Return of the evil Timestamp!
Requiem 11: Shadowkind
[05:19] It's two days till the festival, meaning today is Saturday. Tomorrow's the full moon and the appearance of the Moonlight Knight; moreover, the saturday morning is a wet and rainy and dim one, making it
[05:21] an unpleasant thing to join as Tom's eyes open. Even with the new stuff in his room, it's still not the best sort of morning to be...well...alive.
[05:24] Well, wet and dim... wasn't always necessarily unpleaseant. Just foreboding, and in a place like THIS city...
[05:26] Forboding is very, very not good. Regardless, Tom rises from his bed, taking a gander at his... collection. Punching bag, a few shelves, books for the shelves, a moderately sized television...
[05:28] And a rug, to add a bit of color. It's not much, but it's something. Without anything to stretch to any real extent, he pulls off the covers and trods into his morning ritual.
[05:31] Yukari's downstairs again, and the door to Fuuka's basement is still locked.
[05:32] Tom yawns as he descends the stairs... "...Fuuka's not up?"
[05:32] "She fell asleep downstairs."
[05:32] "...Uhm."
[05:32] "...Should I... Go wake her up?"
[05:33] "Why?"
[05:33] "I guess not. I just haven't seen her in a while is all. So did anything interesting happen?"
[05:35] "Nothing but the rain."
[05:35] "...Well, that's mildly discouraging, how about Boss?"
[05:36] "They left before you got up."
[05:36] "...Damn. Did you tell them I needed to talk to them?"
[05:36] "Not together this time, though. It's weird, normally you'd think they were joined at the hip."
[05:36] "...Really? Well..."
[05:36] "Yeah. Boss had stuff to do, and Minato..." She frowns. "...did what he usually does."
[05:36] "That's... Strange."
[05:37] "I see. Well, what does Boss DO when he's out anyway?"
[05:38] "No clue."
[05:38] "...I wonder if he's got a wife."
[05:38] "I doubt it."
[05:39] "He just doesn't seem the type."
[05:39] "You'd never know..."
[05:42] "I guess."
[05:42] "Anyway..." He maneuvers to the kitchen, hands in his pockets, "I'm making breakfast."
[05:43] "Sounds good."
[05:43] "I try."
[06:02] "So what's on the plate today?"
[06:02] Apparantly... "Pamcakes."
[06:03] Pancake cravings. Blame Roger.
[06:03] "No, I mean investigation-wise, Tommygun."
[06:04] Tom swallowed the last of his pancakes, setting the plate down on a counter, "Oh, I was thinking I'd run a few errands around town, maybe try Edgeworth again."
[06:07] "Sounds good."
[06:07] "He was kinda tight lipped though... Know any way I can get him to talk?"
[06:10] "I don't know him personally, but the best bet would be get him in a courthouse, I guess?"
[06:10] "Huuhh... Does he have a court meeting today?"
[06:10] Yukari makes a face. "Do I look like his secretary, Tommygun?"
[06:13] Tom chuckles, a smirk on his face, "No, but I'd bet he'd make a better boss. Or not. Kind of a jerk, from what I know. I'll head down to the courthouse to see if they've got him in today or not."
[06:15] "Sounds like a good plan. You really think these through in advance, huh, Tommygun?"
[06:15] "Heh, I don't know if you're being honest or sarcastic."
[06:16] "Sarcastic."
[06:16] "Extremely." She grins.
[06:17] "And here I thought you were actually giving me a complement. There's a shot to -my- ego."
[06:18] "I'm sure you'll get over it."
[06:18] "I told you, I'm fragile."
[06:23] "Sure you are."
[06:23] "Like a china doll."
[06:25] "Get out!" She shoos, "I've got a phone call."
[06:26] At that, Tom utters one more chuckle mid-turn, for the door. "I'll see you later then!"
[06:28] The streets are as wet as the outside makes them appear, and the constant, pounding rain is no better; however, at least it's not hail or something actually painful. Just thick and hard to see in.
[06:30] And damp, of course. It's good he wears that coat everywhere he goes. It's not TOTALLY waterproof, so... He slips inside for a moment, retrieves an umbrella, and sets of on his way.
[06:33] Said umbrella is an enormous help.
[06:34] As umbrellas generally are!
[06:37] After a bit of wandering (the map shouldn't be damaged in such weather, so he's forced to relegate himself to wandering again), he manages to discover the courthouse.
[06:37] Unfortunately, it seems it's closed today.
[06:37] Well, that's a bit of a downer...
[06:38] Stop one is crossed from the list. Time for stop ZWEI!
[06:38] Specifically: The Bonnes'.
[06:39] Still closed, though this one helpfully informs him that it's a family thing.
[06:39] Which can only mean she hasn't recovered yet.
[06:39] ...Which leads to stop three.
[06:39] The hospital. Again.
[06:43] Unfortunately, the way to the hospital isn't quite as easy to find with all the rain and fog. So he's forced to wander a bit.
[06:43] After maybe an hour's worth of wandering, Tom comes to a most brilliant conclusion:
[06:43] He's lost as hell.
[06:44] Again.
[06:44] This made the second time in under a month.
[06:44] It really is becoming a bit of a hobby.
[06:44] It was really just not his day.
[06:44] Almost as much as being sent to the hospital.
[06:47] The question of the day is...
[06:47] 'Where am I?'
[06:48] It appears to be, after much observation and recognition of landmarks, one of the districts nearer to the VitaTech building.
[06:48] How he got there, he wasn't sure, but at least he had a vague idea of the surroundings...
[06:48] Unfortunately, it's also one with a bit of a 'reputation', in that it's supposedly where Endgame's gang headquarters is.
[06:49] Police haven't been able to do much about that, but then again...
[06:49] ...And that the aforementioned 'vague idea' translated to 'I need to get the hell out of here.'
[06:49] Well, no. He couldn't just run away. After all, it was definitely... Strange that they had their headquarters so close to Vita Tech's.
[06:53] Not too strange, although it was just a rumor. After all, this was also fairly far away from the police station and most other people who gave a damn, in a low-rent area of town that wasn't maintained too well, and generally not particularly
[06:53] cared for.
[06:57] But if the rumor WAS true...
[06:57] Well, then it's all different kinds of interesting.
[06:57] Tom nods, steeling his nerves. It was time to take a look around.
[07:00] It's not long before he gets out of the "HQ area", but it's still not terribly comforting. He's more or less still in their general "territory", and he's still not sure where in the hell the hospital is.
Couldn't they have designed this city with brighter colors?!
[07:01] He mumbled, hypothesizing that if VitaTech wanted Requiems, and if they WERE triggered by depression, this sort of architecture? This is exactly how they do it.
[07:03] It is at that moment that a man with a whip is cast ruthlessly across his path, slamming against the opposite wall. The man with the whip has a big 'S' on his jacket.
He moans, pulling himself to his feet. "Damn..."
[07:04] Maybe 'man' isn't the right word. He's more like a 'teenager'.
[07:05] 'S?' That could mean... "Shadowkind, huh?" Tom hustles to the teen's side, "Hey, you alright?"
[07:06] "Stay back!" The guy shouts, pushing Tom to the side as an electrical jolt crackles down the water puddle. The kid only barely manages to avoid it himself.
[07:06] "Who the hell are you?!" He strings his whip between his hands, keeping his eyes on the alley.
[07:08] Tom recoils at the electric shock. Metal limbs and water and electricity definitely do not mix. This is most certainly -NOT- his day... "Name's Tom, Twilight Detective Agency. Provided we both survive this, I'll need to ask you a few questions."
[07:10] From the alley, an absolutely hulking man - he's about seven feet tall and just as bulky along - carrying two tasers. "So you are the one who forced Fenrir's hand." He rumbles.
[07:10] The white half-mask makes it quite clear - this is a member of Endgame.
[07:10] ...He mustn't run away, he mustn't run away... And so he puts up his dukes... " 'Forced' his hand? He damn near killed me."
[07:11] "Not to mention a friend of mine, and an innocent bystander."
[07:11] "You nearly crushed his face." The huge man says. A deep, echoing laugh wells up in his chest, booming like a cannon through the rainy streets. "Well done."
[07:12] "He's got a pretty ugly mug, if I do say so myself. So what do I call you?" Odd, this one.
[07:12] "Step to the side, little Tom - my business is with Shadowkind. Afterwards, I would like to talk to you."
[07:12] "My name is Adam the Lightning."
[07:14] "Well, before you two duke it out, mind if I ask something?"
[07:14] "Of course." Adam doesn't seem to be in any hurry.
[07:14] "Alright, so first... What happened to incur your wrath toward this one here?"
[07:15] "You have never been in a gang war, have you?"
[07:15] "Honestly, no. But I'm familiar with wartime tactics, to an extent."
[07:15] "It's territory," the guy from Shadowkind hisses. "They're trying to expand and we don't want them in our area."
[07:15] "Not to mention the basic 'they're monsters, we hunt them' thing."
[07:16] "Are we the monsters?" Adam rumbles, "Or are you?"
[07:16] "Ahh-hah. So it's territory, is it?"
[07:17] "And basic philosophical differences, at that."
[07:17] "We have dreams." Adam says ponderously, pounding his fists (and the tasers!!!) together. "We have goals. You are destroyers."
[07:17] "You are the enemy, and you must be defeated for the safety of Endgame and our dreams."
[07:18] The Shadowkind guy lashes his whip against the ground, trying to move out of the puddle and onto a drier area.
[07:19] Tom sighs, tilting his umbrella to allow the water to flood off, "You seem like the sort of person to give everything for an ideal, and I can respect that, Adam. But I've got to ask because I'm curious, what is it? And even more specifically, what is yours?"
[07:20] "The goal of Endgame...is to become monsters." Adam hunkers down, waiting for Simon to make the first move.
[07:20] And the other one is a Belmont, brilliant, "Yeah, but what does that mean?"
[07:22] "I'll be quoting Jekyll and Hyde here, because it's a damn good play, but we all live a facade, anyway. Monsters can be men and men monsters, the question is how you define either."
[07:22] Sense of justice... Attempting to... Override... Common sense!
[07:22] "It means to transcend!" Adam shouts, raising his voice for the first time, punching forward with his taser at the Shadowkind kid. "It means to become more than we are! More than God made us!"
[07:23] "It means we are not content to be no one! We aim as high as the skies themselves!" Simon dives out of the way as the taser impacts the wall behind him.
[07:23] "More than God made us? Adam, we make ourselves."
[07:23] "It means we are men and women who seek to become powerful!"
[07:23] With that, he finally manages to backhand Simon, sending him flying into the wall across the way.
[07:24] "Seek to be powerful? The only method to power is that which is carved through your own two hands, through conquering challenges with the sweat of the brow and the opportunities life deals you."
[07:25] "That is what I do," he intones, "I take advantage of the opportunity I am given and with my own two hands reach for a future!"
[07:25] He advances towards Simon, who's already getting up (kid can take a lot of punishment...)
[07:26] "I will tell you now, becoming a monster is no means to strength. The one thing that can fell a monster will always be man, do you understand me?" Tom's limbs actually begin shaking, quivering with perhaps just a bit more rage than they can tolerate before motion, "Only a man can destroy a monster because once one becomes a beast, he ceases to be himself!"
[07:27] "That which sets man apart from beast his his ability to recognize himself amongst all others, and to declare 'I' amongst the infinite multitude of others upon this earth. It is not my path to tear you from yours, but think of what you will become before you chase blindly for it, Adam!"
[07:29] "Then I suppose," Adam says slowly, "That what I had to talk to you about no longer matters."
[07:29] "Hrmph, about joining Endgame? No, I suppose it doesn't. Leave that child be, or I will be forced to act upon you as well."
[07:30] "They made the move into our territory." Adam replies. "Should I ignore my enemy because an enemy of my enemy told me to do so?"
[07:30] "The one who remains standing is the one who is right!"
[07:30] “You have it backwards.”
[07:30] "And you only have fought Fenrir - I am as highly-ranked as he is. Do you think I am so easy to scare?"
[07:31] "Scare?"
[07:31] "You don't understand. If you sacrifice others on the altar of your own ambition, then you are what I call evil."
[07:31] "You are what I call naive." Adam gestures to the weather. "Do you think you could fight me now?"
[07:32] "I am an electrical specialist. My weapon is twin tasers, and it is raining."
[07:32] "You have metal limbs."
[07:32] "Even if heaven stands against me, I'll stand for my beliefs until my body is rendered into oblivion."
[07:32] "That's just my style, you know?"
[07:33] "Enough!" Someone says, and the man - that damned Roc - appears between the two, hands outstretched. He slowly crosses them both as Adam stops, tasers switching off as he bows his head.
[07:33] Thank God, a voice inside Tom sighed, salvation. Maybe. Hopefully.
[07:33] "Adam. Fenrir has declared this one his prey, and Hel has begged that none of us touch him. Dragon himself enforces this word. No matter what he challenges, he is not yours to fight." Roc reprimands him sternly.
[07:33] "When Fenrir is recovered, speak to him yourself." Roc turns to stare at Tom. "Twice now."
[07:34] "It's you again. I didn't have the chance to thank you for saving my ass the last time."
[07:34] "I did not save you, Thomas Magnusson. I saved Endgame."
[07:34] "Fenrir exposed his identity to the entire world, and such a thing is not tolerated among us."
[07:34] "Roc, right? Either way, your actions did probably save my life."
[07:34] "I am aware of that side-effect."
[07:35] "I understand. It's what's behind the masks, right? I need to know, is it the Requiems?"
[07:35] Adam is looming behind Roc, literally twice as huge as the smaller man, but he still seems cowed by Roc's presence. What this could mean...who knows.
[07:36] Tom's umbrella is quite thankfully shielding him from the rain. That, at least, he was happy for.
[07:36] Roc simply nods, his hawkish face still stern.
[07:36] "And I'm assuming Vita Tech might be tied up in all this somehow."
[07:36] "As Adam has almost assuredly told you, Endgame's goal is to become powerful. Whether you agree with us or not is not our concern."
[07:36] "But if you side with Shadowkind, you are our enemy, and I will not protect your life the next time - Fenrir's Blood Pact and Hel's Plea will be denied, and even Dragon himself cannot overturn an act of war."
[07:36] "It's not my place to force another individual from his path, only to seek out the truth and defend the morals I hold, myself."
[07:37] "If you side with Shadowkind, I will kill you myself."
[07:37] "I understand. Let's see what cards life deals us, eh?"
[07:37] Roc turns, placing his hand on Adam's arm. Adam immediately nods. "We are leaving now. If you are wise, you will prevent their footsoldier from striking our backs."
[07:38] "If more to protect his life than my own, certainly."
[07:38] Indeed, the Shadowkind kid has started advancing, but he stops at that.
[07:38] The pair of Endgame members turn, walking down the street until they disappear into the rain.
[07:39] As soon as they do disappear, Tom breathes a sigh of relief... "That," he wheezes, "Was way too close."
[07:39] "What do you mean? I could've taken him."
[07:40] "Yeah, in this rain?"
[07:40] "Jeez, even without metal limbs, you'd have gotten fried."
[07:41] The kid frowns. "I'm wearing rubber boots." He notes, "I was careful."
[07:41] "We don't hunt monsters we don't know anything about."
[07:41] "Then what do you know about that Roc guy?"
[07:42] "...nothing." He answers, looking down.
[07:42] "Look, I'm not exactly experienced or anything, but I could've taken that guy!"
[07:42] "He was short-range. I could've stayed out of his reach with my whip and taken him down."
[07:42] "Well, there you go..." Tom rolls his shoulders, the limbs clicking into submission, "He knocked you into a wall."
[07:43] "...I let him knock me into a wall!" He retorts, "To get into the open street where I could dodge!"
[07:43] "And then you got in the way and screwed that up!"
[07:43] "Besides, that one was definitely a fanatic..."
[07:43] "Do you know what they had to do to stop the ones in Area Eleven?'
[07:44] "They needed to develop a whole new -GUN- to take them down. Not because the normal ones wouldn't kill them, but because even in death, they wouldn't stop."
[07:44] "Even if you did do enough damage to kill him, he'd have come after you anyway."
[07:45] "Fff." The kid looks away. "Whatever."
[07:45] "Anyway, who are you, kid?"
[07:45] "You're obviously not a friend to the gangs in this city, so..." He wraps his whip. "Simon."
[07:45] "You already heard who I am..."
[07:46] "And that's not always the case. Like I said, I search out truth."
[07:46] "My brother got taken out by that guy!" He snaps.
[07:46] "...I see."
[07:46] "What was his name?"
[07:46] "So how about you not tell me about what to d-it's none of your business."
[07:46] "Please, did he die?"
[07:46] "And does he have a grave?"
[07:47] "Like it's anything you need to worry about."
[07:47] With that, Simon turns, sticking his hands in his pockets.
[07:47] "If he's dead, even if you don't have the body, he needs to be remembered."
[07:47] "I'll remember him myself."
[07:48] "You want to be careful with Shadowkind," Skull Man offers as Simon departs. "They have the best of intentions, but everyone can get lead astray by vengeance."
[07:48] God only knows where he came from.
[07:48] Tom jumps just a bit at that... And yes, that was EXACTLY what he was thinking. The whole 'God Knows where he came from' thing, "Watch where you pop out from. Nearly gave me a heart attack, Boss..."
[07:49] "...And yeah. I know, but that kid- it's not healthy for someone to carry a burden like that all by themselves."
[07:50] "So hey, Boss man, where's Minato today?"
[07:50] "That's what Shadowkind is." Skull Man replies, an umbrella of his own now visible. "A group for vengeance to be spread."
[07:50] "I don't know. He left before I did."
[07:50] "I see... I needed to ask him a few things."
[07:50] "I went to the school by accident, you see..."
[07:51] "Is that so?"
[07:51] "That guy, I don't think he killed Ryoji."
[07:51] "Neither do I." Skull Man answers.
[07:51] "Yeah. I talked to Roger over it..."
[07:51] "The problem is, I don't think the others think so, too."
[07:51] "But he did rape Yukari, or so I understand." He shrugs after a moment. "I don't know that it was intentional, or entirely non-consenual, or if it was true or just implied by the situation."
[07:51] "But it traumatized her badly."
[07:52] "...I see. Was there any evidence to suggest it was him?"
[07:52] "She woke up, they were both naked, lying in an alley and covered in blood."
[07:52] "... I see."
[07:52] "Please bear in mind, I don't know that he actually did anything."
[07:52] "...That might not have been rape."
[07:52] "That's what I keep thinking."
[07:52] "Yeah, I know. Neither do I, but..."
[07:52] "I suspect it's far more complicated."
[07:52] "But I don't know."
[07:52] "Seeing him now, he doesn't seem like the kind to have been ABLE to rape her."
[07:53] "There's that, and the fact that she's physically stronger than he is."
[07:53] "She'd be able to fend him off with a good strong kick. I've seen her kickbox."
[07:54] He snickers... "...I didn't think she had it in her. I mean, she's spunky and as a guy, I've gotta say her legs are pretty damn good looking... But I didn't think she'd be able to do something like that."
[07:54] "...Anyway, yeah. There's too much pointing the other way."
[07:54] "Not the other way so much as...in all sorts of directions."
[07:54] "But at least between that speech and your dedication, you're proving that I made the right decision in hiring you."
[07:54] "And I'm assuming she didn't have any recollection of the precise circumstances of the event."
[07:55] "Psychologists say it was traumatic repression."
[07:55] "I don't think she was conscious at all."
[07:55] "Well, I appreciate that, Boss. It's not every day people see me do something like that, but..."
[07:55] "...Not... concious?"
[07:55] "Think about it."
[07:55] "Boss, are the Requim's hosts concious during their 'events?'
[07:56] "Requiems don't have hosts, Tom."
[07:56] "Ah. Misunderstanding, then."
[07:56] "People become Requiems, they don't host them."
[07:56] "And Minato can seal them away, from what I understand."
[07:56] "Yes. And we can extract them as well."
[07:56] "That not only explains Endgame, but also a possible cause for Ryoji's death."
[07:57] "You think that Yukari transformed into a Requiem?" Tom can almost hear the Skull Man's eyebrows rise.
[07:57] "It's altogether possible," Tom surmises, his own brow furrowed in thought, a mechanical hand rubbing at his chin, "But it's also possible an outside force attacked all three of them."
[07:58] "There are too many maybes. Now you know why I haven't been investigating it." Skull Man chuckles.
[07:58] "We don't know what causes people to become Requiems, to my knowledge, but if Yukari did become one, and killed Ryoji..."
[07:58] "Hahaha, so we've got the same thoughts on the matter. Good, good..."
[07:58] "There's no way to know without getting Minato or Yukari to talk about it, and both of them adamantly refuse."
[07:58] "Forcing them could be traumatic to their psyches."
[07:59] "...Fuuka gave me a lens that is able to percieve things as a Requiem would."
[07:59] He taps his mask.
[07:59] "...That is a...?"
[07:59] "The lenses."
[07:59] "You deal with seeing like that all the time?"
[07:59] "Several filters."
[07:59] "I see."
[07:59] "I've checked."
[07:59] "...I see."
[08:00] "It's a good lead, but the traces don't last that long."
[08:00] "Still. I don't believe he would willingly hurt her."
[08:00] "But if Minato sealed, and then extracted that Requiem..."
[08:00] "Yes, neither do I."
[08:00] "But I believe he blames himself for whatever happened."
[08:00] "From what I've heard, he was infatuated with her."
[08:00] "And I believe she blames him as a defense mechanism."
[08:00] "Yes, and being almost declared guilty for it..."
[08:00] "That's an exaggeration."
[08:00] "And being considered so by his friends..."
[08:00] "Was it?"
[08:00] "I was there. A lot of the evidence was fake."
[08:00] "...Did Edgeworth know?"
[08:00] "I don't know."
[08:01] "I don't know him very well. I don't think anyone does."
[08:01] "Perhaps that's why he's so reclusive on the matter."
[08:01] "Even Phoenix - who might be the closest thing I know of to his friend - doesn't know much about him."
[08:01] "Roger mentioned that Phoenix might be able to get him to open up."
[08:01] "What that me- oh. I see."
[08:01] "Mmhmm."
[08:01] "They're friends, but they're friends like Minato and I are friends."
[08:01] "Acquaintances who share the same place of work and get along well enough."
[08:01] "I understand."
[08:02] "...I know it would probably push them to drive me out of their lives, but..."
[08:02] "I feel like they need to know, you know?"
[08:02] "I mean, the others."
[08:03] "I think..." Skull Man begins. "I think that no matter what happens, they'd like some form of closure."
[08:03] "I think so, too."
[08:03] "So they can finally move on."
[08:03] "If I need to be the scapegoat for that, it's fine by me. They've been suffering for too long over this."
[08:04] "I doubt they'll ostracize you for that. At the least, Fuuka's taken a liking to you."
[08:04] "Anyhow. I have to be off. I can tell something's going down across town, and I'd like to make certain it doesn't get any bigger than it is."
[08:05] "However...I expect you want to follow that Simon boy."
[08:05] "I've heard that's quite rare," he chuckles again. It's probably lost in the rain, "...Alright. I understand."
[08:05] "Yeah, I need to talk to their... leaders."
[08:05] "I doubt that'd be seen as colluding, after all, I've spoken to Roc more than once."
[08:05] He points down the street after him. "That way is the fastest way. Take a left five alleys down and then it's the first door on the right."
[08:05] "I know. I was watching."
[08:06] "Thanks, Boss. I'd say to be careful, but I'm pretty sure you can hand-... But you were talking to me this whole time."
[08:06] "I mean your discussion."
[08:06] "...I swear, one of these days, I'll figure out how you keep track on- Oh, okay then."
[08:06] "But I can tell anyway." With that, he takes off, actually running up the side of the building and disappearing across the rooftops.
[08:07] Clearly Skull Man's abilities are much more than meets the eye.
[08:07] "Thanks again, boss..." Tom watches, mildly bewildered, as the masked man ascends a structure without so much as a sweat. That's...
[08:07] Really, really cool.
[08:07] Tom shakes himself out of his reverie and proceeds down the alleyway...
[08:07] He had a boy to follow.
[08:11] Following the directions does indeed lead Tom to a door. How did he know?
[08:12] Tom mused that it was probably because, even if there was no God or no Devil, there was still Skullman. He tests the lock with a dry section of his coat, using the sleeve to turn it- slowly.
[08:12] ...After knocking, of course.
[08:14] The door is opened by a young man, who narrows his eyes at Tom. "...somethin' I can do for you?"
[08:14] "I understand there's a boy named Simon at this residence. I am Thomas Magnusson, Twilight Detective Agency."
[08:14] "You might have heard of me- the guy stupid enough to punch Fenrir in the jaw."
[08:18] "..."
[08:18] "..."
[08:18] The door closes for a moment, and footsteps can be heard.
[08:18] Tom checks the time on his phone.
[08:19] ...And then slides it back into his coat.
[08:19] The door swings open again.
[08:19] "You're okay."
[08:19] "Well, I normally try to be more than that, but I suppose that's good, too."
[08:20] Tom's allowed to enter, but the person doesn't actually say anything about that.
[08:21] Tom coughs, and slowly, surely steps inside, "I don't suppose you people mind if I ask a few questions, eh?"
[08:22] "You're being allowed in. Don't push your luck."
[08:23] The inside is utterly...well, unremarkable is the best thing that can be said.
[08:23] It looks more or less exactly was one would expect - a run-down-looking unused storeroom.
[08:24] "It's not that. I need to know about the Requiems. And Vita Tech..." Tom glances about. Sort of bare bones, eh? And he thought his room was bad...
[08:25] There are maybe five, six, seven members in all - Simon; a blonde girl about nineteen years old; a man in a black hat, facemask, and trenchcoat, another man in a hat and longcoat, though no facemask and long blonde hair; a man wearing a hood with strange-looking gloves.
[08:26] "What the hell?" Simon practically shouts at the kid manning the door, "I told you not to let him in, Quinn!"
[08:28] Tom cleared his throat, "...Quinn is it, nice to meet you then, Quinn..."
[08:28] Quinn just backs away as Simon advances.
[08:28] "You followed me?"
[08:28] "What is wrong with you? Do you not get that I wanted you to leave me alone?"
[08:29] "More like -MY- boss followed you. With weird, Skullman power."
[08:29] "Simon-"
"Shut up, Siegfried! This has nothing to do with you, okay?"
[08:29] The one in black holds up his hand. "Skullman?"
[08:29] "That's more or less it, yeah."
[08:29] "You know the Skullman?"
[08:29] "Twilight Detective Agency."
[08:29] A silence fills the room.
[08:30] The one named Siegfried - the blonde in the hat - turns to look at the one in black. "What do you think, Gil?"
[08:30] "I think...that Simon needs to back off." Gil's eyes lock onto Tom's - bright blue things staring out from under that hat. "And that Mister Magnusson should be invited to sit with us and explain himself."
[08:31] After a moment, everyone (but Simon) nods. They cross their legs (in the girl's case, she sits on a crate with her legs crossed - not that she can be blamed in that black shortskirt).
[08:31] Simon leans against the wall.
[08:32] "I don't mind. I understand his position. It always hurts to lose a brother," Tom nods, and rests himself against a crate, "So then, I understand that my position is currently one of being outnumbered about one to... seven? But how about we do a little exchange? You guys ask me a question, and I'll ask one in return- but only if we can answer."
[08:35] "Very well."
[08:37] "Go right ahead then, this is your territory, after all."
[08:38] "Why did you follow me?" Simon spits.
[08:38] "Truth be told? Because I was curious as to what you guys know about the monsters around here, and because Skullman was able to point out where you went for me."
[08:38] "Directions aren't my thing."
[08:39] "Very well."
[08:40] "Now, it's my turn. So then, what do you all know of the Requiems and the possible connection they have to VitaTech?"
[08:41] Gil tilts his head to the side.
[08:41] "I hadn't heard any of that before."
[08:41] "Ah, then would you mind if I waxed a bit expositionary for a few minutes?"
[08:43] "I've reason to believe that VitaTech is looking into the Requiems within this city for reasons I'm swiftly growing concerned over. The fact that my employers are capable of extracting and molding Requiems into tools for investigation purposes indicates that it may be possible to use them for other means, as well."
[08:43] "Mind you, I'm not sure what those other means are, but the fact that they may be considering them is reason enough to be suspicious."
[08:43] "Is that so?"
[08:44] "It is. But please, I ask that you not go on a trip inside their offices. Their security has been... Reinforced since the last break in."
[08:45] "I seem to have spoken for a while, and I wasn't even asked anything... Well, at any rate, it's your move."
[08:46] "Why did you get in the way of my fight?" Simon snaps.
[08:46] He doesn't seem to be in a good mood.
[08:46] "Because I can't let someone throw their life away."
[08:46] "Not someone so young, not because of vengeance."
[08:47] "Your brother died, I'm guessing to save you from the same fate. If you throw your life away in order to avenge his, what would he think?"
[08:51] "His brother was a member of this gang as well," the blonde answers, "And he died to avenge their parents."
[08:51] "He tried to take on Dragon and failed."
[08:52] "I see, then what Boss said wasn't necessarily off the mark."
[08:52] "Then let me ask all of you, what did you lose?"
[08:53] "My friend." Quinn answers.
"My boyfriend," the blonde girl says.
"My family," the blonde man says.
"My sister." The hooded one answers.
[08:53] Gil still hasn't spoken.
[08:55] Tom's eyes fall on that one, the one who seemed like the leader of these 'kids,' "If it's too much to say, feel free to just tell me. I won't ask further about the subject."
[08:55] "If that's the case, go ahead and ask me what you like."
[08:55] "It's a complicated story, and I don't care to speak of it."
[08:56] "I understand. Alright, your turn."
[08:56] "Why do you want so badly to know about us?"
[08:59] "I'm not sure, curiousity, I suppose? I'm a psychologist of sorts, you see, so things like trauma interest me a bit. And besides that, I feel like there needs to be something to life beyond just vengeance and war."
[09:00] "We're fighting to protect people," the blonde girl speaks up after a moment, "So they won't go through what we had to."
[09:01] "I can respect that. I do it regularly."
[09:01] She cups her arms under her huge...tracts of land...and frowns at him sternly.
[09:03] "But I don't do it just because it's happened to me before. Compared to you all, my life has actually been pretty calm and until lately, without tragedy. I share that urge to protect others, but out of opportunity rather than vengeance. Like you, I fight to protect, but I do it because my body can take it, and my limbs are strong enough to be used in the service of others- I'm sure many of you share similar... traits. Not similar, perhaps just 'unique' traits, then."
[09:04] "Mmmm."
[09:05] "I'll ask, then, if you fight monsters, what do you define them as?"
[09:06] "People who prey on innocents."
[09:06] "That seems terribly broad, but I suppose it's not a poor definition. Even so, I'm curious as to how far one can transgress before being considered a monster."
[09:08] "It's complicated," Seras huffs.
[09:08] "Seras...calm." Gil pats her on the arm.
[09:09] "Alright, your turn."
[09:09] "No...I think we're alright."
[09:09] "You're certain?"
[09:10] "...Oh. There's one more thing I needed to ask, though..."
[09:10] "Well, no, two more, technically."
[09:10] "Would you mind if I did so?"
[09:10] "...go ahead."
[09:12] "Right. So... Do the names: Minato Arisato, Ryoji Mochizuki, Igor or Hel mean anything to you? By that, I mean, can you tell me anything you know regarding them? Especially that last one, and the brother she may or may not have."
[09:13] "Hel...the Death?"
[09:13] "Is that her title?"
[09:13] "Yes."
[09:14] "...So, does she have a brother?"
[09:14] "I don't know."
[09:14] "I see. Is there anything you do know of her?"
[09:16] "Not much."
[09:16] "I see."
[09:16] "Her powers have never been demonstrated, her strength level is unknown. She's the most mysterious of the group besides Roc the Wing."
[09:16] "Well then, how about this last one... The Shadow Syndicate."
[09:17] "No...sorry."
[09:17] "It's alright. I suppose it was more a hope. They're the ones responsible for my arms, you see..."
[09:18] "...And if there's no grave for those who have died before you, it wouldn't trouble me to try and put one together somewhere. Everything that has died and carries significance with death deserves to be remembered."
[09:18] "There are graves. You don't have to worry about us."
[09:18] "Alright."
[09:18] "Well, if there's nothing more you want to ask me, then I suppose I'll be off."
[09:19] "Mmmm."
[09:19] The door explodes behind Tom, and immediately, the entire group scrambles to their feet, drawing various weapons.
[09:19] Tom pushes himself to his feet, pistons engaging and drawing upwards... "Now, what could this be?"
[09:20] "So...this is where you've been hiding." It's a voice carrying a great deal of chill, but the face is impossible to see - like Hel, this person is wearing a full facemask. Unfortunately, he's also wearing long black robes...not to mention a hood that's been pulled down.
[09:20] "Reaper the Slaughter," Seras murmurs.
[09:21] "...Reaper the Slaughter?" Tom almost has to hold back a laugh... "...I'm sorry, but that name is just..."
[09:21] Reaper places a hand over his chest.
[09:21] There's no visible motion beyond him squeezing, but Tom suddenly feels like his heart is about to explode.
[09:22] "His name's well-chosen," Gil notes, drawing a blade from his coat.
[09:22] "Just... Kh..." Tom clutches at his chest, that was most definitely NOT a good sign...
[09:22] "Duly... Noted."
[09:23] "I would appreciate you respect a man named 'Reaper' regardless of his title," Reaper offers idly, releasing his grasp on Tom's heart.
[09:23] Or his own. Who knows how that's working?
[09:23] Tom imagined it was much like a voodoo doll-effect...
[09:24] "Dragon has tasked me with exterminating you all...but I have no interest in such a thing." His hands disappear into his robe. "Tedious."
[09:24] "To pick each of you off one by one is simply uninteresting."
[09:24] "So I will allow three of you to escape. Go on. Pick three. I'll wait."
[09:24] Tom coughed, a smattering of blood stained his sleeve.
[09:24] "Not you," he says to Tom after a moment, "You are of course exempt, so long as you don't raise a hand to me."
[09:25] "Fenrir would be saddened if I killed you."
[09:25] "He wants to drink your blood down his own throat."
[09:25] "I imagine... Hel would be, as well."
[09:25] "I don't really care," Reaper admits. "I outrank them both."
[09:25] "So I've noticed."
[09:25] "I'm waiting."
[09:26] "Three of you get to go free."
[09:26] He holds up ten fingers. "I'll count off the minutes for you."
[09:26] He reduces it to five.
[09:26] "Or all for me. How does that sound?"
[09:26] "In other words, you can kill me as much as you like."
[09:26] "You aren't my concern."
[09:26] "So long as these live. That's just my way of doing things, you see."
[09:26] "Wiping out the low-level pieces of scum is."
[09:27] "It's a tedious, boring task, but thankfully, you helped me accomplish it."
[09:27] "I can tell that you're a man of greater caliber than that."
[09:27] "You're very indiscreet."
[09:27] "I finally got bored of waiting you to finish talking, so I broke the door down." His thumb sinks into his hand.
[09:27] Gil nudges Seras and points at Quinn and Simon. "Go!" he hisses. "We'll-"
[09:28] Reaper claps as Gil points them out, dropping his hands back to his sides.
[09:28] He steps away from the door. "You four can go." He says, pointing at Quinn, Simon, Seras, and Tom.
[09:28] Tom winced, "How can I... leave them to die like this?"
[09:28] "Surely there must be something else, something that I can give."
[09:28] "Go!" Gil mutters.
[09:28] "We'll survive."
[09:29] "It's not just survival..."
[09:29] Hermit drops into a combat stance, as does Siegfried. "Shut up and get out while you can."
[09:29] "This is our fight."
[09:30] Seras and Quinn are already making their way out the door, silently assenting to the others. Simon's whip is drawn.
[09:30] "To sacrifice one's own self to save another..."
[09:30] "Those are the words of a true man."
[09:30] "You wanted to know what we call a monster?!" Simon shouts, "That's it! That right there!"
[09:31] Tom makes his way to Simon's side...
[09:31] ...And attempts to hoist the boy over his shoulder.
[09:32] "I respect your path. Gil, if you die here, these ones will be without your guidance."
[09:34] Simon's hoisted over his shoulder (despite protests). Reaper's arms are crossed now, and he seems to be waiting for them to leave.
[09:35] "...But trust me. I will protect them. Godspeed."
[09:35] With that, Tom makes his way out of the warehouse, casting one last look back into its hall before finally following the other two out.
[09:36] The door closes behind them as Reaper's foot pushes it shut.
[09:37] Seras might be crying, but it's hard to tell in the rain.
[09:37] He doesn't set the boy down, yet... "...I'm sorry. If I knew I was being followed... If he would have accepted my sacrifice, then I would have been more than totally willing."
[09:38] "Let's go," Quinn mutters. "We shouldn't stay here."
[09:38] From the alleyway, the sound of footsteps in the rain.
[09:38] "Is there anywhere you can go to hide for now?"
[09:38] Minato casually pushes the door open, shutting it behind him as he enters.
[09:39] Seras just blinks at the situation, then shakes her head.
[09:39] Tom glances at Minato, "...Headphones. It's you."
[09:39] As he's talking to the door, this doesn't accomplish much
[09:40] "...If it's him... Well, do you?"
[09:40] "We don't really have anywhere to go," Quinn answers despondently. "The other cells in the city are kept secret."
[09:40] "I see."
[09:40] "Until that point..."
[09:40] "I'll need to ask Boss of it, but until that point, you can likely stay under the protection of the Agency."
[09:41] Seras nods.
[09:41] "Alright. Let's get going then."
Requiem 11: Shadowkind
[05:19] It's two days till the festival, meaning today is Saturday. Tomorrow's the full moon and the appearance of the Moonlight Knight; moreover, the saturday morning is a wet and rainy and dim one, making it
[05:21] an unpleasant thing to join as Tom's eyes open. Even with the new stuff in his room, it's still not the best sort of morning to be...well...alive.
[05:24] Well, wet and dim... wasn't always necessarily unpleaseant. Just foreboding, and in a place like THIS city...
[05:26] Forboding is very, very not good. Regardless, Tom rises from his bed, taking a gander at his... collection. Punching bag, a few shelves, books for the shelves, a moderately sized television...
[05:28] And a rug, to add a bit of color. It's not much, but it's something. Without anything to stretch to any real extent, he pulls off the covers and trods into his morning ritual.
[05:31] Yukari's downstairs again, and the door to Fuuka's basement is still locked.
[05:32] Tom yawns as he descends the stairs... "...Fuuka's not up?"
[05:32] "She fell asleep downstairs."
[05:32] "...Uhm."
[05:32] "...Should I... Go wake her up?"
[05:33] "Why?"
[05:33] "I guess not. I just haven't seen her in a while is all. So did anything interesting happen?"
[05:35] "Nothing but the rain."
[05:35] "...Well, that's mildly discouraging, how about Boss?"
[05:36] "They left before you got up."
[05:36] "...Damn. Did you tell them I needed to talk to them?"
[05:36] "Not together this time, though. It's weird, normally you'd think they were joined at the hip."
[05:36] "...Really? Well..."
[05:36] "Yeah. Boss had stuff to do, and Minato..." She frowns. "...did what he usually does."
[05:36] "That's... Strange."
[05:37] "I see. Well, what does Boss DO when he's out anyway?"
[05:38] "No clue."
[05:38] "...I wonder if he's got a wife."
[05:38] "I doubt it."
[05:39] "He just doesn't seem the type."
[05:39] "You'd never know..."
[05:42] "I guess."
[05:42] "Anyway..." He maneuvers to the kitchen, hands in his pockets, "I'm making breakfast."
[05:43] "Sounds good."
[05:43] "I try."
[06:02] "So what's on the plate today?"
[06:02] Apparantly... "Pamcakes."
[06:03] Pancake cravings. Blame Roger.
[06:03] "No, I mean investigation-wise, Tommygun."
[06:04] Tom swallowed the last of his pancakes, setting the plate down on a counter, "Oh, I was thinking I'd run a few errands around town, maybe try Edgeworth again."
[06:07] "Sounds good."
[06:07] "He was kinda tight lipped though... Know any way I can get him to talk?"
[06:10] "I don't know him personally, but the best bet would be get him in a courthouse, I guess?"
[06:10] "Huuhh... Does he have a court meeting today?"
[06:10] Yukari makes a face. "Do I look like his secretary, Tommygun?"
[06:13] Tom chuckles, a smirk on his face, "No, but I'd bet he'd make a better boss. Or not. Kind of a jerk, from what I know. I'll head down to the courthouse to see if they've got him in today or not."
[06:15] "Sounds like a good plan. You really think these through in advance, huh, Tommygun?"
[06:15] "Heh, I don't know if you're being honest or sarcastic."
[06:16] "Sarcastic."
[06:16] "Extremely." She grins.
[06:17] "And here I thought you were actually giving me a complement. There's a shot to -my- ego."
[06:18] "I'm sure you'll get over it."
[06:18] "I told you, I'm fragile."
[06:23] "Sure you are."
[06:23] "Like a china doll."
[06:25] "Get out!" She shoos, "I've got a phone call."
[06:26] At that, Tom utters one more chuckle mid-turn, for the door. "I'll see you later then!"
[06:28] The streets are as wet as the outside makes them appear, and the constant, pounding rain is no better; however, at least it's not hail or something actually painful. Just thick and hard to see in.
[06:30] And damp, of course. It's good he wears that coat everywhere he goes. It's not TOTALLY waterproof, so... He slips inside for a moment, retrieves an umbrella, and sets of on his way.
[06:33] Said umbrella is an enormous help.
[06:34] As umbrellas generally are!
[06:37] After a bit of wandering (the map shouldn't be damaged in such weather, so he's forced to relegate himself to wandering again), he manages to discover the courthouse.
[06:37] Unfortunately, it seems it's closed today.
[06:37] Well, that's a bit of a downer...
[06:38] Stop one is crossed from the list. Time for stop ZWEI!
[06:38] Specifically: The Bonnes'.
[06:39] Still closed, though this one helpfully informs him that it's a family thing.
[06:39] Which can only mean she hasn't recovered yet.
[06:39] ...Which leads to stop three.
[06:39] The hospital. Again.
[06:43] Unfortunately, the way to the hospital isn't quite as easy to find with all the rain and fog. So he's forced to wander a bit.
[06:43] After maybe an hour's worth of wandering, Tom comes to a most brilliant conclusion:
[06:43] He's lost as hell.
[06:44] Again.
[06:44] This made the second time in under a month.
[06:44] It really is becoming a bit of a hobby.
[06:44] It was really just not his day.
[06:44] Almost as much as being sent to the hospital.
[06:47] The question of the day is...
[06:47] 'Where am I?'
[06:48] It appears to be, after much observation and recognition of landmarks, one of the districts nearer to the VitaTech building.
[06:48] How he got there, he wasn't sure, but at least he had a vague idea of the surroundings...
[06:48] Unfortunately, it's also one with a bit of a 'reputation', in that it's supposedly where Endgame's gang headquarters is.
[06:49] Police haven't been able to do much about that, but then again...
[06:49] ...And that the aforementioned 'vague idea' translated to 'I need to get the hell out of here.'
[06:49] Well, no. He couldn't just run away. After all, it was definitely... Strange that they had their headquarters so close to Vita Tech's.
[06:53] Not too strange, although it was just a rumor. After all, this was also fairly far away from the police station and most other people who gave a damn, in a low-rent area of town that wasn't maintained too well, and generally not particularly
[06:53] cared for.
[06:57] But if the rumor WAS true...
[06:57] Well, then it's all different kinds of interesting.
[06:57] Tom nods, steeling his nerves. It was time to take a look around.
[07:00] It's not long before he gets out of the "HQ area", but it's still not terribly comforting. He's more or less still in their general "territory", and he's still not sure where in the hell the hospital is.
Couldn't they have designed this city with brighter colors?!
[07:01] He mumbled, hypothesizing that if VitaTech wanted Requiems, and if they WERE triggered by depression, this sort of architecture? This is exactly how they do it.
[07:03] It is at that moment that a man with a whip is cast ruthlessly across his path, slamming against the opposite wall. The man with the whip has a big 'S' on his jacket.
He moans, pulling himself to his feet. "Damn..."
[07:04] Maybe 'man' isn't the right word. He's more like a 'teenager'.
[07:05] 'S?' That could mean... "Shadowkind, huh?" Tom hustles to the teen's side, "Hey, you alright?"
[07:06] "Stay back!" The guy shouts, pushing Tom to the side as an electrical jolt crackles down the water puddle. The kid only barely manages to avoid it himself.
[07:06] "Who the hell are you?!" He strings his whip between his hands, keeping his eyes on the alley.
[07:08] Tom recoils at the electric shock. Metal limbs and water and electricity definitely do not mix. This is most certainly -NOT- his day... "Name's Tom, Twilight Detective Agency. Provided we both survive this, I'll need to ask you a few questions."
[07:10] From the alley, an absolutely hulking man - he's about seven feet tall and just as bulky along - carrying two tasers. "So you are the one who forced Fenrir's hand." He rumbles.
[07:10] The white half-mask makes it quite clear - this is a member of Endgame.
[07:10] ...He mustn't run away, he mustn't run away... And so he puts up his dukes... " 'Forced' his hand? He damn near killed me."
[07:11] "Not to mention a friend of mine, and an innocent bystander."
[07:11] "You nearly crushed his face." The huge man says. A deep, echoing laugh wells up in his chest, booming like a cannon through the rainy streets. "Well done."
[07:12] "He's got a pretty ugly mug, if I do say so myself. So what do I call you?" Odd, this one.
[07:12] "Step to the side, little Tom - my business is with Shadowkind. Afterwards, I would like to talk to you."
[07:12] "My name is Adam the Lightning."
[07:14] "Well, before you two duke it out, mind if I ask something?"
[07:14] "Of course." Adam doesn't seem to be in any hurry.
[07:14] "Alright, so first... What happened to incur your wrath toward this one here?"
[07:15] "You have never been in a gang war, have you?"
[07:15] "Honestly, no. But I'm familiar with wartime tactics, to an extent."
[07:15] "It's territory," the guy from Shadowkind hisses. "They're trying to expand and we don't want them in our area."
[07:15] "Not to mention the basic 'they're monsters, we hunt them' thing."
[07:16] "Are we the monsters?" Adam rumbles, "Or are you?"
[07:16] "Ahh-hah. So it's territory, is it?"
[07:17] "And basic philosophical differences, at that."
[07:17] "We have dreams." Adam says ponderously, pounding his fists (and the tasers!!!) together. "We have goals. You are destroyers."
[07:17] "You are the enemy, and you must be defeated for the safety of Endgame and our dreams."
[07:18] The Shadowkind guy lashes his whip against the ground, trying to move out of the puddle and onto a drier area.
[07:19] Tom sighs, tilting his umbrella to allow the water to flood off, "You seem like the sort of person to give everything for an ideal, and I can respect that, Adam. But I've got to ask because I'm curious, what is it? And even more specifically, what is yours?"
[07:20] "The goal of Endgame...is to become monsters." Adam hunkers down, waiting for Simon to make the first move.
[07:20] And the other one is a Belmont, brilliant, "Yeah, but what does that mean?"
[07:22] "I'll be quoting Jekyll and Hyde here, because it's a damn good play, but we all live a facade, anyway. Monsters can be men and men monsters, the question is how you define either."
[07:22] Sense of justice... Attempting to... Override... Common sense!
[07:22] "It means to transcend!" Adam shouts, raising his voice for the first time, punching forward with his taser at the Shadowkind kid. "It means to become more than we are! More than God made us!"
[07:23] "It means we are not content to be no one! We aim as high as the skies themselves!" Simon dives out of the way as the taser impacts the wall behind him.
[07:23] "More than God made us? Adam, we make ourselves."
[07:23] "It means we are men and women who seek to become powerful!"
[07:23] With that, he finally manages to backhand Simon, sending him flying into the wall across the way.
[07:24] "Seek to be powerful? The only method to power is that which is carved through your own two hands, through conquering challenges with the sweat of the brow and the opportunities life deals you."
[07:25] "That is what I do," he intones, "I take advantage of the opportunity I am given and with my own two hands reach for a future!"
[07:25] He advances towards Simon, who's already getting up (kid can take a lot of punishment...)
[07:26] "I will tell you now, becoming a monster is no means to strength. The one thing that can fell a monster will always be man, do you understand me?" Tom's limbs actually begin shaking, quivering with perhaps just a bit more rage than they can tolerate before motion, "Only a man can destroy a monster because once one becomes a beast, he ceases to be himself!"
[07:27] "That which sets man apart from beast his his ability to recognize himself amongst all others, and to declare 'I' amongst the infinite multitude of others upon this earth. It is not my path to tear you from yours, but think of what you will become before you chase blindly for it, Adam!"
[07:29] "Then I suppose," Adam says slowly, "That what I had to talk to you about no longer matters."
[07:29] "Hrmph, about joining Endgame? No, I suppose it doesn't. Leave that child be, or I will be forced to act upon you as well."
[07:30] "They made the move into our territory." Adam replies. "Should I ignore my enemy because an enemy of my enemy told me to do so?"
[07:30] "The one who remains standing is the one who is right!"
[07:30] “You have it backwards.”
[07:30] "And you only have fought Fenrir - I am as highly-ranked as he is. Do you think I am so easy to scare?"
[07:31] "Scare?"
[07:31] "You don't understand. If you sacrifice others on the altar of your own ambition, then you are what I call evil."
[07:31] "You are what I call naive." Adam gestures to the weather. "Do you think you could fight me now?"
[07:32] "I am an electrical specialist. My weapon is twin tasers, and it is raining."
[07:32] "You have metal limbs."
[07:32] "Even if heaven stands against me, I'll stand for my beliefs until my body is rendered into oblivion."
[07:32] "That's just my style, you know?"
[07:33] "Enough!" Someone says, and the man - that damned Roc - appears between the two, hands outstretched. He slowly crosses them both as Adam stops, tasers switching off as he bows his head.
[07:33] Thank God, a voice inside Tom sighed, salvation. Maybe. Hopefully.
[07:33] "Adam. Fenrir has declared this one his prey, and Hel has begged that none of us touch him. Dragon himself enforces this word. No matter what he challenges, he is not yours to fight." Roc reprimands him sternly.
[07:33] "When Fenrir is recovered, speak to him yourself." Roc turns to stare at Tom. "Twice now."
[07:34] "It's you again. I didn't have the chance to thank you for saving my ass the last time."
[07:34] "I did not save you, Thomas Magnusson. I saved Endgame."
[07:34] "Fenrir exposed his identity to the entire world, and such a thing is not tolerated among us."
[07:34] "Roc, right? Either way, your actions did probably save my life."
[07:34] "I am aware of that side-effect."
[07:35] "I understand. It's what's behind the masks, right? I need to know, is it the Requiems?"
[07:35] Adam is looming behind Roc, literally twice as huge as the smaller man, but he still seems cowed by Roc's presence. What this could mean...who knows.
[07:36] Tom's umbrella is quite thankfully shielding him from the rain. That, at least, he was happy for.
[07:36] Roc simply nods, his hawkish face still stern.
[07:36] "And I'm assuming Vita Tech might be tied up in all this somehow."
[07:36] "As Adam has almost assuredly told you, Endgame's goal is to become powerful. Whether you agree with us or not is not our concern."
[07:36] "But if you side with Shadowkind, you are our enemy, and I will not protect your life the next time - Fenrir's Blood Pact and Hel's Plea will be denied, and even Dragon himself cannot overturn an act of war."
[07:36] "It's not my place to force another individual from his path, only to seek out the truth and defend the morals I hold, myself."
[07:37] "If you side with Shadowkind, I will kill you myself."
[07:37] "I understand. Let's see what cards life deals us, eh?"
[07:37] Roc turns, placing his hand on Adam's arm. Adam immediately nods. "We are leaving now. If you are wise, you will prevent their footsoldier from striking our backs."
[07:38] "If more to protect his life than my own, certainly."
[07:38] Indeed, the Shadowkind kid has started advancing, but he stops at that.
[07:38] The pair of Endgame members turn, walking down the street until they disappear into the rain.
[07:39] As soon as they do disappear, Tom breathes a sigh of relief... "That," he wheezes, "Was way too close."
[07:39] "What do you mean? I could've taken him."
[07:40] "Yeah, in this rain?"
[07:40] "Jeez, even without metal limbs, you'd have gotten fried."
[07:41] The kid frowns. "I'm wearing rubber boots." He notes, "I was careful."
[07:41] "We don't hunt monsters we don't know anything about."
[07:41] "Then what do you know about that Roc guy?"
[07:42] "...nothing." He answers, looking down.
[07:42] "Look, I'm not exactly experienced or anything, but I could've taken that guy!"
[07:42] "He was short-range. I could've stayed out of his reach with my whip and taken him down."
[07:42] "Well, there you go..." Tom rolls his shoulders, the limbs clicking into submission, "He knocked you into a wall."
[07:43] "...I let him knock me into a wall!" He retorts, "To get into the open street where I could dodge!"
[07:43] "And then you got in the way and screwed that up!"
[07:43] "Besides, that one was definitely a fanatic..."
[07:43] "Do you know what they had to do to stop the ones in Area Eleven?'
[07:44] "They needed to develop a whole new -GUN- to take them down. Not because the normal ones wouldn't kill them, but because even in death, they wouldn't stop."
[07:44] "Even if you did do enough damage to kill him, he'd have come after you anyway."
[07:45] "Fff." The kid looks away. "Whatever."
[07:45] "Anyway, who are you, kid?"
[07:45] "You're obviously not a friend to the gangs in this city, so..." He wraps his whip. "Simon."
[07:45] "You already heard who I am..."
[07:46] "And that's not always the case. Like I said, I search out truth."
[07:46] "My brother got taken out by that guy!" He snaps.
[07:46] "...I see."
[07:46] "What was his name?"
[07:46] "So how about you not tell me about what to d-it's none of your business."
[07:46] "Please, did he die?"
[07:46] "And does he have a grave?"
[07:47] "Like it's anything you need to worry about."
[07:47] With that, Simon turns, sticking his hands in his pockets.
[07:47] "If he's dead, even if you don't have the body, he needs to be remembered."
[07:47] "I'll remember him myself."
[07:48] "You want to be careful with Shadowkind," Skull Man offers as Simon departs. "They have the best of intentions, but everyone can get lead astray by vengeance."
[07:48] God only knows where he came from.
[07:48] Tom jumps just a bit at that... And yes, that was EXACTLY what he was thinking. The whole 'God Knows where he came from' thing, "Watch where you pop out from. Nearly gave me a heart attack, Boss..."
[07:49] "...And yeah. I know, but that kid- it's not healthy for someone to carry a burden like that all by themselves."
[07:50] "So hey, Boss man, where's Minato today?"
[07:50] "That's what Shadowkind is." Skull Man replies, an umbrella of his own now visible. "A group for vengeance to be spread."
[07:50] "I don't know. He left before I did."
[07:50] "I see... I needed to ask him a few things."
[07:50] "I went to the school by accident, you see..."
[07:51] "Is that so?"
[07:51] "That guy, I don't think he killed Ryoji."
[07:51] "Neither do I." Skull Man answers.
[07:51] "Yeah. I talked to Roger over it..."
[07:51] "The problem is, I don't think the others think so, too."
[07:51] "But he did rape Yukari, or so I understand." He shrugs after a moment. "I don't know that it was intentional, or entirely non-consenual, or if it was true or just implied by the situation."
[07:51] "But it traumatized her badly."
[07:52] "...I see. Was there any evidence to suggest it was him?"
[07:52] "She woke up, they were both naked, lying in an alley and covered in blood."
[07:52] "... I see."
[07:52] "Please bear in mind, I don't know that he actually did anything."
[07:52] "...That might not have been rape."
[07:52] "That's what I keep thinking."
[07:52] "Yeah, I know. Neither do I, but..."
[07:52] "I suspect it's far more complicated."
[07:52] "But I don't know."
[07:52] "Seeing him now, he doesn't seem like the kind to have been ABLE to rape her."
[07:53] "There's that, and the fact that she's physically stronger than he is."
[07:53] "She'd be able to fend him off with a good strong kick. I've seen her kickbox."
[07:54] He snickers... "...I didn't think she had it in her. I mean, she's spunky and as a guy, I've gotta say her legs are pretty damn good looking... But I didn't think she'd be able to do something like that."
[07:54] "...Anyway, yeah. There's too much pointing the other way."
[07:54] "Not the other way so much as...in all sorts of directions."
[07:54] "But at least between that speech and your dedication, you're proving that I made the right decision in hiring you."
[07:54] "And I'm assuming she didn't have any recollection of the precise circumstances of the event."
[07:55] "Psychologists say it was traumatic repression."
[07:55] "I don't think she was conscious at all."
[07:55] "Well, I appreciate that, Boss. It's not every day people see me do something like that, but..."
[07:55] "...Not... concious?"
[07:55] "Think about it."
[07:55] "Boss, are the Requim's hosts concious during their 'events?'
[07:56] "Requiems don't have hosts, Tom."
[07:56] "Ah. Misunderstanding, then."
[07:56] "People become Requiems, they don't host them."
[07:56] "And Minato can seal them away, from what I understand."
[07:56] "Yes. And we can extract them as well."
[07:56] "That not only explains Endgame, but also a possible cause for Ryoji's death."
[07:57] "You think that Yukari transformed into a Requiem?" Tom can almost hear the Skull Man's eyebrows rise.
[07:57] "It's altogether possible," Tom surmises, his own brow furrowed in thought, a mechanical hand rubbing at his chin, "But it's also possible an outside force attacked all three of them."
[07:58] "There are too many maybes. Now you know why I haven't been investigating it." Skull Man chuckles.
[07:58] "We don't know what causes people to become Requiems, to my knowledge, but if Yukari did become one, and killed Ryoji..."
[07:58] "Hahaha, so we've got the same thoughts on the matter. Good, good..."
[07:58] "There's no way to know without getting Minato or Yukari to talk about it, and both of them adamantly refuse."
[07:58] "Forcing them could be traumatic to their psyches."
[07:59] "...Fuuka gave me a lens that is able to percieve things as a Requiem would."
[07:59] He taps his mask.
[07:59] "...That is a...?"
[07:59] "The lenses."
[07:59] "You deal with seeing like that all the time?"
[07:59] "Several filters."
[07:59] "I see."
[07:59] "I've checked."
[07:59] "...I see."
[08:00] "It's a good lead, but the traces don't last that long."
[08:00] "Still. I don't believe he would willingly hurt her."
[08:00] "But if Minato sealed, and then extracted that Requiem..."
[08:00] "Yes, neither do I."
[08:00] "But I believe he blames himself for whatever happened."
[08:00] "From what I've heard, he was infatuated with her."
[08:00] "And I believe she blames him as a defense mechanism."
[08:00] "Yes, and being almost declared guilty for it..."
[08:00] "That's an exaggeration."
[08:00] "And being considered so by his friends..."
[08:00] "Was it?"
[08:00] "I was there. A lot of the evidence was fake."
[08:00] "...Did Edgeworth know?"
[08:00] "I don't know."
[08:01] "I don't know him very well. I don't think anyone does."
[08:01] "Perhaps that's why he's so reclusive on the matter."
[08:01] "Even Phoenix - who might be the closest thing I know of to his friend - doesn't know much about him."
[08:01] "Roger mentioned that Phoenix might be able to get him to open up."
[08:01] "What that me- oh. I see."
[08:01] "Mmhmm."
[08:01] "They're friends, but they're friends like Minato and I are friends."
[08:01] "Acquaintances who share the same place of work and get along well enough."
[08:01] "I understand."
[08:02] "...I know it would probably push them to drive me out of their lives, but..."
[08:02] "I feel like they need to know, you know?"
[08:02] "I mean, the others."
[08:03] "I think..." Skull Man begins. "I think that no matter what happens, they'd like some form of closure."
[08:03] "I think so, too."
[08:03] "So they can finally move on."
[08:03] "If I need to be the scapegoat for that, it's fine by me. They've been suffering for too long over this."
[08:04] "I doubt they'll ostracize you for that. At the least, Fuuka's taken a liking to you."
[08:04] "Anyhow. I have to be off. I can tell something's going down across town, and I'd like to make certain it doesn't get any bigger than it is."
[08:05] "However...I expect you want to follow that Simon boy."
[08:05] "I've heard that's quite rare," he chuckles again. It's probably lost in the rain, "...Alright. I understand."
[08:05] "Yeah, I need to talk to their... leaders."
[08:05] "I doubt that'd be seen as colluding, after all, I've spoken to Roc more than once."
[08:05] He points down the street after him. "That way is the fastest way. Take a left five alleys down and then it's the first door on the right."
[08:05] "I know. I was watching."
[08:06] "Thanks, Boss. I'd say to be careful, but I'm pretty sure you can hand-... But you were talking to me this whole time."
[08:06] "I mean your discussion."
[08:06] "...I swear, one of these days, I'll figure out how you keep track on- Oh, okay then."
[08:06] "But I can tell anyway." With that, he takes off, actually running up the side of the building and disappearing across the rooftops.
[08:07] Clearly Skull Man's abilities are much more than meets the eye.
[08:07] "Thanks again, boss..." Tom watches, mildly bewildered, as the masked man ascends a structure without so much as a sweat. That's...
[08:07] Really, really cool.
[08:07] Tom shakes himself out of his reverie and proceeds down the alleyway...
[08:07] He had a boy to follow.
[08:11] Following the directions does indeed lead Tom to a door. How did he know?
[08:12] Tom mused that it was probably because, even if there was no God or no Devil, there was still Skullman. He tests the lock with a dry section of his coat, using the sleeve to turn it- slowly.
[08:12] ...After knocking, of course.
[08:14] The door is opened by a young man, who narrows his eyes at Tom. "...somethin' I can do for you?"
[08:14] "I understand there's a boy named Simon at this residence. I am Thomas Magnusson, Twilight Detective Agency."
[08:14] "You might have heard of me- the guy stupid enough to punch Fenrir in the jaw."
[08:18] "..."
[08:18] "..."
[08:18] The door closes for a moment, and footsteps can be heard.
[08:18] Tom checks the time on his phone.
[08:19] ...And then slides it back into his coat.
[08:19] The door swings open again.
[08:19] "You're okay."
[08:19] "Well, I normally try to be more than that, but I suppose that's good, too."
[08:20] Tom's allowed to enter, but the person doesn't actually say anything about that.
[08:21] Tom coughs, and slowly, surely steps inside, "I don't suppose you people mind if I ask a few questions, eh?"
[08:22] "You're being allowed in. Don't push your luck."
[08:23] The inside is utterly...well, unremarkable is the best thing that can be said.
[08:23] It looks more or less exactly was one would expect - a run-down-looking unused storeroom.
[08:24] "It's not that. I need to know about the Requiems. And Vita Tech..." Tom glances about. Sort of bare bones, eh? And he thought his room was bad...
[08:25] There are maybe five, six, seven members in all - Simon; a blonde girl about nineteen years old; a man in a black hat, facemask, and trenchcoat, another man in a hat and longcoat, though no facemask and long blonde hair; a man wearing a hood with strange-looking gloves.
[08:26] "What the hell?" Simon practically shouts at the kid manning the door, "I told you not to let him in, Quinn!"
[08:28] Tom cleared his throat, "...Quinn is it, nice to meet you then, Quinn..."
[08:28] Quinn just backs away as Simon advances.
[08:28] "You followed me?"
[08:28] "What is wrong with you? Do you not get that I wanted you to leave me alone?"
[08:29] "More like -MY- boss followed you. With weird, Skullman power."
[08:29] "Simon-"
"Shut up, Siegfried! This has nothing to do with you, okay?"
[08:29] The one in black holds up his hand. "Skullman?"
[08:29] "That's more or less it, yeah."
[08:29] "You know the Skullman?"
[08:29] "Twilight Detective Agency."
[08:29] A silence fills the room.
[08:30] The one named Siegfried - the blonde in the hat - turns to look at the one in black. "What do you think, Gil?"
[08:30] "I think...that Simon needs to back off." Gil's eyes lock onto Tom's - bright blue things staring out from under that hat. "And that Mister Magnusson should be invited to sit with us and explain himself."
[08:31] After a moment, everyone (but Simon) nods. They cross their legs (in the girl's case, she sits on a crate with her legs crossed - not that she can be blamed in that black shortskirt).
[08:31] Simon leans against the wall.
[08:32] "I don't mind. I understand his position. It always hurts to lose a brother," Tom nods, and rests himself against a crate, "So then, I understand that my position is currently one of being outnumbered about one to... seven? But how about we do a little exchange? You guys ask me a question, and I'll ask one in return- but only if we can answer."
[08:35] "Very well."
[08:37] "Go right ahead then, this is your territory, after all."
[08:38] "Why did you follow me?" Simon spits.
[08:38] "Truth be told? Because I was curious as to what you guys know about the monsters around here, and because Skullman was able to point out where you went for me."
[08:38] "Directions aren't my thing."
[08:39] "Very well."
[08:40] "Now, it's my turn. So then, what do you all know of the Requiems and the possible connection they have to VitaTech?"
[08:41] Gil tilts his head to the side.
[08:41] "I hadn't heard any of that before."
[08:41] "Ah, then would you mind if I waxed a bit expositionary for a few minutes?"
[08:43] "I've reason to believe that VitaTech is looking into the Requiems within this city for reasons I'm swiftly growing concerned over. The fact that my employers are capable of extracting and molding Requiems into tools for investigation purposes indicates that it may be possible to use them for other means, as well."
[08:43] "Mind you, I'm not sure what those other means are, but the fact that they may be considering them is reason enough to be suspicious."
[08:43] "Is that so?"
[08:44] "It is. But please, I ask that you not go on a trip inside their offices. Their security has been... Reinforced since the last break in."
[08:45] "I seem to have spoken for a while, and I wasn't even asked anything... Well, at any rate, it's your move."
[08:46] "Why did you get in the way of my fight?" Simon snaps.
[08:46] He doesn't seem to be in a good mood.
[08:46] "Because I can't let someone throw their life away."
[08:46] "Not someone so young, not because of vengeance."
[08:47] "Your brother died, I'm guessing to save you from the same fate. If you throw your life away in order to avenge his, what would he think?"
[08:51] "His brother was a member of this gang as well," the blonde answers, "And he died to avenge their parents."
[08:51] "He tried to take on Dragon and failed."
[08:52] "I see, then what Boss said wasn't necessarily off the mark."
[08:52] "Then let me ask all of you, what did you lose?"
[08:53] "My friend." Quinn answers.
"My boyfriend," the blonde girl says.
"My family," the blonde man says.
"My sister." The hooded one answers.
[08:53] Gil still hasn't spoken.
[08:55] Tom's eyes fall on that one, the one who seemed like the leader of these 'kids,' "If it's too much to say, feel free to just tell me. I won't ask further about the subject."
[08:55] "If that's the case, go ahead and ask me what you like."
[08:55] "It's a complicated story, and I don't care to speak of it."
[08:56] "I understand. Alright, your turn."
[08:56] "Why do you want so badly to know about us?"
[08:59] "I'm not sure, curiousity, I suppose? I'm a psychologist of sorts, you see, so things like trauma interest me a bit. And besides that, I feel like there needs to be something to life beyond just vengeance and war."
[09:00] "We're fighting to protect people," the blonde girl speaks up after a moment, "So they won't go through what we had to."
[09:01] "I can respect that. I do it regularly."
[09:01] She cups her arms under her huge...tracts of land...and frowns at him sternly.
[09:03] "But I don't do it just because it's happened to me before. Compared to you all, my life has actually been pretty calm and until lately, without tragedy. I share that urge to protect others, but out of opportunity rather than vengeance. Like you, I fight to protect, but I do it because my body can take it, and my limbs are strong enough to be used in the service of others- I'm sure many of you share similar... traits. Not similar, perhaps just 'unique' traits, then."
[09:04] "Mmmm."
[09:05] "I'll ask, then, if you fight monsters, what do you define them as?"
[09:06] "People who prey on innocents."
[09:06] "That seems terribly broad, but I suppose it's not a poor definition. Even so, I'm curious as to how far one can transgress before being considered a monster."
[09:08] "It's complicated," Seras huffs.
[09:08] "Seras...calm." Gil pats her on the arm.
[09:09] "Alright, your turn."
[09:09] "No...I think we're alright."
[09:09] "You're certain?"
[09:10] "...Oh. There's one more thing I needed to ask, though..."
[09:10] "Well, no, two more, technically."
[09:10] "Would you mind if I did so?"
[09:10] "...go ahead."
[09:12] "Right. So... Do the names: Minato Arisato, Ryoji Mochizuki, Igor or Hel mean anything to you? By that, I mean, can you tell me anything you know regarding them? Especially that last one, and the brother she may or may not have."
[09:13] "Hel...the Death?"
[09:13] "Is that her title?"
[09:13] "Yes."
[09:14] "...So, does she have a brother?"
[09:14] "I don't know."
[09:14] "I see. Is there anything you do know of her?"
[09:16] "Not much."
[09:16] "I see."
[09:16] "Her powers have never been demonstrated, her strength level is unknown. She's the most mysterious of the group besides Roc the Wing."
[09:16] "Well then, how about this last one... The Shadow Syndicate."
[09:17] "No...sorry."
[09:17] "It's alright. I suppose it was more a hope. They're the ones responsible for my arms, you see..."
[09:18] "...And if there's no grave for those who have died before you, it wouldn't trouble me to try and put one together somewhere. Everything that has died and carries significance with death deserves to be remembered."
[09:18] "There are graves. You don't have to worry about us."
[09:18] "Alright."
[09:18] "Well, if there's nothing more you want to ask me, then I suppose I'll be off."
[09:19] "Mmmm."
[09:19] The door explodes behind Tom, and immediately, the entire group scrambles to their feet, drawing various weapons.
[09:19] Tom pushes himself to his feet, pistons engaging and drawing upwards... "Now, what could this be?"
[09:20] "So...this is where you've been hiding." It's a voice carrying a great deal of chill, but the face is impossible to see - like Hel, this person is wearing a full facemask. Unfortunately, he's also wearing long black robes...not to mention a hood that's been pulled down.
[09:20] "Reaper the Slaughter," Seras murmurs.
[09:21] "...Reaper the Slaughter?" Tom almost has to hold back a laugh... "...I'm sorry, but that name is just..."
[09:21] Reaper places a hand over his chest.
[09:21] There's no visible motion beyond him squeezing, but Tom suddenly feels like his heart is about to explode.
[09:22] "His name's well-chosen," Gil notes, drawing a blade from his coat.
[09:22] "Just... Kh..." Tom clutches at his chest, that was most definitely NOT a good sign...
[09:22] "Duly... Noted."
[09:23] "I would appreciate you respect a man named 'Reaper' regardless of his title," Reaper offers idly, releasing his grasp on Tom's heart.
[09:23] Or his own. Who knows how that's working?
[09:23] Tom imagined it was much like a voodoo doll-effect...
[09:24] "Dragon has tasked me with exterminating you all...but I have no interest in such a thing." His hands disappear into his robe. "Tedious."
[09:24] "To pick each of you off one by one is simply uninteresting."
[09:24] "So I will allow three of you to escape. Go on. Pick three. I'll wait."
[09:24] Tom coughed, a smattering of blood stained his sleeve.
[09:24] "Not you," he says to Tom after a moment, "You are of course exempt, so long as you don't raise a hand to me."
[09:25] "Fenrir would be saddened if I killed you."
[09:25] "He wants to drink your blood down his own throat."
[09:25] "I imagine... Hel would be, as well."
[09:25] "I don't really care," Reaper admits. "I outrank them both."
[09:25] "So I've noticed."
[09:25] "I'm waiting."
[09:26] "Three of you get to go free."
[09:26] He holds up ten fingers. "I'll count off the minutes for you."
[09:26] He reduces it to five.
[09:26] "Or all for me. How does that sound?"
[09:26] "In other words, you can kill me as much as you like."
[09:26] "You aren't my concern."
[09:26] "So long as these live. That's just my way of doing things, you see."
[09:26] "Wiping out the low-level pieces of scum is."
[09:27] "It's a tedious, boring task, but thankfully, you helped me accomplish it."
[09:27] "I can tell that you're a man of greater caliber than that."
[09:27] "You're very indiscreet."
[09:27] "I finally got bored of waiting you to finish talking, so I broke the door down." His thumb sinks into his hand.
[09:27] Gil nudges Seras and points at Quinn and Simon. "Go!" he hisses. "We'll-"
[09:28] Reaper claps as Gil points them out, dropping his hands back to his sides.
[09:28] He steps away from the door. "You four can go." He says, pointing at Quinn, Simon, Seras, and Tom.
[09:28] Tom winced, "How can I... leave them to die like this?"
[09:28] "Surely there must be something else, something that I can give."
[09:28] "Go!" Gil mutters.
[09:28] "We'll survive."
[09:29] "It's not just survival..."
[09:29] Hermit drops into a combat stance, as does Siegfried. "Shut up and get out while you can."
[09:29] "This is our fight."
[09:30] Seras and Quinn are already making their way out the door, silently assenting to the others. Simon's whip is drawn.
[09:30] "To sacrifice one's own self to save another..."
[09:30] "Those are the words of a true man."
[09:30] "You wanted to know what we call a monster?!" Simon shouts, "That's it! That right there!"
[09:31] Tom makes his way to Simon's side...
[09:31] ...And attempts to hoist the boy over his shoulder.
[09:32] "I respect your path. Gil, if you die here, these ones will be without your guidance."
[09:34] Simon's hoisted over his shoulder (despite protests). Reaper's arms are crossed now, and he seems to be waiting for them to leave.
[09:35] "...But trust me. I will protect them. Godspeed."
[09:35] With that, Tom makes his way out of the warehouse, casting one last look back into its hall before finally following the other two out.
[09:36] The door closes behind them as Reaper's foot pushes it shut.
[09:37] Seras might be crying, but it's hard to tell in the rain.
[09:37] He doesn't set the boy down, yet... "...I'm sorry. If I knew I was being followed... If he would have accepted my sacrifice, then I would have been more than totally willing."
[09:38] "Let's go," Quinn mutters. "We shouldn't stay here."
[09:38] From the alleyway, the sound of footsteps in the rain.
[09:38] "Is there anywhere you can go to hide for now?"
[09:38] Minato casually pushes the door open, shutting it behind him as he enters.
[09:39] Seras just blinks at the situation, then shakes her head.
[09:39] Tom glances at Minato, "...Headphones. It's you."
[09:39] As he's talking to the door, this doesn't accomplish much
[09:40] "...If it's him... Well, do you?"
[09:40] "We don't really have anywhere to go," Quinn answers despondently. "The other cells in the city are kept secret."
[09:40] "I see."
[09:40] "Until that point..."
[09:40] "I'll need to ask Boss of it, but until that point, you can likely stay under the protection of the Agency."
[09:41] Seras nods.
[09:41] "Alright. Let's get going then."