Case File# 001

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

I. Action >> 948 Beulah Street >> Early Morning

[Hakuba awakes in a bed that isn't his own and runs a quick check in the room and on his person for his handgun, which is nowhere to be found. He spends a few additional minutes searching for bugs of any kind.]

[Eventually, he gives up and dresses in the clothes provided to him - which aren't all that different from his own, to be honest - and makes his way cautiously downstairs to inspect the perimeter. Anybody home?]

II. Phone >> Mid-Morning

[When Hakuba gets on the phone his voice is clear and even, practically detached. He sounds almost as if he is reading off of a report by rote.]

As I have been led to believe that my current situation is a wide-spread one, I would like to request any pertinent data as to our location, our captors, and their motives. Any additional information that anyone could provide as to the types, and levels of enforcement currently in place would also be much appreciated.

[His tone turns faintly irritable now as he continues.] And if my abductors are listening as well, I would like my grandfather's pocket watch back.

III. Action >> around town >> Noon

[Hakuba has been stopped in his investigation of the town by a drone adult that wants to know why he isn't "in school, young man!" He is attempting to explain himself to them with little luck.]

No, I've just said I don't go to school anymo-- well, yes, I suppose in the strictly legal sense of the word I am still classified as a child but I---

IV. Action >> Library >> Evening

[Hakuba is sitting at a table with a large stack of books, pertaining to details of the town's "history" and such, a few of them open around him. In a notebook in front of him he is sketching a rough map of the town from his explorations earlier in the day, making tiny, illegible notes in the margins as he goes.]

Comments

phone;

[extraordinarily]

This is Mayfield, in so-called "1950s America". We're not 100% sure who exactly captured us, though people have their guesses. And no clue as to their motives, either.

As for enforcement... there's the police, but you can't trust the chief as far as you can throw him. And you'll probably regain your pocketwatch eventually. That is, when an 'event' happens.

phone;

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

1950's... yes, I suppose it does look quite similar.

So the police here are involved in some way with the abductions then? Or at least, in keeping us under control? And what sort of events do you mean?

phone;

[extraordinarily]

The chief is, at least. There are some non-drones who work for the police, but don't really do much about the situation. As far as I know, at least.

And events are... events! They're always completely random and they happen at least once a month! Like last Friday, people swapped bodies.

phone;

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

Swapped... swapped bodies?

phone;

[extraordinarily]

That's exactly it.

Library

[knowsabout]

[ Mana just so happens to be at the library, even if the books there are really boring by her standards. At least it's somewhat quiet for the most part. But for now she walks over to the young man researching at a nearby table.]

If you're trying to find any sort of useful information using the books here is somewhat pointless.

Library

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[Looking up from his notes.] I suppose that depends entirely on what one might consider useful.

Library

[knowsabout]

That's true, but most of the places in town that you might think hold a lot of information don't. Most of the records that are here and can be viewed by the public don't paint a very good picture of this place, or at least they only say the ideal view of the town.

Library

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

I'm not expecting their records to be accurate. I'm not looking for a history of their reality, I'm looking for a history of their illusion.

III.

[1_truth]

[ Don't ask why Conan's not in school, maybe he's sick. Either way, he happens to come up the walkway at just the right time. At first he's not entirely sure what he's seeing it actually there but as it doesn't fade he determines it be real and moves over to come to Hakuba's aid. ]

There you are!

III. Aw, Conan, MY HERO

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[Hakuba stops in the middle of arguing with the drone and turns to stare at the approaching chibi-detective.] ... Edogawa-kun?

III. He does what he can

[1_truth]

[ He comes to a halt just a few feet away and then looks up at the drone. ]

I'm really sorry! Hakuba-no-niichan was taking me to school but I got lost on the way! It's not his fault for being out of school!

III. Even for guys he barely knows, apparently.

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[The drone takes Conan's excuse at face value and smiles, patting first Conan and then Hakuba on the head before walking off to go harass other truants or something. Hakuba looks a bit put out by the hair rub-- he's six feet tall damn it, he shouldn't have to deal with that sort of thing anymore!]

Ah... I suppose I should thank you for your assistance, Edogawa-kun.

Action - LIBRARY 8U

[originalnumber]

Astral seems to have caught on to what you are doing, and, having been staring observing for some time, has decided to speak.

"The information within those books is not only minimal, but highly untrustworthy, I should warn."

...Blue skinned odd haired young teen with odd eyes just said that. Okay.

Action - LIBRARY 8U

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[Marking his place in a book and turning to look at the new person. He pauses for a moment in surprise, but quickly forces himself out of it.]

You are the second person that has told me that today, you know. Don't worry, I'm not really expecting them to tell me the truth.

Sometimes you can tell just as much from the lies.

[originalnumber]

"Really?" His attention.

You have all of it. "How so?"

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

For one thing, you can see the full picture of whatever imaginary story they're trying to weave in this place is. There are also some parallels that can be drawn between things they say and things that could happen or have happened in the past. It may be possible to interpret something of their motives or psychology from the information they provide.

Also, a detailed map of the grounds may prove useful later in the case of one emergency or another.

III

[bitetodeath]

[ Don't mind him, he just watches a little bit in annoyance. ]

III

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[Hakuba argues fruitlessly with the drone for a little longer before deciding to change tactics.]

No, I'm sorry, you're right. I really should be in school. Which way did you say it was again? [The drone points off in one direction and says something to Hakuba, who shakes his head and smiles politely.] Oh no, I wouldn't dream of troubling you further, I'm sure I can find it on my own. Yes, thank you!

[He waves the drone off as he begins to head off in the direction indicated, however as soon as the drone fades out of sight the smile drops off Hakuba's face and he veers off in another direction entirely. Probably yours?]

[bitetodeath]

If you don't go to school on a regular basis, the town will drone you.

[ Not that he cares, but he hate drones. ]

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

Drone...? Do you mean that they would somehow manage to make me act like the people in this town, then?

IV

[silvergoldengun]

[ Basco pick up one of the books, smilimg as he look at it. ]

You know, these won't help you very much. You should ask around if you want to know things about the town.

IV

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[Sighing and leaning back in the chair.] I am asking around. But there's no such thing as too many resources and this way I can at least get a clear picture of what they want us to think.

[silvergoldengun]

They want us to believe that this is the perfect town, a utopia, if you so will, while it's quite a bit the opposite with strange happenings.

[ He hold out the book for Hakuba again. ]

[keepcalmandcatchkid]

[Waves the book away.] No, I'm done with that one. I don't need it anymore.



There's no such thing as a Utopia. Human nature will always disturb something like that and pervert it into something unrecognizable.