#grouplogs

[adiostauromachy]

Way Cool Science Stuff

[ Tavros had sent out a message to all science personnel to meet up at the laboratory so that they might do a run through of safety procedures. The message had a gif attached of a little dancing dog with the words "SCIENCE" and "SAFETY" flying everywhere in bold fonts and colors. Just something to not make people super nervous about the meeting, at least he hoped it would have that effect.] [The otherwise cluttered (though some might call it more of an organized mess) laboratory had been cleared somewhat to make enough space for a table with chairs all gathered round. Tavros is standing at the far end of the table, trying to rearrange his notes without looking too obviously flustered. Next to him is a tripod holding some big poster cards, and the first one reads "PROPER SECURITY PROTOCOL: EMERGENCY OR OTHERWISE", blatantly ripping off Karkat's style here, but it is a title that works for this purpose too. It's all safety related after all. He is lowkey mumbling to himself as he waits for people to arrive, flipping through his notes.] GRANDPA: *He's prided himself on being perfectly punctual to all meetings, come-togethers, gatherings, group sessions, ho-downs, hootenannies, parties, celebrations, announcementation occasions, press conferences, conglomerate up-catchings, powwows, rendezvous, congregations, assassination attempts, and all things of that nature. GRANDPA: *He's walking into the laboratory, covered in black ash and smoking. Not smoking smoking as one would do from a pipe, cigarette, or other accessory that hangs from the lip but his clothes and body are both literally smoking. There is a clear, clean space of skin where goggles had been but his glasses now rested. Leaving soot in his wake he gives a wide smile to Tavros and sits with a cloudy little thump* Hello old boy! DISCIPLE: -She climbs right on top of the table and lays across it, on her stomach, paying very little mind to any animated gifs in the room.- =3= TAVROS: *Luckily there are no animated gifs in the room at current, but who knows what might happen in the future. Tavros looks up from his notes when he hears people coming on in, and he just winds up gaping stupidly at the smoking grandpop.* uH, *Slowly puts his notes down on the table.* hELLO TO YOU TOO, bUT UH,  aRE YOU FEELING QUITE ALRIGHT, yOU LOOK MILDLY SCORCHED THERE, *Also SIDE EYES to Disciple. He knows you cat, but you gotta take a seat like everyone else. Looks at Disciple. Looks at a free chair, then back again.* DISCIPLE: -Visual cues? Her eyes aren't even open. She yawns without moving.- xOO DAVESPRITE: -Davesprite floats in soon after, beat boxing under his breath in a way he thinks is super subtle. He knew where the lab was from that time Jade decided to experiment on him, and it was pretty cool to be back. Especially if there was gonna be dead shit. Davesprite was always up for dead shit. He hovers above a chosen chair, wings twitching, and gives the room as a whole a nod.- sup. who the hell is responsible for that rad gif because its mine now and i love it. GRANDPA: *waves his sooty hand* Tis but a scratch lad! *Hello green troll lady. He looks at her and had probably attempted to stalk her through the halls a few times* And a fine yawn to you as well ma'am! *tips charred hat Disciple-ward, then to the sprite* And you as well sir sprite! *So many people, hello to you all* DISCIPLE: Mrrrrowwwww. DAVESPRITE: i think that's cat for 'im too tired to fuckin work today' but yo dude did you get caught in one of my raps or somethin you look like you were on fire CALLIOPE: -luckily, she is the cherub who is awake for this meeting, though who knows if caliborn would've even acknowledged the memo. she's incredibly nervous after finding out that caliborn REVEALED THEIR IDENTITIES to someone in public and she had no idea who knew and who did not. but she did know that tavros was a very nice person and she would gladly attend this meeting and do whatever job was necessary for his sake. she shuffles into the room shyly in her usual troll attire. even if people might know she's a cherub, that doesn't mean she's comfortable with people seeing her that way.- DISCIPLE: She wishes to eat this one. CALLIOPE: -ARRIVES ON THAT CUE AND LOOKS VERY NERVOUS- DISCIPLE: -DON'T WORRY SHE MEANS DAVESPRITE NOT CALLIE- CALLIOPE: -IF ONLY SHE KNEW- DAVESPRITE: -WHY DO SO MANY WOMEN WANT TO EAT ME- GRANDPA: HAW! Not at all. *turns to the new lassie and waves at her* And a fine hello to you as well miss. :D TAVROS: eRR, wELL IF YOU ARE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT IN A STATE OF BEING ROASTED, tHEN i SUPPOSE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, *Scratches behind one of ear, looking sheepish.* tHOUGH REMEMBER TO DECONTAMINATE WHENEVER YOU ARE ENTERING OR LEAVING THE LAB AREA, *Then a lot of people came on in at once, and he is fumbling with his notes.* TAVROS: aH, uHH, tHERE IS NO EATING OF EACH OTHER SCHEDULED IN THIS MEETING, sO THAT IS A DEFINITE THING THAT IS NOT HAPPENING, TAVROS: sO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE TAKE A SEAT? CALLIOPE: -puts on a happy face and waves at grandpa- how do yoU do, sir! -slides into a chair at tavros' behest- DISCIPLE: -SITS UP STILL CLEARLY ON THE TABLE.- TAVROS: tHE SEAT BEING ON A CHAIR, pREFERABLY, *Looking at you Disciple. But thank you Callie.* GRANDPA: Oh i do believe i'm on FIRE! *That was supposed to be quiet, his laughter was genuine now it's a little nervous. Bad times for jokes Jamison, bad times. Clears throat* DISCIPLE: :33 DAVESPRITE: should we have like introductions or are we gettin right down to business like guys in a boardroom i forgot my boardroom suit but I can shapeshift if itll help DISCIPLE: -she's very attentively staying right where she is.- CALLIOPE: -made the mistake of sitting somewhere behind disciple, so now she can't see- u~u DISCIPLE: His wings look very large.  -TAIL LASH AS SHE LOOKS AT DS- DAVESPRITE: -he turns and squints at her- theyre aight yeah. TAVROS: *Gosh darn cat trolls and their cat ways. Small sigh. It's not like they were going to use the table for much though, other than for sitting around.* wELL, mAYBE IF YOU COULD LOWER YOURSELF SOMEWHAT DISCIPLE, sO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE, *Stretches some to see if he could spot Callie back there at all.* TAVROS: wELL, wE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF FEW MEMBERS IN OUR LITTLE GROUP, sO INTRODUCTIONS COULD BE A GOOD SPOT TO START, TAVROS: i'M TAVROS NITRAM, aND i AM THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT, *Friendly little wave with his cuecards.* hOPEFULLY WE ARE ALL GOING TO GET ALONG, aND UH, gET ALL THESE SAFETY DUCKS IN A ROW, *Small laugh, then gestures to Grandpops since he is the closest.* wOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR INTRODUCTION? *Yes introductions and friendship. TEAM BUILDING.* DAVESPRITE: safety ducks. i like you already nitram. TAVROS: *Grins at Davesprite and does a fingergun at him like a total dorkus.* DAVESPRITE: -omg. He does finger guns back and adds a little flourishy wink behind his shades and a teeth click- TAVROS: *}:D* GRANDPA: *That's him, he nods* Of course! *Stands rather abruptly and takes off his hat, soot falls off the brim and onto the table. Looks at it* ... Yes. *Looks up to everyone else and drums on the brim* My name is jamison h. harley, i'm one of the senior inventors here on the uu simply by age. *That was a joke, get it? The joke is he's old. Hold for applause only not really and he nods to them all* I look forward to working with all of you! *sits* CALLIOPE: -can't help grinning at his clownish behavior. he seems like he'll be fun to get to know. tiny reserved applause for grandpa's introduction.- DAVESPRITE: -Callie is so cute? Davesprite nods sagely- yeah you do seem pretty senior TAVROS: *Joins Callie in the lil claps so it isn't just one person clapping. He grins and nods cheerfully.* nICE TO MEET YOU JAMISON, i'M SURE EVERYONE ELSE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH YOU TOO, }:) TAVROS: *He then turns to Disciple on the table, smiling expectantly for her to do the introduction thing.* DAVESPRITE: oh. oh yeah. nice to meet you. -he forgot- DISCIPLE: She is Huntress.  She is here now.  Yes.  -applause now- DAVESPRITE: huntress, huh. what a fuckin name. GRANDPA: *claps!* CALLIOPE: :U -fascinating!! she seems like an interesting character. is that all, though? well, if grandpa sees it fit to clap now, then she will also clap. yay for the huntress!- DISCIPLE: It is a name. DISCIPLE: -She goes back to laying on the table, pressed down low this time.- TAVROS: yES IT IS, aND IT IS VERY GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE NOW, uH, wITH US, *He continues to be optimistic, and with claps. Now he is lookin' at YOU Davesprite.* DAVESPRITE: -oh god metaphorical collar tugging- uh yeah so hey im davesprite im a sprite im basically rad i know almost nothing about science but im good with animals and dead things i can talk to birds and im made of energy GRANDPA: *clap clap clap, so long as you have a curious and adventurous spirit you know everything you need to know about science Davesprite* DISCIPLE: DISCIPLE: (Is large prey, too.) DAVESPRITE: here's another fact about me: no one is allowed to fuckin eat me GRANDPA: *Turns to Disci then to DS* (Hmmm.... moderate perhaps.) *There are bigger things* TAVROS: wELL WE ARE IN THE NEED OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOOD WITH ANIMALS TOO, uHM, wHICH i WILL BE BRINGING UP MORE ABOUT ONCE THE ACTUAL MEETING OF THINGS BEGIN PROPER, uH, aND IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN SCIENCY THINGS, sO i'M SURE THAT WON'T BE OF ANY PROBLEM, *Happy claps at Davesprite too. THEY ALL GET CLAPS. He looks over Huntress (thank you for going low) at Callie, grinning and nodding. Didn't catch what Huntress said and just kinda }8) ???? at Davesprite.* DAVESPRITE: -now my boss thinks I'm insane thanks huntress- DISCIPLE: -Purr, Purr, she is a good cat.- CALLIOPE: -oh!! it's her turn? she clears her throat and rises to her feet, knowing her soft voice might not be able to carry as well from where she's sitting. not that she has much more elevation, because she's so SMALL- CALLIOPE: hello, everyone. i go by callie... and it's sUch a pleasUre to meet yoU all and have the opportUnity to work with yoU! ^u^ GRANDPA: *What a nice, sweet young lady, clap clap. What an interesting collection of characters* DISCIPLE: -Sniffs.  Then turns to get all close to CALLIE, sniffing at her some more.- :?? CALLIOPE: ... -sweats, leaning away from disciple a little- oh, hello there... DISCIPLE: Yes. DISCIPLE: :33 CALLIOPE: -SMILES NERVOUSLY- DISCIPLE: -It's UNUSUAL but she can't put her finger on it.- TAVROS: i THINK THE FEELINGS OF PLEASEDNESS ABOUT MEETING YOU IS MUTUAL, bY THE LOOKS OF IT, *Chuckles a little cuz cats. He wonders if Nepnop would sit on tables too. Probably. He claps happily for Callie too. What good introductions!* TAVROS: sO WITH THAT DONE, i HOPE THAT WE ALL WILL BE ABLE TO GET ALONG, aND DO OUR BEST TO HELP EVERYONE, uH, wITH THE SCIENCEY ABILITIES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, *Grin grin. He then turns to the big poster cards.* TAVROS: *Clears his throat.* i GATHERED EVERYONE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME SAFETY REGULATIONS, wHEN IT COMES TO LAB ETIQUETTE IN GENERAL, aND ALSO WITH WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN EMERGENCIES, CALLIOPE: -still smiling at disciple as she slowly sits back down to listen to tavros- DAVESPRITE: aw hell yeah motherfuckin safety regulations we are gettin health conscious up in here  DISCIPLE: We kill the emergency.  It is no trouble then. DAVESPRITE: okay but what if the emergency isnt alive to begin with DAVESPRITE: like a fire or a chemical spill or an acid spitting ghost DAVESPRITE: or an unborn child that's inside someone you know but is secretly evil DISCIPLE: The fire lives.  That is how it can be suffocated. DISCIPLE: Put infant in egg.  Is better. TAVROS: hEALTH CONSCIOUS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BE, fRANKLY, sINCE THERE MIGHT BE MANY DANGEROUS CHEMICALS THAT WE WORK WITH AND MANAGE IN THE LAB, uHM, wHICH IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS GO THROUGH THOROUGH DECONTAMINATION, uPON LEAVING AND ENTERING, *Side eyes to sooty Jamison.* TAVROS: aND THAT WE ALWAYS TRY TO KEEP OUR WORKSTATIONS CLEAN AND CLEAR OF ANYTHING HARMFUL WHEN WE LEAVE THE--, TAVROS: uHH, *Eloquent "uhhh"ing at Disciple.* wELL, tHAT IS ONE WAY OF SOLVING A POTENTIAL THREAT HAPPENING, bUT THE MURDERING PROTECTION THING, iS NOT EXACTLY OUR DEPARTMENT, *Fiddles with his cards.* TAVROS: aND IF WE ARE MINDFUL OF WHAT WE ARE DOING i DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS WOULD ARISE, *He is so flustered.* DISCIPLE: Rrr. TAVROS: *Quick flipping through his cards.* eHM, sHOULD A FIRE HAPPEN, tHEN THERE ARE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS LOCATED AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LAB, *Gestures in those directions very much like what a flight attendant might do.* tHERE ARE ALSO FIRST AID KITS FOR EMERGENCIES, aND A SINK TO WASH OUT CHEMICALS, tHOUGH UH, yOU SHOULD CONTACT MEDICAL STAFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, sHOULD YOU HAVE GOTTEN ANY CHEMICALS ONTO YOURSELF,  GRANDPA: *He was emblazoned, he's probably the cleanest one here. Though he meant to shower but didn't wanna be late* CALLIOPE: -she looks super engaged in everything tavros has to say. she's never been to a meeting like this before or run through safety protocol, so this is VERY INTERESTING to her- TAVROS: tHOUGH THERE ARE NO PROTOCOLS FOR ACID SPITTING GHOSTS PRESENTLY, oR UHH, sECRET UNBORN EVIL HUMAN CHILDREN, *Laughs a little sheepishly at that.* hOWEVER ALL OF THE TEST TUBES USED FOR THE BEAST CREATION, aLL COMES WITH A KILL SWITCH, sO IF UH, tHE SPECIMEN SHOULD BE SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF OVERALL, "eVILNESS" AS YOU MAYBE WOULD PUT IT, tHEN YOU SHOULD BE HITTING THAT, DAVESPRITE: wait holy fuck are we making creatures DISCIPLE: :00 TAVROS: uH, *Looks to the side, then back at Davesprite.* yEEEEES, tHAT IS PART OF SOME OF THE THINGS, tHAT WE CAN BE DOING, *Drat did he get his cards out of order???* GRANDPA: Now define "evilness" some creatures can very well be tamed. *Or put down with a good blunderbusting. Give the beasties a fighting chance* DISCIPLE: She will speak to the evil things.  She understands better. TAVROS: *Shuffle shuffle.* eRR, wELL IN A CREATURE KIND OF SENSE IT WOULD BE UNWANTED BEHAVIOR, tHAT IS NOT GOOD FOR THEM TO BE HAVING SINCE MAINLY WE ARE DOING THESE THINGS TO BE HELPING THE CREW, sO UH, sOMETHING THAT IS PRONE TO EATING FACES TO A MAJOR EXTENT, wOULD NOT BE A GOOD THING TO HAVE AROUND, GRANDPA: *Hums and strokes his mustache* Preventing face consumption seems to be easy enough! DISCIPLE: Yes, but some things have these desires within... Rrrr... Correct situations...! GRANDPA: A good point my dear! Face consumption could be very helpful! GRANDPA: Perhaps we could simply keep it to a minimum until the right situation occurs and allow them to go face crazy! CALLIOPE: -okay, now she's starting to get a little nervous about this group of folks- DAVESPRITE: -he's bouncing in his chair and grinning a little- omg I demand I be known as doctor funkenstein from now on because im gonna make a motherfuckin monster DISCIPLE: :TT TAVROS: *Soft wheezing. This wasn't what he had meant.* oKAY, i GET THAT FACE CONSUMPTION OF THE ENEMIES COULD BE GOOD, bUT THAT WOULD MEAN TRAINING THEM TO NOT BE EATING ALL FACES THEY SEE UPON RELEASE, aND ALSO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND FED, uH, sO MAYBE THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF USEFULNESS AND RESOURCES WE HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, wHEN GOING AHEAD WITH THESE EXPERIMENTS? TAVROS: *Looks at Davesprite.* eRR, aLL EXPERIMENTS MUST HAVE SOME SORT OF END GOAL, tHAT IS USEFUL, aND NOT JUST DOING THINGS BECAUSE THEY SOUND FUN IN THEORY, tHAT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT SINCE IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION SUPPLIES FOR THESE SORTS OF THINGS ARE  A BIT LIMITED, tHAN WHAT THEY WOULD USUALLY BE, DAVESPRITE: doctor funkenstein is the most useful DISCIPLE: (Is most delicious.) CALLIOPE: -gives tavros a sympathetic smile- TAVROS: *Rubs at his neck and gives Callie a little smile in return. Callie is going to get the entire star sticker sheet at the end of this.* TAVROS: i'M SURE YOU WILL BE USEFUL DAV-- fUNKENSTEIN, aS EVERYONE WILL BE, uHM, i'M JUST SAYING THAT LAYING DOWN THE GROUNDWORK TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY THE END RESULT WOULD YIELD IS IMPORTANT, rATHER THAN JUST JUMPING STRAIGHT INTO SOMETHING WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT, DAVESPRITE: nah it's cool man I love thinking about things DAVESPRITE: especially when it comes to the mysteries of life and death and existence. who created us in their lab?? were we all meant to be useful too? haha we failed at that am I right TAVROS: eRGH, i DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE HERE WOULD BE FAILING AT BEING USEFUL, sO LONG AS WE TRY OUR BEST, *Gives Davesprite a stern look that isn't so much stern as it is kind of drained. He has totally lost track of his notes now.* aND IF WE DO THAT THEN THE AMOUNT OF LAB RELATED EMERGENCIES AND ACCIDENTS, wOULD REMAIN PRETTY LOW IN NUMBER, DAVESPRITE: oh no im sure we'll all be useful in the lab DAVESPRITE: I meant in a cosmic universal sense yknow DISCIPLE: Life is not use.  Life is. GRANDPA: *Kinda :o at all these deep statements* DAVESPRITE: okay kitty cat can I get a high five bc that was hella DISCIPLE: ????? DISCIPLE: -puts a paw on his face like THAT'S WHAT THAT IS RIGHT???- TAVROS: *While they are being deep and team bonding he is going to try to get these notes in order.* DAVESPRITE: close enough TAVROS: *Clears his throat.* aLRIGHT SO, i THINK THAT SOMEWHAT COVERS IT, aLTHOUGH SPEAKING OF THE ANIMAL ASPECT FROM BEFORE, wE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKUPS WITH THE DOGS THAT WAS MADE FOR THE K-9 DEPARTMENT WITH SECURITY, TAVROS: (aND AS A NICE SEGUE ESTABLISHED, i SHOULD THEN UH,) *Mumbles to himself as he finds the right card.* sINCE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MIGHT OCCUR SHIPWIDE, iT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL KNOW AT LEAST BASIC SELF DEFENSE, sO i WOULD ADVICE TO GET SOME PRACTICE IN, pERHAPS WITH EACH OTHER OR OTHER PARTS OF THE CREW, TAVROS: i THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL MEMORIZE THE ESCAPE ROUTES, *He finally moves one of the big cards on the tripod, finding a map of the ship where he has marked down paths.* tO HELP PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY, CALLIOPE: -she's going to break out her sketchbook to take notes here and draw herself a crude version of the map... also maybe doodle everyone in here a little bit too o: - DISCIPLE: -Nodnods.  This makes sense to her.- DAVESPRITE: yeah that sounds good GRANDPA: *Arms folded, nodding and humming in agreement. Yes, he's been to meetings before he knows how these things work* TAVROS: wE ARE A SUPPORTING TEAM MAINLY, sO OUR PRIORITY IS FORSEEING SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT HAVEN'T REALLY ARISEN YET, *He chuckles.* sO THAT WHEN THEY DO HAPPEN WE ARE PREPARED, TAVROS: uH, sO WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND, i THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING MIGHT BE TO STAY CALM AND DON'T PANIC, }:O *That's more or less the end of his presentation, so he puts his notes down on the table.* GRANDPA: *Another good point, panic wouldn't help anyone at all* In terms of preparations for threats unknown should we be sharing and comparing notes and such to things we've begun in order to better protect the ship and all those aboard it? GRANDPA: Either for cooperation or simply for opinions?... Also if one has already started such preparations er, should these creations and experiments be scrapped? TAVROS: eXCELLENT QUESTION, *Grins at him.* eRR, wELL QUESTIONS,    TAVROS: i THINK SHARING AND COMPARING NOTES BETWEEN US WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, tHAT WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE NOBODY IS WORKING ON ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PROJECT SIMULTANEOUSLY, aND CAN INSTEAD HELP EACH OTHER MAKE IT HAPPEN IN A SWIFTER MANNER, aLSO UH GETTING OTHER OPINIONS IS ALWAYS GOOD, tO BE GETTING A BROADER PERSPECTIVE, TAVROS: *Hm.* i DON'T THINK THEY HAVE TO BE SCRAPPED NECESSARILY, jUST SHOW ME WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, aND i WILL EITHER AUTHORIZE IT OR NOT TO BE CONTINUED, GRANDPA: Right on sir nitram! I'll slip you my entire load of goodies this very evening! *So many things in the works. So very many, prepare to be submerged* DISCIPLE: She has fur and meats. DISCIPLE: She has made herself a forge.  It is not burning yet. DAVESPRITE: i dunno if ive got any projects yet really unless my nest and some wicked jams count but i can work on it with my new science powers TAVROS: *Nods to Jamison with a smile.* pLEASE DO, i'LL MAKE SURE TO GO THROUGH IT AS SOON AS i CAN, TAVROS: *Turns to Disciple.* uHM, a FORGE? wELL, iF IT IS WHAT i AM THINKING, tHEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD FIND A WAY TO NOT HAVE THE SMOKE GET INTO ANY VENTILATION SYSTEMS, oR ANYTHING, TAVROS: *Then to Davesprite.* oH UH, *Tries to not sound TOO excited since he is being a professional.* wICKED JAMS COULD DEFINITELY BE COUNTED AS SCIENCE IN A WAY, bUT MAYBE DOING A FEW EXPERIMENTS WOULD BE GOOD FOR YOU, tO EXPAND ON THAT KNOWLEDGE, CALLIOPE: -shifts a bit- ahem... i don't think i'll be doing many projects on my own, bUt i'm more than willing to assist all of yoU in whatever ways yoU see fit. TAVROS: tHAT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED TOO, tHANK YOU CALLIE, wHEN WE ARE COMPARING NOTES AND ALL WE CAN SEE WHO MIGHT NEED HELP AND WHATNOT, TAVROS: wELL, i THINK THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED TO BE GOING THROUGH, *He says with a smile, clapping his hands together once.* tHANK YOU ALL FOR COMING, aND BEING GOOD AT LISTENING AND ASKING QUESTIONS, TAVROS: iN FACT SINCE EVERYONE HERE CAME ON TIME, *Pulls out STICKER SHEETS from his pocket and passes them around. Everyone gets a sticker sheet with cute animals with googly eyes and stars. Callie gets extra stickers cuz she was on the best behavior today, shh.* gOOD JOB TEAM, wHOO, *More CLAPPING.*

DAVESPRITE: thanks tav man you seem like a really cool boss. DAVESPRITE: and you're right sick jams is hella scientific it's all the components of ROCKING CALLIOPE: ^u^ !!! -YAY. she thanks him as he hands them to her and tries to think of what she should do with it. it's special, so she'll have to put it someplace special-

[aesopianalgedonic]

DAMARA: *With Mituna now secure in the infirmary, Damara seems to have quit crying for now, maybe she just didn't have any more tears left, or she was just too exhausted. She has yet to let go of Porrim's hand, holding it like it is the only thing keeping her grounded in this terrible reality.*

DAMARA: *She looks at her, searching for words, wanting to say something, but she doesn't know what would help. She feels like no words would help her right now, so finding no words might even be for the best. She squeezes her hand a little, to make sure she is still really there.*

PORRIM: *porrim is there, maybe physically, but it's difficult to say if she is there completely. she liked to think herself strong, that after enduring everything she had, she would be able to withstand anything. but she never felt this way about anyone before she arrived on this ship, and a small part of her wishes that wasn't the case*

PORRIM: *she takes a moment to respond, but she does return to reality to squeeze damara's hand while wiping away tears that still lingered in the corners of her eyes*

DAMARA: *She is quiet for a while yet, looking at Porrim with hurt in her eyes, and she looks away eventually. Though not daring to look at the state Mituna is in. She looks to the ground.*

DAMARA: SAVED EVERYONE. *She breaks the silence with this. She doesn't want it, and this was the first thing that came to mind.*

ERIDAN: *IN COMES ERIDAN except no, he's not busting in, he's walking in like a normal goddamned person*

MITUNA: *Shallow breathing from the bed. He's a sight, veins raised and prominent from effort. He's definitely in critical condition*

PORRIM: *she lets out a small sound, almost like a soft, humorless laugh* He did. *her eyes are leaking again. dammit. but she looks up when eridan arrives, feeling that sense of calm that comes with the presence of a moirail, though she's still far from okay*

DAMARA: *The sound makes her regret speaking, gently stroking her thumb over Porrim's hand as she holds it instead. She sees Eridan arrive too, which makes her ease up on the hand holding a little. Maybe he would have better words to giver her than she did.*

ERIDAN: *he's not really sure what to say either and just kinda walks over to porrim's other side and places a hand on her shoulder*

PORRIM: *she's thankful for the touch, to have both of them there. she places her other hand over eridan's, looking at mituna* He... He did. We wo+uldn't be...

PORRIM: *she wants to say so much, to break the silence, to express her appreciation for what he's done, but nothing is coming out right.*

ERIDAN: *squeezes her shoulder reassuringly*

DAMARA: *She decides to let go of Porrim's hand, just for a little while, to let her be with her moirail.

DAMARA: *With a shaky breath she goes to Mituna's hospital bed to touch his hand with hers. Part of her wonders how much Doc Scratch knew, and if keeping it to himself was some sort of punishment for her previous failures. This place was becoming home, and it was never supposed to.*

PORRIM: *watching damara move over to mituna makes her upset all over again. things weren't supposed to happen this way. they both wanted to make damara so happy, but instead have dragged her into the very same heartache they wanted to repair. she clutches eridan's hand tighter, holding a hand over her mouth as she stifles another sob*

PORRIM: Eridan... Why do+es it have to+... No+bo+dy deserves this... *she looks up at him, remembering that she saw roxy in her earlier, and she starts to worry for him. it's easier to concentrate on that* Are yo+u o+kay?

ERIDAN: *stares at mituna and doesn't look down at her* im fine dont concern yourself wwith my condition

PORRIM: *she's surprised by that response and tries to smile* Yo+u so+und so+ fo+rmal...

ERIDAN: ... *really does look at her now* i gotta im takin my position noww far more seriously than evver before

DAMARA: *She bites at her lip, trying to keep herself from overhearing the EriPor conversation. They needed to do the rail thing and she didn't want to be a third wheel. Maybe she would have dared to if she had known what to even say or do in this situation.*

DAMARA: *She reaches out a hesitant hand to brush Mituna's hair out of his eyes.* (あなたの勇敢な愚かな馬鹿。あなたが目を覚ますと、それを自慢9000の上にパワーレベルがありました。) [[ You brave stupid idiot. Your power level was over 9000. You wake up and brag about it. ]] *Hushed voice at him.*

PORRIM: *she nods slowly* Yo+u do+ seem... Different. Calmer. *squeezes his hand again* I'm pro+ud o+f yo+u.

ERIDAN: thanks... evverythin just feels more in perspectivve noww i guess *doesn't smile but does give her a nod*

PORRIM: *it's funny being on this end of things. the one being pacified. but she really is so glad for him and thankful that he can be her rock. she takes in a deep breath, turning in to give him a hug*

PORRIM: I do+n't want yo+u wo+rrying abo+ut me, either... Yo+u have a crew to+ lo+o+k after, Captain. *reaches up to give him a kiss on the cheek, too*

PORRIM: I'm go+ing to+ go+ be with them, no+w.

ERIDAN: *returns that hug and nuzzles her* okay por

ERIDAN: *looks at damara* take good care a her okay

ERIDAN: *and with that he turns and walks out, those wings still out since he hasn't bothered to retrieve the cape, so NO CAPE SWISH*

DAMARA: *Lost in her own thoughts as she had been watching Mituna, trying to figure out of she could have done anything to prevent this at all. She snaps out of it when she is addressed.*

DAMARA: *She turns halfway to look at Eridan, her expression tired but the corner of her mouth is turning upward somewhat. Glad for this approval(?)* WILL DO THIS. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF SELF AS WELL. *She knew Roxy was messed up in here too...And there he go.*

PORRIM: *she watches him disappear with the swoosh of his cape before she returns to damara's side, now composed enough to hold onto her tighter and try to be more comforting*

DAMARA: *Porrim please, Damara was supposed to be the one doing the taking care of you thing! Regardless, she appreciates it, and she holds her tight.* HE WILL BE OK. *Says it with as much certainty as she can muster.*

PORRIM: I kno+w... He always manages to+ bo+unce back. And with so+ much energy... And life... *she leans into damara, gazing at him fondly*

DAMARA: *Leans back against Porrim, allowing herself to nuzzle her cheek a lil against her.* YES... HE WILL BE BOUNCING AROUND HERE SOON. THEN I WILL PUNCH HIM FOR BEING SO FOOLISH. *Means it in a good way.*

PORRIM: Oh, same. *she manages another small smile as she memes softly in mituna's honor, turning her head to brush her lips against damara's cheek*

DAMARA: *Follow for more soft memes. She is far too tired and sad to reach her usual levels of animated from the kiss, but it feels nice regardless, having her be here. She smiles at her, lifting their hands up and kisses the back of Porrim's hand as they still have their hands held.* SHOULD MAKE COMPETITION. SEE WHO GETS PUNCH ON HIM FIRST.

PORRIM: I'd agree to+ that, but I kno+w I'd lo+se. Yo+u've go+t a lo+t mo+re fight in yo+u than I do+, I no+ticed. *she certainly appreciated that when damara was protecting her from those assholes who boarded the ship*

DAMARA: *Internal sweating. She hadn't even thought about the fact that she should have been protecting her secrety secrets back then. She just acted on instinct, which was stupid.* SHE BELIEVE SO? I DO NOT. SURE SHE WOULD FIND WAY OF KEEPING ME DISTRACTED FROM DELIVERING MIGHTY PUNCH.

PORRIM: *porrim sure didn't think much of it. she saw them muscles at the gym. and besides, she has her fair share of secrets, so she wont question it* That's true. I can be pretty crafty. But ultimately, I think he'd enjo+y a punch fro+m bo+th o+f us at the same time. *a double punch. she knows you love your twos, mituna*

DAMARA: *That actually makes her chuckle for a moment, even if it was tired and low it was still a happy one.* SO IT IS DECIDED. HE WILL GET TWO PUNCHES. *Huddles closer to Pomary though. This has been one hell of a fucking day, and she is starting to realize how tired she actually is.* THIS BEING SAID. WILL PUNCH HER TOO. IF SHE DOES FOOLISH THING. *Sleepy mumbles.*

DAMARA: *She will punch everyone she loves she don't give a fuck. All these BAKAS.*

PORRIM: That's fair. *words can't describe how happy she is to have damara for this. even if she feels guilty for bringing her into the relationship, only for things to end up this way so soon, it helps to know that she isn't alone in this. she would have her friends, and her moirail, but this is different.*

PORRIM: *even if their feelings were only beginning to grow, she knows damara is aching in the same ways that she is, and it's a bittersweet kind of comfort, one she will gladly lose herself in as they begin to settle after this long, exhausting day*

[aesopianalgedonic]

Didney World: Mystery!

[Welcome to Didney World! The happiest place in the known universe! The Umbral Ultimatum has docked here so that crew and passengers both can finally get some well deserved R&R. The entire planet is made out of many different amusement parks, all sectioned off to different themes and attractions. The park that was assigned for the U.U's recreational purposes is "Traditional Land", as it is perfectly generic, it covers everyone's basic amusement needs! Though none of that is relevant for any of you, unfortunately. Not long after the U.U had docked, there was a distress call from the daily leader of the theme park, asking for T.U.M.U.T assistance in "a delicate situation that has unfortunately arisen on Didney property." The gang is being lead through one of the restricted office areas in the park by a Didney staff member, about to meet up with the daily leader making the distress call.]

[Even if most of these super fun activities are not on the agenda, here is a map so you can sorta tell where you are while wandering! http://tinyurl.com/qapmw8j ]

[Feel free to banter amongst yourselves as the tense staff member guides you along.]

KARKAT: *This was fucking bullshit but what did Karkat expect really? Some rest and relaxation? Fuck no, never. He does eye the people with him and wondrs what this delicate situation entails. These all being people you give a shit about. Sans Kankri. you've never talked to him, but you'd rather not watch another mutant bite the dust*

KARKAT: *Grumble mumble* (HORSE SHIT.) *mumble grumble* (GODDAMN.) *mumble grumble* (SHIT ASS RAT MASCOT.)

JADE: (karkat are you talking to yourself?)

KURLOZ: *looooms silently with the rest of them* :o)

KANKRI: *Quite honestly should have expected something like this, considering the last time he went anywhere with a collection of TUMUT staff. With a little sigh, he looks around, opting to walk next to KARKAT, because hey he seems interesting enough. That is, of course, until he hears the mutterings. There is no need for parentheses here, because Kankri ain't even whispering.*

KANKRI: Excuse y9u, 6ut d9 y9u think y9u c9uld t9ne d9wn the language? I, f9r 9ne, find it quite 9ffensive, and I'm sure I'm n9t al9ne in that. *LOOKS POINTEDLY AT JADE LIKE BACK ME UP HOMIE*

KARKAT: (SHOULD I NOT? IS TALKING TO MYSELF A THING I SHOULDN'T DO? THIS IS JUST SUCH CRAP. THOUGH I CAN'T SUSPECT WE LAND ON A SINGLE AREA AND NOT HAVE SHIT GO DOWN-) OH MY GOD.

JADE: -looks at Kankri like SHRUG-

KARKAT: HOW ABOUT YOUR GET YOUR SPONGECLOTS OUT MY GODDAMN MOUTH. YOU'RE NOT MY LUSUS AND EVEN IF YOU WERE KINDLY FIND THE NEAREST OFF AND GO FUCK IT.

JADE: omg

DARKLEER: *The adult troll is adulting and supervising all these goddamn children again. Don't just mind him, he's just being quiet, depressed, and watchful. He's trying not to think about the spread of mutantbloods and freaky dog humans peppering his group. All of this is totally fine to him.*

KARKAT: *I am a grown ass troll, I don't need supervising*

KURLOZ: :o) *he looks amused as he watches the vantii*

DARKLEER: * B/ *

TEREZI: NOW GUYS, 1 KNOW 1TS H4RD BUT L3TS TRY TO G3T 4LONG

TEREZI: TH4T W4Y W3 C4N G3T TH1S DON3 SO W3 C4N PL4Y L4T3R

TEREZI: >:]

KANKRI: *APPALLED EXPRESSION PAIRED WITH EQUALLY APPALLED GASP* Is there s9me reas9n why y9u feel the need t9 lash 9ut like that at such a simple request? I mean, c9rrect me if I'm wr9ng, 6ut y9u're the head 9f security, n9? Is this truly the first impressi9n, much less the example y9u wish t9 set f9r y9ur fell9w crewmates? Vi9lence and hatred unsurprisingly 6reed 9nly vi9lence and hatred, things I w9uld think a head 9f security is quite c9ncerned a69ut.

KARKAT: *Looks at Terezi like HE'S OPPRESSING MY FREESPEECH. Look at this shit*

KARKAT: *MONOTONEVOICE* THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERN.

TEREZI: -gives the "What did she JUST say!" look-

DARKLEER: *That is such an optimistic opinion of the world... Now Darkleer feels very ill.*

KARKAT: YOUR STATEMENT HAS BEEN NOTED AND WILL BE PROMPTLY SORTED CONCERNED PAIN IN WHAT DEFINITELY ISN'T MY *BEHIND*.

[Loud clearing of the throat from the staff member. Shucks. These official people sure knows a lot of fancy words! They have arrived outside one of the larger staff buildings.]

KARKAT: OR BOTTOM IF THAT'S TOO VULGAR.

JADE: -the only human among all these grumpy and gripey trolls.... and Terezi-

KURLOZ: :oO

JADE: -AND ALSO THAT WEIRD CLOWN-

TEREZI: -long suffering sigh-

KURLOZ: :o) *yes this weird clown*

JADE: -regards the staff member-

KARKAT: *looks up at the large building, sORRY TEREZI HES DONE. For five minutes* SO, WHAT'S THE SITUATION. IF WE GET ANY DETAILS ON IT.

JADE: is this where the... uhh problem is?

DARKLEER: *vaguely hopes it's a problem he can crush into submission*

["Yeah. Uh. I don't really know all of the details? The boss does." He says. The staff member is about to open the door for the crew when a rather frazzled looking individual bursts out of said door. It's a young troll lady, maroon judging from the snassy scarf around her neck and other accents on her businesslike attire. She is clinging to a notepad with one hand, rapidly tapping a pen with the other. Say hello to Hildee Peders, daily leader of Didney World and your guide for the evening.]

KANKRI: *seems pleased with this development* Y9u're very welc9me, and I appreciate that y9u w9uld n9t 9nly c9nsider heeding my warning, 6ut managed t9 p9litely resp9nd despite a hiccup 9r tw9. *FINALLY LOOKS TO THE STAFF MEMBER, waiting to hear what they have to say now that he's said his piece*

KANKRI: *pretend that happened before words from the staff member happened*

HILDEE: *Hildee makes a strange burbling noise, her brows furrowed deeply.* ghnrrr *She eyes everyone quickly over the brim of her glasses.* you are tumut correct? it's good of you to come very good because this situation is just unheard of *She pauses for a split second to catch her breath.* this kind of thing does not happen at our park not on our world people come here to relax *Wild gesturing in the air with her pen* not not not something so atrocious as this!

DARKLEER: Would you specify the details so that we may address it post haste *speaks in a low drone*

KARKAT: ATROCIOUS AS?? *She looks really upset about this. And she needs a goddamn cough dorp or something*

KARKAT: *He needs one too holy shit*

JADE: -aww she looks so stressed D:-

TEREZI: WH4T, 3X4CTLY? -atrocious ass- -okay, she's gonna stop being childish now-

HILDEE: well of course the details yes how could i forget? *More vigorous penclicking as she looks them all over, kind of doing a double take at the LARGE troll and the clown.* there has been an incident a terrible one very messy can't have that kind of thing going on park premises *Deep breath, gestures to the door.* please would be better to talk about it inside not where any and all can hear about it and start a racket

KANKRI: *Looks at his fellow TUMUT crew members like wow y'all so rude* I think it might 6e prudent t9 all9w f9r s9me time t9 calm d9wn 6ef9re we start interr9gating this p99r pers9n, d9n't y9u?

JADE: oh right!

JADE: of course

KARKAT: *Taking care of the thing would be calming her down you backwards shitladel don't take charge here, who the fuck are you*

KARKAT: *but he doesn't say it*

KARKAT: *only thinks it really loud*

DARKLEER: *It's not really in his job description, no.*

KURLOZ: :o)

JADE: -Jade moves right for the door, attempting to be BUSINESSLIKE despite her rigid peers-

DARKLEER: *he supposes he can hold the door open for her and his peers, whatever they are*

TEREZI: -Terezi appreciates your restraint-

JADE: -smiles at Darkleer like THANKS-

JADE: -man that guy is tall-

KARKAT: *Karkat follows and is going to hold the door op- or not. alright he;ll just go fuck himself and shuffle in after the park offcial goes in*

KURLOZ: *he strides tally though the door*

JADE: -compress urself biggie-

DARKLEER: *doesn't even notice the smile or politeness, he's too busy regretting his life.*

KANKRI: *Kankri goes in last, before the troll hording the door that is, but the last of those NOT holding the door*

TEREZI: TH4NK YOU -enters the building, searching for anything awry-

DARKLEER: *It would be so easy to rip the door of its hinges and kill everybody in this room, he realizes. This knowledge makes him feel a little better as he trails after all the little quackbeasts.*

KURLOZ: *would it really be that easy though? Would it?*

TEREZI: -excuse, Terezi is immortal.-

CJJ: [They all enter the building and what meets them is a pretty average and bland looking reception counter. Just typical business stuff. There doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary here, even the person behind the desk looks just as disinterested as any receptionist.]

DARKLEER: *In his control freak fantasies, it is.*

JADE: -Huh... obviously the terrible horrible thing didn't happen in here. But that receptionist looks fine, so what kind of thing could it possibly be?-

KARKAT: *Karkat bets the receptionist is the shitty troublemaker, where's the bomb you piece of shit*

DARKLEER: *He is unfazed by the receptionist peasantry.*

KURLOZ: *WHERE'S THE POOP??*

DARKLEER: *Highblood pls.*

HILDEE: *Hildee is still tapping away at that pen.* yes so now that we are all well inside and good without hearing distance of any of our *Deep breath, and drawls dully (rehearsed)* beloved didney world park goers then we might talk about the whole *Makes a circle with her pen in direction of a staircase leading upwards.* problem area.

JADE: sure! just lead the way :)

JADE: well get this all sorted out

KURLOZ: *nod nod*

DARKLEER: D ==>> *No. I mean, right away.*

HILDEE: *She nods.* wonderful just what one were to expect out of officials! *Hildee scuttle over to the stairs, and begins walking UP. Boy that is a LONG STAIRCASE.*

KARKAT: *Karkat nods and looks towards the stairs then follows, man these stairs. All these goddamn stairs*

DARKLEER: *He can take like one step and be up like five stairs. It would probably be best for him to travel at the back end of the group.*

TEREZI: -D4NM TOH3S FUKC1GN ST14RS TO-- She calmly begins following after the guide.-

KURLOZ: *SAME AS DARKLEER he totally takes the rear with him. these long legs can eat these stairs like BREAKFAST*

JADE: -she would take a bunch of stairs if only out of enthusiasm, but she will resist-

JADE: -these really are a lot of stairs though... she wonders if there are any warnings. did anyone WARN these people about the stairs??-

[There was absolutely no warning about these stairs. You would have thought a business such as this had invested in an elevator.]

DARKLEER: *has a light sheen of sweat due to the thought of how many violent things could happen on staircases. There were just so many.*

HILDEE: you must understand we are most grateful for having you all help with this issue it is not something that can be known amongst people in general *She makes that strange burbly noise once more as she leads them on.* people come to our park to relax not to get murdered on desks

JADE: ...ah-- murdered?

TEREZI: 4 *MURD3R* YOU S4Y?

DARKLEER: *Murder, she wrote.*

JADE: -well no WONDER she's practically flipping out-

KURLOZ: :oO

DARKLEER: Such things happen *says mildly from his distance like there's not reason to fret*

KURLOZ: :o) *now he sees why he was called to assignment*

JADE: -Kurloz you can't make that face irl DON'T LIE-

KURLOZ: *he really can't* *well... he kinda can*

KARKAT: (HERE WE GO.)

KURLOZ: *just not so.... ROUND*

KANKRI: *WAS TOTALLY HERE THE WHOLE TIME* W9uld it have hurt t9 preface the ann9uncement 9f the crime with a trigger warning f9r th9se 9f us wh9 may 9r may n9t 6e upset 6y the menti9n 9f such grisly acts?

KARKAT: *He fucking called it. Murders. Fun*

KARKAT: *GROANS*

DARKLEER: *It is exceedingly fun.*

KARKAT: IT'S FINE KANKRI, YOU CAN WAIT OUTSIDE. WE CAN HANDLE THIS IF YOU NEED A MOMENT TO SORT THROUGH YOUR SENSITIVITIES.

KANKRI: *WHIRLS ON KARKAT* Excuse y9u and excuse y9ur assumption, 6ut I never said that my sensitivities were 69thered 6y this devel9pment, 9nly that am9ng us, there may 9r may n9t 6e s9me9ne wh9 is, and the chance that there might 6e sh9uld 6e en9ugh t9 warrant a warning 9f s9me s9rt.

KURLOZ: *he's already pulling out the rubber gloves*

HILDEE: yes a murder very much so a murder because despite not being a trained professional i assume one cannot *Looks over her shoulder.* pardon *Deep breath.* trigger warning for murder mention *Looks back ahead.* accidentally jam a knife into ones back

JADE: oh :(

JADE: thats awful

KANKRI: *is so pleased*

KANKRI: *he likes this person*

TEREZI: -audible S1GH at the Vantases as she TURNS around, smiling pleasantly- 4NYON3 SQU1CK3D BY D34D BOD13S?

DARKLEER: *Why did this mutantblood tyke have to assault his hearing ducts with so much talking and the atrocious color of his blood. Darkleer is so silently disgusted.*

KANKRI: *Takes Terezi on a trip to FROWN TOWN.*

JADE: i... think i will be ok -i've shot a few people by now-

KURLOZ: *he's not squicked at all. you can't be the ship medical examiner and be squicked by dead things*

KARKAT: *TEREZI ITS NOT EVEN HIM. ITS THE OTHER ONE, but a murder was serious so he just moves IN FRONT OF and away from KAnrki* IS THERE ANY CLUE AS TO WHO IT WAS. OR MAYBE EVEN DO YOU GUYS HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS?

KANKRI: The m9cking 9f my simple-t9-acc9mm9date request is unappreciated.

DARKLEER: Can we proceed *GOD. Children nowadays were so soft in the spine. Why back in his day...*

TEREZI: JUST 4SK1NG 1N TH3 3V3NT 4NYON3 WOULD L1K3 TO TURN 4ROUND, BUT 1T S33MS TH4T WONT B3 N3C3SS4RY

TEREZI: -nor does she think it possible with the highbloods taking the rear-

DARKLEER: *The spoiled rottenness of the Vantas is infuritating and makes him very sweaty.*

KANKRI: *SO SPOILED*

HILDEE: very awful yes especially given the fact that he is-- pardon was in this case our most valued movie producer and now i must start looking for another *Sigh.*

HILDEE: we have no idea who it was we discovered the scene and we called you immediately since our on planet security staff are merely part timers who would likely be squicked out by such a thing

KARKAT: *GASP, a movie producer. whata-* WHAT?

KARKAT: THEY.... WHAT????

KARKAT: *PITIFUL GODDAMN SECURITY*

DARKLEER: *Someone who couldn't take a simple knife to the back was probably not worth much anyway.*

JADE: so well be the first ones called to the scene then

JADE: did anyone bring any gloves...?

TEREZI: -gives Karkat's shoulder a squeeze of understanding. 1t's gonna be okay.-

DARKLEER: I am in possession of a pair *I GUESS...*

HILDEE: well yes here at didney we often hire younger folk so that they may gain some working experience and join in our big happy company family murders do not often happen on our premises you must understand

[The top floor is reached, and it is all very fancy and official looking. There is a long hall with a large set of doors at the end, potted plants on each side in perfect symmetry. There are two people standing in the hall, apparently guarding the door. Hildee waves them aside so that all of you may enter the room.]

KARKAT: *Shitty guards guarding the door you mean*

DARKLEER: *Gives the security guards a look like DISGUSTING.*

[The guards looks sweaty and uncertain. Both because they are going through puberty and because spooky trolls are giving them HARSH LOOKS.]

JADE: -Kurloz probably brought some gloves too his mun just isnt here atm-

JADE: -smiles at the security guards like THANKS FOR DOING YOUR JOBS-

JADE: -disregard the assholes i carry along with me-

DARKLEER: *He's not even going to take out his gloves, not while the young highblood was so well prepared and thoughtful about doing his actual job it seems.*

JADE: -she kind of doesn't want to be the one to open the door though-

KURLOZ: *he's more than happy to be the one to first enter*

KURLOZ: *HE IS THE EXPERT IN THIS AFTER ALL*

JADE: -there goes the creepy clown... yeaahhh she doesn't want to be the second to enter either-

TEREZI: -Terezi will do that, she's not afraid of doors--- or not. She's sure to quickly follow after him though.-

[The room beyond the doors is an extravagant office. It's a mishmash of deep browns and gold plated metal, making the room have this whole "I am better than you" vibe.]

[The walls are lined with trophy cabinets, all containing different types of weapons. Though one glass casing on one cabinet has been smashed open. A body is slumped over a desk, still seated, but lifeless in a pool of blood. The hilt of something is clearly jutting out from the victim's back.]

HILDEE: *Hildee also scuttled on inside, standing in the back while observing. Clicking away at her pen.*

KURLOZ: *heh heh* *he pulls out his forensics toolkit from his sylladex and is PREPARED to get to work. Steps carefully in, making sure to not step in any blood, eyeing the others dangerously as if to say if you mess anything up..............*

KANKRI: *Making a point not to look at the body and is mostly avoiding looking at the blood*

KARKAT: *Poor hildee, having to see all of this. Karkat looks around the room and then back to her* IF THERE'S A MURDERER RUNNING AROUND UNLESS THIS DIRECTOR WAS THE ONLY PERSON THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH WHAT PRECAUTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN WITH THE OTHERS?

JADE: -Jade finally sneaks in, though she wants to walk right back out once her CRAZY PREGNANT SENSES detect that thick metallic scent of blood. Oh, gross. She covers her mouth and nose, ears pinned back, both grossed out and aghast at the grisly scene.-

KURLOZ: *decaptchas a camera and again looks around at the others, pointing at the camera and gestureing at the body. offers it like someone can take this and photo take*

TEREZI: -Oh, the poor soul. But he's dead, so there's not much they can do for him in particular. 1mmediately notices the glass case.- 1M 4SSUM1NG TH3R3 W4S 4N OBJ3CT R3ST1NG 1NS1D3 TH1S C4S3?

DARKLEER: *Wow, this was kind of really boring. Darkleer offers a helping hand to the small highblood and his camera.*

KURLOZ: *thnx PAL* *motions at the scene, then steps aside, taking a look around the room, making a mental note of everything SUSPICIOUS*

JADE: -well... everyone else is taking a look around... she might as well do the same. she would rather not get too close to the body, and she's sure Kurloz and Darkleer have that covered, so she's closely inspecting the floor. Maybe there will be some sign left of what happened, or where the murderer went, she thinks.-

HILDEE: *Hildee just clicks away at her pen, jotting down a few notes.* there was a power outage and a fire before this it had to be dealt with we are currently trying to get a hold of people and to make sure nobody actually leaves this park other movie related employees have been notified to keep alert

[There is blood on the floor around the desk, and should one take a closer look there is something peculiar about the stains left there on the ground. Bird footprints? Big ones. Whatever is stabbed in the victim's back is pushed all the way in so that only the hilt is showing.]

KURLOZ: *whoever made these prints was either very smart or very stupid* *he's definitely taking mental note of that and gestures towards it at darkleer*

JADE: -BIRD PRINTS? she immediately thinks of Davesprite. but that's silly, he's not here or murdering people. THAT WOULD BE A BAD BIRB THING TO DO.-

JADE: -she was gonna say something to Darkleer but Kurloz already has that-

KARKAT: KEEPING ALERT. AND... DO YOUR GUARDS HANE *ANY* FORM OF TRAINING TO PROTECT THEM.

HILDEE: *PEN CLICKING IN TEREZI'S DIRECTION.* ah yes that was part of his collection *Gestures at the corpse* terentius henderson the sixth that is *Gestures back at broken case* i believe that was his knife collection

[There are no knives in that case anymore, however.]

TEREZI: TH3R3 4R3 NO KN1V3S 1N TH4T C4S3 4NYMOR3

TEREZI: -Points to the one in his back- 1S TH4T ON3 OF TH3M?

DARKLEER: *takes a picture of the featherbeast prints. I guess you can say, he wasn't having a very... knife day?*

KARKAT: THEN I GUESS MORE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THE SHARP END OF THE EXPENSIVE KNIFE. UNLESS THE KILLER WAS A COLLECTOR TOO. *but doubt it*

DARKLEER: Yes *says to himself. That was a good pun.*

KURLOZ: *kurloz CHUCKLES*

HILDEE: *Clicking pen in Karkat's direction now.* they have security training yes like bouncers to toss out unruly people but i doubt they would be very happy to handle some crazed person with many knives attatched to their person *Furrows eyebrows.*

DARKLEER: *moves over and takes more pictures*

JADE: is it possible the murderer could have... um....

JADE: been in a costume?

JADE: or

JADE: some other variety of.... bird.....

KURLOZ: :o)

KARKAT: *God, lady your security fucking SUCKS, though his attention is on jade now*

DARKLEER: It is not unheard of *Seriously. He's seen some shit in his day.*

[The bird(?) footprints are all being documented, and they are obviously leading away from the bloody desk and out the hall where you had all come from. They seem to fade out a little as they get further away from the scene of the crime, but if you look hard enough you can still tell.] [Also the security might suck but it is CHEAP.]

KURLOZ: *he's totally dusting for prints starting with the knife, but his expression is that of someone who isn't expecting much*

KARKAT: *INCREIDBLE*\

JADE: i guess it would make sense as being inconspicuous

JADE: unless of course the blood got on the outside of the costume...

TEREZI: -Terezi totally wants to yank that knife out to examine it, so she's waiting for Kurloz to be done.-

DARKLEER: Then it would need to be disposed of immediately *You don't just YANK out people's knives, TZ. Pls.*

JADE: if it were a didney costume though then maybe we could check the inventory

JADE: so to speak...

[There are no prints on the knife, sorry Kurloz, but at least your expectations were correct.]

JADE: it would at least determine if an employee took a costume similar to these prints or if one is missing

HILDEE: costumes? *The clicking stops. Nervous sweating.* oh dear *CLICKING INTENSIFIES.* you think that is likely? i mean there was a fire before in the costume department so taking stock would be difficult

JADE: oh

JADE: do you mean before as in the fire you mentioned today?

KARKAT: OH IN-GODDAMN-DEED.

DARKLEER: So we deduct it must have been an employee and one who possesses... e%cellent timing *clicks more pictures.*

TEREZI: -Terezi's hand slowly inches toward that knife.-

HILDEE: yes there was a brief power outage that has caused a bit of a interference with some of our communications and then there was a fire in the costume department *Click click click.*

KURLOZ: *slaps her hand away*

TEREZI: >:[

JADE: then my guess would be the fire was to cover for a missing costume

KURLOZ: *SHOOS her*

TEREZI: >:[

JADE: we should probably check with people that were here earlier to see if they saw anyone in costume roaming around

DARKLEER: ... *turns his gaze on her and the infuriating clicking*

JADE: -it's getting on her nerves too DL-

JADE: -but she's being nice about it-

DARKLEER: What would be gained from the murder of this individual

DARKLEER: It was not done in a fit of passion, it seems

TEREZI: -wait, communications?- W3LL DO YOU GUYS H4V3 4N 4UX1L14RY POW3R UN1T? OR 4 B4CKUP G3N3R4TOR OF 4NY K1ND, R34LLY

TEREZI: COMMS COULDV3 B33N QU1CKLY R3STOR3D TH4T W4Y

HILDEE: *SO MUCH CLICKING. She is now making that stressed burble noise too.* ghnrrr our mascots walk around everywhere ghhhhrr so it is likely a few has been around the offices

JADE: oh...

JADE: -dangit-

JADE: uh... are you ok?

DARKLEER: How convenient *Tells her to cease the clicking with his MIND but mostly the disapproving look on his face.*

HILDEE: it is kind of you to ghnrr think of my personal wellbeing but it is not what is important right now! *clickITY CLICK CLICK* yes about our communication we have backups however it would seem some of our portable comms have not come back online as of now

TEREZI: -frown- WHY 1S TH4T?

KARKAT: ....WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR THROAT. REALLY. ARE YOU SICK OR IS THAT NERVOUS FLEM SUDDENLY SICKING TO THE INSIDE OF YOUR SPEECHTUBE?

KARKAT: *it's probably a nervous tick, she's the killer*

KARKAT: *WHERES THE BOMB1!?*

JADE: (karkat!!!!)

TEREZI: -stares at Karkat like wtf- >:o

DARKLEER ceased responding to memo.

KARKAT: *looks at them like WHAT!?*

JADE: (you are being really rude) :|

KARKAT: (I COULD HAVE COUGH DROPS FOR ALL YOU KNOW HOLY SHIT)

HILDEE: *The clicking stops.* excuse me? i'm not exactly sure what you are talking about ghnnrrrr

HILDEE: regardless i am not sure but we cannot get a hold of any of our wandering mascots or guides

KANKRI: *WOW KARKAT RUDE* Y9u sh9uld ap9l9gize t9 the p99r pers9n f9r s9 shamelessly calling her 9ut 9n s9mething she s9 clearly d9es n9t wish t9 speak a69ut. *STARES AT KARKAT*

KARKAT: *HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, good god.* RIGHT. OF COURSE YOU DON'T. NEVERMIND.

KARKAT: OH MY GOD.

KARKAT: SHH.

KARKAT: YOU SHH.

JADE: -sigh-

KARKAT: *walks the fuck aWAY from Kankri*

JADE: everybody shhh and lets just get back to focusing

KARKAT: *not today satan*

KANKRI: Telling me to "shh" d9esn't quite qualify as a pr9per ap9l9gy. *FOLLOWS KARKAT.*

JADE: so... we cant contact any mascots, and there was a fire where the costumes were being kept

KARKAT: *oh my god*

TEREZI: >:| -wanders back over to the knife-

JADE: so it is very likely someone is using a costume and attempting to get rid of the evidence neatly

KARKAT: *TURNS to KAnkri with a LARGE grin and speaks through his teeth* (SHHHHHHHHH.) *THEN TO JADE QUICKLY* THEY'LL STILL HAVE THE REST OF THE KNIVES.

KARKAT: WHERE COULD THEY EVEN DISPOSE OF A BLOODY COSTUME AROUND HERE THOUGH?

JADE: not sure

JADE: there is a lot of investigating we cant do right now as far as all the questioning that needs to get done... but we could at least try to follow the trail

KARKAT: PLUS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT STAFF SINCE I'M SURE NOT ANY MORON COULD JUST WANDER IN AND WALK OFF WITH A COSTUME, POWER OUTAGE OR NO...

KANKRI: *Squints at Karkat. He's not going to let this go, mark his words.*

JADE: right

HILDEE: *Looks at the dogeared human and shouty all STARRY EYED.* yes that does sound like a likely scenario does it not? *Seeing professionals at work sure is something.*

TEREZI: HOW W3LL C4N ON3 B4CKST4B SOM3BODY 1N 4 B1RD COSTUM3? 1T WOULD B3 R4TH3R CLUNKY, 1 TH1NK

[Speaking of something. One of the guys standing outside are now wheezing in the doorway, looking even more sweaty than before. Loud "UH"s.]

JADE: -she's heading toward the door again-

JADE: -peeks out-

JADE: is something wrong?

TEREZI: -she's reaching for the knife again, wearing one of her VL4RPing gloves to do so.-

KARKAT: *Puts on his thinking face* ARE THERE- *??, looks at the door then goes to get IIN FRONT of Jade, maam, please back the fuck off you are willl WRIGGLER JADE STOP THAT GOD DAMMIT*

JADE: -YOU CAN'T FUCKING STOP ME-

KARKAT: *DON'T BELIEVE ME JUST WATCH*

KURLOZ: -no he's swatting you again, Terezi*

KURLOZ: *this is his job not yours >8( *

KURLOZ: *you're not getting this KNIFE*

TEREZI: -This was sort of her job a long time ago she just wants to ask if it was part of the collection flappy hands at-

[That knife sure is fancy looking though. Really tantalizing and touchable. Well, apart from being jammed in someone's back but that just makes it more appealing! (If that is your thing).]

TEREZI: -She doesn't know why but there's something beautiful about backstabbing.-

KURLOZ: *nope. He doesn't care how tantalizing or who's job this used to be. You don't just pull a murder weapon out of a body before the scene is fully covered*

TEREZI: -Back stabbing, i mean.-

[The person in the door wheezes in Jade/Karkat's general direction. "Yes. There has been another thing. Like this one... Just now. According to this guy." They point to a guy that looks like he just RAN A LOT, hunched over and holding his knees while GASPING.]

JADE: -looks at THAT GUY-

KURLOZ: :o\

JADE: -then turns back to the rest of her ppl-

JADE: guys the culprit is still on the loose!

KARKAT: *LOOKS AS WELL and moves to him before Jade does something else stupid* CATCH YOUR BREATH AND TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

KARKAT: *HE CALLED IT, THE KNIVES WERE GONE FOR A REASON, HE FUCKING KNEW IT*

KARKAT: *STOP KILLING DIRECTORS, THEY ARE VALUABLE PEOPLE*

TEREZI: -Defeated, Terezi wanders over to a place in the room where her current job can help. Looks for things to do to pull the portable comms back up. 4nd then woah wheezy dude.-

[THAT GUY proceeds to make wheezy noises. "Wa-h..." He begins, eloquently, "Was going to give, producer, drink... She.. Oh god." More wheezing. "Her throat. In her office."]

KANKRI: *Instantly regrets wandering over to the wheezy guy, throwing up a little in his mouth at the thought. But it's not HIS sensitivities, he swears.*

JADE: we need to hurry and get on their trail

KARKAT: *Karkat's already on it. He's going to PROTECT EVERY PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR*

JADE: wheres this office?

JADE: -she's guessing not nearby considering how out of breath this guy is-

JADE: -unless he's just THAT AGHAST-

["Office...? Next door... It's Kaveri..." WHEEZE GASP PANT. He is definitely AGHAST, and out of shape.]

HILDEE: *At that namedrop Hildee dropped her pen.*

TEREZI: N3XT DOOR?

KARKAT: *TIME TO MOVE NEXT DOOR, only he looks at the pen drop*

["Next door building..." WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE.]

JADE: -Jade feels a sort of metaphysical DUN DUN DUNNNN happening right now-

KARKAT: *spill the beans you laryngitis having harlot*

TEREZI: -Turns to the pen drop that sounded like a pin drop-

JADE: -the pen drop probably sounds more like mmm watcha saaay-

HILDEE: *Oh god why is everyone looking. She is definitely pale and shaky looking, but damn it she is a PROFESSIONAL. She picks up that pen.* i will be the one that takes you there to ilinka-- miss kaveri's office

JADE: um... ok

JADE: we should get moving

TEREZI: YOU KN3W H3R P3RSON4LLY?

JADE: !!

JADE: (maybe we shouldnt ask that right now)

TEREZI: OK4Y 1M SORRY BUT 4NY CONN3CT1ON TO TH1S MURD3R...3R...MURD3RS 1S V1T4LLY 1MPORT4NT

JADE: i guess you have a point :/

HILDEE: *Looks at Terezi, eyes wide.* i *Looks away towards the door.* we were acquaintances i do not have the time for fraternizing i have a park to run *This sounds drawly and rehearsed as well, and she begins her shaky walk over to the door.* we should go unless there is more to this scene you would like to see?

KARKAT: * oh no, his pusher hurt for her now*

JADE: -:C-

JADE: im ready to go

JADE: -looks at her COW-ORKERS-

JADE: -none of which are named jim-

KURLOZ: :o)

TEREZI: >:[ -frown of sadness- -and also determination- 1M GONN4 TRY TO G3T TH3 COMMS B4CK ONL1N3 SO SOM3ON3 C4N 4CTU4LLY R4D1O FOR H3LP WH3N TH3Y N33D 1T

JADE: ok well

JADE: lets not waste any more time

JADE: -looks at Karkat with a nod like LET'S SKEDADDLE-

HILDEE: if you are able of doing so then that would be very much appreciated *Lingering in the doorway. She wants to go. There are no objections? She begins walking out of the room, slowly, then QUICKLY.*

JADE: -skedaddles after her-

KARKAT: *HE DOES SKEDADDLE, after given Terezi a LOOK to be careful. They had an agreement about her and the infirmary*

TEREZI: -she nods 4ND S4M3 GO3S FOR YOU YOU 4R3 NOT 3X3MPT FROM TH3 4GR33M3NT. Thus Terezi goes to a talky place to see what the heckie is wrong with portable comms.-

KURLOZ: *he'll follow along after them, just to make sure they can get all the CLUES without contamination. He really wishes he could have these bodies, though*

[Hildee is skedaddling. Not quite at a run because she is a professional, but her steps are BRISK and quick. She is not making that burbly noise nor is she clicking her pen. Quickly descending down those long stairs, she leaves the building and turns the corner, making a beeline for the one next to it.]

[The building is not as big as the other, though just as business like in nature. The people inside look more frazzled and alert than the ones in the other. Once the group following Hildee arrives they will find her standing in front of a open office door, notepad and pen on the floor.]

[As for Terezi she was handed one of the 'guards' portable comms. It seems to work just fine with most people, except there is a constant static on the guide and mascot lines.]

KARKAT: *Karkat looks at Hildee and pauses for a moment before walking in* ......

JADE: -Jade manages to keep up with this brisk movement thanks to her frequent exercise routine, but she's pretty glad they're not running all the same. Once they get there, though, she's preparing herself for the worst. "Her throat" lends to some pretty grisly imagery after all.-

KARKAT: *puts a hand on her shoulder?*

KARKAT: *comforting gestures, sorry for your loss*

[This office is brighter than the last, which only makes the glistening of olive blood more apparent. A body is slumped against the back wall of the office, blood dripping from her slit throat. Unlike the other office this seems to have been upturned from a fight, desk knocked over and papers spilled everywhere.]

TEREZI: -Fiddling with the comm device, Terezi is slowly following after the group, waiting outside of the building for them as she tries to figure this out. She understood why the mascot lines might be scrambled, but it was strange that the guide lines were also like that.-

HILDEE: *Hildee is just staring, shaking hands covering her mouth. The sudden touch makes her jump, and she turns away from the door, and the touch, taking deep breaths.*

KARKAT: *Vantas frown*....WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE IF YOU JUST WANT TO. WAIT OUTSIDE FOR A WHILE.

KURLOZ: *looks around at the scene and is totally already directing darkleer around again to take photos*

JADE: -oh no this is even MORE horrible, especially for the fact that she must have died afraid with all this apparent struggle... and she's very glad Karkat is being sympathetic now-

HILDEE: i *Deep breaths, Hildee. Keep it together. Professional.* yes you should do that i will be here out here if questions *She leans against the wall, shaking. She knows staff is looking and she frowns. She needed Kelcey.*

[From Kurloz' careful inspection he would most likely find more of those birdlike footprints. The papers have blood on them, so it is likely those were spilled before the final blow.]

JADE: -frowns between Karkat and the terrible scene before venturing in to get a look at these toppled things, but mostly she wants to find some sort of clue they could possibly use to identify the killer or where they went.-

JADE: there are these prints again...

JADE: it was definitely the same person

JADE: and theyre still in the costume

KURLOZ: *nods at jade before continuing his search*

JADE: that means they had to have come through this building very recentl

JADE: **recently

KARKAT: *nODS and walks to jade** THEY CAN'T BE SO DUMB ENOUGH TO KEEP THAT OBVIOUS THING ON.

KARKAT: ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SEE IF THE FEET ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED.

JADE: i guess they might not keep it on after this :/

JADE: but they did when they came in

KARKAT: FUCK.

JADE: unless for some reason they were only wearing the shoes...

KARKAT: THAT WOULD BE EVEN MORE OBVIOUS.

JADE: yeah that seems pretty silly!

KARKAT: CMON LET'S GO ASK PEOPLE IF THEY SAW ANY MASCOTS.

[Inspecting the body would reveal that Ilinka is holding something.]

JADE: yeah thats a good idea

KURLOZ: *hmmm..... he carefully pulls her fingers apart using a tool so as not to contaminate the scene*

JADE: -NOTICES Kurloz noticing something-

KANKRI: *IS just kinda chillin off in a corner, but he notices jade noticing kurloz noticing something, and kinda cranes his neck to see what the something is.*

TEREZI: -Terezi's still fiddling with the dials.-

[Kurloz reveals a sort of messed up HAT. A boy scout hat to be exact. Likely it is all wrinkly and messed up from the fight.]

JADE: did you find a clue?

JADE: -suddenly feels more scooby-doo than ever-

KURLOZ: ... *holds up this suspicious looking hat*

[Terezi is getting a whole lot of static, though unlike the mascot line she might make out a few words every once in a while on the guide one. They are along the lines of "What?" and "I can't hear you" and "Uh?"]

JADE: -slinks toward the suspicious hat and sniffs it-- i mean looks at it-

JADE: -nobody saw that-

[It smells SUSPICOUS. It smells like a clue. Did she sniff inside of it, mayhaps?]

JADE: -A CLUE!! SO EXCITING, but it depends how Kurloz is holding it-

JADE: this looks like.. a boy scout hat?

KURLOZ: *it's just kinda dangling in his fingers*

JADE: ._.

KARKAT: A BOY SCOUT??

KARKAT: *like a grub scout???????*

JADE: i think we should ask hildee if she knows anything about this

TEREZI: -Terezi frowned and tried talking through it while trying to adjust the frequency.- H3LLO? 1M ON FORTY ON3 C4N YOU H34R M3?

[Terezi is greeted with more static for a while, then a faint "Fourty one, hello?"]

[If the hat is kind of dangling, then there might have been a moment when the inside could be seen. There is something white inside of it.]

KURLOZ: *huh okay. he inspects the white stuff*

TEREZI: H1! 1M T3R3Z1 PYROP3, R3PR3S3NT4T1V3 OF TUMUT -plugs one ear so she can hear better- DO YOU H4V3 4NY 1D34 WHY TH3 GU1D3 L1N3S 4R3 ST4T1CY?

[The white stuff is a note that is sewn into the hat. It says "PROPERTY OF DIDNEY COSTUME DEPARTMENT. RONALD ROBIN COSTUME PART #3."]

JADE: !

KURLOZ: *PRESENTS the note to jade since she's right there*

KURLOZ: *she also seems smarter than some of these others*

JADE: -AW THANKS CREEPY CLOWN-

KARKAT: WHAT IS IT? *He doesn't want to crowd around the hat also fuck you clown*

JADE: ronald robin

JADE: costume part #3

JADE: that has to be the character!

KURLOZ: * ;o) *

KARKAT: THEN WE NEED TO CHECK THAT CHARACTER'S LOCKER. OR JUST FOR THEM ON THE PARK GROUNDS.

KARKAT: WELL BOTH REALLY.

JADE: we gotta track this guy down!!

KARKAT: OR THE PERSON USING THEIR SUIT.

JADE: at least now we know who the character must be

JADE: and we can ask people where theyve seen him!

KURLOZ: *nodnodnod*

[There is some more static on the line for Terezi. "Guide *Satic* tumut? *Static static* power outage *static static* no *static* annoying."]

KARKAT: GOOD. LET'S START THERE. *looks to Kurloz* IF YOU COME ACROSS ANYTHING ELSE INTERESTING LET US KNOW. OR JADE COULD STAY HERE AND ASSIST YOU.

KARKAT: I'M SURE YOU NEED MORE HANDS.

KARKAT: MORE HANDS WOULD PROBABLY HELP YOU.

KARKAT: *pregnant hands extra helpful*

JADE: no im coming with you!

KARKAT: FUCK THAT.

JADE: you arent going after this guy by yourself

JADE: someone has to have your back!

JADE: -already moving for the door-

KARKAT: WELL YOU'RE NOT GOING AND HE HAS A JOB TO DO.

TEREZI: OUT4G3 WH3R3? -pulls out the park map-

KARKAT: *blocks jade and waves at her* EUGH. I'LL FIND SOMEONE.

JADE: i am going!

KARKAT: BYE JADE.

JADE: this is my job

KARKAT: SEE YOU LATER JADE.

KARKAT: I'LL HAVE MY COMM ON.

JADE: uugghhh shut up!

KURLOZ: *just watches these two argue* :o)

KARKAT: TELL ME IF YOU AND KURLOZ FIND SOMETHING.

KARKAT: *and he walks out*

JADE: you dont have the clearance to stop me and this is no time to be fighting about it

JADE: -CHASES HIM-

KARKAT: *STOPS AND TURNS WITH A STRAINED GRIN AND SPEAKS THROUGH HIS TEETH* YOU AND YOUR WRIGGLER GO HELP THE PAINTED BEANPOLE THANK YOU OFFICER HARLEY.

KARKAT: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

KURLOZ: *looks into the camera and shrugs with a smile and that catch DUN DUN DUN DA DUN DUN. DUUUUUN!!!! as the camera circles black*

HILDEE: *Hildee is still outside of the room, breathing deeply while clutching onto her notepad again. It was comforting.* o oh *Sees them leave.* did you find something? *Wait wat... Kind of stares now.*

JADE: does it look like im carrying a baby around! >:(

JADE: stop arguing with me

JADE: this is silly

KARKAT: YES WE DID. *ignores jade*

JADE: -YOU CAN'T IGNORE MY GIRTH-

KARKAT: WE''RE LOOKING INTO WHOEVER IS WEARING THE RONALD ROBIN COSTUME.

[Terezi is getting so much static, SHUCKS. "*Static* main generator *Static* guess *Static* under fortress *statttiicicc*"]

JADE: right!

JADE: we found the ronald robin hat

HILDEE: *Hildee looks confused.* ronald? *Looks down at her notepad, flipping through it.* he is not assigned for meet and greet today...

JADE: thats probably how they got away with nabbing the costume

TEREZI: -holds the paper up to her nose and finds the fortress.- ROG3R -who even says roger anymore?- 1LL B3 TH3R3 SOON

HILDEE: *Nods.* yes that does seem likely... *Thumbs the side of her notebook.* though it would make them more obvious too for the other mascots and the guides as they know who is assigned where *Bites her lip, eyebrows furrowed. Thinking professionally works.*

HILDEE: so they would avoid where the other mascots and guides are assigned? *Thinking out loud.*

KARKAT: WHERE WOULD THOSE AREAS BE?

[Terezi is getting a "roger" in return, so there are at least one other person in the universe that says that.]

JADE: probably all the normal park areas -Jade muses-

TEREZI: -Oh good! She hustles over to the fortress. This might become more engineering stuff than communications but she's gonna see what she can do.-

HILDEE: *Hildee flips her notebook around so that Karkat can see. It's the map of the park.* mascots are not assigned to our office areas except if they are on break today there are no mascots assigned to the pool zone today

[The magnificent DIDNEY FORTRESS is pretty gosh darn big. Perfect for hiding all the technical stuff below. There is a troll in a guide uniform pacing back and forth in front of the entrance.]

TEREZI: UH, H1 -waves at the pacing troll-

JADE: then thats a place we should probably look

KARKAT: SO THE OFFICE AREAS AND THE POOL ZONE. WHAT'S THIS ASSHOLE LOOK LIKE?

KARKAT: DO YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT?

HILDEE: *More flipping of her notes. She turns the notepad again of a page of the park mascots. http://tinyurl.com/pfscakx *

[Pacing troll looks up from their pacing and comm. Eyebrow raise. "Hi?"]

[Troll looks Terezi up and down. "You fourty one?"]

KARKAT: GREAT THANKS. I'LL LOOK THERE AND GET......

KARKAT: EUGH.

KARKAT: KANKRI.

KARKAT: TO LOOK IN THE POOL AREA.

KARKAT: SO.

KARKAT: *waves at Jade*

TEREZI: -raises her arms- TH4TS M3! WH4T S33MS TO B3 TH3 PROBL3M? OUTS1D3 OF TH3 R4D1O 1SSU3S?

JADE: -SQUINTS LOUDLY-

KARKAT: *Vantas out to seek the ANNOYING MUTANT*

KANKRI: *IT ME. Kankri is mulling about trying to appear useful without actually BEING useful whatsoever.*

KARKAT: *Karrive* YOU. KANKRI. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

KARKAT: NOTHING? GREAT.

[The guide tilts their head. "That's all of it, as far as I know. Haven't been able to get a hold of any of the other guides or mascots ever since the power outage. Got some folks in there looking at it now, but I guess they ain't making much progress." Scratches their head with the portable com.]

KARKAT: SO YOU SHOULD LOOK AROUND THE POOL AREA FOR A BIRD DRESSED AS A BOY SCOUT.

KARKAT: WE SUSPECT HE'S DANGEROUS SO IF YOU *DO* SEE THEM. DON'T ENGAGE. JUST FOLLOW AND RADIO ME UNTIL I GET TO YOUR LOCATION.

HILDEE: *Hildee looks back in her notepad.* ah yes that would be good then? should i be staying here or i can do something... *Like peeking into the office and looking away immidiately.*

TEREZI: -LOUD FROWN- TH3S3 4R3 PROF3SS1ON4LS WORK1NG ON TH3 PROBL3M, 1 TRUST?

KANKRI: *Despite popular belief Kankri HAS been paying at least a little bit of attention so he's not exactly thrown by the whole bird-dressed-as-a-boyscout thing, though he does look disgruntled that he now has to do something.* Excuse y9u, 6ut f9r all y9u kn9w I was d9ing s9mething very imp9rtant. F9rtunately f9r y9u, I wasn't, s9 I can c9mply with y9ur request, 6ut y9u sh9uld refrain fr9m making su

assumpti9ns in the future.

KARKAT: JUST GO LOOK AT THE POOL.

KANKRI: *Frown town.* I already said I was g9ing t9 d9 just that, 9r have y9u 9pted 9ut 9f listening t9 anything I say whats9ever? *SIGH* D9n't answer that. The answer is painfully 96vi9us fr9m the expressi9n 9n y9ur face. *grumbles and heads off to the pool area, nose upturned and in a huff*

KANKRI: *he's SO above this*

JADE: -Jade is ANGER but she's not going to let it throw her off too much, they need to find this guy before he murders again so she's slinking after Kankri-

[Scritch scratch of the head with the comm. "Well yeah. Didney standard professionals anyway." They roll their eyes. "They are as much use as you'd expect. Probably why it has taken so long to get the line back online."]

KARKAT: *flips off Kankri as he goes and walks off to the office areas to look around*

KANKRI: *notices Jade also coming* 9h, I wasn't aware I was g9ing t9 have a c9mpani9n f9r this...adventure. My ap9l9gies f9r that quite frankly unseemly 9ut6urst 6ack there, especially c9nsidering it seems that the head 9f security is a friend 9f y9urs.

JADE: -grumbly noise- yes he is a friend -A VERY ANNOYINGLY COMPASSIONATE FRIEND-

JADE: we really need to work together on this though

JADE: -that was not a response to anything he just said-

TEREZI: HOW LONG H4V3 TH3Y B33N DOWN TH3R3?

JADE: err so yes im coming with you

[The POOLZONE is about as wet and wild as one would expect. There are pools of varying shapes and sizes, slides and rides and oh my. There are loads of excitable tourists around all shouts and smiles! What a good day to be at a pool! The pool zone is fun for all ages! So long as you can swim.]

JADE: -SHE CAN DOGGY PADDLE.-

JADE: -BADUM TSSHHH-

[The officezone is less wet and wild. Semi wild perhaps, now that people are in the know of someone being murdered. People are scrambling about, trying to get a hold of people on their comms. It's crazy.]

JADE: hrrmmgg where to even start

JADE: -she's looking around for some sort of staff member-

KARKAT: *Karkat LOVES crazy, only not really and he's going to start asking people if they've seen rodger or reggie the robin asshole. That guy*

[The guide shrugs at Terezi. "An hour, maybe? Took a while to get people on it after the outage, since everything else came back online after a bit. Thought they could just wait it out."]

KANKRI: Agreed. As a c9unsel9r, I'm well-versed in the vari9us 6enefits 9f w9rking as a team rather than g9ing it s9l9, s9 t9 speak. *nods sagely* As f9r where t9 6egin... I'm n9t entirely sure, th9ugh I imagine if any 9f the park-g9ers were t9 c9me acr9ss a 6l99d-stained 6ird, they pr96a6ly w9uld have run screaming, 9r s9mething 9f the like. It might 6e 6est t9 ask a staff mem6er, sh9uld we c9me acr9

n9t he was scheduled t9 6e here t9day. Chances are he's g9ne s9mewhere he wasn't supp9sed t9 6e, s9...

RONALD ROBIN: *There is no obvious staff member in the pool zone, other than a few lifeguards and that. But LO! What is that in the distance trying to slink through a bunch of excitable kids? It's a huge robin! With a missing hat.*

TEREZI: -groans- H4S 4NYON3 CH3CK3D ON TH31R PROGR3SS? OR TR13D CONT4CT1NG TH3M?

KANKRI: *OH.*

JADE: -OH-

KANKRI: Disregard everything I just said. F9ll9w that 6ird. *gestures.*

JADE: -hRRK-

KANKRI: *Follows that bird also, but not too fast, not wanting to force Jade to overexert herself.*

JADE: kankri

JADE: i need you

JADE: to tackle the bird

JADE: -under her breath at him-

KANKRI: Excuse me?

JADE: youhavetotacklethebird!!!

KANKRI: I d9n't think I'm capa6le 9f c9mpleting that request with9ut significant risk t9 my life.

RONALD ROBIN: *That bird is looking kind of wet around the feety region. Could they have washed away the blood in the pool? Likely. They are scrambling through the kids, swatting their birdy hands at them to get them aWAY.*

JADE: -OH GROSS-

JADE: you HAVE to!!

JADE: ill help ok just

JADE: we cant let him get away!!

[Karkat is FRANTICLY told by some suit that they saw Ronald walking towards the POOL ZONE not too long ago. They wonder why he is asking. Is it involved with the murder? What is happening? WHAT DOES HE KNOW?]

KARKAT: *Karkat says he asked because he really fucking likes birds and turns on his heel to walk off to the pool area with a vantaskip in his step and whatnot*

KANKRI: *Distressed noises.* F9rgive me f9r 6eing s9 insistent, 6ut that 6ird isn't just ANY 6ird. He's a murderer, Jade, and I'm n9t g9ing t9 tackle him 9nly t9 get -- trigger warning f9r implied g9re -- sta66ed and killed.

JADE: thats exactly why you have to!!!

[SHEEPISH SHRUG AT TEREZI. "I tried getting to them and they said they were working on it? Not my fault they are slow as shit. Uh. I mean slow as snails. Don't tell anyone I said that on Didney premises..."]

JADE: i wouldnt ask you if

JADE: i could do it myself!!

JADE: -GOD she hates that she can't do it herself-

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): *The bird has made their way through the wave of kids and is now POWER WADDLING away from the pool zone, in direction of the street leading up to some other offices.*

JADE: -internal screaming-

KARKAT: *The offices Karkat was walking from??*

JADE: -she's just going to try to follow him and try to ACT CASUAL ABOUT IT while internally screaming-

KANKRI: *MORE DISTRESSED NOISES. He's starting to worry that if he doesn't do it, she WILL do it, and he can't very well let her do THAT because...well, because. He lets out a little shriek when he realizes that the bird is making a SWEET GETAWAY and kind of picks up the pace of following the bird.*

KANKRI: *Once he's past the gaggle of children, he just. He does it. He tackles the gosh darned bird. LOOK OUT BIRD, FLYING VANTAS INCOMING.*

TEREZI: MY L1PS 4R3 Z1PP3D -heads to the generators- 1LL B3 B4CK

RONALD ROBIN: *Vantas tackle'd from the back and Vantas approaching from the front? The bird is TACKLED, and due to slippery wet birb feet they FALL FORWARDS RIGHT ON THEIR BEAK.*

RONALD ROBIN: *There might be a satisfying CRACK noise if that is your thing.*

KANKRI: *It's not Kankri's thing, that's for sure. Now that he did it, he has no idea what to do next. He just kind of looks back at Jade, obviously panicked.*

RONALD ROBIN: *Bird is dazed momentairily, but is soon FLAILING.*

KANKRI: *THE BIRD IS FLAILING. Kankri ALSO BEGINS FLAILING, and now they're both flailing and it's a huge mess. Someone please help this poor sap.*

JADE: -Jade SWIFTLY FOLLOWS and she feels really bad about asking Kankri to do this especially because of his obvious distress but HE DID IT!! and Jade joins him to try to get the birb in a submissive position-

["Right. Thanks." The guide goes back to pacing for a second, then looks to her. "Uh. The place is pretty big, but you should be able to get to them if you just keep going down."]

JADE: -GIMME THOSE ARMS YOU MOIDERIN BIRB-

MURDERING ROBIN: *This moiderin birb does not want to give up those arms! There is some serious bird struggling, and they keep trying to reach into the SCOUT BOY BELT it is donning.*

JADE: -OH SHIT-

KARKAT: *walking into the pool area like an asshole probably*

JADE: geT SECURITY!!!!

JADE: CALL SECURITY

JADE: -JUST YELLIN NOW-

[Some asshole kid accidentally splashes Karkat probably.]

[Or was it an accident??? DUN DUN DUN.]

KARKAT: *security told yall to call when the bird was spotted but*

KARKAT: *he could kick that child in the face*

TEREZI: -sprinting down those stairs-

KARKAT: *only he doesn't and just makes a face at the asshole child*

KANKRI: *Kankri shrieks again, this time louder because oh my god that bird is GOING FOR A KNIFE, OR SOMETHING, HE DOESN'T KNOW, BUT IT'S SCARY. In retaliation, he balls one hand into the exact wrong kind of fist -- fingers over the thumb -- and just kinda bops the bird in the face, whack-a-mole style, in the hopes of creating a DISTACTION.*

[The child makes a face like an Onion.]

JADE: -oh my god kankri-

JADE: -thanks tho-

[Terezi is sprinting down all of those dark spooky fortress stairs. Deeper she goes the more industrial the surrounding gets. It seems this whole planet is man made. There is eventual light and chatter going on a platform not too deep down from where she is going.]

JADE: WOOF!!!!!!!

JADE: -this is not the appropriate time for woofing OR IS IT-

KARKAT: *hears a WOOF on the wind and is RUNNING towards in, totally not sliding at all a little*

MURDERING ROBIN: *The bird is BOOPED but a wrong fist doesn't really do all that damage, especially given the fact that the face is hidden behind a rather sturdy mask. That beak does get a little squished though. Briefly surprised over how LAME that punch was.*

JADE: -DAMMIT KANKRI-

KARKAT: *More capable vantas on the seen* HOLY SHIT. REALLY?

KARKAT: REALLY JADE?

KARKAT: I'M NOT SURPRISE.

MURDERING ROBIN: *REACHES INTO THE BELT SASH THING. OH BOY THAT SURE IS A KNIFE THEY ARE HOLDING IN THOSE BIRDY WING FLAPPERS.*

JADE: >:C

JADE: -OH SHIT-

KARKAT: AND I TOLD *YOU* TO READIO ME! *STOMPS THE BIRDS HAND*

TEREZI: -She's not gonna admit how spooky this is to anyone but herself. Zeroes in on the sounds like a heat-seeking missle.-

TEREZI: *missile even

KARKAT: *GLARES briefly at Kankri*

MURDERING ROBIN: *SQUAK as the bird hand is STOMPED. Dude, not cool.*

KANKRI: *Freaking out more than a little, and pays absolutely zero mind to Karkat glaring, instead scuttling AWAY from the knife-bearing bird*

MURDERING ROBIN: *Reaches in with OTHER BIRD HAND AND NOW HAS A KNIFE IN THAT. AHA! Dual wielding!*

KARKAT: *He cannot fucking believe this, but he can and it's not surprising in the least. He's just disappointed ND STOMPS THAT HAND AGAIN SLIDING IT ROUGHLY ON THE GROUND AWAY FROM THE KNIFE*

JADE: -this birb is OUT OF CONTROL-

JADE: -but Jade is still trying to subdue him because she's not about to leave Karkat alone with a knife wielding furry-

KURLOZ: *shows up again out of nowhere. * :o)

JADE: -only regular type-

JADE: -JFC-

KURLOZ: *just HOW DID HE FIND THEM?*

JADE: -my bet is on the woofing-

[People are kind of watching the bird show by now. Some semi confused/amused "ooh"ing and "aah"ing going on as they think this is ALL A SHOW. HOW QUAINT. It's not fair how Ronald is always the bad guy though.]

KARKAT: *growls and DUMPS his knee in the middle of the bird's back to GRAB both wrists*

KARKAT: IF THIS PIECE OF SHIT HAS A THIRD ARM I'M GOING TO THROW THEM IN THE POOL AT THAT SHITTY KID.

[Terezi is zeroed in on those sounds and finds two tweens with wrenches in their hands just kind of bapping a generator at seemingly random.]

KURLOZ: *claps for them*

MURDERING ROBIN: *OW WHAT THE FUCK BRUH. The bird drops the knives and there is no third arm... UNLESS!!! nah there is no third arm. Karkat got this guy held. Bird is dazed from knee.*

TEREZI: WOW

TEREZI: WOW

TEREZI: 1M 4CTU4LLY 4 L1TTL3 SURPR1S3D

KARKAT: *decaptchas handcuffs and SNAPS them on, why this Terezi? Oh it's nothing*

KARKAT: *he's show off a little if she were here but ALAS*

JADE: -Jade finally flops on her butt and just pants-

JADE: ..... thanks

KARKAT: *seriously though he's.... glad. He feels like he actually helped*

KARKAT: *looks at Jade like :/* OH NO.

KARKAT: THANK YOU.

KARKAT: FOR AVOIDING KNIVES.

KARKAT: THANKS.

JADE: -shrugs and smiles sheepishly-

MURDERING ROBIN: *Angry bird noises. That sound a whole lot of like angry troll noises, actually. Squirms against those cuffs.*

TEREZI: -politely shoves the kids aside and pumps the generator up before hitting the reset button.-

JADE: -I CAN BREAK THESE CUFFS you cant break those cuffs. RAAAUUUGGGHHHH-

KARKAT: *punches them in the back* SHUT THE FUCK UP.

KARKAT: WE SHOULD ALSO GET SOME MORE MUSCLE TO HAUL THIS PRICK TO A SAFE PLACE.

[Tweens turn around to look at this newcomer like "wut". Then more "wut" as they are shoved aside. Then a knowing "bruh" as Terezi resets the generator. SO THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS...]

JADE: ill -pant- go find some park security

KARKAT: GOOD. AND GET YOURSELF SOME WATER.

JADE: ok grandpa >:p

JADE: -huffs and shoves herself to her feet-

KARKAT: I'M NOT THE TIRED ONE. SO YOU'RE THE GRANDPA. *shouts after*

[People are APPLAUDING cuz WOW WHAT A GOOD LIVE SHOW. They got the criminal! How great! Even the little annoying kid is cheering.]

JADE: nope you are definitely the grandpa!!!

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): *OOF. Bird is punched and just HISSES MORE.* Let me go you piece of shit! I'm not the Bad guy arounb here! *Such an angry bird.*

TEREZI: -Glances at the kids like "bruh" and radioes the troll on the surface- D1D TH4T WORK?

KARKAT: *ONE DAY YOU CAN BE AS COOL AS ME SMALL HUMAN/TROLL CHILD*

KARKAT: *But no he's just fndsafn at the applause*

KARKAT: *just doing his job*

KARKAT: *no need for applause, gosh*

TEREZI: *radioed

[Parental figures GASP and cover their children's ears at that CUSSWORD. What the HECK. The small human/troll child whispers "piece of shit" under their breath. They have learned so much on this day.]

[The troll on the surface confirms to Terezi that that DID INDEED WORK.]

JADE: -Jade waddles back to the office area in search of Hildee and/or security people-

JADE: -gives Kurloz a LOOK as she passes him-

KARKAT: RIGHT. YOU'RE NOT THE PERSON STABBING PEOPLE.

KARKAT: THE KNIVES IN YOUR POCKET ARE JUST NICE INFLATABLE REALISTIC BUT HARMLESS KNIVES.

TEREZI: TH4TS...JUST...GR34T! -ST4R3S at the children with her hands on her hips.- 1 HOP3 TH3 TWO OF YOU L34RN3D SOM3TH1NG TOD4Y

HILDEE: *Hildee is sitting on the ground outside of the office where Kaveri was killed. Her hands are looking a bit olive, and her eyes are puffy behind those glasses. She is flipping through a wad of papers, looking at them longingly. Those times would never be again.*

JADE: -pantpant- hildee!!

JADE: we-- we caught him

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): I woulbn't Be staBBing anyone if they habn't roBBed me of what is mine! *Squirm squirm HISSSSSS.*

JADE: we just need some-- more hands

JADE: .... -frowns as she gets a better gander at her, though-

KARKAT: LET ME GUESS. YOUR SCRIPT.

KARKAT: YOUR CONCEPT?

KARKAT: THAT'S NO EXCUSE.

[The tweens look at Terezi like she is some kind of aMAZING SUPERHERO OF GENERATORS. "Yes ma'am!" they say, positively starstruck. They are holding their wrenches close.]

HILDEE: *Hildee seems even more frazzled as she is addressed, quickly standing up and hiding what she was looking at in her notebook. She adjusts her glasses.* y you did? that is great extraordinary work i knew you would be able to do it *Says it breathlessly.* i will radio someone it seems the lines are back online

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): They took it! All of it! My entire lives work! They took it anb fucking stole my rights! Claiming it as theirs! I hab nothing left! NOTHING! *This bird is flipping the fuck out at this point, twisting and coiling to try to get out of the costume.*

KURLOZ: *tuts and shakes his head* :o)

JADE: -still catchin' her breath, she just smiles a tiny bit- we couldnt have done it without you

JADE: im sorry this had to happen

TEREZI: -She does not know the amount of admiration pouring from these kids.- R34D1NG TH3 M41NT3N4NC3 M4NU4L M1GHT H3LP YOU GUYS 1N TH3 FUTUR3 >:\ -under her breath but her voice is so loud they're sure to hear- ON3 D4Y YOU M1GHT 3V3N B3 3NG1N33R1NG H3RO3S

JADE: -back to looking somber-

KARKAT: THAT IS SOME TOUGH SHIT THAT DOESN'T EXCUSE MURDER.

HILDEE: *She shakes her head.* i doubt it i am not trained for such things and it is obviously my fault for being so flimsy with so many aspects of the park *Laughs humorlessly.* i should have quit like she told me to gone off with her

JADE: -oh....-

HILDEE: *Shakes her head again, sighing.* i must call security *And so she does, getting out her com. She is a professional.* where did you capture them?

JADE: -she feels so bad for this poor lady omfg-

JADE: in between here and the pool area

["Yes ma'am! Like, you got it! That is a real RADICAL piece of advice you just gave there, lady!" ...Upon closer inspection these tweens are actually someone in their thirties. "You know it bruh, uh, MISS bruh. Maybe like we can be engineering heroes? Man that would be so GNARLY."]

TEREZI: -This is incredibly strange and Terezi is sort of left speechless.- UM, Y3S

TEREZI: GN4RLY

TEREZI: GOOD LUCK 1N YOUR FUTUR3 3ND34VORS

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): Boesn't it?! That was all i hab. Without it I was left with jack shit to provibe for myself anb my quab. *Snorts.* This universe is Better off without those heartless lechers anyway.

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): I woulb habe gotten away with it, if it weren't for you mebbling kibs!

KARKAT: HOLY SHIT, DID YOU REALLY?

KARKAT: AND WHAT? OUR DOGGIRL TOO?

KARKAT: STOP TALKING, YOU'VE LOST THE RIGHT.

["Yeah sis ma'am! You too. RADICAL!!!!" They HIGHFIVE one another with their wrenches. Only true 90s kids will understand.]

HILDEE: *Hildee nods, calling up for security and starts WALKING as she talks. She instructs the people to be careful and bring ample backup, etc. Glances at Jade.* are you coming with?

JADE: -nods!!-

JADE: -and follows with a tail wag for some reason wow dog impulses are not appropriate sometimes-

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): Especially your freak of a boggirl! *Hiss hiss snarl.*

KARKAT: I:B *decaptchas his spare shirt and he's gonna STUFF it in this assholes mouth*

KARKAT: *DO NOT TALK SHIT OF FRIEND, EXCUSE*

JADE: -u da bes karkart-

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): *That beak sure is stuffed. It is a MASK though Karkat. The bird is not silenced.* Goob going Brainiac.

KARKAT: I'M NOT THE DIPSHIT THAT GOT CAUGHT.

TEREZI: -Oh...my god? But she nods excitedly at their enthusiam while seeking an appropriate time to abscond. 1t's like she fell down the hopbeast hole after toking a barrel of nip.-

KARKAT: AND OBVIOUSLY CAUGHT AT THAT.

HILDEE: *Hildee raises an eyebrow at the dog wag, but doesn't comment because commenting on people's oddities is RUDE.*

JADE: -YEAH KARKAT-

JADE: -u still dabes tho-

[WHEE WHOO WHEE WHOO. Looks like seCURITY has arrived on the pool scene. They all scuttle about like headless chickens for a bit then SURROUND the birb and Karkat.]

KARKAT: *FACEPALMS at this sad excuse of a security team*

JADE: -man she wishes she could think of something to help Hildee feel better but like you cant really make people feel better after murders-

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): *Bird doesn't really have come back to that. Infuriated troll noises ensue from behind stuffed bird face.*

HILDEE: *Hildee arrives at the scene, Jade at her heels most likely.* looks like security has arrived *Deep sighs.* i will let them handle this this crowd needs to go back to being happy *Gestures at the onlooking crowd of tourists, then she wanders straight at them.*

TEREZI: -Meanwhile Terezi acends the stairs, facepalming at the sad excuse of a maintenance team.-

TEREZI: *ascends

[SECURITY starts doing security things. Which is nervously hovering around Karkat waiting for him to tell them what to do because oh god they are but mere teenagers.]

KARKAT: *holy shit*

KARKAT: JUST HELP ME SECURE THIS JACKASS.

KARKAT: DO YOU ALL AT LEAST HAVE ANY PHYSICAL STRENGTH OF WHICH TO SPEAK?

KARKAT: IF NOT THEN YOU SHOULD STILL BE FINE.

KARKAT: SAID JACKASS IS WEAK AS HELL.

[HILDEE is telling the crowd that EVERYTHING IS A-OK and fine and dandy and that if they go quickly they will all get discounts on the shaved ice just over yonder.]

KARKAT: *are there anymore knives on them, Karkat is making sure to get ALL the knives*

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): *Did you look in the belt, Karkat? There were like 3 more knives.*

JADE: -that is an excess of knives-

MURDERING ROBIN(FREDDIE): *Not that bird is able to get at them, since they are CUFFED.*

KARKAT: *hE TAKES THOSE THREE KNIVES and hands them to jade*

KARKAT: *carefully*

JADE: -Jade is just HOLDIN' KNIVES NOW-

KARKAT: *kankri isn't allowed to handle sharp objects*

JADE: -catchas those knives for safety reasons-

KANKRI: *Kankri doesn't WANT to handle sharp objects*

JADE: -captchas also-

KARKAT: *anime voice: pathetic*

KANKRI: *sharp objects are dangerous and he can't handle that responsibility ok*

[THE CROWD fucking LOVES discounts and they all RUSH to get this offer that is by NO MEANS suspicious in its timing.]

[THE KNIVES are very sharp.]

JADE: -Jade is now armed and dangerous-

JADE: -or her sylladex is at the very least-

[SECURITY is now doing the security things that cool shouty hero told them to do. The tiniest of the troll security people hesitantly wanders over to the angry murderbird, then picks them up like it is NOTHING and has them over their shoulder like a bag of potatoes. Since troll is small the bird face is right in the ground. Incredible.]

KARKAT: *GOOD SHORT TROLLS REPRESENT*

KARKAT: *HE LIKES THAT ONE*

TEREZI: -Terezi would applaud at everything going on in pool area but she's busy climbing all these goddamn stairs.-

[Terezi is greeted by a cheery guide once she gets out of there. "Hey Fourty One! You did it! The comms are back."]

JADE: -what a fierce tiny troll....-

JADE: -Jade wants to say there was a happy ending to this but two people being dead isn't really a happy ending, but she's still kind of proud that they succeeded-

TEREZI: -wheezes why is he calling me Forty One?- Y4Y, TH4TS SO GR34T -where is everyone? did they solve the mystery? who was the killer? did they collect the knives?-

JADE: -oh maybe she should pull up her communicator and tell everyone the mission was successful. SHE'S DOING THAT NOW--

HILDEE: *Hildee is standing with THE MYSTERY GANG aka everyone minus Terezi. She fiddles with her communicator briefly and the talks in a hushed but intent voice.* kelcey? kelcey are you there? i need to know that you are okay *She looks back at the group, talking loudly.* very fine work wouldn't have expected any less from tumut personnel

TEREZI: -The message has been received and Terezi is slightly disappointed slash relieved, but mostly disappointed. Was there a sweet tackle? Did the killer get his just desserts? What happened???-

[This troll is calling you FOURTY ONE because that is what they called you before. Nicknames are cool. "Yeah! Definitely. Good work." Grins at her and then just kind of... Stands there and STARES?]

[SECURITY is taking the angry bird away who is all shouting and screaming and hisses. There they go.]

TEREZI: TH4NKS--! ... >:? -stares...back?-

[Peppy guide troll STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARES back at Terezi.]

[It is overall very uncomfortable.]

TEREZI: UHH....3V3RYTH1NG OK4Y? -aside from the murders. that she M1SS3D. Cry.-

["Yeah? You fixed the comms, so everything is fine." More staring.]

TEREZI: -blink- OK4Y?

[The staring continues for a bit, then they just WAVE. "Thanks again!" They wander off while still waving. Maybe they were just kind of awkward.]

TEREZI: -That was probably the most awkward conversation of her short life, and Terezi's encountered many an awkward conversation. She waves back just as awkwardly and leaves the area quickly.-

HILDEE: *Tension leaves Hildee as a voice comes from the comm, but it quickly returns.* clowns? what are you talking about? why are they yelling? *At least Kelcey is still alive...!* *She addresses the group.* did the culprit tell you anything? why they did it? what happened, exactly?

JADE: -shakes her head, looks at Karkat and Kankri-

KARKAT: THEY STARTED TALKING SHIT AND SAID THEY STOLE FROM THEM.

KARKAT: APPARENTLY IT WAS A REVENGE PLOT.

HILDEE: revenge plot? *Her brows furrow, and she bites on her lip. Her eyes widen in realization.* bear! that must have been it...

KARKAT: BEAR.

HILDEE: yes it is our latest animated feature *She is momentarily distracted by a frantic voice on the line, but answers Karkat first.* bear! is based upon a story that was originally written by freddy howell however after some legal kerfuffle the rights were given to the didney company

HILDEE: terentius henderson the sixth and *She pauses, inhaling sharply.* and ilinka kaveri directed and produced the movie

KARKAT: WELL. THERE THAT GOES.

JADE: -AND EVERYONE WAS SHOCKED-

KURLOZ: :o)

JADE ceased responding to memo.

TEREZI: -Terezi jogs up to the group, leaning over with her hands on her knees, wheezing. Terezi's here.-

KARKAT: *it the BAE*

KARKAT: *and she's wheezing???*

KARKAT: ARE YOU OKAY?

TEREZI: -and no one bleeding! Success! Gives him a thumbs up; she is fine-

[Everyone was sHOCKED, and BONUS they all got free lifetime passes to DIDNEY WORLD. Terezi too, even if she wasn't there for the most part.]

KARKAT: *goes to get her some water*

KARKAT: *oh yay, he's so. thrilled about that*

[Hildee also swears to never again hire tweens or people in their thirties acting as tweens again.]

KURLOZ: *oh man what a prize*

[She is going to FIGHT THE COMPANY on that one.]

TEREZI: -Thank you. She's definitely gonna come back to appreciate all the attractions she ran past on the way over here.-

[However once all the congratulatory things has been done she quietly retreats to talk to the person on her com, though she asks if Kurloz would like to handle the corpses temporarily cuz this planet doesn't really have a mORGUE.]

KURLOZ: *kurloz graciously accepts the corpses with zero fuss. :o) *

[EVERYBODY WINS! That's the Didney magic right there!] HILDEE: *Although... Perhaps not everyone. Hildee had quit believing in silly things such as magic and wonder long ago, only to have it be brought back into her life by stolen glances and moments where nothing needed to be said. Ilinka was gone, and the magic had gone with her. At least Kelcey remained. With a few more deep intakes of air, she left the scene to hunt down her moirail. If they had ever needed each other, it would be now.*

[aesopianalgedonic]

Crocker Museum: Boom Baby

[Meanwhile, Damara has found herself in another part of this floor on her mission. So far, it seems uninteresting, though that changes when there is a noticable splatter of blood on the shiny and beautiful kitchen floors. It leads around another corner, further into the museum.]

DAMARA: *Unlike her previous mission, which was a gigantic failure on her part, she has actually put on her gear. She keeps to the shadows as much as possible, slinking just out of sight. She is pretty sure no one has seen her yet at least, which was good. At the sight of the blood, her nose crinkles just ever so slightly. Someone was making a mess. She looks around briefly, before deciding to follow the blood. Still creeping in the shadows.*

[The blood leads Damara into another room, and it appears to be empty at first glance... at least, until it's clear that a soft, dim sound is playing out slowly, coming from behind a fake fridge. The blood trail continues on into another room, but the sound beckons.]

DAMARA: *Wherever this bleeding person was going, and whoever it was, it would most likely be best if she identified who it was. The moment someone else saw that bloodsplatter this place would be swarming with cops, making her job unneccesarily difficult. As she is about to slink out of the room, to follow the trail, she pauses briefly from the sound. Hm. She waits a moment to see if she can make out what it is. Is it music? Voices?*

[It sounds like a voice. But a very slow voice, as if it's going on a slow record.]

DAMARA: *Her brows twitch downwards, she casts a brief glance in direction of the blood, then inches towards where the voice is coming from. She decides to try and make out some of the words, however if she is unable she will proceed with following said blood. Could be one of her Felty friends were injured, or had gotten one of her targets injured, but not wasted. She should finish the job, if that were the case.*

[As she creeps around, she can finally make out what appears to be a leprechaun in a blue hat tied to a chair behind the fridge. It sounds like he's very slowly saying "hat", and he looks pretty perturbed.]

DAMARA: *Well shit. Isn't this one of said Felty friends? She looks around quickly, then slinks on over to untie the guy. Blue, blue... Who was the blue one? She puts a finger to her mouth to show him to be quiet, then starts untying him. What is this about a hat? Who the fuck cares.*

[He suddenly un-slows himself now that he's sure she's going to help him, and it sounds like he's muttering feverishly about a bomb under his hat.]

[That would explain that ticking noise.]

DAMARA: *OH. WELL THEN. She lets the rope fall to the floor as she had him untied. Could be that the bomb was connected to the hat somehow, and that moving it would be some kind of trigger.* SLOW DOWN. *Tells him, she remembered who this one was. She reaches for said hat and gives the Blue one a quizzing expression.* IS TAKING HAT OFF GOOD? BLINK IF YES.

[HE IS BLINKING SO MUCH.]

[In fact he just pulls his hat off himself, and underneath it on top of his head is, in fact, a clock-timed bomb.]

[It's got about fifteen minutes left, though, so it's not an immediate threat. In fact, it could be useful, if used in a timely manner.]

DAMARA: *Okay. OKAY. Bombs. She has seen this shit before, used this shit before. She could defuse it, but it would likely take a little while. Her head is spinning. She could possibly defuse it, then reactivate it at some later time? Fuck. As of right now it was probably a good idea to do something about it. She FROWNS really hard, glancing over her shoulder.* BLOOD. DOES IT BELONG TO CREW? OR FELT? ONE BLINK CREW. TWO IS FELT. *Takes out one of her needles from her hair and starts grabbing for the bomb with the other to get it off his head. Gonna defuse that motherfucker. Or plant it somewhere. Hm. She is taking a closer look, regardless.*

["Felt," he says, since while he's not slowed he can speak in a normally timed manner, and since he doesn't have a bomb on his head he's not freaking out anymore. "Fin went thatta-way," he says. "Maybe he knows something."]

DAMARA: *Ah, right right. She is fiddling with that bomb, trying to figure out the wiring job on it. If she can find the ones for the fuse and whatnot she can temporarily stop it until she puts the wires back in, most like.* AND YOU? WHO WAS TYING HIM UP? WHICH ONE?

["Clubs," he says. "The bomb guy."]

DAMARA: DID HE SEE WHERE HE WENT? *She seems to have located the correct wiring, and without hesitation she pops that sucker out. That should stop the timer for now, and it is defused for the time being. She weighs the bomb in her hand, then decides to captha it. She puts the needle back into her hair.*

["He went the other way. I don't know what happened to him after that."]

 ["I know Fin'll help, he knows where they're gonna be."]

DAMARA: ALRIGHT. WILL FIND HIM. DO NOT BECOME TIED UP ONCE MORE. *With that she starts slinking away, quicker than before since she just lost time dealing with this bomb situation.*

 ["Ok, I'll try," he says, but he'll undoubtedly get tied up again sometime in the future. It's just what he's good at. That's irrelevant, though, since this blood trail leads somewhere that's probably way more interesting. And it is! The blood trail eventually leads her to another member of the felt, and he's leaned up against the wall, bloody. This one's got an orange hat with the number 5.]

DAMARA: *And this one kept from bleeding out for her sake? D'aw. She emerges from the shadows somewhere, walking up to him. She tries remembering this guys power. He was good at future things or something? She would uncaptha her first aid kit, but she is kind of on a tight schedule here.* WHERE IS CREW?

[He seems a little surprised by her SUDDEN APPEARANCE, but not too surprised. They were vaguely briefed on spiral horned aliens like her being on their side or something. "Crew?" he asks. "Midnight Crew?"]

DAMARA: YES. WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE WILL THEY BE DYING? *That was his power, was it not? It was pretty obvious where this guy would be dying, by the looks of him. Ugh. He is bleeding everywhere. She decides to just toss some bandages his way. How nice of her.*

["Thanks," he says, "though the doc should have me covered in a minute." It's like his wounds start magically stitching up! But that's not important. He gets to the real question. "I'm followin' Slick's trail. Their boss."]

DAMARA: *Oh. WELL THEN. She instantly regrets being nice for anyone ever, wtf.* WHERE IS HE GONE? SHOW ME DIRECTION. HE WILL DIE.

["He'll be here in the future," he explains. "I was gonna mess with him, but if you got a better idea..."]

DAMARA: *Wheels slowly turning in her head.* HOW LONG IN FUTURE? DOES HE KNOW?

["Uh... I dunno. Maybe about ten, fifteen minutes?"]

DAMARA: *She uncapthas that defused bomb.* THIS. IS GOING OFF IN AROUND FIFTEEN MINUTES. WILL THIS BE ENOUGH FOR SLICK DISPOSAL?

DAMARA: *Well, will be going off when she sets the wiring back in, anyway.*

[His eyes widen. "That's perfect!" He doesn't know where she got it, nor does he care to know. He just knows it explodes things, and preferably people who want to shoot and/or stab him.]

DAMARA: *Nods.* YES. IF HE SHOWS ME SPOT SLICK WILL BE GOING. THE BOMB WILL BE PUT CLOSE TO LOCATION. *She starts working on getting those wires back in place.* SHOULD BE WARNING OTHER GREEN ONES TO STAY AWAY FROM HERE.

["Oh, yeah." He wouldn't have even thought about that. He inspects Slick's future trail, and points at a spot on the floor. "He's gonna be coming right through here."]

DAMARA: *Her eyes follow the pointing, and she nods, the wires back in place as the bomb starts giving off that faint ticking noise again. She clicks her tongue, then looks around the hall for any good spot closeby that she could hide it in. It's never a good idea to just leave this shit out in the open.*

[There's a convenient table she could hide it under, with a tablecloth and everything. Betty Crocker does not shy from making everything look SUPER FANCY, after all.]

DAMARA: *That sure is convenient. She crouches and sticks the bomb under there, though she wishes she could have done something about that ticking... Oh well. She stands back up and addresses Orange 5.* DOES HE KNOW WHERE THE OTHER MIDNIGHT ONES ARE? SLICK WILL BE EXPLODING IN DUE TIME.

["Not on this floor," he says. "I ain't seen their future trails anywhere around here."]

DAMARA: *Slow nod.* THEN THIS FLOOR IS USELESS TO ME. DOES HE KNOW ANYTHING ELSE OF USE? *Otherwise she is getting away from this floor.*

["No, not really..." he just sort of scratches his head.]

DAMARA: THEN GET AWAY FROM FLOOR. DO NOT GET TIED UP LIKE BLUE ONE. TELL OTHERS THAT THIS PLACE WILL BE NO MORE IN FIFTEEN MINUTES. *And she slinks back into the shadows, sticking close to the walls as she tries navigating to a different floor.*

["Got it, boss," he says, and he's slinking off, too, in a different direction.]

[Meanwhile, SHIT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GETTING REAL HEAVY on the other floors. Lots of crashing and movement and things like that. What could be going on??? It might not be good to stick around too much longer.]

DAMARA: *Hopefully that Blue guy wasn't tied up again, but she didn't have much time to think about that, now did she? What the fuck is going on those other floors? That sounds like a lot more than just four dudes plus the Felty companions. She inwardly swears, slinking towards the nearest window to peer outside. If it isn't too far she will likely pry the window open and jump for it, using her telekinesis for once to keep from plummeting. This place BLOWS anyway. HEH. God. Brilliant jokes and nobody to hear them.*

[The nearest window is certainly able to be pried, and she doesn't have to jump too far. There's the sound of yelling and scrambling somewhere else on this level, but she shouldn't have to worry about that if she escapes in time.]

DAMARA: *That yelling and scrambling only gives her even more incentive to get the fuck out of here. She might not have gotten to stab someone today, but hey, nobody ever said that work is a fun affair all of the time. She gets that window open and jumps on out. Time to BLOW this joint. Fucking christ she is on fire today. Or, at least certain buildings will be.*