closed || a hoard of secrets

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WHO: Minako, Lucy, David, Tarr, and Koromaru
WHERE: Subway tunnels
WHEN: Sometime in January
WHAT: Team DVV (Dragons, Vampires, and Vectors) is heading into the tunnels too!
WARNINGS: None foreseen, let me know if this needs to be changed. Each header will have different sections of the tunnel exploration prompts from the main log, so tag into where you want to tag! Also, please excuse my shameless copy and pasting of header prompts from the other exploration log I posted.

Comments

I. GLITTERS LIKE GOLD

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[Events of note:

• A soft yellow light can be seen from the entrance of the tunnel.
• Deeper in, there are sounds of a transportation hub, and of subway cars moving along the tracks.
• Vines and roots will come out from the walls to stop them, and red eyes follow them around.
• Large rat-like creatures will rush out to try and stop them.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[This wasn't the first time Lucy had come here. But this time she had backup, and not just the battery kind.

The construction workers were still absent, just like they had been before. And it was dark, like it had been all damn month. And someone with pink hair and a grey knit cap pulled down low on her head was pacing in front of the tunnel like an impatient tiger, waiting for the others Minako said would be here.]

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[Koromaru is the first to run ahead, his knife holster in view as he stops in front of Lucy and wags his tail in greeting.

Minako isn't far behind him. If she weren't carrying her spear in hand and her Evoker on her hip, she'd look like she was ready for a hike. But no, the backpack is full of emergency items, just in case.]

Hi, Lucy.

[long_live_the_queen]

[For a moment, Lucy's severe expression eased. She glanced over her shoulder, turned, and knelt a bit to scratch the dog's ears. The corner of her mouth curled a bit too when she glanced up towards Minako.]

Hey. You brought a lot of stuff.

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Yeah. It's like that one trip into the woods all that time ago. Want to be prepared for anything.

[It is heavy, though, so she shrugs it off, sets down her spear, and rolls her shoulders.]

I even brought glowsticks to mark the pathways we've taken.

[lesinset]

[ He didn't really think about why he decided to try this out. Minako had texted him and while he usually was busy, it would be far better than sitting around in his shop trying not to act like every single bit of light was giving him a headache. As it was, he still had to find his darkest sunglasses even though the red frames didn't exactly match the rest of his stark black and white outfit complete with a messenger bag with a smiley face that had a mouth full of sharp teeth.

Tarr stopped before getting too close, his fingers twisting the edge of his loose sleeves as he glanced between the two. Then in that really soft voice of his, he decided to speak up. ]

Minako.

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Tarr!

[She turns to smile in greeting as usual-- but blinks in surprise when she notices he has sunglasses on. While it's dark outside.]

...you okay?

[Her first assumption is that he got an eye color change from Retrospec and is being shy about it.]

[lesinset]

[ He stopped tugging on his sleeves and instead was now tugging on the hem of jacket even as he raised his shoulders in a kind of shrug. He wasn't sure how weird it would sound even though she was carrying a weapon and he was pretty sure that the other girl had just enough problems as he did at that moment. ]

Ah.

[ He stopped fiddling with his clothing and hesitated for a moment before he tugged his sunglasses down. He squints at them, letting Minako see that his eyes were still the usual dark brown and then shoves the glasses back in place. ]

No.

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[Tarr, you can't just say that and expect Minako not to be worried. She frowns and reaches out to reassuringly rub his arm.]

If you're not feeling well, then you don't have to come with us today.

[lesinset]

[ There's nothing to be worried about, and Tarr frowns at that before mentally smacking himself in the head because he hasn't explained anything at all. He can be that much of a space case when he felt that everyone can read his body language. ]

My eyes seem to think the sun's still shining. It's worse when there's a lot of lights around.

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[.....oh, now it makes sense. Minako nods sympathetically.]

Offer still stands. It'll be dark in the tunnels but we'll have our flashlights and things, so don't force yourself.

[long_live_the_queen]

[At the sound of more footsteps Lucy had glanced up sharply, peering into the dark. Tarr probably saw her long before she saw him, but the moment she did the almost-smile disappeared from her face. She didn't say anything, but she did stand and stare at him. That 'being watched' feeling is definitely her fault.

He certainly wasn't very loud or annoying, which was good in Lucy's opinion. But he was a stranger, which automatically made her wary and her shoulders slump over a bit in a bristle. Minako seemed to know him, but Minako knew a lot of people.]

[lesinset]

That's okay so long as they aren't in my face.

[ He could probably handle indirect light. Probably. He has managed to avoid most direct light at work but sometimes he would get hit by it and be blinded for half the day.

Tarr was used to being stared at. Either it was from his looks or from his stare or from his voice, people just stared at him. So he just nods in her direction before reaching over to his bag and pulling out a few reflective ribbons. ]

I brought food, drinks and these. Figured that wearing these ribbons will make it easier the darker it gets for everyone else.

[negativism]

So sticking by me's probably a bad idea.

[ David gives a reassuring pat to Tarr's shoulder before he shifts away, body shuddering momentarily now that he's let his scales encroach on his body. ]

I can give some light once we get down there, though. Perks of being part-fire lizard, apparently.

[ The smile on his face is a little sardonic as a result. ]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy's gaze flicked to the ribbons, then to David. Her expression didn't change much, though her posture did become a little more tense.]

I can find my way around without lights.

[Thanks, Miss Showoff.

Though Lucy would also rather like to see.]

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Me, on the other hand, I'll be as blind as a bat down there, so I need light.

[Is the cheerful response. That's her excuse, she's totally not afraid of the pitch dark, not at all.

She takes the reflective ribbons from Tarr and ties two around her wrists with deft hands, speaking as she works.]

Now that we're all here-- Lucy, this is my boyfriend David, and our friend Tarr. David, Tarr, this is my roommate Lucy.

[long_live_the_queen]

[...okay no Lucy's definitely more tense when she looks at David now.]

Hi.

[It's a joyless and unfriendly greeting. But she did say something! Points for effort.]

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[That's good enough for Minako right now, honestly. She nudges Lucy, but it's a "hey look at this" kind instead of anything reprimanding.

She's shaking the ribbons playfully at Lucy, grinning as she arches her eyebrows.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[For a moment Lucy's severe expression faltered when Minako prodded her side. She looked over at the other girl with a quizzical mumble.]

What?

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You should wear these, Lucy. To match me!

[Raises her wrists to show how she tied them in a perfect bow...]

[long_live_the_queen]

[A slow blink.]

Wouldn't they work better on my head?

[The reflective flashing from her wrists at the edges of her vision would be endlessly distracting, she just knew it.]

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Yes, but.

[She slides a glance over to the other two. She doesn't want to tie them around Lucy's horns unless she's comfortable with showing David and Tarr.]

II. WHAT LURKS WITHIN

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[Events of note:

• Lots of pathways to get lost in.
• One of the pathways leads to five abandoned, dimly lit up subway cars.
• The first and second car are full of leftover things from the former passengers, with newspapers and other personal belongings that date back fifty years.
• The third car is a kitchen car, with some spoiled food, but also food from modern stores and restaurants, too. Eating this food will cause side effects like dizziness, temporary loss of taste and/or sight, and sudden transparency. Effects will go away after an hour.
• The fourth car is a car full of instruments, audio equipment, and a silver screen at the front. Eventually the door will slam, this song will play, and the car will go down its tracks. One of your character's regained memories will play on the screen after the song is done, and an unseen audience aside from the other members of the team will react appropriately to the memory.
• The fifth car is all but a skeleton. Touching it will cause it to come to life, with metal, arm-like appendages coming out to try and grab you.]

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[Oh, instruments! This seems relatively safe? Minako plucks the strings of several of them as she walks past, but the piano is calling to her, it seems. She finds herself there and unable to stop her fingers from pulling a gentle and simple melody out of it that's completely at odds with everything they've seen up until now.

Slowly, she relaxes a bit from her state of constant vigilance.]

III. QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS

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[Events of note:

• All pathways and tunnels eventually lead to a grand central hub. Nobody is around, but there are a variety of shops and pop up stores that appear to be typical and popular of various decades of the past. There are also modern stores too, like Tanaka's Shopping Channel and the Moogle Shop.
• There's a store with Retrospec's logo on it. It looks like a travel agency, with brochures to various places, some that might be from character memories, though there is no new information to glean from them.
• There's a large book bolted down to a table that says "Welcome to Recollé". It contains important information!
• At 6pm sharp, an announcement over the PA system will inform characters that the last train back to Recollé is now boarding. There will be a completely new and nicely outfitted subway car waiting. It departs at 6:30pm and arrives back to the front tunnel entrance at 7pm before returning back the way it came once the last passenger has stepped off.]