[LOGS] Dundee Game: Day Four, Late
#superefficiencyroom
There is an insistent knocking at the door. Despite early-rising tendencies, the light coming through the window is better suited to late in the afternoon.
Who's there?
* Germany starts getting up, cursing his internal alarm for not being as efficient as usual.
* Raidou is also dressing and wondering how he managed to sleep so late.
* Belphegor groans sleepily for now.
"It's Elli," Elli says.
* Belphegor listens to the others hustle and bustle, glancing over at the mention of Elli. He pats around for his crown before getting up. (Because he feels like it, not cos Elli's here. :| )
* Germany goes over to the door and unlocks it after making a quick attempt at getting ready.
Elli enters. "Did you sleep well? You all seemed very deeply asleep."
* Raidou frowns a bit at Elli's last comment. "What time is it?
"Four or so," Elli says.
That late?
"I thought that ...last night might have been pretty hard on you guys."
I see.
"But I was hoping we could talk."
* Raidou glances questioningly at the other two occupants.
About what?
"What's been going on," Elli says, giving Belphegor a considering look.
* Belphegor has gotten up now and fully dressed and ready.
By all means then.
The things you're here for, are they related to a serial killer known as the second Jack the Ripper?
* Raidou nods.
"The killings are certainly of interest," Elli agrees. "That's what we've been following. It ... That was happening in California too. Though it's a little worse here."
What do you know of them thus far?
I see. The TV mentioned it briefly, earlier.
"In California where we were, there were assorted, occasional killings," Elli says. "Violent. About three months ago some killings started up in this area. Then, a few weeks ago, the killings in California stopped and the killings here... got worse."
Is the killer human, that you're aware of?
Worse as in more brutal, or what?
Although a more proper question would be, do you have any leads?
"I don't know," Elli says. "My suspicion is..." she hesitates. "I think the thing out here, at least, was what possessed my brother."
Your brother?
A demon.
"My brother," Elli says shortly. "The killings are similar enough and it's the same town, or, at least, district."
We saw... signs of a violent confrontation in the basement back at the mansion, although they weren't recent.
...All I saw was a partly collapsed-in room.
* Germany is listening intently and looking around for something to maybe take notes on.
"Violent confrontation?" Elli asks.
* Raidou nods at Belphegor and Germany. "It was before we met up with you. There were bloodstains and gouges in the floor, although the former eventually dwindled away to nothing."
It looked to have taken place some time ago.
Mm. It was boring on our end. Nothing but an annoying drip of water on the stairs up.
There was also the presence we briefly encountered.
Elli-san, you said something about it being residual...?
* Belphegor says in a considering tone, "The shadowy one..."
* Raidou looks at Belphegor.
Hm?
Shadowy one?
Presence.
"A lot of ghosts and negative spirits are only... presences that respond to things that happened in the past," Elli says. "They're like shadows or echoes of things that have happened before."
Ah. I wasn't sure if you were referring to something specific.
That would explain why it was so hard to pinpoint.
"A lot of bad things happened there," Elli says.
* Belphegor waves a hand dismissively. "No. It would have made immediate sense had you been involved in the wolf games."
What happened then?
Lots of occult and demonic stuff and ghosts the first time. The second time involved our host.
* Belphegor motions to Elli, whose earlier comments on her brother should be enough not to require further explanation on his part.
She nods. "I was a shepherd previously," she says.
And then weren't you involved in something else after that? I heard about it from Sera.
It wasn't a game.
"I wasn't terribly directly involved," Elli says. "We've been working sort of as a demon hunter, Luka and I, and there was an incident which we were called in for, but a bunch of you guys solved it before we got there. We ended up just doing clean-up."
* Belphegor nods, not having bothered to remember all those details. "Right."
And now...?
"I'm investigating the murders," Elli said. "...if it's that thing, I need to stop it for good. And this butler and girl seem tied in somehow as well."
What else can you tell us?
"Have any of the three of you met them before?" Elli asks.
Sidney and Lucia?
* Raidou shakes his head.
"Yes, them."
* Germany shakes his head.
Lucia ran a game. I was a wolf then.
What about them would you want to know?
"Anything," Elli says. "The more I know the more forearmed we are."
* Belphegor thinks for a moment. "Lucia is a collector. She likes rare and unusual things. Her parents are somehow involved in the upper corporate level of some company. You know, spoiled rich teenage brat. That type."
Elli nods.
Strange things happened during the nights, too. Attacks in closed rooms, furniture moved about, that sort of thing.
* Belphegor also goes on to explain what happened during the ah, end game, which sadly the mun doesn't actually recall the details of offhand. She sucks like that.
"I see," Elli says. "We have reason to believe the butler is a powerful demon."
I wouldn't put it past him.
"He gave you that impression?"
She looks at Germany and Raidou. "Do either of you know anything about fighting powerful demons?"
I've... fought some.
...Ach... no. Not at all.
* Belphegor shrugs. "He was a little creepy, and it'd explain the weird goings on at night. He seemed to dote on that girl."
And as for me, my hits have only been humans. There aren't demons in my world.
She nods. "For us, I'm not convinced the two are the same -- but I think both are trouble," she says. "The demon and the girl, and the ...thing that possessed my brother and was killing people here originally."
You said that the killings occurred both in California and this place for a time. How much time generally elapsed between the killings in both places?
"Nightly. Usually . . ." Elli trails off. "Nothing during the day."
And when they stopped occurring in California, they became... worse, here?
Elli nods. "That's correct."
How? More brutal, as Belphegor-san asked, or...?
More victims?
* Raidou nods, returning his gaze to Elli.
"More on both," Elli says. "Ah, and the instances of a mononucleosis-like virus here are higher as well. Usually we view that as a sign of some sort of demonic presence, like an incubus, maybe. However, it seems this area is currently a hotspot for a lot of things." She looks unhappy.
Like what else?
"Murders. Demonic presences. That entire damn house--" she bites her lower lip. "Tristan was already here when we got here but he swears he wasn't going after the kids who got mono. Not into kids, he says."
* Belphegor makes a noncommittal noise. "So he has some standards," he says in a partially amused tone.
So, what's next?
"I think it's because they're mostly pre-pubescent," Elli mutters.
"Mm... I want to get together with the other room and see what we can figure out overall," she adds. "Unless there's anything you want to talk about in private, but I doubt that."
I've got nothing to talk about.
* Belphegor glances at Raidou and Germany briefly.
I can't think of anything either.
* Raidou shakes his head.
"Then let's go into the other room," Elli suggests, rising again.
She also checks her phone and brightens at something she sees there, texting back briefly.
* Germany raises an eyebrow at that, but doesn't say anything.
* Raidou watches curiously.
* Belphegor also notices, but says nothing.
She leads the way to #roomninja
#roomninja
Sometime late in the afternoon, you wake up to the feeling of your mattress dipping slightly.
* Itachi shifts slightly and opens his eyes to investigate what is up with the mattress.
There is a young boy sitting at the edge of the bed, watching you with one good eye and one blind eye. "Hello."
* Itachi blinks and sits up. "Madison?"
"Itachi," Madison smiles, a very tiny bit. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you, as well," he glances at the window "It seems I overslept."
There is an unconscious vampire next to you. It may be a cardboard cutout. The other bed is empty.
"The fabric of time is warped," Madison says.
* Itachi is kind of used to that after 5 years in a zombie summer camp. "Ah. Interesting. How are you?"
Madison tilts his head, thoughtfully. "Concerned," he says, after a moment. "But it's good that you're here."
I hope to be of some help to you. The warping of time...it's related to why we were summoned?
Madison looks thoughtful, then nods. "Time and space."
* Itachi nods. "All right. What do we need to do now?"
Madison shakes his head. "I don't know. I can only see bits and pieces . . . I came here with Mr. Knight to do research on the paranormal things that are happening here . . ."
I see. But I'm not sure how much we can accomplish from a hotel room.
* Itachi glances at the empty bed "I wonder where they went."
Madison fiddles with the bedsheets. "Should we wake up the vampire?"
* Itachi looks at the (cardboard cut out?) vampire next to him. "I suppose we should try. I'm not certain how easy it is to wake a vampire during the day."
Madison leans over the sleeping Kaname, staring. Then he says, ". . . Yuuki is in the well . . ."
* Kaname starts awake.
* Itachi raises an eyebrow.
Madison gives Kaname a little wave.
* Kaname staaaare. "...Did you just arrive?"
Madison nods.
* Kaname looking around for a time or at least a time of day. "A bit far from the school, aren't you?"
"I'm here on a vacation." Madison says evenly.
* Itachi smiles faintly.
The bedside clock says 4:53, probably PM.
It's not really surprsing he's here, is it?
No. But why?
* Kaname has an expectant expression.
Madison looks a bit unhappy. "I don't know," he says. "Except that I know that I have to be. Does that make sense? Probably not."
* Itachi touches the top of Madison's head, "You have special instincts. It's best to follow them."
Yes.
Madison's eyes widen. He looks up at Itachi, then relaxes, for the first time, into a smile. "Thanks. Ah . . ."
* Itachi nods.
* Kaname remembering that Luka said summoning came from Madison's suggestion. "Did your instincts tell you we were needed?"
Madison thinks about that; nods, then shakes his head. "I'm not sure. I think so . . ."
You said it was good we were here, so it seems you believe we can be of some use.
"Well," Madison says. "A ninja and a super-powerful vampire are always a little useful."
"It would be disappointing if it were otherwise," he says. His tone is light.
* Itachi smirks "Yes, I suppose."
Do you know what we should do next?
From what he said before you woke, he doesn't seem certain about that.
Madison shakes his head. "I only get . . . visions, sometimes."
Is there somewhere else we should go from here? Perhaps to meet Mr. Knight. You said you came with him, didn't you?
Him too? It seems as though there are quite a few people here...
"I can't really travel internationally by myself," Madison points out. "I'm hardly sane enough to attend classes by myself."
You don't seem that lacking in sanity to me.
I would question the headmaster's sanity if Mr. Valentine or Elli and Luka had been your guardians here...
Yes, there is that.
Madison smiles. "That's true," he says. "Though Tristan and Mr. Knight are . . . friends, still."
Hm. I see.
Friends, hm.
What do you know about these murders that the others are following?
Madison tilts his head. "I don't know much." He says, voice suddenly vague. "Except there is a lot of blood . . ."
Something, hopefully, you will not have to see.
* Itachi glances at Madison, watching him.
Madison shrugs. "I'm used to it."
* Kaname thinks to himself that it's not necessarily a good thing to be used to. "Where are the others?"
As if on cue....
Elli enters with Belphegor, Raidou, and Germany.
* Itachi looks up as the others enter.
* Kaname does the same.
Elli says, "I see we're all here except... those two who've gone missing."
Joshua and Kazuki are nowhere to be seen. There is a young boy with dark auburn hair and one blind eye sitting basically on Itachi's feet. Kaname and Itachi are still in bed.
"Yo," says Madison.
Rayfell and Tristan are still not here either.
Who's this?
* Belphegor indicates Madison.
"That's Maddy," Elli says, briefly. She sits on the free bed, but leaves space for others to do likewise.
To Belphegor, says, "He's from a school Itachi and I encountered, previously."
From the one Sera talked about in the last game?
Yes.
Mm.
"Nice to meet you, Your Highness," Madison says politely.
* Itachi smirks a little.
* Belphegor smiiiiiles, nodding as his ego inflates. "I suppose I will say the same."
* Kaname turns to Elli. "So what has happened?"
"Other than two of our group going mysteriously missing and--" she holds up her phone "--apparently ended up with Lucia and Sidney and a bunch of people with them."
"One of them, anyway." She sounds frutrated. "I don't know where Joshua is."
Is he unharmed?
...That hardly bodes well.
* Belphegor frowns, but as he hates Joshua, he can't exactly care about that part. "The bunch of people mentioned, do we know them?"
Sera is probably with them. You heard from her, correct, Madison?
"He sounds like he's okay," Elli says.
You've spoken with them?
Madison nods. "We've texted."
Where are they?
"It sounds like they're somewhere in the same town but can't meet up because there's a hostage situation," Luka puts in with a subtle voice shift. "Oh, Itachi. We have a question."
Yes?
"They said in text that there was some sort of sigil people who'd been ousted saw that related to that butler," Luka says. "Did you see it?"
A sigil... I did.
Yes.
As I recall Kazuki and Joshua spoke of using blood on it. I advised against it.
"Could you reproduce it?" Elli asks. "I'd ask you to look it up but I don't actually have any books with me..." She sounds frustrated. "We travel light."
...I believe so.
"Kaname, Belphegor, either of you, could you reproduce it or at least identify if what each other draw are correct?"
* Kaname nods.
I never saw it.
She gets out the pad of paper and pen and offers it. "Whichever one feels more confident in drawing it, go ahead?" She gives Germany, Raidou, and Madison an apologetic glance. "Sorry to derail things."
There's no need for an apology.
* Itachi takes the pad and pen. "I'll try."
Madison sidles over to Germany and Raidou in the meantime. "Hi."
Hello.
Hello.
* Itachi draws the sigil as he remembers it, then shows it to Kaname, "Does this look right to you?"
* Kaname looks it over. "It seems so."
* Belphegor heads over toward Itachi and Kaname, curiously looking over to see what the sigil looks like.
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5104/sigil.png
Elli leans over to look.
* Itachi shows her.
Suddenly, Elli is against the other wall, having flung herself there.
...
...
What the...
"Ah." Madison says.
...!?
* Itachi looks at Madison, "What?"
". . . they recognize it," Madison deadpans.
* Itachi smirks "Ah."
...I see.
"It's very recognizable," Luka says, surprisingly strained.
What does it mean to you?
* Belphegor tilts his head.
"It's not 'Sidney'," Elli says, disbelievingly. "It's Sidonay. Asmodeus."
". . . that sucks," says Madison.
Have you met him?
"I'd planned never to," Elli says.
There's a knock at the door.
* Kaname looks over. "...Come in."
It's Tristan.
HE SWEEPS KANAME OFF HIS FEET IN A FIT OF MANLY PASSION-- no wait. Never mind.
"Heeeey," Tristan says, looking around. "So, who died?"
No one, yet.
* Itachi holds up the pad with the sigil, "This caused some excitement."
To Elli again, he says, "So Sidney, or Sidonay, is a demon as we're aware. Powerful. Since the others are with him, what can you tell us?"
Tristan turns around and tries to leave the room. ". . . left Rayfell in the oven, gotta go!"
"Don't you even," Elli says.
". . . sit down," Madison says.
...
...
...
"The Big A?? Are you even serious?" Tristan complains, turning around. "Is this seriously--are you serious."
* Kaname looks serious.
* Belphegor snorts. What a wuss.
* Itachi sighs.
Elli points to the doodle on the paper. "You tell me."
* Germany is still wondering how Tristan expected 'left Rayfell in the oven' to have worked as an excuse.
Tristan reaches out and rips the paper in half. "Not that I'm superstitious," he says. "Except for . . . what. What the hell are you expecting to do?"
* Itachi raises an eyebrow, "What we have to, I suppose."
"I'm much less certain now," Luka admits.
First, what is he up to? You spoke of murders.
"We thought that she and her demon were possibly responsible for the murders in California, and some of the ones out here," Elli says slowly.
I wouldn't be surprised if they're connected.
Tristan takes a seat next to Kaname on the bed. ;)
However, Lucia doesn't seem to be the type to have Sidney kill others.
Another demon?
"Sera texted and said that Lucia had lots of demons," Elli says.
* Kaname glances at Tristan, but that is all.
Hm. Can he create demons...
Like how David was transformed.
Or summon them...
* Kaname nods.
Madison says, flatly, "It's too bad we don't have an ancient demon here to answer these questions."
Tristan is examining the ceiling.
Mr. Valentine.
* Belphegor folds his arms and leans against the wall, listening boredly.
"Oh," Luka says. "Good point. You're older than me, aren't you?"
...Tristan.
"Look, I'm not an expert," Tristan says. "And I don't really particularly want to be involved in this." He's starting to get ornery.
That is unfortunate.
Not a fan?
"I've lived for a long time," says Tristan, blue eyes shrewd. "Partially by avoiding fights that are unnecessary, or that I know I can't win. You don't challenge somebody like that. You just don't."
How powerful is he, in comparison to, say, Beelzebub or Astaroth?
"Up there," says Tristan, long-suffering.
As in equal, or greater?
From your reactions... very, very high.
If anything.
"Do you mean, would they be able to grind us into dust, or really fine dust? Basically."
So they're much stronger in this universe?
Tristan raises an eyebrow. "This universe?"
* Belphegor glances at Raidou questioningly.
* Raidou nods.
* Kaname sighs. "If you don't want to deal with him, then you won't. But the rest of us were summoned here for a reason, weren't we?" The second part is directed to Elli.
"I'd worked with some of you before . . ." Eli says slowly. "And Madison recommended that we would need help."
"We may want," Tristan says delicately, "a little more help than this."
Like what, demon hunting professionals?
* Raidou murmurs, "Like Beelzebub?"
Basically... how do we stop him? Or can we.
There has to be some reason that we're involved. So there must be some way.
I'm inclined to agree.
* Raidou nods again.
Luka is eying Raidou. "What do you know?" He asks, sniffing a little.
* Raidou gazes evenly at Luka. "I fight demons for a living in my world," he replies calmly. "I've fought Beelzebub. I've fought the Horsemen. I won."
Impressive.
The door opens and closes ad Rayfell slides in. Tristan lifts a friendly hand to her, but looks strained. Everyone is in here except Kazuki and Joshua. Even in here is a red haired kid she doesn't know.
Welcome back.
* Rayfell looking a little drained (lololol). "Hi."
(lololol)
We should try to find them - Sera and the others.
* Itachi nods. "Yes."
"What if they're with the demon?" Madison asks.
What if the demon already knows we're here?
"That's the impression I got," Elli says. "Sera and Robin said they couldn't leave because Lucia had one of them as a hostage when they went out."
If there's a hostage situation then they may need help.
Tristan sighs, getting closer to Kaname.
* Kaname is casual tsun.
* Itachi is still in bed with Kaname and hopes this doesn't become awkward.
Lucia has a pendant...
"Sera said," Luka says. "She said she thought it was based off the Seal of Solomon. ...it probablY IS the Seal of Solomon."
"I came here with a demonologist . . ." Madison trails off vaguely.
* Itachi turns his attention to Madison, "Perhaps we should speak to him, then."
"I thought he's only worked on it for a few months," Elli asks Madison.
Madison tilts his head. "He's had some very . . . intimate experience . . ."
Tristan snorts.
...Ah.
Lead us to him, Madison. If he has some knowledge, it's better than knowing none.
* Belphegor snorts, saying bluntly, "Just take us to him already. There's nothing else to do right now."
Madison shrugs. "Okay. There's some basics he can probably help with, anyway. If nothing else we can stick him on research duty."
Madison rises. Lazily, Tristan stretches and rises too, offering Kaname a hand up.
* Kaname takes the hand and stands.
"Madison, why don't you say here?" Tristan drawls. "I wanted to go see him anyway soon, and you might have some inspiration if you stay here with Luka and the girl."
"And because Kieran won't let you touch him when I'm around . . ." Madison says vaguely.
(A+ role model)
* Belphegor smirks slightly at that.
Tristan laughs. "That too."
Elli says, "I'd like it if some of you stayed here and worked on a good way to communicate with the group with Asmodeus.
I'll stay.
"Raidou, you stay too, if you're experienced in fighting demons. Belphegor, can you also?"
* Raidou nods.
"Vampires and that handsome germanic guy with me, then," Tristan says. "Come on."
I can fight.
* Kaname follows.
* Germany raises an eyebrow at that, but goes to follow Tristan.
Elli runs a hand through her short hair and sighs. "I appreciate it," she says. "Let's try to figure out a plan of action for approaching the other group."
* Belphegor waves bye-bye obnoxiously, at those who are leaving.
#demonology101 for Kaname Rayfell and Germany
#demonology101
Tristan leads the way across the street and down the block to a considerably better hotel.
Have you been staying here, too?
"Except for last night, yes," Tristan says. "I'm not like those kids. I prefer my luxuries."
He winks at Kaname.
...
He nods flirtatiously to the front desk people and ushers Rayfell, Germany, and Kaname into an elevator.
* Kaname goesss
* Germany goes as well.
They go up to the 14th floor and get out; Tristan knocks playfully on door 13.
"Come in." So Tristan swipes a card.
Inside is a young man -- maybe 18 -- with a Zak Efron haircut, wearing jeans and a tight button down shirt with sewn-on patches on the right breast and across the back. He does not look like a professional demonologist.
But he's reading a book in latin, at any rate.
Are we interrupting?
He sits up. "No, it -- hi?" He glances at Kaname with both recognition and confusion. "Mr. Kuran, right?"
"Mr. Knight." He nods. "Hello once again."
"How can I help you guys?" He nods to Rayfell and Germany. "I'm Kieran Knight."
Unfortunately, it isn't a social visit. We're here to ask what you might know about a demon named Sidonay.
"Sidonay?" Kieran gets up, grabbing a bunch of books off his desk.
"I think that's a secondary name for one of the majors," Kieran says. He glances at Tristan. "I'm not necessarily the most first-hand source--"
"But your first-hand source is staying out of it," Tristan says. "Consider this a pop quiz."
"Yeah, thanks. Thanks for that."
We'd like to know what to do with Sidonay, if we can do anything.
"Give me a minute." He opens about five books, flipping through them, hunched over the hotel desk. "Sidonay, Modo -- oh, shit, really?"
* Kaname adds dryly, "And we're trying to find him."
"That sounds like a totally safe life decision to me," Kieran says, equally dry.
Very. How does one summon a demon like him?
The alternatives don't seem to be significantly safer.
Unless we take Mr. Valentine's suggestion and leave it alone.
"I don't know that you summon him," Kieran says. "Even if you built a summons circle, I'm fairly sure the major demons can send those under their command to answer it. Binding a Prince-class demon is almost impossible; Solomon did it and I haven't heard of anyone else..."
Solomon... Lucia Bellcourt is a young woman who, from appearances, has Sidonay as her servant. She has a pendant - the Seal of Solomon?
At least, from what Sera and Elli suspect.
Kieran turns and looks at him. "The actual Seal of Solomon was used by Solomon to command a host of demons to do his bidding. It's been lost thousands of years at least."
Hmm. Lucia also has a habit of collecting old and rare things.
Unusual things.
He shakes his head. "If that's the real seal of Solomon, that's one hell of a find. No matter how hard she looked for it, it's not like she'd manage to find it just because she wanted it."
Are you suggesting maybe Sidonay wanted her to find it?
To lead someone young and impressionable... easily used.
"I'm not suggesting anything someone like that wants. And I'd find it hard to believe that he didn't find anyone else like that in thousands of years. Assuming it is the real thing though..." He flips through a few books, refreshing his memory. "Yeah... Sidonay was one of the demons; one of the ones Solomon used the most. Supposedly he built the temple in Jerusalem at Solomon's command."
A few years ago, her family had gone on a trip to Egypt. There was an earthquake...
Kieran whistles. "Egypt is about the right area," he admits, slowly. "That's the last place Asmodeus was heard of, to the best of my knowledge."
I suspect she and her brother encountered something that in essence brought Sidonay to her. The brother... we met him previously. He warned us about a seal and not to put blood on it.
"Generally not putting your blood on demonic things is a good idea," Kieran says. "Demons seem to love blood sacrifice -- giving them your blood in any sense seems pretty risky."
It's true...
* Kaname is just recalling Luka :|b
Tristan chuckles but otherwise doesn't contribute.
What if we can get our hands on the pendant?
"I'm not sure," Kieran says. "Supposedly he once tricked Solomon into taking it off and handing it to him and then he threw it in the ocean, because he wasn't controlled by Solomon. But it came back to Solomon after some time."
What did Solomon do with Sidonay?
"After that or in general?"
Both.
"After? Just took him back." Kieran doesn't look at Tristan. "The theory is that you can't expect a demon to be anything but a demon and act accordingly. If you deal with demons you should know what you're getting into."
"...Generally," he adds, "he and Solomon seemed to have a joking relationship where they played jokes on each other. It looks like they mostly got along all right even though Solomon commanded him, including to do things like build the holy temple."
As a demon, does he have any... goals? Or perhaps it depends on the one that supposedly controls them.
"He's a demon of gambling and a demon of lust," Kieran says. "Supposedly he loved a human girl once and tormented her by killing all her suitors."
He flips a few pages, checking. "It's kind of nasty, actually. He'd let her marry them if he wanted to, but on the wedding night, he'd kill them before they could -- yeah."
An... interesting... way to court someone.
* Kaname then looks at Tristan with an eyebrow raised. "A demon of lust. Do you answer to him?"
Tristan lifts his hands. "Not if I don't catch his eye," he says, vaguely.
* Kaname wonders, "Would you be able to find Sidonay?"
"I'm not going to try," Tristan says, flatly.
You're afraid.
"You would be too if you had your head on straight about this," Tristan said. "One. You don't mess with the Fallen. They are messed up. Two. You don't mess with Dukes. Three. You don't mess with Princes. That's three strikes; you're out."
Death would probably be too easy of a punishment.
"My goal," Tristan says, firmly, "is to leave an easy life without ever drawing anyone important's attention."
We'll try not to bend your goals too much.
"I appreciate that," Tristan drawls. "I wouldn't like it if my kindnesses helping you guys ended up costing me."
Kieran says, "Uh, guys? Weaknesses are listed here."
"Though it's kind of weird."
Weaknesses?
"He can't endure the scent of smoke from burning the organs of Sheatfish from Assyria," Kieran says. "Apparently. I mean, if this is right."
Sheatfish...
"I said it was weird. Some sources also say surrounding him with jars of water can trap him... same sources that say he was always at violent odds with Solomon, where other ones said they were sort of playful." He shrugs. "I can't guarantee truth on any of this."
* Kaname nods. "Thank you for the information. It could be useful."
"No problem. Testament of Solomon, Key of Solomon, and Book of Tobit seem to be the main -- I hesitate to call them primary -- sources," Kieran says. "Hope it helps. I'll keep looking -- got a phone number if I find anything else?"
Yes, please.
"I have Luka's," Tristan says. "I'll write it down for you."
Tristan then turns to Kaname and the group. "And now," he says, "I'm going to usher you out for some private, not dealing with big baddies time."
He pauses. "Unless you'd like to stay," he adds, to Kaname. Smile.
* Kaname is polite. "Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline."
Tristan looks mock-disappointed. Kieran looks relieved.
Regrettably, you are not my type. Don't take that as a challenge.
"But it is," Tristan almost purrs. "I know how far I can push you before you crack."
Such is the nature of demons...
There is an insistent knocking at the door. Despite early-rising tendencies, the light coming through the window is better suited to late in the afternoon.
Who's there?
* Germany starts getting up, cursing his internal alarm for not being as efficient as usual.
* Raidou is also dressing and wondering how he managed to sleep so late.
* Belphegor groans sleepily for now.
"It's Elli," Elli says.
* Belphegor listens to the others hustle and bustle, glancing over at the mention of Elli. He pats around for his crown before getting up. (Because he feels like it, not cos Elli's here. :| )
* Germany goes over to the door and unlocks it after making a quick attempt at getting ready.
Elli enters. "Did you sleep well? You all seemed very deeply asleep."
* Raidou frowns a bit at Elli's last comment. "What time is it?
"Four or so," Elli says.
That late?
"I thought that ...last night might have been pretty hard on you guys."
I see.
"But I was hoping we could talk."
* Raidou glances questioningly at the other two occupants.
About what?
"What's been going on," Elli says, giving Belphegor a considering look.
* Belphegor has gotten up now and fully dressed and ready.
By all means then.
The things you're here for, are they related to a serial killer known as the second Jack the Ripper?
* Raidou nods.
"The killings are certainly of interest," Elli agrees. "That's what we've been following. It ... That was happening in California too. Though it's a little worse here."
What do you know of them thus far?
I see. The TV mentioned it briefly, earlier.
"In California where we were, there were assorted, occasional killings," Elli says. "Violent. About three months ago some killings started up in this area. Then, a few weeks ago, the killings in California stopped and the killings here... got worse."
Is the killer human, that you're aware of?
Worse as in more brutal, or what?
Although a more proper question would be, do you have any leads?
"I don't know," Elli says. "My suspicion is..." she hesitates. "I think the thing out here, at least, was what possessed my brother."
Your brother?
A demon.
"My brother," Elli says shortly. "The killings are similar enough and it's the same town, or, at least, district."
We saw... signs of a violent confrontation in the basement back at the mansion, although they weren't recent.
...All I saw was a partly collapsed-in room.
* Germany is listening intently and looking around for something to maybe take notes on.
"Violent confrontation?" Elli asks.
* Raidou nods at Belphegor and Germany. "It was before we met up with you. There were bloodstains and gouges in the floor, although the former eventually dwindled away to nothing."
It looked to have taken place some time ago.
Mm. It was boring on our end. Nothing but an annoying drip of water on the stairs up.
There was also the presence we briefly encountered.
Elli-san, you said something about it being residual...?
* Belphegor says in a considering tone, "The shadowy one..."
* Raidou looks at Belphegor.
Hm?
Shadowy one?
Presence.
"A lot of ghosts and negative spirits are only... presences that respond to things that happened in the past," Elli says. "They're like shadows or echoes of things that have happened before."
Ah. I wasn't sure if you were referring to something specific.
That would explain why it was so hard to pinpoint.
"A lot of bad things happened there," Elli says.
* Belphegor waves a hand dismissively. "No. It would have made immediate sense had you been involved in the wolf games."
What happened then?
Lots of occult and demonic stuff and ghosts the first time. The second time involved our host.
* Belphegor motions to Elli, whose earlier comments on her brother should be enough not to require further explanation on his part.
She nods. "I was a shepherd previously," she says.
And then weren't you involved in something else after that? I heard about it from Sera.
It wasn't a game.
"I wasn't terribly directly involved," Elli says. "We've been working sort of as a demon hunter, Luka and I, and there was an incident which we were called in for, but a bunch of you guys solved it before we got there. We ended up just doing clean-up."
* Belphegor nods, not having bothered to remember all those details. "Right."
And now...?
"I'm investigating the murders," Elli said. "...if it's that thing, I need to stop it for good. And this butler and girl seem tied in somehow as well."
What else can you tell us?
"Have any of the three of you met them before?" Elli asks.
Sidney and Lucia?
* Raidou shakes his head.
"Yes, them."
* Germany shakes his head.
Lucia ran a game. I was a wolf then.
What about them would you want to know?
"Anything," Elli says. "The more I know the more forearmed we are."
* Belphegor thinks for a moment. "Lucia is a collector. She likes rare and unusual things. Her parents are somehow involved in the upper corporate level of some company. You know, spoiled rich teenage brat. That type."
Elli nods.
Strange things happened during the nights, too. Attacks in closed rooms, furniture moved about, that sort of thing.
* Belphegor also goes on to explain what happened during the ah, end game, which sadly the mun doesn't actually recall the details of offhand. She sucks like that.
"I see," Elli says. "We have reason to believe the butler is a powerful demon."
I wouldn't put it past him.
"He gave you that impression?"
She looks at Germany and Raidou. "Do either of you know anything about fighting powerful demons?"
I've... fought some.
...Ach... no. Not at all.
* Belphegor shrugs. "He was a little creepy, and it'd explain the weird goings on at night. He seemed to dote on that girl."
And as for me, my hits have only been humans. There aren't demons in my world.
She nods. "For us, I'm not convinced the two are the same -- but I think both are trouble," she says. "The demon and the girl, and the ...thing that possessed my brother and was killing people here originally."
You said that the killings occurred both in California and this place for a time. How much time generally elapsed between the killings in both places?
"Nightly. Usually . . ." Elli trails off. "Nothing during the day."
And when they stopped occurring in California, they became... worse, here?
Elli nods. "That's correct."
How? More brutal, as Belphegor-san asked, or...?
More victims?
* Raidou nods, returning his gaze to Elli.
"More on both," Elli says. "Ah, and the instances of a mononucleosis-like virus here are higher as well. Usually we view that as a sign of some sort of demonic presence, like an incubus, maybe. However, it seems this area is currently a hotspot for a lot of things." She looks unhappy.
Like what else?
"Murders. Demonic presences. That entire damn house--" she bites her lower lip. "Tristan was already here when we got here but he swears he wasn't going after the kids who got mono. Not into kids, he says."
* Belphegor makes a noncommittal noise. "So he has some standards," he says in a partially amused tone.
So, what's next?
"I think it's because they're mostly pre-pubescent," Elli mutters.
"Mm... I want to get together with the other room and see what we can figure out overall," she adds. "Unless there's anything you want to talk about in private, but I doubt that."
I've got nothing to talk about.
* Belphegor glances at Raidou and Germany briefly.
I can't think of anything either.
* Raidou shakes his head.
"Then let's go into the other room," Elli suggests, rising again.
She also checks her phone and brightens at something she sees there, texting back briefly.
* Germany raises an eyebrow at that, but doesn't say anything.
* Raidou watches curiously.
* Belphegor also notices, but says nothing.
She leads the way to #roomninja
#roomninja
Sometime late in the afternoon, you wake up to the feeling of your mattress dipping slightly.
* Itachi shifts slightly and opens his eyes to investigate what is up with the mattress.
There is a young boy sitting at the edge of the bed, watching you with one good eye and one blind eye. "Hello."
* Itachi blinks and sits up. "Madison?"
"Itachi," Madison smiles, a very tiny bit. "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you, as well," he glances at the window "It seems I overslept."
There is an unconscious vampire next to you. It may be a cardboard cutout. The other bed is empty.
"The fabric of time is warped," Madison says.
* Itachi is kind of used to that after 5 years in a zombie summer camp. "Ah. Interesting. How are you?"
Madison tilts his head, thoughtfully. "Concerned," he says, after a moment. "But it's good that you're here."
I hope to be of some help to you. The warping of time...it's related to why we were summoned?
Madison looks thoughtful, then nods. "Time and space."
* Itachi nods. "All right. What do we need to do now?"
Madison shakes his head. "I don't know. I can only see bits and pieces . . . I came here with Mr. Knight to do research on the paranormal things that are happening here . . ."
I see. But I'm not sure how much we can accomplish from a hotel room.
* Itachi glances at the empty bed "I wonder where they went."
Madison fiddles with the bedsheets. "Should we wake up the vampire?"
* Itachi looks at the (cardboard cut out?) vampire next to him. "I suppose we should try. I'm not certain how easy it is to wake a vampire during the day."
Madison leans over the sleeping Kaname, staring. Then he says, ". . . Yuuki is in the well . . ."
* Kaname starts awake.
* Itachi raises an eyebrow.
Madison gives Kaname a little wave.
* Kaname staaaare. "...Did you just arrive?"
Madison nods.
* Kaname looking around for a time or at least a time of day. "A bit far from the school, aren't you?"
"I'm here on a vacation." Madison says evenly.
* Itachi smiles faintly.
The bedside clock says 4:53, probably PM.
It's not really surprsing he's here, is it?
No. But why?
* Kaname has an expectant expression.
Madison looks a bit unhappy. "I don't know," he says. "Except that I know that I have to be. Does that make sense? Probably not."
* Itachi touches the top of Madison's head, "You have special instincts. It's best to follow them."
Yes.
Madison's eyes widen. He looks up at Itachi, then relaxes, for the first time, into a smile. "Thanks. Ah . . ."
* Itachi nods.
* Kaname remembering that Luka said summoning came from Madison's suggestion. "Did your instincts tell you we were needed?"
Madison thinks about that; nods, then shakes his head. "I'm not sure. I think so . . ."
You said it was good we were here, so it seems you believe we can be of some use.
"Well," Madison says. "A ninja and a super-powerful vampire are always a little useful."
"It would be disappointing if it were otherwise," he says. His tone is light.
* Itachi smirks "Yes, I suppose."
Do you know what we should do next?
From what he said before you woke, he doesn't seem certain about that.
Madison shakes his head. "I only get . . . visions, sometimes."
Is there somewhere else we should go from here? Perhaps to meet Mr. Knight. You said you came with him, didn't you?
Him too? It seems as though there are quite a few people here...
"I can't really travel internationally by myself," Madison points out. "I'm hardly sane enough to attend classes by myself."
You don't seem that lacking in sanity to me.
I would question the headmaster's sanity if Mr. Valentine or Elli and Luka had been your guardians here...
Yes, there is that.
Madison smiles. "That's true," he says. "Though Tristan and Mr. Knight are . . . friends, still."
Hm. I see.
Friends, hm.
What do you know about these murders that the others are following?
Madison tilts his head. "I don't know much." He says, voice suddenly vague. "Except there is a lot of blood . . ."
Something, hopefully, you will not have to see.
* Itachi glances at Madison, watching him.
Madison shrugs. "I'm used to it."
* Kaname thinks to himself that it's not necessarily a good thing to be used to. "Where are the others?"
As if on cue....
Elli enters with Belphegor, Raidou, and Germany.
* Itachi looks up as the others enter.
* Kaname does the same.
Elli says, "I see we're all here except... those two who've gone missing."
Joshua and Kazuki are nowhere to be seen. There is a young boy with dark auburn hair and one blind eye sitting basically on Itachi's feet. Kaname and Itachi are still in bed.
"Yo," says Madison.
Rayfell and Tristan are still not here either.
Who's this?
* Belphegor indicates Madison.
"That's Maddy," Elli says, briefly. She sits on the free bed, but leaves space for others to do likewise.
To Belphegor, says, "He's from a school Itachi and I encountered, previously."
From the one Sera talked about in the last game?
Yes.
Mm.
"Nice to meet you, Your Highness," Madison says politely.
* Itachi smirks a little.
* Belphegor smiiiiiles, nodding as his ego inflates. "I suppose I will say the same."
* Kaname turns to Elli. "So what has happened?"
"Other than two of our group going mysteriously missing and--" she holds up her phone "--apparently ended up with Lucia and Sidney and a bunch of people with them."
"One of them, anyway." She sounds frutrated. "I don't know where Joshua is."
Is he unharmed?
...That hardly bodes well.
* Belphegor frowns, but as he hates Joshua, he can't exactly care about that part. "The bunch of people mentioned, do we know them?"
Sera is probably with them. You heard from her, correct, Madison?
"He sounds like he's okay," Elli says.
You've spoken with them?
Madison nods. "We've texted."
Where are they?
"It sounds like they're somewhere in the same town but can't meet up because there's a hostage situation," Luka puts in with a subtle voice shift. "Oh, Itachi. We have a question."
Yes?
"They said in text that there was some sort of sigil people who'd been ousted saw that related to that butler," Luka says. "Did you see it?"
A sigil... I did.
Yes.
As I recall Kazuki and Joshua spoke of using blood on it. I advised against it.
"Could you reproduce it?" Elli asks. "I'd ask you to look it up but I don't actually have any books with me..." She sounds frustrated. "We travel light."
...I believe so.
"Kaname, Belphegor, either of you, could you reproduce it or at least identify if what each other draw are correct?"
* Kaname nods.
I never saw it.
She gets out the pad of paper and pen and offers it. "Whichever one feels more confident in drawing it, go ahead?" She gives Germany, Raidou, and Madison an apologetic glance. "Sorry to derail things."
There's no need for an apology.
* Itachi takes the pad and pen. "I'll try."
Madison sidles over to Germany and Raidou in the meantime. "Hi."
Hello.
Hello.
* Itachi draws the sigil as he remembers it, then shows it to Kaname, "Does this look right to you?"
* Kaname looks it over. "It seems so."
* Belphegor heads over toward Itachi and Kaname, curiously looking over to see what the sigil looks like.
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5104/sigil.png
Elli leans over to look.
* Itachi shows her.
Suddenly, Elli is against the other wall, having flung herself there.
...
...
What the...
"Ah." Madison says.
...!?
* Itachi looks at Madison, "What?"
". . . they recognize it," Madison deadpans.
* Itachi smirks "Ah."
...I see.
"It's very recognizable," Luka says, surprisingly strained.
What does it mean to you?
* Belphegor tilts his head.
"It's not 'Sidney'," Elli says, disbelievingly. "It's Sidonay. Asmodeus."
". . . that sucks," says Madison.
Have you met him?
"I'd planned never to," Elli says.
There's a knock at the door.
* Kaname looks over. "...Come in."
It's Tristan.
HE SWEEPS KANAME OFF HIS FEET IN A FIT OF MANLY PASSION-- no wait. Never mind.
"Heeeey," Tristan says, looking around. "So, who died?"
No one, yet.
* Itachi holds up the pad with the sigil, "This caused some excitement."
To Elli again, he says, "So Sidney, or Sidonay, is a demon as we're aware. Powerful. Since the others are with him, what can you tell us?"
Tristan turns around and tries to leave the room. ". . . left Rayfell in the oven, gotta go!"
"Don't you even," Elli says.
". . . sit down," Madison says.
...
...
...
"The Big A?? Are you even serious?" Tristan complains, turning around. "Is this seriously--are you serious."
* Kaname looks serious.
* Belphegor snorts. What a wuss.
* Itachi sighs.
Elli points to the doodle on the paper. "You tell me."
* Germany is still wondering how Tristan expected 'left Rayfell in the oven' to have worked as an excuse.
Tristan reaches out and rips the paper in half. "Not that I'm superstitious," he says. "Except for . . . what. What the hell are you expecting to do?"
* Itachi raises an eyebrow, "What we have to, I suppose."
"I'm much less certain now," Luka admits.
First, what is he up to? You spoke of murders.
"We thought that she and her demon were possibly responsible for the murders in California, and some of the ones out here," Elli says slowly.
I wouldn't be surprised if they're connected.
Tristan takes a seat next to Kaname on the bed. ;)
However, Lucia doesn't seem to be the type to have Sidney kill others.
Another demon?
"Sera texted and said that Lucia had lots of demons," Elli says.
* Kaname glances at Tristan, but that is all.
Hm. Can he create demons...
Like how David was transformed.
Or summon them...
* Kaname nods.
Madison says, flatly, "It's too bad we don't have an ancient demon here to answer these questions."
Tristan is examining the ceiling.
Mr. Valentine.
* Belphegor folds his arms and leans against the wall, listening boredly.
"Oh," Luka says. "Good point. You're older than me, aren't you?"
...Tristan.
"Look, I'm not an expert," Tristan says. "And I don't really particularly want to be involved in this." He's starting to get ornery.
That is unfortunate.
Not a fan?
"I've lived for a long time," says Tristan, blue eyes shrewd. "Partially by avoiding fights that are unnecessary, or that I know I can't win. You don't challenge somebody like that. You just don't."
How powerful is he, in comparison to, say, Beelzebub or Astaroth?
"Up there," says Tristan, long-suffering.
As in equal, or greater?
From your reactions... very, very high.
If anything.
"Do you mean, would they be able to grind us into dust, or really fine dust? Basically."
So they're much stronger in this universe?
Tristan raises an eyebrow. "This universe?"
* Belphegor glances at Raidou questioningly.
* Raidou nods.
* Kaname sighs. "If you don't want to deal with him, then you won't. But the rest of us were summoned here for a reason, weren't we?" The second part is directed to Elli.
"I'd worked with some of you before . . ." Eli says slowly. "And Madison recommended that we would need help."
"We may want," Tristan says delicately, "a little more help than this."
Like what, demon hunting professionals?
* Raidou murmurs, "Like Beelzebub?"
Basically... how do we stop him? Or can we.
There has to be some reason that we're involved. So there must be some way.
I'm inclined to agree.
* Raidou nods again.
Luka is eying Raidou. "What do you know?" He asks, sniffing a little.
* Raidou gazes evenly at Luka. "I fight demons for a living in my world," he replies calmly. "I've fought Beelzebub. I've fought the Horsemen. I won."
Impressive.
The door opens and closes ad Rayfell slides in. Tristan lifts a friendly hand to her, but looks strained. Everyone is in here except Kazuki and Joshua. Even in here is a red haired kid she doesn't know.
Welcome back.
* Rayfell looking a little drained (lololol). "Hi."
(lololol)
We should try to find them - Sera and the others.
* Itachi nods. "Yes."
"What if they're with the demon?" Madison asks.
What if the demon already knows we're here?
"That's the impression I got," Elli says. "Sera and Robin said they couldn't leave because Lucia had one of them as a hostage when they went out."
If there's a hostage situation then they may need help.
Tristan sighs, getting closer to Kaname.
* Kaname is casual tsun.
* Itachi is still in bed with Kaname and hopes this doesn't become awkward.
Lucia has a pendant...
"Sera said," Luka says. "She said she thought it was based off the Seal of Solomon. ...it probablY IS the Seal of Solomon."
"I came here with a demonologist . . ." Madison trails off vaguely.
* Itachi turns his attention to Madison, "Perhaps we should speak to him, then."
"I thought he's only worked on it for a few months," Elli asks Madison.
Madison tilts his head. "He's had some very . . . intimate experience . . ."
Tristan snorts.
...Ah.
Lead us to him, Madison. If he has some knowledge, it's better than knowing none.
* Belphegor snorts, saying bluntly, "Just take us to him already. There's nothing else to do right now."
Madison shrugs. "Okay. There's some basics he can probably help with, anyway. If nothing else we can stick him on research duty."
Madison rises. Lazily, Tristan stretches and rises too, offering Kaname a hand up.
* Kaname takes the hand and stands.
"Madison, why don't you say here?" Tristan drawls. "I wanted to go see him anyway soon, and you might have some inspiration if you stay here with Luka and the girl."
"And because Kieran won't let you touch him when I'm around . . ." Madison says vaguely.
(A+ role model)
* Belphegor smirks slightly at that.
Tristan laughs. "That too."
Elli says, "I'd like it if some of you stayed here and worked on a good way to communicate with the group with Asmodeus.
I'll stay.
"Raidou, you stay too, if you're experienced in fighting demons. Belphegor, can you also?"
* Raidou nods.
"Vampires and that handsome germanic guy with me, then," Tristan says. "Come on."
I can fight.
* Kaname follows.
* Germany raises an eyebrow at that, but goes to follow Tristan.
Elli runs a hand through her short hair and sighs. "I appreciate it," she says. "Let's try to figure out a plan of action for approaching the other group."
* Belphegor waves bye-bye obnoxiously, at those who are leaving.
#demonology101 for Kaname Rayfell and Germany
#demonology101
Tristan leads the way across the street and down the block to a considerably better hotel.
Have you been staying here, too?
"Except for last night, yes," Tristan says. "I'm not like those kids. I prefer my luxuries."
He winks at Kaname.
...
He nods flirtatiously to the front desk people and ushers Rayfell, Germany, and Kaname into an elevator.
* Kaname goesss
* Germany goes as well.
They go up to the 14th floor and get out; Tristan knocks playfully on door 13.
"Come in." So Tristan swipes a card.
Inside is a young man -- maybe 18 -- with a Zak Efron haircut, wearing jeans and a tight button down shirt with sewn-on patches on the right breast and across the back. He does not look like a professional demonologist.
But he's reading a book in latin, at any rate.
Are we interrupting?
He sits up. "No, it -- hi?" He glances at Kaname with both recognition and confusion. "Mr. Kuran, right?"
"Mr. Knight." He nods. "Hello once again."
"How can I help you guys?" He nods to Rayfell and Germany. "I'm Kieran Knight."
Unfortunately, it isn't a social visit. We're here to ask what you might know about a demon named Sidonay.
"Sidonay?" Kieran gets up, grabbing a bunch of books off his desk.
"I think that's a secondary name for one of the majors," Kieran says. He glances at Tristan. "I'm not necessarily the most first-hand source--"
"But your first-hand source is staying out of it," Tristan says. "Consider this a pop quiz."
"Yeah, thanks. Thanks for that."
We'd like to know what to do with Sidonay, if we can do anything.
"Give me a minute." He opens about five books, flipping through them, hunched over the hotel desk. "Sidonay, Modo -- oh, shit, really?"
* Kaname adds dryly, "And we're trying to find him."
"That sounds like a totally safe life decision to me," Kieran says, equally dry.
Very. How does one summon a demon like him?
The alternatives don't seem to be significantly safer.
Unless we take Mr. Valentine's suggestion and leave it alone.
"I don't know that you summon him," Kieran says. "Even if you built a summons circle, I'm fairly sure the major demons can send those under their command to answer it. Binding a Prince-class demon is almost impossible; Solomon did it and I haven't heard of anyone else..."
Solomon... Lucia Bellcourt is a young woman who, from appearances, has Sidonay as her servant. She has a pendant - the Seal of Solomon?
At least, from what Sera and Elli suspect.
Kieran turns and looks at him. "The actual Seal of Solomon was used by Solomon to command a host of demons to do his bidding. It's been lost thousands of years at least."
Hmm. Lucia also has a habit of collecting old and rare things.
Unusual things.
He shakes his head. "If that's the real seal of Solomon, that's one hell of a find. No matter how hard she looked for it, it's not like she'd manage to find it just because she wanted it."
Are you suggesting maybe Sidonay wanted her to find it?
To lead someone young and impressionable... easily used.
"I'm not suggesting anything someone like that wants. And I'd find it hard to believe that he didn't find anyone else like that in thousands of years. Assuming it is the real thing though..." He flips through a few books, refreshing his memory. "Yeah... Sidonay was one of the demons; one of the ones Solomon used the most. Supposedly he built the temple in Jerusalem at Solomon's command."
A few years ago, her family had gone on a trip to Egypt. There was an earthquake...
Kieran whistles. "Egypt is about the right area," he admits, slowly. "That's the last place Asmodeus was heard of, to the best of my knowledge."
I suspect she and her brother encountered something that in essence brought Sidonay to her. The brother... we met him previously. He warned us about a seal and not to put blood on it.
"Generally not putting your blood on demonic things is a good idea," Kieran says. "Demons seem to love blood sacrifice -- giving them your blood in any sense seems pretty risky."
It's true...
* Kaname is just recalling Luka :|b
Tristan chuckles but otherwise doesn't contribute.
What if we can get our hands on the pendant?
"I'm not sure," Kieran says. "Supposedly he once tricked Solomon into taking it off and handing it to him and then he threw it in the ocean, because he wasn't controlled by Solomon. But it came back to Solomon after some time."
What did Solomon do with Sidonay?
"After that or in general?"
Both.
"After? Just took him back." Kieran doesn't look at Tristan. "The theory is that you can't expect a demon to be anything but a demon and act accordingly. If you deal with demons you should know what you're getting into."
"...Generally," he adds, "he and Solomon seemed to have a joking relationship where they played jokes on each other. It looks like they mostly got along all right even though Solomon commanded him, including to do things like build the holy temple."
As a demon, does he have any... goals? Or perhaps it depends on the one that supposedly controls them.
"He's a demon of gambling and a demon of lust," Kieran says. "Supposedly he loved a human girl once and tormented her by killing all her suitors."
He flips a few pages, checking. "It's kind of nasty, actually. He'd let her marry them if he wanted to, but on the wedding night, he'd kill them before they could -- yeah."
An... interesting... way to court someone.
* Kaname then looks at Tristan with an eyebrow raised. "A demon of lust. Do you answer to him?"
Tristan lifts his hands. "Not if I don't catch his eye," he says, vaguely.
* Kaname wonders, "Would you be able to find Sidonay?"
"I'm not going to try," Tristan says, flatly.
You're afraid.
"You would be too if you had your head on straight about this," Tristan said. "One. You don't mess with the Fallen. They are messed up. Two. You don't mess with Dukes. Three. You don't mess with Princes. That's three strikes; you're out."
Death would probably be too easy of a punishment.
"My goal," Tristan says, firmly, "is to leave an easy life without ever drawing anyone important's attention."
We'll try not to bend your goals too much.
"I appreciate that," Tristan drawls. "I wouldn't like it if my kindnesses helping you guys ended up costing me."
Kieran says, "Uh, guys? Weaknesses are listed here."
"Though it's kind of weird."
Weaknesses?
"He can't endure the scent of smoke from burning the organs of Sheatfish from Assyria," Kieran says. "Apparently. I mean, if this is right."
Sheatfish...
"I said it was weird. Some sources also say surrounding him with jars of water can trap him... same sources that say he was always at violent odds with Solomon, where other ones said they were sort of playful." He shrugs. "I can't guarantee truth on any of this."
* Kaname nods. "Thank you for the information. It could be useful."
"No problem. Testament of Solomon, Key of Solomon, and Book of Tobit seem to be the main -- I hesitate to call them primary -- sources," Kieran says. "Hope it helps. I'll keep looking -- got a phone number if I find anything else?"
Yes, please.
"I have Luka's," Tristan says. "I'll write it down for you."
Tristan then turns to Kaname and the group. "And now," he says, "I'm going to usher you out for some private, not dealing with big baddies time."
He pauses. "Unless you'd like to stay," he adds, to Kaname. Smile.
* Kaname is polite. "Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline."
Tristan looks mock-disappointed. Kieran looks relieved.
Regrettably, you are not my type. Don't take that as a challenge.
"But it is," Tristan almost purrs. "I know how far I can push you before you crack."
Such is the nature of demons...