Case File 001 [Video | Action]

[bokukotantei]

Video

[Residents currently on the Warp Band network would be greeted by the face of a sharply dressed young person over the feed. With the quirky hat and the short hair style, the person had an equal chance of being male or female-- the clean lines of the dress shirt and tie didn't help matters either. The sun was bright that morning, and it took the stranger a moment to adjust their angle to account for the glare flashing off the lens.]

Good morning, Union.

[The stranger nodded briskly in greeting, offering a smile that was equal parts friendly and professional to the people tuning in.]

I imagine that we're all busy getting started with the day, so I'll keep this brief: I'm Naoto Shirogane, a detective from Caldera. I've just arrived, so does anyone else from the north mind filling me in on what's been happening?

Also-- I'm still in business if anyone wishes for my services. Just contact me on the network.

[And, promptly, the young detective closes the signal out.]

Action

[That afternoon would greet people in Union with one of two sights: the first is that of a young Ralts who had gotten separated from his trainer, staring longingly at the freshly baked buns that were cooling off within sight of the bakery window. He knew that humans like that green, papery stuff to trade for food and goods-- and he didn't have any-- but that didn't dampen the longing for the buns any less.

The second is that of Naoto herself, walking briskly down the streets in her platform boots, ignoring the smack of leather on concrete as she searched the streets. Some of the noise was intentional-- she wanted her target to know where she was, if they were to find her first.

On occasion she might peer at an unfurled map to get an idea of her general location. Other times she could be found staring down the street with a crisp, analytic look in her eyes. Anyone wandering close by might here her murmur something under her breath:]

Where could he have run off to this time?

Comments

[Video]

[niepokonany]

[His smile gets bigger, but notably... thinner, like it's being stretched too far and going a little transparent.]

'Cause I'm looking for someone.

[Video]

[bokukotantei]

[Don't think that Naoto doesn't see through that brilliance to the pain it tried to hide. Though small and young, she had experienced a great many more things than a normal teenager would be able to grasp with any grace.]

--If you don't mind multitasking, this sounds like something we should discuss in person. Privately.

Meet me by that one cafe that has an Espurr on the sign in the downtown. We'll get more accomplished that way.

[Video]

[niepokonany]

[Considering he was looking for a way to discuss it more privately, he's completely behind that idea. He nods, keeping his smile as cavalier as he can.]

I'll be down in a few.

[Video --> Action]

[bokukotantei]

Very well.

[And with that Naoto promptly closes out the feed.

She'll be standing outside of said cafe whenever Feliks decides to arrive, dressed in the short sleeved button up, slacks, and platform boots of a person who meant business. The blue beret was a unique, personal touch to her style-- perhaps intended as a fashion statement?

Who knows?]

[Action]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks turns up a few minutes after they cut the feed, dressed largely the same as he was on the video feed -- an almost transparently gauzy button-down shirt with short sleeves and a ribbon at the neck, a thin necklace with the end hidden underneath his shirt, a well-tailored waistcoat and slacks, and boots with a bit of heel to them. The only real addition is a rather large metallic hairpin, shaped like a cluster of flowers on a branch -- rather more blatantly feminine than his more masculine or ambiguous clothes.]

[He looks a little out of breath, like he's been hurrying.]

Hey! There you are. Told you it'd just take a sec to get here!

[Action]

[bokukotantei]

[Naoto lifted a hand in a small wave when her possible client arrived. The hairpin was a unique touch-- and a curiosity, in itself.

It was mostly an interesting detail about this person to file away for another time.]

You didn't need to rush, [She said, stepping forward.] It's still early in the day. Do you need a cold drink before we begin?

[Action]

[niepokonany]

[He shakes his head, still pretty plainly trying to look as upbeat as possible. They're in public, after all, though he's sure they can get a quiet place to sit around here.]

It's fine, my grandparents' place isn't too far from here!

A drink doesn't sound too bad, though. Have you tried the Razz berry iced tea here? It's kind of to die for.

[Action]

[bokukotantei]

No, I haven't.

[Though it was something they both could get.]

But, before we begin, may I get your name? I don't like taking cases from anonymous parties.

[Action]

[niepokonany]

[He holds out his hand to shake, one rare hint of manners that his family has successfully trained into him.]

Feliks Łukasiewicz.

[He's not sure if... he? She? (It's a pretty rare day when Feliks isn't quite sure.)... He's not sure if the detective has heard of his family, since they're not quite so prominent as some of the other nobles, with his grandparents so old and him out all the time, but he figures just a name is probably fine to start with.]

[Action]

[bokukotantei]

[Don't worry about it, Feliks-- that merely means that the chest binder she wore underneath those clean lines was doing it's job.

Naoto responded with a friendly smile and a firm shake. The name wa unfamiliar, but the manner that Feliks carried himself with and the quality of his clothes made it easy to guess that he was from a family with some wealth stored away.]

Naoto Shirogane. Mister Łukasiewicz, shall we order our drinks and take a walk?

[niepokonany]

Sure, sounds like a plan!

[He walks up to the counter and orders himself a Razz berry iced tea, then waits for Naoto to order and puts enough money on the counter for the both of them and a decent tip before they head out.]

[bokukotantei]

[Naoto similarly ordered a Razz berry iced tea-- and was surprised when Feliks paid for everything in full, including the tip.]

Thank you, [she said once they set off,] and I'd also like to thank you for humoring me. You see, I'm also searching for someone-- although I know he's in the down town somewhere. He's just escaped me.

[niepokonany]

Well, you've got it more narrowed down than me, then!

[He really does do a pretty decent job of seeming harmlessly upbeat about it all.]

Who're you looking for? Like, anybody I'd know?

[bokukotantei]

Probably not-- he's my partner, a Ralts.

[She could find him easily enough if she kept looking. Like all children, Ichiro was drawn to food, especially baked goods.]

Why not tell me more about your situation? It sounds far more drastic than this.

[niepokonany]

[That finally takes the wind out of him. When asked directly, he doesn't really have any way to disguise it as a joke, even now.]

My boyfriend and his twin went missing almost 10 months ago. I woke up one day and they were gone.

[bokukotantei]

...

[Naoto looked up at Feliks directly, eyes alarmed underneath the brim of her hat. Suddenly uncomfortable, she looked away almost immediately after, dropping her gaze down to focus on the ice slowly melting in her drink instead.]

I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds terrible.

....With something so sudden, though, there's really been no information in ten months?

[niepokonany]

Nothing.

[The word comes out rather more bitter than he wants it to -- for all he's sacrificed and jeopardized to keep looking for them, there's just nothing.]

They're the only sons of a pretty major noble house. So even if things were a little tense with their parents and their uncle, it's not like anybody was going to try and get rid of them, right? And if they were gonna go anywhere...

He would have told me.

[bokukotantei]

[The bitterness and distress was palpable in Feliks' tone and demeanor.]

...If you don't mind, [Naoto ventured softly,] what are their names?

[niepokonany]

Fai and Yuui Flourite.

[bokukotantei]

Fai and Yuui Flourite...

[She uttered the names in a quiet tone, as if testing how they rolled off of her tongue.]

Flourite, as in the gem stone?

[Leave it to a Calderan to talk about rocks, even if they're not a Rock or Ground type.]

I can't say that the names are familiar, but I can ask a few contacts if they've heard anything.

[niepokonany]

Written a little different, "o" in front of the "u", but yeah, I think that's where it came from. Like I said, their family's a pretty big deal among the nobles... They'd probably be willing to talk to you, too, if I asked?

[He gives a slightly dry laugh.]

They kind of warmed up to me after like half a year of me running around in the wilderness looking for their kids, I guess. [And driving himself a little more than halfway to madness and starvation both, but that doesn't bear talking about.] Awesome timing, right?

[bokukotantei]

It's what you're the most comfortable with that's important here, [she intoned, looking at him quite seriously.]

While I'm not sure what your personal situation is, we don't need to pursue that route if it makes you uncomfortable. You're my client, not them.

[niepokonany]

Well, I don't really think they know anything they're not telling me, but you're the detective and all, you know?

[He sips at his drink, fidgeting with the cup a little.]

[bokukotantei]

[She's neither an Analyst nor a Psychic-- and she didn't need to be to see his discomfort at the notion he was suggesting.]

If you trust them to have been truthful with you so far, then that should be enough for now. We don't need to put you under any more stress over this.

[niepokonany]

I trust them. But listen -- if it has any kind of chance of helping bring either of them home, I really, seriously don't care what kind of stress I'm put under. I'm tougher than I look, ok?