backdated to the end of the tournament/after the illuminated do their thing

[hakodate]

Seems like now might be a good time to get ourselves on the same page.

[To put it lightly. They've had days to wander around, get acclimated, listen to the gossip...and now between everyone wrapping things up to return to their places after the tournament, and the infodump so thoughtfully provided by the local mage-types, the real work begins.]

People are packing up to head home. That leaves us with a lot of possible leads to follow. I know at least a couple of us were thinking of following Jaeger back to Flamegard; Verreuil was talking about following the guy in yellow.

Westgard's hiring knights, and from the way people were talking when the notice went up, it sounds like the offer is unusually generous. Might be a good way to get in the loop on that; it's sounding more and more to me like the throne is why we're here. Keeping an eye on the nobles is probably in our best interest.

And I doubt that's everything worth looking into, obviously - that's just the shit I've already heard about. Anyone got anything to add? We're gonna have to divide and conquer here, but it helps if we know what we're dividing to begin with.

[And after a moment, he adds -]

All of mine from back home, consider reporting in here an order, not a courtesy. [Because goddamn he's got too many of you to keep track of, throw him a bone here.]

Comments

[hakodate]

[It may not be serious, but on these things? You never really know.]

If she has, we'll look into it.

I'm going to Flamegard, unless somebody gives me a damned good reason to change my mind within the next few hours.

[fuckingibuki]

[Flamegard, huh. That's actually a little surprising to Ibuki. He would've thought Hijikata would go somewhere more straight to the point of this entire mess.

Then again, he doesn't know Hijikata all that well and this makes that fact even clearer.]

Right. Well, I hope it's a safe trip.

[That still leaves Ibuki in limbo, though. And while he'd usually be fine with not getting involved in the Shinsengumi's issues, this...is different. It's not the Shinsengumi's problem, for one, and if he gets left behind, he can't be sure he'll be out of danger. Or that he'll get back to Liminal Space. He needs a guide and Hijikata has proven to be the person who's best directed him on this Jaunt.]

Should I...should I come with you?

[hakodate]

[...good question, really.]

Depends. I can't promise it's going to be safe, but it'll be as safe as I can make it. Whether you trust that more than just getting a room at the inn here and holing up for a while is your call.

[Not that there's any guarantee that just holing up alone at the inn for a while will be much good, either, to be fair.]

[fuckingibuki]

[The last time Ibuki stayed at an inn, Okita went out and beat up a bunch of sumo wrestlers with Serizawa. It's not the same kind of situation here, but it still comes to mind. Needless to say, it's not a reassuring thought.

Ibuki doesn't want to sound weak, though, even if Hijikata already knows he is. He does have that much pride, at least.]

It's dangerous everywhere, I think. But uh...maybe I could be a little more useful on the road than hanging back.

[Give him a big rock to throw at a dragon. That's sure to work, isn't it?]

[hakodate]

[If the kid wants to try and be useful, Hijikata's not about to shoot him down right out the gate.]

You're welcome to come along if you want.

[fuckingibuki]

[Except for his initial response, Hijikata has been...pretty civil to Ibuki. He's not complaining, but it's a little unsettling.]

Yeah, I...that's probably the best idea. When is everyone setting out?

[hakodate]

I think we've got a day or two to get shit together, at least, but I'll track down Jaeger and see about his plans, since we're following him.

[fuckingibuki]

All right. Just uh. Let me know, I guess.

[This feels a whole lot like hurry up and wait. What a life.]