asgardeventide | [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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

Ah.

Ne ... I've got the people that encountered Samantha-san's other-half to talk to yet, but is there anything else you noticed that might not come up in those interviews?

I'm going to guess no. There might be something, but I'm really not sure what it'd be. I can confirm questions you have if it comes down to it.

In that case, I'll contact you again once I've concluded the interviews, and if there's anything that comes up while we make plans.

[She nodded and stepped towards the door, sighing a little.]

Thank you, Conan. I'll wait to hear back from you as far as this is concerned. Take care of yourself.

[She slid out of the room and on her way as soon as she was able. God, she needed a drink.]

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject