In a specific group of trees (including quite a few Persimmon trees, for whatever reason), a group of monkeys seemed to be having a jolly good time with someone this morning at the garden.

(OOC: Coming from here)

...a grove or an orchard of sorts, where he'll find there are numerous persimmon trees. Gathered on the branches and on the ground close to the trees are numerous monkeys, at least half a dozen of them dressed like the Detective often does. The others are naked. Many are holding or drinking from bottles, cans or other containers. There is a strong scent of persimmon in the air, and a perceptible alcoholic smell.

If Kiyoshi approaches, one of the monkeys (not one of those who look like the Detective) comes a few steps closer and greets him with a bow and a wave of one of his hands - the other one is holding a small bottle - apparently persimmon liqueur, similar to the one that was in the nightstand.

He studied the scene for a moment before approaching. It was possible he was still seeing things. Respectfully, he returned the bow.

"Good morning."

The monkey who greeted him bowed again - followed by another one, this time one that looked like the Detective. Then another, and another, and soon all of them have bowed to greet him, although they soon get back to what they were doing.

A familiar face then comes out from behind one of the trees.


"Oh! You must be a fan of 'The Detective and the Mystery Five'! Do you want the Detective's autograph?". You seem slightly shorter, perhaps a bit younger, but... it's you all right. Seems to be at least! And the voice is not quite the same - but isn't it always different when you hear yourself in a recording too?

"Come on, we're having some drinks!", he says (you say?), pointing up at the monkeys.

"Yes, I brought the gift that was left for me." He held up the bottle. "Are we having a convention? We should have invited more fans."

"We should! The Detective likes giving autographs! Haven't you brought anyone else with you?" Kiyoshi leans to the side to look behind the Fox, then around. Seeing no-one else, he shrugs "I suppose just you for today, then. Well, come then, join us!"

He points up at the Detective(s). "Have a drink with us, then. And while we're at it, the Detective is eager to give you his autograph... as soon as you find him!"

He hears the same monkey laugh he heard on his way here. If he looks up, none of the monkeys seem to be laughing... but with so many around, it'd be hard to say for sure.

(OOC: Drink or no drink? Look for the Detective around or not? And if so, how?)

Kiyoshi looked around to see if he could actually spot the true Detective. As he looked, he suspected it wouldn't be so easy, however, and suggested a distraction.

"You know, this isn't much of a party without music. And, a concert would attract more fans. What do you say? Want to sing?"


- - -
[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Finding the Detective, Investigation/Perception | 6k3 ⇒ 32 (TN: ?)

[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Let's Have a Concert, Courtier/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 27 (TN: ?)

With so many monkeys around, and so many of them wearing the same outfit the Detective is usually in, it's hard to be sure. But for a moment there, you think you see one of the naked monkeys in a group that looks at you differently. It soon mixes up with others, but you have a feeling you know at least the general direction he's in!


"Oh, a concert sounds lovely! Detective, Sleuth, Snoop, Sherlock, Friendly, Crabby, Nutcracker...?" (he goes on saying some other names for a while more).

Many of the monkeys look down and nod. One of them suddenly comes from behind Kiyoshi, holding a Comm and playing with it as if they were typing a message to someone.

"It's settled then, I guess", Kiyoshi says. "No drinking first, then?", he asks tilting his head slightly and gesturing towards the bottle still in Kiyoshi Two's hands. "Well, would you start the song for us, then? We can take up from there!"

The monkeys seem enthusiastic, looking at you expectantly. Some of them start jumping around and holding hands with one another.

(OOC:
If you'll drink again, I'll need another Earth roll.

If you'll start the song, I'll need a Perform roll of some kind for the music!

Then tell me what your plan is to get to the Detective and we'll go from there)

"You drink after the concert, not before. We gotta stay in harmony, bro." He turned to all the monkeys. "You ready? Let's go!"

There's only a handful of songs appropriate to sing with a bunch of monkeys. Hopefully, they were familiar with it.

As he sang, Kiyoshi danced, in front of the monkeys, with the monkeys, beside the monkeys, and all around as he made his way towards where he thought he'd spotted the Detective.





- - -
[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Perform: Singing/Awareness, Voice, 2 CR to get the monkeys to join in | 8k5 ⇒ 42 (TN: ?)
Forgot to mote VP spent, but it was marked on Sakkaku

[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Dance Over to the Detective,, Perform: Dance/Agility | 5k2 ⇒ 22 (TN: ?)

"I know this one!", Kiyoshi said cheerfully. The monkeys started hopping around, then dancing along, first alone, then in pairs, then in a round dance of sorts, swapping pairs over and over.

Monkey Dance vs Kitsune Kiyoshi. Contested Perform: Dance/ Agi - 4k3 vs Kiyoshi's 22. | 4k3 ⇒ 20 (TN: 22)

Even with Kiyoshi's keen eyes, tracking the group where the Detective was probably during the dance would not be easy. But he goes round and round, and manages to get close to where he thinks the Detective should be. He gets closer, looks one of the primates in the eye.

This should be the Detective!

Is this the detective? (3 in 5 chance!) | 1d5 ⇒ 1

What happens? 1-3 = something gone; 4-6 = something comes | 1d6 ⇒ 5

Ouch! This is not ripe! Damage to Kiyoshi | 1k1 ⇒ 6 (TN: ?) (Kiyoshi suffers 6 damage - should be a total of 14 so far!)

... but it's not. The naked monkey smiles at him, the smile quickly turning into a grin, then a laugh. The Fox suddenly feels another strong bump on his head. If he looks and scans the ground next to him, he'll see an unripe persimmon.

As Kiyoshi looks around, he sees Kiyoshi bent down, twirling another naked monkey around.

"This is fun!", he exclaims. "Come one, Detective, let's dance!"

Was that one the Detective??...

(OOC: I'm treating each attempt to do this as a contested roll vs a 4k3 roll representing the group of monkeys! If you succeed, you have a chance at reaching the Detective - since you've spotted the general area he's in, you've got a good chance there!

If you fail again, I'll ask you to roll another Investigation (Notice)/ Perception check if you want to try again. Raises might make it possible to pinpoint the Detective more exactly!

If you prefer, you could always try to change your approach too, of course.)

Maybe it was the drink, maybe he had a concussion or maybe it was just a trick, but the song, backed up by the monkeys, seemed really good. Of course, that wasn't as important as getting his companion back. Kiyoshi's mind was still fuzzy, but he had a plan. He needed to be near the Detective to try it, however.

So, he danced his way over again.

- - -
[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Just Keep Dancing,, Perform: Dance/Agility | 5k2 ⇒ 18 (TN: ?)

As the dancing monkeys and the "real" Kiyoshi swirled around, Kiyoshi#2 found himself wandering farther from where he had seen the Detective, as he got delayed by unexpected whirls, pirouettes and outside steps.

He could still see the monkey he thought was the Detective among some others, though... Sure he would triumph!

THUD! Another unripe persimmon...


"Careful there! It's easy to hit your head with all the branches around!"

Branches? Who's he kidding?...


----
Monkey Dance vs Kitsune Kiyoshi, round 2.
Contested Perform: Dance/ Agi - 4k3 vs Kiyoshi's 18 | 4k3 ⇒ 23 (TN: 18)

What happens? 1-3 = something gone; 4-6 = something comes | 1d6 ⇒ 4

THUD! 1k1 non-exploding damage | 1k1 ⇒ 9 (TN: ?) - total damage 23/59 now. Should be at Grazed (+5 TN).

Actually, you don't need another Investigation check - you'll have the same 3 in 5 chance of getting the right monkey if you don't. You *can* roll it if you want to, as Raises will make it easier to pinpoint the Detective. Each Raise will increase the chance by 1 in 5; base TN 20 at the moment)

After doing or not doing that, please roll another Perform: Dance check vs the monkeys!)

This was not going well and Kiyoshi would not be able to endure much more. His steps became heavy and clumsy as he was led around by the monkey troupe. His last hope was that the Detective was not under their influence and could still respond to his training. With that hope in mind, the Kitsune signaled for him to join him for the dance finale.

- - -
[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Dance, Monkey, Dance, Perform: Dance/Agility, Grazed | 5k2-5 ⇒ 10 (TN: ?)

[D9 MM] - A party animal (closed), Dance, Monkey, Dance, Animal Handling/Awareness, Touched by Chonushudo, Grazed | 7k4-5 ⇒ 32 (TN: ?)

With him slowing down, the Monkeys kept guiding him around at their whim even though they seemed to be getting tired - or bored - themselves. With all the confusion, it wasn't easy to spot the Detective to signal to him directly. But spot him Kiyoshi did!

He wasn't known for being good with animals for no reason. He saw as one of the monkeys, currently naked and holding a small bottle of persimmon wine on one of his paws, looked at him with recognition on his eyes and smiled. As the dance approached its finale, the happy monkey swirled on and on switching partners until he was finally holding hands with Kiyoshi - the real one.


"Oh... you've finally found each other, I see.", the other Kiyoshi said with mock endearment. "I see the Detective really likes you.", he went on. He seems somewhat frustrated, but he smiles at the monkey-human pair. The other monkeys are variously smiling, grinning and laughing, but stand ready for the finale.

"Well, let's end this together then!"

The monkeys (including the Detective!) and the shorter Kiyoshi join the actual one for a round of final swirls and pirouettes in a circle pattern, ending with a bow to the inner part of the circle, all greeting one another.

Some of the monkeys then turn into hairy humans, many of them semitransparent; others just become translucid, grinning at the pair.


The shorter Kiyoshi shrinks, his face slowly becoming that of a young child - also translucid.


"Thank you for drinking and dancing with us!", the spirits say in a choir, then most of them burst out laughing before disappearing.

Kiyoshi will notice the Detective is wearing something around his neck, as if it were a pendant.

A persimmon. A ripe persimmon.

On the ground in the centre of the circle they were in just before, he'll find a card and a bottle of what seems to be water.

The card reads:

"Thank you for playing! Remember to stay hydrated!"

He picked up the card and laughed. "I'll see you again soon."

The Detective climbed up into his arms and Kiyoshi hugged him. "I'll be fine. I'm glad you're alright. Did you have fun?"

"Ki ki! Kiriiik ki kiii ki!*", the monkey answered excitedly. "Ki kiiik ki kikki, Kikoki!"

The ripe persimmon still hanged from his neck.


---
*I did! Persimmon wine is so good!

**You dance well, Kiyoshi!

(Do you drink the water? Or get the persimmon?)

"The left us gifts, eh?" He grinned as he studied the persimmon. "Don't worry, I won't take it. Let me see what they left me to drink."

He didn't hesitate to drink.

The water tastes slightly sweet, and has a perfume of ripe sweet persimmons. After Kiyoshi drinks it, the headache from the bumps is almost completely gone.

The Detective seems happy with his new pendant, even if he at times wonders if he should eat it.

(OOC:
/scene! Thanks for it

Kiyoshi is now at 10 Wounds, so no wound penalties.

Btw - if you or the Detective ever eats the Persimmon or cuts it, please let me know!)

"Come on, let's get out of here."

- - -
Is he still under the effects of the wine? Does he still have the bottle?

OOC: You'll notice the effects wear off after you drink the water! You have the bottle, although there's less than half of it left