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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

[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?

[payback]

[She seems to have backed to a distance that feels... tolerable at least, and there she remains, rubbing at her upper arms and staring at him. Tad curls around her and backs her up, staring at Zelman with... well, he's not challenging yet. But he's ready.]

Yes...

[exanimatus]

It's probably that.

[he glances at Tad for a moment (hey man you look... protective, that's cool) and raises his hand to illustrate something.]

Hey, show me your hand.

[payback]

[Whups, squeezing now on the wrist belonging to that number-printed hand.]

How come you wanna know? I mean really.