Case No. 24
CAFE & DINER FOURTH CAFE · LONG BEACH, CA · UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
MANAGER NO. 1
DATE: 3-28-2020
FILE REFERENCE: TFF08
TOTAL: $0.93
Mrs. Ogeron's tab has been paid by Miss. Meg. Did we make any money from their rather extensive bill? Well, all in all, it ended up being a bit of a wash. As far as we can tell, Mrs. Ogeron plans to stay in the Big Easy, though our Ice Water distributor really has the final say in that matter. If he wants them to return to Canada, he knows where to find them. Regardless, Mrs. Ogeron should stay out of trouble without the Pearl or Miss. Meg to worry about.
With Ogeron satisfied, I believe that was the last customer we had to deal with while we were here. So, it's time to turn our attention to the next Antekey fragment. It'll still take us all a few days to pack, say our goodbyes, dot our Is, and cross our Ts, so we're in no rush to leave just yet. The Managers have been working on decoding Miss. Bad's latest check-poem and some of the more senior staff have been trying to track down this "portrait" that is supposedly in No. 17's manor.
To me, it seems like Mrs. Ogeron is a very devoted follower, be it Levi or Miss. Meg. On the one hand, that gives me hope that Levi can whip Mrs. Ogeron into shape here. On the other hand, it worries me that Miss. Meg may try to reform her cult amidst the murky black waves. Though Mrs. Ogeron's family, who should be with Miss. Meg now were more loyal to Miss. Carleton before being sent back to the Tide. I wonder if that loyalty will persist now that they've all been torn from their promised surface?
Caffeinated Report: C-STNO05
"We're in the major leagues now, gamers."
Internet Trivia | 4 Words
Caffeinated Report: TEA-STNO06
"A blacker tide, deep down below."
CaD Knowledge | Research | 1 Word
EMPLOYEE NO. 512
DATE: 3-30-2020
FILE REFERENCE: STNO07
TOTAL: $0.7
We had a bit of Miss. Carleton left over, so I thought it might be a good idea to get a taste of how she experienced the Big Easy. I'm not sure if it'll be much help for us, seeing as our business is done here, but it was worth a shot, right? It was… interesting, to say the least. Parts of what I felt were both familiar and abstract. Sea, sky, and land… how involved was Miss. Carleton with Quebec? Regardless, Miss. Carleton left a horrible bitter aftertaste. Mm… almost like coffee but not quite… it was nutty and herbal. Like a tea—but what kind?
ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊˚
MISS. CARLETON BLOOD SAMPLE
In the heart of an ancient city swallowed by the sea, shadows of forgotten deities lurk and linger. The depths of this city are shrouded not in water but in whispers and shadows, the kind that weave through the mind like silk—soft yet unyielding. Sunken spires and drowned wisdom stand silent, knowledge locked behind doors of coral and pearl. Anything that is can come to an end. In this place, time flows like treacle, slow and thick. Echoes of the past hum softly like a melody lost in the currents. Stalking the streets, eyes like lanterns in the abyss, searching for the pale moonlight. Anything that is can come to an end. The world above, where the sun burns too bright and the air chokes—there is a mirror, and its surface was smooth and unblemished by the passage of time. I can see myself in it, a pale reflection, an insignificant piece of a greater whole. Anything that is will come to an end. Anything that Is is in and at an end. The Pale—the first—her precious daughter—I think I hear a baby crying—I will not open the door. I will not open the door. I will not open the door. The room—was awash in sea-green wallpaper with faded flowers peeling from the wood—a pale promise made to see everything that Ys destroyed. Alone. Alone. Alone. No one had to die ever again. I am coming home—I am coming back to the shore, the sea, and the sky.
MANAGER NO. 1
DATE: 3-31-2020
FILE REFERENCE: STNO08
TOTAL: $0.74
Well, our time in No. 17's hometown has drawn to its natural conclusion with Miss. Carleton gone, the Elders dispersed, Mrs. Morrison returned with a glass of OJ, Mrs. Brown's tab paid in full, and the Pearl in our possession. So, there's not much left to do but split up to get our hands on the remaining two Antekey fragments. Of course, there are still some loose ends in the strange, strange city of New Orleans.
There is the matter of the alleged portrait hidden in No. 17's childhood manor. And, of course, the notebook "borrowed" from the sandy shores where Ice Water flows. Well, we have yet to locate any portraits painted in blood and fear. Still… given our history with exquisitely expressive art, it is concerning. And then the notebook, well, that's an unexpected twist in all of this that I did not see coming. But we have to press on with our Quebec business as the Pearl beckons us to the next token of Olympus.
For that reason, we have decided to go cappuccino and split our efforts into three distinct layers. No. 0, No. 17, and No. 5 will hang back in New Orleans to deal with the portrait. Again, we have no idea where or what it is, but I'm sure they'll be able to handle it over a cup of coffee. Myself alongside the twins, No. 44A & B, will follow the Pearl's lead to the next Antekey fragment. As for everyone else, they will return to California to deal with the strange notebook, our usual customers, and research into how we can reach the third Olympian fragment. I know it can be a bit disheartening to be divided once again, but this is only temporary until we get ahead of these Antekeys.
For our gilded glory,
No. 1