11 K1

[04:09] <Minaplo> WEEK ELEVEN KARO INVESTIGATION: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MOROKUZU?
[04:09] <Minaplo> AKA
[04:09] <Minaplo> KARO GOES FOX HUNTING
[04:21] <Minaplo> Karo Nakajima, 13 years old, and Roy Griffin, 45, take a walk into the Shadow Market.
[04:38] <Minaplo> It's... Definitely a new experience for our boy.
[04:40] <Minaplo> Suddenly the plan before him- to suss out stuff about Morokuzu- feels overwhelming. There's like… Places. Everywhere. Where should he even start…?
[04:44] <Minaplo> He looks around, and…
[04:46] <Minaplo> Ah! An izakaya. A sort of mature, grown up place. Perfect for him!
[04:46] <Minaplo> Roy eyes it suspiciously, but in they go…
[04:47] <Minaplo> It… Sure is rowdy in here.
[04:47] <Minaplo> In one group are a handful of drunken, obnoxious Preta, their distended bellies being filled up by lots of cheap sake and beer.
[04:48] <Minaplo> In another corner, sitting around a bunch of western-style tables, throwin' back brewskis, are a group of Mothmen. One of them has a long pompadour on his head. The Mothman Gang.
[04:48] <Minaplo> And in another, a beautiful apsara sings for her audience. It's wonderful music, and the adorers around her are rapt.
[04:49] <Minaplo> "Oh, that's why this is familiar." Said Roy. "Hi, Kit."
[04:50] <Minaplo> The bartender is a woman- a gorgeous woman with a coquettish expression and a rather loose kimono. As Roy and Karo approach, she leans over the bar- and nine brilliant fox tails uncurl from around her waist, framing her like a peacock's fan.
[04:50] <Minaplo> This is the bartender, Kitsune.
[04:50] <Minaplo> "Hello, Roy." She says. "Been awhile."
[04:50] <Minaplo> "Too long, Kit. How you doing?"
[04:50] <Minaplo> "Ahaha~ Information isn't free."
[04:51] <Minaplo> Once Karo can gather his senses, he starts asking the hard questions.
[04:51] <Minaplo> Like, what do you have?
[04:51] <Minaplo> She says, wine.
[04:51] <Minaplo> He says, what do you use for money? He's already reaching for a wallet.
[04:51] <Minaplo> Kit beams and says…
[04:52] <Minaplo> "Memories. If you don't have any, you can always mint more with the boss up in the palace, kiddo."
[04:52] <Minaplo> Right… Okay.
[04:52] <Minaplo> He asks for water.
[04:52] <Minaplo> Water isn't free either.
[04:52] <Minaplo> This, friends, is the nightmare scenario of unrestrained capitalism.
[05:05] <Minaplo> Okay, fine.
[05:05] <Minaplo> He asks her… Seen any humans around lately?
[05:05] <Minaplo> Ah-ah.
[05:05] <Minaplo> Information is especially not free.
[05:05] <Minaplo> Karo deflates. What'll she want… Memories?
[05:05] <Minaplo> She nods. But! "If you don't have memories… You can do me a favour."
[05:07] <Minaplo> See, she's always looking for more medicine. ANd she hears that the divine poet Li Bai has an especially wonderful wine on him. He's the poet of wine, after all.
[05:07] <Minaplo> If he could… Borrow some for her, that'd be a lot of help. Big smile.
[05:08] <Minaplo> He hesitates. What was the sort of memory she wanted?
[05:08] <Minaplo> "Flirty one."
[05:08] <Minaplo> Wine it is.
[05:08] <Minaplo>
[05:08] <Minaplo> "So…"
[05:10] <Minaplo> Li Bai was said to be sheltering in a part of the Shadow Market known as the Joy Quarter.
[05:11] <Minaplo> Karo noted to Roy that it sounded kinda shady. Roy said, drily, that it was actually pretty bright!
[05:11] <Minaplo> And it was… The 'weather' in the Market was always weird, but here it was dark skies… And bright lights.
[05:11] <Minaplo> Everywhere hung shining red lanterns and shady lamps and big neon signs…
[05:11] <Minaplo> "You sure this is a good idea?" Asks Roy. "It could go… Pretty bad."
[05:12] <Minaplo> "No way. It's like in a game, you know? when they ask you to deliver a letter to someone or kill a group of bandits before they give you the next part of your quest." Says Karo confidently.
[05:13] <Minaplo> A moment later a succubus slinks past, winking at him. Karo's face, hidden by his helmet, goes a furious red.
[05:16] <Minaplo> The Joy Quarter is a place of delight! Wild parties, extreme sports, salacious figures…
[05:20] <Minaplo> Over head, a roc and a thunderbird race at high speeds across the sky, drawing the gasps of those below- until the thunderbird dives beneath an eave. The roc mimics it, can't pull up in time and dives straight into a crowd, disrupting a high-pressure business deal between an Ekwensu and a djinn.
[05:20] <Minaplo> A group of nymphs run out of a nearby bathhouse, chased by a drunken satyr, who turns and charges at Roy.
[05:20] <Minaplo> Roy unceremoniously swats him and roars in his face.
[05:21] <Minaplo> "Any ideas where to go now, hot shot?" Asks Roy.
[05:21] <Minaplo>
[05:21] <Minaplo> FLASHBACK!
[05:21] <Minaplo> "Hey there, uh, man, sure is boring here. Wish I could get some good wine, you know?" Says Karo, sighing.
[05:21] <Minaplo> "Fuck-fuck." Growls a drunken preta.
[05:21] <Minaplo> "What he-he said. Fuck-fuck, kid." Growls a second.
[05:22] <Minaplo> "Hey, come on. I just wanted to know where you guys think I should party."
[05:22] <Minaplo> "Somewhere else."
[05:22] <Minaplo> "You really think we'd be here if we could be somewhere else, normie?" Snaps a fourth Preta.
[05:22] <Minaplo> "Alright, fine. I'm just looking for a poet. Li Bai?"
[05:22] <Minaplo> "What's it to ya, normie? Go fuck off somewhere."
[05:22] <Minaplo>
[05:22] <Minaplo> FLASHBACK!
[05:23] <Minaplo> "You really want the MOTHMAN GANG to help you find someone? Well sure, brother." Said the Mothman, rubbing his pompadour.
[05:23] <Minaplo> Karo brightened.
[05:24] <Minaplo> "But I need a favour. I tell you where he is, you get me his manuscript. His poet manuscript."
[05:24] <Minaplo> Karo frowned.
[05:24] <Minaplo>
[05:24] <Minaplo> "Yeah, no idea." Says Karo. He tears his eyes away from all the beauty and amazement and looks around… If he were a drunken poet, where would he be?
[05:25] <Minaplo> Of course!
[05:25] <Minaplo> A GARDEN!
[05:25] <Minaplo> And indeed, there's a nearby pleasure garden, full of exotic and sensuous flowers.
[05:25] <Minaplo> In the middle is a drunken Chinese poet, Li Bai- his face red. He is toasting a beautiful Kaguya-hime, whose face is red for an entirely different reason.
[05:26] <Minaplo> Li Bai loved him some moon poems and he is reading them to her one by one. They seem to be leading up to something…
[05:26] <Minaplo> She's pretending not to know what.
[05:26] <Minaplo> Karo starts to have second thoughts. This is… Weird.
[05:26] <Minaplo> "Hey. Chill. I'm here." Says Roy.
[05:27] <Minaplo> Good point!
[05:27] <Minaplo> Hey, so… Roy?
[05:27] <Minaplo> "Yo?"
[05:27] <Minaplo> Do you know a lot about… Romance? Or… You know. Making ladies… Take their tops off?
[05:27] <Minaplo> Because that's what Li Bai seems to be trying to do…
[05:27] <Minaplo> And indeed, Li Bai is roaming closer and closer to Kaguya-hime, praising her reflection on the pond below…
[05:27] <Minaplo> Roy coughs.
[05:28] <Minaplo> "Well… You know, I was turned into a cat at the age of 15. So… I never really had the chance to get anyone's top off, you know?"
[05:28] <Minaplo> "Some Shadows are happy to take theirs off, though. Some don't even wear tops."
[05:28] <Minaplo> Karo nods. He seems impressed by this.
[05:29] <Minaplo> Alright! Here's what we do. We'll walk up to him… And ask him for wine! Says Karo.
[05:29] <Minaplo> Roy shoots a look back at Li Bai, who is deep in the throes of seducing this moon princess.
[05:29] <Minaplo> He's in the zone. An interruption would be… Against the bro code.
[05:29] <Minaplo> Roy shakes his head. "Let's just steal it."
[05:30] <Minaplo> Well we could, says Karo. But where…?
[05:30] <Minaplo> Karo looks around. He spots a satchel near Li Bai, on a bench… It's in Li Bai's blind spot!
[05:30] <Minaplo> "There! Roy, can you go sneak in and get it!"
[05:30] <Minaplo> Roy twitches.
[05:30] <Minaplo> "R… Roy?"
[05:30] <Minaplo> "Sorry kid. This garden…"
[05:30] <Minaplo> Roy trembles. "This garden has magical catnip. Ugh. I…"
[05:31] <Minaplo> "What!? You're seriously affected by that? Come on!"
[05:31] <Minaplo> "I'm trying, okay!? You don't know what this shit does to a cat!" Roy snaps. "FINE. I'll do my best."
[05:31] <Minaplo> ROY SPENDS A FATE POINT BECAUSE HE FUCKS IT UP.
[05:34] <Minaplo> Despite the potent influence of the catnip, Roy slips into the garden, smooth as a shadow, grabs a bottle of the wine out of the satchel and runs back- entirely undetected!
[05:34] <Minaplo> Li Bai finishes his last stanza. Silence falls in the garden.
[05:35] <Minaplo> He steps forward, slides his hand around Kaguya-hime's wrist. Gazes into her eyes.
[05:35] <Minaplo> Roy and Karo watch. Karo's face flushes.
[05:35] <Minaplo> Li Bai whispers something. Kaguya-hime leans in… Lips pursed…
[05:35] <Minaplo> Then she pulls away. "NO! THE MOON NEEDS ME! I MUST FLY!"
[05:35] <Minaplo> THEN SHE JUST FUCKIN' LEAVES. RIGHT UP INTO THE SKY. WHOOSH!
[05:35] <Minaplo> Li Bai stares at her. Watches her go.
[05:35] <Minaplo> "But… But…"
[05:37] <Minaplo> "But… But… Everything was perfect…"
[05:37] <Minaplo> Li Bai's shoulders sag. He mopes back to his satchel.
[05:37] <Minaplo> "oh no. My wine left me too…"
[05:37] <Minaplo> Li Bai sits in the middle of the garden and cries.
[05:37] <Minaplo> Good one, Karo.
[05:37] <Minaplo> Fuckin' unicorn.
[05:37] <Minaplo>
[05:38] <Minaplo> "Oh~o, nice." Kit takes the bottle and pours a cup out for Karo. "I knew you'd do well, boy."
[05:38] <Minaplo> "Now… Humans, was it?"
[05:41] <Minaplo> "I've seen a band of humans around recently, all masked up as humans do." Said Kit. "Four of them."
[05:41] <Minaplo> She describes them. The first wears a white mask of a grinning moustachioed man; he has a black bodysuit, a black cloak and a hat.
[05:42] <Minaplo> ("Arlequin." Says Roy.)
[05:42] <Minaplo> The second is a woman wearing Greek-styled armour.
[05:42] <Minaplo> ("Amazon.")
[05:42] <Minaplo> The third… Is a man with long blonde hair, wearing the shining armour of a dashing knight!
[05:43] <Minaplo> The fourth is a man wearing a winged suit, a cloak of brown-white feathers, and a bird's mask.
[05:43] <Minaplo> ("New members…?")
[05:44] <Minaplo> Well that's interesting, but have you seen any solo female humans? Maybe ones in robes, with feather masks, and a studious nature?
[05:44] <Minaplo> Kit admits that she hasn't. But… She sips the wine. "Gosh, it's so good~"
[05:45] <Minaplo> Fine. She'll give Karo her token, and if Kit runs into anyone matching that description, the token will burn and Karo will know to come back and talk to Kit.
[05:45] <Minaplo> "Wouldn't want you to miss out on some ~company~"
[05:45] <Minaplo> Karo flushes red.
[05:45] <Minaplo> He thanks her then decides to take off his helmet and drink the wine.
[05:45] <Minaplo> It tastes rich and fruity and whole, of fresh plums coming out of a cold winter into a bright, joyful pink spring.
[05:46] <Minaplo> Before he can stop himself, the wine bubbles in his chest and… He sings!
[05:47] <Minaplo> "Bright shines the Moon before my bed; Methinks ’tis frost upon the earth. I watch the Moon, then bend my head And miss the hamlet of my birth."
[05:47] <Minaplo> The poem, one of Li Bai's classics, resounds throughout the room, bringing applause and praise from all.
[05:47] <Minaplo> Except the Preta.
[05:47] <Minaplo> ("Pricks.")
[05:47] <Minaplo> "Nice one~" Says Kit. She leans over the bar and plants a kiss on Karo's cheek.
[05:48] <Minaplo> "There. When I see your stranger, the mark'll burn red… Like your face is right now."
[05:48] <Minaplo> Karo grumbles.
[05:48] <Minaplo> He wonders why there has to be so many pretty women around this Market…
[05:48] <Minaplo> He turns to Roy.
[05:48] <Minaplo> Kitty want some of this?
[05:48] <Minaplo> HELL YEAH KITTY WANTS SOME OF THIS. Roy gets in on that wine.
[05:49] <Minaplo> After a final toast between Kit, Roy and Karo, they leave.
[05:49] <Minaplo> Roy and Karo lose 5 Stress!
[05:50] <Minaplo> On the way back, the two chat amiably.
[05:50] <Minaplo> What happens to a Shadow after its Dream Theatre collapses, Roy?
[05:50] <Minaplo> "Oh, usually they just turn back into miasma. Unless something weird happens. Or a Shadow's got enough attention from humans to grow into something new."
[05:51] <Minaplo> Huh… Could a group of teen detectives generate enough attention to satisfy a Shadow?
[05:51] <Minaplo> "Yeah."
[05:51] <Minaplo> Karo wonders whether they gave Morokuzu enough attention for her to survive the Fraternal Century. Or whether she was an outsider, like Vader and the Scouts…
[05:52] <Minaplo> "Let's be careful. Give a Shadow too much attention and they might live, even if we don't want them to."
[05:52] <Minaplo> Roy nods. "S'right."
[05:52] <Minaplo> "I dunno if we gave that Morokuzu enough. She was made from your cognition though, so…"
[05:52] <Minaplo> "Either way. Let's head back for today."
[05:52] <Minaplo> Thou art I; I art thou. Thou hast glimpsed a new path of thine heart, with which to rewrite your story. The first draft of the Hanged Man Arcana has been written; its refinement will bring you new power in the world to come.
[05:53] <Minaplo> Karo Uncovers info about the Monster with 21 Faces, and gets a promise from Kit for info on Morokuzu if she shows up!

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