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[payback]

[Doop doop doop... just in the castle lobby, but you know, it's Paradisa. There's always a journal open somewhere when things happen.

For a few minutes the journal picks up dictation of... mostly nothing. Rin talking quietly to someone, apparently Tad, from her tone and how there's no response back. This continues for a few minutes before she suddenly cries out sharply.]

Ouch!! Oh - jeez...

[There's silence for a moment. Whatever just happened, from her reaction it sounds like this was painful! But when she speaks she sounds... hesitant, and kind of nervous. A little more normal for her at this point.]

What's this...?

Comments

[exanimatus]

Roman numerals, handwriting, typeface... Carved gorily into your hand, drawn in ink, raised skin--really, any answer would have been correct.

[except the one you just gave. step it up, Rin!]

[payback]

What do you mean, Roman numerals? I don't even know what those are. Why are you talking to me anyhow?! We're not friends!

[exanimatus]

There's no requirement that I have to be a friend to show concern, is there?

[payback]

... Well then, if we're not friends, why would you be concerned at all?

[exanimatus]

I just think it'd be unfortunate if it turns out you're part of an otherworldy ritual or a castle plot, or just dead because you didn't bother to share. You know?

[payback]

Well what are Roman numerals anyway? You didn't say.

[exanimatus]

[good!]

If you don't know what they are, they'd just look like a bunch of I's and V's. Maybe an X. They're a very old way of counting.

[payback]

Well they're not that.

[exanimatus]

How many numbers?

[payback]

... There's four of them. And they don't hurt now.

[exanimatus]

Hm... [that dashes a couple of theories.] That's good.

[payback]

Mm.

[... and nothing else. YOU'RE A MEANIEHEAD.]

[exanimatus]

What are the numbers?

[payback]

... Seventy-two, and then two zeros.

- Ah!

[exanimatus]

Hm? [what's that 'ah'-ing about? D:]

[payback]

It just changed...

[exanimatus]

Really. [......okay, he wants to see this for himself. :|a]

[payback]

Uh-huh. [Sadly clueless... just in the castle lobby, staring at her hand.]

[exanimatus]

[...give him about forty seconds, and he'll show up behind her.]

Hi.

[payback]

AUGH.

[As she seizes up in alarm.]

[exanimatus]

Ah-- You nearly jumped that time.

[he'll lean over. what's on the hand? what's on the haaand?]

[payback]

[She's backing away from him all at once, hurriedly, looking horrified and clutching at the wrist of her marked hand - scared all out of proportion to how he looks! Why?

Alexstrasza's life-sensing radar didn't turn off when her loss started, that's why. And Zelman, being undead... well.]

What... what's wrong with you?

[exanimatus]

What? [...um. that response didn't seem quite right, somehow.] How do you mean?

[payback]

[She stares at him, simultaneously pale and somewhat blotchy.]

You feel... awful! [Or maybe it's just really weird - but the shock is considerable!]

[exanimatus]

[...huuuuh.]

Do you recall the conversation we had where I mentioned I was somewhere between dead and alive?