Meeting Time!

[hotpaprika]

[On Wednesday morning, all the suites will find another note slid under their door. It seems much less formal this time, but the handwriting is still very distinct.]

I am holding another meeting today, at 5 o'clock. I am terribly sorry for the the location this time, but it will be in the dressing rooms at the department store, as that is one of the few places I could find that we would not be watched.

I ask, however, that you don't all come in at once, because I fear that otherwise, it could catch Fontaine's attention and may add further security measures.

I will be providing refreshments, although I welcome any additional help.

J. Harker

[The dressing rooms are, obviously, a very not ideal place to hold a meeting, but Jonathan had somewhat set things up so that they could at least talk to each other, with all the curtains pulled back and one stall reserved for some cakes and sandwiches. He politely greets everyone who enters but it's clear that he's somewhat wary from the motive.

When everyone arrives, he once again addresses the group.]

Good evening. I am sure last week was an icy shock to everyone that Fontaine is not content to let us live about in harmony. However, it is vital that we do not give up hope that we can find a way out of here, because when we do, Fontaine will have already won.

[He's trying to convince himself this as much as he's trying to convince everyone else.]

[ INFORMATION IDEAS GENERAL CHATTER ]

Comments

Information

[hotpaprika]

I suppose I should start by gathering any new information everyone has discovered since our last meeting. It does not matter how insignificant it seems; anything could be useful to us.

Re: Information

[giddyundertaker]

[ Well! Seems the Undertaker isn't withholding information this time. Not when he doesn't have too much to offer... Or maybe he's trying to distract himself as well? Who knows. ]

Do any of you know where this Unova place is? I found the name stamped on some of the products here.

[dullshooter]

It’s not any planet I’ve heard of…

[specialyellthing]

Sounds like the evil version of a place called Ova. [she's not being funny here. i hate dc comics.]

[fuckingguy]

Un-over...?

[kninja]

Never heard of it. Which products, though?

[bootyhunter]

There's a couple of NOVA-galaxy contingents back where I'm from, but this doesn't sound at all like the same thing.

[vholran]

No.

[ ... for once, Vholran is here at one of these 'meetings'. Amazing, but unfortunately he has no insight into this. ]

[daimakaicho]

Not anything I'm familiar with.

[allatonce]

............ Sounds familiar. I don't remember which 'verse it was, though.

[kninja]

[As Obi eats a sammich:]

You know those grates where the air comes in and out of these rooms? I checked out the one in the library. I couldn't get in, it's stuck on real tightly. But I heard some stuff inside. Metal... skittering noises? And music, both times that I checked. Is that normal?

[dullshooter]

[Misfire raises an eyebrow.]

…What kind of music?

[sixthnonsense]

Missy you're just gonna ignore the...? You know what, forget it.

That is definitely not normal and super creepy, what the hell?? That's some horror game crap- you're lucky to be alive.

[specialyellthing]

Normally when you hear that in Gotham, it means you got rats, and you're hearin your neighbors music. Or that the Joker's released some evil, musical wind-up toys that also play scary music.

Anyone see any rats?

[honeyedtea]

I've never heard skittering noises, but... Mafuyu heard music when she and the others accidentally found their way to the blocked off floor, didn't they?

[specialyellthing]

Nandor's a vampire. [she thinks she's funny.]

[inaclearing]

Unova's probably in another world somewhere. I found this tape...

[Brett didn't bring along his radio like he did last time. He has not been wanting to keep that thing nearby. But he keeps good notes, so he just takes out his notebook and reads the contents of the recording aloud.]

The medicine comes from an "Umbrella Corporation", if anyone's familiar with it.

[onemillion]

[Isn't this still going to look suspicious with all of us crammed in here... Well anyway!!]

I investigated the patio and found some rather odd things. The first is the layout of the patio itself: five tables, each with five chairs, arranged in a perfect pentagram.

[It was in bold so it's probably important! Also going to put it here for everyone but they were functionally identical, not an exact perfect match.]

One table had something scratched underneath it: Frank Fontaine won't save you. It didn't look as though it was recently carved in either.

I also found another tape in the bushes - here, please listen to it.

[This is one of those "it's easier to link it" things. Here you go!]

Finally, I spoke with the Mayor about the hostages and Hodaka's... execution. The girl that killed him - Hina - looked to be the same as his hostage, but he confirmed that was not the case. The hostages were real, but since he sent them home, he used a fake for the execution.

[sastruga]

How many of you have been listening to your radios? The recordings... I know they're uncomfortable, so I won't blame anyone for ignoring them.

[It's probably safer if they all pretend not to hear it, really.]

But I noticed something about it. The second recording I heard, when I tried to tune the radio -- of something that hasn't happened. The voices sounded off.

It sounded like it had been digitally mixed.

[howveryglib]

I noticed that some of the sculpting tools were missing from the art supply store, though I cannot exactly say what the significance of that may be.

Ideas

[hotpaprika]

With last week, we should likely expand our planning to include how to keep each other safe, as well as how to stop Fontaine.

Buddy system?

[hotpaprika]

Ever since last week, I've been considering the possibility of us pairing off whenever we go out at night. I am aware there is an odd number of us, so one group would have to contain three people. However, I believe that having us all watch over each other would vital to us surviving here.

General Chatter

[hotpaprika]

[And everything else! Have at it!]

Pre-meeting bonus

[hotpaprika]

[If you show up at the Department Store before 5, you will see Jonathan setting up. More importantly, you will see that he brought his radio with him that he sometimes finds himself just... staring at as he listens to the broadcast.

It starts off quietly, with gentle footsteps, followed by heavier footsteps and the sound of chain rattling. Then, a large door creaks open and two men begin talking to each other. It's clear that one voice belongs to Jonathan, but the other man's voice is... strange. He's speaking perfect English, but something just seems off about it.]

Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!

[A pause.]

Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!

Count Dracula?

I am Dracula; and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house. Come in; the night air is chill, and you must need to eat and rest.

Oh, thank you kindly, but I really shouldn't impose-

Nay, sir, you are my guest. It is late, and my people are not available. Let me see to your comfort myself.

[The footsteps continue as light chatter is made, but Jonathan stares at the radio in complete sorrow, almost mesmerized in despair.]

"i tried it so you don't have to" ama

[allatonce]

[Joy's perched on top of one of dressing room dividers. Don't ask how she got up there.]

Not to be like "this motive is just psychological manipulation and I'm going to be really disappointed in whoever falls for it," but it is something I have experience with so let's do a little AMA. [A beat.] That means "ask me anything." Just realized only like four of you probably have Reddit.