose. A quick motion brings up the screen to your face, revealing two words.
'help zombies'
Now you pale rapidly and show the message to Giano, who curses and rushes to her feet. "No time to lose, let's go."
She takes the lead and the City passes by at a rapid pace while you send a quick notification to Hifumi and Maria that they are on their own. Saving Rose takes priority here.
Your pulse races by the time you arrive near the old Thorns hideout, still abandoned and completely bereft of anything. There are no zombies here anymore, the Sweepers must have cleaned them up. All you can do is follow obvious traces of battle into the heart of the Backstreets, leaving the building behind while every sensory augment you have between Giano and yourself is strained to find even a hint of Rose.
"That way," Giano finally calls and sprints off, you hot on her heels. You do not even ask what sort of augment lets her spot movement behind walls and buildings in the empty streets several hundred metres ahead.
The first zombie you find is caked in dried crimson, shambling around until your thunderous footsteps get its attention. The thing turns around and makes to reach out, only for a steam-propelled greatsword to part it straight down the middle. Both sides fall with a faint thud, revealing that they are indeed empty inside. Not even a drop of blood falls.
You stop to listen and only the augment to your ears allows to hear more corpses speedwalking your way over your racing heart. They make no noise, they do not breathe. They do not speak or hesitate either, which lets you kill them easily. After that you and Giano frantically start searching the area.
A quick message to Rose gives you another two-word answer, which helps find the place: 'crate hurry'
So you take the rooftops and keep your eyes open for any large crates; the first stack is empty beyond a few non-zombie corpses someone else must have left there. The second you find is completely filled if also abandoned.
The sheer lack of living people is starting to give you the creeps when you hear it. Ears straining against the quiet, there is a faint sob and breathing from one particularly innocent-looking crate. You quickly dash over and tear the lid off, prompting a scared shriek from the woman inside. Rose flickers for a moment, the next she looks at you with red-rimmed eyes and tear tracks running down her cheeks.
"What were you thinking?" you hiss at her while casting wary looks around. "You went into the Backstreets on your own, it's a miracle you're still alive!"
She shudders and tries to speak, so you use the silence to text Giano with the location. Rose is still crying by the time you finish; you pity her being in this situation as much as you are disgusted by her having the audacity to cry now.
"I-I didn't mean to," she answers weakly. "Everything's just going s-so slow, Daddy's been gone for days and I still don't know where he went. So I thought I can try looking at those zombies a-a-and-" she sobs and clamps down on your coat, hanging on for dear life. "A-and I saw one and it was one of his friends!"
You freeze instantly as the meaning of her words registers. The Feathers are dead. Holly Briar is dead. Is that why Rose is crying?
"Did you see your father?"
She mutely shakes her head, then flinches when Giano lands heavily nearby. A look at your face makes Rose elaborate: "I tried to follow them, see if they have a nest or something. I need to know if he's really dead, I can't just pack up and leave now."
There is something desperate to her words that reminds you of days gone by, from even before you had a pack. You sympathise, even if Rose's weakness disgusts you all the same. Giano makes no motion to comfort her, so you ultimately kneel down by the younger woman's side and take her hands firmly into your own.
"I get what you were trying to do, I'm even grateful that you could confirm the link between those zombies and the case. But why were you in that crate? And why didn't you call me at once when you recognised one of your father's friends?"
Rose averts her gaze. "I was angry, a-and arrogant," she admits weakly and turns one hand to show a small device with T-Corp's logo on the side. It is really only a button to be pressed on the top. "Daddy gave me this a while ago. I-It speeds me up a thousandfold. So I used that to hide whenever they got close. B-But then there were so many earlier and I only have five seconds of charge left, so...."
Rose trails off, the rest of her explanation clear. You eye the little device longingly, oh so tempted to take it for yourself. Is it the same thing that let her escape way back when?
You shake off the thought and focus on the here and now. There is a mass of zombies around in the area, one of which may be Holly Briar. Hifumi just sent a message proclaiming success, so they are over an hour away from your position.
Giano starts talking quietly to Rose and you listen while typing a response to Hifumi. Rose really does not know what her father is doing, though she obviously guessed it must be something 'extralegal', or so she calls it. Hifumi confirms the new information in the meantime, he and Maria will be on the way.
Just as you open your mouth to tell the others to hunker down however, every fibre of your being shudders in fright. A powerful aura washes over you from the side, drawing your gaze like a magnet does steel. It is not grace, nothing blunt or calm, just pure hunger. And it emanates from a woman clad in what may have been fine clothes once, now torn and red from blood. But the worst of all is that half of her face is a swirling miasma of black and red.
Around her march two dozen corpses, not even an afterthought compared to the monster that studies you like a butcher does swine.
"Now what do we have here?" she muses idly, one clawed finger tapping her chin. "Another little morsel."
You do not dare to look away, but your ears still catch the whimpered "Daddy" from behind. A skim of the faces reveals one that looks familiar.
Now you know, even though you wish you had never found out if it meant standing before this woman. She approaches at a sedate pace, so absolutely certain of herself.
Then Giano charges past in a wave of white and you instinctively grasp your Lucerne to follow her, but it is over before you make two steps; reinforced steel shatters and the other woman bites straight into Giano's collar. The redhead shouts in surprise and pain, then another jab from her attacker snaps her shield arm; the heavy piece cracks the ground on impact while she tries to free herself.
Whatever that woman is, she makes a sharp motion with her head that tears Giano's uniform; its sturdiness is all that saves her throat from being torn out, she only trails a thin streamer of blood on her path right to your feet.
You leap back in surprise, looking from the broken form of one of the strongest people you know to the monster before you. She absently licks blood from her lips, eyes closing with a soft hum.
"Not bad. I will enjoy you too, of that I am sure."
There is not even a sardonic smile or anything, just plain certainty. You know you stand no chance against her, and she knows that you know. You have to run and save yourself.
But before you lies Giano and basically next to her kneels Rose, both helpless. Rose stares in shock at her defeated protector, not quite realising that you are the only one who can still save her. Giano is bleeding and seems unconcious.
You have to run, but that woman will follow you if you do. Help is too far out. You can not fight.
Write-ins are restricted to ten words or less. Ciel does not have the time for complex plans. No subvotes. Elena
-Current Classification: Urban Plague
-Number of Opponents: 1 + chaff
-Goal: Eat a hearty meal
-Displayed Strategy: Winning
Ciel's Team
-Number of People: 3 (Maria and Hifumi incoming but far too late)
-Current Grades: 6 (Ciel), 5 (Giano), None (Rose Briar)
-Goal: Survive
Information
-Holly Briar and some colleagues head into the Backstreets on occasion
-the Feathers did not vanish in the Nest
-the Feathers were escorted by Jade Office Fixers
--Jade Office Operator Yaling wants an off-the-books favour in exchange for checking his records
-the Feathers' trail in the Backstreets has gone cold
-hollowed-out corpses shamble around the old Thorns hideout's neighbourhood
--Rose recognised one of her father's friends among them
--Rose recognised her father among them; Holly Briar is dead
--The creator of those zombies has found you
-Canon Characters Encountered: 3 -> 4
[] Tell Rose to get Giano out of here. Delay Elena for as long as possible.
You are terrified, but you also realise something: forever running away from things will never change anything.
If your only choice here is between which one you have to sacrifice, then you will refuse to make that choice. Even if it will hurt, even if you are scared, you find tranquility in that thought. This is what you want to do.
So you settle next to Rose, whispering to her urgently: "Take Giano and run, I'll distract her."
She needs a moment to turn your way, tears still rolling down her throat, but gives a little nod. The monster just watches her scoop up Giano with some difficulty, something like amusement on her features. You step between her and the other two, faintly worried for Rose now that she can only walk with another person's weight on her shoulders.
"And what exactly are you planning to do there, little morsel?"
There is no real humour in the woman's voice, just some passing interest. She does not make her zombies do anything, just watches on as Rose slowly ambles away. You try to distract her by speaking up: "What's your name, miss?"
"Elena."
She finally looks away from them and at you; the aura of hunger only intensifies and then she is right in front of you from one moment to the next. Elena stares at you, silently daring you to speak. Your tongue is tied and you have trouble forming words, but you force yourself anyway.
"So Elena then, what exactly-" "Hush."
Your mouth clicks shut, then you shudder as a clawed hand cups your cheek. Elena's lips quirk into the faintest smirk, revealing razor sharp canines beneath. "A meal doesn't talk."
Something stings your throat and you only realise belatedly that she sunk those teeth into it. Within moments you feel faint, unable to do more than scratch at her clothes before your hands fall limp.
It doesn't hurt, is the weird thing. You just grow sleepy and all the worries of before fall away, the fear too. Death should not be this peaceful, but maybe you actually managed to achieve something today.
Elena lets your husk lie and wipes her mouth, then turns to where Rose is just turning the street corner.
"And now I'm full," she mutters, then heaves a sigh. "Oh well."
[] Refuse and switch the timeline Before you vote, I want to say a few things.
1. This is not a bad end, at least in my opinion. Ciel here does something that nary a City dweller can even conceive at this point in time: they willingly give their life to protect others, not for money or glory but because they feel it is the right thing. There was exactly one person in this City who we know for certain would have done the same, and that is Kali. Had this been post-Pillar of Light, Ciel would have manifested E.G.O here.
2. I am not signalling that I want to drop/end the Quest. I recently realised that there will be alternate non-bad endings to the original goal, though. The current mission can lead to more than just this one too. I decided to give you the choice here because while I feel this as a satisfying end in regard to Ciel as a character, I understand that others may find it unsatisfying or simply bitter instead of bittersweet.
If this is a satisfying conclusion, vote Accept and we will see an epilogue soon. If this is unsatisfying to you, vote Refuse and we return to the last vote next week.
Before you lies Giano and basically next to her kneels Rose, both helpless. Rose stares in shock at her defeated protector, not quite realising that you are the only one who can still save her. Giano is bleeding and seems unconcious.
You have to run, but that woman will follow if you do. Help is too far out. You can not fight.
Write-ins are restricted to ten words or less. Ciel does not have the time for complex plans. No subvotes. Elena
-Current Classification: Urban Plague
-Number of Opponents: 1 + chaff
-Goal: Eat a hearty meal
-Displayed Strategy: Winning
Ciel's Team
-Number of People: 3 (Maria and Hifumi incoming but far too late)
-Current Grades: 6 (Ciel), 5 (Giano), None (Rose Briar)
-Goal: Survive
Information
-Holly Briar and some colleagues head into the Backstreets on occasion
-the Feathers did not vanish in the Nest
-the Feathers were escorted by Jade Office Fixers
--Jade Office Operator Yaling wants an off-the-books favour in exchange for checking his records
-the Feathers' trail in the Backstreets has gone cold
-hollowed-out corpses shamble around the old Thorns hideout's neighbourhood
--Rose recognised one of her father's friends among them
--Rose recognised her father among them; Holly Briar is dead
--The creator of those zombies has found you
Grade 6 - 12; Wise Men Don't Need Advice, Fools Won't Take It
[] Grab Giano, Say "T-Time rose", jump, aim ring forward-down, SCRAM
You feel like suffocating on her presence alone, instinct urging you to run. You almost do, even. But somehow, against all odds, you manage to take a knee next to Rose as if to check on her or comfort her. She is crying openly now, expression one of despair.
For now the monster just watches you with what may be interest, the idle curiousity of a cat playing with its prey. You use that time as best as you can.
"Ma'am," you try quietly, but she does not react. "Rosamonde, listen to me."
Hearing her name snaps her out of her funk for long enough to hiss instructions at her: "I'll distract her, use that device and run."
Rose hiccups and nods almost imperceptibly; you hope against hope that nothing gave it away and stand, trying to be more brave than you are or feel. Meeting the monstrous woman's gaze makes a shudder run down your back.
"If I'm going to die here," you say while storing your weapon, "then I will die on my feet."
Your words distract her from the motion and Rose's shuffling; she opens her mouth to respond and you react, scooping up Giano so fast that the ground tears off the skin on your fingers. A quick shift has her supported by your left hand and you leap backward while aiming the ring; stormwinds leap forward and blast you back, forcing the monster to stumble on her first step.
As soon as your feet touch the nearest roof, you turn around and run without looking back. Giano is limp in your grasp, so you make sure to hold on tight while you flee as fast as your legs can carry you.
Far too soon a terrified shriek shatters the silence behind you, the place too far away to be seen already. You run and run and run until you reach populated areas again, then become painfully aware that you carry an unconcious, unarmed Hana Fixer in a crowd.
Concious thought returns as you begin to look for a clinic to have the wound on her neck and her broken arm treated. This empties out your wallet for good, but it is an oddly secondary thought as you sit in the waiting room. Only worry for her dominates and you are not sure how to feel about that.
As adrenaline and fear slowly let go of your mind, you understand what it is you heard earlier; that scream of terror must have been Rose, somehow caught by the monster despite her T-Corp device. She must have had ample time to get away while sped up, you think... until you realise you must have misunderstood. She did not mean five seconds times a thousand, she meant five seconds while sped up a thousandfold. She barely could have crossed a street with the charge she had left.
Realising that somehow makes you feel worse. Somewhere you knew you could not save them both and tried to do it anyway, only to send her to her death. She was years younger than you... and you even gave her false hope that she could get out.
It is into these morose thoughts of yours that Giano appears, awake and healthy. Her expression is grave and you can see in her eyes that she knows what happened.
"Come on," she says, voice devoid of emotion. A simple wave is all it takes to get you up and following.
The only thing she asks for a time is how much you paid for the treatment, then she wordlessly hands the money back to you. That is one issue taken care of, though it only makes the important one more suffocating. You walk in silence through the bustling crowds, glad for the fact even torn and bloody Hana robes make people step out of Giano's way.
At some point you get a message from Maria asking where you are, which is a good question. You have no words to explain the situation to her and simply reply that the mission is complete, prompting a swell of congratulations you do not deserve.
It takes some time, but you eventually find your way back to the hotel Rose was staying thus far. Giano settles at the same table your group took the last few days, expression still grave.
"I want to be mad at you," she admits softly, "but I can't really be, now can I? We both knew we couldn't fight her the moment she showed up, my idea was that you take the client and run while I distract her. I guess I forgot you're not one of us in the moment... so what happened?"
You can not bear to meet her gaze but explain haltingly how all of this came to pass. It went so fast in retrospect, even though it felt much longer at the time. Giano listens without any comment and no change in expression until you finish, at which point she pulls out a cigarette and lights it.
"I probably don't need to tell you that you messed it up, do I?" she asks, though a single look at your face tells her the answer. "You confirmed that Holly Briar is dead and you found out who attacked the Feathers... but you also got the client killed. The only reason I'm not tearing into you here is that you being too soft saved my life."
It is harsh to hear it spelled out to you, especially the implicit part; your chances for Hana just went up in smoke. Still, you can not help but ask: "If you had been in my place....?"
"I would have grabbed the girl and left you behind."
Her confirmation is immediate and hurts a little, though nowhere near as much as you would expect. Giano said often enough that a Hana Fixer needs to give everything for the mission, that includes making the call to sacrifice an ally for success.
"I guess I'm not made for Hana after all," you murmur, finally saying what you both already know. Giano nods faintly, some disappointment visible in her expression.
"You aren't, at least not at the moment. The fact we met something way out of our league should let you get out of any trouble for Rose's death, though I'm not too worried there. Her father was her only living relative, so there's no one left to sue you over breach of contract."
And that explains why she got more and more frantic as time passed. Although it does not make you feel any better for some reason.
You are about to comment when Maria appears with Hifumi in tow, both ruffled but unharmed. She quickly demands a retelling of your encounter and becomes unexpectedly grim upon hearing how you could do no more than get Giano to safety. Hifumi simply nods along and methodically eats a slice of cake, content to just listen.
By the end Giano is the first to take her leave, saying something about 'kicking this case up the ladder'; Hifumi is next, excusing himself to check his gear. You have enough awareness to assure him the favour is more than repaid, and to wish him good luck in the future. You part with a shake of hands, though you have the feeling you will not see him again.
Then you are alone with Maria, who probably only remained because she stays at the hotel. The silence lasts a long time as each of you follows their own thoughts.
"I guess this is it," she finally says while righting her pink-framed glasses. "I'm not happy with how it ended, not at all... but that woman is still out there. Will you go after her?"
You can only shake your head at that. "I couldn't fight her no matter what I do. Getting myself out alive was about the best I could do."
"But you aren't happy about it," she quips, far more observant than you like at the moment. Maria leans forward, chin resting on her hands. "What exactly bothers you?"
Another good question you are not sure you have the answer to. Is it losing anyone, losing Rose in particular, failing Hana's test, having to just run away like a Rat once again? It may just be a bit of each plus some more things you can not quite name. You feel powerless once more, even with all the power you obtained over the last one and a half years.
It soon becomes clear that Maria expects an answer, so you eventually speak up: "I don't know exactly. I, I tried to save them both and messed it up. Now I feel worse than if I just threw one of them to the wolves to get the other out, even though I knew I'd have to do something like it."
Parvati would probably chide you for being greedy, though without any heat. Giano would laugh at your naivety and maybe joke about being so noble. Mai may just shrug or ask you why. Maria, however, smiles and leans forward to clasp your hand while an odd feeling begins to course through your body..
"I appreciate that you are this resolute in your desire to help. To leave no one behind. It's an important quality to have in my opinion. We can't protect others if we don't care for them. Sometimes we fail and it feels awful," here she pauses and you look up as she finishes: "But we have to keep doing it. So please don't lose heart, even if it hurts."
You nod a little dumbly, still wondering about what you thought you saw there for a moment. It seemed like her eyes had discoloured, pitch black from sclera to pupil like a pair of yawning abysses. But it must have been your mind playing a trick after the day you had; the odd feeling her touch elicited is gone as well.
Maria smiles and squeezes your hand, then lets go. "You should go home and rest for now," she says before hopping up and waving goodbye. "I'll take the train tomorrow morning but please call me sometime, yeah?"
You agree numbly and stand to go, now alone on the way home. The morose thoughts make it take until Parvati points it out in the evening before you realise there is a hairclip attached to your head now; a black heart in deep pink casing, sitting snugly in place and resisting any attempt to remove it.
Unfortunately, her asking if it was some sort of gift for passing the exam brings you right back to having to retell the story for your girlfriend. She is thankfully more worried about you making it out than anything regarding the mission, even fusses a little over your torn fingers.
"There we go," she chirps after putting on the final bandaid, then takes your hand gently. "Now what next? You could try to join another Association, not that I think you should." She obviously does not like the idea but keeps on talking at you: "Then again, Scythe Office isn't so bad, so maybe Shi?"
You shake your head at that; Scythe Office was an interim, a job Dexter got you back then. You never meant to stay there forever. Neither will Parvati, all things considered. Her being there would be the only reason for you to stay now.
"No, not Shi. Seven may be more for me, or maybe Dieci. But I don't think I'm good with children, or all that smart."
"I think you underestimate yourself," she encourages gently before pressing a kiss to your cheek. "But I guess there's time. You're still getting paid for that job, right?"
You do not actually know and dearly hope so; even with tax money already prepared, you are cutting it dangerously close at the moment.
Still, having Parvati nearby makes you relax and push back a little cheekily. "You're the lawyer, so you tell me what happens now."
She huffs in response, shrugging. "Don't know, it could go either way. You're technically in breach of contract, but you fulfilled the main goal. From what I studied so far, they're probably going to dock your pay."
"Well, here's to hoping."
You only murmur the words and stand to make dinner; the busywork will keep you distracted if nothing else. Somehow you feel a little lighter despite the mood, though; a feeling that keeps on persisting throughout the evening and the next day. It is not a huge leap but your motions have become notably more smooth, even Gyeong-Hui comments on it during your final training session of the year that day.
Outside of that... you have to admit the shame of having failed the mission to Jett, who listens with a blank expression and ultimately a faint nod.
"We both know you aren't made for Zwei work," he tells you after. "But watching over your allies like you did is a quality I can respect."
You left out your own feelings in this particular retelling, he would not care to hear about them either way. Although his implicit praise lifts your mood a little. He then shoos you out to finish your report and gives you tomorrow off to unwind from completing an Urban Plague with minimal support.
It is almost sad that you plan to leave this Office eventually; Jett is a good boss.
Either way, that free day is New Year's Eve. You use the time to relax a little with knitting. You also play around with your treasure, the golden cloth still firm and vibrant. Parvati carefully washed it by hand recently, which you allowed her to do with some hesitation; now you are glad for agreeing, it is prettier than ever.
Then you meet Giano, who was out of contact the previous day and finally confirms what you already know.
"They'll send the official response in a few days, but I can already tell you that you failed the exam." She shrugs faintly after saying it, now back to her usual laid-back self. "Although I think encountering a Star of the City and living to tell the tale may get you a promotion."
Your thoughts short-circuit at hearing that; you almost choke on your drink, causing Giano to laugh at the face you make.
"H-How do you mean?" You finally ask her, which prompts a smirk.
"Remember when I told you how going after Feathers can get you on the shit list really quick? Yeah, turns out that woman had more than just Holly's group hollowed out. Seven associate Fixers ID'd a number of missing people among those zombies and the price for her head went up by several orders of magnitude. They're upgrading her threat level as we speak, right up to a Star."
Hearing that both fills you with dread for having been this close to a being deemed among the most dangerous in the City, and relief that it took something like her to make you fail the mission.
And then there is a soft whisper of danger, like death wrapped in silk; your head turns even faster as Giano's to the overwhelming presence walking in the door. Everybody looks, all noise extinguished, as a woman with pale hair moves past them with nary a glance. She is dressed immaculately in a fine, dark suit, making not a single sound.
"May I bother you for a minute?" she asks with a soft voice that belies the danger, but you can only nod dumbly. The woman's lips quirk up for a moment as she takes an empty chair, black-gloved hands folded in her lap. "I am Angelica, Grade 1. Color of the Black Silence."
Her voice seems impossibly loud for the absence of other sounds. If your spine could get any more straight, it would have done so now. Giano is just the same by your side but kept her wits about her: "Giano, Hana Grade Five. That is Ciel, Grade 6. How can we help you, ma'am?"
Her blue eyes seem to see to the bottom of your soul, a pause you faintly realise is left intentionally. When she does speak, her words are measured: "I was told that you are the ones who encountered The Blood-Red Night a few days ago. Hana Association assigned me to hunt her down, and so I want to hear everything you can give me on her."
Were it anyone else, someone closer to your own Grade, you would have paused and considered to ask for an exchange. But she is so intimidating and beautiful that the words just start spilling out. You tell her everything you figured out, little as that actually is; from the hollowed-out corpses over her penchant for drinking blood and all the way to the unusual appearance of her face. All the while you can not help but marvel at the fact one of the greatest assassins of the time sits right there in front of you; she is known for those noise-cancelling gloves, not to mention her close ties to the Blue Reverberation.
Angelica puts up a little recorder and listens attentively, only once interrupting to ask a question. Giano adds a few tidbits you missed but the well has run dry soon enough. Only fifteen minutes passed when the Black Silence stands again, a faint nod offered to the two of you.
"Thank you for your assistance," she says before throwing some money onto the bar with pinpoint accuracy. "I'll buy a round."
The flummoxed woman nods and a few cheers follow Angelica outside, where she momentarily stops.
You are still so caught up in the fact you met another Color that you do not realise the new presence taking the place of Angelica's as she walks away. It is louder, patient, graceful, slithering around your throat and ready to constrict at any moment.
At the point its familiarity registers, the Purple Tear has already come in. She still looks like the last time you saw her, smiling faintly as if someone just told her a little joke. Her scale-pattern coat rustles ever so faintly in the renewed if wholly natural silence. The moment her gaze comes to rest on you without even searching the room is when your heart nearly gives out.
Giano just stares bug-eyed as a second Color graces you two with her presence within a single hour.
"No, you were not drugged," the older woman answers as if reading Giano's thoughts. "Though I think you should take a little walk to clear your head."
She takes the hint and almost runs out the door. The Purple Tear takes her abandoned seat opposite of you, that same smirk in place. "It has been a while, Ciel," she greets and the fact she knows your name finally breaks the spell.
"S-So it's true?" You ask back with barely constrained curiousity, almost vibrating in your seat. "That you know everything, ma'am?"
The singular shake of her head has something graceful to it. "Even the girl who claims to know everything does not. I know less than her but more than most. And most of the time," she closes enigmatically, "that is enough."
You nod eagerly, even though you barely understand a word. "I can't believe you're right here in front of me! I never expected you'd know my name!"
She smiles indulgently in response, an idle motion placing some sort of trinket on the table. It buzzes to life and your surroundings turn a little hazy, though she assuages any worries before they can come up: "A little precaution to keep this conversation private. Nobody else needs to know what we speak here."
Again you nod, a hundred questions on your tongue held back only by consideration for your idol. "Of course. What do you need from me, ma'am?"
Her hands are clasped now as she studies you; someone could unfavourably call her gaze dissecting, but you feel it is mostly just curious. She leaves a pregnant pause while searching for something only she knows in your eyes.
"Those attachments of yours," she finally starts, gentle as can be. "You should discard them."
Reality reasserts itself in an instant, like a bucket of ice water emptied over your head. You sit there and stare at her, no more than a flabbergasted "Huh?" coming out of your mouth. But her expression remains the same.
"Three times you had to choose between your objective and another, and three times you chose others. You should stop sabotaging yourself like that, sometimes you need to step on others for another step along your own path. It will always go the same way, won't it? You work with another, time passes, you grow attached, and you sacrifice progress for their sake in one way or another. So won't you give up on them in favour of yourself?"
Her words cut deep like invisible blades, far deeper than you thought they could. For a moment you wonder how she even knows so much about you, but disregard the thought in a flare of indignation. How can she demand you push away your loved ones? You do not want to, especially do you not want to stop caring about others. Parvati, Mai, Giano, even Hifumi and Dexter, Maria too. You would not have gotten to know them if you only cared about yourself.
But... maybe the Purple Tear is right? She as a Color must know better than most. Maybe keeping others at a distance is how you get to the top. Just like life in the City always goes.
You are torn, more so than ever before. Is a mere feeling really worth disregarding the advice of a Fixer so much greater and wiser than yourself?
And is a virtual stranger's advice really worth changing your ways for, which saw you get this far already?
[] Refuse Ciel will continue to act as they feel is right, following the desire to keep their friends and companions safe above all else.
No write-ins.
-Removed Contact: Rosamonde "Rose" Briar
-Hifumi's Contact changes: (Relation: He owes you one -> Relation: You worked together before)
-New Gear: Heart-Shaped Hairclip (???)
-Canon Characters Encountered: 4 -> 5
Compassion Is to Look Beyond Your Own Pain, to See The Pain Of Others
The word hangs between the two of you, heavy as iron. But you will not back down, not on this. Not even on your idol's demand.
The Purple Tear holds your determined gaze for one long second that feels more like an eternity. Her aura washes around you in constant reminder of her power. If she wanted to take offense with your refusal, she could kill you faster than you can comprehend.
Strangely, you are not scared at all.
Neither does she seem disappointed.
"So you have indeed awakened before your time."
Her words are thoughtful despite the serious expression. They also confuse you mightily. What does she mean?
"Ciel," the word cuts through the renewed silence, cutting you off before your mouth is fully open. The air shifts under the Purple Tear's full attention. "Put those ambitions to rest."
"...huh?"
The non-sequitur overwhelms your concious mind with questions, even though you know exactly what she means. "But why?"
Nothing exists anymore but you and her. The Purple Tear's countenance remains serious and she leans a little closer as she explains. "Stop and think for a moment, Ciel. Your mind is made on opening your heart to others. As time passes you will accrue more and more people dear to you. Some will betray you, some will be killed by the enemies you will certainly make on your way to the top. And with each one you will break more because opening your heart means you accept the eventual pain of loss."
She has a point and the picture she paints makes you shiver. This really is what you set yourself up for, is it not? Even if you refuse to stop doing it, the pain will certainly come sooner or later. You already got a taste of it with Rose, whom you barely knew. Hearing about Dexter's death was the same. You are certain that neither of them would have bothered you one bit as you were two years ago.
Reading the realisation out of your face, the Purple Tear moves on: "You had nothing left to lose when you began your journey, there was only the path forward. But everything you gained along the way will be in peril if you keep moving. Your wife won't follow at your pace, but you know that already."
While you were listening with slowly growing dread, the last part replaces it with confusion. "B-But I'm not married?"
The weak rebuttal is waved off as unimportant. "Not yet you aren't, but you might be. You are also missing the point: you had nothing left to lose then, but now you do. And the longer you stay on this path, the more you will gain that you can lose. And the higher you go, the more you will lose along the way."
You sit there trying to comprehend what she wants from you. To give up on your goal, your dream, the one that she herself inspired all those years ago. A part of you wants to resist the mere idea on instinct, but the rest is paralysed in indecision because she is right. You already caused Parvati distress by leaving her behind in your ambitions. What if it happens again, or if she gets hurt because you pushed too far?
What is more important? Your dream, or your friends?
Even if you want to be greedy and chase after both at once, those ominous words she said keep echoing through your skull like hammerblows. If you have to lose one to keep the other, then... the choice is simple in the end, no matter how agonising.
You want to throw something, or scream, or something. You do not even know what you want anymore. Cold sweat soaks your clothes and your heart hammers in your chest. Yet the answer remains the same.
The woman before you watches the internal struggle in silence. She waits patiently until you look up, now completely lost.
"Do I really have to choose?"
The way she exhales almost sounds like a huff, you even get a somewhat nostalgic smile out of her. "It is a story that repeats itself across this City, on and on forevermore. For you who can see clearly where all the rest still slumber, the best bet on keeping that bit of happiness you carved from the City is to stay where you are."
You lower your head, trying to come up with a counter that will not come. The more you think about it the more you are plagued by horror visions of familiar faces stuck on pikes, of friends killed the many thousand ways one may die in the Backstreets. You could never hope to get into a Nest either, in the end all leads back to what she said.
You do not want to give it up, the dream that brought you this far.
But then again... the world will not end if you decide to dream of something new, right?
Your body loses some of its energy, face falling. Your decision is already made, you just have not convinced yourself of it yet.
The Purple Tear sees it too. Her voice shatters the quiet and makes you listen intently, anything to drown out the many doubts assailing your mind: "Hold tight what is precious to you, Ciel. And leave District Nine before the next year is out."
With these words she stands, the little device swiped up and returned into her coat. The normal noises of the bar come back into focus and she leaves you behind with many questions, none of which you find answers to that day.
When Giano gets back, you can not bring yourself to tell her what the Purple Tear wanted to talk about. You do not even know why she did all this, whether it was some test for you, a kindness, or even some selfish plot of her own. It does not matter, either; she was right and that is all that counts.
The thoughts cloud your mind on the way home. All that usual energy was sapped away by some invisible drain.
Parvati and Mai notice immediately, both at home before you for once. Neither says anything for a time.
When you do speak, it is less with resignation and more thoughtfulness: "I didn't make it into Hana. Giano said the official notice will come in the next few days. That woman we met was elevated to a Star of the City."
Your girlfriend's eyes turn wide as dinner plates over the news and she snatches your unharmed hand to hold. Mai is not as versed in the gradings and needs a moment longer, but she gingerly takes the other to support you nonetheless.
Sitting with them like this only makes you realise again that the Purple Tear was right. If becoming a Color means giving them up or losing them sooner or later... then you rather keep them. You have always been greedy like that, have you not?
"And I think," you continue haltingly, unable to look at either of them, "that I'll stop climbing the ranks. Where I am is good enough."
Parvati lets go in surprise, one hand now on your shoulder. "But it's your dream, isn't it? Are you sure?"
Either Mai has no idea what you talk about or she is still too tired to say much. You smile back at your girlfriend, resolve building slowly. "It was, yes," you say, arms winding around both sisters' waists and pulling them flush against your sides. "But I think I found something more important. I'd rather focus on that."
The two blink owlishly at each other, then at you. Parvati's cheeks are decidedly pink but she giggles away her embarassment. "My, are you coming on to my baby sister too?"
"Not what I meant," you clarify quickly, though well aware that Parvati understands. They both do, going by how their arms wind around you.
This is how it should be.
You receive the message from Hana Association a few days after New Year's, but it comes hand in hand with a promotion to Grade 5. It is a pleasant surprise yet no longer the incredible experience the last few promotions were. You are almost disappointed when the previous rush fails to manifest.
Life continues as normal for a few months after that, taxes paid in full and early so you never have to meet a Claw again. Only that instead of pushing all your money into augments and other stuff, you all start putting money aside to follow the Purple Tear's ominous warning. You transfer out of Scythe Office to their sister, Magnify Office; investigative work suits you better than direct field work, not to mention that it is safer. Jett sees you off with a nod and a firm handshake.
Parvati works her hardest to finish her studies of contract law in time and manages to get her permit. She stays in Scythe Office a while longer than you because of that, which leads to a fun few months where you work together again during collaborations between Scythe and Magnify.
Once Parvati passes the exam in October, you get started on relocating to District 6; you even manage to convince Giano to transfer over into Hana West so she can come too. Over time she becomes a real friend as well, though you barely ever work together on the same cases again. Each of you needs to reestablish a network of informants for your intel work and will help each other with that.
You look at your place, the place your pack lived for so long. Now everything worth taking was removed, easily fitting into an extended suitcase to take on the train.
"It's weird to leave, isn't it?" Parvati asks softly, hand sliding into yours. Her hair is covered by a headscarf made from your once most precious possession, the gold contrasting nicely with her black hair.
You just nod back, squeezing gently. "Yeah. It's a new start for us."
Mai takes your other hand, wide awake and smirking. "For all of us. Maybe I can find a better job while we're at it, too."
You just smile back at her. "That offer to be my secretary to tide you over still stands."
"Nah, I'll figure something out. Maybe Giano can get me a job at the Hana office, I'd be as safe as I can be."
"Until someone abducts you to find out about Hana's inner workings," Parvati quips back.
The sisters keep bantering as you walk away, leaving behind the place you called home for good. Familiar streets pass by on your way to the train station, a new place to live already arranged and a job lined up for you. It took some work and an interview by phone, but another Seven Associate Office is happy to take you on.
You are still Grade 5 now. By the time a pillar of golden light erupts from Nest L in three years, you will be Grade 4. Three days of bliss and four days of despair, yet in the end you will rejoice when your then wife looks at you with the same luster to her eyes that you saw in the mirror for many years. Both her and Mai will become more animated from then on, though Mai will be well into getting married to a successful businessman herself. Your coworkers and other tentative friends you made are much the same.
Not all will be good, of course. The enrapturing song that announces the near total collapse of District 9's Backstreets under the Pianist will quickly remind you of the Purple Tear's warning. It announces the Distortion, yet another great threat to the City. Maria is swept up in that particular case, though she seems to keep thriving as a Grade 1 Fixer.
Then will come an invitation from The Library, then an Urban Plague; not for you but for Parvati. It will take all of your effort to stop her from going there for the Book of Ganga, her oldest sister who was once recruited by Lobotomy Corporation. The fact this Library soon grows into a Star of the City will make her admit you were right before long.
Life is dangerous and you know full well you will die eventually. Even the nest-egg you and Parvati keep adding to for your children just in case can not change that. But you no longer want to fear every day as being the last. Rather, you will live every single one as if it were.
And when your time does come, you will hope to meet everyone again. Wherever it is that one goes when they die.
