retrospec | fifth evocation ✧ orthrus

Minako Arisato
June 9th near Birch Hills
Hi everyone, it's me again. I'll try and keep it short and sweet this time.

First. Last month, during that week when everyone was super tiny, there were a lot of people who wandered into the woods because they heard voices calling out to them. It doesn't seem like whatever was calling to us is there anymore, thankfully, but I think this is a perfect chance to go back and go deeper into the forest, as deep as we can go to see if we can find the source of those voices, or anything else that might be there. I'm planning this thing for the 18th, and I wanted to know if anyone else wanted to come with. Keep in mind that even if nothing is likely to lure us in again, there's still a potential for danger. So in my opinion, the bigger the group, the better. We can all watch each other's backs.

Which brings me to my next point. I know a lot of people have been exploring all the weird places in the city, and eventually I'd like to get accounts from you guys to compile together-- but for now, I wanted to ask if we could make a more concerted effort to explore together, instead of splitting up into our own tiny groups. The main reason being: Jim is constantly watching our movements and reading our posts. He's the only one we have any kind of contact with from Retrospec, and he's shown us in the past couple of months that he likes commenting on what we do and how we act. There's no telling if anything he says might be able to help us down the line, but in order to get him to talk at all, we have to get his attention. And a big group of people poking around for information on Retrospec is a lot more comment-worthy than tiny groups.

Obviously there's a risk of exposing ourselves too much to him (though I'd argue we're pretty exposed as it is already). And I can't stop people from exploring on their own. I just wanted to put the idea out there that it might be better to do it together.

There's one last thing I want to mention. Yosuke recently suggested that my dog Koromaru should try sniffing out a Retrospec employee by smelling something that was sent by mail. I'm not sure if it'll work, but me and Koromaru are willing to give it a try, so if you get something in the mail from Retrospec and want to let us have a go at it, text me any time of the day or night, I'll come running. Oh, and just to be safe, don't touch the box or wrapping it comes in.

Thanks for reading. Hopefully I'll have something more fun to talk about the next time I post here.

[ooc: the open log for this mini expedition will be up on the 18th, for anyone who would like to have their character join! Nothing too exciting other than getting stuck in an infinite loop and attempting to escape said infinite loop will happen...probably ;3 I decided against making a post in the OOC comm for this so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me!]

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[She's not sure why he's looking so secretive-- maybe he thinks it's better to try and be covert as possible? Though Minako thinks that's pointless, given how Retrospec always seems to have eyes on them...regardless, she stays still and calm to play her part. And maybe offset his nervousness a little, he's really twitchy right now.]

I'm not really sure, actually. I was just going to have Korochan sniff the bag and then see if he can follow a trail somewhere. Did you have any other ways in mind?

...No. I didn't.

But the bag wasn't what Retrospec sent me. I'm just transporting the real thing inside of it.

[ He sets the bag down--gently, gently--and unzips it. He slowly, gingerly pulls out a small cardboard box. The flaps have been ripped open but James is firmly holding them shut as he sticks the box out towards Koromaru.

Hopefully the scent hasn't worn off, between the few days since it was delivered and that touching he did with it when he first opened it. ]

[Both Minako and Koromaru's curiosities are piqued, and they both pause a moment, waiting for him to open the box.

But he doesn't look like he's going to open it, so after a glance between them and a nod from Minako, Koromaru leans in and presses his snoot to the box, taking a big sniff.

He immediately barks and starts tugging on his leash.]

Okay, okay, go on, Korochan, lead the way.

[She gives him the most slack she can on the leash, and in the next instant she's whisked away from James' side.]

Whoa--!

[ As soon as Koromaru takes off, James is scrambling. He hurries to place the box back in his bag--still gently--zip it up, and then jog after them to make sure he doesn't get left behind. ]

Where's he headed? I guess he got a good scent off of that!

I guess so, yeah!

[As for where he's headed, she has no idea-- but Korochan doesn't seem to be leading them down any back alley or hidey hole of the city like she was kind of expecting. Instead, they're on the main road for a while, and then heading into Tisse, and then--]

...wait. Is that the Retrospec building?

[ He squints for a minute. He already knows the answer but it's so...obvious, he has to doublecheck and make sure he's not seeing things. ]

Yeah. That's definitely it--looks exactly the same as before. On the outside anyway.

Not like that's a huge surprise. Retrospec packages come from Retrospec, big shock.

[Koromaru whines, sensing the disappointment in James' tone. Minako pets the puppy's back.]

Well, we came all this way, why don't we at least check the perimeter?

What, no sneaking in?

[ He can't help but pull a wry grin. But no, that's probably not a good idea, based on previous experience. ]

Fine, perimeter it is, just keep an eye out for any booby traps. Electrified fences or something. I wouldn't put it past them.

Will do!

[The puppy leads them around towards the front of the building without any electrified fence incidents. In fact, even with how quiet the building is, it somehow seems more so than usual. Weird, but unsurprising, since it's Retrospec. Just as they're about to turn the corner, he barks suddenly, tugging on the leash again and dragging Minako forward.]

Whoa, what now?!

[A box is sitting in front of the locked doors. Koromaru looks very eager to get at it.]

[ Koromaru's sudden barking has James excited and...worried? about what they might find, but his tension releases and he practically sulks when he sees what caught the dog's attention. ]

Great. Just more of Retrospec screwing with us.

Well, we gave it our best shot.

[Minako sighs heavily, trying to tug Koromaru away from the treats.]

No, Korochan, you can't have them. I'm not going to risk you getting poisoned.

[ Between the insult of Retrospec's surprise and poor Koromaru trying to grab at the treats, James decides enough is enough. He snatches the box off the ground, winds his arm back, and tosses it right over the fence into Retrospec territory. With any luck, it went far and high enough to land on the ceiling of the building. ]

Hey Retrospec, you can have your crappy dog treat bait back!

[ They probably didn't hear him. There's probably no one around to hear it at this time of day. But it's not like he just wasn't going to shout. ]

Oh, nice throw.

[Koromaru is not as approving, huffing and flopping on the ground at Minako's feet. All that work for no treat.]

Thanks. I get a lot of practice.

[ Boy does he feel bad for Koromaru, though. He leans down to give him a light petting, as a consolation gift of sorts. No dog should be deprived of treats, but better that than getting poisoned. ]

So that's it, then. The sniff trail led us to a dead end and now we've got no other leads. Go figure.

[Koromaru licks at James' hand in gratitude. Pets are a good consolation gift, yes. Minako sighs.]

Maybe it'd be better to use a different dog. Not saying that Korochan is bad in any way, but I did get him from Retrospec. [She grimaces.] They might have him tagged somehow.

[ James immediately jerks his hand out of reach and stares at Koromaru in betrayal. ]

He's from Retrospec?! And you're just--walking him around like normal, letting him sniff my stuff?!

[ He is now also defensively grabbing his duffel. ]

[Koromaru whines, ears folding back, and Minako sighs.]

Well, if you're going to react like that...look, yes, he's from Retrospec, and yes, he's smarter than a normal dog, but I have memories of him from before. He's always been like that, and he's not a spy or anything that you're thinking of.

[ He loosens up for a moment, reassured...but then snaps to tension again. ]

Okay, well...he could be bugged! Retrospec could be listening to every word we're saying right now, or tracking our location based on your dog!

[James.]

...they already do that, though. The tracking and listening, I mean.

[ opens mouth

closes mouth ]

Yeah, they do, don't they...

Damn. Well, he's a good boy for being a gift from the enemy, at least.

Good! Glad you agree.

[She leans down to snuggle Koromaru.]

Well, since you couldn't eat Retrospec treats, why don't I buy you some right now instead? Wanna come with, James?

[ Oh. WELL THEN. ]

Sure. I owe him anyway, since I threw that other box out of reach from him.

fifth evocation ✧ orthrus

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