asgardeventide | [Action | Video (backdated slightly to Day 143)]

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[Action | Video (backdated slightly to Day 143)]

[Action: Open to the Forensics Unit/Hospital Staff/Visitors.]

[It's a couple of hours into the working day when the office door opens. Ignoring the stir of surprise from staff who haven't seen him in a week, Conan makes a beeline straight to his desk. His disappearance has left him looking pale and there is a bandage on his right temple, but Conan's unimpressed expression makes any of the lab staff reconsider asking.

Climbing onto his seat, Conan surveys the files that have built up in his absence. Well, at least it's not an avalanche this time.]

Coffee.

[Video]

[It's been another few hours and two cups of coffee since his arrival back at the Unit. Conan's made headway on his files but still has a lot of catching up to do and he knows it. Being at a loss is one thing, being out of the loop when a major crime has occurred is another.]

I'm back. Sorry to anyone who was worried -- I'm not sure what happened. It's fair to assume that I lost my bracelet ... [Probably about the same time he got the bump to the head, not that Conan's saying that. Admitting you don't remember losing your bracelet is one thing; not remembering how you injured yourself grounds against ever being able to walk home on your own again.] But the nurses have cleared me and I'm here now! And trying to catch up.

Doctor-san, Mycroft-san, [unwillingly] Holmes-san, I believe you've been assisting the Forensic's Unit? If you don't mind, I'd like to talk to you! Everyone else -- well, I see we've had some newcomers! I hope you've already had the warnings about losing your bracelet, but in case not, be very careful with it and try and keep it close by! Otherwise, you might end up vanishing like I did. I ... can't exactly recommend the experience.

Not that I remember the experience exactly. [A scowl. Conan didn't spend years training his memory so that he could just forget things left, right and centre.] It's a weird feeling. Forgetting something normally is okay. Either you know vaguely what happened even if you don't remember the exact details or you forget entirely so you don't even know there's something there you don't remember. This ... Knowing it's there but not being able to remember it ...

[A detective's only as good as his mind, so when his mind works against him ... Yeah, this is not a happy detective, Asgard.]

Don't lose your bracelet.

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[Sam's voice is grateful, but a little subdued. It's a couple days after the last incident, and she's been reflecting on the fact that punishment is such a dicey thing on the island, even considering her temporary bouts with insanity.]

Welcome back. Could've told you about the bracelet, but no point kicking a man when he's down. Not something anyone needs to try, much less repeat.

...

You missed my second episode. Merlin and Regina took me down before I could do as much harm this time. Lot of people scared, some minor assaults, but a lot less. [She was nervous, however. It felt like her other half had been 'playing nice' on purpose, and had been gauging her powers and what she could get away with.]

I think I know when it may happen next... but I'm not sure.

Samantha-san! It's -- good to hear from you.

[Not exactly true, not with her news -- but it's close enough.]

Ah ... that is good to hear! When ... there's a time-frame?

It looks like it's lunar. Both of the last two times were on a new moon. I still want to talk to Merlin, assuming he hasn't given up on me yet, and Eve. But, I think it may be about every twenty-eight days since the lunar cycle here's similar to earth.

That would make a lot of sense. And if that's the case --

Ne, you're aware of the things your other half does when she's in control? Does that mean that she's aware of the things you do?

Verbatim. I have a limited understanding of her motives, but she seems to always be a step ahead. but either way, yeah she knows what I planned when she comes awake in me.

As soon as you've got the time, I'd like to hear in detail, your -- or her -- perspective on what happened.

I can make time now, provided your stomach's settled. Whenever you want to talk is fine, but keep in mind she's a deranged, violent sociopath and a sexual predator to boot. Her... perspective isn't exactly pleasant to talk about.

I'm not exactly feeling hungry right now. Come on over.

Sounds like a plan. I'll see you soon.

[It was a surprisingly short wait. Samantha spent a lot of time at her shop these days, and it was designed to be s stone's throw from the hospital for a reason or two. The door opened and she gave Conan a small wave, coughing and looking to the side.]

Heya. We skipping the pleasantries and getting into the gory details?

[Conan's managed to get some coffee, but it's done nothing for his headache. He waves Samantha towards the small meeting room in answer.]

If you don't mind. I don't want to waste time.

[She leaned against a wall and nodded, closing her eyes. She really didn't like talking about this, but Conan was 'safe.']

First of all, to be very clear, this is a Hannibal Lecter level sort of crazy we're talking about here. My other side wasn't out to win the other day, I'm certain of it. She's waiting, like a gardener waits for fruit to ripen. She seems to know that my powers are going to grow and hit the same level you and Kaz have eventually, and she's waiting for those, along with hoping a few other people mature as well.

[That brought a very obvious shudder to her. The two people that side of her had been thinking about were Regenerators.]

She knew what I'd warned people of, so she explicitly tried using bums and faceless as proxies to attack people, testing how well she could control them. She wasn't planning to win any fight, though she wouldn't have turned down a victory. She was looking to verify what she could use another body to do, while avoiding being scrutinized.

She tried lying to and tricking a few people who've been more trusting of me than others. Despite the warnings, she managed to dupe one and almost caught another. I know she's already aware that I'm planning to have myself locked away. I think... she's expecting it somehow. Like this is a natural progression and she wants people to be lulled into thinking she's a fool.

The next time she gets loose... she's not going to let anyone know until it's too late, Conan.

[As Samantha settled against the wall, Conan took a seat at the table, flipping open his notebook.]

A few other people -- she's picked out challenging targets? Or has she found allies?

[At the mention of ASgard citizens, Conan frowned.] Those that she used ... were they harmed during her control?

[Ensuring that Samantha's other half didn't have access to the bracelets would hopefully prevent her snaring people in ... but her increased levels of Body Control meant that they would have to see that she was isolated, away from people she could potentially control. Perhaps some sort of tranquilising dart ... ?]

It's possible that we might have to make plans without you being aware of them, Samantha-san.

[A shrug.]

She had one ... I guess you'd call her an ally, but they've been gone and it's better that way. She picks her targets depending on whether she wants the rush of a fight, or an easy victim. The faceless were beaten to hell, but ... nothing too serious hopefully.

[That was a lie. She knew the bum had been run through, but she really didn't want to admit to that, and she doubted Ichigo would either. It was one more sin she wanted to deal with privately. She had more than enough trouble as it stood.

That last statement, though, that got a reaction. Her face hardened and she looked like the hackles on the back of her head were probably standing on edge.]

Now wa...

No, you're right. If I don't know, she doesn't know. Just don't plan for during the new moon. Plan before with contingencies for during. I'm going to be a lot easier to work with than she will.

[Oh that is interesting.] Diva-san?

[Conan makes a mental note to check on those patients. If they're still faceless, getting a statement will be hard, but they've got to try.

He's steady as Samantha reacts angrily then catches herself.]

It won't be easy -- for any of us, Samantha-san, but for you in particular. Is there anything we should be aware of before we make plans?

[The victim statements wouldn't reference Samantha at all. She had targeted the faceless from a distance and remained afterwards out of sight to allow them to do her bidding. So, there would only be the freaky sensation of being treated like a puppet. As for the unfortunate bum, whether or not Ichigo's insane state killing some poor hobo would become clearly linked was debatable.

Still, they might shed some light into the things she had them do, if they could be found.]

...

[She gave an unpleasant, choked sound and looked away when the name Diva was mentioned. She didn't actually say anything, but nodded. The girl actually shuddered and looked violently ill for a minute, not answering his other question until she was in control again.]

Tell me that you're doing it when you come. Lock me up before it gets dark the day before I should go nuts. Don't tell me when and don't take chances. I was asking Merlin about something related to our power and I need to be sure...

I can start it from line of sight, but maintain the power even if I can't see them. At your level, can you start the power even if you can't see them?

[That's an interesting reaction -- and might shed some light on a different case. Conan mentally files that reaction even as he notes down Samantha's instructions.]

You're thinking on the same lines I am. I'm at the same stage, but I haven't tried willing people without looking at them first. That's just habit -- it's easier to visualize when you can see. I think it would be very possible but we won't know without testing it.

[It might just offer an insight or two, though she wasn't going to be easy to get to talk about Daryl. But it was probably one of the first glimmers, and an unpleasant reminder of how messed up her other side was.]

Ok. Then I'll definitely be testing it with Merlin's help. We need to be sure what the limits are. Even aside from this whole crap, we need to know just in case something else comes along with these powers. It's good to have warning.

The more information we have, the more effectively we'll be able to act.

Speaking of -- is there anything else you want to tell me about this last ... episode?

[She closed her eyes and thought about that for a second. There was a swallow and she leaned her head back. The reality was that there were many things she wanted to talk about, but most of them were not there. The bum... she didn't even know his name. No, she wouldn't share that... She couldn't. But...]

I... don't know how to apologize to Karuika properly. I don't think I can.

[!]

She targeted him again?

Only on the network. I responded to something Shou was shouting when he was warning people about me. Karuika was the one that responded. Really, though, I meant in general, not just this. How do you look someone in the eyes after something like that, much less apologize?

Ah ... I can't even imagine where you'd start. That Samantha-san's willing to think about it ... I think that says a lot about the sort of strength she has.

I'm not sure that I really can. What I did to him... it can't be undone. You don't forget things like that, Conan. I want to, but I don't think I really can.

Some things you shouldn't forget.

Ne -- Samantha-san can't undo what happened but she can try her best to see it doesn't happen again, and that's what she's doing.

Yeah, I suppose there's that. Kind of a cold comfort, but there is that. And, if that woman comes here again, I can steer as clear of her as possible.

[Action | Video (backdated slightly to Day 143)]

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