[network] @donner; video; All Dolled Up; Day 172 [open]

[imgonnatouchit]

Good morning Norfinbury!

[The video opens, as always, with an uncomfortable closeup of Hange's face. Looking even dirtier and more scuffed up than last time they made a network post, Hange nevertheless seems to be in good spirits. As they back up a bit, the camera refocuses to reveal a purple room. Levi is, as usual, looking dour in the background.]

Good news! We've reached the end of the tunnels, or, at least, we think we did. We've at least reached as far as we can go in a roughly straight Easterly direction. [Insert wiggly hand motions to indicate the exact nature of the direction.]

Which brings us to the bad news: there's a door there, and it's locked. It won't budge, even when we kick it. [Which of course they both tried. Maybe a lot.]

So it looks like we'll need to find a key. Anyone who happens to have a key, you should head this way. Otherwise, keep an eye out. [And that's all they have to say on that matter. But that's not the only matter they're here to talk about.]

Something else I feel the need to mention. [Hange picks up the tablet and turns the camera to face some shelves on the wall. On them are ten objects that look like doll stands.] I've been told that there have been several dolls found around the town that might have something to do with the Prophet. I think it's possible that these stands, which look like they may be for dolls, could have something to do with that. I doubt it's a coincidence that they're so close to the locked door. So in addition to keys, look out for dolls with eye symbols on them.

And speaking of dolls. [There's some shuffling as Hange rearranges to pull two small figures out of their bag, holding them up for the camera to see. One figure is clearly a doctor holding a cane, while the other is a red-haired man. The latter is missing part of an arm and looks like it's been partially melted.] We found these in another apartment. There were others, too. I don't know that they have any connection to the other dolls, but it seemed like pertinent information.

[The video abruptly cuts off, but files are attached: a copy of House's map with building 219 circled and labelled "figures", building 222 circled with "doll stands?", and the area just beyond 222 circled with "door". There is also a picture of the locked door, and a picture of the other "figures" which resemble Emily, Royce, and Ginger.]

[[OOC: Responses may come from either Hange or Levi, as usual.]]

Comments

@duster, audio

[bywolves]

[ Those dolls, though. ]

Keep those dolls safe. [ That's an order, short and snapped. ] Do not let any harm come to any of them.

@Ecks | audio

[ecks]

You think that the dolls are effigies.

[bywolves]

You think the resemblance to people here is a coincidence? What else could they be?

[ecks]

They could be dolls. We have not seen other kinds of magic performed here. If they are effigies there is magic here.

[bywolves]

Doesn't have to be magic. Plenty of things here have been close enough to the Art that I could not and would not discount the type of blood magic connecting a doll to someone's - essence, from existing.

I'm not taking the chance.

[ecks]

That is alright.

I will trade for them and carry them and not let them be destroyed.

[bywolves]

No. You'll not be handling any doll that bears a resemblance to me.

[ecks]

That statement is inaccurate.

[bywolves]

Your statement is inaccurate. Do not touch any doll that may look like me unless you intend on delivering it straight to me.

[ecks]

I am not required to obey you.

[Also even if she did have to obey him, there are several obvious loopholes in that command.]

[bywolves]

No, but I will make you regret it if harm comes to those dolls because of you.

[ecks]

I do not harm dolls and I will make you regret it if you make me regret it.

[bywolves]

Please, we've already done this song and dance. If anything, I owe you a blade to the neck.

Save the threats for someone else.

[ecks]

Incorrect. We are finished.

[She'd really, really like them to be finished.]

[bywolves]

We are. You started the threats. Don't reopen this particular wound.

[ecks]

[She did? She did not think that she did. She's silent as she mulls that over, reasons that the wound is probably a metaphor.]

Acknowledged.

[Unless he has more to say to her, she'll probably give up on the conversation at this point.]

@donner; audio

[imgonnatouchit]

Well, I wasn't planning on destroying them. We might need them, after all.

But, well, I guess I don't know what'll happen to the ones we left behind. Maybe Levi took some of them? At the time it didn't seem necessary to collect them all. Maybe we should go back for them? Do you think they're important?

[bywolves]

No. Leave them where they are. Don't touch them if you don't have them. They've done just fine where they are. [ He's concerned about someone like House getting ahold of them and setting them on fire or something... ]

[imgonnatouchit]

[Ok bro.]

I'll leave them be for now, but if we do need them, I plan on going back. Or hoping whoever finds them decides to help.