PC: Alphinaud

[voltadomar]

Comments

[arcsplainist]

[ Alphinaud is seated nearby, jotting down in a notebook. Esmerie is the first to greet Kim with her little carbuncle squeak, and then he looks up. ]

Greetings, Mr. Kitsuragi. [ Because "good day" would be a little... yeah. ] Been faring well?

[ They both know the answer to that, but it doesn't hurt to be polite. ]

[voltadomar]

[Cecile's perched on Kim's shoulder as a bandicoot, huddled close to his neck.]

As well as can be expected. The last 24 hours have been...

[A sigh. He probably doesn't need to describe it.]

And you?

[arcsplainist]

My answer may very well be the same as yours. And again, we all awake with grim beginnings...

[ He sets his pen down into the crease of the notebook in his lap. ]

But I can try to take it easy, until the morrow.

[voltadomar]

Yes... we all should.

It's going to take all of our efforts to ensure that we don't repeat our mistakes from last week.

[arcsplainist]

That is what I fear. Do you think we can do it...?

[voltadomar]

Yes. We can.

We'll need to make sure to follow up on all checks and examine our evidence more thoroughly, however. And there may be more tools and forms of evidence we can rely on.

[arcsplainist]

[ A pause, then a nod. ]

Yes... yes, you are right. Forgive me, I should not worry so much. I will be certain to come prepared, that much is certain.

[voltadomar]

Good. Make sure to be well-rested, too.

[He takes a drag of his cigarette, gazing out down the road, and sighs.]

... I'd hoped there would be time to discuss investigations today with everyone gathered, but the mood at the meeting was a bit...

[Grim. And Kim can't blame anyone else for that -- he was part of it.]

[arcsplainist]

[ Hm. Yeah. Alphinaud nods. ]

Aye. Knowing what we are likely to find on the morrow... Sorrow grows greatly in mine own heart, as well.

Yet right now, there is naught that can be done. I thought to distract myself by compiling my notes for the week; should there be something you wish to discuss, Mr. Kitsuragi, I would full welcome it.

[voltadomar]

[He nods. That's legit.]

... I was able to learn a bit more about this place, since the town hall earlier this week. I was looking into a shady-sounding group called the 'Magisterium.' Have you heard of them?

[arcsplainist]

Magi... sterium...

Monika made mention of them, correct? Aside from what was said during our meeting, I have heard of nothing since.

[voltadomar]

Correct. I'd heard the name in passing while probing for information early in the week, and after hearing Monika give some context to that, I went with Mr. Kaburagi to... [There's a pause here? Hm.] to get more information out of the locals.

Anyway, this... Magisterium. They're believed to be a group of people obsessed with angels. "Higher beings." And it's said that they were experimenting with dangerous projects. Things that would be considered heresy. We were advised to be careful who we talk to about the Magisterium's experiments.

[arcsplainist]

... Hm. Were you able to find out what sorts of experiments they were conducting?

[voltadomar]

No. It seems to be a touchy subject, and it was hard to keep anyone on it for long. For the most part, the people here refuse to discuss it at all with outsiders.

[arcsplainist]

A shame. Would that one of us could pretend to be of their kind, if such a thing can be done. I would much like to know more of them—and the angels they so revere. They cannot be exclusive to this world, correct?

[voltadomar]

[It looks like Alphinaud just hit something on the mark. Kim immediately looks very tired.]

Yes... imagine if.

[arcsplainist]

[ That's telling. ]

Well, that answers that, it seems.

[voltadomar]

They were adamant about not talking to outsiders about the topic, so...

It was an "undercover operation." We pretended to be locals.

[arcsplainist]

And they saw right through you. Terribly unfortunate. The locals may be a dead end, but I will be certain to keep an ear out for the name elsewhere; I would rather like to pursue this information as well, if you mind not another hand in it.

[voltadomar]

Not exactly. It seems it was mostly successful. Just that there's also a limit to what they'll say about the topic in [...] casual company.

[But he'll give his blessing to that suggestion.] So long as you keep that warning in mind, do what you like with the information.

[arcsplainist]

Rest assured, I shall ware my step. I scarcely need to get myself into any unnecessary trouble.

[ Alphinaud jots something down quickly in his notebook, then: ]

While we are on the topic of angels, however—might I mention a thought that occurred to me while taking my notes?

[voltadomar]

Of course. What is it?

[arcsplainist]

Do you recall when I made mention of the Watcher's possessions?

[voltadomar]

If I recall right... You suggested that some of the items found by our disappearing groups belonged to them.

[arcsplainist]

[ Alphinaud nods. ]

I can say with confidence that the doll I had held on to belonged to Miss Satariel, while the other item found thus far belonged to Suriel. To briefly state, I do think that... a version of the Watchers, so to speak, can be encountered within these ventures, and that they place upon us the responsibility of returning these belongings.

And I may have found out why.