[mission: hyrypia] hey kid wanna see a dead body

[onemind]

CHARACTERS: EVERYONE
WHERE: The Second Flight
WHEN: DAY :021 - DAY :022
SUMMARY: Leaving the Graze and flying over the Finger Maze. [insert Psycho music cue here]
WARNINGS: Corpses. Will update as necessary. Need a warning added? PM this account please!

HYRYPIA - THE SECOND FLIGHT
DAY :021

I. ALLLL ABOARD
THE SOUND OF HORNS has become familiar in your time on Hyrypia, but the low drone seems out of place here in the great open space of the main hall of the Second’s Flight. The space here is fantastically and beautifully ornate, the pale polished wood floors and rich dark paneling strangely reminiscent of sand and stone, loamy earth and some rich, dense forest not native to the arid lands of this planet. The space seems to dare the sky to claim it, acting out some daring violation of delivering the earth into the heavens. The twin heads of House Tyrisson are equally lavish both in their appearance and welcome. Two brothers, draped in elaborate pastel fabrics and glinting with enough metal accents to put the ornate robes of Seconds to shame, they trade a short speech back and forth between them:

"Once, our ancestors would have travelled the depths and turns of the Finger Maze in an effort to follow the footsteps of the First. Luckily, we don't live in such dangerous times; the gifts of the First and this planet we call home have allowed us to grow up out of our desperation. Consider this comfort our gift to you and enjoy your time on the Second Flight."

A band strikes up the moment the Tyrisson twins take their seats and you are left to your own devices. So much for living simply.

II. A MURDER MOST FOUL
A SCREAM PIERCES THE SILENCE of the saunas. The low sound of gently flowing water and the soft piped music seems to fade to nothing in the wake of the raw, terrified noise. Unsurprisingly, it draws immediate attention as a horrified Descendant practically falls into the arms of the servant that comes to his aid. The outburst is easily forgiven as word travels like lightning through the ship.

There has been a murder - or rather, two murders. Two bodies, damp with humidity and beginning to give of a distinctly unpleasant smell, have been found in one of the hot bath grottos. The mineral water they've been soaking in has reverted from a milky white to a terrible, blood rust brown.

And while it's unlikely that any Carbauschians were sharing the pool with them (robes make for unpleasant waders), the dryer albeit stiflingly hot areas of the conjoined saunas are such a communal meeting places that it wouldn't be out of the realm of imagination that one or two Hosts might be nearby… Regardless, news travels quickly and the chilly atmosphere that descends over the Second Flight is palpable. A horrific hunting accident is one thing, but murder? That's something else altogether.


HYRYPIA - THE SECOND FLIGHT
DAY :022

III. A SORDID AFFAIR
TO SAY that the atmosphere is somewhat tense is an understatement. It seems that everyone has something to say about the murders- but these things are said tersely, in whispers under the breath, with darting eyes and suspicious glances, and security- once hidden, secret- is now easily visible. They can be found at the entrance of each of the broad areas, patrolling down the paths that run alongside the outer walls of the Envoy’s cabins- never intruding, but ever present. Still, there seems to be an insistence that it will be dealt with by a member of the Tyrisson protectorate guard - Detective Savela, a hard-nosed, serious woman who seems not to want any assistance - and that the guests should continue to enjoy themselves. The bands still play, the games are ever present. Of course, those that are enterprising may wish to try poking around, instead.

IV. THE SHOW MUST GO ON
MURDER SCHMURDER-- In what's very clearly an effort to retain some sense of normalcy, an elaborate meal is served late on Day :022. The dishes are so complex that might as well be show pieces of their own, the music has an air of desperation, and the display of technomancy from a pair of Seconds is so delicate and ornate - centering almost entirely on a cloud of small metal coins that shifts shape constantly to illustrate scenes from the famous epic poem The Arion throughout the course of the dinner - that under any other circumstances it might be a singularly memorable moment.

Unfortunately, the palpable sense of suspicion between the envoy factions persists and the temper of the room is anything but celebratory. Late in the evening when most people have retired from the stifling atmosphere, a scuffle breaks out between some Meradan bodyguards and a clutch of Carpathan servants.


HYRYPIA - THE SECOND’S FLIGHT
DAY :023

V. A FAREWELL TO ARMS
THE ENGINES ever-present hum ticking down an octave is the first sign that the Flight has almost reached its destination. By the time the servants are politely knocking on the entrances of the berthings, the new dawn reveals that the cliffs and the winding passages of the Finger Maze have finally fallen behind the ship. The land here consists of rocky, relatively bare hills and is accented only with occasional short, sparse woody tree and straggly clumps of red grass. From somewhere in the distance, salt touches the wind. The Second Flight lands, setting gently down into the trough between two hills. Its now familiar gangplank extends, ready to send the Pilgrims again out onto the road.

---

((OOC Notes: This log covers days :021 and :022 on the Second Flight. A log will be posted for the walk on DAY :023 and the arrival at the Red Coast. Please be sure to review the MISSION: HYRYPIA ooc information to find setting information for the Second Flight. If you have any questions, please hit up either the mission's question thread, the FAQ or MOD CONTACT pages!))

NAVIGATION • GAME CALENDAR • MISSION: HYRYPIA • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

Comments

[deployed]

( Only if they're threatening us. )

[ They can't rule that out, but Bellamy still doesn't think their made up faction has become such a target. They're a curiosity, but were they really enough a player to warrant this kind of message? ]

( Do you think they were threatening us? Or is there something we aren't seeing? )

[ Bellamy's hand finds her elbows, then the small of her back, urging her to keep moving. ]

( There's nothing else to see here. We should start moving. )

[wille]

( It could be me. )

[ An admission as much as it is a bait. When his hand holds her elbow, she affirms it with a hand over his. It is an acknowledgment that he may touch her, but also an insistence on more. She isn't about to move or look away until she has said her piece. ]

( Let me tell you first. I know who did it. I don't think it could be anyone else. )

[deployed]

[ It brings Bellamy up short to hear Misato make that assertion. He stills, gaze swinging back to Misato's veiled face. There's no uncertain note in her words. He draws in a step close, even though there is no chance of them being overheard. Their conversation passes directly between their minds but it still feels necessary to minimize the distance. ]

( Misato, what happened? )

[ Then undercurrent: tell me. ]

[wille]

I'm not scared.

[ Both to fill in the otherwise strange silence passing between them for onlookers, and to assuage his immediate concern. She finds that Bellamy thinks himself a citadel, always seeking to enfold others in his offer of safety. But she feels most comfortable in conflict. ]

( I think those two were the Carpathans we overheard plotting against Saridian Black. We tattled on them, anonymously, to see what he'd do. If he'd show his cards. But look what happened. )

[deployed]

You're never scared.

[ Unspoken: even when you should be. ]

( Well, now we know what he'll do. )

[ Which isn't exactly a relief. ]

( Did you tell him directly? Yourself? )

[wille]

[ She shakes her head, a concealed smile on her lips. ]

I guess it's relative.

[ That is, on a spectrum of her known fears, this barely registers. That is, she is always afraid, now no more than at other times. But she takes a step back and moves to grab him by the arm so she can lead him away from the gathering crowd to somewhere quieter. ]

( I didn't. It shouldn't be traced back to me. If it did, I'd be the one they're carting out, right? )

[deployed]

( Maybe. Maybe not. )

[ The swirl of possibility can't be resolved, even with the missing piece Misato has provided him. Maybe this was a show of power. Maybe Misato is next. Bellamy doesn't know to reassure her. ]

We should speak to the others about this.

[ He says this aloud even as they draw away from the crowd. Maybe someone else would have insight. ]

( This statement might be more valuable to him than killing you. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be watching your back. )

[wille]

[ Misato lets the silence stretch from his last spoken words, attention tuned to a pair of Carpathans passing by them to head toward the crime scene with faces pulled taut with worry. How difficult it is to gauge friend from foe. Victim from perpetrator. Only when she thinks they're out of earshot does she speak. ]

I'll let you do that. I might need to work on the delivery first.

[ Still with a thrill of humor. See, Bellamy? There's nothing to fear. Except: ]

( Do you really think they can tell us apart? )