video; from a cafe, not anonymous.

[demon_brat]

Good morning.

I believe most of you are aware of the recent... problem that some of the foreigners had, recently, becoming invisible and losing some aspect of who they are, whether physical or otherwise.

I have two questions regarding that, in an attempt to find out what happened, why, and how it can possible be prevented in the future. Of course, the primary theory for a reason is that disorder in Keeliai weakens the turtle and gives more power to the threat to it, or some variation thereof, but maybe that is imprecise - or not specific enough.

The questions are:

First, are any of you still afflicted by whatever you lost when you got shifted from phase? If not, did you notice something peculiar before, around the time of, or after the problem discontinued?

Second, [ and Damian holds up a sketch, police-style but executed very, very well, of a youngish, dark skinned kedan man, about 25-30, drawn from the description of the old couple running the museum and confirmed by them, ] have any of you seen or talked with this man? Whether you were affected by the occurrence or not.

My name is Damian Wayne, I will be here, at the [ name of the cafe ] in Earth sector until noon, feel free to find me here or ask to meet somewhere else later, if you are unwilling to discuss your answers over the consoles.

Thank you for your time.

Comments

[backinakidflash]

Not since yesterday. Peculiar how? I mean the whole thing's been pretty messed up.

[There's nothing unconnected with Bats. Nothing. So even though Bart's not making the connection when Damian holds up the familiar-looking sketch, he knows it's there. So maybe it's not so hot an idea to say he knows him on a feed. Especially with Damian all but waving around a neon sign saying 'come talk to me'.]

Never seen him. Sorry. Hey - is that the cafe with the really good dip that tastes almost like ranch? By the shop with all the little carved fish?

Aw man. Now I'm hungry. Order me something. I'll come keep you company while you wait for the Great Pumpkin, Linus.

[The feed ends before he can be told no.]

... action?

[demon_brat]

[Since Damian isn't given a chance to reply, he doesn't try to - but he does order food for Bart, not that it'll take that much more than ordering for the speedster to arrive, more or less.]

[But he wouldn't have said no. That is why he gave his location out, after all.]

action

[backinakidflash]

[Bart arrives at the cafe quickly, but not too much faster than anyone else would have. It kills him to wait when he has something to say, but Damian's playing this kinda casual. Bart is following his lead.

He drops into the seat across from the boy without waiting for an invitation.]

Hey. Did you order? Do you have that sketch? Can I see it before the food turns up and my hands get dirty?

action;

[cowled]

[An elderly 'kedan' happens past Damian in the cafe later. The old creature has tentacles instead of hair, walks with extreme stiffness and a limp, looks to be barely 5'5, and has exaggerated jowls and a rather longish nose. He says nothing, but he does happen to, with a sleight of hand that goes unnoticed by the cafe's patrons, slide a piece of paper onto the work surface beside Damian.

It's in code, of course, but it's a detailed list of what Bruce knows about the phasic shifts, from the paint (and the nature thereof, apparently it's an organic compound made from the sloughed off skin cells of adult kedan) to the nature of the losses he's studied.

The old kedan coughs, wheedles his way around the cafe, orders a tea which he drinks with shaking hands, and heads back into the street, all without ever looking at Damian.]

[demon_brat]

[At least Damian's prepared himself to wait, with reading and lookup materials and keeping an eye on the console.]

[When Bart does show up, he looks over at him, then just slides the sketch across the table, sipping at his tea.]

Food will be coming, yes.

And I meant peculiar. In any way - one never knows what will provide a clue.

permatext;

[iguanasolution]

i'm still mute and it doesn't look like it's changing any time soon

is that the man who stole our senses and memories?

text;

[demon_brat]

I am sorry. The people I know to have recovered have mostly done so in the last few days, but not all at once - I would guess it might still be a possibility.

[ Because what am hope, or, rather, how does Damian do hope? ]

This is what the person who volunteered to make the invitation cards for the museum looked like at the time. He was careless enough to have possibly been a false lead, but it still is the clearest one that we have.

[gathersnomoss]

My sight returned, but I can't say why it did. I was out trying to get some answers as to why no one could see me when I lost it, and I wasn't doing anything in particular when it returned.

[demon_brat]

Thank you, your information has been very valuable already. It is good that you can see again.

video;

[strategisch]

I'm still blind, since November 3rd like everyone else that "lost" something, so I'm not sure how much I can help you...

[He hears the rustling of paper.]

And I'm sorry that I can't see your picture either.

video;

[demon_brat]

I am sorry - it is possible that the problem will pass, as most people have recovered in the last few days, I believe, not all at once.

And I apologize - it is a sketch of somebody who might be connected. Would you like me to describe them to you, in case you have seen them before you lost your sight?

video;

[strategisch]

I'm glad that they are-- I was starting to worry that the affliction would be permanent. I'm sure my sight will come back eventually too.

Please, go ahead. How do you think they're connected to what's been happening to us?

video;

[demon_brat]

The possibility is good. I hope finding out more will improve it.

[ Beat. ]

It is the kedan who offered to - and did - print the invitations for the museum.

video;

[strategisch]

I thought that the museum might have something to do with it, since we all went there, but... The kedan that made the invitations? I would have suspected the couple that ran the exhibit.

I'm not sure if I ever saw him.

[backinakidflash]

[Bart picks the sketch up carefully to not smudge it. He wants a better look - with all the bats on this turtle, he does not want to be the one to sic them on the wrong kedan. It's not because he's worried about wasting their time. He'd feel bad about the poor kedan.]

I don't know if it's peculiar or not, but it was instant. Not instant for the rest of you. Bombs and lightning bolts aren't instant. This was. There wasn't any oh, wait, hey, I think... yeah, I remember that. It was all just there. Instant for me. And… maybe that's peculiar. Cause something caused it and something stopped it. There's not a lot of somethings that work fast enough for me.

[Bart pushes the sketch back over.] I saw him a while back.

video;

[demon_brat]

Oh, the couple that ran the exhibit are not outside suspicion, though their distress over what happened did seem... unfeigned.

However, them I can find far more easily.

[Read: they are under surveillance, one way or another.]

Hence looking for the one I can not.

video;

[zinthosmantra]

[ Raven studies the sketch on the screen for a moment before shaking her head. Though she can't say she's surprised... a race of shapeshifters seems uncannily suited for not needing to hide one's face when committing a crime. ]

I tested some of the paint, it doesn't have any magical properties.

video;

[demon_brat]

[ Damian nods calmly. He's not disappointed, for the very same reason she's not surprised. Shape-shifters. And, well, after the visit earlier, he can't even guarantee it was a kedan. But he would get less information if he didn't ask at all. ]

Thank you. Is there anything you can do to trace it back to where it was made, by chance?

video;

[strategisch]

I see...

I wonder how much a Kedan could be involved. Do you think they're powerful enough to cause such chaos?

video;

[virginprice]

I believe I'm still affected, but considering that it's a memory that I lost- I think- it's hard to be sure.

[His brows knit together slightly as he tries- again- to remember what's gone.]

[demon_brat]

[Damian... isn't going to do anything rush. Yet. But information is important.]

Considering how few events are instantaneous for you, yes, that would make a difference. Narrowing down the list of actual suspect, if nothing else.

[He almost asks when. But... he's not sure Bart's answer - or any answer - would be the best thing to work with. Instead, he goes for,]

Where?

video;

[demon_brat]

Some of the kedan do have some magical ability. It is conceivable that they pooled such powers together, perhaps.

But, as you said, the result was chaos. That strongly suggests a source whose target is to cause harm to the turtle himself.

video;

[demon_brat]

[Damian blinks, the situation more than a little bit familiar, then nods, slowly.]

If I may ask - what do you know about what you are missing? Perhaps people here can help, at least somewhat?

text;

[iguanasolution]

i guess. thanks

[But he mostly ignores the first part of the text- not because he doesn't think Damian is reassuring, but because he doesn't know if hoping will do any good right now. If he does believe he will get his voice back and then he doesn't, it will be even worse.]

even if its false its still all we have and someone still has to have put effort into that false lead. we could follow that trail.

[gathersnomoss]

Yeah. Hopefully everyone will recover.