Scene #8139: PNL: A Velvet Reception

Owner	Pose
Stanley Padgett	Stanley's position is being broadcast to his group chat, of which Caelan was now officially a part of. It is named CoolChat because of course it is. But the position is inside the Reversal, not far from Jimmy's Grotto Pizza. The dueling homes, Montague and Capulet, are on display in the Reversal. Jimmy's Grotto is not a grease pit hole in a wall in a strip mall. It's a carefully guarded creche, with smaller shadows running around inside, protected by sentries on the parapets. The Happycade is not a dirty, dimly lit arcade in a strip mall, it's a towering edifice to combat and training, with mighty xenon ghosts doing combat inside, all watched by a looming, friendly looking Shadow in glittering green armor. But outside of both, parked in the street... is a City Bus, idling away, the milling shades on the streets of the Reversal not queueing up for it. This place is not for them, after all. The door waits open, and a lilting melody catches on the digital winds.
Caelan Stuart	It has only been a day since the Freischutz awakened and what felt like Caelan's long nightmare had come to an... Not an /end/, but it has certainly arrived at a much less terrible, soul-crushing phase. In particular, his daughter was safe and sound at home (and taking some much-needed alone-time, and honestly she absolutely deserves it after what had happened). Caelan even took a day off to make sure she had a good home cooked meal before she crawled up to her room to try and process THE TRAUMA. (After many hugs, of course, but some things kids her age need to deal with on their own. At least, they certainly can't be smothered by their parents all the time.) But that brings him to here, now. Somehow he had been added to something called a group chat, which Caelan only vaguely understands. He has received a message from Stanley with an accompanying location. Clearly, this means he needs to be rescued. A heavy footfall splatters into a puddle of neon water. Caelan regards the mysterious City Bus with a suspicious eye and creeps slowly closer, hand moving cautiously to his hip as he leans in to peer into the back of the transport. Is Stanley still alive in there...?
Stanley Padgett	It is a very fancy bus. Or a very shady bus, who can tell? The windows are fully tinted. Livery on the side does make it out to be a Steelport Metro, and it claims it's going to 'All Stops'. Steelport Metro hasn't been a thing in at least 30 years.
John Doe	About at the same time, John was there, and because it was the other side it was Mystique and not John. His phone said Stanley was over here. Which causes him to side-eye the bus. He also notices that it says Steelport. Well, ain't that fuckin' weird? Mystique simply just walks up to the door of the bus and slams a hand on it. Probably because he wants to wake up Stanley, and also scare the guy trying to stare into the tinted windows. "You know, cop, you shouldn't be doing that shit without a warrant."
Stanley Padgett	The bus is... bigger on the inside. As Caelan peeks into the door, though, he can spot that the whole thing is laid out like a VERY Comfortable tour bus, with apolstry, trim, shag carpet, pillows and everything else in a very fetching shade of blue. And someone else pokes their head out of the door. She is a woman of indeterminate age, with a long long white braided ponytail, wearing a crisp blue uniform and a little pillbox hat. She looks like a tour guide or a flight attendant from the 40s or 50s. "...Mr. Redacted, you don't need to scare Detective Caelan like that, do you? Come inside, both of you, we're very excited to get to meet the two of you properly." A pleasant, helpful lilt to her voice. It is immediately obvious that this is Delilah. Her chibi form is plastered all over the versions of Reversal you two now possess.
Caelan Stuart	Caelan jumps at the sudden noise, but he has enough trigger discipline to not immediately pull a gun at the sound. Instead, he simply shrugs at John's accusation, "I don't think standard law applies in this space." But then, there is a woman. She looks... he can't tell. She speaks a word he can't understand. Caelan arches a brow at her and her... attire. It's a little out of date, isn't it? And-- "How much has Stanley told you?" Caelan asks, his hand falling away from his hip-- and the weapon hidden there-- but his reflexes are quick, and he's fairly confident he can draw it if he needs to. There's a beat. "'We?'"
John Doe	John stares at Caelan for a while. "Good that you realize that. That doesn't mean you get to act with impunity here," John continues. Sort of a warning, but how it is a warning is vague enough. It could be a threat, or it /could/ be a warning. This place is very crazy. However, Delilah opening the door and calling him by a name that nobody could actually hear causes him to frown. "Both of us?" he says, eyeing her. "Also, are you the same entity as the lady in the phone game?" he asks, again somewhat suspicious of her. Why? Well... "He's likely told her everything," he says to Caelan. "Stanley doesn't do impulse control."
Stanley Padgett	Delilah gives John a look that screams 'bless his heart', and then leads everyone up and inside the bus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lBGJtGYm08 There are two other people inside the bus. One is Stanley. Stanley is blearily sort of just waking up. It's clear that he must have spent the night on the bus because he's in his pajamas. There's a cup of tea and some snacks on a fold out table in front of him. At the rear of the bus, sitting in an ornate chair, behind a round table with a blue tablecloth with an elaborate Golden V embroidered on the top of it, sits a Strange Old Man with a Long Nose. "Ah, honored guests. Welcome... to the Velvet Room." He smiles, his grin a rictus thing as he rests his chin on gloved hands. "It is so very nice for you to join us in this endeavor." Stanley perks a bit, and waves. "Hey guys."
Stanley Padgett	For the record, just stepping into the bus... Feels Right. It feels soothing. It feels welcoming. It is calming. Aches and pains fade, slowly. Worries and fears start to quiet.
John Doe	Mystique doesn't become less on edge...he goes a little /more/ on edge at that look. He walks in regardless, shrugging. Can't learn anything by just refusing to fall into the lion's den. Walking in, the first thing he see's is...that nose. Like holy shit, that nose is so long. The grin behind it should be unsettling...but the nose makes it work. "Hey, Stanley. I can guess who she is, but what about the nose?" he can't help himself.
Caelan Stuart	A place of calm, a place of healing. A wave of soothing... /something?/ It's hard to place. Caelan crinkles his nose a little bit at the sensation. It's a familiar one, like home used to be, but part of him still warns him to be careful. But at least there's Stanley and he's---- In Pajamas!? "...Did you /just/ wake up?" Caelan asks, halfway disbelieving. But he remembers remembers being that age-- and hibernating. He shakes his head nevertheless. "You need to break that habit before it sets in. It's real hard to break down the line." Beat. He peers over at the man with the nose and... nods slowly, "Evening, sir."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley is about to open his mouth, when the Strange Man bids people sit. "My name is Igor... I am delighted to make your acquaintance." Another rictus grin. "This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter... It is a room that only those who are bound by a Contract may enter." He looks around again, and then smiles. "This room manifests itself, as do I, when things need to be Put Straight. The events taking place in Lampport are not... unique to this world. There have been other incidents. Other foes." A look to Stanley and then the two newcomers. "Other heroes." "It is my job, and Delilah's, to ensure that those bound by a Contract have the knowledge and tools they need to win out over the encroaching Darkness. YOu have already seen the damage that is being done, and I regret to say there will be strife in your futures." He waves his hands across the table cloth, and a set of tarot cards appear on the table. "...Do you believe in fortune telling?"
John Doe	John listens, letting The Nose get his words out without interrupting him. Then he asks a question, and he shrugs. "I haven't gotten one, but this world exists so I'm willing to try anything once with a bit of skepticism. John says, and takes a seat. "Though, I would be surprised if anyone could read my fortune," John continues. "For the same reason she can't say my name.." a pause, wait, how did she know that..? Or rather, how did she know to try a different name than the given one? Huh.
Caelan Stuart	Stanley gets away from ADULT SCOLDING... this time. Igor is explaining things. Caelan fixes the benosed man with a curious look-- one that only gets curiouser and curiouser as the explanation progresses. "I see. It's your job, huh...?" "But who exactly is employing the two of you...?" Caelan asks aloud, but in a voice that's more contemplative than anything else. He shakes his head and takes a seat at the other end of the table. "I didn't used to believe in ghosts, either, but I guess I can give it a chance."
Stanley Padgett	At some point, Delilah has shuffled into one of the side areas of the bus, and come back with a little cart of snacks. She lays out a cup of tea for both John and Caelan. And somehow, also has their favorite snacks on the tray right next to the tea. A smile, and then she slips over to sit next to Stanley. She picks up a large tome, and rests it on her lap, and looks very comfortable about that. Igor hmmmms. "I would have to say, Mr. Redacted-" And there's not even lips to read there, the whole of Igor's face glitching out like data drift for a moment. "Both you and Detective Stuart have suffered greatly at the hands of this unjust game. But you both now have the powers of Persona, and can overturn those who have struck such hateful blows on Lampport." To John, Igor first sweeps the cards. "The first card? The recent past." Devil. "Ah. You, dear boy, have found yourself to be the victim of lust and greed. Someone has shackled you to this place." The next card. "The present." Seven of Wands. "You are being forced to confront something out of your control, but the wands represent the fire within. You are determined." The last card. "The Knight of Cups. A proposal or proposition waits in your future, and it will be up to you to decide if it's worthy of acceptance."
Caelan Stuart	Tea is one thing, but the snacks-- Caelan hasn't had those in... Months, for him. Two years, for the rest of the world. Nobody made lemon squares like She did. They were never too sweet, or too soggy. And somehow, the scent is just right, and so is the taste. Caelan's expression turns wistful as he munches on the treat, but... How? How did they know? He's told nobody who could possibly have known and gotten that information to these people. What, exactly, is going on here...?
John Doe	So nose too? Hm. Was it that they were connected to whatever happened to him, or somehow simply outside? He's not sure what's going on, but this guy wasn't also in the game...there isn't any reason why he couldn't be in on it. Though that glitch is /weird/. What happened to his name..? "A proposal, huh? Interesting.." he says, leaning back and looking at the snacks. He pulls one of the chocolate-looking ones and eats it. "Pretty vague. Though lust and greed in the past?" John gives the Nose a stare.
Stanley Padgett	"I am merely here to interpret the cards, ah... Mr. Doe." Igor seems to have spotted John's discomfort. "And I will apologize for trying to use your real name. Unfortunately, that has been wished away from you, and we, Delilah and I, are still bound by the rules of the Game. When you find yourself once more, we will be happy to greet you properly." Igor turns to Caelan, and then the cards shuffle themselves once more. "Think carefully on the cards, detective..." The array come out, and Igor flips the first card. "The Three of Pentacles. You were a leader of men, detective. A man of swift justice." Present. The Death card. "Ah, a very auspicious card, but not one to be feared. Death represents complete change and rebirth into a new form. But it also means throwing off the status quo." Future. "Ah. Ace of Rods. This is a card that shows great potential. The rods of fire will spark from the willpower of creation." Igor looks over to Stanley. "...I'd do your set again, but you always seem to get the same three." Stanley wilts a bit, and then looks to the others. "You didn't have to say it out loud, Igor."
John Doe	"That's...better. It's more..." John tries to find the right words. "How do you even know it? Even if you can't put a voice to it, the fact that you could say it at all is weird. Even /I/ don't know it. It's not that I can't say it, I don't even /know/ it." "Though you also seem to know it was a wish...I suspected it was, but there wasn't anything concrete." He looks over at Stanley. "Ha, the same reading every time? That has to be some sort of strange ass luck."
Caelan Stuart	Caelan's brow twitches at the completion of the reading. There's definitely /something/ weird going on here, and it's not just the self-shuffling deck of cards. "You lost your name, huh? And more besides, I'd wager," the officer observes with a shrug. "...Complete change and rebirth. Hmn." What does /that/ mean? What does he have to become? Does the status quo mean the world, or himself? Is he letting this place get into his head too much? "Do you bother this gentleman to read your fortune frequently, Stanley?" A pause. "...Hm, so if you were to read one of our fortunes again, it could change-- but Stanley's would not?"
Stanley Padgett	Stanley sighs, and reaches into Delilah's Snack Tray to get the good stuff. In his case, it's a wrapped Tastykake. Which he unwraps and inhales. Igor smiles, a different smile from before. Something more apologetic. The deck is shuffling itself mightily on the table, and then the three card array comes out. And Igor is saying the names of the cards almost before they're flipped. "Wheel of Fortune, Fool, and the Tower." And indeed, the cards that come out are the Wheel, the Fool and the Tower. Stanley slumps his shoulders, looking mighty small in those pyjamas for a moment or two.
John Doe	John sighs, shaking his head at Caelan. "Not so much as took my name. From what I can gather, they wished my father out of existence. I think this because I don't know his name, face, or anything. I can remember my mother, but she's married into some wealthy family and doesn't even know who I am..." "So somehow I am outside of the bounds of reality. Nobody knows me, nobody remembers me. The only way people remember me is either have powers or if I use the mask." He watches Stanley's draw. "What do those mean?" he asks. "Also draw them again. There is no way you can get the same ones again in succession."
Caelan Stuart	Caelan's eyes dart towards Stanley's choice of snack. A Tastykake? Really? Did he never have a favorite baked good or anything like that-- something that his mother made for him as a child, or... /something?/ "We need to deal with your palate, too," Caelan observes, quietly. The reading is made. Or rather, the reading is called. Three cards, all major arcana. Caelan shakes his head, though-- "Sorry, I've got no idea what any of that means." But he does know what it means to have someone closed to you wished out of existence. Caelan's frown deepens at John's words. "...Just, ceased to exist? That's..." Is it a mercy that he can't even remember his father? No, because his mother is basically a totally different person. In many ways, this kid is just as adrift as he is-- if not more so. "I'm sorry, that's terrible."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley sighs. "Wheel of Fortune. Past. An unfixed life, full of travel and change, ups and downs a constant cycle. Fool. The start of the deck, is a new beginning, naive. Full of potential but nothing to show for themself. Tower. Destruction, ruin, and revolution." Igor seems to be about to say something, as Stanley gets up from his spot and grabs Igor's cards. There's a ripple in the Velvet Room like this is some sort of immense transgression, but neither Igor nor Delilah move to stop him. He shuffles up the deck himself, rather expertly, and then deals out a three-card array. Wheel. Fool. Tower. Stanley puts the deck back down on Igor's table, and then huffs. "...Mom died when I was very little. Dad's shuffled me around for years. The last friend he's got who'll put up with me is my Uncle Sid. He's a... creative accountant."
Stanley Padgett	Stanley seems to be directing that to Detective Stuart. "So yeah. Tastykakes. I'll fight you." There's a look in his eyes like he means it on that one.
John Doe	"Don't hate on Tastykakes," John says pointedly at Caelan. "I'll fight you." John stares at the cards. He takes the deck and shuffles it. Then deals for Stanley. He'll do it multiple times. Then he'll specifically NOT shuffle in those cards and draw. John wants to see how far this goes. John then keeps dealing cards. How far does Stanley's fate go? How far does this happen? He has to know.
Caelan Stuart	'Uncle Sid' Caelan's eyes narrow. "Sid Parsons, huh," he grunts softly, but shakes his head. "...I'm sorry. That's awful too. Both of you boys have it rough. Where are you living right now?" "I'm not saying anything bad about Tastykakes, just... I was surprised it was a favorite snack. But now I know why."
Stanley Padgett	Wheel. Fool. Tower. "Uh, Sid's got me in this apartment across the street from uh, here, actually." He looks 'outside' of the bus's windows. "Right across from the Happycade and Jimmy's Grotto." He sighs. "I'm supposed to be home by 9 each night, but like... Sid doesn't care, unless he wants to care. That's why I've been here." Wheel. Fool. Tower. When the card's aren't in the deck. Wheel. Fool. Tower.
John Doe	"Wherever I want," John says, evenly. "Nobody can perceive me that doesn't have power, and people avoid areas I reside in so..." he shrugs. "I tend to stay in different places every night. Been like this forever, you end up getting used to moving your head." "Sid's a piece of work, I occasionally run into him and have to drag his ass out of some fire he's caused." John's curiosity in this continues. He draws three cards for himself. Three cards for Caelan. Three for Igor. Then Three for Delilah. Then he just keeps pulling cards out for Stanley. How deep does this go?
Caelan Stuart	Caelan taps his fingers on the table, then seems to make a decision. "I can't do much, legally speaking, but I can at least give you a place to go to sit down for dinner every night. And if you need someplace to stay that's a bit more of a home, I don't mind if you sleep over from time to time." "You helped save Alice," he decides, "So it's the least I can do." He arches a brow at John's answer- and his antics. Caelan stares at the deck of cards like it might cut the boy's fingers off. "...That goes for you too, kid. Doesn't sit right with me to have someone just... sleeping wherever, alone."
Stanley Padgett	Igor sighs, and the cards float over towards the table again, and out of the reach of grubby mortals. "Each of you has been robbed of something by this Game." The deck vanishes into the mists, and Igor leans on the table again. "Even that young lady you associate with." Delilah pipes up. "That's the price that these Wishes are taking on the Reversal, and on Lampport itself." She runs a hand across the heavy face of the Compendium, and then murmurs. "And... we're sorry we can't give you more guidance right now. We are on your side of this Contest, but it is a Contest and there are Rules that have to be followed." Igor smiles. "But don't worry. You have many new compatriots to work with. Bonds to foster. Strengths to unlock." A beat. "But now that the Ripper has been dealt with, I think you all deserve a bit of respite." And then Caelan is stepping up to offer that... and Igor just smiles.