voidtreckernet | Audio

[HMM!

SUSPINACH...................]

...geeze, now I'm wonderin' if I oughta dial back on tha' deal w'th Ran t' confiscate yer coffee...yer forgettin' entire people...

[THIS GUY AGAIN]

[...Hm, so Ran didn't like Conan drinking coffee. Duly noted.]

Oi, oi. [Annoyed Conan voice:] I missed two platforms, there could be more people now.

[HE'S HERE! HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT HERE HE IS!]

Uh, yeah, and y've been here for like...months b'fore me dude, you know more people than me.

Poin' bein', we both knew this guy, an' we both saw it happen. If yer havin' memory troubles, I better not get hit w'th it by th' way.

[Has he considered... not being here? Just a thought.]

[She sure is lucky Conan acts grumpy even with his friends.]

And your point? One guy isn't enough to tell how common of an occurrence it is.

I'm not, and it doesn't work like that anyway. [She thinks.]

Look, we already get dream bleed, an' I know there's been visions bleed, so I ain't makin' any guesses on what won't happen.

[Dream bleed and vision bleed? Vermouth is still dubious on the psychic nonsense, but if they are sharing dreams, that puts his insistence on knowing her in a new but still worrying light.]

Fair enough.

[Hmm... This person might be close enough to Conan that this question won't strike him as weird. She opts for a quieter, more serious Conan tone.]

Hey. What are the chances, you think? [A beat.] That she'll come back.

[It's Conan, so she doesn't think she'll need to specify which 'she.']

[Not weird at all. Not weird at all, and Katsuya seems fine with acting as if it really is Conan on the other end for now.]

...I dunno man. Hones'ly th's was th' worst time t' walk off, us seein' tha' place where we could send messages home an' all. But I dunno.

If I saw her comin', y'd prob'bly figure it out b'fore I ev'n told y'- I'd be too happy f'r y' to hide tha' kinda preview.

But it never works like tha', so I don'...

[Success! She has bamboozled him!]

Oh, that. [Vermouth had only bothered with one message, having snuck it in while no one was nearby. Not to Ran, but perhaps Bourbon will keep his promise with that reminder.] I missed it, anyway. It wouldn't have made a difference.

[Huh, so Conan has also heard the 'premonition' shtick. she wonders how they are still friendly after that...]

Yeah, of course I would notice something like that. [Who do you think her Cool Guy is? Deduction is his specialty!]

Thanks for the thought, I guess.

Ahuhhhhhh...

[It's probably because he's more than heard it, but let's be honest, even Conan probably couldn't sort out a way to prove this.

Vermouth-as-Conan gets to finish what's being said, but if Vermouth is paying attention, the ICP being used to respond back...changes.

Katsuya has moved to another room to answer.] Yeah, no probl'm I guess. Stay cool alrigh'?

[It's probably nothing right??]

[Vermouth overlooks the change, presuming he has been successfully fooled. Perhaps he is just multi-tasking as the conversation wraps up.]

Sure. See you later.

[Shinichi is always cool.]

[It does not take long for Katsuya to show up. Specifically, he shows up behind the next door Vermouth uses, grinning like an idiot.]

S'up.

Decided it's 'later'.

[ah!]

Edited 2021-05-29 02:09 (UTC)

[Vermouth swings around, immediately pulling her pistol. This isn't the kind of woman you want to startle, Jou!!]

What are you doing here?

JEE-ZE!

[WHY A GUN!] Th' hell is my luck with gals and guns, god...

[There's a lot to unpack there, but for now he's moving away from where the gun is...pointing? Please?]

Also you know what I'm doin' here, cut th' radio voice acting schtick, yer gonna run out of improv an' that's without someone like me figuring it out with spooky supernatural help- [the blond mutters.]

What did you expect, sneaking up on a lady?

[Because some of us don't have weird supernatural abilities. Just gun.]

[Vermouth watches him with clear distrust. The gun follows him, though she makes no move to shoot. She says airily:]

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

[Lies, but she would admittedly say the same to Conan or Gin in similar situations.]

Hey, yer th' one doin' voice stuff on th' comms..! I know Conan waaaay too well t' fall f'r any of that, [he hums, eyeing the gun with a frown. Moving...away again....]

'Sides, I got a feelin' y' were over here, an' here y' were, usin' th' system from th' same carriage 'Conan' was, apparently.

[Not that names get tied to the thing, but the point is more that there's no way 'Conan' would've been able to book it quite that fast. ...Probably.

Probably.

Also, seer stuff, but hey.]

Huh? I thought you would remember Peter leaving and coming back. You were here for that.

[Don't worry, she's not suspicious, just questioning how "Conan" could have forgotten that it's possible.]

[Ah, Sera. How good to hear from her again.]

[So Peter was one of them. Well, if it was Conan's friend Peter, he was unlikely to be a Organization disguise. Sharon's seen him before, definitely doesn't give off that vibe. (Plus if the Organization wanted to make perfect disguises, they would have roped her into the plan.)]

[Matter of fact 'Conan':]

I remember him. I want to see how many more there have been. [Well, the second part's not entirely a lie.]

...Ah. Well, I've heard there are others, so it's possible that there might be people coming back at a later platform, too.

[She's not entirely convinced of that explanation, since she's pretty sure Conan should have noticed this by now.]

Good. [Maybe some of them will answer here and tell her more about the experience.]

[There is a long pause before 'Conan' says, hollowly,] It's relevant now.

[For her and for Conan both.]

[In a secluded corner of the train, someone taps on Vermouth's shoulder, and says, in a small voice,]

Um, Miss Adler, excuse me, but... why were you impersonating Conan?

[Vermouth turns with a frown, one hand starting to reach for her concealed weapon... until she sees who it is. Even with her older age, the similarity to Conan's friend is hard to miss.]

[Not that she's about to use Ayumi's name. As far as Vermouth knows, Ayumi is only acquainted with the kind elementary school nurse who is definitely not her cover here. Nor does she react to the unusual name given to her. Whether she recognizes it or not, she can roll with another alias.]

Whatever could you mean? [She asks, feigning ignorance.]

[Ayumi taps her temple, and her eye shimmers, a crosshair overlaying itself across the width of her sclera as everything else is washed over in warm red tones.]

I was practicing my Mystic Eye's stamina when I heard the announcement over the comms. I figured I might as well test my ability to see sound waves and all that stuff since it's been a while, then I noticed your voice's fulcrum points didn't quite match Conan's and were more like, well, yours.

[There are many things alarming in this situation. Why was there a teenager that looked suspiciously like Ayumi on the train? Why did she have mystic shimmering eyes? And most importantly, why was she acting so familiar with Vermouth???]

[Hypothetically, she could interrogate the young lady for answers. However, that would potentially put her at a disadvantage, letting it be known that Vermouth is out of her depth.]

[So instead she'll act natural. At least until she can go bother Conan for answers.]

Is that so? [She smirks ever so slightly and then shrugs.] Yes, that was me. I had a question for the other passengers, but I never use the ICP system. Conan seemed like the type others would expect to ask questions.

[Like the best covers, it is partially the truth. But definitely not all of it.]

I certainly didn't expect you to notice. When did you get here?

Just on this last round of new passengers.

[Ayumi lets out a deep sigh.] You know, Miss Adler, I get that you really love this kind of subterfuge thing, but you don't need to overcomplicate it like this, you know? Just because you act like you're too cool to use the ICP doesn't mean you can't be honest with yourself and everyone else if you're worried about someone you care about.

[Destroyed by a gangly teen. How cruel.]

[Wow, rude! First of all, she absolutely must overcomplicate things, how else is she supposed to keep her air of mystery? Second of all, that is extremely forward, even for the kids. Where are your Detective Boys' guardians, she is telling.]

I have no idea what you mean. [Vermouth says smoothly, but with a haughty coldness.] I don't know who you've heard from, but most would reliably tell you that the only person I care about is myself.

Mmm. Then why did you bother saving us, Ran, and the rest in Hawaii?

[Granted, Vermouth has no idea what Ayumi is really talking about, freaky-deaky time loops and AI in all, but that ought to be enough to cut "Irene" to the quick.]

[If she had to guess, because Ran Mouri is her Angel and conscious.]

[Also because she's a liar.]

[Sharon does noticeably pause, taking in this information. However, she's not about to admit defeat, especially from such an outlandish statement.]

You must be mistaking me for someone else. I haven't been to Hawaii in a long time.

[In good part because the FBI was out to get her, so the United States was not a safe place for this criminal on the run.]

Of course. [Ayumi smiles lopsidedly, and it's impossible to tell whether it's genuine or not, even for an operative of Sharon's caliber.] Like I said, it'd be really impolite to mess with... whatever cover story you have going on here, Miss Adler.

But! [Raising a single finger, Ayumi's grin widens.] If you want me to play along with the whole we-don't-know-each-other thing, you're going to have to treat me to a snack from the points machine every once in a while, got it?

[Blame the pirates for making her so mercenary.]

[How very cheeky of her. Vermouth wants to be cross, never a fan of having information hung over her in exchange for a deal. (She's looking at you, Bourbon. But this is one of Cool Guy's kids. She helped treat them at the school clinic for a short while, and she can't bring herself to get truly mad at a child. Besides, you have to respect the gall of demanding snacks from a top tier Organization member.]

[It helps that snacks are also the cheapest purchase at the points shop. As annoying as it might be to have a crimp in her savings plans, this is most certainly the easiest way to buy her silence.]

I suppose it can't be helped.

In that case, you should know that while we are here, I am going by the name Sharon Vineyard. An American actress visiting Japan for work. [Does Ayumi know this alias? It will be interesting to find out.]

...If you're going to change the first name, then why not- right, right, none of my business! [Ayumi still can't help but think of that shouting match in the Shadow Border that she only half-remembered due to... everything that happened before the Shadow Border, which included Irene saving her and the other Masters. The name "Chris Vineyard" got tossed around a lot, but it only stuck in her mind due to the wide variety of venomous tones it was spat out in.]

In that case, it's nice to meet you, Sharon. [That wide smile is genuine, at least. Ayumi's legitimately happy to see Irene again, even if it means playing along with her silly spy games. Seriously, who was going to report on her activities on the interdimensional train?]

I heard they had but you oughta know that since our roommate did just that kinda thing.

[He doesn't want to jump to conclusions but, boy, you are not in the room and WangJi told him about Wuxian leavin' an' comin' back.]

[Vermouth knows Conan is not in his room (having checked to make sure he left first), which is the only reason she bothers to reply instead of just noting another return.]

[Hm... A roommate isn't necessarily a friend, but Conan seems to be far more open here than with adults back home. She'll hold off on the fake kid voice.

[Surly Conan voice:]

Knowing one or two instances isn't enough to gauge how common it is.

You've been here long enough. Now have ya spoke to the new girl? I assured her that you was a kid an' figure you oughta at least drop by an' let her know you exist for real or somethin' if you ain't yet.

[Come on, Conan. You have some responsibilities.]

[Oh boy, has Cool Guy talked to his new roommate? Guess she'll have to improvise.]

All right, all right, I will. Has she found the room yet?

[Note to self: if Conan doesn't hunt her down for this, go find him and tell him to talk to the new girl.]

Yeah, she's already pretty much settled.

[This is fishy as hell but he'll just ask Conan when he stops in. That's gotta happen eventually.]

Right. I'll see her there, I guess.

[She'll drop Conan a note to get on it.]

[As tempting as it is to try and learn more about Conan's roommates this way, she's already cutting it close. Better not to draw too much suspicion.]

Conan is watching all of this very carefully. He had a very good idea of who was behind this.

Vermouth figured he wouldn't want to call her out publicly. Far too risky.

But she does hope he pays her a visit.

I did. I was gone for a couple of months and I just got back yesterday.

[Ah ha! She recognizes him. And as a fellow Orange member, Vermouth figures Conan would too.]

Good to see you back. You're just in time for the next mission.

[...Wait. She didn't see him on the platform. Then again, Conan wasn't there either.]

Did you get back on the platform? I must have just missed you.

[ He laughs a little. ]

Thank you, Conan! I'm glad to be back. And it does seem we're about to embark on another mission.

I didn't come back via the platform. When people disappear or die, they often come back via the Luggage Car. That is, they appear inside a piece of luggage. As I'm sure you already know. That's what happened to me. I came back and appeared in a large trunk. [ Chuckle. ] I didn't realize it wasn't locked until I bashed a hole in the lid with my fist and another with my foot. Startled a few people who were there to pick up packages.

But that's good, that you were on the platform greeting new people.

Edited 2021-05-10 03:05 (UTC)

[Bless you, Curufin, you cheerful fool. You're lucky you got the Organization member that has a sense of humor.]

[Flat toned slightly grumpy Conan:]

I am aware.

I wasn't. I was stuck in luggage like you on that day, so I missed the platform.

[Not that Vermouth got to see Conan in the luggage, but she knows what day he returned. And didn't see him out on the platform.]

Audio - Llama Day 2

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Count down to Vermouth getting overconfident...

10....9...

8... 7... 6...

5...4...3....2-1 gO-

Clearing lost tags, let me know if you'd rather leave it

re-reads thread, grins like buffoon *OH WE KEEPIN IT* it'll likely wrap soon anyway

oh goodie

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sorry for the late tag moving screwed me up

no worries

Re: no worries

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[Not Here]

[Also Not Here]

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re-reads thread, grins like buffoon OH WE KEEPIN IT it'll likely wrap soon anyway