[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/DWpvwHS.png[/img][hr][h3]~???? | DECIBITUS | LIGENA FATI[/h3][/center][hr]There was, undoubtedly, an appropriate way to approach this. Keeping one's head under the radar was an intelligent approach to most things, particularly as they concerned prisons one had little business going into, at least if television had taught Amelia anything worthwhile. She was very aware of the sense of unease that hung over the Depths, of the spectre of final death that haunted the building. Execution. A gun to the head, or some such, and gone. Her hand hovered over her revolver for a moment, and she smiled to herself. She was no killer, but something about this place and the dangers within was... enticing. If anything, that unease made her more eager to approach. More interesting than such thoughts, though, was the figure out front. Amelia was always happy to see the boss, and whistled to get her attention and distract her before she could go in. As ever, it didn't seem to occur to her that her approach to Miss Death might actually be the odd one. [color=#7AFF95]"We've been looking for you everywhere!"[/color] Amelia grinned, displaying nowhere near the levels of formality, respect, or fear that were warranted, [color=#7AFF95]"what's been going on, MD? Important business? Unimportant business? Business your most charming and talented reaper can help with?"[/color] Aron, strategically positioned behind Amelia, stuck his head out with a furtive motion. He coughed. [color=#F26522]"Hi."[/color] If Miss Death was surprised, it failed to show on her face as she turned to face her reapers. Granted, that was the norm for the pink-haired woman, but that certainly didn't make things better. [color=#fdd0c2]"Ah. Hello. To both of you."[/color] Miss Death gave a small nod of her head to acknowledge the reapers' presence. [color=#fdd0c2]"I lack the knowledge to say if my business is important. But circumstances make it irrelevant for now. It may behoove me to request your insights on the matter."[/color] A pause as she seemed to process the rest of Amelia's words, and the woman tilted her head slightly to one side. [color=#fdd0c2]"Is my presence required somewhere? Observing the cells can be delayed."[/color] [color=#7AFF95]"Eliot was looking for the usual run-down of new arrivals..."[/color] Amelia mulled it over for a moment before continuing, [color=#7AFF95]"so yes, but I don't think it's that urgent. He'll not be happy if we come back without you, though, so mind if we stick around? I'm sure we'll have some insights. Maybe even good ones!"[/color] [color=#F26522]"I mean..."[/color] Aron's brain was revving as desperately as it could. [color=#F26522]"I dunno how valuable our opinions would be. Neither of us have been to jail before apparently."[/color] "Apparent-- can you at least [i]try[/i] to sound like you believe that?" [color=#fdd0c2]"Honesty has its value,"[/color] Miss Death said. [color=#fdd0c2]"Experience in imprisonment is irrelevent, though. My concerns are with thoughts of ones who lived."[/color] She paused, a hand brought to her chin in thought for a moment, her stare lingering on something unseen again. Then, she shut her eyes and turned back to the prison's entrance. [color=#fdd0c2]"If you wish accompany me, I will not stop you. There will be no issues."[/color] Without giving much time for response, the pink-haired woman stepped through the entrance of the prison. [color=#7AFF95]"At least you know I've got good thoughts, MD."[/color] Amelia sighed wistfully, watching her turn away from them before grabbing Aron's sleeve and beginning to follow her in, hoping to drag him along. [color=#7AFF95]"Come on, new buddy. I'll pay you back... somehow."[/color] [color=#F26522]"I'm gonna say it now, I also don't take IOUs,"[/color] he grumbled. Considering that his only other option was arguing with his co-worker right in front of the boss, Aron glumly allowed himself to be led in. Maybe with Miss Death around, Amelia would be a little more manageable. And who knows, maybe ghost prisons were not significantly worse than normal prisons! Woe be it to Aron that ghost prisons--[i]abandoned[/i] ghost prisons--were significantly worse than normal prisons in many ways. After all, it was a prison where the only end result was, ostensibly, death. And "death" hung heavy in the air, oppressive in its weight despite the distinct lack of any signs of it. Miss Death's pace was steady as they passed empty cells. Of course they were outdated, far from the marvel of prisons in the modern day. Most cells showed no signs of having been inhabited in recent times, but the ones that did were starkly out of place. Only after passing a first few sets did the pink-haired woman glance back to her reapers, her steps coming to a slow halt. [color=#fdd0c2]"I have been told by others that this place is unnerving. Sorry. To make you come in like this."[/color] Amelia had been looking towards one of the more recently-occupied cells, expression hard to read past some basic level of curiosity. At Miss Death's words, she glanced over to her, tilting her head. It was hard to know what exactly to say, sometimes, but she could try. [color=#7AFF95]"You didn't make me, and [i]I[/i] made him. If there were executions happening right now, the story might be different, but,"[/color] she shrugged, trying her best to keep a brave face, [color=#7AFF95]"eh. I won't say I've seen worse, but I'd follow you through another level or two of creepy."[/color] Although she couldn't speak for Aron, she did glance towards the man. [color=#7AFF95]"How about you? Holding up okay?"[/color] Aron snapped out of a disassociative stare to regard Amelia with a flat look. She was trying to rub it in now, huh. [color=#F26522]"Whatever. Could be worse."[/color] The distant stare from Miss Death lingered again for a moment longer before turning to the nearest cell. [color=#fdd0c2]"...then we will go no further than the end of the hall."[/color] Quiet words, but firm in their assertion. [color=#fdd0c2]"Any deeper is... worse. Even before it became empty."[/color] The pink-haired woman looked forward again and continued her walk. [color=#fdd0c2]"But. There are no others to hear invasive thoughts in this place, if you have questions."[/color] She looked into another cell with the faintest traces of being lived in left behind, but didn't stop walking. [color=#fdd0c2]"Questions like what you think of the necromancer far beneath our feet."[/color] [color=#7AFF95]"Why is it he can't be killed? Unmade, whatever."[/color] Amelia wasn't the sort to beat around the bush. She raised a hand to forestall the obvious answer. [color=#7AFF95]"Yeah, I know, 'powerful necromancer', but that seems too simple. Plenty of damned powerful things and people have still ended, haven't they? What makes him different? It seems like there'd have to be a trick to it."[/color] [color=#fdd0c2]"Hm."[/color] Such was the first answer. A small, vocal utterance carrying the weight of more thoughts than should be contained in a single syllable. It led well into the next. [color=#fdd0c2]"We do not know. The first attempt should not have failed."[/color] Miss Death didn't stop walking, though she did adjust her position, slightly, to look at Amelia and Aron as opposed to the cells for a moment. [color=#fdd0c2]"Now they are too frightened to try again. I do not think they are wrong to be."[/color] The thought of someone so dangerous and unkillable made Aron wince. [color=#F26522]"Did you come here for him? Or some other thing that'd make the guard super iffy?"[/color] An uncertain pause came first. [color=#fdd0c2]"I did come for him. He has long asked for a direct meeting with me. Circumstances make that seem a good option."[/color] Miss Death's expression shifted to one of confusion, as best it could. [color=#fdd0c2]"But I would not know if that would make the guard... 'iffy?'"[/color] [color=#7AFF95]"It means uneasy. Worried. Like-- like Eliot after most of our conversations. So probably. He scares everyone,"[/color] [i]and so do you[/i], though Amelia didn't say it, [color=#7AFF95]"and if he wants to meet with you... he gets something from it, no? Wouldn't make sense otherwise. There's a certain [i]thrill[/i] to the idea of such a conversation, no doubt, but somehow I don't think that's why you'd be doing it, so... what are these circumstances, to make this meeting desirable now?"[/color] [color=#fdd0c2]"The rail's failure."[/color] Miss Death came to a stop as the end of the hallway came into view. [color=#fdd0c2]"We are at a loss. He possesses ingenuity that could prove insightful. Others wish not to acknowledge that he far outstrips even my talents for this issue. I do not blame them."[/color] [color=#F26522]"So... are you doing that now?"[/color] Aron asked. Hopefully not with the two of them in tow. [color=#F26522]"I didn't think you'd need, uh, permission."[/color] [color=#fdd0c2]"Would you not be bothered if one like me forced such actions?"[/color] [color=#7AFF95]"Wait, that stuff bothers people?"[/color] Amelia frowned, as if on the verge of a realisation, then shrugged it off. [color=#7AFF95]"Eh. I wouldn't mind if you did."[/color] Aron had to stop himself from drilling another flat stare at Amelia, answering the boss' question instead. [color=#F26522]"...It'll pass, I guess. This seems important."[/color] [color=#fdd0c2]"You are both too accepting."[/color] Miss Death shook her head lightly. [color=#fdd0c2]"I have no desire to offer you to risk for a self-made whim. But. I believe you may be able to aid me in another way."[/color] [color=#7AFF95]"I'll do it."[/color] Amelia spoke quickly, before pausing. [color=#7AFF95]"What is it, though?"[/color] [color=#F26522]"If it's within our ability, yeah."[/color] [color=#fdd0c2]"See if other reapers might agree with the idea. Gaining permission may be easier if others were to suggest it."[/color] A pause. [color=#fdd0c2]"If you cannot. I will find a way to handle it without involving anyone else."[/color] [color=#7AFF95]"You need us to get people on board with it? Sure. How hard can it be? I'm a fantastic negotiator. One of my many talents."[/color] Amelia winked at her. [color=#7AFF95]"Better than making you handle it all on your own, right?"[/color] [color=#F26522]"I..."[/color] The thought of Amelia inflicting one of her 'negotiations' on other innocent reapers made Aron shiver. [color=#F26522]"We'll get the word out. Definitely."[/color] [color=#fdd0c2]"You have my gratitude."[/color] Miss Death bowed her head, before her attention returned back down the hall she'd set as their limit. [color=#fdd0c2]"Someone is here. It would be best for you to return outside. If you have more to ask, I will be out soon."[/color] Amelia watched her turn away, and got halfway towards making another comment before a look of dawning realisation crossed her face. Shutting her mouth (for once) she nodded, turned on her heel, and moved to leave at a fairly rapid pace. She figured Aron would follow her. For safety, if nothing else.[hr] NOTES [hider][list][*]With this, the initial phase of this investigation has technically concluded. [*]Players involved in this phase may choose how they wish to tackle the information they currently have--whether that is immediately starting with the task Miss Death has given them, waiting to chat it up with her again, or otherwise. [*]If any part of the player plans require major NPC interaction, please ping [@PapiTan] for the time being![/list] [@Lasrever][@banjoanjo][/hider]