My heart is being guided to that place

[scriptwriter]

🧙 WHO: Kotarou and You
⚔️️ WHAT: Ghost hunting and Questing
🕒 WHEN: Throughout October
🗺️ WHERE: Camelot Academy, Broceliande (Bunker Down quest) and various streets in Camelot (Suns Out, Guns Out quest)
⚠️ WARNINGS: None so far!

A - Who You Gonna Call?

[Now this wasn't on the quest board, but hearing some funny business about a potential ghost at the Academy made Kotarou's hunting instincts tingle. It wouldn't be the last time that he had done some digging into a ghost mystery, but he hoped that this wasn't anything major. Even after everything that he dealt with, he felt that ghosts were still terrifying. And yet, he couldn't control his lips curling into a big devil-may-care smirk as he steps into the darkness of the Academy hallways. Now this took him back to the old days of prowling Kazamatsuri Academy at night like a wild delinquent.

There's been some students who have mentioned supernatural happenings so far. But Kotarou had to remember that this was a city where the supernatural was the norm. It could've been as simple as someone pulling magical pranks on students here. Regardless, he's holding up a small make-shift flashlight (a small harden light pole projecting, well, light) as he's walking his way through.]

Okaaaaay! It's investigation time! Hopefully, the good little boys and girls are studying back at their homes. Right now... Ghost Hunter Tennouji is out to protect the dignity of academics, human decency and the girl's locker room!

[Well. He hoped that he wouldn't have to go in there since there's been rumors of activities happening even in the most forbidden realm men fear to tread.]

B - Bunker Down

[Now Kotarou's never assembled beds before, but he was familiar with building fences and doing some yard work. He felt with the big man instructing him on the specifics... This would be a piece of cake! Currently, he was assembling a set of legs and moving onto the hammering part. Not only carrying the wood around made for good exercise, he was taking this opportunity to try and meet new people. Though it's a bit quiet and tense with everyone focusing so deeply on the bed building.]

La la la~ ♪ I am the strongest in the village~! ♪ Lu lu lu~ Someone pass me some nails~!

[Yes, Kotarou is singing to try and liven up the atmosphere. Unfortunately, his singing is awful which might make bed making a lot more difficult. If you aren't working on the beds along with them, then feel free to catch him on a lunch break or meet him whenever he's leaving the woodworking site at the end of the day.]

C - Suns Out, Guns Out

[For this quest, Kotarou had figured that the best way to handle this would be to go undercover. He had a set of fake glasses and decided to buy a long black wig to change his appearance. The icing on the cake was giving himself a fake name. Now his Legendary Spy persona was complete! This might've been a shady way to make some money, but it never hurt to keep an ear to the ground regarding the shady parts of Camelot. Sitting on a bench, Kotarou had a bag of snacks and a can of coffee that was drinking from. Once he was finished, he sticks his tongue out with a disgusted look.]

Ugh... Carbonated coffee doesn't lay a finger to homemade coffee. But at least it's pretty peaceful so far.

[There's one part of Kotarou that wants some action, but there's also another part of him that wants things to stay quiet. There's two wolves inside him that craves a departure from boredom and another that wants to lay low. At the very least, the refugees seem to have been mostly peaceful regarding protection fees so far. His conversationalist skills have been paying off! Kotarou still had some ground cover regarding the street sector that he was assigned to, so he was currently taking a break.]

"And yet, the night air stinks tonight." [He scoffs after making a deep and scratchy Batman-esque voice.] Hah! That's what a hard-boiled noir detective would say in times like this, right?

D - Wildcard

[Interested in another scenario or had another idea? Feel free to hit me up on DeanDrive or Metin#1851 on discord if you to discuss something else.]

Comments

B

[fujimaru]

[ Ritsuka has thankfully escaped the singing, but now it's lunchtime.

By which one means she's got some sort of small prepackaged thing, picking through the layers of soggy bread and flattened meat product with an idle kind of fascination. Apparently, no matter where you go, no matter how fantastical, a deli cooler sandwich is always going to be the same. Her (nonexistent) kingdom for yakisoba pan.

In the end, she decides to just eat the bread, but as she's headed to dump the rest, she catches sight of him. ]

--Hey, Kotarou-kun. You're helping out too?

[scriptwriter]

[Her precious eardrums have been spared from the unholy siren called Tennouji Kotarou!

He was in the middle of stretching his arms with a bit of a yawn before he catches a tuff of red hair, then hears Ritsuka's voice. He'll hold his hand up for a wave and flashes her a bit of sheepish grin. He had to wonder if she heard his singing because there's been some complaints here or there... Her reaction seemed normal, so maybe he was in the clear!]

Hey there, Fuji-tan! Yeah, that's right. I figured that I add a little extra muscle to this whole bed operation. [His eyes glance down to the "food" that she was holding in her hand.] Uh... What the hell is that? Did you find some kind of mystical worm out here?

[fujimaru]

It's cheap, is what it was.

[ Ritsuka, don't you actually have gold right now? Yes, but you don't go from years of living on a limited allowance to living with no money to returning to a society that uses cash and know what to do with yourself. She shows him the mess of barely picked-at coldcuts, shrugging. ]

I appreciate them trying, but this Camelot could learn a thing or two from Japan's combinis, you know? It'd be nice for there to be options other than just mystery sandwiches.

[scriptwriter]

[Don't mind Kotarou as he leans in to actually sniff the coldcuts in Ritsuka's hand and he quickly covers his nose with a big whine. This thing smelt over a week old! He could even feel his eyes tearing up from the stench!]

Uuuuuuuggggh!! Just how old is this?! You're definitely right on these sandwiches lacking that classic patented Japanese hospitality and cleanliness! There's no love in this food!

[And yet, his stomach is growling... That reminded him that he forgot to get something for himself. He should actually go out of his way to take care of that, but first things first.]

Here's my suggestion! Toss it in the trash or keep it in your Item Bag as a secret weapon. You could probably cast poison on someone or something if you throw it like a bomb.

[fujimaru]

I was just gonna throw it out. If I put it in my bag, I'm just gonna forget it's there, and then I'm the one who's gonna suffer.

[ Laundry is enough of a pain without making it worse for herself by having rotting food around. But the theatrics from Kotarou do get a brief little smile out of her before she shrugs. ]

It's not any worse than some of the stuff I've eaten... I wouldn't say no to something better if I had the chance, though. But when it comes to cooking, I usually just buy food over making it.

[scriptwriter]

What the hell? Shouldn't you be more worried about your weight and paying attention to your figure and all that jazz? Not to sound like a mother hen, but you're still a blossoming young girl living in the prime of her youth!

[Even Kotarou is finding this lack of self-care a bit worrying over here! It was really reminding him of Kotori. She doesn't really look much after herself either despite acting like bundle of flowers. he pauses a moment in a bit of deep thought. This must be the Fujimaru Effect... Yes, I'm going to call this mysterious phenomena that! As a pursuer of supernatural phenomena... I think that this will require further study. He could already see the scientist lab coat on his body... Heh, he felt smarter and more empowered now.]

Since I don't have my lunch... I was thinking that we could raid the old man's kitchen back there. If we ask him reeeeaaaally nicely, I'm sure he'll let us in. Plus this is a good chance for me to fulfill my promise of making you a bento.

[fujimaru]

Kotarou-kun, why do you sound like the girls I went to school with... Or like my grandma...

[ The last part Ritsuka mutters mostly under her breath. The fact that he's clearly gone on some kind of mental tangent yet again is a little worrying. She doesn't think she's that mysterious! Why does he keep getting confused! ]

And also, is it really raiding if you ask? Considering he's helping out with these efforts in the first place, he's probably on the generous side. I'll even clean, if that helps sweeten the deal.

[scriptwriter]

Isn't it more like an adventure if you call it a 'raid'? Plus he doesn't seem to like my handsome singing voice, so you can bat your eyes a bit to weaken his defense! I need some extra muscle just in case.

[Some reassurance never hurts! Sometimes, Kotarou couldn't help and see life through an RPG lens. It's too bad that his genre savvyness wasn't always correct! He'll have Ritsuka a hearty pat on the back.]

Do you plan on cleaning all by yourself? I don't think I can let that slide, partner.

A

[silvergarden]

[Ghosts!!!!!! Usually Rinea wouldn't bother with anything this terrifyingly supernatural, but she has a ghost-warding potion to refine, goddamnit. Might as well use it in the service of scholars!!!!!!!!

Rinea titters a bit at his declaration, the lantern in her hand bobbing with the motion.]

What is a "locker room," mister Kotarou?

[scriptwriter]

Huuuuh? You don't know? A locker room is--

[Kotarou was about to begin his big explanation before he pauses for a double take. He spoke to this girl over the network!]

R-Rinea-san?! Wait, wait, wait... I'll raise your question with another question! What the heck are you doing here so late?

[silvergarden]

Why, the same as you! [She giggles again-- Kotarou's reactions are so exaggerated! It certainly helps fight off the gloom of the dark and empty school, though that might be antithetical to ghost-hunting.]

A ghost that can be seen or heard by people who are not death mages, but not too dangerous... I thought I might be able to practice with my newest potion. [She raises the arm not holding the lantern; the bag hanging from her elbow clinks lightly as the bottles inside shift.]

But it was a little frightening to explore alone... may I accompany you?

[scriptwriter]

You know, I've never met a death mage before. The only images that I can have of one is the hardcore heavy metal dudes who rock the long haired emo look.

[Let's just say that Kotarou has a very vivid imagination. Still, he looks more composed now that Rinea is here. Plus if she had a potion, this could help out with exorcising this ghost he's been hearing about. He had to admit that having someone long with him made this a little less terrifying, indeed.]

Alright, sure! That will make you the official Sage in my party and I'm the Hero leading us along. If we're gonna be following traditional RPG rules, then you'll have to follow me from behind in an orderly manner. [A beat.] Just kidding! But you should stay close to me, okay? We don't know what other kinds of tricks that this spooky spectral can pull off.

[silvergarden]

[Rinea only knows like half of those words, but she nods anyway. Whatever you say, Kotarou! Death mages are made of metal!]

Thank you very much for escorting me.

[She walks beside him, their footsteps echoing faintly down the empty corridor.]

In my home country, Sage is a title reserved for men. May I be a Priestess instead?

[scriptwriter]

Sure thing! As the leader of this party, I'm very lenient to my fellow party members. You can be whatever you want. Ah, except for the leader since that title belongs to moi.

[He says "moi" with rather exaggerated french. It'd sound much more awkward if his Japanese accent was in affect here.]

I'm actually glad that you came. As a girl, you'll be able to go into places that I can't. The girl's locker room is a holy realm that men shouldn't invade unless they have a death wish. And right now, I'm trying not to trip any death flags.

[silvergarden]

So a "locker room" is a holy realm? [Rinea wasn't aware of the school having a convent, but "robust religious studies" doesn't seem too far-fetched of an idea.] Then it is a relief indeed that I have taken on the Priestess role. Hehe.

[Their comedy of errors is however soon interrupted by the loud, eerie sound of a door creaking slowly open further down the hall. Oh Boy]

C - Suns Out, Guns Out

[peninhand]

[ While Kotarou was sitting on the bench and enjoying his break, a conversation could be heard in the distance. At first, it was only gibberish. But as the people discussing grew closer and closer, he would be able to hear a familiar voice speaking. ]

... and I have spoken with the knights. You are under King Arthur's protection now. Anyone threatening you to get "protection fee" will be dealt with most harshly.

[ The people talking were two women. One of them was a middle-aged refugee from Lestari. The other was an offworlder much like Kotarou: Monika. She had in hand a pink staff, with a heart-shaped crystal at the tip. She looked very serious as she replied to the woman. The refugee thanked Monika, who smiled in return. ]

Please go back home, alright? You're safe now.

[ The woman nodded and left, Monika stopping close to Kotarou's bench. She sighed and shook her head. She had had no idea there was organized crime in Camelot... She really shouldn't get involved in that, but it was a bit too late now. Gosh. She really kept getting caught up in the worst things, huh.

She turned around to go on her way, but spotted the mysterious figure sitting on the bench. And she just assumed he was someone she'd never met before. He'd probably heard their discussion... She looked at him apolegtically. ]

Oh, sorry. I hope we didn't bother you, sir. Please be careful around here, alright? [She put a hand on her hip and looked at him sadly.] I've been told a gang of ruthless criminals prey on people around here... They even racketeer refugees who lost everything last month. Isn't that horrible?

[scriptwriter]

[Was that Monika chatting over here? Oh, it looked like she was talking to the woman about the protection fees--

Wait, wait, wait... Kotarou knew that voice and that white bow was something that he couldn't forget even if he tried. What makes him turn ten shades of blue was the fact that Monika was doing something so dangerous without a disguise on?! She was dealing with criminals and shady people here! It was important to approach this with some anonymity! At the very least, Kotarou has managed not to seriously hurt anyone. Just gently asking to pay the fee and if they couldn't, then he'd keep moving! Trying to wiggle your way into a grey zone to keep your eyes and ears open for criminal activity that could hurt your friends was difficult. Especially whenever one of them was sitting right there and getting mixed up in it!

What the hell!? What the HELL!? Does she have any sense of self-preservation!? No, more importantly... Why do I keep getting into these kind of situations with her?! Now that Monika was here, Kotarou was starting to realize the seriousness of the situation now. He might've stuck his nose into something truly dangerous!]

N-No, uh... I was just taking a walk and decided to take a little break. [He switches back to the deep and scratchy voice. This was going to kill his throat.] I've heard about the criminal activity going on and it's really scary! M-More importantly... What are you doing with that wand, miss? Is that some kind of toy?

[If he wasn't on edge right now, Kotarou would've been laughing at her for carrying such a silly thing. Who does she think she is? A magical girl of justice?!]

[peninhand]

[ Huh... Why did that person sound like someone auditioning to be Batman? Was he about to go after the Joker? Well, maybe that was just his natural voice. Although... Those facial features reminder her of someone. But who? She could swear she had seen that person before... But no name came to mind. Hmm. Maybe it was just her imagination playing tricks on her. ]

Mhm.

[ She nodded to mysterious man, before looking at her "wand." Oh, did he mean the staff? ]

Oh, that? It's an unique weapon for technomancy. The gem on top is connected to my phone and allows to direct stored spells with ease. [She pointed the staff at a rock on the ground, and had it levitate.] It's also helpful while I'm training with kinetic magic.

[ The rock moved exactly the same way than Monika directed it with the staff. Finally, she smiled at the mysterious stranger. ]

I'm Monika, by the way. It's nice meeting you.

[scriptwriter]

[No, no... You're absolutely larping around as a magical girl no matter how you slice the metaphorical cake! Well, at least she can defend herself a little better now. Maybe I won't get into a dangerous situation this time!

That's what Kotarou is hoping for! No troublesome flags today! Just a quiet and peaceful night with a cute girl. This is something that all boys desire deep in their hearts. But he wasn't trying to be Tennouji Kotarou right now. No, he was the Legendary Spy who protects the public from the shadows. It looked like Monika hasn't figured out who he was yet, so he'll try something that he's always practiced in the mirror.]

I see! You look as if you're trying to be a hero of justice with a weapon like that. Remember that with great power comes with great responsibility. That's what a great person taught me once.

[Sorry, Peter Parker. Kotarou knew that he couldn't be as cool as Spiderman, but it was definitely a lesson that applied to him in real life. Whenever you were a superhuman, you had to be careful with how you handled your powers. That being said, he idly brush back a bang of his black wig hair and shoots her a thumbs-up with a toothy glint.]

My name is Bond. Suzuki Bond. I believe the winds of destiny have pushed us to meet, Monika-san. [It's a bizarre Japanese name, but he could still afford to use the honorific. That being said...] Now what else have you heard about these criminals prowling around here? The more information that I can use... Then the better off that I'll be to protect myself and my friends.

["And you're in that category, dammit. I'm not flirting this closely with danger for nothing, you nosy class rep!!"]

1/3

[peninhand]

I feel like I've heard that once before, ahaha... But that's good advice!

[ Thanks, uncle Ben. She promises to remember that. That was super cliche, but she figured that was a cliche across countless different worlds. And really, he would have been able to keep up the act indefinitely with her if not for what came next.

... Suzuki Bond. Suzuki Bond. It wouldn't have been half as suspicious if he hadn't said it in the classic James Bond manner. What the heck? And he used honorifics, huh? And when he brushed back a bang from his wig, his face became even more familiar. She had definitely seen that man before. But who...

Who would use honorifics, a disguise and go for something as silly as "Suzuki Bond?" And who was that face reminder her of...? ]

2/3

[peninhand]

[ ...

Wait. There is someone... Someone who fits all of those criteria... And that face...

... ]

3/3

[peninhand]

[ Very interesting. Monika sat down next to the mystery man© and smiled sweetly at him. ]

Oh, are you a real hero of justice yourself, Mr Bond? It may truly be destiny. I must admit, I have entertained playing the role of a heroine or magical girl of some sort while using my powers... But I have yet to come with a proper title or costume.

[ Doki Dream didn't have that nice of a ring to it the more she thought of it... No matter! Now was the time to have some fun. ]

As for those criminals... I heard one of our fellow offworlder has been spying on them. But the rumor goes the criminal masterminds are aware of it and in the process of springing a trap on him. [She tilted her head to the side.] At first I thought they were speaking about me, but I have truly done no spying work... [She then turned to look at the mystery man© with worry.] I hope to discover who is this paragon risking his life to stop those villains. Even as we speak, an assassin could be in the shadows waiting to strike at him.

1/2

[scriptwriter]

[Called it. Kotarou would take the moment to pat himself on the back and brag a bit, but it was Monika's next set of words that makes him freeze up and his eyes widen. What?! They were onto him and he didn't even infiltrate their forces all that long! There were way too many factors to go here! First of all, he didn't even know this criminal organization's name.

He didn't even know the boss's face! And for all he knew, they could've had a Sorting Algorithm of Evil of assassins. The weakest one usually showed up first, right?! Kotarou completely drops his Batman-esque voice as he returns to his usual one. He doesn't even realize that he slipped up here.]

Whaaaaaaaaat?! They're already onto me--?! [Uh.] I mean, I HOPE that they aren't onto me--! [Uh.] No, no, no... More importantly-!

2/2

[scriptwriter]

[He's going to place his hands on Monika's shoulders with an extremely serious expression. And now, it's back to his scratchy deep voice... His voice is fairly deep to begin with, but good lord this was murder on the throat! How does the B-man do it!?]

Then you have to get out of here, miss! It's too dangerous to be sitting here with me if you're a potential target for an assassin!

[He's going to turn his head to cough a bit. Ugh, this was hard! But between killing his vocal lungs and protecting Monika, he knew where his priorities lied.]

[peninhand]

[ Aha! That slip up was the proof she'd needed. That really was him. What was he even doing with that disguise? Was he really spying on the criminals? Given his reaction, probably so. Goodness. He was going to get chewed up if he kept doing that! She knew he was more than capable if needed, but dealing with criminals was something else! He was too innocent for—

...

Okay, "innocent" really wasn't an appropriate word to describe Kotarou in any shape or form. But he was too sorta-kinda-not really-innocent for this! ]

Um... Mr Bond, I think your voice slipped up a bit...

[ She couldn't help but point it out. It was hard not to smile though. The way he stumbled and was worried was so cute... She couldn't bear to keep that charade go any further. ]

There are no such rumors going around. [She finally smiled.] Your disguise was too adorable for me to not tease you though~!