[2.] video | un: 2cool | february 19th

[glitterpants]

_{[ The feed clicks on and shows not one, but two-almost-Karamatsus. The difference between them is easy to see once you find it: Karamatsu’s confident posture and Ichimatsu’s slouch— Karamatsu’s bold eyebrows and Ichimatsu’s stubby ones. Yes, this is one out of the five other identical brothers that Karamatsu has. Some of you have met them both and maybe have noticed the difference right away, others may still be struggling to tell them apart. Here they are, side by side, though, and it may be hard to make out good details of them in the dim light. Karamatsu clears his throat, looking rather serious for a change. It takes him awhile to speak, running one hand down his face and curving it around his chin, obviously distressed by all of this. Ichimatsu? Not so much. ]}

Ah, good evening, everyone. It’s I, Karamatsu.
It’s been.. awhile since I have spoken with you all, but I come baring some tragic news. Yesterday, me and my brother took a walk through the atrium to find better sources of light. What we found was something else. In the trees, we found the gruesome display of organs thrown over the vegetation in a horrific showcase. A—ah, that’s.. not all that we have found..

_{[ He looks a little pale just talking about this and for a moment he has to pardon himself out of the camera. ]}

...You’re still sick about that? Pansy.

[Ah, there’s another difference. While they both speak in deeper voices than one might expect from their looks, Ichimatsu speaks much less clearly, barely opening his mouth and mumbling as opposed to Karamatsu’s clear enunciation. Nevermind the fact that Ichimatsu looks approximately like he’s not used a hairbrush in a week. He rolls his shoulders and takes over, scrunching his face at his brother off-screen.]

There was a boot in the trail, dunno what happened to the other one. The viscera was all up in the trees, like he said, but it was too dark to really tell what was where and if any of them was still intact. There was also a heart in a gold box-- we surrendered it to find out who it belonged to, so I guess there’s not really anything for a burial.

_{[ Karamatsu returns to the feed, wiping his lips across his sleeve. ]}
….For those of you who are friends and family of a passenger named “Rey” … my condolences go out to you. Please keep close to those people you love. Thank you.

Comments

video; un: jace

[estrayer]

A golden box?

[ This is getting creepy. Like, fairytale creepy. It sounds almost ritualistic to Jace. ]

If it was placed like that it wasn't by accident. What you saw in the atrium, the other organs. Did anyone record how they were left? A picture would be good if you have it.

[ Jace Wayland: among the more sensitive of your crewmates here, everyone. ]

video | un:2cool

[glitterpants]

A golden box, correct. It was almost as if they wanted us to find it being in such a flashy container.
_{[ At Jace's question, Karamatsu feels his lips pull to one side of his face, making a thin line. ]}

Ah.. I did not think to make a recording, but I did video talk with somebody else while I was at the scene. Perhaps if there is a way to view what I had messaged there is a chance for that.

_{[ Karamatsu isn't very tech-savvy with this stuff. Unless Ichimatsu recorded it with his communicator without him knowing.
Karamatsu also doesn't know that the mess isn't there anymore. It was cleaned up right after they left as if nothing ever happened. He doesn't know cause he's going to have a problem going back there for awhile. ]}

[estrayer]

[ Jace's assumption isn't that the mess would be covered up, but that someone would already be looking into it, and would have cordoned the area off. He's in for a rude awakening that will leech away any kind of respect he'd had for the people hosting them.

Honestly, that's no great lost. He hadn't been harboring much respect in the first place. ]

If you can do that, I'd appreciate it. If this was a mindless killer it wouldn't leave organs in giftboxes for people to find. It has to be more than that.

[ And if the organs strewn about the atrium had been placed in a pattern of some kind, that would be worth knowing. ]

You didn't see anything else, nothing that would point to what left them there?

video; un: ny4n

[ichimyatsu]

[Ichimatsu leans over Karamatsu's shoulder into the feed, rather than just responding with his own communicator. He waves a hand idly.]

You probably won't get much from the video, it was dark as shit. The box the heart was in was the only thing even remotely illuminated-- it was definitely put there on purpose. It was meant to be found.

[estrayer]

If it wasn't meant to be found, it wouldn't be delivered in gold.

[ Never mind the fancy lighting. That box is strange enough all by itself. Something wants them to know they're being hunted. Something with expensive tastes, and a fair amount of sadism, too. ]

The question is what we're meant to do with the rest. Hearts and organs are sometimes used in ritual killings. I really doubt any of it was left by mistake.

[ichimyatsu]

[Ichimatsu understands sadism, but perhaps not to this extent. He curls his nose slightly at the thought.]

It was done like decoration, but I didn't look at it long enough to see any pattern. I can say it was specifically draped between trees along the path, as opposed to hidden. It reads like the whole thing was meant to be found, like whoever or whatever did it was proud and wanted to be noticed. [Or maybe some kind of warning? He hasn't been on the Eluvio long enough to have any real idea of if they've pissed anyone in particular off.]

[estrayer]

Like they were putting on a show.

[ Jace's tone is laced with distaste, though not horror. He's seen enough gore in his time to take it in his stride. ]

Thanks for the heads up. Both of you. Any information that might help us find what's doing this is a good thing. Keep yourselves safe, okay?

[glitterpants]

_{[ He then pipes up, noting something else that seems important. ]}

It was eerily quiet in the atrium too. Ah, almost as if the bugs were afraid to make any noise too. Most unsettling, which is why we didn't stay very long.
_{[ If something was still there, Karamatsu does a better job retreating instead of fighting. ]}

[estrayer]

[ Jace pauses at that.

He doesn't want to scare Mundanes. He's assuming these guys are Mundanes unless he discovers otherwise, anyway. ]

Like there was something they were hiding from. Something other than you.

[ Something predatory. ]

Look, you did the right thing. We don't need any more bodies turning up. If you have any reason to be scared, you call me. I'll come and help you, that's my job. Okay?

[glitterpants]

_{[ He cups his hands over his mouth, honestly feeling quite touched that somebody is going the extra to offer assistance. Since when does that happen? They're both shitty nobodies. ]}

I believe we are just going to stay here.. I think we can handle it!
_{[ a part of him really wants to be the big brother here since he's never allowed to be that back home. ]}

[estrayer]

[ What's happening here is dangerous for everyone. Someone has to try and do something about it. ]

Good. Odds are it's safer there.

[ Hopefully. ]

If you guys go out, you should probably go together. Safety in numbers, right?

[glitterpants]

_{[ Oh, boy does he understand safety in numbers. ]}
Hmph. That is right. There is usually more of us, but..

_{[ It's just he and Ichimatsu right now. ]}
I believe I have made some other friends that I can rely on for things should we feel like more company is needed.

[estrayer]

But you two are the only ones here.

[ Yeah, he gets it.

Believe it or not, he really gets it. ]

My friends aren't here either, which makes this a good day for them. You guys will stick together, right? Anyone else who sticks with you is doing the right thing.

[glitterpants]

That's kind of you to say.
_{[ tbh, Karamatsu would feel a lot better if more people stayed with them. He's used to a big crowd with his huge family. ]}

Please take care of yourself and your loved ones, and I will try to do the same.

[estrayer]

I will. I’m serious about calling if you need help.

[ He means it. He may not know them well, but that doesn’t matter; protecting them is still his job. ]

You’ve got my number.