[If Ludger is in the cafeteria and kitchen a lot they've probably run into each other a fair amount here....... Katan is the type to do his own cooking, and after all of that he's driven to at least make a pot of tea and maybe some baked goods -- it's the acts of service in him perhaps, or just the need to get the bad taste of the trial out of his mouth, or...
Well, he's walking in with a few sprigs of fresh herbs and whatnot. Maybe he'll make something of them, maybe not.
There's a blink as he takes in the state of the Ludger. Unsure if it's good that he's considerably more of a mess than the last time he saw him.]
... I was about to do some baking. You're welcome to some, but don't overdo it.
[He is not going to be responsible if you set yourself on fire.]
Moves the glass of water to a different area or table or counter that isn't quite so within reach. It's reflexive, don't mind him.]
I'd bet you're in the minority here.
[He still isn't extremely well-acquainted with the majority of their ragtag band of multiversal misfits and madmen (but when everyone is in the mirror horror version of a world not their own is there really any definition to sanity??), but he is getting enough of an idea that he's a little impressed they haven't burned something down by now.
So long as they spare the library...... Anyways.]
I was in the military. I think at least a few of us must be from similar backgrounds, but the files given to us aren't very complete when it comes to that.
[He's just puttering about in general: the kettle is on, and he's starting the process of mixing the dough for his impromptu project. There's the distinct scent of mint from whatever he's doing over there -- it's a soothing routine with all the routine noises in the background of Ludger's tipsy pondering.
There's a pause, and then something rueful in his voice as he responds.]
No, nothing of the sort. I was an aide, so I was expected to smooth the way for whatever maneuvers or strategies were necessary.
[It's not wrong that he knows how to use his words, but there's a difference between being a mover and a shaker and merely a mouthpiece.]
Many of you seem to have better experience than I do with taking action. I think that changed the outcome here.
[They do have an almost full complement of chefs available to the thirty of them -- almost enough to actually have group meals that don't just mysteriously and dubiously appear, though there's nothing so organized as that. So far, most of them are either off cooking for themselves or smaller groups.
So long as no one starves or resorts to drinking well water out of desperation, it works.
There's a bit of a wry glance at Ludger but he gets a pass on account of being inebriated.]
You are included in the whole, you know. It would have taken much longer to reach a consensus without your involvement.
[Granted, it was a bit of a messy consensus but it was enough to shift a few puppets and that's about all they can really ask right now.]
Regardless of their intentions, they're not blind. They understand that they can only go so far with their framing of the case.
[It's fine, it's fine. The future isn't here yet and we can be semi-optimistic. Ish.]
Given the state of our group, I'm sure self-satisfaction was a common factor. It doesn't change the outcome.
[Admiration is all well and good, but work done is work done.
Speaking of work and whatnot, there's a smell of sugar and spice from what he's working with now -- the mint is still present, but it's easily traced to the pot of tea he's set aside. Ludger can have some if he likes, but the kettle is out of his reach.]
The puppets... There isn't enough information to fully trust them or understand their ultimate intentions. They're quick to jump to conclusions, and have more resources than we do. I'd have to see more to confirm whether real collaboration is something they're aiming for.
Everybody jumps to conclusions, they're not special. [ hmph ] At least Foxglove and Sage are nice... Rosemary's nice too, but they're kind of silly... And Lobelia's weird. Do you think they still need to eat?
[It ain't ready yet! The oven's not even done pre-heating at this point. But hey, at least they probably won't suddenly be whacked with flour and sleep in the middle. Probably.
There's a brief chuckle because why is that Ludger's problem with the framework here.]
Thus far, their conclusions tend to lead to more consequences than you'd expect. [a shake of his head.....] It's difficult to judge their personalities as puppets, but since I don't think those are their real forms... they shouldn't be so different from us that they don't need to eat at all.
[ Ludger is out by the totally normal, not at all creepy, abandoned playground by the boarding house. why? idk, but he's sitting on a swing, idly pushing himself back and forth. at the sound of someone behind him, he'll lean back, tipping his whole head back to see who's there. ]
[It's funny to see someone on this playground -- to him, playgrounds are little more than decoration most of the time, someplace to pass by and occasionally see human children climbing over. Here, it's more or less lost its purpose: not even ghost children populate the springy animals.
It does seem as though others will take the structure as it comes. Katan blinks, and then gives him a small wave.]
I just thought it would be good to get some air. [he's obviously not the only one] I would have thought you'd had enough of the outdoors for a night or two, though.
[Sighing visibly. Literally. But he's going to lean against the swing structure even though he could literally just sit in a swing because. He's a stick in the mud who dubiously does swings.]
Well, so long as you're not planning on a camping trip.
[He's not sure if the others are planning on a camping trip at this point but not much to be done about that.]
Did you find out anything on the last one? About the museum.
[ get on the swing, Katan, it's good for the soul.......... ]
Nah, I'll probably talk to a few people and then head to bed.
[ it has Been a Day ]
I probably should have made it clearer, but Siffrin and I went to check it out on Tuesday. Nothing happened when we got stuck there the night before Amaya died.
[ but, uh ]
And... well, I think the term "mausoleum" is probably more accurate. Just based off what I heard, at least.
[The state of their souls is so dubious in these times--]
... The day is almost over, come to think of it.
[His sense of time isn't tuned to the proper frequency(?) at the best of times (ironic, all things considered), but this really is the week when nobody should be expected to remember how things work.
Taking a deep breath, holding it. Letting it out again. At least they've got that luxury back from their unseen overlords(??).]
By mausoleum, do you mean that there are graves in there? Or rather, that you heard something about it...
[ then you better be nice to what's left of your soul!!!! :ratshake:
Ludger pushes himself again, kicking lightly off the ground juuuust enough to send the swingset a'creakin. ]
Well, I definitely heard something inside. At first, when I knocked on the wall, I could hear something knocking from inside. But when I kept going, it escalated into scratching sounds, and wailing. It got... pretty loud. To me, at least.
[ and here's the rub ]
Siffrin didn't hear anything except until the very end, when someone said, "Welcome,"; he fainted a little bit later. Before I took him back to the sitting room, I asked if the priest was in there, and someone replied, "Who's askin'?"
[Instructions unclear, all adjacent souls entered into cursed ritual. ☆
He glances over at the creaking, watching him go to and fro with a sort of indulgent air.]
So you heard something that sounded like it wanted to come out; or something that wanted you to go in. Was there a reason that Siffrin fainted? [or was it just. this week being this week.......] I'm still unclear on what makes it a mausoleum, but the suspected priest may be a start.
shakes my fist at pronouns, siffrin i'm sorry..!!!
They said their energy was drained from them by the building.
[ which is Mighty Cursed ]
I'll admit, I don't have direct proof, but... what happened to the previous inhabitants here? At least some of them must have died, but we haven't seen any grave-sites yet. And Foxglove- sorry, Fran- hadn't seen any either when I asked him about it.
Did they do something that you didn't do? Touch it, or try to pick the lock?
[Since Siffrin does seem to be bustling about doing that type of thing nowdays -- it wouldn't be surprising for him to try that in the mausoleum as well. Such a large building being inaccessible is almost more ominous than all the intangible things that follow them day to day.
He glances in its direction. Well, it's also big enough to be visible most of the time even when it blends into the snow, so perhaps it sees them, too.]
There are no gravesites, but that doesn't mean there are no bodies. [...] That being said, we don't know where the bodies of the people we know have gone, either. Sage... mentioned that they seemed to have been eaten by something like a negative energy void.
[The Kresniks and their trialception will never end, sorry2say. Ludger will just have to resign himself to some kind of fate here.
Katan answers the door, blinks in confusion at the unceremonious question. After a moment he determines that it's probably a conversation best held in spur of the moment, though he glances down the corridor as to search for what might have prompted it.]
I did not; I had assumed it was the work of our infirmary officer-- [I still don't know what the hell he calls Foxglove actually help me] --but the added note seems to contradict that.
Is something wrong?
[Ludger did seem pretty unsettled earlier in the week around when that thing went up, didn't he....]
[It's fine, both of them can just sort of bumble through this conversation as it happens. Katan pauses and then opens the door to what I assume is Room 302, gesturing for Ludger to come in -- they may as well sit down if they're going to get into the weeds of this.
Since it sounds like there's a lot going on here.
It also gives him a few moments to flip through the notebook he carries on him. Patient records... there.]
... I wasn't aware that previous records could contain people we knew. [though, given some of them are clearly from the same dimensions, it wasn't a hard leap to make; the coincidences are just strange in an abstract way] But it seems he was somehow immune to the infection. Maybe that had something to do with his disappearance.
[ given how many saw him storm out, and the fact that the note is still posted... he had assumed everyone would associate it with him.
Ludger enters the dorm, giving a quick glance around, before following Katan's lead. ]
Fran thinks this place is some sort of... accumulation of all the previous research that's been done. So even if Jude wasn't here, the information involving him is.
[ he is. not sure he believes that. but it's not like there's evidence that disproves that either. ]
It sounded like Jude was cooperating with the research - I don't think he would've left before finding a cure. So either he was taken, or he found out something that made it necessary for him to leave.
[It's quiet; Katan is the only one in these apartments now.
That being said, it's still nicely decorated from a couple of weeks ago: some plants, a kettle, a pile of books, cute lanterns on the wall and not too many dings.
They can hang out on the couches (default decor).]
The nature of the place itself? Or just what's been left in all these abandoned buildings?
[It's evident that this isn't a normal space; it becomes more evident every time the space expands, each weekend, with every move their dubiously helpful third force makes. But to dangle things in front of them like this--]
... You must have known him rather well. Do you have any idea why he might have been immune?
I'm not sure where it showed up, but this entire place is supposed to be- yeah.
[ accumulation of all promising research and knowledge etc etc. ]
... I'm starting to think someone found it through alternative means, honestly. Which is why I was hoping you would say you hacked it from the network or something.
[ but alas. ]
I don't know. Jude was... the kind of person who would grant his wishes with his own power. I can't imagine what he was even doing here.
It seems rather optimistic to me. To think that this place would be for such ends.
[This place that has a tendency to hit them with as many illusions and delusions as anything else. To call it a crystallization of research or something like that...
He shakes his head, though it's mostly to himself.]
But no, there was no such convenient list on the network. We barely found anything coherent on it at all, apart from the spirit of Kamiki.
I think that... regarding your friend... he's not the only one who would be difficult to extract a wish from. But this place may not care about such technicalities.
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chromatized) wrote2025-11-08 09:37 pm
w0, saturday, post-trial
Heeeeeeey, what's up?
[ he's only a little tipsy. promise. ]
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Well, he's walking in with a few sprigs of fresh herbs and whatnot. Maybe he'll make something of them, maybe not.
There's a blink as he takes in the state of the Ludger. Unsure if it's good that he's considerably more of a mess than the last time he saw him.]
... I was about to do some baking. You're welcome to some, but don't overdo it.
[He is not going to be responsible if you set yourself on fire.]
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[ he waves a hand absently, almost knocking a glass of water he has near his elbow over. ]
You know, I never asked before, but what did you do before you were brought here?
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Moves the glass of water to a different area or table or counter that isn't quite so within reach. It's reflexive, don't mind him.]
I'd bet you're in the minority here.
[He still isn't extremely well-acquainted with the majority of their ragtag band of multiversal misfits and madmen (but when everyone is in the mirror horror version of a world not their own is there really any definition to sanity??), but he is getting enough of an idea that he's a little impressed they haven't burned something down by now.
So long as they spare the library...... Anyways.]
I was in the military. I think at least a few of us must be from similar backgrounds, but the files given to us aren't very complete when it comes to that.
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Ludger thinks that over slowly. military, huh...? ]
Were you a general? You were really well spoken at that whole- thing.
[ trial. judgement. whatever you want to call it. ]
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There's a pause, and then something rueful in his voice as he responds.]
No, nothing of the sort. I was an aide, so I was expected to smooth the way for whatever maneuvers or strategies were necessary.
[It's not wrong that he knows how to use his words, but there's a difference between being a mover and a shaker and merely a mouthpiece.]
Many of you seem to have better experience than I do with taking action. I think that changed the outcome here.
no subject
Yeah, they're really something, huh? [ there's obvious admiration in his voice ]
I'm just glad Sage and the others were open to negotiation - I can't imagine what would've happened if they'd refused.
[ stares into the distance +12 hrs later ]
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So long as no one starves or resorts to drinking well water out of desperation, it works.
There's a bit of a wry glance at Ludger but he gets a pass on account of being inebriated.]
You are included in the whole, you know. It would have taken much longer to reach a consensus without your involvement.
[Granted, it was a bit of a messy consensus but it was enough to shift a few puppets and that's about all they can really ask right now.]
Regardless of their intentions, they're not blind. They understand that they can only go so far with their framing of the case.
[It's fine, it's fine. The future isn't here yet and we can be semi-optimistic. Ish.]
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Ehh... I just asked them to satisfy myself.
[ and somehow it snowballed into an actual alternative - but the work had all been done by others. ]
What do you think of them? I think they're okay - can't blame them for being wary of us, since we outnumber them so much.
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Given the state of our group, I'm sure self-satisfaction was a common factor. It doesn't change the outcome.
[Admiration is all well and good, but work done is work done.
Speaking of work and whatnot, there's a smell of sugar and spice from what he's working with now -- the mint is still present, but it's easily traced to the pot of tea he's set aside. Ludger can have some if he likes, but the kettle is out of his reach.]
The puppets... There isn't enough information to fully trust them or understand their ultimate intentions. They're quick to jump to conclusions, and have more resources than we do. I'd have to see more to confirm whether real collaboration is something they're aiming for.
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Everybody jumps to conclusions, they're not special. [ hmph ] At least Foxglove and Sage are nice... Rosemary's nice too, but they're kind of silly... And Lobelia's weird. Do you think they still need to eat?
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There's a brief chuckle because why is that Ludger's problem with the framework here.]
Thus far, their conclusions tend to lead to more consequences than you'd expect. [a shake of his head.....] It's difficult to judge their personalities as puppets, but since I don't think those are their real forms... they shouldn't be so different from us that they don't need to eat at all.
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Sometimes you're just faking it until you make it.
[ this Sage Wisdom would probably have more oomph if Ludger wasn't nodding his head so exaggeratedly ]
... What's your favorite food?
w2, saturday post trial
Oh, Katan. What's up?
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It does seem as though others will take the structure as it comes. Katan blinks, and then gives him a small wave.]
I just thought it would be good to get some air. [he's obviously not the only one] I would have thought you'd had enough of the outdoors for a night or two, though.
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[ what with the Absence of Some People ]
Besides, I've got layers on. I barely feel the cold now.
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Well, so long as you're not planning on a camping trip.
[He's not sure if the others are planning on a camping trip at this point but not much to be done about that.]
Did you find out anything on the last one? About the museum.
no subject
Nah, I'll probably talk to a few people and then head to bed.
[ it has Been a Day ]
I probably should have made it clearer, but Siffrin and I went to check it out on Tuesday. Nothing happened when we got stuck there the night before Amaya died.
[ but, uh ]
And... well, I think the term "mausoleum" is probably more accurate. Just based off what I heard, at least.
no subject
... The day is almost over, come to think of it.
[His sense of time isn't tuned to the proper frequency(?) at the best of times (ironic, all things considered), but this really is the week when nobody should be expected to remember how things work.
Taking a deep breath, holding it. Letting it out again. At least they've got that luxury back from their unseen overlords(??).]
By mausoleum, do you mean that there are graves in there? Or rather, that you heard something about it...
no subject
Ludger pushes himself again, kicking lightly off the ground juuuust enough to send the swingset a'creakin. ]
Well, I definitely heard something inside. At first, when I knocked on the wall, I could hear something knocking from inside. But when I kept going, it escalated into scratching sounds, and wailing. It got... pretty loud. To me, at least.
[ and here's the rub ]
Siffrin didn't hear anything except until the very end, when someone said, "Welcome,"; he fainted a little bit later. Before I took him back to the sitting room, I asked if the priest was in there, and someone replied, "Who's askin'?"
no subject
He glances over at the creaking, watching him go to and fro with a sort of indulgent air.]
So you heard something that sounded like it wanted to come out; or something that wanted you to go in. Was there a reason that Siffrin fainted? [or was it just. this week being this week.......] I'm still unclear on what makes it a mausoleum, but the suspected priest may be a start.
shakes my fist at pronouns, siffrin i'm sorry..!!!
[ which is Mighty Cursed ]
I'll admit, I don't have direct proof, but... what happened to the previous inhabitants here? At least some of them must have died, but we haven't seen any grave-sites yet. And Foxglove- sorry, Fran- hadn't seen any either when I asked him about it.
[ so where did the bodies go???? ]
it balances out with the death of our braincells
[Since Siffrin does seem to be bustling about doing that type of thing nowdays -- it wouldn't be surprising for him to try that in the mausoleum as well. Such a large building being inaccessible is almost more ominous than all the intangible things that follow them day to day.
He glances in its direction. Well, it's also big enough to be visible most of the time even when it blends into the snow, so perhaps it sees them, too.]
There are no gravesites, but that doesn't mean there are no bodies. [...] That being said, we don't know where the bodies of the people we know have gone, either. Sage... mentioned that they seemed to have been eaten by something like a negative energy void.
no subject
[ yeah ]
I had my ear pressed up against the wall to hear inside, but it didn't effect me for some reason.
[ Yeah. ]
Eaten, huh? I keep feeling like they've been taken somewhere but... I don't know. It's hard to imagine where.
w3, saturday
Katan, did you post the medical records in the cafeteria?
no subject
Katan answers the door, blinks in confusion at the unceremonious question. After a moment he determines that it's probably a conversation best held in spur of the moment, though he glances down the corridor as to search for what might have prompted it.]
I did not; I had assumed it was the work of our infirmary officer-- [I still don't know what the hell he calls Foxglove actually help me] --but the added note seems to contradict that.
Is something wrong?
[Ludger did seem pretty unsettled earlier in the week around when that thing went up, didn't he....]
no subject
[ the thought of their conversation makes him frown, completely missing any of Katan's search for context. ]
... One of the people listed is from my world. Jude Mathis. The one that... went missing.
no subject
[It's fine, both of them can just sort of bumble through this conversation as it happens. Katan pauses and then opens the door to what I assume is Room 302, gesturing for Ludger to come in -- they may as well sit down if they're going to get into the weeds of this.
Since it sounds like there's a lot going on here.
It also gives him a few moments to flip through the notebook he carries on him. Patient records... there.]
... I wasn't aware that previous records could contain people we knew. [though, given some of them are clearly from the same dimensions, it wasn't a hard leap to make; the coincidences are just strange in an abstract way] But it seems he was somehow immune to the infection. Maybe that had something to do with his disappearance.
no subject
[ given how many saw him storm out, and the fact that the note is still posted... he had assumed everyone would associate it with him.
Ludger enters the dorm, giving a quick glance around, before following Katan's lead. ]
Fran thinks this place is some sort of... accumulation of all the previous research that's been done. So even if Jude wasn't here, the information involving him is.
[ he is. not sure he believes that. but it's not like there's evidence that disproves that either. ]
It sounded like Jude was cooperating with the research - I don't think he would've left before finding a cure. So either he was taken, or he found out something that made it necessary for him to leave.
no subject
That being said, it's still nicely decorated from a couple of weeks ago: some plants, a kettle, a pile of books, cute lanterns on the wall and not too many dings.
They can hang out on the couches (default decor).]
The nature of the place itself? Or just what's been left in all these abandoned buildings?
[It's evident that this isn't a normal space; it becomes more evident every time the space expands, each weekend, with every move their dubiously helpful third force makes. But to dangle things in front of them like this--]
... You must have known him rather well. Do you have any idea why he might have been immune?
no subject
[ accumulation of all promising research and knowledge etc etc. ]
... I'm starting to think someone found it through alternative means, honestly. Which is why I was hoping you would say you hacked it from the network or something.
[ but alas. ]
I don't know. Jude was... the kind of person who would grant his wishes with his own power. I can't imagine what he was even doing here.
no subject
[This place that has a tendency to hit them with as many illusions and delusions as anything else. To call it a crystallization of research or something like that...
He shakes his head, though it's mostly to himself.]
But no, there was no such convenient list on the network. We barely found anything coherent on it at all, apart from the spirit of Kamiki.
I think that... regarding your friend... he's not the only one who would be difficult to extract a wish from. But this place may not care about such technicalities.
no subject
[ lol. lmao. ]
Yeah, that's... true. Even idle wishes are good enough, apparently.
[ SIGH ]