City of Amnesia

*Topaz is walking down the street headed nowhere in particular after taking her brother to school.*

[...I can't brush off the feeling that this isn't really over yet.]

*She walks by the police station by accident and widens her eyes, staring up at the building before sighing and walking in.*

[...Fine.]

*Just by looking at it she can tell that there's no macroscopic evidence on it, so she shouldn't get her hopes up. That's when Topaz wanders in. On the TV is some news report over the theft of a recently deceased body & wanton destruction of the tomb.*
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<Actually, Vega, I have another job for you & your partner. I want you to have a librarian direct you to the news section in the basement. Then start construction on the stairway to the new building. The android has the instructions.>

*He indicates the android from yesterday, who is standing behind him, at "partner" & "android."*
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<You guess?>

*The same news broadcast is playing on a computer nearby. The person has headphones on, but the video is subtitled.*

"All right."

*Vega turns to the android*

"Do you want to fill me in on the instructions now or when we get to the basement?"

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"It depends if you think being shot is something that someone may ask "Is something wrong?" about."

OOC
You can't see fingerprints so well, you know.

IC
"What's this?" Luna mumbles to herself and one of the other policemen turns up the volume.

OOC: I just don't want you to be disappointed. Especially since forensic tests take like a couple of days, to do in all.

{...Identified as journalist "Michael Zebach," who was found heavily burned along with his home, thought to be the work of an as-of-yet unidentified serial killer. Evidence is hard to come by, as the tomb appears to have been heavily bombed after the theft of the body. Now we go to Jeff for the weather!}
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<You...you were SHOT?!>
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<I think we should wait until we get down there. It'll be more efficient that way.>

"All right. Then I guess that just leaves finding a librarian to guide us to our destination."

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"Yes. I must have underestimated how much time it would take to go about my morning routine and change my bandages which resulted in my being late. It won't happen again."

"Why haven't I heard of this already, Dad?" Luna frowns at her father and puts the envelope down, "This is most probably connected with our case, so, what's the deal?"

She notices Topaz standing awkwardly nearby and chooses to ignore her.

<It's news. News is new.>
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<I imagine we can find one in the library's main building.>
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<What...? No! You shouldn't BE here. You should be at home. Or in a fucking hospital. Shit.>

"Of course, why didn't I think of that?"

*Vega sets off to go inside the library*

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*Hitomi stares at the librarian blinking for the first time since the conversation started.*

"I'm fine."

"Since when have things like this reached the news BEFORE the police?" Luna groans, "This is ridiculous!"

<Actually, it's more common than you might think.>
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<I don't think you understand. You can't work today. And if you stay here for your off day, I have no choice but to fire you. It's a liability thing.>

*Vega & the android walk in on this exchange.*

*Hitomi turns and walks away.*

Vega:<Excuse me, b->

"No."

[At least she seems like what I assume is her normal self.]

*Vega approaches the librarian.*

Vega:<Excuse me, but would you or any other library staff be able to take us to the news section of the basement?>

Zell looks at the stony face of the woman who let her in and realized that it must be the android that Roger spoke of. "Yes, I'm sorry for any inconvenience my earliness may cause, but I consider being early better than being late." She said nothing about the meager three minutes that she was early, it didn't make sense to discuss shades of gray with an android. Zell was early, so she owned up to it.

"I was made to believe that you were expecting my arrival, so, may I come inside?" Zell asked politely.

"Yes. Though we'll be out of the house in a few hours."
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<Sure, I can do it.>
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*Hitomi is walking past the construction crew. Someone wolf whistles.*

"Thank you."

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*Hitomi ignores the workers and heads on home.*

Zell walks inside with a smile, "Thank you. Would you be so kind as to show me where I will be staying?" She asked.

"Certainly."

*She heads up the stairs & turns down a hall.*
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*The librarian takes them into a surprisingly large room whose shelves are lined with carefully-folded newspapers. Soon after she leaves, a man with a bandaged face & a beige trenchcoat steps out from behind one of the shelves.*

<Good morning, Paradigm lapdogs!>
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*I don't know what Hitomi does while she's wasting her life.*

Zell follows a few steps behind. "This is truly a beautiful place." She said, in an attempt to fill the silence of the walk. "Oh, and after I put my things down, would you be able to point me in the direction of the lady of the house. I would like to introduce myself to her."

"Who the hell are you and why should I care?"

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*At home, Hitomi goes about reading the books she checked out of the library the day before.*

???<Ignorant pig. Every day, you dance around in the mud. But you don't know what's down here, do you? Or maybe you just run blindly from the truth because you're afraid of it!>

Android<Sir, I believe you should see a doctor. Those burns don't look healthy. And, if I may be frank, you sound a little delirious.>
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*One of the books is a red book with gold lettering. On the cover is the sillohette of a ruined city. It's called "Metropolis," has no author, & she's never seen it before in her life.*
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*She pushes open a set of double doors, revealing a circular room with a diameter of about 35 feet. One wall is all window, looking out on a forest.*

<She is not sure if this room would suit you. She is worried that you will have lighting & space issues. She plans to met you at lunch in 30 minutes.>

"Of course I know what's down here. Anyone can see I've been employed by the library for the past six years. And don't you dare insult me by asking such a stupid question ever again."

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*She takes note of the book then resumes reading the one about architecture she had started the night before.*

Zell walks into the room and smiles, "Oh no, this will be quite alright." Zell said. Always great to be reminded that you're a small fish in a big pond. Zell thought gingerly. "Thirty minutes. I'll be sure to see her then. I'll set up my supplies in the mean time." Zell said, turning back to Lilith, "Thank you for showing me around." She then blushed a bit, "I seem to have forgot my manners, which seems to be becoming a habit. My name is Zell Talea." She said extending her hand in greeting.

*She grabs the offered hand & shakes lightly.*

"Lilith R. Psyche. I'm Thiera's cousin."

*Her eyes narrow dramatically.*

"I AM. Don't question it."
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*Schwarzwald spreads his arms wide as the ceiling shakes.*

<Memories!>

"Okay. And?"

Zell smiled a little bit, not sure if Lilith was being serious with the whole "I AM" thing. "Nice to meet you, Lilith." She said. Zell took a step toward the center of the room and put her bags down. "Well Lilith, please tell your cousin I will be ready in thirty minutes."