CCCP 10

March 22
[21:16]	<[GM]Mary>	Last time, on CCCP!
[21:17]	<[GM]Mary>	Christina busied herself with screwing everything up!
[21:17]	<[GM]Mary>	(just kidding. there are no bad decisions in meido, only different ones.)
[21:28]	<[GM]Mary>	We last left off with Victoria, Christina, and Melissa leaving while Cassie and Tabitha stayed behind at the bank. The police had just arrived, and are now investigating the scene.
[21:30]	* Cassandra	sits in the lobby, waiting for the policemen.
[21:35]	* Tabitha	is nearby, ever ready to be her sister's eyes. She twirls her hair nervously.
[21:36]	* Tabitha	's emotions and stress are finally beginning to catch up with her.
[21:37]	<Cassandra>	Tabitha.
[21:38]	* Tabitha	turns her head distractedly.
[21:39]	<Tabitha>	"Aye. Here."
[21:40]	<Cassandra>	If... When they as you about Melissa and Christina, tell them...
[21:40]	<Cassandra>	...Hm.
[21:41]	<Tabitha>	"That they're just children; something like that?"
[21:41]	* Tabitha	is a little short with her response.
[21:42]	<Cassandra>	Yes. And unfit for an investigation involving a murder.
[21:42]	* Tabitha	sighs.
[21:43]	<Cassandra>	Which is true enough. I don't want them to get involved in this, however.
[21:43]	<Tabitha>	"In retrospect... you're a child unfit for an investigation in a murder, too, you know."
[21:44]	<Cassandra>	I've been investigated before. As a child, even.
[21:45]	<Tabitha>	"Though, if we're going that way, then... These officers are going to be unfit for an investigation in THIS murder."
[21:46]	<Tabitha>	"Or, suicide. After all... that's what they're here to investigate, right?"
[21:46]	* Cassandra	flinches. She didn't realize she slipped up there.
[21:46]	* Tabitha	pats Cassie on the shoulder.
[21:47]	<Tabitha>	"Easy, easy. We all make mistakes. That's all this is, Cass. A mistake."
[21:47]	<Cassandra>	...Right. Just... just tell them what you saw.
[21:47]	* Tabitha	flinches herself at the phrase "what you saw".
[21:49]	<Tabitha>	"Right, right... what I saw... not what I THOUGHT I saw..."
[21:50]	* Tabitha	shakes her head, trying to get the images out. She's seen horrible things on the operating table before; this... this isn't any different, right?
[21:50]	<[GM]Mary>	Cassie looks like she's about to speak up, but a tall man in a brown trenchcoat approaches and clears his throat from behind.
[21:54]	<[GM]Mary>	"Ahem. Excuse me, ladies, but are you two witnesses to this incident? If so, I would appreciate your cooperation in sorting out this case."
[21:55]	* Tabitha	stands up and covers for Cassie, at least to start for.
[21:55]	<[GM]Mary>	Messy black hair, big nose, crumpled fedora, stained tie. He looks like he just stepped out of a pulp fiction novel. He speaks good common, though.
[21:56]	<Tabitha>	"Not to be rude, sir, but my sister is blind. I believe you'll want to be talking to me instead."
[21:58]	<[GM]Mary>	"Oh. Is that true, ma'am?" He tilts himself in front of her and waves his hat before her eyes.
[22:00]	<Tabitha>	"Sir, let her have her dignity. She's just heard things that not ought to be heard, let alone seen; she's confused. So am I, for that matter."
[22:01]	* Cassandra	nudges her foot against Tabitha's heel.
[22:01]	<Cassandra>	Yes, but I will provide a testimony, if you are willing to hear it, despite what my sister wishes for me.
[22:02]	* Tabitha	certainly doesn't appreciate all this hat-waving, but she tries to cool herself down. It only sort-of works.
[22:02]	<[GM]Mary>	He seems satisfied with the answer, but tries to give Tabitha an apologetic look.
[22:04]	<[GM]Mary>	"I am sorry, miss, but I am required by law to listen to any witness willing to provide a testimony. Allow me to introduce myself..."
[22:06]	<[GM]Mary>	He produces a badge. "My name is Quinby Attrezzi, Accosto A Mare investigator. I would be very happy if you could tell me what you saw immediately."
[22:07]	<Tabitha>	"Quinby... heh, most unique. I'll be sure to remember it when I'm naming my first son. But I digress."
[22:08]	* Tabitha	stifles a dry chuckle. It's really not very funny at all.
[22:08]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	You are expecting, madam?
[22:09]	* Tabitha	displays her rather slim and definitely non-pregnant stomach.
[22:09]	<Tabitha>	"I'll let you be the judge on that one. But for now, I guess I'll let you be the investigator."
[22:09]	* [GM]Attrezzi	descreetly enjoys the display.
[22:10]	<Tabitha>	"Myself, my sister, and our three servants were out on the town, here to make a few deposits."
[22:11]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	Three servants?
[22:12]	<Tabitha>	"Ahh, yes sir. We sent them home for the time being; two of them aren't the most mature. They didn't take this... event, very well."
[22:12]	* Cassandra	gets up, using Tabitha to help herself and slowly gives her a painful pinch beneath her grasp.
[22:13]	<Tabitha>	"I'd be with them, but of course--ahhch, excuse me--someone must stay by to see that the proper people are informed, you know."
[22:14]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	Hmm. I see.
[22:14]	* [GM]Attrezzi	produces a notepad.
[22:14]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	In any case, I would like to get their names and-
[22:14]	* Cassandra	interrupts.
[22:15]	<Cassandra>	They're not in any condition for an investigation. I /assure/ you.
[22:17]	* [GM]Attrezzi	hrrms.
[22:18]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	Hrrm. Well, I would like to take your own names, for the time being.
[22:19]	<Tabitha>	"Certainly. Doctor Tabitha Caulder, at your service and aid. Not that I trust you need any, mm?"
[22:19]	<Cassandra>	Cassandra Caulder. We're sisters.
[22:19]	* [GM]Attrezzi	scribbles all of that down.
[22:21]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	I see. Well then, if would excuse me for a moment, I'll go find my partner and we'll listen to you two separately. Don't go anywhere.
[22:21]	* [GM]Attrezzi	shuffles off.
[22:21]	<Tabitha>	"Don't go anywhere, hah. Wonder what he'd do if we did..."
[22:22]	* Tabitha	is in no mood to answer mindless questions just to follow protocol. What she needs is time away from the world, just her and Cassie.
[22:23]	* Cassandra	sighs.
[22:24]	<Tabitha>	"I'm sorry, Cass. I'm trying, it's just... gosh, I don't want to have to think about all this on top of all that."
[22:24]	<Cassandra>	Don't say things like what you said before. I don't want to bring the others into this. Even if they are kids, this will be a high-profile case, and there's plenty of good reason to call them to court.
[22:25]	<Tabitha>	"Things like what? I don't know what to not say unless you tell me. Get our facts straight for us if you're going to berate me, please."
[22:26]	<Cassandra>	Don't mention Christina or Melissa anymore than you have to. Other than that, just tell them the truth.
[22:27]	<Tabitha>	"Fair enough, fair enough. But you wouldn't want me to lie, would you?"
[22:29]	<Cassandra>	It doesn't matter. Besides, you're not lying.
[22:31]	* Tabitha	shrugs. Potato, Potahtoe.
[22:32]	<Cassandra>	Just be careful with your choice of words. Say the wrong thing, and it will make it very hard for us to get by this.
[22:33]	<Tabitha>	"You worry too much, Cassie. Calm down... they don't know. They won't look for what they don't expect to find."
[22:34]	* Tabitha	keeps her voice down, obviously. Seriously, they sound like a pair of criminals!
[22:34]	<Cassandra>	It's not that. I'm not worried about me. I worried about Melissa.
[22:34]	<[GM]Mary>	The inspector returns with his assistant; a woman wearing a similar get up to Attrezzi's, except clad in red.
[22:36]	<[GM]Attrezzi>	Alright. Miss... Tabitha? Caulder, if you would come with me, my partner will take care of your sister.
[22:37]	<Tabitha>	"Of course, sir. Go easy on her, please, for my sake."
[22:37]	<Cassandra>	Right...
[22:38]	<[GM]Mary>	The woman in red takes Cassandra's hand and gives Tabitha a wink... very strange.
[22:47]	* Tabitha	glares for a second or two. The light catches off her glasses as she walks the other way. Sheen...
[22:49]	<[GM]Mary>	They depart, and the investigator takes Tabitha outside.
[22:50]	<Attrezzi>	I don't have time to take you down to the station, but as long as it's somewhere private, it shouldn't matter. I bet you wanted to get out of there anyway, right?
[22:51]	<Tabitha>	"Quite."
[22:53]	<[GM]Mary>	There's a bunch of policemen here now, along with a big crowd and a few questioning journalists. Attrezzi leads Tabitha around the corner and through an alley, where a police vehicle is parked in a relatively lonesome fashion.
[22:55]	* Attrezzi	swings around to the passenger's side, opens the door, then steps over and gets into the driver's seat.
[22:56]	<Tabitha>	"Private enough for what it's for, I suppose..."
[22:56]	* Tabitha	steps into the passenger's seat.
[22:58]	<Attrezzi>	Okay, where to start...
[22:58]	<Tabitha>	"Perhaps where I ended, sir?"
[22:58]	* Tabitha	suggests curtly.
[22:59]	<Attrezzi>	Hmm?
[22:59]	<Tabitha>	"I was going to tell you about what I saw, but you got distracted. My apologies."
[23:01]	<Attrezzi>	Alright, then. Tell me what you saw...
[23:01]	<Tabitha>	"Very well. We were minding our own business in the bank when three men with guns ran into the lobby and ordered everyone onto the ground and against the wall."
[23:02]	<Tabitha>	"One of them had a young lady at gunpoint to force the issue. I must say, it worked..."
[23:03]	* Tabitha	explains the rest as it happened. She describes the man's suicide as "a horrible, inexplicable thing, something no one expected and no one understood."
[23:04]	<Attrezzi>	Hmm... I see. Very strange.
[23:05]	<Tabitha>	"I'd like to say I've never seen anything like it, but... you'd be quite surprised the things one sees in medical school."
[23:06]	<Tabitha>	"Not something even men in your field would relish, I must say. Heh."
[23:07]	* Tabitha	adds that little sarcastic flair to try and burn off some of her steam. A shame she can't just shout into a pillow right about now.
[23:10]	<Attrezzi>	There's something the other witnesses reported, however.
[23:11]	<Attrezzi>	They said that they saw a vision of a massacre, just before the man killed himself. Do you know anything about that?
[23:12]	<Tabitha>	"A... vision? As in, some sort of magical prophecy or something of that kind? Well, I can't say say I know too must about that, but..."
[23:12]	* Tabitha	puts her chin on her hand, looking ever the scholar that she really is.
[23:15]	<Tabitha>	"Traumatic shock of the worst kind... I remember several cases during my internship. People's minds are so incapable of processing death and destruction that they lose control of reality, if only for an instant."
[23:16]	<Attrezzi>	Yes, but we have multiple testimonies stating they saw the same thing: the man who shot himself turned his gun sideways and swept everyone down in a hail of gunfire. You didn't experience anything like this?
[23:18]	<Tabitha>	"I... truthfully, sir, I don't know WHAT I saw. I can't explain just what I saw or felt when that man killed himself; certainly not well enough to put on a police record."
[23:19]	<Tabitha>	"It's chaos to me; I'd... rather not think about it. All I know for sure is what's in that lobby now."
[23:20]	<Attrezzi>	Hmm...
[23:22]	<Tabitha>	"Please, sir, I'm not trying to withhold anything. I just don't know what to say that would make any sense to you, or anyone else."
[23:22]	* Attrezzi	clicks his tongue.
[23:22]	<Attrezzi>	Alright. I understand that this must be a traumatizing experience for you, so I won't press you on the "vision".
[23:23]	<Tabitha>	"I appreciate that."
[23:23]	<Attrezzi>	However... There's a few facts that are more important. Do you remember seeing anyone like...
[23:23]	* Attrezzi	gives a description of Melissa and Christina.
[23:24]	<Tabitha>	"I... believe so, yes. They were some sort of heroes or troublemakers, trying to distract the robbers. Not something I'd like to associate myself with, that's for certain."
[23:25]	<Tabitha>	"I think they meandered off in the confusion after the robbers left the scene. I didn't really give them much mind, to be honest; I was focused on my sister."
[23:26]	<Attrezzi>	You don't know anything about the youths I just described?
[23:27]	<Tabitha>	"You mean something like surnames and backgrounds, police-type stuff? No sir, I don't."
[23:28]	<Attrezzi>	Hmm. What about those three servants you mentioned?
[23:28]	<Tabitha>	"Yes, what about them? I did indeed mention them."
[23:29]	<Attrezzi>	They were at the scene, were they not? What were they doing, what do they look like, and what are their names?
[23:30]	* Tabitha	is getting a little miffed at all these questions. She tries to drop the issue in a roundabout way.
[00:19]	<Tabitha>	"Sir, I mean no offense, but I am tired, stressed, and worried for my sister. I've already told you everything I saw. My servants were no different than anyone else in that bank; caught by surprise, scared for their lives, and just wishing it was all over."
[00:19]	<Tabitha>	> "I would suggest, personally, questioning that robber who is unconscious. I'm sure he's of much more use to your superiors than me."
[00:19]	<Tabitha>	"Now, please, sir, may I just collect my sister and go?"
[00:20]	<Attrezzi>	Alright, alright. I suppose that'll do for now.
[00:21]	<Attrezzi>	If you have any seconds thoughts, however, I would appreciate it if you would contact me.
[00:22]	* Attrezzi	produces his card, and gives a copy to Tabitha.
[00:22]	* Tabitha	takes it and glances over it.
[00:23]	<Tabitha>	"Just a thought? Add a little color to it; give it a little something extra. This looks very boring to me."
[00:23]	<Attrezzi>	Maybe I will.
[00:23]	<Tabitha>	"But I'll keep you in mind, obviously. Sorry to have been a bother; it's just been a... rough day. I can't say I'm coping very well."
[00:24]	<Attrezzi>	I understand. I would apologize for the questioning, but it's my job.
[00:24]	<Attrezzi>	Thank you for your cooperation. Do you or your sister need a ride home?
[00:25]	<Tabitha>	"I think we'll be fine walking. I'd prefer a nice walk with just the two of us; talk this through, perhaps."
[00:26]	<Attrezzi>	Hmm... Are you sure? I guess it's fine, then.
[00:29]	* Tabitha	steps out of the car.
[00:31]	* Attrezzi	does as well, and starts back for the bank.
[00:32]	<Attrezzi>	Your sister is probably inside. If anything comes up, I trust I can contact one of you.
[00:33]	<Tabitha>	"We'll be available. On most days you can find me at the city clinic, as well."
[00:33]	<Attrezzi>	I'll keep that in mind. You be careful, now.
[00:33]	* Attrezzi	walks off.
[00:34]	* Tabitha	mutters to herself... "YOU be careful. Search too far into this and you won't like the truth you find..."
[00:35]	* Tabitha	goes to find Cassie.
[00:36]	* Cassandra	is waiting in the lobby, not too far from the crime scene.
[00:40]	* Tabitha	walks up to her. Hopefully she doesn't need to announce her presence; Cassie should be observant enough.
[00:41]	<Cassandra>	How did it go.
[00:42]	* Cassandra	asks a little harder than she should have
[00:42]	<Tabitha>	"Tediously. But he was satisfied enough to let me go."
[00:42]	<Tabitha>	"You?"
[00:42]	<Cassandra>	No problems.
[00:43]	* Cassandra	sighs.
[00:43]	<Cassandra>	I think they'll be fine.
[00:44]	<Cassandra>	Let's get out of here.
[00:45]	<Tabitha>	"I couldn't agree more."
[00:45]	* Tabitha	holds Cassie's hand and leads her away from that place of lingering feelings, down a more pleasant and less-crowded street.
[00:46]	<Tabitha>	"So... I know it's a bad time to ask, but... is there anywhere else you wanted to go today?"
[00:46]	<[GM]Mary>	Less crowded indeed; the streets practically desert themselves before you step into them.
[00:47]	<Cassandra>	...
[00:47]	<Cassandra>	No.
[00:49]	* Cassandra	follows slowly.
[00:49]	<Tabitha>	"...All right. We can just walk home, then."
[00:50]	* Tabitha	seems to have cooled off now. She far more pensive and considerate.
[00:50]	<Cassandra>	Fine. We'll walk.
[00:51]	* Cassandra	continues in silence.
[00:52]	* Tabitha	gauges the atmosphere cautiously. She hasn't really had too much time to contemplate what she should say. In particular, what she shouldn't.
[00:53]	<Tabitha>	"...You know you can talk to me, Cassie. I'll listen to whatever you have to say."
[00:53]	<Cassandra>	I can't think of anything that you would want to hear. I guess all I can say is, I'm sorry.
[00:55]	* Tabitha	lightly touches Cassie's shoulder.
[00:56]	<Tabitha>	"For what it's worth... I forgive you. I'm not going to pretend like I know what you're going though, but... I forgive you."
[00:58]	<Cassandra>	It happened so fast...
[01:02]	<Tabitha>	"I don't blame you. I wanted to do something... anything at all... I couldn't."
[01:03]	<Tabitha>	"You did what no one else could have done back there."
[01:04]	<Cassandra>	No... I don't regret the decision.
[01:04]	<Cassandra>	I just wish you weren't there to see it.
[01:05]	* Tabitha	sighs quietly.
[01:07]	<Tabitha>	"I know who you are, Cassie; I know what you can do, and what you've done. It's not a beautiful thing, but it IS you. And I will always love you."
[01:08]	<Tabitha>	"I don't want you to feel like you have to hide who you are from me."
[01:09]	<Tabitha>	"And trust me... I've seen worse. The things that doctors have to do to safe a life some, times..."
[01:09]	* Tabitha	shudders.
[01:10]	* Cassandra	laughs bitterly to herself.
[01:10]	<Cassandra>	I've only been hiding myself from you ever since I met you, Tabitha.
[01:11]	<Cassandra>	Every day, I've worn a mask. And now it's peeling off. Can you love that, Tabitha?
[01:41]	* Tabitha	smiles gently.
[01:42]	<Tabitha>	“Cassie… you were never hiding from me. Maybe for those first few days in that palace, but... I’ve known for years. I could put two and two together before long, and I could read all those old newspaper articles. And I still loved you then, and I still love you now, even after what you did in there.”
[01:42]	<Tabitha>	“The only person you were ever hiding from… was yourself.”
[01:43]	<Cassandra>	You've heard of me. But you haven't really seen me. Until now.
[01:45]	<Cassandra>	And really, you haven't seen anything yet.
[01:46]	<Cassandra>	...I'm sorry, Tabitha. I don't know what to do right now.
[01:49]	<Tabitha>	"Cassie... what you need to do is realize that you're not a monster, any more than I am."
[01:50]	* Tabitha	deftly flicks out her scalpel and holds the cold metal to her sister's neck.
[01:50]	* Cassandra	almost laughs.
[01:51]	<Tabitha>	"I could kill you, right now. It wouldn't take any strength to do it; I know where to cut, you know."
[01:51]	<Tabitha>	"But I'm not going to kill you."
[01:51]	* Tabitha	puts the weapon away.
[01:52]	<Tabitha>	"Because I'm not a monster, Cassie. I'm a woman. A human. And I can think for myself."
[01:52]	<Tabitha>	"And neither are you. Do you understand that? No matter how strong you are, no matter what you can do, you, are, NOT, a monster."
[01:54]	<Tabitha>	"All it takes is a little self-control. And no matter how old someone gets, that's just something they'll always have to work on."
[01:55]	* Cassandra	now really does laugh. It starts low and quiet, raising to a chuckle, then she has to gasp for air in between cackles.
[01:56]	* Cassandra	holds her ribs and looks down, obscuring her face from Tabitha's look.
[01:57]	* Tabitha	is a little confused, but at least she got on a smile onto Cassie's face.
[01:58]	<Cassandra>	ahahahahaha.... you, you can't...
[01:58]	<Tabitha>	"What? What'd I say? That's not funny, not even close. How can I possibly be funny? Me, Tabitha Caulder, She of the Plain Face? Jokes run away from me in fear."
[01:59]	* Tabitha	rolls with the sarcasm for a while.
[01:59]	* Cassandra	loses her balance, and falls forward, catching herself on her knees and elbows. She's still howling it away.
[02:00]	* Tabitha	kneels down and stabilizes her sister carefully.
[02:00]	<Cassandra>	...ah...ah...ah...
[02:00]	<Tabitha>	"All right, eeeasy now, deep breaths. Laughing yourself to death would certainly make this the strangest day of my life."
[02:01]	* Cassandra	's laughter begins to sound a lot like sobbing.
[02:01]	<Tabitha>	"...Cassie...?"
[02:02]	* Tabitha	starts to get a little concerned, now.
[02:03]	* Cassandra	grips Tabitha's dress/whatever tightly. He body shudders involuntarily, and she no longer makes a sound apart from her sharp draws of breath.
[02:06]	* Tabitha	crouches lower, trying to ease Cassie's torso into her own.
[02:07]	* Cassandra	doesn't put up any resistance.
[02:07]	<Tabitha>	"Shh, shh shh shh, easy, Cass. I'm here. I'm here for you. I'm never going to leave you."
[02:10]	* Cassandra	hugs Tabitha tightly, as a fresh series of sobs pour out from her chest.
[02:12]	* Tabitha	cradles her sister in her arms, rocking back and forth slowly. A good thing it's an empty road with no one around.
[02:13]	<Tabitha>	"You're not alone. Just talk to me, Cass. You're not alone."
[02:15]	* Cassandra	regains a little control of herself, taking several deep breaths.
[02:17]	<Cassandra>	I'm sorry, Tabitha... That's all I can say right now...
[02:20]	* Tabitha	nods silently. Is there anything that needs to be said in return...?
[02:21]	* Cassandra	stops sobbing, and murmurs under her breath.
[02:24]	* Tabitha	carefully gets the both of them into a standing position again.
[02:24]	<Tabitha>	"Will you be all right going back home, Cassie?"
[02:25]	<Cassandra>	y-yeah...
[02:27]	* Tabitha	nods and picks up that bag of clothes again, holding Cassie's hand on the other side. She begins to walk again.
[02:28]	* Cassandra	pulls herself from Tabitha's chest, and resumes walking at a meager pace, but more closely to Tabitha now.
[02:28]	<Tabitha>	"So... what should we tell the kids?"
[02:32]	<Cassandra>	...Tell them to not answer the door for a while. A detective might pay us a visit, and I would rather them to not get involved. I'll have a talk with them later.
[02:34]	<Tabitha>	"Fair enough... just be straight with them, s'all I ask."
[02:35]	<Cassandra>	They don't need to know about what really happened any more than you do. Melissa might be in danger, though.
[02:36]	* Tabitha	frowns.
[02:36]	<Tabitha>	"Missy? Why?"
[02:37]	* Cassandra	stops.
[02:37]	<Cassandra>	...
[02:41]	<Cassandra>	I shouldn't tell you. And you shouldn't ask.
[02:42]	* Tabitha	winces. More secrets?
[02:43]	<Tabitha>	"Well... all right."
[02:43]	<Cassandra>	Sorry. It's not my place, even now.
[02:44]	<Cassandra>	Just keep an eye on her for me, please.
[02:44]	* Tabitha	flashes her glasses, though of course Cassie can't see this.
[02:45]	<Tabitha>	"Four eyes, as often as I can spare them."
[02:45]	<Cassandra>	Thank you.
[02:46]	<Tabitha>	"On a lighter note, I still managed to keep a hold on our clothes."
[02:46]	* Tabitha	rustles the bag for her sister's benefit.
[02:47]	<Cassandra>	Huh? Oh.
[02:48]	* Cassandra	sighs.
[02:48]	<Cassandra>	What a mess.
[02:49]	<Tabitha>	"How do you mean?"
[02:50]	<Cassandra>	Everything, I guess. Maybe I'll feel better after I have a drink.
[02:51]	* Tabitha	perks up at that word.
[02:51]	<Tabitha>	"Ohhh, I could use one of those right now~"
[02:52]	<Cassandra>	We'll have a drink together, then.
[02:55]	* Cassandra	continues on in silence, making a slow progress with her sister all the way home.