[The Guide snaps on with a crash, the clattering sound of dishes splitting apart on a hard tile floor sparks the transmission.  Two cries of alarm ring out as the Guide focuses.  It's the kitchen of the Crimson Lion, closed for the night, and something appears to be opening up, boring a hole in the air seamlessly; a bright anomaly that casts the ( Read more... )

[There's a bit of a gruff sound of annoyance as the Guide comes on.  There's that shakycam blur as it gets settled on something, before the autofocus kicks on.  Those who have been by in recent weeks will notice that it's the front of Shinjiro's restaurant.  The difference this time, is that it seems like it's ready for business.]

[The outside ( Read more... )

[The guide has been turned on and appears to be peeking out from a pocketbook or purse. At first you see a small pair of black Xingese dress shoes (Ran Fan's), but then the camera adjusts. You can see two people walking ahead of you into a kitchen of a restaurant. First is Shinjiro. He's wearing a deep red, collared shirt, black slacks, and a ( Read more... )

[Crouched on a bare cement floor dressed in a pair of old workout pants and a tank top, Ran Fan pries open a can of dark red paint with a kunai and examines it ( Read more... )

[The Guide begins recording, catching the tail end sound of a slam, as if it were placed down angrily.  There's some static as the video struggles to adjust to the smooth counter top.  Wine glasses hang from a rack above the counter, the back wall covered with bottles of wines, liquors, spirits, and booze.]

[The Devil's Nest.]

[There doesn't seem to ( Read more... )

[The video clicks on to a rather annoyed looking Shinji.  It's been awhile since anyone has seen him with this particular backdrop: various bottles of wine and liquor as well as suspended glasses and whatnot.  That's right, he's behind the bar at the Devil's Nest, his first day back to work.]

[He's going back and forth between the Guide, tapping ( Read more... )

--ouldn't be out of bed much less walking around!

[There's some scuffling, the Guide's microphone clicking on in the midst of what sounds like a heated discussion.]

[There's silence.]

You have to understand, the very fact that you're alive is completely unprecedented!

Lucky me.

Yes!  Very lucky!  We've repaired all of the damage to your body from your ( Read more... )

[The Guide suddenly pops on, as if dropped from a tremendous height.  The damage is evident enough, the picture is garbled static and nonsense, and there are voices, but the translation function appears to be temporarily on the fritz.  Half-translated words cut through the nonsense; 'show' and 'regret,' but one word, a single name is clear, tearing ( Read more... )

--our move, Aragaki.

[The video clicks on to show Vincent and OH MAH GAWD!? Shinjiro sitting in what appears to be Vincent's room. The two are at a round table, a tea cup before the two of them, and a chess set between them. Vincent is sitting confidently in his seat, his fingers crisscrossed, a confident, albeit small smile on his face. Across ( Read more... )

[There's a noticeable silence for a few moments, a clear hesitation.  Breathing is heard, but it's uneven, shaky.]

[A cough.  It's harsh and wet, but nothing too dire.  And then a voice.  It's soft spoken, and a bit on the weary side.]

I've seen a few of these posts since I've been here.  I usually just watch as opposed t'participate.  But...I've ( Read more... )