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Post by Bella on May 4, 2021 17:32:35 GMT -8
Bella sees Eis's look and gives her a small smile, waiting quietly and observing.
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 6, 2021 20:05:41 GMT -8
Lucas leaned back in his chair, contemplating Eis' request.
"Here's the thing, in this situation you want to play to your strengths. The ideal way for me to approach it vs yours and whoever you're working with might be different.
On my end, I would try and narrow down who I thought it was first. The fact that someone has caught their Keeper's attention is alarming. They've likely done something they should not have.
They've made noise somewhere and with some leg work you can likely track down what that noise is. The big reason I personally would be going in that direction is because of the current political climate.
At Ostara, Queen Philicia switched up how the rite was being performed. That happens and now suddenly a Keeper is looking at Vegas and using children to do their dirty work. Someone could spin that angle to work in favor of their political agenda.
Alternatively, the noise maker might also panic because they are worried the Queen is gonna be mad at them for causing rumors and they may try and cover up their tracks. If you go in armed with knowledge, it makes it easier to get them to stay in place, and get them to work with you to resolve this mess. "
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Post by Lucky Jack on May 8, 2021 8:20:20 GMT -8
Jack entered the office twenty minutes later with a handwritten report. He frowned at the document as he handed it to the Autumn courtiers. The teenager's parents had arrived and picked him up, a little annoyed he had gotten himself involved with the police but happy it's for a kid's safety.
"I guess you ladies can start Downtown?"
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Post by Bella on May 8, 2021 17:00:00 GMT -8
Bella taps her black painted fingernail against her chin before speaking.
"Works for me! and after I'll swing by the Haitian Community and see if they know anything. I know a few Root workers in the area." She says with a small smile
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Post by Krakenbox on May 9, 2021 12:55:57 GMT -8
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Post by Krakenbox on May 9, 2021 15:50:04 GMT -8
With the demographics, the Wizened is able to conclude that the Haitian population in Las Vegas is extremely minute, with around 0.005% give or take. There is a Baptist church north of the Strip, and a single Caribbean based restaurant despite the high traffic of tourism and available cultural eateries.
Bella has one small connection that she can recall with her eidetic memory, where she had connected with a student in one of those niche book stores when studying up on different spiritual practices an beliefs. Dejected, the woman had expressed sadness that modern media had adopted the abuse of maji into a sensationalized 'spooky aesthetic', which had been happily absorbed by alternative communities as a parallel to religious persecution with gothic and pagan communities (much like Wicca). Meanwhile, many of these well-meaning enthusiasts were appropriating a diasporic religion, and contributing to superstition where oungans were still being murdered and blamed for tragedy.
Bella could return to one of these old haunts and potentially run into her. What information she can harvest from this encounter is entirely dependent on her approach: the boy is of Haitian descent, but that doesn't necessarily grantee this woman will know him personally or be able to provide meaningful leads to the situation.
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Post by Krakenbox on May 10, 2021 9:20:52 GMT -8
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Eis
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Posts: 189
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Post by Eis on May 10, 2021 18:21:06 GMT -8
"Interesting perspective." she says, once Lucas has finished. She'd be hard pressed to openly concede that he'd hit the mark. She'd been looking at it from the wrong angle, it seems. She would, of course, warn the intended victim of the Keeper's ire; once, and only after, she's armed with the means to fend it off. "But thank you. I'll keep this in mind. I... should go."
Eis's own frown matches Jack's as she reads over the report. Hardly surprising there is little of use. Teenagers can be notoriously difficult when pressed for information. Particularly when they're afraid of consequences. No matter. Now they have somewhere to start looking. Eis holds out the report for Jack when she and Bella have finished with it.
"Yes. That seems to be our only lead. If we learn anything more substantial, we'll be sure to let you know." she says to Jack.
To Bella she adds "That could prove useful. Perhaps we should handle that first. Learn what we can and perhaps narrow down our search."
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Post by Lucas Chevalier on May 11, 2021 2:33:09 GMT -8
"You're welcome. If you find out anything else and need another opinion on it, keep me in mind."
There was a pause on his end before he spoke in a lower tone, since he wasn't sure how secure the area Eis was in actually was.
"Eis, just be...careful, okay? I don't doubt that you can take care of yourself. But with everything that's happened recently...well, I'll just leave it at we should talk more when we can have some real privacy."
He said his goodbyes before ending the call.
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Post by Bella on May 13, 2021 19:15:34 GMT -8
Bella pulls out her cellphone and starts send texts to her contacts to dig up some information to help find anything out that might help find the girl She then looks over at Eis " Think i might have some leads, want to go to the book store?" She asks with a happy smile.
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Post by Krakenbox on May 14, 2021 6:12:15 GMT -8
It's a lot of information to pinpoint, but with enough focus and determination, Bella eventually does find the familiar face. The woman doesn't share her sharp, unique memory, but Bella is so pointed and earnest, she's happy to try and help. After some conversation, the woman shakes her head at any knowledge of a lost girl. She asks for a picture but when only offered a name and explanation that she's been approached because a Hatian boy is connected, she seems a little surprised to be being asked. Eis also corrects that the boy I'd of Haitian descent but not a first generation immigrant to her knowledge.
The woman offers a quick tip that two white women asking after an immigrant child involved with police may come off as a little odd. Both Bella and Eis didn't radiate harm, but they weren't exactly approachable either. This niche immigration group were also protective of their kids to the point of superstition. They also didn't want to accidentally come off that they think African Americans all know each other.
Armed with being directed to the church and a better pitch as Eis opens with concern for a student, the Pastor mentions the surname of the boy is familiar, but without more he is at a loss. After some tea and general chat, he blesses them in their venture to help a lost little girl. A few women seemed surprised to watch the pair leave, speaking French and looking at them with suspicion and make themselves scarce.
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Eis
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Post by Eis on May 16, 2021 17:56:01 GMT -8
"It was something." she says, offering shallow comfort as the pair depart the church. "Though not enough to narrow down the search." The Autumn Fairest frowns thoughtfully. What else did they know? They couldn't simply run around blind and hope to run into the girl.
"There is one place we haven't checked: Leith mentioned seeing Isla while buying music. Perhaps we can ask the staff, at the music store, directly. Put a sense of urgency behind it and pressure them to give up the information. For the girl's 'safety', or something. Even if none of the employees there personally recall seeing the girl with Leith, there must be security footage." A beat. "How many music stores can there be on the historic West Side?"
She pulls out her phone and searches for 'bookstore near me'.
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Post by Krakenbox on May 18, 2021 7:58:39 GMT -8
Without getting the name of the store during the police interview, Eis is left to only guess among the fifteen that come up on Google Maps, not to mention the hidden gems.
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Eis
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Post by Eis on May 18, 2021 8:22:44 GMT -8
Of course there would be 15. Eis silently hates herself for tempting fate.
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Post by Krakenbox on May 18, 2021 9:25:42 GMT -8
The Fairest powers through the inconvenience of choice, combing through a few initial shops before noting some of the younger high schoolers streaming to specific venues. A few even recognize Ms. Goodman, and indulge the novelty of hollering to the intimidating teacher while asking if Bella was her daughter. The withering look generated enough embarrassment that finding the store Leith preferred only took a quick exchange. It was a joint operation where an arch in the back lead to the other side of the shop dedicated to books, specializing in local publishers and zines. A tatooed individual with a shaved head and septum piercing blinked up from sorting records. All sorts of people frequented the block, so the oddball pairing didn't seem to phase them much. "How can I help you?"
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