droptheious: (If all the switches get stuck on destroy)
Varian ([personal profile] droptheious) wrote in [community profile] kaisou2026-01-29 06:46 pm

video: un:trienemybest

[The feed comes on to show Varian - his hair is unkempt, and he's much paler than usual. More to the point, he looks worried. He looks extremely worried. There's no awkward bumbling greeting or his usual not-fantastic-at-social-skills attempt to segue into what he wants to talk about. This time he's straight to the point. ]

Jun, Harumasa and Zhongli are missing. They're not answering their phones, they're not responding to telepathic messages. I've not had any word from Jun for... for at least six hours at this point. Haru might be about that time, too - I- I realised he was missing when I was trying to find Jun.

[ He rubs a hand over his face, there's a horrible sharp ball of dread in the pit of his stomach, and it's getting bigger and bigger by the second. ]

Dan Heng contacted me, seeing if he'd heard anything from Jun or Zhongli - so he's been AWOL too. Two's a coincidence. Three? Three's a pattern, and a terrible one if we're looking at the history in this city. There's just - there's no sign of them, and none of them would ignore us for this long unless something had gone wrong. We spent a few hours checking their usual haunts in the city, they're not there.

My engagement ring lets me find where Jun's location is, but... but it's not working. I can't teleport through his shadow, either, which, along with the lack of telepathy means that there's a block on me being able to get to him. Which, in turn suggests someone or something has done that to him.

[ He's spent the last few hours dealing with mounting panic - getting increasingly frightened for what could be happening to the people he cares about. But as the realisation that this seems very much by design has sunk in over the last few hours, anger has started to filter in and mix with it. Fear and anger are not the best combination for him. He feels the pressing need to do something, and god forbid anything or anyone who tries to stop him. He has access to a robot army in Meropide's basement. He can use that if he has to. ]

Going on the assumption they've been taken... they might not be the only ones. In fact, it's extremely likely they're not the only ones. So check on your loved ones, especially if they've been quiet for a while. We need to know how many people have been taken, and we need to figure out who did it. It could be a spirit gate, that's... that's always a possibility- but that usually only happens in October. And people don't notice. Something just feels- it feels really wrong.

[ And sweet god does he want to tear the city down trying to find them. He shifts in his seat, full of nervous energy and nowhere right now for it to go. A sharpness sneaks into his tone that no one in Kaisou will have heard before. It's a part of himself he locked deep down inside years ago, long before he came to this city - but right now it's desperate to crawl out. To focus that energy on getting his people back to him safely - by any means necessary.]

We need to get them back. I fully plan on doing that. If I have to go through every damn building in this city I will find them. But we need help - there's a lot of us. We need to work together on this and get them home.

[ OOC: This is the open to all call to arms for February's plot! This is extremely threadjack and backdating friendly, so please tag away and use this as a means for characters to exchange information and come up with plans! ]
earthborn: (Default)

voice @Shepard

[personal profile] earthborn 2026-01-29 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Alright, first rule of search and rescue is calm down.

[It's technically the first rule of every crisis, but let's start where we're at.]

Do you know their last known location— Where were they when someone last spoke with them? That's our starting point.
Edited 2026-01-29 19:32 (UTC)
doublethumbsup: (uhhhh no?)

voice; un: doordasher

[personal profile] doublethumbsup 2026-01-29 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
What?

Like - all of them? They didn’t say anything to or like… surprise vacation?

[No Hermes—]

Uh. Gimme a minute…

Maybe I can pop in where they’re at? Y’know. Doors and stuff.
paraselenic: (37)

voice; un: lycaon

[personal profile] paraselenic 2026-01-29 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[The sinking feeling he's been having the past few days have finally hit their catalyst. He should've listened to his paranoia more. He should've figured something was wrong when Hugo came back from Meropide with no news of Harumasa being there (shrugging off as a doctor's visit) or even further back--with Harumasa's lack of response to his message.

He was so...so stupid.]


I am currently en route to Meropide as we speak to check out the situation. I should be there in just a few minutes.

Varian, would you be able to open Jun and Harumasa's quarters for me when I arrive?

Hugo, I will give you an update as soon as I'm there. If you can, make your way there. Lighter. [He pauses for a second.] Can I trust you to meet me at Meropide's entrance.

[Your Mockingbird review is on hold for now.]
Edited 2026-01-29 19:40 (UTC)
burgersplease: (7)

UN: anby | voice

[personal profile] burgersplease 2026-01-29 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh. Oh this is concerning. ]

What's the nearest hospital to the fortress? Have you checked there yet?
mediocrites: (≸ this world can get so lonely)

video; un: absolutenumber

[personal profile] mediocrites 2026-01-29 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ratio is looking serious but calm, quickly assessing the situation.]

Zhongli hasn't been at his classes. That isn't unusual for him, so I hadn't thought much of it until someone else reached out wondering where he was.

We will find them, but it's possible they aren't even in the city. If they've been taken to a Spirit Realm gate, tearing the city apart won't help. Let's make sure we've gathered as much information as we can before we waste any energy on unnecessary actions.
doublethumbsup: (LET'S FUCKING GOOOOO)

1/2

[personal profile] doublethumbsup 2026-01-29 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh - oh crap sorry. I forgot you said that part.

[They are uncharacteristically focused here. And take a deep breath.]

You got it buddy, one second, one missing fiancé coming up!
hexcrafter: (but as the saying goes)

video; un: hextechnician

[personal profile] hexcrafter 2026-01-29 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
...

[Viktor was not one to lose his composure--on the rare occasions one might expect he would, he instead got quiet in a way that bordered on frightening despite everything else about him.]

It's going to be alright, Varian. Try not to panic, just focus as much as you can. Whatever is going on, we will organize to figure out where they are and get them back if necessary.
doublethumbsup: (idk what to even say to that)

[personal profile] doublethumbsup 2026-01-29 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[They’re so stoked. They’re helping! They can finally help a situation! Like they’ve wanted to so badly!]

[… so when their Doorway fizzles to nothing, it takes them a literal few minutes to process what just happened. They try again. And again.]

[The Door never opens. It’s like trying to fit a key in a lock made out of water.]


Varian…?

[They no longer sound focused and confident. They sound gutted.]

I - I can’t. I can’t find them. It’s - this doesn't happen, dude I…

It’s not working.
earthborn: (those times have passed away)

[personal profile] earthborn 2026-01-29 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[That's the fun irony of this: it's for the ones he loves that he needs to be calm. Shepard would be unhappy if his people died, but she wouldn't lose sleep over it. Still, she's in work-mode, and doesn't care bout any of it right now: results are all tht matter.]

This morning, got it. [That's not long. But are we looking at six hours or two?] What time was the most recent?
paraselenic: (36)

[personal profile] paraselenic 2026-01-29 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course. I cannot even imagine what you are feeling right now, Varian...

So allow me to be the pillar of support until you can stand again.

[That isn't to say his own heart isn't being torn to shreds right now. It's taking everything in him to keep that visage of composure. Harumasa was gone on his watch. Their watch.

He needs to find out where, when and how. Then... whoever did this will be shown no mercy.]
mauks: art from mighty nien origins (like a knife)

voice, un: mallemok

[personal profile] mauks 2026-01-29 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
You might be right about them not being the only ones. [ Molly exhales a half-hearted laugh. ] Anyone seen an incredibly handsome elf with a tattoo on the side of his face in the last few days?

[ he's fine, everything is fine. it's not happening again, it can't be happening again. ]

I'd love to say it's just a coincidence but really when has things like this ever been coincidental.
burgersplease: (26)

[personal profile] burgersplease 2026-01-29 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Damn]

Hm.

I'm going to check some spots. Haru-chan has Bangboo, which usually have a recording system. I'd check those to see if they give us anything.

If you don't know how to check those, Belle will know.
lanternae: (60)

voice; un: lightkeeper

[personal profile] lanternae 2026-01-29 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Thanks to his own observations, and cenented by a small little Clefairy's panic, Flins has been aware that Lauma was missing. Should you cast your gaze out to Kaisou's lighthouse, sparks of electricity seem to be emanating from its gallery deck at the top, a man standing there as it crackles around him.

When he speaks to Varian's message, the snap of electricity can be heard around him as his voice has a terrifying reverb.

Harumasa. Jun. Zhongli.]


Ẇ̴͎͇̝̼̮h̵͒͐̅͝ͅe̵̲͌͜r̴͖͐́̋͑e̶͓̘͕͆̂͛̎ ̵̡͈̦̦͉́̕i̴̡͝s̸̬͉̳̣̩͒ ̶͕̊͐̾L̸̦̬̗̃͂͝á̶̫̘͐ụ̸̧̗̈́̂ṃ̴̘̝͎̐̍͛à̴̟͈͔̜͑͆͝.
switchaxe: (Alone)

voice | un: kissmyash

[personal profile] switchaxe 2026-01-29 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[He needs to stay calm. Sure, his brothers and adopted grandfather who is also his patron are missing. But it's fine. It's fine! It's totally fine!

Ash tries for two seconds to say something before swearing, loudly, in German:]


Fuck everything.

[And then nothing. His phone got taken by their Normin before he could throw it.]
poisontippedcure: (all souls are tied)

video | UN: Thorn

[personal profile] poisontippedcure 2026-01-29 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
That’s…not good.

[Rose looks paler than normal when she responds.]

[In the past, she was one of the ones taken. She can easily remember her time with Krusnik. Her labyrinth.]

[And she’d worked so hard to get over those feelings when Veldora had been late earlier today. He was a dragon, he could take care of himself.]

[But three is a pattern, four is a spree. She can’t hide the terror in her voice when she responds.]


Actually, I—-can’t get ahold of Veldora either. He was supposed to be home hours ago, but he’s not here yet.
mediocrites: (≸ kid you gotta stand up)

[personal profile] mediocrites 2026-01-29 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree. What we need to focus on right now is gathering information, and that's what we're doing. This post is an excellent first step.

A list of names, timelines of where everyone has been and when they were last heard from, any unusual activities they might have been engaged in before vanishing. That will help us pinpoint where to look and what might have happened to them. If they were truly taken from their beds at random, there will be no pattern, and we can assume it's a Spirit Gate of some kind. If there is a pattern, then we'll have something to chase.

We will find them. The more people are helping, the more quickly the search will go.

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