At the end of the first full day of the Story

[shakenit]

[Sumire is treating her journal... like a journal, because why not. It's not like any of the people she'd talk to about this stuff otherwise are here.]

I suppose I've at least found one useful inroad, but I still feel so lost, trying to make sense of this. Akechi-san would have it all figured out by now, I'm sure.

What we need is a way to coordinate without drawing attention to ourselves as outsiders, but I don't know what that would be.

[Guess who learned Reply All and doesn't know it! Someone may want to let her know this isn't quite as private as she intended.]

[Added after Hikaru's comment:]

Sorry about that, everyone. This is Sumire. I suppose I got what I asked for.

I found Siobhan-san - Sigrid, at the moment - and she's offered to help me get ready for the masquerade. At least I got to choose my own mask. Does anyone have much sense of what's going on besides that yet?

Comments

[ohaiyo_isekai]

He’s two for two on acting. This time the story made him Lord Umbra, the patriarch of the preeminent vampire clan.

Umbra. Shadow. Hell’s bells.

Any clue who his lost Maria is? I’m guessing she’s not a West Side Story reference, but a real figure from his past that’s why he’s Like This.

- 光

[thebluegumball]

of COURSE his name is umbra. that means dark too right? what a nerd

[He's tempted to gloss over the Maria part of it - it's not his to tell - but it's Maria.]

so why are you asking about maria? how lost are we talking?

[ohaiyo_isekai]

There’s a portrait of a young human girl named Maria, presumably in her memory, in his palace to whom he directs prayers asking for forgiveness.

I would have written it off as the Virgin Mary, you know, from the Bible, but she was famously old enough to bear children as this Maria is… not.

[thebluegumball]

it's definitely not a romance thing

[Or any other weird sub-plot in that vein.]

yeah, Maria's important to Shadow. i'm not sure i should talk about why, that's not really my place, but

[A few words get written and scribbled out, too quickly to make out.]

we can talk about it in person if you like, but yeah. that's definitely Shadow

[ohaiyo_isekai]

[There is a longer pause between this response than between the others.]

If it’s not your story to tell, and you don’t think it would be dangerous for us not to know the details, I’ll let him tell me after the Jaunt. It’s enough to know she’s central enough to Shadow that her posthumous presence in Umbra’s life confirms Shadow as Umbra’s Actor.

Shadow is not exactly my friend, but he’s keeping secrets of mine our Roles last story revealed. I’m not going to let him suffer the same if I don’t need to.

But I can talk to you in person for any other reason. We’ll need to figure out a location in the center of town.

[thebluegumball]

there's relevant stuff, i just don't want Shadow to try and kill me later for airing his trauma laundry

gimme a spot and I'll meet you there in five seconds.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

Incognito at the Laurelthirst, after I’m released from my obligation to stay in a day or so. I’ll bring a disguise glamour for you so you can pass for human if needed later. Ask for Luke.

Meet me at the nones bell, or 3:00 PM.

[thebluegumball]

you know you could just SAY 3 oclock and that's fine

see you there bud