FINAL INVESTIGATION

[faentasy]

FINAL INVESTIGATION

Good morning and happy Friday. Despite the sense of the coming end, today starts off just like any other Friday in Aira Niluc, with a song finding its way to your ears. Normally this would be followed by an announcement, but there is only silence in it's wake.

The curious might be piqued to gather where what's becoming familiar by now, and they'll find that the fountain is completely drained, leading downward into a completely dark abyss. An emerald slide glitters, clearly an invitation of some sort, but it's probably not best to go down there until you're all prepared. Take stock of what you need, explore to find any other changes in the world, and then gather together.

The end has begun.

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Comments

[vogelfrei]

... maybe.

[ This is sarcastic but also, ah, in his heart of hearts he knew this disappointment would come one day.

Anyway, he is also deeply interested in books, just by default, so they'll just crowd together here. ]

[faentasy]

[ The book on the top seems to be about illusions of all kinds. It's not an overly thick book but it does have a passage on adderstones which has been circled (someone respects books as much as they respect their bed). Of note is that the passage mentions seeing what is normally invisible to the naked eye, in addition to seeing through potent illusions, particularly of faefolk.

The text goes on to note how to make an adder stone, given its unique shape. Scrawled in the margin here in messy handwriting is the sentence: ]

use the waterfall?

[crimson_flamel]

[Hm.]

...there's some kind of seam, or tear, at the waterfall. It reaches into the sky. You can only see it through the stones.

[Or Hamelin left the stones there for her, and that's what this passage is referring to. But she's not bringing that one up while "B" is listening.]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is certainly thinking that exact thing and exchanges a meaningful look with Edelgard about it that may or may not wound up being understood. How helpful this wound up being even sort of makes up for the poor book being written in...

What's below it? ]

[crimson_flamel]

[It's understood. She nods, giving him a knowing look.]

[faentasy]

[ The book underneath is about flower meanings. That might be useful in the future, but more importantly there's a piece of sheet music folded carefully inside.

The title of it is two words, written in the same hand:

Her realm. ]

[crimson_flamel]

I don't suppose you can read sheet music?

[What's the polite way to ask if you've dabbled in metaphor for prostitution?]

[vogelfrei]

[ ... sorry, he can only offer up the real deal. ]

I can't. Huaisang is a musician, but I don't know if his homeland uses the same sheet music system. We should take this along, in any case.

[ And you know what, flower meanings. Earlier it was mentioned that there are flowers on Hamelin's wardrobe. Let's look those up! ]

[crimson_flamel]

Tenn was able to read the sheets we took from his office, I believe he should be able to take a look at these.

[She'll nod at him doing that and look at the book below.]

[faentasy]

[ The first set of flowers is one Mcgillis has seen before: dried blue cornflowers, which are now arranged in a vase. They symbolize hope and courage. The second set of flowers he's also seen in passing, purple hyacinths which have seen better days and are also dried, though rather haphazardly. Like the corn flowers they're neatly arranged in a vase, though it looks like there's a piece of paper folded in this bunch. They symbolize regret and forgiveness. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Hmm, interesting. McGillis will hold onto the flower meaning book for now.

And also take out this piece of paper, even if he's half fearing to just discover a love note Yuri wrote. ]

[crimson_flamel]

[please no]

[faentasy]

[ It is not a love note, thank god! It might be something kind of surprising anyway, though? This particular note looks like it's been unfolded and folded before. Also messing handwriting still. ]

SURPRISE I'M RED

[crimson_flamel]

[Well, that's... odd.

Time to look at the flowers through the stone.]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis has to chuckle at the note, he certainly recognizes it even if he hadn't seen the actual contents at the time. ]

[faentasy]

[ The purple hyacinths look normal, but the blue cornwalls seem to sparkle a bit under the adderstone. And because I forgot to mention it in a previous tag, there is also a framed photo with the flowers as well. ]

[crimson_flamel]

There's something about the Blue Nuvelles. They sparkle under the stone.

[She's going to pick up the framed photo and take a look.]

[vogelfrei]

I am fairly sure I know what is up with them. They're the flowers Raven used to protect people for his role.

[ And then he'll put a finger over his lips and just... take the whole pot of flowers, because who knows if there properties still apply and will be helpful later?? ]

[faentasy]

[ The picture is one of those awkward family portraits where no one was paying attention to the camera, but it's all the more genuine for it. (please forgive the fanart, canon does not provide).

With that, they've found everything of note here! ]

[vogelfrei]

... ah. So that's them.

[ McGillis looks at that picture for a long long time, seeming lost in thought. It's the kind of bond Tekkadan has, the kind of thing that he had not fit into for even a second while they were allied... The kind of thing that is a strength that isn't his and that won't accomplish his dreams.

And still, here, he's been a part of it for a little. Here, it is easy enough to imagine himself and Jack standing in this photograph, Jack probably messing with Hamelin and himself looking a little exasperated.

That's the true taste of a forbidden world this place has brought him, beyond all the magic and all the wishes, and he needs to forget about it or he'll be doomed forever. ]

[crimson_flamel]

[Jealousy boils at the base of her throat.

She stares at the photo and feels her heart grow heavy. Family. Friends. A place to belong. Of course the Piper could have that too.

Both here and in the halls and classrooms of the monastery, surrounded by people who would call her friends, she has never had that belonging. A sadistic part of her believes that the Piper shouldn't have it either.

It's with a scowl that she puts it down.]

Well. I don't believe there's anything left for us here.