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Post by Lucky Jack on Jul 18, 2021 23:22:12 GMT -8
The Wizened Sergeant opted to meet in a location that wasn't currently swamped in a mass investigation on how an armed assailant broke into the Detachment, ignoring all warnings to stay back and remain calm before one of the officers was slammed by a human battering ram. The venture to the music shop sounded like they had ended their investigation on a dead thread, but the Snowskin had made up for it on her own time. Sipping on a coffee in one of the public parks, Jack let Blaze review the letter and the subsequent interview that Wayland had already been privy to. Unfortunately, without context or relevant questions to be directed towards the student in the double-blind interview, his mundane investigator didn't gain much information from the teen. He explained to Eis that Bella had politely contacted him, feeling the investigation went too far outside her skillset. Fair enough. "Okay, so you met with Leith in the school?" he asked, entreating her to recap so the Onyx and Summer courtiers could be properly read in. After speaking with the Winter officers involved with their rogue member, he adds to Eis' list of possible Changelings involved with Isla. After the incident with Maks pulled most of his resources, along with the deep attention of the Court of Secrets, he was far more blunt about the current political situation. "I was hoping since children are involved that we could be a little more delicate, but I've been given express orders that if the issue is out of hand with supernatural bleed, Blaze is here to make sure the job gets done to completion...or she calls one of the Sunbanishers."He looked to Wayland in askance, silently pleading that the dependable Maker keep this shit on the rails. The Constable of Calefaction was on his last nerve of volatile surprises, and wasn't at all pleased with Freehold politics potentially endangering mundane kids.
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Post by Blaze on Jul 20, 2021 0:06:25 GMT -8
Kids weren't her specialty, but Blaze eagerly took this opportunity to prove herself. She has read and re-read both the letter and the interview multiple times, but found them superficial at best - and yet Isla seemed embroiled in things she shouldn't, and that posed a danger to both sides of the city.
"Sir."
Jack wasn't her direct superior, but he had mundane and magical standing - his strong Mantle and police badge attested to that. Although no longer military, Blaze respected rank and addresses the Summer Constable with respect and deference due his station - had she been younger and more impressionable, she might've even saluted. The mention of delicateness got to her,as well as the implied 'completion'. Of course, if a Winter was called in then the expectation is that the issue is covered up, no matter the cost. She hoped words will suffice, but if not - she brought her rifle with her and put it in the trunk of her car nearby, like the good soldier that she was. The Torrent looks to the other two changelings and greets them in turn.
"Friends."
That might be an exaggeration. She liked what she's seen of Eis so far, but the whole she's seen of Wayland was that one glimpse of her inked skin at the Summer Festival. Maybe. It was hard to tell with all the things going on at once. But they are all in this together, and that alone warrants civility.
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Post by Eis on Jul 20, 2021 2:19:03 GMT -8
“Colleagues.” she echos, after Blaze’s greeting, giving Blaze a glance and Wayland a nod. She hardly knows Wayland. Active enough to see and be seen by, but the two of them hardly exchange words.
“Yes.” Eis starts, taking the cue from Jack. “It seemed the next logical step after a few dead ends. He described the girl as young, 8 years at the most, brown hair and disheveled appearance. He believes she lives near the park at Pecos and Washington. He’s seen her before in a music store a few times, but I believe our strongest lead is the number 7 city bus. I’m open to suggestions, but it seems like our best chance to run into her.”
“As for the girl?” she eyes Jack for a moment. The business with the Sun Banishers would hopefully not be necessary. “I hope we can remove her from the situation safely. I can’t confirm if she’s implicit with the Keeper’s search for a ‘Unicorn’, but she’s just a girl. The Hobs she keeps company with are another story. If the loathsome little servants prove a problem, well, they certainly won’t be missed.”
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Post by Wayland on Jul 20, 2021 10:59:28 GMT -8
"... Countrymen?" Wayland interjects, her face looking as puzzled as her voice. Are they doing a bit? Did they come to bury Faerie, not to praise it?
She lets it go when Eis continues the briefing where Jack left off. There has got to be better people for this, riding herd on and protecting some Winter investigators. But those people must be busy, so she’s what Jack’s got. When he glances at her, she just gives him a small nod, trying to reassure him. She’ll do her best.
Wayland doesn’t know Eis, and has no reason to doubt the veracity of the details she gives out. The Ogre shrugs, “This isn’t really my area of expertise. I suppose we could ask some of the people around the park, maybe somebody’s seen her. Or if anybody takes the same bus line.” Her gaze turns to Eis, “How did you want to run down the lead on the bus? Stake-out a stop near the park?”
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Post by Blaze on Jul 20, 2021 13:46:07 GMT -8
She was happy to stay in the background while Eis and Wayland talked, although Blaze knew this wouldn't - and couldn't - last. Listening to the points the two made caused her to think on the case. To state the obvious, they needed to move. To state the even more obvious, they needed to move fast. She nods to the Fairest's sentiment of removing the girl without doing harm. If someone ends up getting shot before the day is through, Blaze would prefer if they weren't people.
"Do we know why Isla contacted this boy from the interview? Maybe if we understood the connection, we'd have an easier time learning her search patterns and intercepting her."
Intercepting. That's an interesting word choice, even if it's unwitting. Not five minutes into the investigation she already talks about this kid like she's an enemy combatant.
"Staking out the park and the bus has obvious risks of being flagged as suspicious, but it might end up our only recourse with so few clues between us. We'd need some kind of cover story, though."
Even as she talks, the Torrent goes through what they know. It was too little to construct anything approaching a profile, but they knew something. They knew the girl's age and approximate family and material status, they knew what she was after and how she went about her goal. Blaze wonders if the puzzle can be used to at least glimpse the way Isla thinks, and what she might do next.
Int + Empathy to try and determine how Isla might think, 6 successes, 1 WP used
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Post by Eis on Jul 21, 2021 2:07:11 GMT -8
Eis, doing her best to fill in the gaps, clarifies for Blaze. “Despite their difference in age, one might describe them as friends. Or, at least, Leith seems to look out for her. He’s one of my students, you see, and I believe he has a good heart.” The Snowskin gives a small, satisfied smile. She may not be the nicest teacher in the world, but that doesn’t stop her from taking pride in her charges.
“Unfortunately, Blaze has it right.” she says to Wayland, all too familiar with the wary gazes and lines of questioning that had come from their previous efforts. “But we have few other options. Intercepting her on the way to the bus is obviously out of the question, which leaves us with tailing her afterwards. With any luck, she’ll either lead us straight to a door into the Hedge - where she likely encounters the Hobs - or we’ll find somewhere inconspicuous to question her.” She frowns, and very abruptly adds “And I mean question. I’m not suggesting an interrogation. But this brings us back to not drawing attention. If none of us are up to a little ‘cloak and dagger’, I may know just the individual who can help us.”
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Post by Lucky Jack on Jul 21, 2021 7:46:08 GMT -8
Jack raised an eyebrow as Eis asserted right in front of the Onyx courtier—and by extension, Wayland—that she felt neither of them were competent in keeping a low profile. Sure, the Ogre had pissed off the detective when she showed up in chainmail at a hospice, but the Maker had since installed subtlety into her Hedgespinning if she was going to choose to arm up at some point.
Well, a Snowskin's a Snowskin he supposed.
"A cover story? Ladies, she's a first grader. One of you can say you're a friend of the family, or flash some fake ID that you're a PI hired by them." The Wizened took a moment to finish his coffee, chuckling with the sudden revelation. "You're also not men? Usually if a strange adult man is poking at child who doesn't recognize him, that's when heads start turning."
His voice was reproachful, and with the same apologetic tone of someone who has been married for years where he wants to be helpful over being taken as condescending to their capabilities.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 21, 2021 8:03:11 GMT -8
Blaze puzzles out the logic as Lucky Jack and Eis add some context.
The fact that the Constable had not offered a full profile of the girl meant she was missing, and he currently had no means of running her through the database beyond a first name. If her parents were in the picture... So far Blaze had not been given context as to the state of the kid: dirty and thin? Or Well kempt and healthy? Was Eis able to get a description from Leith about the little things?
Either way, Isla was independent enough to take a city bus and precocious enough to approach strange adults (and from someone that young, a teenager would come off as an adult). She knew how to read maps and navigate a city, which spoke volumes. She was supplying herself with crayons and paper...if she was being helped by Hobs, that meant she was fully exposed to the nature of Fairy and in rapid danger of being lured off to the Thorns. She didn't need to be an occult expert to anticipate that sort of trickery with supplying her with gifts and compassion.
What actually bothered the Onyx was that the Wyrd had chosen to match the kid up with a Changeling's student to reach a Freehold. The chain of consequences made her uncomfortable, where maybe Eis had missed a detail about her own daily charge... But that wasn't relevant right now. Being this young, Blaze was dealing with a child only capable of so much on her own. She could be smart and independent and brave—which she would have to be to get this far—but ultimately she was at the mercy of easy manipulation and a complete lack of mundane resources. The fact that she's evaded detection from Protection Services means she absolutely has had some sort of help. Being friendly, offering resources, and not slamming the Stranger Danger button would get them much further than anything else...unless she's guarded by an entity. There was also the sickening possibility that Isla has been Sealed into this nonsense and didn't have a choice in the matter. She likely was sheltering somewhere in the park, and if it were the Hedge it would be very strange she would be allowed to leave once the Hobs had her.
Luring her out with the letter and promises for what she was looking for was the best approach to get things rolling. Offering it to her overtly and revealing trickery might backfire if they treated her as too stupid and naïve.
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Post by Wayland on Jul 21, 2021 21:40:03 GMT -8
"I don't have a fake ID," she tells Jack, "Other than the one I live with. But I bet I can stay in the park for as long as I want if I bring my sketchbook." Her tone suggests she's agreeing with Jack's assessment, that they're probably not going to have to trouble with a 'cover story' or anything of that nature. "For as long as I can stand the heat, anyway. Maybe I can lure the kid out with unicorn drawings," she muses idly with a shrug. Not a serious thought, but it couldn't hurt, if she ends up sketching anyway.
Her attention swings back to Eis, listening to her assessment. Her eyes flick back to Jack, though when she speaks her words remain directed at the Autumn. "I'm coming into this late and I don't have all the details. Sometimes it's good to keep the circles small. But if you really think it'll be helpful to add someone to the team," she shrugs, signaling her assent. If Jack doesn't have a problem with it, she'll roll with Eis bringing along a plus one.
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Post by Eis on Jul 22, 2021 1:55:34 GMT -8
Eis frowns. Maybe Jack is right. But, not being a man, Eis had still managed to spook some church ladies asking after a child that isn’t hers. Not to mention there’s a certain music store she’s probably not welcome in anymore.
“Consider him our ‘ace in the hole’. I’ll only call him if things get… complicated. He’s probably going to resent me for involving him anyhow.” she answers Wayland, after a moment. Her attention then passes back to Blaze, looking for her input.
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Post by Blaze on Jul 22, 2021 12:12:46 GMT -8
Be it nearly anyone else, Blaze would just shrug at what Jack said, but she remembered she is outranked here. And while that doesn't make her agree, it at least means she takes the Constable's words seriously.
"Force of habit? I'm an Onyx, I make cover stories for my Starbucks orders. But point taken."
Taken, but not necessarily accepted. It was all well and good to rely on societal apathy that only drops when specific conditions are triggered, but Blaze was unwilling to take the chance.
"Anyway, first grader or not, Isla is oddly... competent." The Torrent couldn't find a better word in the moment, and didn't bother to stop and try "I mean, she's an eight year-old child runaway that is not only savvy enough to navigate the city and find shelter and drawing materials, but also brave enough to approach weird adults? So either a child prodigy or the hobs have their claws dug in deep. Which is obviously bad, but it also means she's probably still somewhere in the park. They wouldn't allow her to leave without eyes on her."
At some point the group moved forward, and is now en route to the park. They still had some time to discuss options, but it was important to Blaze that they don't take too long.
"If we want to lead her out, keeping it friendly and helpful is our best bet. The letter could help, too. But you know how independent kids get - if we're too overt about it she's going to get offended and clam up. Then there's Leith..." That last sentence is more murmured than spoken, but still audible. And while it didn't seem relevant right now (in fact, it looked like the definition of a non sequitur), it bothered the Elemental nonetheless, like a small itch she was unable to scratch.
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Post by Krakenbox on Jul 22, 2021 14:24:19 GMT -8
The Freehold wards were close, but they had crossed the border of jurisdiction. It was freeing in some ways, but it also meant their magic was dangerous—the Lost of Vegas were made aware that channeling glamour outside their sacred ground came with sickness. There were ritual prayer beads given to those connected enough or on a sanctioned mission to obtain them, but the Constable's lack of offering meant he likely couldn't secure any. Bastille, the Knight of Borders, was rumoured to be tightening up access. They parked at an obvious point: the parking lot of the playground. There were some families about, but it wasn't a time of day that was convenient for visits besides stay-at-home caretakers and daycare groups.
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Post by Eis on Jul 24, 2021 17:50:40 GMT -8
There’s a nervous energy filling Eis as they finally approach the illusive target: the girl, Isla. How much does she know? Is she an unwilling pawn or entirely complacent? The answer is important, but not to her desired outcome. She’ll do everything she can to save the girl.
“Blaze has it right.” she confirms, after they’ve parked. “We’re better off getting the girl to trust us. It may be a stretch, but…” she reaches into her bag and produces a coloring book and pack of crayons. “if she enjoys her artwork and ‘pretty unicorns’, maybe she’ll accept these as a gift in good faith. She does seem entirely too clever for such a young girl, but she’s still a child. If we convince her we’re here to help, she’ll probably be relieved.” Hopefully.
First thing is first, though. After the rest of them give their input, they’d need to locate the girl. Eis has a description to go off of, but no one immediately jumps out at her.
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Post by Wayland on Jul 25, 2021 21:19:25 GMT -8
If she’d been reading Jack right, not that he’s all that good at reading people, he put Wayland on this team to keep shit from going sideways. That’s what the Ogre is focused on. Things can go wrong in much worse ways than simply failing to speak with Isla. There’s the risk of police or other government involvement, of course. But there’s also the much graver threat of the exposure of Faerie.
Nobody wants to imagine what might happen if the world at large learns that the Kindly Ones are very real, and that their names are desperate wishes and not descriptions.
She drove here in her own truck, a Ford Ranger showing its age, with a large toolbox locked and bolted to the bed. She shouldn’t need any of the gear she has stashed inside, or at least she hopes she won’t, but better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. As she meets with the others in the parking lot, she casts her gaze out to the park and playground.
“I’m not a good liar,” she tells Eis without affect, “But if I find her first, I’ll do what I can to stall her so one of you can make an approach.”
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Post by Blaze on Jul 26, 2021 6:49:45 GMT -8
Blaze remains quiet, only silently nodding to the points made by the other two women to show that she is actually listening. Otherwise, however, she is already focused on the task at hand when they near the playground, taking in her surroundings. Obviously looking for lonely girls who look like they could be Isla, but the Elemental keeps an eye out for dangers, as well.
Or should it be said 'other dangers'? However innocent the girl may be, what she saw and could do was a threat to the freehold. And while the Torrent understood the gravity of the situation, she hoped all involved will get to live happily ever after when this is done. To that end, she lets Eis carry the offerings and prays they will be enough.
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