Night 009

[whiteofcrime]

[ Sometime early in the night, during Kaito's downtime, a series of lines begins to draw themselves across the next empty spread of pages.

The lines aren't completely straight. His busted shoulder means that even with a ruler, he can't utilise both hands to make the schematic perfect. However, his hand is steady and he works with patience to make sure everything lines up the way it's meant to. He'd practised on other non-journal sheets beforehand.

Eventually the map below takes shape, annotated in blue and red. ]

(click image for larger version)


[ In the corner, Kaito writes some notes about the watchtowers. ]

Watchtowers
There are four towers. The stairs lead to the tallest one.
They're lined up alone the side of the castle (you can see them from the Horticulturalist's room).
There's a guard room on the way up that has weapons, supplies etc.
Also a fox which can see through magic maybe.


(Disclaimer: All the above names are ones which Kaito has decided on. They are not necessarily the official names.)

Comments

[angel_of_death]

[Walter wasn't bothered by the reaction of Kaito's feathered friends. At least the crows had the other boy for reassurance.

Balancing his weight back against his arms, Walter looked up to the sky between boughs of greenery.]

Let me guess. Not even innocent lives were sacred to them.

[whiteofcrime]

Nope. [ He smiled bitterly. ] They roughed up an entire magic troupe to get at something their leader had which they thought could be what they were looking for. And I'm pretty sure they've killed people before. Especially this one guy who I keep running into called Snake.

[ One hand drifted unconsciously to his chest, hovering over the messy scar beneath his shirt. His voice turns bitter. ] He's always there. I hate him.

[angel_of_death]

[Walter turned just enough to look at Kaito, not observing him closely, but definitely paying attention.]

What happened?

[whiteofcrime]

[ Some of the crows in his hair start to murmur and preen the strands, as if offering reassurance. Kaito takes a deep breath and lets it out, settling on his best poker face. ]

My dad got in their way. They killed him almost a decade ago but I didn't find out until about a year back.

[ He looks aside and his voice grows tight. ] Since then, I've been trying to lure them out. But they always get away before the police can grab them.

[angel_of_death]

[The silence stretched on between them for a few seconds. So they had both lost family to some bastard on a quest for immortality.

He hadn't expected for them to have that in common. It's a bitter realisation, the taste made all the more unpleasant in that the murderer in Kaito's instance was still unknown, and probably still alive. Walter had no doubt that it was frustrating.]

...Sorry to hear that happened to you, too.

[whiteofcrime]

'Too'? [ He looked back, frowning at Walter. ] What, the same thing happened to you as well?

[angel_of_death]

Not precisely the same. [There were a number of differences. Different circumstances. Different timing.]

But I lost my family, too. For one bastard's pursuit of immortality.

[The last word fell from his lips in a sneer, his upper lip curling disdainfully well before it. Though a handful of years were between him and that time now, the hatred hadn't dimmed.]

[whiteofcrime]

[ Kaito stared at Walter without expression. Who would have thought they'd have this in common? He looked away with a soft 'hah', smiling without humour. ]

I still have my mum, but...she's always off who-knows-where, so she may as well not be around. [ Idly running his finger along a crow's back, he falls silent for a short time. Then-- ]

The thing they're chasing is a jewel called Pandora. It's meant to turn red and weep when you hold it up to the moon. If you drink its tears, you'll be immortal. [ A derisive sound. ] I swore I'd smash it if I ever got my hands on it. They didn't like that obviously.

[angel_of_death]

[The story was met with a thoughtful frown. A jewel, huh...]

Smashing it might not be enough, unless it relies heavily on ritual and the ritual requires it to be whole.

[But was it ritual, or was the information disguised within a metaphor like in alchemical tradition? He didn't dwell on it too heavily, but it was interesting.]

[whiteofcrime]

I've got no idea. [ He sighed, leaning back on his hands. ] I was gonna think about it once I got my hands on the stupid thing. I don't care how it's supposed to be used, I just don't want anyone to be able to use it.

[ That said, there was a part of him that was interested in knowing. If the jewel existed, if the legends were true, it would be a miraculous thing. Who wouldn't be curious about the truth behind the myth? ]

[angel_of_death]

Well, you have three general methods you might be able to accomplish that with. [He lifted his hand, extending fingers to count off the ways.] Find a way to dissolve it. Find a way to burn it and melt it down. Or... dispose of it in a place where no one will even try going after it. Throw it into a volcano or something.

[whiteofcrime]

In a volcano? [ Kaito stared at Walter incredulously and then began to snicker. ] A volcano, haha! You've got a point, no-one would ever try and chase after a gem in the middle of a pit of lava!

[ After some more laughter, he sobered. ]

Well, there's always a chance that it's impervious even to that kind of heat since it's gotta be a magic gem. But it's not like Mount Fuji's gonna go extinct any time soon. And by then, maybe...

[ By the time it or some other active volcano did go extinct, the legend should have faded and any record of Pandora's final resting place should be gone. Kaito's brow creased as he thought over the matter. He continued in a mutter: ]

But what if gets spat out again during the next eruption...

[angel_of_death]

[Walter paused. That was a good point. A thoughtful hum emanating from his throat, he considered the options.]

...Try dissolving it or burning it yourself first then. In that order. It can be consumed, so it obviously isn't impervious to everything.

[whiteofcrime]

[ He nodded slowly. ]

I'll try both if I get the chance to. Hopefully I do get the chance to before they get to it. Or me.

[ As soon as he said that, doubt crept into his expression. They might well manage to off him before Pandora was found. Worse - they might kill him once he had it but before he could destroy it. ]

[angel_of_death]

You've got your work cut out for you there. Especially since they've had around a decade to refine their organisation.

[A sobering thought, but one that Kaito really ought to consider when tackling his problem. Lest he end up like his father.]

[whiteofcrime]

I know. [ Kaito fixed Walter with a look of grim determination. ] But at least I have an audience to keep an eye on me while I taunt them. And no matter how well-organised they are, they're still human.

[angel_of_death]

[And even if they weren't, there would still be a way to best them. Even powerful, ageless monsters could be bested.

His mood lightened with the thought, a daring smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he leaned back languidly on his arms.]

That's right. Pay attention to how they operate, and figure out how to work around their tactics. If you can find an ally that can't be bought off, even better.

[whiteofcrime]

[ He slowly smiled back, a smirk less edged with danger than probably looked on Walter's face, but no less smug. ]

Oh, I already have one. I'm lucky I do. My dad's old assistant. [ And then his eyebrows drew together in worry. ] But he's old now. I don't like pushing him too hard...

[angel_of_death]

Well, if you're that concerned, talk to him about it. [He shifted his weight, leaning towards Kaito a little more as his expression turned curious.] ...Or is there something stopping you from doing that?

[whiteofcrime]

About his age? I have. He insists on helping me no matter what I say.

[ Good old Jii-chan. Enthusiastic, but Kaito really needs to start reducing his hours. ]

[angel_of_death]

Then he's the one pushing, not you. There's nothing you need to feel guilty about for that.

[Hopefully the old man would mind his own limits. But it sounded like Kaito was more than willing to call him on it if he pushed himself too hard.]

[whiteofcrime]

I guess...

[ Kaito still looked doubtful. If anything happened to Jii, he would never forgive himself. Regrets about not insisting harder, not keeping his assistant safe enough... ]

You see things pretty simply, huh.

[angel_of_death]

I don't know if I do that.

[Did he think of things simply?]

I just see them how I see them.

[whiteofcrime]

[ He snickered, smiling. ] That's what we call 'simple'. It's not a bad thing. Maybe 'straightforward' is a better word. I don't get to talk about this with anyone other than Jii usually and he's always fussing or dressing things up politely 'cause I'm his 'bocchama'.

[ The last word was said in a rough, elderly man's voice. Presumably his assistant's. ]

[angel_of_death]

Bocchama? [He looked at Kaito, confusion clear in his eyes.] What does that mean?