dreamcrystals

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01

Sender: Anonymous, but signed as 'Gossip' on the bottom
To: Everyone
Subject: Helpful titbit

A place that dozen't ask for any coin, you'd think that'd be a beggar's haven! But findin' myself lacking reason to sell my wares, so feel fortunate you're gettin' the best gossip from Fresno Street for completely free here.

And I got here a bit that's an absolute smasher! Now, got ye eyes glued to the page?

[Since it's all reading now, it's definitely different from telling passer-bys on the street. It's okay, he'll adapt.]

Just between uz, saw a man throw a shoe directly at another fella! Straight from the ground to a treehouse and it knocked the guy clean over! Everyone talkin' about these dreamotion abilities, but I witnessed with my very eyes how effective a shoe can be.

Maybe we should all start practicin' that move. But if you wanna tell me an effective alternative, I got me eyes open. Ya know, in case I run outta shoes.

[Contrary to his icon, Vigil is dressed in a nice enough suit, the blue overtone matching the gloom that seems to surround the man. There's definitely an exhausted air to him as he stares up at the fruit hanging from the tree, because this is apparently his life now. And he thought the whole business back home was tiring...]

Exploding fruits.....

[Because it can't be normal fruits here, they have to explode if touched. So, the only way to get them down is through those abilities everyone's been using, but... he really hasn't been practicing that. He looks around to anyone that's also working on this task and he musters up some courage, before addressing the other person.]

I do apologize, but... are you familiar with these dreamotion abilities?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jigoku?? We don't know a Jigoku here.]

...That's truly a relief. Capital punishment is the harshest of sentences a court can deliver and I'd hate to think of an innocent being found guilty of it. It's not a pleasant sight even for people that do deserve it.

[Not that he's personally executed anyone, but... he still remembers setting up the gallows for the executioner and later confirming the corpses in their coffins before stapling them shut. All of that was grim... and probably one of the reasons why he resigned ten years ago. ...Right?]

That's terribly narrowminded. I'm afraid I don't have any advice how to bring about such change, but I believe that your father and yourself will be able to change the system. You've already succeeded in defending someone that was facing the highest of punishments and I don't think that can simply be ignored.

[ HONESTLY she will be the first to admit she would not have the stomach for Vigil's (old) job. Resigned or fired, she appreciates him weighing in on this, in a way she never expected. ]

Thank you... Unfortunately, I don't believe this is something I can look up in any book. No protocols to follow--how can there be, when our protocols are the problem? But your support is definitely noted and appreciated from across the sea.

[ But also, can they get back to less heavy gossip? ]

In any case... Mr Gossip, does my story earn me a name?

Oh, most certainly!

[He's almost forgotten about that. Although with everything she's told him, he doesn't exactly feel right spreading that story around to others. However, he intends to keep his end of the deal, and he takes a moment for himself, as if sliding back into his other persona.

And the writing becomes slightly more rough again.]

So the lad that threw the shoe... I saw with me two eyes that he was Nipponese. Couldn't tell you his name, but he had real short black hair.

[ It is truly adorable (?) that she's able differentiate when Mr Gossip returns. Still, he just described most of the Japanese-passing population.

... ]

Was he wearing black as well? An armband, perhaps?

[Oh ho, so Miss Mikotoba does know him, quite possibly. Everything's just gotten a bit more interesting.]

Got it in one, there. He a friend of yours? Gotta tell ya, he has a good arm on him. That shoe sure sailed through the air.

[ What? Is he kidding? Even she's not usually this on-point-- ]

Well, I suppose I'd have to check for anyone else wearing a Yumei University uniform here in Reverein. But... with the chances of that being as low as they are, I feel you must be talking about Mr Naruhodo.

He is my friend, but what was he doing, throwing a shoe at someone?

[Naruhodo... didn't she mention that name to him when they first met at that café? Now that he thinks about it, Miss Mikotoba stated that she was his partner during a trial, probably the same trial that he's yet to experience.

So, that means... he witnessed a lawyer throwing a shoe at another lawyer. Guess the battle continues even off court.]

Now we're gettin' to the real good bit...

[Vigil is gonna pause here for minute, just for dramatic effect!!]

It wuz the only weapon that could reach that creature of the night... the one standing so menacing from the top of his treehouse!

[ Vigil, you're killing her!! ]

Huh?! [ Mr. Naruhodo vs. a creature of the night........... why does this sound stupidly familiar ] He was probably just trying to get his attention, before causing an unfortunate fall...

[ The things that happen!!! when she is not around!!! Grrr!! ]

He was pretty spooked, I think. Made a mighty yell of 'look out' before lopping that shoe at him. Then... he went up the treehouse to directly confront the shadowy figure!

He's a very brave lad, won't lie. Although, I haven't seen him since.....

[Of course, Vigil is pretty sure that he's actually fine. Lord van Zieks wouldn't actually kill this Mr. Naruhodo... he's about 90% sure.]

[ She fully trusts van Zieks at this point, or at least in the integrity of his character, so she can fully believe he wouldn't kill him. Maybe with a little wine in him, he'd......maybe... leave him unconscious? She should probably be more worried about Ryunosuke, but considering he already has a history of "disappearing" and reappearing here... ]

[ Damn it. That armband-showing dork had better be OK. ]

...Mr Gossip, who was the shadowy figure?

[ She didn't realize it, but she assumed the answer. She can already picture him with his cape. Tell her anyway. ]

Wanna tell me another story?

[Is he serious.......]

[ ......SIR???? ]

I seem to recall that I earned a name. You technically never gave me one.

I said a specific detail about the fella that threw the shoe. Didn't say much about the guy that got smacked.

Come on, it's real interestin', you wouldn't wanna pass this up. The conclusion to this titbit, with everythin' pieced together.

[ She kind of hates you right now. ]

...You didn't say much, but you did compare them to a creature of the night. If I can guess correctly, will you confirm it?

[DAMAGE NOISE.]

I'll give you one shot. If not, better get your hand ready to write out another tale.

[ Spicy! Though Susato somehow isn't afraid. Despite the long shot, she feels like she's got him on the ropes. She doesn't know how. ]

To compare them to a creature of a night, I imagine they must wear a cape or cloak of some kind, making them reminiscent of a bat when seen from below.

And while he is hardly the only person to don a cloak, I'd like to use my one guess on [ TAKE THAT! ] ...Lord Barok van Zieks.

[ If she's wrong, it was worth it. ]

[....!]

Eh?! You got it right...!

[Maybe he can just blame how intimidating the man is that Miss Mikotaba can guess his identity with one try. Then again, she did just tell him that she successfully defended her friend in court, so... she's probably good at figuring these sort of things out.]

Well... deal's a deal. Aye, saw the Reaper himself get taken down by a mere shoe.

[ Look, you'll never get her to admit that she found the mental image hilarious. There's a crack of a smile, mostly out of pride, before she covers her mouth with a wince. ]

Um... you should probably not call him that anymore. [ Like, if you value your life. ] But regardless, I thank you.

[ For that officially being the highlight of her day. ]

Pray, what were you doing out so late, anyway?

Huh? There a reason? He's always been known as the Reaper of the Bailey and thought he liked it.

Just gettin' some fresh air, that's all. No real story behind that one.

[If Vigil is being a little evasive about that question, he pleads the fifth.]

[ .........Susato opening all kinds of cans of worms today. ]

He was indifferent at best. He only liked it because crime in London seemed to dwindle, when people feared him so, but allowing that misconception to go on ended up causing...problems.

...........

[It seems that the topic has turned serious once more. Some huge mood whiplash is happening here.]

Yes, crime in London has gone down since his reputation as the Reaper started... but you mentioned that it's caused problems? Ah, I do remember hearing that even those people who were found innocent when he was prosecuting ended up dying through unnatural causes.

[ OH NO... not the handwriting change. Hi Vigil... ]

Yes, that's correct. He was found to have no involvement with their deaths, but people continued to talk, and he let them.

[ ... ]

Mr Vigil... how much has he told you about the trial? The one you were a part of. The one you don't remember.

[He remembers Lord van Zieks almost looking offended by the mere idea of him killing someone, nearly losing his composure in his own way. While he believed him about that, it's good to have confirmation that he is truly innocent of any deaths.]

He mentioned that it was a trial that hasn't happened to me just yet. Apparently, someone was murdered at Fresno Street and... details of my second life was revealed to everyone in a closed court. He also said that my amnesia was brought up and both the prosecutor and the defense attorney worked together to bring those details out.

Eventually, I was to collapse at the end...

Edited 2021-12-06 04:11 (UTC)

[ ... 'Someone.'

To be fair, what she can see checks out. No lies detected. ]

All true... but does that mean you don't yet know who was murdered on Fresno St?

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