[Action] Second Clue - Abandoned Hotel

[naotoshirogane]

[Here, have what looks like a dilapidated, abandoned hotel. Everything is black and white, bearing a resemblance to traditional film noir. The walls are crumbling, the wallpaper is peeling, and an eerie green fog permeates everything. The sickly fog is the only splash of color around. The wooden floor creaks with nearly every footstep, and the ceiling is leaking mysterious liquid in places as well.

Absolutely no one seems to be around. Places of interest may include a comprehensive library with books old enough to become dust at the slightest touch, and a secret laboratory littered with rusted, pointy, dangerous-looking instruments.]

Comments

[trainerhomu]

Homura blinked before tensing up, taking out a machine gun and loading it instantly before scanning her surroundings. It eerily reminded her of a witch's labyrinth, but where were the minions?

"...Hello?" Homura called out, taking a timid step forward, eyes narrowing as a drop of water leaked out of the ceiling... Or was it even water?

The spaces she was entering out of the blue seemed completely unreal to her. Something was amiss but she decided to keep moving until she encountered something.

[naotoshirogane]

Out of the shadows stepped what appeared to be a young boy. The over-sized lab coat he was wearing dwarfed his true size and only served to augment the impression of youth.

He scrutinized Homura, looking rather displeased.

"Who are you? I wasn't informed that I would have a partner during this investigation."

[trainerhomu]

Homura blinked. An illusion? No, this one was practically real. She kept her hold on the machine-gun at any rate.

"Akemi Homura. Investigation? There was no police tape outside to indicate such a thing," Homura replied stiffly, wary of the boy. "And where's your license? If such a thing is going on?"

What a nightmare.

[naotoshirogane]

Naoto scowled, belligerently eyeing the girl with the machine gun. Yet another person condescending him because of his age! Worse yet, this one looked about as old as he was.

"I am Detective Naoto Shirogane!" From his lab coat's long sleeves, he pulled out a detective's badge. It would look more official if it wasn't merely a crayon drawing.

I thought this was going to be a cool pair but then I realized both of them are so lone wolf

[trainerhomu]

"I see," Homura stated. Was this a dream? She didn't see a single house in the city ahead of her that looked like this. How did she arrive here anyway?

"What's the investigation about? This does seem like a perfect place for storing bodies," Homura commented dryly. Her Soul Gem didn't detect the presence of a witch or familiar, but she examined her surroundings with guarded emotions. It felt like something might pop out at any moment.

They can be lonely.... TOGETHER.

[naotoshirogane]

"Well, that is... That is classified information." There, a satisfactory answer. He looked smug as he put away the 'badge.'

Despite his apparent outward confidence, however, Naoto's mind was racing. Why was it difficult for him to remember what he was doing here? He was never this out of it during investigations before. He did recall inspecting a room splattered with dried blood... It was most likely a murder investigation, then.

This reminds me of a song.

[trainerhomu]

"Hmmm...? Well despite the fact that this is an investigation, there certainly seem to be few officers around," Homura observed, deciding to put her machine-gun away, determining nothing would pop out that she couldn't react to quickly enough.

She had enough time anyway.

"So when did you become a detective?" Homura inquired, curious about how intellectual Naoto seemed to be.

What song? :U

[naotoshirogane]

"It was supposed to be a secretive investigation."

Why was he being questioned?

"It was gradual. I began helping my grandfather with his cases at a young age." At first, people had gone crazy over him, calling him the 'Boy Detective', but then... Naoto quickly changed the subject.

"An answer for an answer. How did you find this place?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi-_fAeViSI

[trainerhomu]

"I see. Must mean you're well prepared for any contingencies," Homura observed, thinking that perhaps Naoto's labcoat hid gadgets of some sort to use in dire situations.

"How admirable," Homura commented dryly, though she was a bit impressed. "And as for how I came here, I would like to know that too," the puella magi smirked to herself.

Awesome. B)

[naotoshirogane]

"But of course." Naoto replied, looking a bit smug. He had to be prepared for anything, after all.

He found what Homura said next less satisfactory, however.

"You do not know? But you must. People do not just suddenly appear in other places." It seemed like he didn't recall the Entralink malfunction.

[trainerhomu]

"...Certainly not. Under normal circumstances that is," Homura elaborated.

QB chose this exact moment to appear in his Eevee form out of his Pokeball and hop onto Homura's shoulder, broadcasting his thoughts more easily for some reason.

My my, this is intriguing indeed! We seem to have happened upon Naoto's dreamscape! QB exclaimed, scientifically interested on how this happened.

"...If you consider the possibility that this is a dream it might make sense. I've not to tendency to walk into those of others however," Homura shrugged, mainly at Naoto. "What a predicament."

Idk if Naoto was supposed to hear QB so... :D

[naotoshirogane]

Naoto's eyes widened when the Eevee popped out.

"A talking Pokemon...?" Wait, how did he know what it was? He had never seen an animal like that before...

"A dream is a viable explanation," Naoto admitted after considering the data for a moment. There was no way this girl could have entered this hotel in reality. There was too much red tape surrounding investigations. "But I've never had someone wander into one of mine." This entire situation was very strange... Naoto tried to shrug off the overly large lab coat, but for some reason it insisted on clinging to him.

Since he's basically in the mind of someone his powers are back to normal. ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人

[trainerhomu]

"Well, he used to talk before he became a Pokemon. It's not too unnatural that he can speak, albeit telepathically," Homura commented, QB dancing around on one of her outstretched arms.

Nice to meet you, Shirogane Naoto! Hmmm, you might have quite a potential, QB noted, before cleaning his tail. Unfortunately I've no power to contract in this world and it doesn't seem like demons spawn in this world at any rate. Wut?

"...QB, are you implying that this boy is actually...?" Homura raised an eyebrow, before cutting herself off, glancing back at Naoto.

"...I won't broach the topic at any rate. But in any case there must be something bound for you to explore in this realm," Homura proposed. "Dreams tend to not have easy exits after all."

[noplaidshirt]

[Paprika's been exploring the place for a few minutes with distinct trepidation, though at least a bit of her thinks it's all pretty cool, albeit in a pointedly eerie fashion. She's fairly certain she's ready to go back to her own dreams now.]

Heeeey! Is anybody in here, or am I gonna get axed by some horror movie guy now?

LOL that should so happen.

[naotoshirogane]

[At that, Naoto slips out of the shadows, dressed in an over-sized lab coat that dwarfs him and looking like the spitting image of a child playing pretend. Despite this, he still speaks like an adult.]

Paprika-san... What are you doing here? I cannot believe that you managed to get past the security. [...Only a bit more free to speak his mind, apparently, and completely believing that this dream is reality as well.]

cardinal rule of horror movies: never start asking if there's anyone home in the creepy house

[noplaidshirt]

Security?

[She glances around a bit nervously, but sees no guards or laser beam traps or anything like that.]

Nah, I just kinda wandered on in here from one of my dreams--this one's yours, right?

The laser beams come later :D

[naotoshirogane]

Dream? [Naoto seems to find the idea dismissible.]

I assure you, this is no dream. [The fact that he's dressed in a lab coat and in a crazy abandoned hotel doesn't seem strange to him, apparently.]

I must find the murderer at any cost.

ah suteki :y

[noplaidshirt]

Murderer?

[Oh, yeah, definitely a horror movie right here.]

Y'know, if you've got a freaking murderer running around in your dream, I'd probably wanna get out of here, like, ASAP.

[She glances around for some sort of door that might lead to another dream, but none of them look too promising.]

Uh, that's if there's even a way out in the first place.

Continued denial

[naotoshirogane]

What makes you believe that this is a dream?

Of course there is a way out. Go back through the front door.

[It's too dangerous here for her, anyway. Good luck finding the door, though. The hotel is set up like a maze, and nearly ever corridor and floor looks identical.]

fdhfhgf you saw no typeo.......

[noplaidshirt]

Well, I mean, I kinda just strolled on in here from one of my dreams. Iunno what else this all could be, unless we all took like some synchronized acid trip or something.

[The front door? That would be perfect if she had any idea where it was.]

Yeah, uh, that's sounding pretty good to me.

[Paprika turns her back to go, but seeing that Naoto isn't following, turns around and beckons hurriedly.]

C'mon! You don't wanna stay in this creepy-ass horror flick dream, right?

I actually didn't :D

[naotoshirogane]

[Acid trip...? Naoto knows he hasn't ever done something like that, and he hopes Paprika hasn't either.]

Perhaps it is a dream, then. [If he thinks about it, some things certainly do seem off. Though he isn't sure why he would be dreaming about Paprika.]

[Naoto tries to tug off the uncomfortably large lab coat, but for some reason it tenaciously stays on him. Very odd, and a bit frustrating to boot. He glances up when Paprika starts moving.]

Not particularly. But the investigation... [Even if this hotel may not be real, something about it is tugging at him to stay.]

oh, phew ;;

[noplaidshirt]

Investigation? But, like, if this is all a dream, there's no real murderer, right?

[A Beat.]

Uh, at least I hope not.

Spoke too soon :u

[naotoshirogane]

I suppose not...

[Naoto still seems a bit reluctant to abandon the investigation, however. And with good reason, because within moments, the sound of mechanical buzzing, perhaps caused by a chainsaw or something similar, can be heard. It starts off barely perceivable, but steadily increases in volume, as if whatever is causing the noise is getting closer.]

[noplaidshirt]

[One of the downsides of being an avid film aficionado is knowing all your stock horror tropes a little too well. Even if it is all a dream, Paprika's really not too keen on recreating the Texas Chainsaw Massacre for shits and giggles. She beckons to Naoto again with increased fervor, and when she speaks, her voice is only a pitched whisper.]

Dude, c'mon!

[naotoshirogane]

[Naoto frowns, but sighs and acquiesces. He highly doubts that Paprika would be able to just barge in on an investigation in reality, so this really is most likely a dream.]

I'm coming. I don't suppose you know where we're going? [Yup, despite his talk of the 'front door,' he isn't really sure where it is. He only recalls rooms relating to the murder. He moves to follow Paprika just as creepy, high pitched music starts playing.]

Where is that coming from? [There aren't any speakers around... Okay, Naoto's starting to get just a bit scared now.]