becomeanwarrior | [Private Threads of Various Stripes]

[ This investigation promises to be... a little more feisty.

Sadame - or rather, the alternate Sadame - was skittish even as they helped defuse the situation with the tower in October, and now, thanks to a tip-off by their non-alternate counterpart, Onni knows where to find them. Mostly to grill them about all the other alternate-world counterparts running amok.

He's keeping in mind that he doesn't want to menace this Sadame, for various reasons of both practicality and security, but it's a little hard to reconcile the fact that he might get eaten by a plant dragon if he's not careful.

Even still, he's making his way into the Arboretum, in hopes of finding either this elusive other-Sadame or a lead to them. ]

*well, it's a nice time to visit the place-- the warm weather is in full swing, so the plants are thriving well. The trees are full and lush. It's, all and all, a pleasant moment to have.

Of course, it does make finding this Sadame a bit more of a challenge... it's not like they're going to pop out anywhere, nor be anywhere near the entrance, but-- well, there's maybe some signs around.

Such as an area further in seeming more overgrown than others, given the mid-spring weather.*

[ I really should bring Shiroko and Ichiro here, when I get the chance... and when it's not an active investigation.

Perhaps an overgrown area wouldn't be a tip-off to some people, and it does make for reasonable cover, but, well. I do know what dragon this Sadame seems to be partnered with. And it makes sense that a Black Rose's Dragon's domain might be a little more out-of-control than normal.

He's making his way over, stepping off the beaten path and probably starting to truck through the overgrown foliage. It's a good thing I wore one of my tougher jackets - I have a feeling pushing through is probably going to merit some resistance. ]

*yes, of course it is. even the loveliest rose bushes have their thorns, and there's definitely a number of roses amongst the overgrown plantlife that seems to have formed.

To it's merit, it takes a while before it becomes obvious that something has truly affected it-- you have to push through quite deep before it starts becoming less like an unmaintained area, and more like a shelter that's been formed, light peeking through the canopy to make it almost ethereal. Like you stepped into a dream and didn't realize you fell asleep. Better hope there's no dream-hopping murderers around.

But more importantly: you're starting to notice the tracks where someone's had to move through the vines growing on the pathway that's formed.*

[ I can definitely see why Sadame chose this as their go-to-ground spot... it's got a comfort to it. And it's well-hidden, all things considered. If I didn't know, I might have been talked myself out of assuming this was the spot.

Though, yes, I would prefer not to be murdered in this psuedo-dreamscape, if possible. That would be a significant inconvenience. Holding a hand up to stop the light flitting down from blinding me, as you do.

He does spot the tracks, kneeing down to examine them. So, that's the path you take in and out of here, huh, Sadame...? Well, he's made it this far. The only way out at this point is forward. It's possible Black Rose Dragon has already gotten a whiff of the intruder, after all. ]

*if Black Rose Dragon did, those vines would likely have constricted you already.

No, they probably think you're one of the Arboretum workers getting lost. At least to a point.

You eventually get to a spot that seems solidly covered by plant-life, but the tracks stop in front of it. Blossoms growing all along the outside, giving off a calming but heady scent.

If there was anywhere that someone would need to go to calm down from constant prediction feedback, this would be a place to be.*

[ I guess the one benefit to dressing an acting sensibly is I don't seem very protagonist-coded to a big scary plant dragon. The smell -is- nice, though, whoof. Very strong.

He's going to attempt to push through. He might be stopped if they feel he's suddenly a threat, but he's taking pains not to be too destructive as he tries to make his way into the innermost sanctum of this hideout.

But it does feel a bit like he's the bull in the china shop. He won't lie about that. ]

*you gradually manage to push through it, though you could feel the tightness, the strength of the vines, trying to keep you out. They were thickly made to act as a shelter.

Once you get through, however, you can tell that the space past them is more open. the heady scent is still present, but there's more room for it to space out "inside", though there isn't much "inside" there at current.

Some vines acting as surfaces where clothes are. Packaged meals more for their shelf life stacked up short, along with water. And what seems to be the equivalent of a bed-- which you assume it must be, as the person you've been trying to find is laying atop it, eyes closed, but breathing focused.

You can tell instantly they're not asleep, but they seem to be meditating.*

[ That's good - if nothing else, that means Black Rose doesn't think I'm a threat, even if they're going to panic. That's good enough for me.

Once he gets inside the shelter, he'll take stock. Packaged meals, water, a bed... necessary staples, though not more than that.

He won't go and shake them, he'll just sit opposite their spot on the bed as they meditate. Give them a few moments to take notice of someone else in their midst, before he speaks up, loud and clearly. ]

Samasu Sadame, I presume.

... In a sense of the word, sure. *dang, ignoring him doesn't work, huh.

They take a deep breath, before sitting up properly, stretching, and then finally opening their eye-- oh, it's you, specifically. the one I mistook for someone else.*

Are you here to take me away?

[ You know better than that, that he's the stubborn type, I'm sure. ]

Not if I don't have to. I'm not sure what you're used to back where you come from, but I'm quite a reasonable and well-adjusted guy, here.

[ He's not moving from his sitting position. He's not gonna try and get close to you - he's being very polite about staying out of grabby distance. ]

I have a sneaking suspicion you have answers to some questions I'd like answers to. And as long as we both understand that I'm not here to escalate unless you do, we can keep it to a friendly chat.

Sound fair?

Edited 2023-05-16 23:37 (UTC)

I'm not sure what I could answer in any willful amount, so I may as well prepare to be hauled off.

*not making any move to do so, so it's just more defeatist talk than anything else.*

But yes, that is technically fair.

Well, if you think you can't answer in any willful amount, I guess the first question to answer is obvious.

Are you also under a geas by way of the Obsidian Lord?

Edited 2023-05-17 00:03 (UTC)

I am not under a geas. There is no point in a geas when other methods are more effective.

*cricking their neck*

To be honest, even confirming or denying that might be too much...

So, you're being coerced then. Or in danger.

Lady Suzume, I would assume? She's already made her presence known.

Oh... she has, huh?

Yes, she's the one I more directly deal with. Usually.

Seems like she's striking out looking for people. One of which I assume you already know about - seven feet tall, deep tan, large curly horns... kind of easy to pick out of a crowd?

Tell me about your dealings with Lady Suzume.

I'd rather not go into detail about Her.

The walls have eyes and ears. And there is only so much I can get away with saying without repercussions.

[ He sighs a bit, frustratedly. ]

If you need protective custody, I can provide that.

I'm already going to be picking a fight with them since I suspect I'm not going to like what they want from my world. So I'm ready to go the extra mile, if that's what you need.

...But I need information, here, Sadame. I understand the risks you're probably facing, but you'd face them better with backup.

There isn't much protective custody you can give-- if it isn't Her Majesty that goes after me, there's always going to be another problem. *letting out a sigh.*

... Perhaps you need to ask things from a different direction. I just request that nothing comes back specifically to Her Majesty.

It's never a simple answer, it's always "you aren't asking the right questions" "I can't answer that", "the walls have ears", and people wonder why I like to punch problems-

[ He stops grumbling. ]

Fine, then let's ask a question about His Majesty.

Why did the Obsidian Lord geas both Norikos? I can understand your Noriko, but the fact mine can't talk about it either...

*holding up a hand*

I've only picked this up in passing. I'm not as intimately close with her, admittedly... but I know enough to give the only answer I know is close enough: A hive mind.

...Of course. It does make sense he'd have to get everyone in the hive mind... Which means Moeko and Momoko probably can't talk about it either. Ugh.

[ Continues to think. ]

I'm going to guess not all of you want the same thing, here. How many factions am I looking at? There's at least two that's been implied, from my initial investigating.

What are the two that you know of? I'm not aware of what your scope of knowledge is, after all.

*getting up to get one of the bottles of water. this is my space, currently. I can move if I wish to.*

[ He's certainly making no move to stop you. You get the sense as long as you're at least trying to answer his questions and not just, y'know, book it, he probably isn't going to do anything too forceful. ]

Her Majesty's camp and Noriko's camp. Her Majesty made it very clear when visiting the version of you I'm more familiar with that the two of them aren't aligned.

[THE ARBORETUM - SADAME (ANOTHER)]

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