five 💕 text. ( posted at 2am on the 14th / username: inaban )

[dereban]

[ SO.

Who here is awake at 2am in the morning.... sources say that Inaba is. ]

I don't know how many of you guys are up at this late hour, but let's just say Iris cycle kind of keeps me up sometimes and a good distraction is absolutely necessary for a bit.

Therefore!

I will provide some classic late night text entertainment in the form of two separate games:

1) If you are Japanese and would prefer to play some shiritori for me for a challenge, I'm here for it.

OR

2) You can do a 'text adventure' story with me, custom made, on the spot. Just give me a basic genre or concept and I'll think of something quick for you. I need to keep up with my writing skills, after all.

So tl;dr: pick your poison, it's late.

Comments

[sleepinglotus]

It will be my first time playing so I can say I likely won't be a harsh judge.

[dereban]

👍

Do you have any particular genre that you enjoy?

[sleepinglotus]

Mysteries?

[dereban]

I can definitely work with that.

You were called in during the late afternoon by someone who seemed to call you their 'best friend', although you were rather skeptical about that as a whole.

After all, what kind of person would call you that through a voice changer?

But you couldn't say no to a good mystery, as a famous detective.

You find yourself at the scene of the crime: an old mansion - one that practically screamed haunted. To be honest, it almost made you question for a second if this was the right thing to do. It's a risky job, after all. Not to mention your client is completely anonymous.

And you're right outside the gate.

Escape is an option.

You...

[sleepinglotus]

Hesitate some, attempting to get a feel for the surroundings and look for anything that immediately stands out besides "creepy mansion".

[dereban]

You look around, but given how dark it is, it's rather difficult to discern anything that immediately stands out besides the mansion itself. For a moment, however, you do notice that the wind blows at one of the curtains, almost as if a ghost were there.

But there's no such things as ghosts!

Right?

[sleepinglotus]

[Look, after last month, even fantasy scenario detective Ren isn't going to discount the possibility of ghosts.]

Suspicious, but if I'm here for a job, I'm expected to complete it.

So I enter. Cautiously, though.

[dereban]

[ It's true, ghosts are . . . apparently a thing in this world and Inaba hates it, but she can set that aside for a fictional scenario. ]

You cautiously enter the house, your steps slow and you eyes wandering, making absolutely sure that you don't misstep to trigger any sort of trap.

Your hand lies on the doorknob and eventually, you manage to twist it open with no issue.

The door opens with a creak--

And bats immediately fly out the window.

Spooky.

You...?

[sleepinglotus]

I am startled, obviously, but as I was disturbing their rest it's not them I'm upset with.

I duck and wait for them to fly away, trying to see if there's anything notable in the darkness beyond the door.

[dereban]

It's dark, obviously, so you might need to grab something to shine some light on the situation.

Maybe you might have brought something...?

It takes some time for your eyes to adjust, but there seems to be two paths past the entranceway; one to the left and one to the right. And straight ahead, you see what seems to be a flight of stairs.

[sleepinglotus]

A flashlight would be a must in any detective kit, I would imagine.

Or at the very least a scroll phone light.

Does the light I use (be it flashlight or phone) illuminate anything that might give me a clue where to go first?

[dereban]

You check your detective kit, and lo and behold, you do find a flashlight!

You turn it on, illuminating the room ever so slightly. The light goes towards the floor and you're finally able to spot it.

Footprints.

Bloody.

Towards the stairs.

Of course, it might be wise to save that for last and head to one of the other directions for potential other clues...

[sleepinglotus]

That is most certainly a clue.

Not following it immediately is a good plan, though.

I will go to the... left.

[dereban]

To the left, you seem to find what seems to be a. . . kitchen?

It's rather large and spacious and has what you'd expect, including a large pantry. At the end of the kitchen hall, you can spot another door.

Where do you go first?

[sleepinglotus]

Start with the pantry. I'm fairly certain that other door is going to be locked anyway.

[dereban]

The pantry itself seems to be filled to the brim, although all the food itself seems to be completely canned.

But there's just one issue.

As you look around...

There's no can opener. Hm.

[sleepinglotus]

That is... indeed odd.

Is there anything notable on the cans? Dust or residue?

[dereban]

Surprisingly, there doesn't seem to be any dust. They're eerily clean.

But that definitely doesn't make any sense, though. . .

[sleepinglotus]

It does not.

I pick one up to inspect closer, checking for anything under labels, or if there's even any weight to them.