united_one | [Action] Second Clue

Entry tags:

[Action] Second Clue - Abandoned Hotel

[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.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Y-Yes, that sounds like a good plan...

[Naoto doesn't want to seem unrefined even in his dream, but when walking quickly only results in the chilling music getting louder, he starts to run down the hallway, not entirely sure of where he's going.]

[The buzzing sound gets louder, and soon, a large pitch black shadow can be seen on the wall. The shadow is shaped like a human.... a human holding a chainsaw, that is.]

"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."

[Paprika is right behind him, paying no heed at all to the crescendoing sound in light of the shadow on the wall. Briefly, she wonders if their Pokemon would do any good, but that surprisingly decent idea is quickly overtaken by panic. When she talks, she's still whispering, for all that will do.]

Look for, like, a door or something! Any kind!

"I see. How strange." Became a Pokemon? That was the first time Naoto ever heard of anything like that, and he took note of the possibility.

"....? It is a pleasure to meet you, QB-san." He wasn't certain what the Pokemon was speaking of, but he didn't like the sound of it. Actually what? Could it be that QB knew his secret? Animals were often more perceptive than humans... He didn't like this.

"Yes, I have to continue my investigation." Naoto's voice became a bit more cold in an attempt to push Homura (and more specifically, QB) away.

The dimensions collapsed together but luckily I've maintained some of my power, QB commented, licking one paw. Shirogane Naoto, you are certainly an interesting person.

"That's quite enough," Homura glared at QB, who shrugged and hopped on top of the puella magi's head, swishing his tail back and forth.

"Seeing as I can't easily escape this area, I think I will follow," Homura stated. "There's nothing else for me to do at any rate."

R-Right! [They've already passed plenty of doors, but Naoto is fairly certain that none of them lead outside. At least, as certain as one could be when they were in a panic. Which isn't very certain, actually.]

This way! [He chooses a door that looks a bit different, skidding to a stop and jiggling its doorknob. It takes a few tries, but soon enough, the door swings open.]

Naoto would rather not be labeled interesting by such a perceptive Pokemon.

"I would prefer to work alone." He said that more bluntly, seeing as how Homura hadn't taken his hint the first time. He feared that if she stayed around for much longer, she would discover something he would rather not bring to light.

"You're going to leave a girl by herself in this dark dreary corridor of your dreamscape?" Homura raised an eyebrow. "I won't get in the way and I'll make sure QB..." Homura quickly retrieved his Pokeball and sent him back in. "Doesn't say anything unnecessary."

Put that way... It would be extremely rude to leave her here alone, and had the potential to cause sour relations later on if they met again. Naoto sighed.

"Very well. You may follow, but do not touch anything and do not enter the crime scene." He didn't need to break standard operating procedure any more than he already had.

...Was it just Naoto, or did the corridor just get darker?

[At this point, she doesn't really care where the door leads, so long as it doesn't involve any more slasher flick villains. She ushers Naoto inside and slams the door shut behind her, which in turn causes the music to abruptly cut off. Breathing hard and wishing that she was better suited to running, Paprika surveys their new surroundings.]

Okay, cool... I think... I think we lost him, 'cause the music stopped.

[They are now in an elegant room crammed with bookshelves on nearly every wall. The shelves are filled to the brim with various texts. On the odd wall out there are two tall, arched windows that let in the warm sunlight. In the center of the room is a table surrounded by luxurious plush armchairs, and on the table itself stands an incongruous looking action figure. All in all, it's a very calming scene.]

Yes... [Naoto seems to recognize the room, or at least elements of it.]

"It's better to stay in groups in this kind of situation after all," Homura remarked, following Naoto. "I'll come in only if something happens, perhaps," Homura shrugged.

The long path to what Homura assumed to be the crime scene became drearier as they went on. A foul smell pervaded the area.

And then a footstep unlike any of their own sounded through the hall.

"..."

It was often said that the criminal returned to the scene of the crime. Naoto raised a finger to his mouth, indicating that Homura should remain silent. Though the fact that the long sleeves of his lab coats covered his hands made the gesture difficult to comprehend. With his other hand, he slowly, quietly, pulled out what appeared to be a ray gun from his sleeves.

Homura nodded at Naoto's gesture, pulling out a handgun at the same time and undoing the safety before turning toward the source of the sound.

...Step.

..Step.

Step.

And what appeared before them was...

A slightly undulating chalk outline of a human, flecked with bits of blood. It resembled the ones found drawn around dead bodies at a crime scene, save for the fact that it was moving. It walked with strange twists and jerks, as if unable to support its own strange body shape.

"....!" Naoto's fingers tightened around his gun, as he waited to see if the creature would attack. He didn't want to provoke it if unnecessary.

...Yeah, that's better.

[Looking at Naoto, it seems like he recognizes the place.]

So is this, like, your place or something?

The creature lunged, an iron bar raised in one arm.

Homura shifted her timer to a sideways position, taking Naoto's hand and freezing time before shooting the creature in the shoulders and thighs. Homura grabbed Naoto and jumped back, letting time flow again.

A horrible shriek came out of the creature as ink sprayed from its wounds.

[Naoto briefly considers the possible consequences of answering that.]

Yes, I often spent my days here as a child. [He keeps his face neutral as he browses the bookshelves. Apparently he doesn't consider himself a child anymore, despite the fact that he's not even old enough to be out of high school yet. The oversize lab coat dwarfing Naoto doesn't help to support this image either.]

Did Homura just... freeze time? Naoto didn't know if it was an ability of the girl's or merely a product of the dream, but he took note of it anyway.

"Ah!" He quickly ducked to avoid being splattered with the ink the injured creature was spraying as he charged his ray gun. Who knew what might be in it? It turned out Naoto's instinct was validated, as the ink began eating away at the portions of the walls that it had touched, revealing what looked like a black abyss beyond.

The monster seemed to have realized that its last attack had failed. With a cacophonous cry, it spat out a thick cloud of chalk dust that made it impossible to see. Coughing, Naoto shot into the nearly solid cloud, his gun producing a strong gust.

"Tch," Homura grunted, her attack not stopping the monster in the least.

"Get back," Homura advised to Naoto, before pushing him further behind herself, grenade in hand. Pulling the pin, the puella magi tossed it directly at the monster, before tackling Naoto backwards.

"Did it work?" Homura mumbled, unaware that she was probably on top of Naoto in a very awkward position.

With a sharp gasp and eyes wide, Naoto shoved Homura off of him unceremoniously. He quickly scuttled away from her, clutching his lab coat closed. An uncharacteristic expression suspiciously similar to fright passed across his face momentarily as he stood, the battle seemingly forgotten.

It appeared to be over, at least. With a final screech, the chalk outline fluttered to the raggedy carpet like a scrap of paper, completely motionless. However, it didn't completely disappear...

"Oof!" Homura grunted, wincing as she fell on her back. Her leaning position had something in Naoto's view, not that he would be bothered by it. Homura didn't really care either way as the chalk monster was defeated.

But in its place was the outline that represented it, plain on the floor in a position like someone had pretty much been shot to death. Eerie. Homura stood up, not exactly noticing she'd been exposing herself for a while before offering Naoto a hand.

"Let's head to the crime scene," Homura suggested, not missing a beat.

Seems like a pretty nice place.

[Definitely better than a certain castle she's also visited. Danger apparently gone, Paprika slips easily back into her usual casual demeanor.]

So, uh, where're you from?

I am from a town called Yamatocho. [Not that the name would mean much to anyone here, but the simple yet tastefully elegant room indicates wealth. His family was most likely one of the more affluent ones in the town, if Paprika is observant enough to tell.]

What about you, Paprika-san? [Naoto is a believer in receiving information in return for any that he may give.]

Naoto was in fact bothered, but he tried not to show it. He wasn't very successful, though, judging by the uncomfortable expression on his face. Could this go wrong in any more ways? Girls. He didn't take Homura's hand and pushed his focus back onto the case at hand.

After analyzing the chalk outline for another moment, he replied, "This is the crime scene." Naoto was certain of it now. He knelt down next to it for a closer inspection, taking care not to get his lab coat dirtied.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 2 of 3

[Action] Second Clue - Abandoned Hotel

Fun to watch but not fun to be in.

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

I myself actually cannot sit through horror movies. xD

Omg that smilely xD

KEIYAKU? ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人 \

Me neither omg what are we doing here then XD Also do with this what you will B)

NOPE NO TY. (◕‿◕✿) ;;;

no subject

Pretty much just stand there really

getting out of the creepy horror setting. xD

Cheater :B Feel free to do some crazy dream hijacking too

Naoto screams and Homura whips out a rocket launcher or something

Pshaw Naoto won't be the one screaming

No one screams and they both shoot the killer in the shoulders.

That sounds about right :D Idk what should step out why you do this to me ;3; it could be a witch k.

ssssh I think they've had enough freaky things for one dream uwu

NAOTO STARTLED THE WITCH

no subject

no subject

no subject

Omfg lol lmao you.

hoohoohoo~

no subject

Awkward this was never revealed QUICKLY MAKING SOMETHING UP

Troll B|