Scene #7546: KRE: The Lodge-1

Owner	Pose
Go Shijima	So long as you're part of Rider Services or the Paladins, transportation to the town of Twin Peaks, Washington is provided free of charge, as is lodging at the Great Northern Hotel. The nearest Warpgate is miles away, in the city of Seattle, and so you may have to take a lengthy but scenic bus ride to get here, if you don't have your own means of transportation. WELCOME TO TWIN PEAKS POPULATION 5,120 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXrjMaVoTy0 Whether you're here officially or not, it's hard to miss how beautiful the town is, especially as you're on your way in. Twin Peaks is spread out within an alpine forest, thick rows of pine trees rising with the mountains wherever the hands of man haven't cleared them. At the edge of this vast sea of green there are even the occasional snow-capped peak. A river runs through the town, crucial to the operation of its lumber mill. In the early morning sun, light forms rainbows where it strikes the thick white mists conjured by a breathtaking waterfall at the northern end of town. Though the population of the town is low, its amount of development suggests it could, and perhaps once did, service many more people. There's a department store, a picturesque residential district, a surprisingly grandiose bank, an apparently well-funded public school, and the aforementioned lumber mill. It's large, for its population, and many of the establishments seem like they could comfortably house much more people than are present at any one time. Despite this, places around town never seem 'empty' so much as 'cozy.' For the most part, everyone seems ready to help, even before they know who you are. There's an /interest/ in who you are and where you're from that is genuine, reassuring in its sincerity, and charming in its presentation, even from those who carry themselves as being above corny small town sentiment. You're looking at one of the last authentic American 'small towns,' in a world that is gearing up to leave them behind.
Go Shijima	The Great Northern Hotel Twin Peaks, WA Feb 25, 1989 11 AM Your meeting point is an old hotel, quite grand in its construction, and magnificent in its placement. The Great Northern is nestled between the very two peaks for which the town is named, above a curtain of prismatic mist stirred up by a waterfall. Pine trees surround it like a silent army, managing to make it look at once smaller and more majestic. The interior might be described as 'charmingly rustic.' There's a lot of wood, polished and otherwise. The decor is a blend of early Americana, portraits of the frontier, and Native American motifs. Sharing space with all this are several taxidermied animals in dramatic poses, and hokey wax renderings of early American historical figures. Special Agent Cooper and Kamen Rider Delta are seated at one of the place's thickly made tables, in a booth that looks like it could comfortably seat all of you with little issue. They couldn't be more different in dress sense, in mannerisms. Cooper is well-dressed, tall, and handsome, but in a geeky, eccentric kind of way rather than an 'action hero lead' kind of way. Keitarouu has a 'guy next door' kind of vibe, dressing more casually. The difference doesn't seem to bother either of them, nor blunt their friendliness towards one another. They're mid-conversation by the time you meet. "Keitarouu, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, get yourself a little present," Cooper says to the man seated opposite him, with a candid smile and a knowing wag of the finger. "Don't plan it, don't wait for it. Just let it--" Cooper's eyes light up. "Hi," he says, entering Professional Mode just for the meet-and-greet. "Special Agent Dale Cooper, FBI," he says, with a brief badge flash before rising to shake hands. Even in his work persona, there's warmth. Behind him, Keitarou flashes a Rider Services ID. "Keitarou Kikuchi," he says. "Rider Services. You'll probably meet my friend Mari soon, but she's talking with the Palmers now. Or... at least, Mrs. Palmer." There's a frown, and one from Cooper, too. Keitarouu scratches the back of his head, and continues. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. Agent Cooper and I can give you guys the rundown on the case so far... and if you don't mind, we could get something to eat. I'm starving..."
Shinnosuke Tomari	Shinnosuke Tomari arrives with the Paladins. He may be a Rider, but he's not Rider Services, though it's interesting that Rider Services IS involved. As he steps through the town towards the hotel, he finds it lovely. Peaceful. Or at least, it was - before a case happened. Either way, it's the kind of environment he wants to foster in the world. As Shinnosuke actually enters the hotel, which can only be called 'alien' to his sensibilities, he approaches the booth with the two agents of different kinds and flashes his Paladins badge. "Shinnosuke Tomari, Paladins Chevalier. Since it may or may not be relevant to this case, I am also your Tokyo MPD's Kamen Rider Drive." He assumes the Rider Services 'know', but probably not off the top of their heads. A polite gesture to Keitarou, as he shakes hands with Cooper. Of course. Food would be lovely..." He scratches his chin. He seems a little down, on first inspection to the keen FBI agent. Or perhaps...his head isn't in the game? He fits into the booth if they're staying there.
Hamada Haru	Hamada Haru is present, although he takes a little while to wind his way back to the meeting spot. As a toku protagonist, he's drawn to rocky outcrops and dramatic waterfalls, and had to go check that out before being responsible. There's absolutely no chance that there isn't going to be a fight with a crawfish monster on that fucking thing, and somebody is taking a spill down to the bottom. Best be prepared for how many bumps they're going to get on the way down, and where the safest place to fall is. When he turns up, he's about as strikingly out of place as Keitaro, but in the other direction. Haru looks like... well, a japanese guy who rides motorcycles and has Problems. Naturally, he should blend in perfectly with the kind of people that Keitaro is used to, and absolutely no one else here. "Hamada Haru, Tokyo Metro Rider Services," he introduces himself, taking off his jacket as he seats himself in the booth. Remembering where he is, he adds, "Hamada is my surname." This is as much for Keitaro, who looks like too much of a good boy to address him incorrectly, as it is for Cooper. The matter of food gets a curious look out of Haru. He's not even sure what to expect on the menu here. "Why only one member of the family?" He asks.
Xion	"Wow!" Xion exclaims, finding a seat at the big table like she is either A) A Member of the Paladins or B) A Member of Rider Services Japan. She is neither! She is, however, wearing jeans, a forest green and brown with tan flannel button-down shirt jauntily misbuttoned so that part of the collar hangs out of her red hoodie with white draws, and an opposite part hangs a triangle out from around the zippered hem. Xion has the Rocky Mountain energy down to an outright science, with her outdoorsy complexion, though she carries around a cartoonish matte silver key to indicate her alignment on the MYSTERY VAN <-> PLASTIC TOY SWORD alignment grid. She's deep, deep in the TOY SWORD spectrum. "I'm the hero of everyone's hearts, X!" Pronounced 'Key'. "But you can call me Xion." Pronounced 'shi-on'. "With an X." Pronounced 'ecks'. "Yeah! Do they do real corned beef here, or can stuff? Hold up! I'll check." She disappears in a hanging outline of herself in the chair, the darkness smearing downwards like melting ink when-- It motes away upon her return, seated, to the same position, an implosive 'doip!' of air as she returns "They do the good kind, let's get that."
Lilian Rook	Long rides are the pits. Buses are for poor people. As it is with those people who become extraordinarily rich in something, Lilian is jealously possessive of her time, and skipping an hour long bus ride for a 'ten minute' 'teleportation' is a fifty minute net gain and another hour spent on summer shopping with Tamamo. That said, though their destination is small town America, the sight that awaits them is such that even Lilian makes no efforts to hide being pleasantly surprised. "My. With this population, I was expecting something considerably more podunk." she says, taking a bit of time on the main street on the way up to the scenic waterfall, and putting just a bit of relish on that last word. "But this is quite picturesque. One of those places that'd get discovered in some magazine trying to fill pages and declared a hidden tourist gem. Granted it's a shame for lack of vintners or hotsprings or the like, but it's America; what can you do." Her mood turns a little bit less impressed on the interior of the hotel, half-heartedly sticking out the tip of her tongue in distaste at the wax statues of ancient politicians. "I wonder if the indigenous peoples here had something going on, before becoming a culture of feathered merchandise like it seems happens in most worlds. This place doesn't seem terribly exciting, but I've always been slightly entertained by theorizing about that particular long-gone masquerade." she muses out loud, mostly for the company of Tamamo. "Dame Commander Lilian Rook." she replies to Cooper. "Paladins, of course." She doesn't really bother with the badge after Shinnosuke has already whipped his out. "If you would kindly. And, while you're at it, why precisely you've insisted on importing Riders all the way from Japan, not to mention-- Xion?" Lilian clasps her hands together for a brief, thoughtful delay, as if ascertaining whether or not someone might have left her here by mistake. "Does this have to do with Larxene?" is her best guess.
Go Shijima	Cooper grins broadly at Tomari. "Keitarou thought you might make an appearance. Glad to see he was right! Here," he says, pulling a menu from a holder to the right and offering one to him specifically, before passing them out to everyone else. "Now, breakfast isn't actually the most important meal of the day--that old chestnut's really just a marketing scheme. But, Shinnosuke--can I call you Shinnosuke?" There's a brief pause, waiting for confirmation. "...I can tell you after just a day in this town, the breakfast here could put a smile on anyone's face." BREAKFAST HAM AND EGGS BUNKER HILL.................$4.50 EGGS BENEDICT ARNOLD.....................$5.00 FIRECRACKER SURPRISE OMELETTE............$4.00 JIMMY CARTER OMELETTE....................$3.75 JOHNNY CAKES.............................$2.75 UNION JACK FLAPJACKS.....................$3.00 CANNON BALL CANTALOUPE...................$2.80 There's also a few salads on offer, the most costly and extravagant of which is five dollars and change, titled 'DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENT CHEFS.' At this early hour, the beverages are tea, coffee and fountain drinks, though later in the day it appears beer is served.
Strawberry Princess	At least one person is utterly at ease with the long bus ride. Strawberry Princess- she still uses that name, even when the only indicator of her magical identity is the little strawberry-heart pin on her comfy surplus jacket- spends about equal time staring out the window and daydreaming, and playing with her chunky little 32-bit plastic handheld. It's got Tetris! Both activities seem to invigorate her equally, and so by the end of the bus ride she's in notably good spirits. As the bus comes to a stop, she retrieves her slender carrying case from the overhead compartment. (Perhaps it's for a camera tripod! What a charming hobby for a young woman. And what a beautiful town to photograph.) Slinging it over her shoulder, she hops off, giving the driver a wave and cheery "thank you!!" back over her shoulder. The full outline of the Great Northern requires her to tilt her head back to appreciate it: "You know, this is- it's a really big hotel, isn't it? For a town with a tens digit on the population sign. I wonder if they get a lot of conferences..." But that's not the mystery they're here to solve. She takes Dale Cooper's hand immediately, shaking it firmly before sliding into the booth. Her gangly limbs struggle for a moment to find a comfortable angle to rest at. "It's good to meet you, Agent Cooper," she says with an equal (if slightly more faltering) warmth. "I'm- I forgot to take snacks, for the bus. So I'm starved. What do you recommend?" Lilian's arrival has a distinctly positive impact on her affect- she gives her a silent open-mouthed smile and wave. (The spot next to her in the booth is distinctly open.) Xion gets a wink of Button-Down Shirt Solidarity; either Strawberry doesn't put together why her being here ought to be strange, or has just tacitly accepted that Sassy Lost Children are going to Sassy Lost Child.
Shinnosuke Tomari	"Shinnosuke is fine." Shinnosuke responds to Cooper, grabbing the menu. He looks at it, and squints. And then, he sidemouths to the nearest non-American. "I have no idea who any of these people are. Was Johnny Cakes a president?" A pause. Louder, for the whole table. "Uh, the flapjacks sound pretty good." He shrugs, and smiles when Strawberry arrives. "I've been to an American-style diner before, that's what I got. Pancakes. The syrup was sweet, and made them so much better." A scratch of the back of his head.
Tamamo	Convincing Tamamo to travel somewhere isn't particularly difficult, if somewhat dependent on the company she'll be keeping. In this case, then, despite having not previously worked with Rider Services -- nor with any type of FBI -- her presence is natural. "After some recent city visits, and some to fields of glass or snow, a green, alpine forest is rather refreshing, is it not? There are rather many blighted deserts in the multiverse, now that I think upon it." Her last such was irradiated, too. "Perhaps that explains why so many congregate in places like Sharn, crowded as they become. Had they the chance to take in this view, would they be jealous, I wonder?" Maybe Tamamo would be less so if this were Winter, but a Washington Summer is at least much more mild than that Siberian black site had been. "Hot springs, now... do they truly have none? That is quite unfortunate. When one thinks of mountains and forests, is it not natural to seek a hidden spring? Perhaps up from where the river's water flows." The hotel decor is a bit more confusing, before Tamamo claps her hands together like an 'aha,' and says, gesturing indirectly to the wax figures and taxidermy, "It is as a museum, yes? Some do travel to see such, I understand. How convenient to place it together with a hotel." She makes no assumptions, aloud, of how many tourists make their way to Small Town, USA, and politely refrains from mentioning her general indifference to children's museum displays. The Native American decorations are the next most distracting topic. "These seem slightly familiar, but I cannot place the style. Where, I wonder..." One might think she's forgotten why they're here, but Tamamo switches gears easily enough as they meet the two already waiting in the hotel. "I am known as Tamamo no Mae, of the Paladins, as it happens." She is reasonably able to shake agent Cooper's hand, if with the faint grip of one foreign to the greeting.
Go Shijima	"Do you mind Haru?" It's asked conversationally, just as Cooper asked Tomari. Keitarou smiles. "If you don't mind me saying, Agent Cooper, you're... not what I expected." Cooper takes it in stride, nodding without his smile dimming even a little. "I'm glad. Personally, I think we should all strive to free ourselves from expectations. Live in the moment." Keitarou nods, frowning thoughtfully, before turning to Hamada. "About that... Apparently, Mr. Palmer's really not himself since Laura..." There's almost a palpable weight that bears down on him when he utters his name. Even Cooper's expression and posture shift slightly, as if the both of them were gingerly accomodating some sort of wound. An elephant in the room. "You could try and speak to him, but he's taking it really hard," Cooper further explains. "From what Mari said, you really have to walk on eggshells around him, or else he just breaks down, right there. Poor Leland..." The agent shakes his head sadly.
Hamada Haru	"Yes, briefly. Smallpox," Haru says to Lilian, dryly. He glances sidelong at Shinnosuke, then back at the menu, then presses a finger to it and starts going down the list. "Battle. Traitor. Not sure. President. Not sure. British flag. Self-explanatory. I want pancakes and cantaloupe." Asked if he minds being referred to as Haru, he shakes his head. "Not really. If you're not being impolite to me by your own standards, then I really don't care." Provided with the information that Laura's father is doing badly, Haru looks around the table. "How many of you are psychic?" It seems that in a crowd like this, he's assuming that that's not an IF.
Go Shijima	"Xion with an X! I like that. Do you know why?" Cooper procures a pen from his coat pocket, dramatically twirling it between his fingers before it's pressed to the notepad he produces a moment after. An X is drawn, big and bold. "Because X marks the spot. Now that the hero of everyone's hearts is involved here, I know we can unearth the treasure this place is hiding." "Treasure? I thought we were investigating a murder. I thought you said there might be Orphenochs..." Keitarou scratches his head in puzzlement. "Keitarou, Xion..." Cooper's chest swells with pride. "The people of this town used to share their hearts generously, if not with each other, then at least with Laura. But they've buried their hearts away because they're hurt. I feel good, Keitarou. Because I know we can not only solve this case, but get them to unearth their hearts again." Keitarou blinks. "Wow... I didn't know you felt that way, Agent Cooper." Doip! The sudden teleport startles Keitarou, just as the waitress appears. "Oh, I'm sorry, honey," says the waitress. "Didn't mean to startle you!" At the very least, they do indeed have the good kind of corned beef, and it is available as an option for either of the Northern's two breakfast sandwiches.
Xion	"Hey, if you're on the same message boards I'm on, you get lots of weird jobs, okay? I'm a quester, professionally." She's actually not attached and is here vibing, but since someone is buying lunch she is making the most of things. "Oh that all looks good. Um... One everything, please! No, actually, two of the Eggs Benedict Arnold, and extra whatever firecracker is. Do you do potato pancakes? Two for the table, with sour cream and apple sauce? Nice!" Xion looks at the table. "Oh, the rest is for me. Potato pancakes are just best shared. Like breakfast tacos, oily and crunchy! They're great. I'm going to use one like a shell around the omlette, ooooo I'm looking forward to it." She already has a fork in her fist. The one rolled up in paper napkins on the table at her place is still in its wrapper. She just has a fork. "Larxene helped me with the outfit, yeah! She said I looked caaaarming. I think that's good, so I just went with it. What does 'charming' feel like?" Xion nods brightly at unsealing hearts. "I've got the key and everything! Leave it to me!"
Strawberry Princess	Strawberry shakes her head with a rueful little smile in response to Haru- aren't psychics usually kind of 'intense', anyway? She looks a little bit too passive and glassy-eyed for that. "Oh, uh- pancakes and coffee for me, please? Just black! Thank you." While waiting on her food, she rubs the side of her head, staring off at one of the Indian-style carvings on the walls. It'd be easy to assume she's just been zoned out, but after a few moments she interjects. "So- Laura Palmer was well-loved. Right? Everybody's... everybody's mourning her. Does that make it easier to find the person who'd want to hurt her? Or harder?" Thinking about Leland's state as a bereaved father visibly puts a slightly solemn overtone on her mood. She tries not to linger on the thought.
Tamamo	"Oh, Xion! I had not been expecting to see you today." Maybe because of the Riders-and-Paladins thing. But wasn't Xion a Rider? Or was it just that she had a Rider's key... chain? Realizing she's not really sure how that works, Tamamo makes a mental note to ask when they're not being distracted by a murder. "Ah, flapjacks are pancakes, then. I have been attempting these, but I am uncertain as to how fluffy they should be. I am not, in fact, certain if they are even cake. I shall have these, then. For research purposes. Ah, what is 'corned beef'?" Oh, right. The murder case. "I would not say 'I do read minds,' yet I do read much, and some which may be called 'psychic' by some." Possibly not very helpful.
Go Shijima	"We don't have a Xion on our list," admits Cooper to Lilian. "But I'm sure not gonna turn away the hero of everyone's hearts if she wants to help." Keitarou clears his throat, evidently reaching his tolerance for eccentricity between Cooper and Xion. "The Bureau actually requested me by name. They need someone whose suit is tuned for dealing with a kind of evolved human called an Orphenoch." Cooper nods. "Laura Palmer was found dead near Glastonbury Grove--a place in the woods outside of town--earlier this month. At the time, the examiner found evidence that linked Laura's murder to a killing elsewhere in the state earlier this year. But more than that..." "The... body," Keitarou picks up. "It's petrified in a way that only an Orphenoch could do. A powerful one. So when I heard that, I asked Rider Services to put me on the first flight they could. It was an exhausting trip... but I'm ready to help. ...as soon as the server comes out with my Jimmy Carter Omelette." He smiles weakly.
Shinnosuke Tomari	"...Why would you name a dish after a traitor? I get the President, but a traitor?" Shinnosuke just sighs in exasperation. And then Dale Cooper begins talking. And he talks...weird, but it's charming. "So the people's hearts are the treasure. And it's been buried by a murder. What can you tell us about what happened?" They begin explaining after that, and then... "Petrified. Definitely a job for Rider Services, then. Do you know where it happened?" He's quiet, not trying to be disrespectful, but he wants to know if this was some outdoors murder, in which case the suspect pool is large, or if it was indoors, in which case it gets dicey. And as he orders his flapjacks and a coffee, he turns to Keitarou. "Don't worry. With a group like ours, we'll find this Orphenoch. Two trained detectives, one of whom is a Kamen Rider, two members of Rider Services, several Paladins, and a hero of hearts...we can set this right." He doesn't know if Keitarou is nervous or not, but the hunger seems like a nervous tic of sorts. And also actual hunger, because he is also hungry after that ride. But at the least, the young man seems nice, is a Kamen Rider, and came here electively - he wants to fight the monster. So, Shinnosuke trusts him.
Go Shijima	"So, if that's Hamada Haru, Xion with an X, Dame Rook, Detective Tomari... then you two must be Tamamo and Strawberry Princess!" Cooper snaps his finger excitedly after giving his order, "For you, Strawberry, I'd recommend the Union Jack Flapjacks, for a filling breakfast that doesn't suffer the usual pitfalls of pancakes, by including a colorful assortment of fresh fruit toppings." Tamamo's unfamiliarity with the gesture is handled well, with Cooper placing one reassuring hand over the other in a brief, but convivial and sincere gesture. "It's a pleasure to have you here. I was hoping we'd have people good at tackling this thing from several angles," he says, glancing around the booth, "And I can see we won't be wanting for that. That's good! I've heard that you really have a way with people?"
Xion	"I've borrowed a few Rider powers, but I'm actually, uh... A heart... warrior?" Xion leaves Starlight leaning against the side of her seat. "But like I reflected some of your light for a bit, I reflected some Kamen Riders too. Right now I've got..." Xion produces a grip of eight keychains: Ominous Throbbing Distortion-Rod, a small scale model Force Edge, a brake lever, a long-cut gemstone in blue, a red metal ribbon, two fuchsia lenses, a string of sharp teeth that look vaguely like knuckles, and a luchador mask, all dangling from color-coded chains. "Oh, right, a bunch of heroes, ominous space pylon, aaaaand a nice lady with magic hair!" She closes her hand and the keychains disappear. "I'm pretty loaded up right now, but if I go all out, maybe I can figure out what kinds of powers an Orphenoch has? Do you think their hearts are different?"
Hamada Haru	"Petrification isn't conclusively an orphenoch," Haru interjects after a moment or two of silence. "There are other kaijin with that sort of property. It's not as common as the properties of an orphenoch, but it's worth keeping the possibilities open-minded."
Tamamo	"A grieving family, is it? Or rather, a grieving town, and the victim has been cursed to stone? My, but that thought does make for poor seasoning for a meal. I do not know of these Orphenochs, but does this mean we hunt not a human, but something 'else?' Is it one that may be disguised among the people, or one that must hide itself away from others?" Tamamo doesn't look wholly put off the impending breakfast, but the continuation of the conversation they'd specifically come here to have does make for enough of a shift that she can't focus on both at once. To Cooper, "Oh, what might you have heard, I wonder? I do try. Ah, and I may be able to read something of the history of the wrongfully slain, if brought to her remains. Such things linger, and I am skilled in following the threads." To Xion, Tamamo nods, saying, "Ahh, I see," and then ponders if she'd asked the question or not.
Go Shijima	"Great," says Cooper to Tomari and Hamada. "Shinnosuke and Haru it is." There's even a hearty clap on the shoulder, for whichever of the two is nearest, though only if he doesn't have to lean across to do it. "Not to worry, gentlemen, there's not an impolite bone in my body." Keitarou answers Xion. "They're not different at all," he explains. "Which is why they can be dangerous... Everyone gets angry, or sad, or hopeless... and sometimes, people lash out. I just hope no one else gets hurt..." Cooper shakes his head firmly. "Don't you worry, Keitarou. I hope that, too. And I'm going to put everything I have into solving this peacefully. On that note..." A folded-up map that was clearly slept on is pulled out. Cooper circles a spot in the woods. "Glastonbury Grove. Or... rather, somewhere very near to it. Maybe a mile, at the very most. That's where Laura's body was found. Deputy Hawk found some pages from what we assume to be Laura's diary near there, but the weather's faded them too much to be legible. You can take a look at them down at the sheriff's office, if you like. The morgue there is where you could take a look at her, too, Tamamo." Haru's point that they should be open-minded seems to resonate with Cooper, who nods without adding anything, but appears deep in thought regarding those other possibilities. Keitarou has an answer for Tamamo's other question, while Cooper ruminates. "Orphenochs are... they can hide among people because they are people. It's a person who's unlocked the ability to transform into something other than human. From what I understand, you either have that potential or you don't, and you don't access it until you die. Or... until you're killed. So, if this was an Orphenoch, it might have been trying to see if Laura could become one. But, like Mr. Hamada says, it might not necessarily be an Orphenoch."
Xion	"Do you think you could show me the statue? If someone's just locked up in stone, maybe my key can unlock them. I mean... Maybe, right? It seems super logical. Sealed in stone... magic key..." Xion nods. "It makes total sense." Xion is fully ready for whatever explosives they put in the firecracker, mentally inventorying through her collection of keychains and accessories for blast resistance. Xion leans to Lilian. "Do you think it's going to be fire damage, or force damage? Sometimes they get cheeky and make it a unique status, 'blast', and that's even worse."
Go Shijima	"Absolutely," says Cooper to Xion. As his food is brought out, so is Xion's. Hers appears to be fire damage, because of the two sparklers sticking out of it, which the server gleefully lights for her. It's hard to frown in the presence of sparklers. "One thing you should all know about me is that I will try anything, no matter how logical or illogical it may seem, to safeguard and restore happiness around me. It's my mission in life. If you want to head down there once we've eaten, I can call the sheriff and let him know you're coming." He conversationally wags his index finger her way. "You'll like him, I think. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better, personally." Cooper pauses to take a sip of his coffee. The server, having delivered everyone's food and drinks, is on the way to hurry back, when... "Wait just a minute," says Cooper firmly. Keitarou blanches. Is this going to be some sort of American outburst? The server turns, hardened to such things, wearing her best customer service 'ok what do you want' smile. And... "This is... excuse me. A *damn fine cup of coffee. I have had--I don't know how many cups of coffee in my travels across these United States. And yours--the Great Northern's--takes the cake. Bravo!" The server was not prepared for that--but appears quite relieved and even a bit happy that it was a good 'wait a minute.' Keitarou heaves a relieved sigh, evidently the sort to seize up at witnessing a potential Social Incident.
Go Shijima	"They really are," says Keitarou to Strawberry. "I've only spoken to a few people so far, but every one of them, from the guy at the gas station to the ladies at the diner, seems like they knew her. Mari's been really, really working at getting to know everyone today. Before the Palmers she visited the logging mill and the bank--even the people there knew and loved Laura. Agent Cooper says the evidence suggests it was someone who lives here, but I just can't see how someone that well-liked could..." He trails off.
Shinnosuke Tomari	As the outburst starts coming, Shinnosuke also flinches, but relaxes as it's a Good Outburst. On the topic of leads - "I'll take a look at the diary, when we get there. Those with more relevant abilities can investigate her body." A hm, as he gets to his coffee and food. "Were there any tracks at the Grove?"
Strawberry Princess	"Flapjacks," Strawberry repeats, in a tone of studious not-quite-disbelief. The mention of fruit seems to teeter her over into cheery acceptance. "I'll change my order, then! Thank you, Agent Cooper." When her coffee arrives, she puts a pinch of the table salt into it before taking her first sip- then, after a moment's consideration, adds a little bit more. "So, if it is an Orphenoch... we'd still need a motive? They don't attack people just because," she says, rubbing the side of her head again. Her fingernails keep touching the scar on the right side of her face, then reflexively pulling away- she's breaking the habit of scratching at it. "I guess that's better? But it's also- kind of worse. People are always more complicated..." Once the group's food arrives, she tucks in to her fruit flajacks studiously, carving them up with her knife so that every bite contains a bit of pancake and a couple of berries in equal proportion. Having a mouth full of food gives her an excuse to turn Keitarou's words over in her head for several moments before finally responding: "Sometimes... liking someone becomes a phenomenon. If someone's liked enough, it's- it isn't allowed, socially, not to like them. You know? So someone who has a grudge..." She sets her knife and fork with a soft clatter, wiping the syrup off her lips with a napkin. "... Maybe they were hiding it for a long time. I don't know."
Go Shijima	Were there any tracks at the Grove? "Not that we could see, but the rain might have washed them away. I did find something under her fingernail on my examination... a tiny letter 'R,' like someone had cut it from a magazine. Too tiny and too specific to end up there by random chance." "There was another girl with her--Ronnette Pulaski--but she went missing from the hospital the day before I landed in Seattle." Cooper frowns. "She was said to have been in some kind of catatonic state up until then."
Xion	Cooper speaks, and Xion is served firecracker omlettes with extra firecrackers. She nods, as more and more and more and more food piles down onto the area around her from her egregious order, and she works to combining things (or eating eggs whole) with a silent eagerness. Since she wasn't talking, it's easy for her to steal frames of muffin-and-egg going away. But it's when Cooper sits back down that one of the sparklers outright vanishes, and a second sizzles like a cigarette, bent and hissing from her lips. She brings her hand up to cover her mouth and cough, and when she lowers it -- a puff of black smoke leaves her nose, and there's no sparkler. "Not my favorite garnish, not my least favorite." She 'jokes', starting to slice apart an omlette into inch-wide strips to fold and eat. "This feels like one of those really secret-rich missions so make sure to go the wrong way a lot and scrape the sides." She nonsequiters.
Go Shijima	"S-Strawberry, that's salt," stammers Keitarou, before he realizes that's precisely what she meant to do. "Oh, that's not so strange," says Cooper. "There are lots of things you can put in coffee besides sugar and milk. My friend Alfred drinks his with butter. Says just the right amount of it in a nice hot cup of coffee will change your life." He nods firmly. "I see... a-anyway, Strawberry, yeah--that's right. I've met a lot of them, but even the worst of them had reasons for doing what they did. But what you're saying..." He nods. "I think I get it. Maybe someone had a grudge. Oh--Mari's sent me an e-mail..." Keitarou pulls out a well-loved flip phone, with a few charms hanging from it. Its surface bears the nicks, scratches and scores of a phone that has survived Hell and come out stronger. His thumbs are quite adept in scrolling through and sending emails with that tiny screen. "She's just gotten done speaking with Mrs. Palmer. Apparently there were some other kids Laura was hanging out with that her parents didn't approve of. Do you think maybe someone in the wrong crowd was jealous of her?"
Hamada Haru	"Sounds like somebody who saw something they weren't supposed to," Haru speculates, with regards to Ronnette Pulaski. The detail relating to the 'R', though, just gets a puzzled look. "Is that some sort of... fashion trend? I've seen people do some strange things with their nails, and I'm sure letters had something to do with it. But why cut out of a magazine? Surely there are places to find small accents like that here." He doesn't know this sort of place, in this sort of era, and hasn't really looked around enough to understand that, no, maybe they wouldn't have something so specific and trivial here. But: He does know this kind of place well enough to have an opinion on what Keitarou just said. "Wrong crowd in places like this tend to be lukewarm. Somebody who got high on cough syrup and didn't dress conservatively enough," he says. Then, to Cooper, "Who are the most liked people in town, and who are their children?"
Go Shijima	"If it feels that way, that's because it is," says Cooper to Xion. "I'm definitely a side-scraper myself." He saws into his omelet with certainty, nodding her way. "Yes, ma'am, this case is a dry, dry sandwich--one that'll need every last bit of jam we can muster." There's a light gesture of his fork towards Haru, then. "That's the spirit," he firmly approves. "From what myself, Keitarou, and Mari have found, there's a few people you'll want to talk to if you want 'most well-liked.' Big Ed at the gas station cuts an intimidating figure, but he's a gentle giant if ever there was one." "And Mrs. Jennings that runs the Double R is really popular, too," notes Keitarou. "She's a great listener." Cooper nods. "Damn fine cherry pie they serve at the Double R. Let's see... Sheriff Truman clearly has the trust of the people in town." "And Mari said Mr. Martell that runs the logging mill is really easy to get along with."
Tamamo	"Even one who is well-liked by many, such that none speak against them, may be hated by a few. Or else, perhaps, it is as was said, and her death was unintended, a consequence of attempting to discover this talent that must be found at the precipice of death. Did I recall that correctly?" Tamamo eats pancakes. There's nothing especially noteworthy about this, apart from the simple necessities brought on by having immaculately kept sleeves like she's dressed in, and that she barely even tries the syrup. Looking at the plates brought in for Xion, only now does she remark, "Why, all of these have eggs, apart from..." followed by a suspicious look at the cantaloupe. Does it, too, hide an egg-based recipe? She'll be ready when the others are, to practice her scrying on the deceased. Come to that, "Ah, the site at which the victim was found, may I also see this?" It'd be even better to have everything in one place when she does her work.
Go Shijima	"But their children, though..." Cooper rubs his chin. "None of those three have children of their own, that I know of. Pete Martell is old enough that his kids would probably be my age by now, if he even has any." A momentary pause... then his silverware clatters against the plate as he snaps his fingers. "Bobby Briggs!" "...who?" Keitarou looks utterly puzzled. "There's an Air Force general that lives in town, by the name of Garland Briggs. His son Bobby came up a few times--apparently a close friend of Laura's. We haven't had a chance to speak to him yet, at this early stage. Now, Garland Briggs may not be well understood, but I'm told he's certainly well liked. He and his son might be a good source of information." "Would a general really be so easy to get a hold of?" "Maybe not," says Cooper. "But we'll never know for sure unless we try. You never know, Keitarou! We might even run into him while we're about town, scraping the sides of the jar." "Jar? I'm confused..."
Strawberry Princess	"It's traditional," Strawberry says brightly, offering the salt shaker to Keitarou too! "Ancient people made coffee with part saltwater, part fresh. You should try it sometime!" Cooper, once he soothes the Rider, gets an appreciative smile too. "Butter... hm." It looks like she's seriously considering that idea, too. Probably a mercy that there aren't any of those little butter cups within arm's reach. The flip phone absolutely, inexplicably enthralls her. Her eyes are locked onto it from the moment it leaves Keitarou's pocket. Those beautiful scratches- the tasteful little scuffs- the whimsical charms- the slightly clunky, satisfying weight of it. It's perfect. In all the Multiverse, someone else understands. Strawberry pulls her own flip-top cellphone out of her pocket. It's abraded and sandpapered by a near-decade of loving wear, but the pink plastic's color is solid all the way through. Cute little stickers cover up its worse scratches. No less than three charms dangle from it. She doesn't say anything, but she gives Keitarou a single nod before returning it to her pocket. Maybe the bond is totally one-sided. Maybe he doesn't understand at all. But in that moment, Strawberry trusts his judgement utterly.
Lilian Rook	Lilian rolls her eyes just a little bit at Haru's mildly sassy reply to her out-loud pondering, but it's less a sarcastic or annoyed one so much as a 'well it was set up for that one'. "I'd consider that party of the process of being reduced to nostalgic memorabilia, as much it seems taboo to remind anyone of it." she replies with equal driness. Finding a seat (the design of a booth obviating the need to pull one out for her attache), Lilian picks up a slightly earlier topic for a moment. "That advice about presents for yourself. I quite stand by it. Especially for the average sufferer of urban modernity. A little exercise in convincing yourself that you're worth things; provided you aren't atrocious at budgeting at least." Pulling up hert screen to tippy tap tap away a little bit, she hovers semi-asynchronously around topics, meandering her way through a serpentine thought process of her own. "Handling a distraught informant is something I can cover. Tamamo has a way of being especially persuasive in her own right, so it'd be nice if we could--" the corner of her lips quirks upwards a little "--do a little good cop bad cop." Then running back, visibly starting up a new file with the title CONEHPRO, "'Evidence.' As in, the two killings were clearly by the same sort of monster? The same individual monster? Or there's some other thread of evidence tying them together?" A faint shrug, eyes glued to the screen. "I'm afraid I can't do anything about the state of the body, but I'd like to see it. Divinitations, revelations, illuminating paths and finding the sympathetic end to a tangible start; especially for the purposes of tracking down monsters, that's family trade." There's a nostalgic little girl-esque sigh that follows. "Like the old days of tracking down werewolves in the village and such." Mentally pencilled in: Larxene's fault. "Well, it's not as if I mind. However much stock you place in the title, Xion usually is good enough at getting through to people." She prompts Haru offhandedly, with a gesture that sort of begs a pen to be in it. "Kaijin? What characteristics are unique to 'Orphenoc' too?" And then finally back around to Cooper. "And is this really the sort of thing the FBI should be investigating? Even if that were the bureau for monster cases, it seems odd that it'd be for something this low profile."
Lilian Rook	Following Cooper's weird outburst, Lilian finally orders herself coffee as well. It's a very simplistic kind of 'rich people hear, rich people want, rich people steal food culture away from the average joes' reflex, all told. "People are more complicated, but they're also easier to read than many monsters." she opines sagely for Strawberry's benefit, though 'sage' becomes more 'cynic' midway through. "There are lots of little fiddly things that go into making up people's decisions, but your brain is built to put them together. When it comes to the kind of creature that can hide near or in human society, whose motives exceed simple bloodlust or urge to feed, even simpler patterns become more difficult to assign meaning to or anticipate." She nods, visibly pleased at Strawberry's world-wisdom, at the 'liking' part. "Indeed. A keen observation." The really weird evidence finally draws her away from her recording, with the last few bullet points entered. "The letter R? As in, she scratched an 'R' off someone? Under a fingernail implies a struggle in all cases, but why would she have been clawing up . . . magazine cuttings? That almost feels like a deliberate clue from a lunatic." A long sigh. "And the missing one is probably a lunatic too, if she jumped up from a coma and went on the lam." And then a surprisingly sharp rebuke to Keitarou; the first she's had for the brand new Rider boy this entire time. "Be careful about how and when you say 'reasons'. It's understood to implicitly mean 'legitimate' or 'understandable' ones. A murder is a murder is a murder." Then, in the style of an offhanded comment, "A general won't be too big of a deal. If that's the one you think of as the least accessible, I'll handle it while you aim for something lower hanging." "Ah, speaking of which, how many layers behind the veil are we operating under here? If Rider Services is a fairly public fixture, I can't imagine it's all that well-hidden, but given this is technically Agent Cooper's jurisdiction and relative hometown, I presume he has particular desires about how many townspeople he wants to hear about the werewolf in their midst." "That line about traitors is still rattling around in my head. Even if this is the nation of them."
Go Shijima	Keitarou weathers Lilian's advice with quiet contemplation, nodding silently. It isn't the first time someone has criticized his desire to understand others, and it won't be the last. "I see," he says in a way that doesn't just sound like lip service. He does actually appear to have a rare quality in Riders: actually listening to and digesting what someone says the first time instead of after being hurled down several flights of stairs. That just leaves the question of masquerades and veils and secrecy. Cooper is happy to answer. "I'll trust you to use your best judgment," he says, which may indeed baffle. "As long as you're not shouting werewolf in the theater, I think people can handle it. This town has a strange history--I can sense it. Some of the people here might be surprisingly alright with it--it's just a matter of figuring out who those people are." There's a glance towards an 'employees only' door at the back, which must lead to the owner's office. His brow furrows, but Cooper doesn't say anything else on the topic until the food's gone. With breakfast out of the way in due time, it's about half past 11 AM when Cooper makes a call to the sheriff's office, using a phone . "Harry, I've got some multiversal specialists on the way. That's Xion with an X, hero of everyone's hearts, Tamamo no Mae, and Dame Lilian Rook. Dame Rook might be by later--she's gonna try and speak to General Briggs. ... They wanna take a look in the morgue. Would that be okay? ... Outstanding. I'll let them know, thanks. Oh--one other thing. There's a Detective Tomari from the Paladins who'll be by later this week to take a look at those journal pages. Will that be alright? ... Harry, that's wonderful. You're wonderful. I knew I'd enjoy working with you. Talk to you soon." Cooper, who has gathered up a ridiculous trench coat that makes his scrawny frame all the more evident, turns and gives them a thumbs-up from behind the bar, placing the phone back on the hook. "Lilian--if Lilian is okay--you can find Leland at his house. He's also business partners with the owner of this place, Ben Horne, so you can check back here a little later in the day if he's not home." Stepping out from behind the bar, he approaches Lilian and offers a muted addendum. "Mr. Horne also comped out meal today, I'm informed. Had a server tell me so while I was waiting for Harry to answer. Something to check out later, maybe see if he had any connection to Laura. As for the evidence, I can have a dossier prepared and sent to you with everything that's been found so far." "Why is the FBI involved?" asks Keitarou. "I mean... if it's alright to ask." "Of course," says Cooper. "Usually, it would purely be a local matter. What it boils down to is legalese, really. Ms. Pulaski, in her catatonic state, wandered across state lines. It is technically 'low profile,' but at this point, neither the states of Washington or Iowa have jurisdiction, and all because of one little twist of fate." "That is pretty strange," admits Keitarou. "But I think I'm glad it's you they sent, Agent Cooper. I'm gonna meet up with Mari and talk to some of Laura's school friends. Anyone who wants to come with is welcome! The van's got lots of passenger space." "Good thinking. I'm gonna head to the hospital and see if any staff there saw Ronnette leaving," says Cooper. "I'll extend the same offer Keitarou did--" But he holds up a finger. "With a lower-case 'r' rider. If any of you would rather I come along with you instead, I'm glad to. We should keep open minds about what constitutes a useful lead!"
Go Shijima	Officer Tomari is accosted by a strange older woman with brown hair who is weaving in and out of waitstaff like a basketball player bound and determined to make a shot. She cradles something in her arms like a baby, reflections of the table growing closer and closer as she approaches. Lilian, Strawberry and Tamamo all sense a subtle, humming power about this unassuming person's frame. It's like the gentle buzz of a fluorescent light, without the irksome quality or the off-putting artificiality. "My log has a message for Shinnosuke Tomari," says this woman who has never met the man. "It must be delivered at one quarter past noon in the conference room at the sheriff's office."
Hamada Haru	"Address of residence and workplace, phone number, regular haunts," Haru requests of Cooper, regarding the Briggs family. He glances at Keitarou. "Wasn't planning on being polite or noninvasive about it, Delta," he says, simply. Back towards Cooper, "Unless you need me to be for some procedural reason." Lastly, towards Lilian, "If a murder was a murder was a murder, then there would be no need for organizations like yours, or mine, and 'our' kind wouldn't act the way that we almost all do." He rolls up one of his pancakes and starts eating it with his hands like a savage, becoming for a short while absolutely impossible to converse with because all expectations of a response are annihilated by the fact that he refuses to stop eating and drinking. The only thing that can be done is /telling/ him things. Like where to find the General and his son.
Shinnosuke Tomari	As the older woman weaves in, and approaches Shinnosuke, he quirks an eyebrow. He's extremely confused. But when told there's a message for him...well, it could be a trap. Or it could be a clue. If they're to solve this case, he needs to trust his intuition. "To-go box, please!" Shinnosuke asks the nearest waitress, planning on heading there ASAP. Even if he's early, he'll get a scope of the Sheriff's Office at the least. He handles his own meal, but he pauses as he goes to place his pay. "Uh...you tip here, right? How much is normal?" Once answered, he solves that, and then moves to head towards his CAR, which he brought instead of taking the bus, because of course he did. When something strange happens, you have to trust your gut, and investigate.
Go Shijima	GENERAL BRIGGS: A note from Cooper accompanies the information gathered on short notice. 'Usual channels took longer than expected. Careful, Haru. That's usually a sign that you're edging close to a wasps' nest. Let me know if you think you might be stung.' Keitarou is a little unnerved by just how invasive Haru is willing to be, but Delta's got his own things to do in town. It's a school day and Garland is working. Or, at least, allegedly. The one thing Cooper couldn't get was his workplace, which is apparently top-secret. There's a stroke of luck, however. Bobby is a delinquent, and there's enough information on him to find him at one of his regular haunts: the train tracks outside of town. Bobby is Laura's age, meant to be attending the local high school. He is here, instead, sitting on a rusted out old truck frame and hurling rocks into a lake on the other side of the tracks. In the noonday sun, this place is secluded, but peaceful. It's not hard to imagine that peace becoming oppressive at night, given the thick shroud of green which surrounds it from all sides. That flannel tied around the waist. The cigarette in his mouth. The passive sneer with which he regards the world. He takes one look at Haru, and... "What's up?" Decides that this is a fellow loner, and worth his time.
Tamamo	Tamamo just smiles when Lilian calls her 'persuasive.' When Lilian almost smiles, Tamamo brightens and adds, "Oh, I believe I recall this game. Shall I adopt the attire? Ah, but only after our work with the," rather less brightly, "victim's remains is concluded." After a pause, "Yes, the magazine clipping is rather oddly placed, is it not? For no such was found, though it does bear the sound of the name of she who was nearby, and is now missing. It would be quite convenient, yet it would not be at all convenient for one to leave as a clue, no? Perhaps there is no pattern to be discerned, here." Though that, somehow, hardly ever seems to be the case, determining the truth of it should be within her capabilities. Keitarou, Lilian, and Hamada talk about something. "Ah, 'reason,'" Tamamo adds, "One should distinguish between those reasons that are 'good' or 'bad,' but if we were to say 'motive' then, perhaps, there should be less confusion. It might be useful to know, whatever it may be, if it is the same in this case as in that other, hypothetically connected, case. How long ago was the last, did you say?" That should be the last question she has, post-meal, before she can go and begin her part of the investgation.
Hamada Haru	Hamada Haru is unconcerned with edging close to the wasps nest. This is because he is, in his fashion, a military brat and he knows the score. Also, because this is North America, and the wasps here are simply dramatically less threatening than the wasps back home. He finds himself surprisingly more in his element than he expected, though, when he arrives at Bobby's hangout spot on the outside of town. It reminds him a little of that cargo town run by disenfranchised supers, only the only person here is another military brat. As far as he can tell. "Dunno. Just got here. Mother's dragging me all around the fucking world to places where weird shit has been going on, and this time she won't even tell me what the 'weird shit' is. This seems like the last place weird things would be going on, but everybody seems on edge enough for it to be true," he mostly-lies. This IS something his mother did, a genuine experience he's drawing on for the interaction. "LAST time it was zombies, and I had to get thirteen shots in the stomach because it was just some guy that got bit by a raccoon," Haru adds, meandering around slowly and putting his back to Bobby while he surveys the surroundings. He glances over his shoulder, "It's not zombies, right?"
Go Shijima	THE MORGUE: Those who wish to check out the body in the morgue are greeted and let in by Sheriff Harry S. Truman. Harry is a tall fellow with curly brown hair and a well-loved cowboy hat. He and his deputy Hawk are clearly the ones looked to for answers or expertise. The other deputy, Andy, seems a bit slow on the uptake but is kind and trusting, and the receptionist Lucy has a bubbly, airhead exterior that conceals just how resourceful and determined she can be. It's a motley crew, but you get the feeling it's exactly the kind of people a town like this could depend on. Laura's body is indeed petrified. Wisps of some sort of energy, like flames captured on film, jut out from her in several places. As the coroner pulls back the sheet, it's clear that whatever did this must've dragged it out. There are lacerations at several places, on her arms and hands, and even a bite mark on her neck. The killing blow is stated on the post-mortem as the cylindrical hole drilled through her sternum, straight through to the heart. Her expression is strangely peaceful. Andy has to leave the room before his tears get the better of him. First up at bat is Xion--and while Laura is unfortunately quite dead, there is something on her person which the keyblade can unlock: a heart locket. "That's pretty handy," notes Deputy Hawk, a broadly built Nez Perce man with long black hair. "We didn't have the key and none of the locksmiths in town would touch it. Worried about damaging the body. Or maybe just afraid." The heart locket is only one half--but it's clear in the picture who has the other half. A bot with close-cut brown hair sat astride a motorcycle. "That's James Hurley," notes Hawk. "Weird. I thought she was with that Bobby kid..." "So did I," says Sheriff Truman. Lilian and Tamamo, using their respective talents for divination and scrying, unearth even more. First--Lilian. Attempting to find the end of this thread is difficult. But that, in itself, is telling. How it ends is also how it began. It's the same from the front to the back, like a palindrome. And one particular palindrome keeps coming up, and up, and up, no matter how she reorients her mystic eye. BOB A mundane name... and yet, one that seems to tower in her mind's eye. It casts a long, terrifying shadow. There is a monster here--and whether it's an orphenoch or not, it's the kind of monster that children hide away from, that parents whisper of and tell themselves it doesn't exist. But it does. BOB, whatever it is, put Laura here. And BOB will be the end of what goes on here. Tamamo's scrying reveals something equally troubling. Laura has either been affected by, or was in the presence of someone using the kind of powerful, malevolent energies which could only come from some dark place where the light of mortal reality doesn't shine. What's worse, this is the kind that can be taught, or at least used to unlock something within others. The only reassuring news is that this is not the only influence present. Something, equally as alien, may have been trying to prevent her death or otherwise protect her. There is a spot around Laura's finger where the benevolent touch of some enchanted item once laid, and an indention which shows it must have been a ring.
Go Shijima	BOBBY BRIGGS "Nah," says Bobby. "Not zombies." Someone less keen might think that he's disappointed it isn't zombies. "Someone killed Laura Palmer. You're new in town, so you might not have known her. But she was everyone's friend. Me and her..." Haru knows -that- tone, too. Bobby chuckles bitterly. "I thought we were something. People called me her boyfriend, and I liked that. And she didn't seem to mind. But the more I think about it, the less sure I am. She was nice... but she was so nice that you didn't notice how many things you didn't know about her. And the more I think about that, the more I wonder if I ever knew Laura at all." "I guess I understand why your mom wouldn't wanna say what happened, but it still sucks to be treated like you're a kid. My dad's that way, too," he says, skipping another rock across the lake opposite the tracks. "Anyway, some people think it might be, like..." He chuckles mirthlessly. "Aliens. Or ghosts. Or whatever it is my dad does for a living. There's as many guesses as there are people here." He shrugs. "I'm just... out here."