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Post by Lucca on Dec 12, 2009 16:31:35 GMT -5
 The crumbling buildings of Corvistowne stood out against the night sky, reaching with eternal futility to grasp the stars. At least, what stars could be seen through the hazy of smoke and smog on the air from various labs. A lone white figure passed through the streets like a ghost, hooves making a creepy, echoey sound over teh cobblestones. Bright pink eyes scanned the buildings, finally coming to rest on one at the end of the road. A large mansion, seeming to be in even worse repair than the other dwellings around it, the yard choked with weeds and the gate coated in a thick layer of rust. With a small snort, the Goat approached the house, ears perked for any sound. This was the place, and just to confirm it, he pulled out a sheet of paper on which something was scrawled in the spidery Tulgey language (less chance of it being intercepted) and compared it to the weathered numbers on the front of the house. Seeming to be satisfied with whatever he saw, the Goat nodded and leapt over the rusted fence, cautiously making his way to the dingy window and trying to peer inside. If the anonymous tip off the Police Station had received was correct, this could just crack the investigation into the two thieves wide open. [8/15] |
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Varde
Five of Clubs
Mad Protector
WUT.
Posts: 121
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Post by Varde on Dec 12, 2009 18:11:01 GMT -5
 "Ah, now there's a good one," Fenzik said to himself as he pushed aside a few thorny branches and delicately plucked up a small, red flower that appeared to have just begun to wither. He peered at it closely for a moment, attempting to analyze it in spite of the darkness. "Well, hard to tell," he admitted with a bit of resignation. "Should be fine," he reassured himself as he lifted the flower into the air, his right tail reaching forward and adding it to a small bouquet of similar specimens. "And that's probably about enough for now, anyway."The rat carefully extracted himself from the tangled underbrush that bordered the old mansion on all sides. He really hadn't intended to be out this late, but it got dark quickly this time of year. At least tonight was a pretty pleasant one. As he began strolling around toward the front of the building, he happened to glance upward to see one of its more dilapidated spires silhouetted against the moon. He dismissed his sudden chill as an effect of the wind picking up and continued on, quickening his pace ever so slightly. Truth be told, he'd never fully outgrown a childhood fear of the dark. As he rounded a corner, his eyes suddenly went wide and he barely stopped himself from barreling headlong into a large, white creature. "Aah!" Fenzik couldn't help but emit a startled cry. "Wh-what are -- who are --" he sputtered, the shock preventing him from assembling a complete sentence. |
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Post by Lucca on Dec 12, 2009 18:20:00 GMT -5
The Goat's ears flicked back in protest at a sudden, alarmed shout from right beside him, and he whirled around, magenta eyes gleaming, giving off a full dose of that 'creepy aura' all of his Realm tended to emanate. The eyes narrowed as he saw the one who had interrupted him: a Corvie Rat, clutching a bundle of flowers. The split tail was skimmed over; he'd seen, in his travels, far odder mutations, especially on those of Corvistowne.
His first inclination was to simply turn back to his investigation and ignore the interruption (after all, being polite was really not in his job description) but then he thought better of it, and softened his look slightly. It would still probably seem horribly unfriendly to Fenzik, but it was the best he could do. "I'm Aberforth, an Officer of the Capital City Police Force. I'm here on business," he stated in his odd accent. "Have you seen any suspicious activity around this area lately?" He gestured with a hoof to indicate the mansion and its grounds. "I have reason to believe a couple of thieves from the Capital but of your Realm may be lying low here." He stared at the Rat expectantly.
[9/15]
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Varde
Five of Clubs
Mad Protector
WUT.
Posts: 121
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Post by Varde on Dec 12, 2009 18:48:49 GMT -5
Fenzik stood frozen for a moment, helpless but to meet the creature's piercing, unmistakably Tulgey gaze. However, he immediately felt his fear dissipate as the goat introduced itself -- er, himself -- in a civilized manner, and further still upon learning that the latter was, in fact, a police officer from the Capital. "Oh!" the rat exclaimed with a far more comfortable air. "Well, a pleasure to meet you, officer," he said, permitting himself a sheepish grin. "I'm Fenzik," he introduced himself in turn. He realized that Aberforth would likely be completely disinterested in such formalities, but in his mind they simply could not be omitted.
"Suspicious activity? Thieves?" the rat echoed thoughtfully, cocking his head slightly and surveying the mansion grounds. "Erm... well, I don't come here often, but..." he stalled as he racked his brain, trying to remember if he'd ever even seen another Card on this property since the building's previous owner had passed away. His left tail toyed idly with a loose brick in the wall. "No, I can't say that I have," he admitted apologetically, shaking his head. "It's been... years since I've seen another living soul here. Apart from yourself, of course."
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Post by Lucca on Dec 12, 2009 19:03:28 GMT -5
Aberforth nodded curtly at the Rat's introduction, mind unconsciously filing away the name from years of serving customers who would sometimes get snippy if they told him their name only to find him not using it ten minutes later. He listened intently, face a mask of stone, as the Rat went on to...tell him he'd seen nothing of the sort. He carefully peered into the Rat's eyes, though Fenzik had no reason to lie to him that he knew of; he'd seemed almost joyful to be talking to a police officer moments before. His words held the ring of truth, though, as far as anyone's did. So he really had seen nothing. But perhaps he just hadn't been here at the right time? Perhaps the men had come and left. But if he were lucky, a clue of some sort might be forthcoming in something they left behind.
"Thank you, Fenzik," he said, not unkindly. "I believe I will look around a bit." Pushing on the front door of the mansion, he found it locked, though the old, weathered wood creaked in such a way...Backing up, and lowering his head, Aberforth charged the door, his hard black horns causing the wood to splinter with a crash, and he went inside, stifling a cough at the clouds of dust that rose up.
He waited a moment for his eyes to adjust, and frowned at what he saw. More dust. No footprints except his own. His pink eyes narrowed to mere slits and he let out a string of Tulgey curses in a low, guttural growl. There was no one here. There had been no one here in years, just as Fenzik had informed him.
The tip had been false.
And here he was, wasting precious time on a wild goose chase when he should have been back at the Capital, tracking down the thieves based on actual information! All this went on to prove was what Aberforth knew, had always known ever since the tragic events that had turned his life upside-down: you couldn't trust anyone.
[10/15]
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Varde
Five of Clubs
Mad Protector
WUT.
Posts: 121
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Post by Varde on Dec 12, 2009 20:10:10 GMT -5
"Good idea," concurred the rat. Fenzik trailed behind Aberforth as the goat made his way to the front door, despite knowing that he was almost certainly of no further use to the officer. "Oh, yeah," he felt obliged to point out after Aberforth tried the door, "it's been locked up tight ever since -- woah!" He cut himself off, retreating a few steps as the goat abruptly charged at the door and smashed it down. "I --" Fenzik stammered, blinking incredulously. "Well, that's... one way to do it..."
Hesitantly, the rat approached the opening and peered in through the swirling dust, although he didn't follow Aberforth inside. The building's foyer looked even more desolate and lifeless than its exterior. He didn't know specifically what they were looking for, but the dark tone of the goat's muttering -- while he couldn't understand the words themselves -- told him that they hadn't found it. "Um," Fenzik began, then realized he didn't have anything particularly helpful to offer. "Hmm." He gave the dark corridors one more searching glance, then pulled his head away from the door to rub his dust-irritated eyes. "Where could they be, then?" he wondered aloud. "Did you..." he started to ask Aberforth, then hesitated, not wanting to inadvertently anger the officer or insult his intelligence, "...have any other leads?"
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Post by Lucca on Dec 12, 2009 22:10:03 GMT -5
Aberforth turned towards Fenzik, the fur in a ridge along his back standing up in agitation, and his eyes smoldering with anger. He assumed that the Rat would be smart enough to realize the anger was not directed at him, but at the anonymous liar that had sent that false tip. He grunted, shook his head, forcing himself to get under control. Losing his head over this would help no one. His ears carefully settled into a neutral position, and a calmness settled over him.
He opened his eyes, and only then did he speak, in a flat tone. "The Capital. I have been a fool to be mislead, a sheep. No longer. I must return, and follow up with what else I know." Aberforth moved towards the door, brushing past the Rat on his way out. He turned, wondering if he should say anything. "I appreciate your...help," he said carefully, and gave a curt, but polite, nod before taking off at a run. He could still make the coach back to the Capital, but the night had already been lost. Curses upon the fool that had led him astray, and upon he himself for believing it!
[11/15]
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Varde
Five of Clubs
Mad Protector
WUT.
Posts: 121
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Post by Varde on Dec 13, 2009 9:20:32 GMT -5
Fenzik cringed slightly as Aberforth glowered fiercely in his direction, although not necessarily at him. Having just met the goat, he was having some difficulty reading his facial expressions, especially in this light. He was quite relieved when Aberforth seemed to take a moment and calm himself down. The words he spoke next were both enlightening and further puzzling. "Misled?" he repeated. Things were beginning to click. "Ahh, so you were given false information, then?" he asked curiously, now more intrigued than ever. He stepped nimbly out of the goat's way as the latter exited the building. He'd seen what those horns could do, and, if he could help it, he didn't particularly want to find himself in their path.
"Of course, you're welcome," Fenzik said and returned Aberforth's nod. "Sorry I couldn't do more," he added, but the goat's mind already seemed elsewhere. He was, after all, on duty, and his duty now required him to return to the Capital with all haste. "Well... farewell!" the rat called as Aberforth broke out into a dash. "And good luck!"
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