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redstringtheories2021-11-01 08:28 am
TDM #5
(cw: potential for severe disorientation/vertigo, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, body horror)
It happens in the blink of an eye. You may have been asleep. You may not have. You may have stepped through a door or turned a corner. You may have seen a flicker of something at the corner of your vision and turned to look. Or maybe you didn't.
It doesn't matter. What matters is that you find yourself somewhere entirely new and entirely unfamiliar. The arrival point is not always the same. (If you're lucky, it might be a canteen or an open office. If you're not, well... you aren't claustrophobic, are you? Or arachnophobic. These ducts do seem to be a bit cobwebby.) There is no one waiting for you but you don’t seem to be alone, either. Even in a janitor’s closet or the bathroom, you’ll find at least one person who seems to be just as out of place as you are.
If characters have arrived in a location devoid of NPCs, they may want to work together to figure out what is going on... or to avoid their 'kidnappers.' If you’ve arrived in the middle of the entry foyer or the gym, there may well be a few people who startle a bit at your arrival and try to approach (or discreetly leave the room... where are they going?). Will you cooperate or fight? Do you even understand what they're saying? You might need to find a translator, if you’re not immediately willing to follow a stranger.
After characters follow their new hosts (or are forcibly taken in) there will be a limited tour and the chance to settle in at the ADI-provided housing. (Do you enjoy living with strangers? Well. It's a new situation to navigate, anyway.)
(cw: nephophobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia, potential for a fate worse than death)
Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. The Apocalypse Disruption Initiative (ADI) is not above taking advantage of that to test out the waters for its newest arrivals. They're not looking to send anyone to their death, though, especially not with recent events that have transpired surrounding Dogtown. An employee gives you a number to call if anything truly dangerous happens and you've been left with another person at the trailhead. Maybe they're a new arrival, as well, or a more seasoned 'veteran.' Either way, you're together for the next while and you've been asked to find and record any paranormal activity in the park. You have your phones and any other equipment you might have brought with you. Those who succeed in documenting anything peculiar will receive a $100 reward to be used as they see fit.
It's a cool and cloudy November day, which, given the season, isn't unusual. The sky's the sort of dark gray that promises rain sooner rather than later, and there's a weight to what's above as pairs move about Dogtown in search of anything unusual. For once, the place seems to be… normal. It's just a walk or hike through the woods depending on the paths you decide to take.
At least until you look up. It's hard to tell there's anything off at first. The clouds loom above, rumbling moodily with thunder and continuing to threaten a cold shower. Perhaps you planned ahead and have brought an umbrella or donned a poncho or raincoat. ADI would be happy to provide such things. But each time you look up, the sky seems to be getting closer.
It's not elevation. There are some hills around Dogtown, but certainly nothing that would make a marked difference on how close the clouds are. No, those are coming down. Slowly, but surely, the sky is lowering itself toward you and even the least supernaturally aware person will likely have the sense that they are being menaced. The sky wants them.
It may be wise to find a lower elevation and get out of Dogtown… if that's even the problem. The gray wall above seems to stretch in every direction without an end. No breaks for blue skies, no lighter spots where the sun might be starting to burn through. It's a uniform and inevitable crush downward. Seemingly. Whether one can overcome the fear or not, that sense of oppression and vastness is inescapable. The sky is coming down and it will crush you, much like the other pressures in your life that come bubbling to the fore. There are so many of them, aren't there? Little things start to seem enormous when they're all stacked up together. Impossibly huge. How could anyone overcome this?
Those who escape the borders of Dogtown will quickly find that it's only the park that's been affected. The broader town is fine. It's a hazy day, but there are spots of sunlight and the clouds are heavy, but far above where they should be.
Those foolish enough to stay and see what happens… well…
Enjoy sky blue. It's where you'll be trapped forever.
(cw: body horror; uncanny valley; organs; items made from body parts; anatomical models)
Also on ADI's radar this month is Things of Beauty, a small antiques and curiosity shop in the heart of the city. It seems the shop has recently made radical changes to its inventory and marketing; seemingly overnight the previously sleepy little shop full of run of the mill antiques is now home to a bizarre assortment of unsettling curios of unspecified origin. A local-born staff member had brought the matter to the attention of ADI's higher-ups after observing the sudden change to what had been a local institution, if a quietly failing one (and an equally sudden influx of curious tourists at the shop), and off-worlders have now been requested to engage in subtle investigations into the matter.
Those who take on the work will be given a small allowance for purchases from Things of Beauty. Their mission is to observe the comings and goings in the shop for anything suspicious, take note of the inventory, and bring back sample items for testing (failing to bring back either the money or an item with a receipt will result in a black mark on one's employee record). You'll also be encouraged to try to get names of other customers, particularly any locals, to enable follow-up investigations in case the shop is distributing cursed objects to the general public. Above all, you are requested not to make a scene, as ADI's purpose in sending multiple off-worlders on separate visits (particularly new arrivals) is to get eyes on the scene without alerting the shop's owner or staff that they're under investigation. As such, you'll generally be dropped off a few blocks from the shop in pairs at various times of the day.
Things of Beauty itself might be described as cozy if only it weren't for the shelves upon shelves of uncomfortably organic-looking or body-themed knickknacks. Selections include beads and small toys carved from bone; half-animal, half-vegetable figurines; squeeze toys with realistic plastic guts that pop out of their mouths; and dolls that double as anatomical models, among others.
The shop is manned most of the time by its owner, Kahlil Nassiri. He's friendly enough but avoids engaging in conversation beyond small talk and won't respond to any questions about the change in inventory--if pressed, he'll find some excuse to go to the back room to deal with some urgent business there instead of continuing the conversation. Best not to take advantage of his absence, though; the shop does have security cameras.
(cw: ghosts, compulsion, potential for violence, severe injury, severed limbs)
TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have all been buzzing with the latest meme: Real Magic? Real Magic! Cut together clips of what seems to be stage magic that can be explained followed by seemingly inexplicable 'real magic.' Fire, electricity, phasing through materials, flying… An endless parade of amateur and more expert videos have been popping up.
Some of them have been catching ADI's eyes as they seem like they might be legitimate. Particularly the ones with IP addresses that indicate they're relatively local. It's not the high production-value ones that ADI seems to be most concerned with, but rather, the ones where there's unusual blurring, distortion, or warping associated with the videos. For the most part, these are the ones that are, in fact, being roundly trounced on social media as being poor fakes.
ADI doesn't think so.
Given the sheer volume of these, they're farming out investigations to staff. Everyone will find themselves partnered up with another person and given a video or someone's account to investigate. The videos being investigated have all come from relatively local IP addresses, and ADI is requesting people track down the creators of the videos or the sites where the filming is occurring. More veteran off-worlders might well recognize one of the locations within the video. Or the tech savvy may be able to pinpoint a more specific location.
By and large, characters will discover that the videos are, in fact, fakes. But perhaps you'll get lucky. Perhaps you'll find someone who's got wrapped up with a cursed object or you'll find a location where something truly supernatural is going on. Strange toys that seem to move when you're not watching are especially prevalent around Dogtown, and ghostly figures linger in town, particularly in the remote graveyards and railyard just after sunset.
If the toys manage to reach you, you'll find yourself with an impulsive desire to stab someone. Just… one stab. Just a little violence. The spectral figures have a similarly vicious streak attached to them. Those who get too close to try to communicate will hear strange music, and find themselves compelled to inflict violence on the next person they come across. Violence that might coincide with whatever injuries appear to be present on the ghosts. A stab, a severed limb, maybe something else… Just the attempt at inflicting this violence seems to sate the bloodlust. For now.
- ARRIVAL (Nov 1 - 31): Two people will always arrive in the same general location together. Arrivals occur throughout the early month, not all on the same day or in the same place. Arrivals are not naturally fluent in English/other languages immediately upon arrival. Characters may attempt to evade capture, but they will eventually be snagged before they can leave the building. PC's already in-game are more than welcome to interact with and try to guide new PC's to get them oriented. Please refer to the Arrival page for details regarding the arrival and onboarding process.
- BOTH SIDES NOW (Nov 1 - 31): The descending clouds will cause characters to experience anxiety over the sheer number and size of problems in their lives. Even minor concerns will become mountainous, seemingly insurmountable in the face of everything else. Leaving Dogtown will stop the effects immediately. If a character remains in Dogtown to see the clouds come down all the way, they will be taken by an Entity to suffer a fate worse than death. Please bear in mind that if a character comes to this in the TDM prompt, they are gone. A different version who doesn't have TDM memories may be apped in their place.
- CURIOSITY SHOP (Nov 1-31): As Kahlil will not be available as a mod-played NPC for this prompt, players are requested to assume he generally avoids conversation. If you have any questions about how he or any unnamed NPCs would react to particular situations, please use the mod questions thread below. Characters who look into the shop's background will find that until very recently it was a completely ordinary antiques shop originally run by Kahlil's parents before he inherited it around ten years ago, and that the shop and its owner have been struggling financially. Items obtained from the shop will have no apparent supernatural effects whatsoever.
- SCREEN MAGIC (Nov 1-31): The videos your characters are investigating may be anything with a seemingly supernatural component. If you find an NPC making them, they will be an ordinary person (usually on the younger side) who has simply stumbled across something extraordinary. More likely, they're someone who's just faked what was on the screen and will be very upset that you're harshing their meme groove. It's just TikTok! It's just IG! They're doing it for the views! Toys in this prompt will vanish once they get close to your character or if a character destroys them. They cannot be collected. Ghosts will similarly vanish if characters get too close. Trying to communicate with them via ordinary or supernatural means will result in characters hearing strange music and feeling an overwhelming compulsion to go and inflict violence on the next person they see.
Kim Kitsuragi | Disco Elysium
[He'd gone out to grab coffee, that's what he tells himself. It shouldn't have been more than a few minutes at the most, at yet the walk back turned out to be anything but familiar. The door to the hostel opened up to a hallway, and that hallway would lead him to nowhere familiar. Questions were asked, and his frustration was plenty. Kim didn't even have his coffee, and he swore his hand was still warm from it.
He's been wandering after getting an explanation that hasn't seemed to sink in yet, opening a door and slowing at what appears to be a library. Stacks of books, shelves filled with them and computer terminals. Familiar, but not too familiar.
Curling his fingers, he pulls out his notebook and moves to walk down one of the rows of shelves, seeing if anything makes sense. He's dreaming, he has to be. It's all a strange hallucination caused by a lack of sleep and strengthened by the last bits of adrenaline leaving his body. He'll wake up soon.] .... Hm. That's no good.
[He can read the spines of these books, which only makes him think that he's not dreaming, and that makes his stomach twist.]
II. Both Sides Now.
[Kim isn't superstitious but he has had a recent turn of events in his life that tells him it wouldn't be bad if he did a double-take every now and then, or if he opened his mind to other possibilities. This is less of a baby step however, and more like throwing a child into the ocean. It's an experiment in seeing how much a person can take, he's gathered from this all.
Still, it's better to take this seriously than risk it and get injured for the sake of thinking he knows better. This place is different, and there are no familiar faces. Glancing over his shoulder, Kim fixes his collar and nods his head to the other person he's been partnered with.]
... Can I make a suggestion? We should get away from that. [It'd be easier to blame this on his eyesight, but things like The Pale make Kim think: don't stick around to see.] Let's find a way lower, yes?
III. Screen Magic
[Technology is always changing, developing past what becomes the norm, and it's always a challenge to learn. What's new replaces the old, turns into the standard, and the cycle repeats. At least he knows how to investigate properly, even if this isn't as professional.]
What about that person over there? They look busy with... something. [He'd be lying if he said he understood everything that was told to them. Lips pursing together, Kim lets out a sigh.] Maybe you should take the lead?
IV. Wildcard.
[Go wild go crazy?]
I
[The bespectacled man's musing is interrupted by the pensive-sounding voice of an equally bespectacled young woman in office attire, who seems to have just stepped into the library with a book hugged against her chest. She hesitates, but only for a beat before taking a step towards his direction.]
Are you okay, mister?
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It's just that I'm beginning to think this isn't a dream and I am awake. [It's an awful realization. Regardless, he turns to properly face the stranger, hands folding behind his back.] How does anyone adjust to that?
... You're not from here, are you?
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The medical facilities are on floor B3, by the way. It shouldn't hurt to get a checkup, if you're feeling out of sorts.
[His answer confirm his situation, however, making it immediately certain beyond doubt that he's a(nother) new arrival to Gloucester. He's likely already gone through 'orientation' too, judging by his choice of words and fluent use of English.]
That's right. Being dragged into a different world entirely so suddenly, it's unreasonable to ask anyone to accept that calmly. [She offers an apologetic but warm smile, knowing it's not much consolation given the facts of their current reality.] I'm not, no. I found myself here about a month and a half ago.
[A beat.]
My name is Ciel. May I ask for yours, too?
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[His accent is heavy (closer to French), but his words are clear. Chin down in thought, it's only for a moment before he recomposes himself and offers a hand, his grip firm if she decides to shake it.]
Kim Kitsuragi, lieutenant. [Head tilting, his lips mouth the name she gives him before he repeats it.] It's nice to meet you, Ciel. ... As nice as it can be.
Has this library been helpful in your time here?
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[She doesn't seem to mind, smile widening as she saunters over to his side without any trace of hesitation or uncertainty in her step. His accent is noted, but not a specific detail she thinks is worth making small talk over, even if her own is a light and French one as well. His handshake is warmly returned, grip energetic in its reciprocation. If his gaze is wandering a bit, he may also catch the title of the book in her other arm: "Magic in Massachusetts", it seems to read.]
You too, lieutenant Kitsuragi. We unfortunately can't do much about our situation, so we may as well make the best out of it, in my opinion. [That he gave a clearly Japanese name yet sports a heavy French accent is the far more unique combination, but she holds off on her curiosity. Maybe she can ask him about it later, once he's less off-kilter from simply being here at ADI.]
This library mostly contains books about local myths and legends, as our assigned work here is to investigate and resolve supernatural incidents that threaten the stability of this world. In other words, it's all mostly work related, but you could easily treat them as simply fiction too, given the subject content. I read them for both those reasons myself, aha. [Her smile grows a tad sheepish at the confession, but she doesn't look too guilty about it, either.]
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Moving to open his notebook again, he starts to write a few things down that Ciel's told him with confidence. Mainly the location of the clinic, the details about the public areas. He also writes down the title of the book in her arms, though that's with some skepticism. His handwriting is quick, nearly illegible on first glance but it's how he operates.]
Right, you raise a good point. No use kicking rocks at the wall when there are other things to be done. [Lifting his eyes at her explanation of the library, he glances at the shelves around them. The corners of his lips twitch up just slightly, some comfort in his amusement at that.] Do you have any recommendations for fiction? Maybe I'll check one out to keep me sane while trying to learn.
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[His scribbling is spared a glance, but she doesn't try to make out what he may be writing. It's a good idea honestly, whether taking notes or keeping a journal. Not really her kind of thing though, so she doesn't dwell.]
Hm... How about something that's a collection of different stories? There's a few like that here, they bring variety and can give you a general idea of what to expect. I remember "Something Wicked", it speculates about the life of a different woman that the author believes to be a witch with each new chapter. There's also "Dogtown Digest", a magazine series that reads more like tabloids, but do cover testimonies of locals who have supposedly witnessed odd happenings in that part of town.
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[Kim's head tilts thoughtfully at the suggestion, writing in the margins as she mentions titles, the details going in shorthand underneath.]
Small accounts of people here... that actually sounds pretty good. [A nod as he marks a small asterisk beside the titles.] What do the locals make of all this, are they used to it by now? I can't imagine adjusting to something like this being easy.
1/2
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i
This could be an incorrect assumption, of course. A library's not a library without an individual who looks like they can't find what they're seeking, new or otherwise. And so Stephen plainly approaches with a book tucked neatly under his arm.
(He's dressed like a sorcerer today, but surely that's of no mind.)]
What are you looking for? I can probably help.
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So maybe he stares, dumbfounded for a moment before he reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose, glasses pushed askew. In the moment, there's a slow breath, deliberate. Once he finishes, he closes the notebook and sobers up.]
A way back would be preferred, but I doubt that's what you meant. [Straightening up, Kim can't help but give the man a lookover one more time, just to make sure.] What are the options here, adjust or continue to struggle in denial?
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If Stephen suspects that his garb is a curiosity, well. That’s nothing new. The once-over isn’t so much as acknowledged, instead giving the stranger a vaguely sympathetic look. His mouth twists wryly.]
Denial will only get you so far. Acceptance is generally the healthier option.
[He gestures at him.]
Even better, commiseration works, too. What better motivator is there to find a way back home, than to share in the distaste of being away from it?
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A healthy way of coping, that doesn't sound awful when you put it that way. [This is a man who has never fathomed leaving home, much less Elysium itself. He extends a hand out with a nod.] Kim Kitsuragi.
[A pause, the creature of habit within held back from stating his occupation] Are there— additional things we should be sharing with one another? Job, origin...
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Stephen completes the handshake. His own grip is weak and faintly unsteady, his hand lined with scars — but the gesture is without hesitation all the same.]
Doctor Stephen Strange. I work in medical. [The job title is in the name. Or at least one job title.] I’m from Earth, or one version of it. For all intents and purposes, I’m a sorcerer, though my magic is severely hindered in this world.
[And a pause, if Kim wants dole out his own checklist of perfunctory, introductory factoids.]
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Is magic a step past cryptids, or is it several instances away?]
You're aptly named and dressed, it's... surprising? [Kim continues before he loses whatever is managing to keep him from calling bullshit. It's only fair to give as much as he gets, and being professional is difficult considering the initial response he'd given. ] Right. I'm a lieutenant, from the 57th Precinct in Revachol. I don't believe it's a version of Earth, if we're comparing notes.
[He should be writing this down in his notebook, he knows. The problem is, he's not sure how much of it he's actively retaining.]
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His lips quirk, but he says nothing. It’s not the first time he’s heard it, and likely not the last.]
That depends on what you’re used to. Magic has become my normal. And police work, I imagine, is yours.
[The connection is formed, solid and certain before he even utters the words.]
Revachol— That’s not the first I’ve heard of it. You don’t happen to know or work with a man named Harry, do you?
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Du Bois? Yes, we were partnered together on a case. [Wait. The implication makes his stomach twist. (Has he caused any trouble?)] He's here, is what you're saying.
... I wish I could say I was surprised. Is that bad?
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wildcard/both sides
he's holding onto his third coffee cup of the day in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, walking as fast as his legs permit today. better to get this over with. he makes a turn down the path and spots a man in orange up ahead. must be his newbie.
CONCEPTUALIZATION - Hold on. That's no ordinary shade of orange. It's *pale-aged* orange.
COMPOSURE - That jacket isn't any ordinary jacket either. It's an aerostatic revolutionary bomber jacket, finely tailored to fit the specific measurements of the wearer.
ESPIRT DE CORPS - Enough stalling. You knew who it was from the moment your eyes spotted his emblemed back. Now go greet your half-brother.
an easy smile lights up, unrestrained. he opens his mouth-
SUGGESTION - Wait! Hold on. *Idea* right here.
VOLITION - Oh no. Don't listen to this guy. His ideas are always horrible.
SUGGESTION - Silence, boring crown. You should sneak up on him, stealthily, and *then* say hi. Directly into his ear.
HAND/EYE COORDINATION - That sounds like a fast ticket to getting socked in the face on accident. Or worse.
INLAND EMPIRE - But won't it be... *interesting*?
DRAMA - Verrrrryyy, sire.
-then shuts it. the smile creases up into a devilish smirk and he takes action.
SAVOIR FAIRE - The lieutenant may have poor eyesight, but his ears are sharp. You don't slow your steps, but you become more intentional at softly padding the ground below to move without sound. The foliage of the changing seasons poses challenge as you side-step dead leaves that would surrender your location. Finally, you make it to him. He doesn't *seem* to be aware of your presence, but who can say with the Lieutenant?
DRAMA - Do it, sire! Open your mouth, suck in air, and- ]
*HEY* KIM!
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Still, something crawls up his spine. For a moment he thinks that maybe he'll wake up from this whole thing. What happens next is better at the least (misery loves company).
He doesn't jump. Kim takes in a breath that's slow despite how his whole body tenses up the the suddenness of... everything. The volume has him turn on his heel and he reaches into his jacket, only stopping when he registers the familiarity of the voice. Slowly but surely, Kim loosens his posture and frowns before crossing the distance between him and the lieutenant-yefreitor.]
My god, man. What did you go and do that for? [He fixes his glasses, having skewed slightly from his jump that didn't happen.]
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I couldn't resist! [ if he were not holding coffee and a water bottle, he may very well reach out for an ill-advised hug. at the very least a rowdy pat on the back. ] It's good to see you man. Oh wow, it's been *months* Kim, months, since I plopped into this reality. What are the odds?
[ his first several days may have been filled with daily thoughts of wishing kim were with him. they quietly faded off with time, even if not a week would pass without his partner crossing his mind. ]
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How have you been managing? Certainly haven't lost your eccentricities. [There's no guilt— how could Kim have known? At the least, he's here to help now however he can. It is odd to consider, that Kim should arrive after Harry has settled. If he didn't know any better, Kim might think it a twist of fate, or maybe odd luck. Regardless, he feels as if he'd follow Harry anywhere. (And that's just from working one case together.)] You look different, for what it's worth.
[Good, bad? Kim's still deciding. The smiling isn't a bad look, at least.]
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PERCEPTION (SMELLING) - At least you don't smell like liquor and death. ]
Thanks! You look - well, about the same as I remember. [ it's a good thing. he shrugs and then looks at his hands, still occupied. ] I was told to come out here to meet a *newbie* for an investigation. Guess we're partnered once again. Ah, do you want coffee or water? Coffee's black.
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I'll take the coffee if you don't want it. Thank you. [Reaching over, he takes a sip before looking back over his shoulder. Brow furrowing at the clouds, he shakes his head and brings his attention back to his partner.] I know what they told me, but do you want to go over what we're supposed to do?
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Yeah, sure. [ he says in a small gasp post-water chug. ] So this is Dogtown. It's a nature walk into a hellhole dimension where supra-natural anomalies happen. Either that or people lay out traps for you to get caught in while wild boars hang around guarding dead bodies.
[ a beat, then- ] So anyway, we were asked to investigate the area and report anything we find. Get a small cash incentive for it. Which is important because, and I don't know if you know this yet, but things here cost *triple* what they do in Revachol. I'm not kidding, inflation here fucks you over hard.
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So instead, he pulls out his notebook to compare what he retained to what Harry says. He crosses out some words and makes corrections while still listening, head nodding until the last part. Then Kim looks up and purses his lips together.]
It's hard enough to afford things in Revachol... what a pain. [A sigh and he tapes the end of his pen against the page.] Right. I'll follow your lead then, detective. I am the newcomer here, after all.
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