- 022nd tide | | in darkness -

[soulofocean]

[Accidental Video]

It keeps going out...! No matter what I-! Let's SEE now...

[The pitch-blackness of the scene is lit by a flicker of fire. For a second we can see Umi's face, looking annoyed but clearly more worried than angry, in the light of a dancing candle. Immediately she puts a hand around the flame to shelter it from any possible gusts

Comments

action; I'm not sure how long I'll be here. Long story. D|

[redstrength]

[Hikaru's fumbling around coming out of her room, one dimly light candle in hand] I was going to try to find some candles for that--

You felt it too?

action;*sigh*

[soulofocean]

[Umi raised her sword at that, trying her best to get her eyes to adapt to the darkness quickly as she gathered with Hikaru.]

Where did it come from...? We're far too high up in the building, doors are closed...

action; blame my boss D:

[redstrength]

I don't know. I wonder if it's those things again.

[Hikaru set the candle down gently so she could handle her sword from its sheath (she really needed to talk to Mokona about a replica) and readied near Umi.]

...I don't like this.

action; /blames

[soulofocean]

Those things...? Did this happen before? This darkness?

[Her back to Hikaru's back, Umi surveyed the barely lit room with a glance. Whatever had brushed her arm was nowhere to be found. Its presence had faded. Or never actually been there.]

Neither do I. Where's everyone?

action; /blames them forever

[redstrength]

Not the darkness, but there were weird little green octopus things that were everywhere last spring. ...I don't know. But it looks like whatever it was is gone now.

[She sighed a bit relievedly and let the sword rest in its place, opting to plop down onto the floor.]

action;

[soulofocean]

Adding that to the list Shiki just gave me... BOY, are the apartments even SAFE??

[Umi still refused to lower her guard, her back tense, her rapier at the ready.] It touched me, whatever it was. For a second it was but a step away from me. So it has to be corporeal...

action;

[redstrength]

Mm. I heard it before you posted, so it had to have come from somewhere.

[After a moment, she looked up to Umi, a tired look on her face.] Have you heard from Fuu?

action;

[soulofocean]

Not really. I'm getting worried. I don't want her wandering the place in the dark.

[Umi reached for the candle with her free hand and tried to illuminate the farthest corners of the large living room to see if something might be hunkering there. Then she sighed and returned it to the table.]

The sun didn't even come out! See what happens when we make plans...

action;

[redstrength]

Yeah. The City just... is really trying hard against us. [She smiled a little, but she was being serious. Hikaru got to her feet and lit a small flame in her hand to use as her own light to look around.] I'll check this side to see if she's there.

action;

[soulofocean]

Alright. I'll take the other! Uh--- lend me this...

[Umi took the candle again and headed for the opposite wing of the connected apartments. It was in times like this when she regretted living in a place so huge.]

Just yell if something happens. ANYTHING. I do feel like stabbing something for all this mess.

action;

[redstrength]

You too, Umi. If it's too big, call and wait for me, don't try to fight it alone. I'll try to find Mokona.

action;

[soulofocean]

If anything jumps at me...! Aw, alright. But let's meet here in like five minutes or I'll freak.

[With one last glance at Hikaru Umi headed for her appointed area of the apartment, wondering exactly how she'd react if something evil was crouching there ready to attack them.

Where were Fuu and Rika? She'd just talked to Louise. She knew Mokona could defend himself from anything. It was her other, unaccounted for friends that preoccupied her.]

action; gonna leave for work in about half an hour

[redstrength]

Five minutes... All right.

[Hikaru nodded to Umi and went to her side of the apartment. She knew Fuu could take care of herself, but she hadn't heard anything from Louise or Rika. She was more worried about Rika than anything right now. But she'd make sure that... thing wasn't lurking around anywhere first.]

action; sob I hope you're feeling better 8(

[soulofocean]

[Everything seemed undisturbed: their furniture was in place, undamaged, there was no sign of anything breaking in. Umi explored the rooms wondering what exactly could that mean. Perhaps Shiki was right when he suggested ghosts. Even if Umi was sure she'd felt something very real, very tangible brushing past her a while ago.

She walked on, counting the minutes before she should return to Hikaru and hoping it'd be with one of their roommates on tow.]

action; well it looks like my bus route's cancelled due to flooding so I'm still here

[redstrength]

[Hikaru was quiet for some time while she looked around, trying to listen for anything out of the ordinary. But she didn't see nor hear anything strange or of her friends so she headed back dejectedly.]

Umi?

action; D8 good to have you around but OMG

[soulofocean]

Right here.

[Umi walked into the living room wearing a similar expression, her rapier hanging in apparent disappointment from her hand.] No a trace of anyone. Or anything. Though that last one's good.